Laura Camp

Sick or in pain read 91 Psalm

If you read Psalm 91, http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm%2091/, you might think that God’s people here on earth are invincible. But that famous follower of God, Paul, had a “thorn in the flesh” and God’s son, Jesus, suffered a horrible death. You probably know lots of Christians who have been sick or in trouble. The Ingalls family had an terrible time with malaria. How does this psalm that says “no evil shall be allowed to befall us” help us when we are sick or in pain? 

Look at the last line of Psalm 91 for the key to understanding. “With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” God means to give us salvation and eternal life, not just a quick fix. The things that happen to us here on earth are temporary. God wants us to have eternity. Jesus suffered that horrible death in our place so we could be saved from everything that keeps us from God. So even if sickness and pain come to us on earth we can be kept safe for heaven because God is faithful—eternally.

With salvation, God can be our shelter, our refuge, our fortress, our Deliverer, our shield and buckler, our dwelling place—forever! God is faithful.

With salvation, we don’t need to fear deadly pestilences (not even malaria), terrors of night, arrows, destruction, or poisonous snakes because none of these can keep us from our place under His wings—forever! God is faithful.

With salvation, no evil will happen to us that can keep us from being with God in eternity. He is faithful.

And one day Jesus, who conquered death Himself, will come back and transform our earthly bodies into heavenly ones—forever! (Philippians 3:20)

Paul knew this and considered that the sufferings of life on earth are not worth comparing with the glory that is coming. (Romans 8:18)

Celebrate and dance along with the Church of Southland Treehouse, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzjFlQvJvDo. Someday we will be “Trading Our Sorrows.”

In sickness and in pain, remember it is temporary, perfect things are coming because God is faithful. "No evil will be allowed to befall us.” And while we are still here on earth God sends people like Dr. Tan and Mrs. Scott to help us when we do have trouble, like He did for Laura. That story is in Little House on the Prairie, chapter 15, “Fever ’N’ Ague.”

Planning budget, St. Luke chapter 19

What is a budget? It’s a plan for spending money. It can include other resources, too, besides money. Why would you be interested in a budget? Maybe you have a paying job or an allowance or some birthday money and you would like for that money to stretch as far as possible. The Bible has a lot to say about money and this chapter features some important lessons. 

Read Luke 19 and let’s see what Laura might have learned about budgeting and how we can use those lessons when we spend money. http://www.esvbible.org/Luke%2019/ 

First, Jesus said he was coming to  Zacchaeus’ house and Zacchaeus welcomed Him. If you skip ahead to verses 41-44 later in the chapter, Jesus cried over the city because they did not recognize Him or accept His help. We can welcome Him or ignore Him, be like Zacchaeus or be like the general population of Jerusalem. But He wants us to welcome Him.

    $   A God-pleasing budget begins by welcoming Jesus to where you live.

Immediately, Zacchaeus let Jesus’ presence change his spending. He was rich and he promised to give half of his riches away and to pay back (four times!) anything he had gained by cheating. What might Laura have learned from this?

    $   A good budget makes wrongs right.

    $   A good budget includes generosity.

Next in the chapter Jesus told a story; servants were each given some money and they were allowed to use it until the master came back. These servants were rewarded or rebuked depending on what they had done with the money, whether they had used it well and increased it or whether they had not used it at all. Each servant was given the same amount at the beginning but they used it very differently. Lessons?

    $   A good budget shows faithfulness in small things.

    $   A good budget is rewarded with more responsibility!

 Then Jesus sent His disciples to get a donkey for Him to ride. The donkey owners questioned why their donkey was about to be led away. That donkey was, no doubt, part of their budget and they wanted to know where their donkey was going. Was it a worthwhile use? When they learned Jesus wanted to use it they let it go.

    $   A good budget asks the question, is this a worthwhile use?

Finally, Jesus threw sellers out of the Temple. Why? They were misusing the Temple. It was made for prayer but they were using it to make money. Making money is a good thing when it is done God’s way; it’s a bad thing when God is dishonored. Jesus  even called the sellers “robbers” because they were stealing honor from God. And God is king…even over money.

    $   A good budget honors God.

Perhaps Laura read this chapter in the Bible and remembered Pa’s boots and the church bell. Read On the Banks of Plum Creek, chapter 24, “Going to Church.” Do you think Pa made wise use of the three dollars?

What do you think this song has to do with making budgets? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V0Byp7aK2DA, “Take My Life,” by Chris Tomlin.

"When discouraged, 23 and 24"

Read Psalm 23 and 24, thinking about how these two Psalms describe the life of someone who follows God. http://www.esvbible.org/Psalm%2023%3BPsalm%2024/

God is our Good Shepherd, our Leader. We follow.

  He takes care of our needs, our hunger and thirst. We eat and drink.

     He restores us from the inside out. We let Him.

        He leads us to do good things. We do them.

          He protects and guides us. We are comforted.

             He provides for us even in enemy territory. We accept His provision.

We never leave behind His goodness and mercy, we live with Him forever.

That is encouraging! No wonder Laura wrote down this Psalm to read when she was discouraged. She included Psalm 24, too. This Psalm reminds us how mighty God is.

He created everything, the earth and everything in it, including us. That is power! 

Who could be in the same place with someone so powerful? There is no amount of money that can buy a place near Him. There is no secret password to open the door. The only way to be near Him is to be one of His sheep. One who follows, one who eats and drinks His food, one He has restored, one who does the good things He plans, one who is comforted by Him, one who accepts His provision.

Psalm 24 describes His sheep as those who have clean hands and pure hearts, those who are honest. He is not the Good Shepherd for those who don’t care about His guidance and wander off, or those who secretly trust other things more than Him and ignore His provision, or those who say they are His followers but really go their own way.

But for those who are His followers there are rewards of blessings and righteousness! That is encouraging.

“Lift up your heads, O gates…be lifted up, O doors…” Lift up your head, open the doors of your heart—let Him be your Good Shepherd and Your King.

Read in The Long Winter, chapter 30, “It Can’t Beat Us.” What are some ways God took care of the Ingalls family even through such a difficult winter, like the valley of the shadow of death? When have you recognized the Good Shepherd taking care of you?

Ready for Psalm 23 put to music? Which do you prefer?  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pN4tPkX0MG0  or https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZnj8yifvsw