Foundation

He will be the sure foundation for your times,
       a rich store of salvation and wisdom and knowledge;
       the fear of the LORD is the key to this treasure.  (Isaiah 33:6)

I have Scripture readings delivered to my inbox every morning; it goes a long way toward helping me stay on track with a reading program. This verse stood out to me this morning.  Thinking of God as "the sure foundation for your times" is very settling.  I remember sitting on the giant granite boulders on the shore between Manchester By the Sea and Gloucester, feeling how settled and secure they were.  Such a contrast to the rolling waves crashing in front of me.  God is like that.  He is a sure foundation, and I sit there and life rolls and crashes around me, but I have a steady place from which to observe and experience it.  Not only that, he is a rich store of three things: salvation, wisdom and knowledge.  I need those things so clearly: to parent, to be a helpful wife and dear friend to Joel, to counsel others, to know how to live, to have hope for the future.  And finally the verse points us to the way we access the Lord's salvation, wisdom and knowledge: reverent submission to him (fear of the LORD).

Last night I watched a sobering documentary on Netflix: Maxed Out.  Man.  It told the story of how the credit companies work, interwoven with politics, legislative bills, creditor collection services, and the stories of people who have declared bankruptcy, who are living beyond their means, even who took their lives because of the mess that their irresponsibility with credit had made of their lives.  It was very well-done, and very troubling.  It made me all the more committed to living as much as possible in a debt-free lifestyle.  It also made me that much more passionate about offering the opportunity for our college and career friends (and whoever else wants to go) to hear Dave Ramsey when he comes to Atlanta in the fall.  I've already talked with them and they have a wonderful group rate for church groups.  I wish I had studied this stuff when I was in my early twenties, and I look forward to sharing these wise principles with our friends.

I am enjoying the clouds this morning after days of heat.  We even had rain in the night, and I hope it will revive my garden. My watering does not seem sufficient...it needs a good, soaking rain.  Boy, do I understand that.