Psalm 36:5, "Your love, O Lord, reaches to the Heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies."
David loved spending time meditating on the attributes of God...thinking about how great His love and faithfulness toward him. He puts God smack dab in the middle of his world and rightly, then, is called a man after God's heart. Paul also understood the importance of spending time getting to know and understand God's loyal love and His faithfulness. He wrote to the church in Ephesus, "And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord's holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ and to know this love that surpasses knowledge-that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God." (Ephesians 3:17b-19)
I do not spend near enough time thinking on these things, trying to grasp His enormity of His faithfulness or the depth of His love. I am sure David and Paul also realized, as we all will, that even in the time they spent meditating on His greatness they only knew in part and not until they were with God did they understand in full. Even thinking about it now, it is wonderfully overwhelming to know that the creator of the universe is deeply in love with each and everyone of us...every one that He created in His image...EVERY ONE...every color, every tongue, every nation. Even before we were born, He knew our days and the number of hairs on our head....and even to our grey hairs, He will sustain and rescue us. That is the most beautiful thing I know; and I should spend more time thinking about His greatness, and then in turn praising Him as David did, and telling people about Him as Paul did. I have a long way to go, but I know with every step, He will be with me...miles to go before I sleep and get to know Him in full.
Monday, February 27, 2017
Saturday, February 25, 2017
it is well with my soul
Psalm 35:3, "Brandish spear and javelin against those who pursue me. Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'"
I love the part, "Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" That reminder whispered in your ear that goes down to your soul. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
When you are pursued by enemies, seen and unseen, there is peace that flows like a river in your soul because you can trust that the creator of the universe has this and will vindicate you for His name's sake. I don't get to pick the timing and I don't get to pick what it looks like, but I serve a God whose promises have been true since the beginning. I've never been a betting person, but those are pretty good odds.
I love the part, "Say to my soul, 'I am your salvation.'" That reminder whispered in your ear that goes down to your soul. "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4)
When you are pursued by enemies, seen and unseen, there is peace that flows like a river in your soul because you can trust that the creator of the universe has this and will vindicate you for His name's sake. I don't get to pick the timing and I don't get to pick what it looks like, but I serve a God whose promises have been true since the beginning. I've never been a betting person, but those are pretty good odds.
Thursday, February 23, 2017
taste and see
Psalm 34:8, "Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him."
If you are a Shane & Shane fan, I could stop here. I cannot even read this psalm without their sweet melody in my head. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, Shane & Shane took some of the psalms and put them to music.
Listen and enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciMh_ciwkk
A lot of times explaining the greatness of God is hard to put into words when you could much more easily say, "Man, just come and see...experience it for yourself." But David is trying. He experienced the goodness of God when God helped him get away from Abimelech by making David act insane. He wanted the people to acknowledge communally the greatness of our God. He wanted them to experience the Lord's goodness personally by relying on Him in times of distress. He gives them a three-fold witness to what God does for His own.
He saves (v. 4-8), He keeps (v.7) and (the part I love), He satisfies (v.8...see above).
When you experience the goodness of God personally you are completely full. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us "...I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." and later in John 15:11, He says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." When you confess your sins and ask God to come into your heart, He sends the Holy Spirit to be with you ALWAYS. Jesus walked the earth for 33 years and His disciples were able to experience Him in earthly form. When He died and rose, He went to Heaven to be with our Father and they sent the Holy Spirit to be with us ALWAYS. God is in us ALWAYS. We do not have to go search for a physical person to experience intimacy with God and know that He is good. He is there already in us. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit many things, Comforter is one of them. You have a Comforter that is WITHIN you ALWAYS interceding with God for you. Comforting you so that even in times of distress, He is there as a reminder that "weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning." (ps. 30:5). That is blessed!
It is a goodness that is so sweet, David wants his people to experience it. I want you to experience it. Won't you come, taste and see? He is GOOD!
If you are a Shane & Shane fan, I could stop here. I cannot even read this psalm without their sweet melody in my head. If you haven't yet had the pleasure, Shane & Shane took some of the psalms and put them to music.
Listen and enjoy
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DciMh_ciwkk
A lot of times explaining the greatness of God is hard to put into words when you could much more easily say, "Man, just come and see...experience it for yourself." But David is trying. He experienced the goodness of God when God helped him get away from Abimelech by making David act insane. He wanted the people to acknowledge communally the greatness of our God. He wanted them to experience the Lord's goodness personally by relying on Him in times of distress. He gives them a three-fold witness to what God does for His own.
He saves (v. 4-8), He keeps (v.7) and (the part I love), He satisfies (v.8...see above).
When you experience the goodness of God personally you are completely full. In John 10:10, Jesus tells us "...I have come that you may have life and have it to the full." and later in John 15:11, He says, "I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete." When you confess your sins and ask God to come into your heart, He sends the Holy Spirit to be with you ALWAYS. Jesus walked the earth for 33 years and His disciples were able to experience Him in earthly form. When He died and rose, He went to Heaven to be with our Father and they sent the Holy Spirit to be with us ALWAYS. God is in us ALWAYS. We do not have to go search for a physical person to experience intimacy with God and know that He is good. He is there already in us. Jesus calls the Holy Spirit many things, Comforter is one of them. You have a Comforter that is WITHIN you ALWAYS interceding with God for you. Comforting you so that even in times of distress, He is there as a reminder that "weeping may last for the night, but there is a song of joy in the morning." (ps. 30:5). That is blessed!
It is a goodness that is so sweet, David wants his people to experience it. I want you to experience it. Won't you come, taste and see? He is GOOD!
Monday, February 20, 2017
this ain't my first rodeo
Psalm 33:11, "But the plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations."
What better comfort is there that the Lord of generations has withstood the test of time and is still on His throne? There is great comfort in knowing the end of the story has already been written and He is victorious. Because He is loving and sent the perfect lamb, His Son, to be the sacrifice for our sins that we will be there with Him. He conquered death and the grave.
The God who conquered death can certainly handle my little junk. And since when did I know what was best for me?! Left to my own devices, I have often chosen poorly. You've heard the expression, "You want to make God laugh? Tell Him the plans for your life." I think I will trust the One whose very Word created the earth. "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm." (v.9) I've done it both ways. And this much I have learned, when I am walking with God and in His will, my life has joy...always...no matter the circumstances. "We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy name." (v. 20-21)
Just as we defer to our elders who are wiser and have lived through much, we can defer to the One who was there in the beginning. My life is not His first rodeo and He not only knows how to ride the storm, He calms the sea and my heart.
What better comfort is there that the Lord of generations has withstood the test of time and is still on His throne? There is great comfort in knowing the end of the story has already been written and He is victorious. Because He is loving and sent the perfect lamb, His Son, to be the sacrifice for our sins that we will be there with Him. He conquered death and the grave.
The God who conquered death can certainly handle my little junk. And since when did I know what was best for me?! Left to my own devices, I have often chosen poorly. You've heard the expression, "You want to make God laugh? Tell Him the plans for your life." I think I will trust the One whose very Word created the earth. "For He spoke, and it came to be; He commanded, and it stood firm." (v.9) I've done it both ways. And this much I have learned, when I am walking with God and in His will, my life has joy...always...no matter the circumstances. "We wait in hope for the Lord; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His Holy name." (v. 20-21)
Just as we defer to our elders who are wiser and have lived through much, we can defer to the One who was there in the beginning. My life is not His first rodeo and He not only knows how to ride the storm, He calms the sea and my heart.
Saturday, February 18, 2017
It's all in the prepositions
Psalm 32:7, "You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance." Selah
David realized that divine pardon is a blessed experience. And our happiness should be in the favor of God, not in the wealth of this world. Not confessing sins can lead to the physical ailment of feeling drained...emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We have guilt as a sign that something is wrong that needs to be made right. (v. 1-5)
My body physically cried out to repent of sin leading me to CR (now re:generation), a ministry at my church. First, I want to make clear that we serve a holy, perfect God. ANY thing outside of His will (serving and honoring Him first) is a sin and the name of the sin doesn't matter. I just started going to this church and that first night at CR, I sat in a group and vomited out my stuff. It was crazy because I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth to this group of strangers. I liken it to when you are starting to feel run down that if you don't take the time to rest, God will take your knees out and MAKE you rest...I prefer the lesser of these and take the time to rest. You think you can hide your sin and that you even do it well, but if you don't confess it willingly, it WILL be found out and the consequences can be quite yucky. I felt the relief of the weight of sin gone from my shoulders. And it was replace with JOY...that was the real crazy part. It is was makes me want to tell people of the God that saves and the most amazing love they will ever know.
This is where we find David. He realized there is joy in confessed sin and the cost of unconfessed sin...and in the middle of it he stops to praise God. It's why I love praise and worship SO much and could just linger there all day. When you realized all you have been forgiven and that you have been redeemed, you just want to praise Him! I also love that David's praise is smack dab in the middle of the psalm. He had that "aha" moment in the middle and just took that moment to stop and acknowledge God in his life. Love that! I love how Ironside put it, "In verses 3 and 4 David was hiding FROM God, but in verse 7 he is hiding IN God." How awesome is our God that in the middle of our yuck He is not only our hiding place, but He is also there singing songs of deliverance over us?! Can I get a "Hallelujah!"?!
David realized that divine pardon is a blessed experience. And our happiness should be in the favor of God, not in the wealth of this world. Not confessing sins can lead to the physical ailment of feeling drained...emotionally, physically, and spiritually. We have guilt as a sign that something is wrong that needs to be made right. (v. 1-5)
My body physically cried out to repent of sin leading me to CR (now re:generation), a ministry at my church. First, I want to make clear that we serve a holy, perfect God. ANY thing outside of His will (serving and honoring Him first) is a sin and the name of the sin doesn't matter. I just started going to this church and that first night at CR, I sat in a group and vomited out my stuff. It was crazy because I couldn't believe what came out of my mouth to this group of strangers. I liken it to when you are starting to feel run down that if you don't take the time to rest, God will take your knees out and MAKE you rest...I prefer the lesser of these and take the time to rest. You think you can hide your sin and that you even do it well, but if you don't confess it willingly, it WILL be found out and the consequences can be quite yucky. I felt the relief of the weight of sin gone from my shoulders. And it was replace with JOY...that was the real crazy part. It is was makes me want to tell people of the God that saves and the most amazing love they will ever know.
This is where we find David. He realized there is joy in confessed sin and the cost of unconfessed sin...and in the middle of it he stops to praise God. It's why I love praise and worship SO much and could just linger there all day. When you realized all you have been forgiven and that you have been redeemed, you just want to praise Him! I also love that David's praise is smack dab in the middle of the psalm. He had that "aha" moment in the middle and just took that moment to stop and acknowledge God in his life. Love that! I love how Ironside put it, "In verses 3 and 4 David was hiding FROM God, but in verse 7 he is hiding IN God." How awesome is our God that in the middle of our yuck He is not only our hiding place, but He is also there singing songs of deliverance over us?! Can I get a "Hallelujah!"?!
Friday, February 17, 2017
The Rock
Psalm 31: 23-24, "Love the Lord, all His saints! The Lord preserves the faithful, but the proud He pays back in full. Be strong and take heart, all you who hope in the Lord."
Said another way, "I tell you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) And "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
There are so many promises in there, but these are those that call you to "Be strong and take heart". It is so huge. Dr. Constable wrote that if God be our strength, we may hope that He will both put His strength in us and put forth His strength for us. And He does.
David is facing persecution from his enemies that are plotting to kill him. We may not face death, but we probably all faced persecution from "enemies" verbally, possibly even physically. David calls out to God to silence them. While He wants that all might come to know Him and for us to love our enemies, it is not bad to call on Him to end their persecution of us. When it seems their salvation is not possible and our desire is to end the inequity of evil men, it is okay to go to God and ask Him to do what He has already promised all who are His...to protect us, to be our refuge, and let HIM take His vengeance out on evil.
Even when evil seems horrific (ISIS), God is in charge and He knows what is best. His ways are always better than ours. He took a Saul whose life's purpose was to persecute Christians and made him to be one of the greatest leaders of the early church. It's okay to go to Him and tell Him your pain and call on Him to come to your rescue...then stand back and let HIM do HIS thing and trust it is always for good.
I may not get to see how the story ends, but I love a God that is for me and His glory, "Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me." (v.3)
Said another way, "I tell you these things, so that you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world." (John 16:33) And "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.'" (Jeremiah 29:11)
There are so many promises in there, but these are those that call you to "Be strong and take heart". It is so huge. Dr. Constable wrote that if God be our strength, we may hope that He will both put His strength in us and put forth His strength for us. And He does.
David is facing persecution from his enemies that are plotting to kill him. We may not face death, but we probably all faced persecution from "enemies" verbally, possibly even physically. David calls out to God to silence them. While He wants that all might come to know Him and for us to love our enemies, it is not bad to call on Him to end their persecution of us. When it seems their salvation is not possible and our desire is to end the inequity of evil men, it is okay to go to God and ask Him to do what He has already promised all who are His...to protect us, to be our refuge, and let HIM take His vengeance out on evil.
Even when evil seems horrific (ISIS), God is in charge and He knows what is best. His ways are always better than ours. He took a Saul whose life's purpose was to persecute Christians and made him to be one of the greatest leaders of the early church. It's okay to go to Him and tell Him your pain and call on Him to come to your rescue...then stand back and let HIM do HIS thing and trust it is always for good.
I may not get to see how the story ends, but I love a God that is for me and His glory, "Since you are my rock and my fortress, for the sake of Your name lead and guide me." (v.3)
Tuesday, February 14, 2017
this hurt me as much as it hurts you
Psalm 30:5, "For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping my remain for a night, but rejoicing comes in the morning."
David had been chastened for some sin and was experiencing the sweet release from it and praising God for it. I see many parents in teaching, and have been guilty myself, of rushing in and trying to save your child from the consequences of his/her actions. You love them so much that you don't want them to hurt. Yet, our perfect heavenly Father realizes that this is unloving. It may spare pain for the moment, but no lesson was learned and when they repeat the bad choice and the stakes are higher, you have added to the pain rather than helped them learn to make the wiser choice. I know some of my best lessons have come after some hurt and pain. And I have clung to His promises that joy WILL come in the morning. It's God's time economy, not my own, but the present afflictions of this world compare nothing to the glory of His (Romans 8:18...very loosely translated).
What great joy when we remember His grace and His love and that His promises are true that He is for us and not against us!
I loved this quote, "Every difficult experience of life-and David had many of them-is an opportunity to have a 'pity party' or attend a rehearsal for singing in the choirs of Heaven! We have a lifetime of grace to prepare for an eternity of glory." ~Wiersbe
David had been chastened for some sin and was experiencing the sweet release from it and praising God for it. I see many parents in teaching, and have been guilty myself, of rushing in and trying to save your child from the consequences of his/her actions. You love them so much that you don't want them to hurt. Yet, our perfect heavenly Father realizes that this is unloving. It may spare pain for the moment, but no lesson was learned and when they repeat the bad choice and the stakes are higher, you have added to the pain rather than helped them learn to make the wiser choice. I know some of my best lessons have come after some hurt and pain. And I have clung to His promises that joy WILL come in the morning. It's God's time economy, not my own, but the present afflictions of this world compare nothing to the glory of His (Romans 8:18...very loosely translated).
What great joy when we remember His grace and His love and that His promises are true that He is for us and not against us!
I loved this quote, "Every difficult experience of life-and David had many of them-is an opportunity to have a 'pity party' or attend a rehearsal for singing in the choirs of Heaven! We have a lifetime of grace to prepare for an eternity of glory." ~Wiersbe
Monday, February 13, 2017
The Thunder Rolls
Psalm 29:2, "Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness."
Have you ever stood in front of mountains and been in awe? Or at the ocean and just mesmerized at sunset by the colors and the serenity? One of my favorite smells is the smell of rain in Colorado. I cannot even put into words what it does to my body, my soul, my heart. Nature so easily gives us that feeling of tranquility, peace, calm...
David describes watching a thunderstorm roll in...and he is in awe of God's majesty in His creation. His description uses "The voice of the Lord", "The voice of the Lord"... Just like creation, when God SPOKE and it was, God was in control of the storm David watched, in control of His creation (and this psalm of praise coming from a man who was in his own storm running from his enemies) and he was in awe. Fun side note, David used "The voice of the Lord" seven times in this psalm...seven denoting perfect acts of God (see also creation). The storm reminded David of Noah's day and that God ruled over creation at the beginning, in David's day and forever.
The part I loved about verse 2 is that David remembers to credit God with this glory, this thunderstorm, this moment of splendor that he is a part of. And it convicts me that I do not ascribe to God the glory due His name often enough, especially in the little things. I need to walk around eyes wide open, not down at a screen, seeing the beauty in the moment and worship the splendor of His holiness.
Have you ever stood in front of mountains and been in awe? Or at the ocean and just mesmerized at sunset by the colors and the serenity? One of my favorite smells is the smell of rain in Colorado. I cannot even put into words what it does to my body, my soul, my heart. Nature so easily gives us that feeling of tranquility, peace, calm...
David describes watching a thunderstorm roll in...and he is in awe of God's majesty in His creation. His description uses "The voice of the Lord", "The voice of the Lord"... Just like creation, when God SPOKE and it was, God was in control of the storm David watched, in control of His creation (and this psalm of praise coming from a man who was in his own storm running from his enemies) and he was in awe. Fun side note, David used "The voice of the Lord" seven times in this psalm...seven denoting perfect acts of God (see also creation). The storm reminded David of Noah's day and that God ruled over creation at the beginning, in David's day and forever.
The part I loved about verse 2 is that David remembers to credit God with this glory, this thunderstorm, this moment of splendor that he is a part of. And it convicts me that I do not ascribe to God the glory due His name often enough, especially in the little things. I need to walk around eyes wide open, not down at a screen, seeing the beauty in the moment and worship the splendor of His holiness.
Sunday, February 12, 2017
Worthy of it all
Psalm 28:7, "The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song."
The heart is a crazy thing. So beautiful our bodies, so perfectly made that this "machine" functions in perfect coordination (Ps. 139:14). We attribute to our heart our feelings. This muscle that's purpose is to function by pumping blood through our veins is the center of emotions. Rightly so, the heart is not to be trusted because it can mislead (Jer. 17:9) without a God check.
AND YET, this muscle that pumps blood can literally hurt in our emotional pain, race in fear, sink in disappointment and leap for joy. I've felt my heart "break" many times in a heap on the floor as I cried. That feeling of when you see your beloved and your heart leaps for joy or the birth of a child and your heart wants to explode with love. Our feelings are real, they are just not always reliable. But David seems to get it, with the Lord as his strength and shield, his heart trusts and is helped.
I love to feel, the whole spectrum, it helps me know I'm real. It is so easy to praise Him and give thanks in song while my heart leaps. I am learning to praise Him in the storm. But I know when my heart trusts in Him that I am helped. And He, my strength and my shield, is worthy of it all.
The heart is a crazy thing. So beautiful our bodies, so perfectly made that this "machine" functions in perfect coordination (Ps. 139:14). We attribute to our heart our feelings. This muscle that's purpose is to function by pumping blood through our veins is the center of emotions. Rightly so, the heart is not to be trusted because it can mislead (Jer. 17:9) without a God check.
AND YET, this muscle that pumps blood can literally hurt in our emotional pain, race in fear, sink in disappointment and leap for joy. I've felt my heart "break" many times in a heap on the floor as I cried. That feeling of when you see your beloved and your heart leaps for joy or the birth of a child and your heart wants to explode with love. Our feelings are real, they are just not always reliable. But David seems to get it, with the Lord as his strength and shield, his heart trusts and is helped.
I love to feel, the whole spectrum, it helps me know I'm real. It is so easy to praise Him and give thanks in song while my heart leaps. I am learning to praise Him in the storm. But I know when my heart trusts in Him that I am helped. And He, my strength and my shield, is worthy of it all.
Saturday, February 11, 2017
Now I know in part
Psalm 27:13-14, "I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."
I love this promise of beholding the goodness of the Lord. Reminds me of the song, "I Can Only Imagine". It's beyond imagination. I've heard recountments from books I've read, Ninety Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is for Real, and just from these accounts the beauty is beyond amazing. I had a coworker who was in a car accident and in a coma. I was talking to my boss about her and saying how I would have a hard time coming back seeing the beauty of heaven except for my kids. My boss, also a believer in Christ, said she had heard that once we are there the things of this earth don't even matter anymore, so wonderful it is.
Paul tells us, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12). But we were not left without hope and confidence. I misunderstood "land of the living" as I read it thinking it was talking about earth. The "land of the living", Dr. Constable tells us, is Heaven. Earth is the land of the dying. In this land of the dying, He tells us wait, be strong, take heart. We will see Him and know Him fully. Of this I am confident.
I love this promise of beholding the goodness of the Lord. Reminds me of the song, "I Can Only Imagine". It's beyond imagination. I've heard recountments from books I've read, Ninety Minutes in Heaven and Heaven is for Real, and just from these accounts the beauty is beyond amazing. I had a coworker who was in a car accident and in a coma. I was talking to my boss about her and saying how I would have a hard time coming back seeing the beauty of heaven except for my kids. My boss, also a believer in Christ, said she had heard that once we are there the things of this earth don't even matter anymore, so wonderful it is.
Paul tells us, "For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." (1 Corinthians 13:12). But we were not left without hope and confidence. I misunderstood "land of the living" as I read it thinking it was talking about earth. The "land of the living", Dr. Constable tells us, is Heaven. Earth is the land of the dying. In this land of the dying, He tells us wait, be strong, take heart. We will see Him and know Him fully. Of this I am confident.
Thursday, February 9, 2017
the toddler years
Psalm 26:3, "for Your love is ever before me, and I walk continually in Your truth."
I accepted Christ when I was 16 years old. But I have only been walking with Jesus since 2008. And it has been a long, hilly, winding road I've walked. I kind of trip up in reading this psalm and applying it to myself because I struggle with the word "blameless" ("Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blamelss life..." v.1) that David uses for himself. I think that can't apply to me and I can't cry this out to God because I am not blameless. Dr. Constable showed me that David was not claiming to be morally perfect, but that tendency of his inmost nature turned towards God and to Him only.
Here's where I'm going with this. I'm 51 now. I should be a mature Christian, wise in years and experience. But, because of being undiscipled and my own rebellion, I have, for many years, considered myself a "baby Christian". I have grown and now consider myself to be more of a "toddler" who is teetering and figuring out how to walk more blamelessly in life without wavering. But, I'm on the right path now...and His love is ever before me so that I toddle in His truth. And the truth of this psalm is that we can confidently cry out to Him for vindication from spiritual enemies because we are righteous (blameless) before Him (Swindoll)...not because of what we have done, but because of what He has done for us.
I accepted Christ when I was 16 years old. But I have only been walking with Jesus since 2008. And it has been a long, hilly, winding road I've walked. I kind of trip up in reading this psalm and applying it to myself because I struggle with the word "blameless" ("Vindicate me, O Lord, for I have led a blamelss life..." v.1) that David uses for himself. I think that can't apply to me and I can't cry this out to God because I am not blameless. Dr. Constable showed me that David was not claiming to be morally perfect, but that tendency of his inmost nature turned towards God and to Him only.
Here's where I'm going with this. I'm 51 now. I should be a mature Christian, wise in years and experience. But, because of being undiscipled and my own rebellion, I have, for many years, considered myself a "baby Christian". I have grown and now consider myself to be more of a "toddler" who is teetering and figuring out how to walk more blamelessly in life without wavering. But, I'm on the right path now...and His love is ever before me so that I toddle in His truth. And the truth of this psalm is that we can confidently cry out to Him for vindication from spiritual enemies because we are righteous (blameless) before Him (Swindoll)...not because of what we have done, but because of what He has done for us.
Wednesday, February 8, 2017
Supa Size Me
Psalm 25:7, "Remember not the sins of my youth and my rebellious ways; according to Your love remember me, for You are good, O Lord."
I remember the first time I drove to Colorado by myself with kids in tow. We were in Boulder and had stopped at McDonalds. Yeah, so I was poor and they were young...don't judge. I called my mom on the phone and apologized for how horrible I acted when I was a kid. She didn't remember any of it. The truth probably lay somewhere in between. I wasn't as bad as I thought, and I definitely wasn't as good as she thought. But her memory was kind and I am grateful.
I have sinned HUGE in my life. It disgusts me and shames me. But it's not my identity. It is not who I am in Christ. My labels of: gossip, liar, lustful, angry, etc... were erased and stamped with "Holy, Righteous, and Redeemed"
When I confessed that Jesus was Lord, believed God raised Him from the dead and asked for forgiveness for my sins, I was washed white. God no longer recalls the sins of my youth, but in His infinite love remembers me. I heard it put so sweetly in my BSF notes this week, "God knows your faith, your weakness, your love and, if you are a believer, how He will transform you to make you like His Son....He loves you NOW as though you have already reached the perfection He has promised."
What a good, good Father.
I remember the first time I drove to Colorado by myself with kids in tow. We were in Boulder and had stopped at McDonalds. Yeah, so I was poor and they were young...don't judge. I called my mom on the phone and apologized for how horrible I acted when I was a kid. She didn't remember any of it. The truth probably lay somewhere in between. I wasn't as bad as I thought, and I definitely wasn't as good as she thought. But her memory was kind and I am grateful.
I have sinned HUGE in my life. It disgusts me and shames me. But it's not my identity. It is not who I am in Christ. My labels of: gossip, liar, lustful, angry, etc... were erased and stamped with "Holy, Righteous, and Redeemed"
When I confessed that Jesus was Lord, believed God raised Him from the dead and asked for forgiveness for my sins, I was washed white. God no longer recalls the sins of my youth, but in His infinite love remembers me. I heard it put so sweetly in my BSF notes this week, "God knows your faith, your weakness, your love and, if you are a believer, how He will transform you to make you like His Son....He loves you NOW as though you have already reached the perfection He has promised."
What a good, good Father.
Monday, February 6, 2017
Genie in a bottle
Psalm 24:5, "He will receive blessing from the Lord and vindication from God his Savior."
God blesses those who seek His fellowship by pursuing righteousness. A young man my husband has been talking to/mentoring had been going to church with us. He was not unchurched, but it was not a regular part of his life. He seemed eager and would go to talk to the pastor after the services. He seemed hungry/ thirsty for some of that Living Water. He hasn't had the easiest life, but he is blessed beyond measure when the alternatives are considered. What saddened me at one point was when he told John that believing didn't change his circumstances. This is the hardest part to explain to really anyone...it is not made easier when prosperity gospel preachers are out there wooing with promises of a life of blessing. Seems logical, but it gets twisted up. God blesses abundantly, but He does not promise of life without trials and valleys. In fact, His Word says, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I will overcome the world" (John 16:33...great life verse). It gets tricky when this gets left out and the part that is not heard is that He WILL bless you abundantly...HE IS THE BLESSING!!!
What's even more, He blessed us with provision to have fellowship with Him. You and I may pursue righteousness all the zippity doo dah day long, but it will never be good enough. Even our best is filthy rags to Him. So He provided His Son and blesses us with the Holy Spirit (GOD in US!!!). Fellowship right within us...right at our fingertips...not to rub that genie bottle with our wishes, but to receive more of Him. He answers our prayers, He promises to vindicate us...in His time and in His will. When we stand with our hands open, He will pour out more of Him into them until it overflows.
God blesses those who seek His fellowship by pursuing righteousness. A young man my husband has been talking to/mentoring had been going to church with us. He was not unchurched, but it was not a regular part of his life. He seemed eager and would go to talk to the pastor after the services. He seemed hungry/ thirsty for some of that Living Water. He hasn't had the easiest life, but he is blessed beyond measure when the alternatives are considered. What saddened me at one point was when he told John that believing didn't change his circumstances. This is the hardest part to explain to really anyone...it is not made easier when prosperity gospel preachers are out there wooing with promises of a life of blessing. Seems logical, but it gets twisted up. God blesses abundantly, but He does not promise of life without trials and valleys. In fact, His Word says, "In this world you will have trouble, but take heart, I will overcome the world" (John 16:33...great life verse). It gets tricky when this gets left out and the part that is not heard is that He WILL bless you abundantly...HE IS THE BLESSING!!!
What's even more, He blessed us with provision to have fellowship with Him. You and I may pursue righteousness all the zippity doo dah day long, but it will never be good enough. Even our best is filthy rags to Him. So He provided His Son and blesses us with the Holy Spirit (GOD in US!!!). Fellowship right within us...right at our fingertips...not to rub that genie bottle with our wishes, but to receive more of Him. He answers our prayers, He promises to vindicate us...in His time and in His will. When we stand with our hands open, He will pour out more of Him into them until it overflows.
Sunday, February 5, 2017
Linger
Psalm 23:2-3a, "He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul."
For the past few years, I have given myself the gift of going to the Linger Conference. It is hosted by two of the COOLEST Christian singers Shane and Shane and for two of my favorite days of the year, I get to just sit in the presence of Jesus and worship and learn with no outside agenda pulling me. It is like the story of Martha and Mary where Martha (most women) scurries about trying to take care of all the details while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. When Martha complains to Jesus, He tells her Mary is the one who has chosen wisely. I have the verse taped on my computer at work to remind me daily to choose wisely the things that bring life and not worry so much about those that either don't bring life or steal my joy.
Sitting in the presence of God restores my soul like nothing else. He is my provision, my calm, my quiet. AND...when I get all whirled up about the things of this world, sometimes...LOVINGLY, He MAKES me lie down, slow down and takes me to the quiet places. On February 10-11, I will LINGER again...I can't wait. My gift to myself is really God's gift to me.
For the past few years, I have given myself the gift of going to the Linger Conference. It is hosted by two of the COOLEST Christian singers Shane and Shane and for two of my favorite days of the year, I get to just sit in the presence of Jesus and worship and learn with no outside agenda pulling me. It is like the story of Martha and Mary where Martha (most women) scurries about trying to take care of all the details while Mary sits at the feet of Jesus. When Martha complains to Jesus, He tells her Mary is the one who has chosen wisely. I have the verse taped on my computer at work to remind me daily to choose wisely the things that bring life and not worry so much about those that either don't bring life or steal my joy.
Sitting in the presence of God restores my soul like nothing else. He is my provision, my calm, my quiet. AND...when I get all whirled up about the things of this world, sometimes...LOVINGLY, He MAKES me lie down, slow down and takes me to the quiet places. On February 10-11, I will LINGER again...I can't wait. My gift to myself is really God's gift to me.
Beau
Psalm 22:19, "But You, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me."
Utter dependence. It can be a scary place. But, it can be oh so beautiful. Earlier in the psalm, David declares, "Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust in You even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother's womb You have been my God." From first creation, God's greatest desire was for our dependence to be for Him. That we all be His and in relationship with Him. He foreknew us before we were even born and as we enter the world we are completely dependent...often at our mother's breast. Definitely one of my greatest joys of motherhood. Their needs were so simple then and the time when it is just you and your baby is exquisite. They whimpered in the night, and you go quickly to meet their need.
David met God there. He knew he was God's from the beginning. Have you realized that yet? He knew His heavenly Father would be there to meet his need...not what it looked like (that's our flesh), but that He would show up and answer his prayer...maybe prolonging life....maybe in the assurance of resurrection because although we are His at birth, He has given us the free will to choose Him and when we do eternal life is always ours.
I cannot state it enough or too much. The worst times in my life, when I had nothing to depend on but God were the most beautiful, intimate moments of my life. Going through them is our hell on earth, depending on Him our heaven. For this to be my daily cry...be not far off. He never is, it's me that moves away. To wake up each morning and remember...be not far off...I need YOU to make it through this day.
We had to put our dog, Beau, down this week. I say our because I loved him, too. But, he was really John's dog. They had an indescribable bond. And although we have other dogs, there was this "thing" with them. Toward the end, Beau could not walk. John carried him. He carried him to pee, he carried him to poop, cleaned him off...Beau would "peep" (his little whimper) and John was up...tending to the need of his love that was dependent on him. Never without hesitation, never with complaint. Out of this crazy unconditional love.
I don't know where or if this will reach you. Maybe you've felt the love of your mother at her breast or of your own child. Maybe the unconditional love of your furry family member whose one desire is you. If you hear nothing else, please hear this...none of this, NONE OF IT compares to the love of God. His complete, unconditional love that waits for your dependence on Him. "..You, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me."
Utter dependence. It can be a scary place. But, it can be oh so beautiful. Earlier in the psalm, David declares, "Yet You brought me out of the womb; You made me trust in You even at my mother's breast. From birth I was cast upon You; from my mother's womb You have been my God." From first creation, God's greatest desire was for our dependence to be for Him. That we all be His and in relationship with Him. He foreknew us before we were even born and as we enter the world we are completely dependent...often at our mother's breast. Definitely one of my greatest joys of motherhood. Their needs were so simple then and the time when it is just you and your baby is exquisite. They whimpered in the night, and you go quickly to meet their need.
David met God there. He knew he was God's from the beginning. Have you realized that yet? He knew His heavenly Father would be there to meet his need...not what it looked like (that's our flesh), but that He would show up and answer his prayer...maybe prolonging life....maybe in the assurance of resurrection because although we are His at birth, He has given us the free will to choose Him and when we do eternal life is always ours.
I cannot state it enough or too much. The worst times in my life, when I had nothing to depend on but God were the most beautiful, intimate moments of my life. Going through them is our hell on earth, depending on Him our heaven. For this to be my daily cry...be not far off. He never is, it's me that moves away. To wake up each morning and remember...be not far off...I need YOU to make it through this day.
We had to put our dog, Beau, down this week. I say our because I loved him, too. But, he was really John's dog. They had an indescribable bond. And although we have other dogs, there was this "thing" with them. Toward the end, Beau could not walk. John carried him. He carried him to pee, he carried him to poop, cleaned him off...Beau would "peep" (his little whimper) and John was up...tending to the need of his love that was dependent on him. Never without hesitation, never with complaint. Out of this crazy unconditional love.
I don't know where or if this will reach you. Maybe you've felt the love of your mother at her breast or of your own child. Maybe the unconditional love of your furry family member whose one desire is you. If you hear nothing else, please hear this...none of this, NONE OF IT compares to the love of God. His complete, unconditional love that waits for your dependence on Him. "..You, O Lord, be not far off; O my Strength, come quickly to help me."
Saturday, February 4, 2017
"Timber?!"
Psalm 21:7, "For the king trusts in the Lord; through the unfailing love of the Most High he will not be shaken."
When I hear of this verse, I think of the huge sequoia trees in California...big enough to drive a car through. I think...maybe wish moreso...that this is how we should all be. The Bible also talks about trees and their roots. Jeremiah 17:8, "They will be like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has not worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Psalm 1:3 also says, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that bears its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
I want to be so rooted in God's Word, His Love, His Community of believers that the circumstances of this life will not shake me. I have no reason to doubt His love...how deep, how wide, how far. I've seen it in my life. He is always faithful, He is always good.
When I hear of this verse, I think of the huge sequoia trees in California...big enough to drive a car through. I think...maybe wish moreso...that this is how we should all be. The Bible also talks about trees and their roots. Jeremiah 17:8, "They will be like a tree planted by water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has not worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit." Psalm 1:3 also says, "He is like a tree planted by streams of water that bears its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither. In all that he does, he prospers."
I want to be so rooted in God's Word, His Love, His Community of believers that the circumstances of this life will not shake me. I have no reason to doubt His love...how deep, how wide, how far. I've seen it in my life. He is always faithful, He is always good.
Thursday, February 2, 2017
You've got a friend in me
Psalm 20:5, "We will shout for joy when you are victorious and will lift up our banner in the name of our God. May the Lord grant all your requests."
David was a leader. He taught the people by example that the Lord answers from His Holy Heaven and saves with His right hand. He showed that while others trusted in earthly things like horses and chariots that their trust should be in the Lord (verses 6-7). So as David prepared for battle, his people lifted him up in prayer...asking that God protect him, support him, remember his sacrifices, give him the desires of his heart and make his plans succeed.
In those days, when they went to battle in tribes, each tribe lifted its banner to show who they were fighting for. Their banner was the banner of the Lord. His peeps not only prayed for him in his need, they rejoiced in his victory and gave the glory to God.
It is a beautiful example of how we are to intercede for our friends as they face illness or personal battles. There is a deep, beautiful almost indescribable feeling when your friends have stood by you and as they rejoice with you. God calls us to community for this reason.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 says it this way:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
David was a leader. He taught the people by example that the Lord answers from His Holy Heaven and saves with His right hand. He showed that while others trusted in earthly things like horses and chariots that their trust should be in the Lord (verses 6-7). So as David prepared for battle, his people lifted him up in prayer...asking that God protect him, support him, remember his sacrifices, give him the desires of his heart and make his plans succeed.
In those days, when they went to battle in tribes, each tribe lifted its banner to show who they were fighting for. Their banner was the banner of the Lord. His peeps not only prayed for him in his need, they rejoiced in his victory and gave the glory to God.
It is a beautiful example of how we are to intercede for our friends as they face illness or personal battles. There is a deep, beautiful almost indescribable feeling when your friends have stood by you and as they rejoice with you. God calls us to community for this reason.
Ecclesiastes 4: 9-12 says it this way:
Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
10 If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up.
11 Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm.
But how can one keep warm alone?
12 Though one may be overpowered,
two can defend themselves.
A cord of three strands is not quickly broken.
Live in community...love, pray and rejoice together. To Him be the glory.
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