He's got the whole world in His hands

Psalm 58:11, "Then men will say, 'Surely the righteous still are rewarded; surely there is a God who judges the earth.'"

"It is written: '"As surely as I live," says the Lord, "every knee will bow before me; every tongue will acknowledge God."' (Romans 14:11)  The day, it is a comin'.  You can count on it.  The world will be judged rightly.  It doesn't seem like it should be that hard.  Why can't it happen now?  Why can't we judge rightly?  Some can and some do.  

What I love about this psalm after studying it is that David CAN.  He was God's anointed King with all authority to punish Israel's wicked judges.  Even in his power, however, he deferred to God as THE ultimate authority who had the ultimate authority over the wicked.  So, he prayed...kinda a scary, imprecatory prayer about ripping their teeth out.  But instead of acting violently toward them himself, he took his anger and laid at the feet of someone who could handle it with the confidence that God not only could but would.

He also set an example for believers.  We should pray about our unjust rulers and know that God WILL deal with them righteously and submit to His will for handling it.  He's big enough to handle judges and he's big enough to handle the wicked and unjust in our own lives when we follow David's example.  He's got a handle on it.  "Don't be afraid, just believe." (Mark 5:36)

welcome to the jungle

Psalm 57:2, "I cry out to God most High, to God, who fulfills His purpose for me."

In this psalm, David cries out as if in a jungle.  He is a bird hiding in the shelter of wings.  Those who seek him are lions and ravenous beasts.  His jungle is really a cave and those seeking him are Saul and his men.  But he is being hunted and he calls out to God most High.

Most of us won't experience the tropical jungle, but we do live in the concrete jungle.  We might have people pursuing us (bosses, coworkers, frenemies, family...) or maybe just demons (greed, envy, lust, slander, gossip, that loser satan trying to tell you that you're not good enough and that you failed in so many areas...) 

I have never truly experienced someone coming after me (Thank You, Lord).  But that little booger satan goes through periods where he doesn't leave me alone...wants me living in shame, comparing myself to others who do it better, who have more, weigh less, workout more, complain less, love more...blah, blah, blah.  He's not even original, he plays the same tricks on everyone.

Like David, I can cry out to God Most High and have confidence that He hears me.  He knew me before I was born (Jeremiah 29:11).  He knows my heart (Psalm 139) something satan can never do.  He is working things out for my good (Romans 8:28).  Philippians 1:6 tells me, "Being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it out to completion until the day of Christ Jesus"

Next time you find yourself in a jungle, sing a new song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1R4rhzSHORY

Drop-the-mic

Psalm 56:13, "For you have delivered me from death and my feet from stumbling, that I may walk before God in the light of life."

Talk about gratitude!  It's all right there in black and white.  The gospel message in one verse....drop the mic, exit stage left.

I get the big one...He delivered me from death.  He sent His beloved Son whom He was with before time and offered Him up as an atoning sacrifice for every disgusting thing I've ever done.  For every disgusting thing every person has done...the stuff we can't even think about because it is unimagineable in our minds that any human being would even do such things.  Yet, He says if I have hate in my heart, I, too am a murderer.  Or, if I have lust, I have already committed adultery.  I have to remind myself of these things lest I get the idea that my stuff isn't as stinky as someone else's.  But, you get it?!  As filthy as I am, He wipes me clean as snow and I GET to have fellowship with Him FOREVER.  M-I-N-D B-L-O-W-N!

It's the little stuff I probably miss way more than I get.  He keeps me from stumbling.  I have seen the "big" ones...where He has kept my tongue from gossip, kept my eyes on my loving husband, kept anger at bay when all I want to do is lash out with every fiber of my being.  I know, though, there are a million things I don't see because I am reminded, "For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." (Ephesians 6:12)  

We get saved once (He chose us and gave us to Jesus and we choose to believe Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins).  We kinda think it's a one and done thing.  But we have to choose everyday to die to our flesh and choose to abide in Him.  And when we abide in Him, He is EVERY DAY fighting for us in the heavenlies.  And every day because His love is so great, we get to walk in His light.

Come and getcha some of that!

burden bearer

Psalm 55:22, "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall."

David's buddy has come after him and he is in a world of hurt.  You would think betrayal is betrayal is betrayal.  But, when our hearts become involved, it hurts so much worse when it comes from a friend or even someone you once cared about but are no longer invovled with.  

In honesty, I have wished that I could be there when God punished my supposed perpetrator of wrong and see them get what their just punishment.  But, I don't really wish that.  I cannot even imagine how horrific and painful God's vengeance is and don't really want to see it.  My pastor once help set my mind right on this as well.  When ISIS had just beheaded a beachful of Christians and were/are ravaging children, I truly did want to see the hurt they brought upon others returned to them about 100 fold.  But, my pastor reminded me of Paul and how he was once an enemy of the Christians seeking after and torturing and killing them.  But God saw something else and Paul became one of the greatest evangelist.  Dang it.  Sometimes you do just want to see evil repayed with evil when the wrong is so egragious.  So, He suggested praying that there might be a Paul among them that God would use.

And truthfully, hate is so energy draining.  When that becomes our focus, evil wins.  Satan has gotten a two-fer because now your heart has become dark.  So, I pray for my "perpetrator of wrong".  And when I can't because sometimes the pain is raw, others have stood in the gap for me and prayed.  In return, I have been able to do the same for them.  We serve a MIGHTY God that is willing to take our burden of hate and do with it what we can't even imagine.  He is faithful.  He will punish evil.  He will sustain His righteous.  He is mighty to save and has vision that we do not.  Take your cares to Him and keep focusing your eyes on Him, the perfector of our faith.

while the nearer waters roll

Psalm 54:4, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me."

That's pretty crazy trust sometimes...to know God is your help and have the confidence that He will take care of you.  I have a prodigal son who lives far away from God and has made some poor choices.  In the really tough years, there were many sleepless nights, tears, yelling.  But there is peace when you come to the end of your own strength and lay him down before God, praying for him even knowing that you might not see the answer to your prayers on this side of the grave, but that God is your help.  We have a friend at church who was in a REALLY bad place.  His mother prayed for his deliverance so often.  Then one year she gave him an odd birthday present that turned him around...a tombstone for his grave.  If you could see him now.  I did not know him in his previous life, but this brother is on fire for the Lord and has shared God's love and salvation with so many people.  He has a full-on, Jesus squeezin' hug just waiting for you. He is a treasure and had a faithful momma on her knees who knew, "Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me."

I have seen sick friends pray for healing for themselves or for family.  Watching their journey of faith is nothing short of amazing.  The answers come this side of heaven and sometimes not, but there is a peaceful confidence in the Lord.  David prays from this place.  He has confidence in God's deliverance...no idea what it will look like, but prays for what He knows is God's will-His own purposes and knows that God is faithful.  So God sustains him as he runs from Saul.  

I don't know your journey, but I know He will sustain you through it.  There is no greater lover of your soul.

lights on!

Psalm 53:6, "Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!  When God restores the fortunes of His people, let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad."

I so feel the frustration and desire of my brother, David.  I get bummed listening to the news...lately it seems like a lot of hit and runs.  And I think repeatedly, "What is wrong with people?  Jesus, please just come."   There is lots of yuck out there.  There is also TONS of good. That's why "gratitude" is my word this year and why I want to focus on my gratitude attitude.  Because there is a lot of darkness out there, the "yuck" sells.  There is so much great stuff going on and I want to be eyes wide open to see the little "God winks" out there.  People doing the little things that go unnoticed if we aren't looking but just might change the course of the person that is directly affected and ripple on out there.  (side note:  check out these guys I started following...especially "Andre the Giant"...go my little godly brother!!) 
https://www.facebook.com/raisingmenlawncarehsv/?pnref=lhc

But eyes wide open also means seeing the darkness and wanting to be light in it.  Then, going to the One who is light and plugging into His source so we can radiate it out.  That's why the FULL armor of God (Ephesians 6: 10-18), because it does feel like a battle sometimes.  Gratefully, we also have the New Testament.  John 16:33 tells us, "I tell you these things so that IN ME you might have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."  That's some pretty sweet reason to be rejoicing.  He's coming and will restore Israel (His chosen people) and us! Shine on!

Blessed be Your name

Psalm 52:9, "I will praise You forever for what You have done; in Your name I will hope, for Your name is good.  I will praise You in the presence of Your saints."

It is easy to praise God on the mountaintops, but hard to praise God in the valleys sometimes.  Wherever you are on that journey, His name is always good and we can cling to His name because He is faithful and true always.  He cannot deny His character so that is an anchor for our hope that makes us secure.  

I know, for me, that one thing that helps is one of the blessings He gives us as a resource...His people.  I am blessed with sweet community; but right now I'm just talking about the congregation at church (the saints).  In some of my deepest valleys, when the urge to isolate sounds so much easier than having to rewalk through the struggle you are in, just being at church during praise and worship has been a game changer mentally. 

I remember going to church one Sunday morning with one of my children beside me who was walking through a valley (and when your child is in the valley, you are right beside them aching in such a way that your heart physically hurts) and I couldn't even stand during praise and worship.  I was tired and wounded.  As the worship team sang, I just sat and let God's Words in song pour over me from them and from the congregation.  The people of God lifting me up without their even knowing as their songs poured over me.  Eventually your heart is attuned again to God's and you are able to say, whatever the circumstance, Blessed be Your name"

Blessed Be Your Name
In the land that is plentiful
Where Your streams of abundance flow
Blessed be Your name

Blessed Be Your name
When I'm found in the desert place
Though I walk through the wilderness
Blessed Be Your name

Every blessing You pour out, I'll
Turn back to praise
When the darkness closes in, Lord
Still I will say

Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your name
Blessed be the name of the Lord
Blessed be Your glorious name

Blessed be Your name
When the sun's shining down on me
When the world's 'all as it should be'
Blessed be Your name

Blessed be Your name
On the road marked with suffering
Though there's pain in the offering
Blessed be Your name

you are not da' man

Psalm 51:17, "The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, You will not despise."

He created us, He knows what's in us.  He knows we have sinned, will sin and have even thought/think about sin.  In the Old Testament, the blood of a perfect lamb atoned for these sins.  In the New Testament, the blood of a perfect Savior atoned for our sins if we believe that Jesus is the Son of God.  

I love the parable of the Pharisee and the Tax Collector in Luke 18 (forgive my retelling).  Both men are in the temple to pray.  The Pharisee is all full of himself, looks around and says, "God I thank you that I am not like the other men-robbers, evildoers, adulterers-or even like this tax collector..." He goes on to list why "he da man" (like God is wantin his list of works).  The Tax Collector, on the other hand, despised by man because of his job alone, wouldn't even go close, but stood far away.  He looked up to Heaven (a completely different posture of prayer), beat his breast and said, "God, have mercy on me, a sinner."  Jesus teaches that the tax collector went home forgiven and justified before God.  His whole attitude was different.  You want to smack one and hug the other (if you're being honest).

It's like that in relationships.  I love everyone I know, but I want to hang with the one I know is all in and all out there.  They don't hide their junk, they don't look down their noses at anyone else, because their junk is just as stinky as everyone else's.  I love their heart on such a deeper level and experience way more intimacy with them than the superficial hang...that is almost painful to me (especially as an introvert) to have to make up surface level conversation.

God wants our heart broken before Him.  He already knows what's in there, but He sure would love to expose it to us so we, in turn, once He has cleansed it, can have our whole heart of affection toward Him.  Psalm 51 is SUCH a beautiful example of a deep, penitent prayer of forgiveness that draws David closer to God.  He makes no excuses, but knows he is missing intimacy with God because of his sin. He came to God with his broken mess of a heart and asks Him to cleanse it and create in him a new heart.  God wants that attitude of I'm broken and the only One who knows how to make it right is You.  There is such a DEEP well of intimacy there that makes you, like David, want to tell everyone of His great mercy.  Won't you meet God there?  He doesn't want a superficial hang, He wants deep intimacy with you, His beloved.

thanks-living

Psalm 50:23, "He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and He prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God."

From before you were born, He has chosen you.  He knows you intimately and loves you inspite of it 🙂 Although it is by no means easy, it is the easiest relationship you will ever be in.  His requirements of you:  to love Him and abide in Him.  There is no condition to His love because even when you mess up, He is right there walking you through, holding you up and loving you.  He WANTS to carry your burden so that you would not have to.  He LONGS to sing over you (Zeph. 3:17) and give you life to the full (John 10:10)

The Israelites, His chosen people, had been making sacrifices to Him as were required but God had felt these were empty offerings.  So, He called them to rebuke and show them that what He wants is our heart of thanks.  To thank Him for all He has provided us...not empty words but the love-thanks you give when you realize with gratitude the ultimate love sacrifice He gave for us.  They had not known Christ, but saw God's love in their repeated deliverance and protection from enemies and His amazing provision of food, rest, land, blessing.   How much greater should our thanks-living be?  We know Jesus' atoning sacrifice.  

Much as being grateful for a gift given and how thanking the giver blesses them because they get to see your joy.  Our thanking Him for His provision honors Him and we get to see the salvation of God.  And what a great way to live your life...looking for every sweet blessing He gives and thanking Him.  It is such a two-way street of joy!

eyes on the prize

Psalm 49:15, "But God will redeem my life from the grave; He will surely take me to Himself." 

Kidner says, "The great But God is one of the mountain-tops of the Old Testament hope."  The people in O.T. times did not yet understand the resurrection, but they did hope in life after death.  Their hope is our assurance.  We don't have to wonder:  Jesus came, died for our sins, and conquered death when He rose from the grave and returned to His rightful place with God.  

In this psalm and in our times, there is a present economy when often the "wicked" prosper over the righteous.  Even in the ancient times, the psalmist warns against envy of the ungodly who prosper, or feeling inferior to them as all that they are living for will perish...BUT GOD will raise up those who fear Him into a glorious future beyond the grave.  There is a new economy coming when God flips the table and the righteous will rule.  

To be sure it is not a sin to be wealthy.  Wiersbe had several thought on this:

"It isn't a sin to have wealth, provided we earned it honestly, spend it wisely, and invest it faithfully in that which pleases the Lord"
and
"It's good to have things that money can buy, if we don't lose the things money can't buy.  It's sad when people start to confuse prices with values."

They say comparison is the thief of joy.  I love this as I spent my youth comparing myself to my surroundings.  The psalmist points to where our true joy comes from...knowing we are redeemed and there is a glorious life beyond this temporary one.  "So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen in eternal." (2 Cor. 4:18) "Set your mind on things above, not on earthly things" (Col.3:2).  It's a message as old as time, but still relevant today.

just remember this

Psalm 48:14, "For this God is our God for ever and ever; He will be our guide even to the end."

God had delivered Zion from her enemies.  Jereusalem secure and glorious because His favor rested on them.  So, what would be the natural response?  This psalmist praised God because He is worthy of praise.  God had defended His capital...at times using natural forces:  Israeli forces and at times using supernatural forces:  His angelic armies (Dr. Constable).  Because He had preserved His people, the writer encourages them to continue following Him.

So, how does that apply to us?  Dr. Constable reminds us that we should:
1)  view divine deliverance as evidence of God's faithful power
2)  remember and share our salvation (fortifying our own faith)
3)  encourage others to trust Him

Sometimes there are these HUGE moments that everyone can see and say, "Only God..." (relationships reconciled, marriages restored...).  Other times it is in the sweet little moments that God gives you a little nudge to show He's still hanging in there with you (random money showing up just when you need it, a friendly voice encouraging you with scripture,  a friend praying for you in your time of need).  In those not so stellar moments that is when you remember the little God winks or His hand ALL OVER something in your life.

2010-2014 were some TOUGH years.  There were many times I wondered where God was???  John encouraged me to write on little pieces of paper all the times God has showed up for me...big and small...and put them in this little box.  And when I needed to remember because in the moment I couldn't even focus,  to reach in that box and see all of the times of His divine deliverance, to remember them, and then to encourage others.  Most of all to remember: THIS God is OUR GOD for EVER and EVER.  He will be my guide even to the end.   

who's at your table?

Psalm 47: 7-9, "For God is the King of all the earth; sing to Him a psalm of praise.  God reigns over the nations; God is seated on His holy throne.  The nobles of the nations assemble as the people of the God of Abraham, for the kings of the earth belong to God; He is greatly exalted."

Ever been in a tiff? I've seen and heard of conflicts resolved in the most beautiful way when those sitting around the table are brothers and sisters in Christ.  There is a lack of ego involved that is not seen elsewhere and resolution can often witness to others.  

It's what I desire for our world.  It's what can happen if we all turn back to God or to Him for the first time.  When we quit wielding that "I'm large and in charge" attitude and realize it all belongs to God.  In the end, He's going to rule over all the nations.  Some pretty powerful people are going to be pretty humbled when their thrones crumble.  But there is always hope.  God waits for all to come to Him so that all might be saved.  

It starts with one heart...the one beating in you.  You are then on mission to share it with others and the Holy Spirit will touch their hearts.  If one king, one ruler would come to the table as a servant and love others with his/her ego checked, who knows what might happen?! If your heart is all in, pray for our leaders so that their hearts might submit to Truth.  

One day, when we all gather we will be a people from all nations that are all people of the God of Abraham.  He will reign over us and we will sing His praise.

fearless

Psalm 46:5, "God is within her, she will not fall; God will help her at break of day."

Of course the writer here is talking about Israel; and is relying on the God who preserved Jacob would protect Israel.  He is our refuge and our strength, our fortress.  And the oft quoted, "Be still and know that I am God..." (v. 10) has been a source of strength, peace, comfort in times of trouble or struggling for me.  Shane and Shane wrote "Lord of Hosts" based on Psalm 46 on their Psalms II album.  "Lord of Hosts You're with us, with us in the fire, with us as a shelter, with us in the storm. You will lead us through the fiercest battle; oh where else would we go but with the Lord of Hosts."  The battles that we fight are not of flesh, but in the spiritual realm and the God of angel armies is behind us and goes before us.  Any who fights against Him will not stand.  Again, in the psalm, the writer refers to her, Israel.

But the Bible is as relevant now as it was then and why it has stood the test of time...because it is TRUTH.  He battled for Israel,  He battles for you, He battles for me.  WE are the her.  "God is within HER, she will not fall."  Oh, what a beautiful truth.  The One who controls angel armies is on my side and within me.  Whom shall I fear?

here comes the bride

Psalm 45:4-6, "In your majesty ride forth victoriously in behalf of truth, humility and righteousness; let your right hand display awesome deeds.  Let your sharp arrows pierce the hearts of the king's enemies; let the nations fall beneath your feet.  Your throne, O God, will last for ever and ever; a scepter of justice will be the scepter of your kingdom."

A wedding psalm, not so coincidentally on my anniversary.  The wedding in view is the wedding of a king to his bride.  True to ancient times, it is also a prophetic psalm that talks about the return of Christ when He comes for his Bride and to set up His eternal Kingdom on earth.  

We make much of our weddings here.  A lot of money is spent on the big day.  My favorite part as a guest is to watch the groom when he sees his bride the first time.  His face/expression is as beautiful as the bride.  

I have done it both ways.  The big church wedding and reception; and the simple wedding with just family and intimate reception.  I am not proud at all of having done it twice, that is not my point.  There was a difference that cannot be left out.  In my simple wedding, we not only invited God to the wedding, but into the marriage.  He is the center of it.  My husband strives everyday to love me as Christ loves the church.  We each try to die a little to ourselves as we put the other first.  We know we are second in each other's lives and I wouldn't have it any other way.  It is a love that is unlike any other when you love through Christ.  

It will be different when Christ returns.  WE (the bride) will be waiting.  He will come down on clouds riding in His majesty victoriously and as we look upon His face, it will drive us to our knees or face down as we see our bridegroom coming for us.  He will reign as our Bridegroom with truth, justice, humility and righteousness.  Our beautiful Bridegroom coming to His bride.  I can only imagine.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N_lrrq_opng

too big for ma britches

Psalm 44:3, "It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was Your right hand, Your arm, and the light of Your face, for You loved them."

The psalmist is calling God to awaken and help Israel against their present enemies.  They had experienced defeat and long for God to come to their aid for His name's sake.  He makes this request based on the faithfulness of God to the promises made to their forefathers.  They had experienced His victory in battle many times.  They also gave the glory to Him...knowing that it was not their sword or arm that had brought the victory.

Sometimes, in my righteous indignation, I'm like, "what is up with these Israelites?  They get their way and then so quickly forget and start complaining again?!  I have learned how mighty big I get in my own britches.  And unlike the Israelites, I have the Old and New Testament that I have on my heart AND the Holy Spirit living inside me...and YET I still am quick to forget that every good and perfect thing in my life comes from God above (James 1:17)...like SOMEHOW, I had anything to really do with the favor I have found.  So, I love that the writer calls to mind that it was You, Lord.  You gave them the victory...the light of Your face and Your strength.  Help me remember, Lord, that it is You who makes all things beautiful and fights for me.  

this little light of mine

Psalm 43:3, "Send forth Your light and Your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your Holy mountain, to the place where You dwell." 

God's light is so may things in our lives.  It is His mercy and His steadfast love.  It is His revelation of His will that helps us understand life sometimes.  His truth is in His Word that reveals His will (Dr. Constable).  The writer of this psalm wants God to bring him back to Jerusalem away from his enemies to the place where, at the time, God dwelt and he felt safe and could praise Him.  

We were asked in our Bible study whether we would rather have Jesus with us as He was with the disciple or as we have Him today?  While it would have been super cool to walk with, eat with, see, hear and touch Him then, He was only one physical man (fully God, fully man) that could only be present in one place; because He went to the cross, those who believe receive the Holy Spirit and God is within us always...ALL of us.  The Holy Spirit's job is to guide us in Truth.  "He will not speak on His own, He will speak only what He hears, and will tell you what is yet to come.   He will bring glory to Me by taking from what is mine and making it known to you.  All that belongs to the Father is mine.  That is why I said that the Spirit will take from what is mine and make it known to you." (John 16: 13b-15)

All this to say, we don't have to find a place to praise Him or to seek His will.  It is within us always when we believe that Jesus is the Son of God who died for our sins.  You do have to abide though and ask.   God does not just reside in Jerusalem any more.  He is within you.  Because you have the Holy Spirit, you know God.  Read His Word, pray for the Holy Spirit to reveal to you the wisdom of the words.  And PRAISE HIM. Praise Him where you are whether it is on the mountaintop or, like Paul, in a jail cell.  He is worthy of our praise...everywhere.

not just a Sunday thing

Psalm 42:8, "By day the Lord directs His love, at night His song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life."

There has been a marked difference in my thought and in my talk and in my walk.  And the answer is easy.  When I started spending time with God, He changed these things in me.  There is also remarkable beauty and hope in knowing He is still working things out in me.  I haven't arrived, I will not ever arrive until I am complete in my heavenly body when I am more like Him.  And the more I strive to know, the more I realize I don't know...and the more I want to know.  And the more I want to know, the more time I spend with Him and He is with me constantly....directing with His love by day, singing over me at night.  His songs are always on my heart.

In the great times, the not so great, and the downright yuck when I cry out, "my God. My soul is downcast within me; therefore I will remember you" (v.6)...there is a prayer in my heart to the God of my life.

love, forgive, confess

Psalm 41:4  "I said, 'O Lord, have mercy on me; heal me, for I have sinned against You.'"

I had a friend that, in his graciousness, pointed out a horrible flaw in me back in high school and I am forever grateful.  We met in 8th grade and had been friends throughout high school.  At the time, I was fighting with my other best friend and he told me that in all the time he had known me that he had never heard me say I was sorry for something I had done.  Man, it hit me between the eyes and in the heart.  I was so arrogant.  

I have gotten better since then.  I do own my mistakes, some of them...I am still a stinky sinner...and ask for forgiveness.  This is one of those verses, that like a sweet friend, hits you smack dab in the head and heart.  God has shown mercy upon mercy toward me and His mercies are new each morning.  (Lamentations 3:22-23, "Because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.")

We love because He first loved us (1 John 4:19).  We forgive because He forgave (Colossians 3:13).  We confess our sins to each other and pray for each other so we may be healed (James 5:16).  We are told to do all these things.  What slayed me in this verse, is that I SO often forget that every sin I have done against another, is really a sin that I have done against my gracious Father.  Even in my times of asking forgiveness from another, I do not ask Him for forgiveness for grieving Him.  So I go to Him now and I ask forgiveness and mercy because every day I sin.  Father, forgive me.  I have grieved You and I need Your mercy.  Thank You for Your faithfulness in my life. 

Here I am Lord

Psalm 40:7-8, "The I said, 'Here I am, I have come-it is written about me in the scroll.  I desire to do your will, O my God; Your law is within my heart.'"

Because God had been so good to David, he offered himself as a living sacrifice.  Romans 12:1 says, "Therefore, I urge you brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God, this is your spiritual act of worship."  Paul wrote this to the church in Rome.  Isaiah offered himself (Isaiah 6:8) Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?'  And I said, 'Here am I send me!'"

As believers, we should all present ourselves as living sacrifices to the Lord with a willing heart because of His grace to us.  He has commissioned us to go...be His hands and feet...do even greater things than these (through HIM)

Little know fact if you don't know me well...I LOVE rap music.  Before I walked with God, I listened to some pretty nasty stuff.    Good news (beyond my glorious salvation), there are Christian rap artists that are sweet (shout out Lecrae, Tedashi, KB, Trip Lee, Fedel).  Even cooler, instead of the me against you mentality in the rap world, these brothers banded together and formed a group, 116 Clique (off of Romans 1:16, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God that brings salvation to everyone who believes:  first to the Jew, then to the Gentile.").  Little background here: the first time I heard Lecrae I was picking up my daughter at Kanakuk Kamps.  I have played Christian music in my car since forEVER ago and although my kids have heard it, their reaction to it was always kind of "meh".  When I went to pick Sydney up, they were cranking out this stuff and the kids were going nuts.  Lacrae has even written some of the theme songs (as has Fedel) for camp.  I was sold.  If rap music, because it is relevant, made Christ more known to this next generation...BRING IT ON!

I don't know who this touches.  If it is relevant to your journey, please enjoy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fv6sQKHdgOA


If not, the scripture is full of enough of examples and opportunities to be living sacrifices (Matthew 9:37-38; 1Corinthians 9:22; Hebrews 12:1; Hebrews 11).  Jump in, send me, I'll go!

word vomit

Psalm 39:1, "I said, 'I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sin; I will put a muzzle on my mouth as long as the wicked are in my presence.'"

My mouth is a big source of trouble.  In my 51 years, I am still learning to tame it...or better yet to be silent.  It is unclear here what sin David is being chastised for, but he is choosing to be silent in the moment.  Later, when David does speak, he vents his frustrations to God.  I love that!  #goals

I need to learn to hold my tongue.  I have a Holy and loving Father that will help me work through my anger, frustrations and issues.  I am a slow processor by nature.  When giving advice, those who know me give me time to process and wait to hear what God has to say.  I don't know where the disconnect is, but in times of anger and frustration, I forget to TAKE THE TIME to process and a little word vomit escapes my mouth and can do way more damage than good.  It damages my earthly relationships, but more importantly it damages my intimacy with God and my testimony for Him.  I am incongruent.  I say I love Jesus more than anything and yet the words of my mouth do not reflect that I even know Him sometimes.  Oh, Lord help me....muzzle my mouth until I come talk to You first.  Keep my tongue from sin.  I cannot do it on my own and need You to help me.

hide-and-seek

Psalm 38:9, "All my longings lie open before You, O Lord; my sighing is not hidden from You."

Most of us have played the worst game of hide-and-seek ever with a friend, sibling, child your babysitting or your own child.  The concept isn't quite there.  As a small child, if they can't see you, they think you can't see them...even in plain sight.  They will hid under a table with their whole body exposed but their head...hey, they can't see you.  Or they will just flat out tell you, "you're never going to find me behind __________."

The same is true of our sin with God.  Our hearts our exposed to Him...ALWAYS.  Whatever sin we think we are hiding, God is the master "Finder".  He even knows our thoughts so there is no hiding there.  

David, as believed of this psalm, has sinned with Bathsheba.  They boys are out fighting, he has seen and had her while her husband was away.  When she becomes pregnant, he tries to manipulate Uriah (her husband that he has called back from war) into sleeping with her.  When his manipulation fails, he kills Uriah and marries Bathsheba.  And he tries to go on like "it ain't no thang".  The prophet Nathan calls him out and they pay for their sin in painful ways.  

There's two ways to go:  you can turn from God and cling to your sin for its temporary pleasure OR you can turn to God, confess your sin and turn from it and experience eternal pleasure because the debt of your sin was already paid for.   You get to choose.  The choice you don't have is thinking you're going to play the worst game of hide-the-sin from the Master Finder.

The awesome thing is He wants you to come lay it before Him...AND He will comfort you.  Let your longings be known, let your sighings be known.  He WANTS to be in that intimate relationship with you.  He's already there waiting for you to come to Him with what He already knows. 

here we go round the mulberry bush

Psalm 37:39-40, "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; He is their stronghold in time of trouble.  The Lord helps them and delivers them; He delivers them from the wicked and saves the, because they take refuge in Him."

I took philosophy in college...one of those wretched classes that they make you take so they pop out well-rounded kids I suppose (and separate parents from their money).  Whatever the reason, my head wanted to explode.   If...then...therefore...but the reason was always part of the answer.  It makes my head want to explode even now.  It felt like a dog chasing its tail in a tiny, little, cruel circle.  

And yet, I find myself drawn to this verse, "The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord."  Salvation comes from the Lord...check.  The Lord saves the righteous...check.  I am righteous only because I have salvation from the Lord...here we go.  The only righteousness I have is because I have the righteousness of Jesus who died for me.  Because I have His righteousness, I have salvation.  Ya see where I'm going?!  I kind of like it, though.  There's this constant dependence in it.  I don't want out of the circle.  I have righteousness from Him who gives me salvation.  His salvation is for those who have righteousness in Him.  It was NEVER up to me.  It has NOTHING to do with anything I have done in my past; nor will any work I EVER do earn me either righteousness or salvation.  I am completely dependent on Him.  And in this circle I find refuge...and because I find refuge, I am promised a stronghold in times of trouble and deliverance from evil.

Wanna go round that mulberry bush, again?

gimme, gimme, gimme

Psalm 37:3-4, "Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.  Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart."

In my earlier days, I would have used this verse to justify my laundry list of desires I prayed for and the reason I should get all those things.  I grew up in the land of "haves" and I was a "have not".  Not that I ever needed for anything and had abundance in all we had.  But the thief of joy, comparison, is an ugly little bugger and I thought I "needed" lots of things (hello "Candy" shoes, "Polo" shirts, "Izods", "Tretorn" tennis shoes, etc).

All the prosperity gospel out there.  God will pour blessings on you when you put your faith in Him.  While this is indeed true, what is often missed is that HE IS THE BLESSING...not the stuff.  Dr. Constable reminded me that the righteous who "delight in the Lord" will want to see HIS will done.  And Henry said, "...we must make God our heart's delight and THEN we shall have our heart's desire."  So simple, so sweet and complete.   Most days I get it.  Comparison occasionally will show up and rear her ugly head, but I don't have to go very far to realize that stuff has never really satisfied the desires of my heart the way He always has.  So I will trust in Him and I will dwell in His Word and be ever so grateful He is the desire of my heart.