make 'em count

Psalm 90:12, "Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom."

Talk about cool, this psalm was written by Moses.  It's like seeing an original painting by an artist.  It is the oldest psalm.  I don't know why, it just awes me to read it.

All that aside.  Moses makes a request to God.  In view of our brief lives, that He would teach us to "number our days"...to realize how few they are and then use our time wisely for eternal purposes.  Lots of Christianese.

This Saturday I will be going to the funeral of a friend/coworker.  During the time we worked together, she knew of the Lord, but did not have a relationship with Him.  Because of the faithfulness of another coworker, she led our cohort into a relationship with Jesus..all this after her illness was diagnosed.  To me, numbering my days would mean realizing before the diagnosis that tomorrow is never promised.  This might very well be my last day here, so what am I going to do with it?

To different people that might mean different things.  To some, living life on the edge...to "make them count".  To me, it means showing and sharing the love of God so that everyone might want to know Him and be saved.  Life is too short to spend it hating or angry.  Let those people go, and let God work on them.  I can show love to those in my "circle"...those I come in contact with on a daily basis from my kids to the people at my Tom Thumb.  Loving God, I can love on them.  Loving God changes my eternity, loving them through word and deed can hopefully change theirs.  

I have been to funerals before...ones of believers and ones of nonbelievers.  The atmosphere is definitely different.  There is joy because we believe that God's mercy and Jesus' sacrifice means resurrection is real and we will be reunited with our loved ones.  My heart is definitely different.  At one, I rejoice...at the other, I grieve... for their loss and for my failure to have spoken words that might have changed their eternity.

I am grateful that on Saturday, I will rejoice knowing I will see my friend again.  I want to make my days count, to not take them for granted while He allows me breath and life...to do the ultimate...live love...His love.

"forever and ever, amen"

Psalm 89:52, "Praise be to the Lord forever! Amen and Amen."

Ethan, a musician, is interceding for King David and gives a good model of prayer for us to follow.  Our prayers should always start out praising God and remembering who He is.  Ethan praises God for His character, "I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that You established your faithfulness in Heaven itself." (v.2) Ethan remembers the holiness of who he is praying to, "O Lord God Almighty, who is like You?  You are mighty, O Lord, ad your faithfulness surrounds You." (v. 8).  

As he intercedes for his ruler and friend, Ethan recalls the promises of God.  Praying scripture is extremely powerful.  If you have not done this, it looks like going into God's Word and remembering and calling on God to remember His promises to those who are His children.  Ethan recalled the Davidic covenant when God promised David that He would sustain and strengthen David and that David's "line" (his lineage) would endure forever.  

Then David's friend, and what a great friend he is to go to God on his behalf...or even if it is just us praying for those God has put in authority in our lives...presents the present circumstances that David is going through and his condition and asks God to respond to their pleas.  

And the part that I love, verse 52, ends Ethan's intercession.  It is odd in that the verse immediately preceding it (in fact the whole 33 verses before it) were Ethan reminding God of his promises then asking why God has turned His back on the anointed one whose line He said would rule forever and begging, "How long?"  Then, BAM, "Praise be to the Lord forever!..." out of nowhere seemingly.  But, it is what we should all remember as we pray.  God is not our personal genie.  Ethan did exactly what God wants:  poured out his heart and his requests...AND remembered that God is Sovereign and in control.  What appears is not always as it seems through our eyes.  God is to be praised...always.  Even when we don't get it, He is loyal and faithful.  We can call on Him to act for His own glory and for the welfare of His people...He wants to hear that from us; but He is in charge and so worthy of our praise even when we don't understand what we see and want relief.  He draws us closer to Him knowing what is better for us than we know ourselves.  "Praise be to the Lord forever!  Amen and Amen."

patience of Job

Psalm 88:9b, "I call to you, O Lord, every day; I spread my hands to You."  

Many Bibles have scripture references in them so as you read you can see where some parts are direct quotations from other parts of the Bible or refer back to different parts.  In psalm 88, many of the references are to the book of Job because this is a prayer of one who suffers like Job.  

The short story of Job:  He was one of God's "golden boys".  Satan was talking to God and said he had been roaming the earth and God asked him if he had seen Job, "There is no one on earth like him; he is blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil." (Job 1:8b).  Satan feels like it's no big deal to fear God is your life is full of blessing.  So he asks to test Job.  Through a variety tests, EVERY thing is stripped from Job...his possessions, his family and even his own health.  And through it all Job continues to trust in the Lord...of course he had some conversations with him about his pain (physical and emotional), but his heart remained fearful of the Lord.  When satan failed, God restored all that satan had stripped and more.  

We will ALL face seasons of pain and some trials, but this is one who the strain is relentless and ongoing.  Sometimes it feels as though your season will not relent and it is so painful.  That is the prayer of this psalmist.  Dr. Constable noted, "when God does not relieve affliction, the godly continue to pray, trusting that He will eventually grant their petition if this is His will."

I feel I've have walked through a small season (2010-2014) and your faith comes out so much stronger when you hold on to the ONE who can get you through it with sanity, hope and crazy as it is...joy.  I am currently watching a friend walk through her ongoing season.  It is different from the outside looking in.  I wish her season would relent and she is this psalmist...she daily continues to call out to God..and trust Him AND tell others how good He is while she waits and fears the Lord.  In her season of pain, she brings the goodness of God to others and trusts that God will grant her petition.  She is honest with Him about her pain and reaches out to others to "stand in the gap" (Christianese for be there for her) when the pain is particulary acute.  And it is a powerful witness.  The fact that she still can say, "Blessed be His name" in her season of pain is POWERful.  She leans in to God...reads His Word, calls to others, loves to listen to worship music that speaks to her soul.  Would you stand in the gap with me and pray for her?  God knows, but pray that she be strong as she waits that He would grant her petition.

make a joyful noise

Psalm 87:7, "As they make music they will sing, 'All my fountains are in you.'"

One day, one glorious day...all of God's redeemed will be together and sing with joy.  The psalmist talks about Zion where God set His earthly temple, and where He met and fellowshipped with the Israelites through their priests in ancient times.  When Jesus returns He will again reside in His temple in the new Jerusalem He sets up as His earthly kingdom.  

Earlier in the psalm, the psalmist talks about all the nations that will be there (Rahab/Egypt, Babylon,Philistia, Tyre and Cush).  That is the part I cannot wait to see. We will stand side by side with people we love, people we don't even know and even those who were not our friends but will then be our brothers and sisters.  Once we accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior, God will say of us all, Hispanic, White, African American, Asian, Middle Easterner..., "'This one was born in Zion.'" (v. 4) And there we will sing with joy!

pencil ready

Psalm 86:11, "Teach me Your way, O Lord, and I will walk in Your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear Your name."

David is asking to know God fully so he can walk with Him humbly and obediently.  Yes, for himself, but ultimately for God's glory.  He asks for deliverance, but not as one who is panicking, instead with peace, confidence and joy.  

I love this verse.  I immediately connected with it; but man, did I have to unpack it.  Seemingly simple, I had to dig and find out not only what it meant, but also why God grabbed it and gave it to me.  

David understands that knowing the Lord is the key to walking in truth.  I had to figure out what "walking in truth" really meant.  It's great "Christianese" and sounds lovely.  But, what does it mean? "It's a way of living that gets good results and produces good fruit." One analogy, if it helps, compared it to taking care of our teeth.  If a good smile (and keeping those teeth) is important to you, you will do the things required to ensure their health...eating well, brushing them, flossing them.  The same is true for "walking in truth"...it is living rightly.  It is being sincere, devoted, cooperative, pure, showing loyal love...a life that produces joy.  It does NOT include selfishness, gossip, isolation.  So how do we walk in truth...we read God's Word.  It means not just being head smart about it.  I've met many brilliant people that couldn't find their way out of a paper sack because they are all head smart but lack some common sense in doing life.  James 1:22 says, "Do not merely listen to the Word, and so deceive yourselves.  Do what it says."  So it is reading God's Word...then DOING it.

Then I had to figure out what an undivided heart is (some versions say united heart).  "An undivided heart is one that has an intimate, loving and deep relationship with God and no other love comes before this.  There is no competition in this heart, God is first." http://www.make-my-christian-life-work.com/heart.html This can be a tough one and has taken me somewhere between four and five DECADES to figure out. It seemed logical to me that I would love my kids more than anything in this world (and I loved them more than anything out of it, too) so much so THEY became my identity.  Through tough lessons of having my pride broken in their various trials and journeys, I learned God loves them more than I ever could.  I thought I was on the throne of being able to control and run their lives.  When I love God more, my priorities get straight and I end up being a better mom...they are able to get the lessons they need out of life and I don't rob them short of learning the lesson by running in front of them and making the world "safe" (what a joke, but...).  I love better; and more than anything I pray they see me love God in a way that they would want more of HIM not me because I have failed and will fail again.  I wanted the fairytale romance from a man.  It took a divorce from the father of my children and the death of a boyfriend to make me fall in love with The One who owns my heart.  John and I are second in each other's lives and I would not have it ANY other way.  I don't want what he thinks he might have to offer unless it is from the overflow of his love of the Lord.  Max Lucado has said, "A woman's heart should be so hidden in God that a man has to see HIM just to find her."  Come find me, I want to be hidden in Him.

Finally, fearing the Lord.  Okay, in my five plus decades, I still wrestle with this one.  Basically, it means understanding the character of God...who He is...loving, compassionate, slow to anger, full of grace, Holy, jealous...  Fearing Him is not so much being afraid, but knowing He is perfect and looking to please Him; not because He will punish but because He wants to give every good gift and lavish those He loves, so much so He wants to spend an eternity loving you.  Let me tell you, it was a game changer in my work life.  I do not fear the boss who I can't figure out, I work to please God and because I do, I become a better employee.  I don't fear parents, I fear the One who makes the sun rise and set, and learn to love the parents because I see them through His eyes and know they're just like I was...running in front trying to make the world "safe" for their babies.  It's God whom I will stand before to give an account, not my boss, not my husband, not my kids.  

Aha moment just now.  Just realized why I connected with the verse.  I, the teacher,  want and need to be taught by the greatest teacher...the lover of my soul.  It's a journey in a tough classroom, but I'm ready to get busy learning.

circle of love

Psalm 85: 10-13, "Love and faithfulness meet together; righteousness and peace kiss each other.  Faithfulness springs forth from the earth, and righteousness looks down from heaven.  The Lord will indeed give what is good, and our land will yield its harvest.  Righeousness goes before Him and prepares the way for His steps."

The psalmist reflects on God's past deliverance.  His reflection gives him confidence in God's future deliverances.  It also helps him realize that as with any relationship, it is a two way street.  Israel was free but they were not faithful to their God.  They continued to sin and worship other gods.  The hardest part about being a loving parent is letting your loved ones experiences the consequences of their choices.  That whole ten commandment thing...He was serious about that...the first one listed about having no gods before Him.  They were the first civilization to be monotheistic (worship one God).  God spoke to Abraham and he separated his people from among the ancients and took them to Canaan.  They were to live separately, to stand alone as His chosen people.  Even in their battle victories, God told them to completely wipe out their enemy so they would not be tempted by their practices.  Oh, our silly flesh.  He had turned away and left them to their disobedience and as often happens, they realized the wonder of His blessing upon them and longed for it again.

His loyal love and His faithfulness are what He provides.  Truth (righteousness) and peace are what we experience with His blessing.  I love the juxtapositions abounding here.  Then the picture of faithfulness springing from the earth (our loyal love to Him) as righteousness looks down from heaven (His holiness and blessing).  One with the other, then flip it and the other with one.  He's doing, we're doing...they unite when we return to Him and He responds with blessing and so it continues.  

Dr. Constable beautifully summed it up with his reminder that when people get right with God, His choicest blessings are not far behind:  righteousness, peace, loyal love, truth, fear, glory and slavation...but Dr. Constables reminds, "We have to wait for Him to provide blessing after repentance and God patiently waits before bringing judgement for sin."  What a good father..."He will indeed give what is good...righteousness goes before Him and prepares the way..." (v. 12a, 13a)

all in

Psalm 84:10, "Better is one day in Your courts than a thousand elsewhere."

When it all comes down to it, it is really a choice.  And you're all in or your all out.  You're either for Him or against Him.  I stand in awe of people who have had to make the ultimate choice...years ago a young Cassie Bernall at Columbine High School, a line of Christians on a beach each with a horrid ISIS monster behind them.   They said yes, they knew that even if for one day with Jesus it is better than whatever thousands they may have here.  

He is THAT awesome.  Please, please if you have not made the choice to surrender your life to Him, there is no better time.  His love is so crazy and amazing that even if today were your last day to spend here, spend it with Him.  Joni Eareckson Tada, paralyzed for 50 years now, in chronic pain said she would choose being a quadraplegic with God over walking without Him.  

I have to ask for your forgiveness, because I fail immensely in trying to put into words the greatness of our God.  He changed my life..from meaningless satisfying my flesh that left me feeling disgusting and shameful to meaningful because I know my identity is found in Him and because Jesus died for all the nastiness that is me, God sees me as holy, righteous, redeemed...He sees me as His daughter....my inheritance worth more than a lifetime of luxury on earth.  So, if I can't explain it, let me extend an invitation.  Talk to Him. Come and see.  Message me if you have questions.  I'm all in.  Come on!

be not still

Psalm 83:18, "Let them know that You, whose name is the Lord-that You alone are the Most High over all the earth."

Asaph pleas for God to deliver the Israelites as He had during the Judges Period when their victory over their enemies could point to God only (ie:  when Gideon's small band of soldiers defeated the Midianites).  Of course Asaph wants victory, but he wants more than that...he wants God to "cover their faces with shame so that men will seek Your name, O Lord." (v. 16)

It's so easy to feel like that in our time as well...okay God, time to let them know who You are and put an end to this craziness down here.  Sadly, I fear, it will get worse before it gets better.  Asaph opens with his plea, "O God, do not keep silent; be not quiet, O God, be not still."  Just yesterday on the news someone would not make it home to his family because of some fight over traffic...for REAL...ugh, it breaks my heart.  God, be not still.  

Dr. Constable, at the end of the psalm puts it succinctly, "prayers based on God's reputation, His promises, and His past faithfulness are petitions that God will answer"...choosing HIS time to act.  We know it will happen because He promises it in His Word.  Romans 14:11 says, "'As surely as I live,' says the Lord, 'every knee will bow before me; every tongue will confess to God.'" Philippians 2:10-11 that says, "that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father."

The hard part is the in-between, the waiting.  But that's when we get to be light in the darkness and tell others where our hope comes from.  

humble pie

Psalm 82:8, "Rise up, O God, judge the earth, for all the nations are your inheritance."

God appointed (and appoints) judges to rule over His people acting in His authority.  But the judges pictured in this psalm were perverting God's justice because they were ignorant of the importance of fair judgement (making sure the defenseless got justice) and the consequences of their unfair judging.  Sound familiar??...see our society now.  It's why I don't get too freaked out in elections.  I pray, vote my conscience and know God is sovereign.  All you have to do, however, is turn on the news to see justice has been and is being perverted in so many places.  "Law and order, the foundations of life on earth, were (and are) unstable." (Dr. Constable with my insertion)

Yet, before I get too high and mighty and point my finger at the "them" I see because the news happens to cover the "them", I should probably look at myself.  In my own little microcosm of the world, my sphere of influence, where God has given me authority and the Holy Spirit to be His representative, I don't always get it right either.  I can sometimes "judge a book by its cover" and choose to ignore the injustice I see and walk-by someone who is hurting or received a raw deal for many "reasons" (fear, indifference, and not having the time) but they are all just really excuses.  

Asaph pictures God sitting over His judges and tells them to "Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless; maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.  Rescue the week and needy; deliver them from the hand of the wicked." (v. 3-4).  How are you doing?  I know I need to go eat a little humble pie and start by changing my heart and my world.  I still cry out for God to come judge in desperation that the world be set right; and know that one day the Righteous One will sit on His throne and flip this world.  In the meantime, we could all roll up our sleeves, maybe stop judging "them" and get busy being the change.  

momma bird

Psalm 81:10, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.  Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."

It is good to remember all the God has done for you...in good and bad times...and the in between times.  I've heard our pastor explain that bad times are going to come, that's just part of this life on this earth; but it is "easier" to Hold Fast in the storms when you have been preparing (remembering God's truths and spending time with Him).  He is faithful regardless of whether we are, but you walk in a little more confidence through your storm if you are already walking with Him.  One quick example.  Two Christmases ago, my daughter came home for the holidays from college and totalled my car.  She was okay, but understandably devastated...first wreck and it was a doozy.  My past M.O. would be to freak out wondering where the money would come from, how I was going to get to work, etc... She was in the backseat despairing and I remember telling her, "The times that seem tough are really when God gets to show off.  Let's see what He does."  He showed off...I sit in my "new" (used) car and love it so much...I basically got an upgrade with a few more miles and I LOVE IT.  And that's just one small thing.

The Israelites were celebrating the Feast of the Tabernacles and recalling and rejoicing at God's deliverance from Egypt.  Talk about showing off BIG...clouds and fires leading them, oceans parting, water from rocks, manna from Heaven and so on.  God tells them, "I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt.  Open your mouth and I will fill it."  I love how Dr. Constable explained it:  "opening the mouth signifies trusting in the Lord to provide...filling it has in view the many blessings that God wants to bestow on His people."  I love that image!  I thought of momma birds feeding their babies who just wait with mouth open until mom returns and gives them the nourishment they need.  God does the SAME thing.  Not necessarily materially, but He provides.  When we open our hearts, He provides the nourishment we need for our souls.  Open up!

the warmth of the sun

Psalm 80: 3, "Restore us, O God; make Your face shine upon us, that we may be saved."

Merrian-Webster (it's a dictionary...remember those things?! 😉) defines restore
1.  give back, return
2.  to put or bring back into existence or use
3.  to bring back to or put back into a former or original state
4.  to put again in possession of something

Israel had lost its favor with God.  He was letting them experience His anger for their disobedience as shown by His silence.  He wants God to give back His favor so that they again can be used to make Him famous.  In those ancient times, most civilizations worshipped many gods (polytheistic) that explained and controlled nature.  The Hebrews were the first to worship the One God (monotheistic), the God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.  People were watching them.  When they struggled, their enemies mocked their God.  Asaph asked that God would bring them back to their original state as His chosen people promising their obedience, "Then we will not turn away from you; revive us and we will call on Your name. (v. 18) Israel, again, wants to possess God's favor which is pictured by God shining His face on them.

The Israelites realized their salvation came from God, the One who restores us and rescues and saves so we can have relationship with Him.  If you ever walked in disobedience and for a moment felt His favor (NOT His love) leave, it is a lonely and sad feeling.  So much so, Asaph repeats this plea each time with what feels like increasing fervor. "Restore us, O God Almighty...(v.7)", "Restore us, O Lord God Almighty...(v. 19)".  God's absence feels cold and alone, nothing like basking in the warmth of His beautiful face shining down on you.

His beautiful feet

Psalm 79:9, "Help us, O God our Savior, for the glory of Your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for Your name's sake."

Carrying the burden of anger and hate is too much.  It's the "one rotten apple that spoils the whole bunch" when you marinate in it too much.  It takes your heart to darker places, and you have just let what is not for your own good rent space in your head.  It is hard though...I get it because I have been there and done that.  

Asaph takes his anger, hurt, sadness to the right place.  Israel was destroyed and their enemies in their final act of humiliation left the dead to rot in the street without burial and other nations are now taunting them asking, "Where is their God?" He goes to the One who can change not only the circumstances but also his heart.  He pours out his anger and asks for God's forgiveness, for His deliverance, and for Him to glorify His name.

As part of the Abrahamic covenant, God promised to "curse those who cursed Abraham's descendants." (Gen. 12: 2,3)  Until Jesus came, these covenants were what they held on to and how God showed His love for His people.  Wiersbe reminds us now that, "The cross of Jesus Christ is for us today the only evidence we need that God loves us."  We know His character and promises are true because He commissioned the writers of the Bible to show us.  We know He will take care of His children because He gave what He loved most for us to have union with Him forever.   What He wants in return is our hearts...the good, the bad and the ugly.  He wants us to lay down the ugly (the hate, the anger...) at His feet and leave it there so we can go love and bring glory to His name.   

So I lay my anger there.  Darn it all if sometimes I don't go pick that darned thing up again; but I go and lay it again at His feet and know He forgives me, He will take care of me, and He will glorify His name.  

big girl pants

Psalm 78:38-39, "Yet He was merciful; He forgave their iniquities and did not destroy them.  Time after time He restrained His anger and did not stir up His full wrath.  He remembered that they were but flesh, a passing breeze that does not return."

Geoge Santayana wrote, "Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it."  I use it in my history class when kids ask the age old question, "Why do we have to learn this?"  Asaph is using it (without quoting it) with the Israelites.  He goes through the record of God's goodness and Israel's unfaithfulness.  He was probably desperate for them to learn it THIS time.  

If you ever had a prodigal or a child going through a tough time (or perhaps, just perhaps you yourself are struggling to learn a lesson) you understand the desperation.  Times get crazy and you literally pray, "Let this be the bottom."  Or when you have messed up and have received God's grace and pull yourself up by your boot straps grateful that the consequence was minor and you put on your big girl pants and get back in there determined to have learned the lesson...this time.  

God's lessons are out of love and always for our good.  And I am grateful...for the lessons I have learned and for those my kids have learned.  When I think about how some circumstances COULD have turned out and only by the grace of God did not happen, my response has brought tears and has at times taken my knees out from me and brought me to the right posture to praise Him.  The lessons aren't easy and sometimes they bring so much pain; but my God is merciful.  He knows what a mess I am and loves me anyway.  How can I have anything but gratitude and praise?

Oceans deep

Psalm 77:19, "Your path led through the sea, Your way through the mighty waters, though Your footprints were not seen."

Asaph was having insomnia.  He was troubled and hence was having trouble sleeping.  So he cried out to God, but God had not answered Him.  So, to comfort himself, he remembered all that God had done for His people in the past.  

I love this part of his remembrance.  As Moses led the Israelites out of Egypt, they get to the Red Sea and the people begin grumbling (again).  How were they going to get out of this?  In our finite minds, we don't see solutions because we only grasp what is visibly possible.  But God.  But God sees the impossible and makes it possible...using these things to draw people closer to Him.  Yeah, He could have chosen a different route, perhaps...but His path led through the sea, through mighty waters.  Do you trust Him when you hit that dead end and it looks as though you are out of options?  Do you trust Him to lead you into the mighty waters knowing His footprints might not be seen, but you indeed will be carried through  When sleepless times come, do you remember how He was there...even when the answer didn't look like you thought it would, but He was there in it?  

It's a sweet place to rest.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2PNTq_-mZs

no high dollar vocabulary needed here

Psalm 76:4, "You are resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game."

Asaph and the Israelites are praising God because He defeated the wicked and delivered the godly (some place this when the Assyrians were attacking them in 701 BC).  Appreciation of God's power should produce submission and worship, just as they were rightly responding.  

I love Asaph's description.  It is hard to find the right words when you are so thankful for what God has done in your life.  You suddenly try to think of all the $5.00 adjectives you learned in English and fall short.  The description resplendent with light is beautiful.  Asaph pictures him radiating light, "He (God) illuminates and glorifies by His presence."  That's rich stuff.  Leupold said, "It is largely through the acts of God that we learn to know and understand Him."

Although I love Asaph's words, God isn't grading on a scale.  He knows our hearts, He knows the depths of our gratitude...but He does want to hear it from us.  What are you thankful for today?  Let Him hear from you!

natural consequences

Psalm 75:2, "You say, 'I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly."

In this psalm, Asaph is thanking God for being a righteous judge with His people.  He also warns the wicked to repent and realizes that God's people grow stronger with His judgement.  Judgement is for God's glory but His people are the benefactors as well.   

Somewhere along the line there has been a wee disconnect that teachers get a front row seat to.  Johnny (all the poor Johnnys out there whose name has become synonymous with the "bad" kid) makes a poor choice and you have to write/call the parent.  I cringe when it happens because many times I know the response will be all the reasons why it wasn't his fault up to and including that it is my fault.  I cannot count the number of times a year I say to our students, "You cannot always choose what happens to you, but you ALWAYS choose how you respond," as they respond to correction with "Well, he/she..."

There was/is a huge lesson in this psalm for all of us that is timeless.  When we act before a Holy God and choose poorly, He is going to LET us, sometimes, experience the consequences of that choice.  It is a LOVING thing to do.  The lesson is learned and although there are people who insist on learning the hard way and repeating the lesson (myself included, sometimes), so many experience a consequence that is TOUGH and the lesson is learned, you repent and step back onto the right track.  

The HARDEST thing I have done as a parent was let my son experience the consequences of his choices.  Through it I repeated (ad nauseum), "I love you too much to not let you experience the consequences of your choice."  Get that...I love him, I wanted him to learn now instead of later in a harsh world that is not forgiving, that there is judgement for our choices.  God does the exact same to us.  He does not taze us then leave us.  He lets us experience the consequence and stays right next to us while we go through it.  He chooses the time and He chooses justly.  And it is always for our good if we heed the lesson.

Asaph took the lesson the Israelites learned and praised God for it.  He knew they came out stronger and he did the loving thing and tried to warn the wicked.  My poor kids, they got the parent that happens to also be a teacher.  I take everything they say about school with a grain of salt (just btw for all you parents out there, we also take most things that say about home with a grain of salt too); but I know that when that teacher has taken the time to write/call me about something that has happened, the consequences they are a comin'.

"I'm being followed by a moon shadow"

Psalm 74:16, "The day is Yours, and Your also the night; You established the sun and the moon."

Asaph and the Israelites are being attacked and their temple has been desecrated.  He cries out for God to "Remember the people You purchased of old, the tribe of Your inheritance, whom You redeemed-" (v.2)  In a period of chastisement for their unfaithfulness, they were overtaken by their enemies.  In the past, God has heard their cries yet now He was being silent. 

In the silence Asaph remembers who God was and reviews what He had done..."But You, O God, are my King from of old; You bring salvation upon the earth..." (v.12) and asks God to step in and "defend Your cause."

Silence is so powerful.  What we choose to do with it can make it even more so.  We can sink in to dark places, or we can choose to remember the great things God has done.  And in the times when it is hard to remember because the pain is deep, to know the day and night belong to Him can be a comfort.  He established them to be a blessing to us and for us to know He is always there in them...sunrises and sunsets being the beautiful transitions between them are just His way of showing off.  

It's hard in the silence when you are waiting for an answer to prayer. It has been years waiting for my prodigal son to return to God, but in the silence I remember His greatness and know that He is good.  In the tough times, I can just walk outside and look up.  

for realzzz? FOR REAL

Psalm 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but You?  And earth has nothing I desire besides you.  My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."

This psalm was written by Asaph, one of David's musicians...which means he was an ordinary guy like you and me (maybe minus the muscial gifting).  And what he talks about here is the struggle that I imagine we all walk through at some point or another.  He's looking around and seeing that all these not so stellar people are prospering while he who has been totally committed to God has suffered and gone without.  

It is the age old question, "Why do bad things happen to good people?"  And I get it.  When my dad had cancer I was bitter.  My thoughts then were literally, "There are bad people in prison living off our money who have done heinous things and my dad who has a good, good man and financial genius who was sought out by foreign countries to help them and speak to them gets taken out early...what.the.h*#?!"  And I get how if you stopped there, you could get lost and lose your way (and your eternity).  But Asaph, didn't stop there.  Gratefully, neither did I.  Asaph reflected on God in His sanctuary and looked at the big picture, the long run.  I had a good father, who raised us in the church so I knew of God and His character.  Bad things just happen.  We live in a crappy world.  WE SINNED.  God didn't.  And He didn't leave us.  

So, I turn the question around, "How could anyone get through the bad stuff without God in their life?"  You don't get to escape it, so get the big picture and know if God is with you, you will get through even when you are at that point where you can't imagine there is escape.  He is right there beside you.  The stuff of the world that gives temporary pleasure to your flesh is just empty.  Drinking doesn't take it away, drugging doesn't take it away...pick your sin/escape of choice.

As I walk through the valleys, I do so with the eternal God by my side.  And when I see wicked prosper, I know it is for a season as is my struggle.  I reflect on the character of God and know there's nothing here on earth I desire more than Him.  Joni Eareckson Tada said, "I would rather be in this wheelchair with God, than walking without Him."  That is the life of one who knows a God who is her strength and her portion.