Tuesday, August 31, 2010

I Will Call Upon the Lord

Today, I have a post at Seeds of Faith.  I hope you can take the time to go and read it.  I am very excited about this opportunity.

Today's Psalm is the 18th chapter.  From the third verse, one of my favorite camp/praise songs is taken.


Psalm 18:3
3I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. 

I Will Call Upon the Lord

I will call upon the Lord
Who is worthy to be praised.
So shall I be saved from my enemies,
I will call upon the Lord.

The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock
And let the God of my salvation be exalted.
The Lord liveth, and blessed be the Rock.
And let the God of my salvation be exalted.


All it says is that when I call upon the Lord, he will save me.  He is worthy of praise and adoration.  He is my Rock, and he is my salvation.  What more is there to say? 

Monday, August 30, 2010

Who's your enemies?

I am so glad that I don't feel like I have enemies like that of David, aren't you?  He knew who the enemies were, Saul, Saul's followers, the kings of other countries.  Who are your enemies?  I don't classify any certain person as an enemy, whether or not I like the person.  Yes, there are people I don't care for.  I am uncomfortable around certain people.  I am intimidated by others.  I don't have a logical reason why.  I don't know if it is because I feel inferior in some way, whether it be beauty, wisdom or talent.  Sometimes I get a vibe from people that makes me feel a certain way and I want to get away from them.  I think it's a fault of mine.  I'll admit I am not always the friendliest person in the room.

The one person I don't want to be intimidated by is God.  I want to be what these verses say in Psalm 17:7-9
7 Show me the wonders of your great love,
       you who save by your right hand
       those who take refuge in you from their foes.
    8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;
       hide me in the shadow of your wings
    9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,
       from my mortal enemies who surround me.

David wants God to protect him and love him.  That's what I want.  I want to close my eyes and let God take over.  He has done so with so much of my life these past few weeks.  He has kept me relatively calm, kept my son safe through his minor surgery and we have just loved being with each other.  I thank you, Lord!

So, as I strive to be the apple of God's eye, I pray that we all can battle whatever enemies we have.  Come rain or shine, you can hide out under his wings.

Friday, August 27, 2010

Psalm 16

Psalm 16 makes me happier.  I need those first two verses today.  With Son's pending nose surgery, I needed to be reminded.  I know that this surgery is not a big deal compared to a lot of surgeries, but it's his first time.  He reminded me that actually it's not his first surgery.  The first time was when he had tubes put in his ears.

We were at Children's Hospital in Dayton.  He was four and when they put him in a room, he was pretty excited because there was a game system there.  Son sat on the bed, I gave him the controller and he started.  He was content.  When the nurse came in to give him the meds to keep him calm before surgery, he took it and kept playing.  They finally came in and took him.  He wasn't happy, but he went.  He fought that medicine and was still awake and kinda alert.  When they brought him back, he was put in bed and he started crying.  The nurses were trying to get him to calm down and asking he all sorts of questions.  Finally, I said, "Just give him the remote for the game system back."  When they did that, he immediately stopped crying and put his attention on the tv. 

I know he didn't sleep last night much.  And because he is not allowed to eat, he says he is starving.  Why is that any other morning, he really doesn't want much, but because the doctor and nurse told him that he can't eat solid food after midnight, he wants to eat everything?  I hate that psychology.  I think he is taking his MP3 player.

Psalm 16
 1 Keep me safe, my God,
       for in you I take refuge.
    2 I say to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
       apart from you I have no good thing."


So prayer for calmness and healing is the order for today.  Have a great one!

Thursday, August 26, 2010

Not shaken, but stirred.

Psalm 15 is what I call, a "How to live" passage.  David, like all of us, must have been feeling some pressure.  I work for a company that seems to like setting goals.  I am totally not a goal setter.  I am very content with what I am doing.  Whether you think that is personally good or bad, it doesn't matter to me.  It's not that I don't want to move forward, but I don't mind staying the same.  I have enough people around me that have to always be doing something and trying to outdo each other or the neighbors. 

But, when it comes to my spiritual life, that is different.  I want to be growing, learning.  I keep reading, praying, and writing.  I like where I am going.  I hope that as I read Psalm 15, I will like where I am going is where God wants me to go.  I like the last part of verse 5.  I want to not be shaken, but I want my heart stirred.

Psalm 15

A psalm of David.
 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
       Who may live on your holy mountain?      
2 Those whose walk is blameless,
       who do what is righteous,
       who speak the truth from their hearts;
    3 who have no slander on their tongues,
       who do their neighbors no wrong,
       who cast no slur on others;
    4 who despise those whose ways are vile
       but honor whoever fears the LORD;
       who keep their oaths even when it hurts;
    5 who lend money to the poor without interest
       and do not accept bribes against the innocent.
       Whoever does these things
       will never be shaken.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Ifellowship Wednesday


go to Seeds of Faith to link up with this wonderful women!


Psalm 14

As I read Psalm 14, I thought, how depressing.  How can God even think of loving us if he doesn't see us as anything other than evil and corrupt?  He searched the earth early on and found Noah.  He later look and found qualities of himself in David.  Then he looked again and saw Mary, the young woman that he chose to be Jesus' mother.  But now, who does he see in our age?  Who will be recorded in the books next?  Billy Graham?  I think picking that one person is not our job.  God will use all who are willing.

  6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,
       but the LORD is their refuge.
    7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!
       When the LORD restores his people,
       let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad! 

In our present day, we have the hope of salvation and the knowledge that by being obedient to God and keeping his commands and accepting Jesus our our Savior, we can rejoice!  For God looks down on all us sinners and sees evil on some and the covering of our sins by Christ's blood.  We can hide under his wings, away from the cruelty and evil of the world, and when Jesus comes back, Christians will celebrate!

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

Psalm 13

Psalm 13

Psalm 13

For the director of music. A psalm of David.
    1 How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever?
       How long will you hide your face from me?     2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts
       and day after day have sorrow in my heart?
       How long will my enemy triumph over me?
    3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God.
       Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death,
    4 and my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
       and my foes will rejoice when I fall.
    5 But I trust in your unfailing love;
       my heart rejoices in your salvation.
    6 I will sing the LORD's praise,
       for he has been good to me.

I have to apologize.  Not for taking the break the past two days.  It's been a much needed time of rest and taking care of my family and myself.  But I feel like I am complaining to anyone who will listen.  For that I am sorry.  Things have overwhelmed us and we are waiting on doctors and healing to come.  I get overloaded with sleeplessness, trying to keep busy and then BOOM!  Something else shows up.

I feel like David in this Psalm.  I know that God hasn't forgot me and what he brings me through will make me stronger, but I wrestle with my thoughts, I give in to the fear, and I worry, worry, worry.  I have to memorize verses 5 and 6.  By trusting in God's unfailing love, the load I am carrying is no longer heavy.  He has picked it off my shoulders and took it on himself.  Timm always asks me why I am short.  I don't really mind being short.  Sometimes it is a good thing because all of my family members can help me by getting the high things off the shelves and doing the heavy lifting when needed.  I can do the things that require to be closer to the ground.  I think God is so big that we all feel small or short at times.  But when it comes to burdens, we all feel the same way, don't we?  Well I hope we do, so I don't feel too alone here.

So no matter what, don't feel alone.  I promise not to complain, but rather listen to your problems.  I promise to make sure to pray for each of you and hope you pray for me and my family.  Trust in God's love and rejoice in your salvation, for the Lord's been good to us.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

Hold Your Tongue

Psalm 12

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;
       those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.
    2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;
       they flatter with their lips
       but harbor deception in their hearts.
    3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips
       and every boastful tongue—
    4 those who say,
       "By our tongues we will prevail;
       our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?"
    5 "Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,
       I will now arise," says the LORD.
       "I will protect them from those who malign them."
    6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,
       like silver purified in a crucible,
       like gold refined seven times.
    7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe
       and will protect us forever from the wicked,
    8 who freely strut about
       while depravity is honored by the human race.

You know the saying 'If you can't say anything nice, don't say anything at all'?  I think that's only part of it.  Because looking at verse two of this chapter, we can say all kinds of nice things, but God looks in our hearts too.  The Psalmist tells us that God will silence all lying lips and 'boastful tongues'.  He wants to protect those who can't fight for themselves. 

We all root for the underdog, don't we?  Some of my favorite movies are about the underdog beating the odds and winning.  In The Karate Kid (starring Ralph Macchio and Pat Moriata), my favorite scene is the last shot, where Mr. Miyagi smiles knowingly because Daniel-sun just beat the bullies and won their respect.  It was that face, that moment of 'I-am-proud-of-you' that I hope I can always feel when I am down and fighting my way out.  I don't want to cheat, bully, put down, or compromise myself.  I want to depend on the Lord for everything. 

Wednesday, August 18, 2010

What a beautiful face it will be!

Psalm 11
 1 In the LORD I take refuge.
       How then can you say to me:
       "Flee like a bird to your mountain.
    2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;
       they set their arrows against the strings
       to shoot from the shadows
       at the upright in heart.

    3 When the foundations are being destroyed,
       what can the righteous do?"

    4 The LORD is in his holy temple;
       the LORD is on his heavenly throne.
       He observes everyone on earth;
       his eyes examine them.

    5 The LORD examines the righteous,
       but the wicked, those who love violence,
       he hates with a passion.

    6 On the wicked he will rain
       fiery coals and burning sulfur;
       a scorching wind will be their lot.

    7 For the LORD is righteous,
       he loves justice;
       the upright will see his face.


I like this passage.  I can hide in the Lord.  He will protect me.  When all else is hopeless and the wicked are poised, ready to strike, what can we do?  I feel in the midst of a battle of sorts right now as it is.  I could get down on myself, saying that God is punishing us.  But I don't think that is what is going on here.  I think this is a small valley.  I mean, have you seen the news?  That lady in South Carolina suffocated her two little boys, people are losing their jobs every day.  I am still me and God is still God.  He examines the righteous, but he hates the wicked and will send them to hell.  What will the righteous get?  We get to see his face.  That is a great goal.  That is what I have to keep my mind on while I am going back and forth to doctors, taking care of my kids and paying each bill.  I want to see His face.

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

If We Didn't Have Bad Luck...

Today I am deviating from our study in Psalms.  I am a bit overwhelmed today and need to talk about it.  Since March, I feel our family has been in a whirlwind.  In March, my daughter had her gall bladder removed.  Last month, we had Timm in the ER for his knee and then again last night, we took him back to the ER.  He broke his nose!  We now have to take him to an ENT to have it looked at and worked on.

He was at his friend's church yesterday evening.  They were going into a room that was dark and waiting for the lights to warm up.  He thought he knew were the stage was, so Timm ran and jumped.  He miscalculated and found the stage with his nose and not his feet.  In trying to keep things in perspective, we told him that he took a leap of faith.  We also told him that now he is a real member of my family because almost everyone in my family on my dad's side has a broken nose.  My dad's nose has been broken five times and I have no idea what he would look like with a straightened nose.

None of these things would have really bothered me, but the lot of them together just makes my head spin.  Maybe it's the lack of sleep, or that my mind is spinning, or just looking at my son and seeing that he has marred his beautiful face...but I feel a bit ran through the wringer.  So today, I am not doing anything special.  I am working and will go home and spend time with my husband and kids.  I've been in prayer and God knows my heart.  I am thankful that there is nothing more serious that needs to be looked after at this moment.  But Friday, there will be more; Allie is having her wisdom teeth out.  So until then, I plan to lay low, try and keep my kids quite and full of peace, and depend on God's grace to get me through each moment.

Psalm 31:14
But as for me, I trust in You, O LORD,I say, " You are my God."

 

Monday, August 16, 2010

He'll Get You While You Are Down...

Psalm 10
  Why standest Thou afar off, O LORD? Why hidest Thou Thyself in times of trouble?
 The wicked in his pride doth persecute the poor; let them be caught in the devices that they have contrived.  
 3For the wicked boasteth of his heart's desire, and blesseth the covetous whom the LORD abhorreth.   
 4The wicked, in the pride of his countenance, will not seek after God; God is not in all his thoughts.   
 5His ways are always grievous; Thy judgments are far above, out of his sight; as for all his enemies, he puffeth at them.   
 6He hath said in his heart, "I shall not be moved, for I shall never be in adversity."  
 7His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud; under his tongue is mischief and vanity.   
 8He sitteth in the lurking places of the villages; in secret places doth he murder the innocent; his eyes are privily set against the poor.   
 9He lieth in wait secretly as a lion in his den; he lieth in wait to catch the poor; he doth catch the poor when he draweth him into his net.   
 10He croucheth and humbleth himself, that the poor may fall by his strong ones.   
 11He hath said in his heart, "God hath forgotten; He hideth His face, He will never see it."   
 12Arise, O LORD! O God, lift up Thine hand! Forget not the humble.   
 13Why doth the wicked contemn God? He hath said in his heart, "Thou wilt not keep account."   
 14But Thou hast seen it, for Thou beholdest mischief and spite, to requite it with Thy hand. The poor committeth himself unto Thee; Thou art the helper of the fatherless.   
 15Break Thou the arm of the wicked and the evil man; seek out his wickedness until Thou find none.   
 16The LORD is King for ever and ever; the heathen have perished out of His land.   
 17LORD, Thou hast heard the desire of the humble; Thou wilt prepare their heart, Thou wilt cause Thine ear to hear,   
 18to judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress.

Why is it that when we are having trouble or in the midst of a storm, we say that God has moved?  If God stays the same forever, then could He move?  I don't think so.  I think that we move constantly.  We go from one extreme to another, always on the go, our minds circling around each theory and idea trying to figure things out.  When we are assaulted daily by family, friends, the media, and sometimes our own self, we just need to do the one move that can only make us stronger; get on our knees.

This chapter tells us that the enemy is like a lion, waiting to pounce on us and waiting to make sure we are at a low point and will be an easy prey.  He loves the weak and confused.  He loves that he can change their minds and make those who had some sense about them, loose it.  The enemy loves to play tricks and just when we think we have it all together, he pounces on us and tries to devour us.  That is the low point. 

Hopefully, you will have already been on your knees, running and jumping into God's arms, standing on his shoulders until you can see above the riff raff, and beyond what is blinding you.  God is there, he has not hidden from you.  As the poem Footprints in the Sand says, "
"My son, my precious child,
I love you and I would never leave you.
During your times of trial and suffering,
when you see only one set of footprints,
it was then that I carried you."

Thursday, August 12, 2010

Giving Up is not an option!

Psalm 9

   I will praise Thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will show forth all Thy marvelous works.
 2I will be glad and rejoice in Thee; I will sing praise to Thy name, O Thou Most High.   
 3When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at Thy presence.   
 4For Thou hast maintained my right and my cause; Thou sittest on the throne judging right.
 5Thou hast rebuked the heathen, Thou hast destroyed the wicked; Thou hast blotted out their name for ever and ever.   
 6O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and Thou hast destroyed their cities; their memorial is perished with them.
 7But the LORD shall endure for ever; He hath prepared His throne for judgment.
 8And He shall judge the world with righteousness; He shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
 9The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.   
 10And they that know Thy name will put their trust in Thee; for Thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek Thee.   
 11Sing praises to the LORD who dwelleth in Zion! Declare among the people His doings.
 12When He maketh inquisition for blood, He remembereth them; He forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
 13Have mercy upon me, O LORD! Consider my trouble which I suffer from them that hate me, Thou that liftest me up from the gates of death,   
 14that I may show forth all Thy praise at the gates of the daughter of Zion. I will rejoice in Thy salvation.
 15The heathen have sunk down into the pit that they made; in the net which they hid, their own foot is taken.
 16The LORD is known by the judgment which He executeth; the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah   
 17The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
 18For the needy shall not always be forgotten; the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
 19Arise, O LORD, let not man prevail; let the heathen be judged in Thy sight.
 20Put them in fear, O LORD; that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah

This chapter is about judgement.  He prepares for the judgement and so should we.  Are you prepared?  The enemies are going to get his wrath.  Those that cry out for mercy will be remembered.    Verse 16 says, that God is known by the judgement he executes.  He makes a decision and brings it to fruition.  Everyone that forgets God will be turned into hell.  That's some heavy stuff. 

I want to be on the other side, to praise God, to do what it takes to receive his full salvation.  I put my full trust in him and fear him.  Thank you Jesus for saving me from hell.

Are you ready to be judged?  It scares me. I imagine that when it is my turn to be judged by God that the embarassment I feel on earth will be doubly shameful.  But I pray that it will turn to joy when I hear the words from Christ that he is not ashamed of me because I am not ashamed of him now. Being judged is scary.  No one wants all their sins out there in the open.  Being an open book is what being a Christian is about.  We have to show the world that yes, we are sinners but we know we can go on because we have a Savior that leads by example.  We have to pick ourselves up, make things as right as we can, and try again.  Giving up as a Christian is not an option.

 

Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Psalm 8

Psalm 8

O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth, who hast set Thy glory above the heavens!   
 2Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings hast Thou ordained strength because of Thine enemies, that Thou mightest still the enemy and the avenger.   
 3When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars which Thou hast ordained,
 4what is man that Thou art mindful of him, and the son of man that Thou dost visit him?  
 5For Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels, and hast crowned him with glory and honor.
 6Thou hast made him to have dominion over the works of Thy hands; Thou hast put all things under his feet,
 7all sheep and oxen, yea, and the beasts of the field,   
 8the fowl of the air, and the fish of the sea, and whatsoever passeth through the paths of the seas.
 9O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!
   
This is such a wonderful chapter.  Praise God for creation!  The thought of God using his fingers to create the moon and stars makes me think of a master sculptor using clay to mold.  I can picture him gently placing each star in it's place, creating the constellations for his enjoyment.

The fourth verse asks about man.  Why did God think of us and us in charge of the earth and all that is in it?   "...and the son of man that Thou dost visit him?  For Thou has made him a little lower than the angels, and has crowned him with glory and honor."  We were lovingly formed and put here for a purpose.  We need to be better stewards for him.  But our best is to always praise him!

iFellowship Wednesday

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

I woke up!

Psalm 7

   O LORD my God, in Thee do I put my trust. Save me from all them that persecute me; and deliver me,
 2lest they tear my soul like a lion, rending it in pieces while there is none to deliver.   
 3O LORD my God, if I have done this, if there be iniquity on my hands,   
 4if I have rewarded evil unto him that was at peace with me (yea, I have delivered him that without cause is mine enemy),   
 5let the enemy persecute my soul and take it; yea, let him tread down my life upon the earth, and lay mine honor in the dust. Selah   
 6Arise, O LORD, in Thine anger; lift up Thyself against the rage of mine enemies, and awaken for me the judgment that Thou has commanded.   
 7So shall the congregation of the people compass Thee about; for their sakes, therefore, return Thou on high.
 8The LORD shall judge the people: Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness and according to mine integrity that is in me.   
 9O let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end, but establish the just; for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins.   
 10My defense is of God, who saveth the upright in heart.   
 11God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.   
 12If he turn not, He will whet His sword; He hath bent His bow and made it ready.   
 13He hath also prepared for Him the instruments of death; He ordaineth His arrows against the persecutors.
 14Behold, the wicked travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief and brought forth falsehood.   
 15He made a pit and dug it, and has fallen into the ditch which he hath made.   
 16His mischief shall return upon his own head; and his violent dealings shall come down upon his own pate.
 17I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.   

 Have you noticed that most Psalms start with praise to God and end with Praise to God?  No matter what is said in the middle, they start and end with praises.  Maybe starting your day and ending your day with a praise to God will give you a different attitude.  They say that if you are going to reprimand someone, there should be more positives than negatives.  I am probably the worst at that.  I try to make things positive, but always it comes out wrong and makes people upset.
This Psalms talks about the wicked and how God is going to judge them and what he will do to them.  The writer admits something he has done and I think is trying to come to terms with his sin.  He wants to distinguish himself as not one of the wicked, though.  He wants to be on the side of righteousness (verses 9 & 10).
No matter what will happen, the writer praises God and sings to him.  In your darkest hours, do you praise God?  Do you start with a praise to him on your lips?  I'm reading a story about these people who go out to the homeless in Fort Worth, TX.  The came across this one person who, every time they see him is always smiling.  He was asked why he smiled so much and his answer was that he woke up that morning.  How I take for granted just waking up!  If a homeless man can be happy about that, what much more should I be joyful about?

Monday, August 9, 2010

Treating Your Enemies

Psalm 6

   O LORD, rebuke me not in Thine anger, neither chasten me in Thy hot displeasure.   
 2Have mercy upon me, O LORD, for I am weak; O LORD, heal me, for my bones are vexed.   
 3My soul is also sore vexed, but Thou, O LORD, how long?   
 4Return, O LORD, deliver my soul! O save me for Thy mercies' sake!   
 5For in death there is no remembrance of Thee; in the grave who shall give Thee thanks?   
 6I am weary with my groaning; all the night I make my bed to swim, I water my couch with my tears.   
 7Mine eye is consumed because of grief; it waxeth old because of all mine enemies.   
 8Depart from me, all ye workers of iniquity, for the LORD hath heard the voice of my weeping.   
 9The LORD hath heard my supplication; the LORD will receive my prayer.   
 10Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sorely vexed; let them turn back and be put to shame suddenly.

The Psalmist here is very distressed because of his grief and enemies.  How often do we cause pain and sadness to someone.  More importantly, how often to you regret what you have done to someone?  The last verse says it all to me.  Don't we wish that those that cause us pain will feel bad for what they have done?   We secretly hope that if they see us with our chin held high and our body standing still and tears brimming down our face that our enemies will feel sorry for what they have put us through.  That usually doesn't happen though, does it? 

As Christians we are to turn the other cheek.  Matthew 5:39 tells what Christ wants us to do. 
"But I say to you, do not resist an evil person; but whoever slaps you on your right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

But are we to just accept it and go on?  Most of the time, I think that yes is the answer for me.  God will take his vengeance out on our enemies when the time is right.  We should pray for them.  If you want to make friends with them, you can try, but sometimes that doesn't always work out.  Love your enemies doesn't mean be friends with them.  Be nice, be cordial and if a friendship works out, that is great.  But I am always wary of people who do not like me.  I try to be cordial, helpful, but not too friendly.  It's a fine line. 

How do you treat your enemies?  Do you give it right back to them?  To you feel and eye for and eye is acceptable?  Do you love them and smother them with kindness?  

Thursday, August 5, 2010

Psalm 5

Psalm 5

1Give ear to my words, O LORD; consider my meditation.2Hearken unto the voice of my cry, my King and my God, for unto Thee will I pray.
3My voice shalt Thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto Thee and will look up.
4For Thou art not a God that hath pleasure in wickedness; neither shall evil dwell with Thee.
5The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight; Thou hatest all workers of iniquity.
6Thou shalt destroy them that speak lies; the LORD will abhor the bloody and deceitful man.
7But as for me, I will come into Thy house in the multitude of Thy mercy, and in Thy fear will I worship toward Thy holy temple.
8Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies; make Thy way straight before my face.
9For there is no faithfulness in their mouth; their inward part is exceeding wickedness. Their throat is an open sepulcher; they flatter with their tongue.
10Destroy Thou them, O God! Let them fall by their own counsels. Cast them out in the multitude of their transgressions, for they have rebelled against Thee.
11But let all those that put their trust in Thee rejoice; let them ever shout for joy, because Thou defendest them; let them also that love Thy name be joyful in Thee.
 12For Thou, LORD, wilt bless the righteous; with favor wilt Thou compass him about as with a shield.

 To me, this Psalm is a prayer.  I love the last two verses.  My favorite is that when God saves you, you are so happy you want to shout!  So why do we hush up in church?  Why do we not just yell out and praise God?  Because I believe there is a time and a place for joyful shouting, and a time and place for reverence and quietness.  Which do you prefer?  For me it is whatever atmosphere I am in.  I love to hear children at camp shouting, dancing, singing, just generally having a great time.  But I also like the solitude, quietness, and solemness of a prayer service.

I think it is very important to teach your children both.  They need to know how to sit, listen and be quiet during a church service.  I also think they need to know it's okay to shout, sing, and praise God for all their worth.  For a long time, I didn't realize that I could be anything but solemn at church.  I love that I could go off to camp and praise God a different way.  It's okay to have a good time and bring everyone to their feet, with their hands in the air worshipping our God.  Saying God's name, thanking him for his love, makes me thankful.

Wednesday, August 4, 2010

Psalm 4

Psalm, Chapter 4
 6There are many that say, "Who will show us any good?" LORD, lift Thou up the light of Thy countenance upon us.
   
 7Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time when their corn and wine increased.
   
 8I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep; for Thou LORD only, makest me dwell in safety.

These verses spoke to me.  Especially the last verse.  This past week has been very trying on me.  I have felt the weight of the world and am trying to figure out what needs to be done.  I need to turn things over to God.  I need to ask him to put gladness in my heart and give me peace.  I need a break from certain things.  I need to see joy, celebration, and not worry about the rest.  Life doesn't seem to always work that way and then I don't get the rest I need, and chaos reigns.  I need God to help me let go of things and rest.    Sometimes I don't see the good.  I need God to show me the good of things.

Sometimes we get into a "I need" rut.  I don't feel I am being selfish.  There are things that each person needs to make their life calm down for them.  To help them get along with others, settle and be content.  Some days, we all don't help each other.  Some days we look at life through blinders.  Some days our human frailties get us caught up in things that don't matter to anyone else.  I pray that God will put gladness in my heart, that I will rest and be safe and that each moment he will show me good.


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Tuesday, August 3, 2010

Psalm 2 & 3

There are so many chapters in the book of Psalm that the little ones can be done several at a time.  I don't want to belittle them or make them seem trifle, so we'll see how it goes.  When we get to chapter 119, it may take weeks to go through.  But for today, I want to look at Psalm 2 and 3 and some things that struck me.

Psalm 2
4He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh; the LORD shall hold them in derision.

What is God laughing out?  The rulers and kings that get together and do their own thing.  They appoint themselves and fall away from God's rule.  I'm not sure if it's humor that God find's in the whole situation or if it's one of these times where if-I-don't-laugh-I'll-cry kind of things.  Laughter coming from God makes me happy.  Most people view God as the stern-faced, huge, mythical type who looks down his nose from heaven and passes judgment.  Knowing that the Psalmist says he laughs gives him another aspect of humanism.

 12Kiss the Son, lest He be angry and ye perish from the way, when His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.

This verse didn't do anything more me until the end.  Blessed are all they that put their trust in Him.  This chapter ends with a promise of a blessing if we trust God. Oh, how I try!  How I do my best to stay out of God's way because I know when I help, I mess things up!

Psalm 3



 5I laid me down and slept; I awaked, for the LORD sustained me.

I am very tired.  I have ran every day since last Thursday.  I had this and that and another thing going on.  It's been fun, but last night it all caught up with me and I didn't feel good.  I am thoroughly and utterly exhausted.  All I want to do is sleep.  But as a wife and mom, that won't be possible.  I always say I'll sleep when I'm dead.  But sometimes I run myself down to the point where I feel dead!  This verse is exactly for me this week.  I want to lay down, sleep and when I awaken, I'll feel better.  Do you have weeks like that?

Chapter 3 tells of someone who has people after him.  Lots of people.  Sometimes we feel like the whole world is after us.  But we also know that we can lean on God and he will save us.  He will give us what we need, when we need it.  Praise God for that!

Monday, August 2, 2010

Psalms 1

For the month of August, let's look the book of Psalms.  Being a singer and choir director, I love the Psalms because a lot of them are songs and poems.    

Psalms 1

 1 Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful;
   
 2but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on His law doth he meditate day and night.

   
 3And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither, and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.

   
 4The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.

   
 5Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

   
 6For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

   

I like the second and third verses.  A man is blessed because he delights and keeps God's law in the forefront of his mind.  He soaks up the laws and good abounds from him.  He keeps growing and everything that he does keeps him growing in knowledge and riches.

To compare the godly to the ungodly is so sad.  It's sad to see what a godly man is blessed with and will receive and how an ungodly man will be penniless and unimportant.  Verse 4 tells us that the ungodly shall not stand in judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.  When someone choses to go against God, their fate has been set.  They won't with the the Christians.  They will be made to stand apart and their judgement.

Where do you want to be?  By the rivers soaking up the goodness of God's laws or with the ungodly driven away with the wind?  I pray each of us will righteous and meditate on these verses.  They are a warning to us.  I hope we can all follow it.