Praise the Lord!

Psalm 150

¹ Praise the LORD!
Praise God in His sanctuary;
Praise Him in His mighty expanse.
² Praise Him for His mighty deeds;
Praise Him according to His excellent greatness.  ³ Praise Him with trumpet sound;
Praise Him with harp and lyre.
⁴ Praise Him with timbrel and dancing;
Praise Him with stringed instruments and pipe.
⁵ Praise Him with loud cymbals;
Praise Him with resounding cymbals.
⁶ Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
Praise the LORD! 

 What a fitting way to end this book of poems.  There must have been a lot of loud music in the King's presence.  I know David loved music and wanted to dance and sing before God.  I love to sing for God.  I love to just sing and praise God with the hymns of my youth and the newer choruses of today.  It doesn't matter to me if anyone else hears, but as long as God knows my heart, I'm good just praising God as I go to work, washing dishes, or in my car.  Praise God for all he has given me.

Beautiful Things

Honestly, most days I do not feel beautiful.  Sometimes, I like the way I look on the outside, sometimes I like the way am feel on the inside, but most days, I see something that I am not proud of or just do not like about myself.
Psalm 149:4 says

⁴ For the LORD takes pleasure in His people;
He will beautify the afflicted ones with salvation.

God will make beautiful those that are plagued or in pain by giving them salvation.  I just say "AMEN!" to that statement.  There is a new song out by a Christian group called Gungor that I find myself singing the chorus of a lot.  It says that God will make beautiful things out of us.  Simple.  No matter how ugly I find myself, or how much pain I go through, God makes me beautiful!

Beautiful Things by Gungor
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You are making me new

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us

You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new

Praise Him!

Psalm 148

¹ Praise the LORD!
Praise the LORD from the heavens;
Praise Him in the heights!
² Praise Him, all His angels;
Praise Him, all His hosts!
³ Praise Him, sun and moon;
Praise Him, all stars of light!
⁴ Praise Him, highest heavens,
And the waters that are above the heavens!
⁵ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For He commanded and they were created.
⁶ He has also established them forever and ever;
He has made a decree which will not pass away. 

 ⁷ Praise the LORD from the earth,
Sea monsters and all deeps;
⁸ Fire and hail, snow and clouds;
Stormy wind, fulfilling His word;
⁹ Mountains and all hills;
Fruit trees and all cedars;
¹⁰ Beasts and all cattle;
Creeping things and winged fowl;
¹¹ Kings of the earth and all peoples;
Princes and all judges of the earth;
¹² Both young men and virgins;
Old men and children.

 ¹³ Let them praise the name of the LORD,
For His name alone is exalted;
His glory is above earth and heaven.
¹⁴ And He has lifted up a horn for His people,
Praise for all His godly ones;
Even for the sons of Israel, a people near to Him.
Praise the LORD!

I love this Psalm!  I love how created thing is commanded to praise the Lord.  It talks about how the weather is fulfilling His word.  Even the earth praises God.  Sometimes just being, just doing God's will is praise enough.

Snow in Summer

Psalm 147:16 - 18

¹⁶ He gives snow like wool;
He scatters the frost like ashes.
¹⁷ He casts forth His ice as fragments;
Who can stand before His cold?
¹⁸ He sends forth His word and melts them;
He causes His wind to blow and the waters to flow. 

 I have never noticed these verses before.  I love winter.  I know, most of you think that I am a freak, but the cooler it is outside, I am happy.  Summer is fun and hot and all, but I would rather be a little chilly, than too warm.  And, the Bible tells us that when we are forgiven of our sins, it is like we are washed and whiter than snow (Psalm 51:7) in God's eyes.  Snow is so brilliantly white, especially when the sun shines on it and blinds us.   But these verses tell us that he is in control of even the snow that blows around, the frost that forms on a cold night.  God's cold is not like our cold. One of my favorite movies is called The Day After Tomorrow.  It's about the earth shifting it's axis and the North Pole turns and the earth freezes down past the middle of the United States.  The shift in temperatures happen so quickly, that a lot of people are caught and freezes immediately.  That's how God's cold is.  Luckily, I think we are warmed by the love of God, and that will keep us warm forever.

God Loves

Psalm 146:8-9

 ⁸ The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises up those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous;
⁹ The LORD protects the strangers;
He supports the fatherless and the widow,
But He thwarts the way of the wicked. 

 God loves everyone, even those who are down and almost out.  He heals the sick, lifts up the down-trodden, and loves us all.  Praise God!

Sustaining Us

Looking at my where our garden started, and where it is now, and the possibility of where it will be in a few weeks, I praise God for what will surely be a good harvest.  Patience and elbow grease, water and weeding have help us, but only because God have us the will and know how to help out.  Thank you, Lord for giving us what we need!

Psalm 145:14-16

14 The LORD sustains all who fall
And raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to You,
And You give them their food in due time.
¹⁶ You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing.

Speak It and Live It

Psalm 144:3-4
³ O LORD, what is man, that You take knowledge of him?
Or the son of man, that You think of him?
⁴ Man is like a mere breath;
His days are like a passing shadow. 

 I am the receptionist at work.  I take care of the mail that comes in and out of the office on a daily basis.  There is a funny, older gentleman who lets me know each time he brings mail to be sent out.  Monday he told me that he was sending in a payment for his grave sight.  I asked him if he was planning to die soon.  He giggled and said "No, but you never know."  How true a statement.  The Psalmist got it right in verse 4.  In God's time, man's life is a blink of an eye.  Before you die, let someone know you are a Christian.  Don't go without telling someone what Christ has done in your life.  I have heard of too many people that are left behind doubting someone's eternal passage. If someone's life as a Christian is in question after their passing, what does that say?  If you are passionate about Christ's message of salvation, talk to them, lovingly telling them that Christ wants them to make that decision for themselves.   Make sure you let everyone know that you have followed Christ and are living for him.  Tell them your story, don't just live it, speak it!

Vent Away!

Who do you turn to when you want to complain or talk out a situation?  Your parents?  Your spouse?  Your best friend?  When David was in trouble, he went to God.  He didn't feel he could talk to anyone else or he was on the run and alone and didn't have anyone else around.  Last week at camp, when you get 80 kids together, there is bound to be issues.  Allie came to me one time to vent.  She just needed someone to listen to her, to pour out her frustrations and talk things out.  Then she was better, and could handle the next 24 hours or so.  I am glad she can come to me, but I hope we all realize we can vent to God to.  Besides, he knows the situation and turn out better than us anyway.  Look how David turned out.

Psalm 142
 ¹ I cry aloud with my voice to the LORD;
I make supplication with my voice to the LORD.
² I pour out my complaint before Him;
I declare my trouble before Him.
³ When my spirit was overwhelmed within me,
You knew my path.
In the way where I walk
They have hidden a trap for me.
⁴ Look to the right and see;
For there is no one who regards me;
There is no escape for me;
No one cares for my soul.

 ⁵ I cried out to You, O LORD;
I said, “You are my refuge,
My portion in the land of the living.
⁶ “Give heed to my cry,
For I am brought very low;
Deliver me from my persecutors,
For they are too strong for me.
⁷ “Bring my soul out of prison,
So that I may give thanks to Your name;
The righteous will surround me,
For You will deal bountifully with me.”

King David's Prayer

I am having trouble with Psalm 140.  I don't consider anyone wicked or out to get me.  I have a hard time conceptualizing that someone actually makes time to think about me and how they can ruin me.  I guess it happens.  I figure that most people do not pay me any attention.  I'm not powerful, I have nothing that I feel would be motive for that.  But, King David did.  He always had someone trying to get at him.  I do know that God will hear our prayers, just as he heard David's.  So pray when you feel someone is trying to get you, or you feel hurt.  Don't strike back.  Let God do it.

Psalm 140


 ¹ Rescue me, O LORD, from evil men;
Preserve me from violent men
² Who devise evil things in their hearts;
They continually stir up wars.
³ They sharpen their tongues as a serpent;
Poison of a viper is under their lips.
                         Selah.
 ⁴ Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked;
Preserve me from violent men
Who have purposed to trip up my feet.
⁵ The proud have hidden a trap for me, and cords;
They have spread a net by the wayside;
They have set snares for me.
                         Selah.
 ⁶ I said to the LORD, “You are my God;
Give ear, O LORD, to the voice of my supplications.
⁷ “O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation,
You have covered my head in the day of battle.
⁸ “Do not grant, O LORD, the desires of the wicked;
Do not promote his evil device, that they not be exalted.
                         Selah.
 ⁹ “As for the head of those who surround me,
May the mischief of their lips cover them.
¹⁰ “May burning coals fall upon them;
May they be cast into the fire,
Into deep pits from which they cannot rise.
¹¹ “May a slanderer not be established in the earth;
May evil hunt the violent man speedily.”
 ¹² I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted
And justice for the poor.
¹³ Surely the righteous will give thanks to Your name;
The upright will dwell in Your presence.

Sing God's love

Psalm 136:4
 How can we sing the LORD’S song
In a foreign land? 

The chapter this verse comes from verses talking about being in captivity.  When I look at this verse alone, I say "How can we not sing the LORD'S song in a foreign land?"  How else are we to share God's love and saving grace?  Even if you never go to a foreign land, any place that is not aware of God's love can be considered foreign places to Christians. So go to your workplace, the store, the doctor's office, and sing of God's love, or at least act it out in kindness and understanding.

Night Watch

Psalm 134

1Behold, bless the LORD, all servants of the LORD,
Who serve by night in the house of the LORD!
² Lift up your hands to the sanctuary
And bless the LORD.
³ May the LORD bless you from Zion,
He who made heaven and earth.

I am going to be honest, I did not remember these verses.  But today, they hit me square in the face.  I grew up with my dad working shift work.  I remember that when it was time for him to get up, we would have to turn all the lights out and not talk to him.  He was such a grizzly before his first cup of coffee.  He would get up, get his coffee, wake up, then leave.  I was never scared when he left.  My mom always made sure we felt safe.  She never, ever showed a sign of being scared of being alone that I can remember.

When I married Mike, he was working nights.  He worked that the first few years of our marriage.  I confess that sometimes it was nice to have the house to myself.  I could watch what I wanted, go to bed when I wanted, hog all the covers.  I never got scared.  Once though, our first dog, Frosty left me a present on our back porch...a dead rat or gopher or something.  I called Mike and told him that he needed to come in the back door and get that thing off the porch!  It didn't scare me, just grossed me out. I always liked the quiet of the night.  The rustling of branches and leaves.  But those things are the same in the quiet of the afternoon if you listen.

But with the police, fire fighters, and all the others that work while we sleep and keep us safe, how can you not sleep soundly.  How can you be scared.  God has angels all around watching us every night.  We pray for protection while we sleep. I now pray for those who are awake while I slumber.  I also thank them too!  So if you have a family member who works at night, pray for them and let them know you appreciate what they do.  It's hard work. 

Get Together

Psalm 133:1

¹ Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
For brothers to dwell together in unity! 

July 31st, some of the congregations in our brotherhood will be getting together to have dinner on the grounds and singing and a speaker.  It will be an evening of fellowship and entertainment.  I am excited to lead the choir for this event.

This verse in Psalms tells should put us all in the mood to attend.  I am at fault at neglecting this.  Sometimes when I hear that the area churches are having a get-together, I think, I don't need to go, this doesn't apply to me.  God tells us that it is good to be with those of the same minds and faith.  To fellowship with one another.  That doesn't mean just of our own congregation, but of whole family of God.  When we get to heaven, we will be mingling and worshiping with like-minded Christians that we will not have had any contact with, maybe.  So come out, eat, worship, and enjoy each other's company for the evening.  Maybe it will be a little bit of heaven on earth!

5th Sunday Rally, July 31, 2011 @ 6:00 PM
at Lifeway Church, 780 Lebanon St., Monroe, OH 45050

Comfortable Places

Psalm 132:14
¹⁴ “This is My resting place forever;
Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. 

 Everyone needs rest.  Everyone needs a place where they can find peace, quiet, and comfort.  Even God wanted a place to rest when David wanted to build him a place for God to be and the Israelites to worship.  Do you have a resting place?  Do you have a place where you can find comfort?  I love my bedroom.  It's quiet, I can sit on my bed and read, rest, and recharge.  Growing up, it was this little space in our kitchen.  In our family kitchen was a place between the counter and the stove.  The two-step stool was there, and I will sit there and talk with my parents about the most important subjects.  It was my place when I needed comfort.  It was my place when I needed to vent.  It was my most favorite place in the whole house.

Child-Like

As an adult, people look down on us when we act childish.  But when we come to God, we need to be child-like.  I hope God sees that my trust in him is not childish, but child-like.  I want to always feel safe and secure in the Lord.  I want God to take me where he wants me to go.  I want to do things that are just right for my ability, according to Christ, not according to me.

Psalm 131

 ¹ O LORD, my heart is not proud, nor my eyes haughty;
Nor do I involve myself in great matters,
Or in things too difficult for me.
² Surely I have composed and quieted my soul;
Like a weaned child rests against his mother,
My soul is like a weaned child within me.
³ O Israel, hope in the LORD
From this time forth and forever.

Listen!

Psalm 130

² Lord, hear my voice!
Let Your ears be attentive
To the voice of my supplications.


Our minister tells us that God gave us two ears and one mouth.  With them, we should listen twice as much as we talk.  And if we are fashioned after God, then he is the perfect example. 

Fruitful Happiness

Psalm 128
 ¹ How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD,
Who walks in His ways.
² When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands,
You will be happy and it will be well with you.
³ Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
Within your house,
Your children like olive plants
Around your table.
⁴ Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed
Who fears the LORD.
 ⁵ The LORD bless you from Zion,
And may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem all the days of your life.
⁶ Indeed, may you see your children’s children.
Peace be upon Israel! 

 We have a garden in our backyard.  Some of you have heard us talk about it.  Mike and I love to garden.  We hate to weed, but we do it.  We really enjoy the fruits of our labor, the harvest.  Last year we decided that this year's garden would be small because we are so busy with work, band, etc.  We never plant our garden until the beginning of June.  April seems too wet and cold, May is too busy, so June it is.  This year even June seemed crazy and  kind of wet.  So we were thought we would be satisfied with a small garden.  Well, my father seemed to have other ideas.  He decided to have a garden, and give us the plants he couldn't put in.  We now have 17 tomato plants, not including the volunteer tomatos coming up next to the back porch.  We also have eight pepper plants, a little bit of peas and beans, radishes, cucumbers, zucchini and watermelon.    We couldn't let anything go to waste.  It just isn't in us.  I hate to be wasteful.  So I like the second verse of this psalm.  It speaks to me, let's just say.  I am happy that we have the garden we have. 

I also like that this psalm talks about your family being a part of your garden as a you are the vine, the spouse is a fruitful vine, and your children will all be around your table as olives on a tree.  There will always be plenty.  What an uplifting set of verses.

Bringing in the Sheaves

Psalm 126:4-6
⁴ Restore our captivity, O LORD,
As the streams in the South.
⁵ Those who sow in tears shall reap with joyful shouting.
⁶ He who goes to and fro weeping, carrying his bag of seed,
Shall indeed come again with a shout of joy, bringing his sheaves with him.

The last part of the chapter just brings me joy reading it.  All the suffering we have, are, and will go through will turn to celebration when Christ comes back and brings his children home.  I'm so glad that I am a child of God.  I hope you are one too!

Psalm 120

Psalm 120:1

In my trouble I cried to the LORD,
And He answered me.

I am so thankful that this verse is true. Every time I have come to the Lord with my problems, he has answered me.  Sometimes I didn't like the answer, but always, it turned out to be the best answer for the situation.

Worship and Praising

It's Friday!  Friday, the 13th to be exact. Are you superstitious?  We kid about it, but I don't think I am.  When I mentioned the date to Allie and Timm, Allie got all excited.  Timm, well, he wants to watch a scary movie tonight.  They are so different.  But so are we, as children of God.  We all are made up of quirks and think differently.  I am glad about that.  I like that I am an individual.  But we all have the same goal.  To live for Christ.  To win nonbelievers to the kingdom of God.  To worship God.  I think the last one is sometimes the easiest thing to do, but sometimes our hearts and minds are not atuned with others.  Life's distractions get in the way.  Money, children, work, friends, all these add up to life's frustrations.  If these things are worrying you and keeping you from worshiping God, then read Psalm 113.

 ¹Praise the LORD!
         Praise, O servants of the LORD,
         Praise the name of the LORD.
    ²Blessed be the name of the LORD
         From this time forth and forever.
    ³From the rising of the sun to its setting
         The name of the LORD is to be praised.
    ⁴The LORD is high above all nations;
         His glory is above the heavens.
    ⁵Who is like the LORD our God,
         Who is enthroned on high,
    ⁶Who humbles Himself to behold
         The things that are in heaven and in the earth?
    ⁷He raises the poor from the dust
         And lifts the needy from the ash heap,
    ⁸To make them sit with princes,
         With the princes of His people.
    ⁹He makes the barren woman abide in the house
         As a joyful mother of children.
         Praise the LORD!

Prosperity from God

Psalm 112 is a praise to the man who fears God.  God will bless him with prosperity.  Some months it feels like we have it all, and other months it feels like we are just getting by, if at all.  Does that mean that we are not doing God's will?  Does it mean that we are not following God's commands?  I can not answer that for you.  But it feels I am doing something wrong.  I know I am unworthy to even be called a child of God, let alone receive all the blessings He has for me.  I know I am not a very good steward.  I am always striving to do better.  I pray every day that God will bless my family and that we will be able to do His will with what he has given us.  We sometimes need to be reminded that though we feel poor, we, in America, are among the richest people in the world. 

Psalm 112
 ¹Praise the LORD!
         How blessed is the man who fears the LORD,
         Who greatly delights in His commandments.
    ²His descendants will be mighty on earth;
         The generation of the upright will be blessed.
    ³Wealth and riches are in his house,
         And his righteousness endures forever.
    ⁴Light arises in the darkness for the upright;
         He is gracious and compassionate and righteous.
    ⁵It is well with the man who is gracious and lends;
         He will maintain his cause in judgment.
    ⁶For he will never be shaken;
         The righteous will be remembered forever.
    ⁷He will not fear evil tidings;
         His heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD.
    ⁸His heart is upheld, he will not fear,
         Until he looks with satisfaction on his adversaries.
    ⁹He has given freely to the poor,
         His righteousness endures forever;
         His horn will be exalted in honor.
    ¹⁰The wicked will see it and be vexed,
         He will gnash his teeth and melt away;
         The desire of the wicked will perish.