Month: June 2022

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You want me to do what, God?

Let God handle this

Psalm 109 The principle of turning the other cheek

So often when we face those who seek to do evil we try to handle the problem by ourselves. Maybe that is why when Jesus taught the Beatitudes, he turned the world upside down to get our attention. He reminded his audience that even though they, and we, may face those who seek to harm, ostracize, or demean, we are to turn the other cheek and apply the principle of Romans 8:28: recognize that “all things will work for good to those who love the Lord.”

So after the psalmist had his pity party of begging God to send fire and brimstone upon their heads, [snarky smile here] he seems to have taken a deep breath and ended his tirade with these words: “With my mouth I will give thanks abundantly to the LORD; And in the midst of many I will praise Him.” [Ps 109:30]

There is a principle here that we should heed; it is ok to tell God all about the evil around us, but after we have finished having our pity party, we should go and sit in His presence and praise Him, for He is sovereign and He knows the end from the beginning. Place our hurts and our frustrations before Him and let Him take over. Then, stand back and watch Him work, trusting Rom. 8:28!

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Count Your Blessings!

keep a diary

Ps 106-108 Forgetting and Remembering

The psalmist reminded us yesterday in Ps 103 that we have short memories. It is like that part of our brain goes to sleep and forgets the blessings God has bestowed upon us. Today’s reading is continuing that same theme.

Ps 106:7 they failed to remember (your many acts of love)…is this true of you and I as well?

Ps 106:13 they quickly forgot (what he had done)…are we guilty of this as well?

Ps 106:21 they forgot God their Savior…”OUCH”

But it gets worse: vs 24-25 they despised, they believed not, they murmured,

The Holy Spirit is given to us as our teacher. He uses spiritual markers in our life so that we might remember and give praise to God. He recalls to our memory the wonderful works God has done. Where today do you and I need to give God the praise He richly deserves?

Perhaps we might need a helpful nudge to remember. Do as I do, try journaling. Try writing where God has blessed you this day and the day before. Remember the hymn “Count your blessings, name them one by one and you will see what God has done.”

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Remember or Do NOT Forget

Bless the Lord oh my soul

Psalm 103: Wonderful!

The Psalmist in 103 reminded himself and the reader to “Praise the Lord, O my soul. Do not forget all his kind deeds. Or, as another translation says: do not forget all His benefits.” This past week we have seen the power of prayer to protect life and religious freedom through our Supreme Court. We give Him praise!

Truly the Lord has provided above and beyond all that we could ever think of as Paul so eloquently says “Now to him who by the power that is working within us is able to do far beyond all that we ask or think” [Eph 3:20] The psalmist writes: He has forgiven us all our sin, healed us as He sees fit, delivered us from the pit of Hell, and crowned us with his lovingkindnesses and compassion. God has so richly bestowed upon us His blessings.

The first stanza of this hymn appropriately titled “Wonderful Words of Life,” helps me, and I hope you as well, remember the wonderful gifts He has bestowed upon us and as a way to not forget His benefits/blessings!

1. “Sing them over again to me,
Wonderful words of life;
Let me more of their beauty see,
Wonderful words of life.
Words of life and beauty
Teach me faith and duty;

o Refrain:
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life;
Beautiful words, wonderful words,
Wonderful words of life.

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Three Hearts

heart pictures

Psalm 101 Jeremiah wrote that the heart is deceitful! No one can know it but God! [Jer 17:9] It is He that transforms that deceitful heart into something glorious to behold! Jesus reminded the disciples that the angels sing when a person repents before God. “In the same way, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of God’s angels over one sinner who repents.” [Luk 15:10]

In Ps 101, the psalmist gives us three pictures of the heart of men: vs. 2 the perfect heart., vs. 4 A froward (perverse) heart, and vs. 5 a proud heart.

Later, the psalmist would pray: create in me a clean heart, [Ps 51:10]. The author of Proverbs says to guard our heart, [Prov 4:23], and the author of Hebrews challenges those who are drifting to draw near to God with a sincere heart (Heb 10:22] 

Today I need to examine my heart. Is it perfect? (only by the saving grace of God). Next, do I seek to guard my heart against that which is perverse? And lastly, do I seek to have a humble heart?

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Holiness is like a puzzle..

Holiness is like a puzzle ..

Ps 99:8 The God-Who-Forgives; that is His Name/Character

Have you ever done a puzzle only to find a piece missing? The psalmist is essentially saying that our holiness is just like that. One missing piece or one broken piece ruins the whole picture. Without the “God-Who-Forgives,” piece, our puzzle is missing what is needed to present a beautiful picture with the title: Holiness. God has the missing piece because He is “The God who is holy” and the “God-who-Forgives.”

For example, the psalmist records that both Moses and Aaron were priests, and Samuel was a prayer warrior. However, all three had committed what we might call the “unforgivables.” They were missing the piece to be holy, so God disciplined them just as He does us! We might hold positions of authority, but if we sin, we are the same as any other individual. God desires purity of heart and actions because He is holy.

As a Bible study teacher, this verse always comes back to me: Let not many of you become teachers, my brethren, knowing that as such, we will incur a stricter judgment. [James 3:1] Just like Moses, Aaron, and Samuel, we are called to a higher standard. We must be holy.

Is there a piece missing in your puzzle? Then, go to the God-Who-Forgives to get your puzzle completed.

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Singing is God’s Prescription for Anxiety

Singing is our prescription to anxiety

Ps 94-96 Facing Anxieties? Sing!

The psalmist shares his “antidote” to his anxious heart: “When my anxious thoughts multiply within me, Your consolations delight my soul.” [Ps 94:19] He then offers his medicinal prescription: “O come, let us sing for joy to the LORD, Let us shout joyfully to the rock of our salvation” [Ps 95:1] and further: “Sing to the LORD a new song; Sing to the LORD, all the earth.”Sing to the LORD, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day.” [Ps 96:1-2]

Today I grabbed my BSF hymnal and rejoiced in song (hope you weren’t listening because I only make a joyful noise.)  and sang away. My favorite is the God of Abraham praise!

The God of Abraham praise,
who reigns enthroned above;
Ancient of Everlasting Days,
and God of Love;
Jehovah, great I AM!
by earth and heaven confessed;
I bow and bless the sacred name
forever blest.

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Who is God to me?

God is God

Ps 91 As I wandered through my flower bed this a.m. I was thinking about this psalm. How encouraging this is to know that God is El Elyon, Yahweh; El Shaddai; Elohim, and Jehovah. His names evoke his character!

El Elyon is God’s name of safety and abiding. Jesus spoke of Himself as the vine and us as the branches. How often am I detracted from this abiding principle with “work, play, and more.” The psalmist instructs me in this way: “He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.” [Ps 91:1] Jesus further states “Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” [Jn 15:14] Am I dwelling and abiding?

The Sovereign One; the El Shaddai is the All-Sufficient One, the Lord Almighty. He is the “I AM” who has great power. God says trust Me and follow Me for I am immutable/unchangeable. “He will order his angels to protect you in all you do.” [Ps 91:11] Am I trusting Him–especially when my plans go awry?

Elohim is Sovereign, the Mighty One overall. He cares, and He is steadfast to carry me; nothing comes to me but is filtered through His fingers. Do I recognize this and honor Him for this character quality?

God is available 24/7. Jesus said, Come unto me, and I will give you rest. [Matt 11:28] Is this why I am restless today?

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More on Choices…

Two choices

Ps 90-91 “Think about this statement: Life is brief, eternity is forever.”

Moses prayed: “Lord, you have been our dwelling place, our protector through all generations.” [Ps 90:1] With God, time is inconsequential, for He is eternal. A 24 hr. day to us is like a thousand years in his sight. God orders men’s destinies and He alone is omniscient and omnipotent. The men of old knew that God could be trusted, for in all storms of life, he was present, and we can claim that same promise today.

But, do we make that choice or choose to decide on our own?

Wisdom reminds us to fear God, who holds the reins of time and eternity but too often we choose to ignore that wisdom. Why do we do that? It is because of our pride. Listen to James, the Lord’s brother’s wisdom:  “God opposes the proud, but he gives grace to the humble.” [James 4:6] Moses reminded the Israelites to keep God’s commandments because life is fleeting in our sight.

Principle: Enjoy and invest wisely in that which will count for eternity.

We are thus left with some questions to ponder. How did we spend yesterday, and how will we spend today? If we were told that today would be our last day on earth, with whom would we spend it and what would our conversations sound like? Are we storing up treasures here on earth or treasures in heaven?

When you waste your time, you waste your life.

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Make the right choice

Making wise choices

Ps 85-87  Choices

Today our nation, just as the nation of long ago Israel, is bombarded with the false gods who promise peace and prosperity. The prophet Elijah saw that the chants and sacrifices to the false god Baal, remained on the altar but the true God sent fire from heaven to consume the sacrifice and lick up the water. As Elijah challenged the people of Israel, the psalmist is challenging us with the same challenge: if Baal be god, worship him, but if Yahweh is God, worship him. We also must make that choice.

The false gods cannot deliver, provide or bring peace. The psalmist recognizes that Yahweh alone is the restorer who pardons and forgives our sin because He is kind, forgiving, and merciful, and in times of trouble, we can cry out to him. His salvation is near to those who fear him. To fear God is to give him reverence for his character and his proven faithfulness in the past for He is immutable. As he was, he shall forever be, for he is righteous, strong, and our deliverer. “For you, Lord are good and ready to forgive and abundant in lovingkindness to all who call upon him” [Ps 86:5]

Which god do you fear? Do you worship Baal or Yahweh?

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Really, want to be a swallow?

Thanking God

Psalm 84 A Bird’s Eye View

God created the birds to fly above the earth and across the expanse of the sky.  The timid swallow feeds upon the wing across the expanse of the sky to catch insects.  It prefers the habitats of men, where insects are plentiful, and often chooses the most extraordinary places for its nests.  The psalmist reflects that in the Temple, this wee bird found a protected refuge high above in the sheltered eaves, where it has the privilege of a ‘bird’s eye view.’  He sees the comings and goings and hears the words spoken at the altar and the songs of the choirs as they echo across the courtyard.  What a view!  It must be marvelous, notes the psalmist!  While the priest has the “dog’s eye view” or ground-level view, the swallow has it all!  For a moment, he wonders what it would be like to reside as the swallow in the courts of the Lord’s Temple.

We now do not have to settle for the bird’s eye view; we can enter the very presence of God because of the sacrifice of Christ.  He tore the veil asunder top to bottom opening.  Indeed “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.” [Eph 1:3] We can walk right into the very presence of God.  Still want to be a swallow?

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