Rebellion and Deliverance
Rebellion and Deliverance
Psalms 106
They forgot God their Savior, who had done great things in Egypt, wonders in the land of Ham and awesome things by the Red Sea. Therefore, He said that He would destroy them, had not Moses His chosen one stood in the breach before Him, to turn away His wrath from destroying them.
Many times, He would deliver them; they, however, were rebellious in their counsel, and so sank down in their iniquity. Nevertheless, He looked upon their destress when he heard their cry; and He remembered His covenant for their sake, and relented according the greatness of His lovingkindess. He also made them objects of compassion in the presence of their captors.
This is an amazing Psalm of repentance that exalts the lovingkindness of God to forgive and save. I tend to live in a state of grace. It's a good place to be. I didn't grow up in a religion of guilt and legalism requiring penance (voluntary self-punishment inflicted as an outward expression of repentance for having done wrong). So, I always lean toward grace and enjoy the comfort that I'm always forgiven. Perhaps even taking it for granted. Read more
There’s a promise!
There’s a promise!
Psalms 34, part 2
“I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked to Him and were radiant, and their faces will never be ashamed. This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear Him, and rescues them. O taste and see that the Lord is good; How blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him! O fear the Lord, you His saints; for to those who fear Him there is no want. The young lions do lack and suffer hunger; but they who seek the Lord shall not be in want of any good thing.
Last time we discuss the beauty of being mindful of our Lord throughout the day. Additionally, the expression of our soul’s consciousness of God is to speak His praises out loud and throughout the day. I think we all agree, we should do it more. God calls us to praise Him always and in His calling us to action, He promises rich rewards. What a kind Father He is.
When we praise the Lord at all time, the look on our faces will reflect a radiance that comes from the God we praise. You will feel different and you will look different. Just like Stephan in Acts 6:15,
“And fixing their gaze on him (Stephan), all who were sitting in the Council saw his face like the face of an angel.” Read more
Psalms 34
This pic is a Halloween throwback from several years ago!
Psalms 34
I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. My soul will make its boast in the Lord; the humble will hear it and rejoice. O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt His name together. I sought the Lord, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.
Verse 1 says "I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth."
If I'm honest with myself, I must acknowledge that I am not conscious of God throughout the day. I have this God-conscious adrenaline surge in the morning during my devotions (which I thankfully crave when I awake) but then I go through the day mindful of MY activities and focused on MY desired accomplishments. This opening verse reminds me that I still need further spiritual maturity in order to live and breathe in the Spirit with a stream of consciousness that is soaked in the awareness of the presence of God. Read more
Stunning! Part 2
Stunning! Part 2
Psalms 139
For you formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother’s womb. I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed substance...Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Thank you Lord! There is peace in knowing that you are GOD and all Your attributes are directed toward me personally. This is too wonderful to absorb. But it brings peace, security and confidence in your plans and your will for me and for my loved ones! "Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.” Read more
Stunning! Part 1
This is me and Leigh with JT Olsen, founder and director of Both Hands. This is one of our favorite ministries. They are doing amazing work to serve widows and orphans. https://bothhands.org
Stunning! Part 1
Psalms 139
O Lord, You have searched me and known me. You know when I sit down and I rise up. You understand my thought from afar. You scrutinize my path and my lying down, and are intimately acquainted with all my ways. Even before there is a word on my tongue, behold, O Lord, You know it all.
You have enclosed me behind and before, and laid Your hand upon me. Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is too high, I cannot attain to it.
We don’t often get alone and release our minds to think deeply of God. Deeply, expansively and comprehensively. Read more
Psalms 132
Here's another picture of beautiful Washington state, courtesy of my childhood friend, Calvin Luce.
Psalms 132
The Lord has sworn to David, a truth from which He will not turn back; of the fruit of your body I will set upon your throne...For the Lord has chosen Zion; He has desired it for His habitation. This is My resting place forever; Here I will dwell, for I have desired it. I will abundantly bless her provision; I will satisfy her needy with bread. Her priests also I will clothe with salvation, and her godly ones will aloud for joy. There I will cause the horn of David to spring forth I have prepared a lamp for Mine anointed. His enemies I will clothe with shame, but upon himself his crown shall shine.
Oh no! That was my thought when I read this Psalm. I’m not sure what all this is saying and even more important, how do I write a compelling devotion that teaches and inspires. Yikes! I used to just skip over such Psalms (there are many confounding ones) but with a little research and diligence, the message began to emerge. I don’t have it all figured out, but what I do know is written below. How wonderful is the Word of God? Every word has purpose, but sometimes it takes a little time and diligence to uncover it. Read more
Psalms 131
This pic has Beri is on the left and Brooke on the right with cousin Emily in the middle. 1996 in Yosemite National Park. Leigh and I clearly recall that day that a group of Japanese tourists were fascinated with Emily's pure blonde hair. They all wanted a picture with her.
Psalms 131, A Psalm of David
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. 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. O Israel, hope in the Lord, from this time forth and forever.
Understanding this Psalm took a little extra research before clarity soaked in. It was written by David, which is helpful, but even more helpful to know that it was written while he was serving on King Saul’s court. Why is that helpful?
David’s life is summed up in this way:Read more
Psalms 130
Psalms 130, author unknown
I’m taking a break from the book of John and soaking in the book of Psalms this week.
Out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice! Let Your ears be attentive to the voice of my supplication. If You Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul does wait and, in His Word, do I hope...For with the Lord there is lovingkindness, and with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. Romans 8:1
Psalms 130 is a Penitential Psalm, (I had to look up what that means exactly ;). These Psalms express the sorrow of sin. The Psalmist says, out of the depths I have cried to You, O Lord. At first reading I thought maybe this meant the depth of sorrow from trials and difficulties of life (such as disease, death of a loved one or unexpected earthly tragedy). But the context indicates a depth of pain and sorrow from sin in one's life primarily because our sin dishonors God and our sin condemns us. Read more
Psalms 143
Blowing Rock, North Caralina
For today, let's take a break from 2 Corinthians and consider a Psalm
Psalms 143
"Hear my prayer, O Lord; Give ear to my supplications! Answer me in Your faithfulness, in Your righteousness!
Bringing accountability into my life to have daily time with God has been so good for me. However, I could say sometimes I love it and other times, well, I don’t. When I encounter times when I don't "feel" close to God and the Words of scripture are flat and my prayers seem distant, the daily accountability doesn't allow me to do what I used to do. Avoid God and start the day by listening to the news or reading emails. I used to avoid God until I "felt" closer to Him.
I encourage you to make a note somewhere that says, "if spiritually discouraged, read Psalms 143." Here is the "state of mind" David is in: Read more