Monday, August 29, 2011
Psalm 139 You are a present
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Psalm 137 God's Time
Psalm 140 - head games
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
Psalm 135 What pleases Him?
Monday, August 22, 2011
Psalm 133 Facing the floodwaters
Psalm 138 - you answered me
Sunday, August 21, 2011
Psalm 136 - thankfully endured
Psalm 134 - do your job
Friday, August 19, 2011
Psalm 132 - dwelling place
Psalm 130 - confident expectation
Thursday, August 18, 2011
Psalm 128 - Fruitful
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
Psalm 131 Storms of life
Psalm 129 Victory
Psalm 126 - tears to joy
Monday, August 15, 2011
Psalm 127 HIS story
Psalm 125 He's our Protector
Saturday, August 13, 2011
Psalm 121-123 Lift up your eyes
I wish I knew more about science. l love when someone tells me interesting scientific facts that turn to our Lord and Savior. The other day I was in a shuttle on my way home from my Granddad's funeral in Little Rock Arkansas. I happened to be the only passenger for about a 15 minute ride up to the airport and the driver started talking with me about our distance from the sun and the earths rotation. We were watching the amazing sun rise pop up over the hills and he seemed to know a lot! at the end of our conversation he raised his hands up and said "Now that is one amazing God that we serve! I hope you remember all that I talked with you about today!" We were in a hurry as the car line was backing up behind us--but he left a smile on my face and hope in my heart. I love that he knew what he did to remind me that God is fully in control. And he used his job as a shuttle guy to share the name of Jesus.
We all orbit around the sun--our planet earth and everything in it. Without it--the earth would be void of light and warmth. I'm sure we would shrivel up and die instantly of hypothermia and the oceans would freeze. To think God organizes the universe around the sun...and His Son. Psalm 121 talks about how "He who watches over you will not slumber." God doesn't let the sun stop shining just like he doesn't sleep when we do. The Lord is watching over the entire universe--and you and me!! Vs. 6 says the sun will not harm you by day nor the moon by night....he will watch over your life; your coming and going both now and forevermore."
I need that protection and security today. When life seems to be unraveling before you...know that the Lord is watching over. We can lift up our eyes and our hands and know that our help comes from the Lord--the Maker of heaven and earth!
Friday, August 12, 2011
Psalm 124 - snares
Thursday, August 11, 2011
Psalm 109 It’s share time!
Psalm 109 is about crying out to God and telling him our thoughts and feelings. We can tell God our true feelings and desires. David is raw in this chapter--You can tell he is so angry against the ones that are falsely accusing him.
I think sometimes as believers we try to monitor what we say and feel. We want to look a certain way or have someone think of us more highly then we are. But isn’t it refreshing when someone is downright raw with you? Don’t you think God appreciates this from us? He wants to hear your heart--your anger--your fears--your joys and your sadness. I am the first one to be guilty of hiding my feelings. Funny that I am a counselor and I expect people to come and open up to me--but it’s one of the hardest things for me to do or feel safe while sharing. I’m not sure why--it’s not like I have some awful memory of shared sentiments shouted off the roof-top. I guess it’s just who I am...and it’s not always a characteristic that I am proud of. Jesse mentioned this past week about letting God change “who we are”...not just chalking it up to “That’s just how I am!” What a challenge. And who I am is also rubbed off on the people I am with. If I want people to be open with me...then I don’t need to be vulnerable? If I want students to feel comfortable...don’t I need to feel comfortable with myself? If I want my children to feel free to share their feelings--I need to foster an environment that that is easily done. After all--David as a man of God cried out to God. He vented his deepest sorrows and anger--and now billions of people are reading about how to share their feelings through his example. Don’t be afraid to let it out--especially to our heavenly father who listens and cares more then anyone!
Psalm 107 Wandering through the desert
Have you ever wandered around in a desert? Really felt the heat, lack of water...ANYWHERE...felt the dryness and sun beating down on your back? I have been to two different sand dunes and although I enjoy going and seeing God’s amazing creation--I can’t wait to get back to the car, turn on the AC and drink a gallon of water! Last week we went up to Sleeping Bear Dunes in Michigan. John decided to continue the trek to the lake and I stayed behind people watching and and resting. As I looked around I was amazed at the dryness. I started thinking of John the Baptist eating locust and honey while in the desert and the psalms came to life. Psalm 107 is about wandering in the desert wastelands...being thirsty and hungry. But when they cried out to the Lord in their distress and trouble he delivered them! He satisfied their hunger and their thirst. To be fully satisfied by the Lord providing is an amazing feeling. As I looked around the dunes I saw a locust and I imagined John the Baptist saying “Thank you Lord for my lunch!” It reminded me to look around all the time--open my eyes to his blessings--and allow God to quench my thirst and fill my stomach. After all--He is the only one that truly satisfies.
Psalm 120 & 122- Inside out
Psalm 118 - toddler or teen
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
Psalm 105 The real deal
It’s hard to swallow the idea that God allows bad things to happen--but may even cause them...for HIS good. I used to never believe that concept until I started reading through the psalms and studying this together. Maybe it’s still up for debate--but here a verse to back up what I am saying. vs. 25 says “whose hearts he turned to hate his people.” My commentary is telling me that “God is not the author evil but the Bible writers don’t always distinguish between God’s ultimate action and the intermediate steps. Thus, by God blessing the Israelites’ the Egyptians came to hate them (Exodus 1:8-22). Because God caused the Israelites’ blessings he is also said to have caused the Egyptians to hate them. God used their animosity as a means to lead the Israelites out of Egypt.” For me it’s just something to think about.
- Do we serve a God that we can only trust in the good times? Or can we trust Him in the bad times?
- Do we only love our husband when he is attractive and loving towards us? Or we can we love him in spite of his flaws and weakness and humanness.
- Are we proud of our kids when they do something that pleases us...or can we just be proud of them for why they are inside?
- Are we only a “friend” when friendship is shown? Or can we go out of our way to love the unlovely?
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
Psalm 116 - To the guy who has it all
Monday, August 8, 2011
Psalm 114 - praying mantis
Psalm 101 Blameless
I have been convicted by the psalms. Psalm 101 is talking about leading a blameless life...walking into my home with a blameless heart...God’s eyes are looking for the faithful. I don’t always walk into my home with a blameless heart. Being blameless is someone who is above reproach; pure; innocent; could not possibly accuse them of anything. Someone who has the right motives, pure heart, free from gossip or whining, someone who gives life and doesn’t suck the life right out of you. That is just my own definition of blameless. But what if I always walked into my home with that kind of attitude? One that wanted to give life, who had a pure heart with my husband, had the motive of serving and loving rather then taking and receiving. I think we can if we allow God to fill up our God-shaped hole inside of us. If we keep looking for the things of this world to satisfy then we won’t ever have a blameless heart and mind. We will continue to seek out the comforts of today rather then the eternal blessings of our omniscient and omnipresent Lord. Seek to have a blameless heart today--whatever that may mean in your day today.
Psalm 99 Families that camp together...Stay together
This week I am at family camp. You might think--what is family camp!? I know that was what I used to think. The first time I came out here I was shocked. This is what John’s family loves to do? And...this was their “vacation” growing up?! His parents have a small one bedroom cottage with no running water on the camp ground. Actually, we hook up the hose to the make-shift sink so you can wash some dishes and brush your teeth. It is rustic and filled with antiques and memories. However, I have grown to have fond thoughts and feelings about Bay Shore family camp. Think about it--when we go to camp--we come back feeling “high” and excited about the Lord. But no one else experienced what we experienced. Especially our parents! But at family camp--every person of the family is being ministered to in their age appropriate way. Jonah runs off to his class...he is in the Kiddie Campers class morning and night and learning more then I could ever dream of teaching him. Then he runs around the campground riding trains, going for canoe rides, getting ice cream every night for 50cents, sitting on his Grandma’s lap during the evening worship time and becoming best buds with his cousin Jack. What could be better!? It is a joy being at camp with my family, rocking on the front porch chatting with second cousins and great aunts and uncles and growing in the Lord together.
This year at camp they are celebrating their 100th year. It is special to John’s Mom because she has been a camper here for over 60 years. They are looking at God’s faithfulness and treasuring the memories of God’s faithfulness. Psalm 99 says “Let them praise your great and awesome name!” That is what we are doing this week--praising God’s great and awesome name. And after all--it is my 10th anniversary today and I know it is God’s grace and truth that we are at this place. I thank the Lord today and will praise his name. What are you praising his name for today?
Psalm 97
“Let those who love the Lord hate evil.”
Evilness can creep into your life... and before you know it--it’s full fledge part of your daily lifestyle. It can start with something like a co-worker who may be a bit more flirtatious then is comfortable. But then next thing you know you might be out with him at a “company” dinner...and you know where that might lead you. Or in your own home with facebook and the internet. You may be thinking about an old boyfriend and start googling him. Before you know it you are having lustful thoughts and memories and may even start connecting with him. Whatever it is to you (and we all know what our own little sins are!) they need to be cut out. Whether it’s constant gossip with a certain friend, whining and complaining about your husband and kids, a bitter or unforgiving spirit or a temptation to be filled up somewhere else...scripture tells us that if We love the Lord--we are to HATE evil. This means to run from it; be disgusted by it; want nothing to do with it. We have all heard the saying that our thoughts end up reaping our actions. So when you have a small thought--immediatlely give it over to God. Don’t let satan start ripping through your thought life and wanting you to believe that he can satisfy.
When I start feeling anxious or fearful--I try to remember to combat those thoughts with memorized scripture. Like “perfect love casts out all fear” I John 4:18. Or Is. 41:10 which tells us “do not fear for I am with you.” Whatever your little (or big) sin may be--look up some scripture and combat the enemy with the real swords and spears. The sword of scripture is much more powerful then your weary mind and words. Start looking at evil as something to hate--not something to invite into your home through what you watch, listen to, follow on the internet, etc. You can do it with the help of the Lord!
Psalm 95 Do you believe in Hell
What is rest to you? Is it a day in bed, watching movies, napping, enjoying some yummy snacks, no interruptions? Is it a day relaxing at the beach with no kids to watch? Is it a day in the wilderness sitting by a stream? Whatever it is to you now--I can’t even begin to imagine what eternal rest will be. To be at complete rest within your soul...to not be in need or want as psalm 23 explains.
I heard on WCRF the other afternoon that only 2 out of 10 Christians truly believe that there is a Hell. That if you were to corner a believer and have them tell you their gut feeling--that they would say “There is no way there can really be a Hell.” I found that very interesting. I started thinking truly about the concept of Hell. It is hard to wrap your mind around...because we like to think of our God as loving and good. Not a God who would send someone to the pit of fire! But if you believe in the entire Bible--not just parts of it--then you need to believe that there is a Hell.
Psalm 95 exclaims that “Today, if you hear his voice...do not harden your hearts!...For if you do you will never enter his rest.” Wow. I think heaven is a place of rest. The time that we have always longed for and wanted but can ever seem to achieve here on earth. And if you want that rest--the bible tells us clearly that we need to listen to his voice today.