Psalm 96- Nature sings

The Lord is so worthy of our praise and gratitude for who He is and the salvation that He has offered. The psalmist encourages us to look for ways to recognize God's greatness then to sing about it and bring offerings to Him. Nature is full of things that bring glory to God. Have you been to a body of water lately? You can look and the water is beautiful and powerful. There is a whole world of activity below the surface that is happening that we are totally unaware of and barely able to fully grasp. It teaches me of the importance of having faith in the unseen. The fields are amazing at the crops that will grow from a tiny seeds to full lush plants that produce multiple fruits that provide food that can sustain life. Each fruit produces many more seeds in order to do it all over again next year. It teaches me that God can turn small seemingly dead things into great living and purposeful things. The trees of the forest sing and rustle with joy. Their roots continually grow and spread seeking water and nutrients to help its trunk and leaves grow strong upwards towards the sun soaking in its light in order to thrive. It teaches me how we need to live by the spirit to flourish. Look for new ways this week that nature gives glory to God and have it teach you something about His greatness.

Psalm 96 Questions -

1. Do you have new songs to sing or has your testimony of his marvelous deeds become dated? Do you receive new mercies daily and proclaim and experience the joy of his salvation?

2. Who have you told of God's greatness lately? Do you give Him the glory?

3. What idols are competing for your attention?

4. What offerings do you bring God. Do you give him your priority or your left over time? Do you serve Him only when it is convenient and easy?

5. How do you contribute to the spread of the gospel in your community? Globally?

6. How does nature glorify God and reflect his character?

7. When the Lord comes to judge the earth, what will be your verdict?

8. How ill you measure to God's standard of righteousness and truth?

Psalm 89 What are you following?

All of of us are leaders in one realm or another. We lead in our homes with our children, we lead a group of students in a bible study, we lead a game at a party, we lead co-workers, we lead the way to get somewhere...you get the picture. However, we lead--only if others are following. One can not be deemed a great leader if he/she never has any followers. So the question is--who is following you? Do your children follow your lead? When you say “come” or “no” do they listen right away? Does your small group of students seem to be following and thriving? Are your co-workers being challenged to follow? Do they trust your leadership? Are you leading your home in the roles God has given you--with your time, money, presence, etc.?

A few years ago I went hiking in Montana for a week with a group of students. We were navigated through a group called Leader Treks. Leader Treks set up the trip for the students to have a day of leading. Two students would have a map, compass and destination. They had to get us there. One day after hiking at least 10 hours we had come to the place we thought was our end for the night. According to the map and compass we were there! But little did we know our trail had taken us to the edge of a cliff. We had two options. We could hike down the cliff to water (which we needed because all of our nalgene's were empty and our dinner was prepared with water over a fire) or...we could hike back a few miles (which means hours in the wilderness) to a water hole we had previously passed. Turns out our map was outdated and our trail had lead us to false hope. We decided to take the challenge of scaling down the mountain. God protected and provided a way--but every student was crying...we set up our tent site in pitch darkness...and we ate processed snacks for dinner because it was too late to cook over the fire. It was a testing time to say the least. I’d like to say the trip got better and we ended on a positive note--but that was the just the beginning of the difficulties we faced in the wilderness.

All of that to say is--what are you following? Are you following the lead of an “old map”? Listening to a friend that isn’t giving you Godly advice? Listening to your “gut” instead of God’s word? We live in a time that it is popular to listen to your heart and your intuition. And yes...there are times to do that. But are you feeding your heart and intuition with God’s word? Are you going to the Word of God first?

Psalm 89 is about how God rules over the surging sea; his strong arm scatters our enemies; the heavens and earth belong to Him; God created the north and the south. I don’t know about you--but I know the one that I want to follow! And that is the God we are worshipping through our scripture--who created the heavens and the earth--and most importantly--YOU AND ME!!

Psalm 91 Lyrics

One of my favorite songs these days is SMALL by JJ Heller. Here are some of her words:

“I don’t want to make you small. I don’t want to fit you in my pocket--a cross around my throat. Cause you are brighter then the sun; your closer then the tiny thoughts I have of you and I could never fathom you. Broken people hit the ground when they discover you are not here for our benefit. You love in-spite of us--you use the least of us to prove the strong aren’t really strong at all.”

I think those are some powerful words that can humble you and I. How often do we make God small...so he can fit our tiny little thoughts and dreams? We put him in our pocket and pull him out when he have a sudden need. But psalm 91 says “Because he loves me, says the Lord, I will rescue him. I will protect him for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me and I will answer him; I will be with him trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”

Do we acknowledge him more then the cross around our throat? Do we pull God out of our pocket when we need him...or do surrender to his will no matter what? When times get tough do we run to what might immediately satisfy (a drink, a friend, a lover, a child, a career?) Or do we run to the God who says he will command his angels concerning you to guard you all in your ways?
Thank you Lord for teaching us through the least of us--that the strong aren’t really strong at all. It is only you Lord...and you in us...that is really strong. Thanks for your love in-spite of me.

Psalm 94 - Winning Team

My son Wes is so determined to win that when we play games he will switch "teams" or add someone to his "team" in order to give himself an advantage. I want him to learn to play fair and be a good sport but I kind of like the analogy of realizing you aren't going to win on our own accord so you jump on to the winning person's team. But in this world, it doesn't seem like God is winning the game. The wicked are jubilant, boastful, they oppress and crush the weak and righteous. They kill emotionally, spiritually and even physically. But this is what faith is: joining the team that promises to win in the end. It is believing what the Bible says and trusting the future reign of Christ will restore righteousness. According to verses 17-19 it is only by God's help that we stay in the game. His love supports us when our foot slips and he consoles us when we are anxious replacing fear with joy to our souls. Jesus is our get out of jail free card and our ace in the hole advantage in the game of life. Won't you stop trying to win on your own and let Christ play His hand in your place. Accept Christ as your fortress and rock and take refuge in Him before the last hand is dealt.

Psalm 94 Questions -

1. What are you proud of? Are you arrogant about your things, position, title, or wealth? Do you boast about your families success without giving glory to God?

2. Does it seem like God is absent from your life? The world? What hope does this Psalm give you?

3. Do you think because you continue to "get away" with a certain behavior that it isn't wrong or that God doesn't care? What warnings does this Psalm give you about your life or attitude?

4. Are your thoughts pointless and incapable of producing results? How can your thoughts have useful purpose?

5. Do you look at discipline from God as a blessing? Do you thank Him for it?

6. Do you feel like an area of your life is slipping? Is anxiety great within you? What hope does this Psalm give you?

7. Will the Lord be repaying you for your sins or have you accepted that Jesus paid for them by his death on the cross for you? Is their someone in your life that you need to explain that they are playing on the wrong team?

Psalm 92 - Beauty tip

Put away the injections, lasers and creams. I've just discovered the secret to staying fresh and useful. Starting in verse 12 on these verses claim that the righteous are like a flourishing palm tree and a growing cedar. Cedars are sweet smelling, long lasting, strong and its wood is very weather resistant. Palms are an evergreen that live long and can thrive in arid and tropical climates. Planted in the house of the Lord they will flourish bearing fruit even in old age, staying fresh and green. When we live close to the Lord through His spirit it is likened to having living water that flows out from you. Living a spirit filled life is the key to flourishing even into old age and staying relevant and useful for God's purposes. Verse 7 says that evil doers flourish too but only for a moment but then will be forever destroyed. So being successful isn't the key, both righteous and wicked flourish but where you are planted makes the difference if your success is evil or of God. So ask God to convict you if your roots are not rooted in Him and his word, if you are going elsewhere for water or if you are going to the living water of the Holy Spirit to satisfy your life, and to see if your fruit is ripe and useful or is it rotting or underdeveloped. Are you fresh and green or are you withering under the hot sun of this world's pressures? Praise God for being Holy and being your Rock. Praise Him for his love, faithfulness and great works in your life.

Psalm 90 - Unfailing love of a failure

When you fail does it make you want to try harder or cling to God tighter? But what happens when you don't have the will or strength to even cling. This psalm says our days pass away under your wrath, every day we fail, every day deserves God's wrath. He knows our ever sin, even the hidden ones. Even if we live a long life it goes by too quickly and is filled with trouble and sorrow. But this is the miracle of God's grace. Even though we deserve wrath, He still loves us and has given a way for our rebellious hearts to be reconciled to His. The forgiveness we can receive by accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus's death on the cross for our sins and failures frees us from the penalty of God's wrath. It allows us to be satisfied by Him in life so that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days (v14). We are able to be taught the wisdom needed to make the most of our time on earth (v12) and be given a purpose to fulfill by Him who created us for that very purpose (v17). Verse 15 even says we can be glad for the days and year that we see affliction and trouble. Wow, God really does flip everything up and around on us. It is hard to be glad when I screw up, I feel like such a failure and wish so hard I could have done it right. Yesterday I wrote about being with God right away in the morning and then today I hit the snooze. But today I am going to be glad for my mistake instead of guilt ridden. I am going to praise Him that His love is unfailing of a failure like me.

Psalm 90 Questions -

1. What failures do you need to be glad for not guilty ridden by? Are your mistakes causing you to run to God or away from Him? Do you find comfort in that you don't need to cover up your sins to Him but that He can wash them away for you?

2. How many years do you expect to live? If you weren't going to see tomorrow what would you make sure to do today?

3. What are you doing to gain a heart of wisdom? What is God teaching you about making your life count for Him?

4. Are you meeting with Him in the morning to be satisfied by His unfailing love? Are you singing for joy or searching for happiness?

5. Are you glad for your afflictions and troubles? What do the tough times teach you?

6. Do you allow God to establish the works of your hands or do you do the things you want to do and hope God blesses it?

Psalm 88 - hands up

Sometimes we grasp so tightly to control that we won't loosen our hands up enough to fold them in prayer. Sometimes God has to put us in the lowest pit so we can't climb out on our own strength, or overwhelm us with waves to the point of drowning so we don't think we swam out of the storm by our own talents or remove our closest friends and family so our identity and love isn't dependent on them. We are confined and low with grief so that we can't escape on our own cleverness. But as we call out daily, sometimes minute by minute with outstretched hands we can experience the saving power of God because He is our only source of help. Verse 13 says to cry out for help in the morning, set your prayers before you get going your own way in your own day. Before your feet even hit the ground from the bed in the morning try giving your day to Him. Thank Him for who he is and ask Him for His face to shine upon you today, for eyes that search for him and a heart that seeks His will for you that day. Repeat your prayer throughout the day as many time as necessary but at least start off on the right foot by releasing your hand off the controls.

Psalm 88 Questions -

1. Do you cry out to God day and night? Or do you just cry out to Him on Sunday mornings or in major crisis?

2. What troubles your soul? What things about the world upset you? Which verses upset you or do you wish you could gloss over?

3. Why does God put us in pits, waves, remove friends or confine us?

4. Are you helping making His wonders known in the darkness? Which unsaved friends or group do you feel called to share his righteous deeds in your life with?

5. Can you recall a time when loneliness was your closest friend? How did God see you through that time, what did He teach you? Could your friendliness to a stranger be that light that pierces their darkness today?