Psalm 139 You are a present

Psalm 139 is a self-esteem booster. To know that our heavenly father is "intimately acquainted with all my ways." Or is that a scary thought to you? Do you not want to be revealed from the inside out?

My older son Jonah has the best questions that really get you thinking. A lot of times I just have to say "I don't know!" Because I really don't. I love to talk about God with him and see his little mind reeling...and learn from his innocent and child-like questions. One day he was asking "how does God know all the people in the whole world and how does he know what we are saying and thinking." Pretty profound--and only faith can help you understand that. But I like to think of how I am as a mother--I know my children. I watched them under ultrasound grow and form. I saw their tiny hearts beating when they were only the size of a grain of rice. I see them when they rise and when they go down. I know their thoughts because I listen to them. I know that God is like a mother--because he created mothers. I'm sure this part of us is likened to being "made in his image." And to think that the God of the universe created me and knows me AND knows you...and you...and you. Amazing.

As I mentioned before I have been reading "Heaven is For Real" and it has really put the gospel, worship songs, eternity, life after death--everything!...into a clear picture for me. I know that it is written from a 4-year-old perspective--and perhaps that is why I trust it even more. I know my 4-year-old doesn't make things up or embellish a story--I don't think he knows how to. (perhaps b/c he hasn't learned to yet!) But one of the stories was how Colton (the 4-year-old) met his sister in heaven. Not his older sister--but his younger sister...that was never born. His Mom miscarried at about 8 weeks and Colton was young enough (around 3) to not really know or be involved in the details of the miscarriage. (unfortunately, I know this a little all too well!) But Colton came back from heaven talking about how met his sister, what she looked like and how they spent time together. AMAZING! You have to read it to believe it--but I like to believe that psalm 139 is talking about all of us--whether we made it to earth or not. God knows us and created us and loves us! Colton also came back from heaven talking more about one thing then anything else--How much Jesus loves the children. He would just keep saying "Dad, Jesus loves the kids." Even if one day they realize some of the story was fabricated--I still like to believe the stories he shared about Jesus. Because--they line up with the gospel message.

So today--be okay with who you are--because God created you and knows you and LOVES YOU. He wanted you here on earth, today...for a reason. Take this moment and day as a present from Him.

Psalm 137 God's Time

If you have not read psalm 137--stop and read it. Okay, now that you have--it's hard to believe. It talks about dashing infants against rocks--but yet continuing to sing songs to the Lord--even if you are in a foreign land. I'm not sure about you but if someone dashed my infant against a rock I think I would have a hard time praising the Lord. Yet, it says "If I forget may my right hand forget it's skill and may my tongue cling to the roof of my mouth." The author is asking to lose ability of his body if he forgets to praise the Lord. Wow, what a testimony.

The psalms have been teaching me to PRAISE GOD NO MATTER WHAT. To look at everything that comes my way as a blessing--and to bless the Lord. Not asking the questions WHY? But looking to Him in thanks. Doesn't God know what our tomorrow holds? What are next year holds? To God--an hour is like a minute and year is like a breath of air. Time is not measured in the same way.

Recently I have started reading "Heaven is For Real" by Todd Burpo. The author is the father of a 4-year-old son who has clear recollections of going to heaven and coming back. The little boy had a ruptured appendix and the toxins were poisoning his body for five days before they realized what had happened. During his journey so close to death--he has clear memories and stories of going to heaven. It's pretty amazing--you should read it. But he mentions being in heaven for 3 minutes--but yet has story after story to share. His Dad, Todd Burpo, goes on to share about God's time and our time. They just don't match up!

I think it's time I do two things today--remember his faithfulness. And to know that God's time is not my time. Let's think and pray through those truths today.

Psalm 140 - head games

If we turn to the Lord and trust in Him for help, He will protect us from the trouble makers in our life. I had taken my son Wes to play laser tag and he was very excited, got geared up and disappeared into the playing field. I had gone in geared up too to help my daughter so we were all engaged in the battle. I continued to notice my son getting ganged up on by a group of boys and then it started to come to pushes and harsh words. As a mother and the only adult in the situation I easily could have come in and scolded the boys and broke it up or I could have just removed Wes from the room itself. Instead I shot all the boys from my sniper vantage point and they dispersed under fire. I kept a distance but always a view of Wes so when the trouble makers came back to gather around him I could fire on them and render their guns useless. Insert evil laugh here. Mhuaa ha ha! Come to find out at the end of the round Wes had not detached his gun from his vest properly and was at a major disadvantage trying to shoot. But isn't this so true of us in the world. We enter into the battles of life thinking we know what we are doing. But if our weapon is not detached, aimed, and fully functioning we are at the disadvantage. The word of God, the Bible, His very words to us are our weapons but so often we keep our Bibles tucked on our shelves or we spend time reading a book about what someone else thinks of the Bible instead of reading it and arming ourselves with its words. Verse 7 says "O Sovereign Lord, my strong deliverer, who shields my head in the day of battle," shows that we will be engaged in battle, not removed from it. But He will shield our head, our minds are where most of the battles are fought. Should I do this or not, should I say this or not, I wonder if this or that. Our heads spin with decisions but God can keep our minds sharp, focused and shielded from the enemies attempts to confuse and tempt. But to do this we must be in the Word learning his laws and ways so we know how to follow him. Will you turn to the Lord and trust in Him for help to protect you from the trouble makers in your life today?

Psalm 135 What pleases Him?

Psalm 135 has a verse in there that can strike deep. Verse 6 says "The Lord does whatever pleases him, in the heavens and on the earth, in the seas and all their depths." Then it goes on to talk about the rain and lightning; wind coming from the storehouses; he struck down the firstborn of Egypt; the firstborn of men and animals. He struck down many nations and killed mighty kings. Wow--but the verse above says that "The Lord does whatever pleases him." Does killing the firstborn please him? I think of the thousands that are killed by Tsunami's and hurricanes...but he "let's the wind out from his storehouses." It is hard to wrap our little finite minds around death and destruction...to think that the Lord is doing this because it will please Him. To think that He is in charge and is causing all of this pain and sorrow for a reason. That is where we have to lay down our minds, our wills, our desires--and throw up our hands in complete surrender. Lord, whatever it is--I need to choose to surrender to you. I know that your word says that you do work together ALL things for your good. When I don't understand...Let me remember that you do whatever pleases you. We know that you are GOOD and that We are NOT you--thank you for putting us in our place...time and time again. Help for us to have faith when our faith is weak. Help for us to trust you. Amen.

Psalm 133 Facing the floodwaters

Recently at family camp the main speaker for the adults was excellent. On the last night of camp he talked about the story in Joshua about crossing the Jordan river. The psalms are full of old testament recollections and God's faithfulness. The pastor was speaking on when facing the floodwater's of life. The three truths he gave us were:

1. God's people needed reminded that The Lord goes before them

2. The Israelites discovered that God worked in ways that they couldn't understand and in places they couldn't see.

3. They successfully navigated the Jordan only in the context of community.

Little did I know that the next week of my life--I would be facing the floodwater's. I had some tragic news handed to me...and I had to cross my own Jordan river. These truths came to life though. I did know that the Lord went before me. He knew the news I was going to receive and He had prepared me. The second truth rings soooo true. I didn't understand and I couldn't see what God was doing. But number three rang the loudest--I couldn't have crossed my Jordan river without community. My phone buzzed constantly for days with words of encouragement, songs of prayer and friends delivering hope. I felt surrounded by love. My natural tendency was to withdraw--and believe me...I did. But I know that I can't do it on my own--and neither can you. We need community--we need to cross the Jordan together. Jesus didn't do it by himself! He called out to his Peter, James and John to pray with him the night he sweat blood and tears. So as psalm 133 says--that it is good and pleasant to live together in unity--let's all be there for one another. Let's cross through the floodwater's together. Let's make sure we are looking out for those in need--and even carry them through if need be.

Psalm 138 - you answered me

I have a problem with priorities. I am very productive but I don't know how to prioritize. I may spend a productive week making canned food, doing fun yet educational field trips with the kids, and sorting through the big stack of papers on the counter but I will not have touched the laundry all week and the pot with baked on lasagna is still soaking in the sink for the third day in a row. My time isn't always spent wisely. So I asked God, what are my priorities? And He answered me. The two most important things that He has exalted and prioritized is given in verse 2. He has exalted above all things His name and His word, everything else will file in rank behind those or be used for that purpose. Purpose, hmm, that has been another struggle for me in link with priorities. When you don't have a clear purpose or goal then you don't have anything you are working on or towards. Laziness, confusion, depression, complacency and other such tendencies start to take over. So I asked God, what is my purpose? And He answered me. In verse 8 He says He WILL fulfill his purpose for me, His love endures forever, so I too pray that He will not abandon the works of His hands in me. So if I am prioritizing His name and His word in my life than my purpose and the works He is doing in me WILL be fulfilled. It is what He will do because of His love not because I am special or highly productive but because I prioritized the right thing. The Lord who is on high still looks upon lowly little me and preserves my life in troubles and saves me against my enemies. I can confidently move forward in the direction He wants me to live. Towards Him.

Psalm 136 - thankfully endured

Not much lasts these days, in fact our culture has gotten very fast and disposable. We want it now but for cheap and we want to be able to throw it out and start all over again next season when the trend changes. But there is something that lasts, it is the reason we were created, it has sustained humanity for centuries and it is what will last to the end of the age. God's love. It doesn't just last, it endures. It is a gritty word that implies it has been through the trenches and fights for us. His Love sees us through the thick and thin, protects us, and even remains when we reject it. Psalm 136 lists the things to be thankful for because of God's faithful enduring love. Verses 1-3 speaks of His very character, his goodness and his power above all other things. Verse 4-9 thank God for His great wonders, creation, and the purpose and order it all contains. Verses 10-15 recount God's deliverance of His people from Egypt and praise His power over nations and nature. Verses 16-22 express gratitude for Gods leadership in troubles, victory over enemies and rewards received. The chapter wraps us with praising God for remembering humanities weaknesses, giving them freedom from their enemies, and providing for our every need. Take a moment to account your our own testimony of God's love in your life. Praise Him for who He is and what He has done in your life. Thank him for the salvation from our own captivity and slavery to sin, for the deserts in your life, for the victory of His son Jesus in your life, and the provisions He makes for you. Remember the times you were unfaithful to Him and praise Him for his enduring faithfulness and love. How will you express your gratitude today? Who is God calling you to love with an endurance like His?