September 30, 2010
I am an artist. I believe that art is all around us. It surrounds us. Just look out your window. You may see beautiful towering trees. Or you may see tall grasses blowing in the breeze. You might even see a squirrel or a bunny scurry across the yard. You may see blue skies or clouds bursting at the seams. Whatever you see, take a look closer. What you are seeing is created by God. His hand painted the blue of the skies while he wisped the clouds into place. He drew each little pine needle on every branch of the tree. He created the warmth of the sun and the coolness of the moon.
I am an artist because my God is an artist.
God is my Artist!
Psalm 19
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer. (NIV)
Sometimes, I just love reading a psalm aloud to hear the poetry of the words flowing together. Poetry is art. Without God, our lives would have no art. We would not have song or dance. We wouldn’t enjoy photographs or paintings. We couldn’t touch sculptures or take in design.
God has created art for us to enjoy. He has created you as His most prized masterpiece. He has signed His name to you and claimed you as priceless. You are art from the Ultimate Artist.
Thursday, September 30, 2010
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
God is our Rock!
September 29, 2010
Growing up in a Baptist church, I quickly learned all the traditional hymns. When I hear the music to those old hymns, I automatically find myself singing along. I remember singing “The Solid Rock” along with many others.
Throughout the years, different hymns have meant different things to me. Even as I think back, “The Solid Rock” probably meant something different in my life as a child as it does to me now as an adult. Since January 15th, 1989, I have seen how my faith has grown and how God has become my Rock!
God is our Rock!
David relied on God as his rock throughout his trials especially when he was being pursued by Saul and his army. David literally hid among the rocky terrain from numerous attacks. But, it wasn’t the rocks that protected David from death. It was The Rock who saved him! God was David’s Rock, and He is ours today too!
Psalm 18
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever. (NIV)
David relied on the Rock. In fact, he refers to God as his Rock four times in this one Psalm. Other people throughout the Bible have relied on God as their Rock too.
In Genesis 28:10-19, God gives Jacob a place to rest upon a rock. Jacob has stolen his brother Esau’s blessing and now he is on the run. Jacob has no where to sleep for the night, so he lays his head down on a nearby rock. But, all along God plans to reveal to Jacob the true Rock in his life. “Jacob left the town of Beersheba and started out for Haran. At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock. In a dream he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up and down on it. The LORD was standing beside the ladder and said: I am the LORD God who was worshiped by Abraham and Isaac. I will give to you and your family the land on which you are now sleeping. Your descendants will spread over the earth in all directions and will become as numerous as the specks of dust. Your family will be a blessing to all people. Wherever you go, I will watch over you, then later I will bring you back to this land. I won't leave you--I will do all I have promised. Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, "The LORD is in this place, and I didn't even know it." Then Jacob became frightened and said, "This is a fearsome place! It must be the house of God and the ladder to heaven." When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the rock that he had used for a pillow and stood it up for a place of worship. Then he poured olive oil on the rock to dedicate it to God, and he named the place Bethel. Before that it had been named Luz.” (CEV)
God reveals Himself to Moses when he is hidden in the cleft of the rock. Moses has been called by God to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses has many questions as most of us would if we were to be given such a task as Moses was given. He wonders how the people will know that God will go with them and that God has chosen Moses as their leader. Exodus 33:12-23 says, “Moses said to GOD, "Look, you tell me, 'Lead this people,' but you don't let me know whom you're going to send with me. You tell me, 'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don't forget, this is your people, your responsibility."
GOD said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end."
Moses said, "If your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you're with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we're special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?"
GOD said to Moses: "All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name."
Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."
GOD said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you; I'll call out the name, GOD, right before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to be kind."
GOD continued, "But you may not see my face. No one can see me and live."
GOD said, "Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face.” (The Message)
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus taught his disciples a parable about wise and foolish builders. Jesus taught the disciples that they must build their foundation on the Rock—Jesus in order to spread the gospel. When they build their lives on the Solid Rock, they found their purpose in life. While others built on temporary things of this world that were quickly washed away like sand. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (NLT)
What are you building your life on? Solid Rock or sinking sand?
Growing up in a Baptist church, I quickly learned all the traditional hymns. When I hear the music to those old hymns, I automatically find myself singing along. I remember singing “The Solid Rock” along with many others.
Throughout the years, different hymns have meant different things to me. Even as I think back, “The Solid Rock” probably meant something different in my life as a child as it does to me now as an adult. Since January 15th, 1989, I have seen how my faith has grown and how God has become my Rock!
God is our Rock!
David relied on God as his rock throughout his trials especially when he was being pursued by Saul and his army. David literally hid among the rocky terrain from numerous attacks. But, it wasn’t the rocks that protected David from death. It was The Rock who saved him! God was David’s Rock, and He is ours today too!
Psalm 18
I love you, O LORD, my strength.
The LORD is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.
He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.
I call to the LORD, who is worthy of praise,
and I am saved from my enemies.
The cords of death entangled me;
the torrents of destruction overwhelmed me.
The cords of the grave coiled around me;
the snares of death confronted me.
In my distress I called to the LORD;
I cried to my God for help.
From his temple he heard my voice;
my cry came before him, into his ears.
The earth trembled and quaked,
and the foundations of the mountains shook;
they trembled because he was angry.
Smoke rose from his nostrils;
consuming fire came from his mouth,
burning coals blazed out of it.
He parted the heavens and came down;
dark clouds were under his feet.
He mounted the cherubim and flew;
he soared on the wings of the wind.
He made darkness his covering, his canopy around him—
the dark rain clouds of the sky.
Out of the brightness of his presence clouds advanced,
with hailstones and bolts of lightning.
The LORD thundered from heaven;
the voice of the Most High resounded.
He shot his arrows and scattered the enemies,
great bolts of lightning and routed them.
The valleys of the sea were exposed
and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, O LORD,
at the blast of breath from your nostrils.
He reached down from on high and took hold of me;
he drew me out of deep waters.
He rescued me from my powerful enemy,
from my foes, who were too strong for me.
They confronted me in the day of my disaster,
but the LORD was my support.
He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
The LORD has dealt with me according to my righteousness;
according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me.
For I have kept the ways of the LORD;
I have not done evil by turning from my God.
All his laws are before me;
I have not turned away from his decrees.
I have been blameless before him
and have kept myself from sin.
The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness,
according to the cleanness of my hands in his sight.
To the faithful you show yourself faithful,
to the blameless you show yourself blameless,
to the pure you show yourself pure,
but to the crooked you show yourself shrewd.
You save the humble
but bring low those whose eyes are haughty.
You, O LORD, keep my lamp burning;
my God turns my darkness into light.
With your help I can advance against a troop;
with my God I can scale a wall.
As for God, his way is perfect;
the word of the LORD is flawless.
He is a shield
for all who take refuge in him.
For who is God besides the LORD?
And who is the Rock except our God?
It is God who arms me with strength
and makes my way perfect.
He makes my feet like the feet of a deer;
he enables me to stand on the heights.
He trains my hands for battle;
my arms can bend a bow of bronze.
You give me your shield of victory,
and your right hand sustains me;
you stoop down to make me great.
You broaden the path beneath me,
so that my ankles do not turn.
I pursued my enemies and overtook them;
I did not turn back till they were destroyed.
I crushed them so that they could not rise;
they fell beneath my feet.
You armed me with strength for battle;
you made my adversaries bow at my feet.
You made my enemies turn their backs in flight,
and I destroyed my foes.
They cried for help, but there was no one to save them—
to the LORD, but he did not answer.
I beat them as fine as dust borne on the wind;
I poured them out like mud in the streets.
You have delivered me from the attacks of the people;
you have made me the head of nations;
people I did not know are subject to me.
As soon as they hear me, they obey me;
foreigners cringe before me.
They all lose heart;
they come trembling from their strongholds.
The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!
Exalted be God my Savior!
He is the God who avenges me,
who subdues nations under me,
who saves me from my enemies.
You exalted me above my foes;
from violent men you rescued me.
Therefore I will praise you among the nations, O LORD;
I will sing praises to your name.
He gives his king great victories;
he shows unfailing kindness to his anointed,
to David and his descendants forever. (NIV)
David relied on the Rock. In fact, he refers to God as his Rock four times in this one Psalm. Other people throughout the Bible have relied on God as their Rock too.
In Genesis 28:10-19, God gives Jacob a place to rest upon a rock. Jacob has stolen his brother Esau’s blessing and now he is on the run. Jacob has no where to sleep for the night, so he lays his head down on a nearby rock. But, all along God plans to reveal to Jacob the true Rock in his life. “Jacob left the town of Beersheba and started out for Haran. At sunset he stopped for the night and went to sleep, resting his head on a large rock. In a dream he saw a ladder that reached from earth to heaven, and God's angels were going up and down on it. The LORD was standing beside the ladder and said: I am the LORD God who was worshiped by Abraham and Isaac. I will give to you and your family the land on which you are now sleeping. Your descendants will spread over the earth in all directions and will become as numerous as the specks of dust. Your family will be a blessing to all people. Wherever you go, I will watch over you, then later I will bring you back to this land. I won't leave you--I will do all I have promised. Jacob woke up suddenly and thought, "The LORD is in this place, and I didn't even know it." Then Jacob became frightened and said, "This is a fearsome place! It must be the house of God and the ladder to heaven." When Jacob got up early the next morning, he took the rock that he had used for a pillow and stood it up for a place of worship. Then he poured olive oil on the rock to dedicate it to God, and he named the place Bethel. Before that it had been named Luz.” (CEV)
God reveals Himself to Moses when he is hidden in the cleft of the rock. Moses has been called by God to lead the Israelites to the Promised Land. Moses has many questions as most of us would if we were to be given such a task as Moses was given. He wonders how the people will know that God will go with them and that God has chosen Moses as their leader. Exodus 33:12-23 says, “Moses said to GOD, "Look, you tell me, 'Lead this people,' but you don't let me know whom you're going to send with me. You tell me, 'I know you well and you are special to me.' If I am so special to you, let me in on your plans. That way, I will continue being special to you. Don't forget, this is your people, your responsibility."
GOD said, "My presence will go with you. I'll see the journey to the end."
Moses said, "If your presence doesn't take the lead here, call this trip off right now. How else will it be known that you're with me in this, with me and your people? Are you traveling with us or not? How else will we know that we're special, I and your people, among all other people on this planet Earth?"
GOD said to Moses: "All right. Just as you say; this also I will do, for I know you well and you are special to me. I know you by name."
Moses said, "Please. Let me see your Glory."
GOD said, "I will make my Goodness pass right in front of you; I'll call out the name, GOD, right before you. I'll treat well whomever I want to treat well and I'll be kind to whomever I want to be kind."
GOD continued, "But you may not see my face. No one can see me and live."
GOD said, "Look, here is a place right beside me. Put yourself on this rock. When my Glory passes by, I'll put you in the cleft of the rock and cover you with my hand until I've passed by. Then I'll take my hand away and you'll see my back. But you won't see my face.” (The Message)
In Matthew 7:24-27, Jesus taught his disciples a parable about wise and foolish builders. Jesus taught the disciples that they must build their foundation on the Rock—Jesus in order to spread the gospel. When they build their lives on the Solid Rock, they found their purpose in life. While others built on temporary things of this world that were quickly washed away like sand. “Anyone who listens to my teaching and follows it is wise, like a person who builds a house on solid rock. Though the rain comes in torrents and the floodwaters rise and the winds beat against that house, it won’t collapse because it is built on bedrock. But anyone who hears my teaching and doesn’t obey it is foolish, like a person who builds a house on sand. When the rains and floods come and the winds beat against that house, it will collapse with a mighty crash.” (NLT)
What are you building your life on? Solid Rock or sinking sand?
Tuesday, September 28, 2010
God is Satisfying!
September 28, 2010
There is something so satisfying about drinking a cold glass of water after a long run on a hot day! That cool water just flows through your body and refreshes every part!
There is something so satisfying about cleaning the house from top to bottom and admiring the sparkling finished product! Everything just feels so good when it is clean!
There is something so satisfying about reading the final page in an excellent novel and reveling in the journey of the story! You too journeyed with the characters through their trials and joys and made it to the end!
There is something so satisfying about unpacking the very last box after moving across the country to a new city and a new home! Once the boxes are gone, it begins to feel like home!
There is something so satisfying about walking across the stage at my college graduation and turning that tassel while closing a chapter full of hard work and effort! Finally, I earned my degree!
There is something so satisfying about sharing coffee with a friend and spilling every intimate detail of your life, maybe crying, maybe laughing, maybe both! Then, you know that the friend will love you no matter what!
Satisfaction…we can find it in so many things. But, is that true satisfaction? True satisfaction lies beyond a clean house, a degree, or a good conversation. Satisfaction lies in God.
God is Satisfying!
Psalm 17
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a great lion crouching in cover.
Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.
And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (NIV)
David knew where he could find true satisfaction! The very last verse of this Psalm explains it all. “And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
Because God created us, in Him alone can we find full satisfaction. We are created in His image, and He knows exactly how to satisfy every need and every desire! If we look to Him, we will find satisfaction. Satisfaction greater than anything this world may offer. But, don’t take my word for it. Take God’s Word!
Psalm 90:14 “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 91:16 “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 103:2-5 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 107:8-9 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Psalm 145:16 “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
There is something so satisfying about drinking a cold glass of water after a long run on a hot day! That cool water just flows through your body and refreshes every part!
There is something so satisfying about cleaning the house from top to bottom and admiring the sparkling finished product! Everything just feels so good when it is clean!
There is something so satisfying about reading the final page in an excellent novel and reveling in the journey of the story! You too journeyed with the characters through their trials and joys and made it to the end!
There is something so satisfying about unpacking the very last box after moving across the country to a new city and a new home! Once the boxes are gone, it begins to feel like home!
There is something so satisfying about walking across the stage at my college graduation and turning that tassel while closing a chapter full of hard work and effort! Finally, I earned my degree!
There is something so satisfying about sharing coffee with a friend and spilling every intimate detail of your life, maybe crying, maybe laughing, maybe both! Then, you know that the friend will love you no matter what!
Satisfaction…we can find it in so many things. But, is that true satisfaction? True satisfaction lies beyond a clean house, a degree, or a good conversation. Satisfaction lies in God.
God is Satisfying!
Psalm 17
Hear, O LORD, my righteous plea;
listen to my cry.
Give ear to my prayer—
it does not rise from deceitful lips.
May my vindication come from you;
may your eyes see what is right.
Though you probe my heart and examine me at night,
though you test me, you will find nothing;
I have resolved that my mouth will not sin.
As for the deeds of men—
by the word of your lips
I have kept myself
from the ways of the violent.
My steps have held to your paths;
my feet have not slipped.
I call on you, O God, for you will answer me;
give ear to me and hear my prayer.
Show the wonder of your great love,
you who save by your right hand
those who take refuge in you from their foes.
Keep me as the apple of your eye;
hide me in the shadow of your wings
from the wicked who assail me,
from my mortal enemies who surround me.
They close up their callous hearts,
and their mouths speak with arrogance.
They have tracked me down, they now surround me,
with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground.
They are like a lion hungry for prey,
like a great lion crouching in cover.
Rise up, O LORD, confront them, bring them down;
rescue me from the wicked by your sword.
O LORD, by your hand save me from such men,
from men of this world whose reward is in this life.
You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty,
and they store up wealth for their children.
And I—in righteousness I will see your face;
when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness. (NIV)
David knew where he could find true satisfaction! The very last verse of this Psalm explains it all. “And I—in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.”
Because God created us, in Him alone can we find full satisfaction. We are created in His image, and He knows exactly how to satisfy every need and every desire! If we look to Him, we will find satisfaction. Satisfaction greater than anything this world may offer. But, don’t take my word for it. Take God’s Word!
Psalm 90:14 “Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.”
Psalm 91:16 “With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.”
Psalm 103:2-5 “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.”
Psalm 107:8-9 “Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men, for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.”
Psalm 145:16 “You open your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.”
Isaiah 58:11 “The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.”
Tuesday, September 21, 2010
God is Sovereign!
September 21, 2010
When I was going to college in Greeley, Colorado, my friends and I would go to the corn maze for fun around this time of year. For those of you who have never been to a corn maze or any other life size maze, I will explain. Corn is grown regularly, and then the owner comes along and cuts out a design or a maze in the corn. You enter on one side and somehow find your way to the exit after several twists and turns and dead ends. Once you are inside the maze, you can’t see over the stalks to see where you need to turn. You are just blindly walking through the maze heading one direction and then the next. For a person like me who has no sense of direction at all, I could literally be lost inside the maze for hours if I didn’t have my friends with me.
But, what if there was someone in a helicopter flying above the maze that could see the entire picture? What if they could talk to you over a walkie talkie and could guide you every step of the way? You would find your way through easily and quickly. You would never get lost or have to wander for hours.
God is hovering over the maze of each of our lives. He sees the giant picture. He sees where you entered the maze on the day you were born. And He also sees the day you will finish the maze.
God is Sovereign!
Psalm 16
Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV)
You can almost feel David’s joy and contentment flowing from this Psalm. David knows that God is sovereign. He knows that God has it all under control. He has the plans laid out before Him. God knew every step David would take. God knows every step you will take. God has given each of us our own unique maze to complete. No two mazes are the same, just as no two lives will ever be the same. God has designed you with your talents and personality and abilities to walk through life fulfilling the opportunities He places in your path.
Sometimes, I have wandered off in my maze. I put down my walkie talkie because I thought I could do it on my own. After wandering for hours, days, weeks, years, I finally came back to my God who has the ultimate plan for my life. And when I came back God was there waiting to guide me again step by step. I found that as I was following God’s instructions and listening to His voice, my steps were exactly what I needed. My life had purpose.
So, it is your choice today. Do you listen to God who sees the bigger picture? Or do you wander off to figure it out on your own?
When I was going to college in Greeley, Colorado, my friends and I would go to the corn maze for fun around this time of year. For those of you who have never been to a corn maze or any other life size maze, I will explain. Corn is grown regularly, and then the owner comes along and cuts out a design or a maze in the corn. You enter on one side and somehow find your way to the exit after several twists and turns and dead ends. Once you are inside the maze, you can’t see over the stalks to see where you need to turn. You are just blindly walking through the maze heading one direction and then the next. For a person like me who has no sense of direction at all, I could literally be lost inside the maze for hours if I didn’t have my friends with me.
But, what if there was someone in a helicopter flying above the maze that could see the entire picture? What if they could talk to you over a walkie talkie and could guide you every step of the way? You would find your way through easily and quickly. You would never get lost or have to wander for hours.
God is hovering over the maze of each of our lives. He sees the giant picture. He sees where you entered the maze on the day you were born. And He also sees the day you will finish the maze.
God is Sovereign!
Psalm 16
Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge.
I said to the LORD, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
As for the saints who are in the land,
they are the glorious ones in whom is all my delight.
The sorrows of those will increase
who run after other gods.
I will not pour out their libations of blood
or take up their names on my lips.
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand. (NIV)
You can almost feel David’s joy and contentment flowing from this Psalm. David knows that God is sovereign. He knows that God has it all under control. He has the plans laid out before Him. God knew every step David would take. God knows every step you will take. God has given each of us our own unique maze to complete. No two mazes are the same, just as no two lives will ever be the same. God has designed you with your talents and personality and abilities to walk through life fulfilling the opportunities He places in your path.
Sometimes, I have wandered off in my maze. I put down my walkie talkie because I thought I could do it on my own. After wandering for hours, days, weeks, years, I finally came back to my God who has the ultimate plan for my life. And when I came back God was there waiting to guide me again step by step. I found that as I was following God’s instructions and listening to His voice, my steps were exactly what I needed. My life had purpose.
So, it is your choice today. Do you listen to God who sees the bigger picture? Or do you wander off to figure it out on your own?
Monday, September 20, 2010
God is Perfect!
September 20, 2010
I am a visual learner. All throughout school, I learned best when examples were given that I could see. Demonstrations and overheads and power points and posters and projects all helped me to understand better and eventually apply it to my own life.
I think we all learn better when we have an example to follow. Explaining something in words only gets through to a minority of people, but actually seeing a process played out in front of you gets through to a majority of people.
That is why God sent His Son. Jesus was and still is our example. He lived out His life on earth just as we should live our lives. He came before, so that we could follow in His footsteps and follow His example.
David asks God for an example of how to draw nearer to God. He wonders how people will get to heaven.
Psalm 15
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken. (NIV)
Following Jesus is more than just a list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus came to be the example, and He lived a perfect life. We will never be able to live a perfect life because of the sin that mars all of our hearts. But, we can have a relationship with the only perfect person to ever walk the earth, Jesus. And through that relationship, we can learn to walk blamelessly, speak truth, love others, honor God, keep promises, and so on. Only through the power of Jesus will we ever learn to walk closer and closer to perfection. Why? One reason, and one reason alone.
God is Perfect!
And we are not! So, if reading through the list of things in Psalm 15 overwhelmed you like it did me, you are not alone. Turn to Jesus. He is the answer. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except by Him. (John 14:6) And through Jesus you will one day “dwell in His sanctuary” and “live on His holy hill.” Forever!
I am a visual learner. All throughout school, I learned best when examples were given that I could see. Demonstrations and overheads and power points and posters and projects all helped me to understand better and eventually apply it to my own life.
I think we all learn better when we have an example to follow. Explaining something in words only gets through to a minority of people, but actually seeing a process played out in front of you gets through to a majority of people.
That is why God sent His Son. Jesus was and still is our example. He lived out His life on earth just as we should live our lives. He came before, so that we could follow in His footsteps and follow His example.
David asks God for an example of how to draw nearer to God. He wonders how people will get to heaven.
Psalm 15
LORD, who may dwell in your sanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
He whose walk is blameless
and who does what is righteous,
who speaks the truth from his heart
and has no slander on his tongue,
who does his neighbor no wrong
and casts no slur on his fellowman,
who despises a vile man
but honors those who fear the LORD,
who keeps his oath
even when it hurts,
who lends his money without usury
and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.
He who does these things
will never be shaken. (NIV)
Following Jesus is more than just a list of do’s and don’ts. Jesus came to be the example, and He lived a perfect life. We will never be able to live a perfect life because of the sin that mars all of our hearts. But, we can have a relationship with the only perfect person to ever walk the earth, Jesus. And through that relationship, we can learn to walk blamelessly, speak truth, love others, honor God, keep promises, and so on. Only through the power of Jesus will we ever learn to walk closer and closer to perfection. Why? One reason, and one reason alone.
God is Perfect!
And we are not! So, if reading through the list of things in Psalm 15 overwhelmed you like it did me, you are not alone. Turn to Jesus. He is the answer. He is the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except by Him. (John 14:6) And through Jesus you will one day “dwell in His sanctuary” and “live on His holy hill.” Forever!
Thursday, September 16, 2010
God is a Seeker!
September 16, 2010
I was in a panic as I shuffled through all of the papers, notes, and cards on my desk. I emptied every cubbie to see if I could find what I was looking for. I even dumped out drawers with markers, pens, and assorted desk items to see if it might have slipped into the drawer by mistake. Then, I looked over to the trashcan. I peeked inside to find just a few pieces of paper and a couple tissues. That was when I realized, I was going to have to dig through the trash. Not the inside trash, but the stinky outside, who knows what could be growing out there trash. Yuck! As I reached my hand through one bag after another, I was praying I would find it sooner rather than later. I shifted through egg shells and meat cartons, rotten fruit and old napkins. I searched through one gross thing after another in order to find what I was looking for. All the while, every disgusting thing in the trash was touching me and my arm as I reached down into the muck.
I was searching. No, it was more than that. I was seeking out something very specific.
Did you know that God seeks out you? And He seeks out me as well. And the garbage that God has to dig through to seek us out is horrendous.
Psalm 14
Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
This world is filled with evil, and it reeks like the stench of a trashcan. Evil is all around us. Murder, adultery, abortion, abuse, theft, assault, slander, drunkenness, addiction, pornography, lust, lies, pride, greed, approval, fakeness, discontent, stubbornness, idols, selfishness, and so on. Everything about this earth is covered with sin and wickedness. It all happened at the fall.
But…
The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
The Lord seeks out His people. He is searching amid all the mess and trash and disgusting things of the world for people who want to be His. He seeks you and me. He is looking specifically for you by name.
God is a Seeker!
But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
not a single one!
Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.
Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD will protect his people.
Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice. (NLT)
In the end, God will redeem His people. He has sent us His salvation as a free gift. Salvation, a light of hope, in the midst of the putrid evil that surrounds us. He seeks you and me. He wants you to accept His salvation. He is reaching out to you. Will you accept? Will you be lifted from the garbage and brought into His presence, clean and fragrant?
I was in a panic as I shuffled through all of the papers, notes, and cards on my desk. I emptied every cubbie to see if I could find what I was looking for. I even dumped out drawers with markers, pens, and assorted desk items to see if it might have slipped into the drawer by mistake. Then, I looked over to the trashcan. I peeked inside to find just a few pieces of paper and a couple tissues. That was when I realized, I was going to have to dig through the trash. Not the inside trash, but the stinky outside, who knows what could be growing out there trash. Yuck! As I reached my hand through one bag after another, I was praying I would find it sooner rather than later. I shifted through egg shells and meat cartons, rotten fruit and old napkins. I searched through one gross thing after another in order to find what I was looking for. All the while, every disgusting thing in the trash was touching me and my arm as I reached down into the muck.
I was searching. No, it was more than that. I was seeking out something very specific.
Did you know that God seeks out you? And He seeks out me as well. And the garbage that God has to dig through to seek us out is horrendous.
Psalm 14
Only fools say in their hearts,
“There is no God.”
They are corrupt, and their actions are evil;
not one of them does good!
This world is filled with evil, and it reeks like the stench of a trashcan. Evil is all around us. Murder, adultery, abortion, abuse, theft, assault, slander, drunkenness, addiction, pornography, lust, lies, pride, greed, approval, fakeness, discontent, stubbornness, idols, selfishness, and so on. Everything about this earth is covered with sin and wickedness. It all happened at the fall.
But…
The LORD looks down from heaven
on the entire human race;
he looks to see if anyone is truly wise,
if anyone seeks God.
The Lord seeks out His people. He is searching amid all the mess and trash and disgusting things of the world for people who want to be His. He seeks you and me. He is looking specifically for you by name.
God is a Seeker!
But no, all have turned away;
all have become corrupt.
No one does good,
not a single one!
Will those who do evil never learn?
They eat up my people like bread
and wouldn’t think of praying to the LORD.
Terror will grip them,
for God is with those who obey him.
The wicked frustrate the plans of the oppressed,
but the LORD will protect his people.
Who will come from Mount Zion to rescue Israel?
When the LORD restores his people,
Jacob will shout with joy, and Israel will rejoice. (NLT)
In the end, God will redeem His people. He has sent us His salvation as a free gift. Salvation, a light of hope, in the midst of the putrid evil that surrounds us. He seeks you and me. He wants you to accept His salvation. He is reaching out to you. Will you accept? Will you be lifted from the garbage and brought into His presence, clean and fragrant?
Monday, September 13, 2010
God is Trustworthy!
September 13, 2010
In God We Trust. Do you know where that simple phrase is found? It is found on our country’s money. Even more importantly, our country was founded on that one simple phrase. Above all else, we trust in God to build the United States of America into a great nation.
But, what exactly does it mean to place your full trust in someone or something? Dictionary.com defines trust in many different ways. When we combine all of the different definitions, we get a clearer picture of what trust means.
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. a person on whom or thing on which one relies.
4. to have trust or confidence in; rely or depend on.
5. to believe.
6. to expect confidently; hope.
In God We Trust means that we rely completely on God because of who He is and what He has done and is doing and will do. We expect Him to follow through because of He is faithful. We hope and believe in God.
God is trustworthy!
Psalm 13
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me. (NASB)
David is in the midst of trouble, and he is crying out to God. David’s words seem to sink deeper into a depression of hopelessness and fear. He seems to cry out without any expectation. Yet, David remembers that God is a trustworthy God! He remembers how God has saved Him in the past. He remembers how God has protected Him from his enemies. He remembers how God has defended Him no matter what. And David suddenly is filled with hope because He serves a trustworthy God.
But, what about you and me? Do I believe that I can trust God completely? Can I be open and honest with God about anything that I am struggling with? Do I believe and hope in Him?
When I think of trusting God, I think of the first time I did a trust fall at summer youth camp. If you have ever done a trust fall, you are picturing it yourself right now. For those of you who haven’t experienced a trust fall, I’ll explain. As part of a team building exercise, everyone in my youth group took a turn falling blindly into each other’s arms. I remember climbing up onto the wall and looking back over my shoulder at how far down the ground was beneath me. Then, I watched as my youth group made two lines directly behind me with their arms outstretched in front of them. I was thinking there was no way they could catch me without dropping me. I even felt my knees tremble at first. I turned with my back to everyone. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned backward falling like a board into the hands of my youth group. When I felt my back touch their hands and the feeling of falling stopped, I took a breath of relief.
Just like trusting those behind me to catch me completely, I place my complete trust in God. The amazing thing about placing your trust in God is that you will never be disappointed. Humans fail. They hurt each other. They cause disappointment. But, God is constantly trustworthy and faithful. He will never drop you when you lean back and fall into His arms.
So, if you have never trusted God completely, lean back today and allow His everlasting arms to catch you. Even if you trust God in some areas of your life but not in other areas, release yourself completely to Him. And you will find falling into His trustworthy arms is the most freeing decision you have ever made.
In God We Trust. Do you know where that simple phrase is found? It is found on our country’s money. Even more importantly, our country was founded on that one simple phrase. Above all else, we trust in God to build the United States of America into a great nation.
But, what exactly does it mean to place your full trust in someone or something? Dictionary.com defines trust in many different ways. When we combine all of the different definitions, we get a clearer picture of what trust means.
1. reliance on the integrity, strength, ability, surety, etc., of a person or thing; confidence.
2. confident expectation of something; hope.
3. a person on whom or thing on which one relies.
4. to have trust or confidence in; rely or depend on.
5. to believe.
6. to expect confidently; hope.
In God We Trust means that we rely completely on God because of who He is and what He has done and is doing and will do. We expect Him to follow through because of He is faithful. We hope and believe in God.
God is trustworthy!
Psalm 13
How long, O LORD? Will You forget me forever?
How long will You hide Your face from me?
How long shall I take counsel in my soul,
Having sorrow in my heart all the day?
How long will my enemy be exalted over me?
Consider and answer me, O LORD my God;
Enlighten my eyes, or I will sleep the sleep of death,
And my enemy will say, "I have overcome him,"
And my adversaries will rejoice when I am shaken.
But I have trusted in Your lovingkindness;
My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.
I will sing to the LORD,
Because He has dealt bountifully with me. (NASB)
David is in the midst of trouble, and he is crying out to God. David’s words seem to sink deeper into a depression of hopelessness and fear. He seems to cry out without any expectation. Yet, David remembers that God is a trustworthy God! He remembers how God has saved Him in the past. He remembers how God has protected Him from his enemies. He remembers how God has defended Him no matter what. And David suddenly is filled with hope because He serves a trustworthy God.
But, what about you and me? Do I believe that I can trust God completely? Can I be open and honest with God about anything that I am struggling with? Do I believe and hope in Him?
When I think of trusting God, I think of the first time I did a trust fall at summer youth camp. If you have ever done a trust fall, you are picturing it yourself right now. For those of you who haven’t experienced a trust fall, I’ll explain. As part of a team building exercise, everyone in my youth group took a turn falling blindly into each other’s arms. I remember climbing up onto the wall and looking back over my shoulder at how far down the ground was beneath me. Then, I watched as my youth group made two lines directly behind me with their arms outstretched in front of them. I was thinking there was no way they could catch me without dropping me. I even felt my knees tremble at first. I turned with my back to everyone. I crossed my arms over my chest and leaned backward falling like a board into the hands of my youth group. When I felt my back touch their hands and the feeling of falling stopped, I took a breath of relief.
Just like trusting those behind me to catch me completely, I place my complete trust in God. The amazing thing about placing your trust in God is that you will never be disappointed. Humans fail. They hurt each other. They cause disappointment. But, God is constantly trustworthy and faithful. He will never drop you when you lean back and fall into His arms.
So, if you have never trusted God completely, lean back today and allow His everlasting arms to catch you. Even if you trust God in some areas of your life but not in other areas, release yourself completely to Him. And you will find falling into His trustworthy arms is the most freeing decision you have ever made.
Thursday, September 9, 2010
God is our Protector!
September 9, 2010
Does this make me look fat? Whose side are you on anyway? He said, she said. Can you repeat what I just said? Did you hear the latest gossip? What did you just say? I’ll wash your mouth out with soap for that. Where did you learn that? Insert foot in mouth. Oh, you’re not pregnant?
Have you ever said something you wished you hadn’t? Has your tongue ever gotten you in trouble?
Our tongues can be machines of war. They can be as violent as bullets shooting straight through the heart. A tongue can utter words that should never be said, yet can never be taken back.
This Sunday we talked about how our tongues can do major damage to ourselves and others. Our pastor quoted Chuck Swindoll saying that, “a tongue is a two ounce slab of trouble.” What a great summation!
Thankfully, we have protection from that “two ounce slab of trouble.” Our protection is found in God.
God is our Protector!
Psalm 12
Quick, GOD, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down,
All the friends I depended on gone.
Everyone talks in lie language;
Lies slide off their oily lips.
They doubletalk with forked tongues.
Slice their lips off their faces! Pull
The braggart tongues from their mouths!
I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world."
Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
"I've had enough; I'm on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
God's words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies. (The Message)
David was crying out for help among slanderers and liars and cheaters and evil doers. He knew the power of the tongue.
Yet, the tongue also has positive power. Power to build trust and encourage and affirm and love. Most importantly, the tongue can share God’s Word. And God’s Word is “pure silver words refined several times.”
So, we can choose today how we use our tongues—for negative or positive. How will you choose to use your “two ounce slab” today?
Does this make me look fat? Whose side are you on anyway? He said, she said. Can you repeat what I just said? Did you hear the latest gossip? What did you just say? I’ll wash your mouth out with soap for that. Where did you learn that? Insert foot in mouth. Oh, you’re not pregnant?
Have you ever said something you wished you hadn’t? Has your tongue ever gotten you in trouble?
Our tongues can be machines of war. They can be as violent as bullets shooting straight through the heart. A tongue can utter words that should never be said, yet can never be taken back.
This Sunday we talked about how our tongues can do major damage to ourselves and others. Our pastor quoted Chuck Swindoll saying that, “a tongue is a two ounce slab of trouble.” What a great summation!
Thankfully, we have protection from that “two ounce slab of trouble.” Our protection is found in God.
God is our Protector!
Psalm 12
Quick, GOD, I need your helping hand! The last decent person just went down,
All the friends I depended on gone.
Everyone talks in lie language;
Lies slide off their oily lips.
They doubletalk with forked tongues.
Slice their lips off their faces! Pull
The braggart tongues from their mouths!
I'm tired of hearing, "We can talk anyone into anything!
Our lips manage the world."
Into the hovels of the poor,
Into the dark streets where the homeless groan, God speaks:
"I've had enough; I'm on my way
To heal the ache in the heart of the wretched."
God's words are pure words,
Pure silver words refined seven times
In the fires of his word-kiln,
Pure on earth as well as in heaven.
God, keep us safe from their lies,
From the wicked who stalk us with lies,
From the wicked who collect honors
For their wonderful lies. (The Message)
David was crying out for help among slanderers and liars and cheaters and evil doers. He knew the power of the tongue.
Yet, the tongue also has positive power. Power to build trust and encourage and affirm and love. Most importantly, the tongue can share God’s Word. And God’s Word is “pure silver words refined several times.”
So, we can choose today how we use our tongues—for negative or positive. How will you choose to use your “two ounce slab” today?
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
God is Watchful!
September 8, 2010
Our home has a large three panel window that looks out over the majority of our backyard. When Sophie, our golden retriever puppy, is in the backyard, I sometimes stand and watch her from the window. At times, I laugh at her nose tracing the ground going from one random point to the next. Other times, I watch her pick up speed chasing the bunny who occasionally ventures inside the fence. Still other times, I have to knock on the window reminding her to stop digging or eating something she shouldn’t. But, all the time, I am watching her because I care.
I like to imagine that God has a picture window that he watches me from up in heaven. David described God watching him from His throne in heaven in Psalm 11.
Psalm 11
I trust in the LORD for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”
But the LORD is in his holy Temple;
the LORD still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous LORD loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face. (NLT)
God is watchful!
God is constantly watching you and me. God is watching even as I type these words. He is watching you at work or at home. He is watching at school. He watches you as you eat, sleep, shower, drive, sing, dance, talk, interact, and work. He loves to watch you enjoy a family dinner at the table together. He cries with you when He sees you being comforted by a friend. He laughs along with you as you have never laughed before. Yet, He also watches as you tell a little white lie thinking it won’t make a difference. He sees when you treat your spouse without any love or respect. He watches as you refuse an opportunity to share about Him with a friend who asks a simple question.
To some of you, the idea of God as a watchful God strikes the deepest chord of fear in your heart. To others of you, you revel in the idea that God is so in love with you that He wants to watch every move you make.
For those of you who are struck with fear, ask yourself why? Why am I so afraid to imagine God watching me, examining my every move? Deep down, you may know what must change. But, the change will always be for the better. God is watchful because He cares. Just as I care about the health and well being of Sophie, God cares about your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. He wants you to live a healthy purposeful life. God is not watching to catch you; He is watching to love you. If you think of His watchful eyes in the context of love, you have no reason to fear.
Our home has a large three panel window that looks out over the majority of our backyard. When Sophie, our golden retriever puppy, is in the backyard, I sometimes stand and watch her from the window. At times, I laugh at her nose tracing the ground going from one random point to the next. Other times, I watch her pick up speed chasing the bunny who occasionally ventures inside the fence. Still other times, I have to knock on the window reminding her to stop digging or eating something she shouldn’t. But, all the time, I am watching her because I care.
I like to imagine that God has a picture window that he watches me from up in heaven. David described God watching him from His throne in heaven in Psalm 11.
Psalm 11
I trust in the LORD for protection.
So why do you say to me,
“Fly like a bird to the mountains for safety!
The wicked are stringing their bows
and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings.
They shoot from the shadows
at those whose hearts are right.
The foundations of law and order have collapsed.
What can the righteous do?”
But the LORD is in his holy Temple;
the LORD still rules from heaven.
He watches everyone closely,
examining every person on earth.
The LORD examines both the righteous and the wicked.
He hates those who love violence.
He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked,
punishing them with scorching winds.
For the righteous LORD loves justice.
The virtuous will see his face. (NLT)
God is watchful!
God is constantly watching you and me. God is watching even as I type these words. He is watching you at work or at home. He is watching at school. He watches you as you eat, sleep, shower, drive, sing, dance, talk, interact, and work. He loves to watch you enjoy a family dinner at the table together. He cries with you when He sees you being comforted by a friend. He laughs along with you as you have never laughed before. Yet, He also watches as you tell a little white lie thinking it won’t make a difference. He sees when you treat your spouse without any love or respect. He watches as you refuse an opportunity to share about Him with a friend who asks a simple question.
To some of you, the idea of God as a watchful God strikes the deepest chord of fear in your heart. To others of you, you revel in the idea that God is so in love with you that He wants to watch every move you make.
For those of you who are struck with fear, ask yourself why? Why am I so afraid to imagine God watching me, examining my every move? Deep down, you may know what must change. But, the change will always be for the better. God is watchful because He cares. Just as I care about the health and well being of Sophie, God cares about your physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual well being. He wants you to live a healthy purposeful life. God is not watching to catch you; He is watching to love you. If you think of His watchful eyes in the context of love, you have no reason to fear.
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
God is the Defender!
September 7, 2010
The other day walking out of the grocery store, I saw something that I wish I had never seen. I stepped out of the automatic doors and took a few steps into the parking lot when I heard someone crying. I looked in the direction of the crying, and I saw a horrible sight. A woman, I assume the mother, had hold of two little girls arms and was literally dragging them across the pavement. I had to do a double take as I watched their little bare legs scrape against the asphalt. And the whole time they were crying and saying, “Mommy, mommy.”
Part of me wanted to run over there and rip those little girls out of her hands and help them stand on their own. And I still don’t know why I didn’t do something. As I continued on my way back to my car, I saw several other shoppers literally stopped in their tracks watching with their mouths agape at this heartbreaking scene. What do you do when you feel so helpless to do anything?
Who would stand up for those two little girls?
God is the Defender!
Psalm 10
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. (NIV)
The battle between good and evil is waging right now. Wickedness lurks around every corner, hiding like a lion waiting to pounce, just as David describes in this psalm.
The question David poses at the beginning came to mind when I was watching two innocent girls being dragged across a parking lot by their mother. “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Why couldn’t God stop what was happening? Why didn’t He supernaturally intervene?
The only answer is that we live in a fallen world. Sin entered the world along with wickedness. And once it infiltrates hearts and minds, it encompasses everything. Just read what David wrote. He describes the state of our world perfectly where innocence is captured and stripped away, where pride and greed are rewarded, and wickedness is not punished.
BUT…David ends the psalm with hope! Our hope comes from the Lord. Just like God will be victorious in the end, God is the Defender against evil and wickedness. God is everything Satan is not. Satan is described in the first eleven verses, but God has the last word. Satan will be defeated along with wickedness and evil and sin. Because God is our Defender!
And even though we may not see it now, He does defend the oppressed. He even defends those two precious girls.
The other day walking out of the grocery store, I saw something that I wish I had never seen. I stepped out of the automatic doors and took a few steps into the parking lot when I heard someone crying. I looked in the direction of the crying, and I saw a horrible sight. A woman, I assume the mother, had hold of two little girls arms and was literally dragging them across the pavement. I had to do a double take as I watched their little bare legs scrape against the asphalt. And the whole time they were crying and saying, “Mommy, mommy.”
Part of me wanted to run over there and rip those little girls out of her hands and help them stand on their own. And I still don’t know why I didn’t do something. As I continued on my way back to my car, I saw several other shoppers literally stopped in their tracks watching with their mouths agape at this heartbreaking scene. What do you do when you feel so helpless to do anything?
Who would stand up for those two little girls?
God is the Defender!
Psalm 10
Why, O LORD, do you stand far off?
Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,
who are caught in the schemes he devises.
He boasts of the cravings of his heart;
he blesses the greedy and reviles the LORD.
In his pride the wicked does not seek him;
in all his thoughts there is no room for God.
His ways are always prosperous;
he is haughty and your laws are far from him;
he sneers at all his enemies.
He says to himself, "Nothing will shake me;
I'll always be happy and never have trouble."
His mouth is full of curses and lies and threats;
trouble and evil are under his tongue.
He lies in wait near the villages;
from ambush he murders the innocent,
watching in secret for his victims.
He lies in wait like a lion in cover;
he lies in wait to catch the helpless;
he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net.
His victims are crushed, they collapse;
they fall under his strength.
He says to himself, "God has forgotten;
he covers his face and never sees."
Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.
Do not forget the helpless.
Why does the wicked man revile God?
Why does he say to himself,
"He won't call me to account"?
But you, O God, do see trouble and grief;
you consider it to take it in hand.
The victim commits himself to you;
you are the helper of the fatherless.
Break the arm of the wicked and evil man;
call him to account for his wickedness
that would not be found out.
The LORD is King for ever and ever;
the nations will perish from his land.
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. (NIV)
The battle between good and evil is waging right now. Wickedness lurks around every corner, hiding like a lion waiting to pounce, just as David describes in this psalm.
The question David poses at the beginning came to mind when I was watching two innocent girls being dragged across a parking lot by their mother. “Why, O LORD, do you stand far off? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?” Why couldn’t God stop what was happening? Why didn’t He supernaturally intervene?
The only answer is that we live in a fallen world. Sin entered the world along with wickedness. And once it infiltrates hearts and minds, it encompasses everything. Just read what David wrote. He describes the state of our world perfectly where innocence is captured and stripped away, where pride and greed are rewarded, and wickedness is not punished.
BUT…David ends the psalm with hope! Our hope comes from the Lord. Just like God will be victorious in the end, God is the Defender against evil and wickedness. God is everything Satan is not. Satan is described in the first eleven verses, but God has the last word. Satan will be defeated along with wickedness and evil and sin. Because God is our Defender!
And even though we may not see it now, He does defend the oppressed. He even defends those two precious girls.
Thursday, September 2, 2010
God is Victorious!
September 2, 2010
I love games. Just ask any of my college roommates. I love any all types of games!
I am competitive. Just ask anyone who has played any games with me. I get so into these games, and I just have to win.
I am not assured a win at the beginning of any game I play. I never know what the outcome will be. Some games I win; others I lose. I cannot win every time. Which drives my competitive side crazy!
But, fortunately, for the competitor in me, I can be assured one win in life. And oddly enough, that win has nothing to do with me or how hard I can play or how witty I am or how quickly I can react or how intelligent I am. It all comes down to whose side am I on.
One side will lose; the other side will win. Satan’s team will eventually lose. God’s team will be victorious in the end. This is one win that I will be assured.
God is victorious!
Psalm 9
I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
The day my enemies turned tail and ran,
they stumbled on you and fell on their faces.
You took over and set everything right;
when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.
You blow the whistle on godless nations;
you throw dirty players out of the game,
wipe their names right off the roster.
Enemies disappear from the sidelines,
their reputation trashed,
their names erased from the halls of fame.
GOD holds the high center,
he sees and sets the world's mess right.
He decides what is right for us earthlings,
gives people their just deserts.
GOD's a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you're never sorry you knocked.
Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling GOD,
tell his stories to everyone you meet:
How he tracks down killers
yet keeps his eye on us,
registers every whimper and moan.
Be kind to me, GOD;
I've been kicked around long enough.
Once you've pulled me back
from the gates of death,
I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting;
I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
with salvation songs.
They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.
The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look. (The Message)
At the end of it all, at the end of this world, at the end of war, at the end of hunger and poverty, at the end of evil and death, at the end of sin and sorrow, at the end of shame and guilt, at the end of unforgiveness and regret, at the end of lies and hurt, at the end of abortion, at the end of toil and strife, at the end of murder and greed, at the end of corruption, at the end of injustice, at the end of torture, at the end of immorality, at the end of the devil…
God will claim His victory!
And we will either be playing on God’s team or on Satan’s team. At the end of it all, it will be too late to throw on a jersey and join the winning team. You have to join now. You have to make the choice today. Whose team will you be on?
I love games. Just ask any of my college roommates. I love any all types of games!
I am competitive. Just ask anyone who has played any games with me. I get so into these games, and I just have to win.
I am not assured a win at the beginning of any game I play. I never know what the outcome will be. Some games I win; others I lose. I cannot win every time. Which drives my competitive side crazy!
But, fortunately, for the competitor in me, I can be assured one win in life. And oddly enough, that win has nothing to do with me or how hard I can play or how witty I am or how quickly I can react or how intelligent I am. It all comes down to whose side am I on.
One side will lose; the other side will win. Satan’s team will eventually lose. God’s team will be victorious in the end. This is one win that I will be assured.
God is victorious!
Psalm 9
I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders.
I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy;
I'm singing your song, High God.
The day my enemies turned tail and ran,
they stumbled on you and fell on their faces.
You took over and set everything right;
when I needed you, you were there, taking charge.
You blow the whistle on godless nations;
you throw dirty players out of the game,
wipe their names right off the roster.
Enemies disappear from the sidelines,
their reputation trashed,
their names erased from the halls of fame.
GOD holds the high center,
he sees and sets the world's mess right.
He decides what is right for us earthlings,
gives people their just deserts.
GOD's a safe-house for the battered,
a sanctuary during bad times.
The moment you arrive, you relax;
you're never sorry you knocked.
Sing your songs to Zion-dwelling GOD,
tell his stories to everyone you meet:
How he tracks down killers
yet keeps his eye on us,
registers every whimper and moan.
Be kind to me, GOD;
I've been kicked around long enough.
Once you've pulled me back
from the gates of death,
I'll write the book on Hallelujahs;
on the corner of Main and First
I'll hold a street meeting;
I'll be the song leader; we'll fill the air
with salvation songs.
They're trapped, those godless countries,
in the very snares they set,
Their feet all tangled
in the net they spread.
They have no excuse;
the way God works is well-known.
The cunning machinery made by the wicked
has maimed their own hands.
The wicked bought a one-way
ticket to hell.
No longer will the poor be nameless—
no more humiliation for the humble.
Up, God! Aren't you fed up with their empty strutting?
Expose these grand pretensions!
Shake them up, God!
Show them how silly they look. (The Message)
At the end of it all, at the end of this world, at the end of war, at the end of hunger and poverty, at the end of evil and death, at the end of sin and sorrow, at the end of shame and guilt, at the end of unforgiveness and regret, at the end of lies and hurt, at the end of abortion, at the end of toil and strife, at the end of murder and greed, at the end of corruption, at the end of injustice, at the end of torture, at the end of immorality, at the end of the devil…
God will claim His victory!
And we will either be playing on God’s team or on Satan’s team. At the end of it all, it will be too late to throw on a jersey and join the winning team. You have to join now. You have to make the choice today. Whose team will you be on?
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
God is Creator!
September 1, 2010
I like to think of myself as a creator. One of my gifts is my creativity. I am able to look at the world differently and see it through an artistic lens. From that point of view, I am able to create.
But, creation did not begin with me. Creation began with the Creator.
God is Creator!
In Psalm 8, God is proclaimed as Creator by David. David breathes in all of nature around him and acknowledges that God is Creator.
Psalm 8
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (NIV)
David marvels at God’s majesty all around him. He sees the moon and the stars. He sees birds and fish and mammals. Then, he poses his question.
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
The same God who created this lush forest with a refreshing waterfall...
...cares for me.
The same God who formed these mountains and dusted them with snow…
...created me.
The God who carefully placed each mushroom on this tree to create a unique pattern…
...carefully crafted me.
The same God who thought of this interesting looking bird…
...knows everything about me.
The God creative enough to design this amazing creature…
...also gave me my creativity.
And the God who provides everything these precious birds need…
.jpg)
…gives me more than I could ever ask or imagine.
Knowing God has created all of these majestic aspects of nature, I can imagine David's astonishment at God caring for man. After all, God is God and we are not. Yet, God chooses to come and interact with His Creation. He chooses to be involved in our lives. He chooses to bless His created ones. He marvels in His own creation. And He is glorified when His creation live lives fully pleasing to Him. God is Creator, and He created us with a purpose. And He is glorified when we live our lives on purpose for Him.
I like to think of myself as a creator. One of my gifts is my creativity. I am able to look at the world differently and see it through an artistic lens. From that point of view, I am able to create.
But, creation did not begin with me. Creation began with the Creator.
God is Creator!
In Psalm 8, God is proclaimed as Creator by David. David breathes in all of nature around him and acknowledges that God is Creator.
Psalm 8
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth!
You have set your glory
above the heavens.
From the lips of children and infants
you have ordained praise
because of your enemies,
to silence the foe and the avenger.
When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?
You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings
and crowned him with glory and honor.
You made him ruler over the works of your hands;
you put everything under his feet:
all flocks and herds,
and the beasts of the field,
the birds of the air,
and the fish of the sea,
all that swim the paths of the seas.
O LORD, our Lord,
how majestic is your name in all the earth! (NIV)
David marvels at God’s majesty all around him. He sees the moon and the stars. He sees birds and fish and mammals. Then, he poses his question.
“What is man that you are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?”
The same God who created this lush forest with a refreshing waterfall...
The same God who formed these mountains and dusted them with snow…
The God who carefully placed each mushroom on this tree to create a unique pattern…
The same God who thought of this interesting looking bird…
The God creative enough to design this amazing creature…
And the God who provides everything these precious birds need…
.jpg)
Knowing God has created all of these majestic aspects of nature, I can imagine David's astonishment at God caring for man. After all, God is God and we are not. Yet, God chooses to come and interact with His Creation. He chooses to be involved in our lives. He chooses to bless His created ones. He marvels in His own creation. And He is glorified when His creation live lives fully pleasing to Him. God is Creator, and He created us with a purpose. And He is glorified when we live our lives on purpose for Him.
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