Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)

June 14, 2011

In these chapters it talks about what God does for those who trust Him. He is loyal. He keeps His promises. He is close. He listens. He gives. He saves. He protects. He is fair. He lifts up. He defends. He heals. He is pleased. He is merciful. He blesses. He gives peace. He satisfies. He is faithful—forever. But in these same chapters it also talks about the flip side, what God does to those who do not put their trust in Him—the wicked. He will destroy. He frustrates. He blocks. He throws them to the ground. "Their plans will come to an end." Psalm 146:4 (NIV) - "When their spirit departs, they return to the ground; on that very day their plans come to nothing." On that very day all of our self-made plans and goals come to nothing. The only way to have true life is to live in total surrender, accomplishing God's will! 

My goodness. We have a choice. We can either surrender our lives and wills to God and receive from Him blessings. Or we can insist on being the Lord of our own lives, refuse to submit our wills to His and battle against the God of the universe. Whatever would possess us to think we could ever be victorious in that battle? Some people try to "submit" so they can receive. It doesn't work that way. You have to be willing to submit—bow down and surrender all—expecting nothing, and demanding nothing. It's not submitting if you are expecting or demanding things. That is an attempt to manipulate God.

Submission is only authentic when there are no strings attached. Here I am God. Use me however you wish. It is no longer my life. I put my life in your hands. That is enough. If you decide to bless me—OK. If the path I am to take is hard—OK. No matter what—OK. He is enough for me. He is enough. Period. I will praise the LORD forever and ever. Whatever He decides to give, or IF He decides to give, is up to HIM!

In Jane's NIV she had a slip of paper that said: "Read Psalm 145 over and over. Also Psalm 105 and 148."

Psalm 145 - Praise to God for His faithfulness. She has written: "Greatness - goodness - gracious - glory. God is faithful—memorable praise."

Psalm 105 - Depend on the LORD—His strength. Always go to Him for help. Remember what He has done. Tell what He has done. The chapter ends with three words—Praise the LORD. The last three words (and the only words) Jane could say when she tried to pray in April of 2008. (Her Name was Jane)

Psalm 148 - EVERYTHING—Praise the LORD. Praise Him from the skies—angels, armies of heaven, sun, moon, stars, the highest heavens, the waters above the sky. Praise Him from the earth—oceans, sea animals, lightning, hail, snow, mist, winds, mountains, hills, trees, wild animals, cattle, crawling animals, birds, kings, nations, rulers, young, old, children, every THING and every ONE—Praise the LORD.

The single most important thing Jane taught us—Praise the LORD.

"Worship is a voluntary act of gratitude offered by the saved to the Savior, by the healed to the healer, and by the delivered to the deliverer." ~ Max Lucado

Psalm 147:4 - He determines the number of the stars, and calls them each by name.

Addendum:  3/29/15 ~ Hallelujah. Praise the LORD.

Praise the LORD!

Praise God in his sanctuary;

Praise him in his mighty heavens.

Praise him for his acts of power;

Praise him for his surpassing greatness.

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,

Praise him with the harp and lyre,

Praise him with tambourine and dancing,

Praise him with the strings and flute,

Praise him with the clash of cymbals,

Praise him with resounding cymbals.

Let everything that has breath

Praise the LORD.

Praise the Lord.

Next Entry: Proverbs 1:1–33

Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)

June 13, 2011

Praise helps facilitate total surrender. The more you understand about the God of the universe, the more you understand that you really know so little. Then you begin to realize that (like I've written before), the mere human words of "Holy, Holy, Holy" can not begin to adequately describe or explain who God, the LORD Yawweh, truly is. Our human minds cannot comprehend the awesomeness, the surpassing greatness of God. I'm struggling to find the words to express what I even want to say. The more you know, the more you realize you don't know, the more you realize he is

God

↓

and we are mere man.

He is God, we are not. The more you "get" this, the more you are willing (and even eager) to surrender; to bow down and lay your life before Him; to humble yourself (because just who do we think we are? This is God we are talking about!); and totally surrender all. It is the decision to trust Him, to put your life in His hands and trust Him—no matter what! We can't begin to know what plans He has for us and how He wants to use us to accomplish great things. When we surrender our lives totally to His control, then we start to see the hand of God working in our lives and we are totally astounded at His providence, His love, His greatness, His strength, His power, His plans for us, His hand. Is there any better way to live than having the Hand of God working in your life? I would rather live on the edge where either God does it or I fail then to try and be master of my own peon of a life, thinking I am somehow wiser and more able than God.

Praise. Glory. Honor. Majesty. Authority. Worship.

Thankfulness: The focus is often on what God has done for you. It is after the fact.

Praise: It's about who God is, was, and forever will be. It is surrender before we know what God has planned. It is trust. It is faith, before sight. It is believing. It is entirely about God.

Praise. It puts everything in the right perspective. In the right order.

God

↓

Man

Praise. First, before anything else. Before → thanks. Before → claiming promises. Before → requests. Before! Before anything else → → Praise!!

Psalm 145:1–8 - "I praise your greatness, my God the king; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you everyday; I will praise you forever and ever. The LORD is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is."

"Parents will tell their children what you have done. They will retell your mighty acts, wonderful majesty, and glory. And I will think about your miracles. They will tell about the amazing things you do and I will tell how great your are. They will remember your great goodness and will sing about your fairness."

Everyone of these chapters begins and ends with: Praise the LORD.

Psalm 145 - Praise to God the King
Psalm 146 - Praise God Who Helps the Weak
Psalm 147 - Praise God Who Helps His People
Psalm 148 - The World Should Praise the LORD
Psalm 149 - Praise the God of Israel
Psalm 150 - Praise the LORD with Music

The LORD keeps ALL His promises. Everything He does is right. He is loyal. Three times in these chapters David says that God lifts up "those who are bowed down." Surrender. When we bow down in surrender and quit trying to be in charge, THEN God lifts us up. Another IF—THEN. It is an amazing phenomenon. The more we give up of ourselves, the more God gives.

Psalm 145:18 - "The LORD is close to everyone who calls on him in truth." The only way you can call on Him in truth—to truly pray to Him—is to understand the

God

↓

Man

relationship. He is God—I am not. Psalm 145:19–20 - "He gives those who respect him what they want. (Because what they want aligns with His heart.) He listens when they cry, and he saves them. The LORD protects those who love him, but he will destroy the wicked." (CF - Psalm 1)

There is always a flip side. Blessings—verses—Curses. (Her Name Was Jane)


Next Entry: Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)

Psalm 145:1 – 150:6

June 10, 2011

Praise:
     It's all about you God!
Praise:
     By far the single most important thing Jane taught us!
Praise!

Psalm 145:1–3 - "I praise your greatness, my God the king; I will praise you forever and ever. I will praise you every day; I will praise you forever and ever. The LORD is great and worthy of our praise; no one can understand how great he is."

Praise. How did we live all those years without "getting" this key part in our relationship with God? Maybe part of the problem was the word I just used—"with" God. Maybe it is better explained by saying "to" God. "With" implies some sort of equality in the relationship. There is nothing "equal" about it. It is

God

↓

Man.

How did man/we ever get the idea that we are "with" God and that God should somehow be grateful that we decided to "accept" Him as our Savior? Like He (God) should somehow be grateful to us for choosing Him? God "owes" us nothing. We owe Him everything! Yet, if you ask a group of church people to share some praises, I can almost guarantee you that you will hear a list of things they are thankful for, a list of things God has done for them. And therein lies the problem. Their "praises" end up being about them instead of about the God who was, who is, and who will always be. Praise is about God. God alone. Who HE is. What HE has done. HIS surpassing greatness. When you "get" praise right, everything else falls into place. 

God

↓

Man

When the God → man order is wrong, nothing lines up correctly and we are spinning our wheels.


Next Entry: Psalm 145:1 – 150:6 (Continued)

Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

June 09, 2011

Psalm 144 - A Prayer for Victory. It starts out with praise:

"Praise the LORD, my Rock, who trains me for war, who trains me for battle. He protects me like a strong walled city, and he loves me. He is my defender and my Savior, my shield and my protection..."

Then, after acknowledging who God is and what He does, the Psalmist asks the same question as Psalm 8:

"O LORD, what is man that you care for him, the son of man that you think of him?"

The God of creation! How can it be that you care about us? Then he goes to the one who he as already acknowledged as LORD and asks Him to hold his enemies accountable.

"LORD, tear open the sky and come down. Touch the mountains so they will smoke. Send the lightning and scatter my enemies. Shoot your arrows and force them away. Reach down from above. Save me and rescue me (KJV - rid me and deliver me) out of this sea of enemies. They are liars; they are dishonest."

Then David tells God how he will praise Him for all He does, confirming again that is is God who saves. Then he repeats:

"Save me, rescue me from these foreigners. They are liars; they are dishonest."

Then David concludes the Psalm by asking God to bless him and his family and says:

"Happy are those who are like this; happy are the people whose God is the LORD."

That last line says it all. Happy are the people whose God is the LORD. David got it. He wasn't asking for what he wanted and for God's blessings first. No, he praised God—FIRST! The act of praising God first puts everything in the right order. It changes our perspective, and THEN we understand it is
                                                                        

God 

↓

Man.

The only way to begin to see the Hand of God working in your life (and open the door for His blessings), is to be in His Word and to ask Him what it is He wants you to do.

And now... the last six chapters in the Psalms. They are all about—PRAISE.

Addendum: 3/24/15 ~ Psalm 140:13 - "Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you."   

It was eight years ago when God clearly let us KNOW that we had to take a bold step—no matter what. We knew we were on a journey and embarking down an unknown path. While at times it was frightening to not be able to see where the path led or to know the length of the journey, we were SURE of one thing. We were not walking this path alone. We were walking on HIS footpath and we were determined to follow HIS lead.   

The promises of Psalm 140 mean even more to us today then they did on that summer day in July of 2007. (Her Name Was Jane) He IS our God. He HAS protected us. He WILL deliver us. "Surely the righteous will praise your name and the upright will live before you."

Blessed be HIS name now and forevermore. 


Next Entry: Psalm 145:1 – 150:6

Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

June 08, 2011

Psalm 141–144 continues the same theme.

Psalm 141:8 - "God, I look to you for help. I trust in you, LORD... Protect me from the traps they set for me and from the net that evil people have spread. Let the wicked fall into their own nets, but let me pass by safely."
Psalm 142:1–3 - "I cry out to the LORD; I pray to the LORD for mercy. I pour out my problems to him; I tell him my troubles. When I am afraid, you LORD, know the way out. In the path where I walk, a trap is hidden for me."
Psalm 142:5–7 - "LORD, I cry out to you. I say, "You are my protection. You are all I want in this life. Listen to my cry, because I am helpless. Save me from those who are chasing me, because they are too strong for me. Free me from my prison, and then I will praise your name. Then good people will surround me, because you have taken care of me."
Psalm 143:1 - "LORD, hear my prayer; listen to my cry for mercy."
Psalm 143:6 - "I lift my hands to you in prayer. As a dry land needs rain, I thirst for you. Show me the way I should go."
Psalm 143:8 - "Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go."
Psalm 143:10 - "Teach me to do what you want, because you are my God. Let your good spirit lead me on level ground."
Psalm 143: 11b–12a - "In your goodness save me from my troubles. In your love defeat my enemies."


Next Entry: Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

June 7, 2011

Psalm 140 is such an incredible chapter. It is written with such passion and clarity.

In Psalm 140:1–5 - David describes and defines the situation. People are after him and they will stop at nothing in order to get him. They are scheming, strategizing, and making plans against him. Their intent is to cause trouble. Their words are harsh, vicious, accusatory, and poisonous. David calls out to the LORD to rescue him and protect him. David then goes on to describe how his enemies were planning ways to trip him up. These people were proud and were purposely hiding traps for him, secretly spreading out the cords of their nets along the path they knew he would take. Conniving, manipulating, trickery, "fluid," plotting. David is saying: God—here is the situation. This is what is happening. LORD—rescue me and protect me. LORD—guard me, keep me and protect me.

Then David shifts his attention away from what is happening to him and points his attention towards his Protector, Defender and Savior. I said to the LORD, "You are my God." There may be trouble surrounding me and the situation may seem impossible, BUT you are my God, and with God NOTHING is impossible. LORD, listen to my cry for help. I am coming to you LORD. I'm not trying to "fix" this myself, I'm coming to you. O Sovereign LORD, mighty Savior, my Deliverer, you are the One who protects me in battle. You who literally shields my head, DO NOT give the wicked what they want. DO NOT let their plans succeed. LORD, hold them accountable. If they get by with their trickery, plotting, scheming, strategizing, lies, threats, and their reliance on "self" then they will become even more proud—and nothing will stop them.

David totally got it. The battle was not about him and the victory wasn't up to him. God is our Savior, Defender, Protector, Avenger. Our hands need to be off. The battle is His. The victory is His.

After David clearly laid out the circumstances and clearly acknowledged God as his defender and Savior, then he goes to God with his requests. He wants those who are after him held accountable. Let the trouble they planned for me happen to them. Let burning coals fall on them, both conviction and consequences. May they be in the fire. May they be in miry pits that they can't lie, cheat, steal, or strategize their way out of. Don't let the slanderers and liars become established in the land and, may disaster hunt them down. Strong, strong words, but not actions David is planning himself. David is not seeking revenge, he is asking God to avenge. To hold those accountable who have attacked him out of their greed and evil desires. David understands this truth: the only way that type of person will ever understand is when a higher power (God) holds them accountable for their past and present actions. It is the only way. When they finally come face to face with the fact that God knows (Psalm139) and they realize there are indeed IF—THEN consequences in God's Word, then (and only then) is there a chance for their salvation.   

And now... the most important words in the whole Psalm.

I KNOW!

I know that:

   God is God
   God is our Defender
   God is Sovereign
   God is the one who protects, delivers, preserves
   God is the one who keeps, guards, provides
   God KNOWS
   God knows our hearts
   God knows the hearts and motives of our attackers
   He knows the lies
   He knows all about the traps
   He knows about the trickery
   He knows their schemes
   He knows that we go to HIM for our help
   He knows He is our God
   God listens to our cries and prayers for help
   God knows we acknowledge Him
   God knows our hands are off
   God knows we have surrendered our pride and fears
   He knows we have surrendered our all to Him
   God is our avenger
   God is our peace
   God is in control
   This is God's battle
   God will defend us
   God will secure justice
   God's people will praise Him

I KNOW—that God KNOWS—and that is enough. It is more than enough. I know—that I know— that I know. I don't know the details, and I don't need to. I just plain know. We told our friends and others from early on that we feel this is over. God has already decided. As we look back over these four and one half years we can clearly see the Hand of God at work. Things that man's hand could not accomplish. We have been blessed beyond measure. We have peace, joy, contentment, rest, and happiness, even in the midst of the battle.

God said it → I believe it → that is all that faith demands.

Hebrews 11:1 - "Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see it." (NCV) "Now faith is the substance (Jane has a note that says "assurance") of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen." (KJV) "Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see." (NIV)

I KNOW! I am certain. I am sure. All I know—is that I KNOW!  

Addendum: 3/23/15 - And until that time, "Surely the righteous will praise HIS name and the upright will live before HIM." (Her Name Was Jane)


Next Entry: Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued) 

Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

June 06, 2011

It's Monday morning, so I go and do what I have done every Monday morning for the last six months—I go to visit Jane. She is lying in bed, slightly on her right side, with her back facing me. Her mouth was open and she was unresponsive. There was no visible response to my voice or movement in the room. Jane had been unresponsive during my visits for several months now. The only time I ever saw Jane in a lazy boy chair was at our first meeting in January '07. During all my other visits Jane was either slouched in her wheel chair or lying in bed, and for the last several weeks she was entirely bed-ridden. So on this Monday morning, I found Jane just like she had been for many weeks—lying unresponsive in bed, with her mouth wide open. She looked just like my Dad did on the day he died. For weeks Jane had shown no visible response to my voice or my touch. 

I said, "Good morning Jane." No response. "I'm here to read to you, Jane." Again, no response. I picked up her NIV and walked over to her bedside. I read to her. Nothing. I read to her for at least 30–45 minutes at the minimum. No movement, no acknowledgment someone was in the room—nothing. I walked across the room to her dresser. Hospice had put a notebook in the room where guests could record any comments or concerns. It was still in the room and I would write what kind of condition I found Jane in each week. As I picked up the notebook, Jane spoke. In a soft but clear voice Jane said, "Read Psalm 150." Shocked to hear her say anything, I walked back over to her bedside. I said, "Did you ask me to read Psalm 150, Jane"? She replied, "Yes." I went back to her dresser to get her Bible I had just laid down. In my mind I was thinking, is there a Psalm 150? It seemed like a really big number, and at that time I couldn't remember how many chapters Psalms had. Psalm 150 is the last chapter in the Psalms.

I read Psalm 150 to her:

     Praise the Lord.
     Praise God in his sanctuary
     Praise him in his mighty heavens
     Praise him for his acts of power
     Praise him for his surpassing greatness
     Praise him with the sounding of the trumpets
     Praise him with the harp and lyre
     Praise him with the tambourines and dancing
     Praise him with the strings and the flutes
     Praise him with the clash of cymbals
     Praise him with resounding cymbals
     Let everything that hath breath
     Praise the LORD
     Praise the LORD.

I finished reading. Nothing. No response or movement of any kind.

I chose a few other Psalms to read. Still nothing. I again walked across the room to write in her Hospice notebook. Jane spoke again. I walked back to her bed and said, "Did you say to read Psalm 40 Jane"? Jane replied in a clear voice, "No.  I said read Psalm 140." I picked her Bible back up and began to read:

     Rescue me O LORD from evil men
     Protect me from men of violence
     Who devise evil plans in their heart
     And stir up war every day
     They make their tongues as sharp as serpents
     The poison of vipers is on their lips.

     Keep me, O LORD from the hands of the wicked
     Protect me from men of violence who plan to trip my feet
     Proud men have hidden a snare for me
     They have spread out the cord of their net
     And have set traps for me along my path.

     But we say, "O LORD, You are our God."
     Hear O LORD our cry for mercy
     O Sovereign LORD, our strong Deliverer
     Who shields our head in the days of battle
     Do not grant the wicked their desires
     Do not let their plans succeed
     Or they will become proud.

     Let the heads of those who surround me
     Be covered with the trouble their lips have caused
     Let burning coals fall on them
     May they be thrown into the fire
     Into the miry pit never to rise
     Let the slanderers not be established in the land
     And may disaster hunt down men of violence.

     I know the LORD secures justice for the poor
     And upholds the cause of the needy
     Surely the righteous will praise his name
     And the upright will live before him.

Tears were running down by face. Jane had just asked me to read a Psalm that line by line totally described "the storm." A Psalm that I didn't even know existed. Of all the things Jane had underlined in her NIV, she had nothing marked in Psalm 140. And then Jane, who had been totally unresponsive for weeks and months—began to pray. In a clear, strong voice Jane prayed for all the meetings coming up (there would be many many meetings ahead); she prayed for the precious privilege of leading someone to Christ and that we would soon have the opportunity to do so (the Lord had just placed a new lawyer into our lives, someone my husband and I both strongly felt God had specifically placed to not only defend us, but for us to share our faith with); she prayed for the privilege and blessing of teaching young people (I've taught large groups of 7th grade girls at our church for many years, something I am very passionate about); she prayed for Pastor _____ and his family and that God would bless them and protect them (Pastor _____ is our Pastor's name, Jane knew nothing about where we went to church); then Jane prayed for encouragement for this "dear one who comes to see me" (we'd just found out we were facing a vicious and ruinous lawsuit, we most certainly could use some encouragement).

I stood there in total shock and amazement. I knew I was experiencing something that was not man created. This could only be supernatural. This could only be the Hand of God.

It had been over six months since I first met Jane. There had been no mutual conversations since our first meeting. I told Jane nothing about our personal lives or the circumstances we were facing during any of my weekly visits. Jane was now totally unresponsive and had shown no alertness or awareness of her surroundings for many weeks if not months. Most of the time I wasn't sure if she even knew I was in the room, but because I knew that "hearing" was usually the last sense to go, I continued to visit, read, sing, and pray with Jane. And now Jane, after being totally unresponsive for weeks, was telling me to read Psalm 150 and Psalm 140, and then she once again prayed a prayer of encouragement and blessing over my life. In a clear strong voice (something Jane in her own strength was physically incapable of doing) Jane prayed a long prayer about every relevant thing in our lives (something Jane in her own strength was mentally incapable of doing). How could it be that Jane asked me to read two specific chapters in Psalms? How could Jane, without any prior knowledge, then specifically pray about every important and relevant thing in our lives?  

It can only be described as the Hand of God. On my regular Monday morning visit (just three days after the ruinous lawsuit was filed) Jane spoke words that could have only been God-ordained. God-ordained words that would have been missed if Jane's Power of Attorney had not removed Jane from Hospice four months earlier. I didn't know a decision was made to extend Jane's life until I met Jane's POA almost a year later. We sat on either side of Jane's death bed and talked all night. For the first time, I heard the story of how Jane developed a bladder infection and why Jane's POA made the decision to remove her from Hospice so the bladder infection would be treated. If Jane's POA had not followed what she inexplicably knew she had to do, Jane would not have been alive on this fateful day and I would have missed the blessing of Jane telling me to to read Psalm 150, Psalm 140 and Jane's prayer of encouragement.

I called my husband on the way home to tell him what had happened. I was stunned and crying. I could not believe what had just happened.  What a gift. What an incredible thing to watch as the Hand of God works in your life.

Man's plans, traps, schemes, and strategies mean nothing. God is is control. He knows. God's will—WILL be done. God is our Defender. God is our Protector. God is our Provider. God is our Judge. God took an elderly 89 year old woman who was all alone with very limited physical and mental abilities remaining, and had her pray a prayer of blessing on my life on the very day "the storm" clouds began to form. Six months later, at the very time "the storm" became a whirlwind, God again used Jane to tell us to read Psalm 150 (how we should live our lives—a Psalm of praise) and then Psalm 140 (an exact description of our situation—a Psalm of protection) and then Jane prayed another prayer of blessing and encouragement. Wow!! Words just can't express our gratefulness to our LORD and Savior.

Here we are, four years later... and "the storm" rages on. God is still in control. God is still our Defender. He is still the One mighty to save. He is still enough! (Her Name Was Jane)


Next Entry: Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

Psalm 140:1 – 144:15

June 03, 2011

I have been looking forward to this day for a long time. Psalm 140! 

Where (or how) do I even begin to adequately express with mere words the impact this Psalm has had on our lives? There is so much depth and passion in this Psalm. There are still new thoughts which reveal new understandings even after quoting this Psalm on almost a daily basis for close to four years, well over 1000+ times. The complexity and passion of this Psalm all boils down to the two words that Jane (Her Name was Jane) has a box drawn around in her KJV. Of all the many, many things Jane has marked in her Bibles, the only thing she has marked in Psalm 140, are these two words: I know.      

It all boils down to—I know. I don't know the hows, the whens, or the wheres. I don't know any of the details. But—I KNOW—and that is enough.


Next Entry: Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 (Continued)

Psalm 139

June 2, 2011

God knows! There is nothing that escapes Him. Nothing. We were made by Him and He knew us as we were being formed. There is no where we can go that we could hide from Him. In man's eyes it can seem unfair that some people seem to be "under the radar" and seem to get by with lying, stealing, and cheating, and that their man-made strategies seem to be successful. They even think they are wise and using "good" business strategies. But, they only think they have been successful, and they only think they have hid everything under the radar. Can't the maker of eyes see? Can't the maker of ears hear? God knows.

Psalm 139:1–6 - "Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. You know where I go and where I lie down. You know thoroughly everything I do. LORD, even before I say a word you already know it. You are all around me, in front and in back, and have put your hand on me. (Isaiah 30:21) Your knowledge is amazing to me. It is more than I can understand."

Nothing is hidden from God. He knows it all. He knows, and that is all that matters. Man's eyes are not important. What "appears" to be successful here on earth does not bring peace, joy, or contentment. Living a life of scheming and strategies has to be exhausting. Always trying to stay one step ahead, a house of cards, ready to fall. On the other hand, living a life dependent on God brings peace, joy, and contentment. You understand that the only thing God asks of you is to trust Him and be willing no matter what. It is knowing that God is all around us, in front and in back. It is knowing that He has put His hand on you. It is knowing that whether we rise in the east or settle in the west, He will guard us. It is knowing that His right hand will hold us. It is knowing that God knows and that is enough. 

Psalm 139:23–24 - "Search me, O God, and know my heart; try me and know my thoughts. And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way of everlasting."

It isn't that God need permission to examine us and test us. He already knows! The question is: What are we going to do with what God already knows? Are we going to confess our sins—or not? Are we going to trust Him—or not? Are we going to do things God's way—or not? Are we going to follow Him and allow Him to lead us in the way everlasting—or not? Is it "all in"—or not? The search me and test me is for our benefit not God's. HE ALREADY KNOWS! What are we going to do with what He already knows?

Addendum: 3/18/15 ~ What a day to be recording this. We have watched the destruction that happens when people "think" they have gotten by with fooling God. It is not only destructive to themselves. The effect, the consequences for the choices made and the "sins of the father," at times becomes a burden for the generations that follow. While each of cannot control what happened before us, we do have complete control over how we are going to respond. Are we going to be angry? Are we going to seek revenge? Are we going to follow in their footsteps? Or, are we going to break the chains of bondage and change what is passed on to those for those who follow us? We choose to face the truth and then chart our own path of following Christ.  We are Walking on His Footpath (Following the Master's Lead) and we will not be shaken.

I heard this song for the first time several days ago. It says it all. Listen to it here: We Trust in our God...We Will Not be Shaken

I think the statement I made, "Living a life of scheming and strategies has to be exhausting. Always trying to stay one step ahead... a house of cards... ready to fall," needs to be clarified. IF you still have a conscience to know that what you are doing is wrong, THEN I believe living that kind of lifestyle would have to be exhausting. However, IF you have traveled down the path of sin long enough and have continually refused to change your heart and mind, THEN I believe there is a very real possibility that person's conscience may be seared and it is actually exhilarating for that type of person to be constantly looking for ways to "out-smart" whomever. How incredibly sad to be so blinded by sin that the truth becomes a lie, and the lie of being in charge of your own life becomes their truth.

"The Author starts each life story, but each life will write his or her own ending." ~ From A Gentle Thunder by Max Lucado

Next Entry: Psalm 140:1 – 144:15 

Psalm 137:1 – 138:8

June 1, 2011

"On the day I called to you, you answered me. You made me strong and brave."

January 5, 2007. On that day... on the very day we called out to God for His help He gave us Jane. (Her Name was Jane) The LORD answered on that very day and it was/is His Power, His guidance, His sovereignty, and His love which has allowed us to be "strong and brave" these last four and one half years of dealing with "the storm." Psalm 138:7-8 - "Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the anger of my foes, with your right hand you save me. The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me; your love, O LORD, endures forever."

I don't need to know the details. The hows or whens or even the whys. All I need to know is that "the LORD will fulfill his purpose for me," and that is enough. Psalm 138:6 - "Though the LORD is supreme, he takes care of those who are humble, but he stays away from the proud."

He is enough. His promises are enough. On Christ the solid rock I stand.  He truly is ENOUGH!

Psalm 138:3 -"On the day I called to you, you answered me. You made me strong and brave." 

He is more than enough!

Addendum: "January 5, 2007. On that day... on the very day we called out to God for His help He gave us Jane." I just realized something. The song! The song that was running through my mind while I was in the shower preparing to go to the nursing home on that fateful day. The song? "He knows your name, He knows your every thought. He knows each tear that falls and hears you when you call." Jeremiah 29:11–13 - "I know the plans I have for you said the Lord. They are good plans, not plans to harm you but to give you hope and a good future. Then you will call to me, and I will hear you. You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart you will find me. I will let you find me...."   

When we call out to Him HE ANSWERS!

Addendum: 8/14/20 ~ As I was reading this post this morning, I realized there is another significant verse to add and it is found in Jeremiah 33—the very last God-given message from Jane. 

"Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know." Jeremiah 33:3

I stand in awe of the great I AM. His glory is beyond anything we can possibly ever imagine. He is faithful beyond our comprehension. My heart is overwhelmed with praise to the King of all kings and LORD of all lords. Thank-you, Jesus!


Next Entry: Psalm 139

Psalm 136

May 31, 2011

His mercy endureth forever. (KJV)
His love endures forever. (NIV)
His love continues forever. (NCV)

An entire Psalm of thanksgiving and praise to the one whose love continues forever. He is the God of gods; LORD of lords; He is good; He does great miracles; He made the skies with wisdom; He set the earth over the seas; He made the sun and moon; He made the sun to rule the day and the moon and stars the night; with His power and might He freed the Israelites from the Egyptians; He parted the waters of the Red Sea; He led the Israelites through the middle of it; He caused the Egyptians to be caught and drowned in it; He led his people through the desert; He prepared the way and defeated great and powerful kings; He gave the Israelites the land of their enemies as a gift; He remembered them when they were in trouble; He freed them from their enemies; He provided sustenance to them. Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love continues forever.

The God of the Israelites is our God—the same God. He can (and is) doing the same for us. I am so thankful and grateful that we serve a living God. The God of all gods; King of all kings; LORD of all lords. Thank you, LORD, for leading us, guiding us, directing us, providing for us, sustaining us, protecting us, giving us peace, giving us joy, giving us contentment, delivering us, blessing us, and with your mighty hand and outstretched arm, providing for us a way of escaping our enemies. We truly do serve a God whose love continues forever.

The first verse of Psalm 136, "Give thanks to the LORD because he is good; His love continues forever" is what is quoted in Jeremiah 33:11 - "...they will say, "Praise the LORD All-Powerful, because the LORD is good! His love continues forever." They were still in captivity. It wasn't over yet. But God was telling them all of that was soon going to change. He was going to bring them out. He had promised it and nothing could happen to make Him break His promise. The "I will's" of God—written in stone. God promised it—and God did it. God has promised us—and God (not man) will deliver us from "the storm."

LORD, may it be clear to everyone that YOU are in control and that YOU are the one to free us. May YOU get all the honor and glory.

Today is my husband's birthday. I'm so thankful that he is a man of integrity, honest, faithful, and true. Hardworking, considerate, loyal and patient. A godly man, a great husband, and terrific father and a treasured Pop-Pop. So thankful! God, please continue to bless him with health and strength.  I love you honey!


Next Entry: Psalm 137:1 – 138:8

Psalm 135

May 30, 2011

This Psalm begins and ends with praise, how we should live our lives. In between there is two thoughts: God is all-powerful and can do all things; and it is worthless to try and be in control yourself. 

Verse 5 - "I know that the LORD is great. Our LORD is greater than all the gods." He created heaven and earth. The rain, wind, and lightning answer to Him. Punishment, accountability, and the kings of all nations are controlled by Him. He decides who is given what. He is everlasting. He will never fade away. He will be remembered forever. Verse 13 (KJV) - "Thy name, O LORD, endureth forever; and thy memorial, O LORD, through out all generations." (Today is Memorial Day!) He defends his people. NIV says He vindicates His people. He has mercy on those who depend on Him.

Then you have the flip side. Anything we worship more than God comes from our finite hands and is worthless. Mouths—but cannot speak. Eyes—but cannot see. Ears—but cannot hear, and no breath in their mouths. Verse 18 - "People who make idols will be like them, and so will those who trust them." Dead to the truth, blind, deaf, and totally deceived. They think they are wise but they are fools.

I like how Billy Graham puts it in his book, The Approaching Hoofbeats ~

"We have our idols today, because an idol is something that you worship in place of the living God... What is your idol? What really honestly, dominates your life? What are your priorities, and what are the real (although perhaps hidden) motives in your everyday living? Is Christ on the throne of your life or is it self?... Anything that entices you away from a wholehearted commitment to Christ is being used of Satan to deceive you."

Well said. Graham also mentioned the idol of beauty or sexual pleasure; the idol of money and security (although I have observed that the more money some people have the more insecure they become); and the idol and shrine of power, constantly scheming for ways to dominate others. 

Idolatry angers God. He hates it! He is a jealous God and anything we rely on more than Him takes us away from Him. All of us (continually) need to be on guard and to make sure that our faith and trust is in Christ alone. Otherwise we will find ourselves blind, deaf, mute, and dead in our walk with Christ. I never want to be in that position. I never want my actions to anger God. I never want God to hate who I have become.

The beginning and the end: PRAISE THE LORD.


Next Entry: Psalm 136

Psalm 132:1 – 134:3

May 28, 2011

The IF—THEN promises in the Bible. Cause—Effect. IF—THEN. IF you obey—THEN blessings. IF you choose to disobey—THEN curses.

Cause and Effect is a law of nature. IF—you put your hand in the fire, THEN—it will get burned. Why is it, that even if you just looked at life from a purely intellectual and logical view and left out the biblical/spiritual view, that some people just do not seem to "get" that there is indeed IF—THEN situations and it not only applies to the natural world (karma) but most certainly to our spiritual lives as well. 

God promised David that from his descendants there would always come a king. But it wasn't automatic. There was an IF → THEN. Psalm 132:12 - "IF your sons keep my agreement and the rules I teach them, THEN their sons after them will rule on your throne forever and ever." II Chronicles 7:14 - "IF my people who are called by my name, humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

This was God's people he was talking to. If we want the THEN to happen (God hearing our voice, forgiveness and restoration), then we have to do the IF (humble ourselves, pray, seek His face, and turn from what GOD calls our wicked ways). Only then can the THEN happen! Only THEN. We must do our part before God does his.

Psalm 133:1 - "It is good and pleasant when God's people live together in peace." It is like a perfumed blessing that flows from God and to God. It is like the dew falling on the hills. (Can you picture the early morning dew glistening in the sunrise as it blankets the ground? Beautiful!) There (where the peace of His children live) the LORD gives His blessing of life forever. 

Psalm 120:6–7 - "I have lived too long with people who hate peace. When I talk peace, they want war."

Another IF—THEN. Take a close look at your life. IF—there is a list of people you used to be close to and are now alienated from, THEN—you can be assured that the problem is you! An IF—THEN. On the flip side, IF—you live in harmony with the people in your life and you do not have a history of alienation among your friends and family, and still someone insists on war instead of peace, you can be confident that you are being the recipient of their THEN. 

In so much as it depends on you, live in harmony with those around you.


Next Entry: Psalm 135

Psalm 128:1 – 131:3

May 27, 2011

There really is a "secret for success" formula, and here it is: Psalm 128:1–2 - "Happy are those who respect the LORD and obey him. You will enjoy what you work for, and you will be blessed with good things." And THAT is "financial freedom." You are free from the pursuit of "things" because your respect, obedience, dependence, hope, and faith is in God. You don't need to try and "get" because it is God who freely "gives." You can't take (or obtain) what God gives. Peace of mind, happiness, joy, enjoyment, blessings, and as the KJV says, "it shall be well with thee." It doesn't matter what your wealth status is, only God can give what really matters. Nothing else compares.

Again, you cannot gain what only God (so freely) gives. And people cannot take from you what God has given to you!! Frankly, I believe that is what so angers some people. They want what you have—literally. But they can't take it because it is God-given. They want your joy, peace of mind, contentment, happiness, all things they don't have, and they go to great lengths to try and get it. They go after "things" hoping that if they can take the "things" they will be successful in removing from you your joy and peace. But it can't and won't work. You cannot take away what God has given. The more they try, the more God gives. It is an amazing thing to sit back and watch what happens when you respect, obey, and wait upon the LORD. 

Psalm 129:2 - "They have treated me badly all my life. Like farmers plowing, they plowed over my back, making long wounds. But the LORD does what is right; he has set me free from those wicked people." (When the LORD sets you free you are free indeed!) This is what we believe, and what we freely share with anyone we come into contact with. Evil CANNOT win over good. CANNOT! However, if God for some reason decides to allow the removal from us the things He has given us, then we are okay with that because we trust Him. We know the LORD does what is right. We know that our peace, joy, and contentment does not come from the things "we" own. We know God has the best planned for us. We know that He has promised to protect us. We know that we are safe in Him.  A smile just came across my face. What are the two words Jane (Her Name Was Jane) has underlined in her KJV Psalm 140? I know! 

Psalm 130:5–6 - "I wait for the LORD to help me, and I trust his word. I wait for the LORD to help me..."

Psalm 131 - "LORD, my heart is not proud; I don't look down on others. I don't do great things, and I can't do miracles. But I am calm and quiet like a baby with its mother. I am at peace, like a baby with its mother."

Psalm 131:3 - "Put your hope in the LORD now and forevermore."

Addendum: 3/13/15 ~ There are times we feel like to have a target on our backs. Yesterday was one of those days. Psalm 129:2–3 clearly expressed our feelings. "They have treated me badly all my life. Like farmers plowing, they plowed over my back, making long wounds." But it doesn't stop there. Verse 4 goes on to say, "But the LORD does what is right; he has set me free..." Once again we are faced with trying to undo and set right situations created by others. There is a storm brewing around us, but after some much needed rest, we are at peace again.

One week ago I spent the night and next day in the hospital with chest pains. After MUCH testing it was determined that my heart is just fine, but the gall bladder has to go. That will be scheduled soon. The doctors and nurses asked if we have any unusual stress in our lives and we laughed out loud. Yes, we do. As we started listing the things that are going on they just shook their heads and couldn't believe it. But then we went on to tell them, "there are storms around us but we are very content and happy," and they could tell we truly were at peace. When it was time for a nurse shift change, my nurse told the new nurse coming on duty what was going on and then she captured our situation perfectly. She said, "There are storms brewing around them but they are on their own personal island." So true. Yesterday we learned of yet some more issues with my husband's elderly parents that we need to spend time on and try to make right. There has been SO many things and SO much time invested. It has been exhausting. It has been disappointing. And at times, it has been discouraging. BUT!! "Put your hope in the LORD..." and wait for Him to solve the problems. HE does what is right.  HE will set us free.

"The storm" tried to come on shore, but we are back on our peaceful island. We will wait. We will trust. We will believe. We will hope. We will have joy. We will tell HIS Story.


Next Entry: Psalm 132:1 – 134:3

Psalm 124:1 – 127:5

May 26, 2011

What if? What if?

Wow. I can come up with a lot of "what ifs." What if we had not started going to a nursing home on Christmas mornings in 2002? What if I had not went to the nursing home that fateful January day in 2007? What if I had not went back every Monday for the next 16 months? What if? (To name just a few.)

Psalm 124:1 - "What if the LORD had not been on our side?"

What if we had not been "His people" and Psalm 121 wasn't true?  Then:

• they would have swallowed us alive
• they would have been like a flood drowning us
• they would have poured over us like a river
• they would have swept us away like raging waters

BUT!

6 Praise the LORD! 8 Our help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth. HE did not let them chew us up. 7 We escaped like a bird from the hunter's trap. The trap broke, and we escaped. Again I say, Praise the LORD! Our help comes from the LORD who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125 - Those that trust in the LORD are like Mt. Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. Psalm 1 - "Like a tree planted by the water." The LORD surrounds His people. The wicked cannot and will not be able to rule over God's people. Accuse? Yes. Trap? Yes. But rule? No. The wicked have no power to rule over God's people. Lord, be good to those who are honest. Lord, remove those who do evil and have stopped following you. Let there be peace.  

Imagine. Imagine the joy they felt as the prisoners were returned to Jerusalem. JOY—mentioned four times in the NIV. Joy—as they proclaimed, "The LORD has done great things for them. The LORD has done great things for us, and we are very glad." The Psalmist is asking the LORD to return the prisoners again. "Those who cry as they plant crops will sing at harvest time. Those who cry as they carry out the seeds will return singing and carrying bundles of grain." You still have to plant, even in times of sadness. Be patient! The reward (harvest) will come!

Psalm 116:7 - Be at rest once more, O my soul for the LORD has been good to you.
Psalm 118.23 - The Lord has done this, and it is wonderful to me.
Psalm 30:11 - You changed my sorrow into dancing. You took away my cloths of sadness, and clothed me with joy.

"The LORD has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

Psalm 127 - "All good things come from God." The opposite is true as well. If it isn't from (or of) God—it is worth nothing.

IF the LORD doesn't build the house
     the builders are working for nothing.
IF the LORD doesn't guard the city
     the guards are watching for nothing.

You can work and work. You can get up early and stay up late trying to work for a living. But it is God who gives the reward, blessings, and rest for His people.

Jane, (Her Name Was Jane) in her NIV Bible has this written:

A Precious Triad -
   Psalm 124
   Psalm 125
   Psalm 126

I used to read these Psalms to Jane often. While they were precious to her, they were also very valuable to me to have implanted into my consciousness as we were just beginning on what has now become our four plus year faith journey while navigating "the storm."

Psalm 124 - The LORD saves His people
Psalm 125 - God protects those who trust Him
Psalm 126 - Lord, bring your people back

Amazing. I sit here and just shake my head. How God used Jane in our lives while alive, and how He continues to use her words and writing throughout her Bibles, is nothing short of incredible and amazing. As I was writing today, I recalled what she had written on the inside cover of her KJV. Here it is.

"If God be for us, you're up against it!" (Small boys rendering.) Below that she has written Romans 8:28 - "And we know (by experience) that ALL things work together" for GOD. God is behind the things. God makes ALL things work together—not separately—for God. Things would not of themselves work out for good. God's eternal purpose at work for His own. He is Master Blender. What is good? Who knows? Children don't know! Psalm 84:11 - "For the LORD God is a sun and shield: The LORD will give grace and glory; no good thing (with a box drawn around good) will he withhold for them that walk uprightly.) Our assurance. God says: Here are some cannots (sorrow, rainy days, trials) "I don't like that!" "But it's good for you!" How much would we depend on God if we never had sickness, trials, etc. Just as a flower needs some dark days to be fragrant, so do we. "Don't let circumstances take all the life out of you, but you get all the life out of the circumstances you can."

I just love reading all her little notes and comments. Thank you again, LORD, for bringing Jane into our lives. No words will ever be enough to express our gratitude or to adequately express the impact she (through you) has had on our lives. May we pass it forward. Use us, LORD. May our lives bring you honor and glory and be light to those we come in contact with.


Next Entry: Psalm 128:1 – 131:3

Psalm 120:1 – 123:4 (Continued)

May 25, 2011

"Where does my help come from?" Not from man's wisdom, power, strategies, or strength. Our help comes from the LORD. THE Lord! THE God! The God who made the heavens and the earth. Not a god of many gods—THE God.

Our human minds cannot even begin to fathom who/what God is and the unfathomable depths of His love and power. We have put the God of creation into a box that our simple minds have constructed. This is one of the areas where "Praise" has changed our lives. Praise, not thanks. Praise is an act of acknowledging who and what God is. Thanks is typically about the individual and what God has done for you. Praise is about God, and God alone. The more you praise God the more you understand about God. The more you get a glimpse of who He is the more in awe you are, and you realize that you really know nothing about His "surpassing greatness." (Psalm 150)

GOD—the creator of the heavens and the earth:

• will not let you be defeated
• will guard you at all times
• will never leave you
• never temporarily abandons you to rest or sleep
• guards you and keeps you from all harm
• protects us from all danger
• guards your life (from beginning to end)
• guards you as you come and go

BOTH NOW AND FOREVERMORE!!

Psalm 123 talks about total dependence on God. Just as a slave is dependent on their master, we need to be dependent on our master and WAIT for Him to show us mercy. "Have mercy on us, LORD. Have mercy on us, because we have been insulted (NIV says "endured much contempt). We have suffered many insults from lazy people and much cruelty from the proud." (NIV says ridicule from the proud, much contempt from the arrogant.)

The Israelites were going to the temple for their annual feast and this is what they were saying:
   - we don't like the situation we are in
   - we call upon the LORD for help
   - we acknowledge who God is
   - we recognize that only He can save us
   - we are happy to be going to the temple of the LORD
   - we are dependent on you
   - we ask you for mercy
   - we will wait upon you

We would do well to respond in the same way when we face the daily trials of life. They didn't become angry. They didn't quit going to the temple. They were honest about their feelings. They understood their situation and they didn't try to deny, avoid, or hide the truth. No matter what they were facing, they went to the temple. They sought God's help and then they waited. We will do the same! 


Next Entry: Psalm 124:1 – 127:5

Psalm 120:1 – 123:4

May 24, 2011

Psalm 120–135 were sung by the Israelites as they traveled to Jerusalem for their annual feasts and worship.

Psalm 120 - A prayer of people who are surrendered by evil
Psalm 121 - The LORD guards His people
Psalm 122 - Happiness for Jerusalem
Psalm 123 - A prayer for mercy
Psalm 124 - The LORD saves His people
Psalm 125 - God protects those who trust Him
Psalm 126 - A prayer for God to bring His people back
Psalm 127 - All good things come from God
Psalm 128 - Happiness and blessings come from God
Psalm 129 - A prayer against enemies
Psalm 130 - A prayer for mercy
Psalm 131 - Child like trust in God
Psalm 132 - Praise for the temple
Psalm 133 - The love of God's people living in peace
Psalm 134 - All servants of God—Praise the LORD
Psalm 135 - Only the LORD saves—dependence on anything else does not

It is good to remind ourselves daily of the same things the Israelites reminded themselves as they prepared for worship or their annual feasts. No matter what circumstance we are in:

1. God is in control; 
2. We need to go to Him for mercy and protection; 
3. The Lord protects and saves those who put their trust in Him; 
4. All happiness and blessings come from God; 
5. All praise, honor, and glory belong to God; 
6. Depending on ourselves or idols is worthless; 
7. Only the LORD saves.

Psalm 120 - The Israelites were tired of being surrounded by evil and conflict. The first thing the writer did was to call upon the LORD. "When I was in trouble, I called to the LORD, and he answered me." When we call—He answers. And then the Psalmist does something that I don't recall happening before in the Psalms. Maybe it has and I just missed it, but it jumped out at me this time. He makes it very personal and directs his questions directly to the person,"You who plan evil, what will God do to you?" Hey!! What do you think God is going to do to you? You who are lying, planning evil, and stirring up war. What do you think God is going to do?

There are plenty of times throughout scripture where it is very clearly articulated what the consequences for sin are. But this time the Psalmist is asking the person(s) directly. Hey! Just what do you think is going to happen? Do you really believe that you can fool God? Do you really think you can get by with your sinful behavior and somehow be under the radar and escape punishment? Seriously? "You who plan evil, what will God do to you? How will he punish you?" And the answer: "He will punish you with the sharp arrows of a warrior and with burning coals of wood."

There is judgment. There are consequences. It is so hard to understand why some people just don't seem to get it. There are IF—THEN situations in life for both the negative and positive. An IF—THEN promise is found in the next chapter, Chapter 121.

IF—you are "His people"
THEN—He guards you and protects you.


Next Entry: Psalm 120:1 – 123:4 (Continued) 

Psalm 119

May 20, 2011

I really love this Psalm and how it is written. You clearly get a sense of the Psalmist's heart. He starts and ends with what is important, and in between is how he handles the trials of life—by defaulting to his core values.

Psalm 119:1–3 - "Happy are those who live pure lives, who follow the LORD's teachings. Happy are those who keep his rules, who try to obey him with their whole heart. They don't do what is wrong; they follow his ways."

There it is in a nutshell—the key to happiness and contentment in your life. Verse 9 - "How can a young (or old) person live a pure life? By obeying your word." Verse 9 - "I have taken your words to heart so I would not sin against you." Verse 18 - "Open my eyes to see the miracles in your teachings." The writers heart/desire is in the right place. Over and over he expresses his desire to know and follow the LORD's teaching, no matter what circumstances he finds himself in.

Psalm 119:69–72 - "Proud people have made up lies about me, but I will follow your orders with all my heart. Those people have no feelings, but I love your teachings. It was good for me to suffer so I would learn your demands. Your teachings are worth more to me than thousands of pieces of gold and silver." Well said!! What you learn during the trials of your life is unobtainable in any other way.

Verse 21 - You scold proud people; those who ignore your commands are cursed.
Verse 78 - Make proud people ashamed because they lied about me.
Verse 84 - When will you judge those who are hurting me? Proud people have dug pits to trap me. They have nothing to do with your teachings. 
Verse 95 - Wicked people are waiting to destroy me.
Verse 110 - Wicked people have set a trap for me.
Verse 115 - Get away from me, you who do evil.
Verse 118 - You reject those who ignore your demands, because their lies mislead them.
Verse 121 - Don't leave me to those who wrong me.
Verse 126 - LORD, it is time for you to do something. (I read this and I had to smile. I love the honesty. It is time!)
Verse 134 - Save me from harmful people.
Verse 136 - Tears stream from my eyes, because people do not obey your teachings.
Verse 150 - Those who love evil are near (but God is even closer), but they are far from your teachings.
Verse 153 - See my suffering and rescue me
Verse 154 - Argue my case and save me
Verse 155 - Wicked people are far from being saved because they do not want your demands.

I love the responses to all the statements written above. Over and over it is the same thought.

• I will follow your order will all my heart (verse 69)
• I love your teachings  (verse 70)
• I put my hope in your word (verse 74)
• I will think about your orders (verse 78)
• Your word is everlasting (verse 89)
• Your loyalty goes on and on (verse 90)
• I am yours (verse 94)
• Save me (verse 94)
• I will think about your rules (verse 95)
• I love your teachings (verse 97)
• I think about them all day long (verse 97)
• Your word is a lamp to my feet (verse 105)
• Your word is a light to my path (verse 105)
• I haven't strayed from your orders (verse 110)
• I have done what is fair and right (verse 121)
• I love your commands (verse 127)
• I respect your orders (verse 128)
• Guide my steps (verse 133)
• You do what is right (verse 137)
• Your laws are fair (verse 137)
• I call to you with all my heart (verse 145)
• I will keep your demands (verse 145)
• I think about your promises (verse 148)
• All your command are true (verse 151)
• I have not forgotten your teachings (verse 153)
• Let me live by your promises (verse 154)
• Let me speak your praise (verse 171)
• I love your teachings (verse 174)

Then the Psalmist confirms what he wrote in the first verses, the key to success.

Psalm 119:165–166 - "Those who love your teachings will find true peace, and nothing will defeat them. I am waiting for you to save me, LORD."

In Jane's (Her Name Was Jane) KJV Bible she has written across the top of the pages for Psalm 119: Work. Keep. Seek. Praise! Meditate. Delight. Talk. Observe. Answer! Fear! Believe! Trust! Learn! Comfort! LOVE! Taste! Perform! Respect. Esteem Stand in awe! Rejoice. Choose!

Life Lesson:

"The Spirit of holiness is also the Spirit of truth. Truth and righteousness go together...

...Three absolute changes are necessary. There must be changes in our consciousness, convictions, and conscience...

Consciousness - involves knowledge. Before we can willfully do what God commands and what pleases Him we must first understand what it is God requires... must first become aware.

Conviction - is a matter of depth and intensity... it is more than just being aware. It is a lot easier to compromise our knowledge than our conviction. A conviction is knowledge that is settled. It has a firm hold on us. It goes beyond our brains and penetrates our conscience.

Conscience - our conscience acts as a kind of governor upon our behavior. For the conscience to function in a godly way it must be influenced by godly convictions. To gain godly consciences, our consciousness of what is right and wrong must be sharpened. This involves the mind. It is a matter of doctrine." ~ From Pleasing God by R.C. Sprout

"Certain things no one can do for you. And one of those is spending time with God. Listening to God is a first hand experience." ~ Max Lucado


Next Entry: Psalm 120:1 – 123:4

Psalm 118

May 19, 2011

"His love continues forever." So true! Our faith and trust is in Him alone. 6"I will not be afraid, because the LORD is with me. People can't do anything to me. The LORD is with me to help me, so I will see my enemies defeated." The Psalmist goes on to say that it is better to trust the LORD than to trust people or rulers. When you trust God instead of man, then ONLY God can get the glory for what HE has done.

Psalm 118:10 - "...I defeated them in the name of the LORD."
Psalm 118:11 - "...but with the LORD's power I defeated them."
Psalm 118:12 - "By the LORD's power I defeated them."
Psalm 118:13 - "...but the LORD helped me."
Psalm 118:14 - "The LORD gives me strength..."
Psalm 118:14 - "...He has saved me."
Psalm 118:15 - "Shouts of joy and victory come from the tents of those who do right..."
Psalm 118:15 - "The LORD has done powerful things."
Psalm 118:16 - "The power of the LORD has won the victory;"
Psalm 118:16 - "..with his power the LORD has done mighty things."
Psalm 118:17 - "... and I will tell what the LORD has done."
Psalm 118:21 - "LORD, I thank you for answering me.  You have saved me."
Psalm 118:28 - "You are my God, and I will thank you; you are my God, and I will praise your greatness."
Psalm 118:29 - "Thank the LORD because he is good. His love continues forever."

I am overwhelmed by God's love and provisions. HE is the One who has protected us from "the storm." TRULY—His love continues forever!  Praise the LORD!


Next Entry: Psalm 119

Dad's Graveside and Memorial Service Sermon

May 17, 2011

This is the sermon given by my brother at Dad's Memorial Service.

Dad always like to give me jobs to do. I think maybe he liked that a little too much. Some years ago, out of the blue, he told me he wanted me to do one last job—this one. As usual, he did not ask me if I wanted the job or how I felt about the job. He just wanted me to do it.  When giving me a job—no matter how boring or difficult—he would usually say that the job shoud be easy. And as usual, it is not.

Later, Dad—assuming I was going to do it—told me that it made him feel good that he had someone to plant him properly. Dad always liked to plant things...just two days before he died he said we needed to get the watermelon planted. But the most important thing is that years ago he planted himself by the streams of living water and drank from the water that Jesus said would "become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life." That planting makes today so much easier as this is only a symbolic planting because of what happened before.

Hebrews 12:1-2, "We have around us many people whose lives tell us what faith means. So let us run the race that is before us and never give up. We should remove from our lives anything that would get in the way and the sin that so easily holds us back. Let us look only to Jesus, the One who began our faith and who makes it perfect. He suffered death on the cross. But he accepted the shame as if it were nothing because of the joy that God put before him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God's throne."

The older I get the more envious I am of those who have kept the faith and finished the race. We each have a race marked out for us to run. It may not be as we would chose, but we need to finish having kept the faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus, and Dad did just that.

At services such as this, it has always bothered me that anyone would think or try to memorialize and extol the eternal impact of a life lived, 70, 80, or 90 years in 15 or 30 minutes, or even in a day. In eulogies, since we do not wish to say anything bad about the dead we often leave the impression that they were perfect performers. Dad was not a perfect performer—and neither are any of us. We can be thankful that God is not expecting perfect performances from us, but rather desires and has a right to expect a perfectly loving and faithful heart towards him and others. That Dad had by the grace and mercy of God. The mercy of God—not getting what we deserved. The grace of God—getting what we do not deserve. Probably the song I heard him sing (or whistle) more than any other was The Love of God. The Love of God. For him, receiving that love made all the difference. By accepting what Christ had done for him.

The Love of God

1)  The love of God is greater far

     Than tongue or pen can ever tell;

     It goes beyond the highest star,

     And reaches to the lowest hell,

     The guilty pair, bowed down with care,

     God gave His son to win;

     His erring child He reconciled,

     And pardoned from his sin.

          Refrain:

          Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!

          How measureless and strong!

          It shall forevermore endure - 

          The saints' and angels' song.

3)  Could we with ink the ocean fill,

     And were the skies of parchment made,

     Were every stalk on earth a quill,

     And every man a scribe by trade;

     To write the love of God above,

     Would drain the ocean dry;

     Nor could the scroll contain the whole,

     Though stretched from sky to sky.

Verse 3 was penciled on the wall of a narrow room in an insane asylum by a man said to have been demented. The profound lines were found when they laid him in his coffin.  

I want us to look at some truths from scripture to help us focus on what Dad is experiencing now and will experience in the future. I really do not know how people live without knowing, believing, or living in the promises of God. What a wonderful privilege we have possessing and personalizing the truth of God's Word.

So just where is Dad and what is he experiencing now? He is not here. He is not in the casket. He left his body last Saturday night. Dad did not die—his body died.

II Corinthians 4:16 - 5:10 - "So we do not give up. Our physical body is becoming older and weaker, but our spirit inside us is made new every day. We have small troubles for a while now, but they are helping us gain an eternal glory that is much greater than the troubles. We set our eyes not on what we see but on what we cannot see. What we see will last only a short time, but what we cannot see will last forever. We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made my human hands; instead it will be a home in heaven that will last forever. But now we groan in this tent. We want God to give us our heavenly home, because it will clothe us so we will not be naked. While we live in this body, we have burdens, and we groan. We do not want to be naked, but we want to be clothed with our heavenly home. Then this body that dies will be fully covered with life. This is what God made us for, and he has given us the Spirit to be a guarantee for this new life. So we always have courage. We know that while we live in this body, we are away from the Lord. We live by what we believe, not by what we can see. So I say that we have courage. We really want to be away from this body and be at home with the Lord. Our only goal is to please God whether we live here or there, because we must all stand before Christ to be judged. Each of us will receive what we should get—good or bad—for the things we did in the earthly body." 

We are not our bodies. We only live in them as long as they live. When they die, those in Christ go to be with the Lord. Luke 23:43 - (to the thief on the cross) "Today you will be with me in paradise." The stone was not rolled away from the tomb so Jesus could get out. It was rolled away so we could see in and see that Christ was not there—he was risen.

Dad is where the Lord is. "No eyes have seen, no ears have heard, no mind can conceive what God has prepared for those who love him." But, God has revealed it to us by His spirit. We know enough to know this is not just a better place but the best of all places to be. Faith has become sight.

Dad is away from the limitations, weaknesses, disease and decay of his old body. How long has it been since he could do all the things he liked to do? What must it feel like to have broken free from what has hindered so long? But what is it like to be away or out of this body? 

II Corinthians 12:1-5, "I must continue to brag. It will do no good, but I will talk now about visions and revelations from the Lord. I know a man in Christ who was taken up to the third heaven fourteen years ago. I do not know whether the man was in his body or out of his body, but God knows. And, I know if he was in his body or away from his body, but God knows. He heard things he is not able to explain, things that no human is allowed to tell. I will brag about a man like that, but I will not brag about myself, except about my weaknesses." 

How can he see without eyes, hear without ears, walk without legs and touch without hands? Can God the Father who is spirit see, hear, move, and touch? We were made in his image which is more true of the spiritual than the physical.

John, who most certainly was "in the Spirit" and out of the body when he explained all that he saw and heard what we have in the book of Revelation actually saw souls. These souls were aware, spoke, and put on white robes. Dad is seeing sights, hearing sounds, and in all ways sensing paradise in ways we can only imagine. Being in the presence of God can only be more wonderful than we can imagine—not less—as it is the fulfillment and perfection of all that God has created, designed, and prepared us for.

But, there is something great in God's plan yet to come. The death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ guaranteed all things new—a new heaven, a new earth, and a new body. 

Yes, Dad as great as he has it now, will receive a new body along with all those in Christ (dead or alive) when Jesus returns to this earth. We know something of what that body will be like by looking at the resurrected body of Christ.

Flesh and bone (no blood) - Luke 24:39, "Look at my hands and feet. It is I myself! Touch me and see; a ghost does not have flesh and bones, as you see I have."

He will eat - Luke 24:42, "They gave him a piece of broiled fish and he ate it in their presence."

He will not be subject to the laws of physics as we know them. - Read John 20 (appeared in rooms).

The stone was not rolled away from the opening of the tomb to allow Jesus to come out, but to let us see that the tomb was empty.

I Corinthians 15:35-57, "But someone may ask, "How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come? How foolish! What you sow does not come to life unless it dies. When you sow, you do not plant the body that will be, but just a seed, perhaps of wheat or of something else. But God gives it a body as he has determined, and to each kind of seed he gives its own body. All flesh is not the same; men have one kind of flesh, animals have another, birds another, and fish another. There are also heavenly bodies and there are earthly bodies; but the splendor of the heavenly bodies is one kind and the splendor of the earthly bodies is another. The sun has one kind of splendor, the moon another, and the stars another; and star differs from star in splendor.  

   So it will be with the resurrection of the dead. The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable; it is sown in dishonour, it is raised in glory; it is sown in weakness, it is raised in power; it is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body.

   If there is a natural body, there is also a spiritual body. So it is written: The first man Adam became a living being; the last Adam, a life-giving spirit. The spiritual did not come first, but the natural, and after that the spiritual. The first man was of the dust of the earth, the second man from heaven. As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven. And just as we have borne the likeness of the earthly man, so shall we bear the likeness of the man from heaven.

   I declare to you brothers, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. Listen, I tell you a mystery: we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed - in a flash, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, the dead in Christ will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed. For the perishable must clothe itself with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality. When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that is written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."

I thought at first that Spring just seems to be the wrong time to die with new life emerging all around. But then I thought—Spring is the time for planting and the waiting for the harvest. The very fact and assurance that Spring will always follow Winter is a promise made by God over 4000 years ago.  

"As long as the earth endures, seed time and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease." Genesis 8:22 

Dad, your body is being planted at just the right time. Now we wait for the harvest that is sure to come. God always keeps his promises.   


Next Entry:  Psalm 118