Read Psalm 29 again and pay close attention to the word "voice". What is the voice of God? The psalmist says the voice of the Lord is powerful, majestic, strikes with flashes of lightning, shakes the desert, twists the oaks and strips the mountains bare. And then Psalm 33 says:
“By the word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry host by the breath of his mouth.” “For he spoke and it came to be; he commanded, and it stood firm.”
(No doubt in our minds. Nothing happened by chance!)
The voice of the Lord is heard in all creation. Everywhere we look we can hear the voice of the Lord, every time we take a breath, we hear the voice of the Lord. The language of God, his voice is the math and science of creation. His voice is heard from the intergalactic to the sub-atomic levels.
"Come and see what God has done, how awesome his works in man's behalf!"
This language of God, His voice is for our benefit??? He invites us to speak back in praise to Him!
“For you, O God, tested us; you refined us like silver. You brought us into prison and laid burdens on our backs.
How does He refine us? He turns up the heat. How does He turn up the heat? He puts burdens on our backs. He puts trials in our lives. Why? To make us purer. Easier to take the trials of life knowing this isn't it?
“If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened.”
We can cry out to Him, but if we harbor sin, will he listen??? Good reason to confess our sins when we go to Him in prayer. So often in the psalms praising Him is directly related to the blessings. God offers this promise attached to our praise. If we praise Him, He will bless us.
Let's listen to His voice today. And praise Him for what He has done for us.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Sunday, April 29, 2012
“From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise.”
Now, that puts things in perspective. Does it give us a clue as to how we should interact with our children? Even infants can feel His presence and often they feel God’s presence through us big people! How are all of us doing with that one?
Children trust and praise God without doubt or reservations. Shouldn't we do the same?
"What is man that you are mindful of him.."
"You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings..."
"You made him ruler over the works of your hands, you put everything under his feet...:
God has given us tremendous authority and responsibility over the whole earth. He holds us accountable for our stewardship of it. He wants us to take care of it. But He doesn't want us to worship the creation. He wants us to worship the creator.
“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.”
What great assurance in this passage. He has placed us exactly where He wants us to be. Our salvation is secure. His laws, statutes, precepts, and commands are our boundary lines. Our delightful inheritance awaits us...
After reading Psalm 19, surrounded by this fantastic display, how can anyone say that it happened by chance?
Now, that puts things in perspective. Does it give us a clue as to how we should interact with our children? Even infants can feel His presence and often they feel God’s presence through us big people! How are all of us doing with that one?
Children trust and praise God without doubt or reservations. Shouldn't we do the same?
"What is man that you are mindful of him.."
"You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings..."
"You made him ruler over the works of your hands, you put everything under his feet...:
God has given us tremendous authority and responsibility over the whole earth. He holds us accountable for our stewardship of it. He wants us to take care of it. But He doesn't want us to worship the creation. He wants us to worship the creator.
“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.”
What great assurance in this passage. He has placed us exactly where He wants us to be. Our salvation is secure. His laws, statutes, precepts, and commands are our boundary lines. Our delightful inheritance awaits us...
After reading Psalm 19, surrounded by this fantastic display, how can anyone say that it happened by chance?
Saturday, April 28, 2012
“Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
What does it mean to number our days aright? How do we gain a heart of wisdom? Does it have anything to do with using our time wisely?
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;”
Even wonder why Scriptures refer to such things as palm and cedar trees? We know it’s there for a reason, but what reason?
Palm trees are noted for their longevity and cedars are noted for being solid, strong, and immovable. The righteous will flourish and bear fruit in their old age, like a long-living tree. The righteous are unmoved by the winds of circumstance.
On May 5, 2005 we received the phone call that no parent ever wants to get. A stranger called us to say that our son had taken a 30 foot fall from a tree. She assured us that he was conscious and was being loaded onto an ambulance. God gave us the following verse,
“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
We knew that our son and daughter-in-law trusted in the Lord and we certainly knew that we trusted in the Lord, so it was much easier to take the news about all his injuries as the chaplain related them to us at the hospital. We praise the Lord that our son has recovered from the injuries with a heart more steadfast than ever. And so we can claim the following verse, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
AMEN and AMEN!
What does it mean to number our days aright? How do we gain a heart of wisdom? Does it have anything to do with using our time wisely?
“The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, and they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon;”
Even wonder why Scriptures refer to such things as palm and cedar trees? We know it’s there for a reason, but what reason?
Palm trees are noted for their longevity and cedars are noted for being solid, strong, and immovable. The righteous will flourish and bear fruit in their old age, like a long-living tree. The righteous are unmoved by the winds of circumstance.
On May 5, 2005 we received the phone call that no parent ever wants to get. A stranger called us to say that our son had taken a 30 foot fall from a tree. She assured us that he was conscious and was being loaded onto an ambulance. God gave us the following verse,
“He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”
We knew that our son and daughter-in-law trusted in the Lord and we certainly knew that we trusted in the Lord, so it was much easier to take the news about all his injuries as the chaplain related them to us at the hospital. We praise the Lord that our son has recovered from the injuries with a heart more steadfast than ever. And so we can claim the following verse, “Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness.”
AMEN and AMEN!
Friday, April 27, 2012
Hi everyone,
Our usual monthly discussion session is the last Monday of the month. We have a conflict this Monday, April 30. Would you like to have the session at 7:00 pm on Sunday night, April 29 or Tuesday night May 1? Let us know which one you prefer. Thanks and hope to see you one of those nights.
Our usual monthly discussion session is the last Monday of the month. We have a conflict this Monday, April 30. Would you like to have the session at 7:00 pm on Sunday night, April 29 or Tuesday night May 1? Let us know which one you prefer. Thanks and hope to see you one of those nights.
“Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord”
How many people may be watching us, see what we are doing, and because of something we have said or done, put their trust in the Lord? We may never know how we have affected others for eternity.
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but my ears you have pierced."
The piercing of the ear was the mark of a slave. It illustrates ownership.
God doesn’t want our meaningless rituals! He wants an attitude of devotion, praise, worship, and thankfulness to Him. He wants us to speak of His faithfulness and salvation. He wants us to tell it to “the great assembly.”
In Psalm 49 tell us to check our investments. Have we invested in earthly things that do not last or in heavenly things that last for eternity?
"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me."
This seems to be a bit of a contradiction from the previous verses that tell us that God does not need our sacrifices and burnt offerings. However, burnt offerings and sacrifices were required. Thank offerings are the willing ones. God doesn't want our offerings and sacrifices out of obligation. He wants our willing giving.
“…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
To envy others for their “stuff” puts us on a slippery slope.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”
AMEN!
How many people may be watching us, see what we are doing, and because of something we have said or done, put their trust in the Lord? We may never know how we have affected others for eternity.
"Sacrifice and offering you did not desire but my ears you have pierced."
The piercing of the ear was the mark of a slave. It illustrates ownership.
God doesn’t want our meaningless rituals! He wants an attitude of devotion, praise, worship, and thankfulness to Him. He wants us to speak of His faithfulness and salvation. He wants us to tell it to “the great assembly.”
In Psalm 49 tell us to check our investments. Have we invested in earthly things that do not last or in heavenly things that last for eternity?
"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me."
This seems to be a bit of a contradiction from the previous verses that tell us that God does not need our sacrifices and burnt offerings. However, burnt offerings and sacrifices were required. Thank offerings are the willing ones. God doesn't want our offerings and sacrifices out of obligation. He wants our willing giving.
“…my feet had almost slipped; I had nearly lost my foothold. For I envied the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.”
To envy others for their “stuff” puts us on a slippery slope.
“Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.”
AMEN!
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Oh…so very much meat in today’s reading!
Blessed is the man whose “…delight is in the law of the Lord…”
The “law of the Lord’ means all Scripture. The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide our daily lives.
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season…”
Just as a tree soaks up water and produces luscious fruit, if we soak up God’s Word we’ll bear fruit. The more we soak up His Word, the more fruitful we will be.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
We should all be careful taking Scripture out of context!
“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Ponce de Leon searched for the “fountain of youth”. God offers the "fountain of life"!
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
To delight in someone means to take great pleasure in their presence. This happens only when we know that person well. To delight in the Lord means we must know Him well.
As we begin to know Him well, we will know what He desires for us and then His desires become our desires. What a great plan!
But even better than that…“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;”
As we delight in the Lord, know that He delights in us. That means He takes great pleasure in our presence! Wow! Ponder that today!
Blessed is the man whose “…delight is in the law of the Lord…”
The “law of the Lord’ means all Scripture. The more we know of the whole scope of God’s Word, the more resources we will have to guide our daily lives.
“He is like a tree planted by streams of water which yields its fruit in season…”
Just as a tree soaks up water and produces luscious fruit, if we soak up God’s Word we’ll bear fruit. The more we soak up His Word, the more fruitful we will be.
“The fool says in his heart, ‘There is no God.’”
We should all be careful taking Scripture out of context!
“They feast on the abundance of your house; you give them drink from your river of delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light we see light.”
Ponce de Leon searched for the “fountain of youth”. God offers the "fountain of life"!
“Delight yourself in the Lord and he will give you the desires of your heart.”
To delight in someone means to take great pleasure in their presence. This happens only when we know that person well. To delight in the Lord means we must know Him well.
As we begin to know Him well, we will know what He desires for us and then His desires become our desires. What a great plan!
But even better than that…“If the Lord delights in a man’s way, he makes his steps firm;”
As we delight in the Lord, know that He delights in us. That means He takes great pleasure in our presence! Wow! Ponder that today!
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