What a Journey!

Day three hundred sixty-five

It has been an interesting year. When I started this journey of scripture study and blogging I wasn't sure what to expect. I thought it might be therapeutic for a former seminary teacher to share what I discovered in my scripture study. I was really missing teaching.

Really, it was the brainchild of my husband, who has been the patient listener of many of my discoveries. I'm sure that part of his reasoning for challenging me to do this was so that he didn't have to listen to every detail, but he assures me that he thought that it was worth sharing with others.

So last January I set the goal to study my scriptures each day and to blog about what I had learned. I don't think I really understood the amount of time and effort this would require. That's probably a good thing, because if I had known that it would end up with 4000+ blog pages and countless hours of studying, I don't think I would have ever begun.

This journey has been filled with plenty of trials and obstacles.  I’ve had technical difficulties (the computer hates me), family emergencies, a job, projects, callings, all of which take a lot of time.  The average post took about two hours to prepare. That's a lot of time for a person who has a million other things to accomplish in their day.  It meant late nights studying because the day was filled with too many other things to do or earlier hours so that I could get it done before there could be any distractions. 

The blessings far outweigh the obstacles though.  My family has been extremely supportive of this endeavor.  My husband and my sons have often finished my chores, and have always been willing to listen as I bounce ideas off of them.  It has been a great blessing in my life to know that they would step up when I needed them to help.  I could not have done this without them. 

The biggest blessing has been my ability to see God in my life.  I had a good relationship with God before I started this, but it is much stronger now.  My outlook on things has changed, I am less stressed and more willing.  I have had my bad days, but I have learned to turn to the Lord more and rely on myself less.  There are some things that He puts in our lives that we are not meant to do alone, and the ability to recognize those moments is a true blessing to me.

Also, I have learned to be brave and step out of my comfort zone.  It is a scary thing to post your thoughts on spiritual things.  There have been many times when I doubted myself and felt like no one really cared if I wrote or not.  Over the year I have had people from all over the world read some of my posts.  At first that brought a little anxiety with it. I started to feel like my posts had to be super stupendous or I would embarrass myself.  Luckily, the Lord stepped in and let me know that I just needed to write what He wanted me to write and He would take care of the rest. 

It is an amazing thing to let the Lord lead you. When I go back and read some of my posts I can't believe that I wrote it.  Where does this stuff come from?  It is definitely not from me! I know this because I have received comments, messages and emails from people sharing their thoughts on what I wrote.  I am often surprised at what has touched their hearts.  Touching people's hearts, that is outside my realm, that's more of God's thing.  

Well I want to thank all of you that have followed me on this journey.  You should know that your kind words have made it a labor of love.  When I wanted to give up one of you would make a comment or send me an email that kept me going.  Thank you for that!

I also want to thank the Lord for this amazing experience.  He has carried me often through this and I have felt His love for me many times.  It is my hope that as I move on to the next thing that He will continue to bless me.  Hopefully, He will continue to use me in ways that bless the lives of those around me.  What a journey it has been and I am looking forward to what He has in store for me in the days to come! 
   



 

God Dreams For Me

Day three hundred sixty-four

Lately, I have been feeling like my relationship with my boys is in transition again.  This transition is not going as smoothly as I had hoped.  I never seem to have the right words or know how to react to the situations that have come up.  And when I do decide to speak the boys look at me with those eyes that say, "Um, Mom you aren't making any sense, but I still love you."  I am the socially awkward, bumbling dork lately.  I am hoping this is some phase that we are going through and will soon pass.

So, much of my prayer this morning was a plea to the Lord for some direction regarding this situation. Hopefully, the Spirit will help me get through this with a little dignity. 

Psalm 20

"Dreams are the touchstones of our character." ~Henry David Thoreau

Dreams are usually associated with thoughts, emotions, or images occurring during certain periods of our sleep cycle.  But the word dream is also used to mean the things that we desire or hope for in our heart.  We have all said things like:  "I dream of someday being a doctor" or "I dream of having a family one day" or "I dream of someday being famous."  We all have dreams. 

We have to be careful what we dream for or hold in our heart.  We have been warned in Jeremiah 17:9-10 that "The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it? I the Lord search the heart, I try the reins, even to give every man according to his ways, and according to the fruit of his doings." 

The things in our heart can also lead to good, "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart" (Psa 37:4). If our dreams or heart's desires match that of the Lord's then He will make them happen (Psa 37:5).  What we truly desire or dream really can say a lot about our character, but it also says a lot about our relationship with God.  I have often asked the Lord to show me His will, but I don't think I've ever asked the Lord to share His dreams with me.  What would it be like to ask God what is in His heart and what He dreams about?
 
I was lead to this train of thought from verse 4 "Grant thee according to thine own heart, and fulfil all thy counsel. " David asks the Lord to act according to what is in His heart, not what's in his own heart.  It is not about having his dreams come true, but having God's dreams put into him.  

At first I thought that this would be an amazing thing to happen, to know God's dreams, but then I began to think about all the responsibility that comes with that.  I'm not sure I want or am ready for that kind of relationship with God.  I'm sure His dreams are much bigger than mine.  What would He expect of me if I knew what He desired?  My weaknesses were starting to get the best of me!

Then I came across this quote:  "Don’t be afraid of letting God put His dreams in you. God gives us dreams a size too big so that we can grow into them." ~ Unknown

Now that is the proper perspective to have! Suddenly my insecurities seem ridiculous as they are pushed aside by the thought that God dreams for me.  As a parent I know that I have dreams for my children, why would I think it would be any different for Him?

This is highly personal, knowing what God dreams for us.   It is a testament to the relationship that He wants to have with us, intimate and loving.  He knows everything about us, our strengths and our weaknesses, so His dreams for us are based on His perfect knowledge of us.

In the heading of this Psalm we read that David wrote this psalm as a plea to ask the Lord to hear his prayer in times of trouble.  I think that is a brilliant request, but I think asking God to put His dreams for us in us, is even more brilliant.  I can see how knowing what God hopes and desires for us could help us in times of need.  I know my interest is definitely piqued concerning what God dreams for me.  I foresee some deep prayer conversation coming in my future regarding this topic.  Hopefully, His dreams for me won't be too big and I will grow into them gracefully.     

Where To Find God

Day three hundred sixty-three

I am one of those people that likes to have order in my house.  I wouldn’t characterize it as compulsive; I just like to have a place for everything so that when I look for it I know where it is. Now, I live with three men who don’t always share my passion for cleanliness which can cause a little tension sometimes.  So this morning I asked the Lord to please bless me and my family with patience and understanding as I tackle some of those less than organized areas of my house.  If all goes well, I might even recruit a few helpers!

Psalm 19
One of life's great challenges is finding the answers to our questions. In this pursuit we search for reliable, trustworthy sources to search for our answers. Where do you go for your answers? Do you have a resource that can answer your questions? Do you have a library that can answer the very questions of life?

There is one question that many people ask, where do you find God? David answers this question for us in Psalm 19. As a young boy tending his father’s flock out in the field, David grew up with two sources for finding God, Nature and Scripture.

In this Psalm David talks about where he finds his answers for life. He shares with us His resources for finding God.

Nature (vv 1-6)
If you ever wonder if God exists, all you have to do is look up. The heavens declare the glory of God by openly bearing testimony that they have not been put together by chance, but were wonderfully made by the Supreme Architect. Sometimes we're impressed by a certain wonder of a landscape scene or by a nightscape.

George MacDonald writes, "Something is wrong in the man to whom the sunrise is not a divine glory, for therein is embodied the truth, the simplicity, and the might of the Maker. ... Alongside the gentle meeting of earth and sky, ... the great burst of a new morning, the sordid affairs of mammon sink to the bottom of things and have little more interest.”

David reminds us that we don't find God per se; He removes the veil to reveal Himself. The witness of creation is a silent one. It is something seen, but without words (v 3). He also tells us that nature is not just for the Christian to see God, but is meant for all the earth to learn to recognize Him (v 4). Man has the witness of creation before his eyes, but some will choose to ignore it. As a result, man has to lie to himself and without a Creator, he descends into a moral mess.

Scripture (vv 7-11)

We've been outdoors looking at God's world, now David leads us inside and picks up with the scriptures. Notice how David describes the scriptures:  

Law (v 7) - instruction

Testimony (v 7) - a witness to God’s will and man’s duty

Statutes (v 8) - a collection of specific injunctions

Commandment (v 8) - that which expresses the will of a personal God

Fear (v 9) - that which brings reverence for God

Judgments (v 9) - it is also a group of judgments 

How reliable is it?  

It is perfect (v 7), sure/trustworthy (v 7), right (v 8), pure (v 8), clean/clear (v 9), true (v 9) and righteous (v 9). 

The idea is that you can count on God’s Word. It does not change, it is trustworthy. God’s Word is true, whether we believe in it or not. 

What does it do? 

It converts the soul (v 7); makes the simple wise (v 7); brings joy to the heart (v 8); sheds light on the way of life (v 8), bears warning (v 11) and tells of our rewards (v 11).

All of these things are important, but for me the warning part is playing a larger rule in my life. In today's society I think it is important that we pay attention to the warnings in the scriptures. God means what He says. He doesn’t warn us to ruin our fun. He wants to protect us from the temptations of the world. 

Note that David ends this Psalm with a prayer. It seems fitting that he would do so after reflecting on finding God. Notice what he prays for: 

keep me from sin (v 13)

give me the right words to say (v 14)

a heart fueled by God's will (v 14)

acceptance from God (v 14)

strength (v 14) 

If we started each day beholding God's glory in nature and the scriptures, and we lived each day with devotion and determination; then at the end of each day we will have done what pleases Him! I have already spent some time this morning finding God in the scriptures, so I think a good goal would be to find God in nature today.  Yes, it is possible to find God even in the rainy, stormy weather of the Pacific Northwest.

Living for the Lord

Day three hundred sixty-two

This holiday was filled with some great moments, but there is one that has special meaning to me.  Like most families, some members of my family are little harder to love. They tend to say or do things that offend others, yet don't see the problem with what they are doing.  

In this case, one family member had said some inappropriate things to another member of the family and the person hung up on them. There was definitely some animosity between these two people.  I wasn't sure how the interaction would play out on Christmas Day as we all got together.  I'm happy to say that the offended member of my family took the higher road and put the incident behind them for the holiday season.  I was so proud of this person, they were such a good example to the rest of us.  

This morning I prayed with gratitude for such teaching moments and asked the Lord to bless those that were involved in this situation.  It is moments like this one that help me keep my hope for mankind alive.  When you see two strong-willed people come together and put their issues aside for the sake of others, you can't help but see the Lord's hand in it.  Thank you Lord for blessing my family in such awesome ways!

Psalm  18
At the very beginning, the Psalmist makes two great and profound declarations:

First, he declares his love for the Lord: "I will love thee, O Lord, my strength." (Psalm 18:1)


The word translated “love” here is a word that means, “to love deeply.” It is not the normal word translated love. The normal word speaks of “covenant love”. This word speaks of “tender intimacy”.  It carries the idea of a mother’s love for an infant child. It has the idea of loving one so much; you just want to hug them real close! 

We have all felt this way about someone we love. Each of us has had someone in our lives that filled our hearts with so much love that we just want to reach out and hug them and hold them.

I think this is the emotion felt by Mary Magdalene when she encountered the risen Christ (John 20:17), and by the Disciples when they saw Him (Matt 28:9). Considering all that the Lord has done for us and how He loves us, our hearts should also be filled with that same kind of love for Him (1 John 4:19).

Second, he declares his absolute dependence upon the Lord:  "The Lord is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.  I will call upon the Lord, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies." (Psalm 18:2-3)


He calls God “my strength” and then gives us some examples of this strength: a rock, a fortress, and a deliverer.  These are great descriptions.  Can you picture the rock that David would need to lean on when he no longer could go on? or the fortress walls that he will count on to keep his enemies at bay? or the moment when David feels all is lost and cries to the Lord to deliverer him from his anguish?   David is expressing his faith in his relationship with the Lord. He is telling us that he is totally dependent upon the Lord for everything. Every ounce of his strength came from the Lord.

We are in the same boat as David.  The Lord has told us that "for without me ye can do nothing" (John 15:5) and with Him "...my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:13) 

David bears his heart and tells us what he has determined to do.  He is telling us that he will live his life with these two great themes.  He is expressing to us that he finds his greatest delight in the Lord.  His plan is to live for the Lord, love the Lord and to lean on the Lord for everything he needs, does and is in life.  I think this is a worthy goal for all of us. He deserves nothing less!

Joy in God's Presence

Day three hundred sixty-one

I heard the phrase "I have been tempted by unimportant things" on the radio today.  What a great way to think of temptations, unimportant! It is the simplicity of the statement and the truth behind it that made it stick with me.  Would I be more willing to walk away from temptations if I remembered that they were unimportant?  I think so.  Life would be so much easier if I was better at recognizing the important from the unimportant. It would save so much time and some heartache. 

I prayed for the gift of discernment this morning.  I asked the Lord to give me the wisdom to recognize the unimportant temptations and the strength to walk away.  I am so grateful for the little nuggets of wisdom that He gives me.  It shows me that He loves me! 

Psalm 16

In verse 11 we find some of the best promises that come to those who worship God and can be in His presence:

"Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in thy presence is fulness of joy; at thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore."

These are a few of the things that happen when we become more and more aware of God's presence:

Show the path of life...
To me this is about learning my place in God's plan.  I think of when Isaiah the prophet saw his vision of God sitting on His throne in the temple, his first reaction was one of horror at his own sinfulness.

"Then said I, Woe is me! for I am undone; because I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips: for mine eyes have seen the King, the Lord of hosts." (Isa. 6:5)

I think this is one of the things that happens as we come into the presence of light – all of our faults and sins are exposed.  We are humbled and shaken in God’s presence.  We need to be that way so that we submit to His will.  Part of drawing near to God involves submitting to His will and that means that from time to time He’s going to give us directions.  He’s going to ask us to do something.  It is in this state of humility that He can show us the path of life and we will be willing to accept it.  

Fulness of joy...
If you look at the footnote for the word 'fulness' in your scriptures you find the word exaltation.  We can't reach this point as we are, so just like with Isaiah, God’s heart is not to leave us in our sinful state, but to cleanse us and forgive us:

"Then flew one of the seraphims unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged." (Isa. 6:6-7)

God longs to have a relationship with us, and that comes after we are humbled and cleansed. 

Pleasures for evermore...
I love the cross reference for the word 'pleasures' in this verse: 

"They shall be abundantly satisfied with the fatness of thy house; and thou shalt make them drink of the river of thy pleasures." (Psalm 36:8)

Doesn't the phrase "satisfied with the fatness of thy house" bring to mind a picture of a house bulging in all directions because of all the blessings inside it?  I love it! Then to top it off the word "river" makes me think of a constant flow of blessings heading in our direction.  The Lord is telling us that when we are in His presence we can have blessings like this for evermore!     

These are some of the greatest blessings we can receive: Guidance, Joy, and non-stop blessings.  The best part of it is that God wants all of His children to have these things in their lives.  We can all partake, one more awesome blessing from God!

A Life That Pleases God

Day three hundred sixty

I woke with a heart filled with gratitude for such a wonderful Christmas.  It was truly one of the better Christmas Days for my family.  We shared some spiritual moments, some gifts, some good food, and even some laughs!  I got to share my love for the Lord and the love of my family all in one day!  I think I would like to have more of these moments outside of the Christmas holiday.  Sounds like I've got something to add to my New Year's list already!

Psalm 15
What are the qualifications of a life that pleases God?  It’s a scary thing to approach God. The qualifications aren’t so easy.  If you don’t approach God in the right way, you could die (think of Uzzah touching the Ark).  This is something that David was thinking about when he wrote Psalm 15.  David lists eleven things that God desires for those who want to be close to Him:

1) verse 2 - He that walketh uprightly
Life is lived by making a series of choices, steps, walking. To walk uprightly means to be blameless, complete, sincere, perfect; having integrity; what is complete or entirely in accord with truth and fact.  A person’s overall life is to be one that is blameless and sincere.

2) verse 2 - and worketh righteousness
This means living in harmony with God’s standards.  One of the works of righteousness we are expected to do is to share the gospel.  The most important thing about getting the gospel out is that WE do it.  We carry the message in our hearts, but we share it with words and actions.

3) verse 2 - and speaketh the truth in his heart
Honesty with yourself. God is looking for people who will be genuine.  People who will be honest in their actions and their heart.  It's not just the image that we project to others, God is concerned that we learn to speak the truth on the inside of our heart as well.  God is looking for people who will be real with others and with their own selves.

4) verse 3 - He that backbiteth not with his tongue
Don't slander others. Slander means to make malicious, false, and defamatory statements about someone. Slandering, telling stories, and gossiping about others can cause great harm.  These are not the things that please God.

5) verse 3 - nor doeth evil to his neighbour
This falls under the love thy neighbor as thyself commandment. (See Leviticus 19:18; Mark 12:31; Matt 22:39)

6) verse 3 - nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour
Don't be judgmental.  We don't know everyone's story, so we can't possibly know enough about a person to judge them correctly.  Only God can truly judge a person.

7) verse 4 - In whose eyes a vile person is contemned
Contemned means to despise, hold in contempt; worthless.  It’s important to God that we call bad things bad and good things good.

8) verse 4 - but he honoureth them that fear the LORD
We need to admire the right heroes. The person God is pleased with calls evil bad and right good.  It’s not wrong to have heroes.  Just have the right ones.  Look to people who know and follow the Lord.

9) verse 4 - He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not
God is pleased with the person who will keep their promises even if it hurts them.

10) verse 5 - He that putteth not out his money to usury
This is the person who doesn’t try to make themselves rich at the expense of others.

11) verse 5 - nor taketh reward against the innocent
This person can’t be bribed to hurt an innocent person.

At one point the Law of Moses contained around 613 commandments about pleasing God. David simplifies it to a list of eleven things. Later, Jesus simplified it even more, to two things, loving God and loving your neighbor (Matt. 22:35-40).  Yet even with these things simplified, we find that we fall short.  God knows this; that’s why God sent His Son.

It's not about being 100% perfect in each of these areas all the time, it's about living a life that pleases God.  A life that includes doing our best in each of these areas and letting Him help us where we lack.  It means living a life where we trust Jesus.  When we do this, we shall never be moved (v 5).   What an awesome promise; stability in our walk with Christ.

Christ and Christmas

Day three hundred fifty-nine

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas!  I hope you enjoy the video below, it is one of my fovorite Christmas songs because it is a great reminder to keep Christ in our hearts.  Have a great Sabbath!

Where is Your Focus This Christmas?

Day three hundred fifty-eight

This morning I am praying that in all the hustle and bustle of the day that my family will keep Christ at the center of Christmas. This seems to be more difficult to do each year with all the commercialism and the perceived pressure about gifts. It's too bad that giving gifts has become more of a burden and less of a joy.  

To help my family keep the focus on Christ I have prepared a FHE lesson for tonight that will get them reading and thinking.  I was inspired by the book A Christ-Centered Christmas by Emily Freeman. I won't give you all the details, but I thought I would share a little bit of what I have planned:

verses: Luke 1:26-56; 2:5-7, 19
Focus: Ponder
? : If you could have been anyone present on the first Christmas night who would you choose, and why?

verses: Matt 1:18-25; Luke 2:1-7
Focus: Service
? : What would you have offered Joseph and his family if you had been there?

verses: Luke 2:9-14
Focus: Joy
? : What does the news that the angels brought mean to you?

verses:  Luke 2:15-18
Focus: Testify
? : What does your testimony of Christ mean to you?

verses: Matt 2:1-12
Focus: Journey
? :  The wise men journeyed another way home to protect Christ.  What are some ways you 'journey another way' to protect your testimony of Christ?

verses: Luke 2:25-28
Focus: Give Thanks
? : As a true follower of Christ what can we do to show our thanks for what He has done for us?

verses: Luke 2:11-12
Focus: Believe
? : How has your life been blessed because of the birth of Christ?

I hope that each of us will take the time to think about these questions and focus our attention on Christ and what we can do for Him this holiday season. I hope that your heart will be filled with love and gratitude for our Savior. May you all have a very Merry Christ-centered Christmas. God bless you all!

How Long, O Lord?

Day three hundred fifty seven

As Christmas day gets closer you would think that people would be happier, but I am finding that is not the case.  I work in a Christian environment, the products we sell are mostly Christian based, yet some of the customer's behavior is anything but Christian.  I'm sure they have a story, so I try not to be too judgmental, but sometimes it is hard, especially when they make someone cry.  Today I prayed that I would be able to help those that have lost the Christmas Spirit find it again.   I asked the Spirit to be with me and guide me as to the words and actions I will need today. I hope that every customer I come in contact with will leave in a happy mood and have a better day.

Psalm 13

Whenever you read David's psalms it seems that you can find yourself in them.  Whatever the predicament, both the highs and the lows, David has been above our highs and lower than our lows.  In this psalm we find David asking a question that every child of God has asked at one time or another, How long wilt thou forget me, O Lord?  Every Christian has felt neglected by God - or at least felt that they have waited a long time for God to do what needs to be done.

The pain in David’s heart comes from a sense that God has forgotten him and that God has distanced Himself from David. No doubt, David had faced worse circumstances, but he had faced them more bravely because he sensed the presence of God with him. Now that he is feeling distant from God, he is sent into despair.  Of course, God did not forget David. God did not hide His face from David - but David felt like it.

Sometimes we have such strong feelings that the feelings create their own reality. David felt God had forgotten him, and felt God was hiding. So, in a sense, it was true for David – but true according to his feelings, not according to fact.

I have experienced this in my own life. I have let my emotions skew my perspective.  I have thought the same thing that David did, Lord, how long will you forget me?!   It is a hard place to be and a hard place to dig yourself out of. I have had to learn that when I'm discouraged and depressed, the answer is not looking inside myself, but in looking to the Lord.

Fortunately, David had the wisdom to know that though he felt powerful feelings, he wasn’t seeing reality. His vision was clouded and dark, so he cried out to God, “Enlighten my eyes.” 

The apostle Paul gave us a great definition of what it means to have our eyes enlightened by the Lord in Ephesians 1:17-19: "That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:  The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling, and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints,  And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power"

I have found that the more I think about my problems, the more depressed I get. But when I pray about the problems, and ask God to let me see the big picture, there is a sense of release and peace that comes.  Like David, I am still in the realm of feelings, but I am directing them instead of having them direct me.

I think the last two verses of this Psalm are my favorite: "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

David went from being overwhelmed by his feelings and believing that God had forgotten him, to seeing that God had dealt bountifully with him. What a transition! What a change in perspective!

This is what happens when we ask the Lord to enlighten our eyes. We come to a place where we trust the Lord and rejoice because we know that He loves us. We need the light of God to shine upon us and to give us His wisdom and knowledge.  With enlightened eyes, David sees God's goodness.  He sees that he has good reason to rejoice and sing because God has been good to him. If we will only think about it, every person on this earth has reason to rejoice, because in some way God has been good to everyone. 

What a great message is given in six short verses: God will enlighten our eyes and bring us from a place of despair to a place of trust, joy, and confidence!  We have an awesome God!

Nothing is Insignificant to God

Day three hundred fifty-five

Today I prayed for health.  I have been fighting a serious infection which has drained me of my usual energy, which is driving me crazy, and I am headed to work, so I need some help to keep going!  I will do all I can do to make it as comfortable as possible, but I think I might need a little extra help. So I asked the Lord to bless my body with health.  I can't think of a better person to ask!   

Psalm 11

This is the time of year for Christmas movies. One of my favorites is It's a Wonderful Life.  I think this movie has stood the test of time because of its message. When Frank Capra, who directed It’s a Wonderful Life, was asked years ago about the central message of his classic film, he took a minute to think, and then responded, “I believe the real message of It’s a Wonderful Life is this: that under the sun, nothing is insignificant to God.”

When you watch the movie you will see that everything that happens has intended and unintended consequences. Everything, because it happened, causes something else to happen. Everybody in that story is important, because he or she relates to everyone else. Nothing is insignificant under the sun to God.

In Psalm 11 there is a part in verse 4 that caught my attention: "...his eyes behold, his eyelids try, the children of men."  As I was reading these words some thoughts popped into my my head: God sees us.  What we do is important to Him.  We may not see Him, but He definitely sees us!  He sees everything that goes on.  Nothing escapes His attention. This led to another thought:  Nothing is insignificant to God.

In this psalm David finds himself in a difficult situation and asks the question:  What can the righteous do? David doesn’t need to fear, because God sees his situation. Because he knows that God is looking at him and taking care of him, David can have a greater cause than self-preservation.  David knows that God will take care of it. What would this perspective do for us when we face difficult times?  Would we behave differently if we remembered that nothing is insignificant to God?

Sometimes we just need to be reminded that we are important to God, but not just us, also those around us. We need to remember that God is watching over us and He will take care of us.  This is a message I hope that we will carry within us throughout our day as we interact with each other.  If we remember that nothing is insignificant to God, maybe we will treat each other as the significant beings that we are.

God Promises

Day three hundred fifty-six

There are days when you realize that you really don't know much; yesterday was one of those days for me.  I was being taught quite a bit and by the end of the day I had to reflect on how much I really didn't know.  It was a humbling experience and one that I am grateful for.  I wasn't upset that I didn't know much, rather I was very happy that the Lord found it important to teach me.  I am worth His time and I am important to Him.  I thanked Him for all the effort that He puts into teaching me, this is a never ending job I am afraid, but He is up to it.  I love Him for it and I wanted Him to know that.  

Psalm 12

This Psalm begins with a plea that is fitting still today: "Help, Lord; for the godly man ceaseth; for the faithful fail from among the children of men." (v 1).  The problem isn't that wicked people are wicked, the problem is that righteous people are failing; the faithful are dwindling.  We see this same problem in society today.  We seem to be heading towards the description in verse 8: "The wicked walk on every side, when the vilest men are exalted."

Some thoughts on this:

Prior to 1965, television shows portrayed businessmen as good guys twice as often as bad guys, as Michael Medved shows in Hollywood vs America.  In the 1970s, this ratio was reversed; two villains for every good guy. Today, big business has become television's favorite villain.  Medved quotes an exhaustive analysis of prime time television by the sociologists Richter, Richter, and Rothman which concludes, "By 1980 a majority of the CEO's portrayed on prime time committed felonies."  Respectable businessmen were by then committing 40 percent of the murders on prime time television, and 44 percent of vice crimes like drug trafficking and pimping. (Michael Medved, Hollywood vs America: Popular Culture and the War on Traditional Values (New York, Harper Collins, 1993).

Notice the date in the source, 1993.  Where do you think we stand in 2011?  From what I have seen, the 40-44% of businessmen committing crimes on television seems low.  What does that say about our society?  Why is this acceptable?

Erma Bombeck once said, "We live in a strange society where we make documentaries of serial killers, movie idols out of organized crime members, authors out of political crooks, and role models out of criminals who beat the system. ... I don’t know when crime went from being news to entertainment, but somehow it’s made the transition." 

Sadly, her statement is true.  So what are we to do about it?

Psalm 12 goes on in verse 5 to say that God will act. The call for help in verse 1 is answered in verse 5 with God saying, "Because of the oppression of the weak and the groaning of the needy, I will now arise, I will protect them." 

This is key to this psalm, God promises to take care of the righteous.  He promises to protect them.  He gives His word.  What is the value of His word? It was precious to David and it should be precious to us too. Psalm 12:6 notes that the Lord's words are flawless like refined silver. He is the truth, and He brings the truth. He becomes the protector of the needy. If He says He is going to act, you can believe that it will happen.

This is what I took away from this psalm: When we feel overwhelmed by wickedness in the world we need to search God's word (the scriptures) and cling to God’s promises.  Men might fail us, but God will not!

Questions, Complaints, and Commitment

Day three hundred fifty-four

This morning I prayed for ways that I can keep Christ in Christmas.  I asked the Lord to bless me with the opportunities to be an example to those around me, to be of service to those in need, and to let the Spirit guide me.  I know He will do His part, I just need to make sure that I do mine!

Psalm 10
This psalm contains brutal honesty and an earnest call for God to bring His justice on the wicked. No punches are pulled here.  The psalmist is honest and has no qualms with questioning God.  He also has no patience for powerful people who persecuted the poor. 

This psalm gives us a three-step process for dealing with our own questions and problems. When life throws you for a loop…declare your questions (v 1), describe your complaint (vv 2-11), and deepen your commitment to God (vv 12-18).

Declare Your Questions
Verse 1 begins rather abruptly: “Why, standest thou afar off, O Lord? why hidest thou thyself in times of trouble?” In other words, God, you may be powerful and you may be personal, but why can’t I sense your presence right now? This is hard because sometimes this is exactly the way we feel.  Where are you God?!

When tragedy, misery, or oppression leaves you teetering, it’s not unspiritual to declare your questions to God. He’s big enough to handle your cries. Some people have been rocked by some pretty tough stuff!

Some people think that Christians shouldn’t question God, so they keep their concerns bottled up. For me, it’s much better to ask God where He’s been than it is to wear a fake smile and act like everything’s going well when I know it isn’t. God wants to hear from us in the good times and the bad.  We have permission to be honest.

As Christians, we have an avenue for unloading the burdens of our hearts. We don’t have to dump on friends and family because we can go directly to God with our questions. If you’re wondering what’s happening or why things are unfolding the way they are, ask God about it. He can take it!

The word question has as its root the word “quest.” If you’re on a quest to understand, if you’re serious about seeking answers, then you shouldn’t hesitate to declare your doubts. If you don’t ask, you might miss out on some surprising answers and ultimately cheat yourself out of some growth that God wants to accomplish in your life.  It's okay to share your questions with God!

Describe Your Complaint
After we declare our questions to God, the next step is to describe our complaint.  When you’re talking to God, don’t worry about repeating what you’ve already said. Spell it out. Describe your concerns in detail.  After the psalmist declares his questions, he lists the problems he sees. He describes those who take advantage of others in some pretty strong terms as he rattles off  their sins:

They are arrogant (2), they hunt down the weak (2), they’re controlled by their own evil desires (3), they bless the greedy (3), they revile the Lord (3), they have no room for God in their life (4), they lead prosperous lives (5), they snub the laws of God (5), they think things will always go their way (6), they curse and lie (7), they ambush the innocent (8), they look for more victims (9), they crush the helpless (10), and they think God does not see what they’re doing (11).

It is hard to watch people act like that and wonder why God would let them get away with it. When we are seeking understanding on tough topics we have to ask God and describe our concerns. What is it exactly that’s bothering us? What makes us mad? Tell God about it. Write it down. Get it out. Put it into a prayer.


Deepen Your Commitment to God
Can you see the progression of faith that takes place in this psalm? The hurting follower begins with two bold “why” questions and then spells out his complaints in specific detail. When we come to verse 12, we see that, as a result of being honest with God, his commitment to the Lord now goes to the next level. We can learn from this same process.

 When you have questions and complaints, express them and then turn to the Lord. In this psalm the writer boldly asks the Lord to intervene: "Arise, O Lord; O God, lift up thine hand: forget not the humble" (v 12).  He does this because he realizes that God is not distant and He’s not hiding. He’s a personal God, who knows our trouble and sees our tears. The phrase “requite it with thy hand” refers to God’s personal involvement and capacity to judge people according to what they have done.

Then, the psalmist focuses on God’s power in verse 16: “The Lord is King for ever and ever.” When we are burdened by our “why” questions and swimming in a sea of concerns, we need to come back to God’s perspective.

Because of His personality and His power, verses 17-18 tell us that God not only sees, He also acts:  "Lord, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear:  To judge the fatherless and the oppressed, that the man of the earth may no more oppress."

The word, “hear” means to give “diligent attention” to someone. God is listening, eagerly anticipating what we are going to say. The word “desire” can also refer to our longings. God understands our deep desires and the agonizing aches of our hearts.  We have to trust Him to take the action that is right and will fulfill His plan.

Wow!  I really loved studying this Psalm. This became very personal for me.  Over the years,  I have often found myself filled with questions and unsure where to go with them.  And I have occassionally stepped into the complaining phase, but often felt a little guilty for doing it.  The funny thing is that when I look back on those times I have found that my relationship with God did strengthen after I let Him know how I was feeling.  There is something healing about being completely honest with God in those questioning moments.  I truly think that He would rather hear my questions and complaints than to let me stew on them and build a barrier between us.  I don't know why I ever doubted His desire to hear my honest questions and complaints.  In my ignorance I'm sure I missed out on some amazing moments to increase my commitment to Him.  I won't let it happen again!

Wonderfully Small, Yet Blessed

Day three hundred fifty-three

I have had some health issues lately and it is quite annoying.  I don't do well with the whole rest thing.  I am a busy person, with lots to do, especially this time of year.  I get frustrated and begin to think, "What good could possibly come from me being sick?" But yesterday as I was resting, my husband took really good care of me.  He used the opportunity to serve me and in return I was able to express my gratitude to him.  We both had a moment to appreciate each other and show how much we love each other.  

I prayed to Heavenly Father about this experience.  I am grateful first of all for the fact that He has put such a wonderful man in my life.  A man who steps up and cooks and cleans without complaint when I can't. What a great blessing!  I also spent part of my prayer talking with God about how grateful I am for the ability to see something good come from being sick.  I have not always been able to discern these moments where God is teaching me in my weaknesses.  It is nice to see the positive instead of focusing on the negative.  I could get used to this!

Psalm 8

There are times when we tend to lose perspective about what is important in life and about where we’re going.  Sometimes we lose perspective when our troubles overwhelm us or after wonderful victories.  David does a wonderful job of keeping his perspective in life.

In this psalm he reminds us of the greatness of God (vv 1-3) and then, in comparison, the smallness of man (v 4).  When we truly begin to grasp just how BIG God is, it helps put us in our place.  We’re pretty small.  But as big as God is and as small as we are, it is amazing to think that God cares about us.  We have value because of God’s care for us. 

In comparison to the size of the universe or the age of the Earth, we seem so small and immature.  How powerless is man? The earth stirs in her sleep, and cities fall, the wind blows and ships are wrecked, the invisible germs crowd the air and science is baffled. If the clouds withhold their rain a famine ensues, if they drop too much, cities are carried away in the flood.  We cannot stop these things from happening, we are merely witnesses to these events. 

Even so, God cares for us. We may be small, but God gave man dominion over the His works (v 6).  There is a confidence, a trust, that He shows in man with that assignment.  Even in our smallness we have worth.

But the act that shows His true love for us is that He sent His Son to atone for our sins and to die for us. When we truly understand the sacrifice He made for us and the amount of love it must have taken for Him to witness what was happening to His Son, that should be enough for any man to want to shout:

"O Lord our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!" (v 9) 

Our God is pretty wonderful. If you think you are losing your perspective, stop and think on God’s greatness. It will soon become clear that we are wonderfully small, yet extremely blessed! What a great perspective to have in life!

Slander

Day three hundred fifty-two

I prayed for a Sabbath filled with opportunities to feel the Spirit.  It has been a rough week and I need it!

Psalm 7

“You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time”. ~ Pres. Lincoln

Psalm 7 finds David talking to God about a man named Cush who has spoken badly about him.  We call it slander;  a malicious, false, and defamatory statement or report.  Slander is a result of the fact that President Lincoln's quote is true.  There will always be someone you just can't please.  So what do we do about it?

David gives us a few simple steps to follow:

Put the problem into God’s hand. Give it time. (v 1)

“Have patience awhile; slanders are not long-lived. Truth is the child of time; ere long she shall appear to vindicate thee.” ~Immanuel Kant (1724–1804)

Keep the proper perspective. (vv 3-5) 

"Robert Cook, President of King’s College once related a true story from the early years of his ministry.  Evidently at that time he had been receiving some rather pointed criticism.  In fact, it had become of such great concern to him that he sought the counsel of a friend, the beloved Bible expositor and pastor, Harry A. Ironside.  Pouring out his heart, Bob Cook asked what he should do about the denunciations being made against him.  He wanted to know how to handle them.  Ironside gave the following wise counsel: “Bob, if the criticism about you is true, mend your ways!  If it isn’t, forget about it!” (Brian Bill) 

We need to be careful about listening to slander about ourselves or another person:

“Close your ear against him who opens his mouth against another. If you receive not his words, they fly back and wound him. If you receive them, they fly forward and wound you.” ~ Francis Quarles (1592–1644)

Leave the judging to God. God knows how to judge us. (vv 6-8)

"When we see a brother or sister in sin, there are two things we do not know: First, we do not know how hard he or she tried not to sin. And second, we do not know the power of the forces that assailed him or her. We also do not know what we would have done in the same circumstances." ~ F.B. Meyer 

Know that we have an advocate in Jesus Christ.  (v 10)

"My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous:" 1 John 2:1

Trust Him enough that we can praise Him instead of being focused on being slandered. (vv 11-17)

"To trust Him means, of course, trying to do all that He says. There would be no sense in saying you trusted a person if you would not take his advice. Thus if you have really handed yourself over to Him, it must follow that you are trying to obey Him. But trying in a new way,a less worried way." C.S. Lewis

I never really thought about this Psalm much before, but I have found it to be very useful. It never ceases to amaze me how the scriptures are filled with the information I need to get through certain situations in my life.  I think most of us at some point will fight with overcoming slander, isn't it nice to know that the Lord has given us the instructions we need to get through it with grace!

Confidence in God

Day three hundred fifty-one

I had a good day yesterday with my family.  This morning I thanked God for the good days, they far out weigh the bad, which I see as an amazing blessing.  It is in those good day moments that I get filled enough to deal with the bad days. Thanks goodness for the good days!

Psalm 6

This Psalm is commonly known as the first of the seven “penitential” psalms, (The other six are Ps 32; 38; 51; 102; 130; 143).  It is called “penitential” because it expresses sorrow, humiliation, and the hatred of sin, which are the marks of a person who is truly turning to God.    It was a custom in the early church to sing these psalms on Ash Wednesday, the Wednesday before Easter. These are the psalms for the afflicted soul.

First comes the agonizing plea (vv 1-7):

We don't know what sin David is talking about in this psalm, but because of this sin David sensed he was under the rebuke of God. Whatever the sin was, it is certainly tormenting David, look at how it is affecting him:

- his bones and soul are vexed (vv 2-3)
- he is thinking about death (v 5)
- he is tired, not sleeping, he cries a lot (v 6)
- he is consumed with grief (v 7)

He is physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually suffering because of his sin.  It is a little scary to think about, but maybe this is a prime example of godly sorrow. It is intense and therefore David called out to God to lighten the chastisement.

There may be times when we believe we are being chastened by God when really we suffer trouble brought upon by ourselves. Nevertheless, there are certainly times when the Lord does chasten His children.  When God corrects us it doesn't feel pleasant, but it is good, and for our good. Discipline helps us grow and it keeps us from wickedness.

Feeling the pressure from being chastised David clings to God's mercy and admits his weakness, a good thing for all of us to do.  Weakness is not necessarily a bad thing.  We look at weakness as being a weakness, but sometimes it’s the very thing that allows God to work in our lives.  We might feel like we need to quit because we are so weak.  Yet perhaps this is the place God wants us to be at, the place where He can begin to work.

Next comes the resolution (vv 8-10):

Here we start to see David acting consistently with his change of heart and telling all ungodly people to depart from him.  Repentance is practical, it separates us from sin.  David’s weeping is genuine and shows his desire to get away from sin (v 8).

“Let us learn to think of tears as liquid prayers, and of weeping as a constant dropping of importunate intercession which will wear its way right surely into the very heart of mercy, despite the stony difficulties which obstruct the way.” ~ Spurgeon

All that seems to matter to David is that God has heard his prayer.  His situation remains the same, but God has heard (v 9).  It isn't that God is impressed by emotional displays, but a passionate heart impresses Him. David wasn't afraid to cry before the Lord, and God honored the voice of his weeping.

Note in verse 10 what David wishes on his enemies:

"Let all mine enemies be ashamed and sore vexed: let them return and be ashamed suddenly" 

It’s interesting that David asks that his enemies be “sore vexed”, which is just what he’s been.  David knows that when God receives his prayer, it will be trouble for his enemy. He sees that his temporary agony and trouble gives way to a permanent agony and trouble for his enemies.

David ends the Psalm on a note of confidence. He made his agonized cry to God, and God heard him. What difference would it make in our lives if we would plead with God in sorrow for our sins and then knew wih confidence that He hears us and will honor our pleas? 

I personally need to work on the confidence part, I tend to not let go and let the Lord do His part. How much undo agony am I causing myself because of that?  It seems hypocritical that I believe I should go to Him in prayer and He will hear me, but I don't truly let go and let Him heal the situation. David's Psalm reminded me that I need to have more confidence in God when it comes to seeking God's mercy in my life.  With increased confidence will come increased blessings of forgiveness, comfort and peace.  All blessings God has promised to give us if we will just ask and believe. 

Morning Prayer

Day three hundred fifty

This is the time of year when everyone is supposed to be merry, but unfortunately there are people who are struggling instead.  Money issues, job issues, what seem like never ending issues all pop up at this time of year to try and steal the Christmas spirit. I prayed for those that are struggling with any of these issues today.  I asked the Lord to comfort them and to bless me with compassion, understanding, and love for them.  I want them to know that they are not forgotten, they are on my mind and in my heart.  I love them and more importantly He loves them.  Hopefully that knowledge will make their burdens seem lighter and they can find the joy in Christmas once again. 

Psalm 5
This psalm shows David coming to the Lord in the morning and receiving the strength and joy he needs to make it through the day against many adversaries. 

Give heed...consider...Hearken (vv 1-2): David longs for an audience with God. Can you picture him kneeling and with a sincere heart saying: “Lord, please listen to me!”? This is David inviting God to listen to his prayer.  I don't think I invite God to listen to my prayers enough, I just assume He is listening.  I bet He would really appreciate it if I extended an invitation instead.

I think the fact that David invites God to listen shows that he is completely focused on God.  When you invite someone, you take the time to think of them, to focus on them.  David definitely is focused on having a conversation with God. There doesn't seem to be any distraction, just David and God having a heart to heart. David prays as if God is standing there with him.  That's the best way to pray.  I found this quote about this topic:

“Very much of so-called prayer, both public and private, is not unto God. In order that a prayer should be really unto God, there must be a definite and conscious approach to God when we pray; we must have a definite and vivid realization that God is bending over us and listening as we pray.” (Torrey)

My voice you shall hear in the morning (v 3): David made it a point to pray in the morning. He did this because he wanted to honor God at the beginning of his day, and set the tone for an entire day dedicated unto God. Can you think of a better way to set the tone for your day?  I couldn't. 

In the morning I will direct it to you, and I will look up (v 3): David gives us what to do before and after prayer. Before we pray, we should direct our prayer. After we pray, we look up with expectancy to heaven, really believing that God will answer.

Give your morning to God. I know that some people aren’t really “morning people”, but I don’t think the point is that you get up at 5:00 a.m.  It’s just about getting up a little earlier than you already do, whether it’s 5:00 a.m. or 9:00 a.m. and give God the first part of your day. Invite God to listen to your prayer.  Give Him your complete attention. Let God set the tone of your day. And look up in belief that He will be there!  

Gladness in Distress

Day three hundred forty-nine

There are times in your life when you look at the moment and decide that this is exactly where you are supposed to be.  I had one of those moments yesterday.  I had a complete stranger break down and cry and hug me.  The thing is, it didn't seem weird at all.  Instead, it felt like I was exactly where I was supposed to be.  It was maybe a 15 minute interaction, but it made me feel like I was where God needed me to be for that 15 minutes.  That doesn't happen to me very often, so I thought I would share the experience with Heavenly Father in my prayer and let Him know that I recognized His hand in that moment and I am so grateful that He chose to work through me.  I am grateful for the compassion that was in my heart and the words which seemed to come out of my mouth without me even thinking about it.  How amazing God is to bless two lives in that one moment! It is an experience I will not soon forget. 

Psalm 4

This is another psalm where David pours out his complaint against his enemies and finds peace and refuge in God.  David has learned through his trials that God enlarges us when we are in “distress”. It is like exercising to build muscle; muscles get larger through breaking them down. We grow stronger when we are in “distress”.

I love the fact that when David is feeling pressure he writes songs.  Not only does he write the songs, but he also sings the songs to help calm his soul.  I share that trait with David.  Music has a way of touching my heart and allowing me to calm down enough to see things more clearly.  One of my favorite songs in my times of distress is:

I NEED THEE EVERY HOUR

by Annie S. Hawks, 1835–1918

Refrain added by Robert Lowry.

I need thee ev’ry hour,
Most gracious Lord.
No tender voice like thine
Can peace afford.

[Chorus]
I need thee, oh, I need thee;
Ev’ry hour I need thee!
Oh, bless me now, my Savior;
I come to thee!

 I need thee ev’ry hour;
Stay thou nearby.
Temptations lose their pow’r
When thou art nigh.

 I need thee ev’ry hour,
In joy or pain.
Come quickly and abide,
Or life is vain.

 I need thee ev’ry hour,
Most holy One.
Oh, make me thine indeed,
Thou blessed Son!

This deeply personal hymn came from the heart of a busy housewife and mother who had no idea of the spiritual strength that her own hastily written words would bring her later during a sorrowful time in her life.

The author, Annie S. Hawks, has left this account about the writing of her poem in 1872:

One day as a young wife and mother of 37 years of age, I was busy with my regular household tasks. Suddenly, I became filled with the sense of nearness to the Master, and I began to wonder how anyone could ever live without Him, either in joy or pain. Then the words were ushered into my mind and these thoughts took full possession of me.

Sixteen years later, Mrs. Hawks experienced the death of her husband. Years after, she wrote:

I did not understand at first why this hymn had touched the great throbbing heart of humanity. It was not until long after, when the shadow fell over my way, the shadow of a great loss, that I understood something of the comforting power in the words which I had been permitted to give out to others in my hour of sweet serenity and peace.

Mrs. Hawks had stumbled onto something before really coming to grasp its full implications: God is here for us. David also had figured out that God was there for him, but he also knew something that we tend to forget during the hard times:

“Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.” (v 7)

It is easy to feel gladness in our hearts when we know that God is blessing us favorably, but David was in distress and he could still have gladness in his heart, because the Lord had put it there.  The ungodly can be happy when the money is coming in and everything is prosperous. David can be happy even in distressing times because the Lord put gladness in his heart.

One of the blessings of a Christian life is knowing the closeness of our Lord in every circumstance of life. Like Annie Hawks and David, it is so important that we develop strong spiritual lives during the peaceful hours in order that we will be able to be victorious when difficulties come.  Each Christian should have the same assurance and confidence that God will hear their prayers and be with them in their time of need. They should have gladness in their hearts, because God will put it there.