God is so good

Psalm 146

I love the reassurance that I receive from this passage, particularly from vs 7-9 that say

He always does what he says—he defends the wronged, feeds the hungry.

God frees prisoners—gives sight to the blind, he lifts up the fallen.

God loves good people, protects strangers, takes the side of orphans and widows, but makes short work of the wicked.

From these promises, I can rest in the knowledge that He will take care of me, and I can trust that even when circumstances leave me feeling frustrated and angry, He is my protector.  In my present circumstance, this speaks into the frustrations around my divorce.  But I am called to trust…and know that He will defend me against the injustices that are taking place. 

We are also reminded not to 'put our lives in the hands of experts, [because] mere humans don't have what it takes', and so therefore we should 'put our hope in God and know real blessing'. 

And again…we are left to choose.  We choose whether or not we will take matters into our own hands, or if we put our hope in God.  I choose God, and I offer my circumstance to him.  I believe him when he says he will defend me and lift me up.  I take comfort in knowing that he is in charge – always (v10), and so I know that no matter how difficult my divorce is, my kids and I will be taken care of.

God is so good.

 

Posted by Kelly Skelton

 

 

sweet incense rising

 

Reading Psalm 141 through the lens of offering, I’ve been asking God to reveal to me what his words are for me today.  I can identify with the psalmist in the first two verses, as I often appeal to the Lord to hear me and recognize me.

 

But he brought my attention to the words in verse 3:  “Post a guard at my mouth, God, set a watch at the door of my lips.  Don’t let me so much as dream of evil or thoughtlessly fall into bad company”.  It feels like a call to be alert, but also a reminder to ask for help and be prepared.  How often have I said something, only to think it over later and regret what I said?  Or how about the times when I hear words escaping my lips and I wish I could take them back immediately, but of course it’s too late?

 

What if I asked God to post a guard at my mouth?  What if I asked him to set a watch that every word must pass through before it is spoken?  What if my words were an offering to him?  His words to me when I ask these questions is “that would bless Me, and bless others”.  With those words in mind, that’s what I’ll take with me for today.  And pray that my prayers are as sweet incense rising. (v.2)

 

Posted by Candice Letkeman

 

It’s all about love

Psalm 127 gets two thumbs up... from my kids that is. And no, I'm not
teaching my offspring to rate bible passages in their spare time.
What I did do was take my seven-year-old boy and six-year-old girl
from their lego building and asked them if I could read a bible
passage to them. "I don't know," was the doubtful response. "But
look," I said, showing them my open bible, "it's only five verses."
So I read those five verse which let us in on the fact that we need
God no matter what we do, that God provides for us so we can relax a
little bit, and that kids are a gift from God.
That last bit understandably caught my children's attention. "Yeah" my
son shouted along with a pump of his fist, as I read vs. 3 "Children
are a gift from the Lord; they are a reward from him."
In fact the majority of the psalm, (the last three verses) are about
the blessing of kids, and how they are like sharp arrows in a warriors
quiver.
Obviously the significance of sons (to take care of their parents,
continue the family name, and take over the family farm or trade) has
lessened in todays society, and although our children are definitely
gifts I didn't really think this is what God wanted to point out to me.
So I gravitated to the first verse, which talks about how important
God is to us. "Unless the Lord builds a house, the work of the
builders is useless. Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with
sentries will do no good."
That's amazingly true. I often like to think I can manage my day to
day life just fine, and call on God when I think he's needed. If
someone dies, is very sick, or if there's a big event, challenge or
trip coming up, I bow before God and hand him my list of needs so to
speak. I forget that without God on my side, even day to day
activities would not happen.
But that's still not what I thought God was showing me, or at least
not all He wanted me to know.
So what's left? Verse two! "It is useless for you to work so hard from
early morning until late at night, anxiously working for food to eat;
for God gives rest to his loved ones."
Look at the language used. It is USELESS to work that hard. Not that
it isn't recommended, or healthy, or the smartest thing to do, but
that it is USELESS. There is no point to doing that. It doesn't serve
any use.
Now I am probably the last one to overwork, I'll admit that, but I'm
the first one to worry and obsess about things that are out of my
control.
This text also applies to us worriers. God is in control, and
worrying, or overworking is useless.
So I analyzed this psalm and still could not hear what God was telling
me. What did he want me to know.
So naturally I asked my son, "what do you think God wants us to learn
from this?"
He didn't even pause, but gave me a look as if I had just asked him if
water was wet. "He wants us to treat ourselves with love," he said,
stopping to add one more lego piece to a partially constructed fire
truck. "He wants us to treat our family with love too."
And then if fell into place.
Children are gifts of love... God's telling us not to be so hard on
ourselves because he's got it covered, and he makes sure we know with
verse one that he is a part of everything that is good.
It really is all about love.
Submitted by Greg Vandermeulen

Enjoy the feast!

Psalm 63   

In the first verse of this Psalm, David says that he has "worked up such hunger and thirst for God, traveling across dry and weary deserts."  I think it's reasonably safe to assume that at some point, we've all traveled across our own dry and weary deserts.  I don't know what your desert looks like...perhaps there is loss, failure, guilt, shame, self loathing, lies, deceit, or betrayal.  I too have walked through some of my own deserts…and had accepted all of those negative labels I just described as the truth of me. Thankfully, God does not accept those labels.  He does not see any one of us as undeserving, or too unacceptable to be in His presence.

David goes on to describe what it means to be in the presence of God… and he writes that in that place I can "eat my fill of prime rib and gravy; I smack my lips" (v 5). I ask God to tell me more about that, and then I imagined the following scene.

I've received a beautifully engraved invitation from God that reads, 'For my beautiful, precious child.  You are invited to join me for a celebration.  I hope you will come.'

I accept the invitation, and when I show up for the celebration I marvel at what I see.  I stand waiting outside of a beautiful pristine room. I see a table.  It is HUGE and the legs of the table look sturdy enough to support a house!  But the table is so heavily laden, that those legs are groaning beneath the weight of the feast, and for a moment I worry that it might collapse.

Jesus enters the room and smiles at me…he waits for me to enter, but I am afraid.  I look at myself and feel like the room is far too beautiful…and I am not clean enough to enter.  I feel a sense of desperation and sadness.  Surely when my host notices my soiled life and tattered soul, I will be turned away.  And so, before I can be rejected, I begin to turn away.  I hear him gently inquire… 'Where are you going, my friend?'   I respond…embarrassed and ashamed…that I didn't realize it was such a formal occasion and that in my present state, the guest of honor would be horrified by my appearance.

He smiles.

He tells me then that I am the guest of honor.  He tells me that he does not see in me what I see.  I remind him to look back at my life. 'Just look at all of the mistakes and failures that follow me,' I cry.  'I can't possibly be the guest of honor at such an elegant feast!'  He smiles again and gently takes me by the arm and leads me to the table.

It is then that I really see.  The table is groaning beneath heaps and heaps of platters of forgiveness, mercy, grace, redemption, freedom, compassion, and love.  I've never seen anything like it.  I look around again and notice that I am alone in the room with Jesus.  'When will the others come?' I ask.

He smiles.

'The others all have their own feasts.  This one is yours.  All of this has been specially prepared for you.' 

'Really?  For me?  Are you sure?  But you know what I've done… who I've been…I understand if you want to change your mind… Really…I should probably go.'

He smiles. 

He breaks off a piece of forgiveness and brings it to my lips.  I taste it… and it is divine.  He keeps on serving me, and letting me sample all of the flavors at the table.  I love it all. Everything is succulent, tender, and perfectly prepared.  It is exquisite…and it is mine, and there is more than enough. There is abundance...and now I don't ever want to leave this place.

 

And so my friends, at this point I will close and ask you to sit at your banquet… enjoy the feast!

Blessings,

Kelly Skelton

Psalm 42 - Let it all out

Honestly, I didn't know what to write when I read this psalm. I
guess that could be why I'm submitting it a day late. (Sorry about
that.)
I was going to write about the statement the author says twice in the
psalm. "...my enemies continually taunt me saying, Where is this God
of yours?" That takes me back to times when terrible things happen to
good people. When people who honour God and are a shining example to
others, are most affected by some kind of tragedy... Times like this
we wonder, why God would let such a horrible thing happen to a member
of his flock.
But that's really not the point of this psalm. Instead it's the
honesty on display. "O God my rock... why have you forsaken me?" the
author asks.
The beauty of this psalm is that it shows we can put our own raw
emotions out there to God.
God wants to hear us shout out our praise, but He also wants to hear
us loudly tell him our doubts, and show him not only joy, but sadness,
anger, and pain.
This psalm paints the picture of a devastated person. But even in his
pain he has the answer repeated in verse 5 and 11.
"... I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again - my Saviour
and my God!
Let's step into that room of grace, be honest with God, and really
put our hope in Him!
Submitted by Greg Vandermeulen

scrubbed clean

Some time ago, during one of my personal dialogues with God, I felt

him asking for a tour of my heart. I opened myself to the idea, and

had a picture in my mind of my heart. It was a rocky beach. There

were cliffs overlooking the water, and there were large rock

formations everywhere. In my mind's eye, we walked in and among the

rocks. Then we came to one that I didn't want him to see. I rushed

ahead, and started to scrub the rock. Of course, the Lord quickly

caught up with me. What happened then was a process in my heart of me

naming this rock, and then handing over the scrub brush to him. He

scrubbed it clean, then led me up to one of the cliffs to get a good

view of the beauty of that wild beach.

This week when I read Psalm 51, I was immediately brought to that

image by the words in the first verse: "scrub away my guilt". In

fact the whole Psalm speaks to me of confession and surrender. It's

an encouragement to me to open my whole life to him, admit to my sin,

and allow him to scrub and soak it all away. What makes me think I

can scrub it clean myself? What makes me think I can even begin to

hide it from him? Certainly my pride. And I was drawn to verse 17,

"I learned God-worship when my pride was shattered. Heart-shattered

lives ready for love don't for a moment escape God's notice." And I

remembered that as soon as I allowed him to do the scrubbing, I was

brought to the high and beautiful place, and I rested with him.

Posted by Candice Letkeman

I Choose Jesus

I Choose Jesus

Like most of you, I am familiar with lament.  As I look through my journals of the past, there are times I see myself pouring out my grief to my Abba Father.  I see frustration and yes sometimes even despair.  Somehow in the act of surrendering my lament to Jesus I arrive on the other side and realize that no matter what happens in my life I desire and am desperate for an intimate relationship with Him.

The following is an excerpt from a journal entry after a period of lament:

·        I claim Jesus.  No matter what—I claim Jesus.  What are the words from Job, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, naked I will depart but the name of the Lord is to be praised."  I'm far enough along this journey in life to know every situation, every hardship, every heartache involves a choice and I will choose Jesus.

·        My faith is organic, blossoming and flourishing.  It is not a chance occurrence but deeply rooted and not to be removed or lost.  The realization that Jesus is for me brings me great comfort.

·        I have not even scratched the surface of knowing Jesus and his heart for me.  There is so much 'unlearning' that needs to happen for me to accept his extravagant grace, mercy and love.  The idea of Jesus being disappointed in my behavior and choices and my blessings being held in ransom is hard to undo.  Why did I not understand that Jesus loves me.  That he is thrilled with me, that he brought me to his banqueting table but his eyes feasted on me?  I am just beginning to delve into this love he has for me.  If I was completely honest I would admit this is still a daily struggle.  If we understood his love for us there would be no going back, life as we know it would be forever changed and it would start a love revolution here on earth.

·        In light of the aforementioned I am greedy for more.  I want visible signs of the spirit moving in my life.  I want joy to fill my cup.  And like any child waiting for presents at Christmas I am impatient.  And like any parent I know my Father looks at me in those moments and says, "I can hardly wait for Christmas morning to see the look on her face as she unwraps the gifts I have so lovingly chosen."

·        I have been healed!!  There has always been a bit of lingering doubt that maybe the fulfillment of my total healing was dependent on my performance.  I have come to know that it is not a conditional thing but it is something I need to claim and step out into.  I am a healed child of God; in fact by his stripes I have been healed.  I don't want to ever forget that.

·        My relationship with Jesus is not and should not be dependent on my emotions of the day.  When I am down and desperate or whether I am on the mountain top, Jesus is constant.  He is the great I AM.  He is not fickle, and does not need anything from me, HE IS THE GREAT I AM.

 

Posted by Bev Cornelson

 

Dance like no one is watching

Psalm 105

In this Psalm we are reminded once again that as God's people, we can rest in the assurance that everything will work out for the best.

I'm sure there are those who may consider this statement to be trite, naïve, or simplistic…and that's okay…I choose to believe it and celebrate that promise with childlike wonder.  I invite you to do the same, because when you do…you'll be able to dance like no one is watching even when circumstances would dictate otherwise.

Just as the story in this Psalm-- we too live in an unpredictable and volatile world.  Economic instability has brought out the worst in many, the threat of terrorism has people cowering in fear, poverty and disease run rampant through many nations, and devastating acts of nature have left many people wailing and wondering "Where is God in all of this?"

Sadly, many people turn away from God during these difficult times.  My heart breaks for them because I know that in my own life, the best learning and growing I've ever done have come out of some pretty horrible experiences…and that as a result of those times in darkness ,my life turned a corner…and eventually I could  celebrate.

This is where we get to choose.  Do circumstances dictate whether or not we live joy-filled lives?  Do we allow others to "put cruel chains" (v 18) on us? Or can we agree together that no matter what happens we, as His people, will stand firm on His word!

David reminds us that for a thousand generations God is as good as His word…and just as He did then…He will do today.  As His people we too will be equipped to "work marvels in that spiritual wasteland" (v 27), and during tumultuous times we too will be led out with the confidence that we will not stumble but will, in fact, be led out "singing for joy…singing [our]hearts out" (v 43).  So heed David's wisdom, and "remember the world of wonders he has made, his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered" (v 5).

I LOVE this!  I praise you God for promising that you will make "a gift of the country" we enter!  Thank you for this incredible inheritance.   I trust You…I believe You…I love You!   Thank you Father!

And now I must run….time to crank up some praise and worship, sing him songs, belt out hymns, and dance like no one is watching!

Posted by Kelly Skelton

before I was born

Psalm 139

"Oh yes, you shaped me first inside, then out, your formed me in my mother's womb. I thank you, High God - you're breathtaking! Body and soul, I am marvelously made! I worship in adoration - what a creation! You know me inside and out, you know every bone in my body, you know exactly how I was made, bit by bit, how I was sculpted from nothing into something. Like an open book, you watched me grow from conception to birth; all the stages of my life were spread out before you. The days of my life all prepared before I'd even lived one day." (v. 13-16)

When my children were preschoolers, I asked each of them where they were before they were born. Both of them talked about being with God. They had specifics and details of what it was like that I have never questioned that what they said was true. I read Psalm 139 and it is so intimate and so comforting to know that God knows every detail about me, and has known me since before I was born.

Just thinking about the idea that he knows exactly where I am at every moment, that there is no place where I am hidden from him, and that he even sees me in the dark and all that implies, is mind-boggling. I read this psalm and feel pursued, intimately known, and loved by God.

Posted by Candice Letkeman

His awesome power

I remember as a child of about four the weather changing fast. It was
a typical hot, muggy day, and suddenly something was different. I
don't remember seeing the changing clouds, or hearing a warning on the
radio. I do remember a sense of urgency, a fear that was palpable, and
the noise. As we sat in the basement next to the old wood stove, I
remember the unearthly roar, something that sounded so unmeasurably
big, in contrast we were all incredibly small.
I don't remember the path the tornado carved through our bush a few
hundred yards from the house and have only vague recollections of
seeing half our cattle shed missing... the shed located right behind
our small pig barn.
But I will never forget how small and powerless I felt that day.
Psalm 29 talks about the power of God beginning in vs 3 "The voice of
the Lord echoes above the mighty sea." It goes on to say the voice of
the the Lord splits the mighty cedars of Lebanon, makes the mountains
skip like a calf or leap like a young bull (depending which mountain).
It strikes with lightning bolts, makes the desert shake, twists the
mighty Oaks, and strips the oceans bare. These comparisons make a
Manitoba tornado look like a dust devil.
But unlike a tornado, I feel safe and secure in the knowledge that my
God wields such power. That's why we should honour and praise God. Vs.
2 "...Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness." But what
jumped out at me is the last verse of this psalm.
Vs. 11 in the NLT says "The Lord gives his people strength. The Lord
blesses them with peace."
What an amazing gift! For anyone who like me, sometimes struggles
with the reality and immensity of God's love, this Psalm means a lot.
Despite his power, his amazing awe inspiring power, God cares about
and loves each one of us.
Thank you God for giving me strength, for giving me peace!
Submitted by Greg Vandermeulen

Psalm 9

I'm thanking you, God, from a full heart, I'm writing the book on your wonders. I'm whistling, laughing, and jumping for joy; I'm singing your song, High God.  (vs 1-2 message) Reading and thinking on this Psalm got me very excited, I felt a spirit of expectancy and triumph fill me as I read and re-read these words. To praise my God with my whole being with out hindrance or fear of side way glances from those standing beside me. To give myself fully to the Spirit in worship what a joyful thing that would be! This chapter is just bursting with reasons to praise Him. For past deliverance of trails, to honor our Just God who sits now on His Throne of Righteousness and sees all. Praise for our Lord who is our sanctuary our safe place to seek shelter during the storms of life. That we never forget the God we serve and join the ranks of the fallen in this world who are on a path to destruction in the final judgment and separation from Christ. We would hold fast to the One God who's name we know and have our trust in and lift our voices in praise to, as we are reminded in the chapter that God will never forget His people (vs 18) I do believe that some of our best "praising" is demonstrated when we are ministering to, and sharing our stories with those that have not yet come to know our AMAZING God.  Blessings, Michelle Sawatzky

Sweeter than Honey

 

Ok people, today I feel like I need to be directive.  We need to steep ourselves in the Word of God!!!!  Amen???!  Now, I do want to be sensitive to those who are in a place where this may be difficult, but to those of us who are ready, let's jump on in.  The Bible says the words in this book are ALIVE and ACTIVE.  When we speak and read the words in this book, they do not fall to the ground, but I believe they are ushered by the Spirit of God to accomplish His will and to take root in our hearts. Deuteronomy 6 says we are to discuss the Bible in our homes when we rise and when we lie down.  We are to tie them on our hands and foreheads as reminders and inscribe them on the doorposts of our homes!  Sound a lil' extreme?!  Maybe, maybe not…read on…

 

Top 4 reasons to read the Bible according to Psalm 19

(The Message, NRSV &  AMP versions):

 

1. It restores the whole person, revives the soul, and pulls our lives together.
2. It shows us the way to joy and causes our hearts to rejoice.
3. It enlightens [gives spiritual insight and wisdom] to our eyes.
4. It tastes sweeter than honey and is better than red, ripe strawberries…mmm..

 

Need I say more?!

 

Posted by Andrea Bergman

 

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So Strong is His Love

Psalm 103 (The Message)

It can be so hard for us to understand the character of God primarily, I think, because He operates so differently than we can fully comprehend.

As citizens of God's Kingdom, we are invited into a life of freedom and abundance.  As people living in a fallen world, accepting and believing that we deserve to live so beautifully can present some seemingly insurmountable challenges.

In this Psalm we are told that God  "forgives your sins – every one"

For many, many years, my immediate internal response to this promise was 'really?  Well maybe that's true for some people, but I've done so many horrible things, which led to even more horrible things…this can't really be true, can it?'.   The process towards accepting this promise was slow and tumultuous for me.  It often felt like a tug-of-war…not because of anything God did, but because I simply could not fathom that once I brought my sins to the cross He separated me from my sins "as far as sunrise is from sunset".  I'd bring my sins to Him…but then I'd eventually run back and pull them back to me..back and forth, back and forth.   

I am deeply grateful that God is not like me.  If only I could parent like God does…then perhaps my children would never again hear me say things like 'how many times do you need to be told not to do that', or be made to feel like they are not good enough because they messed up. 

Thank you, Father, that you don't treat us as our sins deserve, nor pay us back in full for our wrongs.

David also reminds us that "He heals your diseases – every one"

Having lived on both sides of disease, I can tell you that healing feels so much better than illness.  Illness to me is yet another form of bondage…another twisted vision of how we come to define ourselves.   I LOVE the freedom that comes with healing.  Thank you, Father, for your love that is ever and always…eternally present!

David goes on to explain that "He redeems you from hell –saves your life!"

Undeserving little ol' me deserves redemption? I am humbled beyond belief…and am deeply grateful.  David reminds us that "God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet". Thank you, Father, for your sheer mercy and grace.

"He crowns you with love and mercy – a paradise crown. He wraps you in goodness – beauty eternal. He renews your youth—you're always young in his presence."

Yes! He says we are worthy of this beautiful inheritance.  We are joint heirs to His Kingdom!  Thank you, Father, for these beautiful promises.

Thank you, Father, for showing us that you want us to have freedom from sin and disease.  Thank you for showing us that you want us to experience abundance through redemption, love, mercy, goodness, and renewal. 

 

Posted by Kelly Skelton

safe from enemy number one

Psalm 18

God is … the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight (v.1)

I love imagining myself in scripture. It was easy to do in the opening lines of this Psalm. Pictures of castles and knights and the overwhelming sense of safety that the words brought made me want to carry those words with me all day.

This is a song of praise that David sang to the Lord after he had been saved from “all his enemies and from Saul”. That made me think that Saul was set apart from all his enemies. Which made me start to think about my enemies. Who are they … no, what are they. I have to go back to that castle, that safe hideout, where I can once again examine this idea in a safe place. I have done this before. My enemy wants to keep me away from God. My enemies are usually lies that I believe about myself. I have at times seen them, named them, been given victory over them. Right now in the castle I am safe from them. In the castle I can place the broken pieces of my life before God so he can make my life complete … I can open the book of my heart to his eyes so he can rewrite the text of my life (v 20-24).

Nothing is a match for the One who rescues me and protects me, and with David, I give thanks to God and find myself safe and loved.

Posted by

Candice

He is Good!

Psalm 107 starts with two simple statements... vs. 1 "Give thanks to
the Lord for He is good!" and "His faithfulness endures forever."
These messages are great to actually think about. Since almost every
song or hymn we hear or sing in church contains variations of those
themes, we tend not to pay attention. But what can be better than God?
And how great is it that there is no end to His faithfulness?
The psalm also offers up a bunch of examples. Vs. 4-9 - they wandered
in the desert, cried out to God, and He led them to safety. Vs. 10-14
- they were prisoners, they cried out and He saved them.
Is anyone else seeing a theme here? I doesn't seem to matter how
difficult your situation is. If you cry out to God he will save you.
It really is that simple!
But the Psalm isn't all about being saved. It also talks about God
using those difficult times to drive a message home. Starting at vs
33... "He changes rivers into deserts, and springs of water into dry
land. He turns the fruitful into salty wastelands because of the
wickedness of those who live there. But He also turns deserts into
pools of water, the dry land into flowing springs." The verse makes it
clear that you turn your back on God at your own peril. God wants us
to need and trust him. It has nothing to do with being punished for
sins, God knows we are going to keep sinning. But if you know how much
you need God, if you embrace Him, you will witness this faithful love.
There's also a challenge in this psalm. When we "praise" God, we're
not supposed to just do it quietly in our homes or generically at
church.
Vs 2 - "Has the Lord redeemed you? Then speak out! Tell others he has
saved you from your enemies!"
Well, do I have a story for you!. Without getting into great detail,
I was trapped by a very persistent enemy, called anxiety. It was
gaining strength over me, and I was powerless. But when it finally
became to much, a group of caring people came to me, and together we
cried out to God. I put it all on Him. God saved me from that enemy,
and although he still comes sniffing to the gates once in a while, God
has consistently kept that enemy at bay.
So take this challenge this week. Tell someone how God has impacted
your life.
"Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good! His faithful love endures
forever!"
Submitted by Greg Vandermeulen

What's in a Name?

 

Sing to the Lord, O you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.  Psalm 30:4

 

What does it mean to give thanks when I think about the Holy name of God?  I've often been confused by this sort of language.

 

Throughout the Bible there are so many different names for God.  To name a few:  Mighty Creator, The God Who Sees Me, The Lord Will Provide, The Lord is Peace.  In the Bible, names of people were often attached with their character and so it seems to be with God.

 

If I really think on the names of God, I come to know his character and who He is.  When I think about El Roi, Hebrew for The God Who Sees Me, if I really let that sink in I am humbled…He sees little ol' me!  When I fear that I do not have what it takes to complete an essay, Yahwey Yireh,  The Lord Will Provide, calls me to trust in his provisionary side, yes, He even cares about providing for little things like essays!

 

Knowing the names of God enables us to get a bigger picture of who He is.  To realize that He Sees Us, to remember that He Will Provide, and to know that He is our Shield leads us to a place of trust and gratitude.

 

Posted by Andrea Bergman.

 

 

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From wild lament to whirling dance

Psalm 30

As I read this Psalm, I am once again reminded that God's love is constant.  No matter what circumstances life may bring…the highs and lows that accompany us on our spiritual, emotional, and physical journeys…He is there, and His love is constant.

I hear people (myself included) describing seasons of spiritual "feasting" or "famine"…but that comes from us.  Each and every time we reach out, He is there.  Ready.  His banquet is always prepared, and we are always welcome to feast.

He invites us to come to Him with everything.  Nothing is too ugly for Him.  Nothing is too horrible.  He has so much grace for us. 

He showed this to me in a vision a few years ago, in what I hope doesn't sound too cliché.

I was at a place in my life where I felt too ugly, too horrible, and then God showed me His vision.  There I was, locked away, curled up in a fetal position…feeling defenseless, alone, and afraid.  Then I saw God's hand reach out, and from that place of despair…a damaged emotional 'cocoon', I saw His desire for my transformation…and a beautiful butterfly emerged from that awful place. 

In this Psalm, I see this promise of transformation for all of us. David cried out for help, and God pulled him "out of the grave" and gave him "another chance at life" (The Message).  David also reminds us that "the nights of crying your eyes out [will] give way to days of laughter" (The Message).  I cling to this promise!

Thank you Father God, that you desire for us all to have some sort of metamorphosis, and that your love and grace are abundant as we evolve and grow. Thank you for your perfect vision of our true selves.

Thank you for the promise that you will transform "wild lament into whirling dance".  Thank you for "ripping off our black mourning bands and decking us with wildflowers" (The Message, Psalm 30:11-12).

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

I can't thank you enough!

 

Posted by Kelly Skelton

Thankful Dependence

Psalm 40   I find this to be a very powerful Psalm.  We are given choices as citizens of God's Kingdom on earth. Choosing Christ or choosing the world to help us in our times of need. And how God is faithful to walk us through the resulting consequences of those choices be they good or be they bad. I know that I have in my life depended on the world when I should have been falling into Gods' arms but have been given enough grace in Christ's love that He has led me back to the path He has set before me. And each and every time He set me right, my faith was built up, my footing a little more sure, and my praise a little louder. David is clearly rejoicing and giving thanks to the Lord for lifting him out of a time of trial and trouble. Realizing that God was faithful to hear his cries of  despair and scoop him up and place Him on solid footing once again, all these things the Lord did so that the people might 'see' and 'fear', not David, but the Lord himself. David is so thankful that he can not contain his praise and publicly declares his love and faith in Christ so that others may hear his testimony and see the Lord through Davids life.   (vs.10) "I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation. I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly." That verse is  one that God really made clear to me as I was going over this passage. The calling to share our testimonies of faith with one another in small or large numbers is another way in which our gratitude becomes our worship. Revealing God to one another and publicly giving thanks not only glorifies the Kings of Kings but also reveals that we are growing in our faith walk with Christ. That we can share how God has moved a mountain, or a mole hill for us. Both worthy of equal praise. How we may be in the midst of a battle whether physical or spiritual and we are choosing to praise God for being in that battle for us fighting in our name so that we might experience His supernatural peace and joy in the midst of it. I believe that what David now believes about God and for the future is based on his past history with God. Everything he has experienced of God's presence and power in his life, he knows he can count on again when things are overwhelming. He is confident that God will preserve him, guard him. God's faithful love, will never waver, even through terrible circumstances. David is choosing to build his life on what the Bible says; that is what guards him and preserves him. I think when we are down and in the mud and pit of despair that is what we need as well. To think back over time to the many places God has delivered us and just start giving thanks. Nothing speaks to me more loudly than when I am humbled in faith by all the Lord has done for me.  This is my choice of faith, I will look above my circumstances to who God is and how God is going to intervene in my life. When we experience God working in our lives we are changed. We desire to please God to worship Him, to share Him with others in our lives. Our encounters with The One True God who acts and saves do not leave us untouched.  I don't want to remain untouched by this God. Thank you Father that I may publicly declare my thankful dependence on You in every single area of my life.     Posted by: Michelle Sawatzky  :)

Gratitude

Gratitude

Psalm 100

It's interesting for me to be invited to share about what Psalm 100 has meant for me.    This psalm has shaped my private time with God, perhaps more than any other passage.  In the Message it says in part," Enter with the password: Thank-you" and for me this line is the "secret" to life that has nothing to do with Oprah!   Matthew tells us "our cleansed and grateful life not our words, will bear witness to what he has done"  I want, and perhaps I could even say I am desperate for my life to be a reflection of my gratitude to God for who he is and what he has done in my life.  However there are times  when I am in that place of either being overwhelmed with life and its problems, or God is showing me something (yet again) that needs correction in my life, or I am just plain weary, and gratitude can be  hard to find.  If  in those moments I begin with naming everything that Jesus is to me, it never takes very long and I am moved to tears.  I feel gratitude so deep in my soul that it needs a different name. It never ceases to amaze me that this simple act can change the course of my thoughts so dramatically.  Once I discovered this trick I tried it even when words were not failing me and I wasn't on the floor in a puddle of tears-- turns out I'm moved in those moments as well.  I invite you to try it and see if your spirit won't be undone….

Jesus:

You are MY Healer

You are the lifter of MY head

Your grace is sufficient for ME                                                                           

Your mercy is new every morning

You invited me to your banqueting table but your eyes feasted on ME.

Your face I will seek

You are MY Abba Father

You are Kings of Kings

You are Lord of Lords

You promised ME the morning star

Posted by: Bev Cornelson