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...

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...

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...

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 ...

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...

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...

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: ·       ...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...