A SUMMER OF PSALMS

In nearly every church I’ve attended, there was a SINGSPIRATION service on the 5th Sunday night of the month.  So, today we’re going to have one too.  If we were all together in a room, I’d have you prepare to give your testimony in a POPCORN TESTIMONY time.  Since we can’t do that, you can just think about the time when you gave your heart, soul, and mind to the King of kings and Lord of lords, Jesus Christ.  OH, HAPPY DAY!

I know – it’s a really old song – but hey – it’s good!  This passage of Scripture does tell us to sing a NEW song – although I highly suspect that has nothing to do with the age of the song – lol.

As Christians, we don’t always live on the mountaintop.  This song has helped me in times of trial so many times.

God didn’t want Heaven without us.  Ponder that for a minute or two…

Sometimes the praise just overflows in the strangest places…  I GO TO THE ROCK.  Dottie Rambo’s timeless lyrics resonate even though the great lady is no longer with us.  I know she’s already heard WELL DONE from the Father – but now I want to tell her THANK YOU!

I’m more than convinced that some of the children in my Sunday School class had never heard Christian music in their home.  Every song they learned in our class was the only exposure to Gospel music they’d ever have.  I was so careful to teach the kids just a few songs that I knew they would remember when they needed it.  It’s amazing what God will bring to your mind when you need praise on your lips!

Giving kids a happy beat and the Gospel truth is a good thing, eh?

Even though we call the 5th Sunday service “Singspiration”, not everyone sings.  Some of the people read aloud a short story or poem they’ve written.  It’s that way in our Singspiration blog post.  Lucinda has written something perfect for us about this Psalm.

So, go INTO the world…  praising the LORD all the way!  🙂

A SUMMER OF PSALMS

The “T” is allowed in the word COMMIT.  The “T” is allowed in the word TRUST.  The “T” is most definitely not allowed on the end of the word CAN.

We need to remember that there’s a right way and a wrong way to proceed.  When we charge off and try to be successful on our own without God’s help, that’s the wrong way to get where we’re going.  Giving the plan to God is key and makes everything so much easier for us.  We are nothing without Him and we can do nothing without His help.  In all our ways we are to acknowledge Him – only then will He work on our behalf, making our path straight and opening doors that would otherwise stay shut.

We know that it takes just a little faith to get going.  We’re told that it takes faith the size of a mustard seed.  When I was a teenager, I wore a necklace that had a mustard seed inside a glass case.  It was so tiny and lightweight, most of the time I forgot I was wearing it.

Isn’t sign language beautiful?  The main point of this Psalm is that God wants the very best for us, but He wants us to keep Him in the loop, so to speak.  He wants to be a part of our decision-making process every step of the way.  Anything we do that is not within His will and His word – it’s not good and it’s not right.  We need to do things His way according to His will.

Do we always do that?  No – speaking for myself, I’ve not.  Those are painful lessons in life – but we learn the lesson (hopefully just once), and we ask the Lord’s forgiveness and then we get up and try again and with His help, we do better.  Grab on to your mustard seed-size faith and try again!  The second part of this passage says HE WILL HELP YOU.  Will you trust God to help you find victory in your life?

Is there a lasting victory for you?  Sure there is!  Our Lord is loving and merciful and kind and strong!  He wants the very best for you and wants to help you in every aspect of your life.  You CAN because He’s going to help you!  Just share everything you do, or plan to do, with Him!  Always give HIM the glory for the successes in your life!  

Remember to pray before you plan.  Make sure what you plan to do is God’s best for you, and His will for your life (as far as you can tell).  Keep reading your Bible and pray because you want to do things God’s way.  🙂

 

 

PSALM 9:8 ON 9/8

He rules the world in righteousness and judges the peoples with equity.  – Psalm 9:8

There are times when the political tension can be cut with a knife.  I see this election cycle as one of choosing the lesser of two evils.  That’s why I want to focus on God…  because HE reigns with righteousness and judges with equity.  Once His children back away from all the distractions of this election cycle and open God’s Word…  that’s when we can say with confidence, NO MATTER WHO IS ELECTED PRESIDENT, JESUS CHRIST IS LORD!

The Psalms have been a source of wisdom and comfort to me.  Even though this election is pivotal to America, in my opinion, God’s Word has given me assurance that no matter what happens, it will be alright because our God is in control – and He will not be mocked.  Those who are evil and wrongdoers will be brought to justice in the end.  The wheat will be separated from the chaff and God will have the last word.

I pray that God will work in the midst of Americans during this time.  Only God is able to cut through the babble in our country and touch human hearts, minds and spirits.  We need to learn what He wants for us now more than ever.  So many have completely rejected His Holy Word.  Through ministries we pray that some will find their way back.  We trust God for the increase because we know that His Word will not return to Him void.  We plant seeds…  that’s all we do.

I love this song – and to tell the truth, I sing it with Heather as I’m driving in my little car – windows down and sunroof open – “We’ve all been lost and we’ve all been hurt, where our hope is thin and our faith don’t work, but nothing lasts forever, the only thing that matters is God is still God and He holds it together, so hang on now.” 

Thank you, Heather – I will hang on!  Today’s reminder is this…  God is still God.  He will judge as only He can.  No matter who becomes the next President in the United States, God is still God and my hope and trust is in Him alone.  🙂

 

 

 

PSALM 10:17 ON 10/17

You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry.  – Psalm 10:17 (NIV)

LORD, you know the hopes of the helpless. Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them. – Psalm 10:17 (NLT)

O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear.  – Psalm 10:17 (ESV)

O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear.  – Psalm 10:17 (NASB)

LORD, thou hast heard the desire of the humble: thou wilt prepare their heart, thou wilt cause thine ear to hear.  – Psalm 10:17 (KJV)

LORD, you have heard the request of the oppressed; you make them feel secure because you listen to their prayer.  – Psalm 10:17 (NET)

I’m not typically a translation junkie, but today I just could not settle on just one translation!  I believe there are powerful meanings in certain words.  If we could somehow put all these translations together, wow…  it would be terrific, wouldn’t it?

First we see that the LORD hears.  Only one translation skips the hearing and declares that the LORD knows without hearing first.  Well, I don’t know about you, but I’m encouraged by this verse already!

Then we see that He hears and knows our request, desire and hope.  Again, this makes me smile for sure.  My faith is strengthened right away.

It says that the LORD hears and knows the request, desire and hope of the oppressed, humble, afflicted and helpless.  Have you ever felt any of these?  I sure have.  Aren’t you thankful to God for this truth?

Then the verse varies even more from translation to translation.  The LORD hears and knows the request, desire and hope of the oppressed, humble, afflicted and helpless.  The LORD will make them feel secure, prepare and strengthen their heart, encourage them and hear their cry!

It just gets better…

The LORD hears and knows the request, desire and hope of the oppressed, humble, afflicted and helpless.  The LORD will make them feel secure, prepare and strengthen their heart, encourage them and hear their cry!  He will incline His ear to them and listen to their prayer and comfort them.

This is for those of us who know that God hears and knows our request, desire and hope.  We feel oppressed, have been humbled along life’s way, leaving us afflicted and helpless.  We know that God will restore our security, prepare and strengthen our hearts, encourage us and hear us when we cry.  We trust that He will tilt His head, which inclines His ear so He can carefully and intently listen to our prayer.  After we have prayed, we know without a doubt that God has comforted us and restored our sense of purpose so we can keep serving Him in whatever way He desires. 

Somebody needs to praise God for Who He Is…    🙂