241 Psalms 032 – 035; 1 Thessalonians 003
What is fitting for a right-living person? In Psalm 32 pg.1178, it is recorded that, "Right-living people sound best when praising." We are at our optimum living when we are praising the Lord. In Psalm 34 David emphatically states, "I bless the Lord every chance I get; my lungs expand with his praise." Today, right now, is a good time to praise the Lord. Praise Him for who He is and for what He has done in your life. Read Psalm 34 real slowly and let it sink in just a bit.
I love the line "Not that troubles should come as any surprise to you." Paul goes on to say, "It's part of our calling." Paul knows these Christians are now experiencing persecution and he does not want them to fall away because of it. The devil will use circumstances to get our eyes off the Savior. Paul's secret staying power was that his expectations were correct. He knew trouble was part of the deal in following the Lord. Are your expectations set correctly?
Saturday, August 29, 2009
Friday, August 28, 2009
240 Friday, August 28, 2009
240 Psalms 028 – 031; 1 Thessalonians 002
When you come through a rough patch of life there is nothing left to do, but to celebrate. David had more rough patches in life than Favre has touch down passes. Therefore, David threw a lot of parties in the Lord's name. David says things like you turned my lament into whirling dancing or I'm jumping for joy and shouting and singing. I believe we do not take time to celebrate when God rescues us, helps us, or does something special in our life. Perhaps today you could take time (five minutes) to celebrate what God has recently done in your life.
I love it that Paul in his own sweet way reminds these believers how they come to faith and how he was not a burden to them in the process. When he talks about them receiving the message he reports,"...you didn't pass if off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believer!" God at work in you--do you remember when God's word became more to you than man's opinion?
What does God's word mean to you today?
When you come through a rough patch of life there is nothing left to do, but to celebrate. David had more rough patches in life than Favre has touch down passes. Therefore, David threw a lot of parties in the Lord's name. David says things like you turned my lament into whirling dancing or I'm jumping for joy and shouting and singing. I believe we do not take time to celebrate when God rescues us, helps us, or does something special in our life. Perhaps today you could take time (five minutes) to celebrate what God has recently done in your life.
I love it that Paul in his own sweet way reminds these believers how they come to faith and how he was not a burden to them in the process. When he talks about them receiving the message he reports,"...you didn't pass if off as just one more human opinion, but you took it to heart as God's true word to you, which it is, God himself at work in you believer!" God at work in you--do you remember when God's word became more to you than man's opinion?
What does God's word mean to you today?
Thursday, August 27, 2009
239 Thursday, August 27, 2009
239 Psalms 023 – 027; 1 Thessalonians 001
Is it age chasing after you? Is it ghosts of the past that chase you? In Psalm 23 David lets us in on the secret--"Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life." Look behind you and you should see the Lord chasing after you. It is one of those “two for one” deals--we chase after the Lord and the Lord chases after us. We must chase but be thankful the Lord is always there.
Here is a great prayer to start off the week, "Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out." There is no one better to examine us than the Lord. Pray this prayer and then be on the look out the rest of the day as to what is happening inside of you. Perhaps take a small note pad and jot some thoughts down. God will examine you and will point out things that need work.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul commends them for the Word going forth from them. Paul also says, "The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore--you're the message." May that be said of our church one day.
Is it age chasing after you? Is it ghosts of the past that chase you? In Psalm 23 David lets us in on the secret--"Your beauty and love chase after me every day of my life." Look behind you and you should see the Lord chasing after you. It is one of those “two for one” deals--we chase after the Lord and the Lord chases after us. We must chase but be thankful the Lord is always there.
Here is a great prayer to start off the week, "Examine me, God, from head to foot, order your battery of tests. Make sure I'm fit inside and out." There is no one better to examine us than the Lord. Pray this prayer and then be on the look out the rest of the day as to what is happening inside of you. Perhaps take a small note pad and jot some thoughts down. God will examine you and will point out things that need work.
In 1 Thessalonians, Paul commends them for the Word going forth from them. Paul also says, "The news of your faith in God is out. We don't even have to say anything anymore--you're the message." May that be said of our church one day.
Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Tuesday, August 25, 2009
237 Tuesday, August 25, 2009
237 Psalms 020 - 022; Colossians 3.18 – 4.18
Do you believe your prayers? When you pray do you expect them to be answered? David struggled at times with these questions, but for the most part he believed that God was going to come through. Listen to what he says in Psalm 20, "That clinches it---help is coming, an answer's on the way, every thing's going to work out." This statement is a declaration of his belief that God has answered his prayer. Try to incorporated this aspect of praying in your daily life--Believe!!!
“On the hunt for God.” These words are found in Psalm 22 where David is having a bad day, but look how it turns around. "Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit." A bad day that ends on a hopeful note. Try to always end on a hopeful note.
What is the goal in conversation--"The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out." This is Paul's way of making the most of every opportunity with people. Make an everyday conversation a masterpiece for the Lord.
Do you believe your prayers? When you pray do you expect them to be answered? David struggled at times with these questions, but for the most part he believed that God was going to come through. Listen to what he says in Psalm 20, "That clinches it---help is coming, an answer's on the way, every thing's going to work out." This statement is a declaration of his belief that God has answered his prayer. Try to incorporated this aspect of praying in your daily life--Believe!!!
“On the hunt for God.” These words are found in Psalm 22 where David is having a bad day, but look how it turns around. "Everyone on the hunt for God is here, praising him. Live it up, from head to toe. Don't ever quit." A bad day that ends on a hopeful note. Try to always end on a hopeful note.
What is the goal in conversation--"The goal is to bring out the best in others in a conversation, not put them down, not cut them out." This is Paul's way of making the most of every opportunity with people. Make an everyday conversation a masterpiece for the Lord.
Monday, August 24, 2009
236 Monday, August 24, 2009
236 Psalms 018 – 019; Colossians 3.1 – 3.7
I cry to God to help me. This is a huge theme in the Psalms. David as a king and warrior knew he needed help. He humbled himself before God and asked for it. Rescue me, get me out of this mess was where David was in many of his prayers. I read a sign the other day and it said, "If you don't have any regrets, then you need to get out more." Let me revise this statement, "If you don't have any need for rescues, then you need to take more risks." David lived on the edge. David took chances for the Kingdom of God--he was not a thrill seeker--he was a God seeker. Big difference between God seeking and thrill seeking. If you seek for God--don't worry thrills will come, but you cannot reverse the paradigm.
In Psalm 19 we see the picture of worship of God through His creation. Notice how David links God's creation and God's word together. The reason for this is God's word clarifies for us the actions we are to take before the God of all creation.
Colossians 3:1b says, "Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with things right in front of you." The challenge for the life of a life time is to keep your head up. Pursue--seek--go hard after the things of Christ--eternal things. Stay away from the pursuit of those things which will be only temporal. You can make boat loads of money for the kingdom and enjoy the fruits of your labor, but you can't do it apart from the purposes of God. It is a matter of pursuit and affections with what you are doing. Be careful out there.
I cry to God to help me. This is a huge theme in the Psalms. David as a king and warrior knew he needed help. He humbled himself before God and asked for it. Rescue me, get me out of this mess was where David was in many of his prayers. I read a sign the other day and it said, "If you don't have any regrets, then you need to get out more." Let me revise this statement, "If you don't have any need for rescues, then you need to take more risks." David lived on the edge. David took chances for the Kingdom of God--he was not a thrill seeker--he was a God seeker. Big difference between God seeking and thrill seeking. If you seek for God--don't worry thrills will come, but you cannot reverse the paradigm.
In Psalm 19 we see the picture of worship of God through His creation. Notice how David links God's creation and God's word together. The reason for this is God's word clarifies for us the actions we are to take before the God of all creation.
Colossians 3:1b says, "Pursue the things over which Christ presides. Don't shuffle along, eyes to the ground, absorbed with things right in front of you." The challenge for the life of a life time is to keep your head up. Pursue--seek--go hard after the things of Christ--eternal things. Stay away from the pursuit of those things which will be only temporal. You can make boat loads of money for the kingdom and enjoy the fruits of your labor, but you can't do it apart from the purposes of God. It is a matter of pursuit and affections with what you are doing. Be careful out there.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
235 Sunday, August 23, 2009
235 Psalms 012 – 017; Colossians 002
How is the animal collection coming along?
It is important to remember the context of David writing these Psalms. Israel was just becoming a true country under one leader--David. Israel had many enemies as it does now. This is very important to put into your understanding---Jesus Christ was coming through the nation of Israel and to destroy Israel is to destroy Christ. Hence, the war language that David employs to write many of his Psalms. It is a hard business being king. Can you tell that David still lives in a polytheistic culture? "Don't just go shopping for a god. I swear I'll never treat god-names like brand names." Then to make his point even clearer he says, "My choice is you, God, first and only." The first commandment is to not put any other gods in front of Yahweh. That seemed to be Israel's greatest downfall. If you break the first one all bets are off on the next nine. Be very careful out there.
"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward. Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live in Him." You're deeply rooted in Him. You're well constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught." We received Christ by grace through faith. We are to live in Christ by grace through faith. It is always by grace through faith. How are you living today?
How is the animal collection coming along?
It is important to remember the context of David writing these Psalms. Israel was just becoming a true country under one leader--David. Israel had many enemies as it does now. This is very important to put into your understanding---Jesus Christ was coming through the nation of Israel and to destroy Israel is to destroy Christ. Hence, the war language that David employs to write many of his Psalms. It is a hard business being king. Can you tell that David still lives in a polytheistic culture? "Don't just go shopping for a god. I swear I'll never treat god-names like brand names." Then to make his point even clearer he says, "My choice is you, God, first and only." The first commandment is to not put any other gods in front of Yahweh. That seemed to be Israel's greatest downfall. If you break the first one all bets are off on the next nine. Be very careful out there.
"My counsel for you is simple and straightforward. Just go ahead with what you've been given. You received Christ Jesus, the Master; now live in Him." You're deeply rooted in Him. You're well constructed upon Him. You know your way around the faith. Now do what you've been taught." We received Christ by grace through faith. We are to live in Christ by grace through faith. It is always by grace through faith. How are you living today?
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