Our God Is An Awesome God

Psalm 47:1-2 and 6-7 - To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. Oh, clap your hands, all you peoples! Shout to God with the voice of triumph!  For the Lord Most High is awesome; He is a great King over all the earth.

Sing praises to God, sing praises! Sing praises to our King, sing praises! For God is the King of all the earth; Sing praises with understanding.

 

The sons of Korah give us some really good advice here.  Sing praises to an awesome God….who reins over everything. Shout to him thanks of victory …in advance….for everything we ask him to do. Then sing more praises to God…till our voices give out…and we have no energy left.

 

Music is one of my favorite things…it ushers in the presence of God to any place we need him to be.  Whether it be a full worship service of gathered believers razing songs of praise….or a single voice singing softly in the privacy of your own home…we need to take the time to sing to God how awesome he is…to remind ourselves of what he has done for us since he saved us.

 

I couldn’t help but think of the Song ….Our God Is An Awesome God…written by Rich Mullins. It is one of my favorites. I can hear the rich hammer dulcimer he played along with the vocals. I will forever remember getting to hear him perform this song before he passed to Heaven. My family got to hear him in concert…barefoot…in jeans and a t-shirt. He was a simple man…just singing praise to the awesome God that had given him salvation.

 

There are probably still some people that believe that shouting and raising the roof in church is inappropriate. Or if one went around their home shouting and singing praise they are crazy. There were these leaders in Jesus day….who rebuked his disciples for shouting praise to Jesus as he rode a simple donkey through the streets to his death. Jesus told them in Luke 19:40…  “I tell you,” he replied, “if they keep quiet, the stones will cry out.”

 

The truth is that his awesomeness is different for each person he saves. Our stories are unique….but each one shares the love that came down from Heaven to die on a cross and save us on that cross. And since God gave each one of us different personalities….our praise to him will take different forms and levels.  We simply need to take some time out...more than once a day…to tell God in some way how awesome is to us.

 

Father…I thank you for the reminder that I need to praise you….from my prayer closet…from my Sunday school room…from the altar of the worship service in my church.  Help me to find words to sing that describe just how awesome you are to the others around me. Thank you for all you have done…and thanks in advance for all you plan to do for me in the future. Amen.

 

Let Go Of Fear

Psalm 46:1-4 - To the Chief Musician. A Psalm of the sons of Korah. A Song for Alamoth. God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear, Even though the earth be removed, And though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea;Though its waters roar and be troubled, Though the mountains shake with its swelling. Selah  There is a river whose streams shall make glad the city of God, The holy place of the tabernacle of the Most High.

 

The world will end one day…just flip your Bible and peek at the ending. Revelation paints a pretty glim picture for those that do not cling to God and his ways. But for those that believe in God…and claim his promise here in Psalms….we do not have to fear the end of the world.  He will carry us through whatever happens to end life as we know it….to a life with him in the city he has prepared in Heaven.

 

Fear is a dangerous emotion…it is not one we need to let hang around us for very long.  Satan uses the fear in our heart to plant seeds of doubt…that weaken our relationship with God and destroy the trust we have even with each other. The words of the great prophet in Isaiah 41:10 told the people of God… “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

 

I know it is easier said than believed completely.   Even though we know in our hearts that God has the power to do anything we ask… there is at least one thing we fear God won’t do for us. Is the problem that we won’t let go of the fear…or the thing we think we need so much?

 

The writer of this Psalm wants us to grasp the full power of that living water we have when we accept God into our life. He is our river…his living water providing for us everything we need to live a live fully focused on him.  The water can spring up any place…all we have to do is call for him….and it will wash away any fear or doubt that has managed to creep into our hearts.  His river will make glad the city we live in now…carrying us with his power to do whatever he needs us to do.

 

Father…I thank you for the reminder that I have a well of unlimited water….a river of life that runs straight through my heart. Help me to use it daily to wash away the seeds of fear…of doubt…of mistrust…of sadness…of uncertainty… that satan tries out plant in my heart.  be my refuge and teach me how to live inside it every day…and never venture so far away that I can’t hear your voice. Amen.

Anoint me With The Oil Of Joy

Psalm 45:1, 6-7 and 17  -  For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah, to be sung to the tune "Lilies." A love song. My heart overflows with a beautiful thought! I will recite a lovely poem to the king, for my tongue is like the pen of a skillful poet.

Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in justice. You love what is right and hate what is wrong.

I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever.

 

Sometimes our heart is bursting with so much happiness and praise we can’t seem to find adequate words to describe our rapturous heart.  This poem was written for the King…but what is really cool is that its words also describe the love the writer had for God. The writer probably had no idea that his beautiful words would describe the Messiah to come.

 

So before their time were these words that they were quoted in Hebrews 1:8-9 …. “But to his Son he says, "Your throne, O God, endures forever and ever. Your royal power is expressed in righteousness. You love what is right and hate what is wrong. Therefore God, your God, has anointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you more than on anyone else."

 

The oil of Joy…we think we need a large vial of it….but the truth is just a bit of God’s love explodes into to more than we need.  Proverbs 10:28 says we don’t even need a small vial…just the hope of a vial… “The hopes of the godly result in happiness, but the expectations of the wicked are all in vain.” And James 1:1-2 says we can find some of our joy in our troubles… “Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy.  For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.”

 

I guess that is why the woman in John 12 and Luke 7 poured all the oil she had on Jesus’ feet that day.  It was all she had…Judas said at least a year’s wages….which for most of us would be way more than we are willing to part with in one session with Christ. But she anointed his feet to show her great love. I bet she walked out of that room on cloud 5,000,000….full of enough joy to last her the rest of her life.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I can find all the hope and joy I need by searching for you. Help me to find the words to express how thankful I am that you chose to die for my sins and save me from death.  Help me to remember the next time that I let satan convince me that I might be sad…that your joy is just a cry away.  You are always there ...waiting to pour out your love on me…so I can show the world the great things you have done for me. Amen.

Life Isn't Promised To Be Easy....Just Shared With A Loving God

Psalm 44:18-21 - Our hearts have not deserted you. We have not strayed from your path.  Yet you have crushed us in the desert. You have covered us with darkness and death.  If we had turned away from worshiping our God or spread our hands in prayer to foreign gods, God would surely have known it, for he knows the secrets of every heart.

 

These sons of Korah were experiencing one of the hardest parts of life to bear.  We can do everything right…long for God…spend time with him in prayer and Bible study…be his hands and feet to those around us…but the world still hands us lemons.  It seems as though God is asleep to our needs…and he hasn’t heard our prayers for weeks… months…or even years. We just can’t understand if we are doing what he asked….why life is so very hard.

 

It is important to remember Paul’s words in Romans 8:37-39…when we feel so distressed. He said… “ No, despite all these things, overwhelming victory is ours through Christ, who loved us. And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from his love. Death can't, and life can't. The angels can't, and the demons can't. Our fears for today, our worries about tomorrow, and even the powers of hell can't keep God's love away.  Whether we are high above the sky or in the deepest ocean, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

It’s like the time when Jesus was asleep in the boat with the disciples…during a horrible storm in Matthew 8. Only Jesus knew that they were going to make it to the other side with no real damage…so he took the opportunity to rest. But the disciples were focused on the storm too much…and they fretted and worried about the outcome of a situation that they saw as hopeless.

 

I think of the one perfect human…Jesus….and how very hard his life was. Born in a stable…raised by humble parents…ministered to others with no suitcase or fancy car to carry him around. He didn’t have a fancy house to go to and kick his tired feet up in a recliner after work.  He walked through his short life with one purpose…to help all of us understand the servant side of loving God. He prayed one night for God to remove the heavy cup he had been asked to drink from… but only if it was the father’s will.  Then he allowed men who had no clue what they were doing hang him on a cross…where he gave his life for all of our sins.

 

God never promised our lives would be easy…but he did promise to walk with us anywhere he asks us to go. And what is really cool is that God takes the scars from the batterings we suffer in life and turns them into a message for others. Jesus’ scars in his hands…feet and side….tell a great story of love…that I need to share with others. The scars I carry from SURVIVING divorce and the death of a spouse I loved so much….give me a testimony to share with others who still think God is asleep and has forgotten them.

 

Father...I thank you for the reminder that my scars can be helpful to others. Help me to thank you for carrying me through the difficulties of this world and for walking through my storms with me. Help me to hide so much of you in my heart that I will never feel like you are not there…right beside me...holding my hand. Help me to sleep when you sleep…so I can hear your voice when you are awake…and follow what you need me to do…even if it seems hard to my human heart. Amen.

 

The Cure For Depression

Psalm 43:3-5 -  Send out your light and your truth; let them guide me. Let them lead me to your holy mountain, to the place where you live.  There I will go to the altar of God, to God -- the source of all my joy. I will praise you with my harp, O God, my God!  Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise him again -- my Savior and my God!

 

When we allow the world to attack our heart…satan quickly plants a seed of depression. The sadness and separation we feel from God will grow into a darkness that makes us feel trapped and lonely. We want to retreat into ourselves even further…and have a big pity party with ourselves…but we need to follow the advice of the sons of Korah that wrote this Psalm.

 

First…we need to acknowledge that we have let the world beat us down…and admit that we allowed that seed of depression access to our heart.  We need to ask ourselves why we are sad and discouraged. We need to put our hope in God and trust that he will make a way out of our darkness.

 

The next step is to ask God to shine a light on the pathway we need to walk out of the dark we let surround and trap us. 1 John 1:5 says…  “This is the message he has given us to announce to you: God is light and there is no darkness in him at all.”  God’s great light of love will illumine even the darkest gloom we have let grow in our hearts. His light shatters any hold the world and satan had over us to pout and feel sorry for ourselves.

 

The last thing they tell us to do is ask God to help us live in the truth. 1 john 2:27 says… “ But you have received the Holy Spirit, and he lives within you, so you don't need anyone to teach you what is true. For the Spirit teaches you all things, and what he teaches is true -- it is not a lie. So continue in what he has taught you, and continue to live in Christ.”

 

These sons were so happy after they applied God’s light and truth to their problem that they wanted to run to the mountain where God’s Temple stood.  They wanted to raise the roof with worship and praise for chasing all that darkness out of their lives.  They wanted to thank God for helping them understand that the pity party they were about to have would only trap them in their depression longer.

 

I admit that I needed this lesson …about two weeks ago. Holidays are hard on those of us that have broken families…or loved ones in Heaven. This one was harder than the last…and I let myself slip into a pity party one Sunday a couple weeks back. I texted my friend …and told her my emotional state…and proceeded to stream lifetime movies that made me worse. God’s light and truth revealed to her I needed a shot in the arm...so she rang the doorbell later that day…and prayed with me. It touched me so much that God loved me that much…to send help…even though I was perfectly happy being miserable.

 

I am better now…he sent me on a wonderful retreat with our church youth …so I wouldn’t have too much time to think over break. God sure put the 100 watt bulb in those services…and helped me overcome my feelings of sadness …for good if I let him keep his spirit of truth turned on in my heart. His truth showed me that I need to be his hands and feet to others…and quit feeling sorry for myself.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder…and the great light you have shown on the darkness I let slip around me of late.  Help me to keep that light turned on with constant prayer to you.  Help me to really read the Bible…to understand what truth it has to tell me. Show me the path I need to take to find the job you need me to do for you. Show me how to be best friends with the Holy Spirit you gave me when I asked you into my heart…so that I won’t ever get lost in darkness again. Amen.

How Thirsty Are YOu?

Psalm 42:1-2 and 8 -  For the choir director: A psalm of the descendants of Korah. As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for you, O God.  I thirst for God, the living God. When can I come and stand before him?

Through each day the LORD pours his unfailing love upon me, and through each night I sing his songs, praying to God who gives me life.

 

One of the three basic things we need to survive is water. Our body craves this liquid…because it needs it to perform many of the basic functions that keep us alive. Water has no taste though…so many of us have developed a taste for other liquids…or we add favor to the water we do force ourselves to drink.

 

This son of Korah had the right idea. He knew that God was his sustainer…his water…and longed to spend time with him.  He thirsted for God the way we all should…he thirsted for the one that gave him life and poured daily love and blessings upon him.

 

It makes me feel guilty when I think about it that way. I can’t wait to grab a pop…or that cup of coffee in the morning…but am I as thirsty for God in my life.  Do I reach for God the way I devour that soda…or look forward to my time with him the way I do a meal out?

 

If we pant for him…thirst for him…he will pour out his blessings on us and sustain us like that water does our bodies.  God will sustain and nourish our spirit …and give us an ever deeper understanding of his love. He will help us to focus on what he can do for us…instead of what we cannot do for ourselves.

 

Father…thank you for the reminder that I need to spend more time with you…not just because I need to…but because I want to.  Help me develop a thirst for you that will keep me as near to you as I can get. Help me to use my time with you to listen and let you teach me your ways of love so I can be your hands and feet to others. Thank you for pouring out your blessings on me…help me to praise you constantly for all you have done. Amen.

Finf Joy In Helping Others

Psalm 41:1-3 -  For the choir director: A psalm of David. Oh, the joys of those who are kind to the poor. The LORD rescues them in times of trouble.  The LORD protects them and keeps them alive. He gives them prosperity and rescues them from their enemies.  The LORD nurses them when they are sick and eases their pain and discomfort.

 

David sure wasn’t talking about himself in this Psalm. He was rich in finances…family…wives…God had raised him to a level that most of us don’t see.  Yet he never forgot his humble beginnings as a shepherd….as the youngest of his family…he got the worst of the family jobs.

 

Perhaps he was thinking of his roots while hiding from Saul…or maybe one day he just happen to take a walk through the kingdom and notice that God had not blessed everyone like he had him. God must have brought Leviticus 19 to his heart…where God’s people had been told to leave some grain in the edges of the fields for the poor.   Or maybe it was Deuteronomy 15…where they were told to always be openhanded to the poor.

 

This Psalm is as much of a comfort and promise to those who are going through hard times…as it is a directive to those of us that God has blessed.  We are called to care for more than just our families…we are called to help anyone that crosses our path who needs the blessings God gave us to help them with. We are not to sit and wonder ‘IF’ we are to help…we are to jump at the chance to bless others…for that is what Jesus said in Matthew 25:37-40…."Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

 

Let’s go just one step more radical and listen to what he said more than once to those who sought to follow Jesus and walk completely with him. In Luke 12 and 14…and also in Mark 10 …Jesus’ own words tell us to sell all we have and give it to the poor.  His disciples dropped everything…left family… friends…. and careers to follow the Messiah. Jesus provided for them and they wanted for no need while they learned how to love firsthand….and how to give even their very life to save anyone who believed in the love God manifested in Jesus.

 

Even if you are not going to take this scripture literal…and sell everything you have …there is a least one possible New Year’s resolution for all of us. We could all find one way to pay forward at least one blessing God shared with us this year...for I am pretty sure we all know at least one person who could benefit if we left a corner of our own fields ungleaned. If you want to be even more serious…you could even sacrifice something big.  The Bible says your blessings will increase…cause God sees you being a good steward of what he gave you.

 

Father…thank you for reminding me once again that life is not all about me and my needs. Help me to truly grasp the deeper meaning of how I treat others around me…especially those that may need the resources you gave given me.  Open my eyes to the needs of others around me…and help me see ways that I can help others.  Show me how to bless them not just with words…but with the actions and things that you have placed in my hands to share with them. Show me which corners of my fields I should leave for them. Help me learn to live with less…so I can bless even more people around me.  Amen.