150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 16

Even though it is only 11 verses long, there are several wonderful truths in today's Psalm.

I like the Holman Christian Standard Version of vs. 5-6. It is a little clearer for me to see.
5 Lord, You are my portion and my cup [of blessing]; You hold my future. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance.

The phrases "portion," "cup of blessing," "future," "boundary line" and "inheritance" were all familiar to the people of David's day as ways of expressing God's promise (and fulfillment) of the Promised Land. But David says, "Lord, YOU are..." David realized that the TRUE Gift is God Himself.

How often do we get caught up in looking forward to heaven, our "future" and "inheritance" and forget that HE is the real gift of heaven? Do we search for blessings from God here on earth and forget that HE is our "cup of blessing?"

Verses 7-9 hold another great truth.
 7 I will praise the Lord who counsels me- even at night my conscience instructs me. 8 I keep the LORD in mind always. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad, and my spirit rejoices; my body also rests securely.

I can't tell you how many times I wake up in the night with either the answer to one of the questions in my life at the moment, or the idea I needed for the Passion Play or "the Tree," or for whatever project I was working on at the time. The key isn't that I think better when I'm asleep. haha. I try to follow what David says here. "I keep the Lord in mind always." Keeping the Lord in mind, knowing His word, praying without ceasing... when this is part of how you live your life then God can speak to you at any time - even in the middle of the night. Do I always do this? No. But I wish I did - and I try to. Because that is one of the main ways God speaks to us - through His word.

I'm doing this 150 days of Psalms to encourage as many people as I can to read a Psalm a day (and hopefully a little more) but I'm also doing it for me. I need to see new truths each day. I needed to be reminded today that HE is my portion and cup of blessing.

I won't go into detail on another truth I see here, but you may have recognized verse 8 as the verse Peter quoted in his great sermon to the Jews in Acts 2. (See verses 25-31.)

I hope you're reading along with me. Spend a little time today meditating on the fact that Jesus is your portion and cup of blessing.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 15

I've had a good, full day. Even though I read Psalm 15 this morning, here it is after 9:00pm and this is the first chance I've had to write about it. I get to church a little before 7 on a Sunday morning, we had q couple over for lunch and we visited right up until time for me to go back to church for a handbell rehearsal, watched "Courageous" (which every man from the age of late teens on up should watch) and then Haven is here visiting for her Grani-is-going-to-spoil-me-for-a-day time and she wanted to go to Red Lobster (so of course we did.)

So... that's probably more information than you wanted.

Psalm 15 asks a question and then tells you the answer.

1 O LORD, who may abide in Your tent ? Who may dwell on Your holy hill ?

The answer is spelled out in the next 4 verses.
2 He who walks with integrity,
and works righteousness,
And speaks truth in his heart.
3 He does not slander with his tongue,
Nor does evil to his neighbor,
Nor takes up a reproach against his friend;
4 In whose eyes a reprobate is despised
But who honors those who fear the LORD;
He swears to his own hurt and does not change;
5 He does not put out his money at interest,
Nor does he take a bribe against the innocent.

He who does these things will never be shaken.

These are not things we do naturally; they are evidence of God working in  a person's heart. But even though it is the work of the Holy Spirit to make a change in a person's life, it is up to the individual to have some self-discipline, to follow God's leading and to work out his salvation by living a godly, righteous life. It comes down to choices we make.

What choices will you make this week?

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 14

I wasn't sure the best way to blog about this Psalm. I've started over several times. Then I realized that a good way to see the meaning of Psalm 14 is to read Romans 3. They parallel each other in many ways.

People who don't believe in God or say that they don't need God are foolish. They think "I'm not a bad person." They need to listen to the words of David "There is no one who does good, not even one." (Ps 14:3)
Paul quotes this Psalm (or perhaps another one that says the same thing) to show that everyone - Jews and Greeks - are all sinners.
Romans 3:23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God

The Psalm says that God is with the righteous.

Romans 3 says it this way:
24 being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus ; 25 whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed ; 26 for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, so that He would be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.

That's the long version of saying that those who have faith in Jesus are justified (made righteous) because of their faith.

The Psalmist knew that God was with the righteous. Paul explains that God demonstrates HIS righteousness (and passes over the sins) of those who have faith in Jesus.

 This is a fantastic truth! The fool will continue to say, "There is no God." Fools who have power in other parts of the world persecute those who have faith in Jesus. Fools in the USA harass and make fun of Christians (Tim Tebow is a prominent example.) But God is with the righteous and is their refuge. Ps 3:5-6.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 13

Over the years I've talked to people who are depressed - maybe not clinically depressed, but feeling bad, not able to see their way out of a stressful situation.

David truly was in a terrible situation. People were after him - wanting to kill him. That's a very stressful situation to say the least.

"How long, O Lord?" was actually a good question.

I can't fault David for asking that. And over the years I haven't really found fault in others who are asking God, "How long?" How long until my job situation is better? How long until my family is back together? How long until You answer my prayer for...?

David had the key to waiting - the key to contentment in the face of trials.

5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing to the LORD, for he has been good to me.

David remembered God's unfailing love. Perhaps he kept a spreadsheet of all the things God had done for him over the years. When we remember what God has done in the past we can face the future with confidence.

I'm not sure David was suggesting everyone should sing in choir (although it's not a bad idea) but the final verse is the perfect way to show what's in your heart. When we sing together on Sunday mornings in worship you should sing with all of your heart (especially if you're not in choir.) During the week you'll sing when you consider how God has been good to you.

Ha! That old hymn just popped in my head. "I sing because I'm happy. I sing because I'm free; for His eye is on the sparrow and I know He watches me."

A New Ministry at Hilldale

Proverbs 15:13

A joyful heart makes a cheerful face.

Calling all clowns and clown wannabees.

Get in at the beginning of a great new ministry.

Bring some joy into the world!

We’ll clown around at nursing homes and retirement centers,

Summer Block parties, children’s hospitals, special church events and more.

For adults and older youth.

Information meeting Jan. 22, 3:00, Bldg. A

 

We'll have training events to help you know how to look like and act like the best clowns around.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 12

I guess since we hear sooooo much lately about politics because of the primaries going on, when I read the first few verses of Psalm 12 I thought about politicians. haha.

But rather than focus on the obvious and point out that ALL of us have those deceitful moments in our lives, I want to focus on vs. 6.

"The words of the LORD are pure words,
like silver refined in an earthen furnace,
purified seven times."

 The phrase "purified seven times" is an expression to show that it is completely pure - no impurities are in it. The psalmist is conveying the message that God's words are completely trustworthy.

One of the reasons I thought of this 150 Psalms a Day challenge is that I thought this would be a fun way to get a bunch of us to read through the Psalms. By just reading one a day we won't fall into the bad habit I have found myself in before of just reading through something quickly so I could check it off my list. By focusing on one psalm a day my prayer is that I will put these words in my heart and life and not just have them run on by as I hurry on to the next chapter.

As you read these pure words each day, let me encourage you to spend some time with them and apply them to your life. Don't just check a Psalm off your list (Yep! Read that one.) put it in your life.

150 Days of Psalms - Psalm 11

I like to play angry birds. Apparently I'm not alone. I just read that Angry Birds has been downloaded 200 million times. There are Angry Bird hats, stuffed toys, dog toys, t-shirts, birthday cakes, action figures...

Maybe we all just like blowing things up and hearing them crash. Maybe we like it that those smug pigs finally get their just due. Or maybe we like it that creatures that are generally considered rather defenseless are able to defend themselves - the ultimate underdog story!

David's friends knew about birds. They knew a bird can't defend itself against an enemy. It has to flee
"Escape to the mountain like a bird!
For look, the wicked string the bow"

It gets even worse for David's outlook.
"If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?"

David has the answer.

"The LORD is in His holy temple...
His eyes watch; He examines everyone,"

We can't go around crashing into the obstacles of life or bombing the "smug pigs" we encounter everyday. But it's good to know that nothing escapes God's watchful eye. He "examines the righteous and the wicked."

"The LORD is righteous; He loves righteous deeds." So I will work this week on doing righteous things and leave the bombing ("raining of burning coals...on the wicked") to God.