Something to hold onto today....

I read this verse in my quiet time this morning. I was reading through the classic devotional Daily Light (you can read it here online: http://www.gnpcb.org/esv/devotions/daily.light/ ) and this was one of the verses they included for today. My devotion is a rewrite and uses the NIV. I got an ESV for Christmas, so I looked the verse up in it and I love the way it reads....

"Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He has become my salvation." Isa. 12:2 ESV

How awesome is that!? God is our salvation... we have no reason to be afraid of anything! Hold on to that promise today... and tomorrow... and the day after.... etc. As long as you need it. I would even encourage you to hide it in your heart so it is there whenever you need it!

Selah.... be still and know....

One of the lovely things about the Bible are the "old friends" you find there. Psalm 46 is one of those passages for me. It's promises are like a balm to my weary soul. I hope it will be a balm for you also. When you see the word Selah take a moment... pause... meditate on the words you have read and the truth found in them.

Psalm 46 (English Standard Version)

God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way,
though the mountains be moved into the heart of the sea,
though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble at its swelling.
Selah

There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
God is in the midst of her; she shall not be moved;
God will help her when morning dawns.
The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

Come, behold the works of the LORD,
how he has brought desolations on the earth.
He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow and shatters the spear;
he burns the chariots with fire.
"Be still, and know that I am God.
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth!"
The LORD of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our fortress.
Selah

He Never Let's Go

As I was worshipping in song this morning, Matt Redman's "You Never Let Go" came began to play and I was reminded of the wonderful promises in God's Word concerning that truth... He NEVER let's go of us... He is always with us... and because of that we have nothing to fear.

I will fear no evil, for You are with me Ps. 23:4 ESV

The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? Ps. 27:1 ESV

I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. John 10:28-29 ESV

For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39 ESV

Shalom... Peace in 2009

Last year I was reading something on journalling and the author talked about picking a word for the year. I thought that was neat, so I thought a bit... prayed a bit... and decided my word would be Gratitude. I did pretty well holding on to the word for the first bit, but as with many "neat" ideas, I let it slide. Every so often something would pop up and remind me that I was to have an attitude of gratitude this year... but I often fell short. Still, I am glad I picked a word and glad God used various means to remind me of that throughout the year. It often served as an attitude adjustor.

So what will this year's word be? One heard a lot... one that really isn't unique, but one we all seek ... Peace. I spent a season of life in bondage to fear and anxiety and peace was all I craved. I begged for it... covetted it... longed for it... would have died for it... and the thing is I had it all along, I just didn't let it rule my heart. It is a harsh reality, but often we keep ourselves in bondage when freedom is ours for the asking.

Over the past few days I have heard folks talk about 2008... the economic turmoil.. continuing unrest in Middle East... how they hope 2009 will be better... how so many in our nation are worried, upset, frightened... and I realized I am not. Am I like an ostrich with my head in the sand unaware of what is happening around me? No... I am fully aware. I have dear friends whose husbands are out of work... friends with sons and husbands in the Middle East... I also have friends who are battling cancer or watch a love one in that battle... friends who struggle with addiction... friends who are grieving the loss of their precious child or their spouse... I am well aware of the woes of this world... and yet, I am not frightened... I am at peace. Why?

Because I know to whom I belong and the cool thing is HE is in control. I know so many think of that as a trite answer, but trite or not it is true! God is very much in control. NONE of this surprises Him. And like it or not our true security... our true provision... our true healing... real peace... lie not in money, jobs, doctors, medicine, programs, bailouts, government... but in HIM.

So this year I am choosing to live in that reality... that I am His... that HE is in control.. that HE is returning soon... that He has work for me to do... and He has work for you too!

I pray that you know Him... that you know the peace He brings because I can tell you from personal experience it is a peace that truely does pass all understanding. It is the best high you will ever experience! You cannot beat it.

If you are looking for peace, first you need to find the Peace Giver... Jehovah-Shalom and His precious son, the Prince of Peace. I can tell you all about them and how to know them... just post a comment here with your email address. If you already know Him.. HALLELUJAH!... grab your Bible or get online at one of the many Bible resources and start looking for Peace verses. there are many! You can also look at Do Not Fear verses (there are 365 of those.. 1 for each day of the year). When you choose not to fear, you are choosing peace.

Here are some peace verses to get you started...

"Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful." Col 3:15

"You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you." Isa. 26:3

"Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." John 14:27

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus." Phil. 4:6-7

My prayer for you... "the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace." Num. 6:26

Shalom! Barb

Psalm 65 - 67

written Nov. 21, 2008

Psalm 65 & 66 are Psalms of praise... each talk of the greatness of God and tell of things He has done.

65:3 When we were overwhelmed by sins, You forgave our transgressions

65:5 You answer us with awesome deeds of righteousness, O God our Savior, the hope of all the ends of the earth and of the farthest seas

Verses 6 -11 of Psalm 65 paint a picture of Creator God and show how He is still seen in His creation.

65:6 formed the mountains by Your power

65:8 when morning darns and evening fades, You call forth songs of joy

65:11 You crown the year with Your bounty 

66:1-2 Shout with joy to God all the earth, sing the glory of His name; make His praise glorious!

66:4 All the earth bows down to You, they sing praise to you, they sing praise to Your name

66:6 He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the water on foot

66:7 He rules forever by His power

66:9 He has preserved our lives and kept our feet from slipping

66:12 we went through the fire and water, but you brought us to a place of abundance

Psalm 66 ends with an important truth:

v. 18-20 If I had cherished sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened; but God has surely listened and heard my voice in prayer. Praise be to God, who has not rejected my prayers or withheld His love from me!

Sin get in the way.. it is like a wall between us and God.. it hinders our prayers and, therefore, our relationship with Him.  We must confess our sins and repent... not cherish our sins and hold on to them... live in them.  God hears our prayers of repentance and He forgive.. He wants to keep sin from straining our relationship with Him.

Psalm 67 begins with a blessing for us and goes into our blessing God and then returns to God blessing us.  It is a short, but powerful Psalm... a great one to pray.

Psalm 60 - 64

When I started reading Psalm 60, I thought here is another whiny Psalm where the author feels God has rejected him… and in a way that is true… but then I saw how timely and pertinent this Psalm is. 

So many feel God rejected our nation with election of Barak Obama.  They fail to acknowledge that God establishes authority (Rom. 13:1) or that he has a plan in all this (Hab. 1) 

This Psalm sounds like the “cries” I’ve heard recently. 

Verses 1- 3 “You have rejected us, O God, and burst forth upon us; You have been angry – now restore us!  You have shaken the land and torn it open… you have shown your people desperate times…” 

Certainly we are seeing desperate times and our land has been shaken and I personally feel more is to come. 

Verse 4 proclaims hope and truth “But for those who fear You, You have raised a banner to be unfurled against the bow.” 

Jesus is our banner – our faith in Him – we must cling to Him … walk in faith no matter our circumstances. 

God is at work. We need to seek Him and trust Him always… for “the help of man is worthless. With God we will gain the victory.” (v. 11 & 12) 

Psalm 61 follows as a prayer crying out to God in time of need. 

“… lead me the rock that is higher than I .  For You have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe.”  (v. 2 & 3) 

Jesus is the Rock and He is most definitely higher. 

Psalm 62 is a familiar friend. 

“My sould finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken.”  (v. 1 & 2) 

What verses to pray and promises to stand on! 

And the Psalmist reminds us again of who God is… 

“Find rest, O my soul,. In God alone; my hope comes from Him.  He alone is my fortress, I will not be shaken.  My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge.  Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge.”  (v. 5-8) 

Psalm 63 is another familiar friend... one of the most wonderful Psalms David wrote. 

“I God, You are my God, earnestly I seek You; my soul thirsts for You; my body longs for You in a dry and weary land where there is no water.” (v. 1) 

How I want to always long for and seek God in this way. 

“Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.  I will praise You as long as I live, and in Your name I will lift up my hands.  My soul will be satisfied as with the richest of foods; with singing lips my mouth will praise You.”  (v. 3-5) 

This should be my heart… my life… each day… to praise God because He is good.. He is better than life! 

And for David it is 24 / 7… in Verse 1, earnestly can also be translated early… so early will I seek you. 

Then in verse 6 He says “on my bed I remember You; I think of You throughout the watches of the night.” 

For David, seeking God … praising Him… worshipping… was all day and night… every moment. 

Psalm 64 again finds the Psalmist crying out to God, but not in a whiny way… it is more of an “OK, God, here are the problem in my life.. take care of them.”  In a way the Psalmist is doing what Ps. 55:22 says to do. “Cast your cares on the Lord…” and he knows God will take care of Him.  Verse 10 “Let the righteous rejoice in the Lord and take refuge in Him; let all the upright in heart praise Him.” 

Psalm 56 - 59

Written November 18, 2008 

In all four of these Psalms, the Psalmist is crying out to God for or about something. 

In Psalm 56 he is under attack and seeks God’s mercy and deliverance.  I love the choice laid out in verse 3 & 4… “When I am afraid, I will trust in You.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid.  What can mortal man do to me? 

In Psalm 57 once again the Psalmist seeks mercy n the face of his enemies’ pursuits.  He cries out to “God Most High, to God who fulfills His purpose for me.” (v. 2) 

I love this reminder in the midst of turmoil that God is God Most High and that he has a plan… a purpose for each of us.  Verse 2 here reminds me of Phil. 1:6 “being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” 

Psalm 58 is yet again crying out to the Lord… it has, to me, an angry tone at times and while I know all scripture is God-breathed and useful, this passage seems, to me, to have little value.  I think, for me, it is God showing where to take our anger… to Him instead of pouring it out on others. 

Psalm 59 once again finds the Psalmist seeking God’s deliverance.  In verse 12 he says of his enemies “For the sins of their mouths, for the words of their lips, let them be caught in their pride.” 

This actually is a verse worth praying for ourselves and our children.  Pride is so deep rooted and leads to a multitude of sins.  I pray God would let me be caught in it, so that I might recognize it and repent … I pray the same for my family… for my children.  No doubt the process isn’t pleasant, but the result is a heart more like His.