Psalm 8

Posted on by

Majesty of God

Let’s look at another of David’s Songs.  This one is dedicated to the director of music.  That would lead me to think that it was either accompanied by instruments of the time or the words were set to music for use during worship.

This Psalm, gives me great peace when I need to be calmed down.  Just knowing that God is in control makes life a little easier.

PSALM 8

thO LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth!  You have set your glory above the heavens.

New lifeFrom the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

Written_in_the_StarsWhen I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have set in place,

ManWhat is man that Your are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

crownYou made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

earthYou made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet;

1565-Pieter-Bruegel-the-Elder-The-Re-entry-of-the-Herds-autumn-Detail-the-herdAll flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

tetragrammatonO LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

O Lord, mighty, majestic, all-powerful and all-knowing.  Hear our prayers and praises.  Forgive our pettiness and selfishness.  Heal and restore as only You can.  Help us all to love as You love.  I lift this prayer before the Throne in Jesus’ Precious and Holy name.

The Lord Is My Shepherd

Posted on by

shepherdThe Lord is my Shepherd

empty tableI shall not want

green pasturesHe makes me lie down in green pastures

still watersHe leads me beside still waters

treeHe restores my soul

pathHe leads me in the paths of righteousness for His names sake

valleyYea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death

fearI will fear no evil

gods-love

Thy rod and Thy staff they comfort me

thumbnailCAG6BOYY

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of my enemies

annoint

Thou anointest my head with oil

cup

My cup runneth over

hourglass

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life

house

And I will dwell in the house of the Lord, forever.

Worship in song:   The Lord Is My Shepherd

Heavenly Father You are my Shepherd, You give me everything I need.  Peaceful calming rest is Yours to give.  You restore my soul.  You lead me in the right choices.  Even when I’m afraid or evil is all around me You are there.  You comfort me.  Your goodness and mercy are everywhere I look.  I am anointed by You.  My eternal home is waiting with You.  Mighty and awesome God, make it so.

Fear is …

Posted on by

Ray and I went to see After Earth this weekend.  It was not well reviewed by the critics but we’ve found many good to great movies by not paying attention to those who think it’s their job to tear everything down.   The story line is about a father and son relationship.  It’s about how to overcome fear and totally depend on someone who knows and loves you.  I was delighted and amazed to see so many Bible ‘threads’ in a 2 hour space.  Biblical themes like honor your father and mother,  covered and protected by the wings of an eagle, do exactly what the Father says and you will succeed, and FEAR NOT.

English: There is no fear, until we make it up.

English: There is no fear, until we make it up. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

I want to look at this concept of fear not today.  Did you know these words are repeated 365 times in the Word.  That’s not a coincidence.  God knows this world is a fearful and fearsome place.  He knows that every day comes with it’s own circumstances and challenges and that these can produce fear in us.  In Psalm 23 David says, “Yea though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil…”  How can he say that with such trust?  He knows the One who protects, defends and loves.  He knows God’s characteristics.  He knows the One and Only will not let him down.

Fear is an emotional reaction to an unknown result.  It can paralyze us.  It can cause us to want to hide.  It can keep us from realizing our Kingdom purpose.  It can make us bitter and mean.  IF WE LET IT!

When God says FEAR NOT!  He’s saying quit looking at what could be and look at what is.  He’s saying I’m right here, hold on, look up, you can count on Me.

Philippians 4:13 says, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”  It does not say I can do this alone,  it says depend on ME!  From Genesis to Revelation there is constant proof that when we depend on God we have nothing to fear.  He has our back (our front, our side, all that we can and can’t see).  FEAR NOT!

Worship Him with music!    He Will Make A Way

Ah, Lord, God, I am counting on You.  Create in me a spirit of love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness and self-control.  Whenever I enter the valley of fear shine Your light on me.  Make it so, Lord!

Time Is…

Posted on by
The Passage of Time

The Passage of Time (Photo credit: ToniVC)

As some of you know, one of my favorite scriptures is Galatians 4:4.  When the fullness of time had come God sent forth His Son…   It speaks loudly to me because my life has been full of instances where everything had to be ready for the next step to happen.  The fullness concept is that, over the millennia, God has put every person, place, event, and so on, in place, to reach that particular moment on the time line.  He does the very same thing for us.  Every one of our life events is ordered so that as time marches on everything is in place for the next event.  (I’m in no way saying we don’t have choices, it’s that our choices have ripple effects.)

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 complements Galatians 4:4 by being more specific about the order of time.  This Old Testament writing has great relevance to the effect of time.

Ecclesiastes

These beautiful words have much to say about the fact that time effects every part of our lives.  We have to remember that there is a natural order to life events and it’s God’s job to create the sequence.  How would we know what death is without  birth, what weeping is without laughter, what silence is without speaking, what war is without peace?

Ecclesiastes 3:11 tells us ‘He has made everything beautiful in its time.’ reminding us that even though we may live in historical period and culture that says, ‘You can have it all and you can have it now!” that’s not God’s plan. The rest of this verse says, ‘Also, He has put eternity into man’s heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from beginning to the end.’  Our desire to understand God’s sequence for our lives is not easily attainable, sometimes, we never do figure out the why’s of life’s events.  Even so,  as we grow and mature, more and more is made known to us.  For me, knowing that God is in control is enough.

hand footWorship Him with the beautiful images and music of In His Time.

Heavenly Father, teach us to wait on You.  Give us the Wisdom to know when the time is full for any of our endeavors.  Control me, Lord.  Give us strength and courage to model You and Your Word in every matter of our lives.  I lift this prayer in Jesus saving Name.  Make it so!

Heaven Is!!!

Posted on by

thCA8GZJYEA sick man turned to his doctor as he was preparing to leave the examination room and said, “Doctor, I am afraid to die.  Tell me what lies on the other side?” Very quietly the doctor said, “I don’t know.” “You don’t know?  You, a Christian man, do not know what is on the other side?” The doctor was holding the handle of the door;  on the other side came a sound of scratching and whining, and as he opened the door, a dog sprang into the room and leaped on him with an eager show of gladness. Turning to the patient, the doctor said, “Did you notice my god?  He’s never been in this room before.  He didn’t know what was inside.  He knew nothing except that his master was here, and when the door opened, he sprang in without fear.  I know little of what is on the other side of death, but I do know one thing…” “I know my Master is there and that is enough.” On this Memorial Day Weekend take the time to remember those who have gone into the Master’s arms.

Oh, How He Loves You and Me!!! Worship Him in song…   Thank You by Ray Bolz.

Revelation 21:1-5      Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea.  I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband.  And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Now the dwelling of God is with men, and He will live with them.  They will be His people, and God Himself will be with them and be their God.  He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.  He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!”  Then He said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”

Revelation 22:1-5     Then the angel showed me the river of the Water of Life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the Throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city.  On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month.  And leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nations.  No longer will there be any curse.  The Throne of God and of the Lamb will be in the city, and His servants will serve Him. They will see His face, and His name will be on their foreheads.  There will be no more night.  They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light.  And they will reign for ever and ever.  

Revelation 22:20-21      He who testifies to these things says, “Yes, I am coming soon.”  Amen.  Come, Lord Jesus.  The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people.  Amen.  

Heavenly Father, make it so!