Category: Psalms - Jethro TOOLS

Politics and Misplaced Hope

11/10/2024

Recently we have just walked through an election, and survived. Elections are time consuming, trying, and tiresome. The difficulty is that in an election process we have a way of looking at our life and seeing all the things that need to be fixed. In our mind they are things that only a political candidate can fix. We just need to choose the correct one, support the correct one and vote for the correct one. In the process we elevate an individual and place our hope in a candidate as the answer to our problems. So what is the solution? First, we need to remember that all people are broken and do not measure up to God’s standard (Romans 3:23). Second, we need to realign our hope. It is easy to trust in the things of power in this life. However, the psalmist David writes that some may trust in military powers, “but we trust in the name of the LORD our God” (Psalm 20:7). Third, we need a consistent message of real hope. If we are a believer in Jesus Christ as our savior, He is to be the source of our hope, and He is to be the source of hope that we declare to others. The winds of cultural change and the ebb and flow of political tides will cause insecurity, questions and even hopelessness. Jesus tells us in Matthew 7:24-27 that when we build our life on Him and His word we will have a secure foundation. There are many people who have incorrectly placed their hope in politics, ideologies, and the things of this life. Our message must not be one of political hope, but of hope in Jesus. Will we be the ones who faithfully carry the message of hope in Christ to those who have built their hope on the wrong foundation?

For More See DANIEL

Participate in the Word

7/21/2024

Psalm 119:105-112
How often do you read directions? When I much younger I remember being at a meeting with my father. The speaker gave each attender a test with a page full of questions. The instructions were to read everything before beginning the test. I still remember that day. I turned the page and began frantically trying to answer questions before the allotted time ran out. As my time ran out I looked at my Dad sitting calmly, looking around the room. He was done, and I was not. The test was actually a test to see if you would listen to and obey the instructions. I did not listen, and I did not read everything first before beginning. The final line at the bottom of the page said this, “Now that you have read this entire page please write your name at top right corner of the page and wait for further instructions.” In life directions are important, but it also important to have reliable instructions from a reliable source. In Acts 2:41-42 the early church had a devotion and dedication to the Word of God. The apostles taught the Word of God and the new converts were faithful in listening and acting on what it said. Psalm 119:105 teaches us that the Bible contains the words of God that provide clarity in the present and direction for the future. Like a lamp the Bible allows us to see what is at our feet and guides us as we take another step of faith. The problem is that we as people do not listen carefully to instructions. We will often search everywhere else for answers without examining the truth in the Bible and God’s words recorded for us. Like the early church in Acts 2, we need to love the Lord, love His Word, and live His Word. That only happens by listening to His directions.

For More See PSALMS

Participate in Worship

7/14/2024

Psalm 95
Last night I walked outside before heading off to bed. The evening was quiet except for the singing of crickets, the occasional faint rumble of distant thunder, and the systematic staccato flash of lightning. The pitch black night sky was illuminated by the continued and consistent bursts of lightning that almost hurt the eyes to look at. Without a doubt, I knew there was a storm brewing because of what I saw. The pulsating flashes in the night sky announced that God was doing something. Just as the night sky as not silent about God’s work neither should the believer in Jesus be silent about His work in their life and world. In Acts 2:46-47 we see that the believers in the early church were beacons that displayed God’s greatness through their committed worship and devotion to God. What is our worship like? Do we have the same enthusiasm for God like the early church? Did you realize that believers in Jesus Christ are designed by God to be worshipers? Just as lightning lights up the night sky, we are to declare the praises of God who has saved us (1 Peter 2:9). So how do we worship? Psalm 95 provides a good starting point in directing our worship. The author begins with an invitation, and challenges his audience to participate in worship of the LORD (1-2). We are to worship God who is great (3-5) and proclaim His greatness (7). However, like the Psalmist, we must come to worship in humility (6). Worship is more than the songs we sing. Worship is a personal and corporate lifestyle honoring God. We are to sing and declare His praises, but we are also to daily live the reality of His power displayed through us. Like lightning, we as believers we are to be beacons that display God’s greatness through our committed worship of Him.

For More See PSALMS

Future Hope

3/3/2024

Ruth 4
The other evening I walked outside and glanced at the clear, dark evening sky. There, illuminated against the backdrop of the stars and rising moon was a long ribbon like cloud. We had just felt the furry of colliding weather fronts and their strong winds. Now that the storm had mostly subsided, it left this ribbon of cloud stretched across the sky from west to east. As clouds do, it changed as it was carried along with the breezes aloft. The weather pattern must have trapped the moisture forming the cloud between two unseen air currents. I was mesmerized. I had never seen anything like that. In fact, it lasted through the night and into the next morning, dissipating as the sun came up. Through the simple beauty captured in the sky I was reminded of God’s faithful loyal love toward us. We may not recognize all that He is doing, but His faithfulness like a beautiful ribbon flows through our world. We just need to stop and recognize His handiwork. That is exactly what happened in Ruth chapter 4. Naomi and Ruth waited as Boaz went to the city gate to discuss with a closer relative the plight of Naomi’s family and land (1-6). That man was unwilling, so Boaz stepped in to redeem the family through the purchase of the property and marrying Ruth (7-12). A son was born and the women of the town reminded Naomi that God has not left them helpless and hopeless, instead He has provided a redeemer. Where ever we turn we can see the work of God who loves us and sent His son to be our saving redeemer. Like the women said to Naomi, David also says to us, “Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits (Psalm 103:2).”

For more see RUTH

Invitation to Worship

6/18/2023

Psalm 95
Do you remember the school song from your high school or college days? Most schools will have some sort of theme song that is used on various occasions to emphasize the school and its values. I vividly recall one song from one of my previous schools. The song All Hail the Power of Jesus Name was written by Edward Perronet and it captures, in words and music, the picture of honor and submission given to Jesus as the King above all kings. The words of the first verse begin,
All hail the pow’r of Jesus name! Let angels prostrate fall, Let angels prostrate fall; Bring forth the royal diadem,
And crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, crown Him, and crown Him Lord of all.
I still remember sitting in chapel and hearing the words of the chorus echo through the auditorium. Crown Him, crown Him, crown Him rolled like thunder through the student body each time we lifted our voices in praise. The worship of God is an expression of praise from our lips, but it is also the submission of our heart, our attitude, and ultimately our life to the King of all. For us as people the concept of submission is often difficult. We as people, at the core, are rebellious and prideful, as we seek our own way apart from God. Our worship of God is not looking for what we can get from God. Instead, the worship of our life and our words is to seek the glory of God by declaring His greatness and submitting to His way in our life. May the constant worship of our great God and savior Jesus Christ continuously roll through our lives each day with thunderous reverberation as we crown Him Lord of all. So, like Psalm 95, I invite you to join me in worship. It is a simple invitation that you can pass on to others as well. Come let us worship and bow down.

For more see PSALMS or INVITATION SERIES

Reflections on Worship

2/13/2023

Psalm 95:1-7
The sun was just setting in the western sky as I stepped our for a short evening walk. However, my eyes were distracted by the sight of flashing beacons on a plane as it flew overhead. My prayer was, “Lord, you know that we live in a busy world where we use what you have given us and flaunt our power only to neglect your power and grace that you display in the simplicity of the setting sun. Thanks for allowing me to see that illustrated before me.” In almost the next instant, my ears heard the scream of an ambulance and my eyes caught a glimpse of its flashing lights as they sought to solve someone’s emergency. Then in perfect contrast, from the other side, my ears heard the joyful honk of geese as they peacefully winged their way to their evening rest. Again my thoughts turned to praise, “Thank you God that you have placed us here to be your witnesses to people in pain, and yet we are still blessed to hear creation sing out your praise.” This simple stroll outside illustrates that worship of our great God can occur anytime and any place. Psalm 95 gives two invitations, first the invitation to praise God (1), and second the invitation to worship Him (7). As we recognize the greatness of God we should be drawn to honor and worship Him. Along with the psalmist, I invite you to come and sing out your praise to God through a heart full of worship. His greatness is on display for all our world to see. May you hear creation sing out our Creators praise, and hear the call to come and worship Him for His greatness and grace that He constantly puts on display for us.

For more see PSALMS

Why Meet Together?

2/12/2023

Psalm 95:1-7
Much preparation has taken place, and now we gather with friends and family to share the joys and sorrows of a win or a loss. We honor and cheer the hero’s of the play by calling them the Greatest Of All Time (GOAT). It does not matter if it is Football and the Super Bowl, Baseball and the World Series, Hockey and the Stanley Cup, Soccer and the World Cup, or Tennis and a Grand Slam, we participate with passion, and praise the people with the greatest of plays. There is nothing wrong with enjoying sports as a participant or a passionate observer. But, let’s stop and think for a moment about how this same drive relates to the spiritual life. What if that same preparation, passion and practice were true of our spiritual lives? Those who have believed in Jesus Christ as Savior have become part of His family and His body the church (Colossians 1:18). However, unlike sports, the purpose of our gathering is not to praise the ones who are seen, but the One who is unseen. The believer displays the authenticity of their relationship with God through their fellowship with other believers and their worship of God. Much like a sports game, but in a spiritual arena, fellowship is a shared partnership, purpose, and participation. In fellowship the believer connects with other believers in Jesus to strengthen their faith, participate in service for God, and grow in passion for God who saved them. Our purpose of gathering in church and fellowship with other believers is to display the greatness of our Savior through our lives and our words. Everything about us is to scream and shout that God alone is worthy of our total devotion. On earth there may be people that we celebrate, but as believers in Christ we must always worship and celebrate Jesus as the greatest of all time.

For more see PSALMS or DISCIPLESHIP

Be Still

10/23/2022

Psalm 46
Where I grew up there was a simple saying… “Two men working together can do the work of three or four men working alone.” You would think that it is not possible, but it is. The sheer efficiency and ability to team up on a project, plus the boost of morale helps the team of two accomplish much more together than multiple people alone. I have seen that truth play out in physical life and also in spiritual life. For those of us who know Christ as Savior, we have a partner and strong refuge that we can always rely on. Psalm 46 reminds us as people that God is as a strong defender. This Psalm is written as a song reminding the hearer that God’s power is sufficient for victory over the disasters experienced in nature and the conflicts brought on by nations. Psalm 46 describes God’s strength (1-3), and presence (4-7) that are essential for us to function in a world that is falling apart. We can respond in confidence to the chaos of our world as we worship God who is not only present but powerful to protect (8-11). When we stop our own striving and effort (10), we then have the space to be still and observe who God is and what He does. This Psalm reminds us to praise God for the victory He brings because of His strength and presence. The problem is the difference between knowing that truth and practicing that truth. When I am still and stop my striving, I realize that God is at work in my world for His honor and His praise. He can only be lifted up or exalted as I cease trying to solve my battles my way. When I pause and rest in God, others will take notice and see God’s strength. Have you teamed up with God or are you trying to work out your life alone and on your own?

For more see PSALMS or MISAPPLIED SCRIPTURE VERSES

Responding to a World that Lacks Love

2/13/2022

Psalm 94
At one time in life we lived in a warmer climate where there were an abundance of gecko lizards. At night these little guys would crawl across the outside of our windows seeking to snatch a tasty bug as a midnight snack. In the process of moving south we brought with us the two family cats. These two were hunters, and previously they kept our home and the area around the house free from mice. Now the cats had a new prey, gecko lizards. However, God has designed these lizards so it is possible for them to detach their tail in order to escape a predator. Well, like all cats, our two would often play with the critters they caught. On several occasions I watched as the cat wrestled with the new found catch only to realize that the lizard deployed a defense mechanism and they had nothing but a wiggly tail. The cat had a quizzical look on its face as it looked for the lizard without success. Like the cat we can chase after the things that we think are real only to find that they will never satisfy. Psalm 94 records a message highlighting the importance of where we turn for our security and love in the midst of a selfish, violent world that does not show love. What do we do when we are not loved? The Psalmist challenges us to pray (1-7) and seek God’s righteous solution. We can be assured that God knows our situation (8-11). He will never leave us (14) and He will protect us (17). Our response to the troubling influence of evil in our world is to be completely persuaded that God alone is always faithful (18). We should continually speak of God’s truth, greatness and love. Like the cat we must not pursue other lesser things that distract us from God.

For more see PSALMS

Waiting on God: Hopeful and Expectant

1/2/2022

Psalm 42 & 43
Today I am getting help … my second granddaughter is helping me write this. At one point she and her older sister had a dental appointment. Like every good dentist the kids received toys and everyone was happy, well that is, at least until they got home. A problem developed because the older sister got a green car and the young one did not. Being the sisters that they are, the car was not shared. The little one helping me write this really wanted a car. She could look at her sisters car but could not play with it. The more she looked at the car the more she wanted one for herself. She thought and worked out schemes to take her sisters play car for herself. The jealous desire for the toy car caused relationship friction and fights all because one had what the other wanted. Jealousy and greed are the evil twins of the same problem. Greed wants what another has while jealousy is discontent that someone else has what you want. It is a problem that starts in our corrupted hearts when we are young and grows with us unless we get God’s help to deal with it. There was a man named Korah in the Bible who was a grumbling leader and fought for his own way (see Numbers 16). However, his descendants learned a valuable lesson about jealousy, greed and personal pride. God used them to write a number of worship Psalms including Psalm 42 & 43. Oh yes, you are wondering how the car situation was resolved. Well, it took a bit of time and another visit to the dentist where the one who was without a car was able to get her own blue car. Funny how God worked that out, just like the He did with the descendants of Korah.

For more see PSALMS or DISCIPLESHIP

Delivered to Declare Praise

11/14/2021

Exodus 15:1-21
Have you ever written a song? I had the unimagined torture of composing a song for a college music appreciation class. It was a very unpleasant experience because music and I do not get along. If I remember correctly my masterpiece was a composition that combined the music of Mary had a Little Lamb with the words of the poem Roses are Red and Violets are Blue. Go ahead and laugh, but believe me you would never add it to your favorite music list. It was not easy listening or catchy. It was just a dreaded requirement that was needed to pass a dreadful class. The class never grabbed my interest, so I did as little as possible to get a passing grade. However, when it comes to our relationship with God we should always be singing His praises. How do we praise God? Exodus 15 provides an example from the life of Moses and the people of Israel that we can follow. First, we need to declare what God has done (1-5). We tell what we have seen God do in our lives. Second, we need to describe God’s power (6-12). We should tell of God’s strength that worked in a way that we could not. Third, we need to define God’s difference (13-18). We simply tell how God works and delivers in ways that are completely unique to get us to where we are. When we use these verses as a guide to praise God it will be glorious music to God’s ears and to all who hear, which is much better than my clumsy composition for music class. So, let the world hear your song of how God has saved you and how He alone is completely unique and worthy of your praise.

Psalm 19:14
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.

For more see FEAR, FAITH & FOLLOWING

The Wonderful Word

5/5/2021

Psalm 119:129-136
Is the word of God wonderful to you?

1. The Wonderful Word (129)
   Wonderful means something that is unusual, extraordinary, marvelous
   This is a description of God and His word being beyond the normal human experience.

2. The Wonderful Word Working in Us (129-131)
   Motivates our practice (129)
   Gives the greatest insight (130)
   Meets the deepest needs (131)

3. The Wonderful Word Working Through Us (132-133)
   Provides guidance in prayer (132)
   Provides guidance in life (133)

4. The Wonderful Word with Us (134-135)
   God Delivers (134)
   God's Approval (135)

5. The Wonderful Word Moves Us (136)
   Compassion
   Character
   Conduct

For more see PSALM 119

How to Live Faithfully for God

4/28/2021

Psalm 119:121-128
The Word and Opposition

How to Live Faithfully for God When Facing Opposition
1. Be Actively Faithful to God (121)
   Maintain the purity of Godly actions by practicing justice and righteousness

2. Trust God More Than You Fear Oppressors (121-122)
   Seek God’s Presence
Seek God’s Power
Seek God’s Preservation

3. Actively Look for God’s Solution (123)
   Look for how God will save
   Look for God’s fulfilled promise

4. Continue to Serve God (124-125)
   Do not doubt - God is faithful in love
   Be a learner in difficulty
   Be committed to God
   Be committed to God’s ways

5. Request God to Act According to His Word (126)
   God is faithful to His word and His character
   Remain faithful to God even in opposition and continue to communicate with Him

6. Value God’s Word over Compromise (127-128)
   Love God’s word more than treasure
   Practice God’s word - it is a personal treasure

For more see PSALM 119

Six Steps to Develop Loyalty to God

4/28/2021

Psalm 119:113-120
Loyal Devotion to God and the Word

Six Steps to Develop Loyalty to God
1. Priorities are Made Clear (113)
   When you love the word of God you will be loyal to God alone

2. Security is Made Certain (114)
   When you love the word of God you will find God to be your defense

3. Temptations are Confronted (115)
   When you love the word of God you will find that evil loses its appeal

4. Confidence is Practiced (116-117)
   When you love the word of God you will find God to be your deliverer

5. Wisdom is Made Known (118-119)
   When you love the word of God you will become discerning through its teaching

6. Obedience to God Alone (120)
   When you love the word of God you will know the God of His word

For more see PSALM 119

Practice of Thankfulness

11/23/2020

Verse: Psalm 9:1 I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart
Thought: What the heart thinks the mouth says.
Prayer: Lord may my heart be so full of your goodness that my mouth overflows with your praises.

Verse: Psalm 75:1 We give thanks to you O God… for your name (presence) is near
Thought: Though God is not seen His actions make His presence known.
Prayer: Thank you Lord for helping me see you through your wonderful work in my life.

Verse: Psalm 92:1 It is good to give thanks to the Lord, and to sing praises to your name
Thought: Thanks is music to God’s ears.
Prayer: Lord thanks for all you have done. May my praise be music to your ears.

Verse: Psalm 105:1 Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name
Thought: I am most thankful when I have called out and prayed for God’s involvement.
Prayer: Lord, thanks for your faithful listening. May I always declare your greatness to the world.

Verse: Psalm 106:1 Give thanks to the LORD for He is good and his love endures forever
Thought: The love of God cannot be separated from the goodness of God
Prayer: Thank you Lord for the goodness that you pour out through your everlasting love.

Verse: Psalm 119:62 At midnight I rise to give you thanks for your righteous laws
Thought: True righteousness and justice is found in God.
Prayer: Dear Lord, thanks for being the reliable perfect standard of what is right.
For more see Psalms 119

Verse: Psalm 139:14 I will praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made
Thought: God’s design of us is more important than what others think of us.
Prayer: Thank you God for the attention and thought that that you have taken in designing me. May my view of my self accurately reflect how you made me.

For more see Thankfulness

Thankfulness and Faithfulness

11/22/2020

Psalm 107:1-9
As a child I fondly remember receiving birthday presents. As I unwrapped the gifts I became more excited as I realized how useful this gift was or how much fun I could have with this new toy. The problem was that my Mom kept a list of who the presents were from and I was expected to write a short thank you note to each of the people who gave me a gift. I dreaded doing this. I would often put it off as long as possible until my Mom made me sit down and write two or three sentences expressing my thanks. I believe that my parents saw the value of instilling in me, from an early age, the habit of thankfulness. When we are thankful for what we do have we appreciate the blessing of new gifts and the graciousness of the giver. In Psalm 107 the author gives an invitation to give thanks to the Lord. The reason to give thanks is found in God’s faithful display of His love for His people. This Psalm was written about the people of Israel returning to the land after God had punished their continual disobedience. They were wandering (4), in need of food and water (5) and discouraged or faint in their spirit (6). Are you wandering and in need of direction for life? Are you in need of daily provisions? Are you in need of encouragement to replace discouragement? The Lord is good and faithful in showing His unfailing love. Trust Him and praise Him. When we thank God for His past faithfulness we will be able to rest in the present because our faith sees a good, faithful and loving God at work.

For more see Thankfulness

The LORD is Forever Faithful

6/25/2020

Psalm 23:6
How many places have you lived? More than likely we all have moved to a new residence at least once in our lifetime. Moving can be a hassle. There are boxes to pack and things to sort through. The simple guideline is to make three plies, one pile to keep, one pile to give away and one pile to throw away. But in all this we are just changing where we live and some of the things that we live with. We are only changing where we live not who we live with. We can never change the family relationships that we have. Sure we may create physical distance or not live in the same city but we are still related. As David closes Psalm 23 we see him repeat the main idea that he started this Psalm with. In this verse he talks about dwelling in the house of the Lord forever. On the surface this may not seem connected but as we think about it we see a link. A sheep will find goodness and and loyal faithfulness of the shepherd only in the presence of the shepherd. Sheep live with the shepherd under the shepherd’s care, protection and provision. Sheep make their home with their shepherd and there they find rest. David knows the limited span of life for a sheep or himself yet he understands that with the LORD as his shepherd he is able to rest forever in the relationship that he has with His shepherd. Like David we can rest eternally because of an intimate personal relationship with the LORD if we know Him as our shepherd and savior. You see salvation is not based on your perspective of your life, but on your relationship with the LORD as your shepherd.

For more see Psalms 23

The LORD Favors

6/25/2020

Psalm 23:5
I have long been an advocate of disconnecting from the havoc of life and spending some quiet time in contemplation. At this moment I am trying to do that. I am sitting on the front porch listening to a musical. This is the music of nature that the Lord had created for me through birds. I hear the melody of Robins, the staccato chatter of a small territorial Wren, the sharp whistle of Hummingbirds and the background vocals of Chickadees and Sparrows. Recently life has had some severe bumps in the road. Perhaps for you it might be potholes that seemed to swallow you. In Psalm 23:5 David describes how God refreshes and renews him physically and emotionally in the midst of surrounding oppression. As I pause and listen to God’s musical for me I can agree with David that my life is filled with the LORD’s favor and continual renewal.

For more see Psalm 23

The LORD Comforts

5/19/2020

Psalm 23:4
Watching the sun set on the mountains is a comforting sight to behold. The colors change from bright yellow to orange to reds and finally purple just before the sun disappears. The shadows on the mountains from a distance are beautiful, but up close the shadows on the mountains affect you personally and spell the beginning of a long dark night. Without the warmth and light of the sun the mountains can be cold, lonely and even a life threatening place where predators roam. David again recalls his time as a shepherd leading sheep through dark valleys that contained life threatening predators and situations. He mentally revisits how he personally walked with the sheep, protected them with his rod to fend off predators and guided them with his staff to keep them from scattering in fear. David sees that in his darkest times of greatest fear the LORD walks with him, protects him and guides him as His shepherd. The same can true for us. In the darkest of our times the LORD brings comfort with His presence, protection from the display of His power and guidance from His steady hand. Are you struggling through some dark valleys? If you know the LORD as your shepherd He is walking with you, protecting you, guiding you and comforting you. Remember that sheep have nothing to fear if they are in the presence of the shepherd. If you follow the LORD as your shepherd then you will find that fear is replaced with comfort.

For more see Psalm 23

The LORD Restores

5/15/2020

Psalm 23:3
Old cars have been a favorite in my family. There are a number of family members who love to tinker with some old car and get it running or keep it going. Cars are expensive so I have settled on a cheaper version… restoring old machinery. The other year I tore apart an old saw, cleaned it, greased it and reassembled it. The problem this saw had was at the center of its operation. Two bearings the size of golf balls were worn out. Years of use and perhaps abuse had taken their toll. In verse 3 David continues to picture what God does as his shepherd in restoring him too full operational mode. Not only does God provide physically as noted in the previous verse, God also restores the internal emotions to a position of strength and courage to move in a right direction. God works for His sheep physically (vs 2) and emotionally (vs 3) to bring about what is right or beneficial for His sheep. A shepherd that does not lead sheep to places of growth and health is known as a poor shepherd who has a bad reputation of not caring for his sheep. The LORD cares and provides for His people because of His reputable name. Right now you may be in need of inner strength and future direction. Remember that The LORD restores and guides because of His reputation as the good shepherd (see John 10:10).

For more see Psalm 23

The LORD Satisfies

5/14/2020

Psalm 23:2
Years ago I went into a restaurant and ordered a breakfast pastry. The problem was that it was not heated all the way through. It was cold and really not very tasty. My meal was disappointing at best. I find it funny that years later I remember that instance and yet forget the great meals with family or eating at other restaurants. As we examine the second verse of Psalm 23 we see David continue his reference to being a shepherd. As a shepherd he knew what his sheep needed and took them to the places that would provide the food and rest that they needed. The shepherd would also lead his sheep to quiet waters to drink. Most likely this would be a well and the shepherd would draw water and provide water until each animal was completely satisfied. In the same way, David sees that God does this for him. God directs him and places him where he can be refreshed and rested all because the hand of God faithfully met his needs. The same can be true for us today. God is still actively leading us. Are we following the LORD who is our shepherd and are we finding His supply sufficient? When we follow the LORD we do not have to go far to find all that we need, because the best that can be had is always from the hand of our shepherd. We will never be disappointed with unappealing provisions.

For more see Psalm 23

The LORD is My Shepherd

5/13/2020

Psalm 23:1
Today, many of us may not understand the life of a shepherd, but we find great comfort in the simplicity of Psalm 23. David wrote this Psalm and he understood the importance of a shepherd to sheep. As you read the first verse you can see David reflecting on his sheep herding experience. He credits God as his shepherd who provides all that he needs. David never lacks anything because God knows exactly what he needs, just as he knew exactly what the sheep under his care needed. God in His faithfulness and care provides what is needed to the people under His care. David pictures himself as a sheep looking to God as his shepherd for his needs to be met and listening to God for directions in life. This Psalm is more than just a few words on a page. This is a song of praise to God that expresses a deep confident reliance on God as the shepherd who cares for His sheep. This is also a Psalm that was to be learned by others and sung in praise to God. Are you finding all your needs being met in the LORD as your shepherd? Are you confidently communicating praise of the LORD, your shepherd, to others?

For more see Psalm 23

How far does oatmeal fly?

4/14/2020

Psalm 28
Have you ever had one of those mornings… I crawled out of bed and made my way to the kitchen for breakfast where nothing sounded overly appealing. To sooth and unenthused appetite I settled on a bowl of oatmeal. Simple enough…that is what you may think. I managed to locate the bowls in the cupboard and the oatmeal at the opposite end of the kitchen. So far so good as I scooped a half measured cup into the bowl. Then I moved to the sink to add water. Now you need to know that I have done this hundreds of times, but this time was different. As I added water the bowl slipped out of my hand and proceeded to empty its contents all over me and the counter. Now as you observe so far the contents are liquid thus the starchy mess did not stay on me but followed the gravitational pull toward the floor as it oozed over the edge of the counter and down the cabinet. That may be bad enough but the oatmeal fling is not over because somehow in process the bowl was not only dropped but spun. Now for the scientists in the audience there is a concept called centrifugal force where items that are spun get thrown outward from the center point. I hate science because I had oatmeal spread from one end of the kitchen to the other. As I stood there in my half asleep stupor I seriously contemplated going back to bed hoping that this would all go away by the time I got up tomorrow. Well after almost 30 minutes of cleaning and moping up sticky oatmeal with wet bath towels I had a load of wash to do. It was about that time that I decided that oatmeal is a very unhealthy breakfast item. I immediately changed the menu and made a waffle using pancake batter. I am so thankful that I can always find my strength and joy in the Lord as I trust Him each day (Psalm 28:7) and not in a bowl of oatmeal. Oh, you are still wondering how far does oatmeal fly? Sixteen feet… I measured.

Deer Limpy

4/7/2020

Psalm 103
Deer Limpy
I have watched him for several months. He was the single deer who could not keep up with the others so he was often alone, trying to eat what he could as he limped along. So in order to keep all the deer straight I gave him the name Limpy. I don’t know how it happened but his back leg was bothering him to the point that he would not put weight on it. But then the other evening, just before the sun set, I noticed him in the back yard. He was still limping but not as bad. Time does not heal all wounds but for Limpy it has seemed to make it bearable. I wished that I could help, but I could not. For us as people, if we know God’s faithful forgiveness beginning at salvation, we can look back on life and see His faithful healing and praise Him. Psalm 103 is a call to praise God in light of His past action which is based on His sovereign and faithful character. As we recall the faithful actions of God on our behalf the outcome should be praise and worship of our God. David wrote this to remind himself not to forget any of the benefits that God has shown to him. Praise helps us focus on who God is and not on who we want to be or what we think we need. God calls each of us and says, "come to me and allow me to show you my greatness and grace." Reread Psalm 103 and listen carefully; you just might hear God say, "dear limping one… let me work on that."

Where do you go when you hurt?

4/3/2020

Psalm 42
How do you feel today? Broken? Hurt? Hopeless? When we are broken physically we go to the Doctor and get some medicine for an illness, a cast for a broken bone or surgery for something more serious. The Doctor can help if we are broken physically. But where do we go if we are broken emotionally? We may have experienced deep loss of a family member, a broken relationship or the searing damage of untrue words. When we walk through these times we can talk to a friend or perhaps a counselor. However, all too often we may choose to talk to no one because we believe no one cares. Being broken physically or emotionally leads to the third area of being broken spiritually. Perhaps there is the lingering sin that needs God’s grace or the truckloads of emotional scars with no hope of a cure. This is where all hope is gone and there is no possibility for future joy. At this point we believe that no one can heal the hurt, not even God. When life seems at its darkest the possibility for life and new hope shines brightest. God extends His mercy, grace, comfort and healing to those who turn to Him for a cure to their brokenness. The author of Psalm 42 knew the hurt of hopelessness. He says, “put your hope in God for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God (5).” The author knew the pain of physical, emotional and even spiritual loss and yet he found hope in God. No matter how bad you hurt or what you feel today you can still trust God.