Joy Unspeakable

Psalm 30

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Psalm of David. A song at the dedication of ^(A)the temple.

30 I will ^(B)extol you, O Lord, for you have drawn me up
    and have not let my foes ^(C)rejoice over me.
² O Lord my God, I ^(D)cried to you for help,
    and you have ^(E)healed me.
³ O Lord, you have brought up my soul from ^(F)Sheol;
    you restored me to life from among those who ^(G)go down to the pit.^[a]

⁴ Sing praises to the Lord, O you ^(H)his saints,
    and ^(I)give thanks to his holy name.^[b]
5 (J)For his anger is but for a moment,
    and ^(K)his favor is for a lifetime.^[c]
(L)Weeping may tarry for the night,
    but ^(M)joy comes with the morning.

⁶ As for me, I said in my ^(N)prosperity,
    “I shall never be ^(O)moved.”
⁷ By your favor, O Lord,
    you made my ^(P)mountain stand strong;
you ^(Q)hid your face;
    I was ^(R)dismayed.

⁸ To you, O Lord, I cry,
    and ^(S)to the Lord I plead for mercy:
⁹ “What profit is there in my death,^[d]
    if I go down to the pit?^[e]
Will ^(T)the dust praise you?
    Will it tell of your faithfulness?
^10 (U)Hear, O Lord, and be merciful to me!
    O Lord, be my helper!”

¹¹ You have turned for me my mourning into ^(V)dancing;
    you have loosed my sackcloth
    and clothed me with gladness,
¹² that my ^(W)glory may sing your praise and not be silent.
    O Lord my God, I will give thanks to you forever!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2030&version=ESV)

As a child I can remember getting upset about things and just going to my room and taking a nap.  When I awoke from my nap I was no longer upset, I was refreshed, and it was a new beginning.  In this passage David is telling us there will be difficult times in our lives but if we stick to our faith during the difficult times then we will have joy when daybreak comes.  When we can see the light at the end of the tunnel we know that our Lord is guiding us to Him.

It is very easy to celebrate the joy of the Lord when we have things to celebrate, when life is good, when we prosper in wealth and in health.  It is easy to say that the Lord has been gracious and that He is good when things are going our way.  But what happens when life gets a little tough.  Do we sleep like I did as a child?  Do we give praise to our Lord and Savior?  Or do we go and hide away so no one can see us?  Do we hold tight to our faith?  David recognizes that the Lord is the Lord in good times and in bad.  He realizes that God has not left but that maybe God is not looking down on David favorably.  David knows there are consequences to sin and he recognizes that God is the One in control and the one who can remove the burden of sin.  He recognizes that he needs to repent to only One, and that is God.

There is only One who can take the trials and tribulations of this world and turn them into joy.  There is only One who can forgive.  His anger is short but His love is everlasting.  There is only One that we need to be ever grateful to.  During our times of suffering, He is there.  In our times of joy He is there.  The question is, do we recognize Him, the light at the end of the tunnel, or do we crawl up into a ball and go to sleep?

As you seek Him, find joy in knowing that He is our source of strength, peace, and victory in times of trouble and in times of prosperity. 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

His Amazing Voice

Psalm 29

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Psalm of David.

29 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,^{[a]
    (A)}ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
² Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
    worship the Lord in ^(B)the splendor of holiness.^[b]

³ The voice of the Lord is over ^(C)the waters;
    the God of glory ^(D)thunders,
    the Lord, over many waters.
⁴ The voice of the Lord is ^(E)powerful;
    the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.

⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;
    the Lord breaks ^(F)the cedars of Lebanon.
⁶ He makes Lebanon to ^(G)skip like a calf,
    and ^(H)Sirion like a young ^(I)wild ox.

⁷ The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire.
⁸ The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;
    the Lord shakes the wilderness of ^(J)Kadesh.

⁹ The voice of the Lord makes ^(K)the deer give birth^[c]
    and strips the forests bare,
    and in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned over ^(L)the flood;
    the Lord sits enthroned ^(M)as king forever.
¹¹ May the Lord give ^(N)strength to his people!
    May the Lord bless^[d] his people with ^(O)peace!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%2029&version=ESV)

Wow, the voice of the Lord has such a resounding command that even the clouds, the oceans, the forest and the deer listen to Him.  Do we listen to Him?  Do we recognize Him in a thunderstorm?  Do we recognize Him at the birth of our child?    Every part of our being, our existence, is because of His voice.  So many times we get so caught up in the science of things that we forget that our God is the creator of that science.  There would be no thunderstorm, there would be no lightening, and there would be no birth if He would not have spoken them into existence.

The resounding command of His voice speaks and creation responds.   Yet His voice is described in I Kings 19:12 as a low whisper.  When I give a command it is not in a quiet voice.  Can you imagine telling your children “pick up your toys” in a whisper?  It probably wouldn’t have much of an effect.  Yet our Lord is so powerful it doesn’t take a firm, loud, boisterous voice for anything to happen.  Just speaking the command, even in a whisper, will get the job done.  When I think about that, I realize just how powerful of a God that I serve.  To think He calls me “friend” is above comprehension.  If it were not for Him I would not be in existence nor would the people that I love.  It is far beyond my understanding why everyone cannot see His majesty in the wonders of this world. 

As you seek Him today, recognize Him in the thunderstorm, recognize Him in the ocean waves, recognize Him even in the earthquake, and remember that all of it is because of His still small voice.  Stop, look, and listen for Him today.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila  

Strength Comes from the Lord

Psalm 28

English Standard Version (ESV)

Of David.

28 To you, O Lord, I call;
    ^(A)my rock, be not deaf to me,
lest, if you ^(B)be silent to me,
    I become like those who ^(C)go down to the pit.
^2 (D)Hear the voice of my pleas for mercy,
    when I cry to you for help,
when I ^(E)lift up my hands
    ^(F)toward your most holy sanctuary.^[a]

³ Do not ^(G)drag me off with the wicked,
    with the workers of evil,
^(H)who speak peace with their neighbors
    while evil is in their hearts.
^4 (I)Give to them according to their work
    and according to the evil of their deeds;
give to them according to the work of their hands;
    ^(J)render them their due reward.
⁵ Because they ^(K)do not regard the works of theLord
    or the work of his hands,
he will tear them down and build them up no more.

⁶ Blessed be the Lord!
    For he has ^(L)heard the voice of my pleas for mercy.
⁷ The Lord is my strength and ^(M)my shield;
    in him my heart ^(N)trusts, and I am helped;
my heart exults,
    and with my ^(O)song I give thanks to him.

⁸ The Lord is the strength of his people;^[b]
    he is ^(P)the saving refuge of his anointed.
⁹ Oh, save your people and bless ^(Q)your heritage!
    ^(R)Be their shepherd and ^(S)carry them forever.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2028&version=ESV)

Recently our pastor had a sermon on where our strength comes from.  His illustration was taken from Luke 22:31-34, ^(A)Satan demanded to have you,^[a] (B)that he might sift you like wheat, ³² but ^(C)I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, ^(D)strengthen your brothers.” ³³ Peter^[b] said to him, “Lord, I am ready to go with you both ^(E)to prison and ^(F)to death.” ^34 (G)Jesus^[c] said, “I tell you, Peter, the rooster will not crow this day, until you deny three times that you know me.”

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2022:%2031-34&version=ESV)

 

The point of his sermon that stuck out to me is that we should not try to do anything on our own strength but on the strength that comes from the Lord.  Peter thought he was strong enough to follow Jesus, even when Jesus was not the most popular person around, yet when he could not have communion with Christ, he fell away.  It is true for us as well when we fail to have communion with our Lord and Savior.  When we try or think we can do it on our own, that is when satan attacks.  Yet we know that the second part of that prayer was answered when Christ said that He prayed that Peter would strengthen His brothers when he returned to the fellowship with the Lord.  Peter did just that, he strengthened his brother once he had a solid communication with the Lord.

As I read this scripture I also thought about the woman that was about to be stoned because of her adultery.  It was evident that she had sinned, everyone knew about it and she was about to be stoned to death for it.  Christ though stopped the stoning and the men left.  Once everyone was gone Christ told her to “go and sin no more.”  Many times we walk around and people really don’t know our sins.  They may know some of our faults or flaws but they don’t know our heart and our thoughts.  Other times our sin is evident and everyone knows.  That is when Christ says, like to the woman, “go and sin no more”.  Now that is really easy to say but without the strength and companionship in Christ, it is impossible to do. 

Our Father doesn’t ask us to do anything on our own and David knew that.  David knew that the only way he would make it through his trials was through the Lord and the strength that only He can give.  He prayed that he wouldn’t fall into the trap of this world and that is exactly what we need to do.  We don’t have to be going through a trial or a temptation in order to call for His strength.  We need to do that daily.  We need to recognize that our strength comes from the Lord and we can do nothing on our own.  When we do the battle because Christ will be fighting it for us.

There is only one way that we can resist evil around us and that is through communion with our Father by seeking Him with all our hearts,

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

In the Shelter of the Lord

Psalm 27:5-10

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ For he will ^(A)hide me in his shelter
    in the day of trouble;
he will conceal me under the cover of his tent;
    he will ^(B)lift me high upon a rock.

⁶ And now my ^(C)head shall be lifted up
    above my enemies all around me,
and I will offer in his tent
    sacrifices with shouts of ^(D)joy;
^(E)I will sing and make melody to the Lord.

^7 (F)Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud;
    be gracious to me and answer me!
⁸ You have said, ^(G)“Seek^[a] my face.”
My heart says to you,
    “Your face, Lord, do I seek.”^{[b]
9     (H)}Hide not your face from me.
Turn not your servant away in anger,
    O you who have been my help.
Cast me not off; forsake me not,
    ^(I)O God of my salvation!
¹⁰ For ^(J)my father and my mother have forsaken me,
    but the Lord will ^(K)take me in.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:%205%20-%2010&version=ESV)

Sometimes we find ourselves in the midst of trouble and we feel rejected by everyone.  In David’s case he was even rejected by his parents.   We may think that there is no place to go but there is, in the shelter of the Lord.  In those times of trouble we have a choice to run to the Lord or run away from Him.  Why would anyone want to run away from the only one that can truly protect us and the only One that can rightfully judge us?  Christ is the One true King who will not forsake His beloved.  When Christ was on the cross and said, “My God, My God, why have you forsaken me?”  it was because Christ now had all the sin of the world upon Him and was separated from the Father.  Christ did this for us, so that we would not ever have to be separated from the Father.  The pain that Christ felt at that moment was the pain that unbelievers will feel when they are eternally separated from God.  Yet, as believers we can rest assured that Christ is with us and will not turn His face away from us. 

When we find ourselves in trouble, whether from our own guilt or because of circumstance our Lord will forgive.  Although we have to face consequences for those actions, our Lord still loves us.  He has put His seal upon us and nothing can separate us from Him.  Unlike earthly parents who may disown a child, our Lord does not disown us. 

In good times or bad, we need to seek His face.  We need to cry out as David did that He not hide His face from us.  Forgiveness comes from the Lord as we seek His face.  He will not forsake us or turn His back upon us for He loves His children and we must not turn from Him.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila

This Is Not Our Home

Psalm 27:1-4

English Standard Version (ESV)

Of David.

27 The Lord is my ^(A)light and my ^(B)salvation;
    ^(C)whom shall I fear?
The Lord is the stronghold^[a] of my life;
    of whom shall I be afraid?

² When evildoers assail me
    to ^(D)eat up my flesh,
my adversaries and foes,
    it is they who stumble and fall.

^3 (E)Though an army encamp against me,
    my heart shall not fear;
though war arise against me,
    yet^[b] I will be confident.

^4 (F)One thing have I asked of the Lord,
    that will I seek after:
that I may ^(G)dwell in the house of the Lord
    all the days of my life,
to gaze upon ^(H)the beauty of the Lord
    and to inquire^[c] in his temple.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2027:%201%20-%204&version=ESV

Times of trouble come to us all.  What is great trouble for one person may be merely an inconvenience for another.  One thing is for sure, we have a God who will go to battle for us.  We have no need to fear our enemies but yet we do fear them.   Why?   If we would merely put our trust in Him there is absolutely nothing we should fear.  That is so very easy to say and even easy to believe until troubles face us.

When we fix our eyes on eternity it doesn’t really matter what this life holds for us because we know that there will be a time that we will no longer have to face the trials of this life.  There will come a time when we can spend eternity with our Father in Heaven.  As we put our lives into an eternal perspective, there is nothing on this earth that we should fear.  Even though our life as we know it is taken from us, no one but THE FATHER has the right or the ability to take our eternal life from us.

As you go about your day today, be it an ordinary day or a day of trials and tribulations, may you remember to seek Him and remember that this life is not our home.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

Integrity

Psalm 26

English Standard Version (ESV)

Of David.

26 Vindicate me, O Lord,
    for I have walked in my integrity,
    and I have trusted in the Lord without wavering.
² Prove me, O Lord, and try me;
    test my heart and my mind.^[a]
3 For your steadfast love is before my eyes,
    and I walk in your faithfulness.

⁴ I do not sit with men of falsehood,
    nor do I consort with hypocrites.
⁵ I hate the assembly of evildoers,
    and I will not sit with the wicked.

⁶ I wash my hands in innocence
    and go around your altar, O Lord,
⁷ proclaiming thanksgiving aloud,
    and telling all your wondrous deeds.

⁸ O Lord, I love the habitation of your house
    and the place where your glory dwells.
⁹ Do not sweep my soul away with sinners,
    nor my life with bloodthirsty men,
¹⁰ in whose hands are evil devices,
    and whose right hands are full of bribes.

¹¹ But as for me, I shall walk in my integrity;
    redeem me, and be gracious to me.
¹² My foot stands on level ground;
    in the great assembly I will bless the Lord.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%20%2026&version=ESV

The last two verses of Psalm 26 reflects how I want to live but the verses prior to it tell us how we can walk fulfill that goal.  If you really stop and think about it, integrity does not come from being idle.  It does not come from hanging around with the wrong crowd.  There is something to be said about who we hang out with.  When I was a principal I always told my students to choose friends that brought the best out in them not the worst.  Why would I say that?  It is because those who we hang out with are the ones that we are going to most likely imitate

Where does Christ dwell?  Not in the tabernacle, holy of holies, that was destroyed when Christ died on the cross for our sins.  If you know Him, He dwells within you.  He is there ready to guide and direct us.  Direct us away from those who have evil thoughts and actions, yet, we must, as David did, proclaim and live out our faith. 

This is only possible when we put Him our trust in Him and allow Him to guide us in the right direction.  David did not put his faith in his own integrity because he knew he alone would stumble and fall.  He put his trust in the Lord who gave him the strength and the desire to live a life worthy of his calling.  He was not perfect and even though he tried to live a life of integrity he fell as can we if we do not continually seek Him and His ways.

As you seek Him may you live a life that is worthy, not on your own strength but with the guidance of the Holy Spirit. 

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila