Worthy of Our Praise

Psalm 113

English Standard Version (ESV)

113 ^(A)Praise the Lord!
^(B)Praise, O ^(C)servants of the Lord,
    praise the name of the Lord!

^2 (D)Blessed be the name of the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore!
^3 (E)From the rising of the sun to its setting,
    ^(F)the name of the Lord is ^(G)to be praised!

⁴ The Lord is ^(H)high above all nations,
    and his ^(I)glory above the heavens!
^5 (J)Who is like the Lord our God,
    who is seated on high,
⁶ who ^(K)looks far down
    on the heavens and the earth?
⁷ He ^(L)raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
⁸ to make them ^(M)sit with princes,
    with the princes of his people.
⁹ He ^(N)gives the barren woman a home,
    making her the joyous mother of children.
^(O)Praise the Lord!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+113&version=ESV)

Most people will admit that there is a God but many have their own idea of who that God is.  This scripture makes it very clear as to who He is.  He is above all, the ruler of the nations and more majestic than the sky.  He is all powerful.  When we think of the characteristics of a ruler we may think of the ability they have to control our lives.  We might think of those leaders in the past that abused their power and made life miserable for those under them.  As I read this passage I couldn’t help but fear Him!   Yet the passage goes on to describe His tenderness, compassion, and kindness.   

He is a ruler that does not flaunt His power yet is all powerful.  I think of Jesus being arrested, beaten, and crucified, He could have fought back with a realm of angels but chose to be humble and take the sins of this world upon Himself.  Or, I think of all those times that I have heard His name used in vain and have seen the horrible acts of mankind yet He has been patient and not destroyed this world.  That is the type of God we serve!!!!!!  It is easy to serve the One who cares about the poorest of poorest, has compassion for the brokenhearted, and genuinely cares for us.  We can serve without fear of rejection when we serve as He would want us to serve.   But we need to remember that He is also a just and right God who will judge this world with all of His power and might.  So, we must fear and love Him and recognize who He is.

If you are one that uses His name in a lax manner or thinks that He is just a loving God and won’t judge you, remember who He truly is, the ruler of all.  Use His name to bring glory and praise to Him, the only One that truly deserves praise is our God.  I urge you to seek Him and know that He is God.  He is the God of this universe who is ruler over all, who deserves our respect, our love, and our loyalty.  Remember Him and know that He is GOD.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila  

Pleasing Our Father

Psalm 112

English Standard Version (ESV)

112 ^[a] (A)Praise the Lord!
^(B)Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
    who ^(C)greatly delights in his commandments!
² His ^(D)offspring will be mighty in the land;
    ^(E)the generation of the upright will be blessed.
^3 (F)Wealth and riches are in his house,
    and his ^(G)righteousness endures forever.
⁴ Light dawns in the darkness ^(H)for the upright;
    he is gracious, merciful, and ^(I)righteous.
⁵ It is well with the man who ^(J)deals generously and lends;
    who conducts his affairs with justice.
⁶ For the righteous will ^(K)never be moved;
    ^(L)he will be remembered forever.
⁷ He is not ^(M)afraid of bad news;
    his ^(N)heart is firm, ^(O)trusting in the Lord.
⁸ His heart is steady; he will not be afraid,
    until he looks in triumph on his adversaries.
⁹ He has ^(P)distributed freely; he has given to the poor;
    his righteousness endures forever;
    his ^(Q)horn is exalted in honor.
¹⁰ The wicked man sees it and is angry;
    he ^(R)gnashes his teeth and ^(S)melts away;
    ^(T)the desire of the wicked will perish!

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+112&version=ESV)

So are these verses saying that if you walk in the ways of the Lord you will be wealthy?  How do you measure wealth?  I believe that if we walk in the ways of the Lord , His desires of productivity will be in us, that doesn’t mean that we will be filthy rich.   I probably have some former high school students that make more than I do with their associates degree.  So, am I rich?  Are up rich?  This scripture seems to indicate there will be wealth and riches in a home that bears the inheritance of our Heavenly Father. 

First of all, it is my belief, that if you have are working refrigerator in your home, you are wealthy, even if it is half empty.  If you pay your debts, you are rich.  If you know the Lord, you are rich in just being a part of the family.  Let’s go down memory lane yet again.  I can remember always wanting to please my parents.  I would work hard to maintain good grades just so my parents would be pleased.  It wasn’t because they threatened me if I didn’t  and I never got paid for my grades, I simply did it to please the two most important people in my life.  That is how it is for those who fear the Lord. We do all that we do to please Him and as a result we work hard, gain respect and become rich, not filthy rich but blessed rich.  Prosperity doesn’t come simply because we ask but because we seek Him, we desire to please Him, and  we go out and do just that.  . 

 

 

 

Colossians 3:23-24

English Standard Version (ESV)

^23 (A)Whatever you do, work heartily, ^(B)as for the Lord and not for men, ²⁴ knowing that from the Lord ^(C)you will receive the inheritance as your reward. ^(D)You are serving the Lord Christ.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Colossians+3%3A23-24&version=ESV)

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

Got Wisdom?

Psalm 111

English Standard Version (ESV)

111 ^[a] (A)Praise the Lord!
I ^(B)will give thanks to the Lord with my whole heart,
    in the company of ^(C)the upright, in the congregation.
² Great are the ^(D)works of the Lord,
    ^(E)studied by all who delight in them.
^3 (F)Full of splendor and majesty is his work,
    and his ^(G)righteousness endures forever.
⁴ He has ^(H)caused his wondrous works to be remembered;
    the Lord is gracious and merciful.
⁵ He provides food for those who fear him;
    he ^(I)remembers his covenant forever.
⁶ He has shown his people the power of his works,
    in giving them the inheritance of the nations.
⁷ The works of his hands are faithful and just;
    all his precepts are ^(J)trustworthy;
⁸ they are ^(K)established forever and ever,
    to be performed with ^(L)faithfulness and uprightness.
⁹ He sent ^(M)redemption to his people;
    he has ^(N)commanded his covenant forever.
    ^(O)Holy and awesome is his name!
^10 (P)The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
    all those who practice it have ^(Q)a good understanding.
    His ^(R)praise endures forever! (http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+111&version=ESV)

Our God has done and is doing many wonderful works.  He does take care of His people and I can personally attest to that.  Sometimes I think we begin thinking that we are the ones that earn the money and even think that we alone are the ones that control our destiny.  At those times the Lord is quick to step in and make His wonders known to us.  

God provided for my husband and I  personally when I found myself out of a job.   My husband and I found that we were still eating well, with the  refrigerator full and overflowing.  We had to let go of some of those luxuries that we enjoyed, like eating out,  but financially we were sound.  Even though our lives were in turmoil, we knew that God was in control and that He would take care of us.  After all, God had provided my husband with a good job.

This scripture passage gives us many many examples of the power and majesty of our Lord and Savior.  I believe that sometimes this is something that is entirely overlooked in our society today.  People begin to think it is by their own will power that things happen for them.  They feel like they control their destiny and that it is up to them and them alone to bring success to their lives.  Oh, I think that sometimes we are all a bit guilty of this even if we proclaim that God is in control.

I believe that is where the last verse really comes in to play.  In today’s world we talk about God being a God of love, our friend and our companion.  If we were to leave out the last verse in this Psalm you may think that the Psalmist views God as all of the above as well.  He is the provider of our needs but often time we try to use Him as the provider of our wants.  There is a huge difference in those two.  This last verse brings us to reality, we need to fear God if we are going to gain wisdom. 

Often times we have a difficult time knowing exactly why we need to fear Him after all He is love, what is to fear in that?  I have to think back to those years when my earthly dad was raising me.  I feared him and mother too but mostly my dad.  He was absolutely not abusive, he was kind, gentle, fun, and someone I really wanted to spend time with.  Yet, if he had to, he was not afraid to correct me in my wrongful ways.  I wanted to please him and I did not want to get caught disobeying him so when he said something, I listened; when he gave me a direct instruction, I followed it, in essence, when he said to jump I would ask “How high?”.  That is the fear that we should have for the creator of this universe, the creator of us.  We should feel comfortable around Him, enjoy His company, yet know that He is far more than just a friend, He is our Heavenly Father.  Respect Him, Honor Him, Obey Him, and seek Him with all your heart, this is the beginning of wisdom.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

All Powerful God

Psalm 110

English Standard Version (ESV)

A Psalm of David.

110 ^(A)The Lord says to my Lord:
    ^(B)“Sit at my right hand,
^(C)until I make your enemies your ^(D)footstool.”

² The Lord sends forth ^(E)from Zion
    ^(F)your mighty scepter.
    ^(G)Rule in the midst of your enemies!
^3 (H)Your people will ^(I)offer themselves freely
    on the day of your ^(J)power,^[a]
    in ^(K)holy garments;^[b]
from the womb of the morning,
    the dew of your youth will be yours.^[c]
4 (L)The Lord has ^(M)sworn
    and will ^(N)not change his mind,
^(O)“You are ^(P)a priest ^(Q)forever
    after the order of ^(R)Melchizedek.”

⁵ The Lord is at your ^(S)right hand;
    he will ^(T)shatter kings on ^(U)the day of his wrath.
⁶ He will ^(V)execute judgment among the nations,
    ^(W)filling them with corpses;
he will ^(X)shatter chiefs^[d]
    over the wide earth.
⁷ He will ^(Y)drink from the brook by the way;
    therefore he will lift up his head.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+110&version=ESV)

This Psalm may have been written long ago for the hope of the Jewish people and especially for King David.  Yet as I read it today I have to remember that there is truth in it for us today.  That is what is so amazing about the scriptures.  We need to always put Scripture into the context in which it is written yet it can speak to us in our own situations as well.  We have to be careful that we don’t make it what we want it to say but that the Lord guides us to that Scripture and gives us assurance through them.  After all, I believe His word stands today because He has something to tell us.  So what I picked out of this today was,  what God says He does.  God does not break a promise.  If He said it, it is a good as done. 

In our society today we hear of concerns about rulers of this world.  We even complain about them and want them out of office, wondering all along how they made it that far. This Psalm tells me that He is watching and He will, in His time take care of anything that needs to be taken care of.  Rulers may seem powerful to us but God is so far greater powerful than any king on this earth.  As we go about our days, when we have doubts, when we begin to complain, seek Him and know that He is GOD and He keeps His promises.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila 

When Hard Times Come

Psalm 109

English Standard Version (ESV)

Help Me, O Lord My God

To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David.

109 ^(A)Be not silent, O ^(B)God of my praise!
² For wicked and ^(C)deceitful mouths are opened against me,
    speaking against me with lying tongues.
³ They encircle me with words of hate,
    and attack me ^(D)without cause.
⁴ In return for my love they ^(E)accuse me,
    but I ^(F)give myself to prayer.^[a]
5 So they ^(G)reward me evil for good,
    and hatred for my love.

^6 (H)Appoint a wicked man ^(I)against him;
    let an accuser stand ^(J)at his right hand.
⁷ When he is tried, let him come forth guilty;
    let his ^(K)prayer be counted as sin!
⁸ May his ^(L)days be few;
    may ^(M)another take his ^(N)office!
⁹ May his ^(O)children be fatherless
    and his wife a widow!
¹⁰ May his children ^(P)wander about and beg,
    ^(Q)seeking food far from the ruins they inhabit!
¹¹ May ^(R)the creditor seize all that he has;
    may ^(S)strangers plunder the fruits of his toil!
¹² Let there be none to ^(T)extend kindness to him,
    nor any to ^(U)pity his fatherless children!
¹³ May his ^(V)posterity be cut off;
    may his ^(W)name be blotted out in the second generation!
¹⁴ May ^(X)the iniquity of his fathers be remembered before the Lord,
    and let not the sin of his mother be ^(Y)blotted out!
^15 (Z)Let them be before the Lord continually,
    that he may ^(AA)cut off the memory of them from the earth!

¹⁶ For he did not remember to show kindness,
    but pursued ^(AB)the poor and needy
    and ^(AC)the brokenhearted, to put them to death.
^17 (AD)He loved to curse; let curses come^[b] upon him!
    He did not delight in blessing; may it be far^[c] from him!
¹⁸ He ^(AE)clothed himself with cursing as his coat;
    may it ^(AF)soak^[d] into his body like water,
    like oil into his bones!
¹⁹ May it be like a garment that he wraps around him,
    like a belt that he puts on every day!
²⁰ May this be the reward of my ^(AG)accusers from the Lord,
    of those who speak evil against my life!

²¹ But you, O God my Lord,
    deal on my behalf ^(AH)for your name's sake;
    because your ^(AI)steadfast love is good, deliver me!
²² For I am ^(AJ)poor and needy,
    and my heart is stricken within me.
²³ I am gone like ^(AK)a shadow at evening;
    I am ^(AL)shaken off like a locust.
²⁴ My knees are weak ^(AM)through fasting;
    my ^(AN)body has become gaunt, with no fat.
²⁵ I am ^(AO)an object of scorn to my accusers;
    when they see me, they ^(AP)wag their heads.

^26 (AQ)Help me, O Lord my God!
    Save me according to your steadfast love!
²⁷ Let them ^(AR)know that this is your hand;
    you, O Lord, have done it!
^28 (AS)Let them curse, but you will bless!
    They arise and are put to shame, but ^(AT)your servant will be glad!
²⁹ May my accusers be ^(AU)clothed with dishonor;
    may they ^(AV)be wrapped in their own shame as in a cloak!

³⁰ With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord;
    I will ^(AW)praise him in the midst of the throng.
³¹ For he stands ^(AX)at the right hand of the needy one,
    to save him from those who condemn his soul to death.

(http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+109&version=ESV)

For those of you that know me, you know that the past three years my heart has been in turmoil.  I was forced to leave my career because of budget cuts and have not had the opportunity to return.  Never in my career did I have a bad evaluation yet I cannot find another job doing what I loved so much.  I have a heart for kids and especially those who need a little extra attention in order to be successful.  I struggle immensely with this wondering what I did wrong and how I could have made it a better outcome.  Each year, when hiring begins I get my hopes up only to be dashed down again into the depths of despair.  When trying to express my deep deep desire I have been accused of complaining.  I try not to write it in my blog but today I could not help but do so. 

I have a good job where I am appreciated. Yet there is a tug in my heart that tells me that I am not in the right place.  I struggle with that tug of war that goes on inside of me because I want to be where God wants me to be.  If it is where I currently am I want to know it deep deep down in my very soul yet I still have a desire to be where I am not.  Is the grass always greener on the other side?  I have to wonder if the only reason I want back where I was is to prove a point, to make a statement.  Would I be satisfied in that position as much as I used to be?

Today was a day that I cried out once again to the Lord wanting answers.  I have to say that when I read the Psalm I had the think, “That kind of sounds like me.”  I hope I am not as harsh but yet there is a part of me that just wants to be ratified.  I want exposure to the truth and I want more than anything to see justice for those who are less fortunate, I want them to be given a chance.  Verse 22 and 23 describes me, “I am poor and needy and my heart is stricken within me.  I am gone like a shadow at evening; I am shaken off like a locust.”  The next verses don’t describe me quite so much!  It goes further in verse 26 and says “Help me, O Lord my God!  Save me according to your steadfast love!  Let them know that this is your hand; you, O Lord, have done it!”  (My prayer is that I will also know that it is your hand O Lord, my God!)  Resting in His unfailing love is where I need to be.  Thankful for what I do have is what I need to focus on.  Verse 30 “With my mouth I will give great thanks to the Lord; I will praise him in the midst of the throng.” 

My dreams have not come true.  The desires of my heart linger within me.  But what I know, is that when I cry out to Him and seek Him, He answers me all the time.  He tells me through His word that He is there, He is seeing everything and that He cares for me.  Seek Him and know that He cares for you as well.  It is my prayer that those who have read this do not read and think that I am just a complainer, that I need to “get over it” but will read it as me being someone who has a desire and that desire is to be satisfied in the will of my Father God.  Life is hard to understand sometimes but our trust must continually be in Him.  I was just amazed today as I read the scripture that it descried how I have felt for three long years.  And God was telling me that He has this, He is in control.

Seeking Him with all my heart,

Sheila