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Psalms 84 – “There’s No Place Like Home”

Friday, November 13, 2009

Home. Even the pronunciation of the word “home” creates a familiar and pleasant exhale. It’s the familiar smell of your kitchen as you walk in from the garage, home. It’s the sound of your keys being emptied out of your pockets and the soft thud of your shoes finding their place of rest, home. Hearing the gleeful cry of “Daddy” and the scamper of feet chasing closer, home. Your dog’s half attempt to wag it’s tail without getting up and your spouse’s subtle reactive smile when she sees you, home. It is well said, that “there’s no place like home.” Most people can relate to the sense of peace when returning home from a long vacation or a 12 hour day at work. Even greater emotions arise from those returning from war or battle. No matter if your life is simple or you live like a king, “there’s no place like home.”

The Poet often wrote about his love for his family, his nation, and for God. But we catch another verse of  his love in going to the “house of God”. For to David, “there’s no place like God’s home”.

Psalms 84

How lovely is your dwelling place,
O LORD Almighty!

2 My soul yearns, even faints,
for the courts of the LORD;
my heart and my flesh cry out
for the living God.

3 Even the sparrow has found a home,
and the swallow a nest for herself,
where she may have her young—
a place near your altar,
O LORD Almighty, my King and my God.

4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house;
they are ever praising you.

10 Better is one day in your courts
than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
than dwell in the tents of the wicked.

Now if theses word sound familiar, they have been used repeatedly in modern worship songs (i.e. “Better is One Day” by Matt Redman). But where some people may sing in empty repetition, David enunciates in distinct sincerity. David knew who God was, and loved every chance he had to connect with Him. David passionately expressed his heart about how much he loved going to the “House of God”. If you were to read the twelve verses in this chapter, the distinct feeling you would walk away with is that David would rather spend his time with God, than anywhere else. Even if it meant he had to be the greeter at the door (vs 10), he would take any opportunity to be a part of the hospitality of God.

Now I doubt that many people have actually written such dynamic stanzas about how they love to go to Shoreline (except in Lori Saczynski’s Blogs), but I can tell you that there are many people out there who share the same feeling about their relationship with God and with Shoreline. (And if you feel inspired to write one, go ahead.) Whether or not you feel the same way about Shoreline, one cannot argue how David felt about his home “church”. For when David thought of his home church, the Poet smiled. Because with him, “there’s no place like home.”

Written by Dani Karvonen | Comments (3)

Psalm 73 – Worship Changes Everything

Thursday, November 12, 2009

The Psalms, which are basically worship songs or poems, are full of times where the Poet, who is considered to be the premier worshipper in the bible, would question God. What we find is that we can learn a lot about worship by going to the source.

Psalm 73:1-2 “Truly God is good to Israel, to those whose hearts are pure. But as for me, I came so close to the edge of the cliff! My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.

The Poet starts off this Psalm saying, “I almost went over the line; I came too close to the edge of the cliff.” What did he do that caused him to almost go over the edge? The next verse tells us:

Vs. 3-12 “For I envied the proud when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness. They seem to live such a painless life; their bodies are so healthy and strong.
They aren’t troubled like other people or plagued with problems like everyone else.
They wear pride like a jeweled necklace, and their clothing is woven of cruelty.
These fat cats have everything their hearts could wish for!
The scoff and speak only evil; in their pride they seek to crush others.
They boast against the very heavens, and their words strut throughout the earth.
And so the people are dismayed and confused, drinking in all their words.
“Does God realize what is going on?” they ask. “Is the Most High even aware of what is happening?”
Look at these arrogant people – enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

Here the Poet says that he almost blew it because he envied people who didn’t follow or honor God, yet everything was going so well with them. In fact, they even mocked God. He asks the same questions that maybe you have asked. “Why, God, why do they get away with this and You do nothing about it? And I have been faithful to You this whole time!”

Vs. 13-14 “Was it for nothing that I kept my heart pure and kept myself from doing wrong?
All I get is trouble all day long; every morning brings me pain.

We have all done this; looked at other people and then said, “God, I did all of this for You and yet all I get is trouble. This is not fair! Why did I save myself for You?”

Vs 15 “If I had really spoken this way, I would have been a traitor to your people.”

We find out that he really didn’t say anything. This was what he was thinking. That’s why in verse 2 he says, “I nearly slipped. If I would have spoken this way, it would have proved that I really don’t trust you”

Vs. 16-17 “So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper. But what a difficult task it is!
Then one day I went into your sanctuary, then I understood their final destiny.”

“I couldn’t get this out of my mind. I couldn’t figure it out, even when I went to church. But then I worshipped and when I did that, I got a new perspective.”

Vs. 18-28 “Surely you place them on slippery ground; you cast them down to ruin. How suddenly are they destroyed, completely swept away by terrors!
As a dream when one awakes, so when you arise, O Lord, you will despise them as fantasies. When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant; I was a brute beast before you.
Yet I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart my fail, but God s the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Those who are far from you will perish; you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
But as for me, it is good to be near God. I have made the Sovereign Lord my refuge; I will tell all of your deeds.”

His perspectives changed when he worshipped God. We actually see 3 things that happened when he decided to take his attention off of what he saw and put it on God

  1. Worship gave him a new perspective into God.
    There is more to this life than what we see with out eyes. When we worship God, we begin to see things as God sees. And you know what that means, when we see as God sees, we are more inclined to do as God says.
  2. Worship gave him a new perspective into his own soul.
    In Vs. 22, he says he was like a senseless animal. Once he started worshipping God, he got a new perspective of his behavior. Whenever you get a good glimpse of God, you also receive a better a view of yourself – through God’s eyes.
  3. Worship gave him hope.

What if he hadn’t worshipped? What if he had continued to be directed by his feelings? What are you going to do this week when you don’t feel like worshipping? When you are in your car? When you are with your spouse? When you are at work?
The great thing about worship is even though it is not about us, you can worship your way into a new “feeling.” You can praise your way into a new truth.

Written by Eric Partin | Comments (0)

Psalm 63 – Role Model

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Read Psalm 63

Role models are important to society. They serve as inspiration to others. One definition I read defines a “role model” like this: “People who occupy the role to which the individual aspires”. In biblical circles, I think David (The Poet) is one such ROLE MODEL. Most people have heard or read I Samuel 13:14, wherein lies one of Jesus’ infamous quotes that David was a “man after His (God’s) own heart.” Who wouldn’t want to have that said about him? That should be reason in and of itself to aspire to be like David. But after reading Psalm 63, I think you’ll look up to him that much more.

Let me set the scene. David is in the Judean wilderness hiding from Saul. Throughout the chapter, David’s devotion to God is steady as a rock. If I were in his shoes, thinking of God would probably the last thing that would be on my mind. I’d be thinking about the people chasing me. On second thought, I might be thinking about God but only asking him to save me from being caught. David, however, is devoted to God the entire time in such a postive manner. His love for God in this dire situation does not waver and he doesn’t complain about his plight…instead he rejoices in the Lord. How can this be? Three things jump out at me.

David was “GOD CENTERED”. A couple key phrases in the chapter point to this. In verse 1, he says, “I can’t get enough of You.” (Message translation). He says “I will seek You earnestly“. He goes on to say “I will meditate on You in the night”. Then lastly he says, “My soul clings to You.” David was consumed with God throughout his day.

David had a “GOD HUNGER”. Again, in verse 1, it says, “I’ve worked up such a hunger and thirst for God.” That same type of feel is shown in verse 8, when he says, “I hold on to You for dear life…”

David gave “GOD PRAISE”. In verse 3, he says, “Because Your love is better than life, my lips will glorify You.” Then he goes on in verse 4 to say, “I will PRAISE you as long as I live”.

At the end of the day, it’s know how much you know about God, it’s how much you know Him. Verse 5 really struck me. It says, “My soul will be satisfied as with the richest foods“. In the Message version, “richest foods” is translated as “prime rib”. When you hunger for “prime rib”, that’s all you can think about.

The question then becomes, “How much do we think and hunger for God?” I look up to David so much. The dude was thinking on Jesus 24/7! When was the last time you meditated on God, thirsted for Him? When was the last time you told him that “His love is better than life”?

I want to challenge you to spend 15 minutes today meditating on God outside of this devotional. Then do it the rest of the week and see where it goes from there. I’m not saying that life is going to all of a sudden get easy by doing this. I’ve found, however, that the more you spend time with Him, the easier life seems to deal with. What a great example you then will be for others. And who knows, you just might end up being a role model in your inner circle of influence.

Written by Brian Buonassissi | Comments (0)

Psalm 37 – “Lists”

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Read Psalm 37 (NLT)

Read Psalm 37 (MSG)

I don’t know about you, but I love to make lists, i.e.  To do lists, shopping lists, workout lists, etc.  I like lists because it shows me what I accomplished, or didn’t accomplish that day.  Sometimes I make those lists too long then I look at it and think to myself, “This is not going to be a fun day at all!”  But, I know that if I just push myself through it, in the end, I will be excited and feel completely satisfied in my accomplishment.

Several years ago, I came across this Psalm and lists just started jumping out to me.  It was like the psalmist was writing this just for me.  At the time, I had realized that I wanted all that God had for me, but I just wasn’t sure how to access it.  I was constantly asking God what I needed to do, what I needed to pursue, who was I going to marry, what was my purpose.  I continued to pray and ask God, but I felt like He wasn’t showing me anything.  Until this one night in August of 2002, this Psalm just “came alive” to me.  Like I mentioned, a noticeable list jumped out to me.  The list is found in Psalm 37:3-8.

3Trust in the Lord and do good.
Then you will live safely in the land and prosper.
4 Take delight in the Lord ,
and he will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit everything you do to the Lord .
Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn,
and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.

7 Be still in the presence of the Lord ,
and wait patiently for him to act.
Don’t worry about evil people who prosper
or fret about their wicked schemes.

8 Stop being angry!
Turn from your rage!
Do not lose your temper
it only leads to harm.

1.  Trust

2.  Do good

3.  Delight

4.  Commit everything

5.  Trust (again)

6.  Be still

7.  Wait patiently

8.  Don’t worry

9.  Stop being angry

10.  Turn from your rage

11.  Don’t lose your temper

Here is my 11-step process for accessing all God has for me, and it’s not about God telling me specifics, it’s about me trusting, delighting in God, committing everything to Him, being still (Psalm 46:10), and waiting patiently on God, then not worrying about the timing, or getting angry and losing my temper with God because I get frustrated.  Now I am not saying that if you follow this 11-step process you will get a specific result (This is not an infomercial!!!), but what I am saying is that by following these truths in the Psalm, accessing what God has for you, will become a lot easier because you are not focusing on having God give you specifics, but you are focusing on allowing God lead and direct you.

Now, as you continue to read through the rest of the Psalm, you realize what all God does for those who live their life according to “this list”.

18 Day by day the Lord takes care of the innocent,
and they will receive an inheritance that lasts forever.
19 They will not be disgraced in hard times;
even in famine they will have more than enough.

20 But the wicked will die.
The Lord ‘s enemies are like flowers in a field—
they will disappear like smoke.

21 The wicked borrow and never repay,
but the godly are generous givers.
22 Those the Lord blesses will possess the land,
but those he curses will die.

23 The Lord directs the steps of the godly.
He delights in every detail of their lives.
24 Though they stumble, they will never fall,
for the Lord holds them by the hand.

25 Once I was young, and now I am old.
Yet I have never seen the godly abandoned
or their children begging for bread.
26 The godly always give generous loans to others,
and their children are a blessing.

27 Turn from evil and do good,
and you will live in the land forever.
28 For the Lord loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.

He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.
29 The godly will possess the land
and will live there forever.

30 The godly offer good counsel;
they teach right from wrong.
31 They have made God’s law their own,
so they will never slip from his path.

32 The wicked wait in ambush for the godly,
looking for an excuse to kill them.
33 But the Lord will not let the wicked succeed
or let the godly be condemned when they are put on trial.

34 Put your hope in the Lord .
Travel steadily along his path.
He will honor you by giving you the land.
You will see the wicked destroyed.

35 I have seen wicked and ruthless people
flourishing like a tree in its native soil.
36 But when I looked again, they were gone!
Though I searched for them, I could not find them!

37 Look at those who are honest and good,
for a wonderful future awaits those who love peace.
38 But the rebellious will be destroyed;
they have no future.

39 The Lord rescues the godly;
he is their fortress in times of trouble.
40 The Lord helps them,
rescuing them from the wicked.
He saves them,
and they find shelter in him.

I just love how the psalmist lists all the things the “wicked” were trying to do, but then shows how God took care of the “godly”.  If what I need to do to access what God has for me and to walk in His blessings that only He can give, and that’s to simply “LET GO” and surrender my desires to Him, then you know what I will be doing, that’s right, “LETTING GO”.  I know that I will have to remind myself of this, but I want all that God has for me.  How about you?

Written by Esther Posey | Comments (1)

Psalm 34 – Join me!

Monday, November 9, 2009

Read Psalm 34

David wrote this Psalm at a pretty low point in his life. He was so hated in his home country that he ran away. His own father-in-law wanted him dead. The only place he can run to is the Philistine side of the border… the same Philistines whom he’d killed en-masse to make a name for himself. Needless to say, the Philistines weren’t too happy about David just showing up, and David realizes he has to do something drastic. So he feigns insanity. I’m not sure it would have held up in court, but basically David just sits there, rocking back and forth, open mouthed, drooling on himself, drawing on the doors and walls with [the 2000 B.C. equivalent of] crayons and magic markers. The Philistine’s believe the charade, and David—yet again!—escapes unscathed.

If I had just been through that ordeal, the song I wrote would be pretty depressing. I’d be figuring out how to rhyme “my own drool on my chest” with “I’m so depressed”. My psalm would mostly consist of “why does God hate me?” and “How could you let this happen, God?” But above all, I think the underlying theme throughout my lyrics would be “LEAVE ME ALONE, ALREADY!!!”

But not David. Not at all.

“I will praise the Lord AT ALL TIMES”
“My soul will BOAST in the Lord”
“I sought the Lord, and He ANSWERED ME”
“Those who seek the Lord LACK NO GOOD THING”
“A Righteous man may have many troubles, but the Lord DELIVERS him”

Doesn’t sound like the song of a guy who’s on the lam. Doesn’t sound like the lyrics of an innocent man condemned to death. Doesn’t sound like a guy with no light at the end of the tunnel. But more than that, The Poet’s not just excited for himself, but throughout this psalm he invites US to join him. You and me.

“Glorify the Lord WITH ME, let us exalt His name TOGETHER”
“TASTE AND SEE the Lord is good”
“Fear the Lord, YOU HIS SAINTS”
“COME, MY CHILDREN, listen to me; I will teach you”
“WHOEVER OF YOU loves life… keep your tongue from evil”

If David’s telling us to join him, I don’t think we should disappoint him… do you?

Written by Samuel Blowes | Comments (1)

Psalm 19 – Redux

Saturday, November 7, 2009

(Due to a miscommunication, two posts were written for Psalm 19. Consider today a bonus!)

Read Psalm 19

David: The Boy. The Shepherd. The Poet.

I picture David coming up with the opening lyrics of this psalm. Youngest of the brothers. Out looking after his father’s sheep-farming business without so much as a faithful sheepdog. But there he is, laying in the grass, one foot propped up on a knee, hands clasped behind his head, enjoying the beautiful day… and the fact that while everyone else is off working or at war, he’s out with the sheep. While he looks up at the sky, he’s overwhelmed by God’s creativity as clouds flit across the sky. David can’t imagine how anybody could look at the sunset, and not see the hand of an artist at work. He stares up at the innumerable stars, and bright path of the milky way stretching from horizon to horizon, and he sees God’s extravagant handiwork. How could anyone see this, and not believe in God?

David: The Warrior. The King. The Song-Writer.

Now I see David, a seasoned soldier, charged with not just taking care of a flock of sheep, not even just leading a rebel army… but now he is shepherd to a nation. I see David desperately relying on God’s Word to rule the people. David, with no royal lineage or experience, taking his confidence from God’s law in the simple trust that he can’t go too far wrong if he sticks to it, word for word. David, a man thrust into responsibility, falling back on God’s wisdom where his own falls hopelessly short. And as he now has to manage an economy, draft legal policies, pass sound judgement, build an army, maintain a growing family, draw a nation closer to God in worship… he is once again overwhelmed. Not by the majesty of the skies… but by the incalculable richness of hearing God’s voice.

David: The Man of God. The Patriarch. The Psalmist.

And finally, in my mind’s eye, I see David in his last days, reflecting on his long life. Seeing Goliath fall face first in the dirt in the valley of Elah. Remembering the sleepless nights in the cave of Adullam on the run from King Saul. Recounting the happiest moments of his life spent at the palace with his best friend Jonathan. Reliving the pain of Saul and Jonathan’s premature death on the battlefield of Gilboa. Recalling his reign in Hebron, and the conquest of Jerusalem. David’s heart races as he relives the moment he first laid eyes on Bathsheba that fateful day, and his heart stands still as he remembers the worst pain of all… the loss of their child from the affair. And once again, David’s thoughts turn to God. Only God sees his heart, sinful, but repentant. Only God can forgive David where he can’t forgive himself. Only God can cleanse David, so he can stand before his Creator pure and blameless. Here, once again, David is overwhelmed. Overwhelmed by God’s mercy, that his actions and speech, even the deepest, darkest corners of his heart are laid bare before God… and he is accepted.

Written by Samuel Blowes | Comments (0)

Psalm 19 – The Art Of Description

Friday, November 6, 2009

Read Psalm 19

I’ve always been impressed with writers who can take an object and make it come to life through vivid, descriptive detail.  Anyone can describe something with simplicity.  But to make it “come alive” takes much attention to detail and requires much thought.  Poetry seems to evoke this type of writing more than any other.  In Psalm 19, we get to see how the Poet views God’s creations.  The irony is that much like a skilled, descriptive writer, God put into His “creations” the same type of “attention to detail” and “thought”.

 The overall theme of the chapter is that God’s glory and artistry is on display EVERY day if you allow yourself the opportunity to slow down and take it all in.    I love the Message’s version of the Chapter the best.  It says in verse 2, “Madame Day (referring to God) holds classes every morning and Professor Night (also referring to God) lectures every evening.”  Life is a lot like a class.  You only get out of it what you put into it.  You can show up day after day and let the class pass you by.  But those that take the time to make the most of each session of the class can get so much more out of it.

 Living in Destin (which some would refer to paradise) gives us a great opportunity to see this on a daily basis.  October is my favorite time of year because the humidity (which I’ve always joked had to be made by the devil) seems to go away and we get the incredible sunrises and sunsets.  Those “skyline pictures” don’t happen by chance or science.  God specifically picks the colors and like a painter with a clean sketch pad, He designs the skies and paints them for us every day.  I’m awed by that.  Often on my way home at the end of the day, I’ll take an alternate route and drive down old highway 98, roll down the windows and take in all the beauty of these paintings and listen to the sounds of the gulf and thank Him for giving us these little treasures. 

 The Poet goes on and moves from the description of “scenery creations” to God’s “direction for our life” in verses 7-9.   He talks about how God gives us a direct and easy path to follow Him.  Again, we must take the time to look for it or we could easily miss it.  I love the description of God’s reputation.  The poet says, “God reputation is a 24-carat gold with a lifetime guarantee”.  How many things have a lifetime guarantee?  Not many.  And when it comes to a direction for my life, I’m putting my money on the one with the lifetime guarantee.

 God also gave a manual to go through life called “the Bible”.  In verse 10, the Poet describes this manual as better than a” diamond set between emeralds” or “better than red, ripe strawberries”.  I’m not a jewelry type guy.  That’s more of a Hunter Dawson type thing.  For me, I can relate to the food (strawberries).  My birthday is in February and that’s right when the strawberry season starts.    As soon as I see strawberries in the grocery stores,  I know that my birthday is right around the corner.  For years, my mom always made me a birthday cake with tons of strawberries on it.  I started to become quite a connoisseur of strawberries.  You could tell the bad or mediocre ones right away.  They tasted terrible and would leave your mouth with a sour taste.  But the plump, colorful strawberries….man there’s nothing better.  The point the Poet is trying to get across here is that the Bible is the crème de le crème of books.  If you’re going to read one, this is the book!

 The closing of the chapter is a prayer to God from the Poet to always keep him in awe of God’s work.  He says specifically, “Keep me from thinking that I can take over Your work”.  You ever sometimes try to play God?  I’m not saying from the “creation” standpoint.  But maybe in a “judgment sense” or from a “direction” standpoint.  Rather than looking to the scriptures for advice or seeking Godly counsel, you decide to make decisions based on your own human reasoning.  How many times did those decisions turn out the way you thought?  My guess would be not as many as the ones where you sought God. 

 As you go through your day today, I encourage you take the time to take in all God’s creations.  From scenery to your family to where you personally are in life.  God has a purpose for this day.  Don’t let it slip by.

Written by Brian Buonassissi | Comments (0)

Psalm 18 – No Sedatives

Thursday, November 5, 2009

I always hated it when we attempted to write poetry in school. I hated it because I wasn’t good at it. I wasn’t good at it because I didn’t try. I didn’t try because I wasn’t interested in it. Just give me some numbers to add up so I can finish it, then go outside and play.

When it came to reading poetry, I fared a little better. In eighth grade I took 2nd place in the poetry interpretation at the county speech and drama tournament with my rendition of Rudyard Kipling’s Gunga Din. I can still remember it now; “You’re a better man than I am, Gunga Din.”

What really bothered me was the poetry that didn’t make sense. It was like you had to read it with a Yoda voice to understand it.

Well, since this month we are doing devotions for our series The Poet, I thought I would give another shot at writing poetry. Here it goes:

Psalm 18:30-33,49

As for the Lord,
His way is perfect.
His word doth work;
The outcome it does affect.

He is a shield,
For us to hide.
In Him I will trust,
The same for you decide.

For who is God,
Except the Lord?
Who give thy strength,
In His way accord.

He makes my feet
Much like a deer.
Standing strong in places high,
With peace lest I fear.

So for here to now,
Are thanks I give.
Peace I now have
And never take a sed-a-tive.

Now, I understand why poets make their lines all mixed up; it is because that is the only way to rhyme.

Read Psalm 18

I really like how the amplified puts vs. 33. Check this out: He makes my feet like hinds’ feet [able to stand firmly or make progress on the dangerous heights of testing and trouble]; He sets me securely upon my high places.

When I read this, I get this picture of a mountain goat or an elk up in the altitudes on the side of 14,000-foot cliff. The hindquarters on these animals are incredibly strong, enabling them to jump huge distances, propelling them up steep slopes, and maintaining excellent footing on rocky slopes. The Poet, who was no stranger to troubles, says in that trouble, God equips him to handle it. Like God designed the elk for the high, rocky slopes, He has designed us to make progress in the dangerous heights of testing and tribulation.

If you go back to the beginning of this Psalm, before it even starts, it says that the Poet sang this song to the Lord when the Lord delivered him from the hands of his enemies.

There are a couple of things that stand out to me that have helped me view the times when I am “going through it.”

  1. He has equipped you to handle trials, tests and trouble. He knew what He was doing when He created the deer and the elk. He knew where their habitat would be and He equipped them to not just survive in those environments, but to thrive in those environments. He has equipped you to do more than just survive during troubled times, but to thrive during troubled times.
  2. Because you are equipped, you will stand strong and make progress during those tough times.
  3. Don’t run from those times. What is happening in your life didn’t catch God off guard. He allowed you to be there. You wouldn’t be there if He didn’t think you were ready. Those times are tests. When you pass tests, you move up to the next level. To get to the next level that God has for you, you are going to have to take the test. But God has already given you what you need to pass the test. I had a teacher in Bible college who would tell us exactly what was going to be on the test. God has given you what you need to pass the test.

What test or trouble are you facing today? God has set you upon those high places of testing and trouble, but yet He has created you to thrive in that environment. This thought alone should give you the confidence you need.

Written by Eric Partin | Comments (0)

Psalm 13 – “Do you trust me?”

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Read Psalm 13

One of the things that caught my eye right away was in the first two verses, David asked God, not one time, but four times, “How Long?”  How many of you can say to yourself, “Man, I am just like David!”  I can!  There’s been many times where I’ve asked God, “How Long” until this happens, “How Long” until that happens.  I’m guilty of shaking my fist at God wondering how things will work out.  I’ve cried, I’ve yelled, I’ve spun the wheels in my head trying to figure things out, and have worried over things that I just simply needed to trust God with.

In this Psalm, David is worried about “enemies” getting the best of him.  Your enemies don’t always have to be an actual person.  Your enemy could be something that steals your joy.  David wanted to look life in the eye and stand strong, but felt completely alone.  BUT, and that’s a big but, David remembered how God had delivered him the past.  In verses 5 & 6, David says this:

5 But I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you have rescued me.
6 I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.

Did you notice that David said “I trust in your unfailing love.  I will rejoice because you HAVE RESCUED me.  I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.  You may have questions as to when God will answer you or you may feel completely disconnected from God because of things that have gone on in your life.  You may not even be able to remember when God came through for you last because it seems so long ago.  The important thing is to remember that God does have a plan and purpose for your life.  A plan for you to prosper and be successful (Jeremiah 29:11).  And that all things work together for good to them that love the Lord and are called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28).  This doesn’t mean that things will always work out the way “WE” think they should, but that if we put our trust completely in God and who and what He says He is, then we can stand confidently and look life in the eye and take on whatever comes our way.

Written by Esther Posey | Comments (0)

Psalms 3 – “Kicking in Your Teeth”

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

If you want to create immediate tension in a room with mixed company, just begin talking about MMA. Mixed Martial Arts can create a heart pumping excitement for some while fostering a heart felt disdain for others. Perhaps it’s the savage violence, or the authentic display of hand to hand skills that polarize public opinion. Realistically, most supporters of MMA have never actually fought in a cage, but somehow can identify with the mindset of the fighter. Most people do not know what it feels like to bust someone in the mouth, but probably have imagined doing it to a bully, neighbor, or co-worker. But is it possible for someone who has fought hand to hand, who has a past of violence and ruthless courage to be able to focus their heart to show God’s love? Is it possible for those who only express violence in the anonymity of their own daydreams or video games to be able to find solace and refuge in God?

“The Poet” is known for inspiring countless songs, authors, and even world leaders. His authentic expressions of love, fear, faith, and an unswerving trust in God has become the standard for most of the modern worship music and traditional hymns. But what best denotes David is his uncensored pen and real life authenticity. In Psalms 3 there are only eight verses, but they reflect this King’s frame of mind and tone of  his heart.

Psalms 3:1-8  “1 O LORD, how many are my foes! How many rise up against me! 2 Many are saying of me, ”God will not deliver him.” 3 But you are a shield around me, O LORD; you bestow glory on me and lift up my head. 4 To the LORD I cry aloud, and he answers me from his holy hill. 5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me. 6 I will not fear the tens of thousands drawn up against me on every side. 7 Arise, O LORD! Deliver me, O my God! Strike all my enemies on the jaw; break the teeth of the wicked. 8 From the LORD comes deliverance. May your blessing be on your people.”

Real feelings, real passion, and even real violence. You will probably never hear a worship song using the phrase “Striking my enemies on the jaw and breaking their teeth.”  But David’s heart was not focused on violence, even though he was definitely no stranger to it. He did not delight in violence but in finding peace with God. His heart was on serving God. And his poetry, songs, and journals reflect his uncensored heart as he communicated with God and led his nation. What I learn from David is that I can express to God everything. God is not squeamish of my true feelings, even if they are misguided and unbalanced. What we read in Psalms 3 is what David really felt. And he wanted to talk to God about it. And in that process he works though his feelings and finds resolve that his deliverance ultimately comes from God. For a man who stood up to defeat Goliath, David shows greater courage in being transparent with God and his community.

So even if you never wear a “Tapout” t-shirt or know who Kimbo Slice is, you can show the same courage as David by expressing your true thought and feelings to God. God is not grossed out with the details of our life and the content of our emotions. When it comes to communicating with God, he likes it best when there are “no holds bared”. Just Bring it.

Written by Dani Karvonen | Comments (1)