Psalms 86:11-12
"Teach me your way, O LORD,
and I will walk in your truth;
give me an undivided heart,
that I may fear your name.
12 I will praise you, O Lord my God, with all my heart;
I will glorify your name forever."
Besides being the ultimate hand-burner and team-builder, the game of tug-of-war is a perfect example of what happens when two opposite forces combat each other and pull in different directions. The amount of energy exhorted by each team is massive in order to overcome the others, and the flag in the middle seems to advance in no specific direction as it moves a few inches to the left before being pulled a foot to the right.
Similarly, a divided heart could potentially be as tiring and frustrating as the famous field-day competition: exorbitant amounts of energy and effort may be poured into your walk with God, but with division comes immediate competition, and your progress will lack respectively, going from side-to-side like the flag in the game. Eventually, one side is going to win, leaving you exhausted and hopeless as you give in to the fight.
Just yesterday, I was reminded of how many things distract me. Facebook, TV, and texting, specifically have been vying for my attention. I find that I enjoy such things when I partake in them, but feel empty minutes after I'm done.
John 6:35 says, “Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty.” Jesus claims that we won't want more and that we'll be satisfied once we partake on "his team." It's with this understanding of God's completeness for us that Psalms 86 is able to be fulfilled in our lives. Once our perspective changes in that we realize how much God is all we need, that God will give us an undivided heart, one particularly that doesn't wage war against itself. With one focus, one desire, one passion, one love, progress in worship can therefore be made.
It's about time for the rope to drop and the whistle to blow.
God, I'm done fighting. Help me to overcome this division in my life and open my eyes to your provision in my life. You are all I need to be satisfied. Thank you for revealing that truth; by your grace, bless me with an undivided heart, that you might be served wholeheartedly in everything I do. Let's move on together oh God, that your Kingdom would advance and that your Name would be known in my life and in those around me.
In Jesus Name, Amen.
*If you would like encouragement on this topic, check out the song, "Cry In My Heart" by Starfield
Thursday, December 3, 2009
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
All Too Familiar
"SSSSSSShhhhhhwwwoosh!"
This morning, I was awakened by the sound of the street cleaner, its brushes making a continuous sound against the pavement and water residue from the rain before. If I hadn't known any better, I would have imagined it to be the end of the world as a giant monster's breath was getting closer to my house with every second that passed by. But no, it was simply the street cleaner, and my childlike fantasies were corrected by my understanding of it's actual form.
However, this wake-up call triggered something else in my mind as I turned and readjusted myself in bed. I was brought back to the first time I had heard the street cleaner, or any strange noise for that matter, and was reminded of the immediate fear that rushed in my bones to the unfamiliar sounds. Being younger in age, I had not yet experienced the object, and therefore, the insecurity would cause anxiety to bubble up from within. Yet now, because of my constant interaction with such things, the flame of fear has dwindled to a flicker, if anything, as everything has become so familiar.
Almost too familiar.
In John 8, Jesus talks about two types of "families" when talking about children: children of God and children of the Devil. Now, evidently, Romans 8:12-16 makes it clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and believe that He is the Son of God, then we too take on that same persona; Jesus took our place, and now we are able to take His. Therefore, we are children of God, receiving full the inheritance and the blessings that comes from that (1 Peter 1:3-5). Certainly, we've heard this before, right?
If this is to be true (which it is, solely based on the fact that God's Word is true and everlasting, see Psalms 33:4), then where is our home? From this standpoint, if we are in God's family, our home would be found with Him, making us "visitors" or "aliens" to the earth. However, my experience this morning led me to realize a certain conviction that I've been ignorant too: I may be a child of God, but my lifestyle is one infatuated with a strange land. It suddenly became apparent to me how little I know of my heavenly home and how much I find comfort in this temporary dwelling of earth. With that understanding, I've come to realize the urgency I suddenly have to better understand my real home, in order that I might not walk in hypocrisy any longer.
This morning, I was awakened by the sound of the street cleaner, its brushes making a continuous sound against the pavement and water residue from the rain before. If I hadn't known any better, I would have imagined it to be the end of the world as a giant monster's breath was getting closer to my house with every second that passed by. But no, it was simply the street cleaner, and my childlike fantasies were corrected by my understanding of it's actual form.
However, this wake-up call triggered something else in my mind as I turned and readjusted myself in bed. I was brought back to the first time I had heard the street cleaner, or any strange noise for that matter, and was reminded of the immediate fear that rushed in my bones to the unfamiliar sounds. Being younger in age, I had not yet experienced the object, and therefore, the insecurity would cause anxiety to bubble up from within. Yet now, because of my constant interaction with such things, the flame of fear has dwindled to a flicker, if anything, as everything has become so familiar.
Almost too familiar.
In John 8, Jesus talks about two types of "families" when talking about children: children of God and children of the Devil. Now, evidently, Romans 8:12-16 makes it clear that when we accept Jesus Christ as our Lord and Savior and believe that He is the Son of God, then we too take on that same persona; Jesus took our place, and now we are able to take His. Therefore, we are children of God, receiving full the inheritance and the blessings that comes from that (1 Peter 1:3-5). Certainly, we've heard this before, right?
If this is to be true (which it is, solely based on the fact that God's Word is true and everlasting, see Psalms 33:4), then where is our home? From this standpoint, if we are in God's family, our home would be found with Him, making us "visitors" or "aliens" to the earth. However, my experience this morning led me to realize a certain conviction that I've been ignorant too: I may be a child of God, but my lifestyle is one infatuated with a strange land. It suddenly became apparent to me how little I know of my heavenly home and how much I find comfort in this temporary dwelling of earth. With that understanding, I've come to realize the urgency I suddenly have to better understand my real home, in order that I might not walk in hypocrisy any longer.
- First, I must get to know my Father. Spending time in prayer and His Word allows me to understand his perspective, and character, along with strengthening my relationship with him.
- Second, I must "die" to myself. This may sound tragic, but it's actually a beautiful image. Jesus knows we can't live a "double-life," so he urges us to give up the dust in Mark 8:34, in order that we might grab hold of the gold he has in store for us. To grasp onto one thing, we must let go of another.
- Third, I must allow for a mind transformation. Romans 12:1-2 says it all: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."
God, help me not to conform, but be transformed, that your daughter would be true to her father, and become oh-so-familiar with her true family line. Thank you, Lord.
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Psalms 91: "I Am With You--Do Not Be Afraid."
"Liane... Liane..."
My eyes seemed glued-shut from my deep REM sleep just moments before, and my first instinct left me wishing I had a lock on my door. But the voice continued, softening my heart and opening my ears.
"Can I just tell you something?"
I remained "asleep," but listened intently to my six-year-old sister's whisper.
"I was sleeping and I had a bad dream last night...and I couldn't really see anything. And 'den I saw bright colors," she stammered. "And 'den I just heard this voice, and I thought it was mommy or daddy, so I tried to call to them...the voice said, 'Rissi. Rissi. I am here with you, don't be afraid.' And then this morning, I went downstairs and asked mommy and daddy why they had called me, and they said that they didn't. So, it was God!"
With that, my mind was wide awake, but my eyes were still heavy from the a late Friday night on the computer. Still, I felt that I story like that needed some sort of acknowledgement.
"That's great, baby," I whispered. "That's so cool."
Growing up with a six-year-old sister has often reminded me the wonders of a childlike faith and humbled me in learning from the young, innocent mind. With that being said, her anecdote was exactly what I needed to wake up to this morning, and it led me back to Psalms 91, which I had been reading a lot last week:
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Last night, my dad (the God-given 24/7 counselor in my life...thank you ,dad!) and I were examining my schedule as we do about every month-and-a-half. Too often, my life gets dangerously too busy and jam-packed with activities, engagements, and promises that I am obligated to fulfill. It's around the fifth week of this (and these specifics aren't exact; I'm exaggerating to better explain the dilemma) that I begin to feel spiritually and emotionally drained, leaving me frustrated and trapped. As we sat in the living room last night, he asked me a startling question, which later led me to reflect on Psalms 91. He had asked what it was that drove me to do so many things, and left me with this analysis that left me awestruck at the accuracy and insight of my father, along with puzzled as to what to do next: "I believe you are driven by fear," he said.
"Fear of what?" I asked.
"Fear of disappointing God. Me. Yourself," he answered. Wow. Deep down within me, I knew he was right. My insecurity rooted in fear is expressed in a busy and overwhelmed schedule. I couldn't believe I had lived this many years with this root within me. Now, my thoughts lingered to wonder: how would one rid themselves of a fear as binding and controlling as mine?
The answer was found in Carissa's testimony this morning.
"I am with you. Don't be afraid," God had said to her.
In other words, God is revealing the truth that there is "nothing to fear when He is near." Absolutely nothing.
My eyes seemed glued-shut from my deep REM sleep just moments before, and my first instinct left me wishing I had a lock on my door. But the voice continued, softening my heart and opening my ears.
"Can I just tell you something?"
I remained "asleep," but listened intently to my six-year-old sister's whisper.
"I was sleeping and I had a bad dream last night...and I couldn't really see anything. And 'den I saw bright colors," she stammered. "And 'den I just heard this voice, and I thought it was mommy or daddy, so I tried to call to them...the voice said, 'Rissi. Rissi. I am here with you, don't be afraid.' And then this morning, I went downstairs and asked mommy and daddy why they had called me, and they said that they didn't. So, it was God!"
With that, my mind was wide awake, but my eyes were still heavy from the a late Friday night on the computer. Still, I felt that I story like that needed some sort of acknowledgement.
"That's great, baby," I whispered. "That's so cool."
Growing up with a six-year-old sister has often reminded me the wonders of a childlike faith and humbled me in learning from the young, innocent mind. With that being said, her anecdote was exactly what I needed to wake up to this morning, and it led me back to Psalms 91, which I had been reading a lot last week:
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD,
"He is my refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
Last night, my dad (the God-given 24/7 counselor in my life...thank you ,dad!) and I were examining my schedule as we do about every month-and-a-half. Too often, my life gets dangerously too busy and jam-packed with activities, engagements, and promises that I am obligated to fulfill. It's around the fifth week of this (and these specifics aren't exact; I'm exaggerating to better explain the dilemma) that I begin to feel spiritually and emotionally drained, leaving me frustrated and trapped. As we sat in the living room last night, he asked me a startling question, which later led me to reflect on Psalms 91. He had asked what it was that drove me to do so many things, and left me with this analysis that left me awestruck at the accuracy and insight of my father, along with puzzled as to what to do next: "I believe you are driven by fear," he said.
"Fear of what?" I asked.
"Fear of disappointing God. Me. Yourself," he answered. Wow. Deep down within me, I knew he was right. My insecurity rooted in fear is expressed in a busy and overwhelmed schedule. I couldn't believe I had lived this many years with this root within me. Now, my thoughts lingered to wonder: how would one rid themselves of a fear as binding and controlling as mine?
The answer was found in Carissa's testimony this morning.
"I am with you. Don't be afraid," God had said to her.
In other words, God is revealing the truth that there is "nothing to fear when He is near." Absolutely nothing.
- Afraid of failure? - Romans 8:28 reminds us that God works IN all things for the good of those who love Him.
- Afraid of "losing God"? -Romans 8:35-39 reminds us that there is NOTHING that can separate us from God. He is always with us (see also Psalms 139:7-12).
- Afraid of mistakes? -Jesus died for us while we were still sinners, revealing his love for us in the midst of our mistakes! (Romans 5:8).
For now, let me leave you with this truth of God's love. It's by His love alone that our lives are changed, and specifically in mine, fear is removed. Look at 1 John 4:16-18:
16 "And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him....18There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..."
Where else could one find perfect love, but in God, the creator of it? Know it more. Rely on it. Let's let that love be enough to drive out the fear binds us all!
Friday, November 13, 2009
Psalms 115: The Real Deal
It's so easy to take hold of the "image" of Christ: take a guy with a really nice demeanor, a smile on his face, and a normal figure, and you have the biblical Jesus, right there. Or, you could find someone who puts food on the table and heals your cat when she's sick and label him the "convenient" Jesus of the 21st Century. If we're not careful, we can slip into the habit of "worshipping" a makeshift Jesus, one who fits our images and our standards. It's then that we fall into believing lies that lead us into deep deception. We're not only fooling ourselves, but idolizing a creation of our limited, flawed human minds.
Psalms 115:1-8 reads:
"1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them. "
What happens when we live for a man-made "Jesus?" Psalms 115:8 makes it very clear that we become like that which we worship; the thing we attribute our attention and our affection to is the very being we emulate. Therefore, our one-dimensional, super-hero only "Jesus" will create a life lived in limited circumstances, based only in a faith during the "good times." This leads me to question and to evaluate one very important truth: Who is Jesus? And really, I want to know: who is my Savior, the One I worship? What a seemingly impossible task! How can I, in my already sinful, restricted mindset, understand a perfect and boundless God? Suddenly, the thought overwhelmed me: I can't. So how can I truly worship Jesus himself? Again, examining my flesh, it is so obvious the answer to that subsequent question: in my own ability, I fail at every attempt to please the pure God with my gray-tinted offering.
And here, at this point of humility and understanding of my weakness, is where the real Jesus is finally introduced.
This morning, as I was skimming through John, this beautiful truth caught my attention, leaving my eyes dead in their tracks. John 17:3 reads:
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
From that scripture, it is evident that the genuine knowledge of God and Jesus Christ is not something we can conjure up in our own strength, but rather it is a gift. In John 3:16, it is made clear that God gave as a gift his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that
"whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
We could think for decades, or spend our years in philosophical inquiry, but never come close to completely understanding the Lord of the Earth. Wisdom, as we see through Solomon's desire, is given as a gift, as it is given without any obligation. Likewise, we can see that through salvation in Jesus Christ, we are alloted a free opportunity to know God intimately. Through prayer and reading the Scripture passed on for generations, we can know the God we worship, discounting the blind, mindless rituals of mere Christianity and engaging in a lively, personal relationship with the God of the universe! However, there is one requirement on our part: we have to put down the "god-shaping tools" and open our eyes to the Master in front of us.
As Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
So, my question now is this: are your eyes open? The real Jesus is right there. Let's throw away our efforts and be blown away by the truth we've been missing all along. Let's receive the true gift of salvation: knowledge of Jesus!
Psalms 115:1-8 reads:
"1 Not to us, O LORD, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.
2 Why do the nations say,
"Where is their God?"
3 Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
4 But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
5 They have mouths, but cannot speak,
eyes, but they cannot see;
6 they have ears, but cannot hear,
noses, but they cannot smell;
7 they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
8 Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them. "
What happens when we live for a man-made "Jesus?" Psalms 115:8 makes it very clear that we become like that which we worship; the thing we attribute our attention and our affection to is the very being we emulate. Therefore, our one-dimensional, super-hero only "Jesus" will create a life lived in limited circumstances, based only in a faith during the "good times." This leads me to question and to evaluate one very important truth: Who is Jesus? And really, I want to know: who is my Savior, the One I worship? What a seemingly impossible task! How can I, in my already sinful, restricted mindset, understand a perfect and boundless God? Suddenly, the thought overwhelmed me: I can't. So how can I truly worship Jesus himself? Again, examining my flesh, it is so obvious the answer to that subsequent question: in my own ability, I fail at every attempt to please the pure God with my gray-tinted offering.
And here, at this point of humility and understanding of my weakness, is where the real Jesus is finally introduced.
This morning, as I was skimming through John, this beautiful truth caught my attention, leaving my eyes dead in their tracks. John 17:3 reads:
"Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent."
From that scripture, it is evident that the genuine knowledge of God and Jesus Christ is not something we can conjure up in our own strength, but rather it is a gift. In John 3:16, it is made clear that God gave as a gift his only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, that
"whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life."
We could think for decades, or spend our years in philosophical inquiry, but never come close to completely understanding the Lord of the Earth. Wisdom, as we see through Solomon's desire, is given as a gift, as it is given without any obligation. Likewise, we can see that through salvation in Jesus Christ, we are alloted a free opportunity to know God intimately. Through prayer and reading the Scripture passed on for generations, we can know the God we worship, discounting the blind, mindless rituals of mere Christianity and engaging in a lively, personal relationship with the God of the universe! However, there is one requirement on our part: we have to put down the "god-shaping tools" and open our eyes to the Master in front of us.
As Jeremiah 29:13 says, "You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."
So, my question now is this: are your eyes open? The real Jesus is right there. Let's throw away our efforts and be blown away by the truth we've been missing all along. Let's receive the true gift of salvation: knowledge of Jesus!
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Pause for Prayer
It's been a while, but I'm back, and Lord-willing, there will be more posts here in the near future relaying my reflections of the Psalms and various spiritual truths. But, before we continue, why not take a moment of reflection, catch our breathes, and sit back as I record a quote I read in a book, Red Moon Rising, recently:
"And when we get our heads around God's character, prayer, devotion, and discipleship ceases to be a technique and becomes instinct. That's when we can take our place in an army that marches on its knees, fighting for the Prince of Peace" (14).
There's a reason why soldiers are never seen on their knees; logically, they're marching to fight, so as they "stand on their feet," the army is ready for battle and movement at any moment. However, God's army, as denoted here, is vastly different. We're still fighting, pushing through every stride to take back the lost for Christ, however, we do so, "not by might, nor by power, but by [God's] spirit," (Zechariah 4:6). There is more power behind a child's prayer than behind an army of physically trained, armed men. Why? Because through prayer, the Spirit of the Living God is released in action; no one, not even death, can defeat Him.
"And when we get our heads around God's character, prayer, devotion, and discipleship ceases to be a technique and becomes instinct. That's when we can take our place in an army that marches on its knees, fighting for the Prince of Peace" (14).
There's a reason why soldiers are never seen on their knees; logically, they're marching to fight, so as they "stand on their feet," the army is ready for battle and movement at any moment. However, God's army, as denoted here, is vastly different. We're still fighting, pushing through every stride to take back the lost for Christ, however, we do so, "not by might, nor by power, but by [God's] spirit," (Zechariah 4:6). There is more power behind a child's prayer than behind an army of physically trained, armed men. Why? Because through prayer, the Spirit of the Living God is released in action; no one, not even death, can defeat Him.
Saturday, June 20, 2009
Psalms 62: Resting on the Rock
Psalms 62:1-2
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
I was always one of those kids who would turn an ordinary couch into a pillow fortress or a wooden bunk bed into a regal castle, adorned with the "finest of linens" made up out of the sheets of my bed. With my brother as my prince and my sister as the princess, I would be queen of the land, dressed with a plastic crown on my head and a Disney princess costume touching the floor. From the top bunk, I could gaze across the land of beauty before me, imagining it an army on horses racing towards me, and a feeling of security behind my makeshift fortress. I would be lost in my kingdom for hours until a blanket would fall or a pillow would topple and I was brought back to reality again.
Psalms 18:2 reads,
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (NIV)
Similar to Psalms 62, David writes Psalms 18 to remind himself of who he finds his security and strength in. Now take a look at the same verse in the Message translation:
"I love you God - you make me strong. God is the bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God--the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout." (The Message).
David describes God as a fortress and "castle," as well as a "rock" and a "granite hideout." For those of you who aren't scientifically savvy, granite rocks are igneous rocks that form out of cooling pockets of magma trapped under the earth's surface. This understanding allows you to realize that there's a reason why most monuments and historical buildings are made out of it: they last. From that, it is clear that God is not only reliable, but also long-lasting, faithful to sustain David whenever he needed Him.
David may have lived thousands of years ago, but he and I share one thing in common: a childlike imagination. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." David understood that as, although he aged in years, he could always rely on God as his security. Looking back now, I too am learning how God is a place of refuge that I can trust will never fall ... He's more than a blanket or a pillow -- He's the rock on which I stand.
"My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken."
I was always one of those kids who would turn an ordinary couch into a pillow fortress or a wooden bunk bed into a regal castle, adorned with the "finest of linens" made up out of the sheets of my bed. With my brother as my prince and my sister as the princess, I would be queen of the land, dressed with a plastic crown on my head and a Disney princess costume touching the floor. From the top bunk, I could gaze across the land of beauty before me, imagining it an army on horses racing towards me, and a feeling of security behind my makeshift fortress. I would be lost in my kingdom for hours until a blanket would fall or a pillow would topple and I was brought back to reality again.
Psalms 18:2 reads,
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress, my deliverer. My God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold." (NIV)
Similar to Psalms 62, David writes Psalms 18 to remind himself of who he finds his security and strength in. Now take a look at the same verse in the Message translation:
"I love you God - you make me strong. God is the bedrock under my feet, the castle in which I live, my rescuing knight. My God--the high crag where I run for dear life, hiding behind the boulders, safe in the granite hideout." (The Message).
David describes God as a fortress and "castle," as well as a "rock" and a "granite hideout." For those of you who aren't scientifically savvy, granite rocks are igneous rocks that form out of cooling pockets of magma trapped under the earth's surface. This understanding allows you to realize that there's a reason why most monuments and historical buildings are made out of it: they last. From that, it is clear that God is not only reliable, but also long-lasting, faithful to sustain David whenever he needed Him.
David may have lived thousands of years ago, but he and I share one thing in common: a childlike imagination. Jesus said in Matthew 18:3, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." David understood that as, although he aged in years, he could always rely on God as his security. Looking back now, I too am learning how God is a place of refuge that I can trust will never fall ... He's more than a blanket or a pillow -- He's the rock on which I stand.
Psalms 97:5
Those seemingly giant obstructions and issues in life (like where to go to college and who to date and what to have for dinner) are nothing compared to God. You remember that big problem you thought you'd never get over on March 23rd, 1998? Or that gigantic issue that seemed to mess up your life on November 15, 2003? I certainly don't. Why? Because my God is so much bigger than those things. Of course, problems still taunt me daily, but it comforts me to know that, when I present the troubles to God in prayer, "they'll melt like wax" before Him. I'd LOVE to see that!
When you have a better understanding of who God actually is, you have a deeper awareness of His presence and power in your life. Suddenly, that colossal obstruction will turn into a miniscule puddle of wax, and that binding fear of a new-college chapter will disappear as you rely on the promise of God's protection. As Psalms 97:6 points out, God isn't a distant Santa-Claus figure bowling on occasion, or a "big guy in the sky"; instead, He's everywhere, present in all of His creation. The next time someone asks you who God is, just take a look around you: He is closer than you think, and greater than you could ever imagine.
When you have a better understanding of who God actually is, you have a deeper awareness of His presence and power in your life. Suddenly, that colossal obstruction will turn into a miniscule puddle of wax, and that binding fear of a new-college chapter will disappear as you rely on the promise of God's protection. As Psalms 97:6 points out, God isn't a distant Santa-Claus figure bowling on occasion, or a "big guy in the sky"; instead, He's everywhere, present in all of His creation. The next time someone asks you who God is, just take a look around you: He is closer than you think, and greater than you could ever imagine.
Psalms 97:4
If you were ever fortunate enough to catch a glimpse of a lightning bolt across a stormy sky, you'd be fascinated by it. But think about a lightning that not only affects you're town but one that occurs throughout the entire earth at the same time? This verse explains the magnitude of God's size over our earth. The Bible says that God holds the universe in the span of his hand, meaning from his thumb to his pointer finger (unfortunately, I can't think of that reference as of right now. If anyone else finds it, please let me know). And this all-powerful God has time to love me as his scriptures say? Yes! And it's his delight to, as well (Psalms 139).
Psalms 97:3
3 "Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side."
Did you ever attempt to take out a flame with your finger but left it in too long? Who knew a small flicker could cause so much pain?! Well, apparently, this God that the Bible talks about isn't some wimpy, guy who needs angels to protect Him. Nope, according to this verse, God's enemies are extinguished and destroyed completely, even before He catches a glimpse of them. Just His presence ignites a flame that destroys anyone against Him. Certainly, that boosts my confidence in the fact that the angels who protect me are backed by a God who's all-powerful and mighty--even against the things I can't see!
and consumes his foes on every side."
Did you ever attempt to take out a flame with your finger but left it in too long? Who knew a small flicker could cause so much pain?! Well, apparently, this God that the Bible talks about isn't some wimpy, guy who needs angels to protect Him. Nope, according to this verse, God's enemies are extinguished and destroyed completely, even before He catches a glimpse of them. Just His presence ignites a flame that destroys anyone against Him. Certainly, that boosts my confidence in the fact that the angels who protect me are backed by a God who's all-powerful and mighty--even against the things I can't see!
Psalms 97:1-2
1 "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne."
If you put "reign" after the name of someone, chances are a sense of royalty and honor is associated with them. Therefore, simply because of David's descriptionPsalms 97 begins by labeling God as the Ultimate King. I've often thought about what it would be like to be the daughter of someone in high authority. Look at celebrities, princesses, princes...it's an entirely different world when you live in a place of honor, simply because of your associations. I mean, how secure would you feel if your dad was the president of the United States and you walked around with the Secret Service 24/7? You could go anywhere you wanted, and you'd be protected from all harm! Well, according to the Word, I'm a child of God, and I have angels surrounding me because of that. Oh, isn't it great to be a princess--a daughter of the King? Knowing that I have a God with an army of angels behind and besides me allows me to walk forward in courage as I head off to college. The journey ahead is unknown, as well as the problems and challenges that I may face. However, I can march ahead in strength instead of cowering back in fear, knowing that I'm certainly not alone. My God's just not a God who would leave his loved ones behind. It's just not the way He is.
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne."
If you put "reign" after the name of someone, chances are a sense of royalty and honor is associated with them. Therefore, simply because of David's descriptionPsalms 97 begins by labeling God as the Ultimate King. I've often thought about what it would be like to be the daughter of someone in high authority. Look at celebrities, princesses, princes...it's an entirely different world when you live in a place of honor, simply because of your associations. I mean, how secure would you feel if your dad was the president of the United States and you walked around with the Secret Service 24/7? You could go anywhere you wanted, and you'd be protected from all harm! Well, according to the Word, I'm a child of God, and I have angels surrounding me because of that. Oh, isn't it great to be a princess--a daughter of the King? Knowing that I have a God with an army of angels behind and besides me allows me to walk forward in courage as I head off to college. The journey ahead is unknown, as well as the problems and challenges that I may face. However, I can march ahead in strength instead of cowering back in fear, knowing that I'm certainly not alone. My God's just not a God who would leave his loved ones behind. It's just not the way He is.
Friday, June 12, 2009
Psalms 97: So Who IS that Big Guy in the Sky, Anyway?
If you were to ask someone who God was, chances are they could recite a list of religious words and philosophical theories to you. If not, they'd probably shift their stance uncomfortably, point their thumb to the ceiling and whisper with a nervous laugh, "he's the big guy upstairs in charge of everything." Or, ask a young child the same question, and they'd come up with a more imaginative answer. Her eyes would widen, followed by a lift of her eyebrows and she'd exclaim, "He's kind of like Santa Claus, with the white hair and deep voice, except shinier."
Where are all of these ideas coming from? What is the root of these creative illustrations? They're all different because they're all dependent on an individual's perspective--an attempt by a limited human mind to understand an unlimited God.
When you want to get to know someone more, like a famous actress or actor, one would assume that you'd look into a biography of sorts. Well, it turns out that the Bible can be likened to God's autobiography. It is the "Word of the Lord," acting as a link between humans and the spiritual realm. In order to get a more accurate picture of who "the big guy upstairs" is, let's take a look at the words He uses to describe Himself:
Psalm 97:1-7
1 "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory."
Psalms 97 is only one of the many chapters in the Bible that describes God in comparison to things of this world. I've broken down these six verses in smaller segments, since in this case, it will be easier to discuss them out of context. Read on to the specific verses to see them described in detail.
Where are all of these ideas coming from? What is the root of these creative illustrations? They're all different because they're all dependent on an individual's perspective--an attempt by a limited human mind to understand an unlimited God.
When you want to get to know someone more, like a famous actress or actor, one would assume that you'd look into a biography of sorts. Well, it turns out that the Bible can be likened to God's autobiography. It is the "Word of the Lord," acting as a link between humans and the spiritual realm. In order to get a more accurate picture of who "the big guy upstairs" is, let's take a look at the words He uses to describe Himself:
Psalm 97:1-7
1 "The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;
let the distant shores rejoice.
2 Clouds and thick darkness surround him;
righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.
3 Fire goes before him
and consumes his foes on every side.
4 His lightning lights up the world;
the earth sees and trembles.
5 The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,
before the Lord of all the earth.
6 The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
and all the peoples see his glory."
Psalms 97 is only one of the many chapters in the Bible that describes God in comparison to things of this world. I've broken down these six verses in smaller segments, since in this case, it will be easier to discuss them out of context. Read on to the specific verses to see them described in detail.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Psalms 1: Growth
There's nothing as satisfying as a bite of juicy watermelon on a scorching hot summer day, or the delicious taste of grapes straight off of the vine. They're the evidence of hard work by the gardener's hand and the prize after a long season of cultivation. However, the apple you eat during your lunch hour and the oranges you snack on for breakfast wouldn't be there if it wasn't for the proper care during it's growing season. If the farmer forgot to prune or the plant wasn't watered, chances are there would be no fruit at all. If you think about it, fruit can be a little example of an everyday miracle...and an analogy at its best.
We all face seasons in our life where we are "growing"--going to a new school, experiencing a new friendship, working at a new job. However, we won't see the "fruit" of that growth unless we take care of ourselves properly.
Psalms 1:1-3 says,
The first thing David emphasizes in producing fruit is to be "planted by streams of water." This leads me to question: what does it mean to be planted? It's interesting that if you observe agriculture, all plants have some sort of roots, allowing them to withstand any weather and remain standing, no matter what might occur.
Similarly, we too have roots that will grow with the proper care. Like any plant, water, sunlight, and pruning are essential factors to our growth. Without any one of those things, our roots would be shallow and we'd risk falling at the instant a storm hits.
The Bible often refers to the Holy Spirit as water (1 Corinthians 6:11). Daily, we must find time to recognize and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit with our lives. As an ice-cold glass of water on a hot, summer day, engaging the Holy Spirit through prayer can be refreshing in a dry, spiritless world.
Our sunlight can be obtained through spending time in reading the Bible and prayer with God. Look at Isaiah 60:19:
"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."
God is sufficient for us and provides the warmth and the light we need in a dark world.
Lastly, one of the hardest but most essential aspects of growth is pruning. In a plant, typically a flowering one, it is vital for the gardener to pluck the dead flowers so that fresh buds could push through. Likewise, "God the Gardener" must prune the bad so that the new could grow in us and produce fruit (see John 15 for more about this).
God's first command to man was to "be fruitful." The Gardener, who knows his crops and everything that they need, is able to provide the water, light, and the pruning needed for man to succeed in fulfilling God's desire.*
We all face seasons in our life where we are "growing"--going to a new school, experiencing a new friendship, working at a new job. However, we won't see the "fruit" of that growth unless we take care of ourselves properly.
Psalms 1:1-3 says,
"1 Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.
2 But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night.
3 He is like a tree planted by streams of water,
which yields its fruit in season
and whose leaf does not wither.
Whatever he does prospers."
The first thing David emphasizes in producing fruit is to be "planted by streams of water." This leads me to question: what does it mean to be planted? It's interesting that if you observe agriculture, all plants have some sort of roots, allowing them to withstand any weather and remain standing, no matter what might occur.
Similarly, we too have roots that will grow with the proper care. Like any plant, water, sunlight, and pruning are essential factors to our growth. Without any one of those things, our roots would be shallow and we'd risk falling at the instant a storm hits.
The Bible often refers to the Holy Spirit as water (1 Corinthians 6:11). Daily, we must find time to recognize and listen to the voice of the Holy Spirit with our lives. As an ice-cold glass of water on a hot, summer day, engaging the Holy Spirit through prayer can be refreshing in a dry, spiritless world.
Our sunlight can be obtained through spending time in reading the Bible and prayer with God. Look at Isaiah 60:19:
"The sun will no more be your light by day, nor will the brightness of the moon shine on you, for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory."
God is sufficient for us and provides the warmth and the light we need in a dark world.
Lastly, one of the hardest but most essential aspects of growth is pruning. In a plant, typically a flowering one, it is vital for the gardener to pluck the dead flowers so that fresh buds could push through. Likewise, "God the Gardener" must prune the bad so that the new could grow in us and produce fruit (see John 15 for more about this).
God's first command to man was to "be fruitful." The Gardener, who knows his crops and everything that they need, is able to provide the water, light, and the pruning needed for man to succeed in fulfilling God's desire.*
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)