Thoughts on Psalm 18

“I love you, O Lord, my strength.  The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge.  He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.  I call to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I am saved from my enemies.”

I love these words and the promise found here.  As I read this verse this morning, I remembered specific times when words were more than a promise, I lived them!  I continued to find reminders in this Psalm of His response to me as I called on Him in verses like verse 6 from the NASV,

“In my distress I called upon the Lord, and cried to my God for help; He heard my voice out of His temple, and my cry for help before Him came into His ears.”

When I call out to God for help I am acknowledging that I can’t do it by myself.  He hears "my" voice.  This verse tells me – "He hears me.”  He knows it is me, not just “a” voice crying out.  That means He knows all about me and He knows where I’m coming from in my distress.  The verse goes on to say, “my cry for help comes before Him into His ears.”  The Amplified Bible says “into His very ears.”  Oh how I love how personal that is to me, to you, as we call out to Him.

I continued to read Psalm 18 as the verses that follow describe His response (my paraphrase): 

The earth trembled, the foundations of the mountains shook – he was angry

Smoke rises from his nostrils and his mouth spits fire.  He parts the heavens and comes down with dark clouds under his feet

He soars on the cherubim on the wings of the wind,  Darkness is his covering as dark rain clouds the sky.

As hailstones and bolts of lightning come he shoots his arrows and scatters my enemies.

               

And just as the valleys of the sea are exposed and the depths of the earth lie uncovered. . .

He reaches down from on high and takes hold of me as he pulls me out of deep waters.  

              

He rescued me from my enemy, from those who were too strong for me.

My enemy had confronted me in my distress, but the Lord was my support!  He rescued me because he delighted in me.

As I read these words it was for me better than any action movie I’ve ever seen, more riveting than any account I’ve ever read from the most exciting book.  Why, you ask?  Because this is real and I know - that’s My God. 

He Loves Me.          He Is My Strength.          He Is My Rock.          He Is My Deliverer!

“The Lord is my light and my salvation - Whom shall I fear!  The Lord is the stronghold of my life – of whom shall I be afraid?”  Psalm 27:1

My Valentine to God

Valentine Day!  The holiday when all hearts turn to love and all of the advertisements tell us we need this giant teddy bear or that large box of chocolates to express our love to someone special in our life.  In addition to all the words of encouragement to express our love to another, this month most of the scripture I’ve been reading has been about love.  My thoughts were definitely on love! 

As I reflected on love and God and a gift I was given for Valentine's Day, I began to realize that far too often I am much quicker and also more verbal in expressing my excitement and gratitude about a gift someone gives than I am in expressing my joy and gratitude about the day to day things God provides.  I keep an ongoing list that I started several months ago about the simple things for which I’m grateful and today I want to share just a part of that list with you.  These thoughts were taken straight from my Journal.  Perhaps you can relate to some of them and have your own time of gratitude to God as well.  

Eyes to read

       The sun as it shines on wet grass

              The feel of dirt in my hands

                      God knows me, yet still He loves me

                              The last hydrangea of the season

                                      God’s Word.

Laughter

       Healing

              Laundry

                      Broken seashells

                              A good night’s sleep

                                    Yellow butterfly.

People different than me

       Busy days

              My past

                        Bugs that bite and cream that heals

                                 Cell phones you can silence

                                         My journal.

Order brought from chaos

         Strength to work.

                 New experiences at my age

                          Noise in the house and the quietness that follows

                                   Not knowing what tomorrow may bring

                                            A difficult day.

Fresh starts.

        Answered prayers

                  Knowing He hears

                        The one who controls nature

                              Missionaries who go

                                      A red VW Beetle my husband surprised me with.  

And, yes, it was that gift that began this reflection and realization once again that all good and perfect gifts are from God above.  

God first showed His love for us by sending His Son to die for our sins.  John 3:16 in the Phillips translation reads like this, "For God loved the world so much that he gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in him should not be lost, but should have eternal life."  

Thank you God that you gave the ultimate gift, Your Son, as an expression of your love for the me. Thank you for painting pictures of your love for me each and every day in the little things of life.  I want to always express my love for You and for all you do for me with even more joy and gratitude than I do for other gifts.  I love you God, forever and ever, Amen.

Valentine from God

“Hey there!  Hey there, over here, look up just a bit I’m talking to you.”

“Who me?”

“Yes of course you.  Who else comes to you in a small quiet voice?

I’ve been thinking about you again.  I think of you all the time but especially have I thought of you as the world is talking about love and candy, flowers and bears.  It seems like everyone is talking about love and how to show someone they care.  That’s what made me think of you.  Can I ask you the question of the day, “Would you be my Valentine?”

Now I don’t have a dozen roses or any of the things advertised on TV for you today but I have been trying to tell you how much I love you.

After all, just for you I created the world just for you.  The seasons, the flowers, the oceans and snow capped mountains – all of it.  Just for you to enjoy every day. 

And you know, it wasn’t just the world I created, I even designed and planned to the last detail YOU.  I know you so well.  I shaped you first inside, then out; I formed you in your mother’s womb.  You are marvelously and wonderfully made!  I have watched you grow from conception to today.  Each and every day of your life is on my radar screen.  I have a plan, a wonderful plan for you.  I get pretty excited when I think about it and I hope you do too.

Not only did I form you, I keep track or every step you take, every sleepless night you have.  Why I even keep every single tear you shed I keep in a bottle with your special name on it.

My love doesn’t just stop there.  I am with you as you confront every enemy and every battle.  I am there, by your side, ready to hold your hand or carry you over the rough terrain, ready to take charge and take control, as you let me.

Even though I know your every thought and every deed, I continue to love you.  Nothing will ever come between the two of us.  You can read of my love and my promises to you in my Word, which I long to implant in your heart.

I am always faithful and will keep my promises.  Even if you are not faithful, I still am steadfast in my love to you.

Now, like I said, it’s not roses – but then I created the roses.  It isn’t candy, but every ingredient in those chocolates was created by me.  It isn’t a cuddly bear, but I long to wrap my arms around you and let you rest in me.  Now, may I ask again, “Would you be my Valentine?  Would you please be mine?”

I love you,

God

Psalm 1:1-3 Meditation

Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

“Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.  That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither – whatever they do they prosper.”

Dear God,

As I sit here this morning determined to spend time in Your Word before the day “happens,” I was struck by this verse.

What a refreshing picture your Word has planted in my mind.  I see an oasis where you would find trees planted near the water, ready to refresh and nourish those traveling in a hot dessert.  As I think about that scene it makes me want to pull up my chair and just meditate on You this morning.  God, you know I have had those times in my life when I felt so empty and dry or so busy I longed to just sit and think, to just stop the merry-go-round of this thing called “life.”  

I guess that’s what caught my attention as I read this Psalm.  God’s Word is that refreshing water to a dry and weary (and busy) soul.  I used to say I really didn’t have the time to sit and meditate.  But you know it doesn’t need to be an hour or more.  It doesn’t even need to be 30 minutes.  But if we could just give our attention to God’s Word for perhaps five minutes in the morning, God will bless our effort and we can meditate on it the rest of the day.  Just like The Message version of verse 2 says, “instead you thrill to God’s Word, you chew on Scripture day and night.”  I am reminded of Psalm 51 when David was in the dessert of Judah.  He said, “You, God, are my God, earnestly I seek you; I thirst for you, my whole being longs for you in a dry and parched land where there is no water.”

God that’s what I seek this morning.  I want the desire to spend time in the Word.  I want it to be a priority in my life.   That’s my prayer today, Lord, I ask for the desire, for that thirst for your living water.  For the satisfaction that only comes from you.  Amen.

Sing a New Song - Day 5

Psalm 149:1

“Hallelujah!  Sing to God a brand-new song, praise him in the company of all who love him.” (MSG)

Hallelujah!  What a God we serve.  

I treasure my quiet times when I am alone with God.  However, I love to join with others as we worship as a body of believers.  Especially have I been blessed to sing with others who speak and sing in another language.  I can remember getting goose bumps the first time I heard a room full of believers lift their hearts in praise in multiple languages at the same time.  

I can’t help but think that’s what heaven will sound like as God's people from the ends of the earth, from every tribe and nation, sing a new song of praise in the “company of all who love him.”  What a day that will be!


Thank you God for your reminders throughout the Bible to Sing a New Song.  Thank you for putting a song in our hearts as we praise you every day!  Amen.

Sing a New Song - Part 4

Psalm 98:1

“Sing to God a brand-new song.  He’s made a world of wonders!” (MSG)

Sing a new song today about this world of wonders!  As I looked at His world of wonders today, this was my new song of praise.

Praise Him for. . . . .

For the way he has made our bodies to function and work as a unit. 

For the seasons and how each season has a purpose.

For all the creatures he has made, from the smallest bird that sings his song, to the giraffe who must have made God smile as he gave him his long neck.

For trees that provide us beauty and the plants that spring forth at just the right time.”

For this and more I praise God for his world of wonders!

Why not start your list today of God’s wonders and praise him.

Sing a New Song - Part 3

Psalm 96:1-3

“Sing God a brand-new song!  Earth and everyone in it, sing!  Sing to God – worship God!  Shout the news of his victory from sea to sea, Take the news of his glory to the lost, news of his wonders to one and all.” (MSG)

When I read these verses, and actually the remainder of this Psalm as well,  I was reminded of the old hymn, "Jesus Saves."  Do you remember that hymn?

I looked up this old familiar hymn and listed just some of the lines here:

“We have heard the joyful sound, 
Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!

Spread the tiding all around,
Bear the news to every land,

Tell to sinners far and wide,
Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!

Sing above the battle’s strife,

By his death and endless life,

Sing in triumph ore the tomb,
Jesus saves!  Jesus saves!

Let the nations now rejoice,

Shout salvation full and free,

This our song of victory,

Jesus saves, Jesus saves.”

It is an "old" song but the message is always new:  JESUS SAVES.  JESUS SAVES!

Look up all the words of this hymn and sing this old, new song to God today!



God, thank you for this good news that Jesus saves.  Help me as I share that news with others.  Amen.