Oct. 31....the LORD loves his people

Psalm 149:4 “For the LORD loves his people, and he adorns the lowly with victory” (NAB)

“For the LORD take delight in his people, and he crowns the humble with salvation.” (NIV)

Luke 5:31-32 “I have not come to call the self-righteous to a change of heart, but sinners.”

Heavenly Father,

This follows yesterday’s verse of “let them praise his name”…….why?……”for the LORD loves his people!” You love us! We praise you out of hearts full of love responding to your love. You proved your love….”He crowns the humble with salvation” or “He adorns the lowly with victory”. I like both translations. Both make me feel very special and very much loved. You crown us, adorn us….we, the lowly, the humble. Our crown?….salvation, victory over sin and death. Wow! What a great gift…grace! Whenever we think about your gift of grace, our hearts hear the wonderful song…”Amazing Grace” and the words fill us with wonder and gratitude. Grace truly is amazing! How can you love us that much? Why do you love us at all? We are sinful, disobedient, ungrateful, unruly, self-loving, self-willed, hard-headed, hard-hearted. And yet you loved us enough to die for us. You loved us enough to “come down” because we are too sin-ridden to come up. You died and rose and lifted us beyond the sinful shackles that hold us. You lifted us to victory, to salvation, to home, to heaven. I always come back to the word “home”. Home is where the heart is. Our hearts are with you in heaven. Home is wherever You are. Home is where we long to be. Home is with you, the Father and Jesus, our Brother. Home is away from this sinful dying world. Home is freedom and light. We want our crown! We are sinners and we want our hearts changed by Jesus. “Create in me a clean heart, O LORD, and renew a right spirit within me.” I have assurance that “the LORD loves his people” and salvation is mine through Jesus Christ. Amen.

Oct. 30.....dance and make music

Psalm 149:3 “Let them praise his name with dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp.” 1 Timothy 2:8 “I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer without anger or disputing.”

Heavenly Father,

Too often our worship of you is not full of the joy that should be there. We don’t dance….too disrespectful and would spoil our solemn service! We don’t play tambourines and harps…we’re too uptight and schooled to be serious. I think this is the sort of worship that I really crave. I want to sing in loud voice, tap my feet, sway to the music and feel light-hearted and free! I want to “shout to the LORD” in one voice with others and praise you with all that I am! It’s hard to find that. Many of us aren’t even comfortable to “lift up holy hands in prayer”. We worry about how it feels and how it looks to others. One important phrase here is “without anger or disputing”. I guess I feel that is where some traditional churches are headed….arguing over music and how to worship. There is too much arguing over music in the church. The young people want new songs and guitars and keyboards, and the older people want to sing what has always been sung and with a solemn organ playing. We find our churches either dying of a lack of enthusiasm or in argument and dispute over how they should change worship. I have left churches that were dying….not just because they were getting small and didn’t have any young people, but because they were dying in their “soul”. What building we worship in is not important. How we worship is more important. We have to find a place where we can worship in joy and spirit….with all our heart. A place where our hearts are “dancing and make music to him with tambourine and harp”. Worship is about finding joy in our Creator, our God, our Father. It is about praising and thanking with grateful hearts. If it feels like a “dirge” instead, something is wrong and it is time to go where there is joy in our LORD, in our Savior Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit within us. Make a joyful noise unto the LORD! Sing! Amen.

Oct. 29.....sing a new song

Psalm 149:1 “Sing to the LORD a new song of praise in the assembly of the faithful.”

Rev. 11:17 “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.”

Heavenly Father,

In Col. 3:16 we are told to sing “gratefully to God from your hearts.” All praise should be heartfelt and not just lip service. It must be wonderful to be a songwriter and truly create a new song from within ones heart! We can’t all do that. However, we can feel and believe the words we sing that others write. We can seek songs that move our hearts to say, “That’s exactly what I feel and want to say”. When we “sing to the LORD a new song” it is new because we are living the words to it in our own hearts. I feel my heart and voice swell when I find a song that touches my heart. The words are just “right” and the music is “right” and it just wells up out of me in great joy. This is the praise I love to sing….heart music. We are to praise you “in the assembly of the faithful”. Whether we sing psalms, hymns, or songs of praise, we sing them together as one. I guess that is why I feel sad when I see someone who doesn’t sing or when I am in a congregation that is small and scattered over a large sanctuary and who seem to sing with little heart and the sound is lost in the emptiness. I know sometimes it is just my perception because I love to sing and hear music. I love worshiping with much joy and gladness. In Revelations we see that the One we praise and sing to and thank, is the One who is and who was”. Our God is, was and will always be! “You have taken your great power and begun to reign.” With Jesus’ death and resurrection, your reign has begun. The work of salvation is done. All are saved! We have much to be thankful for and great reason to sing with a grateful heart! Our God reigns! We sing it loud and clear. Our hearts overflow with joy and thanks! Amen.

Oct. 28....put not your trust in men

Psalm 146:3-4 “Put not your trust in princes, in men, in whom there is no salvation. When their spirit departs they return to his earth; on that day their plans come to nothing.”

Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Heavenly Father,

You give us a clear contrast here and a clear choice. In whom do we trust? If we place our trust in man…leaders, friends, relatives, bosses, ourselves….we get advice that might be good, or might not be good, but will always be questionable because it comes from man and this world. We have limited sight, limited wisdom and understanding. We base decisions not on right and wrong, but also on current fashion, feelings, prejudices, whims, and pressures and stresses from outside sources. When we trust n you, we know we are getting perfect wisdom and knowledge and that all your advice is made as our Creator, our Savior, and our Counselor….all rolled into One! Who knows us better than the One who created us and what is best for us? Who knows us better than the One who saves us and has looked at and removed each sin with great love? Who knows us better than our indwelling Counselor who resides in us and guides us with your direction and your will toward your goals? But we have to tap into that source of infinite wisdom…we have to listen and discern. That is the hard part! The worldly voices shout louder than the heavenly voice. Our worldly ears hear better than our spiritual ears. You promise to “make our paths straight” when we lean on your understanding and acknowledge you. If we ask your advice with all our heart and wait expectantly you will answer us. You will give us the guidance we seek and steer our feet on that straight path. Help me listen LORD, and understand your will. Help me follow even when I think I want something else. Teach me. Increase my trust and my understanding, in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Oct. 27....trust in the LORD

Psalm 130:5 “I trust in the LORD, my soul trusts in his word.” (NAB)

“I wait for the LORD, my soul waits and in his word I put my hope” (NIV)

Heavenly Father,

With these 2 translations I get the picture of “trust” and “wait” working together or being synonymous. When we trust, we also wait. Trust knows that what isn’t seen is still there. Trust knows that answers are coming, and waits patiently to hear them. Trust knows the source of the answers and waits in confidence. The source here is “the LORD”. We trust in the LORD, we wait for the LORD. No other source of answers is wanted or necessary. Only the LORD is trustworthy, worth waiting for. The second part speaks of our “soul” which “trusts in his Word”……I automatically capitalize “Word”, because to me it always signifies Jesus Christ, the Word incarnate. My soul knows it has been redeemed by Jesus Christ. My soul trusts in the One who has saved it. Jesus says in John 15:9: “As the Father loved me, so have I loved you, live on in my love.” The results of trust “trickle down”. The Father loved Jesus, Jesus loves us, we live on in that love with the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. The second translation of the Psalm’s verse adds…”in his Word, I put my hope.” Another term…”hope”…for the trust we feel in the LORD and his Word. Hope….expectation based on faith, trust, love. When we strive to form a relationship with the LORD and his Word, we increase our trust and our ability to wait, as we learn of his faithfulness. We see how our lives are changed by Jesus’ love. Love begets trust. Trust begets hope. Hope waits expectantly. Increase my knowledge of your great love and teach me to trust in You, and wait in hope and expectation. You are my LORD! You are my God! You are my Savior! Amen.

Oct. 26.....come home

Psalm 119:66 “Teach me wisdom and knowledge for in your commands I trust.”

John 4:50 “The man put his trust in the word Jesus spoke and started for home.”

Heavenly Father,

“Teach me wisdom and knowledge.” When I was growing up it was always important to me to have knowledge. I was raised to believe that being “smart” was a very desirable thing and I’ve always taken pride in being smart (even though I had little to do with it!) But wisdom is more than being smart, more than “book knowledge”, more than knowing facts. Another translation o this verse calls it “good judgment”. Wisdom is applied knowledge with an element of making the “right” decisions. Some people don’t think there are “right” decisions……each of us I different. That can be carried too far. There is an ultimate “right” and it is found in You. We trust your commands because we know you are the font of all wisdom and knowledge. You know best. You know right. We don’t always like what we hear and don’t understand it, but when we trust you, it becomes clearer. Wisdom comes from discerning your will. The verse from John is from the story of the man with the sick child who asks Jesus for healing. Jesus never saw the child….he just said, “you may go, your son will live”. The man trusted Jesus’ word and went home. He recognized Jesus’ authority and wisdom and trusted them. Teach me the wisdom of trusting you completely! Teach me wisdom for the benefit of others. The story in John is a parable for all of us: when we put our trust, our faith, in Jesus Christ…the spoken Word…we can go home. Jesus makes “home” possible. Jesus heals our infirmities and removes our sin and the punishment of death. Jesus says, “come home with me, the Father loves you.” Thank you for the wisdom found in Jesus Christ and your command. Amen.

Oct. 25.....Our God, our Father

Psalm 115:11 “Those who fear the LORD trust in the LORD he is their help and their shield.”

2 Cor. 6:16 “I will be their God and they shall be my people. I will welcome you and be a father to you and you will be my sons and daughters.”

Heb. 4:16 “So let us confidently approach the throne of grace to receive mercy and favor and find help I time of need.”

Heavenly Father,

3 verses to coordinate. We are told that “the fear of the LORD, is the beginning of wisdom.” When we fear you, we recognize your existence, we recognize your supremacy, we worship you based on these facts. You were first, you created us, you are our God, you are our Father. Sometimes that mix seems difficult for me. One minute I see you as the Almighty Go, Creator, Ruler of the Universe, I AM! The next I see you as Father, close and personal , who I cling to. The psalms verse speaks to that idea in a way….”He is their help (Father) and their shield (Almighty God)”. You have many attributes but the greatest is love. Love makes you both Creator and Father, Rock and Good Shepherd, Shield and Hiding Place, Almighty Everlasting Father and Savior, Redeemer, Jesus Christ. Your love is as great as your being. Love expanded to the nth power. Love above, around, and in everything. When we accept the simple statements of promise: “I will be your God, you will be my people.” And “I will be a Father to you and you will be my sons and daughters”, we find peace. We know all is right and will be right in this relationship. A Father begets children and loves them. Jesus Christ is the firstborn son and makes it possible for us to be adopted and made worthy to be part of your family. We can “approach the throne of race” through him. We receive “mercy and grace and help in our time of need”. Your mercy, your grace, your help. We can trust in you and your promise. We can “approach with confidence” knowing that Jesus has made it possible and that you love us and want to be our Father, our God. We can look at who you are rather then worrying about who we are. Look up! Look to the one we fear and trust! Look to our God, our Father! Thank you! amen.

Oct. 24.....holiness adorns your house

Psalm 93:5 “Your statutes stand firm, holiness adorns your house for endless days”. 1 John 1:9 “If we confess our sins he is faithful and just and will forgive our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

Heavenly Father,

You have high standards! This verse tells us that your “statutes stand firm and holiness adorns you house”. You are King, God Almighty, Ruler of All you created. Because you are God and in charge, your statutes are the rules, the standards that we must follow. Your statutes “stand firm”…they don’t change, they don’t ease up, they don’t follow the current fashions. You have told us what is right and what is wrong. We are to obey you. Like all children, we sometimes rebel and fail to do your will. We think we have a better way, a more fun plan, an easier way. When we follow our own leading, we eventually end up in trouble and we do things that are not righteous along the way. Because you are a loving God, you have chosen to forgive us. You sent Jesus to take our punishment and if we accept his help you forgive us and purify us from all unrighteousness. I like the phrase: “Holiness adorns your house”. You have decorated our home with your holiness. You have draped love and perfection and goodness everywhere. You have painted the walls with kindness. You have papered with faithfulness. You have hung jewels of wisdom and mercy and understanding everywhere! A beautiful house built on grace. Grace is defined as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Your riches adorn our house of grace and we are invited to live there. Jesus is the door, open wide to allow us in. Wow! Our home forever! Forgive my sins of thought, word, and deed. Forgive my undone deeds. Thank you for Jesus Christ and the riches of your grace! Purify me and lead me home. Amen.

Oct. 23....whose riches?

Psalm 52:7 “Here is the man who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth, and grew strong by destroying others.”

Luke 12:16 “That is the way it works for the man who grows rich for himself instead of growing rich in the sight of God.”

Heavenly Father,

This is a warning for us of how not to be “rich”. We have trouble understanding the stories on the rich men in the Bible at times, because we don’t know “how rich?” is “too rich”. We wonder where to draw the line of what we can have and enjoy and what we owe to others. How do we balance reasonable wealth intended to supply our needs and care for our heirs, and unreasonable wealth that results from greed and ignores the needs of others? You, O LORD, loved and supported many rich men in the scriptures, so what was the difference? We must focus on where our wealth came from, and who provided it….did we earn it, or is it a gift of your great blessing to us? We must ask ourselves why we have riches….for our own pleasure, to satisfy every whim, or to use to help the less fortunate as well as provide for our own needs? Some people have a gift for making money, and if they can use that gift to wisely help others who are less gifted, that is a blessing. The psalm verse hints at making wealth while harming others. We have no right to grow strong while shoving others under. Our wealth should not be the result of greed and should not be based on unkindness. The Luke story contrasts growing rich for our own benefit and growing rich “in the sight of God”. All that we do is in your sight. You know what is in our hearts. You know if we trust in you, or trust in our wealth and our own cleverness. Show me how to use my wealth wisely and how to keep my trust in you for all things. I wish to be “rich in the sight of God” and to live as you want me to. Thank you for your loving provision. Thank you for my true riches….grace. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Oct. 22....I lift up my soul

Psalm 25:1-2 “To you I lift up my soul, O Lord, my God. In you I trust; let me not be put to shame.” Heavenly Father,

“To you, O LORD, I lift up my soul, in you I trust, O my God”. How do I lift up my soul? My soul is the part of me connected to you, the eternal part that gets its life from you, the “God breathed “ part. My soul can only belong to you. I lift up my soul that you will reclaim it, redeem it, heal it, own it. My soul is not mine. My soul belongs to you. Jesus Christ redeemed our souls for us on the cross…removed the weight of sin and death that we might lift it to you. No longer heavy and earthbound. No longer worn and tarnished and broken. My soul longs for you! My soul cries out for its maker. I trust you to hold my soul, to own it, to mold it and make it new. A song or 2 run through my mind. One by the St. Louis Jesuits says: “To you, Yahwah, I lift up my soul, O my God…..for you are the God who saves me.” Straight from this psalm, but the music helps me remember it. Another older song says: “It is well, it is well with my soul”. I can say that since Christ cleansed it with his blood. I know my soul is “sick” no more….it is well…all is right….through Christ. Another favorite: “as the deer pants for the water, so my soul longs after thee.” Hunger and thirst for righteousness…only you can fill me. Only you know where my soul belongs. You are home, you are sanctuary, you are my refuge, in you will I trust. Take my soul, I lift it up. I trust your love and care for me. I trust you as my Father to love me and protect me and lead me home. Amen.

Oct. 21....blessed when we trust

Psalm 84:12 “O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trust in you!”

Heavenly Father, This verse ends a beautiful psalm that speaks of the blessings found in your presence. There are 3 things listed beginning with “blessed”: (vs. 4) “Blessed are those who dwell in your house, they are ever praising you.” (vs. 5) “Blessed are those whose strength is in you, who have set their hearts on pilgrimage.” (vs. 12) “O, LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you!” To “dwell in your house” is every Christian’s desire. Earth is nice and familiar, but it grows more evil every day. There is no harmony between man and his environment. We long for the day when evil is gone and we live in your presence in peace and harmony. No more terrorists, no more natural disasters, no more hatred and war, no more greed and selfishness. Peace, perfect peace found in You. We are assured of this blessing by our belief in Jesus Christ, who taught us about what is necessary to be “blessed” in the Beatitudes, and who died that it might be possible for us to be blessed forever. Our hearts long for our home with you, our Father. The second blessing here mentions relying on you for our “strength” and “setting our hearts on pilgrimage”. We journey toward you and heaven. We must break our ties to this world and seek your presence. The Holy Spirit guides us and fills us with the strength we need. All of this leads to the final “blessed”….we trust in you. We have to give our lives totally to you and follow and obey. You have proven yourself faithful and we can rely on your goodness and love. We rely on your mercy and forgiveness. We trust and rely on you for our lives forever. We are yours! Thank you! Increase my trust and strengthen me and lead me home. Amen.

Oct. 20....you are (have been) my hope

Psalm 71:5-6 “You have been (are) my hope, O LORD; my trust, O God, from my youth. On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength; constant has been my hope in you (I will ever praise you).”

Heavenly Father,

Going back and forth between 2 translations here, I see slight differences. One says: “You have been my hope” and the other “you are my hope”. This gives ma a sense of a continuing presence or always. What you “have been” you still “are”. The same today, yesterday, and always. Someone who is that consistent is very dependable and trustworthy. The next statements show that trustworthiness: “my confidence since my youth” and “on you I depend since birth”. Again the sense of what once was…in my youth…continues on today, leading to confidence and dependability. The focus of all this is …You! You, O LORD, are the one we have depended on since birth, who gives us confidence from our youth, who has been and is our hope! Trust is the word to describe all of this. I trust on the dependable One. I trust on the One who gives me confidence at all times. I trust on the One who has always been there and will always be there. “I have relied on you”. Our response is to keep relying on you, keep depending on you, developing deeper trust, deeper faith, total commitment. “I will ever praise you!” and “Constant has been my hope!” We have entered a relationship based in “forever”, eternity. This relationship of our trust on the One who has made us, who has been reliable throughout our lives, and now calls us to an eternal home, is forever. There is great hope, peace, and comfort in that. Jesus Christ has made this relationship possible by removing the barriers between us…sin, death. The finite things of this world are traded for the infinite things of heaven! Thank you! amen.

Oct. 19.....trust in him at all times

Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O my people! Pour out your heart before him; God is our refuge.”

Heavenly Father,

“Trust in him at all times”….sounds simple! However, we all know that it is easier to trust when things are going well and we don’t need to trust, we don’t need any help. It is more of an illusion of trust during those times. We say it, but we don’t really live it or pray it. When times get tough and someone we love is dying, or our financial support is shaken, or any other of many disasters strike our lives, than our trust often waivers. Bad times are a test of our trust. That’s when we often feel forsaken. It should make us feel good that even Jesus felt “forsaken” on the cross. I know that I sometimes give lip service to my trust in you, LORD, and I want my trust to be real and deep. I don’t want to go through trials to see how strong my trust is…no one does!…but I do want my faith and trust to survive anything. I need you! Without you, I’d be lost. “Pour out your heart”…how do we pour out our hearts? “Pour” suggests something liquid that flows. My heart must “melt” to pour out. I can’t be “hard-hearted”, but need to be soft and pliable and willing to flow freely. Love pours…it flows outward surrounding and touching others. Love gets into things and becomes part of them. Love is a liquid that takes our life and mixes it with other lives when we pour it out. Love intermingles, permeates, washes over, involves itself with others. You poured love on us through Jesus Christ. His blood, his love is now intermingled and washed over us. We must let our hard hearts “melt” and pour out with a mixture of our love and Jesus’ love and flow onto others who have yet to find this love. When our hearts melt, you can use us. Our poured out heart is now filled with your love. We trust because you love us. We trust with emptied hearts that have been refilled with your love. You are our refuge, at all times! Amen.

Oct. 18....love casts out fear

Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid I will trust I you, in God whose word I praise. In God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me?”

1 John 4:18 “Love has no room for fear. Perfect love casts out all fear.”

Heavenly Father,

I admit that sometimes I am afraid. It would be nice to say I never fear anything, but that wouldn’t be true. Fear is part of this world. We fear outside forces of evil….crime, terrorism, war. We fear natural disasters….earthquake, tornado, hurricane, fire. We fear other people…rejection, loneliness, prejudice. We fear the unknown….unemployment, no insurance, no options we see. But in all those fears we can “trust in you”! If we place our trust in the One who is higher than anything on this earth we will have peace even I our fear. The psalmist put his trust in “God, whose word I praise”. Word is your promise to be with us. Word is Jesus Christ. You spoke your love into being that we might see it and know it exists. Jesus was someone we could see and know. Jesus showed that he trusted you completely and would do your will in all things. He showed us what your love looks like in his great sacrifice to redeem us. Unselfish love! Unending love! Unstoppable love! Unmerited love! You didn’t wait for us to deserve your love or earn it. You just gave it to us…grace….a free gift that brings us home to you for eternity. “Love has no room for fear”…wow! Love crowds out everything else and gives us confidence in the One who loves us. Trust comes from this great love. “Perfect love casts out all fear”…wow! Casts out…throws it away….gets rid of it. Jesus showed us perfect love…I will not fear! “What can mortal man do to me?” If you love me, if Jesus has saved me, if the Holy Spirit remains with me, than “what can mortal man do to me?” Nothing! My trust is in you! My faith is in your love! My hope is in you! Thank you, for your perfect love! Thank you for casting out my fear! Amen.

Oct. 17....no man can redeem himself

Psalm 49:6-7 “They trust in their wealth; the abundance of their riches is their boast. Yet in no way can a man redeem himself, or pay his own ransom to God.”

Heavenly Father,

The smarter we are, the richer we tend to be, and the more we depend on our own resources and ignore You. No wonder Jesus said, “It is harder for a rich man to get to heaven than for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle.” Trusting in wealth won’t do it….you can’t buy your way into heaven. Boasting in our abundance gains us nothing….it will all be worthless in the end. In “no way can a man redeem himself or pay his own ransom.” The people spent 1000’s of years trying to do just that. They proved that the law can convict us, but the law can’t save us. We are still sinners. We still owe a debt. We still are “owned” by sin and death. The price tag is higher than any wealth we can accumulate….one perfect spotless Lamb. One sacrifice of a perfect human. There were none before Jesus Christ. Jesus is the only perfect human. He is the only “spotless Lamb”. He is the only one who could completely and willingly obey the Father and offer himself in payment. He is the only one who could rise again and ascend to the throne. We don’t like the image of a sacrificed Christ. We don’t like the idea at all. It seems barbaric. It seems cruel. It seems senseless. But that was the plan and that is what happened. If we accept it, we are home in heaven with the Lamb. If we refuse, we are damned. Our wealth, our talent, our intellect won’t change it. No one can redeem himself. Redemption comes at the expense of someone else. Jesus Christ is the Redeemer and we are the fortunate ones who have been redeemed….if we choose to be. Thank you! amen.

Oct. 16....a new song

Psalm 40:3 “He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD.”

Heavenly Father,

You know how I love singing and you know all the types of songs I’ve listened to over the years. My head has always been full of music. However, in recent years my heart and head have been filled almost totally with praise music. It gets in there and sticks and I think or sing it all the time. I like that. I like hearing scripture songs singing in my mind. I like to wake up singing and go to sleep singing. I grew up in a singing family, but now exist in a non-singing one. So my songs are usually only in my head except when I’m in the car or the sewing room or alone in the house. But that’s OK…I’m still singing. The “new song” is in reality the gospel, the Good News. I sing about Jesus. I sing about you, the Father. I sing about the Holy Spirit. I sing praises to your name. I sing from a full heart, a grateful heart, a joyful heart. I don’t sing around others very much, because in our society that isn’t a natural thing to do. But when I can’t sing, I can tell others the “new song” that is in my heart. The words must leave my mouth and be heard by those who don’t know the new song. When all hearts sing in harmony the new song, Jesus will return. We will sing around his throne. We will praise you forever and it will seem but a day. We will sing and be joyful all the time. We will sing in harmony and peace. Let your “new song” be heard throughout the earth…no matter what language or what words! Jesus Christ be praised. Glory to God in the highest! Be exulted, O God, above the heavens! Worthy is the Lamb! Amen.

Oct. 15....trust in the LORD

Psalm 37:3-5 “Trust in the LORD and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture. Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him and he will act.”

Heb. 10:23 “Let us hold unswervingly to our profession which gives us hope, for he who has promised is faithful.”

Heavenly Father,

The psalmist makes a list of cause and effect statements having to do with trusting you. If we “trust in the LORD and do good”…..then we will “dwell in the land and enjoy safety.” By trusting you we find peace in our lives and a feeling of security that sustains us at all times. We also dwell with you always in heaven. If we “delight in the LORD….then ”he will grant our heart’s desires”. We can’t “delight in you, take pleasure in your presence unless we spend time with you. When we build a relationship with you based on our knowledge of your love and faithfulness, we also build trust in you. If we “commit to the LORD your way”….then “he will act”. Once we are committed to you and to your will, we will see your action in our lives. When we give up self-control and allow you to be our King, our Lord, our Master, than our way becomes your way. Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life.” Through him, we find our way to you, the truth we should follow, and the Life eternal. He is our salvation. When we confess this and trust you, you are free to act in our lives, changing us, molding us, making us new. This is sort of a progressive thing….first we trust and come into your presence to dwell. Secondly after coming we began to delight in you and your way and we find the desires of our heart being granted as we draw closer. Thirdly we totally commit to you and allow you to act within us in accordance to your will in all things. The next verse sums up what happens….”He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn!” We become righteous through Jesus Christ and are formed into a new person that shines with his light for others. “He who promised is faithful!”….trust him! We can rely fully on our God and his promises! Trust…delight…commit! Amen.

Oct. 14.....Flourishing in the hosue of God

Psalm 52:8 “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” John 6:68-69 “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life. WE have come to believe; we are convinced that you are God’s holy one.”

Heavenly Father,

“Flourishing in the house of God”….I like that phrase! The house of God is home. It is where we belong. Where we find nourishment. Where everything is right. When we are in the proper environment, we flourish. Our environment effects how we act, how we think, how we speak, how we live. It actually changes our personality and shapes it. If you live in the midst of famine or war or poverty you grow up different than if you live in plenty and peace and prosperity. As a Christian, if I want to “flourish”, I need to make sure my environment is “the house of God”. Not just church…some churches are not healthy Christian environments and show little of God’s presence. I need to be at home in the Word, Jesus Christ. I need to abide in him and let him abide in me. Jesus said, “I am the Vine, you are the branches.” Our “home” is attached to the Vine, Jesus Christ. If a branch becomes severed from the vine it dies. If firmly attached life flows into it from the vine and fruit is produced. Today’s verse says, “I trust n God’s unfailing love”. That is why we flourish in God’s house. His unfailing love supports us and surrounds us and nourishes us. Peter had the right answer, “To whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.” If we “believe and know”, if we really trust in the Words of Life, Jesus Christ, we have eternal life and we flourish in God’s house. I want to abide n the House of God, in your presence and your unfailing love, forever and ever! I trust in you! I believe in your son, Jesus Christ and I know that you are God and you are my salvation, my home, my all. Amen.

Oct. 13......right sacrifices

Psalm 4:5 “Offer right sacrifices and trust in the LORD.”

Psalm 51:17 “The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.”

1 Cor. 13:7 “Love always protects, always trust, always hopes, always perseveres.”

Heavenly Father,

We are told here to “offer right sacrifices”. What is a right sacrifice? In Psalm 51:17 you tell us that, “the sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart.” We need to “break down” and give up our control, our need to be in charge, our dependence on ourselves and instead offer ourselves to you and your will for us. When we are “contrite” we recognize our sinfulness and our inability to do right. We confess. We throw ourselves on your mercy and beg to come home. The prodigal son returned with a “broken spirit and a contrite heart”. He knew he had been foolish. He knew he missed his Father and home. He knew there was only one place to go and one person to ask forgiveness of….his Father. The second part of this verse says, “and trust in the LORD.” The prodigal son didn’t go home expecting a party and the fatted calf, he went home repentant and just wanting to be safe again at home with his Father, who had always loved him and cared for him. When we trust You, our Father, to love us and take us back, when we throw ourselves on your mercy and ask forgiveness, you never fail to give it. Your love is so great that you put a permanent plan in place to forgive those who return to you, seeking home and sanctuary. Jesus Christ is our Door to home. When we return, you throw us a party and give us the greatest gift….grace…forever! Your love is described in 1 Cor. 13:7….”Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres”. This is a model of the love we all need to have and to give back in return to you and others. We should always protect, trust, hope, persevere. Our faith is securely place in You….we hope and trust and persevere in you. Jesus protects us with his grace and love. We love and trust you, O LORD, because of your great love for us! amen.

Oct. 12.....in his holy name we trust

Psalm 33:20-21 “Our soul waits for the LORD, who is our help and our shield. For in him our hearts rejoice; in his holy name we trust.”

2 Cor. 7:16 “I am glad I can have complete confidence I you.” Heavenly Father,

Our joy is fullest when it comes from our trust in you. Man-made joy is fleeting and has constant ups and downs depending on our current mood and circumstances. But holy joy, spiritual joy, comes from deeper within. It is a confidence based on our relationship with you that lets us feel peace and internal happiness even when things around us are bad. It’s a feeling of calm in the midst of the storm….like knowing Jesus is in the boat with us and will quiet the storm and save us. We never feel alone. We always have your presence even when the darkness closes in around us. In our hearts, there is still light. In our minds, there is still hope. In our spirit, there is still knowledge of our intimate connection to you, our connection to “home” that calls us and gives us peace because of past faithfulness, and present provision, and future promise. “I will not forget you, see you are engraved on the palms of my hands”. (Is. 49:16) Our salvation is forever etched in the nail holes of Jesus’ hands…our names forever written there in his blood….our eternal reward gifted to us through his grace. “In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name!” This is our creed, our faith statement, our affirmation, our confession, our battle cry all rolled into one. Paul’s statement wasn’t addressed to You, LORD, but it is very apt and easy to apply….”I am glad I can have complete confidence in YOU.” Our hearts rejoice! We sing your praise! We sleep in confidence and wake in hope! Thank you, O LORD, for all that you are forever and for your great love for me! Amen.

Oct. 11....help my unbelief

Psalm 27:13-14 “I am still confident (I believe) of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD.” Mark 9:24 “I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” Heavenly Father, There are many things here that I want to reflect on. “I believe”….very powerful words. The words that we use to accept the gift of grace. Jesus says that everything is possible for him who believes. Everything? Wow! The man responded with that paradoxical statement we all identify with….”I do believe, help me overcome my unbelief!” One minute we have every confidence in Jesus Christ and the next we doubt and stumble. We want to believe with all our hearts, minds and spirits! We allow the world to confuse us and make us hedge our faith with statements like “if it's your will”…”if you don’t, I’ll understand that it wasn’t your plan at this time”….”God sometimes says ‘no’ or ‘not now’.” There are kernels of truth there, but mostly we are getting ourselves ready for a let down rather than expecting you to want to give us what we desire. We don’t quite trust your love. We don’t quite think our problems are important enough to bother you with. We don’t quite feel confident of your goodness. “Help my unbelief”! We all need to cry this each day, to acknowledge our weakness and lean on your strength. If we “wait for the LORD”….not our own strength, our own plan, our own solution…but “wait” in expectation for you to act. You love us. You have proven that. All other belief should be easy if we pray for your help to strengthen our belief, erase our doubts and fears, lift us up through your Holy Spirit, trust and wait. Wait can also mean to serve. We wait in trust and we wait in service because “I am still confident of this, that I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. Wait for the LORD, be strong, take heart and wait for the LORD!” Amen.

Oct. 10....this alone I seek

Psalm 27:4 “One thing I ask of the LORD, this is what I seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the LORD and seek him in his temple.”

2 Corinthians 3:18 “All of us, giving on the LORD’s glory with unveiled faces, are being transformed from glory to glory into his very image by the LORD who is the Spirit.”

Heavenly Father,

With our feet so firmly bound to earth it is very difficult to imagine living in your presence and gazing on your glory forever. This verse is the basis for one of my favorite songs by the St. Louis Jesuits. “One thing”……”this alone”…..words that speak of wholehearted commitment. Our eyes need to seek the one prize worth having….eternal life in your presence. In your house is perfect peace, perfect love, perfect beauty. Your glory surpasses all things. We can’t even imagine it or know how to put it into words. “Glory”…what is it? My mind conjures up visions of bright light, radiance streaming everywhere, whiteness, purity, beautiful music, beautiful singing, perfection, love, peace, harmony. I run out of words and I run out of vision. I can’t see or know….I must wait. But part of your “glory” came to earth and looked like us. Part of your “glory” walked and taught and lived and died and arose to live again. Jesus Christ is the incarnation of your “glory”. Jesus Christ reflected all that your glory consists of….the Light of the World! The Light that shines into our darkness and dispels it. The Light that exists forever in our hearts. The Light that brings hope and salvation. “God of God, Light of lights, Very God of Very God, begotten not made”….his Light is your Light, his glory is your glory. With our hearts and faces unveiled we too can reflect your glory. The Light of the World with all your glory shines within us. We must seek your glory in all who know him. All who are called by his name. “One thing I ask, this alone I seek….” Amen.

Oct. 9....light, salvation, stronghold

Psalm 27:1 “The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear? The LORD is my life’s refuge (stronghold); of whom should I be afraid?”

Romans 8:31 “If God is for us, who can be against us?”

Heavenly Father,

You are my Light! You are my Salvation! You are my Stronghold! Whom shall I fear? If God is for us, who can be against us? I know that some people like to use this verse to support the belief that God is “for” a particular group or country, but to me it affirms that God is “for” all of us. He loved us all enough to send his son to die for us. Jesus came to save everyone. No one needs to be excluded. The work of salvation is finished and all we have to do is believe in Him and accept the gift of grace that he provided for us. Because he came, we have “Light”…..darkness and sin are conquered and the Light of the World is shining forever and ever for all of us. Because he came, we have “salvation”…we are redeemed, born again, straightened out, changed, healed, forgiven and placed in safety. Because he came, we have a “stronghold” that can’t be breached or shaken or destroyed. Jesus Christ is forever. His work is forever. He takes a place in our lives and shines and saves and strengthens us through his own power and his own Spirit. Whom shall we fear? Whom shall we be afraid of? Who is stronger than our God? Who can rob us of his salvation? Who can rip us out of his arms? Who can harm us in eternity? No one! Almighty God, El Shaddai, Holy One, Jehovah, Yahweh, Savior, Good Shepherd, Light of the World, Bread of Life, the Way, the Truth, the Life, Holy Spirit, Counselor, Immanuel, I AM! No one is greater! No one is more powerful! No one is more loving! No one is more faithful! No one is more forgiving! You are my Life! Thank you! amen.

Oct. 8....blessing in our refuge

Psalm 2:12 “Happy (blessed) are all who take refuge in him!” Mark 11:22 “Put your trust in God”.

Heavenly Father,

You are our refuge! Our faith is in you. This verse says we are “blessed” if we take refuge in you. We take refuge in you when we are poor in spirit, when we mourn, when we are meek, when we hunger and thirst for righteousness, when we are merciful, when we are pure in heart, when we are peacemakers, and when we are persecuted for righteousness. These are all conditions where Jesus told us we are “blessed”. When we are poor in spirit we recognize our hopeless condition, our need to take refuge in you…blessed! When we mourn for our sinful condition we seek refuge in you….blessed! When we are meek and accept your will as our own, we find refuge in One who is much stronger than we are…blessed! When we hunger and thirst for righteousness we find refuge n our relationship with you and our saved condition through Jesus Christ…blessed! When we show others the same mercy you show us and lead them to you for refuge…blessed! When our hearts are pure and belong only to you we find refuge in our faith and your faithfulness…blessed! When we make peace we also find peace in the refuge beneath your wings…blessed! When we are persecuted for our faith and trust in you, we find refuge and security in our true home with you…blessed! Faith leads us to our refuge and we are truly blessed. “Only in God, will my soul find its rest, for he is my hope, my salvation.” Refuge! Our rest, our peace, our hope, our salvation! God is my refuge, my strength and my shield! Thank you, O LORD, for the refuge I find in Jesus Christ! Amen.

Oct. 7.....close to his heart

Psalm 148:14b “He has raised up for his people a horn, the praise of all his saints, ….. the people close to his heart.”

Romans 6:5 “If we have been united with him through likeness to his death, so shall we be through a like resurrection.”

Heavenly Father,

You raised up Jesus from the dead and set him on high. Our praise is for You, the Father, Jesus, the Son, and Holy Spirit, who remains within us. We are “united with him in his resurrection. When he arose we arose with him by our faith in his resurrection. I love the phrase, “the people close to his heart”. This makes me think of the Good Shepherd holding the lost lamb in his arms next to his heart. It makes me think of the Father with outstretched arms clasping the prodigal son to his bosom. It makes me think of the little children coming to Jesus to be blessed. They are always pictured sitting in his lap, leaning close to his heart. We find comfort in a human heartbeat….babies sleep peacefully next to their mother’s heart, baby animals do the same. The steady beat of a familiar heart can bring great peace and the feeling of security. Safety! Home! To be part of a people that are close to God’s heart is the most comforting thing I can think of. We all hold those we love close to our hearts even when they are thousands of miles away. This type of closeness doesn’t depend on proximity, it just depends on love. “God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have everlasting life.” You showed us your awesome love in your son, Jesus Christ. Jesus showed his awesome love in dying for us. The Holy Spirit shows his awesome love by remaining in us. This is love that brings us “close to your heart”. Thank you, LORD! May I always abide in your heart and you abide in mine. Amen.

Oct. 6....name above all names

Psalm 148:13 “Praise the name of the LORD, for his name alone is exalted; His majesty is above earth and heaven.” 1 Cor. 15:54b-55a “Death is swallowed up in victory” “O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?”

Heavenly Father,

My first thoughts were of the song, “Jesus, name above all names, beautiful Savior, glorious Lord. Emmanuel, God is with us, blessed Redeemer, Living Word.” His name alone is exalted….no other name. Humans have a way of giving great prominence and even wealth to those who they consider “great” on this earth…usually sports stars, movie stars, singing sensations. But we are told that there is only one name that deserves praise and honor and glory. Only one name to be exalted above everything. Jesus Christ should reign in our hearts, our minds, our lives. His name bought us eternal life. His name gave us salvation. His name died and rose, bringing victory over death. He alone did what needed to be done. He alone conquered death. He alone deserves thanks and praise. No high-paid earthly “star” can equal what he has done. No media darling or seven-day-wonder has earned the right to sit at God’s right hand in victory, over sin and death! The battle belongs to the LORD! And the victory is his alone! Worthy is the Lamb! King of Kings! Lord of Lords! “His name alone” We need no other. Only One name saves us. Only one name redeems us. Only one name is exalted. Thank you, LORD! Thank you, Jesus Christ! Thank you Holy Spirit! In his name…..always…amen.

Oct. 5....praise from the earth

Psalm 148:7 “Praise the LORD from the earth, you sea monsters and all depths.”

Heavenly Father,

The first 6 verses of this psalm are about praise from the heavens. Now in verse 7, we have praise from the earth. Just as the angels and the creation in the heavens…sun and moon and stars…praise you forever, so does the earth praise you. The creatures that fill the oceans and land are attuned to their Maker. They praise you by their uniqueness and their testimony to your creative greatness. Man is the only creature who praises you in words and deeds. Man, whom you breathed the Spirit of life into and who is “made in your image.” Man should be the one on earth who most perfectly praises you, but instead man is the least obedient, the least praise-filled, the last to acknowledge you. We are a hard-headed and hard-hearted people! We flaunt the free will that you gave us at every opportunity. Only one man, one perfect being gave you perfect praise….Jesus Christ. You came as man to do what we can’t do…overcome sin and live perfectly in your will. What we can’t do…Christ did for us. In perfect love, he gave us the gift of forgiveness and eternal life…grace! How sweet the sound! Praise will arise from all mankind in response to grace! Praise will ring forth when our hearts feel your love and the peace of being in harmony with your will. Jesus shows us how. Emmanuel…God with us…is always present to fill our hearts and lips with praise. We are your temples and the Holy Spirit dwells within us. If we allow him to fill every corner we are at peace and praise swells “from the earth” through Jesus Christ our Savior! Thank you! Praise to your holy name forever, amen.

Oct. 4....one God, three persons

Psalm 148:4-5 “Let them praise the name of the Lord, for he commanded and they were created; He established them forever and ever; he gave them a duty (a decree) which shall not pass away.”

John 15:26 “When the Paraclete comes, the Spirit of truth who comes from the Father…and whom I myself will send from the Father…he will bear witness on my behalf.”

Heavenly Father, If we read scripture we find evidence of the “triune God”….the Trinity. We find it a mystery to understand how you are One, but also three. As the Father and Creator you established everything and by your command, everything is created. Jesus Christ is the part of you that visited earth, that “came down” among us and did the work of salvation that allows us to live forever. Pure love in heaven creating and fathering, pure love on earth shepherding, saving, redeeming. The Holy Spirit “goes out from the Father”….Spirit of Truth, Counselor….this part can be with us and in us at all times. This part teaches us, guides us, and “testifies about Jesus”. Pure love within us, changing us, molding us, showing us Jesus. Father, Son, Holy Spirit….all One God, all separate in their working.

“Holy, Holy, Holy, merciful and mighty God in three persons, blessed Trinity.”

We need you, O Father, who created us and gave us life. We need you, Savior Jesus, who redeemed us and gave us eternal life. We need you, Holy Spirit, who helps us understand and grow and see the Truth, Jesus Christ. O Great Mystery, El Shaddai, Jehovah, I AM! Blessed is your Holy Name! In essence….Spirit. In essence….Love. In essence….purity.Thank you, Heavenly Father, thank you Jesus Christ, son and Savior, thank you Holy Spirit of Truth! Amen.

Oct. 3....shining stars

Psalm 148:3 “Praise him, sun and moon; praise him, all you shining stars.”

Phil. 2:15-16a “..so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe as you hold out the word of life….”

Heavenly Father,

What a beautiful image! Make me one of your “shining stars”! I want to shine with your glory with all the other stars of the universe, who believe on your son, Jesus Christ. Stars “shine” because they reflect the light of the Sun. If I “hold out the Word of Life” to all around me, I can shine for you. Your Word, Jesus Christ, is the “Word of Life”. Jesus told us that he is “the Way, the Truth, and the Life”. By reflecting Christ’s glory and holding out his life-giving “light” to others, I can be one of the shining stars that praise you. Jesus Christ, “light of the world”….always shining, always bright with hope and salvation for all. The verse in Philippians speaks of our crooked and depraved generation, and that is an apt description for sure. With all the evil and ugliness in the world, we need to be able to look upward and away from the world to the shining stars. Anyone who has stood outside on a dark night and gazed at the stars knows how amazing it is. A vision of beauty, wonder, fascination, peace. The stars shine and bring light and direction in the darkness around us. The stars are constant and predictable. The stars shine as their Maker intended ….doing the job they were meant to do. If we see all the shining stars as being the faithful who have gone before us, there is a great reason for hope and purpose in our lives. We too, can shine with the reflected love of Jesus Christ and carry the light within us forever to shine down on others looking upward seeking hope. Shine Jesus shine! Let me reflect your light and praise you! Amen.

Oct. 2....by him, for him....in him

Psalm 148:2 “Praise him all you angels, praise him all you his hosts.”

Col. 1:16-17 “For by him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things were created by him and for him. He was before all things and in him all things hold together.”

Heavenly Father,

Since I just wrote about this Psalm verse a couple days ago, I will concentrate on connecting it to the verse from Colossians. This verse ties Jesus Christ to you, the Father, and the creation of the world and it stresses the pre-existence of Jesus in all things. Jesus Christ didn’t just begin s the baby we know who was born in a stable 2000 years ago. That is merely when he became incarnate and arrived on earth to do his work of salvation. Scripture tells us that “he” created and that he is “before all things”. Father, Son, Holy Spirit….we don’t’ always understand it, but as a triune God, Jesus has existed as one part always. We praise Him, for his part in creation! We praise him for his incarnation! We praise him for his work of salvation. WE praise him….just as do all the angels and the heavenly hosts! He was first in all ways. Creation is his….”all things were created by him and for him….and in him all things hold together.” The saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross completes what began at creation and holds all things together. All of you….the Father…is in the Son. Praise him! He is the crown of creation! He is the King of Kings! Worthy is the Lamb that was slain! Be exalted, O LORD, above the heavens….and your glory be over all the earth! Jesus holds it all together and makes us sons and daughters of the kingdom! Praise him! Glorify Him! In the name of Jesus Christ, Lord of Lords, King of Kings, Good Shepherd, Savior, Lamb of God, Immanuel, we praise you! Thank you! Love you! amen.

Oct. 1.....all creation praise him

Psalm 148:1 “Praise the LORD from the heavens, praise him in the heights.”

Heavenly Father,

This verse speaks of praise “from the heavens” and “in the heights above”. This is praise originating from angels and from the creation….sun, moon, and stars. This is pure praise as it should be, glorifying you above all.

 Our praise is often much weaker, more rehearsed, less spontaneous, less heartfelt. We echo what we have been taught, we sing whatever song someone plays, we repeat someone else’s thoughts and try to capture emotion to go with them. Most of us don’t know how to sing from our hearts our own words and our own tunes. We are happy that someone else wrote something for us to say or sing. But we sing because we love you and want to praise you, even when we aren’t sure how.

 I’m always a bit confused about the word “glory” and how we are to glorify you. In John 17:4, Jesus says that he brought you glory by completing the work you gave him to do. He completed the work of salvation and saved the world from sin. This is the most important work there is on earth! You have given us “work” to do also, but we aren’t always clear about what it is. WE lose ourselves in “good works” trying to somehow please you and thank you and serve you and repay you. Our motives aren’t always clear. Our work is often distracting. Our praise is inadequate.

We don’t know how to just “be” the creation you made us to be and to ooze praise form every pore of our being as the natural thing it should be. We want to praise as easily as we breathe, but we don’t succeed.

Read my heart, LORD, and know that I wish to praise you “from the heaven and in the heights above”……I want to sing with the angels and know that my life completes what you will for me and glorify you! amen.