I have short-term memory loss...well, I've never been diagnosed and I remember the things I really want to remember. Like tonight, my wife asked me to look up some directions for her for work tomorrow and I heard her but I was doing something else. Twenty minutes later when she came back, no directions. I forgot. I got them for her then, but it was a bit late, you know.
Verse 6 of psalm 17 says, "I have called upon you for you will hear me, O God." Isn't it awesome to know, I mean to know that God will hear you? SPurgeon says, " Thou have hard me, O my Lord, and therefore I have the utmost confidence in again approaching thine altar. Experience is the best teacher." I have experienced God's amazing grace, mercy and faithfulness. Remembering that, and then living that on a moment by moment basis is my goal.
Monday, September 14, 2009
Saturday, September 12, 2009
too much
Why is it that the obvious is so hard to see sometimes? I looked for my iPod one morning for about 10 minutes and then walked out the door, reached into my pocket and remembered I had put it there earlier in the morning...really? Yep. Couldn't have been closer to me for those 10 minutes I was searching for it.
Verse five of chapter 16 the psalmist just owns up to who is really the provider of life and breath and the only true reward worth living for. We, too, can make our boast in the Lord; he is the meat and the drink of our souls. He is our portion, supplying all our necessities, and our cup yielding royal luxuries; our cup in this life, and our inheritance in the life to come. - C.H. Spurgeon.
Why is it so hard for us to just chase Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? It seems so obvious.
Verse five of chapter 16 the psalmist just owns up to who is really the provider of life and breath and the only true reward worth living for. We, too, can make our boast in the Lord; he is the meat and the drink of our souls. He is our portion, supplying all our necessities, and our cup yielding royal luxuries; our cup in this life, and our inheritance in the life to come. - C.H. Spurgeon.
Why is it so hard for us to just chase Him with all of our heart, soul, mind and strength? It seems so obvious.
Behind
So the 150 + 1300 in 150 days isn't going as smoothly as I planned. I have a habit of giving up at this point in a project that seems as though it will not come in exactly as planned, but this time...I'm going to stick with it. I just get to realize that the 150 days is a bit out of reach. There's life to be lived, kids whose schedules don't always stay the same, a job that takes early mornings and late nights some times and ministry with some amazing guys at a phenomenal church that sometimes takes precedent. So, I'm still making the attempt at 150 days, but if I don't make it in that time, I'm finishing the psalms with Spurgeon.
Another really hard list of ways we will be living if we are to spend eternity (starting now) in the presence of our God. It follows a deep question from the psalmist "Jehovah, who may abide in your tabernacle (have close fellowship with Him) who may dwell in your holy hill."(live in the close communion and shelter of God)
The list includes honesty, kindness, forgiveness, justice and others. The thing is, have you ever just tried to do all of those things? It's so hard. There are big parts of me that want to hold on to bitterness, that want to promote myself at the expense of others, that want to bend the truth for my own gain. So how do I crush that selfishness? I have to abide in God's Tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill. I must pursue God in His word and in doing so begin to discipline myself to depend on God's Spirit to crush out the dishonesty, unkindness, bitterness and injustices in my own life.
Another really hard list of ways we will be living if we are to spend eternity (starting now) in the presence of our God. It follows a deep question from the psalmist "Jehovah, who may abide in your tabernacle (have close fellowship with Him) who may dwell in your holy hill."(live in the close communion and shelter of God)
The list includes honesty, kindness, forgiveness, justice and others. The thing is, have you ever just tried to do all of those things? It's so hard. There are big parts of me that want to hold on to bitterness, that want to promote myself at the expense of others, that want to bend the truth for my own gain. So how do I crush that selfishness? I have to abide in God's Tabernacle and dwell in His holy hill. I must pursue God in His word and in doing so begin to discipline myself to depend on God's Spirit to crush out the dishonesty, unkindness, bitterness and injustices in my own life.
Tuesday, September 8, 2009
No God
I have a friend who is an atheist. Says that there is no God as I call a God. How could there be? Evolution and chaos rule and to him there is no evidence to there being any supreme being.
Though there is a lot of commentary that says Psalm 14 begins by speaking of the atheist, I don't think that's what David is throwing out here. Spurgeon seems to be on my side as well, so I'm in great company.
The fool has said in his heart, "there is no God." This isn't someone who goes around defending his belief that there is no God, it is one who has said it in his heart. This is the person who lives however he wants whenever he wants whether or not he is disobeying one of God's laws or not. The evidence is in the word the psalmist uses for God here. He uses "Elohim" not "Jehovah." This suggests that David is talking about the one who is great with talking about the God of the universe; the creator, the one who put the stars in the heaven. But also the one who lives without regard for the will of God. "Deity in the abstract is not so much te object o atttack, as the covenant, personal, ruling and governing presence of God in the world. God as a ruler, lawgiver, worker, Saviour, is the butt at which the arrows of human wrath are shot," says Spurgeon.
The fool, then, is the one who speaks as though there is a God, but lives as though there is not one. This, Spurgeon says is the reason that there is so much suffering, so much injustice in the world. The psalm 14:1 says at the end that there are "none that do good."
Sins of omission must abound where transgressions are rige. Those who do the things which they ought not to have done are sure to leave undone those things which they ought to have done. What a picture of our race is this! Save only where grace reigns, there is none that doeth good; humaity, fallen and debased, is a desert without an oasis, a night without a star, a dunghill without a jewel, a hell without a bottom.-C.H. Spurgeon
In other words, if we are willfully doing the things that we shouldn't do, there is no way that we are working toward the other side where we do the things that go against our human nature and do the right thing. There is no way we are reaching out to those on the underside of power and caring for the hurting because we have said in our deepest parts that we don't need to care about the things of God.
Though there is a lot of commentary that says Psalm 14 begins by speaking of the atheist, I don't think that's what David is throwing out here. Spurgeon seems to be on my side as well, so I'm in great company.
The fool has said in his heart, "there is no God." This isn't someone who goes around defending his belief that there is no God, it is one who has said it in his heart. This is the person who lives however he wants whenever he wants whether or not he is disobeying one of God's laws or not. The evidence is in the word the psalmist uses for God here. He uses "Elohim" not "Jehovah." This suggests that David is talking about the one who is great with talking about the God of the universe; the creator, the one who put the stars in the heaven. But also the one who lives without regard for the will of God. "Deity in the abstract is not so much te object o atttack, as the covenant, personal, ruling and governing presence of God in the world. God as a ruler, lawgiver, worker, Saviour, is the butt at which the arrows of human wrath are shot," says Spurgeon.
The fool, then, is the one who speaks as though there is a God, but lives as though there is not one. This, Spurgeon says is the reason that there is so much suffering, so much injustice in the world. The psalm 14:1 says at the end that there are "none that do good."
Sins of omission must abound where transgressions are rige. Those who do the things which they ought not to have done are sure to leave undone those things which they ought to have done. What a picture of our race is this! Save only where grace reigns, there is none that doeth good; humaity, fallen and debased, is a desert without an oasis, a night without a star, a dunghill without a jewel, a hell without a bottom.-C.H. Spurgeon
In other words, if we are willfully doing the things that we shouldn't do, there is no way that we are working toward the other side where we do the things that go against our human nature and do the right thing. There is no way we are reaching out to those on the underside of power and caring for the hurting because we have said in our deepest parts that we don't need to care about the things of God.
Saturday, September 5, 2009
Football or Psalms
Well, my Buckeyes looked pedestrian at best today and I can tell that next Saturday vs USC could very well be a repeat of last year's crushing loss.
So maybe this gut-wrenching psalm can bring some encouragement...probably on a bigger level, huh!
I can't imagine being under the immense discouragement and pressure and fear that David sat under with the very real enemies that he had coming at him. His story is one of such ups and downs that sometimes we try to figure out how he could really be a "man after God's own heart." But just stop and think about how much of David's life he spent running and hiding and in real fear for his life.
He's discouraged and sees no end to the real feeling that God has turned his back on him. He asks God four times, "how long?" as if it has been a while since he's felt the real presence of the Lord. His awesome faith wraps up the end and just should elate us as those who have trusted in Jesus' grace and mercy.
He remembers that his faith in God's Mercy is what has brought him salvation and that God's love/mercy is permanent. So glad I trust in that same mercy and grace. You?
So maybe this gut-wrenching psalm can bring some encouragement...probably on a bigger level, huh!
I can't imagine being under the immense discouragement and pressure and fear that David sat under with the very real enemies that he had coming at him. His story is one of such ups and downs that sometimes we try to figure out how he could really be a "man after God's own heart." But just stop and think about how much of David's life he spent running and hiding and in real fear for his life.
He's discouraged and sees no end to the real feeling that God has turned his back on him. He asks God four times, "how long?" as if it has been a while since he's felt the real presence of the Lord. His awesome faith wraps up the end and just should elate us as those who have trusted in Jesus' grace and mercy.
He remembers that his faith in God's Mercy is what has brought him salvation and that God's love/mercy is permanent. So glad I trust in that same mercy and grace. You?
XII
The Psalm starts with "Help, Lord..."
Why don't I think that every day even every moment of my life? In every temptation, in every triumph, in every project, in every decision, every chance meeting, every conversation, every relationship, "help Lord" would bring such peace and perspective.
Our friend Spurgeon just wrote this gem; "A short, but sweet, suggestive, seasonable, and serviceable prayer."
(Got to love the alliteration)
Why don't I think that every day even every moment of my life? In every temptation, in every triumph, in every project, in every decision, every chance meeting, every conversation, every relationship, "help Lord" would bring such peace and perspective.
Our friend Spurgeon just wrote this gem; "A short, but sweet, suggestive, seasonable, and serviceable prayer."
(Got to love the alliteration)
Thursday, September 3, 2009
just/right
I saw a homeless man on a corner in West Lafayette today, I did nothing. I had eaten a huge lunch at Arby's not a half hour before that and then drove home to my beautiful family and more than adequate house.
For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.
Such a great verse, but wait for it, that word righteousness should be the word "justice." Those who walk in this upright way will behold His face. "Walk upright" looks back to those who live in the way of Jesus, in justice.
The implications for this are huge if we walk in justice. Spurgeon said, "It is not only his office to defend it, but his nature to love it. He would deny himself if he did not defend the just.
In what ways am I looking to bring justice to this world? In what ways do I ignore justice?
For the LORD is righteous, He loves righteousness;
The upright will behold His face.
Such a great verse, but wait for it, that word righteousness should be the word "justice." Those who walk in this upright way will behold His face. "Walk upright" looks back to those who live in the way of Jesus, in justice.
The implications for this are huge if we walk in justice. Spurgeon said, "It is not only his office to defend it, but his nature to love it. He would deny himself if he did not defend the just.
In what ways am I looking to bring justice to this world? In what ways do I ignore justice?
Wednesday, September 2, 2009
10 Today
Rights will be vindicated, and wrongs redressed, at his throne. - C.H. Spurgeon
Psalm 10:17-18
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Our ears should hear the same cries and defend the same people as we bring His kingdom, His throne to earth.
Psalm 10:17-18
You hear, O LORD, the desire of the afflicted;
you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
defending the fatherless and the oppressed,
in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more.
Our ears should hear the same cries and defend the same people as we bring His kingdom, His throne to earth.
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
Upon the Muth-labben
It's one of the hardest things to do for someone who likes to teach. Take subject matter that has huge ideas and implications, find the most poignant and applicable idea and just talk about that. It's what makes guys like Andy Stanley, Rob Bell and Mark Driscoll such great communicators. They know how to find the most brilliant, huge diamond among all of the rest of the jewels and then cut it and polish it until it is unmistakable. There is so much to write about each of these psalms and there is so much to think about. Spurgeon said in his prologue that he struggled to hold it to what he wrote and it's over 1300 pages with tiny type face.
Let me just look at one verse in Psalm 9. Verse 10 says "those who know your name will put their trust in you. for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Really, this is an amazing promise. "let the poor seekers draw comfort from this fact, and let the finders rejoice yet more exceedingly, for what must be the Lord's faithfulness to those who find if he is so gracious to those who seek," spurgeon said of this verse.
In the middle of all the "stuff" that wrestles for our attention, it is hard to seek out God...there's too much noise. Look at the promise, though. If we are truly seeking Him...
Read the psalm and then with the psalmist "joy in His joy, and our joy shall be full" - C.H.Spurgeon
Let me just look at one verse in Psalm 9. Verse 10 says "those who know your name will put their trust in you. for you, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you."
Really, this is an amazing promise. "let the poor seekers draw comfort from this fact, and let the finders rejoice yet more exceedingly, for what must be the Lord's faithfulness to those who find if he is so gracious to those who seek," spurgeon said of this verse.
In the middle of all the "stuff" that wrestles for our attention, it is hard to seek out God...there's too much noise. Look at the promise, though. If we are truly seeking Him...
Read the psalm and then with the psalmist "joy in His joy, and our joy shall be full" - C.H.Spurgeon
8
Late last night I was writing about the brilliance of stars against a black night sky. This morning Psalm 8 has me thinking of them again. Such a magnificent psalm that lifts God to His proper place and does its best to put us in ours. I am just going to throw some quotes from the Treasury of David in here today. I've been lifted and humbled this morning in my own meditation and I hope that as you read this psalm you are as well.
We gave you but a feeble image of our comparative insignifigance, when we said that the glories of an extended forest would suffer no more from the fall of a single leag, than the glories of this extended universe would suffer though the globe we tread upon, and all that it inherits, should dissolve - Dr. Chalmers
Meditation fits for humiliation...Night was made for man to rest in. But when I cannot sleep, may I, with the Psalmist, entertain my waking with good thoughts. Not to use them as opium, to incite my corrupt nature to slumber, ut to bolt out bad thoughts, wich otherwise would possess my soul. - Thomas Fuller
It is a marvelous thing, that God thinks upon men, and remembers them continually. - John Calvin
Oh the grandeur and littleness, the excellence and the corruption, the majesty and meanness of man - Pascal
We gave you but a feeble image of our comparative insignifigance, when we said that the glories of an extended forest would suffer no more from the fall of a single leag, than the glories of this extended universe would suffer though the globe we tread upon, and all that it inherits, should dissolve - Dr. Chalmers
Meditation fits for humiliation...Night was made for man to rest in. But when I cannot sleep, may I, with the Psalmist, entertain my waking with good thoughts. Not to use them as opium, to incite my corrupt nature to slumber, ut to bolt out bad thoughts, wich otherwise would possess my soul. - Thomas Fuller
It is a marvelous thing, that God thinks upon men, and remembers them continually. - John Calvin
Oh the grandeur and littleness, the excellence and the corruption, the majesty and meanness of man - Pascal
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
