Psalm 107:23-32
Living Bible (TLB)
It's easy to remember to ask for things. This time of the year, Santas are everywhere, letting kids ask them what they want for Christmas. You don't see too many Santas hanging around in January, available for kids to thank for receiving their Christmas gifts.
I don't know that our culture is big on gratitude. We like receiving, but the act of giving thanks is often forgotten.
When we pray, it can be helpful to keep track of the things we ask for, that we might remember to give thanks when prayers are answered, when blessings are poured out, when God responds to our prayers. It takes a faithful heart to remember to give thanks, but gratitude should form the very core of our being as Christians.
Have a Merry & Blessed Christmas!! I'll pick up with these again in the new year.
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Monday, December 22, 2014
Psalm 107:10-22
Psalm 107:10-22
Living Bible (TLB)
I believe the grace and mercy of God is underestimated, because we make God out in our own image. We think that God needs revenge, when in fact I believe that it breaks the heart of God to see his creations turn from him. Many of us deal with the consequences of our sin, but God is eager to forgive, ready to allow grace to wash clean the crimson stain of sin. The cross was necessary, for in it the full price of sin was paid, and now there is a gateway to forgiveness and new life for those willing to accept the Lordship of Christ. Many rebel, but there is abundant grace for all who choose to accept the love and mercy of God. In the darkness, we cry to the light, and the light bathes our lives with hope and new life.
May we have the wisdom to look to Christ to shatter the power of our captor
Living Bible (TLB)
I believe the grace and mercy of God is underestimated, because we make God out in our own image. We think that God needs revenge, when in fact I believe that it breaks the heart of God to see his creations turn from him. Many of us deal with the consequences of our sin, but God is eager to forgive, ready to allow grace to wash clean the crimson stain of sin. The cross was necessary, for in it the full price of sin was paid, and now there is a gateway to forgiveness and new life for those willing to accept the Lordship of Christ. Many rebel, but there is abundant grace for all who choose to accept the love and mercy of God. In the darkness, we cry to the light, and the light bathes our lives with hope and new life.
May we have the wisdom to look to Christ to shatter the power of our captor
Friday, December 19, 2014
Psalm 107:1-9
Psalm 107:1-9
Living Bible (TLB)
We live in a sharing society. Our culture is always ready to share what is happening. People share pictures of themselves doing anything, everything and nothing. We love sharing about ourselves.
Our faith calls us to share what God has done for us. God has saved us, reached into our despair and plucked us into new life. Jesus Christ died on a cross so that we might not suffer the fate that we deserved, and God did this out of pure & selfless love for us. There are not enough words in the languages of the world to describe all that God has done.
Yet, we hesitate. We tell our own story but omit the wondrous deeds God has done. We fail to give God the glory he deserves, and instead try to take some for ourselves.
As we tell our story, may our hearts be burning for the desire to share the fact that God is the central figure in all we do, and that our story is the rich story it is because of God's endless grace for us.
May we tell of God's love!
Living Bible (TLB)
We live in a sharing society. Our culture is always ready to share what is happening. People share pictures of themselves doing anything, everything and nothing. We love sharing about ourselves.
Our faith calls us to share what God has done for us. God has saved us, reached into our despair and plucked us into new life. Jesus Christ died on a cross so that we might not suffer the fate that we deserved, and God did this out of pure & selfless love for us. There are not enough words in the languages of the world to describe all that God has done.
Yet, we hesitate. We tell our own story but omit the wondrous deeds God has done. We fail to give God the glory he deserves, and instead try to take some for ourselves.
As we tell our story, may our hearts be burning for the desire to share the fact that God is the central figure in all we do, and that our story is the rich story it is because of God's endless grace for us.
May we tell of God's love!
Thursday, December 18, 2014
The Innovators
How was Walter Isaacson's new book, The Innovaters?
"It was interesting."
That's it? You don't have any more to say than that? Isaacson writes a book covering the development of the personal computer and the internet and why we now carry phones in our pockets, and all you have to say is, 'It was interesting'?
"I know. I feel the same way. I expected it to be fascinating and captivating, but the only reason it was a page-turner that I couldn't put down was because it was due back at the library two days after finals, which means that I didn't start it until right before it was due. If I hadn't had that deadline, I could easily see myself putting this book down and forgetting to pick it back up for a while. Again--it wasn't bad, or uninteresting, it just didn't draw me in. When I realized that I was going to finish it without owing the library a late fee, I set it down and watched the pilot episode of Agents of SHIELD. I'm the guy who usually will stay up until 3 AM when he realizes there are 'only' 125 pages left in a book. This one, though? I just decided to leave it until the morning to finish."
Why do you suppose that is?
"I'm not sure. I think it's the lack of a grand narrative or overarching purpose in the book. There was no great conflict that pushed the action forward. There was no race, like there was in the Space Race, no sense of urgency. There was no giant problem waiting to be solved. There were a bunch of people who took the available technology of the day and thought about how it could be improved. Each one carried the idea forward a little, some individually while others in groups, and as the technology was handed forward from one link in the chain to another, eventually computers became small and then personal, and then microchips and microprocessors enabled us to have computers and develop the World Wide Web.
There were some interesting characters in the book, but mostly they were just people (mostly men, but some very important women) who loved working on computers. Some sound like great people, some were definitely not, some became fabulously wealthy, some did not. They faded into the background and others came forward to take their place."
Well, I don't know what else to say. I don't feel compelled to go read the book now.
"I know. It's a strange feeling, to read a book so filled with information, some of which I already knew, written by a great author, and come away so.... blah. Isaacson's Einstein was great, truly engaging, and he's written The Innovators well. Maybe following the course of an idea rather than a person is simply more difficult and less compelling, especially an idea that doesn't have a specific course or need, but rather is developed by curiosity over decades.
I'll sum it up like this: some intersections along the road have traffic lights that are programmed to only change when a car is waiting there. Often, when I'm driving along, I'll approach a light where a car has been waiting in the other lane, and the light will turn green before I stop. Since I haven't stopped, I go forward, passing by the car that waited, grateful that it had already been there first and triggered the light to allow my unimpeded progress. Picture doing that all the way across the country, and then arriving someplace really cool, having seen the landscape along the way. That's what this book felt like."
That's the most uninteresting metaphor I've ever heard.
"Yup. And yet it feels so apt for this book. The scenery is interesting. The destination (massively powerful computers that fit into our pockets and can access the world's information in seconds) is awesome. Yet, the journey that Isaacson describes just isn't that fascinating to this reader. I learned some things. But I never felt compelled to keep reading by anything more than the library due date."
Well, thanks for sharing, I suppose.
"I'm working on Bill Bryson's One Summer next. I promise that's more interesting. America. 1927. Fascinating stuff happened. Google it."
I will.
"And if you really, really want to know why you can Google something on a computer that didn't exist when Ada Lovelace and Charles Babbage, in the 19th century, started thinking of a machine that could do such things, Walter Isaacson's The Innovaters will tell you about it."
Psalm 106:44-48
Psalm 106:44-48
English Standard Version (ESV)
What happens when a team wins the World Series? They throw a parade. What do we do to celebrate a holiday? Parades.
Parades are miles-long celebrations of a holiday or event. They are festive and joyous and colorful, and people of every age join in, whether they are participants or just viewers.
When we think of celebrating God, we are called to give thanks and celebrate all that God is. Worship should be a joyous occasion, a remembering of how God honors his promises and will be forever victorious.
Following God is not always easy, and there are often joyless times, but faithfully enduring the valleys leads us to the mountaintops, where we celebrate God!
May we lift our hearts to the Lord
English Standard Version (ESV)
What happens when a team wins the World Series? They throw a parade. What do we do to celebrate a holiday? Parades.
Parades are miles-long celebrations of a holiday or event. They are festive and joyous and colorful, and people of every age join in, whether they are participants or just viewers.
When we think of celebrating God, we are called to give thanks and celebrate all that God is. Worship should be a joyous occasion, a remembering of how God honors his promises and will be forever victorious.
Following God is not always easy, and there are often joyless times, but faithfully enduring the valleys leads us to the mountaintops, where we celebrate God!
May we lift our hearts to the Lord
Wednesday, December 17, 2014
Psalm 106:34-43
Psalm 106:34-43
English Standard Version (ESV)
So this isn't the cheeriest passage, but there is good news in here, and it's tucked into the last verse. To set the scene, the people didn't do what God asked them to do, and they didn't do it many times. Time and time again, they failed to obey God, and there were always consequences for their actions.
But note that last verse--'many times he delivered them.'
God didn't just give them one chance. God didn't destroy them when they failed once. God is more patient than we can imagine, willing to offer forgiveness in the hope that we might come to recognize the error of our ways and turn to him. God loves us, and God wants us to be restored, and so God forgives over and over again. Someday, we will be unable to sin, but until that day, let sin be distasteful to us as we recognize the damage it causes in our own lives and in our relationships, and may we give thanks for the grace and forgiveness of God that pardons our sin and gives us life once more.
May we rejoice in the wonder of forgiveness!
English Standard Version (ESV)
So this isn't the cheeriest passage, but there is good news in here, and it's tucked into the last verse. To set the scene, the people didn't do what God asked them to do, and they didn't do it many times. Time and time again, they failed to obey God, and there were always consequences for their actions.
But note that last verse--'many times he delivered them.'
God didn't just give them one chance. God didn't destroy them when they failed once. God is more patient than we can imagine, willing to offer forgiveness in the hope that we might come to recognize the error of our ways and turn to him. God loves us, and God wants us to be restored, and so God forgives over and over again. Someday, we will be unable to sin, but until that day, let sin be distasteful to us as we recognize the damage it causes in our own lives and in our relationships, and may we give thanks for the grace and forgiveness of God that pardons our sin and gives us life once more.
May we rejoice in the wonder of forgiveness!
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Psalm 106:28-33
Psalm 106:28-33
English Standard Version (ESV)
I'm intrigued by Phinehas' willingness to stand up. Often, when trouble strikes, it's much easier to lay low and avoid the risk of getting caught up with everything else going on. Standing up is tough.
But God calls us to do what is right, regardless of the risk. God assures us he will be with us, and then he calls us to wrestle with big questions, to follow him faithfully wherever he may lead. It isn't always easy, but it's the right thing to do.
So let us seek the courage to stand up, to do what is right, to follow the call of discipleship, no matter the risk. God will be with us.
May we listen for God's call
English Standard Version (ESV)
I'm intrigued by Phinehas' willingness to stand up. Often, when trouble strikes, it's much easier to lay low and avoid the risk of getting caught up with everything else going on. Standing up is tough.
But God calls us to do what is right, regardless of the risk. God assures us he will be with us, and then he calls us to wrestle with big questions, to follow him faithfully wherever he may lead. It isn't always easy, but it's the right thing to do.
So let us seek the courage to stand up, to do what is right, to follow the call of discipleship, no matter the risk. God will be with us.
May we listen for God's call
Monday, December 15, 2014
Psalm 106:19-27
Psalm 106:19-27
English Standard Version (ESV)
There exists a breach between us and God, a tear in the fabric of our relationship that we cannot repair through our own deeds. We were the cause of this tear, this divide in the beauty God created, when we exchanged the glory of God for the glory sin promised. Sin promised us that we would be just as happy and it would be easier, and we accepted this short-term promise without thinking about the long-term costs.
We discovered, however, that sin does not live up to its promises, and even the short-term was less happy. God, who does live up to his promises, was now distant.
Here, Moses stood in the breach. Many have tried to bridge this gap, but only one could repair it, could weave humanity and God back together with a strength that could never be torn. Only one could forgive us for sins we had yet to commit, and only one could promise a relationship that would last forever.
Will you worship Christ the King who comes to repair the relationship, who filled the breach with his blood and washed us in it so that we might be clean?
Will you give thanks for this gift?
May we rejoice in the gift of today and the gift of new life
English Standard Version (ESV)
There exists a breach between us and God, a tear in the fabric of our relationship that we cannot repair through our own deeds. We were the cause of this tear, this divide in the beauty God created, when we exchanged the glory of God for the glory sin promised. Sin promised us that we would be just as happy and it would be easier, and we accepted this short-term promise without thinking about the long-term costs.
We discovered, however, that sin does not live up to its promises, and even the short-term was less happy. God, who does live up to his promises, was now distant.
Here, Moses stood in the breach. Many have tried to bridge this gap, but only one could repair it, could weave humanity and God back together with a strength that could never be torn. Only one could forgive us for sins we had yet to commit, and only one could promise a relationship that would last forever.
Will you worship Christ the King who comes to repair the relationship, who filled the breach with his blood and washed us in it so that we might be clean?
Will you give thanks for this gift?
May we rejoice in the gift of today and the gift of new life
Friday, December 12, 2014
Psalm 106:13-18
Psalm 106:13-18
English Standard Version (ESV)
Remember the phrase, 'be careful what you wish for'?
Sometimes, we get exactly what we want.
And then realize that we probably shouldn't have been wanting that!
The human heart is a complicated thing. We fall in love with the forbidden. We seek out empty pleasures. Our loyalty strays. We convince ourselves that things are good for us, even when they may not be, and often we know it and long for it anyway. We ignore the dark side of the things we desire. We fool ourselves.
We are often deceived. Our hearts are restless, Augustine writes, until they find their rest in God. We often try and have them rest on anything else, but they wander and long for their true purpose, and until we find a way to set aside all the lies that separate us from God, our hearts will continue to yearn for true relationship with the one who created them.
So may we endeavor, every day, to set our hearts on God and keep ourselves focused on him. In so doing, we direct our hearts to love and serve God.
May we love God more today
English Standard Version (ESV)
Remember the phrase, 'be careful what you wish for'?
Sometimes, we get exactly what we want.
And then realize that we probably shouldn't have been wanting that!
The human heart is a complicated thing. We fall in love with the forbidden. We seek out empty pleasures. Our loyalty strays. We convince ourselves that things are good for us, even when they may not be, and often we know it and long for it anyway. We ignore the dark side of the things we desire. We fool ourselves.
We are often deceived. Our hearts are restless, Augustine writes, until they find their rest in God. We often try and have them rest on anything else, but they wander and long for their true purpose, and until we find a way to set aside all the lies that separate us from God, our hearts will continue to yearn for true relationship with the one who created them.
So may we endeavor, every day, to set our hearts on God and keep ourselves focused on him. In so doing, we direct our hearts to love and serve God.
May we love God more today
Thursday, December 11, 2014
Psalm 106:6-12
Psalm 106:6-12
English Standard Version (ESV)
We have a choice in life. We can choose to pretend that we are immune to the failings that we see around us, that we will not be overtaken by temptation and falter on the road we travel. If we choose this path, then we don't need God, because we are just fine on our own. Only when we reach impassable obstacles will we realize the folly of this decision.
The other option involves humility and confession. This is the harder way, and out of stubborn pride, many choose the former.
But confessing our weakness leads to healing, because we are then able to let go of past burdens, and the future obstacles that stand in our way are an opportunity to lean on the strength of God, and we do not have to hesitate to call on a strength greater than our own, because we know that ours is not enough.
Confession keeps us humble, and it makes us wise, because when we confess our unworthiness, we are free to learn from those around us, and we are free to ask for God to guide us along the way, because we are not trustworthy.
God is, however, and that is enough.
May we find the courage to confess our failings
English Standard Version (ESV)
We have a choice in life. We can choose to pretend that we are immune to the failings that we see around us, that we will not be overtaken by temptation and falter on the road we travel. If we choose this path, then we don't need God, because we are just fine on our own. Only when we reach impassable obstacles will we realize the folly of this decision.
The other option involves humility and confession. This is the harder way, and out of stubborn pride, many choose the former.
But confessing our weakness leads to healing, because we are then able to let go of past burdens, and the future obstacles that stand in our way are an opportunity to lean on the strength of God, and we do not have to hesitate to call on a strength greater than our own, because we know that ours is not enough.
Confession keeps us humble, and it makes us wise, because when we confess our unworthiness, we are free to learn from those around us, and we are free to ask for God to guide us along the way, because we are not trustworthy.
God is, however, and that is enough.
May we find the courage to confess our failings
Wednesday, December 10, 2014
Psalm 106:1-5
Psalm 106:1-5
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nothing lasts forever, right? All good things must come to an end. We know these phrases well, because we see, too often, how the good things in life often fade quietly, if not dramatically, into the night.
But the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Forever.
There will be no end. If we put our faith in God's enduring love, we will never see it fade, it will never slip away, there will never be a moment when it is in doubt. God's love endures.
May we have the wisdom to order our priorities around the things that last.
English Standard Version (ESV)
Nothing lasts forever, right? All good things must come to an end. We know these phrases well, because we see, too often, how the good things in life often fade quietly, if not dramatically, into the night.
But the steadfast love of the Lord endures forever.
Forever.
There will be no end. If we put our faith in God's enduring love, we will never see it fade, it will never slip away, there will never be a moment when it is in doubt. God's love endures.
May we have the wisdom to order our priorities around the things that last.
Tuesday, December 9, 2014
Psalm 105:39-45
Psalm 105:39-45
Common English Bible (CEB)
God spread out. God brought. God opened. God remembered. God gave.
God is always the initiator, the one reaching out, the one filled with grace who is longing to share that grace. God gives. We receive.
Let go of the pressure to figure it out on your own. Fall into the arms of God and let his wisdom fill you, his love receive you, his vision guide you. You don't have to make the path on your own. We are called to follow his path that he created. God's not asking us to solve the world's problems. God is asking us to join him in building his kingdom, using each day as an opportunity to receive what God has given us and share it with the world around us. Everything originates in God. Let us proceed from there.
May we go forward with confidence in God that obedient service is enough
Common English Bible (CEB)
God spread out. God brought. God opened. God remembered. God gave.
God is always the initiator, the one reaching out, the one filled with grace who is longing to share that grace. God gives. We receive.
Let go of the pressure to figure it out on your own. Fall into the arms of God and let his wisdom fill you, his love receive you, his vision guide you. You don't have to make the path on your own. We are called to follow his path that he created. God's not asking us to solve the world's problems. God is asking us to join him in building his kingdom, using each day as an opportunity to receive what God has given us and share it with the world around us. Everything originates in God. Let us proceed from there.
May we go forward with confidence in God that obedient service is enough
Monday, December 8, 2014
Psalm 105:24-38
Psalm 105:24-38
Common English Bible (CEB)
There are a few lessons in the plagues of Egypt.
First of all, God gave the people of Egypt 9 opportunities to recognize his power and authority before God sent the angel of death over the land. God didn't have to give them any, but God was patient and demonstrated his power over and over until it was very clear exactly who was in charge.
Secondly, God does some things that seem kind of strange. Plagues of boils and gnats and frogs and darkness are bizarre, and even from within the faith, we don't always understand them. But God has purpose, and God is slowly moving us toward redemption and deliverance.
So be patient and trust in God's process. He will neither leave you nor forsake you, and you are, slowly, surely, day by precious day, being moved toward redemption.
May we celebrate our God's power!
Common English Bible (CEB)
There are a few lessons in the plagues of Egypt.
First of all, God gave the people of Egypt 9 opportunities to recognize his power and authority before God sent the angel of death over the land. God didn't have to give them any, but God was patient and demonstrated his power over and over until it was very clear exactly who was in charge.
Secondly, God does some things that seem kind of strange. Plagues of boils and gnats and frogs and darkness are bizarre, and even from within the faith, we don't always understand them. But God has purpose, and God is slowly moving us toward redemption and deliverance.
So be patient and trust in God's process. He will neither leave you nor forsake you, and you are, slowly, surely, day by precious day, being moved toward redemption.
May we celebrate our God's power!
Friday, December 5, 2014
Psalm 105:12-23
Psalm 105:12-23
Common English Bible (CEB)
One of the arguments I have heard made for God is the continued existence of the Jews. Thousands of tribes have come and gone, but somehow the Jews have remained, not wiped from the face of the earth. Is their existence proof of the reality of God? I think much stronger arguments can be made, but it is interesting.
One thing that we all fear is being forgotten. We fear being forgotten by family, by friends, by God. We fear disappearing into the void, into the past. We fear our smallness will lead to this.
What God promises is that we won't be forgotten. God promises to remember us, to hold us closely in the palm of his hand. God promises to never let us out of his sight, and that our eternity is to be held within God.
May we trust in the memory of God
Common English Bible (CEB)
One of the arguments I have heard made for God is the continued existence of the Jews. Thousands of tribes have come and gone, but somehow the Jews have remained, not wiped from the face of the earth. Is their existence proof of the reality of God? I think much stronger arguments can be made, but it is interesting.
One thing that we all fear is being forgotten. We fear being forgotten by family, by friends, by God. We fear disappearing into the void, into the past. We fear our smallness will lead to this.
What God promises is that we won't be forgotten. God promises to remember us, to hold us closely in the palm of his hand. God promises to never let us out of his sight, and that our eternity is to be held within God.
May we trust in the memory of God
Thursday, December 4, 2014
Psalm 105:1-11
Psalm 105:1-11
Common English Bible (CEB)
Think about the most delicious cookie you've ever tasted. Do this for long enough, and you'll be hungry again.
Think about the best meal you've ever had. Dwell on the memory for a while, and you'll find yourself craving food.
Think about the person you love the most. Remember their kindness and the joy they bring. Do this often enough, and you'll miss their presence.
When we think of a person or event, soon we start to relive that experience. The same is true for God--the more time we spend remembering God's good and generous acts, the more we will be shaped to be a people who long for God's presence.
This is the importance of remembering the cross. The more we dwell on the cross, we are forced to think of God's amazing love and the act he was willing to undertake to bring us back into right relationship with him. The cross shows us God's love, so when we focus on the cross, we are formed into a people who then crave relationship with God.
May you invest time in remembering God's grace and love today
Common English Bible (CEB)
Think about the most delicious cookie you've ever tasted. Do this for long enough, and you'll be hungry again.
Think about the best meal you've ever had. Dwell on the memory for a while, and you'll find yourself craving food.
Think about the person you love the most. Remember their kindness and the joy they bring. Do this often enough, and you'll miss their presence.
When we think of a person or event, soon we start to relive that experience. The same is true for God--the more time we spend remembering God's good and generous acts, the more we will be shaped to be a people who long for God's presence.
This is the importance of remembering the cross. The more we dwell on the cross, we are forced to think of God's amazing love and the act he was willing to undertake to bring us back into right relationship with him. The cross shows us God's love, so when we focus on the cross, we are formed into a people who then crave relationship with God.
May you invest time in remembering God's grace and love today
Wednesday, December 3, 2014
Psalm 104:27-35
Psalm 104:27-35
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
It's easy to get caught up worrying about heaven and hell and death and eternity. It feels so big, and we feel so small, and even though we're powerless over it we look for assurance.
We find that in God. The God who has generously poured himself out for us will live forever, and just as he has proved himself trustworthy time and time again, he will do so in the future. God never disappoints those who trust in him with their whole hearts, so if we believe in God's goodness and mercy, we can set aside our anxieties and run our race with integrity and faithfulness, trusting in God to do what he has promised.
May we remind ourselves, step by step, to rely on God's strength, rather than our own
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
It's easy to get caught up worrying about heaven and hell and death and eternity. It feels so big, and we feel so small, and even though we're powerless over it we look for assurance.
We find that in God. The God who has generously poured himself out for us will live forever, and just as he has proved himself trustworthy time and time again, he will do so in the future. God never disappoints those who trust in him with their whole hearts, so if we believe in God's goodness and mercy, we can set aside our anxieties and run our race with integrity and faithfulness, trusting in God to do what he has promised.
May we remind ourselves, step by step, to rely on God's strength, rather than our own
Tuesday, December 2, 2014
Psalm 104:19-26
Psalm 104:19-26
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
God fills the earth, and then God fills the sea. Every corner of the earth seems to be crawling with life.
Our God is a God of abundance. He is filled with abundant love and grace and mercy and peace and life. and this abundance spills over to his creations, so that we have abundance, too. The world around us is rich in treasure, from natural beauty to minerals and resources that provide and sustain our life. The sky is rich in life and stars, and we have one another--we are rich in diversity and skills and abilities and gifts. There are rich opportunities before us and rich ways to recover when we fail.
Each of us is rich, because the abundance of God has provided ample life and love and grace and peace. May we revel in the abundance of God, who gives forgiveness and life even when we do not deserve it--such is the love of God!
May we give thanks today
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
God fills the earth, and then God fills the sea. Every corner of the earth seems to be crawling with life.
Our God is a God of abundance. He is filled with abundant love and grace and mercy and peace and life. and this abundance spills over to his creations, so that we have abundance, too. The world around us is rich in treasure, from natural beauty to minerals and resources that provide and sustain our life. The sky is rich in life and stars, and we have one another--we are rich in diversity and skills and abilities and gifts. There are rich opportunities before us and rich ways to recover when we fail.
Each of us is rich, because the abundance of God has provided ample life and love and grace and peace. May we revel in the abundance of God, who gives forgiveness and life even when we do not deserve it--such is the love of God!
May we give thanks today
Monday, December 1, 2014
Psalm 104:10-18
Psalm 104:10-18
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
God provides.
God provides for the birds and the donkeys and the cattle and the trees. God provides a home and nourishment for them all.
And yet we worry so much about whether or not God will provide for us.
Fear not--God will watch over us, and God will supply all our needs. He may not give us everything we want, and he may not supply us exactly when and how we imagine, but God will not forget about you. God will provide, and so our anxious hearts can rest and be grateful to have such a compassionate and aware Father.
May we be grateful for the rich provision of God
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
God provides.
God provides for the birds and the donkeys and the cattle and the trees. God provides a home and nourishment for them all.
And yet we worry so much about whether or not God will provide for us.
Fear not--God will watch over us, and God will supply all our needs. He may not give us everything we want, and he may not supply us exactly when and how we imagine, but God will not forget about you. God will provide, and so our anxious hearts can rest and be grateful to have such a compassionate and aware Father.
May we be grateful for the rich provision of God
Wednesday, November 26, 2014
Psalm 104:1-9
Psalm 104:1-9
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The world doesn't have to be beautiful. It could be purely functional with no aesthetic beauty, simply serving the purpose of enabling us to live.
But God creates a beautiful and wondrous world, going so far as to make even the depths of the ocean vast with wonder. God creates a world filled with beauty, and even this world gives glory to God. It creates a heavenly chorus that is constantly praising God, through the crashing of the waves and the song of the birds. All of creation gives glory to God.
Will we join the song, or focus instead on ourselves?
May we lift our voices and hearts to glorify God!
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
The world doesn't have to be beautiful. It could be purely functional with no aesthetic beauty, simply serving the purpose of enabling us to live.
But God creates a beautiful and wondrous world, going so far as to make even the depths of the ocean vast with wonder. God creates a world filled with beauty, and even this world gives glory to God. It creates a heavenly chorus that is constantly praising God, through the crashing of the waves and the song of the birds. All of creation gives glory to God.
Will we join the song, or focus instead on ourselves?
May we lift our voices and hearts to glorify God!
Tuesday, November 25, 2014
Psalm 103:15-22
Psalm 103:15-22
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Every once in a while the brevity of life hits me suddenly, and my mind tries to wrap itself around the expanse of eternity in comparison with my short time on this earth. I fail to grasp the depths of time, and I am left wondering just what I mean in my trip around the sun.
In comparison to my short life, God's love endures forever. There is no beginning and no end to the eternal love of God. It simply is, and we are welcomed into that love, surrounded and embraced by it. You are loved, I am loved, we are loved, and though we are on earth for the blink of an eye, we are forever embraced by God's grace and glory.
In response, what else is there to do but to bless the Lord with all our souls?
May we give thanks today
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Every once in a while the brevity of life hits me suddenly, and my mind tries to wrap itself around the expanse of eternity in comparison with my short time on this earth. I fail to grasp the depths of time, and I am left wondering just what I mean in my trip around the sun.
In comparison to my short life, God's love endures forever. There is no beginning and no end to the eternal love of God. It simply is, and we are welcomed into that love, surrounded and embraced by it. You are loved, I am loved, we are loved, and though we are on earth for the blink of an eye, we are forever embraced by God's grace and glory.
In response, what else is there to do but to bless the Lord with all our souls?
May we give thanks today
Friday, November 21, 2014
Psalm 103:6-14
Psalm 103:6-14
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When we go to the bank for a loan, they deal with us according to our credit. If we need to borrow something from a friend, they deal with us according to how reliable we have been in the past. Humans work this way--our reputation and past actions affect our future outcomes.
With God, however, he does not deal with us according to our sins. He doesn't make sure we get what we deserve. Instead, he deals with us according to the depths of his mercy and grace, and thanks to his abundant love, our previous sins do not determine our future outcome. Because of his steadfast love, we can have hope that we might receive life when we might only deserve death.
May we cling to hope!
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When we go to the bank for a loan, they deal with us according to our credit. If we need to borrow something from a friend, they deal with us according to how reliable we have been in the past. Humans work this way--our reputation and past actions affect our future outcomes.
With God, however, he does not deal with us according to our sins. He doesn't make sure we get what we deserve. Instead, he deals with us according to the depths of his mercy and grace, and thanks to his abundant love, our previous sins do not determine our future outcome. Because of his steadfast love, we can have hope that we might receive life when we might only deserve death.
May we cling to hope!
Thursday, November 20, 2014
Psalm 103:1-5
Psalm 103:1-5
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Know what's great about the word all? It includes everything. God forgives all of your sin and heals all of your diseases--not just part of it, or the not-so-bad portions. God redeems all of us from despair, and instead of the emptiness we deserve, we receive steadfast love and mercy. Out of God's bountiful mercy and love pour gifts of grace beyond what we can fathom.
In response to this total grace, we are called to respond with complete thanksgiving. Since God has washed all of us, let all that is within respond with thanksgiving.
May we say thanks today
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Know what's great about the word all? It includes everything. God forgives all of your sin and heals all of your diseases--not just part of it, or the not-so-bad portions. God redeems all of us from despair, and instead of the emptiness we deserve, we receive steadfast love and mercy. Out of God's bountiful mercy and love pour gifts of grace beyond what we can fathom.
In response to this total grace, we are called to respond with complete thanksgiving. Since God has washed all of us, let all that is within respond with thanksgiving.
May we say thanks today
Wednesday, November 19, 2014
Psalm 102:18-28
Psalm 102:18-28
The Message (MSG)
We are in the midst of a story, and it is good. It is a story of how richly God loves his people, although he is eternal and we are created. He did not have to love us so, but he chose to richly pour out love upon us, and we are forever changed due to the transformative love of the Father. You are deeply and wonderfully loved, and there is a home for you.
Until then, we are charged to tell the story, to live the story, to sing with joy from the depth of our being that God has restored and redeemed us.
May we wonder at the miracle that enfolds us
The Message (MSG)
We are in the midst of a story, and it is good. It is a story of how richly God loves his people, although he is eternal and we are created. He did not have to love us so, but he chose to richly pour out love upon us, and we are forever changed due to the transformative love of the Father. You are deeply and wonderfully loved, and there is a home for you.
Until then, we are charged to tell the story, to live the story, to sing with joy from the depth of our being that God has restored and redeemed us.
May we wonder at the miracle that enfolds us
Tuesday, November 18, 2014
Psalm 102:12-17
Psalm 102:12-17
The Message (MSG)
I think the last line of this section is perhaps the most important. God does not dismiss your prayers. God hears, and God cares, and God stretches out to help in the moment of despair. This help may not always be exactly what we want, which is usually instant deliverance, but it is enough to get us through, to help us endure, to persevere to another day, one day closer to our deliverance, when all will be made clear.
As we endure, as God brings us through the valley of the shadow of death, all those who make the valley their home will take note that we step forward, day after day, in the hopes of once more emerging into the light.
Now that's a witness to the world.
May you press on today, with the strength of God around you, within you, before you, beneath you and behind you
The Message (MSG)
I think the last line of this section is perhaps the most important. God does not dismiss your prayers. God hears, and God cares, and God stretches out to help in the moment of despair. This help may not always be exactly what we want, which is usually instant deliverance, but it is enough to get us through, to help us endure, to persevere to another day, one day closer to our deliverance, when all will be made clear.
As we endure, as God brings us through the valley of the shadow of death, all those who make the valley their home will take note that we step forward, day after day, in the hopes of once more emerging into the light.
Now that's a witness to the world.
May you press on today, with the strength of God around you, within you, before you, beneath you and behind you
Monday, November 17, 2014
Psalm 102:1-11
Psalm 102:1-11
The Message (MSG)
This is honesty before God, a feat many of us struggle with. It's easier to pretend that everything is ok, to pretend that we're just moving forward, thanks for everything, God, and a little help could be fine. We like to pretend we're independent.
Independence isn't true. If independence were true, we would have made today happen. We would be able to break free from the ties that bind us, to set our own course without opposition. But we depend on God for our life itself. We depend on God to make it through today, and when opposition arises, we depend on God for the strength to carry forward. Life is challenging, and when we're just pretending that everything is ok, we're ignoring the biggest source of strength in the world. God wants to encourage you and urge you forward, to walk with you through all the moments of life.
In times of despair, lean into God, and we will find comfort and strength to take the next step.
May you find God's arms waiting to support you
The Message (MSG)
This is honesty before God, a feat many of us struggle with. It's easier to pretend that everything is ok, to pretend that we're just moving forward, thanks for everything, God, and a little help could be fine. We like to pretend we're independent.
Independence isn't true. If independence were true, we would have made today happen. We would be able to break free from the ties that bind us, to set our own course without opposition. But we depend on God for our life itself. We depend on God to make it through today, and when opposition arises, we depend on God for the strength to carry forward. Life is challenging, and when we're just pretending that everything is ok, we're ignoring the biggest source of strength in the world. God wants to encourage you and urge you forward, to walk with you through all the moments of life.
In times of despair, lean into God, and we will find comfort and strength to take the next step.
May you find God's arms waiting to support you
Friday, November 14, 2014
Psalm 101
Psalm 101
NIV
There are two parts to the faithful life: there is how we look to God, and then how we act in response. It's important that we tend to both.
To start, we worship God. All of life is a response to God. We look at what God has done and say thank you, and we anticipate what God will do and live out our thank you.
Our life of faith is our response to God's reaching out to us. If we were to thank God and then live as though none of it mattered, what kind of response to God would that be? If Rachel baked me a cookie and I said thank you and threw it directly in the trash, what would you say about me?
So we live out our faith. We avoid evil. We live with integrity. We are not perfect, but are zealous for serving and pleasing God, and in so doing we bring him glory.
May we look for ways to serve God today
NIV
There are two parts to the faithful life: there is how we look to God, and then how we act in response. It's important that we tend to both.
To start, we worship God. All of life is a response to God. We look at what God has done and say thank you, and we anticipate what God will do and live out our thank you.
Our life of faith is our response to God's reaching out to us. If we were to thank God and then live as though none of it mattered, what kind of response to God would that be? If Rachel baked me a cookie and I said thank you and threw it directly in the trash, what would you say about me?
So we live out our faith. We avoid evil. We live with integrity. We are not perfect, but are zealous for serving and pleasing God, and in so doing we bring him glory.
May we look for ways to serve God today
Thursday, November 13, 2014
Psalm 100
Psalm 100
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
I have a recommendation. Take 10 minutes and memorize this Psalm. It's well worth your time, and once it's stuck in your mind, you'll be able to recite it over and over in any setting. Waiting in line, when you're frustrated, sitting in traffic--it will be right there, and you'll be re-orienting yourself to God continuously. It may seem challenging, but it's worth the challenge, and this bit of Scripture will forever embed itself in your heart.
May Scripture guide you in all you do
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
I have a recommendation. Take 10 minutes and memorize this Psalm. It's well worth your time, and once it's stuck in your mind, you'll be able to recite it over and over in any setting. Waiting in line, when you're frustrated, sitting in traffic--it will be right there, and you'll be re-orienting yourself to God continuously. It may seem challenging, but it's worth the challenge, and this bit of Scripture will forever embed itself in your heart.
May Scripture guide you in all you do
Wednesday, November 12, 2014
Psalm 99
Psalm 99
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
I don't think that many of us pay our taxes with enthusiasm. We offer our tributes, but we'd much rather keep that money for ourselves, and we may doubt if the government's use of it is the wisest and best choice. We may not have full respect for the government.
The picture we get here with God is that when we see God in his glory, when we recognize his power and majesty and glory and might and grace and love and mercy, we're overwhelmed with a desire to honor God, and so we give our tribute willingly--we give our praise and our money and our time and our energy to serve and honor God, because we recognize all that is good about God. God reigns from heaven, and he reigns for us, pouring out love upon us.
So we give back willingly, in the hopes of honoring God, crying out to the world around us that God is good and worthy of our praise.
May we make time to worship God in the midst of life
Revised Standard Version (RSV)
I don't think that many of us pay our taxes with enthusiasm. We offer our tributes, but we'd much rather keep that money for ourselves, and we may doubt if the government's use of it is the wisest and best choice. We may not have full respect for the government.
The picture we get here with God is that when we see God in his glory, when we recognize his power and majesty and glory and might and grace and love and mercy, we're overwhelmed with a desire to honor God, and so we give our tribute willingly--we give our praise and our money and our time and our energy to serve and honor God, because we recognize all that is good about God. God reigns from heaven, and he reigns for us, pouring out love upon us.
So we give back willingly, in the hopes of honoring God, crying out to the world around us that God is good and worthy of our praise.
May we make time to worship God in the midst of life
Tuesday, November 11, 2014
Psalm 98
Psalm 98
English Standard Version (ESV)
What if I asked you why a lion roars? Or why a tree grows? Or why the earth spins? You might have an answer for each based on science, but your answer might also be similar to the answer we give Caleb for many questions: 'because that's what it does'. Some things happen just because it's an essential part of that identity. Lions roar. Waves crash. The earth spins. Congress disagrees.
Well, here we see that an essential part of many items in nature is praising God. The waves and hills and rivers sing for joy to God because it's how they were designed. Their beauty is made by God and exists to proclaim God. The rivers and the animals praise God because that's how they were made.
We were made that way, too. The difference is that we used our intellect to choose another path. We opted to worship other things, choosing to direct our full energies toward idols rather than God. In doing so, we turned from our truest nature to a shallower form of life.
God, in his grace, gives us the chance to turn back to him, to direct our energy and our life toward the worship of him, to join the natural chorus and shout God's praises in all we do.
May we worship God with all our voice today!
English Standard Version (ESV)
What if I asked you why a lion roars? Or why a tree grows? Or why the earth spins? You might have an answer for each based on science, but your answer might also be similar to the answer we give Caleb for many questions: 'because that's what it does'. Some things happen just because it's an essential part of that identity. Lions roar. Waves crash. The earth spins. Congress disagrees.
Well, here we see that an essential part of many items in nature is praising God. The waves and hills and rivers sing for joy to God because it's how they were designed. Their beauty is made by God and exists to proclaim God. The rivers and the animals praise God because that's how they were made.
We were made that way, too. The difference is that we used our intellect to choose another path. We opted to worship other things, choosing to direct our full energies toward idols rather than God. In doing so, we turned from our truest nature to a shallower form of life.
God, in his grace, gives us the chance to turn back to him, to direct our energy and our life toward the worship of him, to join the natural chorus and shout God's praises in all we do.
May we worship God with all our voice today!
Monday, November 10, 2014
Psalm 97
Psalm 97
English Standard Version (ESV)
My son has a number of stuffed bears. Imagine that you are playing with a stuffed bear, unaware of the fact that it might be an image of a real bear, and the real thing is infinitely more lifelike and amazing and awesome than the stuffed image, but because you can't really fathom the real thing and because you haven't actually seen it, you content yourself with the fact that the stuffed animal is as real as it gets.
You'd be in for a big surprise when the real bear showed up, right?
In the same way, we content ourselves by playing with imitations of God, things that promise to fulfill our deepest desires without having the ability to do so, but if we don't recognize how short they fall, we will be in for a big surprise when the mountains melt at the presence of the Lord. We will cower in fear out of our folly.
So the pleasures of this earth are not bad--they just need to remain in their place, and we need to not forget that God is all-powerful and mighty and victorious, and He (and he alone!) is worthy of our ultimate praise.
May we have discerning hearts today
English Standard Version (ESV)
My son has a number of stuffed bears. Imagine that you are playing with a stuffed bear, unaware of the fact that it might be an image of a real bear, and the real thing is infinitely more lifelike and amazing and awesome than the stuffed image, but because you can't really fathom the real thing and because you haven't actually seen it, you content yourself with the fact that the stuffed animal is as real as it gets.
You'd be in for a big surprise when the real bear showed up, right?
In the same way, we content ourselves by playing with imitations of God, things that promise to fulfill our deepest desires without having the ability to do so, but if we don't recognize how short they fall, we will be in for a big surprise when the mountains melt at the presence of the Lord. We will cower in fear out of our folly.
So the pleasures of this earth are not bad--they just need to remain in their place, and we need to not forget that God is all-powerful and mighty and victorious, and He (and he alone!) is worthy of our ultimate praise.
May we have discerning hearts today
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Psalm 96
Psalm 96
The Message (MSG)
We would do well to take seriously the heart of this message: God is worth rejoicing about. Make a big deal about how great he is!
I could start listing all the marvelous things God has done, but a century of lifetimes would only give me time to make the shallowest of dents. I could begin to detail all the ways God has blessed each and every one of us, but I could only start to scratch the surface if I dedicated the rest of my days to this. I could list how great God is for keeping every single promises, but the internet does not contain enough space to list God's goodness.
God is more wonderful than you or I can even begin to fathom, and all of his beauty, wonder and love he has poured out upon us, for us, so that we might live with him, so that we might enter his kingdom and share in his glory.
Nothing in our lives is nearly as important as our eternal relationship with our loving and gracious God. May we be wise and set time aside to shout God's praises from the depths of our hearts.
May you place God first today
The Message (MSG)
We would do well to take seriously the heart of this message: God is worth rejoicing about. Make a big deal about how great he is!
I could start listing all the marvelous things God has done, but a century of lifetimes would only give me time to make the shallowest of dents. I could begin to detail all the ways God has blessed each and every one of us, but I could only start to scratch the surface if I dedicated the rest of my days to this. I could list how great God is for keeping every single promises, but the internet does not contain enough space to list God's goodness.
God is more wonderful than you or I can even begin to fathom, and all of his beauty, wonder and love he has poured out upon us, for us, so that we might live with him, so that we might enter his kingdom and share in his glory.
Nothing in our lives is nearly as important as our eternal relationship with our loving and gracious God. May we be wise and set time aside to shout God's praises from the depths of our hearts.
May you place God first today
Wednesday, November 5, 2014
Psalm 95
Psalm 95
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sing in joy! Shout with thanksgiving! The Lord is good, and nothing shall change that!
I often find myself focused on what is wrong, on the flaws that are a part of my life, a part of me, and in doing so I lose the opportunity to give thanks for so many good things! When one tiny thing is wrong with my body, I focus on that and lose sight of the miracle that the rest of my body is working well together!
So it is in life... we lose sight of the giant wonders because of the tiny flaws that we fixate upon. We forget to thank God for so many good things because of a few things that are not going our way.
May our lives be songs of joy, and may the pain of life present to us an opportunity to remember all that God has done!
English Standard Version (ESV)
Sing in joy! Shout with thanksgiving! The Lord is good, and nothing shall change that!
I often find myself focused on what is wrong, on the flaws that are a part of my life, a part of me, and in doing so I lose the opportunity to give thanks for so many good things! When one tiny thing is wrong with my body, I focus on that and lose sight of the miracle that the rest of my body is working well together!
So it is in life... we lose sight of the giant wonders because of the tiny flaws that we fixate upon. We forget to thank God for so many good things because of a few things that are not going our way.
May our lives be songs of joy, and may the pain of life present to us an opportunity to remember all that God has done!
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Psalm 94:16-23
Psalm 94:16-23
English Standard Version (ESV)
I tend to hope in many things. As it's election day, I could mention that I occasionally hope that politicians will strive to serve the people. I hope for financial success and good health. I hope for many things for my children, and I hope for the wisdom to live rightly.
My soul, at its very core, places its hope in the Lord, because nothing else will stand the deepest and hardest tests we will face. When all else has failed, when life itself is fading, the Lord will be faithful still. At the darkest valley, God will abide, and hope can abound, because life eternal is in him, the light of the world.
May you hope in God
English Standard Version (ESV)
I tend to hope in many things. As it's election day, I could mention that I occasionally hope that politicians will strive to serve the people. I hope for financial success and good health. I hope for many things for my children, and I hope for the wisdom to live rightly.
My soul, at its very core, places its hope in the Lord, because nothing else will stand the deepest and hardest tests we will face. When all else has failed, when life itself is fading, the Lord will be faithful still. At the darkest valley, God will abide, and hope can abound, because life eternal is in him, the light of the world.
May you hope in God
Monday, November 3, 2014
Psalm 94:8-15
Psalm 94:8-15
English Standard Version (ESV)
I never think of myself as blessed when I am disciplined. I don't welcome correction. It's hard to receive such news. I'd much rather just be told how wonderful I am.
But when we receive correction, it is a blessing, because it helps us recognize our mistakes and it should lead us back to the proper path. This is what Paul means when he writes, in Romans 2:4, that God's kindness should lead us to repentance. It is the kindest thing God can do to help us see the error of our ways, for only then can we truly turn from sin and turn back to God and receive the wondrous joy of his grace shining fully on our face. If we are running from him, we miss out, and God wants us to have the fullness of abundant life, now and forevermore.
May we have the humility and wisdom to seek correction and welcome discipline, that we might alter our course and participate more fully in the Kingdom of God
English Standard Version (ESV)
I never think of myself as blessed when I am disciplined. I don't welcome correction. It's hard to receive such news. I'd much rather just be told how wonderful I am.
But when we receive correction, it is a blessing, because it helps us recognize our mistakes and it should lead us back to the proper path. This is what Paul means when he writes, in Romans 2:4, that God's kindness should lead us to repentance. It is the kindest thing God can do to help us see the error of our ways, for only then can we truly turn from sin and turn back to God and receive the wondrous joy of his grace shining fully on our face. If we are running from him, we miss out, and God wants us to have the fullness of abundant life, now and forevermore.
May we have the humility and wisdom to seek correction and welcome discipline, that we might alter our course and participate more fully in the Kingdom of God
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Psalm 94:1-7
Psalm 94:1-7
English Standard Version (ESV)
We wonder if God sees us when we suffer. I take great comfort in the beginning of Exodus, when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and their cries ascended to the heavens. God, we read, heard their cries. God listened.
Then God acted.
Now, God doesn't always act as immediately as we might like. God's not on remote control. But God does hear. God does respond. God loves his people and wants them to flourish in the abundant life. So God will walk with us through the valley, will let his light shine in the darkness, will let hope and peace reign.
God listens.
God hears you.
May you believe this today
English Standard Version (ESV)
We wonder if God sees us when we suffer. I take great comfort in the beginning of Exodus, when the Israelites were enslaved in Egypt and their cries ascended to the heavens. God, we read, heard their cries. God listened.
Then God acted.
Now, God doesn't always act as immediately as we might like. God's not on remote control. But God does hear. God does respond. God loves his people and wants them to flourish in the abundant life. So God will walk with us through the valley, will let his light shine in the darkness, will let hope and peace reign.
God listens.
God hears you.
May you believe this today
Tuesday, October 28, 2014
Psalm 93
Psalm 93
American Standard Version (ASV)
This morning I put on my clothes. They are chosen to suit me as well as the environment in which I will live today. I wouldn't wear something that wasn't appropriate. The clothes reflect my identity.
The Lord is clothed with majesty. Always, forever, majesty emanates from his throne. He is clothed with strength, with power that is part of who he is. God is strength and majesty--it is who he is, and we worship him for it. God doesn't choose to be strong or majestic one day or another--it is his core identity, and we need to remember to worship God for who he is rather than what he has or has not done for me lately.
When we focus on whether or not God has answered our prayers in the ways we see fit, we lose track of God's identity as strong and majestic.
May we remember that God is ever faithful, ever kind, ever loving, ever desiring to bring you back into his grace and peace and joy
American Standard Version (ASV)
This morning I put on my clothes. They are chosen to suit me as well as the environment in which I will live today. I wouldn't wear something that wasn't appropriate. The clothes reflect my identity.
The Lord is clothed with majesty. Always, forever, majesty emanates from his throne. He is clothed with strength, with power that is part of who he is. God is strength and majesty--it is who he is, and we worship him for it. God doesn't choose to be strong or majestic one day or another--it is his core identity, and we need to remember to worship God for who he is rather than what he has or has not done for me lately.
When we focus on whether or not God has answered our prayers in the ways we see fit, we lose track of God's identity as strong and majestic.
May we remember that God is ever faithful, ever kind, ever loving, ever desiring to bring you back into his grace and peace and joy
Monday, October 27, 2014
Psalm 92:10-15
Psalm 92:10-15
New Century Version (NCV)
Aging is a challenging thing for us. It's easy to look at aging and be afraid, to think that each day is gone and never can be recovered.
But here, the Psalmist tells us that faithful ones will still produce fruit in their old age, and I think this is part of the reshaping of aging that the church needs to do. Aging isn't something to be afraid of, because death isn't something to fear--death is a transition into eternal joy and light, and so aging is simply part of our journey that is growing us up into maturity. As we grow, we learn wisdom along the way, and we learn how to serve others in new ways. Our service looks different as we age, but if we look at aging as a process to be embraced rather than escaped we can look for opportunities rather than dread the fact that there are things we cannot do.
So may we look to the future with hope, and may we look around to see how we can continue to serve others with whatever we have.
May you see the world today as God sees it
New Century Version (NCV)
Aging is a challenging thing for us. It's easy to look at aging and be afraid, to think that each day is gone and never can be recovered.
But here, the Psalmist tells us that faithful ones will still produce fruit in their old age, and I think this is part of the reshaping of aging that the church needs to do. Aging isn't something to be afraid of, because death isn't something to fear--death is a transition into eternal joy and light, and so aging is simply part of our journey that is growing us up into maturity. As we grow, we learn wisdom along the way, and we learn how to serve others in new ways. Our service looks different as we age, but if we look at aging as a process to be embraced rather than escaped we can look for opportunities rather than dread the fact that there are things we cannot do.
So may we look to the future with hope, and may we look around to see how we can continue to serve others with whatever we have.
May you see the world today as God sees it
Friday, October 24, 2014
Psalm 92:1-9
Psalm 92:1-9
New Century Version (NCV)
I remember being jealous of bigger kids when I was younger. I wasn't one of the smallest kids in my class, but I was never tall, either, and so I recall wishing I could be tall, wishing that I would be bigger than other kids in my class.
In the same way, we tend to be jealous of some of the fruits of evil that surround us. We see people who live amorally succeed. We see people prosper from bending the rules, and we get envious. We start to wonder if it's worth it to follow the rules, to stay faithful, even though the way of faithfulness may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death and may cause hardship and struggles. We wonder if it's all worth it.
God assures us that it is our endurance that helps us persevere. He reminds us that evil will seem to win the day, but that evil will topple in the end. The Tower of Babel seemed promising, too, until it collapsed under the weight of human arrogance. Those who live for themselves may do well for a time, but those who live for God will endure and inherit an eternal crown of righteousness.
May you see and value the wisdom of enduring faithfulness
New Century Version (NCV)
I remember being jealous of bigger kids when I was younger. I wasn't one of the smallest kids in my class, but I was never tall, either, and so I recall wishing I could be tall, wishing that I would be bigger than other kids in my class.
In the same way, we tend to be jealous of some of the fruits of evil that surround us. We see people who live amorally succeed. We see people prosper from bending the rules, and we get envious. We start to wonder if it's worth it to follow the rules, to stay faithful, even though the way of faithfulness may lead us through the valley of the shadow of death and may cause hardship and struggles. We wonder if it's all worth it.
God assures us that it is our endurance that helps us persevere. He reminds us that evil will seem to win the day, but that evil will topple in the end. The Tower of Babel seemed promising, too, until it collapsed under the weight of human arrogance. Those who live for themselves may do well for a time, but those who live for God will endure and inherit an eternal crown of righteousness.
May you see and value the wisdom of enduring faithfulness
Thursday, October 23, 2014
Psalm 91:9-16
Psalm 91:9-16
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Do you ever feel like you call to God and he doesn't answer? Do you wonder if God is truly delivering? Do you feel like sometimes God abandons you in times of trouble?
We often isolate these rare cases when we wonder where God is, and we are in danger of making them into a rule if we're not careful. There are rare times where God is working in ways we don't understand, and to us it may seem as though God is not present, but here we have a promise that God will always answer, that God will always protect and deliver. It may not look exactly like we imagine, but God lives up to his word, so be bold in faith, for God will not let go.
May you have a sense of God's nearness and love today
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
Do you ever feel like you call to God and he doesn't answer? Do you wonder if God is truly delivering? Do you feel like sometimes God abandons you in times of trouble?
We often isolate these rare cases when we wonder where God is, and we are in danger of making them into a rule if we're not careful. There are rare times where God is working in ways we don't understand, and to us it may seem as though God is not present, but here we have a promise that God will always answer, that God will always protect and deliver. It may not look exactly like we imagine, but God lives up to his word, so be bold in faith, for God will not let go.
May you have a sense of God's nearness and love today
Wednesday, October 22, 2014
Psalm 91:1-8
Psalm 91:1-8
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When something is always present, you begin to adjust for its presence, getting used to the reality of its constant nearness. You simply get used to living like that. For example, if you won $14 billion tomorrow, you'd be in awe and wonder for the first year or so, but after that you'd simply adapt and act like that's the way you always lived, and it would seem normal. Pretty soon, you'd take it for granted, and you might forget the thrill of the gift.
In the same way, when we live in the shadow of the Almighty, our eyes adapt and we start to take the presence of God for granted. We lose our sense of wonder at the idea that God is our refuge and strength who will deliver us from the talons of those that might threaten us. The arrow that seeks to destroy our heart? We need not fear it because of the power of God, but if we lose our wonder, we begin to expect God to always be there at our beck and call.
So may we recover a sense of wonder, and may we worship at the incredible gift God gives us.
May you be in awe of God's love and protection
New Revised Standard Version (NRSV)
When something is always present, you begin to adjust for its presence, getting used to the reality of its constant nearness. You simply get used to living like that. For example, if you won $14 billion tomorrow, you'd be in awe and wonder for the first year or so, but after that you'd simply adapt and act like that's the way you always lived, and it would seem normal. Pretty soon, you'd take it for granted, and you might forget the thrill of the gift.
In the same way, when we live in the shadow of the Almighty, our eyes adapt and we start to take the presence of God for granted. We lose our sense of wonder at the idea that God is our refuge and strength who will deliver us from the talons of those that might threaten us. The arrow that seeks to destroy our heart? We need not fear it because of the power of God, but if we lose our wonder, we begin to expect God to always be there at our beck and call.
So may we recover a sense of wonder, and may we worship at the incredible gift God gives us.
May you be in awe of God's love and protection
Tuesday, October 21, 2014
Psalm 90:9-17
Psalm 90:9-17
English Standard Version (ESV)
This morning, when you opened your eyes, you received the gift of one more day. It was a gift you did not deserve, but God gave it to you. He stirred you from your slumbers and set you forth in a new world, filled with opportunity. Life courses through your veins, and you have the chance to experience a whole new set of wonders, to marvel at the gift God has given you. Beauty surrounds you, and it is within you. At any point throughout this day, if you would like to offer a word to the Almighty Creator of the entire cosmos, you need only whisper these words in the depths of your heart, and God will hear them. If at any point you feel unworthy of the momentous gift of life that has been bestowed upon you, you need only remember that you were unworthy until that same God freely chose to suffer and die so that you might be restored to a place of good standing before his holy throne. If at any point you fear anything, you need only remember that the God who ordered the stars and told the planets to align promises that not a hair shall fall from your head without his knowing it.
May your heart be satisfied this morning with the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and may we never stray throughout the day as we go about our wondrous lives
English Standard Version (ESV)
This morning, when you opened your eyes, you received the gift of one more day. It was a gift you did not deserve, but God gave it to you. He stirred you from your slumbers and set you forth in a new world, filled with opportunity. Life courses through your veins, and you have the chance to experience a whole new set of wonders, to marvel at the gift God has given you. Beauty surrounds you, and it is within you. At any point throughout this day, if you would like to offer a word to the Almighty Creator of the entire cosmos, you need only whisper these words in the depths of your heart, and God will hear them. If at any point you feel unworthy of the momentous gift of life that has been bestowed upon you, you need only remember that you were unworthy until that same God freely chose to suffer and die so that you might be restored to a place of good standing before his holy throne. If at any point you fear anything, you need only remember that the God who ordered the stars and told the planets to align promises that not a hair shall fall from your head without his knowing it.
May your heart be satisfied this morning with the Good News of the Kingdom of God, and may we never stray throughout the day as we go about our wondrous lives
Monday, October 20, 2014
Psalm 90:1-8
Psalm 90:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
I freely admit that I often want God to take care of things on my schedule. I want something solved yesterday. I'd like for God to act tomorrow.
But God's timeline is so much longer than mine, and the perspective is so much broader. God is concerned about gathering people to himself, and that all happens on both sides of death--it's not the permanent barrier that I see it as. God is concerned about preparing me for life with himself--and that doesn't all need to be taken care of today and tomorrow. God is prepared about building up Godly character within his disciples, and that takes decades, and often happens through the use of pain and suffering, neither of which I like.
But God knows how to prepare and polish us, and if we trust ourselves to him, we will not be dismayed, for God will neither forsake nor abandon us. God's timeline may be different, but we can trust God's goal for each and every one of us.
May God do a mighty work in and through you today
English Standard Version (ESV)
I freely admit that I often want God to take care of things on my schedule. I want something solved yesterday. I'd like for God to act tomorrow.
But God's timeline is so much longer than mine, and the perspective is so much broader. God is concerned about gathering people to himself, and that all happens on both sides of death--it's not the permanent barrier that I see it as. God is concerned about preparing me for life with himself--and that doesn't all need to be taken care of today and tomorrow. God is prepared about building up Godly character within his disciples, and that takes decades, and often happens through the use of pain and suffering, neither of which I like.
But God knows how to prepare and polish us, and if we trust ourselves to him, we will not be dismayed, for God will neither forsake nor abandon us. God's timeline may be different, but we can trust God's goal for each and every one of us.
May God do a mighty work in and through you today
Friday, October 17, 2014
Psalm 89:46-52
Psalm 89:46-52
Common English Bible (CEB)
Death complicates things, mostly because we can't see through that veil. We stare into the abyss of death and cannot see any good within it, and we wonder if it can possibly be true that there is light on the other side of such complete blackness. The constant nearness of death reminds us of the brevity of life, and so when despair strikes our short lives, we wonder if God has forgotten us forever, and if we are destined to pain and suffering before our short lives end.
God, however, steps in with constant reminders that death does not get the last word. With each sunrise, God reminds us of the power of resurrection and new life, and God reveals his mercies all over again. Today is a new day--an undeserved gift! Be grateful for it! Dance and sing in joyful response to God, giving thanks for mercies that are unfolding hour by hour, second by second. You have not been forgotten, and you will not be, even in the hour of death. God's mercies never fail.
There is a tombstone in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati that I shall never forget. May its message carry you forward in joy today: There is a voice from the tomb sweeter than song.
Common English Bible (CEB)
Death complicates things, mostly because we can't see through that veil. We stare into the abyss of death and cannot see any good within it, and we wonder if it can possibly be true that there is light on the other side of such complete blackness. The constant nearness of death reminds us of the brevity of life, and so when despair strikes our short lives, we wonder if God has forgotten us forever, and if we are destined to pain and suffering before our short lives end.
God, however, steps in with constant reminders that death does not get the last word. With each sunrise, God reminds us of the power of resurrection and new life, and God reveals his mercies all over again. Today is a new day--an undeserved gift! Be grateful for it! Dance and sing in joyful response to God, giving thanks for mercies that are unfolding hour by hour, second by second. You have not been forgotten, and you will not be, even in the hour of death. God's mercies never fail.
There is a tombstone in Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati that I shall never forget. May its message carry you forward in joy today: There is a voice from the tomb sweeter than song.
Thursday, October 16, 2014
Psalm 89:38-45
Psalm 89:38-45
Common English Bible (CEB)
If we don't humble ourselves and recognize our dependence on God, life will give us the chance to remember our place in one way or another. Every single person on this earth, in one way or another, will at some point be humbled by life. We'll come up against our limitations, and if we were living as if there were no limitations, that will be a painful moment, whether it is a physical, social or physchological humbling. It's never fun, but it's incredibly painful if we're living under the false belief that we are greater than any force that might threaten us.
If, on the other hand, we humble ourselves before God and recognize that He alone is all-powerful and that our very lives are a gift that we do not deserve, two things happen.
The first is that we live in a state of awe and continual worship toward God, because we realize how generous God is for giving us such free and wondrous gifts like life and salvation and hope and peace.
The second is that we change the way we view ourselves. We no longer believe that we are the center of the universe, but we don't feel pride, because we recognize that we did not bring ourselves into being, and we are not keeping ourselves alive and well out of our wisdom and wit. It's an undeserved gift from someone else who knows us better than we know ourselves.
May we give thanks for life today
Common English Bible (CEB)
If we don't humble ourselves and recognize our dependence on God, life will give us the chance to remember our place in one way or another. Every single person on this earth, in one way or another, will at some point be humbled by life. We'll come up against our limitations, and if we were living as if there were no limitations, that will be a painful moment, whether it is a physical, social or physchological humbling. It's never fun, but it's incredibly painful if we're living under the false belief that we are greater than any force that might threaten us.
If, on the other hand, we humble ourselves before God and recognize that He alone is all-powerful and that our very lives are a gift that we do not deserve, two things happen.
The first is that we live in a state of awe and continual worship toward God, because we realize how generous God is for giving us such free and wondrous gifts like life and salvation and hope and peace.
The second is that we change the way we view ourselves. We no longer believe that we are the center of the universe, but we don't feel pride, because we recognize that we did not bring ourselves into being, and we are not keeping ourselves alive and well out of our wisdom and wit. It's an undeserved gift from someone else who knows us better than we know ourselves.
May we give thanks for life today
Wednesday, October 15, 2014
Psalm 89:27-37
Psalm 89:27-37
Common English Bible (CEB)
Even then!
So Caleb is sometimes a bit... strong-willed, we'll call it. He doesn't do what Rachel and I ask, and sometimes he does the exact opposite. It drives us a bit crazy when he looks at us in such a way that communicates that he knows exactly what he is supposed to do and does otherwise. We send him to time-out, shaking our heads in exasperation, wondering why he so enjoys pushing our buttons.
But we still love him. We still care for him and want the best for him and want to nurture and encourage his growth in such a way that he turns into a responsible and faithful adult. We're not giving up on him.
This love is only a fraction of the love God has for you. God has immense love and patience, and even though we break God's rules and don't love each other and don't put God first, God still calls us back to him, God still holds up his end of the covenant. Though we are faithless, God is faithful, and his arms are open wide for us to run into. Indeed, God never stops pursuing us, no matter what.
Though we sin, even then, God is faithful still.
May we focus more on God's faithfulness than our own selves
Common English Bible (CEB)
Even then!
So Caleb is sometimes a bit... strong-willed, we'll call it. He doesn't do what Rachel and I ask, and sometimes he does the exact opposite. It drives us a bit crazy when he looks at us in such a way that communicates that he knows exactly what he is supposed to do and does otherwise. We send him to time-out, shaking our heads in exasperation, wondering why he so enjoys pushing our buttons.
But we still love him. We still care for him and want the best for him and want to nurture and encourage his growth in such a way that he turns into a responsible and faithful adult. We're not giving up on him.
This love is only a fraction of the love God has for you. God has immense love and patience, and even though we break God's rules and don't love each other and don't put God first, God still calls us back to him, God still holds up his end of the covenant. Though we are faithless, God is faithful, and his arms are open wide for us to run into. Indeed, God never stops pursuing us, no matter what.
Though we sin, even then, God is faithful still.
May we focus more on God's faithfulness than our own selves
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Psalm 89:19-26
Psalm 89:19-26
Common English Bible (CEB)
Lately, I haven't been able to go to the gym very often. Schedules have shifted quite a bit, and if I'm not in class or at work, I've got my nose buried in a book or in a screen, trying to keep up with school. I get out running whenever I can, but I'm not getting any stronger.
It's easy to think of strengthening ourselves. We can exercise to strengthen our bodies, we can learn to strengthen our minds, we can study our own life and those around us to strengthen our spirits, and these things help.
Yet, ultimately the only strength that matters is the strength that comes from above. Ultimately, the resolve that will guide us through the tests that await can only come from God, and God willingly and freely pours that out upon us.
In response, may we cry out, with our words and actions, 'My father, my God, the rock of my salvation"
Common English Bible (CEB)
Lately, I haven't been able to go to the gym very often. Schedules have shifted quite a bit, and if I'm not in class or at work, I've got my nose buried in a book or in a screen, trying to keep up with school. I get out running whenever I can, but I'm not getting any stronger.
It's easy to think of strengthening ourselves. We can exercise to strengthen our bodies, we can learn to strengthen our minds, we can study our own life and those around us to strengthen our spirits, and these things help.
Yet, ultimately the only strength that matters is the strength that comes from above. Ultimately, the resolve that will guide us through the tests that await can only come from God, and God willingly and freely pours that out upon us.
In response, may we cry out, with our words and actions, 'My father, my God, the rock of my salvation"
Monday, October 13, 2014
Psalm 89:15-18
Psalm 89:15-18
Common English Bible (CEB)
There is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg sort of approach to faithfulness that the church takes. One approach is to wait for God to act in tangible ways, and then we praise God for his faithfulness and blessings. The other, which I think is far wiser, is to praise God for his faithfulness and patience and mercy all the day long, and then to rejoice when God does act, recognizing that God has never ceased to uphold creation by his victorious right arm, but that reality is at times more apparent than others. Our praise of God should not depend on whether or not we can fully understand exactly what God is doing right now. Let us rejoice all the day long and trust that will shape us into people who then are better able to see the ways God is at work.
May you rejoice today
Common English Bible (CEB)
There is a bit of a chicken-and-the-egg sort of approach to faithfulness that the church takes. One approach is to wait for God to act in tangible ways, and then we praise God for his faithfulness and blessings. The other, which I think is far wiser, is to praise God for his faithfulness and patience and mercy all the day long, and then to rejoice when God does act, recognizing that God has never ceased to uphold creation by his victorious right arm, but that reality is at times more apparent than others. Our praise of God should not depend on whether or not we can fully understand exactly what God is doing right now. Let us rejoice all the day long and trust that will shape us into people who then are better able to see the ways God is at work.
May you rejoice today
Friday, October 10, 2014
Psalm 89:9-14
Psalm 89:9-14
Common English Bible (CEB)
If I'm threatened, it's nice to stand under the protection of someone stronger than I am. If I am scared, I like to know there is something solid beneath my feet. The exhiliration of hang-gliding was matched by the relief when my feet touched back to the earth and I felt secure once more.
In God, we have a strong protector, someone who is much stronger than us but yet welcomes us into his arms, into his love, into his grace. We need not fear the powers that threaten us, because our God will protect us. We need not cower in the darkness, because we can trust in God's light to shine.
May you feel God's arms around you today
Common English Bible (CEB)
If I'm threatened, it's nice to stand under the protection of someone stronger than I am. If I am scared, I like to know there is something solid beneath my feet. The exhiliration of hang-gliding was matched by the relief when my feet touched back to the earth and I felt secure once more.
In God, we have a strong protector, someone who is much stronger than us but yet welcomes us into his arms, into his love, into his grace. We need not fear the powers that threaten us, because our God will protect us. We need not cower in the darkness, because we can trust in God's light to shine.
May you feel God's arms around you today
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Psalm 89:1-8
Psalm 89:1-8
Common English Bible (CEB)
God alone stands forever. God is in a completely different category, being eternal and not of this world. God exists beyond time and space, and is wholly other than we.
All of this makes it all the more extraordinary that he chooses to be in relationship with us. He wants to know us and to be known by us. He longs for us to know him and love him. He freely chooses to enter into our world, into our lives, so that we might not be distant from him. God loves us and becomes human so that we might know the fullness of his love.
So God is distant, but God is near, too, and never wants you to forget.
May you worship God for his majesty while remembering his intimacy
Common English Bible (CEB)
God alone stands forever. God is in a completely different category, being eternal and not of this world. God exists beyond time and space, and is wholly other than we.
All of this makes it all the more extraordinary that he chooses to be in relationship with us. He wants to know us and to be known by us. He longs for us to know him and love him. He freely chooses to enter into our world, into our lives, so that we might not be distant from him. God loves us and becomes human so that we might know the fullness of his love.
So God is distant, but God is near, too, and never wants you to forget.
May you worship God for his majesty while remembering his intimacy
Wednesday, October 8, 2014
Psalm 88:9-18
Psalm 88:9-18
The Message (MSG)
Darkness.
Often, it feels like it ends there. I've been to funerals which don't resound in hope, in which we stare in disbelief into the seemingly bottomless abyss of death and find no solid ground, no footing on which to stand. We speak of hope, but it rings empty in the face of our pain and it fades before our questions. We profess what we hope to be true, but sometimes it is grasping at the mist, a vapor that disappears when we need it most.
Blessed Assurance, the song sings, is ours because of one historical event. When Jesus Christ was crucified, all seemed lost. The stone sealed the tomb and the eternity of death marched on. Except for Easter, we could have no hope.
But Christ rose, and because he lives, we, too, may live. Because of the truth that he has overcome death, and only because of this, we have proof that death is not the final answer, that there is a greater power than darkness, that hope truly can rise up the chasm of despair.
So Love does make a difference in the graveyard. Grace matters in the funeral. Light shines in the pressing night.
We will always weep on this side of heaven, because it seems like darkness and despair win out. But hope comes in the morning, and the first rays of the dawn remind us of the Easter assurance of a final victory.
The Message (MSG)
Darkness.
Often, it feels like it ends there. I've been to funerals which don't resound in hope, in which we stare in disbelief into the seemingly bottomless abyss of death and find no solid ground, no footing on which to stand. We speak of hope, but it rings empty in the face of our pain and it fades before our questions. We profess what we hope to be true, but sometimes it is grasping at the mist, a vapor that disappears when we need it most.
Blessed Assurance, the song sings, is ours because of one historical event. When Jesus Christ was crucified, all seemed lost. The stone sealed the tomb and the eternity of death marched on. Except for Easter, we could have no hope.
But Christ rose, and because he lives, we, too, may live. Because of the truth that he has overcome death, and only because of this, we have proof that death is not the final answer, that there is a greater power than darkness, that hope truly can rise up the chasm of despair.
So Love does make a difference in the graveyard. Grace matters in the funeral. Light shines in the pressing night.
We will always weep on this side of heaven, because it seems like darkness and despair win out. But hope comes in the morning, and the first rays of the dawn remind us of the Easter assurance of a final victory.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
Psalm 88:1-9
Psalm 88:1-9
The Message (MSG)
When we're in misery, there's no sense denying it.
A real relationship with God demands honesty on our part. God doesn't want us to tamp down our joy, and God doesn't want us to downplay our pain. It's real. We have questions and fear and uncertainty in the face of it. We stand on the edge of the chasm and wonder whether or not we will fall in, convincing ourselves that God has forgotten about our situation.
So we honestly come to God with our raw pain and fear.
When we do, God doesn't always reach out and immediately fix things. God isn't one to just patch it up. Instead, God reminds us that he dwells with us in these uncertain times. God knows what it's like to live on the edge of the pit, and God knows what it is like to be cast into the pit by others. God has been to the bottom of the pit, and because God is willing and able to abide with us in the most uncertain times of our lives, it should make the darkness a little less dark, because the light is with us, and we can have firm and certain knowledge that the darkness shall not overcome.
Even if we find our way into the the pit, and if the pain and frustration threaten to overwhelm, the promise of God within and beside and around us is that we shall be led forward, through the valley of the shadow of death, and into life everlasting.
May you know light today
The Message (MSG)
When we're in misery, there's no sense denying it.
A real relationship with God demands honesty on our part. God doesn't want us to tamp down our joy, and God doesn't want us to downplay our pain. It's real. We have questions and fear and uncertainty in the face of it. We stand on the edge of the chasm and wonder whether or not we will fall in, convincing ourselves that God has forgotten about our situation.
So we honestly come to God with our raw pain and fear.
When we do, God doesn't always reach out and immediately fix things. God isn't one to just patch it up. Instead, God reminds us that he dwells with us in these uncertain times. God knows what it's like to live on the edge of the pit, and God knows what it is like to be cast into the pit by others. God has been to the bottom of the pit, and because God is willing and able to abide with us in the most uncertain times of our lives, it should make the darkness a little less dark, because the light is with us, and we can have firm and certain knowledge that the darkness shall not overcome.
Even if we find our way into the the pit, and if the pain and frustration threaten to overwhelm, the promise of God within and beside and around us is that we shall be led forward, through the valley of the shadow of death, and into life everlasting.
May you know light today
Monday, October 6, 2014
Psalm 87
Psalm 87
English Standard Version (ESV)
Music is a form of expression. It can express deep love and joy, or it can express sorrow and regret. The Psalms are meant to be sung, prayers that speak of wonder and awe and pain and despair. The gamut of emotions is covered here in the Psalms, and it is amazing to think of all this holy language to express our lives before God.
As our day unfolds, we sing our own song to God. It may be a song filled with joy for all the amazing things God is doing. It may be a song of confusion, or a song that questions where God is in the day. Each day is a new song, and yet it is vitally important that we remember to lift this song toward God in heaven, directing our efforts to his kingdom rather than our own.
May we remember who gives us the ability to sing, and may we offer our songs to him
English Standard Version (ESV)
Music is a form of expression. It can express deep love and joy, or it can express sorrow and regret. The Psalms are meant to be sung, prayers that speak of wonder and awe and pain and despair. The gamut of emotions is covered here in the Psalms, and it is amazing to think of all this holy language to express our lives before God.
As our day unfolds, we sing our own song to God. It may be a song filled with joy for all the amazing things God is doing. It may be a song of confusion, or a song that questions where God is in the day. Each day is a new song, and yet it is vitally important that we remember to lift this song toward God in heaven, directing our efforts to his kingdom rather than our own.
May we remember who gives us the ability to sing, and may we offer our songs to him
Friday, October 3, 2014
Psalm 86:8-17
Psalm 86:8-17
New International Version (NIV)
Do you accept substitutes?
If you go eat at a nice restaurant and order your favorite meal, would you object when they brought out a TV dinner that had just been microwaved?
If you sit down to watch you favorite football team play its rival team, do you mind if the regular players take the week off and a bunch of rookies take their place for the game?
If you buy a nice shirt, do you mind if the manufacturer substitutes quality material for the cheapest possible input?
We would never accept a substitute in so many areas of life, and yet when it comes to God, we allow our wandering hearts to substitute so many things for God. We accept the world's offered substitutions, chasing after them as though they are God, and turning our back on the real and sovereign God. We ignore God at our own peril, accepting the consequences of the pain and suffering we introduce in our own lives because those substitute gods will always disappoint, because only the true God can live up to the promises that he has made to fulfill and restore us to true and abundant life. Only God can do this.
May the compassion and grace of God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, bless you and keep you throughout today, that you may never, not even for a moment, let your heart drift in the direction of a substitute
New International Version (NIV)
Do you accept substitutes?
If you go eat at a nice restaurant and order your favorite meal, would you object when they brought out a TV dinner that had just been microwaved?
If you sit down to watch you favorite football team play its rival team, do you mind if the regular players take the week off and a bunch of rookies take their place for the game?
If you buy a nice shirt, do you mind if the manufacturer substitutes quality material for the cheapest possible input?
We would never accept a substitute in so many areas of life, and yet when it comes to God, we allow our wandering hearts to substitute so many things for God. We accept the world's offered substitutions, chasing after them as though they are God, and turning our back on the real and sovereign God. We ignore God at our own peril, accepting the consequences of the pain and suffering we introduce in our own lives because those substitute gods will always disappoint, because only the true God can live up to the promises that he has made to fulfill and restore us to true and abundant life. Only God can do this.
May the compassion and grace of God, who is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, bless you and keep you throughout today, that you may never, not even for a moment, let your heart drift in the direction of a substitute
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Psalm 86:1-7
Psalm 86:1-7
New International Version (NIV)
We are not as independent as we like to think we are.
It's easy to buy into this, especially in today's world. It's easy to start believing that we can make it on our own, that we don't need other people, that we're just fine.
But then life happens, and we recognize that we are not able to make it through everything. We realize that our own strength is too weak, that we don't know the answers, that we are limited. At these times, we turn to God, because his strength is sufficient for all of our weakness. His wisdom is enough, his love and mercy is enough, and he wants us to endure through the challenges in our lives. He wants us to emerge from the valley into the light, and he will walk with us every step of the way as we wander that path.
May you trust in God's goodness and mercy
New International Version (NIV)
We are not as independent as we like to think we are.
It's easy to buy into this, especially in today's world. It's easy to start believing that we can make it on our own, that we don't need other people, that we're just fine.
But then life happens, and we recognize that we are not able to make it through everything. We realize that our own strength is too weak, that we don't know the answers, that we are limited. At these times, we turn to God, because his strength is sufficient for all of our weakness. His wisdom is enough, his love and mercy is enough, and he wants us to endure through the challenges in our lives. He wants us to emerge from the valley into the light, and he will walk with us every step of the way as we wander that path.
May you trust in God's goodness and mercy
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Psalm 85
Psalm 85
Common English Bible (CEB)
I think the Psalms so beautifully present a picture of the faithful life. The Psalms are honest about the pain and hurt in the world, about the sin that is present in our lives. There is no gain from hiding these things. We can acknowledge our sin and failings before God because we trust that God is ready to forgive.
While remembering our own sin, we can also rejoice at God's provision, giving thanks for the peace and love God has poured out, even though we don't deserve them. God's vision for the future is one of beauty, love and peace, and though we only get misty visions of them through the haze of sin and brokenness that surrounds this world, when moments of clarity strike and the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven shines through, it is a beautiful sight, one that should motivate us to lead a life that is oriented around that beautiful kingdom that will last forever, rather than trying to build our own mortal kingdoms that will one day topple.
May you invest your energy today in the eternal Kingdom of God
Common English Bible (CEB)
I think the Psalms so beautifully present a picture of the faithful life. The Psalms are honest about the pain and hurt in the world, about the sin that is present in our lives. There is no gain from hiding these things. We can acknowledge our sin and failings before God because we trust that God is ready to forgive.
While remembering our own sin, we can also rejoice at God's provision, giving thanks for the peace and love God has poured out, even though we don't deserve them. God's vision for the future is one of beauty, love and peace, and though we only get misty visions of them through the haze of sin and brokenness that surrounds this world, when moments of clarity strike and the reality of the Kingdom of Heaven shines through, it is a beautiful sight, one that should motivate us to lead a life that is oriented around that beautiful kingdom that will last forever, rather than trying to build our own mortal kingdoms that will one day topple.
May you invest your energy today in the eternal Kingdom of God
Tuesday, September 30, 2014
Psalm 84
Psalm 84
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are a lot of things that excite me. For example, baseball season begins again in 5 short months. I love a good dessert. A nice run on a beautiful fall day is hard to beat.
I have to confess, though, that I often don't get excited about God's presence in my life. I get so wrapped up in myself that I forget to pay attention to God's nearness and his love for me. I don't think I pay attention to my soul's deepest longing for God. I'm too busy with so many other things, I forget to pay tribute to my creator and thank him for saving grace and eternal mercy and love.
When I stop to think about it, I realize how foolish I am. The problem is that I often don't stop to think about it. I just keep plowing forward.
I don't know the answer to this one. It's a tough dilemma, trying to make time to slow down in a fast-paced world. But it's worth the struggle, to let the soul's deepest longing lead us into a place of deep communion with the Almighty God.
May you find God's peace today
English Standard Version (ESV)
There are a lot of things that excite me. For example, baseball season begins again in 5 short months. I love a good dessert. A nice run on a beautiful fall day is hard to beat.
I have to confess, though, that I often don't get excited about God's presence in my life. I get so wrapped up in myself that I forget to pay attention to God's nearness and his love for me. I don't think I pay attention to my soul's deepest longing for God. I'm too busy with so many other things, I forget to pay tribute to my creator and thank him for saving grace and eternal mercy and love.
When I stop to think about it, I realize how foolish I am. The problem is that I often don't stop to think about it. I just keep plowing forward.
I don't know the answer to this one. It's a tough dilemma, trying to make time to slow down in a fast-paced world. But it's worth the struggle, to let the soul's deepest longing lead us into a place of deep communion with the Almighty God.
May you find God's peace today
Monday, September 29, 2014
Psalm 83:9-18
Psalm 83:9-18
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's tough to read passages like this. I want everything and everyone to have a happy, warm and fuzzy ending. Destruction isn't a fun thing to entertain.
But if God is pure love, that means that the hatred and enmity that oppose that love must be destroyed if we want there to be nothing but love one day. If we believe that there is no evil in heaven, then evil must vanish from the face of the earth. I believe that God wants people not to cling to that evil, so that the evil could vanish without people who cling to it, but there are people who refuse to let go of evil.
For them, Jesus says, we should pray. Even for those who seek to do us evil. It is no easy thing, but true love is not easy. It asks much of us, but promises to give much more in return.
May you know pure love today
English Standard Version (ESV)
It's tough to read passages like this. I want everything and everyone to have a happy, warm and fuzzy ending. Destruction isn't a fun thing to entertain.
But if God is pure love, that means that the hatred and enmity that oppose that love must be destroyed if we want there to be nothing but love one day. If we believe that there is no evil in heaven, then evil must vanish from the face of the earth. I believe that God wants people not to cling to that evil, so that the evil could vanish without people who cling to it, but there are people who refuse to let go of evil.
For them, Jesus says, we should pray. Even for those who seek to do us evil. It is no easy thing, but true love is not easy. It asks much of us, but promises to give much more in return.
May you know pure love today
Thursday, September 25, 2014
Psalm 83:1-8
Psalm 83:1-8
English Standard Version (ESV)
The things opposing you in the world?
They are not in your imagination. I believe the forces that are tearing at humanity, the evil that is present in the world, is not just some imaginary power. I believe it is real, and it has agency in the world.
That said, let us not make too much of it. The Devil opposes us, but the Devil shall not win. May we not doubt this truth even for a moment. God wins. He is victorious and shall reign forever. The Devil has his day, but it will not last.
May we invest our lives with the triumphant side
English Standard Version (ESV)
The things opposing you in the world?
They are not in your imagination. I believe the forces that are tearing at humanity, the evil that is present in the world, is not just some imaginary power. I believe it is real, and it has agency in the world.
That said, let us not make too much of it. The Devil opposes us, but the Devil shall not win. May we not doubt this truth even for a moment. God wins. He is victorious and shall reign forever. The Devil has his day, but it will not last.
May we invest our lives with the triumphant side
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
Psalm 82
Psalm 82
English Standard Version (ESV)
Darkness.
I sometimes wander into the kitchen late at night, and I rarely turn on the lights. Instead, I count on my memory of the living room to navigate my way. What I don't count on, however, is the presence of toys left behind randomly on the floor. My foot almost always finds one, no matter how slowly I walk or how confidant I am.
We do this in other areas of life. Sometimes it is on accident, or in moments of pride or when we forget that we are fallible.
Some people spend their entire lives this way, refusing to believe they are in darkness, convincing themselves (and perhaps others) that they can see just fine, thank you very much.
God alone is the source of our light. Without him, we remain in darkness, stubbornly holding on to the lie that we are not in the darkness. God can and will and wants to save us, to illumine us to the true state of our condition and the depths of his grace and willingness to forgive.
We just have to open our hearts and lives to the reality of our condition, and let God draw us into the light.
May you be in awe of God's desire to forgive
English Standard Version (ESV)
Darkness.
I sometimes wander into the kitchen late at night, and I rarely turn on the lights. Instead, I count on my memory of the living room to navigate my way. What I don't count on, however, is the presence of toys left behind randomly on the floor. My foot almost always finds one, no matter how slowly I walk or how confidant I am.
We do this in other areas of life. Sometimes it is on accident, or in moments of pride or when we forget that we are fallible.
Some people spend their entire lives this way, refusing to believe they are in darkness, convincing themselves (and perhaps others) that they can see just fine, thank you very much.
God alone is the source of our light. Without him, we remain in darkness, stubbornly holding on to the lie that we are not in the darkness. God can and will and wants to save us, to illumine us to the true state of our condition and the depths of his grace and willingness to forgive.
We just have to open our hearts and lives to the reality of our condition, and let God draw us into the light.
May you be in awe of God's desire to forgive
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Psalm 81
Psalm 81
New Life Version (NLV)
God wants to be in constant relationship with us. God wants to fill us with riches and wonder. God wants to rain down blessings upon us. God reminds us of those times he has done so in the past, and he has a hope for the future that we might continue to position ourselves to receive his mercy in the future. God doesn't want to see sin derail your life and your relationship with him and others.
But we listen to other voices. We listen to the demanding voices around us, telling us to hurry up and to keep up. We listen to the insistent voice within us, telling us that we can't possibly be good enough, that we're fraudulent and will soon be revealed. We quake in fear at the thought of people seeing us as we really are.
If only we would listen to God. If only we would tune our ears to hear the still small voice that reminds us that we are beloved children of the covenant, blessed by God and claimed by him through the waters of baptism. If only we would remember that we have no need to fear, though the mountains tumble into the sea, for he is ours and we are his and he loves,
May you remember that God is love
New Life Version (NLV)
God wants to be in constant relationship with us. God wants to fill us with riches and wonder. God wants to rain down blessings upon us. God reminds us of those times he has done so in the past, and he has a hope for the future that we might continue to position ourselves to receive his mercy in the future. God doesn't want to see sin derail your life and your relationship with him and others.
But we listen to other voices. We listen to the demanding voices around us, telling us to hurry up and to keep up. We listen to the insistent voice within us, telling us that we can't possibly be good enough, that we're fraudulent and will soon be revealed. We quake in fear at the thought of people seeing us as we really are.
If only we would listen to God. If only we would tune our ears to hear the still small voice that reminds us that we are beloved children of the covenant, blessed by God and claimed by him through the waters of baptism. If only we would remember that we have no need to fear, though the mountains tumble into the sea, for he is ours and we are his and he loves,
May you remember that God is love
Monday, September 22, 2014
Psalm 80:8-19
Psalm 80:8-19
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Reach out, God.
Reach out.
We pray for God to reach out, to reach down from the heavens, and intervene for us. We pray for God to lead us and guide us and protect us.
May we also remember to reach out to God. May we remember to offer our prayers, our thoughts, our actions and our lives to God, making it a two way conversation. While I believe that God reaches down to save, I also believe that our faith needs to be lifting our hearts and minds up to God, offering ourselves, reaching to God as God reaches to us.
May your mind be reaching to God today
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
Reach out, God.
Reach out.
We pray for God to reach out, to reach down from the heavens, and intervene for us. We pray for God to lead us and guide us and protect us.
May we also remember to reach out to God. May we remember to offer our prayers, our thoughts, our actions and our lives to God, making it a two way conversation. While I believe that God reaches down to save, I also believe that our faith needs to be lifting our hearts and minds up to God, offering ourselves, reaching to God as God reaches to us.
May your mind be reaching to God today
Friday, September 19, 2014
Psalm 80:1-7
Psalm 80:1-7
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
We ask for blessing, and it seems as though God forgets. We end up with tears, with pain, with struggle. We wonder why.
In the short-term, I often do the same. I wonder why some things are so hard, why some relationships fall apart, why I must endure certain things. I wonder where God is in the midst.
But there God is, our Shepherd, leading us. There is God, leading us like sheep, caring for us in the midst of our lives, leading us forward and watching over us. Our pain is temporary. It shall not endure, but the grace of Almighty God shall, and we shall be led through pain and suffering into triumph.
May you trust in God's future
Easy-to-Read Version (ERV)
We ask for blessing, and it seems as though God forgets. We end up with tears, with pain, with struggle. We wonder why.
In the short-term, I often do the same. I wonder why some things are so hard, why some relationships fall apart, why I must endure certain things. I wonder where God is in the midst.
But there God is, our Shepherd, leading us. There is God, leading us like sheep, caring for us in the midst of our lives, leading us forward and watching over us. Our pain is temporary. It shall not endure, but the grace of Almighty God shall, and we shall be led through pain and suffering into triumph.
May you trust in God's future
Thursday, September 18, 2014
Psalm 79:8-13
Psalm 79:8-13
The Message (MSG)
There are plenty of people who believe there is no God. It was true in ancient days, too, and so the Psalmist prayed for God's intervention in the hopes that they would see the power of God as he saved the people.
We pray for the same thing, don't we? We want God to hear our prayers, to reach down to our despair and lift us out into a place of joy. All the while, we hope that those around us see the awesome power of God and recognize where the true power in the world is.
Know that your voice is joined with a loud choir that spans the ages as we pray for God to break through the pain into our lives and lift us into the everlasting joy.
May you be confidant in God's love
The Message (MSG)
There are plenty of people who believe there is no God. It was true in ancient days, too, and so the Psalmist prayed for God's intervention in the hopes that they would see the power of God as he saved the people.
We pray for the same thing, don't we? We want God to hear our prayers, to reach down to our despair and lift us out into a place of joy. All the while, we hope that those around us see the awesome power of God and recognize where the true power in the world is.
Know that your voice is joined with a loud choir that spans the ages as we pray for God to break through the pain into our lives and lift us into the everlasting joy.
May you be confidant in God's love
Wednesday, September 17, 2014
Psalm 79:1-7
Psalm 79:1-7
The Message (MSG)
I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating--the Holy Scripture, inspired by God, gives us language we can use to question God! God wants us to be involved and committed to this relationship, and in any relationship, you're going to have questions when you don't understand things. Take those questions to God! Don't be afraid of asking questions--how many times do the angels tell us not to be afraid? Our questions show that we care. Our questions show that we're paying attention, that we're committed to the relationship even though we don't understand it all.
Now, we're called to ask those questions respectfully, to remember our place and remember who God is. But ask questions. Be inquisitive. Trust that God has answers, even if we don't understand them.
May you trust God enough to ask your big questions
The Message (MSG)
I know I've said this before, but it bears repeating--the Holy Scripture, inspired by God, gives us language we can use to question God! God wants us to be involved and committed to this relationship, and in any relationship, you're going to have questions when you don't understand things. Take those questions to God! Don't be afraid of asking questions--how many times do the angels tell us not to be afraid? Our questions show that we care. Our questions show that we're paying attention, that we're committed to the relationship even though we don't understand it all.
Now, we're called to ask those questions respectfully, to remember our place and remember who God is. But ask questions. Be inquisitive. Trust that God has answers, even if we don't understand them.
May you trust God enough to ask your big questions
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Psalm 78:67-72
Psalm 78:67-72
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I pick ice cream flavors, I am completely unrestrained. I can choose any flavor I want, and it's my choice. It doesn't make much sense to criticize me for choosing differently than you might have.
God chooses his beloved people. I believe that God chooses them so that they might be an example to the world, so that all the world may come to worship him as God and King. It's God's choice--and despite all our failings, God chooses to love us. Let us not criticize God for the choices he makes--let us give thanks that there is grace and love enough for God to choose us.
May you rest in the confidence that God chooses you
English Standard Version (ESV)
When I pick ice cream flavors, I am completely unrestrained. I can choose any flavor I want, and it's my choice. It doesn't make much sense to criticize me for choosing differently than you might have.
God chooses his beloved people. I believe that God chooses them so that they might be an example to the world, so that all the world may come to worship him as God and King. It's God's choice--and despite all our failings, God chooses to love us. Let us not criticize God for the choices he makes--let us give thanks that there is grace and love enough for God to choose us.
May you rest in the confidence that God chooses you
Monday, September 15, 2014
Psalm 78:56-66
Psalm 78:56-66
English Standard Version (ESV)
When all is said and done, I want to be on God's side. He's going to win.
The great thing is, God wants us on his side, too. God wants us to choose grace and peace and love, and he gives us so many opportunities to choose him. We sin over and over again, and there is grace for us. We turn from him over and over again, and there is mercy, abundant and wondrous.
So never give up hope. God's love abounds.
May you choose mercy today
English Standard Version (ESV)
When all is said and done, I want to be on God's side. He's going to win.
The great thing is, God wants us on his side, too. God wants us to choose grace and peace and love, and he gives us so many opportunities to choose him. We sin over and over again, and there is grace for us. We turn from him over and over again, and there is mercy, abundant and wondrous.
So never give up hope. God's love abounds.
May you choose mercy today
Friday, September 12, 2014
Psalm 78:50-55
Psalm 78:50-55
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist forgets to mention that the Israelites complained the entire way to the Promised Land.
It's easy to forget what God has done. We get wrapped up in self, we get wrapped up in the latest and newest, and in the midst of it all we wonder where God has been, omitting the fact that God has been there the whole time, through every celebration and moment of despair. God has never left you, and he will never leave you. The triumph that comes at the end of the long night is possible only because God has led you through and forward and over, and God is there in the moments of joy just as much in the moments of despair.
May you trust in God's presence
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Psalmist forgets to mention that the Israelites complained the entire way to the Promised Land.
It's easy to forget what God has done. We get wrapped up in self, we get wrapped up in the latest and newest, and in the midst of it all we wonder where God has been, omitting the fact that God has been there the whole time, through every celebration and moment of despair. God has never left you, and he will never leave you. The triumph that comes at the end of the long night is possible only because God has led you through and forward and over, and God is there in the moments of joy just as much in the moments of despair.
May you trust in God's presence
Thursday, September 11, 2014
Psalm 78:39-49
Psalm 78:39-49
English Standard Version (ESV)
God hates sin.
Sin is the evil force tearing at the underbelly of God's good creation. God loves the world and the people within it, and when sin destroys our lives and the world, it makes God angry.
When God is angry, God lashes out at the forces of evil, threatening their very existence.
When people cling to those forces and refuse to repent, they find themselves threatened by God's wrath.
When we turn to God and plead for forgiveness, there is grace for us, compassion in the face of our sin.
We have a choice to make, and when we look at the expanse of God's love, it should be an easy one.
May we have the wisdom to trust in the God of love
English Standard Version (ESV)
God hates sin.
Sin is the evil force tearing at the underbelly of God's good creation. God loves the world and the people within it, and when sin destroys our lives and the world, it makes God angry.
When God is angry, God lashes out at the forces of evil, threatening their very existence.
When people cling to those forces and refuse to repent, they find themselves threatened by God's wrath.
When we turn to God and plead for forgiveness, there is grace for us, compassion in the face of our sin.
We have a choice to make, and when we look at the expanse of God's love, it should be an easy one.
May we have the wisdom to trust in the God of love
Wednesday, September 10, 2014
Psalm 78:32-38
Psalm 78:32-38
English Standard Version (ESV)
"Oh no."
I was listening to a recent Andy Stanley podcast on parenting, and he was talking about how key those 2 words were in his parenting. When he used that in reference to discipline, he helped the kids recognize that he wasn't there to punish them, but he was going to help them see that there were consequences for their actions.
"Oh no! You broke the rules, now you have to ..."
"Oh no! You hit him, now you have to ... "
I think we need to recognize that there are consequences for our actions, too. God has died for our sins, but we are responsible for letting that grace, mercy and love guide us through our lives, and when we sin, we are called to repent, to turn back, to let God lead us forward in mercy and love. The power of sin has been ultimately broken, but it will continue to damage our lives as long as we live in this world.
So let us resist sin and face the consequences of our brokenness with humility, recognizing that God alone can heal, redeem and restore.
May God's grace give you peace today
English Standard Version (ESV)
"Oh no."
I was listening to a recent Andy Stanley podcast on parenting, and he was talking about how key those 2 words were in his parenting. When he used that in reference to discipline, he helped the kids recognize that he wasn't there to punish them, but he was going to help them see that there were consequences for their actions.
"Oh no! You broke the rules, now you have to ..."
"Oh no! You hit him, now you have to ... "
I think we need to recognize that there are consequences for our actions, too. God has died for our sins, but we are responsible for letting that grace, mercy and love guide us through our lives, and when we sin, we are called to repent, to turn back, to let God lead us forward in mercy and love. The power of sin has been ultimately broken, but it will continue to damage our lives as long as we live in this world.
So let us resist sin and face the consequences of our brokenness with humility, recognizing that God alone can heal, redeem and restore.
May God's grace give you peace today
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Psalm 78:21-31
Psalm 78:21-31
English Standard Version (ESV)
I wish I understood God. I'll freely admit that so many things happen in the Old Testament that I don't understand. Things are still happening today that I don't fully understand. I wish I did, and if I did I would explain them so that everyone would understand God's goodness and grace...
But we don't see things clearly. We have to decide, based on what we can know, if we trust God. When I read the entirety of the Bible, not just little pieces here and there, I see a picture of a God filled with love who desperately wants people to come to him. There are snippets here and there where God disciplines his people, sometimes harshly, and I don't fully understand those. In fairness, though, if you only judged me based on when I discipline my son, I might not look so great, either.
I trust the full picture that I have of God, and his love and grace. In light of that, I believe that the things I don't understand are not enough to turn me from God's love.
May you be overwhelmed by awe today
English Standard Version (ESV)
I wish I understood God. I'll freely admit that so many things happen in the Old Testament that I don't understand. Things are still happening today that I don't fully understand. I wish I did, and if I did I would explain them so that everyone would understand God's goodness and grace...
But we don't see things clearly. We have to decide, based on what we can know, if we trust God. When I read the entirety of the Bible, not just little pieces here and there, I see a picture of a God filled with love who desperately wants people to come to him. There are snippets here and there where God disciplines his people, sometimes harshly, and I don't fully understand those. In fairness, though, if you only judged me based on when I discipline my son, I might not look so great, either.
I trust the full picture that I have of God, and his love and grace. In light of that, I believe that the things I don't understand are not enough to turn me from God's love.
May you be overwhelmed by awe today
Monday, September 8, 2014
Psalm 78:9-20
Psalm 78:9-20
Common English Bible (CEB)
9 The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, retreated on the day of battle. 10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant; they refused to walk in his Instruction. 11 They forgot God’s deeds as well as the wondrous works he showed them. 12 But God performed wonders in their ancestors’ presence— in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 God split the sea and led them through, making the waters stand up like a wall. 14 God led them with the cloud by day; by the lightning all through the night. 15 God split rocks open in the wilderness, gave them plenty to drink— as if from the deep itself! 16 God made streams flow from the rock, made water run like rivers.
17 But they continued to sin against God, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tested God in their hearts, demanded food for their stomachs. 19 They spoke against God! “Can God set a dinner table in the wilderness?” they asked. 20 “True, God struck the rock and water gushed and streams flowed, but can he give bread too? Can he provide meat for his people?”
***************
More.
We always want just a little more, just to be sure God is really there, to be sure he really cares, as though all that God has done is not quite enough. Just a little more, God, our hearts cry. Just a little more. I need it.
What we do, if we're not careful, is set up God to be little more than a vending machine. We go back to God every time we need something, but we forget that our faith is a relationship to be nurtured, a life-giving cord that continually reminds us of all that God has done, preparing us to be certain of all that God will continue to do.
God has never let us go, and he will never do so in the future. God is ever faithful, and so let your anxious heart rest in him.
May you find trust in God
Common English Bible (CEB)
9 The children of Ephraim, armed with bows, retreated on the day of battle. 10 They didn’t keep God’s covenant; they refused to walk in his Instruction. 11 They forgot God’s deeds as well as the wondrous works he showed them. 12 But God performed wonders in their ancestors’ presence— in the land of Egypt, in the field of Zoan. 13 God split the sea and led them through, making the waters stand up like a wall. 14 God led them with the cloud by day; by the lightning all through the night. 15 God split rocks open in the wilderness, gave them plenty to drink— as if from the deep itself! 16 God made streams flow from the rock, made water run like rivers.
17 But they continued to sin against God, rebelling against the Most High in the desert. 18 They tested God in their hearts, demanded food for their stomachs. 19 They spoke against God! “Can God set a dinner table in the wilderness?” they asked. 20 “True, God struck the rock and water gushed and streams flowed, but can he give bread too? Can he provide meat for his people?”
***************
More.
We always want just a little more, just to be sure God is really there, to be sure he really cares, as though all that God has done is not quite enough. Just a little more, God, our hearts cry. Just a little more. I need it.
What we do, if we're not careful, is set up God to be little more than a vending machine. We go back to God every time we need something, but we forget that our faith is a relationship to be nurtured, a life-giving cord that continually reminds us of all that God has done, preparing us to be certain of all that God will continue to do.
God has never let us go, and he will never do so in the future. God is ever faithful, and so let your anxious heart rest in him.
May you find trust in God
Thursday, September 4, 2014
Psalm 78:1-8
Psalm 78:1-8
Common English Bible (CEB)
How do children learn things?
They learn by watching. Caleb & Danielle watch how Rachel and I interact. They watch what we say and what we do. It's scary, sometimes, because I'm imperfect, but it certainly guide me toward more upright action. The other day, I dropped something very hot and burned myself, and I was very, very aware that Caleb was watching my reaction. Kids pick up on and imitate us.
So when we praise God and teach the next generation about God and his marvelous grace, our kids are watching, and what we teach them, what we show them, will influence their relationship to God.
What is your life teaching the next generation? An attitude of dependence or an air of indifference?
May we lead lives worthy of imitation and filled with humility
Common English Bible (CEB)
How do children learn things?
They learn by watching. Caleb & Danielle watch how Rachel and I interact. They watch what we say and what we do. It's scary, sometimes, because I'm imperfect, but it certainly guide me toward more upright action. The other day, I dropped something very hot and burned myself, and I was very, very aware that Caleb was watching my reaction. Kids pick up on and imitate us.
So when we praise God and teach the next generation about God and his marvelous grace, our kids are watching, and what we teach them, what we show them, will influence their relationship to God.
What is your life teaching the next generation? An attitude of dependence or an air of indifference?
May we lead lives worthy of imitation and filled with humility
Wednesday, September 3, 2014
Psalm 77:10-20
Psalm 77:10-20
English Standard Version (ESV)
The key to this Psalm, I believe, lies in the end. The footprints of God were unseen--the people were led by Moses and Aaron. God used Moses and Aaron to lead the people. Anybody who has read the Bible will know that Moses and Aaron are imperfect, and yet God used them to do great things for the people.
So there are, I believe, at least two questions for us.
1) Will you allow yourself to be used, without worrying so much about how unworthy you are?
2) Will you look for the voice of God speaking and leading you through others? God continues to use people to lead others. Perhaps God is speaking to you through another person. Will you humbly listen?
May God help you see with new eyes today
English Standard Version (ESV)
The key to this Psalm, I believe, lies in the end. The footprints of God were unseen--the people were led by Moses and Aaron. God used Moses and Aaron to lead the people. Anybody who has read the Bible will know that Moses and Aaron are imperfect, and yet God used them to do great things for the people.
So there are, I believe, at least two questions for us.
1) Will you allow yourself to be used, without worrying so much about how unworthy you are?
2) Will you look for the voice of God speaking and leading you through others? God continues to use people to lead others. Perhaps God is speaking to you through another person. Will you humbly listen?
May God help you see with new eyes today
Tuesday, September 2, 2014
Psalm 77:1-9
Psalm 77:1-9
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to do things on my own. Maybe it's pride or stubbornness or an innate curiosity to see if I can manage, but it's nice to be independent. It's not that I don't feel like I need God... I just seem to trust my own efforts more naturally.
But in the midst of the storm, I realize how insufficient my efforts are. Even when God doesn't answer as dramatically as I might like, I realize that God's strength is so much greater than my own. I need God. I need his wisdom and leadership and Holy Spirit. My own resources will tumble--but with God, I can endure to the end.
May you trust God more than you trust yourself
English Standard Version (ESV)
I like to do things on my own. Maybe it's pride or stubbornness or an innate curiosity to see if I can manage, but it's nice to be independent. It's not that I don't feel like I need God... I just seem to trust my own efforts more naturally.
But in the midst of the storm, I realize how insufficient my efforts are. Even when God doesn't answer as dramatically as I might like, I realize that God's strength is so much greater than my own. I need God. I need his wisdom and leadership and Holy Spirit. My own resources will tumble--but with God, I can endure to the end.
May you trust God more than you trust yourself
Friday, August 29, 2014
Psalm 76
Psalm 76
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
There's a scene in an old Sean Connery movie where Nicholas Cage is describing a fearsome chemical and encouraging Sean Connery to respect it. Cage says, "The minute you don't respect this, it kills you."
When we recognize the awesome power of some things, we treat them differently. Knowing how dangerous some chemicals are, we treat them with great care. Rachel and I encourage the kids to be careful around the house, and we put things in the outlets to protect curious fingers. Knowing how dangerous kitchen knives can be, we treat them differently than little spoons.
It's important for us to recognize and respect the awesome power of God. God is not some minor figure to trifle with, some lowly person just begging to be your friend and hang out when you've got a minute. He's the Lord of the universe, the holder of power and wisdom, the God of power and might. We come to God with respect and admiration. We bow before him as Lord, and proclaim his might to the ends of the earth. He invites us to know him intimately, as friends, but we are able to approach him only because he has reached out in love and forgiven us of our sins through the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.
We do well to remember to worship and admire God. We need not fear God, but let us not forget how powerful God is.
May you feel comfort knowing God uses his power for you
Contemporary English Version (CEV)
There's a scene in an old Sean Connery movie where Nicholas Cage is describing a fearsome chemical and encouraging Sean Connery to respect it. Cage says, "The minute you don't respect this, it kills you."
When we recognize the awesome power of some things, we treat them differently. Knowing how dangerous some chemicals are, we treat them with great care. Rachel and I encourage the kids to be careful around the house, and we put things in the outlets to protect curious fingers. Knowing how dangerous kitchen knives can be, we treat them differently than little spoons.
It's important for us to recognize and respect the awesome power of God. God is not some minor figure to trifle with, some lowly person just begging to be your friend and hang out when you've got a minute. He's the Lord of the universe, the holder of power and wisdom, the God of power and might. We come to God with respect and admiration. We bow before him as Lord, and proclaim his might to the ends of the earth. He invites us to know him intimately, as friends, but we are able to approach him only because he has reached out in love and forgiven us of our sins through the blood of his son, Jesus Christ.
We do well to remember to worship and admire God. We need not fear God, but let us not forget how powerful God is.
May you feel comfort knowing God uses his power for you
Thursday, August 28, 2014
Psalm 75
Psalm 75
English Standard Version (ESV)
I can't make sense of a lot of the stuff going on in the world. I don't understand the violence sweeping across Syria and Iraq, the rockets launching back and forth between Gaza and Israel, the virus sweeping across Africa. Some of it is purely tragic, while much of it is attributable to the evil that lurks in the hearts and minds of humans.
Through it all, though, I trust that God is indeed keeping the pillars of the earth steady, no matter how badly we may bash ourselves into them. Through it all, I will choose to praise God, trusting that one day, I will understand all of this. Through it all, I will let his name be praised on my lips, and I believe that evil will one day be no more, and all that will remain is God, and God alone.
May you focus on God today
English Standard Version (ESV)
I can't make sense of a lot of the stuff going on in the world. I don't understand the violence sweeping across Syria and Iraq, the rockets launching back and forth between Gaza and Israel, the virus sweeping across Africa. Some of it is purely tragic, while much of it is attributable to the evil that lurks in the hearts and minds of humans.
Through it all, though, I trust that God is indeed keeping the pillars of the earth steady, no matter how badly we may bash ourselves into them. Through it all, I will choose to praise God, trusting that one day, I will understand all of this. Through it all, I will let his name be praised on my lips, and I believe that evil will one day be no more, and all that will remain is God, and God alone.
May you focus on God today
Wednesday, August 27, 2014
Psalm 74:12-23
Psalm 74:12-23
New Life Version (NLV)
It's important to remember how powerful God is. (Although I'd like to talk to God about winter...) When we remember how strong and mighty and courageous God is, we then remember how amazing it is that God laid down his life for us. This was no small thing--it was a merciful and mighty act of love and grace that was poured out upon us. God freely gave himself up, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. God doesn't need us, but God freely chooses us, in love and mercy. Don't believe in the lie that God is too big to notice us--God is so big and still notices us! That's love, a deep love that should astonish and amaze us.
May you be filled with awe at the size of God's love for you
New Life Version (NLV)
It's important to remember how powerful God is. (Although I'd like to talk to God about winter...) When we remember how strong and mighty and courageous God is, we then remember how amazing it is that God laid down his life for us. This was no small thing--it was a merciful and mighty act of love and grace that was poured out upon us. God freely gave himself up, not because he had to, but because he wanted to. God doesn't need us, but God freely chooses us, in love and mercy. Don't believe in the lie that God is too big to notice us--God is so big and still notices us! That's love, a deep love that should astonish and amaze us.
May you be filled with awe at the size of God's love for you
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