Balancing Ups and Downs of Life

O. T. #1207  "Balancing Ups and Downs of Life"
May 9, 2018
Psalms 27
The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?  Psalms 27:1

LET IT GLOW

How did David deal with his fear and trouble? How did he balance the ups and downs of life? Was there anyone of whom he should be afraid, whenever David's confidence and salvation was in God?
Who is David's light and salvation? Verse 1 tells us the LORD is. This is the very first thing David says in this chapter, in this song. He made it personal, too.

In the Hebrew language, LORD is Yehovah (yeh-ho-vaw'), which is the Jewish national name of God, Jehovah, the Lord; it means Self-Existent or Eternal; light means illumination, happiness;
salvation is defined as to be free, defend, deliver, rescue, be safe, save, get victory.

David is telling us that Jehovah is his light of redemption in contrast to the darkness of condemnation. The primary issue in David's life was to live in God's presence and by His purpose.
(MacArthur)

David may have written this psalm during the time of his flight from Absalom. David was not going to fear, for he had total confidence in God.
Paul reminded us, in Romans 8:31, If God is for us, who can be against us?
So when we put things in their right perspective, God is in control, we are in His hands, nothing is going to happen to us without it first toing through His hands. Right?

After Jesus did not condemn the adulterous woman, he told the Pharisees and scribes, I am the light of the world: he that followeth Me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

Are we sharing the Light of Life and the Light of the world-Jesus?


LET IT GROW


The MacArthur Bible Commentary describes this chapter:
The psalmist, in the presence of his Lord, engages in three conversations that help him balance the ups and downs of life:
1. He converses with himself about privileges (verses 1-6)
2. He converses with the Lord about problems (verses 7-12)
3. He converses with Himself about perseverance (verses 13,14).


The second part of verse 1 includes David saying the LORD is his strength of his life. Strength refers to a fortified place, a defense, a fort, rock, stronghold.

Of whom should David be afraid? Anyone we are afraid of in our life? With God as our defense, rock, then we should not be afraid of anyone, right? When we encounter trouble, do we keep worshiping God, having Him as our focus? Focusing on God's greatness can help us through the ups and downs of life. Fear does not have to conquer us, since God can conquer anything we encounter.

LET IT GO

The Lord is my light and my salvation.
Jehovah is the strength of my life.
Stop being afraid and trust my light and salvation.

Thanksgiving in May

O. T. #1206  "Thanksgiving in May"
May 8, 2018
Psalms 26-Part 2
That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all Thy wondrous works.
Psalms 26:7

LET IT GLOW

You know what? Thanksgiving does not have to be limited to November. We can thank our Creator, Good Shepherd, and Redeemer any time. So at the top of my lungs I sing hallelujah. I am not ashamed to praise Your name Jesus. I will let the world know I love You and thank You.

Throughout the years of walking through the Bible with you, I have given my testimony of  salvation. For any new comers, I will tell of God's wondrous works in my life.
I was 16 when a friend of mine died in a car wreck. That was when I realized that death can come at any age, and if I died at that moment, I was not headed to heaven. In younger years, I had attended Sunday School, so I knew who Jesus was. I didn't know all the proper words to say, but God saw my repentant heart and saved me that night in my bed. Friend, if you have not asked Jesus to forgive your sins and be your Savior, it is not too late. His loving arms are waiting for you, open wide.

Another part of my testimony includes my saying that God has extended my life twice. However, it is now my belief that it was not His will for my life to end at those times, not that He extended it. Once was after surgery, when I consumed too much morphine, causing me to stop breathing, lips turning blue. Doctors revived me. (My family doctor of internal medicine, was in the hospital at the time. It was not just a happenstance. The other time was after a colonoscopy. That afternoon, I could not keep liquids in, so they were not replenished, resulting in dehydration. Because of that,  minerals essential for the heart to continue beating were depleting. At the emergency room an IV gave me what was needed. At the time, I did not realize how close to death I was. Again, I escaped death.  God has perform His marvelous works in my life, to keep me alive. I am so thankful to Him!
Can you understand why I proclaim God's wondrous works in my life?


LET IT GROW
.
Then, last year, my doctor diagnosed me with another autoimmune disease. Medication has helped Sjogrens and  Crohns. My body is battling osteoporosis again, so I take another medication for it to strengthen my bones. My God is so awesome and wondrous are His works!

Wondrous means marvelous, to be or make great, miracles.
Works is to labor, reward.


So many things for which I am thankful. Not only physical healing, but also spiritual healing.
What has God done for you lately? Have you experienced any wondrous works of God in your life? Will you take a time to share them?

LET IT GO

Thanks be to God for His good in the wildest sense., His shield of love.
Singing His praises all the day long.
So grateful and thankful for all You have done Jesus, and for who You are.

Clean my Reins

O. T. #1205 "Clean my Reins"
May 7, 2018
Psalms 26

LET IT GLOW

I thought the thing used to turn animals like horses in the desired direction is called reins. It is. Reins consist of long straps connected to the bit in the horse's mouth. Pull back on the reins and the horse should stop; turn it left or right and the animal will go that direction. That is only one meaning of the word. However, the Bible has another meaning for the word rein. Read on to find out what it is.

Here we read of David's plea for examination and vindication by the Lord on the basis of his avowed integrity. What is integrity?

Integrity refers to completeness, innocence, perfect, upright, simplicity.

Did you know that David was a type of Christ in Scripture? Jesus Christ is referred to as the Son of David. His lineage can be found in Matthew 1. Christ was made a reproach of men, had all manner of evil said against Him.
As for David, king Saul was persuing and persecuting him. He had been falsely accused of  wanting to kill this king of Israel. both Christ and David were both innocent of charges against them.
David asks to be judged in his own integrity because he has done all God asked. He has trusted in God, walked in God's commandments, and  was free from the offense of slander of which he is being charged. David is asking the Lord, who knows his inner motives, to vindicate and protect him from his enemies.

Jump down to verse 11 and we read of David using the same word, integrity. This time, he asks God to redeem him and be merciful unto him.

In verse 2, David asks God to examine, prove, and try him.

Try my reins and my heart. ((verses 2)

Reins, in the Hebrew language, refers to two things-the kidneys (as an essential organ) or the mind (as the interior self). I tend to think David was referring to the latter, his mind. :)

Here is our challenge today: Would we ask God to try our reins, read our mind? Wow! Not me. I'm sure He would be quite displeased at times with what He would find, yet He has constant access to our mind. Oh, yeah, that is right. I don't know about you, but it is time for me to clean my reins. Be aware of what I see and think today.


LET IT GROW

Liberty Bible Commentary says David embarks on a sixfold enumeration of his integrity:

1. God's lovingkindness is before David's eyes.
2. David had walked in God's truth. This truth is God's Law. Only a person who has experienced God's grace can make such a claim.
3. He did not sit with vain people.
4. Neither would he go with dissemblers, hypocrites.
5. David hated the congregation of evildoers. Those who have experienced the grace of God in salvation must hate such gatherings and assemblies and have no part in them.
6. David will not sit with the wicked. He sits at the table of the Great King.

Can we say that David watched what he was doing, where he was going, with whom he was associating? We would be wise to do the same, huh?

LET IT GO

Strive to be a person of integrity, doing what is right in God's eyes.
Clean my reins, mind; tell the devil to leave when bad thoughts pop in.
Take notice with whom I am keeping company. Make sure it is believers with integrity.

He Chooses and Uses

O. T. #1204  "He Chooses and Uses"
May 4, 2018
Psalms 25
What man is he that feareth the LORD? Him shall He teach in the way that He shall choose.
Psalms 25:12

LET IT GLOW

What lessons have you learned lately? God uses whatever He chooses to teach us about Him. There are innumerable life lessons for us while living here on this planet. But the best ones are those from God. I have things that need correcting and changed within me. Yet, I am not to yield to the world, but to my Savior. David learned some lessons and shared them with us through the psalms.

David is not only lift his hands and eyes in prayer, but he also lifts his soul. He desires to draw closer to Jehovah. What David desires for himself he desires for those who love God.

How does David describe the Lord God?

• as his personal God, in whom he trusts (verse 2);
• the God of salvation (verse 5);
• He shows tender mercies (compassion) (verse 6)
• and lovingkindnesses (unfasiling love, good deeds);
• He is good (good in the wildest sense) (verse 8)
• and upright (straight, just);
• All His paths are mercy and truth (stability, trustworthiness, faithful) (verse 10);
• teaches in the way He chooses (verse 12).

Verse 12 really slapped me and woke me up, friends. It spoke to me. God teaches us in the way He chooses. Did you get it? God chooses the trials, troubles, problems, and even blessings to teach us about Him and His ways. When we loose loved ones, He is our comfort. In our sickness, He is our healer and sustainer. When we are in need of a job, He is our provider. In our temptations to sin, He is our strength and overcomer. When we feel unloved, He is love overflowing our heart. When people are mean to us, He is good in the wildest sense. When we are down, He is our song (psalm). We see His mercies as we realize things could be worse. When we are overwhelmed by life, He is our salvation and way to heaven, our future.

God is so wonderful. He teaches me new things every day. Even at my age, I still have lessons to learn. More about Jesus would I know. I need more grace to others show. More of His loving will obey.

LET IT GROW

In this psalm, David cries out to God for forgiveness of sin and help in the face of affliction.
What does he ask of God?

• Show me Thy ways.
• Teach me Thy paths (a well trodden road).
• Lead me in Thy truth.
• On Thee do I wait all the day long.
• Forget my rebellious sins of youth.
• Forgive my transgressions and many sins.
• Show those who fear the Lord the path that should be chosen.
• Feel my pain, see my trouble, forgive all my sins.
• Protect and rescue me from my many enemies.
• Don't let me be disgraced.
• May integrity and honesty protect me.
• Ransom Israel from all its troubles.

The paths which God has for us varies from person to person. Notice, those paths are a well trodden road. Saints have walked on them before us. They survived. We are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses; they were victorious. So let us dust off the dust and wash out the mud from our clothes when we fall down on this road of faith. Let us ask for a lending hand from our friends and Lord Jesus to pull us out of the ruts and chug holes whenever we get stuck in sin. Let us encourage others as they go through the hard stuff that we have gone through.

Surrender, not fight against the hard things. Let them teach us what we need to know about God. After all, He can move mountains, is mighty to save, conquered the grave, gives us the wildest good in every sense, has His best available to us. We can do this, come out of the fire as pure as gold. Don't fight the fire. Praise Him while we are in it. It is good that I was afflicted.

LET IT GO

Trust and follow Jesus along the path He chooses to use for my life.
Give Him the glory along the way.
Allow my life to change from ordinary to extraordinary.

Clean Hands and Pure Hearts

O. T. #1203  "Clean Hands and Pure Hearts"
May 3, 2018
Psalms 24

LET IT GLOW

David wrote this psalm. It may have been during the time the Ark of the Covenant was returned to Jerusalem after being at the house of Obed-edom following the conquer of the Philistines. When the priests arrived at the city gates, they may have sang the questions and the following worshipers sang the answers:
1. Who shall ascend into the hill of the LORD?
2. Who shall stand in His holy place?
3. Who is this King of glory?

Here are the answers to the questions above:
1. The Tabernacle was the place of worship during David's day. He placed the Ark there, which
     symbolized God's presence. Later, his son Solomon built the Temple upon Mt. Zion in Jerusalem.

2. David is speaking of standing in the Tabernacle, in God's presence. He that has clean hands, a pure
    heart, does not worship idols,  and never tells a lie. Clean hands symbolize pure activities. Our
    thoughts, motives, and deeds should be pure, without habitual sins. Folks, God values
    honesty. Without honesty, a relationship with God is impossible. (He knows all, anyway, so why
     not be real?)
     Clean means innocent, blameless, clear, free, guiltless.
      Pure means to run on errands; an attendant; a waiter (at table or other menial duties); a teacher
      or pastor; a deacon; servant.

3. The King of Glory is the LORD, strong and mighty; the LORD mighty in battle; the LORD of
     Hosts, He is the King of Glory. God's presence in the Tabernacle and Temple was His Shekinah
     glory.

That should bring us to our knees of repentance.
Romans 14:11 says, Every knee shall bow to Me, and every tongue shall confess to God.
Paul is talking about everyone will say Jesus Christ is LORD.


LET IT GROW

Henry and Richard Blackaby, in their devotional book, Experiencing God Day-By-Day, explain:

The priests washed their hands before serving in the Temple to symbolize that only those who were cleansed could worship Holy God. Our sins are cleansed with the blood of Jesus when we ask His forgiveness of them. Our level of intimacy with God depends on our sin separates us from Him or not. When we adjust our life to God's standards and respond to His prompting, we can have a deeper fellowship with Him.

          The closer we get to God, the more obvious even our smallest sins become. We realize
          that we need clean hands and a pure heart before we can get close to Him.

Will we begin our prayers with repentance? Are we trying to resist temptations to sin?
Are our thoughts, words, and deeds pure ? That is when we receive the blessing of God.

LET IT GO

Watch my thoughts, words, and deeds so they are pure and clean.

Ba, I Hear my Shepherd Calling

O. T. #1202  "Ba, I hear my Shepherd Calling"
May 2, 2018
Psalms 23-Part 7

LET IT GLOW

The sheep know their shepherd's voice. My son can walk into another field where he wants his cows to move, call them, and they stop eating, look up, and walk toward him. He doesn't have to blast a horn, yell at them, use a truck behind them to get them to run.. No, they trust his voice, for he has taken care of them many years now. He calls them to greener pastures and beside the water tank. Likewise, when sheep hear their shepherd's voice, they get going to him.

In this chapter, David referred to us as sheep of the Good Shepherd. Living like sheep can bring us peace of mind as we follow the leading of Jesus in our life. The shepherd is unwaveringly devoted to his sheep because they lack everything. They are totally helpless and defenseless animals who cannot care for themselves. They are fearful, easily panicked, who when they are scared, sheep will not lie down to rest. Also, sheep lack a sense of direction and can be easily lost. The helplessness of sheep resembles the helpless state of believers. We, too, need the constant care of our Shepherd, Jesus.

 Now, before moving onto chapter 24, I want to review this chapter using the Hebrew meaning of words which David used. I think it will give us a better perspective. Insert your name, making it personal.

1. When Jesus is my personal Shepherd, Jehovah Rhoi, then I will not want (lack) anything.
2. He maketh (Linda yields) as she lies down in green pasture after eating her fill. God's Word fills my inner soul with Jesus, the Bread of Life.
3. He leadeth (sustains) Linda beside the still waters. Spending time resting in Jesus as He sustains me with Living Water, gives me peace through trials in a hostile world.
4. Jesus restores Linda's soul from sorrow, fear, and straying spiritually.
5. He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. These are paths of pleasantness and peace with grace, making me right with God, for His glory. They may not be smooth paths, but it is His will for Linda.
6. I may even walk through the valley of the shadow of death (grave or calamity) while on that path. Loved ones eventually die, leaving me in a valley surrounded by sorrow and despondence. Troubles can overshadow me, sending me deeply in despair.
7. The good news is God is with Linda. His rod and staff comfort, direct, and protect me while I am there.
8. He prepares a table (in HIs Word) before Linda in the presence of her enemies. It is filled with grace, love, forgiveness, peace, even joy and patience, topped with faith and peace.
9. Jesus anoints Linda's head with oil, symbolizing the Holy Spirit filling her. Thus, my cup runs over, as it is filled to the brim overflowing with His blessings.
10. Surely (certainly) goodness (good in the wildest sense, best, loving) and mercy (kindness) shall follow Linda all the days of her life. They pursue me with graces of God to give her lovingkindness.
11. If I dwell in the house of the Lord, then I will have continued communion with Him forever, here and in eternity.

How sweet! Isn't it reassuring, to!

LET IT GROW

Falwell tells that each of us have the four freedoms that President Franklin D. Roosevelt announced:
The are freedom from want and fear; the freedom of speech and religion.

1. Our Shepherd Jesus frees us from want when we abide in His presence.
2. We find rest and freedom from fear as we trust Jesus with every part of our life.
3. As the Holy Spirit fills us, we are free to speak for Him and about Him to others, telling of His goodness.
4. Our freedom of religion signifies that the cross set us free from the sacrificial system of Israel in the Old Testament, covering us with grace in salvation of Jesus.

Just think, friend, as a friend of Jesus, we have goodness in the wildest sense, beyond our wildest dreams or imagination, to follow us forever. In addition to goodness, we have mercy, not receiving what we deserve.
Oh, goodness and mercy, stay with me forever. I want God's best for my life. How about you?


LET IT GO

Thank You, Good Shepherd, for making me Your sheep.
And for goodness and mercy all of my days.
May the Holy Spirit overflow in me.
Listen for my Shepherd's calling and follow.

Good in the Wildest Sense

O. T. #1201  "Good in the Wildest Sense"
May 1, 2018
Psalms 23-Part 6
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.  Psalms 23:6

LET IT GLOW

When we walk through dark valleys of doubt, discouragement, and difficulty, isn't it good to know God is with us? Our Good Shepherd is Sovereign God who assures us that we will not only survive, but we will thrive. Jesus came that we might have abundant life (John 10:10) Doesn't that means we can live in victory no matter what circumstances and challenges life may bring?

In our key verse today, surely is a particle of affirmation-art thou, can, do ye, have it be, there is (are.

What was David so certain that would happen? Goodness and mercy would follow him all the days of his life. What did he mean whenever David used those particular two words?

Goodness  (towb, tobe) refers to good in the wildest sense; beautiful, better, best, loving;
Mercy (checed , khch'sed) means kindness, favor, good deed, merciful.

David was certainly it will be that the loving kindness of God, the best He has to offer us, will follow us all the days of our life. This will happen when we are walking with Jesus, following His will along the path of faith that He directs us on. Goodness and mercy will not only follow us, but they will pursue us. These graces will actively seek us out as we sheep walk with the Great Shepherd. They will be with us in times of feasting and fasting. [Reference: Liberty Bible Commentary]

Now, who doesn't desire goodness and mercy following us all day long, always? Yet, are we following the One who gives them?
Is that wild or what? Today, I am going to look behind me and say" Come on goodness and mercy."

LET IT GROW

What is the last phrase that David says in this chapter? He is going to dwell in the house of the Lord forever. Where he was going to dwell did not refer to a Temple or church, but rather communion with God.  You and I are going to dwell with the Lord Jesus forever in heaven, which indicates our sonship or being His daughter. A servant never abides in the big house.

As a child of God who walks in the path of the Good Shepherd, we are always at home with God. He has promised to never leave us nor forsake us! (Hebrews 13:5)
Whether we are in green pastures, beside the still waters, going through a valley, or in the presence of our enemies, we can be assured that God is always with us.
Is that wild or what?

LET IT GO

Be assured, God is with me in the wildest sense, for my better and with His best to offer.
I need Your goodness and mercy today, Lord Jesus, Your loving kindness.