The Star

O. T. #1343  "The Star"
Dec. 13, 2018
Psalm 116-Part 2
...There shall come a Star out of Jacob... Numbers 24:17

LET IT GLOW

God shows us His love in so many ways. Oh, He doesn't force people to love Him. How can we but love Him in return after He has done so much for us? In our silent night, we can look up at the stars and marvel that God spoke them into being and wants to speak to us, peace over us. He wants to guide us like the star guided the Wise Men. He woos us to Him with a love freely given.

Did you know that Jesus is called a "Star out of Jacob", found in  Numbers 24:17 ? In the Hebrew language, Star can mean a blazing star or a prince. (I don't recall ever reading nor hear that verse during the Christmas season.)

The star that will come from Jacob is often thought to refer to the Messiah. It was probably this prophecy that the wise men to travel to Israel to search for the baby(Matt. 2:1-2). Life Application Study Bible

In Revelation 22:16, Jesus calls Himself The Root and Offspring of David and The Bright and Morning Star. So, was Jesus the guiding Star which the Wise Men followed to Bethlehem? (I know, He was in the form and body of a toddler at that time, but anything is possible with God.)

If He is only speaking figuratively, then is Jesus our Bright and Morning Star? Is He the Star out of Jacob who wants and is ready to guide us on the right path? Are we reaching up to our Star?


LET IT GROW

I don't know why I shared that, other than I found it and used it in my girls class last night at church.

As we read this chapter, did you notice several "I will's" David says in commitment?

• I will walk before the LORD in the land of the living. (verse 9)
• I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. (verse 13)
• I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people. (verse 14)
• I will offer Thee the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the LORD. (verse 17)
• I will pay my vows unto the LORD now in the presence of all His people, in the courts of the LORD's house, in the midst of Thee, O Jerusalem. (verses 18-19)

How are we walking, by faith and in the joyful land of the living? Have we taken from the cup of salvation? Are we calling upon Jesus? Do we pay our vows which we made to the Lord? Are we thanking God for all that He has giving and does for us? I fall short.

So let us look up, our Redemption draweth nigh.

LET IT GO

Keep my vows made unto the LORD God.
Praise and thank Him today.
Look for the Star out of Jacob to follow on this country road of faith. Lead me on Your path.

Bountiful Blessings

O. T. #1342  "Bountiful Blessings"
Dec. 12, 2018
Psalm 116
return unto thy rest, O my soul; for the LORD hath dealt bountifully with thee. Psalm 116:7

LET IT GLOW

Most scholars consider David as the author of this psalm.
How did he experience God in his life?

• He heard his voice and prayer for mercy. (verse 1)
• God bends down to listen and he prays. (verse 2)
• He is gracious, righteous, and merciful. (verse 5)
• He preserves the simple (silly, foolish) (verse 6)
• The Lord protects those of childlike faith. (verse 6 NLT)
• He helps those in need. (verse 6)
• He deals bountifully (bestow on; do good). (verse 7)
• He delivers the soul from death, eyes from tears, and feet from falling, (verse 8)
• Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints. (verse 15)

Has God dealt bountifully with you? I look at my little house and see I have too much. Closets are stuffed. Tubs are stacked up. Cabinets are filled. How gracious, righteous, and merciful the Lord is to me. This year during the Christmas time, I am looking for those with whom I can deal bountifully, sharing my bountiful blessings.

LET IT GROW

Rick Warren's The Purpose Driven Life says:

Did you know that admitting your hopelessness to God can be a statement of faith? Trusting God but feeling despair at the same time, David wrote, I believed, so I said, "I am completely ruined.'" This sounds like a contradiction: I trust God, but I'm wiped out! David's frankness actually reveals deep faith: First, he believed in God. Second, he God would listen to his prayer. Third, he believed God would let him say what he felt and still love him.

We are still loved by God even though...
He listens to us in spite of our...

LET IT GO
Friends, please join me in lifting up Amy's family. She lost her mother last month and now her grandmother. Her dad is having such a hard time adjusting to his wife dying suddenly and now his mother, which was expected. Just yesterday, we buried another church member, my friend's mother. This has been quite a year for our family and our church.

Our Help and Shield

O. T. #1341  "Our Help and Shield"
Dec. 11, 2018
Psalm 115-Part 2
Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: He is their help and shield.  Psalm 115:11

LET IT GLOW

Verse 13 says, He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.  Psalm 115:13

Did you know that the Lord Jesus is mindful of us? Verse 12 says so, friend. In fact, He will bless us. Not only are the blessings of God upon Israel and Aaron's descendants, but also upon us, the ones who reverence and fear Him.
So whether we are an important someone with a big position or just a simple country gal like me, God will increase His blessings upon us and our children. Verses 12-14 say so.
Let us share the blessings which He give us with those less fortunate.

LET IT GROW

In verses 9, 10, and 11, we read the same phrase "He is their help and shield."
After scorning the idol worshipers, who is the psalmist speaking to here? This could be applying to Israel, the Levitical priests, and God-fearers who were proselytes.
What are they challenged to do?

• He calls upon Israel to trust in the LORD God. (verse 9)
• House of Aaron is told to trust in the LORD. (verse 10) The house of Aaron were the priests of Israel.
• Ye that fear the LORD, trust in Him. (verse 11)

Why were those reminded to trust in the LORD? Because God was their help and shield. He is the only One in whom we can fully trust. People fail, let us down, turn away from us, but Christ does not leave us nor forsake us.
Help means aid; shield means protector, defense.

Are we exercising faith in our God? Are we trusting in the LORD to be our aid and defense?

LET IT GO

But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and forevermore. Praise the LORD.

Jesus, You left heaven to live on earth for 30 years, as a man and as God.
You lived the perfect life, which qualified You to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins, providing the way for us to go to heaven after we die.
Glory to God in the highest!
Let us come and worship Christ, our King and Savior.

When Tragedy Hits

O. T. #1340  "When Tragedy Hits"
Dec. 10, 2018
Psalm 115
But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. Psalm 115:3

LET IT GLOW

The Psalms 115-118 were traditionally sung at the Passover meal commemorating Israel's escape from slavery in Egypt. (Life Application Study Bible)

As the Israelites sang this song, they were to do so with humility. Our successes, merits, and achievements are not to be our credit, but as an honor and praise to our God who gives them. It is not by our strength that we have done thus and so, but through His mercy.

Verse 1 notes, Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto Thy name give glory, for Thy mercy, and for Thy truth's sake.

Israel was to acknowledge that all the glory goes to God's name for His mercy and truth, (unfailing love and faithfulness).

God declared that He would share His glory with no one. (Isaiah 42:8; 48:11)

So when someone tells us we did a good job, shouldn't we just praise the Lord?

Isn't it our natural tendency to lean toward self-idolatry, to magnify of ourselves, and find difficulty in cleansing our hearts from these self-reflections?

LET IT GROW

Look at our key verse. Don't we tend to quote that verse whenever tragedy hits? Or when we are shocked, surprised, overwhelmed by something happening suddenly in our life? When we think about it, God is always in control, doing whatever pleases Him, as He sits upon the throne of control in heaven.
He is high above the affairs of men, though He may be oblivious to them. (Falwell)

Actually, it should bring us comfort when we consider that our loving, all-wise God is in control of everything. When a loved one dies suddenly, when we get a notice a work, if our car breaks down, if repairs on our house is more than we expected, if our loved turns on us, what do we do?

LET IT GO

Glory to the Lord on High!
Joy to the world, the Lord is come!
Help me to trust in You in everything.

Rams and Lambs

O. T. #1339  "Rams and Lambs"
Dec. 7, 2018
Psalm 114
The mountains skipped like rams, and the little hills like lambs.  Psalm 114:6

LET IT GLOW

Sometimes we watch the animal station on television. In the wild, the rams fight each other for dominance of the flock. It is my observation that rams have a lot of strength. In contrast, lambs are weak. Aren't lambs so humble and sweet? And when they are content, they prance around with excitement. So cute. Today, our key verse is placed in the midst of the chapter, shows the control that God has over nature-seas, rivers, mountains, and hills. Such strength!

God has the ability to move heaven and earth on behalf of His children, literally. since He controls His creation, why do we fear? When stressful circumstances come upon us, just remember what He has done for us in the past. God was faithful then and continues to faithful now.

This psalm is written by an unknown person, and is a short chapter of only 8 verses. What can we learn from it, since it appears in the Bible:

• The psalmist recalls how God delivered Israel from slavery in Egypt. (verses 1 and 3)
• Then when they wandered in the desert, He provided for their daily needs. (verses 4, 6, 8)
• When it was time, God led Israel into the Promised Land. (verse 5)

Now, God did some miraculous deeds at those times, didn't He. We are children of God, so let us trust Him to do what is needed in our life for His glory.

LET IT GROW

In our key verse,  the description of the mountains and little hills were that they skipped like rams and lambs when the Jordan River was stopped flowing. Apparently an earthquake did its thing just at the moment the Priests stepped into the Jordan River, with an Egyptian army pursuing them. What a display of the majesty of God! If mountains did that back then for Israel, can't they be moved for us today. God any mountains in your life that are difficult to climb?

God turned a rock into a pool of water for His children when their water supply ran out.
In 1 Corinthians 10:4, Paul said, They drank from a spiritual Rock that followed them, and the Rock was Christ.

If we have the faith of a mustard seed, we can tell that mountain to move and it will. Jesus can move mountains of unemployment, health issues, family problems, relationships in need of repair.
Friends, when we need Jesus to be strong for us, He is. When we need Him to show his gentleness and meekness, He is.

LET IT GO

You are amazing God! And so creative in the methods You choose to use so we know it is You delivering us, providing for us, defending us, loving us. You are all-powerful, yet control that power. You are tenderhearted and compassionate. Praise You Jesus, Christ the King!

A Shining Light

O. T. #1338  "A Shining Light"
Dec. 6, 2018
Psalm 113
From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same the LORD's name is to be praised. 
Psalm 113:3

LET IT GLOW

Since winter has come, we notice that the days are shorter and the nights are longer, concerning the hours of light. Although the temperature is in the 20's here, the sun is shining. Ohhh, we haven't seen it for days. We experienced rain, strong winds, and tornadoes in our area. What a blessing it is-a warmer day ahead is for us. But you know, even though gray skies may be dominating our weather outside, we don't have to be dark and gloomy on the inside. Read on for this secret.

Alright now, here is some more background for us concerning this short chapter. The author is unknown. This psalm begins The Hallel , which is the word in Hebrew halal(haw-lal'), means praise.
It is used 76 times in the Psalter and consists of Psalms  113-118. It was reserved for use on the 3 great feasts of the Jews-Passover, Weeks, and Tabernacles, also the New Moon celebration and Dedication. (Falwell)

Praise was an essential feature of the ancient Israelite festivals. It should be essential in our life and in our worship. Is it?

Ephesians 5:18-19 says to us, And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit;  Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord.

LET IT GROW

 From dawn's early light till the day's dark night, praise the name of Jehovah. (Falwell)

The blessings of the Lord touches every aspect of our life, so we should be praising Him throughout the day and daily.
In verse 5, we can answer the question that no one or nothing is like unto the Lord our God. Nothing can be compared to Him. He is above all, higher than the nations and the heavens.

Jesus tells us, in John 8:12, I am the light of the world, Whoever follows Me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.

This light shines in our heart, Jesus. So let us praise Him in the morning, in the noontime, and in the night. For unto us a child is born, a Son is given, the Savior named Jesus. Let our light shine before others so they see our good works and praise Jesus.
Is His light shining in you today?

LET IT GO

Jesus, light up my soul today with hope and praise to your name.
I sing glory to the King of kings; I sing glory to the Lamb; I sing glory to the Lord of lord. you are the Great I Am.

Overflowing Blessings

O. T. #1337  "Overflowing Blessings"
Dec. 5, 2018
Psalm 112
Praise ye the LORD. Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments.  Psalms 112:1

LET IT GLOW

Here is another Alphabetical Psalm, which is written with the first word of each line beginning with a Hebrew letter appearing in order. This chapter contains praises to God for blessing those who live uprightly. If we fear (revere) the Lord God and delight in obeying His commands, then our blessings will be available to us-honor, prosperity, security, and freedom from fear. His blessings can include both spiritual and material blessings.

Are we desiring to be blessed today? Are we gladly obeying and serving our Lord Jesus?

LET IT GROW

The blessings of living in the Lord Jesus will result in:

• having successful children;
• wealth;
• lasting good deeds;
• having light to shine in the darkness;
• generousity, compassion, and righteousness;
• goodness whenever we lend money generously;
• conduct business fairly;
• evil not overcoming them;
• will be long remembered;
• fear not bad news;
• confidently trust in the Lord to care for them;
• are confident and fearless;
• face foes triumphantly;
• share freely and give generously to needy;
• will have influence and honor;

What a list of blessings!

LET IT GO

Jesus, I love You.
Thank You for my blessings overflowing.
May they flow onto others.