Summer in the Psalms

Day 50 - Psalm 150

2010-09-05T06:00:00.018-04:00

Praise the LORD.
   Praise God in his sanctuary;
   praise him in his might heavens.
Praise him for his acts of power;
   praise him for his surpassing greatness.
Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet,
   praise him with the harp and lyre,
praise him with tambourine and dancing,
   praise him with the strings and flute,
praise him with the clash of cymbals,
   praise him with resounding cymbals.
Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.
   Praise the LORD.

Do you ever have days where you don't feel like praising God? I'll admit that I do. Life is hard sometimes and when it is hard, it seems the words of praise don't keep to our lips quite so readily.

And yet the book of Psalms ends with a psalm of praise. And furthermore, the psalmist doesn't say that we should praise God when all is going well...or when we like our circumstances...or when we are blessed. He simply says to praise God. I think it is reasonable to assume that he means to praise God in all circumstances (an idea backed up by other scripture as well).

That's a challenge, isn't it? How do we praise God when we are daily pressed on every front by life? I don't know that I have the wherewithal to praise him through everything...but I know some people who challenge me to do that every day.

Eleven years ago when Terre Conner was diagnosed with breast cancer, a friend of Terre and Dennis told Dennis, "We will praise God anyway." That speaks to a trust and confidence that no matter what life throws at us, it has been sifted through God's heart and hand before it ever touched us...and that has been the one constant through the last 11 years in Dennis and Terre's lives. Through years of treatment, surgeries, relapses, and remissions, Dennis and Terre praised God. And invited us to join them in their praise. Terre even wrote a song based on Psalm 9, sung in the video below by the Brooks Avenue praise teams.

Terre went home to her reward on Thursday night. Praise God for the healing she has now received. Praise God for the lives she touched. Praise God for his faithfulness to her. Praise God that we will see Terre again one day.

Let everything that has breath praise the LORD.

*****************************

I would be remiss in not thanking the blog team for the Summer in the Psalms blog. Nolan Davis, Bob Diamond, Andrea Eller, Sandy Welfare, and Norman and Melissa Wilson did a marvelous job with their assignments and this blog wouldn't have happened without them. Thank you all for sharing your thoughts, your hearts, and your lives with us through the last 50 days.

May God be glorified in all we do!

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 49 - Psalm 147

2010-09-04T06:00:00.000-04:00

Psalm 147:3 says, "he heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds." We feel with our hearts. We love with our hearts. When our hearts are broken, we feel as if we have no purpose. The heart is our center.

The heart is the target of everything spiritual: every battle, struggle...and every joy. Every choice and every behavior I am involved in says something about my heart. It says what is important to my heart. My body always goes where my heart leads it. Yet, we do't talk about our hearts much. When I'm having a problem, I want a way to fix it and make myself better. I want my heart to feel whole.

Psalm 147 points us back to the way to heal our broken hearts. It is to place our focus solely on Christ and his love for us. Is that what gets you out of bed in the morning? The love of Christ? We all want to understand our purpose for living, and that purpose is really quite simple: it is to love with the love of Christ as he compels us to regard no one and nothing from a worldly point of view.

Everything is spiritual.

Everything is about love.

Everything is about God.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 48 - Psalm 144

2010-09-03T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Force With Us

Amazing that David was in such a high position and at the same time totally saw his place as powerless, weak, hopeless, failing, but for God! And he was happily confident in his pathetic state!

We should all be so aware of our place! But so often we think that success comes from ability - our own. And we end up, like the old song says, "reaching up to touch the ground, to find we're living life upside down."

David confidently knew that he rose up because God lifted him up. We read of the battles David fought, led, won - and David says, "He subdues my people under me." Little surprise that he was also the boy that said that God delivered him from the mouth of the lion and the bear, and that God would deliver him from the Philistine. (See encounter with Goliath.)

Certainly we know David wasn't perfect. (See encounter with Bathsheba.) But this is yet another great lesson we should learn from David. Our successes are not ours alone. They really are not ours at all! We belong to God, so our successes belong to God, are from God, and are because of God.

He knew that if God protected the kingdom, then the collective sons would grow tall and strong, the collective daughters would be solid and beautiful. The storehouses would be full and the flocks plentiful. When God is in control, we are prepared for battle and our enemies are defeated. The Force is with(in) us! The Lord trains our hands for battle and our fingers for warfare.

May the leaders of our congregation draw strength from the same well as did David. May we remember, as we lead in our families, our workplaces, and our schools, that our strength and our success are only in the LORD.

Then there will be "no breach in the walls, no going into captivity, and no cry of lament in our public squares." Contemplate that in not just the physical realm, but also the spiritual. No breach in the walls. What threatens you?

No captivity. What holds you?

No cry of lament. What grieves you?

Draw strength from the One that defined strength.

"Happy are the people with such blessings.
Happy are the people whose God is the LORD."

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 47 - Psalm 141

2010-09-02T06:00:00.002-04:00

No rain, no rain, no rain. There's a MercyMe song title "Jesus Bring the Rain." It talks about our trials compared to those of Jesus and sums up by saying I'll accept whatever brings you glory..."Jesus bring the rain"

In the 141st Psalm, David asks God for help. David says keep me out of trouble, keep me from saying stupid things, and I'll gladly accept the rebuke of the righteous. You don't hear that often. The first two bits, sure...keep me safe, help me do some of that L1, L2 stuff...yeah, yeah. That's not new. But David doesn't overlook the part about accepting rebuke...acknowledging that there are folks better at things than him...faster, smarter, stronger, better musicians, you name it.

For David, this wasn't about pride or about serving self in any sense. David was earnestly seeking God's provision, guidance, security, and correction. And no, it's not just you. I can count on one hand (or less) the number of times I've asked God for correction and rebuke. We don't want that. But praise, God, He knows what we need and, because He loves us and is uniquely interested in our development, He brings rebuke. He answers not only the prayers we are lifting up by our voices, but also the prayers somewhere deep down we concede but never give voice to.

We need God. We need His grace and provision. We need Him as the absolute, immovable, unchanging reference point for our lives. We need God because He's wired us all to seek fulfillment...the kind you can't get from anything this life has to offer. We need God. We need His omniscient hand over and in our lives because as His children - and like children - we often think we know what we need. Praise God He really knows and cares enough to say no.

David prayed to God for protection, for guidance, and for refinement, because He knew that God cares and God can. Pay attention to the tense. David knew (past tense), but God cares and can (present tense).

As soon as you stop reading this, ask God to continue working on you. Ask Him for protection, for guidance, and for rebuke (yup, ask, cause He's going to provide what you need). You are "undone"...unraveled and not yet complete.

But that's a blog for another day.

- submitted by Norman & Melissa Wilson

Day 46 - Psalm 137

2010-09-01T06:00:00.004-04:00

Israel: The Nation that Won't Stay Conquered

Psalm 137, probably written by the Old Testament prophet, Jeremiah, expresses the yearnings of the Jewish people in exile, following the Babylonian conquest of Jerusalem in 586 BC; that the Jews would never celebrate again until they were back in their homeland.

The early lines of the poem are very well known, as they describe the sadness of the Israelites, asked to "sing the Lord's song in a foreign land." This they refused to do, leaving their harps hanging in trees. The poem then turns into self-exhortation to remember Jerusalem.

Today, Jews fast and read out loud the scroll of Lamentations on Tisha B'Av, a holiday that commemorates their exile from Zion.

The verses at the end, wishing for the children of Babylon to be bashed, is an indication of how much the author wanted revenge for the destruction of the Temple and for being torn from the land that God had given the Jews.

Click here to see a PBS Special: Kingdom of David: By the Rivers of Babylon:

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 45 - Psam 134

2010-08-31T06:00:00.001-04:00

The sound of the radio came as a shock to my system. I was fully aware that it was on and could call me or any of the rest of the staff to action at anytime, but I was giving it little thought as I was too engrossed in my game of cards. A voice on the other end said the phrase I didn't want to hear, "Tango for one! Tango for one! I repeat, Tango For One!" "Tango for one" was the code phrase for a missing camper, and as a male staff member trained in water rescue, it was now up to me to hit the trail running in search of a little one that was missing.

I made a full-on spring down the gravel road towards the edge of the lake where my search area started. The time was now 12:27 AM and I had almost a mile to run up a mountain on rough trails looking for a little girl. I had just about five minutes to make my search. If the camper was in distress in the water, that was all the time it would take for them to drown. My bright blue Maglite barely kept me from falling over the rocks and roots as I sprinted around the lake with everything that I had. I was already tired from a full day of watching kids and playing games but the adrenaline in my veins gave me new strength to keep pushing. The trail got steeper and the woods more dense. I knew I was now more than half a mile from my nearest help. If this little girl was in danger it was all up to me. With no luck and three minutes gone, fear began to kick in. Just after the halfway point of my run around the lake, I ran headlong into an inflatable pool toy of a whale. It was tied to a tree and hung in the middle of the path. On its fin was a note that said, "Thank you for saving me! I could have been a real emergency." I got on the radio and informed the other staff members of my find. The director came over the airwave and thanked everyone for their efforts and stated that this was a successful drill in finding a missing camper. I was completely drained, but I knew that if this had been a real emergency, the staff was ready. That I was ready. When the camp ended we had not had to use our safety system again. The campers were safe and protected in ways that they never even knew.

Such is the way that God is. He offers blessings and protections in ways that we will never truly understand or know. While some of God's blessings are obvious to us in life, most aren't. Even when we are looking for it, the true nature of a blessing can be hard to spot. Fortunately we serve a God who blesses us everyday in every way.

I recently attended a self-defense course given by the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office for Emergency and Rescue workers. Even as a young EMT I had already been exposed to gang violence in the streets and combative patients in the ambulance. I knew it was important to listen and listen good. The officer made two things clear from the start. One, that he was a Christian and two, that by being in a Rescue team we had been called by God to be "shepherds." Now don't let my use of the word shepherd here imply that I am now qualified to be a bishop or an elder (depending on your translation). What I am talking about here, and what the officer meant that day, was that there are really only two types of people in life: sheep and shepherds. Most people are sheep. They follow other sheep. They stay with the group and assume that in general the group is good. They spend little time worrying about personal or group safety because there is "safety in numbers." Sheep can be easily fooled and easily harmed by those who have an intention to do so.

This is where the shepherd comes in. Shepherds are the people who stand ready to put themselves in harm's way to protect not just one sheep but the flock. Shepherds are, as Orson Wells put it, "We sleep safe in our beds because rough men stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us harm." We will never know the full risks and threats that our men and women in the Armed Forces face for us every day. We can never fully understand the dangers that our brave police officers and firefighters face to keep our city safe and standing. We almost never think of the heroes on the other end of 911 until you wake up in the middle of the night with chest pain and difficulty breathing. It takes courage to run into unknown dangers in dark backways and busy highways.

As Americans we are blessed to live in a country where being a shepherd is a common trait among many of our friends and neighbors who "serve the Lord in the night." God keeps us safe by his providence and his favorite tools to use often come from Providence Road. As you go about your daily walk, remember to thank those who serve the Lord and serve us in the night. Few people want to be in the line of danger and even fewer want to do so at night. So please give thanks to our soldiers, police, firemen, and medics who serve God by serving us.

Note: This is my last addition to the Summer in the Psalms blog. It has been an honor to write and share my heart with you, along with my thoughts about some of God's word. I hope that each of you will continue in prayer and study so as to better understand our God and His will for all of us. May He bless you in your walk with Him, and all you meet along the way.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 44 - Psalm 131

2010-08-30T06:00:00.011-04:00

Psalm 131 is one of the shortest Psalms and yet, one of the most poignant. This is a person who is quiet on the inside. There doesn’t seem to be a lot of ‘racket’ going on in his head. He is composed and not living on the edge. He is not churning inside, always looking for something better. Anxiety isn’t sending him into a free fall.

This type of composure and peacefulness is learned. We are not born like this. We are born into a world that has gone haywire. Nothing, and I mean nothing, is operating according to God's original design. This type of peace is learned in relationships.

   He's quiet.

   He's at peace with himself and with God.

   He is not climbing ladders to nowhere: to success, ambition,
   wealth, or achievement.

Are you quiet on the inside?

Read this Psalm slowly and listen to every sentence. Memorize it for those times when the racket in your head won't go away. Be still with your God. Know you are his.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 43 - Psalm 128

2010-08-29T06:00:00.002-04:00

Psalm 128 is about the blessings that will be ours when we fear the Lord and walk in his ways. Provision. Family. Relationship with the Lord.

The Psalmist then prays the the Lord will bless you all the days of your life and that you will live to see your children's children.

You gotta know that as an expectant grandmother, that line caught my attention in a hurry. There has been little else in my life that has stirred such anticipation as awaiting the arrival of my grandson this October. I'm already so eat up with it, that I can't imagine what it is going to be like seeing him in the arms of my daughter, holding him in my own arms. I can hardly wait! What a blessing indeed.

There has also been very little in my life that has driven me to prayer like this little one. I wish I could say that I prayed for my children this hard when they were growing up. I certainly prayed for them...but not like I'm praying for this one. Praying that he will know Jesus, that he will sing songs of praise one day, that he will make the most important decision of his life and surrender to Christ.

In fact this is a Psalm that we could all pray over our children and grandchildren...join me, won't you?

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 42 - Psalm 125

2010-08-28T08:50:00.000-04:00

Why are we told that faith, even small as a mustard seed, can move mountains? Can you think of anything God made on this earth larger or more immovable than a mountain? Me neither. What a powerful statement on "faith."

God tells us we can move mountains (MOUNTAINS) with our faith...which is very cool, but now He kicks it up a notch. Through David, God says if you trust in Me, I will give you the invincible constancy of a mountain (yes, I'm paraphrasing). He says I will allow my people to see My grandeur, enduring strength, and steadfastness (still on the mountain metaphor, stay with me) through you. Can you imagine what that must look like to those early in their walk or those who don't know the God we serve?

Consider this little aside: celestial bodies of larger mass wield stronger gravity (I haven't lost my mind, keep reading). Because of their size, they affect more of what's around them. Ok, come back to the mountain metaphor. How greatly could God work through us if we appear to others as mountains? Gravitas. People would be drawn to what God has allowed us to show of His nature through our lives. Cautionary tale - never forget that the mountains don't boast of their size or strength, because they did not make themselves.

One more thing, I love this part...God doesn't stop at the invincible constancy of a mountain (which is super cool). He says He will surround His people, now and forever. BAM! You can't touch me! There is no power anywhere, EVER that can pry open the hands of God. My spirit is committed to the first bank of MY GOD MADE EVERYTHING AND SET THE HEAVENS IN MOTION! Now that's what I'm talkin' 'bout!

If you want the strength and constancy of a mountain, seek the One who made 'em.

Praise God for He alone is worthy...and that's all I got to say about that.

- submitted by Norm & Melissa Wilson

Day 41 - Psalm 122

2010-08-27T06:00:00.004-04:00

Touchy-Feely Blessings

What a psalm of unity and blessing! "I was glad when they said unto me, 'Let us go into the house of the Lord.'" Wouldn't it be great to look around with joy and say, "Hey! Let's go into the Lord's house! Let's worship together. Let's praise the Lord and be thankful together."

Maybe we could post our collective Facebook status on Sunday morning at 8:00 or 10:45 - "Let's go worship the Lord together!" Knowing that our brothers and sisters all over the globe are gathering together to worship, as is time zone appropriate.

"Every tribe of the LORD obeys Him, and comes to you to praise Him!" He's speaking here of Jerusalem, but someday, we'll all gather in Heaven - the new Jerusalem - and joyfully worship together. What a beautiful blessing to speak over someone - I will pray for things to go well for all that love you!

The body together, Jerusalem is a solid and beautiful city! The church unified is also a strong and beautiful family, bringing the needs of others before the throne of God. "I will pray for peace!"

"Because of the House of the LORD our God, I will work for your good." Jerusalem was home to the House of the LORD, so the psalmist wanted good things for Jerusalem. But could the converse be that if I were not home to the Holy Spirit of God, I might not work for your good? Because the Holy Spirit lives in us, you and I are united in our love for "Jerusalem" - the Lord, His church, each other. I put my agenda aside and work for what is good for you, as Christ did for me! It's all intertwined. Jerusalem, the new Jerusalem, anyone that loves Jerusalem, anyone that loves the Lord, we're all united! We all work for the good of the whole loving, joyful, sanctified, peace-seeking conglomerate!

Everyone may not wake up every Sunday morning, jump out of bed and say, "Let us go into the house of the Lord!" But sometimes, we might feel that way.

Through the course of your day, whenever it is that you read this post, may the blessing from Psalm 122 also be upon you, a Temple of the Holy Spirit, and fellow lover of Jerusalem:

I pray that you will have peace,

and that all will go well for you,

and for those that love you.

Come, let us go into the house of the LORD!

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 40 - Psalm 118

2010-08-26T06:00:00.008-04:00

"Love and toes"...what? "Love and toes." I'm sure Ryan was frustrated with Melissa and I. Why didn't we understand? Were we not listening? He said it again, as clearly as before..."love and toes". When Ryan, our oldest, was two years old one of his favorite songs was "His love endures forever." When he would ask us to play that song, Melissa and I heard "love and toes". Yes, it was cute...but likely frustrating for Ryan.

Just being who we are, some lessons need to be repeated. For me...math. Ugh. For Melissa and I, we needed to hear Ryan's message several times before we got it. We're not prone to learn vicariously (through someone else's experiences). Convinced of our own mettle, we strike out on our own...often only to, well, strike out. Some times we just need to hear things more than once for them to really sink in. Thank you, David.

In the 118th Psalm David delivers a chorus that we all need to hear...need to be reminded of. "His mercy endureth forever", "His lovingkindness is everlasting", "His faithful love endures forever". There's no splittin' hairs here. This is one of those "y'aint movin that one" stones. And how great a reminder being offered as a chorus...His faithful love endures forever.

Though the pillars of the earth shake...His love endures forever.

When floods rise, when stocks fall, when disaster strikes on the other side of the world or right here at home...His love endures forever.

When we celebrate new life, new jobs (that'd be me), or new found hope...His love endures forever.

No depth, no height, no distance...no trial or tribulation...no short-lived success...no experience of this life changes who He is. The God we serve is greater than time or space, greater than any powers (yes, even Superman)...and He is unchanging. His love endures forever.

And in case you missed it...His faithful love endures forever. Amen.

- submitted by Norm Melissa Wilson

Day 39 - Psalm 115

2010-08-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Jehovah, the God of Israel, is the all-powerful and all-loving Creator.

Any other god is a lifeless, man-made figurine.

Have you ever seen a piece of wood or metal utter a sound?

Have you even seen the lips of an idol speak to its followers?

Have you ever seen intelligence in the eyes of a totem?

Do you really expect a man-made icon to hear, smell, walk or make any kind of recognizable gesture?

Anyone who worships idols is just as dead as an idol.

The God of the Israelites, the God of Moses and Aaron can actually bless and defend His worshippers.

Heaven belongs to God. God has given Earth to His followers.

The dead, who don’t even realize they are already dead, do not praise the Lord.

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 38 - Psalm 112

2010-08-24T08:24:00.000-04:00

There is an epidemic consuming Americans by the thousands: V1N2. It mostly attacks individuals who are just reaching puberty, but does have effects on adults. While studies of these effects in children show that the V1N2 negatively impacts them, symptoms are typically not as severe as those found in teenagers and adults. Race seems to play a small factor in efficacy of transmutation, but once transmitted all races are effected equally. The cause for this is still unknown and under investigation. The virus appears to be exclusively transmitted from parents to offspring. Method of transmission remains unknown. For those that are infected as teens or adolescents, there is a very high incidence of symptoms causing severe long term damage to the individual who will then become a carrier for life. The epidemic is spreading quickly and in fact, your home may already be infected.

While most people would take the above warning about an impending health crisis seriously and take steps to defend their family, fewer men are willing to step up to defend their home from the epidemic of fatherlessness. V1N2 isn’t real but think about how quickly people reacted when a real health warning came along. When H1N1 was sweeping the country people quickly and readily took precautions to guard themselves and their children from the virus. People were vigilant, focused, and took the threat of getting physically sick very seriously. However, many of those same parents would scoff at the notion that they need to be more focused and involved their children’s lives and spiritual growth. While modern times bring about different words, being a “latch-key-kid” is only the new name for an old problem.

Psalm 112 speaks about how great things will be for the family, and specifically the father who follows and trusts in the Lord. Sadly though, many kids are raised today without a father in the home. While it would be a mistake to downplay either parent’s role in the raising of a child, God clearly calls the father to be the leader of the family. So why is it that so many men are unwilling (not unable) to step up and take on this role? Because it is hard. It is probably one of the hardest things that a man can do with his life. It is a job that will take up every hour of every day for the rest of his life. He will learn the true highs and lows of life by raising an innocent child into a godly adult. Their truly is no higher calling then this. So many men today, and yes our world in general, see being a father as being able to procreate. This however, has nothing to do with being a real father. A real father will sacrifice. A real father will give until he has no more. A real father will support you even when they don’t agree. A real father will love you even in your lowest state. A real father will defend you for life from all that is wrong. A real father will be the one who holds your hand, steps out first to make sure it is safe, and lovingly guides you all the way. He will be the greatest man you will ever know.

If you are reading this as a single mother: know that I am incredibly sorry for the role that has been thrust upon you that you can never fully fill. If you are a victim of absentee fathering: my heart aches for you for the loss that you feel for a man you barely know. And if you are reading this as a man I simple ask you to look deep and examine yourself. Examine your calling by God to lead. Examine Psalm 112 for the guidance and the goodness that comes to the children and the fathers who follow God’s commandments. I have met many men who have said, "I would give my life for my child if they were in danger." and no doubt they would. That is why I say to each of the fathers who read this: your child is in danger of losing themselves, their future, their family, and their love of God. The only question is will you give your life in sacrifice and dedication to God’s glory so that the light of His love will reflect through you to guide your children to HIm?

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 37 - Psalm 109

2010-08-23T06:00:00.005-04:00

A PRAYER FOR THE PUNISHMENT OF THE WICKED

How would you like to go to church on Sunday morning and sing a song like Psalm 109? Written by David and sung during public worship gatherings by the Hebrew people, it stops me in my tracks. It is a song asking God to curse our enemies. It is a song of hatred for sin. It is a song that doesn’t lift one’s spirits but forces us to think about sin. I have to say, I don’t think I’ve ever heard this Psalm read in church. Most of us would like to just cut it out of our Bibles. We are very uncomfortable with pleas for the destruction of our enemies. That doesn’t even seem Christian to us! I would say that taking our sin seriously, is very Christian.

Oh, how we hate to think about sin, both ours and others, but I have to wonder if singing a song like this might help us to take sin more seriously. We want to sing to a God who shows us grace and mercy but sometimes I wonder if that makes us less serious about the sin in our life. We want to serve a God of love and mercy, but we are not comfortable with a God who holds judgment and justice in his hands.

What might happen if I had the courage to pray a prayer like Psalm 109? I think I would take sin more seriously. I also wonder if I would be as willing as David to hand it all over into God’s hands rather than seek vengeance myself. David trusts God’s ultimate judgment and gives up his right to exercise any sort of punishment on his enemies.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 36 - Psalm 106

2010-08-22T06:00:00.008-04:00

Psalm 106 tells the history of Israel's betrayal of God over and over again. Verse after verse, the writer lists the things that Israel did wrong. How they forgot the favor of God, the times he rescued them, the times he provided for them, the love he showed them.

And he often thought to destroy them completely.

Until verse 23 which says,

So he said he would destroy them -

had not Moses, his chosen one,

stood in the breach before him

to keep his wrath from destroying them.

But the Israelites didn't listen. They grumbled and complained. They forgot him once more. They made idols and provoked the Lord to anger, and he finally afflicted them with a plague.

That is until Phinehas stepped forward in verses 30-31,

But Phinehas stood up and intervened,

and the plague was checked.

This was credited to him as righteousness

and the plague was checked.

And then they forget again. They mingled with the other nations. They returned to idol worship. They sacrificed their children and defiled themselves. And the Lord was angry again and handed them over to their enemies.

But this time, the Israelites cried out and the Lord heard them in verses 44-45,

But he took note of their distress

when he heard their cry;

for their sake he remembered his covenant

and out of his great love he relented.

Two thoughts came to mind as I meditated on this Psalm. First, it's a good thing our God is so loving and gracious. He relented on many occasions and gave the Israelites one more chance. Rather than jump on the Israelites for their shortcomings, I'm reminded that I often need a second chance too. And I'm eternally grateful for the times God has heard my cries and relented out of his great love.

The second thought was about Moses and Phinehas interceding for the Israelites. I know that there have been times when others interceded on my behalf and I'm humbled by that and grateful for it. But who is God calling me to intercede for? Who needs my prayers today because they have stumbled along the path? Let's not miss the opportunity to pray for those God lays on our hearts. We may not ever know how important that prayer is to their lives.

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 35 - Psalm 103

2010-08-21T06:00:00.006-04:00

Psalm 103 is a description of the benefits of God's love and of all creation's need to praise him.

This is my favorite type of Psalm. King David is obviously fully in praise mode. It's all about praise. This is one time when David doesn't ask God for anything.

In verses 1-5, David sings of the mercies and blessings which he has personally received from God.

In verses 6-19, he magnifies the attributes of Jehovah as displayed in his dealings with God's people.

David closes this psalm by calling upon all of God's creation to adore him and for them to join with him in praising and blessing Jehovah.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his biding,
who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hots,
you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul. - Psalm 103:20-22 (NIV)

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 34 - Psalm 100

2010-08-20T06:00:00.008-04:00

Acknowledgment

How many times have we checked the box, "I acknowledge...?" We waive our rights; we acknowledge that whatever we're about to do could result in harm or loss of life; we promise to hold harmless; we give permission for someone to obtain our private information.

We ask for something, or ask to do something, and to get that something, we have to give up something. And it might cost us!

We check the box, sign our names, then wonder if we've made mistakes. What if the wheels fall off? What if we're injured...or die? What if it doesn't work? What if they find something bad?

We checked the box! What have we forfeited?

Psalm 100 isn't that.

Make a joyful noise!

Serve the Lord with gladness!!

Come before his presence with singing!

Then there's the box...please acknowledge that the Lord is God!

That's a box I'm okay with checking!

He made us and we are his! Where do I sign?

I love the King James Version, "It is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves." Thankfully, King James left out the implied, "Duh!"

Be thankful! The Lord is good!

And contrary to most acknowledgements, I didn't give up anything that I care to have back!

His mercy is everlasting! (I gave up the guilt!)

His truth endures forever! (Satan's lies are harmless against me!)

I am happy and joyful and thankful!

Psalm 100 is all that!

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 33 - Psalm 96

2010-08-19T06:00:00.002-04:00

Praise God. Praise him because he is worthy. He is almighty, omnipresent and omniscient. He alone is worthy. And you thought Superman had it goin' on.

So I'm reading David's words, struggling in my head and frustrating my wife, as I try to figure out why we don't feel this way all the time. Why we aren't happy, why we don't sing his praises with joy overflowing all the time? And then she simply asks, "Where does it say anything about your happiness?"

Holy simply profundity, Batman! Her very pointed question caught me sideways. Why doesn't this passage from David's pen, inspired by God, mention anything about David's (any by extension, my) happiness? Nothing about hearts leaping or souls lifted. Nada. Ok, let me read this again...clearly I missed something. I mean this is about praising God, right? And isn't there always happiness involved in that?

David got right to the heart of the matter, but this time by what he did not say.

I often live this life (the life given me, not the one I've earned) from behind my eyes. I'm stuck in here and it's all I know. I can't easily escape the habit of answering all the questions on my own, before I turn the corner and discover the truth. I get stuck inside...stuck on me. And it's not like the messages of this world don't enable, encourage, even incent that mentality.

But what my wife helped me see - what David doesn't mention - is what affected me most after reading this (several times). Praise the Lord for he is worthy. There is no condition, no qualifier. David doesn't say you have to be happy and then it's ok to praise him. David doesn't say when you're sad, there's not as much to praise God for. And here's where Mel's question caught me. You don't have to feel happiness to praise God. After all we change our moods more often than we change our socks. God is the same yesterday, today, and forever. There is ample reason to praise him - for who he is, for his grace and mercy, for his omniscient guidance, forbearance, and love (it's a really, really long list).

God made us and knows we are inclined to failure, inclined to sin. He doesn't expect us to feel happy all the time. But there is always reason to praise him.

Only Disney employees are happy all the time. As Christians, we are under no obligation to feel (or pretend to feel) happy all the time. Our greatest joy, even when things suck, should come from knowing the God we serve. Knowing his love is ever present, his grace is unbounded, his desire for our sanctification is unyielding, and in him there is no shadow of turning.

Praise God.

- submitted by Norm and Melissa Wilson

Day 32 - Psalm 93

2010-08-18T06:00:00.000-04:00

The Lord Always Reigns

Verse one indicates to me that God rules with an authority that nothing can take away from Him and that God hung the Earth in the heavens and no one but God could ever alter that.

Verse two tells us that God was God before Creation; that He will still be God no matter how many eons have passed.

Verses three and four remind me of the powerful thundering of Niagara Falls. When I am near there, I can feel and hear the thundering maelstrom that makes the earth around it tremble long before it comes into view. This trembling and mighty roar are created by tons of water falling over the precipice every second. Niagara is capable of either smashing or wearing away anything that comes in its path. This passage indicates that this show of power is literally nothing compared to the power of God.

Verse five states that God's laws never change. Anyone who has entered into a serious study of Physics knows that God's physical laws are immutable, that they never change and that they cannot be overruled by the will of anyone other than God Himself. When God's laws seem to be violated, we call it a "miracle." Everyone knows that only God is in charge of miracles.

Yes, God's power and righteousness and absolute purity have always been here and always will be; and nothing else will ever be as powerful as He is.

Praise God!

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 31 - Psalm 90

2010-08-17T06:00:00.006-04:00

When it comes right down to it, we are all afraid of it: Death.

Part of serving an all-powerful God is knowing that he can give and take life away at any time, without our consent or understanding. We don't like to face the fact that today could be our very last day on this Earth.

Because of some of the unique career choices I have made, I have seen death on many occasions. While some have been peaceful, most have not. While some were older, most weren't. Recently as an EMT I responded to a house where a woman was giving birth. The main problem with this is that the baby was four months premature. When delivered, the baby had no pulse, was not breathing and was unresponsive. For all practical purposes, dead. While some may have simply accepted this, we did not! Through good training, fast response, and the help of the lord, we brought the baby back to life.

After this happened, one of my partners commented, "There's dead, and then there's dead." She was right. Just because hope may be lost, the end looks inevitable, and there seems like no chance, we have a God who makes the one in a million shot.

And it's not just about our physical bodies. Because in reality, we are not a body that has a soul, but rather a soul that has a body. God cares for both. For many people, right now their soul is dead or dying because it does not have the love, forgiveness, and life that comes through knowing Jesus Christ. While we would never think to simply ignore someone we saw physically dying, every day we walk right by those who are dying spiritually and do nothing. By doing so, we discount the power of a God who gives and takes life as he pleases. Who has done so from the beginning of time. My partners and I did not help that baby because it was our job (although it was), nor because it was easy. We stepped in and helped because it was right. The same must be said for the lost and dying soul. It is not enough for us to stand by and wait. Nor can we simply say, "They would never be interested in Jesus." It is not our call to make a judgment about who God can save, but instead to simply offer ourselves as rescuers wherever we are needed.

Psalm 90 closes with asking God to "bless the works of our hands". To me this is fitting because the only way we can impact the spiritual is through the physical. If God will bless our physical efforts to save the lost, there is nothing spiritually that can stop us.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 30 - Psalm 87

2010-08-16T06:00:00.007-04:00

The Tale of Two Churches

Zion was the name of the hill upon which Solomon built the temple. The Jews thought that God lived on this hill in his temple. This Zion was made up of lavish buildings and is portrayed in verses 1-3. However, the Psalmist moves on to talk about a different Zion, one that seems diverse and accepting of many different peoples, not just the Jews. It seems to move toward a prophetic stance that the church will be a place for all peoples of all nations and cultures. There is a foreshadowing of Jesus and his New Testament church.

I wonder, do we still live with the idea of two churches? I think we do; there’s a church for the people who look the part. You know the church. Everyone puts on their "church clothes", looks good and answers questions with the word "fine" a lot. This church is mostly made up of people who are like minded, look alike, speak the same political language, etc.

Then there is the other church: the one that points to a collection of people who maybe snuck inside the windows or even found the back door. You know these people too. They are the ones who are openly broken and seeking God from that place of brokenness; the ones who maybe voted the "wrong" way in the last election. They don’t look as well "dressed", they may enjoy worshiping in a way that our restoration heritage doesn’t condone; maybe they arrive with a guitar and start playing with great joy as the church starts singing. Maybe they dare to lift their hands in praise. Oh my gosh, one of them walked down to the front and is on his knees praying! Can we welcome this worship style or do we have to tolerate it as a disruption? Is there any way to live and worship together with all our differences?

I think there is. We must return to the mission of the first century church, to go into the entire world to make disciples. I’m not sure that the "how" of doing those things is nearly as important as we make them out to be. Our mission, given to us on the day of Pentecost is to "GO" and "SEEK" the lost. The mission is primary, the means secondary. That is why he made us all so different; so we could reach peoples of all different nations and cultures.

In June, on the final night of VBS, I stood in the back of the church building and watched as several hundred children and adults sang and praised God so loudly that I think anyone driving down Providence Road could hear. Why is it that our children can worship with such uncontained abandon yet we (adults) must be orderly? I think if our mission to seek and save the lost were paramount, we would not be so concerned about the details of how our mission is moved forward.

I also have to wonder about worship in the New Jerusalem. What will it look like? I doubt that we can even come close to imagining it. I doubt it looks like what we’re accustomed to on Sunday mornings, and we will probably be surprised by the inhabitants.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 29 - Psalm 84

2010-08-15T06:00:00.007-04:00

Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere.

Do you believe that? Hmmm, do I believe that?

Do I believe that it would be better to spend one day in the presence of God than a thousand days anywhere else, doing anything else? This psalm is all about living in the presence of God. The psalmist says that even a sparrow and a swallow will try to build their nests close to the altar of the Lord.

We get so tied up in our lives here. We make careful decisions about where we will live, and work, and play. We put down roots as if our life depended on it. And yet the reality is that our lives depend on God...or should.

For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
from those whose walk is blameless.

O Father, let my walk be blameless. Let me live in such a way that you will be my shield and will bestow favor and honor. Let me sing your praises today and every day. And let me long to be in your presence.

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 28 - Psalm 81

2010-08-14T06:00:00.002-04:00

Listen.

Just listen...how long did the silence last?

I am willing to bet that it was less than a minute, and for those with kids, less than 10 seconds. For me, I am truly blessed (although it took me years to see things that way). I have pretty severe hearing loss so I get to hear a silence you can only dream of any time I want. Being hard of hearing, I have to spend a lot of focused time on listening. I have to. If I don't then I am bound to be lost, call you the wrong name, or do something really inappropriate like apologize for the death of your goldfish when you really asked me to give to Make a Wish.

Israel, like most people today, had a big problem: they never stopped to listen. Truthfully neither did I until I started losing my hearing. Then I realized how important listening was. Time and again Israel was told by God to listen to Him and his commands. Time and again, Israel would listen briefly and then get distracted by something shiny (like a golden calf).

Pretty much it was spiritual ADD. Now while ADD is an established mental disorder and a real disability for millions of people, I'm making reference to how many of us follow Israel's lead and divide our time between 20 different things and never find the time to just stop and listen. To our spouse. To our kids. To our God.

This weekend take some time to heed the warning of Psalm 81, and stop to listen. You just might find that the silence you hear helps to silence your worries.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 27 - Psalm 78

2010-08-13T06:00:00.005-04:00

History of Israel
(sung to the the tune of...)

A Maskil is a psalm with something special to teach. Asaph was a Levite, a musical teacher and leader.

As one of the musically inclined, I wonder what I would have said had he handed me the score for Psalm 78 - all 72 verses. How much does this thing weigh? Are the notes going to be on the screen? Do we have to memorize this by Temple? Can we use music stands?

Was it broken down into movements, like Handel's Messiah? Did it start out with trumpets to get their attention?

"My people, hear my instruction, listen to what I say."

Or did it start out with a soft flute to make you curious and want to listen?

As it tells the story in verses 9-11, did it move around from part to part? Did it start with everyone singing, "The Ephraimite archers turned back on the day of battle"?

(Sopranos - staccato) "They did not keep God's covenant,"

(Basses only - low and hard) "and refused to live by his law."

How does one sing the history of a people? The pervading theme of this people was rebellion against God, and God's faithfulness toward them. In verse 22, they are in disbelief and unreliance, and by verse 25, God has sent them an abundant supply of food. Musically, can you feel the ebb and flow from thundering drums of rebellion and God's fury, to strings and winds playing his compassion and forgiveness?

God was their rock, but their hearts were insincere toward Him.

He brought them to His holy land, then they treacherously turned away.

And then comes the "Hallelujah Chorus,"sort of, in verse 65,

"Then the Lord awoke as if from sleep...He beat back his foes...He chose instead the tribe of Judah, Mount Zion, which he loved...He chose David his servant...He brought him...to be shepherd over His people Jacob - over Israel...and guided them with his skillful hands."

Asaph starts out by reminding the Israelites that this is important stuff. Their history mattered. It mattered that they knew from whence they had come. It mattered that the next generation knew why they were who they were, and how they had become that way. He did not keep secret their shortcomings and failings.

"We must not hide them from their children, but must tell a future generation."

As I write my song, my Maskil - what doe sit sound like? Is there more rebellion than reliance? Is there more dissonance than resolution? Or am I sharing the lessons I've learned with the next generation, and singing "the praises of the Lord, His might, and the wonderful works He has performed"?

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 26 - Psalm 75

2010-08-12T06:00:00.008-04:00

It's not about you.

Are you having trouble with that opener? Don't. It's true. This life is not about what we accomplish, not about our kids, our clothes, or our car; nor about the moments which cause us to lift up our "horns"...to raise our power or autonomy above their place.

Did I lose you with that one? Yeah, me too...and I wrote it.

Do you think you could come up with a better purpose for your life than serving the Creator? And yes, I'm speaking of the One who created everything that was created...the only Master and Commander worth serving. Man, I so want to serve in His Corps. Could there be a greater purpose or goal for your life than to know, love, and serve the One who calls you child? Even when we as adults behave like children...oy! (God gave me that last line, 'cause it was all about me and for me.)

So what? What's the point of living a life that's not about me? I'll let David 'splain that one to you, Ricky. David says in Psalm 75 that no matter what happens, no matter what we silly, frail, and faulty humans do, no matter what comes or what goes, the "the earth and all it's inhabitants shake", He is the one who holds steady the pillars.

Please, please don't miss that. He holds steady the pillars of the earth. Your car, your cash, and your clothes can't do that. Is this making sense yet? Starting to sink in? He holds steady the pillars of the earth. When you experience loss, He's holding on.

When you struggle, He's holding on.

No matter what, He's holding on.

I like to say "the only constant in life is change". That's a narrow view, but it speaks to our need for stability, for someone or something to help us through those unstable times. There is only one fixed point, and that One is eternal, unchanging, and whose love is without limit. And if we fix our eyes on Him, the ups and downs of this life still happen, but no longer carry as much weight.

This life is so much greater when we make it NOT about us...when we make it about those in need, when we make it about those experiencing struggles we've been through, when we make it about God. Practically speaking, the more I focus on God, the less I focus on me. And the more I strive to look like Him, the less people see of me (and in my case, I'm in favor of both).

Praise the Lord for He is good. He IS good...here, today. He IS...exactly like He was for Adam, Moses, and David. Praise the Lord for He is good.

- submitted by Norm & Melissa Wilson

Day 25 - Psalm 72

2010-08-11T06:00:00.018-04:00

The Story of Psalm 72

This psalm is about the best king that there can ever be! Maybe David wrote it for, or, about his son Solomon. There are some scholars who think Solomon may be the author.

Christians have always believed that there is only one king it can really be about: Jesus!

Psalm 72: 1 – 7

There are three important words in this part of Psalm 72:

Righteousness in verses 1, 2 and 3 indicates total and absolute goodness. In verse 1 we see that it is God’s righteousness that the king has. In verse 7 the good people He rules will have it, and also be righteous.
Justice in verses 1 and 2 carries the idea of total fairness.
Peace in verses 3 and 7 means more than just no fighting. It also carries with it the idea there will be plenty of health and more than adequate provision no matter where they live.

In verse 1 the King and the King’s son are the same person.

In verse 4 the Good King will defend the poor people. The cruel people who hurt them will always be afraid of the Good King. He will be as showers of rain that bring life to the dead earth! He will do this forever. Remember that there really is no "end of time."

Psalm 72: 8 – 14

There are also three important words in this part of Psalm 72:

The people in need in verses 12 and 13 have nothing.
The poor people in verses 2, 4 and 12 are ones who have a little but are oppressed by those with plenty.
Save in verses 12, 13 and 14 has different meanings. In Hebrew the word is translated as Yoshea, sometimes Joshua; and was apparently transliterated to become Jesus in the Greek rendering of the text.

In verse 8 the river is the Euphrates. The verse would tell the reader that the king will be so great that he will rule the entire world.

In verse 9 kneel means fall to your knees. Eat the dirt means that you will have your face plastered to the ground. Back then you knew that if you looked up that you would be killed. This commonly happened to the enemies of a king who were caught and returned to face him.

In verse 10 one of the places is Sheba in Hebrew, whose Queen brought Solomon many gifts.

Psalm 72: 15 – 20

The Good King

Bless is a special Hebrew word that comes in verses 15, 17, 18 and 19. There is no English word that means the same as "Baruch". It can mean that the person being blessed will not only have good things happen to them, but that they will also have many children, many animals, abundant crops, plenty of money, a mansion to live in and more land than they could possibly need in a lifetime.

Blessing God is an indication of praise, of how good, great and glorious he is. The glory here is like the glory that comes from our intensely burning Sun; the Sun you can't look at directly, the source of our warmth that supports all life on this planet.

Verse 20 indicates that we have come to the end of this part of the Book of Psalms.

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 24 - Psalm 69

2010-08-10T06:00:00.003-04:00

Today personally (well as you read this, yesterday) was a bad day for me. I'm down. I'm depressed, and right now I don't really see what is going to happen tomorrow that is going to make it any better.

As a musician, I tend to gravitate to the guitar to help me through these times. For years I have played a song that is based on Psalm 69. I wasn't clever enough to write it, but I do really like it. The band, Lifehouse, has been a personal favorite of me and my wife for years. The song is appropriately called Storm and was only played live by the group for the first decade of its existence.

It is personal. Painful. Private.

It is this song I have gravitated to time and again on bad days to call out to God as David did: in song.

So as the tears fall and the chords play, these are the words on my heart. Thank you, David, for this amazing psalm, and thanks to Lifehouse for this amazing song.

STORM - Lifehouse

how long have I
been in this storm
so overwhelmed by the ocean's shapeless form
water's getting harder to tread
with these waves crashing over my head

if I could just see you
everything will be alright
if I'd see you
the darkness will turn to light

and I can walk on water
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright

I know you didn't
bring me out here to drown
so why am I 10 feet under and upside down
barely surviving has become my purpose
cause I'm so used to living underneath the surface

if I could just see you
everything will be alright
if I see you
the storminess will turn to light

and I will walk on water
and you will catch me if I fall
and I will get lost into your eyes
and everything will be alright

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 23 - Psalm 66

2010-08-09T09:56:00.001-04:00

Psalm 66 is written as a call to praise and worship. It started me thinking about how we define worship. I think it's easy to think that worship is church services, singing, reading scripture, tithing, and taking communion. But it's so much more.

We were created to worship the creator but with the sins of Adam and Eve in Genesis 3, there is a shift in worship. In this crazy world where nothing works as it was originally intended, we worship created things. We worship money, cars. movie stars, athletes, alcohol, drugs, food, and the list could go on ad infinitum. What we worship defines where we put our focus.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God--this is your spiritual act of worship" (Romans 12:1). My life is worship; not Sunday morning worship services. As a body, we've become "Sunday centric." We focus on Sunday as our worship time and forget that everything we do is worship. Our messy-looking attempt at worship, when coming from the depths of our hearts, is worship that I believe God accepts.

I've been reading a book this week called Messy Spirituality. It asks a simple question: when our attempts at being spiritual don't look very spiritual, are they spiritual? I think if we worship from the depts of our hearts with all we have available to us, even if it looks messy, it is acceptable to God. Think of the widow who gave her last two coins, worth almost nothing, but it was all she had. "What landed Jesus on the cross was the preposterous idea that common, ordinary, broken, screwed up people could be godly. What drove Jesus' enemies craxy were his criticisms of the 'perfect' religious people and his acceptance of imperfect nonreligious people. The shocking implication of Jesus' ministry is that anyone can be spiritual" (Yaconelli 2001)*.

It may seem like I've gotten off subject, but I think for a messy person like me, when I read a Psalm like Psalm 66, I am quick to jump to the conclusion that I can never be as spiritual as this Psalmist. Satan wants me to believe that. It's one of his favorite lies; the one where we're not good enough. I've listened to him for much too long.

I will worship with all my heart, body, mind, and soul...whether it looks perfect or not.

*Yaconelli, Michael. Messy Spirituality. Grand Rapids, Michigan: Zondervan, 2002.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 22 - Psalm 62

2010-08-08T06:00:00.022-04:00

Wait.

Wait a little longer.

Now wait some more.

Do you ever feel like all you do is wait? We wait in line, wait at the doctor's office, wait on our children or spouses, wait for whatever it is that we want to happen next. It's probably no big surprise to anyone that I'm not a good wait-er...most of us Type-A's aren't. It's not that I think I'm too important to wait or that I think everything should be done just to accommodate me. Rather, it's that I have a hard time with time that doesn't seem to have a purpose. And wait time feels that way to me - there's no purpose in it.

In our last Summer Siesta Bible Study this past week, we talked about waiting. We studied Ruth this summer and learned about how God worked in her life, even as she appeared to just be waiting. And then I opened my Bible to read my assigned Psalm today so I could write this blog post, and what do I find? Another admonition to wait. The writer of the study notes in my Bible says that this Psalm is about "placing all hope in God" and reminds us that "knowing that God is in control allows us to wait patiently for him to rescue us."

Do you suppose God is trying to tell me something?

David reminds us that while we wait, we may face people and things that are a trial to us. We may feel forgotten or beaten up. The key to handling all of that is to rest in God alone (verse 5), to trust him at all times and pour out our hearts to him (verse 8). When we are willing to do that, we will receive the rewards he has planned for us (verse 12).

David also often refers to God as his rock and his fortress and he does so in this Psalm as well. There is something comforting in the visual image of God as a rock - a strong tower - a fortress - as big and strong or really, bigger and stronger, than the above picture I took at Red Rocks Amphitheater in CO.

So I guess I'll just wait...remembering that God is my rock...relying on the promise that he is working in my waiting...trusting in the strength of my Father to take care of whatever is on my heart and mind...believing in his love and goodness...knowing that each passing day brings me one step closer to that which I am waiting for...

You might remind me of that if you ever find me impatiently tapping my foot while waiting!

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 21 - Psalm 60

2010-08-07T06:00:00.006-04:00

Prayer in Difficult Times

As I read this Psalm over ad over again, several things struck me...and let me just say the first one and get it over with: the flying sandal in verse 8, did that make anyone besides me say, "OH!!! I get it!"? Remember the reporter and the President and the flying sandal? I guess we know what God thought of Edom!

At first I thought this Psalm would be about David going through some hardship and leaning on God for his strength, in a very "man-after-God's-own-heart" kind of way. But as I read it, that's not what I got. God had rejected them and had been angry! God doesn't reject and become angry with those who are faithful and leaning on him in their distress.

How many times are my difficulties the result of my own lack of faithfulness? How many times does God have to "shake my land" and allow me to suffer hardship to get my attention?

Verse 4 had a couple of different "takes". One version read that God had given a "signal flag" so that those who feared him could "flee before the archers". Another read so that they could "rally because of the truth". That reminded me of the song, "His Banner Over Us is Love". In times of difficulty I have caused myself, do I look up in the midst of my near defeat, crawling and bleeding, and see the banner and rally because I remember what's true? Do I crawl back to God when I see his conquering banner? Does it guide me back to the truth--the banner under which God's people are gathered? Am I watching for it? Am I fighting on the right side?

And in verse 5, the bruised and bleeding cry out, "Save with your right hand and answer me...so that those you love may be rescued!" Did the writer think God needed reminding who he loved, or was it a statement of desperation? I get it though! God, I need help here. I'm desperate. I've really messed things up...and, um, you love me!!! (Hey, I've even played that card a time or two with Scott!)

Then, the very major shift occurs. God speaks. And there is no question as to which party is in control. Before, the words were "hardship, suffer, shaken, fire". Now the words are "triumph, divide, apportion, shout" and the best one, "is Mine".

And perspective is regained. The nearly dead soldier, the prodigal, remembers wherein lies the true strength: "Is it not you, God?...Give us aid..." Then my favorite part (aside from the flying sandal), "...for human help is worthless."

And all my efforts, my attempts to manipulate the situation to go my way, my reliance upon myself, to my own obvious and utter detriment, lay in the dust. And I, broken, defeated, bleeding, crawl back up under the banner of truth, and allow God to "perform valiantly" and "trample my foes".

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 20 - Psalm 57

2010-08-06T06:00:00.008-04:00

If we only knew.

I'm humbled when I consider David's grasp on his relationship with the Creator. And I have to ask my self, "Why don't I feel like that? Do I really believe what I believe is really real...really?"

Ok, where was I? Seriously though, I wonder what we'd do if we knew, like David, that in God there is no shadow of turning. There is absolute power tempered by a love that we cannot possible fathom.

What would you do? What would you do if you knew you couldn't fail? In my imagination, I'd fly. In reality, I'd like to say I'd downsize, cut back, practice the austerity that Jesus did. I'd say hello to everyone...greet them with a smile because I'd have no fear of not fitting in or being mocked. I'd lend a hand even if it put me in physical danger because I knew that a life spent in service to God is the most noble pursuit.

So I'm feelin' pretty small right about now. I'm convicted by David's faith. He is rightly lavishing praise on the one true God, the only one worthy of praise, though my words feel so inadequate. But I take heart and am encouraged because regardless of how I feel, how I perceive my worth, or worry about whether I'll be accepted or not, God has assured me He has value for me, for my life and for my service. And that's what it all boils down to.

Let us be of good courage. We serve a God who is omniscient and omnipresent, who exists outside the boundaries of time, and who probably chuckles at our behavior...like a knowing Father. Pray to him today, pray to him often, even if you have nothing to ask for. Pray to him because he is worthy and wants us to experience that relationship.

We can't get to know him if we don't try.

- submitted by Norm & Melissa Wilson

Day 19 - Psalm 54

2010-08-05T06:00:00.004-04:00

Psalm 54 appears to be another entry of a praise and worship song written by King David and included in the book of Psalms.

In the first 3 verses David again stresses that he knows that God will hear his prayer and that God will vindicate him. David has many enemies. He was even denied the task of building God’s temple in Jerusalem because he had so much blood on his hands. That task was relegated to his son Solomon. David did spend many of the last years of his life gathering materials to be put into God’s house by his son Solomon.

The third verse is followed by the term “Selah.” There have been several interpretations of the meaning of this word that has been inserted in many of the psalms. Rather than sound pedagogical by telling you of all of the possibilities, I’ll just tell you that I like the one that says that Selah indicates that the reader should pause and “Think on this.”

It would be interesting to hear the music that David actually played on his harp.
Again David ends this psalm with a promise to offer a considerable sacrifice to God out of appreciation for Him delivering David from his enemies.

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 18 - Psalm 51

2010-08-04T06:00:00.002-04:00

Shame. In my mind I have never felt an emotion that has run deeper, spread farther, or shaped my world in a more significant way.

A lot of you know exactly what I'm talking about. Shame for doing good but being proud. Shame for doing bad but not being caught. Shame for doing bad and being caught but not coming forward first. Shame ruled my world.

I would like to say that all of that is in the past, but the honest truth is that it is not all in the past. There are days when I still feel a wave of shame wash over my heart, be it justified or not, and I realize in some ways I am still "in repair". For years I have prayed that God will remove these feelings from me. That he will wipe my mind and my heart clean of the guilt I feel from falling short of his grace. It is for these reasons that Psalm 51 is my favorite psalm. This is where I can relate.

The basic background for David's writing here is that he has come to realize that he has sinned sexually with Bathsheba, has killed Uriah to try to cover it up, and has been outed publicly by Nathan for all of it. The psalm speaks from the heart of a broken man. It speaks to a God who seems to be a friend who can make everything ok, but who know that now is not the time. The pain and anguish are clear. The guilt and sorrow are piled on line after line.

And then there is the shame. This has to be one of the most heartfelt and gut-wrenching pleas that has ever been recorded by the hand of man.

I first truly examined this Psalm when I was going through the long process of healing. I lived for more than a decade feeling that I was inherently unworthy and dirty because I was sexually abused as a child. Long before I had my current mindset of being a sexual abuse survivor, I firmly held to the belief that I was just like David describes himself in verse five, "Surely I was sinful from birth." As far back as I could remember, I felt dirty in the eyes of God. While I never believed that babies were born into sin (a theological discussion for another time), the worthlessness I felt stretched back for years and years. My identity had formed around an experience that made me feel like an object. I was nothing but something to be abused, but in the strange nature of sexual abuse there was a part of me that did get some pleasure from the experience. Today I understand that such is simply how God made my body to respond but for years I believed that the act that was forced on me made me as guilty as anyone who had ever chosen to go against God.

Feeling already lost, I began to care little for how far my actions separated me from the God who never left me. Years passed before I read this Psalm and was struck with how much I felt connected to the desire in David's heart to be close to God and be clean. While physically I was perfectly healed, emotionally I was still raw and broken. Despite my well-crafted and hidden scars, some saw deep into my heart and introduced me to a God that heals like no one else can. David would go on from this Psalm to be a great man, a great leader, and to be called "a man after God's own heart". I too have found myself in the embrace of a God who heals.

While I am sure that some of you have little idea what I am talking about and why I felt connected to this particular set of verses, I am sure others will know exactly how I feel. It took courage for David to humble himself before God and beg for forgiveness. It took courage for me to seek help in recovering from my past. At Providence Road, we are blessed with great programs like Celebrate Recovery where people can gather and seek support together. Blessed with people like Sandy Welfare who can offer private counseling at no cost. Blessed with a group of Shepherds who truly care about the floc. So for those of you who know what it's like to hurt, but can't imagine what it means to heal, I beg you to seek out any of the above. They are all willing to help and to serve as tools for a God that truly can and does heal.

On the inside of my left wrist I have three words tattooed: "Never Let Go". To me they mean so many different things. They remind me to hold on to the moments of goodness I have. They remind me to hold on to the things that matter, and forget about those that don't. They remind me to never give up even when the road is hard. They remind me of my dad who "fought the good fight" every day of his life.

But mainly they remind me of my God. A God that is not some bearded old man beyond the clouds, but a friend who is at my side. I don't know how he works or why he answers some prayers the way he does. All I know is that I am a survivor of abuse because I have a God who never lets go.

And I promise He won't let go of you either.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 17 - Psalm 48

2010-08-03T06:00:00.004-04:00

I’m embarrassed to say that by the time I got to writing about Psalm 48, I was kind of bored with the idea of writing about more Psalms. We had been focusing on the Psalms of refuge and I was ready for something different. God provides.

At first glance, I wasn’t quite sure what was happening in this Psalm; it seemed there were praises and accolades for a city and a building. Then something hit me; it is something that I often forget. This sounds so alien to me because God’s temple now lives within me. When the Psalmist was writing this Psalm, he had been on a long Journey; probably the trip of a lifetime. He was one of the blessed ones who actually got to see God’s dwelling place among his people. This was a huge journey, so when he saw the city finally coming into view, he was struck by how awesome it was. These people had never seen the temple and they were astounded to be in the dwelling place of God. I wonder how long they had been walking just to be able to worship in his presence once in their entire lifetime?

How often do I take for granted that my God lives within me! I don’t have to journey to him. He meets me in my very soul every morning, and I have trouble finding time to sit with him and talk. God forgive me.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 16 - Psalm 45

2010-08-02T06:00:00.003-04:00

The Royal Wedding Song

"You are the most handsome of men; grace flows from your lips. Therefore God has blessed you forever."

"Mighty warrior...Majesty and splendor...In the cause of truth, humility, and justice..."

WOW!! What woman doesn't want that? And whoever he is, he's getting the PRIZE of his LIFE!!

"The king will desire your beauty...He is your Lord...the wealthy people will seek your favor with gifts...in colorful garments she is led to the king..."

The beautiful bride that will meet all his needs, love him no matter what, and give him the most successful sons!

So is it really a wedding? Or is it God? Is it Israel? Or maybe it's Jesus? As I looked into it, sources says it's all of the above! And isn't that so like God--to show us his perfect constant love in a way that is living and breathing, in a way that speaks directly through the desires he gave us?

The love between a bride and a groom is precious. We cry at weddings because the covenant we are witnessing is precious. It is holy. It is from God.

God modeled pure love in the way he loved Israel and in the Old Testament, gave them chance after chance. Always forgiving. Always wanting them to want him. Always willing to do what was best for them.

Christ’s bride is his Church. He showed us his love in giving his life for her. He went to Heaven to prepare a place for her. He promised to come back and take her there.

But the “her” is really “us!”

God is our truest love! He anointed us with the oil of joy! Don’t you just read this Psalm and inhale in wonder and awe? Doesn’t it excite you that the God of the Universe loves you (and me) in a way that is undying and unchanging? Doesn’t it make you feel fresh and alive and…JOYFUL?

He is worthy of praise! His name will be remembered for all generations.

We rejoice in his presence! Let all the people praise him forever!

- submitted by Andrea Eller

Day 15 - Psalm 42

2010-08-01T06:00:00.033-04:00

Both versions of the song based on this Psalm are favorites of mine, but I particularly like the Dennis Jernigan version with the women's echo. We sang that version at Carolina Bible Camp when I was visiting last week. Sitting in the dark, singing this song with 200+ people, most of whom are teenagers, is breathtaking.
The writer of Psalm 42 compares the longing for God to being thirsty and panting for water. Have you ever been so thirsty that you were panting for water? I've been awfully thirsty before but not to the point of panting. Although I am not wealthy (at least by America's standards), I am certainly more comfortable than many of the world's inhabitants. I expect most of us have never really gone hungry or thirsty, despite our occasional hyperbole, as in "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse!"

The question I'm pondering today though is have I ever been that hungry for God? The Psalm writer says, "Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls" (verse 7) and so we must allow the deepest part of ourselves...the part we fear will overtake us...the part we fear letting anyone else know about...the part that gnaws at our hearts as hunger gnaws at our stomachs...we must allow that part of ourselves to call out to the Depths that we cannot fathom. There is no place else to go.

Recently Brett Loftis posted the following as his Facebook status: "I wished I desired prayer as much as I desire food...anybody with me?" God, give me the courage to pray every day for the hunger and thirst for Your Presence that will not let me go until I seek You.

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 14 - Psalm 39

2010-07-31T06:00:00.005-04:00

I'm too tired to write this. I had a lousy day...nothing went right! I can't write anything worthwhile. I can't control my tongue when I need to, can't stop from saying hurtful things. My life is so short, I feel like it's hardly worth the effort.

Not really. But I've had...we've all had...tough times. I know, I know. David was a man after God's own heart, right? Yes. He was a man. Prone to feeling everything we do. And that's what makes David such a tremendous example of God's strength and provision.

At the point where David was feeling he was somewhere just south of worthless, he calls out to God. Acknowledging God's sovereignty, David prays for His deliverance...for His sustaining. David prayed not to be a mockery before fools, knowing he was a servant of the one true God. At his lowest, David knew where to go for help. He knew his Father would be there and be strong enough to pick him up (again).

And though David knew the power of God, the real distance between creature and creator, he called out. David didn't let his condition prevent him from calling out to the One who created the universe, every blade of grass and every star in the sky (who He knows by name!!). How unworthy must David have been feeling?

Hitting close to home? Knowing how frail, fleeting, and sadly, vain, we are, how dare we open our mouths to God...to the King of Kings? How dare you! But He wants us to. He created this life and caused us to be born in this exact time and place. He knew what needed to happen inside and around us to refine us, to allow us to live in his service, and to see our absolute need of Him. He gave us choice and wants us to exercise it...even when we feel so unworthy, so entirely inadequate.

But watch out, 'cause those are the folks He uses most powerfully.

So David asks the Lord to strengthen him so that he may continue in His service. David saw nothing else of real worth.

Pray to the Lord. He is - yesterday, today, and forever - interested in our lives, in bringing us back to him. When you're down, look up. Open your heart and your mouth to God. He created you, has set great value on you, and will work through you to bring glory to his name.

And that's all I got to say about that.

- submitted by Norm and Melissa Wilson

Day 13 - Psalm 36

2010-07-30T06:00:00.006-04:00

These are the words of Matthew Henry in Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary:

The bad state of the wicked

From this psalm our hearts should be duly affected with hatred of sin, and seek satisfaction in God's loving-kindness. Here is the root of bitterness, from which all the wickedness of wicked men comes. It takes rise from contempt of God, and the want of due regard to him. Also from the deceit they put upon their own souls. Let us daily beg of God to preserve us from self-flattery. Sin is very hurtful to the sinner himself, and therefore ought to be hateful; but it is not so. It is no marvel, if those that deceive themselves, seek to deceive all mankind; to whom will they be true, who are false to their own souls? It is bad to do mischief, but worse to devise it, to do it with plot and management. If we willingly banish holy meditations in our solitary hours, Satan will soon occupy our minds with sinful imaginations. Hardened sinners stand to what they have done, as though they could justify it before God himself. (Psalm 36:5-12)

The goodness of God

Men may shut up their compassion, yet, with God we shall find mercy. This is great comfort to all believers, plainly to be seen, and not to be taken away. God does all wisely and well; but what he does we know not now, it is time enough to know hereafter. God's loving-kindness is precious to the saints. They put themselves under his protection, and then are safe and easy. Gracious souls, though still desiring more of God, never desire more than God. The gifts of Providence so far satisfy them, that they are content with such things as they have. The benefit of holy ordinances is sweet to a sanctified soul, and strengthening to the spiritual and Divine life. But full satisfaction is reserved for the future state. Their joys shall be constant. God not only works in them a gracious desire for these pleasures, but by his Spirit fills their souls with joy and peace in believing. He quickens whom he will; and whoever will, may come, and take from him of the waters of life freely. May we know, and love, and uprightly serve the Lord; then no proud enemy, on earth or from hell, shall separate us from his love. Faith calleth things that are not, as though they were. It carries us forward to the end of time; it shows us the Lord, on his throne of judgment; the empire of sin fallen to rise no more.

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 12 - Psalm 33

2010-07-29T06:00:00.021-04:00

I think that if I was to be 100% honest about what I thought when reading Psalm 33, I would have to say that I feel afraid. While I realize this is not the normal reaction to a psalm that praises the greatness of the Lord, to me it really brings home the power of the God that we serve. So often today it seems our faith has become apathetic to who God really is...that he did come in the form of a man and do things that were and are beyond the scope of science and technology. Think about it. Jesus simply healed people. God is simple too, in a way.

God simply does. That is what Psalm 33 is all about.

The first part of the psalm is about how God created everything with the simple sound of his voice, and about how we should worship, praise, and fear him because of this and because of his greatness. The second part is the part that brings the fear to my heart. God is everywhere and he not only can see every physical action we do, but he knows every thought that we have too.

While I think there are a few members of PR who would volunteer to be in a Truman Show-type world, most of us would shy away from such scrutiny. We like our privacy. This is why we have fences, blinds, shades, hedges, and of course doors, all around us: to keep our private lives private. We have made our world one that is based on selective knowledge and experience. We share some things with others and some things we don't share with anyone. God however doesn't work like this. With better x-ray vision than Superman, God sees over our hedges, through our doors, and even into our hearts no matter how closed off we try to make ourselves.

For many, the greatest fear we have is the idea that, "If someone really knew me, they wouldn't like me." Sound familiar? I think this is what makes this passage so scary. The thought that God knows what we are really thinking. God knows what we really desire. God knows who we really are. This is truly frightening because we are all flawed. We are all sinners. We are all near constant disappointments and screw-ups...and then comes the amazing part:

God loves us anyway.

This staggering truth causes us to honestly stand in awe, wonder, and praise of our creator. As the psalm goes on, we find out that nations and people alike who trust in God are rewarded. But for those who don't trust him, no army is large enough, no warrior strong enough, no technology great enough to save. For over 200 years the United States of America has openly and collectively said, "In God We Trust." Now as such trust begins to fall away for some, the truth always remains the same. God is God and we are only as great as our faith in him. Be it as a nation or a neophyte, we must believe and respect God for who he simply is.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 11 - Psalm 31

2010-07-28T06:00:00.016-04:00

It is believed that Psalm 31 was written while David was on the run from Saul, who was trying to kill him. It is a conflicted Psalm. One the one hand, the Psalmist talks about utter despair while on the other, he talks about his utter confidence that God will be his refuge.

What do you do when you find yourself in crisis? David reminds us in verses 1-8 and again in verses 9-17 that he has been in similar trials before and God is trustworthy. Out of trust and prayer come confidence and a true vision of our identity and significance; not just our significance right now, but a significance that lasts through eternity. We are actually immortal beings! Notice that David said, “I commend my spirit to you.” He understands that his body is temporary. We were placed here for a reason, and God’s plan will be victorious! I don’t know about you, but when a crisis comes my way, I start trying to fix it myself instead of looking at it with a vision of eternity. I am terribly nearsighted. I need to cultivate an imagination for the eternal.

This Psalm is quoted twice in the New Testament, both times during death scenes. Luke 23:46 says, "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, 'Father, into they hands I comment my spirit.'"

Again when Stephen was being stoned he said, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit" (Acts 7:59).

David’s prayer to God, in the Psalm is a desperate plea for rescue from death’s dark spirit.

Also in this passage, David is being slandered and maligned by those he described as "neighbors". Being rejected by people you know and love is crushing. David experienced a lot of rejection in his life from those he loved, people in whom he had invested his life’s energies. Is that where you find yourself today? We all are afraid of rejection and will create many masks to try and keep rejection at bay. The only thing that works, however, is to know that God, through Jesus’ work on the cross, will not reject us.

David understood where to turn for refuge. He understood that God’s unfailing love would always be available. Had I been in his circumstances, I would have been reaching for Chocolate. Oh Lord, help me to turn to you first and to trust you to provide what I need.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 10 - Psalm 28

2010-07-27T06:00:00.008-04:00

So this is one of those "more questions than answers" moments. David opens up by acknowledging his absolute reliance on God. He says, "If you don't answer, if you're not there, then I'm lost. And oh, by the way, cut down those folks that don't follow you."

What? Didn't Jesus say to love your enemies? "Do good to them which hate you" (Luke 6:27). But David was a man after God's own heart...he wouldn't say something so directly in conflict with what His Son taught, right?

It's almost laughable that with our finite minds and bloated sense of self, we feel like we even have the capability to fully understand and appreciate what God has given us through His word. Why would David pray for God to cut down anyone? Didn't anyone ever tell him "be careful what you ask for"? No one has earned or deserves the grace that God extends.

But David was being open and honest with the Lord. David knew...I mean with down deep, behavior changing conviction...KNEW that God could see into every corner of his heart. The Lord knew the good, the bad, and the ugly (even before the film, how cool is that?). So David saw no value in hiding anything from the Lord. David's zeal for the Lord was the source of that prayer. David wanted to see God's justice poured out upon those that were flippant with His holy name...who knew but failed to repent and follow.

So why do we have such a hard time peeling off all the trappings of this temporal place to have an honest discussion in prayer with our Father? I mean, do you think you're pulling one over on Him if you only say the "good things"? He knows your heart...He knows mine. David's example is not in contradiction. It's the honest prayer of a man who realized the omnipresence and omniscience of God.

Beyond the holy Q&A, we can't miss that regardless of how God chooses to answer David's prayer, David keeps his bearings. He doesn't lose focus on what's most important...recognizing God's involvement in his life. David says the Lord is his "strength, his shield", that "my heart trusted in him and I am helped." That was it and that was enough. David's heart trusted in the Lord and he was helped.

May it be so with you and with me for all the days the Lord has chosen to bless us with...that our hearts may trust (I mean really trust) in the Lord and be helped.

- submitted by Norm and Melissa Wilson

Day 9 - Psalm 25

2010-07-26T06:00:00.025-04:00

Do It God's Way

Psalm 25 could be cut right out of today's headlines. Christians and the nation of Israel are being tormented by people who either don't care or who don't want to understand their motives. Either way, the answer is the same: if you do it God's way, you will have confidence that when you pray God will hear you, that he will forgive your sins and that he will help you through troubled times.

Have confidence that God answers prayer

In worshipping God, we must lift up our souls to him. It is certain that none who, by a believing attendance wait on God and by a believing hope wait for him, shall be ashamed of it. The most advanced believer both needs and desires to be taught of God. If we sincerely desire to know our duty, with resolution to do it, we may be sure that God will direct us in it.

King David is earnest for the pardon of his sins. When God pardons sin, he is said to remember it no more, which denotes full remission. It is God's goodness and not ours, his mercy and not our merit, that must be our plea for the pardon of sin, and all the good we need.

This plea we must rely upon, feeling our own unworthiness, and satisfied of the riches of God's mercy and grace.

How boundless is that mercy which covers forever the sins and follies of a youth spent without God and without hope!

Blessed be the Lord, the blood of the great Sacrifice can wash away every stain. (Psalm 25:1-7)

Pray for remission of your sins

We are all sinners; and Christ came into the world to save sinners, to teach sinners, to call sinners to repentance. We value a promise by the character of him that makes it; we therefore depend upon God's promises. All the paths of the Lord, that is all his promises and all his providences, are mercy and truth.

All the paths of the Lord are mercy and truth; and so it will appear when they come to their journey's end. Those that are humble, that distrust themselves, and desire to be taught and to follow Divine guidance, these he will guide in judgment, that is by the rule of the written word, to find rest for their souls in the Savior. Even when the body is sick and in pain, the soul may be at ease in God. (Psalm 25:8-14)

Pray for help in troubled times

David concludes, as he began, with expressing dependence upon God and desire toward him. It is good thus to hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the Lord. And God turns to us, no matter who turns from us. He pleads his own integrity.

Though guilty before God, yet as to his enemies, he had the testimony of conscience that he had done them no wrong. God would at length give Israel rest from all their enemies round about. In heaven, God's Israel will be perfectly redeemed from all troubles.

Blessed Savior, thou has graciously taught us that without thee we can do nothing. Do thou teach us how to pray, how to appear before thee in the way which thou shalt choose, and how to lift up our whole hearts and desires after thee, for thou art the Lord our righteousness. (Psalm 25:15-22)

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 8 - Psalm 22

2010-07-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

Have you ever prayed for something so many times that you thought God just had to be tired of hearing from you? I have...and often thought He must be thinking, "Oh no! Here comes Holly again with that same, tired, old prayer! What am I gonna do with that girl?"

Thankfully, God doesn't respond that way and has been known to answer when we are the most persistent (ask Hannah or Hezekiah).

There is a prayer I've prayed for so many years that I've often joked that I could have written one of David's "How long, O Lord?" Psalms. Isn't it just like God to give me Psalm 22 to blog about today when David asks the question that has probably been on the tip of many of our tongues many times, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" We recognize this too as quoted by Jesus on the cross but also because when we are really honest and really get past our church-y responses, deep down, we all know we have asked this question before.

And for me, when I felt the most forsaken and decided to take matters into my own hands, certain that I could answer my own prayer, that's when I fell flat on my face in the cycle of addiction. I looked up one day and realized that in my misguided attempt to be my own god, I had been "poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart has turned to wax; it has melted away within me. My strength is dried up like a potsherd, and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth; you lay me in the dust of death" (verses 14-15).

Maybe you have been there. Maybe you are headed there today. Maybe you have already arrived and are wondering just how to get out of the mess you have made. David goes on to remind us that the Lord is our strength (v. 19), that he can deliver and rescue us (v. 20-21), that he does not despise the afflicted or hidden his face from them but that he has listened to our cries for help (v. 24).

It is only when we are willing to humble ourselves and reach out to him that we will find that he has not walked away. He gladly reaches out his arm and pulls us out of the pit of our own making.

And maybe, just his presence is the real answer to all our prayers anyway.

- submitted by Holly Barrett

Day 7 - Psalm 19

2010-07-24T06:00:00.005-04:00

My Soul Inspiration

I can do many things in this life; drawing is not one of them. In fact, it was the only class that I failed in college, and I took it as an elective! So much for my dreams of being the next Leonardo or being on the hit TV show this fall, “So You Think You Can Draw?”

For those who do have such talent I am always amazed at their work. Often when I admire a piece of art I wonder where the artist got their inspiration. I wonder where and when they figured out that the next line they drew would be the last line and that the work was now “finished”. Psalm 19 turned out to be pretty inspiring to me. For whatever reason (or maybe for ones that I can’t explain), I was moved to write this. I hope that my reflection on David’s words inspires you to greatness today.

Be it word, in deed, or even in drawing.

WHO AM I? I AM HIS.

It was the perfect time of day. The time where the sun finally catches the horizon in its fiery grasp. The brightness fades and the colors grey as we stand: watching, waiting, praising.

A friend reminds me that the Earth remains in silence so that the Father can hear man's feeble praise. So that God can hear my feeble "Please..." There seems little that I can fathom or understand beyond "my needs", "my wants", and "my life". However, I have been afforded a life a little lower then the angels as a creation of the Most High.

I stand with my eyes to the hills as the sky mellows further into what seems like forever as day gives way to night. I hear the sirens in the distance. They call my name with their seductive song of wealth and glory, and yet my friend says, "Do it for My glory not yours." I turn towards his face of love that reflects all the light of goodness I have ever known.

"I have so many questions my Lord. Who am I that I should be used by you to reach these people? What if they don't believe me? What if I am not good enough or what they need? What if I stumble? What if I fail?" He gently takes my hand and says, "Then I will love you as I love them: just as you are. For I have placed you where I need you. I equipped you for this task before you were born. I have led you all the way, even when you didn't want to follow; and I shall lead you home. Do not worry if the World does not accept you or understand, for they did not accept or understand me first. You are my beloved child, and I will be with you always. Even until the end of this Earth." With that I found myself alone. I wondered if it was all just a dream or did it really mean that I am who He is making me to be.

And just as the thought crossed my brain the wind kissed my face and I knew: I am His.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 6 - Psalm 16

2010-07-23T06:00:00.004-04:00

When I read Psalm 16, I see a psalmist who is totally secure in his faith. He knows where to turn for refuge.

As I write this post, I need refuge. I found out this morning that I was suckered in one of those Craig's List scams that you hear so much about. It was one of those things where I did all the right things to check before I jumped, but I still jumped. As a result, we lost some money and I'm sitting here thinking about how foolish I feel and how angry I am. I kept my word; they used me and stole from me.

So the question arises: who can I trust and where is my security?

"I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken." (Psalm 16:8)

I have to admit, I feel pretty shaken right now. I can tell myself that it's only money, which it is. I think the hard thing for me is that I generally trust people and my trust has been shaken. I have to remind myself that this disappointment in another human being will seem meaningless when I am in His presence, standing at His right hand.

In the meantime, Lord, help me to rejoice in you as my refuge. I pray that my security and confidence rest in you and you alone.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 5 - Psalm 13

2010-07-22T06:00:00.004-04:00

Man...have you ever felt like no one was listening...like God turned the channel and you just couldn't get an answer? Two thousand years later and we still struggle with where we want God to be, when we want him to be there, and how he should answer.

In the 13th Psalm, David is in a spot where he's calling out to God, but God is silent. Many times in our lives we feel like God's not returning our email, listening to our voice messages, or even reading our texts. He's not answering...but why do we struggle with that? Why is it bad that God doesn't cater to the whims of his children? He knows what's best for us, even when we firmly believe that we know...maybe even think we know better (due caution here, kids).

God provides instruction and circumstance to "be still and know." He's done it throughout scripture, and thankfully, is still in the practice today. God knows that sometimes we need to struggle in order to know again the desire to return to the Father...to know the unconditional love and grace the Father gives to his children. We have to feel the cold to appreciate the warmth...get caught in the rain to appreciate being dry...and experience loss to truly know life.

And beyond ourselves, God provides opportunity for growth to not only allow us to see our own faith galvanized, but to be built up such that we can turn around and help someone else up who's struggling with the same thing we've been through, only by the grace of God.

Back to David. What he shows us not only the feeling of separation, but the reality of his faith. He cries out to God and feels alone. But David acknowledges the truth. He tells us that despite what he feels, he knows God is there and that he can trust God's mercy and unfailing love...and rejoice in his salvation. David ends with the most important part, and so will we.

Even when you feel alone, know that God is with you, that he cares for you because you are his child. Take comfort that the One who created all things, knows the hairs on your head and was willing to watch his only Son die on a cross...for you.

- submitted by Norm and Melissa Wilson

Day 4 - Psalm 10

2010-07-21T06:00:00.006-04:00

In Psalm 10 we read that David looked around and saw that the wicked were prospering at the same time that they were defying God and preying on the weak and defenseless. David’s own experience had taught him that God is in charge. David then prays for God to calm the unrest in Israel and for Him to even the score with the wicked.

We have learned in other Psalms and in the Biblical annals of his exploits that David was a man after God’s own heart.

In Acts Paul the Apostle pointed out that even with all of his faults that David was willing to do all that God would ask him to. We know that King David was a flawed individual and that he continually made bad decisions. What set David apart was that he totally trusted God and that he prayed about everything.

“After removing Saul, he made David their king. He testified concerning him: 'I have found David son of Jesse a man after my own heart; he will do everything I want him to do.” – Acts 13:22 (NIV)

Psalm 10 is just another example of David praying for God to intervene in his own and in others behalf. David prayed about everything. He prayed before going into battle. He prayed when he was happy and he prayed when he was afraid. That’s what set David apart and that’s what I think is the message for us today.

There is evil all around us. It is up to us to do our best not to become a victim of the evildoers and to pray without ceasing; but, that it is God’s job to settle the score.

We know that since God is just that there will be justice.

- submitted by Bob Diamond

Day 3 - Psalm 7

2010-07-20T06:00:00.013-04:00

The Fight for the Right

Have you ever been sure? No, not like the early '90's deodorant commercials, but sure that you had done something. Sure that you had turned off the stove. Sure that you had let the dog out before you left. Sure that you were in the right and the other person was clearly in the wrong. Would you bet your life on it? David did in Psalm 7. He was that sure.

The whole Psalm starts out being described as a song that David sang to the Lord concerning a guy named Cush who is of the tribe of Benjamin. So straight off we are talking about an Israeli on Israeli crime here. Which I think, given what's to come, makes this Psalm all the stranger. It's not like we are talking about taking out the Hittites or the Egyptians here. We are talking about going up against your next door neighbor.

Or to put it in today's terms: a fellow church member.

In the context of the Psalm, we aren't really sure what has happened, but it must not have been good. David starts off by calling the Lord his "refuge" and points out the obvious that without God, he will be torn to bits by his enemies. Nothing too revolutionary here. We need God in all that we do or else we are nothing. It's a theme that David will acknowledge over and over again in all of his writings in the hope that we may acknowledge the same in our lives. Next though, he gets into the meat of what this Psalm is really about: Justice.

Amazingly, David goes on to ask the Lord to be just in his judgment of the situation, and that if David is in the wrong, "then let my enemy pursue and overtake me; let him trample my life to the ground; and make me sleep in the dust." Wow, strong words from a man who is King over all of Israel! He is sure that he has done no wrong that he asks God to let his enemy (Cush from the tribe of Benjamin) trample on him until he dies and sleeps in the dust. Now, I have been sure of some things in my life, but I have rarely been sure enough of my actions that I would call out to God and say that if I am wrong, may he take my life right now, and knowing that he would. That is the kind of confidence that doesn't come around every day. Then David flips to the other side of the coin: what if David is right and Cush is wrong?

Now David calls upon God to become a righteous judge of both David and Cush. The funny thing is that for all the very heavy language that David uses, he never asks God to kill Cush. There are plenty of times in other Psalms where David uses the allegory of battle to ask the Lord to kill his enemies, but not here. Instead David stays true to hi first request that God will be just in his judgment. Read carefully the last half of the Psalm. For all the violent images of sharpening swords and flaming arrows, David never asks God to go to war against Cush. Check out verse 6: "Arise, O Lord, in your anger; rise up against he rage of of my enemies. Awake, my God; decree justice."

See that? David asks God to rise up against Cush's rage, not against Cush himself! David doesn't want harm to come to someone within his own house. Instead he calls on God to do battle against Cush's emotional reactions. To me this speaks to much of what we are called to do against others we fight against who are members of the body of Christ.

There is a big difference between praying for God to make Sister So-and-So's life miserable and praying that God will go to battle against the injustice between the two of you and the unhealthy anger that the situation is bringing about. David may have bet his life that he was right, but he did so not against Cush's life, but against Cush's heart. This the kind of sure, compassionate, and dramatic request that David often asked of God. Upon close examination of the Psalm, you can truly see the love behind the anger that David has for Cush, who is his spiritual brother.

In the end, David asks for two things. One is that above all, justice will be served on either himself or on Cush. And two, that the evil that is being caused by the person's actions be turned around on them. The last few lines of the Psalm talk about the person falling into a pit of their own digging, or that "the trouble he causes recoils on himself; his violence comes down on his own head." While it is not made clears as to who the Lord found to be right in this particular situation, the lesson of how to deal with intra-faith disagreements rings true. Ask not for the Lord to kick Brother Busy-Body from the Church, instead ask the Lord hat justice be served and that the wrong be righted. It takes a lot of faith to ask God to judge you honestly, but the reward can be just what is needed. As always we must remember that this life is not about our body, but about the Lord's Body, and he will do anything to protect it.

- submitted by Nolan Davis

Day 2 - Psalm 4

2010-07-19T06:00:00.007-04:00

“God, do you hear me? Do you care?” This was David’s cry. If we live long enough, we will have painful dreams and desires that go unmet. Things will go wrong that God will not fix. Where is God in those times? In my opinion, he’s close during those times, but he chooses to remain silent. He’s stretching us to reach out in faith to him and not the idols of our hearts. He’s saying, “How much do you desire me, not just to fix your problems, but truly desire a relationship with me?” When is the last time I have cried out to God to know his presence and his love for me without asking him for something? David says that we lust after lies and illusions when we ought to be passionately pursuing a relationship with the God who created us; who chose us to be his beloved ones.

I read something recently that made me stop and think. It was written by Larry Crabb, and he always makes me think more deeply that I desire. He said that he thought the OT people who were chosen by God would be jealous of the relationship that we can have with God. Think about it, God promised that a day would come when there would be no need to physically go to the temple to be in his presence. There would be no need for sacrifices and the law would be useless. His presence would dwell within. To them, that was a radical idea that required considerable faith. The desire for a relationship with God would live within us! His spirit would live within us! I don’t know about you, but I find myself asking God to show me his presence by giving me blessings; make my life comfortable and then I’ll know he's there. He’s there all along, wanting us to stretch out and seek a relationship with him; not what he can do for us.

Try it today. Reach out to God in prayer, and don’t ask for anything. Just try to know him better. That may mean that instead of crying out for him, we remain silent and listen.

- submitted by Sandy Welfare

Day 1 - Psalm 1

2010-07-18T06:00:00.027-04:00

Welcome to Summer in the Psalms! We will spend the next 50 days reading selected Psalms and engaging in a conversation about what God is speaking to us through His word. Click on the Reading Schedule tab at the top of the blog home page to find out which Psalms we are reading each day....and click on the Contributors tab to learn a little more about each blogger.

Finally, when you have read the Psalm for the day and the blog post for that day, click on Comment at the end of the blog post and tell us your thoughts. We'd love to have a conversation with you!

So, on the first day it seemed appropriate to start with the first Psalm. I love, love, love this Psalm in The Message. It starts with, "How well God must like you..." We hear a lot about how much God loves us and we know that He loved us enough to send Jesus to die for us. But deep down inside, I think that we sometimes think that God may love us, but He sure doesn't like us much.

And nothing could be further from the truth. God delights in our presence and longs for us to come to Him for the first time or the 15th time or the 71st time. He is looking for us every day (sound familiar?).

The Psalmist here indicates that God is especially pleased with us when we delight enough in Him to meditate on His word (or "chew on Scripture" as The Message puts it). When we are thrilled by God's word, it becomes a part of who we are. It directs our paths, bears fruit in us, and distinguishes us from the wicked who have no excuse for the way they live.

I am often convicted that we don't...I don't...take the very word of God seriously enough. Bibles are easy to get. I have plenty in my home and can access any version I choose on the Internet. But what would my life be like if I didn't have a Bible? Would I be more hungry for it? Would I get up early every day to read it? Would I cherish every moment spent in its pages?

I pray that this journey through the Psalms will help us all to become more hungry for God's word. Let us chew on scripture together for it is the living water for our thirsty souls.

- submitted by Holly Barrett