Wow did we have some elctricity flowing throught the air last night from some storms! Been a long time since I seen the sky light up like that! Thank you Lord for the protection and rain we needed it! That leads us to today's verse:
Psalm 63
9 But those who seek my life, to destroy it,
Shall go into the lower parts of the earth.
10 They shall fall by the sword;
They shall be a portion for jackals.
David was a man who stood for God but that lead him into many situations where people wanted to take his life as we see in verse 9. For us we may not be in danger of losing our life for our beliefs but there are plenty who want to destroy our belief in Christ and the Word of God on which we stand. Since the Word of God has been put to pen thier have been folks trying to destroy it and the people trying to spread the Word but guess what the Word lives on! Folks have been killed for spreading the Word but guess what??? They live on in the kingdom of heaven. For all those people who try to destroy us we need to pray for them as God's word tells us to pray for our enemies. For those who never come to belief in Jesus and repent of their ways it is clear there is a place for them in eternity whcih verse 9 talks about....the lower parts of the earth also know as hell. So when we are being destroyed remember the destinations of the believer and the non-believer it is a definite encouragement for those who believe!
Verse 10 talks bout whn David was fighting for hsi life what would happen to those who came against him. They often fell by the sword and weere left for the jackels. Here I think of the United States. We were once a Christian nation and when we defended ourselves many fell to the sword. Now as our morals have turned as a whole we must be careful that we do not fall by the sword. We need a revival in this land in a bad way. Can it be done? Yes! But it takes a nation to fall on its kness, repent, and turn back to God and get in His Word. Be in prayer that this happens in our life time. If it doesn't can you imagine what this nation will be like for our chilrdren and grandchildren...Oh my, God have mercy on us.
Pray hard today....for our President and nation.
Tom
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Hold me up!
Here we are half way through another week! Time flies when you are havin fun! Here is today's verse:
Psalm 63:8
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
I pray we all can say what David says in the first half of this verse. It takes effort that is for sure. To stay close to God as the world tugs and pulls for our attention we must be strong in our faith for our soul to follow God closly. Daily prayer and Bible study is a must to stay close behind God. I like that thought behind God too. If you are anything like me I have to be very careful of not getting in front of God and try to lead the way my way! God is our guide and leader. He is the one who is to be directing our lives. Stop right here and evaluate yourself...is God the leader in your life or are you?
Then David tells us God upholds him. Oh what a picture this is. Does God uphold you? I know He does me. Day by day God gets me through. The other day a lady from our church said she wondered how when people go through difficulties in life like death of a loved one or serious sickness how they ever make it through without Jesus in their lives. I agreed because I don't see how any one does it. I need Jesus to hold me up and He has never let me down yet...thank you Jesus!
So if you are having trouble standing today and you need help ask Jesus He will be there when no one else is!
God bless you all...Tom
Psalm 63:8
8 My soul follows close behind You;
Your right hand upholds me.
I pray we all can say what David says in the first half of this verse. It takes effort that is for sure. To stay close to God as the world tugs and pulls for our attention we must be strong in our faith for our soul to follow God closly. Daily prayer and Bible study is a must to stay close behind God. I like that thought behind God too. If you are anything like me I have to be very careful of not getting in front of God and try to lead the way my way! God is our guide and leader. He is the one who is to be directing our lives. Stop right here and evaluate yourself...is God the leader in your life or are you?
Then David tells us God upholds him. Oh what a picture this is. Does God uphold you? I know He does me. Day by day God gets me through. The other day a lady from our church said she wondered how when people go through difficulties in life like death of a loved one or serious sickness how they ever make it through without Jesus in their lives. I agreed because I don't see how any one does it. I need Jesus to hold me up and He has never let me down yet...thank you Jesus!
So if you are having trouble standing today and you need help ask Jesus He will be there when no one else is!
God bless you all...Tom
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Thank you for helping me Jesus!
Help, help, help! Have you ever noticed how much we ask God for help? Read the verse for today as you think about that.
Psalm 63:7
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
I don't know about you but when I sit down and think about my prayer life I can honestly say I ask for help way more than I praise the living God. I would hate to have to put a percentage on it but if I had to I would say 90% requesting help, and 10 % priase. I am not even sure that is accurate. Think about your own life for a moment and how would your percentages come out?
Here in Psalm 63:7 David says "you have been my help". Thank you Jesus because you have been my help too! In all situations Jesus has been my help. Yes even when God did not answer my prayer like I wanted I can say God helped me. I can not count the times that situations I have prayed for turned out for the good even though it was not what I was asking for....God always knows best. Also there have been times where things have not turned out for the best in my eyes but you know what??? I have to trust my God because I know without a shadow of a doubt HE KNOWS BEST!
David goes on to say in verse 7 that because God is my help in the shadow of God's wings he will rejoice. The picture of being in the shadow of God's wings is a picture of protection. Isn't that a great comfort to know that! Just like a bird has to totally rely on it's mother for protection we muct do the same with God. Like I said before God knows best and we must always remember that. We too like David need to rejoice in the protection of the Father and how He continually helps us even though we don't deserve it!
Thank Jesus for all the blessings You bestow upon a sinner like me. You alone deserve all the honor, praise, and glory!!
Have a great day!
Tom
Psalm 63:7
7 Because You have been my help,
Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice.
I don't know about you but when I sit down and think about my prayer life I can honestly say I ask for help way more than I praise the living God. I would hate to have to put a percentage on it but if I had to I would say 90% requesting help, and 10 % priase. I am not even sure that is accurate. Think about your own life for a moment and how would your percentages come out?
Here in Psalm 63:7 David says "you have been my help". Thank you Jesus because you have been my help too! In all situations Jesus has been my help. Yes even when God did not answer my prayer like I wanted I can say God helped me. I can not count the times that situations I have prayed for turned out for the good even though it was not what I was asking for....God always knows best. Also there have been times where things have not turned out for the best in my eyes but you know what??? I have to trust my God because I know without a shadow of a doubt HE KNOWS BEST!
David goes on to say in verse 7 that because God is my help in the shadow of God's wings he will rejoice. The picture of being in the shadow of God's wings is a picture of protection. Isn't that a great comfort to know that! Just like a bird has to totally rely on it's mother for protection we muct do the same with God. Like I said before God knows best and we must always remember that. We too like David need to rejoice in the protection of the Father and how He continually helps us even though we don't deserve it!
Thank Jesus for all the blessings You bestow upon a sinner like me. You alone deserve all the honor, praise, and glory!!
Have a great day!
Tom
Monday, August 17, 2009
Bed!
I hope you had a great weekend and took time to worship the living God! Here is today's verse:
Psalm 63:6
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Ahhh nothing like your own bed huh? When you go away on a trip and have to sleep in a different bed if you are like me you just don't sleep very well. But when you get home and get in your own bed it feels so good! Well this morning David tells us something else that feels so good to do in your own bed....remember God! This even feels good in a bed when away from home. I hope you take time to thankl God for the day every night. No matter what has happened that day. He deserves our praises.
David hoes on to say he meditates on God in the night watches. This could refer to two things as a soldier some will have to saty up through the night to keep guard. As one would keep guard what better way to spend the night then meditating on God? It could also mean when David would wake in the night He would turn his attention to God. Has God ever spoken to you in the middle of the night? He has me. Sometimes God wakes us because He has something to say to us so be ready to listen.
As I close for today let me ask you something. Have you ever fallen asleep praying to God? I have and felt guilty for it. I have come to the conclusion we should not feel guilty if we fall asleep praying. If you have children and they have fallen asleep in your arms you know how precious that is and what a feeling of closeness you feel with your child at that moment. I think God feels the same with us. We are talking with our heavenly Father and fall asleep in His loving arms. Can it get any better than that??? I think not.
Have a great Monday!
Tom
Psalm 63:6
6 When I remember You on my bed,
I meditate on You in the night watches.
Ahhh nothing like your own bed huh? When you go away on a trip and have to sleep in a different bed if you are like me you just don't sleep very well. But when you get home and get in your own bed it feels so good! Well this morning David tells us something else that feels so good to do in your own bed....remember God! This even feels good in a bed when away from home. I hope you take time to thankl God for the day every night. No matter what has happened that day. He deserves our praises.
David hoes on to say he meditates on God in the night watches. This could refer to two things as a soldier some will have to saty up through the night to keep guard. As one would keep guard what better way to spend the night then meditating on God? It could also mean when David would wake in the night He would turn his attention to God. Has God ever spoken to you in the middle of the night? He has me. Sometimes God wakes us because He has something to say to us so be ready to listen.
As I close for today let me ask you something. Have you ever fallen asleep praying to God? I have and felt guilty for it. I have come to the conclusion we should not feel guilty if we fall asleep praying. If you have children and they have fallen asleep in your arms you know how precious that is and what a feeling of closeness you feel with your child at that moment. I think God feels the same with us. We are talking with our heavenly Father and fall asleep in His loving arms. Can it get any better than that??? I think not.
Have a great Monday!
Tom
Friday, August 14, 2009
Satisfied???
This morning was beautiful morning! I got up and went fishing with a couple of friends. The sun came up and the fish bass were biting. I can honestly say I was satisfied with my morning. To be honest it was the best bass fishing morning I have ever had so I was more than satisfied I was estatic!!! So as we look at the verse for today ask your self is my soul satisfied???
Psalm 63
5 My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness,
And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips.
What does satisfied mean? Here is the definition: 1. content: 2. completely paid
Wow I like both of these. The word content is good as we think about our spititual lives. To be content one must be in good satnding with God. How does one do that? Accept Jesus Christ as the one who completely paid for our sins! Did you catch that the second defintion of satsifaction. Jesus completely paid for our sins and then and only then can we truly be satisifed spiritually. To complete the thought of David he used the words marrow and fatness. Marrow is defined as rich and nutritious food. Good food satisfies us doesn't it? That is what David was trying to convey. Fatness just expands that thought even further as it is defined as richness; fertility; abundance.
This morning I was praising the Lord do the crisp, cool, beautiful sunrise, bass biting morning. I was having a joyful morning with good Christian friends and a God who loves me. What more could I ask for?? Even if I had been at work or wherever I am satisfied with my God! And I will praise Him. What a Mighty God we serve.
So today can you praise God with satisfaction? I sure can. No matter what our circumstances we can say The Lord is good!
Have a great weekend my brothers and sisters!
Tom
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Praise!
This is a great verse we could start every day with!
Psalm 63:4
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
You know and I know it is easy to praise God when things are going good. The only problem is many folks forget to give Him the praise during these times. It seems as though we only want God when things are bad. Case and point is 9/11. The churches filled up for about a month. Folks were crying out to God which is good to a point. But slowly those who have no root faded out and church went back to the numbers of before 9/11.
Think about David who wrote this Psalm. If he is going to praise God as long as he lives it is a good suggestion for us to do the same. David expirienced many things in his life. For example...King Saul pursuing him to take his life, his son Absalom betraying him, the sin with Bathsheba which resulted having her husband murdered, and many more situations but yet David says I will praise you! For David was a man after God's own heart which is hope for us! Why? Because David made mistakes...big mistakes but he loved God and God's knows our hearts and forgives when we repent. So today no matter where you are in your life....lift those hands to God and give Him some praise for He alone is worthy!!! Praise God for as long as you live for one day if you know Jesus you will give praise for eternity....oh what a day that will be.
Enjoy God today......Tom
Psalm 63:4
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
You know and I know it is easy to praise God when things are going good. The only problem is many folks forget to give Him the praise during these times. It seems as though we only want God when things are bad. Case and point is 9/11. The churches filled up for about a month. Folks were crying out to God which is good to a point. But slowly those who have no root faded out and church went back to the numbers of before 9/11.
Think about David who wrote this Psalm. If he is going to praise God as long as he lives it is a good suggestion for us to do the same. David expirienced many things in his life. For example...King Saul pursuing him to take his life, his son Absalom betraying him, the sin with Bathsheba which resulted having her husband murdered, and many more situations but yet David says I will praise you! For David was a man after God's own heart which is hope for us! Why? Because David made mistakes...big mistakes but he loved God and God's knows our hearts and forgives when we repent. So today no matter where you are in your life....lift those hands to God and give Him some praise for He alone is worthy!!! Praise God for as long as you live for one day if you know Jesus you will give praise for eternity....oh what a day that will be.
Enjoy God today......Tom
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
Better than life!
Psalm 63:3
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
I want you to do something this morning. Think for two or three minutes on the first part of this verse "your loving kindness is better than life. Then I want you to answer this question.....Can you honestly say that in your life right now. God doesn't want the Sunday school answer He wants the truth...He knows your heart anyway!
What is lovingkindness? Let us break it down. Love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. I am not sure we have words in our language to describe how much God loves us. I always like to say if you have children would you give that child for me to save me from hell? Or how about Charlie Manson would you give your child for him? Well God gave His Son for me, Charlie and you....now that is love. Then there is kindness. Which is the act of being a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature. That describes Jesus. Jesus was friendly to all and that should be an example to us. Jesus was generous he always gave what He could and then offered up His life for all...now that is generous! Jesus was warm-hearted or compassionate. We hurt Him with sin everyday but He is still seeking us to have that relationship with Him. Why??? Because He cares about us deeply.
In this life of ours we seek out all kinds of things to make us happy. I am living proof that things will not make you happy. The only thing in life that will satisfy you is the loving-kindness of Jesus. He wants to fill that void in your life that only He can fill. Give Him a try I promise you will never regret it. Then your lips shall do as David's did "my lips shall praise you." Jesus my lips shall praise you too and you alone are worthy of that praise!!! Jesus you are better than life itself! What are your lips praising this morning?
Have an awesome day...Tom
3 Because Your lovingkindness is better than life,
My lips shall praise You.
I want you to do something this morning. Think for two or three minutes on the first part of this verse "your loving kindness is better than life. Then I want you to answer this question.....Can you honestly say that in your life right now. God doesn't want the Sunday school answer He wants the truth...He knows your heart anyway!
What is lovingkindness? Let us break it down. Love is a profoundly tender, passionate affection for another person. I am not sure we have words in our language to describe how much God loves us. I always like to say if you have children would you give that child for me to save me from hell? Or how about Charlie Manson would you give your child for him? Well God gave His Son for me, Charlie and you....now that is love. Then there is kindness. Which is the act of being a friendly, generous, or warm-hearted nature. That describes Jesus. Jesus was friendly to all and that should be an example to us. Jesus was generous he always gave what He could and then offered up His life for all...now that is generous! Jesus was warm-hearted or compassionate. We hurt Him with sin everyday but He is still seeking us to have that relationship with Him. Why??? Because He cares about us deeply.
In this life of ours we seek out all kinds of things to make us happy. I am living proof that things will not make you happy. The only thing in life that will satisfy you is the loving-kindness of Jesus. He wants to fill that void in your life that only He can fill. Give Him a try I promise you will never regret it. Then your lips shall do as David's did "my lips shall praise you." Jesus my lips shall praise you too and you alone are worthy of that praise!!! Jesus you are better than life itself! What are your lips praising this morning?
Have an awesome day...Tom
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