so the Lord is soooo intimate and faithful... this is what He's been challenging me with lately.
Psalm 81 is AMAZING, read it to get context. The whole time the Lord is saying "I removed this from you, I set you free from this, I rescued you, I answered you, if you would but LISTEN to me!" Kinda like... HELLO I LOVE YOU PLEASE PLEASE LISTEN TO ME I'M SPEAKING TO YOU, I'M BUSTING AT THE SEAMS TO TELL YOU THAT I LOVE YOU!!!
(10) "I am the LORD (Yahweh) your God, who brought you up out of Egypt. Open wide your mouth and I will fill it."
(16) "But you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you."
ahhhhhhhh! Yahweh... the Living God who's name wasn't spoken among Israel because it was too awesome, too great to speak of with the human mouth, says "if you would just listen to me, if you would open wide and come to me expectantly, I would SATISFY you... I would FILL you... but you chose to be stubborn."
I come to Him with a sippy cup... so much. Why don't I come with a huge container, with an empty lake... just begging and EXPECTING Him to just pour out His Spirit like a flood.
so this week.... open wide... like you do when you taste snowflakes, like you do when you shove glorious chocolate cake, like you do when you drink water after a hard run.... come expecting to be filled and satisfied BEYOND your imagination.
<3
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Thursday, September 25, 2008
and the personal...
hmm... it's been interesting praying for brokeness and humility... to be a weak person.
satan totally loves to lie to me... he loves to tell me i don't know who i am, he loves to call that into question, he loves to get me comparing myself to other people, especially my amazing roommates. and he succeeds very often.
total feelings of inadequacy just like swamped me yesterday and the night before... which sucks... Sandy reminded me that Satan just loves for us to dwell on the fact that we're inadequate, but the Lord reminds us that we're adequate not in ourselves, but in Christ. hmm... sometimes i just wish i had it all figured out.
i wish i was grounded in my identity... that I'm a daughter of the Living God... sometimes, most times, i wish i wouldn't compare myself to other people but that i would be completely comfy in my own skin. i wish my faith was bigger, my pride non-existant, my love effective and genuine and expressed, i wish i had patience and self-control, i wish my fear would go away.
the Lord is good... and He's teaching me things... just things that don't feel so great when you go through it... things like trusting His love and grace, both of which are unconditional, even when i am aware of the condition and ugly state of my heart. His standards aren't mine... Halleluia!
He's also conformed stuff... which has been crazy and interesting.... just Him confirming "Yup... I'm teaching you this. Yup... I'm telling you this. Yup... you're my kid, I've told you now BELIEVE and LIVE in that belief, in that knowledge, in My promises. Take me at my word."
so my Jesus is awesome, I don't understand Him, I think He's crazy... but in the best way ever. When I feel like weeping on the floor because I see myself as one big failure, He's like... you're my wife, I've rescued you from this, I saved you from what you couldn't save yourself from.... I love you inspite of you, inspite of what you do, I love you perfectly through the Cross and through redemption... you're acquitted... free! stop judging... I'm not... I've declared you not-guilty... now get off the floor and hug me! Let's make dinner and dance in the kitchen... trust trust trust my love, beloved."
hmm....
grace and peace.
satan totally loves to lie to me... he loves to tell me i don't know who i am, he loves to call that into question, he loves to get me comparing myself to other people, especially my amazing roommates. and he succeeds very often.
total feelings of inadequacy just like swamped me yesterday and the night before... which sucks... Sandy reminded me that Satan just loves for us to dwell on the fact that we're inadequate, but the Lord reminds us that we're adequate not in ourselves, but in Christ. hmm... sometimes i just wish i had it all figured out.
i wish i was grounded in my identity... that I'm a daughter of the Living God... sometimes, most times, i wish i wouldn't compare myself to other people but that i would be completely comfy in my own skin. i wish my faith was bigger, my pride non-existant, my love effective and genuine and expressed, i wish i had patience and self-control, i wish my fear would go away.
the Lord is good... and He's teaching me things... just things that don't feel so great when you go through it... things like trusting His love and grace, both of which are unconditional, even when i am aware of the condition and ugly state of my heart. His standards aren't mine... Halleluia!
He's also conformed stuff... which has been crazy and interesting.... just Him confirming "Yup... I'm teaching you this. Yup... I'm telling you this. Yup... you're my kid, I've told you now BELIEVE and LIVE in that belief, in that knowledge, in My promises. Take me at my word."
so my Jesus is awesome, I don't understand Him, I think He's crazy... but in the best way ever. When I feel like weeping on the floor because I see myself as one big failure, He's like... you're my wife, I've rescued you from this, I saved you from what you couldn't save yourself from.... I love you inspite of you, inspite of what you do, I love you perfectly through the Cross and through redemption... you're acquitted... free! stop judging... I'm not... I've declared you not-guilty... now get off the floor and hug me! Let's make dinner and dance in the kitchen... trust trust trust my love, beloved."
hmm....
grace and peace.
more from the psalms
More from the Psalms... and then some personal ;)
Psalm 77 --> questions and musings from the heart.
(6-9) My heart mused and my spirit inquired - Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld compassion?
(10-20) The psalmist remembers the Lord's past faithfulness and His character, choosing to rest in those even though no "answers" were given to his questions.
(19) Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were unseen.
--> AHHHH!!! where is my trust in the Lord when he takes me through rough waters, when I don't have His footprints right in front of me? When all I have is the sound of His voice and no clue of what's ahead of me??? Where is it??
(20) You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron
Psalm 78 --> crazy-graceful-persistent-pursuing-Lover and His unfaithful-rebellious-lying love.
(1-8) the essential-ness of telling our kids about what the Lord has done and who He is is huge!!!
"Trust in and loyalty to God in the part of His people are covenant matters resulting from remembering God's mighty saving acts. Unfaithfulness is more blameworthy because it contemptuously disregards all God's wonderful acts in His people's behalf."
(32) In spite of all this [God's crazy provision and grace], they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders [providing water, manna, quail, defeating their enemies, leading to the promised land, and more] they did not believe.
--> What did they not believe?
**Bible note**
"They did not believe that God could give them victory over the Canaanites"
AHHH!!! Wow! How often do I not believe God can give, or even wants to give, me victory over the strongholds in my life???
(34-37) When God "slew" them they'd return and remember that God was their Rock and Redeemer BUT they'd only give Him lipservice - lying to Him, flattering Him, when their hearts weren't loyal and they weren't obedient.
(38) YET God was [and still is] merciful. He FORGAVE them for their iniquities and did NOT destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did NOT stir up His full wrath.
(40-43) Again and again they GRIEVED Him in the wasteland, put Him to the test and rebelled against Him. They did NOT remember His power or the day He redeemed them.
(53) He guided them to safety so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies.
--> what a gloriously good Husband... He cares enough to guide me and knows when I am afraid. He doesn't want me to live or dwell in a state of fear.
(58) ...they roused His jealousy with their idols.
(65) Then the Lord awoke as from sleep as man wakes from the stupor of wine.
---> He didn't remain in His anger
(72) And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
--> a great picture of a leader.
Psalm 77 --> questions and musings from the heart.
(6-9) My heart mused and my spirit inquired - Will the Lord reject forever? Will He never show His favor again? Has his unfailing love vanished forever? Has His promise failed for all time? Has God forgotten to be merciful? Has He in anger withheld compassion?
(10-20) The psalmist remembers the Lord's past faithfulness and His character, choosing to rest in those even though no "answers" were given to his questions.
(19) Your path led through the sea, your way through the mighty waters, though your footprints were unseen.
--> AHHHH!!! where is my trust in the Lord when he takes me through rough waters, when I don't have His footprints right in front of me? When all I have is the sound of His voice and no clue of what's ahead of me??? Where is it??
(20) You led your people like a flock by the hand of Moses and Aaron
Psalm 78 --> crazy-graceful-persistent-pursuing-Lover and His unfaithful-rebellious-lying love.
(1-8) the essential-ness of telling our kids about what the Lord has done and who He is is huge!!!
- they learn and we remember
- they'll tell their kids
- they'll put their trust in God, keep His commands, and not forget His deeds
- they won't be stubborn and rebellious like their forefathers (or us)
"Trust in and loyalty to God in the part of His people are covenant matters resulting from remembering God's mighty saving acts. Unfaithfulness is more blameworthy because it contemptuously disregards all God's wonderful acts in His people's behalf."
(32) In spite of all this [God's crazy provision and grace], they kept on sinning; in spite of His wonders [providing water, manna, quail, defeating their enemies, leading to the promised land, and more] they did not believe.
--> What did they not believe?
**Bible note**
"They did not believe that God could give them victory over the Canaanites"
AHHH!!! Wow! How often do I not believe God can give, or even wants to give, me victory over the strongholds in my life???
(34-37) When God "slew" them they'd return and remember that God was their Rock and Redeemer BUT they'd only give Him lipservice - lying to Him, flattering Him, when their hearts weren't loyal and they weren't obedient.
(38) YET God was [and still is] merciful. He FORGAVE them for their iniquities and did NOT destroy them. Time after time He restrained His anger and did NOT stir up His full wrath.
(40-43) Again and again they GRIEVED Him in the wasteland, put Him to the test and rebelled against Him. They did NOT remember His power or the day He redeemed them.
(53) He guided them to safety so they were unafraid; but the sea engulfed their enemies.
--> what a gloriously good Husband... He cares enough to guide me and knows when I am afraid. He doesn't want me to live or dwell in a state of fear.
(58) ...they roused His jealousy with their idols.
(65) Then the Lord awoke as from sleep as man wakes from the stupor of wine.
---> He didn't remain in His anger
(72) And David shepherded them with integrity of heart; with skillful hands he led them.
--> a great picture of a leader.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Psalm 74 and 75
Trekking through the Psalms....
Psalm 74
(12) But You, O God, are my King from of old; You bring salvation upon the earth.
(13-17) It was you who split open the sea by your power...
It was You who crushed the heads of Leviathan...
It was You who opened up springs and streams; You dried up the ever flowing rivers. The day is Yours, and Yours also the night; You established the sun and moon.
It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.
(21) ...may the poor and needy praise Your name.
Psalm 75
Q: How is God revealed in this passage? Who is He? How's the Gospel revealed here?
(1) We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds.
**Your name --> Same used in Psalm 5:11... synonymous with God Himself. It's a "manifestation of God's character. It has no separate existence apart from the Lord, but is synonymous with the Lord Himself in His gracious manifestation and accessibility to His people. Hence... His people can pray to Him by calling on His name." ((note on Psalm 5:11))
The name of the Lord:
(3) When the earth and all its people quake, it is I [God] who hold its pillars firm.
Selah
---> Psalm 11:3-4
"When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do? The LORD (Yahweh) is in His holy temple; the LORD (Yahweh) is on His heavenly throne."
---> I heard a cool definition for Selah a few weeks ago "stop and worship"... and I just thought that was a cool picture. God is soo huge and so in control... just stop. and worship.
(2 + 7) You [God] say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly." "But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another."
--> God is a perfect and righteous judge
--> He won't fail to judge but He'll do it in His perfect timing
--> The beauty of the Gospel, the truth of it - it alone saves us and makes us not-guilty in the courtroom of the universe.
(9) As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
What is "this" I'm declaring?
grace and peace,
corley
Psalm 74
(12) But You, O God, are my King from of old; You bring salvation upon the earth.
(13-17) It was you who split open the sea by your power...
It was You who crushed the heads of Leviathan...
It was You who opened up springs and streams; You dried up the ever flowing rivers. The day is Yours, and Yours also the night; You established the sun and moon.
It was You who set all the boundaries of the earth; You made both summer and winter.
(21) ...may the poor and needy praise Your name.
Psalm 75
Q: How is God revealed in this passage? Who is He? How's the Gospel revealed here?
(1) We give thanks to You, O God, we give thanks, for Your name is near; men tell of Your wonderful deeds.
**Your name --> Same used in Psalm 5:11... synonymous with God Himself. It's a "manifestation of God's character. It has no separate existence apart from the Lord, but is synonymous with the Lord Himself in His gracious manifestation and accessibility to His people. Hence... His people can pray to Him by calling on His name." ((note on Psalm 5:11))
The name of the Lord:
- protects (Psalm 20:1; Pr 18:10)
- saves (The Lord saves by His name) (Ps 54:1)
- is near (His saving acts testify that His name is here) (Ps 52:9)
- can be trusted (The Godly trust in His name) (Ps 20:7; 33:21)
- can be hoped in (the Godly hope in His name) (Ps 52:9)
- can be praised (the Godly sing praise in His name) (Ps 7:17; 9:2; 18:49)
- can be rejoiced in (the Godly rejoice in His name) (Ps 89:16)
- love --> Psalm 69:36; 119:132
- fear --> Psalm 61:5; 86:11; 102:15
(3) When the earth and all its people quake, it is I [God] who hold its pillars firm.
Selah
---> Psalm 11:3-4
"When the foundations are being destroyed what can the righteous do? The LORD (Yahweh) is in His holy temple; the LORD (Yahweh) is on His heavenly throne."
---> I heard a cool definition for Selah a few weeks ago "stop and worship"... and I just thought that was a cool picture. God is soo huge and so in control... just stop. and worship.
(2 + 7) You [God] say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly." "But it is God who judges: He brings one down, he exalts another."
--> God is a perfect and righteous judge
--> He won't fail to judge but He'll do it in His perfect timing
--> The beauty of the Gospel, the truth of it - it alone saves us and makes us not-guilty in the courtroom of the universe.
(9) As for me, I will declare this forever; I will sing praise to the God of Jacob.
What is "this" I'm declaring?
- That the name of the Lord is crazy amazing - I have access to Him, His grace, righteousness, and hope through His name - He is near (Phil 4:4-7).
- I have nothing but God to "fear" --> even when the foundations of the world shake or the world order crumbles - the Lord is in control. "He is before all things and in Him all things hold together" (Colossians 1:17) "The LORD (Yahweh) is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear? The LORD (Yahweh) is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?" (Ps 27:1)
- That the Lord is a righteous judge - He alone can judge men and He alone picks His time to judge. --> the wicked will be cut down, the righteous will be lifted up NOT because the righteous deserve it or because of their deeds, but because their hope and trust is in the Lord (the Gospel) - their faith is in Him, they are dependent upon Him and they sought Him with their all.
- I have nothing to declare but the Gospel. --> That Jesus and the cross has given me freedom from judgement, access to the Father, and freedom from the bondage of fear and slavery to sin.
grace and peace,
corley
Sunday, September 21, 2008
romance
it's brilliant outside today.
sunny with a hint of clouds
crisp
perfect
my Jesus knows how to romance me.
sunny with a hint of clouds
crisp
perfect
my Jesus knows how to romance me.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
a foreshadowing of Jesus
Psalm 72 --> just some verses. I adored how they seem to relate and describe Jesus as the perfect king.
(4-8) He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor. He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In His days the righteousness will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."
(11) All kings will bow down to Him and all nations will serve Him.
(12-14) For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence for precious is their blood in His sight.
(17) May His name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through Him and they will call Him blessed.
(18-19) Praise be to the LORD (Yahweh) God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen
I love the picture of Jesus being like rain falling on a mown field... its like pure. You know when your grass is super dry and it turns an ugly color brown... how it soaks up water and becomes alive again... even its appearance changes to something vibrantly green. I love the picture of Jesus pouring over us and us coming alive because He's quenching that thirst... that longing for eternity that He's set in our hearts.
grace and peace,
corley
(4-8) He will defend the afflicted among the people and save the children of the needy; He will crush the oppressor. He will endure as long as the sun, as long as the moon, through all generations. He will be like rain falling on a mown field, like showers watering the earth. In His days the righteousness will flourish; prosperity will abound till the moon is no more. He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth."
(11) All kings will bow down to Him and all nations will serve Him.
(12-14) For He will deliver the needy who cry out, the afflicted who have no one to help. He will take pity on the weak and the needy and save the needy from death. He will rescue them from oppression and violence for precious is their blood in His sight.
(17) May His name endure forever; may it continue as long as the sun. All nations will be blessed through Him and they will call Him blessed.
(18-19) Praise be to the LORD (Yahweh) God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds. Praise be to His glorious name forever; may the whole earth be filled with His glory. Amen and Amen
I love the picture of Jesus being like rain falling on a mown field... its like pure. You know when your grass is super dry and it turns an ugly color brown... how it soaks up water and becomes alive again... even its appearance changes to something vibrantly green. I love the picture of Jesus pouring over us and us coming alive because He's quenching that thirst... that longing for eternity that He's set in our hearts.
grace and peace,
corley
Friday, September 19, 2008
friday morning and a cup of coffee
hey hey hey!
so this is what the Lord's been teaching me lately... take it with a grain of salt and compare it with Scripture.
i've been reading through the Psalms for forever now, and it's hard reading psalms when you can't currently relate to the mood of the author. It's amazing when you can, you see how crazy relevant they are and it's like stuff just pours out... but when you're not in a similar place that the psalmist is in, it gets hard some mornings. you still see the relevance, but it's harder to relate to. It's like when someone's going through something... like say they're grieving something or they're rejoicing in learning something and you're just not in the same place... it's hard to relate. you still mourn with them or celebrate with them, but it's hard to really relate. so that has been my quiet times some mornings. i'm like... man David that's cool but i'm not really feeling that right now.
BUT (a lightbulb goes off) the Lord remains the same no matter what the psalmist's mood is! He's always a faithful deliverer and a righteous God and the psalmist always ends up praising the Lord.
I'll just start with Psalm 68... which is CRAZY good.
(4-8) Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds- His name is the LORD (Yahweh)- and rejoice before Him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
(19-20) Praise be to the LORD (Yahweh), to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death."
(32-35) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the LORD (Yahweh), Selah. to Him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
Hmmm... He is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows... He gives the lonely FAMILIES, and leads those enslaved and imprisoned with singing.
Psalm 69
(5) You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
(6) May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me [David], O LORD (Yahweh), the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.
(16) Answer me, O LORD (Yahweh), out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
(30-31) I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD (Yahweh) more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
(32-33) The poor will see and be glad - you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD (Yahweh) hears the needy and does not despise His captive people.
(34-36) Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all tha tmove in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. The people will settle there and posses it; the children of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell there.
Poor --> also used in Psalm 34:6. Not necessarily one without possessions, but one who is without resources (and recognizes this) to effect his own deliverance (or secure his own life, safety, well-being) and so is dependent upon God.
Would Jesus make us poor and weak people. His power is made perfect in my weaknesses, He hears the needy... the poor see and are glad, they seek and are humble.
Isaiah 30 (because I skipped around)
(1) Woe to the obstinate children... - rebellious
(9-10) These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"
(15) This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you [Israel] would have none of it..."
(18) Yet the LORD (Yahweh) longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!
(19-20) O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for Him! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.
(21) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
(26) The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted.
How good is our Lord! Revolutionary grace at its finest.
Psalm 70
(4-5) But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" Yet, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."
Poor --> those who realize that they are without resources and are totally dependent upon the Lord
Psalm 71
(3) Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You [God] are my rock and my fortress.
(5) For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
(14-15) But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
(18-19) Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
Praise be to our God most high! He is sooo good. He is faithful despite our unfaithfulness, a pursuer even though we continue to run from Him. He is bursting at the seems to tell us of His love and salvation; to let us in on His grace and the extent of His mercy. Hmm... we serve a good good good Lord, who longs to be gracious to us. He doesn't just do it because He feels obligated to fulfill His promises... He does it because He longs to, He yearns for His glory to be revealed in the lives of His kids... He yearns for us to know Him, to have the fullest extent of life, and He wants to know us... It's all for His glory, His fame, His kingdom.
grace and peace,
corley
so this is what the Lord's been teaching me lately... take it with a grain of salt and compare it with Scripture.
i've been reading through the Psalms for forever now, and it's hard reading psalms when you can't currently relate to the mood of the author. It's amazing when you can, you see how crazy relevant they are and it's like stuff just pours out... but when you're not in a similar place that the psalmist is in, it gets hard some mornings. you still see the relevance, but it's harder to relate to. It's like when someone's going through something... like say they're grieving something or they're rejoicing in learning something and you're just not in the same place... it's hard to relate. you still mourn with them or celebrate with them, but it's hard to really relate. so that has been my quiet times some mornings. i'm like... man David that's cool but i'm not really feeling that right now.
BUT (a lightbulb goes off) the Lord remains the same no matter what the psalmist's mood is! He's always a faithful deliverer and a righteous God and the psalmist always ends up praising the Lord.
I'll just start with Psalm 68... which is CRAZY good.
(4-8) Sing to God, sing praise to His name, extol Him who rides on the clouds- His name is the LORD (Yahweh)- and rejoice before Him. A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, He leads forth the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land."
(19-20) Praise be to the LORD (Yahweh), to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens. Selah. Our God is a God who saves; from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death."
(32-35) Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the LORD (Yahweh), Selah. to Him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice. Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!
Hmmm... He is a father to the fatherless, a defender of widows... He gives the lonely FAMILIES, and leads those enslaved and imprisoned with singing.
Psalm 69
(5) You know my folly, O God; my guilt is not hidden from you.
(6) May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me [David], O LORD (Yahweh), the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel.
(16) Answer me, O LORD (Yahweh), out of the goodness of your love; in your great mercy turn to me.
(30-31) I will praise God's name in song and glorify Him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD (Yahweh) more than an ox, more than a bull with its horns and hoofs.
(32-33) The poor will see and be glad - you who seek God, may your hearts live! The LORD (Yahweh) hears the needy and does not despise His captive people.
(34-36) Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all tha tmove in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. The people will settle there and posses it; the children of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell there.
Poor --> also used in Psalm 34:6. Not necessarily one without possessions, but one who is without resources (and recognizes this) to effect his own deliverance (or secure his own life, safety, well-being) and so is dependent upon God.
Would Jesus make us poor and weak people. His power is made perfect in my weaknesses, He hears the needy... the poor see and are glad, they seek and are humble.
Isaiah 30 (because I skipped around)
(1) Woe to the obstinate children... - rebellious
- They made plans that weren't His
- They didn't listen to or obey His Spirit
- They didn't consult Him
- They looked to men for protection and refuge
(9-10) These are rebellious people, deceitful children, children unwilling to listen to the Lord's instruction. They say to the seers, "See no more visions!" and to the prophets, "Give us no more visions of what is right! Tell us pleasant things, prophesy illusions. Leave this way, get off this path and stop confronting us with the Holy One of Israel!"
(15) This is what the Sovereign Lord, the Holy One of Israel says:
"In repentance and rest is your salvation, in quietness and trust is your strength, but you [Israel] would have none of it..."
(18) Yet the LORD (Yahweh) longs to be gracious to you; He rises to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!
(19-20) O people of Zion, who live in Jerusalem, you will weep no more. How gracious He will be when you cry for Him! As soon as He hears, He will answer you. Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them.
(21) Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."
(26) The moon will shine like the sun, and the sunlight will be seven times brighter, like the light of seven full days, when the Lord binds up the bruises of His people and heals the wounds He inflicted.
How good is our Lord! Revolutionary grace at its finest.
Psalm 70
(4-5) But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" Yet, I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my deliverer; O Lord, do not delay."
Poor --> those who realize that they are without resources and are totally dependent upon the Lord
Psalm 71
(3) Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for You [God] are my rock and my fortress.
(5) For you have been my hope, O Sovereign Lord, my confidence since my youth.
(14-15) But as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell of your righteousness, of your salvation all day long, though I know not its measure.
(18-19) Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come. Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, You who have done great things. Who, O God, is like You?
Praise be to our God most high! He is sooo good. He is faithful despite our unfaithfulness, a pursuer even though we continue to run from Him. He is bursting at the seems to tell us of His love and salvation; to let us in on His grace and the extent of His mercy. Hmm... we serve a good good good Lord, who longs to be gracious to us. He doesn't just do it because He feels obligated to fulfill His promises... He does it because He longs to, He yearns for His glory to be revealed in the lives of His kids... He yearns for us to know Him, to have the fullest extent of life, and He wants to know us... It's all for His glory, His fame, His kingdom.
grace and peace,
corley
Friday, September 12, 2008
if you give a mouse a cookie....
one of my favorite kid books was about giving a mouse a cookie... if you give a mouse of cookie, he might just want a glass of milk to go with it... the point is that the mouse will always want more than just the cookie.
today was one of those days where i just felt blah and worthless. i got nothing accomplished and i've been in a state of "blah-ness" since yesterday after taking 2 exams and not feeling like i did well at all. today was just plain bad.
i didn't wake up wanting to spend time with God, which is odd because we've been hanging out a lot and He's been teaching me stuff. but some sins are easier to ignore and hide than deal with, especially when you don't know HOW to deal with them, and eventually they catch up with you i guess. stuff like pride and bitterness. people only see the extent of them if you let them most times, and most times people are too self-aware to notice them at all. but they still take their toll i guess.
this morning i was just exhausted, in every way. i went to open lab and class and totally zoned out. i came home and made lunch and did nothing. i went to Target and Walmart with Sandy and managed to waste soo much time, it was fun, but it still was avoiding work that needed to be done ;) and even now, i should be working on stuff but am i? no! and i'm just not there mentally to do it either.
i feel bitter. it's a disgusting and ugly thing to feel and be. it's awful, giving Satan a foothold and watching him start to ebb at your heart...but feeling too exhausted to do anything about it. maybe it'd be better if i knew HOW to "get rid of all selfishness, rage and bitterness..." ???? honestly, when i feel bitter about something it's soo frustrating. i know that it's stupid, that i shouldn't, that if anythign it hurts me worse than it does anybody else (if it even does at all) and that it's poison.... but how do you combat bitterness??
so i'm watching elizabethtown for the second time in the past 36 hours.... my 3rd movie in the past 36 hours. i feel worthless, frustrated, and i'm wondering how the mouse got into the kitchen in the first place.
the only thing i've accomplished today has been this post, reading a joyful essay entitled "a modest proposal" (depressing), and cooking black beans... and even those turned out crunchy.
hmm... it's a comforting thought that God doesn't have days like this one.
today was one of those days where i just felt blah and worthless. i got nothing accomplished and i've been in a state of "blah-ness" since yesterday after taking 2 exams and not feeling like i did well at all. today was just plain bad.
i didn't wake up wanting to spend time with God, which is odd because we've been hanging out a lot and He's been teaching me stuff. but some sins are easier to ignore and hide than deal with, especially when you don't know HOW to deal with them, and eventually they catch up with you i guess. stuff like pride and bitterness. people only see the extent of them if you let them most times, and most times people are too self-aware to notice them at all. but they still take their toll i guess.
this morning i was just exhausted, in every way. i went to open lab and class and totally zoned out. i came home and made lunch and did nothing. i went to Target and Walmart with Sandy and managed to waste soo much time, it was fun, but it still was avoiding work that needed to be done ;) and even now, i should be working on stuff but am i? no! and i'm just not there mentally to do it either.
i feel bitter. it's a disgusting and ugly thing to feel and be. it's awful, giving Satan a foothold and watching him start to ebb at your heart...but feeling too exhausted to do anything about it. maybe it'd be better if i knew HOW to "get rid of all selfishness, rage and bitterness..." ???? honestly, when i feel bitter about something it's soo frustrating. i know that it's stupid, that i shouldn't, that if anythign it hurts me worse than it does anybody else (if it even does at all) and that it's poison.... but how do you combat bitterness??
so i'm watching elizabethtown for the second time in the past 36 hours.... my 3rd movie in the past 36 hours. i feel worthless, frustrated, and i'm wondering how the mouse got into the kitchen in the first place.
the only thing i've accomplished today has been this post, reading a joyful essay entitled "a modest proposal" (depressing), and cooking black beans... and even those turned out crunchy.
hmm... it's a comforting thought that God doesn't have days like this one.
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