Never Forgotten

Psalm 105: ⁴² For he remembered his holy promise
    given to his servant Abraham.
⁴³ He brought out his people with rejoicing,
    his chosen ones with shouts of joy;
⁴⁴ he gave them the lands of the nations,
    and they fell heir to what others had toiled for—
⁴⁵ that they might keep his precepts
    and observe his laws.

Praise the Lord.

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Crisp presentation, well thought out numbers and counter measures to thwart any attack made me feel confident that I could face the crowd. After the presentation I got feedback that I had “hit a homerun.” After doing this a while I thought to myself, “What would this company do without me?” I mean, it probably would fail. The company had its fortieth anniversary and I was in my late thirties believing they could never do without me.

• Sometimes I think I did something to get myself to where I got.
• Sometimes I think my abilities are what elevates me or tears me down.
• Sometimes I think I cannot be replaced and my expertise is necessary for success.

It’s amazing how little I recognize GOD’s hand in things. If something great happens, then it was my abilities and knowledge that got me there. If something bad happens then I question GOD and HIS poor decision making.  GOD wants me to think differently.

• GOD wants me to remember HE keeps all of HIS promises which include my life.
• GOD wants me to look back at what HE has done in my life and others and rejoice.
• GOD wants me to keep HIS precepts and observe HIS laws because of these great memories.

GOD wants me to “remember.” Each time I have a meal I can remember what HIS SON did for me, and I get hungry a lot! I can go to church and take communion which is more ceremonial and formal, remembering what GOD has done for others and what HE is doing for me. GOD raises me to places where others have toiled and made me heir. I praise the LORD!

• Are you tired of where you are?
• Do you think GOD is foolish?
• Can you let go of the shore and flow down the river HE has for you?
• Will you remember what HE has done for you and others and give HIM even the tiniest praise today?

Hearing When the Noise is Loud

Psalm 104: ²⁷ All creatures look to you
    to give them their food at the proper time.
²⁸ When you give it to them,
    they gather it up;
when you open your hand,
    they are satisfied with good things.
²⁹ When you hide your face,
    they are terrified;
when you take away their breath,
    they die and return to the dust.
³⁰ When you send your Spirit,
    they are created,
    and you renew the face of the ground.

³¹ May the glory of the Lord endure forever;
    may the Lord rejoice in his works—
³² he who looks at the earth, and it trembles,
    who touches the mountains, and they smoke.

³³ I will sing to the Lord all my life;
    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
³⁴ May my meditation be pleasing to him,
    as I rejoice in the Lord.

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“Hurry, we have to get to the airport on time” were the motivating words out of my mouth that I barked at my team. Barely getting there on time, my heart raced as I got into the routine of shoe removal and laptop stacking in the security line. I quickly sized up the other travelers and noticed a person fumbling to remove their belt.

I quickly dashed into another line and looked incessantly at my watch, hoping to speed up the security screeners. I plopped in my seat and immediately went to sleep not noticing anyone around me.

• Sometimes the noise of life makes me not notice my surroundings.
• Sometimes the noise of life drowns out quiet sounds.
• Sometimes the noise of life keeps me on edge to the point where nothing else fits.

It’s hard to see GOD at work when the attendant doesn’t have my reservation and I may be late for an important meeting. Birds, what birds? What do they have to do with me? I, late! BUT GOD wants me to hear HIM.

• GOD provides food for the birds and wants me to slow down to notice HE takes care of them and me.
• GOD made the mountains and waters the field and wants me to know HE cares for me in spite of what’s going on around me.
• GOD sustains and gives at the proper time and wants me to understand HIS time is wonderful.

Slow down instead of speeding up. Stop looking at the watch or calendar and look out at the bird hopping in the field is what HE says to me. HIS eye is on the sparrow and I know HE watches over me.

• Are you deafened by your circumstance?
• Have you gotten to the point where you cannot hear or see GOD working?
• Can you stop looking at your watch or calendar and see HIM today?
• Will you listen to HIS voice by slowing down for just a minute?

Truly Understanding the Misunderstood

Psalm: ¹ Praise the Lord, my soul;
    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
² Praise the Lord, my soul,
    and forget not all his benefits—
³ who forgives all your sins
    and heals all your diseases,
⁴ who redeems your life from the pit
    and crowns you with love and compassion,
⁵ who satisfies your desires with good things
    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

⁶ The Lord works righteousness
    and justice for all the oppressed.

⁷ He made known his ways to Moses,
    his deeds to the people of Israel:
⁸ The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
    slow to anger, abounding in love.
⁹ He will not always accuse,
    nor will he harbor his anger forever;
¹⁰ he does not treat us as our sins deserve
    or repay us according to our iniquities.
¹¹ For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
    so great is his love for those who fear him;
¹² as far as the east is from the west,
    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

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“Misunderstood” is probably the most common name for GOD. I mean when HE tries to help me grow, I mistake it for an attack on my person. I try to recall my sins from the last time I asked for forgiveness and when I come up with no recollection, I try to convince GOD that I have been righteous and deserve better treatment. BUT GOD understands and holds no blame.

• GOD has forgiven me of ALL my sins, even tomorrow’s.
• GOD heals me in HIS time, HIS way and sometimes leaves me in the fire when HE sees a need to heal emotional and spiritual wounds.
• GOD has redeemed me from the pit by looking at my entire life, assessing every sin I ever did and stating “I will die in my child’s place.”
• GOD crowns me with love and compassion daily and satisfies my desires when pointed at HIS.
• GOD works righteousness and justice for me, even in my foolish ways.
• GOD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger abounding in love for me.
• GOD does not always accuse me so when I feel accused over and over, it is not from HIM (He need only tell me once).
• GOD does not harbor HIS anger towards me forever, in fact, HE does not treat me as I deserve, nor does HE repay me for my iniquities.
• GOD’s love for me is endless, as high as the heavens are above the earth.
• GOD has removed my transgressions away from me as far as the east is from the west.

I really need to change GOD’s name from “misunderstood” to “Thank-YOU LORD!”

• Are you feeling pitiful?
• Do you think GOD has it out for you?
• Can you stop having selfish, negative thoughts about GOD and believe HE has your best interest in mind?
• Will you praise HIM for who HE really is?

When I am Weak

Psalm:101: ¹¹ My days are like the evening shadow;
    I wither away like grass.

¹² But you, Lord, sit enthroned forever;
    your renown endures through all generations.
¹³ You will arise and have compassion on Zion,
    for it is time to show favor to her;
    the appointed time has come.
¹⁴ For her stones are dear to your servants;
    her very dust moves them to pity.
¹⁵ The nations will fear the name of the Lord,
    all the kings of the earth will revere your glory.
¹⁶ For the Lord will rebuild Zion
    and appear in his glory.
¹⁷ He will respond to the prayer of the destitute;
    he will not despise their plea.

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“What else can go wrong” were the hilarious words to the beginning of the slide. First I received some bad news, and then I asked that dreaded question. After that I received more bad news that seemed to top the first wave. I said it again and I got some news that seemed to be equal if not greater than the other two combined. I stopped asking.

• There are times where life’s troubles come at me in many waves.
• There are times when difficulties hit me one blow after another.
• There are times that seem like troubles rush at me when I can’t pick myself up and dust myself off.

It’s easy to say “You’ll be fine” sitting from a cruise ship speaking to someone who is going through trouble, but what happens when “I” am the one who is in trouble? I mean who should I turn to?

• GOD wants me to know “When I am weak GOD is strong.”
• GOD wants me to know “I will never leave you or forsake you.”
• GOD wants me to know “MY love is everlasting, no height, nor depth, nor any created thing can separate you from MY love.”

GOD is a GOD of compassion. Difficulty is a way of life and sometimes the waves hit hard, so hard in fact that they may knock me off my feet. BUT GOD says “I know.” HE cares and HIS plan for me works extremely well in the midst of calamity. GOD responds to my prayer and does not despise my plea.

• Are you going through extreme trouble?
• Has life knocked you off your feet?
• Can you let GOD pick you up and not depend on your own energy?
• Will you look at HIS power in awe and know HE has compassion on you?
• Can you stay the course for where else will you turn?

I Better Mean What I Say

Psalm 101: ¹ I will sing of your love and justice;
    to you, Lord, I will sing praise.
² I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
    when will you come to me?

I will conduct the affairs of my house
    with a blameless heart.

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“You are sorry you got caught” the officer said to me in reply to my apology. Prior to being pulled over I quickly said “Oh GOD, Please, please, please don’t let me get a ticket!” The officer was right. I was not sorry for what I had done, but I sure was mad that I had to pay.

• There are times I don’t like justice.
• There are times I don’t want to sing praises because my heart is too hard.
• There are times I refuse to yield and end up with consequence rather than blessing.

One day as I was zipping down the road with a coworker, I was pulled over. After claiming my ticket, I sped off only to be pulled over a second time. Fortunately the second officer asked “Where are you going?” He knew the business we were visiting and let me go with a warning! “I better be careful” I said to myself.

• GOD has forgiven me for my sins but allows “crops” to grow where I sow seeds.
• GOD has forgiven me for my sins and wants me to plant seeds of life rather than death.
• GOD has forgiven me for my sins and HE desires that I enjoy HIS rules rather than getting mad at how HE works in my life.

Living sinless, or as the author says “blameless” is pretty difficult. I will inadvertently sin; BUT GOD wants me to stay away from sin anyway, not because HE will hit me in the head with a bat but because I love HIM. HE knows there is power in modeling my behavior after HIM. HE knows I should have love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The more fruit I bear the more GOD blossoms in my life.

• Are you bearing fruit with your current behavior?
• Do you think GOD is after you in a bad way or a good way?
• Can you believe GOD loves you and wants you to delight in HIS way rather than pouting that you are not getting yours?
• Will you turn your anger into praise for GOD’s justice?

Praising Takes Practice

Psalm 100: ¹ Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth.
²     Worship the Lord with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.
³ Know that the Lord is God.
    It is he who made us, and we are his;
    we are his people, the sheep of his pasture.

⁴ Enter his gates with thanksgiving
    and his courts with praise;
    give thanks to him and praise his name.
⁵ For the Lord is good and his love endures forever;
    his faithfulness continues through all generations.

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News about the impending doom couldn’t have come at the worst time. With a second child, it was already difficult enough to make ends meet and for the first time, this particular company was going to do severe cuts in order to keep the stock market happy. When I got to work everyone, including myself was worried. One person said “Praise GOD” and another said “Trust in the LORD.” How in the world can they say that when the world is on fire?!

• Sometimes I am worried to the point where I cannot see GOD.
• Sometimes I am worried to the point where I cannot hear GOD.
• Sometimes I am worried to the point where I cannot speak GOD.

With my world crashing around me I felt helpless and alone, even though there were plenty of others going through the same thing. How in the world could this person say “Praise GOD” at a time like this? They don’t understand “my” situation, or do they?

• Praising GOD in the face of adversity makes me stronger each day.
• Praising GOD in the middle of the storm gives HIM the strength and takes the load off of me.
• Praising GOD in the brunt of the trial enables me to see, hear and speak about GOD.

What I’ve noticed is GOD says “Take heart for I am with you” quite often. HE says “Do not be afraid” more and more to me because there will be scary times in life where it seems like nothing will go “right.” Praising GOD isn’t an appeal to worship the egotistical figurehead that I sometimes think HE is. Praising GOD is actually a spiritual weapon that helps me fight against worry, doubt and fear.

Without praise, I fall into a trap of disbelief. Everyone around me becomes a problem rather than a solution. GOD wants me to carry the spirit of gratitude and to speak about HIS ways to everyone. HE wants me to douse lying spirits and praise HIS holy name.

• Are you worried?
• Do you feel even those who usually pray for you, are against you?
• Do the words “Trust in the LORD” turn your stomach because “these words” seem empty?
• Can you stop and turn to GOD and hear that HE does love you in spite of what you are going through?
• Will you take a moment, even if it is a tiny moment, to praise GOD today?

Keep Calling

Psalm 99: ⁶ Moses and Aaron were among his priests,
    Samuel was among those who called on his name;
they called on the Lord
    and he answered them.
⁷ He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud;
    they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them.

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Sitting on the beach all I could think about was “What time is my spa appointment.” I had never been to a spa but this trip was a perk to the job and someone had to go! After a day of relaxation, a couple invited us out. We danced until the cows came home.

• In times of plenty, I sometimes forget about GOD.
• In times of plenty, I do not feel the need to cry out to GOD.
• In times of plenty, I “think” I have all I need and my shopping bag does not include GOD.

All of my thoughts were on the next position so I could get even bigger perks. As I climbed higher and higher, I did not notice GOD dissipating out of my life. I mean, I had plenty so GOD must have been there, right? Well sort of.

• GOD wants me to remember HIM in the time of need as well as the time of plenty.
• GOD wants me to place my thoughts on HIM and praise HIM evenly, through trouble and plenty.
• GOD wants me to seek HIS face constantly and not be distracted by trouble or wealth.

Vacations are great; BUT GOD wants me to take HIM with me wherever I go. HE doesn’t want me to get away from HIM in times of plenty and cry out to HIM only when I need HIM. HE wants me to be a full fan of HIM, not just a fair weather fan. My praise should be as equal as my requests. My excitement should be as equal as my doubt. GOD wants me and I call to HIM daily!

• Have you forgotten GOD?
• Are you on vacation and feel you can drop GOD off?
• Will you remember GOD during times of plenty?