You are Special

Psalm 72: ¹² For he will deliver the needy who cry out,
    the afflicted who have no one to help.
¹³ He will take pity on the weak and the needy
    and save the needy from death.
¹⁴ He will rescue them from oppression and violence,
    for precious is their blood in his sight.

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¹⁸ Praise be to the Lord God, the God of Israel,
    who alone does marvelous deeds.
¹⁹ Praise be to his glorious name forever;
    may the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and Amen.

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Exhilaration was the feeling as I pedaled faster and faster. I would zoom out of the alley faster than I have ever had before then turn into the street. My bike riding skills were not as good at the time and as I turned into the street at full speed I hit the curb on the opposite side, flipped over the handle bars and landed on hard dirt. Scraped up and bruised I cried out but no one was around. Why did this “happen” to me?

• There are times when stuff happens.
• There are times when I make decisions and they don’t work out as planned.
• There are times when I get bumped and bruised.

Why does the question “Why” come to mind when something goes wrong? I mean when I look back on all the times I asked “Why” there has been a good reason. But sometimes I get stuck in asking “Why” then that leads me to other questions which make me question “Does GOD even care” or “Am I special to HIM?” These are childish times where I am looking for answers and quick fixes. BUT GOD wants me to know HE is there.

• GOD says to me “I deeply care for you.”
• GOD says to me “Your blood is precious to ME.”
• GOD says to me “I made you for a special purpose; do not let the world take you away from MY purpose for you.”

What does a childishly bad biking decision have to do with life… everything! In life stuff will happen and as a child I would question or blame or doubt GOD’s love. BUT GOD stays with me through all the pain and helps me back on the bicycle of life. With torn pants and bloody knee, I got back on the bike, dried my eyes and rode around the block again and again, this time with more experience. GOD not only saves me, HE grows me.

• Are you being bumped around by life?
• Have you fallen off your bicycle of life and lost your exhilaration?
• Can you ask GOD to put the wind back in your sails and get back on your bicycle with joy?
• Will you accept the situation and allow GOD to heal your wounds?

All Eyes on Who?

Psalm 71: ⁵ For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,
    my confidence since my youth.
⁶ From birth I have relied on you;
    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
    I will ever praise you.
⁷ I have become a sign to many;
    you are my strong refuge.
⁸ My mouth is filled with your praise,
    declaring your splendor all day long.

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Gleaming smiles caught my attention from the two girls looking in my direction. My friend and I were riding a crowded bus home after a long tiring day at school. I decided to show my chivalry by giving one of the onlookers my seat and my friend did the same. The one who stared the most opened her mouth and asked me a question. “Hey boy…” I got excited! “What’s your friend’s name?”

• In the past I wanted to be noticed.
• In the past I wanted to get accolades
• In the past I wanted to receive high honor awards.

I didn’t want to be on TV, I just wanted to be noticed. I got tired of being overlooked and wanted some recognition. I combed my hair, changed my clothes and added humor to my language. I was not to be ignored. Then it happened, I was the center of attention. But what was my message, more of me. There has to something more to my life than pointing to my accomplishments.

• When I point my life to GOD there is no failure.
• When I point my life to GOD there is no embarrassment.
• When I point my life to GOD there is no calamity.

When I accept GOD’s plan and HIS sovereign will, I can never say “look at me” or “look at what I did.” I must give credit to GOD and keep my praise of HIM even rather than up and down. I will praise HIM in high times and in low. Instead of pointing to me, I will point to HIM with praise, no matter what’s going on.

• Are you trying to hide?
• Do you feel embarrassed about something?
• Can you stop pointing at yourself for a minute and point people to GOD?
• Will you accept where HE has you and view “praise” as the prize rather than your future rescue story?
• Will you stop trying to feel special and know you ‘are’ special to GOD?

When My Back is Against the Wall

Psalm 70: ³ May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
    turn back because of their shame.
⁴ But may all who seek you
    rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
    “The Lord is great!”

⁵ But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    come quickly to me, O God.
You are my help and my deliverer;
    Lord, do not delay.

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When my professor said, “I think you should choose another major” I was devastated. Meanwhile my car was broke down and bill collectors were calling. This was the worst year ever… well at least that’s what I thought back then. It’s amazing how large these problems felt.

• There are times when it seems difficult for me to just hold on.
• There are times when it seems like everything is falling apart for me.
• There are times when it seems as if nothing is going right for me.

“Woe is me” could be said many days and that makes me want to schlep into a corner and ball up into the fetal position. One negative thought after the next tell lies about the current situation, bringing on discouragement. BUT GOD breaks through with HIS might!

• GOD says to me “Do not be afraid for I AM with you” meaning I do not have to believe in my lying thoughts.
• GOD says to me “Take heed, salvation is here” meaning I am not the one who will save me, rather it is GOD.
• GOD says to me “Trust and obey, keep seeking MY kingdom and I will deliver you” meaning I do not have to exhaust myself but ask GOD to fill me up.

Discouragement is one of the enemy’s weapons. He throws obstacle after obstacle at me until I feel my efforts are futile. BUT GOD wants me to remain encouraged so I can use the creative mind HE gave me. GOD wants me to seek HIS face so I can have peace. Once I have peace then HE can remove negative thoughts and replace them with HIS inspired activity.Peace is not a hard thing to get when I ask GOD for it and give HIM today’s worries.

• Are you in need?
• Do you feel overwhelmed?
• Can you give your problems to GOD in exchange for a moment of peace?
• Will you stop thinking one way and allow GOD’s infinite imagination to enter you?

A Passionate Prayer

Psalm 69: ¹³ But I pray to you, Lord,
    in the time of your favor;
in your great love, O God,
    answer me with your sure salvation.
¹⁴ Rescue me from the mire,
    do not let me sink;
deliver me from those who hate me,
    from the deep waters.
¹⁵ Do not let the floodwaters engulf me
    or the depths swallow me up
    or the pit close its mouth over me.

¹⁶ Answer me, Lord, out of the goodness of your love;
    in your great mercy turn to me.
¹⁷ Do not hide your face from your servant;
    answer me quickly, for I am in trouble.
¹⁸ Come near and rescue me;
    deliver me because of my foes.

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“LORD Help!” were the only words I could think of as my car began to skid. One moment I was driving steady the next my car began to wag and almost spun out of control. The car skidded through a red light of a usually busy street. No one hit us.

• Sometimes I am in immediate danger.
• Sometimes I need help right now!
• Sometimes I am in trouble and the situation is dire.

David was sick and tired of being sick and tired. At one time he was praised and at this moment he was being hunted for execution. I feel the same way at times. I chalk up life’s lessons as something to store up in my memory but there are times when trouble really seems to get heavier and hotter. What can I do?

• GOD says to me “In times of trouble call to ME and I will save you.”
• GOD says to me “No matter where you think you are I have MY arms open wide for you.”
• GOD says to me “Blessed are the pure in heart for they shall see GOD.”

Some trials make me go into action and I put my hands into things GOD should be handling, but there are other times when I have no time to plan, grab on or fix my trouble. Only GOD can handle the situation and all I can do is say “GOD Help!.” Just like the Psalmist said, “GOD knows my folly and my guilt is not hidden from HIM.”  GOD’s grace is the focus in times of trouble.

• Are you in trouble?
• Do you feel you are running out of time?
• Can you focus on GOD’s deliverance?
• Will you rely on GOD rather than your power?

Sinner's Clean

This poem's dedicated

   To my father

Who has been redeemed

   Why'd you have to go so soon

It seems like yesterday

 We were hanging

     Round the pews

Now we're  gonna

     Keep your memory alive

           Sharing God's good news

A life time of memories

  I can not contain

I'd like to keep claiming

   But must first get past the pain

I lift my Bible to your memory

 Romans 10 verse 9

Gives me peace of mind

  Knowing one day soon

      We'll be,

          seeing eye to eye

This for my family

..this is for my father

See you when I get there

 Cause this sinner's clean, this sinner's clean...

My God My God

..could you pass on a message for me

Tell him to hold his praise for a second Lord

..Listen to his family

Could you tell him

...we'll never let go of his memory

So his church will know

....you don't have to cry no more

Cause God's got their back

... I said God's got my back..

A life time of memories

..we cannot contain

We'd like to keep moving

... But need time to heal the pain

I lift my Bible to your memory

..1 John 1 verse 9

Gives me hope that I

..know that one day soon

We'll be, seeing eye to eye

This is for my family...

Doug

Throw away Discontentment

Psalm 67; ³ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.
⁴ May the nations be glad and sing for joy,
    for you rule the peoples with equity
    and guide the nations of the earth.
⁵ May the peoples praise you, God;
    may all the peoples praise you.

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Eight o’clock at night was the final phone call from the bill collector. My car was a junker and I barely made enough for rent. I hated going to the job because I could never get out of working to live and living to work. I went to bed grumpy and woke up the same way. How am I supposed to make it?

• When I am frustrated I do not have words of praise.
• When I am angry I do not have words of praise.
• When I am frightened I do not have words of praise.

Mt prayer life had been reduced to nil. I shrunk back away from the gawkers who ask “how are you doing”, knowing they really didn’t want to know. I really felt as if no one cared. BUT GOD said something different.

• GOD said to me “I AM here with you right now.”
• GOD said to me “The reason I say do not fear is because I have you protected.”
• GOD said to me “I see you and I know you and MY plan for you is great.”

I slowly began to pray again. Not daily, but here and there. My grumpy cloudy thinking cleared up to sunny skies. I was in the same situation but realized I was the one who wanted something different to happen and had not realized that GOD was blessing me. I soon realized that the quicker I can accept a situation, the faster my contentment can come.  I don’t mean I have to remain stagnant, but I can accept obstacles and keep moving.

I focused on my studies and graduated a year and a half later. GOD taught me an important lesson, start being content in the middle of the storm rather than waiting on the storm to end. This means thanking HIM and praising HIM and recognizing HIM even when things don’t seem to be going my way. HE IS there for me always!

• Are you lacking contentment?
• Do you yearn to be in another place in your life?
• Can you start being content in the middle of problems?
• Will you recognize the calling GOD has you in to see HE is opening your eyes to people you can now relate to?

Amazingly Chosen

Psalm 65: ¹ Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.
² You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.
³ When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave our transgressions.
⁴ Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.

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“That’s funny, all the other windows look wet but my driver’s window looks dry” I thought to myself. Then I wondered if I left the window down. To my dismay my car had been broken into. The initial shock caused me to question. “Why did this happen to me?” “Was it the sin I blatantly committed last night at or after the club?”

• Sometimes I think life is a balance of being sinful and being good.
• Sometimes I think I can get my way by being good.
• Sometimes I think I am being punished for being sinful.

Quite honestly it does seem like more goes wrong when I blatantly sin than when I try not to. This perspective is very dangerous because it breeds controlling GOD to the point where I can commit sin when I want to then be good for a while to balance the sin. GOD is not a thermostat, nor is HE the justice scales.

• GOD saved me in the “middle” of my sins which took tremendous grace on HIS part.
• GOD saw that I would not choose HIM so HE chose me and I had nothing to do with that choice.
• GOD blessed me with HIS decision to forgive me and it is now my choice to accept HIS direction.

Being supreme means GOD’s decisions are final and cannot be questioned or challenged. HE can take me low or lift me up. HE can choose some to live and some to die. HE answers my prayer with careful planning so I should never be upset with the answer because HE has a wonderful plan for me. Praise awaits YOU, my GOD, in Zion for HE answers my prayers with supreme authority!

• Are you trying to steer GOD?
• Do you think you are getting away with sin or do you think you can balance your sin with good?
• Can you accept the fact that GOD ha already provided you with an enormous amount of grace?
• Will you release control of your life and let GOD guide your path?