Psalm 7, 37, 67, 97, 127
What is my part in this??
Psalms 7:1-5
1 O Lord my God, in You I have taken refuge; Save me from all those who pursue me, and deliver me,
2 Or he will tear my soul like a lion, dragging me away, while there is none to deliver.
3 O Lord my God, if I have done this, if there is injustice in my hands,
4 If I have rewarded evil to my friend, or have plundered him who without cause was my adversary,
5 Let the enemy pursue my soul and overtake it; and let him trample my life down to the ground and lay my glory in the dust.
This passage begins with a statement of fact- “Lord I’m hiding in You because otherwise I will be torn to shreds.” Next he questions his role-“Lord, did I do harm to some one who was at peace with me? Have I created this chaos around me?” He must have been sure the answer would be no to his question or he wouldn’t have had such drastic judgment for a yes answer.
We recognize as David did that God is our rescuer, it is His nature. He does not do it based on our innocence or guilt. I do ask at chaotic times what was my part in creating this situation but I do this so I can repent to God and make restitution or seek restoration.
I sound real spiritual but it is a little like wrestling and you are pinned and you do not see any relieve from the pressure until you call ‘uncle’. Unfortunately it is our nature to at first be concentrating on ourselves and what others or life is doing to mistreat us. It reminds me of the statement that there are three sides to every story-yours, mine and the truth.
As I stand back and listen carefully I have the opportunity to evaluate my responsibility and the leading of the Lord for the times relationship can be restored or peace when the other party is closed and there will not be a future with this person.
I imagine how wonderful it must have been for David to know he was God’s anointed King to replace Saul and yet David spent many years running for his life. David felt the pain of lost relationship, especially with Jonathan and his wife Mical. He went from being National Hero to Israel’s Most-Wanted based on Saul’s jealousy. The best decision that David made was refusing to take the opportunity to exact some revenge
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
Monday, December 21, 2009
It Must Be Grace-V-1
It Must Be Grace
Written by Brian White, Chris Easton & Don Poythress
Verse 1
How could One, One such as You be longing for me
What would I. I have to give that You’d ever need
Why, no matter how far I run
Do You pursue me
Why, when I fall time after time
Do You still love me
What could make You love me
One of those really big mysteries of the Bible and this relationship with God is the relationship with God. On one hand you have the Creator of the Universe, the One who can hear every prayer, who is attentive to the smallest details and He longs for time with me. Why, what clever things do I have to say which make this an equal relationship?
Then I think of me and my sons. We are not equal because I have many years of life experience, education and age difference which give me the ‘upper hand’ if you will. But even when they were small and I wasn’t as interested in the friends or toys they wanted to share with me-the sharing with me pulled my heart to listen carefully and to be drawn into their world for awhile.
So it isn’t much different when we want to tell God about an accomplishment or even a disappointment. He cares because He cares for us. He could solve our issues or questions with just a little conversation and a different perspective but He wants us to have the joy of discovery and the value of making progress because we are growing, not because we are told to insert A into B. When I discover the usefulness or the solution by His careful guidance it means much more to me, just like watching my sons.
The knowledge that He does pursue me, when I am so busy running around as if my salvation and obedience are dependent on me is beyond comprehension. Somehow I have learned the lesson that busyness means I am achieving and my achieving makes me acceptable and loved. Of course as a Mom when I wanted toys picked up, the sooner it was done the sooner we could cuddle or do something else.
I was not a successful parent because my boys would run frantically tossing things in bins and shoving them in closets. My achievements do not make God look better, He makes me look better and different to a sin sick world. The things I do because He truly asks them to be done demonstrate His love and the changes He is bringing into my life by the study of His Word, the circumstances I face daily and the relationships I have with those around me. Excuse me, I have to go tell my Dad about something that happened today.
Written by Brian White, Chris Easton & Don Poythress
Verse 1
How could One, One such as You be longing for me
What would I. I have to give that You’d ever need
Why, no matter how far I run
Do You pursue me
Why, when I fall time after time
Do You still love me
What could make You love me
One of those really big mysteries of the Bible and this relationship with God is the relationship with God. On one hand you have the Creator of the Universe, the One who can hear every prayer, who is attentive to the smallest details and He longs for time with me. Why, what clever things do I have to say which make this an equal relationship?
Then I think of me and my sons. We are not equal because I have many years of life experience, education and age difference which give me the ‘upper hand’ if you will. But even when they were small and I wasn’t as interested in the friends or toys they wanted to share with me-the sharing with me pulled my heart to listen carefully and to be drawn into their world for awhile.
So it isn’t much different when we want to tell God about an accomplishment or even a disappointment. He cares because He cares for us. He could solve our issues or questions with just a little conversation and a different perspective but He wants us to have the joy of discovery and the value of making progress because we are growing, not because we are told to insert A into B. When I discover the usefulness or the solution by His careful guidance it means much more to me, just like watching my sons.
The knowledge that He does pursue me, when I am so busy running around as if my salvation and obedience are dependent on me is beyond comprehension. Somehow I have learned the lesson that busyness means I am achieving and my achieving makes me acceptable and loved. Of course as a Mom when I wanted toys picked up, the sooner it was done the sooner we could cuddle or do something else.
I was not a successful parent because my boys would run frantically tossing things in bins and shoving them in closets. My achievements do not make God look better, He makes me look better and different to a sin sick world. The things I do because He truly asks them to be done demonstrate His love and the changes He is bringing into my life by the study of His Word, the circumstances I face daily and the relationships I have with those around me. Excuse me, I have to go tell my Dad about something that happened today.
Sunday, December 20, 2009
It Must Be Grace-Chorus
It Must Be Grace
Written by Brian White, Chris Easton & Don Poythress
Chorus
I don’t understand what it is you see in the heart of someone like me,
When I let you down, but You still believe and
prove Your love time and again and again,
All I can say is it must be grace.
There are many Bible characters that could have written this song and could sing this song with total integrity but my first choice would be King David. David was larger than life from boyhood. How many boys do you know who have killed a bear and a lion while protecting the family sheep? Okay we don’t even know people who own sheep but I still find this feat amazing. He was still a young boy when he killed Goliath, while the rest of the army shook in their sandals. BUT he also sinned in ways that most of us can not imagine. He conceived a baby with another man’s wife, and had him murdered to cover it up. David’s marriages and children were a mess.
But one thing David knew, that grace would allow him to serve out his days as the King, He would be the father of the one who would build the tabernacle and he was in the line of the Messiah-all because of God’s grace. His actions did not earn him a place in history and his actions did not make him someone to be hidden or shunned. He knew it was God who was in charge and even David couldn’t hurt His reputation with God.
I am walking carefully to live in this Grace life that God has provided. It is easier to do when it is not focused on my behavior, bad or good. You see first if the focus is on me it is off of God. I might begin to measure myself against others and they suffer most of the time in comparison. (lol) Or even if I am being ‘humble’ and beating myself up for my shortcomings it is still all about me.
How can I extend grace to that driver who just cut me off when I am in ‘me mode’? I can’t I have none. The only grace I can extend is taking what has been given to me and seeing someone that needs it and giving it to them. We generally see someone cutting us off as them being rude or arrogant to us, but what if we could know they just received a phone call and someone they love is hurt or ill and all they can think about is getting there. We really don’t know someone else’s agenda but we are quick to judge their action by our yardstick.
You see Grace isn’t given to us to hoard or hide away. It is not a reward for great behavior or being a favorite, it is a pure gift from One who truly knows how unworthy we are but chooses to give anyway.
Written by Brian White, Chris Easton & Don Poythress
Chorus
I don’t understand what it is you see in the heart of someone like me,
When I let you down, but You still believe and
prove Your love time and again and again,
All I can say is it must be grace.
There are many Bible characters that could have written this song and could sing this song with total integrity but my first choice would be King David. David was larger than life from boyhood. How many boys do you know who have killed a bear and a lion while protecting the family sheep? Okay we don’t even know people who own sheep but I still find this feat amazing. He was still a young boy when he killed Goliath, while the rest of the army shook in their sandals. BUT he also sinned in ways that most of us can not imagine. He conceived a baby with another man’s wife, and had him murdered to cover it up. David’s marriages and children were a mess.
But one thing David knew, that grace would allow him to serve out his days as the King, He would be the father of the one who would build the tabernacle and he was in the line of the Messiah-all because of God’s grace. His actions did not earn him a place in history and his actions did not make him someone to be hidden or shunned. He knew it was God who was in charge and even David couldn’t hurt His reputation with God.
I am walking carefully to live in this Grace life that God has provided. It is easier to do when it is not focused on my behavior, bad or good. You see first if the focus is on me it is off of God. I might begin to measure myself against others and they suffer most of the time in comparison. (lol) Or even if I am being ‘humble’ and beating myself up for my shortcomings it is still all about me.
How can I extend grace to that driver who just cut me off when I am in ‘me mode’? I can’t I have none. The only grace I can extend is taking what has been given to me and seeing someone that needs it and giving it to them. We generally see someone cutting us off as them being rude or arrogant to us, but what if we could know they just received a phone call and someone they love is hurt or ill and all they can think about is getting there. We really don’t know someone else’s agenda but we are quick to judge their action by our yardstick.
You see Grace isn’t given to us to hoard or hide away. It is not a reward for great behavior or being a favorite, it is a pure gift from One who truly knows how unworthy we are but chooses to give anyway.
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Foot Washing
I was reading a blog today of a family member who was involved with service to the homeless and her station was a foot wash, massage and clean socks. She shared some of the stories of those she tended that day and her personal feelings and observations. I was touched by the lessons we learn when we are "just" living. She shared the fact that they were uncomfortable exposing their feet to someone else because of the neglect. When they could get past their fear and humiliation they would be able to relax and receive the gift of service offered and the pleasure it brought.
I have grown up in the church and remember people talking about a "foot washing" service. They would usually lead to some restored relationships but I have never experienced one of these services.
Then I think of when Jesus offered to wash the feet of his closest friends and the lessons learned, my favorite being Peter's "wash all of me then". But as I have thought about this today I wonder if we miss the point when we try to copy something we see in scripture so we can "create" a reproduction to make this spiritual lesson more meaningful to us. I do not doubt that the Lord works in our mysterious ways to get through our thick heads but I think the lessons learned in this "unspiritual" activity were far more valuable than thinking about doing something spiritual.
I remember one time a friend invited me to go shopping for a Christmas dress and we found a beautiful purple one with sequins and I was suprised when she offered to pay for it as a gift to me. Unfortunately later she mentioned that the funds came from women's ministries or that had been her plan but her husband pointed out that wasn't appropriate and I was embarassed because I had became a ministry project.
I guess the bottom line is we need to treat people with love and dignity because we are all valuable to God and life is not about us "doing" things to show our spirituality. Perhaps if I just do the right thing for the right reason it opens an opportunity to share but the old plan is really just trying to be clever about manipulating opportunities to let my light shine.
I have grown up in the church and remember people talking about a "foot washing" service. They would usually lead to some restored relationships but I have never experienced one of these services.
Then I think of when Jesus offered to wash the feet of his closest friends and the lessons learned, my favorite being Peter's "wash all of me then". But as I have thought about this today I wonder if we miss the point when we try to copy something we see in scripture so we can "create" a reproduction to make this spiritual lesson more meaningful to us. I do not doubt that the Lord works in our mysterious ways to get through our thick heads but I think the lessons learned in this "unspiritual" activity were far more valuable than thinking about doing something spiritual.
I remember one time a friend invited me to go shopping for a Christmas dress and we found a beautiful purple one with sequins and I was suprised when she offered to pay for it as a gift to me. Unfortunately later she mentioned that the funds came from women's ministries or that had been her plan but her husband pointed out that wasn't appropriate and I was embarassed because I had became a ministry project.
I guess the bottom line is we need to treat people with love and dignity because we are all valuable to God and life is not about us "doing" things to show our spirituality. Perhaps if I just do the right thing for the right reason it opens an opportunity to share but the old plan is really just trying to be clever about manipulating opportunities to let my light shine.
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