Learning God Through the Psalms

“Because God is at my right hand I shall not be moved”
~Psalm 16:8

This years has not been one of my best years and I have spent most of it discouraged. While talking to a friend about it one afternoon, she suggested that I read through the Psalms and write down some of the things that stood out to me about God. Then meditate on who He is and thank Him for His blessings. I decided to give it a try and it has become one of the most fulfilling and satisfying times I've spent in God's word. These words have filled my soul and calmed my spirit. It’s been amazing to see how many attributes our Lord has. Not that I didn’t know already that He is amazing (I mean as Christians, that’s what we’re taught, right?) but there’s been something even more breathtaking and strengthening about writing each one down and thinking about all that our God is and all that He can do. I’ve listed just a few of the things I’ve gleaned from the first thirty chapters. But don't take my word for it...try it for yourself!!!

3:3 God is my shield
3:3 God is my glory and the one who lifts my head
3:5 God is my sustainer
3:7 God is my protector
3:8 God is my protector
4:1 He is there in times of distress
4:3 He sets apart the godly
4:3 He hears me when I call
4:8 He makes me to dwell in safety
5:4 He does not take pleasure in the wicked
5:4 No evil dwell with our Lord
5:12 The Lord will bless the righteous and surround him as a shield
6:8 The Lord hears my weeping
6:9 He hears my supplication
6:9 The Lord will receive my prayer
7:11 God is a just judge
7:11 He is angry with wickedness
8:1-9 He is over all creation
9:8 He is judge over creation
9:7 He endures forever
9:9 He is our refuge in times of trouble
9:10 He will not forsake those who seek Him
10:14 He sees out troubles and grief
10:14 He is a help to the fatherless
10:16 The Lord is King forever
10:16 He hears the desires of the humble
13:6 He deals bountifully with His children
16:2 God is our Lord
16:5 He is our portion and our inheritance
16:5 He maintains our lot
17:7 He saves those who trust in Him
18:1 The Lord is my strength
18:2 God is my rock and my fortress
18:2 He is my deliverer
18:2 He is my shield, my salvation, and my stronghold
18:3 He is worthy to be praised
18:30 His ways are perfect
18:30 He is a shield to those who trust in Him
18:32 He gives us strength and makes our ways perfect
18:35 He is our guide and our sustainer
18:39 He is my strength in battle
19:1 The Heavens declare His glory
19:7 His law is perfect
19:7 The testimonies of the Lord are sure
19:8 His statutes are right
19:8 His commandments are pure
19:9 God is to be feared
19:9 His judgments are true and righteous
19:10 His Word is more desirable than gold and sweeter than honey
19:14 He is my redeemer and strength
20:6 He answers and saved me
21:4 He is the giver of life
22:24 He hears my cry for help
23:1 The Lord is my shepherd
23:2 He gives me what I need
23:3 He restores my soul and grants me peace
23:3 He leads my in His ways
23:4 He is my protector, I shall not fear
24:2 He established the earth
28:5 He punishes the wicked
28:7 My heart can trust in Him
28:7 He is my help
28:8 He is my saving refuge
29:3 His voice is over the waters
29:4 The voice of the Lord is powerful
29:4 His voice is majestic
29:8-9 His voice makes the wilderness shake and the deer give birth
29:10 He was at the beginning
29:10 He is eternal
29:11 He gives strength
30:4 He deserves praise

Lessons From The Cross

The night before Easter I sat down with my family to watch the movie “The Passion of the Christ”. I don’t know if you’ve ever seen it, but for me, it’s one of the hardest movies to watch. The ghastly and graphically gruesome beatings of Christ that are depicted on the screen make you want to jump out of your seat and scream “How could you? Don’t you have any sense of compassion?” at the television. Through tears of horror you watch as they nail the beaten and bloody body of Christ to the cross and something inside you burns with anger at the people who could do this to Him. And then, God reminded me that it was for my sin that He endured that pain and punishment. It was just as much my fault as it was the people who physically drove the nails in His hands and shouted “crucify Him”. What’s even more amazing is that Christ bore it with joy as He submitted to the Father’s will and redeemed us from the grasp of sin. Even in the midst of the pain and suffering, we hear Christ say “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” Christ endured the cross so I could enjoy Him and have a home in Heaven. What amazing love! And yet, I realized how lightly I take my sin. How many times do I hold onto the very things that Christ had to endure such chastisement for? How easy it is to forget how great a price was paid for the very things I don’t want to give up. As I watched the movie, the verse from Isaiah 53:5 kept echoing in my mind, “He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him, and by His scourging we are healed.” The bloody and mired Jesus that Gibson depicted in his movie, wasn’t even able to capture all that Christ endured, and yet, by the end of it, you felt like your senses were on overload and you couldn't visually take anymore. Isaiah 53 took on a whole new meaning for me that night. What gratitude I owe my Savior, and what an amazing gift He bestowed upon someone so undeserving. This Easter, I pray you were all reminded, as I was, that our sin is nothing to take lightly and in light of the gracious gift that Christ has given us, we can do no less then to give him our hearts, minds, and lives in obedience. God bless you all. He is Risen!!

How wide is Your love
That You would stretch Your arms
And go around the world
And why for me would a Savior's cry be heard
I don't know
Why You went where I was meant to go
I don't know
Why You love me so

Those were my nails
That was my crown
That pierced Your hands and Your brow
Those were my thorns
Those were my scorns
Those were my tears that fell down
And just as You said it would be
You did it all for me
After You counted the cost
You took my shame, my blame
On my cross

How deep is Your grace
That you could see my need
And chose to take my place
And then for me, these words I'd hear You say
Father no
Forgive them for they know not what they do
I will go
Because I love them so

Those were my nails
That was my crown
That pierced Your hands and Your brow
Those were my thorns
Those were my scorns
Those were my tears that fell down
And just as You said it would be
You did it all for me
After You counted the cost
You took my shame, my blame
On my cross

~FFH - My Cross

"Thy Will Be Done"

Recently I’ve been reading through Elisabeth Elliot’s book, Passion and Purity. I had read through it years ago, but had forgotten most of its content. And looking back, I think I was really too young to appreciate it. About a month ago, one of my brothers decided to read it and so I was inspired to do the same. What a blessing it’s been. This book was written mostly about her struggles while waiting on God in regards to her relationship with Jim (who eventually did became her husband), but the surrender she addresses in this book can be applied to every area of our lives. It’s the struggle between knowing we should want God’s will and yet wanting to hold on to our own. No matter who we are or what phase of life we may find ourselves in, this issue is one that we all have to face. I’ve been so encouraged and challenged as I’ve read through these pages. I’m only half way through the book at this point, but there were some really good quotes that I think are worth sharing. And so, from time to time, will be posting some of the wisdom from this dear woman.

“I knew, and I realized that the deepest spiritual lessons are not learned by His (God) letting us have our way in the end, but by His making us wait, bearing with us in love and patience until we are able honestly to pray what He taught His disciples to pray: Thy will be done. Acceptance of whatever that means is the great victory of faith that overcomes the world.” ~Elisabeth Elliot

"My Savior, His Son"

I will praise you because you’re mighty
The King of Heaven, Lord of all,
You died upon that gruesome cross
To save us from the fall.

In glorious Eden man did sin
It only took one choice,
A perfect union broke that day
As man hid from God’s voice.

And so a baby He did send
All wrapped in swaddling cloth,
This baby was His only Son
Laid in a cattle troth.

The second person of the Godhead
Was sent to live on earth,
Our Savior, our Redeemer
Had now come with His birth!

That baby grew up day by day
In wisdom, strength, and power;
A sinless life He lived on earth
Even in that final hour.

He healed those who were sick and lame
The people all proclaimed,
“Hosanna to the king of kings,
Hosanna to His name”.

But when the proper time had come
The people’s hearts did turn,
And anger, wrath, and wickedness
All in their hearts did burn.

They shouted “Crucify Him”
They claimed “His story’s wrong,
He blasphemes that He’s God’s own son”
Thus this became their song.

So like a spotless perfect lamb
My Savior he was led,
The chastisement of a fallen world
To be laid upon His head.

Nailed to a wooden cross that morn
At Calvary He died,
He took my sin and death’s dark sting
“It’s finished” then He cried.

As I looked upon God’s Holy Son
I realized with distain,
It was my deeds that placed Him there
My sin that caused His pain.

Then in a borrowed tomb that night
My Savior they did lay,
Appointed guards were stationed there
So in it He would stay.

But an angel of the Lord appeared
All clothed in brilliant white,
And on the third day rolled the stone
To thus reveal the light.

My Savior, He had risen
The Lord, He was not there,
The people stood in silence
As in the grave they stare.

“Fear not”, the angel’s voice was heard
Like a mighty trumpet sound,
“For since the Father’s plan is complete
He’s no longer in the ground.”

“He’s risen and He reigns on high
Seated at the Father’s side,
If you believe in Him today
You will never have to hide.”

“Now, when your life is over
And you meet God face to face,
He’ll no longer see your sin and shame
For His Son stands in your place.

~ Amy Skoczelak, October 2006

"But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life." ~Titus 3:4-7

Greater Love

"Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends." ~John 15:13

~What wondrous love is this?

Isaiah 41:10

I read this verse, believe it or not, in a Janette Oke book years ago. From that moment on it's become one of my favorites.

"Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."