Enemy, Be Scattered

Personally, I like them plain but we all know where we can go to get our hash browns ... scattered, smothered and covered. That's exactly how we prefer our enemies, right - scattered, smothered, covered! The psalmist says, "From the mouths of infants and nursing babes You have established strength because of Your adversaries, to make the enemy and the revengeful cease." (Psalm 8:2 NASB). While creation speaks boldly to the greatness of God, man - God's crowning work - testifies of his Creator. Jesus quoted David in Matthew 21:16, "Out of the mouth of infants and nursing babies You have prepared praise." A former pastor used to say "if you want to scatter a crowd, bring up Jesus" ... sadly, that is true. However, the greatest scattering is of the enemy when we speak of in praise and adoration The One Who rules and reigns. Just as light soundly snuffs out darkness, so does The Name of Jesus: "Therefore God has highly exalted Him and bestowed on Him the Name that is above every name, so that at the Name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father." (Philippians 2:9-11). There's nothing magical nor mystical about Jesus' Name - only power above all other proclaimed power to the glory of The Father. What enemy is crouching at your heart's door, threatening to destroy your peace and joy and rest? God's promise is sure - in the powerful Name of Jesus ... enemy, be scattered.

Love With It All

What a sinking feeling it is to realize you've locked your keys in your car ... kept or restrained. O. S. Hawkins writes, “We are to hold nothing back when we love God.” In other words, love Him without restraint! Typically, we try to limit ourselves from spending frivolously, rather practice living frugally. Jesus’ words, “love … with all your heart … soul … strength … mind” in Luke 10:27 don’t translate into hold-back or controlling ourselves. No thought, action, behavior, activity, or effort is exempt from Christ’s command. Perhaps we are guilty of “lip service” as described in Matthew 15:8 – “This people honors Me with their lips, but their heart is far from Me.” What part of the person is missing from the heart-soul-strength-mind? Well, that covers it all – the entire person; it’s all there, no parts missing! To love with no restraint is total abandon, no considering or debating [consciously or unconsciously] whether to love or not. Love with the whole person – give that love all you've got, all the time, in all circumstances, to all people. The gears of the heart-soul-strength-mind are greased and engaged. turned by a passionate love for Almighty God! Oh my, how do we do this in this imperfect world of evil and injustice? “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.” (2 Corinthians 9:8). There it is - by His grace, we are able to live up to and honor the Name of Christ – – it’s how we … love without restraints … love with it all!

Declare His Glory!

As I was reading Psalm 19 recently, an old 1940's song came to mind: "If the Moon Could Talk." David said, "the heavens are telling of the glory of God; and the expanse is declaring the work of His hands. Day after day pours forth speech, and night after night reveals knowledge. There is no speech, nor are there [spoken] words [from the stars]; their voice is not heard. Yet their voice [in quiet evidence] has gone out through all the earth, their words to the to the end of the earth." (Verses 1-4). We do not, of course, audibly hear the heavens speak yet ... speak they do! We're told humans do not hear normal sounds in outer space, years ago NASA captured electromagnetic vibrations, which they converted into audio frequencies that can be heard by the human ear. From this scientific wonder, in his famous message "Indescribable," Pastor Louie Giglio insists creation is actively declaring praise to its Creator. I like that because it reminds me of what God said through David - "the heavens are declaring the glory of God." How utterly sad the celestial bodies are ever speaking of The Creator while we often remain silent ... dumb-struck rather than awe-struck! The one phrase I remember from that old tune is, "if the moon could talk, I wonder what the moon would say." The heavens - sun, moon, stars, galaxies - all say glory be to Him in the highest! "Let everything that has breath praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!" (Psalm 150:6 ESV). Each day and every day, with every breath ... declare His glory!

Happy Place

We often speak of a "happy place," when referring to an especially familiar spot where we find rest and relaxation. For me, such places are a quiet beach, a porch or even my desk. David writes, "I have set the LORD continually before me;because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad and my glory [my innermost self] rejoices; my body too will dwell [confidently] in safety." (Psalm 16:8-9 AMP). Those physical places are certainly nice and needed, however, life doesn't allow us to linger there indefinitely. Moses said, "Lord, You have been our dwelling place in all generations. Before the mountains were born or You gave birth to the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, You are God." (Psalm 90:1-2 NASB). There are so many things continually set before us, offering yet none proving continual happiness! So many seek that "glad heart" [of Psalm 16:9] and find it ever elusive, always out of grasp. As both David and Moses affirm - God is The Steadfast, immovable and unchanging One, the constant dwelling place. The Hebrew "dwelling place" means refuge, abode, habitation, home, retreat. David concludes Psalm 16, "In Your right hand there are pleasures forevermore." God, everlasting to everlasting, is our ... happy place.

Ascend

“Take a seat” – “Have a seat” – “Please be seated” – however you say it … just sit down.  Psalm 1:1 says, “Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the wicked, nor stands in the way of sinners, nor sits in the way of scoffers.”  Notice the downward progression ... walking, standing, sitting. It’s a description of the person who first walks in the way of sinfulness – listens to, even accepts, bad advice and counsel contrary to Scripture; the next downward move is standing with evil doers – loitering, hanging around those who are casual or passive about Godly truth; finally comes the settling in of beliefs contrary to Scripture - having become comfortable in God-less living.  Bottom line – no blessing, no happiness, no lasting peace is promised.  Perhaps today, in your life, you are walking, standing or sitting in ways that are leading to destruction.  Stop! Look! Listen! to “thus says the LORD” and begin today the ascent to true blessedness!

The Invitation

Although we do not have one now, over the course of our fifty years we have have had several pet dogs. One of the first was a Pekinese named Majestic ... I called her Jestic. At that time in my life, I truly believed she was a majestic companion. Not sure I realized it in that season of my life but that is a great Bible word! David writes, "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your Name in all the earth! You have displayed Your splendor above the heavens." (Psalm 7:1 AMP). My little dog may have brought great joy to me in her playful antics but nothing - near or dear - compares to the majesty and glory of The Creator. I dare say few of us have failed to walk out into the night and observe the starry hosts and not be stunned even awe-struck at the beauty of the heavens. The same divine and artistic Creator knows my name, the number of hairs on my head, a word before it reaches my lips, the exact number of heartbeats of all my days - yes, that's the same One Who longs to be in relationship with me! How mind-boggling is that! He tells me, "seek Me and find Me ... seek Me with all your heart" (Jeremiah 29:13). The Lord Most High, God of Great Majesty invites me and you to seek Him, to find Him, to know Him. It really is the invitation of all invitations!

Water Well

A popular venue in the heat of summer is a water park! One thing that makes it so unique is that most of its water is ... moving. Creatively using flumes or waves or buckets or underground nozzles, those who visit a water park are guaranteed an exhilarating time of refreshment. Consider, however, how useless a water park would be, however, without water. Wisdom from God is, "One gives freely, yet grows all the richer; another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want. Whoever brings blessing will be enriched, and one who waters will himself be watered." (Proverbs 11:24-25 ESV). While we are commanded to be generous with our material wealth, there is perhaps a more far-reaching stewardship for every Believer - that is, to refresh others. No doubt, those water parks have a strong source or reservoir of water; so must those who are serious about being refreshed themselves as well as a continual refreshment to others. I suspect, however, many times we are somewhat disconnected from the True Water because of our neglect to spend time in His Presence. Luke 5:16-17 tell us Jesus would "withdraw to desolate places and pray ... and the power of the Lord was with Him to heal." Now, if Jesus - Son of God, God in the flesh - needed those times of communion with The Father for effectiveness, how wise are we to suppose we do not? One of my favorite examples of refreshment in Scripture comes from 2 Timothy: "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me ... when he arrived in Rome he searched for me earnestly and found me" (V.16-18). We know little but a lot of this one named Onesiphorus - he was one who encouraged-refreshed Paul; it wasn't just a casual oh-by-the-way sort of refreshment - no, he sought-out the apostle and watered him well. How well are we watering those who find themselves in a dry thirsty place or season? Do not neglect your time with The Lord in study, prayer and worship ... let The Living Water refresh you then let that Water flow through you to others ... water well.

Do Not Linger

One of my favorite retirement past-times is a leisurely day with a friend: making a few shop-stops, having a good meal - I call it ... a'junkin' day. God’s mercy is seen in Scripture from cover-to-cover, but the first writing of the Hebrew "chemal" – root word meaning mercy – is found in the account of Lot, Abraham’s nephew at the pending destruction of Sodom. “As morning dawned, the angels urged Lot, saying, ‘Up! Take your wife and your two daughters who are here, lest you be swept away in the punishment of the city.’ But he lingered. So the men seized him and his wife and his two daughters by the hand, the LORD being merciful to him, and they brought him out and set him outside the city.” (Genesis 19:15-16). Lot was not in a hurry - he lingered! A portion of Copperhill, Tennessee is in Georgia and another portion is in Tennessee; You can literally straddle a line, having one foot in Georgia and one foot in Tennessee! A divided heart is a serious spiritual dilemma. It’s impossible to sincerely fear and serve a holy God while [at the same time] embracing worldly idols – anything put ahead of Christ.  God continuously extends His mercy, kindness, patience, love, compassion ... yet we linger to obey Him. He will not always tarry – the day of our casual lingering will end.  Joshua boldly proclaimed, “Choose this day whom you will serve … As for me and my house, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15).  How I love those junkin' days of lingering here-and-there; such a time of hesitantly lingering to be what God desires us to be is dangerously shorter than we can know. Be wise ... do not linger.

Stay Stupid

Of course, we know we shouldn’t call others stupid, but stupid (senselessness) does overtake each of us at times.  The secret is to keep it a secret as best you can: it’s "better to keep your mouth  closed and thought a fool than to open it and remove all doubt." Can you believe, of all people in history, King Solomon felt stupid! "Surely I am more brutish than any man, and have not the understanding of a man. I neither learned wisdom, nor have the knowledge of the holy." (Proverbs 30:2-3).  Interestingly, his feeling of inadequate wisdom only pressed him to seek God more. Solomon struggled to avoid vanity and pride, which always hinders knowing God. What a model for the wise!  Now, let’s not promote stupidity as the world defines it, but remain humble and teachable unto God. As inappropriate and ridiculous as it may sound, spiritually-speaking … let’s stay stupid!

Desperate for Righteousness

Most likely, you've been examined by a doctor, interviewed as a potential employee, and/or been finger-printed or had a background check. All these indicate a careful and thorough examination, most likely something to which we consented. Perhaps such an depth study of who we are is not scary especially if we are certain of the results. I wonder, however, how many of us welcome God's examination of our hearts. Hmm, maybe so eager. David wrote, "O LORD, do not rebuke or punish me in Your anger, nor discipline me in Your wrath." (Psalm 6:1 AMP). David's request is rooted in a truth we must not miss: he didn't ask God to withhold discipline altogether; rather, he asked God not discipline him in anger. David was aware of his sin and God's displeasure, he saw himself in need of God's discipline. It seems we see here a man who longed for righteousness so desperately he was eager for whatever it would take - rebuke and discipline - to make his heart into the likeness of God. Now, I was never excited when Coach told me and my team mates to run the lines at basketball practice but we knew it was part of disciplining our bodies for strength and endurance. While we we [very quietly] moaned and groaned, we submitted and obey Coach; he was the authority and knew how to help us be the the best we could be. Hebrews 12:6 tells us God disciplines the ones He loves; we also know this: "For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." (Hebrews 12:11). We've heard it - no pain, no gain! The question, therefore, before each of God's children is this: how much deeply do we long to be like Christ - enough to desire a full examination of the heart AND surrender to whatever God feels it will take to bring that "fruit of righteousness" (holiness) in us? Perhaps the best we can ask God for is that He make us ... desperate for righteousness.

Good For You

There's really no excuse these days knowing the things that good for us and the things bad for us. The psalmist wrote these words in Chapter 73, which continually resound in my mind: "It is good for me to draw near to God." (Psalm 73:28a). Just like the discipline of making good choices for the body, choosing good things for the heart and mind is absolutely-completely vital to a healthy spiritual life and a close relationship with God. Are you experiencing an unexplained distance from The Father? To be sure, it isn't Him Who has moved.  Choose wisely - draw near to Him ...it's good for you!

The Constant Unchangeable

Constant things can be good ... or bad. Constant dog-barking or ringing in the ears can be annoying; on the flip-side, a constant morning or bedtime routine can be quite assuring. How very foolish when we fail to see and acknowledge The Most Constant of all: "For I the LORD do not change." (Malachi 3:6). You've heard it, too - change is the one thing that is constant - that's just not true! God is constant - His Word is constant ... because neither God nor His Word change. Count on it. Depend on it. Rejoice in it. Honestly, one of God's many-wonderful attributes that brings me so much constant comfort is that He is the same yesterday, today and forever. As I wake every morning and consider what my day "looks like," I know with complete confidence God is unchanged from the day before AND He's equally as steadfast as He's ever been and ever will be. Things [even people] come-and-go but God remains, His Word remains. I rest and delight in ... The Constant Unchangeable!

Life Manual

It's [fairly] safe to conclude everyone has an interest in what is relevant to our lives - that which is closely connected-applicable-appropriate. Here's what we know about the Word of God: "The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of God stands forever." (Isaiah 40:8). Not too long ago in my doctor's office was a counter display of books titled, "Life Manual." Curiously, I picked up one of the books, opened it to find it was a New Testament!  It's title "Life Manual" could not have been more accurate! Every answer to every question, every solution to every problem, every help for every struggle, everything including the Way of Salvation for man's soul is given in Scripture.  God-breathed and altogether and perfectly relevant at all times in all circumstances - The Bible. Read it daily!

Beyond Words

Have you ever been without words? Perhaps you saw or heard something weird, strange or just simply dumb and the words just wouldn't come. This is a fairly good description of Job Chapters 38-41 when God quizzes Job about The Almighty. Here's a few questions from that divine quiz: "Where were you when I laid the foundations of the earth? ... Where is the way where light dwells ... as for darkness, where is its place? ... Have you entered the storehouses of the snow ... seen the storehouses of the hail? ... "Who has begotten the drops of dew?" If there is ever a reason to stand in speechlessness, I suggest it is in a true realization of God Himself! While we have questions about why God does as He does, we are often in danger of missing [rather] ... who God is. Job's response should be a wake-up call for thinking rightly about God: "Then Job answered the LORD and said, 'I know that You can do all things, and that no thought or purpose of Yours can be restrained. ... I now see I have rashly uttered that which I did not understand, things too wonderful for me, which I did not know." (Job 42:1-3 AMP). Job wanted to know "why" but God wanted Job to know "who." The psalmist says, "Let all the earth fear the Lord; let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of Him!" (Psalm 33:8 ESV).  Reverent and speechless before The Almighty is not a bad thing. Our God is awesome and magnificent - He is ... beyond words!

Watch and Wait

Are you a morning person ... or not? I must confess, I am not. Most of my life I've identified myself as a night owl; this older-me has left the late nights and early mornings to much younger days! We don't know much about the circumstances surrounding Psalm 5 but David writes, "In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice; in the morning I will prepare [a prayer and a sacrifice] for You and watch and wait [for You to speak to my heart]." (Psalm 5:3 AMP). I suspect many of us need a few conscious and coherent moments - even a jolt of strong joe - before we're ready to speak to or hear from the LORD. This I do identify with! Nonetheless, I must ask - is the LORD a priority, a vital part of your waking-up each day? From David's words it seems David's day begins with a seeking and a listening heart - prepared and watching and waiting for God to speak. How foolishly we set out into the day - unaware of the challenges to come - unprepared spiritually. I suspect few of us would boldly leave our home in the morning without some degree of attention to personal hygiene and grooming yet we pass that closed Bible much like an old friend we intend to call but never seem to do so. To grow in faith and discipleship we must be intentional in our choices: we choose to dedicate time in The Word, it's how we grow to know God more and develop a relationship with His Son, Jesus. No, it doesn't just happen. Tozer said one thing that made David great was that he was "pre-occupied" with God. What is your first conscious thought of the day? Does it include The One Who watched over you as you slept, Who gave you the first breath of the day, The One Who is patiently waiting for you in His Holy Word? Follow David's lead - let God hear your voice first thing - whatever time you rise but before you go ... God is calling His true children to ... watch and wait.

One Who Hears

Perhaps you're one [of us] who talks to themselves. I've been told it's okay to talk to yourself as long as you don't answer yourself. Well, sometimes it's my own voice that tells me to stop ... talking to myself! As he prayed David said, "Heed the sound of my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray." (Psalm 5:2 AMP). I love how bold and honest David prays! The importance of the prayer life of a Child of God cannot be understated. E. M. Bounds says, "God shapes the world by prayer" and to do so, it is critical God's Children pray. One thing David makes clear in his prayer is The One to Whom he is praying. We live in a time when prayers are sometimes casually spoken to nameless gods. If you doubt this, pay attention to public prayers; they may sound so thoughtful and inspiring but listen ... listen to see if the Name of Jesus is mentioned ... "it is through Him that we utter our Amen to God" (2 Corinthians 1:20). The spirit referred to may have nothing to do with The Holy Spirit of the Bible. We are warned, "Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. (1 John 4:1 ESV). Note how clear David is in his prayer - "my King and my God ... to You I pray." Oh, how we need more faithful and diligent pray-ers ... we also need more who pray rightly and to The One Who hears and answers the prayers of the righteous. Prayer to any other god is about as effective as ... talking to oneself. Take care as you pray to the ... One Who hears.

Loyal Love

We often speak positively of the word "repetition." It's repetition by which we learn many things; it's also good when things we depend upon "repeatedly" perform as they should. It is painful, however, when we are repeatedly treated unkindly by someone. That hurt seems to be deep and lasting. David writes about The Lord's unfailing love and mercy: "Return, O LORD, rescue my soul; save me because of Your [unfailing] steadfast love and mercy." (Psalm 6:4 AMP). Honestly, it's hard for us to fully comprehend the word "unfailing" because that's not what we know: although some things last, few (if any) fit the description of absolutely unfailing - electricity, vehicles, air conditioners, well pumps, relationships, etc. Yet, God - Who does not waiver and cannot lie - says He loves and is merciful ... without fail. It is His character; the Hebrew word "mercy" is sometimes described as the "loyal love" of God. It is a love that knows of no other way to be, unable to be any other way. The repeated hurts that bring pain and stire up bad memories stand in stark contrast to the constant, continuous, steadfast, steady, loyal love and mercy God "repeatedly" shows to those who love and revere Him. I wish I could say you and I will never again know unkindness but [sadly] it is part of living in this fallen world. What I am sure of with confident expectation is we have a God of perfectly ... loyal love.

Keep Rowing

Just when you think you've experienced [almost] everything, you find out you have not! Yesterday, after a good meal, I order a Coke float - a favorite of mine, and it was promptly delivered to me ... in pieces - a mug with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, a cherry and a cold can of Coke ... some assembly required. Those who love Jesus and are serious about pleasing Him often fail to realize, there's work to be done. While we evermore rejoice our salvation - payment for our sin - the finished work of Christ on the cross, the daily walk demands some spiritual disciplines (routines, habits). We are to "grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ" (2 Peter 3:18). Let me assure you we are growing each day one direction or another - towards Christ in grace and knowledge or drifting further away from Him. To avoid the spiritual drift, true followers of Jesus must be deliberately row towards Him with the holy habits of Bible study, prayer, worship, service, fellowship. To the Believers at Colossae, Paul wrote: "We have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God." (Colossians 1:9-10 ESV). In Christ we are securely founded by grace through faith; the daily walk, however, is one to be given priority and diligence. I "assembled" that float and it was tasty; likewise, let us be attentively faithful to the daily work as we walk ... keep rowing.

How Excellent!

Isn't it a joy to open the mailbox - you know, most people still have one - and find a note of hello from someone! Boy, I sure do! It's why I try to send a card or two every week - a typical Sunday-afternoon thing I do. Read what David writes in Psalm 8: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your Name in all the earth! ... When I see and consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and the stars, which You have established, what is man that You are mindful of him, and the son of [earthborn] man that You care for him?" (Verses 1, 3-4 AMP). When I discover that card in my mailbox, open and read it, besides the joy it brings to me, I consider how that dear sender who was mindful of me - mindful enough to take time and give effort to send it!  It reminds me  of what a marvelous wonder The Creator of all things - of indescribable splendor above the heavens (V.1) - would have thought, care, concern, love, mercy for one such as I. God's greatest thought for and toward man came in the Person of His only Son - Jesus ... our Redeemer. I am challenged and will continue to love my mailbox - what it receives and sends; yet, will I ever rejoice as David did: "O LORD, our Lord, how majestic and glorious and excellent is Your Name in all the earth!" 

Enjoy Freedom

"Free as a bird," we say. It's not just their ability to soar through the skies, it's how they are cared for by their Creator: "Look at the birds of the air, that they do not sow, nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them." (Matthew 6:26a NASB). God's creatures know the One Who cares for them, gives them the freedom to be what they are. Then Jesus asks this probing question of those who love and acknowledge The Father, "Are you not worth much more than they?" (Matthew 6:26b). Let me suggest those who have been freed from the grip of sin (spiritually re-born) too often fail to live in spiritual freedom. We allow worry and fear to rob us of true freedom! Because Christ is the ultimate and final payment for freedom, we are able to enjoy spiritual freedoms right now, and how do we do that? "Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." (6:33). When we're seeking and relying on Christ, we are free to ... enjoy freedom.

Peril to Praise

Consider the things we live-with, take pleasure and mostly unconscious of them - gravity, air, sunshine just to name a few. To fully appreciate such things is to further consider the consequences of their absence ... yes, it's rather scary! David spent much time writing about his enemies and how they grieved him; for example Psalm 6:6-7 (NKJV), "I am weary with my groaning; all night I make my bed swim; I drench my couch with my tears. My eye wastes away because of grief; it grows old because of all my enemies."  I'm quite confident we all understand "sleepless nights" - tossing, turning and lying awake because of some troubling thing. This is what makes David's words so relevant; whatever was troubling him at the moment he was having a tough time shakin' it off. Tozer describes David as one "pre-occupied with God," which should inspire us at all times but especially in troubling times. "O LORD my God, in You I put my trust; save me from all those who persecute me; and deliver me ... I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness, and will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High." (Psalm 7:1a, 17 NKJV). Regardless of how the enemy (Satan) comes at us and throws at us, none of it is greater than (1) what Jesus overcame in His flesh, and (2) the power and providence of God Who is over all things! Our troubles only have the power we give to them! It is possible, as David did, to turn the troubling moments into opportunities to grow in grace; casting weakness before The Lord and seeing His gracious rescue. David does this beautifully and repeatedly in his troubles: "I will sing to the LORD, because He has dealt bountifully with me." (Psalm 13:6 AMP). What is troubling you right now - hindering your peace - robbing you of rest? Train your soul to sing in troubling times - turn your ... peril to praise.