He is My Only Rock

 Psalm 62: 2 & 6
 He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defense; I shall not be greatly moved.

Jesus Christ, “Rock of Ages, cleft for me. Let me hide myself in Thee.” On the solid Rock I stand, I shall not be moved. “Upon this Rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail.” As we walk this side of heaven, the foundations of our country are crumpling. The signs of the last days are coming to pass. We are witnessing a great divide among those who desire a return to the principles of God’s word, and a progressive ideology of Sodom and Gomorrah that has forsaken the Word of God. The banner of “Every man doing that which is right in their own eyes” is waving in the media and across the large cities of our land. Politics are polarized and faults can be found on both sides of the aisle. I like to believe that those that want our nation to return to God are in the right, but there are those who use God’s Word as a tool for their own advantage and political gain. As Christians, our faith in God, and knowledge that God is sovereign keeps us on the Rock. Charlie Kirk, as much as he tried to influence people to vote for the Republican Party, acknowledged that Jesus Christ is the only answer to the problems we face as a nation. The foundation of this nation may someday break apart, but for those who stand on the eternal Rock, they shall not be moved. We live in a messed-up world of people seeking to please their selfish desires. But we know that when lifting up Jesus, people are drawn to Him. He is our firm foundation. He is our only Rock, and those who stand on the Rock, shall not be moved.

Thankful for What Matters

 Psalm 100:4
Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

Even during our worst days, we can think of things we can be thankful for. The fact that we are alive and breathing is enough to stop and give thanks to the creator of life. Most of us are prone to complain about the things that we have very little control over. The weather, the traffic, the workings of politics, and the price of eggs (and thank God they have come down). It sometimes takes work to give thanks in “everything” But being thankful is more than counting our blessings. It is an attitude that is grounded in how we view God. We are creatures of comfort, and often view our blessings by how comfortable we are. But I purpose to you that being THANKFUL is to look through the looking glass of the Kingdom of God. The things in this life will fade away with the passing of time. The things we should be thankful for are eternal.
 On this Thanksgiving Day, be thankful for the many blessings, family, friends, material things, and good health, but let us not forget to be thankful to God for what really matters. Be thankful for the TRUTH of His word, thankful for a HEART that can be made clean, be thankful for being an ANCHOR in the Rock of Ages, that He will NEVER leave us alone. Thankful for His KINDNESS toward us, His FAITHFULNESS  to keep us day by day, and thankful for His UNCONDITIONAL LOVE regardless of our sinful condition, and knowledge that we can have eternal LIFE, and live in His presence for eternity. BE YE THANKFUL FOR ALL THAT HE HAS DONE.

Heart can be Clean- Thankful

 Psalm 51:7 “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” 

I’m THANKFUL for a Heart that can be made clean by the blood of Jesus. A heart that was darkened by sin can be made whiter than snow. THANKFUL that God can take a heart that is full of selfishness, a heart that is bent toward sin, and purify it by faith in the Blood of Jesus. Do you remember the day that Jesus came into your life and made your heart clean? Like David, we cried out, “Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.” The heart is desperately wicked. We were all born into sin with this sinful carnal heart. We were born with a heart that was enmity with God. Separated from God’s holiness. All have sinned and come short of His favor. No amount of “good deeds” are able to make it clean. The Sin nature can be cleansed by the blood of Christ. THANKFUL that Christ died, so we can draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to us.. James says, “Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double-minded.” Thank you, Jesus, for a new heart!

We Speak Truth

 Psalms 19:14

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

To have the approval of God is all that matters in life. We seek to please people and those around us for various reasons. Everyone desires to be liked by others and to have a good reputation. It is important that we speak in such a way that others are edified and find comfort in the words we speak. But often, when we speak the truth, it goes against the way someone is living and behaving. Your words are not met with approval. Your words are received as judgmental.
 This has been a week of reflection for me and many who call themselves Christians. Charlie Kirk was killed because he spoke words and truth that were acceptable to God and unacceptable to those who have rejected the truth of God’s word. To please God is to have faith in Jesus as the Messiah and redeemer of our hearts. This, above all, is what makes us acceptable in the sight of God. Charlie was a defender of truth and moral righteousness, but beyond standing for living a righteous life was the hope he gave to others that Jesus was the answer for this generation. How we speak is as important as what we speak. The words of our mouths must be spoken in love and kindness, for this is acceptable in the sight of God. Let the words of our mouth speak truth, and our thoughts be virtuous. When defending the truth, we must tell it in a way that points to Jesus. May the words of our mouths speak Jesus. For He is our only hope for this generation.

God Hears Our SOS

 Psalm 118:5,6
I called upon the Lord in distress: the Lord answered me, and set me in a large place. The Lord is on my side; I will not fear: what can man do unto me?

In the early 1900’s, the letters SOS were used to signal that someone was in distress or in need of saving. The distress was given out in Morse code and later became the standard signal to let others know that help was needed. Even though the signal has been replaced with other forms of technology, it is still used to communicate that someone is in distress, someone is in trouble and their life is in danger. When we cry out to the Lord in distress, He sees our SOS. Distress is an emotional, social, spiritual, or physical pain or suffering that may cause a person to feel sad, afraid, depressed, anxious, or lonely. Like David, we face situations in our lives that we don’t have control over. We become anxious when we find ourselves without answers to problems that we are not able to solve. The Lord will sometimes let us get to the end of resources, so that we can turn to Him. He is there ready and desiring to answer our distress call. In prayer, we signal to the Lord our SOS, and He is there to meet our every need. We need not fear evil, for He is with us. We need not fear the circumstances that come our way because He knows what we are facing and going through. Distress is a human emotion, but it does not have to rule over us. In times of distress, He can give us peace that passes understanding, and contentment in knowing that the Lord is in control, and He will come to our rescue at the right time.

Lamp to Light the Path

 Psalm 119:105
Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path.

The book of Hebrews describes God’s word as a two-edged sword. Piercing the heart, revealing the thoughts and intents of the heart. But David in this Psalm likens God’s word to a lamp. A lamp is light that will pierce the darkness. No doubt, God’s word will reveal the sinfulness of the heart as it sheds its light showing us our sin and need for salvation. It is also a light for believers as we walk the path and journey through life. The path is not always clear, and there are times that Satan will attempt to deceive us into taking a path that leads to destruction. When the path is uncertain, we go to the Word, examine its truths and follow its precepts. God’s word will illuminate what is true and what is false. A decision that is contrary to the teaching of God’s word is to ignore the light that is shed on our path, and to walk away from the path that God desires for us. We need not stumble through life not knowing how to live and what to believe is the truth. His word is given to us to show us the way, direct us in times of confusion, and to keep us on the path to heaven. 

Cast Down in Our Soul

 Psalm 42:5&11
Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.
There are days when it seems that everything has gone wrong. Discouragement settles in, and we may even have a pity party. It does appear that the Psalmist is feeling sorry for himself and wonders why God appears to be far away. Human emotions are subject to feelings of abandonment and loss. We all, no doubt, have been where David has been. His life was being threatened, and he was on the run. Saul was in pursuit, his best friend Jonathan was doing what he could, but he was also at the mercy of his father. During this time in David’s life, he was seeking the presence of God. His desire was to dwell in His temple and feel His presence. On purpose, David chose to praise and worship God even when he did not feel like it. His hope was grounded in knowing that God was in control. Praising God is the best way to lift yourself out of discouragement or when depression starts to settle in. When our prayers hit the ceiling and seem to go nowhere, we can praise our way through to God. He delights in the praise of his people. Our hope in God is found when we look to Him, even when we are cast down and everything looks hopeless. Tears of sorrow can be turned into smiles of delight when we choose to praise Him, regardless of our circumstances.

A Merry Heart

 Proverbs 11:22
A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit drieth the bones.

God created us with a body, mind, and spirit. But most important is that we have the breath of God in us,  God gave us a soul that will live on forever. Without going into a deep dive, suffice to say that our soul is a separate entity from what is visually observed through human observation. Jesus makes this distinction when He said, “And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.” The condition of our soul should always be top priority. This is not to say that we should not care for the well being of our body, mind, and heart (emotions). We are the temple of God, earthen vessels that God desires to fill and use for His glory. In our humanity, we represent Christ in every aspect of our lives. How we treat our body, the thoughts we think, and how we express our emotions (spirit). Our attitude in life is a manifestation of our spirit. We do live in troubled days, and having a cheerful and merry heart is made difficult with the sadness that surrounds us. Having a merry heart comes with believing God is the source of our contentment, He alone can bring true joy to the heart.  With purpose, we rejoice in the Lord, we find that God is good, and can make the heart glad. “This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it”- Psalm 118:24

Through the Fire

 Psalm 66:12
…We went through fire and through water: but thou broughtest us out into a wealthy place.

The verse brings to my mind the great hymn of the church, God Leads Us Along, “Some through the waters, some through the flood, some through the fire, but all through the blood; some through great sorrow, but God gives a song, in the night season and all the day long.” The fire purges, and the water cleanses. Everything in life happens for a purpose. God’s intention is to bring us through. Things in life happen and we may be tempted to give up and quit trying. Even when we stand for what is right, the devil has a way to twist things and have us question if we have done the right thing. The fire is sometimes intense and we are tried and proven.  We don’t necessarily praise God for the trials and tough times, but we can praise Him in spite of the difficulties of the circumstance. Going through the fire looks different for everyone. Whatever the fire is, God is not tempting us so that He may see us fail, but He desires that we put our trust in Him, and be willing to give thanks in everything.(1 Thess 5:18) Through the fire, you will prove your character by praising Him.

The Horrible Pit

 Psalm 40:2
He brought me up also out of an horrible pit, out of the miry clay, and set my feet upon a rock, and established my goings.

The horrible pits of life are often of our own doing. We make decisions without seeking God first and often find ourselves in a pit of despair. But everyone before coming to Christ finds themselves in the horrible pit of sin, trapped in the miry clay and unable to get out. But Jesus reaches down, takes hold of our hand and pulls us up and out of the pit. He alone has the power to bring us out. He not only brings us out, but He also will help us from falling back into the pit. He wants to establish us on the solid Rock and give us the power to walk and follow Him. He does not want us to live in the pit of sin, He desires that we live blameless and holy. The devil will set traps along the way, and sometimes he is successful, but even if we are snared by one of his traps, the hand of Jesus still reaches down to lift us up and out. Life is full of different kinds of pits, but no matter the kind of pit we are in, He will not leave us there, He will bring us out, and set us on the solid Rock and establish us in the way He wants us to go.

The Rock Higher Than I

 Psalm 61:2
From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

A popular church hymn, “The Rock That is Higher than I.” was written in 1871 by Erastus Johnson during a time of financial loss. Many have found financial security in the assets they have accumulated over the years, The want of food, shelter, and comfort is always available, and never denied. Their trust is no longer placed in God to supply their needs, they have put their trust in human strength and determination to achieve wealth and prosperity. There is no doubt that such virtues contribute to worldly success and gain, but history has taught us that God is in control, and He is sovereign, and is ultimately the One who is threading the fabric of life. Erastus Johnson realized this when all was lost, and He turned to the Rock who He knew would not sink. The Rock that was higher than the circumstance and struggles of the day. The world around us can change in a moment's notice, but God does not change, He is the same yesterday, today, and forevermore. We can put our trust in Him, and stand on the solid rock. We can flee to the Rock that will not be shaken and will not move. When life is overwhelming, we serve a God who knows and understands our hurts and struggles. “To the Rock let me fly, to the Rock that is higher than I!”

Be Still and Know

 Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,  I will be exalted in the earth!”

God is in control! We often find ourselves fretting over many things, and truth be told, many of the things we fret over are created in our imagination. That is not to say that there can be some pretty big things in our lives that can cause us to be concerned about. Human nature is to seek solutions, so we run about looking for ways to solve what unsettles us. The old saying, “The Lord helps them, that helps themselves.” has some merit to it, but there are times and situations where God is the only one that can make it happen, He desires that we stop trying to work it out through human manipulation, and trust Him to do the work. Let God be God, He is the mighty God, the first and the last, and things often happen to give God the opportunity to step in and take control that His name will be glorified and be exalted.  God says, “Be still, and watch me work.” He is able, praise Him, and exalt His Name!      

Commit Our Way

 Psalm 37:5
Commit your way to the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

When we commit, we give it our all. Keeping commitments takes a willingness to forsake other things that would keep us from fulfilling our responsibility to our commitment. When we commit our way to the Lord, we take our hands off what we want to do and take up God’s way. This is what Jesus meant when He said, “Take up your cross and follow me.” Committing to the way of the cross means that life will not always go the way we like, and that sacrifice will more than likely be required from us. Trusting in the Lord as we commit our ways to him will bring to pass the true desires of our heart. He will act on our behalf to accomplish His will. Our ways are now His ways and where and how He leads us is in His control. Commitment is a decision we make, and daily we must keep this commitment on the altar as a living sacrifice. We are no longer our own, we are bought with a price and we now belong to God and trust Him to lead us all the way, in the pathway He has chosen for us.

God Is Not Far Away

 Psalm 22:19

But you, O Lord, do not be far off! O you my help, come quickly to my aid!

There are times in our lives that we may feel that all is against us. Everything that happens cries out that God does not care, and He is far from us. Like Job, we look on every side and God is not seen. (Job. 23) We examine our hearts and ask God to search us for anything that may have displeased Him. Jesus went through his last days in a like manner. On His way to the cross, the Pharisee hated Him, the Roman government turned their back on Him. His followers denied and forsook Him, and on the cross, He cried out, “My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.” (Matt. 27:46). But God who not only searches our heart, but knows our desires. He looks into the depths of our heart and sees that our heart is set in serving Him. After Job looked and could not find Him, he declared, “But he knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” God sees the big picture, and will not forsake us in our time of need. He knows the way we have taken, and will not be far off!

Thirsty For God

 Psalm 42:2
My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God …

It is speculated that the average person can go 3 days without water before the organs start to shut down. Even within a day the body becomes thirsty and we start looking for somewhere to find water. Jesus is the Water of life, and my soul desires each day to drink from Him. We cannot survive spiritually without the Water of life. That is why it is imperative that we daily come to the well of living water, and draw from the living God. We may not always be able to take a block of time from our day, every day,  but daily it is necessary that we call upon Him, and put our trust and faith in the One who cares for us. He is our substance and He provides the strength and endurance to help us stand in the face of life’s challenges. The unbeliever wake up each day, and takes no thought of seeking God, thirsting after righteousness. They are blinded to spiritual things and seek only the carnal and natural things of humanity, but the Christian has been made alive and the source of this life comes from the Living Water. Like the women at the well, He desires to give us the living water, water that will satisfy the longing of the soul, water that will fill the heart with His divine love, water that flows from the fountain of life. “Lord, give me this Living Water for I thirst for you”

Our God is Awesome!

 Psalm 33:8,9
Let all the earth fear the Lord: let all the inhabitants of the world stand in awe of him. For he spoke, and it was done; he commanded, and it stood fast.

Our God is an awesome God! A chorus we sang in our children’s VBS one summer. We only need to look at His creation and the handiwork of His hands and we stand in awe of His might power. God said, "Let there be light, and there was light.” Our God is an awesome God. Jesus, on the sea of Galilee, spoke the words, “Peace be still.” and the waves and winds obeyed Him. Our God is an awesome God! Jesus spoke the words again, “Raise up and walk.” and the lame were made whole. Our God is an awesome God! Jesus touched the eyes of the blind man, and his eyes were open. Our God is an awesome God! The Publican cried out, “Be merciful to me, a sinner.” and this man went home justified, and forgiven of his sins. Our God is an awesome God! Facing two men possessed with demons, He commanded the demons to go, and they fled into a herd of swines. Our God is an awesome God! Even as Jesus was hanging on the cross between two sinners, the thief cried out to be remembered in the next life. Jesus says, “Today, you shall be with me in paradise.” Our God is an awesome God! I stand in awe and praise Him today, because He is faithful, and His mercy endures forever. He is an awesome God! Sing with me, “Our God is an awesome God!”

Penitent Prayer

 Psalm 51:7
Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.

The sin of David in our day would be considered scandalous. A man in a prominent position, a person that many hailed as a wonderful leader, succumbed to his selfish desires to take another man’s wife and commit adultery, and hired a “hitman” to have the wife’s husband killed. If such an act were done in today’s society, his popularity would have dipped to an all time low. Such a man is held to a higher standard and should be an example to those who look up to him. Yes, we all know that we are just humans that are not perfect, and make mistakes, but David not only messed up, but he willfully disobeyed the commandments of God and sinned against God. He tried to cover it up for a while, but God sent the Holy Spirit in the form of a prophet to uncover his sin. Such is the work of the Holy Spirit to bring conviction and guilt to our hearts when we fall short of the mark and are found wanting. David was found guilty and his sin was revealed to everyone who heard the prophet Nathan. David was a man after God’s own heart, and his guilt brought him to his knees. Unlike Saul, the former king,  he made no excuses for his actions and took full responsibility. Forgiveness comes from God and God alone. Man can forgive, but it does not bring complete healing of the heart. The penitent prayer of David and God’s forgiveness reminds us that God is merciful. He desires that we don’t continue in sin, but He is faithful and just to forgive us of our failures. He will wash us, and make us clean, whiter than snow. Restore us back to Him.

Shadow of Death

 Psalm 23:4
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me..
Walking through the valley of life we often find ourselves traveling through dark places. Places unknown and uncertain. The shadows of death are places where we fear for our lives or the lives of others, financial uncertainty, broken relationships,  the shadows that are cast in our journey cause apprehension of what the future holds and fear that we will not be able to handle the burden set before us. We are grateful for the support and prayers of others around us, but the pain is still real and we may fear that we will not make it. The enemy is tempting us to doubt God’s love and care for us. But in the mists of the dark shadow, God is there, He has promised never to leave us or forsake us. He is there in the good times and in the bad times. He is the Great Shepherd, and He will take care of His sheep. He will guide and protect us as we walk through the valley of the shadow of death.

Heavens Declare God

 Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; and the firmament shews his handiwork.

Being creatures of curiosity and discovery, we look to the sky above us and marvel at the vastness of the universe. Man, in its quest to explore the unknown and discover what is beyond our atmosphere, continues to seek technology to go farther into the unknown. We let our imagination run wild with all the fantasy movies that flood the entertainment world. It is without question that there is a Mastermind behind all that we see in the heavens. The Psalmist realized this as he gazed upward and observed the multitudes of stars that glittered in the night sky. Even without the modern space technology we have today, he could see that God’s handiwork was evident. From the vastness of the universe to the microscopic world of atoms and molecules, God's glory is declared. Man without God, looks for ways to explain the existence of our world and the world’s beyond our human sight, but one cannot deny that mere chance did not make all this happen. The Bible speaks clearly of this creation, “For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him.” Col. 1:16. The Apostle’s Creed begins with, “I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth...” I believe He is who He says He is. “Open our eyes Lord, let us see your glory.”

God Sees & Knows You.

 Psalm 147:3,5
He heals the broken in heart, and binds up their wounds..Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.

Does God really understand what we are going through? The current world population is almost 8 billion people. Does He really care about you and me? I see the mass of people each day go about their daily life and routine, and wonder what God is doing in their lives. Luke says, “But even the very hairs of our head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.” The great power of God not only sees each person that walks this earth, but He knows everything about us, even the number of hairs on our head. Wow! How amazing is our God! He is the “Way Maker, Miracle worker, Promise keeper, Light in the darkness, healing the broken hearts and binding people’s wounds, My God, That is who you are!” We may feel insignificant and small in the eyes of others, but in the eyes of God, He sees and hears the cry of our heart and our desire to love and serve Him. He is not only an Omnipotent God , but He is also Omniscient, He knows what troubles you, He knows the burdens you carry, and what is causing your heart to break. Jesus says, “Fear not.” Cast your cares on Him, for Jesus cares about you. You are not alone, He will not leave you or forsake you.