Psalm 51
Mercy.
Unfailing love.
Compassion.
Cleansing.
These words. Oh, they have impact.
Sin has a way of putting a dark spot on your garment. A stain on your heart.
It is filthy.
It is painful.
It is ugly.
And it separates you from God.
But ...
There is a but.
Back to those five words at the top.
God is good.
And His mercy is ours because of His love that never fails.
Because He is compassionate, we can be cleansed, washed clean from the spot of sin.
Purified.
Made new.
Forgiven.
Sometimes we lose sight of this. Sometimes that dark spot clouds our vision and we forget.
We forget the immensity of His act of love. Of the impact of His forgiveness.
And we lose our JOY.
Then we read David's words where he asks for his JOY to return.
"Oh, give me back my JOY again!" (Ps.51:8, NLT)
"Restore to me again the JOY of my salvation ..." (vs.12)
The JOY of my salvation.
Yes.
Oh yes!
Return to me!
Because life has a way of swaying our hearts and minds. Because our eyes lose focus. And we fail. We trip. We fall.
But ...
God is always good. He can't be anything but good, faithful, loving.
Our JOY is found in Him. In His salvation.
Sometimes we need to sit with the idea of salvation for a bit ~ of it's reality ~ of it's truth ~ of the sacrifice made ~ of what we are being saved from.
And take JOY in that.
If you've lost that JOY, ask for it ...
Restore to me the JOY of my salvation ... the JOY of my salvation ... the JOY.
Lesson in the journey ~ salvation is JOY-worthy.
Wednesday, April 10, 2019
Friday, October 12, 2018
Clap!
Psalm 47
Applause.
The sound of approving people.
Praising, rejoicing.
Some are closing their eyes, the surrounding skin wrinkling as their smiles reflect satisfied, happy, hopeful hearts.
Crowds of people, clapping their hands.
The sound is rhythmic.
The people are praising their King.
And they clap.
In fact, they clap with JOY.
This is a Psalm for rejoicing about the power of God.
About the Kingship of God.
About the authority of God.
About the wisdom of God.
It is about praising God with songs.
And it opens with, "Come, everyone, and clap your hands for JOY!" (Ps. 47:1, NLT)
Like a child after opening a gift, who jumps up to her feet. She claps her hands together with glee.
JOY.
Like sports fans who cheer for their winning team. They stand up and clap their hands together with celebration.
JOY.
Like a citizen, listening to the leader deliver a speech filled with hope and promise. He claps his hands together with agreement.
JOY.
Like parents seeing their child perform. They rise up and clap their hands together with beautiful pride and praise.
JOY.
Like a people who have been liberated from a powerful enemy. They cry, shout, and sing their praise for their rescuer, clapping their hands as tears stream down their cheeks.
JOY.
Come, everyone! Clap your hands for JOY!
"Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome." (Ps. 47:1-2, NLT)
Lesson in the journey ~ It is good to express our JOY.
Applause.
The sound of approving people.
Praising, rejoicing.
Some are closing their eyes, the surrounding skin wrinkling as their smiles reflect satisfied, happy, hopeful hearts.
Crowds of people, clapping their hands.
The sound is rhythmic.
The people are praising their King.
And they clap.
In fact, they clap with JOY.
This is a Psalm for rejoicing about the power of God.
About the Kingship of God.
About the authority of God.
About the wisdom of God.
It is about praising God with songs.
And it opens with, "Come, everyone, and clap your hands for JOY!" (Ps. 47:1, NLT)
Like a child after opening a gift, who jumps up to her feet. She claps her hands together with glee.
JOY.
Like sports fans who cheer for their winning team. They stand up and clap their hands together with celebration.
JOY.
Like a citizen, listening to the leader deliver a speech filled with hope and promise. He claps his hands together with agreement.
JOY.
Like parents seeing their child perform. They rise up and clap their hands together with beautiful pride and praise.
JOY.
Like a people who have been liberated from a powerful enemy. They cry, shout, and sing their praise for their rescuer, clapping their hands as tears stream down their cheeks.
JOY.
Come, everyone! Clap your hands for JOY!
"Shout to God with joyful praise! For the Lord Most High is awesome." (Ps. 47:1-2, NLT)
Lesson in the journey ~ It is good to express our JOY.
Thursday, September 20, 2018
River of Joy
Psalm 46
We see earthquakes shake.
We see mountains crashing to the bottom of the sea.
We hear the oceans crash and roar.
Mountains shake with the surging of the waters.
And we can take refuge.
"A river brings JOY to the city of God ..." (Ps.46:4, NLT)
The city of God.
Where God dwells.
Where He protects.
The city of God.
We dwell in Him.
We take refuge in Him.
We find strength in Him.
He is our fortress.
And there is JOY.
Christ Himself is the Living Water that brings hope and life to us.
He is a river of JOY to our thirsty hearts.
We see victory in Him.
We still our minds.
We still our hearts.
We silence our doubts.
"Be still and know that I am God." (vs.10)
Gentle waters flow through the power of a life source that can't be stopped. Waters bring refreshing, healing, growth, hope.
And JOY.
Be still.
Be still and know.
Be still and know that God is.
God is our refuge and our strength. An ever present help in trouble. (vs.1)
A river brings JOY ...
Lesson in the journey ~ JOY flows like a river to the fortress of God.
We see earthquakes shake.
We see mountains crashing to the bottom of the sea.
We hear the oceans crash and roar.
Mountains shake with the surging of the waters.
And we can take refuge.
"A river brings JOY to the city of God ..." (Ps.46:4, NLT)
The city of God.
Where God dwells.
Where He protects.
The city of God.
We dwell in Him.
We take refuge in Him.
We find strength in Him.
He is our fortress.
And there is JOY.
Christ Himself is the Living Water that brings hope and life to us.
He is a river of JOY to our thirsty hearts.
We see victory in Him.
We still our minds.
We still our hearts.
We silence our doubts.
"Be still and know that I am God." (vs.10)
Gentle waters flow through the power of a life source that can't be stopped. Waters bring refreshing, healing, growth, hope.
And JOY.
Be still.
Be still and know.
Be still and know that God is.
God is our refuge and our strength. An ever present help in trouble. (vs.1)
A river brings JOY ...
Lesson in the journey ~ JOY flows like a river to the fortress of God.
Saturday, February 3, 2018
The Origin of the Joy
Psalm 43
There is a lot of talk about being happy. Of longing and searching to have joy, to have happiness ~ sometimes the likes of which are confused. We live in a time and culture that seeks deeply. Yet in that seeking, there is deception. We turn to money, careers, people, religious practices, sex - you name it, we try to fill up with it. People are scrambled as they search and the atmosphere of longing becomes blurry.
Way back when people were settling the land, looking for the best property to build a home and live, they would long for the land with a river running through. Or land near another body of water. Near a source of life. Water meant a drink for herds of animals; water meant nourishment for crops; water meant ease of transporting goods. Life. Sustenance.
In Psalm 43, the author is in a desperate place. He is hurt. He is oppressed. He is discouraged and sad.
Yet, he goes to the source. He goes to the place where JOY originates. He knows where to find true joy. Not fleeting happy feelings, but truth. Not a quick fix, but lasting hope. Not shallow feel-goods, but deep-rooted connection. Not self discovery, but self surrender.
"I will go to the altar of God, to God - the source of all my JOY." (Ps.43:4, NLT)
The Psalmist calls out, "Take up my cause!", (vs.1)
"Defend me ...", (vs.1)
"Rescue me ...", (vs.1)
"Guide me ...", (vs.3)
"Lead me ...", (vs.3)
But then,
"There I will go ... I will praise You ... I will put my hope in You ..." (vs.4,5)
The writer knew where to plant his hope. He knew to dig deep and soak in the wellspring of life. He knew where to find truth. How to be filled. He knew to go to the real source of all JOY.
Lesson in the journey ~ seek with wisdom to find the true source of JOY.
Thursday, January 19, 2017
Joy Remains
Psalm 42
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for You, O God." (Ps.42:1, NLT)
Right out of the gates the longing is stated.
The thirst.
The hunger.
He had tasted the JOY of the Lord. His thirst had been quenched at the bubbling fountains of God's presence.
He knew JOY.
But then, his heart broke. His enemies tormented. He became discouraged and sad. His hunger returned. His tears flowed.
The Psalmist lamented.
He longed for the days when he sang with other worshippers, and marched through streets, "singing for JOY and giving thanks - it was the sound of a great celebration!" (Ps.42:4, NLT)
I can see the smiling faces, the tambourines, the dancers. The happy hearts, making their way to the Lord's house. I can see flags waving as crowds walked along the way. I can see him, his countenance beaming. God had done a beautiful thing here. And His worshippers were filled with JOY.
At one point he celebrated. At one point he was in fine form. At one point he rejoiced.
But then ...
But did he lose hope?
Did he give up on God?
No.
He knew to keep praising.
He knew to remember the kindness of the Lord.
He recognized that God still loved him.
And every night, he sang. He sang God's songs and he prayed.
And even when he lived in the grip of darkness and despair, he held onto JOY.
He praised, regardless of the circumstances.
Did the trouble go away in that moment?
I don't think so.
But his JOY clung to him. He may not have felt it in the moment ~ in those moments of dark clouds. He may not have felt like celebrating through the streets. He probably spent a lot of time on his knees, his eyes puffy and red.
But he declared hope in the Lord. "I will put my hope in God!" A repeated profession.
"I will put my hope in God!" (vs.5,11)
Paul says, "Be joyful in hope ... " (Romans 12:12, NIV)
And hope does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5)
And, God, being the source of hope, will fill us with JOY as we trust in him. (Romans 15:13)
I think the Psalmist tapped into those truths.
Praise, even when life is tough.
Thank Him in the darkness.
Make a hope declaration.
Keep longing for God.
Hang on to JOY.
Good things for all of us to remember.
Lesson in the journey ... JOY and hope are good friends.
"As the deer pants for streams of water, so I long for You, O God." (Ps.42:1, NLT)
Right out of the gates the longing is stated.
The thirst.
The hunger.
He had tasted the JOY of the Lord. His thirst had been quenched at the bubbling fountains of God's presence.
He knew JOY.
But then, his heart broke. His enemies tormented. He became discouraged and sad. His hunger returned. His tears flowed.
The Psalmist lamented.
He longed for the days when he sang with other worshippers, and marched through streets, "singing for JOY and giving thanks - it was the sound of a great celebration!" (Ps.42:4, NLT)
I can see the smiling faces, the tambourines, the dancers. The happy hearts, making their way to the Lord's house. I can see flags waving as crowds walked along the way. I can see him, his countenance beaming. God had done a beautiful thing here. And His worshippers were filled with JOY.
At one point he celebrated. At one point he was in fine form. At one point he rejoiced.
But then ...
But did he lose hope?
Did he give up on God?
No.
He knew to keep praising.
He knew to remember the kindness of the Lord.
He recognized that God still loved him.
And every night, he sang. He sang God's songs and he prayed.
And even when he lived in the grip of darkness and despair, he held onto JOY.
He praised, regardless of the circumstances.
Did the trouble go away in that moment?
I don't think so.
But his JOY clung to him. He may not have felt it in the moment ~ in those moments of dark clouds. He may not have felt like celebrating through the streets. He probably spent a lot of time on his knees, his eyes puffy and red.
But he declared hope in the Lord. "I will put my hope in God!" A repeated profession.
"I will put my hope in God!" (vs.5,11)
Paul says, "Be joyful in hope ... " (Romans 12:12, NIV)
And hope does not disappoint. (Romans 5:5)
And, God, being the source of hope, will fill us with JOY as we trust in him. (Romans 15:13)
I think the Psalmist tapped into those truths.
Praise, even when life is tough.
Thank Him in the darkness.
Make a hope declaration.
Keep longing for God.
Hang on to JOY.
Good things for all of us to remember.
Lesson in the journey ... JOY and hope are good friends.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
Live Love
Psalm 41
Our earth is groaning right now.
Hurricane Matthew hit hard and now Hurricane Nicole is threatening life and property. The eastern Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland felt the effects as well, with severe flooding and road washouts. Typhoon Chaba attacked South Korea about the same time that Matthew was doing his thing in Haiti. Now there are news reports of another possible typhoon approaching British Columbia.
As we know from news reports, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. They faced devastation several years ago after an earthquake rocked their country. Then cholera breakouts. Homelessness. Death. It is heartbreaking.
But it is in times like these that the rest of the world takes notice. And thankfully there is still some good in the world.
These are opportunities for people to show love.
To share hope.
To help those who desperately need it.
Opportunities for others to do good.
To reach down into themselves and find that God-inspired place where love is planted. Where hope grows. Where thoughtfulness flourishes.
After all, humans are created in God's image. His character is in each and every person.
And if anyone knows how to love, give hope, and heal, it is He.
We have opportunities to allow God to use us to bring Him into a hurt and devastated world.
We have this moment to live out love.
If it means you hop on a plane and head down to Haiti to help rebuild homes, or bring medical help ...
If it means you give donations in your community to send to those in need ...
If it means you simply sit at home and pray ...
Live love however God places on your heart.
The first verse of Psalm 41 states, "Oh, the JOYS of those who are kind to the poor ..." (NLT)
So, there is a gift in there for us too, who give love, who help the needy, who show God's heart to the desperate.
Oh, the JOY.
I think this is a deep-seated JOY, one that doesn't necessarily manifest with gladness ~ because the reason the help is needed in the first place is sorrowful, heart-wrenching, and sometimes angering.
But I've learned that JOY can be present even when the darkest clouds hover.
Because there is a Light in this world that can never be extinguished.
Even through hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, sickness, death, pain ...
We can be an arm of God that reaches the poor. That stretches out to offer love, hope, help, and yes, JOY.
Lesson in the journey ... Kindness produces deep-seated JOY.
Our earth is groaning right now.
Hurricane Matthew hit hard and now Hurricane Nicole is threatening life and property. The eastern Canadian provinces of Nova Scotia and Newfoundland felt the effects as well, with severe flooding and road washouts. Typhoon Chaba attacked South Korea about the same time that Matthew was doing his thing in Haiti. Now there are news reports of another possible typhoon approaching British Columbia.
As we know from news reports, Haiti is the poorest country in the Americas. They faced devastation several years ago after an earthquake rocked their country. Then cholera breakouts. Homelessness. Death. It is heartbreaking.
But it is in times like these that the rest of the world takes notice. And thankfully there is still some good in the world.
These are opportunities for people to show love.
To share hope.
To help those who desperately need it.
Opportunities for others to do good.
To reach down into themselves and find that God-inspired place where love is planted. Where hope grows. Where thoughtfulness flourishes.
After all, humans are created in God's image. His character is in each and every person.
And if anyone knows how to love, give hope, and heal, it is He.
We have opportunities to allow God to use us to bring Him into a hurt and devastated world.
We have this moment to live out love.
If it means you hop on a plane and head down to Haiti to help rebuild homes, or bring medical help ...
If it means you give donations in your community to send to those in need ...
If it means you simply sit at home and pray ...
Live love however God places on your heart.
The first verse of Psalm 41 states, "Oh, the JOYS of those who are kind to the poor ..." (NLT)
So, there is a gift in there for us too, who give love, who help the needy, who show God's heart to the desperate.
Oh, the JOY.
I think this is a deep-seated JOY, one that doesn't necessarily manifest with gladness ~ because the reason the help is needed in the first place is sorrowful, heart-wrenching, and sometimes angering.
But I've learned that JOY can be present even when the darkest clouds hover.
Because there is a Light in this world that can never be extinguished.
Even through hurricanes, typhoons, earthquakes, sickness, death, pain ...
We can be an arm of God that reaches the poor. That stretches out to offer love, hope, help, and yes, JOY.
Lesson in the journey ... Kindness produces deep-seated JOY.
Friday, February 12, 2016
Seeing the Good Through the Bad
Psalm 40
Despite the bad we see in the news everyday, good still happens.
Despite the sadness and despair, joy and hope still lift.
Despite the hate and anger, love and kindness still triumph.
It's really hard sometimes, to see the good through the bad, to feel the JOY through the pain, to have the love through the hate.
But it's possible, really possible.
In fact, it's preferable.
It's profitable.
And that idea is profound.
In Psalm 40, David begins with an explanation of God's love.
~ He heard David's cry. (vs.1)
~ He lifted David out of the pit. (vs.2)
~ He steadied David. (vs.2)
~ He gave a new song ~ a song of praise. (vs.3)
(NLT)
God revived a broken man.
And then ...
David tells of how others will see what God has done in his life, and will in turn put their trust in the Lord. (vs.3)
The proclamation?
"Oh, the JOYs of those who trust in the Lord ... " (vs.4)
JOY for trusting.
And further ...
"I take JOY in doing Your will, my God ..." (vs.8)
JOY for faithfulness.
Then ...
"But may all who search for You be filled with JOY and gladness." (vs.16)
JOY for seeking.
In the bumps and bruises that life sometimes delivers, the JOY still stands.
In the pain from the past, the pain from sickness, the pain from fear and worry, the pain from anger, hate and hurt, JOY still stands.
Sometimes we have to chase it down.
Sometimes we have to let it catch us.
Sometimes we just have to be reminded ...
"Be still and know that I AM God." (Psalm 46:10, NLT)
When we get to that breaking point and realize that we can't handle it on our own, we can humble ourselves before the Sovereign God, the source of all love, peace, hope and JOY.
Take hope in the Possible.
The Preferable.
The Profitable.
The Profound.
He's got this.
Lesson in the journey ~ Trusting The Great I AM brings JOY.
Despite the bad we see in the news everyday, good still happens.
Despite the sadness and despair, joy and hope still lift.
Despite the hate and anger, love and kindness still triumph.
It's really hard sometimes, to see the good through the bad, to feel the JOY through the pain, to have the love through the hate.
But it's possible, really possible.
In fact, it's preferable.
It's profitable.
And that idea is profound.
In Psalm 40, David begins with an explanation of God's love.
~ He heard David's cry. (vs.1)
~ He lifted David out of the pit. (vs.2)
~ He steadied David. (vs.2)
~ He gave a new song ~ a song of praise. (vs.3)
(NLT)
God revived a broken man.
And then ...
David tells of how others will see what God has done in his life, and will in turn put their trust in the Lord. (vs.3)
The proclamation?
"Oh, the JOYs of those who trust in the Lord ... " (vs.4)
JOY for trusting.
And further ...
"I take JOY in doing Your will, my God ..." (vs.8)
JOY for faithfulness.
Then ...
"But may all who search for You be filled with JOY and gladness." (vs.16)
JOY for seeking.
In the bumps and bruises that life sometimes delivers, the JOY still stands.
In the pain from the past, the pain from sickness, the pain from fear and worry, the pain from anger, hate and hurt, JOY still stands.
Sometimes we have to chase it down.
Sometimes we have to let it catch us.
Sometimes we just have to be reminded ...
"Be still and know that I AM God." (Psalm 46:10, NLT)
When we get to that breaking point and realize that we can't handle it on our own, we can humble ourselves before the Sovereign God, the source of all love, peace, hope and JOY.
Take hope in the Possible.
The Preferable.
The Profitable.
The Profound.
He's got this.
Lesson in the journey ~ Trusting The Great I AM brings JOY.
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