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.
Thursday, October 13, 2016
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.
Wednesday, February 10, 2016
Stand by Me
Psalm 35
"I've got your back."
How many times have we heard this line in a movie or book?
How many times in real life have we heard someone say something like this?
I have prayed it over my own husband, who is a paramedic. When there are emergency calls that are dangerous, he needs his partner's support. I pray that his partner 'has his back'. And that he has his partner's back as well.
In a military operation, soldiers need to have each other's back.
Fire-fighters and police likewise.
Going into an unsafe building or situation is tricky enough without someone else watching out for you.
It's part of team work and service and it involves several simple principles ~
Protection.
Support.
Safety.
Security.
In those Biblical days of old, David faced a many adversities.
His best friend was the son of the king. This king wanted to kill David.
Countless times, David fought battles.
The list of enemies tortured his emotions, his physical well-being, and attacks were often almost too much to bear.
He talks about those wanting to kill him - verse 4.
... about those "malicious witnesses" who speak against him - verse 11.
... about those who take joy in his troubles - verse 15.
... about those "treacherous enemies" - verse 19.
He had it rough and he cried out again to his God for help.
And again, as he did in many other psalms, David mentions that beautiful word ~ JOY.
YET ~ David takes a different angle for JOY this time.
He has a request.
Not a proclamation with shouts of JOY this time.
He has an acknowledgement.
"But give great JOY to those who have stood with me in my defence." (vs. 27, NLT)
I see it like a movie scene playing out.
One by one, those who defend, support, protect, befriend ~ stand up.
Stand up for what is right.
Stand up for those who are broken.
Stand up for those who are mistreated.
Stand up for justice.
Proclaiming, "I've got your back."
In David's time of trial, he remembered those who had stood up for him. He knew what JOY truly looked like because he experienced it himself. And he wanted others to know that God-JOY too. He wanted them to have great JOY.
JOY as a gift, a blessing from the Lord.
JOY from standing up and having someone's back.
Lesson from the journey ~ Great JOY is a reward for having someone's back.
"I've got your back."
How many times have we heard this line in a movie or book?
How many times in real life have we heard someone say something like this?
I have prayed it over my own husband, who is a paramedic. When there are emergency calls that are dangerous, he needs his partner's support. I pray that his partner 'has his back'. And that he has his partner's back as well.
In a military operation, soldiers need to have each other's back.
Fire-fighters and police likewise.
Going into an unsafe building or situation is tricky enough without someone else watching out for you.
It's part of team work and service and it involves several simple principles ~
Protection.
Support.
Safety.
Security.
In those Biblical days of old, David faced a many adversities.
His best friend was the son of the king. This king wanted to kill David.
Countless times, David fought battles.
The list of enemies tortured his emotions, his physical well-being, and attacks were often almost too much to bear.
He talks about those wanting to kill him - verse 4.
... about those "malicious witnesses" who speak against him - verse 11.
... about those who take joy in his troubles - verse 15.
... about those "treacherous enemies" - verse 19.
He had it rough and he cried out again to his God for help.
And again, as he did in many other psalms, David mentions that beautiful word ~ JOY.
YET ~ David takes a different angle for JOY this time.
He has a request.
Not a proclamation with shouts of JOY this time.
He has an acknowledgement.
"But give great JOY to those who have stood with me in my defence." (vs. 27, NLT)
I see it like a movie scene playing out.
One by one, those who defend, support, protect, befriend ~ stand up.
Stand up for what is right.
Stand up for those who are broken.
Stand up for those who are mistreated.
Stand up for justice.
Proclaiming, "I've got your back."
In David's time of trial, he remembered those who had stood up for him. He knew what JOY truly looked like because he experienced it himself. And he wanted others to know that God-JOY too. He wanted them to have great JOY.
JOY as a gift, a blessing from the Lord.
JOY from standing up and having someone's back.
Lesson from the journey ~ Great JOY is a reward for having someone's back.
Saturday, January 2, 2016
May His Face Shine on You
Psalm 34
A few years ago God did an amazing thing in me. He opened my eyes a little further. He changed my mindset. He breathed new life into me.
And in that process, He changed my countenance.
I remember being at an event and someone I hadn't seen in a while came up to me and marvelled.
"You have a glow about you. Something is different. I can see it in your face."
Her words struck me to the core, and my heart fluttered.
She could see the difference in the glow of my face.
My face reflecting His glory.
I felt covered in a holy mantle.
I felt radiant.
Radiant is ~ sending out light.
Radiant is ~ shining or glowing brightly.
I had the glow.
I was radiant.
God's Word attests to that fact in Psalm 34:5.
"Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with JOY." (NLT)
Oh, I had looked to Him, that's for sure.
I was looking at Him.
I still am.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "So all of us who have had that veil removed, can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image." (NLT)
He is glorious. Full of glory. Magnificent. Having great beauty. Having high renown.
And I can reflect Him.
I can be radiant with the JOY of the Lord.
Trust is another JOY giver.
"Oh, the JOYS of those who trust in Him!" (Ps. 34:8, NLT)
I desire this JOY. This radiance. This trusting relationship with God.
"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter till the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18, NLT)
There is light in Him, in His ways.
In light, there is hope, freedom, vision and JOY.
Light shines through the dark.
Radiance.
I can be light, hope and JOY to others when God is Light, Hope and JOY to me, and in me.
I can wear it as my countenance.
I can radiate God Himself.
Any of the righteous can.
Shining brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
The Christmas carol, "Silent Night" has a line in it that says, " ... Son of God, love's pure Light; radiant beams from Thy holy face ... " (Joseph Mohr - lyricist)
Joseph Mohr knew it too. Assigning radiant beams coming from the face of the newborn Jesus was brilliant imagery. Brilliant truth.
Lesson in the journey ~ My joyful countenance reflects my joyful God.
A few years ago God did an amazing thing in me. He opened my eyes a little further. He changed my mindset. He breathed new life into me.
And in that process, He changed my countenance.
I remember being at an event and someone I hadn't seen in a while came up to me and marvelled.
"You have a glow about you. Something is different. I can see it in your face."
Her words struck me to the core, and my heart fluttered.
She could see the difference in the glow of my face.
My face reflecting His glory.
I felt covered in a holy mantle.
I felt radiant.
Radiant is ~ sending out light.
Radiant is ~ shining or glowing brightly.
I had the glow.
I was radiant.
God's Word attests to that fact in Psalm 34:5.
"Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with JOY." (NLT)
Oh, I had looked to Him, that's for sure.
I was looking at Him.
I still am.
2 Corinthians 3:18 says, "So all of us who have had that veil removed, can see and reflect the glory of the Lord. And the Lord - who is the Spirit - makes us more and more like Him as we are changed into His glorious image." (NLT)
He is glorious. Full of glory. Magnificent. Having great beauty. Having high renown.
And I can reflect Him.
I can be radiant with the JOY of the Lord.
Trust is another JOY giver.
"Oh, the JOYS of those who trust in Him!" (Ps. 34:8, NLT)
I desire this JOY. This radiance. This trusting relationship with God.
"The way of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, which shines ever brighter till the full light of day." (Proverbs 4:18, NLT)
There is light in Him, in His ways.
In light, there is hope, freedom, vision and JOY.
Light shines through the dark.
Radiance.
I can be light, hope and JOY to others when God is Light, Hope and JOY to me, and in me.
I can wear it as my countenance.
I can radiate God Himself.
Any of the righteous can.
Shining brighter and brighter until the full light of day.
The Christmas carol, "Silent Night" has a line in it that says, " ... Son of God, love's pure Light; radiant beams from Thy holy face ... " (Joseph Mohr - lyricist)
Joseph Mohr knew it too. Assigning radiant beams coming from the face of the newborn Jesus was brilliant imagery. Brilliant truth.
Lesson in the journey ~ My joyful countenance reflects my joyful God.
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