Psalm 108:6-9

Psalm 108: 6-9

Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered. God has spoken from his sanctuary: In triumph I will parcel out Shechem and measure off the Valley of Succoth. Gilead is mine, Manasseh is mine; Ephraim is my helmet, Judah my scepter. Moab is my washbasin, upon Edom I toss my sandal; over Philistia I shout in triumph."

Wow, this one is deep today. Here to start is a normal plea that hopefully we all make to pray for those we know do not have a personal relationship with Jesus. We know that we can bring forth our requests often and continually and if it is his will he will answer positively those prayers.

In verse 7 it says, "God has spoken." God promised the son of Jesse great blessings. Any divine revelation should be a great joy. God had spoken to him through the mouth of Nathan. "I will divide Shechem" means that at home, foes must be dislodged from Israel's territory, and lands will be properly settled and managed. "In the valley of Succoth" means that the lands across the Jordan must also be made safe especially against marauders.

The next portion is a prayer of thanks to God. Gilead and Manasseh are lands promised to them by God and they now have them. Ephraim was a tribe who furnished David with more than twenty thousand mighty men of valour. Judah is where David seated the government and chief courts of justice. No other tribe could govern but Judah. Moab opposed Israel; therefore, David claims victory over them by faith before it is done. Even though Edom is strong and proud and powerful David says he will just throw his shoe at them like they are really no threat. He is saying that most people make too much of God's foes. Over Philistia he once conquered it as a youth and will do so again.

Daily Thought: I guess the bottom line here is if God is for us who can be against us. Praise God and his promises.

Tom

Broken Spirit/Contrite Heart Psalm 51:17

Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit and a contrite heart....

Wesley says, "This (broken spirit) is of more value than many sacrifices."

Matthew Henry offers this commentary: (from Matthew Henry's Concise Commentary)
Those who are thoroughly convinced of their misery and danger by sin, would spare no cost to obtain the remission of it. But as they cannot make satisfaction for sin, so God cannot take any satisfaction in them, otherwise than as expressing love and duty to him. The good work wrought in every true penitent, is a broken spirit, a broken and a contrite heart, and sorrow for sin. It is a heart that is tender, and pliable to God's word. Oh that there were such a heart in every one of us! God is graciously pleased to accept this; it is instead of all burnt-offering and sacrifice. The broken heart is acceptable to God only through Jesus Christ; there is no true repentance without faith in him. Men despise that which is broken, but God will not. He will not overlook it, he will not refuse or reject it; though it makes God no satisfaction for the wrong done to him by sin. Those who have been in spiritual troubles, know how to pity and pray for others afflicted in like manner. David was afraid lest his sin should bring judgements upon the city and kingdom. No personal fears or troubles of conscience can make the soul, which has received grace, careless about the interests of the church of God. And let this be the continued joy of all the redeemed, that they have redemption through the blood of Christ, the forgiveness of sins according to the riches of his grace.

Why, you ask, the long sermon today? Yesterday things all came down to a screeching halt for me emotionally and mentally. The kids were rowdy, homeschooling was going dismally, and, to boot, it was raining! AND the dogs were going to the bathroom in the house again!!!!! My life has seemed lately to be a circuitous route of cleaning up dog doo-doo, cleaning up after kids, making a meal which the kids won't eat, not able to go out because our driveway is nearly flooded again, kids arguing, Josh bouncing off the walls because he can't play outside, dogs fighting and barking, me worrying about gettting depressed this winter which usually happens to me, etc etc and on and on and so forth and so on........ just unbelievable fatigue and then despair. (BTW we read last night in "THE BOOK OF NIGHT" that not getting enough sleep is like the worst thing that can happen to a body....Tom and I were gravely nodding our heads in agreement on that one).
Anyway, in the midst of this, I felt descending upon me those twin evils .... of bitterness and resentment. They are a bad, bad combination. I felt it toward Tom for some reason. I just could not be kind toward him. I blamed all my daily troubles on him.
And I knew it was wrong. Those twins are worse than any daily hassles or struggles that befall any of us.
And I had to confess it. To Tom and to God.
And then the verse, above, came to me. (see why AWANA is so important? The exact verse you need comes to you when you need it, just when you need it ..... so bury those verses in your heart....just like the children do.)
My heart is broken and my spirit is broken and God will not despise that. We no longer need to bring sacrifices of turtledoves and pigeons or lambs or jewelry into the temple. We simply need to drop our broken tattered hearts and souls at the altar of prayer.
So I did that yesterday morning. But when Tom got home last night I felt it again! There was more doggie doo-doo! More rain! Kids were being disrespectful! ARgghhhhhh!
So I am confessing it again. I know His word is true, the sacrifices of a broken spirit and a contrite heart are pleasing to God. He will not despise that. Please forgive me for these twin evils of bitterness and resentment because they are worse than anything bad the kids will do. Any song I sing, any act of service, will be pleasing to the Lord but right now this confession is all He wants of me. So, I'm sorry. Please, Lord, forgive me....please, tom, forgive me.
Humbly submitted, Lisa

Praise for Sisters and Singing

I achieved one of my life's goals this weekend. To stand around the piano and sing with my sisters. We had a small party for Sean, age 7, and at the end several of the sisters went into the piano room and had a slight jam session of singing hymns and praises to God. By the time it was over I was sweating and absolutely FILLED with the Holy Spirit. Just on a spiritual high. I got to sing, harmonize, (make lots of mistakes) with Robin, CCW, and Jennybeale. I was so happy I almost could not stand it. Ever felt that way? It was a lifelong dream!!!!!!! Thanks you guys!
Thanks, Mom, for buying that piano umpteen years ago and letting us learn and teach ourselves piano and play and praise God with that instrument. Thanks for not saying "turn that off" or "you're too loud" but letting us develop a concert of praise in our own living room while growing up. Now, how many years later, I am plunking away, re-learning the craft, and then miraculously one night Tom and I watched amazed as Debbie created and sang her own song of praise to God right in front of us. Now that is a legacy that you want to get passed on to 3 generations. The singing of praises. This is the work of a spiritual warrior. As Joshua told his people to march around Jericho and worship quietly x 7 days, then on the 7th day -- to shout and praise God --- for the victory is ours!!!!!!!! Lift up your arms and praise with those weapons -- the uplifted hands and feet firmly planted on YOUR promises!!!!!!! Praise God!!! From Whom All Blessings Flow!!!!
love, lisa......humbly

The Dichotomy of Life

From Tom:
First, the praises and thanksgiving.
We are blessed daily with the early-morning awakening of delightful Jenna and the subsequent awakening of our two other angelic children, Josh and Debbie. How fresh and fluffy they look when they get up, all full of promise and expectancy for the day. Our praise today is : thanks to our circumstances that we have the opportunity to be with them 24 hours a day (Tom when he gets home) and be the recipients of these joy-filled gifts from God. Too many adults don't get the joy of holding a small child.
Psalm 119:73-77 Your hands made me and formed me; give me understanding to learn your commands. May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. I know, O Lord, that your laws are righteous, and in faithfulness you have afflicted me. May your unfailing love be my comfort, according to your promise to your servant. Let your compassion come to me that I may live for your law is my delight.

Now, the other side, of the realities of day to day life .....

This is sort of the process we are going through. First we know what God's laws are. Be a servant, be humble, be meek, be generous with good cheer, be kind, do not exasperate your children, take care of the needs of others, do not worry, do not bear grudges, forgive others as I first forgave you, Love others as I first loved you etc.
These are all fine qualities but when real life occurs it is hard to willingly put these into practice. It is hard when you have only had five hours of interrupted sleep to be rejoiceful and pleasant to your children when all three are asking for snacks right after the meal where they have refused to consume it. It is hard to be nice and not yell when the three kids and three dogs are all fighting and have totally messed up the house. It is hard not to be bitter towards your spouse when they are not helping in the daily housework and are doing something with their friends while you are still in charge of the house and kids after already doing this task for the last ten hours. So Lord as it says here allow your unfailing love to enable us to overcome life's ugly details and help us to have your heart and mind in dealing with these situations that seem to be far above our ability to deal with.
Sincerely, Tom

Broken Neck/Broken Body/Healed Heart

I am glad that children take things so literally. For them, it seems, the part is the same as the whole. This helps us to understand the verse that my kids learned in Awanas that says if you break one part of the law, you are guilty of breaking ALL of it. Maybe I am extrapolating the analogy incorrectly, but let me explain and see if these little cherubs do not show me a wisdom that I will never have.
As some of you know, I have struggled for a few years now with bulging disks in my cervical spine/"neck". After x-ray and MRI, it was treated with traction, heat, physical therapy and rest with a cervical pillow at night. Medications, by the way, do not help. At least did not help me. Anyway, the neck has been feeling better the past year. But -- prob'ly with the stress of homeschooling, etc., the ol' pain in the neck has resurfaced. This has put an end to the kids' practice of sitting on the back of the armchair while I read to all three. The method helps all 3 get a good view of the book, but the one at the back of the armchair inevitably ends up sliding down and basically sitting on my neck and straining it.
So lately I have been saying, don't sit on my neck please. I have told them that my neck is "broken" as the disks are "desiccated" (doctor's words) and breaking down. Mama's neck is broken so don't sit on it.
The allusion is almost here.
Last night I was reading to all three and Jenna wanted to be the one at the top of the armchair and she looked at me and said, "Mama, I promise I will not break your body."
I guess for her, if the neck is broken, the body is broken.
Well, mama's body is broken in more ways than the neck. But I appreciate her understanding of the situation. The damaged neck is not the only thing damaged in this fragile vessel of mine. The body will continue to wear down.
But my soul! My heart! My hope! It continues to be resurrected -- as I grow older in body! My spirit stays young! How grateful I am for Josh, Debbie and Jenna. They are teaching me!! They teach me the Bible! Not by their earthly wisdom or experience but by their mere innocence. They see and read and hear things literally. For them, the part is the same as the whole. May this innocence of theirs last. May I, the chief of sinners, keep being able to learn from God through them and all other gifts God has bestowed mercifully on undeserving me.
Tom's message to me lately in his email'd devotions has been to exhort me to praise God first thing in the morning. As soon as I wake up, I am to praise God. Soon I will be passing along some more of Tom's devotionals.
If anyone wants to learn about continual, lifelong praise, they could read Spurgeon's The Practice of Praise. Woke up this morning and started in on it for the 2nd day and it is revitalizing my heart. Praise God in the morning ! Praise God at night! In the morning praise him for his lovingkindness; in the evening praise God for his faithfulness. He is loving AND kind; and at the end of the day (or end of our life) we see that he has indeed been faithful.
One example, it is comforting to re-read verses and passages and see that the God of my youth is the same God of my middle age. I told the kids, "I read these same passages and learned them and memorized them as a child - and they have not changed! God is faithful! he does not change!" How comforting to know that in a world that is consistently fickle. We may change our minds hour by hour or minute by minute, but He does not. He is the same. Those verses learned at age 3 or 4 or 5 or 6 or 7, will be the same verses at midlife and later.
Lord, one of the best things you have done for me is let me help with Awanas. I am learning right along with the 3 year olds. I am sitting on the floor next to them and I look up at THEM. Little children are blessings.
Praise You Lord!
Until next time, love, Lisa

Hunger and Thirst

A mom has to be an available servant 24 hours a day. The kids have to know she is THERE. I cannot do this of my own strength. How can I fill their hungers and thirsts and needs when I have my own hungers and thirsts? But to be available for them is to love them. I heard the other night on the radio (Tony Evans) that true love is sacrifice, and it has to hurt in order for it to be love. The greatest love for us was shown to us by God's only son Jesus who gave his life up for us. that would be the essence of love. I have trouble giving up my right to myself and sacrificing it for my husband and the kids. My prayer request is that my heart would soften (Ezekiel 36:26) and become a heart of flesh rather than one of stone. My soul hungers and thirsts (Psalm 84) only God can satisfy that thirst. I seek to satisfy that thirst in a shopping trip or a zillion cups of coffee or a diet coke or not sharing my popcorn, can you believe that. But it doesn't work. No shopping trip will satisfy. No cup of coffee can satisfy. I confess I seek satisfaction in those silly things. Please pray that my heart and thirst and hungers will be satisfied with Jesus and with gladly bearing my burdens at home.
Until next time, humbly, Lisa

Operation Christmas Child

Last night at Awanas was Christmas in October where we put together Christmas gifts for children in other countries who wouldn't get anything for Christmas were it not for this wonderful organization that sends these boxes out to them. Looking at the video from Franklin Graham, those kids from other countries who have nothing but get huge thankful grins after receivimg a shoebox full of stuff of which we donated and prepared makes you feel like you did some worthy thing for God and all else doesn't matter.

Pastor read a wonderful section from Scripture to go with this topic last night. I could not locate it but here is what I found:

Col. 3: 12-16 Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity. Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. let the word of Christ dwell in you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom, as you sing psalms, hymns and spiritual songs with gratitude in your hearts to God.
Too much in here to talk about in a short time! First God loved us and forgave us no matter how bad we have been so we have no right not to forgive others and love others since he gave up his life for each of our individual sins. Love it says here brings unity which the body needs the singly and collectively. We need to get over our selves and think more of others. We need to realize what Jesus sacrificed for each of us and to stop being petty. We need to allow the fruits of the Spirit flow from us and out of us so that Jesus' character can be evident in our lives. Songs and praises sung all day long certainly help us keep these fruits in the forefront of our lives. We also need to be especially thankful for our pastor who tries his hardest to keep his flock in this godly mode. We need to put on the blanket of humility and honor others above ourselves and to model the servant heart that our Lord Jesus displayed.
Sincerely, Tom