The Warrior Life

In this moment, right now…remember

Wed, 12 Oct 2022 20:00:33 -0500

In this moment, right now…remember

This is another great verse and reminder that God loves us…and in fact his love is old and from ancient times.

Why would the Psalmist ask the Lord to “remember”? That is my big question here…the Psalmist starts of with a call for God to remember - why?

It’s not because God forgot that He loved us.

It’s not because God even has to think about or consider his love for us.

It’s not because God needs to be told to remember

So why?

I think for a few reasons: they word means “in the present moment recall” which indicates to me that the Psalmist is saying “Please show up the way that you have from ancient times” AND I think it is as much a call for the Lord to remember as it is for the Psalmist…some times just saying “hey god don’t forget to show up for me now the way that you have showed up for us in the past” is a powerful reminder for US.

In fact…that may be really what it is all about - a not so gentle reminder for the Psalmist to consider all that God has done, from ancient times, and recall how God showed up with compassion and kindness for the people.

There are just times, when I am ‘going through it’ that I need to remember the ways that God has shown up for me, for others around me, and for his people throughout history. He never lacked in His mercy. He has never been found lacking in his love for his people. He has never NOT given to his people what they desperately need…and he won’t start now and he won’t start with me - there are times that I simply need the reminder that God’s love is ancient and it is old and it is a sure thing in this present moment when I turn my head and heart to receiving that which God faithfully offers his people.

I got you! I got you!

Tue, 11 Oct 2022 20:01:31 -0500

I got you! I got you!

The Psalmist is speaking for God and states:

“Don’t be afraid, I am with you. Don’t be dismayed, I am your God; I will be your strength, I will help you, I will hold you up by my righteous hand.”

How many times in life could we use this reminder?

How many times a day could I use this reminder?

To be afraid here is to be filled with dread, to the point of trembling. I have known that kind of fear…more than once. A fear that is surrounds and consumes from within. A fear that is debilitating…leaving me dead in my tracks. A fear that confounds and dismays…leaving me confused and without the strength to move forward.

The word dismayed had me stumped but it carries the idea of simply being stuck, confused, unable to move forward…or at minimum move out of the current situation - it’s the classic deer in the headlights and God says “don’t just stand there…I am your God and I got you!”

God says that he help strengthen me; I will make you bold, strong, alert and able to stand stout! I love that word “stout” - it makes me think of a good strong stout that is able to stand on it’s own…and also able to deliver great flavor and presence.

God continues to communicate that he will uphold me; I will support you, I will help you attain greatness and achieve all that you have been called to do, all that you were created to do.

This verse often gets passed over quickly, due to my familiarity with it, but it is full of some great truths that I need today…in this moment. I often find myself dismayed by life, beaten down, afraid to move because I have “learned my lesson” that when I step out in faith there is someone there ready to take me out…but God is saying not to give up or give in but to keep going and to look to Him, to trust in Him, to rest in Him because He is with me.

Be with me today God…be with me today.

Have confidence - Be brave - Cheer up

Wed, 05 Oct 2022 20:00:24 -0500

Have confidence - Be brave - Cheer up

Time and again Jesus calls us to give ourselves over in unconditional abandon to God’s mercy and time and again we make excuses. He has promised to forgive…He has forgiven. Your past is gone…it’s done.

Philippians 3:3 says that we ARE the circumcision (the ones called by God and called out by God) and that we worship by the spirit, that we glory in Christ and that we put no faith or trust in our flesh.

This verse tells us how go about living life in this manner…it isn’t us the lives like this but Christ living through us.

“I can do all things” - I have the strength to do all of the things, every one…no matter how great or small, I have the power, the strength, the ability to dig deep and keep going!

“Through him who gives me strength” - the word through is incredible…it is by way of a mystic indwelling.

Yep, that’s right the strength that I have to do all of the things to which I have been called and that come into my path comes from the mystic indwelling of Christ in me.

I’m just leaving this here because that truth is so pure and powerful…it really doesn’t need any other explanation or commentary. I just need to know that no matter what comes my way, I have the power, the strength, the ability to do what needs to be done because I have been mystically in dwelt by the spirit of God through Christ…all I need do is dig deep, find that strength and allow Him to live in me and through me to get it done and make it happen.

I think we can all apply this strength in our lives…that’s powerful!

What are do gonna you?

Tue, 04 Oct 2022 20:00:36 -0500

What are do gonna you?

One of my favorite quotes from Parks and Rec! Jerry gets all flustered and turns his words around - instead of “what are you going do?” He hits everyone with the ole’ “What are do gonna you?” Isn’t that just life some times? We get so flustered, worries, anxious, nervous…whatever it is we get there because of what is going on around us.

The author of Hebrews breaks it down easily…what can any human do to me that is worth being frightened about? Nothing because God is there to help us.

Now…does that mean that fear is a meaningless emotion? No

Does that mean that we will never be in pain? No

Does that mean that “bad things” won’t happen to us? No

Life happens. Broken people to hurtful things…Hurt People Hurt People and we are going to go through pain, suffering, hurt…and in some ways so much more!

I have been through a lot of hurt…both taking place in and outside the church (the church hurt is the worst and something I am sure I will write about at some point in time) but let’s face it…we are all going to go through some crap in life and it’s going to hurt and it could cause us to fear.

So what is the promise here?

That God is going to help us in spite of it.

That God is with us, for us and that nothing will be able to stand in opposition against us or take us out!

Here is the part of the verse that REALLY gets me…the writer says that understanding this truth gives him courage and helps me live life in good cheer! That is an amazing truth!

Because we know that God is for us and that nobody can truly hurt us or harm us in a way that “takes us out of the game of life” we can confidently live and interact with others in confidence and good cheer!

Again…living a life that goes beyond what is to be expected or what is accepted by others points others to the person of God!

That God is going to help us through it.

This is the life I want to live…I have to get at it!

Live out of the center!

Mon, 03 Oct 2022 20:00:43 -0500

Live out of the center!

Brennan Manning talks about living from the center; living a life that is hidden with Christ in God. I love this idea and to be honest the older I get the more I understand this…I never wanted to hide myself in Christ, hiding meant weakness and weakness was just something that I wasn’t willing to accept in my life - I never wanted to be weak because I didn’t want people to see me that way and I definitely didn’t want God to see me that way.

How silly of me…

The truth is that my understanding of “hiding myself in Christ” takes on a completely different perspective the older I get; though I don’t want to be weak…I am and hiding in Christ is running but taking refuge. The older I get the more I realize that there is so much in the world that is trying to take me out and every turn and I need to a place to go for refuge, rest, and a place to refuel and become my best self. To hide myself in Christ means that I am resting at the center of who God is and what God is doing in my life.

Romans 8:18 is such a great verse that speaks to “living from the center” - we need to live from a place that recognizes that the sufferings of life don’t even compare to the glory that will be revealed in us through Christ.

Let’s break it down…

To consider is to think, determine, judge, or reckon as though from an account perspective. It carries a finality with it…not just to think about but to think on until completion or a fullness happens.

Sufferings refer to a cooler less, evil experience - the suffering destined for the Messiah.

Glory here is defined as the unspoken manifestation of God!

Consider this interpretation of the verse, Paul (who let’s face it…suffered a great deal more than many of us could even consider - though I will say that the purpose isn’t to start comparing suffering but to consider the glory that will be revealed in us through Christ), has judged and determined that the colorless, evil experiences that we all face today (those experiences that equate to the suffering destine for the Messiah) can not even come close to the unspoken manifestation of God that will be revealed in us through Christ.

Here…the way that God is going to show up in us and through us is so much greater than any of our current suffering - it’s not even a fair fight…in fact it’s incomparable!

Listen…we all suffer, we all go through experiences that reveal our weakness, our humanity, our need for rescue. It’s part of the human experience and it’s completely normal…what isn’t normal is how we “reckon” or determine the impact of that suffering on our lives. As children of God we must consider that what we are currently going through, as painful and evil as it feels in the present, isn’t our end state and in fact our end state is so much greater than we can even imagine - it is the unspoken manifestation of God and will be revealed in us as we live from the center.

The question is “when will it be revealed?” … I think the answer is quite simple - it is revealed when we live from the center and live our lives that reflect our belief in this truth.

Personalizing this a bit - when I consider the reality that my current suffering and afflictions are nothing compared to the unspoken manifestation of God that comes from living at the center with Christ…it is then that the glory of God is revealed in me and through me!

That is an amazing truth…that is the way to live life!

Get over here!

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 20:01:59 -0500

Get over here!

No Jesus didn’t pull his disciples into him like Scorpion pulls in his victims…but he wasn’t far off.

I have read this verse time and again, I have always heard or thought the purpose of the verse was simply talking about humility and being humble…you know the way of the kingdom.

It is and it isn’t. I think…I think this is one of those stories that is simple and beautiful and often missed because we are looking for something more.

Jesus is sitting with his disciples and they are discussing the kingdom and “who is the greatest in the kingdom”. You know that Matthew softened this right? He was part of the conversation…it was a group of Jesus’ followers and they wanted nothing more than to debate and get ahead of the others around them…it was about positioning themselves.

Remember me Jesus…I did XYZ

Remember my contribution to the kingdom…I talked to ABC

Don’t forget about that time….

Yeah but you know you also said this….

True but he did that….

Discussion. Debate. Deliberation. Diluted…they missed it.

In the midst of this conversation, I imagine Jesus looking around and shaking his head in frustration. It seems that the disciples missed the point more often than not and it was time for another lesson; he had to make this simple and he had to make this sting…

In the midst of the noise, Jesus looks up and “Hey child, come here for a moment.” And the child came…

I think THAT is the point of this verse…Jesus called and the child answered. No pomp. No circumstance. No debate. No discussion. No doubt, fear, hesitation, second guessing, or questions. It was simply this - Jesus called and the child answered. Period.

And THAT my friends is what greatness in the kingdom looks like - the faith of a child, the humility of a child, a simple response to a simple request.

When Jesus calls, do I answer? Or do I continue to discuss, debate, deliberate and dilute the experience with my own pomp and circumstance? Do I make the call about me?

The answer - often, more often than I care to admit, I make the call about me and miss the point of the call altogether. Jesus is calling out - get over here and he is patiently waiting for us to respond with the faith of a child.

It’s all about “together”!

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 20:00:48 -0500

It’s all about “together”!

I have heard this verse preached, I have studied it, I have read it several times…and yet with all of that I have managed to miss how powerful it is and how “communal” it is.

Looking at a few of these words we see:

- apostle’s teaching: these are the teachings of those that walked with Jesus and saw how He lived His life, they would share stories of the time they spent with Christ and bring those stories into the current day in attempt to help them all grow together in the body of Christ.

- fellowship: they gathered together and wouldn’t others keep them from gathering together, it was both an verb and a noun - they fellowshipped and were the fellowship.

- breaking of bread: this is simply the activity of eating together, but think about what happens in those times that we eat with others…we share stories, we share life, we laugh, we cry, we commune, we talk….we are doing life together and I believe that this practice of breaking bread really got into this transmission of life at a deep level.

- prayer: again a verb as well as a location…they prayed together and they did so in the place of prayer, in the presence of God.

All of these actions run deep…they are a part of the daily life of these believers. Now look at the first part of the verse…this is what is often missed - they devoted themselves to these actions:

The word devoted here denotes perseverance, constant, and to be earnestly moving towards something…together. But it goes deeper than that, this idea comes from root words that communicate pressing forward in steadfast power!

Think about that for a moment, they are pressing toward something together and it gives them strength and power as they do this together. These actions aren’t simply boxes on a spiritual task list that need to be checked off in order to attain today’s portion of holiness, these activities gave the early church strength, power, togetherness and caused them to be devoted to each other.

The church is missing this today, we have made it too simple for people to come in and sit, soak and sour (nod to my bible college days). They sneak into their seats, listen to a sermon, sing a few songs, shake a few hands and then walk back into life to go on about their days. I think Jesus meant for there to be so much more to it than that. I long to find something that is so much more powerful and meaningful than that…I long to find a fellowship of believers with whom I can do life and press forward together in strength and power for the Kingdom.

It’s time to arrogantly rejoice!

Sat, 24 Sep 2022 20:00:55 -0500

It’s time to arrogantly rejoice!

I love this idea…I have been raised to think that being arrogant is “bad”. I don’t typically like arrogance in others, I certainly don’t want to see it come out in my own life.

…but what if?

What if there was a religious or arrogant joy that ins’t rooted in who we are or what we bring to the table but in God?

Now that…that would be cool.

And it’s not rooted in the person of God but the promise of God…ok NOW we are getting somewhere. The idea of a joyful heart in Proverbs 17:22 isn’t simply that I put on a happy face, suck it up and just act happy - it runs much deeper than that.

The word “cheerful” means joyful, glad and if you start to double click on it a bit more we see that it drives home this idea of being arrogantly joyful! Given, as children of God, we are steered away from arrogance it becomes clear to me that this arrogance isn’t in anything that we bring to the party but in who God is and how we interact with Him.

I can walk around in joy, live in joy, act in joy…with a cheerful and glad heart knowing that God is for me, I’m His and nothing in this world is going to take any of that away from me. I don’t have to let the things of life get me down. I don’t have to feel moved or be moved by any circumstances, any fears or doubts, any feelings - emotions - sensations that might try to pull me away from the truth that I am grounded in God and if He is for me…who or what can be against me?!?!

That is pretty powerful … It’s like living life knowing, confidently knowing, that no matter what happens in life I will THRIVE and overcome. It’s not giving the rough patches in life lip service or the “Christian head nod” but truly looking at life and all that it has to offer and saying…ok cool, I’ve got this - I choose to find joy in this situation, I choose to be glad because God is with me and this isn’t able to come close to standing against me.

Living life from this perspective is living an arrogantly joyful life that provides healing to others…it turns the dried, crushed and stricken bones to life again! Living an arrogantly joyful life brings life because it points to God and offers hope, freedom, life, love, mercy…all the things!

I want to live my life in that way…I want to live an arrogantly joyful life that is fully grounded in the promise that God is for me, nothing can stand against me and that God is going to work out every situation in my life for my good. It may not be easy, it may not be fun, it may not be pleasant…but I can be arrogantly joyful in my knowledge and understanding of who God is and how God is at work in every single moment of life.

God showed us how…now it’s our turn!

Thu, 22 Sep 2022 20:00:43 -0500

God showed us how…now it’s our turn!

Luke is writing about some pretty powerful teachings from Jesus about how we should interact with one another. In essence Jesus says:

“I want you to love like God and in case you aren’t sure what that looks like, I want you to find your enemies and do good to them and for them - be kind and give of your possessions and meet their needs without asking for anything back in return - your needs are taken care of and you want be wanting. Listen, God was kind to a wicked and ungrateful people, He was kind to them, gave to them, loved them when when they were not even looking in his direction…and in case you aren’t sure to whom I am referring - it’s you!”

This idea of “loving your enemy” by showing kindness and giving of your own possessions to meet their needs seems just doesn’t feel right BUT God did it and requires the same from us. He’s not asking to do anything that He hasn’t done and - truth be told - the distance between me and God isn’t even comparable to the distance between me and my enemies. It may feel like that distance is just too great but let’s face it…my enemies and me are the same!

The other aspect of this that I think is amazing is that WE NEED MERCY…why would God do something for us if we weren’t in need, if it wasn’t in our best interest, if it was something that was essential for us? Now flip that around…our enemies are in need of mercy as well - it is ESSENTIAL to their wellbeing.

So who is my enemy? How can I show them kindness?

What will the net net benefit of this interaction be?

Something to consider…

Hey, today, I want you to show mercy - in the same way that God showed you mercy in your time of need!

It’s time to get low, low, low…

Tue, 20 Sep 2022 20:00:48 -0500

It’s time to get low, low, low…

This verse is pretty straight forward but difficult to master; it is pleasing and good for the soul to be made low or humbled than to divide the shares of the proud.

When I think of dividing shares or portions, it is typically due to the fact that a battle has been won but this verse makes it fairly clear that the spoils of the proud and arrogant aren’t “winning”. It’s easy to live life under the delusion that we are capable of doing much on our own; don’t get me wrong God gives us the ability to do, live, act, exist on our own and in our own power - we are able to live the life that we want to live BUT that doesn’t mean that we are on our own.

The proud say they don’t need anyone else.

The arrogant act as though this life is all about them.

And the spoils of that war are loneliness, disparity and a life lived alone…it’s a life that really isn’t.

Those that humble themselves, make themselves low and live a life that realizes “it’s not about me” have the life that is meant to be lived…it’s not about us, it’s about others. Jesus says love God and love others…that’s it. That’s life and when we live life from that place, we are living a life that is pleasing and good!

It’s time to rest, truly rest.

Mon, 19 Sep 2022 20:01:24 -0500

It’s time to rest, truly rest.

I love the words used in this verse. In verse 1 the Psalmist actually states that we “will not want” - we will not be lacking, in need or become less than we already are. Think about that for a second, we will never be less than who we are today.

- when you doubt…you are not less than you are today

- when you fear…you are not less than you are today

- when you are run…you are not less than you are today

- when you stumble…

- when you hide…

- when you turn away…

- when you…

You will never be less than you are today because our shepherd knows you, he leads you, he guides you…he makes you lie down in green pastures, he leads you beside the still waters.

The word “make” here actually carries two meanings; to be constructed and to be compelled. Each of us are made to find rest in our shepherd…that is what we each have in common. The second meaning I think is a bit more personal, it is reflective of those that have a personal walk with God…we are compelled to lie down, we can’t help it, we find safety in knowing that he is leading, guiding, protecting, providing…we find rest in the fact that nothing can be taken from us and we are compelled to lie down, to stretch out with ease and find rest!

This is the rest that Jesus mentions to the disciples…you will find rest for your soul. I don’t know about anyone else but my soul longs for this and I think the moment I discover that I will never be lacking in my life…I long to lie down and find that rest for which I was made, constructed, designed.

The pastures by which we are led are beautifully adorn with praise and the waters are waters of rest. The beautiful imagery here is breath taking and if, in reading these words, your heart begins to beat ever more quickly, your soul cries our a little more loudly, your breath becomes just a bit deeper and richer…know that this is the heart that was constructed for the very rest you long for. It’s yours…simply recognize that your shepherd has more in store for you than you can imagine and that you will never be lacking for anything, ever again, and find rest.

What’s in a name?

Mon, 12 Sep 2022 20:00:55 -0500

What’s in a name?

Everything!

Revelation 3:12

Jesus is saying to those that have kept his word, observed his word, obeyed and protected his word…to those individuals he will establish them in such a way that they will never be removed or abandoned.

Jesus, the one who has conquered sin and death, the overcomer, the one that has established himself above all things will give those that keep his word a purpose, a place and a permanence that is established and can not be removed or taken away!

Look at this; he will make them a pillar in the temple (a purpose to uphold the very presence of God for all to see and for all to be invited to), he will give them a name of the city of God that is being established anew (a place to be and move and have our being) and he will write upon them his own name (a permanence because a name was something that was inseparable from the person to whom it belongs).

Jesus say “keep my word and live it out in your life and I will establish you in the Kingdom forever”. That’s what is in a name…everything!

It’s simple…you harvest that which you plant!

Tue, 23 Aug 2022 20:00:46 -0500

It’s simple…you harvest that which you plant!

For context Romans 614 says that I’m not under the law under grace. The verse speaks about dominion and that the law of the flesh has dominion over me and makes me subject to its ways…its ways and its consequences.

The law is a legal, binding agreement that exacts a legal precedent over its subjects…the of the flesh brings about the legal precedents of the flesh, including its rewards and consequences. The same is true with the law of grace, living under the dominion of grace I will live under the rewards and consequences of grace.

Galatians 6:8 speaks to these laws a bit further in that there is the law of the flesh and the law of the spirit. The law of the flesh brings about destruction and the law the spirit brings about life.

It’s quite simple…to sow and to reap simply means that whatever it is that I sow or plant I will harvest. If I plant the law of the flesh, my harvest will lead to death and destruction, that which is withering away and will not last. However if I sow that which is if the Spirit (if I sow grace and love) then I will harvest the forever life of God whose rewards are joy, thanksgiving, cheer…eternal life.

What am I sowing in my life? I used to spread a whole lot of sin and destruction with my choices…I want my life to be about that forever life of God that brings about joy, thanksgiving, love and grace!

How’s your walk?

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 20:00:56 -0500

How’s your walk?

Galatians 5:16 tells us to walk in the Spirit; literally to trample and coming from the root word to sting…it has an effect to be sure! It’s a journey that has meaning and impacts our lives and the lives of others, it’s a way of life not simply an act but an action defining life.

When we live this life and walk in this way, we will not gratify or fulfill completely the lists of the flesh; we will not bring about the results of or the natural consequences of the flesh.

In Galatians 6:2 the writer tells us that we are to carry the burdens of others, that is to walk in or become part of the burdens of others. It also denotes the continual act of being part of the lives of others and in so doing we repeatedly, over and over, bring to completion the law of Christ. By caring for each other on a regular basis we are walking in the act of love that Christ has commanded.

Walking in the Spirit is likened to Walking in LOVE…we do this by caring for one another and carrying the burdens of one another on an one going manner. This is a way of life that is the fulfillment of the command of Christ to love one another…anything but this life is a life of the flesh that is counter to the calling we have been given by King Jesus.

deeply moved…to action

Mon, 22 Aug 2022 12:16:35 -0500

Jesus was deeply loved and greatly troubled…don’t miss the greatness of this passage by the simplicity of the word.

deeply moved - divine judgement
greatly troubled - from a place of origin, at his inmost being, the place that gives Jesus life…he was filled to his fullest being with indignation

Genesis states that God saw what He created and it was good and He continued to create, move and act. In this passage we see what happens when God is moved because it is not good…it’s powerful.

Jesus sees His friends and loved ones weep and morn for one that has passed. He is moved to act because the state of things has disrupted Jesus at His core. I don’t think it was simply because Lazarus died. I don’t think it was simply because they were weeping at the death of Lazarus. I don’t think think it was because Jesus was upset at the loss…I think it was all of these things and something deeper.

He has been trying to help them understand life and the resurrection and the way of the Kingdom…but they weren’t fully understanding the message or the implications. I think Jesus saw the heart of humankind and that even with the hope of heaven in our hearts, with the knowledge of what is to come in our minds and with the very presence of the divine in our midst…even still our hearts break, we experience loss at the core of our existence and are moved at the impact of death compared to the value or life and when Jesus saw the complexity of all of this He was moved to the core with divine judgement and indignation because this was not the design and he compelled to act and remind us again why He came and what our futures are in store for.

This word is used in Mark 14:5 as “scolded”, you scold when something you care about is being afrontes. Jesus is afrontes by the impact of death upon those He loved and is moved to take action…an indignation that moves the divine to act and reveal just how deeply God cares for His creation.

Jesus is moved to act by giving life to Lazarus, He is also moved to act by giving His own life for us and in so doing conquering death so that we understand death is not the end and that Jesus has so much more for us to experience.

What I LOVE about this is that He doesn’t dismiss the emotions of the moment but feels the tension and the complexity that comes from the heart of being and experiences the same thing at His core. It’s truly a beautiful moment…I can be assured that in my darkest hour God is moved to His core by a divine justice and indignation because what I am going through was not His design and that the power used to bring Lazarus back to life will be worked out in my life, for my good.

getting better…every day and in every way

Fri, 19 Aug 2022 12:16:25 -0500

Wow!

Paul makes a very bold statement that rattles me to the core…my outward self, the me that people see as a result of choices I make isn’t WHO I am or HOW I will end up!!! My existence isn’t wrapped up in my outward self but inner most being.

In this verse Paul is essentially saying: Don’t give up on yourself or your God, don’t lose confidence…trust the process. The flesh, the outward self, the “dead man walking” that is living a life that is focused mainly on self preservation isn’t the end game…in fact quite the opposite is true!

Those areas of your life are being cast aside, they are withering away through and through and right down to the core of tour being and in its place…oh dear one that is the most amazing and transformative part of the story.

God is replacing your self centered flesh with your truest, most authentic soul. God is at work on the very heart of your being dear one…you are being renovated in the most beautifully disruptive way possible and it’s happening with such intensity that God is reversing any damage done by your outward self and recreating you through and through from the inside out!

That is an amazingly powerful truth that should encourage our hearts and energize our being!

What are you afraid of?

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 20:00:33 -0500

What are you afraid of?

Psalm 56:3-4

The psalmist is under attack from others, from the craziness of the world around him and when he fears for his life he takes refuge in God.

The psalmist uses two forms of “trust in” the first indicates the action of seeking refuge and the second indicates being settled in that refuge…it’s powerful to find refuge in God and not live in fear!

It’s almost as if the psalmist is saying when I am afraid, I look to you God and seek refuge…I’m looking for a place to hide. And then I realize that you are the God whose name shines forth from my lips as a blinding light, you are the God that has protected me in the past, you are the God that never fails…so I settled in and find my refuge in you!

It know it’s a different context altogether but this is the difference between seek and find…Jesus tells us that if we seek, we will find and the psalmist here is saying something similar - those that seek refuge will find it in God.

together with one voice

Wed, 17 Aug 2022 12:14:28 -0500

Together with one voice…one message

What is that message? Love.

We read in verses 5-6 that is in harmony, unity of mind and thought, that we are to let our message be heard and in so doing glorify God.

Isn’t it funny that if all of the world religions we are the most divide and on issues that are really nonsensical? Ok it’s not funny…it’s sad.

People know more about what Christians stand against than what they stand for. The church has spent decades building fortresses to the laws of man and not the laws of God. The world, in need of a movement of love, has created a version of love that meets a felt need but doesn’t meet the inner most needs of true love and acceptance that can only come for God…and while the world was busy in search of love, the church has been waving its bibles and condemning their actions in the name of God.

Jesus lived a radical love that shook the thinking of the church and the world…we as true Christ followers need to get back to that place and love like Jesus loved.

He hears your cries!

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 20:01:04 -0500

He hears your cries!

This is a beautiful verse, the afflicted are the poor and needy; they are without and as a result they suffer. The verse also reflects the passages used of Christ and how he was seen at the point of the his impending death on the cross…poor, broken, needy, put upon and having nothing to speak of.

The Psalmist goes into this verse saying that the Lord has not rewarded the poor and needy with contempt or disgust…reward is the result of effort and it’s pretty clear in this passage that the Lord doesn’t see the poor and needy as being their of their own accord; they aren’t being rewarded for anything they have done, in fact it’s not who they are but where they are in the moment. God doesn’t see us as poor and needy, God doesn’t look on us in disgust because we are wanting or without…He doesn’t view our current circumstances as our fault or our future.

Instead, the Lord hears our cries for help…that is the amazing truth of this passage (and of our God) - the Holy One that is set apart from us and everything opposite from the poor and needy hears our cries, turns to us and gives us all that we need in life.

He recognizes that our circumstances don’t reflect our reality or our future state…He sees us as we are and responds to us in our reality!

not your cosmic santa claus

Mon, 15 Aug 2022 12:14:27 -0500

This is NOT what the Lord wants and He will give you what you desire…this is to take exquisite delight or rejoice in the Lord and he will personally deliver (with understanding) all that you need!

If you read the other passages and the context of this passage, David isn’t throwing conditions on God’s provision by saying “if this than that”, his statement is that delighting in the Lord comes from a place of trusting the Lord and turning to Him. When we walk in a way that honors God, our lives are impacted and we begin to take more and more exquisite delight in who God is and how He shows up, when we experience God in this way He then knows and understands us personally as a loved one and personally delivers, with understanding, those things that we require in life.

This isn’t a cosmic Santa Claus or profits and loss sheet that requires our obedience or justification in order to acquire anything and everything our heart requires, this is what happens when we encounter a loved one that gives us the gifts that we need, that we want or that will bring us the most joy because we know the value in them.