God’s House Is Holiness

In reading Psalms 93 today I was very moved. The psalmist wrote only a few lines, but they were powerful. It speaks of the majesty of our God. When I read it I immediately got a picture in my mind of a procession of royalty, moving atop the clouds. Although I could not see great detail, I can only imagine how enormous such a procession would be. The colors would be marvelous! There would be singing and dancing in the procession as it moved along the streets paved with the billowing clouds. And everyone would be happy and smiling. There would be peace. See if you can see this in the reading.

Psalms 93:1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

That was moving for me, but perhaps even more moving was the last verse. God’s house is in holiness forever. I was somewhat saddened upon reading that verse. Not because it should not be so, but because I know that I am human. Holiness is something we should all strive to attain, but I find absolute holiness difficult for me as a human. I still get angry with people. I still say bad things about the things that happen in the nation’s capitol. I still make comments to my wife that I think are funny, but then I see that they can hurt her. I long to be what the psalmist describes, and I earnestly seek to be that today.

Prayer
Father, we praise You for Your holiness today. We ask Father that You extend Your mercy to us as we try to be holy, and frequently fall short. We thank You for the holiness You extend to us through Your Son, Yeshua (Jesus). We appreciate that You alone are worthy and love us where we are. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

The Lord Is Coming To…

We believers long for the return of our King, Yeshua (Jesus) our Messiah. When we think of His coming, we think of that last day. However, I was reading several psalms and realized there is another coming of the Lord. The Lord comes when we praise Him, to judge the earth to bring in righteousness for His people. This is but one way that He delivers us.

Pslams 96:1 O sing unto the Lord a new song: sing unto the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing unto the Lord, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day.
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.
4 For the Lord is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.
10 Say among the heathen that the Lord reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice
13 Before the Lord: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

And again, in Psalms 98

Psalms 98:1 O sing unto the Lord a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory.
2 The Lord hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.
3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God.
4 Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise.
5 Sing unto the Lord with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm.
6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the Lord, the King.
7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.
8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together
9 Before the Lord; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.

Let us praise the Lord, and let Him bring His judgement into the earth to set things right. Praise God!

Prayer
Father, we praise and thank You for Your righteous judgement. Please come now and judge the earth. Bring forth Your righteousness and let You people rejoice. You are our Deliverer King! In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

When The Joy Comes

The sun through the trees in the morning is a remarkable thing! As I write this the leaves have fallen and there is more light making its way into my back yard. It is a beautiful and joyous time of year. Reflecting upon this I was thinking of the challenges life can bring. Praying, this scripture about joy came to me.

Psalms 30:5 For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

It appears David is the writer of this psalm. He is telling people that God lifts us up. We will go through the time of weeping and trouble, but joy comes in the morning. He goes on to talk about how he prospered and thought that he would not be moved in that prosperity. God then let him experience life on his own for a while. David turned back to God and called to Him. Today, if you are in the dark of night or have been for a while, know that God will deliver you from it. Call unto Him and sing His praises as David did. David wants the turning of events that is coming to be a praise to God so that people will know that it is God that did it. I love how this turns out for David, and I know God will do the same for us.

Psalms 30:10 Hear, O Lord, and have mercy upon me: Lord, be thou my helper.
11 Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness;
12 To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

Prayer
Father, we praise and thank You that You are our Deliverer. Thank You for always coming to our aid when we cry out to You. I cry out to You today for me and my family, my friends, and for all Your children. Please come speedily with Your deliverance. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

Holding On

Each day that we have opportunity to be a part of God’s creation and plan. If we take the time to connect with God early through prayer and praise, we can find out what He is doing that day so that we can join in with Him. The issue that I know that I face, and that I think others may also face, is I have a way I think things should go. I see a certain path that may make me feel more comfortable and that is what I hope the day is about. This morning as I was thinking about that path, I had to ask myself why that path was preferred by me.

The truth seems to be that I saw that path as the answer. It was my focus. It was the path that my mind’s reasoning said had stability to it. The truth is it does not. There is only one truly stable path, and that is God’s path because He upholds it. Anything else is just something that we are doing on our own. When the two cross, we are blessed. I want to get to the place where each day when I wake, throughout the day, and before I lay my head down at night, I am certain I am on God’s path. On that path there can be no failure, regardless of the ups and downs, because God never fails. I was encouraged reading Psalms 93 today. Perhaps you will be as well.

Psalms 93:1 The Lord reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.
3 The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves.
4 The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever.

Prayer
Father, we praise you as the Most High. You are the Ruler of heaven and earth. Rule today Father and bring judgement for Your people against the evil of this world. Please raise us up today God. Please show us Your way and Your path that we may dwell there and traverse that path with You. Help us to see rightly, Father. Help us to see as You see. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Calling To Our Hearts

Each day God calls to us to get us to turn toward Him and away from those things that would distract us or keep us from Him. We are given the power to do that if we have come to grips with who we are, looked to God and asked for forgiveness of our sins, and then allowed Jesus (Yeshua) to come into our life as the Messiah. God is always willing to meet us to forgive us of our sin. He will never turn His back on us. This is a model of we are to be as well.

If someone has wronged us, then we have an opportunity to forgive them just as God has forgiven us. In Matthew 18, Peter asked Jesus (Yeshua) how many times he had to forgive someone.

Matthew 18:21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?

Jesus responded seventy times seven, which is commonly interpreted as forever. Jesus goes on to tell the parable of a servant that could not repay his master. When the servant was to be sold along with his family to pay the debt, he begged his master for mercy. The master forgave the debt. This now free slave went out and demanded payment from other slaves, and did so in an unforgiving manner. When the original master heard of it, he had the unforgiving slave thrown into prison because he was forgiven much but would not forgive others. Then Jesus said about this parable,

Matthew 18:35 So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.

Today, as I reflect on this verse, and think of how God has been forgiving to me, I am more impressed than ever to forgive those that have wronged me. It is so minor a thing to do compared to the forgiveness and promise of life that God has given unto me.

Prayer
Father, You are the Mighty God, our King. Please forgive us today those things which we have done wrong, and help us to forgive those that have wronged us. Please reach out to all Your people and stir their hearts today father to have mercy on their fellow man. Please heal us Father. Please heal our land. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

What’s Next?

In my email inbox this morning was a very interesting and challenging bit of news from one of the leaders at church. In her email she was describing the things we are doing in our Monday night intercessory prayer group. She also passed along a link to a page by someone describing a vision of the coming year they believed was from God. In this vision there was a coming Baptism of Fire for the church as well as a very interesting scripture.

Isaiah 35:8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.
9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there:
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

It was interesting to receive this email because I also have been sensing God calling us to a higher calling. Perhaps that is not the best way to say it. I sense a call to repentance and greater purity. A higher benchmark for holiness, if that can even be true. I have always thought we are holy or not, and we go back and forth between these states. However, if we are born again through the repentance from sin and asking Jesus (Yeshua) to be Lord of our life, then that is where our holiness comes from by faith and not by works. Still, God has given unto us the power over sin. Maybe this highway that Isaiah is speaking about is a call to shorter time frames between stages of repentance, or a more consistent mind set and reset on God through out the day, or weeping and calling out to God for deliverance from things that cause us to stumble.

Perhaps you as a reader are doing great in the area of holiness, no greed, jealousy, bitterness, lust, etc ever get stuck in your mind. It is not up to me to judge anyone but myself. This I know. Today and going forward I will cry out to God for this higher holiness and better understanding of where He wants me to live. And I shall cry out for my family as well, and for my readers. Perhaps if you are like me, then you will join me today and going forward.

Prayer
Father, please hear our cries to You today, for You alone are the Most High King. We need Your help today and every day Father. We need You to hear our cries today, to help us purify our hearts, to be more like You. Please help us now, today, and every day Father. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Finding Freedom

This morning I was considering a friend of mine that told me of some sudden bad financial news. His description of the feelings he initially felt reminded me of things I have felt in my own past when unexpected bad things happen. As he conveyed the story to me, however, it seemed that when that feeling came, he was able to get past it quickly. He described it by saying that in that moment he chose to remember the good that God had been doing in his life, and that he made a decision at that moment to trust God. He said it was not easy because there could be issues related to the new problem, but somehow the time he was spending with God just made him trust that things would be okay.

There are many good scriptures to read regularly and in times of trouble. When I heard this story, I immediately thought of Psalm 91. I thought I would put it here today for my friend to read as he is a regular to this blog. I hope everyone else enjoys it as well.

Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the Lord, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You today. I ask today for particular fresh mercies for my friend, and for the many like him. Touch his life today Father. Send Him good news about financial blessings that he might be able to provide for his family. Do not let the pestilence or terror harm him or his family of families like them. Deliver them as You have promised. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.

God Is With Us And For Us

As believers we are truly in an awesome place in this life. Sure, there are times when life gets challenging, maybe a little too challenging, from our point of view. But those are the times when God rises up to be strong on our behalf. He has provided already for our needs to be fulfilled. If we are willing to take the time to look at the scriptures that He has provided where He makes promises to us, it helps us to build our faith and trust in Him. Let’s look at a few examples.

Psalm 113:4-9
4 The Lord is high above all nations, and his glory above the heavens.
5 Who is like unto the Lord our God, who dwelleth on high,
6 Who humbleth himself to behold the things that are in heaven, and in the earth!
7 He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth the needy out of the dunghill;
8 That he may set him with princes, even with the princes of his people.
9 He maketh the barren woman to keep house, and to be a joyful mother of children. Praise ye the Lord.

Psalm 110:1-2
1 The Lord said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2 The Lord shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.

Proverbs 4:20-23
20 My son, attend to my words; incline thine ear unto my sayings.
21 Let them not depart from thine eyes; keep them in the midst of thine heart.
22 For they are life unto those that find them, and health to all their flesh.
23 Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.

In these scriptures we see that God has promises and a plan for us. He will lift us up and provide for our needs abundantly. When Jesus (Yeshua) came to earth, God made His enemies His footstool, placing them under Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) feet. Since we as believers are joint heirs with Jesus (Yeshua), we are in that same position! We have victory over the enemy through Him! How? By attending to God’s words, reading the scriptures, and holding those words close in our heart. We need only pray and believe, and wait patiently for God’s deliverance. Isn’t that great?! Praise God!

Click here to listen to “God Is Able”.

Prayer
Father, we love You. You are the Mighty King! We praise and thank You for giving to us hope when we feel so far from it. thank You for never leaving anyone behind. You are the ultimate Warrior King! Please bring to us our needs today, and Your kingdom to earth. Let us be Your vessels and reach out to those that we have struggled to be close to and to those we have yet to meet. In Jesus’ (Yeshua’s) name. Amen.

Where We Begin

Sometimes in life where we end up will depend on where we begin. This morning as I was getting up to have my first cup of coffee, thoughts of the day and what it would be like were coming to me. It is one of those days where there are just so many things that have stacked up it began to seem overwhelming. And when I have a to-do list that keeps getting longer, I can get to the point where I start to get down on myself. This was the conversation in my head when I began to pray and seek God for some direction. It occurred to me that maybe one or two others might benefit from the answer.

Proverbs 14:3 started my journey this morning.

In the mouth of the foolish is a rod of pride: but the lips of the wise shall preserve them.

It would seem from this scripture that those that are foolish speak with an arrogance, a false confidence. However, the wise can use their own mouth to preserve them selves.

Then, in verse 6 we read,

A scorner seeketh wisdom, and findeth it not: but knowledge is easy unto him that understandeth.

Scorner here in the Hebrew literally means to throw the mouth at something. I stopped and thought about the times I have said something in a thoughtless way, and I could really visualize that “throwing the mouth” thing because it almost like throwing words at something.

After reading these scriptures and praying, it occurred to me that when I get up with a mind full of thoughts, I need a way to get my mind quieted down. For me this morning it happened when I set aside all of the thoughts and spent time seeking God. That was like the first stepping stone. Then came the scriptures, the second stepping stone. Now I am more settled and am ready to pray about which items are on today’s list. God is so good to us!

Prayer
Father, we praise and exalt You! You are ever kind and merciful to us. Please help us today to quiet our minds and seek Your face. Please help us to have a path to Your ways which are so much better than our own. Please help us to help others today that are down trodden to lift them up. In Jesus name. Amen.

Wrapped In Majesty

In Psalm 93 the psalmist tells us that God is clothed, or literally wrapped, in majesty, which means greatness or great things, like strength. His throne is from everlasting, which means He has always been King. When he speaks of the floods being lifted up, literally this rivers or/of prosperity and all that is associated with it. The waves here refer to the sounds associated with that. If you stop and think, rivers have a noise associated with the flow of water, and with prosperity can come noise as well. The psalmist goes on to say that God is mightier that the noise of many waters. God is mightier than anything that can distract us, whether those distractions are good or evil. He ends by saying that the things that testify of God are very certain and holiness is God’s house forever.

God created everything. Scriptures tell us that the creation that He gave man charge and authority over are one of the things that testify of Him. In Psalm 22:3 it says literally that He sits on our praise. When I think of that I see God picking up His throne, sitting it on top of our praises to Him, and sitting down to listen happily to His kid’s singing in the school choir presentation to Him. In this He is very pleased. He is that loving, all powerful and gentle Dad, coming to hear His kids whom He loves and in whom He is pleased. As a parent, I know what it is like to go see my kid’s classes sing at some event, and it doesn’t matter the quality of the singing, what matters is that I love them and want to see them over and over. This is how God sees us, and through the blood of Yeshua (Jesus) He sees us holy.

Now, wrap that all in strength and great things – wrap that in majesty – and that is the God we serve. Praise God!

Prayer
Father, we praise You! You are the King from everlasting. We love to have You come and sit to hear us sing Your praises. Thank You for being a loving, forgiving, kind Dad. In Yeshua’s (Jesus’) name. Amen.