February 10, 2010 Psalm 14 Does He See Me?

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:    dkrhemas.wordpress.com

 Vs. 2, 6 The Lord looks down from heaven upon the children of men to see if there are any who understand, who seek God. God is with the generation of the righteous. The Lord is his refuge.

 When God looks down does He see that we understand and that we are seeking Him? Will we be that generation (personally and raising children of a godly generation) that God considers righteous? Is He truly our refuge or instead, do we find refuge in the things this world has to offer which leaves us empty-handed and empty-hearted? We can allow this chapter be a wake up call for us. Life passes oh too quickly. We must not be guilty of letting our generation slip through the cracks and miss out on the astounding and wonderful refuge of the Father.

 James 1:5-8 says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

Let us begin a fiery quest from our hearts to seek Him with great passion. Let His Word become our daily refuge. Let communion with Him throughout the day be our desire and pursuit. It’s not too late. God wants to look down and see us seeking Him. Your spouse, children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren and others that you touch with your life, need so desperately to see just one person alive with the great joy of the Lord and one that points them constantly to the Father. Don’t wait another day. Cut out a portion of each day to sit with the Father. Make changes in your life. Stop those habits that are destroying you and your generation. It may mean great and painful sacrifices on your part but in the end will lead to God seeing you as righteous and seeking Him. That’s all that matters. Act quickly, the clock is ticking and time is marching on. We have so little time left.

February 9, 2010 Psalm 13 How Long?????

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com 

We may feel that we just cannot go on another day in our turmoil.  It may seem endless and hopeless.  We may ask “how long” over and over again.  King David cried out “How long” four times to God (Vs. 1-2).  He was doing the right thing.  We are to cry out desperately to the Father. For in that crying out, we come to a new place.  David’s cry turned from “how long” to “hear me, enlighten my eyes” (Vs. 3).  Then he comes to a new place altogether.  David recalls that he has promised in the past to trust God completely which gives him the courage to resolve to rejoicing and singing.    

Vs. 5-6  But I have trusted in Your mercy.  My heart shall rejoice in Your salvation.  I will sing to the Lord because he has dealt bountifully with me. 

In our crying out to the Father, He gives us a new outlook.  He reminds us of our only option:  trust in Him. 

Go ahead, cry out to the Father.  He wants to take us through this same process.  He wants to comfort us and remind us that trust in Him is our retreat, our relief and our solution to our agony even though circumstances around us may not change immediately.    We need to be reminded.  We need to say, “I shall rejoice!”   “I will sing to the Lord.”  We need to be reminded that He has dealt bountifully with us.

February 8, 2010 Psalm 12 Words

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com

Does it seem to you at times that the voices of God’s people are being drowned out by the noise of this world? Do you find yourself feeling alone? David felt that:

 Vs. 1 Help, Lord, for the godly man ceases! For the faithful disappear from among the sons of men. They speak idly everyone with his neighbor. The voice of the wicked is used “for the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy”. (Vs. 5)

 Take heart, just as David did with God’s words: “Now I will arise,” says the Lord; “I will set him in the safety for which he yearns.” The words of the Lord are pure words. You shall keep them, O Lord; You shall preserve them from this generation forever. (Vs. 5-7)

 Let us allow the voice of God to drown out the discouraging words and ways of this world. Let us allow His Word to permeate our hearts, souls and minds. Start the day with His words; carry it with you (a promise written on a card); retreat to His Word as a refuge when the “storms” begin; cry out to the one who calms the “seas” of our hearts. Oh, what a refuge He is!! But how easily, how quickly, we forget this.

God has reminded me in these verses to use my voice for Him; that it should not bring oppression or sighing (vs. 5) to anyone within my “reach”.

Psalm 25:11 A word fitly spoken is like apples of gold in pictures of silver.

I know that the real test here is how I treat those within the walls of my home. Are my words fitly spoken? Do they leave the hearer’s ears ringing with a “picture” of the love of our Heavenly Father? Do they go away wanting more of Him because my love, my words point to Him and leave that dear one feeling completely treasured and loved? Am I quick to admit my sin and ask forgiveness when my words don’t measure up to this verse in Psalm 25:11? Arise, O Lord, set us in safety, keep us, and preserve us.

February 7, 2010 Psalm 11 May I Never Grow Up

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com

Have you been around those who question your faith, doubt your trust in the mighty weapon of prayer or taunt you concerning your beliefs? It may come from an enemy, or even a close friend.

I have a friend who I count very dear to my heart. I never leave her without being blessed. She responded to the study on Psalm 9 “I Will”. I just have to share it with you (with her permission):

“I, too, LOVE to worship EVERYDAY! It just comes naturally and is so warm and wonderful. My favorite thing to say when God blesses me in most any way, but ESPECIALLY when it is in direct answer to a prayer of mine is to say, “God thinks I’m cool.” Sounds conceited, I know, but the truth is, God thinks I’m pretty cool. Otherwise, He’d have given up on me YEARS ago. I think He’s “cooler”. He gave a direct answer to prayer for Mandy’s wedding day, when in the midst of a winter cold snap, He alone gave me the 74 degrees I begged Him for all year. People were very patronizing the day before the wedding, telling me, “Well it doesn’t look like you’re going to get your warm weather after all. I’m so sorry.” Even as I was wrapped up in a wool pea coat and gloves trying to stay warm, I just replied, “You just watch. It’s not ‘tomorrow’ yet. It will be warm then, ’cause I asked God for it and He thinks I’m cool.”

 I adore Him. I love it when He stops me at a traffic light I was hoping to get through. He just wanted to say, “Hi” to me. That’s all. Then he let’s me go on from there. Yes, I know this sounds childish. It is. I’m His kid. May I never grow up. I love you, Debi. Have a beautiful evening.”            Minnie

That just did something to my heart and indeed I did have a beautiful evening contemplating this priceless message I needed that precious reminder to be His kid and have simple and astounding faith like that. My friend was not daunted by well meaning friends. Our state of Florida had been “frozen” for weeks, yet God heard the fervent prayer of a righteous woman, crying out to Him. (James 5:16 The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.)

 As was the case with David, when people say ignorantly or mockingly to us: “flee as a bird to your mountain” and “If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do”, (Vs. 1, 3) we must proclaim as David did and as Minnie did, with: “In the Lord I put my trust.” (Vs. 1)

 Little do these people realize the mighty power of God, that our fleeing to the mountain is indeed our great refuge and source of victory; little do they realize that our foundations will never be destroyed and there is something that we can continue to do: trust Him. David ends this chapter with, “His countenance beholds the upright.” Yes, He beheld the pure heart of my wonderful trusting friend and granted her request. Help us to be a kid like this and to never grow up and out of His care and reach.

February 6, 2010 Psalm 10 My Shelter

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:  dkrhemas.wordpress.com

Do you ever feel that God is standing far away from you, seeming to hide from you in your time of pain and grief? Does it seem to you that the wicked around you are carefree and prospering while you exist in agony. Take heart dear one, you are not alone. King David felt the same way:

 Vs. 1, 4, 5 Why do You stand afar off, O Lord? Why do You hide in times of trouble? The wicked in his proud countenance does not seek God; God is in none of his thoughts. His ways are always prospering.

How I love the Psalms. It constantly shows us the heart of David and relates to us in so many ways. It gives cures for the hurting and doubting hearts like ours.

 Vs. 12, 14, 16-18 Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble. You have seen, for You observe trouble and grief to repay it by Your hand. The helpless commits himself to You: The Lord is King forever and ever; Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear, to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed.

 Let us say like David, “Arise. O Lord, lift up Your hand!” Let’s commit ourselves to Him. He will hear us. He will prepare our hearts. We can trust Him to do justice in the midst of our oppression. Go ahead cry out to the Father right now. He’s waiting to hear from us, to show Himself mighty, to answer our call, to wrap His loving arms around us so very tenderly, to shelter us under the shadow of His mighty wings. Oh, what a Father, what a Refuge, what a Friend, what a Comforter, what a Redeemer!!!!!

February 5, 2010 Psalm 9 I Will

Oh what a wonderful reminder for us to have intentional wholehearted praise to the Father.

Vs. 1-2 I will praise You, O Lord, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.

It is a state of mind, an intentional act. David keeps saying, I will, I will, I will. I will praise, I will tell, I will be glad, I will sing. No wonder God was able to use David in such a mighty way. He had such a heart for God. Then in verses 11 and 12 David declares to the people, to do as he had done: Sing praises to the Lord. Declare His deeds among the people.

My sweet daughter sent me an email in response to the Bible study on Psalm 7. She said it reminded her of something that happened to her friend and wanted to share it with me. This is the note she sent me:

“Connie told me her brother-in-law was in town. They woke up Sunday morning and Connie and her daughter, Hope were lying in bed. Her brother-in-law came in and said: “Hope, are you going to worship the Lord today?” She said, “Yes!” He responded, “That’s great because He love it when you do that. Do you know that He loves you so much?” Connie said that reminded her that she is loved too. We talked about how we as adults forget that we are loved sooooo much by God. Really when we forget His love we live as unbelievers. Love is what He is.”

We need reminders like this to focus on worshipping Him, to be intentional with it, in our own personal time with Him and in corporate worship when we enter His house of worship. Dear one, join me in an “I will” day. Let’s set our hearts to worship the Father, to praise Him, to tell others of Him, to be glad and to sing!

February 4, 2010 Psalm 8 Babes

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com

 Vs. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings (nursing babies), You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Jesus referred to this passage in Matthew 21:15, 16, concerning the children in the temple, singing praises to God. It silenced His enemies, the Scribes and Pharisees. In our own eyes we may see ourselves as “babes and sucklings” ( weak, with so much to learn of Him). The world may also consider us as such. Yet He can and will use the “least” to further His kingdom and to “silence the enemy and the avenger”.

1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

Let us do as David did and recognize His majesty: O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your mane in all the earth, Who set Your glory above the heavens! (Vs. 1)

I love the illustration of the “babes and sucklings” because I can so relate to this. Oh the times that my own babes astounded me and silenced me with the glory of God: as I held them for the very first time, I was flooded with His glory; as I held them to my breast to feed them hour after hour, I looked into their little faces and reflected deeply on His astounding gift to me; as I listened to their simple and innocent words, I was blessed and silenced over and over again with the love of the Father; through the trials of their growing up years, He taught me about His unconditional love. I listen with joy and wonderment as my daughter tells me things about our precious grandchildren; I share in laughter as my other daughter, who teaches first graders, shares stories about the children in her classroom. Yes, oh yes, out of the mouth of “babes and sucklings” He has ordained strength. He can use us as we surrender to His will. He has made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor. He has given us dominion over the works of His hands. (Vs. 5-6)

 Father, we are so little, so weak, yet You have ordained strength in us to be used. Thank you for the wonderful reminder that we are made in Your image. Use us Father.

February 4, 2010 Psalm 8 Babes

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com

Vs. 2 Out of the mouth of babes and sucklings (nursing babies), You have ordained strength, because of Your enemies, that You may silence the enemy and the avenger.

Jesus referred to this passage in Matthew 21:15, 16, concerning the children in the temple, singing praises to God. It silenced His enemies, the Scribes and Pharisees. In our own eyes we may see ourselves as “babes and sucklings” ( weak, with so much to learn of Him). The world may also consider us as such. Yet He can and will use the “least” to further His kingdom and to “silence the enemy and the avenger”.

 1 Corinthians 1:27 But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty.

 Let us do as David did and recognize His majesty: O Lord, our Lord, how excellent is Your mane in all the earth, Who set Your glory above the heavens! (Vs. 1)

I love the illustration of the “babes and sucklings” because I can so relate to this. Oh the times that my own babes astounded me and silenced me with the glory of God: as I held them for the very first time, I was flooded with His glory; as I held them to my breast to feed them hour after hour, I looked into their little faces and reflected deeply on His astounding gift to me; as I listened to their simple and innocent words, I was blessed and silenced over and over again with the love of the Father; through the trials of their growing up years, He taught me about His unconditional love. I listen with joy and wonderment as my daughter tells me things about our precious grandchildren; I share in laughter as my other daughter, who teaches first graders, shares stories about the children in her classroom. Yes, oh yes, out of the mouth of “babes and sucklings” He has ordained strength. He can use us as we surrender to His will. He has made us a little lower than the angels and crowned us with glory and honor. He has given us dominion over the works of His hands. (Vs. 5-6)

Father, we are so little, so weak, yet You have ordained strength in us to be used. Thank you for the wonderful reminder that we are made in Your image. Use us Father.

February 3, 2010 Psalm 7 Jesus Loves Me

Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:    dkrhemas.wordpress.com

Have you found yourself leaving someone’s presence feeling very defeated, discouraged and downcast? I have. I love the book of Psalms because it gives me hope and clear answers as to how I am to respond to life’s difficulties. David must have been very devastated by the words of Cush, a Benjamite, and obviously his enemy. But right away, David proclaims his trust in God and prays for deliverance. He reminds himself that God is his defense (Vs. 1, 10). He ends the chapter with a determination of his will. “I WILL praise the Lord according to His righteousness and I WILL sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.” (Vs. 17)

 All through the book of Psalms we read that life is hard but God is good. We cannot focus on the “life is hard” part, but instead on the “God is good” part. It will make all the difference in the world for us. It is in remembering His goodness that we make it, that we survive; for without hope we feel so lost. We must take lessons from David: Proclaim our trust in Him; pray for deliverance; with our will, praise Him (even in the deepest of agony) and sing praises to God. Go ahead belt out that song of praise. Praise is such a powerful medicine, such a wonderful cure. It brings comfort and peace. It reminds us gently that He really is in control and that He loves us so very much and has not forsaken us.

Sometimes I just sing the simple song: “Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so. Little ones to Him belong, they are weak but He is strong. Yes, Jesus loves me!” For you see, I need to be reminded that He does truly love me; that His Word tells me so; that I am little and weak but He is strong. Come on dear one, sing it with me.

February 2, 2010 Psalm 6 O Lord, How Long?

 Taken from Debi’s daily Bible study blog:   dkrhemas.wordpress.com

 Vs. 2-3 Have mercy on me, O Lord, for I am weak; O Lord, heal me, for my bones are troubled.  My soul also is greatly troubled; But You, O Lord-how long?

David feared that he was dying.  He feared that God was punishing him because of his sin.  His body and his soul were in great despair.  It must have been a long ordeal, for he cried out, “O Lord, how long?”  But in all this, David was now doing the right thing, he was crying out to God and he was pleading for mercy. 

 Perhaps you have found yourself in a similar state:

Vs. 6-7  I am weary with my groaning.  All night I make my bed swim.  I drench my couch with my tears.

We can take heart, knowing, just as David did, that God will hear.  David ends this Psalm with:  “The Lord has heard the voice of my weeping.  The Lord has heard my supplication.” We don’t know how long David cried out but we do know that God answered his prayers. 

 God does hear, He does answer. It may not always be the answer that we were looking for or it may not come very soon.  But the key is that we continue to offer to Him our prayers of faith.  It must be an act of faith because during those deep valleys of pain we probably will not have feelings of faith.  We can’t just hope our faith will be there.  We must put it there with a deliberate act and determination; state it, verbalize it and claim our deep faith in God, who is our only source of deliverance.