Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.

Psalm 138

Though the Lord is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; though lofty, he sees them from afar.  v6

Throughout scripture, we see the glory of God - on Mt Sinai, in all of Jesus miracles, in the final days, etc.  No doubt, He is worthy of our praise and full attention - we are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, and mind (Exodus 20, Matthew 22) - this is, after all, the number one and most important commandment.  At the same time, we have a God - Jesus Christ - that comes to serve us (Mark 10:45) and is willing to humble Himself (on the cross!) and be with us, even though we are all broken (Romans 3:23).  Christ's humility - that He serves us and extends himself to us - is something that we must demonstrate to others.


A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” John 13:34-35

What a great God we have!

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and worthy of my full attention, worship and love...that You love me is amazing...that You came to serve me, and to suffer and die for me is amazing.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love!  I worry, I am lazy, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You Jesus.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell.

Psalm 137

Remember, Lord, what the Edomites did on the day Jerusalem fell. v7

Revenge and justice belongs to the Lord.  We should give it up to Him and let Him handle it according to His ways - and He will ultimately in Revelation during the final days.  We should not take justice into our own hands.  Au contraire, we are to love and serve everyone, even those who oppress us.

Think of what Joseph did in captivity (Genesis 39-50), Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, (Daniel 3), or Daniel (Daniel 6) - they all served their earthly masters as if serving the Lord.

We also have Paul's writings:

Slaves, obey your earthly masters with respect and fear, and with sincerity of heart, just as you would obey Christ. Obey them not only to win their favor when their eye is on you, but as slaves of Christ, doing the will of God from your heart. Serve wholeheartedly, as if you were serving the Lord, not people, because you know that the Lord will reward each one for whatever good they do, whether they are slave or free. Ephesians 6:5-8

Slaves, obey your earthly masters in everything you do. Try to please them all the time, not just when they are watching you. Serve them sincerely because of your reverent fear of the Lord. Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people. Remember that the Lord will give you an inheritance as your reward, and that the Master you are serving is Christ. But if you do what is wrong, you will be paid back for the wrong you have done. For God has no favorites. Colossians 3:22-25

There are also words spoken from Jesus himself:

If someone slaps you on one cheek, turn to them the other also. If someone takes your coat, do not withhold your shirt from them. Luke 6:29

You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect. Matthew 5:43-48

...and the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10).

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for all of creation and all of Your children - regardless of what they do.  Your love is beyond what my words can describe.  I am deeply grateful for Your love.  Thank You Jesus.  I cannot do any good thing without You.  Please forgive me for my harshness with others.  Help me overcome such sin and turn towards You instead.  Praise You for a good doctor's report for Lisa yesterday.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Continue to heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo. Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever.

Psalm 136

Give thanks to the God of heaven. His love endures forever. v26

In our worship we should be - as best as possible - mindful of all of the ways that God is great and how His love endures.  I say as best as possible because I don't think we can fully grasp the depth and breadth of God's love for us - He is THAT great. This should prompt us to live a life as a living sacrifice (Romans 12:1) to God and to be grateful for who He is and what He does and will always continue to do for us.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me and all of Your children...and Your love endures forever!  Thank You!  I am not worth such love...I am harsh with my words and actions.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do. Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.

Psalm 135

Your name, Lord, endures forever, your renown, Lord, through all generations.v13

That the Lord endures forever provides great comfort to me because I know that He will be with me always and that He is faithful.  He is my rock.  When all of the world crumbles around me, and sometimes it has and will feel this way, God will hold me up and I will not be shaken - see also Habakkuk 3, Psalm 37, Psalm 125, and Hebrews 12. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, what an awesome God You are!  You were there at the beginning and You will be there at the end of times.  You created all things, are in all things, and hold all things together.  You are full of love and compassion for me even though I am not deserving.  Thank You Jesus.  But I need Your forgiveness - for my worry.  Please forgive me and help me turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity!

Psalm 133

How good and pleasant it is when God’s people live together in unity! v1

God wants us to live in peace and in particular the church - I suspect there are several reasons for this, including His desire that we have "all the wood behind the arrow" in terms God's command that we bring others to Him via the Great Commission (Matthew 28).  He does not want us to appear divided so as to distract non-believers from the Good News of Jesus Christ.  We will be more focused and less divided.  We should also be more efficient because each of us has a unique gifting from God and we are to bring these gifts together in the church like the parts of a body - see also 1 Corinthians 12.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God and You love all of Your children.  You want all of Your children to come to You to be with You in Heaven and to have life to the full.  I do feel like I have life to the full - You bless me beyond what I deserve.  I am selfish, and I worry too much.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength. Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying, "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it. I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy.

Psalm 132

For the Lord has chosen Zion, he has desired it for his dwelling, saying,  "This is my resting place for ever and ever; here I will sit enthroned, for I have desired it.  I will bless her with abundant provisions; her poor I will satisfy with food. I will clothe her priests with salvation, and her faithful people will ever sing for joy. v13-16

God makes numerous promises to His children and He always keeps His promises (Luke 1:37) so it is encouraging when He tells us how we will bless us.  I love talking and listening to God...don't You?

Of course we should expect Jesus' return and be ready - see here (Parable of Virgins) and here (Matthew 24). 

My Prayer: Lord You are a great God, full of love and blessing for us...and You promise life to the full - and You always come through!  Thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am weak and I get angry to quickly...I worry, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content.

Psalm 131

But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. v2

Life seems chaotic many days - out of control.  Uttering such a statement implies that I should be in control, and that I can hold things together.  What foolishness!

For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together.  Colossians 1:16-17

Great peace have those who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. Psalm 119:165

 

My peace should be in God alone for only He is able to guide my life and provide me with peace as no one person or thing can here on earth.

 

The mind governed by the flesh is death, but the mind governed by the Spirit is life and peace. Romans 8:6

 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love and compassion for me.  You hold all things together and provide me with rest and peace that I can find no where else under the heavens.  Thank You Jesus for being my God and for blessing me - You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  I worry too much - please forgive me. Help me overcome and turn from such sin and turn towards You. Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure Lisa of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You. Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.