Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Friday, January 7, 2011
Blog is moving
I am moving my blog over to Wordpress so as soon as I have it figured out I will let you all know.
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Psalm 63
Wow what a chapter!!
I like Matthew Henry's commentary on this chapter. I really can't say it any better than he did.
Commentary on Psalm 63:1,2
Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God upon earth.
Commentary on Psalm 63:3-6
Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. God's loving-kindness is our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life. We must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to the duties of religion with cheerfulness, and speak forth the praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must be joyful lips. David was in continual danger; care and fear held his eyes waking, and gave him wearisome nights; but he comforted himself with thoughts of God. The mercies of God, when called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making darkness cheerful. How happy will be that last morning, when the believer, awaking up after the Divine likeness, shall be satisfied with all the fulness of God, and praise him with joyful lips, where there is no night, and where sorrow and sighing flee away!
Commentary on Psalm 63:7-11
True Christians can, in some measure, and at some times, make use of the strong language of David, but too commonly our souls cleave to the dust. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Those that follow hard after God, would soon fail, if God's right hand did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us and comforts us. The psalmist doubts not but that though now sowing in tears, he should reap in joy. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God; he is already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory will be completed at his second coming. Blessed Lord, let our desire towards thee increase every hour; let our love be always upon thee; let all our enjoyment be in thee, and all our satisfaction from thee. Be thou all in all to us while we remain in the present wilderness state, and bring us home to the everlasting enjoyment of thee for ever.
I like Matthew Henry's commentary on this chapter. I really can't say it any better than he did.
Commentary on Psalm 63:1,2
Early will I seek thee. The true Christian devotes to God the morning hour. He opens the eyes of his understanding with those of his body, and awakes each morning to righteousness. He arises with a thirst after those comforts which the world cannot give, and has immediate recourse by prayer to the Fountain of the water of life. The true believer is convinced, that nothing in this sinful world can satisfy the wants and desires of his immortal soul; he expects his happiness from God, as his portion. When faith and hope are most in exercise, the world appears a weary desert, and the believer longs for the joys of heaven, of which he has some foretastes in the ordinances of God upon earth.
Commentary on Psalm 63:3-6
Even in affliction we need not want matter for praise. When this is the regular frame of a believer's mind, he values the loving-kindness of God more than life. God's loving-kindness is our spiritual life, and that is better than temporal life. We must praise God with joyful lips; we must address ourselves to the duties of religion with cheerfulness, and speak forth the praises of God from a principle of holy joy. Praising lips must be joyful lips. David was in continual danger; care and fear held his eyes waking, and gave him wearisome nights; but he comforted himself with thoughts of God. The mercies of God, when called to mind in the night watches, support the soul, making darkness cheerful. How happy will be that last morning, when the believer, awaking up after the Divine likeness, shall be satisfied with all the fulness of God, and praise him with joyful lips, where there is no night, and where sorrow and sighing flee away!
Commentary on Psalm 63:7-11
True Christians can, in some measure, and at some times, make use of the strong language of David, but too commonly our souls cleave to the dust. Having committed ourselves to God, we must be easy and pleased, and quiet from the fear of evil. Those that follow hard after God, would soon fail, if God's right hand did not uphold them. It is he that strengthens us and comforts us. The psalmist doubts not but that though now sowing in tears, he should reap in joy. Messiah the Prince shall rejoice in God; he is already entered into the joy set before him, and his glory will be completed at his second coming. Blessed Lord, let our desire towards thee increase every hour; let our love be always upon thee; let all our enjoyment be in thee, and all our satisfaction from thee. Be thou all in all to us while we remain in the present wilderness state, and bring us home to the everlasting enjoyment of thee for ever.
Tuesday, January 4, 2011
Happy New Year
Well I would like to say that I did well in my devotions over the holiday but that would be lying. I did try to at least read a Proverb daily but some days I didn't even do that. And yes I noticed a change. It is so much easier to handle the little daily trials when you have spent time with the Lord. It's crazy and sad to me that Jesus is supposed to be the reason why I celebrate Christmas but He ends up being put on the back burner to shopping, presents, activities, etc. I hope and pray I do better at making Him the center of attention next Christmas.
So, it is January 4, 2011 and it is so refreshing to have a brand new year to start off right. It's fresh and clean with no huge mistakes in it yet. God has given me 365 days to serve Him, love Him, get closer to Him, and to do His will. I want to start this year off right by doing all the things I know I am supposed to be doing.
Over the last few weeks I have been really disturbed at people who call themselves Christians. It seems that Holy Living has gone by the wayside and has been replaced with Anything Goes. I am tired of not living a Holy life. Do we actually think that the unsaved world wants an Anything Goes Christianity. They don't, they want something different from what they have. They want the truth. That is why I started going to church so that I could learn how to be different from what I was. I respected the men and ladies that separated themselves for the Lord. That was 17 years ago and I am sorry to say that a lot has changed. So many people who I thought lived Holy only did it because that was the standard of the church or that was what their parents wanted. They never made a decision in their heart to obey the Holy Spirit. How sad is that?? Now it seems that standards have been thrown out the window and holiness just doesn't seem to matter. I am sick of it. I am so tired of it. Well, I want a change and it all starts with me. I want to learn what being Holy means. I want to bring back the convictions of my forefathers. Some may say that not all of their standards and convictions were biblical and some were just preference. And I say well that is a whole lot better than where we are now. Because now we don't have any. I would rather error on the side of caution.
So here it goes ~ A new year ~ A new start ~ A new life!!!!
So, it is January 4, 2011 and it is so refreshing to have a brand new year to start off right. It's fresh and clean with no huge mistakes in it yet. God has given me 365 days to serve Him, love Him, get closer to Him, and to do His will. I want to start this year off right by doing all the things I know I am supposed to be doing.
Over the last few weeks I have been really disturbed at people who call themselves Christians. It seems that Holy Living has gone by the wayside and has been replaced with Anything Goes. I am tired of not living a Holy life. Do we actually think that the unsaved world wants an Anything Goes Christianity. They don't, they want something different from what they have. They want the truth. That is why I started going to church so that I could learn how to be different from what I was. I respected the men and ladies that separated themselves for the Lord. That was 17 years ago and I am sorry to say that a lot has changed. So many people who I thought lived Holy only did it because that was the standard of the church or that was what their parents wanted. They never made a decision in their heart to obey the Holy Spirit. How sad is that?? Now it seems that standards have been thrown out the window and holiness just doesn't seem to matter. I am sick of it. I am so tired of it. Well, I want a change and it all starts with me. I want to learn what being Holy means. I want to bring back the convictions of my forefathers. Some may say that not all of their standards and convictions were biblical and some were just preference. And I say well that is a whole lot better than where we are now. Because now we don't have any. I would rather error on the side of caution.
So here it goes ~ A new year ~ A new start ~ A new life!!!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
Merry Christmas
Super busy with the holidays and then leaving on vacation for a week so I will blog again after the New Year.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!!
Friday, December 10, 2010
Psalm 51 - Joy After Repentance
Psalm 51:8 Make me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
The Lord chastens us because He loves us. If He didn't care about us He wouldn't care what we do. But then after the chastening if we are repentant He pulls us up again and restores the joy and gladness in our hearts. Isn't it amazing that He takes those marred vessels, cleans them up, and makes them new again. David committed adultery, lied, and then murdered. But when caught by the prophet he admitted his sin and got it right. Yes, he still suffered the loss of a child because of his sin. Yes he still reaped what he had sowed. But God also still used him greatly after he repented. How many times have we sinned and He restored us along with the joy and gladness?
Just a month or so ago I was angry, bitter, depressed, discontented, judgmental and just plain miserable. I still went to church but not because I wanted to, it was because I had to. I was having all kinds of problems with my fellow christians, friends, and family. I just wanted to call it quits. Nobody could do anything to please me. Was it their fault? Nope it was mine. When you get out of His word and stop praying you can't hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you anymore. You don't have the mind of Christ. Anything and everything seems to go wrong and you can't handle it properly. I felt like I was in bondage. It was such a struggle to read the Bible and pray. But now praise the Lord it is like the chains have come off and I am free again. I love reading the Bible, I love praying, I love church, I love my family. Yes I still struggle with being negative and not having faith. But now I can hear the Spirit speaking ever so gently to my heart. And I can work through it instead of dwelling on it. Praise the Lord I am out of the dungeon!!
My chains fell off my heart was free I rose went forth and followed Thee. Amazing Love how can it be that thou my God wouldst die for me!!!
The Lord chastens us because He loves us. If He didn't care about us He wouldn't care what we do. But then after the chastening if we are repentant He pulls us up again and restores the joy and gladness in our hearts. Isn't it amazing that He takes those marred vessels, cleans them up, and makes them new again. David committed adultery, lied, and then murdered. But when caught by the prophet he admitted his sin and got it right. Yes, he still suffered the loss of a child because of his sin. Yes he still reaped what he had sowed. But God also still used him greatly after he repented. How many times have we sinned and He restored us along with the joy and gladness?
Just a month or so ago I was angry, bitter, depressed, discontented, judgmental and just plain miserable. I still went to church but not because I wanted to, it was because I had to. I was having all kinds of problems with my fellow christians, friends, and family. I just wanted to call it quits. Nobody could do anything to please me. Was it their fault? Nope it was mine. When you get out of His word and stop praying you can't hear the Holy Spirit speaking to you anymore. You don't have the mind of Christ. Anything and everything seems to go wrong and you can't handle it properly. I felt like I was in bondage. It was such a struggle to read the Bible and pray. But now praise the Lord it is like the chains have come off and I am free again. I love reading the Bible, I love praying, I love church, I love my family. Yes I still struggle with being negative and not having faith. But now I can hear the Spirit speaking ever so gently to my heart. And I can work through it instead of dwelling on it. Praise the Lord I am out of the dungeon!!
My chains fell off my heart was free I rose went forth and followed Thee. Amazing Love how can it be that thou my God wouldst die for me!!!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Psalm 36:7 His Lovingkindness
How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings.
Lovingkindness is defined as tender and benevolent affection. Fond, doing good, showing care, loving.
One of the reasons I can put my trust in the Creator is because of His lovingkindness. Remember He is always righteous and always judges perfectly. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. When He judges He doesn't just look at the evidence, He takes into account the motives and feelings. I am thankful that He is not just a dictator that demands perfection. There have been many times in my life that I have wandered away from the Lord in my heart. Yet, God has always so patiently and tenderly loved me back to Him. I have wondered what makes me so different from those that just completely turn their backs on God and go back to the world. I believe it is because God knows the thoughts and intents of my heart. He knows that even though I fail a lot I want to serve Him completely. He knows my hearts desire is to please Him. He knows my weakness and He knows my frame. God knows that sometimes I am insecure, hard on myself, and I give up easily. He looks at the whole picture.
I need to add a caveat here though - this does not give me license to remain a cold apathetic christian and to wallow in my sin. If I stay in that state without a real relationship with the Lord then yes eventually He will shelf me and I will be left to my own devises. But that isn't His fault it is mine. And He would be the righteous judge to do so. Psalm 36:10
Lovingkindness is defined as tender and benevolent affection. Fond, doing good, showing care, loving.
One of the reasons I can put my trust in the Creator is because of His lovingkindness. Remember He is always righteous and always judges perfectly. He knows the thoughts and intents of the heart. When He judges He doesn't just look at the evidence, He takes into account the motives and feelings. I am thankful that He is not just a dictator that demands perfection. There have been many times in my life that I have wandered away from the Lord in my heart. Yet, God has always so patiently and tenderly loved me back to Him. I have wondered what makes me so different from those that just completely turn their backs on God and go back to the world. I believe it is because God knows the thoughts and intents of my heart. He knows that even though I fail a lot I want to serve Him completely. He knows my hearts desire is to please Him. He knows my weakness and He knows my frame. God knows that sometimes I am insecure, hard on myself, and I give up easily. He looks at the whole picture.
I need to add a caveat here though - this does not give me license to remain a cold apathetic christian and to wallow in my sin. If I stay in that state without a real relationship with the Lord then yes eventually He will shelf me and I will be left to my own devises. But that isn't His fault it is mine. And He would be the righteous judge to do so. Psalm 36:10
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)