This week I had the wonderful privilege of speaking at our Adults Alive Thanksgiving Luncheon. What a fun group of folks. I didn’t want to share the same old ~ same old turkey, Plymouth Rock, bow your head and thank God for all the calories we are about to consumeth. I did however express a different spin on having a thankful heart.

In today’s culture, most would say and believe (fueled by the media and Hollywood) that to HAVE equals happiness. The more we can get, the more our hands are FULL of STUFF, our contentment level rises. But it is not just ‘stuff’, the items that fills us up. There are the STUFF, the troubles of life, stresses, concerns, these too fill our hands, (representing our lives). As I walked to the platform to speak, my hands were full of STUFF, everyday objects, so full that I fumbled with them. I brought no attention to these as I spoke. At one point, I handed a few items to a gal to ‘hold for me’ (I am a walker as I speak).

Psalm 136:1 “Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” The Hebrew word for ‘give thanks’ is yada. You’ve heard it used in slang, to emphasis ‘etc. etc. etc.’ or ‘blah, blah, blah.’ Yet THAT is as far from the meaning used here as it can be. Yada ~ thankfulness, worship with outstretched hand, and to confess. We confess much in our daily lives, expressed in our attitudes, actions and what we say. Are we confessing God? How is our attitude when we do so? Are we confessing that He is GOOD, or are we pretty much stuck in the wilderness of complaining (see the book of Exodus).

My favorite example of a strong confession of thankfulness, praise was Thomas in the New Testament. Poor Thomas, can you imagine being cast FOREVER as ‘Doubting Thomas’? After Jesus’ death and resurrection, He spent ‘quality’ time with His disciples, one such instance was when He approached Thomas, stretching out His nail scarred hands, ‘Look and feel’. Thomas’ confession? “My Lord and my God!” What a heart of worship! I choose to believe that Thomas may have fell to his knees at that moment. Confession, being in agreement, and aligning ourselves in like manner. My Lord and my God!

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His love endures forever.” Yada means to worship, praise, to confess… but there is MORE. It is also translated as to throw, to cast. Hm… are we not told to “Cast all your cares on Him because He cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7) Cast, literally mean to pitch — toss that puppy!

YEARS ago, before all these fancy Playstation games, we used to play a game on the computer at work (yes at work, head hung) I believe it was called Dungeon. It was an adventure, strategy game. We would go through corridors and passage ways. On this journey we were to pick up items along the way, such as food, water, map and supplies. YET, when coming to a door, we were to find the key- dilemma – my hands are now full. I had to choose what I was going to lay down, and release, so I can pick up the key to unlock the door. Empting my hand got me through the door.
 
Here’s a question I would like to pose. Could thankfulness, the releasing of our cares and concerns to worship Him, be the key to unlock the doors in our life?  As the commercial on TV states: “What’s in your wallet?” may I offer, “What’s in your hand?”

Psalm 46:10 “Be still and know that I am God…” some translations word it as ‘cease striving’ and know that I am God. Cease striving, is rapa (raw-faw) it means to slacken, to release and relax, to let drop. It conveys the word picture as to hold something tight in your hand, then to relax your grip, and allow it to fall. Thus an open – and empty hand. Release those stresses, concerns and the STUFF of life…THEN we can know and experience God as designed. I think we all would be AMAZED at what God will put in our hands … HIS stuff!

Remember the stuff in my hands while speaking? I released them into a basket and asked the folks if it was a distraction to see me carry all that, they agreed it indeed was. Our stuff is a distractions to us AND those around us. We even at times ask others to hold some of our stuff for us, now our stuff is in their hands too. I am NOT talking about ‘sharing a burden’, I am directing our attention to the un- necessary STUFF – fretting – anxiety – items that hold our attention.

Thanksgiving … the yada of our heart. We take our stuff, with outstretched hands, and give them …  um.. throw them to God (O He can handle it!) Now our hands are what? Empty. Being empty handed means God can now fill them with Himself! You’ve heard the saying “More of Him, less of me.”

Thanksgiving ~ being empty handed.

Have a blessed Thanksgiving Holiday  ~ In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD…”)
 
*  my daily blog http://butgod.blogspot.com/

 Ever see something in a magazine and in awe think “Wow that’s nice, would love one of those!” Then as time goes on, you begin to see that same item all over the place, in the shopping malls, in the display windows, in cars as they drive by, every channel on TV declares this is a MUST HAVE and NOW your neighbor has one! OH the injustice of it all! “I want one too!” Before you know, to have one ~ consumes you.

As Ecclesiastes says, “…there is nothing new under the sun.” The nation of Israel too found themselves wanting. In 1 Samuel chapter 8, I paraphrase: The prophet Samuel was getting old, the Israelites were ready for something ‘new’. They observed around them that the other nations had a ‘king’ – “WE WANT ONE TOO!” ( grumble, grumble – whine, whine!). Not at all pleased with this . ‘Give us a king to lead us’  demand (v.6). Samuel went to the Lord. God assured Sam, that the Israelites were not rejecting him, but God Himself as King! So, God says give them what they want, BUT, give them the disclaimers of getting what you want, (yes, there is always ‘fine print’). Verse 9, “but warn them solemnly and let them know what the king who will reign over them will do.”

Let’s think on this for a moment, we want something because others have it… hm… do we even consider, does what they have make them happy – are they fulfilled by it? Does that high tech gadget bring them satisfaction? I am sure if the Israelites were to REALLY examine the other nations closely, that having a ‘king’ was not all what it was cracked up to be.

Samuel proceeds to tell the people, if you get a king, this is what will happen; you will become enslaved to him. What was yours now becomes his. This reign of a new king will affect you AND your family. He will rule you. Samuel basically then tells them, there will come a time when you will be sorry you asked for this.

EVEN with this being said, knowing the negative affects of this choice, they still demand a king. “No”, they said, “We want a king over us. Then we will be like all the other nations.” (verse, 19,20).

Are the Israelites suppose to be like all the other nations? NO! Are we to be like the rest of the world? NO! Oh there is nothing wrong with wanting things, position, a title, even wanting more, or something new. But do we consider the cost of getting it? Will what we want begin to ‘rule’ us?

The demand for a king began a roller coaster ride for the Israelites. Samuel did anoint a king for Israel, Saul was the first. Then history was set in motion, some good, some NOT, those who loved the Lord, and those who “Did evil in the sight of the Lord.” We never know, how one demand to have, can change the course of our future forever.

Can the Lord redeem unhealthy (stupid) demands, O YES! I am all over redemption from poor choices! GO GOD!

Be careful for what you ask for, what you think you must have, just because it appears the rest of the world has it. And if given to you, it may seem great and fitting for a short time, but then it has the potential to fall apart, lose it’s strength and turn out to not be such a grand idea.

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD…”)

Ever hit that ‘wall’? The wall commonly known as the athlete’s wall. Picture a runner, nearing the end of the race, all energy has been spent, their breathing is labored, their body screams in agony. Doubt, fear, and confusion, even anger now rage through them. “There is nothing left, I have nothing left to give!” is their cry. Yet and yet, they do finish the race.

There are many ‘walls’ of life. Moments when we feel we have little left to give, and what we do have, we feel we need to conserve it to make it to the next day. Perhaps, our supply is empty, there is nothing left. For many of us, we have opted to just allow ourselves to dry up and die. I have been there, it is painful.

Recently I was awaken very early in the morning. Still dark, I could hear the rain just outside the window. My thoughts went to Elijah. How often do our thoughts go to Elijah at 3:30 am.? The story of the widow and her son came to mind, out of 1 Kings 17. They had just enough flour and oil to make one last meal, after that nothing was left, they surely would die. In walks Elijah in the story, asking her to make him a meal first. Telling him of her plight, and empty cupboards, he tells her “Don’t be afraid” God says, “your supply of flour will not end, and the oil will not run dry.” She does what he says, and miraculously there is plenty of continuous oil and flour.

‘The oil will not run dry,’ what a wonderful promise. This encouraged me. Just when we think we have spent all that there is in us … there will be more. More coming from HIM. More energy to face another day. When our breathing is labored …more power to enable us to fight the good fight. When all that is in us SCREAMS … there will always be more. The oil will not run dry, a continuous flow of God is offered to us. We accept the oil by doing what God asks of us. Take what we have and give it to HIM, He increases it.

Whatever we are facing, whatever our race, “Don’t be afraid”, the walls of life are met with a jug of oil.  Allow its continuous flow.

In Him, DeDe (Psalm 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD …”)

Recently I revisited Genesis 3, where God came to meet with Adam in the garden. It says “…He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day…” This said with such ease, as if it where a daily occurrence. Can you imagine  God taking a stroll in your backyard? Yet today, this was no casual stroll. You see, Adam and Eve had just eaten from the only tree that God planted a sign in front of ‘no eateth.’ Sure enough, our ancestors of all ancestors duth eat! Now they were hiding. Hiding from God.

Next, hear the very love and compassion of God, “But the LORD God called to the man…” God asks one of the most important questions ever stated in the Bible, in my estimation, “Where are you?” God being all-knowing, He knew exactly where they were. The question was not intended to find the answer, it was intended for … Adam. “Where are you?” This spurred Adam to consider his location … he was hiding, placing intentional distance between he and his God. His situation… he disobeyed. His fear … “I heard You in the garden, I was afraid.”

“But the LORD God called to the man, ‘Where are you?'” God was pursuing Adam. Sure He could have rigged the tree with a divine security system, that at the mere touch, heaven would zap Adam and Eve with enough force to turn them both back into dust. But He didn’t. He pursued them. We know the rest of the story, banishment from paradise, consequences, sweat and pain. “But the LORD God called to the man…”

God has called throughout history.  The Bible is the story of God’s pursuit of man.  He pursues you, and pursues me. He has provided every avenue for us to respond to His call. God loves us so much, that at times there is the need for Him to ask us again, “where are you?”

I have given this much thought over the past week. Often our relationship with God, is one as a child, we cozy up in His lap, but there are times we squirm out and run off and play. “Where are you?” Another question has settled in my heart, “what would it look like, really look like, in God’s pursuit of me, if I allowed Him to catch me?” O to be caught of God.  David said in Psalm 139 “O Lord, You have searched me and You know me… You hem me in behind and before.”  Saying also, “You are familiar with all my ways.”   The Lord knows where we are, He would like us to know where we are.
So where are we?  Has God visited our backyard recently,  perhaps we are hiding.  Has our disobedience caused us to fear?  Do we hear Him calling?  Can we stop and allow Him to catch us in the pursuit, and be caught of God.
 
It doesn’t matter where you are … “But the LORD God called to the man”

 
August 19, 2008  (taken right off the pages of my personal journal)
 
God’s ordained timing is ALWAYS right, just and full of glory!   It has been the beating in the back of my heart to study what it is to be a true bondservant of God.   Now the beat stops and pauses, here now – look.

The claim to be a bondservant was spoken by Paul, James, Peter and Jude and the great apostle John. The quality too mentioned of our Lord Jesus. Paul writes in Ephesians  “…but as a bondservant of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart.” It is the condition of the heart, the life chooses.

Doulos, (bondservant) the Greek word alone expresses the intensity of the call. I hear it not as a soft spoken word, but one of guttural statement, as if to place your fisted hand pressed againt your gut, and with conviction … “DOULOS!”   Dwelling deep down, brought up only to express the desire to love and serve our God.
 
Paul says in Romans 12:11 “Never be lacking in zeal, but keep your spiritual fervor, serving the Lord.”  Spiritual fervor, it too conveys the deep burning, to well up in our service to God.

The bondservant is offered freedom to go his own way, yet given the choice to stay. The choice is to surrender, becoming altogether consumed in the will of the one they serve. Devotion is their motive. Going beyond their own interests to be attentive to their master.

Often we make decisions that are temporary, knowing the final outcome be just a short distance ahead of us. However, the decision of doulos is permanent. In the book of Deuteronomy chapter 15 it graciously describes the contract of the heart being signed by the piercing of the ear. The servant would have their ear pierced against the door post of the house, symbolizing permanence to the house and the master, attached and bonded.  It is known that the ring placed in the ear was of fine gold. The finest of materials, quality and longevity.  The process of becoming a bondervant:  choosing to stay, surrender to anothers will, allow the piercing, and wearing the gold ring.

Realizing the choice is of surrender  has impacted me. It is with guttural tone that I too say “I, a doulos of God.”   I do believe I am now feeling the pain of the piercing.  Piercing pain now, but fine gold as my identifier to come.  The decision of permanence seems so long.  Yet I know that one day, just reaching up and touching the gold in my ear will comfort me, that my Master’s will … has become my own.
 
I, a doulos of God.
 
In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD …”)

“Patience is a virtue which many admire, but few attain,” so goes the saying. However, the Bible calls us  to walk in such a quality. A quality Galatians 5:22 describes as a fruit of the Spirit. The King Jimmy often uses one word for patience to translate two different Greek words. One is hupomone, it is enduring, remaining under and through circumstances. Simply stated ‘staying put’, this quality is motivated by hope.

The other is makrothumia (love this word on my tongue) this is long-suffering with people, motivated by mercy. It shares the description of having self-restraint before proceeding to action. Literally, it is being of long breath, the ability to not lose one’s temper. Such a person displaying this quality would be of calm spirit.  Patience, NOT a quality I excel in!

It is not only a fruit of the Spirit, but one that we ‘put on’, along with compassion, kindness and humility (Colossians 3:12) . Also an attribute of love (1 Cor. 13:4).

One of my favorite prayers of the Bible is found in Colossians 1:9-11 (NKJV)

“we do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience (hupomone) and longsuffering (makrothumia) with joy.” (emphasis mine)

We are to have both patience and longsuffering in circumstances and with people …‘with joy’.

Neither flow from my spiritual veins very strong. This week I had the opportunity to grow in the hope and mercy department, propelled by the confrontation of PATIENCE! I was sitting at the computer one day, preparing and typing up my personal notes for a class I am teaching. Can anyone say … ‘Exegesis and hermeneutics?’

Humming right along and focused – UNTIL. Until I decided to shift gears, NOT taking notice that I did not SAVE my file. WHAM! BAM! Gone. GONE I TELL YOU!    (head hung – despair )

AFTER, I got past the anger, I regrouped my attitude, and began again. I knew in an instant (after the long pause of self-pity) that this was a test of patience on both accounts. Patience knowing that I would indeed get my notes typed again, (HOPE!) and the need to have patience with … myself   (DeDe have MERCY on DeDe). Patience… expressed hope, and mercy (even if the recipient is me)

I Thessalonians 5:14 says “… be patient with everyone.” Everyone, with our brothers and sisters and yes… yours truly… yourself.

This week, may we put on, have love, and share His Spirit, an extension of God stuff, cutting others some slack (and ourselves) through the expressed quality of patience.  Bring it on … MERCY and HOPE!

In Him, DeDe   (Ps. 92:4 ” You thrill me, LORD …”)

God is so terribly GOOD.  His presence alone can bring the toughest man down, the weakest woman to stand tall, and the young, wise beyond their years.

His presence is to be sought after. David says in Psalm 34:8 “Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see – how good God is. Blessed are you who RUN to Him.” (The Message)

When we RUN, we don’t hesitate when we get closer, stutter step and hold back. Hebrews 10:22 “Let us draw near to God with a sincere heart ...” James says “Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.” (James 4:8)  What a holy and royal invitation.

Drawing near, means to come in close. What a wonderful picture is painted in the Greek, in a sense we are ‘to be present in His presence’.  Yet, it is more than just merely showing up, we are FULLY aware ~  approaching and present with devotion of heart. Once in His presence, we receive His grace and mercy (Heb. 4:16).

This week, let’s run, RUN hard after our God, not hesitating, come in close, and be ever so present (mind, will and emotionally) with Him. Once there, may we declare as Moses did in Exodus 33:15 “… if Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here.”

Run – come in close – be present.

In Him, DeDe  (Psalm 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD …”)

I am a people watcher. What a royal hoot to sit and just observe those around us. The Mall is my favorite, so many folks going about their business. They carry bags, purses, pushing strollers, some are sitting on benches watching … ME! Have you ever observed someone walking pass you, and talking and there is no apparent person with them, they just talk. Our first response is, “Um… their dipstick isn’t exactly touching the oil.” We shrug it off as strange and weird.

Talking to oneself is extremely biblical. Well, I MUST add within the correct context mind you. The Psalmist expresses in Psalm 119:15-16 “I meditate on Your precepts and consider Your ways. I delight in Your decrees; I will not neglect Your word.”

In the Hebrew, mediation means, ‘to rehearse in ones mind, and to ponder’. Yet it is more, it literally means to mutter, to converse with oneself. Those of ancient Israel, would be found working in the fields, or a top a hill watching their herd all the while they were muttering to themselves. This was a way of life. They would recite aloud to themselves the ways of God and His word. Reinforcing and strengthening his understanding by meditating on verses over and over. Speaking God’s word reinforces it in our heart.

Rick Warren says this about mediation in his book, The Purpose Driven Life: “Mediation is focused thinking. It takes serious effort. You select a verse and reflect on it over and over again… if you know how to worry, you already know how to meditate.” He continues with “No other habit can do more to transform your life and make you more like Jesus than daily reflection on scripture.” (page 190)

There was and still is a practice done by monks called “Lectio Divina”, which is Latin for ‘divine reading’. In its purest form, it is slow methodical reading of scripture. Cultivating the ability to listen, deeply hear with ears of our heart what God is saying. THIS is a lost art in my estimation.

Many of us upon hearing the word meditation, we immediately think of the Eastern forms and religions that practice, the emptying of the mind, with the goal of tapping into ones energy to increase personal development, while sitting in an extremely uncomforatble position (um.. gag). The Christian on the other hand, is NOT emptying the mind, but FIILING it. We use scripture to purse the knowledge of God, His wisdom and His holiness.

When we meditate on scripture we are taking the time and effort after we read something to think about what we have read. Remember the Word of God is “God-breathed” (2 Tim. 3:16) and “living and active” (Heb. 4:12) – we NEED to participate and engage in it.

What we are doing is taking God’s word and ingesting it and digesting it, allowing it to become a part of us. A really poor analogy is that of a cow chewing his cud. Throughout the day he works to gather, bite and chew the grass, then later as he relaxes he begins to re-chew the grass. He brings it up from his gut. I believe God wants us to have His word in our gut! Nothing like a ‘Gut Christian’!  Ever known someone who when they speak you can tell God’s word is so deep within them, their gut is FULL of God.

Mediation also conveys the idea of to sigh, or moan and groan. There are times that to bring up what is in our gut causes us to sigh. So deep that only God can hear it.

Our society and our schedules give very little time to think or reflect. Let alone talk it out loud. We are conditioned by our culture to NOT think, (per say) resulting in the in-ability to reason effectively. One of the biggest contributors to this is TV and movies. Did you know the average scene is 3 seconds! We are conditioned to think and jump from one thing to another so quickly that in a sense we have to be stimulated and entertained to pay attention. Sadly we take this into our relationship with Jesus and His word.

Somethings do NOT come in 3 seconds. Somethings take time. Time to ponder, muse and mutter over. This week, as we sit before God’s word, read it methodically as the monks do (no cloak required) taking the time to THINK and SPEAK it. May the Holy Spirit rub it in our heart, effectively causing it to become a part of us, deep down in our gut!
So, YES… talk to yourself… keep on muttering!
In Him, DeDe (Psalm 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD…”)
* Devotion is an excerpt from  my class Personal Bible Study

I L-O-V-E Jesus! I love His word, His emphasis, His stuff!

Last night at church during worship was sang one of my favorite songs, “He has made me glad.” As I had my eyes closed, hands raised I was taken back 4 years prior and reminded that THIS song was one that I sang over and over again. I shared with a friend, that this song, became my theme, and helped me drag my sorry spiritual butt out of the pit! (sorry for the slang, but is SO true , see Psalm 40:2).
 
“I’ll say of the Lord … You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion ~ Deliverer …”

Reaching out for Jesus and grabbing on to Him with all our might is EXACTLY what He wants us to do. Remember the gal who had the issue of bleeding, and she reached out and touched Jesus’ garment? In the original Greek it paints the picture that her ‘reaching out and touching’ was so intense that it may have left a literal imprint of her hand on the garment. The result? Jesus healed her!  (Matthew chapter 9)

May we too, reach out, grab with intensity Jesus, as to leave our print there as well. “It is for FREEDOM that Christ has set us free… STAND FIRM THEN …” (Gal. 5:1) I’m standing ~ grabbing and HOLDING! Not only is this our nations Independence Day weekend, but I too remember MY Independence Day! 

Saved, redeemed, bought with a price in 1979.    Re-released … summer of 2004.  Thank You, Jesus!
 
Find yourself  in a pit?  Stand and sing with me  “I’ll say of the Lord … You are my Shield, my Strength, my Portion ~ Deliverer …”

~ DeDe  (Psalm 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD …”)

 
I must talk a lot, or rather type a lot. I recently checked my sent file on my computer in my email program. I found that combining both my laptop and desktop, in the last 3 months I have sent out over 3,000 emails. For crying out loud!  No wonder I am exhausted, (just kidding).

I began to think about all those words flying around cyberspace, praying that they landed where they should have, with purpose and meaning. I thought of the content, did what I say have some merit somewhere to someone? Was it honorable? Peppered with love and integrity?  Sigh.

The Bible speaks plenty about our speech and the affect it will have on others. David says in Psalm 19:14 “May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in Your sight O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.” THAT is the starting point, that what we think, what we say be pleasing to God. James chapter 3 pin points the power of the tongue as well.

The author of Proverbs paints a healthy picture of the NEED to choose our words carefully. “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit.” Our words can kill or bring life to others, that thought alone can and should impact us. These words to or about others affect us as well. This verse literally means that we WILL ‘eat our words’. I don’t know about you, but I have had a few phrases return to my plate to feast on, and by golly it was distasteful!

Paul penned these words in Ephesians 4:29: “Let no corrupt communication (unwholesome talk) proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.” I want to minister grace !

May we begin with honoring thoughts, “… taking captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” (2 Cor. 10:5b) From there ~ launch into life giving mode, that our words to others produce an atmosphere where they feel good and THRIVE about their God, themselves and their future.  Ministering grace.

“Father, enable us, empower us with enthusiasm to enrich Your kingdom with our gift of speech. May You be honored and glorified. Using us to minister grace to those around us. In Jesus name. Amen.”

In Him, DeDe (Psalm 92:4, “You thrill me, LORD …”)

This morning, I was looking into prayer, and why it is so important to incorporate it in our study time in God’s word.   We may say, “I don’t have … ”  God’s word says, “You have not, because you ask not …” (James).  “Well, I don’t want to bother God”,  we are told  “Come boldly before the throne of grace that we may receive…” (Hebrews)  “I am confused and don’t understand”, James also says, “If any of you lacks wisdom, ASK of God, who gives generously …” Who couldn’t use more practical application of God in our lives!!!

If we REALLY want to learn of God, then we go to Him FIRST, invite Him, ask Him to share Himself with us through His word. One point God showed me: The same Holy Spirit that was present when the word was penned, is present when it is read.

Then… I found JOY

Jesus says in John 16:24 “Until now you have not asked for anything in My name. ASK and you will receive and your JOY will be complete.”

Psalm 16:11 “You have made known to me the path of life – You will fill me with JOY in Your presence, with eternal pleasures at Your right hand.”    Joy is listed among the Fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5.   It bears a wide range of expression, from calm delight to …  gladness of heart to …  EXUBERANT  joy!   How fun is THAT.  I have thought – pondered and meditated on this throughout the day, my excitement has grown!
 
There is JOY being in His presence, JOY in learning of Him, JOY allowing Him to move in and through us. And wisdom, to know HOW to walk out what we learn of HIM joyfully! 
 
This joy spills over … there is JOY in deep friendship, JOY in a beautiful warm day, JOY in Pepperidge Farm Milano Mint Cookies, (HAD to add that).

 
Share a little EXUBERANT  joy with someone this weekend,  share God’s word with them, tell them how much they are loved.
 
Prayer.  Presence.  God’s word.   Joy.   Pass it on.
 
Go GOD!

~ DeDe  (Psalm 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD .”)

Recently the gals at bible study and myself were looking at Psalm 121. The author lends a beautifully crafted picture of what it is to keep our eyes where they should be, (representing our focus) Verses 1-2:

“I lift my eyes to the hills – where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.”

We can appreciate the pro-active stance the Psalmist takes as he prepares to position himself. Notice he says “I lift my eyes…” He is not waiting for someone else to do it for him, or even swing his arm out and grab onto the person next to him. NO – HE does it. What does he do? He lifts his eyes. KNOWING that keeping them down will not direct his attention to where his help is.

As another Psalmist states: “Why are you downcast O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God …” (Ps. 42:5)

To help paint this picture at bible study, with the help of a sweet little gal, we scattered coins on the floor. Here and there, pennies, dimes, nickels, yes even those collectible quarters. THEN, I tacked dollar bills to the ceiling, $1.00’s, $5.00’s, $10.00’s and a couple of $20.00’s.  As the gals came in, their attention was drawn to the coins on the floor, a few gals picked them up and handed them to me, or politely placed them on the tables. I of course came behind them and discretely threw them back on the floor for others to see.

We progressed through a time of fellowship and worship, nothing was said about the ‘big bucks’ on the ceiling. I opened the teaching time, by asking them if they noticed anything slightly different this morning. One gal commented on the coins. Then they began to chat about that. Smiling I said “Yes, you noticed the little stuff on the ground, but did you look UP? All heads immediately flew up. You could hear the “AaaaHa!”  Expressions of revelation.

So often we keep our gaze down don’t we? Not allowing our focus to go heavenward. WE  MISS  SO  MUCH! While our focus is down, generally this is when we fall into the pit of disgust, despair, depression and even dissatisfaction. A side note to add here: in Psalm 42, when stated “Why are you downcast O my soul?” The word picture is that of movement ~ a spiral motion, his soul is heading down AND down. His self talk is SMART.

Can you imagine with me, he bows his head and talks to his soul [ definition of soul: heart, mind, the inner being with it’s thoughts and emotions] he continues on “Put your hope in God…” Mainly … “Dude get a grip! God is your answer, now look to HIM!”  However  I love the second half of the verse as rendered by the Young’s Literal Translation – “Wait for God, for still I confess Him.”

Do  YOU have the down in the dump, downcast doldrums?  The antidote?  Redirect your focus on God’s ability to help you rather than your ability to help yourself.  State it.  Confess it.  Cry out for it.  Live it.

May we purpose to setting our sights as the Psalmist did,  NOT notice just the little stuff here on the ground, but look  UP to God.  THAT is where the BIG stuff is (smile).

I leave us with the song that we as a group of God-loving gals sang at each gathering as we ventured through the Psalms: 

I lift my eyes up
to the mountians
Where does my help come from?
My help comes from You
Maker of heaven
Creator of the earth
 
O How I need You Lord
You are my only hope
You are my only prayer
So I will wait for You
To come and rescue me
Come and give me life
 
– Written by Brian Doerksen
In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD … as I look UP.”)

I learned something very recently. Fear can keep us (me) from going places that we really need to be going. Let me paint a picture for you by what I mean: I used to walk. I would put on my MP3 headset, and set out for a glorious time of worship. I would walk the neighborhood, spend about 30 minutes on my powerwalk, I called it.

THEN, one day the neighbors pitbull (ugly beast) met me at the end of our lane, and proceeded to walk me back up the lane to our house, backwards.  I knew NOT to turn and run, he would only see it as a chance to chase. Right when I got to our gate, I slowly reached back and opened it, and slipped into our yard, THAT is when the beast saw he was losing me and charged the gate.  I had my pepper spray in my hand the whole time, that is when I chose to use it.

Dead on, target reached. It made him so MAD, he charged again, I sprayed again. He finally pranced away, as I limped away emotionally from the fear. For future precautions, we took the issue up with the neighbor, and the City Animal Control Unit.   Since then I have had such a fear of that dog turning the corner and coming at me again, I have not set out walking since then, it’s been a few months.

Until ~ yesterday. Sporting a huge stick AND my pepper spray I headed out. When I got to the end of the lane, oh Beasty was no where to be seen. Whahoo, all the angels are on their feet, high-fiving each other (ok, maybe not – but that is how I felt).  Perhaps the ugly beast will never reappear. But my fear can not hold me back. Walk I did, with a glorious time of worship.

There WILL be beasts around many corners. Wisdom will lead us to take precautions. But we can not allow them to keep us captive from setting out.  When we do encounter them, and choose to stay put, we may never find out later that they are NO LONGER  there. Much of the time, the thing we fear is in our head, not necessarily awaiting us down the lane. 

Nearly 50 times we are admonished in the Bible to “Fear not…” or “Do not be afraid.”  Yet it is a common default for us all.  Paul writes to Timothy about stepping out, using the gifts God has instilled in him, to share the word of God with others, yet I feel this strong statement applies to all fears that hold us back. “For God did not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and a sound mind.” (2 Tim. 1:7)

FREEDOM ~ Jesus show us YOUR power, love us through it, and clear our thoughts, allow discipline and discretion to guide us, so the beasts of our minds would NOT rule over us.

~ DeDe  (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD ..”)

I smell FABULOUS! Even if I do say so myself. Sorry guys ~ girl talk. I was given a gracious gift certificate to one of those good smelly places, lined with rows of bath gels, body oils and room air fresheners, (fortunately I knew NOT to spray THAT on). I played in the bath gels for awhile, and then moved onto the body oils. LOVE the oils! My personal favorite right now is Lavender. I have grown to love the color, the smell, it is fresh and so feminine. That is what came home with me. So, I smell like a field of lavender. I do however, pray I don’t attract bees in my good-smelly-ness.

We are highly sensitive to smell. One of the five senses that strike us with great impact, also one of the most offensive or pleasant. Not only do we smell good, but we can purchase candles, incense, sprays, even night light plug-ins to bathe our homes with fragrance while we sleep.

There is a fragrance however that can not be rubbed on, sprayed or be splashed, but comes from …within. It is the beauty of Christ in our lives, it can and will attract others, perhaps, forgoing the bees ~ smile.

“But thanks be to God! For through what Christ has done, He has triumphed over us so that now wherever we go He uses us to tell others about the Lord and to spread the Gospel like a sweet perfume. As far as God is concerned there is a sweet, wholesome fragrance in our lives. It is the fragrance of Christ within us, an aroma to both the saved and the unsaved all around us.” (2 Cor. 2:14-15, The Living Bible)

In the Tabernacle of Moses, the incense was a prescribed  fragrance. Not just any old aroma, but a specific pleasant odor. Certain ingredients were needed, a certain blend. God knew if the mixture was not just right, the out come would be STINKY. Same with our lives, it takes just the right mixture for a pleasant aroma, mixture of the life, love and qualities of Christ. If not, sorry folks, it is just plain old stinky … US (metaphorically speaking of course). Been around a few stinky folks?

Another place where fragrance was a HUGE issue, John chapter 11. Jesus comes to the tomb of Lazarus, telling them to remove the stone, while Martha politely reminds Jesus, that … well after 4 days “…he stinketh.” A big concern for sure. The stone is rolled away and Jesus prays, it was NOT the smell of death that came out. Adding Jesus to the circumstance and LIFE is the result.

Allowing others to see, hear, touch, taste and smell Jesus in our lives is what we are called to. Remember when Mary poured the perfume on Jesus’ feet, in John 12? She didn’t just dab here or there, she POURED enough to cause the house to be filled with the fragrance! Her worship was known, seen and a pleasant aroma. May we too pour it out thick, overflowing, regardless of the cost … loving HIM.

Bathe yourself with and in the qualities of Jesus, and smell wonderful for Him. As we walk in the prescribed fragrance of God, adding Jesus to the mix, others will smell Him. In doing so, as we too pray with His power, and authority, stones will be moved away and others will come out not stinking, but ALIVE!

The fragrance of Christ.

In Him, DeDe (Ps. 92:4 “You thrill me, LORD .”)