Praise

Praise Him in The Midst of The Storm ~ Psalm 102

9:00 AM



Today's Scripture: Psalm 102 & Hebrews 1:10-14

Let's face it, Beloved, it’s hard to praise God when life is hard, but God wants us to rejoice in Him even when we’re in the midst of trials. 

In the first eleven verses of Psalm 102, the psalmist laments the trials and tribulations he endured. We've all faced hardships at times and can relate to his frustrations and discouragement;

  • Life is like a wisp of smoke (Psalm 102:3.), short-lived, and often carried away by prevailing winds. 
  • Our heart gets broken; our problems weigh heavy on our minds (Psalm 102:4). 
  • We deal with illness and anxiety (102:4-5)
  • Enemies attack us (Psalm 102:8). 
  • We deal with discouragement and depression (102:9-11) 
Life truly isn't heaven on earth for the sins of man have wreaked havoc to everyone on this planet. 

But, there is hope! 
But You, O Lord, are enthroned forever [ruling eternally as sovereign]; And [the fame and glory of] Your name [endures] to all generations. (Psalm 102:12)

In the midst of all the psalmist troubles, he pauses to look up!! Look up!! This is key! Not within, nor around , but UP! 

How good are you with looking up, especially in the midst of your trials?

This life can be challenging, discouraging and  sometimes even scary, BUT it will all change one day. When Christ Jesus returns to collect us and comes to reign for 1,000 years, things will be different.

  • He will have mercy on those living, including those in Jerusalem (102:13).
  • The city that has seen so much bloodshed and unrighteousness will be restored (Psalm 102:14-16). 
  • Jesus Christ shall appear and rule and reign in Jerusalem. (102:15)
  • Prayers of those with little hope will be heard (Psalm 102:17, 19-20). 
  • The Lord will be praised rather than mocked and ignored (Psalm 102:18). 

Finally, a righteous ruler will be in control. Life will be different:

Let this be recorded for the generation to come,
That a people yet to be created will praise the Lord.
19 
For He looked down from His holy height [of His sanctuary],
From heaven the Lord gazed on the earth,
20 
To hear the sighing of the prisoner,
To set free those who were doomed to death,
21 
So that people may declare the name of the Lord in Zion
And His praise in Jerusalem," (Psalm 102:18-21 emphasis mine)

It was these words, "Let this be recorded for the generation to come." that grabbed my attention.

Beloved, when we are struggling in the midst of trials; dealing with illness, anxiety, depression, etc. how often are we inclined to not only look up, but forward? 

I will admit,  when I'm struggling, my focus is on what is going on around me or within - how it is impacting me personally at the moment, which is why I love the message found in this psalm! In short, Beloved, it's not always about you!

Often, we are going through what we're going through at the moment, because of others or God's future plans for us , not the immediate. 

During one of the most difficult times in my life, I cried out to God to find out why He was willing to allow me to go through all I was going through at the moment, and His answer was, in so many words, because He was prepared to bless me in the future. He saw the blessings coming and because of those blessings (Romans 8:28) He could take me through the valley at that time. 

And I can honestly say now on the other side of the valley that the blessings that came cannot even begin to compare to those difficult days. Cannot even compare!!! 

O Father, thank You for this psalm and the message to each of us found here. Father , we rejoice in who You are! We are so grateful that we have found favor in Your sight. We give thanks that we are the apple of Your eye and that You carefully watch over us. Your love will never fail us and You see the plans for us and all generations far into the future! Father, most of all we give thanks that we can trust You in the valleys as well as the mountain tops! Father, You are all merciful, all loving and gracious. We have nothing to fear. Help us in the midst of trials as well as our very best days to look to You and trust in You, always. Amen.

Blessings, 

Sue  

courage

Don’t You Care? {Mark 4:1-5:43}

12:00 AM


After a day spent in a boat teaching in the Sea of Galilee, Jesus said to His disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” (vs. 4:35).  Once they started moving, a weary Lord curled up on a cushion at the back of the boat and fell fast asleep. Soon after a fierce storm arose and began violently tossing the boat, filling it with water. Jesus was awakened to shouts of panic and fear with the disciples crying out,”Teacher, do You not care that we are perishing.” (vs. 4:38)

Can you relate? Have you ever found yourself facing down a storm and crying out to the Lord; wondering why He’s letting you be tossed about and if He even cares? The truth is of course, He does care. And although we may feel frightened, helpless and alone, in actuality Jesus is right there in complete control; ready, willing, and able to see us safely to the other side. All He asks of us is that we trust in Him and His love for us.

Many people mistakenly believe that the life of a Christian is one filled with perpetual calm waters and beautiful horizons. But nowhere in the Bible does God promise an easy life. In fact throughout the Scriptures we are warned of quite the opposite. We read story after story of those who faced trials and tribulations. Even the disciples, with the Savior Himself riding in their boat, didn’t escape the whirlwind.  

Each storm and the way we respond to it reveals the depth of our faith in God. At the first sign of trouble do we fall to our knees in hopelessness and despair, or do we fall to our knees in prayer to the Lord? Do we cry out to Him in panic or do we listen for His calming voice? Having the kind of faith which produces a peace no storm can shake isn’t easy. Even the disciples, with all that they had witnessed Jesus say and do, gave into fear and doubt with each crashing wave. 

“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear” (Ps. 46:1-2) It is only by placing our trust and faith in Jesus that can we experience the peace of knowing no matter what comes our way,  just as He rescued the disciples, the Lord will rescue us. The apostle Paul knew this well. He found the secret to having peace in every situation, strength to weather any storm, and courage to endure any persecution. He placed His hope and faith in Jesus alone saying, “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (Phil. 4:13) 

“Adversity has a way of pushing us beyond ourselves where we find God waiting to gather us in His arms. Held under the canopy of God’s presence we discover a sense of security and hope that we thought had evaded us.”....Dr. Charles Stanley

More often it’s not the happy times when we feel closest to God, but rather the darkest. The storms in our lives have a way of showing us just how very weak we are and how much we need the saving grace of Jesus. A grace that in His love, He offers without hesitation. Even when the disciples demonstrated a lack of faith, Jesus didn’t waste a moment in quieting the sea; and He promises to do the same for us. So the next time you find yourself battling the waves and weathering the storm, let Jesus calm you as He calmed the waters. Listen for His voice whispering in your ear, “Hush, be still” “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?” (vs. 4:39-40)

I hope you will join me today in sending prayers out to those affected by Hurricane Florence. May God send His love, comfort, and healing to those who are grieving, who are injured, and who have lost their homes and livelihoods. May He also keep safe those who are responding to calls for rescue and aid, and give wisdom to those in charge of the cleanup and meeting the needs of the people....Amen

Book of Consolation

The Rainbow After The Storm {Jeremiah 30:1-33:26}

12:00 AM


Up until now Jeremiah’s prophecies have been filled with gloom and despair. Now in this section, called the “The Book of Consolation”, the prophet poetically describes the restoration of Israel and Judah after the time know as “Jacob’s distress” (vs. 30:7). He relays God’s promises to return the people to their land, to reunite them as a nation, establish with them a new covenant, and through them, bless the world with our Lord and Savior, Christ Jesus. 

Because of their continued disobedience, God pronounced judgement on the people of Israel and Judah. Their cities would be burned, their homes destroyed, and the people carried off into bondage, scattered throughout the lands. For seventy years they endured a storm of homelessness, oppression, persecution, and slavery. Yet through it all God never left them, never forsook them, never stopped loving them, and never let them go. 

We all face storms in our lives. Times when the rain pours, and the wind rages. And whether the Lord allows these storms because He’s trying to teach us, or like Israel, to bring us to repentance, remember this. Though you may feel lost and battered, God is always in control. And when the pain feels unbearable and the fear overwhelming, we can cling to the same promises God spoke through Jeremiah to the exiled Jews. 

You Are Not Alone! “For I am with you, declares the Lord, to save you” (vs. 30:11) Although God may not take away the consequences of our sin, we can be confident that no matter the storm we endure, He will see us safely through to the other side. He will never forsake nor abandon us for we are His, and He calls us by name! (Is. 43:1)

His Love Is Forever! “The Lord appeared to Him from above saying ‘I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness’” (vs. 31:3) God’s love for us is perfect and eternal. There is no sin too great that, when we confess and repent, the Lord will not forgive. His love is also unconditional and unwavering. It remains the same whether the sun shines, or the rain falls, and nothing, absolutely nothing can separate us from that love. (Rom. 8:31-39)

No Storm Is Greater Than God! “Ah Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm! Nothing is too difficult for You” (vs. 32:17) Even during the heaviest of downpours, when we can see no way out, God does. For as Luke 1:37 tells us, nothing is impossible for the Lord. He knows the first raindrop to the last, and won’t allow the cloudburst to last a minute longer than needed to fulfill His purpose.

God instructed Jeremiah to write a book containing His promises of deliverance and restoration. A book the people could turn to for hope while they waited for the storm to pass. He gives us a book as well...the Holy Bible. In it we’ll find the same promises of hope, deliverance, and restoration. 

No matter what you may be going through, trust in God to shelter you from the storm until it passes and the sun shines again. And remember, the One who created the storm, also created the rainbow that is sure to follow.