OUR HISTORY OF REBELLION

Posted on December 27, 2020 by randscallawayffm

We humans are a fickle creation of God.  God loved us first and loves us still.  He provides our all our needs.  He rescues us and protects us.  Then we rebel because we think we can do a better job with our lives than God our creator?  It’s been that way since Adam, God’s first created human…in the image of God, Himself.  Is it any wonder that God had a Plan from the beginning to redeem us from our rebellion against Him? 

God, our Father gave us free will to choose Him or not.  When do not choose Him, rebel against Him, chaos of evil sweeps in to destroy us.  So, at the very beginning of creation, God created in His own image along with The Plan to redeem mankind.  That Plan was Jesus, His Son.

“Listen, dear friends, to God’s Truth”, says Asaph who retells all the miracles of God’s protection and provisions for His people.  As Asaph reviewed the history of his people, he saw a sad record of forgetfulness, faithlessness, foolishness, and failure; and he sought to understand what it all meant. These things were written for the profit of believers today (1 Cor. 10:11-12), so we had better pay attention to what Asaph says.

History is His story.  The story of God.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 78, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

1-4 Listen, dear friends, to God’s truth,
    bend your ears to what I tell you.
I’m chewing on the morsel of a proverb;
    I’ll let you in on the sweet old truths,
Stories we heard from our fathers,
    counsel we learned at our mother’s knee.
We’re not keeping this to ourselves,
    we’re passing it along to the next generation—
God’s fame and fortune,
    the marvelous things he has done.

5-8 He planted a witness in Jacob,
    set his Word firmly in Israel,
Then commanded our parents
    to teach it to their children
So the next generation would know,
    and all the generations to come—
Know the truth and tell the stories
    so their children can trust in God,
Never forget the works of God
    but keep his commands to the letter.
Heaven forbid they should be like their parents,
    bullheaded and bad,
A fickle and faithless bunch
    who never stayed true to God.

9-16 The Ephraimites, armed to the teeth,
    ran off when the battle began.
They were cowards to God’s Covenant,
    refused to walk by his Word.
They forgot what he had done—
    marvels he’d done right before their eyes.
He performed miracles in plain sight of their parents
    in Egypt, out on the fields of Zoan.
He split the Sea and they walked right through it;
    he piled the waters to the right and the left.
He led them by day with a cloud,
    led them all the night long with a fiery torch.
He split rocks in the wilderness,
    gave them all they could drink from underground springs;
He made creeks flow out from sheer rock,
    and water pour out like a river

17-20 All they did was sin even more,
    rebel in the desert against the High God.
They tried to get their own way with God,
    clamored for favors, for special attention.
They whined like spoiled children,
    “Why can’t God give us a decent meal in this desert?
Sure, he struck the rock and the water flowed,
    creeks cascaded from the rock.
But how about some fresh-baked bread?
    How about a nice cut of meat?”

21-31 When God heard that, he was furious—
    his anger flared against Jacob,
    he lost his temper with Israel.
It was clear they didn’t believe God,
    had no intention of trusting in his help.
But God helped them anyway, commanded the clouds
    and gave orders that opened the gates of heaven.
He rained down showers of manna to eat,
    he gave them the Bread of Heaven.
They ate the bread of the mighty angels;
    he sent them all the food they could eat.
He let East Wind break loose from the skies,
    gave a strong push to South Wind.
This time it was birds that rained down—
    succulent birds, an abundance of birds.
He aimed them right for the center of their camp;
    all round their tents there were birds.
They ate and had their fill;
    he handed them everything they craved on a platter.
But their greed knew no bounds;
    they stuffed their mouths with more and more.
Finally, God was fed up, his anger erupted—
    he cut down their brightest and best,
    he laid low Israel’s finest young men.

32-37 And—can you believe it?—they kept right on sinning;
    all those wonders and they still wouldn’t believe!
So their lives dribbled off to nothing—
    nothing to show for their lives but a ghost town.
When he cut them down, they came running for help;
    they turned and pled for mercy.
They gave witness that God was their rock,
    that High God was their redeemer,
But they didn’t mean a word of it;
    they lied through their teeth the whole time.
They could not have cared less about him,
    wanted nothing to do with his Covenant.

38-55 And God? Compassionate!
    Forgave the sin! Didn’t destroy!
Over and over he reined in his anger,
    restrained his considerable wrath.
He knew what they were made of;
    he knew there wasn’t much to them,
How often in the desert they had spurned him,
    tried his patience in those wilderness years.
Time and again they pushed him to the limit,
    provoked Israel’s Holy God.

How quickly they forgot what he’d done,
    forgot their day of rescue from the enemy,
When he did miracles in Egypt,
    wonders on the plain of Zoan.
He turned the River and its streams to blood—
    not a drop of water fit to drink.
He sent flies, which ate them alive,
    and frogs, which bedeviled them.
He turned their harvest over to caterpillars,
    everything they had worked for to the locusts.
He flattened their grapevines with hail;
    a killing frost ruined their orchards.
He pounded their cattle with hail,
    let thunderbolts loose on their herds.
His anger flared,
    a wild firestorm of havoc,

An advance guard of disease-carrying angels
    to clear the ground, preparing the way before him.
He didn’t spare those people,
    he let the plague rage through their lives.
He killed all the Egyptian firstborns,
    lusty infants, offspring of Ham’s virility.
Then he led his people out like sheep,
    took his flock safely through the wilderness.
He took good care of them; they had nothing to fear.
    The Sea took care of their enemies for good.
He brought them into his holy land,
    this mountain he claimed for his own.
He scattered everyone who got in their way;
    he staked out an inheritance for them—
    the tribes of Israel all had their own places.

56-64 But they kept on giving him a hard time,
    rebelled against God, the High God,
    refused to do anything he told them.
They were worse, if that’s possible, than their parents:
    traitors—crooked as a corkscrew.
Their pagan orgies provoked God’s anger,
    their obscene idolatries broke his heart.
When God heard their carryings-on, he was furious;
    he posted a huge No over Israel.
He walked off and left Shiloh empty,
    abandoned the shrine where he had met with Israel.
He let his pride and joy go to the dogs,
    turned his back on the pride of his life.
He turned them loose on fields of battle;
    angry, he let them fend for themselves.
Their young men went to war and never came back;
    their young women waited in vain.
Their priests were massacred,
    and their widows never shed a tear.

65-72 Suddenly the Lord was up on his feet
    like someone roused from deep sleep,
    shouting like a drunken warrior.
He hit his enemies hard, sent them running,
    yelping, not daring to look back.
He disqualified Joseph as leader,
    told Ephraim he didn’t have what it takes,
And chose the Tribe of Judah instead,
    Mount Zion, which he loves so much.
He built his sanctuary there, resplendent,
    solid and lasting as the earth itself.
Then he chose David, his servant,
    handpicked him from his work in the sheep pens.
One day he was caring for the ewes and their lambs,
    the next day God had him shepherding Jacob,
    his people Israel, his prize possession.
His good heart made him a good shepherd;
    he guided the people wisely and well.

TRUTH:  Great is God’s faithfulness, little is ours to Him.  Pray to remember what God has done in our lives.  Avoid the foolishness and folly of rebelling again the One and Only who loves us most.  NO ONE loves us like God!

Proverb 24:19-22, The Message

Don’t bother your head with braggarts
    or wish you could succeed like the wicked.
Those people have no future at all;
    they’re headed down a dead-end street.

21-22 Fear God, dear child—respect your leaders;
    don’t be defiant or mutinous.
Without warning your life can turn upside down,
    and who knows how or when it might happen?

WISDOM:  Fear God with awe and never forget His love for us.  A rebellious life is a lonely, hopeless, empty life.  With God, hope, joy, peace with His unconditional love abounds from the inside out, no matter what is happening around us.  Go with God.  He never fails.

Abba Father,

Thank you for your great, unchanging faithfulness to us!  Thank for Your Plan, Jesus, who while we were yet sinners in our rebellious state of mind, heart and soul, you saved us.  Thank you for provisions and protection.  Thank you for life eternal.  I love to tell Your Story which is the history of how you saved and rescued me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GO OVER WHAT GOD HAS DONE

Posted on December 26, 2020 by randscallawayffm

I’ve done my share of yelling, looking for God in the middle of my tumultuous thinking.  I’ve been honest with God about my frustrations with others who hurt others with words and actions.  And God listens.  God is not put off by our honesty, in fact, He applauds it.  What He won’t listen to is disrespect.  He will not listen to blame and excuses because of pride, selfishness, laziness and greed for that is sin in our character and God cannot be in the same room with sin. God is right, good, pure and holy.  God listens to sincere, humble, repentant hearts who seek His wisdom, help, understanding and insight.

Asaph, the psalmist for today, teaches us that in the middle of your mess, “go over what God has done” and “ponder all the things” God has accomplished, and give a long, loving look at His acts.  That’s when our life-song changes key to higher scale of thinking with more gratitude and praise.  We gain a new perspective.  New verses are added to our song that are full of praise.  Then, miraculously our once dull ears are finely tuned to listen to God after He has heard our yell for help.

“O God! Your way is holy!  No god is great like God!  You’re the God who makes things happen…”

I’ll admit the year 2020 has been a challenge to humanity but we have also witnessed God still at work in the most creative ways we have ever seen.  Pause and list all the ways God’s glory has been revealed around us.  List the ways God taught us.  Consider all His loving acts of kindness, gentleness, love, mercy and grace.  Ponder all these things.  Perspective. 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 77, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

I yell out to my God, I yell with all my might,
    I yell at the top of my lungs. He listens.

2-6 I found myself in trouble and went looking for my Lord;
    my life was an open wound that wouldn’t heal.
When friends said, “Everything will turn out all right,”
    I didn’t believe a word they said.
I remember God—and shake my head.
    I bow my head—then wring my hands.
I’m awake all night—not a wink of sleep;
    I can’t even say what’s bothering me.
I go over the days one by one,
    I ponder the years gone by.
I strum my lute all through the night,
    wondering how to get my life together.

7-10 Will the Lord walk off and leave us for good?
    Will he never smile again?
Is his love worn threadbare?
    Has his salvation promise burned out?
Has God forgotten his manners?
    Has he angrily stalked off and left us?
“Just my luck,” I said. “The High God goes out of business
    just the moment I need him.”

11-12 Once again I’ll go over what God has done,
    lay out on the table the ancient wonders;
I’ll ponder all the things you’ve accomplished,
    and give a long, loving look at your acts.

13-15 O God! Your way is holy!
    No god is great like God!
You’re the God who makes things happen;
    you showed everyone what you can do—
You pulled your people out of the worst kind of trouble,
    rescued the children of Jacob and Joseph.

16-19 Ocean saw you in action, God,
    saw you and trembled with fear;
    Deep Ocean was scared to death.
Clouds belched buckets of rain,
    Sky exploded with thunder,
    your arrows flashing this way and that.
From Whirlwind came your thundering voice,
    Lightning exposed the world,
    Earth reeled and rocked.
You strode right through Ocean,
    walked straight through roaring Ocean,
    but nobody saw you come or go.

20 Hidden in the hands of Moses and Aaron,
You led your people like a flock of sheep.

TRUTH:  God, “You led your people” through good times and bad and accomplished your will and plan.  You will lead us still.  We are your sheep.  You are our God. 

Proverb 24:10, The Message

If you fall to pieces in a crisis,
    there wasn’t much to you in the first place.

WISDOM:  If you are about to fall; fall into the arms of Jesus.

Abba Father,

Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for being my strength and my song in the night when I am weak.  Thank you for consistently teaching me the lessons I need to learn in this life while preparing for the next with You.  I have yet to graduate from Your School of Developing your characteristics, but I am gaining ground with each lesson.  Thank you for the comfort and encouragement your Holy Spirit pours over my wounds.  Thank you for the challenges you give us that move us, sometimes kicking and screaming, from our will to your will be done.  Thank you for protecting us and providing for all you know we need before we do.  Thank you for Your Presence felt in our lives each day.  Thank you for listening to my honest prayers and bending low to help me up.  Thank you for what lies ahead.  Thank you for all you have done, are doing and will do.  You are God and I am not.  I trust in You.  I’m Yours.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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DO WHAT YOU SAID

Posted on December 24, 2020 by randscallawayffm

I am more inclined to trust someone who did what they said they were going to do consistently.  How about you?  Did you ever stop to think that is the way God feels about us?  Let’s go farther down the road in this thinking.  What would happen in our lives if we did what we told God we were going to do regularly with sincere, obedient hearts to his will and plan?  Don’t you think He would begin to trust us with more?

“If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities.” –Jesus             Luke 16:10

Our next song of praise reveals the character of God and what He expects from His people.  God’s mighty works reveal the greatness of His character and His power.  God wants us to know Him, trust Him and obey Him.  Instead of resisting the Lord–a losing battle–we should be grateful to Him for rescuing us (v. 9) and saving us from our sins. Asaph spoke to the Jewish believers and told them to keep the promises they made to the Lord when Jerusalem was in danger. How easy it is to make vows and not keep them (Eccl. 5:1-6)! 

The psalm begins at Jerusalem and its environs (vv. 1-6), then moves to the entire land of Israel (vv. 7-9), and now it reaches the whole earth (v. 12). There will be a day when the rulers of the earth will bow to Jesus Christ and worship Him as King of Kings (Isa. 2:1-4; 11:1ff.; Rev. 19:11-16).

PAUSE AND REFECT

Knowing God is sovereign over earth’s rulers, what can you trust Him to do in your life?

Wisdom and Worship, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 76, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

76 1-3 God is well-known in Judah;
    in Israel, he’s a household name.
He keeps a house in Salem,
    his own suite of rooms in Zion.
That’s where, using arrows for kindling,
    he made a bonfire of weapons of war.

4-6 Oh, how bright you shine!
    Outshining their huge piles of loot!
The warriors were plundered
    and left there impotent.
And now there’s nothing to them,
    nothing to show for their swagger and threats.
Your sudden roar, God of Jacob,
    knocked the wind out of horse and rider.

7-10 Fierce you are, and fearsome!
    Who can stand up to your rising anger?
From heaven you thunder judgment;
    earth falls to her knees and holds her breath.
God stands tall and makes things right,
    he saves all the wretched on earth.
Instead of smoldering rage—God-praise!
    All that sputtering rage—now a garland for God!

11-12 Do for God what you said you’d do—
    he is, after all, your God.
Let everyone in town bring offerings
    to the One Who Watches our every move.
Nobody gets by with anything,
    no one plays fast and loose with him.

TRUTH: “Do for God what you said you’d do—He is, after all, your God.”  Trust in His Plan whether you understand it or not.  Trust builds upon the foundation of our faith in Christ.  God sees and smiles when we trust and obey.  “To obey is better than sacrifice”, says God through Samuel.  1 Samuel 15:22

Proverb 24, The Message

13-14 Eat honey, dear child—it’s good for you—
    and delicacies that melt in your mouth.
Likewise knowledge,
    and wisdom for your soul—
Get that and your future’s secured,
    your hope is on solid rock.

WISDOM:  Seek God’s wisdom as if your life depended on it—because it does!

Abba Father,

Thank you for the wisdom we seek. Thank you for protecting us from making foolish mistakes in our lives.  Thank you for picking us up, dusting us off and making good out our foolish follies in life.  Sometimes “the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak”, as You warned us on the Mount of Olives, your prayer place.  So, we pray right now for minds to know you more, hearts to love you with all that is in us with cleansed souls to house Your Holy Spirit that teaches us.  Help us to follow through with complete trust and obedience to you for that is the foundation of our intimate, holy relationship with You!  I am learning.  You are transforming me.  Continue your work in me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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LET’S TALK! WHAT DO YOU SAY?

Posted on December 23, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Talk can be uplifting or talk can bring us low.  Talk can bring life or it can take life from us.  Talk can announce good news or not so good news.  Talk can build sweet, intimate relationships or cause a forever rift and separation.  Talk can be good or talk can be bad.  What we choose to talk about can make a difference in the life of someone else.

Self-talk can be our own worse enemy or our greatest ally.  “Love your neighbor as yourself”, says Jesus.  But what if we don’t have any love for ourselves?  Does that affect how we love others?  Why, yes it does.  This theme is at the heart of Lauren Daigle’s song that has swept over the world and caused believers and seekers alike to stop and think about their own self-talk.

Pause and reflect at the lyrics of “You Say”

I keep fighting voices in my mind that say I’m not enough
Every single lie that tells me I will never measure up

Am I more than just the sum of every high and every low
Remind me once again just who I am because I need to know
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
And when I don’t belong, oh You say I am Yours
And I believe (I)
Oh, I believe (I)
What You say of me (I)
I believe

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh

You say I am loved when I can’t feel a thing
You say I am strong when I think I am weak
And you say I am held when I am falling short
When I don’t belong, oh You say… More

At the point of her lowest low, God reminds her of how much He loves her.  His love realized changes everything! 

Let’s pause and think about our talk that stems from the heart.  The more we realize and understand the love Jesus had for us when he went to the cross, the more we begin to love others.  The more we love God back, the more deeply we love each other.  Read that again.  I truly believe that the more I realize God’s love for me is the measure of my love for others. God’s love for me causes me to humbly love what He sees in me.  This realization leads me to loving others like He loves me!  This love, so amazing, is holy, intimate and constantly transforming me and my talk from the inside out.

What is on your mind right now?  Jesus says whatever is in our heart will spill out over our lips.  What do we talk about most from day to day?  Who do we talk about most?  Our talk is definitely a heart issue.  Whoever we love the most will affect our talk.  I am reminded of a chorus we used to sing years ago in my youth;

Let’s talk about Jesus, the King of kings is He,

The Lord of lords supreme, through all eternity. 

The great I AM, the Way, the Truth, the Life, the Door, 

Let’s talk about Jesus more and more.

If the love of Jesus is our first thought when we rise in the morning, then He will probably be the center of our talk all day long.


I love to tell the story
  Of unseen things above,
Of Jesus and His glory,
  Of Jesus and His love.
I love to tell the story,
  Because I know ’tis true;
It satisfies my longings
  As nothing else can do.

ALL these songs of old and new play in the background of my mind as the Psalmist sings His songs of praise to God!  Sing with me…

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 75, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

75 We thank you, God, we thank you—
    your Name is our favorite word;
    your mighty works are all we talk about.

2-4 You say, “I’m calling this meeting to order,
    I’m ready to set things right.
When the earth goes topsy-turvy
    And nobody knows which end is up,
I nail it all down,
    I put everything in place again.
I say to the smart alecks, ‘That’s enough,’
    to the bullies, ‘Not so fast.’”

5-6 Don’t raise your fist against High God.
    Don’t raise your voice against Rock of Ages.
He’s the One from east to west;
    from desert to mountains, he’s the One.

7-8 God rules: he brings this one down to his knees,
    pulls that one up on her feet.
God has a cup in his hand,
    a bowl of wine, full to the brim.
He draws from it and pours;
    it’s drained to the dregs.
Earth’s wicked ones drink it all,
    drink it down to the last bitter drop!

9-10 And I’m telling the story of God Eternal,
    singing the praises of Jacob’s God.
The fists of the wicked
    are bloody stumps,
The arms of the righteous
    are lofty green branches.

TRUTH:  Tell the story.  Live the story.  All glory to God for His story in us!

Proverb 24:1-6, The Message

  1-2 Don’t envy bad people;
    don’t even want to be around them.
All they think about is causing a disturbance;
    all they talk about is making trouble.

3-4 It takes wisdom to build a house,
    and understanding to set it on a firm foundation;
It takes knowledge to furnish its rooms
    with fine furniture and beautiful draperies.

5-6 It’s better to be wise than strong;
    intelligence outranks muscle any day.

WISDOM:  Know God.  Know the Good News of Jesus.  Ask for words of wisdom.  Tell the story of redemption, our firm foundation for life. Trust and obey, for there’s no other way to be happy, in Jesus, but to trust and obey.  (Yes, one last song….)

Abba Father,

Great are you, Lord.  You have done great things in my life and in the lives of those around me.  You are still doing great, amazing, unexpected things that are beyond my imagination!  So, I love to tell your story.  I love to talk about you night and day.  You are God and we are not even close.  Nothing is too hard for you.  You never sleep, always at work for our best.  You know what will happen next to challenge us and you have prepared ways for us to overcome before we get there.  Yes, there is no one like you.  Why would I trust in anyone or anything else?  That’s just foolishness.  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul because you first loved me.  Thank you for loving me the way you do.  Thank you for teaching me to love like you love.  I have not perfected your love but I know your love is perfect in me.

In Jesus Name, Amen

The only thing that matters now is everything You think of me
In You I find my worth, in You I find my identity
Ooh-oh…

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WHERE ARE YOU, GOD?

Posted on December 22, 2020 by randscallawayffm

How could this happen?  How can this be?  We hear people moaning and groaning about the current situation.  So many dying around us brings fear and anxiety like we have never felt before in our life span.  This is an all attack on our complacency!  This is a challenge we never dreamed we would face.  We don’t remember a time like this passed on in stories by our parents or grandparents, only of war and ravages of war.  We do remember that those who survived war stayed silent about because it was too painful to talk about to family or anyone else.  This is new for us, Lord.  How long will it go on?  Will we talk about it later?  How will this end?

People of faith are fighting among themselves over who’s fault it is that we are in this predicament.  What is that really all about?  Some readily blame God.  They say that what is happening is in His plan. Some say it could be worse.  “Refresh your memory of us” your people cry out like the psalmist did when your people were taken captive and your worship center, your holy sanctuary, not only wildly destroyed but desecrated by barbarian hearts of evil.  Have you forgotten us who believe?  Where are you, Lord?

The faith of God’s people are tested.  The Babylonian army is too much to bear.  However, no matter what is happening, a remnant of God’s people believe and will not turn from God.  They question, but do not turn away from God.  For God is their Hope.

Even though the prophets had warned that judgment was coming (2 Chron. 36:15-21), the fall of Jerusalem and the destruction of the temple were catastrophic events that shook the people’s faith. As he surveyed the situation, Asaph moved from despair to confidence and in the end affirmed that all was not lost.

God will go silent for 400 years but Hope is not lost in the silence.  Darkness overtakes the world.  But there is still a remnant who remain faithful.  God promised a Messiah who would save them.  God’s remnant believed in the Promise.  In the Davidic line, Mary and Joseph remain faithfully devoted to God.  God knows whose hearts are completely His, that’s probably why Mary and Joseph were chosen for God’s very specific work as caregivers of the Promise.  After darkness, God suddenly brought a bright Light into the world, breaking through the long silence with the cry of an infant.  Jesus, born to a virgin betrothed to Joseph will be the caregivers for the Son of God who will deliverer them and all of humanity who choose to believe.  Jesus, our Living Hope.  We are His people, the sheep of His pasture.  We are the remnant who believe no matter what is happening around us or to us.  We believe.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 74, The Message

An Asaph Psalm

74 You walked off and left us, and never looked back.
    God, how could you do that?
We’re your very own sheep;
    how can you stomp off in anger?

2-3 Refresh your memory of us—you bought us a long time ago.
    Your most precious tribe—you paid a good price for us!
    Your very own Mount Zion—you actually lived here once!
Come and visit the site of disaster,
    see how they’ve wrecked the sanctuary.

4-8 While your people were at worship, your enemies barged in,
    brawling and scrawling graffiti.
They set fire to the porch;
    axes swinging, they chopped up the woodwork,
Beat down the doors with sledgehammers,
    then split them into kindling.
They burned your holy place to the ground,
    violated the place of worship.
They said to themselves, “We’ll wipe them all out,”
    and burned down all the places of worship.

9-17 There’s not a sign or symbol of God in sight,
    nor anyone to speak in his name,
    no one who knows what’s going on.
How long, God, will barbarians blaspheme,
    enemies curse and get by with it?
Why don’t you do something? How long are you going
    to sit there with your hands folded in your lap?
God is my King from the very start;
    he works salvation in the womb of the earth.
With one blow you split the sea in two,
    you made mincemeat of the dragon Tannin.
You lopped off the heads of Leviathan,
    then served them up in a stew for the animals.
With your finger you opened up springs and creeks,
    and dried up the wild floodwaters.
You own the day, you own the night;
    you put stars and sun in place.
You laid out the four corners of earth,
    shaped the seasons of summer and winter.

18-21 Mark and remember, God, all the enemy
    taunts, each idiot desecration.
Don’t throw your lambs to the wolves;
    after all we’ve been through, don’t forget us.
Remember your promises;
    the city is in darkness, the countryside violent.
Don’t leave the victims to rot in the street;
    make them a choir that sings your praises.

22-23 On your feet, O God—
    stand up for yourself!
Do you hear what they’re saying about you,
    all the vile obscenities?
Don’t tune out their malicious filth,
    the brawling invective that never lets up.

TRUTH: “God is my King from the very start; he works salvation in the womb of the earth.”  Jesus is our salvation, planned from the beginning.  Asaph was concerned about the glory of God’s name and the survival of God’s people. It was God’s cause that was uppermost in his mind. The prophet Jeremiah had preached about the dependability of God’s covenant (Jer. 33:19-26), and Asaph was asking God to fulfill His purposes for the nation.

The nation had been ravaged, the city of Jerusalem had been wrecked, and the temple had been destroyed and burned–but the essentials had not been touched by the enemy! The nation still had Jehovah God as their God, His Word and His covenant had not been changed, and Jehovah was at work in the world!

God is at work in our world today, and we need not despair.  He is our Hope because of His Promises kept.  He is our God.  There is no one like our God!  He never changes.  He is always at work for us not against us.  God’s love never gives up on us.  God knows our hearts.  He knows who really believes and who does not.  He is God, our Father.  Jesus, His Son, our Deliverer, Savior and Lord.  Our hope.

Proverb 23:17-18, The Message

Don’t for a minute envy careless rebels;
    soak yourself in the Fear-of-God—
That’s where your future lies.
    Then you won’t be left with an armload of nothing.

Abba Father,

You are the God of Promises Kept.  You never change your ways that lead to our best life with you, no matter what is happening around us.  You, Mighty God of all, still longs for a relationship with us.  You even call us Friend!  It is hard to wrap our thinking around the God of all bending down to listen to us, lavishly loving us unconditionally, taking time to guide us, showing mercy and grace when we fail because we lose focus.  When we call to you from worldview thinking that is dark, you run to us, meeting halfway from the road of despair to the road of hope.  You put your arm around us and bring us back into your Lighthouse of love, mercy and grace.  You are our living hope.  You are the One and Only I completely trust because your promises are true.

Instead of asking how long, where are you or why me, I run to you with praise and thanksgiving for always being with us, always loving us and always and forever desiring an intimate relationship with us.  Wow.  There is NO ONE like you!  Thank you for loving us the way you do.  Continue to teach me, taking my thoughts deeper still into the mystery of your eternal love for us.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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GOD IS GOOD, BUT I NEARLY MISSED IT!

Posted on December 21, 2020 by randscallawayffm

As “Go tell it on the mountain” still rings in my ears from the worship set in yesterday’s online service, I think about how I nearly missed being in this place in my life right now.  My story could have taken a completely different turn if I would have listened to others tell me what I should be doing, who I should be dating, what career I should pursue, what life I should be leading and most of all, who I am as a person.  I could have run after the dreams of others to build the bigger and better house, own the best cars, and fill storage places with lots of stuff. I could have given all my time as well in that pursuit and missed real life completely.   

The world has plans for us with plenty of creative people telling us how to get the “good life” in media and film.  With this constant bombardment, comparison leads to envy.  Those who don’t love God seem to have more than they need. They have it made. They don’t seem to have any problems at all, at least that’s what they tell us.  I nearly missed God’s best because I was looking at them and not Him!

God’s best for me is knowing I am doing what HE wants for this is the only way to peace for me.  When I look back at all the good advice I could have followed, but instead followed God’s best advice through the mentors He placed in my life at just the right time and place, I praise God.  I shudder at what could have been.  I thank for what is. 

I nearly missed it. I nearly missed living a life with a man of God for nearly 50 years.  I could have gone my own way and not experienced helping others find and follow Jesus in ways that were beyond my imagination.  God provided experiences that challenged me to grow, sorrows that led to evaluation and reflection, teaching moments when I needed it most, along with joy unspeakable and full of His glory!

Our Psalmist “nearly missed it”.  I nearly missed it, but I didn’t.  I praise God I didn’t miss Him.  Today I can “go tell it on the mountain” with complete assurance of the Truth that Jesus Christ, our Savior was born!  Jesus, the long-awaited Messiah was sent from God to earth.  Jesus, Savior and Lord, lived on earth to give mankind a glimpse of living in heaven.  Jesus, lived to die for our sin so we could walk right up to God with repentant hearts and relate to Him as Our Father.  Jesus made it right. Jesus, the One and Only.  All because God loved us.  I really believe what I believe about God is really real! 

Don’t miss it.  God is not only good; God is the best!  Saying yes to God’s saving grace, through Jesus Christ, is the best decision you will ever make in this life.  Saying yes means life forever with God!  Following Jesus and letting Him be Lord of your life right now is assurance that you will never miss out on what His best plan for you, plans not to harm you, but plans to make you prosper and grow in His Name.  It’s not about stuff, it’s about Life.  It’s all about God.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11

I nearly missed it, but I didn’t.  I pray you find Him, too.  For in Him is Life.

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 73, The Message

1-5 No doubt about it! God is good—
    good to good people, good to the good-hearted.
But I nearly missed it,
    missed seeing his goodness.
I was looking the other way,
    looking up to the people
At the top,
    envying the wicked who have it made,
Who have nothing to worry about,
    not a care in the whole wide world.

6-10 Pretentious with arrogance,
    they wear the latest fashions in violence,
Pampered and overfed,
    decked out in silk bows of silliness.
They jeer, using words to kill;
    they bully their way with words.
They’re full of hot air,
    loudmouths disturbing the peace.
People actually listen to them—can you believe it?
    Like thirsty puppies, they lap up their words.

11-14 What’s going on here? Is God out to lunch?
    Nobody’s tending the store.
The wicked get by with everything;
    they have it made, piling up riches.
I’ve been stupid to play by the rules;
    what has it gotten me?
A long run of bad luck, that’s what—
    a slap in the face every time I walk out the door.

15-20 If I’d have given in and talked like this,
    I would have betrayed your dear children.
Still, when I tried to figure it out,
    all I got was a splitting headache . . .
Until I entered the sanctuary of God.
    Then I saw the whole picture:
The slippery road you’ve put them on,
    with a final crash in a ditch of delusions.
In the blink of an eye, disaster!
    A blind curve in the dark, and—nightmare!
We wake up and rub our eyes. . . . Nothing.
    There’s nothing to them. And there never was.

21-24 When I was beleaguered and bitter,
    totally consumed by envy,
I was totally ignorant, a dumb ox
    in your very presence.
I’m still in your presence,
    but you’ve taken my hand.
You wisely and tenderly lead me,
    and then you bless me.

25-28 You’re all I want in heaven!
    You’re all I want on earth!
When my skin sags and my bones get brittle,
    God is rock-firm and faithful.
Look! Those who left you are falling apart!
    Deserters, they’ll never be heard from again.
But I’m in the very presence of God—
    oh, how refreshing it is!
I’ve made Lord God my home.
    God, I’m telling the world what you do!

TRUTH:  You’re all I want in heaven.  You’re all I want on earth.  God, I’m telling the world what you do!

Proverb 23:1-5, The Message

Restrain yourself.

1-3 When you go out to dinner with an influential person,
    mind your manners:
Don’t gobble your food,
    don’t talk with your mouth full.
And don’t stuff yourself;
    bridle your appetite.

4-5 Don’t wear yourself out trying to get rich;
    restrain yourself!
Riches disappear in the blink of an eye;
    wealth sprouts wings
    and flies off into the wild blue yonder.

WISDOM: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” –Jesus               (Matthew 6:19-21)

Abba Father,

I nearly missed, could have missed it, but I didn’t.  You are God and I am not.  You saved my soul, dear Jesus, and made me whole.  Your Holy Spirit, Your Presence, is with me each day to guide me, challenge and correct me.  You lead me to Your best.  You deliver me from the enemy who seeks to destroy my soul.  You fight my battles and conquer for victory, making me and others who believe and follow more than conquerors.  Thank you for showing me your ways, being patient with me, cleaning up my messes, and keeping me on level, solid ground.  Continue to transform me.  I don’t want to miss a thing that you are telling me on the mountain of learning and growing as your servant and friend.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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THE ONE AND ONLY WONDER-WORKING GOD!

Posted on December 19, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Solomon was known to be a man of wisdom.  But he wasn’t born with wisdom.  After succeeding his father, David, as King, this inexperienced, young man’s first request from God was wisdom.  When He could have asked for anything, he pleaded for wisdom.  God gave it.  This God-given wisdom is proven in a righteous act of wisdom in 1 Kings 3:16-28!  It’s worth a read!

We don’t know if Solomon wrote this psalm or David wrote it for him for the people to use as a prayer over the new King.  But what we do know and need to understand that the words and meaning go beyond both David and Solomon to the one “greater than Solomon” (Matt. 12:42), Jesus Christ, the Messiah of Israel. The psalm is quoted nowhere in the New Testament as referring to Jesus, but certainly it describes the elements that will make up the promised kingdom when Jesus returns.

Take a look at all the Kingly responsibilities listed in this prayer-song.  The Lord was King over His people, and the man on the throne in Jerusalem was His representative, obligated to lead the people according to the law of God (Deut. 17:14-20). He had to be impartial in his dealings (Ex. 23:3, 6; Deut. 1:17; Isa. 16:5) and make sure that his throne was founded on righteousness and justice (89:14; 92:2).

It’s no wonder that young Solomon asked for wisdom from God!  Note all the acts of righteousness mentioned four times in verses 1-7; and see Proverbs 16:12. Messiah will one day reign in righteousness and execute justice throughout the world (Isa. 9:7; 11:4-5; Jer. 23:5-6; Zech. 9:9). In the whole land of Israel, from the mountains to the hills, Solomon’s reign would bring peace and prosperity, for both of these blessings depend on righteousness (Isa. 32:17).

It is because Jesus fulfilled God’s righteousness in His life and death that sinners can be forgiven and have peace with God (Rom. 5:1-8), and He is our “King of righteousness” and “King of peace” (Heb. 7:1-3). Solomon’s name is related to the Hebrew word shalom, which means “peace, prosperity, well-being.” The king’s ministry to the poor and afflicted reminds us of the ministry of Jesus. Early in his reign, Solomon had that kind of concern, but in his later life, his values changed, and he burdened the people with heavy taxes, probably to take care of his many wives in latter years.  Sigh.

God promised David an endless dynasty (2 Sam. 7:16, 19, 26), and this was fulfilled in Jesus, the son of David (Luke 1:31-33).  We have already noted that Jesus is in all of scripture for Jesus is our Savior, Messiah and Lord.  The Old Testament points to Jesus, God’s Son and God’s Plan from the beginning to save His people from their sins.  God’s promised-kept is when we seek Him, we will find Him.  He will lead us when we ask and help us as we daily journey with Him.  Need wisdom?  Ask God.  God freely gives exactly what we need. (James 1:5)

Believe Jesus and be saved by His grace and mercy.  Trust and obey for there’s no other way to be at peace through good times and bad. Our wonder-working God is always awake and ready to listen to our prayers of conversation with Him.  Talk to God, He listens!  If fact, He delights in all the details of our lives!  What?!  Yes! and Amen!

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives.”  Psalm 37:23

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 72, The Message

A Solomon Psalm

72 1-8 Give the gift of wise rule to the king, O God,
    the gift of just rule to the crown prince.
May he judge your people rightly,
    be honorable to your meek and lowly.
Let the mountains give exuberant witness;
    shape the hills with the contours of right living.
Please stand up for the poor,
    help the children of the needy,
    come down hard on the cruel tyrants.
Outlast the sun, outlive the moon—
    age after age after age.
Be rainfall on cut grass,
    earth-refreshing rain showers.
Let righteousness burst into blossom
    and peace abound until the moon fades to nothing.
Rule from sea to sea,
    from the River to the Rim.

9-14 Foes will fall on their knees before God,
    his enemies lick the dust.
Kings remote and legendary will pay homage,
    kings rich and resplendent will turn over their wealth.
All kings will fall down and worship,
    and godless nations sign up to serve him,
Because he rescues the poor at the first sign of need,
    the destitute who have run out of luck.
He opens a place in his heart for the down-and-out,
    he restores the wretched of the earth.
He frees them from tyranny and torture—
    when they bleed, he bleeds;
    when they die, he dies.

15-17 And live! Oh, let him live!
    Deck him out in Sheba gold.
Offer prayers unceasing to him,
    bless him from morning to night.
Fields of golden grain in the land,
    cresting the mountains in wild exuberance,
Cornucopias of praise, praises
    springing from the city like grass from the earth.
May he never be forgotten,
    his fame shine on like sunshine.
May all godless people enter his circle of blessing
    and bless the One who blessed them.

18-20 Blessed God, Israel’s God,
    the one and only wonder-working God!
Blessed always his blazing glory!
    All earth brims with his glory.
Yes and Yes and Yes.

TRUTH: “May all godless people enter his circle of blessing and bless the One who blessed them.  Blessed God, Israel’s God, the one and only wonder-working God!”

Proverb 22:28, The Message

WISDOM: “Don’t stealthily move back the boundary lines staked out long ago by your ancestors.”

Abba Father,

We need wisdom in all the details of our lives, too.  So, we ask for wisdom, insight and understand for our journey today.  I will take one day at a time and ask for wisdom with each step.  I know you will lead us.  I need to follow.  I know you love us more than we love ourselves.  I will love you back with all my heart, mind and soul.  I will love others like you love me—unconditionally.  I choose you for you are life to me.  It is a commitment I made with you long ago and have never regretted the decision.  Bad days are less bad with you in them.  Good times are greater still with praising you for them.  You hang in there with us through the good, bad and ugly and for that I am eternally grateful.  Bless the Lord, oh my soul and all that is within me, praise your Holy Name.  You are done great things.  You are the wonderworking God of all who believe and follow You!  Continue your work in me.  Yes and Amen!

In Jesus Name, Amen

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MY LIFE A SONG OF RESCUE

Posted on December 18, 2020 by randscallawayffm

David cannot recall how many times he has been rescued by God. Can we recall the number of times God has rescued us?  Today we read of many times God met David as he was running to Him for help!  In fact, as we read through the Psalms we get a clear picture of who God created David to be and do.  From shepherd boy who fearlessly fought a giant with God’s power behind him, David grew to become a man who fought to become the king that God ordained him to be.  David led an adventurous life of running to God while running to battle for God and not quitting, only retreating and hiding from the enemy until it was safe to come out and fight the battle again.  God protects and provides.  God is the true Commander in Chief for David.  David is not afraid to run to the battle and fight on the front lines.  If God is in it and with Him, David is all in, too. 

In this passage David writes, “my life a rescued song”.  David gives thanksgiving and praise for the One and Only who was with him through it all.  Our lives are truly a rescued song of salvation.  Can I get an amen?  We are set free because Jesus came down from heaven as “God with us”, Immanuel, and went to the “frontlines” of the battle for our souls, paid the sin debt we owed, so that we who believe that He did can live forever with God in a beautiful, righteous relationship with God.  Wow!

WARNING LABEL:  Our salvation comes with a warning. 

“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” –Jesus      (John 16:33)

Side effects:  When we believe with our whole heart, mind and soul, follow Jesus, and begin to learn more about His teaching we are going to battle.  In fact, the more we learn about Jesus, the closer to the frontlines of battle we get.  Satan hates it when he loses a soul he thought he had, so he goes to work whispering words of doubt, fear, self-worthlessness, sadness with joyless days to live.  When God invites us to his work asking us to point the way to Jesus to others, we are getting even closer to the frontlines of the battle for our souls and the souls of others.  “But take heart”.  Expect it.  Know the enemy’s tricks and deceitful ways so you can recognize them and run from them quickly.  Instead, like David, in the thick of battle, run to God!  God is with us, God is FOR us!  Jesus has already won in victory over the evil one who is still skirmishing to win our soul.  Know yourself.  Know God.  Know the enemy.  Know the Message of Good News and tell it, shout it and live it!  God will help us!

May our lives be a song of rescue that is sung daily in praise to the Rescuer!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 71, The Message

1-3 I run for dear life to God,
    I’ll never live to regret it.
Do what you do so well:
    get me out of this mess and up on my feet.
Put your ear to the ground and listen,
    give me space for salvation.
Be a guest room where I can retreat;
    you said your door was always open!
You’re my salvation—my vast, granite fortress.

4-7 My God, free me from the grip of Wicked,
    from the clutch of Bad and Bully.
You keep me going when times are tough—
    my bedrock, God, since my childhood.
I’ve hung on you from the day of my birth,
    the day you took me from the cradle;
    I’ll never run out of praise.
Many gasp in alarm when they see me,
    but you take me in stride.

8-11 Just as each day brims with your beauty,
    my mouth brims with praise.
But don’t turn me out to pasture when I’m old
    or put me on the shelf when I can’t pull my weight.
My enemies are talking behind my back,
    watching for their chance to knife me.
The gossip is: “God has abandoned him.
    Pounce on him now; no one will help him.”

12-16 God, don’t just watch from the sidelines.
    Come on! Run to my side!
My accusers—make them lose face.
    Those out to get me—make them look
Like idiots, while I stretch out, reaching for you,
    and daily add praise to praise.
I’ll write the book on your righteousness,
    talk up your salvation the livelong day,
    never run out of good things to write or say.
I come in the power of the Lord God,
    I post signs marking his right-of-way.

17-24 You got me when I was an unformed youth,
    God, and taught me everything I know.
Now I’m telling the world your wonders;
    I’ll keep at it until I’m old and gray.
God, don’t walk off and leave me
    until I get out the news
Of your strong right arm to this world,
    news of your power to the world yet to come,
Your famous and righteous
    ways, O God.
God, you’ve done it all!
    Who is quite like you?
You, who made me stare trouble in the face,
    Turn me around;
Now let me look life in the face.
    I’ve been to the bottom;
Bring me up, streaming with honors;
    turn to me, be tender to me,
And I’ll take up the lute and thank you
    to the tune of your faithfulness, God.
I’ll make music for you on a harp,
    Holy One of Israel.

When I open up in song to you,
    I let out lungsful of praise,
    my rescued life a song.
All day long I’m chanting
    about you and your righteous ways,
While those who tried to do me in
    slink off looking ashamed.

TRUTH: “My rescued life a song” to God.

Proverb 22:17-21, The Message

Don’t Move Back the Boundary Lines

17-21 Listen carefully to my wisdom;
    take to heart what I can teach you.
You’ll treasure its sweetness deep within;
    you’ll give it bold expression in your speech.
To make sure your foundation is trust in God,
    I’m laying it all out right now just for you.
I’m giving you thirty sterling principles—
    tested guidelines to live by.
Believe me—these are truths that work,
    and will keep you accountable
    to those who sent you.

WISDOM:  Take to heart what God teaches us and live it daily with His help.

Abba Father,

You are with us.  Your love never changes.  When we mess up, you are there to teach us and leave us with a message that will help someone else in their mess.  Full circle.  That’s who you are.  Thank you for your salvation. Thank you for times of hiding in you until we were strong enough to go back to the battle.  Thank you for protecting us and providing for all we need from day to day.  Your words are truly like sweet honey for our souls.  The enemy’s words maim and kill, sucking the life from us.  You give life, you are Life!  I will always be eternally grateful for your unchanging love, mercy and grace! Continue your transformation work in me. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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HONEST PRAYER

Posted on December 17, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Good for the soul

Lee, a seven-year-old boy, was asked to say thanks for the Christmas dinner.

The family members bowed their heads in expectation. Lee began his prayer, thanking God for his mommy, daddy, brothers, sister, grandma, and all his aunts and uncles. Then he began to thank God for the food.

He gave thanks for the turkey, the stuffing, the Christmas pudding, even the cranberry sauce. Then Lee paused, and everyone waited … and waited.

After a long silence, the young fellow looked up at his mother and asked, “If I thank God for the brussels sprouts, won’t he know that I’m lying?”

Yep…be honest when you pray…He knows anyway.

David has come to the end of his rope emotionally, mentally, and physically.  He is stopping to offer God some gut honest words of how he feels in the middle of his struggle with being a leader, warrior, and a “man after God’s own heart”.  These words are raw and honest.  Some of these raw, honest words could be how you feel this morning after fighting illness, avoiding COVID, trying to pay bills after losing a job, wondering how you will provide for your family in this season, coping with online school and all the glitches that come with that endeavor, or dealing with “extra grace required” people that are pressing in and irritating you, gossiping about you, or trying to pull you down to lift themselves up.  These are attacks that are real.  This is a battle for our souls.  David is spiritually at the end of his rope, as well.  Then he realizes God is in control as always.

So, pray honestly to God.  He can take it.  God already knows anyway.  

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 70, The Message

A David Prayer

70 1-3 God! Please hurry to my rescue!
    God, come quickly to my side!
Those who are out to get me—
    let them fall all over themselves.
Those who relish my downfall—
    send them down a blind alley.
Give them a taste of their own medicine,
    those gossips off clucking their tongues.

4 Let those on the hunt for you
    sing and celebrate.
Let all who love your saving way
    say over and over, “God is mighty!”

5 But I’ve lost it. I’m wasted.
    God—quickly, quickly!
Quick to my side, quick to my rescue!
    God, don’t lose a minute.

TRUTH:  Let all who love your saving way say over and over, “God is mighty!”  AFTER the honesty comes the praise to the God who saves, rescues, and loves us beyond our wildest thinking and realization!

Proverb 22:3-11, The Message

A prudent person sees trouble coming and ducks;
    a simpleton walks in blindly and is clobbered.

4 The payoff for meekness and Fear-of-God
    is plenty and honor and a satisfying life.

5 The perverse travel a dangerous road, potholed and mud-slick;
    if you know what’s good for you, stay clear of it.

6 Point your kids in the right direction—
    when they’re old they won’t be lost.

7 The poor are always ruled over by the rich,
    so don’t borrow and put yourself under their power.

8 Whoever sows sin reaps weeds,
    and bullying anger sputters into nothing.

9 Generous hands are blessed hands
    because they give bread to the poor.

10 Kick out the troublemakers and things will quiet down;
    you need a break from bickering and griping!

11 God loves the pure-hearted and well-spoken;
    good leaders also delight in their friendship.

WISDOM:  God loves the pure hearted and well-spoken.  God puts the words in our hearts, in our minds that flow over our tongues in those who love Him and seek His will.

Abba Father,

I’m going to be honest.  I’m tired of staying inside to avoid the virus in this pandemic even though I know it is the safe place to be.  I’m tired of the division in your church over wearing a mask or not, talk of conspiracy theories that only divide us not unite us, of people who gossip behind the scenes as others do the work to help others find and follow you.  I miss traditions of family events that bring us together but this year will be different and keep us online only with only brief encounters physically.  I miss positive, loving touches and bear hugs by those I love dearly.

But in my honesty displayed openly before you this hour, I realize you have already come to our rescue, met all our needs and protected us from all we do not see as you see.  You have softened hearts.  You have gotten the attention of the lost and they are coming to you in online services!  You have given us creativity and a new thinking for reaching out to others.  You have given us words to say when we call people because we genuinely care for them.  You have shifted our attention from ourselves and what we think we need to others and what they need from us!  You have used all you have been pouring in us as your vessel to speak to others in ways that might have lain dormant–until a pandemic brought these abilities to the surface to shine Your Light of hope! 

Yes, I praise you, for you alone are worthy of our praise!  I trust in your rescue even before I see it.  My hope and life is in You!  Nothing is too hard for You.  No event on this earth has been a surprise to you!  Our lives are secured in You.  Forever.  And for that alone, I give you all praise, glory and honor!

In Jesus Name, and By His Power, Yes and Amen!

Oh, come let us adore Him

Christ, the LORD.

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OVERWHELMED

Posted on December 16, 2020 by randscallawayffm

What overwhelms us, bringing our heart rates up and our heads bowed low?  What is so challenging in our lives at this moment that causes us to consider giving up, running away or striking out at anyone who gets in our way of being overwhelmed?  What is happening in us when we are overwhelmed?

There is a natural, functional good stress that occurs in forced change or transition in the way we do life that can promote creativity.  Innovation comes from finding out a way to do something better when the old way falls apart or no longer functions.  “Necessity is the mother of invention”.  We are finding that out in the middle of a pandemic!  Many people are coming together to find an antidote for this virus.  But what about the pandemic of turning from God?  This brings on an overwhelming state of mind that can only be cured by being overwhelmed with God!

Bad stress is letting life overpower and overwhelm us.  Our enemy loves using this kind of stress to bring us down.  In the middle of transition, we are always challenged until we can internalize and accommodate change.  Sometimes we get stuck in neutral.  We don’t know how to proceed because this is uncharted territory for us.  If others are highly dependent on us to “fix” the problem and press us for answers, our blood pressure begins to rise.  Frustration sets in when we can’t see the light at the end of the tunnel.  We blame our lack of ability and knowledge.  Then we blame others while they blame us.  Gossip rears its ugly head and adds to the frustration that births anger and resentment, bitterness and division among family, friends and coworkers.

David is once more overwhelmed with be the enemy of being overwhelmed.  His current situation sends him running to God for help. Who do we run to for our rescue?  Who pulls us up and out of the quicksand of doubts, fears, anger, bitterness, and frustration? 

Are we going down for the last time or rising up with God as our Rescue, God of all Hope, the God who saves us?  Be overwhelmed by God!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 69, The Message

A David Psalm

God, God, save me!
I’m in over my head,

2 Quicksand under me, swamp water over me;
I’m going down for the third time.

3 I’m hoarse from calling for help,
Bleary-eyed from searching the sky for God.

4 I’ve got more enemies than hairs on my head;
Sneaks and liars are out to knife me in the back.

What I never stole
Must I now give back?

5 God, you know every sin I’ve committed;
My life’s a wide-open book before you.

6 Don’t let those who look to you in hope
Be discouraged by what happens to me,
Dear Lord! God of the armies!

Don’t let those out looking for you
Come to a dead end by following me—
Please, dear God of Israel!

7 Because of you I look like an idiot,
I walk around ashamed to show my face.

8 My brothers shun me like a bum off the street;
My family treats me like an unwanted guest.

9 I love you more than I can say.
Because I’m madly in love with you,
They blame me for everything they dislike about you.

10 When I poured myself out in prayer and fasting,
All it got me was more contempt.

11 When I put on a sad face,
They treated me like a clown.

12 Now drunks and gluttons
Make up drinking songs about me.

13 And me? I pray.
God, it’s time for a break!

God, answer in love!
Answer with your sure salvation!

14 Rescue me from the swamp,
Don’t let me go under for good,

Pull me out of the clutch of the enemy;
This whirlpool is sucking me down.

15 Don’t let the swamp be my grave, the Black Hole
Swallow me, its jaws clenched around me.

16 Now answer me, God, because you love me;
Let me see your great mercy full-face.

17 Don’t look the other way; your servant can’t take it.
I’m in trouble. Answer right now!

18 Come close, God; get me out of here.
Rescue me from this deathtrap.

19 You know how they kick me around—
Pin on me the donkey’s ears, the dunce’s cap.

20 I’m broken by their taunts,
Flat on my face, reduced to a nothing.

I looked in vain for one friendly face. Not one.
I couldn’t find one shoulder to cry on.

21 They put poison in my soup,
Vinegar in my drink.

22 Let their supper be bait in a trap that snaps shut;
May their best friends be trappers who’ll skin them alive.

23 Make them become blind as bats,
Give them the shakes from morning to night.

24 Let them know what you think of them,
Blast them with your red-hot anger.

25 Burn down their houses,
Leave them desolate with nobody at home.

26 They gossiped about the one you disciplined,
Made up stories about anyone wounded by God.

27 Pile on the guilt,
Don’t let them off the hook.

28 Strike their names from the list of the living;
No rock-carved honor for them among the righteous.

29 I’m hurt and in pain;
Give me space for healing, and mountain air.

30 Let me shout God’s name with a praising song,
Let me tell his greatness in a prayer of thanks.

31 For God, this is better than oxen on the altar,
Far better than blue-ribbon bulls.

32 The poor in spirit see and are glad—
Oh, you God-seekers, take heart!

33 For God listens to the poor,
He doesn’t walk out on the wretched.

34 You heavens, praise him; praise him, earth;
Also ocean and all things that swim in it.

35 For God is out to help Zion,
Rebuilding the wrecked towns of Judah.

Guess who will live there—
The proud owners of the land?

36 No, the children of his servants will get it,
The lovers of his name will live in it.

TRUTH: Be overwhelmed with God’s care, protection, love, provision, mercy and grace.  He is our only Hope.  He is Life.

And we’re singing…”Overwhelmed” by Big Daddy Weave

I see the work of Your Hands
Galaxies spin in a Heavenly dance oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

I hear the sound of Your Voice
All at once it’s a gentle and thundering noise oh God
All that You are is so overwhelming

I delight myself in You
Captivated by Your beauty
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

God, I run into Your arms
Unashamed because of mercy
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You

I know the power of Your Cross
Forgiven and free forever You’ll be my God

All that You’ve done is so overwhelming
I delight myself in You
In the Glory of Your Presence
I’m overwhelmed, I’m overwhelmed by You…

Proverb 22:1-2, The Message

A sterling reputation is better than striking it rich;
    a gracious spirit is better than money in the bank.

2 The rich and the poor shake hands as equals—
    God made them both!

WISDOM:  Our first thought should be love.  Love God.  Love Others.  God created all of us and loves all of his creation.  Be overwhelmed by God’s love!

Abba Father,

I am overwhelmed by who you are to us and what you have provided for us.  You give Life eternal.  You are Hope.  You are Provider, Healer, Sustainer, Protector, the One we run to when overwhelmed by the enemy of this world.  We grip your hand and rise up with You over and over when transitions and seasons of life seem overwhelming to us.  I am truly captivated by your love most of all.  Who am I that you would give your One and Only in exchange for my sin so I can be free forever?  Overwhelming indeed!  Thank you, thank you, thank you.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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