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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GOD CARRIES US ALONG

Posted on December 15, 2020 by randscallawayffm

There will always be good times and bad times.  But God carries us along through it all.  David is adamant about praising God, no matter what, because he is assured that God is in all, knows what is going on, will come to the rescue and will provide victory for all God’s people.  And God does. 

David’s praise should be our daily wake up praise.  “Blessed be the Lord—day after day he carries us along.  He’s our Savior, our God, oh yes!  He’s God-for-us, he’s God-who-saves-us.  Read it again.  Rinse and repeat these words as you shower and get ready for this day.  Remember these words in the middle of the day.  Say them again as your head hits the pillow at night.  God carries us along.  God does all the heavy lifting in our lives.  I am reminded, just now, of the words to a very old hymn, sung slowly and soulfully, that help us leave the “carrying” to God.

What a friend we have in Jesus
All our sins and griefs to bear
What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer

Oh, what peace we often forfeit
Oh, what needless pain we bear
All because we do not carry
Everything to God in prayer

Have we trials and temptations?
Is there trouble anywhere?
We should never be discouraged
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Can we find a friend so faithful
Who will all our sorrows share?
Jesus knows our every weakness
Take it to the Lord in prayer

Reflect.  Do you really believe that what you believe about God is really real?  David believes.  Believe like David.  Take it all to the Lord and let Him carry you.  You know, Jesus IS coming back again to claim His own some day.  The final victory is coming.  This is our hope.  Jesus is our Life!  David throws this truth in his chorus of praise for good measure, too!  Yes, praise be to the God-for-us, the God-who-saves-us!  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 68, The Message

A David Psalm

68 1-4 Up with God!
    Down with his enemies!
        Adversaries, run for the hills!
Gone like a puff of smoke,
    like a blob of wax in the fire—
        one look at God and the wicked vanish.
When the righteous see God in action
    they’ll laugh, they’ll sing,
        they’ll laugh and sing for joy.
Sing hymns to God;
    all heaven, sing out;
        clear the way for the coming of Cloud-Rider.
Enjoy God,
    cheer when you see him!

5-6 Father of orphans,
    champion of widows,
        is God in his holy house.
God makes homes for the homeless,
    leads prisoners to freedom,
        but leaves rebels to rot in hell.

7-10 God, when you took the lead with your people,
    when you marched out into the wild,
Earth shook, sky broke out in a sweat;
    God was on the march.
Even Sinai trembled at the sight of God on the move,
    at the sight of Israel’s God.
You pour out rain in buckets, O God;
    thorn and cactus become an oasis
For your people to camp in and enjoy.
    You set them up in business;
    they went from rags to riches.

11-14 The Lord gave the word;
    thousands called out the good news:
“Kings of the armies
    are on the run, on the run!”
While housewives, safe and sound back home,
    divide up the plunder,
    the plunder of Canaanite silver and gold.
On that day that Shaddai scattered the kings,
    snow fell on Black Mountain.

15-16 You huge mountains, Bashan mountains,
    mighty mountains, dragon mountains.
All you mountains not chosen,
    sulk now, and feel sorry for yourselves,
For this is the mountain God has chosen to live on;
    he’ll rule from this mountain forever.

17-18 The chariots of God, twice ten thousand,
    and thousands more besides,
The Lord in the lead, riding down Sinai—
    straight to the Holy Place!
You climbed to the High Place, captives in tow,
    your arms full of booty from rebels,
And now you sit there in state,
    God, sovereign God!

19-23 Blessed be the Lord—
    day after day he carries us along.
He’s our Savior, our God, oh yes!
    He’s God-for-us, he’s God-who-saves-us.
Lord God knows all
    death’s ins and outs.
What’s more, he made heads roll,
    split the skulls of the enemy
As he marched out of heaven,
    saying, “I tied up the Dragon in knots,
    put a muzzle on the Deep Blue Sea.”
You can wade through your enemies’ blood,
    and your dogs taste of your enemies from your boots.

24-31 See God on parade
    to the sanctuary, my God,
    my King on the march!
Singers out front, the band behind,
    maidens in the middle with castanets.
The whole choir blesses God.
    Like a fountain of praise, Israel blesses God.
Look—little Benjamin’s out
    front and leading
Princes of Judah in their royal robes,
    princes of Zebulon, princes of Naphtali.
Parade your power, O God,
    the power, O God, that made us what we are.
Your temple, High God, is Jerusalem;
    kings bring gifts to you.
Rebuke that old crocodile, Egypt,
    with her herd of wild bulls and calves,
Rapacious in her lust for silver,
    crushing peoples, spoiling for a fight.
Let Egyptian traders bring blue cloth
    and Cush come running to God, her hands outstretched.

32-34 Sing, O kings of the earth!
    Sing praises to the Lord!
There he is: Sky-Rider,
    striding the ancient skies.
Listen—he’s calling in thunder,
    rumbling, rolling thunder.
Call out “Bravo!” to God,
    the High God of Israel.
His splendor and strength
    rise huge as thunderheads.

35 A terrible beauty, O God,
    streams from your sanctuary.
It’s Israel’s strong God! He gives
    power and might to his people!
O you, his people—bless God!

TRUTH: “Blessed be the Lord—day after day he carries us along.  He’s our Savior, our God, oh yes!  He’s God-for-us, he’s God-who-saves-us.”  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!

Proverb 21:26-31, The Message

Sinners are always wanting what they don’t have;
    the God-loyal are always giving what they do have.

27 Religious performance by the wicked stinks;
    it’s even worse when they use it to get ahead.

28 A lying witness is unconvincing;
    a person who speaks truth is respected.

29 Unscrupulous people fake it a lot;
    honest people are sure of their steps.

30 Nothing clever, nothing conceived, nothing contrived,
    can get the better of God.

31 Do your best, prepare for the worst—
    then trust God to bring victory.

WISDOM:  Trust God to bring the victory.  God carries us along to His victory!

Abba Father,

Thank you, thank you, thank you for all the ways You carried us along, carry us now and will carry us in the future.  Our hope is in You.  Our trust is You.  Love comes from you.  You teach us all we need to know.  You lead and guide our path to victory.  You make good out of the bad every time.  You are God and we are not.  There is no one like You, the God-for-us and the God-who-saves-us and the God-with-us.  Thank you for Your Presence in our lives that lovingly and compassionately grows our intimate relationship with you.  That is victory!  Blessed be Your name.  We praise you for your faithfulness to us.  We don’t deserve what you give and what you gave, dear Jesus.  What a friend we have in You, indeed!  Thank you for carrying me along.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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NOTHING BUT PRAISE!

Posted on December 14, 2020 by randscallawayffm

There are times we just need to pause to praise and this is one of those days.  God has been so good to us, even through pandemics, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes.  How? He created a beautiful place for us to live.  He gave us the ability to love like He loves us.  When we messed up His best and holy plan, God loved us still.  God sent His One and Only Son to earth, in the middle of a messed up world, to save us by paying the complete debt of sin we should owe so we could live with Him forever!  No matter what, we have cause to bow down with gratitude and praise to Him!

“O Come, let us adore Him, Christ the Lord” … It’s not just a song to a baby in manger!

People were struggling then, under Roman authority and submission.  God’s “faithful few” among His people were longing to hear from Him and to set them free of Roman rule.  It had been over 400 years since God had spoken to anyone.  God’s prophets were silent.  There were no pillars of light guiding them.  And then, at just the right time, as prophets foretold, God sent Jesus, in the form of a baby born to a virgin, who was already to complete her marriage with Joseph.  Jesus was delivered by Joseph in a stable cave.  No room anywhere else we are told.  Together, this couple who knew and loved God with all their hearts, minds and souls as commanded by God’s Word long ago delivered a baby boy.  God knew what He was doing when He chose Mary and Joseph to be the caregivers of His Son who was destined to deliver them both from the sin of the world and someday live forever with Him!  God always knows what He is doing!

“For He alone is worthy…Christ, the Lord”

Today, over 2000 years later, the Truth lives on whether we choose to believe it or not.  Some receive Him as Savior and Lord of their lives and some do not.  Life struggles in an imperfect world still exist.  Some of our loved ones and others are struggling with all kinds of trying circumstances, some are struggling to take a breath, many need a job to pay the bills, some need to restore a marriage or other family relationships because forgiveness and love got lost somewhere. But Truth still is…Truth.  “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  Jesus, God’s One and Only is our One and Only Savior of all our sin.  God’s people also called Him Emmanuel which means “God with us”.  God-with-us came down from heaven to save us. And God is with us now.

God wasn’t as concerned about Roman rule, rich or poor, sicknesses or other circumstances on earth.  God was passionate about our souls and provided a plan to save us.  God is indeed “with us” no matter what our circumstances.  God also provided knowledge of His profound, limitless, unconditional and relational love for us in this act of mercy and grace!

This life is only temporary.  A life lived with God is forever.  So, I would rather live it with God than without Him no matter what is happening around me or to me.  I am more concerned, like Jesus, about what is happening in me.  So, today…nothing but praise for the One and Only who saved my soul and is transforming me to be all He created me to be.

“Let’s praise his name together, Christ the Lord!”

Worship and Wisdom, Psalm and Proverbs

Psalm 67, The Message

1-7 God, mark us with grace
    and blessing! Smile!
The whole country will see how you work,
    all the godless nations see how you save.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
    Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Let all far-flung people become happy
    and shout their happiness because
You judge them fair and square,
    you tend the far-flung peoples.
God! Let people thank and enjoy you.
    Let all people thank and enjoy you.
Earth, display your exuberance!
    You mark us with blessing, O God, our God.
You mark us with blessing, O God.
    Earth’s four corners—honor him!

TRUTH:  Let all people thank and enjoy the God who saves us, protects us, provides for all our needs and hears us when we praise and honor Him!  Yes, and Amen!

Proverb 21:21, The Message

WISDOM: “Whoever goes hunting for what is right and kind
    finds life itself—glorious life!”

Abba Father,

Hallowed is Your Name.  May Your Kingdom come and reign supremely in us and all around us.  May Your Will be done in every detail of our lives on earth as it is in heaven.  Give us this day the desire and ability to do what is right and good in your thinking.  And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who hurt us.  Lead us not to temptations that distract us from you, but DELIVER us from all evil and evils schemes to bring us down.  Lift us up to where you are so we can see the world through your eyes.  Thank you!  All power is yours, to You be all glory, honor and praise!  In Jesus Name and by His power working in us, Amen!

“To you be all the glory, Christ the Lord…”

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LET ME TELL YOU

Posted on December 12, 2020 by randscallawayffm

“Let me tell you…” when one of my extended family members who loved directing our whole family would begin her next tirade with these words, we knew to either slink away, run or sit there and take what was about to passionately flow from those red lips.  If she had a “bee in her bonnet” about life, we were all going to hear about it.  “Let me tell you…” and the life lesson would begin.  Her opinion mattered greatly to her, but not so much to us because of the way it was delivered.  I prayed not to be like her when I grew up.  I wanted to be an encourager.  David shows us a better way.

“Let me tell you what God did for me!”, shouts David from the rooftops of his mind, from the depths of his love and from the innermost parts of his soul for God.  David writes a song of praise with gratitude for not only his past, present and future, but for all of God’s people!  “Let me tell you” …about all that God is doing and has done!  This is David’s passionate mantra for life with God!  David has a completely different focus.  I want that kind of focus!  Don’t you?

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 66, The Message

1-4 All together now—applause for God!
    Sing songs to the tune of his glory,
    set glory to the rhythms of his praise.
Say of God, “We’ve never seen anything like him!”
    When your enemies see you in action,
    they slink off like scolded dogs.
The whole earth falls to its knees—
    it worships you, sings to you,
    can’t stop enjoying your name and fame.

5-6 Take a good look at God’s wonders—
    they’ll take your breath away.
He converted sea to dry land;
    travelers crossed the river on foot.
    Now isn’t that cause for a song?

7 Ever sovereign in his high tower, he keeps
    his eye on the godless nations.
Rebels don’t dare
    raise a finger against him.

8-12 Bless our God, O peoples!
    Give him a thunderous welcome!
Didn’t he set us on the road to life?
    Didn’t he keep us out of the ditch?
He trained us first,
    passed us like silver through refining fires,
Brought us into hardscrabble country,
    pushed us to our very limit,
Road-tested us inside and out,
    took us to hell and back;
Finally he brought us
    to this well-watered place.

13-15 I’m bringing my prizes and presents to your house.
    I’m doing what I said I’d do,
What I solemnly swore I’d do
    that day when I was in so much trouble:
The choicest cuts of meat
    for the sacrificial meal;
Even the fragrance
    of roasted lamb is like a meal!
Or make it an ox
    garnished with goat meat!

16-20 All believers, come here and listen,
    let me tell you what God did for me.
I called out to him with my mouth,
    my tongue shaped the sounds of music.
If I had been cozy with evil,
    the Lord would never have listened.
But he most surely did listen,
    he came on the double when he heard my prayer.
Blessed be God: he didn’t turn a deaf ear,
    he stayed with me, loyal in his love.

TRUTH: “Take a good look at God’s wonders—they’ll take your breath away.”  Stop and list all the ways God has helped you, is helping you now and probably will help you in the coming days.  Have you told anyone about the wonders of God, about His saving grace through Jesus, His Son, or about the peace we can have through anything that will happen in this world?  Let me tell you…

Proverbs 21:4-8, The Message

Arrogance and pride—distinguishing marks in the wicked—
    are just plain sin.

5 Careful planning puts you ahead in the long run;
    hurry and scurry puts you further behind.

6 Make it to the top by lying and cheating;
    get paid with smoke and a promotion—to death!

7 The wicked get buried alive by their loot
    because they refuse to use it to help others.

8 Mixed motives twist life into tangles;
    pure motives take you straight down the road.


WISDOM: “Pure motives take you straight down the road.”  God is the purifier of our hearts when we give control over to Him through Jesus Christ is Son.  Let me tell you what God has done to consistently take away all that is not Him in me.  I once was blind but now I see all that God has for me and it is good.  Do all for God and He will always be there for You. 

Abba Father,

Let me tell You…I have decided to follow you, seek your wisdom and learn Your ways.  Obedience to you is what you desire most from me.  Pure motives in doing anything with or for you is what makes you smile.  You see our hearts, know our minds and cherish our souls.  At our request, you remove all that is not You.  Thank you, Lord for your continuing purification process that helps me live well for you.  I mess up, forget or get lazy from time to time, but you are there to pull me back in and teach me what is best for my life.  You are life to me!  I will tell, write, sing and shout of your greatest my whole life long.  Yes, and Amen! 

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SILENCE, OBEDIENCE, ADORATION!

Posted on December 11, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Well…

You know you make me wanna (Shout!)
Kick my heels up and (Shout!)
Throw my hands up and (Shout!)
Throw my head back and (Shout!)
Come on now (Shout!)

This secular song comes to mind as I read the lyrics of David in our next Psalm.  David would fit right into a genre of music today!  Right?  Truth be known MUCH of our music in church today comes from David’s original pen of praise.  But, what do we learn from David?

What is praise?  David tells in the first verse of his new song.  “Silence is praise to you.”  We need to stop all that is distracting us, all the tasks that are pulling us away and just stop to humbly bow down before our King and our Heavenly Father.  Be quiet.  Don’t talk, just listen.  Don’t overthink, or think at all.  Just be still.  Imagine Jesus sitting in a chair across from you if it helps you to listen intently.  Don’t open the Bible. Turn off the music.  For “silence is praise” to God.

Praise is also obedience.  When we become truly focused on God in the silence, He speaks to us.  If we work hard to be silent, (which is harder than you think when you stop everything, all of life, to be still and just listen), we finally hear what God wants, not our version of God, not what we want from God, but what He wants for us.  Then trust and obey what He says.  “Trust and Obey, for there’s no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey.”  This old hymn of the past is still relevant for today.  Obedience brings the gift of peace from the Father.  David knows this peace and wouldn’t trade anything else for it.

Proclaim!  After the silence and obedience, enthusiastically proclaiming God’s attributes is the ultimate praise of God, the “icing on the cake”!  David’s silence and obedience to God burst into more verses of proclaiming in his song to God, for God and with God. David gives us a glimpse of our Savior, Jesus, who will come because “Our sins too much for us—but you get rid of them once and for all.”  Then he finishes singing God’s praise for all He has created, all He has done in the past, present and future for His people. 

“Come and worship” David finishes with a flourish and calls out to the world in his song of praise.  Shout, sing, dance you people who believe and love God!  Let God know how grateful we are!  All of this is, the humbled silence, the loving obedience and the proclaiming is praise to the God who loves us so much He sent us Son to save us!  Easy as one, two, three for the Three-In-One! 

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 65, The Message

A David Psalm

65 1-2 Silence is praise to you,
    Zion-dwelling God,
And also obedience.
    You hear the prayer in it all.

2-8 We all arrive at your doorstep sooner
    or later, loaded with guilt,
Our sins too much for us—
    but you get rid of them once and for all.
Blessed are the chosen! Blessed the guest
    at home in your place!
We expect our fill of good things
    in your house, your heavenly manse.
All your salvation wonders
    are on display in your trophy room.
Earth-Tamer, Ocean-Pourer,
    Mountain-Maker, Hill-Dresser,
Muzzler of sea storm and wave crash,
    of mobs in noisy riot—
Far and wide they’ll come to a stop,
    they’ll stare in awe, in wonder.
Dawn and dusk take turns
    calling, “Come and worship.”

9-13 Oh, visit the earth,
    ask her to join the dance!
Deck her out in spring showers,
    fill the God-River with living water.
Paint the wheat fields golden.
    Creation was made for this!
Drench the plowed fields,
    soak the dirt clods
With rainfall as harrow and rake
    bring her to blossom and fruit.
Snow-crown the peaks with splendor,
    scatter rose petals down your paths,
All through the wild meadows, rose petals.
    Set the hills to dancing,
Dress the canyon walls with live sheep,
    a drape of flax across the valleys.
Let them shout, and shout, and shout!
    Oh, oh, let them sing!

TRUTH:  Come and worship.  Silence, obedience, and our adoring proclaiming praise, in that order, is what God wants.  Join the dance and sing the song of praise to God!

Proverb 21:1-3, The Message

Good leadership is a channel of water controlled by God;
    he directs it to whatever ends he chooses.

2 We justify our actions by appearances;
    God examines our motives.

3 Clean living before God and justice with our neighbors
    mean far more to God than religious performance.

WISDOM:  Our belief is clearly shown in our behavior when under pressure in the world outside of the church walls.  God sees our hearts and knows our mind’s motives.  We are either for Him or against Him.  He knows what we choose daily.  Choose well.

Abba Father,

We join the dance and sing the songs of salvation, creation, gratitude and adoration!  Come and worship is the cry of David and it is our shout out today to a world that is lost and wandering around in confusion and despair.  Come and see is our song to those who do not know or believe.  But as for me and our “house” here on earth, we believe.  Being still before you this morning has lifted my soul to greater heights of holy thinking and praising.  You have put my feet back under me so I can on solid ground.  I will sing your praises all day long and I will obey what you have said to me!  I love you, Lord with all my heart, mind and soul.  Help us to love like you love, obey you quickly and proclaim your goodness and forgiveness readily.

In Jesus Name, Amen!

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WHEN I FALL DOWN

Posted on December 10, 2020 by randscallawayffm

You are my strength when I am weak
You are the treasure that I seek
You are my all in all

Seeking You as a precious jewel
Lord to give up I’d be a fool
You are my all in all

Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name

Taking my sin my cross my shame
Rising again I bless your name
You are my all in all
When I fall down you pick me up
When I am dry You fill my cup
You are my all in all

Jesus Lamb of God worthy is Your name
Jesus Lamb of God…

This heartfelt song of praise comes to mind as I read the lament of David, overwhelmed by his enemies.  David knows gossip maims and eventually kills relationships.  Gossip can bring down kingdoms!  Presumptions and assumptions planted in the minds of people are the devil’s most prized tools for the destruction of all that good and right.  But then David reminds by the end of his song of despair that God is to be praised for He will rescue us, protect us and bring us through the trouble and put our feet back on solid ground in our thinking, talking and walking with Him. 

David reminds us to worship as our habit, not as a ritual, but as a voluntary habitual response for all God is and does on our behalf.  With every breath we take in we should exhale gratitude for that breath!  Every time something good happens, do we first praise God or pat ourselves on the back?  Do we immediately look up and thank God for what happens in our lives that sets us free, heals our sickness, solves our problem, or restores a relationship?   To God be the Glory!  Thank you, Lord!

“When I fall down, you pick me up”, dust me off and set me back into motion once more!  Thank you, Lord for all you have done, are doing and will do in our lives!

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 64, The Message

A David Psalm

64 Listen and help, O God.
    I’m reduced to a whine
And a whimper, obsessed
    with feelings of doomsday.

2-6 Don’t let them find me—
    the conspirators out to get me,
Using their tongues as weapons,
    flinging poison words,
    poison-tipped arrow-words.
They shoot from ambush,
    shoot without warning,
    not caring who they hit.
They keep fit doing calisthenics
    of evil purpose,
They keep lists of the traps
    they’ve secretly set.
They say to each other,
    “No one can catch us,
    no one can detect our perfect crime.”
The Detective detects the mystery
    in the dark of the cellar heart.

7-8 The God of the Arrow shoots!
    They double up in pain,
Fall flat on their faces
    in full view of the grinning crowd.

9-10 Everyone sees it. God’s
    work is the talk of the town.
Be glad, good people! Fly to God!
    Good-hearted people, make praise your habit.

TRUTH: “Be glad, good people!  Fly to God!” “Make praise your habit”!

Proverb 20:27, The Message

God is in charge of human life,
    watching and examining us inside and out.

WISDOM:  Know God is in charge.  Know and realize that God knows our hearts.  Nothing is hidden from Him.  Know that He examines our motives and helps us to see what is right and good as He transform us.  That is God’s best work in us while is His best for us. To God be the Glory!

“Lord to give up I’d be a fool, You are my all in all…”

Abba Father,

Thank you for saving my soul.  Thank you for not giving up on me. Thank you for transforming me to be all you created me to be.  I have not arrived, but I am not where I was yesterday or years ago.  I see your work in me.  I praise you for picking me up and setting me on firm, level ground.  I am grateful for all the lessons that you had to teach me to get me this far in life.  Thank you for your mercy and grace.  Thank you for you love and forgiveness.  Help me to love like you love.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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SO HERE I AM…

Posted on December 9, 2020 by randscallawayffm

There comes a time in life, in the middle of worry, anxiety, tension, and depression that we finally give in OR stand up and shout ENOUGH!  We don’t need another 5, 7, or 12 step plan or program.  We’re tired of platitudes and posters.  We’re tired of self-help books and googled articles that tell us what to do.  We’re just tired. 

We’re “hangry” and we’re starving.

We’re starving for the fullness of God’s glory to shine down on us.  We’re starving for a word from the One and Only who knows all, created all and is in all.  We’re hungry for God’s Presence in our lives.  Where did He go?  How did we miss Him?  In this state of limbo living, evil speaks all the louder to us because his intent is to starve and destroy our inner being while distracting our focus, turning our eyes from God to self.  We then become champions at self-loathing, self-pity, self-denial of the grace that is ours for the asking while starving for the food we need to be full once more.

David has stopped in his kingly responsibilities, his warring against nations out to get him, to simply and purely worship.  Is it any wonder that David is a “man after God’s heart”?  He cries out, “I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God…so, here I am to worship.”  What we learn from David this morning is how to feed our spiritual hunger.  We just cannot go too long without feasting on God’s Word, drinking in His glory, or coming to His Table of Grace.  Be still, let go and know God is God.  Then praise Him!

Don’t go hangry.  When we don’t eat physical food right away, according to our body clocks, we can become very “hangry”, a new invented word that describes how we feel perfectly.  That’s when the hunger of an empty stomach causes unrest until we feed it.  It is the SAME with our spiritual selves.  Anger, anxiety, tension, depression, blaming and gossiping cause a spiritual “hangry” that knows no peace without God’s Presence and intervention.

So, Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

Worship and Wisdom, Psalms and Proverbs

A David Psalm, When He Was out in the Judean Wilderness

63 God—you’re my God!
    I can’t get enough of you!
I’ve worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
    traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2-4 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
    drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
    My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
    My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

5-8 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
    I smack my lips. It’s time to shout praises!
If I’m sleepless at midnight,
    I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
Because you’ve always stood up for me,
    I’m free to run and play.
I hold on to you for dear life,
    and you hold me steady as a post.

9-11 Those who are out to get me are marked for doom,
    marked for death, bound for hell.
They’ll die violent deaths;
    jackals will tear them limb from limb.
But the king is glad in God;
    his true friends spread the joy,
While small-minded gossips
    are gagged for good.

TRUTH:  Can’t sleep because your spiritually “hangry”.  Do what David teaches us.  “If I’m sleepless at midnight, I spend the hours in grateful reflection.”  Here I am to worship, O God!
 

Proverb 20:5 and 15, The Message

Knowing what is right is like deep water in the heart;
    a wise person draws from the well within.

Drinking from the beautiful chalice of knowledge
    is better than adorning oneself with gold and rare gems.

WISDOM:  Eat and drink from God’s table of knowledge, grace and salvation.  Eternal life is a result. 

Abba Father,

Here I am to praise You, O My God.  I will praise you every time a take a breath!  I will thank you for the ability to take a breath in the midst of this pandemic.  I will not turn from You, O God, but run to You to be filled completely with all of you in me.  I will not go hungry for you are my food for life eternal. 

In Jesus Name, Amen

So, here I am to worship you in song, O Lord…

Light of the world
You stepped down into darkness
Opened my eyes, let me see
Beauty that made this heart adore You
Hope of a life spent with You

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

King of all days
Oh so highly exalted
Glorious in heaven above
Humbly You came to the earth You created
All for love’s sake became poor

Here I am to worship
Here I am to bow down
Here I am to say that You’re my God

You’re altogether lovely
Altogether worthy
Altogether wonderful to me

Well, I’ll never know how much it cost
To see my sin upon that cross…

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THE ONE AND ONLY

Posted on December 8, 2020 by randscallawayffm

Until God is all you have, you find out God is all you need.  This saying is not original but comes from those who have tried everything else and find God Alone is our salvation.  God is our Provider, Protector, Sustainer, Redeemer, Healer, Restorer of our hearts, minds and souls.  He truly is all we need. The Lord, God even fights all our battles.  While we “suit up” with His armor (Ephesians 6) and ready ourselves for our daily skirmishes with evil, we realize He has already won the war!  What a mighty God we have! 

There is no one like Him.  God is all powerful, knows all, and is Present everywhere, yet he bends down to listen to our every word in humble prayer to Him.  God can do anything but it must be in His best timing because of His love for us and concern for our growing and maturing in us.  God can take on any enemy with the wave of His hand for by His Voice alone Creation was built.  God, the One and Only, sent his One and Only Son to save us because of His great love for His created.  What a compassionate heart our God has!

“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”  John 3:16, NIV

So, it is with believing reverence, holy gratitude, and unconditional love that we wait on God, letting go of what we think we want or need, be still and let God do what He does best…care for His own.  And in this holy “stillness” we hear from God, learn His ways while standing on a firm foundation that will last for eternity.

Yes, God is, God was and God forever will be God.  The One and Only.

Wisdom and Worship, Psalms and Proverbs

Psalm 62, The Message

A David Psalm

62 1-2 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.

3-4 How long will you gang up on me?
    How long will you run with the bullies?
There’s nothing to you, any of you—
    rotten floorboards, worm-eaten rafters,
Anthills plotting to bring down mountains,
    far gone in make-believe.
You talk a good line,
    but every “blessing” breathes a curse.

5-6 God, the one and only—
    I’ll wait as long as he says.
Everything I hope for comes from him,
    so why not?
He’s solid rock under my feet,
    breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
    I’m set for life.

7-8 My help and glory are in God
    —granite-strength and safe-harbor-God—
So trust him absolutely, people;
    lay your lives on the line for him.
    God is a safe place to be.

9 Man as such is smoke,
    woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they’re nothing;
    two times nothing is nothing.

10 And a windfall, if it comes—
    don’t make too much of it.

11 God said this once and for all;
    how many times
Have I heard it repeated?
    “Strength comes
Straight from God.”

12 Love to you, Lord God!
    You pay a fair wage for a good day’s work!

TRUTH:  God is everything.  God is all we need.  God, The One and Only.  Our strength, wisdom, power, insight and understanding comes straight from God to those who believe.  Why trust in anyone or anything else?  God commands our loyalty because of His great love for us.  Don’t trust in that which falls apart and dies away.

Jesus replied: “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.”  Matthew 22:37-39, NIV 

Love like Jesus loved us.  See also (Philippians 2)

Proverb 20:21-24, The Message

The Very Steps We Take

21 A bonanza at the beginning
    is no guarantee of blessing at the end.

22 Don’t ever say, “I’ll get you for that!”
    Wait for God; he’ll settle the score.

23 God hates cheating in the marketplace;
    rigged scales are an outrage.

24 The very steps we take come from God;
    otherwise how would we know where we’re going?

WISDOM:  Wait for God’s direction, solution, and guidance.  We are lost without Him.  Know God.  Know where you are going.

Abba Father,

You are indeed all I need for life here and life there with you.  You are God and I am not.  I cannot trust my own limited knowledge for life’s problems.  I need you every hour of every day.  AND you promise you will be with us always!  God, you are the One and Only who delivers on your promises!  So, I’m yours, God.  Show me what you want for me and from me today.  I am your servant.  I’m listening for your voice.  You are my confidence, strength and power.  You taught me to love unconditionally from a heart that was broken and restored.  Continue your transformation work in me for that is what will last forever.

In Jesus Name, Amen

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