THE RECKLESS LOVE OF GOD

Posted on November 4, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of honesty
 
Psalm 49 15.jpgIt doesn’t get any plainer than our next prayer of honesty and realism. “Like our dogs, we age and weaken. and die.” Okay, then, tell us how you really feel! Right? But it is true. Life here is only for a little while, a brief journey on God’s created earth. Some of us prepare for our forever home with God for eternity because of the receiving God’s gift of salvation brought to us by Jesus Christ His Son. But most of us will only be impressed with obtaining all the riches and power they can get now and be dumbfounded later with what they cannot take with them when they die. Their death is eternal.
 
“They can’t take it with them; fame and fortune all get left behind. Just when they think they’ve arrive and folks praise them because they’ve made good, they enter the family burial plot where they’ll never see sunshine again. We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.”
 
Where do you stand?
 
“But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death, He reaches down and grabs me.”
 
I am reminded of the time Jesus first “grabbed” me. I am singing a new song in the background of reading and understanding this “from the gut” prayer psalm.
 
Here is a modern day version of Psalm 49…
 
Reckless Love
Cory Asbury
 
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
 
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,
 
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
 
And oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,
 
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
 
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,
 
(Songwriters: Caleb Culver / Cory Asbury / Ran Jackson)
 
Psalm 49, The Message
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah
 
1-2 Listen, everyone, listen—
earth-dwellers, don’t miss this.
All you haves
and have-nots,
All together now: listen.
 
3-4 I set plainspoken wisdom before you,
my heart-seasoned understandings of life.
I fine-tuned my ear to the sayings of the wise,
I solve life’s riddle with the help of a harp.
 
5-6 So why should I fear in bad times,
hemmed in by enemy malice,
Shoved around by bullies,
demeaned by the arrogant rich?
 
7-9 Really! There’s no such thing as self-rescue,
pulling yourself up by your bootstraps.
The cost of rescue is beyond our means,
and even then it doesn’t guarantee
Life forever, or insurance
against the Black Hole.
 
10-11 Anyone can see that the brightest and best die,
wiped out right along with fools and dunces.
They leave all their prowess behind,
move into their new home, The Coffin,
The cemetery their permanent address.
And to think they named counties after themselves!
 
12 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.
Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
 
13-15 This is what happens to those who live for the moment,
who only look out for themselves:
Death herds them like sheep straight to hell;
they disappear down the gullet of the grave;
They waste away to nothing—
nothing left but a marker in a cemetery.
But me? God snatches me from the clutch of death,
he reaches down and grabs me.
 
16-19 So don’t be impressed with those who get rich
and pile up fame and fortune.
They can’t take it with them;
fame and fortune all get left behind.
Just when they think they’ve arrived
and folks praise them because they’ve made good,
They enter the family burial plot
where they’ll never see sunshine again.
 
20 We aren’t immortal. We don’t last long.
Like our dogs, we age and weaken. And die.
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
 
The psalmist had a message for everybody in the world, the important people and the nobodies, the rich and the poor (vv. 1-2). The word world is the translation of an unusual Hebrew word that means “the total human scene, the whole sphere of passing life,” not unlike “world” in 1 John 2:15-17.
 
The writer spoke from his heart (v. 3; see 45:1) the wisdom and understanding that the Lord gave him, and he dealt with an enigma that only the Lord could explain (v. 4). The enigma was life itself and its puzzling relationship to the distribution of wealth and the power that wealth brings.
 
How should believers respond when they see the rich get richer? Should they be afraid that the wealthy will abuse the poor? Should they be impressed by the wealth that others possess and seek to imitate them? The writer gives us three reminders to help us keep our perspective in a world obsessed with wealth and the power it brings.
 
1. Wealth Cannot Prevent Death (vv. 5-12).
2. Wealth Will Not Determine Your Destiny (vv. 13-15).
3. Wealth Must Not Increase Your Desires (vv. 16-20).
 
Psalm 49 snatch meHEART CHECK:
 
For the believer, death is only a valley of temporary shadows, and Jesus is the Shepherd (23:4). There is coming a “morning” when the dead in Christ will be raised and share the glory of the Lord (1 Thess. 4:13-18; see Ps. 16:10-11; Isa. 26:19; Dan. 12:2-3).
 
We can’t ransom someone who is about to die (vv. 7-8), but the Lord has already ransomed us from sin and the power of the grave (v. 15; 1 Cor. 15:20ff.). When we die, God will receive us to Himself (73:24; 2 Cor. 5:1-8; Gen. 5:24), and when Jesus returns, He will raise our bodies from the grave. Decision for Christ, not the possession of great wealth, determines our eternal destiny.
 
“Listen, everyone, listen–earth-dwellers, don’t miss this.” We have two choices. Choose well. It’s a matter of life or death. For eternity.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for snatching me from the clutch of death eternal to life with you forever! Thank you Jesus for paying the debt of my sin as well as the sins of the world. Thank you for reaching down. Thank you for your “reckless”, unconditional, forever love for us. Your love is unstoppable, limitless and most times, hard to wrap our human minds around the depth of it. Thank you, thank you, thank you! You have encouraged me this morning.
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
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LIFETIME WARRANTY: FOREVER LOVE, FOREVER GUIDANCE!

Posted on November 2, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
How many times have you purchased an appliance, small or large and something went wrong 24 hours after the warranty ran out? How many times have people proclaimed love for you and said they wanted to be your friend…until you disappointed them in some way…and they walked away? How many times have you needed help from those you helped but they didn’t have the time for you? How about the car dealer who promises help 24/7 (ridiculous sounding as I write this but it was said to me) for the vehicle you are buying only to find out there are restrictions in the fine print of that promise? And those restriction typically are what will go wrong! With the right lawyers, any contract can be declared null and void. Is there anything we can depend on? Is there anyone left we can trust completely?
 
Psalm 48 greatYES!
 
“Our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.”
 
Wait, what?
 
“Our God forever, who guides us till the end of time.”
 
His love never changes and never ends. Our God does not need rest so He is ready to help and guide. God is God and we are not. There is no one like our God!
 
It’s time to stand still, focus and just praise our great God!
 
Psalm 48, The Message
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah
 
Psalm 48 11-3 God majestic,
praise abounds in our God-city!
His sacred mountain,
breathtaking in its heights—earth’s joy.
Zion Mountain looms in the North,
city of the world-King.
God in his citadel peaks
impregnable.
 
4-6 The kings got together,
they united and came.
They took one look and shook their heads,
they scattered and ran away.
They doubled up in pain
like a woman having a baby.
 
7-8 You smashed the ships of Tarshish
with a storm out of the East.
We heard about it, then we saw it
with our eyes—
In God’s city of Angel Armies,
in the city our God
Set on firm foundations,
firm forever.
 
Psalm 48 forever9-10 We pondered your love-in-action, God,
waiting in your temple:
Your name, God, evokes a train
of Hallelujahs wherever
It is spoken, near and far;
your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action.
 
11 Be glad, Zion Mountain;
Dance, Judah’s daughters!
He does what he said he’d do!
 
12-14 Circle Zion, take her measure,
count her fortress peaks,
Gaze long at her sloping bulwark,
climb her citadel heights—
Then you can tell the next generation
detail by detail the story of God,
Our God forever,
who guides us till the end of time.
 
Psalm 48 unfailing loveSOMETHING TO CHEW…
 
Believers, who have received Jesus as Savior and Lord, today are citizens of the Zion that is above (Gal. 4:21-31; “…like Isaac, we are children of The Promise! Heb. 12:18-24; “…city of the living God” Phil. 3:20; “our citizenship is in heaven…”) and rejoice that the Lord cares for us even as He cared for His ancient people Israel.
 
The people praise God for all He has done, is doing and will do. Forever love, mercy and grace. Forever help and guidance. Hallelujah! What a mighty God we serve!
 
HEART CHECK:
 
Psalm 48 with us
God is always with us. He provides us with a lifetime warranty of love, mercy and grace. He waits for us to call on Him for guidance. Those who seek Him find Him. That is promise that will not be broken by the One who loved us first and best and who has the best for us.
 
The pilgrims immediately went to the temple to worship the Lord, to meditate on His faithfulness, and to joyfully praise Him. Worship is the proper human response to divine mercies. Note how the fame of the Lord spread from the city itself (v. 11a) to the towns of Judah that Sennacherib had plundered (v. 11b; Isa. 36:1) and then to the ends of the earth (v. 10). So may it be with the message of the gospel (Acts 1:8)! When the Lord Jesus Christ returns to defeat His enemies and establish His kingdom, His glory and dominion will be from sea to sea.
 
What is our response to all God has done, is doing and will do? Think about it. Stop and praise God now.
 
Who do you really trust?
Who do we tell?
 
The greatest danger a nation faces is not the invading enemy on the outside but the eroding enemy on the inside–a people gradually turning away from the faith of their fathers. Each generation must pass along to the next generation who the Lord is, what He has done, and what they must do in response to His goodness and faithfulness. God’s plan is to make Jerusalem a joy to many generations (Isa. 60:15).
 
To trust and obey a Lord who is “our God” and “our Guide” is to have a future that is secured and blessed.
 
Psalm 48 14
Who is your lifetime warranty?
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. In a confusing world of opinion, selfishness and pain, You are there. You have the answer that we need to hear. You are Savior and You are Lord. Guide us still as You have from the beginning of Creation. Be with us. Change our minds to desire all of you and what You have for us. We praise You for all you are and all you have done to bring us this far. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
In Jesus Name, Amen
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VICTORY SONG OF PURE PRAISE!

Posted on November 1, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
When a work assignment for God is completed, who gets the praise and kudos? When we struggle through a huge, mind altering, life changing issue in our lives, who do we shout thank you to first? When you finally get the job of your dreams, the one you’ve been waiting for all your life, what victory song comes immediately to mind? When a relationship is finally restored, who do you tell?
 
Psalm 47 God reigns.jpgThe promise of 46:10 is fulfilled in 47: “I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth” (nasb). Five times the people are commanded to “sing praises” to the Lord, who “reigns over the nations” (v. 8 nasb). If this psalm was written to celebrate the defeat of Sennacherib (see 46), then it describes the people of Israel proclaiming to the surrounding Gentile nations the glorious victory of their God, a victory won without their having to fight a battle!
 
This is also a messianic psalm, with an emphasis on the coming kingdom. As the people of Israel praise their God to the Gentiles around them, they make three affirmations about Him. Look for it…
 
Psalm 47, The Message
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah
 
Psalm 47 clap1-9 Applause, everyone. Bravo, bravissimo!
Shout God-songs at the top of your lungs!
God Most High is stunning,
astride land and ocean.
He crushes hostile people,
puts nations at our feet.
He set us at the head of the line,
prize-winning Jacob, his favorite.
 
Loud cheers as God climbs the mountain,
a ram’s horn blast at the summit.
Sing songs to God, sing out!
Sing to our King, sing praise!
He’s Lord over earth,
so sing your best songs to God.
 
God is Lord of godless 

Psalm 47 6

nations—
sovereign, he’s King of the mountain.
Princes from all over are gathered,
people of Abraham’s God.
The powers of earth are God’s—
he soars over all.
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
 
How God’s people praised Him help us to praise Him in our lives. The three affirmations of God’s power, love, mercy, grace and strength are:
 
1. Our God Is an Awesome King (vv. 1-4). We have moved from “Be still” (46:10) to shouting, clapping, and the blowing of trumpets. Jewish worship was enthusiastic, but they also knew how to be quiet before the Lord and wait upon Him. Since the theme of the psalm is the kingship of the Lord, they worshiped Him the way they welcomed a new king (1 Sam. 10:24; 2 Kings 11:12-13, 20). “The shout of a king is among them” (Num. 23:21).
 
Psalm 47 praise God all the timeThe early church patterned its worship after the synagogue and emphasized prayer, the reading and expounding of Scripture, and the singing of psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs. When the Jewish people clapped their hands and shouted, it was to the Lord in response to His marvelous works. They did not do it to praise the people who participated in the worship service.
 
To know God is to know One who is awesome in all that He is, says, and does.
 
2. Our God Is a Triumphant King (v. 5). God fills heaven and earth, but when He acts on earth on behalf of His people, the Scriptures sometimes describe Him as “coming down.”
 
The night 185,000 Assyrian soldiers were slain by the angel, God came down and brought judgment (Isa. 37:28-29, 36) and then “went up” in great glory to His holy throne (v. 8). David gave a similar description of victory in 68:18, a verse Paul quoted in Ephesians 4:8-10, applying it to the ascension of Jesus Christ.
 
From the human viewpoint, the crucifixion of Jesus Christ was a great defeat and tragedy, but not from God’s viewpoint. In His sacrifice on the cross, Jesus won the victory over the world and the Devil (John 12:31-32; Col. 2:15) and satisfied the claims of God’s holy law so that sinners could believe and be saved. What a victory! He then ascended to heaven, far above every enemy (Eph. 1:19-22), where He sits at the right hand of the Majesty on high (Heb. 1:3).
 
Psalm 47 pure praise3. Our God Is King of Kings (vv. 6-9). A remarkable thing occurs: The rulers and peoples of the Gentile nations join Israel in praising the Lord Jehovah! He is not simply the God and King of Israel, but He is the “King of all the earth.” It was God’s plan when He called Abraham that Israel would be a blessing to all the earth (Gen. 12:1-3; John 12:32; Gal. 3:7-9), for “salvation is of the Jews” (John 4:22).
 
Throughout their history, Israel has been persecuted by many nations of the world, yet it is Israel that has blessed the world. Israel brought us the knowledge of the one true and living God, they gave us the Scriptures, and they gave us Jesus Christ, the Savior of the world. Today, Jews and Gentiles in the church are praising God together (Eph. 2:11), and one day in the glorious kingdom, Jews and Gentiles will glorify and praise Him (67:1-7; 72:8-11; Rom. 15:8-13).
 
HEART CHECK:
 
Psalm 47 shoutFor God’s people, every day is Ascension Day as we praise and worship the exalted and ascended Lord!
 
Who do you praise first and often?
 
What do you say?
 
Do our prayers include praise?
 
Write down ten praises to God every day. They more we praise God the more we value Him. The more we give Him glory, the more we live our lives in joyful gratitude. Begin now…try it for 30 days. See what happens when we develop a habit of praise.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are awesome! You are the One and Only to be praised! You are King of kings and Lord of lords. You are the beginning and the end. You are the Giver of life. You are our Savior. You are with us. You never change in your love for us. You are wisdom. You are our strength. You are who You claim to be…the lover of our souls. Thank you, thank you, thank you!
In Jesus Name, Amen. I believe.
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STOP, BE STILL, LISTEN!

Posted on October 31, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
There’s something happening here
What it is ain’t exactly clear
There’s a man with a gun over there
Telling me I got to beware
 
I think it’s time we stop, children, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
 
There’s battle lines being drawn
Nobody’s right if everybody’s wrong
Young people speaking their minds
Getting so much resistance from behind
 
It’s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down
 
What a field-day for the heat
A thousand people in the street
Singing songs and carrying signs
Mostly say, hooray for our side
 
It’s s time we stop, hey, what’s that sound
Everybody look what’s going down…..
 
Psalm 46 people power
This song of protest in the early 1960’s, along with other songs of the era brought a new way of thinking to our society. As much as we hate to admit it, society has affected the church more than the church has affected society over the past few decades. That new way of thinking was all about self. “I want to be totally free!” was the battle cry of those who wanted to justify the sin of degrading and destroying their bodies with drugs and alcohol. This way of life proclaimed free love (sex, actually) for all which included the freedom to kill a human as a result of this “freedom”. Because self to a front seat, God was pushed back until He was not even considered as the source of their very own lives. I lived through that era. I have lived long enough to see the results of living for self alone. Self…who do we think we are?
 
We now have politicians who will say and do anything to get you to vote for them. It is not about building each other up as a county, state or nation, it is about destroying the opponent until you can get what you want. What you want is power. Self…what do we want?
 
We have older “boomers” (my age and older) who are still trying to live in the era of self and are now wasted, wrinkly, half baked versions of their teen selves. Some now want a little bit of Jesus, but not the messy church that loves Him and wants to learn more about Him. Some want God to “fix” what is wrong without listening to what He says is best and right for them. Selfish thinking judges and criticizes everyone and every detail of others lives. Self comes into God’s church and tries to gain power over others with demands and manipulations of minds of those who are seeking Jesus. Self…it’s still gets in the way.
 
We are all afflicted with self and attracted to self run lives. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” says Paul to the church. Yes, now I’m getting personal. We ask God what HE wants for us, then have selective hearing in what He has to say to us. We pick verses from scripture that makes us feel good at the moment and post it on social media for others to feel good, too, without reading the whole message of what God is trying to tell us. Self…picking out only what we want.
 
Our next prayer-psalm is praise to the God of all who created us, loves us, died for us, redeemed us, protects us, provides for us so that we may stand fearless, not in our self made power, but by GOD’s power within us. This is REVOLUTIONARY thinking that turns societal thinking upside down!
 
Psalm 46, The Message
A Song of the Sons of Korah
 
Psalm 46 help1-3 God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
 
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
 
4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms

Psalm 46 4

 threaten,
but Earth does anything he says.
 
7 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
 
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
 
Psalm 46 10“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
 
11 Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
 
The emphasis in this psalm is on the presence of the Lord with His people (vv. 1, 5, 7, 11) and the difference it makes when we trust Him in the changes and difficulties of life. The psalm focuses on the Lord and what He is to His trusting people.
 
HEART CHECK:
 
God gave us the right to choose life with Him or without Him. We can choose to live life OUR way. But know this, our enemy, Satan, is thrilled when we choose self and self gratification! He claims victory when we choose to go our own way. He is salivating, licking his chops, ready to devour us when we stray from God who protects us and is our strength. He knows we are weak when we are defiantly trying to do life by ourselves. Is that how we choose to live? Since the fall of Adam and Eve, self became a choice. We can live our way or God’s way. Our way leads to death. God’s way, through the redemption work of Jesus Christ, His Son, leads to life eternal with God. In the meantime we live life here with God as our Protector!
 
Psalm 46 let goSTOP, look at what’s really going down..
 
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
 
Stop and take all the time you need to take a long, loving look at God, our Father. Let go of self. May we lay all of who we are at the feet of Jesus. Rise victorious because of Christ in us. Right now. Today.
 
God is saying to us…
Be still and know that I am God.
Be still and know.
Be still.
Be.
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
I’m looking up to You, to see You for all You are and I am overwhelmed by You. You are truly all I want, all I need. I want to always be where You are. Thank you for saving my soul. Thank you for the peace and joy, protection and love you provide for all of us who seek you every day. Thank you for Holy Presence in our lives. Thank you for teaching me and continuing to knock off the rough edges from me. Thank you, thank you, thank you.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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HIS LOVE IS WILD FOR US!

Posted on October 30, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
Psalm 45 prince
There was a man who had everything along with nobility. He was a prince destined to be king. He went on a search for a bride to rule with him. As he rode through the countryside, he stopped in a village where he met a beautiful peasant girl. She was attracted to him. He was attracted to her immediately. Love was evident. He was wild for her and she was in love and in awe of him. He immediately put his ring on her finger as a sign of his love.
 
He then told her, I have to go away for a little while, but I am coming back soon for you. She told him she was willing to wait for her love. But as days past, the young bride’s behavior didn’t match the love she vowed to her groom. Her family and the townspeople didn’t even know she had met someone much less about the commitment to love. She never talked about him. After their first encounter, she forgot she even knew him! She began to date other men. Her life was not the same. She forgot and lost her first love.
 
Wow. We think HOW could that happen between a man who has it all and a woman who has little? How could the young girl’s head be turned so easily? But isn’t that the way of the church (people, not building) these days? Sometimes our behavior does not match what we say we believe of the One we are committed to love.
 
What are you (church as the bride) doing in the WAIT for your bridegroom (Jesus) who is “wild for you”? Who gave His life for you?
 
I think of this as we read the next prayer-psalm, a wedding song, that is a prophetic telling of the coming of Jesus Christ our Lord, Savior…and Groom who is coming back to claim His own.
 
Psalm 45, The Message
A Wedding Song of the Sons of Korah
 
Psalm 45 ringMy heart bursts its banks,
spilling beauty and goodness.
I pour it out in a poem to the king,
shaping the river into words:
 
2-4 “You’re the handsomest of men;
every word from your lips is sheer grace,
and God has blessed you, blessed you so much.
Strap your sword to your side, warrior!
Accept praise! Accept due honor!
Ride majestically! Ride triumphantly!
Ride on the side of truth!
Ride for the righteous meek!
 
4-5 “Your instructions are glow-in-the-dark;
you shoot sharp arrows
Into enemy hearts; the king’s
foes lie down in the dust, beaten.
 
Psalm 45 bride of Christ.jpg6-7 “Your throne is God’s throne,
ever and always;
The scepter of your royal rule
measures right living.
You love the right
and hate the wrong.
And that is why God, your very own God,
poured fragrant oil on your head,
Marking you out as king
from among your dear companions.
 
8-9 “Your ozone-drenched garments
are fragrant with mountain breeze.
Chamber music—from the throne room—
makes you want to dance.
Kings’ daughters are maids in your court,
the Bride glittering with golden jewelry.
 
10-12 “Now listen, daughter, don’t miss a word:
forget your country, put your home behind you.
Be here—the king is wild for you.
Since he’s your lord, adore him.
Wedding gifts pour in from Tyre;
rich guests shower you with presents.”
 
Psalm 45 royal13-15 (Her wedding dress is dazzling,
lined with gold by the weavers;
All her dresses and robes
are woven with gold.
She is led to the king,
followed by her virgin companions.
A procession of joy and laughter!
a grand entrance to the king’s palace!)
 
16-17 “Set your mind now on sons—
don’t dote on father and grandfather.
You’ll set your sons up as princes
all over the earth.
I’ll make you famous for generations;
you’ll be the talk of the town
for a long, long time.”
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
 
The ultimate message is about Jesus Christ and His bride, the church (Eph. 5:23; Rev. 19:6-21; 22:17). The writer presents four pictures of our Lord and in so doing also described His bride.
1. The Gracious Son of Man (vv. 1-2).
2. The Victorious Warrior (vv. 3-5).
3. The Righteous King (vv. 6-7a).
4. The Glorious Bridegroom (vv. 7b-17).
 
This is a song for the heart from the heart of an inspired and excited writer. His heart was “bubbling over” with his theme, for it is the greatest theme in the universe: the glories of the Son of God. Jesus endured the cross “for the joy that was set before him” (Heb. 12:2), which was the joy of presenting His bride to the Father in glory (John 17:24). It is the work of the Holy Spirit to glorify Jesus Christ in this world (John 16:14), and He inspired this writer to do just that. The King described in this psalm is both God (v. 6) and man (v. 2), and that can only be Jesus.
 
Psalm 45 talk of the townHEART CHECK:
Is Jesus the talk of our town?
Is Jesus the One we love most?
We have help as God transforms us to be more like Jesus.
Does God’s Word, with the Holy Spirit’s guidance, drive our behavior?
Who (or what) is our first love?
What or Who guides our every thought, word and action?
Are we ready to meet Him when He comes?
 
EVEN SO COME…By Chris Tomlin
 
All of creation
All of the earth
Make straight a highway
A path for the Lord
Jesus is coming soon
 
Call back the sinner
Wake up the saint
Let every nation shout of Your fame
Jesus is coming soon
 
Like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing “even so come”
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
 
There will be justice, all will be new
Your name forever, faithful and true
Jesus is coming soon
 
Oh, like a bride waiting for her groom
We’ll be a Church ready for You
Every heart longing for our King
We sing “even so come”
Lord Jesus, come
Even so come
Lord Jesus, come
 
So we wait
We wait for You
God, we wait
You’re coming soon…
 
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD, HELP US!

Posted on October 29, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
Psalm 44 made fun
Humiliation is not the state we choose to travel through on our journey of life, but it happens and is necessary. Life is Good is only for a T-shirt. GOD is good. Life here involves all kinds of situations and trials that can provide ways for us to grow up in our faith…or not. It’s all about choices. It’s all about knowing the One and Only who is in control, if we let Him. It’s about following when we feel like leading. It’s about repenting and humbling ourselves before our Creator who is waiting for us to decide between His best versus our self-led lives to less than His best. In defeat, it’s all about Who we turn to and wait for to pick us back up and set us right, looking up to God and moving forward once more.
 
The Jewish people sang praises to God after their great victories (Ex. 15; Judg. 5), but this psalm was sung after a humiliating defeat (vv. 9-14, 22). They cry out, “God, if you love us so much, help us”. They even suggest ways for God to punish their enemies! Do we pray honestly like this? Are they ready to hear what God has to say and accept how He will rescue them? Are we ready to follow when we don’t know the full picture of what God is doing?
 
Psalm 44, The Message
A Psalm of the Sons of Korah
 

Psalm 44 8 boast1-3 We’ve been hearing about this, God,

all our lives.
Our fathers told us the stories
their fathers told them,
How single-handedly you weeded out the godless
from the fields and planted us,
How you sent those people packing
but gave us a fresh start.
We didn’t fight for this land;
we didn’t work for it—it was a gift!
You gave it, smiling as you gave it,
delighting as you gave it.
 
Psalm 44 give up to receive all that God has4-8 You’re my King, O God—
command victories for Jacob!
With your help we’ll wipe out our enemies,
in your name we’ll stomp them to dust.
I don’t trust in weapons;
my sword won’t save me—
But it’s you, you who saved us from the enemy;
you made those who hate us lose face.
All day we parade God’s praise—
we thank you by name over and over.
 
9-12 But now you’ve walked off and left us,
you’ve disgraced us and won’t fight for us.
You made us turn tail and run;
those who hate us have cleaned us out.
You delivered us as sheep to the butcher,
you scattered us to the four winds.
You sold your people at a discount—
you made nothing on the sale.
 
13-16 You made people on the street,
urchins, poke fun and call us names.
You made us a joke among the godless,
a cheap joke among the rabble.
Every day I’m up against it,
my nose rubbed in my shame—
Gossip and ridicule fill the air,
people out to get me crowd the street.
 
17-19 All this came down on us,
and we’ve done nothing to deserve it.
We never betrayed your Covenant: our hearts
were never false, our feet never left your path.
Do we deserve torture in a den of jackals?
or lockup in a black hole?
 
20-22 If we had forgotten to pray to our God
or made fools of ourselves with store-bought gods,
Wouldn’t God have figured this out?
We can’t hide things from him.
No, you decided to make us martyrs,
lambs assigned for sacrifice each day.
 
Psalm 44 honest23-26 Get up, God! Are you going to sleep all day?
Wake up! Don’t you care what happens to us?
Why do you bury your face in the pillow?
Why pretend things are just fine with us?
And here we are—flat on our faces in the dirt,
held down with a boot on our necks.
Get up and come to our rescue.
If you love us so much, Help us!
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
(A study by Warren Wiersbe helps us to understand the situation in light of God’s bigger picture!) This will help all of us not to read this honest psalm lightly but to dig a little deeper.
 
Four attitudes emerge from this prayer of honest:
 
1. They boast in the Lord for all the previous victories. The Jewish parents were faithful to obey God and tell their children and grandchildren what the Lord had done in their history. God had rooted out the godless nations, planted Israel in the land, and enabled the nation to take root and grow. All of this was done, not because Israel deserved it, but because of God’s love and grace. God’s power gave the victory, and His countenance smiled upon His people. The psalmist affirmed that Jehovah was still their King and could easily command (decree) victories for His people. The nation wanted no glory for itself; they wanted the Lord to receive all the glory.
 
2. They felt forsaken, “But now, you’ve walked off and left us.” The people were perplexed. If God gave them the land in His grace and enabled them to defeat their enemies, why was He now forsaking them and allowing the idolatrous nations to win the victories? Nations rejoiced that Israel had been humiliated by defeat, and they taunted and ridiculed the Jews. It was a dark day for the people of God, and they could not understand what the Lord was accomplishing. Dishonor and disgrace brought the people to the place of submission and intercession.
 
3. Faithful to God: “You Should Help Us” (vv. 17-22). Whenever there was trouble in Israel, the first explanation was usually “Somebody has sinned.” But after introspection they could not find any sin to be confessed. Paul quoted part of the Psalm, verse 11 when he spoke of God’s unchanging love for us in Romans 8:28. His magnificent argument was that nothing could separate God’s people from His love, not even defeat after a record of victories! The principle is the same for both God’s old covenant people and His new covenant people: Those who give their lives in His cause are conquerors, not victims; and God can be glorified even in seeming defeat.
 
Consider this…
Israel’s defeat didn’t mean that God loved them less; it meant that He was permitting this to happen so that He could carry out a purpose known only to Him. Like the martyrdom of Stephen (Acts 6:9–8:3), Israel’s defeat gave their enemies further opportunity to come to know the Lord. Saul of Tarsus was greatly moved by Stephen’s death (Acts 22:17-21), and this undoubtedly helped to prepare him for his meeting with Christ on the Damascus road. No matter how their lives may end, God’s servants never die like beasts, for “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His saints” (116:15 nkjv).
 
4. Trusting in God: “You Will Help Us” (vv. 23-26). In verse 23, the writer used the name “Adonai” (Lord) when speaking to God. This is the name that declares that He is Owner and Master of all, including the nations of the world. It is sometimes translated “Sovereign Lord” (Adonai Jehovah; 2 Sam. 7:18-20 niv). He is “Lord [Adonai] of the whole earth” (97:5), and the earth should tremble “at the presence of the Lord [Adonai]” (114:7). The psalmist came to the place where he knew he could trust God to handle the defeats of life and ultimately turn them into victories. Yes, it seemed like God was asleep, and the nation had to awaken Him (7:6; 78:65), but “He who keeps Israel shall neither slumber nor sleep” (121:4 nkjv). The people of Israel had come to the place that Job reached when he said, “Though he slay me, yet will I trust him” (Job 13:15).
 
We can’t always explain the so-called tragedies of life, especially those that happen to God’s people, but Romans 8:28 is still in the Bible. The prophet Isaiah gives us wise counsel in 50:10: “Who is among you that fears the Lord that obeys the voice of His servant, that walks in darkness and has no light? Let him trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God” (nasb). We may look like sheep for the slaughter, but in God’s sight we are “more than conquerors through him that loved us” (Rom. 8:37). Yes and Amen!
 
God has, is and will always be with us and help us because of His love for us. Don’t forget that!
 
Psalm 44 trust
HEART CHECK:
 
Do you sometimes doubt God’s presence?
 
Do you think God is withdrawing His blessing from America? Explain.
 
How might personal tragedy be one of the best things a believer experiences?
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You have all kinds of ways, perfect ways, to draw us closer to You. Your bigger picture would probably scare us silly if you gave it to us all at once. You give, just what we need, with a smile, knowing what is best for us. We humbly fall to your feet and accept that You are Lord at this place of submission and intercession. It is You who we will trust with all of life. It is You who loves us best and forever. Thank you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
A song comes to mind by Lauren Daigle / Paul Marbury / Michael Farren
 
Letting go of every single dream
I lay each one down at Your feet
Every moment of my wandering
Never changes what You see
I try to win this war
I confess, my hands are weary, I need Your rest
Mighty warrior, king of the fight
No matter what I face You’re by my side
 
When You don’t move the mountains
I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
 
Truth is, You know what tomorrow brings
There’s not a day ahead You have not seen
So let all things be my life and breath
I want what You want Lord and nothing less
 
When You don’t move the mountains
I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
I will trust in You
 
You are my strength and comfort
You are my steady hand
You are my firm foudation
The rock on which I stand
Your ways are always higher
Your plans are always good
There’s not a place where I’ll go
You’ve not already stood
 
When You don’t move the mountains
I’m needing You to move
When You don’t part the waters
I wish I could walk through
When You don’t give the answers
As I cry out to You
I will trust, I will trust, I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
I will trust in You
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IN EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS!

Posted on October 28, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
We all experience times when we cry out to God and ask why, what just happened, how can that be and where do I go next and who is for me on the journey. The bottom line is WHO doing we look for in the messiness of life. WHO do we focus our thoughts on as we cope with a new normal? WHO do we ask for help? WHO do we count on no matter what is happening around us? WHO is always with us and guides us over and through the barriers and entanglements of life? WHO is the Light in the dark?
 
Psalm 43, The Message
 
1-2 Clear my name, God; stick up for me
against these loveless, immoral people.
Get me out of here, away
from these lying degenerates.
I counted on you, God.
Why did you walk out on me?
Why am I pacing the floor, wringing my hands
over these outrageous people?
 
Psalm 43 God3-4 Give me your lantern and compass,
give me a map,
So I can find my way to the sacred mountain,
to the place of your presence,
To enter the place of worship,
meet my exuberant God,
Sing my thanks with a harp,
magnificent God, my God.
 
5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
 
Psalm 43 3.JPGSOMETHING TO CHEW…
The repeated refrain (42:5, 11; 43:5) and the general theme of these two psalms would indicate that the two psalms were no doubt originally one, but nobody seems to know why they were separated. Korah was a grandson of Kohath and was killed for rebelling against the Lord (Num. 16). However, his sons escaped judgment (Num. 16:11) and became worship leaders in the sanctuary (1 Chron. 9:19ff.; 26:1-19).
 
The psalms are intensely personal, containing over fifty personal pronouns; and the writer fluctuated between faith and despair as he wrestled with the Lord. He questions the Lord eleven times as he wonders why God doesn’t do something for him. Through worship, however, with focus back on God he finds victory and peace.
 
HEART CHECK:
 
Think of a recent bad time in your life when you thought all was lost? Who did you turn to first? How did worship pull you through it?
 
In this honest prayer-psalm, the landscape changes as the dawn announces the morning and reminds the psalmist of God’s light and truth (v. 3). What reminds us of God’s Truth, Light and Love when going through hard times? Does it prompt praise?
 
NOTICE: The “living God” (42:2) became “the God of my life” (42:8), and now He is “God my exceeding joy … God, my God” (43:4 nasb). His focus is no longer on himself, his disappointments, or his circumstances, but on the Lord his God; and that makes all the difference.
 
The refrain in 43:5 must not be read with the same dejected voice as 42:5 and 11, for faith in Jehovah has changed everything. The New King James Version translates verse 5, “Hope in God; for I shall yet praise Him, the help of my countenance.” The word help can be translated “health.” When by faith we see the face of God smiling upon us (Num. 6:22-27), our own countenance brightens up and becomes spiritually healthy. We know that God is for us, that God will set us free and guide us to His Holy City, where we shall worship Him and sing His praises. “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning” (30:5 nkjv).
 
Psalm 43 lyre
Sing a new song of joy for the Lord, Our God is for us, not against us!
 
Dear Heavenly Father,
You are God and we are not. When life becomes difficult you do not leave us, you help us. You are for us, not against us. You will lead us through the waters and help us climb mountains! Thank you, Lord. We can do nothing without You. With You, nothing is impossible! I will praise you in good times and bad.
In Jesus Name, Amen
 
And I’m singing…
 
In everything give Him thanks
Give Him thanks
In everything give thanks
Give Him thanks
In the good times praise His name
In the bad times do the same
In everything give the King of kings
All the thanks
 
With all the good things
That had come His way
It’s no wonder
You could hear Job say
The Lord giveth and He taketh away
I’ll give Him thanks
But when the tables were all turned around
And Job’s world came crashing down
His faith in God caused Job to say
I’ll still give Him thanks
When trouble comes
And there’s no one around
Satan tries to tell me
That God’s let me down
Through ev’ry dark hour
The best thing I’ve found
Is to give God the thanks
For He has never
Failed me yet
So why should I start now
To worry or fret
In eve’rything I won’t ever forget
To give God the thanks
 
(By Donna Alley)
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AS THE DEER…I, TOO, THIRST FOR YOU!

Posted on October 27, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
Psalm 42 longs for youAs the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
 
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart’s desire
And I long to worship Thee
 
This chorus was sung in my growing up years and beyond. It speaks peace to our hearts when we are broken-hearted and beaten down by the world’s ways of relating to each other. This prayer song to God are words of self reflection as the writer asks, “Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul? Why are you crying the blues?” Sometimes we allow the power of people’s feelings and actions control our thoughts. When that happens, we fall deeper into a depression that is physically, emotionally and spiritually unhealthy and unproductive.
 
Psalm 42, The Message
A psalm of the sons of Korah
 
1-3 A white-tailed deer drinks
from the creek;
I want to drink God,
deep draughts of God.
I’m thirsty for God-alive.
I wonder, “Will I ever make it—
arrive and drink in God’s presence?”
I’m on a diet of tears—
tears for breakfast, tears for supper.
All day long
people knock at my door,
Pestering,
“Where is this God of yours?”
 
Psalm 42 114 These are the things I go over and over,
emptying out the pockets of my life.
I was always at the head of the worshiping crowd,
right out in front,
Leading them all,
eager to arrive and worship,
Shouting praises, singing thanksgiving—
celebrating, all of us, God’s feast!
 
5 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
 
Psalm 42 deep calls to deep6-8 When my soul is in the dumps, I rehearse
everything I know of you,
From Jordan depths to Hermon heights,
including Mount Mizar.
Chaos calls to chaos,
to the tune of whitewater rapids.
Your breaking surf, your thundering breakers
crash and crush me.
Then God promises to love me all day,
sing songs all through the night!
My life is God’s prayer.
 
9-10 Sometimes I ask God, my rock-solid God,
“Why did you let me down?
Why am I walking around in tears,
harassed by enemies?”
They’re out for the kill, these
tormentors with their obscenities,
Taunting day after day,
“Where is this God of yours?”
 
Psalm 42 smile on my face11 Why are you down in the dumps, dear soul?
Why are you crying the blues?
Fix my eyes on God—
soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face.
He’s my God.
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW ON…
This prayer-song repeats a chorus of redemption and restoration of joy for us all with a declaration of Who God is and how He helps us see life as He sees it. Here is the prescription outlined by the Healer:
 
“Fix my eyes on God–soon I’ll be praising again.
He puts a smile on my face. He’s my God.”
 
Psalm 42 respect God
This might be good to memorize and repeat when we fall into the blues because of what life hands out. Focus is the key. Focus on God…Fix our eyes on God without looking away. When the smile leaves our faces for whatever reason, the first people to notice are usually those who taunt you for what you believe, who criticize every move you make and spend most of their time looking for your mistakes. Don’t let mere humans have power over you like that. Let God’s power rule. Let the peace of Christ in you rule. How? Focus on God. Remember all He as done, is doing and will do in our lives.
 
This chorus will be repeated in our next Psalm as well. Look for it. Better still, look and focus on God, Let us fix our eyes on God as a servant would his master waiting for the nod of His head with our marching orders. Fix means to adhere, to be attached, to never look away. Let our eyes be stuck on God! The smiles will return, our joy restored with minds to think more like Christ.
 
I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye
 
HEART CHECK:
 
Worship with thanksgiving and praise is the antidote for depression and anxiety. The Psalmist knew it. We know it. When we fix our minds, hearts and souls on the One who loved us first, loves us still and always will, we are lifted to higher thoughts–the “whatevers”, I call them:
 
Philippians 4:8 (The worship book of praise and rejoicing!)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.
 
If you are struggling with life stuff, illness, broken hearts, failed relationships, fix your eyes on God who created you, loves you and is always with you.
 
List the ways God has pulled you through other challenging seasons of life. What do you learn about God then? What do you know about God now?
 
Remember the Giver of Life when the world tries to suck the life from you.
 
Psalm 42 smile
Dear Heavenly Father,
Thank you for always being with us. Thank you for loving us when we don’t love ourselves. Thank you for helping us get back on our feet by taking us by the hand and lifting us up by your power working in us. Thank you for the inner desire to praise and worship You alone. We do thirst for you, long for you and love you with all that is in us. Thank you for saving us. Thank you for forgiving our repentant hearts. Thank you for restoring the joy of YOUR salvation. You put the smile on our faces! I love you, Lord.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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DIGNITY – DON’T LOOK DOWN!

Posted on October 26, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
Have you ever felt less than dignified? Who makes you feel that way? What makes you feel as if you have nothing to live for in this life? When did you lose your dignity or self worth? What can we do about this situation?
 
Psalm 42 dignity and worth
First, what IS dignity? It is the state or quality of being worthy of honor or respect. “A man of dignity and unbending principle”. Mm, it has to do with what we believe and how we express it. It is also a composed or serious manner or style. “He bowed with great dignity”. So it is our posture when coming into the presence of another. Finally, it is also how we feel about our own self worth. Dignity is a sense of pride in oneself; self-respect. “It was beneath his dignity to shout” out at the event. When our dignity is lost we do not feel of any value to anyone.
 
David sends another prayer to God that teaches us where our dignity or self worth lies. It is God who gives us the dignity to live life to the full. It is God who created us and gives us value and worth because we are His and He is ours. When the world tries to take away our worth, God steps in and gives us the dignity to rise above those who put us down. Our work is to dignify those who are down on their luck…like God does for us. That’s loving God and loving others.
 
Psalm 41, The Message
A David Psalm
 
Psalm 41 21-3 Dignify those who are down on their luck;
you’ll feel good—that’s what God does.
God looks after us all,
makes us robust with life—
Lucky to be in the land,
we’re free from enemy worries.
Whenever we’re sick and in bed,
God becomes our nurse,
nurses us back to health.
 
4-7 I said, “God, be gracious!
Put me together again—
my sins have torn me to pieces.”
My enemies are wishing the worst for me;
they make bets on what day I will die.
If someone comes to see me,
he mouths empty platitudes,
All the while gathering gossip about me
to entertain the street-corner crowd.
These “friends” who hate me
whisper slanders all over town.
They form committees
to plan misery for me.
 
8-9 The rumor goes out, “He’s got some dirty,
deadly disease. The doctors
have given up on him.”
Even my best friend, the one I always told everything
—he ate meals at my house all the time!—
has bitten my hand.
 
10 God, give grace, get me up on my feet.
I’ll show them a thing or two.
 
Psalm 41 integrity11-12 Meanwhile, I’m sure you’re on my side—
no victory shouts yet from the enemy camp!
You know me inside and out, you hold me together,
you never fail to stand me tall in your presence
so I can look you in the eye.
 
13 Blessed is God, Israel’s God,
always, always, always.
Yes. Yes. Yes.
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
Before we can claim God’s promises, we must examine our own hearts to see if we have sincerely met the conditions the Lord has laid down. David knew that he had no right to claim mercy from the Lord if he himself had not shown mercy to others.
 
“How blessed is he who considers the helpless; The Lord will deliver him in a day of trouble. 2 The Lord will protect him and keep him alive, And he shall be called blessed upon the earth; And do not give him over to the desire of his enemies.” (ASV)
 
The helpless, people in misery, whose lot was difficult and who depended on the help of others is to whom David is referring. To “consider” these pitiable (KJV) people meant being attentive to their needs and assisting them. It also meant not judging and blaming them, as Job’s friends blamed him and the disciples blamed the blind man (John 9:1-4). We have every reason to believe that David sought to care for the poor and needy in his kingdom and therefore was praying with integrity, asking God to help him help them.
 
When we are walking on the tight rope of life, trying to keep our balance, the last thing we should do is look down! We look up. We look from side to side, we look forward not back, but we do not look down or we will fall!
 
Psalm 41 God keeps themHEART CHECK:
God in His mercy doesn’t give us what we do deserve, and God in His grace gives us what we don’t deserve, and He does this because of Jesus Christ His Son, who died for us on the cross.
 
Do we pray for mercy? Do we ask God for His grace? Do we pray mercy and grace for those who are down and out? How? What are the words? (See also the Publican and the Sinner story, Luke 18: 9-14).
 
The last verse reminds us that the main thing in our lives must be the eternal praise and glory of the Lord. “Hallowed be thy name” is the first request in the Disciples’ Prayer (Matt. 6:9), and it governs all the other requests.
 
God answers prayer, not to make His people more comfortable, but to bring glory to His name. The Lord still had more work for David to do, particularly the preparation for the building of the temple, and His glory would one day move into that holy sanctuary (1 Kings 8:1-11).
 
Can we honestly say “Amen and amen!” to the prayer in verse 13? Think about it. Take all the time you need.
 
David’s prayer presents us with four inward, thought provoking questions:
 
Dignity and Integrity: How do we treat others?
Treachery: How do others treat us?
Mercy: How does God treat us?
Glory: How do we treat God?
 
Has a trusted friend disappointed you, perhaps even betrayed you? How do we know the Lord will never disappoint or betray us?
 
Psalm 41 help the weakDear Heavenly Father,
Forgive us for comparing ourselves to others as a way to gain worth and dignity. That is NOT of You. Help us to look up to You first for mercy and grace because of our own sin. Then guide us to others who are hurting and in need of your saving grace, too. May we look up to You. May we refrain from every looking down on others. May Your glory be seen in and through us. You are God and we are not. Our worth is only in You, our Creator and Father. Help us to point the way to You. Thank you for your mercy and grace. Thank you for Life.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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GOD’S WORD BECOMES OUR VERY BEING

Posted on October 25, 2018 by randscallawayffm
Psalms – Prayers of Honesty
 
I am reminded of an old hymn this morning as I read the Psalmist prayer of seeking God and hearing His voice.
 
When we walk with the Lord
In the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way;
While we do His good will,
He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey.
Trust and obey,
For there’s no other way
To be happy in Jesus,
But to trust and obey.
 
As this song runs through your mind, read David’s prayer of seeking, asking, repenting, and praising.
 
Psalm 40, The Message
 
A David Psalm
Psalm 40 God hears1-3 I waited and waited and waited for God.
At last he looked; finally he listened.
He lifted me out of the ditch,
pulled me from deep mud.
He stood me up on a solid rock
to make sure I wouldn’t slip.
He taught me how to sing the latest God-song,
a praise-song to our God.
More and more people are seeing this:
they enter the mystery,
abandoning themselves to God.
 
4-5 Blessed are you who give yourselves over to God,
turn your backs on the world’s “sure thing,”
ignore what the world worships;
The world’s a huge stockpile
of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one
comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know,
and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words
account for you.
 
6 Doing something for you, bringing something to you—
that’s not what you’re after.
Being religious, acting pious—
that’s not what you’re asking for.
You’ve opened my ears
so I can listen.
 
Psalm 40 87-8 So I answered, “I’m coming.
I read in your letter what you wrote about me,
And I’m coming to the party
you’re throwing for me.”
That’s when God’s Word entered my life,
became part of my very being.
 
9-10 I’ve preached you to the whole congregation,
I’ve kept back nothing, God—you know that.
I didn’t keep the news of your ways
a secret, didn’t keep it to myself.
I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough.
I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth
For myself alone. I told it all,
let the congregation know the whole story.
 
11-12 Now God, don’t hold out on me,
don’t hold back your passion.
Your love and truth
are all that keeps me together.
When troubles ganged up on me,
a mob of sins past counting,
I was so swamped by guilt
I couldn’t see my way clear.
More guilt in my heart than hair on my head,
so heavy the guilt that my heart gave out.
 
Psalm 40 protect13-15 Soften up, God, and intervene;
hurry and get me some help,
So those who are trying to kidnap my soul
will be embarrassed and lose face,
So anyone who gets a kick out of making me miserable
will be heckled and disgraced,
So those who pray for my ruin
will be booed and jeered without mercy.
 
16-17 But all who are hunting for you—
oh, let them sing and be happy.
Let those who know what you’re all about
tell the world you’re great and not quitting.
And me? I’m a mess. I’m nothing and have nothing:
make something of me.
You can do it; you’ve got what it takes—
but God, don’t put it off.
 
 
SOMETHING TO CHEW…
The Psalmist feels like he has been waiting for God for longer than is necessary, but maybe God is waiting on him. From whatever experiences led to the writing of this psalm, David learned some valuable lessons and gave us three important instructions to follow in the difficult times of life;
1. Praise God for All He Has Done (vv. 1-5)
2. Give God All That He Asks (vv. 6-10)
3. Trust God for All That Remains (vv. 11-17)
 
When we follow God, abandoning everything else, we realize HE is all we needed in the first place. So, give Him first place!
 
Psalm 40 new song
“He taught me how to sing the latest God-song, a praise-song to our God.” (Reckless Love of God)
 
Before I spoke a word, You were singing over me
You have been so, so good to me
Before I took a breath, You breathed Your life in me
You have been so, so kind to me
 
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
I couldn’t earn it, and I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,
 
When I was Your foe, still Your love fought for me
You have been so, so good to me
When I felt no worth, You paid it all for me
You have been so, so kind to me
 
There’s no shadow You won’t light up
Mountain You won’t climb up
Coming after me
There’s no wall You won’t kick down
Lie You won’t tear down
Coming after me
 
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God
Oh, it chases me down, fights ’til I’m found, leaves the ninety-nine
And I couldn’t earn it, I don’t deserve it, still, You give Yourself away
Oh, the overwhelming, never-ending, reckless love of God,
 
(Songwriters: Caleb Culver / Cory Asbury / Ran Jackson)
 
HEART CHECK:
 
What has impressed you most about the way the Lord has worked in your life?
 
Why are sacrifices no substitute for obedience?
 
What motivates you to obey the Lord?
 
Psalm 40 Gods Word
Dear Heavenly Father,
We learned early on in our lives that it is not the sacrifice of our time or our hard work that pleases you, but it is the abandon of all that is in us to you. It is giving you our hearts, minds and souls. It is obeying your commands to love you first and to love others like you love us. When we lose sight of You and look to ourselves or others, we fall down slippery slopes to pits of depression, worry, feelings of being unloved and devalued. When we look up, see your love, you lift us up from our mess and set us on higher ground. You cleanse us and set us free because of your reckless love that knows no limits or bounds. Thank you, Lord. Your child is listening. Your Word is my very being.
In Jesus Name, Amen
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