At the Potter's House

DAY 55
Jeremiah 10:14 - 23:8


In Jeremiah 18 and 19 we get to take a trip to the potter's house.

Jeremiah 18:1-6 "The word which came to Jeremiah from the LORD, saying: 2 "Arise and go down to the potter's house, and there I will cause you to hear My words." 3 Then I went down to the potter's house, and there he was, making something at the wheel. 4 And the vessel that he made of clay was marred in the hand of the potter; so he made it again into another vessel, as it seemed good to the potter to make. 5 Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: 6 "O house of Israel, can I not do with you as this potter?" says the LORD. "Look, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are you in My hand, O house of Israel!


We have heard this before in Isaiah.

Isaiah 64:8 But now, O LORD, You are our Father; We are the clay, and You our potter; And all we are the work of Your hand.

There are two things I want to share about the story of the potter.

The first is that God can take cracked, marred, and broken people and form them into someone good and with purpose. He can fix the brokenness. He can fix the loneliness. He can fix the life marred and stained by sin. He can fix the rough edges around the corners.

For whatever reason, sometimes God doesn't fix what we think is broken. I think it is a matter of perspective. Sometimes the things we most want God to take care of, are the things that draw us closer to Him. Maybe the odd shape of our pot is what brought us into a saving knowledge of Jesus, or a deeper dependence on God. I don't know the answers to why the potter fashions the clay in certain ways, but then again I don't have to.

Which brings me to my second point. God is the potter. That brings fear to some, but it should be peace to those that love and follow Him. I would much rather trust in the character of God to form and fashion me the way He pleases than depend on me or anyone else to mold the clay. And if we truly believe that God is holy, loving, and gracious; then the potter's wheel becomes not just a place for correction, but a place of comfort, rest, and beauty.

And when your at the Potter's house, you can sing:

HAVE THINE OWN WAY, LORD! HAVE THINE OWN WAY!
THOU ART THE POTTER, I AM THE CLAY!
MOLD ME AND MAKE ME AFTER THY WILL
WHILE I AM WAITING, YIELDED AND STILL

Broken Cisterns

DAY 54
Isaiah 66:19 - Jeremiah 10:13


This picture of the "broken-hearted prophet" Jeremiah was painted by Michelangelo and is located in the Sistine Chapel.

Jeremiah is also known as the weeping prophet. His message consisted of stern rebuke for the sins of Israel and of warning that divine judgement could not be averted. Through him God sought first to turn the hearts of the people back to Him during the reign of Josiah. And when Israel once again departed from the Lord, Jeremiah was used to secure their co-operation with His purpose in the Captivity, which came not as retributive punishment but as remedial discipline. He constantly wept over the sins of Israel and over the doom that threatened his beloved nation. Jeremiah had cause for weeping if any prophet ever had, but he bore his message faithfully.
(Parts of this summary of Jeremiah is from http://www.nisbett.com/summary/sum-o-21.htm)

Jeremiah 2:13
"My people have committed two sins: They have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water."

The Hebrew people committed two sins: They chose not to serve God and they chose to serve themselves.

It's a flashback to the past with Joshua, "Choose you this day whom you will serve!", when Israel served the Lord. But with each successive king, Israel continued to choose to serve themselves instead of God. And Jeremiah is chosen to proclaim the future discipline and correction they will suffer.

It also points us to the future, when the voice of God would be quiet with His chosen people. For years, they would not hear his guidance. And their attempts to serve themselves became like cisterns that could not hold water. Their faith became dry and parched without the living water God provides.

It also points us to the picture of Jesus with the woman at the well.

John 4:13-14
Jesus answered, “Everyone who drinks this water will be thirsty again, but whoever drinks the water I give him will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

Notice that the reference to God the Father and Jesus the Son are the same: they are the spring of living water, the spring of eternal life.

We all try to carry water in broken cisterns made from our own design. Attempting to create our own righteousness, our own truth, and sometimes even our own god. In the end we will just be left with an empty bottle because all our attempts are apart from God.

A life without God is an empty cistern, and a house built on shifting sand.

There is only one water fountain that contains the spring of living water. His name is Jesus. And just like the woman at the well, He is waiting for you to ask for a drink.

The One God Esteems

DAY53
Isaiah 52:13 - 66:18

These three paintings by Vincent Van Gogh illustrate the simple humility of someone before God. The names of them are simple, too. Old Man, Head in Hands (Eternity's Gate), Old Man Reading the Bible, and Old Man Kneeling in Prayer

You might even be suprised that someone so tormented by sorrow at one time had great faith and ministered to the poor and needy. "Christ," said van Gogh, "is more of an artist than the artists; he works in the living spirit and the living flesh; he makes men instead of statues."

These simple paintings also illustrate those that are honored by God; those that kneel in prayer, are contrite, and read the word of God.

Isaiah 66:2

"Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being? declares the Lord. This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

Humility, Contrite, and Trembling in the word.

Not necessarily the picture we have in our minds of soldier in God's army. Too many of us are more like the boldness of Peter, similar to the pride of James and John, and even the arrogance of Saul(Paul). But Jesus performed a mighty work of art in these men and changed their lives. Peter found the humility in feeding Chris'ts sheep. John's contriteness is exemplified in the grace and love in his gospel and epistles. And Paul's trembling came by the loss of his sight.

It's amazing to realize that God is still in the art business, transforming the canvas in each man's heart to the one he esteems. Jesus has shown the example by humbling himself to death on a cross. And the Holy Spirit guides a person to the point where they realize their position before God (humility); are repentant in their heart for their sins (contrite); and learn to grow into maturity through being stirred by the power of His word (trembling).

It should be our prayer that the world sees more humble, contrite, and trembling believers.

It should be our prayer that the world sees more people like the old man of Vincent van Gogh.

Someone humbly kneeling in prayer before God. Someone with their head in their hands because they are repentant and sorrowful for their offenses against God. Someone trembling with the Bible in their hands because the word of God shakes and stirs their soul.

Because those are the ones God esteems.

You are my witnesses!

DAY 52
Isaiah 41:19 - 52:12

No pictures. No commentary. Just a reminder about the grace and power of God from Isaiah 43

1 But now, this is what the Lord says—
he who created you, O Jacob,
he who formed you, O Israel:
“Fear not, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord, your God,
the Holy One of Israel, your Savior;

10 “You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord,
“and my servant whom I have chosen,
so that you may know and believe me
and understand that I am he.
Before me no god was formed,
nor will there be one after me.
11 I, even I, am the Lord,
and apart from me there is no savior.
12 I have revealed and saved and proclaimed—
I, and not some foreign god among you.
You are my witnesses,” declares the Lord, “that I am God.
13 Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
No one can deliver out of my hand.
When I act, who can reverse it?”

An Eagle Above the Storm

DAY 51
Isaiah 29:1 - 41:18

Isaiah 40: 28-31

"Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired or weary,
and his understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint."

Did you know that an eagle knows when a storm is approaching long before it breaks? The eagle will fly to some high spot and wait for the winds to come. When the storm hits, it sets its wings so that the wind will pick it up and lift it above the storm. While the storm rages, below the eagle is soaring above it. The eagle does not escape the storm, it simply uses the storm to lift it higher. It rises on the winds that bring the storm.

When the storms of life come upon us ... and all of us will experience them ... we can rise above them by setting our minds and our belief toward God. The storms do not have to overcome us, we can allow God's power to lift us above them. God enables us to ride the winds of the storm that bring sickness, tragedy, failure, and disappointment into our lives. We can soar above the storm.

Remember, it is not the burdens of life that weigh us down, it is how we handle them.

~ Author Unknown ~

The Hands of God

DAY 50
Isaiah 14:1 - 28:29



Isaiah 14:27
"For the Lord Almighty has purposed, and who can thwart Him? His hand is stretched out, and who can turn it back?"

The hand is a symbol of love and discipline. Most of the times we want the one without the other.

There is an amazing confidence that stems from resting in God's hands. Confidence not in ourselves, but in the character of the one (God) whose hands we are resting in. A peace that comes from realizing that our salvation, and even our existence, ultimately relies on the powerful and merciful hands of God. That doesn't absolve us of our responsibility regarding our actions and attitudes, but it does point us to the one person who did completely rely on the Father's hands.

Luke 23:26. "And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost."

With His last breath and words, Jesus rests in the hands of the Father.

Isn't that what God wants from each one of us; to rest in the hands of the Father with every breath as if it was our last breath. Because in the Father's hands is the safest place to be.

John 10:29 "My Father, who has given them to me, is greater than all; no one can snatch them out of my Father's hand."

The only sure place,
the only safe place,
the only saving place,
Is in the hands of God.

I would much rather depend on His hands than mine own.

Glimpses at the Future

DAY 49
Isaiah 1:1 - 13:22


There are numerous prophecies concerning the Messiah in Isaiah. One commentator counts as many as 121. As we read through this wonderful book the next few days, I would like just to highlight those for your study later on. In the section we read today, here are some from http://biblia.com/jesusbible/isaiah2.htm


Isaiah Prophecies
The Jews would reject the Messiah. Isaiah 6:9-10a
(John 12:37-40)
The Messiah would teach in parables. Isaiah 6:9-10b
( Matthew 13:13-15)
The Messiah would be born of a virgin. Isaiah 7:14a
(Luke 1:34-35)
The Messiah would be called Immanuel, "God With Us." Isaiah 7:14b
(Matthew 1:21-23, John 12:45)
The Messiah would be God. Isaiah 7:14c
(1 Timothy 3:16)
The Messiah would have wisdom from His childhood. Isaiah 7:15
(Luke 2:40)
The Messiah would be a "Stumbling Stone" for the Jews. Isaiah 8:14
(Matthew 21:43-44)
The Messiah would minister in Galilee. Isaiah 9:1-2a
(Matthew 4:12-17)
The Messiah would be a light to the Gentiles. Isaiah 9:1-2b
(Luke 2:28-32)
The birth of the Messiah. Isaiah 9:6a
(Luke 2:11)
The Messiah would be the Son of God. Isaiah 9:6b
(Luke 1:35)
The Messiah would be both man and God. Isaiah 9:6c
( John 10:30, John 12:45, John 14:7)
The Messiah would be from everlasting. Isaiah 9:6d
(Colossians 1:17)
The Messiah would come from the lineage of Jesse. Isaiah 11:1a
(Luke 3:23-32)
The Messiah would grow up in Nazareth. Isaiah 11:1b
(Matthew 2:21-23)
The Messiah would have the Spirit of God upon Him. Isaiah 11:2a
(Matthew 3:16-17)
The Messiah would have the Spirit of knowledge and wisdom. Isaiah 11:2b
(Matthew 13:54)
The Messiah would have the Spirit of knowledge and fear of God. Isaiah 11:2c
(Matthew 11:27, John 15:10)
The Messiah would have a quick understanding in the fear of the LORD. Isaiah 11:3a
(Luke 2:46-47, Luke 4:31-32, John 14:31)
The Messiah would not judge on the basis of outward appearance. Isaiah 11:3b
(John 2:24-25, John 7:24)
The Messiah would judge the poor with righteousness. Isaiah 11:4
(Mark 12:41-44, Luke 13:30)
The Messiah would come from the lineage of Jesse. Isaiah 11:10a
(Luke 3:23-32)
The Messiah would come for all people. Isaiah 11:10b
(Acts 13:47-48)

External Link: More research on prophecies in Isaiah in today's section.
http://www.messiahrevealed.org/isaiah.html

Meaningless! Meaningless!

DAY 48
Ecclesiastes 3:1 - Song of Solomon 8:14

38 times. That's how often the word "meaningless" is used in Ecclesiastes.

Ecclesiastes 1:2 "Meaningless! Meaningless! says the Teacher. Utterly meaningless! Everything is meaningless!"

Just to prove it, Solomon tries everything: Wisdom, Pleasure, Work, Folly, Wealth, and Success. And he finds out that we all end up in the same place: the grave. He also finds out that life is a lot more like the movie Groundhog Day than we care to admit. It's the same thing everyday.

Let's be honest with ourselves. Take a look at your week. We get up about the same time. Either go to work, school, or stay at home. We perform the same tasks everyday. We eat the same meals and watch the same television shows. And it makes us tired. Tired of the same old thing.

Ecclesiastes 1:8 "All things are wearisome"

So we decieve ourselves by trying something "new." We go buy a new house, a new car, some clothes, the latest TV or gadget. We even get excited about it, but usually for the wrong reasons. Instead of praising and thanking God, for the resources He has provided to buy our new things; we are showing everyone around us what great things we have. But pretty soon, the newness wears off. And we are tired once again.

Ecclesiastes 1:10 " Is there anything of which one can say, Look! This is something new? It was here already, long ago; it was here before our time."

But before you go get some caffeine to pick yourself up from what appears to be depressing;

Be still and Be honest about your life.

Understand that the things of this world, in and of themselves, are meaningless apart from God. But once we are honest, we will learn that our pursuit of toys, trinkets, jobs, and knowledge are supposed to lead us to the same conclusion. That they are all meaningless, apart from God. The reason is that they all pass away, they are all temporary. And inside our hearts, God has placed a spirit that is eternal. A restless spirit that demands something more.

Ecclesiastes 3:11b "He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end."

Ecclesiastes 3:14 "I know that everything God does will endure forever; nothing can be added to it and nothing taken from it. God does it so that men will revere Him."

Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 "Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil."

The conclusion of the matter is that if our lives are based on anything other than Jesus Christ, then our lives meaningless and we are chasing after the wind. And when we become weary from all the striving, we will be able to hear God.

And God will say to your restless, tired soul:

There is someone better!

There is someone eternal!

There is someone meaningful!

And that someone wants a relationship with you. God wants to you to realize you do have meaning to Him, in Him, and through Him!

(Some of the commentary on Ecclesiastes is borrowed from the pastor of Village Church, Matt Chandler.)

Two Things I Ask

DAY 47
Proverbs 20:22 - Ecclesiastes 2:26



If there were only two things that you could ask God for, what would they be?

Would it be Health and Wealth? There are a lot of people, including those that call themselves believers that are on that bandwagon. A long healthy life with money to spend. Sounds like the American dream. But what does it profit us if we gain all the wealth in the world and a hundred years to spend it, if we don't love God and each other.

Would it be Power and Knowledge? Many want to be "in the know" and have the authority to make the decisions people follow. Too many times, as Christians, we treat those that don't believe exactly like we do as ignorant and without knowledge. Too many times, we feel like we are the only ones capable of making the "right"decisions. But it doesn't profit me a thing if I am a "know-it-all" who controls other people. if I do not know the salvation from God. God is the only one that is all-knowing and all-powerful.

Would it be Fame and Fortune? The illusion of Hollywood pervades our culture. The movies and television portray life much differently than it actually is. Our news, whether from newspapers, radio, or television, give more emphasis to those that are popular than they do to what is noble and right. But it doesn't profit me a thing to be the most famous person in the world, if I will spend eternity apart from God.

So what would be the two things you can ask from God?

Proverbs 30:7-9
7 “Two things I ask of you, O Lord;
do not refuse me before I die:
8 Keep falsehood and lies far from me;
give me neither poverty nor riches,
but give me only my daily bread.
9 Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you
and say, ‘Who is the Lord?’
Or I may become poor and steal,
and so dishonor the name of my God."

The widsom from Proverbs asked for two things: Truth and Provision.

May God grant us those portions of daily truth and daily bread that make us:

Rely wholeheartedly on the Lord,
Learn to live in the moment,
Be grateful for what we have,
Know what sacrifice is by sharing,
Discern what falsehood is, and
Make us experience the loving hand of a mighty God and the unending passion of sharing that love to others.


External Link: What do you think Rick Hoyt asked for? Eighty-five times Dick Hoyt has pushed his disabled son, Rick, 26.2 miles in Marathons. Eight times he's not only pushed him 26.2 miles in a Wheelchair but also towed him 2.4 miles in a dinghy while swimming and Pedaled him 112 miles in a seat on the handlebars–all in the same day.
“The thing I'd most like,'' Rick types, “is that my dad sit in the chair and I push him once.''
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f4B-r8KJhlE

Best Laid Plans

DAY 46
Proverbs 7:1 - 20:21

Everyone has heard the phrase, "the best laid plans go to waste." The Scottish poet Robert Burns introduced it his poem To A Mouse, "The best laid plans of mice and men often go awry."

We have all experienced this problem.

We like to make plans for everything. These plans are our dreams and the deep desires of our heart. They focus on very personal things like careers, marriage, and children. In our families we make plans for vacations, weekends, and get-togethers. Even in our churches, we have plans for activities, outreach, discipleship, and buildings.

Our plans don't always go exactly like we think they should. And when they don't, we often get discouraged, frustrated, or angry. Sometimes, we are even heartbroken.

But there is some consolation from scripture.

Proverbs 19:21 "Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

To be completely honest, I look back on my life and all the plans that I had about ten years ago; I am extremely glad that nothing turned out as I planned.

I am not in the career I had planned.

I am not in state I had planned.

I do not have the friends I had planned.

I do not have the health I had planned.

I have something much better, I have what God has planned.

I have a family, a church, friends, a job, and mission field that only God could have planned. And it fulfills His purpose.

There were some plans made about 2000 years ago by the Sanhedrin, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Herod, and a mob of followers. Their plan was to put an end to the teachings and life of Jesus. But even in their plans, God had a purpose that prevailed. It is found in Acts 2.

(22-24) “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God's set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men,* put him to death by nailing him to the cross. 24 But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him."

(32-33) "God has raised this Jesus to life, and we are all witnesses of the fact. Exalted to the right hand of God, he has received from the Father the promised Holy Spirit and has poured out what you now see and hear."

(36)“Therefore let all Israel be assured of this: God has made this Jesus, whom you crucified, both Lord and Christ.”

The next time your plans don't go exactly as you think they should, remember that God's ultimate purpose will always prevail: the saving of many lives and and conforming His sheep to the image of His son.

Bind Them Around Your Neck

DAY 45
Psalms 135:1 - Proverbs 6:35



Have you ever wondered why we use the term, "He lost it" when a person gets extremely upset at someone and goes into a tirade. Have you ever been angry at someone or say something completely mean to a person; then wonder "where did that come from"? Do you ever wonder why sometimes our actions are extremely self-serving?

Proverbs is full of wisdom that is extremely practical to our daily living. One of those is from Proverbs 3:3-4.

NKJV
3 Let not mercy and truth forsake you;
Bind them around your neck,
Write them on the tablet of your heart,
4 And so find favor and high esteem
In the sight of God and man.

NIV
3 Let love and faithfulness never leave you;
bind them around your neck,
write them on the tablet of your heart.
4 Then you will win favor and a good name
in the sight of God and man.

In Hebrew, the words are "checed" and "emeth"

Checed means a zeal towards someone with love, kindness and benevolence. It can also mean the grace, mercy, or love God bestows on His children.
Emeth can mean peace (as in security and stability) , faithfulness, or truth.

No matter which interpretation you want to use, the guidance from scripture is the same.

"Bind them around your neck"

ID tages are used in the military to correctly identify someone. That contain personal information about who you are.

"Mercy" and "Truth" should identify us as believers in Jesus. We do not deserve the grace, mercy, and love God has given to us, yet He still gives them. We are expected to show the same to those that God has created, even when they may not deserve it.

Luke 6:32-36 “If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ love those who love them. And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ do that. And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ‘sinners’ lend to ‘sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

The illustration of something around our neck places it in close proximity to our mouth.

"Mercy" and "Truth" should also guard our speech and the way we talk with others.

Colossians 4:6 "Let your speech always be with grace (mercy), seasoned with salt (truth), that you may know how you ought to answer each one."

"Write them on the tablet of your heart"

From scripture and experience, we know that our own hearts are deceitful. We also know that our actions and words come from the conditions of our heart.

"Mercy" and "Truth" should dwell in the heart.
Luke 6:45 "The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in his heart, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in his heart. For out of the overflow of his heart his mouth speaks."

The promise is that when "Mercy" and "Truth" are identify us as believers, guards our speech, and dwells in our hearts, we will find the favor and understanding of God and man.

And if mercy and truth are bound around our necks and written on the tablets of our hearts and we never leave them; we won't have those moments where we "lose it" or wonder "where did that come from?"

The Half Way Hallelujah!!

DAY 44
Psalms 109:1 -134:3


The journey through the Bible has come a long way. We are now at the Half Way Hallelujah Point! So let's praise God for His prescence.

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! for all that He has revealed to us.

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! for His covenant of love that has been from the beginning!

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! for the foreshadowing of Christ that we have witnessed!

Hallelujah, Praise the Lord! Who is Creator, Sustainer, Provider, Comforter, and Deliverer!

At the half way point, I want to congratulate you on reading through the Bible this far. I also want to encourage to continue the journey.

For today, I will leave you with Psalms 121.

1I will lift up my eyes to the hills--
From whence comes my help?
2 My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
3 He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
4 Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.
5 The Lord is your keeper;
The Lord is your shade at your right hand.
6 The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.
7 The Lord shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
8 The Lord shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Psalm 100

DAY 43
Psalms 89:14 - 108:13

Many who grew up in the church will notice Psalms 100. As a child, you may have memorized it.

1Make a joyful shout to the Lord, all you lands!
2 Serve the Lord with gladness;
Come before His presence with singing.
3 Know that the Lord, He is God;
It is He who has made us, and *not we ourselves;
We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.
4 Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
And into His courts with praise.
Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
5 For the Lord is good;
His mercy is everlasting,
And His truth endures to all generations.

You may also recognize the praise song I Will Enter His Gates by Gwen R. Shaw

I will enter His gates
With thanksgiving in my heart
I will enter His courts with praise
I will say this is the day
That the Lord has made
I will rejoice for He has made me glad
He has made me glad
He has made me glad
I will rejoice for He has made me glad

It is a beautiful Psalm that reminds us of our worship to the Lord.

It reminds us of that "The Lord is God."

It reminds us of God as Creator since "It is He who made us."

It reminds us of God as Sustainer, Protector and Provider since "we are His people, the sheep of His pasture."

It reminds us of the character of God. "For the Lord is good and His love endures forever; His faithfulness continues through all generations."

Because of "Who God is!" and that "We are His!" we have the privilege of knowing Him. As we come to experience His grace, His mercy, and His love; JOY and GLADNESS fill our soul. So much that it overflows. And we cannot help but worship in His presence with praise and thanksgiving.

SHOUT FOR JOY TO THE LORD

External Link: Charles Spurgeon's Treasury of David on Psalms 100
http://www.spurgeon.org/treasury/ps100.htm

Day Off

DAY 42
Psalms 69:22 - 89:13

Feel free to share your thoughts on today's Psalms reading!

My Soul Finds Rest in God Alone!

DAY 41
Psalms 45:15 - 69:21


Rock of Ages is one of my favorite hymns; it is one of my resting places. We all need resting places; where we can go and fully rely on the Lord's strength, mercy, and lovingkindness. They can be songs, passages of scripture, or certain places that allow us to totally focus on God. It's the times that our spirit is quiet before the Lord.

I have shared this with my sunday school class, but thought it would be appropriate here, too.

We are so busy today, that rest is a premium.

Rest means we "cease from action" any self-effort on our part regarding our salvation. This alone should relieve the pressure to perform our works for anything but the glory of God alone.

Rest means to "be free from worry." One of the biggest joy stealers in our lives today is worry, but for a believer God has freed you and I from that.

Rest means to "be settled" and "secure." We are secure in Jesus's hand and our debt has been settled. We are secure in whom we have believed and settled that He is able.

Rest means "to lean on." I can't think of anything more secure than leaning on the One that created and sustains the world. That knows everything about me; yet still desires my relationship.

And the greatest rest of all comes from our faith in Jesus for our salvation. It is the ETERNAL REST!
Hebrews 4:3a "For we who have believed enter that rest"

As my show and tell today, is Psalms 62: it is another one of my resting places.

1 My soul finds rest in God alone;
my salvation comes from him.
2 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

5 Find rest, O my soul, in God alone;
my hope comes from him.
6 He alone is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
7 My salvation and my honor depend on God*;
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
8 Trust in him at all times, O people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

11 One thing God has spoken,
two things have I heard:
that you, O God, are strong,
12 and that you, O Lord, are loving.
Surely you will reward each person
according to what he has done.

This weekend take some time to rest in God's presence.

Show and Tell 2

DAY 40
Psalms 25:1 - 45:14


We all get discouraged. There are times in our lives when we feel like everything is against us. We fell that we are outnumbered, that the prince of this world has the upper hand. And those that are against us ask "Where is your God?"

David felt discouraged on many occasions. There are times in my life where I have, too.

In those times, Psalms 42 is one of the places I can go. It's David's cry out to God in the midst of being oppressed by his enemies.

"As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?"

During those times, our spirit begs to meet with God. In the middle of our discouragement, we want to be reminded of who God is and whose we are. To be reminded of His love, His mercy, His protection, and His power. To be reminded that the Lord upholds us.

When we meet with the Most High God, it is impossible to remain discouraged. When we have truly sat in the presence of the Creator of the universe, we are reminded of his power to deliver us from our trouble. When we have spent time with the Saviour, we are reminded of His grace and mercy which is abundantly supplied to us. When we have rested in the God who is our Rock and Refuge, we are reminded of His ability to protect us from harm. And when we have been reminded of the character of God, we are given hope. And because of this hope, we can praise God.

"Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise Him,
my Savior and my God."

When your soul is thirsty, remember to spend time with God and you will be lifted up out of your discouragement and given hope.

Show and Tell

DAY 39
Job 42:1 - Psalms 24:10

First, I want to give credit to Kiki Cherry for the picture. She used it on her website to direct people they are ministering to toward our church's journey through the Bible. And if you didn't know it, there are people from other states that have decided to join us in our quest.

Show and Tell was always the fun part of school. You could bring anything to class and share it with your friends. You would also explain why it was so important to you.

Psalms are very personal. We are drawn to the emotion that bursts through the tears, laughter, and shouts of the authors. Whether we have times of rejoicing, sorrow, fear, or trouble; we always turn to them to express how we feel. We use them as prayers and praises in our own lives.

So its your time for "Show and Tell." During each day's section of reading, if there is a Psalm that has personal meaning to you, I would love for you to share it and why it is important to you.

Here is my "Show and Tell" for Psalms 4:8 " I will lie down and sleep in peace, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

A few months after my youngest was born, I was sent overseas for Iraqi Freedom. My wife and I decided to read through the Psalms while I was gone. Right before the war started, our base cut all email and phone conversations back home. So for about two weeks, I didn't get to talk to my family. During this time, as we were flying combat missions into the unknown, I came upon this verse and memorized it. It allowed me to rest in the arms of God at night and trust Him with my safety. At the same time back home, my wife read this verse and prayed it for me. When we were able to talk again, we both shared this verse together. When I got back, we had it written above the doorway in our son's room. In the midst of turmoil, I am reminded that God alone is in charge of me. That only His decision can bring me home. Therefore, while I am still in this foreign land, I can lie down and sleep in peace because God is in control.

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Show and Tell

Job, Part 2: I Will Question You, and You Shall Answer Me

DAY 38
Job 25:1-41:34

Job is a difficult book about suffering. It covers physical suffering, mental anguish, despair, and feelings of abandonment from God. Job and each of his friends try to explain why Job is suffering. What has Job done to deserve such disfavor from God? Obviously, Job has committed sin against God?? Job defends his righteousness before the Lord in response to his friends. Even God says at the beginning of the book, that Job was blameless and upright.

But that is precisely the problem!! Job and his friends are focusing on the wrong person. They are talking about Job's character, when they should be talking about God's character.

When Elihu speaks beginning is chapter 32 we see a change in the conversation from why Job is suffering to who God is and what is God's character.

When the Lord speaks in chapter 38 he starts with "Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge? Brace yourself like a man; I will question you, and you shall answer me." Notice the Lord does not explain Job's suffering, God uses the next few chapters to make a statement about who He is! And God questions Job's character (and ours), by defining His Character!

His power and authority
Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation? (38:4)
Have you ever given orders to the morning (38:12)

His knowledge and wisdom
What is the way to the abode of light, where does the darkness reside? (38:19)
Do you know the laws of the heavens? (38:33)

His provision of grace and mercy
Who provides food for the raven (38:41)
Do you watch when the doe bears her fawn? (39:1)

Then comes the questions that God asks Job, the question that God asks all of us in the midst of our sufferings! Job 40:8b Would you condemn me to justify yourself?" In his attempt to explain his suffering, Job was elevating his status, and questioning God's character. But after experiencing God's character, Job responds with repentance.

Our repentance should reveal that The Lord our God is holy, righteous, and powerful. There are mysteries I will never understand. I am unworthy and repent of my pride.

When we realize God's character and our position we will finally also understand God's grace and mercy. Our answer to the questions is:

"I sinned, and perverted what was right, but I did not get what I deserved. He redeemed my soul from going down to the pit, and I will live to enjoy the light." (Job 33:27-28)

So when we go through suffering, make sure you have the right perspective. Instead of focusing on ourselves, focus on the God who loves you and who provides you. Trust in God's character

Job, Part 1: God Doesn't Leave Us Alone

DAY 37
Job 8:1 - Job 24:25
(Excerpt from Job 5 & 7)


Job 5: 17-18 "Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty. For he wounds, but he also binds up; he injures, but his hands also heal."

This part of Job is extremely personal. I will admit my parents had to correct and discipline me quite a bit as a child and as a young adult. The Word of God continually explains that correction "drives folly from a child", "imparts wisdom", but most importantly "shows love." I wouldn't have admitted it at the time, but I am extremely thankful that my parents chose to discipline me. Their love shown through their corrections sowed the seeds of a God honoring life. Other people God has chosen may have come in my life, watered the field, and picked out weeds. But my parents prepared the field, and for that I am eternally grateful. One of the reasons why I can say that my parents loved me, is because of their discipline.

If we are willing to take correction from our parents and give correction to our children, Why are we so unwilling to be disciplined by God?

Like Job said, "Shall we accept good from God, and not trouble!" We are the clay in the potter's hands, shall we not accept His guidance to bring us into perfection? His love is perfect, shall we not trust it.

Job was blameless and upright; he feared God and shunned evil. So why does God correct him? It's because the Lord loves Job so much, He doesn't want to leave him short of perfection.

Job 7: 17-19 " What is man that you make so much of him, that you give him so much attention, that you examine him every morning and test him every moment? Will you never look away from me, or let me alone even for an instant?"

Praise God, that He doesn't leave me alone for even an instant, that the Lord doesn't look away from me, that Jehovah examines my life, that He gives me attention.

The Lord wants all of His children to reach their full maturity. One of the ways He does that is through correction and discipline.

Because His correction is the reason I can say without any doubt that He loves me and that I am one of His children.

For that lesson, I want to say
Thanks Mom and Dad.

Esther: For Such a Time as This!

DAY 36
Nehemiah 13:15 - Job 7:21


The Story of Esther is about how a person can be used as an instrument of God. Both Esther (Hadassah) and Mordecai were used by God to preserve and protect His chosen nation of Israel.

God placed Mordecai in a position to save King Xerxes life; to thwart a plot to assassinate the king. Therefore, Mordecai gained favor from the king. God placed Esther in a position where King Xerxes made her the queen, and she gained his favor. When Haman successfully arranged to have King Xerxes sign an edict to eradicate the Jews, Esther and Mordecai were in a position to influence the king.

This is what Mordecai said to Esther in 4:14 "For if you remain silent at this time, relief and deliverance for the Jews will arise from another place, but you and your father's family will perish. And who knows but that you have come to royal position for such a time as this?"

Esther's response to Mordecai was "When this is done (3 days fasting), I will go to the king, even though it is against the law. And if I perish, I perish."

We often wonder about the times we live in. We might even feel like we don't fit in. We sometimes ask, 'What if I had been born earlier?' The truth is we have been placed in the positions we are, "for such a time as this!" For at no greater time has the capability existed to share the gospel. At no greater time has the church had the capability and ability to minister to a lost world. At nogreater time has the world been more in need of the message of Jesus.

Esther and Mordecai were in a foreign land and in a foreign place subject to someone that was not their king. But they remained faithful to God.

You and I are in a foreign place and the prince of this world (Satan) is not our king. God still exerts control and puts us in places we need to be. And our duty is to be obedient to Him and proclaim the gospel.

Let us not remain silent and neglect our duty and miss out on the blessings of obedience to God.

You were made for such a time as this!