Week 10 - July 28, 2015


Greetings friends! I apologize for the tardiness of this post. This afternoon we returned from a 2,000+ mile road trip. I just have to tell you that Montana is surely one of God's masterpieces! I agree with  Psalm 145:10 "creation...applauds You, God." I wanted to stand and clap about 9:15 p.m. each evening as we watched the sun sink over the mountains. King David must have been someplace like Montana when he penned this Song of Praise! 

As we move into week 10 of Summer Song, I thought it might be useful to post the meditation suggestions that I handed out with the original study guide. I hope you are still reciting the Ashrei. (see Change Your Lens...Change Your Life!) Speaking this beautiful song aloud will change your atmosphere. Be blessed this final week of July 2015!   




Your kingdom is a kingdom
that will last forever.
Your rule will continue
for all time to come.
Psalm 145:13a NIRV


      MEDITATION GUIDELINES
  • Read & re-read the passage.
  • Ask The Holy Spirit for insight and revelation.
  • Explore different translations.
  • Journal your thoughts/revelations/questions regarding this passage.
  • Write out this verse(s). There are many studies that indicate writing by hand engages the brain in learning and enhances memory…among other benefits.
  • Is there a word/phrase that “chooses” you?
  • Is there an action that David meant to inspire with this passage? 
  • PLEASE share your thoughts with us.
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Week 9 (July 21, 2015)


11-12 They will not be silent; they will
TALK
of the grandeur of Your kingdom 
&
CELEBRATE
the wonder of Your power until 
everyone on earth who has ears to hear knows Your 
valiant acts
 & the splendor of Your kingdom. (Voice)
Disaster, calamity, upheaval, tragedy, ruin…

Yes, the media knows how to talk and not be silent… Sadly their theme is catastrophe upon catastrophe!

A few days ago as I was reading an article in a magazine given to me by a friend I came upon the most incredible word: Eucatastrophe. It is a term coined by the great writer of “Lord of the Rings”, J.R.R. Tolkien. This word came from joining together a Greek word meaning “destruction” preceded by the Greek word for “good”.

He defines it as “The sudden happy turn in a story which pierces you with a joy that brings tears…” Tolkien further states that, “…this is indeed how things really do work in the Great World for which our nature is made...”

In God’s kingdom it’s always good news! What looks like disaster, calamity, upheaval, tragedy, ruin is transformed…in His hands catastrophe becomes eucatastrophe!
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Week 8 - July 14, 2015




Creation and creatures
applaud You, God;
Your holy people bless You.
Psalm 145:10 (MSG)


Our tendency is to look at verse 10 as simply a beautifully constructed piece of poetry that David placed within the context of one of his amazing songs. But, perhaps this verse deserves a second look…

The Bible is full of references to “creation” doing things that we have reserved for us human-types:

  • In 1 Chronicles 16:33 trees of the forest are encouraged to sing.
  • In Psalm 65:13 the meadows shout for joy and sing.
  • In Psalm 69 the heavens, earth, seas and everything that moves in them are instructed to praise God.
  • In Psalm 98 the rivers clap while the mountains accompany them singing a joyous song together.
  • In Isaiah 14 juniper and cedar trees are gloating (yes gloating!).

What this tells me is that since the beginning of time—and perhaps even before—the entirety of God’s creation has been engaged in a symphony of praise to its Creator; a symphony that we are invited to join…not initiate. The song of those redeemed may be the greatest song but it is not the only song!






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God is Great, God is Good - Week 7 - 07.07.15




Many of us as children learned specific prayers for specific occasions. Remember the bedtime prayer: “Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep…”? Then there is the mealtime blessing: “God is great, God is good. Let us thank Him for our food…” God is great, God is good… A simple child’s prayer that encapsulates the most important things we need to know about our Father.

He’s not predictable, His ways are not understandable, His methods don’t very often line up with ours, His timing doesn’t usually mesh with our plans…however we can trust and relax because… God is great, God is good.

I love the following C.S. Lewis quote from The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. Two of the characters are engaged in a conversation about Aslan the great lion king, who in this story is a type of Jesus Christ:
     “Safe?”… Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good.”

As you meditate this week keep in mind that pretty much all we need to know is: God is great, God is good. A life lived against the backdrop of His greatness and His goodness is bound to be amazing!


PSALM 145:9
The Lord is good to all.
He shows deep concern for
everything He has made.
(NIRV)  

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Week 6 - June 30, 2015

This is a little late being posted today because I have just returned from a month in San Diego. I was honored to help my daughter as she recovered from surgery. She is doing quite well and looks forward to being able to drive again in a few weeks. Anyone who knows me knows that I was in heaven being just two doors away from my daughter and granddaughters. Below is a picture that was taken earlier today by my son-in-law. (L-R: Neely, Sarah, Mabel)








We are more than a month into Summer Song. I hope you are immersing yourselves in this wonderful Psalm...reading it, declaring it, singing it, dancing it...why not step out and try a new expression in your praise!

In the original Biblical languages, words that are translated “meditation” make it clear that this is a practice that involves every part of us. It is not simply an intellectual discipline of our mind but one that is meant to utilize our emotions, spirit and body. Interestingly the word most often translated “meditate” in the Old Testament means to mutter, moan, utter…in other words let your ears hear your mouth speak aloud your “meditative ponderings.”

(TLB) 8 Jehovah is kind and merciful, slow to get angry, full of love.
· What qualities do you value? Kindness, mercy…?

· Practice being intentional about the “slow to anger” portion. (You will no doubt be given many opportunities to pass this test.)

· Begin a list of God’s character attributes that David names in this song.
1 comment:

Call 2 Fall. Week 5. June 23, 2015




Last month when I was dividing up Psalm 145 and planning out the weekly portion for meditation, I came to verse 7 and felt that it should stand alone as a prophetic declaration for our nation. I can now see that Holy Spirit orchestrated this! Within the next seven days the Supreme Court will hand down several decisions that could have major implications for our country. This is a time in the history of The United States of America where prayer is desperately needed!

RiverChurch along with the Nevada House of Prayer and over 2.3 million churches and individuals will be participating in Call 2 Fall 2015, this coming Sunday.

The Call 2 Fall organizers are asking that on Sunday, June 28th believers come before the Lord on our knees in corporate humility. "Call 2 Fall" on our knees will be happening in many places Christians meet: worship centers, store-fronts, homes, and various other places all across America.We are encouraging believers to kneel at least 3 to 5 minutes before the Lord crying out to God to heal our souls and our land.

The "Call2Fall" will be heeded in our home and church. I'm asking you to strongly consider joining us and countless other believers all across this nation and participate in this holy calling. 
                     
via Call 2 Fall
                                   

Psalm 145:7 (The Message)  
The fame of your goodness spreads across the country; 
your righteousness is on everyone’s lips.


Pray for our nation this week.
Let this verse be your prophetic declaration!

The comment section below is for the purpose of interaction. It is my desire to engage you in conversation. Please feel free to comment on, respond to and revisit this blog! It is my hope that this will be a virtual interactive caring community.

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Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good

A week or so ago I read a book titled: Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good. This book from The Mitford series by Jan Karon was good but I really don’t remember a lot of details. However, the title seems to have taken up residence in my mind.  Today is Father’s Day. Although it is a day that has a “happy” greeting attached to it, it is not happy for many as they look back on their father experiences. Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good…isn’t that a place that we women long to be? As I was doing my first reading of Psalm 145 this morning, I realized that this song of David is a description of the father of our dreams! Someone that can be counted on absolutely, someone who always speaks the truth, someone who keeps promises, someone who lifts us up when we fall, who has the power to fulfill our dreams…


So, regardless of what your earthly “father” experience has been you can joyously celebrate this day because you truly have a Good, Good Father! Cuddle up in Papa's arms and know that you are Somewhere Safe With Somebody Good!
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