Wired for Worship--Psalm 16

Psalm 16

Do you ever find that God’s truth just pours breath into your soul, gives you hope for each day and sometimes, the strength to get through each minute? I just love that the word is alive and hits us in the heart, right where we need it! In 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Paul says, “All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting, and training in righteousness, so that the man (woman!) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” May this Psalm equip you today!

Personally, Psalm 16 has been such an encouragement to me over the past 24-hours! I love how David clings to God, seeking Him out. Check out verses 1 and 2: “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, ‘You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.’” Do you remember on Sunday at One when we talked about humility… defining it as correct thinking of oneself? Seems like David gets it… he thinks correctly about himself because He knows and thinks correctly of His God! Amazing!

I love how “The Message” paraphrases portions of this Psalm… Look at this:
“My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I’m your choice! You set me up with a house and yard. And then you made me your heir!… Day and night, I’ll stick with God; I’ve got a good thing going, and I’m not letting go.”

Ahh, we gain such sweet perspective when we step outside of ourselves and attempt to see our lives from His perspective. At times, I tend to forget that I am a child of THE King! Yep, that certainly changes everything! We sometimes forget that He is so willing to pour His blessings into the lives of His children! In our culture, I think we easily translate the word “blessings” to material items; however, I have found that the true blessings of life come in the form of peace, contentment, and joy! He’s willing to give these to us as we seek His face. Just read verse 11! (“You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand”).

Today, Warsaw didn’t have school because of the fog (only in Indiana can you miss school for a blizzard one week and fog the next!) However, as I glanced out the window this afternoon, I saw something amazing… the sun! It’s amazing how bright, warm sunshine can make even dirty, slushy snow look okay. I think it’s similar in our lives… our lives don’t look like anything spectacular, but as the light of Christ shines on us… amazing things happen. May we focus on that in this day… “I have set the Lord always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (verse 8). May we gain new perspective today… His perspective!

… by Deanna Greene

Wired for Worship---Psalm 13

Psalm 13

 

Ever feel like God's not listening? Ever feel like the Lord is a million miles away and there is nothing that can close the distance? Maybe it is a painful circumstance in your life that will not go away. You've prayed for month's or even years for God to intervene and there is no obvious change in the situation. Perhaps it is a dream or desire that has remained unfulfilled in the midst of continual crying out to God. I have never talked to a Christian who has not experienced, at one time or another,  the silence of God during a desperate time of need. Has the Lord really abandoned us in these times or is there another perspective?

 

Psalms 13 begins with David crying out to God and asking why the Lord has forgotten him while the enemy closes in.  Looking back on the life of David, you may be wondering what there was to complain about. Isn't this the shepherd boy who valiantly kills the largest warrior of Israel's fiercest enemy? After this he is then brought into the King's palace, is given King Saul's daughter in marriage and eventually takes over the throne. Sounds pretty good huh? Let's look a little closer. 

 

Because David was such a successful warrior, King Saul festered with jealousy until he drove David into the wilderness and hunted him for years. David assembled a misfit army and lived in the caves of Ziklag. Several times his men threatened to kill him because their circumstance were so dire. This all took place AFTER the prophet of the Lord anointed David king of Israel. Had God forgotten about His promise to David? Was David left to die at the hand of a jealous king while the Lord hid His face? As the story unfolds we see David go from rags to riches as God finally hands him the kingdom He promised years before. While we have the luxury of reading the story of David's life from beginning to end in a matter of minutes, our lives are being played moment by moment.

 

We as humans tend to see our lives in small blips. When our situation becomes dire the temptation to believe that the Lord has forgotten His child is all too enticing. If we are not delivered from our trial in short order the conclusion is that God no longer cares for us and He has taken His eyes off of us. Our greatest fear as Christians is to be deserted by the God that we have put our faith and trust in. Isn't it? Did God leave David? No way. His mighty hand was on David delivering him from every trouble. The God of the universe watched David like a hawk to be sure that the promise He made to him would be fulfilled. As followers of Jesus Christ, we too have been given many promises. It is during the trails of our lives that we will find the hand of God  working for our deliverance to complete the promises even though we cannot feel it. David concludes Psalm 13 with this:

 

"I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me."

 

Look back over your life and see if the Lord has not dealt bountifully with you. I believe He will continue because He does actually love us.

 

…by Bryan Koorey

Wired for Worship---Psalm 27

PSALM 27

Have you ever felt that the world is waiting in expectation for you to fail? What do we do when we are surrounded by people whose only desire in this life is to watch us fall? David had a simple explanation: Boast. This is probably why at first glance this psalm doesn't appear to make any sense.  He doesn’t try to fix the situation or be a people pleaser. 

So often as Christians we embrace this idea that a man or woman, who truly loves God, will not have conflict or hardship. They will be happy people who everyone likes. We think that if we aren't happy or people don't like us then we are somehow sinning.

But Christ rejected this definition in Luke 6:22-26 when he said, "Blessed are you when men hate you, when they exclude you and insult you and reject your name as evil because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, because great is your reward in heaven. For that is how their fathers treated the prophets…Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for that is how their fathers treated the false prophets."

Essentially Christ says that a man who follows him with all of his heart will be steeped in conflict. This is not because we go looking for it (Romans 12:18). If we speak the truth boldly and in love (Matthew 28:18, John 13:35, & Ephesians 4:15), people will naturally hate us (Matthew 10:34-39). It is the nature of truth. It is exclusive, which means it excludes others, it convicts others of their sin... and people do not like to be convicted of their sin.

So this is where David finds himself. He has spoken the truth boldly, and he is surrounded by people who hate him. And yet David is fully confident. He knows that when he is most broken, afraid, and powerless than God is at his greatest. This is why he boasts. It is just as Paul says in 2 Cor. 12:9-10 "But he said to me (God), "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong."

David understood this. Therefore, he said in verse 1 "The lord is the light of my salvation, whom shall I fear?" & in verse 2 "The Lord is the stronghold of my life of whom shall I be afraid."

He understood that in his weakness God was at His greatest. David understood that man could do nothing to him (Matthew 10:28)

It is important to understand that David is not confident, because he knows that he can outwit or defeat his enemies. He knows without God' help he is dead, "(12) Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes, for false witnesses rise up against me, breathing out violence." David is confident, because he has laid himself fully at God's feet. He knows that God, in time, will do miracles through those who submit themselves fully to Him. Even though David doesn't know how God will do this or when, he is still completely confident. He knows God is good, just, and loving. David has faith and knows that in time God will do something miraculous. So David ends by saying,

"(13) I am still confident of this: I will see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. (14) Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

So here is my final thought: When you find yourself struggling and in impossible situations, when you find yourself surrounded by people who only want you to fail, and when all seems hopeless: Boast: For in due time God will bring great glory to himself through your faith (Hebrews 12: 7-13).

…by Nate Edgington

Wired for Worship--Psalm 61

Psalm 61

"Do you feel far from God today?  Are you seeking Him, but He feels distant?" 

It seems like this happens to us sometimes when we need Him most.  Maybe there is a big decision to make.  Maybe things aren’t going well at home.  Maybe our friendships aren’t going so well.  Stuff creeps into our lives which causes us to feel distant.  The enemy wants to use that against us. 

He tells us that we are no good to God, and that God doesn’t want to be near us.  The truth is that God never leaves us and He always wants to be with us.  Stuff happens in our lives.  We just have to lay claim to the fact that God is our refuge and has rescued us before...and will rescue us again.  He wants us to seek Him and praise Him no matter what is going on.  

"For you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the foe. I long to dwell in your tent forever and take refuge in the shelter of your wings."  

Praise Him today because He has rescued you before and will rescue you again.  Don’t let the enemy tell you lies.

 by Brandon Schmitt

Wired for Worship---Psalm 19

Psalm 19

I really love nature.  I could watch the ocean waves roll in for hours.  I love a great sunset, watching deer scamper across the cornfields and growing flowers of every kind.  I love the Psalms... like this one that use nature to describe God’s glory—his infinite power and majesty.  How can anyone think that the world just popped into existence?  Okay, that’s not very scientific, but you get the idea.

The Psalmist says:  “The skies proclaim the work of his hands” (vs 1).  Nature itself proves it has a creator.  I like to imagine God sitting around in heaven creating earth’s nature; a tree that grows fruit, a rose with 37 red petals, an inchworm with 100 legs, the sun…how hot should he make it so it lights and warms the earth but doesn’t burn up the animals and people?  Its amazingly perfect and consistent every single day.

       In this Psalm written by David, he also talks about God’s law.  He really switches gears in vs. 7 after talking about nature.  I wonder what God’s law has to do with nature?  I wonder if he wants to say that God’s law, or God’s written word, also describes God’s glory?  He uses adjectives like trustworthy, radiant, enduring forever, more precious than gold—words that also describe God.  We can learn a lot about God from nature AND the Bible—maybe all we really need if we spend some time in both.

...by Nancy Wildman

Wired for Worship--Psalm 84

Psalm 84

It seems to me that Davis jumps around a bit in this Psalm but for me verses 1-4 and 10-12 seem to line up to make his point.

 

In verses 1 – 4, it seems funny that David would start off noticing a bird that has built its nest on or in the temple. David seems almost jealous of the bird since the bird gets to spend all its time in the “courts of the temple”. He seems to think that these birds are “blessed” that they can be praising God 24 / 7 with their chirping or whatever else they do. These birds get to “live with God” almost literally since they live in the temple. 

 

In verses 10 – 12, David says (in a much more poetic way than this) that one day spent in God’s courts or temple is better than a thousand days spent “outside” the temple.  Or, in other words, he would rather spend one day living with God than a whole lifetime living without Him.

 

I think that those of us who have chosen Jesus as our king and have chosen to follow Him are pretty lucky.  We are like the birds in the psalm that get to spend all day living with the king of our lives and the king of the universe. We have the opportunity and purpose of serving Him and learning how to follow him more closely everyday. Everything we do can be an expression of worship to Him 24 / 7 and He sees it all!

 

Then I think of my friends who have not chosen Jesus to be their personal king and savior. They chose to live their lives “outside” so to speak.  They focus on all the cares of the world and are left to worship and chase after so many worthless and temporary things.

 

  David says it all when he writes “How blessed are those that follow You”.    

 

...by Troy Hershberger

Wired for Worship---Psalm 97

Words in italics are from the Bible.

[Words in brackets are from Scott]

 

Psalm 97

The LORD reigns, let the earth be glad;

let the distant shores rejoice.

Clouds and thick darkness surround him;

righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne.

Fire goes before him

and consumes his foes on every side.

 

[Why is it that I so often forget this about my God?  He is huge, amazing and burns up His enemies (and mine) even before they get to me.  And I really like the way this begins. “The Lord reigns.”  He is the ultimate winner.  He wins everything.  Sometimes he may let me have my way, but I end up wallowing in my sin and I come back to him…see, He wins!]

 

His lightning lights up the world;

the earth sees and trembles.

The mountains melt like wax before the LORD,

before the Lord of all the earth.

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,

and all the peoples see his glory.

 

[I probably complain too much about not seeing what God is doing.  But if I am honest…I am really not looking that often.  I spend more time looking at myself (not in a weird way) …I spend way too much time looking at what I am doing and thinking about what I am going to do next…instead of asking God what He wants me to do next.  Maybe I resist his presence because the mountains melt like wax in his presence.  I’ve seen enough horror movies…that doesn’t sound cool.  But I don’t really think that’s what the author was thinking.]

 

All who worship images are put to shame,

those who boast in idols—

worship him, all you gods!

Zion hears and rejoices

and the villages of Judah are glad

because of your judgments, O LORD.

For you, O LORD, are the Most High over all the earth;

you are exalted far above all gods. 

 

[YIKES…I have put my trust in way too many things other than God.  God, please forgive me today for putting things ahead of you in my life.  I don’t want to do that any more!]

 

Let those who love the LORD hate evil,

for he guards the lives of his faithful ones

and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.

 

[I like this part.  Finally some hope.  He delivers me from the hand of the wicked.  What a cool image.  God, the “bully buster.”  Stepping in when I am about to be crushed and beaten up by my enemies.  Many times I have prayed that he would come NOW…but he waits…watching…when he sees the enemy ready to finish me off…he intercedes.  He is my rescuer!  Thank you God for being my rescuer!]

 

Light is shed upon the righteous

and joy on the upright in heart.

Rejoice in the LORD, you who are righteous,

and praise his holy name.

 

...by Scott Greene

Wired for Worship Day 9--Psalm 111

Bible in italics

[Scott’s words are in brackets]

 

Psalm 111

Praise the LORD.

I will extol the LORD with all my heart

in the council of the upright and in the assembly.

 

[Man, people don’t talk like this anymore.  I haven’t ever used the word “extol” on purpose I don’t think.  I looked it up to see what it means.  The dictionary says it means “to give something honor.”  I think I ‘m ashamed to admit how little I give God honor…more often than not, I am asking Him to give me honor.  Yikes!]

 

Great are the works of the LORD;

they are pondered by all who delight in them.

Glorious and majestic are his deeds,

and his righteousness endures forever.

 

[I think the word “forever” as it is listed here, really means “forever.”  Man, that is hard for me to wrap my brain around.]

 

He has caused his wonders to be remembered;

the LORD is gracious and compassionate.

He provides food for those who fear him;

he remembers his covenant forever.

 

[I think that way too often, I try and feed myself.  Not literally.  What I mean is that I lean only on myself for what I need.  I don’t often enough lean on what it is that God can do for me.  Why do I do that?  Do I really think I can do it better or faster?  Am I that arrogant?  Why don’t I trust him for the things that I need?  Why is it that I forget that he remembers?]

 

He has shown his people the power of his works,

giving them the lands of other nations.

The works of his hands are faithful and just;

all his precepts are trustworthy.

They are steadfast for ever and ever,

 done in faithfulness and uprightness.

 

[God can be trusted.  I don’t have to sit still very long to remember that He can be trusted.  My fingers can’t type fast enough to put into words all of the things that he has brought me through.  As I am reading this Psalm, I am realizing that the problem isn’t remembering…it’s the sitting still long enough to give myself a chance to remember.]

 

He provided redemption for his people;

he ordained his covenant forever—

holy and awesome is his name.

 

[One of my favorite worship songs that I never grow tired of hearing is “Awesome God”.  Maybe it’s because I came from the 80’s and the word “Awesome” was so popular…but even more than that….it let’s me tell God how big he is to me.  It lets me tell him that I am blown away by the fact that he let’s me exist.  It shows Him that I love Him…and that I want Him to be my God and my Lord.]

 

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom;

all who follow his precepts have good understanding.

To him belongs eternal praise.

 

[This ending almost sounds like a recipe.  If I want wisdom, I need to follow the things He wants me to do.  Huh…that makes sense.  Now all I need to do is apply this today.  God, help me to OWN this Psalm today in my heart.]

 

by Scott Greene

sgreene@wccconnect.com

 

Wired for Worship--Psalm 61

Psalm 61

 

There's this song that I hear on the radio every so often that I really like.  The lyrics are below if you want to read them.  It tells this story about two families named "Jones".  These "two sets of Jones's", as the song calls them, have very little in common other than their last name.  The first family is wealthy and successful...they have everything in the world that they could ever want.  The second family is poor...the song says the have "nothing but Jesus."  So the two families went about their business, building their life around the things they had decided were important...for the first set of Jones', money and success, for the second set of Jones', Jesus.  And then came the rain.  And the wind.  At this point we can see another difference between these families - one has a shelter to go to in this fierce storm...and the other does not.  The second set of Joneses had built their life on the rock of Christ Jesus, the same Rock that David talks about in Psalm 61 when he asks God to "lead me to the rock that is higher than I." 

 

As I read Psalm 61, I see God as my protector, my refuge, my shelter.  He is all of these things...as long as I let Him be.  It's hard, I think, to build my life on Jesus Christ when everyone around me seems to think that things like money, power, popularity, and success are more important.  But the rain is going to come...there's no doubt about that.  And although it's difficult when it comes, it's also when I find out where my strength comes from.  What I'm made of?

 

I often have to ask myself - what, exactly, does it mean for me to build my life on Christ Jesus?  What does that look like in my everyday life?  I think it looks a little different for everyone, but here's what I've come up with for my life, so far: 

First, I have to make Jesus a priority.  Even if I've got a million other things to do, I have to take time for Him....I have to listen to Him, talk to Him, tell Him thank you, and ask Him to help me with my struggles.  If He's really, truly, important to me, I'll make time for Him, because we all manage to make time for the things that are truly important to us.  Second, as I go about the business of living each day, I need to figure out how to do all of these things as though I'm doing them for Jesus.  Maybe it's going to work and do my job cheerfully, whole-heartedly, and as though I'm working for the Lord Himself.  Even if it's 8:00 AM on a Monday morning and I'd much rather be in bed.  Maybe it's giving kind and encouraging words to those around me instead of negative and hurtful ones.  Or trying to remember it's not about me, and looking for ways to serve others.  I'm still working on all this stuff.  It's a lot easier said than done.  But it's worth it, especially when the rain comes and you realize you're ok, because you have this Shelter, this Rock, who is Christ Jesus.

 

...by Katie Spencer

 

 

Lyrics for "Two Sets of Jones' "

(Big Tent Revival)

 This here's a song about two sets of Jones's
Rothchild - Evelyn, Reuben and Sue
Just for discussion, through random selection
We've chosen two couples who haven't a clue

Rothchild was lucky to marry so wealthy
Evelyn bought him a house on the beach

Reuben and Sue had nothing but Jesus
And each night they would pray that He'd care for them each

And the rain came down
It blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
One set of Jones's was standing that day

Evelyn's daddy was proud of young Rothchild
He worked the late hours to be number one
But just newlyweds and their marriage got rocky
He's flying to Dallas, She's having a son

Reuben was holding a Gideon's Bible
He screamed it's a boy so that everyone heard
The guys at the factory took a collection
Again, God provided for bills he'd incurred

And the rain came down
It blew the four walls down
And the clouds, they rolled away
One set of Jones's was standing that day

So, what is the point of this story
What am I trying to say
Is your life based on the rock of Christ Jesus
Or a sandy foundation you've managed to lay

Needless to say, Evelyn left her husband
And sued him for every penny he had
I truly wish those two would find Jesus
Before things get worse than they already have.

 

 

Wired for Worship - Psalm 3

Psalm 3

 

This psalm was written by David when he was hiding from his son.  His SON!  Absalom was conspiring behind his father's back and planning to steal the kingdom away.  So David fled to save his life. 

 

Have you ever been there?  People talking behind your back, spreading rumors or lies to make you look bad?  And eventually, you are left standing all by yourself.  Everyone's against you. 

 

It hurts the most when it comes from someone you love, doesn't it?  I've shed countless tears over such words... words I never imagined would have come from the mouths of my closest friends and family members.  And I don't think I'll ever forget it.  That place - that building where the most hurtful accusation took place - has become defiled to me.  I can't enter it without remembering what was said.  I can't see those people without remembering what they said about me.

 

David got that.  Second Samuel 15.30 says, "David walked up the road that led to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went."  The Mount of Olives... where Jesus would kneel down in the garden and cry out to God the Father so fervently that He sweat blood... where Judas would betray Jesus with a kiss.

 

Absalom betrayed David; Judas betrayed Jesus.  David and Jesus were hurt by people who were close to them.  Just like you and me.

 

But David had a friend, named Ittai, who said, "I will go wherever you go, no matter what happens - whether it means life or death."

 

I can't help but think God says the same to us today.  "I will go wherever you go... NO MATTER WHAT.  I'm not leaving your side.  Even if others cast blame and call you names and spread lies about you.  I AM HERE."

 

God is my Shield.  When I cry out to Him, He answers.  And He remains by my side so that I can have peace. 

 

"I AM HERE... NO MATTER WHAT..."

 

...Kari  Lee 

 

Wired for Worship Day #6 - Psalm 100

Check out Psalm 100 by clicking here.

How Psalm 100 Speaks to Me:
The first verse of this Psalm doesn’t speak to me. It screams out! It is telling me to make a joyful noise to you, Lord! It comes as a demand from you to all of your people, Jews and Gentiles, and believers and nonbelievers alike. After reading the introduction, if I close my eyes it brings images to my mind of One and the time we spend together worshiping you. It also reminds me of worship at Big Stuf and the amazing feeling of letting go of my inhibitions and truly and freely worshiping you with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.
The second verse is telling me to come before you with joy and gladness in my heart. It also reassures me that I can speak to you and give you my praise anywhere and just as I am. It gives me comfort that I can worship you and give praises to you in your house, in my house, in my car, or even in the back yard.
Verse three reminds me that you designed each of us as unique individuals to accomplish tasks and goals that you have predetermined for us. It also tells me that no matter what, you are watching over me, just as a shepherd watches over his flocks or a father watches over his child. The words bring a calming feeling to know that I have no need to worry because you are always looking out for me.
I’ve given verse four some real thought. I am uncertain if the reference to “entering into his gates” is alluding to entering the Church / temple or the house of the Lord. It could possibly be alluding to entering into the kingdom of Heaven. Maybe the Psalmist is simply reminding me here to speak to the you, Lord in prayer (wherever I am). I believe the key to the verse is “entering (into prayer) with thanksgiving”. It reminds me to give thanks to you for each and every blessing that you bring in to my life, from the air that I breathe, to the water I drink, to the family and friends that I am so blessed to have. After giving it some serious thought, I believe that that the words are reminding me to give thanks to you in prayer, and not simply to pray for “things” (e.g., God, please let me get that raise; God, please let me find the means to take that awesome tropical vacation, etc., etc., etc.). The instruction to enter your courts with praise probably has a more broad meaning than my individual interpretation. However, since the law is my profession, it speaks to me individually and reminds me that by giving my praise and the glory to God, I set an example for others, believers and non-believers. That example is part of my day-to-day life, including my profession, my personal life, and my public life. It also reminds me that I am called to bring others to the Lord. Witnessing has always been tough for me, but this verse reminds me of that very important calling.
Verse five just assures me that God, you will keep your word. It makes me believe that even when things are tough and even when I am being tested, you will never fail me.

In Christ,
Lori Rose

Check back Monday!

Hey! I hope everyone had a great week and is taking advantage of this opportunity to engage with God through this "Wired for Worship" experience. Check back on Monday for Day #5. Have a great weekend! - Evo

Wired for Worship Day #5 – Psalm 145

Check out Psalm 145 by clicking here

Several years ago I had the privilege of taking a very special course in college during our January term session. The January term only lasted three to four weeks and each student would only take one class for four hours a day. Luckily the class that I was in that year, Experiencing the Arts, spent one week on campus studying and then our entire class packed our bags and traveled by train to New York City, where we lived on the island of Manhattan for two weeks. During those two weeks we got to see and hear some of the most amazing art and music

There are so many things about that trip that I will never forget. There is one particular one that I want to share with you. During the trip we got to visit the Metropolitan Museum of Art, which is commonly referred to as the “Met.” The entire time we were in this Museum it was like an art history book brought to life. So many times we sit in a classroom and listen to a teacher or professor talk about art and who painted it and why they painted and it just seems a little boring. But just let me say that when you are in a Museum and you are standing in front of a Rembrandt painting and you can see the detail and you hear someone tell about the subject of the painting it is a completely different story. I was taken by how breathtaking the painting was in real life. I gave me a new appreciate for the artist and painting in general.

As I read through the nerd notes in my bible about this Psalm I can see that this Psalm for me was like David was painting a portrait of praise to God. Its has great detail and I can personally identify with it. I love how it is a song of praise that David wrote for us all and for the generations to come. Check out the nerd notes for this passage.

Nerd Notes: Sometimes our burdens seem more than we can bear, and we wonder how we can go on. David stands at this bleak intersection of life’s road and meditates on the Lord, the great burden bearer. God is able to lift us up because (1) his greatness is beyond discovery (145:3); (2) he does might acts for each generation (145:4); (3) he is full of majestic, glorious splendor (145;5); (4) he does awe-inspiring deeds (145:5,6); (5) he is righteous (145:7); (6) his is kind, merciful, patient, loving, and compassionate (145:8, 9); (7) he rules over an everlasting kingdom (145:13); (8) he is our source of all our daily needs (145:15, 16); (9) his is righteous and kind in all his dealings (145:17); (10) he remains close to those who call on him (145:18); (11) he hears our cries and rescues us (145:19, 20) If you are under a burden and feel that you are about to fall, turn to God for help. He is ready to lift you up and bear your burden.

What an amazing picture that paints in my mind of how great God is, how much God loves us, cares for us and how far he is willing to God to save us. What does this paint in your mind? What do you believe God is trying to say to you through psalm? Please share with me your reactions and thoughts. Have a great day! - Evo

Wired for Worship Day 4 – Psalm 96

Check out Psalm 96 by clicking here

Have you ever sat against a tree on nice warm summer day? You can probably picture it in your mind. The sun is out, there is a gentle breeze that hits your face and brings over you a sense of calm and relaxation. You can feel the roughness of the bark on your back. You can hear the rustling of the leaves. For spilt second it is as though the world has slowed down and been put in slow motion just for you.

For some reason this morning as I read through this Psalm, I was taken to that place and I can describe it in one single word…

Majesty

In that moment in my mind I realized that I was surrounded by the glory of our heavenly Father. It was a moment of worship. I didn’t need any music or flashing lights not that there is anything wrong with those, but in that moment God was magnificent. I realized that God has created his perfect sanctuary and placed us directly in the middle of it.

The nerd notes in my bible have some great things to say about this passage. Check this out…

Nerd Notes: The psalm writer sings out his praises to God, overwhelmed by all that God has done. As we reflect on God’s majesty and his goodness to us, we cannot help telling others about him. Witnessing comes naturally when our hearts are full of appreciation for what he has done. God has chosen to use us to “publish his glorious deeds among the nations.” Praise for our great God overflows from his creation and should overflow from our lips. How well are you going at telling others about God’s greatness?

As I read that section of nerd notes and then thought about the psalm I could see that the author is calling us out… How are we worshiping? Are we using our entire lives to point the way to him? Do we see the worship that is happening around us in nature?

There is a lot to process there, but I think it boils down to one question… How can we go about each day making each step we take an act of worship to God?

What do you think? Push back against my ideas and share with me what you think God is saying to you through this passage. Have a great day! - Evo