Joy in the Fellowship of God

Joy is an impactful word, and it only has three letters.  It is a short word, but it has unmistakable meaning.

Delight, jubilation, triumph, exultation, glee, exhilaration, exuberance, and bliss are all words to describe feelings of great pleasure and happiness.  Joy.

What things in our lives bring us joy? What aspects our lives consistently deliver happiness?

Few things deliver satisfaction on a regular basis.  Our tendency is to seek happiness and fulfillment through earthly things.  Perhaps a new car will make me happy.  Perhaps a new job will solve my feelings of discontent.  If I could just make more money. If I could just have a bigger, nicer house.  If only I could only <fill in the blank with your own wish list.>

The “if only’s” are a trap.  Satisfaction and joy will not last with “things.”  “Things” wear out.  “Things” put us in debt.  “Things” may make us happy for a short period of time, but the feeling of satisfaction and happiness wears off.

Knowing that you are loved, regardless of your actions, regardless of what you deserve, can provide an amazing sense of peace and contentment.  Joy. Knowing you were created out of love and adoration, can bring us gladness knowing that our Heavenly Father loves us eternally.  Joy. Knowing that you are accepted, with your sins and flaws, can provide peace. Joy. The peace and endless happiness that comes from a committed relationship and faith in Jesus Christ, “surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds.” (Philippians 4:7). Joy.

The question I think that needs to be asked is “Do we understand what brings joy in our lives?”

Psalms 63, entitled the “Joy in the Fellowship of God,” was written by King David while he was in the wilderness of Judah.

David exclaims, in Psalms 63, verse 1“My soul thirsts for you; my flesh longs for you.” In verse 3, David exalts “Because your lovingkindness is better than life.” Verse 8 he proclaims, “My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me.”

I have found, in my life, the more committed I am to “go all in” on my faith, the more contentment and joy I experience.  Much like many things in life, committing halfway does not provide achievement.  Skepticism, uncertainty, and doubt are not emotions that exhort positive outcomes.  A lack of commitment is a self-fulfilling prophesy with any activity or relationship.  We will be disappointed every time if we cannot commit and trust our Heavenly Father.

Joy is knowing you are saved from your sins.  Joy is feeling a sense of peace that no matter how bad your life gets; God has got you.  Joy is acknowledging that life will never be perfect and knowing that you can accept the good with the bad.  No matter how horrible, sad, disappointing or excruciating your circumstances, God has a purpose and plan for your life.  There is a reason.  We will not always understand.  We will not always agree. But God tells us in John 3:16-18 the following:

“For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved. He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

Joy. We have a choice.  Trust and believe, and we experience jubilation and peace.

I Believe: Testimonies

The faith of three amazing women really blessed me – humbled me, really – this past week as our paths crossed and they spent time with me.

Their lives couldn’t be more different – but in each one I saw a living example from our scripture today, mirroring David’s heart in Psalm 62. 

My friend’s body has been attacked by cancer for years now, each new diagnosis bringing another physical challenge to tackle. She has absolute confidence in God’s ability to heal her completely, and balances that with putting her trust in his perfect will for her life. As she stands in the waiting of the latest round of test results, plans her own funeral, and all the while lugging around her oxygen – her soul and eternity rests in the Lord.

Truly my soul finds rest in God;
    my salvation comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
    he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.

A second friend, abused over decades, found strength in the Lord to speak out and seek protection. Protection for herself, and protection for others. This has come at a great cost to her and her family, both emotionally and physically. Every day she fights to bring darkness into light, despite the repercussions it brings.

How long will you assault me?
    Would all of you throw me down—
    this leaning wall, this tottering fence?
Surely they intend to topple me
    from my lofty place;
    they take delight in lies.
With their mouths they bless,
    but in their hearts they curse.

Lastly, a friend that was once weighed down by addictions of this world is overcoming! She has spent the last few years rebuilding and restoring relationships, at the same time she faces the earthly consequences of her past choices. Hard consequences – that most people would be bitter about and question why they still have to face them even though they are repentant and forgiven. But not her. She has the best attitude and she even said to me, “people may judge me but I can’t worry about that – I just have to focus on what God knows about me”. I think this is exactly what David is saying in verse 7:

Yes, my soul, find rest in God;
my hope comes from him.
Truly he is my rock and my salvation;
he is my fortress, I will not be shaken.
My salvation and my honor depend on God[c];
he is my mighty rock, my refuge.
Trust in him at all times, you people;
pour out your hearts to him,
for God is our refuge.

As I read through this passage again this week, each of their testimonies came alive through this passage. These women all put their trust in the Lord, and each day they get up and fight another day. Their strength and perseverance can only be explained by an in-dwelling of the Holy Spirit. They each testify that it’s God working in them, and not anything they can boast about. And they also each admit their own moments of fear, things they’re working on, etc. Their roads aren’t always perfect – but they are met with a perfect God who walks with them, even at their lowest. At a time when they could hole up and let the enemy weigh them down, they’re choosing to follow Jesus. To stand. To speak. To share.

Thank you Lord, for giving us Psalm 62, and you perfect timing for these testimonies this week. I pray you will continue to strengthen and be a shelter for each of these daughters of yours, and they will know how loved and chosen they are. I pray for healing, protection, and peace for each of them. Thank you for these  overcomers – because of Jesus’ blood and their testimony of your work in their life, just as Revelation 12:11 says! Amen. 

Psalm 61: Lead Me to the Rock

Two weeks ago I posted about a tumultuous situation. Since then the clouds have parted and the sun is shining. And such is life. We’re generally in the storm or in a time of peace. Two days ago Shelly wrote about being on a lovely morning walk and said, “While my walk was silent, I wasn’t walking alone.” This thought brought the reminder that whether in the storm or in the sunshine, our God is always with us, and we need to acknowledge his presence and seek him in both the good times and the bad.

King David takes us on a similar journey in Psalm 61. He’s in the storm, finds refuge, and then praises God.

David starts out with a cry, a prayer, calling out as his “heart grows faint”. We can feel his sorrow and the weight that must be upon him. I think about Jesus in the garden praying “My soul is very sorrowful, even to death” (Matthew 26:38a).

Hear my cry, O God;
    listen to my prayer.

From the ends of the earth I call to you,
    I call as my heart grows faint;
    lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

Then David states that God has been his refuge; a strong tower. That’s what we seek in the storm and show our faith, you did it before God and I know you will do it again. Reminiscent of the song “Do it Again” where it says “I’ve seen You move, You move the mountains And I believe I’ll see You do it again” (Elevation Worship).

3 For you have been my refuge,
    a strong tower against the foe.

Then we see the comfort and peace of the shelter. Have you felt the safety of God’s wings? He is so good to us. Stop trying so hard on your own. Seek his shelter now.

I long to dwell in your tent forever
    and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.[b]

David acknowledges that God hears him. Do you sense the gratitude? God you heard me! Thank you!

For you, God, have heard my vows;
    you have given me the heritage of those who fear your name.

Supplication comes next, like Jesus taught us to pray; just ask.

Increase the days of the king’s life,
    his years for many generations.
May he be enthroned in God’s presence forever;
    appoint your love and faithfulness to protect him.

David finishes with a praise, anticipating deliverance. The sun is shining once again, may He shine in your life today.

Then I will ever sing in praise of your name
    and fulfill my vows day after day.

Psalm 60

This afternoon I was helping out a friend by doing a mock interview with one of her team members who is interviewing for a Manager job.  In the course of our conversation, I asked him my favorite interview question for aspiring leaders –

Tell me about a time you made a mistake at work; how did you recover from it?

After he was done answering the question, I shared with him why I ask this question whenever I get the chance.  From my perspective, a good answer contains evidence the aspiring leader did 3 things:

  • Took ownership for the mistake.
  • Did whatever he/she needed to do to make it right.
  • Identified the root cause and took action to prevent it from happening again.

As I sat down to reflect on Psalm 60, I kept coming back to this interview question.  In fact, David’s actions in Psalm 60 illustrate a wise approach to confronting mistakes.

The context for this Psalm was defeat.  David and his army had suffered some kind of a loss in battle.  David knew that when the Lord was on their side, his army was always victorious.  So this defeat told him that someone had made a mistake that resulted in God’s disfavor.  As the leader, David owned the mistake and he set out to make it right.

The Psalm opens with David recognizing God’s rejection and taking ownership for the mistake.  Next, he calls out to God for restoration and deliverance from his enemies.  David knew the solution for preventing future defeat was improved obedience to God’s plan.  He closes the Psalm by acknowledging God’s power and affirming his allegiance.

 

No matter the mistake or situation, I am confident greater obedience to the ways of the Lord, and greater reliance on God’s power to overcome will always produce greater outcomes.  Let God’s word guide your actions today.

 

The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him (Psalm 28:7).

Psalm 59 Shelly Thomas

A few weeks ago I was in a bit of a funk and struggling to get out of it. I was stuck in my head and letting my thoughts get the best of me. It was a Sunday morning and I was up earlier than usual. Everyone else was still asleep. I slipped on my shoes and headed out the door for a walk around our neighborhood. No music, no podcast, no phone call. Just me and God. The neighborhood is the typical Bloomington/Normal subdivision that is confusing and winding to strangers but one I could walk in my sleep. The sun was out and the breeze was gentle with hopes of Spring. Towards the end of my walk, I came upon a line of trees. I have driven past these trees daily for the past 20 years but they caught my attention on this particular day. They are enormous evergreens (or something similar) that tower over the houses. The ground underneath was covered in pine needles and the sun was shining through the tops of the trees. Standing underneath them I didn’t feel like I was in a subdivision, but rather deep in the woods somewhere. It was peaceful and beautiful and I could have sat and enjoyed it longer if it wasn’t someone else’s yard. Just having that brief time outside with God made my day different. It didn’t solve any problems but it changed my perspective and I came home feeling thankful and full.

While my walk was silent, I wasn’t walking alone. God was walking with me, speaking to my soul through His creation. He has never failed to show up when I have been willing to invite Him into my mess. It may not be exact answers to specific questions, but instead a reminder to keep trusting Him. Just when I think I’m learning to trust Him well, He gives me another opportunity to trust Him all over again. He is our refuge and our place of safety. I pray you find that in Him today too.

Psalm 59:16-17

But as for me, I will sing about your power. I will shout with joy each morning because of your unfailing love. For you have been my refuge, a place of safety in the day of distress.
O my Strength, to you I sing praises, for you, O God, are my refuge, the God who shows me, unfailing love. NLT

Shelly Thomas

Justice

Today’s Reading: Psalm 58

Have you ever felt the pain of injustice? The hurt that can come when false judgment has been passed on you or someone else close?

As I reflected on David’s words, I thought of the pain I’ve personally experienced when I’ve had judgments passed based on passes mistakes. Unfortunately, I also thought about the pain that I have caused others through my same shortcomings.  Romans 3:23 reminds me that we have all fallen short at some time or another. Whatever side of injustice or judgment you have been on, you understand the pain and anger that can accompany these times.  We read the anger in David’s words as he seeks justice through the Lord.

6 Break the teeth in their mouths, O God;
Lord, tear out the fangs of those lions!
7 Let them vanish like water that flows away;
when they draw the bow, let their arrows fall short.

Yes, there is a harshness to these verese when you go through today’s reading. Psalm 58 is an “imprecatory” psalm that calls upon God to deal with enemies.

There have been times where I’ve struggled with anger,, and the words, decisions, and actions made by someone else made me turn around and make the same mistakes. I pray for continued spiritual growth to seek God’s wisdom and not fall back on the human reasoning that does things to make matters worse or slander others.  To not seek revenge based on the emotions I’m feeling at that particular moment. At this moment, I’m reminded of the many verses that point us back to God’s words about revenge.

Matthew 18:21 Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” 22 Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.

1 Peter 2:21 To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps. 22 “He committed no sin, and no deceit was found in his mouth.” 23 When they hurled their insults at him, he did not retaliate; when he suffered, he made no threats. Instead, he entrusted himself to him who judges justly.

Maybe you have faced a recent situation where you were judged wrongly, maybe some type of injustice.  I’m sorry, I wish there wasn’t the immediate pain we all feel when this happens. All I can say is seek God’s wisdom. Cry out and ask for our Lord’s peace in the middle of your pain.

Psalm 58:11 Then people will say,
“Surely the righteous still are rewarded;
surely there is a God who judges the earth.”

Lord,  We know you go before us and know everything that has happened and will happen in our lives. Help us to not doubt, dispute, or debate your plans. We will accept the trials we face even when they may seem injust or in false judgment knowing these trials humble us and will wean us away from this world.  These words and actions that temporarily hurt us will compare nothing to an eternity, give us comfort in these trials and help us always to turn to you.  Work in our hearts.  Amen

In the face of fear

Psalm 57: 1-3 

Be merciful to me, O God, be merciful to me,

    for in you my soul takes refuge;

in the shadow of your wings I will take refuge,

    till the storms of destruction pass by.

I cry out to God Most High,

    to God who fulfills his purpose for me.

He will send from heaven and save me;

    he will put to shame him who tramples on me. 

Selah

God will send out his steadfast love and his faithfulness!

 

During our time traveling through the Psalms, we have seen many faces of David revealed in his songs. We have seen joy and adoration. We have seen sorrow and despair. We have seen adultery and murder. In this song we see a different face of David, this is his face and attitude in the presence of fear.

In the beginning of the David story, we see David as a strong young man with confidence and strength. David is on the front lines of the Israelites war, where the entire army of the Israelites are shaking with terror.  But David is strong in his determination to win the battle against Goliath. This courage has been conveyed over the ages as a pinnacle part of courage in the face of fear. In his later years David also experiences fear when his son is king and David is exiled from his kingdom.

But in Psalm 57, this experience of fear is when David is being pursued by Saul the king of Israel. At this time Saul is David’s father-in-law.  David has served as a major general in Saul’s army.  David has been his personal musician.  David is Jonanthan’s best friend.   David knows that king Saul has been anointed by God. Because of this David will not raise a hand against him.  Saul relentlessly pursues David for an extended amount of time upto the point where David hides in the cave.  In this cave, Saul comes within inches of death and harm from David, but David spares his life.  

Psalm 57 illustrates how God protects us in the face of certain death and fear. The only way I can equivocate this setting is if you are standing in front of a tiger who is three feet from you but the tiger does not see you and he does not harm you. The overwhelming presence of that fear can immobilize a person or cause so much fear that the person falls dead. But when God is with us he protects us and gives us calm and peace in the fear.  God protects David in such a way that he blinds the threat and allows no harm to come to David.

There are many people currently that are experiencing such terror and fear in the direct face of opposition and they try to run or fight and do not succeed. This psalm is telling us that when we actually believe that God is in control and He is true to his promise.  We can literally stare at anything that threatens us and be calm. This is not only physical, emotionally, mentally,  financially or spiritually. He is able to comfort us and allow us to rest in the midst of adversity and condemnation if we are in him.

Because of this I am able to smile every day despite what is happening around me. I hope that the Spirit will allow you to rest in him as well.

Bottle of Tears

If you think of all the tears you have ever cried, would they amount to much?  All the tears as a baby, crying to let your mother know you were hungry, dirty, lonely or scared.  Next, to tears you cried as a teen-ager because friends were mean or a first love didn’t go as expected.  And then as an adult, tears from grief, death, sickness, divorce, or any wrong-doing in your life.  Life is hard.  We face difficulties of all kinds and tears come and fill our eyes.  

In Psalm 56, David writes of a time he had been captured by an enemy.  He was fearful, not knowing what the Philistines might do to him.  Instead of focusing on the horrible situation he was in, he changed his focus.  He was reminded of how carefully God watched over him.

When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.  In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.  What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3&4

David tells us that God is concerned enough about us and what we face and that He keeps every tear that falls from our eyes in a bottle.

You have kept count of my tossing;  put my tears in your bottle.  Are they not in your book?

Psalm 56:8

Can you actually picture this for yourself?  God, right at this moment, sitting in Heaven with a bottle that has every single tear you have ever cried?  That is a little over-whelming to me.  To think that He cares that much about me means that each tear really matters to Him.

Today, you can actually find delicate, ancient vials called lachrymatory bottles (examples pictured above) for sale.  There was a custom as far back as David’s day that when a person was ill or in great distress, his friends would take him a tear bottle.  As the tears rolled down the cheeks of the person suffering, they were caught in these bottles, sealed up and preserved as a memorial of the person’s pain.  

This is what God does for us.  He has bottled all of our tears and assures us that He see us and remembers every single tear shed.  God charts our steps and records our tears to show us just how closely He notices and cares for us.  We, like David can take comfort in knowing that we can trust in God and that He sees us.

 

Psalm 55 – Casting Your Burden

What does it look like to you to cast your burdens on God? When something weights considerably on your heart, how inclined are you to deal with your problems on your own? And when it becomes too much, what does surrendering control of your burdens to God entail? I, for one, don’t do very well with asking for help. When encountering a problem, I always want to find a solution on my own first before asking for help, whether it’s digging through documentation of code for hours at work, trying to DIY a fix when something around the house breaks, or encountering a tough life situation I haven’t been through before. But most things in life aren’t so simple that you can power through on gumption alone.

Psalm 55, written by David, was borne of a time of incredible grief. It was probably concerning Absalom, David’s son who revolted and overthrew David’s rule. Deep, intentional betrayal can be one of the most painful experiences for many of us – moreso when, like David expresses, they were once a trusted confidant. Perhaps even family, or a brother/sister in faith. The language in this passage – “I am restless in my complaint and I moan”, “My heart is in anguish within me; the terrors of death have fallen upon me. Fear and trembling come upon me, and horror overwhelms me.” “Oh, that I had wings like a dove! I would fly away and be at rest.” – expresses such heartbreaking pain, it moves you just reading it.

Such serious experiences are something each of us can vividly recall from times in our lives – maybe some of you are dealing with this pain as you read this. Dealing with all that hurt on your own can be physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually exhausting. Praying desperately for an easy escape as David did is all too relatable. Believe me, I’ve tried shouldering this pain before, and detachment and isolation seemed way more appealing than strength to endure. But what I love about Psalm 55 is how quickly David goes from lamenting his pain and heartache to praising God, expressing at verse 16 how God uplifts those who call to Him: “But I call to God, and the Lord will save me. Evening and morning and at noon I utter my complaint and moan, and he hears my voice.” He goes right from focusing on himself to focusing on God’s sovereign control over his circumstances.

David’s reaction is a great example to me: amidst his desperate plea for deliverance from his pain, he shares His pain with the Lord and thanks Him for redemption. It’s so easy to cling to our human pride, and hold the guilt, shame, embarrassment, betrayal, frustration, and anguish that come with the bad things that happen to us. It can be incredibly tough to admit we can’t handle things ourselves, and it can often feel impossible to consider even asking for help in those times. But God has promised, time and time again, that He is here to bear the heaviest weights His faithful followers carry. And it’s a habit we as believers should practice through prayer, speech, song, and community, so that we may immediately share our troubles with Him when the need arises. Humbling ourselves enough to admit we need His help is a show of strength in your faith, one I believe through experience that the Lord rewards in kind.

In Isaiah 41:13, the Lord says “For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand, saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’” In 1 Peter 5:6-7, Peter assures us: Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.” Christ comforts us in Matthew 11:28, assuring His followers “Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” I pray for those of you feeling strained or crushed by the loads their hearts bear, that you can share your troubles with the Lord. I offer thanks and praise to God for helping the hopeless and healing the broken time and time again, and for the relief we can find when we no longer hold to our griefs and sorrows. And I simply want to close with Psalm 55:22 as our reminder: “Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you; He will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

One Name

Today’s reading is Psalm 54.

In whom or in what do you trust? In whom or what do you put your faith and hope in?

Last year brought us arguably the most hyper partisan election in U.S. history with each side claiming the other would end democracy as we know if the other won. With the election result nearly a 50/50 split, half the country was really happy with the outcome and half the country was really disappointed.  Unfortunately, most who voted looked at their candidate to solve our country’s problems and also many to fix their own problems and to rescue them so to speak.

If you did not put your hope and trust in one of these leaders, or even if you did, we can likely find ourselves putting our hope or trust in other political figures, leaders, athletes, or celebrities. We can also find ourselves putting our hope and trust in our careers, money or belongings, or even our spouses, parents, or children looking to them to solve our problems. Sadly, most of us we form our identity or measure our self-worth based on our career, our money or belongings, or relationships. The problem is we end up finding out politicians do not solve all our problems, careers end unexpectedly or due to retirement, money does not bring happiness and can run out no matter the amount, and relationships can end due to death or falter no matter how good of a job we do to nourish them because we are all sinful humans who make mistakes. All these things are futile and end.

As I read Psalm 54, what kept coming to my mind was….one name.

“God save me by your name

and vindicate me by your might.”

Psalm 54:1

Life is short..even if we live 90 to 100 years. There is only one thing we should really fear and that is death. There is only one name that can save us from death and give us eternal life through His sacrifice on the cross. In only Him should we put our hope and trust.

“It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in man.

It is better to take refuge in the

Lord

than to trust in princes.”

Psalm 118:8-9

Ross Blumhorst wrote in a Bible Journal post back in January, “God is always right, we never have to guess if He is right or wrong, and you that makes me rejoice-how thankful I am that there’s something in this crazy world I can always know to be true!” Wow..powerful words that are so true. Thank you, Ross. I posted this quote to my social media and my Mom reminded me of this great verse.

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.”
Hebrews 13:8

Thanks, Mom. How great it is to know this in our messed up world?!

Earlier I asked the questions, in whom or in what do you trust? In whom do you put your faith and hope in?

We should strive to constantly remember the words of David here in Psalm 54.

“Behold, God is my helper;

the Lord is the upholder of my

life. “
Psalm 54:4

“For He has delivered me from

every trouble…”

Psalm 54:7

Let us then respond as David does…

“..I will give thank to your

Name O Lord, for it is

good.”

Psalm 54:6

By only one name are we saved. Only one name should we call on and put our faith, hope, and trust in. By only one name should we form our identity. And only in one name should we give our thanks, glory, and praise. That name is Jesus.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ypXUd_vGmI