Psalms of Ascent

Right now I am doing a Bible Study about the Psalms of Ascent and have had the opportunity to write some of the Psalms in my own words. The Lord loves to hear His Word prayed back to Him, and it gives me great hope to pray Scripture over the things that trouble or concern me. Here are a few prayers that I have recorded that are paraphrases of a few of the Psalms.

Psalm 124

You are faithful. You are for me. You are a fountain in the wilderness. You find me in my wandering and draw me to Your side.

When I feel as though I am drowning in the restless, roaring tide you reach out Your hand to part the waters...You whisper "Peace Be Still"..and all is well inside.

Like a bird in flight you rescue me from the prisons of darkness that overwhelm me. You raise me up to new heights and fill my mouth with songs of praise.

My help is in You, Oh Lord, Maker of Heaven and Earth. I will praise You all of my days...

Psalm 129

There will always be those who oppose us, attack us and oppress us. I praise You for Your power to triumph over the enemies of my soul. Victory alone is with You. Judgment alone lies with You. Even though my back lies deep with footprints trampled by the enemy, You have strenghtened me and have allowed me to stand firm because of Your mighty power.
You will continue to be the Ancient of Days, The Keeper of evvery wrong done to me and I rejoice that I do not have to engage in mortal combat for every injustice and evil deed. You have it under control. Your righteous right hand will hold back the enemy from my destruction and I can rest in the shadow of Your wings. Blessing and honor await me as I see Your face. Hide me Lord in the shelter of your abundant love.

Psalm 130

Out of the depths I cry out to You, oh Lord. Incline Your ear to me. You are the righteous judge. If you were to keep a record of sin, none could stand in Your presence. But You are a fountain of forgiveness, overflowing from the depths of Your unfailing love. Your mercy and compassion have no end. Therefore, I will wait for You and watch for the sunrise as it peaks over a dark horizon. Then I will see Your goodness and the display of Your faithful, abiding love and full redemption of every hurt, loss and disappointment that has come my way. Your abundant redemption restores my soul.

Standing the Test of Time

As a consumer in today’s market, I appreciate products that live up to their names. Through the years, we have come to depend on certain brand names and products that consistently demonstrate good quality. They stand the test of time. Brands such as Maytag, Toyota, Honda, Eddie Bauer, GAP Clothing, General Electric, etc., have all been around for quite a while and have proven their effectiveness and reliability over and over again. The research, attention to detail, and the actual materials used in these products have all contributed to their quality and popularity.
As I read Acts 24 this morning, I was reminded of the quality, and power of the Gospel. Not only has it withstood the test of time and persecution, but the author and initiator of the Gospel is eternal and without imperfections. He is full of power and authority. It is no surprise then, that the Gospel would display power and eternal evidences as well. I was struck with this truth when I read about Jesus’ encounter with his followers on the road to Emmaus after He had risen from the dead. As Jesus spent time with his followers, their eyes were opened to the truth about Him. After Jesus had disappeared, they asked each other, “Did our hearts not burn within us as we were with him?” (Acts 24:32) They experienced power in His presence and the fire that once burned within their hearts continues even today in the hearts of those who receive the good news about Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection. Jesus continues to open the eyes of those who do not understand, who do not yet believe and He sheds the light of His truth to all who seek Him.
I am so thankful for a God who is dependable, whose Gospel is trustworthy, as both have proven to stand the test of time with power and effectiveness. I am thankful for a God who is mighty to save, and His truth and authority extends through all generations. I am thankful to serve a risen, glorious Savior.
I serve a risen Savior,
Who’s in the world today,
I know that He is living
Whatever men may say;
I see His hand of mercy,
I hear His voice of cheer
And just the time I need Him
He’s always near

He lives, He lives,
Christ Jesus lives today
He walks with me and talks with me
Along life’s narrow way
He lives, He lives
Salvation to impart
You ask me how I know He lives
He lives within my heart!

For Such a Time as This

The events of the past few weeks have had my mind swimming in a sea of unanswered questions, especially the question, “why?” The truth of the matter is, we may not have all of the answers this side of heaven. Nothing makes sense and emotions are raw, ranging from sorrow to anger, to disillusionment. However, one truth remains constant: our God reigns and His Word is sure. It’s hard to know how to continue after such events have occurred, but this is a time when our faith must carry us and we lean heavily upon the truths and promises that God has given to us in His Word. A friend shared in our Bible study this week about a very dark season in her life. During that time, she said the only words she could hear from God were “Be still and know that I am God.” There were no answers to her questions, and things became worse before they ever got better, but as she reflected upon the truths that she knew about God, they became her anchor during the tossing and turning of the raging sea around her.
Her story was an inspiration to me and a reminder of how the knowledge of character of God must be burned into our hearts and minds during times of tragedy and uncertainty. So what does it mean to be still and know that He is God? I think it takes a lifetime to answer that question; a lifetime of seeking His face and learning from Him during all of the seasons of our lives. For this particular season, I am focusing on the truth that God is good. What is meant for evil, God will turn it around and be glorified through His goodness and grace. It also gives me great hope to know that He is victorious. By His blood and the word of our testimony, we will overcome and be joined with Him in the eternal, ultimate victory over sin and death. Nothing can separate us from His love and he is close to the broken-hearted.
Singing and playing for Clint Dobson’s funeral was one of the most difficult things I have ever done, but I knew that God had ordained me to be in that particular place for such a time as this. As difficult as it was for me to get through the funeral, I was so honored to be a part of celebrating the life that he lived. In my weakness, God empowered me and gave me the strength to continue. I am so thankful that He poured His grace out upon me during that time, as well as to everyone else involved. I was amazed to see how so many people played important roles in taking care of necessary tasks related to this tragedy. It encouraged me to see the support and love of our church as they embraced the people of NorthPointe in their time of need.
So where do we go from here? Our emotions are frazzled by the events at NorthPointe and the earthquake and tsunami in Japan. God spoke to my heart this morning in 1 Cor. 15. This chapter is rich with encouragement and we are reminded by Paul to focus on the ultimate victory that is ours through Christ Jesus. Because of that truth, he further admonishes us to let nothing move us and to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because our labor is not in vain. I have to believe that when God gives an instruction through His Word, that He will empower us to follow through with action. As our pastor said this past Sunday we are to keep believing, and keep moving forward. We have been chosen, redeemed and equipped for such a time as this. May we all join together to minister to each other in this time of need and uncertainty.

The Power of Questions

This morning our neighborhood is blanketed with snow. It is a dazzling sight to see the sparkling crystals join together to make such a beautiful winter scene. What I love about a fresh snowfall is the absolute peace and quiet that follows it. It is as if God made a statement and all of creation is speechless because of His awesome display of beauty.
This morning, our daily Bible reading was in Isaiah 40. In this passage Isaiah asks a series of questions regarding the nature of God: “Who has measured the waters in the hollow of his hand, or with the breadth of his hand marked off the heavens? Who has held the dust of the earth in a basket, or weighed the mountains on the scales and the hills in a balance? Who has understood the mind of the LORD or instructed him as his counselor? Whom did the LORD consult to enlighten him, and who taught him the right way? Who was it that taught him knowledge or showed him the path of understanding?” (Isa. 40:12-14) For some reason, the questions actually cause me to think more intently about the nature of God. There is power contained in the questions because we must ponder the answer to those questions.
Isaiah 40 isn’t the only place in Scripture where questions are asked about God’s unwavering character and majesty. Psalm 89 echoes the same thoughts: “The heavens praise your wonders, O LORD, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones. For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. O LORD Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty O LORD and your faithfulness surrounds you.” (Ps. 89:5-8) The Psalmist answers his own questions with resounding truth about the eternal nature of God.
In the book of Job, God himself asked a series of questions concerning his own might and power as Job was wrestling with the unfortunate events of his life. God’s questions continued for three entire chapters. Job’s response to God’s questioning was: “You said, ‘Listen now and I will speak; I will question you, and you shall answer me.’ My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have seen you. Therefore I despise myself and repent in dust and ashes.” (Job 42:4-5) Job fell to his knees in repentance and obedience after God’s elaborate questioning. When Job sought the answer to God’s questions, he had to come face to face with the fact that God was God and there was no other like him. No one else could take the place of God.
As God questions us, may we be like Job who said, “I know you can do all things; and no plan of yours can be thwarted. You asked, ‘Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know…” (Job 42:3)
Our God is the great King over all of the earth; the Majestic Ruler who is unending in knowledge and wisdom. The snow this morning is a reminder to me of this fact.
“How awesome is the LORD Most High, the great King over all the earth!” (Psalm 47:2)

Spiritual Blessings in Christ

I love the book of Ephesians. It is rich with so many Biblical treasures and affirmations and it is a book I could spend an entire year studying. I have enjoyed reading through this powerful book in our daily Bible readings. What I love most about the book of Ephesians is how the Lord demonstrates His pursuit of His people. He is divinely active and relentless to establish intimate relationships with the people He so dearly loves.
Over and over again in Ephesians we see the active work of God: He has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in Christ, He has adopted us as his own, He has made known to us the mystery of His will, He has chosen us for the praise of His glory, He has called us into the riches of His glorious inheritance, He has made us alive in Christ and has offered eternal redemption, and He has lavished his grace upon us. Ephesians 2:13 tells us, “But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far away have been brought near through the blood of Christ.” Praise God for His unending pursuit of those of us who were once dead in our trespasses and sins. He has made us alive by His love, grace and power. What an amazing mystery and miracle!
Right now I am reading a book called From Jihad to Jesus by Jerry Rassamni. It is about an ex-militant Muslim who fought Christians during the Lebanese Civil War. In his attempt to refute the Bible as a Muslim, the Lord captured his heart and he eventually turned from Islam and became a faithful follower of Christ. While describing his search for the truth, Jerry exposed the pagan roots of the Muslim god and the feet of clay of its founder. Through reading the Bible, Jerry discovered that God Almighty is a God of love, mercy and grace. These are concepts that are not taught in Islam. They are taught to live and die by the sword and to pursue vengeance for all who do not believe as they do. Although the Islam holy book, the Qur’an contains certain stories and passages from the Bible, it leaves out the instrument of redemption that the God of the Bible requires. This is what Jerry Rassamni describes as the Great Divide between the Bible and the Qur’an. Through Jerry’s study of the Bible, he was convicted of sin and was led into a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am so thankful for the power of the gospel. The Word of God is alive and active and it can deliver a prisoner of darkness to into God’s marvelous light and freedom. Reading Jerry’s book has given me much cause for thanksgiving that I serve a risen and active Lord who is full of mercy and grace.
“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that He lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And He made known to us the mystery of His will according to His good pleasure which He purposed in Christ…” (Eph. 1:8-9)

Songs of Victory

Every time “The Patriot” comes on T.V., my husband watches it. He never gets tired of watching Mel Gibson wave the American flag in victory over the British in those final days of war. He went out in front of all of his men into battle and led them to victory. I love what 1 Chronicles 14:16 says about the Lord: “God has gone out in front of you in battle.” Our Lord Almighty is a chief warrior who goes before us and fights for us in all of our spiritual battles. As we all know, the Bible is a book about war and victory; good versus evil, love versus hate, life versus death and our ultimate destiny in the eternal realm of glory. Our great victory over the enemy comes through the Lord Jesus Christ, but there will be many wars and battles until the great Day of the Lord.
As we turn the pages of our Bibles from 1 Chronicles to Revelation, we find another reference to war in chapter twelve. Revelation 12:7-9 says: “…and there was a war in heaven…the great dragon was hurled down…Now have come salvation and the power and the kingdom of God.” The great dragon was not only defeated, but he was “hurled”! I picture the Lord taking the dragon by his tail, twirling him above his head, and hurling him at great speed until he crashes to the ground. Halleuiah! In Revelation 11, the twenty-four elders who were seated on their thrones before God, fell on their faces and worshiped God saying, “We give thanks to you, Lord God Almighty, the One who is and who was, because you have taken your great power and have begun to reign.’” In Revelation 12:10 a loud voice in heaven proclaimed these words: “Now have come the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God!”
It is these truths that have created the inspiration for so many great songs of victory that we sing. Those of us who worship the Lord God Almighty, who have been bought by the Blood of the Lamb and who have declared our testimony of his salvation, can sing the songs of the redeemed. Here are just a few phrases from our songs of victory that we sing on a regular basis: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits upon the throne…” “We’re singing glory, glory, halleluiah, he reigns!” “Behold he comes riding on the clouds, shining like the sun at the trumpet call, lift your voice, it’s the year of jubilee and out of Zion’s hill salvation comes!” “Holy, Holy, Holy is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!” “There is a Fountain, who is the King, Victorious Warrior and Lord of everything; my Rock, my Shelter, my very own, Blessed Redeemer who reigns upon the throne!” “Sing to the King who is coming to reign, glory to Jesus the Lamb that was slain; life and salvation his empire shall bring, and joy to the nations when Jesus is King. Come, let us sing a song, a song declaring that we belong to Jesus…lift up a song of praise, come now with voices raised to Jesus, sing to the King!” Let us celebrate our victory in Him, the One who goes before us in battle! Let us sing the songs of the redeemed!

Wisdom

Wisdom is one of the most valuable things we can possess, yet we can’t purchase it with a credit card or a personal check. James 1:5-6 tells us that if we lack wisdom, we can ask God for it and he will generously give it to us, if we truly believe that he will give it to us. Wisdom is obviously something that God wants us to possess because it protects us. I think about my own children and how I long for them to make good decisions so that they will bear the fruit of those good decisions. My children are at crucial ages in which the decisions they make could affect them for the rest of their lives. Our Heavenly Father looks out for us in the same way, but with even more love and compassion than we have for our earthly children.
I love reading the words of Solomon. At one time in his life he could have asked God for anything—riches, wealth, fame, etc. However, he chose to ask God for wisdom. God was so pleased with his request that he granted Solomon undeniable wisdom that we still read about today. As I have read through the book of Proverbs, I have been reminded of all of the benefits of wisdom. Here are just a few of the things that make wisdom so valuable:

• We will gain knowledge and a fear of the Lord (Prov. 1:7
• We will gain understanding (Prov. 2:6)
• Discretion will protect us (Prov. 2:11)
• Wisdom will save us from wicked men (Prov. 2:12)
• Our paths will be made straight (Prov. 3:6)
• It will bring health to our bodies and nourishment to our bones (Prov. 3:8)
• We will be blessed (Prov. 3:13)
• We will walk in peace (Prov. 3:17)
• We will go on in safety (Prov. 3:23)
• Our sleep will be sweet (Prov. 3:24)
• We will not fear sudden disaster and ruin
Solomon refers to wisdom in “female” form in Proverbs 4. He restates the value of wisdom in this chapter. In his words to his son, he says: “Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or swerve from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Esteem her and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor…When you walk your steps will not be hampered; when you run you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction; do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life. ..My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, and keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life…” (Prov. 4: 10-23)
Oh Lord, give us wisdom so that we may enjoy the benefits that it brings. Thank you for generously giving wisdom to us when we ask for it. You are infinitely wise and your resources are available to us! We praise you for wisdom and the quality of life that it brings. Help us to trust in you with all of our hearts; to not lean on our own understanding; to acknowledge you in all our ways so that you will make our paths straight!
“For the LORD gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.” (Prov. 2:6)

Pioneer Worship Leaders

In 1 Chronicles 6, we have a record of some of the first worship leaders in Biblical history. David put these men in charge of the music in the house of the Lord after the ark came to rest there. 1 Chronicles 6:32 says: “They ministered with music before the tabernacle, the Tent of Meeting, until Solomon built the temple of the LORD in Jerusalem. They performed their duties according to the regulations laid down for them.”
These men were called out in the Old Testament to not only be in charge of the music in the house of the Lord, but they were also set apart for prophesying in song accompanied by harps, lyres and cymbals. All of them were trained and skilled in music specifically for the purpose of worship in song in the temple. It is fitting that David, the ultimate worshiper, organized this group of talented musicians to carry on the worship in the tabernacle before Solomon’s temple was built. I wish I could have been there…ministering in song in Tent of Meeting where the ark dwelt.
This is a beautiful example to us who are vocalists, instrumentalists and musicians in our churches. Though we are not in the actual Tabernacle, Tent of Meeting or Solomon’s temple, we are in a sacred place and our music ministry happens in the presence of Almighty God. I would imagine that the ancient worshipers took their jobs seriously. There were specific regulations for them, and they were required to play and sing skillfully.
It is our responsibility to proclaim the glory of God through music. Psalm 66:1-2 tells us to “Shout joyfully to God all the earth; sing the glory of His name; make his praise glorious.” Psalm 119:172 says, “Let my tongue sing of Thy Word.” God’s purpose is clearly shown in Psalm 33:1-3: “Sing for joy in the Lord, O you righteous ones; praise is becoming to the upright. Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre. Sing praises to him with the harp of ten strings. Sing to him a new song; play skillfully with a shout of joy.”
We can also encourage one another by using music. Ephesians 5:19 tells us to “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to God.” Another way that music can be effective is by combating the enemy through spiritual warfare. In the heat of battle against the enemy, King Jehoshaphat appointed men to sing to the Lord and praise him in the splendor of his holiness…As they began singing and praising the Lord, He set ambushes against the men who were invading Judah and they were defeated. (II Chronicles 20:21-22) Our praise to the Lord silences the enemy of our souls.
As worship leaders and musicians in our church, we have the privilege and responsibility to encourage others through music, wage war against the enemy, and direct honor and praise to our Lord. He has given us both the desire and the ability to make music for him, and He wants us to glorify Him with our musical gifts. If it was important to God in the days of David to set apart musicians to lead out in worshiping Him, it is still important to Him today. I am thankful for a church where we can worship freely and contribute our musical gifts to Him on a regular basis.
Psalm 92:1 says, “It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, Oh Most High!

Hope Restored

As I read 2 Kings, the drama continues to unfold concerning the nation of Israel. Over and over again, they have been warned by God to keep his commandments and to follow His ways; to worship Him only and to not follow after other gods. However, they rejected God’s decrees and the covenant He made with their forefathers. They followed worthless idols and they became worthless themselves. They imitated the nations around them although the Lord had ordered them to not do as they do and they did the things God had forbidden them to do. The people of Israel, including their kings, forsook all of the commands of the Lord and they continued to cast idols. They bowed down to all of the starry hosts and they worshiped Baal. They sacrificed their sons and daughters in the fire and practiced divination and sorcery. They sold themselves to evil in the eyes of the Lord, provoking Him to anger. So the Lord was very angry with Israel and removed them from His presence. Only the tribe of Judah was left and even Judah did not keep the commands of the Lord their God. They were taken captive by Assyria and were exiled there. Things were not looking so good for the nation of Israel—not even Judah.
During this hopeless time, a young man named Hezekiah became King of Judah. This twenty-five year old man was a non-conformist. Rather than practicing the evil and rebellion of the kings before him, he chose to do what was right in the eyes of the Lord. He removed high places of idol worship, smashed down sacred stones and altars for idol worship, cut down Asherah poles and broke the bronze snake that the people were bowing down to worship. Hezekiah was serious about CHANGE! He trusted in the Lord and did not cease to follow Him. The result: the Lord was with him and he was successful in whatever he did.
During Hezekiah’s reign in Judah, they were attacked and captured by the Assyrian army. The Assyrian supreme commander mocked Hezekiah and blasphemed against the Lord, attempting to make Hezekiah look like a fool. He even tried to convince others that Hezekiah was a liar who was not to be trusted. But the word of the Lord spoke through the prophet Isaiah to Hezekiah: “Do not be afraid of what you have heard—those words with which the underlings of the king of Assyria have blasphemed me. Listen! I am going to put such a spirit in him that when he hears a certain report, he will return to his own country, and there I will have him cut down with a sword.” (2 Kings 19:6-7) Hezekiah’s response to the threats and blasphemy was to encourage people to pray for a remnant to survive. He eloquently expressed his worship to the Lord during this time of anguish: “O Lord, God of Israel, enthroned between the cherubim, you alone are God over all the kingdoms of the earth. You have made heaven and earth. Give ear, O Lord and hear; open your eyes, O Lord and see; listen to the words Sennacherib has sent to insult the living God. …now oh Lord our God, deliver us from his hand, so that all kingdoms on earth may know that you alone, O Lord, are God.” (2 Kings 19:14-19)

The Word of the Lord came once again to the prophet Isaiah who foretold the fall of the Assyrian army. This stiff-necked, arrogant nation was going to not survive the wrath of God. Concerning Assyria, Isaiah spoke these words: “I will put my hook in your nose and my bit in your mouth and I will make you return by the way you came.” (2 Kings 19:28) And concerning Judah: “Once more a remnant of the house of Judah will take root below and bear fruit above—for out of Jerusalem will come a remnant and out of Mt. Zion a band of survivors. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” (2 Kings 19:30-31)
That night the angel of the Lord put to death a hundred and eighty-five thousand men in the Assyrian camp. This story is so inspiring to me, because it once again demonstrates the absolute power of Almighty God when all seems hopeless and futile. God, fueled by His infinite love for His people, was mighty to save and brought great deliverance. He sought vengeance upon a stubborn and arrogant nation who was mocking Him. God was faithful to honor Hezekiah’s obedience and Hezekiah was faithful to honor God’s decrees. If God is for us, who can be against us? Our God is a God of restoration and hope. He continually works to restore His glory in us on a daily basis. What a great and mighty God we serve!

A Little Jug of Oil

In today’s Bible readings, I was impressed with how all of the Scripture passages flowed together with consistency even though they were written at different time periods, and were penned by different authors. Of course, it shouldn’t be surprising that the Word of God is consistent because the Spirit of God is the One who inspired the writers of the Holy Scriptures. It is the Spirit of God who speaks to us today, and breathes life into His Word as we take time to read it. I witnessed God’s Spirit at work today as I read 1 Kings 17, 1 Peter 4 and Psalm 52.
I have always been touched by the story of the widow of Zarephath. She was a poor woman, barely able to care for herself and her son. However, the Lord commanded the woman to be hospitable to Elijah; to feed him and take care of him. The story goes like this: “So Elijah went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, ‘Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?’ As she was gong to get it, he called, ‘And bring me, please, a piece of bread.’ ‘As surely as the Lord your God lives’, she replied, ‘I don’t have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die.’ Elijah said to her, ‘Don’t be afraid, Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel says: ‘The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.’ (1 Kings 17:10-14)
This story demonstrates the abundant resources of our God when we are spent and have nothing else to give. Many times in ministry and with my family, I have been tired and worn out, feeling like I had nothing left to give. My resources had run dry, and yet the needs of those around me continued to demand more of me than I felt like I could give. But God has always provided ways for me to give out of my emptiness and He took my “little jug of oil” and multiplied it supernaturally. He wants us to depend on Him so that He can provide us with strength that we do not have. This principle is confirmed in1 Peter 4: 9:11: “Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling. Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms. If anyone speaks, he should do it as one speaking the very words of God. If anyone serves, he should do it with the strength that God provides, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. To him be the glory and the power forever and ever. Amen.”
In Psalm 52, David presents a stark contrast to those who are dependent on the Lord for his provision. He is disillusioned by the fact that the wicked prosper and gain power by destroying others. He speaks of them harshly: “Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin: He will snatch you up and tear you from your tent; he will uproot you from the land of the living. Here now is the man who did not make God his stronghold, but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!” (Ps. 42:5-7) David knew that their strength was temporary because it was not provided by God, but rather by their own power. Unlike the wicked men, David endured many days of anguish and called upon the name of the Lord out of his own emptiness and desperation. Yet, as the widow of Zarephath experienced, he also witnessed the faithfulness of God to give out of his vast resources when he only had a “little jug of oil.” He concluded Psalm 52 with this glorious truth: “But I am like an olive tree flourishing in the house of God; I trust in God’s unfailing love forever and ever. I will praise you forever for what you have done; in your name I will hope, for your name is good. I will praise you in the presence of your saints.” (Ps. 52:8-9) God took David’s little jug of oil and caused him to be like an olive tree, the very source of the oil. What a beautiful picture of God’s ability to provide! Let us not forget to place our hope in God’s strength to do mighty works in our midst!

Jesus What a Friend for Sinners

As I read through the book of 1Timothy 1 this past week, I was particularly impressed with verses 13, 14 and 16. These verses reminded me of the vast mercy and infinite patience of our Lord as He continues to pour out His love out on those still walking in darkness. Paul admitted his own frailty and painful past as he reflected upon his own life in his letter to Timothy: “Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” (1Tim. 1:13) Not only does God pour out his grace, but He also throws in a couple of bonus gifts: His faith and love! The faith that He supplies will allow us to grasp how high and wide and deep His love is for us, then we will be able to further understand His abundant grace. He knew that we needed help “wrapping our minds” around this concept so He offered some assistance! Paul continues in his letter to Timothy by saying, “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his unlimited patience as an example for those who would believe on him and receive eternal life.” It occurred to me this week that we, who are followers of Christ, are living examples of the patience of God in order that others might believe Him. His work in our lives is a manifestation of His unlimited patience and others will see it and believe! This is truly miraculous. It is no wonder that Paul ended this particular discourse with an incredible benediction: Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever Amen.” (1 Tim. 1:17)
Jesus came to free the captives, to redeem and restore all that has been stolen from us, and to bind our wounds when we were helpless in our own sinful, ignorant unbelief. He came to seek and to save those who were lost. Jesus was and still is a friend to sinners; and now He is saving, helping, keeping, and loving us. He also promises his loving presence with us until the end of our days on earth. Hallelujah what a Savior!

Jesus What a Friend for Sinners
Jesus What a friend for sinners!
Jesus lover of my soul;
Friends may fail me, foes assail me,
He, my Savior makes me whole.
Hallelujah! What a Savior! Hallelujah! What a friend!
Saving, helping, keeping, loving,
He is with me to the end!

God You Are!

Psalms 46:10 tells us to “Be still and know that He is God.” Part of that process involves consciously thinking about the different aspects and characters of God. I am amazed at how quickly I can forget what I read in my Bible if I don’t continually keep it before me. In the first chapter in the book of James, we are instructed to “look intently” into the Word of God so that we are not like a man who looks at his face in a mirror and forgets what he looks like. “Looking intently” means that we need to focus on the Word of God in such a way that it makes an unforgettable impression in our hearts and minds. Years ago, a friend encouraged me to read through the Bible and look for different aspects of God’s character. I began to make a list of all of the wonderful qualities of God that I had found in His Word, and before I knew it, my stress level went down significantly and my faith was increased. It makes perfect sense for us to focus intently on the Word of God and praise Him for his incredible characteristics. As I made a list of the characteristics of God, I would recall back to Him those attributes and say, “God, You are faithful” or “God ,You are my Redeemer.” We can also simply say, “God, You Are” because He is the Great I Am! This past week, I focused on God as my Deliverer. Here are some wonderful verses that proclaim God as our Deliverer. May He bless you today with these Scripture passages:
Psalm 34:4-7
I sought the LORD, and he answered me; he delivered me from all my fears. Those who look to him are radiant; their faces are never covered with shame. This poor man called, and the LORD heard him, he saved him out of all of his troubles. The angel of the LORD encamps around those who fear him. And he delivers him…
Psalm 91:14-16
“Because he loves me”, says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation. “
Isaiah 46:4-5
Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you. To whom will you compare me or count me as equal? To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
2 Cor. 1:8-10
We do not want you to be uninformed brothers about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. In- deed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us.
2 Sam. 22:17-20
He reached down from on high and took hold of me; he drew me out of deep waters. He rescued me from my powerful enemy, from my foes, who were too strong for me. They confronted me in the day of my disaster but the LORD was my support. He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Thank you Lord, for being our Great Deliverer!

Continue

My daughter, Haley was struggling with her math homework last week and I discovered that I could not help her at all because I had completely forgotten everything I learned in high school math. In fact, I was overjoyed on the day I finally finished my last math exam in college. Math was not one of my favorite subjects, but I do remember vaguely that all of the information was cumulative; one step led to another and many of the formulas were somehow related to each other. The reason that I didn’t remember any of my high school math is because I didn’t continue with it. The same is true with piano lessons. So many people have approached me and have said, “I wish I hadn’t quit my piano lessons when I was growing up.” Many students begin piano lessons at about age 9 and quit somewhere between the ages of 12 and 15. There are just too many distractions and many more attractive options available for teen-agers who find themselves in the drudgery of practicing the piano. However, I was one of those unusual students who loved to practice the piano and I continued lessons all through college and even in my graduate years. Even now, I play regularly each week to keep my skills sharp because I know if I quit playing, I will begin to lose the accuracy and technique that I have worked to develop all of these years.
As I read 2 Timothy this week, I was reminded of the importance of continuing in what we have learned about the Lord and His Word. Like many of you, I grew up in the Baptist church, and was exposed to so many sermons, Bible stories, memory verses, hymns, praise songs, etc. It is amazing to think that all of the truths contained in those songs, Bible verses and sermons are still somewhere in the recesses of my mind. I still remember Bible verses that I learned in the 4th grade. I still remember some of the great songs that I learned as a child and as a teen-ager. I remember my Sunday school teachers and pastors from my childhood. All through my life, God has been building a foundation of truth for me so that I may be able to stand upon it during times when my faith may be tested.
It is evident that as Paul and Timothy shared ministry together, they encountered some difficult situations and great times of testing. Paul was in the process of “passing the torch” to Timothy so that he could carry on the work of preaching the Gospel. It was also at this time that Timothy needed some encouragement. Paul, the ever resilient and tenacious ambassador of the Lord, admonished Timothy to continue in what he knew to be true, just as he himself had done. In his tender letter to Timothy he wrote, “You, however know all about my teaching, my way of life, my purpose, faith, patience, love, endurance, persecutions, sufferings—what kinds of things happened to me in Antioch, Iconium and Lystra, the persecutions I endured. Yet the Lord rescued me from all of them. In fact everyone who wants to live a godly life will be persecuted, while evil men and imposters will go from bad to worse, deceiving and being deceived. But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, and how from infancy you have known the holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.” (2 Tim. 3:10-17)
By continuing in what we have learned, we have the opportunity to become convinced of the truths that we have heard repeatedly and have witnessed in others. Through our knowledge of the Scriptures we allow the Lord to equip us for every good work because all Scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. May we follow Paul’s example as he said in 2 Timothy 1:12: “…for I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.”

No Confidence in the Flesh

A couple of weeks ago at the Adult Bible Conference, Dr. Wiles mentioned that our society has become a very narcissistic society. We now have You Tube, the i-phone, My Space, etc., all of which display pictures and videos of ourselves and those we know. Many of the advertising campaigns have adopted the slogan “My__________________”, as in “My McDonalds”, My Albertsons”, etc. Advertisers are tapping into our “I, me mine” philosophy and we are rapidly being persuaded to focus inward to what belongs to us, much like two-year old children do with their favorite toys.
Many of our reality T.V. shows also emphasize narcissism such as America’s Top Model, American Idol, The Bachelor, etc. These shows reveal by process of elimination the most talented, the most beautiful, and the most desirable. Each contestant on these shows has one goal in mind: to win the prize; the coveted American Idol or Top Model title, as well all of the benefits that go along with that particular title.
When I read Philippians 3, I am reminded of how far we have drifted as a society from what Paul addressed in his letter concerning confidence in the flesh. Philippians 3 is the antithesis to narcissism.
“For it is we who are the circumcision, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and who put no confidence in the flesh…” (Phil. 3:3)
As we read further in Philippians 3, we find that Paul did not lack in self-confidence. In verse 4 he states: “…though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else things he has reasons to put confidence in the flesh, I have more…” In other words, as a Jew, he had it all: circumcised on the eighth day, from the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews, zealous toward the law, righteous in his legalism and faultless in his ability to follow the law. He had pedigree, education and flawless behavior according to Jewish heritage. However, in the midst of all of his accomplishments and impressive heritage and education, he developed a shift in his thinking regarding all of these things. He had an encounter with the Lord Jesus Christ. That one encounter changed everything about what he once thought for he wrote: “But whatever was to my profit I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead.” (Phil. 3:7-11)
I am so impressed with Paul because he could have easily become self-sufficient in his own confidence, pedigree and heritage. Instead, he found something greater; a relationship with the Lord Jesus which added more depth and meaning than any earthly accomplishment or accolade. These words of Paul continue to remind me that Jesus is worth it; He is worth the loss of all things great and small. When we have experienced great loss in our lives, we gain the blessing of knowing Jesus in a more powerful and intimate way. When this happens, all that we once had diminishes in comparison to what lies ahead. That is why Paul said, “Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. What a wonderful promise awaits us as we persevere and lay aside those earthly hindrances which so often entangle us. There is a prize more wonderful than we can imagine, and we can rejoice because Jesus is our prize. As Paul says, “Let us live up to what we have already attained” as we eagerly wait for Jesus to bring everything under His control and He will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like him in glory. Halleluiah, what a Savior!

Green Pastures and Still Waters

This week, we read through Psalm 23. This short Psalm is packed with so many spiritual metaphors revealing necessary truths for us to embrace. For many years, I have heard this Psalm recited at funerals because of its comforting words, but its message is very much about life as well as death. Every time I read the 23rd Psalm, I am reminded of the things that God desires and intends for us; particularly verse 2 which says, “He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. “ In Phillip Keller’s book, A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23, he sheds some insight on this passage.
He says, “Generally speaking, water for the sheep came from three main sources: dew on the grass, deep wells, or springs and streams. Most people are not aware that sheep can go for months on end, especially if the weather is not too hot, without actually drinking, if there is heavy dew on the grass each morning. Sheep, by habit, rise just before dawn and start to feed. Or if there is bright moonlight they will graze at night. The early hours are when the vegetation is drenched with dew, and sheep can keep fit on the amount of water taken in with their forage when they graze just before and after dawn.
Of course, dew is a clear, clean, pure source of water. And there is no more resplendent picture of still waters than the silver droplets of dew hanging heavy on leaves and grass at break of day. The good shepherd, the diligent manager, makes sure that his sheep can be out and grazing on this dew-drenched vegetation. If necessary, it will mean he himself has to rise early to be out with his flock. ‘”
In the Christian life it is or more than passing significance to observe that those who are often the most serene, most confident, and able to cope with life’s complexities are those who rise early each day to feed on God’s Word. It is in the quiet, early hours of the morning that they are led beside the quiet, still waters where they imbibe the very life of Christ for the day. There alone, still, waiting for the Master’s voice, one is led gently to the place where, as the old hymn puts it, ‘The still dews of His Spirit can be dropped into my life and soul.’”
Our Good Shepherd loves to see us contented, quiet, at rest and relaxed. He delights to know that our souls have been refreshed and satisfied. Unfortunately, we as Christians try to satisfy our thirst by many other substitutes. We try to appease the cravings of our souls while we pursue careers, intellect, money, relationships, etc. only to find dissatisfaction. We do as Jeremiah once declared, “My people…have forsaken me, the spring of living water, and have dug their own cisterns, broken cisterns that cannot hold water.” (Jer. 2:13)

Take Up Your Cross

Mark 8:34-35 Then He called the crowd to Him along with His disciples and said: “If anyone would come after me, He must deny Himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life with lose it, but whoever loses his life for me and for the gospel will save it.”
Take Up Your Cross
Deep in the heart of the Sawatch mountain range near Vail, Colorado is the Mount of the Holy Cross. It is one of the highest peaks in Colorado and it is famous for its East facing facade which fills with snow and forms a well-defined cross within the mountain. The vertical cross beam stands approximately 1100 feet tall and the horizontal cross beam is around 750 long. First discovered in 1869, it was described to be a sign from God and His promise; a beacon upon the very center and height of the continent to all people and all generations. Samuel Bowles referred to this phenomenon when he said, “Here is a supply store and workshop of creation, the fountain of the Earth.” For many years, people saw the Mount of the Holy Cross as a place of healing. One pastor once took 2000 handkerchiefs from his congregation and prayed for healing for each of the members who gave him handkerchiefs symbolizing their particular needs. Near the foot of the cross structure in the mountain is a lake known as the Lake of Tears.

Colorado is known for its 14ers; the mountains with at least 14,000 feet to the summit. Advanced hikers come from all over the world to hike the trails to the top of the 14ers. The Mount of the Holy Cross is a 14er and a very difficult hike. Many 14ers take at least 8-10 hours to hike to the summit. Before hikers can see the cross in this particular mountain, they must take Half Moon Pass and descend into the Holy Cross valley across East Cross Creek. The trail will then head to the Ridge of the Holy Cross and will follow the rest of the way to the summit. As I read about the Mount of the Holy Cross and its particular trail, I saw the incredible parallelism between this mountain trail and the Christian life of someone who “takes up his cross” and follows Jesus. Following the Jesus Way, often involves descending into the valley and walking through treacherous, rocky paths. However, after putting one foot in front of the other, after much toil and sweat and prayer, we eventually reach the summit—the exaltation, the glorious inheritance that is ours for eternity.

I love how God demonstrates Himself through His creation and tells the very story of the Christian life as a follower of Jesus through a rocky mountain trail. Last week, my family hiked a difficult trail in Colorado. It was not the Mount of the Holy Cross trail, but it was certainly rocky and steep. I had to carefully watch where I took each step so I wouldn’t trip and fall. I became short of breath in the thin mountain air, and even had bouts of altitude sickness. My legs were burning from climbing miles of rocky stairs, but eventually I reached the summit and it was absolutely gorgeous. At the summit there was an incredible waterfall that flowed into a turquoise blue pool of water. As difficult as the hike was, there were also beautiful sights along the way; other waterfalls, rushing rivers and beautiful trees to encourage me to keep going. As we “take up our cross” and follow Jesus, there will be steep inclines, rocky paths and we may run out of breath and have to stop and rest, but He will give us joy in the journey by granting us His presence and He will encourage us as we make our way to the summit. We know that as we follow Jesus, there is no path that He will take us that He hasn’t been before, and we know that our ultimate destination is an eternal summit filled with the glory of God. I am thankful that He does not leave us to walk our life’s journey alone, but He guides us every step of the way.

Take up your cross and follow me
I heard my master say
I gave my life to ransom Thee
Surrender your all today
Wherever He leads I’ll go
Wherever He leads I’ll go
I’ll follow my Christ who loves me so
Wherever He leads I’ll go

Our Great God

Psalm 145 is known as an acrostic of praise written by David. Each verse corresponds with a successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. I love this Psalm because it gives us accurate descriptions of God’s character and His active interest in our lives. In the English language, we can see this Psalm partially divided into two categories: God is_____________ and God does__________________.
The list begins with these descriptions of God. Each of these phrases appears in pairs and most of them are connected by the word “and”, almost as if to imply a continued explanation.
“Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise.” (v. 3)
“The Lord is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and rich in love.” (v. 8)
“The Lord is good to all and has compassion on all He has made.” (v.9)
“Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom , and your dominion endures through all generations.” (v.13)
“The Lord is righteous in all His ways and loving toward all He has made.” (v. 17)
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him, to all who call on Him in truth.” (v.18)

The next group of phrases describes the activity of the Lord in our lives. Sometimes David talks about the Lord and sometimes he is actually directs His praise to the Lord Himself. This list begins with the statement:
“The Lord is faithful to all His promises and loving toward all He has made.” (v.13) The list continues with how the Lord demonstrates His faithfulness to us:

“The Lord upholds all those fall and lifts up all who are bowed down.” (v.14)
“You give Your people food at the proper time.” (v.15)
“You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (v.16)
“The Lord is near to all who call on Him in truth.” (v.18)
“He fulfills the desires of those who fear Him; He hears their cry and saves them.” (v.19)
“The Lord watches over all who love Him…” (v.20)

Our Lord is an active God who continually works to fulfill His promises to us. He does it in so many ways; upholding us, lifting us up, providing for us, staying near to us, fulfilling our desires and watching over us. I am so thankful that we serve a Great God! “Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; His greatness no one can fathom!” (v. 3)

The Concept of Freedom

2 Cor. 3:17 “Now the Lord is the Spirit and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom…”

This verse is comforting to me because it means that we can actually achieve freedom in our souls through the power of the Holy Spirit. Freedom means that things are as they should be. Bondage has been eliminated and restoration has occurred. This past week, I did some graduate work at the McClosky Vocal Institute in Georgia, and we discussed at great length how to achieve “freedom of tone” in the voice. As singers, there are so many elements that prohibit freedom of tone: tension in the face, jaw, tongue, neck and shoulders, incorrect posture and breath support. When all of the tension is eliminated, and there is proper posture and breath support, the vocal tone will be free and resonant. This week, I heard phrases such as “Let the breath be in control…” and “Let the sound happen, don’t force it to happen!” Everything should come easily and naturally, and yet we get in the way of our own freedom of sound by all of the bad habits that we develop in singing.

As I thought about 2 Cor. 3:17, I saw a distinct correlation between “freedom of tone” in the voice and “freedom” as it relates to the Christian life. The key to singing freely is to let the breath control the sound. The Spirit of the Lord is often referred to as the “breath of God”. As His Spirit fills us and controls us, our lives will function more productively and we will experience His leadership and peace. Singing with freedom of tone also involves a great amount of relaxation. It is essential to work out as much tension as possible before uttering a single sound. The more tense we become, the more our vocal sound will be “tight and pinched”. Over and over again, God reminds us in Scripture to rest or “relax” in Him. We need to roll our troubles onto Him and rest in His almighty power to handle our problems and situations. This is much easier said than done, and it is difficult for all of us to do! It is equally difficult to keep our neck muscles, tongue and jaw relaxed when singing and may often take years of practice to achieve relaxation in just one of those areas. But I know for a fact that as those muscles begin to relax, a beautiful and free tone emerges. In the same way, we must trust that as we rest in the Lord, we will have a more peaceful state of mind. The Lord promises to restore us and give us freedom in Him.

Another important aspect of singing with a free tone, is to have proper posture. If the body is not aligned properly, the entire sound can be affected. Even the slightest alteration in posture can greatly inhibit the freedom and ease of the vocal tone. This reminded me of how important it is for us to keep a proper posture before the Lord. As we spend time with Him, He gives us a proper perspective of Himself and how we relate to Him. For God’s Spirit to flow freely through us, we must remain yielded and humble before Him. When His Spirit is in control and flowing through us, we will begin to produce fruit that looks like Him; the fruit of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness and self-control.

We all love to hear a beautiful, free singing voice. It is pleasant and soothing to us. It thrills me to work with a voice student who is learning to break away from tension to create a beautiful, resonant sound. The Lord wants to work with us as well to achieve freedom in our lives. My prayer is that my life will be pleasing to the Lord and will reflect the freedom that He gives me as I rest in Him and yield to Him. A life of freedom is what He desires for us. It is His ultimate goal for our lives. In fact, it was so important to God for us to have freedom, that Christ died to set us free from Satan’s bondage. Since we have already been set free, let us learn to live and walk in the freedom that is ours!

Less is More

The story of Gideon demonstrates a beautiful picture of God’s heart and motives. We need to pay careful attention to the words of the Lord mentioned in this story. As humans, we tend to look at numbers as a gauge of success and power. In our society, significance is determined by how much money we make, how many employees we have working for us, how well we are known in the public eye, etc. We validate one another by the things that we have and achieve.
I was in London this past week at the time of the Royal Ascot horse races. It was an event for those in high society. Only the most elite people of England were able to attend this event and it was a mark of status to be seen at the Royal Ascot races. The men were required to wear tuxedos with tails and top hats, while the women wore formal dresses with fancy hats. There was entire day devoted to the fashions that were worn, as the men and women paraded around having their pictures taken, much like we do for the Academy awards here in the United States. Of course, the most beautiful dresses and hats were recognized and there was much attention given to those with the highest status. As I watched this event on T.V., I was reminded that the Lord is not impressed at all with the things that we humans think are important.
One of my favorite children’s books is called “You are Special” by Max Lucado. In the book, there was a town full of wooden puppets called the Wemmicks. Each Wemmick had a box of golden stars and a box of gray dot stickers. All day long, the Wemmicks gave stickers of stars and dots to each other. The pretty ones with smooth wood and fine paint received stars, but if the wood was rough and the paint was chipped, the Wemmicks gave dots. The talented ones got stars too. Others, who could do little received dots. Some Wemmicks had stars all over them. Punchinello was a Wemmick who did not have stars, but dots all over him. He was neither the prettiest nor the most talented Wemmick. He had scratches and bumps all over him. After a while, he had received so many dots that he was afraid to go outside. The Wemmicks with stars made Punchinello feel badly about himself, until one day he met Lucia. She had no stars or dots on her body. She told Punchinello that they fell off of her whenever anyone put a star or sticker on her. She did not want anyone’s marks. Punchinello wanted to know her secret and she told him that her stickers didn’t stick because she spent time with Eli, the Woodcarver. Punchinello went to visit Eli and Eli told him how special he was; that stars and dots didn’t matter. What mattered was what Eli thought of Punchinello, because Eli created Punchinello and in Eli’s eyes, Punchinello was special and beautiful to him. Eli told Punchinello that the stickers stuck only if they mattered to him. Eli said, “The more you trust my love, the less you care about their stickers.” Eli reminded Punchinello to come spend time with him every day so that he could let Punchinello know just how much he cared. He said, “You are special because I made you, and I don’t make mistakes.” Punchinello began to believe Eli, and as he did, a dot fell to the ground. Punchinello discovered that the less stars and dots he had on his body, the more he had grown to believe his creator.

God continues to use the story of Gideon to teach us that man’s strength and status mean nothing to Him, but only His power and might will be everlasting. The Midianite army was so huge, the men could not be counted, but the Lord used Gideon’s army of 300 men to defeat them. Gideon spent time with his Creator, as Punchinello had done, and he knew and discerned the truth about the battle he was about to face. When Gideon had twenty-two thousand men, the Lord said to Gideon, “You have too many men for me to deliver Midian into their hands. In order that Israel may not boast against me that her own strength has saved her, announce now to the people, ‘Anyone who trembles with fear may turn back and leave Mount Gilead.’.” So twenty-two thousand men left, while ten thousand remained. (Judges 7: 2-3) According to the Lord, ten thousand men were still too many. Gideon was left with 300 men. Rather than looking at the Midianite army and all of their “stars”, Gideon focused on the words of the Lord, “I will deliver them into your hands.” Miraculously, Gideon’s army, probably covered with “dots” defeated the Midianites. It was the word of the Lord that prevailed. Let us not forget, in our society of “stickers of stars and dots”, that less is often “more” when God is involved. May we not boast about our own strength, but boast in the power of the Lord Almighty.

The Fall of Jericho

There is an old spiritual called “Joshua Fit the Battle at Jericho.” I remember playing a piano arrangement of that particular song when I was in elementary school. However, I really wasn’t aware at that time what the song was about. I just knew it was fun to play and it had a catchy tune. The story of the Fall of Jericho is one of my favorites, especially now that I understand how it relates to our every day lives on the spiritual battlefield. Joshua was fit for the battle at Jericho because he had come face to face with the commander of the Lord’ s army and he was faithful to fight the battle as the Lord commanded him to do. In Joshua 5, we find that Joshua had a personal encounter with the Lord Himself. Joshua 5:13-15 recalls this encounter: Now when Joshua was near Jericho, he looked up and saw a man standing in front of him with a drawn sword in his hand. Joshua went up to him and asked, ”Are you for us or for our enemies?” “Neither”, he replied, “but as commander of the army of the Lord I have now come.” Then Joshua fell facedown to the ground in reverence and asked him, “What message does my Lord have for his servant?” The commander of the Lord’s army replied, “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy.” And Joshua did so.

The city of Jericho was a closed community and no one could come in or leave from its borders. It may have possibly been the center of worship of the moon-god. God Almighty not only wanted to destroy this Canaanite city but also its pagan religion, so He was going to help Joshua accomplish this. In Joshua 6:2, the Lord promised Joshua that He would deliver Jericho into his hands, along with its king and all of its fighting men. The method that the Lord chose to destroy Jericho was unconventional and probably did not make sense to Joshua, but he did it anyway. The battle plan was for Joshua and his men to march around the city once with armed men and they would do this for six days. Seven priests were to carry trumpets of rams’ horns in front of the Ark of the Covenant. On the seventh day, they were to march around the city seven times with the priests blowing the trumpets. When the trumpet gave a long blast, the people were to give a loud shout and the wall of the city would collapse so that Joshua’s army could attack Jericho and destroy it.

This type of battle wasn’t initially fought with swords and stones, but with perseverance and endurance. I think I would be exhausted after marching around the city just once, but Joshua’s army was to march around the city without stopping for six days. After six days of marching around the city without stopping, I think I would barely have any life left in me. However, Joshua’s army was commanded on the seventh day to march around the city seven times! Surely these men were beyond exhausted and yet somehow, they were going to have the strength to march around the city seven times and then destroy the people of Jericho. It is interesting to me that the wall of Jericho, which was possibly a very strong, double wall did not fall because it was blasted by large boulders, but it fell because the people of God were obedient, and faithful to do what God asked them to do. All they had to do was to shout and the wall fell down. I would have loved to have been there to see that avalanche!

In our own battles, it seems that we may “march around the city” many times without seeing any results. But because we serve a victorious God who is on our side, one day the walls of the enemy will tumble down because of our faithfulness to pray and persevere. When Christ comes again, we will hear one final blast of the trumpet (1 Thess. 4:16) and all of our battles will be over. All of our walls of sorrow, discouragement, bitterness, disillusionment, etc. will come tumbling down and we will celebrate Christ’s eternal victory. Lord, give us the grace to keep walking…to keep standing….to keep praying until that final day!