Wednesday: My Mind is Crowded

So much information to process in the last couple of days. I had the test Monday, and then Tuesday I was given paperwork to fill out. It has been a hunt for information. When trying to find information from your past; it is like spring cleaning. I am getting older, but not to the point of loosing my marbles. When information that you do not access all the time is needed, and that information is not in any specific order, it is like trying to find a needle in a haystack. I am thankful to my wife, my family, and my friends for helping me to recover some of the information that I need for the paperwork.

There are still some things ahead, but I will take those steps, one step at a time. I am almost done with this part of the paperwork, but there is still a little more paperwork to fill out. My brain will be very relieved when I get through this paperwork.

Worship even in the times that your mind has information overload is key to staying sane. The Spirit helps us to focus on the important things in life. Remember that God has it under control.

Tuesday: A Test and a Storm

I took the ASVAB last night, and judging by what my preliminary AFQT score was, I think that I did well. There were quite a few different people going into different branches of the military taking the test last night. We had the Navy, Marines, and Army National Guard represented there. I got done with the test, and it was lightly raining--at least until I got to the main road. Then the heavens let forth a downpour that made me feel like I was on the high seas. I had to go at a snail's pace to make sure that I did not end up on the wrong side of the road or in a ditch. Then it started hailing, and the wind and the rain was whipping all different directions. When I got real close to home, the power of nearby businesses went out and then came back on, so it was dark there for a minute.
Our lives are like the test and the storm. Our life tests happen everyday and we have to choose to make the right decision or answer the right answer. These tests are important to our faith. How else will be able to stand when the real test come along? The storms in our life blow in every once in awhile, but even these storms are test of our faith. God has given us a light, and we should be like a lighthouse in these storms. So many crash into the shore, because we choose not to shine our light into their storms.

Monday: My God is Enough

I rely on God everyday. This is a day like any other, but I do have a test today. This test will determine where I will be employed in the Navy. I know what I want to do in the Navy and that is be a builder, but the test will be the real tell-all. God knows where I am headed. He is "the author and finisher of our faith." He takes care of all the details. I continue to follow after God.

"As the deer panteth for the water, so my soul longeth after You.
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You.
You alone are my strength, my shield; To You alone may my spirit yield.
You alone are my heart's desire, and I long to worship You."
("As the Deer"- Martin Nystrom)

My soul longeth for my God. It is in our nature to long for our Creator. That is before we sinned and separated ourselves from God.

"I've had enough of living life for only me
and reaching just for the things
that keep destroying me
so sick of envying the lives of so many I see
somehow believing that they have what I need

My God's enough for me
this world has nothing I need
in this whole life I've seen
my God's enough, enough for me

I can't explain why I suffer though I live for You
those who deny You, oh they have it better than I do
cover my eyes now so that my heart can finally see
that in the end only You mean anything

Who have I in heaven but You
Nothing I desire but You
My heart may fail but not You
You are mine forever
My heart may fail but not you
You are mine forever

Who have I but you?"
("My God's Enough For Me"- BarlowGirl)

Is your God enough, because I know that mine is enough. I suggest that you read Psalms 73, so that you understand that our God is more than enough.

Sunday: Complete Worship

Worship is something that is not well understood. What is worship? Worship is ardent devotion and adoration. Ardent means passionate. We all need to be passionate about our worship and service. Passion is something that involves complete and total commitment.

"I stand amazed in the presence of Jesus the Nazarene,
And wonder how he could love me, A sinner, condemned, unclean.
How marvelous! How wonderful! And my song shall ever be;
How marvelous! How wonderful! Is my Savior's love for me."
("I Stand Amazed in the Presence"- Charles Gabriel)

We wonder so often how Christ could love sinners like us, but He saw what our eternal destiny would be if there was no salvation. It would be Hell, eternal separation from One Who gave Himself so freely for us. Let us go into all the world and tell them the good news.

Saturday: Trying to Catch Up

I have been a little behind on my posts, but I am trying to get back into the swing of things. We so often get so caught up in everything that is going on, and we forget to fellowship and worship the One that has blessed us with the time that we have. When something takes a person away from their loved ones, they rarely suspect that their time is limited. In fact, unless one has had ongoing struggles with his health, one rarely pauses to consider the time he has left. However, as was mentioned in a previous post, all things are possible with Christ.

Jesus, When I call out to you,
You hear my voice and say to me,
My child, I am listening to you,
My Savior, Show me what I need to see.

Jesus, you have led me thus far,
And I know that you know where we are.
My Lord, Take every part of me,
And may all my life Thy glory be.

Prayer is a powerful thing. Nothing on this earth can compare to the communication that we have with our Creator. Those that believe in other gods cannot experience this, and they never will. They are offering prayers to false gods, and they don't even know it. Let us alert the public to the fact that Jesus is the only way to have eternal life.

Friday: Preparations For the Road Ahead

I am getting ever closer to the next step in my military journey. To a certain extent, I know what lies ahead, but there is a part of me that is unsure. I have my ASVAB coming up this Monday, and then about a week out from that I have my military physical and job placement. I am excited and scared at the same time. I am doing as much as I can to prepare myself for the test Monday, but I put the rest in the hands of the Lord. "He leads in every path I take..." ("God Makes No Mistakes," Ron Hamilton)

We all have uncertainty in the human part of us, but that is why we all need to put more trust in the One that knows the beginning and end of us. I cannot emphasize this enough, because He is truly the only One in Whom we can place all our trust. Peter, Paul, and David did it, and they were only human like us, but they were indwelt by the Spirit. Peter had to trust the Lord to lift him up out of the sea. Paul had to trust the Lord in every situation, and that is how he was able to do all that he did in the name of the Lord. David had Goliath to face, and he was only a little boy; but he, through the power of God, was able to slay Goliath. We can only do so much in our own power, but "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Philippians 4:13)

Thursday: Never Alone

There are times when we physically feel alone, and imagine that there is no one that can help us. I am here to tell you that with God; you are never alone. He is constantly paying attention to every detail of our lives. If He created every detail of our body and the whole universe, can He not take care of everything? God wants all of us come to salvation, but He cannot fill that hole in our lives if we continue to reject Him.
He could have turned His back on all the sin, but He sent His Son to give us the greatest gift of salvation and eternal life. He loves and cares for His children, and He knows the needs that we have. He is just waiting for us to choose to accept the gift that He so graciously gave us. "For God so loved the world, that He gave us His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Wednesday: Questions

Why did this happen to me? What do I do now? Where do I go from here? So many questions that we ask ourselves and God. I want those of us that have questions about our circumstances and other things, to put our trust in God. There so many occasions that we question the God that created us. Trust is something that is established and we need to re-establish the trust in our Savior. He caused everything to happen and happen for a purpose.

The questions that we should be asking are how can I use this occasion to glorify You, God, how by Your Word do I take this path that lies before me, and where can be used the next place that I go? We unfortunately cannot just let go and let God, because He gave us a promise that He would help us bare the burdens that have been placed in our lives. We serve an awesome God and He knows what we need. He also knows what we need to grow in the Lord.

Why God did you bring me here?
To prepare you for what I have planned.
Why have you taken him from me?
So by Your strength I can stand.

What am I doing next?
Wait for My leading.
Why did You do what You did?
Because for sinners I was pleading.

Why did you die for all mankind?
To save all of the lost.
What have I done to deserve Your love?
Nothing of which I can pay the cost.

Questions all aside, Do you know what God has planned for you? If you don't know, look to His Word and He will give you the guidance.

Tuesday: Celebrating my Wife

Yesterday, I was able to be a part of something special. My wife reached a milestone in her weight loss. She has been working toward this goal for a couple of months, and she finally reached it yesterday. I love celebrating with the love of my life. It is important to celebrate with your spouse even in the small victories. This by no means was a small victory, but something to cheer about with a happy dance. I have learned during the years of our marriage to enjoy every minute that we have together. There might be times that we are apart, but it is those times that we will remember the little things that we love about each other.
I have a suggestion for all the spouses/husbands out there, cherish the moments that you have with your wife, because you never know when you might have to spend time apart. The other suggestion that I would make would be to sit down with your wife and watch Fireproof. There are many distractions out there that keep us from paying attention to the ones that we love. There is also a book that goes along with this movie called the Love Dare, check it out at your local Christian bookstore. There are so many things that can turn our gaze away from our wives and they are vanity.
Your wife was given to you by God, so treat her with respect. "Husbands love your wives."

Monday: Still Moving Forward

I am still moving forward and it may be a slow process, but I am patiently and prayerfully waiting. The Lord knows what needs to happen. The separation from my family will be difficult, but I know that they will be cheering me on from the home front. Their prayers and love will be there with me through it all. These things are fearful. "For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of sound mind." (2 Tim. 1:7) The spirit that indwells us is one of power, love, and a sound mind. The power of the spirit is one that allows you push through even the most difficult situations. "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me." (Phil. 4:13) The preparation has started toward the intended goal.
"For though I be absent in the flesh, yet I am with you in the spirit, joying and beholding your order, and the stedfastness of your faith in Christ." (Col. 2:5) This verse is an encouragement to me because I will be away from my family. Paul experienced a time of separation from his church family, but I think that this verse would apply to other forms of separation.

Sunday: To Serve My God and Country

First, I must serve my God. The Lord has prepared me for this time, and I am ready to go where He wants me to go. Service to my God is not something that I take lightly, but I do it in all reverence. God does not put a burden on a person’s heart, and leave them to fend for themselves. He uses the Spirit to guide them in that path. I have looked at all my options of taking care of my family, and I feel that the military is the best option for me. I am glad that I am at an age that the military can still use me. The U. S. Navy has been the best option so far, because I can still be active duty. I look forward the sea tours, but I also look forward to serving my country. I never pictured myself in the military, but most of the time we don’t picture ourselves in the places that God puts us. Like an artist, the end product is produced by many brush strokes and a labor of love. An artist without the love is like a musician without the music. I am about to step into a different world than what I am used to, but I step into it with a purpose.

Second, I must serve my country, though I am not saying that the country is any less important. The purpose of going into the U.S. Navy is provided for my family. I put it all in the Lord's hands, because He knows the steps that I take. The country is in need of people that are willing to dedicate themselves to protecting the freedoms that we enjoy daily. I am ready to be a part of U. S. Navy.

Saturday: I Press Toward the Mark

" I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus." (Philippians 3:14) We all have goals in our lives, but which ones are the most important? Our ultimate purpose is to press toward the mark--the mark that even the strongest man in the world cannot reach. Even the weakest ones are pressing toward that mark. In preparation for the race, Christ has set the example, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God." (Hebrews 12:1,2) All worries and setbacks need to be laid aside in order to focus on the race before us. Sometimes we might feel like we are running in place, but there is a purpose in that time also.

Patience is something that people do not fully grasp. We live in a fast-paced world, and everybody wants everything yesterday. From the story of the "The Tortoise and the Hare", we learn that "slow and steady wins the race." I will not be rushed in this race, but I will press on.

Friday: Faith is the Victory

"Encamped along the hills of light, Ye Christian soldiers, rise,
And press the battle ere the night Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below, Let all our strength be hurled;
Faith is the victory, we know, That overcomes the world.
Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory That overcomes the world."
("Faith is the Victory"- John H. Yates)

"And the apostles said unto the Lord, Increase our faith." (Luke 17:5) Faith is something that many people lack, because they are blinded the veil of the flesh. It is believing the unbelievable. Those of us that have known the saving faith, know that anything is possible with Christ.
There are others that believe far-out things, and what has that done for them? They are even more lost when than when they first started believing some of this rubbish. Those of the Church of Scientology are trying to find their inner alien, and therefore are killing themselves off faster than an alien invasion. The Catholics are caught up in their ritualism and traditions. I am not trying to tear down their beliefs, but I am trying to relay the truth. The absolute truth is in the Word of God, not in the Koran or any other religious book.
"For which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that He is able to keep that which I have committed unto Him against that day. Hold fast the form of sound words, which thou hast heard of Me, in faith and love which is in Christ Jesus." (2 Timothy 1:12,13) What I have read here is saying to commit to memory those things that you have read. I would also say that it is telling us to stand up for what we believe.
Faith is what it took for Peter to step out of the boat and walk to Jesus on the water, and for David to stand in front of Goliath and take him down with one small stone. There are many other instances of great faith in the Bible. Lord, increase my faith.

Thursday: For the Praise of Many

When we reach out to others; the Lord is glorified. "And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto Me." (Matthew 25:40) The Lord is telling us that if we have helped a person in need, we have helped the One that has helped us. At one time we were in great need, and the Spirit influenced someone to give us a helping hand.

The more people we bring to our Savior, the greater the rejoicing will be. I want the whole world to know why I sing.

"In my own little world it hardly ever rains
I’ve never gone hungry, always felt safe
I got some money in my pocket, shoes on my feet
In my own little world
Population me

I try to stay awake through the Sunday morning church
I throw a twenty in the plate but I never give ’til it hurts
and I turn off the news when I don’t like what I see
it’s easy to do when it’s
population me

What if there’s a bigger picture
what if I’m missing out
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world

Stopped at the red light, looked out my window
Outside the car, saw a sign, said “Help this homeless widow”
Just above this sign was the face of a human
I thought to myself, “God, what have I been doing?”
So I rolled down my window and I looked her in the eye

Oh how many times have I just passed her by
I gave her some money then I drove on through
in my own little world there’s
Population two

What if there’s a bigger picture
what if I’m missing out
What if there’s a greater purpose
I could be living right now
outside my own little world

Start breaking my heart for what breaks Yours
give me open hands and open doors
put Your light in my eyes and let me see
that my own little world is not about me"
("My Own Little World"- Matthew West)



Let the love of Christ be spread abroad. "Let the Word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in our hearts to the Lord." (Colossians 3:16) We have much to be thankful for, and out of that abundance let us share with those that lack. I tend to wonder about what people will do with what I have given them, but that should not be any concern of mine. The Lord knows the heart of the person. I exhort you to give of what you have and the Lord will do the blessing.

Wednesday: In the Middle of It

How did we get here so quickly? Some would say that time flies when you are having fun. Others would say that there is no need to worry about time. These people are the ones that are probably retired. I would definitely say that these past couple of weeks have been an adventure.

Great Expectations

           

The morning finds me here at heaven’s door

A place I’ve been so many times before

Familiar thoughts and phrases start to flow

And carry me to places that I know so well

But dare I go where I don’t understand

And do I dare remember where I am

I stand before the great eternal throne

The one that God himself is seated on

And I, I’ve been invited as a son

Oh I, I’ve been invited to come and

Believe the unbelievable

Receive the inconceivable

And see beyond my wildest imagination

Lord I come with great expectations

So wake the hope that slumbers in my soul

Stir the fire inside and make it glow

I’m trusting in a love that has no end

The savior of this world has called me friend

And I, I’ve been invited with the son

Oh I, I’ve been invited to come and

We’ve been invited with the son

And we’ve been invited to come and

Believe the unbelievable

Receive the inconceivable

And see beyond our wildest imagination

Lord, we come with great expectations.

("Great Expectations" - Steven Curtis Chapman)

Our God is great, and we do have great expectations of our Savior. Remember today that we serve a great God.

Tuesday: Still Waiting, But Working

The Lord's guidance is key to the decisions that I have to make. I rely on the Lord daily for all my needs.  From the previous post, it might be considered painful to wait, but Christ did promise the roads we travel would always be easy. I have put my fleece out so to speak, so that I can know which path to take. I don't doubt God, but in my flesh there is a little bit of uncertainty. I will put my trust in the Lord.

"Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord, and depart from evil." (Proverbs 3:5-7) If we lean on our own understanding, we will be wandering around in circles. In Proverbs, it says that if we put all our heart into trusting the Lord, He will give us the guidance that we need to make the right decisions. "The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom: but fools despise wisdom and instruction." (Proverbs 1:7) So many seek wisdom in other things that are not eternally important. I choose Christ, because He knows my beginning, middle, and end. I will follow Thee, my Savior.

Monday: Ready to Wait

Waiting is very difficult for anyone to do. There is always anticipation of some event, especially the ones that mean a great deal to us. While not having any knowledge of what the future holds; we can still worship our Lord. A song that comes to mind by an artist that has the right idea and attitude about waiting on the Lord.

"I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am hopeful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it is painful
But patiently, I will wait

I will move ahead, bold and confident
Taking every step in obedience
While I'm waiting
I will serve You
While I'm waiting
I will worship
While I'm waiting
I will not faint
I'll be running the race
Even while I wait

I'm waiting
I'm waiting on You, Lord
And I am peaceful
I'm waiting on You, Lord
Though it's not easy
But faithfully, I will wait
Yes, I will wait

I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve You while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting
I will serve you while I'm waiting
I will worship while I'm waiting on You, Lord"
("While I'm Waiting"- John Waller)

I will not question the Lord about when and where I am going, but I will wait faithfully. "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful." (I Corinthians 4:2) We are given a great deal, and we are required to be faithful stewards of what we are given. "Faithful is He that calleth you, Who also will do it." (I Thessalonians 5:24) This talks about our Lord and how He is faithful to us in our calling, and He will make a way to accomplish that calling.

Do not forget to worship while you are waiting. The Lord is faithful and will do what He wills in His timing.

Sunday: R. E. N. E. W.

R- Restore, Rest, Return, and Rejoice
E- Eternal and Expression
N- New and Nature
E- Exhort, Esteem, and Energize
W- Work, Word, and Worship

In church today we read aloud, Romans 12:2, "And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God." I want to put the emphasis on renewing. Renewal is something that we need everyday, and we are weak without the spiritual renewal. Even in the physical realm renewal applies. 

I thought of a few words that rang true to renewing one's self. Restore was one that came to mind when thinking about renewal. In Psalms 23:3, it says, "He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for His name's sake." This speaks of spiritual renewal. We are restored by the Holy Spirit, and He is later referred to as the Comforter. Rest is something that everyone is trying get more of, but it seems that there is not enough hours in the day to be fully rested. In Psalms 16:9, it says, "Therefore my heart is glad, and my glory rejoiceth: my flesh also shall rest in hope." David is resting in the hope of what is to come. Rest takes time, and through that time we are renewed. "Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass." (Psalms 37:7) We know that resting in the Lord; we will see Him glorified in every situation. Paul echoed the thoughts of David in Acts 2:26, "Therefore did my heart rejoice, and my tongue was glad; moreover also my flesh shall rest in hope." Both David and Paul knew of the hope that had been promised. Rest restores our physical and spiritual strength. Returning is something that we need to do to stay renewed in the Spirit. Return to God's Word on a daily basis and by this be renewed.

Eternity is a concept that we know of, but we do not quite understand it. It is very important to our future, because our future is determined by the choice we make. It is a matter of life or death. Expressing the need for salvation is important, and keeping it to ourselves does not help those around us.

New life is what we have in Christ. "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new." (2 Corinthians 5:17) Nature is both physical and spiritual, and both are constantly fighting each other. We have die to self and the flesh, so that our new nature can triumph over sin. 

Exhortation is important to our spiritual walk, because there are times that we are walking through spiritual darkness, and we need to ask God for guidance on a path that seems uncertain to us in the flesh. A good exhortation is in Psalms 119:105, "Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path." In our flesh, we would walk blindly, but in Christ we walk with the pathway lit before us. It is also important to exhort others in their spiritual walk. In Proverbs 27:17, it says, "Iron sharpeneth iron; so a man sharpeneth the countenance of his friend." Esteem is one of those things that is misinterpreted by many. According to Paul, he says in Philippians 2:3, "Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves." Pride is something that we all struggle with, and it is not easily bridled. The need for energizing is something needed to get through the toughest of situations. When we have nothing else left within us; the Lord picks us up and brings us through those times. The Lord will give us what we need to accomplish the things that He has set before us.

Work is something that we do everyday, but it is not limited to the nine to five job. It continues on into the rest of our lives. The family is something that we have to work with in order to make it strong. Our marriage relationship is something that we have to work at, because there will be days that that can be the most difficult thing to do with all the stresses of life. God's Word is key to renewing the mind. Worship is something that renews our soul, and praises the God that has blessed us bountifully. This is a priority in our Christian walk and so is God's Word. Through these we renew ourselves. 

Let us work toward daily renewal in God's Word.

Saturday: Fight the Good Fight

The day that the terrorist struck fear into our hearts, was a day that is not long forgotten. Sometimes God has to get the attention of both those that don't know Him and even those that do. We live unto ourselves and therefore forget those around us. It takes natural disasters and horrific terrorist attacks to get us out of our comfort zones. I think that we need to get down on our knees and thank the Lord for those that have protected from us from wars and violence. I hold nothing against those that have been misguided by Satan and their own selfish desires, but I desire for them to see the light, and to take part in the salvation afforded by Christ. He made the ultimate sacrifice, and He did it without looking back. Our soldiers make the ultimate sacrifice everyday to keep the war from coming to our shores, but we as Christian soldiers need to fight the good fight

"Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may
  be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having
  on the breastplate of righteousness;
  And your feet shod with preparation of the gospel of peace;
  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to
  quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.
  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit,
  which is the Word of God.
  Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and
  watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all
  saints;
  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open
  my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the Gospel,
  For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak
  boldly, as I ought to speak." (Ephesians 6:13-20,KJV)

Let this be a call to arms for the soldiers of the Lord. Let us take the armor of the Lord and arm ourselves for the spiritual battle that is raging in our world today. Do not let your guard down, because the devil is seeking those that he may devour under the guise of empty religion. Let us guide the misguided to the One that seeks to save all souls. Like Uncle Sam said "I NEED YOU." Christ is saying the same thing, and we fight under another banner, the Christian flag. I am not trying to de-emphasize the importance of the American flag. We fight for the souls of man. Even if America ceases to exist, the Lord will still be present. I am calling for revival in this land like something that has never been witnessed.
                               "Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
                                With the cross of Jesus going on before!
                                Christ, the royal master, leads against the foe;
                                Forward into battle, See His banners go!
                                Onward, Christian soldiers, Marching as to war,
                                With the cross of Jesus going on before!"
                                ("Onward, Christian Soldiers"- Sabine Baring-Gould)

Remember this day all the events that happened and those that lost their lives and those that were left to go on living. Pray for your Christian brothers and sisters, and for the lost.

Friday: Long Night Before the Day

Have you ever been kept awake by someone or something, and have not gotten any rest? It is hard to look forward to the next day if you do not have wherewithal to do so. This has been the case for me. I am looking at Psalms 130, because I am having difficulty waking up and I need a little encouragement to do so.

In Psalms 130:1,2, it says, "Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O Lord. Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications." Lack of rest would certainly be one of those things that is like the depths to get out of. To express that longing, earlier in Psalms 42:7, the writer speaks of despair, "Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of the waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me." People do not do well with others when they have no rest, because they are short with everyone and their attitude is bad. So most of us pray that we will be able to be civil to those around us.

In verse 3, it says, "If thou, Lord, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?" So many of us look at this verse and know that without the grace of God none of us can stand. For those of us without a good cup of coffee, we usually don't have the strength or the energy to do so. This is a verse concerning our spiritual standing with God. Without salvation, none of us can stand in the presence of a holy God.

In verses 4 and 5, it says, "But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared. I wait for the Lord, my soul doth wait, and in His Word do I hope." David reassures us of the forgiveness that God has provided for our sins through the blood of Jesus Christ. Even though at this time in Bible history, the Savior had not come in physical form, there was a promise of forgiveness in that present time. In our time alone with God, we do wait for Him. His Word gives us hope daily.

"My hope is in the Lord Who gave Himself for me,
And paid the price of all my sin at Calvary.
For me He died, For me He lives;
And everlasting life and light He freely gives."
("My Hope Is in the Lord"- Norman J. Clayton)

In the near future we will try to study some of the lives of these people that have written these hymns, because they knew what it meant to worship.

In verse 6, it says, "My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning." In Psalms 63:6, "When I remember Thee upon my bed, and meditate on Thee in the night watches." It is difficult to meditate on things when your body and mind are restless. David desired to meditate on the Words of the Lord, even the wee hours of the morning. Even though we cannot prevent the next day from coming David alluded to this in Psalms 119: 147, "I prevented the dawning of the morning, and cried: I hoped in Thy Word." The promises of God are always present, we just need to claim them when all hope seems lost.

In verses 7 and 8, it says, " Let Israel hope in the Lord: for with the Lord there is mercy, and with Him is plenteous redemption. And He shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities." Let all of God's people hope in the Lord, because He has redeemed us from our sins.

Thursday: Majesty of the King

Psalms 93 talks of the majesty of our great God. Majesty is defined as "the dignity and authority of sovereign power; quality or state which inspires awe or reverence; grandeur; exalted dignity, whether proceeding from rank, character, or bearing; imposing loftiness; stateliness; -- usually applied to the rank and dignity of sovereigns." (Webster) Our God is an eternal sovereign. Every part of this definition describes the greatness of our God.

In Psalms 93:1, it says, "The Lord reigneth, He is clothed with majesty; the Lord is clothed with strength, wherewith He hath girded Himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved." The Lord has created the world and all of its majesties, and we can recognize His handiwork in His Creation.

"O Lord, our Lord, How majestic is Thy name.
Mountains, valleys, and all creation tell Thy fame.
Heavens declare it, all Thy wondrous works proclaim:
O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Thy name."
("How Majestic Is Thy Name"- Ron Hamilton)

Everything declares the glory of the Lord, even when we do not. God said that the rocks and the mountains would cry out if we ceased to praise Him. So if His Creation that utters not a word can praise Him, how much more ought we to honor and glorify His name?

In verse two, it says, "Thy throne is established of old: Thou art from everlasting." This talks about the eternalness of God. To comprehend the eternal part of our God is fathomless.

In verses three and four, it says, "The floods have lifted up, O Lord, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. The Lord on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea." If that description of the majesty of the Lord does not knock you over like a wave, what will it take for you to recognize the majesty of our God?

All creation has a testimony, even those parts of God's creation that cannot utter a word. In the final verse of Psalms 93, it says, "Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O Lord, for ever." Let us declare the testimonies of our God to those that do not know Him and through that they might be saved.

Wednesday: Speechless

We often wonder how we will react when we enter our Savior's presence. Our spirits will know what to do when that time comes. I think that there will be no words that we can utter when we see the One who has saved us. We are still waiting in anticipation for the day that we shall see Christ.

We have read in God's Word a little about eternity, but nothing will come close to it, until we are there to experience it. We are in preparation for the Second Coming of Christ. The Lord knows the time and the hour that He will send His Son to bring us to our eternal home.

"O, that will be glory for me, glory for me, glory for me,
When by His grace I shall look on His face,
That will be glory, be glory for me."
("O That Will Be Glory"- Charles Gabriel)

I look forward to that day of worship, and what a glorious day that will be. Imagine the sound that will be lifted up in praise to our Creator, Savior, and Eternal King.

Tuesday: Thankful Praise

In Psalms 100:1, David tells us to "Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands." Some people say that they cannot praise the Lord, because they cannot sing, but there is more to making joyful noise than singing. It is praising the Lord with song, with instrument, and with uttering Psalms.

In the second verse, it says, "Serve the Lord with gladness: come before His presence with singing." The blessings of serving the Lord are more than enough to put a smile on our faces. We need to show our gladness on our faces and let it bubble out of our hearts. Those that see it can be glad and rejoice. We all go through difficult things, but through those difficult things we can be all the more glad that the Lord has given us something to rejoice about.

In the third verse, it says, "Know ye that the Lord He is God: it is He that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are His people, and the sheep of His pasture." Yet another reason to praise the Lord, because He is our Creator. Look around you and see the wonderful Creation and praise the Lord. So many people believe that we come from some primordial ooze, but if you look at the intricate designs in us alone, that did not just happen by chance. In Psalms 139, David says that we are "fearfully and wonderfully made." I have witnessed that in the birth of my children. Even with those that were born with some birth defect, they share in that same testimony.

The fourth verse tells us to "Enter into His gates with thanksgiving, and into His courts with praise: be thankful unto Him, and bless His name." Thanksgiving should not just be reserved as a fall holiday that we utter thanks to the Lord. Let it be perpetual thanksgiving. Every time we enter into His presence, we need to thank Him. This applies to even the smallest thing that we have to be thankful for.

Finally, David speaks of the Lord's goodness in verse five, "For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations." The Lord is good to those that love and serve Him. The mercy of the Lord is eternal, so without His mercy we would be completely destroyed. This attribute is one that we cannot take lightly. The truth of God's Word will endure no matter what man tries to do to it. God is God alone, and there is none else. Read Psalms 100 and remember the reasons you are glad to be a Christian. 

Monday: Praising the Lord for Another Day

This the day that the Lord hath made, let us rejoice and be glad in it. Monday is a day that most people dread, because either we go back to work or to do something that we just don't like doing. I want to emphasize the need to worship in every situation. In the highest mountain and in the lowest valley. "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." (Philippians 4:4) The apostle Paul had the right idea, because he had his share of mountain and valley experiences. Paul was not the only example of worship whatever the circumstances.

The concept of worship is not foreign to those of the Old Testament. Even after Moses led the people of Israel out of Egypt, and reminded the Israelites of the Law that God had given, he knew the importance of worship. In Deuteronomy 10:21a, Moses says, "He is thy praise, and He is thy God." That is the simple truth of worship. Isaiah prophesied to Israel about the coming Messiah, and he reminded of the need to worship the one that had brought them through many great trials. "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation." (Isaiah 12:2) There is a great deal about worship in the Old Testament, but let us not forget the New Testament.

Looking forward to what eternity holds. John accounts the events of eternity. In Revelation 19:5, it says, "And a voice came out of the throne, saying, Praise our God, all ye His servants, and ye that fear Him, both small and great." Whatever walk of life your from, Praise our God.

Sunday: Worship All Who Enter Here

Today we go into the House of God and worship. Are we really ready to do so? So many of us do not prepare our hearts worship and therefore we go into the House of God very nonchalantly and say that we are ready to worship. God requires that we devote ourselves to worship and in doing so we put away the cares of this world completely.

I see so many people that are not prepared for worship. They stand there stiff with no trace of happiness. The heart of worship is not found by simply being there in the pew. It is found by reading God's Word and prayer for the filling of the Spirit. Once we have the filing of the Spirit; the Spirit works through us to accomplish Spirit-filled worship.

The goal is to be a part of true worship. True worship is defined in God's Word, and anything apart from that is not glorifying to God. Many times we just leave worship to a single day, the only day that many people darken the door of the church, Sunday. Let us make every day a time for true worship.

Saturday: A Time to Reflect

The week is at an end, and we can now reflect back on what the week has brought us. So many different experiences that we have come through, and what have they taught us? Life is a constant learning experience. We need to see the importance of worshiping everyday the God that has created us and saved us from our sins. In that time alone with God whether it be at the beginning of the day or in the late hours of the night, we must worship. Worship is what awaits us in Heaven and for eternity. We should practice daily.

So many of us take for granted that we were able to wake up and witness a new day. There are some that do not make it to another day. So praise the Lord for every day. Another time that we have difficulty worshiping is when everything is falling apart. God has a perfect plan in everything. Praise the Lord in every situation. A good place to start is the Psalms. David had a heart of worship, so must we.

Tomorrow is the day we set aside to worship in the House of God, are you ready?