Trust God - Posted 5/28/24
ADORATION - RECOGNIZING GOD FOR WHO HE IS
Psalm 103:1-5
A Psalm of David.
1. Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all that is within me, bless His holy name!
2. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits:
3. Who forgives all your iniquities, who heals all your diseases,
4. Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
5. Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Bless the Lord
David writes, “Bless the Lord.” For the average Christian, blessing the Lord is foreign, even heresy to many. Many Christians believe that the Lord alone can give blessings. Humans cannot possibly bless Him. After all, why would He need our blessing? He is the Creator of the universe. Nevertheless, David says that we should bless Him.
God loves His children. I do not know about you, but when my children tell me they love me, or are proud of me, or give me any praise whether publicly or in private, my heart is overwhelmed. I believe God feels the same. The blessing we give God could not possibly be something He needs, so why do it? Because it is something He desires.
David not only advocates blessing God, He says to do it with every fiber of our being. With our innermost part, we should bless the Lord. He also outlines a few reasons we should bless or give praise to God.
And forget not all His benefits
Verse 2 says, “And forget not all His benefits: . . .” The Twenty-first Century church is guilty of forgetting His benefits. In fact, it may be more specific to say that the church has skewed His benefits to sooth the flesh rather than to seek the Spirit.
Trust God - God’s benefits go far beyond the benefits that are told in most pulpits. Jesus said:
“Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; ‘but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. ‘For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” (Matthew 6:19-21)
It would seem, this could not be said any plainer. Even so, preachers continue to promise material riches beyond imagination if one will simply come to Jesus.
Truly, the blessings of God go so much farther than the temporary blessings of this life; it cannot be described. Furthermore, most do not recognize that a life of contentment far exceeds the life of the flesh.
I am not saying that there is anything wrong with being blessed materially. But the Bible makes it clear that one should seek God first, and He will add the blessings that He would have for you. Chances are, His plan far exceeds any meager goals you have planned for yourself. se of meaning and purpose. They can help us mark important milestones, honor our ancestors, and connect with the divine.
Who forgives iniquities?
Have Faith in God
Verse 3a says, “Who forgives iniquities?” The word “iniquities” goes much deeper than the act of sin alone. God forgive the propensity man has for sin. The very depravity of Man is forgiven by God. Even thousands of years before Christ, God was already in the forgiving business.
The truth is, the Old Testament is not about a vengeful God who was seeking to punish those who “crossed” Him, He was a loving God who sought every opportunity to show His love for His children. If God has been the God of revenge, that most try to portray Him of, He would have wiped Man out after Adam and Eve sinned in the garden. He had every right to do so. He blessed them more than any of us could possibly imagine, yet they turned on Him and rejected His grace and love.
But, instead of eradicating us, He clothed us and taught us to live on our own. He nurtured us and then guided us every step of the way. He does that still today. Even so, most spit in His face, deny Him, curse Him, and use Him. Nevertheless, He shows us His love each and every day. He continuously seeks out those who run from Him and awaits even the slightest inkling that they might turn to Him. He then runs to them to lift them into His arms.
Do not forget, the plan He had for salvation for His children did not start when Jesus died on the Cross and was raised to life. No! His plan began at the beginning of the creation of His beloved. His plan began because He knew of our lack the day we were created. Despite that knowledge, He not only let us live, but created us in the first place.
Neither Adam nor Eve surprised God with their sin; He was ready for them with a plan of salvation that covers those who accept Him through the sacrifice of Jesus to this very day.
Who heals all your diseases . . .
Verse 3b reminds us that we can be healed. It says, “Who heals all your diseases, . . .” Remember, the doctors are simply mechanics and technicians, God is the healer. It is God who closes the skin after you have been stitched, it is God who heals the broken bone after it has been set, it is God who mends the heart after surgery and the list is infinite. God is the Creator, it is He, and He alone, who heals.
Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .
Verse 4 says, “Who redeems your life from destruction, who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .”
John 10:10 says: The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly.
That abundant life is not referring to cars and houses and bank accounts. It is referring to the abundant life of peace through a loving God. Satan comes for destruction, but David writes, “Who redeems your life from destruction . . .”
Amazingly, unknowingly, David is referring to the redemption of Jesus. The blood of the sacrificial Lamb, Jesus, had already redeemed the lost, even the lost of 3,000; 4,000; 5000 or 6,000 years ago. David was prophesying of the redemption of the coming Messiah for every human being who ever lived or will live.
You see, The Old Testament focused on the coming Messiah, Jesus, and the New Testament focuses on the Messiah, who came in the flesh and the Second Coming of the Messiah. No matter what, the focus has always been on Christ. Those who accepted God with their heart, had accepted Jesus through their faith.
The eleventh chapter of Hebrews makes it very clear; it has always been through faith in God that salvation is accomplished. Salvation has always been achieved through belief in God’s promises; more specifically, the promise of salvation through the Messiah, who is Jesus Christ.
The above reference to Hebrews makes it easy to see how the sacrifice of Jesus was retroactive. Believers have always focused on the Messiah. The Sadducees and Pharisees missed the salvation of Christ because they were never focused on Christ. They were always focused on themselves. The same thing happens today by many. Many are so busy focusing on this busy life, they forget to focus on the most important One; Jesus.
. . . crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .
God's lovingkindeness was shown in Christ; through His sacrifice.
The verse goes on to say that God, “. . . crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, . . .” Are you seeing the pattern? God is not a vengeful God. Rather, He is a loving God who seeks to “Crown you with lovingkindness and tender mercies . . .”
The tender mercies are given when He crowns you with lovingkindness that is undeserved of sinful Man. God is a loving God who seeks to have an active relationship with His children.
Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.
Finally, verse 5 says, “Who satisfies your mouth with good things, so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” God is our strength. Are you feeling weary? Tell it to Jesus. Are you discouraged? Tell it to Jesus. Are you heavy hearted? Tell it to Jesus.
God has sent His son so that we might have an advocate with the Father. That simply means that He has given us a way to have a relationship directly with Him again. He has given us the opportunity to live as Adam did in the Garden. He has given us the opportunity to talk directly to Him as one would to their own earthly father.
What is more, He will hear and will answer. He will answer in many ways. He answers through other brothers and sisters in Christ. He answers through ever changing circumstances that are guided only by Him. He answers in that still small voice that can be heard only by you.
If you will focus on Jesus, like David, God hears your prayers. He hears your blessings. He heals your hurts and He celebrates with you in your victories. We serve a powerful, loving, kind, merciful and graceful God that is limited only by you.
He seeks to give you the desires of your heart, but only if your desires are focused on Him. We will discuss this more in upcoming chapters, but God wants to have a close relationship with those He loves and those who love Him. It is up to you. Bless the Lord with all you heart, all your mind, all your strength and all your soul and you will discover an abundance that you have never imagined you can have.
Blessings from Disaster - Posted 4/22/24
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On March 22, 2022 Our day started off as any other day. We ate breakfast, talked with mom, got ready for the day. Little did we know the day would take a drastic turn for the worst and our lives would be changed forever.
About 5:00pm my brother called me. He said, "Have you been watching the weather? There is a tornado heading right for you." My brother had called many times about the weather and it had never been as severe as he had warned. Nevertheless, I got up off my chair and looked outside. What I saw was bone chilling; the tornado was heading right for us. I ran inside to tell my wife. My mother was in hospice at the time and was in the living room. My wife and I ran to her side and the tornado hit. The windows blew out and mom's bed began to rise; then the floor. My wife and I looked at each other as to say, "This is it." But suddenly, it was gone. We are OK, but the house was destroyed.
We were in mom's house, which was 50 yards in front of our house. I ran to the back door only to see that our house had been destroyed. The only thing left was one bedroom. My four grandchildren were in that house. I ran to the disaster to check on my grandchildren. I called and called, but no answer. Finally, a voice from inside the destruction said, "Grandpa, we're all OK."
I was relieved but still had to get them safely out of the wreckage. I told them to stay put, the only thing left standing was the four walls they were in and I didn't know how stable they were.
As I tried to clear the wreckage, I heard sirens all around me and thought help was on the way, but I did not realize that we were not the only ones affected by the storm. I was on my own, or so I thought. One of my grandson's classmates had seen the catastrophe and called his school mates. Soon we had over 100 people there to help. All my grandchildren were safe and in our arms. I was grateful to God for sparing them and keeping them safe.
However, I could not imagine the blessing that would come out of this "disaster."
Cleanup up help seemed to come from everywhere. Total strangers came to bring food and clothes and other needs. We lost everything. we lost all our cars, house, RV, offices; everything. But insurance paid for all the damage and we now live in a new house. God has given us a blessing out of this would be disaster.
God's love shows up in times that we least expect it. Since the storm, all the cars have been replaced and life has resumed. My family is all together and we have something to be grateful for every day.
God is good, all the time.
On March 22, 2022 Our day started off as any other day. We ate breakfast, talked with mom, got ready for the day. Little did we know the day would take a drastic turn for the worst and our lives would be changed forever.
About 5:00pm my brother called me. He said, "Have you been watching the weather? There is a tornado heading right for you." My brother had called many times about the weather and it had never been as severe as he had warned. Nevertheless, I got up off my chair and looked outside. What I saw was bone chilling; the tornado was heading right for us. I ran inside to tell my wife. My mother was in hospice at the time and was in the living room. My wife and I ran to her side and the tornado hit. The windows blew out and mom's bed began to rise; then the floor. My wife and I looked at each other as to say, "This is it." But suddenly, it was gone. We are OK, but the house was destroyed.
We were in mom's house, which was 50 yards in front of our house. I ran to the back door only to see that our house had been destroyed. The only thing left was one bedroom. My four grandchildren were in that house. I ran to the disaster to check on my grandchildren. I called and called, but no answer. Finally, a voice from inside the destruction said, "Grandpa, we're all OK."
I was relieved but still had to get them safely out of the wreckage. I told them to stay put, the only thing left standing was the four walls they were in and I didn't know how stable they were.
As I tried to clear the wreckage, I heard sirens all around me and thought help was on the way, but I did not realize that we were not the only ones affected by the storm. I was on my own, or so I thought. One of my grandson's classmates had seen the catastrophe and called his school mates. Soon we had over 100 people there to help. All my grandchildren were safe and in our arms. I was grateful to God for sparing them and keeping them safe.
However, I could not imagine the blessing that would come out of this "disaster."
Cleanup up help seemed to come from everywhere. Total strangers came to bring food and clothes and other needs. We lost everything. we lost all our cars, house, RV, offices; everything. But insurance paid for all the damage and we now live in a new house. God has given us a blessing out of this would be disaster.
God's love shows up in times that we least expect it. Since the storm, all the cars have been replaced and life has resumed. My family is all together and we have something to be grateful for every day.
God is good, all the time.
On March 22, 2022 Our day started off as any other day. We ate breakfast, talked with mom, got ready for the day. Little did we know the day would take a drastic turn for the worst and our lives would be changed forever.
About 5:00pm my brother called me. He said, "Have you been watching the weather? There is a tornado heading right for you." My brother had called many times about the weather and it had never been as severe as he had warned. Nevertheless, I got up off my chair and looked outside. What I saw was bone chilling; the tornado was heading right for us. I ran inside to tell my wife. My mother was in hospice at the time and was in the living room. My wife and I ran to her side and the tornado hit. The windows blew out and mom's bed began to rise; then the floor. My wife and I looked at each other as to say, "This is it." But suddenly, it was gone. We are OK, but the house was destroyed.
We were in mom's house, which was 50 yards in front of our house. I ran to the back door only to see that our house had been destroyed. The only thing left was one bedroom. My four grandchildren were in that house. I ran to the disaster to check on my grandchildren. I called and called, but no answer. Finally, a voice from inside the destruction said, "Grandpa, we're all OK."
I was relieved but still had to get them safely out of the wreckage. I told them to stay put, the only thing left standing was the four walls they were in and I didn't know how stable they were.
As I tried to clear the wreckage, I heard sirens all around me and thought help was on the way, but I did not realize that we were not the only ones affected by the storm. I was on my own, or so I thought. One of my grandson's classmates had seen the catastrophe and called his school mates. Soon we had over 100 people there to help. All my grandchildren were safe and in our arms. I was grateful to God for sparing them and keeping them safe.
However, I could not imagine the blessing that would come out of this "disaster."
Cleanup up help seemed to come from everywhere. Total strangers came to bring food and clothes and other needs. We lost everything. we lost all our cars, house, RV, offices; everything. But insurance paid for all the damage and we now live in a new house. God has given us a blessing out of this would be disaster.
God's love shows up in times that we least expect it. Since the storm, all the cars have been replaced and life has resumed. My family is all together and we have something to be grateful for every day.
God is good, all the time.
On March 22, 2022 Our day started off as any other day. We ate breakfast, talked with mom, got ready for the day. Little did we know the day would take a drastic turn for the worst and our lives would be changed forever.
About 5:00pm my brother called me. He said, "Have you been watching the weather? There is a tornado heading right for you." My brother had called many times about the weather and it had never been as severe as he had warned. Nevertheless, I got up off my chair and looked outside. What I saw was bone chilling; the tornado was heading right for us. I ran inside to tell my wife. My mother was in hospice at the time and was in the living room. My wife and I ran to her side and the tornado hit. The windows blew out and mom's bed began to rise; then the floor. My wife and I looked at each other as to say, "This is it." But suddenly, it was gone. We are OK, but the house was destroyed.
We were in mom's house, which was 50 yards in front of our house. I ran to the back door only to see that our house had been destroyed. The only thing left was one bedroom. My four grandchildren were in that house. I ran to the disaster to check on my grandchildren. I called and called, but no answer. Finally, a voice from inside the destruction said, "Grandpa, we're all OK."
I was relieved but still had to get them safely out of the wreckage. I told them to stay put, the only thing left standing was the four walls they were in and I didn't know how stable they were.
As I tried to clear the wreckage, I heard sirens all around me and thought help was on the way, but I did not realize that we were not the only ones affected by the storm. I was on my own, or so I thought. One of my grandson's classmates had seen the catastrophe and called his school mates. Soon we had over 100 people there to help. All my grandchildren were safe and in our arms. I was grateful to God for sparing them and keeping them safe.
However, I could not imagine the blessing that would come out of this "disaster."
Cleanup up help seemed to come from everywhere. Total strangers came to bring food and clothes and other needs. We lost everything. we lost all our cars, house, RV, offices; everything. But insurance paid for all the damage and we now live in a new house. God has given us a blessing out of this would be disaster.
God's love shows up in times that we least expect it. Since the storm, all the cars have been replaced and life has resumed. My family is all together and we have something to be grateful for every day.
God is good, all the time.