Psalm 57 The Glory of God

Psalm 57:11

Be exalted O’ God above the heavens!

Let Your Glory be over all the earth.

What comes to mind-

When you think of………

The Glory of God?

I think we should be clear on one thing-

God is not on some ego trip-

That He would need our affirmation.

No-

I have come to believe

The Glory of God is

The display of………..

Himself…………..Who He is-

His Love-

His Justice-

His Power-

His Compassion-

His Grace-

His Faithfulness-

His Care-

His Abundant Life-

His Beauty-

His Brilliance-

His Hope-

His…………………

The Glory of God might be the display of all these,

And more than we could ever imagine through……….

Jesus-

Who has come-

So that you might be……..

Fully Alive!

Father-

Open our hearts to be instruments of Your Glory today.

Amen

“The Glory of God is Man Fully Alive”

                                                                                                                                                                 St. Irenaeus          

Psalm 56 Forgiveness and Enemies

Psalm 56: 6

My enemies conspire, they lurk,

They watch my steps, eager to take my life.

Do you have enemies-

People who have hurt you……

Who would hurt you again if they had the chance?

A new question-

Are you another man’s enemy-

Have you hurt someone……….

Would you even hurt them again if you had the chance?

“For all have sinned……

All fall short of the Glory of God”

Romans 3:23

Sometimes I wonder if………….

In my own hurt-

In my own anger-

In my own desire for vengeance-

I miss seeing my enemy……….

My real enemy.

Oh, you have heard about him haven’t you?

Jesus says he is the one who comes to…….

Steal and Kill and Destroy………

The man I see in front of me-

The woman whose words cut me like a knife-

Could it be- Maybe…….

These are not my real enemies.

Could it be-Maybe……..

The real enemy has tricked me?

Could it be- Maybe……….

The real enemy has even tricked them?

What if…….

I could see this real enemy?

Maybe then……….

My hurt could move me-

My anger would rise up in me-

My desire for vengeance could be redirected-

To fight………….

Our real enemy.

Our……Our……Our……

Can we not see?

Can we not all see?

Both me and my supposed enemies-

The schemes of….

Our Real Enemy.

All us who are Christian-

Us who are led by The Mighty Captain-

The Lord Jesus Himself-

Us who know…….

“Our battle is not with flesh and blood”

Let us join the battle together-

With OUR Real Enemy………

Today.

Oh by the way-

Don’t forget your weapons……

You know- things like……….

Faith

Kindness

Meekness (Real Strength)

Forgiveness

Prayer

Self-Control

Patience

And maybe the most powerful weapon of them all…….

The Love of our Lord Jesus that lives in us……..

For your supposed enemies.

Okay guys let’s go to war!

Psalm 56:11

In God I trust; I will not be afraid;

What can man do to me?

Father-

Lead us in battle against

Our Real Enemy

Today.

Amen

Psalm 55- A Thought On Forgiveness

Psalm 55: Excerpts

If an enemy were insulting me I could endure it….

If it were a foe I could hide…..

But it is you…..

My companion, my close friend……..

Betrayal,

Being stabbed in the back-

By a friend-

“The unkindest cut of all.”

How do I respond to such a thing?

Hurt- Yes

Anger- Certainly

Bitterness- Oh, I hope not……..

There is another choice.

Truth

The same Jesus who suffered and died for me…….

Suffered and died for my betrayer.

The same betrayal I am so hurt by is exactly what…….

I have done to my Jesus.

Let these Truths sink in.

I am the betrayer………

I have been forgiven much.

I can entrust these who have hurt me to.....

My Father.

He has redeemed me..........

He can redeem them.

 

Psalm 55:23

…………..But as for me,

I will trust in You (My Father in Heaven)

Father move in my own heart 

To begin to grasp the depth of  Your Compassion

Toward me.

Empower me, Jesus.......

Spirit of the Living God

To live out that same Love You have poured out on me

 To friend and foe alike.

Amen

Psalm 54 What's in a Name?

Psalm 54:1

           Save me O God, By Your Name…………

Names-

Identity-

Who am I……..

Really?

I think maybe names are meant to…..

Define us. 

Why did it hurt so much to be called

 “fatty”

On the playground?

Why did it feel so good to be called……..

“The Professor”

On the basketball court-

This was a time when the best player in the game was

“The Doctor”

Why is it so important that one day..........

Father will give me a new name?

Names mean something-

They tell you something-

Names have Power and express …….

Identity.

Guys-

Know this-

When we use the name of…….

or

Pray in the Name of…….

Jesus-

The Christ-

The Messiah-

The Savior-

The Lord-

The King-

The Mighty God……

We’d best be looking hard to be in agreement with…..

Who He Is-

His Character-

His Goodness-

His Love.

Mark 9:41

Jesus said, “Truly I tell you,

anyone who gives you a cup of water

In My Name

because you belong to the Messiah

will certainly not lose their reward.”

Father move in me today to live from the Power of

Your Name.

Amen

Psalm 53 He Has Come A' lookin!

Psalm 53 Excerpts

The fool says in his heart

There is no God………..

God looks down from Heaven

On the sons of men……..

To see if there are any who seek Him-

Everyone has turned away.

Guys-

Ever lose something you valued?

I mean something you really loved.

Maybe you had a pet that ran away-

Maybe one that was even lured away……..

Stolen.

Imagine it………

What would you do?

Hmmmmmmm…….

The Gospel in a nut shell-

There is a God-

We are His most prized creation-

And even though we turned away……..

He has come a’lookin.

Luke 19:10

Father Thank You-

Thank You

For not leaving me lost-

For coming to bring me home-

For not leaving me without hope-

For the real hope of Love, Goodness and well……….

Life!

Thank You Jesus

Amen