Words like arrows

Psalms 64

1 Hear my voice, O God, in my meditation;
Preserve my life from fear of the enemy.
2 Hide me from the secret plots of the wicked,
From the rebellion of the workers of iniquity,
3 Who sharpen their tongue like a sword,
And bend their bows to shoot their arrows — bitter words,
4 That they may shoot in secret at the blameless;
Suddenly they shoot at him and do not fear.

7 But God shall shoot at them with an arrow;
Suddenly they shall be wounded.
8 So He will make them stumble over their own tongue;
All who see them shall flee away.
9 All men shall fear,
And shall declare the work of God;
For they shall wisely consider His doing.
NKJV

This is one of those Psalms that I'd rather not think about, but know I must.  I'm not sure which hurts more being talked about behind my back, or having someone point out that I just said something I shouldn't have.  Gossip is everywhere you go and it's sooo tempting to say that little tidbit about someone.  Something you'd just love to share.  But honestly, it doesn't feel good.  When I do this I walk away wishing I could use an eraser on my words, or click the delete key on my keyboard.  You can't.  It's also horrible to be the subject of gossip.  I had a job where I managed to become the most exciting topic in the office.  I could hear people saying things behind my back.  It was hard to focus on my work.  Each day the stories would become more exciting.  So I started asking people up front, "Any new gossip about me today?"  It put some people at ease, caused a few to blush, and helped me let them know I knew what was going on.    It actually influenced my boss who believed it.  It's so damaging.  And so hard to resist at times.  Here's what it says in James:

James 3:8-9
8 But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. 9 With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God.
NKJV

In my case God used this to help me move on to a better life.  I love this verse "He will make them stumble over their own tongue." Ps 64:8  (As long as it's not me doing the stumbling...) Hard as it is, the Bible is true, things go much better when I think before I speak.  When I do mess up, God will forgive me like it says in 1 John 1:9.  But I just can't take back what I said.

Miracles happen

Psalms 63:1-8

1 God — you're my God!
I can't get enough of you!
I've worked up such hunger and thirst for God,
traveling across dry and weary deserts.

2 So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
3 In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
4 I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you.

5 I eat my fill of prime rib and gravy;
I smack my lips. It's time to shout praises!
6 If I'm sleepless at midnight,
I spend the hours in grateful reflection.
7 Because you've always stood up for me,
I'm free to run and play.
8 I hold on to you for dear life,
and you hold me steady as a post.
THE MESSAGE

God is my God!  I can't live without Him.  There's just no hope in the world or in the things I do.  Traveling across dry and weary deserts stands out a lot to me today.  You see my brother was diagnosed with liver cancer.  I was told to accept his fate nothing would fix things.  What a long weary desert.  But I believe in miracles.  God created our bodies and He is the Great Physician.  So I prayed for a miracle.  Yesterday I learned the tumor on his liver has died.  They went to do more chemo but there's no more cancer to kill. They are now recommending a surgeon remove part of the liver where the tumor is.  I will wait upon God.  But this is a miracle only God could do!  Even my husband, who works in the medical field, said that when a tumor grows this quickly and then dies it's a miracle.  When I read this Psalm this morning I had to smile real big.  I am so grateful and have been bubbling over with praise.  Yet I know I must wait upon Him.  It will be over when He says it's over.  Today I will run and play.  I will hold onto Him.  And continue to spend time in grateful reflection.  Thanks Father!

No special vitamins required

Psalms 62

1 God, the one and only —
I'll wait as long as he says.
Everything I need comes from him,
so why not?
2 He's solid rock under my feet,
breathing room for my soul,
An impregnable castle:
I'm set for life.

7 My help and glory are in God
— granite-strength and safe-harbor-God —  
8 So trust him absolutely, people;
lay your lives on the line for him.
God is a safe place to be.

9 Man as such is smoke,
woman as such, a mirage.
Put them together, they're nothing;
two times nothing is nothing.

10 And a windfall, if it comes —
don't make too much of it.

11 God said this once and for all;
how many times
Have I heard it repeated?
"Strength comes
Straight from God."
THE MESSAGE

I love this Psalm.  There are so many descriptions of God:  solid rock under my feet, breathing room for my soul, an impregnable castle, granite-strength, a safe harbor.  Waiting upon God is tough.  My watch says now is a good time.  But God weighs the scales.  One man's blessing can be another man's curse.  His wisdom is infinite.  His timing is perfect.  It's so easy to get excited about winning the lottery and getting a million dollars.  After taxes it's about $600,000, plus insurance, the new car, it really wouldn't last long in our economy.  David warns us about windfalls telling us, "... not to make too much of it."  Money comes and goes with emergencies and those exciting offers on TV.  I can honestly say He has supplied all my needs.  I was taught early on as a Christian to really think about the difference between what you need and what you want.  It sure helps.  When you look at the larger picture men and women don't last all that long.  We will all pass away.  But God remains always, and gives us strength straight from Him.  No special vitamins required.

Last gasp prayer

Psalms 61

1 God, listen to me shout,
bend an ear to my prayer.
2 When I'm far from anywhere,
down to my last gasp,
I call out, "Guide me
up High Rock Mountain!"
3 You've always given me breathing room,
a place to get away from it all,
4 A lifetime pass to your safe-house,
an open invitation as your guest.
5 You've always taken me seriously, God,
made me welcome among those who know and love you.
THE MESSAGE

It's easy to get caught up in all the madness around us.  So many images on TV distract us.  So many stories of heartache and pain.  In our own lives we struggle with illness, attitude, bad work environments, war.. we pray the last gasp prayer like David.  We shout, "Are you listening God?  Are You there? I can't do this anymore.  I give up!" 

When I pray this, God waits until I'm done.  Then a very profound thought comes to mind, like, "You don't need to do it alone."  Sometimes a peace, a place in my heart to get away from it all.  Sometimes I even wonder what my problem was.  He does take us seriously.  I believe God wants us to let out our frustrations and then find His safe place.  It all starts with prayer.

Where is the hope?

Psalms 58
1 Is this any way to run a country?
Is there an honest politician in the house?
2 Behind the scenes you brew cauldrons of evil,
behind closed doors you make deals with demons.
THE MESSAGE

I read this in the Psalms and I thought, "Oh no!  Not this!  It's in the Bible too!!?"

I tried to avoid it. Then I realized many of the things we experience today have happened before in history, man hasn't changed, just the weapons have.  I am tired of the political talk and all the opinions.  I rarely watch the News on TV these days.  Although the Psalms were written thousands of years ago, they still apply today.  I know I've seen these words in newspapers.  So where is the hope in all of this?  Will it ever end?  The answers are throughout the Bible.  Our hope is in God and the return of Christ to set up His kingdom.

Jer 17:7-8
7 Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
And whose hope is the Lord.
8 For he shall be like a tree planted by the waters,
Which spreads out its roots by the river,
And will not fear when heat comes;
But its leaf will be green,
And will not be anxious in the year of drought,
Nor will cease from yielding fruit.
NKJV

Jer 29:11-14
11 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.
NKJV

Tears are important

Psalms 56
8 You've kept track of my every toss and turn
through the sleepless nights,
Each tear entered in your ledger,
each ache written in your book.
9 If my enemies run away,
turn tail when I yell at them,
Then I'll know
that God is on my side.
10 I'm proud to praise God,
proud to praise God.
11 Fearless now, I trust in God;
what can mere mortals do to me?
12 God, you did everything you promised,
and I'm thanking you with all my heart.
13 You pulled me from the brink of death,
my feet from the cliff-edge of doom.
Now I stroll at leisure with God
in the sunlit fields of life.
THE MESSAGE

Life is hard at times.  It can also be filled with peace and "sunlit fields."  I have to remember this, there are many experiences in our lives.  God watches over us.  He knows when we are sleepless and when we hurt.  He even keeps track of our tears, that's amazing because I can't remember.  In verse 9 David makes an "if then" deal with God.  "If my enemies run away, ... when I yell at them, then I'll know ... God is on my side."  One of the things I love about God is He has a mind of His own.  I try and tell Him what to do and how to fix things.  But thankfully He does things His way.  When I went to college I had no money and I prayed, "If it's Your will for me to go to school, then please provide the money."  I got the full financial aid package and paid off my debt early.  Not exactly what I had in mind...  but it certainly worked out just fine.  I believe God answered David's request.  He goes on to praise God even though he was in captivity with the Philistines.  As a young shepherd boy, he killed one of their giants.  That would've made for a very uncomfortable experience and many restless nights.  God is God, sometimes He says, "Yes."  Sometimes, "No."  And sometimes, "Wait."

Ps 126:5-6
5 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
6 He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him.
NKJV

Big shoulders

Psalms 55
16 I call to God;
God will help me.
17 At dusk, dawn, and noon I sigh
deep sighs — he hears, he rescues.
18 My life is well and whole, secure
in the middle of danger
Even while thousands
are lined up against me.
19 God hears it all, and from his judge's bench
puts them in their place.
But, set in their ways, they won't change;
they pay him no mind.

22 Pile your troubles on God's shoulders —
he'll carry your load, he'll help you out.
He'll never let good people
topple into ruin.
23 But you, God, will throw the others
into a muddy bog,
Cut the lifespan of assassins
and traitors in half.

And I trust in you.
THE MESSAGE

Sometimes it seems like everything can fall apart in an instant.  Disease, death, financial problems all follow us.  Even in our high tech modern medical society, processes fail, promises broken.  But God never does.  This Psalm is so encouraging.  We are told to "pile your troubles" on God's shoulders they are incredibly big.   He's available 24x7.  Every day, every night.  And He doesn't transfer your call to an answering machine!  Nor does He speak a language you can't understand.  This amazes me about God, He actually wants us to let out our frustrations to Him.  He's pleased when we are humble enough to admit our fears.  You would think the Almighty would say, "Talk to the hand.  The ears aren't listening."  But He doesn't, He hears each word.

1 Peter 5:6-7
6 Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, 7 casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.
NKJV