Me ornery?

Psalms 32
6 These things add up. Every one of us needs to pray;
when all hell breaks loose and the dam bursts
we'll be on high ground, untouched.
7 God's my island hideaway,
keeps danger far from the shore,
throws garlands of hosannas around my neck.
8 Let me give you some good advice;
I'm looking you in the eye
and giving it to you straight:
9 "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule
that needs bit and bridle to stay on track."
10 God-defiers are always in trouble;
God-affirmers find themselves loved
every time they turn around.
THE MESSAGE

Here's the rest of Psalm 32.  If we pray, keep in touch with God, we'll be on high ground when all hell breaks loose.  God is described as an Island Hideaway, keeping us safe from danger.  Then David (the writer of the Psalms), gives us a bit of advice, "Don't be ornery like a horse or mule that needs a bit and bridle to stay on track."  I used to ride horses and they sure can be ornery!  I was riding a thoroughbred horse once and he got an itch on his rear.  So he decided to rub himself on a wooden fence.  He got a splinter and I became a bucking bronc rider!  He was impossible to control. I can relate to this verse.  I have said things in the past that still make me blush, and done things I can't believe I did.  We all have.  What's the solution?  Confess and affirm God.  Then believe in forgiveness.  All is made right.

Clean slate

Psalms 32
Count yourself lucky, how happy you must be — you get a fresh start, your slate's wiped clean.
2 Count yourself lucky — God holds nothing against you and you're holding nothing back from him.
3 When I kept it all inside, my bones turned to powder, my words became daylong groans.
4 The pressure never let up; all the juices of my life dried up.
5 Then I let it all out; I said, "I'll make a clean breast of my failures to God."
Suddenly the pressure was gone — my guilt dissolved,my sin disappeared.
THE MESSAGE

I think this is one of my new favorite Psalms.  There's a lot of fun imagery and it's so down to earth.  I've only displayed the first half of the Psalm- I'll put out the other half tomorrow.  What I really loved about this is it describes how to be forgiven by God.  Confess.  It's so simple but sometimes I get so caught up in my worries, I forget to simply confess.  And trust God.  I'll rattle on and on to God with my To Do List and feel like I'm talking to the wall.  Then I realize I'm talking the Creator of the Universe.  Doh!  Simply saying, "Forgive me Father."  Brings amazing release.  Also leaving things in God's control instead of trying to convince Him I know better brings peace.

I panicked!

Ps 31:19-22
19 What a stack of blessing you have piled up
for those who worship you,
Ready and waiting for all who run to you
to escape an unkind world.
20 You hide them safely away
from the opposition.
As you slam the door on those oily, mocking faces,
you silence the poisonous gossip.
21 Blessed God!
His love is the wonder of the world.
Trapped by a siege, 

22 I panicked.
"Out of sight, out of mind," I said.
But you heard me say it,
you heard and listened.
THE MESSAGE

Something reassuring in the Bible is these guys endured things beyond our imagination.  So... here's David trapped by a siege.  He's known as the man after God's own heart.   So what does he do?  He panicked!  Wouldn't you?  I would.  He's thinking God just doesn't see this.  "Out of sight, out of mind."  Then he states how God heard it and listened.   There are some great stories of reasons to panic in the Bible like Daniel in the lion's den.  My latest panic was finding drips of water below a pipe in our bathroom.  I imagined all the pipes breaking in the house with water shooting all over and the price!  Yikes!  We're gonna die.  I prayed, "Oh Father we can't afford this.  Please help!" On closer inspection the drips are coming from the water tank on the toilet.  Looked up with a shy smile, "Thanks."

My cave

Ps 31:3-5
3 You're my cave to hide in,
my cliff to climb.
Be my safe leader,
be my true mountain guide.
4 Free me from hidden traps;
I want to hide in you.
5 I've put my life in your hands.
You won't drop me,
you'll never let me down.
THE MESSAGE

I gave my husband his own room in the house.  It's his cave.  He can decorate or do whatever he wants with it.  I promised not to complain- I simply dust and vacuum.  God is my cave.  I can read the Bible when everything seems out of control and see how others have been through the same stuff as me- only it was centuries ago.  He's my cave.  I can let go of everything and just be with Him.  He's my cliff.  Trust takes awhile to learn, He seems to draw me to greater challenges.  One of them is when things are fine and I simply need to keep moving!  He's a safe leader all His ways lead to safety, even avoiding too much alcohol is in the Bible.  A mountain guide, He knows how to:  help me through the rocky times, leap over obstacles, dodge bad things, and finish our tasks.  He won't drop me or get bored.  Do I forget to ask for help?  Think I can do it alone?  Oh yeah...  Should also mention, I have my own cave in the house too : )

This mess...

Ps 30:1-3
I give you all the credit,
God — you got me out of that mess,
you didn't let my foes gloat.
2 God, my God, I yelled for help
and you put me together.
3 God, you pulled me out of the grave,
gave me another chance at life
when I was down-and-out.
THE MESSAGE

So many times I've gotten stuck.  And so many times He's pulled me out of my mess.  It's great to know He has a plan.  He loves us all so much.  We are his creation.  I remember helping in a Sunday School class of children.  They were so small and cute.  Then the comparisons started...  "Your hair's ugly.  Everyone stay away from her!"  I felt so bad; these cute little girls should have been laughing and playing.  I made them stop.  I think that's how God sees us.  All the same with a unique smile- something special He put in us.

I read this quote in The Secret of the Swamp King, Jonathan Rogers.  It's from the Wilderking trilogy, a very fun children's story.  "A bird might think he deserves to swim as well as a fish, but if he sits moping on the riverbank instead of using the wings God gave him, the fox is going to eat him." p. 221.  

We're all just trying to do our best with our lives.  It's good to know God will help us out when we get stuck. He created us after all.

Waiting...

Ps 29:1-2
29 Bravo, God, bravo!
Gods and all angels shout, "Encore!"
2 In awe before the glory,
in awe before God's visible power.
Stand at attention!
Dress your best to honor him!
Ps 29:10
10 Above the floodwaters is God's throne
from which his power flows,
from which he rules the world.
Ps 29:11
11 God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.
THE MESSAGE

I love the imagery in these verses.  I can imagine the angels celebrating God's power.  His throne is above the floodwaters.  He is high and lifted up.  Yet He takes time to make us strong and give us peace.  Besides my new career, my family is going through some hard times.  My Mother is 76 and has recently been taken from an Assisted Living facility to the hospital for blood clots.  We have also recently learned my brother has cancer in his liver.  We are waiting news of whether he can have a transplant.  These things weigh on our hearts.  These verses remind me that God is still in control.  We will celebrate with Him one day, with the angels.  The troubles we know now will be gone forever- for now, we wait, pray and hope.  We are like children not understanding.

Ps 27:13-14
13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed
That I would see the goodness of the Lord
In the land of the living.
14 Wait on the Lord;
Be of good courage,
And He shall strengthen your heart;
Wait, I say, on the Lord!
NKJV

He heard me

Ps 28:6-9
6 Blessed be God —
he heard me praying.
7 He proved he's on my side;
I've thrown my lot in with him.
Now I'm jumping for joy,
and shouting and singing my thanks to him.
8 God is all strength for his people,
ample refuge for his chosen leader;
9 Save your people
and bless your heritage.
Care for them;
carry them like a good shepherd.
THE MESSAGE

God does hear my prayers.  Amazingly true!  I'm on a prayer team and it's so great when people come back and thank us for our prayers- sharing how God fixed things.  He has 3 answers when I pray. 
1.  Yes!  

2.  Wait... this means it'll happen but at the right time.
3.  No.  This is proof we can't control the Almighty.  He has perfect timing and what I do affects another and so on...  It could also be that it's just not something that's a good idea.  I have to thank God for some of my unanswered prayers.  Now I'm waiting to see what He does with my career.  I can count on the good shepherd.  And I better keep working!  Gotta be ready when His timing arrives.