His Salvation

Psalm 51 was written as a result of King David's loss of the child he and Bathsheba bore out of adultery. It is a gritty, down to earth cry to God, a declaration of His goodness and mercy and a look at the heart of a man who is desirous to move ahead.

As I was reading in this chapter this morning I was surprised when I read verse 12 where David says, "Restore to me the joy of your salvation, and uphold me with a willing spirit." (ESV) To be honest, I've always quoted this verse as...restore to me the joy of MY salvation.

Is there a difference between God's salvation and our salvation? Perhaps, you say, that my salvation is really just taking ownership of what God has given me, but I think not. When you look at the Hebrew, all of the extra words aren't even there. It reads something like "Restore(repair or renew) joy(exultation) salvation(deliverance, safety) uphold(to sustain, refresh, revive) willing(nobility, nobleness, noble deeds) spirit (wind, breath from root word meaning smell, touch, quick understanding, accept)

Jesus very name means Jehovah is salvation. All salvation comes from God. Our deliverance is not from the works of our own hands or our deeds, but through a Savior...a Deliverer.

David was saying that what he needed was to be repaired, to be as good as new again with God's joy and salvation so that he would be revived and refreshed, willing to do what God said...to do what was right. Think about this. To be re-freshed is to become fresh again.

David's poor choices with Bathsheba stunk up his life and with the death of his child, he was aware of his need to be re-freshed, like new again. Verse 7 says "Purify me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. " You see, David knew that with God's salvation and his cleansing he would be "whiter than snow".

How excellent is God to not leave us in a state of filth...of half way being cleaned...of having to pay penance for the rest of our life. He makes us whiter than snow. Thank God for HIS SALVATION in our lives. What a good God I serve!

Repentance...Good for Someone Elses Soul

If there was anyone who was able to express the soulish feelings which came with mistakes, David could. He would say "my soul cries out" or "from the depths of my...". Gut wrenching statements. Every emotion on the table. Nothing hidden or glossed over. This was his trademark if you will of a man who knew how to express himself and his repentance from sin.

If there is anything that I have learned in my years upon this earth, is to admit when you have messed up. Yet, it is still one of the hardest things to do, at least for me. However, whenever I openly admit that I was wrong...that I "sinned"...that I spoke without love, then the joy which comes from the admission and hopefully the repentance is like washing after a day in the hot sun. The stink from going the wrong way is washed away and there is a refreshing which comes like nothing I have ever experienced.

My job in a retail establishment has me listening to country western all day long. Some of the songs need to be flushed in the toilet from whence they came, but there are several which make me cry. One of my favorites is about a father who in a situation cusses in front of his son and then hears his son do the same because the little man wants to grow up to be just like his dad. As the dad feels the sting of his own actions and prays for forgiveness, his son hears his words. Then the story moves to the prayers of a little boy who is pours out his heart to THE Father. When asked by his Dad where he learned to pray like that, the response is that he learned from listening to him.

If you don't think repentance can change your own children and those around you, you are wrong. It is not just regurgitating garbage in order to feel better. It is turning and going the right way. When others see your change, they have the courage like the little boy to do the same.

Perhaps you are a "Dad" to someone you hardly know at work or at church or at the grocery store or where ever you are. Your actions just might help someone else to get a relationship right in their own lives. Like circles in the water, you never know whom you might touch.

A Heavenly Letter

Oh my children.

You who came from me.

You who grew within me.

You are wonderful each and every one of you.

***

You are so different from each other

And that is good.

***

Did the sun and moon and stars quibble at their differences?

Of course not.

What a ridiculous thought.

***

Did they want to be like the other?

Yet, another NO.

***

They each had qualities for their unique purposes.

***

Oh my children.

You do too.

***

You each have a uniquely crafted purpose from the God of the Universe.

It is as though you received a letter in the mail with a golden seal from Heavenly Places.

When you opened that letter, you were humbled and astounded that the Maker of All chose you for a particular purpose.

***

How awed I would be to be asked to do ANY task the King required of me. How awed I would be if He even asked me to clean His table or just to sit at his feet like Mary!

***

Oh, my dear children.

That letter has come to you. The King of the Universe is requesting your presence at His table...the King's table.

He is asking of each of you a particular task with HIS backing and HIS resources and HIS preparing the way.

Now, go forth and do it. You have the King's permission to go forth.

***

Is it any wonder you were birthed with such a name and each of you has a name with meaning and purpose which lines directly up with whatever He has said to you in that letter with the golden seal.

Your name was not copied from a list of people whom He knew not.

Your name was hand written by your Father and the note penned with care and love to a child He absolutely adores.

***

I suspect as He sealed the letter, His seal was a kiss which could only be opened by you.

He eagerly awaits your response. Oh come to Him and abide with Him this day. Let his soft and kind words lead you to the place next to him.

He will whisper into your ear secrets and you two will laugh and enjoy each other just as two friends do.

Oh come to Him who loves you beyond your wildest imaginations. Say YES...say YES!

For the joy of the whole earth,

My mind runs into places unseen and unheard.

For the love of you.

Lord of all and Father so magnificent.

Ruler of all.

Maker of all.

It is into your courtroom I find myself

Day after Day.

Seeking Mercy and help whenever I am in trouble.

It is not as I expect.

My judge is my redeemer and the lover of my soul.

My judge has mercy flowing from his robes

and justice is like a garment

made of the whitest linen one could every imagine.

On his feet there is truth and right standing.

In his hands, those hands which were bloodied and pierced...

Those hands beckon me to come to Him.

In the warmth of His embrace I find rest and know

That no matter what my case, He will judge rightly.

Oh, come with me into the courtroom of He who gave it all for you.

In his place there is mercy freely given.

His judgments are right and He seeks to put us on the right road.

Yet, He will walk with us.

He is right beside us.

Oh enter his courts with praise and give thanks.

May thanksgiving be ever on my lips.

Remind me when my lips stray and my heart falters.

Remind me to chase after what You say and embrace your words as life.

Oh, my Lord and My God, how I love you.

Teach me your ways and reveal to me your very thoughts.

How I long to be with you.

May we sit together,

May we run together,

May we fellowship together,

May we laugh together and cry together.

I never want to be anywhere but with you.

You are my all in all.

I love you.

I love you.

Praises in the Morning

This morning as I was awakening an old hymn was joyfully flowing through my spirit...to God be the glory great things he has done...so loved he the world that he gave us his Son...who yielded his life in atonement for sin...and opened the life gate that ALL may go in...PRAISE THE LORD...PRAISE THE LORD...let the earth hear HIS voice...PRAISE THE LORD...PRAISE THE LORD...let the people rejoice...O come to the Father...through Jesus the Son...And give Him the glory...great things He has done.

Before I even opened my eyes, the praises of God through this song were ringing in my ears. What a joyful way to come into the morning. It didn't require effort, nor even the use of my natural eyes, just my inner parts ready to praise.

David would often write how he worshipped in the morning hours. He throughout the day would sing and cry out to the Lord. The relationship with His Creator was tight.

The words of the song tell me right as I post...oh come to the Father through Jesus the Son, and give HIM the glory (i.e. - it does not say give ME the glory) great things HE HAS DONE.

It is truly not by might, nor by power, but by the Spirit of God that we live and move and have our being-that we work-that we relax-that we play-that we minister to others-that we even come to him, it is not our own power or might. Thank you Jesus...Thank you Father...Thank you Holy Spirit...Thank you God!

John Waller: While I'm Waiting

Many of you might remember the song "While I'm Waiting" from the movie FIREPROOF. This is an awesome story of the "wait" for this young song writer and how he gave it all up...
John Waller: While I'm Waiting

AHHHHEEEAAHHHEEAAA

Okay, I am just slightly jazzed about the trees turning all shades of warmth and dragging out the old Thanksgiving ornaments the kids have made over the years. I'm even excited about putting out the old decorative candles made in the shape of pilgrims and Tom turkey (who by the way got just a wee bit melted several years ago and looks like he has a crick in his neck).

The view from our window of the trees in varying shades of gold, orange, green and red is awesome. I LOVE FALL!

Last night as we exited one of our favorite restaurants the smell of fall was in the air and it was wonderful. When this season rolls around and I smell that cool evening air I feel like Tarzan pounding on his chest and making that AHHHHEHHAAAEEAAA warbling sound. I do believe it is a power thing with me and I am totally okay with that.

So, with dust cloth in hand, clothes strewn down the hall in pile to be washed and a merry heart, I will usher in the first good cleaning of the fall, complete with decorations and all the fanfare of a new season of hope.

Yes, it is a season of hope no matter how life looks. What may appear to be changing and dying is actually about to put deeper roots down so that when this time next year rolls around, strength will be increased. Yeah for fall. Yeah for God's kind of change!