puricare chronicles: Psalms

Showing posts with label Psalms. Show all posts

Friday, December 25, 2020

THE SHEPHERD’S PSALM - It’s not unusual to think that Mary would have turned to God’s Word on that rough road to Bethlehem. Perhaps Mary even quoted something like the Twenty-third Psalm. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…Yea, though I walk through the valley…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Every young Jewish woman would have known that the surrounding hills above Bethlehem, speckled with shepherds and their flocks, served as David’s inspiration for the psalm. “The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” Two figures, one perched atop a donkey, wound their way down a dark road toward the moonlit buildings at the edge of Bethlehem. Mary was relieved that the long journey was nearly over — every time her donkey would stumble, she clutched her swollen abdomen in pain. Who could blame her for being a little frightened? Joseph hadn’t said much about where they would stay the night. “Ooh,” Mary moaned as the donkey faltered. Joseph halted the beast and stepped aside to let others pass on the dark road. Mary pressed her hands against her back and straightened to relieve her stiffness. More people streamed by. Mary’s eyes met Joseph’s — they both knew the overnight lodges in Bethlehem would be crowded. Joseph gathered the donkey’s reins and they proceeded toward town. I like to picture that scene, don’t you?

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The Shepherd’s Psalm

It’s not unusual to think that Mary would have turned to God’s Word on that rough road to Bethlehem. Perhaps Mary even quoted something like the Twenty-third Psalm. “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…Yea, though I walk through the valley…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” Every young Jewish woman would have known that the surrounding hills above Bethlehem, speckled with shepherds and their flocks, served as David’s inspiration for the psalm.

Joni and Friends

Daily Devotional

“The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.” —Psalm 23:1-3

Two figures, one perched atop a donkey, wound their way down a dark road toward the moonlit buildings at the edge of Bethlehem.

Mary was relieved that the long journey was nearly over — every time her donkey would stumble, she clutched her swollen abdomen in pain.

Who could blame her for being a little frightened?

Joseph hadn’t said much about where they would stay the night.

“Ooh,” Mary moaned as the donkey faltered.

Joseph halted the beast and stepped aside to let others pass on the dark road.

Mary pressed her hands against her back and straightened to relieve her stiffness.

More people streamed by.

Mary’s eyes met Joseph’s — they both knew the overnight lodges in Bethlehem would be crowded.

Joseph gathered the donkey’s reins and they proceeded toward town.

I like to picture that scene, don’t you?

It makes the Holy Family seem so human.

And if I had been a fellow traveler walking behind Mary and Joseph, perhaps I would have heard the young woman atop the donkey murmur familiar words: “The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want…Yea, though I walk through the valley…thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.”

Being a fellow citizen of Bethlehem, I would have recognized it as the Twenty-third Psalm.

It’s not unusual to think that Mary would have turned to God’s Word on that rough road to Bethlehem.

Perhaps Mary even quoted something like the Twenty-third Psalm.

Every young Jewish woman (especially one familiar with Bethlehem, David’s royal city) would have known that the surrounding hills above Bethlehem, speckled with shepherds and their flocks, served as David’s inspiration for the psalm.

Lord, sometimes I forget about the difficult and even frightening circumstances surrounding the journey to Bethlehem.

Oh, how your Word must have comforted Joseph and Mary.

Thank you for that.

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https://www.joniandfriends.org/the-shepherds-psalm/

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Shepherd of My Soul

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Tuesday, December 22, 2020

WE’RE CREATED TO CELEBRATE TOGETHER - God loves to hear His children sing His praises. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” “Sing to God a brand-new song, praise Him in the company of all who love Him.” God wants to do something fresh in our lives. The Bible is full of celebrations — feasts and festivals and holidays. Heaven is going to be a giant celebration! Let’s start practicing our celebration skills now, so our hearts will be ready for heaven! The time we spend singing His praises here on earth will just whet our appetites for the day when the song will never end. “When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.” Worship is a festival, not a funeral! If anybody on earth has the right to celebrate, it is those of us who have committed our lives to Christ and been accepted into God’s family! Just think of all God has done for us! It’s ironic that in our culture it is acceptable to get excited about anything except God. You can go to a sports event and scream your lungs out, jump up and down, cry, hug, and raise your hands in the air — and people will smile approvingly and call you a “fan.” But if you show any joy, heartfelt emotion, or enthusiasm in worship, you’re called a “fanatic.” David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.” That must have been fun and noisy!

We’re Created to Celebrate Together

The time we spend singing His praises here on earth will just whet our appetites for the day when the song will never end

God loves to hear His children sing His praises. “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.” “Sing to God a brand-new song, praise Him in the company of all who love Him.” God wants to do something fresh in our lives. The Bible is full of celebrations — feasts and festivals and holidays — because they are important ways to mark progress in our lives. Heaven is going to be a giant celebration! Let’s start practicing our celebration skills now, so our hearts will be ready for heaven!

Rick Warren

“When you meet together, sing psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, as you praise the Lord with all your heart.” — Ephesians 5:19

Worship is a festival, not a funeral!

If anybody on earth has the right to celebrate, it is those of us who have committed our lives to Christ and been accepted into God’s family!

Just think of all God has done for us!

o As we trust in Jesus Christ we are:

o given a new life of purpose and significance!

o forgiven for every sin, mistake, and failure!

o loved unconditionally and accepted by God!

o provided with a spiritual family for our support!

o set free from worry because God is in control!

o offered God’s power to overcome hurts, habits, and hang-ups!

o given God’s Word with the principles for successful living!

o released from shame, regret, and resentment!

o assured that Satan cannot take away our salvation!

o comforted knowing that “God works all things together for our good”!

o able to face each day with hope and optimistic faith!

o equipped with spiritual gifts, talents, and abilities to use!

o protected by all of God’s promises!

o supplied with everything we need!

o guaranteed eternal life in heaven!

If all these benefits don’t cause you to celebrate, you need to check your pulse!

It’s ironic that in our culture it is acceptable to get excited about anything except God.

You can go to a sports event and scream your lungs out, jump up and down, cry, hug, and raise your hands in the air — and people will smile approvingly and call you a “fan.”

But if you show any joy, heartfelt emotion, or enthusiasm in worship, you’re called a “fanatic.”

Second Samuel 6:5 tells us that “David and the whole house of Israel were celebrating with all their might before the Lord, with songs and with harps, lyres, tambourines, sistrums and cymbals.”

That must have been fun and noisy!

But David’s wife, Michal, was more concerned about being dignified than celebrating, and she scolded her husband for his enthusiastic worship (2 Samuel 6:16–20).

Sadly, the attitude of Michal still hinders many churches today from enjoying worship and fellowship as a community of believers.

God loves to hear His children sing His praises.

Psalm 150:6 says, “Let everything that has breath praise the Lord.”

Psalm 149:1 tells us the kind of song to sing: “Sing to God a brand-new song, praise Him in the company of all who love Him.”

Why a new song?

Because God wants to do something fresh in our lives.

The Bible is full of celebrations — feasts and festivals and holidays — because they are important ways to mark progress in our lives.

There is great power in remembering.

But too often we are so busy moving on to the next activity or task that we don’t stop and celebrate what has been accomplished.

Revelation 5:11–13 tells us that heaven is going to be a giant celebration!

Let’s start practicing our celebration skills now, so our hearts will be ready for heaven!

The time we spend singing His praises here on earth will just whet our appetites for the day when the song will never end.

POINT TO PONDER: Every time I celebrate God with others, I’m practicing for Heaven.

VERSE TO REMEMBER: I will celebrate and be joyful because You, Lord, have saved me. — Psalm 35:9

Your Turn

What good things have you seen God do during the past six weeks in your life, in your family, in your small group, and in your church family?

Then spend some time thanking Him specifically for each thing.

Come, join the conversation and share some of your thanksgivings with us on our blog! We would love to hear from you! ~ Devotionals Daily

Rick Warren

As founding pastor of Saddleback Church, Dr. Rick Warren leads a 30,000 member congregation in California with campuses in major cities around the world. As a theologian, he has lectured at Oxford, Cambridge, Harvard, University of Judaism, and dozens of universities and seminaries. As a global strategist he advises world leaders and has spoken to the United Nations, US Congress, Davos Economic Forum, TED, Aspen Institute, and numerous parliaments. Rick has also founded the global P.E.A.C.E. plan, which Plants churches of reconciliation, Equips leaders, Assists the poor, Cares for the sick, and Educates the next generation in 196 countries.

FaithGateway is an online community for readers to discover great content and engage with their favorite Christian authors. FaithGateway brings together content in many different forms: daily blog posts, book excerpts, devotionals, free downloads, videos, giveaways, contests, author chats, and more.

The mission of FaithGateway is to help you grow and share your faith.

https://www.faithgateway.com/thankful-thursday-we-re-created-to-celebrate-together/#.X35cLNkzaig

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I Just Want To Praise You

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Wednesday, October 7, 2020

MAKING MELODY - The Spirit-filled saint is a song–filled saint! Animals can’t sing. Neither can pews or pulpits or Bibles or buildings — only you. And your melody is broadcasted right into heaven, where God’s antenna is always receptive . . . where the soothing strains of your song are always appreciated. Whenever and whatever you sing, concentrate on the words. If it helps, close your eyes. Sing often with a friend or members of your family. It helps break down all sorts of invisible barriers. You might even sing before grace at mealtime in the evening - that is so enjoyable, you may get addicted, I warn you - “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” - Everybody knows 5:18, where we are told “be filled with the Spirit.” But have you ever noticed that verse 18 ends with a comma, not a period? The next verse describes the very first result of being under the Spirit’s control: WE SING! We make melody with our hearts. We communicate His presence within us by presenting our own, individual Concert of Sacred Music to Him. Ephesians 5 never once refers to a church building. We Christians have so centralized our singing that we seldom engage in it once we walk away from a service. Chances are, you didn’t even sing before or after you had your time with the Lord any day of the week. Why? The Spirit-filled saint is a song–filled saint!

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Making Melody

The Spirit-filled saint is a song–filled saint! Animals can’t sing. Neither can pews or pulpits or Bibles or buildings — only you. And your melody is broadcasted right into heaven, where God’s antenna is always receptive . . . where the soothing strains of your song are always appreciated. Whenever and whatever you sing, concentrate on the words. If it helps, close your eyes. Sing often with a friend or members of your family. It helps break down all sorts of invisible barriers. You might even sing before grace at mealtime in the evening - that is so enjoyable, you may get addicted

Pastor Chuck Swindoll

“speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.” - Ephesians 5:19

God’s sharp sword stabbed me deeply this week.

I was on a scriptural hunt in the Ephesian letter.

I was searching for a verse totally unrelated to the one that sliced its way into me.

It was another of those verses I feel sorry for (like John 3:17 and 1 John 1:10 — look ’em up).

This was Ephesians 5:19: “speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody with your heart to the Lord.”

Everybody knows 5:18, where we are told “be filled with the Spirit.”

But have you ever noticed that verse 18 ends with a comma, not a period?

The next verse describes the very first result of being under the Spirit’s control: WE SING!

We make melody with our hearts.

We communicate His presence within us by presenting our own, individual Concert of Sacred Music to Him.

Now let’s go further.

Ephesians 5 never once refers to a church building.

I mention that because we Christians have so centralized our singing that we seldom engage in it once we walk away from a service.

Stop and think.

Did you sing on the way home last Sunday night?

How about Monday, when you drove to work . . . or around the supper table . . . or Tuesday as you dressed for the day?

Chances are, you didn’t even sing before or after you had your time with the Lord any day of the week.

Why?

The Spirit-filled saint is a song–filled saint!

Animals can’t sing.

Neither can pews or pulpits or Bibles or buildings — only you.

And your melody is broadcasted right into heaven, where God’s antenna is always receptive . . .

where the soothing strains of your song are always appreciated.

If Martin Luther were alive today, he’d be heartsick.

That rugged warrior of the faith had two basic objectives when he fired the reformation cannon into the sixteenth–century wall of spiritual ignorance.

First, to give the people a Bible they could read on their own, and

second, to give them a hymnal from which they could sing on their own.

The Bible we have, and its words we read.

The hymnal we have — but where, oh, where has the melody gone?

We simply do not sing as often as we ought . . . and therein lies the blame and the shame.

Let me offer five corrective suggestions:

Whenever and whatever you sing, concentrate on the words. If it helps, close your eyes.

Make a definite effort to add one or two songs to your day.

Remind yourself, periodically, of the words of a chorus or hymn you love and add them to your driving schedule or soap–and–shower time.

Sing often with a friend or members of your family.

It helps break down all sorts of invisible barriers. You might even sing before grace at mealtime in the evening.

That is so enjoyable, you may get addicted, I warn you.

Blow the dust off your tape or CD player and put on some beautiful music around the house.

Just watch what happens to the atmosphere when you do this. And don’t forget to sing along and add your own harmony and “special” effects.

Never mind how beautiful or pitiful you may sound.

You are not auditioning for the choir, you’re making melody with your heart.

SING OUT!

If you listen closely when you’re through, you may hear the hosts of heaven shouting for joy.

Then again, it might be your neighbor . . . screaming for relief.

Excerpted from Charles R. Swindoll, “Making Melody,” in The Finishing Touch: Becoming God’s Masterpiece

Pastor Chuck Swindoll has devoted his life to the accurate, practical teaching and application of God’s Word. Since 1998, he has served as the senior pastor-teacher of Stonebriar Community Church in Frisco, Texas, but Chuck’s listening audience extends beyond a local church body. As a leading program in Christian broadcasting since 1979, Insight for Living airs around the world. Chuck’s leadership as president and now chancellor of Dallas Theological Seminary has helped prepare and equip a new generation for ministry.

https://insight.org/resources/article-library/individual/making-melody-1

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