15th August, 2008
The “Some Club”
When reading the the Psalms this week, I realized that Psalm 107 reached into my heart and gripped it. I sat and stared the psalm and began to thank God that I had been part of the “Some Club”. Those that literally needed God in “some” condition that was engraved in my nature. So instead of writing about the experience, I will just place it for you to read. I hope that you experience the same gratitude for being part of and delivered from the “Some Club”.
Psalm 107 (ESV)
1 Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever! 2 Let the redeemed of the Lord say so, whom he has redeemed from trouble 3 and gathered in from the lands, from the east and from the west, from the north and from the south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastes, finding no way to a city to dwell in; 5 hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted within them. 6 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way till they reached a city to dwell in. 8 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 9 For he satisfies the longing soul, and the hungry soul he fills with good things. 10 Some sat in darkness and in the shadow of death, prisoners in affliction and in irons, 11 for they had rebelled against the words of God, and spurned the counsel of the Most High. 12 So he bowed their hearts down with hard labor; they fell down, with none to help. 13 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 14 He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and burst their bonds apart. 15 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 16 For he shatters the doors of bronze and cuts in two the bars of iron. 17 Some were fools through their sinful ways, and because of their iniquities suffered affliction; 18 they loathed any kind of food, and they drew near to the gates of death. 19 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 20 He sent out his word and healed them, and delivered them from their destruction. 21 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 22 And let them offer sacrifices of thanksgiving, and tell of his deeds in songs of joy! 23 Some went down to the sea in ships, doing business on the great waters; 24 they saw the deeds of the Lord, his wondrous works in the deep. 25 For he commanded and raised the stormy wind, which lifted up the waves of the sea. 26 They mounted up to heaven; they went down to the depths; their courage melted away in their evil plight; 27 they reeled and staggered like drunken men and were at their wits’ end. 28 Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 29 He made the storm be still, and the waves of the sea were hushed. 30 Then they were glad that the waters were quiet, and he brought them to their desired haven. 31 Let them thank the Lord for his steadfast love, for his wondrous works to the children of man! 32 Let them extol him in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders. 33 He turns rivers into a desert, springs of water into thirsty ground, 34 a fruitful land into a salty waste, because of the evil of its inhabitants. 35 He turns a desert into pools of water, a parched land into springs of water. 36 And there he lets the hungry dwell, and they establish a city to live in; 37 they sow fields and plant vineyards and get a fruitful yield. 38 By his blessing they multiply greatly, and he does not let their livestock diminish. 39 When they are diminished and brought low through oppression, evil, and sorrow, 40 he pours contempt on princes and makes them wander in trackless wastes; 41 but he raises up the needy out of affliction and makes their families like flocks. 42 The upright see it and are glad, and all wickedness shuts its mouth. 43 Whoever is wise, let him attend to these things; let them consider the steadfast love of the Lord.
I hope that this speaks to you as it continues to speak to me!
Best
Dennis
All scripture used in this blog post are from The Holy Bible : English standard version. 2001. Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.
Posted at 10:51 pm | Comment (1)
22nd January, 2008
Don’t Settle For Less
Tonight, as I sit here in front of this glaring yet inviting monitor I began to ponder or contemplate the response of so many people that I minister to. This is also a reflection on many people in the Kingdom who just settle for what comes! Anyway, my point is quite simple: Don’t settle for anything less than what God has promised!
Many of the people who I serve as pastor just get by with a little help from their friends (Joe Cocker mentioned that in one of his songs “Get By With A Little Help From My Friends”. I knew some of these people when they had more and when their families were together. But, what happened is that life started to offer them pleasures that don’t satisfy and cause short-term reactions with long term affects. They begin to settle for less. They once loved their children around them and would do anything to keep them safe. As they continued to settle for less and gain short-term amiable receptivity through bad decisions the family became less important. What we need to understand is that life can offer some short-term answers for difficulties and can be very persuasive, however, what God promises has long-term affects. He offers a connection and position in life that does not impair the short-term! I like what David testified:
Though he falls, he shall not be utterly cast down, for the Lord grasps his hand in support and upholds him. I have been young and now am old, yet have I not seen the [uncompromisingly] righteous forsaken or their seed begging bread. All day long they are merciful and deal graciously; they lend, and their offspring are blessed. (Psalm 37:24-26 AMP)
My heart is so burdened for those that settle for the less and loose the most!
Look to the Lord for the connection and position you should have in life. The problem can be solved and the result will have a inarguable, incontestable, incontrovertible, indisputable, indubitable, irrefutable affect on your life and the lives of your children. Do not settle for less, God has so much for you!
Peace
Dennis
All scriptures used in this blog article are The amplified Bible, containing the amplified Old Testament and the amplified New Testament. 1987. La Habra, CA: The Lockman Foundation.
Posted at 11:49 pm | Comment (0)