June Caedmon's Blog, page 27
October 25, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 25
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 25
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 25Psalm 55Psalm 85Psalm 115Psalm 145
Today's Offering:
I love Lauren Daigle's song, Loyal. It speaks of God's love and attitude toward us. His love is loyal. Faithful. Unchanging. Eternal.
Loyalty is hard to find these days. Sometimes even within our own family. The very place we think we are -and ought to be- safe.
If someone has "broken faith," if your "own dear friend" has treated you with scorn I pray you will find comfort and hope in Psalm 25 and 55 today.
Psalm 85 contains a favorite verse of mine.
Psalms 115 and 145 are both beautiful songs of praise. Let's give Him glory for His love and faithfulness today!
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 25Psalm 55Psalm 85Psalm 115Psalm 145
Today's Offering:
I love Lauren Daigle's song, Loyal. It speaks of God's love and attitude toward us. His love is loyal. Faithful. Unchanging. Eternal.
Loyalty is hard to find these days. Sometimes even within our own family. The very place we think we are -and ought to be- safe.
If someone has "broken faith," if your "own dear friend" has treated you with scorn I pray you will find comfort and hope in Psalm 25 and 55 today.
Psalm 85 contains a favorite verse of mine.
Mercy and truth have met together; righteousness and peace have kissed. (vs 10)These words inspired me to write The Dance of the Cross.
Psalms 115 and 145 are both beautiful songs of praise. Let's give Him glory for His love and faithfulness today!
The Lord is righteous in all His ways, faithful in all He does; the Lord is near to all who call to Him, to all who call to Him in sincerity. (Psalm 145:17)
Shalom,
#write31days
October 24, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 24
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 24
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 24Psalm 54Psalm 84Psalm 114Psalm 144
Today's Offering:
My guess is that most of you probably don't read fantasy fiction, beyond maybe the occasional J.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis and, frankly, you won't find much better or more divinely inspired brilliance.
Except for the Bible.
Psalm 114 reads like a paragraph out of a fantasy novel. I don't know if you're one who takes the Bible literally or figuratively (there are passages that lend themselves to either) but my take is that since the earth and everything in it belongs to God (Psalm 24:1) and the wind and seas obeyed the Word of our Lord, the scenes described in Psalm 114 are certainly possible.
We, humans, tend to believe only what we can wrap our 5 senses around. While it's unlikely (but not impossible) that any of us will witness the earth dance in His presence or see God turn a rock into a pool of water in our lifetime, God can, and will, move heaven and earth in the figurative sense, in your life.
God is the helper and sustainer of your life. (Psalm 54:4)
He withholds no good thing from those whose life is blameless. (Psalm 84:11)
Although we are no more than a puff of wind, our lives no more than a fleeting shadow (Psalm 144:3), He continues to bless us with abundant life. Not only on earth but, more importantly, in eternity with Him.
Now that's a happy ending in my book!
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 24Psalm 54Psalm 84Psalm 114Psalm 144
Today's Offering:
My guess is that most of you probably don't read fantasy fiction, beyond maybe the occasional J.R. Tolkien or C.S. Lewis and, frankly, you won't find much better or more divinely inspired brilliance.
Except for the Bible.
Psalm 114 reads like a paragraph out of a fantasy novel. I don't know if you're one who takes the Bible literally or figuratively (there are passages that lend themselves to either) but my take is that since the earth and everything in it belongs to God (Psalm 24:1) and the wind and seas obeyed the Word of our Lord, the scenes described in Psalm 114 are certainly possible.
We, humans, tend to believe only what we can wrap our 5 senses around. While it's unlikely (but not impossible) that any of us will witness the earth dance in His presence or see God turn a rock into a pool of water in our lifetime, God can, and will, move heaven and earth in the figurative sense, in your life.
God is the helper and sustainer of your life. (Psalm 54:4)
He withholds no good thing from those whose life is blameless. (Psalm 84:11)
Although we are no more than a puff of wind, our lives no more than a fleeting shadow (Psalm 144:3), He continues to bless us with abundant life. Not only on earth but, more importantly, in eternity with Him.
Now that's a happy ending in my book!
Shalom,
#write31days
October 23, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 23
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 23
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 23Psalm 53Psalm 83Psalm 113Psalm 143
Today's Offering:
Arguably the most recognized of all the Psalms, I couldn't possibly offer anything here about Psalm 23 that hasn't already been said, except maybe this: if you haven't read Phillip Keller's A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 , I highly recommend you do.
Psalm 53 echoes Romans 1 which was echoed by my Pastor in his sermon on Daniel 5 this past Sunday. His earnest plea should resonate with all of us:
Psalm 113 is a sweet song to sing to Jesus today. The last verse is one that I long-prayed over a barren friend who now has more children than she knows what to do with. Her womb remains barren but her heart and her home are full.
For those whose spirits are failing, whose hearts are numb with despair, Psalm 143 offers comfort and hope for you today.
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 23Psalm 53Psalm 83Psalm 113Psalm 143
Today's Offering:
Arguably the most recognized of all the Psalms, I couldn't possibly offer anything here about Psalm 23 that hasn't already been said, except maybe this: if you haven't read Phillip Keller's A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23 , I highly recommend you do.
Psalm 53 echoes Romans 1 which was echoed by my Pastor in his sermon on Daniel 5 this past Sunday. His earnest plea should resonate with all of us:
You are an unending soul and you have an appointment with the Most High God.I'm not going to go into the tribal history of Psalm 83. The truth is, Israel had a lot of enemies then and they have those same enemies today. If you are a Christan, Israel's enemies are your enemies. Let verse 8 be a caution to you. The enemy sometimes comes from within. The key verse here is verse 16, "Heap shame on their heads until, Lord, they seek Your name." Remember, God is not willing that ANY should perish.
Psalm 113 is a sweet song to sing to Jesus today. The last verse is one that I long-prayed over a barren friend who now has more children than she knows what to do with. Her womb remains barren but her heart and her home are full.
For those whose spirits are failing, whose hearts are numb with despair, Psalm 143 offers comfort and hope for you today.
Revive me, Lord, for the honour of Your name; be my Deliverer; release me from my distress.Shalom,
#write31days
October 22, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 22
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 22
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 22Psalm 52Psalm 82Psalm 112Psalm 145
Today's Offering:
If your Bible has sub-titles, unlike mine, Psalm 22 may be labeled: The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah. In my Bible, I have handwritten: Suffering Servant.
Do you see your Savior in these verses?
I hope you will take the time today to read through and meditate on the remaining psalms in today's reading. There is much encouragement to be had from these verses.
In all His promises the Lords keeps faith, He is unchanging in all His works;
Blessings on your Sabbath,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 22Psalm 52Psalm 82Psalm 112Psalm 145
Today's Offering:
If your Bible has sub-titles, unlike mine, Psalm 22 may be labeled: The Suffering, Praise, and Posterity of the Messiah. In my Bible, I have handwritten: Suffering Servant.
Do you see your Savior in these verses?
My God, my God, why have You forsaken me? (vs 1)
But I am a worm, not a man, abused by everyone, scorned by the people. (vs 6)Regarding verses 11-21 Matthew Henry says:
Here is Christ suffering. David indeed was often in trouble, and beset with enemies; but many of the particulars here specified are such as were never true of David, and therefore must be appropriated to Christ in the depth of His humiliation.Yet, even after all of this, the psalmist says, "May you always be in good heart!" Indeed, those of us who have experienced the righteous deeds of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ can, with a good heart, declare, "The Lord has acted!"
I hope you will take the time today to read through and meditate on the remaining psalms in today's reading. There is much encouragement to be had from these verses.
In all His promises the Lords keeps faith, He is unchanging in all His works;
Blessings on your Sabbath,
#write31days
October 21, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 21
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 21
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 21Psalm 51Psalm 81Psalm 111Psalm 141
Today's Offering:
At first glance, Psalm 21 may not seem applicable to our modern lives, far removed from kings and kingdoms. But we can learn much from King David. Not only from the chronicle of his life, recorded in previous books of the Bible but perhaps even more so from the Psalms written for and by him. For it is in the psalms where we see David's heart.
What do we see in Psalm 21? We see the powerful and anointed King David giving all the glory to God. His victories in battle, his rise to the kingship, everything David has or has accomplished he attributes to his Lord.
This humility was not a one-time thing in David's life. It was a pattern and, I believe, his humility before God was one of the reasons God called him a man after His own heart.
The pattern of humility continues in Psalm 51.
In Psalm 81 we again find Asaph, one of David's lead musicians, praising God and speaking the cry of God's heart, "If My people would but listen to Me . . ." (vs 13) You can almost feel the anguish God must feel when His people ignore His word. It reminds me of Christ weeping over Jerusalem.
Psalm 111 is one to sing to Jesus and holds a hidden gem:
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 21Psalm 51Psalm 81Psalm 111Psalm 141
Today's Offering:
At first glance, Psalm 21 may not seem applicable to our modern lives, far removed from kings and kingdoms. But we can learn much from King David. Not only from the chronicle of his life, recorded in previous books of the Bible but perhaps even more so from the Psalms written for and by him. For it is in the psalms where we see David's heart.
What do we see in Psalm 21? We see the powerful and anointed King David giving all the glory to God. His victories in battle, his rise to the kingship, everything David has or has accomplished he attributes to his Lord.
This humility was not a one-time thing in David's life. It was a pattern and, I believe, his humility before God was one of the reasons God called him a man after His own heart.
The pattern of humility continues in Psalm 51.
Against You only have I sinned and have done was displeases; (vs 4)
God, create a pure heart for me, and give me a new and steadfast spirit. (vs 10)
God, my sacrifice is a broken spirit; You, God, will not despise a chastened heart. (vs 17)There are parts of Psalm 51 I pray often. I hope you will too.
In Psalm 81 we again find Asaph, one of David's lead musicians, praising God and speaking the cry of God's heart, "If My people would but listen to Me . . ." (vs 13) You can almost feel the anguish God must feel when His people ignore His word. It reminds me of Christ weeping over Jerusalem.
Psalm 111 is one to sing to Jesus and holds a hidden gem:
The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, and they who live by it grow in understanding. (vs 10)Finally, Psalm 141 holds a prayer that many of us might find beneficial to pray often:
Lord, set a guard on my mouth; keep watch at the door of my lips, (vs 3)Praise the Lord! With all my heart I shall give thanks to the Lord. Great are the works of the Lord. His deeds are full of majesty and wonder; His righteousness stands sure for ever. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Shalom,
#write31days
October 20, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 20
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 20
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 20Psalm 50Psalm 80Psalm 110Psalm 140
Today's Offering:
Are you facing a battle today? Then Psalm 20 is for you. This psalm is the prayer of the king on the eve of battle. But you can make it your own. God is faithful.
Psalm 50 contains some verses that may challenge our understanding and view of God.
How often do we bring God down to our level? and view Him and His actions on human terms. There is a clear warning here.
The following psalms, 80 and 110, point to the Messiah and fill us with hope for the future.
Truly Jesus is God's answer to our pleas for mercy!
I wonder how often Jesus sang these songs about Himself and wept over the blindness of those who listened.
Let us not be deaf to their message today.
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 20Psalm 50Psalm 80Psalm 110Psalm 140
Today's Offering:
Are you facing a battle today? Then Psalm 20 is for you. This psalm is the prayer of the king on the eve of battle. But you can make it your own. God is faithful.
Psalm 50 contains some verses that may challenge our understanding and view of God.
God, the Lord God, has spoken and summoned the world (vs 1)
When you have done these things, and kept silent, you thought that I was someone like yourself; (vs 21)The whole world? Yes. Summoned them (us) to what? Listen. Follow. Act.
How often do we bring God down to our level? and view Him and His actions on human terms. There is a clear warning here.
The following psalms, 80 and 110, point to the Messiah and fill us with hope for the future.
Let Your hand rest on the one at Your right side, the one whom you have made strong for Your service. (Psalm 80:17)
Sit at my right hand, and I shall make your enemies your footstool. (Psalm 110:1 cf Matt 22:42-45)
You are a priest for ever, a Melchizedek in My service. (Psalm 110:4 cf Heb 7:17)Oh, Beloved, these verses stir my soul and ignite my anticipation for Advent . . . just a few weeks away!
Truly Jesus is God's answer to our pleas for mercy!
I wonder how often Jesus sang these songs about Himself and wept over the blindness of those who listened.
Let us not be deaf to their message today.
Shalom,
#write31days
October 19, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 19
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 19
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 19Psalm 49Psalm 79Psalm 109Psalm 139
Today's Offering:
I'm overwhelmed by today's readings. I could spend a day expounding on each one. Psalm 19 ends with a prayer that we would be wise to begin with:
Psalm 49 reminds us that we could never pay the price for our sins. (vs 7) and assures us that God will do what we cannot. (vs 15)
Psalm 79 is a cry for national justice. This psalm is one of three that are attributed to Asaph, one of David's chief musicians. He was a Levite, in Jerusalem at the time it was overtaken by the Babylonians.
In contrast, Psalm 109 is a cry for personal justice. I find it hard sometimes to concur with the complete lack of compassion in some of these verses. But it's important to remember that David was God's chosen and anointed king. For the same reason that David would not lift a hand against Saul, actions taken against David were viewed as being taken against God Himself.
I think it is difficult for us to see sin as the dark evil it truly is. We prefer to view things in shades of grey. [click to tweet]
Psalm 139 wraps everything neatly together. Reminding us that, "You Lord know all about it." And that no matter where we are, God is with us.
I can't decide which is the better prayer to end with, so I'm incorporating them both!
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my mind be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer! (Psalm 19:14)
Examine me, God, and know my mind; test me, and understand my anxious thoughts. Watch lest I follow any path that grieves You; lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24)
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 19Psalm 49Psalm 79Psalm 109Psalm 139
Today's Offering:
I'm overwhelmed by today's readings. I could spend a day expounding on each one. Psalm 19 ends with a prayer that we would be wise to begin with:
Cleanse me of any secret fault. Hold back Your servant also from willful sins, lest they get the better of me.The psalm begins by putting us properly in a place of humility before the awesome and awe-inspiring God we serve. (vs 1-6)
Psalm 49 reminds us that we could never pay the price for our sins. (vs 7) and assures us that God will do what we cannot. (vs 15)
Psalm 79 is a cry for national justice. This psalm is one of three that are attributed to Asaph, one of David's chief musicians. He was a Levite, in Jerusalem at the time it was overtaken by the Babylonians.
In contrast, Psalm 109 is a cry for personal justice. I find it hard sometimes to concur with the complete lack of compassion in some of these verses. But it's important to remember that David was God's chosen and anointed king. For the same reason that David would not lift a hand against Saul, actions taken against David were viewed as being taken against God Himself.
I think it is difficult for us to see sin as the dark evil it truly is. We prefer to view things in shades of grey. [click to tweet]
Psalm 139 wraps everything neatly together. Reminding us that, "You Lord know all about it." And that no matter where we are, God is with us.
I can't decide which is the better prayer to end with, so I'm incorporating them both!
May the words of my mouth and the thoughts of my mind be acceptable to You, Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer! (Psalm 19:14)
Examine me, God, and know my mind; test me, and understand my anxious thoughts. Watch lest I follow any path that grieves You; lead me in the everlasting way. (Psalm 139:23-24)
In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Shalom,
#write31days
October 18, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 18
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 18
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 18Psalm 48Psalm 78Psalm 108Psalm 138
Today's Offering:
Today's reading is song after song singing God's praise and shouts of His deliverance. David has much to thank and praise God for in Psalm 18 and Psalm 78 records a long history of God's faithfulness and deliverance of the Hebrew people.
What about you? Have you written an account, maybe even in the form of a song that tells of God's faithfulness and deliverance in your life?
Psalm 138 is a personal favorite of mine. I like to turn the last verse into a prayer before God:
Lord, accomplish Your purpose for me. Your love endures forever. Do not abandon what You have made. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Do you have a favorite Psalm or verse you like to pray to Him?
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 18Psalm 48Psalm 78Psalm 108Psalm 138
Today's Offering:
Today's reading is song after song singing God's praise and shouts of His deliverance. David has much to thank and praise God for in Psalm 18 and Psalm 78 records a long history of God's faithfulness and deliverance of the Hebrew people.
What about you? Have you written an account, maybe even in the form of a song that tells of God's faithfulness and deliverance in your life?
... so that it might be known to a future generation, to children yet to be born, and they in turn would repeat it to their children. Psalm 78:6Perhaps you're keeping a record in a journal or on a blog. There are many ways we can tell of His faithfulness.
Psalm 138 is a personal favorite of mine. I like to turn the last verse into a prayer before God:
Lord, accomplish Your purpose for me. Your love endures forever. Do not abandon what You have made. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Do you have a favorite Psalm or verse you like to pray to Him?
Shalom,
#write31days
October 17, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 17
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 17
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 17Psalm 47Psalm 77Psalm 107Psalm 137
Today's Offering:
Psalm 137 ends with some rather graphic language that is likely to offend our genteel sensibilities. Few of us living in first-world countries can relate to having our homeland overthrown, being captured and taken away in exile. The graphic language here helps us understand the depth of loss the Israelites experienced and hints at the brutality of the Babylonians.
This psalm always brings Daniel (of Daniel and the lion's den) to my mind and it is within his story that God's true purpose and teaching bare itself out. Daniel was one of the exiles brought to Babylon as a young man. But unlike the Israelites in Psalm 137, Daniel did not "lay down his lyre". Using the wisdom God gave him, Daniel remained loyal to his God and lived, even flourished in a pagan land.
There is a great lesson here for us, beloved. The more evil and chaotic our society becomes, the more I want to retreat. But that is not what God would have us do. Daniel's life it a testimony and a great source of wisdom and insight for us in the Babylon of today.
There are two other psalms I'd like you to spend time with today. Psalm 107 gives a faithful account of God's mercy and redemption in a variety of situations. Maybe you'll find yourself in these verses?
And finally, let us clap our hands and sing aloud, sing Psalm 47 to Jesus.
How awesome is the Lord Most High, great King over all the earth!
Shalom,
PS If you're interested in a study of Daniel, I highly recommend Alistair Begg's And He Shall Reign sermons. You can find them here. Free downloads are available.
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 17Psalm 47Psalm 77Psalm 107Psalm 137
Today's Offering:
Psalm 137 ends with some rather graphic language that is likely to offend our genteel sensibilities. Few of us living in first-world countries can relate to having our homeland overthrown, being captured and taken away in exile. The graphic language here helps us understand the depth of loss the Israelites experienced and hints at the brutality of the Babylonians.
This psalm always brings Daniel (of Daniel and the lion's den) to my mind and it is within his story that God's true purpose and teaching bare itself out. Daniel was one of the exiles brought to Babylon as a young man. But unlike the Israelites in Psalm 137, Daniel did not "lay down his lyre". Using the wisdom God gave him, Daniel remained loyal to his God and lived, even flourished in a pagan land.
There is a great lesson here for us, beloved. The more evil and chaotic our society becomes, the more I want to retreat. But that is not what God would have us do. Daniel's life it a testimony and a great source of wisdom and insight for us in the Babylon of today.
There are two other psalms I'd like you to spend time with today. Psalm 107 gives a faithful account of God's mercy and redemption in a variety of situations. Maybe you'll find yourself in these verses?
And finally, let us clap our hands and sing aloud, sing Psalm 47 to Jesus.
How awesome is the Lord Most High, great King over all the earth!
Shalom,
PS If you're interested in a study of Daniel, I highly recommend Alistair Begg's And He Shall Reign sermons. You can find them here. Free downloads are available.
#write31days
October 16, 2017
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 16
Inspired by . . . Sing to Jesus: Day 16
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 16Psalm 46Psalm 76Psalm 106Psalm 136
Today's Offering:
Psalm 106 reveals a cycle of faith and failures by God's people. The lesson here can be applied both collectively and individually.
Where are we as a Church in this cycle? Where are you?
The key to staying on the faith side of the equation is found in Psalm 16:8
Do you see humility in the Church today? Where? When faced with the truth of God's sovereignty and the ugliness of our own sin, do we respond with humility?
Humility is the key that unlocks the door to grace. [click to tweet]
Psalms 46 and 76 reveal a warrior God. A majestic and awesome God who breaks arrows and smashes shields. Are you ready for Jesus to return and reveal in glory His place as King?
If you are, then join with me today in singing Psalm 137 to Jesus.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His love endures for ever!
Shalom,
#write31days
Continuing the #write31day challenge . . . you can find the entire series here.
Today's Reading:
Psalm 16Psalm 46Psalm 76Psalm 106Psalm 136
Today's Offering:
Psalm 106 reveals a cycle of faith and failures by God's people. The lesson here can be applied both collectively and individually.
Where are we as a Church in this cycle? Where are you?
The key to staying on the faith side of the equation is found in Psalm 16:8
I have set the Lord before me at all times; with Him at my right hand, I cannot be shaken.For the times we fail to do this, there is grace. The road to grace is not hidden but it is narrow and only easily discerned through humble eyes. [click to tweet]
Do you see humility in the Church today? Where? When faced with the truth of God's sovereignty and the ugliness of our own sin, do we respond with humility?
Humility is the key that unlocks the door to grace. [click to tweet]
Psalms 46 and 76 reveal a warrior God. A majestic and awesome God who breaks arrows and smashes shields. Are you ready for Jesus to return and reveal in glory His place as King?
If you are, then join with me today in singing Psalm 137 to Jesus.
Give thanks to the God of heaven, for His love endures for ever!
Shalom,
#write31days
