PSALM 93

As we welcome a new year, change runs ahead faster and faster. For example, new tech products come out every 3 months! As we are blown away by a flood of new knowledge, to what or whom can we anchor ourselves? Well alligators have been around a long time without too much change! {But gators are not really very helpful to humanity:-) Listen to the words from this psalm: "The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; His throne was established long ago from all eternity." Indeed when storms come and the ground shifts under our feet, God alone is unchanging...rock solid ... the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Anchor 2013 in God alone.

PSALM 92

I love trees. Plain and simple! ... So I am trying to learn more about Florida's trees... there are between 100 and 500+ varieties of palm trees just in Florida.  Who knew? ... this Psalm touched a chord in with me ...

"The righteous will flourish like a palm tree ... planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming,

'The Lord is upright; he is my Rock...'

 

O Lord keep me fresh, alive and always sharing you with others.

 



 

PSALM 91

I grew up in a farmhouse, built in 1791. {No, I did not live there in 1791.} The window sills were 12-18 inches deep. As a young teenager I would sit in my bedroom window sill and ponder my new found faith in Christ. I was safe and at peace.

"Those who dwell in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord,

'He is my refuge and my fortress, my God in whom I trust."

That very house in Oakborne PA

 

PSALM 90

We humans can become quite full of ourselves! Space travel... particle physics ... brain mapping ... exploring ancient lakes under Antarctic...WOW look at us, masters of our world! It takes someone who lived over 3,000 years ago to put us in a proper cosmic place. From Moses - God, "you turn men back to dust, saying, 'Return to dust, O sons of men.' For a thousand years in your sight are like a day that has just gone by... You have set our iniquities before you, our secret sins in the light of your presence." We are reduced to a  mere dot on the cosmic time line. And a rather blotchy dot at that... Amazing Grace that saved a wretch like me....
Here is a gravestone found in Birmingham Cemetery, Chester Co, PA...not knowing her, but her gravestone speaks volumes as to the kind of a 89 year old "dot" she was.

PSALM 89

"I will sing of the Lord's great love forever with my mouth;

 I will make your faithfulness known through all generations."

May this New Year bring a resolve within each of us, to tell the stories of Christ's love and faithfulness as shown in our lives.

 

The McCardle / Jaberg Clan gathered for a Thankmas Celebration.

 

 

PSALM 88

In "Simple Prayer" one just pours their heart out to God... there is raw emotion, often without logic. The prayer is only from the perspective of the one praying, taking no consideration of God's perspective. This psalm is simple prayer.... a soul pouring out the angst and heartache of life. And in anger, blaming God for all the troubles in life.
"But I cry to you for help, O Lord; in the morning my prayer comes before you. Why, O Lord, do you reject me and hide your face from me?"

Yes at times it feels like God has deserted us! But on the contrary, in such times God is often doing a powerful work through us and in us, for the sack of the world around us. 

Indeed In the morning, let us pray simply from our heart.


Sunrise at Coco Beach, FL

PSALM 87

Even commentators think this psalm is a little squirrely ...so instead I am just going to share some Christmas photos with you:-)



Luke and Jake under Granny's Tree

Emma

PSALM 86

As we welcome another Christmas morning, celebrating the birth of our Savior, may David's prayer in this psalm be our prayer for life...

"Teach me your way, O Lord,

and I will walk in your truth;

give me an undivided heart,

 that I may honor your name."

 

Psalm 85

"Love and faithfulness meet together;

Righteousness and peace kiss each other.

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,

and righteousness looks down from heaven."

 

Seems to me that describes the birth of Jesus Christ...

God's love and faithfulness to humanity...

Christ's righteousness and provision for peace ...

May each of us welcome this "kiss" from God!

 

 

 

 

PSALM 84

"Even a sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your altar, O Lord Almighty, my King and God.  Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. Blessed are those whose strength is in you..."

I love barns... a place of simplicity and quiet amongst animals, who are well fed and at rest. It wasn't an accident that Mary and Joesph found themselves in a stable for the birth of God's Son... simplicity ... rest ... a home ... all gifts bundled up in Jesus, beginning in a barn then gifted to the world!

PSALM 83

Though this psalm speaks of Israel's enemies, in the New Testament the Church becomes the people of God.  Who are the enemies of the Church? In many nations, Christians are killed or persecuted for their belief in Christ. Even those within the Church, can cause untold damage through gossip, unforgiveness, self seeking egos and by setting up idols of "tradition" or persons seeking power for themselves. The psalmist prayer for such enemies, "As fire consumes the forest or a flame sets the mountains ablaze, so pursue them with your tempest and terrify them with your storm." Woe to the one who seeks to damage the church of Jesus Christ.

Photo of burned forest areas of Yellowstone National Park...

PSALM 82

Asaph, is hot and angry! Why? How? ... are the wicked rewarded and the weak and fatherless...the poor and the oppressed need rescuing? Why Lord are 20% of the children in this country going to bed each night hungry?

Have mercy on us dear Lord, cause us to repent and come to you with Justice and grace as our tools to change the world.

PSALM 81

Listen to these words from God, "my people would not listen to me; they would not submit to me. So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts to follow their own devices." How often do we find ourselves in trouble and blame God, when we deserted Him long before our upheaval? God respects our choices and when we walk away, he allows us to suffer the consequences of our actions. 

My friends and I were at a Christmas party and got a little bored...so we took the perfectly nice decoration on our table and decided to "trim" it with whatever was handy in our purses or table! And yes we suffered the consequences of our actions:-)

PSALM 80

When Jesus said he was the "Good Shepherd", it implied more than he was caring for others. He was referring to the Old Testament image of God as a shepherd to his people. "Hear us, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock:..." Jesus, Lord God Almighty guiding, nurturing, protecting us as a shepherd would do for his flock.
Can you hear his voice calling you away from life's distractions... calling you to feast at his table set before you... protecting you from evil. Listen harder :-)

Stained glass window from Thomas Presbyterian Church

PSALM 79

Our cry for help is usually motivated by our personal pain and discomfort. When it comes to seeking forgiveness, we are likely feeling the unpleasantness of guilt or shame. In a pursuit of comfort and peace, we plead, "Help us, O God our Savior..." But this Psalm flows from a different motivation.

"Help us O God, ..."for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name's sake." Do you see the difference? Here we are confronted with an extraordinary prayer... Lord, heal, help and forgive us so that your light in us will burn brighter...so the nations will see your glory and honor your name.

Stained glass from former Dilworthtown Presbyterian Church

PSALM 78

Once again the Book of Psalms reminds us about the importance of one generation telling another the Good News of God's love and action in the world. "...what we have heard and known, what our fathers told us... we will tell the next generation" We will tell our children, ..."the praise worthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done." If you have children in your life, love them  by telling them about God's love and care for them.

My parents 4 grandsons with their sons: Andy, Peter, Tim, Jeff, Jake, Luke, Drew and Mitchell...taken about 6 years ago

PSALM 77

Have you ever felt like this? "I cried out to God for help; at night I stretched out untiring hands and my soul refused to be comforted. I groaned, mused and my spirit grew faint. Will the Lord never show his favor again? Has God forgotten to be merciful?"

Of course God has not forgotten you, it just feels like that. The psalmist then redirects his thoughts from agonizing questioning to remembering.... remembering when God revealed his glory and might in life. It would not hurt if we all stepped back and remembered how God's grace was evident in our past.... and by faith acknowledge, God does not change therefore his mercy and grace hold us even when we don't feel it. Here is a picture of the Church were I grew up as a teenager. I indeed remember the many ways God blessed me in this small sanctuary.

PSALM 76

Tonight, parents around our nation mourn the senseless murder of children and adults in an ordinary elementary School. Voices cry out things like gun control, better screenings for mental health, weapons searches at schools... I heard a man on radio talk about artificial intelligent and the binding together of A.I. and humans will produce smarter people capable of extraordinary things. {Do they ever read comic books? These sort of things never turn out well!} Hey folks listen up- our problem is sin...the predisposition to chose rebellion and selfishness over the good and worthy. For those who refuse the gift of new life, God decrees his punishment.

Our God in Jesus Christ has provided a way out... for those who draw near, God offers a new way of living. This same God is "resplendent with light, more majestic than mountains rich with game." Photo of Bison herd in Cluster State Park, SD

PSALM 75

God speaks,
"When the earth and all its people quake,
it is I who hold its pillars firm."

A staircase from one of the twin towers in NY City and a cross beam found in the destruction.

PSALM 74 WHY GOD?

This psalm is perhaps the most dramatic argument with God over the plight of his people. God, why are you not doing something to bring justice? Even in the midst of the complaint, the author states his faith in the power of God. We may not know the answer to the "why" questions, but we can answer the "who" question! Who will pull us through life's suffering and turmoil? Who will one day pronounce justice to all? Who offers forgiveness and new beginnings?
"O God, you are my king from of old; you bring salvation upon the earth...The day is yours, and yours also the night; you established the sun and moon. It was you who set all the boundaries of the earth; you made both summer and winter."

Photo taken looking over Sugar Lake in MN

PSALM 73 " MAD AT GOD?"

Have you ever been mad at God? You are suffering while the arrogant fool prospers! ... So you lash out at God for the injustice of life! That is the frame of mind for this psalm...  Here is how the author describes his anger: "When my heart was grieved and my spirit embittered, I was senseless and ignorant' I was a brute beast before you. Yet I am always with You; You hold me by my right hand. You guide me with Your counsel, and afterward You will take me into glory." Bottom line - It is OK to be mad at God... the Lord can handle our rage and love us through it. And by the way, the author is reminded that in the end, God's justice always will prevail.

I was perhaps a bit too close to this beast at Cluster State Park, SD

PSALM 72

Perhaps written by David for his son, Solomon's coronation as king, this psalm often has been interpreted as Messianic or pointing to Jesus Christ. But at the same time it could refer to Solomon's kingship or political leadership over Israel. Think about these words  as a prayer for our political leaders in Washington D.C.

Endow our leaders with your justice, O God,

that they may judge your people with righteousness.

May they defend the afflicted among the people and

save the children of the needy. May they crush the oppressor.

May they deliver the needy who cry out,

the afflicted who have no one to help.

May they take pity on the weak and rescue them from oppression and violence for precious is their blood in God's sight.

 

 

 

 

PSALM 71

"Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come." The Christian faith is strong enough to move mountains but at the same time, fragile enough to fade away if one generation does witness to the next generation. Where do you plan to share your faith story this week?

Indeed I am old and gray enough to have celebrated my 65th B-D!

PSALM 70

Once again David is feeling the heat as a leader... those around him are telling lies, spreading rumors, seeking his ruin, and at the same time, he is very aware of his own sins and failures. Having been there myself, I am well aware of the temptation to demonize those who oppose you and neglect to take a hard look at yourself. David not only sees himself clearly but also takes the high ground in praying for his enemies..."May all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "Let God be exalted!" In my personal times of vocational conflict, this prayer has been a blessed cure for sinful revenge and animosity.

David describes himself as "poor and needy". This Pennsylvania barn could equally be described in the same manner!

PSALM 69

Have you ever felt like this...? "Save me, O God, for the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in the miry depths, where there is no foothold....I am worn out calling for help..." David goes on to complain about being persecuted by others and confesses his own sin, then says "I am in pain and distress; may your salvation, O God, protect me." 

David freed himself from the agony of getting stuck in in the endless loop of "Why"...instead his remarks reflect he knew the answer to the "Who" question. Who would deliver him from the life flood?... God Almighty!

Daytona Beach

PSALM 68

"Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord,

to him who rides the ancient skies above,

who thunders with mighty voice.

Proclaim the power of God.."

For God is "a father to the fatherless, a defender of the widow,

God sets the lonely in families,

he leads forth the prisoners with singing."

 

I call this my 2012 Advent tree... the clock is the "topper" on the tree to symbolize our waiting for the 2nd Coming or our Lord Jesus.

 

 

PSALM 67

"May God be gracious to us and bless us

and make his face shine upon us,

that your ways may be known on earth,

your salvation among all nations."

 

This a photo of a stained glass window

 from the First Presbyterian Church of Charlotte, NC.

I believe, it depicts the disciples watching Jesus ascend into heaven after his resurrection.

When Christ returns, indeed every nation will bow down to worship Him as King of kings and Lord of lords!

 

 

PSALM 66

"SHOUT WITH JOY TO GOD, all the earth!

Sing the glory of his name;

make his praise glorious!

{Sunrise over Coco Beach, FL}

 

Add caption

 

PSALM 65

David speaks of God's provision for the land...
"You care for the land and water it; you enrich it abundantly. You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.You crown the year with bounty, and your carts overflow with abundance."

On Saturday the Orlando PC harvested oranges for a generous grove owner, who donated all the fruit to local food banks. Check out the "St Andrew Society", who helps coordinate volunteers to harvest food that otherwise would spoil in the field. God provides more than enough food to feed the planet's population. The problem is distribution and food that is wasted. Let us all be apart of the solution! Support your local food bank!

PSALM 64

Evil has not changed much over the centuries- David describes them ... "they sharpen their tongues like swords and aim their words like deadly arrows. The shoot from ambush at the innocent man; they shoot at him suddenly, without fear.... They plot injustice and say "We have devised a perfect plan." Surely the mind and heart of man are cunning." And God's response? ... "He will turn their own tongues against them and bring them to ruin."

New York City, Ground Zero

PSALM 63

"My soul thirsts for you, O God,

my body longs for you,

in a dry and weary land where there is no water....

your love is better than life..."

 

Badlands, SD

 

PSALM 62

"My soul finds rest in God alone;

my salvation comes from him.

 

Coco Beach, FL

 

PSALM 61

"From the ends of the earth I call to you,

I call as my heart grows faint;

lead me to the rock that is higher than I."

 

 

 

PSALM 60

Once again God's people feel abandoned and left adrift.
Things are not going well for them and they cry out for God's help.
God responds by reminding them of his steadfast commitment to them.
They declare their confidence in his power to rescue them.

Even in the midst of our struggles, are we willing to declare
only God can bring us through? Oh of course he will employ us and
others to bring victory, but Christ is all sufficient to sustain and supply
our needs even in the darkness.

Picture: moonlight at Coco Beach

PSALM 59

"You are my strength, I sing praise to you;

You, God, are my fortress, my God on whom I can rely."

 

I caught a man doing push ups on Coco Beach, FL

 

 

PSALM 58 A WARNING TO THE NATIONS

King David's warning and prayer ring true today!

"Do you rulers speak justly?

Do you judge uprightly?"

Or do your devise injustice and spew violence on the earth?

O Lord, let those rulers with evil intent

 vanish like water that flows away,

when they lift up weapons may they fail,

May they be like a slug melting away as it moves along.

Beware, there is a God who judges the earth.

 

 

Athens, Greece in 2002

 

 

PSALM 57

David is huddled in a small cave with his loyal soldiers, hiding from the hard pursuit of his enemy King Saul. It might seem like the cave was a prison, but instead David writes:

"Have mercy on me O God for in you my soul takes refuge.

I will take refuge in the shadow of your wings

until the disaster has passed."

My heart is steadfast... I will sing and make music to to God

 

David's cave was God's way of protecting him.

Where is God in your tough place?

Could the circumstances be the means of God's grace?

 

Wyoming

 

 

PSALM 56

"When I am afraid, I will trust in you."

 

Midnight in Strabane, PA

 

PSALM 55

"Oh, that I had the wings of a dove!

I would fly away and be at rest.

I would hurry to my place of shelter,

far from the tempest and storm."

Even though evil attacks me...

"As for me, I call to God, and the Lord saves me." 

"Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you.."

 

Not a dove, but Great Heron, Safety Harbor, FL

 

PSALM 54

What would a sacrificial, freely given, offering look like? And why would we even want to do take the time to even think about it? Well lets see... everything about us is a gift from God...even in our worst moments, God's love is offered to us... Christ's life and death and resurrection were designed to give us a forever LIFE ... So how does one say thanks?

Freely = you are not forced to give and you don't expect anything back
Sacrificial = It costs you something... time, energy, resources

Examples: Give a % of your income away... spend time with a lonely person... set appointments in your calendar for time with God and his Word... stand up to a bully... defend the poor ... feed the hungry... YOU GET THE IDEA... I desire  thanksgiving to be more than a few words on FB... I want to live a thankful lifestyle!

Here is Cathy giving her time and talent to enhance her Church's campus.

PSALM 53

"Fools say in their hearts, "There is no God."

 

"God looks down from heaven on the human race

to see if there is any who understand, any who seek God."

 

Foohish or Wise? It is up to you!

A Disney Resort window view

 

PSALMS 52

Listen to this description of a poor soul:

"Here now is the one who did not make God his stronghold

but trusted in his great wealth and grew strong by destroying others!"

Then the song goes on to further describe him:

 

He is a disgrace in the eyes of God

He practices deceit and plots destruction

Loves evil rather than good, loves falsehood rather then truth

 

"Surely God will bring you down to everlasting ruin."

 

May we all place our trust in God and follow God's ways.

 

When at a funeral service near Uniontown,PA this old house caught my attention.

 

 

 

 

PSALM 51

If someone knows about falling into the pit of sin, it would be King David... adultery, lies, murder, abuse of power and betrayal... all in short span of time. But when confronted by a friend, he collapsed into a heap of repentance and confession. Psalm 51 is his confessional prayer. David then turned to God's faithfulness and mercy and knew God was more than able to forgive him, not because of who David was, but because of who God is.

Sinner David claimed God's willingness to remove his guilt and shame... in fact his prayer sought God's action to cleanse and wash him to be whiter than snow.

Here is Yellowstone's Grand Canyon in June... the snow still covers part of the canyon.

PSALM 50

"The Mighty One, God, the Lord, speaks and summons the earth from the rising of the sun to the place where it sets."

"Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me."

Sounds pretty simple to me!

Sunset over Wyoming

PSALM 49

Here is a loud wake up call! Addressed to the poor and rich- all of us will die and our riches will not follow us to the grave or insure eternity for us. "No man can redeem the life of another or give to God a ransom for him- the ransom for a life is costly, no payment is ever enough..." The Psalm makes it quite clear that those who only trust in themselves will perish like the beasts of the field.

But those who put their confidence in God...God will redeem their life from the grave; he will surely take him to himself. And Christ who is indeed fully human but also fully God becomes the only one qualified to pay that costly price of redemption for us. Thanks be to God!

Rev Robert Durand was a man of faith with clay feet. As my pastor he taught me to value my humanity all the while aspiring to live out an authentic Christ centered lifestyle. In death Bob Durand is certainly present with the Lord.

PSALM 48

What a time to read about the Holy City of God!  Tonight Israel is calling up 70,000 troops for her conflict with Palestine ... Bombs have hit close to Jerusalem... the world is tense waiting to see what will happen!  How do we interpret this Psalm?

"Great is the Lord... in the city of our God, his holy mountain. It is beautiful in its loftiness, the joy of the whole earth."

 

Pope John Paul said when he visited Jerusalem, "this city belongs, not to any one nation, but to God."



 

The New Testament tells us that God has a new dwelling place... "and the Word became flesh and dwelt among us." God's dwelling place is within every follower of Jesus Christ. Mount Zion has become the church of Jesus Christ.

 

May God's peace be upon Israel and Palestine.

PSALM 47

Time to get crazy! ...Kick up our heels... let out a shout! {No I am not talking about football.} I'm talking about showing a little graditude and excitement for the God who loves us!

"Clap your hands...

shout to God with cries of joy...

Sing praises to God

who is the King of all the cosmos..."

 

 

Here is Orlando Presbyterian Church giving it up for Christ!

 



 

 

PSALM 46

There are some scripture passages that just need to be memorized! And here we go: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. ...Therefore we will not fear...God Almighty is with us..." No matter what trouble stalks you today, call out to Christ for he is your help and strength!

"Come and see the works of the Lord..." Here is an adolescent Moose grazing along the river's willow trees with the Grand Tetons in the background. The same God who created all of this, certainly has the power and will to help you through this day!

PSALM 45

Somehow in all my years of reading the Bible, I missed the significance of this Psalm! It is a stirring benediction for a wedding and one that may surprise you. The Groom is described as excellent, anointed, blessed forever, clothed with splendor and majesty, a defender of truth, humility and righteousness... his throne will be eternal! Who is this groom? Well of course it refers to a king living at the time the Psalm was written, but the New Testament clearly refers to Christ as a bridegroom. Here we have a foreshadowing of the promised Messiah. But who is the bride, who is described as a beauty, glorious and wearing a garment with gold? Again the New Testament gives the answer- The Church is Christ's Bride! PS 45 calls the Bride "to forget your people and your father's house", in other words cleave to Christ above all else. Interesting thought, have you broken your vows to Christ? Trust me he has not broken his vow to us.



Bride at Notre Dam

PSALM 44

"We have heard with our ears, O God;

our fathers have told us what you did in their days.."

 

Generation to generation telling God stories ...not only the Biblical stories but also our own encounters with the living Christ... that's our job as parents!

 

A little horseplay at Granny's home...Emma, Daddy, Jake and Luke with Mom and Granny closely observing :-)