Reflections on Psalm 4:2

How long, O men, will you turn my glory into shame^a?

How long will you love delusions and seek false gods^b?

^a Or you dishonor my Glorious One

^b Or seek lies

The Holy Bible  : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ps 4:2

This is a tough verse to swallow.  Especially if you have been there, done that and have that T-shirt!
The Psalmist has witnessed the ridicule and shame of one's own demise.  Perhaps like many of us, he is writing about himself.  Many of us that have called ourselves Christian have at one time or another been guilty of turning God's glory into shame.  Maybe it was greed.  Maybe it was lust.  Maybe it was jealousy.  No matter what, it was selfishness.  Dr. Joseph Godwin, the Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Mars Hill College, once said that "selfishness was the sin that stunk all the way to heaven."  Selfishness indeed gets the best of us.   In the lastest Narnia movie, Prince Edward and Prince Caspien are warned that they would be tempted about their selfishness.  Isn't interesting that that the enemy knows those areas that we are weakest?  I do however find great comfort in the fact that even Jesus was tempted to turn glory into shame, love delusions, and seek false gods.  It is interesting in studying those passages that highlight the temptation of Jesus to see that Jesus always fought temptation with the Truth of God's word.  I have found that works for me as well, as long as I am willing to do so.  There are reasons to stay in the Word.  What excuse are you making?

I find it very interesting to study God's Word.  One of my favorite things to do is to look at a passage and understand it better by looking at the meaning of the words used in that passage.  For example, I was reading Psalm 3:3 this morning and light bulbs went off in my mind.  Look for yourself:

But you are a shield around me, O Lord;

you bestow glory on me and lift^b up my head.

^b Or Lord, / my Glorious One, who lifts me up

The Holy Bible  : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984

We can tell from the structure of this sentence, that "you" is referring to God, the Creator of the heavens and the earth.  It would not take one long to use a concordance to discover that God and who God is has thousands of scriptureal references.  Of course the whole Bible is about God.  However in this verse, "You are" indicates that God is very much in the present.  He is in the here and now and therefore very aware of the circumstances of my life.  He is active.  He is alive. The next phrase, "a shield" refers to the fact that God is protector.  By its very definition, shield refers to one that protects or defends.  Just yesterday I saw on the History Channel a segment about the shields that the early Roman soldiers used and how they used them in battle.  As long as the shields were in place, the battles were won and the enemies were defeated.  I have never been in combat per say, but I know I have had my share of battles.  Battles with self, with others, with callings, and with obedience.  It is good to know that even before battle begins, my shield is present.  Nothing can penetrate this shield because I am aware of the omnipotence of God.  God is not just a shield, He is my shield!  The next couple of words in this passage indicate so!  God is a shield around me.  This reminds me of the omnipresence of God.  God is all around me.  He knows what is sneaking up on me at the same time He knows what is in front of me and what is to my left and right. He knows me so well, that He is aware of my surroundings.  Do you find that amazing?  I am blown away to know that my God loves me that much that His shield is around me!  What happens as His shield is around me?  He bestows glory on me!  How does He do that?  Outside the fact that He is God and He can do anything He wants, He bestows glory on me because I am His since I was bought and paid for by the redeeming blood of His Son.  For that reason, I am not able to lift my head, but He is able to lift my head.  What a beautiful reminder of the power that God can have in our lives if we allow Him to do so!  Are you allowing God to be your shield, to bestow glory on you, and to lift your head up?  I hope so!  If not, though, whatcha waitin' on?

 

45 Lessons Life Taught Me

I can't say that I wrote this, but I certainly can say I have passed it along! This is some great wisdom! Enjoy!

45 Lessons Life Taught Me
Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH
"To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me. It is the most requested column I've ever written."
My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once more:
1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
4. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will.
Stay in touch.
5. Pay off your credit cards every month.
6. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone.
8. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it. (???)
9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.
10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.
11. Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present.
12. It's OK to let your children see you cry.
13. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don't worry; God never blinks.
16. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.
20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take no for an answer.
21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it for a special occasion. Today is special.
22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.
23. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
24. The most important sex organ is the brain.
25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words 'In five years, will this matter?'
27. Always choose life.
28. Forgive everyone everything.
29. What other people think of you is none of your business.
30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.
31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
32. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
33. Believe in miracles.
34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn't do.
35. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
36. Growing old beats the alternative -- dying young.
37. Your children get only one childhood.
38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else's, we'd grab ours back.
41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
42. The best is yet to come...
43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
44. Yield.
45. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift."

Adult ADD?

I woke up early this morning feeling a bit chilly. I first thought that my wife had hogged all the covers again. Then I tried to see what time it was and couldn't see the clock so I thought my wife had blocked the clock with something and I couldn't see it. (Notice even in a sleepy stupor how quick I am to shift blame.) Then, I realized in the dark, cold and very quiet that the power was off. All of these thoughts came in just a few seconds as I sleepily tried to figure out what was going on and if I was even awake. My mind begins to process as I reach for my cell phone to look at the time. 3:00 AM. Nice. Oh, I have a text message. It is from the basketball coach, "Can you give a pre-game devotion at 1:20 for the game on Saturday?" Wow, when was that sent? 12:22 AM. Wonder what I should talk about? I will have 4 minutes to inspire and point them to Christ. Great. Power is still off. Are the pipes going to freeze? Are the girls warm enough? Wonder why the power is off? I paid the bill right? Must have been a blown transformer. Transformer! Transformed! That is it! I will share with the basketball team about being transformed through Christ! "I beseech you therefore, brethern, in view of God's mercies, off your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable and pleasing to God, which is your reasonable service. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is the good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:1-2). God's power transformed to us through Christ! Therefore we should respond by not doing what our world tells us to do that is selfish, greedy, and unholy. But we should be transformed by the renewing of our mind. Another translation, the New Living Translation, says to change the way you think! Change the way I think? Yes. Change the way you think! What should I think about? Think about these things: whatever is TRUE, whatever is NOBLE, whatever is RIGHTEOUS, whatever is PURE, whatever is LOVELY, whatever is ADMIRABLE, and whatever is PRAISEWORTHY (Philippians 4:8)! Hmm. Oh yea, the power was off until about 6:15 and it came on then off then on then back off and now is back on. There is a blizzard coming. Hopefully, the power won't go off this next week in the blizzard when the temperatures drop to like 5! I really think that I am becoming more and more ADD-ish as I get older. Look a squirrel! :)