Ps.75. (The Message)

Today I write from a bench sitting by the harbor in Grand Marais Minnesota on the North shore of lake Superior. The unending blueness of the water, the sound of hungry seagulls, the breeze whisping through the birch and dark pines, it’s overwhelming. God’s handiwork shows His greatness and we are wise to take in some of the breathtaking views that He has designed for us.

Yes, the beauty of nature is surpassed however by the beautiful family God in his grace has given to Patty and me.

We are all here together, enjoying the most beautiful part of Minnesota and enjoying the fellowship of loved ones so dear.

Ps. 74. {The Message]

While on staff has a worship pastor at Redeemer’s Church in Columbus Ohio, we experienced sanctuary desecration. During one night, someone mad at God broke in and did damage. I had a beautiful Yamaha trombone I kept in its case under a pew near the front of the church. The violators took the horn out of the case and smashed it around, destroying it.

Insurance fortunately replaced my horn with a beautiful Conn 72H which I still play.

It’s very sad to think of what kind of person could do something like that. However, I remember praying that they would come to the Lord and have their lives cleansed and saved. What makes us glad makes others mad, but the Holy Spirit reaches out to them and says, “You don’t have to live life mad like that.”

The most important sanctuary is our body. It is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Lord, help us not to desecrate our bodies, Your temple.

Ps. 71-73. (The Message)

Psalm 73 is one of my favorites. When I was a young worship pastor, Asaph’s comments and lament was so appropriate to my life. He looked enviously at the financial success of others. He took his heart’s cry to the Lord and God showed him that he was on the right path and that their path would not end happily if money was their goal.

Fast forward nearly 50 years and I can gratefully say that seeking the Lord, seeking to please Him with my life, is the best decision I made.

No good thing will He withhold from them that walk up brightly. (Ps. 84:11)

Ps. 69, 70 [The Message]

God isn’t constrained by time, but we sure are. Sometimes we get desperate for help and we need it RIGHT NOW!

David used the term “Make haste” in the King James Version. Other words … hurry, come quickly, answer speedily.

Never feel bad about requesting God’s immediate attention. Ask in the Name of Jesus because He wants your joy to be full. [Jn. 16:24]

(By the way, that is an excellent verse to memorize!)

Ps. 64-68 [The Message]

Living with a constant view to how great God is will reduce your anxiety. This can only come as we are in God’s Word on a daily basis.

The evening news doesn’t frighten us We simply use current events to form our prayer list. All corruption is merely on a leash and will be dealt with forthwith.

Meanwhile we take care of our own backyard lest we become hypocrites and ignore our own sins and shortcomings.

Forgiver us our sins AS we forgive those who sin against us.

Ps. 61-63 [The Message]

Prayer can get into a warfare mode. Our spiritual weapons make war in the heavenlies. A recurring concept in the Psalms is the lifting of hands for prayer and praise. The Hebrew words Towdah and Yadah both mean lifting the hands. David makes reference also that God made his arms so that they could break a bow of steel. (I could go on and on)

Sometimes in intercessory prayer, we come against strongholds of the enemy. Our physical gestures become more violent and stirred up. (Do this in the secret place) So, if you lift your hands in prayer and enter into spiritual combat, go ahead and violently wave those arms. You may just be pulling down big strongholds in the spirit realm.

Ps. 58-60 [The Message]

This was David’s conclusion; Human help is worthless. He found out when he went into battle. Men have tanks and missiles and machine guns etc. What does God have? He can rain down hail, He can cover the earth with locusts and grasshoppers, He can cause the sun to stand still, He can cause a lightning strike with pinpoint accuracy, He can speak through a donkey, He can lock the lions’ jaws shut, H can cause an earthquake thqt opens jail doors, He can send an angel who can slay 180,000 enemy soldiers in one night … and on and on and on.

Men are at best fickle. God is dependable. So, Who do we trust? Our trust and help is in the NAME OF THE LORD!!!

Ps. 56, 57 [The Message]

When I was beginning my cultivation of a morning devotional prayer life, I made a decision to get up early each morning and drive to the church to pray. I found that the routine of getting a shower, getting dressed and driving to the church (15 min. away) carried me beyond the too-easy-to-fall-asleep stage. It worked. Another thing I did to escape slumber was to walk and pray. When I dropped to my knees, my eyes would close and I was GONE.

Another technique I learned was from Ps 57:7, 8. I saw clearly how David dealt with the weakness in his flesh. He spoke to his soul to arouse it. His spirit embraced the principle and spoke to his soul which had control of his decision-making process and physical follow-through. This works for your spiritual transformation of any area of your life. Use God’s Word … Jesus said, “My Words, they are Spirit, they are life.” Take control of your soul and make strides in Christian maturity.

Here I am 48 years after I learned that principle. I don’t need the discipline to get up. I just WAKE UP! It’s a lifetime habit now.

PS. It occurs to me that this blog is an excellent opportunity to explain to my readers the hows and whys of my spiritual journey. While in the Psalms, I am so frequently stirred because I have lived my life in them.

i LOVE my family!

Ps. 55 [The Message]

“Evening, morning,and at noon will I cry aloud, and He shall hear my voice.”

Early in my quest to cultivate a devotional life that pleased the Lord, I found this verse. These points are worth considering:

1. Three times a day was David’s goal
2. He prayed audibly
3. He prayed with the faith that God would hear him

Ps 52-54 [The Message]

In every competition there are at least two sides. It is good to know that God is on OUR SIDE.

If He was not, we would in effect be opposing Him.

My youngest brother took his life in 1993. This devastated my parents. I think it made my dad feel like a failure. Mom’s heart was broken. Suicides are extremely tough on parents. One of our former pastors was a counselor and psychology professor. He told me that my brother had thought he was in a struggle against God … and God always wins. Greg was obviously not aware that he could have had God on his side.

Ps. 124 If it had not been the Lord on our side …