Ps. 12-16 [The Message]

Happiness is often a surface emotion. You can look happy on the outside and be miserable on the inside. The goal – to be peacefully happy on the inside.

Shalom peace is a peace that only comes through everything being all-right or taken care of. For instance, I don’t have complete peace because my garage is a mess. (My mess, not Patty’s) If it was all organized and straightened up, I would be happier from the inside out. I would have more peace. If I have an unpaid bill, I don’t have peace. When it gets paid, I have peace.

Christ took upon Himself the penalty of our sin. He died, was sacrificed so that we don’t have to die because of our unforgiven sin. We can have peace through Christ. He is the Prince of Peace. David said, “Mercy and Truth are met together, Righteousness and Peace have kissed.” [Ps. 85:10] That’s Christ’s impact upon our lives.

Ps. 11 [The Message]

Wow! THIS is a Psalm for NOW. Please read it today in The Message.

God searches every heart. He knows what we’re thinking and what our motives are. He wants to affect our motives. They are critical.

I once heard a person give testimony to their out-of-the-body experience of going to heaven. (Note: this is not doctrine. It’s a person’s account of what they experienced) They said the motives of men resound louder in Heaven than their actual words do. That’s interesting. Man looks on the outside, hears the audibly spoken words, but God looks at their heart and the motivation behind what they are saying.

Please let the evil of the wicked be over, but set the righteous firmly in place because you, the righteous God, are the one who examines hearts and minds. [Ps. 7:9 CEB]

Ps. 8-10 [The Message]

When evil and corruption seem to go unpunished and unreproved, we take heart that God sees all and will respond. David’s prayer was that God would break the arm (power) of the wicked and uncover the evil they had done. Nothing escapes His eye.

Chuck Colson was a political figure in Richard Nixon’s presidency. He was convicted of obstructing justice in the Watergate Scandal in 1974. God got ahold of his life, he became a Christian, and started a powerful ministry called Prison Fellowship. He is an example of how God can upend the table of corruption and use it for good.

Lord, we need your powerful presence in our nation right now. We want some more Chuck Colsons.

Ps. 5-7 [The Message]

David sounds this warning to men … your mischief will backfire on you.

As the Headmaster of Trinity Christian School, I held a goal of training young boys to behave and conduct themselves appropriately. If we could help the mischief be ironed out of their soul, we could be preventing the consequences of mischief in their future … when their wives, mothers, children, employees etc. could be spared the devastation caused by mischief.

This is why children need to learn (even the hard way) that mischief is penalized and good behavior is rewarded.

Foolishness is bound in the heart of a child; but the rod of correction shall drive it far from him. [Pr. 22:15]

Note: I didn’t spank any children. Hopefully, some of them got it when they went home to parents who were Biblically focused on how they would turn out.

Psalm 1-4 [The Message]

“Hear me WHEN I call.” How quick is when? With God it’s instant. He has the ability to seemingly stop time and do everything He needs to do to obtain the result He wants. It’s as if He can halt time and do an overhaul on your situation.

Examples:

• When someone is in an automobile accident and they can instantly see their life is in danger. They cry out to God and He sends His angel to rescue the believer.
• A Christian is in a foxhole or other war-time situation and he cries out for God for saving. Miraculously his life is spared and he lives to see another day.
• You are a painter on a tall ladder. The ladder slips and you begin falling You call out to God and He prevents your from certain injury.

Many years ago my teen-age son Mark (now 49 years old) was caddying for my dad when we were out golfing together. My dad was hitting a chip shot to the green. The ball went into the hole. Mark jumped up and down celebrating. He said, “I just asked the Lord to put it in the hole.” God answered his split-second prayer to build his faith.

Job 42 [The Message]

In spite of his deep trials (losing his children etc.), Job later was doubly blessed by God. He appropriately navigated his period of affliction and testing. God asked him to forgive his friends for their misguided criticism. When he did, God turned on the spigot of blessing as only HE can.

Lessons learned; God’s refinement only lasts a season, He will pull you through if you can endure the pull, and He can more than repay you for what you think you lost.

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. [1 Peter 5:10]

Job 40, 41 [The Message]

God has omnipotent control of the universe. It is pointless to criticize His way of doing things.

God’s power and control is certainly one of the prevailing themes of the Book of Job. Who are we to question His methods or dare suggest a better way of handling our problems. We are wisest when we humble ourselves and press in to God’s purposes. He knows best. I guess we can speed up the process when we worship Him and trust His every move.

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. [1 Cor. 10:13]

Job 36-39 [The Message]

God finally enters the conversation between Job and his comforters. He lays down a litany of examples of how He designed and maintains the universe. As we consider the vast scope of His power and wisdom, we are awed. We can’t take good care of ourselves, let alone the entire universe. He sees the BIG PICTURE and at the same time He cares about every hair on our head.

What is man, that thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that thou visitest him? [Ps. 8:4]

Who can measure the wealth and wisdom and knowledge of God? Who can understand his decisions or explain what he does? [Romans 11:33 CEV]

Job 34, 35 [The Message]

For the past 5 days, my two sons and I have been on a camping-travel trip together. Mark, the oldest son, loves to watch birds. He brought his binoculars with a goal of seeing a Painted Bunting. In fact, we selected one camping venue because it gave us a good chance of seeing one. Voila! It happened. He and Jeffrey saw one.

This bird is a lecture on color and beauty. It’s as if God looked at His color palate and said, “This one will amaze you!” God reveals glimpses of His Glory through His creation. [Rom. 1:20]

Job 31-33. [The Message]

Elihu made this statement. In a sense, it’s true. Nature has its laws, and they were ordained by God. They provide responses … gravity for instance.

Sometimes God takes His time in answering. We must wait. Waiting on Gos can be a vital season of growth.

But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint. [Is. 40:31]