Day 18 The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 137-144

Tzaddi - Once again we focus our thoughts on God’s faithfulness. What exactly does this mean for one who believes in Jesus? It’s the assurance of his being always the same in all situations for all time. He loves me today he will tomorrow, the next day, and the next, to eternity. When I miss the mark or fall short of his expectations, he loves me then. In fact he not only loves me he grieves with me, bears my sorrow and stoops to get me back on track. My weaknesses come as no surprise to him and neither should his strength be a surprise to me.
He tells us all the same thing through the scriptures laid bare for all to see. He is never underhanded, does not hold with questionable behavior and arbitrates the affairs of humanity with infinite justice. Someone may ask, “You mean what we see around us today represents God’s justice?” Not really. Not yet at any rate. You see sin or willful disobedience to God merits death – treason against an earthly king means a forfeiture of life. If God is the king of the universe I wonder what would be a fit punishment for sinning against him?
Oh but wait a minute. The amplified rendition of John 3:16 says: For God so greatly loved and dearly prized the world that He [even] gave up His only begotten (unique) Son, so that whoever believes in (trusts in, clings to, relies on) Him shall not perish (come to destruction, be lost) but have eternal (everlasting) life.
The Psalmist verbalize his faith even while in the throes of trouble and anguish. His delight is still in the Lord, resting on the promises of him who is faithful. God keeps his promises – of judgment or of blessing. He is eternally faithful. ©8/2010

Day 17 The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 129-136

PE - Our devotional scripture today begins with enthusiastic praise of the testimonies of the Lord. They are first of all wonderful. They are compared to light, understanding, breath (he opens his mouth and pants in verse 131) and overwhelming longing or desire. David got caught up in a similar state of happy adoration in Psalm 19 as he described the “works and words” of God. He says in verse 10 “More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.”
Let me point out once again the writer of the psalm is not being pressured by duty to acknowledge the Law. Rather, his heart runs a course of voluntary and loving obedience to his exalted Lord. The entrance of light brings life to sin-deadened cells. Understanding flowers and bears the fruit of consistent desire for the presence of God. Not only do we have an enduring sense of his presence we are also given direction – our steps are ordered. Sin in fact cannot have dominion once we are living by the truth of the word.
As much as we would like to continue in this vein the psalm is not all about rejoicing and soaking up God’s presence. There are those who are far from a saving knowledge or any real understanding of our Creator. When last have we wept over the plight of sinners? I don’t mean our children, our spouses or the people near and dear to us. I mean to look at our world in all its brokenness and weep as we contemplate the fate of humanity standing in all its sin before a holy God. Do we weep over the state of our nation as God’s Laws are blatantly disregarded? May we never become so caught up in our own redemption we forget the millions on their way to a Christ-less eternity. Give me Lord, a heart that longs to see the lost found in you. Give a heart like yours.©8/2010

Day XVI - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 121-128

Ain- If you have ever rented a home or apartment you are no doubt familiar with the security deposit. This money is given to the landlord for his or her protection should the tenant break the least, damage the property or move without paying the month due. The Psalmist stands in good conscience; his life keeps the agreement of walking in holiness. Still, he knows no one is good enough to stand in his own righteousness so he asks God to stand security or to vouch for him. When we do all the good we are capable of doing and live as obedient as we know how, Christ stands in righteousness in our behalf, as security for us. In fact when we break our agreement and fall into sin he still stands pleading and making intercession.
Being called to holiness only makes us more aware of the sin around us. Here the writer calls for judgment on those who neglect God’s Laws. In the New Testament we learn not only the righteous cry out to God but the whole creation cries out and agonize for the time when righteousness will again be the rule. We may look around and also say with our meditation, “God it’s time to act; do something about the wickedness in our society.” We hear of human trafficking, religious wars, hunger, sickness and famine and think things cannot get much worse. But it can and will. The believers however have a hope that when the time of grace has run its full course, Christ will return in glory for those who love him. Even so Lord Jesus, come. ©8/2010

Day 15 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119:113-120

Samech - A little less than two decades ago the term “being transparent” took both the secular and the Christian world by storm. Ironically, much of the real transparency came only after a giant cover-up became glaring public knowledge. While the Bible obviously does not use the term, Christians are called to transparent, single-ledger living. We are not allowed to have a private book or the real person and the public book representing the facade we show to the world. The kingdom of God has no place for dissembling. God requires our lives to be transparent enough for the world to see straight through to the God within.
I know this sounds crazy but truth is our only hiding place. Like every one else we face situations where we are tempted to shade or misrepresent the facts a wee bit. The trouble with that line of action is we cannot take refuge in God and also in a lie. Once we are being less than open God cannot come to our defense – at least not until the lie is rectified. And by the way there is a zero tolerance policy on lies; there are no little, inoffensive or white lies.
Godly fear should far outstrip any other consideration including the fear of being caught or being embarrassed. As the Psalmist says, “My flesh tremble(s) for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy judgments.” Job 28: 28 says, “Behold, the fear of the LORD, that is wisdom; and to depart from evil is understanding. Let’s resolve to live transparently whether or not anyone is watching. By so doing we hold the light of the Gospel high so those behind us will clearly see the path to follow. ©8/2010

Day XIV - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 97-104

Nun - Faithlessness or the breaking of covenants represents one of the great moral shifts of our day. Whether it’s a business contracts, employer/employee agreements, marriage covenants, it hardly matters. The prevailing trend dictates if the situation becomes uncomfortable or falls below our expectations then break the contract. Sadly, promises to God often fare no better. Popular entertainment boasts thousands of individuals who discovered their gifts in church when God had first priority in their lives. As they got older however, popularity and money superseded. The need to be loyal to God became secondary to fitting in or getting ahead. In time they walked away from their vows.
The Psalmist takes a different approach. He says I gave my word. The verse following implies the decision to be faithful exposed the writer to danger but he refused to back down. God reciprocated and did just as he promised to do in Psalm 91: 14-15, “thee.” Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my Name. Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my Name.,” and Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
In our day at least in North America, our biggest deal breakers are not the things Paul describe but rather the good life. We should ask what shall separate us from the love of God? Shall ease, or comfort, or acclaim, or plenty, or designer clothing, or security, or freedom? I have sworn to follow Christ and will not break my vow. I will use the light of his word on my path and walk as he leads. I will allow neither fame, nor affluence, nor anything of this world’s good, “to separate (me) from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”©8/2010

Day 13 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 97-104

Mem - Meditation has a bad reputation primarily because of other religions touting meditation as a transcendental path to holiness or self realization. Consequently Christians have all but deleted the word from their spiritual vocabulary. First, what is meditation? One source describes it as: Continued or extended thought; reflection; contemplation; devout religious contemplation or spiritual introspection.
Simply put, meditation describes the means by which the word we read and think about becomes ingrained upon the pages of our heart. God reveals truth to our minds and helps us connect scripture with scripture. Our happy engagement brings our Beloved ever closer and lessens the tempters opportunities and influences. The preoccupation of our thoughts invariably becomes the actions of our bodies. We will therefore naturally begin to practice what we treasure in our hearts. This is what 1 John 2:20 and 27 alludes to. We will always need human tutelage but the indwelling engrafted word continuously works from behind the scenes transforming us into the very image of Christ.
Eventually we discover we have moved beyond religious calisthenics to a vibrant relationship with God. The more he fills our thoughts the more we see the world through his eyes. Sin becomes utterly detestable and the lies of the enemy lose their allure. Slowly but surely we grow into truth and gain a sustainable practice of holiness.©8/2010

Day 12 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 89-96

Lamed - Being part of a global community means increased exposure to different belief systems and an expanding pantheon of gods. What was once thought of as exotic is now no further than our own living room. In this climate the believer must continually affirm and proclaim the power and person of our LORD. He became flesh, died for our redemption and today lives as our eminent Bridegroom.
Knowing all of this, how can we forget his words? Christ followers should find themselves hanging on to his every teaching and drawing nourishment from the Bread of Life. As we feed upon his promises i.e. his written Word the Bible, we become more energized to righteousness. This should be expected as Jesus said, “Man shall not live by bread alone but by.. John 4:10, 13-14. One cannot explain how reading a seemingly act of reading the Bible in faith, and praying to the Deity represented by that Bible can absolutely transform life. But it does.
The Psalmist ends his time with God on the same triumphant note as he affirms everything comes to an end except God’s commandments. Isaiah 40:8.
This Scripture echo reassurance – and caution. If all is going peachy then it may feel like a bit of a downer to say hey, good things don’t last forever. The reminder does not have to burst the brightly colored balloon though. Instead we respond with gratitude for what is wonderful, we savor the joy of the moment or the season and arm ourselves with memories to take us through the rough spots when they come.
For the suffering person however, knowing only God goes on forever may be the one incentive to get out of bed in the morning. Be encouraged today regardless of which side of the spectrum you happen to be. Our God reigns forever. Hallelujah!
8/2010

Day 11 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 81-88

The term spiritual warfare nearly always evokes strong responses ranging from séances to noisy exorcisms where demons are identified and called forth or cast out. Would you be disturbed to discover Christ-followers engage in spiritual warfare on a daily basis? Sure the battle ground or intensity of engagement varies but one learns to accept warfare as a natural part of life. Sometimes we lose battles and other times even intense prayer does not bring immediate deliverance. When this happens we know God has a bigger purpose in mind as in the case of the there Hebrews in the furnace. Knowing and fearing our weakness takes us to the place where the Psalmist found himself as “a bottle in the smoke.”
To fully understand his predicament we have to think of bottles as they were then not clear glass or plastic to which we are accustomed. Back then bottles were made of skins, for the most part. Smoke has a drying effect so one would not have a good bottle and continuously expose it to smoke, after it is fully cured. A bottle left in the smoke would become warped, dry and too brittle to hold liquid. Now we can all attest to being left in the smoke too long. Our prayers go unanswered fond hopes gets crushed, our emotions get brittle and our capacity to contain the living water diminishes. Here our writer fears not just his personal strength but dreads the possibility of becoming unfit for the service of his LORD.
If you are in a tough spot right now, you may want to read this along with this section of our study. 1 Peter 5:10, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, (es)stablish, strengthen, settle you. I believe this verse will do nicely if we are talking about being “quickened” or made alive after our time in the smoke.

Day 10 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119:73-80

None of us are products of chance, we are not merely disparate particles randomly scattered by a cosmic collision. God created humanity and vested himself in each cell, giving definition and distinction and purpose to every life. Do we ever misunderstand and even confuse God’s purpose for us? Time without number. Still, he has our blueprint and we are known of him. Psalm 139 takes as far back as the proverbial twinkle in our father’s eyes. Before we had organs or body parts, before we were intricately woven in the womb, God already had the number of our days written in his book. We are not a higher order of animals, we are of a higher order, period i.e. made in the image of God.
All through this portion of our meditation the Psalmist and by extension the believer is portrayed as delighting in their relationship with God and his Word. He prays for soundness of heart – unwavering, settled or stable in ones belief and subsequent decisions. God promises to keep in perfect peace those whose mind is stayed – resting, fixed, focused – on him. Such a person is not tentative about their faith; they are not merely “giving it a shot” to see if it works.
Let me encourage you to go beyond reading or just listening to a sermon all the way to meditating in the Law of the Lord. According to Psalm 1, when we delight in the Lord and internalize his Word we become like fruit bearing trees planted by rivers of water. A believer in such a state can only be prosperous. ©8/2010

Day 9- The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 65-72

Teth - In this segment of our study affliction is presented as having a redemptive side. The Psalmist went astray much the same as we sometimes do. When life is good and all goes well, God gets the leftovers of our time, energy and devotion. When clouds darken our horizons and troubles slash jagged tears in our lowering skies, we need no reminders to cry out to God and seek his favor. Trouble can be beneficial if it results in renewed closeness and fellowship with God.
In humility the writer expresses gratitude to God for his goodness. When we are tested to the breaking point we cannot say God is good unless we are fully submitted to his will. When we are in pain we want the discomfort over as quickly as possibly. In God’s process pain has purpose. We look at the pain and he looks more at what he wants to bring out of us, the destiny he wants manifested in our life. It takes heat, pressure and time to transform coal to diamonds. Guess what gets the absolute best out of the child of God? If you said heat, pressure and time, you are correct.
We may never hear God as an audible voice. But as we study the Law, as we meditate on the precepts, as we attempt to pattern our lives according to the will of the Father, his character becomes formed in us. What an amazing act of mercy! God chooses us to be conduits of love, mercy and justice, so the all world may know him.
©8/2010

Day 8 - The Herat of Worship Psalm 119: 57-64

Cheth - Thou art my portion, O LORD - Psalm 119: 57. All through the scriptures we come across the word “portion” used to describe an allotment, an inheritance or a gift. As the children of Israel accomplished their conquest of Canaan portions of land were given to tribes, families, heads of households and to individuals. The Old Testament prophet Elisha asked for a double portion of the blessing or the anointing resting on his master and mentor, Elijah. His prayer was answered in the moment of Elijah’s dramatic catching away to heaven in a chariot of fire.

Now we can begin to understand what the Psalmist says when he claims the LORD as his portion. He is in fact declaring the sufficiency of God for his every need and reiterating a promise of God to the Levitical tribe. God told them not to take portions of the land because he was their portion forever. As a holy nation and royal priesthood all believers can also say, “The LORD is my portion.”©8/2010

Day 7 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 49-56

Zain - If hope deferred makes the heart sick then imagine the tragedy of having no hope at all. The Psalmist reminds God (it’s always kind of funny to say that) of his promise, a promise foundational to his faith. Christians have a “blessed hope” i.e. the glorious appearing of our LORD and Savior Jesus Christ. We also have the day to day hope as children of God which anchors our relationship to God. By day to day I mean the promise promises like: I will be with you always even to the end of the age which would explain why we have 365 “fear nots” in the Bible, one for every day of the year.
Earlier we talked about justice and here too we have hope because God has a set time when the wicked will be called into judgment. The perpetrators of violence and chaos will themselves be objects of confusion. These will get a taste of their own medicine and will run to the deep places of the earth in an effort to hide from the face of God. Christians who as the apostle Paul puts it, are counted the off scouring of the earth, today branded intolerant, bigoted, narrow, and just plain crazy, will be vindicated. The proud and arrogant will be humbled as every knee bows and every tongue confess Jesus as Lord. We are not there yet, obviously. But we can like the Psalmist remember the justice of the Lord in time past and known because he is immutable – unchanging – he will once again openly triumph over his enemies.
When children are first exposed to education every possible means is employed to help them learn the concept of numbers and words. There are counting songs, and songs to teach how one should help. There are rhymes about respect and sharing, and songs about getting ready for bed and going to sleep, and songs for waking up. As we look at verse 54 of our study the writer has his songs too. He sings of God’s decrees “in the house of his pilgrimage.” As he goes along, as he lives his life, he fills his heart with God-songs. What an excellent defense against weariness and discouragement!
Allow me to use a very literal understanding of the last verse as I pose a question. What if people would remember the law of God in the nighttime? Think of all the evil that masquerades under cover of darkness. What if instead of using darkness as a cloak people would remember the day and the night are equally bright to God? Tonight I wish you pleasant rest but if you find yourself wakeful, remember the LORD. Let him be the subject of your thoughts and let him fill your night with song.© 8/2010

Day 6- Psalm 119:41-48

VAU - As we meditate we mull over what we are hearing and what has passed before. Today we reconsider the statement “You are what you eat.” Does that mean people will become cutlets, and beans and chocolate? We know this is not the case. The substance of our diet however, determines our body composition. Diet decides how effectively our system manages circulation, brain function, purification and even reproduction. In much the same way a steady diet of the Word, or lets use another term, the promises of God, is vitally necessary for optimal spiritual functioning. If we have a poor spiritual appetite we will be weak in our grasp of spiritual things and will find it tiresome to follow God’s precepts. On the other hand, when we make the truth of God paramount by eating heartily and digesting the Gospel through meditation, the strength and blessings will last forever. Consider:
1.The hungry believer can expect to find mercy and salvation on the menu. Mercy at its simplest definition equates to the opposite of justice.
2.Truth and justice are also ours. This speaks directly to the way in which we relate to others – the word of truth will be in our mouths. This banishes situational ethics.
3.We are freed to live above the world’s double standards. We are not shackled to conventional and we might add destructive worldly wisdom of always looking out for our own interests.
4.We develop unshakable confidence.Whether we are called to stand before kings or speak to peers we need not fear embarrassment. Indeed, "since I have the Lord always before my face, I will not be shaken." ©8/2010

Day 5 - The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 33-40

HE - Today we hear a lot about some people’s fear of commitment. One can believe this fear lies at the root of one night stands and the overwhelmingly trendy habit of shacking-up or hooking-up. Would you be shocked to discover fear of commitment shows up in church as well? Here’s an example – church hopping without being a part of any one group. Fear of commitment cause some professing believers to live on the fringes of faith in order to avoid being accountable to follow Biblical standards. Not so the psalmist in Psalm 119. On the contrary, his prayer is to be taught the Word so he can govern his life by its standards. He is asking for rules by which to live. He is not satisfied with merely fulfilling his religious obligations as a Jew or to do the minimum necessary to be considered righteous. His whole heart beats to the rhythm of God’s will.
We have already talked about how everything pales in comparison to Jesus but let us look at what Jesus had to say about looking at evil. He said abstain, old fashioned word for stay away from or refuse to participate in, every appearance of evil. The habit of driving as close to the cliffs of life as possible to prove we will not go over into sin is not God’s idea.
There are numerous scriptures in the Word regarding God’s ability to keep those who trust in him. Today I choose one such affirmation to conclude our time together.
Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, to the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen. ©8/2010

Day 4- The Heart of Worship Psalm 119: 25-32

Daleth - A curious phenomenon occurs in the life of the child of God. At the moment of our death to sin we are instantly made gloriously alive in Christ. Our sensibilities suddenly change. The things we once craved and treasured become infinitely loathsome. We look in amazement vainly trying to see a sparkle of the magic that once held us captive. No wonder the songwriter says, “Turn your eyes upon Jesus/Look full in his wonderful face/And the things of this earth will grow strangely dim/In the light of his glory and grace."
Stranger still there is no slaking this thirst for the presence of our Beloved. The more we know him the more our souls cry for full disclosure. We no sooner sit at his table and feast with him than the hunger for Bread returns, stronger than ever. This longing within us often drives the believer to the altar not of penitence but in search of communion. We find ourselves “declaring our ways” or examining our way of life, being careful to isolate and eradicate anything with the potential to block our fellowship. We cry with David in Psalm 139 search me – my heart, my thoughts. Here we see a fundamental difference in the believer’s and the sinner’s approach to error. The sinner tries to justify or cover sin and walk on as if nothing happened. The child of God, who sins will run to him in true confession, repent and stick close to the Savior so fellowship is not broken.
Last, truth is a choice. We can dig down the walls of our façade confident the grace of God will raise us from the rubble and claim us as children of his heart.© 8/2010

Reminder...

BTW - lets keep this nice and legal. All the content of the devotional is copyrighted material - Saturday 8/14 through September when it ends. Read be blessed, share etc. BUT the material should not be reproduced in any form of media without the author's permission. (And you cannot have it, so don't ask).

Thanks for the great feedback!

Day 3 - The Heart of Worship

Psalm 119:17-24 - Gimmel- From the routes we drive to our daily destinations, to color combinations when we dress, what we order at different restaurants – everything we do proclaim us to be creatures of habit. We feel safe and in control when life follows deeply etched paths within the familiar. Consequently one can be a little disconcerted to discover even good habits can prove detrimental. When we settle into patterns which hinder us from reaching our full potential or settle for less than what God has for us we indeed do ourselves great disservice. In verse seventeen of today’s meditation the psalmist prays for God to “deal bountifully” with him. Bountiful means generous, liberal, unsparing, freehanded, magnanimous, and we are barely scratching the surface of all this word entails.

Immediately we are moved beyond the realms of human imagination because 1 Corinthians 2: 9 clearly states, “Eye have not seen, nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man the things which God hath prepared for them that love him.” Once our eyes are opened by the Holy Spirit we quickly embrace the truth of being strangers in this world. The scales of ignorance, disbelief, and doubt will eventually fall off and we will for the first time see the freedom contained in God’s perfect Law of liberty. What, there is beauty in the Law? You bet your eternity on it. God’s laws are more than a moth-eaten collection of do’s and don’ts. Our blessed hope i.e. Christ’s second coming, is based on the Law of life in Christ Jesus that frees us from the law of sin and death.

Day 2 - The Heart of Worship

II.Beth - Psalm 119:8-16 Ever heard the saying, “You are what you eat?” Ingesting the pure Word brings purity of soul as Christ changes us from the inside out. Thoughts, desires and mindset are renovated to become new thoughts, new pursuits, a new way of life. How can we remain pure in a sex obsessed culture? By using the word as insulation within the chambers of the heart. Here we begin to engage the practice of spiritual discipline namely, meditation. But isn’t meditation a bad thing? Don’t people get all spooky and chant stuff or whisper the same words over and over again? That definition of “meditation” is the devils creation - to discourage people from finding out the inherent power in quiet communion with God.
Meditation is simply the thinking on, musing on or chewing over what we learn or desire to learn more fully.
Walking, exercising – wherever we are and whatever activity we are engaged in, our spirits can still be focused on Christ. Still, one should always make room for alone time with the Savior to fill up on the Bread of Life.

The Heart of Worship Day 1: Psalm 119:1-8

Aleph
Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! Then I would not be put to shame
when I consider all your commands. I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. Psalm 119: 1-8

“Blessed are the undefiled” or blessed are the blameless ones. What a strange statement considering we are inundated by a host of contaminants all of which serve to alienate and separate us from our true focus, Jesus Christ. We are fortunate however, since in this case, blameless means more of an attitude of the heart, or a single- minded dedication than the sum of our actions. This thought is further emphasized in verses two and three.
Though we fall short of on keeping the commandments in their entirety and find ourselves tethered to this world by its myriad concerns, we can still strive toward God with all our being. Like Abraham we soon realize God has deposited righteousness or to stick with the theme of our meditation, God deposits blamelessness to our account based on our faith in him. As we look further in the passage we discover how the indwelling Word creates an effective barrier against sin. One does not wait until the thief is breaking through the window to install an alarm. We install a security system ahead of time and post little warning signs saying “This property is protected by ABC alarm.” We are hoping the very sign will act as a deterrent and a smart thief will choose an easier target.
The indwelling word does not come from random ventures at a “Promise Box.” Here we are looking for miners – those who will dig and sift and treasure each nugget of truth for eternity. God blesses our wholehearted pursuit of him through his Word. Everything we need for life and godliness lies buried in the Word and we have Jesus’ promise that those who hunger and thirst after righteousness shall be filled – Matthew 5:6. The natural outcome of the discovery that one is blameless in the sight of God is undoubtedly praise.

The Heart of Worship: Embracing the Prayer Language of Psalm 119

Before we embark on our journey to the Heart of Worship and begin Embracing the Prayer Language of Psalm 119, I think a little introduction is in order. I am not a Hebrew or Greek scholar so I will simply share with you what the Renovare Spiritual Formation Bible has to say about this awe inspiring Psalm. The two main themes are the wonders of God’s provision through the Torah (the Law) and the delight of living under its guidance. It’s written using a literary device called an Acrostic i.e. the eight lines of each verse begin with the same letter. The Psalm is repetitive (as a meditation should be) and focuses on variants of one key word. We therefore see the Law referred to as commandments, statutes, ordinances, decrees, words, precepts, promise and of course, law. Last, the Psalm is an A-Z rendering of living in glad obedience to God. As with all the Psalms of the Bible you will encounter laments, prayers, supplication, praise, prayer, thanksgiving, affirmation, proclamation and sheer awe in the Presence of a Holy God. I know I said final word, but I am also a preacher so here we go again with a final, final word. Though this is a manuscript bear in mind you will be getting only sound bites. The longest version will of course be the blog but even that will about a half of the entire segment. This is also an unedited first draft so try not to stub your intellect too often as we walk together over the next few weeks. And so we begin…

Time

Seems like such a short while ago my church gave me this huge 50th birthday bash. Maybe not. In fact a whole year flashed by and I am now 51! Today I am grateful for life and look with amazement at all of God's magnificent blessings! Talk about exceeding, abundantly , above all I thought or imagined? This is it.