The House of the Lord

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I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalm 122:1

King James Version (KJV)

        There's a wall hanging that I pass every day that has this Bible verse.  It hangs on the wall of the stairway in our home, almost directly across from my writing office.  If I looked, it would be one of the first things I would see as I exit my office.  

         For some reason this hanging particularly caught my eye the other day.  I'm not sure why I stopped to looked at it and ponder the words.  I suppose partly it was because the quote was from Psalms and Psalms has been the focus of this blog.  That's why I chose psalmsunday as the web address for this blog.

         The thing that came to my mind was that I appreciate my home.  I thank God for this place that he has given me, this shelter and refuge.  My wife and I have a peaceful, protective home and I thank God for that.

         We often think of the building that we call church as God's house.  I once saw a former church that had become a restaurant.  On one occasion I attended a musical production at a theater that had formerly been a church.  Does God's house ever stop being God's house?

           My wife and I attend church regularly, but I am not always glad.  Sometimes there are other things that I'd rather be doing.  But what if I were no longer permitted to attend my church for health reasons or even political oppression.  I would not be happy about that and I hope this would never happen.

          I am happy in our home and thank God that we have this wonderful place to live.  We have been blessed.  God is always welcome in our home and I want to think of this as God's house just as much as I do our church.

          Then again, they are only buildings.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own...

1 Corinthians 6:19

New International Version (NIV)

           

      

           

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Who Do You Trust?

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Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
   but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

New International Version (NIV)

        There are probably not many who have much reliance on horses and chariots in our modern age.  But think of the things we do rely on.   

• What would you do without electricity?
• Do you feel a bit stranded when your car breaks down?
• Would you be inconvenienced if the grocery store shelves were empty?
• Can you do without television, radio, newspapers, and all other sources of news?
• Isn't it kind of a problem when the internet goes down?

     

           We live in a time when we take so much for granted, but any of this could be gone in a moment.  What a struggle many of us would have if we were deprived of the conveniences that make our lives so simple.

          We trust in the infrastructure of our society.   We trust in friends and family.  Many of us rely on ourselves and have trust that we can make it no matter what.   Then when failure comes we are dismayed and sometimes broken.  People and things of this world are not perfect and are subject to failure.  

          Where do you put your ultimate trust?

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Dreams

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I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; 
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

Psalm 16:7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

        God's voice is heard in many ways.  We must carefully watch and listen for what God is telling us.  

        Sometimes we draw conclusions from within, based on our own desires or what others tell us.  Always ask yourself first, "Is this God speaking to me?" And if it is God, then be sure that you are interpreting God's will and not your own.   

          There are numerous accounts in the Bible of people who were given dream messages.  Joseph's gift of dream interpretation incurred that wrath of his jealous brothers, but later endeared him to the ruler of Egypt.  The ability to understand God's dream messages placed Joseph in a position to help the family that had scorned him.

           Daniel likewise was able to tell King Nebuchadnezzar the meanings of this ruler's troubling dreams.  His God-given ability to decipher dream symbolism put Daniel in a place of importance in a kingdom where his people were enslaved.

           Not all dreams may be messages from God, but many may.  Through prayer and familiarity with God's word we can have a better understanding of what God might be telling us in dreams.   We can have a greater control over ourselves whether awake or sleeping if we practice what is instructed in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

         These are words to live--or to sleep by. 

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Open 24 Hours

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The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
         You have prepared the light and the sun.

Psalm 74:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

         Whether we are awake or asleep God is open for business.   


         God is like the 24 hour market that conveniently provides your needs whenever you need them.


         God is the fuel stop that never closes allowing you to reinvigorate yourself when you need a boost in life.


         God is like the emergency clinic where doctors are always available to tend to the sick and broken.


          God is the church that never closes its doors and is ready to accommodate prayer and worship at any time of day.


          God is open for business 24 hours a day.  The door is always open and the light is always on.

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Future Is Now

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Restore us, O God;
         Cause Your face to shine, 
         And we shall be saved! 

Psalm 80:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

        Old year gone, new year here--

         Let God's love shine down on you.

         Don't be overcome by fear

         Or doubt--your soul's renewed.

         Lift up your hearts.  Rejoice His love.

         Angels sweep down from above

          To sing the glory of the Lord.

          Sing ye too and be restored.

                                        arlee bird

         

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Sing Joyfully This Christmas Day

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 Shout joyfully to the LORD, all the earth;
         Break forth in song, rejoice, and sing praises.
 Sing to the LORD with the harp,
         With the harp and the sound of a psalm,
 With trumpets and the sound of a horn;
         Shout joyfully before the LORD, the King. 
         

Psalm 98:4-6

New King James Version (NKJV)

         Today is a time for singing.   Christmas has long been a time for followers of Jesus Christ to sing joyful songs just as King David once did.

          One day all who have been saved through our merciful Lord Jesus will spend an eternity singing praises to Almighty God.  Multiply the joyful songs of Christmas by more times than your mind can fathom and that is the joy we will experience singing praises to God.

            On Christmas Day we remember God's promise to His children and every day should be our celebration of that promise.   Let the Christmas spirit fill your being not only today, but everyday of your life.

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Jesus Is the Reason and the Promise

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 “I have made a covenant with my chosen one, 
   I have sworn to David my servant, 
 ‘I will establish your line forever 
   and make your throne firm through all generations.’”

Psalm 89:3-4

New International Version (NIV)

         God keeps his promises and this is something of which I am assured.  He made the promise to David and this promise was fulfilled as we see in scripture.  The proof is there for those who earnestly seek, study, and pray.

          In this season that we call Christmas we should sing praise just as King David did with his Psalms of praise.  Sing of the coming King born of the lineage of King David.   King Jesus who came as a baby in the humblest of circumstances, who walked among the lost to deliver the message of salvation, and who suffered so that we might be free in Him--Jesus came to fulfill God's promise to David that is also His promise to us.

         The Lord God will bring us to our eternal home with Him.   That is the real reason for this season and a promise you can count on.

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