Psalm 63:6

 

 

 

"When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches."

Psalm 63:6 (NKJ)

    This is truly a good, good thing. Lying in bed late at night just remembering the things God has done, thinking about His ways, and even speaking with Him in prayer.
    Because when it's night, it's like the world has stopped and the needs of the day are put on hold. At night, lying in bed, everything's still and calm and relaxed, and there aren't so many distractions as there are in the day. It's perfect for having a calm, whispered conversation with the One who doesn't need sleep.
    Do you do this often, meditating and praying while lying in bed? Isn't it wonderful?

Penny in the Gutter

Gutters are wet and uncomfortable, and stepping or tripping into
one is very unpleasant, but when you find a penny there,
it's a nice, small bright side to the situation, right?

    Life is good--but as we all know, it doesn't always go well. Sometimes unfortunate things happen; disappointments that bring us down. Sometimes multiple disappointments happen all at once, and that kind of discouragement can really make a person feel ill.
    But thankfully, God is in our lives, so there's always good reason to have hope. He's promised that since we've let Him be our Lord, everything that happens to us happens for a reason (Romans 8:28). And because of that assurance, we can also trust that we'll never be in a situation where there's nothing but disappointment and failure. In every low and dark place, there's going to be a bright side. In every huge mistake, there's a lesson that'll help us avoid getting back in the same situation. And in every disappointment, there's always a hope that God will use it to bring about something good.
    It might really be difficult to hold onto that kind of optimistic thinking when one's actually going through problems, but it is true. I've recently just had a time where I got hit by one discouragement after another after another, and though I definitely wasn't confident that the problems would just disappear, understanding that God is in control and wouldn't let everything just be a disappointment was a real anchor to hold to. Soon after calming down, I realized that all of those discouragements had actually opened the door to an awesome (and rare) opportunity that otherwise would have stayed closed. And realizing the blessing that was made available was like finding a bright, round, precious penny in a gutter. Something really good came out of the bad situation, and it's something that'll last a lot longer.
    So while discouragements we have to face in life aren't easy to ignore at all, there's still a sure hope that bad situations don't have to be all bad. The Lord is our God, and He has a talent of using difficulties to create good, amazing things.
    That's such an awesome, comforting thing to be able to hold to. Amen?

Psalm 26:12

 

"My foot stands in an even place; in the congregations I will bless the LORD."

Psalm 26:12 (NKJ)

    Does anyone else read this verse, hear "congregations," and think of church? It seems like a good comparison; David was likely referring to the crowds that came to the temple of God to worship Him, and that's what we do at church, along with growing closer together.
    And the statement about standing in an even place also seems a lot like being a part of the Lord's church. With Christ being the Head, church is a sturdy, reliable, safe place to be. It's founded on sure, unchanging principles, it's filled with other believers who love the Lord like we do, and they love us as brothers and sisters. Church is a good place to assemble, a good people to be part of, and a good thing God created when He came to earth as Jesus Christ. Amen?

Thank Goodness the Lord Made Weekends!

Weekends are just like early mornings: serene, pleasant,
and a good time to rest.

    God invented the weekend when He invented the world. The first six days of planet Earth's existence, the Lord spent the hours creating species and constructing ecosystems; but on the seventh day, when the work was complete and satisfactory, He rested and just enjoyed all the things He created. Clearly God didn't need to rest since He doesn't get worn out, so it's generally been concluded that the Lord took a break on the seventh day of the first week as an example for mankind to follow.

    Fortunately, that example has been followed in most if not all places. Not every country in the world specifically has Saturday and Sunday as their days of rest, but every country has at least one day where people don't have to work; where they can relax, recharge, and spend time with loved ones. Everyone has a weekend.

    And those weekends are so good. Life can get extremely hectic sometimes, so full of things to do and places to go. Some days it's like you have to run from place to place until it's time to go to sleep; everything's fast-paced and nonstop. It's definitely not bad to have a bunch of things to do in the day, or even bad to be a little busy, but having a lot of days where you just work, eat, work some more, and finally sleep can really run a person down--especially when those days are stacked against each other. It's so important to be able to slow down, rest, and enjoy free time on a regular basis.

    It's a downright necessity. Aren't you glad we have weekends? :)

The Many, Many Blessings of Christian Music

    In Colossians, there's a verse that goes like this: "Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord" (3:16; NKJ).
    When I read somewhere that by "spiritual songs," Paul was talking about the kind of Christian music we hear on the radio today, songs about God and the Christian life, it was awesome! Songs that are totally dedicated to God are special, and there are a lot of great things that Christian music does.
    Spiritual songs like this are, firstly, pleasant and clean. There are so many non-Christian songs I've heard with powerfully beautiful music, but I can't bring myself to sing to it or even think about the song because it either alludes to something less-than-pure, or they spike up the lyrics with profanity. But there's no need to worry about that in Christian songs because they never have foul language; the sound of it is good, and the content is safe.
    Christian music also holds something we can relate to very deeply; thoughts and accounts of life as a Christian. The lyrics are about what it's like to be redeemed, what following the Lord is like, what struggles God gets us through day by day. We know these things well, and hearing others sing about it is like finding someone whose favorite book is the same as yours, or making friends with someone who loves to do a certain activity that you also adore. It's exciting and encouraging!
    Songs about God and the Christian life also serve as a reminder, stirring up our memories and bringing spiritual things to mind. Casting Crowns and Tenth Avenue North do this a lot with their wonderful songs about God's grace and deep love, and songs by Mandisa are full of joy and encouragement; and then there are awesome albums like FM Static's "Dear Diary," which has a bunch of songs that portray a person's coming to faith in Christ. Listening to all these songs and the stories they tell is like reliving parts of the past, remembering how God's worked in our lives, and how He's still leading us. Those kind of topics are very helpful to remember while listening to them, and later when situations bring the lyrics back into mind.
    On top of all these things, there's the vital point that Christian music is something we can worship the Lord with. Not only is it enjoyable, but it's really a good thing to do, "For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and praise is beautiful" (Psalm 147: 1b, NKJ). Christian songs extol His awesomeness and give Him glory for His perfect works and character. Undoubtedly, the music's got to be as beautiful to His ears as they are to ours. Plus, it can be done anywhere; singing along to the radio on a car ride, hanging around the house, and it can even be done without music when one knows the lyrics of the song by heart.
    Ah, there are so many blessings in Christian songs. Aren't you glad we have so many to sing? :)

Psalm 92:4

 

"For You, LORD, have made me glad through Your work; I will triumph in the works of Your hands."

Psalm 92:4 (NKJ)

    God is the Creator of many works. He's the Maker of all creation, He designs every individual person, He shapes our lives into something beautiful once we give ourselves to Him, and of course there's the mighty, incredible work that is salvation.
    The natural world we live in is breathtakingly beautiful with colors and light; and the intricate uniqueness of each person is interesting and fascinating; the way God makes great, helpful things happen in our lives is just awesome; and of course, the salvation that the Lord won saved all of humanity--it's grace powerful enough to wash away all our sins and let us be with the Lord. That is a wonderful, wonderful thing!
    All of these works of God are wonderful things, worthy of getting excited and joyful about; don't you think? :)

Mountains are Incredible

    Mountains are incredible.
    They're very majestic to look at, especially when you're up close to them. Thick, solid rock with ridges and carving-like crevices formed over time by wind and water, it's like a gigantic, natural sculpture. From far away, those chiseled crevices can hold snow that covers a mountain and makes it look like sugar or flour has been dusted on it; and when rain hits a mountain, water can run down like small streams.
    Then there's the very fact that mountains are huge. Isn't there just something about large and tall things that's impressive? The Empire State Building, Big Ben, the Great Wall of China; these landmarks are incredibly tall structures that make people below look like insects, but the mountains that are even taller than them are colossal, and they can make people below seem smaller than specks! Standing up close to a mountain as massive as this can make a person feel small, but it's a good kind of small, not a bad kind. Especially when one thinks about the Creator of the mountains. The same One who made us individually also formed each and every one of the towering mountains. That concept is really interesting and awesome to think about.
    Mountains are indeed one of the Lord's most incredible masterpieces of creation. Majestic, massive, and made by the One who made us.
    Have you ever been really close to a mountain, or on one? Have you ever climbed or taken a hike up a mountain?

Wintertime!

A winter sunset; what a blessing they are!

    Winter is a wonderful time of year.
    All of the seasons of the year are wonderful, and they each have their own style of beauty, but personally I love the changes that wintertime brings to the world most.
    Firstly, there's the matter of holidays. Christmas and New Year's happen during wintertime, and Christmas is the celebration of how Jesus Christ came to the earth to save mankind. It's definitely an important and joyous thing to celebrate! And New Year's Eve/Day is also a wonderful time to think about the past year's accomplishments and memories, and be glad for the gift of the new year!
    Then there's the weather. I think I've mentioned before that it rarely isn't hot or warm where I live, so chilly weather is a treat. Being able to bundle up in warm clothes, feel the cool air, and see the amazing phenomena that is snow . . . Winter weather's beauty is both elegant and strong at the same time, and it's a delightful thing to behold.
    And then there's the sky when the sun comes up and goes down. I'm not sure if this is something that happens everywhere, but during winter, the sunsets and sunrises I see are different than sunsets that occur during the rest of the year. During the winter, they tend to be more vibrant, with deeper colors and a smoother fusion of them that remind me of a painting. For some reason, it's like these amazing kind of sunsets only come during the end of the year, and they're something I really look forward to when it's becoming wintertime.
    So those are the major things I enjoy during this time of year. What are your winters like? :)

"What are You Thankful for this Year?"

    Thanksgiving is the giving of thanks.
    And Thanksgiving Day is an entire day formed for giving thanks. Giving thanks for freedom, for family, for having a great nation, for friends, and all the little things in life. As Christians, we have even more things in life to be joyfully thankful for: salvation, a relationship with God, His love, His guidance . . .
    It's kind of funny. There are so many blessings in life to be thankful for that it'd probably take a lot longer than one day to list and consider all of them. Yet at the same time, the concept of coming up with and pondering that massive list of blessings can be so complicated and difficult, because where does a person even begin? There are so many wonderful things to be thankful for!
    I've heard a question that seems like a really great starting point for this kind of matter: "What are you thankful for this year?" It's a simple question to consider because it sets some perimeters in the thinking, but the emphasis of the question isn't on importance. It's not like asking "What are you most thankful for this year?," because then one would try to sift through the top things on their list and carefully consider which blessings are "better" than the others. But with "What are you thankful for this year?," one could literally answer anything, big or small. And after giving thanks to the Lord for that blessing, one would have in mind more blessings related to the first topic.
    What are you thankful for this year? Spiritual growth? The election results? A new family member? Improvements in a skill?

Watching the Seasons Change

    Summer is ending.
    School is starting up again, the weather's starting to cool down (or, in some areas, just stop being scorching hot), animals are beginning to recede into their hidden homes, and  Halloween candy and decorations are starting to show up in stores.
    Pretty soon, trees and other plants will start losing their leaves, cool breezes will start to blow, and the sunsets will come sooner. The seasons are morphing, changing right before our eyes.
    The transformation can be so subtle, but it's also so fascinating. Being able to watch things change on a widespread level, observing a shift that literally sweeps across the whole world . . . Noticing something so huge just seems really fascinating and beautiful.
    Do you always notice when the seasons change? Is there a specific thing that marks it, like certain birds that flock across the sky, or a specific crop that grows?

Libraries!

    Libraries. Man, are they awesome things!
    Be they public buildings stuffed with books and computers, or a small personal collection of books on a shelf or bookcase, there are so many awesome blessings in having one available.
    Knowledge is a no-brainer. Books are ideal ways to learn a new skill when you can't afford a tutor. Even fiction books can have enough information to learn a lot about a particular topic (or to spark a strong interest in it).
    Adventure is another great thing about having a library to go to. Novels are amazingly potent things that can take you to real or imaginary places to do incredible things and achieve a magnificent goal. A novel can take hours to read; hours of fun, excitement, and healthy thrills. Both moral and practical lessons can also be learned from a great story, and lessons learned in this way can be really easy to remember.
    A library is also a nice place to study. With tables and multiple shelves of resources, sitting down to work is easy and even comfortable. Libraries also tend to have a very quiet environment, which makes it easier to think as opposed to, perhaps, a public park or a bus ride environment.
    Not to mention the fact that a library is a great place to hang out with friends. Some public libraries host community events to bring like people together and have fun. There are book clubs, young adult groups, city-wide holiday events, and a network of volunteers. With places to sit and books to chat about (quietly), it's a fantastic area to improve friendships and have fun.
    Of course, all of these benefits can be found in a household library too, even if it's just one or two shelves of books. If there's a chair or two in the room, a person can sit and chat with a friend or family member. If not, then one can stand and chat. Adventure and information lies in every book, and the little area can be a cozy nook to work or relax in.
    Don't you adore libraries? Do you go to one often? :)

Church Is Awesome!

     Hopefully everyone's heard at least once that the church is a family, not a business. A place where we can learn more about God and see fellow believers.
    And it's not just wonderful to go to church, but it's vital. There are so many ways a person is blessed and strengthened by coming. For example . . .
    God's Word! Private Bible studies at home are fantastic, but there's also something special about coming to a place and hearing someone else read and discuss the Word in depth. Pastors/clergymen have special training to do so, and often know special information (like in-depth definitions of Hebrew/Greek words used in the Bible, related historical events, and scientific/archeological facts that support the Word).
    Worship. Not only is worship beautiful and good for us, but it's wonderful for God. "Because He is your Lord, worship Him." says the psalmist in Psalm 45:11 (NKJ). Being created and redeemed by the Lord, it's only right that we give Him service in return. And music is a fantastic gift! Worshipping before the study is a perfect opportunity to give back to the One who has given us so much.
    Prayer support. Particularly in specialized groups (like youth group or a women's study group) there are sturdy "nets" of prayer. We can ask for prayer from fellow believers, and help brothers and sisters in Christ by praying for them. In Matthew 18:20 (NKJ), Christ says: "'For where two or three are gathered together in My name, I am there in the midst of them.'" At least one other person would be at church, completing the minimal twosome needed in this promise!
    Fellowship. Hanging out with fellow believers and  freely talking about God, the Bible, the spiritual walk, and other like matters. Being able to relate with someone on these matters is refreshing! It makes deeper friendships, and it strengthens our family bond.
    Church events. Worship concerts, retreats, evangelizing excursions, missions, Bible camp, prayer meetings, volunteering in the community. Lots of churches have at least one of these sort of activities. And they're wonderful opportunities to grow in the faith, to interact with fellow believers (see: Fellowship), to serve others, and to spread the Gospel.
    Isn't the church, our family in God, wonderful? What's your favorite thing about your church?

Psalm 95:2

 

"Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms."

Psalm 95:2 (NKJ)

    The Lord has blessed us so much! He has given us very many good things. Salvation, a relationship with Him, His undying love, the ability to talk with Him, His Word, family, and the ability to observe the beautiful things He's made, like flowers and sunsets. These things are all wonderful, beautiful blessings! And it's good to thank the Lord for them. Not only is it right, but it pleases Him. Who doesn't want to do that?
    I hope you have a wonderful week! :)

Those Special Songs . . .

    Have you ever had one of those days when you want to crawl into somewhere hidden and stay there? Or maybe just one of those long, dry times when you don't feel upset, but you don't feel joyful either. A difficult time in life, a "valley" day, a long spiritual winter season. And then you sit down in a car or in your room and turn on the radio . . . and this beautiful song that completely applies to what you're going through comes on. A song that echoes what you're feeling, that empowers and comforts you, giving relief from all the problems, filling your heart with joy and a desire to praise the Lord. Moments like this are amazing, and definitely a "God thing."
    The Lord is so good to bless the world with songs like this; music that touches the heart and beautiful words that speak His truth. They remind us of His character, His grace, His love, His promises, and those are what we need to feel whole. And it can be a great reminder that He knows what we're going through and what we need; that He understands everything and can lead us through whatever situation we're in. That gives immeasurable hope.
    A song that does these things is a great blessing--and kind of like a special treasure we can share with the Lord. And when you know the lyrics and the tune by heart, you carry it with you all the time, able to remember and sing (or hum or whistle) it anywhere you go.
    Do you have a special song like this? Isn't it wonderful?

Sunny Days!

    Summertime! It has descended upon us. A time of vacation, relaxation, fun . . . and hotter weather.
    But even with sunburns and sweat, sunny days like those of summer are wonderful blessings. :) There are so many fantastic things about them.
    -Plants benefit, for example, from the bright sunlight. And so do people. It's the gift of Vitamin D. Doesn't everyone like to bask in the warmth of the sunlight every now and then?
    -And speaking of basking in the sunlight; it gives an opportunity to work on a natural tan. And what better place is there to take the time to do that than . . .
    -The beach! Sunny days are said to be the very best time to go there; it's definitely one of the most popular. Walking on the sea shore, getting wet in the waves, defending your chips from flocks of seagulls, and of course admiring the beauty of the glimmering ocean are a few of the fun things that one can do.
    -Sunny days are also great days to hang out in a swimming pool and/or play water sports. Spending time with family and/or friends, maybe enjoying a barbeque, keeping cool, and playing pool games. It's a great way to spend an afternoon.
    -Also great: ice cream, lemonade, cold sodas, and other cool refreshments. And days where the sun is hot seem to make those taste even better!
    Summer is such a nice, bright season, don't you think? :)