In God I Trust

Monday, August 8, 2017

In God, whose word I praise— 

in God I trust and am not afraid. 

What can mere mortals do to me?

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭56:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

David wrote this psalm after he had been seized by the Philistines. Surely he was concerned about bodily harm from his ruthless adversaries.  But it sure doesn't sound like it. 

In God I trust. 

I see two reasons here to trust God. 

(1) I trust His word, the Scripture. I trust Him because He has proven that He is Trustworthy.  Every time in Scripture when He made a promise, He kept His word. 

He promised He would provide for me and He has. 

He promised He would never leave me and He hasn't. 

He promised He would never let me experience more than I can bear and He's been true to His word. 

He promised He will come get me one day and take me to heaven and I'm confident that He will. 

(2) I trust His Word, Jesus Christ. 

I am not afraid. 

What is there to fear? Death? I don't think so. 

The future? What is there to fear? Disease? He would guide me through it. Catastrophe? He would give me strength. Financial ruin? He cares for the flowers so why wouldn't Je care for me? 

Nope. I'm not afraid. 

What can humans do to me? Words can hurt me emotionally. Physical abuse can cause destruction. But no one can take me away from my eternity with the Lord. 

I trust Him. 

Memory Verse 2017 -- Week 31

Sunday, August 6, 2017

But whatever were gains to me

I now consider loss

for the sake of Christ.

What is more, I consider everything a loss

because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord,

for whose sake I have lost all things. 

I consider them garbage 

that I may gain Christ. 

Philippians 3:7-8

Spend the week focusing on this scripture: 

• Read the verse in your Bible. 
• Read the passage before and after it. 
• Write it in your journal. 
• Ask the Lord to show you how it applies to your life. 
• Put it on a piece of paper and post it in a prominent place in your home so that you can see it often. 
• Put the words to music. Make up a tune or use one you already know. Singing always helps in the memory process. It's a left brain / right brain thing. 
• Always memorize the scripture reference with the verse so you can remember where to find it in the Bible. 

Psalm from the desert

Saturday, August 5, 2017

undisclosed author

Lord, How can I describe You? Your wonder is beyond words!

You are larger than the whole universe yet small enough to fit in this heart of mine. 

You are Ruler of rulers but tender hearted with  your lowly servant. 

I lift my hands in praise to You. 

I bask in the radiance of Your presence. 

I long for the moment when I leave this desert wasteland and join You in Your lush heavenly home. 

My lips are parched. You fill me with Living Water. 

My body is spent. You nurture me with your Word. 

Scavengers await my demise. You are my Hope. 

Without you I am broken. With you I am whole. 

You are my Rock, my very strong foundation. 

You are my Oasis, my peaceful rest. 

You are my Protector, providing for my every need. 

I praise You, Lord, for You alone are worthy of praise. No one can compare to You. 

ABC Psalm

Friday, August 4, 2017

anonymous author 

Praise the Lord!

Praise Him all people from every land!

Lift your voices in poetry and prose. 

Make sweet music to the Lord. 

Dance in His presence. 

Bow in humble adoration before His throne. 

For He is:

• Awesome
• Bold
• Creative 
• Daddy
• Everlasting
• Forgiver 
• God
• Honorable
• Incredible
• Jealous
• King of kings
• Lion of Judah
• Master Designer
• Never ending
• Omnipotent 
• Practical
• Quotable
• Radical
• Sensitive
• Trustworthy
• Unbelievable
• Victorious 
• Wonderful
• Xtraordinary
• Yahweh
• Zealous

Who is like Him?

Who can defeat Him?

Who can remove Him from my heart?

Praise the Lord!

Who God Is and What He Has Done

Thursday, August 3, 2017

When you have someone special in your life, you want to encourage them and let them know how much they mean to you. You tell them how beautiful they are (yes, I think Bill is beautiful), how much you love their creativity or their sensitivity. You might also tell them how much you appreciate what they do for you: helping with the children, emptying the dishwasher, filling up your car with gas, buying you dinner. 

So we should do the same for the Lord. We should tell Him how wonderful He is:

   • because of who He is (attributes) 

   • because of what He does (actions)

I looked up a page from Henry Blackaby's "Experiencing God" that lists all the names for God. Take a few minutes and contemplate this list. He is all of these. 

A faithful God (Deut.32:4)
A forgiving God (Neh. 9:17)
A fortress of salvation (Ps. 28:8)
A glorious crown (Isa. 28:5)
A jealous and avenging God (Nah. 1:2)
A Master in heaven (Col. 4:1)
A refuge for the oppressed (Ps. 9:9)
A refuge for the poor (Isa. 25:4)
A sanctuary (Isa. 8:14)
A shade from the heat (Isa. 25:4)
A shelter from the storm (Isa. 25:4)
A source of strength (Isa. 28:6)
A stronghold in times of trouble (Ps. 9:9)

An ever-present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1) Architect and builder (Heb. 11:10)
Builder of everything (Heb. 3:4)
Builder of everything (Heb. 3:4)
Commander of the army of the LORD (Josh. 5:14) 
Creator of heaven and earth (Gen. 14:19) Defender of widows (Ps. 68:5)
Eternal King (Jer. 10:10)
Father (Isa. 9:6; 63:16; Ma . 5:16)
Father of our spirits (Heb. 12:9)
Father of the heavenly lights (Jas. 1:17)
God (Gen. 1:2)
God Almighty (El Shaddai; Gen. 17:1)
God and Father of Jesus Christ (I Pet. 1:3)

God Most High (Gen. 14:18

God my Maker (Job 35:10)
God my Rock (Ps. 42:9)
God my Savior (Ps. 18:46; 27:9)
God my stronghold (Ps. 144:2; 2 Sam. 22:3)
God of Abraham, Isaac, Jacob (Ex. 3:16)
God of all comfort (2 Cor. 1:3)
God of all mankind (Jer. 32:27)
God of glory (Ps. 29:3)
God of gods (Deut. 10:17; Ps. 136:2)
God of grace (1 Pet. 5:10)
God of peace (1 Thess. 5:23)
God of retribution (Jer. 51:56)
God of the living (Ma . 22:32)
God of the spirits (Num. 16:22)
God of truth (Ps. 31:5)
God our Father (Col. 1:2)
God our strength (Ps. 18:2)
God over all the kingdoms (Dan. 4:17)
God the Father (Col. 3:17)
God who relents from sending calamity (Joel 2:13) 
Great and powerful God (Jer. 32:18)
Great, mighty, awesome God (Deut. 10:17)
He who blots out your transgressions (Isa. 43:25)
He who comforts you (Isa. 66:13)
He who forms the hearts of all (Ps. 33:15)
He who raised Christ from the dead (Rom. 8:1)
He who reveals His thoughts to man (Amos 4:13) 
Him who is able to do more than all we ask or imagine (Eph. 3:20)
Him who is able to keep you from falling (Jude 24) 
Holy Father (John 17:11)
Holy One (Rev. 16:5)
Holy One among you (Hos. 11:9)
I AM WHO I AM (Ex. 3:14)
Jealous (Ex. 20:5)
Judge of all the earth (Gen. 18:25)
King of glory (Ps. 24:7-10)
King of heaven (Dan. 4:37)
Living and true God (1 Thess. 1:9)
Lord Almighty (2 Cor. 6:18)
Lord God Almighty (Rev. 4:8; 16:7; 21:22)
LORD is Peace (Judg. 6:24)
LORD Most High (Ps. 7:17)
LORD is my Banner (Ex. 17:15)
LORD my Rock (Ps. 28:1)
LORD of all the earth (Mic. 4:13; Zech. 4:14)
LORD of kings (Dan. 2:47)
LORD our God (Deut. 1:6, 10)
LORD our Maker (Ps. 95:6)
LORD who heals you (Ex. 15:26)
LORD who is there (of Jerusalem; Ezek. 48:35)
Lord who makes you holy (Heb. 2:11)
LORD who strikes the blow (Ezek. 7:9)
LORD will provide (Gen. 22:14)
Love (I John 4:8)
Maker of all things (Eccl. 11:5; Jer. 10:16)
Most High (Gen. 14:18-22)
My advocate (Job 16:19)
My Comforter in sorrow (Jer. 8:18)
My confidence (Ps. 71:5)
My light (Ps. 27:1)
My might rock (Ps. 62:7)
My refuge in mes of trouble (Ps. 59:16) 
One to be feared (1 Chron. 16:25) 
Our help and our shield (Ps. 33:20)
Our judge (1 Sam. 24:15)
Our lawgiver (Isa. 33:22)
Our leader (2 Chron. 13:12)
Our Mighty One (Isa. 33:21)
Our Redeemer (Isa. 47:4; 63:16)
Our refuge and strength (Ps. 46:1)
Righteous Father (John 17:25)
Rock of our salva on (Ps. 95:1)
Shepherd (Ps. 23:1)
Sovereign Lord (Acts 4:24)
The Almighty God (Gen. 49:25; Ruth 1:20)
The compassionate and gracious God (Ex. 34:6) 
The consuming fire (Isa. 33:!4)
The faithful God (Deut. 7:9)
The gardener (husbandman; John 15:1) 
The God who saves me (Ps. 88:1)
The God who sees me (Gen. 16:13)
The great King above all gods (Ps. 95:3)
The just and mighty One (Job 34:17)
The living Father (John 6:57)
The Majestic Glory (2 Pet. 1:17)
The Majesty in heaven (Heb. 1:3)
The one who sustains me (Ps. 54:4)
The only God (Jude 1:25)
The potter (Jer. 18:6)
The rock in whom I take refuge (Ps. 18:2)
The spring of living water (Jer. 2:13)
The strength of my heart (Ps. 73:26)
The true God (1 Thess. 1:9)
You who judge righteously and test the heart and mind (Jer. 11:20)
Your glory (Ps. 57:11)
Your praise (Isa. 38:18; Ps. 71:8; 138:1)

Your very great reward (Gen. 15:1) 

Father of compassion (2 Cor. 1:3)
God who avenges me (Ps. 18:47; 94:1)
Great and awesome God (Deut. 7:21)
Helper of the fatherless (Ps. 10:14)
Him who is ready to judge the living and the dead (2 Tim. 4:1)
My helper (Ps. 118:7; Heb. 13:6)
My hiding place (Ps. 32:7)
My hope (Ps. 25:5, 21)
My song (Ex. 15:2) 
My strong deliverer (Ps. 140: 7) 
My support (2 Sam. 22:19)
Only wise God (Rom. 16:27) 
Our dwelling place (Ps. 90:1)
The Eternal God (Gen. 21:33)
The Everlasting God (Isa. 40:28)
The exalted God (Mic. 6:6)
The glorious Father (Eph. 1:17) 
The glory of Israel (Mic. 1:15)

Are you writing your own Psalm? Let me know. I'll be publishing some of them over the next few days. 

Psalm of Praise -- let's write one of our own.

Wednesday, August 2, 2017

I. Call to Worship

II. Identify the Audience

III.   Mode of Praise (how)

Look at these verses and pick out the method of praise offered. Brainstorm some of today's methods. Write down every way you can think of to praise the Lord. We'll cover IV and V later. 

Praise the Lord with the harp; make music to him on the ten-stringed lyre. Psalm‬ ‭33:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Begin the music, strike the timbrel, play the melodious harp and lyre. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭81:2‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Praise him with the sounding of the trumpet, praise him with the harp and lyre, praise him with timbrel and dancing, praise him with the strings and pipe, praise him with the clash of cymbals, praise him with resounding cymbals.

‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150:3-5‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Jehoshaphat bowed down with his face to the ground, and all the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell down in worship before the Lord. 2 Chronicles‬ ‭20:18‬ ‭ NIV

IV.  Reasons for Praise (why)

Attributes or activities of God: descriptions of who He is or what He has done

V.    Rhetorical questions

Who is like Him? 

Who can compare to Him? 

Don't forget your bookends! You need a sentence of praise you can use at the beginning and at the end. 

So how are you coming? I'd love to see what you have written. Please send me a message with your creation in it. 

Lord, sometimes writing is outside of our comfort zone. Help us to overcome that. Help us to focus on You so that our words of praise can flow freely!

Ideas for writing your own psalm of praise

Tuesday, August 1, 2017

If you are writing your own psalm this week, here are some ideas about what you might include. 

I.  Call to Worship

Praise the Lord. Sing to the Lord a new song. . . .Psalm‬ ‭149:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Praise the Lord. Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens. ‭Psalm‬ ‭150:1‬ ‭NIV‬‬

. . .Take up your timbrels and go out to dance with the joyful.
‭‭Jeremiah‬ ‭31:4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭95:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Ascribe to the Lord, all you families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:28‬ ‭NIV

Sing to the Lord, all the earth; proclaim his salvation day after day. ‭‭1 Chronicles‬ ‭16:23‬ ‭NIV‬‬

II. Identify the Audience (who)

All you Israelites, praise the Lord; 
house of Aaron, praise the Lord; 
house of Levi, praise the Lord; 
you who fear him, praise the Lord.  Psalm‬ ‭135:19-20 ‭NIV‬‬

Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles; let all the peoples extol him. ‭‭Romans‬ ‭15:11‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭150:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and all that move in them. ‭‭Psalm‬ ‭69:34‬ ‭NIV‬

But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God’s special possession, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter‬ ‭2:9‬ ‭NIV‬‬

You might want to use these to start your creative juices flowing. Don't worry about sounding like the old verses -- make your psalm sound like you. 

Incorporate the way you like to worship. 

Address the people you might be writing to today. Or perhaps future generations who might stumble across your writings. 

Give it a shot. Let's see what happens. 

Lord, give us the inspiration to write our own psalm of praise to You. Help us to be creative for Your glory.