The Lord's Delight

 The Lord’s delight

Recently we had this thing at my church home Real Life Corpus Christi where each day we get texts of hope sent to us.  The one sent on Sunday the 23rd of August I truly love.  

Psalm 147:11

“The Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love.”

See I don’t know if you have ever had my problem.  Somewhere along the convoluted path of that mess called dating I developed this idea and it was not of God I can admit that.  The idea was this I found it hard to believe a human being could love me much less the God of all creation.  It also made no sense because I had a family that loves me dearly.  You get hurt so much in that time of dating you start believing lies.  One of the biggest lies the devil tries to convince me of is I’m a failure.  I had to find hope in God’s Word and it’s something I try to bring you each week.  I have two life verses that anyone who has ever seen an email from will see it in the signature area.  

Romans 5:8 

“But God demonstrates his own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us.”

The other verse is this

Psalm 18:19

“He brought me forth also into a broad place; He rescued me because He delighted in me.”

Not only do we as humans have a chance to be loved by God by accepting His gift of salvation through Christ Jesus but by following and fearing God he also delights in us.  

Some of you know that my sister and I were homeschooled by our mom and one thing she had us do was memorize scripture.  At 44 years old my mind is not as great as it once was but when I was considering this word Delight I remembered one of those chapters my mom made us learn and it was Psalm chapter 1 and I want to share it because it brings us back to the word Delight and how it pertains to the follower of God.

Psalm 1

“How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinners, nor sit in the seat of scoffers! But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in his law he meditates day and night.  He will be like a tree firmly planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in its season and its leaf does not wither; and in whatever he does he prospers.  The wicked are not so, but they are like chaff which the wind drives away.  Therefore the wicked will not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.  For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

So the verb definition of Delight is to please someone greatly.  The band Petra said it best “I don’t wanna be a man pleaser I wanna be a God Pleaser.”  I want my life to be one God delights in.  You want a worthy goal for your life that’s it right there.  “The chief end of man is to glorify God in your mortal body.”  The disciples were told by religious leaders to stop preaching in the name of Jesus and do you know what their answer was? “We must obey God rather than men.”

“If you think you’re a loser when you fail it seems at everything you do just remember there’s a Savior,  and you are worth enough he gave his life for you.”

So I’m concluding this by throwing down the gauntlet.  Are you living and desiring to have God delight in you or people?   

Psalm 1 by Kim Hill

God pleaser by Petra

Choose Life by Big Tent Revival

I’d rather have Jesus by Selah 

Seen and not heard by Petra 

I’m accepted by DeGarmo and Key

When all is said and done by Geoff Moore and the Distance 

Take

 Take

Humbling, surrendering and trusting God are some of the hardest and most rewarding things a human can do.  Our pride keeps getting in our way.  

If you don’t believe pride gets in your way I’m going to borrow something here from Waylon Jennings and Willie Nelson 

“Them that don’t know him won’t like him and them that do sometimes won’t know how to take him he ain’t wrong, he’s just different but his pride won’t let him do things to make you think he’s right.” 

This week Marion and I were in the car listening to this old song by the band Third Day and the lyrics are simple but deep.  

“How many times have I turned away 

The number is the same as the sand on the shore

But every time you’ve taken me back 

And now I pray you do it once more.  

Please take from me my life 

When I don’t have the strength to give it away 

Please take from me my life

When I don’t have the strength to give it away to you Jesus.”

1 Peter 5:6-7

“You younger men, likewise be subject to your elders, and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.  Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you at the proper time, casting all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”  

Saw this thing posted online this week that said “Does it bother you that you fall asleep while praying at night?  Have you ever seen a child so comfortable they fall asleep in the arms of their Father trusting that he will take care of any problem? We should relate the same way with our Heavenly Father because he has never stopped being in control.”

If you are breathing you will have trouble in life but you can turn to God don’t let foolish pride get in the way.  

I want to conclude with something from Rich Mullins about God’s love and our stupid pride.  

“And when I thought that I was all alone it was your voice I heard calling me back home and I wonder now, Lord what it was that made me wait too long

And what kept you waiting for me all that time was your love stronger than my foolish pride will you take me back now take me back and let me be your child ‘ cause I’ve been broken now I’ve been saved I’ve learned to cry and I’ve learned how to pray and I’m learning I’m learning even I can be changed.”

Surrender by Lincoln Brewster 

Take my life by Third Day

Humble yourself by Mylon Lefevre

Not to us O, Lord by the Imperials

Growing Young by Rich Mullins 

Brokenness by David Meece

Nothing but the Blood by Kelly Parks

Holy, Holy, Holy by Carried Away

Hidden Gems

 Hidden Gems

Been slowly reading through Psalm 119 the longest chapter in the Bible and it’s also to my knowledge one of the least preached from chapters.  But this chapter is like a mine that holds hidden gems.  This has always been a blog about finding hope in God’s Word.  I want to show you some of that.  

Psalm 119:49-52

“Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.  This is my comfort in my affliction, that your Word has revived me.  The arrogant utterly deride me, yet I do not turn aside from your law.  I have remembered your ordinances from of old , O Lord, and I comfort myself.”  

Now consider this for a moment because the Psalmist multiple times in that passage references God’s word comforting him and giving him hope.  John 1:1 gives you a whole different perspective on God’s Word.  

John 1:1

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the word was God.”  

Then you get to John 1:14 and find out the Word was Jesus Christ.  So the Psalmist many years before finds hope and comfort in Christ before he even appeared because God’s Word brought to life is Jesus Christ.  

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

If you don’t understand that was talking about Jesus you need to see what he himself said.  

John 14:6 

“Jesus said to him, ‘I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me.’”

You want hope found in God’s Word well Hope is a person named Jesus and He is the only way to Heaven.

Job 8:13

“So are the paths of all who forget God; and the hope of the godless will perish.”

Hebrews 12:1-2

“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us , let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  

Romans 15:13

“Now May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you will abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” 

Glory be by Cheri Keaggy 

Too small a price by Don Francisco 

Only Jesus/ Calvary’s love by Steve Green 

Hold on by Twila Paris 

Life is hard but God is good by Pam Thum

Highest Hope by RL Worship 

 

Creed by Third Day

God and God alone by Steve Green 

Open My Eyes

Open my eyes

Years ago there was a commercial where a woman stood outside a store window and said “Open! Open! Open!”  There’s a series of verses I want to show you and I want to bring back an example I used years ago in a blog.  See I’ve read a lot of Forgotten Realms novels and there was a concept in one series called the Wayfinder’s Stone where a character strapped a magical stone to their shoes to help them see in the darkness.  See I know a little bit about needing a guide.  What many of you don’t know is my wife Marion has low vision and is considered legally blind.  On our first date she asked to hold my hand so I could guide her safely.  Been married for 8 years as of a July 28th.  I've been holding her hand and guiding her for a while.  God’s word is like that for the Christian his word is what helps us see and navigate that’s why we must spend time in it.  

Psalm 119:105 

“Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path..”

We should want to read the Bible!  

Psalm 119:17-20

“Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your word.  Open my eyes that I may behold wonderful things from your law.  I am a stranger in the earth; do not hide your commandments from me.  My soul is crushed with longing after your ordinances at all times. “

Do we approach the Bible with longing and a desire for God to open our eyes and show us wonderful things?  Do we want to obey his commands because we should.

Like the scarecrow sang “Oh the thoughts I’d be thinking if I only had a brain.”  Well pay attention because you do have one.  Seek God so he can open your eyes to his wonders found in his word.  

Mine eyes have seen by Whiteheart Going to let the reader's in on a secret.  My hearing aids have a music mode and it focuses on voices and instruments. This song is so much better on music mode to hear the blending of everything. 

Thy Word by Amy Grant and Michael W Smith

Heart of hearts by Paige

Light up the sky by the Afters