Psalms 119:113-128

Hi everyone sorry if this is a little later than normal. i've had a cold that's put me thru a very rough week. it's still not gone either i could use ya'll praying for me. anywho on to bible study.

Psalms 119:113-128

In modern day America with freedom to worship it's easy i believe to forget sometimes that following God is frowned upon. Sometimes we listen to the world's idea of tolerance to a degree we even water down our stand we try to make for what we claim to believe. I warned I take illustrations from everywhere. There is a WWE star Ryback who says 2 words before each wrestling match. We need to remember we are at war and in the words of Ryback we need to "WAKE UP!" I had a member of this lifegroup Amy remind me this past week that i need to be praying for the one peron i know in my life who opposes God and claims to be an atheist. Proverbs 21:1 "The king's heart is in the hand of the Lord, as the rivers of water He turns it wherever He will." If God can do that with a king he can turn the coldest heart to salvation. The apostle Paul used to kill Christians and God changed him.

113. "I hate those with divided loyalties, but i love your instructions." I noticed in this Psalm he lists a problem and turns right back to God.

114. God is my refuge and shield and source of hope. Why do we keep trying to turn elsewhere?
115-119. The ways of evil people discourage us but again he keeps seeking God's word in all of this. whatever happens don't stop seeking after God. like the song by Dennis Jernigan says "Seeking you as a precious jewel Lord to give up i'd be a fool."
120. Go outside look at the sky and stand in awe of your Creator.

121-122. This reminded me of the old hymn Only trust Him which says. "Come every soul by sin oppressed there's mercy with the Lord and He will save you He will save you by trusting in His word.

123-125. prayer for redemption

126-128. The Psalmist is pleading so we also should seek God.


Remember in God's armor we are Armed and Dangerous http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNw447VfGtA Armed and Dangerous by Petra. Just a reminder to pray for others http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0qQVlpnSN0 Go to the Top by Degarmo and Key. Here's a reminder to Hold On to the the right person of Jesus Christ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yl1a3ie7xNc Hold On by Twila Paris. just a reminder that then coldest heart can change http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6dsPRK7NZhs A Cold Heart Turns by Rebecca St. James.

Let this be our battle cry we preach Jesus Christ risen until the whole world hears http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7qi2KlUffs Until the Whole World Hears by Casting Crowns

Psalms 119:97-112

This week has been very rough for me. Seems as if every other day i struggle with words. i work with someone who is very anti-God and that person seems to go out of their way to say hurtful things about Christianity. At times i have to remind myself God is big enough to defend himself and i need to keep my eyes on Him. I've also had some rough calls at work to the point i got in my car to go home and began praying because i didn't want to take that anger home to my wife or dog. i hope you learn from these verses as i need to as well.

Psalms 119:97-112

97-102. Keep your eyes fixed on God and let Him teach you and give you peace. see also Hebrews 12:1-4
103. "How sweet your words taste to me, they are sweeter than honey." Marion and i have called ourselves Food Ninjas and when we get hungry we want good food. Recently we went to Longhorn Steak and Ale and had the best meal ever. As a Christian coming to God's word should be your best and most important meal.
104. God's commands give understanding they expose falsehood.
105. "Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path." There's a few ways i can relate this verse. I read a lot of Forgotten Realms fantasy fiction and they describe dwarves as having the inate ability to navigate any underground passage. we don't have that. God's word is our lamp he is our guide. "Jesus told him, I am the way the truth and the life. No one can come to the Father except through me" Thru God's word we have the inate ability to navigate treacherous places. When Marion and i had our first date she asked to hold my arm because she is legally blind. I became her guide. we're like that we need to take God's arm and let Him guide us because we're clueless as to where we're going. He calls us sheep for a reason.
106. The psalmist promises to obey God. Keep that promise to obey.

107. He will rescue you He promised. Like Kerrie Roberts reminds us "Don't give up, don't give in, don't look back, don't let go you are not done yet."

108-112. Don't quit.

Keep Breathing even when things seem bad it's simple to say but it's harder than that. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RbDuM-f36Hs Keep Breathing by Kerrie Roberts This is Thy Word by Amy Grant and Michael W. Smith http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ig8dO3VVayw never forget this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2exW2cUdC4 God is Able by Hillsong when you have a bad day remember this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=77WLqoazcuk Stronger by Hillsong United

Continue the Mission

This is essentially what they call in the Comic book world a double digest meaning i have 2 bible studies here. The first was done while Marion was about to have her kidney surgery. the second just was prepared this past 2 weeks due to something God had taught me.

Psalms 119:81-96

So i had a talk recently with my dad about Bible study. He told me as a pastor that teaching the psalms was the hardest for him to relate to. I'm a pretty emotional person i tend to go from one extreme to the other. I find psalms easy to relate to because it's life and thoughts sometimes at its most raw elements. i told Pastor Greg that David and the writers in psalms are a lot like Kyle Rayner of the Green Lantern comics. They deal in emotions and choices and fight to make the right decisions during bad times. For those unfamiliar with Kyle Rayner he is one of the youngest and most passionate of the Green Lanterns. he fights a war constantly with emotions given super powers. it's a war of light against a light spectrum of life, rage, greed, will, hope, compassion and death. these are some of the exact same things David the Psalmist dealt with on a daily basis,

let's look at the verses

81-84. The Psalmist is crying out for God's rescue and it seems a long way off. His heart is set on God no matter how bad things seem. having a wife who for months has had medical problems things have seemed bad. I've felt a lot like the light at the end of the tunnel was an oncoming train but we hold firm on God's promises.
85-87. Ever had someone speak ill of you? Guess who can protect and comfort you in those times? Look to Jesus who was beaten, spat on, verbally and physically abused for you and me.
88. It's been said "The cheif end of man is to glorify God in our mortal bodies. Read this verse again. "in your unfailling love, spare my life; then i can continue to obey your laws."
89-90. God's word is eternal and his faithfulness is enduring.
91. See Romans 8:28
91-93. Obeying God's word is good for our lives
94-95. Stay in God's word

96. God's laws are perfect.

as always the music that goes with this. this is the story of the thief on the cross next to Jesus. Too Small a price by Don Francisco http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PlY_rcKXkGk We find our comfort in times of trouble in God alone. this is You Alone by Kim Hill one of my all time favorites. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkOsovM3e-M

Galatians 6:9-10

One of the most interesting things happened to me this past week. I know the verses i wrote above are not from Psalms like normal but i felt God has been teaching me something you may all need. doing an online bible study where at times i don't always see results in people's lives it can get very discouraging. over last weekend i received a card from Rebecca our life group coordinator. it was very encouraging to me. I told her i really needed that. the encouragement seemed reverberated on sunday during the sermon. then on tuesday we got a note from Pastor Greg basically building up Marion and i and our marriage and the ways we help at church. a phrase keeps coming back to me "continue the mission". i know my examples and references are different from any you may have heard but bear with me. I read this G.I.Joe comic called Snake Eyes Declassified. Snake Eyes has just risked his life for a friend his face and head were burnt and his teammates asked him what he wanted them to do. He wrote in the ground 2 letters "CM" or Charlie Mike in military terms he told them "Continue the mission." see the verses i mentioned above are special to me i had a teacher in college Yolanda Silva and she wrote those exact verses on the inside of my bible. "So let's not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessingif we don't give up. Therefore whenever we have the opportunity, we should do good to everyone- especially to those in the family of faith." Galatians 6:9-10 If God has you doing something and you are getting discouraged "Continue the Mission." He's at work whether we see it at the time or not. "And i am certain that God, who began a good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns." Philippians 1:6

found an oldie but a goodie All the Losers win by Degarmo and Key http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2c7U-lmII1I, today Marion and i were driving and it hit me this song would be perfect i give you Destined to Win by Degarmo and Key http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aU-our6Nk6E we need to remember at those times our source of strength. You are still Holy by Kim Hill http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MXS-FidS0Yw

Psalms 119:73-80

This bible study may seem a bit dated as it was being prepared about a week ago when Marion was in the hospital. she's out now.

I go to a church called Real Life Corpus and i'm going to be very real here. Sunday afternoon i had to take my wife to the emergency room for a kidney infection. i didn't react well and i haven't been. i reacted with tears then anger. Anger seems to have been my only response as of late. it makes me mad that she's not well. This morning she told me "When i was in the emergency room i was praying and said God i know you're in control of all this but i have to admit i'm very much human and i'm scared." She has since had the clergy, my parents, and Pastor Greg all come and pray with her. the peace she has from God seemed to pass to me before i left for work. My anger has subsided!

Psalms 119:73-80

73. "You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands." Am i the only one lacking in the sense to follow God's commands at times. "I think not baby puppy."
74. When was the last time others found in you a cause for joy? When did you last put your hope in God's words?
75-77. It's a learning process. Discipline+unfailling love+comfort=tender mercies. life+instructions=delight. First time i've used algebra in years. reminds me of a joke. "Dear Algebra stop asking me to find you X she's not coming back." sorry you guys know me i had to throw some humor in here. i like God's math problems. this also relates to Proverbs 12:1
78 Seems simple to me God will disgrace the arrogant who lie about us if we concentrate on his commandments.

79. it says "Let me be united with all who fear you." John 17:22-24 is Jesus prayer where He is praying that believers be united. What i said before is true Marion was trusting God i was lashing out and i needed to be trusting God. His peace settled on me when i did.

80. Don't we all long to be blameless in God's eyes? We've longed for that since the first sin in the Garden of Eden.

Jesus prayed we'd be united this is Make us One by Twila Pasris http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7WgxWm-6Qts. Let your light Shine before all men Shine by the Newsboys http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=givCI1M9Rh0. the title of this song says it all let the peace of God reign by darlene zschech http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dbrNFxiHuYg

Psalms 119: 49-72

There's a prayer i've often prayed in regards to this bible study and i still do. i ask God to give me the words he wants said because i may be a writer but my words are garbage His words are life.

49-52. I see hope, comfort and commitment caused by God's promises and laws.
53. I have felt furious with evildoers as well. i think God has given me a strong sense of justice in forming me into the person i am. There's a conversation i heard once that very much applies to this because we can be mad at evil but it's how we react to it that matters. About a yr ago i was watching a G.I.Joe cartoon and they had captured 2 Cobra agents one turned from evil and one did not. this conversation resulted. Leatherneck: "Some of em never learn" Beachhead: "Nope some of em never do. It's the ones we can help that get us out of bed in the morning." Yeah we get furious with evil but push that person back to God.
54-56. No better way to spend your life than obeying God.
57-62. The writer of this Psalm has set his course to follow God.
63-66. There is hope found here.
67-68. Learn from God's discipline

69-72. Turn to God when people speak ill of you.

This should be our passion http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y0dCqqiEUxs Beauty Mark by Natalie Grant. our lives will then become this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KcAmUNSEgsQ God Pleaser by Petra. we need to constantly do this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aFTwWNijJjA Standing on the promises by Selah. when our heart is in God's word and we're living on his promises His will becomes our will http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zRqYTricpX4 My will by DC Talk. as you push those around you to God remember this is why people matter http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7qi2KlUffs Until the whole world hears by Casting Crowns

Psalms 119:33-48

I started reading the verses and i remembered a very major thing i had made a commitment to in regards to this bible study. It's the love for God's word and his laws fround here that made me think of it. my commitment was this: Zac should never be the important part of the Batcave bible study. if i ever am something's wrong. God's word and God alone that's what i want seen never me. I've often prayed asking God to make me disappear till all people see is Him.

33. Teach me your decrees, o Lord, I will keep them to the end." This reminded me of Hebrews 11:21 at the end of the verse Jacob bowed his head in worship as he leaned on his staff. that's how this man breathed his last breath here on earth. In Matt Redman's song 10,000 reasons it says "And on that day when my strength is fading the end draws near let me be singing." We as people should long to praise God till our dying breath.
34-37. Submerge yourself in God's word.

38-40. You want your life renewed? God can do that!

41. "Lord give me your unfailling love the salvation that you promised me." This is a prayer he will most definitely answer. like the song says "Oh no you never let go in every high and every low Lord you never let go of me."

42. see Romand 8:31 and 8:38-39
43. Hope is found in God. "No further questions your honor."
44-48. God's word changes us.

just a reminder of God's unfailling love http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RB1NJV3rG6k You never let go by Matt Redman, sing to your King http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXDGE_lRI0E 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman This is How great is our God by Chris Tomlin http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ZFN8TBfgNU everytime you see the sun moon and stars look around you and realize there is still hope why because God will Light up the Sky http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8LQH6UDi15s Light up the Sky by the Afters. This is how we should all long for our lives to be http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6CNeQDBcs8 When all is said and done by Geoff Moore

Learn from me please

Tuesday night after we had eaten dinner i was having a problem. since Marion's surgery i have been trying to help her as much as i can. i had just started doing the dishes a task that makes me very angry. Marion had turned the tv off so i turned on our cd player which holds 60 cd's and it's set on random. I was trying to do all this housework just getting madder. i walked past Marion and she was standing in the living room singing, praising God with tears running down her face and her hands raised singing "Oh won't you let me love you more" by Misty Edwards. i took the garbage out stood holding on to the garbage can and prayed. "Lord please calm me, my wife is in there worshipping you and i'm getting mad. help me remember you are eternal and dishes are temporary." i walked back inside and just sat down listening to music and joined my wife in praising God. Philippians 4:8 says "And now, dear brothers and sisters, one final thing. Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right , and pure, and lovely. Think about these things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Adjust your focus back on God trust me the view is better. this is the song Marion was pouring out to God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5T_JaKSq27A Let me Love you More by Misty Edwards

when i told Marion i was going to type this up she called it a midweek bible study. trust me we will be back to psalms soon but in light of this being midweek i want to leave you with this song to encourage you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GDJT2QpXmas This is Light of Your Face by Misty Edwards. i want you to listen and smile.