Bat Cave

Monday, March 20, 2017

Protection

As a security guard I walk a lot at night and on those walks I go up a few hills or stand by the waters edge. I get to see rabbits. On my walks I pray and thank God for the beautiful scenery. Towards the end of my night shift I get to watch the sunrise. Unlike those working days I go home and sleep during the day. I try to make it a habit to pray before sleeping. I have friends who complain they can't sleep. Maybe you need to seek God in prayer. I have days where my mind won't shut up when I need to sleep. King David had part of the secret. In Psalms 4:8 "In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe." This was a man who spent a majority of his adulthood being in Wars, chased by Saul and Absalom, or some form of physical threat. Stop and think about that for a moment because it's easy to just read stuff and not have it sink in. I don't know at what part of David's life that he wrote this but here's a shepherd turned giant killer, quickly turned into a warrior then king but his life was rarely at peace yet he can sleep soundly at night because he trusts in God for protection. See when we pray we trust that God is going to handle things and if it's before bed you find a peace that allows you to rest. Psalms 5:11-12 "But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord; you surround them with your shield of love." I think as Christians we forget we are loved and protected and God can give us rest. Psalms 23:2 is a verse I often pray as a request to God. "He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams He renews my strength." When you're weary and your brain won't shut up before you stab your brain with a q-tip try turning your problems over to God and let him give you rest. He can restore your soul. "Don't worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God's peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:6-7

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Monday, March 13, 2017

Not to Us

I have been reading in Jeremiah and Ezekiel and they're not always the most cheerful books in the Bible. Nestled in the judgment of Babylon in chapter 51 of Jeremiah is this passage that I believe we need. Consider this a moment where God says this is who I Am and why you should pay attention.

"The Lord made the earth by his power, and preserves it by his wisdom. With his own understanding he stretched out the heavens. When he speaks in the thunder, the heavens are filled with water. He causes the clouds to rise over the earth. He sends the lightning with the rain and releases the wind from his storehouses. The whole human race is foolish and has no knowledge! The craftsmen are disgraced by the idols they make, for their carefully shaped works are a fraud. These idols have no breath or power. Idols are worthless; they are ridiculous lies! On the day of reckoning they will all be destroyed. But the God of Israel is no idol! He is the creator of everything that exists, including his people, his own special possession. The Lord of Heaven's Armies is his name!" Jeremiah 51:15-19

This should lead us to worship very much like the Psalmist did in Psalms 115 because the glory doesn't belong to us but to God.

1Not to us, O LORD, not to us,

but to your name goes all the glory

for your unfailing love and faithfulness.

2Why let the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

3Our God is in the heavens,

and he does as he wishes.

4Their idols are merely things of silver and gold,

shaped by human hands.

5They have mouths but cannot speak,

and eyes but cannot see.