Psalms 119:145-160

  Rescue is not a word I like most people if they really thought about it probably wouldn't either.  One reason I don't like the word is because I don't like the whole damsel in distress concept.  To me that plumber in Super Mario Bros. has a case of being nearly as stupid as the Princess he's trying to help.  She needed to stop getting into distress.  The real reason I don't like the word "Rescue" is this "Rescue" implies we need help.  We have a problem!  As humans that it's sometimes the hardest thing to admit.  It makes us feel weak and vulnerable and we don't like it.  As strong as the Hulk is he never wants to admit he needs puny Banner.  The Psalmist in these verses is crying repeatedly for rescue.  This past Sunday Pastor Micah challenged the men to daily surrender to God.  Daily to me is not often enough.  Rescue and surrender make us weak.  But remember this "in all of our weakness He becomes our strength giving us the power and the strength to carry on." 

145.  It says the Psalmist cried with all of his heart.  I don't know about you but that's a lot of crying out for help if I'm using all of my heart. 

146.  He cries to the Lord to save him.  Last I checked "Salvation belongs to our God."  Off to a good start so far. 
147-148.  This guy is seriously seeking God and His word day and night. 

149.  He's appealing to God's loving-kindness.  Wanna know a secret about that read Lamentations 3:22-26

150.  Here's the reason he needs to be rescued it's because of wicked people. 
151-152.  God's truth is established and will last forever.
153-154.  He's seeking rescue
155.  Wake up Wicked and seek salvation.
156.  He knows the secret about God's mercies
157-160.  Look at his focus it's utter dependence on God.

 

Fall on your face and express utter dependence on God http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iqUZBGTyM9c You Alone by Kim Hill  Call upon your King for he will rescue you http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SVUy6UHVzEQ Rooftops by Jesus Culture,  This is a song called One more Round by Barlow Girl that reminds us in our battle in life we can't even claim a victory on our own because we depend on God.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZwspoaMFtwU the video is a little weird because someone used the cartoon Avatar to depict it.  it's the characters Toph and Katara struggling but I liked it.  we have been talking about rescue this is My Deliverer by Rich Mullins and the Ragamuffin Band http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac4GnpqXQAQ When you cry out to God remember to give Him all of yourself holding nothing back.   God of All by Sandi Patti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJaftSojO0s

Psalms 119:129-144

  I learned something recently and being a husband I'm probably not going to be done learning for a long time nor do I want to.  I admit I had to learn the hard way.  My wife and I were going to Rudy's bbq and we had just parked when I got asked to do something I can't stand.  So I found myself at Lowe's in the gardening section I was mentally having to tell myself not to be mad.  It finally hit me.  This is something my wife enjoys.  The closer you get to someone in a relationship the more you understand them.  The bible is full of relationships of people who have drawn closer to the King of Kings and when you do like a husband and wife you're changed.  There's millions of examples from Adam to Moses, to Abraham to David.  In these verses I noticed the psalmist be changed. 

 

129.  When we draw close to God's word we do see it as being wonderful.

130.  "The teaching of your word gives light, so even the simple can understand."  My dad has a saying about teaching the bible.  "You put the cookies on the bottom shelf."  What this means is make it where anyone can understand.  It might seem wrong  saying this but Bible study for dummies.  I don't think it's wrong though because God wants us to learn.  

131-134.  God's word creates a longing.  It's a display of his mercy and a shield from evil.

135.  "Look upon me with love; teach me your decrees."  This is a prayer.  Need an example of God looking on us in love look to a cross and an empty tomb.  He did that for me and you because of love.

136.  "Rivers of tears gush from my eyes because people disobey your instructions."  I wrote a story recently and I ended part of it with this statement I had told a friend once.  "When you experience God's glory it breaks your heart to hear people use God's name in vain."  I get what the psalmist is saying here.

137-140.  God's word is right and trustworthy and has been proven repeatedly.

141.  "I am insignificant and despised, but I don't forget your commandments."  in other words "Amazing Grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me".  

142-144.  To paraphrase a little here from the Blue Lanterns.  Look to God's word and commands for "Hope burns bright."     

 

 

The bible is our source for God's commands and Words.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ouTgX9hcwk4 Ancient Words by Michael W. Smith.  This should be a Christian's goal to have God Draw you nearer.  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pA9V1JzM0p0 Draw me nearer by Caedmon's Call   I said Hope burns bright well here's Hope set High by Amy Grant http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=asL6V-xCu-4  This is Amazing Grace by Sandi Patti http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JriA3vjaZz4

wake up call

Recently i found out that the Athiest community is going to have a "Day of Reason" to show support for those who are athiests to let them know they are not alone and learn about reason due to the fact there is no God in their minds. This doesn't quite make sense to me as a Christian. i even heard an athiest become mad because a few Christians said they would pray for that person. the Christian band Petra has a song called Sleeping Giant and i feel part of it is very appropriate here. this is referring to the church the body of believers "And the sleeping Giant gets a wake up call." maybe we as believers need one. this is from Psalms 14:1 "For the director of music. Of David. The fool says in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, their deeds are vile; there is no one who does good." How does an Athiest have a day of reason when they eleiminate the very God who gave them the ability to reason. well we just threw logic out the window according to their day of reason by claiming God doesn't exist awhen creation and changed lives testify to that daily. This is from Romans 1:28 "Since they thought it foolish to acknowledge God, he abandoned them to their foolish thinking and let them do things that should never be done." God's word is proven even by unbelievers. James 2:19 further states this "You say you have faith, for you believe that there is one God. Good for you! Even the demons believe this, and they tremble in terror." if Demons tremble what makes a human so bold as to say God doesn't exist. remember this people "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." from 2 Peter 3:9. God will return for his people don't be discouraged keep preaching Christ crucified and ressurrected. this is from Romans 14:11 "For the Scriptures say, "'As surely as I live,' says the LORD, every knee will bend to me, and every tongue will confess and give praise to God.'" be encouraged. there shouldn't be one day of prayer but we should live a lifestyle of prayer. Psalms 7:11 says this "God is an honest judge. He is angry with the wicked every day." Romans 5:8 gives unbelievers clear hope if they choose to accept it "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." but the bible further states in Romans 10 "9If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved. 11As Scripture says, “Anyone who believes in him will never be put to shame.” ^e 12For there is no difference between Jew and Gentile—the same Lord is Lord of all and richly blesses all who call on him, 13for, “Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” ^{this so called day of reason well it's not really reasonable. pray hard for the unbelievers you know! as a human you can willingly bend your knee to God or you can be forced it's your choice.}

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MJkhqL4WTu4 this is the Song Sleeping Giant i referenced

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