I had a party yesterday.
I sulked, would not talk to anyone, hid away, did not bathe or get dressed, took a long nap and sighed, "Oh God". Any of you ever have a party like this?
Things were not going the way I wanted, as fast as I wanted. I did not sleep well the night before and blamed everyone in the house for it, including the cat. When you are sleep deprived, everything seems worse. It was a cloudy day, cold, windy and snowing - that did not help. I had thought I would get out to run errands but just did not want to in that messy weather. You notice the smallest issue: the dog is barking at the dog that is barking 4 blocks away, the house is a mess, the doctor did not return my phone call and my husband didn't wring out the dishrag - again. No matter he is busy hanging wallpaper for me, he never wrings out the dishrag.
A few doors were slammed, conversation was ignored and I had a good cry in the bathroom - which all went unnoticed. Which made it worse: nobody cares! I took my car keys and left without a word to anyone about where I was going or when I would be back. I didn't even dress; went out in my "jammy jeans" and house slippers (in the cold snow). When
I left the house, I told myself I would go to my friends and cheer her
up. The
best thing for self pity is to do something for someone
else and take your mind off yourself. That is what I told myself I was going to do. That's what I told myself. I knew she was also in the middle of some personal issues and misery loves company. In my subconscious, I was dying to tell her how the universe was being so unfair to me. Boo hoo! I drove to her house and the two of us had an intimate pity party. We discussed everything wrong in our lives at that moment and ended up laughing about it all. Ain't friends great !?
Today the sun is out, I had a good nights sleep and got in some exercise. Today, it is clear to me that yesterday was a pity party for myself and I even shared it with a friend. Today, I am reminded of Jonah who had a pity party after God made him go to Nineveh to warn people he did not think deserved a second chance. He sat down under a tree, by himself and whined to God who was exercising his graceful mercy to these people. Jonah 4:11
I am also reminded of Elijah (who's name actually means, "Yahweh is Grace"), as he fled the threats of Jezebel in IKings 19. He had a great pity party. Elijah had just killed all the false prophets and torn down idols (a great story in IKings 18). How soon Elijah forgot this all happened by the hand of God. Elijah knew God did this great work through him, but did not consider that God could save him from Jezebel.
A pity party can serve us as a lesson from God. We need to find more faith in the one who created time and space. We have to get going when the going is tough. The sun comes out tomorrow. There is always sun behind the clouds. God is in His heaven and loves us as individuals.
Let us not forget the amazing story of Job. After he got over his pity party, God restored everything to him PLUS.
Let Job be this lesson: when we accept our circumstances, God gets involved. Nothing is accomplished as long as we are partying on our own and whining about our situation. Let's face it, having God involved is much better than not.
A pity party is a total waste of time and effort. It is absolute self absorption and accomplishes nothing. No one wants to come to our party.
It does give the enemy reason to celebrate. He is happy to see us unhappy with, and doubting God. Score one for the enemy of heaven when I have a pity party.
In my defense, I will say it is the first in a long time. Once I shake it off, I usually come back like a warrior; ready to do whatever it takes to be right with God. I have apologized to my Heavenly Father and I can always hope that is the last one - just like the last time I hosted one. We are all a work in progress and God is waiting to forgive us - again. Thanks to God, we get a little better each time.
Amen
This year, my husband and I decide (actually I decided) we would stay home for our meal. My husband's huge family is hours away and since his parents are both gone, his siblings have their own children and grandchildren to feast with. My remaining family is hundreds of miles away. I always miss my grandmothers' recipes and wanted some leftovers on my favorite holiday of the year.
For the past ten years Steven and I have attended the community buffet meal provided by a large church in our small rural town. It is always nice to see town folk that you know and don't know. We sit at a large table with friends and neighbors who didn't cook for one reason or another. Some are elderly and not well, some bring their family, some live alone and various other reasons that make a community meal so inviting. Desserts, turkey and salads are always donated by the community and a jar is available for donations to help pay for the side dishes. Volunteers from church and community start early to prep everything in the large kitchen and make deliveries to shut ins. Sometime after the first or second shift, Santa shows up with small gifts donated by fire and police personnel. It is an amazing community effort.
When I got up this morning, my thoughts went to friends and how they would be spending the day.
I have one friend that has already had one holiday meal. She is part of a family and extended family that can never decided when and who will host the meal. Parents want one, in-laws want one and children want a meal with their parents and kids. I envy her all the food but not all the fussing and hurt feelings that hang over this holiday. All in all, my friend makes a great effort to appease everyone and look for the bright side.
Another friend will host a meal at her dining room table with family and be exhausted for days. She prays all the grandchildren make it home and anxiously accommodates great grandchildren. She loves her family. Her house is decorated for Christmas and there is a parade on the television as prelude to the football game. Lots of food from her kitchen and her children's. They will have time to catch up on what each other has been doing lately and how they are contending with health and family issues. Lots of talk across the table, coffee with the dessert buffet and sleepy heads afterwards.
A neighbor friend is surely sad this year. She is not able to cook and serve her family in the tradition she has created. She has been fighting terrible infections for a couple months now, due to an injury that is not healing. She has created a family that depends on her. However, this is their chance to shine and take care of things for her, as I am sure they will. This is the kind of woman who is always busy serving others and it will not be easy for her to sit and be waited on but well deserved. It is important to be on the receiving end of the giving once in awhile. We seldom stop to think of the great pleasure we derive from doing the serving.
I am concerned about another friend having health issues; seems like one after another for several years now. She and her husband will be going to family for their meal and socializing. Grandchildren will be visiting from the city with a new beau or news of a job promotion. Some even bring pets with them, which are always accepted. I am sure she will come home exhausted but oh so happy not to have clean up in her home this year. It is so great to have family to share with.
One friend I am particularly happy for this year. She and her husband have been invited to the house of her daughter in the city for her meal. It seems that for a reason, unknown to her, that the relationship between the two of them has been distant for several years. This meal was her daughter's idea and my friend is elated. It will be a wonderfully special day for her.
Do you see yourself in any of these situations? Steven and I do not have children, family is unaccessible and friends are preoccupied. We are looking forward to our meal together with hearts full of gratitude for all of God's blessings which includes our marriage. We always miss family but are making our own tradition.
I know that grace of great gratitude will be said at each table I have mentioned.
May the Lord bless you and your family today with loving conversation, fellowship, great food and safe travels.
Amen
We hear it all the time: "God loves you", "Jesus loves you".
What does this really mean?
It
has been used until we don't think about the meaning. We don't connect
the words to their meaning. There are those who would use this to
control where you attend church, your finances, your opinions. You are
told God loves you, then subject to a sermon of wrath, hell fire or eye
for an eye.
Let's just explore these issues.
Wrath:
Yes, God had wrath alright, especially in the Old Testament. But, if
we actually search it out, His wrath was directed at non believers, evil
doers, idol worshipers and enemies of His people. Yes, He did punish
various of His people but only as a loving father must discipline a
child who misbehaves for the good of the child. His people were always
restored after the discipline. You ask, "What about the times when
Israelites were order to wipe out a people - even their children - even
their flocks - and take no plunder?" I answer: Those to be wiped out
were idol worshiping enemies of God's people. I did a study of the idol
Baal and the Ashera poll. The Ashera poll was a carving of the goddess
Ashera and it was not modest (to say the least). What they did to
babies and children was an absolute abomination to God. Mass graves
have been uncovered with hundreds, even thousands of children's
skeletons. They practiced horrific mockery of God with priests and
priestesses involved in public intercourse followed by orgies. God is a
just God to wipe them from the face of the earth.
Hell fire:
It is doctrine. There is hell fire. But, only for non believers.
Those who actually believe in Jesus as the Son of God sent for the
atonement of human sin, have nothing to fear of a hell fire. Isn't that
great? Those of us who believe are already saved through our belief
in Jesus Christ. Once you have accepted His sacrifice as your saving
grace, you cannot lose it. The rapture will lift all believers from
this world before God's wrath comes in the final days. The "Lamb's Book
of Life" (Rev.21:27) will be read later; after the New Jerusalem comes down from heaven - after
Jesus defeats Satan Rev.19:11 - 21. We will already be with Him,
bringing down the new Jerusalem, when the Book of Life is read. If we
follow a sequence of events: the rapture of believers, three and one
half years of the reign of an anti Christ, his defeat, the New
Jerusalem, reading the Book of Life, we see that Christian believers
will actually be with Jesus before all this. Jesus cannot
re-judge believers He has already taken up into the clouds to be with
Him. Is He going to read the Book of Life and say, "Oooops! I didn't
know that about you; get out!" I don't think so. Christian believers
do not face a judgement. We will be taken up to meet Him in the
clouds. God is faithful to His faithful.
Eye for an eye:
In Ex.21:24 this first appears as God gives Moses instructions for
governing the Israelites. This is the Old Testament - the Old Covenant
with the Israelite people. Jesus brought a New Testament and taught in
Mt.5:38 & 39 that you are now to turn the other cheek. The old
covenant of law has been replaced with the new covenant of grace through
Jesus. God's amazing grace.
To
be loved by God is to be safe, provided for, at peace, confident, worry
free and happy. No one can love like the Creator of time and space,
stars and suns, wind and the very atoms that comprise all things.
Story:
There was a scientist who came to God and declared, "We can now create
life in the laboratory. I am like you." God replies, "Is that so?
Let's just prove your claim." The scientist agreed they would each
create a human being. When the scientist reached down to gather the
dirt to begin his creation, God stopped him and said, "Oh no you don't.
Go get your own dirt."
Challenge:
I dare you to disprove God or Jesus. Throughout history, every time
someone sets out to disprove His existence, they either come to believe
in Him or give up in frustration. Go ahead; I dare you - actual proof.
You
ask me for proof of His existence? I point you to the Bible - a
perfect puzzle where all the pieces fit and the old reveals the new and
the new proves the old. I point you to the man of Jesus; perfect,
without sin (Heb.9:14, IPe.1:19). It was very important in the Old
Covenant that all sacrifices be "without blemish". He began a movement
that has lasted 2,000 years and survived wars and persecution all that
time just to flourish stronger than ever. No other movement or religion
in the world has with stood such opposition.
I fear I have strayed from the subject of love.
See
God as the perfect father. He loves you so much that He wants to give
you everything that is good for you. Being a good father, who knows you
from your beginning, He knows what is best for you. He knows if you
touch the hot stove, you will get burned. That's why He has rules; just
like you give your kids - because you LOVE them. If you did not grow
up with a concerned father, surrender to God and find out what the
perfect father can be: never leave you, protect you, guide, discipline,
provide every need, teach, listen and care. Experience His perfect
love.
Then,
consider the ultimate. Having a son that you adore. This perfect
being is your absolute joy but to save all of His bad siblings, this
child must be punished severely and tortured to death. Oh, how He loves
you and me.
Deut.5:10, Jdgs.5:31, Ps.119:132, Jn.14:23
Time demands I move on with my day. Think on these things and come back. We'll share some more.
Amen
The Psalms were written as independent pieces, by many authors, for different purposes over many centuries. David is the best known author but not the only one. Despite this, they are listed in a sort of "Divine Order". There is a divine order to everything in the Bible. Psalm 72 is accepted as written by Solomon while Psalm 90 is accepted as being written by Moses.
In II Sam 22 and I Chr 16 you can find two more Psalms of David. In Psalms 18 and 105 you can find lines from these two Psalms. Note: we are told in I Chronicles that the Psalm is by David. Therefore, Ps 105 cannot be an "orphaned" Psalm, as stated below.
David was favored by God because he offered so much praise. We should recognize God through praise much more than we do. I believe His favor would be greater, if we did.
The words "Psalm" and "Psalter" come from the Greek translation of the Old Testament where they originally referred to stringed instruments such as harp, lyre and lute, then to songs sung with their accompaniment. Some are written as prayer to God and others written as praise of God; prayer and praise as professions of faith and trust.
There are 150 Psalms: 34 lack super scriptions; they were written above or outside something else.
Psalms: 1 & 2 are known as "The Introductory" Psalms
Songs of the Sons of Korah: 42 - 49, 84 & 85, 87 & 88
Songs of Asaph: 50, 73 - 83
Songs of Ascents: 120 - 134
Psalms 93 through 100 carry a theme of "The Lord Reigns".
Psalms 113 through 118 are known as "The Hallel" (Hallel means praise) and are recited by Observant Jews on Jewish Holy Days as an act of praise and thanksgiving.
Psalms 120 through 136 are referred to as "The Great Hallel". Hallel is a Jewish prayer, a verbatim recitation of praise.
Psalms 146 - 150 are recognized as "The Conclusion" Psalms. They proclaim praise to the Lord more than others.
There are further compilations. These writings are separated into five books, each of which was provided with an appropriate concluding doxology.
Book 1: In Psalms 1 - 41 "Yahweh" is used and are pre exile from the period of the monarchy. This name (Yahweh) is the greatest reverence for God.
Book 2: In Psalms 42 - 72 "Elohim" is used and are also pre exile and from the period of the monarchy. "Elohim" is a plural word referring to God and Jesus (if not also the Holy Spirit).
Book 3: 73 - 89
Book 4: 90 - 106
Book 5: 107 - 150
* In Psalm 110, David is proclaimed as "a priest forever" along with being a king, composer, warrior and prophet.
It has been speculated, these books may have been divided to make five because Moses wrote five books.
Psalms that are not credited to an author are sometimes called "orphaned". They are: 1, 2, 10, 33, 43, 71, 91, 93 through 97, 99, 104 through 107, 111 through 119, 135 through 137 and 146 through 150.
Psalms 10 and 43 are believed, by some, to be continuations of their previous psalm. This would exempt them from "orphan" status.
Interesting:
Psalm 117 = shortest chapter
Psalm 119 = longest chapter
Psalm 118 = middle chapter of the Bible
594 chapter before Psalm 118
+594 chapters after Psalm 118
1188 = Ps. 118:8 Read this verse !
*(This has to be divine order)
The book of Psalms is called "heart of the Bible"
David, the author, is called "A man after God's heart"
The Psalms are written as songs to God
The word Psalm means "Song/hymn"
The Psalms are poetic, prophetic, encouraging, instructional, exalt God, hopeful and conversational.
Examples:
Fearful? Read Psalms 56, 91, 23
discouraged: 42
lonely: 62, 71
sinful: 32, 51
worried: 37,73
angry: 13, 58
resentful: 77, 94
forsaken: 88
doubting: 119
The word "Selah" appears in 39 Psalms and the book of Habakkuk. The meaning of this word has been discussed a lot. I, personally, believe it to have three meanings depending on where it is placed. It could mean to take a pause for reflection. It can mean a pause to listen for God to convey a message to you. In certain psalms that refer to the end time, a place of refuge or safety, it can refer to the place known as Petra. In this instance, Selah/Petra relates to a place next to The Valley of Moses. The Hebrew word "Selah" translates into the Greek word "Petra". This place has a fascinating history. (I will be writing on this topic at a later date.)
I want to end with the Introduction to the Book of Psalms from the Hebrew Old Testament (The Tenach):
For nearly three thousand years, every situation in a Jew's life has been reflected in King David's Book of Psalms. Referring to this Book, God said to David, "One day of your songs and praises is more precious to Me than the thousands of offerings that will be brought by your son Solomon." In illness and in strife, in triumph and in success, the Jew opens his Book of Psalms and lets David become the harp upon which his own emotions sing or weep. Who can assess the worth of the little Book that has been the chariot bearing countless tears to the Heavenly Throne?
Upon reading of King David's many ordeals, one can begin to understand how he could compose the psalms that capture every person's joy and grief, thanksgiving and remorse, cries from the heart and songs of happiness. He was the Sweet Singer of Israel; more than that however, he experienced the travail of every person, and that is why everyone can see himself mirrored in David's psalms.
Many of the psalms were composed to be sung by the Levites in the Temple, with musical accompaniment, and such psalms generally begin by naming the instrument upon which they would be played. Many of the psalms are attributed to authors other than David, but according to one view in the Talmud, he was the author of them all, presumably drawing upon ideas or texts and weaving them into his own compositions.
Whatever the authorship of the psalms, one thing is certain: Since the day it was composed, the Book of Psalms has become interwoven with the souls of countless Jews. The psalms are part of the daily prayers. They are recited at moments of illness and crisis. They are changed joyously in times of good fortune and when heartfelt prayers have been answered. The last verse of the Book proclaims: "Let all souls praise God, Hallelujah!" The Sages expounded homiletically that the verse also means to teach: "Praise God for every breath that you are privileged to take." This degree of gratitude that sees everything - even as automatic an act as drawing breath - as a Divine gift is one of the countless teachings of David. It is the soul that permeates the entire Book of Psalms.
Amen
Let us not forget the amazing story of Job. After he got over his pity party, God restored everything to him PLUS.
