Source: http://fresh-hope.com/thread/3437/daily-time-lord-2?page=1
Timestamp: 2019-04-22 10:01:17+00:00

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Starting a new thread for us here.
Before I talk about some of the things you mentioned, I don't want to forget about on first waking up.
That is before, I cry out to Jesus and/or wrong actual thoughts creep in.
and eventually 'depressed' but the thoughts of 'why' I was afraid etc. went away, and just the gloomy down unhappy to face a morning remained?
it's only been from talking with you and looking at the sin, and from God's perspective and some actual real ways to truly be able to overcome, that I have felt I might have victory over the darkness with Jesus help.
for decades I had no real way of fighting it.....not really because I needed Biblical ways, and God's help.
sense of gloom in the morning...along with all the other things we talked about...physical pain, not being able to do all I hope to accomplish etc etc.
but I wondered since the surgeon said it was like connecting a fire hose to a straw....if he might have digestive problems for awhile or even all his life? maybe you have some insight to set my worries and fears at ease about that?
Anyway, one neat positive thing you said about waking up was that God still has something for us to do.....it may be we can't do much physically, but prayer can be a very powerful thing....and I was thinking being a prayer warrior is quite and honor!!
Another cool thing was you said, Jesus was waiting for us to get up to spend time with us!!!
Wow! What an amazing thought!!!
That is certainly a not gloomy thought....I wish someone had told me that years ago! So thank you so much!!
The reminder that Jesus had no physically 'beauty' was also very helpful!
but we soon learn that they are in fact, drop deal gorgeous!!
grey-haired, ...I understand that is just stating 'facts'.....but why do they always have to put almost more, or a lot, of focus on how old and frumpy, they are?
Couldn't they show more of the beauty you talked about the friend you knew who at first was NOT pretty but within an hour with her, you began to see her as 'beautiful'......as God sees the elderly?
Anyway.....it just seems like the world's standard of beauty is even in Christian novels...novels which in ever other way, have great example of Biblical principals.
even 'beautiful' in some.....and the same in most movies etc.
I like very much how you explained God did not need our praise....like some egotistical being....WE need to praise...just like prayer is for our benefit....God already know, what we need and everybody else....He allows us the privilege and honor to be able to in some way join with Him and be with Him and communicate with Him.
Oh and it was also so helpful when you said we are not our bodies.
But why do so many people like to look at 'beauty'?
kind the same way if you have a beautiful home and furniture and cars etc.
so I need to be patient.
Concerning Liam, most babies grow up without any further digestive problems once the surgery is over. So just because he had surgery, doesn't mean he will have problems later, in fact, because of the surgery he shouldn't have any problems later, as that was the whole point of it.
Yes! Praying for others is a very serious and very honorable job! I remember after I got hurt and was beginning to get worse and had to start dropping out of things at church cause I couldn't do them anymore, I was talking about it with one of the elders and told them that as painful as it was to not be able to do the things I used to do at church like being on the worship team etc, that no matter what happened, there was one thing that Satan couldn't take from me and that was my ability to pray. I was absolutely determined that nothing would ever stop that because even if i got so bad that I couldn't get out of bed, I could still pray. And that's what I've done ever since. Although I rarely get out of the house, usually only once a week when we do the shopping, I pray for people I see on the street, or in the store, just whoever the Lord points out to me. I pray for the people I hear about on the news and the people Bruce works with. He tells me all that happens at his job every day, including who's sick, who's having family problems etc. then of course I still pray for you and all the regular members of FH and some that aren't regular members - again, whoever the Lord leads me to pray for. Then there's my neighbors and of course my own family, and the body of Christ in general. And my daughter is always calling me asking me to add people to my prayer list. Even Elijah and Grace ask me to pray for their teachers and friends, so i do. So the list is very long.
Yes, Jesus can't wait for us to wake up and spend time with Him every day. He just loves us so very much! I wanted to ask you before I forget, are you adding the things like this to your notebook so you won't forget them?
Worldly beauty is one of the idols that many Americans have, just like others have the idol of money, power or fame. (or all the above) When I see people that the world considers beautiful, I don't see them that way at all. I see the poisonous lies they've accepted and what it's done to them. To me, beautiful is someone without makeup who you can see is innocent of those lies, someone who, like a child, accepts themselves the way the Lord made them and simply enjoys the life they've been given.
Still I love verse 3..... I know it is the absolute truth.....God's love IS better than life!!
and so another reason for giving Him glory....and in v. 4 for praising Him!!
And v. 5 mentions singing...it was funny the other night a for maybe the first time sang to Leonard a refrain of a hymn and he said: "what a nice voice you have"
I was really stunned...I did not think so....I thought, I had the right tempo, timing and correct words.....but nice voice?????
Maybe in Heaven He will give me a truly lovely voice to sing to Him?
That's wonderful that you sang the psalm! Keep it up! And do keep listening to worship songs or hymns. There's nothing better than to have that in the background all the time even.
Yes, because His love is better than life is so very true.... we need to always remember that and really know that deep inside.
As I was going over my memory verses today, it occurred to me that one of them might be really good for you and so would the verse that comes after it. Let me share them with you and you can decide if they might help you.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”” (Galatians 2:20–21) When I read those verses, it reminds me that I live for Christ, not myself, and that He is living in me giving me what I need to live this life. The second one reminds me that although I still sin, even though I try not to, it's because righteousness can't be gained by my trying, but only through Christ who lived a perfect life for me. What do you think? Would it help you to remember these?
You can skip to psalm 65 next if you want and we'll just continue from there.
Just so you know, I also copied the last few replies to the other thread "the joy of the lord" fresh-hope.com/thread/3256/joy-lord-strength so that we'd always be able to find them as they're specifically about how you feel when you wake up and are things to help you with that.
But of course, like I said, even in some very wonderful Bible studies in the past....that particular issue never came up.....tho many many other helpful, and useful things were covered.
But THE most precious Bible study for me, has been with you.
The others were good, one even very good.....but they can't even come close to your wonderful one on one tailored to my hurts, pains, self-centeredness, wrong thinking etc. However, you explain everything with such care, such gentleness, truly loving, always based on God's word etc. that I have never ever been able to figure out why you don't have thousands of Christians beating down you web site door, begging to be able to do Bible study with you?????
It is such a mystery to me...it makes no sense to me at all, that you don't have hundreds, nay thousands wanting you to lead a Bible study with them?
It is on a much smaller scale but reminds of me the same absolute total mystery as to why every human being that ever existed would not want Jesus to save them for all eternity......I understand people thinking, they are not worthy ( none of us are), I even understand, people being confused for a time, and even angry at God for circumstances in their lives ( I understand, i am not saying it is right.....not at all.....but I understand it).....but what sane person would not want the God of all creation to love them and save them for all eternity????? Its insane.....maybe a person might think that God doesn't love them.....but still their heart's desire would be that somehow, God would take pity on them.....otherwise its insanity.
So I need to get back to it!!!
But probably not today. Yesterday, Leonard was not able to help me clean the Vacation rental apt. for Landlord much and I spent over 6 hours cleaning in such a way, it really inflamed my right arm, so that I couldn't sleep last night, even with pain meds....just waaaay over the top.
Leonard is getting an MRI for his toe as I am writing.
"I never thought I would ever be excited about a poop!
But Liam has had his first poop ever, which is a good sign"!!!
and most of all because the fact she is with the Lord often each day, lends her a beauty, no amount of make-up could ever begin to reach.
I am not going to write much more because keeping my arm, hands and shoulders in the typing, searching etc. extended hurts on just an average normal day.....but I am still hurting a lot from yesterday, and really would just like to lay down......sigh!
But I did seriously over do and caused waaaaay more inflammation which is making my pinched nerves scream! sigh!!!
and v.3 God forgives our sins!!!!
you call forth songs of joy."
Verses 9-13 talks of how God cares for the earth and v. 13 has yet another joy word connected with song I am thinking there may be an application in that for me, at some time).
they shout for joy and sing."
It's really not self centered thinking hon, it's working out why something is happening to you and in a case like that, it's obviously going to be about you and so in that sense "self centered", but not in a sinful way.
you're such a sweetheart! I can easily tell you why people don't want to study the way you have. Most people do not at all want to know what their sins are or how to fix things God's way. They'd much rather take a pill and believe it's not their fault, even though they never get better. In other cases when the problem is with a marriage, they'd rather believe it's their spouses fault and that they're perfect, or if their spouse is an unbeliever that that's the problem. Again, they don't want to look at themselves. That's the very last thing people want to do today. They also don't want to give up any false teaching they've picked up, like if they're sick or in pain that God will heal them if they only have enough faith, or if they need money, the same thing. They simply don't want to know the Truth, just like God warned us through Paul. They either prefer to teaching of demons, or at the very best, simply ignore themselves and the problems and continue on as they are, maybe even studying the bible, but not applying it to themselves... except the parts they like lol.
I hope Leonard's toe is getting better. That's great about Liam! I think I've heard every first time parent talk about their baby's first poop LOL.
I honestly can't remember which books did that. The best I can suggest is to simply keep your eyes open to look for it when it does show up.
I'm sorry you're in so much pain hon. I'll be praying for you to feel better. I'm not feeling very good either and neither is Bruce today, although he went to work anyway, poor guy.
Great! Have you been able to continue to listen to hymns or praise and worship songs regularly, even in the background as you're doing something else? I hope you continue to sing along at times too!
Since we were talking about prayer recently, I wanted to share that I'm re-reading a book about prayer that's one of the best I've ever read and wanted to share it with you. It's in my bible library though. I checked though, and you can get it for only .99 cents for Kindle! That's fantastic! His other books are great too, but I thought maybe we could read this one together. It's called, The Inner Chamber and the Inner Life, By Andrew Murray, in 1905.
like I said, good timing).
I had ( and I think I may still have somewhere) a book or 2 by Andrew Murray....I will go look at some point, and see if I have that title or no by him.
I told him....well over the past years I have had 3 false positives and then biopsies sooooo I am done!!
He then said....we have a new machine, that hurts a lot less, and hardly ever gives false positives.
He is big on mammograms because years ago he lost his mother to breast cancer.
You are due for a pneumonia shot.
But not today, next time I come in!!!!!
I suppose you are right about folks but I feel so selfish and blessed to have you all to myself.....people have NOOOOOOO idea what they are missing.
how can that not be anything but a WIN and blessing, relief from pain, sorrow, hurting to safety, true freedom but most of all LOVE of the Savior.
How completely up to date.....who says the Bible is not relevant for today!!!!
I sooooo need that reminded because Evil in all forms seems to be growing at a breakneck speed!!!
But then...what are we to do as evil grows and grows and grows???
and wait patiently for him;"
God says again in v. 7 we are not to fret, even when they carry out their evil schemes.
do not fret—it leads only to evil."
Then he goes on the talk a bit about the evil doers for the next few verses.
and goes on further and compares the righteous with the evil doers lives.
v. 28 says He will not forsake us!!!!
That is something Jesus said also and is so comforting.
and v. 37 says a future awaits us....the wicked may indeed have his or her time for a very short time on earth, but then, that's it....never again ( unless they repent, turn from their wicked ways, and trust on Jesus).
But God is a stronghold even in times of trouble for the righteous!
I will put my hope in the Lord.
About that book, I was remembering wrong. Although the first few chapters are about prayer, the rest is about studying the bible, so don't worry about it. It's an excellent book, just not what I remembered it was at first. Sorry about that.
I'm so sorry your arm is still hurting so badly. I'll keep praying for you hon. That's funny about your PT talking you into things like that. Just remember, don't allow him to talk you into something you truly don't want. I'm with you about the mammograms. I had the same problem and have refused to have another one since and no one's going to talk me into it LOL (and they got the "new machine" here too LOL!
No people don't like to hurt, but we're afraid of change. I meant to add though that another reason there's not a lot of people is because there are many other really good teachers online, and many people have been with another teacher for a long time already and don't need someone new. And then there's a whole lot of "Christians in name only" who never bother to study their bible and couldn't imagine actually spending time with someone else studying it.
Boy did I do a double take when I saw the psalm you read! I thought I'd copied the wrong reply for a minute! Just yesterday you did psalm 65 and now you're back to 37! Oh well, no big deal. It must be what the Lord wanted you to read! I love how you wrote about it too. It seemed that you truly enjoyed reading it! Praise God!
If it's ok, how about tomorrow we skip some and do Psalm 68 and go on from there?
‎Here's more truth to replace the lies that create anguish & leave us raw: 1. It’s true I’m feeling bad. It’s only unpleasant, however; it’s not doomsville. 2.‎ It’s not doomsville because I’m not letting it be. I'll allow some good healthy pain, but I won’t allow anguish, misery, woe, & disaster. 3. ‎I’m in control here. God has created me as an emotional being, so I can expect to have emotions. But God has also given me the fruit of the Spirit: self-control. So I'll control my feelings & they can’t control me. 4. I am angry. I can, however, handle anger in a biblical, healthy manner. I don't lie to myself about this emotion & I don't try to squelch it or hold it in. I'm also not a person of temper tantrums. I choose self-control.
When we lose someone or something important to us, we will feel hurt, yes; but if the hurt deepens to despondency & depression & remains that way for weeks or months, the cause isn't the loss but misbelief. Two misbeliefs undergird this kind of despair: 1. God is not the source of life. Man is. ‎When we're despondent over loss, we're telling ourselves that the person or thing we lost is crucial to our lives & happiness. ‎The untruth lies in the fact that nothing & nobody but God is crucial to anyone. This truth is revealed in the 1st commandment You shall love the Lord & have no other gods before Him. To ascribe the all-sufficiency of God to any person is idolatry, & the basis for idolatry is deception & misbelief. (James 1:16–17) T‎hose truly good & perfect gifts do not come from someone or something other than God. 2. Since I lost X, my world has nothing of any significance in it. Experience bears out the deception here. Many of us tell ourselves we “can't live without” some person, object, scheme, or notion. Then this adored “whatever” is removed from our lives & wonder of wonders, we recover. Some people without the skills we are learning in this book prolong their sufferings. They go on muttering destructive, irreligious, “without X I’m nothing” self-talk.
But many who have suffered loss in their lives recover and find satisfying and exciting alternatives. “I used to consider my health indispensable,” an ex-football star says. “When I lost what I considered absolutely essential to living, I thought there was nothing for me to do but die.” The handsome ex-athlete was in a car accident and lost both legs. He went on, however, to discover he had many interests in other areas. He graduated from college with honors and became a skilled musician. He is now married and working as a biologist. Although he encounters many problems as a handicapped person, these problems don’t render him hopeless or helpless.
Dear Lord, thank you for giving me emotions. I’m thankful I can feel pain as well as joy. Thank you for setting me free from being a victim of my own emotions.Thank you for caring deeply about me even though I’m sometimes unaware of it.
This is a great short little book and is only $1.99 on amazon if you're interested.
I did see my Physical Therapist and one of the things he did for my arm ( besides exercises) was to tape both shoulders to a proper position.
He could not do much about the fact of bad inflammation, aggravating the pinched nerves.
But because my shoulders sloop downward it adds a lot more pain so he taped them so I could feel where there are supposed to be and how different muscles should be in play.
The other reason he taped my shoulders is it was because I had to clean the B&B for landlord mostly by myself this last time.
Leonard usually helps more with cleaning, but he had MRI, and had to drive a friend to 2 different towns, pick up daughter at work, pick up grandchildren at 2 schools etc. etc. that the inflammation got soooooo bad in my arm.
The taping is in part so I won't be able to reach incorrect like I usually do...due to incorrect shoulder position ( and of course pinched nerves).
That was soooooo weird......I must have been hurting more than I knew?
v. 5 "A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows,....."
verses 19 and 20 are also very comforting and I am thinking have a 2 fold meaning when it mentions escape from death.
who daily bears our burdens.
from the Sovereign Lord comes escape from death."
sing praise to the Lord,"
My arm tends to hurt at lot holding mouse in forward extension.....so I was a little short winded today.
maybe it will be better tomorrow....not so sure about Monday when I clean again.
where there is no foothold" and "outnumber the hairs of my head"
my guilt is not hidden from you."
Then v. 7 and 10 talk about the scorn endured for loving God.
Christians seemingly have throughout the ages, endure scorn to a greater or lesser degree, and it seems like to me in our times, it is on the increase ..... and may eventually get worse and worse.
and gave me vinegar for my thirst. "
The vinegar for his thirst reminds me of Jesus on the cross.
But instead of praying for Father God to forgive them, like Jesus did, the psalmist in his pain, ask God to bring them to justice....and it seems he wants them severely punished.
and glorify him with thanksgiving.
I'm sorry you're still hurting hon, and am glad he's able to help you somewhat. I hope you start feeling better soon.
“The chariots of God are tens of thousands and thousands of thousands; the Lord has come from Sinai into his sanctuary.” (Psalm 68:17) Have you ever thought about how many angels God might have? Here and in other places, it appears they are almost innumerable!
I spent all morning on this psalm today and want to share some history behind verse 15. This little verse certainly doesn't sound important: “The mountains of Bashan are majestic mountains; rugged are the mountains of Bashan.” (Psalm 68:15) But it really is! I posted about it separately in another forum so everyone could read it.
I think it will surprise you when you read it!
By the way, I meant to say that I'm really glad that you're noticing the verses about joy and praise and worship more now. I hope that by doing so that you're seeing how the psalmist was joyful even during the most dire circumstances. The times he didn't feel joyful, he would tell himself to praise God so that he would get his joy back. That's a big lesson for us to remember!
This is actually a psalm about both David and Jesus.
‎Ps 69 is quoted seven times in the NT.
“Those who hate me without reason outnumber the hairs of my head; many are my enemies without cause, those who seek to destroy me. I am forced to restore what I did not steal.” (Psalm 69:4) Quoted in John 15:25.
The Lord Jesus undertook to do the Father’s will, and it took Him to Calvary. He endured the shame of the cross and the railing accusations of an ungrateful mob. KJV Bible Commentary.
This triad is designed to show the great suffering, shame, and contempt poured out upon the Lord as He hung upon the cross. God the Father was not unaware of what God the Son endured. KJV Bible Commentary.
“May the table set before them become a snare; may it become retribution and a trap. May their eyes be darkened so they cannot see, and their backs be bent forever.” (Psalm 69:22–23) Quoted in Romans 11:9-10.
“May their place be deserted; let there be no one to dwell in their tents.” (Psalm 69:25) Quoted in Ac 1:20 with reference to Judas.
My computer is really messing up so I'll have to close for now.
But I noticed esp. on v. 68:13....that you found things way beyond the usual commentaries....by scripture!!!
David asks God to come quickly to save him....I can relate to that!!!
once again, I can agree with that!!!
I have been cleaning and so my arm is less than happy, so I was glad this psalm was 5 verses.....yet very powerful!
The sun has been having a lot of massive CME ( Coronal Mass Ejections, at the same time the solar winds are extremely fast, and the earth's shields are not at their strongest so that may be effecting the power outages, and the slow web among other things?
I don't know if that is what you meant by your computer messing up or not...but just some info I heard today.
Liam is doing well, he may go home in a week, and he is also off of morphine and not in pain, so that is good news!!!
Before I get started tho the x-ray showed the infection in Leonard's toe bone, the MRI did not....so specialist basically just said, if it flares up again and starts hurting to come back, and maybe come back in a month anyway.....something like that.
I had a question tho about people labeled schizophrenic....such as Leonard's mom.
He said even as a young child he remembers her sitting on a couch always talking to people who were not there.
however, maybe when some people are under the influence of some drug, they are unaware they are doing it audibly?
But if a person is not under the influence of a drug, what do you think is really going on?
A good application for me too!!!
do not forsake me when my strength is gone."
and v. 14 is sort of a remedy for old age, despair, worry, sickness etc. have hope and praise God more and more.
I will praise you more and more."
your mighty acts to all who are to come."
and comfort me once more."
That's wonderful news! I'm glad you're able to take a break. I read your news in the chat thread and explained my absence yesterday there too.
It's good that you're noticing the praise and rejoicing in the psalms we do. It shows us how very, very important it is for us to praise God and actually rejoice in the things He has done for us, and the things He will do for us. It's something we need to do regularly every day - not just once a day out of duty, but rather regularly as we see/hear/think of things. It's a powerful weapon against depression, and against Satan as well!
Professional counselors, in an understandable defense of their livelihood, say that inexperienced or untrained counselors can easily be fooled by counselees, while trained professionals are more likely to detect and understand complex and abnormal behavior.
If so, one would rightly expect that their diagnoses of mental disorders would be consistently accurate and that they would readily perceive when someone is faking a mental illness. Dr. E. Fuller Torrey and Dr. Judi Striano, in separate books, describe an experiment at Stanford University that revealed just how inaccurate psychiatric diagnoses can be and how easily the experts can be fooled. A psychologist by the name of D.L. Rosenhan, a professor of psychology and law at Stanford University, had eight “perfectly sane people” (Rosenhan “himself, one graduate student, three psychologists, a pediatrician, a psychiatrist, and a woman who was a homemaker”)10 admitted to 12 different mental hospitals. The attending psychiatrists were told that these “patients” were hearing voices.
Otherwise, these normal people, mostly graduate students, gave completely truthful histories to the psychiatrists. They were all diagnosed as “schizophrenic,” except one who was diagnosed as “manic-depressive.” Once admitted, they acted perfectly normally; yet were held for 7 to 52 days (the average was 19) and were given over 2,100 pills total. The true patients on the wards often recognized them as pseudopatients but the staff never did. Once labeled, the staff’s perception of them was apparently so profoundly colored that normal behavior was seen as part of their psychosis.
Just goes to show that we can't trust what the world says. We can only trust God and His Word. It's sad for those who have trusted the world to fix their loved ones or themselves, just like we have, and we know how badly that worked out. I long for the day when everyone's eyes will be open to the truth about this world and just how corrupt our minds are because of the fall.
As for verse 9, this is God's answer about the elderly: “The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, proclaiming, “The LORD is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.”” (Psalm 92:12–15) Remember, we ARE righteous, because Jesus lived a righteous life for us, and it's been put on our account. Our sinful life was put on His account.
AV 1873 | ‎Ps 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing unto thee; And my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
NKJV | ‎Ps 71:23 My lips shall greatly rejoice when I sing to You, And my soul, which You have redeemed.
DARBY | ‎Ps 71:23 My lips shall exult when I sing psalms unto thee; and my soul, which thou hast redeemed.
LEB | ‎Ps 71:23 My lips will sing for joy when I sing praises to you, and my soul, which you have redeemed.
Yes shouting does have less than good connotations....the other versions were much better!!!
Often shouting is connected with misunderstanding, abuse, anger, violence etc.
there was no loudness from me at all.
loudly ( esp when drunk)....so when things upset Leonard he yells...sometimes a LOT!!!
But I find 'shouting' to be uncomfortable at best and often scary to the point of just 'freezing' ( not moving).
So when David talks of 'shouting', I know he means it as an expression of Joy and praise....but it just is hard for me to make the transition.
it seems even rude and disrespectful ( and to shout at another person seems hurtful).
He asks God to endow him with righteousness....something we already have from Jesus.
and talks quite a bit about righteousness and prosperity.
I found verse 12 comforting because there have been times when I felt afflicted with no to help but actually at those times God did in fact help! So I can remember this when and if those feelings try to depress me ( application).
the afflicted who have no one to help".
I can certainly understand that and even relate to it. Did the other translations of that verse help you at all to relate to what he was really saying?
Basically, he's saying that he was so full of joy thinking of all the Lord had done for him and would do for him, that he simply couldn't hold it in - it had to come out, so he sang aloud rejoicing. When I see the word "shout" in that context, I think of someone standing in a large crowd of people, all of who are praising God, and he lifts his voice to join with theirs in song- not quietly whispering the words, but singing loudly the way a professional singer would sing, so the Lord will hear him, because he wants the Lord to hear him and wants the Lord to know that he's not ashamed to praise Him. So it's not really "shouting" the way the world thinks of the word, or the way you described it. Instead, it's simply speaking or singing in our full voice, not quietly, but certainly not rudely or disrespectfully. Instead it would be disrespectful to whisper or do it quietly at times like this, because it would seem as though you were ashamed of the Lord and didn't want anyone else to know that you loved Him and want to praise Him.
I'm not saying we should never praise God quietly, or within our own minds. I do that all the time. But there are also times when it's appropriate to speak out and praise Him aloud with our full voice and let Him know how we feel. Again, you can compare it to a family situation. There were many times when my children would thank me for something I'd done or said, and they'd do it quietly. They might just come up and say thank you as they passed by, not making a huge deal out of it, but letting me know they appreciated it. Since what I'd done was a simple thing, the way they thanked me was appropriate. Other times they were more vocal about it and let their siblings know about it when they overheard them thanking me for something bigger I'd done for them. Like if they'd been worried about something and I'd done or said something that helped them overcome it. They might come and throw their arms around me and say thank you loudly enough for their siblings to hear. Finally, there were also times when even that wasn't enough. They'd be so excited that they simply couldn't hold it in. Like the time I was able to get the money to allow my daughter to go to Europe for two weeks when she was sure she'd never be able to go. When I told her, she didn't actually shout or yell, but she was louder than normal and everyone heard her thanking me over and over again as she was jumping up and down due to her excitement. God tells us to come to Him like little children. He's meaning children who don't have the restraints put on them by their parents or others yet. They're too little to know it's not socially acceptable to do or say certain things so they simply say and do whatever their heart tells them. Since we're adults, we're far beyond that of course and we do have restraints that we've lived with all our life. God wants us to know that He wants us to express how we feel to Him. He wants us to be filled with joy, just like my daughter was when she was literally jumping up and down for it. It gives Him pleasure when we are able to express our joy and thankfulness to Him, because He loves us and wants us to have an abundant life; a life filled with the joy He gives us. Therefore He wants us to be able to express that joy in whatever way we're feeling it, whether it's a quiet joy, or a jumping up and down joy!
While Solomon wrote this psalm, the psalm itself is actually about our Lord Jesus when He rules the earth during the Millennial Kingdom. We see that in every verse. See verse two: “He will judge your people in righteousness, your afflicted ones with justice.” (Psalm 72:2) “but with righteousness he will judge the needy, with justice he will give decisions for the poor of the earth. He will strike the earth with the rod of his mouth; with the breath of his lips he will slay the wicked.” (Isaiah 11:4) “The mountains will bring prosperity to the people, the hills the fruit of righteousness.” (Psalm 72:3) This shows how Jesus will cause the earth to bloom and all will be prosperous during the Millennial Kingdom. Verse 4 again shows that He will rule in righteousness and help those who were needy, because during His rule there will be no needy people.
“He will rule from sea to sea and from the River to the ends of the earth. The desert tribes will bow before him and his enemies will lick the dust.” (Psalm 72:8–9)as well as verses 10 through 17 show that He will rule over all the earth righteously, not just little Israel. In verse 10 it shows the other countries bring Jesus tribute. Isaiah 60:3, Isaiah 60:6 and Isaiah 60:9. Also Rev 11:15. Rev 17:14. Rev 21:24-26.
ESV | May they fear you while the sun endures, and as long as the moon, throughout all generations!
That's a good application. I think the next psalm may speak more about that.
yes do see what you mean and it does put a different light on letting the Lord jesus know your (my) joy in Him....for sure.
I suppose when I was a really little one I expressed that kind of joy but I do not remember it....I guess most people do not remember being that young or have memories.
I have a vague memory of being about 3 standing alone on a sidewalk waiting for a CPS worker or whomever they had back.
I am pretty sure the foster mom was watching from the window? But back then, I don't think they worried much about children getting kidnapped.She may have been trying to avoid tears...mine/hers/ours?
but our landlady who has been a CPS worker for about 30 years, says that is still often the case for kids in foster care....they do not have even one toy.
That could be a good thing tho....because what good is a doll or a teddy bear, when you want love?
.by ten times singing the same refrain over and over..... I am pretty much done and stop or whisper...cuz it begins to feel like a 'Christian' mantra.
Some even stranger things are taking over some 'Christian' churches. I watched a video with John MacArthur who was with a group of pastors discussing one 'new' very sad thing happening in more and more churches now.
These men are insisting that that the Holy Spirit is doing a 'new' thing.
The people in the church with these false leaders .....start twitching sooooo badly that you would think the had some incredible terrible neurological disorder!!!
I can only imagine the damage being done to the neck....it is horrible to see and so scary.
Plus they twitch and twitch and giggle and laugh, and howl, and bark and continue to twitch...all the time thinking they are being controlled by the Holy Spirit doing a 'new' thing!!!
Frankly, it seems to me like they are super demonically possessed.
"..... it is time for judgment to begin with God’s household"
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked."
and every morning brings new punishments."
then I understood their final destiny."
my end is like the psalmist.
I would soooooooooooooo much rather have trouble now, and an eternity with Jesus than riches now, and Hell forever!!
many people don't remember their toddler years or even later, because they never tried to. I have very clear memories from as far back as when I was still in a crib, and many as a toddler - both good and bad. One of my memories is from when I was either 2 or 3 years old and I was throwing a huge tantrum. It was on Easter day too lol. Talk about being a spoiled little brat that day. My cousins were at my house as were our grandparents. We were hunting easter eggs and I felt that my oldest cousin was finding all of them and the ones she didn't find, the other two did, so there weren't hardly any left for me. (notice I said that was how I felt - not that it was true lol) So I came in the house and threw a tantrum. Anyway, memories aren't what's important here. What's important is realizing that children can and do show unrestrained joy, unrestrained sorrow, and unrestrained pain. They don't generally know the meaning of restraint until they've been taught it.
Your case is unique in that sense as you taught it to yourself at a very young age. In a way it was probably your way of throwing a tantrum. You simply held everything inside yourself, which is a very, very unhealthy way to deal with emotions. But since you didn't get the love you needed when you showed them, you just kept them inside. That's something you most likely have to deal with to this day.
Other people do the opposite and don't show any restraint even as adults. There are a few times when that's ok, like finding out a son who's off fighting a war and you thought was dead, was actually very much alive. But most of the time, it's not appropriate. You see that often at many Pentecostal or charismatic churches. They say they're "feeling the Holy Spirit" or that He's got control of them; but the problem with that is that the bible says that God is not a God of confusion, but a God of order. God is not going to cause anyone to lose control of their body. I took a friend to my church one day and she let go like that and wound up smacking me in the face with her arm while she was praising God. That wasn't God, it was her own lack of control, which is a fruit of the spirit. Even normally though, at home, she's a very emotional person and shows her emotions without any control at all, which is usually kind of embarrassing to others who see it.
So there's a middle ground there. It's very good and healthy to show your emotions, especially to the Lord who created you. At the same time though, He's not asking or causing us to be out of control with our emotions. There have been many times when I'd be driving to or from work and I'd be praying or reflecting on God's Word (I always did that when I drove) and I'd be so overcome with either joy due to His love for me, or sorrow over my sins, that I'd wind up in tears. (It was usually joy) That's not good when you're driving, so I'd have to pull over and finish talking to Him on the side of the road until I could stop the tears. That was my choice though. I could have controlled myself and stopped crying by not allowing myself to think about it, but that would have been denying God my true feelings. So I chose to simply pull over and continue to share with Him and then continue on afterward. (when you have children, it's hard to have time to be alone with God so that's why I always used my car for that). My other place for sharing with the Lord when the kids were still at home was when I was taking a shower LOL. I could even sing praise songs in there, just like I did in the car!
Anyway, the point is that we need to allow ourselves the freedom to share our feelings with the Lord, just like the psalmist does. David was an exceptionally busy person - we know what his life involved so we know that for sure; yet he found time every day to spend time with the Lord - to read His Word, think about it, and to praise Him, and pray, and even to write songs to Him. We know there are many of them that are "missing" from the bible that have been lost over the centuries. Of course they're not really missing from the bible, because it has everything in it that God intended it to have, but David and the others wrote many other books of psalms that we don't have, which again shows how important praise is, and that we need to share our feelings with the Lord so that we too can wind up praising Him. Remember, no matter how down David was, or how sick or tired, he always told the Lord and then before he was done, he'd wind up praising God, which is exactly what we need to learn to do every day.
What if We Feel Inadequate?
Yes, there's a great deal of false garbage being said about the Holy Spirit and how He moves in us. Thankfully we know that's not true because we know the Lord and that's not something He would do. Those poor people are in bad need of prayer and are a good example of an inappropriate way of showing emotion. God wants us to be honest with Him - honest about our emotions as well as everything else. At least to a point. Remember when Moses hit the rock with the stick and got in trouble for it? He did that because he was frustrated with the people and took it out that way. That was not an appropriate way to show his emotions at that time because at that time he was supposed to be acting for God and showing God's power, not his own emotions. That's what got him in trouble. He dishonored God. When these people do these things and say it's the Holy Spirit moving in them, it too dishonors God because it tells lies about Him.
I can say that the Holy Spirit does cause me to show my emotions more than I have ever done in my life though, and He does so by causing me to either cry for joy or for sorrow over my sins. (usually for joy and or love) I never cried in front of anyone from the time I was a teenager until I got saved. Once I got saved though it seemed like I was always crying lol. When I go to church, tears are always streaming down my face, and I've seen that happen to many, many others as well. I'm not sobbing loudly, or making any sound at all actually, but the tears are coming and I couldn't stop them even if i tried because I'm so full of love and joy for my Savior. That's one of the normal ways the Spirit works within us to let our emotions out.
Amen! I'm going to include my counseling notes from this psalm for you. I know that you know all of this, as do I, but it's a good idea to go over it again whenever we come across it. It keeps it fresh in our minds.
‎Asaph makes great claims for himself. He says he's been a man of moral purity & innocence & yet he suffers the result of his envy. He's plagued day & night by thoughts of what the wicked have & what he does not have. Self-pity is like that. The mind becomes engrossed in a morbid, temporal perspective. Asaph himself says that his self-pity has lead to his own ignorance & a sense of depression & oppression (v. 14, 16). He also speaks of an embittered spirit & grief as a result of his self-pity. All he can see is the prosperity of the wicked & his own lack. Many of us have experienced what Asaph has. We are so consumed by others, whom we consider evil, doing well that we can only think about them & what they have done.
Instead of leaving the hurt in the past they continue to hurt us as we relive the event. Sometimes long after the initial infraction we are still bound by the memory. When we try to figure it all out we often have the same reaction as Asaph: (Psalm 73:16). ‎I can imagine Asaph is in that situation in this psalm. Perhaps he had been in this state for several days crying out to God; calling out for answers and questioning God for not responding. Many of us have been there. There seems to be no justice. Yet it may be that the questions Asaph was asking were not the right ones. Perhaps Asaph was looking for a way of fixing the situation when what he needed was a new way of understanding it.
‎I have a deep conviction that often when we think we need our circumstances to change what we really need is a change of perspective. We need a way of seeing our situation that gives it new meaning. That is what Asaph found. Asaph was overcome by trying to understand it all until he got a new perspective. The new perspective was that of being able to look at the situation as God did. Asaph began to see that God is true to His word about the wicked. They will see destruction but according to God’s schedule & not ours. The psalmist indicates that the wicked are always at the edge of destruction (v.18). They may not know it but they are in imminent danger of God’s judgment.
How do we enter the sanctuary of God? First, we do it with all humility. We don’t approach God demanding an answer. We approach Him with the realization that had Jesus not gone to the cross on our behalf we would have no right to approach Him at all. We approach with confidence not in our cause or in ourselves but we approach with confidence in the fact that Jesus has cleared the way, through His work as mediator, for us. Second, we approach Him in faith. We know He knows all things. We know He is a good God. ‎In faith we must accept that whatever His answer is it is in accordance with His good and faithful character, even if our answer does not reveal why something has happened to us. Third, we know Jesus understands. When Jesus was on earth He experienced every kind of struggle that we do. He was physically and verbally abused, abandoned by friends & family, ridiculed etc. Fourth, we accept that our call from God is to obedience. Whether we understand what has happened to us or not we obey. That is really at the heart of faith, isn’t it? We trust Him for those things we do not see (Heb. 11:1). If we don’t understand, there is a reason. We must trust that He knows best what we need to know. Fifth, when we approach God we accept the mercy (forgiveness and comfort) and grace (empowerment to get through the struggle) He provides. ‎We don’t need to get revenge. Vengeance belongs to the Lord. We need to gain perspective – God’s perspective. Then we can go on with our focus on God & His calling for us. We can leave the hurt or the person who hurt us in God’s hands because that situation or person is no longer our responsibility nor should they be our focus.
‎As Asaph pondered the end of the wicked, he came to see that this is really the decisive thing. It is the end that makes the difference. It did not matter how happy and prosperous they appeared to be in this life. The immensely important matter was what lay ahead of them. Asaph began to understand that with all their care-free days and ways, the wicked were standing on a slippery slope and would ultimately be plunged into eternal destruction. Asaph’s experience should lead us to understand that the righteous on his worst day is far better off than the unrighteous on his best day. Opening up Psalms.
The psalmist confesses his own errors, e.g., the folly of his former impatience. He had lowered himself to the level of a beast, for what distinguishes man from animals is his power of communion with God. He worried instead of worshiped. The wisdom literature and Psalms.
If you see this in time, you can skip to Psalm 76 next if you'd like to.
I just realized that Leonard and I took 2 different paths as children.....he expresses easily his frustration, anger etc.
out loud, and for the most part, I have kept it in.
Like you, I don't think my children ever saw me cry ( maybe once or twice)....I would leave and maybe go to the bathroom or bedroom, and let silent tears flow then make sure my face was 'normal....no hint of tears' before emerging.
But he will say it out loud...often if he is saying what I am thinking about him.....as a joke....he will really play it up and make it super silly....so I dare agree ( usually also in a joking manner)....but it has allowed me to be more open.
I have noticed something sort of positive from my early childhood and that seems to be I notice others feelings especially children and also animals ( my daughter calls me the animal whisper LOL).
I have been talking to adults and then noticed the distress of a child....but the other adult does not. For example, once our daughter in law was annoyed with our other grandson ( not her baby boy). So she sharply reprimanded him.
I noticed immediately how hurt he was by her tone ( not so much by what she said).
So he whispered he was sorry and went to hug her and she snapped at him again....not hearing what he said no noticing he was trying to hug her as part of his apology.
He was devastated by then, so I quietly told her, he said he was sorry and is trying to also give you a hug....Oh she said....ok. and all was well.
Now that may have been because she was tired, having a bad day etc.
But this happens more than I can tell and the same with little creatures....I can be again talking to adults and see an animal needing ------- fill in the blank and the other person, does not even know the animal is there.
So it could be? God turned my somewhat unhappy early childhood into a blessing of sorts?
However, I have to tell you something, I thought was pretty cool.......!!!!
I did suggest that perhaps some rich did not have such wonderful lives, but then covered themselves with arrogance, pride ( not needing God in their minds), rudeness etc.
But I have never had a dream before (that I remember) that was specifically about something I had read that day in the Bible!!!
Even if I had it wrong, at least my mind was working on it in my sleep/dream.
I did want to mention something else....maybe it should go in the counseling so feel free to move this post to there.
I gained 2 adopted cousins....boys.
One was about 6 years plus older than I and the other 12 or so years older.
I was super super super shy and didn't have any experience with any boys cousins or not.....and they were not ( or so it seemed) especially thrilled that their aunt and uncle decided to get a girl....why not a boy?!!!
Their dad was the Chief of the Rhode Island state police.
So he could be intimidating too tho was perfectly nice, but didn't relate to a little girl either.
In fact, my youngest boy cousin became a very ribboned, trophied, all star basketball player.
And strangely enough before my uncle and dad met and married their wives, they played basketball together. So at Thanksgiving and Christmas etc. the 2 boys dad and uncle would go and watch games on the only TV.
My mom and her sister ( aunt) were very very close and would go to kitchen to cook and talk.
I would sit for 1-2 hours in a room with no toys, no books, no radio, no tv, no record player...I would just sit, alone and so I never probably said two words to my cousins....tho I looked up to them.
and 2 days ago I decided to search the net to see if I could find out anything about either.....and I found out both had died.
I am pretty sure neither were believers so that added to it.
Well, to be honest, there are times when it does feel like v.
v. 1 "O God, why have you rejected us forever?
Why does your anger smolder against the sheep of your pasture?"
They burned every place where God was worshiped in the land."
to the point where I have sometimes wondered how long oh Lord?
v.10 "How long will the enemy mock you, God?
Will the foe revile your name forever?"
but at the same time, another part of me hopes and prays God will hold off a little while longer so my loved ones might be saved.
Then the psalmist begins to recite all of Gods wonders in praise.
And he asks God to eventually ( if not sooner) rise up and right all the wrongs.....as do I.
I am just not feeling very peppy today and am hurting ( finished cleaning yesterday, and tho I went slow and took 3 days...I still had not allowed the flare up to subside to a dull roar.....so it is NOT happy.
Thank you for all your posts when I know you are not feeling well either and you may be feeling even a LOT worse.....so thank you soooooooo much.
Still no Eva....do you think she will ever come back?
then I went and corrected it just a minute ago....with another wrong date Oye vey.....finally I got yesterday's date correct....I am pretty sure! HA!
v. 7 "It is you alone who are to be feared...."
And there are many praises of God in this psalm.
I have started reading Cheryl's thread from the beginning so I am a little tired.
The good thing ( well at least this part) is our landlord is here so he will clean tomorrow.....so maybe my arm and shoulder will have some time to rest and heal a bit.
I am reading a Christian novel that is sort of funny ( to me anyway).
and thus HE provided her this red carpet.
Instead of giving God the glory and thanking Him for the beauty of His Creation ( even in our fallen world).
I think perhaps many Christians at one time or another have done this same self-centered approval of some sin....until.....the Lord will set them straight.
This Psalm reminds me to glorify the Lord God of what He has done because He deserves glory and honor.
yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago."
And not only what God has done in the past for me but what He has done since Creation and throughout history.
I'm sure that the Lord has used your childhood to cause you to be able to be more compassionate and able to help other little ones who are in need. That's exactly what the bible says He does, so it's great that you're able to see that.
NET | ‎Ps 16:7 I will praise the LORD who guides me; yes, during the night I reflect and learn.
HCSB | ‎Ps 16:7 I will praise the LORD who counsels me — even at night my conscience instructs me.
I also wanted to mention something about reflecting on God's Word during the day. Usually people reflect on whatever they read that day, but there's no rule that says we have to do that. I may start out thinking about that, or I may start out thinking about something entirely different from what I read that day. Instead, another scripture may come to my mind and I'll begin thinking about that instead. Or, I may start out praying for someone and that may cause a scripture to come to my mind so after my prayer, I may start thinking about that scripture and talk to the Lord about it instead. A lot of times when I reflect on His Word, I wind up having like a day dream that I'm explaining it to someone. Like that thing I wrote about feeling inadequate - I'd been praying for my son in law, and the Lord brought Gal 2:20 to my mind. So after my prayer was done, I began to reflect on it and it turned into like a day dream where I was explaining all of it to my son in law, trying to get him to see that it didn't matter if he didn't think he could do a certain job because his confidence wasn't supposed to be in himself, it's supposed to be in Christ. The Lord led me to a bunch of other scriptures during that time, and I found myself explaining them to my son in law in my mind. It was really neat. I know it was the Lord leading me because He taught me things from it, even though I was the one saying them in my mind. I know it sounds weird, but when you experience it, you'll know what I mean. It's the same thing that happens at times when I write something.
Even if neither was a believer when you knew them, how can you be sure they never came to the Lord before they died? And why would you just sit in the room like that when you were a kid? Why didn't you help your mom and Aunt with the cooking? Or why not at least sit in the kitchen so you could at least be around people? Or sit in the tv room so you could be with people? Generally, when other people see that someone has purposely gone into a different room, it causes them to think that the person does not want to have anything to do with them. So if you sat alone in a different room than the ones the other people were in, it would cause everyone else to think that you didn't want to be around them, that you didn't like them.
There's nothing wrong with being shy; I'm shy too - very shy, believe it or not. But the thing is that we can't allow our shyness to control us. We need to be in control of ourselves and not allow our emotions to control us and "shyness" is an emotion. And you know what God says about emotions. Obviously, neither of us knew that as children or even as adults; not until the Lord showed us that in His Word, which for both of us was fairly recently. So, to honor the Lord, and to take control of myself instead of letting my shyness control me, when we bought this house, I was determined to get to know my neighbors. I'd never done that before, and I was scared to death! But I knew the Lord would be with me, so I made myself get up and walk out my door. I'd baked 3 containers of cookies so I took those with me and went to each of the 3 houses that are close to us and introduced myself and offered them the cookies. My hands were shaking But you know what? They were wonderful people and have been wonderful neighbors to us ever since then!
Sorry you're not feeling well still hon. I'm not either to be honest. Hopefully we both will feel better soon. As far as hoping God will hold off till my loved ones are saved, I don't feel that way any longer, because I know absolutely that if He can save them before the rapture, He will, but if for some reason they can't be saved before the rapture, that means it will take the rapture happening to save them, therefore the sooner the rapture happens, the sooner they'll be saved either way. And I believe that's true for all of our loved ones.
I don't know about Eva hon. It doesn't seem like she wants to be with us regularly anymore. I guess she prefers to study on her own without us. That's why she only drops in once in a great while. Otherwise she'd be here every day if she thought she still needed us or wanted to be with us.
If you want to, you can skip to Psalm 81 next. Let me just list the next ten or so for you: Psalm 81, 84, 86, 91, 92, 93, 94, 95, 96, 97, 98, 99, 100.
yeah, I think you are right about Eva, she has kind of said all along ( in a way) that she wanted to study on her own pretty much.
2nd is doctors, surgery, medicine etc.
If all the above fail, death is actually the ultimate healing because we will be with the Lord, in our new bodies with no more sickness and not more sin!
it's okay you know, because death is Victory!!!!
we are born and Jesus is drawing us closer to Himself in this life, but death is like a race and when we die we have the victory.
But I think I have always view death itself as a kind of 'defeat'.....not victory!!

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