Tell of His Goodness

Above All

God is above all. 

He is the Rock of our salvation.

   the Great God

   the Great King.

Today as you fight the good fight, remember that what ever you are dealing with, whatever the obstacle or the enemy; God is above all gods. 

The Word of the Day: Power

Psalm 89:11-13

and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength he exerted when he raised Christ from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms,  (Ephesians 1:19-20 NIV)

As you go through your day remember that God's arm is endued with power. That power raised Christ from the dead and is the same power that changes us, protects us, provides for us and keeps us in Christ.

Word of the Day: Abounding in Love

Abounding in love. God is abounding in love for you. If you look at these verses the context is not la la land. The circumstances are not all rosy, comfy and cozy. There is forgiveness. Where forgiveness is needed, sin happened. A cry for mercy is a plea to not receive what you deserve. David acknowledges there will be days of trouble but, he  would call on God and God would answer him. God's faithful love will always be there abounding in forgiveness, goodness and mercy.  God is abounding in love for you.

The Word of the Day is Mercy: God Listens to My Cry for Mercy

Thank you, Lord, for your mercy. Thank you that we can call on you for mercy all day long. Praise you because you listen to our cry for mercy and in the day of trouble you will answer us!

The Word of the Day is Good: God is Good

Faithfulness springs forth from the earth,
   and righteousness looks down from heaven.
The Lord will indeed give what is good,
   and our land will yield its harvest.

Psalms 85:11-12 NIV

I am thankful that God has given me what is good. He's given me a good wife, good children (two who are good adult men), a good job. I am also thankful for the goodness of God's salvation. 

God is good and he indeed will give what is good. 

Better

Better is one day in your courts
   than a thousand elsewhere;
I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God
   than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
For the Lord God is a sun and shield;
   the Lord bestows favor and honor;
no good thing does he withhold
   from those whose walk is blameless. 
Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

Psalms 84:10 NIV

You can be a lot of things, hold any kind of position but, serving God is the highest honor and greatest gift. 

From Strength to Strength or Tears to Blessings

Blessed are those whose strength is in you,
   whose hearts are set on pilgrimage.
As they pass through the Valley of Baka,
   they make it a place of springs;
   the autumn rains also cover it with pools.
They go from strength to strength,
   till each appears before God in Zion.

Psalms 84:5-7 NIV

Sometimes we refer to the valleys and mountain top experiences of our lives. I think it's easy to get caught up in the idea of somethings wrong if we are in a "valley". That's what encourages me in these verses: It's not about valleys and mountain tops, it's about finding your strength in the source of strength, God. 

Notice that it says "from strength to strength", not from mountain top to mountain top. What is important is to know our strength is in Christ. In verse 6 the Valley of Baca can mean the Valley of Tears. Interesting word picture. Sometimes the battle is tough, and even brings us to a point of tears. The psalmist proclaims that even in the valley, when we make God our strength, we make a valley of tears into a valley of pools or blessings!

What this leads me to do is ask myself if I am trying to get to a mountain top or to my strength which is found in God alone. These verses exhort me to look to God to be my strength. I encourage you to remember that God is your strength not matter where you are and he will turn your tears into blessings.

Ever Praising God

Blessed are those whose dwell 
   in your house

   they are ever praising you.

Psalms 84:4 NIV

I praise God because a few weeks ago I asked a co-worker how he was doing and he said not so good because his brother was given two months to live. I asked him if I could pray with him and we prayed right then and there. This past week he told me his brother has had a complete turn around, the doctors say he is doing better and went back to work. He thanked me the prayers and gave glory to God. 

What You Really Crave

 How lovely is your dwelling place,

   Lord Almighty!

My soul yearns, even faints,

   for the courts of the Lord;

my heart and my flesh cry out 

   for the living God.

Psalms 84:1-2 NIV

Every afternoon I get a little hungry and I usually eat some snack. Recently, I started to try to eat more fruit. So, instead of chips or something I been eating apples, melons, and pineapples in the afternoon. I've noticed that I have had a bit more energy and lost over five pounds. 

Here's the lesson: even though I kinda want something that tastes strong, what my body really craves is fruit. Spiritually, we may crave a lot of things, but what we really need is the Lord. We may want someones attention when we really need to be in God's presence. We make seek to do things that are exciting and exotic but, if we are not doing it with the Lord, it's just an effort to fulfill some inner need with an adrenaline rush. What we really need is to be in the presence of the Lord. Once we learn to find our fulfillment in Christ we will truly enjoy whatever else God places before us. 

Word of the Day: Most High, God is Most High

Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

Psalms 83:18 NIV

The truth is that God is Most High over all the earth. Even our present circumstances, situation and predicament. 

Father, open our lives to see you as Most High in our lives. You know the battles we are in and the foes we face each day. Strengthen us to fight the good fight in your strength. Reign as the Most High in us today!

Word of the Day: Great, God is Great

Your ways, God, are holy.

   What god is as great as our God?

You are the God who performs miracles;

   you display your power among the peoples.

With your mighty arm 
   you redeemed your people,

   the descendants of Jacob and Joseph.

Psalms 77:13-15 NIV

What is a great thing God has done in your life?  I praise him for his greatness in protecting me from harm at work.

Appeal to Answered Prayer

Do you remember an answered prayer? 

I like to pray that God would give me at least one redemptive conversation or moment (something I can do for others in his Name). Last Thursday, as I was walking back to my classroom from the office (it's just under a half mile from my room to the main office) I ran into one of our Building & Ground workers. I have known him for several years and it's always nice to hear how his family is doing. When I asked him how he was doing he told me that he honestly wasn't doing to well because his younger brother, a heart transplant recipient, went into the hospital the day before and was told he had two months to live. I listened and then asked if I could pray for him and he said yes. So, I did.  If you can, say a prayer for his brother.

The thing is, I normally don't walk that way back to my room, but because another worker was doing something I went through that wing. That's what is called a God-incidence. 

Tell us and answered prayer or God-incidence from your life.

The Answer Is No

“Will the Lord reject forever?
   Will he never show his favor again? 
Has his unfailing love vanished forever?
   Has his promise failed for all time? 
Has God forgotten to be merciful?
   Has he in anger withheld his compassion?”

Psalms 77:7-9 NIV

Praise be to God alone, the answer is no! In Christ he will not reject us. He will show his favor. His unfailing love will appear again and again. His promises are yes in Christ to us. His mercy is everlasting and his compassion is new every day! Praise be to God alone!

Word of the Day: Resplendent

You are resplendent with light,

   more majestic than mountains rich with game.

Psalms 76:4 NIV

May God shine upon you with the glorious light of his presence.

Word of the Day: Near

We praise you, God,
   we praise you, for your Name is near;
   people tell of your wonderful deeds.

Psalms 75:1 NIV

God is near. Even when we stray, he is near. Jesus came and died in our place so that we can be near God. Isn't it amazing that his goal is not to punish us, he sent Jesus so that we might be near him. 

Where are you? God is near.

Word of the Day: Strength

My flesh and my heart may fail,
   but God is the strength of my heart
   and my portion forever.

Psalms 73:26 NIV

Let's be real. Sometimes we fail. That's not an excuse or an alibi, that just a reality. We may be surprised by it, but God is not. Like David, we can look to God to be the strength of our heart. You may be failing physically and you may be getting down. Remember, God is the strength of your heart. 

"if we are faithless,

   he will remain faithful,

   for he cannot disown himself." II Timothy 2:13

"Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God is with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you." Deuteronomy 31:6

What are you thankful for today?

Praise God in his glory! God will not share with anyone. But, he will be glorious in our lives. I am thankful that when I acknowledge him as God and Lord of my marriage and family he shines his glory upon us. 

Word of the Day: Faithfulness

I will praise you with the harp

   for your faithfulness, my God;
I will sing praise to you with the lyre,
   Holy One of Israel.
My lips will shout for joy
   when I sing praise to you—
   I whom you have delivered.

Psalms 71:22-23 NIV

I started reading through the Psalms on a daily when I was in college. I did it with the purpose of finding attributes of God to meditate on and remember throughout the day to help me to not be anxious. Every time I would start to feel anxious I would just repeat to myself the word/attribute of the day. 

Each season of my life has brought on new challenges to my faith. Each time I must seek God anew and learn to trust him. The difference is now, I look back and even though I didn't see how God could bring me through, I remember the times he did. His faithfulness is new everyday. 

Father, thank you for your faithfulness! Thank you that even if we are faithless, you remain faithful (2 Timothy 2:13)! Help us to rest in you today, knowing that even though we can't see how we know who will bring us through. Praise be to you in us today!

Word of the Day: Sovereign Lord

For you have been my hope, 
   O Sovereign Lord,
   my confidence since my youth.
From birth I have relied on you;
   you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.
I will ever praise you.
I have become a sign to many;
   you are my strong refuge.
My mouth is filled with your praise,
   declaring your splendor all day long.

Psalms 71:5-8 NIV

Remember, whatever you are going through today, wherever you are at, God is Sovereign Lord. He knows the end from the beginning and nothing can stop him from completing what he began in you. He is faithful and will complete you.