God Draws Near To Us

We need to know that God looks for every way possible to be near us. We can draw near to the Lord, but on these seven occasions His presence draws near to us:

1. When our hearts are broken: Ps 34:18 The LORD is near to those who have a broken heart, And saves such as have a contrite spirit.

2. When we call on Him: Ps. 45:18 The LORD is near to all who call upon Him, to all who call upon Him in truth.

3. When we walk in the fear of the Lord (the fear of the lord is to know, worship, and obey Him): Ps 85:9 Surely His salvation is near to those who fear Him, that glory may dwell in our land.

4. When we seek Him through His Word: Ps. 119:151 You are near, O LORD, And all Your commandments are truth.  He is near through the Word

5. When we walk in righteousness: Is 51:5 My righteousness is near, My salvation has gone forth…

Is. 51:5 My righteousness draws near speedily, my salvation is on the way, and my arm will bring justice to the nations. The islands will look to me and wait in hope for my arm. (NIV)

6. When we draw near to the Lord: James 4:8 Draw near to God and He will draw near to you…

7. When we draw near through the blood of Jesus: Eph. 2:13 But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ.

Let us run to Him and draw near—Heb. 10:22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.

More From Psalm 23 - He is Perfect

I found this somewhere - sometime, but can't remember where it is from:


Ps. 23:1      The Lord—He is my perfect Lord

Ps. 23:1      My shepherd—He is my perfect guardian

Ps. 23:1      I shall not want—He is my perfect supply

Ps. 23:2      He makes me—He is my perfect leader

Ps. 23:2      Lie down— He is my perfect rest

Ps. 23:2      Green pastures—He is my perfect food

Ps. 23:2      He leads me—He is my perfect guide

Ps. 23:2      Beside the still waters—He is my perfect peace

Ps. 23:3      He restores my soul—He is my perfect healer

Ps. 23:3      He leads me in the paths—He is my perfect journey

Ps. 23:3      Righteousness—He is my perfect sanctifier

Ps. 23:3      For His name’s sake—He is my perfect focus

Ps. 23:4      I walk through the valley of the shadow of death—He is my perfect defender

Ps. 23:4      I will fear no evil—He is my perfect shelter

Ps. 23:4      You are with me—He is my perfect friend

Ps. 23:4      Your rod—He is my perfect protector

Ps. 23:4      Your staff—He is my perfect helper

Ps. 23:4      They comfort me—He is my perfect support

Ps. 23:5      You prepare a table—He is my perfect provision

Ps. 23:5      Before me—He is my perfect presence

Ps. 23:5      In the presence of my enemies—He is my perfect safety

Ps. 23:5      You anoint my head with oil—He is my perfect anointing

Ps. 23:5      My cup runs over—He is my perfect joy

Ps. 23:6      Surely—He is my perfect assurance

Ps. 23:6      Goodness—He is my perfect kindness

Ps. 23:6      Mercy—He is my perfect compassion

Ps. 23:6      Follow me all the days of my life—He is my perfect life

Ps. 23:6      I will dwell—He is my perfect home

Ps. 23:6      In the house of the Lord forever—He is my perfect destiny

Also from Psalm 23: HERE

Yahweh

We have been singing His name YAHWEH into our past, present and future today at church - AWESOME GOD!!

Listen to this great song from Hillsong:

Thank you Asher for the Yahweh song - and thank you Corky for message on past, present and future.

Psalm 23

Continuing with a couple of thoughts from Psalm 23:

This Psalm begins and ends with the words, “the Lord” (v. 1, 6). The psalmist does this in order to make an emphatic statement as to the main subject of the psalm - the first, last and central subject is the Lord.

The Lord here is Yahweh (English Jehovah). The name Yahweh was first disclosed to Moses in Exodus 3 and is used more than 4,000 times in the Old Testament. The name literally means “I am who I am.” It is an inexhaustible name, like its bearer. It points to God’s timelessness on the one hand and His self-sufficiency on the other (James Montgomery Boice Psalms Vol.1, pp. 207).

God is self existent and he needs nothing. He needs no wisdom because He is all-wise; He needs no power because He is all-powerful; He needs nothing. John Phillips, quoting Thomas Newberry says that the name Jehovah combines three tenses of the Hebrew verb “to be” (Exploring the Psalms Vol. 1, pp. 175).

· Yehi – he will be (future)

· Hove – being (present)

· Hahyah – he was (the past)

The Lord is Yeh – ov – ah – Jehovah. He is the God who is, who was and who is to be.

There are several names for God in the Old Testament that David could have used here but did not for very good reasons. Notice what the text does and does not say.

· It does not say, “God (Elohim) is my shepherd,” for that speaks of Him as the great and mighty Creator who is separate from the world.

· Neither does it say, “The Master (Adonai) is my shepherd.” That speaks of a servant slave relationship.

· Rather, it says “The Lord (Jehovah) is my shepherd.”

Jehovah is a term of personal relationship, which implies that you can get close to Him.

The use of the name Yahweh is important for another reason. It points to His role as the covenant-making God of Israel. Look at the aspects of God's character that are found in this psalm - God's promises to us, are written into His name. 8 covenant promises are found right here in His powerful redemptive names:

1.  The compound name Jehovah-Rohi means the Lord is my Shepherd (Psalm 23:1)

2. The compound name Jehovah-Jireh means the Lord will provide (Gen. 22:14) – “I shall not want.”

3. The compound name Jehovah-Shalom means the Lord our peace (Judges 6:24) – “He leads me beside still waters.”

4. The compound name Jehovah-Rophe means the Lord who heals (Exod. 15:26) – “He restores my soul.”

5. The compound name JehovahTsidkenu means the Lord our Righteousness (Jer. 33:16) – “the paths of righteousness.”

6. The compound name Jehovah-Shammah means the Lord is there (Ezek. 48:35) –“You are with me.”

7. The compound name Jehovah-Nissi means the Lord our banner (Exod. 17:15) –“before me in the presence of my enemies.”

8. The compound name Jehovah-M’Kaddesh means the Lord who sanctifies (Lev. 20:8) –“You anoint my head with oil.”

More from Psalm 23: HERE

More on the names of God: HERE 

Hanging Out 2

We've been hangin' out after a lovely Thanksgiving Day yesterday. I love days like this:

Happy Thanksgiving 2011

Happy Thanksgiving to all friends and family.

I thank God for all of you today.

The real test of thankfulness is whether we can give thanks

from the heart for what we do have, despite the trials,

sickness disappointments and struggles of the past. Ours is

not some fleeting faith, but a resilient trust in in the

midst of every suffering and difficulty.

Psalm 105:1 (Message)

Hallelujah! Thank God! Pray to him by name!

Tell everyone you meet what he has done!

Sing him songs, belt out hymns,

translate his wonders into music!

Honor his holy name with Hallelujahs,

you who seek God. Live a happy life!

Keep your eyes open for God, watch for his works;

be alert for signs of his presence.

Remember the world of wonders he has made,

his miracles, and the verdicts he's rendered—

O seed of Abraham, his servant,

O child of Jacob, his chosen.

The Number 10 - Part Four

Psalm 23

After the Lord reveals Himself as The Shepherd – (v1) there are 10 personal pronouns that refer to the Lord. This psalm starts out talking about the Lord, but then speaks to Him. There are 5 pronouns that speak of Him, and 5 that speak to Him:

He makes me lie down

He leads me beside still waters

He restores my soul

He leads me in paths of righteousness for

His name’s sake

You are with me

Your rod and

Your staff they comfort me

You prepare a table before me

You anoint my head

This psalm starts and finishes with “The Lord:”

The Lord is my Shepherd

I will dwell in the house of The Lord forever.

The personal pronouns “I,” “me,” or “my” occur 17 times

The Number 10 - Part 1: HERE

Seniors Texting

Since more and more Seniors are texting and tweeting, there appears to be a need for a STC (Senior Texting Code).

ATD: At The Doctor's

BFF: Best Friend Farted

BTW: Bring The Wheelchair

BYOT: Bring Your Own Teeth

CBM: Covered By Medicare

CUATSC: See You At The Senior Center

DWI: Driving While Incontinent

FWB: Friend With Beta Blockers

FWIW: Forgot Where I Was

FYI: Found Your Insulin

GGPBL: Gotta Go, Pacemaker Battery Low!

GHA: Got Heartburn Again

HGBM: Had Good Bowel Movement

IMHO: Is My Hearing-Aid On?

LMDO: Laughing My Dentures Out

LOL: Living On Lipitor

LWO: Lawrence Welk's On

OMMR: On My Massage Recliner

OMSG: Oh My! Sorry, Gas.

ROFL... CGU: Rolling On The Floor Laughing... And Can't Get Up

TTYL: Talk To You Louder

WAITT: Who Am I Talking To?

WTFA: Wet The Furniture Again

WTP: Where's The Prunes?

WWNO: Walker Wheels Need Oil

The Face of God

Today at church I was talking about seeing God face to face.


Just a few things to think about regarding the face of God. The word for "presence" in Hebrew (paniym) is the same as the word for "face." His presence is His face, and his face is His presence.

Ps. 100:2       Come before His presence (face)

1Chr. 16:11    Seek His face (2Chr. 7:14; Ps. 24:6; 27:8; Song 2:14)

Lam. 2:19       Pour out your heart before His face

Job 22:26       Lift your face to Him

Ps. 17:15        Come and see His face

Ps. 89:14        Mercy and truth are before His face

Ps. 80:19        His face shines on you (Ps. 67:1)

Dan. 9:17        His face shines on His sanctuary

Ps. 16:8          Set the Lord before your face (Ps. 41:12)

Deut. 5:4         Speak to Him face to face

1Cor. 13:12     See Him face to face

1Cor. 3:18       Unveil your face before Him

Pr. 16:15         Find life before His face

As for me, I will see Your face in righteousness;

I shall be satisfied when I awake in Your likeness.

Ps. 17:15

The Pink Elephant

This should make you laugh...

The Pink Elephant

Have a wonderful day in the house of the Lord tomorrow.

God Will Strengthen You

Psalm 52:7-9

 “Here is the man who did not make God his strength,
         But trusted in the abundance of his riches,
         And strengthened himself in his wickedness.”
 But I am like a green olive tree in the house of God;
         I trust in the mercy of God forever and ever.
 I will praise You forever,
         Because You have done it;
         And in the presence of Your saints
         I will wait on Your name, for it is good.

Some people find strength in riches, wisdom or power, but we need to make sure that the Lord is our strength. There is nothing that can compare to the strength He provides. We will be fruitful like the olive tree if we put all our trust in Him.


Here are some fabulous facts about the strength of God:

The Lord will be your strength and song (Ex. 15:2)

The Lord will arm us with strength for the battles we have to face (2Sam. 22:40)

The Lord will give you strength when you seek Him (1Chron. 16:11; Ps. 105:4)

The Lord will make His joy the source of His strength (Neh. 8:10)

The Lord will be your rock and fortress - you can trust in His strength (Ps. 18:2)

The Lord will arm you with strength (Ps. 18:32)

The Lord will send strength out of Zion - the place of His presence - (Ps. 20:2)

The Lord will be the strength of your life (Ps. 27:1)

The Lord will give you strength when you wait on Him (Ps. 27:14)

The Lord will be your strength and shield (Ps. 28:7)

The Lord will give you strength in your heart (Ps. 31:24; 73:26)

The Lord will be your strength in times of trouble (Ps. 37:39)

The Lord will strengthen you when you are ill (Ps. 41:3)

The Lord will be your strength and refuge (Ps. 46:1)

The Lord will take you from strength to strength (Ps. 84:7)

The Lord will give you strength from His Word (Ps. 119:28)

The Lord will increase your strength when you are weak (Is. 40:29)

The Lord will renew your strength as you wait on Him (Is. 40:31)

The Lord will perfect His strength through your weaknesses (2Cor. 12:9)

The Lord will strengthen you through His Spirit (Eph. 3:16)

The Lord will cause you to do all things through His strength (Phil. 4:13)

The Lord will supernaturally strengthen you (2Tim. 4:17)


Trust in Him today - no matter what trouble you are facing, He has promised to be there with you and to lift you up in His strength.

The Number 10 - Part Three

Just continuing with the number 10 - Here are some of the ways the Bible focuses on this number that speaks of the perfection of God's Divine order and man's participation in what God is saying or doing:

Ten Repeated Names

There are ten repeated names in the Bible. Seven of these are spoken directly to the individual (4 in the Old Testament and 3 are in the New Testament) and three are spoken by the Lord on other occasions. 

Abraham, Abraham, Genesis 22:11.

Jacob, Jacob, Genesis 46:2.

Moses, Moses, Exodus 3:4.

Samuel, Samuel, 1 Samuel 3:10.

Martha, Martha, Luke 10:41.

Simon, Simon, Luke 22:31.

Saul, Saul, Acts 9:4.

Lord, Lord, Matthew 7:21,22, 25:11; Luke 6:46; 13:25.

Eloi, Eloi, Mark 15:34; Matthew 27:46; Psalm 22:1.

Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Matthew 23:37; Luke 13:34.

Abraham's Faith

 Abraham's faith was proved by a completed cycle of ten trials:—

His departure from Haran.

His flight to Egypt from the famine.

In the seizure of Sarah.

In his war to rescue Lot.

In his taking Hagar.

In his circumcision.

In the second seizure of Sarah at Gerar.

In the expulsion of Ishmael.

In the expulsion of Hagar.

In the offering of Isaac.

The Ten Words Of Psalm 119

There are ten words that describe God's Divine revelation (Word) found in Psalm 119. One or other of these ten words occurs in every verse (except 122). 


1. His Law - Heb. word: torah is from yarah, to project, issue : hence, to point out, to show (Proverbs 6:13). Then, to instruct, teach. The Torah contains God's Instructions to His People, pointing out to them His will. This word is found 25 times in this psalm. 
2. His Way - Heb. word: derek is from darak, to tread with the feet, and denotes the act of walking. Hence it is used of a going, or way, or journeying. 
3. His Testimonies - Heb word: eduth is from 'ud, to turn back again, to go over again, to reiterate, hence, to testify. 
4. His Commandments - mizvah is from zavah, to set up, constitute. Therefore we see, constitutional commands. Found 22 times in this psalm. 
5. His Precepts - Heb. word: pikkudim is from pakad, to take oversight or charge : hence, mandates others. It occurs only in the Book of Psalms.
6. His Word, or saying - Heb. word: imrah is from 'amar, to bring forth to light; hence, to say. The verb is very regularly followed by the words used; hence 'imrah means an utterance and the purport of it.
7. His Judgments - Heb. word: mishpat is from shaphat, to set upright, erect (compare English right, and German richten and recht); hence, to judge. Mishpat means judgment. This word occurs 23 times in this psalm - mostly in the plural.
8. His Righteousness - Heb. word: zedek, is from zadak, to be right, upright, just, righteous. Hence the noun means rightness.
9. His Statutes - Heb. word: ok and hukka is from hakak, to hew, cut in, engrave, inscribe; hence, to decree, or ordain. The noun = a decree or ordinance. Found 22 times in this psalm.
10. His Truth or Faithfulness, Words - Heb. word: dabar is from dabar, to arrange in a row; hence, to set forth in speech. It refers to the articulate form of what is said, whether spoken or written (compare v above); to the mode or manner by which the ipsissima verba are imparted. Found 24 times in this psalm.


These, the Massorah says, "correspond to the Ten Commandments."


Why do you think that only one verse (v 122) in this Psalm does not include one of these 10 words?


Ps. 119:122 Please guarantee a blessing for me. Don’t let the arrogant oppress me! (NLT)
Ps. 119:122  Take the side of your servant, good God; don't let the godless take advantage of me. (The Message)



The Number 10 - Part 1: HERE
The Number 10 - Part 4: HERE