Psalm for the season (3)

Let's move on...

Verses 4 - 5 of Psalm 92 give us a few reasons why we need to praise God. Too many times we're all about what we don't have rather than focussing on God's goodness and all He has blessed us with. We truly get more than we desereve form God - at least I know I do. We all should be able to and actually say this:

"You thrill me, Lord, with all you have done for me! I sing for joy because of what you have done. O Lord, what great works you do! And how deep are your thoughts." (NLT)

Indeed the depth of His thoughts are articulated in this promise:

"For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD,

thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope."

(Jer 29:11 - NKJV)

So, comparing ourselves to others or even worse, envying them stems from deep-seated ingratitude. Ps 92: 6 & 7 go on to describe such people is non-complimentary words:
Only a simpleton would not know, and only a fool would not understand this:  Though the wicked sprout like weeds and evildoers flourish, they will be destroyed forever. (NLT)

Like Bishop David Oyedepo says, "If you can think, you can thank." Things may not be exactly as you prefer or want...sometimes they are not. However, if you take time to think about how good God has been to you (& yours), you'll realise that it is good to praise and give thanks to God. When you learn to - and live to - praise and worship God, sooner than later the rest of Psalm 92 will be manifested in your life. AMEN!

To be continued... 

Fathers, you're important...

Fathers are so important that the whole world celebrates them on the same day!

I found some quotes that are pretty precise...

The greatest gift I ever had came from God; I call him Dad!

~Author Unknown

My father gave me the greatest gift anyone could give another person, he believed in me.

~ Jim Valvano

When I was a kid, my father told me every day, 'You're the most wonderful boy in the world, and you can do anything you want to.'

~ Jan Hutchins

I cannot think of any need in childhood as strong as the need for a father's protection.

~ Sigmund Freud 

The Bible is so clear on how critical this protection is:

Prov 1:8a - My child, listen when your father corrects you.*

Prov 4:1 - My children, listen when your father corrects you. Pay attention and learn good judgment.*

Prov 3:12 -
For the Lord corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.*

Prov 6:20 - 23 - My son, obey your father’s commands, and don’t neglect your mother’s instruction. Keep their words always in your heart. Tie them around your neck. When you walk, their counsel will lead you. When you sleep, they will protect you. When you wake up, they will advise you. For their command is a lamp and their instruction a light; their corrective discipline is the way to life.*

Prov 13:1 - A WISE son heeds [and is the fruit of] his father's instruction and correction, but a scoffer listens not to rebuke.**

The common thing in these verses is Fathers have to be visible...and beyond that, instruct and correct their children - notice the word "when" not "if". God even likens the way He disciplines us to how earthly fathers (are expected to) behave. 

Indeed, Euripides was right when he said: "Noble fathers have noble children."

Fathers even have a warning: Fathers, don't exasperate your children by coming down hard on them. Take them by the hand and lead them in the way of the Master.** (Eph 6:4)

 A father's words are like a thermostat that sets the temperature in the house. ~ Paul Lewis

The words that a father speaks to his children in the privacy of home are not heard by the world, but, as in whispering-galleries, they are clearly heard at the end and by posterity.

~Jean Paul Richter

Every father should remember that one day

                                      his son will follow his example

instead of his advice.

~ Author unknown

The bottom line is: Fathers cannot afford to be slient and/or standby and let their wives raise the children all by themselves. It takes 2 people to "make" a child and molding that child is always better done by 2 people: Father & Mother - that's the way God ordained it. Fathers, you are very important...your presence is more valuable than your presents...

Fathers, you need to be available to bond with your children - it always makes for a better rounded child.

As fierce lions are known to be, they make out time to have "nose-contact" with their cubs. It's a wonderful feeling -

 try it out.

Happy Father's Day!!!

Sources:

*New Living Translation

**Amplified Bible

Psalm for the season (2)

"Let's start at the very beginning...a very good place to start" - how many of us remember The Sound of Music? God sure has a way of tying these things together...

In the first part of this post series, I mentioned that part of Psalm 92 has practically become a church anthem...when the song is raised, you need to give people time to sing, take it in and worship God  - it catches on like wildfire. The verses that make up the song are the 1st 2:

It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to the Most High. It is good to proclaim your unfailing love in the morning, your faithfulness in the evening. (Ps 92: 1-2 - NLT)

Marriage matters

I cannot thank God enough for this privilege and as I celebrate my anniversary today, I cannot help but agree with Barnett R. Brickner: "Success in marriage does not come merely through finding the right mate, but through being the right mate."
I've said this many times too because I know from personal experience that it takes a consciousness and conscientiousness to become and remain the right mate.

As I write this, I recall a joke shared by a pastor on the "definition" of complete and finished in the context of marriage. He said:

When a you're married to the right person, you are complete.

If you're married to the wrong person, you are finished.

If married to the wrong person from the wrong family, the person is completely finished.

I pray that all those who think they are married to the wrong person, make an attempt to "become and remain" the right mate - and you'll see postive changes in your marriage.

Someone wisely said: when you get to the heart of the matter, you'll find out it was all a matter of the heart. Marriage is God's idea, please do what you can so your heart is right with Him and you'll see it will be right in every other area of your life. If you haven't already done so, give your heart to God...you'll be completely complete* when you do. God bless

Reference:
*"...You also are complete through your union with Christ." (Col 2:10a - NLT)

So true...

I couldn't resist sharing when I found this quote in an email:

'A woman's heart should be so hidden in God

that a man should have to seek Him first to find her.' ~ Max Lucado

I cannot say, stress or even shout this enough.
 
The quote reminds me of when I had to leave a relationship decades ago (I wrote about it too => http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2009/11/secret-3-courage-7-courage-to-leave.html). I had no choice but to change my mind about the young man since he changed his mind about Christ. I thank God that I never looked back...I'm sure I would have had a very unhappy marriage or maybe a broken one if I had looked back.
 
Indeed, it's a glorious thing when you are found by someone wise enough to seek Christ...ask happily married Christian couples...

...you can ask me...

In fact today, we rejoice and gratefully celebrate our anniversary of being happily married  

- all to God's glory.

 
Wise men still seek Him...and such men are blessed by God because:
"The man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord."

(Prov 18:22 - NLT)

"... a wise, understanding, and prudent wife is from the Lord" (Prov 19:14b - Amplified)
 
Ladies-in-wating...as you wait for Mr Right*, hide yourself in the Lord...you'll be blessed without a shadow of doubt because God Himself will look out for you**.
 
Further reading:
*http://sapphire-and-beryl.blogspot.com/2010/06/dont-wait-for-mr-right.html
** Zech 2:8 - For thus said the LORD of hosts...for he who touches you touches the apple of his eye. (English Std Version)

Psalm for the season...

I believe this also happens to you...it happens to me often. If you're preceptive, you'll notice that God sometimes gives us an "all-season" word in high doses within a short period of time. God, in His wisdom, ensures that the same word/message is repeated over and over again. My husband repeatedly says that "repitition brings reinforcement" and that is so true.

I know that while God wants us to obey His every word, there are some that He wants to be hard-wired into our lifestyle. I believe that's what God has been doing with me and a couple of other people in the past couple of months. Interestingly, this is not a "new" word - it's just one God needs us to ruminate upon and properly digest so it benefits us - for life.

T.H.I.N.K. before you speak

Someone blessed me with this by email...so I decided to be a blessing too.

Alan Redpath once formed a "mutual encouragement" fellowship at a time of stress in one of his pastorates. The members subscribed to a simple formula applied before speaking of any person or subject that was perhaps controversial.

T - Is it True?
H - Is it Helpful?
I - Is it Inspiring?
N - Is it Necessary?
K - Is it Kind?

Paul wrote, "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things." (Philippians 4:8 - NIV)