~Psalm 15, the Expanded Version~ May 3, 2013

Photograph by Carl Waltz-this is a place in Wisconson called Holy Hill. So striking, I had to share!

Psalm 15 is all about who will be allowed to live in the house of the Lord.  It is basically a guide as to how we should live if we desire to please the Lord and ultimately, one day, ascend His holy hill to live with Him forever.

In reading this psalm, I thought I would break it down, verse by verse, and elaborate on the meaning of each instruction that is given.

First, the question is proposed:

“Lord, who may dwell in your sanctuary?  Who may live on your holy hill?”

The first response is, “He whose walk is blameless and who does what is righteous”

Let me start by pointing out that living a blameless life does not mean that perfection is required of you.  It says in 2 Peter 3:14 that we are to “make every effort to be found living peaceful lives that are pure and blameless in His sight.”  Making an effort means you are trying for something, not that you have already obtained it.  In addition to this, in Philippians 2:14-15 we are given further direction on how we should behave in order to be counted as blameless: “Do everything without complaining and arguing, so that no one can criticize you. Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people.”  In other, more simple, words, be a light amongst the dark.

The second response to the question is, “(he) who speaks the truth from his heart and has no slander on his tongue, who does his neighbor no wrong and casts no slur on his fellowman”

I would venture to say this is probably one of, if not the, hardest for most people.  Because we’re not just talking about malicious words, we are talking about gossip.  Maybe you’re not going around spreading lies about others but if you have ever started a conversation with, “Well I heard…” then you have gossiped, (preaching to myself here people).  Whenever an uncomfortable topic comes up among friends, like another’s financial situation for example, if you feel it would be rude to correct the chatty group, simply say, “I don’t feel comfortable discussing someone’s private matters” and excuse yourself from the conversation.  This one is for my fellow southern lady friends: it does not erase what you said about someone when you follow it up with, “Bless their heart.”  Just throwing that one out there!

Next up on our list of responses on how to dwell in the house of the Lord: “(he) who despises a vile man but honors those who fear the Lord.”

I would think that this is fairly self-explanatory but for the sake of making my point, I’ll add my two cents.  We are not to go around praising the works of the morally corrupt.  Remember, if they’re not serving God, they are serving somebody!  Who do you want to give your honor and support to?  Those who fear the Lord will do so by honoring Him in all that they do, in public and behind closed doors.  Those who don’t, well, they’re pretty easy to spot!

This next one is kind of rough, “(he) who keeps his oath even when it hurts”

No one in their right mind would choose to do something that is painful!  There will be times in your life that the commitments that you have made will be almost unbearable.  This could be the sacred institution of marriage to the man (or woman) who is wearing on your nerves so bad you don’t think you can survive another moment in their presence.  What about those kids you promised to raise up and train in the way they should go?  Don’t try to tell this momma of five that there haven’t been days when you would gladly trade them in for billy goats!  Here’s the thing about an oath, it is a solemn promise with God as your witness, that you will fulfill the commitment at all cost.  Life is full of painful moments but they are not an excuse for washing your hands of your responsibilities.

Last, but most certainly not least, “(he) who lends his money without usury (interest) and does not accept a bribe against the innocent.”

If it is within your means to give, do so out of cheerful heart.  If you give with the mindset of what’s in it for me or what will I get in return, then you might as well keep your “gift” to yourself.  God wants us to love our neighbors and offer a helping hand as often as possible.  It has been my personal experience that even when I don’t think I have it to give, when I obey the Lord, He always provides.  Always.

In closing, the last verse of this beautiful psalm says,

“He who does these things will never be shaken.”

From this point going forward, I will always see Psalm 15 as my own personal road map on how to climb the most treacherous of hills in order to spend my eternity with the One who gave it all.

~Lessons from Job~ May 2, 2013

“Job was blameless-a man of integrity.  He feared God and stayed away from evil.”

(Job 1:1 NLT)

Job was an incredibly blessed man.  He had good fortune, good health, and a large family to share his inheritance with.  By the world’s standards, he had it all.  When the Lord allowed satan to take all these “things” from Job, he still refused to blame God.  In one day, Job lost all his animals, crops, farmhands & servants; so basically, his livelihood.  Before this harsh reality could even set in, the news came that all of his children had been struck down.  Yet in his grief, Job responds, “The Lord gave me what I had and the Lord has taken it away.  Praise the name of the Lord!” (VS 21)  He knew that all he had did not belong to him but to the Lord.  Even when he was stricken with extreme illness and his own wife told him to forget about integrity, curse God and die, Job remained faithful.

“Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?”

(Job 2:10 NLT)

From the outside looking in, Job had every reason to forget God.  He went from being “top dog” to barely existing.  BUT…

How hypocritical would we be if we praised God when things were good but doubted His existence in times of trouble?  God is the same all the time; are we not the ones who are fickle?

He is always good, we are prone to sin.

He is full of justice and mercy, while we sometimes seek revenge.

His love for us is the same on the mountain top as it is in the valley and we hinge our love on our circumstances.  We allow our feelings to dictate our relationship with God, but this is not faith.

“Faith is being sure of what we hope for and it gives us an assurance about things we cannot see.”

(Hebrews 11:1)

So whether we find ourselves in a season free from struggle or if we are in the midst of a battle, we should remember that our perspective is limited at best.  God is and always will be in control.  So do not allow your faith to falter like a wave that is tossed to and fro every time life throws you for a loop.  Instead be “like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither.” (Psalm 1:3 NLT)

~Voice Above the Noise~ May 1, 2013

Have you ever watched a momma carry on a conversation with another adult while correcting one child, cleaning up a spill from another even as another screams for her attention?  Or maybe you’ve been that other adult and wondered how it is possible that this woman is hearing a word you are saying when she is obviously distracted.  If you yourself do not have children, I bet conversations like this aggravate you because you think that in order to be heard, there can be no other voices, activity or distractions taking place at the same time.  You have probably even stopped midstream and asked, “Are you listening to me?”

As one of these mommas, let me assure you, we hear every word you say.  We are fully engaged in the conversation because we have learned how to tune out all the chaos around us and simply focus on the one who is speaking.  (If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time, I’m sure you know where I am going with this.)

This is not unlike how it is with God.  He is speaking to us in the midst of total chaos.  We have jobs to do, kids to raise, houses to run, responsibilities to tend to and numerous people who are counting on us for one thing or another.  So how are we supposed to hear the voice of God speak to us?  By learning to shut out the outside “noise” and tune into His voice when He is speaking.

“Then he (Jesus) added, “Pay close attention to what you hear. The closer you listen, the more understanding you will be given–and you will receive even more.”

(Mark 4:24 NLT)

You have to make a conscious decision to pay careful attention to God so that when something tries to pull you away, you won’t lose your focus.  The more you learn to do this, the better understanding you will have of His Word which will keep you from being easily swayed.

There will be days when the world around you will consume you, if you let it.  That is why your spirit must be aligned with God so that when life gets hairy, (and you know it will), you will be able to distinguish His voice as it rings out overtop of all the others fighting for your attention.

“After He has gathered his own flock, He walks ahead of them, and the follow Him because they know His voice.  They won’t follow a stranger; they will run from him because they don’t know his voice.”

(John 10:4-5 NLT)