Strength in Psalms

I love the Psalms. I get such comfort and strength as I read and think: This was a man, just like me, limited and subject to the human nature. However, David and other psalmists loved God with all their heart, to be able to realize God’s power and mercy towards our lives.

Psalm 7:1-17 (NCV)

LORD my God, I trust in you for protection. Save me and rescue me from those who are chasing me, Otherwise, like a lion they will tear me apart. They will rip me to pieces, and no one can save me. LORD my God, what have I done? Have my hands done something wrong? Have I done wrong to my friend or stolen without reason from my enemy? If I have, let my enemy chase me and capture me. Let him trample me into the dust and bury me in the ground. (When I read this, I do fear a little. I wonder at David’s confidence in his relationship with God)

LORD, rise up in your anger; stand up against my enemies’ anger. Get up and demand fairness. Gather the nations around you and rule them from above. LORD, judge the people. LORD, defend me because I am right, because I have done no wrong, God Most High.

God, you do what is right. You know our thoughts and feelings. Stop those wicked actions done by evil people, and help those who do what is right. God protects me like a shield; he saves those whose hearts are right. God judges by what is right, and God is always ready to punish the wicked. (I pause here and pray for those whose hearts are still dark; I don’t want anyone to suffer God’s punishment)

If they do not change their lives, God will sharpen his sword; he will string his bow and take aim. He has prepared his deadly weapons; he has made his flaming arrows.

There are people who think up evil and plan trouble and tell lies. They dig a hole to trap others, but they will fall into it themselves. They will get themselves into trouble; the violence they cause will hurt only themselves. (This comforts me. Sometimes I wonder why people are cruel; this reminds me that human nature has always been like this)

I praise the LORD because he does what is right. I sing praises to the LORD Most High.

How can God not be real

I wonder when I hear people say "I don't believe in God". I ask what they believe in, and most cannot say. But some respond "Oh, a great being", "a higher power", or, sadder still, "nothing, when you die you die." Some say "How can God be real, with all the suffering in the world?" 

Open your eyes, sometimes I say. How can God not be real? We breathe, we hope, we aspire. And for what, if there is nothing? But until people experience this good grace for themselves, they cannot know. And some are so shelled with pride, they cannot reach a thought that's not their own. 

I pray for them, that their eyes are opened, their hearts softened, and their pride abandoned. 

God is great: imposing, noble, heroic, splendid

Some do not believe. I wonder

How can His presence be denied?

What thoughts do they possess

That leads them through the dark place

Where God is real, but they are blind?

Where is their laughter?

Where is their hope?

Living in one dimension

Straight-line birth to death

Tick marks along the line of life events

Easter Joy

 

The cross stands, empty, in the highlights of dawn,

A faint shadow falls upon the bloody ground,

A crude crown lay abandon, the marks of His body still in the dust.

In the dark and silent cave the

Son rises, sits, still swaddled.

He removes the rags of death and smiles.

Standing triumphant

Commands the stone to move

And walks into the bright morning.

This is why He came, why He died;

To conquer death,

Remove the gardens curse,

Leading the way to the tree of Life.

Consider Him who is faithful

The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him.  It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. It is good for a man that he bear the yoke in his youth. Lamentations 3:25-27 (ESV)

Consider Him who is faithful.

I turn dreams to heavy things,

Demanding, like a child.

I lose sight of vision

Staring at the present reality

As if it was the only one.

I seek the Lord for answers

Already given in the vision world

Of faith and certainty. 

Oh faithless heart, distraction of my sight!

My soul grows faint in battle

With my soddened self.

I cry for mercy, relief from such a foe. 

Mercy always comes. And such a sweet face.

The Lord smiles.

My soul finds rest in the gleam of His eye.

I stand again to move through one more day,

Just present reality,

And reach the vision set in trust for me. 

Then there will be one more.

Legacy

I will not let my life

suspend on quiet threads.

Life is remembrance,

the immortal chance

to leave a wisdom,

and improve the place I stand

for those who come after

a thousand years, and time worn

stones, the names are smooth

where they lie now, and where then,

and who remembers, or is better

for their birth.

Some advance the generations,

teaching  stories that contain

seeds of consolation, wheels

and turn.

But my gift is not a grave

and who I am is not the thing

But that I have some insight

and I lived the sorrows

others will have.

To them I give the consolation

that life is only death

but between lies laughter, and actions of joy. 

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven. Matthew 5:14-16 (ESV)