Complete (credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/doug88888/)

I’ve realized that in trying to push myself to write here everyday, my morning are crazy rushed and I end up stressed out.  So, for a bit, things will be kind of hit or miss.  Sorry!  I’m not really sure anyone actually reads this, so I’m probably just apologizing to myself.

Psalm 57:2

I will cry to God Most High, To God who accomplishes all things for me.

The word accomplishes in this verse actually means to finish or to complete.  So, David is declaring that God will bring to completion all these things for him.  And, actually, the phrase all things doesn’t exist in the text, but is added because in English it sometimes takes a phrase to express an idea that can be  expressed in one word in another language, like Hebrew.  Anyhow, I think that using completes or finishes gives far more meaning to this sentence.

But at church last night I was reminded (they talked about their Christmas Angels program) that there are families out there with children who have struggle similar to my own children’s struggles.  They don’t have homes to live in, they don’t have bells and whistles, they may not be able to afford basic things like shoes, they may not have family to help them.

So, I adopted a little girl with nothing, except autism.

I am not sure how things will work out, but sometimes the tug of God is so strong on my heart to help people.  I can’t imagine parenting a child with autism alone, and living below the poverty line (we’re close, but not that close).  We have family who helps us (we have a beautiful, safe, clean place to live – thanks mom!), and cars that get us where we need to go; I have a job and my husband sort of has a job – sometimes; our children are healthy and happy and safe.  We’re not hungry or unable to buy the basic necessities like clothes for the boys or toothpaste.  We may not have much, but we are still blessed.

It’s hard to remember that sometimes because I get freaked out looking at our bank account and trying to figure out how all the bills will get paid.  It’s especially scary since we have to pay our COBRA bill, multiple doctors and hospitals… and still figure out Christmas.  But, God has always been faithful in the past.  He’s always come through; He’s always provided and made it all work out.

Remember.

I cling to His promises and I remember His past reliability.  And, even though we’re in dire straights, I’ll also try and help someone less fortunate than I am.

Shalom.

Psalm 22:1-5

For the choir director; upon Aijeleth Hashshahar. A Psalm of David. My God, my God,why have You forsaken me?  Far from my deliverance are the words of my groaning.

O my God, I cry by day, but You do not answer; And by night, but I have no rest.

Yet You are holy, O You who are enthroned upon the praises of Israel.

In You our fathers trusted; They trusted and You delivered them.

To You they cried out and were delivered; In You they trusted and were not disappointed

This is another “mountain” poem where the A-B-C-B-A pattern is used.  But there’s another effect that’s pretty cool.  Verse once asks why he was forsaken and why God seemed so far away, but verse five remembers God’s faithfulness in hearing the cries of his forefathers and delivering them.  Verse two talks about how he cries all all the time, but verse four acknowledges that his forefathers trusted God and were delivered.  They cried out, too, and were answered.  Verse three is the pinnacle and proclaims the holiness of God, His sovereignty, His seperateness, His faithfulness.  He is on the throne, which means He is in control of it all, even when I don’t understand it or see it or hear it.

The first two verses are the the dark side of the mountain, where everything seems like it’s out of control and where it seems like I’m all alone.  But at the top there’s a realization, or perhaps a rememberance, followed by a declaration that God is holy and in control.  The final two verses are the sunny side of the mountain.  By remembering God’s past faithfulness I am encouraged.  I see how He rescued in the past and did not disappoint me in the past, and this gives me strength to keep moving forward.

I think that’s pretty awesome!

Psalm 23:6

Surely goodness and lovingkindness will follow me all the days of my life, And I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The last few nights my little Mr. G has had a tough time sleeping.  So I’ve been going in and singing to him, praying over him, and telling him Bible verses.  The sad thing is that I remember so few verses.  I realized the other night as I was telling him the 23rd Psalm, that I barely remembered it!  In fact, I couldn’t remember verse 6 at all!  Wow!  Not cool.  I had to go look it up after I finally got him to settle down.

One thing I think I really like about this verse is that goodness and lovingkindness (goodness, kindness, and faithfulness) follow me.  I’m not hunting them down or chaining them to me in order to have them in my life.  They hunt me.  Although, an interesting thought just occurred to me.  If I’m walking backwards (rowing backwards up a stream), then they might even be “before” me since my back is to what is ahead.  Either way, it’s pretty cool that they follow me and not the other way around.  Where I go, His faithfulness is with me, as is His goodness.  Even through the dark valleys and in the enemy’s presence.  That’s pretty awesome.

(Hmmmm, incidentally, I just realized I forgot verse 3, too.  That one’s pretty important: He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake.)

Psalm 119:147

I rise before the dawning of the morning, And cry for help; I hope in Your word.

In Hebrew this verse actually reads something like:  I anticipate (go before) the twilight and cry out for help.  I await Your word.

A couple of thoughts on this:  To me, twilight is a peaceful time.  In the morning it heralds the coming of daylight.  In the evening, the world prepares to rest.  Today I am anticipating the twilight.  Circumstances have made life rocky and uncertain.  I know God is faithful, and I cry out for His help – to smooth the way, to speed the process, and to give me peace as I wait.  I await (anticipate) daylight, when things are settled and sorted and I can see a little bit.  I anticipate evening when I can rest from the running around like crazy.

I await Your word.  When God speaks, things happen.  His word is action.  He spoke and the world became.  He speaks and what He says is done.  His word is law.  He is never wrong (wrong is different from changing His mind).  Therefore, I wait (today, anxiously) for God to speak. I know that what He speaks will be.  His word may be “Peace, child, and wait with me.”  Or it may be, “Remember my faithfulness!”  Or maybe His word will be something I can’t perceive, but the angels know and obey Him.  I don’t know.  I don’t have to know.  My job is to remember.  And to wait.

So I wait for the knots to untangle and for the unhill climb to level off a bit.

And I remember that YHWH has always been faithful in the past.  Perhaps He will wait until the 9th hour, when everything is impossible, to move in miraculous ways.  Then He will remind me, “I am God!  Nothing is impossible for me!”

Romans 11:3-4

“Lord, they have killed your prophets and torn down your altars. I alone am left, and now they are trying to kill me, too.”  And do you remember God’s reply? He said, “You are not the only one left. I have seven thousand others who have never bowed down to Baal!”

There are so, so many times when I wonder if anyone else ever feels the way I feel, or if anyone else is in the same position I’m in.  This verse really speaks to that.  Elijah was feeling all alone, like he was the only one left – alive – that was Godly.  And God tells him that, not only is not the only one left, there are 7000 others like him.  He just hasn’t met them or seen them, but they’re there!

I’ll bet that happens a lot now, too.  We feel incredibly alone or like we’re the only one doing the right thing, but there are thousands of others doing the right thing just like us, we just can’t see them or don’t know of them.  It’s like the news.  There’s probably a lot of good news in the world, stories of people who are kind and honest and good, but they don’t really seem to make the news very often.  Instead we hear the stories of how bad things are and how dishonest people are and all the crime and tragedy that is taking place.  Sure, there’s good stuff, too, but it’s not “news-worthy.”  It’s there, we just don’t see much of it.  It’s just like Elijah.  He was hearing the crime and tragedy, but didn’t get the good stuff very often so he felt alone.  But, as God reminded YOU ARE NOT ALONE!

Just like faith, which is something hoped for but not seen, sometimes we just have to believe that we’re not the only good people or struggling people out there.  There are good stories to counter the bad.  And there’s a God who reminds us that we aren’t alone.  Even if there are no other people doing the right thing or surrounding us, GOD NEVER LEAVES YOU!!!  You’re not alone.  And that’s hope.

Zechariah 8:6

This is what the LORD Almighty says: All this may seem impossible to you now, a small and discouraged remnant of God’s people. But do you think this is impossible for me, the LORD Almighty?

I feel a little bit like the remnant sometimes.  I feel small and discouraged by the circumstances of my life.  Last Sunday was one of those days.  I was frustrated by some of the events that had happened and discouraged by life.  The hope of God’s promises seemed really impossible and it seemed like we’d never get out of the situation we’re in.  There always seems to be a glimmer of hope on the horizon, but it never seems to get any closer.  I was overwhelmed and felt incredibly small compared to the craziness and circumstances of what is going on around me.

But God reminded me of His faithfulness, first through a song by Israel Houghton called “Everywhere That I Go.”  Here are the lyrics from the chorus:

You promised me, you’ll never leave
You promised me, I’m never forsaken
and I believe
Goodness and mercy, will follow me
Surrounding me, where I go
Every where that I go

These words are incredibly comforting because they remind me that God NEVER leaves, He NEVER gives up, He NEVER fails to keep His promises.  He never makes pie-crust promises (those promises that are easily made, easily broken… as Mary Poppins would say).  Everywhere that I go, He is there, surrounding me with His great LOVE!  So, what seems like it would be impossible and has over time seemed like it will never end, is not impossible for God.  He never leaves me stuck here, He never gives up on me, and He never fails to keep His promises.  Is it impossible?  For me, yes.  For God, no.

I still get discouraged and feel tiny compared to my overwhelming circumstances, but this (and God’s continual reminders through music) helps me to stay focused on the fact that God is SO much bigger than my storm and SO much more able to do the impossible than I can imagine.  I certainly don’t know the future, but I do know that He’s already been there and already knows the best path to take to get there.  And in the end, if I get there holding His hand, then no matter what life throws at me, He will lead me in His presence and eventually all those promises will be true.

Zechariah 1:3

Therefore, say to the people, `This is what the LORD Almighty says: Return to me, and I will return to you, says the LORD Almighty.

I liked how this commentary by Chuck Smith puts it:

“This basically is God’s message to the people through the ages. “If you’ll turn to Me, I will turn to you.” When the king Asa had come back from great victory over the Ethiopians and the Nubians, the prophet of God came out to meet him and he said, “The Lord is with you while you are with Him, and if you seek Him, He will be found of you. But if you forsake Him, He will forsake you” (II Chronicles 15:2). Through the ages this is always the case. God is always waiting for man to come. And if you will come to God, you can have fellowship with God, and the Lord will be with you. But the Lord does not force Himself on people. God does not force you to love Him. God does not force you to come to Him. He does not force you to serve Him. He just tells you of His love for you. And because of His love for you, this is what He will do for you if you’re walking in fellowship with Him. But when it comes right down to it, you are the one that has to make the decision. God has done all that He will do to save you. He has provided all that you need. But you must initiate now. God has already done all the initiating He will in providing the way. Now He waits for you to come, and He invites you to come, but you have to do it.”

Haggai 1:9

You hoped for rich harvests, but they were poor. And when you brought your harvest home, I blew it away. Why? Because my house lies in ruins, says the LORD Almighty, while you are all busy building your own fine houses.

I read this and immediately thought about my life and finances.  We hoped for rich harvests, there were promises of great things to come, but they were poor and nothing came to pass.  What we were able to bring home flew right out again in children’s medical bills, car repairs and diapers (sooooo many diapers).  It seemed that we would never have enough to do more than just scrape by (thank goodness for the help and love of family, and for the grace and faithfulness of God’s provision).  This same thing happened with Israel.  Why?  According to this verse, it’s because God’s house lies in ruins.

A loooong time ago when this was written, God’s house was literally in ruins.  It had been destroyed by invaders.  The Israelites who had started to rebuild had rebuilt their homes, but not the Temple.  Today, most of us don’t have a physical temple building in ruins laying around our homes and neighborhoods.  But the principle still applies.  God’s home is our hearts.  Have we been so busy trying to build our homes, businesses, and families that we’ve neglected to care for God’s home?  Do we spend time with Him?  Do we talk with Him?  Do we allow Him to work in us?  Do we do good for others and love them?

I know that for a long time, I was so busy with life that I didn’t have time to spend with God.  It wasn’t that I never thought of Him or completely ignored Him, but finding some time to read God’s Word and pray in chunks of time was nearly impossible with two small children!   I neglected to build that relationship with God – I neglected to build His temple in me.  Maybe that’s part of why we’ve struggled so much these last few years.  It may not be all of it.  There’s probably a lot of good lessons in there, too, I’m sure.  But it could very well be a part of the problem.  There’s a reason this chunk of text made it into our version of the Bible…