Psalm 45 - A Good Theme

My heart is overflowing with a good theme; I recite my composition concerning the King; my tongue is the pen of a ready writer.

I’ve never really heard it put this way before; “heart overflowing with a good theme.” If someone could decipher the contents of your heart, what kind of book would it be? It your heart was a musical symphony, what genre of music would it play. Would it be a recurring theme of low notes; a novel full of tragedies, or would it be an upbeat version of “What a wonderful world?” Whatever you “say to yourself” in your heart will express itself cogently to others through your countenance or callous words

The reality of life is this; whatever is in your heart inevitably and eventually works its way to your lips. God, please give me a heart that is refreshed, renewed and full of your sunshine; let it always have a good theme. Amen!

Psalm 42 - Make like a Deer

This year I discovered a quaint little seaside town in Washington State called Ocean Shores. As the name connotes, it is a seaside holiday town with a unique feature; deer that wander freely through the homes and the town.
It’s been sometime since I last spotted a deer in the wild and so this was a treat for me as I was there for the surf and sand. Actually we were there at the invitation of my precious grand-daughter.

As the deer pants for the water brooks, so pants my soul for You, O God.
My soul thirsts for God, for the living God. When shall I come and appear before God? My tears have been my food day and night, while they continually say to me, “where is your God?”

Life can be pretty draining, especially when you are in my line of work. To ensure that I don’t burn out, I have to “make like a deer” at times. There are many things that drain me so I have to consciously seek out activities that “fill me up.”
Before I get any super spiritual advice on how God is all you need; I must say that while it is vitally important for us to maintain an intimate and current relationship with the Lord, it is essential that we take time out to refresh our soul. I find that nature appeals to my senses more than even music or other activities.

When I remember these things, I pour out my soul within me. For I used to go with the multitude; I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept a pilgrim feast.

There is a season for everything in life. While corporate celebration is exhilarating and passionate; it can also be tiring, hence the need to steal away to be quiet in His presence.
High praise is powerful but quiet contemplation allows God to penetrate the soul into the depths of our heart.
Both are needed if we are to have a balanced walk and a healthy soul!

PSALM 40 – SLAYER

What is six inches long and can cut down a man six feet tall ?
If you answered “the tongue,” you probably are suffering from Post Traumatic Syndrome Disorder because of some verbal lashing from someone in the near past. I said, “I will guard my ways, lest I sin with my tongue; I will restrain my mouth with a muzzle, while the wicked are before me.”
I was mute with silence, I held my peace even from good; and my sorrow was stirred up. My heart was hot within me; while I was musing, the fire burned. Then I spoke with my tongue: “LORD, make me to know my end, and what is the measure of my days, that I may know how frail I am. Indeed, You have made my days as handbreadths, and my age is as nothing before You; certainly every man at his best state is but vapour. Selah

We know it is Christian thing to be kind with our words however, we also need to be wise when to speak, and with whom we speak to.
Just as our careless tongue could “slay” another, we could also become a victim if we simply open our hearts up to the wrong people.
Surely every man walks about like a shadow; surely they busy themselves in vain; he heaps up riches, and does not know who will gather them.
“And now, Lord, what do I wait for? My hope is in You. Deliver me from all my transgressions; do not make me the reproach of the foolish.
I was mute, I did not open my mouth, because it was You who did it. Remove Your plague from me; I am consumed by the blow of Your hand. When with rebukes You correct man for iniquity, you make his beauty melt away like a moth; surely every man is vapour. Selah

Be very careful what we say when bad things happen; hold back any quick judgement or attempt to place blame. Sometimes bad things happen to good people because God has a good plan that we are unaware of.

“Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear to my cry; do not be silent at my tears; for I am a stranger with You, a sojourner, as all my fathers were.
Remove Your gaze from me, that I may regain strength, before I go away and am no more.”