Sunday, August 26, 2012

Joy of Praise

Psalm 13 (NIV) For the director of music. A psalm of David. 1 How long, Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him, ” and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise, for he has been good to me.
Sepher Tehillim, "The Book of Praises" Opportunities to study the Book of Psalms is a source of great joy in my life. Every time our study is focused on some portion of the Psalms I am provided with an chance to find new and wonderful gems for my treasury of praises to my God. The gem for today was in finding the Jewish term for the Book of Psalms, Sepher Tehillim, “Book of Praises”. The Book of Psalms provides many themes and functions: Examples are Hymns, (Ps. 24, 48, 99, 136, 146; Community complaints (Ps 74,83); Individual complaints, (Ps 5, 13, 51); Individual songs of thanksgiving (Ps. 116); Royal psalms (Ps. 20, 45, 72, 101); Torah psalms (Ps. 1, 32, 49, 127); Oracle psalms (Ps 82, 87); Blessing psalms (Ps 128); Taunt songs (Ps. 52); Songs of trust (Ps. 110); (http://www.angelfire.com/sc3/we_dig_montana/Psalms.html); but they all provide opportunities to acknowledge the wonder and greatness of God and to praise His Holy Name. Our Psalm for today, Psalm 13, is listed here as a song of individual complaint and the Psalmist does cry out in the agony of seeming abandonment and defeat. Yet in all of this there is the absolute knowledge that God is a father to whom he can come for help. There is true trust in his unfailing love. Psalm 13 is a wonderful model of prayer and supplication in times of stress and doubt. Psalm 13 acknowledges that we sometimes feel lost despite our understanding that God is ever present. Above all, Psalm 13 is a song of praise to a good and loving God. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love;     my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the Lord’s praise,     for he has been good to me.- May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!

Wednesday, August 22, 2012

The Not So Prodigal Son

Growing Old or Growing Up
Luke 15:11-32 New International Version (NIV) The Parable of the Lost Son 11 Jesus continued: “There was a man who had two sons. 12 The younger one said to his father, ‘Father, give me my share of the estate.’ So he divided his property between them. 13 “Not long after that, the younger son got together all he had, set off for a distant country and there squandered his wealth in wild living. 14 After he had spent everything, there was a severe famine in that whole country, and he began to be in need. 15 So he went and hired himself out to a citizen of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed pigs. 16 He longed to fill his stomach with the pods that the pigs were eating, but no one gave him anything. 17 “When he came to his senses, he said, ‘How many of my father’s hired servants have food to spare, and here I am starving to death! 18 I will set out and go back to my father and say to him: Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. 19 I am no longer worthy to be called your son; make me like one of your hired servants.’ 20 So he got up and went to his father. “But while he was still a long way off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion for him; he ran to his son, threw his arms around him and kissed him. 21 “The son said to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and against you. I am no longer worthy to be called your son.’ 22 “But the father said to his servants, ‘Quick! Bring the best robe and put it on him. Put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. 23 Bring the fattened calf and kill it. Let’s have a feast and celebrate. 24 For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’ So they began to celebrate. 25 “Meanwhile, the older son was in the field. When he came near the house, he heard music and dancing. 26 So he called one of the servants and asked him what was going on. 27 ‘Your brother has come,’ he replied, ‘and your father has killed the fattened calf because he has him back safe and sound.’ 28 “The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. 29 But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. 30 But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ 31 “‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours. 32 But we had to celebrate and be glad, because this brother of yours was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.’”
Sometimes we seniors get complacent in our service. We think it's time to retire and let the younger ones take over. Sometimes it's because the younger ones act as though we have nothing left to offer and we start to feel a little sorry for ourselves and just back down. Sometimes it's because we feel we have done our job and it's now time to rest. Sometimes it isn't anything we thought about, we just slide into inaction and wake up one morning to find ourselves without purpose and goals in His service. What a loss for everyone! It's a part of the wonder of the workings of the Holy Spirit that when I began to think of my role in the church as a senior I was led to scripture about the “Prodigal Son”. It's not the son who took off and got himself into deep trouble who comes to mind, it's the son who was faithful and did everything he felt was right in the sight of his father who reminds me of us seniors. When we remember that He has always been with us and that everything He has is ours, we waken to the need to share this knowledge with the sons and daughters who just got here or just got back. It is our job to help them see the workings of His fields and the glory of His protection and love. It is our job to help them as they strive to do all that God would have them to do. We may need to remind ourselves of the constant stream of feasts we have already enjoyed at His table and the many warm moments of comfort in His love. Then we can celebrate and be glad every day that we are able to be in His service.
Psalm 92:14-15 New International Version (NIV) 14 They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, 15 proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him. ”
Father God, please help me to stay “fresh and green” in Your service. Please help me to be about the business of proclaiming Your Name with my last breath. I thank You for every moment that I have basked in the warmth of Your love. Amen. May God Forever Be a Blessing in Your Life!!!