resting in His grace...

The Lord is merciful and gracious, slow to anger

and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide,

nor will he keep his anger forever.

He does not deal with us according to our sins,

nor repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove

our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion

to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.

For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust.

Psalm 103:8-14 ESV

I feel the unrest settle...

like the dust from a windstorm...

and where I land...

is in His grace...

An ordinary Christian... 

following an extraordinary God...

that's what I call myself...

The ordinary grumbles...

frets...

loses sleep...

feels restless...

But the Extraordinary...

He pours out grace...

mercy... compassion...

on the form that's made of dust...

I wonder at His extraordinary grace...

when I'm in a tumult...

and how He still loves... provides...

is faithful... when I'm in a tizzy...

What a gracious extraordinary God...

who lets me find rest...

in His grace...

psalm 103... and Easter perspective... part fourteen...

The final piece... part fourteen... of viewing Psalm 103 from an Easter perspective...

Praise the Lord, you his angels,

you mighty ones who do his bidding,

who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works

everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Psalm 103: 20-22

Jesus...

His birth announced by angels in a field...

to unsuspecting shepherds...

"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all people. Today in the town of David

a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord.

This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby

wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

Suddenly a great company of heavenly host appeared

with the angel, praising God and saying,

"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace to men on whom his favor rests."

Luke 2:10-14

Jesus...

reminded His disciples... in the garden of Gethsemane...
angels were waiting... watching... for God's plan to play out...

"... Do you think that I cannot appeal to my Father,

and he will at once send me more than twelve legions of angels?

But how then should the Scriptures be fulfilled, that it must be so?"

Matthew 26:53-54 ESV

Jesus...

His resurrection proclaimed by angels...

to unsuspecting women...

They found the stone rolled away from the tomb,

but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus.

While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men

in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them.

..."Why do you look for the living among the dead?

He is not here; he has risen!..."

Luke 24:2-6

Angels... the mighty ones... servants...

who do His bidding... obey His will...

praise His holy name...

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels,

numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand

times then thousand. They encircled the throne and the

living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they sang:

"Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,

to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength

and honor and glory and praise!"

Revelation 5:11-12

The angels... His heavenly hosts...

those who see and know all that goes on in the heavenlies...

have waited and watched God's plan of salvation...

play out through Jesus...

They know.... they praise...

We've seen all His benefits... 

His love... His mercy... His amazing grace...

played out through Jesus...

Those who know... believe...

those who believe... praise...

At His return... ALL will praise...

everyone in His dominion will see His works... 

know He is worthy...

every knee will bow...

Therefore God exalted him to the highest place

and gave him the name above every name,

that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under the earth,

and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord,

to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:9-11

The last verse brings us full circle...

The psalmist began by prodding his soul to praise...

naming His benefits... remembering His works...

he he has stirred up plenty of reason to praise...

Praise the Lord... O my soul...

Lord... thank You for all Your benefits...

the many reasons to praise Your holy name...

the revelations of You in the psalms...

never let me be empty of praise for You...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part thirteen...

Just a couple more days to go... looking for the resurrected Christ... and we'll be through our journey of Psalm 103...

What will we see today...?

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

and his kingdom rules over all.

Psalm 103:19

The Lord Jesus... established His throne in heaven... 

through obedience to His Father...

And being found in human form, he humbled himself

by becoming obedient to the point of death,

even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted

him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name,

so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow,

in heaven and on earth and under earth...

Philippians 2:8-10 ESV

His Kingdom... rules over ALL...

those in heaven... all the unseen supernatural creatures...

those on earth... all living breathing beings on planet Earth...

those under the earth... all who have already passed from life to death...

Jesus's rule is complete... perfect... preeminent...

The Lord Jesus... established His throne in heaven...

as the Lamb of God... the perfect sacrifice...

And every priest stands daily at his service,

offering repeatedly the same sacrifices, which can never take away sins.

But when Christ had offered for all time a single sacrifice for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of God...

Hebrews 10:11-12 ESV

Jesus... our perfect High Priest... was also the perfect sacrifice...

Perfect obedience...

led Him to the cross...

Unmerited death...

led Him to rise from the grave...

He now sits at the right hand of God...

The Lord Jesus... established His throne in heaven...

by being... the radiance of God's glory... and nature...

He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact

imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe

by the word of his power. After making purification for sins,

he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high...

Hebrews 1:3 ESV

Jesus... the Word made flesh... that we might see His power lived out...

The Lord Jesus... WILL establish His throne forever...

when He returns... and fixes all things...

And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying,

"Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom

of our God and the authority of his Christ have come,

for the accuser of the brothers has been thrown down,

who accuses them day and night before our God.

Revelation 12:10 ESV

The Revelation of Jesus... given to John...

proclaims a day to come... when all things will be set right...

the accuser... the enemy... defeated...

sin... death... sorrow... sickness... gone...

"... He will wipe away every tear from their eyes,

and death shall be no more, neither shall there be

mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore,

for the former things have passed away."

And he who was seated on the throne said,

"Behold, I am making all things new."

Also he said, "Write this down,

for these words are trustworthy and true."

Revelation 21:4-5 ESV

Write it down... take note... don't forget...

even if it doesn't look like it just yet...

His throne is firmly established...

His Kingdom rule a certainty...

its fulfillment... still to come...

Lord... I praise You for Your obedience...

Your pure perfection... Your glorious representation of the Father...

Your Word of power... Fill me with confidence in Your Kingdom to come...

assured of Your place on the throne...

psalm 103... and Easter perspective... part twelve...

Nearing the end of Psalm 103...
continuing to view it from the empty tomb...
verses 17 and 18...

But from everlasting to everlasting

the Lord's love is with those who fear him,

and his righteousness with their children's children---

with those who keep his covenant

and remember to obey his precepts.

Psalm 103:17-18

Everlasting to everlasting...

it's not about others remembering our place in this world when we're gone...

it's about us remembering our place before Him...

When we remember who we are... 

short-lived dust...

and whose we are... 

God's...

He remembers us... loves us...

into eternity... 

Jesus made the Way for us to be remembered...

for us to be established eternally...

as children... heirs... of the Creator...

Again... fear of the Lord... understanding who we are... and who we are before our Creator... is the key to receiving... accepting His love... His righteousness...

We must remember His precepts... 

keep His covenant...

in order to be kept eternally...

This is all made possible... when we know Jesus...

fall in love with Him... 

on account of what He's done for us...

and follow Him...

The man who says, "I know him,"

but does not do what he commands is a liar,

and the truth is not in him.

But if anyone obeys his word, God's love is truly

made complete in him. This is how we know

we are in him: Whoever claims to live in him

must walk as Jesus did.

1 John 2:4-6

When we live out His love for us through obedience...

our children... our children's children...

see and know the Truth...

His righteousness is with those who know Him...

not just go through the motions...

not just check the boxes... church... devotional... prayer...

not just follow the rules...

Those who know Him love Him all day long...

in all sorts of ways... 

and those ways... infiltrate the hearts of those around us...

from everlasting... to everlasting...

generation... to generation...

Do you love Him...?

Do you know who you are before Him...?

Do you know who He is...? and what He's done for you...?

Everlasting to everlasting...

the Lord's love... is not a box to check...

it's a relationship to enter in...

child to Father...

servant to Lord...

beloved to the Lover of our souls...

Father God... grow me to love You...

with all my heart... soul... mind... and strength...

I desire Your love... from everlasting to everlasting...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part eleven...

Returning to the exercise... of seeing Psalm 103... with Easter eyes...

As for man, his days are like grass,

he flourishes like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

and its place remembers no more.

Psalm 103:15-16

In the previous verse... just before... God assures us... as Creator... He knows... remembers... how we are formed... His compassion poured out... on those who fear Him... on those made of dust...

Here... we get a reality check...
to make sure we know who we are...

If we didn't understand our temporary frail nature...

we soon will...

The length of our days... equal to that of grass... flowers in a field... when compared with the expanse of eternity...

Grasses... we see them shoot up in the spring...

mow them all summer...

but by fall... they're slowing down...

by winter... dried up... brown... lifeless...

A few short months...

a moment in the span of eternity...

Flowers... have even a shorter life expectancy...

day lily blooms... last 24 hours...

sunflowers... maybe a week or more...

but eventually the petals wither...

the wind blows...

and they are gone...

Unless a place is intentionally marked...

there is no evidence that it ever was...

I suppose this is the heart behind mankind's need for mausoleums... large headstones... and namesakes on hospital wings... libraries... stadiums...

We don't want to be forgotten...

but we will be...

Just how many generations of parents... can you name...?

these are ones directly related to your existence...

most can name back to grandparents...

but what about greats...? great-greats...? or great-great-greats...?

People made of dust...

with a relative lifespan of grass... flowers...

are soon forgotten...

God the Father set eternity in our hearts...

we have this deep-seated belief... we are made for more...

He has planted eternity in the human heart,

but even so, people cannot see the whole scope

of God's work from beginning to end.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 NLT

Eternity... planted in our hearts... so we might seek... and find... the One... through whom we can enter eternal life... Jesus...

No matter how spectacular a life...
it lasts only a moment...
then... its place remembers it no more...

...the wind blows over it... and... it... is... gone...

Lord Jesus... thank You for making the Way...

that we might enter into what's planted in our heart...

Teach me to live for You... and not for that which...

will be remembered no more...

[Note... For those who only view email... you may want to have a look at Jeremiah's Menu online... it finally got a new look...]

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part ten...

A dozen verses behind us... ten to go... looking into Psalm 103... from the vantage of Easter...

As a father has compassion on his children,

so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

he remembers we are dust.

Psalm 103:13-14

God the Creator... like a Father...

has compassion... on all His creatures...

compassion... sympathetic consciousness of others' distress together with a desire to alleviate it...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.) 

He not only desires to alleviate our distress...

He has the POWER to do it...!

That's why He sent His Son...

to live... die... rise...

so we might not suffer for our sins...

He longs to save...!

...God our Savior... desires all people to be saved

and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

1 Timothy 2:3-4 ESV

Yet... again... we see fear of the Lord...

as the key to receiving... experiencing... His compassion...

Those who fear... accept Jesus as Lord...

and through faith... become children of God...

For you are all children of God

through faith in Christ Jesus.

Galatians 3:26 NLT

Through Jesus... we receive sonship in the Kingdom of God...

As Father... Creator... 

He knows how we are formed...

dust... dirt... debris...

Not only does He know how we are made...

He came down... to be made Himself...

take the form of... dust... dirt... debris...

[Christ Jesus] made himself nothing,

taking the very nature of a servant,

being made in human likeness.

Philippians 2:7

It's one thing to know how something is made...

it's another altogether to become one yourself...

especially when you are the One who made all things...!

Post-cross... 

Post-resurrection...

His compassion is experiential... 

He experienced Himself... 

fatigue...

hunger...

temptation... 

doubt... 

anguish... 

rejection...

betrayal...

persecution...

death...

He who is...

eternal...

omnipotent...

pure...

holy... 

omniscient...

experienced... all His creatures experience...

He has compassion... because He knows...

He has compassion... because He knows we can't...

His compassion... seen... lived out... on the cross...

And being found in appearance as a man,

he humbled himself and became obedient to death ---

even death on a cross!

Philippians 2:8

Father...

Creator...

Judge...

Man...

Sacrifice...

Savior...

He knows...

He remembers...

He pours out compassion...

on those who fear Him...

Your compassion... beyond words...

thank You... thank You...

praise the Lord... O... my soul...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part nine...

About halfway through Psalm 103... wondering what we will see today...

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions for us.

Psalm 103:11-12

Love greater than the distance between heaven and earth...

Transgressions removed farther than we can even imagine...

Yet... this love... this forgiveness... reserved for those... who fear Him...

Let's look at what this fear of the Lord is about...

The biblical conception of fear embraces a much wider dimension than does our common English word, which simply denotes dread or terror. While this meaning forms an essential part of the scriptural picture, it is by no means the primary significance, especially when the fear of God --- an awe-inspiring reverence --- is referred to.

There is, of course, a legitimate place for the fear of God in the lower, anxious sense. We are told, "It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God" (Heb 10:31, RSV). Jesus taught that we should fear God because he has the power to punish sin and consign people to utter destruction (Lk 12:4-5). Fear has a constructive role to play in enabling men to realize both the degeneracy of their souls and their need of divine forgiveness.

---Tyndale Bible Dictionary

Jesus showed us the greatness of God's love...
Love greater than we can fathom...

He came and made a way... for sins to be removed...
blotted out... cast east and west... never to return...

But there were... are... those who reject His love...
disregard His forgiveness... for they have no fear of Him...
no understanding of what Jesus revealed...
our need for a Savior...

Those who rejected Him... crucified Him...
Those for whom He prayed for forgiveness... spat on Him...
Those who preferred their own light... to the Light of the world... stayed in darkness...

"... And this is the judgment: the light has come into the world,

and people loved the darkness rather than the light

because their works were evil. For everyone who

does wicked things hates the light and does not come

to the light, lest his works should be exposed.

But whoever does what is true comes to the light,

so that it may be clearly seen that his works

have been carried out in God." --- Jesus

John 3:19-21 ESV

To truly know God... 

even an inkling of the reality of Him...

is to fear Him...

Jesus came... to reveal the reality of His love...

mercy... compassion...

Where fear of the Lord drives us to follow the law...

His love... compels us... to follow Him...

His love... enables us to trust...

trust enables us to walk out of the darkness...

Who among you fears the Lord and obeys the word of his servant?

Let him who walks in the dark, who has no light,

trust in the name of the Lord and rely on his God.

But now, all you who light fires and provide

for yourselves with flaming torches,

go, walk in the light of your fires

and of the torches you have set ablaze.

This is what you shall receive from my hand:

You will lie down in torment.

Psalm 50:10-11

Those who refuse to fear the Lord...

see Him for who He is... and who they are before Him...

will not receive... experience... His love... or... forgiveness...

Those who fear Him... know Him... trust Him... receive...

love beyond comprehension...

forgiveness unimaginable...

all in Jesus's name...

Father God... fill me with a proper fear of You...

without You I'm lost in the dark...

I trust You... Lord... show me the Way...

use me to shine Your Light in the life of others...

that they may find the Way too...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part eight...

Here we go... another piece of Psalm 103... seen in light of His work on the cross...

He will not always accuse,

nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

or repay us according to our iniquities.

Psalm 103:9-10

We stand at a miraculous time in history... the year of the Lord's favor...

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,

because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor.

He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners

and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,

to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:18-19

(emphasis added)

These words of Isaiah... Jesus read in a synagogue on a Sabbath day in Nazareth... after reading He sat down... and said... Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing...

Jesus made it clear... He is the One Isaiah prophesied about... hundreds of years earlier...

The fulfillment of these scriptures... proclaim the year of the Lord's favor... the amazing time in which we now live...

Jesus preached His good news to those poor in spirit...

He proclaimed freedom for those imprisoned by sin...

He opened the eyes of those spiritually blind...

He released those oppressed by the enemy...

He not only proclaimed the year of the Lord's favor...

He brought it to pass... via the cross... the tomb... the resurrection...

As Believers... we live in bodies of flesh... continually stumble over temptation... yet know... rely on... the grace... the favor... of the resurrected Jesus...

A place... and time... where we sin...

yet go forth unaccused...

Sin and grace...
daily intertwined...
in those who know Him...

The wrath... anger... of God... which we deserve...

has been poured out on the Son...

Jesus took the brunt of what we deserve...

By His grace... punishment forgoes us...

Our iniquities... need no repayment...

He footed the bill... paid the ransom...

By His wounds... we... are... healed...

He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree,

that we might die to sin and live to righteousness.

By his wounds you have been healed.

1 Peter 2:24 ESV

No... He does not treat us as our sins deserve...

He pours out Himself... in grace... and... love...

Lord Jesus... let this truth sink in deep...

may it transform my heart and soul...

to pour out my life... for You...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part seven...

Seven day's into looking at Psalm 103 from an Easter perspective...
what more can we see of Him...?

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

slow to anger, abounding in love.

Psalm 103:8

Jesus... the embodiment of God's compassion and grace... His patience... His love...

Father God couldn't bear to see His creatures... those He made in His image... suffer... die... under penalty of sin...

He sent His own Son...

to reveal His love...

walk out His compassion...

pour out His grace...

healing... loving... forgiving...

all the way to the cross...

His slowness of anger... seen in Jesus...

Hundreds... thousands... of years...

spent bearing agony... while retaining affection*...

waiting for the perfect time...

the fullness of time...

for Christ to come... and pay the price for our sin...

a price we could not bear...

But when the fullness of time had come,

God sent forth his Son, born of woman, born under the law,

to redeem those who were under the law,

so that we might receive adoption as sons.

Galatians 4:4-5 ESV

He stooped low... that we might be lifted up high...

His abounding love... revealed still...

in the awaiting return of His Son...

to set things right...

to fix them...

the way they were meant to be...

The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise,

as some understand slowness. He is patient with you,

not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone

to come to repentance.

2 Peter 3:9

God loves the world...

not wanting any to be lost...

He sent His Son...

not to condemn... but to save...

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,

that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have

eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world

to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ..."

John 3:16-17

Compassionate...

gracious...

patient...

abounding in love...

that is God...

embodied in Jesus...

Father God... thank You for bearing with Your creation...

Teach me to appreciate... but not take for granted... Your patience...

Enable me to receive Your love and grace... with humility...

Thankful... ready... willing to share Your love with others...

*Note... This idea... these words... came from Timothy Keller... writing about our loving Father... expounding on the parable most often referred to as The Prodigal Son... in his book...  The Prodigal God...

Ordinarily when our love is rejected we get angry, retaliate, and do what we can to diminish our affection for the rejecting person, so we won't hurt so much. But this father maintains affection for his son and bears the agony.

---Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God (my emphasis)

This picture of God's loving patience... has stuck with me... grateful for His patience... I strive to live the same... maintaining affection... bearing the agony... with those who reject me...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part six...

Returning to Psalm 103... exploring God's Word... from this side of the cross...

He made known his ways to Moses,

his deeds to the people of Israel...

Psalm 103:7

God made known His ways to Moses...

He made known His law... through Moses...

The Hebrew word for law... is torah...

In addition to meaning law... it also means...

...manner, custom, i.e., the usual way of doing something...

---Dictionary of Biblical Languages

The law revealed through Moses...
is God's Way...
a way of love... and... holiness...

Jesus... He came to fulfill the law...
not to negate it... but to complete it...

"Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets;

I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. ..." --- Jesus

Matthew 5:17 ESV

The Greek for fulfill... means... to give the true or complete meaning to something... (Louw Nida)

Jesus came to show us how to live within the law...

He lived the Mosaic Law perfectly... sinlessly...

He showed us the heart of God's Way...

He made known His ways to Moses...

Moses saw the law...

Moses knew Jesus...

"... For if you believed Moses, you would believe me;

for he wrote of me. ..." --- Jesus

John 6:1 ESV

Moses wrote the law...

he recorded God's Word...

Jesus is that Word made flesh...

"The Lord  your God will raise up for you a prophet like me

from among you, from your brothers ---

it is to him you shall listen..."

Deuteronomy 18:15 ESV

He made known His deeds...

to the people of Israel...

The Exodus... His deeds of salvation...

ten plagues...

a sea parted...

armies defeated...

a promised land given...

God went to great lengths to reveal His deeds...

His Son... 

to the Israelites...

The tenth plague... the death of the firstborn son...

was the deed culminating in their freedom from slavery...

The Israelites escaped the plague...

by following His instructions...

the instructions of the Passover Feast...

A perfect lamb... sacrificed... roasted... eaten...

his blood on the door frame...

protected them from the plague...

Jesus... The Lamb of God...

saves us from sin... and death...

Jesus... had a band of twelve Israelites...

to whom He walked with for three years...

displaying His wonderful deeds...

forgiving...

healing...

resurrecting...

The greatest deed...

His death...

His resurrection...

revealed first to the Israelites...

the earliest Believers...

the first Christians...

Yes... He made known His ways to Moses...

His deeds to the people of Israel...

Praise God... He made room for all to follow...

Father God... thank You for making Your ways known...

Thank You for preserving them in Your Word...

Thank You for Jesus... whom the whole Law and the Prophets reveal...

Then [Jesus] said to them,

"These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you,

that everything written about me in the Law of Moses

and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled."

Luke 24:44 ESV

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part five...

It's day five... of looking into Psalm 103... through the lens of Easter...

The Lord works righteousness

and justice for all the oppressed.

Psalm 103:6

Jesus... the Lord...

works righteousness... and justice...

for all the oppressed...

And just who are the oppressed...?

oppress... to crush or burden by abuse of power or authority... to burden spiritually or mentally: weigh heavily upon... wrong...

---Merriam-Webster's Collegiate Dictionary (11th Ed.)

In the Garden... the Fall resulted in a giving over of authority...

Mankind... given authority over creation by the Creator... relinquished... transferred... that control to the enemy... by falling for a lie... and disregarding the one command the Creator had given them... the one command assuring freedom...

A significant moment in history...

We rebelled against the authority of the One who loves... and came under the authority of the one who hates... the one who kills... steals... destroys...

The prince of this world...
the one we crowned...
abuses his authority...

Every person...
oppressed...
by sin...

Some of us suffer shame and guilt...
Some paralyzed into inaction...
Some numb their pain with distractions and addictions...

Others buy full into the lie...
allow the oppressor to use them...
to oppress... crush... extort...
those who are weak...
those judged lesser than themselves...

Jesus... Father God... Holy Spirit...
can't stand for any of His creatures...
to be oppressed...

Always... His command since the Fall...
has been to care for widows and orphans...
the poor and those subject to injustice...

Thus says the Lord: Do justice and righteousness,

and deliver from the hand of the oppressor him who has been robbed.

And do no wrong or violence to the resident alien,

the fatherless, and the widow, nor shed innocent blood in this place.

Jeremiah 22:3 ESV

Jesus came to work righteousness and justice...
for ALL the oppressed...

Those oppressed by sin... suffering the effects of the enemy's lies... are freed from sin... by putting faith in Jesus as Lord... coming back under the authority of the One who loves...

And those who refuse to come under His authority...?
who choose to stay under the enemy...?
stay oppressors...?

He will return...
to bring justice...
for all those...
who've been oppressed by evil...  

The work of the cross...

is still being worked out...

in the lives of those on earth...

His waiting... connected to His love...

not wanting anyone to perish...

He holds off coming...

until all who will be saved...

are saved...

Are you feeling oppressed...?

being oppressed...? 

by sin...? guilt...? shame...?

Run to Him... 

the One who frees...

from all that oppresses...

In His name...

Amen...

psalm 103... and Easter perspective... part four...

Another day... another look at Psalm 103... from the vantage point of Easter...

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and forget not all his benefits...

who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:5

More of His benefits...

seen from this side of the cross...

He satisfies our desires with good things...

God created us to be in relationship with Him...

In the words of the Westminster Shorter Catechism...

Man's chief end is to glorify God, and to enjoy Him forever.

---Westminster General Assembly, 1647

After the Fall... man's relationship with God was severed...

That which fulfilled him... lost...

Jesus... through His sacrifice on the cross...
His death... and resurrection...
made the Way... for us to come again...
into relationship with Him...

By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way

through the curtain into the Most Holy Place.

Hebrews 10:20 NLT

Our hearts' desire can only be satisfied in Him...
and through Him... by way of the Spirit...
we can know again... the satisfaction... of His presence...
walk in the fulfillment... of what we were created for...

Not only did Jesus make the way for good things...
He also makes the way for our youth to be renewed like an eagle's...

He made the way for us to receive His power... strength... energy...

I can't tell you how many in my life... say over and over...
I'm so tired...
and these are not old people... they are youths...!

I used to be there once myself...
maybe you are now...
constantly tired... run down... no energy...

But what I've found to be true...
is over the more than two decades I've been pursuing Him...
obeying Him... allowing Him to work and heal...
the less often I feel tired...

In my 50+ years... I find myself amazed...
at the energy I do have at this point in my life...

And when I feel myself failing...
I cry out to Him... for the strength He promises...
to do all He calls me to do...

This right here... today... could not have been done...without the truth of His Word...

I am able to do all things through Him

who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13 HCSB

I truly believe... have experienced...

increasing satisfaction with life...

increasing energy and strength...

by pouring out my life for Him...

I pray you will trust and experience the same...

Father God... thank You for the Way You prepared...

to restore relationship... to fulfill... and energize... Your people...

Amen... 

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part three...

Continuing the journey through Psalm 103... as seen through Easter...

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits...

...who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion...

Psalm 103:2, 4

Jesus... the Lamb of God... the perfect sacrifice of atonement... redeems our lives from the pit...

Pit... in this case... when looked at in the Hebrew... is the grave...

Because He chose to bear the crown of thorns...

we are blessed with a crown of love and compassion...

Because He chose to bear the burden of our sin...

we no longer are doomed for the pit of death...

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin,

so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

Lord Jesus... You are my Redeemer...

I praise You for Your love and compassion...

a undeserved blessing of grace...

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... part two...

Yesterday started a series...
one unplanned...
one entered into by faith...
Psalm 103... an Easter perspective...

Today... part two...

Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits ---

who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases...

Psalm 103:2-3

I had some today...

both sins... and... diseases...

Let me explain...

I wasn't physically ill...

but several years ago... I can't remember where now...

I read a teaching... where they broke down the word disease...

to it's two parts... dis... ease...

It really spoke to my heart...

and it hasn't left my mind...

dis-ease... isn't that what every illness is...?

whether it's physical...? emotional...? spiritual...?

Our ease is no more... it's been disturbed...

turned upside down...

the prefix dis-... means opposite of...

So I experienced some spiritual dis-ease this morning...

on account of sin...

Sinful thoughts... attitudes... causing much dis-ease in my spirit...

I didn't act on any of the corrupt thoughts...

but they effected me just the same...

What a blessing... what ease can be had...

to know... in Jesus... all our sins are forgiven...!

all our dis-eases healed...!

The prayer went out...

Jesus... forgive me my selfishness... and arrogance...

forgive this darkness bubbling up in my heart...

Take captive every thought... make it obedient to You...

In Him... He not only forgives... but brings healing...

to those places in our hearts... 

dark things we might not even see...

He reveals... and deals with...

A question has also been set before Him...

What is the root of this darkness...?

Reveal it... Heal it... 

Amen...

In Him... we need not stay in a state of dis-ease over anything...

sin... physical illness... emotional distress... spiritual upheaval...

By the power of His Spirit... in faith...

we can invite Him in...

for forgiveness... and healing...

Amen... Amen... and... Amen...

What sin...? what dis-ease...? do you need to bring to Him...?

psalm 103... an Easter perspective... the beginning...

The Easter devotional shared... sprung forth from Psalm 103...

Feeling led to explore... spend some time in Psalm 103... from an Easter perspective...

We'll see where it goes... but today... we begin... at the beginning...

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul,

and forget not all his benefits...

Psalm 103:1-2

Some days... some seasons...

we need to stir up our souls...

to praise His holy name...

Some days... some seasons...

we need to remind ourselves...

of ALL His benefits...

All His benefits...

come to fruition...

in Jesus...

His life...

His death...

His resurrection...

The greatest benefits anyone could receive...!

A life lived to reveal... the Word made flesh...

the heart of God lived out...

for all to see...

A death... died once and for all...

the perfect sacrifice...

the Lamb of God...

atoning for the sins of the world...

A resurrection... new life... eternal life...

a Way offered to those who believe...

to receive forgiveness... redemption... renewal...

an escape from what we deserve... death...

Just look to Jesus...

and the culmination of His gospel...

all wrapped up in Easter...

That will stir a soul to praise...

and remember ALL His benefits...

Take a moment to stir up your soul...

remind self of His benefits...

offer a prayer... or song... of praise...

to the One who lived...

died...

rose...

to the One who will come again...

Lord... some days... You know... it's hard for the flesh to praise Your holy name... Open my heart and eyes... to the truth of the gospel... that I might be stirred to praise You... no matter what season... or day...

an Easter devotional...

Thinking about Easter this week... wondering how... and when... or if... my little family would gather...

The pondering... led to a blessing...
an inspiration... a vision of sorts...

Traditionally... we've gathered for lunch...
but this year one has to work...
one has plans with a friend...
so we are eating the evening meal together...
7 pm works for everyone...

The vision...
the dining table covered with flowers...
vases... small and large...
mason jars...
filled with whatever flowers...
wild or bought...

With the invitation...
each has been asked to bring fresh flowers...
to fill the table...
to complete the vision...

Then it came...
words to share...
with those who will gather...
for Easter...

Below... I share them here today...
in case you're looking for a vision for your table...
a way to make room for Him at the table...

These are the words... I'll share in my home...
before we eat in celebration...
you're welcome to use them at yours...

An Easter Devotional...

Read Psalm 103...

We are like the flowers of the field...
We flourish for a short time...
And then we are gone...

We spring forth into life...
By His will... not ours...
We live out our days...
Moving toward death...

God's Word is everlasting...
And Jesus is that Word...
His Word... to a broken... hurting... world...

Easter is about God's love...
It's the exclamation point on Christmas...

Jesus... the Word made flesh...
Came to live a perfect life...
Totally devoted to the glorification of His Father...
The life each of us are called to live... created to live...

Jesus... willingly...
With a heart full of love...
Endured the punishment we deserve...

And for those who believe...
those who trust their lives to Him...
We enter eternal life with Him...

Easter celebrates His resurrection...
A resurrection we can be a part of by faith...

The flowers today...
remind us of our own fragility...
our lack of control over our life...
our birth... our death...
none of it's really up to us...

But in Jesus lies the hope of life...
The YES to everything our hearts desire...

For us who believe...
who trust Him as Creator and Keeper of our lives...
who trust His love and His work on the cross...
for our good... and His glory...
we partake of Communion...

To remember what He's done...
Who He is...
And what He invites us to be a part of...

Eternal life... through His death...
By faith in His work... and love...

[At this point... you may wish to share Communion with those at your table... bread and wine... a prayer and a blessing... I will at mine...]

Close... with a prayer of thanks...

Happy Easter... dear friends...

forget not...

At the end of a long day... it's hard to remember... all His benefits...

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, O my soul;

and forget not all his benefits ---

Psalm 103:1-2

A time needed... to encourage self's soul... Praise Him...

...who forgives all your sins

and heals all your diseases...

Psalm 103:3

Praise Him... as Healer... 

There is no dis-ease He cannot relieve... even when it's self-inflicted...

... who redeems your life from the pit

and crowns you with love and compassion...

Psalm 103:4

Praise Him... as Redeemer... 

You can't dig a pit... deeper than His reach...

... who satisfies your desires with good things

so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Psalm 103:5

Praise Him... as the One who satisfies... 

There is no hole... no hunger... no desire... that He can't fill...

At the end of a long day... forget not... all... His... benefits...

Praise the Lord... O my soul...