136th Week, Psalm Chapters 34-38 (Click n Title for Video Introduction)

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 Click on Title for Video Intro


Monday, Psalm Chapter 34
Theme:  God pays attention to those who call on Him.  Whether God offers escape from trouble or help in times of trouble, we can be certain that He always hears and acts on behalf of those who love Him.  
Author:  David, after pretending to be insane in order to escape from King Achish
(I Samuel 21:10-15)
Psalm 34
Verse 18
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 18: The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.

THOUGHT
Oh my gosh, this was the verse I lived by when my heart was crushed by betrayal and divorce.  I didn’t know how I arrived at such a place nor did I know how to handle it. It was at that moment that I asked the Lord to carry me. Jesus Christ my Savior saved me again.

We often wish we could escape troubles — the pain of grief, loss, sorrow and failure - or even the small daily frustrations that constantly wear us down. God promises to be “close to the brokenhearted”, to be our source of power, courage, and wisdom, helping us through our problems. Sometimes He chooses to deliver us from those problems. When trouble strikes, don’t get frustrated with God. Instead, admit that you need God’s help and thank Him for being by your side.

Delores was a care receiver of mine when I was in Stephen Ministry. After losing her husband, friend and companion of 48 years, she was in a very grieving state. This lady loved the Lord and was so very close to Him. She walked this time of a broken heart with her companion and Savior, Jesus. Delores looked to the Lord for strength. She was not angry with him nor did she lose her faith. Instead, she praised Him and knew that He was the only one who could save a crushed spirit.

I know that all of you must have had experiences that could parallel to Delores’s and mine.  Please remember our Father God who loves us way more that any human helpmate. Let Him heal you and protect your heart.

PRAYER
Father, thank You for Your love and faithful support. When we are hurting and alone, You are there. Help us to praise You in all things good or bad. You know our needs and the condition of our heart and spirit. Your presence is the amazing support that we need. Gory to our God and King. AMEN


Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 35
Theme:  A prayer to God for help against those who try to inflict injury for no reason. When our enemies are unjust and lie about us, even when we do good to them, we can appeal to God who is always just.  
Author:  David, possibly written when he was being hunted by Saul (I Samuel 42)
Psalm 35
Verses 13b & 14a
Jeanie Boldt

Verse 13b & 14a: When my prayers returned to me unanswered, I went about mourning.

THOUGHT
Garth Brooks sings a song entitled “Unanswered Prayers”. I love the melody and the idea of the song’s story, but Garth has it all wrong and so did David. God answers all prayers. It may not be as soon as we want or in the way we want, but He hears them and carries out the bigger-picture plan.

When I was left alone in Norfolk, I had a house to sell before I could really search for a direction or plan in my life. I prayed so hard that the house would sell. I was tired of being alone in the home that we used to share with the kids. I was tired of taking care of it all by myself. I had friends and family praying. One friend even came and buried a statue of one of the catholic saints in the back yard. This was to help. After praying every day for 14 months, the prayer was answered. Praise God!!!

David was sad when his prayers seemed “unanswered”. When our deliverance is delayed, it is easy to assume that God hadn’t answered our prayers. God hears every prayer, but He answers according to His wisdom. Don’t let the absence of an immediate answer cause you to doubt or resent God. Instead let it be an occasion to deepen your faith.

After looking back, I realized that I was so far from ready for a move and a breaking free of the house environment. When the van headed out that day in May (14 months later), I greeted the adventure with a smile and wonderment of what the Lord had for me in Omaha. I hardly shed a tear. I was content with the move. How would I have reacted 14 months earlier? God knew best. Thank You, God, for answered prayers!!!

PRAYER
Father God, thank You for always being there when we need You. You are the faithful one!!  Thank You for knowing ourselves better than we do. Thank You for always having the best plan in Your mind and heart for us. Keep us ever faithful during those hard waiting periods. May our faith grow and may our love be deeper for You than before. AMEN


Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 36
Theme:  God's faithfulness, justice, and love are contrasted with the sinful hearts of men and women.  In spite of our fallen condition, God pours out His love on those who know Him.  
Author:  David
Psalm 36
Verses 5 & 6
Tanya Ruden

Verses 5-6:  (From the Message Bible)
God’s love is meteoric,
  his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
  his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness
  nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
  slips through the cracks

THOUGHT
I love reading the Psalms in the Message Bible (above). I like the modern way of saying something. I loved this verse because it made me think of large companies.  This week a gal I work with was trying to call INC for some reinsurance issues we have.  You cannot get a live voice/receptionist when you call there.  They are so big that there is no option for that.  Anyway, she finally got a live person and had a couple of contact names.  After obtaining the information she couldn’t find them in the company directory.  So many large companies also don’t care about a $100 account because that is so small in their billions of dollars.

God’s love and number of children is greater than the largest company here on earth, and not one of us is lost.  He knows what we are doing, listens to our every prayer, and not one of us slips through a crack or is unable to be found on a ‘directory’.  We should never feel alone or un-special!

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, our little minds cannot comprehend Your love or Your greatness. So often we feel so insignificant in the grand scheme of life, but in Your scheme we all play a super important role.  It is as important to you as the greatness of the world, and may we never forget that. May we instill that special feeling in our families, friends and acquaintances.  AMEN 


Thursday, Psalm Chapter 37
Theme:  Trust in the Lord and wait patiently for Hm to act.  This psalm vividly contrasts the wicked person with their righteous.  
Author:  David
Psalm 37
Verse 4
Tanya Ruden

Verse 4:  Take delight in the Lord and he will give you your heart’s desires.

THOUGHT
I didn’t realize I would get to do a devotion on such a wonderful Psalms. This is one of my favorites so I may have to do another thought on it tomorrow.  I wanted to focus on one of my favorite verses in the Bible. I truly believe this verse. I believe that if you really desire something and you believe in God, He will give it to you, or He will change the desire of your heart.  The only bad thing with my belief in this verse is that sometimes the rocky road to change your heart’s desire can be rough.

Here is an example.  You really want a new bike; this is your desire. You are praying about a bike.  Maybe God doesn’t feel it is time for you to have a new bike.  He may know that something else may happen, and you have to use the money for that instead.  You may decide to fix your bike up instead and find out that after doing it, you decide that you really don’t need a new bike.  

This is a rather simple example, but I believe it can apply to anything in our lives.  Our desire to be married, have children, change jobs - whatever it is, if it is with God’s plan, you will follow your heart.  If it is not, He will change your heart to follow His plan. 

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, every day I want to delight in You.  I want to love You with my whole heart, knowing when I do, that You will guide me with my heart and show me the ways of my life.  I have faith that what I desire and what I feel comes from You.  If I have a desire that isn’t what You have planned, You will change my heart.  No matter what happens, I will never change my idea of You. Guide my life, Lord, and help me always follow my heart.  AMEN


Friday, Psalm Chapter 38
Theme:  Sorrow for sin brings hope.  God alone is the true source of healing and protection for those who confess their sins to Him.  
Author:  David
Psalm 38
Verse 17
Tanya Ruden

Verse 17:  “I’m on the edge of losing it.  The pain in my gut keeps burning. I’m ready to tell my story of failure.”

THOUGHT
I know every one of us can relate to the first part of this verse.  I can think of hundreds of times where I have been tempted to the point of losing it; even to the point that I have lost it.  However, I can’t think of a time when I was ready to call each person I know and tell them my story and witness my mistake. 

I guess this is a reminder that we should learn from our mistakes. We can use our times of almost losing it or losing it to help/witness to others.  I will never forget when Sierra was a baby, and I was exhausted.  She had been crying for a long time, and it was late at night.  I called my mom and said, “Mom, I am about to lose it; the crying has to stop.”  Mom prayed with me for patience and for Sierra to begin feeling better.  I am sure Mom broke down and prayed more after we hung up.  Almost immediately I felt a calming come over me.  It was a calming that gave me peace even in the loud sounds of the cry.  Sierra did cry for a while longer before sleeping, but I will never forget that peace I felt when mom took time to pray.  

I about had a moment of failure, but came away with a good witnessing story. When you hit your point, pray, learn and teach.

PRAYER
Dear Jesus, so often we are tempted to the point of ‘losing it’.  I pray that You give us, as Christians, the wisdom to find our breaking point and turn to You before we ‘break’.  May we always give these items to You knowing that with You helping us, carry the burden or issue, we will succeed and never break.  Also, use us as witnesses to others.  Help give us the courage to share our temptation stories with others so we can help them succeed in their tangles with the devil. AMEN














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