Psalm 150

Today we reach the last of the psalms, Psalm 150. Although I have enjoyed journeying with you through the psalms and writing these devotionals in general, it is time for a change. I am going to do something new. Not sure what it will look like yet -- I am still in the planning stages. But, I won't leave you stranded! I invite you to look back on previous devotionals and maybe even pick your favorites. Let me know if you have any suggestions for future devotionals. You can also check out my book review blog: 

www.faithinbooks.blogspot.com

When I have followed God's lead on my next step, I will let you know. 

May God bless you and keep you! 

Amelia

Praise the Lord! Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens! Praise him for his mighty works; praise his unequaled greatness! Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn; praise him with the lyre and harp! Praise him with the tambourine and dancing; praise him with strings and flutes! Praise him with a clash of cymbals; praise him with loud clanging cymbals. Let everything that breathes sing praises to the Lord! Praise the Lord! Psalm 150 NLT

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Sing for joy!

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praise of God be in their mouths, and a sharp sword in their hands -- to execute vengeance on the nations and punishment on the peoples, to bind their kings with shackles and their leaders with iron chains, to execute judgment written against them. This is the glorious privilege of  his faithful ones. Praise the Lord! Psalm 149: 5-9 NLT

What do you do to fall asleep? Count sheep? Go over the day (this is not something I recommend unless you are also giving it over to God -- too much undone stuff to keep you awake)? Daydream? Pray?

How about sing for joy?

I don’t mean literally lie in bed and sing which is actually a very difficult thing to do unless you have great lungs. Plus, you may keep others in your household awake.

What I am talking about is just be happy about all God has done for you and all of creation. Think of all the good stuff God does for you on a daily basis. Perhaps there are particular God moments in the past day or week that you can focus on. Maybe a scripture comes to mind -- something of joy, hope or promise. Be joyful because of God, not because of yourself.

I challenge you to sing for joy as you lie in your bed tonight!

Let the faithful rejoice that he honors them. Let them sing for joy as they lie on their beds. Let the praise of God be in their mouths. Praise the Lord! Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

God delights in you

O Israel, rejoice in your Maker. O people of Jerusalem, exult in your King. Praise his name with dancing, accompanied by tambourine and harp. For the Lord delights in his people; he crowns the humble with victory. Psalm 149: 2-4 NLT

How does God delight in you?

Most of the time I think God just looks at me and shakes God’s head. Or holds God’s head like God can’t believe I just did that or didn’t do something else. The word delight is most often replaced with disappointed. 

So, does God delight in me?

The psalmist says that God does delight in God’s people. God likes it when we honor our leaders, praise God’s name, and have some partying and dancing in God’s honor. Music to praise God by is also a good thing. God’s delight means that God crowns the humble with victory. 

I suppose I am not so humble. And when have I really had a party for God, in God’s honor? I am also more likely to criticize our leaders (whether religious or political) than get excited about them.

God must delight in me. But only because God loves me. 

Now to go plan a party. Just for God.

God, we rejoice in your presence. You delight in us far more often than we delight in you. Forgive us. Help us to rejoice and delight in you. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Sing to the Lord a new song

Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song. Sing his praises in the assembly of the faithful. Psalm 149: 1 NLT

Sing to the Lord a new song.

How I wish church folk would take that to heart! How often do churches sing the same songs over and over? I have heard of a church that simply changes the sermon title and scripture each week on the bulletin. They sing the same songs -- probably because their pianist is about 90 years old and those are the ones she knows.

Even in my church, folks are not very enthusiastic about singing something new. They might belt out the oldies but are not so great with new ones. 

The psalmist says we must sing new songs to God. I like thinking of singing music as true praise -- for me it means my mind is focused on lifting my voice to God. Sure, sometimes I focus on the tune I carry or the tune the person next to me is not carrying. But I am mostly just concentrating on singing to God. 

That is what praise is all about: focusing on God. 

Sometime today, turn on a praise song and just belt out the words in praise to God. Make a joyful noise to our creator! And, next time you are in worship, give such enthusiasm to God while singing there as well. 

We praise you with a new song, God! Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Your praise in your words

Praise the Lord from the earth, you creatures of the ocean depths, fire and hail, snow and clouds, wind and weather that obey him, mountains and all hills, fruit trees and cedars, wild animals and all livestock, small scurrying animals and birds, kings of the earth and all people, rulers and judges of the earth, young men and young women, old men and children. Let them all praise the name of the Lord. For his name is very great; his glory towers over the earth and heaven! He has made his people strong, honoring his faithful ones -- the people of Israel who are close to him. Praise the Lord! Psalm 148: 7-14 NLT

So, why do we praise God? Is it just because God created us? Or just because God has done something for us (which is more gratitude than praise)? 

The psalmist says all creation must praise God because God’s name is very great. God’s glory towers above all creation. God has made God’s people strong. God honors those who are faithful.

That is why we should praise God.

How can you praise God in your own words? Let that be your prayer for today.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Praising the Lord

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! Let every created things give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decrees will never be revoked. Psalm 148: 1-6 NLT

The psalmist is taking to the skies in the first of this psalm. Angels, heaven’s armies, sun, moon, stars, skies, clouds, even the vapors and being asked to join in praising God. Then everything that has been created is invited to join them. What is significant about beginning praising God in the heavens and skies?

I suppose when you look up you tend to also think that anything above you is, well, above you. I am speaking in terms of authority, power and honor rather than just physically. The psalmist isn’t about to give anyone or anything a break in honoring our creator. Just because you happen to be hanging around in the heavens does not mean you get a “free” pass from glorifying God. God created you, too, just by speaking the command. 

And God created you. How often to you give God praise? Sure, we thank God and ask God for stuff. But we need also spend time praising God and telling God how wonderful God is. We should bless God’s name and glorify God. 

Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens! Praise him from the skies! Praise him, all his angels! Praise him, all the armies of heaven! Praise him, sun and moon! Praise him, all you twinkling stars! Praise him, skies above! Praise him, vapors high above the clouds! Let every created things give praise to the Lord, for he issued his command, and they came into being. He set them in place forever and ever. His decrees will never be revoked. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

The God of Natural Disasters?

He sends the snow like white wool; he scatters frost upon the ground like ashes. He hurls hail like stones. Who can stand against his freezing cold? Then, at his command, it all melts. He sends winds, and the ice thaws. He has revealed his words to Jacob, his decrees and regulations to Israel. He has not done this for any other nation; they do not know his regulations. Praise the Lord! Psalm 147: 15-20 NLT

I can relate to the psalmist when he lists all these different weather patterns: snow, frost, hail, freezing cold, winds, and ice. In the last three weeks we have had snow, straight line winds and fog.

The difference is that I watch the weather patterns and local radar on the Weather Channel. The psalmist watches God. The psalmist attributes all the different weather to God. If God is the creator, then he must be in control of our weather!

In fact, the psalmist sees the destruction of weather (snow and hail for instance) as instruments of God’s punishment. If you think that is old fashioned and not considered these days, you are wrong. We once had a boat to hit and destroy our dock and sea wall at our lake property. The reason? A huge wind and wave caused this to happen. However, because the two fishermen bailed (thank goodness) from the boat before hitting, the insurance company said they would not pay us because they considered this “an act of God.” Really.

There are those who always blame natural disasters on God -- usually as a form of punishment. Yet, we don’t look to God for explanations for other events, natural or not. I don’t believe God uses natural events as punishment but I do believe God can help us create good things even when bad weather strikes. Like the gentleman who helped me get my car up the slushy hill. God is still in control!

Praise the Lord!

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

What has God done?

Glorify the Lord, O Jerusalem! Praise your God, O Zion! For he has strengthened the bars of your gates and blessed your children within your walls. He sends peace across your nation and satisfies your hunger with the finest wheat. He sends his orders to the world -- how swiftly his word flies! Psalm 147: 12-14 NLT

What has God done for the psalmist?

God has strengthened the gates of the city to protect the people within. God has blessed all the children within the city walls. God has made sure that the people throughout the nation are living in peace. God has provided not just enough to eat but the finest foods. God has send God’s orders all around the world and how quickly the nations have heard from God.

What has God done for me?

God has answered my prayers -- specifically, God took away my anger when it felt like it would overwhelm me. God has turned what seemed like a bad thing into something good -- what was a shameful secret is now in the open. God has provided for our family in terms of what we need. God has provided a loving family, friends and church members to support us and journey with us. God is so good!

Now it is your turn. What has God done for you?

God, I glorify you and praise your name! Amen!

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Hope

Sing out your thanks to the Lord; sing praises to our God with a harp. He covers the heavens with clouds, provides rain for the earth, and makes the grass grow in the mountain pastures. He gives food to the wild animals and feeds the ravens when they cry. He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might. No, the Lord’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in his unfailing love. Psalm 147: 7-11 NLT

What does God really love?

According to the psalmist, God loves it when we fear him. 

The psalmist is not speaking of terror. Instead, the fear for God is a very healthy and loving respect. In fact, the next sentence speaks of putting our hope in God’s unfailing love. That is another way of saying you fear God: you hope in God’s unfailing love.

The interesting thing about hoping in God it is not something you can put your finger on. You can’t measure what you hope for. You can give it words and emotions but not scientific facts. Hope is otherworldly and fragile. Hope can give strength and conviction. To hope in God means to hope in something you cannot even imagine but are assured will happen. 

God, I give you my hope. I hope in your unfailing love. I give you my respect and my life. I am in your hands. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Feeling Brokenhearted

Praise the Lord! How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting! The Lord is rebuilding Jerusalem and bringing the exiles back to Israel. He heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. He counts the stars and calls them by name. How great is our Lord! His power is absolute! His understanding is beyond comprehension! The Lord supports the humble, but he brings the wicked down into the dust. Psalm 147: 1-6 NLT

I am hanging on to the fact that God heals the brokenhearted and bandages their wounds. I guess I am feeling a bit brokenhearted today. You wouldn't know it by the smile on my face (fake) or the clothes I am wearing (nice). But inside, I am torn to pieces.

I am depending on God's strength and healing power. I need to have God's bandages on my wounds right now. I need God's medicine and God's nursing to get me back to health. I am confident that God understands where I am and what has happened in my own life.

I don't think I am into the enthusiastic praise that is coming from the lips of the psalmist today, but I know I will again praise God. I know that when God heals me from the inside out that I will again be among those shouting God's praises.

What are you hanging on today in this scripture?

God, you are so good. You rebuild, heal, bandage, name, understand and support us. We give you thanks and praise. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

A prayer from Psalm 146

He made heaven and earth, the sea and everything in them. He keeps every promise forever. He gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. The Lord frees the prisoners. The Lord opens the eyes of the blind. The Lord lifts up those who are weighed down. The Lord loves the godly. The Lord protects the foreigners among us. He cares for the orphans and widows, but he frustrates the plans of the wicked. The Lord will reign forever. He will be your God, O Jerusalem, throughout the generations. Praise the Lord! Psalm 146: 6-10 NLT

God, you made heaven and earth! You are an awesome creator and we marvel at all of creation.

You keep every promise forever. You never forget your promises but you do forget our trespasses -- thanks to Jesus!

You free prisoners -- and, God, you know what bars I have been behind in my life. Free at last!

You are one who gives justice to the oppressed and food to the hungry. I am too quick to judge and only want my selfish rights to be acknowledged. But you know true justice and who is truly hungry.

You open the eyes of the blind. Boy, have I been blind most of my life -- open my eyes, Lord, help me to see!

You lift up those who are weighed down. I have taken on so much unimportant stuff that simply bends me over. I am weighed down. Lift up my load, and take it from me! I promise not to grab it back.

You love the godly. I am trying to be among those, Lord.

You protect the foreigners among us. What is that, Lord? You want me to do the same? Does that include illegal immigrants? Oh. Okay.

You care for orphans and widows but frustrates the plans of the wicked. May my plans never be wicked. May my plans be yours -- to care for the orphan and the widow, the helpless and the lost. 

You, God, will reign forever!

Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Where's your confidence?

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people; there is no help for you there. When they breathe their last, they return to the earth, and all their plans die with them. But joyful are those who have the God of Israel as their helper, whose hope is in the Lord their God. Psalm 146: 1-5 NLT 

As I was typing this verse, the President came on the television (I don’t normally have the television on but my mother-in-law is staying with us -- see yesterday’s blog). Seeing this made me think of how much we put our confidence in our political candidates and our political parties -- no matter which way we swing. 

Yet, the psalmist reminds us that the powerful - from politicians to investors - cannot help us. They are human, too. When they breathe their last, they also become dust. Their power and influence is only skin deep. Their plans often die with them.

But being a follower of God is different. When we put our hope, trust and confidence in God, we know we shall receive help. God will last beyond our own mortal lives. God is infinitely graceful and powerful. God is not just another politician or corporate CEO. God is who God is.

God, help me to put my full confidence in you rather than so-called powerful people. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

My dying breath

Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise the Lord as long as I live. I will sing praises to my God with my dying breath. Psalm 146: 1-2 NLT

I have been thinking of a lot of end of life issues lately. My parents just bought into a retirement community -- complete with nursing home if necessary. In addition, my mother-in-law has been living with us for the last couple of months due to her health issues. And the mother of one of my church members has chosen not to go through dialysis. 

So, I have been focusing on housing and health care.

But the psalm tells me that there are other issues.

We are to sing God’s praises up until we draw our last breath.

How many times do we think of that? We are so focused on our bodies that we forget our spirituality. Our discipleship does not end with retirement or downsizing. 

We are to be faithful until we die.

I guess I have thought about patients with Alzheimer's or dementia. What must their relationship with God be like? Do they pray? Have they forgotten God? Has God forgotten them? 

I am not jumping to the end of my life yet. What all this makes me realize is that I need to do a better job of using each breath to praise God NOW and not wait for forty years in the future.

Praise the Lord! Let all that I am praise the Lord. I will praise you, Lord, as long as I live. I will sing praises to my you with my dying breath. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Hope

The Lord helps the fallen and lifts those bent beneath their loads. The eyes of all look to you in hope; you give them their food as they need it. When you open your hand, you satisfy the hunger and thirst of every living thing. The Lord is righteous in everything he does; he is filled with kindness. The Lord is close to all who call on him, yes, to all who call on him in truth. He grants the desires of those who fear him; he hears their cries for help and rescues them. The Lord protects all those who love him, but he will destroy the wicked. I will praise the Lord, and may everyone on earth bless his holy name forever and ever. Psalm 145: 14-21 NLT

Sometimes I think we Christians are incredibly self-absorbed and too focused on our mortality. We are always praying for people to be healed or removed from suffering. We want to live longer -- and we want our loved ones to be able to do the same. We forget the smallest details of all that God has endowed to us as God’s people. And we overlook the eternal hope that God desperately wants for us.

The psalmist’ words in Psalm 145 are words of hope for me. I can see more clearly what God provides for us. God doesn’t just heal but God lifts up our hopelessness. When we focus on God and what God has already provided for us, we see a glorious future and a promise that God will never go back on. 

Where do you need hope to shine in your own life?

God, we praise you and bless your holy name forever and ever. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

God's mercy and compassion

The Lord is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The Lord is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation. All of your works thank you, Lord, and your faithful followers will praise you. They will speak of the glory of your kingdom; they will give examples of your power. They will tell about your mighty deeds and about the majesty and glory of your reign. For your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom. You rule throughout all generations.  The Lord always keeps his promises; he is gracious in all he does. Psalm 145: 8-13 NLT

What is God like to you?

The psalmist (yes, from the Old Testament where it seems God is always about punishment) says that God is merciful, compassionate, slow to anger, full of love, and good to everyone.

Wow! That is my God!

I am thinking right now about how God has shown me mercy. I see God’s compassion in my life. God has certainly be slower to get angry at me -- much slower than I am to get angry at God. God loves me, more than any human being will ever be able to accomplish. Sometimes I think I am only lovable in God’s eyes! God is so good to everyone...yet so many don’t see God’s goodness. 

How has God shown you love? Compassion? Mercy? 

How have you and I shown those same traits to others?

God, I thank you for your compassion, mercy, love, patience and goodness. May I always have the same for others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

The Next Generation

Let each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. Psalm 145: 4-7 NLT

How good have I been to tell the next generations about God’s mighty acts and power? 

I have been reading a lot of teen books lately and I can tell you the characters in these books certainly don’t know about God or God’s mighty acts. Mostly, they see God as indifferent or don’t see God at all. 

Sometimes when I am with teens or even children I am trying so hard to “relate” to them that I miss the opportunity to share God with them. 

The pulpit does only so much in telling of God’s mighty acts.

I wonder how many of generations younger than me read this devotional blog?

God, may each generation tell its children of your mighty acts; let them proclaim your power. I will meditate on your majestic, glorious splendor and your wonderful miracles. Your awe-inspiring deeds will be on every tongue; I will proclaim your greatness. Everyone will share the story of your wonderful goodness; they will sing with joy about your righteousness. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

No one can measure God's greatness

I will exalt you, my God and King, and praise your name forever and ever.I will praise you every day; yes, I will praise you forever. Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise! No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145: 1-3 NLT

No one can measure God’s greatness. 

Certainly, we can try. When we praise God or thank God for our blessings and for the world, we come close to measuring the greatness of God. However, we will never run out of what to praise God for or what to thank God for. God’s worth and creation is endless. 

I guess the best thing for us to do is to try to thank God and praise God for everything we can think of, for everything in our world. Just because we can never get to the end of things to give God glory for does not mean we shouldn’t try! 

God, you are most worthy of praise. You are the one we should be constantly thanking. We will never be able to measure your greatness. However, we will never stop giving you our worship and our love. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Joyful Thinking

May our sons flourish in their youth like well-nurtured plants. May our daughters be like graceful pillars, carved to beautify a palace. May our barns be filled with crops of every kind. May the flocks in our fields multiply by the thousands, even tens of thousands, and may our oxen be loaded down with produce. May there be no enemy breaking through our walls, no going into captivity, no cries of alarm in our town squares. Yes, joyful are those who live like this! Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord. Psalm 144: 12-15 NLT

What is your idea of success for this year?

I don’t know how many of you want your sons to flourish like plants or your daughters to be beautiful pillars, but I am certain we all want enough to eat and enough to live on. We would like our family to do well, if not to prosper. Certainly, we don’t want outside forces attacking us or any crisis that would harm us. 

The psalmist wants his sons to grow and flourish, his daughters to be graceful and beautiful, his barns full and his crops loaded with produce. He would like there to be no enemy at his walls, no chance of being taken captive and no cries of alarm in the village square. He knows that those who live like this are joyful indeed.

Makes me wonder if the psalmist has known just the opposite of these things. Perhaps his sons have not flourished, his crops have failed and he has been taken into exile. It was known to happen in the time this prayer was written. 

Maybe we should look at what went poorly last year and pray for the opposite this year. We can always hope because God is indeed the Lord.

God, help us to be joyful in all times and all circumstances because you are our Lord. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

The Trap of Lies

Open the heavens, Lord, and come down. Touch the mountains so they billow smoke. Hurl your lightening bolts and scatter you enemies! Shoot your arrows and confuse them! Reach down from heaven and rescue me; rescue me from deep waters, from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. I will sing a new song to you, O God! I will sing your praises with a ten-stringed harp. For you grant victory to kings! You rescued your servant David from the fatal sword. Save me! Rescue me from the power of my enemies. Their mouths are full of lies; they swear to tell the truth, but they lie instead. Psalm 144: 5-11 NLT

How can we fall into the trap of lies? 

I don’t suppose it is strange that we call the devil the father of lies. 

Sometimes I think the media is full of lies -- is there ever truth there? Certainly, they want us to see the world from their point of view. Doesn’t matter if they are considered right or left in their ideology! They are all the same in their twisting of facts to get their own outcome. 

Yet, we tend to take the media most days on face value. We trust what we hear to be the truth. We also trust that our friends will tell us the truth. Take facebook, for instance. When we see that our good friends say that this happened or that the facebook owners are doing something to revoke our privacy, we trust that they are telling us the truth. However, it is sometimes revealed to be a hoax. Our friends have not willingly lied to us -- they also see this as the truth. We all easily fall into the trap of lies. 

The psalmist reminds us that the only truth we can count on is God’s truth. So, we should sing a new song to God. God gives victory, God overcomes enemies and God will rescue us. 

God, thank you that you speak the truth in my inward being. May I listen to you, and not to those who lie. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims

Why does God care for us?

O Lord, what are human beings that you should notice them, mere mortals that you should think about them? For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow. Psalm 144: 3-4 NLT

So, why does God care so much for human beings? Why try so hard to help them? They are not going to be around as long as God is around. What is it about us that attracts God and keeps God trying to redeem us?

I think about the two creation stories. God created human beings in God’s image. And God wanted a relationship with them. Remember how God was walking in the cool of the evening in the garden of Eden? God was used to hanging out with Adam and Eve. 

God seems to be pretty social. God seems to want a relationship -- a special relationship -- with us. All through the Old Testament, God keeps saving God’s people and trying to get them to return God’s attentions. Then in the New Testament, we see that God loved us so much that God was willing to be one of us in the form of Jesus. And not only that, to die for us so that our relationship would continue and be stronger.

Forget the idea that humans are worthless. If God loves us so much, we must be worth way more than we tend to give ourselves credit for.

God, I don’t know why you love me so much but I thank you for your love. I pray I can always return your love in my relationship with you and with others. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Copyright 2013 Amelia G. Sims