On Praising God

Praise & Worship

Psalm 9:1-I will praise You O Lord with my whole heart; I will show forth (recount and tell aloud) all your marvelous works and and wonderful deeds.-(AMP Bible)

Psalms Chapter 9 is a praise for victory over the enemies of King David.  He started it with "I Will Praise You, O Lord, with all my heart", it means David praises God wholeheartedly, which is the only way to praise and worship God, in Spirit and in truth (John 4:24). As a Worship Leader, this is one of the things I learned from David, he praised God in all sincerity. And this should be the core characteristics of a worshipper of God, not only in times of victory but at all times in all sincerity with our whole heart because He will never forsake all those who seek Him. In this chapter we can see two attributes of God; Protector and Vindicator

Psalm 9:10  And they who know Your name [who have experience and acquaintance with Your mercy] will lean on and confidently put their trust in You, for You, Lord, have not forsaken those who seek (inquire of and for) You [on the authority of God’s Word and the right of their necessity].-(AMP Bible)

The last time, I shared about me having spirit of heaviness because of a slander and gossip against my other-half. It was a hurting experience that I could only flee to God as my strength, knowing Him as the God of comfort, I can only rest upon that promise. As He is my vindicator, the one who clears us from injustices and false accusations from others, I need not hate nor don self-pity. There's always a reason for me to praise Him in this kind of situations, for He sees and remember all the good we do and with that I am comforted and at peace.

Psalm 9:3-4  When my enemies turned back, they stumbled and perished before You.4  For You have maintained my right and my cause; You sat on the throne judging righteously.-(AMP Bible)

QUOTE: Those who know him to be a God of truth and faithfulness, will rejoice in his word of promise, and rest upon that. Those who know him to be an everlasting Father, will trust him with their souls as their main care, and trust in him at all times, even to the end; and by constant care seek to approve themselves to him in the whole course of their lives. Who is there that would not seek him, who never hath forsaken those that seek Him?-Matthew Henry

Psalm 9: 2  I will rejoice in You and be in high spirits; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High!

 

On Death and Dying

PONDERING

Death or dying is a word that maybe most of us dread the most. But death is also a word that I wasn't able to grasp until I see it happened to my Papa and maybe until it finally happens to me. Dying also could be the most devastating because of the pain, the suffering, the grief and the the denial. And as humans we want comfort and abundance that life has to offer. But death will come like a thief in the night and we will surely can't escape it.

Last Friday, a brother in Christ of ours passed-away, leaving behind his wife and seven children. This news came to me as a jolt since he was part of our prayer items in our Monday intercessory prayers and my personal prayers as well. And whenever I hear sad news such as this, it brings back memories of my Papa who died 6 years ago that even funeral scenes on movies or tele-novelas  makes me cry. I would often ask God why do people have to die? Why do we have to bear the pain of losing a loved-one. So many questions in my mind that the only answer is to trust our Creator of the promise of life after death. That death is just a crossing-over and the end of our suffering in this fallen world that we are in.

John 14:1-4- "Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also. And where I go you know, and the way you know." (NKJV)

This promise of God is what every Christians believe in and hold on to. This blessed assurance should make us not to fear death but rather embrace it as how we embrace life. But then because of human frailty, we still dread it because of the thought of leaving our loved-ones behind and the grief of losing someone you spend your life with. But God said:

Rev. 21:3-4 -And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, "Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. [4] And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away." (NKJV)

So if life on earth is full of hardships and sufferings, who wouldn't want to go and join our Creator?  But it seems that we are addicted to immortality. We are humans who wants to live life on earth forever. But then death is preordained to each of us. And if we are suffering loss of a love-one, this too shall pass. And if we are to face death and or facing death, let's just focus our eyes unto Jesus.

Though I walk through valleys low

I'll fear no evil

By the waters still my soul

My Heart will trust in YOU

 

I Am Comforted

CONTEMPLATING

This bible verse came to me when I was faced by a gossip and slander against my one-flesh. It was a heart wrenching slander that it choked my innermost being. I know that living as Christians is not easy, the enemy is always around to use other people to accuse you or judge you. The inevitable happens in this fallen and corrupt world where people treat you unfairly  forgetting the good deeds you have done because of a single mistake. Tears can be overwhelming but donning self pity will not be helpful and so I prayed and pour out whats in my my heart to God. I opened my bible and God brought me in Luke 23, where Jesus was accused, scoffed at, ridiculed and then finally crucified. And what Jesus did was;

Luke 23:34- Then Jesus said, "Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do." And they divided His garments and cast lots. 

There was no retaliation on His part. As human, I would not think the same as Jesus did. It would be natural for me to fight back but as Christian that is not what God wants me to do. I told Him that "it's not easy Lord, help me", and only love was His answer. As this verse was translated in the Amplified Bible "love covers a multitude of sin" means forgives, disregards the offenses of others. Dake translated this particular passage that not that our love will cause God to pass up or pardon the sins of others, but that it will enable us to pass up the faults of others and not hold grudges ourselves.
 I'm still on the process at this moment but I know in God's perfect time my heart will be healed. I just hold on to this verse. For now, I thank God for I am comforted cause this spirit of heaviness can be exchanged into garments of praise.

Isaiah 61:3-To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord, that he might be glorified. 

Prayer: “Lord my heart is comforted, and my faith is strengthened by the undeniable certainty of Your promises. Death or deadness cannot prevent Your keeping of Your promises. Any lack of existence cannot keep You from bringing forth what You declare is real. What blessed assurance is available through  Your promises- by grace through faith”-Day By Day by Bob Hoekstra

Scripture & a Snapshot: Psalm 139:14

Happiness 

Psalm 139:13-16- For You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; Marvelous are Your works, And that my soul knows very well. My frame was not hidden from You, When I was made in secret, And skillfully wrought in the lowest parts of the earth. Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed. And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

Last week, July 03, 2012 at 14:30 hour, our 3rd heritage from the Lord God almighty was born. Of all my pregnancy and delivery, my 3rd was the most rewarding. I don't mean to say that the first two were less rewarding but... I will just tell my story on my next post.

Scripture & a Snapshot : Proverbs 13:12

Hoping

Hope, when delayed in its realization, sickens the heart, but when it is realized it comforts and invigorates body and soul.

I'm 37 weeks pregnant now and I'm hoping to deliver soon. I'm a bit bored of waiting, I want to see my baby :)

Scripture & a Snapshot~ Ecclesiastes 3:11

"If time could be our servant, 

Our days would be sublime; 

But if we fail to master it, 

We're only serving time"-Hess

CONTEMPLATING

The book of Ecclesiastes chapter 3 started with a verse that says "for everything there is a season"; a perfect timing for everything that we wanted to do, to have, to accomplish and the likes. I was actually lying on my bed when I was reading this chapter of Ecclesiastes. I asked God what exactly these passages mean because at first I was really confused. I think there is something not right with some of the verses. So I close my eyes while listening to the song “No Eye Has Seen” and In His Time. As I continue to contemplate on this verse, I remember my younger days. The time when I do all things my way and deciding on things base on what I feel is right, leaving God in the passenger's seat of my heart. I remember that when I do things my way, it ends with heartaches and failures. I could say that I also experienced pleasures but not the contentment or satisfaction that all of us is longing for. God impressed to me something that is really simple about this chapter. Now I came to realize why I end up crying and miserable with all the decisions I made before without His approval; it’s because of my impatience, hard-headedness and selfishness. As it is stated in Jeremiah 29:11:

For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

Every bit of my decisions before could have been sweeter and lovelier if I waited patiently and made Jesus the driver of my life.

"In His time, In His time

He makes all things beautiful in His time

Lord, please show me everyday

As you're teaching me your way

And I'll do just what you say

In Your time"

Prayer:  Lord God, thank You, for you have opened my eyes from the reality of my impatience and self-centeredness. I’m more than blessed of knowing You; changed my life from lifting me from the miry clay, where I used to be. Now life is more beautiful as I see it before. I am at peace even in the middle of conflicts because You are my comforter. Help me remember always Lord, that as I go through this journey called life, nothing is intended for contentment because everything in this world is but temporary. Thank you for putting in my heart that I am an eternal creation intended only to be satisfied by You. In Jesus mighty name-Amen

Scripture & a Snapshot- 2 Kings 19: 15

Pondering:
I had this down feeling this past few days that it was so hard for me to pray. My first scripture last time was Psalm 118:28, which God's reminder to me that He will enlighten my darkness. Darkness for me these days is being bored, and what lies behind that boredom is anxiety of what's in store for me in a place where women have no equal rights with men.  I keep on telling myself that God is in charge but there was also a part of me that is telling me that He is not.  I get up and took my journal and pen, poured out  all my emotions in it and petitioned God to restore and heal my heart.  After writing everything that is in my heart and wrote my specific request to Him, I sang praises and worship which I believe is a better way to pray. I am not saying that petitioning or requesting is wrong but a better way of approaching God's throne of grace is through praising and worshipping Him.  This verse had deeply touched me, this was actually Hezekiah's prayer to God. Although he came boldly to God, he did not take God for granted or approach him flippantly instead he acknowledged God's sovereignty and respect Him for who He is and what he can do.  Like Hezekiah, I acknowledged that I am nothing without Him and in my difficult times it's only Him that I can lean upon. And I  remembered what Jeremiah said:

Jeremiah 32:17
    'Ah, Lord God! Behold, You have made the heavens and the earth by Your great power and outstretched arm. There is nothing too hard for You.

And after my intimate time with God, I was comforted. Not because He made me feel that my prayers will be answered but  just a feeling of blessedness that I have a God that I can lean on in times of darkness.  That I am His Beloved child just as everyone of us. It is what the song "Beloved" is all about,( my featured video). And it is really a comforting song of God to His church;

Zephaniah. 3:17
    The Lord your God in your midst,
    The Mighty One, will save;
    He will rejoice over you with gladness,
    He will quiet you with His love,
    He will rejoice over you with singing."

 2 Kings 19:8-19 (Sennacherib’s letter)
Prayer is the never-failing resource of the tempted Christian, whether struggling with outward difficulties or inward foes. At the mercy-seat of his almighty Friend he opens his heart, spreads his case, like Hezekiah, and makes his appeal. When he can discern that the glory of God is engaged on his side, faith gains the victory, and he rejoices that he shall never be moved. The best pleas in prayer are taken from God’s honour. -(Matthew Henry Commentary)

 

Scripture and A Snapshot: Psalm 18: 28

According to Dake’s  Study Notes, [Light My Candle], – is an idiom meaning bringing one out of trouble and darkness.  From Psalm 18: 20-27, David takes the comfort of His integrity, which God had cleared up. In the last verse, [28] “the Lord my God will enlighten my darkness”, he acknowledges that God is the one who made him:

1.    kept the ways of the Lord.
2.    remained true to God (this was before his great sin).
3.    kept His judgments before him.
4.    not put away His laws (Psalm 18:22).
5.    walked uprightly before Him.
6.    kept himself from iniquity (Psalm 18:23).

Thou wilt revive and comfort my sorrowful spirit; Thou wilt light my candle to work by, and give me an opportunity of serving thee.”

All of us walked in darkness and labor under discouragements but we have a God Himself who will be  a “LIGHT” to us when He send us His son Jesus.

John 8:12- Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.

It is true that God made man to be good as it was said in:

Ecclesiastes 7:29- Truly, this only I have found: That God made man upright, But they have sought out many schemes."

But we have hope in Jesus by accepting Him as our Savior and Lord and let Him be the driver of our daily journey in this thing called “Life”, so we will not walk in darkness anymore….