Psalm 54
The Lord Upholds My Life
To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.
A Maskil of David, when the Ziphites went and told Saul, “Is not David hiding among us?”
1 O God, save me by your name, and vindicate me by your might!
2 O God, hear my prayer; give ear to the words of my mouth!
3 For strangers have risen against me; ruthless men seek my life; they do not set God before themselves. Selah
4 Behold, God is my helper; the Lord is the upholder of my life. 5 He will return the evil to my enemies; in your faithfulness put an end to them.
6 With a freewill offering I will sacrifice to you; I will give thanks to your name, O LORD, for it is good.
7 For he has delivered me from every trouble, and my eye has looked in triumph on my enemies.
David knew a few caves and lived in a very wide, open, ditch in Ziklag.
Caves exist in life. And so do ditches. A cave is a great place to hide and explore. And get stuck. Caves are generally dark. We all have caves. We have thoughts - we say as believers, "Oh, Sorry God. Sorry about that."
We have opinions we don't want riding a bicycle or an airplane with a thought banner over our heads. Private opinions. Caves exist in our thoughts. To Father God, Who Creates All of Creation and our minds and cells and thoughts - "No desire is hidden and every thought is known."
Genesis 1,2 and Proverbs and John 3:17 tell us Father God sees into 'mankind' for 'millenniums' and decides to save us. Very Good News to know. Wow. God sees us as we are and invites us to eternity with Him.
Ditches are wide open. Sun shines in. There is no roof. A fine time to realize we have no caves to God. "Father God, Abba, know me, know my heart, know my being, see every particle, Live in me. I need Jesus. Amen."
We can all pretty well understand David screaming a prayer. In fact, we do understand what David is saying. Help God! Help!
Whatcagonna do when...
Ghoulies and Ghosties and Long-Legged Beasties
and things really GO BUMP IN THE NIGHT????
Good LORD - DELIVER US!!!
1981. Have you ever been chased home from a wedding in a car followed by 3 goons in another car - SCREAMING things you don't repeat - when you are 18 years old? And they are coming out the windows and you are in a car with 3 teenagers and a cousin? And the chase goes on about 7-10 Miles. Being Screamed at about rape, knives and murder. Find a fire or police station and watch them disappear FAST.
I can pretty well guarantee you - never once in the next year did I apply, "Love One Another" to That.
We can all go home now - we have summed up the difference between the wars of the Old Testament and the New Testament. Thank you. Or should we talk about the 4 hour radio program I heard about a woman, who with subterfuge, survived a serial killer rapist in Pennsylvania and how her 2 grown children feel about the survival 30 years later. She was the only survival and he placed her living body on the heaps of the other dead women and let her live.
After 30 years she is learning to sing. Again.
Now the Truth is - this is a very, very rare situation. Her family has begun, for 5 years, to think about the Scriptures and forgiveness. How is this story going to affect our lives? It's a powerful thought. We will hunker down and worry about parolees getting mercy and heinous crimes. News stories blare and blare and blare and for many years - we failed listening to Major National News to realize - we have to all forgive.
We need our news to explain how rare this is. We have to Celebrate Life. We have to TRUST GOD. And in trusting God we need to remember neighborhoods gathering for trust and comfort. We have to dust off our tables and have the friends we know. Put work into fellowship. In Trusting God - we go forth and go forth and Thrive.
We all hunkered down and suspiciously looked at Halloween candy. Aren't you glad to know it was ok???
And yet the word "Betrayal" happens only to people we gave our hearts to. And if we hunker down - we can get really, really, really sterile 'safe and secure' lives. Sterile.
Jesus told us this:
We go far, far, far, far, far further when we Trust in the Lord.
If we all sit at home and watch TV. We are comfortable. But you could have had dinner at your house potluck. And it could be - you meet someone new in your own home.
If we all sit at home - we will spread out. And if you asked your family or your neighbor or your friend - you have exercise in jogging and walking and bicycling. The National average of friends per person in the USA is - 2.
If we invite someone to Church now and then to a Bible Believing JESUS Loving Church - they might join. And if you do this 5 times a year - one will work. Do you realize if one family begins to attend Church across the USA in one year we could increase the Church by 25% (now I read that, but something good will happen!!!).
How are we going to tell anyone about GOD??? Like this - "Oh no, I'm so sorry, I will be praying for you!" "You want me to pray for you now?" Almost EVERYONE would love to have someone just simply care and pray over them. Last year Chris and Cindy prayed over me by their invitation - My Heart is Still Warm.
God is expressed when we Love one another. When we say, "I KNOW what God Loves about You...!!!" Love has something that Love requires - Sincerity and being genuine. Flexible. Forgiving.
We explain God when we encourage one another genuinely.
The book "The Shack" says we are a garden. Mark 1 - the Gospel of Mark would agree - the wilderness has straight paths and is a garden. Lost a pet? There are so many hoping for a home. Plant another rose in your life. Been betrayed? Trust again. There are so many hoping for a home. Have grief and loss of a loved one? There are so many hoping for a home heart to care.
Abundant Life. Jesus knew what He was saying. We go far in faith. We go far trusting God allowing us to trust one another.
Holy Father, Abba,
Today I trusted You. Let us smile as we close the day. Another Day of Life.
Today I prayed with You. Let us smile as we begin a new day. Another Day of Life.
Today I worked to care for a Loved One. I loved on Your Beloved. I celebrated Jesus in this.
Today I worked to care for the People You have given me. I celebrated Jesus in this.
Together, Father God - You and I have Celebrated Abundant Life Today.
Fill with Your Joy, Love and Holy Spirit - the ones we Love.
Fill with The Holy Father - the ones we are given by You.
Fill this Nation - Trusting in You with Abundant Life and the caregivers of Government fill with Your Love.
Fill our employments, our communities, our cities, neighborhoods and Bible Believing Jesus Loving Churches.
Fill the Nations Trusting in You with Joy and Love and Peace.
Surround Your Creation with the Beloved holding the world in prayer minute by minute.
We will smile and Celebrate Another Day of Life. We go far trusting in You Father God.
Alleluia and Amen in Jesus. Amen and Amen.
Do like David. Dance!
♔ Lord Jesus Saves! †
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