Psalm 121

 

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 250: Today, I am grateful for the 121st Psalm.

The city of Jerusalem is set on a hill. There are a group of Psalms called the "Songs of Ascent".  The ten Psalms in the "Songs of Ascent" were offered in praise as pilgrims made their way up the hill to Jerusalem. Not long before Jill died, she was in a Bible study that centered around these special Psalms. I know Psalm 121 was a favorite of hers. 

Psalm 121 was the last scripture she heard on earth, as she made her ascent to heaven. Her sister-in-law, Donna, read it perfectly. It is a Psalm of praise and encouragement, not mourning. When the veil grows thin between this world and eternity, we are on holy ground. "He watches over our coming and our going..." 

September 7th marks seven years since Jill joined Jesus. It is a blink in Heaven's time. August 26th marked 26 years since my sister, April took her first breath of heaven, too. Dates stick with us. We remember not to open wounds, but to celebrate a life, the love and the hope we know in Christ. 

For Anna and her family, the pain of their loss of a son and brother is fresh and raw. In time, the pain gets softer in time... but not right now. Right now, it hurts. Right now, it is hard to breathe. 

It is good to know we have a God who does not slumber or sleep. In the dark of night when sleep won't come, He is listening to the prayers of the broken hearted. "Our help comes from the Lord the Maker of Heaven and Earth." We need not fear the night or the morning light. 

Every once in a while, I pull out the Casting Crowns song, "Praise You In This Storm". There are newer songs that encourage the heart, but there is something about that old song from 2005 that still resonates deeply with my soul.  It has pieces of Psalm 121 in the chorus. 

Casting Crowns has released a new song. "Scars in Heaven". It is a beautifully haunting ballad reminding us the only scars in heaven are "on hands that hold us now". 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCdevloDE6E&t=33s

Our Jesus does not leave us broken. He took the whip, the thorns, the mocking, the spear in the side and the nails so we could be fully forgiven and whole. The only scars in heaven will welcome us home when it is time.  

"He watches over you..." and me, too. 

Today, I am grateful for the 121st Psalm.

The Chain Breaker

 Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 249: Today, I am grateful forgiveness is a chain breaker. 

This is powerful stuff. Thanks Teri Copilevitz Hipp for sharing it. 

"In a world without forgiveness, evil begets evil, harm generates harm, and there is no way short of exhaustion or forgetfulness for breaking the sequence. Forgiveness breaks the chain... it represents a decision not to do what instinct and passion urge us to do. It answers hate with a refusal to hate, animosity with generosity. Few more daring ideas have ever entered the human situation." -Rabbi Jonathan Sacks 

There is wisdom and a challenge in his words. It is so much easier to act on instinct when passions run high. Choosing to act outside what we feel like doing can be a powerful part of the human experience. Choosing an emotion that isn't hate or animosity can be daring and freeing. Not easy... but chain breaking. 

"No one can make you feel inferior without your consent." I remember hearing this phrase in those awkward early teen years. When someone belittles us or tries to make us feel worthless, we need to remember who we are in the eyes of a loving God. Imperfect? Yes. Still, worthy of love, redemption, grace and the privileges of being called the Children of God? Yes. 

"Then, at the place where they were told,  ‘You are not my people,’ there they will be called ‘children of the living God." -Romans 9:26

Forgiveness frees us. It doesn't let the other person off the hook. Their sin is between them and God. It frees us from the burden of carrying around the weight of hate and anger.

It is the Jewish New Year... Rosh Hashana... it is a season to break the chains of unforgiveness and begin anew. Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement, is ten days away. 

Today, I am grateful forgiveness is a chain breaker. 

Work With Their Hands

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 248: Today, I am grateful for those who work with their hands. 

In  the USA, we get an extra day on the weekend. We call the first Monday in September "Labor Day". We celebrate the American worker with a day off. It has traditionally been the "end of summer", but in our state, many students have been back to school since before the middle of August.

The perfect verse for a labor day weekend was this:

"and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you," -1 Thessalonians 4:11 

What great advice for living well. 

I grew up in a place where most worked with their hands. Farming and farm communities relied on able bodied men, women and youth. There were other jobs that supported the farm work like mechanics, petroleum services, welders, truckers, and elevator operators. Butchers, bakeries and small cafe's helped feed the community. There were no fast food shops in town. Many teens worked walking beans or detassling corn as a first job after lawn mowing and babysitting. Every day with livestock was  hands-on work day. 

Working with our hands keeps us busy. Ladies, back in the day, belonged to sewing circles, knitting and crocheting clubs and attended quilting bees. Even recreation time was a gathering where you worked with your hands. 

Barn raisings were legendary in rural communities, although that practice predated me, unless you were in an Amish community.  A barn would literally be built in a day with efficiency and comradery. Carpentry work was and is still essential to life. Those who have had the opportunity watch an Amish barn raising comment on the efficiency and the busy hands of the workers. Everyone seems to know what they need to do and they do it. No need for much discussion when there is good work to be done. 

It is easy to forget Jesus learned the trade of His earthly father. Joseph was a carpenter. Imagine a table crafted by the Master's hand. He knew what it meant to work with your hands giving an honest day's work. 

This weekend we celebrate the American worker. I am especially grateful for those who work with their hands. 

Today, I am grateful for those who work with their hands. 

Beauty of Heaven

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 247: Today, I am grateful for the beauty of heaven. 

Heaven is a beautiful thought. The end of August and the first weeks of September often have me thinking about heavenly reunions. We all have dates and people who are forever in our hearts and on our list of highly anticipated heavenly reunions. It is a part of being a member of the family of God. Knowing there is more than this life on the hardest days... and there is more than this life on the best days, too. 

"We may speak about a place where there are no tears, no death, no fear, no night; but those are just the benefits of heaven. The beauty of heaven is seeing God." - Max Lucado

The beauty of heaven is seeing God. Moses could not look upon His Holiness in human form. Neither could Elijah. The Jewish tabernacle contained a Holy of Holies inner sanctum that the priests could not enter without great preparation. The presence of our Mighty and Holy God is overwhelming to us while housed in human bodies. 

I have no idea what heaven will be like. We are only given limited word glimpses. John's book of Revelation is full of mystery and wonder. The description of a place beyond our wildest imagination is hard to grasp. 

"He sent an angel to present this revelation to his servant John, who faithfully reported everything he saw. This is his report of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus Christ. God blesses the one who reads the words of this prophecy to the church, and he blesses all who listen to its message and obey what it says, for the time is near. -Revelation 1:1-3

As much as we look forward to the reunions with our favorite souls, it is the presence of God that will take our breath away. It is the moment we kneel in the presence of His Majesty and He says "Well done, faithful daughter or son. Great is your reward." 

For any parent who has spruced up the house because a child was coming home, we can begin to glimpse the Father's joy in those souls who choose him in life and are joyfully welcomed through death's door. Our God is the "Ancient of Days" . He is The One who walks with us every step of the journey home. We only need to invite him into our hearts and lives. 

These days have extraordinary moments... but the best is yet to be. 

Today, I am grateful for the beauty of heaven. 

Wired Phones = Free People

 

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 246: Today, I am grateful I grew up in a season when phones were tied with a wire and people were free.

Remember when you had to be home for a call? Call waiting was a miracle for parents of teenagers.  Social plans were made ahead of time and kept. People stopped by for real conversations. 

I appreciate the blessing of cell phones. Because they are mobile, we are never out of touch with our loved ones. I don't need a map or a phone book if I have my cell phone. It really is a mini library, home office and communication device that fits in your hand. And there are some safety benefits.

On the other side of the coin, the constant interruptions make us weary. Cell phones mean we are  bound to the expectation of a quick response. There are times a quick response is not the best response... or the wisest. 

Most young adults have no recollection of life before cell phones. They have been lived with the convenience and the burden of this wireless age. I am grateful for the experience of a simpler time. 

In Jesus day, letter writing and a messenger with a spoken word were common ways people connected and shared news. They managed to communicate and get things done, even without high tech devices.

Jesus does speak to the value of "knowing a voice" and following. 

My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me. -John 10:27

I remember answering the phone and the joy of hearing a familiar voice on the other end. My Mama and Dad used to relish wondering who was on the other end of the line. "Who could that be calling?" Or, "It's probably Jim Wade."  Or, "That must be Melvin."  Each time the phone rang, it was a small surprise. Perhaps some of Mama and Dad's last phones had Caller ID, but only if it came as a free service. For most of their days, the only way to know who was calling was to answer.  

Communication is important in relationships. Familiar voices and friendly connections add good things to our day. Prayer is a wireless communication tool. It always has been. I need to be more intentional about the balance of moderation for things like cell phone use. 

Today, I am grateful I grew up in a season when phones were tied with a wire and people were free.

First Line of Offense

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 245: Today, I am grateful prayer is our first line of offense.

"Your life will change radically when you stop making prayer your backup plan." -Lisa Bevere

What coach ever started with the third string defensive line or a backup to the back up quarterback? Not one who intended to win a football game and keep their coaching job. They put their best foot forward and their strongest players in prime positions. 

I heard someone say we should not pray like it is our last resort. Prayer is a powerful thing. It is a direct line to God, our power source. Still, it is easy to neglect prayer time. 

When we choose to intentionally pray for our loved one, it is offering them up to the Father's protection and care. His office is never closed. His help is never unavailable. He longs for us to be in constant communication. Those who belong to Him seek his face and long to hear His response. 

"Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." -1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

His response is not always instant. It is not always a "Yes." Sometimes, we forget "wait" is not a "no" or an unanswered prayer. We can grow in the waiting spots if we remain patient in our prayers. His way is always perfect. Even when it makes no sense from our own personal playbook. He gets it right every time. 

Remember, a constant prayer doesn't have to be a fancy prayer. Jesus was never impressed with long, fancy, pompous prayers. He could see into prideful hearts. He responded to those society thought unimportant. He took time for children and widows. He still listens to simple prayers made as we are driving down the road or waiting in a drive-thru line. 

Some may feel He is uninterested in our ordinary, daily lives, but I don't think that is the case. The scriptures point to a Savior who cares about the details of our lives, our stories and most of all... our souls. He didn't turn away those society that rejected. He made the way to make them children of the Most High God. 

He is the perfect life coach. Prayer takes us right to the throne of His grace and mercy. 

Today, I am grateful prayer is our first line of offense.

Which Are Many

 

Daily Gratitude Year 9 - Day 244: Today, I am grateful my sins, which are many, are forgiven.

Luke 7 is a full chapter. It is a number of snapshots of Jesus in relationship with people.

 He compliments the faith of a high ranking Roman officer. He raises the son of a widow. He validates John the Baptist and does not deny being the Messiah. He allows a "sinful woman" to anoint him with expensive perfume. He points to the importance of faith and urges acts of peace. 

He was changing lives and restoring the broken. Forgiveness was available. 

“I tell you, her sins—and they are many—have been forgiven, so she has shown me much love. But a person who is forgiven little shows only little love.”-Luke 7:47

"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven." I love how Jesus points out that he sees beyond her sin. Her poor choices and disappointments no longer needed to define her. He was offering her new life, a fresh start and he accepted her offering of expensive perfume poured out on his feet. 

I need to be reminded of not only the power of forgiveness, but the beauty and wonder. Beauty from ashes. He is amazing. 

Today, I am grateful my sins, which are many, are forgiven.