National See You At The Pole Day

Matthew 2:1-8

1 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem 2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”
3 When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4 When he had called together all the people’s chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Messiah was to be born. 5 “In Bethlehem in Judea,” they replied, “for this is what the prophet has written:
6 “ ‘But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will shepherd my people Israel.’”
7 Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8 He sent them to Bethlehem and said, “Go and search carefully for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him.”

As I dropped my 6th grade son off at school early this morning for the national "see you at the pole" event I felt the Word come alive and very real. This week I have been reading in Matthew chapter 2 about how the different people responded to the news of the messiah's birth. Some were disturbed, some worshipful and others indifferent. As I drove away I couldn't help but pray for God's protection over him and the other students he stood with, knowing that this simple action of standing by the flag pole would possibly incite harsh words or actions from those who do not know or care to follow Jesus. I also had a sense of pride that at such a young age he feels courageous enough to stand for what he believes in (I wouldn't have been able to do it at that age!), and I found my prayer turn from protection to asking that God would bless him for his courage. Then my thoughts continued to go back to all the kids and adults that come in and out of the building day after day and again my prayer changed to that of the souls of each individual. That Jesus- Messiah, Immanuel, God with us- is His desire for each of them as well. My bigger prayer is that through this simple act of coming for a prayer at the flag pole before school this morning that God would hear the prayers of the children, that He would show Himself to all the individuals that don't yet know Him, that they would see Him and choose to know Him.


I love that His Word is living and ministering to me always! Praying that as we all seek and study His Word this week it would be alive and relevant in all our lives!

summer of Psalms, Day 44

Psalm 44

1 We have heard it with our ears, O God;
our ancestors have told us
what you did in their days,
in days long ago.
2 With your hand you drove out the nations
and planted our ancestors;
you crushed the peoples
and made our ancestors flourish.
3 It was not by their sword that they won the land,
nor did their arm bring them victory;
it was your right hand, your arm,
and the light of your face, for you loved them.

4 You are my King and my God,
who decrees victories for Jacob.
5 Through you we push back our enemies;
through your name we trample our foes.
6 I put no trust in my bow,
my sword does not bring me victory;
7 but you give us victory over our enemies,
you put our adversaries to shame.
8 In God we make our boast all day long,
and we will praise your name forever.

9 But now you have rejected and humbled us;
you no longer go out with our armies.
10 You made us retreat before the enemy,
and our adversaries have plundered us.
11 You gave us up to be devoured like sheep
and have scattered us among the nations.
12 You sold your people for a pittance,
gaining nothing from their sale.

13 You have made us a reproach to our neighbors,
the scorn and derision of those around us.
14 You have made us a byword among the nations;
the peoples shake their heads at us.
15 I live in disgrace all day long,
and my face is covered with shame
16 at the taunts of those who reproach and revile me,
because of the enemy, who is bent on revenge.

17 All this came upon us,
though we had not forgotten you;
we had not been false to your covenant.
18 Our hearts had not turned back;
our feet had not strayed from your path.
19 But you crushed us and made us a haunt for jackals;
you covered us over with deep darkness.

20 If we had forgotten the name of our God
or spread out our hands to a foreign god,
21 would not God have discovered it,
since he knows the secrets of the heart?
22 Yet for your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.

23 Awake, Lord! Why do you sleep?
Rouse yourself! Do not reject us forever.
24 Why do you hide your face
and forget our misery and oppression?

25 We are brought down to the dust;
our bodies cling to the ground.
26 Rise up and help us;
rescue us because of your unfailing love.
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I wonder what was happening that God was silent to these people. Were there hearts hardened? Were they prideful? I do not know. They are crying out to Him and yet He does not answer. I do not pretend to understand all the ways that God works. I do know that He wants our full devotion, regardless of circumstance. I ask myself "Do I worship God because I am blessed?" If that's the case then my motives are skewed and I'm not truly worshipping God, but things instead. I ask "Have I worshipped Him in the difficult times?" and "Will I worship Him in the coming difficult times?" These are good questions to ask yourself. Challenge yourself to praise Him always. Not the kind of praise that says "God is good to me", but the praise that says "God is God, creator, powerful, eternal." Acknowledge who His person is and that you fall underneath Him and therefore He deserves your praise. This is true worship.

Summer of Psalms, Day 43

Psalm 43

1 Vindicate me, my God,
and plead my cause
against an unfaithful nation.
Rescue me from those who are
deceitful and wicked.
2 You are God my stronghold.
Why have you rejected me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?
3 Send me your light and your faithful care,
let them lead me;
let them bring me to your holy mountain,
to the place where you dwell.
4 Then I will go to the altar of God,
to God, my joy and my delight.
I will praise you with the lyre,
O God, my God.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
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Forever praise the Lord our God, in the good times and in the bad. Forever seek Him and follow Him. If you cannot see He will show you His light. If you cannot walk He will to carry you. He will reveal Himself to you, He is salvation and strength!

Summer of Psalms, Day 42

Psalm 42

1 As the deer pants for streams of water,
so my soul pants for you, my God.
2 My soul thirsts for God, for the living God.
When can I go and meet with God?
3 My tears have been my food
day and night,
while people say to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”
4 These things I remember
as I pour out my soul:
how I used to go to the house of God
under the protection of the Mighty One
with shouts of joy and praise
among the festive throng.

5 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.

6 My soul is downcast within me;
therefore I will remember you
from the land of the Jordan,
the heights of Hermon—from Mount Mizar.
7 Deep calls to deep
in the roar of your waterfalls;
all your waves and breakers
have swept over me.

8 By day the Lord directs his love,
at night his song is with me—
a prayer to the God of my life.

9 I say to God my Rock,
“Why have you forgotten me?
Why must I go about mourning,
oppressed by the enemy?”
10 My bones suffer mortal agony
as my foes taunt me,
saying to me all day long,
“Where is your God?”

11 Why, my soul, are you downcast?
Why so disturbed within me?
Put your hope in God,
for I will yet praise him,
my Savior and my God.
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Thank God that in burdened time you can praise Him, remembering the high moments. In the Psalms David is so personal and vulnerable, he is not alone in this emotion. Do what David does, always choose to worship God!

Summer of Psalms, Day 41

Psalm 41

1 Blessed are those who have regard for the weak;
the Lord delivers them in times of trouble.
2 The Lord protects and preserves them—
they are counted among the blessed in the land—
he does not give them over to the desire of their foes.
3 The Lord sustains them on their sickbed
and restores them from their bed of illness.

4 I said, “Have mercy on me, Lord;
heal me, for I have sinned against you.”
5 My enemies say of me in malice,
“When will he die and his name perish?”
6 When one of them comes to see me,
he speaks falsely, while his heart gathers slander;
then he goes out and spreads it around.

7 All my enemies whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me, saying,
8 “A vile disease has afflicted him;
he will never get up from the place where he lies.”
9 Even my close friend,
someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread,
has turned against me.

10 But may you have mercy on me, Lord;
raise me up, that I may repay them.
11 I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
12 Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

13 Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Amen and Amen.
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God is merciful, He cares for the weak. He not only provides for them, He calls them blessed. This won't look like earthly blessing of wealth and status, instead He gives them a special blessing, inward that one cannot understand unless he has experienced this special mercy from the the Lord personally. Are you weak and weary? Seek God for His mercy. Are you strong and secure, seek God for someone in your life that needs a special blessing and allow God to use you for His glory. Praise Him!

Summer of Psalms, Day 40

Psalm 40

1 I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry.
2 He lifted me out of the slimy pit,
out of the mud and mire;
he set my feet on a rock
and gave me a firm place to stand.
3 He put a new song in my mouth,
a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear the Lord
and put their trust in him.

4 Blessed is the one
who trusts in the Lord,
who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
5 Many, Lordmy God,
are the wonders you have done,
the things you planned for us.
None can compare with you;
were I to speak and tell of your deeds,
they would be too many to declare.

6 Sacrifice and offering you did not desire—
but my ears you have opened—
burnt offerings and sin offeringsyou did not require.
7 Then I said, “Here I am, I have come—
it is written about me in the scroll.
8 I desire to do your will, my God;
your law is within my heart.”

9 I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly;
I do not seal my lips, Lord,
as you know.
10 I do not hide your righteousness in my heart;
I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help.
I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness
from the great assembly.

11 Do not withhold your mercy from me, Lord;
may your love and faithfulness always protect me.
12 For troubles without number surround me;
my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head,
and my heart fails within me.
13 Be pleased to save me, Lord;
come quickly, Lord, to help me.

14 May all who want to take my life
be put to shame and confusion;
may all who desire my ruin
be turned back in disgrace.
15 May those who say to me, “Aha! Aha!”
be appalled at their own shame.
16 But may all who seek you
rejoice and be glad in you;
may those who long for your saving help always say,
“The Lord is great!”

17 But as for me, I am poor and needy;
may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer;
you are my God, do not delay.
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To know the Lord and to walk with Him is a great blessing. He is the true prize and reward! When you know the Lord you are no longer in ignorant darkness. To see His greatness, His holiness is to see my weakness, failure and inadequacy. Therefore, humble yourself before the Lord, might He have favor on you. In His presence there is blessing.

Summer of Psalms, Day 39

Psalm 39

1 I said, “I will watch my ways
and keep my tongue from sin;
I will put a muzzle on my mouth
while in the presence of the wicked.”
2 So I remained utterly silent,
not even saying anything good.
But my anguish increased;
3 my heart grew hot within me.
While I meditated, the fire burned;
then I spoke with my tongue:

4 “Show me, Lord, my life’s end
and the number of my days;
let me know how fleeting my life is.
5 You have made my days a mere handbreadth;
the span of my years is as nothing before you.
Everyone is but a breath,
even those who seem secure.

6 “Surely everyone goes around like a mere phantom;
in vain they rush about, heaping up wealth
without knowing whose it will finally be.

7 “But now, Lord, what do I look for?
My hope is in you.
8 Save me from all my transgressions;
do not make me the scorn of fools.
9 I was silent; I would not open my mouth,
for you are the one who has done this.
10 Remove your scourge from me;
I am overcome by the blow of your hand.
11 When you rebuke and discipline anyone for their sin,
you consume their wealth like a moth—
surely everyone is but a breath.

12 “Hear my prayer, Lord,
listen to my cry for help;
do not be deaf to my weeping.
I dwell with you as a foreigner,
a stranger, as all my ancestors were.
13 Look away from me, that I may enjoy life again
before I depart and am no more.”
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When I read this psalm it makes me uncomfortable, honestly I want to look past it and quickly move on the the worship and praise that are so many of the psalms. But I can truly relate to what David is saying here because this is such a human issue, and so I must be thankful for the passage. I must thank God that He has placed in His word something that passes all time from generation to generation. This psalm is so human in nature and relatable to everyone. This is how I see it. David loves the Lord so much and out of that love he is trying his hardest to be pure for God. The pressure that builds up causes David to have extreme anxiety within him to the point at the end when he asks God to look away that he might enjoy his life again. That is human nature. We press into the Lord, we crave more and more of Him, even showing the people around us God's goodness through our actions. And that is a good thing, Jesus says that out of Gods love we should show others love. But the deeper we press into Him the more we see His holiness, cleanliness and the high standard that He requires of those who approach Him. We, as mere humans, can't do it, we can never be good enough, even though the desire is there. The pressure can be too much to take. And thankfully that's not even His intention, because He does not ask us to be good enough or do good enough, instead He looks at our heart. The even better news is that He solved the problem of the human issue when He sent Jesus Christ to us. Jesus is the perfect, spotless lamb who died to atone for not only our sins, but our shortcomings as a human being. Thank God for His unconditional love AND provision that brings us back into the relationship with Him every time.