I've been a little unstable lately. My father started working for General Motors before I was born and I started there at the age of twenty while I was still at home. Every bill I've ever paid, every dinner I've ever eaten, any car, home or purchase of any kind in my entire life has been financed by my father, or myself, working at General Motors. They pay good as everybody knows, good benefits, lots of vacation time, lots of overtime. It's been a real blessing in my life, however, even good things can become a rut.
This kind of dependance draws my real dependance away from God.
My wife found out today that she was the second choice out of six canidates for her "dream job", unfortunately, they only needed one person. I found myself depending on that job too, instead of God's providence.
With all this going on, I've had some health problems. I don't think it's too serious, but the stress of change in a routine life doesn't help. Again, I've put my dependance on something other than God.
It brings me back to my early Christian life when it seemed God's word would jump out and remind me of something right when I needed it. At one point I was feeling uncertain, working on a house with no experience and raising little people. It seemed kind of overpowering and I was letting it get to me.
But, there was Psalms 118: "In my anquish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free". Putting my dependance on the sovereign strength of God.
This morning I was in Proverbs 24, verse 10 bluntly says. "If you falter in times of trouble how small is your strength". Verse 16: "for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity"
I have to ask myself, "Who do I answer to?" Is it my wife, my kids, my neighbors, my boss or the all powerful, almighty, yet gracious and merciful God.
Psalm 118 (New International Version)
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up [b] to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
I love the reassurance of the first four verses, everyone acknowledge "His love endures forever"
Then the reminder that in our flesh we will be in anquish, but the Lord will set us free. In the King James and other versions it says he will set us in a large place. If you love the open field or lake you know the free feeling of open space, the opposite of entrapment or hurried or crowded... FREE
Verse 6-14: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than man, princes, nations, I think I can add General Motors, even Doctors. He will protect us from our enimies. He is our strength our song, our salvation!!
Verse 15-29: This is just great, read it out LOUD , open your heart and see,how great the Lord is . Rejoice, Give Praise, be Thankful and Fearless, for He is good and His love endures forever!!!
This kind of dependance draws my real dependance away from God.
My wife found out today that she was the second choice out of six canidates for her "dream job", unfortunately, they only needed one person. I found myself depending on that job too, instead of God's providence.
With all this going on, I've had some health problems. I don't think it's too serious, but the stress of change in a routine life doesn't help. Again, I've put my dependance on something other than God.
It brings me back to my early Christian life when it seemed God's word would jump out and remind me of something right when I needed it. At one point I was feeling uncertain, working on a house with no experience and raising little people. It seemed kind of overpowering and I was letting it get to me.
But, there was Psalms 118: "In my anquish I cried to the Lord and He answered by setting me free". Putting my dependance on the sovereign strength of God.
This morning I was in Proverbs 24, verse 10 bluntly says. "If you falter in times of trouble how small is your strength". Verse 16: "for though a righteous man falls seven times, he rises again, but the wicked are brought down by calamity"
I have to ask myself, "Who do I answer to?" Is it my wife, my kids, my neighbors, my boss or the all powerful, almighty, yet gracious and merciful God.
Psalm 118 (New International Version)
Psalm 118
1 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
2 Let Israel say:
"His love endures forever."
3 Let the house of Aaron say:
"His love endures forever."
4 Let those who fear the LORD say:
"His love endures forever."
5 In my anguish I cried to the LORD,
and he answered by setting me free.
6 The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
7 The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.
8 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
9 It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
10 All the nations surrounded me,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
11 They surrounded me on every side,
but in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
12 They swarmed around me like bees,
but they died out as quickly as burning thorns;
in the name of the LORD I cut them off.
13 I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the LORD helped me.
14 The LORD is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.
15 Shouts of joy and victory
resound in the tents of the righteous:
"The LORD's right hand has done mighty things!
16 The LORD's right hand is lifted high;
the LORD's right hand has done mighty things!"
17 I will not die but live,
and will proclaim what the LORD has done.
18 The LORD has chastened me severely,
but he has not given me over to death.
19 Open for me the gates of righteousness;
I will enter and give thanks to the LORD.
20 This is the gate of the LORD
through which the righteous may enter.
21 I will give you thanks, for you answered me;
you have become my salvation.
22 The stone the builders rejected
has become the capstone;
23 the LORD has done this,
and it is marvelous in our eyes.
24 This is the day the LORD has made;
let us rejoice and be glad in it.
25 O LORD, save us;
O LORD, grant us success.
26 Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD.
From the house of the LORD we bless you. [a]
27 The LORD is God,
and he has made his light shine upon us.
With boughs in hand, join in the festal procession
up [b] to the horns of the altar.
28 You are my God, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.
29 Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
I love the reassurance of the first four verses, everyone acknowledge "His love endures forever"
Then the reminder that in our flesh we will be in anquish, but the Lord will set us free. In the King James and other versions it says he will set us in a large place. If you love the open field or lake you know the free feeling of open space, the opposite of entrapment or hurried or crowded... FREE
Verse 6-14: It is better to take refuge in the Lord than man, princes, nations, I think I can add General Motors, even Doctors. He will protect us from our enimies. He is our strength our song, our salvation!!
Verse 15-29: This is just great, read it out LOUD , open your heart and see,how great the Lord is . Rejoice, Give Praise, be Thankful and Fearless, for He is good and His love endures forever!!!
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