Monthly Archives: November 2016

“Aim at Heaven” with your best thanks today:

“I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart; before the gods I sing your praise; I bow down toward your holy temple and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness, for you have exalted above all things your name and your word. 

On the day I called, you answered me; my strength of soul you increased. 

All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord, for they have heard the words of your mouth, and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord, for great is the glory of the Lord. 

For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly, but the haughty he knows from afar. 

Though I walk in the midst of trouble, you preserve my life; you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies, and your right hand delivers me. 

The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me; your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever. Do not forsake the work of your hands.”‭‭Psalms‬ ‭138:1-8‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/psa.138.1-8.esv

Read this slowly, especially the repeated refrain about God’s steadfast love.

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who by understanding made the heavens, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who spread out the earth above the waters, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who made the great lights, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

the sun to rule over the day, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

the moon and stars to rule over the night, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who struck down the firstborn of Egypt, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and brought Israel out from among them, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

with a strong hand and an outstretched arm, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who divided the Red Sea in two, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and made Israel pass through the midst of it, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

but overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red Sea, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who led his people through the wilderness, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

to him who struck down great kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; and killed mighty kings, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

Sihon, king of the Amorites, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and Og, king of Bashan, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and gave their land as a heritage, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

a heritage to Israel his servant, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

It is he who remembered us in our low estate, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

and rescued us from our foes, for his steadfast love endures forever; 

he who gives food to all flesh, for his steadfast love endures forever. 

Give thanks to the God of heaven, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭136:1-26‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/psa.136.1-26.esv

Consider this text that I just read on the M’Cheyne train just now.

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭123:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

As the people said (or, perhaps, sang) the Psalms of ascent, they were using God’s holy word, preparing their hearts to worship, to pray.

I use a group of God glorifying Psalms whenever I begin my morning prayers. From a thoughtful teacher I learned that praying these kinds of Scripture reminds me that God is God. He is sovereign. Nothing escapes His notice. Thus when I come to my list of requests (like when I pray for you) I can confidently lay my requests in my Father’s lap and go on with my day in peace. This text is being added to my list:

“To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens!”

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭123:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/psa.123.1.esv

“Arise, shine, for your light has come, and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭60:1‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/isa.60.1.esv

This is the gateway to a now closed  subway in Budapest.

I was having a heavy conversation with a good friend recently and the subject of who’s in and who’s out was a focus… it is a hard subject. This morning the M’Cheyne train took me here:

“”Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.”

‭‭Matthew‬ ‭7:13-14‬ ‭ESV‬‬

Though the way is narrow, the gateway – unlike the one in the picture – made possible by the finished work of Jesus is still open. Join the few who will enter, you are welcome to come in!

“Oh how I love your law! It is my meditation all the day.”
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭119:97‬ ‭ESV‬‬

http://bible.com/59/psa.119.97.esv