Thursday, April 21, 2011

SOLO: Psalm 139:1-12

You can read today's passage by clicking here

How does it make you feel, knowing that God sees all, hears all, knows all? Nothing is hidden from him! What a big thought!

I'm not gonna lie. That's a pretty daunting realization. God knows all my dirty laundry. He knows my thoughts that no one would believe I have. He's heard the words I mutter to only myself. He sees into the darkest parts of my soul that are hidden from the public under my pious persona.

My deepest secret? He's seen it! My biggest doubt? He knows it? My most paralyzing fear? He's experienced it!

But he still loves me with reckless abandon!

God sees all, hears all, knows all-and loves us! His love is beyond unconditional. It's inconceivable!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

SOLO: Psalm 103:1-14

I was really good at math when I was younger. Computation always made good sense to me. To this day, I'm pretty quick when it comes to basic addition, subtraction, multiplication or division. So for all the math people out there, I have a few simple equations and theorems for you:

1 John 3 encourages us to do what pleases God by believing his son and doing what he commands. What are his commands?

Love God + love people


Jesus taught the entire law hung on those two things. So how do I love God and love others?

listen to him +
do what he says +
be generous +
treat others better than I treat myself


So, it could be concluded that...

Blessing God = Serving

What does God's "heart" good is living as his son lived. And Jesus came not to be served but to serve, and give his life as a ransom for many (Mark 10:45)

The life of the servant is lived in servitude, and we're called to serve the world. This must be what gives God the most pleasure. When we seek to love as he loves, give as he gives, serve as he serves we are living out the dreams he has for us.

How's your serve? God blesses us to bless him and others. It was never for us to horde his blessings to ourselves. Because of what he's done for us and because of what he's given to us, we're called to bless him and bless others.

Well that's it for the math lesson. The test is now yours to take!

Thursday, April 14, 2011

SOLO: Psalm 62:1-2

You can read the passage by clicking here

Psalm 62 makes me think of God as the one constant in my world of ups, downs, and in-betweens. As my mind swirls with emotions, he is steady. Rock solid, in fact.

Man that's good news. Life is nothing if not changing. It is a whirlwind of emotions, circumstances, personalities, expectations-all constantly in motion. And as it spins seemingly out of control, voices become nebulous and empty.

But...

Hebrews tells us that Jesus is the same yesterday, today, and forever. He is consistent. He doesn't change. He's the anchor. He's the rock. He's the safe haven. He's the shelter. He's ever present, he loves unconditionally, and he remains steady when the rest of life is ravaged by storms.

Oh, and He's good!

Be encouraged. God is a rock! Solid. Strong. Consistent. In other words, he's all the things we're not but so desperately need.