Rejoice

“For our heart shall rejoice in him, because we have trusted in his holy name.”  Psalm 33:21

Rejoicing is the outward expression of an inner action.  There is temporary joy and permanent joy.

Temporary joy causes rejoicing for a time and wares off when we become used to what once made us happy.  After the joy leaves we reach out for another temporary fix and our lives are like yo-yos.

Permanent joy is everlasting rejoicing, it never wares off.  It is like its Creator, it never changes and it never leaves the person that posses it. There is never a need to reach out for something new because it never becomes old. 

Real rejoicing comes from a clean, forgiven heart, a heart that is set free from the dos and don’ts which are imposable for us to keep.  To reach this kind of a goal is impossible for man to do on his own.  Only through  JESUS, is it possible.

I’ve found a JOY, deep in my soul.

The kind that will never leave me.

While other joys they come and go.

Only the Joy of JESUS relieves me.

It’s never gone or walks away,

This Joy is alway present.

Filling my life with peace and love.

It’s worry and fears suppressant.

“Rejoice in the Lord alway: [and] again I say, Rejoice.” Philippians 4:4

“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casteth out fear: because fear hath torment. He that feareth is not made perfect in love.” 1 John 4:18

JUST GOD

“Our soul waiteth for the LORD: he is our help and our shield.”  Psalm 33:20

When in need of deliverance, I have made the situation worse by trying to solve the problem by myself.  Taking self out of the equation and allowing GOD to do as He promised will bring genuine relief.  It isn’t me plus GOD it is, just GOD!  

GOD uses times of trial to reveal Himself to us.  He brings us to the point that there is no doubt that it is Him that has broken the grief and given the answer. GOD is made visible to those that patiently wait upon Him!

With an impatient heart, I’ve struggled.

Not willing to wait on JESUS.

Trying to untangle life’s pits and pains.

What a wall I’ve put between us.

GIVE IT TO JESUS!

 “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

The Miserable State of Unthankfulness

“To deliver their soul from death, and to keep them alive in famine.”  Psalm 33:19

GOD keeps what He has purchased and never discards what He has procured. He continually watches over His possession, making sure it is safe from harms way.

The value of what GOD purchased is above all in every way.  He paid a price none other had the ability to pay.  The price was the perfection of the SON and His willingness to give it all for those that didn’t deserve it.

GOD doesn’t pay such an enormous price for something to set it on a shelf and admire it, to show it off to others.  GOD has a purpose for all that is His, and if you are one of His, He has a purpose for you.  

The FATHER through the SON delivered mankind from death and the grave.  He has promised never to leave or forsake us. He cares for us and watches over us through the famine’s of life.  

Is it unreasonable to think it would be the right thing to do by being obedient to the last thing JESUS asked (commanded) of us in the Great Commission?  (Matthew 28:19-20)  If we can’t be faithful and obedient to the One that gave so much for us, we are in the miserable state of unthankfulness. 

Open my mouth that I might speak

Of the wonderful things of JESUS.

Help us LORD to sing His praise.

In front of all that sees us.

“Howbeit Jesus suffered him not, but saith unto him, Go home to thy friends, and tell them how great things the Lord hath done for thee, and hath had compassion on thee.” Mark 5:19

I Know He Watches Me

“Behold, the eye of the LORD is upon them that fear him, upon them that hope in his mercy;” Psalm 33:18

It is evident the Omniscient GOD sees all.  Of His creation there is nothing that escapes His view.  Man is limited in his sight, he sees bits and pieces. Only what is large enough for his eye to capture or small enough to take into his vision.  GOD sees everything that exists from the tiniest cell to the vastness of space.  He sees it all, all at the same time.  His creation never leaves His sight. “Behold, the eye of the LORD”

Out of all He sees there is within His vision the sight of those that have put their trust in His SON.  These are the delight of GOD’s eye.  They are the precious souls for whom His SON died for.  They have been washed in the blood of the LAMB they forever stand as the SON’s emblem of achievement. “upon them that fear him”

GOD knows all that is going on in the lives of the believer.   They are under His wing of protection.  GOD answers their prayers. His love surrounds them.  GOD honors their faith and makes His presence known to them. “upon them that hope in his mercy;” 

With vision fair, I look around.

I take in all I can.

Mountains high and valleys low.

As far as my eye can span.

Amazing beauty to behold.

Such charm before my eyes.

To understand GOD sees all,

Is hard to realize. 

It makes you wonder of the awe to come,

Of the things that we will see.

But the greatest sight for me to perceive.

Is JESUS, looking right at me.

“Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is.” 1 John 3:2

War Horses

“An horse is a vain thing for safety: neither shall he deliver any by his great strength.”  Psalm 33:17

It is a great misconception to put our hope of deliverance in the war horses of life.  Although these horses appear to be strong in their outer shell when they are compared to the Omnipotent GOD they become thin air and their power dissolves. 

Such wonderful strength we have in our GOD, His power to solve any situation is ever before the believer.  Why is there a need of a war horse when we have its Creator before us?  Why are we, so blinded by these war horses and forget where the real power is?

War horses are visible to us, they become our god’s!  Where is our faith? Did we not begin in faith?  When we come to Christ we see our inability and failure, in desperate need, we come to the Savior by faith.  

Living by the same faith from where we began, crowns CHRIST as King; He is our GOD, our Power and our Strength.  There is no other power like His power.  We will never find our victory in war horses.  Victory comes in CHRIST and Him alone.  

I put my hope in a mighty steed.

He looked robust and strong.

But when the heat of the battle came.

He failed, and I was wrong.

I learned not to waist my time,

And depend on such worthless hope.

Power comes from CHRIST alone,

Through Him I can always cope.  

“For whatsoever is born of God overcometh the world: and this is the victory that overcometh the world, even our faith.  Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God?”  1 John 5:4-5 

The Great Protector

“There is no king saved by the multitude of an host: a mighty man is not delivered by much strength.” Psalm 33:16

Strength can be an asset or a liability; it depends on how we use it.  Learning brings intellect but puffed up intelligence is madness.  

Too often we are deceived by pride and we are crippled by our own self worth.  Strength and intellect are wonderful as long as the limitations of them are understood.  

When we lay down our own powers and rely on GOD, we are on the road to victory!  There is not a situation we find ourselves in that GOD is not able to handle! 

I’ve found GOD able in every way,

He’s never let me down.

He has taken me from desperation,

And wiped away my frown. 

When I find myself weak and weary,

He comes to lift me up.

He gently takes my hand in His,

And we begin to sup. 

Precious is the LORD to me,

Oh, glory to His name.

Since I placed my trust in Him,

I’ve never been the same.

“While I was with them in the world, I kept them in thy name: those that thou gavest me I have kept, and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition; that the scripture might be fulfilled.” John 17:12

The Heart Reader

“He fashioneth their hearts alike; he considereth all their works.”  Psalm 33:15

A designer always knows what is put into the project, how it operates and what to do if it fails, he engineered it.   It would be foolish to believe otherwise.  The project does not have the ability to question the engineer. “He fashioneth their hearts alike; 

So it is with GOD and His design.  He is the Master Engineer and knows every part of His creation, from the smallest part to the largest.  He is a, know it all GOD.  Man might question and ask why, but there is not the slightest chance that he has the ability to change anything.  In his arrogance he may think he can but his attempts lead to nothing, and he is left empty. “he considereth all their works.” 

Only GOD has the ability to read what is in the hearts of men.  He knows every thought that passes through our minds! How sad this must be for Him to hear.  We must be careful where we allow our minds to wander.  

Oh, my JESUS, so full of grace.

Unselfishly gave, to the human race.

While my mind wanders of all You gave.

Thank you JESUS, who came to save.  

Full of wisdom you understood.

All man weakness and brotherhood.

For all have sinned but You gave place.

Died once for all, for the human race.

Oh, LORD help us today to be thankful for what you gave.  Help us to honor you by telling someone about JESUS and His wonderful gift of grace. Amen

“Who being the brightness of his glory, and the express image of his person, and upholding all things by the word of his power, when he had by himself purged our sins, sat down on the right hand of the Majesty on high: Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.” Hebrews 11:3-4

GOD's View

“From the place of his habitation he looketh upon all the inhabitants of the earth.”  Psalm 33:14

The eagle’s vision is keen; he soars above and overlooks what is below.  The eye of GOD is even more intense, His abode is higher then the eagle can fly, nothing escapes His view!

What the eagle sees is his prey, his purpose brings destruction to what he is looking upon, and his interest is in himself.  GOD sees everything from the inside out.  His purpose is abundant life and his interest is in the souls of men.   

Both good and bad GOD sees from His lofty position, nothing is hidden from His view.  He rejoices with the good and appeals to the bad.  He has one purpose, the salvation of His creation.

He looks from above at the condition of the hearts of men below and His heart is broken.  GOD left His place in Heaven to secure forever the salvation of man.  He lived a perfect life; although He was tempted He sinned not!  He paid the price for us on the cruel cross of Calvary as the Father watched from above.

GOD looked below and saw our state, 

He groaned within so deep.

Something must be done, to give them peace.

He sent His only SON, to rescue,  all the sheep.

The SON, He left, His glorious place.

It was of his own accord.

Not for Himself, He gave His all.

Praise GOD for our reward!

Sweet JESUS!

“Seeing then that we have a great high priest, that is passed into the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our profession. For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.” Hebrews 4:14-16

Always There

“The LORD looketh from heaven; he beholdeth all the sons of men.”  Psalm 33:13

From the glory of Heaven, He watches over us, His eyes are ever upon us.  He is never distracted; we are continually on His mind.   

There is never a situation He is not aware of; He knows every blink of our eye.  In the good times, He is there!  In the bad times, He is there!  We are surrounded by His awareness we can not escape His love.   

He watches when we fall and He hurts over the pain it causes us.  He draws us toward Himself and comforts while we hurt!  In times of joy He is there and shares the joy with us.  

In trials, He is there!  In happiness, He is there!  In our pain, He is there!  In our sorrow, He is there!  When we laugh, He is there!  When we cry, He is there!  In every way, in every situation, GOD is there, watching over us from the glory of Heaven and in the hearts of those that trust Him.

In the daybreak of the golden morning,

And in the sunset of the day.

Through all our trials and our troubles.

GOD helps us on our way.

His Eye is always upon us.

He hears our longing cry.

He breaks the sadness from us.

He wipes the tear from our eye.

“Have not I commanded thee? Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed: for the LORD thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”  Joshua 1:9

The Other Side of Blessed

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.”  Psalm 33:12

The other side of blessed is, cursed.  Cursed is for all that deny GOD His rightful inheritance.  An inheritance He deserves because of His superior love and kindness. He made it, He loved it when it was unlovable and He redeemed it by His own blood. 

When looking at myself, I can’t see anything that GOD would find in me that would cause Him to want me to be a part of His inheritance.  He is not looking at me or the meagerly works I do to try to improve myself, He looks at His Son who took my place.  It is not me and my imperfection but it is CHRIST and His perfection that GOD sees.   

Whether a nation or a single person it is much better to be blessed than to be cursed!  When the LORD is given His rightful position, His blessings are sure to come, but to deny Him is a frightful place to be.

I was cursed, now I’m blessed.

I was filthy now I’m clean.

I was undeserving, this is a fact.

Now in CHRIST life is serene.

A beauty bought, by His own blood,

To this undeserving soul.

Such stunning grace! He forgave.

And from broken, He made me whole.

If He loved me this much, He has to love you more. Trust JESUS today.  John 3:16

“What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?”  Romans 8:31

It's About Time

“The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever, the thoughts of his heart to all generations.” Psalm 33:11

Ineptness is a trait of man but it can’t be found when we speak of GOD!  His plan is finished. He speaks it from His thought.  GOD is outside of time and is not limited by it! “The counsel of the LORD standeth for ever”

Elasticity is a peculiarity of the plans of man but the plan of GOD is not flexible.  Time has no effect on GOD’s plan.  It stands forever, unmovable, unchanging and always comes to pass. “The LORD standeth for ever”

While GOD is outside of time man is not.  GOD reveals His plan to man through the element of time.  Man is limited by the time he is allotted. His acceptance of GOD’s plan is crucial to where he will spend eternity. GOD’s grace is, “to all generations.”

I’ve wasted time on, my own ways.

Trying to make, the curve turn straight.

The more I tried, the more I failed.

Then I turned to GOD, and He prevailed.

Time is something we don’t want to waist.

Every moment is precious so.

Forget the things you think will work,

Trust GOD’s plan, and forward go.

“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” Jeremiah 29:11

A Twofold JOY

“Praise the LORD with harp: sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings.” Psalm 33:2

David understood well the soothing sound of the harp. He played it before King Saul when he was vexed with an evil spirit. David’s playing appeased Saul’s heart and the sweet peace of the music chased the evil spirit away. “Praise the LORD with harp:”

I love to hear a person humming along as they work or play. To hear one whistle is a delight to the ear. This kind of activity is a sure sign of contentment. The one that involves themselves in it has a happy heart. “sing unto him with the psaltery”

Music is a special way to glorify the LORD. Stringed instruments are a soothing sound. They are the sound of the choir when brought together. Add the voice of the saint singing out to GOD and it is pleasant to His ear. Godly music always brings joy to the hearts of the ones that sing and also to the heart of GOD. It is twofold! Whatever you have use it to glorify the LORD. “and an instrument of ten strings.”

Whatever I have I will use

To sing praises to JESUS.

With a grateful heart, I will sing.

Even in our sin He sees us.

He looks beyond the sin we have.

Through His sacrifice He frees us.

A greater love can’t be found,

Then the perfect love of JESUS.

So, I’ll take the harp and with the psaltery play,

I’ll sing to all before me.

Of the pleasure sure, freedom from sin,

And a blissful life eternally.

JESUS SAVES

“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.” Psalm 100:1-2