CAMPING OUT IN THE PSALMS!

What does camping out in the Psalms look  like if one is camping indoors? Messy for me. LJJ even plays relevant, uplifting spiritual songs as she cleans!

At different ages/seasons or addresses. Steve Rd.,585,3958,1093,1152 or 125 it often looked like this, whether for meditation or teaching.

Psalm 23     I will not FEAR. (The Psalmist says)

Often, when unable to relax from medical maladies or other stresses, I have used this psalm as my sleeping pill. Think, "nite-nite" from relaxing words of Scripture or hymns playing quietly.

Psalm 27     Whom shall I FEAR? (We ask; God answers)

When God is our light and strong hold, there is nothing or no one to fear. The Lord gives "heart" courage as we wait for Him to answer.

Psalm 46     I/We will not FEAR! (Our response of Worship)

Be still before Him and Know He is GOD as I/we seek Him through prayer and His Word allowing us to exalt Him as our fortress.

Once again may "camping out in the Psalms" bring songs to my soul.

A musical interlude of sorts to help ease my mind and overlook my mess.

Camping out in the Psalms 9/2020

SABBATH SNAPSHOT: securi-TEA

Part of security measures at church have all of us signing in during the weekdays. The downside of that is that we live in a volatile world that requires such.
The upside is Debbie P. She "mans" the desk with her smiling face and upbeat personality. She's also the friendly voice one usually encounters when calling our church.

For me, she's also a wealth of needed info and a font of "you have to read" recommendations. Last week, she went beyond the suggestion level and loaned me the recommended book, a book of meditations on God and trouble. Taken from verses of Psalm 27, pointing to many "nuggets of wisdom that could only have come from the mouth of the Divine." (Tripp, p.17)
What a gracious act of transparency to share one's book with all it's notes and underlines.

Allow me to share some of my own notes & questions from A SHELTER in the time OF STORM by Paul David Tripp:

• The trip to where God is taking us is not an event; it's a process. (p. 58)
• God has not coated us with situational Teflon, protecting us from the disappointments and hurts of a world gone bad. (P. 69)
• Spiritual muscles---When God asks you to wait, do you think he has forgotten you or do you consider it as a time to grow in your faith? (p. 88)
• Spiritual muscles---Does waiting allow doubt, anger, discouragement, and envy to destroy your motivation to grow in faith? (p. 89)
• Someday. Is "someday" a statement of hope or just fatalistic resignation? "Someday" is what I wish would happen, but....deep down don't really think it will. (p. 90)
• Don't confuse the goodness of the Lord with the assumption that He will give you what you set your heart on. 

So many of our questions and encounters are answered from Psalm 27, as Tripp shows us the psalmist's understanding of God's Presence throughout the psalm.

Now, I just need to find a way to share this book with my Cherkasy friends who are experiencing turbulent times in "their" Ukraine, where their "adversaries are breathing out violence." (Psalm 27:12) Fear surrounds them. Schools are closed for Katya's kids. Businesses are shuttered. There is no food in the markets but there is blood in the streets. Oksana asks for prayer for her nation. Lisa's own brother, along with his friends, was prayerfully protected during a recent uprising. Masha has been a part of the occupation of Maidan (Independence) Square in Kiev since November. All of these are beautiful women I know and introduced on my 7/8/12 Ukraine Beauty blog entry. I pray Psalm 27:7 for them and the "Mercy Prayer." (Tripp, p. 60-61) and continue to encourage them to "Hope in God in a world that is broken." (Tripp, p.7) This book is full of hope.

If you love Psalm 27 as much as I do, this is definitely a book for you.

"shor-TEA-ning"

The Teacher searched to find just the right words, and what he wrote was upright and true. (Ecclesiastes 12:10, NIV)

Shor-TEA-ning was the only "tea" word I could create to get across this idea of finding just the right words---and the right number of words. Less is more. Simplicity over verbosi-TEA.

I needed to pare down the words of my lesson on fear from Psalms 23, 27 & 46, before teaching it to the night class, which has a shorter timeframe. Thus, shor-TEA-ning is needed. What do I cut out? What MUST be left in?

Somewhat like my morning cuppa---if I want a more robust tea due to my time constraints, I brew a half a cup----but my tea is stronger. I use loose tea because it gives the strongest flavor in half the time BUT I only allow myself half a cup because I don't need extra energy from the caffeine. I just need the right amount for the time allotted---without skimping on the flavor. 

 Pithy with a punch. Just like my cuppa "shor-TEA-ning."

Drug-induced meditation....

5/9/11.....is actually possible. I'm not talking about the 60s type LSD drugs here. Just pain meds (following a molar extraction) that make one "take to the bed" and be loopy. Maybe they've even had a greater effect because of the depressing, disheartening events of last week. Watching loved ones suffer has certainly upped the despair meter in my heart. It's painful.

But God....in the middle of my own "minor" pain, brought one of my favorite Psalms to mind and verses that I needed came back and bedside meditation was possible.

• ⁵For in the day of trouble He will conceal me in His tabernacle; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me. He will lift me up on a rock.
• ¹³I would have despaired unless I had believed that I would see the goodness of the LORD In the land of the living.
• ¹⁴Wait for the LORD; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for the LORD. (Psalm 27, selected, NASB)

Drug-induced. God's word heals. It's the best medicine.

23rd Psalm--final visit

3/2/09 Psalm 23:5-6

More from verse four---
Darkness continues to give me pause for thought/reflection---and here’s what I know:
• Scripture is light---it sheds His light on truth thus giving understanding. Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things from Thy law. (Word) Psalm 119:18
• God’s truth can set me free from the darkness brought by worry and fear.
• I can trust God in the darkness---He will lead me.
• The Lord is my light and my salvation, whom (or what) shall I fear? Psalm 27, which I love (Claudia has permitted me to love it b/c it’s her psalm)

Someone asked me, How do you “spout off” this scripture---I don’t know---verses learned as a child do come back---yet, as an adult, trying to memorize scripture has been very difficult for me. But God…..during this time, has allowed those words that are written in His Word, that I have been privileged to study, to come to mind whenever I need His guiDANCE. I know it doesn’t make sense for someone with such a pitiful memory to recall anything, but it’s been happening. It’s as if the essence of His word is residing deep in my heart “for such a time as this”----can’t explain it anymore than that.

Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:
Verse 5—God as a provider—providing hospitality for His people—not by taking them away from "enemies" in order to lavish them with a banquet---but by giving His presence in the midst of harm or those who harm.
thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.
Annointing with oil in scripture is an example of God bestowing His Holy Spirit on the believer and David’s cup symbolized his lot/portion in life and how he was overflowing with God’s blessing. (Constable)
Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: A four-year old at my son’s church recited the 23rd Psalm which her dad posted on GodTube. It is precious. It also spoke volumes to me when she kept trying to add “surely” before many of the verses---that’s the way I see it now—surely He restores my soul, surely He is with me and surely His goodness and mercy will pursue me---It’s a sure thing.
and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.
This might indicate heaven but my marginalia indicates a present happening---like Psalm 27:4 ….that I shall seek, that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life----building a relationship of oneness, experiencing His presence. (Dotsy THOT)

I’ve found out a few things about sheep this week----they need a shepherd---and so do I. Do you?