I have always loved the phrase "there will be joy in the morning". It comes from Psalm 30. It is a Song at the dedication of the house of David, which was probably written for his palace, but may have been sung at the dedication of the temple. Just a thought.
I will extol You, O LORD, for You have lifted me up
And have not let my foes rejoice over me.
O LORD my God, I cried out to You, and You healed me.
O LORD, You brought my soul up from the grave;
You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit
Sing praise to the LORD, you saints of His, and give thanks at the remembrance of His holy name.
For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life;
Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.
I get this... it is like God speaking thru the Psalmist. The beginning of chapter 30 is psalm of praise... the reason we praise or extol the Lord is because 1) You lifted me up 2) and my enemies are not allowed to rejoice over me... or God has protected me from shame and harm. It is like the best insurance plan ever. satan has always wanted to destroy us, but that battle has already been won. The ultimate of not letting my foes rejoice over me.
The greatest thing is the same truth, if we call upon the Lord, he hears and listens and moves all at the same time. I think that this talks about physical and spiritual healing. How awesome is this. I believe that God still heals today. I believe that he is more than able to do whatever He wills. God's will is not just what we want God to do... it is what He wants to do. I think it is harder to make a god up and then live according to those rules. We do it all the time. We have to let God be who He is an quit trying to do His job for Him.
The perfect reaction is to "sing praise to the Lord and give thanks". hmmmmm Singing and Thanksgiving... reminds me of Psalm 100. Our response to God should be thanksgiving.
but then comes the best part of Chapter 30... For His anger is but for a moment, His favor is for life... God's favor is something that we all enjoy, that call upon His name. To live in God's favor, that is just too awesome for words. Mary was called God's "favored one" and the song she sang (The Magnificat in Luke 1:46-55) shows us how God moves and touches and brings about His Will.
There is a promise in all this... and it is something that I cling to. Weeping and grief and sorrow my just last for a night... but the the next day (even on the 3rd day) the sun rises. There is joy, there is hope, there is all encompassing peace that comes in the morning. When there seems to be no way out of a situation, the sun rises. There is always a new day.
The Psalm is ended with this thought... In the morning, my sorrow is turned into a dance. I no longer have to wear "black", but I can wear my party clothes. When all is said and done... we sing, we dance, we give thanks - forever.
Psalm 30: 11-12 says
"You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, To the end that my glory may sing praise to You and not be silent. O LORD my God, I will give thanks to You forever."
Monday, February 16, 2009
Saturday, February 7, 2009
A thought about Barbara Johnson
Every first day of the month, I remember Barbara Johnson.
I met her through a friend, Lynda Wigren. Lynda worked at Berean Bookstore in Whittier (it is no longer there), but Lynda traveled with Barbara. She'd help her sell her books, take care of details, etc. So we met... Barbara gave me her book (autographed of course) "Where Does A Mother Go To Resign?" It made me laugh.
Barbara was just funny. She had been through a lot in her life. And those things had happened years before I met her. So the Barbara I knew and loved was the "after the fact" Barbara. She had wit and wisdom. It was great to banter with her, she was well armed. But she celebrated the First of every single month. Every 1st of the month I remember her. Every single one. I just smile.
Her youngest son, Barney, came to our church for a while in West Covina (Christ's Church of the Valley's original name was West Covina Church Of Christ). And one Sunday, I ran into Barbara at the back of the old church. (dang we packed em in). We laughed about something "churchy" and she was glad that Barney was going to church.
I ran into her probably 15 times in person, and we talked many times on the phone. I moved to Colorado, then Fresno, then Kentucky...
Lynda called one day and said that Barbara had brain cancer. She was typical, Lynda... trusting in God, just as Barbara was.
My mom told me the funniest story once... and it was a true story. A friend of a friend's mom was visiting, and had never been to a gynecologist, and she was in her 70's or 80's... Her daughter set her up with her own gynecologist, and she went to work. When she got home she asked her mom how it went, and the mom was really upset. She said the doctor said something so rude and fresh and out of place... and her daughter asked well what did he say? the mom said, he said, "My don't we look festive?" Her daughter was shocked, so she just started asking questions. What did you do before you went??
well i took a shower... good
and I used some of your feminine hygiene spray... good, but i don't have any
yes you do
No i don't... show me what you are talking about
So the mom went into the bathroom, looked around and handed her a can of glitter hairspray. hence... "My don't we look festive?"
ok.. that's kinda iffish... but it's my blog, get your own.
My mom took 3 phone calls just to tell me she was laughing so hard. I of course told Lynda Wigren, who... told Barbara. Next thing I know (old Jed's a millionaire), I mean Lynda called and wanted to find out who it was, make sure it was true, etc because Barbara wanted to share it at Women Of Faith, and put it in her book.. which she did on both counts.
Barbara told it much better than I would ever have done.
ok this isn't about worship
This isn't about much more than an awesome and wonderful lady named Barbara Johnson that touched my heart and my life. I still smile the first of every month!
I met her through a friend, Lynda Wigren. Lynda worked at Berean Bookstore in Whittier (it is no longer there), but Lynda traveled with Barbara. She'd help her sell her books, take care of details, etc. So we met... Barbara gave me her book (autographed of course) "Where Does A Mother Go To Resign?" It made me laugh.
Barbara was just funny. She had been through a lot in her life. And those things had happened years before I met her. So the Barbara I knew and loved was the "after the fact" Barbara. She had wit and wisdom. It was great to banter with her, she was well armed. But she celebrated the First of every single month. Every 1st of the month I remember her. Every single one. I just smile.
Her youngest son, Barney, came to our church for a while in West Covina (Christ's Church of the Valley's original name was West Covina Church Of Christ). And one Sunday, I ran into Barbara at the back of the old church. (dang we packed em in). We laughed about something "churchy" and she was glad that Barney was going to church.
I ran into her probably 15 times in person, and we talked many times on the phone. I moved to Colorado, then Fresno, then Kentucky...
Lynda called one day and said that Barbara had brain cancer. She was typical, Lynda... trusting in God, just as Barbara was.
My mom told me the funniest story once... and it was a true story. A friend of a friend's mom was visiting, and had never been to a gynecologist, and she was in her 70's or 80's... Her daughter set her up with her own gynecologist, and she went to work. When she got home she asked her mom how it went, and the mom was really upset. She said the doctor said something so rude and fresh and out of place... and her daughter asked well what did he say? the mom said, he said, "My don't we look festive?" Her daughter was shocked, so she just started asking questions. What did you do before you went??
well i took a shower... good
and I used some of your feminine hygiene spray... good, but i don't have any
yes you do
No i don't... show me what you are talking about
So the mom went into the bathroom, looked around and handed her a can of glitter hairspray. hence... "My don't we look festive?"
ok.. that's kinda iffish... but it's my blog, get your own.
My mom took 3 phone calls just to tell me she was laughing so hard. I of course told Lynda Wigren, who... told Barbara. Next thing I know (old Jed's a millionaire), I mean Lynda called and wanted to find out who it was, make sure it was true, etc because Barbara wanted to share it at Women Of Faith, and put it in her book.. which she did on both counts.
Barbara told it much better than I would ever have done.
ok this isn't about worship
This isn't about much more than an awesome and wonderful lady named Barbara Johnson that touched my heart and my life. I still smile the first of every month!
Monday, February 2, 2009
Stand In Awe / Habakkuk
besides how funny the name sounds to us, Habakkuk, is probably my favorite book of the OT, next to Psalms.
Habakkuk called himself a prophet... because of how he wrote his book is written, the thought is that he may have been a temple prophet. I Chron 25:1 says that Temple Prophets used lyres, harps & cymbals. Habakkuk may have been a Levite and singer in the temple... OK I THINK THAT IS PRETTY COOL. A singer in the temple -- it sounds familiar. There is a Rabbinic tradition that he was the son of the Shunammite woman's son who Elisha had brought to life (II Kings 4:16). But no one really knows about him. It doesn't matter, Habakkuk, is just an awesome. It encourages me.
I love the fact that he questioned God - a lot... I do the same thing. God can handle it. God can handle any emotion we bring to Him. Habakkuk asked God "how long must I call for help, and you do not listen?" WHAT? Ok i have never done that. demanding an answer from God. God told him that he was going to send the Babylonians to bring judgment... DAAAANNNNGGGGGG! that is powerful. God uses even the most "unholy" people to teach us and to judge us.
So the stage is set, Habakkuk questions God and when God answers, He passes judgment on the evil nations. At the end of the second chapter is probably the most misused scripture in the Bible... God says... "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him." I have seen this written on the walls outside of sanctuaries, meaning be quiet in here! I have to thank Ron Keller for this, but it is true, silence has nothing to do with "worship". Ron said that the only time there is "silence" in the Bible, it is for judgment, not worship! And it is true, no where in the Bible does silence = worship... NO WHERE. So this idea that we have to be "quiet" and "formal" is just wrong. Don't get me wrong.. if you want to be formal before God.. be formal, but if you want to dance and fall prostrate and lift your hands... then do it. He is not looking at that anyway... something about your heart!
The last chapter of Habakkuk is truly amazing. Habakkuk give glory to God.. in vs 2 he says, "I stand in awe of Your deeds" When you understand that you don't know God, but learn to trust in Him... the true response is AWE. The God of all creation gave Habakkuk answers to his questions and demands. He saw God as He was, and believed that God was in charge.
To set up the ending of this blog, I have to say, the end of Chapter 3 is powerful. it gives each of us hope. Habakkuk said that no matter what happens, we should Praise God. Even if everything we are, we have, we do, we want falls apart, the answer is to rejoice in the Lord. when you are waiting for destruction and judgment and God is being Himself, what would you say? What would you do? Where would you run to? What questions would you have for God? This is why I love this book. So to close this thought Habakkuk says in chapter 3:16-19:
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
Habakkuk called himself a prophet... because of how he wrote his book is written, the thought is that he may have been a temple prophet. I Chron 25:1 says that Temple Prophets used lyres, harps & cymbals. Habakkuk may have been a Levite and singer in the temple... OK I THINK THAT IS PRETTY COOL. A singer in the temple -- it sounds familiar. There is a Rabbinic tradition that he was the son of the Shunammite woman's son who Elisha had brought to life (II Kings 4:16). But no one really knows about him. It doesn't matter, Habakkuk, is just an awesome. It encourages me.
I love the fact that he questioned God - a lot... I do the same thing. God can handle it. God can handle any emotion we bring to Him. Habakkuk asked God "how long must I call for help, and you do not listen?" WHAT? Ok i have never done that. demanding an answer from God. God told him that he was going to send the Babylonians to bring judgment... DAAAANNNNGGGGGG! that is powerful. God uses even the most "unholy" people to teach us and to judge us.
So the stage is set, Habakkuk questions God and when God answers, He passes judgment on the evil nations. At the end of the second chapter is probably the most misused scripture in the Bible... God says... "But the Lord is in His holy temple, let all the earth be silent before Him." I have seen this written on the walls outside of sanctuaries, meaning be quiet in here! I have to thank Ron Keller for this, but it is true, silence has nothing to do with "worship". Ron said that the only time there is "silence" in the Bible, it is for judgment, not worship! And it is true, no where in the Bible does silence = worship... NO WHERE. So this idea that we have to be "quiet" and "formal" is just wrong. Don't get me wrong.. if you want to be formal before God.. be formal, but if you want to dance and fall prostrate and lift your hands... then do it. He is not looking at that anyway... something about your heart!
The last chapter of Habakkuk is truly amazing. Habakkuk give glory to God.. in vs 2 he says, "I stand in awe of Your deeds" When you understand that you don't know God, but learn to trust in Him... the true response is AWE. The God of all creation gave Habakkuk answers to his questions and demands. He saw God as He was, and believed that God was in charge.
To set up the ending of this blog, I have to say, the end of Chapter 3 is powerful. it gives each of us hope. Habakkuk said that no matter what happens, we should Praise God. Even if everything we are, we have, we do, we want falls apart, the answer is to rejoice in the Lord. when you are waiting for destruction and judgment and God is being Himself, what would you say? What would you do? Where would you run to? What questions would you have for God? This is why I love this book. So to close this thought Habakkuk says in chapter 3:16-19:
"I heard and my heart pounded, my lips quivered at the sound; decay crept into my bones, and my legs trembled. Yet I will wait patiently for the day of calamity to come on the nation invading us. Though the fig tree does not bud and there are no grapes on the vines, though the olive crop fails and the fields produce no food, though there are no sheep in the pen and no cattle in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the LORD, I will be joyful in God my Savior. The Sovereign LORD is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights."
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