Taking Time To Meditate!

Blessed is the one who does not walk in step with the wicked or stand in the way that sinners take or sit in the company of mockers, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who mediates on his law day and night. That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields its fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither--whatever they do prospers. Psalm 1:1-3 NIV

One of the most common responses from a Christian when asked how they're doing is, "I'm blessed!" But are they really blessed as implied by The Word? From the Hebrew and the Greek, the word, blessed--means to be happy or happiness. So if we exchange the word blessed in this Psalm, the beginning would say, "Happy is the one..." If people are so blessed--happy--why is the church--the Body of Christ--in such a sad state?

Are we truly happy? Are we meditating on God's Word, day and night or we just playing at memorizing The Word and think we have accomplished something?

From the dictionary, blessed also means to be divinely favored or selected or fortunate--from a purely biblical perspective--it is an adjective (words that describe).

To meditate on something (from the Hebrew and Greek) means to study, or declare. Do we truly meditate on The Word? Do we study it in order to declare it?

From the dictionary, to meditate (action word--verb) means to contemplate, engage, reflect and introspect--all which require deliberate actions.

One of the reasons the Psalmist can say that a person is happy when they are obedient to God's Word is because the Psalmist has a relationship with God and hears Him, when He speaks--providing instruction and insight as to how He wants us to live.

Can we truly say we spend time with God, studying His Word, hearing Him provide us with insight as to the meaning or context of what He's saying? Or are we more content to rely upon others to tell us what they think about God's Word?

These questions keep cropping up in my spirit because of what I observe in others--those supposedly teaching The Word. Based upon my understanding of what I have studied, I see many who are merely teaching God's Word out of traditional leanings, with no true understanding. The focus is more on a moan or a groan-coming from them--which is unintelligible for others to understand. So, if what we say is unintelligible (not understood), how do we claim that it is teaching? For in order to teach anyone, anything, what we say and do must be understood.

If I'm stepping on toes today, good! We all need someone to remind us that we have not arrived at perfection and when it comes to teaching God's Word, we should always meditate--study it so we can give clear understanding, before we attempt to teach it to anyone.

I am setting aside time for deliberate meditation upon Psalm 119 in the coming weeks. This is not just to memorize it--since I tend to be extremely forgetful--but to understand it--in its entirety and to be able to line it up with the rest of God's Word. For all of God's Word should line up--it's context should never change even one scripture.

The World is changing and from what I can see--we are in dire need of understanding--all of God's Word as Paul tells Timothy, " Meditate on these things; give yourself entirely to them, that your progress may be evident to all." (I Timothy 4:15 NKJV)

And that is precisely what I plan to do--give myself entirely to concentrating on The Word, one verse at a time. So, if you are inclined to read my understanding every day, great! If not, oh well. If you know Psalm 119 well enough to teach me, don't hesitate to comment on what I say. I am very teachable and sometimes--I may not hear God completely, but it's not because I'm not listening--traditional perceptions sometimes get in the way.

Here's to getting the traditional perceptions out of the way so I can clearly understand what the Psalmist is saying to us--from then to now--in the 21st century and how it applies to our lives in this changing world.

Cursed Children!

For the LORD loves justice,
and he will never abandon the godly.
He will keep them safe forever,
but the children of the wicked will die.(Psalm 37:28 NLT)

We know what happens to us when we do wrong things, but have we ever considered the position in which we place our children--those we say we love?

Most children emulate their parents--good or bad--and when they see and hear what we say and do and do the same things, we set them up for disaster. How many times do we need to see parents on television bemoaning the loss of a child who was killed in the midst of a home invasion? How many times do we need to raise money to bury those children who have died at the hands of those who had no respect for life? How many times have we heard about wayward teens assaulting senior citizens and women--robbing them because their parents would not give into their demands for "things?"

When are we going to get tired enough to stop the madness--by paying more attention to what we do and what our children see?

I've known about parents who taught their children to steal and lie and then wonder why their children ended up in jail or a morgue before they reached the age of 21.

I've known about parents who abused and misused their children and then seem surprised when they discover that their children are child-molesters or sexual predators.

I've known about parents who had no conscience at all about how they treat other people--committing assaults and murder for no reason other than the person they assaulted or murdered was there. Some entire families are so twisted they feel they have right to batter others--just because. Now, what do they think their children are going to do?

While it is true that some children--manage to escape their curse--the legacy of their parents--far too many fall prey to the dictates of habit and family traditions that are totally lawless.

From The Word--we understand that we "the wrong doers" actually curse our children and their children--sometimes until the fourth generation--the time it takes for some to start thinking about how to break the curse and have better lives.

For those who are committing atrocities--whatever they are--especially those who are killing the innocent--simply because they can--those have started the clock that measures the time of the curse on the their children. To take this a step further, those who are violating life right now are part of the curse of their parents and are too foolish to realize it. At some point in time--someone has to wake up and see--how generations have been doomed because of traditions that have no bearing on reality. These traditional beliefs and habits lead to the devastation of families and entire nations because "some" refuse to think beyond what they think they know.

If a "practiced tradition" ignores the rights of others and violates human life--it is a tradition that has led to cursed children for generations and needs to cease from existence. It is time to teach love--not hate; acceptance--not rejection, and respect--not disrespect of people or authority.

When, O Lord, are we going to seek You in all that we do and understand that because You are Love--there is no hatred in You and You are not the promoter of hate in any manner? Help us, O Lord, to hear You when You speak and then learn to obey what You say, knowing that taking a life is not of You. Have mercy on us O Lord, who have to bear the burden of those who have sinned before we appeared and teach us how to live and not curse our children because of our behavior.

Any Way You Praise Him!

"Let them praise His name with the dance; Let them sing praises to Him with the timbrel and harp" (Psalm 149:3 NKJV).

There are so many protocols observed by so many people in how to praise God. When people understand that when you're in a relationship with God, it does not matter how you praise Him, just as long as you praise Him!

Here the psalmist states to: praise His name with the dance--so this diffuses the thought that we should not dance in the churches. But let's get real--a dance in praise of God should not look like the dance in the club or party. There is a difference--one is lead by Holy Spirit, the other by another spirit that is certainly not holy.

Sing His praises with timbrel and harp. There are a number of people who believe that any instrument used in a church is ungodly; some who believe that only the instruments mentioned in the Bible are allowed, and some who think only the songs in Psalms should be sung. Well, if that's true--then why are we instructed to "sing a new song," unto the Lord?

Here's a tip--for all who know The Word and The Lord--praise Him any way you want to do it and He will receive the praise!

It is time for many to wake up and shed their religious, pious attitudes and get into relationship with God and seek Him in how to praise Him. As long as what we do is sincere acknowledgment and honoring to God--He is not going to dismiss our praise because we did not have the right instrumental accompaniment. He doesn't even care whether we can sing or not (that's people who care) when we lift our voices to magnify Him the sound becomes a sweet melody to Him.

As a lyricist, I've written many songs of praise to Him--to accompany sermons--out of daily experiences and a number of people have sang my songs--with the accompaniment of instruments and without the accompaniment of instruments. Children and adults sang from their hearts and I know that God was glorified in the midst of their singing.

Too often--we allow what others think, stop us from doing what God has put in our hearts to do. Don't allow a religious spirit to keep you from praising God--any way you want to praise Him. If your church thinks instruments are the devil's tool, you might want to re-think where you worship. Find a place of worship where God is glorified and magnified and it's all about Him--not the people in the building.

And while you're thinking about what I just said, give Him a praise--right where you are--and watch how He honors your sincere praise--any way you praise Him!

The Lord Helps!

"My help comes from the LORD, Who made heaven and earth" (Psalm 121:2 NASB).

Many people look for help for a variety of situations from various venues. Some people--standing on the street corners look for help from those passing by them. Some people seek help from non-profit organizations. Some people seek help from government agencies. Some seek help from family and friends. And then there are those who know-our help comes from The Lord!

To make this clear, God uses people to help people, but ultimately, it is He who determines who will be used to help those in need. I make this distinction simply because there are some people who pray and do nothing else. And when nothing happens, they get mad at God. For instance, it is absolutely pointless to pray for a job and never apply for one. It is absolutely pointless to pray for a mate and never prepare to be one. It is absolutely ludicrous to pray for anything and not do something. Prayer without action, is a waste of time. We must do something before, and after prayer to see the prayers answered.

THIS DOES NOT NEGATE MIRACLES! I know of too many times when people prayed and God touched hearts to respond to the prayer. But He still used "people" to address the issues for which people prayed. 

"We don't have what we need because we don't always know how to ask for it." When we pray, we must believe that God will answer in order for us to receive that for which we prayed in accordance to His will. We cannot ask for foolish things and expect to receive anything from God. "Seek and we shall find. Ask and  that for which we ask, shall be given if we have the faith of a mustard seed to receive it"

Ultimately, all of our needs are met through Christ Jesus (by whatever venue or person He decides to use) and He gives us the desires of our heart when we please Him. All of our help-comes from The Lord--who loves us and will not withhold any good thing from us. Praise Him for His Goodness and be grateful for His Love and Mercy! Praise Him for speaking to the hearts of people who are in a position to be the answer we need. Praise Him just because of who He is--our Help in all things!

Father, in the name of Jesus, help us to understand that You are not a man--that You change Your mind about anything You have said. You have promised to meet every need and all of Your promises are Yes and Amen. You have said in Your Word that if we seek the Kingdom of God (come to You) all the things we have need of would be ours. Give us wisdom to understand You clearly and determination to obey You in all things.