Verse of the Day 3/30

Psalm 9:9-10 (ESV) The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.
 

After having read Tolkien's Lord of the Rings Trilogy and seeing the movies, when I see or think of the word stronghold, the images of "Helm's Deep" from the movie come to mind.  It was a place to retreat from danger cut into the rock on the side of a mountain, a seemingly impenetrable fortress.

 

If you are familiar with the book or the movie you know that the evil forces greatly outnumbered King Theoden and Aragorn and laid seige to the fortress and penetrated the fortress by explosives and shear numbers.  Do you remember how it ends?

 

These verses refer to the Lord God as our stronghold, our fortress.  Unlike the walls of Helm's Deep this bulwark never fails.  Read or sing the lines to the ancient hymn, "A Mighty Fortress" written by Martin Luther in relation to Psalm 46.  Whatever battle you are facing today, may you put your trust in Him.

 

 A mighty fortress is our God,
a bulwark never failing;
our helper he amid the flood
of mortal ills prevaling. 
For still our ancient foe
doth seek to work us woe;
his craft and power are great,
and armed with cruel hate,
on earth is not his equal.

 Did we in our own strength confide,
our striving would be losing,
were not the right man on our side,
the man of God's own choosing.
Dost ask who that may be? 
Christ Jesus, it is he;
Lord Sabaoth, his name,
from age to age the same,
and he must win the battle.

Blessings,
Mike
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Psalm 9:7-12 (ESV)

⁷ But the Lord sits enthroned forever;
    he has established his throne for justice,
⁸ and he judges the world with righteousness;
    he judges the peoples with uprightness.

⁹ The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed,
    a stronghold in times of trouble.
¹⁰ And those who know your name put their trust in you,
    for you, O Lord, have not forsaken those who seek you.

¹¹ Sing praises to the Lord, who sits enthroned in Zion!
    Tell among the peoples his deeds!
¹² For he who avenges blood is mindful of them;
    he does not forget the cry of the afflicted.

Verse of the Day 3/29

 Luke 8:15 (HCSB)  But the seed in the good ground—these are the ones who, having heard the word with an honest and good heart, hold on to it and by enduring, bear fruit. 
 

 I read this verse in the read through the Bible plan that I'm following.  It is from the Parable of the Sower which concludes with this verse.  It is a reminder that we will face trials in this life and that the seed in the good soil produces fruit by enduring.   Other translations speak of holding onto the word with patience and persevering.

 

Each week, in Pastor Bob's series "Rocks and Hard Places" he has been interviewing couples that have gone through various trials and have been and in some cases are still in those hard places.  Their lives and their testimonies reveal the fruit of the word in their lives.  It is fruit that will endure.

 

Today's reading in Luke 8 ended with the demoniac who was healed.  That passage ends with the following verse:

 

Luke 8:39 (HCSB) "Go back to your home, and tell all that God has done for you." And off he went, proclaiming throughout the town all that Jesus had done for him.

 

If God has brought you through or is carrying you through hard places right now.  Tell others of what God has done and is doing for you.  It will help you endure and bear fruit.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Luke 8:11-15 English Standard Version (ESV)

¹¹  Now the parable is this: The seed is the word of God. ¹² The ones along the path are those who have heard; then the devil comes and takes away the word from their hearts, so that they may not believe and be saved. ¹³ And the ones on the rock are those who, when they hear the word, receive it with joy. But these have no root; they believe for a while, and in time of testing fall away. ¹⁴ And as for what fell among the thorns, they are those who hear, but as they go on their way they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature. ¹⁵ As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.

Verse of the Day 3/28

Ephesians 6:18 (NIV) And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people.

I woke up this morning with a lot of things on my mind, many of them pertaining to work and not worthy of losing sleep over.  It wasn't actually worry just concerning "busyness" and things to do.  I decided to use the time better, to pray.  In doing so an old chorus came to mind.  I didn't remember any other lines except the chorus.  While waiting to board a plane at the airport I looked up some of the stanzas.

 

The song raises the question, when do we choose to pray?  Primarily when we need something, when we have something to praise Him for, or is it whenever we feel "the Spirit" move us?

 

Every Time I Feel the Spirit

 

Down in the valley, when I feel weak
It's when the devil, usuallly speaks
Because he's crafty, and full of lies
I need the Spirit to keep me wise.

 

 Ev'ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray
Ev'ry time I feel the spirit moving in my heart, I will pray.

When we're in the valley, we may not feel like praying.  But if the thought comes to you it just may be the Spirit calling you to do so.  May we put on the full armor today, and finish it with a prayer as we prepare for the day.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Ephesians 6:18-20 New International Version (NIV)

 ¹⁸ And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord's people. ¹⁹ Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, ²⁰ for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

Verse of the Day 3/27

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

 

Yesterday the image from 2 Corinthians 12:9 of Christ  our Messiah, pitching a tent over us during our trials and while we wait for deliverance stayed on my mind.  I later read today's verse with that in mind and the phrase that jumped out at me was "nor any powers".

 

There are many powers at work around us in the world.  Our own desires often may work against us.  Fears, anxiety and the feeling of hopelessness can have a power over us at times.  Satan definitely has powers and is allowed to throw his darts at us from time to time which may come to us in any number of scenarios including the thorn in the flesh that Paul spoke of yesterday.  The encouraging thing of these verses is the realization that it brings that Jesus Christ is above all those powers.  They may seem to be winning for a time, but in the end Christ overcomes, overpowers them all.

 

These thoughts led me to the Michael W. Smith Song - "Above All".

 

Above all powers above all kings
Above all nature and all created things
Above all wisdom and all the ways of man
You were here before the world began

Above all kingdoms above all thrones
Above all wonders the world has ever known
Above all wealth and treasures of the earth
There's no way to measure what You're worth

Crucified laid behind the stone
You lived to die rejected and alone
Like a Rose trampled on the ground
You took the fall and thought of me
Above all

 

No matter what we may face today, may we experience "His tent" over us, and take comfort and have hope in the fact that in all these things Jesus is above all and we are more than conquerors through Him.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Romans 8:35-39 New International Version (NIV)

³⁵ Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? ³⁶ As it is written:

   "For your sake we face death all day long; 
   we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered."

 ³⁷ No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. ³⁸ For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, ³⁹ neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord

Verse of the Day 3/26

2 Corinthians 12:9 (AMP) But He said to me, My grace (My favor and loving-kindness and mercy) is enough for you [sufficient against any danger and enables you to bear the trouble manfully]; for My strength and power are made perfect (fulfilled and completed) and show themselves most effective in [your] weakness. Therefore, I will all the more gladly glory in my weaknesses and infirmities, that the strength and power of Christ (the Messiah) may rest (yes, may pitch a tent over and dwell) upon me!

 

Pastor Bob's sermon yesterday centered on this passage from 2 Corinthians 12 about the "thorn in the flesh" that Paul had asked God to remove, but God did not choose to remove.  Many of us have our own "thorn in the flesh" in the way of illnesses or chronic conditions that just don't and may not ever go away.

 

As I was following along yesterday I read today's verse in the Amplified Bible.  The end of the verse caught my attention.  Paul realized that his and our weaknesses our thorns may just be that way that Christ will choose to display His power and His grace in us.  The last phrase that His strength may rest - may pitch a tent over and dwell upon me.  It brought back visions from the Old Testament and how the Angel of the Lord "encamps" around His people.  You might say he sets up shop over us while we go through it.  The tent is a temporary dwelling.  It may be for days, weeks or even a lifetime here on earth.  But we look forward to the everlasting future, and eternal dwelling place where these thorns will be removed.

 

Today's "Our Daily Bread" devotional dealt with the same passage and went by the heading "Avenue to Power".  Have you realized in your life that your thorns, your troubles, just may have been the road to a deeper relationship to Christ?

 

If you find yourself there today, may Christ the Messiah "pitch a tent" over you.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

2 Corinthians 12:8-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

⁸ Three different times I begged the Lord to take it away. ⁹ Each time he said, "My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness." So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. ¹⁰ That's why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Verse of the Day 3/25

John 14:6 (ESV)  Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

 

As we head off to church, to worship this morning, what is it exactly that we are going to hear.  Is it helpful hints, recommendations on how to live better lives?  Is it the opinion of a respected community leader?  Is it to answers to deep theological questions? It is not to go and hear a message with a political agenda by someone who has a personal axe to grind.

 

The other day Ray Ortlund referenced and recommended a book by Horatius Bonar "Words to Winners of Souls".  As with many other Christian classics it is available for free download in pdf form.  I downloaded it and began reading it yesterday.  A few pages in I came across the following quote - "It is not opinions that man needs: it is Truth.  It is not theology: it is God.  It is not religion: it is Christ.  It is not literature and science; but the knowledge of the free love of God in the gift of the only begotten Son."

 

What we need to hear is the truth, about a Saviour who loves us, cares for us and leads us in the way, the truth, and the life.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

John 14(ESV) I Am the Way, and the Truth, and the Life

14  "Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. ² In my Father's house are many rooms. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? ³ And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also. ⁴ And you know the way to where I am going." ⁵  Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" ⁶ Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. ⁷  If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Verse of the Day 3/24

1 Timothy 2:5-6 (NLT)  For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus. ⁶ He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.

 

When we see or use the term "mediator" we commonly think of someone who comes in to help settle a dispute between two parties, acting as a go between to try to bring the parties together.  We see this in relationships between individuals, corporations, and groups.  Sometimes one party or both are stubborn and will hold out to the detriment of all involved.  We've seen this happen recently in sports where part of a season had to be cancelled and in the past where a whole season may have been lost.

 

Jesus Christ came as the Mediator to reconcile, to clear the books, clean the slate between God and man.  19th century pastor James Smith wrote the following about Jesus as the Mediator:

 

"The Mediator must be one who has ability to prevail with and reconcile men. He must have power . . .to subdue the stubborn will, to cleanse the filthy nature, and to bring the rebel at a humble suppliant to the divine throne! He must be willing to undertake this great and arduous work, and to go through with it, let it cost what it may of toil, suffering, and power. He must also be acceptable to both parties: God must approve of Him and be satisfied with Him; and man must acquiesce in his appointment, office, and work.He must be able to meet and fulfill all the conditions of the covenant . . .obeying the precepts of the law, suffering its dreadful penalty, and new-creating the rebel man.He must therefore be GOD — or how could He . . .deal with God, undertake for millions of sinners, and deliberately engage in such an dreadful work?"

 

Think of that, He has the ability to prevail and reconcile, stubborn wills and filthy nature.  Has He done this in your life?  Is there an area of your life that needs to be turned over to the Mediator?  He gives us the power to overcome our stubborn wills and free us to truly live.  Think of what He went through to do this for us, thank Him for it, praise Him for it.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

 

1 Timothy 2:1-7 (NLT) Instructions about Worship

2 I urge you, first of all, to pray for all people. Ask God to help them; intercede on their behalf, and give thanks for them. ² Pray this way for kings and all who are in authority so that we can live peaceful and quiet lives marked by godliness and dignity. ³ This is good and pleases God our Savior, ⁴ who wants everyone to be saved and to understand the truth. ⁵ For there is only one God and one Mediator who can reconcile God and humanity—the man Christ Jesus.⁶ He gave his life to purchase freedom for everyone. This is the message God gave to the world at just the right time.⁷ And I have been chosen as a preacher and apostle to teach the Gentiles this message about faith and truth. I'm not exaggerating—just telling the truth.

Verse of the Day 3/23

Exodus 3:11-12 (NLT) But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?"

¹² God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain."

 

In yesterday's verse David asked the question, "what is man that you are mindful of him"?  On a personal level he was asking "who am I".  It is the same question asked by God's servants throughout the Bible, throughout history.

Moses grew up in Pharaoh's household.  Was well known and had great influence.  He came to realize who he was and went about trying to serve and defend his people in his power by his means.  It led to disaster.  He escaped with his life but spent 40 years wandering in the desert.  40 years to truly find out who he was and then to be taught the fear of and power of God.

 

In his book, "Men of the Bible", evangelist D.L. Moody writes of Moses, "He had dropped out of the public mind for forty years, and they didn't know what had become of him.  He was the very man of all others that God wanted, and when he met God with that question, "who am I?" it didn't matter who he was but who his God was.  When men learn the lesson that they are nothing and God is everything, then there is not a position in which God cannot use them."

 

It is the person that asks the question "who am I" that God uses, not the one that says "look who I am".  This is the person who will then go to the Great I Am and say, as the prophet Isaiah did, "here I am, send me".

 

If we are going to accomplish things for God, it is not because of who we are, but who our God is, and whose we are.

 

John 3:30 (NLT)  He must become greater and greater, and I must become less and less.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Exodus 3:11-15 New Living Translation (NLT)

¹¹ But Moses protested to God, "Who am I to appear before Pharaoh? Who am I to lead the people of Israel out of Egypt?"

¹² God answered, "I will be with you. And this is your sign that I am the one who has sent you: When you have brought the people out of Egypt, you will worship God at this very mountain."

¹³ But Moses protested, "If I go to the people of Israel and tell them, 'The God of your ancestors has sent me to you,' they will ask me, 'What is his name?' Then what should I tell them?"

¹⁴ God replied to Moses, "I Am Who I Am. Say this to the people of Israel: I Am has sent me to you." ¹⁵ God also said to Moses, "Say this to the people of Israel: Yahweh, the God of your ancestors—the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob—has sent me to you.

This is my eternal name,
    my name to remember for all generations.

Verse of the Day 3/22

Psalm 144:3-4 (NLT)  O LORD, what are human beings that you should notice them,
      mere mortals that you should think about them?
 ⁴ For they are like a breath of air; their days are like a passing shadow.

People like to make much of themselves, they like being noticed, appreciated and even envied.  Secularism has to do with elevating man to be the measure of all things and a law unto himself, he can determine right and wrong.

 

The Bible gives us a different picture.  Man, our lives are fleeting and are described in the Bible as vapors, a breath, dreams and as shadows.  I got the image of the fleeting shadows of a passing cloud on a bright summer (or spring) day.  The older we get the more  we realize how true this is.

 

August Crull in the hymn "What is the World to Me" wrote in 1923:

 

The world is like a cloud

And like a vapor fleeting

A shadow that declines,

Swift to end its retreating,

My Jesus doth abide,

Though all things fade and flee,

My everlasting rock -

What is the world to me?

 

The world seeks after wealth,

All that mammon offers,

Yet never is content,

I have a higher good,

Content with it I'll be;

My Jesus is my wealth -

What is the world to me?

 

The world with wanton pride

Exalts its sinful pleasures

And for them foolishly

Gives up the heavenly treasures.

Let others love the world

With all its vanity;

I love the Lord my God,

What is the world to me?

 

Instead of chasing dreams that will vanish like a vapor or as a passing shadow, invest your hopes and dreams in faith in Jesus, something that will last.

  

Blessings,
Mike
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Psalm 144:1-7 (ESV) My Rock and My Fortress

144 Blessed be the Lord, my rock,
     who trains my hands for war,
    and my fingers for battle;
² he is my steadfast love and my fortress,
    my stronghold and my deliverer,
my shield and he in whom I take refuge,
    who subdues peoples^[a] under me.

³ O Lord, what is man that you regard him,
    or the son of man that you think of him?
⁴  Man is like a breath;
    his days are like a passing shadow.

Verse of the Day 3/21

Jeremiah 17:7-8 (ESV) "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,  whose trust is the Lord.
⁸  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes,
for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit."

In my personal Bible reading, yesterday I read Psalm 1 which also references the tree planted by the stream.  Right now, it is spring and last night we had thunderstorms and plenty of rain.  The grass is already green and plants (and weeds) are growing like crazy.  But in a few short months we wouldn't be surprised to hear of reports of drought in certain areas of the country.  You will then see grass turning brown, plants drying up and trees dropping leaves for lack of water.

 

These verses, like Psalm 1speak of the person, the tree whose roots run deep and are fed by a stream.  Though the world around it may seem to be drying up, it remains strong and will produce fruit.

 

For some of us it may not feel like "spring" in our lives with hurts and pains and cares of life.  But if we are in Christ, we can be supported, supplied with the living water to sustain us and enable us to produce fruit, good works, even during the times of drought, through the power of Christ in us. 

The verses call us not to trust in man and look to man, to supply your needs, man will leave you high and dry .  Trust in God and He can provide you with living water.

 

Blessings,
Mike
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Jeremiah 17:5-8 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ Thus says the Lord:
"Cursed is the man who trusts in man
    and makes flesh his strength,
    whose heart turns away from the Lord.
⁶  He is like a shrub in the desert,
     and shall not see any good come.
He shall dwell in the parched places of the wilderness,
    in an uninhabited salt land.

⁷  "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,
     whose trust is the Lord.
⁸  He is like a tree planted by water,
    that sends out its roots by the stream,
and does not fear when heat comes,
    for its leaves remain green,
and is not anxious in the year of drought,
    for it does not cease to bear fruit."

Verse of the Day 3/20

Verse of the Day 3/20 

 

1 Peter 5:10 (AMP) And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace [Who imparts all blessing and favor], Who has called you to His [own] eternal glory in Christ Jesus, will Himself complete and make you what you ought to be, establish and ground you securely, and strengthen, and settle you.

 

I shared recently that I've been experiencing some back pain and spasms.  It's a chronic thing that flares up from time to time, the result of an old injury.  I have some friends that are currently suffering from more severe back and neck pain.

I feel for them and pray for their healing and comfort.

 

I read the following this morning on Ray Ortlund's blog, "And after you have suffered a little while.  Your suffering is real.  "A little while" does not trivialize it.  But suffering is not the rest of your story.  It will end, and soon – as measured by the real grandeur of your life, as grand as "eternal glory in Christ."

 

the God of all grace.  He has remedies, comforts and powers for every need, every occasion, every moment.  "All grace" cannot be exhausted and need not be deserved."

 

We don't know how long chronic ailments and injuries will continue to affect us, but compared to an eternity free of those hurts they won't amount to much.  But in the meantime, Jesus does offer healing from nagging physical and spiritual ailments, along with the power to establish, ground you, strengthen, and settle you as you face these trials.  Oh for grace to love him more.

 

Read the passage below and heed Peter's instructions to cast your cares and anxieties, (those things that pull at you and try to drag you down), on Him because He does care for you.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

1 Peter 5:6-11 English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶  Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, ⁷  casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you. ⁸  Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. ⁹  Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. ¹⁰ And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. ¹¹  To him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Verse of the Day 3/19

Habakkuk 3:2 (AMP) ²O Lord, I have heard the report of You and was afraid. O Lord, revive Your work in the midst of the years, in the midst of the years make [Yourself] known! In wrath [earnestly] remember love, pity, and mercy.

 

Most of us reading this verse probably find ourselves somewhere in the midst of the years.  For many, it may be middle age (a broad category, I know), for others it may be in the middle of High School or college, it may be somewhere between jobs, between careers, or just somewhere between where we are and where we want to be.

 

The verse speaks to the spiritual element, the element of faith.  Are we somewhere in the middle, in the midst of the years in our faith?  Somewhere between who we are as Christians and who we want to be?  Coming from the prophet, the verse has a national aspect to it as well as a personal one.  He desires a revival in his own life and for that of the nation.  He is not counting on his own achievements but depending on God's love, pity, and mercy.

 

Casting Crowns has a song, "Somewhere in the Middle" which describes what this being in the midst of the years looks like.  "Somewhere between my faith and my plans, somewhere between hot and cold, new and old " in our faith, considering if we will trade our dreams for His.  You may listen to the song on YouTube.  Its a thought provoking song that may help inspire us to seek the Lord and pray like Habakkuk, "O Lord, revive your work, make yourself known in my life in love, pity and mercy.

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Habakkuk 3 (ESV)

3 A prayer of Habakkuk the prophet, according to Shigionoth.

² O Lord, I have heard the report of you,
    and your work, O Lord, do I fear.
In the midst of the years revive it;
    in the midst of the years make it known;
     in wrath remember mercy.
³ God came from Teman,
     and the Holy One from Mount Paran. Selah
His splendor covered the heavens,
    and the earth was full of his praise.
⁴ His brightness was like the light;
    rays flashed from his hand;
    and there he veiled his power.

Verse of the Day 3/18

Psalm 145:5-6 (HCSB)  I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty and Your wonderful works. ⁶ They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts,  and I will declare Your greatness.

 

After experiencing the first few springs in North Carolina I could not cease to be amazed at the "splendor" of all the blossoming trees, flowers, and bushes of spring in the southeast.  I am also amazed at how long spring lasts down here.  It goes on for a few months as week after week something new is blossoming.

 

The word that is translated as "splendor" in today's verse comes from the word "hadar".  My bible commentary indicates that the root in Aramaic means "honor" or "ornament".  It goes on to say that hadar particularly describes God's splendor which can be terrifying in the power of a spring storm, but also indicates the splendor of animals, landscape, people and cities.  The word also has to do with honor.  We are to honor God as we see His handiwork in creation.

You can't help but think of the splendor of life, in the birth of spring, flowers, animals and as a parent the birth of a child.

 

Reading this verse, speaking of God's splendor and declaring His greatness reminded me of Chris Tomlin's praise song "How Great is Our God".  Read the words, sing them in your heart or out loud in praise to our creator and the splendor and majesty of all of His works.  For those who are His, we will experience the splendor with new found wonder for eternity.

 

The splendor of the King, clothed in majesty 
Let all the earth rejoice 
All the earth rejoice 

He wraps himself in Light, and darkness tries to hide 
And trembles at His voice 
Trembles at His voice 

How great is our God, sing with me 
How great is our God, and all will see 
How great, how great is our God 

Age to age He stands 
And time is in His hands 
Beginning and the end 
Beginning and the end 

The Godhead Three in One 
Father Spirit Son 
The Lion and the Lamb 
The Lion and the Lamb 

How great is our God, sing with me
How great is our God, and all will see
How great, how great is our God

Name above all names 
Worthy of all praise 
My heart will sing 
How great is our God 

Christian lyrics - HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD LYRICS - CHRIS TOMLIN 

 

In Christ,
Mike

 

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Eph 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God's grace  NIV

Psalm 145:5-13 Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

⁵ I will speak of Your splendor and glorious majesty 
and Your wonderful works. 
⁶ They will proclaim the power of Your awe-inspiring acts, 
and I will declare Your greatness. 
⁷ They will give a testimony of Your great goodness 
and will joyfully sing of Your righteousness.

 ⁸ The LORD is gracious and compassionate, 
slow to anger and great in faithful love. 
⁹ The LORD is good to everyone; 
His compassion rests on all He has made. 
¹⁰ All You have made will thank You, LORD; 
the godly will praise You. 
¹¹ They will speak of the glory of Your kingdom 
and will declare Your might, 
¹² informing all people of Your mighty acts 
and of the glorious splendor of Your kingdom. 
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom; 
Your rule is for all generations. 
The LORD is faithful in all His words 
and gracious in all His actions.