Awaken the Dawn

August 16, 2020 – Debbie Graham
Psalm 108-110

Focus Verses
Psalm 108:1-5 “O God, my heart is steadfast; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory. Awake, lute and harp! I will awaken the dawn. I will praise You, O Lord, among the peoples, and I will sing praises to You among the nations. For Your mercy is great above the heavens, and Your truth reaches to the clouds. Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth;”

Have you ever gone to a sporting event?  Noticed how the crowd gets louder and louder as each person cheers for their favorite team or player?  It is infectious!  One person can begin a chant and in only a few moments the entire room/stadium is roaring.  The same should be true for worship!  Lift up your voice to the Lord with a shout of praise! 

David truly got worship.  In the psalm I am focusing on today, David proclaims his praise for the Lord.  He tells the instruments to wake up and even says that he will awaken the dawn with his praise to the Lord!  That’s pretty determined! 

Some of us have no reservations lifting up our praise for our favorite sports teams (especially our own children’s teams), engaging at secular concerts, and even shouting in our living rooms while watching something on tv… and yet, when we are at church we are somber, quiet, looking around the room at others rather than worshiping the Lord.  Not at all what God wants from us!  Psalm 66 tells us to “Make a joyful shout to God, all the earth! (vs.1), and “Oh, bless our God, you peoples! And make the voice of His praise to be heard!” (vs.8).

His praise is to be heard by others.  We read in Luke’s gospel that the Pharisees told Jesus to rebuke His disciples when they were singing praises to Him and Jesus told them, “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out” (Luke 19:40).  “Ain’t no rock gonna cry in my place!  As long as I’m alive I’ll glorify His Holy Name!” (LeMarquis Jefferson, Shout Praises Kids).

How are we with our worship?  Do we worship only when we are feeling it?  When our schedules are not slammed?  When the stars are aligned, and all is right in the world?  Friends, if we wait for all of that we are missing the mark!  Let us be steadfast (unwavering, faithful) to God, and let’s praise Him among the people.

Prayer
Father God, I will sing to You and give You praise for who You are.  Thank You for creating us with hearts to worship You.  May You “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and Your glory above all the earth;”  May my praise be like that of David and awaken the dawn.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

House of the Lord~

August 6, 2020 – Debbie Graham

Psalm 32, 51, 86, 122


Focus Verses
Psalm 122: 1-9 “I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the Lord.” Our feet have been standing within your gates, O Jerusalem! Jerusalem is built as a city that is compact together, where the tribes go up, the tribes of the Lord, to the Testimony of Israel, to give thanks to the name of the Lord. For thrones are set there for judgment, the thrones of the house of David. Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, prosperity within your palaces.” For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the Lord our God I will seek your good.”

After being at home for church services, singing His praises, and meeting in online groups, I was certainly glad to be back in the house of the Lord!  Obviously, we can still study God’s Word, hear sound teaching, join in song, and communicate with others without going to a building, but there is something about uniting with fellow believers. 

While it is only a building, not being able to come together with the body of Christ has made me realize just how much it means when we express our love for Him together.  There are many verses in the Bible that say come let us worship the Lord.  Let us.  Together.  As a worship leader, it brings me great joy to hear the congregation lifting their voices to the Lord.  This often helps me enter into deeper worship to the Lord, knowing we are worshiping the One True God.

David knew of the joy of “giving thanks to the name of the Lord” and encouraged the Israelites to do so.  He also encouraged them to “Pray for the peace of Jerusalem.”  Pray… so there would be peace within, they would prosper, there would be unity and harmony, security, community, and mostly that there would be freedom and fulfillment in joyful worship. 

We should follow the same example and pray for the peace in our church.  Pray for the leadership.  Pray that we would seek the Lord as David did as he led the people to lift their voices to the Lord.  See these examples of the earnest yearning to worship the Lord that David left for us.  “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in His word I do hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than those who watch for the morning - yes, more than those who watch for the morning” (Psalm 130: 5-6).  “I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, and I will glorify Your name forevermore. For great is Your mercy toward me, and You have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol” (Psalm 86:12-13).

I recently heard that worship is not first and foremost to have an encounter with God.  Rather, the first and foremost reason we worship is because He is worthy!  We need to reframe our mentality to that like David.  We then will express true joy and say “I was glad when they said to me, ‘Let us go into the house of the Lord.’”

Prayer
Father God, thank You for teaching me more about what it means to worship You.  Thank You that as a body we have been able to gather corporately.  Give us a pure desire to pray for peace and Your will in our church.  Make my heart a house of the Lord.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Do The Things~

July 27, 2020 – Debbie Graham

2 Samuel 5:11-25; 2 Samuel 6:1-23; 1 Chronicles 13-16

Do The Things

Focus Verses

1 Samuel 5:12 “So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.”

1 Samuel 5:17-19 “Now when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines went up to search for David. And David heard of it and went down to the stronghold. The Philistines also went and deployed themselves in the Valley of Rephaim. So David inquired of the Lord, saying, ‘Shall I go up against the Philistines? Will You deliver them into my hand?’ And the Lord said to David, ‘Go up, for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into your hand.’”

There is so much in the four verses I have chosen to focus on today.  David went down to the stronghold.  A stronghold according to the online dictionary is “a place that has been fortified so as to protect it against attack.”  I have always seen myself as a runner.  Danger comes, I get out of dodge!  Looking at David, I might not have it all wrong!  The first action he took upon hearing the Philistines were coming was to get to safety.  An important thing to note is what we read in verse 12, “So David knew that the Lord had established him as king over Israel, and that He had exalted His kingdom for the sake of His people Israel.”  David knew his calling and purpose.

If we know our calling and purpose and danger comes to threaten or attack, we need to act quickly and get to safety!  God’s purposes cannot be fulfilled in us if we are careless and do not protect what He has established.  David couldn’t have fulfilled his calling if he had been killed.  Another thing to take from this passage is the first thing David did after getting to safety… he inquired of the Lord. 

David sought the Lord for direction and what action he should take.  When we go to our stronghold, we shouldn’t run away terrified.  We should go knowing our calling and seek His next steps.  David expressed his desire in Psalm 27, “One thing I have desired of the Lord, that will I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord, and to inquire in His temple.”  I love that David included inquiring in His temple in his desire for the Lord.  He didn’t only inquire though… he listened for an answer.

The following verses talk about listening.  We have to be silent to hear.  Psalm 62:1a says, “Truly my soul silently waits for God; from Him comes my salvation.”  “Be still, and know that I am God;” (Psalm 46:10a).  “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel” (Proverbs 1:5).  In our being quiet and listening often comes our direction and next action steps.  God told David to go up.  When we hear our answer, we must follow what we have been told.

Verse 20 begins with the words, “So David went.”  The example we have from a man after God’s own heart (1 Samuel 13:14) is go do the things that He has told us to do.  If God tells us to do something, then He will be the one working through us!  We need to trust Him to do what He says.  I love what Paul shares in these two passages.  “I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).  “for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13).  Do the things!

Prayer

Father God, thank You for the examples that You give us in Your Word.  Thank You that You choose to work in me.  Help me to follow the steps of David, knowing my purpose, going to safety, inquiring of You, listening to You, and doing the things You say to do.  Help me not live in fear but run to You speedily and confidently knowing that it is You who works in me to will and to do for Your good pleasure.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

My Soul Longs~

July 17, 2020 
Psalm 43-45, 49, 84-85, 87

Focus Verses
Psalm 84:1-4 “How lovely is Your tabernacle, O Lord of hosts! My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young - even Your altars, O Lord of hosts, my King and my God. Blessed are those who dwell in Your house; They will still be praising You. Selah”

Have you ever gone through things in your life that don’t make sense, or are so out of control that you are just done with it all?  Given the last 5 months, I believe we all could say that we have been there!  Between the pandemic, social injustices, and political unrest, there have been many times that make me cry out to/for God as David did.  In the passages for today we hear David’s heart.  In Psalm 43 he asks for God to vindicate him, plead his cause, and send His light and truth to lead him.  He talks to himself, asking (and answering), “Why are you cast down, O my soul? And why are you disquieted within me? Hope in God; For I shall yet praise Him, The help of my countenance and my God” (Psalm 43:5).

I go back and forth with my questions as David did (and answering myself at times too).  David asks When…?  Why…?  How long..?  “Why do You sleep O Lord? (44:23a).”  I ask when all of this will end.  How long will we have to endure this crazy mixed up time?  Will people ever see their need of You?

Like David, my whole being cries out to my only hope… the Lord.  “My soul longs, yes, even faints for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God” (Psalm 84:2).  I have said so many times in the recent weeks, come quickly, Lord Jesus!  While I say and mean it, I am also reminded of the words of Paul “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain” (Philippians 1:21).  If I am still here, my work is not yet finished.

Do you know your purpose?  David knew his.  His purpose was to trust and praise God and share his trust with others through actions and singing.  I know my purpose.  I will sing joyfully to the God of my salvation and invite others to join me in proclaiming His greatness!  I will share the reason for my hope. “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you…” (1 Peter 3:15a).

While I echo the words of David in the passage below, I know that I must continue to walk in His ways and trust Him.  I would much rather be in the house of my God than dwell here with all of the wickedness.  Until that glorious day comes, I will trust in Him and give thanks and praise His Holy Name.  “For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness. For the Lord God is a sun and shield; The Lord will give grace and glory; No good thing will He withhold from those who walk uprightly. O Lord of hosts, blessed is the man who trusts in You!” (Psalm 84:10-12)

Prayer
Father God, thank You for being my dwelling place.  Thank You for being my strength, and hope.  May I readily share You with others.  Help me to walk uprightly and trust You… and help me to trust You more.  I am truly blessed.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Refuge in the Day of Trouble

Refuge in the Day of Trouble

Focus Verses
Psalm 59:16-17 “But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy.”

Twice God said He regretted making Saul king (1 Samuel 15:11;35).  The people wanted a king.  They wanted Saul… so God allowed it.  Saul was a prideful man, sought recognition for his achievements, and associated himself with those in prestigious position.  In chapter 14 we read that “And when Saul saw any strong man or any valiant man, he took him for himself” (vs 52b).     

Saul was fine taking David to himself at first, putting him over the men of war.  “David went out wherever Saul sent him, and behaved wisely;” (1 Samuel 18:5a).  Anger and jealousy quickly rose in Saul when David defeated the giant, Goliath.  There was much celebrating with singing and dancing and the women sang “Saul has struck down his thousands, and David his ten thousands” (1 Samuel 18:7).

Saul’s pride raged within himself.  So much so that he intended to remove David at any measure… specifically death.  He devised a plan to trick David into being killed by the Philistines and was disappointed when David won that battle.  Saul gave his daughter to David as a wife so that he could have easy access to him and could end his life more easily.  Thankfully, Michal (Saul’s daughter) loved David, and he had found a true friend in Jonathan (Saul’s son).  They both helped David flee from the crazed Saul. 

David fled to protect himself and was confused as to what he had done to have Saul so upset and seeking to take his life.  Saul’s pride was so great that he wasn’t willing to give David credit for anything, he just wanted him gone. 

David says in Psalm 11:7, “For the Lord is righteous, He loves righteousness; His countenance beholds the upright.”

Like David, we must trust the Lord’s righteousness and have faith in His faithfulness when people in our lives get angry or jealous when things go well for us.  We should trust the Lord when they get upset when we don’t think like them, agree with them, or when they seem to do whatever it takes to get us out of the way so that they can get all glory.  Pride is an ugly thing.  

It is important for us to recognize that our battle is not against people.  “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places” (Ephesians 6:12).

David penned these words when Saul was seeking to kill him.  “But I will sing of Your power; Yes, I will sing aloud of Your mercy in the morning; For You have been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. To You, O my Strength, I will sing praises; For God is my defense, My God of mercy” (Psalm 59:16-17).  Like David, when we are being pursued, we should sing out to God, rest in His strength knowing that He is our defense. 

Prayer
Father God, thank You for being my defense and refuge.  Please help me to behave wisely and to walk in Your ways.  Help me to trust You when the enemy seeks to destroy me.  I will sing of Your power, mercy, and goodness, and seek to keep my eyes on You in the day of trouble.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen. 

1 Samuel 18-20, Psalm 11, 59

Quick to Forget~

June 25, 2020 – Debbie Graham
Judges 8-9

Focus Verses
Judges 8:33-35 “So it was, as soon as Gideon was dead, that the children of Israel again played the harlot with the Baals, and made Baal-Berith their god. Thus the children of Israel did not remember the Lord their God, who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies on every side; nor did they show kindness to the house of Jerubbaal (Gideon) in accordance with the good he had done for Israel.”

With an army of 32,000, the Israelites set out to conquer the Midianites.  The Lord said there were too many men and that man would get the credit for the victory instead of God.  Anyone scared could go back.  22,000 went back leaving 10,000 men.  Another 9,700 were sent back after being tested by the Lord down by the water (7:2-8).  The Lord delivered the Midianites into their hands with an army of only 300 valiant men! 

These Israelites have seen and heard about the hand of the Lord throughout their entire lives: The parting of the Red Sea, conquering princes and kings, crossing the Jordan, taking over many regions, and entering the promised land, just to name a few. 

They are dumb sheep!  As soon as Gideon who we read about just a few chapters ago, who had been visited by an angel that told him, “The Lord is with you, you mighty man of valor” (6:12) is dead, the Israelites are quick to worship other gods rather than the One True God.  They “did not remember the Lord their God who had delivered them from the hands of all their enemies” (8:35).  God sent Gideon to the Israelites because they cried out to the Lord who had delivered them into the hand of Midian for seven years, because they had done evil in His sight.  These people never learn!  Once again, they return to their evil ways. 

Let us remember to always be faithful to our God who has delivered us from our evil ways and has faithfully been by our side through the difficult seasons in our lives.  If ever our earthly spiritual leader (pastor, parent, mentor, etc.) is gone, may we continue to follow Him and depend on the unfailing promises of our great Shepherd (Hebrews 12:20).  Regardless of what others choose to do, let us follow He who will never leave us and not be quick to forget!

Prayer
Father God, thank You for leading me and being my great Shepherd.  Please help me to not be quick to forget.  Please lead me and guide me in all of Your ways all of the days of my life.  May my life testify to Your goodness and deliverance.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

What Do These Stones Mean?

June 15, 2020 – Debbie Graham
Joshua 1-4

What Do These Stones Mean?

Focus Verses
Joshua 4:5-6 “and Joshua said to them: “Cross over before the ark of the Lord your God into the midst of the Jordan, and each one of you take up a stone on his shoulder, according to the number of the tribes of the children of Israel, that this may be a sign among you when your children ask in time to come, saying, ‘What do these stones mean to you’””

In chapter 4 we read that after 40 years of wandering, the moment the Israelites had all been waiting for finally happened.  They crossed the Jordan into to the promised land.

Twelve men that had been chosen, one from each tribe, were to take stones from the middle of the Jordan where the priests had been standing and carry them over to the place where they camped that night.  Joshua set up the stones at the spot where the priests who carried the ark had stood in the midst of the Jordan.  

After all the Israelites had crossed the Jordan, and they were at the camp in Gilgal, Joshua set those 12 stones.  “Then he spoke to the children of Israel, saying: “When your children ask their fathers in time to come, saying, ‘What are these stones?’ then you shall let your children know, saying, ‘Israel crossed over this Jordan on dry land’; for the Lord your God dried up the waters of the Jordan before you until you had crossed over, as the Lord your God did to the Red Sea, which He dried up before us until we had crossed over, that all the peoples of the earth may know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that you may fear the Lord your God forever” (Joshua 4:21-24).

What are these stones?  I have a green marble heart and an envelope made from beautiful paper that was left on my door handle in a plain white grocery bag after a hurricane blew through Florida in the early 90’s.  My four sons and I were home alone while my husband was out of the country on a business trip.  We had a need that I had only spoken to our Lord.  That afternoon I found the bag hanging on the door handle.  Inside was the envelope, with cash that would be used to purchase the groceries needed to feed my family (again, a need that I had only talked to God about), and the green marble heart.

It was left anonymously.  I would venture to say that it was left for the same reason that Joshua gave to the Israelites… that we would know the hand of the Lord, that it is mighty, that we may fear the Lord our God forever, and that we would share that with others.  

I have the green heart sitting next to me now as I write this.  I remember the blessing as if it were yesterday.  It has served as a reminder to me for years of the Lord’s goodness, faithfulness, promises, and provisions.  The stone heart has prompted many conversations and I have shared of His care through it.  In my 35 years of walking with Him, there are several “stones” in my possession that speak of the Lord’s goodness and serve as a testimony to Him that He is able to use for His glory.  

Do you have any “stones”?  How do you answer those who ask about those stones?  Do you share how the Lord has guided, provided for, and been faithful to you specifically?  Are you using those “stones” to testify to all that the Lord has done?

Prayer
Father God, thank You for tangible and visible reminders.  Thank You that I can use them to share Your goodness, faithfulness, promises, and provisions with those in my life.  Help me to always remember, and give You the glory.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.