thoughts on Psalm 9

Psalm 9
For the director of music. A psalm of David.

1.I will praise you, O LORD, with all my heart;
I will tell of all your wonders.
2.I will be glad and rejoice in you;
I will sing praise to your name, O Most High.

This Psalm convicts me.

Yes, I think of Him...at church, in my devotional times, when I am reflecting on my day before I go to sleep, and I feel grateful for my life and all His provisions. But do I praise him with ALL my heart?

My mind travels to my situation at work. Do I use every opportunity to tell of His wonders, to share what I know of Him? To be perfectly honest, the answer in “No!” I like to think that I am displaying Jesus to those around me. I live according to Christian moral standards. I go to church. They must know. Right?

Hmmm. I wonder how many of those outside my circle of Christian friends know about my personal relationship with Christ, about the ways I have seen him work in my life, about the freedom and peace I have gained through coming to know Him. If I am totally honest, probably NONE of them. I haven't told them and thinking they are somehow going to catch it by osmosis, is just wishful thinking.

I want to be like David, openly sharing all His wonders, rejoicing and praising His name.

God, make yourself real enough to me that praise will just bubble out of me. Help me to be conscious of you in all I do and to share you willingly and with an enthusiasm that allows me to sing with David, “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart. I will tell of all your wonders”

AUTUMN YEARS

Fall is here
In all her glory
Beauty reigns
Upon the earth.
Purpose finished,
Life is ending
Yet rebuilds
For future mirth.

I now face
My autumn years
There’s beauty too
In growing old
My purpose here
Still clearly calls me
Not to let
My path grow cold.


Life began
As tiny seed
Spring arrived,
The time to grow.
Summer came
And beauty blossomed,
New life floats
As fall winds blow.


I was planted
In this world
Pruned and tended
By His hand
Nurtured by
Life’s varied moments
To fulfill
The Gardener’s plan.


Soon the seeds
Will all be covered,
As snow blankets
Earth’s domain.
I in turn
Must seek the guidance
Turn life’s autumn
Into gain.

Life's Autumn

As I face the approach of Autumn, I welcome what God will show me in this new season. No doubt I will see an abundance of His creative beauty. But just as in nature Fall is a time of letting go, I too must experience the release of certain habits and patterns of living. Decomposing leaves build new life into the soil. Even so I revitalize the fabric of my life by letting go of the past. There may be dead issues, thoughts, and feelings to clear away. Yet after a time of rest and cleansing comes the vibrant hope of restoration and new life.

I’m ready for this autumn experience. Teach me, Lord, to experience with joy the seasons of my growth.

God's Child

‘I’ll drive you away,’ the little one said
As he tightened his fist and tossed his small head.
‘I’ll crawl and make noise so I can’t feel your love.
I don’t want to hear of this God up above!

Well, sometimes I do. I’m almost drawn in
To your talk about Jesus and freedom from sin;
But I have to resist. I don’t want to care,
So I yell, “Blah! Blah! Blah!” when you bow in prayer.

He loves me. He’s calling. I feel so afraid
Of the change it would cause in this life that I’ve made.
It may not be great, but it’s all that I know.
This God that you talk of…don’t tell me, just show.

I sense you might love me. I know that you care.

You catch my wrongdoing; insist I play fair.
I just might come back here to cause you more pain
‘cause maybe you’ll show me your Jesus again!’


Gal 6:9 reminds us:
Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest
if we do not give up.

We need to keep on working with children like this, trusting that God’s spirit will overcome the Evil One in the battle for their souls. Our task is to keep tilling the soil, planting the seed, and loving these little ones into Jesus’ waiting arms.

Aug 23, 2008
After my week at VBS

A Challenge from Quebec

After being in Quebec for the past week, I am still trying to put my finger on how this trip has affected me. Although I may not yet be able to express it, there definitely has been an impact.

I was truly challenged by the passion and zeal, which the French Canadian Christians exude concerning their faith. They seem to recognize and cherish the magnitude and wonder of the gift of salvation. As a second, third, fourth, or whatever, generation Christian, I feel I have become rather blasé about the whole thing. I don’t have that sense of excitement nor an urgency to share my faith with others like I did when it was new and fresh to me.

Let me draw a parallel to a familiar summer scene. When my friends come to enjoy a fire in my back yard, we are content to gather around, chatting amongst ourselves, taking pleasure in the ever-changing flicker of the flames. As the blaze dies down, rather than searching out new firewood, we delight in the glowing embers, and draw in closer, roasting marshmallows, drinking in the moment of peace. We enjoy it immensely, in our cozy little group.

As a Christian, I have the light of Jesus; the warmth of knowing God loves me. Do I want to share this with others? I say I do. I think I do. But all too often I am content to pull up close, enjoying the fire with my few friends and not even thinking of those who are beyond the circle of light.

By journeying to a different culture, Jesus has offered me a challenge. How will I live out my faith? Will I be content to continue on my selfish path of enjoying the benefits of being a Christian with those of like mind? Or will I make an effort to figure out how to share the benefits of life with Christ with those outside the inner circle of my comfort zone?