BIBLE PICK 'EMS - Hallelujah!

It's always interesting to me where I land in my "Bible Pick 'Ems."

This week is a great pick!

We have landed in Psalm 111:

"Praise the LORD!

I will thank the LORD with all my heart

as I meet with his godly people.

How amazing are the deeds of the LORD!

All who delight in him should ponder them.

Everything he does reveals his glory and majesty.

His righteousness never fails.

He causes us to remember his wonderful works.

How gracious and merciful is our LORD!

…All he does is just and good,

and all his commands are trustworthy.

They are forever true,

to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity.

He has paid a full ransom for his people.

He has guaranteed his covenant with them forever.

What a holy, awe-inspiring name he has!

Fear of the LORD is the foundation of true wisdom.

All who obey his commandments will grow in wisdom.

Praise him forever!" (Psalm 111:1-4, 7-10)

A little background. Psalms 111-118 are called *hallelujah psalms.* The word hallelujah literally means "praise the LORD" – and it is an expression of great joy. Don't you think that perfectly reflects the uplifting and optimistic tone of these heartfelt songs?!

Psalm 111 is like an ode to our wonderful God, the Almighty LORD, the One that we all worship. It is an affirmation that all that God does is good. It contends that reverence for God is the beginning of wisdom.

It is a beautiful outpouring of love.

And the Bible does not record who wrote it.

There are a total of 50 anonymous psalms, and there is widespread speculation on who the authors might be – including Ezra and Hezekiah. But for some reason, God has chosen to keep these authors anonymous.

And so, I enjoyed reading this psalm as if I wrote it.

These eight verses contain meaty truth!

Here's what came to my mind:

Verse 1 – We should practice being grateful, really and truly grateful, with our whole hearts. And a great place to be thankful is in the community of believers – ("as I meet with his godly people")

Verse 2 – We must cultivate and nurture our sense of awe at what God does. He is amazing. We should delight in Him, and ponder – (one of my favorite pastimes) – really think on, meditate on, contemplate His mighty deeds. (Definition of ponder: To reflect or consider with thoroughness and care)

Verse 3 – Everything He does reveals His glory and majesty. That includes the *bad stuff* of life – the difficulties, the struggles, the suffering – ALL things are good. HIS righteousness is perfect. (In Greek the word for "righteousness" is dikaiosune, which literally means equity of character. Equity of character is to possess all good qualities in perfection and perfect balance)

Verse 4 – It is the work of the Holy Spirit within us that continues to make us aware of God. HE causes us to remember. What a reflection of God's grace and mercy! He does not ask us to do what His Spirit will not enable us to do.

Verse 7 – God is both just and good. (I thought this definition of God's justice was really good – that perfection of his nature whereby he is infinitely righteous in himself and in all he does, the righteousness of the divine nature exercised in his moral government. Justice is not an optional product of his will, but an unchangeable principle of his very nature)

And because God is perfectly good, and perfectly just, then all of His commandments are trustworthy – eminently worthy of trust. We can depend on them.

Verse 8 – God's words are eternal. His Truth stands forever. Our part in it? To obey faithfully (adhering firmly and devotedly) and with integrity (adherence to moral and ethical principles; soundness of moral character; honesty). Faithful integrity reflects the God we serve. It is a necessary character trait that all of God's children (as representatives and ambassadors) should have.

Verse 9 – The ransom here pictures the rescue by God of the Israelites. Ransom means "to free from captivity by paying a price." Of course, we know that the ultimate ransom was paid by Jesus on the cross, forever freeing us from sin. His ransom was indeed FULL – once and for all.

God's covenant – the new covenant sealed by the blood of Christ – is guaranteed. The Holy Spirit is the seal on our souls. And this contract cannot be changed, for it is based on the immutable promises of God.

Yes, what a holy and awe-inspiring name He has!!

Verse 10 – The only way to become truly wise is to fear God. I loved this definition:

the fear of the Lord: an inward attitude of humble reverence toward God, in light of His self-revelation, that results in outward expression of Christlikeness

"According to this definition, the fear of the Lord involves two parts. The first is the inward attitude. This attitude is humble because as the Lord reveals His character, His majesty, His power and holiness, we are humbled before Him. We realize that God alone is worthy of our devotion and reverence. The second part is the outward obedience, which flows from this inward humility. God reveals Himself to us so we will obey Him. The two parts are linked." (Find the link to the whole article here):

The more we know Him, the more we love Him. The more we love Him, the more we obey Him. The more we obey Him, the more we become like Him. And that is the beginning of true wisdom – the secret to life.

No wonder the author of Psalm 111 ended with his resounding coda!

So do I!

PRAISE HIM FOREVER!

A big amen to that.

Won't you join me today in celebrating this psalm, and thanking God for all He is and all He's done?!

Linked today with Charlotte at SPIRITUAL SUNDAYS and Peggy at SOAKING ON SONDAY!

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

HEDGE OF PROTECTION

OK, wanna know a pet peeve of mine?

Those dumb TV jingles that just get stuck in your head.

They play over and over like a needle stuck in the groove of a record (any youngsters out there, just ask your parents, or grandparents what a record is…oh dear I'm getting older…)

Know what I mean?

Their annoying little tunes just rattle around and refuse to be quiet. And I'll tell you what – they DO NOT make me want to buy the product. In fact, even if I might consider buying it, I will not just because of the stupid jingle. I'm a stubborn old coot –

So, over the last few months, I've noticed something unusual happening in my head…

I'm waking up with random Christian songs in my head. And throughout the day, they keep playing over and over. At first, I found this a little upsetting – and yes, a little annoying. It's that *jingle thing* I thought. (Plus, it really bugs me that though these tunes won't go away, for the life of me I can "oh so easily" forget where I put my glasses or my keys! GRRR…)

But then, the Holy Spirit gave me this tremendous insight.

"Sharon, these songs and lyrics are not *randomly* appearing in your head. Don't you know that I have hand-picked them for you? I am working in your subconscious so you can wake up every day with a literal song in your heart!"

WOW!

And then, He said this:

"And another thing, Sharon. When those songs go rattling around in your head during the day, it makes it harder for the enemy to enter your thoughts, doesn't it?"

Yeah, He's got a point there.

"It's My way of placing a hedge of protection around you. Is that OK?"

Oh boy – you bet it is!

So, I've been keeping track of what the Holy Spirit has been giving me this past week. And it's not the songs themselves that are reaching and protecting me – it's the truth behind the lyrics…

And it's all because of Jesus that I'm alive…

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mother's womb…You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book." (Psalms 139:13, 16)

He's the Alpha, Omega, Beginning and End – He's my Savior, Messiah, Redeemer, and friend…

"Look, I am coming soon, bringing my reward with me…I am the Alpha and Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End…I am the bright morning star." (Revelation 22:12, 16)

Trust and obey, for there's no other way, to be happy in Jesus, but to trust and obey…

"…we will obey the LORD our God…For if we obey him, everything will turn out well for us." (Jeremiah 42:6)

'Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus…

"You will keep in perfect peace all who trust in you, all whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (Isaiah 26:3)

Blessed Jesus, blessed Jesus, Thou has bought us, Thine we are…

"Remember, he has identified you as his own, guaranteeing that you will be saved on the day of redemption." (Ephesians 4:30)

All to Jesus I surrender, all to Him I freely give – All to Thee, my blessed Savior, I surrender all…

"…I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice…" (Romans 12:1)

I am a child of God – oh, that's who I am…

"But to all who believed him and accepted him, he gave the right to become children of God." (John 1:12)

I'm falling on my knees, offering all of me – Jesus You're all this heart is living for…

"I want you to show love, not offer sacrifices. I want you to know me more than burnt offerings." (Hosea 6:6)

Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe…

"For God loved the world so much that he gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)

When we all get to heaven, what a day of rejoicing that will be! When we all see Jesus, we'll sing and shout the victory…

"Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return. They will enter…singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Sorrow and mourning will disappear, and they will be filled with joy and gladness." (Isaiah 35:10)

These were ten of the songs that mysteriously (and miraculously?!) made their way into my heart.

And in every good sense, I have felt fenced in all week!

What songs minister deeply to your heart?

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

I'D RATHER HAVE JESUS

Today I'm sharing another beloved hymn:

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold,

I'd rather be His than have riches untold,

I'd rather have Jesus than houses or land,

I'd rather be led by His nail-pierced hand…

I'd rather have Jesus than man's applause,

I'd rather be faithful to His dear cause,

I'd rather have Jesus than worldwide fame,

I'd rather be true to His holy name…

He's fairer than lilies of rarest bloom,

He's sweeter than honey from out the comb,

He's all that my hungering spirit needs,

I'd rather have Jesus and let Him lead…

Than to be the king of a vast domain,

And be held in sin's dread sway,

I'd rather have Jesus than anything,

This world affords today.

The History
: I'd Rather Have Jesus is a song written by Rhea F. Miller with the tune written by George Beverly Shea. This poem, written in 1922, was left on a piano in the Shea home by Bev Shea who wanted her son to find it and change the course of his life. 

The words, I'd rather have Jesus, moved George so much and spoke to him about his own aims and ambitions in life. He sat down at the piano and began singing them with a tune that seemed to fit the words. Shea's mom heard him singing it and asked him to sing it at church the next day. 

George's life direction did change. He was offered a popular music career with NBC, but a few years later chose to become associated with evangelist Billy Graham and sang this hymn around the world.

The Bible's Support: 
This hymn is about dedication and commitment. To follow after Jesus is costly. Matthew 16:24-26 says: "Then Jesus said to his disciples, 'If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will find it. What good will it be for a man if he gains the whole world, yet forfeits his soul? Or what can a man give in exchange for his soul?'"

I'd rather have Jesus than silver or gold...

Philippians 1:21 reminds us: "For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain." I’d rather have Jesus and let Him lead...

Philippians 3:8 says, “What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ." I’d rather have Jesus than world-wide fame, I’d rather be true to His holy name...

Praise God for the words of Rhea Miller and the caring of Bev Shea. Because of them, George followed after Jesus and we are blessed with the fruit.

(Information taken from website, All About God)

Yes, I'd rather have Jesus...

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"

A MIGHTY FORTRESS

Sometimes I really miss the "old" hymns we used to sing in church.

So, today I'm sharing one of them...I love the inspiring words!

A mighty fortress is our God,

a bulwark never failing;

our helper he amid the flood

of mortal ills prevailing.

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.

And though this world, with devils filled,

should threaten to undo us,

we will not fear, for God hath willed

his truth to triumph through us.

The Prince of Darkness grim,

we tremble not for him;

his rage we can endure,

for lo, his doom is sure;

one little word shall fell him.

That word above all earthly powers,

no thanks to them, abideth;

the Spirit and the gifts are ours,

thru him who with us sideth.

Let goods and kindred go,

this mortal life also;

the body they may kill;

God's truth abideth still;

his kingdom is forever.

("A Mighty Fortress is Our God" by Martin Luther)

BLOG = "Blessedly Leaning On God!"