Thoughts.com

Sorry I haven't posted lately. I attended a 3 day conference last week and have been getting prepared for back to school season but I will try to keep posting on a regular basis as much as I can.

Psalm 77:10

"And I said, 'This is my infirmity but I will remember the years of the right hand of the Most High'"

Infirmity of course we know means sickness but it can also be translated as weak. There are some days, especially right now when I've had a pretty slow, lazy summer and the last couple of weeks when I have had to really get things into gear, I get home and feel really tired and a little overwhelmed thinking of what all has to be done by my next break in December.

The psalmist has a very good solution here on how to combat weakness. He remembered the years of the right hand of God. When you testify about something and talk about it you give it the power to be reproduced in your life, both good and bad. Right hand in this passage means strong side of the Lord. When you are feeling weak, think back to the times that God showeed Himself strong on your behalf and rehearse that. Better yet, if possible, sing about it and you will find your strength returning...

...and that's something to sing about!!!

Psalm 77:6

"I call to remembrance my song in the night; I commune with mine own heart; and my spirit made diligent search."

Do you ever have a time that you feel like something is not right, like you're backed against a wall but can't quite figure out why or what to do? What direction to take?

Fortunately, as a musician, I have a great solution, a God solution, right here in Psalms.

I call to remembrance - Pretty straightforward here.

my song in the night.  - Song in this case refers to a stringed instrument, which is actually the predecessor to modern keyboards, the piano.

I commune, or communicate, with my own heart. Heart here means courage and understanding.

My spirit made diligent search - diligent means mighty and search means change.

The over all message here?

When in doubt, just play it out!

If you get to a point of not knowing where to turn and can't find answers, pick up your instrument, or listen to instrumental music or worship, commune with God spirit to spirit and let Him communicate to you and your spirit will experience a mighty change....

,,, and that's something to sing (or play) about!!!

I know we all just want to have a great day, unless of course we're in a self-made (self-justified) funk, but how do we jump start our day, or change the flow of the day.

Back in Biblical times if people wanted to meet with God they would "tabernacle", literally go into the tent of meeting and there they would meet with God in-tent.

What if......

    this was the first thing you consciously do in the morning

    you simply create a tent right where you are, shut out the distractions and enemies at the borders

    worship and thank God, not submit prayer requests, but simply offer the fruit of praise with your lips

    you then set your intent while in-tent

hmm... just something to think about..... God could be glorified in your day, you could keep focused on the task at hand with the right purpose and intent and then your day would be positive, uplifting and productive ....

.... and that's something to sing about!!!!

Psalm 77:1

"I cried unto God with my voice, even unto God with my voice; and He gave ear unto me."

Crying out here is referring to God again as the mighty judge. When it says He heard my voice, one of the definitions of voice is to sing out. This psalm is saying when you cry out with a song using your voice God will hear you and the phrase gave ear in this case means He perceived by hearing.

Often we just think about singing the fun and lifting worship, but have you ever thought about putting your heart's cry and desires to song and singing those to God? You are able to put so much more feeling and emotion into the sung word than simply speaking the words. If praise is truly the language of the Father, why not sing out your griefs and troubles as well in order to get God's ear. Then the mighty judge will move on your behalf....

....and that's something to sing about!!

Psalm 76:11

"Vow and pay unto the Lord your God; Let all that be round about Him bring presents unto Him that ought to be feared."

I've heard the phrase "Christmas in July" many times and have seen the sales strategies associated with that. I would have named today's thought that if I had read this Psalm a week ago, but here it is August and I read this Psalm today.

Our act of worship is like a present or gift to God. When we worship we unwrap ourselves and present to Him a very valuable part of us, our energy, our thoughts and our time. For all that He's done for us and continues to do for us this is the very least we can do, give Him daily praise.

So make today a "Christmas in August" and give Him praise from your lips today....

That's something to sing about!!!!