8:6 You have given him dominion over the works of your hands; you have put all things under his feet…
How much God loves humanity that he trusts us care for all he owns, his creation, giving us the opportunity to develop into creatures of the highest value.
God is the owner of everything and he trusts us to be stewards of what he owns. What does this say about our responsibility?
7:6 Arise, O Lord, in anger!
Stand up against the fury of my enemies!
Wake up, my God, and bring justice!
King David is a man “after God’s own heart.” (Acts 13:22)
They are on friendship terms. This is why it doesn’t seem irreverent to say, “Wake up!”
Who hasn’t woken up a good friend? In this case, of course, God isn’t sleeping. He’s just not working on David’s schedule.
Good friends are patient, too…
When you are frustrated with a friend, what is the best approach to let the know?
4:8 In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, will keep me safe.
Now I lay me down to sleep, I pray the Lord my soul to keep. If I die before I wake, I pray the Lord my soul to take. Amen
What was I thinking as a young child as I was saying that nighttime prayer?
“Good night mom, if I don’t croak I’ll be seeing you tomorrow morning.”
Not surprisingly, newer versions of this prayer leave out the dying part. For instance,
…Angels watch me through the night and wake me in the morning light. Amen
Indeed, angels do watch over us and I know God does have me wrapped in his loving arms, so I am ready for anything. Even a good nights sleep.
If you are having trouble sleeping, try thanking God for filling you with peace and expect it to happen.
Welcome to Istanbul
2:3 “Let us break their chains,” they cry,
“and free ourselves from slavery to God.” (NLT)
Do people who don’t want God in their lives do so because they don’t want to obey him? Do they feel like slaves to God?
When you follow the model of Jesus and his teachings you are free. You can choose not to follow and there are consequences.
I remember driving in Istanbul and people were not following stop signs or stop lights. Four lane highways were treated like eight lanes and people would just drive right at you, so you had to swerve over or be hit.
This didn’t feel like freedom, being able to drive however you wanted. It was a disaster waiting to happen.
Having the freedom to obey is what brings blessing.
Rape, murder, incest, adultery, and prostitution. A screenplay for the latest HBO series? Nope…the family tree of Jesus
What the Los Angeles River can teach us about God’s presence…
“Who are you?”Even Jesus gets to figure that one out. In the wilderness. On his own.
Something to do with mind, body and spirit.
Mark 1.12-13
