Category: QuietTimes

“Serve the Lord with reverent awe and worshipful fear; rejoice and be in high spirits with trembling.” Psalms 2:11 [AMP] -> I think this verse in Psalms is so right on for the type of attitude we should have in our walk as Christians. Fear of God is the beginning of wisdom (Proverbs 9:10). Matthew 28:8 is another instance where these two emotions are discussed with the 2 women departing from the tomb with fear yet great joy. This fear for me is the fear of how big God is and disappointing Him. Yet His love is what brings me great joy; as well as His sovereign hand. So, I am to ‘serve’ with ‘reverent’ awe and ‘rejoice’ with ’trembling’. Now the big question (in Antony fashion), “Do I live my life like this?” Do take every step of my life with a fear of disappointing my Savior? Do I worship with the attitude I would have if I were physically on my face at His throne in heaven where the greatness of His glory feels like a sound of 1000s of thunder claps happening in succession to one another and growing in volume? For sure, not. So what do I do? -> I pray – I pray that the Lord lights the flame of the Holy Spirit in me when I worship so that this realization of real spiritual placement rings with authenticity….It is then that I will come as close as I can, here on earth, to the majesty that is His glory.

”Why do the nations rage and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD and against his Anointed, saying, “Let us burst their bonds apart and cast away their cords from us.” Psalms 2:1-3 [ESV] I am really glad I made the temporary switch over to Psalms. I have never done a deep study of this book and I am now wishing I had. Here today we are told that kings and rulers together work to actively go against The Father and the Son (the Anointed). They work to divide, separate, destroy power. All throughout the Old Testament we see rulers working for their own gain and removing the roadblocks to their successes. The rest of the chapter talks about how the and Heaven have the final say. I believe that with great success and power come the inevitably to allow ones emotions to rule their faith. So, that is my take away today – 1) Never forget that the Rule of Heaven comes second to NO ONE. 2) That my emotions should never rule over my FAITH. My FAITH should always have control and rule over my emotions.

Psalms 1:6 “for the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.” -> I have taken a small break from Jeremiah and come on over to Psalms. Psalms 1:1-3 are my life verses so this was a pleasant place to be. I did a small study of the word ‘know’ here. When this word is used it means an all-knowing; a knowing that discerns outcomes and heart. Does the Lord know my righteous heart? Because the real question is do I have one? I want to be the righteous that God knows; a way of operating that welcomes God into every corner.

Today I was able to meet with a dear friend (Marie) and her husband (Jerry). I served with Marie’s first husband Jorge (he was my boss at my first duty station and then we went to Okinawa together); he died of a sudden stroke in his mid 40’s in 2010. It was devastating to Marie and her family. The Lord provided her Jerry several years later. Marianne, Bella, Sophie, and Prim were able to meet Marie several years ago in California; since, Marie has moved to Lynchburg just an hour away from where I have been working this week….so Marie, Jerry, and I met for dinner tonight and I was able to share God’s love with her and encourage her; she still struggles with the loss of Jorge. God reminded me today that He can use you anywhere you are when you allow yourself to be used by Him. Being in God’s word helped me see what Marie needed tonight….and I needed it too.

Another long day in VA on business. It is 12:45am here in VA and I am getting ready to head off to bed. I have needed more than what I have been reading in Jeremiah so I have added in a Psalm each day. Today that was Psalm 139. I was turned onto this Psalm by an article from John Piper regarding the election. I would encourage you to read it and let it speak to you in any God touches you with it.

Today my reading was Jeremiah 24 and this was the verse that wow’d me – “And I will give them a heart to know (recognize, understand, and be acquainted with) Me, that I am the Lord; and they will be My people, and I will be their God, for they will return to Me with their whole heart.” Jeremiah 24:7 – God gives us a heart to know Him! Think about that. That dry spell you might have; pray that God gives you this heart that seeks to know Him, craves after a knowledge of Him. Oh God increase my heart to know You more!

Today my reading was Jeremiah 23 and these 2 verses caused me to pause and remember that I have an opportunity to glorify God where ever I am. “Am I a God at hand, declares the LORD, and not a God far away? Can a man hide himself in secret places so that I cannot see him? declares the LORD. Do I not fill heaven and earth? declares the LORD.” Jeremiah 23:23-24 [ESV] The Lord was saying this to all of the prophets that were preaching false prophesy and ‘dreaming dreams’. For me it is reminder that He is with me at all moments and in every place I find myself. A recognition that I should think about how I can please Him in EVERY instance.

I come upon these verses in Jeremiah reminding me of the execution of God’s plan through all of time as we know it…even at this point in the New Testament, God uses Jeremiah to prophesy about the coming of His Son – ““Behold, the days are coming, declares the LORD, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: The LORD is our righteousness.’” Jeremiah 23:5-6

I read Jeremiah 22. It is so awful…God, through Jeremiah, lays out the punishment and treatment of the Sons of Josiah – “Therefore thus says the LORD concerning Jehoiakim the son of Josiah, king of Judah: “They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah, my brother!’ or ‘Ah, sister!’ They shall not lament for him, saying, Ah, lord!’ or ‘Ah, his majesty!’ With the burial of a donkey he shall be buried, dragged and dumped beyond the gates of Jerusalem.” Jeremiah 22:18-19. This is how God feels about leaders who lead His people into ungodliness. Makes me shudder!