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July 28, 2007
Psalm 23:1 and Celebrating God
In this week's Fellowship, we studied Pastor David Jeremiah's sermon on Celebrating and Worshiping God. Here are my notes:
The Old Testament Christians truly celebrated and worshiped God and they did so in two ways 1) Setting altars before Him and 2) giving Him special names.
The special names given to God that came out of the Old Testament are (readers - please bring out your bibles and follow along with the scriptures listed below - it is awesome!):
Jehovah-Rohi = shepherd
Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Jireh = provider
Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-Rapha = healer
Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Nissi = banner
Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-M'kaddesh = sanctifier (makes holy)
Lev 20:8
Jehovah-Shalom = peace
Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Tsidkenu = righteous
Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-Shammah = is there
Ezekiel 48:35
Now if you read Psalm 23:1, you see how David celebrates and worships God through this Psalm.
The LORD is my shepherd (Jehovah-Rohi); I shall not want (Jehovah-Jireh). He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters (Jehovah-Shalom). He restores my soul (Jehovah-Rapha); He leads me in the paths of righteousness (Jehovah-Tsidkenu) for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me (Jehovah-Shammah); Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (Jehovah-Nissi); You anoint my head with oil (Jehovah-M'kaddesh); My cup runs over.
So you may ask, what about the last verse?
Well, if He IS my shepherd, my provider, my peace, my healer, makes me righteous, is there for me, is my banner, and my sanctifier, THEN .....
.....Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I have always loved this Psalm, but never truly appreciated it for what David is trying to convey. It is so powerful.
The Old Testament Christians truly celebrated and worshiped God and they did so in two ways 1) Setting altars before Him and 2) giving Him special names.
The special names given to God that came out of the Old Testament are (readers - please bring out your bibles and follow along with the scriptures listed below - it is awesome!):
Jehovah-Rohi = shepherd
Psalm 23:1
Jehovah-Jireh = provider
Genesis 22:14
Jehovah-Rapha = healer
Exodus 15:26
Jehovah-Nissi = banner
Exodus 17:15
Jehovah-M'kaddesh = sanctifier (makes holy)
Lev 20:8
Jehovah-Shalom = peace
Judges 6:24
Jehovah-Tsidkenu = righteous
Jeremiah 23:6
Jehovah-Shammah = is there
Ezekiel 48:35
Now if you read Psalm 23:1, you see how David celebrates and worships God through this Psalm.
The LORD is my shepherd (Jehovah-Rohi); I shall not want (Jehovah-Jireh). He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters (Jehovah-Shalom). He restores my soul (Jehovah-Rapha); He leads me in the paths of righteousness (Jehovah-Tsidkenu) for His name's sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me (Jehovah-Shammah); Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies (Jehovah-Nissi); You anoint my head with oil (Jehovah-M'kaddesh); My cup runs over.
So you may ask, what about the last verse?
Well, if He IS my shepherd, my provider, my peace, my healer, makes me righteous, is there for me, is my banner, and my sanctifier, THEN .....
.....Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
I have always loved this Psalm, but never truly appreciated it for what David is trying to convey. It is so powerful.
July 25, 2007
Korean churches under attack
"Evangelical churches in Korea are receiving criticism for sending missionaries to Afghanistan, following the recent kidnapping of 23 church volunteers." <http://www.christiantoday.com/article/korean.evangelical.churches.under.cyberattack.amid.hostage.crisis/11845.htm> http://www.christiantoday.com/article/korean.evangelical.churches.under.cyberattack.amid.hostage.crisis/11845.htm
Please pray for these churches and their missionaries.
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July 23, 2007
Bharath
It's interesting the people God "gives" and "takes away" from our lives. Some we hardly remember and some who make a lasting impression on our lives.
Bharath is one of the latter. He is a friend to both of us and I think one of the first we've made together as a married couple. The irony is that he is single - although very committed to finding his 'one' - nonetheless he is single. I think we definitely learned a lot from our friendship because of our differences in spirituality (he's atheist). He left the O.C. last week for the U.K., but hopefully, we have had a lasting impression on him, too.
Open doors
Do you ever go to church and think, "Wow! Pastor so-and-so is speaking directly to me (or this sermon strangely applies directly to my life)!" It seems like this happens everytime I go to church, which is something in itself. Anyway, last week's Fellowship spoke directly to my heart and I feel compelled to share. Here are my notes:
What is an 'open door'? An opportunity from God.
Who opens the door? God!
- Read Revelation 3:7 (the one who is holy, true, and powerful)
- Pray: Help me see the door YOU opened for me
Why don't we walk through doors? Because opportunities are often disguised as problems!
What is an 'open door'? An opportunity from God.
Who opens the door? God!
- Read Revelation 3:7 (the one who is holy, true, and powerful)
- Pray: Help me see the door YOU opened for me
Why don't we walk through doors? Because opportunities are often disguised as problems!
July 22, 2007
Nursery ministry
Although it required some cajoling (stop laughing Les) on my part, we had a great time in the Nursery Ministry and Melvin did a fantastic job with the adorable Vanessa!
July 19, 2007
Praise Report #1: Mom's Baptism
Four years following her children's baptism, Mom was baptized! And as Auntie Joy so perfectly put it, our cups our overflowing!
This is one of the happiest days of my life. It reminds me of God's perfect plan.
This is one of the happiest days of my life. It reminds me of God's perfect plan.
July 17, 2007
Simply put
I just started a new audio book, The Lovely Bones, which is about a teenage girl who is murdered. She spends her time in heaven watching her family and
friends cope with her death and seeking vengeance of her murderer. At this point of the book, she watches the other dead in heaven enjoying "their" heaven and wonders why she feels lost and lonely and asks her heaven counselor why this is so. Her heaven counselor replies with, "Simply put: You have to give up on earth to be free."
friends cope with her death and seeking vengeance of her murderer. At this point of the book, she watches the other dead in heaven enjoying "their" heaven and wonders why she feels lost and lonely and asks her heaven counselor why this is so. Her heaven counselor replies with, "Simply put: You have to give up on earth to be free."
I find this quote to be remarkably profound particularly since I'm assuming that the author is a nonbeliever. "To be free" is something I believe that every soul longs for whether or not they understand what exactly that entails - freedom from the bondage of sin. The Bible promises that giving up our worldly desires will allow us to truly enjoy the grace and peace of God.
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July 10, 2007
Melvin's birthday was so much fun! It seems like every time we have gotten together as a family recently, it's been to talk about serious matters, but today, we just enjoyed eachother's company and did a whole lot of laughing!
We started off his birthday with a trip to Disney's California Adventure where we rode the Sun Wheel, Screamin', and Tower of Terror as well as watched the Aladdin Musical Spectacular!
Weeee!!!! Tortillas! Mom loved Screamin!
Corn dog! Tomater!
And then we went to Dromo 1 to race go carts! We ended the evening with sushi and a movie. What a day!
We started off his birthday with a trip to Disney's California Adventure where we rode the Sun Wheel, Screamin', and Tower of Terror as well as watched the Aladdin Musical Spectacular!
Weeee!!!! Tortillas! Mom loved Screamin!
Corn dog! Tomater!
And then we went to Dromo 1 to race go carts! We ended the evening with sushi and a movie. What a day!
July 9, 2007
Devotional from my hubbie
2007-07-09 - Whose Reflection Is in Your Mirror?
Lisa Bevereu said "Adam and Eve were not the image of God, they were made in the image of God ... they reflected God (like a mirror). To be a reflection means that you can not initiate something, only mimic. We are reflections of Christ. He has to initiate Himself in us, not ourselves initiating our Christ-likeness within ourselves." This statement is so wonderfully full of the New Covenant promise that is so easily forgotten. I believe it is because of our soul longing for the deeper things of God, while our humanity tries to tag along.
It is in this refreshing reminder that once again, I can come back to the place at the Cross where I can go just as I am - simply as I am, with all of my human tendencies and natures; knowing that I do not have to be the one to do the work - and moreover, God doesn't want me to do the work. He wants to do the work inside me that produces the fruit of His glory in my life. It is in this moment, that I again remember that I don't have to try to be like God.
That is not what God intends for us. Instead, truly, our goal is to surrender ourselves and allow God to initiate Himself ... His thoughts, actions, and deeds within us. I believe that it is in this moment of complete submission, that we become the reflection of Christ. It is here where others see past us and can begin to see and hear Christ instead. So let us once again go to the Cross and lay down our all in full submission, yielding every part of ourselves to the Lord.
Father, I thank You for dying on the Cross, so that we may have life abundantly through You. Thank You for the gentle reminder that it is truly about You having Your way in and through our lives. Help us to remember that we do not need take control, but rather to surrender - and in so doing, reflect Your majestic glory. Thank You for this day and Your grace and mercy that is new everyday. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
SOURCE: www.cfdevotionals.org
Lisa Bevereu said "Adam and Eve were not the image of God, they were made in the image of God ... they reflected God (like a mirror). To be a reflection means that you can not initiate something, only mimic. We are reflections of Christ. He has to initiate Himself in us, not ourselves initiating our Christ-likeness within ourselves." This statement is so wonderfully full of the New Covenant promise that is so easily forgotten. I believe it is because of our soul longing for the deeper things of God, while our humanity tries to tag along.
It is in this refreshing reminder that once again, I can come back to the place at the Cross where I can go just as I am - simply as I am, with all of my human tendencies and natures; knowing that I do not have to be the one to do the work - and moreover, God doesn't want me to do the work. He wants to do the work inside me that produces the fruit of His glory in my life. It is in this moment, that I again remember that I don't have to try to be like God.
That is not what God intends for us. Instead, truly, our goal is to surrender ourselves and allow God to initiate Himself ... His thoughts, actions, and deeds within us. I believe that it is in this moment of complete submission, that we become the reflection of Christ. It is here where others see past us and can begin to see and hear Christ instead. So let us once again go to the Cross and lay down our all in full submission, yielding every part of ourselves to the Lord.
Father, I thank You for dying on the Cross, so that we may have life abundantly through You. Thank You for the gentle reminder that it is truly about You having Your way in and through our lives. Help us to remember that we do not need take control, but rather to surrender - and in so doing, reflect Your majestic glory. Thank You for this day and Your grace and mercy that is new everyday. In Jesus' name, AMEN.
SOURCE: www.cfdevotionals.org
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