God doesn't have victums does He?

There is something horribly wrong with a “victim mentality”. It is complete and total mistrust of God. God is in control. He is in a good mood. He loves us and wants the best for us. God makes everything come out right. Not a few things. Not things occasionally. He is the God of making everything RIGHT.

How easy it is though to not trust Him and wallow in our misery. Too easy some days. I can see clearly what He isn’t doing in my life. I am happy however when I focus on what He is doing.

So … God makes everything come out right. That is that and that is all there is to it.

God makes everything come out right; he puts victims back on their feet. Psalm 103

"I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart." ~~King David

It all starts at home. Work is important and so is the church, but living love out at home is where it all starts and ends. It can't be faked at home. Either I do things out of love with a blameless heart or I don't. Everyone at home knows.

And so I seek to do every act at home out of pure love. No selfishness. No boasting. No ego gratification. Only love.

I will conduct the affairs of my house with a blameless heart. Psalm 101:2

 

"My arms wave like banners of praise to you." ~~King David

I must find the place of worship. I must open my eyes. In His generous love, I can really live. It is about His strength. It is about His glory. I must praise Him in an excessive way. I must go overboard in my thanks.

So here I am in the place of worship, eyes open,
drinking in your strength and glory.
In your generous love I am really living at last!
My lips brim praises like fountains.
I bless you every time I take a breath;
My arms wave like banners of praise to you. Psalm 63

Alignment

It is God's goal for me to align my heart with my words in a way that is acceptable to God. I am to love Him and others with all my heart. Do my words reflect that? Does God's love in my heart cause me to think amazing things and then act in a way that reflects His love?

Beyond what I have to say, is what I am thinking and meditating on acceptable to God?

May I align God's love in my heart with what I say.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. Psalm 19:14

This is loyalty

Ever heard of Francis Thompson? Young guy, drop out, drug addict, drifter, sometime homeless. Eventually diseased and dead at 48. Probably not the kind of guy you would want to hang out with nor call a friend. And certainly not the kind of guy you would be inclined to be Loyal to.

But right before his death in 1907, Thompson came to know to very the core of his soul what true loyalty was. He expressed it in his poem, "Hound of Heaven." It begins:

I fled Him, down the nights and down the days;
I fled Him, down the arches of the years;
I fled Him, down the labyrinthine ways
Of my own mind; and in the mist of tears I hid from Him,
and under running laughter.
Up vistaed hopes I sped;
And shot, precipitated, Adown Titanic glooms of chasmèd fears,
From those strong Feet that followed, followed after.
But with unhurrying chase, And unperturbéd pace,
Deliberate speed, majestic instancy,
They beat—and a Voice beat
More instant than the Feet—
“All things betray thee, who betrayest Me.”

The poem goes on and as Thompson unsuccessfully seeks peace through various human pursuits, he continues to hear, but ignore, the Voice that follows him unfailingly.

The poem, on its surface, is a dark story reflecting Thompson's lifelong struggles. But beneath the surface, it is truly a Love story. Thompson's Hound of Heaven is God, our Good and Great God who loves us so much, He follows us through each step of our lives. He is at our side. He is Loyal.

Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me and the light become night around me," even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.
For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother's womb.
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

Psalm 139: 7-14

Begging and receiving

Jesus said, "Everyone who asks (begs) receives ..." Sometimes it takes a lot for us to ask. We think we don't need help. We can do it ourself. Help not needed. We will ask if we don't have something we want or if we can't do it ourself.

God has promised so much. May I humble myself and ask. May I beg for His help. His love fills the entire earth. There is no end to it.

Because you have satisfied me, God, I promise to do everything you say. I beg you from the bottom of my heart: smile, be gracious to me just as you promised. When I took a long, careful look at your ways, I got my feet back on the trail you blazed. I was up at once, didn't drag my feet, was quick to follow your orders. The wicked hemmed me in—there was no way out— but not for a minute did I forget your plan for me. I get up in the middle of the night to thank you; your decisions are so right, so true—I can't wait till morning! I'm a friend and companion of all who fear you, of those committed to living by your rules. Your love, God, fills the earth! Train me to live by your counsel. Psalm 119:57-64

Monsters in the closet

I remember as a child not wanting to sleep in the dark. There were monsters in the closet and under the bed. The light helped. It always does.

There is something about the light. Jesus is the light. He drives out the darkness and all fear.

The LORD is my light and my salvation— whom shall I fear? Psalm 27:1

Ma