Psalm 121

A song of ascents.
 1 I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
   where does my help come from?
2 My help comes from the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 3 He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
4 indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.

 5 The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
6 the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.

 7 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
8 the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

These verses are just perfect for me right now. Stephanie and I are on our first day of vacation. Our vacations can be very adventurous. We always take a long motorcycle trip. This year we are heading out west for nearly three weeks. We have gone on 7 of these and 2 of them we have had some major mechanical problems. But, God has always brought us through every trial. He certainly has watched over us. Even though these problems have been stressful, we have never been harmed.

My life has been the same way. I have had some stressful times, but I have never been harmed. God has watched over us and protected me and my family. I don't know how people survive without God in their lives. I can't imagine going through job issues, illness, loss, and family stresses without my savior.

I am excited about this trip with my wife and my God. I love adventure. I know God will be with me. I'm no different than anyone else, I don't want to have stress in my life, but I am so happy to have a great savior who loves me, protects me, and watches over me. Praise God he does!

 Psalm 120

A song of ascents.
1 I call on the LORD in my distress,
   and he answers me.
2 Save me, LORD,
   from lying lips
   and from or deceitful tongues.


Have you seen the movie Liar,Liar? In this 1997 movie Jim Careys son wishes his Dad would not be able to lie for one day. His wish comes true. What makes it more difficult is that Careys character is a lawyer. It's pretty tough for a lawyer to be openly, blatantly honest. It makes for some pretty funny scenes. But, in our society, honesty, is not nearly as popular as it once was. At school our attendance secretary gets every excuse in the book about student absences. Many times it is the students parents that lie for them. We wonder why kids act the way they do.

God wants us as Christians, on public display, to have integrity. We need to let our yes be yes and our no be no. Our credibility will determine our witness. If we re known a a liar, who will believe what we claim God has done in our lives. Before we can build meaningful relationships with non-Christians we need to be honest, always. Honest leads to the truth of Jesus. The way, the TRUTH, and the life.

More advice!

Psalm 119

 ⁹ How can a young person stay on the path of purity?
   By living according to your word. 

I'm not done giving advice. Many of our recent graduates will be flying the nest in the next several months. Many will be traveling a distance from home to be on their own for the very first time in their lives. The curfews will be gone. The quizzing from Mom and Dad will be over. They will set their own schedule. They will have more freedoms than they've ever experienced in life. The path of purity will be full of dangers. 

My advice is to live according to the word of the Lord. God has provided all of us a great manual. The Bible is just as relevant today as any time in history, maybe  more.  It is especially relevant to the young people leaving the nest. God's word will give guidance with those tough decisions. The more and more you read and study the word, the more relevant it becomes in your life. The more you open up the Bible, the more you will be aware of the Holy Spirit guiding your life. If anything is true in my life it is my increasing love of the message God has sent us in the Bible. Open it, Read it, Study it, let it become apart of your life. 

Graduate Advice

Psalm 118

 ¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; 
   his love endures forever.

 ² Let Israel say:
   “His love endures forever.”
³ Let the house of Aaron say:
   “His love endures forever.”
⁴ Let those who fear the LORD say:
   “His love endures forever.”

 ⁵ When hard pressed, I cried to the LORD;
   he brought me into a spacious place.
⁶ The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.
   What can mere mortals do to me?
⁷ The LORD is with me; he is my helper.
   I look in triumph on my enemies.

GHS Graduation 2011 was completed on Friday Night. Now let the parties begin. I have been to more than my share of Graduation parties. It is a great day in the life of a family. It is a milestone that deserves a celebration. Everyone gets involved with the graduation. Grandparents, Aunts, Uncles, long lost cousins, first cousins twice removed, you get the point. Almost everyone has a little advice for the graduate. By the time the party's over, I'm sure the graduate has had more than enough. But, just in case they haven't had enough, I'm going to share a bit of my own. It is not really my own advice. It comes from the Bible. The Bible is the ultimate Book of Advice. This wonderful book is full of the wisdom of the ages. God has provided it for us and we need to look to it more for our own advice.

Psalm 118:1 is one of the best pieces of advice you could ever get. "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good, his love endures forever."  If you can repeat this verse through all things you will truly be blessed. It's easy to repeat this on a day like today. The weather is beautiful, graduation is complete, school is out, and vacation is 3 days, 16 hours, 7 minutes, and 30 seconds away. (Not that I'm counting) But I certainly have had times this year and in my past the words of this Psalm are nearly impossible to speak. Nonetheless, they are true at all times. They are true in good times and bad. They are true even if we can't utter them. I praise the name of the Lord for he IS good. His love endures forever. Thank You Lord, Thank You, Thank You!

Not Unto Us

Psalm 115

 ¹ Not to us, LORD, not to us 
   but to your name be the glory, 
   because of your love and faithfulness.

 ² Why do the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in heaven;
   he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
   feet, but cannot walk,
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

 ⁹ All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.
¹⁰ House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.
¹¹ You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.

 ¹² The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
   He will bless his people Israel,
   he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³ he will bless those who fear the LORD—
   small and great alike.

 ¹⁴ May the LORD cause you to flourish,
   both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ¹⁶ The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
   but the earth he has given to mankind.
¹⁷ It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
   those who go down to the place of silence;
¹⁸ it is we who extol the LORD,
   both now and forevermore.

   Praise the LORD.^[a]