Psalm 4

Psalm 4 (KJV) is a chapter of the Bible that has such relevant verses to me as a current college student. Being at this time of my life is hard (and fun). There is a lot thrown at people of their 20's. This is where we reach the cusp of our own independence. WE get to decide what we believe. WE get to decide how we spend our time. WE get to decide where we put our focus.

With so many things calling for my allegiance, why Jesus? 

1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer.

Do you know what mercy means? In this, I do not intend to project a condescending tone. Do you KNOW what it means? Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve. Because of our sin, we were destined to die. Eternally, we would have been damned. But praise be to our Gracious God, who sent His only Son to take our place. We boast in the righteousness (that is, our justifiable standing before the Law) that comes from God versus what our actions would incite. That is the God that we are calling on in prayer. 

2 O ye sons of men, how long will ye turn my glory into shame? how long will ye love vanity, and seek after leasing? Selah.

Take a moment to reflect. Though we are called to live as lights of the world, the people of the world will always shame you. The world does not want you to succeed in living as a loved child of God. How long will you look to yourself for your worth? How long will you depend on your own appearance or achievements to define your value? Here, leasing means lying. How long will you chase the lies with which Satan deceives you? Cling to truth. Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. Satan is the Father of Lies. 

3 But know that the Lord hath set apart him that is godly for himself: the Lord will hear when I call unto him.

How comforting it is to know that when I call out (in agony, in song, in praise, in pain), my voice will not rebound off the ceiling and hit me back in the face. No, my voice will be heard by the Lord of the universe. 

4 Stand in awe, and sin not: commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still. Selah.

Take a moment to reflect on the beauty of that truth. God - Ruler of the entire Universe - hears you. Not only does he hear you, but He cares about what you have to say. Marvel in the absolute beauty in that fact. Stand in awe of our God. 

5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.

Shout out to Em Kirbs who helped me understand this verse! When this part of the Bible was written, this was a command to give a clean sacrifices (of like real animals and stuff....) which applies now by translating to offering our pure hearts to the Lord.

6 There be many that say, Who will shew us any good? Lord, lift thou up the light of thy countenance upon us.

Lord, the light of your face is good. You, Lord, are good. You are light in this dark world, Lord. Don't turn your face from me! I only want you. Your favor is sweet.

7 Thou hast put gladness in my heart, more than in the time that their corn and their wine increased.

Lord, more than any wine (drinking, partying) more than any food (stumbling block for some) - you put happiness in my heart. Lord not only happiness, you bring joy. Happiness is fleeting, but joy is lasting. The joy of the Lord is our strength. Lord, you are my strength. You are my delight. You bring more satisfaction than any temporary distraction of this world can. I think Mike's tweet sums that up nicely. 

8 I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety.

"Sleep in peace, God is awake." He has control. His plans for me are good, and He wouldn't want to harm me. The Lord works for my good. I can live, sleep, and breathe in contentment. 

I am breathing in this Psalm and breathing out the anxieties of today. If you need a moment today to do the same, take it. 

KIDS' PRAISE

Can you guess what lesson I was teaching??

I have been absolutely BLESSED with the opportunity to combine two of my favorite things: teaching and Jesus! This semester, I have been working under Pastor James at GSLC, teaching Bible lessons to ten wonderfully unique, eager, and challenging 3rd and 4th graders. It has been a quality experience, taking strategies from my Education classes at school and implementing them in small ways on Wednesdays nights.

But, I have a confession. (How James 5 of me! Ha.) 

....I teach the lesson to myself right along with the kids sometimes. Growing up in Sunday School, I could probably relate the story without evening cracking a Bible - but step out of my very sophisticated, Christian-educated shoes and I am humbled by what reviewing these "simple stories" can do for my faith. 

From a teacher perspective, I have to know my students well enough to plan a lesson that fits the group. A few weeks in, and I think I have found the tempo of these kids. Forcing myself to see the stories from their point of view, I cannot escape the simple truths that God whispers to my heart. I get on my knees and put on my little third grade thinking cap and read again the stories that I have grown up hearing. This allows me to see applications, connections, and relationships from things in the Bible that I hadn't caught onto before. 

Example: I taught the Lord's Supper last week. The correlation from the freedom of slavery (from Egypt) celebrated in Passover and the freedom from slavery (from sin) celebrated in the Lord's Supper is astounding! I cannot put emphasis enough on the "aha" moment I had. YOU GUYS I GREW UP IN THE CHURCH. Part of me feels bad.... Should I know this already? Probably. But hey - what's another example of how "I do not have my life together" gonna hurt?

Cue the lesson from the picture. This was a visual that I gave the students about the lost sheep in Luke 15. Even though I do not measure up,  

"...he calls his friends and neighbors together and says, ‘Rejoice with me; I have found my lost sheep.’ 7 I tell you that in the same way there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent."

God cares about me. He doesn't care about how many years I've missed the point. He cares that now I am one of His own. I am his lost sheep who is now found. Heaven rejoices.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Praise God that I can boast in what He has done for me and not what I have accomplished in this life.

Taking on this challenge has turned out to be very fulfilling for me, as I have gotten to know my fellow leaders better each week, which has been another source of mentorship that I did not expect to result from this position. I look forward to Wednesday nights as much now as I did back in my youth group dayzzz. 

I think the kids in "Kids' Praise" fill me back up just as much as I pour into them. 

May I always be refreshed by the child-like faith with which I am surrounded. 

I'm on my way to .... Teach 'Em & Reach 'Em!

Sleep in peace, God is awake

A good friend of mine encouraged me with this saying a while ago, and it has come back to me over and again, during these last few weeks.

"Sleep in peace, God is awake"

The idea is so simple -- let your mind be at rest, because God is in control.

Sleep without worry, because your Heavenly Father is looking after you.

It's such a Sunday School message, but it speaks to my heart. I need to sing those simple messages to my heart, because I so easily forget and run from the comfort of my Lord's embrace. It's nice to know that I can't leave His love. I can live (and sleep) in complete faith that God has designed a plan and is working it in my life. I don't have to do anything but surrender.

It's simple. Be encouraged.

Sleep in peace.