The Thankful Face of Black Friday

At 4:00 a.m., the alarm jangled me out of a sound sleep. I dragged from my warm bed. Why had I let my daughter talk me into joining the hordes of pre-Christmas shoppers at this ungodly hour? I dressed, fixed my hair and makeup. You bet I wore makeup! Sipped a quick cuppa joe and we were off to the fray.

Rush hour traffic at 4:45 a.m. Parking lots crammed--Toys R Us, Target, Wal-Mart, Sears, JC Penneys, Old Navy, World Market, Fred Meyers. We found a parking slot and, slipping past television news cameras, joined sock-shoppers at Fred Meyers--then off to toys and videos.

Long lines coiled in front of every cash register. And the shoppers were . . . friendly and patient, co-conspirators against an angry economy. On this day after Thanksgiving, may I continue to be thankful for:

• health that allows me to get up and go!
• my daughter who prompts me to get out of bed and sally forth!
  
• strangers who embrace one another in their attempts to bring joy to their loved ones!
• God who made us, sustains us, and gives us hope for a future centered on the Giver rather than gifts!

May God bless you this Christmas season and cause you to hunger for a future with Him. 

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 83:5-8

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 83:5-8 “With one mind they plot together; they form an alliance against you—the tents of Edom and the Ishmaelites, of Moab and the descendants of Hagar, Gebal, Ammon and Amalek, Philistia, with the people of Tyre.  Even Assyria has joined them to lend strength to the descendants of Lot.  Selah.”

Meditation

Israel was surrounded by enemies, many of whom traced their roots back to Abraham, Lot and Esau.  In this pearl they formed an alliance to overpower the Israelites, to wipe them out.  Did it work?  No.

Nothing can wipe out Israel.  Not massive armies.  Not Nazis.  Not technology.  Not sophisticated spy networks. Not Hamas.  Israel is God’s chosen nation, his chosen people.  To obliterate Israel, you’d have to obliterate God, and that just ain’t gonna happen.  Period.

Choice!  God is mighty to save those whom he chooses . . . and who choose him.

SELAH

Look up: Genesis 12:2-3; John 3:16

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 82:1-2

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 82:1-2 “God presides in the great assembly; he gives judgment among the 'gods':  How long will you defend the unjust and show partiality to the wicked?”  Selah.

Meditation

We read the paper, watch the news, and have to ask, “What's happening in America that, under the guise of tolerance and freedom of speech, wickedness is approved?"  Our courts uphold the right to promote child pornography, physician-assisted suicide, abortion, homosexuality, and more. 

Why does God allow evil on this earth? I can't presume to answer that. However, in speaking of his own sin, David may have given us a clue in Psalm 51 when he said, "Against you, you only, have I sinned and done what is evil in your sight, so that you are proved right when you speak and justified when you judge." 

When God judges . . . .

There’s a new day coming, and a higher court with God as presiding judge.  When he calls the great assembly to order, there will be a full-scale examination of the books.  The just will be vindicated; the unjust will be prosecuted to the full extent of God’s law.

In the meantime, hang on . . . and pray for those in authority over us, that they may have the wisdom of Solomon's court in exposing fruitless deeds of darkness.

SELAH

Look up: II Timothy 3:1-7; Psalm 51:4; Acts 5:29; I Timothy 2:1-2; Ephesians 5:11

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 77:9

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 77:9  

“Has God forgotten to be merciful?  Has he in anger withheld his compassion? Selah”

Meditation

This sounds familiar!

How like me to judge you, God, according to my own past performance.  Because I may have withheld loving compassion for reasons too numerous to mention, I suspect that of you.

But you are not like me.  Your ways are not my ways.  Far from basing your love on my performance, your love is unconditional, your faithfulness unfailing.

You cherish your creation, so much so that you sent your only Son to suffer and die in payment for our sins. You crucified your own flesh and blood and, in Jesus, you freely give us all things—no strings attached!

If you would do that, how could I ever question your constant goodwill and love toward me?  Help me to be still . . . and wait for your perfect plan to unfold.

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 18:25-26; Isaiah 55:8-9; Ephesians 2:8-9;

John 3:16; Romans 5:10-11; Psalm 46:10

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 75:3

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”   

Psalm 75:3 “When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm.  Selah.”

Meditation

In the 21^st Century, we feel confident about man’s successes in science, medicine, economics, manufacturing, and social services.  We crisscross the globe at will, jetting to this or that popular resort.  We have money, we have free time.  Some would say, “We have it all!”

And then a tsunami strikes.  Or an earthquake, volcano, flood.  Possibly a tornado or hurricane.  The earth and all its people tremble. We shudder in horror at the destruction a giant wave can impose on unsuspecting men, women and children simply enjoying a Sunday morning on the beach.

We don’t have it all!  Far from it!  But God does.  He holds the pillars firm so that nothing can knock the earth off its axis. The shields of the earth belong to him (Psalm 47:9 NKJV). He knows the pathways of the seas (Psalm 8:8).  He inhabits land, air, water . . . and the praises of his people.

He is our foundation.  He’s got the whole world in his hands. In that, we can be confident!

SELAH

Look up: Psalm 139:7-12; Psalm 22:3; Habakkuk 3.

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 68:19

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.”

Psalm 68:19 “Praise be to the Lord, to God our Savior, who daily bears our burdens.  Selah.”

Meditation

He’s Lord!  He’s God!  Our Savior!  Our Burden Bearer? 

Think of it!  This is God with a capital “G” stooping to do menial tasks.  He gives us each day our daily bread and then helps us carry out the trash.

This is God with a capital “G” serving the very ones who ate forbidden fruit, killed their brothers, stole from each other, lied about it, coveted everything within sight, crucified his only Son and mocked his memory, stoned the prophets, cut others in two.  You name it; man has done it; and God has forgiven it.

Praise be to this God!  We don’t understand this kind of grace.  Perhaps in glory, when we have put aside childish things, when we know even as we are known . . . .  Until then, we look through a glass darkly, we walk in shadows, we stumble and fall.  And through the haze, a strong hand grips our frail ones and gently leads us along.

SELAH

Look up: Matthew 6:11; 11:28-30; Psalm 8:3-4; 78:52; 113:6; Hebrews 11:37; I Corinthians 13:11-12   

A String of Selah Pearls - Psalm 62:1-4

Positioned gracefully across the Book of Psalms is a string of seventy-one pearls, lovely beads of wisdom followed by the admonition SELAH which means, “Pause, think on these things, meditate.” 

Psalm 62: 1-4 “My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from him.  He alone is my rock and my salvation; he is my fortress, I will never be shaken.  How long will you assault a man? Would all of you throw him down—this leaning wall, this tottering fence?  They fully intend to topple him from his lofty place; they take delight in lies.  With their mouths they bless, but in their hearts they curse.  Selah.”

Meditation

Look at me.  See me for what I am, a tottering fence, a leaning wall.  No strength of my own.  Weak.  An enemy could see this and take pleasure in plotting my destruction, bringing me down through deception and lies.

But I have this friend.  He lives in a lofty place and his name is God.  He’s big and he cares about me.  In fact, whenever I’m in trouble, I can go to him and find rest and protection.  He’s my rock and I shall never be moved.

So I don’t fear an enemy.  I may fear FOR him because I know what God is capable of doing to those who pick on his children. But I also know that God is patient and kind.  While he gives my enemy more time to repent, he continues to protect me.

Sometimes I wish he’d just cream the creep. But he usually doesn’t.  I know . . . because I’ve been a creep myself.

SELAH

Look up: Genesis 12:1-3; Luke 12:4-5; Romans 12:17-21; Psalm 31:19; Romans 11:33-34; Isaiah 55:8