Reflections/Audio Link

Psalms 42-43

October 7, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms Leave a Comment

Click PLAY below for the full audio of “Lesson 6 (Psalm 42-43): The Way of Tears” led by Jen Clouse

Concerning prayer….

I was so out of touch with my own feelings and my own brokenness and my own sin, that all I could speak to was typically circumstances and situations instead of real first-person pain and sorrow and anxiety. Do you hear the difference? What is it like to live life like the psalmist and say, “what is the feeling behind that? Is it fostering anxiety or fear or pride or insecurity?” Because that ‘s how we are known: behind the situations is the intimacy of the person. And that’s true with each other and with the Lord. So if we’re going to stay on the facts level and the sharing of stories and just reporting to each other, then we’re not getting to know each other in a way that I think really grants life, healing and hope. I think the psalmist models that for us well.
Prayer doesn’t always immediately change our feelings
We are not praying for circumstances to change but for us to change in our circumstances

Psalm 37

September 30, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms Leave a Comment

Click HERE to listen to the full audio of today’s (9.29.2015) lesson led by Jen Clouse.

“The steps of the godly are directed by the LORD. He delights in every detail of their lives. Though they stumble, they will not fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23

Imagine your life like a big vessel, and you have 2 things to fit into this vessel of your life: eggs and rice.
Q: If you want all of the eggs and all the rice to fit, which do you put in first?
A: You put the eggs in first and let the rice fill around.

So if you have an eternal perspective, and we put the eggs in first (eggs are the things that have eternal weight and glory – the Word of God and the souls of men) and let the other things fill around them, somehow in His sovereignty and in His providence, … [“seek first the Kingdom of God”] all these things will be added unto you. But if we fill our life, which I often do, with all of the rice and then try to put in the eggs, there’s going to be some eggs that don’t fit. And if those eggs represent the Word of God and the souls of men [ie: loving people, being available, being interruptable, doing the things we feel the Lord calling us to do like serving in our elementary school or praying consistently, and I think it’s clear in scripture he has called us to intimacy with Him], if we do those things first and let the other things fill around… then in some miraculous, sweet, glorious way, He makes it all work. I can’t explain His supernatural ways, but I’ve really found that it is life-giving, and it’s really sweet how He sifts the little rices into cracks.

Psalm 37:1-11: We discussed the contrast between:

Wicked and righteous
Fret and faith
His job and our job

Rules apart from relationship lead to rebellion. Rules in the context of a healthy, holy, loving relationship … we call that instruction, kindness, goodness.

Psalm 33: Reflections and Audio link (Lesson Four_9.22.2015_Kay)

September 22, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms, Uncategorized 3 Comments

Click HERE to listen to the full audio of Tuesday’s lesson led by Kay Wyma. This is a link to a dropbox file that you can open in iTunes, download to your computer or play immediately.

Reflections:

Today in studying Psalms 33, I hope to remember so many things – several of which are beautifully stated by the Psalmist, some of which are the implied nature and character of God as outlined in this Psalm of praise:

His word is right and true
He loves righeousness & justice
His UNFAILING LOVE fills the earth
by His word the heavens were made
He gathers the waters of the seas into jars (see also Job 38:5-11, 36-38)
His plans stand firm FOREVER … the purposes of his heart through ALL generations
He LOOKS from heaven and SEES; he WATCHES all
He forms the hearts of all
He considers EVERYTHING they do
No power is over Him, no king, no force
The Lord delivers those who hope in his UNFAILING LOVE (2 Chronicles 16:9a – “For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him”, 2 Chronicles 15:2)
He is our hope and shield

God is:

worthy of praise
faithful in all he does
righteous
just
Creator
overseer
powerful
ruler
owner

looks down and sees ALL
watches
forms (the hearts of all)
considers
sees (nothing is/has been/or will be hidden from him)

So we …

sing a new song
rejoice from our hearts
wait
trust
put our hope in HIM

Because the Lord delivers from death and keeps us alive in famine.

For HE IS FAITHFUL.

His love is UNFAILING.

(Story of Jehosophat 2 Chronicles 20 – a precursor to the ultimate battle that the Lord has fought – in accordance with His faithfulness – and won on our behalf)

Thanks for traveling though Psalms together.

:) K

What struck you? …

Psalm 32: Reflections and Audio link (Lesson Three_9.15.2015_Jen)

September 17, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms, Uncategorized Leave a Comment

Psalm 32:1-2
“Oh, what joy for those
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered!
²Yes, what joy for those
whose sin the Lord does not count against them
and in whose spirit is no deceit!”

(Verse 1) Whose sins are covered … Takes us back to Genesis 3 where God covers them [Adam and Eve] in the garden. They’ve been exposed, and He covers them. I love that because we go from Genesis 3 to Psalms (and David), and then from the line of David comes Jesus. And we’re going to be clothed in His righteousness as well. In His kindness, Jesus so immediately and quickly, not wanting us to experience that shame and guilt, covers our sin, and it is so beautiful.

(Verse 2) And in whose spirit is no deceit… That’s the beauty of forgiveness: the inside can match the outside (“whose lives are lived in complete honesty” NLT). I can be forgiven, and I don’t have to carry those secrets, parading around as if I’m something I’m not, because the truth in Scripture is that we’re all “the not.” We’re all sinners in desperate need of grace… saved and covered… and once you understand the beauty of having been covered in your transgressions and forgiven, then there’s no judgment for others, and there’s just great joy in celebrating that He’s done that in our own lives. But we have to know the depth of our sin that separates us to understand the wonder of His grace that covers us.

Click PLAY to listen to the full audio for “Lesson 3: Psalm 32” led by Jen Clouse

Psalm 32:1-11

¹Blessed is the one
    whose transgressions are forgiven,
    whose sins are covered.
²Blessed is the one
    whose sin the Lord does not count against them
    and in whose spirit is no deceit.

³When I kept silent,
    my bones wasted away
    through my groaning all day long.
⁴For day and night
    your hand was heavy on me;
my strength was sapped
    as in the heat of summer.^[b]

⁵Then I acknowledged my sin to you
    and did not cover up my iniquity.
I said, “I will confess
    my transgressions to the Lord.”
And you forgave
    the guilt of my sin.

⁶Therefore let all the faithful pray to you
    while you may be found;
surely the rising of the mighty waters
    will not reach them.
⁷You are my hiding place;
    you will protect me from trouble
    and surround me with songs of deliverance.

⁸I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
    I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.
⁹Do not be like the horse or the mule,
    which have no understanding
but must be controlled by bit and bridle
    or they will not come to you.
¹⁰Many are the woes of the wicked,
    but the Lord’s unfailing love
    surrounds the one who trusts in him.

11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous;
sing, all you who are upright in heart!

Take-Aways:

What are your favorite verses? What was your “ah-ha” moment this week.

Psalm 16: Reflections and Audio Link (Lesson Two_9.8.2015_Kay)

September 8, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms Leave a Comment

Click PLAY to listen to the full audio from this week’s lesson, “Lesson 2: Psalm 16,” led by Kay Wyma.

Devotional Thoughts

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen in places of peace;
Surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

Easy for David to say. He’s the King. What anyone would give to live a day in his palace-walking, servant-shining, everyone-kissing shoes.

Maybe it’s even easy for the person next to you, or your neighbor, or the friend whose kid always hits mark – okay, is setting the standard. Or your co-worker who gets the accolades/promotions even though their stuff is the same (sometimes less-than) yours. It’s apparently easy for other families to get along. Other husbands are attentive, other’s friends are going fun places/doing fun things.

With social media, with all its capture-the-beautiful-moments pics, weighing in at every turn, our thoughts are tempted to think that our “boundary lines” and “inheritance” is far from “places of peace” or “delightful.”
So – do we take the bait and label ourselves a failure?

Do we lean into anxiety? fear? sadness? anger?

Maybe. Do we place more emphasis on the successes, tying our self worth to achievements and ever-elusive standards against which to measure up? We don’t have to. Because if we anchor ourselves to the One who:

sits enthroned above the circle of the earth,
… stretches out the heavens like a canopy,
and spreads them out like a tent to live in.
…brings princes to naught
and reduces the rulers of this world to nothing.
… who brings out the starry host one by one
and calls forth each of them by name.

(seriously, if he knows the stars by name, we can rest assured he knows ours!) Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. (Isaiah 40)

We will find the peace of which David speaks. Because the same inheritance that led David to say these words is our inheritance, too. For the One who made David’s lot secure, who IS the portion and the cup, does the same for us today.

Was it easy for David? Though the snapped pic we might envision might show all the smiling-happy-people, there’s more to the story. Psalm 16 is a “mektah” of David. One of six Psalms deemed as “golden” and “precious.” They were written as reminders that in the deepest and darkest days of trouble, anxiety, and uncertainty (David’s dark days, days of uncertainty – because there were many), God is faithful.

Anointed King as a teen, David wasn’t crowned King over Judah for 15 years. During that 15 year period, he spent 4 years literally running for his life, hiding, living day-to-day never knowing what tomorrow might bring. In fact, it was 20 years before David was crowned King of all Israel – 20 years.

But God is faithful. Always. “Everlasting to everlasting.”

Though Psalm 16’s date of authorship is unknown, the fact that it is a mektah points to it being during a season of need or hardship. Making it all the more poignant that David says in the midst,

“Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;
you make my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen in places of peace;
Surely I have a delightful inheritance.”

The delightful inheritance isn’t found in the things of this world, but in the Lord himself – “… you alone are my portion and my cup.” The vessel and the provision. The plate and the food. EVERYTHING (even in the parenting teen years!)

Whether awake or asleep, God is there:

“I will praise the Lord who counsels me; even at night my heart instructs me.”

In any situation:

“I will keep my eyes always on the Lord. With Him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”

Do you/I believe it?

Here’s what David reveals about God in Psalm 16. The Lord:

makes my lot secure
is safe
is a refuge
is every good thing
is the inheritance
counsels/instructs at all times
never slumbers
is at our right hand (always)
never abandons
gives life
saves – to never see decay
makes know the paths of life

For the Lord “fills (us) with joy in (his) presence with eternal pleasures at (our) right hand.”

Let that sink in for a minute.

Those promises are for each of us from the One who IS love, IS faithful, IS a fortress/a refuge; who hears every word (whether spoken or thought) and NEVER tires – especially of us, those He holds most dear and precious.

Words worth remembering. So that we can say like David,

“Therefore, my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also will rest secure.”

Then, encourage someone around us who might also have more going behind those snapped pics.

Faith & Feelings (Lesson One_9.1.2015_Jen)

September 1, 2015 by Kay/Candy Filed Under: Psalms Leave a Comment

This is an edited transcript from the short audio clip where Jen discussed faith, feelings, and our intimacy with God in the Psalms.

… One of the gifts the Lord has given me, and it’s truly from Him, is the ability to trust Him and to have a strong sense of faith. That gift came through some hard situations: home life growing up, some missed hopes and dreams, the death of my dad in college, singleness… And through all of that I had lots of scripture hidden in my heart. Psalm 84:10 comes to mind: “No good thing does He withhold from those who walk uprightly. He is a sun and shield…” and now I’m not exactly nailing the memory, but the point is not to do word-perfect memory. The point is to be able to recall these things in moments of discouragement.

And so I’ve memorized and meditated on lots of verses about the sovereignty of God and what came out of that was a real ability to trust Him through hard times and a strong sense of “He is good!” and “He’s got this!” and it lets me hold things with a loose hand. Of course that wasn’t always easy… One of my favorite quotes is from Charles Spurgeon: “God is too kind to be cruel and too wise to make mistakes, so when we can’t trace His hand, we can trust His heart.” And through events in my life, He really did teach me to trust His heart. I knew He was in control, but I had such a high view of His sovereignty that rather than pray and pour out my heart to Him and ask for what I wanted, I felt like I was being available to whatever He wanted for me. So even though I knew that Scripture commands these things (pouring out our heart to Him and asking Him), I really was in a place of “whatevs Lord.” I didn’t even want to ask Him because then He might answer me “Yes,” and I didn’t want to forsake His plan for mine. And that was a super sweet place to be … to really trust His sovereignty. And so with that came the gift of faith.

In contrast to that, I have never been a heavy “feelings” person. Feelings weren’t talked about in our family. I say I only know 3 feelings: sad, mad and glad. And I’ve only been able to put words on all that in the last few years through marriage and some counseling and working through some hard stuff. But because of the heavy faith and the inability to articulate feelings, I would often bypass my feelings and go straight to faith. I felt like that was the holy and right thing to do. We are absolutely called to trust the Lord, but I think that the Psalms teaches us that we don’t have to forgo feelings to trust the Lord. The feelings are very much what make us human and what actually set us apart from the rest of His creation. What God wants is my feelings AND my faith.

The reason I think He wants my feelings is because He wants to know me. As I’ve known different people there are some folks that are heavy feelings-driven and that means their walk with Christ can be kind of an emotional roller coaster. Their relationship with the Lord is going as well or as poorly as their emotions indicate. Or, there are people like me that think that feelings are not part of our relationship with God. We think, ‘He’s got this.’ And that is true. But that’s not the whole story. The result for me was a lack of intimacy with the Lord. I think if I have faith without feelings, I have great trust but I don’t have intimacy. And if I have feelings without faith, then I may think I have a close relationship with God, but I might struggle with fear and anxiety because my feelings aren’t anchored to my faith in Him. If you’re bent towards faith you might lack the sweetness of intimacy. But if you’re dependent on your feelings, you’ll be tossed to and fro because our feelings are so fickle, and you might not enjoy the stability and steadfastness of leaning into faith.

Most of the Psalms begin with a strong feeling or situation, and then you see the psalmist lean into the truth that he knows about God, and then those two are resolved in the conclusion of the psalm. In all but one of the psalms, the resolution of emotion and truth presents as praise and surrender and rest and peace. And that’s not a peace that forsakes feelings, and it’s not a peace that is without faith. It’s feelings in the context of faith that leads to intimacy and sweetness with the Lord.

– Jen

Click PLAY to listen to the short 6-minute clip by Jen on “Faith and Feelings”

This is a link to a dropbox audio file that can be opened in iTunes and/or downloaded to your personal device. Please feel free to save it as we are unsure how long the link will be active. This link is “Lesson 1: The Way of the Psalms” led by Jen Clouse.

Reflections:

Welcome