Category: Psalms

Blessings

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 31-32

POETRY: Psalm 128

NEW TESTAMENT: John 3:22-36

Psalm 128

A song of ascents.

1 

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,
    who walk in obedience to him.

2 

You will eat the fruit of your labor;
    blessings and prosperity will be yours.

3 

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine
    within your house;
your children will be like olive shoots
    around your table.

4 

Yes, this will be the blessing
    for the man who fears the Lord.

5 

May the Lord bless you from Zion;
    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem
    all the days of your life.

6 

May you live to see your children’s children—
    peace be on Israel.

Today is a special day.  It’s the birthday of my oldest grandchild, Scarlett.  All of my grandchildren are precious and I love them all dearly.  I can’t believe how blessed I am to have so many who call me Grandpa or Poppa or Poppy.  Scarlett is the first to make me a grandparent.  Psalm 128 names being able to see your children’s children a special blessing.

Reading this Psalm again touches me deeply and reminds me not to take things for granted like enjoying the fruit of your labor.  Not everyone does enjoy the fruit of their labor due to war, disaster, or disease.  We should not take the blessings we receive in life for granted.  Life does not always go how we planned or wished.  Not every man is blessed with a fruitful vine with a table surrounded by olive shoots.  Not every parent is blessed to live long enough to enjoy their grandchildren.  I’m currently battling some pretty serious diseases.  One of my motivators to be healed is to enjoy my family… and honestly, I’d like to meet not only my grandchildren but also my great grandchildren in a few years.

I also want to see the prosperity of Jerusalem and peace in Jerusalem.  That will happen when King Jesus returns.  I’d like to be around to see that too.  But if I should close my eyes in the sleep of death, I will see Jesus, and I hope my family, my church, and my friends at the first resurrection.

The blessings that await us at the coming of Jesus will be awesome. I want to see you there too.  Don’t overlook both the promises or warnings in John 3:36 “Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects the Son will not see life, for God’s wrath remains on them.” Don’t miss out on the blessings that come through Jesus. May God bless you.

Pastor Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What are the blessings you have already seen? Thank God for them
  2. What are the blessings you still hope to see before Jesus returns or you sleep in death?
  3. What does Jesus’ return mean to you?
  4. What is your greatest hope for the future? What do you need to do today to increase your chances of taking part in that future?
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The Wise Raising of a Family

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 29-30

POETRY: Psalm 127

NEW TESTAMENT: John 3:1-21

Most of the Psalms were written by David, but there are a few that were written by others.  For example, Psalm 90 was written by Moses and Psalm 127 was written by David’s son, Solomon.

Today’s reading, Psalm 127 is what we will reflect upon.  It offers wisdom about the wise raising of a family.  I find some parts of Solomon’s teaching a bit paradoxical.  Solomon’s father, King David, had 19 sons by his wives.  The year before his father David died Solomon’s first wife Naamah gave birth to his one and only son, Rehoboam.  She also gave birth to two daughters Taphath and Basemath.  As far as we know from the Bible these are the only three children Solomon fathered.  This is odd considering Solomon had 700 wives and 300 concubines.  Solomon valued children and saw them as a reward from God.  

A Song of Ascents. Of Solomon.

Psalm 127 

Unless the Lord builds the house,
    those who build it labor in vain.
Unless the Lord watches over the city,
    the watchman stays awake in vain.

2 

It is in vain that you rise up early
    and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
    for he gives to his beloved sleep.

3 

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,
    the fruit of the womb a reward.

4 

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
    are the children of one’s youth.

5 

Blessed is the man
    who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
    when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.  

If Solomon valued children so much why didn’t he have more?  The most likely answer is that Solomon’s next wife was the daughter of the Pharoah of Egypt.  She worshipped idols and brought them into the royal palace.  Many Biblical scholars believe that Solomon had no more children as punishment for allowing idolatry to enter his family.

Psalm 127 begins “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain.”  The house referred to here is not a physical house or palace but a family or a household.

That strikes me as a very wise teaching. And yet Solomon’s actions weren’t very wise when he had 700 wives and 300 concubines.    Another paradox is that in 1 Kings 3 Solomon asked God for the gift of wisdom.  Because Solomon’s request of wisdom was very unselfish (he didn’t ask for riches or a long life, God agreed to give him what he asked for, wisdom and what he didn’t ask for: wealth, honor, and long life as long  Solomon followed God’s commands.

This begs the question… how did God give him wisdom?  Did he open up Solomon’s head and pour in wisdom, or was wisdom acquired over time?  Perhaps Solomon grew in wisdom over time, when he realized that he missed out on the blessings of a large and fruitful family because he allowed idolatry to enter his home?

Solomon doesn’t quantify a number of children that qualify one as blessed.  David had 19 sons.  Solomon’s 1 son Rehoboam had 28 sons and 60 daughters (wow, that’s a lot of weddings to pay for).

My wife Karen and I have been blessed with 7 sons and 4 daughters (JJ, Jon, Joshua, Karee Anne (Gregory), Joel, Kailyn, Katie Beth (Mattison), Kass, Jordan, Josiah, and James).  We also have been blessed with 16 grandchildren (soon to be 17). We are greatly blessed.  My children (and their spouses) and grandchildren are precious gifts from God and I’ve always appreciated this Psalm. Of course, having a large family is not the only sign of blessing from God.   However God chooses to bless you, receive it with gratitude and joy.  

Peace, Grow, Love             

-Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. How would you put in your own words and explain Psalm 127 verse 1? Compare what a house/family built by the Lord looks like versus one built in vain. Consider the home you were raised in – which was it more like? Which do you want for a home/family you will/are or have raised?
  2. What are some of the current views towards children that you have witnessed? Which ones would God agree with, which ones would he not?
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Sowing and Reaping

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 27-28

*POETRY: Psalm 126

NEW TESTAMENT: John 2:12-25

          As a child one song I enjoyed singing in church was called Bringing In The Sheaves.

1 Sowing in the morning, sowing seeds of kindness,

Sowing in the noontide and the dewy eve;

Waiting for the harvest, and the time of reaping,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

Refrain:

Bringing in the sheaves,

Bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves;

Bringing in the sheaves,

Bringing in the sheaves,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves.

2 Sowing in the sunshine, sowing in the shadows,

Fearing neither clouds nor winter’s chilling breeze;

By and by the harvest, and the labor ended,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

3 Going forth with weeping, sowing for the Master,

Though the loss sustained our spirit often grieves;

When our weeping’s over, He will bid us welcome,

We shall come rejoicing, bringing in the sheaves. [Refrain]

As a little child I really had no Idea what the song meant.  What were sheaves?  Why did people go out sowing with weeping.  What made them so sad? Why were people rejoicing while bringing them in?

Fortunately, Psalm 126 answers a lot of those questions.

Psalm 126

A song of ascents.

1 When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion,
    we were like those who dreamed.
2 Our mouths were filled with laughter,
    our tongues with songs of joy.
Then it was said among the nations,
    “The Lord has done great things for them.”
3 The Lord has done great things for us,
    and we are filled with joy.

4 Restore our fortunes Lord,
    like streams in the Negev.
5 Those who sow with tears
    will reap with songs of joy.
6 Those who go out weeping,
    carrying seed to sow,
will return with songs of joy,
    carrying sheaves with them.


The first half of the Psalm is a Song of Rejoicing.  It likely refers to the time when Israel returned from their time in Exile.  King Cyrus of Persia released the exiles in Israel and allowed them to return to Israel where they could live in freedom and rebuild the city of Jerusalem and the Temple.  It was a time of rejoicing.  It was a time of rejoicing, laughter, songs of joy.  The surrounding nations could see how God did great things for them.  Sadly over time Israel faced a whole new set of trials.  So God’s people pray that once again God would step in and bless his people and restore their fortunes.

There was a time of drought that led to famine.  The people were sad from their misfortune so they went out in faith with bags of seed to plant.  It was an act of faith that God would supply abundant rain so that their seed would grow and be harvested so that they would carry back bundles… sheaves or grain.  There would be laughter and shouts of joy in happy gratitude for God’s blessings.

Today, we go through times of great rejoicing at the blessings.  November is a special time of celebrating God’s abundant blessings and rejoicing in God’s gifts.  It can also be a time when we go through pain and loss.  There’s a passage in Job that says “The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, blessed be the name of the Lord.” (Job 1:21)  Some times we go out weeping and, in hope plant seeds believing that God will give blessings.

Is today a day that you are going out weeping with seeds to sow, or is today a day that you come back rejoicing  at what God has provided, carrying those seeds of blessing? 

Trust that God will give blessings if we faithfully sow, even with tears.

Pastor Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Is today a day that you are going out weeping with seeds to sow, or is today a day that you come back rejoicing  at what God has provided, carrying those seeds of blessing? 
  2. What seasons of sowing in tears have you had? What seasons of rejoicing in reaping have you had? Where have you seen God’s faithfulness?
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Traveling Songs

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 23-24

POETRY: Psalm 124

NEW TESTAMENT: John 1:35-51

There are 150 Psalms in the Bible.  There are a variety of Psalm styles including Psalms of Praise, Songs of Thanksgiving,Songs of Zion, Songs of the Temple and Liturgy, Laments, Prayers, Petition, Trust, Wisdom, Songs about the Law, Royalty Songs and Imprecatory songs.  One set of Psalms are called Songs of Ascent.  The comprise 10% of the Psalms ranging from Psalm 120-134. These 15 Psalms are believed to have been sung during the three pilgrimages – Passover and Pentecost in the Spring and Tabernacles in the Autumn.  As the Israelites ascended Mt. Zion and the Temple they were climbing to gather to worship so these were known as Songs of Ascents.

It is also believed that these 15 Psalms were sung by the priests as they climbed the 15 steps leading up to the temple.

Psalm 124 was one of these Psalms of Ascents.

Psalm 124

A song of ascents. Of David.

1 

If the Lord had not been on our side—
    let Israel say—

2 

if the Lord had not been on our side
    when people attacked us,

3 

they would have swallowed us alive
    when their anger flared against us;

4 

the flood would have engulfed us,
    the torrent would have swept over us,

5 

the raging waters
    would have swept us away.

6 

Praise be to the Lord,
    who has not let us be torn by their teeth.

7 

We have escaped like a bird
    from the fowler’s snare;
the snare has been broken,
    and we have escaped.

8 

Our help is in the name of the Lord,
    the Maker of heaven and earth.

This Psalm celebrates the source of their help when they came under attack from their enemies.  Their source of help and protection is the Lord.  Every time they gathered to celebrate these festivals in Jerusalem they remembered God’s saving hand.

For we Christians, we have no physical temple to make a pilgrimage to 3 times a year, but we gather each week to celebrate the different ways God saves us.  Our help truly comes from the Lord.

I hope you regularly pray this Song of Ascents and with gratitude give thanks to God for his help and care.

-Pastor Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. What does the Psalmist thank God for that did NOT happen to them – because the Lord was at their side? We often worry about what could happen – but how much time do we spend thanking God for what didn’t happen?
  2. Today what will you thank God for that didn’t happen? How will you remember God’s care for you and for others?
  3. What do you like to listen to when you travel? How can your song selection help or hinder your thanks to and worship of God?
  4. How can you celebrate and share with others what God has done?
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Jerusalem

OLD TESTAMENT: Ezekiel 18-20

POETRY: Psalm 122

NEW TESTAMENT: John 1:1-18

On October 7, 2023, Hamas launched a sneak attack on Israel.  Nearly 1200 Israelis were killed.  251 Israelis and foreigners were taken captive and held hostage by Hamas.

This was not the first time Israel had been the victim of an attack and taken captive by enemies.  They were enslaved by the Egyptians thousands of years ago.  They were taken into exile by the Babylonians nearly 3000 years ago.  They were attacked and occupied by the Romans and their Temple was destroyed and they went into the diaspora almost 2000 years ago.  They were victims of the Holocaust nearly 100 years ago when nearly 6 million Jews were murdered in gas chambers.

Psalm 122 was one of many Psalms that were prayed by the Jewish people during many of these numerous times of attack and war.   

Psalm 122. A song of ascents. Of David.

1 

I rejoiced with those who said to me,
    “Let us go to the house of the Lord.”

2 

Our feet are standing
    in your gates, Jerusalem.

3 

Jerusalem is built like a city
    that is closely compacted together.

4 

That is where the tribes go up—
    the tribes of the Lord—
to praise the name of the Lord
    according to the statute given to Israel.

5 

There stand the thrones for judgment,
    the thrones of the house of David.

6 

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
    “May those who love you be secure.

7 

May there be peace within your walls
    and security within your citadels.”

8 

For the sake of my family and friends,
    I will say, “Peace be within you.”

9 

For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
    I will seek your prosperity.

This Psalm is a prayer for peace in Jerusalem.  It is a prayer that God’s people will live in security and protection.  Today we pray for the Peace of Jerusalem.  True and lasting peace will not come to Jerusalem until the Messiah, God’s anointed King, our savior Jesus Christ returns.  When Jesus returns there will be Peace in Jerusalem and eventually Peace on earth in God’s Kingdom.

Let us continue to pray for the peace of Jerusalem.  Let us pray for the release of those being held captive.

Pastor Jeff Fletcher

Reflection Questions

  1. Compare and contrast Jerusalem, including it’s history and current situation, to that of the New Jerusalem we recently read about in the final chapters of Revelation. What causes the differences and the similarities?
  2. How often do you pray for the peace of Jerusalem? Would adding a visual reminder to your home or device help you remember?
  3. How might you be able to seek the good and prosperity of Jerusalem?
  4. How often do you pray for the coming of the New Jerusalem and pray for its occupants, that those you know will be ready – recognized as the people of God, wearing white and not left outside?
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Wonderful Statutes. Wonderful God.

OLD TESTAMENT: Obadiah

*POETRY: Psalm 119:129-136

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 10

When’s the last time you paid God a compliment? We all like to be complimented, even if it’s just about our new shoes, nice watch, or friendly smile. In Psalm 119:129 we see a beautiful example of a compliment to God. The psalmist says, “Your statutes are wonderful…” What a beautiful place to connect with our God in relationship. Often the distractions that infiltrate every aspect of our lives, push out what should be a natural response to the greatness and goodness of God.

What naturally follows from the fact that God’s statutes are wonderful is that we obey them. That is what the Psalmist says, “… therefore I obey them.” This is something I have found hard to do with all that the world has to offer. On the outside the world’s handouts appear innocuous, but they are often a distraction that take us off course from following God, or even acknowledging Him. Is God our priority? Do we love and cling to his word? Are we ready to obey him?

 “The unfolding of your words gives light; it gives understanding to the simple.” (Psalm 119:130 NIV) The first part of the verse uses the well-known example of light representing good. (Sorry Star Wars fans, the light versus dark paradigm predates George Lucas by a few thousand years.) We also see that God’s word can be understood by the simple-minded. You do not need your PhD to discern the light that the Bible contains. All you need is a heart longing for God and a willingness to open his word.

In verse 131 the psalmist uses the metaphor of opening one’s mouth and panting to show the severity of how much he longs for God’s commands and authority. And yet, it is more than just commands and rules to be followed but it is about a relationship with God.

In verse 132 we see that he imparts grace to those who love him. Earlier in the Old Testament we see examples of when people did not love his name but rather chose to follow a path without God. A doozy being Sodom and Gomorrah when God not only withheld grace but also doled out punishment for the sin of the city by obliterating the whole place.

The psalmist shows his heartbreaking emotion for the people who do not keep his law. Everyone who has experienced God’s changing power within them knows the heart aching emotion the psalmist is going through. God is the center of all creation, the source of true happiness, and the one we should be living for.

-Bridger Grable

Reflection Questions

  1. How does the Psalmist compliment God? How can you compliment God today?
  2. What is the Psalmist’s response to God? What is your response to God today?
  3. Which verse in today’s section of Psalm 119 would you like to post in your home and work on memorizing?
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The Right Side of the Law

OLD TESTAMENT: Lamentations 3

POETRY: Psalm 119:113-120

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 8

“For the Lord is our judge, the Lord is our lawgiver, the Lord is our king; it is he who will save us.” — Isaiah 33:22 NIV

Hate is a strong word. I tend to avoid using it because it feels so absolute. There’s no wiggle room for love when you use the word hate. Sure, I don’t love waiting in the drive thru of McDonald’s for half an hour when I only ordered a large number 7 with a Diet Coke, but I do love listening to Spotify. In thirty minutes I can listen to maybe ten songs, and those ten streams made the lucky artist approximately $0.04! It’s all about perspective… (I was not lovin’ it)

Verse 13 in Psalm 119 makes two things absolutely clear, “I hate double-minded people, but I love your law.” I put the reference to Isaiah at the top of this post because today’s selection of poetry calls to mind one of the titles we use to address God: the Judge. Lawful diction is used throughout the passage with words like statutes, decrees, and commands. We are reminded that our God is a just one, so imagine the blessings in store for us if we keep on choosing to honor the laws he laid out for our life.

If that doesn’t light a fire under you, then I recommend rereading the end of the selection, which states, “You reject all who stray from your decrees, for their delusions come to nothing. All the wicked of the earth you discard like dross; therefore I love your statutes. My flesh trembles in fear of you; I stand in awe of your laws.” (Psalm 119: 118-120 NIV) 

There are two sides on the coin of justice. I don’t always know which side my decisions land on but I know that I don’t want to be rejected by Him, so it’s important to continue studying Scripture and to develop a relationship with the Lord. Then we can stop relying on probability, flipping a coin with every choice, and just rest in his sustaining power.

— Austin Kizer

Reflection Questions

  1. Are there areas of your life that have “wiggle room” for more of the Lord? Consider how you can invite God into those moments and listen for Him.
  2. It’s easy to focus on our wrongdoings, so ponder and celebrate times you felt like you brought honor to God. How are you honoring the Lord on a daily basis?
  3. What “evildoers” do you need to stay away from? How are you keeping up your shield and taking refuge in Him?

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My Delight

OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 49-50

POETRY: Psalm 119:89-96

NEW TESTAMENT: Revelation 5

We see that God has founded the earth and established himself on it. God’s reign will not perish, and His words won’t be changed. The Psalm says “Forever, O LORD, your word is firmly fixed in the heavens.” (Psalm 119: 89 ESV). This is something that is easy to forget as we live our busy lives. He made the earth, and he is still here, performing works all the time. He has given us the ability through prayer to connect with him and access his presence. 

In verse ninety one the psalmist writes “By your appointment they stand this day for all things are your servants.” As God’s creation, we are made to love God and follow his commandments just as a son should love and obey his father. As the scriptures later reveal through Jesus, our lives should be a constant act of servitude towards God. The Psalmist wants to bring glory to God through the obedience of the law. We should conform our lives to God’s will by following His commandments.

“If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my affliction”(Psalm 119:92 ESV) He made laws and commandments not out of selfish reasoning to show his dominion over us but for our good. Just as a parent tells their child not to touch the stove when it is hot, God likewise gave his people commandments to protect them. It is not hard to see in modern culture what it looks like when we mess up. Living our lives selfishly, not following God’s Law. The world stays in turmoil with great nations constantly at war, families being divided, and sin taking over. It Has been like this since The Fall in Genesis 3. If we follow God’s word, he will bless us and be with us.

-Bridger Grable

Hi, my name is Bridger Grable. I am 19 years old and live in Southern California. I have 8 siblings so it’s always a party at my house. I love hiking and the outdoors.

Reflection Questions

  1. How can you keep in mind today that God and His word are firmly fixed in the heavens? What can happen when we forget this?
  2. How can you bring glory to God through obeying His Word today?
  3. Is God’s law your delight? Explain what that does (or would) look like? What afflictions can you handle better when His law is your delight?
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Today’s Idols

OLD TESTAMENT: Jeremiah 5 & 6

POETRY: Psalm 115

NEW TESTAMENT: 2 Peter 3

Have you ever stopped to think about idolatry? In the ancient world, many groups of people would literally make statues out of wood or metal. They would sacrifice animals to these idols. They would pray to these made up, created things.

The Psalmist talks at length about the silliness of such behavior, especially in the context of worshipping the actual Creator of the Universe:

Psalm 115:3-7 (ESV)

3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

5 They have mouths, but do not speak; eyes, but do not see.

6 They have ears, but do not hear; noses, but do not smell.

7 They have hands, but do not feel; feet, but do not walk; and they do not make a sound in their throat.

The point is clear: idols look like they can speak, see, hear, smell, feel, walk, and talk, but they cannot. They offer something that is not real. It’s a mirage. It’s a false comfort. Worshipping that way is meaningless.

What does this have to do with us, you might ask? I don’t have an idol in my house. I don’t worship to anything made with hands.

Friends, I wish that was true. We still have idols today. They don’t frequently look like human images made of silver or gold. Perhaps they are other people. Perhaps they are the rectangular boxes we carry around in our pockets. Perhaps it’s our favorite sports team. Maybe it’s our job or our family. There are always things that vie for our allegiance and our attention.

Unlike the ancient idols, many of these things are not bad in themselves, as long as we walk in a balanced way. The balance begins, however, with total devotion to King Jesus. Full stop. End of story.

When we live unbalanced lives, we might find ourselves feeling more and more unsettled, anxious, or depressed. Living the way that God wants us to live does not guarantee a life free from those things, for sure, but the point remains: when our life is unbalanced, we get negative results. Just like the ancient people sacrificing to blind and mute forms of their own creation, we sometimes get too caught up in worldly things that take our minds in directions that are unhealthy and unhelpful.

As the Psalmist reminds us, the Lord is our help and shield. The Lord is the One who blesses us. The Lord is the one who is worthy of worship and honor. We shall praise the Lord!

-Will Barlow

Reflection Questions

Do you have things in your life that are idols or cause you to be unbalanced? What can you do to get back in balance?

    Can you think of a time when you came out of a longer period of darkness and into light? How did that feel?

    Can you think of a friend that has an obvious idol in their life? What can you do to help them find better balance? (Maybe telling the story from your answer in #2 could be a place to start.)

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    Consider the Great Love

    OLD TESTAMENT: Isaiah 48-50

    *POETRY: Psalm 107

    NEW TESTAMENT: James 3:13-18

    My family has a book at home called 52 Bible Words Every Kid Should Know by Carrie Mars, and this last week, we read about the word “Psalm.”

    One thing that I appreciate about reading things like this with my children or putting together lessons for young kids (teaching preschool is my favorite), is just stopping to examine simply defined truths.  When I personally go to classes, or small group, I do feel I gain things from those – a deeper understanding of things, an opportunity for discussion to hear other viewpoints, etc., but sometimes I miss the simple wonder like I had mentioned earlier this week.

    When I am working on kid lessons or readings, they aren’t filled with the in-depth explanations or discussions, they are just boiled down, trying to give kids a foundation to grow from, and circling back to those things as an adult often touches me in a simple way.

    In reading this book last week, it talked about how the Psalms show us how we can share all of our feelings with God.  We feel lots of things at different times, and there are psalms that fit so many different feelings.  We don’t have to just bring our good feelings before God – we can bring absolutely everything to Him.  It ends with a simple prayer “God, I’m so glad I can tell You anything.  I praise You for being so wonderful!”  God is wonderful for so many things, and us being able to bring anything before Him is just one of those things.

    So let’s look a little at this specific Psalm – the first verse is one that repeats in other psalms (and repeats slightly altered throughout this one), and is a popular (if somewhat older) song:

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

    It is simple; it is basic.  But God is good!  And He isn’t good the way we might call someone a “good” person.  He is really, truly, and fully good, and one of the most amazing things is that He loves us and that love will last forever.  This isn’t a revolutionary concept if you have been a Christian for a while, but it is a simple truth that can astound you when you stop to think about that.

    If you were going to teach that to a child, you would break it down, emphasize how God’s good far surpasses ours, and emphasize how amazing His love is – get them excited about it!  As adults, I find we have heard those things so many times that we often gloss over them, but stop and think.  The great, amazing, good God of the universe loves you, and that love is perfect, and lasts forever.

    When I truly stop and think about that, it just blows my mind.  And thinking about that makes it so easy to give thanks to the LORD for who He is.

    The psalm ends with this verse:

    “Whoever is wise, let him heed these things and consider the great love of the LORD.”

    So this is my suggestion to you – slow down, view it through the simplicity of a child’s eyes, and consider the great love of the LORD.

    ~Stephanie Fletcher

    Reflection Questions

    1. What feelings will you bring before God today? Are there some feelings you have that you typically don’t bring to Him?
    2. Make a list of what God does in Psalm 107. In this psalm how do we see God displaying His love? Which ones apply to you? How else could you describe what God has done for you? How will you give thanks to God for His love and mercy?
    3. How many times does this Psalm tell us that the thankful redeemed tell others about God’s love and what He has done?
    4. How would you describe God’s love and mercy to a child you know? How would you describe His love to an adult? What and how can you share at church about God’s love? Outside of church, who and how can you tell about God’s love?
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