Psalm 50-8.15.22
Scripture
Psalms 50:9-14 NLT
“But I do not need the bulls from your barns or the goats from your pens. For all the animals of the forest are mine, and I own the cattle on a thousand hills. I know every bird on the mountains, and all the animals of the field are mine. If I were hungry, I would not tell you, for all the world is mine and everything in it. Do I eat the meat of bulls? Do I drink the blood of goats? Make thankfulness your sacrifice to God, and keep the vows you made to the Most High.”
Observation-What does it say?
This is a psalm of Asaph. In it he writes how the Lord, the Mighty One has spoken. God speaks and tells His people that although He has no problems with their offerings and sacrifices, He desires more of the people’s heart and desires behind it. Since everything in this world belongs to God anyways, God desires more of the people’s obedience, and their willingness to worship Him with sincerity, thanksgiving, and prayer.
Understanding-What does it mean?
God desires our relationship over rituals.
I heard someone the other day jokingly say that they think God is broke because He is always asking for our money. I’m not going to lie, but that comment really irked me! That statement couldn’t be further from the truth! I also hear people ask, “Why do I need to pray to God, when He already knows what I’m thinking anyway?” The truth is God DOESN’T need our money! And yes, God DOES know what we are thinking and what we are going to say before we even say it. But what God truly desires from each and every one of us is RELATIONSHIP.
That is why we still need to pray to Him. He yearns for us to come to Him. He yearns for a relationship with us. That is why He seeks tithes and offerings from us; not that God needs it, (because all we have is His anyways), but to have our obedience, see where our heart truly is, and to have our complete trust in Him that He will provide our every need.
God desires a relationship with us so much that He came out of the comforts of His home in Heaven. God humbled himself and became flesh, in the form of Jesus. He sacrificed himself to die for our sins. This way, anyone who puts their faith in Jesus can have a relationship with a Holy God, have eternal life, and spend that life with God in Heaven. God seeks for all to come to know Him and have a relationship with Him. He loves us that much! ❤️
“For this is how God loved the world: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. God sent his Son into the world not to judge the world, but to save the world through him.” -John 3:16-17
Life Application
Quality over quantity.
Avoid jumping through the “spiritual hoops” or “checking off the boxes” of being a better Christian.
For example:
Did I pray for at least 10-30 minutes today?
Did I read a chapter in the Bible?
Did I help out at church?
Did I give to someone in need?
Although these are great things, let’s make sure we are doing them behind the right reason. Let’s learn from this passage today. Let’s remember God knows our heart and our reasoning behind the things we do. Let’s remember that our focus should be on our relationship with Jesus. Truly spend the quality time with Him in prayer, Bible readings, journaling, and worship. Be obedient to His ways not just because we are following rules, but do them because we love Him and appreciate all He has done for us. May we do things not out of rituals, but out of love for God who first loved us. ❤️
-Moses Gaddi
Psalm 49 - 8.12.22
Scripture
Psalm 49:14-15 TPT
The fate of fools is the grave, and just like sheep,
death will feast on them…
But God will reach into the grave and save my life from its power.
He will fetch me and take me into His eternal house.
Observation – What does it say?
Have you ever been wide-eyed at the lifestyles of some people? The huge house, fancy cars, jewelry and just over-the-top luxury? I’m not going to lie, there are parts of that lifestyle that seem incredibly appealing. I’d love to have the ability to buy an exotic sports car on a whim or take a private jet to spend the weekend on a Greek island somewhere. But the Psalmist points out that no matter how much money you have in the bank, it could never be enough to purchase a soul. All the gold in Fort Knox isn’t enough to pay God for one man’s sin.
We will all go to the grave, poor and rich alike, and none of that wealth will benefit us once we take our last breath. The fool who rejected God will experience eternal death and separation from God. But the Psalmist, along with others who have put their faith in God, will be rescued by God and taken to be with him forever.
Understanding – What does it mean?
As enticing wealth is, it’s the pursuit of fools whose only hope is in this life!
There is nothing wrong with having wealth. A pastor I admire, Kris Vallotton, once said, “God doesn’t care what you have, he cares what has you.” We read today about how God made Solomon the richest king who ever lived. But the point is, what is your heart set on? What are you pursuing? What provides your peace and security?
Only Jesus can save! I don’t want to live to pursue things I can’t take with me when I die. We have something so much more valuable than earthly riches! If we have put our faith in Jesus, we look forward to the day when he will return to take us to be with him forever.
Life Application
Focus my desire and pursuit on heaven!
Only the relationship I have with God and the things I have done out of love for him and others will I be able to take with me. God, help me and help us to focus on those things!
Matthew 6:19-21
“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
That is an excerpt from Jesus’ most famous sermon, where he tells us that we will receive rewards from God for the things we do in secret for him (fasting, prayer, giving) without anyone knowing but Him. So in my journal (not here), I’ll decide some things in secret to do today :)
-Levi Thompson
Hebrews 6- 08.11.22
SCRIPTURE: Hebrews 6:11-12 TPT
“But we long to see you passionately advance until the end and you find your hope fulfilled. So don’t allow your hearts to grow dull or lose your enthusiasm, but follow the example of those who fully received what God has promised because of their strong faith and patient endurance.”
OBSERVATION:
We may not know who penned Hebrews, but what we do know is—this anonymous writer (THROUGH the Hand of God) had a passion for seeing believers be deeply rooted in Christ’s Love and HIS Love for others SO that they may be constantly maturing in their Faith.
UNDERSTANDING:
Passionately Advancing Until The End.
I remember when Desert Streams had a movement called “The Crazy Ones”. Larry and I had just come back to Desert Streams and I was having a conversation with Steve Burish who attended our Church at the time. He (among many) had made a video for the church movement “I am a Crazy One for Jesus” that shared his Passionate faith.—I remarked to Steve that I wanted to be “ALL out for Jesus” but was concerned that I might end up going “Too” far. Steve smiled and asked, “Why would that ever concern you?”
Almost eight years later…after having served on staff under Pastor Gary Khan where he would ask us each week “How have you been Jesus’ Hands and Feet in the community?”, having taken several DSU classes learning what it means to be a disciple from Pastor Levi AND a class with Robin where we went out weekly to the mall to pray for healing for strangers (and witnessed God’s miracles first hand), and almost three years of Prophetic classes with Justin Eaves where we were challenged to HEAR God and respond weekly to GO out and invite strangers into life changing encounters with God——I can definitively say that I am NOW—
a Passionately Advanced AND Advancing “Card Carrying” CRAZY One for Jesus!
How very Thankful AND Continually Thankful I am that God placed me and my husband here at Desert Streams!
LIFE APPLICATION:
SO…don’t allow your hearts to grow dull OR lose your enthusiasm, but FOLLOW the Example of those who FULLY received what God has Promised—
“No one has ever gazed upon the fullness of God’s splendor. But—IF we LOVE one another, God makes HIS permanent home IN us, and we make our permanent home IN him—and his love is brought to its FULL expression IN us.” (1 John 4:12 TPT)
Dearest LORD Jesus,
Thank YOU for Your LOVE. Thank YOU that LOVE is Your Number ONE Priority. YOU demonstrated Your Love for me by Laying down Your Life. Draw me deep and deeper into Your Love that I may be Firmly rooted. May Your Love be SO evident in my life that it shifts the atmosphere around me drawing others to you and bringing glory to your Name. Amen.
“Your Lives LIGHT Up the World. So don’t hide your light! Let it SHINE brightly before others, so that your commendable works will shine as light upon them, and then they will give their praise to your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:14a, 16 TPT)
Tina L Kudelka