Psalm 115-11.14.22

Scripture

‭‭Psalms‬ ‭115‬:‭1‬ ‭NLT

“Not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name goes all the glory for your unfailing love and faithfulness.”

Observation-What does it say?

In this psalm, the psalmist understands that their people serve the One True Living God. All others serve mere idols, man made sculptures made of silver and gold. Their gods do not speak, see, or even hear. The psalmist calls the people of Israel, and all who are God fearing, to trust God; because God is their helper and shield, and He will surely bless them. Their God created the heavens and the earth. He protects and saves His people. He is worthy to be praised.

Understanding-What does it mean?

All glory and honor belong to God!

All that I am, and all that I have is because of God. God is behind every little detail in my life. All the good, and even the bad. He gives me strength and favor to find success at work. Even through my failures, God is with me to strengthen me, build me up, and deepen my faith in Him. He is with me every step of the way. He provides my every need. His mercies, protection, and grace surround me each day. He gives me courage when I am scared. He gives me love no matter what. He blessed me with a loving family at home and at church. I honestly don’t know how I can live without Him. He is my constant. He is my savior. He is my God.

“But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results.”-1 Corinth‬ ‭15‬:‭10‬a

Life Application

Have you given God your glory and honor today?

Take some time today to give God the glory, honor, and praise He deserves. You know, this month at our church, we focus on building our habits of honoring God and honoring each other. Have you taken the time to do that yet? There are cards inside the church’s sanctuary that you can write on, and then pin them on the wall. You can even write someone a letter, or send them an email, or shoot them a text to let them know how much you appreciate and honor them. Maybe even do it face to face over a meal! Whatever you choose to do, make it a point to do it. It’s a great way to practice the two important commandments Jesus gave us to keep: 1) Love God. 2) Love people. I would even like to challenge you all to not just make these things a November habit, but make them a daily habit. Honoring God and one another is a great way to reveal God’s glory to all those around us. 😊

-Moses Gaddi

Psalm 114-11.11.22

Scripture - What stood out?

Psalm 114

1 When Israel came out of Egypt,

    Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,

2 Judah became God’s sanctuary,

    Israel his dominion.

3 The sea looked and fled,

    the Jordan turned back;

4 the mountains leaped like rams,

    the hills like lambs.

Observation - What does it say?

A psalm that gives you a very wide lens view of a few great miracles that God performed to bring the Hebrew nation out of Egypt.

Understanding - What does it mean?

The mountains leaped like rams.

‘I want you and Deborah both to pray and fast about this decision. Take at least a week. Pray and fast and listen to what God is telling you.’

‘Ok I will.’ I replied to pastor Gary.

‘Alright. I’ll be praying for you both. Let me know what happens. Love you.’

I still remember leaving that meeting filled with so much hope and so much direction in my life. I knew what I had to do for the next week! I had to not eat! And still figure out a way to climb telephone poles while I was starving in the middle of a Los Angeles heat wave in June! 

I still remember the final day of that particular fast. I had been working in the heat for the past 5 days(the first two days of our fast happened to be my off days). I hadn’t been eating. And I had done some of my best work to date. I knew God was at work in my life. My body was devoid of any worldly nourishment yet I had produced some of my best work yet. And I felt great. I knew the Holy Spirit was at work in my life. I knew the direction my faith was headed in. I knew what God was speaking to me. And that night after a week of prayer and fasting my wife and I knew what we were going to tell pastor Gary!

Life Application - How can I apply this to my life today?

The mountains leaped like rams.

My wife and I have been reminding ourselves about faith today, Father God. Thank you for reminding me of a time in my life when I felt like my faith in you could accomplish anything. I serve a God who is capable of the incapable. You can turn the sea, move mountains and hills, and use whomever you want for the furthering of Your kingdom. Help me to stretch my faith today, Lord. I lift my hands up in surrender, show me what my next act of faith is Lord. Thank you Father. In the name of Jesus do I pray. Amen.

-kenneth lee

Psalm 113-11.10.22

Scripture:

Psalm 113

1 Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, you his servants;
    praise the name of the Lord.

2 Let the name of the Lord be praised,
    both now and forevermore.

3 From the rising of the sun to the place where it sets, the name of the Lord is to be praised.

4 The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
    his glory above the heavens.

5 Who is like the Lord our God,
    the One who sits enthroned on high,

6 who stoops down to look
    on the heavens and the earth?

7 He raises the poor from the dust
    and lifts the needy from the ash heap;

8 he seats them with princes,
    with the princes of his people.

9 He settles the childless woman in her home
    as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord.

Observation-What does it say?

“In this Psalm, we are invited to give glory to God; to give Him the glory due His name (Matthew Henry commentary on blueletterbible.org).”

Understanding-What does it mean?

As His servants, we must praise the name of the Lord, for the sole reason that He is worthy to be praised.

Life Application

“Let the name of the Lord be praised, both now and forevermore (Psalm 113:2).”

During our All Leaders meeting this week, Pastor Levi encouraged us to honor God this month, both privately and publicly. Here are some practical ways that he suggested we do that:

Privately: Set aside some time to get alone with God and worship; give thanks; write Him a note of appreciation.

Publicly: Tell someone about what God has done for you; a prayer He answered; a way you noticed Him at work in your life; something God has been speaking to you about through your times with Him.

How will we honor and praise the Lord today?

-Michelle Gaddi