Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Psalm 100:1
Snuggled under the covers in my bed, I waited to drift off to sleep, but realized something was not quite right. As I listened in the silence, I realized the silence was the problem! Moving quickly from my warm haven to the floor, I felt in the dark for the switch. As the click sounded and the blades began to whir, I crawled gratefully back in my nest. Hearing my husband’s sigh, I grinned as I again settled down for the night. Almost ten years of marriage does not appear to have yet conditioned Dave to sound of the fan that I can’t seem to sleep without!
Noise. White noise, loud noise, quiet hums, whispers, shouts, cries and sighs; not to mention all manufactured sounds, our world is filled with noise. As the alarm clock sounds, I moan that morning is ready here. I groan as I get out of the bed. My joints make creak where sounds did not previously exist. Stepping on the scale either brings frustrated “humph” of annoyance or a “whoop” of delight.
Deep sighs echo in my cubby as I work through a complex project. A whine surfaces if lunch is not as I expected. An angry “ahk” is escapes my lips when my fellow commuters are aggressive on the highway. An irritated moan bubbles up as see the long wait at the checkout line.
A sigh of relief comes the minute I walk in the door and kick off my shoes. A grumble creeps out as I realize that the laundry pile I thought was done suddenly reappears as someone finally realizes the only way the clothes on their floor will get washed is if they actually make into the laundry room.
Ezra 3:13 No one could distinguish the sound of the shouts of joy from the sound of weeping, because the people made so much noise.
I make a lot of noise during the day and in review, most of it is not joyful. Yes, I will share a gasp of delight, an appreciative “ahh” at something sweet or endearing, but for the most part, my noise is negative. God is willing to listen to all my concerns, frustration (Psalm 62:8 & Lamentations 2:19), but the Psalms calls us to make a “joyful noise:
• Psalm 66:1 Make a joyful noise unto God, all the earth
• Psalm 81:1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: Make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob.
• Psalm 95:1 Oh come, let us sing unto Jehovah; Let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation.
• Psalm 95:2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving; Let us make a joyful noise unto him with psalms.
• Psalm 98:4 Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all the earth: Break forth and sing for joy, yea, sing praises.
• Psalm 98:6 With trumpets and sound of cornet Make a joyful noise before the King, Jehovah.
• Psalm 100:1 Make a joyful noise unto Jehovah, all ye lands.
Beloved, we are all really experienced at cheering for our children, our favorite sports teams, and contests on game or reality shows, sighing in pleasure over a decadent desert or the end of a good movie, but what about the noises we send up to God? Have you make a whoop of joy over His daily blessings, send up a “WOOHOO” at the gift of grace, gasped at a beautiful sunset or sighed over the beauty of His Word? Have you raised a joyful noise to Him today?
Careful Considerations: What kind of noise do you make? Does it add to the din of the world’s constant clamor….or are your sounds and words a joyful noise to the Lord?
Heavenly Father, Who is like You among the gods, O LORD? Who is like You, majestic in holiness, awesome in praises, working wonders? (Exodus 15:11) The LORD is my strength and song, and He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; my father's God, and I will extol Him (Exodus 15:2) For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; He also is to be feared above all gods (1 Chron 16:25). Precious Father, I pray that we make noises of contentment, joy, assurance, commitment and praise to You today and always. As You are in our praises (Psalm 22:1-3) may Your praises be always on our lips. In the name of Jesus, our Savior, Amen.
Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
Thursday, June 7, 2012
Monday, June 4, 2012
The Egg Scale
You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Daniel 5:26
As avid antiquers, my in-laws, Les and Peggy regularly comb area garage and estate sale for treasures. Their home is filled with interesting trinkets worthy of the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC. On any given visit to their home, it is not unusual to hear, “Want to see what we found?”
The red metal gadget passed into my hands this evening was definitely not something I’d seen before. Looking closely, it appeared to be a weighing machine, though instead of numbers designating ounces/pounds, the words “small, medium, large, extra large” appeared on its side and the shallow cupped pan on the top would have held very little. Noticing my perplexed look, Les exclaimed, “It an egg scale!” Knowing that Peggy’s organic egg business was booming, the aged scale appeared to be a smart buy.
God takes measuring very seriously:
*The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.Proverbs 11:1
*Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.Proverbs 16:11
*The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.Proverbs 20:23
As the father of lies (John 8:44), the devil is constantly trying to tip the scale in multiple ways by asking us to use worldly weights to judge others, ourselves and God. Some of his lies are:
*You are not as precious to God as you think
*God is not as powerful as you believe
*Your sins is not that bad as others
Beloved, you can’t accurately measure an egg on a doctor’s scale. You can’t measure jewelry with fish scales. You can’t use postal scales to measure your BMI or truck scales to check your blood pressure. No man is able to accurately measure the heart of another. That is a job for God only: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 7 Do you weigh yourself, God or others and find your judgment clouded by the world's scales? When you look at yourself, others or God, remember the truest measure is displayed in His Word and through Christ’s example.... and God has scales which are 100% accurate.
Careful Considerations: Are you using the wrong kind of scales to measure your esteem, relationships and walk with God? Do you gauge wrongdoing in terms of the small, medium, large and extra large like the egg scale?
Heavenly Father You caution us to judge nothing before the appointed time; but to wait till the Lord comes. You will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (I Cor 4:5.) Father God, I know that you will weigh me in honest scales (Job 31:6)and I am so thankful that You alone are my judge, not another and not even myself. Lord, I trust Your scales and know that You judge based on Your love and Christ’s sacrifice. Praise God for this truth! In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
As avid antiquers, my in-laws, Les and Peggy regularly comb area garage and estate sale for treasures. Their home is filled with interesting trinkets worthy of the Smithsonian American History Museum in Washington, DC. On any given visit to their home, it is not unusual to hear, “Want to see what we found?”
The red metal gadget passed into my hands this evening was definitely not something I’d seen before. Looking closely, it appeared to be a weighing machine, though instead of numbers designating ounces/pounds, the words “small, medium, large, extra large” appeared on its side and the shallow cupped pan on the top would have held very little. Noticing my perplexed look, Les exclaimed, “It an egg scale!” Knowing that Peggy’s organic egg business was booming, the aged scale appeared to be a smart buy.
God takes measuring very seriously:
*The LORD detests dishonest scales, but accurate weights find favor with him.Proverbs 11:1
*Honest scales and balances belong to the LORD; all the weights in the bag are of his making.Proverbs 16:11
*The LORD detests differing weights, and dishonest scales do not please him.Proverbs 20:23
As the father of lies (John 8:44), the devil is constantly trying to tip the scale in multiple ways by asking us to use worldly weights to judge others, ourselves and God. Some of his lies are:
*You are not as precious to God as you think
*God is not as powerful as you believe
*Your sins is not that bad as others
Beloved, you can’t accurately measure an egg on a doctor’s scale. You can’t measure jewelry with fish scales. You can’t use postal scales to measure your BMI or truck scales to check your blood pressure. No man is able to accurately measure the heart of another. That is a job for God only: But the Lord said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him. For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart.” 1 Samuel 16: 7 Do you weigh yourself, God or others and find your judgment clouded by the world's scales? When you look at yourself, others or God, remember the truest measure is displayed in His Word and through Christ’s example.... and God has scales which are 100% accurate.
Careful Considerations: Are you using the wrong kind of scales to measure your esteem, relationships and walk with God? Do you gauge wrongdoing in terms of the small, medium, large and extra large like the egg scale?
Heavenly Father You caution us to judge nothing before the appointed time; but to wait till the Lord comes. You will bring to light what is hidden in darkness and will expose the motives of men's hearts. At that time each will receive his praise from God. (I Cor 4:5.) Father God, I know that you will weigh me in honest scales (Job 31:6)and I am so thankful that You alone are my judge, not another and not even myself. Lord, I trust Your scales and know that You judge based on Your love and Christ’s sacrifice. Praise God for this truth! In the name of Jesus, Amen.
Love, Hugs and Prayers,
Gwenda
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