Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Nine
“Not the end of the journey…PART 2”
Psalm 89:1

“I will sing of the tender mercies of the Lord forever!”

Yesterday seemed dark, the future foreboding, yet here we are in today. To state the obvious, today is yesterday’s tomorrow. We fear what lies ahead, yet we find ourselves living in our past’s future. “the tender mercies of the Lord” are forever. God promises to tenderly watch over us through our todays and tomorrows.
As we come near the end of this Summer Road Trip the one over arching theme we have seen through the windows of the Psalms is God’s mercy. He cares for us when we don’t deserve it. He is with us when we don’t feel it.

Ours is a God of FOREVER. You will make it to tomorrow and you will make it through today. As tough as today may seem – God’s tender mercies are greater.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Eight
“Not the end of the journey…PART 1”
Psalm 88:18

“…only darkness remains.”

We’ve come a long way on our journey through Psalms. I am sure that over the past months you have experienced some low points. There are times when it appears that the lights are flickering and the path is turning dark. Fear and loss are hard to deal with.

The author of today’s Psalm seems to have nothing good to say about anything…
but take a peek at the first verse of tomorrows Psalm – even in the darkest and most disappointing times – there is assurance and hope that God’s love and mercy is with you.
Keep traveling and hang in there! There is always another Psalm.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Seven
“Life Source”
Psalm 87:7

“The source of my life is in Jerusalem.”

Jerusalem was where the Temple was located. It was the center-piece of Jewish worship. Worship is the life-source of our journey. As we place our focus on Jesus Christ and draw our fuel from Him we find that our journey is “doable”.
Where or what is your life source? Make it Jesus.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Six
“Total Confidence”
Psalm 86:2

“Save me, for I serve and trust you.”

Two thoughts:
First, we need to be saved; I mean, we need saving. We find ourselves in situations beyond our control where only God can help. At those times we must cry out to God, “Save me!” He’s waiting for our call.

Secondly, we need to serve and trust God during the times we need saving. Our responsibility is to serve and we know God has asked us to serve and then trust Him for the outcome.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Five
“From the Dead!”
Psalm 85:6

“Won’t you revive us again, so your people can rejoice in you?”

Revival is an archaic word. When I was a kid we had “revival meetings” at church. Now that I am older I understand that the purpose of such meetings was to awaken the dead; revive them. There were a lot of dead hearts and discouraged people who needed reviving.
It’s true today as well. There are times when our prayer is simply, “God give me new life and new strength; I feel dead.”
We should be praying for revival.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Four
“Whole Body Experience”
Psalm 84:2

“With my whole being, body and soul, I will shout joyfully to the living God.”

My goal on this journey is a total, whole body experience. I want to know that I have given to God all that I am, every ounce of my strength and every thought and emotion of my soul. I don’t believe I’ve made it to that point yet – but I’m going to keep traveling down this road and giving it my best. When I get side-tracked or detoured – I will simply get back on the road and give it my all.
Can you think of any better way to live this life and really enjoy it than with your whole being?


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Three
“The Way Things Oughta Be”
Psalm 83:1

“O God, don’t sit idly by, silent and inactive!”

I must confess that there are times when I wonder why God doesn’t do something! Why is He sitting there while I’m in the mess that I am in? He seems silent and inactive.
He’s not! Though it may seem God neither speaks nor moves – the Bible says He never sleeps nor slumbers.
God forgive me for ever doubting Your involvement in my life.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-Two
“Traveler’s Assistance”
Psalm 82:4

“Rescue the poor and helpless; deliver them from the grasp of evil people.”

As we travel the journey we will come across those who are hurting and helpless. God has placed is there to help. We can be instruments of rescue for those who need deliverance. We can offer hope, encouragement and resources.
Who has God placed on your journey that needs your rescuing hand?


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty-One
“Power-Aide”
Psalm 81:1

“Sing praises to God, our strength...”

I’m still thinking about my journey back from Half-Dome in Yosemite. Getting to the Dome took courage and determination; getting back was not an option! I could have turned around at any point going up the mountain (I actually did stop at the foot of Little Dome), but there was no turning back on the way down the mountain. All we could do was keep walking.
By the time we arrived at the trailhead we were totally spent, then we realized that we still had about a mile to walk – to our car! All I could do was pray for strength – and walk.
You may be weary today. There is no option to stop. What you have is God’s strength! Use it.


Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Eighty
“U-turn”
Psalm 80:3



“Turn us again to yourself, O God.”


We do not like to think that God allows rough times. We would rather think of God like the loving Shepherd who leads and protects us. Reality check: “You have fed us with sorrow and made us drink tears.”
Why does God allow us to face the pains of our stubbornness-es and sins? He does it to turn us back to Him. Sometimes we have to learn the hard way. We refuse to obey the easy way.
We must never forget that God’s desire and plan is to do whatever it takes to U-turn us back to Him.
“Turn us again to yourself, O Lord God Almighty. Make your face shine down upon us. Only then will we be saved.” (vs.19)

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-nine
“Shepherd”
Psalm 79:13


“the sheep of your pasture…”


It is hard to look around us and see the injustices of our world. It’s even harder when those injustices are focused on us! Even more intolerable is the reality that some of what we assume to be unjust is, in truth, of our own making. We deserve what we are getting.
Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Our prayer is always for mercy.
God cares for us as a shepherd cares for His sheep. Our cries for mercy fall on loving hears: “Demonstrate your great power by saving those condemned to die.” (vs.11)
Never forget that God cares.

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-eight
“Tell Me a Story”
Psalm 78:72

“He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.”

Psalm 78 is one of the longest Psalms in the Bible; it is the story of Israel. “I will teach you hidden lessons from our past-stories we have heard and know.” The Psalm is lengthy and worth every minute you invest reading it. The story begins with Jacob, leads through the wilderness, speaks of both rebellion, discipline, care and provision; it ends with King David from whom the Messiah, Jesus Christ would find His lineage. It ends with a truth that you and I can claim:

“He cared for them with a true heart and led them with skillful hands.” (vs.72)

The question I have for you today is: What’s your story? Can you tell the story of God’s call on your life, maybe a wilderness like time and God’s constant care and provision? Let’s hear your story!

Enjoy the Journey

Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-seven
“The Road”
Psalm 77:20


“You led your people along that road…”


We face some pretty tough times; maybe today is such a time for you. Maybe you’re losing sleep; maybe you are wishing you could go back to what seems like an easier time. There is a better remedy: remember.
Remember who God is: “O God, your ways are holy.” (vs.13)
Remember what God has done: “You are the God of miracles and wonders!” (vs.14)
Remember where God has brought you through: “You led your people…”

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-six
“Promises”
Psalm 76:11

“Make vows to the Lord your God, and fulfill them.”

We shy away from promises. We worry that we can’t live up to our vows. God, however, desires our devotion and longs for our commitment to Him. Don’t be afraid to commit to God. Give Him what He alone deserves – all of you.

Enjoy the Journey
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-five
“Timing is everything”
Psalm 75:2


“God says, “At the time I have planed…”

We are impatient. We want God to hurry up. We want to get to the end of His story and enjoy its conclusion. God says, “At the time I have planned…”
His timing is everything. He alone has the judgment to know when and where.
Don’t get in a hurry; God doesn’t. No matter how unjust or inconvenient today may seem, God has His timing and it is perfect.

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-four
“Look what You did!”
Psalm 74:17
“You set the boundaries of the earth,”

I changed pictures today because I want you to see some of what we saw last week. Yosemite is but a speck on this globe upon which we live, yet it is towering and overwhelming when compared to our tiny we are. God made it all and set it in place. He set the boundaries of the rivers and waterfalls. He decided where the rocks end and the sky begins. Just look what He did!
By the way, He did it all for you and for me!

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-three
“Envious Detour””
Psalm 73:3
“For I envied the proud…”

Last week I stood at the edge of a cliff; thousands of feet below me lay the Yosemite Valley. It was both awesome and scary. I had to back away.
There are times in my life when I get close to the edge of the cliff called envy. “I came close to the edge of the cliff…For I envied the proud…” (vs.2-3) Then I backed away. Once I saw how the proud lived I realized how precarious such cliff-dwelling actually was.
Psalm 73 is a sad description of proud, wicked people. Another way to say it is, if you want to know what God really things of wealth, just look at who He gives it to most often! (read the Psalm)
I’ve learned “how good it is to be near God!” (vs.28)
I’d rather live safely near God than with all the wealth in the world – living on the edge.

Enjoy the Journey
Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-two
“His Glory”
Psalm 72:19

Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.”

Just look at that picture.
Enough said.

Enjoy the Journey
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy-one
“People Are Watching”
Psalm 71:7

“My life is an example to many,”

You might not think of yourself as an example, but you are. Everyday someone is watching you. Every moment others are looking at your example. Will your example point to what God is doing through you or will it point away from Him?

Enjoy the Journey
Pastor Paul

Summer Road Trip ‘08
Day Seventy
“In Need”
Psalm 70:5


“But I am poor and needy; please hurry to my aid, O God.”

Our pride seldom allows us to admit the obvious; we are poor and needy – in need of God’s love and power. We don’t have what it takes to live for God; we need Him. We will only find the strength we need when we come to the end of ourselves and seek God’s aid.

Enjoy the Journey
Pastor Paul