Psalm 103

I was reading through Psalm 103 the other night and felt compelled to break it up in to three sections. Pull up your bible and open up to Psalm 103. I made three columns in my journal. One titled Praise, one titled What God Does For Us, and the last To Who He does These Things.

Praise:
With my whole heart (v1)
All that I am (v2)
Never forget the good things (v2)

What God Does:
Forgives ALL sins (v3)
Heals ALL diseases (v3)
Redeems (v4)
Fills my life with good things (v5)
Gives righteousness and is just (v6)
compassionate and merciful (v8)
Slow to get angry (v8)
Unfailing love (v8)
Love remains forever

To Who Does He do These Things?
Toward those who fear him (v11)
To those who fear him (v13)
With those who fear him (v17) (fearing him seems to be a theme here)
Those who are faithful to his covenant (v18)
Those who obey he commandment (v18)
Who carry out his plans (v20)
Who serve him and do his will (v21)

And the last verse in Psalm 103 says "Let all that I am praise the Lord."

My prayer is that as we go through each day remembering who God is and who we can be when we fear him, obey him, are faithful to him, do his will, and serve him with the praise of our whole heart. God loves us so much. He desires for us to live our lives "being faithful to his covenant". It is easy to read a scripture and get excited about it...or let it resonate in our hearts and minds for a bit...but I challenge myself this week and all of us to find out what it "looks" like for us to be willing to do his will...or be faithful to him...or obey his commands...how are we going to do that daily? Are we willing to sacrifice something to do this? Can we strive for this each day and not just on the days we are motivated and "feeling" like it? I have been so challenged the last few days...I am going to publish this post, check on Jack and his two friends that are spending the night, and go spend time with God...refreshing my heart...asking for transformation of my thoughts...and direction so that I can serve Him....with my whole heart.

Last night I went to a Christmas Program at my dad's church. During the service they were having a bone marrow registry going on in the back. A dad got up in front of the church sharing from his heart how his daughter just last year is now cancer free because of getting bone marrow. He told us how it is a matter of life and death for someone in need. The pleading and compassion in his eyes was that of a deep desire to save not only his child but others who were hurting and in need. His sense of urgency was evident. Tonight as I was thinking about this man's request, I can remember the look on his face and how desperate he was for us to understand what he was feeling. I was thinking about our loving Father...our Lord...standing in front of us pleading for us to chose to live for him., pleading for us to read his Word and apply it..a matter of life or death...a deep desire to save his child...and others who are hurting and in need. I could almost picture our God's eyes...evident with love and compassion for his children....wanting us to get it...to understand why we need him...why these children need bone marrow...why we need a Saviour...a father fighting for his daughter...a Father fighting for his sons and daughters...

Praise him "with my whole heart"...is that too much to ask...it is a matter of life and death.

In love, Teresa