Some of Gods Attributes

Psalm 103 has an excellent description of the Lord.  It is amazing of how much David tells about the character and abilities of our LORD God.

Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all they diseases; Who redemeth thy life from destruction who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth they mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's Psalm 103:2-5

David starts this Psalm with forgiveness. God is forgiveness.  That is the most important part of God's character. He is a forgiving God. He doesn't forgive the little sin and not the big but He forgives all sin.  We must also mimic these actions.  To be holy as God is holy is to do the things in His nature.  Sometimes it is difficult to forgive great things that others have done but we must forgive, for that is what it means to truly be holy.  David also points out something through this forgiveness however, our health is a direct result of sin.  Not all sickness is but many can be related to the sins we are doing or have done in the past. (James 5:16)  In the new testament church God has sent His Son to die for us as our substitute or payment for our sins. And in this sacrifice of His Son we were made new creations.  We are redeemed (2 Corinthians 5:17). And David knows this and is excited about it. This redemption did not have to be done however.  It was done because of love.  A love that God has crowned us with (John 3:16).  And not only is God's love showed through this sacrifice (which if He did not show it any other way it would still be the most amazing love to be saved from an unquenchable fire for eternity) but also in the things He will do for us when we are adopted into His family as sons and daughters of this sacrifice (Matthew 6:9-11). These are not physical things in many cases they are spiritual things and I believe David knew this most of all when he said "...your youth is renewed..."

The LORD executeth righteousness and judgment for all that are oppressed.  He made known his ways unto Moses, his acts unto the children of Israel.  The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy.  He will not always chide: neither will he keep his anger for ever. He hath not dealt with us after our sins: nor rewarded us according to our iniquities.  For as the heaven is high above the earth, so great is his mercy toward them that fear him. As far as the east is from the west, so far hath he removed our transgressions from us. Psalm 103:6-12

God's righteousness, judgment, mercy and grace.  God is holy and just.  Just is equal and righteous in rendering what is due.  God showed mercy by releasing His people from captivity however He still demanded righteousness.  That is what God is righteous and He wants that for everyone that is being just.  He delivers us from the bondage of sin where it has no mastery over us yet we must still abide in His ways. (Romans 6:1-2).  In all that we do the holy God still has mercy and grace for us wicked sinners.  How could a God of holiness stand to see a fallen creation suffering from the disease of sin? David writes "He will not always chide..."  Chide is disapprobation or reproof.  It is amazing that God did not destroy us all which would be the appropriate punishment or judgment for sin but instead made a way of redemption when the appointed time had come.  He has shown mercy beyond belief.  And he forgives us from all sin. "...As far as the east is from the west..."  A pastor once told me that this is so far as to never be connected to again because once you head east on the globe you never can go west, this is not true on north and south for there is a point in time when you can only go so far north then you start going south. God has an amazing use of words through David, amen?!

Like as a father pitieth his children, so the LORD pitieth them that fear him.  For he knoweth our frame; he remembereth that we are dust. Psalm 103:13-14

God is Love.  Another important attribute of God.   In the Hebrew the word for pitieth is râcham which is to love, love deeply, have mercy, be compassionate, have tender affection, have compassion.  God loves all of us.  And He is willing to help us out only if we believe in Him because he knows our weakness and the depths of our souls. But if God is love without God there is no love. All things are comprised of pieces and if a piece from a set is missing then the whole cannot be realized. Especially if the piece is the essential essence.  The body cannot survive apart from the brain and there is no alternative source other than the one you have been given.  As with love. Apart from God there is no love.  Love is only from God, and God has love. (1 John 4:7-10)

As for man, his days are as grass: as a flower of the field, so he flourisheth.  For the wind passeth over it and  it is gone; and the place thereof shall know it no more.  But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting upon them that fear him, and his righteousness unto children's children;  To such as keep his covenant, and to those that remember his commandments to do them.  Psalm 103:15-18

 God is Eternal. If the LORD's mercies will endure upon generation unto generation then He must be eternal.  If they are everlasting to those who keep his covenant He is eternal.  And being eternal means He was not created.  He is before all things and will be when all things pass away. (Luke 21:33)

The Lord hath prepared his throne in the heavens; and his kingdom ruleth over all. Psalm 103:19

God is ruler.  God is the ultimate in charge.  He is sovereign.  His in control of all things.  He has dominion.

God has many attributes.  He is a great God and He sent a savior for us.  Amazing the depths of love mercy and grace He has and has in store for us if we only align our will with His.

Being Heroes

Moses Aaron Samuel.  Great heroes of the faith.  How are we like them?  How can we be like them?

Moses and Aaron among his priests, and Samuel among them that call upon his name; they called upon the LORD, and he answered them. Psalm 99:6

Amazing thing about these brothers in Christ are that they called upon the LORD, but it doesn't stop there it says he answered them!  You think God answered them because they were extraordinary people?  No it is because they had the guts to call.  That is exactly how we are like these great men a faith.  Its amazing that we could be up to the standard of these heroes. We call upon the LORD every day!  But thats not all they did.  With calling upon the LORD (this is how we can be like them)  they did not only ask of them selves but these men interceded on the behalf of a nation!  Our nation is in trouble, maybe if we humbled ourselves and prayed on its behalf God would spare ours.  I've heard it said that many of these things that have come upon the United States (9/11 Katrina economy) have been because of God's wrath or His judgment.  If we stand in the gap and pray for revival of our people and lead by example God will answer that prayer as He did countless times for Moses Aaron and Samuel.

He spake unto them in the cloudy pillar: they kept his testimonies, and the ordinances that he gave them. Psalm 99:7

God actually spoke to Moses Aaron and Samuel.  Is that not amazing?  Well actually God speaks to us everyday......if we listen.  It may not be in the audible voice in which He spoke to our heroes but we will know when He has called.  He speaks with His Spirit of Truth and it will guide us in all paths (Isaiah 30:21). But its not that God spoke to Moses Aaron and Samuel, but that they listened.  If we want to be true heroes of the faith then that is the most important part, act on what we've been presented.  We have the Word of God.  That is our ultimate direction. It is infallible and if we obey it it will mold us into a greater image then these men, it will mold us in the image of Christ our savior!

Thou answeredst them, O LORD our God: thou wast a God that forgavest them, though thou tookest vengeance of their inventions. Psalm 99:8

All men mess up, it is too be remembered.  It is not that we mess up but it is that God forgives.  Many times we believe that we are too big a sinner, or too bad a person to do anything for God, yet here it clearly states so are the greatest of God's followers.  We must remember God forgives all and that is why the writer finishes

Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy hill; for the LORD our God is holy.         Psalm 99:9 

How great a God is there who still wants to love, interact and be with a sinful people.  I will worship Him.  Will you?

Blessings That Show

Something to think about when remembering God are the good things he has done in our lives.  When we go through trials these are the very things that will give us faith and others faith to sustain.  In these trials we should continually praise Him knowing He has delivered us before.

Sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things:  his right hand and his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen.  He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. Psalm 98:1-3

 It clearly says that we should praise him.  He has done marvelous things in our lives.  But he openly shows them to others.  Those that don't believe in God (heathens) can see the blessings that God has done.  Reasons for that are simple.  Because even if the non-believer can see how much God has done in our lives there should be no worry (if we are doing His will) that what we go through will not work itself out according to His mighty plan.  Maybe those trials we think we are so deeply in will give faith to a non-believer which will end up for them accepting Christ.  Another reason is the later part of what I said.  The non-believers who see the great things Christ has blessed us with (the marvelous things could also be peace through a storm everything may not be swell all the times) will accept Christ almost solely on that basis.

Remember all the ends of the earth will see it and have seen it.  Its a wonder why our faith is not colossal.  Let us take time to look at the blessings in our lives and dwell on them knowing how our God can and has used them to strengthen others and ourselves in faith and leading others to Him.

He is Worthy of Praise

My God is worthy of praise.  In all that I do I should praise Him.  With good reason too.  A lot of times in my life I start getting into the routine of things.  I do them just to be doing them, or because I know that they should be done.  And thats not worshiping God fully in spirit and in truth.  Really I am doing nothing but dishonoring the God that I love.

Sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  Sing unto the LORD, bless his name, shew forth his salvation from day to day.  Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.  Psalm 96:1-3

 The word says to sing to the LORD a new song.  Vain repetitions do not work here.  If his mercies are new everyday which they are, we should praise Him for those everyday.  And that brings up the next point.  Everyday.  shew forth His salvation from day to day, means everyday.  I read a book that says if I do not worship everyday then how can I expect to worship the one day I do go to church (though we do need to go to church those 3 times a week to worship corporately).  And verse 3 states that we need to declare Him to others.  Some might say this is witnessing (it is) but I say that its worshiping.  In the context of this psalm it clearly saying that witnessing is a part of worship.  Witnessing is an essential in worship thats why it is an imperative statement not declarative.  

For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods.... Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name:...O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.  Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that is shall not be moved: he shall judge... righteously....and the people his truth.  Psalm 96:4&8-10&13

We also must worship in truth.  Here are some truths about our LORD God
1. He is to be feared above all gods.  He is above all things for He is greater than anyones greatest thing. What is believed to be the greatest of all things (gods) our God is greater than that.
2.In the beauty of holiness.  Our God is holy.  And only something holy can be worshiped in holiness.  For the worshipers cannot be greater than the worship or the person or object of worship would not deserved to be worshiped.
3.the LORD reigneth.  Our God is sovereign above all things.  He is on the throne and all is His and He controls all.  (Knowing God is in control will help when it seems chaos is all around)
4.He shall judge...righteously.  He is judge.  He is the final say in all matters.  And He is righteous.  There is no evilness guile or deceit in Him.  And therefore all that He judges is correct and true.
5 and the people His truth.  He is truth.  Anything apart from God is a lie.  Therefore all that we do with Him must be in the light of His truth.

O what a might God I serve.  Can anything be greater or as great?  When I lose my eye in worship I will remember these things to bring the passion into my relationship with Christ.  Just to think of these things brings me to my knees in awe and wonder of Him.  O how I worship the LORD God!

Psalm 93:1

This Psalm packs powerful punch.  It reminds me of whom I give praise, from where my strength comes, and how POWERFUL LORD God really is. 

Until recently (tho it still applies today)  Clothes define the person you are.  You have expensive clothes you either have money or spend money.  Your clothes are dirty and nasty you either are nasty or poor.  You where nice clothes yet not expensive, you are smart.  Even in religious circles you can define one by there clothes. Penicostal women have long hair and wear skirts and Islamic women cover there heads and faces.

In the same manner you will know God by what he clothes himself in.

The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved. Psalm 93:1

Isn't it awsome that God is majesty.  Majesty in its definition is the greatness and dignity of a sovereign, or the sovereignty and power of God.  And sovereign in its definition means one who exercises supreme and perminent authority.  So just to know that God is clothed with majesty means that He is always in control.  Amen!

And He is clothed with strength.  All those times when life seems so tough and so hard remember God is strength.  He has the same Spirit of power that raised Christ is also at work in our hearts. Amen 2!

It also said that He created this world. Girded by definition means to equip or endow or to prepare (oneself) for action.  With this same strength God girded himself to prepare the world, and ever since he prepared it nothing can happen apart from what he alows (it cannot be moved).

This verse speaks volumes of the power and control that God has in not only the world but in our lives!  How great is the God that we serve!

psalm 92

Many people wanna know how their lives can be fulfilling.  They wanna know how they can effectively live for God.  Well Psalm 92 says it all.  I like to start from the end.

Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing;  Psalm 92:13-14

This is how to live life fully.  It is to flurish and bring fruit to the Lord.  That is the ends to the means.  Well then what is the means in order to have this psalm as an end.  We must now start at the beginning.

It is a good thing to give thanks unto the LORD, and to sing praises unto thy name, O most High: To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night,  Psalm 92:1-2

The first thing we must do is worship God.  Thats pretty simple.  We have to give him the praise and glory for him All day.  Day and night it says.  We want our lives to bear fruit for Christ we have to worship him.

 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered.  But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. Psalm 92:9-10 

The next thing we have to do is be Holy.  It says that the LORD's enimies will perish because they do iniquity, but the writer will not.  Why is this?  Because he is holy unto God.  We must be holy also if we are to lead a fulfilling and fruitful life in Christ.

The next verses say that we will flurish. 

The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: Psalm 92:12

Our lives shall be full and we will bear fruit in Christ name if only we follow Psalm 92.  I know I am.