psalm 10

Psalm 10

Yahweh, why can’t I feel your nearness?
Why do I feel so alone when my world is shaking?
Bad men, full of pride, chase and abuse the helpless.
I hope they trip over their own wickedness.
They talk and talk about their wicked schemes.
They fawn over other evildoers and blaspheme you, Yahweh. 
Those fools can’t see you because they are so full of themselves.
They stupidly think you’re in the grave, Yahweh!
And still…they achieve what they want.
They don’t know you are storing up pain for them.
They mock their foes and think they will get away with it.
They say, “We are invincible, untouchable!”

Everything falling from their lips is rotten.
They speak words of destruction and think terrible thoughts.
They hide in dark alleys, waiting to pounce on the innocent.
All they want to do is ruin and kill others.
Creeping through the shadows,
stalking and hunting their prey…
they attack and capture the defenseless.
Who can stand against them?
Their wicked ways are too much!
They think you don’t see them, Yahweh!  Fools!
They think you are sleeping on the job and that they will get away with all of this.

Come on, Yahweh! 
Defend your people!
Make those evildoers suffer!
I don’t understand why their plans succeed—plans that mock you, Yahweh.
I know they think there is no punishment.
But you are not sleeping, and you are not blind.
Their awful behavior has not gone unnoticed.  You will act!
The forgotten and neglected turn to you,
because you care for the least of these.
Smash those evil people!
Completely wreck and demolish each and every one of them.
Yahweh, you are the ruler of eternity!
Tribes and nations who have walked away from you will soon be forgotten.
Yahweh, you hear the secret whispers of your people.
I just know you will shelter and care for them in their need.
You will call the wicked to account,
creating peace at last for the harassed and helpless.

psalm 9

Psalm 9

I will glorify you, Yahweh, with every fiber of my being;
I will broadcast your amazing wonders to the world.
My heart is both full of delight and can rest quietly because of your great love.
My life cries out, ‘Yes, Yahweh, you are high and holy!’

No one can stand against me--
they run and perish when you stood with me.
You have declared me innocent--
through the blood of Christ, you have cleared my name.
You have called out the liars and sinners around the world; you have kicked out the evildoers;
they are gone forever.
My foes are done, hopelessly wrecked--
the homes you destroyed are erased from memory.

But you, Yahweh, are the king of eternity!
You bring justice and righteousness to this world.
Your kingdom will usher in a new system,
where goodness and right living will rule the day.
Yahweh is protection for the whipped and beaten,
a safe harbor for weary and battered sailors.
All of us who know your intimate love rest securely in your arms,
for you, Yahweh, will always be a faithful father for the children who cry out to you.

Glorify our Yahweh!  He is king of Zion!
Shout out all he has done—the personal stories of his victory in your lives!
The great judge, defender of the martyrs…he is on our side!
He is acquainted with torment and trials, and he hears our desperation.

Oh, Yahweh, take pity on this suffering soul.
Do you hear their mockery?
Rescue me from their grasp, from their tentacles of pain and evil.
Redeem my life, for I want to declare your glory in the town square;
I want to shout out that you are my hero!

These evil men have seen it all blow up in their faces--
what they meant for others’ harm has come back to ensnare them.
Yahweh is the one who rights wrongs—it’s what he does!
Evildoers and sinners can’t get away from their own wickedness—it imprisons them.

Sinners will die and miss out on glory--
that’s what happens to men and women who disdain Yahweh.
But the weary and brokenhearted will soon have a voice;
indeed, their victory is coming!  Hope and restoration are on the way!

Up, Yahweh, rise up!
How can you let these wicked men defile your people?
Declare them guilty!  Punish them!
Terrify them with your greatness, Yahweh--
let them know they are nothing, and you are everything.

psalm 8

Psalm 8

O Yahweh, Yahweh, our Yahweh—your beauty and honor fill all time and space!

The weight of your presence is greater than both the heights and depths.
Mere babes speak your story—you put it in their hearts from birth.
Your foes have no words to explain this.
Your opponents cannot stand against you.
Yahweh, when I gaze at the dark sky and know you spread it out…
the sparkling, twinkling perfect lights you placed with precision…
who are we? 
Simple, tiny specks.
And yet—you know us!  You delight in us!
You cared for our eternal position—near to you—
and blessed our lives.
You gave us purpose and hope.
You let us work with the wonders of your creation—
cows and sheep,
badgers and baboons,
pelicans and piranhas,
shrimp and great white sharks.

Oh, Yahweh, Yahweh, our Yahweh—your beauty and honor fill all time and space!

psalm 7

Psalm 7

I run to your safe arms, my Yahweh.
Protect me from my enemies—be my champion!
Without you, I will be ripped to shreds,
a piece of meat in the mouths of dogs.
Yahweh, you know my sins--
you know if I have hurt others,
if I have acted unfairly,
or been merciless to my friends or enemies.
And if I have?
Well, I will take the punishment. 
Let them abuse and destroy my name and my life.

Get up, Yahweh—let your fierce fury roll out.
Get right in the face of my accusers.
Don’t sleep while I need your vindication!
Circle up the troops;
command them.
You, Yahweh, are the mighty judge,
and I know you will clear my name.
Find a quick finish for these evil people,
and champion the cause of your holy ones.
I know you see the deep motives of our hearts very clearly,
Yahweh—my just and holy God.

Yahweh is my very near defender,
the protector of the pure and righteous.
Yahweh makes fair and true decisions
and hates the ways of evil men.

If sinners don’t change their ways,
Yahweh will skewer them;
he will string them up.
Yahweh will end them forcefully
and shock them violently.

Evil men constantly scheme;
they fill their minds with wickedness
and produce deceit all the time.
They try to trick and imprison others,
but they become snared in their own traps.
The evil they plan for others is their own downfall.
Their anger and hate comes back to them.

I am full of gratitude, Yahweh the just,
and I will glorify your name, my King.

psalm 6

Psalm 6

Oh, Yahweh, don’t scold me; I know you are outraged.
Don’t punish me—despite your fury.
Take pity on this poor soul, Yahweh, for I am a weak human.
Bring relief; bring a cure!  My body falls apart,
and my heart is simply broken.
Oh, Yahweh, when will you put my pieces together?
Come back, Yahweh, and be the hero of my heart.
I know your love is steadfast; you will rescue me.
Corpses don’t know you,
and they can’t worship you where they lie.
My tears have wrecked me.
My pillow is soaked from crying out in desperation all night.
I can’t see straight because of the sorrow;
my foes ruin everything at which I look.
Get out of here, sinners and wicked ones!
Yahweh hears my every cry!
He listens to my mourning,
and He will respond.
My foes don’t stand a chance.
They will be scorned and humiliated, driven far away.

psalm 5

Psalm  5

Oh, Yahweh, can you hear me?
My heart is aching,
and I need to hear from you.
Master, ruler, lover,
you are the only one who can rescue me.
Draw near to me as the sun rises, Yahweh.
My sorrows and needs are before you;
I will wait hopefully, for you are a God who delivers.

Yahweh, there is no joy when we sin;
it breaks your heart to see how evil people act.
That’s why the haughty are brought low before you--
you abhor wickedness.
You will bring liars to ruin,
and you cannot tolerate the hatred and evil that abounds.

But your presence, goodness, and love allow me to come near to you;
I will never get over the gift of being allowed to praise you.
Guide me, Yahweh,
or I am sure to falter.
Give me greater insight into your direction for my life.

My foes lie constantly.
All they do is hate and kill.
Disease and death pour out of their mouths.
They try to sweet talk others,
but you see through it, Yahweh.  Pass judgment on them.
I want them to be trapped and humiliated in their lies.
Get them out of here--
they do not honor you at all!

But everyone who knows you is safe and can dance with delight;
we will start a chorus of blessing, and it will last forever.
Protect your people, Yahweh,
so everyone who knows and loves you can rejoice constantly.
You bless your beloved people, Yahweh,
and you wrap your strong arms around us--
it is because you love us well.

psalm 4

Psalm 4

Are you listening when I cry out?
Then answer, Yahweh, my defender!
Rescue me from this heartache and sorrow.
Incline your ear to me; give me grace for this moment.
Troublemakers are wrecking my life,
spreading lies and dragging my name through the mud.
How can I bear this abuse?
Well, I know this with certainty:
Yahweh knows His beloved,
and Yahweh will respond to my suffering.
Calm down—don’t let rage be your master.
Give yourself a quiet night to think it over.
Bring a spirit of worship to Yahweh;
He will care for you.
Others may say, “When will my life turn around?”
Oh, Yahweh, pour your gracious spirit down on us.
You have blessed my life abundantly--
even more than those who are rich and satisfied.
I can rest sweetly in your embrace
because I know only Yahweh can truly guard my life.

Psalm 3

Psalm 3

Yahweh, my list of enemies is growing!

I am beaten down by this gang.

Others whisper,

“Even Yahweh can’t come to the rescue.”
Rest.

Oh, but Yahweh, you shelter me;
holy one, you wrap your arms around me,
and you direct my eyes to yours.

When I call for you, Yahweh,
you respond from your throne.

Rest.
I can let go and relax;
my sleep is sweet because Yahweh is my everything.
There is no reason to fear these hordes.
Come on, Yahweh!
Come to the rescue!
Smash them all to bits.
Yahweh directs the rescue operation,
and your joy covers the church.
Rest.

psalm 2

Psalm 2

Why is there so much unrest in the world?
Why do these men use their energy for foolish thinking?
They strut around and plan to fight;
they think if they stick together,
they can take on Yahweh
and hurt his chosen leader. 
“We don’t need to submit to Yahweh!
Let’s run free and go where we want.”
But Yahweh smiles grimly;
he mocks their simple thoughts.
With power and fury, he disciplines them,
frightening them with his anger.

Yahweh tells them, “I picked this leader for my people;
he is right where he should be.”
And I will tell them--
Yahweh called me to this place, claiming me as his own.
He adopted me and changed my name.
He said, “If you ask me, I will give you everything;
all these countries and people are yours.
You can rule them with discipline
and destroy those who are unworthy.”

So listen, you leaders!
Be wise, for I have spoken Yahweh’s truth.
Honor him, fear him,
praise him.  Take joy!
If you don’t listen to me, Yahweh’s chosen one, I will terrify you
and wreck everything you have built.

Trust me, my anger is no joke.
But it is a blessing to rest in my leadership.

Psalm 1

Blessings are abundant for those who don’t

listen to the advice of fools,
spend time with evil people,
or participate in pointless banter.
But they take great joy in Yahweh’s Word,
thinking about and praying over it throughout the day.
They will flourish and thrive,
producing evident spiritual fruit.
They will not wear out,
and their hands will find success.
But evil people can forget about it!
They are dirt and dust, and the wind blows them all over.
Yahweh will pronounce judgment on them,
because wicked people don’t belong with Yahweh’s holy people.

Yahweh attends to the plans of his beloved people,
but wicked people are doomed.

hello, old friend

yeah, i have been absent.  not just from posting.  from reading blogs, too.  so if you have been writing super important things with funny little jokes that i should be laughing at, i haven't read them.  sorry.  i will spend some time catching up on those.

life update: i am still in madison.  still working for dan.  still playing frisbee.  but i am tired.  my body is worn out, and i miss home.  i love madison, and it will always be a home place for me, but it is not home anymore.

i am still looking at and applying for jobs.  waiting on one in particular, but we'll see how it goes.

i decided i am moving back to indiana in the middle of november.  unless i am called somewhere else earlier.

finally, a new little project.  miranda and i are doing beth moore's bible study on the psalms of ascent.  it's called stepping up, and i am super loving it.  one of the things i love most is that we are rewriting those 15 psalms in our own voice at the end of each section.  so great.  really helping me connect to the Word and to the Lord.

so...i think i am going to rewrite all the psalms.  and i am going to post them here randomly.  no timeline.  just want to share my heart a bit in that way.  i welcome your comments.

the end.

faith and school: balance and rest

it was good for my heart to be reminded of this today:

'we are merely moving shadows, and all our busy rushing ends in nothing...and so, Lord, where do i put my hope? my only hope is in you.' psalm 39:6-7

there's a lot going on with just one month left in the semester. lots of work events, lots of school projects. and these things matter. i should be giving a quality effort for this stuff. but at the end of the day (and at the end of days), the important thing to remember is that my hope is in Christ. all my busy rushing ends in nothing.

reflecting on that...and making space for healthy, restful choices...these things help me maintain balance in my life in the midst of the crazy. say it with me:

it is good for me to get sleep. to go for runs. to fix delicious meals. to sit and play my guitar. to read and write.

so...how are you finding balance and rest in your life?