Seeking After What Is Of True Value

1 The earth is the Lord’s and all that is in it, the world, and those who live in it;
2 for he has founded it on the seas, and established it on the rivers.
3 Who shall ascend the hill of the Lord? And who shall stand in his holy place?
4 Those who have clean hands and pure hearts, who do not lift up their souls to what is false, and do not swear deceitfully.
5 They will receive blessing from the Lord, and vindication from the God of their salvation.
6 Such is the company of those who seek him, who seek the face of the God of Jacob. Selah

7 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
8 Who is the King of glory? The Lord, strong and mighty, the Lord, mighty in battle.
9 Lift up your heads, O gates! and be lifted up, O ancient doors! that the King of glory may come in.
10 Who is this King of glory? The Lord of hosts, he is the King of glory.Selah

I'm sure that most if not all of us have, at one time or another, sought after what we thought was ultimately valuable - and failed miserably. The next rank on the corporate ladder, the newest car, clothes, gadgets, etc. The psalm reminds me that all things - the earth itself is the Lord's. He created all things. He owns all things. 

Oftentimes, the world subtly lulls me into the trap of seeking after the creation, rather than the creator who has the power to grant me all things - if it is His will. The creator who has only the best intentions for me and knows what is best. The psalm reminds me to seek Him - the King of glory. To purify my heart and hands and my will that I may see Him. Sadly, on my own I have no power to "clean" my hands and "purify" my heart. 

But praise God! For out of His great love for me, He sent His own son Jesus to pay the price of my sins on the cross. To cleanse my heart and hands with His precious blood - once and for all. 

In the end, what is ultimately more valuable than wealth, power, or fame is being righteous and blameless before the God of the universe. Having the assurance that when this temporary earth and all that is in it fades into obscurity and oblivion, I have what is ultimately valuable and eternal - the promise of salvation and eternity spent with the One who loved me first and loved me most. Jesus.

In Memoriam

What Am I Choosing To Remember Today?

Memory, learning and action are inseparable. What I chose to remember (or forget) become lessons learned and these lessons ultimately define my future actions. Nothing wrong with remembering or building memorials (whether physical ones or just in our minds ) in fact it goes way back to the old testament.

"Joshua 4:7 "...tell them that the flow of the Jordan was cut off before the ark of the covenant of the LORD. When it crossed the Jordan, the waters of the Jordan were cut off. These stones are to be a memorial to the people of Israel forever.”

However, there is a need to be careful and selective on the memories I retain and the memorials I build. One of the devil's greatest deceptions is to cause me to continue to dwell on things, events, memories, people that have hurt, discouraged and or disappointed me. In so doing, rendering me (at the very least) depressed, paralyzed (unable to live out my faith), ineffective as witness /servant /follower of Christ and (at the very worst)/even hurtful to those around me and damaging to His great commission that He has laid out in Matthew 28:19

The question I ask myself is this “Do the memories I keep in my mind cause me to respond/act in a manner that is not consistent with the will of my Father in heaven? Do the memories I hold on to cause me to become angry, bitter, frustrated, resentful, disappointed, desperate? Are they robbing me of the joy of His salvation?” If so, then maybe its time to make new memories, maybe its time to tear down "old" memorials (whether physical ones or just in my mind) /memorial stones that I've put up that have become enemy footholds / strongholds in my mind and maybe its time to build new ones.

"2 Corinthians 10:5 "We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ."

"Philippians 4:8 "8 Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things."

New memorials that would remind me of God's FAITHFULNESS, His POWER, His FORGIVENESS, His LOVE and GRACE instead of remembering the evil that men can do and have done to me. Perhaps its about time I started to really FORGIVE just as I myself have been FORGIVEN.

One thing I should remember and never forget is that I too was once in darkness, and I too was evil, I too was detestable and loathsome in the eyes of a holy God, I too was as much (if not more of) a sinner as those who have and are still doing me wrong—YET BY HIS GRACE I AM FORGIVEN!

Here are some thoughts I will dwell on and need to remember: Matthew 6:14-15; Matthew 18:21-35; Mark 11:25; Luke 17:4; Colossians 3:13;