Shelter in the Rain

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 61. Here is what I learned.

For You are my protection, an impenetrable fortress from my enemies. Psalm 61:3 (VOICE)

For You have been a shelter and a refuge for me, a strong tower against the adversary. Psalm 61:3 (AMP)

Refuge: to flee for protection; to confide in—have hope, make refuge, (put) trust.

Shelter in the Rain (4 Him)

How long have you been

Waiting on a little sun to shine

To take away the night

Hold on for you are never alone

Through the darkest skies

There is a guiding light

For our God is a refuge

Where the weary can run and hide

in times of trouble

He’ll be the calm in the midst of the storm

‘Till it passes by

Oh, you need to know

CHORUS

There’s a shelter in the rain

There’s a hope for your tomorrow

There’s a cover through the pain

When you’re underneath the weather

Jesus is the shelter in the rain

Sometimes when hope is hard to find

We’ve got to walk by faith

Until we see the way

Hold tight for we are promised in time

Those who patiently wait

Will never wait in vain

For we know God is faithful

He’s a fortress to run into

In times of trouble

He’ll cover us with the wings of his love

‘Till we make it through

Oh, we got to know

REPEAT CHORUS

So tell me why

Why could you ever run away

From the cover out into the storm

Just know in time

The rain’s gonna bring a brighter day

And the clouds will be gone

But while you wait on the Lord

Just knowing that I have a shelter—no matter how stormy it looks, or how strong the storm may be—my God is a strong and secure shelter!

What a joy to place my hope and trust in the Almighty God! And being in the God’s protection turns any stormy day into a positive one! 

Shelter in the Rain (4 Him) 

Poor Me to Praise God!

This year, I'm sharing my "Treasures" of my study of my "Ponder the Morsels" book. I've picked 31 Psalms to study throughout 2013. Today I studied Psalm 150. Here is what I learned.

What? Who? Where? Why? How? Five questions journalists include when writing a news report. On January 14, 2013, I shared the answers to the first four of these questions. Today, I’ll look at “How?”.

Praise with a blast on the trumpet, praise by strumming soft strings; Praise him with castanets and dance, praise him with banjo and flute; Praise him with cymbals and a big bass drum, praise him with fiddles and mandolin. Psalm 150:3-5 (MSG)

The Trumpet is the loudest and used  to make an announcement. It get’s everyone’s attention.  The strings are softer and more personal, requiring the strumming of the fingers. The castanets and dancing are results of the overflowing joy of praise. Praising God cannot, and should not, be contained The banjo and flute, using touch and our ‘wind’ to make harmonious music of praise. The cymbals and a big bass drum, loud and strong add to the harmony of praising God. 

As I thought about praising God with music, I couldn’t help but think of what music does. 1) allows me to express my joy and praise 2) changes my attitude to that of one of joy and praise. 

When I’m in a “good mood” and happy, singing and praising God is almost automatic. I find myself humming a song, or singing (when no one is around). Music is a natural outcome of being happy and joyous. 

Yet, when I’m in a “bad mood” I don’t feel much like singing. However, if I listen to praise and joyous songs, the music lifts me up and changes my attitude to one of praise to God. 

How should I praise God? With music. For music is an expression of my feelings—my heart and soul. If I don’t feel much like praising God, then I need to change my feelings—heart and soul and get “turned around” and music can do that was well. 

I have several artists which I enjoy listening to if I’m in a “praising mood” their songs help me express my praise to God. If I’m in a “poor me” mood, their songs give me an “attitude adjustment” and change my poor me into Praise God! The artists I enjoy are (in no particular order) Damaris Carbaugh; Bryan Duncan; Don Moen; The Ball Brothers; 4 Him; Philips, Craig & Dean.  

The music I listen to, the TV shows I watch, the books I read, all have an impact on “how I feel” and my attitude. What I feed my mind is what comes out. I continue to learn that on days I having a harder time praising God, I need to make sure I’m feeding my heart and soul “praiseworthy materials”. For praiseworthy materials will produce praise and joyous expression to my amazing almighty God. 

To create a positive day, when I don’t feel very positive, I need to listen to praiseworthy material so that I’ll change my attitude from “poor me” to “PRAISE GOD”!