Tag: Psalm 103

We Are a Moment, You Are Forever

Rob Woodrum10 Comments

HEY…I just realized what I forgot!  This week we’ll be finishing up our short (or long, depending on your attention span) study of Psalm 103.  This week, we’ll be reading v 15-22.  As you read it, what do you learn about yourself…what does it reveal about God to you?

Has anyone ever said, or have you said to yourself “God is in control.”?  What does that mean to you?  Has that phrase ever made you feel worse instead of better? (it has for me)  What does it really mean that God is in control?  That He’s got the remote?  That He’s got an oil field?  What about when things go wrong…where does that fit in to His control?

Stuff to think about.

On another note…have you read The Shack (we carry it in the Corner bookstore)?  I have…and wow.  Just, wow.  I highly recommend this book, especially for those struggling with the question of pain and God’s will.  It’s really a good read, and I believe it will give you a refreshing sense of personalization in your relationship with God.  But that’s just my opinion.  You may hate it….I don’t know.

One more thing.  Donald Miller (author of Blue Like Jazz, and someone I dearly appreciate) prayed at the DNC.  His prayer has really sparked a lot of conversation…and there are a lot of different opinions about the content of the prayer.  I’d like to hear your thoughts on it.  Not about the fact that he was praying at the DNC…that’s a no brainer.  If someone asks you to pray, in my opinion, you pray.  So I don’t want to discuss the partisan, political stuff.  What he said in the prayer….that’s what I’m pondering.  I’d like to hear your thoughts,, because I’ve heard all my own.  Below is the video

By the way….has that dude lost weight or WHAT?  I’ll be first in line at the bookstore to buy his “Blue Like Jazzercize” book.

Our Need, His Character

Rob Woodrum4 Comments

For reasons I’ll explain later, I’m not going to begin a study on another full book just yet.  Instead, this Sunday, we’re going to begin a short study on what, for me, has become a focal point chapter in the book of Psalms.

Psalm 103 will be our subject for the next few weeks.  Read it here in the NKJV.  Read it here in The Message. (I really love The Message version…and we’ll be referencing it in our study).

This is a Psalm I love to pray…for a while I prayed it every day, but now its every few weeks, as other Scriptures and prayers have been in the forefront for me. 

Psalm 103 is a Psalm of David…a song that is believed to have been written in his old age.  I imagine that old king, scars on the arms which hold his harp, reflecting on his adventurous life with God as he hums and sings in time with his strum.  It’s such a wonderful prayer.

As you read it, do me a favor.  If you need to, print out a copy of the Message version of Psalm 103.  Now, sometime when you have a moment of quiet…somewhere when you’re all alone, and the TV isn’t screaming what you should buy, and the kids are occupied or asleep….in that time, read this out loud (a whisper will do though), and add personal pronouns in the reading…so that it is a conversation in which you personally are speaking to God. 

It will read like this:

1-2 O my soul, bless God. From head to toe, I’ll bless your holy name!
   O my soul, bless God,
      don’t forget a single blessing!

 3-5 You forgive my sins—every one. 
      You heal my diseases—every one. 
      You redeem me from hell—You save my life! 
      You crown me with love and mercy—a paradise crown. 
      You wrap me in goodness—beauty eternal. 
      You renew my youth—I’m always young in Your presence.

….and on and on.  You get the idea.  Personalize the language of the Psalm…make it YOUR prayer…and pray that Psalm to God.  Think over what it means as your saying it (realizing that He hears you, no matter what you hear).  Let it soak in.

What does this Psalm say to you in the first five verses?  What do you see as the emphasis?  What is revealed, and who is it revealed about?

Do these verses evoke any thoughts you want to share, good or bad?  Questions maybe?  Testimonials?

Just wondering.  Hopefully this will be a cool study.  I really love Psalm 103.