March 5: Psalm 103

March 5, 2014

First day back to work in what feels like awhile.
Not particularly looking forward to it... Not dreading it which is nice - but just gotten used to being lazy. It'll be good for me to go to work and have to snap out of that. 

Enjoying my time this morning with Apple Rose. She is curious about my journal - wondering what is so intriguing about something she can't eat or chew on... but I'm just happy to snuggle. 

It's been such a joy to have her in our lives. Jason and I marvel over her often. Thank you for the gift of love of her to us. 

Psalm 103
One of my favorite Psalms of all... 

Bless the Lord, O my soul, 
   And all that is within me, 
Bless his holy name!

This psalm is full of so many great promises and great truths to remember... truths I have built my life on and around because I'm not sure what I would do or who I would be without them. 

I ask myself that sometimes. Why do I believe what I believe? Is it really true or am I dangerously basing my entire life around a lie?

When I travel far enough back asking myself - "What if this isn't true?" then often I am left with emptiness and meaninglessness in life. If there is nothing that is true that we can believe in - then I feel like we are left looking at each other wondering what it is we are supposed to do with our lives and what difference does it make that we are living at all. I believe that people all choose a belief system to answer the why of why they do anything in life - so I feel that I have equal reasoning to choose Christianity over others. 

I think it makes more logic/cohesive sense than any other system I've considered and to me I sense greater truths - or at least - truths that have all come together - and have their "head" - their being - their reasoning - their purpose - in the person of Christ and His claims - 
But none of that answers why I believe... 

Ultimately I think I believe simply because I do... and that is the hardest to explain. 

These truths I cling to - not only because I need them to exist - to continue on - to have purpose - but because I believe they are true. They ring with a truth that creates a resonating hum in me - and that is enough for me. 
I have had that resonation in other belief systems - in other religions' concepts - Buddhism, paganism, sufism even atheism, agnosticism, and skepticism - that resonation of truth isn't exclusively in Christianity - it isn't even limited exclusively to organized belief systems, but sprinkled throughout my entire life, entire experience, entire world, in almost anything I encounter I find those truths. 

But ultimately when I follow those truths back I find they have their fullest expression in Christianity and Christ - suddenly the pieces become clear and begin to fall in place to frame my life and help me give this mess of a world some structure in meaning - in purpose - in being. You are the Logos - the underlying philosophy for my world - by which all other philosophies and beliefs find their place and their meaning. 

What truths? What promises in this Psalm? 

Bless the Lord, o my soul, 
    and forget not all his benefits: 

What Promises?
> Who forgives ALL your iniquity
> Who heals ALL your diseases
> Who redeems your life from the pit
> Who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy
> Who satisfies you with good, 
          so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's

What truths about our God?
> The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed
> He made known His ways to Moses, 
           his acts to the people of Israel. 
> The Lord is merciful and gracious
> Slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love
> He will not always chide, 
            nor will he keep his anger forever
> He does not deal with us according to our sins,
> Nor repay us according to our iniquities
> For as high as the heavens are above the earth, 
            so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him;
> As far as the east is from the west, 
             so far does he remove our transgressions from us. 
> As a father shows compassion to his children, 
             so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him
> For He knows our frame;
             he remembers that we are dust. 

What truths about us?
> As for man, his days are like grass;
             he flourishes like a flower of the field
    For the wind passes over it, and it is gone.
              And its place knows it no more

What truths about God in relation/contrast/response to these truths about us?
> But the steadfast love of the Lords is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, 
> And his righteousness to children's children, 
               to those who keep his covenant
               and remember to do his commandments.
> The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, 
               and his kingdom rules over all. 

What then is our response?
> Bless the Lord, O you his angels, 
                you mighty ones who do his word, 
                obeying the voice of his word!
> Bless the Lord, all his hosts, his ministers who do his will!
> Bless the Lord, all his works, in all places of his dominion. 
> Bless the Lord, O my soul!



Father - engrave this on my heart today. I want those truths to sink in and water deep the core and sustenance of who I am - why I live - what my meaning and purpose is in life. Help me Father to be filled with You. Amen.