Psalm 62: 1-7

Friends,

The last 8 months, I have been slowly chewing through Psalms, verse by verse. I cannot recommend it highly enough.

As I read through Psalms, I'll be highlighting some chapters I've been reading and providing some commentary, along with some Matthew Henry sprinkled in for good measure.

My prayer is that you would be encouraged to sit in God's Word and take in all that God's Word has for us, verse by verse.

Psalms 62:1-7

For God alone my soul waits in silence; from Him comes my salvation.

He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be greatly shaken. 

How long will all of you attack a man to batter him, like a leaning wall, a tottering fence? 

They only plan to thrust him down from his high position. They take pleasure in falsehood. 

They bless with their mouths, but inwardly they curse.    Selah

For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from Him.

He only is my rock and salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.

On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.

(V1) "For God alone" 

I used to rock this exact phrase on a t-shirt ten years past its prime... thankful for my wife's encouragement in the fashion department to tell me that it might be wise to get rid of shirts from 8th grade...

The saying was true in David's time, 15 years ago... and still true today. For God alone means there is nothing on earth that can satisfy us outside of Christ. Our aim must be like a straight arrow that points directly to him. May we run every day with a perseverance and gaze that is fixed on Jesus. (See Hebrews 12:1-2)

(V1) "My soul waits in silence"

This is a deep matter of the soul. We must pay attention to these words and not take them lightly. Our eternity rests in the balance of where we put our faith. I pray it is that of Jesus Christ.

We see David's dependence on God, and only God. 

I like Matthew Henry's comment here... 

"Quietly expecting what He will do... we are in the way of both duty and comfort when our souls wait upon God, when we cheerfully refer ourselves, and the disposal of all our affairs, to His will and wisdom, when we acquiesce in and accommodate ourselves to all the dispositions of His providence, and patiently expect a doubtful event with an entire satisfaction in His righteousness and goodness, however it may be"

How often do we sit in silence? 

As I write late in the evening, the kids are down, my bride is asleep, and all is quiet. But how often is my heart like a raging sea, billowing up and down to the circumstances of life. When we wait in silence for the Lord, He calms the storms with a single word.

Maybe not in the exact timing we want...but we can hope in Him like David does. (ref Psalm 121)

(V1) "From Him comes my salvation"

Have we reminded ourselves of this truth today? I am so quick to run on my own power and strength, but all power, glory, honor, and salvation comes from the Lord. (see Romans 5:8-11)

(V2) "He is my rock, and my salvation, my fortress, I shall not be greatly shaken"

What a great illustration of the Lord's care for us, so much so that we cannot be shaken. Satan is on the attack (1st Peter 5:7-9) but who is God? One that will fortify, strengthen, hold us, and prepare us for battle. (see Isaiah 41:10)

(V3-4) We see how David spites his enemies. Who are those that attack a man of God? Those that take pleasure in falsehood, bless with mouths, but curse inwardly.

I think about this in light of today. How many people bless God with their mouths but curse Him with their hearts and lives?  Be wary of those people. 

Inversely, we can celebrate that God is victor (see Psalm 76, Romans 8:1-2)

(V6-7) A emphatic reminder of verses 1-2. Continue to wait, continue to press on towards Christ. 

Another Henry remark... "The more faith is acted, the more active is it" (See Isaiah 26:3-4)

Bottom line... 

1) God is the source of our strength

2) Wait on God who will hold us tightly in times of trouble and times of joy.

3) Christ has overcome death and the victory has already been won!

MG

Almost Home

 This entire year, there has been a consistent theme running in my mind. 

We are almost home.

Have you ever had moment when you were desperate, at all costs to just make it home? Earlier this year, I got stuck coming home from a work trip. I made it out of Boston, but then got stranded in Austin, and due to icy roads, had to spend the night in the Austin terminal. Talk about a weird experience...

I remember thinking...Just get me home!

Stephen Covey penned "Begin with the end in mind"

If that's the case...it's worth thinking about, as believers, what is our end goal? It comes back to making disciples and glorying God here on this earth. 

We ought to strive for Christ saying one day in heaven, "Well done my good and faithful servant"

Our priorities and mindset should be, "How can I prepare for Christ's coming? How can I finish the race of life well while still on this earth?

It may be weird to hear that from a 31 year old man. But I am more convinced than ever that we need to prepare ourselves today, so that "joy will come in the morning." 

Here are 3 reminders of how to keep ourselves focused on our end goal. 

1) Be led by the Holy Spirit rather than ourselves. (Galatians 5:16)

One thing I heard that has been really helpful to me was the question, "Who is on the throne today? Is it me, or the Lord?  

As a jacked up, prideful person, I so often want to follow my own desires rather than trust in God as the ruler of life. 

Galatians 5:16 says, "But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh"

Matthew Henry's commentary on Galatians 5:16 was helpful-

"The best antidote against the poison of sin is to walk in the Spirit, to be much in conversing with spiritual things, to mind the things of the soul, which is the spiritual part of man, more than those of the body which is the carnal part, to commit ourselves to the guidance of the Word, where the Holy Spirit makes know the will of God concerning us."

This battle against our flesh will remain until the end of our days- So running the race well means to battle our flesh well, by filling our hearts, minds, and soul of that of Christ.

In my high school small group days, we had come up with the slogan, KSITC, which means, "Kicking Satan in the crotch." 

It makes me laugh every time I think about it, but it is always a funny reminder of our duty to fight our flesh and be led by the Holy Spirit, so much so that Satan feels a kick in the crotch by it! 

2) Hold "Things" loosely (Matthew 6:19-21)

This is the one that convicts me the most. In Dallas, it's easy to get wrapped up in the latest car, houses, the craziness of work, money, bills, you name it.

In Matthew 6 in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says, 

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and rust destroy, but lay up for yourselves treasure in heaven. For where your treasure is, there will be your heart also."

Over the last 2 years, I have gotten really into collecting vintage baseball cards. And man it's been fun. But there has been a part of me that has really struggled with getting so wrapped into a tangible item that is more or less worthless in the grand scheme of things.

I think about John Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life message often. In this talk to college students, he tells a story about a couple who has collected seashells. They come to God who asks them what they did with their life, and they said, "Here are some seashells we collected"

 Piper yells, "SEASHELLS!!! SEASHELLS!!! DON'T WASTE YOUR LIFE!"

What are the seashells in your life? What do we need to minimize that our mission can be glorified?

How do we navigate enjoying the blessings or joys that Christ has given us, yet keep an eternal mindset? 

I really liked the way a similar question was answered by card tycoon and believer, Dr. James Beckett.  He responded in an interview with, "You hold things loosely." 

Our possessions are not our own. Our houses are not our own. Our jobs are not our own. Everything we have is Christ's, and we are stewards of the resources He has given us. 

So let us steward what we have well friends, keeping the end in mind. 

3) Live our life as an offering to Christ, testifying the Gospel (Acts 20:24)

At the end of the day, our life is not our own. It is Christ's and everything must follow the calling on our lives to share the Gospel, living our lives for Him.

Acts 20:24 says, "I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish the course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the Gospel of the grace of God." 

The hardest part about Acts 20, is that it is not about us. I am so spiritually prideful that I want to be the hero saving the day. But that is the beauty of the Gospel, that Christ came before us and we didn't have to do a thing. 

What is our response to that gift Christ has given us? A daily sacrifice of our lives, giving it to Christ to be used for His glory, and testifying our faith to others.

When we have given our lives and cause to Christ, we will finish the race of life well.

May the words of 2nd Timothy be true in our lives.

"I have fought the good faith, I have finished the race, I've kept the faith."

Friends, I hope we will live a life that Christ stand and say, "well done my good and faithful servant!"

I remember when I finally got home from that Boston trip, my boys ran into my arms, held me tight, and shouted, "Daddy's home!" What an amazing moment!

And how much sweeter will it be when we come home to our Good Father, who will hold his arms open to us, as we make our way to our everlasting home!

While we are here on this earth, I pray we would be led by the Holy Spirit, hold things loosely, and live our lives as an offering to Christ.

I'll offer these words as a final charge from Matt Boswell's song, Almost Home.

Don't drop a single anchor, we're almost home

Through every toil and danger, we're almost home

How many pilgrim saints have before us gone?

No stopping now, we're almost home

That promised land is calling, we're almost home

And not a tear shall fall them, we're almost home

Make ready now your souls for that kingdom come

No turning back we're almost home

Keep running the Straight Race friends!

Psalm 25:15-22

A poem, based on Psalm 25:15-22

Held by a net

My feet are set

That's not Christ's way

If we do pray

He'll set us free

Pluck us out Lord

Please draw your sword

Consider our many foes

When we are low

Deliver us, Oh Lord!

Guard my troubled soul

Help redeem my role

May we be upright

To shine Your Light

Forever and Amen

The Straight Race Podcast E0- Introduction

 The Straight Race Podcast has officially kicked off!

I am excited to share the podcast with you- I hope it will be a source of encouragement and refreshment!

MG

A Father's Prayer

"When I survey the wondrous cross

on which the Prince of glory died,

my richest gain I count but loss,

and pour contempt on all my pride"

In the late hours of the night, I heard my youngest son, James, cry out for help. Angrily grumbling, I stumbled my way in the darkness to his bedroom.

As I began to calm him, the Lord put His Word into my heart in a way that moved me. 

We've all heard Psalm 23 as children, but when was the last time you took time to really think through the power of this scripture.

These words of David that I knew, came to me as a simple prayer for James. It went like this:

Lord, would you be James shepherd?

Lord, may James not want 

Lead James to lie down in green pastures

Would You lead him beside still waters?

Lord, restore James soul

Lord, would you lead James in paths of righteousness for Your name's sake?

While James walks through the valley of the shadow of death, I pray he would fear no evil

Remind James that You are with him

May Your rod and staff comfort James

Thank you Lord for preparing a table for James in the presence of his enemies

Would you anoint James head with oil, that it would overflow?

I pray goodness and mercy would follow James all of his life

That James might one day dwell in the house of the Lord forever

As I prayed this simple, but powerful prayer, I felt the Lord grab my own heart as I considered the words of David. What was supposed to be a prayer for James, had indeed touched my own heart to it's core. 

That's the funny thing about fatherhood that I'm learning. The Lord works on my heart in the most commonplace of moments, right in the middle of the chaos and crying. 

In the darkness of the night, peace, quiet, and stillness overtook James room. The Lord had led us to still waters.

Whatever season you are in, I hope you hold fast to the truths of Psalm 23 as you navigate life. May we always remember that the Lord is with us, wherever we go!

Matt

Lessons From The Sandbox

As most weekends go, I found myself at the church park down the street from our house with my boys. 

It was Saturday in the fall, which means prime time college football was on. As I sighed to myself and lamented missing the first half of another meaningless football game in the Big 12, the boys raced over to the infamous sandbox.

If you have kids, you know why the word infamous comes to mind. Sand does not simply get on their clothes, it gets everywhere! Sand seems to find itself in places you didn't know existed until after you visited the sandbox.

So of course my sons James and Will invited me into this sandy square and wanted me to play along with them. But that's not what I wanted to do; all I wanted to do was to look at my phone and not miss out on the football action that all the other dad's in the world seemed to be clued in on.

It was there, in a split millisecond, that the Lord put a deep conviction on my heart. 

What could be so possibly special that it would have precedence over spending time with my sons?

Answer: Nothing

As I jumped into the sandbox to inevitably await my sandy fortune, I realized a few simple lessons worth sharing.

1) The thing my boys want most from me is my presence. 

Being a Dad isn't a part-time role, it's a hands on full time duty and honor that we receive from the Lord. 

Psalm 127:3-5 says, "Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!

The convicting part for me is that James and Will don't me to just be present, they want all of me. 

Let's me put it bluntly... I have a phone addiction. It's tied to me at all times. I find myself wanting to spend time looking at phone after work instead of cherishing the joy of having kids. What a blessing my sons are! 

May we cherish every moment with them.

2) Embrace the messy

Yes, the sandbox did cover me in sand, forcing me to take multiple showers after entry.

But it was worth it. 

Almost all parenting involves messy situations, both literally and figuratively. Dinnertime tends to prove itself as the worst offender. Food flying everywhere, water spilling for the 3rd time, you name it.

Part of that messiness is discipline. Discipline is hard...I hate watching my kids disobey. But with that, comes to opportunity to give them physical and verbal reminders to point them back to Jesus. And that is a beautiful thing.

What did Jesus do? He jumped headfirst into the sandbox of life. He engaged with the messy, sitting with those with messy lives and bad habits. He didn't mind, he seemed to thrive in these settings.

In Luke 5, we see Jesus engaging with tax collectors, joining them to eat and drink in Levi's house. But the Pharisees were concerned about his actions. 

"And the Pharisees and their scribes grumbled at his disciples saying, "Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners" And Jesus answered them, "Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

This is radical. Jesus embraces the messy because he believes that is his calling. He embraces sinners and folks who don't have it all together. 

Similarly to parenting, our kids don't have it all together. But neither do we. Our Father embraces us where we are, and we should be doing the same thing with our kids.

What a glorious opportunity and mission we are on as parents. Praying we would make the most of every minute and love our kids the way Christ loves us!

Jump in the sandbox the next time you get the chance! 

Tis So Sweet

 Do you ever think to yourself, “Wow, my life is a struggle right now!” As we experience these seasons of despair or doubt, we can relate to David’s journey, and the battles he faced every day.

Have you considered the hardships David experienced? 2^nd Samuel 21 outlines how he endured famine, Israel’s atonement to the Gideonites, war, and Saul chasing after David trying kill him.

David is a man who hasn’t been perfect by any means, screwing up in big ways consistently throughout his life. But the Lord doesn’t call out David’s sin or mistakes, instead He delights in David according to his righteousness (2^nd Samuel 22:20-26, Psalm 103:8-10).

As we read 2^nd Samuel 22, we see two different things: 

1) We see David’s response to the Lord’s deliverance

2) We see God’s faithfulness and character on full display

The very first thing David does after the war at Gath, is respond with a song to the Lord, praising Him for deliverance. (Verses 2-3). I love that a song to the Lord is David’s first response!

In July of 2022, my wife Catherine and I found out we were pregnant with our third child. We rejoiced in this news, only to find out a few weeks later that our precious child had passed away due to a miscarriage. We grieved a child that we will never meet here on earth, but we rejoice that our child will live with our heavenly Father.

Because of the miscarriage, I was frustrated with God, but the Lord sought me and cared for me, in the middle of my pain. The following morning after hearing the news of our miscarriage, I went for a run. As I wandered through the trails, the Lord put in me a song that I held fast to, “TisSo Sweet” by Shane and Shane. These words rang true:

 

Jesus Jesus how I trust Him!

How I proved him O’er and O’er

Jesus Jesus precious Jesus

O for grace, to trust Him more!

 

Just like David in this passage, when we sing, we are reminded of the Lord’s faithfulness time and time again. The Lord delights in his children! Despite the pains that this life can bring, we can trust God and have full assurance that He will see us through to the end. Who is our God? Our God is a God who delivers and saves us. Verses 33-37 remind us that He makes our way blameless, secures us, trains us, and gives us a place to step so that we do not slip.

 

One day Catherine and I will meet our child that we named Sam, as a tribute to Hannah’s offering of Samuel to the Lord, and we will continue to rejoice and sing as we do today.

 

My prayer is that your hearts would be strengthened, and your song be bold.

 

Tis So Sweet!