Give Thanks

August 31

(Psalm 107:1-3 NIV)  "Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. {2} Let the redeemed of the Lord say this-- those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, {3} those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south.

(Psalm 107:8,15,21,31 NIV) "Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for men." 

(Psalm 107:22 NIV)  "Let them sacrifice thank offerings and tell of his works with songs of joy." 

(Psalm 107:32 NIV)  "Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders." 

Even though Thanksgiving is a national holiday, we still find it difficult to be truly thankful. There are others who have more than we do. But thankfulness is not about what we don’t have -- it’s about what we do have, and most of us have more than enough. Scattered throughout Psalm 107 are commands from God to be thankful. It’s even mentioned as a “sacrifice”. It’s something we give up to God. Whether we feel like it or not is immaterial. We owe it to God because “He is good” and “His love endures forever”. We owe it to Him because we have been redeemed. We owe it to Him because He has gathered us from faraway places and brought us into His presence. We owe it to Him because of His wonderful works and deeds on our behalf. Are you among those he has gathered? Thank Him privately and publicly. Tell of His goodness. Exalt Him for his grace and favor. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Bent on Rebellion

August 30

(Psalm 106:32-48 NIV) “By the waters of Meribah they angered the Lord, and trouble came to Moses because of them; {33} for they rebelled against the Spirit of God, and rash words came from Moses' lips. {34} They did not destroy the peoples as the Lord had commanded them, {35} but they mingled with the nations and adopted their customs. {36} They worshiped their idols, which became a snare to them. {37} They sacrificed their sons and their daughters to demons. {38} They shed innocent blood, the blood of their sons and daughters, whom they sacrificed to the idols of Canaan, and the land was desecrated by their blood. {39} They defiled themselves by what they did; by their deeds they prostituted themselves. {40} Therefore the Lord was angry with his people and abhorred his inheritance. {41} He handed them over to the nations, and their foes ruled over them. {42} Their enemies oppressed them and subjected them to their power. {43} Many times he delivered them, but they were bent on rebellion and they wasted away in their sin. {44} But he took note of their distress when he heard their cry; {45} for their sake he remembered his covenant and out of his great love he relented. {46} He caused them to be pitied by all who held them captive. {47} Save us, O Lord our God, and gather us from the nations, that we may give thanks to your holy name and glory in your praise. {48} Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Let all the people say, "Amen!" Praise the Lord.”

God delivers us again and again, but we are a people bent on rebellion. When we rebel against the Spirit of God, bad things happen. When we do not rid our lives of that which is ungodly, it should come as no surprise that carnality creeps in and eventually reigns. When we mingle the pagan with the spiritual, we end up with this strange idolatrous concoction that defiles us and desecrates the name of the Lord. We must curb our bent to rebellion or we will end up in bondage and waste away in our sin. We will be held captive and oppressed by the very things that we thought would make us free. Maybe it’s time for a change. Cry out to God. Call on the name of Jesus. He will hear you in your distress. He will have pity on you and save you. He will gather up any rebel who turns back toward Him. Do it while there is still time. Let God deliver you again. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Standing in the Breach

August 29

(Psalm 106:19-31 NIV) “At Horeb they made a calf and worshiped an idol cast from metal. {20} They exchanged their Glory for an image of a bull, which eats grass. {21} They forgot the God who saved them, who had done great things in Egypt, {22} miracles in the land of Ham and awesome deeds by the Red Sea. {23} So he said he would destroy them-- had not Moses, his chosen one, stood in the breach before him to keep his wrath from destroying them. {24} Then they despised the pleasant land; they did not believe his promise. {25} They grumbled in their tents and did not obey the Lord. {26} So he swore to them with uplifted hand that he would make them fall in the desert, {27} make their descendants fall among the nations and scatter them throughout the lands. {28} They yoked themselves to the Baal of Peor and ate sacrifices offered to lifeless gods; {29} they provoked the Lord to anger by their wicked deeds, and a plague broke out among them. {30} But Phinehas stood up and intervened, and the plague was checked. {31} This was credited to him as righteousness for endless generations to come.”

Someone once said that the world would be a pretty good place to live if it weren’t for the people. There must be times when God feels the same way. He sets us free from our personal “Egypt”, but we pack our idols for the road trip to the Promised Land. We take our free ticket to Heaven, but decline God’s call to discipleship. We forget the Lord in daily living, but grumble against Him when life doesn’t measure up. We yoke ourselves to ungodly things and expect God’s blessing. We provoke His anger. Our infidelity and idolatry are legendary. We need help. We need someone like Moses or Phinehas to “stand in the breach” for us and intervene on our behalf. We need an advocate and a defender. We need someone who will shield us from God’s wrath, perhaps even absorb it for us. That someone is Jesus. On the cross, He stood in the breach for us. Stand for Him. Honor Him. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

For His Name’s Sake

August 28

(Psalm 106:1-18 NIV) “Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever. {2} Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord or fully declare his praise? {3} Blessed are they who maintain justice, who constantly do what is right. {4} Remember me, O Lord, when you show favor to your people, come to my aid when you save them, {5} that I may enjoy the prosperity of your chosen ones, that I may share in the joy of your nation and join your inheritance in giving praise. {6} We have sinned, even as our fathers did; we have done wrong and acted wickedly. {7} When our fathers were in Egypt, they gave no thought to your miracles; they did not remember your many kindnesses, and they rebelled by the sea, the Red Sea. {8} Yet he saved them for his name's sake, to make his mighty power known. {9} He rebuked the Red Sea, and it dried up; he led them through the depths as through a desert. {10} He saved them from the hand of the foe; from the hand of the enemy he redeemed them. {11} The waters covered their adversaries; not one of them survived. {12} Then they believed his promises and sang his praise. {13} But they soon forgot what he had done and did not wait for his counsel. {14} In the desert they gave in to their craving; in the wasteland they put God to the test. {15} So he gave them what they asked for, but sent a wasting disease upon them. {16} In the camp they grew envious of Moses and of Aaron, who was consecrated to the Lord. {17} The earth opened up and swallowed Dathan; it buried the company of Abiram. {18} Fire blazed among their followers; a flame consumed the wicked.”

(Titus 3:3-7 NIV) “At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. {4} But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, {5} he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, {6} whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, {7} so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Every human is called to glorify the name of the Lord. That’s because the Lord deserves glory. If we decided to produce a list of God’s great attributes, our word processors would wear out before we were finished. No one can fully declare His praise. We have spent too much time as rebellious sinners. We spend more time thinking of ourselves than we do considering the miraculous goodness of God. We forget what He has done for us. We take His kindness and His blessing for granted. We sing His praise on Sunday, but quickly forget His counsel. We are controlled by cravings rather than Christ. We are consumed with self rather than with the Son. Eventually we will get burned. This world will swallow us up. But God saves us -- not because of our actions, but in spite of them. He saves us for His glory, not ours. He saves us for His name’s sake, not ours. Glorify His name today! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Remember the Wonders

August 27

(Psalm 105:5-45 NIV) “Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced, {6} O descendants of Abraham his servant, O sons of Jacob, his chosen ones. {7} He is the Lord our God; his judgments are in all the earth. {8} He remembers his covenant forever, the word he commanded, for a thousand generations, {9} the covenant he made with Abraham, the oath he swore to Isaac. {10} He confirmed it to Jacob as a decree, to Israel as an everlasting covenant: {11} "To you I will give the land of Canaan as the portion you will inherit." {12} When they were but few in number, few indeed, and strangers in it, {13} they wandered from nation to nation, from one kingdom to another. {14} He allowed no one to oppress them; for their sake he rebuked kings: {15} "Do not touch my anointed ones; do my prophets no harm." {16} He called down famine on the land and destroyed all their supplies of food; {17} and he sent a man before them-- Joseph, sold as a slave. {18} They bruised his feet with shackles, his neck was put in irons, {19} till what he foretold came to pass, till the word of the Lord proved him true. {20} The king sent and released him, the ruler of peoples set him free. {21} He made him master of his household, ruler over all he possessed, {22} to instruct his princes as he pleased and teach his elders wisdom. {23} Then Israel entered Egypt; Jacob lived as an alien in the land of Ham. {24} The Lord made his people very fruitful; he made them too numerous for their foes, {25} whose hearts he turned to hate his people, to conspire against his servants. {26} He sent Moses his servant, and Aaron, whom he had chosen. {27} They performed his miraculous signs among them, his wonders in the land of Ham. {28} He sent darkness and made the land dark-- for had they not rebelled against his words? {29} He turned their waters into blood, causing their fish to die. {30} Their land teemed with frogs, which went up into the bedrooms of their rulers. {31} He spoke, and there came swarms of flies, and gnats throughout their country. {32} He turned their rain into hail, with lightning throughout their land; {33} he struck down their vines and fig trees and shattered the trees of their country. {34} He spoke, and the locusts came, grasshoppers without number; {35} they ate up every green thing in their land, ate up the produce of their soil. {36} Then he struck down all the firstborn in their land, the firstfruits of all their manhood. {37} He brought out Israel, laden with silver and gold, and from among their tribes no one faltered. {38} Egypt was glad when they left, because dread of Israel had fallen on them. {39} He spread out a cloud as a covering, and a fire to give light at night. {40} They asked, and he brought them quail and satisfied them with the bread of heaven. {41} He opened the rock, and water gushed out; like a river it flowed in the desert. {42} For he remembered his holy promise given to his servant Abraham. {43} He brought out his people with rejoicing, his chosen ones with shouts of joy; {44} he gave them the lands of the nations, and they fell heir to what others had toiled for-- {45} that they might keep his precepts and observe his laws. Praise the Lord.”

The miracles God performed to free His people from slavery in Egypt, speak of His faithfulness to those He has called. He honored His covenant with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, but the people God called to freedom lacked faith and suffered for it. God’s judgments are just, but for those with stubborn hearts, they can prove to be disastrous. Things have not changed much. Remembering the stories of God’s deliverance will be helpful when we struggle with bondages of our own. A God who delivers deserves respect, and keeping His commandments is a wise and prudent thing to do. Moving a people from bondage to the Promised Land requires a power and a mercy that is difficult to comprehend. We should do our part not to make it more difficult for the Lord. Praise Him and follow Him daily. Remember every day the wondrous things He has done for you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Checklist for Giving Glory

August 26

(Psalm 105:1-5 NIV) “Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. {2} Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts. {3} Glory in his holy name; let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice. {4} Look to the Lord and his strength; seek his face always. {5} Remember the wonders he has done, his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced.”

(Acts 1:8 NIV) “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

We have been called to give glory to God until He calls us into glory. We are His witnesses. We represent Him to our world. The early verses of Psalm 105 are a checklist for meeting this goal. Start with thanksgiving. Thankful people attract others to God. Check! Call on His name in prayer. Praying people unleash the power of God. Check! Witness to the wonderful things God has done, locally and globally. Check! Worship God with joyful songs from the heart. Check! Boldly claim His name and glory in belonging to God. Check! Seek God’s strength and look to Him in times of testing. Check! Seek His face and His will for your life and strive to please Him. Check! In times of doubt, recall what He’s done for you in the past. Remember His miraculous salvation, when what we deserved was judgment. Check! Are you a glory giver? You can improve by using this checklist. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Give and Take

August 25

(Psalm 104:24-35 NIV) “How many are your works, O Lord! In wisdom you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. {25} There is the sea, vast and spacious, teeming with creatures beyond number-- living things both large and small. {26} There the ships go to and fro, and the leviathan, which you formed to frolic there. {27} These all look to you to give them their food at the proper time. {28} When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are satisfied with good things. {29} When you hide your face, they are terrified; when you take away their breath, they die and return to the dust. {30} When you send your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the earth. {31} May the glory of the Lord endure forever; may the Lord rejoice in his works-- {32} he who looks at the earth, and it trembles, who touches the mountains, and they smoke. {33} I will sing to the Lord all my life; I will sing praise to my God as long as I live. {34} May my meditation be pleasing to him, as I rejoice in the Lord. {35} But may sinners vanish from the earth and the wicked be no more. Praise the Lord, O my soul. Praise the Lord.”

(Job 1:21-22 NIV) “Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised." {22} In all this, Job did not sin by charging God with wrongdoing.”

Most Christians embrace God as the giver of life. It’s much more difficult for us to picture Him as a “taker” of life. But if He is the Lord of all things, then He is the Lord of both life and death. Everything living here on Earth receives its breath from the Lord. When God takes that breath away, we die and return to the dust from which we were created. Our times really are in His hands. The Lord gives, the Lord takes away, and then the Lord gives again. When God sends His Spirit, life returns to our soul. We are renewed, reborn, and resurrected. Death is overcome. We need no longer fear our coming appointment with it. As God’s glory endures forever, so our spirit will endure forever in a place where there is no sin or wickedness. Rejoice in this! Sing to the Lord! Praise His name with all your heart, mind, soul, and strength! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Lord of Creation

August 24

(Psalm 104:1-23 NIV) “Praise the Lord, O my soul. O Lord my God, you are very great; you are clothed with splendor and majesty. {2} He wraps himself in light as with a garment; he stretches out the heavens like a tent {3} and lays the beams of his upper chambers on their waters. He makes the clouds his chariot and rides on the wings of the wind. {4} He makes winds his messengers, flames of fire his servants. {5} He set the earth on its foundations; it can never be moved. {6} You covered it with the deep as with a garment; the waters stood above the mountains. {7} But at your rebuke the waters fled, at the sound of your thunder they took to flight; {8} they flowed over the mountains, they went down into the valleys, to the place you assigned for them. {9} You set a boundary they cannot cross; never again will they cover the earth. {10} He makes springs pour water into the ravines; it flows between the mountains. {11} They give water to all the beasts of the field; the wild donkeys quench their thirst. {12} The birds of the air nest by the waters; they sing among the branches. {13} He waters the mountains from his upper chambers; the earth is satisfied by the fruit of his work. {14} He makes grass grow for the cattle, and plants for man to cultivate-- bringing forth food from the earth: {15} wine that gladdens the heart of man, oil to make his face shine, and bread that sustains his heart. {16} The trees of the Lord are well watered, the cedars of Lebanon that he planted. {17} There the birds make their nests; the stork has its home in the pine trees. {18} The high mountains belong to the wild goats; the crags are a refuge for the coneys. {19} The moon marks off the seasons, and the sun knows when to go down. {20} You bring darkness, it becomes night, and all the beasts of the forest prowl. {21} The lions roar for their prey and seek their food from God. {22} The sun rises, and they steal away; they return and lie down in their dens. {23} Then man goes out to his work, to his labor until evening.”

In this hyper-scientific age we can easily forget that God is the Lord of creation. He spoke the universe into existence and provided it with light. At His command the foundations of our world were established. The clouds and the wind and the rain were His idea. God spoke and the Earth was covered with water. He spoke once more and the waters receded. He set boundaries for the waters and they will never cover the Earth again. Now, they give life as they provide drink and food for all of God’s creation. The mountains and the plains thrive under His care. In the sky, the sun and the moon speak of His glory and divide our lives into times of rest and times of work. Man lives to their rhythm. Their beauty and power and light are an echo of God’s nature. Look to the heavens. Look around at the marvels of nature. God is speaking to us. God is calling us to praise and worship. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Thy Kingdom Come

August 23

(Psalm 103:19-22 NIV) “The Lord has established his throne in heaven, and his kingdom rules over all. {20} Praise the Lord, you his angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey his word. {21} Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you his servants who do his will. {22} Praise the Lord, all his works everywhere in his dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul.”

(Matthew 6:9-13 NIV) “This, then, is how you should pray: 'Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, {10} your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. {11} Give us today our daily bread. {12} Forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. {13} And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one.'”

The kingdom of God has come and is coming. Those who follow Jesus no longer live by the kingdom of this world, but are now citizens of the kingdom of heaven. They have prayed, “Thy kingdom come”, and it has come to them. They have been changed and made new. They no longer live as before. They have a new King who has come and will come again. His throne is in heaven and on Earth in every believing heart. One day He will come again to reign over all the world and every knee will bow. His Kingdom has come and is coming. Meanwhile, the angels praise Him and “mighty ones” obey His word. “Heavenly hosts” worship Him and serve Him. His dominion is ever increasing. Is this the Lord that you know? Is this the God you serve? Is this the kingdom that has come in your life? Does your soul praise the Lord? Thy kingdom come! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

As the East is from the West

August 22

(Psalm 103:1-18 NIV) “Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise his holy name. {2} Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits-- {3} who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases, {4} who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion, {5} who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. {6} The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed. {7} He made known his ways to Moses, his deeds to the people of Israel: {8} The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love. {9} He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever; {10} he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities. {11} For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him; {12} as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us. {13} As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him; {14} for he knows how we are formed, he remembers that we are dust. {15} As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; {16} the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more. {17} But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear him, and his righteousness with their children's children-- {18} with those who keep his covenant and remember to obey his precepts.”

(Genesis 2:7 NIV) “The Lord God formed the man from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.”

(Genesis 3:19 NIV) “By the sweat of your brow you will eat your food until you return to the ground, since from it you were taken; for dust you are and to dust you will return.”

In Psalm 103 we see both the holy compassion of our eternal God and the fragile mortality of created man. We were created for eternity, but regularly trade it for pleasure and pride. We choose our way over God’s way. As a result we flourish for a moment, but quickly fade and are soon forgotten, returning to the dust from which we were taken. But God’s mercy is everlasting. In Christ, we get better than we deserve. The Lord forgives those who will believe and receive Him. Through His sacrifice, He has removed our sin “as far as the east is from the west”, never be seen again. He redeems us and renews us. He breathes life into those who choose to follow Him. There is no higher love than God’s love. There is no greater compassion than the compassion of Christ. No one can satisfy like our God. This is why we praise the Lord with all our “inmost being”. Praise His holy name today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Wearing Out Like a Garment

August 21

(Psalm 102:23-28 NIV) “In the course of my life he broke my strength; he cut short my days. {24} So I said: "Do not take me away, O my God, in the midst of my days; your years go on through all generations. {25} In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. {26} They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. {27} But you remain the same, and your years will never end. {28} The children of your servants will live in your presence; their descendants will be established before you.”

(1 Peter 4:7 NIV) "The end of all things is near. Therefore be clear minded and self-controlled so that you can pray."

(2 Peter 3:3-12 NIV) "First of all, you must understand that in the last days scoffers will come, scoffing and following their own evil desires. {4} They will say, "Where is this 'coming' he promised? Ever since our fathers died, everything goes on as it has since the beginning of creation." {5} But they deliberately forget that long ago by God's word the heavens existed and the earth was formed out of water and by water. {6} By these waters also the world of that time was deluged and destroyed. {7} By the same word the present heavens and earth are reserved for fire, being kept for the day of judgment and destruction of ungodly men. {8} But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. {9} The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. {10} But the day of the Lord will come like a thief. The heavens will disappear with a roar; the elements will be destroyed by fire, and the earth and everything in it will be laid bare. {11} Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives {12} as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming. That day will bring about the destruction of the heavens by fire, and the elements will melt in the heat."

The old saying goes, “Nothing lasts forever.” Everything that is born eventually dies. Everything man constructs eventually crumbles. Everything new eventually ends up in a land fill somewhere. Like the garments we buy or make, everything will eventually wear out and be discarded. Everything will perish. This includes the Earth and the universe as we know it, and this includes you and me. There is only one who is eternal, only one who never changes, never ages, and never ends. He is the Lord God Almighty, Creator of Heaven and Earth. Cling to Him! He is our only hope of eternal life. Seek His way. Pursue His blessing. Put your faith in Him. Place your perishing life in His hands. Live a holy and godly life in His presence as you wait for “the end of all things”. Only then will that “end of all things” not be the end of you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A Generation Not Yet Created

August 20

(Psalm 102:15-22 NIV) “The nations will fear the name of the Lord, all the kings of the earth will revere your glory. {16} For the Lord will rebuild Zion and appear in his glory. {17} He will respond to the prayer of the destitute; he will not despise their plea. {18} Let this be written for a future generation, that a people not yet created may praise the Lord: {19} "The Lord looked down from his sanctuary on high, from heaven he viewed the earth, {20} to hear the groans of the prisoners and release those condemned to death." {21} So the name of the Lord will be declared in Zion and his praise in Jerusalem {22} when the peoples and the kingdoms assemble to worship the Lord.”

(Isaiah 61:1-4 NIV) "The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me, because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners, {2} to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor and the day of vengeance of our God, to comfort all who mourn, {3} and provide for those who grieve in Zion-- to bestow on them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness instead of mourning, and a garment of praise instead of a spirit of despair. They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of his splendor. {4} They will rebuild the ancient ruins and restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities that have been devastated for generations."

When this Psalm was written, the author knew that it was being penned for a people who had not been born yet -- a generation not yet created. How awesome is that? God, in His glory and wisdom, inspired the writing of songs for a people who would live centuries later. His theme is a recurring one: God hears the cries of the destitute and the oppressed. He comes to comfort those who grieve. Places that were destroyed will be rebuilt. Lives that lay in ruins will be restored. Nations and kingdoms will come to His holy city, and the name of the Lord will be praised. People will once again fear God, and His glorious light will shine for all to see. This is our future, people of God. This is the promise of the Lord to those who put their trust in Him. These were His words to a generation not yet created. Believe God today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day      

Pity the Dust

August 19

(Psalm 102:8-14 NIV) “All day long my enemies taunt me; those who rail against me use my name as a curse. {9} For I eat ashes as my food and mingle my drink with tears {10} because of your great wrath, for you have taken me up and thrown me aside. {11} My days are like the evening shadow; I wither away like grass. {12} But you, O Lord, sit enthroned forever; your renown endures through all generations. {13} You will arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to show favor to her; the appointed time has come. {14} For her stones are dear to your servants; her very dust moves them to pity.”

(Psalm 13:1-6 NIV) “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? {2} How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and every day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? {3} Look on me and answer, O Lord my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death; {4} my enemy will say, "I have overcome him," and my foes will rejoice when I fall. {5} But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. {6} I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.”

When those who hate us get the upper hand and begin to taunt us in our weakness, our lives can take on the appearance of a disappearing evening shadow. As the light dwindles, so does the security that once was prominent in our life. Our once good name is mocked by fools. Ashes are our food. Dust is our drink. It would appear that, in His wrath, God has thrown us aside like a used paper towel. But take heart -- God is with us. The Lord walks with us on the mountain of victory and in the valley of the shadow of death. He will have compassion and will once again rise up to show His favor. His love is unfailing. Even our dust moves Him to pity. He has not left us. It’s much more likely that we have left Him. Return to the Lord. Repent of known sin. Cling to Him in your distress. Sing songs of praise to Him, for there is no one who saves like our God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Like a Bird Alone

August 18

(Psalm 102:1-7 NIV) “Hear my prayer, O Lord; let my cry for help come to you. {2} Do not hide your face from me when I am in distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly. {3} For my days vanish like smoke; my bones burn like glowing embers. {4} My heart is blighted and withered like grass; I forget to eat my food. {5} Because of my loud groaning I am reduced to skin and bones. {6} I am like a desert owl, like an owl among the ruins. {7} I lie awake; I have become like a bird alone on a roof.”

(2 Corinthians 1:8-11 NIV)  "We do not want you to be uninformed, brothers, about the hardships we suffered in the province of Asia. We were under great pressure, far beyond our ability to endure, so that we despaired even of life. {9} Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. {10} He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, {11} as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many."

Sometimes we go through times when it feels like we are completely alone. We can end up like a “bird alone on a roof”, our loneliness accentuated by the setting sun of our life. Our afflictions get the best of us and they bring us down. We feel faint. We are in great distress and not even God is listening to our lament. Our spiritual legs go out from under us. This metaphor rich Psalm captures this desperate feeling. Like smoke, we are blown away by the wind. Our bones ache and burn. Our heart feels like the brown grass of summer with no water in sight. We fail to eat and our frame shrivels. We begin to look like a child of famine. Like the lonely owl, we fly alone through the ruins of our life. But God is not finished with us yet. He has delivered us before and He will deliver us again -- even if it is into the arms of Jesus. Set your hope on the Lord. Only He can deliver you. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

A Blameless Heart

August 17

(Psalm 101:1-8 NIV) "I will sing of your love and justice; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. {2} I will be careful to lead a blameless life-- when will you come to me? I will walk in my house with blameless heart. {3} I will set before my eyes no vile thing. The deeds of faithless men I hate; they will not cling to me. {4} Men of perverse heart shall be far from me; I will have nothing to do with evil. {5} Whoever slanders his neighbor in secret, him will I put to silence; whoever has haughty eyes and a proud heart, him will I not endure. {6} My eyes will be on the faithful in the land, that they may dwell with me; he whose walk is blameless will minister to me. {7} No one who practices deceit will dwell in my house; no one who speaks falsely will stand in my presence. {8} Every morning I will put to silence all the wicked in the land; I will cut off every evildoer from the city of the Lord."

(Philippians 2:12-15 NIV) “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed--not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence--continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, {13} for it is God who works in you to will and to act according to his good purpose. {14} Do everything without complaining or arguing, {15} so that you may become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe.”

“Nobody’s perfect.” We often use this phrase to excuse less than sterling behavior. And while it may be true that we cannot be perfect, we can be blameless. God’s word tells us that we can grow into blameless people. If we are careful, we can lead a blameless life. We can shine like stars. If we will “work out” in our salvation to the point of trembling, our complaining, arguing, lying, slandering, and deceiving will continually decrease and can eventually be eliminated. We will need to change the crowd we hang around with, as our character is adversely affected by those of bad character. We will need to cease looking upon vile things and turn our eyes upon Jesus. If we will do these things as we immerse ourselves in God’s word, we can be changed and become more and more like Jesus. We may never be perfect, but we can become blameless. Who in their right mind would not want that? -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

We Are His People

August 16

(Psalm 100:1-5 NIV) "Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. {2} Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. {3} Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. {4} Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. {5} For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations."

(Psalm 23:1-6 NIV) “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. {2} He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, {3} he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake. {4} Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me {5} You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. {6} Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.”

When we decide to believe God, rather than just believing in God, we become His people. God loves all the people of the world, but when we put our faith in Him and follow Him, we become part of His family. Our soul comes under His protection. We become “the sheep of His pasture”. He will feed us and care for us and protect us. He will lead us to places where water is sweet and still. God is good and His faithfulness endures forever. His love will last for all of life. Do you know this? Do you really KNOW this? Do you truly know the Lord? If you do, you will gladly worship God. You will sing and shout with joy in your hearts. You will come into His presence with thankfulness. You will come near to Him with praise in your heart. Worship will become more than just a formal routine. It will become personal. We are His. He made us and He loves us. Love Him back. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Punished and Forgiven

August 15

(Psalm 99:8 NIV) “O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. {9} Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.”

(Isaiah 53:1-6 NIV) “Who has believed our message and to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? {2} He grew up before him like a tender shoot, and like a root out of dry ground. He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to him, nothing in his appearance that we should desire him. {3} He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering. Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. {4} Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted. {5} But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. {6} We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the Lord has laid on him the iniquity of us all.”

It is hard for us to wrap our minds around the fact that God loves us, but hates our sin. It stretches us to believe that God is forgiving, yet still punishes our sin. Because God is holy, sin cannot dwell in His presence. We know we belong with Him, but our sin separates us. We cannot live with God unless we are made holy. This is the human dilemma. Into this quandary steps Jesus Christ. He takes our punishment for us. He suffers for our sin. He was crucified for our transgressions. God laid upon Jesus “the iniquity of us all”. Thus, our sins are punished and we are forgiven. The fruit of our sin will wreak havoc in our lives, but “the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him”. How can we not praise a God who would do this for us? How can we not worship a Lord who would die so we could live? Bow before Him today. Breathe a prayer of thanksgiving and praise. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Exalt the Lord

August 14

(Psalm 99:1-9 NIV) “The Lord reigns, let the nations tremble; he sits enthroned between the cherubim, let the earth shake. {2} Great is the Lord in Zion; he is exalted over all the nations. {3} Let them praise your great and awesome name-- he is holy. {4} The King is mighty, he loves justice-- you have established equity; in Jacob you have done what is just and right. {5} Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his footstool; he is holy. {6} Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel was among those who called on his name; they called on the Lord and he answered them. {7} He spoke to them from the pillar of cloud; they kept his statutes and the decrees he gave them. {8} O Lord our God, you answered them; you were to Israel a forgiving God, though you punished their misdeeds. {9} Exalt the Lord our God and worship at his holy mountain, for the Lord our God is holy.”

(Isaiah 6:1-5 NIV) “In the year that King Uzziah died, I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. {2} Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. {3} And they were calling to one another: "Holy, holy, holy is the Lord Almighty; the whole earth is full of his glory." {4} At the sound of their voices the doorposts and thresholds shook and the temple was filled with smoke. {5} "Woe to me!" I cried. "I am ruined! For I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips, and my eyes have seen the King, the Lord Almighty.”

All nations are called to exalt the Lord. Instead, the majority of nations exasperate Him. Exalt the Lord, because He reigns. He is the King of kings. His throne is surrounded by angels. Exalt the Lord, for He is holy. There is no sin in God. “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord God Almighty”. Exalt the Lord, for we sit at His footstool. He is eternal -- we are dust. Exalt the Lord, for He appears as a pillar of fire and His smoke fills the temple. The sound of His voice shakes the Earth. Exalt the Lord, for our times are in His hands. He gives and He takes away. Exalt the Lord. Come before Him with joy and thanksgiving. He is the author and sustainer of life. His breath gives us life. His love and His blood cover our sin. His Spirit fills us with joy and peace and hope. There is no one like our God. Exalt the Lord! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Clapping Rivers and Singing Mountains

August 13

(Psalm 98:1-9 NIV) "Sing to the Lord a new song, for he has done marvelous things; his right hand and his holy arm have worked salvation for him. {2} The Lord has made his salvation known and revealed his righteousness to the nations. {3} He has remembered his love and his faithfulness to the house of Israel; all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. {4} Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth, burst into jubilant song with music; {5} make music to the Lord with the harp, with the harp and the sound of singing, {6} with trumpets and the blast of the ram's horn-- shout for joy before the Lord, the King. {7} Let the sea resound, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it. {8} Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy; {9} let them sing before the Lord, for he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples with equity."

When we think of singing a new song, it’s not usually a tune written by mountains. But God says they will sing with joy before Him. If the mountains can sing, certainly we can too. God has given us a voice. Lift it toward heaven and praise His name! When we think of clapping hands, we don’t usually think of rivers. It’s hard to picture the rolling waters of the Mississippi reaching up and applauding heaven. But God says rivers will “clap their hands” and the seas will “resound”. If the waters of the earth can clap their hands and sing, certainly we can too! All creation will celebrate God’s salvation with singing. Every instrument imaginable will make music to the Lord, including the clapping rivers and the singing mountains. And the whole world will see the salvation of our God. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

A God Like No Other

August 12

(Psalm 97:1-12 NIV) "The Lord reigns, let the earth be glad; let the distant shores rejoice. {2} Clouds and thick darkness surround him; righteousness and justice are the foundation of his throne. {3} Fire goes before him and consumes his foes on every side. {4} His lightning lights up the world; the earth sees and trembles. {5} The mountains melt like wax before the Lord, before the Lord of all the earth. {6} The heavens proclaim his righteousness, and all the peoples see his glory. {7} All who worship images are put to shame, those who boast in idols -- worship him, all you gods! {8} Zion hears and rejoices and the villages of Judah are glad because of your judgments, O Lord. {9} For you, O Lord, are the Most High over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods. {10} Let those who love the Lord hate evil, for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked. {11} Light is shed upon the righteous and joy on the upright in heart. {12} Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."

Psalm 97 is a great song of praise and joy. We have such a great God! His words of order overpower the chaos lurking at all our doors. His presence brings peace to our frantic hearts. His holy fire sets the standard for righteousness in man, burning away the impurities that live inside us. His holy light illumines the world, exposing our every sin and giving life to our dying souls. He sees our false gods and our hidden idols, but lovingly calls us homeward. He is faithful beyond measure. His judgments are right and true. He is never wrong or in doubt. If He asks a question, He already knows the answer. He calls us to follow Him and worship Him; to hate evil and share His love with everyone we touch. He gives us His light and His joy to spread around in this dark and hate-filled world. If every believer in the Lord Jesus Christ were to live out this Psalm, our world would be changed! -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

CliffsNotes for Worship

August 11

(Psalm 96:1-13 NIV) "Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth. {2} Sing to the Lord, praise his name; proclaim his salvation day after day. {3} Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous deeds among all peoples. {4} For great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; he is to be feared above all gods. {5} For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the Lord made the heavens. {6} Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and glory are in his sanctuary. {7} Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. {8} Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name; bring an offering and come into his courts. {9} Worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness; tremble before him, all the earth. {10} Say among the nations, "The Lord reigns." The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved; he will judge the peoples with equity. {11} Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound, and all that is in it; {12} let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; {13} they will sing before the Lord, for he comes, he comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in his truth."

CliffsNotes are a set of student guides that condense and summarize prominent literary works. Psalm 96 is like a CliffsNotes for worship. “Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name” is the call to worship. Singing is called for -- not the same old song, but a new song every day. Proclaiming His salvation, or “witnessing”, is a way to worship the Lord. Assisting in the work of evangelism and world missions brings praise to His Name. Seeing God as high above us and maintaining a proper respect for Him as our Creator and Lord promotes a heart of worship. Recognizing the “splendor of His holiness” and respecting His Name will inspire genuine worship. Bringing offerings that truly glorify God is also an essential ingredient. Worship is not the place to be “economical”. All of God’s creation praises Him. Be sure that you participate in some way today. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

No Rest

August 10

(Psalm 95:6-11 NIV) ““Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker; {7} for he is our God and we are the people of his pasture, the flock under his care. Today, if you hear his voice, {8} do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah, as you did that day at Massah in the desert, {9} where your fathers tested and tried me, though they had seen what I did. {10} For forty years I was angry with that generation; I said, "They are a people whose hearts go astray, and they have not known my ways." {11} So I declared on oath in my anger, "They shall never enter my rest.””

(Exodus 17:1-7 NIV) ““The whole Israelite community set out from the Desert of Sin, traveling from place to place as the Lord commanded. They camped at Rephidim, but there was no water for the people to drink. {2} So they quarreled with Moses and said, "Give us water to drink." Moses replied, "Why do you quarrel with me? Why do you put the Lord to the test?" {3} But the people were thirsty for water there, and they grumbled against Moses. They said, "Why did you bring us up out of Egypt to make us and our children and livestock die of thirst?" {4} Then Moses cried out to the Lord, "What am I to do with these people? They are almost ready to stone me." {5} The Lord answered Moses, "Walk on ahead of the people. Take with you some of the elders of Israel and take in your hand the staff with which you struck the Nile, and go. {6} I will stand there before you by the rock at Horeb. Strike the rock, and water will come out of it for the people to drink." So Moses did this in the sight of the elders of Israel. {7} And he called the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites quarreled and because they tested the Lord saying, "Is the Lord among us or not?””

There are times when we make decisions that change the course of our personal history. We come to that proverbial fork in the road and go the wrong way. So it was with the people that God led out of bondage in Egypt. God delivered them, and in turn, they disrespected Him. He provided them with a way through the waters of the Red Sea, but they failed to trust Him to provide water for them in the desert. Their unbelieving hearts tested God one too many times and He declared they would never enter His rest. They would not be allowed to enter the Promised Land. So it will be with many who walk the Earth today. Jesus provides us with living water, and our fickle hearts crave something else. He gave His all for us and we complain that it’s not enough. If we do not change our hearts and our direction, we too will die in the desert and never enter His rest. It’s our choice. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Our Maker and Our Rock

August 9

(Psalm 95:1-6 NIV) “Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation. {2} Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song. {3} For the Lord is the great God, the great King above all gods. {4} In his hand are the depths of the earth, and the mountain peaks belong to him. {5} The sea is his, for he made it, and his hands formed the dry land. {6} Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker.”

(Isaiah 17:7-11 NIV) “In that day men will look to their Maker and turn their eyes to the Holy One of Israel. {8} They will not look to the altars, the work of their hands, and they will have no regard for the Asherah poles and the incense altars their fingers have made. {9} In that day their strong cities, which they left because of the Israelites, will be like places abandoned to thickets and undergrowth. And all will be desolation. {10} You have forgotten God your Savior; you have not remembered the Rock, your fortress. Therefore, though you set out the finest plants and plant imported vines, {11} though on the day you set them out, you make them grow, and on the morning when you plant them, you bring them to bud, yet the harvest will be as nothing in the day of disease and incurable pain.”

Worship and praise come naturally to those who believe that God is their Maker and their Rock. If God created us and sustains us, what else can we do but worship and praise Him. But man’s heart is fickle and proud. Rather than honor God as Creator, we often create our own gods. We deify rock stars who blaspheme our Rock and Redeemer. Our music glorifies sin. We sing and shout to the wrong gods. We bow before scientists who cast doubt on our Creator. We build big things and worship the work of our hands. We forget the God who created all things. We glorify the work of our hands instead of honoring the handiwork of God, and in the end we harvest the wind. We end up with nothing that will last. Let’s get back to bowing down in worship. Let’s kneel before our Maker and our Rock. It’s what we were created to do. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day   

Blessed Discipline

August 8

(Psalm 94:12-23 NIV) “Blessed is the man you discipline, O Lord, the man you teach from your law; {13} you grant him relief from days of trouble, till a pit is dug for the wicked. {14} For the Lord will not reject his people; he will never forsake his inheritance. {15} Judgment will again be founded on righteousness, and all the upright in heart will follow it. {16} Who will rise up for me against the wicked? Who will take a stand for me against evildoers? {17} Unless the Lord had given me help, I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death. {18} When I said, "My foot is slipping," your love, O Lord, supported me. {19} When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought joy to my soul. {20} Can a corrupt throne be allied with you-- one that brings on misery by its decrees? {21} They band together against the righteous and condemn the innocent to death. {22} But the Lord has become my fortress, and my God the rock in whom I take refuge. {23} He will repay them for their sins and destroy them for their wickedness; the Lord our God will destroy them.”

(Proverbs 3:11-12 NIV) “My son, do not despise the Lord’s discipline and do not resent his rebuke, {12} because the Lord disciplines those he loves, as a father the son he delights in.”

(Hebrews 12:4-11 NIV) “In your struggle against sin, you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding your blood. {5} And you have forgotten that word of encouragement that addresses you as sons: "My son, do not make light of the Lord's discipline, and do not lose heart when he rebukes you, {6} because the Lord disciplines those he loves, and he punishes everyone he accepts as a son." {7} Endure hardship as discipline; God is treating you as sons. For what son is not disciplined by his father? {8} If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons. {9} Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of our spirits and live! {10} Our fathers disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. {11} No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

If God loves us, He will discipline us. Love will include discipline or it is not godly love. Parents who fail to discipline their children are failing to love their children and failing at being parents. Our heavenly Father’s love for us includes discipline, because God’s love is perfect love. No one enjoys receiving discipline, but we dare not reach a point where we despise it or resent it. Neither should we blow it off or make light of it. The pain of discipline is what produces growth and maturity in believers. Discipline is truly a blessing for the follower of Christ. It is not a blessing that you will likely find on the list of things promised to you for sending money to that television preacher, but it is indeed a blessing. Blessed discipline: say it out loud and accept it as such when it comes from our heavenly Father. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day  

The God Who Avenges

August 7

(Psalm 94:1-11 NIV) “O Lord, the God who avenges, O God who avenges, shine forth. {2} Rise up, O Judge of the earth; pay back to the proud what they deserve. {3} How long will the wicked, O Lord, how long will the wicked be jubilant? {4} They pour out arrogant words; all the evildoers are full of boasting. {5} They crush your people, O Lord; they oppress your inheritance. {6} They slay the widow and the alien; they murder the fatherless. {7} They say, "The Lord does not see; the God of Jacob pays no heed." {8} Take heed, you senseless ones among the people; you fools, when will you become wise? {9} Does he who implanted the ear not hear? Does he who formed the eye not see? {10} Does he who disciplines nations not punish? Does he who teaches man lack knowledge? {11} The Lord knows the thoughts of man; he knows that they are futile.”

(Matthew 7:19-23 NIV) “Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. {20} Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. {21} "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only he who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. {22} Many will say to me on that day, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and in your name drive out demons and perform many miracles?' {23} Then I will tell them plainly, 'I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!'”

Most people don’t like the thought of a God who avenges. It does not fit their image of the Lord. They don’t like the idea that God would call some people “evildoers” and eliminate them from His presence and from the kingdom of heaven. But this is the truth of Scripture; this is the God we serve. He sees, He hears, He knows our deeds and thoughts. Jesus died for the sins of the world, but in the end, those who reject His love will be judged. Those who only pretend to know Him will be driven from His presence. The Lord and Judge of all things will punish “evildoers”, and we may be surprised at their identity. The list will include murderers, but also the proud, the boastful, the arrogant and all false prophets. Do not be found among them. Come to know Jesus -- really know Him. Religion will not save you. Only a relationship with Jesus can complete our salvation. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Mighty God of Majesty

August 6

(Psalm 93:1-5 NIV) “The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty; the Lord is robed in majesty and is armed with strength. The world is firmly established; it cannot be moved. {2} Your throne was established long ago; you are from all eternity. {3} The seas have lifted up, O Lord, the seas have lifted up their voice; the seas have lifted up their pounding waves. {4} Mightier than the thunder of the great waters, mightier than the breakers of the sea-- the Lord on high is mighty. {5} Your statutes stand firm; holiness adorns your house for endless days, O Lord.”

(Isaiah 9:6-7 NIV) “For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. {7} Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

Sometimes in our pursuit of Jesus the man, we forget that Jesus is also the Lord of creation and eternity. He and the Everlasting Father are one. He is Lord of lords -- the God who established the world and everything in it. He reigns as King of kings with justice and righteousness. He is “robed with majesty and armed with strength”. His power and glory are without equal. He is the Lamb of God, but He is also the Lion of the tribe of Judah. He is the Mighty God of Isaiah 9 and He shall reign forever and ever. Our God is an awesome God. His kingdom shall never end. Nothing can stand against His power or overcome the zeal of the Lord. This is the meek but mighty Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we worship and follow. The heavens and the earth lift their voices in praise to the Lord Almighty. All creation bows before Him. So should we. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Flourish Like a Palm Tree

August 5

(Psalm 92:5-15 NIV) ““How great are your works, O Lord, how profound your thoughts! {6} The senseless man does not know, fools do not understand, {7} that though the wicked spring up like grass and all evildoers flourish, they will be forever destroyed. {8} But you, O Lord, are exalted forever. {9} For surely your enemies, O Lord, surely your enemies will perish; all evildoers will be scattered. {10} You have exalted my horn like that of a wild ox; fine oils have been poured upon me. {11} My eyes have seen the defeat of my adversaries; my ears have heard the rout of my wicked foes. {12} The righteous will flourish like a palm tree, they will grow like a cedar of Lebanon; {13} planted in the house of the Lord, they will flourish in the courts of our God. {14} They will still bear fruit in old age, they will stay fresh and green, {15} proclaiming, “The Lord is upright; he is my Rock, and there is no wickedness in him.””

(Hosea 14:4-9 NIV) “I will heal their waywardness and love them freely, for my anger has turned away from them. {5} I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots; {6} his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon. {7} Men will dwell again in his shade. He will flourish like the grain. He will blossom like a vine, and his fame will be like the wine from Lebanon. {8} O Ephraim, what more have I to do with idols? I will answer him and care for him. I am like a green pine tree; your fruitfulness comes from me." {9} Who is wise? He will realize these things. Who is discerning? He will understand them. The ways of the Lord are right; the righteous walk in them, but the rebellious stumble in them.”

Many Bible teachers preach a gospel of prosperity. Even though Scripture spends more time telling us how to praise God in tough times, they see prospering as a definitive sign of God’s blessing. This may sound like heresy to some, but God does not necessarily want us to prosper. Instead He wants us to flourish and that is different than “prospering”. We can flourish even in the toughest of times. We can flourish even when we have no money or possessions. We can flourish like a palm tree in the desert, for our roots are sunk deep into the source of living water. We can stay “fresh and green” and bear fruit well into old age if we continue to fill up on the new wine of God’s Spirit. Our fruitfulness comes from the Spirit of God. The foolish will continue to clamor for prosperity. The wise and discerning will seek to flourish like a palm tree in the Lord. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day

Sing and Make Music

August 4

(Psalm 92:1-4 NIV) “A psalm. A song. For the Sabbath day. It is good to praise the Lord and make music to your name, O Most High, {2} to proclaim your love in the morning and your faithfulness at night, {3} to the music of the ten-stringed lyre and the melody of the harp. {4} For you make me glad by your deeds, O Lord; I sing for joy at the works of your hands.”

(Isaiah 51:11 NIV) “The ransomed of the Lord will return. They will enter Zion with singing; everlasting joy will crown their heads. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee away.”

(Ephesians 5:19-20 NIV) “Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, {20} always giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Many people who follow Jesus do not have what the world would call a great singing voice, but God loves to hear our songs. The Lord is like a proud parent whose child learns their first nursery song. Mom and Dad record it and put it on You Tube for the world to see and hear, even though the notes are not even close to perfect. The song brings joy to the heart because of who is singing, not because of how well it is sung. So it is with the children of God. The Lord loves to hear us sing when we have a joyful heart and He holds us close when our songs come from a broken heart. Our human performance may leave much to be desired, but we are music to the heart of God. Your songs bring joy to the Lord of the universe. Sing out! Day and night, make music to His Name. God is listening and He will love your song. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day     

The Shelter of the Most High

August 3

(Psalm 91:1-16 NIV) "He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. {2} I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust." {3} Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare and from the deadly pestilence. {4} He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. {5} You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, {6} nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. {7} A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. {8} You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. {9} If you make the Most High your dwelling-- even the Lord, who is my refuge-- {10} then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. {11} For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; {12} they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. {13} You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. {14} "Because he loves me," says the Lord, "I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. {15} He will call upon me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. {16} With long life will I satisfy him and show him my salvation.""

Psalm 91 is difficult to believe if you consider life in this world as the ultimate treasure. If death is seen as a defeat for the Christian and a failure of God, the words of this Psalm will seem like folly. But when we trust God and live in Christ, we have a shelter like no other. The Lord is our hiding place and our protection. He covers us and shields us. No matter what comes, we need not fear as the world fears. We may experience trouble and loss, but God guards our soul. Even death holds no terror for those of faith. His angels go before us and His faithfulness is our rear guard. Our surrounding security is found in God’s love for us and our acknowledgment of His name. When He is our life, we will be delivered and satisfied with His salvation. When we stop clinging to this life, we can begin to experience the fullness of His life. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day 

Establish the Work of Our Hands

August 2

(Psalm 90:13-17 NIV) “Relent, O Lord! How long will it be? Have compassion on your servants. {14} Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love, that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days. {15} Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us, for as many years as we have seen trouble. {16} May your deeds be shown to your servants, your splendor to their children. {17} May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us-- yes, establish the work of our hands.”

(Isaiah 9:7 NIV) “Of the increase of his government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David's throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.”

(Romans 16:25-27 NIV) “Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, {26} but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him-- {27} to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.”

God established the Earth. He spoke and the universe came to be. The Lord is establishing His kingdom and nothing can stop it. It can only grow and move forward. It never retreats. And, God has established His Church. One soul at a time, year after year, the gospel advances. We who believe are part of that advancing gospel. As God establishes us, He also establishes the work of our hands. What we do brings glory to God because the glory of God lives in us and through us. Without the Lord’s help, our efforts are feeble and futile. With God, all things are possible. As we endure the trials of this world, Christ satisfies us with His love, and joy fills our soul. The Lord reveals Himself to us, to our children, and to the world. Nations come to believe His word and obey His teaching. As the Lord establishes us, He is establishing His Kingdom. Don’t miss the significance of this. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day    

Numbering Our Days Aright

August 1

(Psalm 90:11-12 NIV) “Who knows the power of your anger? For your wrath is as great as the fear that is due you. {12} Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”

(Psalm 39:4-7 NIV) “Show me, O Lord, my life's end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. {5} You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before you. Each man's life is but a breath. {6} Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro: He bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth, not knowing who will get it. {7} "But now, Lord, what do I look for? My hope is in you.”

Most of us start out this life with no concept of mortality. One of the distinguishing marks of adolescence is the unrealistic sense of being immortal. We realize there is such a thing as death -- we just don’t think it can happen to us. So we often live carelessly, as if the principles of moderation and constraint were our enemies. But sooner or later, we come to our senses. We realize that this life is not forever and that we had better begin to make our remaining days count for something. What we decide to make those days count for will determine our final destiny. If we live them for our glory, our glory will die with us. But if we live them for the glory of God, we will realize eternal rewards that are beyond our imagination. This is the truth that God tries so hard to communicate to us. Are you listening? Number your days aright. -- Friar Tuck’s Word of the Day