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How the structure of Psalms compels you to praise Him

By: demingglobal16 Comments

I am no scholar. 

In writing on the Psalms, my hopes echo those of the literary giant C.S. Lewis who, in his book Reflections on the Psalms, offered this introductory disclaimer:  “I write for the unlearned about things in which I am unlearned myself.”[1]

It’s hard to imagine anyone calling C.S. Lewis “unlearned” on any topic pertaining to biblical theology. And so the humble posture C.S. Lewis takes towards the Psalms casts an inescapable floodlight on my own inadequacy to tackle the most quoted book of the Bible!

But I have hope!

I hope we might “compare notes” on what God is teaching us through the Psalms.[2]

I hope that God, through his Spirit, will illuminate his Word in our hearts and give us the courage to invite these songs of praise to change us.

That’s what the word ‘Psalms’ means – literally. The Hebrew is tehilim or ‘songs of praise.’  Composed of numerous authors and spanning 1,000 years of biblical history, I guess you could think of the Psalms as an ancient songbook with eternal resonance.

And even the very structure of this divine songbook speaks to our heart. Scholars tell us Psalms is divided into 5 books.[3]

Despite the book’s divisions and age, interestingly, all 150 psalms share a similar refrain. Listen to the benedictions of each of the 5 books in the Psalter:

Book 1 (Ps. 41:13)

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
Amen and Amen.

Book 2 (Ps. 72:18-19)

Blessed be the Lord God, the God of Israel,
Who only does wondrous things!
And blessed be His glorious name forever!
And let the whole earth be filled with His glory.
Amen and Amen.

Book 3 (Ps. 89:52)

Blessed be the Lord forevermore! Amen and Amen.

Book 4 (Ps. 106:48) 

Blessed be the Lord God of Israel
From everlasting to everlasting!
And let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord!

Book 5 (Ps. 150:6)

Let everything that has breath praise the Lord. Praise the Lord!

The benedictions of all 5 books of the Psalms call you to do one thing: PRAISE Him!

So, why is the structure of the Psalter significant for us today? Here are a few takeaways from the benedictions of each book:

1. I MUST PRAISE GOD BECAUSE HE IS PERSONAL 

Book 1, 2, and 4 all close with “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel” (Ps. 41:13; 72:18; 106:48).

The God revealed in the Psalter is the God of Israel – meaning God is Lord over a people of his own choosing. Israel praised him because they belonged to him.

And this King of Israel is the very same King of our hearts today – because he chooses us through His Son.  As a ‘personal’ being, God not only steps into our lives in meaningful ways, but rather, he picks us as his family.

For that reason, we praise Him, because we are his.

2. I MUST PRAISE GOD BECAUSE HE IS ETERNAL

We belong to God – not for a moment, not until the going gets tough, not until something better comes along. We belong to God “from everlasting to everlasting” (Ps. 41:13; 72:19; 89:52; 106:48).

His relationship with us will not change, because he does not change. He is trustworthy. We praise Him because we belong to him forever.

3. I MUST PRAISE GOD BECAUSE HE IS PRAISEWORTHY  

Very often we allow our emotions to direct our praise. We offer up praise when we ‘feel’ like singing or when our circumstances compel us to give thanks. This type of praise is not really praise at all; it is pride in disguise.

That’s not to say that the Psalms teach us to paste on a happy face in the midst of suffering and difficulty. Far from it, the psalmists teach us how to sing as a measure of the joy given to us by an eternal and personal God.

It is these two truths that keep the songs of praise penned by the Psalmists securely positioned in our own hearts despite failure, sin, disobedience, persecution, pain, and conflict.

The Psalms teach us many things. But first and foremost, they compel us to praise him.

I am no scholar, but I know how to sing. (Well…I know how to make a joyful noise, at least.)

Did you know that even the structure of the Psalms compels you to sing a new song? What song in the Psalms makes your heart sing? Don’t miss any of the Psalms series, subscribe today!

For information about the links in the post, click here.  

[1] C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms (Mariner Books, 1964), 34.

[2] Ibid.

[3] This information taken from material by Daniel Akin accessed via http://www.danielakin.com/wp-content/uploads/old/Resource_620/1%20The%20Book%20of%20Psalms.pdf. The same information was used and adapted in the graphic on this page. Thank you Dr. Akin!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ministry Monday: Praying God’s Word for Your Husband {Printable Prayer Cards}

By: demingglobal13 Comments

Welcome to Ministry Monday at Hive Resources! This series is for everyday women who minister through the everyday mission fields of life. Posts feature resources and ideas for discipleship, outreach events, women’s ministries, Bible study, hospitality, and more.

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any of it!

Need a great Christmas gift idea for the hubsters?

How about the gift of prayer?

You might not be able to wrap it up and put it under the tree, but it’s a gift given with eternal significance. I can’t think of anything that mirrors the self-giving love that was born in a manager on a Christmas night so long ago.

If you’re game, here’s how you do it.

Get your hands on a copy of Kathi Lipp’s new book, Praying God’s Word for Your Husband.

I heard Kathi speak recently at the Allume conference and I fell in love with her. She had me laughing so hard I was crying. I knew if someone could look at life with a godly perspective without sacrificing humor and joy, I had to read her book! And her book did not disappoint.

Here’s why I love the book:

  • While her book is not a theology book, the author rightly assesses the reasons women do not pray with greater power and offers practical tips for preparing the heart for prayer.
  • The author greatly convicted me to elevate my prayers for my husband as a measure of self-less service.
  • The author provides practical tips for meeting your husband where he is. She uncovers meaty verses that apply to a variety of situations your husband might face – praying when your husband is stressed, overwhelmed, unemployed, when he works too much, when he is struggling with finances, when he doesn’t know God, and when he compares himself to others.
  • The author helps the reader apply God’s Word toward her husband with simple prayers. I was surprised at the specificity that can come from applying the truths of the Psalms to my own husband. I think you will be surprised too! And while her prayers aren’t intended to be used verbatim or as a substitute for mining the truths of God’s Word yourself, they teach the reader how to draw out the main truths behind passages.
Here’s an example from her book:
For when your husband needs to be reminded of God’s love.

“Search me, O God, and know my heart;
Try me, and know my anxieties;
And see if there is any wicked way in me,
And lead me in the way everlasting.” (Ps. 139:23-24)

PRAYER: “Search and guard his heart, O Lord! Keep him from dangers of the mind, from temptations and lies that will shroud him in darkness. Cast away anxious thoughts that filter the truth, and lead him into the light. Pull away the cobwebs of fear and shine a bright light on his path. Reveal to him your perfect truth. Bring the darkest lies of the enemy into the brightest light where they cannot survive. Guard and guide him always, holy Father, and never, ever let him go.” (Pg. 115).

Here’s what I didn’t like about the book:

  • The book was a little redundant. A few chapters had overlapping material. But if you are reading the book selectively by chapter or topic, this isn’t a big deal.
Overall , I loved Praying God’s Word for Your Husband.  It helped me focus my prayers for my husband and helped me assess any selfish motives driving my prayers for him. It was a quick read and would even make a great gift for a friend or family member.
Inspired to pray for your husband? Here are 4 free printable prayer cards utilizing passages and prayers Kathi Lipp suggests in her book. I hope you’ll print them out and put them on your dashboard, bathroom mirror, or by the kitchen sink.

(Click the image to download FREE printable!)

Merry Christmas!

Today I’m linking up with:

GraceLaced Mondays

 

 

 

 

 

 

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

Ministry Monday: The Ministry of Thankfulness

By: demingglobal13 Comments

Welcome to Ministry Monday at Hive Resources! This series is for everyday women who minister through the everyday mission fields of life. Posts feature resources and ideas for discipleship, outreach events, women’s ministries, Bible study, hospitality, and more.

Subscribe today so you don’t miss any of it!

“God our Father, thank you for making rainbows for us. Amen.”

Hands folded over a PB&J sandwich, eyes clamped shut. My eldest son spoke with the gravest of sincerity.

“…oh, and please send us a unicorn!” came the quick follow-up.

When I asked the twins to express a note of thanks to God over our meal, I wasn’t exactly envisioning rainbows or unicorns. But I wasn’t surprised either. Because even when the actual words “thank you” are uttered, my children’s prayers tend to shape up in a self-centered way.

I’m pretty sure that’s normal for four-year-olds.

But rainbows and unicorns aside, the same could be said of me. Adulthood does little to change the self-centered nature of my prayers – even prayers of thanksgiving.

Quite legitimately, the largest objects of my gratitude spill from things, events, people that touch my daily life. Indeed, I’m truly thankful for a loving family and a warm house. I’m grateful that God protects my children (only one ER visit in four years is nothing short of a miracle…and God’s grace). I’m thankful for the security of my husband’s job in an unstable economy. I delight in ministry opportunities God designed for my family. And so forth.

But as I grow in the grace of Christ I hope to grow in gratitude too, experiencing true delight in God’s blessings that have nothing to do with me. 

Click on the image to download Thanksgiving Notes

Look at Paul. Paul’s prayers of thanksgiving extended beyond those tangible blessings experienced in his own life and focused on the gratitude for God’s work in others. Case in point, look at the introductions to most of his letters! [custom_list style=”list-1″]

  • In Rom 1:8-9, he thanks God for the faith of the Roman church that it is renowned throughout the world.
  • In 1 Cor. 1:4-9, Paul thanks God for showing the believers in Corinth grace and enriching them with knowledge and robust spiritual gifts.
  • In Eph. 1:15, Paul thanks God for the faith of the Ephesians.
  • In Phil. 1, Paul thanks God for the fellowship of the Philippian church and the good work he began in them.
  • In Col. 3:4, Paul thanks God for the faith of the Colossian church and their love for the saints.
  • In 1 Thess. 1:2-5, Paul thanks God for the unceasing work of faith found in the new converts in Thessalonica.
  • In 2 Thess. 1:3, Paul thanks God for the growing faith of the believers in Thessalonica, and the love they show to each other. 
  • In Philemon 1:4-5, Paul thanks God for the brotherly affection shown by his friend Philemon to another believer.

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How do your notes of thanksgiving shape up?

How often do you thank God for blessing your friends? Do you take time to thank God for the spiritual gifts you see in those around you? Or, do your prayers of thanks solely revolve about what God is doing in your life?

This Thanksgiving season, let the Apostle Paul guide you in how you offer the Lord thanks. Along with gratitude for his hand in your own life, be sure to thank God for what he’s doing in others to bring about his glory. Thanksgiving is a ministry.

To get you started in a ministry of thanksgiving, here’s a few questions (and a free printable) to get you started:

  • How is God moving in people you know to do His will? How is God working in the lives of your friends to impact their family, church, and community? Thank God for those things.
  • How is God working in people you know through life changes, transformations, or callings? Thank God for opportunities of growth and service you see in others.
  • How is God blessing specific individuals you know – even with difficult blessings or so-called ‘severe mercies.’  Thank God for showing strength to friends battling difficult circumstances. Thank God for allowing those friends to partner in his sufferings.

We have much for which we are thankful in our own lives. But by elevating our thanksgiving, we get to partner with God as he works in the lives of those around us – not just our own. The act of thanksgiving can be a true ministry of grace.

Happy Thanksgiving! Be sure to print out your free Thanksgiving Notes printable. Use them to decorate your Thanksgiving table and have guests write notes of praise on them. Print them out as decorations for your Thanksgiving Tree, or even attach them to twine or ribbon to make a garland for your mantel. Enjoy!

What areas of life is your biggest ministry? Connect with Hive Resources on Facebook so we can partner in ministry together!

Today I’m linking up with:

 

GraceLaced Mondays

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

The Hour That Matters Most {a review and printable!}

By: demingglobal1comment

The hour that matters most – dinner time.

It’s the time when most of the family is at home, but often not ‘together.’ In The Hour that Matters Most: The Surprising Power of the Family Meal, relationship gurus Les and Leslie Parrott, give parents some practical tools and encouragement for strengthening their family around the dinner table.

Publisher’s Description: The facts are on the table. Dinnertime is truly the most important hour in a day that a family can spend together. Focusing on the family meal, this book will help strengthen families by showing them how to reclaim this important time in order to build relationships, draw closer to one another, and restore a sense of peace in their homes. Millions of parents in America can picture the kind of home life they want but don’t know how to make it a reality. The Hour That Matters Most will help readers strengthen and transform their own families—specifically around the dinner table.

What I liked about the book:

  • The authors back up their premise – sharing a family meal together is beneficial for children – with credible research and studies. For example, families that share meals have substantially better communication and problem-solving skills, and so forth. And while believers really don’t need sociological data to affirm the wisdom of biblical principles, it’s still nice to know that the ideas in the Bible align with common sense!
  • The authors include the mechanics of communication in their book, especially tips on active listening. I found the section on reflecting on your child’s message extremely helpful as I try to discern the context of my kid’s messages and the thinking and feeling behind them.
  • The authors keep the book very practical. They include conversation starters and communication games. They give parents ideas for implementing House Rules for the dinner table and even ideas on teaching your kids how to set the table. And of course, there are a few recipes included!
  • The authors offer conflict resolution techniques specifically geared for the dinner table. I appreciate the fact that the authors don’t assume your family is akin to the Leave the Beaver TV show and can sit down peaceably for a meal together.  They also offer some helpful ideas for tackling food battles with children. Because let’s be honest, dealing with persnickety eaters can turn any family meal into a family free-for-all.

Click the image to download PDF

This book inspired me to beef up my own family’s meal-time communication skills, so I created these conversation cards based on some of the author’s tips. Print these notes on card stock, punch a hole for a ribbon, and then put them in a jar for your dinner table centerpiece. Take turns around the table selecting a card or have a designated interviewer! I even added a blank card for you to fill in your own question.

Please feel free to print and make the most of the hour that matters most in your house!

What dinner-time traditions do you have in your home? Share them in the comments!

To read about the links in this post, click here.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

How Ps. 145:8-9 shows moms the right way to manage anger {free printable!}

By: demingglobal11 Comment

This is the final post in a series on Psalm 145 – a passage with lots to say about your life!  Scroll down for links to the whole series. 

I’m not an angry person, but parenting has brought some ugly traits to the surface of my heart – particularly anger. Is anyone else feeling me?

But here’s the good news, Ps. 145 gives moms like me – who struggle with anger – renewed hope. We have hope for managing unholy anger. We have hope for becoming more like our holy Father.

Ps. 145:8-9 helps me to remember what kind of God is redeeming my emotions:

Click on image to download high res version.

  • GOD IS GRACIOUS

God is gracious because he is generous of heart. How generous is he? He saves us when we don’t deserve it and sacrificed his perfect Son to do so.

Because we’ve seen, touched, and tasted His grace, we can extend grace to others (See Eph. 2:1-10). As a mom, we demonstrate grace, not out of our own ability, but because God has changed us from the inside.

I’ve discovered the days I struggle with my anger the most are the days when I am ungenerous with my time and schedule.

I’m less likely to overlook my children’s small infractions when I’m stressed meeting a deadline. I’m more likely to lose my cool, when discipline and correction intrude on my attempts to relax or ‘veg out.’

 

  • GOD IS COMPASSIONATE

Compassion is a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another.

Mothers can sometimes get compassion all mixed up. At one extreme, we tell our kids to ‘buck up’ or ‘shake it off’ when they come to us with problems. And at the other end of the spectrum, we coddle them in unhealthy emotional ways.

Biblical compassion avoids both of these destructive extremes.

Biblical compassion is selfless. Unhealthy compassion is motivated by personal gain or convenience. It is almost as if David wrote Ps. 145:8-9 for mothers who struggle to relate to their children as God relates to his.

The Hebrew word for compassion (racham) comes from the root word for womb. It expresses a parent’s compassion toward their children. Particularly, “this deep emotion seeks expression in aggressive acts of selfless sacrifice.”[1]

 

  • GOD IS SLOW TO ANGER

When Scripture says God is slow to anger, it is not denying His wrath. God’s wrath against sin is needed because it points us to our need of salvation! However, because God is gracious and merciful he is slow to become angry with us.

The Hebrew uses a funny little idiom to illustrate this – it says God is long-nosed.[2] It paints the picture of God pausing to take a few deep breaths before dealing with his sinful and rebellious kids.

God doesn’t expect mothers to be devoid of great emotion like anger or grief. But God does desire us to be patient in expressing our emotions. When anger rules our hearts, it rules our responses to our children.

 

  • GOD IS MERCIFUL

When God shows mercy, he does so in tangible ways. He forgives us when we don’t deserve to be forgiven. [3]

The word merciful in your text might be translated love or lovingkindness. In the Hebrew, it’s the rich term hesed – a word that incorporates all of God’s positive qualities. More importantly, hesed is a covenant term. It is only through God’s mercy (love, lovingkindess) that you and I can hope to be freed from sin and restored to a relationship with Him.

So, it’s not surprising that those who struggle with anger probably have a corresponding lack of mercy. I know I do. My husband and I try to incorporate reconciliation as part of our discipline process. We recognize the importance of forgiveness and reconciliation because we’ve been forgiven much. But, I have to remind myself that I’m not showing mercy – the kind that is an unmerited gift – when I continue to ‘punish’ my kids with a bad attitude toward them the rest of the day.

Going through the motions of discipline doesn’t count for anything unless it is also accompanied by mercy.

Psalm 145 reveals God is gracious, full of compassion, slow to anger, and great in mercy. This passage shows us that God’s character has huge implications for the roles we bear as parent and mother. Look at the result of God’s character in verse 9: The Lord is good to all,  And His tender mercies are over all His works.”

God is good to us, moms. His “tender mercies” are at work in our lives.

In giving us our little ones, he has given us a chance to become more like him. And although David didn’t intend to write a passage on God’s anger management plan for moms, his words resonate where you and I find ourselves.

This is our hope: God promises to change our hearts.

Moms, if you struggle with anger, put today’s printable in a visible place and begin to commit it to memory. Ask God to work in your life to ‘put off’ selfish interests and ‘put on’ His character instead.

Did you miss any posts or printables in the series on Psalm 145? Here they are!

Special thanks to Sugarplum Paperie for granting me permission to use her lovely designs for this week’s printables!

[1] Charles Brand, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003), 325.

[2] You’ll find the same idiom in Ex. 34:6, Ps. 18:8, and Ps. 103:8.

[3] Charles Brand, ed. Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary (Nashville: Holman Reference, 2003), 1107.

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

How Ps. 145:6-7 helps you teach your child to fear God {free printable!}

By: demingglobal12 Comments

This is the fourth post in a series on Psalm 145 – a passage with lots to say about your life!  So, subscribe today! You don’t miss the next free printable! 

I field odd-ball questions from my children about God when I’m in the middle of a task. Yesterday, one of the twins asked me ‘if God was a killer’ as I was juggling a pot of boiling of water over his head. I was prepping for dinner.

And as if to test my authenticity while writing this post, another one asked me if ‘God spanks ghosts.’

(Where do kids get their questions?)

Often, I’m quick to dismiss these honest questions about God as silly because I’m genuinely busy.  I’m also tempted to sweep difficult questions under the rug when I don’t feel I have adequate answers.

“Of course, God’s not a killer. Why would you ask something like that?”

“God doesn’t spank ghosts, because ghosts aren’t real. Now, go play with your brother.“

“I don’t know why God painted the sky blue. That’s just the color he chose. He’s God – he can do that.”

But Psalm 145 encourages me to stop and consider genuine questions as priceless teaching moments (as long as there isn’t a pot of boiling water involved).

In fact, here are two ideas from Ps. 145:6-7 for teaching your child to fear God:

Click on image to download high res version.

1.     TALK ABOUT WHO GOD IS!

Teaching our children to fear God starts when we talk with them about God in a reverential way. In verse 6, David says God is awesome. He is great.

6 Men shall speak of the might of Your awesome acts,
And I will declare Your greatness.

David says when men speak about God, they talk about the might of his awesome (or terrible) acts.  It’s hard to use casual terms about God when talking about the powerful things he does.

So, parents, we must be ready to talk about God when our child is.

Take time to really answer your kid’s questions about God by digging for answers together.

I can’t think of anything more exciting than for a parent to invite their child on an adventure to find answers for questions big and small (sort of like a treasure hunt!) Put the child on your lap and Google safe questions. Take the child’s hand and guide them to the bookshelf. Select a book together and then look up answers with their help. Trace the words of Scripture with your child’s finger.

Besides learning truths about God’s character, the child also learns how to handle Scripture and apply it to life’s questions.

They learn that Mom and Dad listen. They learn they can feel comfortable talking about faith with their family. They learn that Scripture is robust enough to handle their inquiry. And they learn that God desires to make himself known – especially to them.

Talk to your child about God. Speak about the “might of his awesome acts.”

2.      CELEBRATE WHAT GOD DOES!

Teaching our children to fear God starts when we teach them to celebrate what he does!

7 They shall utter the memory of Your great goodness,
And shall sing of Your righteousness.

So, how do you celebrate God?

In verse 7a, utter is sometimes translated eagerly utter because the Hebrew (Naba’) conveys the sense of praise that “flows, pours out, gushes, or bubbles up to the surface. And in verse 7b, the word sing (ranan) means “to give a ringing cry out loud in joy, exulatation, or praise”

Basically, a heart that truly fears God cannot help but celebrate what God does.

Here are some things verse 7 says we should sing about:

  • Our God is good!

In this passage, God’s goodness refers to his kindness to mankind manifested in his righteousness (tsedaqah) or justice.

  • Our God is righteous!

That means God always does the right thing. But God is righteous not simply because he always does what is right – but because he always does what is right toward us. He brings justice into our lives by giving us his righteousness.

Like David said, that’s cause for celebration…and great fear.

Use today’s printable as a reminder to be intentional about guiding your children in the fear of the Lord. He is awesome, great, good, and just!  And he seeks to share all that with them!

What kind of odd-ball questions about God do your children ask you? And how do you answer them?

Special thanks to Sugarplum Paperie for granting me permission to use her lovely designs for this printable!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

How Ps. 145:4-5 gives parents the right purpose {free printable!}

By: demingglobal1comment

This is the third post in a series on Psalm 145 – a passage with lots to say about your life!  So, subscribe today! You don’t miss the next free printable! 

All good stories have a purpose.

Good stories help us interpret reality and make sense of our experiences.

To a child, a parent is a master storyteller. Because even if we aren’t cozying up on the couch reading picture books, our actions and responses to life communicate a story to our children.

Click on image to download high res version.

The story we tell our kids – or don’t tell our children – teaches them how to interpret the story of their own life. Who are they? Why are they on earth?

And the answers to these questions are only adequately explained by the story of redemption – the story of God’s activity on earth.

So, how do you share that story with your kids? In Ps. 145, David explains how parents can grab hold of the right purpose in verses 4-5.

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  • Communicate the importance of worshiping God (Ps.145:4) 

My ultimate job as a mom to pass down the skill of praising God to my children.  An easy way to do this is by pointing my children to God’s activity in their lives.

4 One generation shall praise Your works to another,
And shall declare Your mighty acts

Talk about God at meal times. Cultivate thankfulness for God’s provision for your family in the smallest details. Seek God in prayer together over difficult situations. Ask God to move in them. Find ways to worship corporately as a family for Bible study.

With each prayer request and note of praise, we are telling our children that God is at work in their lives.  And the God who does marvelous things in their lives is worthy of their worship and praise.

Particularly for David, the wondrous works of God wasn’t just what God was doing in David’s life – but what God had done in the past. David was meditating on God’s character as faithful to deliver, save, and bring justice. That is the lesson we should be passing along to our kids. Because God is faithful, mighty, and majestic, he is worthy of our praise.

  • Communicate how amazing God is – not how amazing we are (Ps. 145:5)

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My ultimate purpose as a mom isn’t to make sure beds are made with ‘hospital corners’ or rooms are eternally tidied. My ultimate purpose as a mom isn’t to bake blue-ribbon chocolate chip cookies and look good doing it.

My ultimate purpose as a mother is to guide my children in worship and praise of the One True God.

There are many ways to set about that task (not the least of which is by making my house a home of rest).

But very often I invest the majority of my thoughts and free time in trying to become the model house keeper by pinning ideas for crafts and cute organizational details.

5 I will meditate on the glorious splendor of Your majesty,
And on Your wondrous works.

When I obsess (meditate) over good housekeeping instead of keeping my proper focus on my purpose (to lead my children to worship God), I erect an idol in the place of the King.  I’m pointing attention to ‘my works’ – when I should be pointing my children to God’s works. (Besides, anything we do well is a testament to the creativity and loveliness of our Creator.)

Throwing elaborate birthday parties for our children or making our homes look magazine-cover worthy is futile unless Christ is at the center of our efforts. We must ask ourselves: Do these efforts communicate the glorious splendor of the King? Are my motivations in these activities to bring my child closer to the King?

When we cloud our purpose with cultural ideals, we lose the real joy of motherhood. We lose the opportunity to guide our children into worship of the faithful, mighty, majestic God.

The story of redemption not only helps our children interpret the worth and role of their own lives – it also helps us discover our purpose in parenting them.

What’s your biggest struggle in sharing the story of redemption with your kids?

Special thanks to Sugarplum Paperie for granting me permission to use her lovely designs for this printable!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.

How Psalm 145 helps you view life the right way {another FREE printable!}

By: demingglobal12 Comments

This is the second post in a series on Psalm 145 – a passage with lots to say about your life!  So, subscribe today! You don’t miss the next free printable! 

I met a woman who told me she felt she had to chase after God – like a child chasing after a runaway balloon. And no matter how fast she ran or how high she jumped, the balloon floated above her fingertips just out of her grasp.

God seemed distant, unknowable, she said.

But whether this woman knew it or not, the way she viewed God impacted the way she viewed her whole life. 

Click on image to download high res version

Because understanding who God is and what he does for us radically alters how we interpret reality. David (the author) tells us three things about God that should change how we view life.

1.      Our God is a personal God (Ps. 145: 1)

David worships God because God is personal  (“my God” in verse 1).

The God of the Bible reveals himself to his creation – to you. That means that while he is set apart from his creation, he is neither distant nor elusive. Actually, Scripture tells us he is near! (Ps. 145:18)

When my kids experience night terrors, they are quieted by my reassurances that I am always near even when they can’t see me. I haven’t left the house. I haven’t left them alone in the dark. I’m in the next room – ready to help, ready to rescue, ready to hug.

As our Heavenly Father, God’s nearness and accessibility has huge implications for how we understand his feelings for us. The very fact that God makes himself personally accessible to you and me reveals that he loves us greatly.

You are loved. That changes things, right?

2.       Our God is a Sovereign King (Ps. 145:1)

David also worships God because God is sovereign over his life (“King” in verse 1).

God is king. What do kings do?

  • Good kings govern the affairs of their land.
  • Good kings concern themselves with their subjects.
  • Good kings promote peace by bringing justice to unjust situations.

God is a Good King. He is our Good King.

That means that I have to admit my limitations. Having a sovereign and Good King to look to radically informs my view of motherhood. Under a Good King, I can admit my limitations. I can hand over control with great peace.  I can let go of attempts to bring justice to a difficult situation.

You, too,  have a Good King who has your best interests at heart. Totally changes things.

3.       Our God alone is worthy of praise-not me! (Ps. 145:2-3)

And last, David worships God because God alone is worthy of praise.

In fact, the rest of this chapter is an outworking of reasons to praise God. David says we should praise God in three ways:

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  • We should praise God in the little things (Ps. 145:2a)
The thick of everyday life – maintaining schedules, packing lunches, doing laundry – has a subtle way of choking out our praise. Sometimes we think because the mundane bores us, it must also bore God. But God desires to hear our voice praise Him in the midst of the ordinary. We should praise God every day for who he is and what he’s doing in our lives.
  • We should praise God in the big things (Ps. 145:2b)
By “big” I mean eternal. For those who serve the King, the “little things” of life are colored by an eternal perspective. Even though we praise God now, we will praise God forever in eternity because his reign is eternal. It’s a reality that enables us to have such great hope – that our God King will continue to see his plans through for us, for our family, for our loved ones, for our churches, for the whole world!
  • We should praise God in the things we don’t understand (Ps. 145:3)
God’s greatness is unsearchable. This is where trust – the true act of worship – comes in. Trusting a Good and Loving King has a plan and is able to see it through.

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Life is hard. It can leave us tongue-tied.

David knew about difficult circumstances, yet he chose to grab hold of God with all his might and worship him.

But this is the most important fact from Ps. 145: God came near to David, ready to be grasped.

And God has come near to you, too.

This truth changes how you view your life. You are sought after. You are loved. You are cared for. You don’t have to chase after God; God is chasing after you!  The God that does all this is worthy of your praise.

Do you find it hard to believe all those things? Grab hold of him! Put today’s free printable of Ps. 145:1-2 someplace visible – at the kitchen sink, dashboard of your car, bathroom mirror! And meditate on who God is and what he is doing in your life! 

Special thanks to Sugarplum Paperie for granting me permission to use her lovely designs for this printable!

About

Melissa Deming is the creator of Hive Resources — a site to help women sweeten their walk with Christ through Bible study, ministry and missions resources, and more. She is the author of "Daughters of the King: Finding Your Place in the Biblical Story." Melissa has an M.Div. in Women’s Studies from Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary.