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2/22/15

SPIRITUAL GOOD EATS

You, God, are my God,
    earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.
 I have seen you in the sanctuary
    and beheld your power and your glory.
 Because your love is better than life,
    my lips will glorify you.
I will praise you as long as I live,
    and in your name I will lift up my hands.
I will be fully satisfied as with the richest of foods;
    with singing lips my mouth will praise you.  

   Listen here >>>


Do you know where your food comes from? 

Is it Organic?

Is it Pesticide-free?

Is it Non-GMO

Is it Whole Grain?

Is it Free-Range?

Is it Farm-Raised?

Is it Spring-Fed?

We read the labels on what we buy, but sometimes pay no attention to what our eyes, ears and heart ingest.

So if we’re feeling Anemic, maybe we should check the source and the contents of our “spiritual eats.”

The prophet Isaiah asks:
Why spend money on what is not bread, and your labor on what does not satisfy?
Listen, listen to me, and eat what is good, and you will delight in the richest of fare.*

David answers, from the Desert of Judah:

God, you are my God …
I thirst for you,
    my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
    where there is no water.**

Like a starving man, he seeks after the One True God, the God of power and glory, whose love is better than life.

And the result:

He is full.  He is completely satisfied.  As if he has eaten the richest, most nutritious food the world has to offer.

Good spiritual eats.


*Isaiah 55:2
**Psalm 63:1-5

2/17/15

Ahem ... bad company ruins good people!


Listen here to>>>  Psalm 101

Yesterday I was meditating on Psalm 101.  It is about evil and how to deal with it.

That's a pretty heavy topic, but since horrible things are in the news every day now, it is definitely timely.

The Psalmist makes his attitude very clear:


“The deeds of faithless men I hate;
They will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil.”   [Ps 101: 3b, 4]

Why?


I think that the whole poem reveals this reason:

Because the Lord is just 

as well as loving,

I will choose my companions with care.

 So, here is what to avoid and what to embrace when it comes to friends and associates.


What to avoid
What to embrace
Vile (vs. 8)
Sing praise (vs. 1)
Faithless (3)
Love and justice (1)
Perverse (4)
Blameless life (2)
Evil (4)
Blameless heart (2)
Slander (5)
Faithful (6)
Haughty (5)
Blameless walk (6)
Proud (5)

Deceit (7)

Speaks falsely (7)

Wicked (8)

Evil doer (8)



This psalm teaches us how to deal with evil actions and treat evil people.  We need to avoid where we can, reject where we must, and keep our own hearts and actions pure in the process.  Here's a further list of tips:

At home – make sure what I do is pure
At home – make sure what I see is pure
Hate – actions of the faithless
Shake off – actions of the faithless
Keep far away from  -- men of perverse heart (who think evil is good)
Have no dealings – with evil
Put to silence – person who slanders neighbor
Don’t put up with – person with haughty eyes and proud heart
Don’t live with – person who practices deceit
Don’t hang around – person who lies
Silence at every chance – the wicked
Reject and cast out   – every evil doer

Why do we need to have these boundaries?  Because if we don't exclude from our inner circle those who are bent on doing wrong, we will be victimized by them, and ultimately become like them.

"Bad company corrupts good morals."   1Cor. 15:33