The Phil Files

Ascribe to the LORD, you heavenly beings,
    ascribe to the LORD glory and strength.
  Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name;
    worship the LORD in the splendor of his 1 holiness.

  The voice of the LORD is over the waters;
    the God of glory thunders,
    the LORD thunders over the mighty waters.
  The voice of the LORD is powerful;
    the voice of the LORD is majestic.
  The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars;
    the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.
  He makes Lebanon leap like a calf,
  Sirion like a young wild ox.
  The voice of the LORD strikes
    with flashes of lightning.
  The voice of the LORD shakes the desert;
    the LORD shakes the Desert of Kadesh.
  The voice of the LORD twists the oaks 3
    and strips the forests bare.
  And in his temple all cry, “Glory!”

  The LORD sits enthroned over the flood;
    the LORD is enthroned as King forever.
  The LORD gives strength to his people;
    the LORD blesses his people with peace.

\o/ — Comments Psalm 29: The LORD blesses his people with peace! — \o/

Having spent the last week in a part of the country where floods have raged, lightning has sent it’s jagged crackles of electricity across the sky, thunder has rolled across the heavens, and torrential rains have caused flooding, this is a welcome and challenging psalm.

Like the psalmist, I’m reminded of the LORD’s indescribable power and my small place in the universe by such a massive display of natural power. Knowing God’s power if infinitely greater than these limited, but overwhelming displays of power, is both astounding and at the same time comforting. Clearly, I cannot control my own destiny. In the face of natural power, I am small and insignificant. Yet, the LORD chooses to know me and care about me and include me in His people. Because of this grace from the LORD, the LORD who sits enthroned above the flood, the LORD who is enthroned as King forever, I can trust that He will give me the strength I need and the peace I crave.

To this God, the only true and living God, belongs all glory, honor, and praise!

Thank you, God, for spring and the crazy weather it brings. I know we complain about lightning, wind, and hail, but this week you’ve sent two snows and a great rain to our parched land. So much of our area was in flames or under fire warning just 10 days ago. Now, our land is wet and refreshed and the fear of fire has gone for now.

Please forgive us for our whining and please receive our praise. I confess for all of us that I don’t know how or why or when you directly intervene in the weather, but I believe you do (James 5:16-18 NLT). Whether you sent the snow and rain this week as a result of your creative work with the seasons or in direct answer to our cries, I thank you.

I ask that now, you also send your spiritual rain on our thirsty hearts and open our eyes to see our deepest need is met in you. And as I begin a new week, please lead me to the people I need to meet and help me say the things that I need to say and to be quiet and listen for You.

In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

I know everybody has crazy weather, but Texas has gone nuts the last few weeks — no comments from Razorbacks or Okies on that! We’ve had extremely high winds that has made much of West Texas a “burnt offering” and left more than a few homeless and our firefighters exhausted. We had 80 degree temps for a couple of days and then wham! Several inches of snow and a low in the twenties.

We call it Spring, but I still think it’s crazy having all the trees budding out and seeing snow on the ground.