Psalm 131

Psalm 131

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem. A psalm of David.

¹ Lord, my heart is not proud;
my eyes are not haughty.
I don’t concern myself with matters too great
or too awesome for me to grasp.
² Instead, I have calmed and quieted myself,
like a weaned child who no longer cries for its mother’s milk.
Yes, like a weaned child is my soul within me.

³ O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
now and always.

Humility is the act of acknowledging who you are in relation to God. Remember David was the youngest of his brothers, working as a shepherd boy when God anointed him to be king of Israel. When David through a parade to bring God’s holy Ark back into the city, his own wife scolded him for being undignified. He responded by declaring he would be even more so before the King of Kings and Lord of Lords. He is a testament to humility as a man who was already on the throne with a great history of military and political conquest. This Psalm is a message to us about being humble.

Our God is the creator and master of the universe. He did not just create it and leave it to grow, but is at work in everything everyday of existence. There is not one petal on any flower falling to the ground without His awareness. You can never catch him by surprise or disappoint him. The Holy One is Holy and worthy to be praised as David continues to remind us throughout the Psalms.

When was the last time you got on all fours before the Lord of the universe? When did you last lay it all down literally and give Him everything you own? Do you own past regrets, guilt, pain that should be given to Him. Do you track your sins even though they were each already paid for by the blood on the cross? Worthy is the Lamb who was slain for us! When we focus on who He is, its impossible to not be humble before His Awesome Might and Power. His unending grace and mercy are abounding for all of us forever and ever, Amen!

Ever busy season of our lives

Life in the Bowlby house is never boring and rarely quiet. On this night however I have reached the point where everyone is sleeping except me so I am going to use this moment to be productive in my blog and attempt an update on our ever busy lives. My beautiful wife and three children keep me ever so on my toes and running every direction seemingly endlessly. Ill first being with our youngest hatchling….

Erin Nicole has been growing ever so slowly it seems for the past year. Now pictures are evidence she has changed a little, and there is more hair to get in the way of those pretty little eyes. Every morning it is a fight to get her hair in pony tails. Daddy is just not as good with those things as mommy. But we do have a good time getting dressed every morning. Still not good working with the potty though so all things in time…. She is only two and a half. She does love her snacks though, including anything daddy considers yummy and wants to keep to himself. Oreos are a major such snack that must be hidden or causes a good deal of mess! She just craves chocolate and caffeine, and baby dolls. So she is a girl in every way.

Kenneth the twin brother or prince charming as mommy calls him, is always on the move. Unless he is somehow in the zone of Super Why or Curious George, he never stays in one spot more than a few seconds. Kenny is our own form of curious monkey. He does like to play with his sister from time to time, but they fight a lot too as siblings do. All of our kids are fond of play time, who isn’t really? His word bank is growing little by little as he always wants his milk or juice milk as he says. He can get a bit frustrated when it comes to things like sitting in the car waiting for Avery to get out of school, or simply not getting his way and throwing a tantrum. But his charm and sweet spirit every other time of the day wins us over.

Avery finished cheerleading and will be going back into soccer in the fall which is great! She is really athletic and enjoys the sport. I imagine our children will be keeping us very busy in the years ahead with sports. Hopefully I can come to some of her games this time, working on weekends tends to take away the time. But it is necessary in the long run since the kids do well with being at home with their parents rather than a big daycare environment. Avery is doing really well in school and enjoying her time with friends and playing outside. She has learned how to ride her bike now without training wheels, and has recently expressed desire to go to her friends house’s across the street to play. So our little girl is not so little anymore and it is just too soon! I am so thankful for her and for the woman she is becoming. I could not have asked for a better Avery than the one the Lord gave us. The same goes for all my children.

Holly and I remain busy with various work and school projects. I am busy with my degree for childhood education and Holly with her Human Resources. So I imagine the coming Spring will be very busy. Hopefully I will find more time to update then, but for now its late and I must be getting to rest now!

Psalm 130: Hope in the Lord every New Day

Psalm 130

A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.

¹ From the depths of despair, O Lord,
I call for your help.
² Hear my cry, O Lord.
Pay attention to my prayer.

³ Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
who, O Lord, could ever survive?
⁴ But you offer forgiveness,
that we might learn to fear you.

⁵ I am counting on the Lord;
yes, I am counting on him.
I have put my hope in his word.
⁶ I long for the Lord
more than sentries long for the dawn,
yes, more than sentries long for the dawn.

⁷ O Israel, hope in the Lord;
for with the Lord there is unfailing love.
His redemption overflows.
⁸ He himself will redeem Israel
from every kind of sin.

Psalm 130

American culture and even those around the world await the moment when a single ball drops celebrating the end of one year and the beginning of a new one. This new year celebrates causes many to gather around with drinks in hand to celebrate, possibly kiss loved ones at the precise moment of midnight, and overall give hope to a coming year. Our world is broken so year after year it makes good sense for us to look forward and make resolutions to make a better year. But as a believer in Jesus our King, we know our real hope is not in the changing of the calendar but in the Lord.

Nothing much is going to change between December 31^st and January 1^st without a serious commitment to the Lord and His work in your life. There is nothing He would like more than to bless you, walk with you, and use you in His great plan on this earth. When we walk according to His will we find perfect peace, so it is in His will we place our hope. Turning the pages on the calendar means nothing more than a moment when you can make a promise to yourself about being more productive in the year ahead. Place your hope in the Lord just as the soldiers long for the dawn, and morning birds wait for sunrise.
Promises are good and should be made and kept. At the beginning of each day, not just the New Year we should be committing the day to the Lord. When we find ourselves engrossed in every Word of the Truth we find joy. Yes His message is convicting and desires to change us from within. I find my faith grows when I read the Word for as He makes apparent the things in my life He desires to change I find it evidence of His present work in me. Prepare not just to make a promise to yourself for the New Year but renew this day your soul to the purpose He has designed you for in this present age.