PURPLE MOUNTAIN MAJESTY (Psalm 48)

His sacred mountain, breathtaking in its heights--earth's joy,
Zion Mountain looms in the North, city of the world-King.
God in his citadel peaks impregnable. (Psalm 48:1-3)

I left my beloved home state of Maine to go to college in New Jersey and only returned for one brief year since. I kept moving farther and farther away. New Jersey, Texas, Oklahoma, Arkansas. I adapted and learned that America was more than my limited New England slice of it. But I never felt at home.

Until I moved to Colorado--which is quite something, given the fact that my family fell apart a month after we arrived in Denver.

I had never seen the Rocky Mountains. I think I expected to see them as soon as we crossed the border from Kansas into Colorado. Of course I didn't, as anyone who has traveled west on I-70 across Colorado knows.

And then we crested a rise--and they lept into view. I stared at those impossibly tall, snow-not-tree-topped, purple mountains, and knew I had come home.

The Rockies took on the role of the Atlantic Ocean outside my parents' home in East Boothbay, Maine. Immense. Awe-inspiring. Filling my horizon. A tangible demonstration of God's power and presence. I fell in love with the mountains, and Colorado, and only left when God pried me out with the jaws of life.

Today's verses made me think of that day. If I could have put my reaction that day into words, I might have used similar words to the one the psalmist used. (Sons of Korah. Not the zing of David's psalms, but good, nonetheless.) Sacred. Breathtaking. Joyful. Looming. Impregnable.

The psalmist spoke of Mount Zion (Jerusalem), but different places hold that place for others.

Is there a place, natural or man-made, that evoked a similar response from you? Revisit that place--and lift your heart to God.

Today's favorite verse: We pondered your love-in-action, God. . .your arms are heaped with goodness-in-action. (Psalm 48:9-10)

WHERE IS HEAVEN? (Psalm 43)

Give me your lantern and compass, give me a map, so I can find my way to the sacred mountain to the place of your presence. (Psalm 43:3, MSG)

Oh, I was tempted today to write about another verse for writers, particularly historical fiction, my specialty: We've been hearing about this, God, all our lives. Our fathers told us the stories their fathers told them. (Psalm 44:1, MSG)

But . . . the above verse won out.

In the television series "Seventh Heaven," someone close to the family died. Everyone told the youngest children that (Grandma, or whoever) had gone to heaven; the boy became obsessed in figuring where heaven was.You see, he couldn't find an empty spot in the sky (heaven "up there," hell "down there")where heaven might be. In the end, his even younger sister said, "that's easy. Grandma is right here, in my heart."

Sweet, and in terms of someone living on in our memories, her statement is correct. The fact I still remember says something about the effectiveness of its message.

But the question stayed with me. Where is heaven? Is the New Jerusalem on the New Earth heaven? (I don't think so. Doesn't John say he saw Jerusalem descending from heaven like a cloud?)

Is it a physical place? I think so. Jesus' resurrection body was clothed in flesh and blood--just immortal. (Just?!) One day our bodies will be clothed in immortality (1 Corinthians 15).

Another galaxy? Another universe? Another dimension, like matter and antimatter in Star Trek or the side-by-side worlds in Blue Adept by Piers Anthony? (a fun little scyfy/fantasy book I discovered at 20 cent book sale)

I'll let those who obsess about such things try to figure it out. I'll know the answers some day. And I know the way--the One who said "I am the way."

Psalm 43 doesn't name David as the author. So the unknown poet begs God for directions to "the place of your presence." You can't enter "heaven" into Mapquest or GPS to find it.

Now I know "sacred mountain" and "the place of your presence" sound like the temple in Jerusalem. But I assume the poet's question isn't that literal, that surely he knew the road to Jerusalem. He probably traveled there several times a year for the annual festivals. I'll go one step farther and guess that he didn't mean a literal lantern, compass or map. He wanted to know the where's and how's of finding God.

The answer is, God never left. He is everywhere. Not only that, the Holy Spirit lives inside me. But those "facts" don't change the feeling that God is far away. I've also heard the cliche, "God didn't move, you did." Having acknowledge all of that, we all know the feeling. When we feel alone, that if God is with us, He's silent.

Let's consider lantern, compass, and map. What spiritual tools serve the God-seeker?

A lantern is first of all a light, one that shows us where we are headed. How about, "thy word is a lamp unto my feet, a light unto my path"? Or the Holy Spirit, lighting the next step if not much more? It is light. It relieves the darkness. What lifts us up and doesn't tear us down--seek those things.

A compass indicates direction. In the spiritual realm, we don't need four compass points. We have two: God or not-God. The spiritual man or the natural man. Obedience or disobedience. Again, the Bible guides us, and the Holy Spirit convicts us.

A map is needed for the step-by-step journey. How do I get from where I am to where I want to be? Let's face it, the Bible doesn't come with a handy index for making those life decisions: whom should I marry? what career should I pursue? where should I live?

The Bible does tell us how to walk (in the light, walk worthy, live wisely, etc.) How we make the journey is more important to God than what journey we take. God expects the same commitment from the farmer as from the president, although he will hold the president more accountable as a leader.

Where is heaven? We've already taken the first steps--studying His Word. Let's go on together.


If you love us so much, help us! (Psalm 44:26, MSG)

WRITER'S BLOCK (Psalm 40)

The world's a huge stockpile of God-wonders and God-thoughts.
Nothing and no one comes close to you!
I start talking about you, telling what I know, and quickly run out of words.
Neither numbers nor words account for you. (Psalm 40:4-5, MSG)

When I read the verses above, my thoughts jumped to the problem of writer's block.

These few short lines contain insight for several issues writers face.

Need inspiration? (One of the most frequently asked questions I get as a writer is "where do you get your ideas?")I even teach a class on brainstorming. "Go, observe what's going on around you." That's a great primer for story planners. David describes the world in similar (but again, so very poetic language), describing the world as a "stockpile" of God-wonders and God-thoughts. With that to draw from, we'll never run out of ideas.

In spite of the limitless subject matter, writers also "run out of words." I fight the blank page every day. Once I get started, I can write and write . . . and then I reach a point where I have run out of words.

In fact, I could use this verse to explain my problem in writing about the psalms, as I mentioned a few days ago. David said it all, so well. How can my words add any value?

And how can my human words begin to describe the transcendent God, His love for me, for His world?

Of course my books don't have a single character (God) nor do they speak from God's Point of View. Probably yours don't either. But they are about God, in that He invades the stories, breathes life into them. When they work well, they show how real people, faced with impossible problems, live by faith in spite of their circumstances.

And that's why Christian authors are unlikely to run out of story ideas. A scientist's numbers and an author's words can't account for God. We can't write a character sketch about God.

But we will never run out of things to say (even when it's a struggle to get them out.)

Today's favorite verse: God promises to love me all day, sing songs all through the night! My life is God's prayer. (Psalm 41:8, MSG)

STRENUOUS WHOLENESS (Psalm 37)

Keep your eye on the healthy soul, scrutinize the straight life;
There's a future in strenuous wholeness. (Psalm 37:37-38, MSG)

The descriptions David uses here won out over advice about money (less is more and more is less, 37:16). Healthy soul? Straight life? Strenuous wholeness? In the search for role models and mentors, these are the qualities David advises us to look for.

Hmm, this reminds me a little of Paul's exhortation to the Philippians: Whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent of praiseworthy--thank about such things. (Philippians 4:8, NIV)

What is a soul, anyhow? Popular culture equates "soul" with "conscience" (think of the TV series Angel, about the vampire who has a soul). In this case, I think they have it right. Ezekiel says "the soul that sinneth, it shall die." (Ezekiel 18:20, KJV). And we also know that repeated, habitual sin hardens our hearts.

So, a healthy soul is one set on obeying God. "Blameless"--no perpetual sinful habits--and made "righteous" in we are clothed in Jesus's righteousness.

A straight life, of course, is not talking about one's sexual orientation. Straight=no deviation. With my eyes on the prize, I head towards the goal of becoming like Christ. Straight suggests the same idea as pure. Straight, with no side trips. Pure, with contamination stirred in.

No wonder David calls it "strenuous" wholeness. It takes work and effort. It leaves us tired--but our spiritual muscles are strengthened by the workout. Of course, as in physical training here, the reward we get for our training is an even more arduous workout.

The more we persevere, the more wholeness we earn. That's why the elderly have the most wisdom, if they have spent a lifetime straining for wholeness.

So gird up your loins and put on your gym shorts. Work on those spiritual muscles today.

Today's favorite verse: "What am I doing in the meantime, Lord? Hoping, that's what I'm doing--hoping You'll save me from a rebel life,save me from the contempt of dunces." (Psalm 39:7-8, MSG)

BULLIES (Psalm 35)

Harass these hecklers, God, punch these bullies in the nose.
Grab a weapon, anything at hand; stand up for me! (Psalm 35:1-2, MSG)

The use of the word "bullies" in Psalm 35 grabbed my attention. Talk about a hot-button topic! Bullying certain qualifies.

Of course, David wasn't talking about schoolyard bullies. He meant very real enemies who couldn't wait to make fun of him and take advantage of him when he was feeling ill (or otherwise struggling. The exact nature isn't made clear).

But bullies are bullies, whatever century or age. I looked what for contemporary advice on dealing with bullies. This is what I gleaned from the website http://kidshealth.org/kid/feeling/emotion/bullies.html#:

don't give bully a chance--stand tall and be brave--feel good about you

find a buddy--ignore the bully--stand up for yourself

don't bully back--don't show your feelings--tell an adult

Hmm. Some of the advice rings true with David. Some doesn't.

Stand tall and be brave? Can you imagine David doing anything else? But "don't show your feelings"? Solomon might have managed it, but not David.

Don't bully back? Come to think of it, this is the man who spared Saul's life when the king was trying to kill him. Then, as now, he asked God to bully his enemies instead. The primitive part of me cheers at his words, "punch these bullies in the nose."

Calling on God for help qualifies as telling an adult.

In our world, calling on a more powerful ally might result in a temporary advantage but a longer-lasting feud.

God doesn't work like that. He will always be stronger. As the verse I quote below says, "In his largeness nothing gets lost."

Do you ever feel bullied? Occasionally I feel that way about workers here. Bullied or pacified but not taken seriously.

Maybe after I talk to the administrator--I should ask God to punch worker in the nose.


Today's favorite verse:
God's love is meteoric,his loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,his verdicts oceanic.
Yet in his largeness nothing gets lost;

Not a man, not a mouse, slips through the cracks. (Psalm 36:5-6)

LOVE AFFAIR WITH GOD (Psalm 33-34)

Wow, if I ever need scripture to reflect on what it means to love and be loved by God, today's scripture are it.

Look at a few of the verse:

Earth is drenched in God's affectionate satisfaction. (33:5)

God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. (33:18)

Love us, God, with all you've got--that's what we're depending on. (33:22)

God keeps an eye on his friends. (34:15)

How about feelings? We're told Never hide your feelings from him. (34:5)

How does God show us his love? How about these words? Made to last, shaped us, watches over us, keeps body and soul together, meets us more than halfway, listens to us, there in times of trouble, pays for our freedom

How do we show our love for God? praise him, depend on him, bless him, live and breath him, spread the news, taste and see his goodness, turn back on sin, run to him.

God's love is far more than an emotion. From the day he shaped us, freeing us from the slavery of sin, for every time he rescues us from trouble, and one day, we will be with him in heaven, although that's not referenced here.

In fact, David tells us to find joy even in hard times: If things aren't going well, hear this and be happy: join me in spreading the news: together let's get the word out. God met me more than halfway. (34:2-4)

The ways we show love to God sound a lot like the ways we love our husband or wife. We tell them. We depend on them. We talk about them to everyone we meet. We look for their good qualities. We avoid things that displease them. We run to them when times are tough. Wives (usually) take their husbands' names ("we've taken for our own his holy name, 33:21).

Loving God doesn't mean we don't respect him, don't recognize his total God-ness. God's eye is on those who respect him, the ones who are looking for his love. (33:18) The way David worded these lines, respect and looking for God's love go hand in hand. You can't have one without the other.

Send God a flirt, and him alone. He will always respond.

Today's favorite verse: Disciples so often get into trouble; still, God is there every time. (34:19)



Disciples so often get into trouble;
still, God is there every time. 34:19

Me, Myself, and I (Psalm 31 – 32)

            Several years ago, a friend of a friend tried to educate me on the concept of Dog Prayers versus Cat Prayers: Dogs think only of pleasing their masters, while cats think only of pleasing themselves. Dogs ask, “How can I serve you?” while cats demand, “How can you serve me?” She tried to convince me that God only wanted to hear Dog Prayers.

            This analogy bothered me for several reasons:

•  All analogies—even biblical ones—logically break down after a certain point. (Jesus isn’t literally a grapevine.) This analogy didn’t even come from scripture.
•    My experience as a dog owner (Nowadays people say Pet Parent) demonstrated the selfishness of my mutt Max. He wanted to go out. He wanted to eat. He wanted me to pet him non-stop for hours.
•  Most importantly, my familiarity with Psalms proves David (and the other writers) to be just as much cat as dog.

            To defend my theory that David was self-absorbed when he prayed, I spent several months poring over the Psalms, making hash marks in a notebook. I counted every first person personal pronoun in every psalm. For those not as devoted to grammar as I, that means I tallied up every me, my, myself, and I in 150 psalms.

            Today I rehashed David’s anguished prayer in Psalm 31 and counted 18 occurrences of me, 25 of my, and 19 of I. (NIV, 1984) I find his pattern of prayer encouraging, and I dare to believe that God cares about me as much as he cared about David.

            I suspect David experienced literally what I experience figuratively. He had real enemies (v.8) conspiring to actually kill him (v. 13). When he says he was in a besieged city (v. 21), he probably had a specific location in mind. But that image particularly gives me hope. So many times I have felt trapped, panicky, and separated from any help, human or divine. Even then, I am assured that God hears and cares.

            Because David “selfishly” cried out to God, I am bold enough to do so, too. If that makes me a cat, “Meow.”

Praise be to the Lord, for he showed me the wonders of his love when I was in a city under siege.

In my alarm I said, “I am cut off from your sight!”

Yet you heard my cry for mercy when I called to you for help. Psalm 31:21 – 22, NIV

            Roberta Tucker Brosius teaches Bible to high school students at Watsontown Christian Academy, using curricula she has written. She has been published in newspapers, magazines, The Secret Place, and Barbour’s 365-Day Fun Bible Fact Book and Heavenly Humor for the Teacher’s Soul. Visit her blog, “wit, word, & the Word,” at www.robertabrosius.blogspot.com.