Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
DVD 6
If I'm stuck, there's something I must unload.
If God has called me into this valley, the strength will be there.
The broken road led me to Jesus.
David Platt, Radical
"We are afraid that if we stop and really look at God in His Word, we might discover that He evokes greater awe and demands deeper worship than we are ready to give Him" (29).
No comforts, no bells and whistles, "Nothing but the people of God and the Word of God. And strangely, that's enough....But is His Word enough for us?" (26)
"... people are spiritually dead,... and only words from God can bring them to spiritual life" (30). "We don't like what we see of ourselves in the gospel, so we shrink back from it" (31).
"God doesn't wait for people to find their way [up the mountain] to Him.... He comes to us..." (35).
"Our attempts to reduce this Gospel to a shrink-wrapped presentation that persuades someone to say or pray the right things... no longer seems appropriate" (37).
Thursday, June 30, 2011
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
794
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"... those of us in Christ are never stuck."
"God wants [me] to take the next step in [my] serving life. Stepping up sometimes means stepping out" (168).
Kidner as quoted in Moore: "... to bless God is to acknowledge gratefully what He is; but to bless men, God must make of him what he is not, and give him what he has not."
... the primary reason He asks us to surrender everything to Him is to make room to receive what He wants to give" (169).
Word Biblical Commentary: Worship at Zion is a doorway that opens out into the power behind the world....Dynamic potential is given to those who sincerely acknowledge God's power. Essentially it is unsought and comes as a gracious byproduct of worship" (170).
"The mud I got on my feet from ditch-dwelling didn't belong there."
"... your God is a person, Jesus Christ...."
"May your eyes be open to snares your enemy sets in your path, and should you tumble into the ditch, may your troubled heart be disallowed to condemn you" (171).
"... those of us in Christ are never stuck."
"God wants [me] to take the next step in [my] serving life. Stepping up sometimes means stepping out" (168).
Kidner as quoted in Moore: "... to bless God is to acknowledge gratefully what He is; but to bless men, God must make of him what he is not, and give him what he has not."
... the primary reason He asks us to surrender everything to Him is to make room to receive what He wants to give" (169).
Word Biblical Commentary: Worship at Zion is a doorway that opens out into the power behind the world....Dynamic potential is given to those who sincerely acknowledge God's power. Essentially it is unsought and comes as a gracious byproduct of worship" (170).
"The mud I got on my feet from ditch-dwelling didn't belong there."
"... your God is a person, Jesus Christ...."
"May your eyes be open to snares your enemy sets in your path, and should you tumble into the ditch, may your troubled heart be disallowed to condemn you" (171).
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
793
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent, DVD 6
Psalmist-worship "rises like incense to the throne of Zion with utmost honesty yet inward hope. And with face-down conviction inviting chip-up redemption" (164).
The psalmist "offers his praise as a sacrifice in the darkest of nights" (165).
"A true psalmist 'praises his way to victory,; knowing it will come because the praise itself renders the first blow to his enemy's brow."
"Worship has endless side effects in [everyday life].... it exalts God to the highest place, thereby relieving the sojourner of the backbreaking burden of ego. It defeats our enemy. It answers grace with gratitude. And it ends in joy.... We don't have to wait until we [get there]... before we enjoy what is at the end of the road.... We who are in Christ are on our way to a wedding of such glorious and expensive proportions that we'll have to change our clothes from mortal to immortal just to survive the thrill" (166).
Psalmist-worship "rises like incense to the throne of Zion with utmost honesty yet inward hope. And with face-down conviction inviting chip-up redemption" (164).
The psalmist "offers his praise as a sacrifice in the darkest of nights" (165).
"A true psalmist 'praises his way to victory,; knowing it will come because the praise itself renders the first blow to his enemy's brow."
"Worship has endless side effects in [everyday life].... it exalts God to the highest place, thereby relieving the sojourner of the backbreaking burden of ego. It defeats our enemy. It answers grace with gratitude. And it ends in joy.... We don't have to wait until we [get there]... before we enjoy what is at the end of the road.... We who are in Christ are on our way to a wedding of such glorious and expensive proportions that we'll have to change our clothes from mortal to immortal just to survive the thrill" (166).
Monday, June 20, 2011
792
Philippians 3:10
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving/recognizing/ understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and clearly.
Eugene Peterson, as quoted in Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"Having arrived at the place of worship, will we now sit around and tell stories about the trip? Having gotten to the big city, will we spend our time here as tourists, visiting the bazaars, window shopping and trading? Having gotten Jerusalem checked off our list of things to do, will we immediately begin looking for another challenge, another holy place to visit? Will the temple be a place to socialize, receive congratulations from others on our achievement, a place to share gossip and trade stories, a place to make business contacts that will improve our prospects back home? But that is not why you made the trip: Bless God. You are here because God blessed you. Now you bless God" (164-165).
For my determined purpose is that I may know Him, that I may progressively become more deeply and intimately acquainted with Him, perceiving/recognizing/ understanding the wonders of His Person more strongly and clearly.
Eugene Peterson, as quoted in Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"Having arrived at the place of worship, will we now sit around and tell stories about the trip? Having gotten to the big city, will we spend our time here as tourists, visiting the bazaars, window shopping and trading? Having gotten Jerusalem checked off our list of things to do, will we immediately begin looking for another challenge, another holy place to visit? Will the temple be a place to socialize, receive congratulations from others on our achievement, a place to share gossip and trade stories, a place to make business contacts that will improve our prospects back home? But that is not why you made the trip: Bless God. You are here because God blessed you. Now you bless God" (164-165).
Friday, June 17, 2011
791
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"God often uses other people as the chisel to carve true integrity into our rough personalities. A chisel that never scrapes the stone is useless."
The first murder was a religious fight over whom God loved best (interfaith debates) (157).
"... unity does not equal uniformity" (158).
"Jesus' kind of unity doesn't exist until two people stand shoulder to shoulder who before stood sword to sword (161).
My Psalm 133
How pleasant it could be if I chose to be one with my relatives in spite of the hurt I feel
and with my church family in spite of the hurts there.
That unity could set me up for Anointing, consecrating my whole body, my birth family, and church family. Unity brings God's blessing and gives life to all.
"God often uses other people as the chisel to carve true integrity into our rough personalities. A chisel that never scrapes the stone is useless."
The first murder was a religious fight over whom God loved best (interfaith debates) (157).
"... unity does not equal uniformity" (158).
"Jesus' kind of unity doesn't exist until two people stand shoulder to shoulder who before stood sword to sword (161).
My Psalm 133
How pleasant it could be if I chose to be one with my relatives in spite of the hurt I feel
and with my church family in spite of the hurts there.
That unity could set me up for Anointing, consecrating my whole body, my birth family, and church family. Unity brings God's blessing and gives life to all.
Thursday, June 16, 2011
790
My Psalm 132
Father, my humiliations and hardships cannot be remembered to my credit;
I feel I have shown no endurance;
remember me still.
My vows were wishy-washy or made in pride,
yet You allow me into Your Tabernacle--
allow me access to Your Ark--
allow me to worship at the mercy seat.
You have given me salvation clothes and have made me a priest/king.
For Jesus sake You have not rejected me.
Help me keep Your covenant and eat Your Testimony--
bring in my children, their children, and theirs 'til You come.
Thank You for choosing my heart as Your habitation,
for dwelling there forever and not leaving me.
Teach me to be satisfied with Your bread.
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"If we choose to be around only those who require virtually nothing hard from us, what will prompt us (force us) to change?" (155)
Father, my humiliations and hardships cannot be remembered to my credit;
I feel I have shown no endurance;
remember me still.
My vows were wishy-washy or made in pride,
yet You allow me into Your Tabernacle--
allow me access to Your Ark--
allow me to worship at the mercy seat.
You have given me salvation clothes and have made me a priest/king.
For Jesus sake You have not rejected me.
Help me keep Your covenant and eat Your Testimony--
bring in my children, their children, and theirs 'til You come.
Thank You for choosing my heart as Your habitation,
for dwelling there forever and not leaving me.
Teach me to be satisfied with Your bread.
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"If we choose to be around only those who require virtually nothing hard from us, what will prompt us (force us) to change?" (155)
Tuesday, June 14, 2011
789
"When fishermen don't fish, they fight."
We have to learn to fight FOR each other rather than WITH each other.
Zephaniah 3:17, Amp.: "... in His love He will make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]...."
Zephaniah 3:9, Message: "In the end I will turn things around for the people. I'll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel."
God "probably has few bigger frustrations than when our prayerlessness denies Him a chance to do 'immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)."
He's answered that way "some of the very requests you assumed He answered negatively (149).
I am a priest dressed in salvation clothes (151).
We have to learn to fight FOR each other rather than WITH each other.
Zephaniah 3:17, Amp.: "... in His love He will make no mention [of past sins, or even recall them]...."
Zephaniah 3:9, Message: "In the end I will turn things around for the people. I'll give them a language undistorted, unpolluted, words to address God in worship and, united, to serve me with their shoulders to the wheel."
God "probably has few bigger frustrations than when our prayerlessness denies Him a chance to do 'immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine (Ephesians 3:20)."
He's answered that way "some of the very requests you assumed He answered negatively (149).
I am a priest dressed in salvation clothes (151).
Monday, June 13, 2011
788
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
My Psalm 132
O, God, remember me.
Remember all my mistakes;
but remember, too, my brief episodes of pureness of heart and desire for You.
Remember how I desired that nothing that wasn't of You remain in my life.
Help me get to that place with You again.
Teach me to worship at Your footstool.
Make my heart Your footstool and a place of quiet repose for You.
DVD 5: Mary and Joseph set out assuming Christ was with them, but He was not: How many times have I done/do I do the same (143)?
(based upon Jeremiah 41:1-10) I have paid heavy tribute to the enemy. The enemy wins when I don't forgive. Forgive because Christ is worthy.
DISCOURAGEMENT: enemy's success.
I Peter 4:7-8--LOVE COVERS!
I wrongly feel others are not safe to love.
My Psalm 132
O, God, remember me.
Remember all my mistakes;
but remember, too, my brief episodes of pureness of heart and desire for You.
Remember how I desired that nothing that wasn't of You remain in my life.
Help me get to that place with You again.
Teach me to worship at Your footstool.
Make my heart Your footstool and a place of quiet repose for You.
DVD 5: Mary and Joseph set out assuming Christ was with them, but He was not: How many times have I done/do I do the same (143)?
(based upon Jeremiah 41:1-10) I have paid heavy tribute to the enemy. The enemy wins when I don't forgive. Forgive because Christ is worthy.
DISCOURAGEMENT: enemy's success.
I Peter 4:7-8--LOVE COVERS!
I wrongly feel others are not safe to love.
Saturday, June 11, 2011
787
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"The essence of wholeness is God's winning us wholly with His affection, His truth, and His healing Word. Truly, God is our soul-ologist...." Peterson: "'Christian faith is not neurotic dependency but childlike trust" (135).
"We don't cure arrogance by becoming victims'" i.e., a misguided attempt to be humble (136).
A child "surrenders every care in the world: (138).
My Psalm 131
Father, re-create in me a heart that is not haughty and eyes that are not proud, a spirit that is not arrogant, but no neurotic or a "victim." Help me to trust You even when questions go unanswered. Teach me to cease fretting--to be calm in Your lap. I desire to hope in You (138).
"Arise and come," LORD (141).
It's "worth everything I have to do to adjust and alter my life to draw close to You" (143).
"The essence of wholeness is God's winning us wholly with His affection, His truth, and His healing Word. Truly, God is our soul-ologist...." Peterson: "'Christian faith is not neurotic dependency but childlike trust" (135).
"We don't cure arrogance by becoming victims'" i.e., a misguided attempt to be humble (136).
A child "surrenders every care in the world: (138).
My Psalm 131
Father, re-create in me a heart that is not haughty and eyes that are not proud, a spirit that is not arrogant, but no neurotic or a "victim." Help me to trust You even when questions go unanswered. Teach me to cease fretting--to be calm in Your lap. I desire to hope in You (138).
"Arise and come," LORD (141).
It's "worth everything I have to do to adjust and alter my life to draw close to You" (143).
Friday, June 10, 2011
786
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"God cannot bring the Kingdom increase to our harvests that He desires until our egos decrease.... our pride is a strobe-light flashing how ignorant we are about God.... humility is the truest sign of intimacy with God" (132).
"The primary reason we are sometimes at a loss for words is that we should be.... We're in over our heads, and silence is our best option."
"Out of the ashes of the unfathomable, sooner than later our Lazarus-faith must rise from the dead--questions still unanswered--or the enemy has won."
"'I do not seek, O LORD, to penetrate Thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree Thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand'" (Anselm, English monk, eleventh century, as quote in Moore, 134).
"We don't know what will show up on us until God turns up the heat" (135).
"God cannot bring the Kingdom increase to our harvests that He desires until our egos decrease.... our pride is a strobe-light flashing how ignorant we are about God.... humility is the truest sign of intimacy with God" (132).
"The primary reason we are sometimes at a loss for words is that we should be.... We're in over our heads, and silence is our best option."
"Out of the ashes of the unfathomable, sooner than later our Lazarus-faith must rise from the dead--questions still unanswered--or the enemy has won."
"'I do not seek, O LORD, to penetrate Thy depths. I by no means think my intellect equal to them: but I long to understand in some degree Thy truth, which my heart believes and loves. For I do not seek to understand that I may believe, but I believe, that I may understand'" (Anselm, English monk, eleventh century, as quote in Moore, 134).
"We don't know what will show up on us until God turns up the heat" (135).
Monday, June 6, 2011
784
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"The psalmist petitioned God from his tiptoes in a posture ready to receive." What I most need redeemed may have resulted from someone else's sin. God redeems in full, which means I can be pure before Him!
Jeremiah 29:13
"'I will restore you to the place I deported you from.'"
God can restore my identity, my purity, my ability, and my sanity. He not only diffuses my past of all power to harm and haunt me, but He infuses it with power to help others. God won't get the glory, and the enemy won't be defeated in that area until the bad is used for good.
"The psalmist petitioned God from his tiptoes in a posture ready to receive." What I most need redeemed may have resulted from someone else's sin. God redeems in full, which means I can be pure before Him!
Jeremiah 29:13
"'I will restore you to the place I deported you from.'"
God can restore my identity, my purity, my ability, and my sanity. He not only diffuses my past of all power to harm and haunt me, but He infuses it with power to help others. God won't get the glory, and the enemy won't be defeated in that area until the bad is used for good.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
783
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"... God is not the one keeping the record. You are." I am. I keep playing the record over and over. "You may think you are honoring God with misery over your past mistakes, but you're not.... you're walking in unbelief-- not trusting what He promised to do if you'd repent
[I John 1:9] ... Self-condemnation does not honor God" (124).
"... the truth of Scripture trumps every human emotion."
Psalm 130:7 "... put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption."
The enemy's "native language is deception" (125).
"Though the psalmist was convinced that his own poor decision had aggravated his plight, he placed his hope in what God's Word said about confusion, and forgiveness, sought God and fully expected God to show up in his circumstances" (126).
"... God is not the one keeping the record. You are." I am. I keep playing the record over and over. "You may think you are honoring God with misery over your past mistakes, but you're not.... you're walking in unbelief-- not trusting what He promised to do if you'd repent
[I John 1:9] ... Self-condemnation does not honor God" (124).
"... the truth of Scripture trumps every human emotion."
Psalm 130:7 "... put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is unfailing love and with Him is full redemption."
The enemy's "native language is deception" (125).
"Though the psalmist was convinced that his own poor decision had aggravated his plight, he placed his hope in what God's Word said about confusion, and forgiveness, sought God and fully expected God to show up in his circumstances" (126).
Friday, June 3, 2011
782
Beth Moore, Stepping Up: A Journey Through the Psalms of Ascent
"Jesus is the author of connection. The enemy is the author of isolation. The more the enemy takes us captive, the further we distance ourselves from healthy people." If we remain in captivity long enough, our circle will get smaller and smaller until we finally begin to resent/despise the few in it with us. Ultimately we feel isolated even from the few until we're left with the feeling we are entirely alone. God is so connected to us that He even shows up where we don't want Him! No matter how ashamed I am for Him to find us in the shape I'm in, acknowledging His Presence in my pit is my first step out (123).
In John 1:9 "all" includes the one thing I keep reliving and grieving....deep in our souls we want to punish ourselves and return to what we think we deserve....Christ took what I deserve" (124).
"Jesus is the author of connection. The enemy is the author of isolation. The more the enemy takes us captive, the further we distance ourselves from healthy people." If we remain in captivity long enough, our circle will get smaller and smaller until we finally begin to resent/despise the few in it with us. Ultimately we feel isolated even from the few until we're left with the feeling we are entirely alone. God is so connected to us that He even shows up where we don't want Him! No matter how ashamed I am for Him to find us in the shape I'm in, acknowledging His Presence in my pit is my first step out (123).
In John 1:9 "all" includes the one thing I keep reliving and grieving....deep in our souls we want to punish ourselves and return to what we think we deserve....Christ took what I deserve" (124).
Thursday, June 2, 2011
781
my Psalm 129
I was mistreated when I was young, but I don't have to let that keep me down. Other people walked long, deep wounds (furrows) over my back, in my mind, in my heart. Father, You ripped to shreds their reins. You planted seeds of unconditional love and healing into those ugly furrows. May they be humiliated. Let them feel how I felt. Then forgive them and heal them, as You daily do for me.
epitome of rejoicing--when the most pious/solemn lead the dancing
I have nothing more contagious than my joy.
All inappropriate celebration is a wigged-out desire to praise.
Psalm 130:4, 7
With You there is forgiveness, faithful love, and redemption in abundance.
In my shame, the silence of the body of Christ leaves me to think no one care/understands. All sin; and without grace, no one could stand.
I was mistreated when I was young, but I don't have to let that keep me down. Other people walked long, deep wounds (furrows) over my back, in my mind, in my heart. Father, You ripped to shreds their reins. You planted seeds of unconditional love and healing into those ugly furrows. May they be humiliated. Let them feel how I felt. Then forgive them and heal them, as You daily do for me.
epitome of rejoicing--when the most pious/solemn lead the dancing
I have nothing more contagious than my joy.
All inappropriate celebration is a wigged-out desire to praise.
Psalm 130:4, 7
With You there is forgiveness, faithful love, and redemption in abundance.
In my shame, the silence of the body of Christ leaves me to think no one care/understands. All sin; and without grace, no one could stand.
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