Trivia:
Do you know which state is the originator of the Shoofly Pie? North Carolina; Pennsylvania; Minnesota; or Idaho? Make your guess. Here's a hint it is made of gooey, dark molassses, brown sugar, butter, and nuts, topped off with a crumbly topping.
Challenge:
Psalms 45:8-17 "Myrrh, aloes, and cassia perfume your robes. In ivory palaces the music of strings entertain you. 9 Kings' daughters are among your noble women. At your side stands the queen, wearing jewelry of finest gold from Ophir! 10 Listen to me, O royal daughter; take to heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. 11 For your royal husband delights in your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord. 12 The princess of Tyre will shower you with gifts. The wealthy will beg your favor. 13 The bride, a princess, looks glorious in her golden gown. 14 In her beautiful robes, she is led to the king, accompanied by her bridesmaids. 15 What a joyful and enthusiastic procession as they enter the kings palace! 16 Your sons will become kings like their father. You will make them rulers over many lands. 17 I will bring honor to your name in every generation. Therefore, the nations will praise you forever and ever."
This Psalm reminds us of the standing that He holds for us His children in our world. It starts off by speaking of one of the most beautiful, fragrant spices which were often displayed in the most opulent castles of that day. Then the focus is then placed on the beauty of the souroundings of the walls, and musical surroundings of the most beautiful castles.
Next the Psalm speaks of the nobility of the women who will surround His children and the external jewelry that they are privileged to wear. Even the fact that they will receive gifts in order to remind them of the favor that they have been given through their Almighty King. Their honor and presence will be so desirable that they will be urged to enter into a parade ushering into the king's palace. Even his family will be placed into royalty and provided a place of great honor and influence not just in their present generation, but in eternal kingdoms.
If we remember our study of Psalm 44 and all of the losses and struggles of the Jewish nation that were spoken of in that period of time. Now in this chapter we are now reminded of all of the glories that obedience to our God's commands bring into our lives ultimately as we humble ourselves before our God. As we surround ourselves with His presence and become committed to upholding His commands then come His promises to our lives.
These promises that have been spoken of in this Psalm are speaking of both the present blessings that our Father will pour over our lives, but even more important that of God's millennial return to the earth and our enjoyment of that day.
It is important that we return back to the promise of verse 7 "Therefore God, your God, has annointed you, pouring out the oil of joy on you MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE."
Our Father has annointed us to demonstrate His joy on all people, both now and in the present, but most importantly in eternity, or the days to come. The glory that He passes onto us now, are only a shadow of the glory that He has in mind for us in the coming days.
These verses are spoken of our future joys and to give us hope for what is yet to come into our lives. For both now but also in the near future, and most importantly in the days of eternity.
Verse 10 races out to us this truth for us to hold onto, "Listen to me, O royal child; (not speaking of gender) take heart what I say. Forget your people and your family far away. (Don't hold onto the people of this unbelieving world) For your royal husband (your God and King) delights in you. Honor Him, for He is your Lord."
Then verse 17 brings to our mind this promise, "I will make your name to be remembered in ALL GENERATIONS. They (the people of all of the world) will praise You (and your God) forever and ever."
SO GO WITH GOD my dear one, for the struggles of today will seem to be only a brief shadow in comparison to the promises of the eternal coming world. Remember Verse 12 ..."The daughter of Tyre will come with a gift; The rich among the people will seek your favor."
As we live in the joy and hope of the coming days He will bring to our lives "joy unspeakable". In other words the joy that He has promised to bring to our lives, has no comparison to anything we have yet experienced in our present lives.
This is the hope of our future. Rest in Him my dear one for He has blessings and a bright future just around the corner, you can't see it because it is around the corner, but it is as sure as His creation, as sure as the sun will come up tomorrow.
Tomorrow we will reflect on the extent of His promises He holds out to us, for after all, remember
we are His children. Remember the promise of Romans 8:17 "And since we are His children, we are His heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share His glory, we must also share His suffering. Yet what we suffer now is nothing compared to the glory He will reveal to us later.".
Pennsylvania