week of 11-10-10 4th recorded Bible study

The passage I read was Psalm 84:1-12 (I absolutely love this Psalm)
You can find it here:
http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+84%3A1-12&version=NIV

My summary of the passage is this:
There are so many things to meditate and act on in this Psalm. I feel like each point in this passage should have it’s own Bible study devoted to it. These points will serve as my summary.
My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the LORD
Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you.
Blessed are those whose strength is in you
They go from strength to strength
Look with favor on us
Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere (oh how I love those words… They are so close to my heart and so true to me)
I would rather be a door keeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked.
The Lord bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless.
LORD Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you.

As I reflect:
I am first off reminded of the song “better is one day” (written by Matt Redman and later sung by him, Chris Tomlin, Kutless, Petra, and many other bands and worships across the globe. – INSPIRED BY GOD). You can find it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bldv9M_nXXE. It really is a beautiful song, as are the words of this Psalm.
Each one of the points from the passage could be a study entirely in and of itself. Our Lord is so beautiful and has provided so much for us. How could I live even one moment without yearning to be in His presence; to go home to my Father? So If I put some of these together I learn that I am blessed when I trust in the Lord, find my strength in Him, and dwell in His house. I believe this is not just the church or Zion, but also a state of living; a state of mind that brings His kingdom closer with every step. I often praise aloud during my days and occasionally I will come across verses or chorus lines that bring me to my knees in tears at just how wonderful it is to know Jesus and the things of my past that he has taken away from me. I cannot in privacy listen to or sing along with any songs about going home to Heaven or wondering what it will be like without having a complete breakdown (healthy by the way) of my emotions. There is no joy greater though a close 2nd place goes to knowing that my children will also be going to the same place one day. All thanks and praise be to God! There are days when in praise and worship and I feel as though I have spent the entire day in His courts of praise. I know there are days when I come back inside my home after this and my smile is just stuck like cement and others in my home can tell I have had tears in my eyes. I feel at those times as though there is nothing that could ruin that moment; nothing that could take me out of His arms reach, or from the warmth of His light. No sin is tempting to me when He has drawn that near to me. I feel as though everything I have on this earth could be taken away and I could be thrown in the deepest darkest dungeon without even the slightest effect to my joy in the Lord. As for verse 12 (Lord Almighty, blessed is the one who trusts in you), I am living this now. I have old colleagues at my last job that may not understand and daily I come across the looks of those who scorn or are jealous of my life. It is quite simple. I have no secret to success. I have no hidden recipe of how my life is so blessed; how everything simply falls perfectly into place and just seem to work for us; how everything we apply ourselves to grows so quickly and does so well. Instead, we wear the recipe on our shoulder openly for the world to see…The only reason we are blessed by our Lord, is that our trust is in Him. We trust Him with every aspect of our life big and small.

My response to the Lord:
How else can I respond Father but to worship you as the Psalmist here also lifted up your name. You are worthy of no less and so much more than my everything Lord. I am so blessed by your love. I look forward to the day I get to come home, but I thank you for the opportunity to serve you daily here as well. Lord guide me to do you will as all that I am is yours.