Labor

In Him we find Rest and Comfort (Psalm 127-130)

10:23 PM


Recently I had to leave my family in order to take care of my momma who was hospitalized in my hometown. She lives by herself and in the emergency she was facing, she had to be taken to the hospital by some friends of ours, who live close to her and have the keys to her house, since all her family live in other states. She was very ill and we did not know if she would make it!
My momma has always lived on her own and for many years she ran her affairs trusting on her own wisdom and her strength! Oh and of course she also trusted God, but not the way she does NOW!!
Last time momma was hospitalized she became stressed because we needed to find someone to care for her house against burglary. She was always saying it took her a lifetime of work to build it and furnish it, and was not leaving it for the burglars! But, not on this occasion!  I was amazed at how her Faith and Trust in God has grown!
To most of us the verses of Psalm 127 are so familiar we might even know them by heart. But do we really put these truths into practice?
As soon as the day begins we find ourselves busy “building” a life: a career, a family, a business and it is all hard labor! 
“Unless the Lord builds the house,
They labor in vain who build it;
Unless the Lord guards the city,
The watchman keeps awake in vain.” (127:1)

We focus on our strength and wisdom to run our affairs, but great part of our labor is in vain if we do not acknowledge God’s favor and wisdom over our lives and of our families’.
“It is vain for you to rise early,
To retire late,
To eat the bread of anxious labors—
For He gives [blessings] to His beloved even in his sleep.” (127:2. Emphasis mine)



Yes, if we trust our lives, families and possessions unto His care, we will be delivered from stress and sleepless nights, and will be able to count our blessings in Him (127:3-5).
How could this be? Because He loves us! We are His precious children! We must not base our identity and our security on our own resources, but on WHO we are in Christ! (Eph. 1:4,7,11-14; Col. 1:27)
“Some are so eager upon the world, that they are continually full of care, which makes their comforts bitter, and their lives a burden. All this is to get money; but all in vain, except God prosper them: while those who love the Lord, using due diligence in their lawful callings, and casting all their care upon him, have needful success, without uneasiness or vexation. Our care must be to keep ourselves in the love of God; then we may be easy, whether we have little or much of this world. But we must use the proper means very diligently.” (M. Henry)
Jesus invites us to:
 “Come to Me, all who are weary and heavily burdened [by religious rituals that provide no peace], and I will give you rest [refreshing your souls with salvation]. 29 Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me[following Me as My disciple], for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest (renewal, blessed quiet) for your souls. 30 For My yoke is easy [to bear] and My burden is light.” (Mat.11:28-30)
Mom was released from the hospital with a new opportunity of life and a renewed faith! She confessed she has learned to live “one day at a time” according to God’s Purpose and Perfect Plans for her life!
What about you? “What are your plans for today? What about the next year, or even five years? Ask God to be the builder of your plans both today and the future. Thank him today for making you part of his crew.” (iWorship Bible)
Blessings!
Mari



Becky Austin

The Lord Shall Be Your Keeper (Psalm 120-126)

2:49 AM



Life is full of challenges. These chapters in Psalms remind us that we don’t have to face those challenges alone.  We are children of the Lord God Almighty and He is our “ go to “ source, our ever-present companion, and guide. 

What challenges are you facing today? Are you struggling with financial burdens, relationship difficulties, emotional stresses, loss or illness? We all have our share of tough circumstances and perhaps those circumstances bring us to the brink of despair.  The Psalmist knew who to turn to when he needed help. 
“In my distress I called to the Lord, and he answered me.” Psalms 120:1 

Prayer is a vital part of our spiritual wellbeing. God wants us to share our burdens, frustrations, challenges and fears. And then He wants us to be patient and trust Him to answer that prayer.  He may answer quickly or He may work things out over a period of time. He may not answer in the way we desire but He will answer in the way that in His sovereign knowledge will be best. 

Psalm 121 paints a beautiful picture of God as our keeper and protector.
“I lift up my eyes to the hills. From where does my help come? My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth.” (V1-2)
Every day when I walk out to my car my eyes are drawn to the majestic mountain peaks in the distance and the rays of the sunlight shining above them.  It is such a comforting site. I can’t help but admire their beauty and grand design. Those mountains withstand the blazing sun, the wet rainstorms, the cold snow of winter.  God designed them to endure all kinds of circumstances and harsh conditions. He made us too and desires to keep us strong and help us to endure the ever changing seasons of our life experiences as well. 

Do you trust God to keep you strong and standing even in harsh, challenging circumstances?  “He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber.” (3)
The Lord is your keeper! (5). “The Lord will keep you from all evil; he will keep your life. The Lord will keep your going out and your coming in from this time forth and forevermore.” (7-8)
When you turn to God in prayer you are handing off your cares and circumstances to Him.  You can be comforted and encouraged by the knowledge that God will be your “keeper” and will take care of your needs. 

The enemy wants to attack us and find our weaknesses and vulnerabilities.  God promises to be like towering mountains of protection that surround us. “Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people, from this time forth and forevermore.” (125:1-2)

I want to encourage you to find refuge in God. Don’t try to deal with life on your own.  Allow God to be your guide and protector.  Entrust the details of your life to the One who created you.  Be diligent in your prayers.  
Just this past week, I was personally blessed to have God answer some prayers I had been praying about for quite a long time. How wonderful it is when you get to see God at work, personally orchestrating the details of your life.  I can appreciate what the Psalmist felt when he saw the hand of God at work on his behalf and for the good of those he cared about. “Then our mouth was filled with laughter, and our tongue with shouts of joy; then they said among the nations, “The Lord has done great things for them.” The Lord has done great things for us; we are glad.”(126:2-3 )

May you be blessed today by the One who surrounds you and keeps you!

benefits

The Blessings & Benefits Found in Psalm 119

12:00 AM




I’ll admit early on in my Christian walk, I tended to avoid Psalm 119, or started it, but never read to the end. It was just too long in my opinion, but once I learned more about this Psalm I grew to appreciate all that’s here; which is why I thought I’d write about it today, just in case there might be others out there like the younger me who have tended in the past to skip over it!

Psalm 119 is the longest Psalm, and is actually written as an acrostic poem. The verses of each stanza begin with the same letter of the Hebrew alphabet. There are 22 stanzas, equal to 22 letters of the (Hebrew) alphabet, with 8 verses each, for a grand total of 176 verses!

The author didn’t sign his poem, but some have suggested it may have been Ezra the priest who wrote it around the time that the temple was being rebuilt, and I’ll admit, I like the idea of Ezra being the author for we already know that he had “set his heart to study the law of the Lord and to practice it, and to teach His statutes and ordinances in Israel.” (Ezra 7:10). BUT others have suggested David, or possibly Daniel. All of these men are possible candidates because each had experienced severe persecution in their lives, and persecution of those who hold fast to the Word of God is a theme throughout Psalm 119.

However, the overall message of Psalm 119 focuses on the truth of God’s Word. I believe the author wanted to encourage us to stay close and focused on His Word no matter what is swirling around us in this world. Living with the knowledge of God’s ways, is freeing! And obeying His Word above all else is the only way to truly be blessed.

For we know that His Word is powerful, living, and active. It never changes, because He never changes, and it’s sharper than any two-edged sword. His words come straight from His heart to ours, and are designed to be a love letter for our life!

The first two verses remind us, that we are "blessed" as we walk in His Truths, and seek Him with all our heart, and I thought it would be cool to list as many of the blessings and benefits I could find in Psalm 119, but I’m sure there’s more, and if you find some I’ve missed, please feel free to add them!

His Word creates a thankful heart. “I shall give thanks to You with uprightness of heart, when I learn Your righteous judgments.”v.7
His Word breathes new life into us when discouraged. “My soul clings to the dust, give me life according to your word!” v.25
His Word exposes thoughts contrary to God. “Put false ways far from me and graciously teach me your law!” v.29
His Word turns our eyes to what’s important. “Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways.”v.37
His Word fills us with hope. “Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope.” v.49
His Word brings comfort. “This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life.” V.50
His Word causes us to be thankful. “At midnight I rise to praise you because of your righteous rules.” V.62
His Word gives us wisdom. “I understand more than the aged, for I keep your precepts.” V.100
His Word feeds a hungry soul.  “How sweet are your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” v.103
His Word guides us. “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”v.105
His Word brings life. “I am severely afflicted, give me life, O Lord, according to your word!” v.107
His Word keeps us from hanging around with the wrong people. “Depart from me, you evildoer, that I may keep the commandments of my God.” V.115
His Word gives us a longing for eternity. “My eyes long for your salvation and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.” V.123
His Word encourages us. “I rise before dawn and cry for help. I hope in your word” v.147
His Word gives us peace. “Great peace have those who love your law, nothing can make them stumble.” V.165
His Word leads us back to Christ. “I have gone astray like a lost sheep, seek your servant for I do not forget your commandments.” V.176

The author has definitely done a masterful job encouraging his readers to get into the Word and stay there, hasn’t he? I can honestly say my own passion for His Word has been renewed as I've read through this Psalm to pull out the benefits of keeping in it, and I pray it will have the same effect on you too!

Blessings,

sue

Freedom

Walking in Freedom {Psalm 119:1-79}

12:00 AM




“I will walk in freedom, for I have devoted myself to your commandments.” – Psalm 119:45

Hold on! Does it seem to you like the author has been sold a bill of goods here? How can anyone wrap up the words, “freedom” and “commandments” in the same sentence?  Isn’t it common knowledge that following the words of the Bible is enslaving, and freedom comes when we reject it’s commands to follow after our own ways and “what seems right in our own eyes” (Judges 17:6; 21:25)?

Haven’t we all been told our whole lives that keeping the Law of LORD is hard, tiresome and no fun at all? Someone forgot to give this author the memo! BUT, before we dismiss his words completely, perhaps we should see what others had to say on the subject of freedom!

Jesus told those who believed in Him in John 8:31-32, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples.  Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” Jesus went on to say, “Very truly I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin. Now a slave has no permanent place in the family, but a son belongs to it forever. So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed.”(8:36-38 emphasis mine). But of course, one could argue that this was Jesus speaking, the ultimate Author of God’s Word (2Tim 3:16) and therefore, of course He’d wanted us all to think this way.

James also said, “Be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves. For if anyone is a hearer of the word and not a doer, he is like a man observing his natural face in a mirror; for he observes himself, goes away, and immediately forgets what kind of man he was. But he who looks into the perfect law of liberty (freedom) and continues in it, and is not a forgetful hearer but a doer of the work, this one will be blessed in what he does.”- Jam 1:22-25 (emphasis mine once more)

And now Paul has something to say about this in his letter to the Galatians, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.”
 
Hmm…What if true bondage is being driven by our passions, which enslaves because of our sins? What if learning, understanding and following God’s Word is in fact, the light and easy yoke Jesus spoke of here?

“Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Mat 11:28-30

Perhaps, we’ve been the ones sold a bill of goods. Because we have been freed from the penalty of death which comes to all law breakers, we can now link up to the light and easy yoke of Jesus, and learn at His feet, which is exactly the hope of this author of Psalm 119!

Paul knew it,

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit who gives life has set you free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do because it was weakened by the flesh, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh to be a sin offering. And so he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fully met in us, who do not live according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.” Rom 8:1-4

This is a good place to insert a, Hallelujah!
 
I pray you will walk in complete freedom today, faithfully following after Him and His Word, and giving thanks always for all He has done to set you free!

Blessings,

sue

Jesus

No Greater Love {Psalm 113:1-118:29}

12:00 AM


Visiting the cemetery on Memorial Day has always been a family tradition. And each time I go I'm struck by the sight of rows of flowers and flags, the somber feeling, and the looks on the faces of those lost in thoughts of remembrance and grief. The pain is palpable, as is the pride of the sacrifice made by so many. Without fail, John 15:13 always enters my mind, “Greater love has no other than this, that one lay down his life for his friends.”

It’s easy to take for granted the freedoms that we enjoy as Americans. Freedoms that come at a steep price. And it’s just as easy to forget those who are left behind to deal with the crippling pain of loss and with the task of rebuilding their lives. They need our love, our compassion, and our help. And as we all have faced trials of our own and have found comfort through the Lord, it is our duty as His ambassadors to provide for the needs of those who are hurting. For as 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 reminds us, “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort those who are in any trouble, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.” 

Our Father understands our grief, and promises to love us through our pain. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.” (Matt. 5:4) “He heals the broken-hearted and binds up their wounds.” (Ps. 147:3) Why does God understand? Because the greatest Soldier of all who sacrificed everything was God’s only begotten Son; our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Jesus gave up everything He had and knew to lay down His life and free us from bondage. He came to defeat the enemy of death, loving us more than He loved Himself,and calling us to do the same. “We know love by this, that He laid down His life for us, and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.” (1 John 3:16)

Romans 13:7 tells us to give honor to whom honor is due, and I can’t think of better recipients than those who gave their lives fighting to protect our land, our lives, and our freedoms; and to those dealing with the grief of losing a loved one. I read a saying once that said, “Grief is never ending. And although it never ends, it does change. It’s a passage, not a place to stay. Grief is not a sign of weakness, nor is it a lack of faith. Rather, it’s the price of love”. We know that love is a gift from God. And He loves and grieves with each of His children. Nothing is lost on Him for, “precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His godly ones”. (Ps. 116:15) 

So on this Memorial Day when we are enjoying the ones we love, take the time to remember those who have gone on ahead of us, and those left behind. Remind the ones struggling, and yourself if need be, that one day we’ll be reunited with those we have lost. We will all be together in the kingdom of God, living, loving, and worshiping Him forever with not a tear or sorrow in sight! I personally want to thank those who fought and died for me. Whose boundless bravery is a shining example for all to see! May God bless you and keep you. In closing, I’d like to leave you with this wonderful prayer for all our men and women in uniform.


Dear Heavenly Father,
With a sober heart we come before you this Memorial Day. We pause for a moment and call to mind all of the men and women who have died in service of our nation since 1776. Dear God please look with mercy on our brave and selfless brothers and sisters, who did not shirk from their task, but gave themselves completely to the cause of defending and protecting us all. Bless all who have given their lives for the sake of liberty, and grant them eternal rest with You. We remember also our brave men and women now serving in our Armed Forces, both at home and abroad. Dear God send outYour angels to protect them all. Help them discharge their duties honorable and well. Please bring them safely home to their families and loved ones. Please bring Your peace and mercy to our troubled world. We ask this Father, in the name of Jesus, Your Son,.....Amen. (Unknown)

Abba

SoulSearching Sunday~Tender mercies

12:00 AM

Sunday, May 27, 2018


Week Twenty-one

 Welcome!  We pray that you have all had a precious time worshipping the Lord this morning!  Below you will find some thought provoking questions that will provide you a starting point to your journal writing to complete this week.  We hope that you will find this time soul satisfying!

 Our reading this week was Psalm 79 - 112...

 1. God’s eternal love is reason enough to rejoice and to sing with gladness. Maybe you’re not the best singer in town. In addition to using your vocal cords, how else can you “sing” of God’s eternal and tender mercies? Also list and pray for the people who will hear you when you “sing”.

 I will sing of the tender mercies of the LORD forever! Young and old will hear of your faithfulness. Your unfailing love will last forever. Your faithfulness is as enduring as the heavens. (Psalm 89:1-2)

 2. What is your ideal picture of a loving father? Whether or not your earthly father reflected the attributes of our heavenly Father, as every father should, God is still the perfect Dad in every way. As you pray, call God Abba, or Daddy, as a reminder of His tenderness and compassion for you.

 The LORD is like a father to His children, tender and compassionate to those who fear Him. (Psalm 103:13)

 3. Sometimes our efforts to praise God just don’t work. Describe a time when your heart was filled with genuine praise for Him. Is it any wonder that worship flows from a heart that is close to and confident in God?

 My heart is confident in You, O God; no wonder I can sing your praises! (Psalm 108:1)



Chocolate

Mexican Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

12:00 PM


Mexican Chocolate Crinkle Cookies

3/4 cup butter, cubed
2 ounces unsweetened chocolate, chopped
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup light corn syrup
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon, divided
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar

In a large saucepan melt butter and chocolate on low heat, stirring until smooth. Remove from heat. Mix in brown sugar and corn syrup until blended. Beat in egg. In another bowl, whisk flour, baking soda, 1 teaspoon cinnamon and salt; gradually mix into brown sugar mixture. Cover dough and refrigerate until firm; about 1 hour. Preheat oven to 350°. In a shallow bowl, mix confectioners' sugar and remaining cinnamon. Shape dough into 1-1/2-in. balls; roll in confectioners' sugar mixture. Place 2 in. apart on greased baking sheets. Bake until set and tops are cracked, 10-12 minutes. Cool on pans 2 minutes. Remove to wire racks to finish cooling. About 2 dozen.

answers

Scripture Saturday ~ He hears!

12:00 AM

Saturday, May 26, 2018



Welcome to Scripture Saturday!

This coming week's memory verses are Psalm 116:1,2...

 I love the LORD because He hears and answers my prayers. Because He bends down and listens, I will pray as long as I have breath! (NLT)

 Have a blessed and precious day and week everyone!

Angie Benjamin

When life gets blurry, adjust your focus!! {Psalms 102:1-104:35}

2:56 AM



Today's reading is simply beautiful,

In Psalm 102, We see David being overwhelmed by trouble and pouring our his heart and problems before the Lord.

We've all been there. Moments of deep pain and despair, in which we don't even care about the basics needs such as eating.

Moments in which the heartache is so bad that we begin to feel rejected by God Himself. We start wondering, where is He?...

But our beautiful God and creator is eternally with us and will keep all of his promises, even though we may feel alone.

The word of God says that this world (and its problems) will perish, but God and His love for us will remain.

In those times of need God alone can be our comfort and our strength. It is beautiful to know that even when we are too weak to fight, we can trust and lean on Him.

I believe it is when we recognise and acknowledge our shortcomings and weaknesses that God's great power becomes available.

Only when we realise that we have come to the end of ourselves we allow God's power to manifest in our lives and in our situations.

So what to do when everything seems so dark and gloomy?

PRAISE




In Psalm 103, David praise focuses on the things God had done and was still doing for him.

I think this is key. Telling our soul and redirecting our thoughts to the goodness of God. Remembering the good things that He has done and remembering how far He has taken us from.

It is very easy to complain about life. After all, our world seems to be upside down...but David reminds us that there are far many more things to be grateful for and to praise God for, such as:


  • He forgives our sins.
  • Heals our diseases.
  • Redeems us from death!
  • Crowns us with the love and compassion.
  • Satisfies our desires.
  • Gives us righteousness and justice.


And the best of all? We receive all these without deserving any of them!

We can go through life resting assured that regardless where we are in our life's journey, we can count our past, present and even future blessings!

So when things are not going quite right and you're feeling down, please go back to David's list.

Train your thoughts to focus and redirect your attention to PRAISE!

So as a photographer, I've learnt a very important lesson in life...









Becky Austin

The Delight of Worship (Psalm 96-101)

3:34 AM



“Unless men see a beauty and delight in the worship of God, they will not do it willingly.” John Owen

I remember that when we were in the planning and discussion stages for our journey through the Bible this year that we talked about a theme of Praise and Worship.  Each time I have written a post, I have tried to focus on what magnifies God and what helps me see aspects of his character that I can draw attention to.  Honestly, that’s not a hard task because every God inspired book of the Bible reveals God to us if we will just take the time and have the interest to look.  I believe that David chose to look diligently for God and he had the ability to see God manifested in every facet of life.  He was obviously fascinated with God and passionate to express his admiration.  From his heart’s outpouring in Psalm 96-101, we are blessed to have great examples of sincere expressions of praise and worship. 

“Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all the earth! Sing to the Lord, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods.”
Psalms 96:1-4 

Can you appreciate David’s enthusiasm? These are words that come from delight and not obligation. David tells us to “ sing a new song” which suggests fresh, original, joyous expression. He tells us to sing “to the Lord”. Our worship is “ for God”. It’s something we offer to Him. He encourages us to “tell of his salvation from day to day”. Our worship connects us to God but it also connects us to each other.

“For you, O Lord, are most high over all the earth; you are exalted far above all gods.”Psalms 97:9   David was King of Israel, but David remained humble in his understanding of God’s ultimate authority.  All of mankind worships something or someone.  In order for our hearts to truly worship God, we must be willing to humble ourselves and willingly submit to God’s authority.  We can’t worship God if we are worshipping self or the pursuit of idols. 

“Know that the Lord, he is God! It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.” Psalms 100:3  David felt connected to God.  He felt that he mattered to God. Having a sense of purpose can help us have a heart of gratitude.  Praise and worship most easily flow from a grateful heart. “For the Lord is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.” Psalms 100:5  

Do you find worship of God to be more of an obligatory task or a delight? We were specially designed to honor, worship and glorify God. David delighted in worshiping God and declaring his power and love to as many as he could. Through worship he remained humble with a teachable heart and God delighted in him.  As you read through these Psalms, I hope you can relate to David's enthusiasm and offer your own "new song" of worship to God who loves you and wants to be the One you delight in.


“Worship is the submission of all our nature to God. It is the quickening of conscience by His holiness; the nourishment of mind with His truth; the purifying of imagination by His beauty; the opening of the heart to His love; the surrender of will to His purpose and all this gathered up in adoration the most selfless emotion of which our nature is capable and therefore the chief remedy for that self-centeredness which is our original sin and source of all actual sin.” William Temple 

Protection

Resting In His Shadow {Psalm 91}

12:00 AM


O to have beautiful bronzed skin that tans to a golden brown in the sun! Unfortunately, I could faithfully sunbath all summer long and I’d never have that gorgeous tan I covet! My skin only turns different shades of red, and a few of my granddaughters are even fairer than I am.

A few years ago our whole family took a summer vacation to the beach.  Unfortunately, we hadn’t planned ahead very well and came with only one tiny beach umbrella for 11 people!

It was late in the day when I happened to look down at our fairest grandchild and noticed that her skin was beginning to burn in spite of all the sunscreen we had repeatedly lathered on her. She was having such a great time playing in the sand with her cousin that I hated to call her over to sit under the umbrella, so I took a beach towel, wrapped it behind me like a cape, held the two top corners in my hands, stretched out my arm and stood there between her and the sun, to shield her from anymore harmful rays. I didn’t think much about it at the time, for I was enjoying watching them play together, but sometime later as I began to read,

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” Psalm 91:1
the picture of what I had done that moment came flooding back, and I knew God had reminded me of that moment to demonstrate that He does the same for us.

 Can you picture your heavenly Father standing over you, protecting you, because He wants you to continue enjoying what you’re doing? We may not always sense His protection, and probably forget He’s there at times, or even wonder if He's left us to fend for ourselves in some tough situations, but He’s there! He has to be because of His character!  He can't forget us if we belong to Him, for I know His love is far greater than my love for my granddaughter, though I can’t imagine what that must look like.

Psalm 91 speaks mostly about spiritual warfare and it happens to be my favorite Psalm for it also speaks of His care for us. The best way to remember it is by remembering: when in need call 9-1-1. No matter what difficulties we’ll face today, God is a place of refuge we can run to, and a shelter from harm.

The more we break down this Psalm the more precious it becomes! For example the word “dwell” used in verse 1 actually means, “to take up permanent residence.” Here, He’s reminding us to stay in His presence, for it’s a permanent place. His Word says if we do that, we will “rest” in the very "shadow” of Almighty God!

If you look up the definition of, “shadow” you might just find, a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface. (You must know I had to smile when I saw that) We are all pretty familiar with the effects from the sun. It can produce burning heat, harm our skin and wipe out our energy. The harm diminishes when we move into the shadows, OR the shadow comes to stand between us and the sun. I love knowing He comes to shelter us from pain; be it physical or verbal, His shadow diminishes what is actually felt in its intensity. Just knowing He's in control brings such a comfort and peace.

This entire chapter of Psalm 91 is filled with His goodness and the power of God, and offers great reminders that He is faithfully at work on behalf of those who love Him.  But it's the end of this Psalm that I don't want you to miss, for He gives us 8 reasons why we have no reason to fear:

“Because he loves me, says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.  He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him.  With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.” Psalm 91:14-16

Because we love Him, He will,

-  Rescue us (deliver)
-  Protect us
-  Answer us (respond)
-  Be with us in trouble
-  Deliver us and bring us to safety
-  Honor us
-  Satisfy us with long life (abundance life according to John 10:10)
-  Show us His salvation."

How amazing is that? We are blessed for seeking Him, and choosing to walk in His ways. In the midst of this dark world, I can’t imagine living without Him. The truth is, this world has been growing darker since sin first entered it, yet God is here to remind us that we can walk, work, even play assured that He will always be there to remind us that we're not alone.

And though He never tells us that we won't face hard times, He does say He'll be with us through it to protect, and help us make it to the other side. We may never fully know this side of heaven, how much He has sheltered us from in this life, but I look forward to finding out, don’t you?

 Until then, I know He can be trusted to stand over me and be my Shield and yours.

Blessings!

sue

answers

When God Bends Down {Psalm 85-89}

12:00 AM



Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help.  Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.” –Psalm 86:1-7

Can you imagine this scene: The LORD bends down and listens…; the Creator and Sustainer of the Universe bends down from His throne above to hear the prayers you whisper to Him… Almighty God, the King of Glory leans in to listen to the words you speak?

  The truth is that your prayer will always reach God’s ear.

He knows your heart and recognizes your voice; He hears each plea, and petition.  He listens so carefully to each prayer of thanksgiving and supplication.  Not only does He hear our prayers, but He promises to answers them. Not always exactly how we think they should be answered, but He answers them according to what’s best for each of us! Isn’t that amazing? We know for certain that our prayers are being considered because God has said so in His Word (1 John 5:14–15; Jeremiah 29:11–12)! We can be as confident as David when we pray.

No other god is like you, O Lord. None can do what you do! All the nations you made will come and bow before you, Lord; they will praise your holy name. For you are great and perform wonderful deeds. You alone are God.” – Psalm 86:8-10

Through His word we’ve learned that He alone created the world (John 1), and all mankind will bow down to Him one day (Phil 2:10-11). Because of His loving kindness, God makes room for people of every nation who are willing to turn from their selfish, sinful ways to follow Him. And it’s through His Word that we learn how to follow God correctly. For He is LORD, (Yahweh) and we need to treat Him as such. Notice:

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death.” – Psalm 86: 11-13

Here’s the truth David offers us through his prayer:
·         If you are lonely, God is there waiting.  
·         If you are discouraged, God leans in and is attentive to your cares.
·         If you are worried, He's ready to listen.  
·         If you are afraid, God hears your pleas for help and is here to offer His protection.  
·         If you are heartbroken, God is a God rich of mercy, compassion and grace towards His own.

He is always close enough to bend down and rescue you!

 Blessings!
sue 

God's Voice

We’re Talking But Are We Listening {Psalm 79:1-84:12}

12:00 AM



Often when my Grandma would have to repeat herself she’d say to us, “Do you think I’m talking just to hear my own voice?” Then she’d scold us about how we needed to close our mouths and open our ears. Now as an adult I find myself saying the same thing to my husband, my son, and even my dog! They all seem to have caught a case of selective hearing. That made me think about my own ears when it comes to listening to God. 

Throughout the Bible we hear of God directly speaking to people; whether in visions, dreams, animals, angels, or through Jesus Himself. But what about in today’s time? Often I can’t help but think how wonderful it would be to sit across the table from the Lord and have a clear cut conversation where there is no questioning or deciphering what He is trying to tell me. But if I truly listen, His voice is there. And whether I hear Him and more importantly obey Him, is all on me.

In Mark 4:9 Jesus says, “He who has ears to hear let him hear.” One of the most obvious ways in which we hear from the Lord is through His Word. The Bible is God’s blueprint for life. It gives us everything we need to become saved, and to walk in His ways. It answers our questions, guides our steps, and teaches us who exactly God is. In Isaiah God describes it this way, “So is My word which goes forth from My mouth: it will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.” And as important as reading and following the Word of God is, it’s not the only way He communicates with us. He also speaks with us directly. That is...if we’re listening.

Far too often when I don’t hear from God as quickly as I want, I do as Joyce Myers puts it, “fill my ears with all kinds of things that drown out the voice of God and push Him far, far into the background of my life.” And still at other times after talking with God and not getting an immediate response, I talk some more; as if He didn’t hear me the first time! Although God cares about all aspects of our lives and wants us to talk to Him about anything and everything, He also wants us to listen. He wants us to listen with not only our ears, but with our hearts. And we can’t talk and listen at the same time. 

It’s when we fail to be quiet, patient, and listen for God’s voice that we make our biggest mistakes. Think about the people of Israel. Such heartache, despair, and destruction they could have saved themselves by listening to God. “Hear, O My people, and I will admonish you; O Israel if you would listen to Me!” (Ps. 81:8) I think of the heartache, despair, and destruction in my own life that could have been avoided if I had only done less talking and more listening. For as Solomon says about hearing in Proverbs 1:33, “But he who listens to me shall live securely and  will be at ease from the dread of evil.”

God doesn’t speak trivially, so listening to Him is vital when it comes to our relationship with Him. Every word He speaks is for our benefit not His. And yet He won’t force us to hear His voice. Whether we listen to Him or not is our decision, as is obeying what He tells us to do; even if we don’t like what He has to say.

So the next time you find yourself talking with God, which is I hope everyday, make sure that you’re listening as much as you’re talking. Besides just asking for your needs and wants, ask to hear His voice clearly, and then...listen. Because when you listen to the Lord He promises, “Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.” (Jer. 33:3) And I don’t know about you, but that sounds like an offer too good to refuse!