Category: Psalms

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Love Divine

This morning, once again, my heart is focusing on the love of the Father and my love for Him. It was then I read this Psalm once again.

The heart of the psalmist is so open to expressing his love for his God. This kind of adoration comes from daily fellowship and deep devotion.

“I love you, Lord!
    You answered my prayers.
2 You paid attention to me,
and so I will pray to you
    as long as I live.
3 Death attacked from all sides,
and I was captured
    by its painful chains.
But when I was really hurting,
4 I prayed and said, “Lord,
    please don’t let me die!”

5 You are kind, Lord,
    so good and merciful.
6 You protect ordinary people,
and when I was helpless,
    you saved me
7 and treated me so kindly
that I don’t need
    to worry anymore.

8 You, Lord, have saved
    my life from death,
    my eyes from tears,
    my feet from stumbling.
9 Now I will walk at your side
    in this land of the living.
10 I was faithful to you
    when I was suffering,
11 though in my confusion I said,
    “I can’t trust anyone!”

12 What must I give you, Lord,
    for being so good to me?
13 I will pour out an offering
    of wine to you,
and I will pray in your name
because you
    have saved me.
14 I will keep my promise to you
    when your people meet.
15 You are deeply concerned
when one of your loyal people
    faces death.

16 I worship you, Lord,
    just as my mother did,
and you have rescued me
    from the chains of death.
17 I will offer you a sacrifice
to show how grateful I am,
    and I will pray.
18 I will keep my promise to you
    when your people
19 gather at your temple
in Jerusalem.
    Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 116 CEV

Divine love – how rich, how amazing!

As I was about to finish up with this writing this morning, the words of a song came to mind. It’s the fifth stanza of a hymn written by Isaac Watt in 1707, When I Surveyed the Wondrous Cross. It goes like this:

“Were the whole realm of nature mine,
That were a present far too small;
Love so amazing, so divine,
Demands my soul, my life, my all.”

Join me in offering this Valentine to the Lord. Let’s give Him our soul, our life – our all!

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Forever & Always

My mind is filled with absolutes this morning. Do you know what I mean? Words like forever, never, always, everyone, only – these are absolutes. When using them to describe something or someone there can be no variation, no deviation, no substitute.

Sunday afternoon Dave and I watched a movie with absolutes. It’s one I’ve seen before, and I always come away from it with the same thing – an absolute. In fact, I think Dave may have tired of me saying, “Wait for it, just wait for it”.

“This is my word… and, as such, is beyond contestation.” spoken by Prince Edward in the movie, “A Knight’s Tale”.

Chaucer wrote a story, one of the Canterbury Tales, about a young man from humble means who lived with a dream of changing the stars, of changing his destiny. He took on the identity of a fictious character and fought hard to prove himself to be a royal. At the end of the story his charade is revealed, and people turn on him. All but one.

Prince Edward comes to his defense and proclaims, “He may appear to be of humble origins, but my personal historians have discovered that he is descendent from an ancient royal line.” And then Prince Edward has William take a knee and says this, “By the power vested in me by my father, King Edward, and by all the witnesses here, I dub thee Sir William.”

It’s a simple story but for me it’s an example of what the power of God does in changing our lives; we go from common sinners to heirs and joint heirs with Christ.

“ The Spirit that we received is not a spirit that makes us slaves again and causes us to fear. The Spirit that we have makes us God’s chosen children. And with that Spirit we cry out, ‘Abba, Father.’” Romans 8:15 ERV

What God speaks over us is beyond contestation. With God there is no variableness. We are His chosen children, adopted into His family.

“Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father who created all the lights in the heavens. He is always the same and never makes dark shadows by changing.” James 1:17 CEV

“ Jesus Christ never changes! He is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 CEV

“But you are God’s chosen and special people. You are a group of royal priests and a holy nation. God has brought you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Now you must tell all the wonderful things he has done. The Scriptures say, 10 ‘Once you were nobody. Now you are God’s people. At one time no one had mercy on you. Now God has treated you with kindness.” I Peter 2:9-10 CEV

“All who call out to the Lord will be saved.” Romans 10:13 CEV

“Your kingdom will never end, and you will rule forever. Our Lord, you keep your word and do everything you say.” Psalm 145:13 CEV

Absolutes! All, never, forever, always. God’s word spoken over us is beyond contestation – we are part of a royal family. We are sons and daughters of the King of Kings!

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Think On This

I wonder how often we overlook the important because we are focused on minute details.

Sometimes we allow the “little” things to block us from what truly matters. I heard a Bible teacher comment on this verse in Philippians and it gave me a greater perspective of what my daily mindset should be.

“Christian brothers, keep your minds thinking about whatever is true, whatever is respected, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever can be loved, and whatever is well thought of. If there is anything good and worth giving thanks for, think about these things.” Philippians 4:8 NLV

Thinking on what is good, pure, lovely, true and worthy of respect will stop us from jumping to wrong conclusions. When we deal with others we should be slow to take offense. It’s possible that the other person has just had a very bad day and they didn’t mean to be rude or critical. Think on what is good, loving and kind.

Let God’s love flow to them, showing them His compassion. Afterall, doesn’t God extend His loving-kindness to us even when we are at our worst.

“The Lord’s kindness never fails! If he had not been merciful, we would have been destroyed. 23 The Lord can always be trusted to show mercy each morning. 24 Deep in my heart I say, ‘The Lord is all I need; I can depend on him!'” Lamentations 3:22-24 CEV

Each day is filled with challenges but we have God’s example and His strength to handle them in a way that brings God glory.

I want you to stop and think about the most difficult person you have ever encountered. Now, with their picture in your mind think about God’s love.

“Do not trouble yourself because of sinful men. Do not want to be like those who do wrong. 2 For they will soon dry up like the grass. Like the green plant they will soon die. 3 Trust in the Lord, and do good. So you will live in the land and will be fed. 4 Be happy in the Lord. And He will give you the desires of your heart. 5 Give your way over to the Lord. Trust in Him also. And He will do it. 6 He will make your being right and good show as the light, and your wise actions as the noon day.” Psalm 37:1-6 NLV

Don’t fret, trust God, do good, be happy. Think on these things and let God handle the rest!

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Falling In Love

Do you remember when you first fell in love? I do.

It’s been over 50 years ago now but I still remember the day I received the first letter that Dave wrote me. It was short and sweet. It changed my life!

I remember us writing several times before our first phone call when we set up a day to meet. He lived 245 miles away. We both had jobs and our schedules had to be worked out. We met the Sunday after Thanksgiving; I was in Yuma with family. It was only 60 miles from Dave lived – perfect!

We spent the day together; it was love at first site! Now I will interject here that I had known Dave for almost 12 years. Our first meeting came when I was 8 years old. He had been my school-girl crush, but this feeling I had was different, it was a confident love that I knew would last a lifetime.

I remember, after that first date, telling my friends at work that I was going to marry him. (He hadn’t asked yet, but I knew he would.) There’s something about being in love that fills you with joy. You just can’t help smiling and telling everyone how special it is.

This morning I was reminded of a verse that tells about joy. See if you think it fits with being in love.

“You will teach me the right way to live. Just being with you will bring complete happiness.  Being at your right side will make me happy forever.” Psalm 16:11 ERV

You make me happy forever. Pause and think about that for a moment.

I also remember the first time I realized Jesus loved me, I was a little girl. And then I also remember the first time, as an adult, that I realized God’s love was unconditional and eternal. I remember that although I had strayed in my relationship with Him, He had never strayed from me.

It was then I began to dive into the sweetest love letter ever written, the Bible. The love letters that Dave had written while we were dating were a tangible example of the love that God was telling me about in His letter.

“The Lord came to us from far away, saying, “I have loved you with a love that lasts forever. So I have helped you come to Me with loving-kindness.” Jeremiah 31:3 NLV

A love that lasts forever! Joy that lasts forever!

If you have slipped or strayed in your relationship with the Lord let me encourage you to return to the One who loves you the most.

“I love You, O Lord, my strength. 2 The Lord is my rock, and my safe place, and the One Who takes me out of trouble. My God is my rock, in Whom I am safe. He is my safe-covering, my saving strength, and my strong tower.” Psalm 18:1-2 NLV

The words of a little chorus come to mind: I keep falling in love with Him over and over and over and over again…It gets sweeter and sweeter as the days go by, Oh what a love between my Lord and I, I keep falling in love with Him over and over again”.

Maybe today you will fall in love for the first time or maybe it will be the day you fall in love with Him, over again.

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Trust & Obey

As parents we like our children to be obedient. Sometimes when they’re little it’s “blind obedience”. They aren’t old enough to understand why we say to do the things we do but as we grow together in loving relationship, our children learn to trust us and obedience comes easier when it’s built on trust.

For the last month we have focused on God’s unconditional, unending love. I hope you have come to trust that God loves you and has designed a life filled with blessings for you. Trusting His love brings us to obedience.

“ If you love me, you will do what I command. 16I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever.” John 14:15 ERV

There is no need to fear that God will ask us to do something we are incapable of doing or that it would be harmful to us. No, perfect love casts out fear.

“But I will sing about your strength. I will rejoice in your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come.” Psalm 59:16 ERV

We run to God and not from Him when we need help in times of trouble. This is our place of safety, for He is our protector and our strength.

“ Turn to the Lord for help in everything you do, and you will be successful.” Proverbs 16:3 ERV

This morning’s picture, the little girl and Jesus walking hand-in-hand, that’s trust! You might say, “well, if I saw the Lord holding my hand I would trust too”. That sounds like something . Thomas said when the disciples told him they had seen Jesus but he hadn’t been there. Look what Jesus said to Thomas a week later.

“Jesus said to him, “You believe because you see me. Great blessings belong to the people who believe without seeing me!” John 20:29 ERV

Jesus was talking about us and all those who were born after He ascended to heaven. We are the ones who haven’t seen Him. We are blessed because we believe – we trust, we place our faith in Him.

“ God can be trusted, and he chose you to be partners with his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ.” I Corinthians 1:9 CEV

I encourage you to start each day by trusting the Lord with your plans and your hopes. Lay them out before Him, listen for His instruction, depend on Him for guidance.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart and obey His word. He won’t steer you wrong!

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Love Covers

The first thing I did this morning was start the coffee, get my Bible, computer, journal and my blanket. What is it about being covered that makes us feel warm and safe?

When our grandkids come to visit, each one comes with their own blanket. There’s a sense of security, of comfort. So, of course, this morning I told the Lord how comfortable and safe I feel knowing I am wrapped in His love.

“But I have learned to feel safe and satisfied, like a young child in its mother’s arms.” Psalm 131:2 CEV

One of the first things a newborn experiences is being wrapped tightly in a blanket. It keeps them warm and gives them a sense of still being in the womb. It’s a comforting feeling.

“He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall.” Psalm 91:4 CEV

“I may walk through valleys as dark as death, but I won’t be afraid. You are with me,” Psalm 23:4 CEV

The Father knows we need that sense of security and protection that’s why He covers us when we are in the presence of danger. Do you remember how the Lord covered the Israelites when they left Egypt? The Bible tells us He covered them with a cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night.

If you haven’t spent much time in the desert those words might not mean much to you but let me tell you on a hot sunny day clouds are a welcome relief. Nights get bitterly cold in the desert and there is nothing more comforting than a fire. Those two things, the cloud and the fire, were a reminder to the children of Israel that they were not alone – God was with them.

They were covered by His love.

Now, we are almost to the end of January and I will probably go on to another subject soon but before I do there’s one more aspect of God’s love we have yet to cover. That is – how do we show God’s love to one another.

“Most of all, have a true love for each other. Love covers many sins.” I Peter 4:8 NLV

We read yesterday that we are forgiven once and for all. We also read that God doesn’t remember our sins, He removes them from His memory. He not only does that for us, but He also does that for everyone we meet. His love covers many sins.

We need to follow His example. Instead of gossiping about someone’s mistakes, failures or sins we should be covering them. Not denying that they happened but not recalling them either. Don’t keep drudging them up; cover them with love.

“But I am giving you a new command. You must love each other, just as I have loved you. 35 If you love each other, everyone will know that you are my disciples.” John 13:34-35 CEV

Let’s use our love to cover and bring comfort to someone today!

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Favorite Places

Where is your favorite place to be? Our daughter and son-in-law took an all-inclusive vacation to the Dominican Republic this year and loved it. A few years back our younger daughter and son-in-law went to London and Paris. Our son has traveled to Italy and Costa Rica. We’ve vacationed in Hawaii and this last summer you all know we took our “trip of a lifetime” when Dave and I went to Greece.

Yes, Greece is my favorite place but I enjoy being in the mountains and at the oceanside. I love being home or anywhere that all my family gathers. However, my favorite place isn’t a tangible place, it’s a presence.

“Lord God All-Powerful, your temple is so lovely! 2 Deep in my heart I long for your temple,
and with all that I am I sing joyful songs to you. 3 Lord God All-Powerful, my King and my God, sparrows find a home near your altars; swallows build nests thereto raise their young.

4 You bless everyone who lives in your house, and they sing your praises. 5 You bless all who depend on you for their strength and all who deeply desire to visit your temple…10 One day in your temple is better than a thousand anywhere else. I would rather serve in your house, than live in the homes of the wicked. 11 Our Lord and our God, you are like the sun and also like a shield. You treat us with kindness and with honor, never denying any good thing to those who live right. 12 Lord God All-Powerful, you bless everyone who trusts you.” Psalm 84 CEV

We spent hours planning our trip to Greece. There were years of watching travelogs to determine which islands we wanted to visit, researching the country’s customs and things that were required for our trip. All of this planning for twenty-seven days and it was wonderful.

But what I don’t understand is how some people never think about spending time with the Lord. I’m not condemning anyone, but I do question why they don’t think it’s important and plan for it.

As King David said, “one day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere”. To spend time with the Father – in His word, in prayer and in quiet meditation is amazing! Nothing compares with spending time with God. In another Psalm, the old English says “taste and see that the Lord is good”.

“Give the Lord a chance to show you how good he is. Great blessings belong to those who depend on him!” Psalm 34:8 ERV

Give the Lord a chance.

Did you see that King David said the sparrows and the swallows choose to nest in the courts of the Lord?

It reminds me of a teaching Jesus did. He said the Father provides the daily needs of the sparrows. Then He makes this statement:

“ Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or save food in barns, but your heavenly Father feeds them. Don’t you know you are worth much more than they are? 27 You cannot add any time to your life by worrying about it.” Matthew 6:26-27 ERV

Do you realize how valuable you are to the Father?

Spend time with Him, allow Him to show you the depth of His love for you. Spending time in His presence will become your favorite place to be!

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Perfect Love Defeats Fear

Yesterday was cold and rainy so we stayed inside in front of the fireplace and watched a movie. In one episode the family had been stranded, a broken wheel prevented them from traveling any further. That night they stayed in a hotel room with one bed, the kids safely tucked in between mom and dad.

That’s what I went to bed thinking about and this morning, in my prayer time I was remembering the times that something had awaken our kids in the night and they came running to get in bed with us.

When frightening things happen, we run for safety don’t we?

“There is no fear in love. Perfect love puts fear out of our hearts. People have fear when they are afraid of being punished. The man who is afraid does not have perfect love. 19 We love Him because He loved us first.” I John 4:18-19 NLV

In a storm, a natural disaster, a financial reversal, a divorce, the unexpected death of a loved one, during a life-altering doctor’s visit, fear is present to destroy our peace and leave us shaken.

But God! Perfect love, God’s love, will dispel the fear. Our focus on His provision will bring us joy and strength.

“Even if the fig tree does not grow figs and there is no fruit on the vines, even if the olives do not grow and the fields give no food, even if there are no sheep within the fence and no cattle in the cattle-building, 18 yet I will have joy in the Lord. I will be glad in the God Who saves me. 19 The Lord God is my strength. He has made my feet like the feet of a deer, and He makes me walk on high places.” Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLV

Just like a small child, frightened by a thunderstorm who runs to their parent for protection, we can run to our Father and find peace in His presence.

“ He who lives in the safe place of the Most High will be in the shadow of the All-powerful. 2 I will say to the Lord, ‘You are my safe and strong place, my God, in Whom I trust.’ 3 For it is He Who takes you away from the trap, and from the killing sickness. 4 He will cover you with His wings. And under His wings you will be safe. He is faithful like a safe-covering and a strong wall.” Psalm 91:1-4 NLV

“You will keep the man in perfect peace whose mind is kept on You, because he trusts in You.” Isaiah 26:3 NLV

Our Father doesn’t want us to “try and handle it on our own”. He wants us to run to Him, in complete trust.

“Let us go with complete trust to the throne of God. We will receive His loving-kindness and have His loving-favor to help us whenever we need it.” Hebrews 4:16 NLV

Father, we choose to keep our minds focused on You and Your love for us. Keep our hearts free from fear! Amen.

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Love in Action = Grace

Dave and I sat out by the fire last night talking of the friends and acquaintances we have made over the last 50 years. Some of these people are on my Christmas card list and we still keep in touch. It’s amazing how our lives have been blessed by so many.

It wasn’t long until we found ourselves talking of one friend who has been going through a very rough time. He has run headlong into some tough circumstances, some of his own making, and he’s angry, and unyielding. I’m not sure if he’s angry with God or just mad at the world, maybe a little of both. We are praying for him to have a true encounter with the grace of God.

You see, grace is really God’s love in action.

Grace is God’s kindness and blessings showered on our lives when we deserve judgement and condemnation. As a young girl I was taught this acrostic – Grace is God’s Righteousness At Christ’s Expense.

“Christ Jesus our Lord treated me with undeserved grace and has greatly blessed my life with faith and love just like his own.” I Timothy 1:14 CEV

When we don’t realize that we are recipients of God’s grace we demand perfection from ourselves to earn God’s love and in turn, we struggle with being gracious to others. Both scenarios leave us angry and unkind.

“I mean that you have been saved by grace because you believed. You did not save yourselves; it was a gift from God. 9 You are not saved by the things you have done, so there is nothing to boast about.” Ephesians 2:8-9 ERV

Grace is not a one-time thing; it’s a virtue that grows in our lives as we learn more about Christ and His character.

“Let the gift of undeserved grace and the understanding that come from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ help you keep on growing. Praise Jesus now and forever! Amen.” II Peter 3:18 CEV

Grace was love in action when Jesus said to the criminal on the cross “Today you’ll be with me in Paradise”. Grace was love in action when Jesus lifted Peter from the sea when he began to sink. Grace was love in action when Christ cried out from the cross “Father, forgive them”.

“Honor and thanks be to the Lord, Who carries our heavy loads day by day. He is the God Who saves us. 20 Our God is a God Who sets us free. The way out of death belongs to God the Lord.” Psalm 68:19 NLV

“My soul, praise the Lord and never forget how kind he is! 3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses. 4 He saves us from the grave, and he gives us love and compassion. 5 He gives us plenty of good things.” Psalm 103:2-5 ERV

Why am I writing this to all of you this morning? The friend I’m talking about will probably never read this blog, but you may have someone in your life that is a lot like him. Someone who needs you to be gracious; someone who needs you to be loving and forgiving.

Someone you know, perhaps it’s you, needs to receive grace which is love in action!

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Good Morning Sun

This morning Facebook reminded me of where I was three years ago and what a wonderful memory it is.

Martin Luther King weekend was a time to go camping with our oldest daughter and that year we took along two of our youngest grandchildren. There’s a great campground not far from us and it provides hiking, rock climbing and relaxation. Just what we need and enjoy.

The first morning we were there our granddaughter woke as I was having my prayer time and writing my morning blog. I could see through a crack in the blinds that the sun was rising – my favorite time of day – and I wanted her to experience it with me. So, I wrapped her in a blanket, and we quietly left the trailer and went outside to watch the sunrise.

We stood and we watched. We waited and we watched. The sky was a beautiful gold and when the sun appeared in the saddle of the mountains I said to her say, “Good morning sun – that’s how we greet the day”. She loved it and started repeating “It’s a good morning sun, a good morning sun”. I told her in language a 3-year-old could understand that each morning God blesses us with the sunrise and a beautiful new day.

Fast forward to our trip to California over Christmas, same granddaughter said to me early one morning, “Besta let’s go out and see the good morning sun”. My heart melted!

That’s how our heavenly Father wants us to be. Greeting the day with excitement and anticipation. Welcoming His presence, waiting to see His glory and feel His warmth.

Good morning Son!

“Your glorious power will be seen on the day you begin to rule. You will wear the sacred robes and shine like the morning sun in all of your strength.” Psalm 110:3 CEV

“praise the Lord for answering my prayers and saving me. 22 The stone that the builders tossed aside has now become the most important stone. 23 The Lord has done this, and it is amazing to us. 24 This day belongs to the Lord! Let’s celebrate and be glad today.” Psalm 118:21-24 CEV

“Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance.” Psalm 143:8 CEV

There’s a praise chorus that I love to sing. The first line goes like this – “In the morning when I rise, In the morning when I rise, In the morning when I rise give me Jesus. Give me Jesus, give me Jesus. You may have all this world, give me Jesus.”.

I hope you join Kristine and I as we rise and say “Good morning Son – thank you for your love”.

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