Category: Psalms

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Lather Up!

It’s important that we have the proper covering in life. I was thinking about that the other day when the grandkids were here.

They were dressed in their swimsuits, and we were ready to head out the door but first things first. Time to lather up – they needed to be covered with sunscreen and they also needed to have their hats on.

The Arizona sun is so hot!

We don’t always think about being covered because the water is cool and inviting but it’s important that we keep from getting sunburned. As excited as they were about getting up to the pool they waited, not so patiently, until each one had been sprayed and had their hats in hand.

It made me think, I should never start the day without being covered.

“How happy he is whose wrong-doing is forgiven, and whose sin is covered! 2 How happy is the man whose sin the Lord does not hold against him, and in whose spirit there is nothing false.” Psalm 32:1-2 NLV

Because of God’s great love for us we are forgiven, we have our sins covered. That was the example of the Old Testament. The blood sacrifices that were made covered their sin. However, in the New Testament, the blood of Jesus not only covers but completely blots out our sins.

“ David tells of this. He spoke of how happy the man is who puts his trust in God without working to be saved from the punishment of sin. 7 ‘Those people are happy whose sinful acts are forgiven and whose sins are covered. 8 Those people are happy whose sins the Lord will not remember.’…25 Jesus died for our sins. He was raised from the dead to make us right with God.” Romans 4:6-8, 25 NLV

Over exposure to the sun’s harmful rays can cause skin cancer. Over exposure to the world’s way of thinking and living can cause a cancer of the soul.

“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…14 Because he has loved Me, I will bring him out of trouble. I will set him in a safe place on high, because he has known My name. 15 He will call upon Me, and I will answer him. I will be with him in trouble. I will take him out of trouble and honor him. 16 I will please him with a long life. And I will show him My saving power.” Psalm 91:4,14-16 NLV

Oh, I didn’t forget about the hats. God has taken care of covering our heads too.

“17 The covering for your head is that you have been saved from the punishment of sin. ” Ephesians 6:17 NLV

I’ll say it again. We need to be well covered before we face the harsh elements of the day. Let’s make sure that we are aware that we are completely covered with the Father’s love.

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I Like Your House

I hope you all forgive me for not getting a blog posted this morning. It was a day that life got in the way!

Friday noon our three youngest grandchildren came for a visit. They are 7,5, and 3. Our afternoon was filled with coloring, games, swimming, dinner and smores. Housing three littles in an RV is a delightful challenge. We have a big bed that drops down from the ceiling in the toy-hauler garage that made the perfect bed for the three of them when they were smaller but in the last year, all three of them have really grown.

The drop-down bed was perfect size for the two girls, and we had a surprise for Sam, the 7-year-old. There’s a sleeping loft between the kitchen and the garage. Just the right size for one growing boy. We weren’t sure how well he would do with going up and down the ladder but after a few timid encounters, he finally climbed to the top, crawled in and announced, “I really like my new bed”. Wonderful!

More games, prayer time and then off to bed.

Saturday morning I was up by 4, followed shortly by Sam, who was peeking over the edge of the loft at 4:15. Kristine woke by 4:30. I told her she had to go back to sleep. She rolled over and did. Sam was given permission to come down but needed to lay on the couch so I could finish my writing. “You have to be quiet. You can’t wake the girls or Pappy”. He heeded my words.

Once the others were up, we all went outside in our jammies before it got too hot and put out fresh water for the birds, seed in the feeder, water the plants and made sidewalk chalk drawings. It warms up fast in the desert so we were back inside just before breakfast.

More games to play and drawings to make for their parents.

Before we knew it, their parents were here and we were grilling hamburgers. The perfect lunch and then off to the swimming pool again. The three-year-old had fallen asleep at lunch and so she and Pappy stayed at the RV to make homemade ice cream for when we returned.

While we were at the pool Kristine whispered to me, “I really like coming to your trailer, Besta”, followed by a tight squeeze.

“For a day in Your house is better than a thousand outside. I would rather be the one who opens the door of the house of my God, than to live in the tents of the sinful. 11 For the Lord God is a sun and a safe-covering. The Lord gives favor and honor. He holds back nothing good from those who walk in the way that is right.” Psalm 84:10-11 NLV

“Better is one day in Your house than a thousand elsewhere, oh yes Father, that’s how I feel about You.”

All too soon it was time for them to go home. As Sam was getting into the car he hugged me and this time he whispered in my ear, “Besta, when can we come back”? With a lump in my throat and a tear in my eye I said, “soon, very soon”.

“ There are many rooms in My Father’s house. If it were not so, I would have told you. I am going away to make a place for you. 3 After I go and make a place for you, I will come back and take you with Me. Then you may be where I am.” John 14:2-3 NLV

In case you’re asking, I want you to know that the Lord said He’s coming back, soon, very soon and we can go home with Him.

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Sack Lunch vs Banquet

Several years ago Dave and I had an interesting experience at a local Mexican restaurant.

Just after we arrived a family came in and sat at the next table. As they sat their waiting for the waitress to bring their drinks I noticed the one little girl had brought in a sack from Wendy’s. As her parents ordered and enjoyed their chips and salsa, the little girl reached into the sack and took out her Frosty, fries and burger. I thought, how cute!

But now the life lesson.

“Jesus said to him, ‘A man gave a big dinner. He invited many people. 17 When it was time to eat, he sent his servant to tell the guests, ‘Come. The food is ready.’ 18 But all the guests said they could not come. Each one made an excuse…’

21 “So the servant returned and told his master what happened. The master was angry. He said, ‘Hurry! Go into the streets and alleys of the town. Bring me the poor, the crippled, the blind, and the lame.’

22 “Later, the servant said to him, ‘Master, I did what you told me to do, but we still have places for more people.’ 23 The master said to the servant, ‘Go out to the highways and country roads. Tell the people there to come. I want my house to be full!” Luke 14:16-23 ERV

The Father wants to lavish on us the things He has prepared for us.

So many times we come to the Father’s table with our own provision – Abraham and Sarah had God’s promise for a son but they made their own provision and Ishmael was born. Not a good thing…

We have allowed the tradition of religion to tell us that we can’t or shouldn’t expect God to bless us or to provide – excuses – we aren’t worthy or “God helps those who help themselves” and the focus gets placed on us and not on Him. We begin thinking like the prodigal son who said “the servants in my father’s house are eating well, I’ll just go be a servant”. But our Father doesn’t want servants, He wants sons!

He wants us to experience the joy of our salvation – the great and precious promises that He has provided for us through the death of His son!

“Praise the Lord, O my soul. And all that is within me, praise His holy name. 2 Praise the Lord, O my soul. And forget none of His acts of kindness. 3 He forgives all my sins. He heals all my diseases. 4 He saves my life from the grave. He crowns me with loving-kindness and pity. 5 He fills my years with good things and I am made young again like the eagle… 8 The Lord is full of loving-pity and kindness. He is slow to anger and has much loving-kindness.” Psalm 103:1-8 NLV

Maybe this life lesson was just for me. Maybe you’ve never come to the Father’s table with provisions of your own making but if you have, let me encourage you to drop your sack lunch in the receptacle at the door and come eat freely at the table the Father has prepared for you.

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Light in the Darkness

What do you do on an Arizona afternoon when it’s too hot to go outside and work on anything?

Well, if you’re retired, like Dave and I, you have a nice lunch and watch a movie. Yesterday’s movie is titled, Unbroken. It’s based on the true story of a young man who excelled in long distance running, qualified for the Olympics, enlisted in the Army in WWII, was a bombardier, spent over a month in a life raft in the Pacific, was rescued by Japanese and spent the rest of the war as a prisoner.

It wasn’t a light-hearted Hallmark movie.

At one point, he was imprisoned in a cell that had no light. I don’t know how many days he was there, but the movie showed him screaming out in the darkness. It was almost more than he could handle. This is what I was thinking about this morning when I woke up.

The darkness. Fighting the darkness.

“You save those who are suffering, but You bring low those who have pride in their eyes. 28 You make my lamp bright. The Lord my God lights my darkness.” Psalm 18:27-28 NLV

“The Lord is my light and the One Who saves me. Whom should I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life. Of whom should I be afraid? 2 When sinful men, and all who hated me, came against me to destroy my flesh, they tripped and fell. 3 Even if an army gathers against me, my heart will not be afraid. Even if war rises against me, I will be sure of You.” Psalm 27:1-3 NLV

I don’t believe I will ever experience that type of darkness but, in life, we all face circumstantial darkness. For some its prejudice while others face the death of a loved one. Some face the relational darkness of loneliness and depression, many fall into the dark place of long-term illness and pain. And then there is the dark prison cell of financial destruction.

No matter the darkness, each one of us has the promise of God that He will be our light in the darkness! Amen and amen.

Going over all this I heard the words of a song I sang as a child: I Know Who Holds Tomorrow.

1 I don’t know about tomorrow,
I just live from day to day.
I don’t borrow from its sunshine,
For its skies may turn to gray.
I don’t worry o’er the future,
For I know what Jesus said,
And today I’ll walk beside Him,
For He knows what is ahead.

Refrain:
Many things about tomorrow,
I don’t seem to understand;
But I know who holds tomorrow,
And I know who holds my hand.

3 I don’t know about tomorrow,
It may bring me poverty;
But the one who feeds the sparrow,
Is the one who stands by me.
And the path that be my portion,
May be through the flame or flood,
But His presence goes before me,
And I’m covered with His blood. [Refrain]

I pray these words bring light to your dark places. Remember Jesus said, “I AM the light of the world”.

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All the Fathers

Today is a day that we honor fathers. Yes, it was probably started by a greeting card company but the foundation is definitely Biblical.

Our heavenly Father is loving and gracious, always there to encourage and direct. We learn from Him. He protects and corrects. His love is never ending. Be thankful for the men the Lord has placed in your family – fathers, sons, uncles, grandsons and dad-like role models.

I’m going to ask you to do something this morning before you start the celebration of honoring the fathers in your home. Please pray for those fathers who are estranged from their children, pray for those who have lost children to death or bad decisions.

Some men have a heart’s desire to father but have no natural children so they provide fatherly influence to nieces and nephews or mentoring to children in their community . All of these men need our encouragment and love today.

Our heavenly Father has adopted us and called us to be His own. He welcomes us to come to Him always – come to Him and find rest and help in time of need.

He knows all about us and His love sustains us.

“We sinned against him, but he didn’t give us the punishment we deserved. 11 His love for his followers is as high above us as heaven is above the earth. 12 And he has taken our sins as far away from us as the east is from the west. 13 The Lord is as kind to his followers as a father is to his children. 14 He knows all about us. He knows we are made from dust. 15 He knows our lives are short, that they are like grass. He knows we are like a little wildflower that grows so quickly, 16 but when the hot wind blows, it dies. Soon, you cannot even see where the flower was. 17 But the Lord has always loved his followers, and he will continue to love them forever and ever!” Psalm 103:10-17 ERV

Take time to thank the men who are fathers in your family and also thank those who have been role models, men of character and godliness. Then thank and honor Your heavenly Father for all He has done for you and for bringing these men into your families.

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Long Life & Honor

The more I thought about how to title this morning’s blog the more it sounded like something from Star Trek, “Live long and prosper”.

It made me wonder, how many seasoned saints heard Leonard Nimoy make that statement in the 1960’s and said “that sure sounds like Scripture”?

I am not a Trekkie. In fact, I’ve probably only seen a half dozen episodes of the original series and none of the movies or subsequent spinoffs. However, that theme is worth pondering.

I actually found it twice this morning in the book of Proverbs.

“By humility and the fear of the Lord Are riches and honor and life.” Proverbs 22:4 NKJV

“He who follows righteousness and mercy Finds life, righteousness, and honor.” Proverbs 21:21 NKJV

These two verses, repeated as close together as they are, give us instruction for daily life. Life goals, as it were. Most of us want to prosper in this life but prosperity can mean different things to different people. To some it means great wealth and to others it means a life filled with joy and peace.

Jesus repeated Solomon’s teaching when He said to His disciples:

“The robber comes only to steal and to kill and to destroy. I came so they might have life, a great full life.” John 10:10 NLV

Early in our marriage I had my own definition of prosperity. I told David I would know we were prosperous when I could go to the grocery store without a calculator and be able to pay for the items in my cart. That may seem very simplistic, and it is but going from not having enough to having a full cart and the money to pay for it was prosperity. It still is!

“The Lord is my Shepherd. I will have everything I need.” Psalm 23:1 NLV

“ And my God will give you everything you need because of His great riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19 NLV

Getting to know the Father and His character, understanding the example that Jesus set for us and following the leading of the Holy Spirit bring us to a place of confidence in the promises of God.

“The Helper (Holy Spirit) will tell about Me when He comes. I will send Him to you from the Father. He is the Spirit of Truth and comes from the Father. ” John 15:26 NLV

So, the question comes. How do we live long and prosper? We humble ourselves, trusting God’s wisdom more than we do our own, and let Him direct our steps.

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Breaking the Bank

Last month Dave and I made two expenditures we had been saving for. These weren’t part of the regular monthly budget. No, they were items we had to plan for and save for. Maybe you don’t live on a budget, but we always have.

Each month we have dollars allotted for the different categories: food, clothing, home, electric, internet, phone, tithe, savings, allowance, taxes, insurance. To stay within budget for groceries I look over the ads and find the sales. I do the same when we need a new pair of shoes or other clothes.

We know the Lord expects us to be good stewards of the money He blesses us with and so we try to spend wisely. However, there is one event that we are allowing ourselves the right to be extravagant. It’s our 50th wedding anniversary trip to Greece in September. Oh, we’ve set a budget for the trip, but it is a substantial one. This is a once in a lifetime experience.

This morning I was reminded of another budget blowing expenditure that I have been involved in. It is my relationship with the Lord. He is the One who blew the budget and I am the one who is the recipient of His grace.

“God paid a high price for you, so don’t be slaves to anyone else.” I Corinthians 7:23 ERV

Have you ever stopped to consider how deeply the Father loves us? We are invaluable to Him.

“God’s kingdom is like a treasure hidden in a field. One day a man found the treasure. He hid it again and was so happy that he went and sold everything he owned and bought the field. 45 Also, God’s kingdom is like a merchant looking for fine pearls. 46 One day he found a very fine pearl. He went and sold everything he had to buy it.” Matthew 13:44-46 ERV

The earth is the field, God the Father is the man, we are the treasure and Jesus is the price that was paid!

What is it that would cause you to sell all you have – your home, jewelry, cars, boat, horses, RV? What would make you cash in the CD’s and empty the savings account? What would be valuable enough to have you sell all to buy one treasure?

We are that treasure! God gave His only begotten Son to purchase us!

No words can convey what I am feeling in my heart this morning as I focus on the depth of God’s love for me.

“And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is. 19 Christ’s love is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that love. Then you can be filled with everything God has for you.” Ephesians 3:18-19 ERV

“Nothing is more precious than your loving kindness. All people can find protection close to you.” Psalm 36:7 ERV

Father, I will take my words from the Psalms, nothing is more precious than your lovingkindness. Thank you for loving us enough to break the bank!

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Time Away

We just returned home after being gone for 5 days. What a good trip!

The last couple of days we were back on the mountain. For two years we had been camp hosts at Rainbow Campground on Big Lake in the Arizona White Mountains. This year we made a tough decision and were not able to return.

We miss the serenity of mountain life and the dear friends we have there. Everything we do is dependent upon God’s times and seasons.

“Everything on earth
has its own time
    and its own season.
2 There is a time
for birth and death,
    planting and reaping,
3 for killing and healing,
    destroying and building,
4 for crying and laughing,
    weeping and dancing,
5 for throwing stones
and gathering stones,
    embracing and parting.
6 There is a time
for finding and losing,
    keeping and giving,
7 for tearing and sewing,
    listening and speaking.
8 There is also a time
for love and hate,
    for war and peace.” Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 CEV

The embracing and parting are hard. We spent time with some friends we have known for many years and also with some who we only been acquainted with for a few years. It was a time of refreshing and catching up. There were tears and laughter, promises to meet again and always – always – an expression of gratitude for the Lord bringing our lives together.

What a joy it is to know that the Lord cares about our associations and friendships.

“Jonathan liked David so much that they promised to always be loyal friends.” I Samuel 18:3 CEV

“The Lord directs the steps of the godly.  He delights in every detail of their lives. 24 Though they stumble, they will never fall, for the Lord holds them by the hand.” Psalm 37:23-24 NLT

Last night after we returned home Dave and I began to call out names of so many who have been a part of our lives and we know how truly rich we are in the area of relationships.

I am truly grateful for each of you who read this blog. I feel the Lord has blessed me in such a tremendous way, being able to share with you my walk with the Lord and to encourage you in your walk with Him as well.

Thank you for being faithful readers and precious friends, some we know and some we have yet to meet.

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How Soon We Forget

It’s good to reminisce. It brings special memories to the forefront of our minds. Some things we should never forget. God’s faithfulness comes to the top of my list.

The wonderful things the Lord has done for us in the past sometimes get lost in our memory when we focus on the problems of the present. It’s a form of spiritual amnesia.

The Israelites had lived in slavery to the Egyptians for four hundred years. The Lord sent Moses to lead them from captivity. The power of God was seen in the ten plagues that fell on the land of Egypt. Finally, Pharoah let God’s people go.

But it didn’t take long for him to reconsider his decision.

“When the Israelites saw the king coming with his army, they were frightened and begged the Lord for help. 11 They also complained to Moses, ‘Wasn’t there enough room in Egypt to bury us? Is that why you brought us out here to die in the desert? Why did you bring us out of Egypt anyway? 12 While we were there, didn’t we tell you to leave us alone? We’d rather be slaves in Egypt than die in this desert!’

13 But Moses answered, ‘Don’t be afraid! Be brave, and you will see the Lord save you today. These Egyptians will never bother you again. 14 The Lord will fight for you, and you won’t have to do a thing.’” Exodus 14:10-14 CEV

They forgot that God was defending and protecting them but thank God, He didn’t. He told Moses to keep moving forward. Then Moses was to stretch out his rod and the Red Sea would part so they could walk across on dry ground. And the rest is history. This miracle was something Moses would remind them of for the next forty years.

For a number of years, I worked in an animal hospital. Each year we would see the same dogs for porcupine quill removal. The first year I assisted with the quill removal I was amazed at how the dog’s chest, mouth, and muzzle was filled with quills. Some cases were so severe that we would have to sedate the dog to get them all. Then Doc said an interesting thing, “we’ll see this dog back again next year for the same thing”, and sure enough we did. You see there was a partial memory loss, amnesia. The dogs remembered the porcupine but forgot the horrible experience of the quills.

Pharaoh quickly forgot the pain of the plagues and only saw that his work force of slaves was fleeing. The Israelites forgot their 400 years of slavery and God’s deliverance and could only see the trouble of the pursuing Egyptians.

But, Moses remembered GOD! Today I encourage you to remember God.

“God gave his Law to Jacob’s descendants, the people of Israel. And he told our ancestors to teach their children, 6 so that each new generation would know his Law and tell it to the next. 7 Then they would trust God and obey his teachings, without forgetting anything God had done.” Psalm 78:5-7 CEV

Let’s not forget those big and small things God has done for us in the past. They are the foundation of faith we stand on for our present and our future.

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Words Matter!

Do you remember the old saying, “My word is my bond”?

People used to give value to what they say, to the words they used. Words had importance, value and meaning and now it seems it has just become so much noise.

To God, words are important. With His words He framed the world and all that is in it. “And God said, light be and there was light”.

When God promised Abraham a son, we’re told that Abraham believed God and it was counted to him as righteousness. David wrote the longest chapter in the Bible, Psalm 119, about God’s word and the importance of it.

“Young people can live a clean life by obeying your word. 10 I worship you with all my heart.
Don’t let me walk away from your commands. 11 I treasure your word above all else; it keeps me from sinning against you.” Psalm 119:9-11 CEV

Jesus was referred to as the Word. What He said had value and power! People were healed when he spoke a word; his words cursed a fig tree and caused it to die from the roots up; they turned the water into wine and raised the dead.

Jesus told the Pharisees in Matthew 12 that out of the abundance or fullness of their hearts, the mouth speaks and that by their words they would be justified or condemned. He went on to say that they would be judged for every idle word that came from their mouths.

The Pharisees had been plotting against Jesus earlier in this chapter and even went so far as to say that the works Jesus was doing were of the devil. They were trying to stir up the people against Jesus using their words and Jesus wanted them to know that their words would come back to judge them.

King Solomon, the wisest man to ever live, wrote these words. “Your words can be as satisfying as fruit, as pleasing as the food that fills your stomach. 21 The tongue can speak words that bring life or death. Those who love to talk must be ready to accept what it brings.” Proverbs 18:20-21 CEV

So today, let our words bring life. Life to us and our situations, life to our mate & children, life to our colleagues, words of life, peace, health, prosperity and salvation.

“People cannot see their own mistakes, so don’t let me commit secret sins. 13 Don’t let me do what I know is wrong. Don’t let sin control me. If you help me, I can be pure and free from sin 14 May my words and thoughts please you. LORD, you are my Rock—the one who rescues me.” Psalm 19:12-14 CEV

God’s word has changed my life. I want my words to change the lives of others.

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