Category: Psalms

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An Intimate Courtyard

One of the first group of verses I memorized as a young girl was Psalm 100.

“Earth, sing to the Lord!
2 Be happy as you serve the Lord!
    Come before him with happy songs!
3 Know that the Lord is God.
    He made us, and we belong to him.
    We are his people, the sheep he takes care of.
4 Come through the gates to his Temple giving thanks to him.
    Enter his courtyards with songs of praise.
    Honor him and bless his name.
5 The Lord is good!
    There is no end to his faithful love.
    We can trust him forever and ever! ERV

That’s exactly what I’m doing this morning – being happy and grateful to be in the Father’s courtyard.

When Dave and I did the landscaping at our home in southern Arizona we designed a front courtyard. It was my place to sit and pray; a place to always be thankful for the many blessings the Lord has given us. I miss the courtyard but the praise I always have in my heart.

Another memory I have of my childhood is a song I used to sing, In the Garden:

“I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses
And the voice I hear, falling on my ear
The Son of God discloses

And he walks with me
And he talks with me
And he tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known

He speaks and the sound of His voice
Is so sweet the birds hush their singing
And the melody that He gave to me
Within my heart is ringing…”

There is a relationship that we can share with the Lord that is incomparable to any other. In the joy and in the sorrow, in the struggle and in the rest, we are invited to come into his courtyard, into the pasture of green grass and cool water, into His presence where there is fullness of joy.

“You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11 NKJV

There’s a progression here. In Psalm 100 we are told to come through His gates and into His courtyard. Praise and thanksgiving are the ticket to enter. The writer of Hebrews tells us we can come boldly into His throne room.

“So whenever we are in need, we should come bravely before the throne of our merciful God. There we will be treated with undeserved grace, and we will find help.” Hebrews 4:16 CEV

Our heavenly Father is generous and welcoming. He wants to come bravely, He extends His grace and provides us with the help we need.

There’s an intimacy in our relationship with Him. When we come into His courtyard, He meets us there.

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Correct Guidance

I love Psalm 143. No matter how many times I read it, it always reveals something different to me.

I have read nearly every morning for years. Verse 8 is the way I start my day – “I want to learn more about You, Lord. I put my trust in You. I need Your guidance”.

That’s the way it is with God’s word; when we read it with an open heart it is the Living Word of God. Directed by the Holy Spirit, taught by the Spirit and encouraged by Him to do the word of God definitely becomes the Word of Life and sustains us better than bread and makes our hearts at peace.

“Listen, LORD, as I pray! You are faithful and honest and will answer my prayer. 2 I am your servant. Don’t try me in your court, because no one is innocent by your standards. 3 My enemies are chasing me, crushing me in the ground. I am in total darkness, like someone long dead. 4 I have given up all hope, and I feel numb all over. 5 I remember to think about the many things you did in years gone by. 6 Then I lift my hands in prayer, because my soul is a desert, thirsty for water from you. 7 Please hurry, LORD, and answer my prayer. I feel hopeless. Don’t turn away and leave me here to die.

8 Each morning let me learn more about your love because I trust you. I come to you in prayer, asking for your guidance. 9 Please rescue me from my enemies, LORD! I come to you for safety.

10 You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path. 11 Be true to your name, LORD, and keep my life safe. Use your saving power

to protect me from trouble. 12 I am your servant. Show how much you love me by destroying my enemies.” Psalm 143

King David faced physical enemies; the enemies I often face are my own inadequacies and limitations. The amount of time I know the Lord has protected me from trouble has been innumerable, He keeps my life safe. He hears my prayer!

Come to Him for guidance this morning. He’s waiting to show you the right path!

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Good Gifts

We recently celebrated Dave’s birthday with all the kids and grandkids! It was a great time. Love, joy and presents.

They blessed Dave with a new smoker/grill and all the accessories! He was so surprised and thrilled.

Giving gifts to those we love just seems to come naturally. They don’t have to be big and expensive; simple and handmade gifts are meaningful too. It’s the fact that gifts come from the heart that makes them so special.

It’s probably not your birthday today but I have found some wonderful gifts chosen specifically for you.

“Christ gave each one of us a special gift. Everyone received what he wanted to give them. ” Ephesians 4:7 ERV

“Yes, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him would not be lost but have eternal life.” John 3:16 ERV

“You were saved by faith in God, who treats us much better than we deserve. This is God’s gift to you, and not anything you have done on your own. 9 It isn’t something you have earned, so there is nothing you can brag about.” Ephesians 2:8-9 CEV

“ 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

It didn’t take Dave long to begin to tell his friends about what the kids had given him. Yes, he was bragging on them. I think our heavenly Father likes it when we brag about His goodness.

“With all my heart I praise the Lord, and with all that I am I praise his holy name! 2 With all my heart I praise the Lord! I will never forget how kind he has been. 3The Lord forgives our sins, heals us when we are sick, 4 and protects us from death. His kindness and love are a crown on our heads.” Psalm 103:1-4 CEV

“…you still know how to give good things to your children. So surely your heavenly Father will give good things to those who ask him.” Matthew 7:11 ERV

“Grace and peace be given to you more and more, because now you know God and Jesus our Lord. 3 Jesus has the power of God. And his power has given us everything we need to live a life devoted to God. We have these things because we know him. Jesus chose us by his glory and goodness, 4 through which he also gave us the very great and rich gifts that he promised us. With these gifts you can share in being like God. And so you will escape the ruin that comes to people in the world because of the evil things they want.” II Peter 1:2-4 ERV

God’s gifts are called blessings. From the very beginning of time our Father looked for ways to give. He gave Adam and Eve a garden and filled it with all that was good. He gave the people of Israel a promised land filled with good things. He gave His promises and He never breaks His word.

He gave us His Son and a new life. All of these are very good gifts and worth bragging about!

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As Long As I Live

Such a definitive phrase – as long as I live. All encompassing. Total commitment.

Those are the words I found this morning in Psalm 146. I am uncertain of the age of the writer of this Psalm, but I do know this, they had encountered first-hand the mercy and goodness of God.

“Shout praises to the Lord!
With all that I am,
    I will shout his praises.
2 I will sing and praise
the Lord God
    as long as I live.

3 You can’t depend on anyone,
    not even a great leader.
4 Once they die and are buried,
that will be the end
    of all their plans.

5 The Lord God of Jacob blesses
everyone who trusts him
    and depends on him.
6 God made heaven and earth;
he created the sea
    and everything else.
God always keeps his word.
7 He gives justice to the poor
    and food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free
8     and heals blind eyes.
He gives a helping hand
    to everyone who falls.
The Lord loves good people
9     and looks after strangers.
He defends the rights
of orphans and widows,
    but destroys the wicked.

10 The Lord God of Zion
will rule forever!
    Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 146 CEV

This is a psalm of blessing, of healing and hope. It’s a psalm of provision and protection. This is a psalm, a song as it were, of the faithfulness of God, not to just one individual but to us all.

It’s for friends and strangers, widows and orphans, the imprisoned and the poor. It’s for everyone.

Everyone!

Join me and the writer of this Psalm and say, “As long as I live I will sing and praise the Lord”.

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Shaking in the Wind

Yesterday afternoon we had friends stop by for a visit. It was so good to see them, we always enjoy our time with them.

Somewhere in the conversation we began to talk about hurricanes and tornadoes and the fierce winds that come with them. This morning that conversation ties in with my Bible reading.

“When news reached the royal palace that Syria had joined forces with Israel, King Ahaz and everyone in Judah were so terrified that they shook like trees in a windstorm.

3 Then the Lord said to me: Take your son Shearjashub and go see King Ahaz. You will find him on the road near the cloth makers’ shops at the end of the canal that brings water from the upper pool. 4 Tell Ahaz to stop worrying. There’s no need for him to be afraid of King Rezin and King Pekah. They are very angry, but they are nothing more than a dying fire. Ahaz doesn’t need to fear” Isaiah 7:2-4 CEV

I’ve seen those trees shake in the wind. And there are times when I have felt fear that has shaken me to my very core. I know, you have too!

There are no words to express the sense of relief and comfort that come from hearing the Lord’s voice say “Stop worrying, there’s no need to fear”.

I struggled for years with fear. Fear of unknown circumstances, fear of people’s opinions, fear of failure. I remember being on a camping trip and we were warned of bears in the area – that brought a whole new kind of fear.

Fear can be immobilizing.

“ Late in the afternoon, when the breeze began to blow, the man and woman heard the Lord God walking in the garden. So they hid behind some trees…10 The man answered, ‘I was naked, and when I heard you walking through the garden, I was frightened and hid!'” Genesis 3:8&10 CEV

Fear was one of the first emotions that Adam and Eve experienced in the garden after they sinned. The first was shame followed by fear. Fear has been used by the devil for a very long time.

Ever since that time, God has been saying to mankind “Do not fear”! I know I have told you this before but it bears repeating, Bible scholars tell us that there are approximately 365 verses that tell us not to fear or to be worried.

God wants us to live a worry-free life. He wants us to face our fears and say like King David said:

“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

When we see trees blown by the wind let it serve as a reminder to us. Stop worrying, do not be afraid.

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The Love of God

Did you think I wasn’t coming this morning? A little slow in getting started but I have been having a wonderful time of thought with the Father. This weekend the kids have planned a celebration for our 50th wedding anniversary. I sat here for a long time thinking about that day and the joy it will be this weekend having all the kids and their families here with us to celebrate.

As I sat here thanking the Lord for what He’s done in us and for us over all those years, my heart filled with song – yes, a song. This is only natural since I started singing when I was just tiny, about 3, and songs stay with me. I heard the words

“I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever, I will sing of Your love forever”

T remembered so many verses that tell us that the Lord’s love will endure forever. His love is so great – amazingly unconditional and eternal!

“I will declare that your love stands firm forever, that you have established your faithfulness in heaven itself.” Psalm 89:2

“Praise the Lord. Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” Psalm 106:1

“For great is his love toward us, and the faithfulness of the Lord endures forever. Praise the Lord.” Psalm 117:2

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.” I Chronicles 16:34

“I will betroth you to me forever; I will betroth you in righteousness and justice, in love and compassion.” Hosea 2:19

Did you get that last one? I will betroth you to me forever, the Lord has chosen us as His beloved! Wow – amazing!!

We became His betrothed and He gave up His life for us. He loves us as His own body, He covers us with His strength and protection, He presents us spotless to His Father.

I am so thankful that God knew what He was doing when He brought Dave and I together. His goodness has marked our marriage from the very beginning. We’ve been through some tough times, like all married couples, but God’s faithfulness and goodness have been our strength.

As I look back and remember the preparation for my wedding day, the excitement, the anticipation, the LOVE I put that in context to our relationship with Christ.

“I will sing of the Lord’s great love forever; with my mouth I will make your faithfulness known through all generations.” Psalm 89:1

Let the love of God fill your hearts with great joy!

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Overwhelmed…Again

Last night as I was getting ready to curl up for the night I felt overwhelmed!

Why? I can’t be certain. There were situations, beyond my control, that had been weighing on my heart. I had been in an attitude of prayer most of the day.

I knew I couldn’t go to sleep with the heaviness so I did what I told all of you to do, I took a break – a praise break!

“O God, listen to my cry!  Hear my prayer! 2 From the ends of the earth, I cry to you for help
 when my heart is overwhelmed. Lead me to the towering rock of safety,3  for you are my safe refuge, a fortress where my enemies cannot reach me.” Psalm 61:1-3 NLT

I began to praise God for always being there – for being my rock, my strength, my shelter, my place of rest. It was a break worth taking!

I remembered, almost twenty years ago, I was listening to a Bill Gaither special on television and they sang this song:

“Why don’t you lead me to that Rock that is higher than I
Oh lead me, yes Lord lead me
Why don’t you lead me to that Rock that is higher than I
Thou hast been a shelter for me”

I needed this reminder that God has always been there for me and He always will be.

Have you ever come face to face with your failures and inadequacies? Have there been times you felt your strength wane? The devil likes to take times like these to flaunt our failures and our sins.

Overwhelmed?

God has the answer:

“Listen to my prayer, O God. Do not ignore my cry for help! 2 Please listen and answer me,
 for I am overwhelmed by my troubles…4 My heart pounds in my chest…16 But I will call on God, and the Lord will rescue me. 17 Morning, noon, and night I cry out in my distress, and the Lord hears my voice. 18 He ransoms me and keeps me safe…22 Give your burdens to the Lord, and he will take care of you. He will not permit the godly to slip and fall.” Psalm 55 NLT

Take a break – morning, noon or night – a praise break. Our Father has promised never to leave us or abandon us.

“…for He has said, “I will never [under any circumstances] desert you [nor give you up nor leave you without support, nor will I in any degree leave you helpless], nor will I forsake or let you down or relax My hold on you [assuredly not]!” Hebrews 13:5 AMP

“ He carried our sins in His own body when He died on a cross. In doing this, we may be dead to sin and alive to all that is right and good. His wounds have healed you! 25 You were like lost sheep. But now you have come back to Him Who is your Shepherd and the One Who cares for your soul.” I Peter 2:24-25 NLV

Overwhelmed? by sickness or disease, by financial circumstance, by old age and weakness, by lack of qualifications or education

Whatever it is you feel is holding you back, God is greater than the circumstances. You aren’t alone! He promises to be your strength, your high tower. Take a break and give Him those overwhelming cares.

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Take A Break

It may seem silly to be talking about taking a break first thing in the morning but hear me out.

Getting up and focusing on the Lord is break-fast for the spirit. Through the night our bodies have rested, our minds have released the pressures of the day before and the Spirit of God has restored our souls.

Making time to praise the Lord for His goodness engages our spirit with His and brings us to a place of strength and direction.

None of us know what the day will have in store. Oh, we may have an idea or a plan of things we want to accomplish but there will always be some unexpected interruption or distraction we weren’t expecting. Where do we find the strength and the grace to face those, will we have the answer for the day’s questions?

If we begin our day breaking from our own thoughts and seeking His, we will certainly be on the right track.

“ Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not trust in your own understanding. 6 Agree with Him in all your ways, and He will make your paths straight.” Proverbs 3:5-6 NLV

I find the best thing I can do is trust the Lord to lead me. There are times throughout the day when I hear myself say, “I’m just not sure what I should do” and that’s when I know it’s time for a break. A praise break – because the Father knows what my next step should be and He has the answers to all my questions.

“Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 9 He satisfies those who are thirsty. He fills those who are hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:8-9 ERV

“Thank the Lord for his faithful love and for the amazing things he does for people. 22 Offer sacrifices of thanks to him. Sing with joy about all that he has done.” Psalm 107:21-22 ERV

“ I have better understanding than all my teachers because I think about Your Law. 100 I have a better understanding than those who are old because I obey Your Word.” Psalm 119:99-100 NLV

Throughout the day take a break from the concerns and worries of your day. Take a break and spend time listening to the Father. Take a break and thank Him for His endless love.

“God, my shepherd! I don’t need a thing. You have bedded me down in lush meadows,
 you find me quiet pools to drink from. True to your word, you let me catch my breath and send me in the right direction.” Psalm 23:1-3 MSG

When your heart is troubled and your mind is overwhelmed, take a break and have your soul restored.

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My Light

Have you ever awakened and been disoriented? I have. I have been in a deep sleep and my dream has been very vivid and for a few seconds I’ve not realize where I was. This normally happens when we’ve been staying in a hotel or the home of family and friends. That’s why we always travel with a night light in our overnight bag.

This morning when I woke and I saw the soft glow of the night light I said, “thank you Lord for being my light and my salvation”.

“Lord, you are my Light and my Savior, so why should I be afraid of anyone? The Lord is where my life is safe, so I will be afraid of no one!” Psalm 27:1 ERV

In the natural, a light in the darkness keeps us from stumbling or stubbing our toes. Been there – done that.

The same holds true in spiritual things.

“I gain understanding from your instructions, so I hate anything that leads people the wrong way. 105 Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps, a light that shows the path I should take.” Psalm 119:104-105 ERV

God uses His word to light our path and keep us from going the wrong way. When we have the light of God’s word guiding our lives Jesus said that we can be used to light the path for others.

“You are the light that shines for the world to see. You are like a city built on a hill that cannot be hidden. 15 People don’t hide a lamp under a bowl. They put it on a lampstand. Then the light shines for everyone in the house.” Matthew 5:14-15 ERV

The Apostle Paul said this:

“For the Lord gave us this command when he said, ‘I have made you a light to the Gentiles,
 to bring salvation to the farthest corners of the earth.’ 48 When the Gentiles heard this, they were very glad and thanked the Lord for his message…” Acts 13:47-48

“But let us who live in the light be clearheaded, protected by the armor of faith and love, and wearing as our helmet the confidence of our salvation. 9 For God chose to save us through our Lord Jesus Christ, not to pour out his anger on us.” I Thessalonians 5:8-9 NLV

Our lives, in Christ, should illuminate the world around us. We should be beacons of hope, peace, love and forgiveness. The light we possess is not of ourselves, it’s His light within us.

“It was God Who said, ‘The light will shine in darkness.’ He is the One Who made His light shine in our hearts. This brings us the light of knowing God’s shining-greatness which is seen in Christ’s face. 7 We have this light from God in our human bodies. This shows that the power is from God. It is not from ourselves.” II Corinthians 4:6-7 NLV

We all have so many opportunities each day to be a light. Let’s share the greatness of God and His Word to brighten the paths of those around us.

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Memory Lessons

Have you ever wondered why we take photographs and write journals? It’s to help us remember – capturing imaging and putting down our thoughts reemphasizes special times and lessons learned.

Really, that’s what the Bible is; history of God’s goodness, provision, protection and love.

This morning my prayer time started as if always does, thanking the Father for His goodness, mercy and grace. Seeking his direction and trusting Him for wisdom. Then I picked up my Bible and began to read. I read systematically through the Psalms and this morning I came to Psalm 143; I remember the first time I read it seeking direction.

We had just started the cowboy ministry and we were needing direction of what ranches and rodeos to attend, we needed to make good use of our limited resources. We needed to make the right choices and also needed to avoid any wasted time or finances.

“ Hear my prayer, O Lord. Listen when I ask for help. Answer me because You are faithful and right…5 I remember the days long ago. I think about all You have done. I think about the work of Your hands. 6 I put out my hands to You. My soul is thirsty for You like a dry land.

7 Hurry to answer me, O Lord! My spirit is becoming weak! Do not hide Your face from me, or I will become like those who go down to the grave. 8 Let me hear Your loving-kindness in the morning, for I trust in You. Teach me the way I should go for I lift up my soul to You. 9 O Lord, take me away from those who hate me. I run to You to be safe.

10 Teach me to do Your will, for You are my God. Let Your good Spirit lead me on a straight path. 11 Give me new life, O Lord, because of Your name. Bring me out of trouble because You are right and good. 12 In Your loving-kindness cut off those who hate me. Destroy all those who make it hard for my soul, for I am Your servant.” Psalm 143 NLV

Each day we have decisions to make, each day we should be remembering all that the Lord has done for us and follow His lead. He will teach us the way to go when we lift our hearts to Him.

“Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will, and] so shall your plans be established and succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 AMPC

I remember those early days of seeking direction and wisdom. I remember the peace that God would bring when we made the right decisions, I also remember the times of turmoil in my soul when I got off course.

Memory Lessons provide us with instruction and guidance. May I encourage you to sit a while with your memories today. Let the Lord use the past to give you direction for today.

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