Category: Psalms

Posted on

Beside the Quiet Stream

This morning I’m taking things a bit slower.

Got up a little later, sipping my coffee and enjoying the aroma. Heart filled with prayer and praise. So grateful for all the blessings – large and small.

In my heart, I’m sitting in my favorite place beside a quiet stream. In my spirit, I see my constant companion, the One who never leaves or abandons me, my Savior, my best friend, Jesus. He’s been talking and I’ve been listening. He says it’s ok to rest and He’s led me to this place.

“The Lord takes care of me,
    like a shepherd with his sheep.
I have everything that I need.
2 He takes me to green fields where I can rest.
    He leads me to streams of water where I can drink.
3 He gives me new strength in my life.
He is my guide to the right paths.
    He does this to give honour to his name.
4 I may walk through a valley that is as dark as death.
    But I will not be afraid of any danger.
This is because you are with me, Lord.
Your stick and your shepherd’s pole protect me from danger.

5 You prepare a big meal for me while my enemies watch.
    You put olive oil on my head.
You bless me so much that my cup is completely full.
6 I am sure that you will always be good to me.
You will love me all the days of my life.
    That will never change.
I will live in the Lord’s house for as long as I live.” Psalm 23 EASY

You’ll have to excuse me now – it’s time for a second cup and more conversation with my Jesus!

Posted on

Think On His Goodness

Choose to let yesterday go! Those are the words that filled my morning mediation. I choose to let yesterday go and live today in God’s goodness.

Yesterday after work I began preparation of the recipes I am making for Thanksgiving dinner. I had a recipe card before me. It was probably written 50 years ago. My handwriting but my mother’s recipe.

I assembled the ingredients on the cupboard and then concentrated on the exact ingredients, measuring correctly, not guessing as I sometimes do. You see, this time I’m taking it to share with friends, and I wanted it to be good, not just ok.

That was what I thought of as the Lord prompted me to let yesterday go and live today in His goodness.

I’m to use the same concentration that I did in getting each ingredient of the recipe measured correctly. I needed to measure His goodness, His love and not let anything else contaminate the recipe.

“Yet I am confident I will see the Lord’s goodness while I am here in the land of the living.” Psalm 27:13 NLV

“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.” Psalm 136:1 NKJV

“ For sure, You will give me goodness and loving-kindness all the days of my life. Then I will live with You in Your house forever.” Psalm 23:6 NLV

“Praise the Lord! O give thanks to the Lord for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever.” Psalm 106:1 NLV

The recipe for a life focused on God’s goodness is one void of anger, frustration, and strife. Those ingredients sour and taint the pleasing flavor of the life God intends us to have.

Make today one where you savor the goodness of God!

Posted on

Filled With Blessings

Here we are just a few days before Thanksgiving and other than the grocery store commercials not a lot is being said about this day that was set aside for giving thanks.

Our hearts should be overflowing with thankfulness.

God has been gracious and kind. There may have been disappointments and even heart aches in the last year but God remains faithful and trustworthy.

He continues to bring blessings and benefits into our lives. He loads us up with blessings!

” Do not be misled, my beloved brothers and sisters. 17 Every good thing given and every perfect gift is from above; it comes down from the Father of lights [the Creator and Sustainer of the heavens], in whom there is no variation [no rising or setting] or shadow [a]cast by His turning [for He is perfect and never changes]. 18 It was of His own will that He gave us birth [as His children] by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits of His creatures [a prime example of what He created to be set apart to Himself—sanctified, made holy for His divine purposes].

19 Understand this, my beloved brothers and sisters. Let everyone be quick to hear [be a careful, thoughtful listener], slow to speak [a speaker of carefully chosen words and], slow to anger [patient, reflective, forgiving]; ” James 1:16-19 AMP

He is the giver of every good and perfect gift and He does not change. We need to listen more and murmur less. This will definitely bring us closer to thankful hearts.

“We praise you, Lord God! You treat us with kindness day after day, and you rescue us. 20 You always protect us and save us from death.” Psalm 68:19-20 CEV

One translation of this verse says ” Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.”

Daily, He loads us up with benefits…Selah (stop and think).

“My soul, praise the Lord! Every part of me, praise his holy name! 2 My soul, praise the Lord  and never forget how kind he is! 3 He forgives all our sins and heals all our sicknesses.” Psalm 103:1-3 ERV

Today as you get ready to go about your day Stop and Think about the ways the Lord has been good to you. I guarantee it will make you thankful!

Posted on

Beginning Forever

When did forever begin? Maybe that’s a little deeper thought than you want to begin the day with but it’s important to ponder.

It’s the foundation and basis of our faith.

“In the beginning God” Genesis 1:1 and “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God”. John 1:1

Forever began in the eternal existence of God and will continue with no end.

“ Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8 ERV

We are living in God’s forever plan. It didn’t start the day we were born, it has always been. Remember, at few days back when I wrote about God choosing us before the foundation of the world”?

Forever began in God’s heart at that time. His purpose and plans were put into effect.

“The Lord is our God. He rules the whole world. 15 Remember his agreement forever, the promise he gave that will never end.” I Chronicles 16:14-15 ERV

“God is not a man; he will not lie. God is not a human being; his decisions will not change.
If he says he will do something, then he will do it. If he makes a promise, then he will do what he promised.” Numbers 23:19 ERV

The Lord doesn’t want us chasing after things that change. The things this world offers are fickled. They change. There values increase and decrease, they can’t be trusted to stand the test of time.

‘”Keep your lives free from the love of money. And be satisfied with what you have. God has said,

‘I will never leave you; I will never run away from you.’

6 So we can feel sure and say,

‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. People can do nothing to me.’

7 Remember your leaders. They taught God’s message to you. Remember how they lived and died, and copy their faith. 8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever. 9 Don’t let all kinds of strange teachings lead you into the wrong way. Depend only on God’s grace for spiritual strength, not on rules about foods. Obeying those rules doesn’t help anyone.” Hebrews 13:5-9 ERV

We are living in the “forever” of God. His plans and promises have not changed. The purpose of God has always been the same.

“I say this because I know the plans that I have for you.” This message is from the Lord. “I have good plans for you. I don’t plan to hurt you. I plan to give you hope and a good future. 12 Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:11-13 ERV

If you haven’t realized it before, today begins your forever. Your forever of living in God’s promises, your forever of living in God’s peace, your forever of being called His child, the beginning of your eternal life.

“ 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

Today, is the beginning of forever in His love!

Posted on

Hungry & Desperate

Have you ever been desperate?

Thinking all hope was gone and there was no where to turn – what do you do? That’s a time when many turn to God – they have exhausted their own resources; their wisdom, their finances, their influence and even their health and then they say “God help!”

I’ve been there and so have you!

I would never criticize anyone who finds themselves in that place but would only encourage them that it is true – God does care and He will help – He will provide a way out! But you know, when I think of that helpless, hopeless feeling now it brings me to a place of comfort and peace because God did meet me there – He did provide all that I needed and more!

There’s a song that says “I’m desperate for you” – that’s the place I want to be each and every day. Desperate for the Lord – I want to be so dependent on Him that I can’t imagine a day or an hour of living without a sense of His presence in my life. Again, from the song, He’s the very air I breathe – Do you know what’s it like to be that desperate for the Lord?

I hope so!!

“Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever. 2 Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story— those he redeemed from the hand of the foe, 3 those he gathered from the lands, from east and west, from north and south. 4 Some wandered in desert wastelands, finding no way to a city where they could settle. 5 They were hungry and thirsty, and their lives ebbed away. 6 Then they cried out to the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them from their distress. 7 He led them by a straight way to a city where they could settle. 8 Let them give thanks to the LORD for his unfailing love and his wonderful deeds for mankind, 9 for he satisfies the thirsty and fills the hungry with good things.” Psalm 107:1-9 ERV

Verse 9 in the King James version says “ For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

To be longing – that’s desperate. It’s more than desire; it’s a need, a deep need – a “I can’t go on any further without you” need.

When Jesus was teaching the Sermon on the Mount, he said this “Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.” Matthew 5:6 KJV but read it in the Easy-to-Read Version

“Great blessings belong to those who want to do right more than anything else. God will fully satisfy them.” Matthew 5:6 ERV

They will be satisfied! Are you satisfied – fully satisfied? Do you long for Him today? I hope you do!

God will fill us up when we are desperate!

Posted on

My Defense

Years back a friend sent me this picture, She knew I could probably come up with a few thoughts to share.

I’ve seen leaves like this before, holey and destroyed. Beetles would eat the leaves of the trees. The leaves that fell to the ground were so badly eaten that only a shell of veins and stem were left. There was great danger that shade trees which had been growing for years would be destroyed.

When the beetles first came into the area, they were unnoticed or ignored, but they quickly multiplied and their ravenous appetites made them very destructive.

You know sin is like that – at first it’s hidden or even ignored. But if left to its self, it brings destruction. So how do we eradicate it? How do we stop the harmful effects?

“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God. 2 Instead, they love the LORD’s teachings and think about them day and night. 3 So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.” Psalm 1:1-3 ERV

We protect the tree, our heart, from evil influences and it will grow strong. Jesus referred to us as trees that bear fruit.

“If you want good fruit, you must make the tree good. If your tree is not good, it will have bad fruit. A tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. 34 You snakes! You are so evil. How can you say anything good? What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts. 35 Those who are good have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. 36 I tell you that everyone will have to answer for all the careless things they have said. This will happen on the day of judgment. 37 Your words will be used to judge you. What you have said will show whether you are right or whether you are guilty.” Matthew 12:33-37 ERV

When we have our heart filled with good things, we love the Lord’s teachings and we think on them day and night, we will be like a tree whose leaves never fall.

We’ve all been through times when leaves have dropped from our branches that are diseased and full of holes, but GOD has provided the way to health and healing from the bugs that attack us.

“I study your teachings very carefully so that I will not sin against you. 12 Lord, you are worthy of praise! Teach me your laws.” Psalm 119:11-12 ERV

As we stay firmly planted, His life-giving water (the Word) will be our defense against predatory bugs that seek to destroy us!

“Be my Rock, my place of safety. Be my fortress, and protect me! You are my Rock and my protection.” Psalm 71:3 ERV

Praise and worship the Lord who is our defense!

Posted on

Good Fruit

Dave and I made a quick trip for groceries yesterday morning. We had placed our order on-line, but I forgot a few things, so I ran in to get them while he collected our order.

I was on my way to the register when a grape display caught my eye. A few weeks back we had purchased a large container of red grapes, they were so crisp and tasty I wanted to get another one.

Good fruit!

This morning, I’m thinking about the good fruit that God produces in our lives. Love, joy, peace, patience, gentleness, goodness, meekness, faith.

I was a Christian for a lot of years but had no peace. Worry was a big part of who I was. I worked hard to find peace. Occasionally I would find small moments of it but for the most part peace eluded me.

Peace isn’t the absence of conflict or struggles; instead, it is a clear focus while in the turmoil. Like King David says in Psalm 91:

“Live under the protection of God Most High and stay in the shadow of God All-Powerful. 2 Then you will say to the Lord, ‘You are my fortress, my place of safety; you are my God, and I trust you.‘ 3 The Lord will keep you safe from secret traps and deadly diseases. 4 He will spread his wings over you and keep you secure. His faithfulness is like a shield or a city wall. 5 You won’t need to worry about dangers at night or arrows during the day. 6 And you won’t fear diseases that strike in the dark or sudden disaster at noon.” Psalm 91:1-6 CEV

True peace, peace that comes from God, isn’t something we “work” to get. It is a natural outgrow of being attached to Jesus the living vine.

“ I am the vine, and you are the branches. If you stay joined to me, and I stay joined to you, then you will produce lots of fruit. But you cannot do anything without me. 6 If you don’t stay joined to me, you will be thrown away. You will be like dry branches that are gathered up and burned in a fire. 7 Stay joined to me and let my teachings become part of you. Then you can pray for whatever you want, and your prayer will be answered.” John 15:5-7 CEV

Jesus told his disciples that He was the vine, we are the branches and if we abide (stay joined) in Him we will bear fruit. Peace is some of the fruit that will grow while abiding in Him.

Producing fruit is a natural result for a healthy plant. Water, sunshine, good soil and a strong stock produce good fruit. Good ground (a prepared heart), the Living Water, the Vine and the Son.

“But the fruit of the Spirit [the result of His presence within us] is love [unselfish concern for others], joy, [inner] peace, patience [not the ability to wait, but how we act while waiting], kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control. Against such things there is no law. 24 And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature together with its passions and appetites.” Galatians 5:22-24 AMP

I bring my heart to Christ. I let Jesus cultivate the soil and I become grafted to His vine. He bears the fruit through me.

Focus on the Vine today and good fruit will come!

Posted on

Being Thankful at Noon

Today we’re going to look at thankfulness in another way. First of all this blog is definitely later in the day but did you know we can still receive words of instruction and wisdom from the Lord at noon.

“Let the Lord lead you and trust him to help. 6 Then it will be as clear
as the noonday sun that you were right. 7 Be patient and trust the Lord. Don’t let it bother you when all goes well for those who do sinful things.” Psalm 37:5-7 CEV

So the question is – how do we treat people who are unkind, ungrateful and even mean. Jesus gave this instruction to his disciples;

“I’m telling you to love your enemies and do good to them. Lend to people without expecting to get anything back. If you do this, you will have a great reward. You will be children of the Most High God. Yes, because God is good even to the people who are full of sin and not thankful. 36 Give love and mercy the same as your Father gives love and mercy.

37 “Don’t judge others, and God will not judge you. Don’t condemn others, and you will not be condemned. Forgive others, and you will be forgiven. 38 Give to others, and you will receive. You will be given much. It will be poured into your hands—more than you can hold. You will be given so much that it will spill into your lap. The way you give to others is the way God will give to you.” Luke 6:35-38 CEV

Jesus instruction was clear – we are to be an example of God to those we deal with each day. We were all sinners by nature but Jesus freely gave His life so that we could have eternal life and be brought into right relationship with God the Father. He gave freely and so should we.

Look at that 2nd phrase in today’s verses, lend without expecting to get anything back. What have you lent…your time, your friendship, your assistance, your tools, your car, your money, your love, your compassion, your attention and genuine interest. When you lend without expecting to get things back then you’ve really made them a gift and in giving you’re an example of your heavenly Father.

So today look for an opportunity to give to someone who is by nature unthankful. “Don’t be bothered when things go well for them”. Maybe they were raised to be skeptical and feel that anytime someone gave something it was with a hidden agenda – so give today, genuinely give.

Who knows you may be the one God is using to break through and bring out an attitude of gratitude.

Posted on

Basket of Blessings

Thanking the Father for his love and protection today.

If you drive safely to work and home each day, be thankful. If your children arrive home from school each day be thankful. If you have enough money in your purse for groceries, be thankful. If your house is warm and your clothes are adequate, be thankful!

The cornucopia is also called a horn of plenty. It was a basket filled with the richness of the harvest. It was a reminder of the blessings of the year. I used to have one on my dining table every year, it reminded me to be thankful for so many things.

Living in a tiny house there is no dining table and no horn of plenty, but the gratitude is greater than ever. So much to be thankful for, so many blessings. This is the 14th day of November, I hope you have been adding something each day to the list of things you are grateful for.

Here are a few things from Scripture that you can add to the list:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. His loving-kindness lasts forever. 2 Let Israel say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” 3 Let the house of Aaron say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” 4 Let those who fear the Lord say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.”

5 I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me and put me in a good place. 6 The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. 7 The Lord is with me. He is my Helper. I will watch those lose who fight against me. 8 It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in man. 9 It is better to trust in the Lord than to trust in rulers.” Psalm 118:1-9 NLV

Build a basket of blessings.

“ You must take some of the first of all the fruit of the ground, which you gather from the land the Lord your God gives you, and put it in a basket and go to the place where the Lord your God chooses to have His name.” Deuteronomy 26:2 NLV

A blessing basket can be filled with notes of times you know the Lord provided and protected. It can have pictures of those you love and special memories of when you felt the love and goodness of God in your life and to your family.

Share the notes and memories around your table.

“I pray that you will be giving thanks to the Father. He has made it so you could share the good things given to those who belong to Christ who are in the light. 13 God took us out of a life of darkness. He has put us in the holy nation of His much-loved Son.” Colossians 1:12-13 NLV

“I will give thanks to the Lord with all my heart. I will tell of all the great things You have done. 2 I will be glad and full of joy because of You. I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.” Psalm 9:1-2 NLV

Blessed to be a blessing! May your basket of blessings be full and overflowing!

Posted on

Empty the Trash

I spent a portion of my morning quiet time emptying the trash on my computer. It felt good to see unwanted, unneeded emails and contacts disappear. The clutter was gone, mostly.

It made me think…one of the best ways to have a grateful heart is to empty the trash. The garbage of bitterness, resentment, criticism and insults can stink up our lives and ruin our peace of mind.

“ We live in this world, but we don’t fight our battles in the same way the world does. 4 The weapons we use are not human ones. Our weapons have power from God and can destroy the enemy’s strong places. We destroy people’s arguments, 5 and we tear down every proud idea that raises itself against the knowledge of God. We also capture every thought and make it give up and obey Christ.” II Corinthians 10:3-5 ERV

Cruel words, defamation, betrayal, condemnation, deceit all need to be placed in the trash bin and deleted permanently. We can do that through the weapons that God gives us.

We have been given the shield of faith and the sword of God’s Spirit, which is the word of God.

Get up each morning and thank God for a mind that is focused on Him and His way of thinking.

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

Thank Him for how He sees you.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. In Christ, God has given us every spiritual blessing in heaven. 4 In Christ, he chose us before the world was made. He chose us in love to be his holy people—people who could stand before him without any fault. 5 And before the world was made, God decided to make us his own children through Jesus Christ. This was what God wanted, and it pleased him to do it. 6 And this brings praise to God because of his wonderful grace. God gave that grace to us freely. He gave us that grace in Christ, the one he loves.” Ephesians 1:3-6 ERV

I remember hearing one cowboy preacher say over and over again, “Get rid of stinkin’ thinkin'”. Anything that goes contrary to God’s word stinks. The Apostle Paul put it like this.

“ Brothers and sisters, continue to think about what is good and worthy of praise. Think about what is true and honorable and right and pure and beautiful and respected. 9 And do what you learned and received from me—what I told you and what you saw me do. And the God who gives peace will be with you.” Philippians 2:8-9 ERV

It’s hard to sit down and enjoy a meal of God’s goodness and love when there’s trash cluttering up our minds.

“Let my words and my thoughts be pleasing to you, Lord, because you are my mighty rock and my protector.” Psalm 19:14 CEV

Empty the trash – hit the delete button and let gratitude for all God has done fill your thoughts!

Privacy Policy Proudly powered by WordPress