Category: Psalms

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Loaf of Bread Faith

Last week Dave and I were in the grocery store and I was looking at the varitey of artisan breads . One loaf in particular caught my eye – Jalapeno Sour Dough.

Oh my!

It was absolutely delicious. I’m so glad I tried it. It was a definite “I would do this again”. As I sat thinking about that bread this morning I began to see a little correlation between buying that loaf and faith.

I could have said “Dave, I bet this bread is delicious. It will be great with those steaks we’re going to grill”. And then I could have walked on, leaving the bread on the grocery shelf. Or perhaps I could have taken it one step further and purchased the load and taken it home. Unpacking the groceries and moving it to the pantry I might have made another remark about how good I imagined the bread to taste but as of yet I still wouldn’t have known the true richness of its flavor.

To experience the wonderful goodness I needed to open the wrapper, cut a slice, warm it for just a couple seconds and taste!

“O taste and see that the Lord is good. How happy is the man who trusts in Him!” Psalm 34:8 NLV

Once tasted (experienced) there is no denying the goodness. I can tell you how delicious I think it is, I can even put a plate with warm slices in front of you but you won’t get the full benefit until you take a piece and taste for yourself.

One Bible writer says that faith is substance of things we hope for; it’s a tangible confidence. Faith is confidence in what the Lord has done for us. I can tell you of my experience with the Lord and you can be moved by my testimony but each one of us has to experience His goodness personally.

Faith without corresponding action isn’t really faith, it’s merely supposition. To say “I wish I could have the confidence that the Lord will always be with me” or “I hope someday I will be at a place where I can give the Lord all my fears” or whatever other thing it might be without personally experiencing God’s love and goodness would be like me saying “I bet that bread tastes delicious and walking away without ever experiencing it for myself.

I can say that I have faith the bread will bring me strength when I’m famished but if I never lift my hand to take a piece and eat it; I could starve. Christ has paid the price for us and God has given us all our own measure of faith.

“Because of the grace that God gave me, I can say to each one of you: don’t think of yourself more highly than you ought to think. Instead, be reasonable since God has measured out a portion of faith to each one of you.” Romans 12:3 CEB

Faith equals action. Taste and see!

What action does your faith need to take today? If you listen to the Holy Spirit he will show you what you need to do.

Be willing to put action to your faith.

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Silence Is Golden

It’s very hard to sit quietly, wrapped in silence, when there are things to be done. My morning quiet times used to be short lived because I couldn’t quiet my mind and I would feel the need to get up and get things done. But sometimes, God just wants us to sit quietly – rest in the peace of the moment and be still.

What do you do when God seems silent? I’ve been sitting here this morning listening to the silence. With Easter just a few days away I’ve tried to image what it was like for the disciples in the days that followed the crucifixion.

Jesus is dead!

Each one must be feeling alone; their doors are locked, fear that they will be arrested next and the possibility of their death is forefront. After all, they were Jesus’ closest friends. There is nothing to do but sit and be taken over by the silence.

The One they followed, the One they loved, the One they thought was going to deliver them from the evil Roman rule is dead!

He died so late in the day that they didn’t really have time to prepare his body properly for burial. Joseph of Arimathea wrapped his body in linen and buried him in a tomb hewn out of rock and covered it with a stone but there was more that should have been done. Now it’s the Sabbath and work is forbidden so they have to wait…wait…wait.

“Nicodemus also came with about seventy-five pounds of spices made from myrrh and aloes. This was the same Nicodemus who had visited Jesus one night. 40 The two men wrapped the body in a linen cloth, together with the spices, which was how the Jewish people buried their dead. 41 In the place where Jesus had been nailed to a cross, there was a garden with a tomb that had never been used. 42 The tomb was nearby, and since it was the time to prepare for the Sabbath, they were in a hurry to put Jesus’ body there.” John 19:39-42 CEV

Nothing is really written in the Bible about what the disciples were doing or how they were coping. Matthew is silent, Mark is silent, Luke and John write nothing of the devastation that the disciples must have been feeling. Is that because there are no words to express that kind of deep hurt and desperation?

Silence!

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:10-11

I hope this verse came to their minds. I hope they remembered the words Jesus spoke just hours before when He said “Don’t let your heart be troubled, don’t let it be afraid”. I hope they found comfort in being alone with God’s words.

In those times when it feels as if my world has come crashing in and no one cares, no one sees what I am going through – when I’m silent, I find hope in knowing that He IS God and I’m not alone.

Silence can either be dark and deafening or golden and filled with light. If we let the Lord’s presence fill our silence with hope it will be golden.

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Hurried & Harried

I don’t like being rushed or the feeling of being pressed in. It’s just not in my nature to enjoy the hustle and bustle. I like to take life slow.

It wasn’t always that way. At one point I went to college not far from Disneyland. My first real job was in downtown Phoenix, going the wrong way at rush hour and then living north of downtown San Diego having to commute there too. Yes, hustle and bustle is highly overrated.

However, we all need to go where God has called us. The secret is to hurry without becoming harried. Harried – that’s a great old word which means “feeling strained as a result of having demands persistently made on one; beset by problems; harassed”.

There was a time I took great pride in being able to multi-task but now the use of that term is as offensive to me as swearing. There is such peace in being able to focus on one thing and to do it well.

As I study the life of Jesus I find that He was able to do both – he could be surrounded by crowds and still focus on one thing. He was going through the streets of Jericho one day and the crowd was great around but He wasn’t distracted. He was focused on one thing, meeting the needs of people.

“There was a rich man named Zaccheus. He was a leader of those who gathered taxes. 3 Zaccheus wanted to see Jesus but he could not because so many people were there and he was a short man. 4 He ran ahead and got up into a sycamore tree to see Him. Jesus was going by that way.

5 When Jesus came to the place, He looked up and saw Zaccheus. He said, “Zaccheus, come down at once. I must stay in your house today.” 6 At once he came down and was glad to have Jesus come to his house.” Luke 19:2-6 NLV

And then, there was a woman who was both hurried and harried. Let’s see what Jesus said to her.

“As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. 39 Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. 40 But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”

41 But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! 42 There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” Luke 10:38-42 NLT

Perhaps you are looking at your “To Do List” and feeling overwhelmed. You might be having all the family in for Easter. There’s a meal to plan, the kitchen to organize, fun and games for the family, the weather, etc. The list goes on..who will help, who will be late, who will be upset?

“Our God says, “Calm down, and learn that I am God!” Psalm 46:10a CEV

Don’t be harried! Focus on Jesus, enjoy His presence while you make the potato salad and cook the ham. Set the table with Him in mind. Let your heart be at peace.

Celebrate His resurrection and the love He brings to us all!

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Eyes of Love

As we start this Easter week, I would like us to focus on the depth of Jesus’ love – His love for the Father and His love for us. He served the Father with loving obedience and He freely gave His life so that ours could be redeemed. He knew what His future held.

JESUS KNEW!!!

He knew what was going to happen to him and He didn’t open his mouth to defend Himself! He knew and he didn’t destroy the soldiers who came to arrest Him in the garden. He knew and he didn’t demand that His disciples die with Him or come to His aide, He simply asked them to pray with Him that He would stand strong to face the trial that was ahead.

He knew He would be separated from God. He knew the torture that He would face. It was all prophesied in the Old Testament. He knew and He loved us so much that He chose to face this awful death.

HE KNEW!! He knew the prophesy.

“My God, my God, why have you deserted me? Why are you so far away? Won’t you listen to my groans and come to my rescue?…15 My strength has dried up like a broken clay pot,and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You, God, have left me to die in the dirt. 16 Brutal enemies attack me like a pack of dogs,tearing at my hands and my feet. 17 I can count all my bones, and my enemies just stare and sneer at me. 18 They took my clothes and gambled for them. 19 Don’t stay far away, LORD! My strength comes from you, so hurry and help…31 People not yet born will be told, “The Lord has saved us!” Psalm 22

He knew and He experienced the pain!

“At noon the whole country became dark. The darkness continued for three hours. 46 About three o’clock Jesus cried out loudly, “Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?” This means “My God, my God, why have you left me alone?”47 Some of the people standing there heard this. They said, “He is calling Elijah.”48 Quickly, one of them ran and got a sponge. He filled the sponge with sour wine and tied the sponge to a stick. Then he used the stick to give the sponge to Jesus to get a drink from it. 49 But the others said, “Don’t bother him. We want to see if Elijah will come to save him.” 50 Again Jesus cried out loudly and then died…The army officer and the soldiers guarding Jesus saw this earthquake and everything that happened. They were very afraid and said, ‘He really was the Son of God!’” Matthew 27:45-50

He knew!! He had a purpose.

“We must never stop looking to Jesus. He is the leader of our faith, and he is the one who makes our faith complete. He suffered death on a cross. But he accepted the shame of the cross as if it were nothing because of the joy he could see waiting for him. And now he is sitting at the right side of God’s throne. 3 Think about Jesus. He patiently endured the angry insults that sinful people were shouting at him. Think about him so that you won’t get discouraged and stop trying. 4 You are struggling against sin, but you have not had to give up your life for the cause.” Hebrews 12:2-4 ERV

HE LOVED – HE KNEW – HE CAME – HE DIED – HE ROSE – HE LIVES!

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Joy Is Simple

We were blessed to have had four little ones in our home this last week. Children remind us of the joy to be found in the simple things of life. As adults, we sometimes get too busy to enjoy the things that are around us.

I can still hear the laughter that came from the breakfast table, the giggles on the swing and the squeals of delight in finding a pretty rock in the yard. When was the last time you got excited over bubbles in the bath tub?

Happiness. Simple enjoyment.

The book of Proverbs tells us “Happiness is good medicine, but sorrow is a disease.” Proverbs 17:22 ERV

Think about the word “enjoy” for a moment. The simplest definition is to add joy or find joy. When we enjoy someone’s company we are at a place where we have found joy.

As an adult there are so many things that distract us from finding and experiencing joy. We often forget about the simple things that once brought a smile to our face or a giggle in our hearts.

“Yes, happy are the people whose God is the Lord!” Psalm 144:15 NLV

We find joy when we find the Father and experience His love. Wasn’t that the message the angels brought to the shepherds?

“Suddenly, an angel of the Lord appeared among them, and the radiance of the Lord’s glory surrounded them. They were terrified, 10 but the angel reassured them. “Don’t be afraid!” he said. “I bring you good news that will bring great joy to all people. 11 The Savior—yes, the Messiah, the Lord—has been born today in Bethlehem, the city of David!” Luke 2:9-11 NLT

Great joy!

Find joy in the simple things. Our Father has made the whole of creation for our enjoyment. The old expression “stop and smell the roses” rings true. When we see the beauty and intricacies of the nature we can’t help but recognize the power and greatness of our Father.

The Father’s plan is that we have and enjoy life. Jesus said:

“The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).” John 10:10 AMPC

If anyone is feeling discouraged, disheartened or disillusioned come to the Father and pour out your heart. Ask Him to fill you with joy. He is a faithful Father and He will answer your heart’s cry.

“Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.” John 16:24 NKJV

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Life Giving Water

The weather is warming up and everyday in the desert is beautiful but even more so when it’s blooming and the trees are budding.

It’s important to remember to take plenty of water when you go out hiking or exploring. It doesn’t take long in the desert sun to dry out or feel the effects of dehydration.

Every hiker knows to take life giving water.

As a girl we never went on a car trip without having at least two gallons of water in the trunk of the car. If the car overheated we would add it to the radiator and we would have some to drink in case of an emergency. Water is a necessity of life.

But what about our soul? How long does it take for the soul to dry out and become parched? How many emotional dry spells can it endure?

Since the soul is more fragile than the body the withering takes place more quickly. It isn’t always as visible as physical dehydration but it is just as devastating.

Have you had those times? Times when you say I just feel like I want to shrivel up and die?

King David spent quite a bit of time being pursued by King Saul in the desert of Israel. He knew what it was like to thirst both physically and spiritually.

“God, you are my God. I am searching so hard to find you. Body and soul, I thirst for you in this dry and weary land without water. 2 Yes, I have seen you in your Temple. I have seen your strength and glory. 3 Your faithful love is better than life, so my lips praise you. 4 By my life, I will praise you. In your name, I lift my hands in prayer. 5 When I sit down to satisfy my hunger my joyful lips hunger to praise you! 6 I remember you while lying on my bed. I think about you in the middle of the night. 7 That is because you are the one who helps me. It makes me happy to be under your protection! 8 I stay close to you, and you hold me with your powerful arm.” Psalm 63:1-9 ERV

Body and soul desire life giving water. Physical water refreshes the body and praise refreshes the soul.

We are waiting patiently for the Spring rains. Nothing smells better than rain in the desert, nothing brings signs of life like a desert rain.

“Let’s do our best to know the Lord. His coming is as certain as the morning sun; he will refresh us like rain renewing the earth in the springtime.” Hosea 6:3 CEV

Life giving water restores the soul.

I pray that you will know what it’s like to be spiritually thirsty, to have soul-thirst, and then to be completely refreshed by the falling rain of God’s amazing love!

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Great Things

Sunday afternoons are travel days at our house. Dave and I watch several travelogs and plan the destination for some of our next adventures. Beautiful places, remote places, interesting out-of-the-way places.

Yesterday we saw a place we never knew existed in Idaho, Craters of the Moon National Park. The whole area was created by a lava flow. It has amazing caves and interesting lava fields to hike and explore.

It is a testament to our great God!

“Let all that I am praise the Lord. O Lord my God, how great you are! You are robed with honor and majesty. 2 You are dressed in a robe of light. You stretch out the starry curtain of the heavens; 3 you lay out the rafters of your home in the rain clouds. You make the clouds your chariot; you ride upon the wings of the wind. 4 The winds are your messengers; flames of fire are your servants. 5 You placed the world on its foundation so it would never be moved.” Psalm 104:1-5 NLT

Please take time to read Psalm 104 in its entirety. It details God’s greatness in creating this earth of ours.

He has done great things!

“My help comes from the Lord, who made heaven and earth! 3 He will not let you stumble;
  the one who watches over you will not slumber. 4 Indeed, he who watches over Israel never slumbers or sleeps. 5 The Lord himself watches over you! The Lord stands beside you as your protective shade.” Psalm 121: 2-5 NLT

The vastness, the variety, the exquisite beauty of creation tell the story of our all-powerful Father. But they also proclaim loudly His protection and provision for those He loves. Never does He fall asleep; He is constantly watching over us!

Our Father does great things!

Yesterday morning one of the worship songs we sang reminded us “He has done great things”.

“Come let us worship our King
Come let us bow at His feet
He has done great things
See what our Savior has done
See how His love overcomes
He has done great things
He has done great things

Oh hero of Heaven, You conquered the grave
You free every captive and break every chain
Oh God, You have done great things
We dance in Your freedom, awake and alive
Oh Jesus, our Savior, Your name lifted high
Oh God, You have done great things

You’ve been faithful through every storm
You’ll be faithful forevermore
You have done great things
And I know You will do it again
For Your promise is “Yes and amen”
You will do great things
God, You do great things”

Great Things lyrics by Phil Wickham

Creation declares the greatness of God’s power. Jesus declares the greatness of His love.

Experience the great things of our Father!

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Spoiler Alert

In yesterday’s blog we looked at the practical teaching of joy. This morning I was reminded of a time when an every day situation had me so frustrated that I wanted to scream. The Lord taught me a valuable lesson through it.

“Catch the foxes for us— the little foxes that spoil the vineyard. Our vineyard is now in bloom.” Song of Solomon 2:15 CEV

King Solomon said that we are to catch little foxes because they spoil our fruit. In this case, the fruit is joy. I kept running into little foxes on this particular day.

I had just gotten a new computer. My old computer had been around for the last 4-5 years. I knew it inside and out, literally. But it was old and running so slow. I asked our son-in-law to recommend a newer and better computer that would meet my needs and have a relatively easy learning curve for both Dave and I.

I made a list of everything I needed to move from one computer to the other and methodically went about my task. I felt pretty accomplished for a non-computer tech type person. Checking off each item as I completed them. Yes, this was going smoothly until one of those little foxes showed up!

It came in the form of a command “restart to activate new software” and there was a glitch. A phone call in the midst of my concentration proved to be another little fox, a fox of distraction. Launch again, a missing element, another little fox! Frustration mounted…

I’ve learned to recognize the “big” things in my life that seek to get me off course in my relationship with the Lord but more often than not, I get tripped up by these little foxes.

It was certainly time to pray.

I had done that when I started, asking for wisdom and thanking the Father for guiding me through this process but somewhere along the way, I had allowed the frustration to override my peace.

Then I heard these words in my mind, “in my presence is fullness of joy”.

“I don’t feel very joyful right now Father.” “Then you’re not in My presence”. It was a short conversation between the Father and I and He was right.

I was wrapped up in my own little world and I’d forgotten to lean on Him. If God, the Father, is concerned with a small thing like setting up a new computer, let me assure you that the weightier matters of life are certainly within His provision as well.

“LORD, you give me all that I need. You support me. You give me my share. 6 My share is wonderful. My inheritance is very beautiful…8 I always remember that the LORD is with me. He is here, close by my side, so nothing can defeat me. 9 So my heart and soul will be very happy. Even my body will live in safety..11 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 16:5-11 ERV *(fullness of joy, KJV)

What little foxes are spoiling your vineyard? Capture them and sit in the Father’s presence. There you will find FULLNESS OF JOY!“

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Singing in the Storm

Imagine with me that you and your closest friend had been arrested. Before you are taken to your cell you were beaten and then chained in a dungeon. You know you are innocent of any crime and still here you are!

What will you do next? Many of us would probably curl up in a corner and bemoan our fate. Life is unfair! Fear would seep in and probably cover us like a blanket. Hope would be gone BUT not if we had our hope anchored to God’s love and His promises. (we read about being anchored yesterday)

This is a real life story so let’s look at what these two friends did.

“After they had been badly beaten, they were put in jail, and the jailer was told to guard them carefully. 24 The jailer did as he was told. He put them deep inside the jail and chained their feet to heavy blocks of wood.

25 About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing praises to God, while the other prisoners listened. 26 Suddenly a strong earthquake shook the jail to its foundations. The doors opened, and the chains fell from all the prisoners.” Acts 16:23-26 CEV

Paul and Silas sang at midnight!

They prayed and they sang. Maybe they remembered the words from Psalm 23:

“You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.” Vs 5 NLT

Maybe they thought of Daniel being thrown to the lions or of those three Hebrews would were condemned to the fiery furnance. Whatever their thoughts, they were focused on the Lord and they were singing.

One of the songs we sang at on-line church on Sunday was running through my mind as I got up this morning. Here’s just a few of the lyrics of Raise A Hallelujah by Bethel Music:

I raise a hallelujah, in the presence of my enemies
I raise a hallelujah, louder than the unbelief
I raise a hallelujah, my weapon is a melody
I raise a hallelujah, heaven comes to fight for me


I’m gonna sing, in the middle of the storm
Louder and louder, you’re gonna hear my praises roar
Up from the ashes, hope will arise
Death is defeated, the King is alive!

No situation or circumstance is hopeless when we know the One who opens prison doors and sets the captives free. No situation can defeat us when our faith is established in Jesus. Our Father, the God of heaven, comes to our cry.

“Loving God means obeying his commands. And God’s commands are not too hard for us, 4 because everyone who is a child of God has the power to win against the world. 5 It is our faith that has won the victory against the world. So who wins against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.” I John 5:3-5 CEV

If you’re in the middle of a storm right now, warm up those vocal chords and get ready to sing. Anchor your hope in Christ – the King is Alive!!

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Good Morning

Most mornings I have no problem at all rising early. It’s been my way of life for over thirty years. For me, sleeping in is not getting up until after 6 am. But this morning is different.

I woke up but the idea of getting up wasn’t a pleasant thought. Have you ever had a morning like that?

The coffee has just finished brewing and my first cup is about half gone. My heart is focused and there is a prayer on my lips. “Lord, let me use this day to honor You. I need Your strength and wisdom for this day. I’m not sure what You have planned for me today but I know it’s good because You always want the best for me. I love you Father, I love you Jesus, I love you Holy Spirit. Thank you for being all I need. In Jesus name.”

Getting up early to spend time with the Lord is never a waste of time.

Give Me Jesus by Fernando Ortega

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 can have all this world
But give me Jesus

In the quiet I find it easier to hear the Father speaking to my heart. There are no text messages to interrupt, no emails requiring answers and no distractions to sidetrack me.

“Be proud of his holy name.  You followers of the Lord, be happy! 4 Depend on the Lord for strength. Always go to him for help. 5 Remember the amazing things he has done.  Remember his miracles and his fair decisions.” Psalm 105:3-5 ERV

I depend on the Lord for my strength. He’s always there to help!

I’m praying for those of you who woke early and are having a hard time getting started this morning. I’m praying that you are strengthened for the day; energized for the opportunities ahead. We don’t know what appointments God has for us today. Does someone need encouragment – a kind word, help with a task? Maybe one of our family need some one-on-one time to express their heart. Is the Father putting someone on your heart who needs prayer for healing, for peace, for a miracle? It’s these kind of things that I hear the Father speaking to my heart in the early morning.

Second cup of coffee is almost gone and I am excited to see what the day has in store.

“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

I can’t wait to see what good plan the Father has for me and He has one for you too!

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