Category: Psalms

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Thankful for Innocence

Yesterday we had the priviledge of being at our youngest granddaughter’s first birthday. Sweet!

At one point she was very content to be with the adults – the center of attention – and rightfully so. However, in the other room her brother, sister and cousin were playing with toys they had retrieved from the toy box. Three children, between the age of three and five, playing with a limited amount of items was definitely an opportunity to practice sharing.

I enjoyed watching the dynamic.

The little pots, pans and fake food were definitely the favorites and they were also the ones of most limited supply. Sharing was a huge factor! But eventually, with a little guidance, they figured it out and were even trading items with no fussing or contention.

“How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony!” Psalm 133:1 NLT

Oh, the innocence of a child. They can play together, fuss with one another and then all sit down at a table and have cupcakes together within a few minutes. No harbored grudges, no unforgiveness, no animosity or division.

Christ used little children as examples of how we should be in our relationship with Him. They are trusting and innocent, untainted by the world. Jesus lived a life of forgiveness; a life untouched by resentment. Truly living a life of loving the Father and loving his fellow man.

The Apostle Paul wrote that “love is patient, love is kind – love thinks the best of others, it isn’t selfish or self seeking, love never gives up or holds a grudge, love never fails”. That, I believe, is the innocence that Jesus saw in children and its what He wanted us as adults to emulate.

“Love is more important than anything else. It is what ties everything completely together. 15 Each one of you is part of the body of Christ, and you were chosen to live together in peace. So let the peace that comes from Christ control your thoughts. And be grateful.” Colossains 3:14-15 CEV

Thank you Lord for the example of innocence and peace. Let us learn from our children!

“My children, our love should not be only words and talk. No, our love must be real. We must show our love by the things we do.” I John 3:18 ERV

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The Beauty of Daybreak

Each morning I sit in my office looking through a window that faces East. I am able to see clearly the first light of day.

Daybreak.

The sun rises and sometimes the sky is filled with a pinkish hue and at other times there is a golden glow. No matter the color of the sky – clouded or unclouded – my heart always welcomes the dawn with a thank you.

Thank you Lord for a new day. Thank You for your plan and the purpose that I was designed to fulfill. Thank You!

I may have been disappointed with the way yesterday ended; I didn’t get enough done. Or perhaps I did the wrong thing – said something in haste or anger, or neglected to do something that was important but before me I see a new day. A day of potential and a day blessed by God.

“This is the day the Lord has made. We will rejoice and be glad in it. 25 Please, Lord, please save us. Please, Lord, please give us success. 26 Bless the one who comes in the name of the Lord. We bless you from the house of the Lord. 27 The Lord is God, shining upon us. Take the sacrifice and bind it with cords on the altar. 28 You are my God, and I will praise you! You are my God, and I will exalt you! 29 Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good!
His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 118:24-29 NLT

Our Father has a purpose and plan for each day that we live. His mercy never ends, His grace is sufficient, His love endures forever and His goodness is everlasting. He is shining on us. Daybreak is a reminder of His fatihfulness. Each morning He sends the sun to warm the earth and lighten the sky. Each day He is faithful.

But what if the circumstances of life have left you dreading the sunrise? Maybe you have lost a spouse, a child or grandchild and you feel that life is over and frankly, you don’t care if the sun ever rises again.

There’s a lady I know of who lost her dearest friend. She was heartbroken and scared. What would become of her now? How would she survive? Those were the questions that were weighing heavily on her heart. Have you experienced such a heartache?

“On Sunday morning while it was still dark, Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and saw that the stone had been rolled away from the entrance…11 Mary Magdalene stood crying outside the tomb. She was still weeping, when she stooped down…15 Jesus asked her, ‘Why are you crying? Who are you looking for?’ She thought he was the gardener and said, ‘Sir, if you have taken his body away, please tell me, so I can go and get him.’ 16 Then Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him, ‘Rabboni.’ The Aramaic word “Rabboni” means “Teacher.'” John 20:1-16 CEV

Mary dreaded the dawn! But inspite of her heartache she went to the last place that she had been with her Lord. The graveyard! There all heartached ceased. There, as the sun was rising, she looked into the face of her Savior and found peace.

Daybreak!

As day breaks this morning I pray that you are thankful for what the Lord will lovingly show you!

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Thankful for Kindness

Some mornings I almost have a mandate on what I am supposed to share. This is one of those mornings.

These are the first words I read as I opened my Bible:

“Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good. 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.” Psalm 118:1-8 NLT

Since the focus of the blog has been on thankfulness I couldn’t pass by these verses without sharing them with you.

How long is forever? Have we reached the end of forever? No, well then, according to the verses above we haven’t reached the end of God’s loving-kindness! We may have frustrated the Lord from time to time but we have not exhausted or depleted His loving-kindness. That’s good news.

Take a moment to think of the time when someone showed you the most kindness. I’ll wait…Three people and situations came to mind immediately. I’ll tell you about one. A number of years back I was hospitalized very unexpectedly and when I was released I was very weak. Two sweet ladies came to my aid. One stopped by each morning and took our little dog for a walk and when she returned she washed dishes and took my laundry home with her and brought it back clean. The other lady did my grocery shopping and prepared meals for Dave. Dinner was always waiting when he came home from work. I was overwhelmed!

These women showed me God’s loving-kindness! Almost daily I ask the Lord to bless them with acts of kindness the way they blessed me.

We all have times that we know we have experienced supernatural kindness. It’s God’s little expressions of His love and His way of saying “I care”.

It’s also wonderful to be able to share God’s love and kindness with others. Simple things – taking a dog for a walk, preparing a meal, doing laundry, buying groceries – how trivial. Never! When done in love these acts of kindness are life changing.

“For I was hungry and you gave Me food to eat. I was thirsty and you gave Me water to drink. I was a stranger and you gave Me a room. 36 I had no clothes and you gave Me clothes to wear. I was sick and you cared for Me. I was in prison and you came to see Me.’

37 “Then those that are right with God will say, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You? When did we see You thirsty and give You a drink? 38 When did we see You a stranger and give You a room? When did we see You had no clothes and we gave You clothes? 39 And when did we see You sick or in prison and we came to You?’ 40 Then the King will say, ‘For sure, I tell you, because you did it to one of the least of My brothers, you have done it to Me.’” Matthew 25:35-40 NLV

Thank you Lord for loving acts of kindness. Open my eyes to see those that need my kindness!

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Crossing Life’s Bridges

Yesterday my daughter and I went for a bike ride at the campground. It’s been a couple years since I’ve been on my bike and so I knew we weren’t going to travel too far and that the road was going to be pretty smooth.

I had forgotten about the bridge.

As we started over the bridge her words of warning rang in my ear, “don’t let your tire get caught between the planks”. I hadn’t even thought about that. I was really just enjoying the ride and taking in as much of the view as I could.

Now there was a warning! There was some element of danger that I needed to avoid. Shortly, we would be crossing that bridge again as we headed back to our campsite. This time I paid more attention as I chose which plank to align with for the crossing.

That old saying “we’ll cross that bridge when we come to it” was going through my mind. Each bridge we cross takes us to new territory, new adventures, new situations. Bridges like graduation, marriage, job placement, a new city, health and retirement. Each one will have challenges and could also have pitfalls. It’s important that we don’t let our tires get caught between the planks.

The image I used for this morning’s blog was a well loved painting that was duplicated and widely circulated in the 1930’s through the 1950’s. It is called “The Guardian” and was painted by an Austrian artist in 1918. There was one just like it that hung in my grandmother’s living room. As a young girl I would sit and look at the painting each time we went to her home. I was intrigued by the colors but more fascinating was the large angel and the way it was protecting the children.

“Because you have made the Lord your safe place, and the Most High the place where you live, 10 nothing will hurt you. No trouble will come near your tent. 11 For He will tell His angels to care for you and keep you in all your ways. 12 They will hold you up in their hands. So your foot will not hit against a stone.” Psalm 91:9-12 NLV

I am so thankful for the Lord’s loving protection. Thankful that I am not left alone when I cross life’s bridges. Thankful that He is there to see that my tires don’t get caught between the planks.

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Look For Things to Appreciate

An attitude of gratitude is often like sending a child on a treasure hunt. Some years back while living in Montana we took our oldest grandchildren to an old gold mining town called Bannock. This town was the first territorial capitol of Montana and had a gold strike that rivaled the one in California.

Today this historic “ghost town” welcomes visitors to tour its old buildings. In the summer dirt is brought from the local creek for young and old to try their hand at panning for gold. No panner ever walks away empty handed although very few ever find a nugget of any substance. The earth is rich with garnets and little flakes of gold dust are not uncommon. I remember how excited our grandson was when he found those little flakes but he was equally as excited to find a pan laden with dark red garnets.

The excitement was in the search and the anticipation of what might be found!

I see each day as a treasure hunt. I know God has promised to fill it with His blessings. I just have to keep my heart open to what is before me. This morning I have already found one of today’s treasures – our 5th wheel trailer.

As I’m writing this I can smell the four-legged visitors who are patrolling the campground in search of unsecured food. We were told about the skunks when we checked in and yesterday morning on our walk we were certainly aware that they had been in the area the night before and now I sense (smell) their presence again.

Last summer we had an experience with two skunks who came into our camp looking for food and they found it. I didn’t realize that I had left the dog food container on the table. The skunks pushed it off and the container spilled open. We were sleeping in a tent and I felt somewhat vulnerable when I heard the ruckus only a couple yards away.

The last couple of nights I haven’t given those critters a second thought as I climbed into bed. The door was shut behind me and they were no threat. You see, I found a treasure in the warmth and security of my surroundings. Thank you Lord.

“Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders work for nothing. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the men who watch over it stay awake for nothing. 2 You rise up early, and go to bed late, and work hard for your food, all for nothing. For the Lord gives to His loved ones even while they sleep.” Psalm 127:1-2 NLV

For me the treasure of peaceful sleep is invaluable!

There you have it – I have given you two treasures I have found this morning and I’ve only been up a little over an hour. Two treasures that have already filled my heart with joy – a secure dwelling and peaceful sleep!

I wonder what other treasures I will find as I go about my day? Look for God’s blessings and you’ll find them. Be grateful for small blessings.

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All The Time

Thanksgiving – Joy – Praise – Gratitude!

I know you won’t be surprised by the theme of this morning’s blog. As I said a couple days ago I will be bringing you thoughts on being thankful each day for the next several weeks.

It should be a way of life to those of us who trust the Lord and follow Christ. Does that mean that we never face obstacles, challenges, tought times or persecution? No! Most emphatically not. However, when we are thankful and take time to praise the Lord the struggles we are facing take a backseat to God’s greatness.

“I will always praise the Lord. 2 With all my heart,  I will praise the Lord. Let all who are helpless, listen and be glad. 3 Honor the Lord with me! Celebrate his great name.” Psalm 34:1-3 CEV

If you’ve been reading my blog for any length of time you know that I am greatly encouraged each morning as the birds start their morning chorus. Their songs are a constant reminder of the faithfulness of the Lord. The doves coo, the meadowlarks warble, the wrens chirp, the finches tweet and even the crows caw their welcome to the dawning of a new day.

Not once have I heard them complain that there aren’t enough bugs to eat or seeds to feast on. Yes, there is an occasional squawk or clicking when they feel threatened but they go right back to singing their sweet songs of thanksgiving.

“I tell you not to worry about your life. Don’t worry about having something to eat, drink, or wear. Isn’t life more than food or clothing? 26 Look at the birds in the sky! They don’t plant or harvest. They don’t even store grain in barns. Yet your Father in heaven takes care of them. Aren’t you worth more than birds?” Matthew 6:25-26 CEV

I have learned a lesson from the winged creatures around my home. When I hear them sing, I take a moment to say “thank you Lord for caring for me like You care for them”. Whether they are welcoming the sunrise or calling their young to nest at night it reminds me that the Lord is always there caring for me.

I will bless the Lord at all times!

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Thankful for Strength

This morning as I was preparing to share on thankfulness my heart asked me this question. What about the people who feel they have nothing to be thankful for? Maybe they’ve lost their jobs, their businesses, their health and even their friends. What do they have to be thankful for?

Good question.

Let me tell you the story of King David. He and his men had gone out to help figth a war. When they returned home they found their homes had been burned and the wives and children had been carried off by the enemy.

The Bible tells us that these strong, brave, fighting men wept until they had no more tears.

“Then David and the people that were with him lifted up their voice and wept, until they had no more power to weep.” I Samuel 30:4 KJV

Everything they loved and held dear was gone! To make matters worse, they blamed David. Men who had been loyal members of his army were now ready to kill him. Not only had David lost his family, his home and his city but now he had lost his position and his ability to lead.

“David was now in great danger because all his men were very bitter about losing their sons and daughters, and they began to talk of stoning him. But David found strength in the Lord his God.” I Samuel 30:6 NLT

At a time like this, how could he possibly find strength? Another translation of this verse tells us that “David encouraged himself in the Lord”. In my times of greatest struggle and darkness moments I have pulled close to God. Tears streaming down my cheeks, heart aching with pain I have cried out. “God, I can’t do this! I don’t know what to do. There’s no one to help. I’m done! I need You – only You! I need Your strength and Your guidance. I need Your peace.”

“May honor and thanks be given to the Lord, because He has heard my prayer. 7 The Lord is my strength and my safe cover. My heart trusts in Him, and I am helped. So my heart is full of joy. I will thank Him with my song. 8 The Lord is the strength of His people. He is a safe place for His chosen one.” Psalm 28:6-8 NLV

There is no other place to find true help and strength. God is the only one who can bring peace in the midst of our storms. He is the only one who has the answers.

King David poured out his heart to God in prayer. He got instruction from the Lord on what he should do. He went to his men and told them what the Lord had said and they all went out to recover what had been stolen.

“David took back all that the Amalekites had taken, and saved his two wives. 19 Nothing was missing, small or large, sons or daughters, food or anything that had been taken. David returned with all of it. ” I Samuel 30:18-19 NLV

A perfect time to be thankful and praise God is when hope is all but gone. It takes our focus off our circumstances, places it on God and His ability to alter the outcome.

“Why are you sad, O my soul? Why have you become troubled within me? Hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my help and my God.” Psalm 42:11 NLV

Being thankful gives us strength!

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Let’s Start Giving Thanks

The last few days I have seen friends posting pictures of the Fall colors in their areas. Hard to believe that things are changing around the country when here in Arizona we are still having temperatures of 100+.

One friend posted some pictures they had taken in the Grand Tetons and another one had images of apple picking near Spokane WA. I was reminded of the years we lived in the Spokane area and how the trees turned color and eventually dropped their leaves. It started my pie baking season which led to cinnamon rolls and banana breads and all things that meant the holidays were coming and so were visits from family and friends.

Fall, autumn, has always been a season of thankfulness! Shouldn’t everyday be a day of giving thanks?

I know you might think I’m starting early but for the next seven weeks I am going to share verses of thanksgiving. We can never be too thankful, and if this past year has taught us anything it is to be thankful for the small blessings.

A lot of folks these days have forgotten how to say “thank you” or to properly appreciate the things that are done for them. We tend to take so many things for granted or, worse yet, feel that we deserve it. Nothing could be farther from the truth – if we all got what we deserved we would be sent straight to hell, do not pass go, do not collect $200.

We might be better than someone else but when compared to God’s standard we have all failed and fallen short. His grace gives us what we don’t deserve. Things like forgiveness, peace, joy and reconciliation fill His harvest basket. He prepares a feast of blessings for us even though none of us have done anything on our own to merit His loving-kindess.

“Praise the Lord because he is good!  His faithful love will last forever!” Psalm 118:1 ERV

Let’s adopt an attitude of gratitude. Begin now to tell someone thank you. When was the last time our kids heard “Your special, I love you. I’m so glad I’m your parent”? No lectures, no instructions, just thank you for being my kid, you hold my heart. When it comes to our spouses we should open the flood gates and deluge them with gratitude. They go to work everyday to provide for us, they are an example for the kids, or perhaps they are the ones to stay home doing the laundry, making dinner and taking care of the household.

I use a phrase constantly in expressing gratitude and the thing is, I really mean it. I will say, “Thank you, I really appreciate that” and sometimes I hear, “sure you do” but you know I do! I want people to know they are truly appreciated.

“In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you. “1 Thessalonians 5:18

We don’t have to be thankful “for” everything but “in” everything. Thanksgiving is the will of God for our lives!

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Lift Up Your Head

In yesterday’s blog we talked about the God of the second chance. I had one reader comment that she was glad He is also the God of the third chance as well. How very true!

In fact, our God provides us with infinite mercy and grace. He never runs out of compassion and so His forgiveness extends for the sum of our days. He will never wake up one morning and say enough is enough. His love never fails and never ends.

Now that’s good news!

Have you ever seen a person who feels defeated? The signs are pretty evident; head down, shoulders drooped and they find it hard to look anyone in the eye. They are discouraged; hope seems to be destroyed. They maybe ashamed or feel they are carrying the weight of the world on their shoulders. It’s a horrible place to be.

Maybe you’ve been there. I know I have. Many in the Bible had been there too. Peter is the first one to come to mind. He had served side by side with Jesus for three years. He was the Lord’s biggest defender when the crowds would criticize. He was impetuous, quick to respond (sometimes without thinking) and he was determined to be the Lord’s right hand man.

But one night around a fire, when confronted by a young servant girl he denied even knowing Jesus. That was a cowardly act but it didn’t end there. In the span of a few hours he had voiced his denial two more times. After the third Jesus looked at him but never said a word. Peter was heartbroken. Ashamed. I’m sure Peter left head down and ashamed.

Perhaps you can relate. There are things in all our lives that we are ashamed of and don’t want anyone to know.

Yet, after Jesus’ resurrection he came to Peter, meeting him on the sea shore and Jesus asked Peter to profess his love. Nothing was said about the denial. Jesus lifted the shame and told Peter he wanted him to be a shepherd to “new lambs”, the new believers, who would follow Christ.

A few weeks later we find Peter preaching to the crowds. Head lifted, shoulders back, standing tall and boldly proclaiming that Jesus was the Messiah. Even when he was beaten and thrown into prison he did not falter. A complete transformation.

The Lord doesn’t want us going about with our heads down. He wants us to be like Peter. He wants us to be dependent on Him and drawing from His strength.

“Many are saying of me, “There is no help for him in God.” 3 But You, O Lord, are a covering around me, my shining-greatness, and the One Who lifts my head. 4 I was crying to the Lord with my voice. And He answered me from His holy mountain.” Psalm 3:2-4 NLV

If your head is bowed in shame, pray! Ask for forgiveness and receive the Father’s mercy and grace. After you say Amen, lift your head and stand tall.

“Now that we have been made right with God by putting our trust in Him, we have peace with Him. It is because of what our Lord Jesus Christ did for us. 2 By putting our trust in God, He has given us His loving-favor and has received us. We are happy for the hope we have of sharing the shining-greatness of God.” Romans 5:1-2 NLV

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Making Good Choices

Yesterday I spent a lot of time talking about making good choices. It’s a lesson we all deal with on a daily basis.

We can’t force people to make good choices. It has to be a decision of the heart.

Our day is filled with choices. Do we rise early or over sleep? Do we eat a good breakfast or skip it entirely? Do we speed down the highway or stay within the limits of the law? Are we intolerant and lose our temper or patient and self-controlled? All are choices we make and we can blame no one for the consequences – we are responsible.

Moses had led over a million people through the desert for forty years and at the end of his life he gave them this instruction:

“Now listen! Today I am giving you a choice between life and death, between prosperity and disaster. 16 For I command you this day to love the Lord your God and to keep his commands, decrees, and regulations by walking in his ways. If you do this, you will live and multiply, and the Lord your God will bless you and the land you are about to enter and occupy…19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live!” Deuteronomy 30:15-19 NLT

I know it seems elementary, almost remedial, but making right choices is a real sign of maturity. Life – death, blessing – curses, (here’a clue, right answer, choose life) Choosing to forgive, letting kindness be our guide, saying no to indulgences that bring pleasure for a moment but devastating consequences for weeks and years to come takes maturity.

One of the greatest gifts the Lord has given us is free will, the ability to make our own choices. We aren’t puppets or robots, we have the ability to think wisely and make proper decisions.

Have you ever been outside on a very dark night, in unfamiliar territory? We experience that alot when we go camping. The right choice in situations like that is to grab a flashlight. It has kept me from tripping over logs or getting off the path and stepping into a hole on numerous occasions. I could just stumble along, that would be my choice, however it wouldn’t be a good one.

When we need guidance and wisdom, which we all do, we have this promise from the Lord.

“Your word is like a lamp that guides my steps,  a light that shows the path I should take.
106 Your laws are good and fair. I have promised to obey them, and I will keep my promise.” Psalm 119:105-106 ERV

Before you make a choice today, consider the consequences and then ask God for wisdom. He’ll be glad to give it.

“If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.” James 1:5 NLV

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