The Heavens Declare

I went out this morning to see the blood moon and the eclipse. My little camera didn’t capture it adequately…but my heart did.

People worldwide are looking up and the heavens are speaking.

“Wisdom and victory come when we listen to the Lord’s instruction. The heavens are telling of the greatness of God and the great open spaces above show the work of His handsDay to day they speak. And night to night they show much learningThere is no speaking and no words where their voice is not heard. Their sound has gone out through all the earth, and their words to the end of the world. In them He has placed a tent for the sun. It is as a man soon to be married coming out of his room and as a strong man who is happy to run his race. Its rising is from one end of the heavens, and it makes its way to the other end. Nothing is hidden from its heat.

The Law of the Lord is perfect, giving new strength to the soul. The Law He has made known is sure, making the child-like wiseThe Laws of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart. The Word of the Lord is pure, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The Lord is always true and right in how He judges. 10 The Word of the Lord is worth more than gold, even more than much fine gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey straight from the comb. 11 And by them Your servant is told to be careful. In obeying them there is great reward.” Psalm 19:1-11 NLV

The earth tells of God’s greatness, the heavens declare His glory, His word gives wisdom and great reward!

Before I even stepped out on my porch my heart was singing. I am full of praise. The Creator of the sun, moon and stars sees me each day. He knows the number of hairs on my head. He protects me from harm. He calls me by name and has made me His child.

“I lift up my eyes to You, O You Whose throne is in the heavens.” Psalm 123:1 NLV

I call Him “Father”.

“All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?

I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah

I’ve got one response
I’ve got just one move
With my arm stretched wide
I will worship You” Gratitude by Brandon Lake

My heart sings praise to the Father. I hope yours does too!!

Enjoy the Sonshine

One of the things I enjoy the most about living in Arizona is the amount of sunshine we get to enjoy. The sunrises and sunsets are absolutely gorgeous but it’s the warmth of the “all-day” sunshine that really touches my soul.

I am so grateful that the Lord has brought me to this place. This is my home but more importantly, it is a daily reminder of the goodness and blessings of God.

Oh, how I love the Lord…I never want to take His love for me for granted!

“But I will sing about your strength. I will rejoice in your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come. 17 I will sing praises to you, my source of strength. You, God, are my place of safety. You are the God who loves me!” Psalm 59:16-17 ERV

“For I know that nothing can keep us from the love of God. Death cannot! Life cannot! Angels cannot! Leaders cannot! Any other power cannot! Hard things now or in the future cannot! 39 The world above or the world below cannot! Any other living thing cannot keep us away from the love of God which is ours through Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38-39 NLV

As much as the sunshine warms my soul, it is the Sonshine that gives me a victorious life each day. This morning my heart once again breaks out with one of the old hymns I learned as a child. “Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus”/

” O soul, are you weary and troubled?
No light in the darkness you see?
There’s light for a look at the Savior,
And life more abundant and free!

Refrain:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face,
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim,
In the light of His glory and grace.”

I pray that you let everything in life dim this morning so that you may see Jesus shining bright.

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 foreverLet Israel say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” Let the house of Aaron say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.” Let those who fear the Lord say, “His loving-kindness lasts forever.”

I cried to the Lord in my trouble, and He answered me and put me in a good place. The Lord is with me. I will not be afraid of what man can do to me. 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. 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 light13 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 doneI 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!

What Has Jesus Done?

That’s the question I have for you this morning. What has Jesus done for you and who have you told?

I was reading about the demon-possessed man who had lived in graveyards, been chained at various times, lost his mind and walked around naked. He had an encounter with Jesus and Jesus set him free.

The demons went into a herd of pigs who then ran off a cliff and drown in the sea, but that’s a story for another day.

The men taking care of the pigs went into town and told the owners what had happened to the pigs and to the man. They came out to see for themselves. There they found the man sitting at Jesus’ feet. He was clothed and in his right mind. The towns people were frightened and told Jesus and his disciples to leave. The man wanted to go with Jesus but Jesus told him “No, stay here and tell everyone what has happened to you”.

” 37 All those who lived in the area around Gerasa asked Jesus to go away because they were afraid. So Jesus got into the boat to go back to Galilee. 38 The man he had healed begged to go with him. But Jesus sent him away, saying, 39 Go back home and tell people what God did for you.‘ So the man went all over town telling what Jesus had done for him.” Luke 8:37-39 ERV

It was the testimony of people just like this man, telling his story, that brought the crowds to see Jesus. The leper, the blind man, the woman with the adulterous past, the woman’s whose son was raised from the dead, all gave testimony to what Jesus had done.

I love the account of the man who was born blind. The religious leaders were trying to discredit Jesus, and they spent a great deal of time questioning this man. They even questioned his parents.

25 The man answered, ‘I don’t know if he is a sinner. But I do know this: I was blind, and now I can see.26 They asked, ‘What did he do to you? How did he heal your eyes?’ 27 He answered, ‘I have already told you that. But you would not listen to me. Why do you want to hear it again? Do you want to be his followers too?’…30 The man answered, ‘This is really strange! You don’t know where he comes from, but he healed my eyes.'” John 9:25-30 ERV

Jesus spoke to Mary in the garden after His resurrection and He told her to “go tell Peter and the disciples that I am risen”.

Before Jesus went back into heaven He said, “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. 20 Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:19-20 NLT

Let me ask you again. What has Jesus done for you? Go tell someone, they need to hear your story. Tell it as an act of gratitude and thanksgiving.

Breathtaking

Have you ever had an experience where you had to grab a breath? The beauty of nature – the birth of a child – seeing your mate at the altar?

Breathless! Breathtaking! Awesome!

The image I used this morning was from a sunset we saw the other night coming home from town. Dave was driving and he didn’t think it was much, looking through the rearview mirror but when we stopped…he said “that’s amazing”!

Sometimes I see things in nature, hear a symphony or see a loved one and it takes my breath away. I feel the presence of God in those times. Our Father is so vast in His existence and omniscient in power.

Our God is an awesome God!

You have an assignment today. I don’t often assign homework but today’s the day.

Take time to find something where you can focus on the awesomeness of the Father. Sitting quietly in His presence and let Him speak words of love to your heart.


“The Lord Most High is awesome. He is the great King over all the earth.” Psalm 47:2 ERV

“Look at the powerful things the Lord has done. See the awesome things he has done on earth.” Psalm 46:8 ERV

“He rescued his people and made his agreement with them forever. His name is awesome and holy.” Psalm 11:19 ERV

“I prayed to the Lord my God and told him about all my sins. I said, “Lord, you are a great and awesome God. You keep your agreement of love and kindness with people who love you. You keep your agreement with the people who obey your commands.” Daniel 9:4 ERV

Take time, after all He took time for you!

All Nature Praises

This morning is going to be brief but profound.

Yesterday Dave and I headed out for a weekend of relaxing in nature. Day one was marvelous and now we are getting ready for day two.

We saw a variety of animals in the forest and none of them were stressed out or overwhelmed with daily life.

So, this morning take a lesson from them.

“Everything that breathes, praise the Lord! Praise the Lord!” Psalm 150:6 ERV

Go out and praise the Lord!

Start with Praise – It’s the Spice of Life

Starting a new day. Starting a new month. Start with praise!

“But I will sing about your strength. I will rejoice in your love every morning. You have been my place of safety, the place I can run to when troubles come. 17 I will sing praises to you, my source of strength. You, God, are my place of safety. You are the God who loves me!” Psalm 59:16-17 ERV

Start your morning with a song – Sing praise unto God, sing praises! He will inhabit (live in) your praise and where God lives there is peace and victory!

“Father, thank you for Your great and amazing love. Thank you that my “cup runneth over”! It runs over with Your love for me. Thank you for filling my heart and my life with Your goodness. Thank you for making Yourself known to me, my children and my grandchildren. Thank you that You do all things well.”

I just feel like praising the Father today. He is so worthy of our praise.

I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvelous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.” Psalm 139:14

Start the day knowing that you are blessed and you have angels around you to protect and help you today.

“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear (reverence) Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” Psalm 34:6-8

See that the Lord is good – taste His goodness. It’s better than a pumpkin spice latte. The psalmist says it’s better than honey from the honeycomb; the Lord’s goodness is better than life.

Start the day with praise!

Music in the Silence

I sit quietly. The only sounds to be heard is the low drone of the air conditioner and the cycle of the coffee maker.

And then I open my Bible and begin to read. From my reading my mind and my spirit are filled with music.

“Shout praises to the Lord! Praise God in his temple. Praise him in heaven, his mighty fortress. Praise our God! His deeds are wonderful, too marvelous to describe.Praise God with trumpets and all kinds of harps. Praise him with tambourines and dancing, with stringed instruments and woodwinds. Praise God with cymbals, with clashing cymbals.
Let every living creature praise the Lord.  Shout praises to the Lord!” Psalm 150 CEV

There is a symphony of praise in the heavens – the orchestra is finely tuned. There are no squeaks or squawks like I made learning to play the clarinet. There is only praise – praise to the Lord God Almighty.

“Flaming creatures with six wings each were flying over him. They covered their faces with two of their wings and their bodies with two more. They used the other two wings for flying,  as they shouted, ‘Holy, holy, holy, Lord All-Powerful! The earth is filled with your glory.’” Isaiah 6:2-3 CEV

“And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands;

12 Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing.

13 And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever.” Revelation 5:11-13 KJV

We are part of a marvelous concert – a concert of praise. Psalms tells us that the Lord inhabits, dwells in, the praise of His people. Come into the Lord’s presence – enter His courts with praise!

Let the music of heaven fill the silence and praise His holy name!

Throw Up Your Hands

in praise to the Lord!!

“The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. 23 Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. 24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” Lamentations 3:22-24 NLT

Yesterday was a day of tiny miracles and heart filled praise.

It started before I even walked out the door. Reports of the goodness of God and answers to prayer. Before I the day was over I had heard from friends, family, neighbors and acquaintances of God’s goodness. Mended relationships, answers to medical questions, living situations set on course, financial blessings, safety and protection from imminent danger!!

“All my words fall short
I got nothing new
How could I express
All my gratitude?

I could sing these songs
As I often do
But every song must end
And You never do

So I throw up my hands
And praise You again and again
‘Cause all that I have is a hallelujah
Hallelujah
And I know it’s not much
But I’ve nothing else fit for a King
Except for a heart singing hallelujah
Hallelujah”

This song by Brandon Lake is one of my favorites that we sing in worship, “Gratitude”. I can sense the tears beginning to well up as I write you these words and silently sing “Hallelujah, Hallelujah”.

“Let all that I am praise the Lord;  with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name. Let all that I am praise the Lord; may I never forget the good things he does for me. He forgives all my sins  and heals all my diseases. He redeems me from death and crowns me with love and tender mercies. He fills my life with good things. My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!…Praise the Lord, you angelsyou mighty ones who carry out his plans, listening for each of his commands. 21 Yes, praise the Lord, you armies of angels who serve him and do his will! 22 Praise the Lord, everything he has created, everything in all his kingdom. Let all that I am praise the Lord.” Psalm 103 NLT

He fills my life with good things. I am justified freely, made right with God. Covered by His mercy, living by His grace, and strengthen by His might.

“But—When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. 7 Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life.” Titus 3:4-7 NLT

Join me. Join all of creation! Throw up your hands and praise Him again and again. Sing hallelujah.

A Day of Praise

It’s Monday and you know what that means don’t you? It’s another wonderful day to praise the Lord for His love and goodness.

Join in with me.

“The Lord liveth; and blessed be my rock; and let the God of my salvation be exalted.” Psalm 18:46

We will rejoice in thy salvation, and in the name of our God we will set up our banners: the Lord fulfil all thy petitions.” Psalm 20:5

“In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God.” Psalm 62:7

“Blessed be the Lord, who daily loadeth us with benefits, even the God of our salvation. Selah.” Psalm 68:19

“Let all those that seek thee rejoice and be glad in thee: and let such as love thy salvation say continually, Let God be magnified.” Psalm 70:4

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he also is become my salvation.” Isaiah 12:2

Count your blessings this morning – the Lord covers us with His love.

I’m not through praising yet, but I will quit and let you continue on with your praises too!