Store Up

Ps. 119:11 is a verse i memorized a number of years ago with my children.  NIV84 says "I have hidden Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."  Wonderful verse! And we are to hide His Word in our heart.

Last night I was reading Ps. 119 in the ESV. That version says "I have stored up Your Word in my heart that I might not sin against You."

The point is the same.. we need to be learning.. memorizing.. God's Word. But I really love the ESV wording.. "Stored Up"  It is a picture of preparation.. of making ready.  

And we don't wait until the panic moment to grab Words and hastily try to learn them, we store up during the "good" times. Proverbs 6:6&8 points the lazy sluggard to look at the ways of the ant. I think the ant's ways apply to learning Scripture and this thought of storing up..

Go to the ant, O sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise....
7 8 she prepares her bread in summer and gathers her food in harvest.

Prepares her bread... the Word is our daily bread.  I picture us preparing it by being in it.. reading.. studying..learning it..

And gathers her food... She is storing up during the time of plenty to be ready for lean times.. difficulties.. 

We need to be preparing.. to be in the Word daily, reading it.. studying it.. learning it.. and we need to be gathering it up.. storing it in our hearts knowing we will have it  for the battle we do each and every day with our flesh, the World and an enemy who is relentless in His pursuit.

Delight in the Word

"If Your law had not been my delight, then I would have perished in my affliction."  Ps. 119:92

No doubt this verse shows that God's word upholds us.. protects us.. etc. during difficult times, but I also see a daily application.  if I delight in something, I will make time for it.  So if I delight in His Word, I'll be in it .. daily.. reading, studying, meditating, memorizing.

Doing this daily, even when life is going good, builds that foundation.. that fortification.. for when the tough stuff happens (and it will happen!) and it is easier to delight and dig in when life is going smooth.

Trails, testings, etc are to build and strengthen our faith.

I believe "smooth" sailings are to build our faith's foundation.. our footing as it were.. to sharpen our swords... to condition  ourselves.. to make ready for what is to come.

That "smooth" sailing is our study time and those trials our exams. We can't really cram because we rarely see the exam coming.. they are more like pop quizzes! And I, for one, want to pass... so I need to be in the Word daily!

I am praying for a heart that delights in the Word... praying that Jeremiah 15:16 would be true in my life...

Your Words were found and I ate them. 

They were a joy to me and the delight of my heart 

for I am called by Your Name, O Lord.

Everything

2 Peter 1:3 is a favorite verse of a dear friend and mentor of mine... God brought it to mind recently and I went to read over it again and meditate a bit on what it said.  In the process, He led me to keep reading through verse 4. What a promise.. assurance.. Word from Him!

"His diving power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through out knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and goodness.  Through these He has given us His very great promises so that through them you (I) may participate in the Divine Nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires."

I love that God has already, at the time of salvation, given us everything we need for life and godliness. Not a little... not the start.. not some.. but EVERYTHING! It is there.. done.. we need only access it. But even more, He has given us His promises (the Word) which are very great.. and He gave them so that we (you and me) could be part of the divine (NOT be divine.. but participate in it) and to be able to escape the trappings of the world.

Of course we know that the Word is a 2 edged sword and the part that slices here is the fact that since we have everything we need.. we have the ability to escape.. then we are without excuse when we fail... and we will BUT praise God there is NO condemnation for those in Christ Jesus (Rom 8:1) and if we confess our sins He is faithful and just to forgive our sins and cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:9).  

Some verses these gems in 2 Peter brought to mind...

Your Word I have hidden in  my heart that I might not sin against you.  Ps. 119:11

But when you are tempted He will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.  1 Cor. 10:13b

God is not a man that He should lie -- not a son of man that He should change His mind. Does He speak and not act? Does He promise and not fulfill?  Numbers 23:19

God's promises are right and true... they always always come to pass.. I can.. you can.. stand on them with confidence!  Let's do that today.. take a stand against evil desires.. against the temptations of this world..  let's walk in confidence knowing He has given us ALL we need for today... we need just accept it by yielding to Him and letting the Holy Spirit be manifest in us. That is how we participate in the divine!

Know Him.... Seek Him...

I was reading in the book The Perfect Love by Ruth Myers some things about Knowing God today that just really spoke to my heart...

"... to know God is not just to accumulate facts about Him, but also to experience who He is in our daily living."

"E.M.Bounds wrote that God does not reveal Himself to the 'hasty comer and goer.' If we settle for a casual relationship we won't experience His love deeply.  It's not that anything about His love changes when we neglect Him. His love is still just as full and flowing, just as wonderful and powerful.  But we're blocking it out when we don't pursue a deeper, more constant relationship with Him."

When I read this, I immediately thought of Jeremiah 29:13... I cannot tell you how many times this verse has come before my eyes in the last week and a half.. and from vastly different sources!  The NIV says:  You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.  

I recently saw it in the NLT and love how it is worded:  If you look for me wholeheartedly, you will find me.

I love that word... WHOLEHEARTEDLY

Brought me to a couple more verses this morning..

Deut 4:29  But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find Him if you look for Him with all your heart and with all your soul.  

From there.. from where ever I am at that MOMENT... whatever my situation and circumstance.. I am to seek Him with ALL my heart!

And Ps. 86:11b... which is a wonderful verse to pray for yourself and those you love... Teach me your way, O LORD,  and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.

Finally --if you know me personally, then you have heard me say over and over say Be In The Word... it is a soapbox I proudly stand on and shout from and once again I am there urging anyone reading this to be in the Word. My family has had a huge upset this week.. great turmoil that will be with us for a while... I would never lie and say we have had total peace... no anger.. no hurt.. no worry... please, we are human!  BUT in the midst of it all God has used His Word.. either from others who text a verse or devotional emails that come in my inbox... or most importantly and most often through the Holy Spirit who reminds me what HE has shown me in His Word... John 14:26 But the Counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.  He teaches and He will remind us at just the right time.. but we MUST be in the Word learning to have something for Him to remind us!

We must seek to have a FULL relationship with the Lord.. not just a casual one. He should be you absolute most intimate friend.  Seek Him with ALL your heart today!

Choose the better thing....

This morning I was reading in Acts 6.  I didn't get far before the Lord stopped me. The beginning of this chapter deals with setting up church leadership... but there is a phrase in verse 4 that jumped out at me and applies even not only to church leadership, but also to our day to day lives.

"give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word."

Isn't this what the Lord wants each of us to do? To give attention... make time... priority time... to pray and be in the Word and pour the Word into others?

I am busy... as most everyone of you are too... and if I am not careful, the busyness of my life takes over and causes me to either not give attention to prayer and the Word or to do so rapidly as if to get it done and off my to-do list for the day... a task, not a delight.  As I pondered this phrase, I was taken back to a familiar story in Luke 10. Jesus has come to the home of Mary, Martha and Lazarus.  Martha is rushing about making sure everything is done... not bad things.. things that need to be dealt with, but that don't have to take priority right then.... they will still be there to do once Jesus has left the house.  Mary, on the other hand, has stopped all her activity and is sitting at the feet of Jesus taking in all He says (Luke 10:39).  Martha continues to work and work and get more frazzled as she has a pity party in her mind about all she is doing and all Mary is not.  She decides to make Jesus aware of the injustice of the situation, but is, no doubt, taken back by His reply:

"Martha, Martha, you are worried and upset about many things but only one thing is needed.  Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her" (Luke 10:41-42)

Today, I want to choose what is better... I want to give attention to prayer and the ministry of the Word.  I pray to have ears that hear and a heart that responds to whatever the Lord calls me to.  I want to be a sheep that knows the Shepherd's voice and responds when He calls.

What will you choose today?

Persevere!

"But the seed on good soil stands for those with a noble and good heart, who hear the word, retain it, and by persevering produce a crop." Luke 8:15

I love the parable of the sower, so as I am reading through the book of Luke I was thrilled to be at chapter 8 this morning.  Every time I read this parable, I pray to be the good soil... to hear the Word, retain it and produce a crop.  But there is one part I feel I overlook... in fact, I think most of us overlook it... "by persevering."

Once again I am reminded that the life lived in Christ is not an easy one. From Genesis to Revelation we are called to persevere.  Be courageous... Trust in the Lord... Stand Firm.... these and similar exhortations say the same thing.. PERSEVERE!

It is key to living a life in Christ.

"Therefore... let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us." 

Heb. 12:1

What the Bible says about itself?

I have started a study on Psalm 119... Sweeter than Chocolate by Pam Gillaspie.  I have only done the first few pages and am already loving it and being challenged by it.  

The first thing we are looking at are the claims the Bible makes about itself. The author of the study wrote:

"If God's Word really is what it claims to be; if it really does what it claims to do, and if you choose to align your life with its claims, it could change your life forever. ...  The questions that at the end of the day will make all the difference are these: Is the Bible actually what it claims to be Does the Bible actually do what it claims to do?  If the answers are yes, we are fools if we don't align ourselves according with its truths.  If the answers are no, we are fools if we bother."

She then asks what I, the seeker, know about the claims the Bible makes about itself?  So I did a quick concordance search and found verses that talk about the Word and made a quick list of some of the things the Bible claims about itself.

Here is what I found...

Deut 8:3b Man does not live by bread alone but on every Word that comes from the mouth of the Lord.  

God's Word is as necessary for me to live as food 

Deut 31:26 The Word of Law (specifically the Torah) is a witness against Israel and really against us also. It is a mirror of how we should live that shows our shortcomings and unrighteousness. (Which sounds awful but hang on there is more!)

Joshua 1:8 (one of my favorite verses) Do not let this book of the Law (again at this point the Torah) depart from your mouth; meditate on it day and night so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful.

Word  = Instructions for me on living

Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth

2 Sam. 22:31 -- The Word of the Lord is FLAWLESS

Ps 19:7-8 .. the Word is perfect, trustworthy, right, radiant.  It revives my soul, makes me wise, give joy to my heart and gives light to my eyes.

v. 9 says it is Sure and altogether righteous.

v. 10 -- it is more precious than gold and sweeter than honey

Ps 119:9 to keep my way pure, I must lie according to the Word

v 11 It keeps me from sinning WHEN it is a part of me

v 105 -- it guides, illuminates

Prov. 30:5 Every word of God is FLAWLESS

Isa 55:11 -- The Word will not come back void.. it will accomplish what God desires and achieve the purpose for which He sent it.

John 1:1 -- the Word has always been and according to v. 14 it became flesh - Jesus!

Luke 21:33 Heaven and Earth will pass away, but my Words will never pass away.

Eph 6:17 -- Sword of the Spirit (our only offensive weapon in the armor of God) is the Word of God.

Phil 2:16 -- It is the Word of Life

Col 3:16 -- It should dwell richly in me.  Col. 3:16 starts with the word LET so it is a choice I make to let it dwell richly in me. How? bu choosing to be in the Word and to have the Word in me!

2 Tim 3:16 - 17 ALL Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness. SO that the man (woman) of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work. 

Heb. 4:12 For the Word of God is living and active, sharper than any double edged sword.  It penetrates even to diving soul and spirit, joints and marrow.  It judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

I believe every one of those claims.. but I have to ask myself if I live like I believe them? Do I live like I believe God and what He says?

Do you?

I would encourage you to take a bit of time and look up what the Bible says about itself.  And then stop and think of each point you find and decide 1) Do you believe it and 2) Do you live like you do

Barb

Marshall Your Troops

God led me to an interesting verse recently... "Marshal your troops, O city of troops, for a siege is laid against us." Micah 5:1

Do you ever read a verse and think "Now where did that come from and what does it have to do with me and my life?"  But knowing that all scripture is God-breathed and useful for teaching, rebuking and correcting.. I knew this one had as much value as all the rest and I was certain God led me there.

So I read it again... Marshal your troops really popped out at me and has stuck with me ... other translations say Muster yourself.. gather... prepare... so I did a bit of digging and found that the Hebrew word used here for Marshal is gadad and it means to penetrate, cut, attack, invade.. it can be to cut into OR to cut oneself, to prune... PRUNE!  That immediately took me to John 15:1-2 where Jesus says "I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit He prunes so that it will be even more fruitful."  

For me, I feel God is saying "There is a battle raging and you need to get it together!  Get rid of all that excess dead stuff in your life that doesn't serve a purpose or glorify me.  Surrender and let me shape you into the person I have planned for you to be as you walk through this battlefield." 

I also like the definition included the word Prepare. We need to be prepared for battle everyday.  The Word tells us we are in a battle and we also know we have weapons to aid us in the fight:

"For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds."  2 Cor. 10:3-4

We need to be in the Word daily... sharpening our swords... making ourselves ready.

Praying your troops are marshaled and you are prepared for the battle... you are in it whether you want to be or not and whether you acknowledge it or not... BUT remember that the victory has been won!

Delight!

I am studying Psalm 1 this week and this morning I was especially drawn to verse 2 where it says "But his delight is on the law of the Lord"... now the but means instead of what verse 1 talks about.. instead of walking in the counsel of wicked, standing in the way of sinners or sitting in the seat of mockers, the blessed man delights in the law of the Lord.

The Hebrew the word for Law refers to the 1st 5 books of the Old Testament.. the Torah.. but we can also look at the Law as the entire Word of God from Genesis to Revelation.

So the question is... do you delight in it?

Jer. 15:16 says "When your words came, I ate them and they were my joy and my heart's delight for I bear your name O Lord God Almighty." Do you feel that way when you read His word.. when a verse pops to mind at just the right time?

Over and over we read about delighting in the Law or in His Word... here are just a FEW verses..

Ps. 112:1 Blessed is the man who fears the Lord, who finds great delight in His commands.

All of these are from Ps. 119 --

v. 16 I delight in Your decrees
v. 24 Your statues are my delight; they are my counsel
v. 35 Direct me in the path of Your commands for there I find delight
v. 47 I delight in Your commands because I love them
v. 70 ... O delight in Your law.
v. 77 ... Your law is my delight
v. 92 If your law had not been my delight, I would have perished in my afflictions

Romans 7:22 For in my inner being I delight in God's law

Don't you want that? to delight in His Word. The key is to spend time in it AND to ask God to make it the delight of your heart. He will do it!

So why should we delight in His Word? Ps. 19:7-11 gives us a few reasons..

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

Add to that the fact that Jesus is the Word made flesh and that the Word endures forever... and the question becomes why NOT delight in it? What better could you delight in?

Oh Father, how I praise You for Your precious Word. You did not leave us to fend for ourselves. You left all we need in the 66 love letters You wrote for us. I pray that our hearts will be drawn to You and to Your Word and that it will be the delight of our hearts. That we cannot get enough of it! Give us a hunger for the things of You, Lord. In Jesus' precious powerful name I pray, Amen.

How much light do you want?

"Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path." Ps. 119:105

I heard a neat analogy in Bible study recently.... if you learn 1 verse a Scripture, it is like having a little penlight to guide you along your path of life. If you have 10 verses memorized, you have a flashlight's worth of light. 100 verses... headlights.... 1000 verses... football stadium lights!

Now the point isn't that you need to learn 1000 verses (although that would be wonderful!), the point is that each verse you read and learn and take with you provides light on your path. So the more verses you have in you, the brighter the light and the clearer the path.

As I was thinking about this a few days later, God brought to mind the fact that Jesus is the Light of the World... He is also the Word made flesh... so the more verses means the more light means more Jesus! How could you not want more of Him in your life? Just imagine how bright your path can be!

Week.... Weak...

A friend recently shared that she saw a sign that said something like "One week without God makes one weak." Cute play on words and very true statement. We need God... we need to meet with Him.. daily.. sometimes hourly, depending on our current circumstance. We need to meet with other believers for fellowship, encouragement, support, and accountability. We need to be in the Word daily and be putting it in us for those moments when we don't have Bible readily available (which is often when the enemy strikes).

If you have been away from God whether for a week or many, many weeks, the great news is He is right there ready to welcome you back with open arms. He wants to spend time with you... all it takes is your willingness to give up some personal time (computer, television, reading, sports, gaming, etc.) to spend with Him. It might be tough at first, but each day it gets easier and easier. I encourage you to spend time in the Word and in Prayer daily... meeting with God. And I encourage you to be connected to and involved with a local church for fellowship. I spent some time away from church. I did not realize how much I was missing until I allowed God to draw me back into a fellowship. We need that....Believers are not meant to fly solo!

Give God your weakness and your week! He will do amazing things with them!

Life Verses

I often hear folks share a special Bible verse and say "That's my life verse". Then today as I was doing some Bible study, the author of the book I am working through suggested that I write out my life verse and memorize it.. and she added if I didn't have a life verse I should pray for God to show me one. I had to laugh a bit at that. If I didn't have one? No, I didn't have one.. I have many!

I don't know if I could sum up my spiritual journey.. past, present or future.. with just 1 verse or even a passage of scripture. About 12 years ago God walked with me through the darkest periods of my life... one I pray to never repeat... trial upon trial hit me over the course of several years... I truly felt I was going to be completely destroyed. I survived and, honestly, came out better in many ways. I don't love that I went through all that.... and some of it was of my own making and left scars not only on me but on people I love... but it truly was like silver being refined. I hit a point where His Word was my life... not just a life verse, but a life line! I spent hours going through the Bible.. searching for promises.. praying and begging Him to lift the darkness... He eventually did.. but not until I came to fully understand the Power of the Word... I know without a shadow of a doubt the reality of Hebrews 4:12...

For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.

Maybe that is my life verse! God's Word is living and active in me... it is what sustains me... I honestly do not know how anyone survives without it.

As I thought this morning about the task at hand.... to write out my Life Verse and memorize it.. I realized I had already done that. During those dark periods I would write out verses.. promises I could pray and claim. I didn't set out to memorize them, but when you live off the Word like I did at that time He writes it on your heart never to be erased. I have continued the practice of making verse cards and carrying them with me. Some I set out to memorize.. others are with me to remind me of something He has promised. Over time I will learn them.

So here are a few... a very few... of my life verses...

Ps. 34:4 I sought the Lord and He answered me, He delivered me from all my fears.

If I honestly had to choose a verse that summed up that dark time this would be it. I remember vividly the moment my eyes were opened to this verse and I memorized it within seconds! I said it so many times over those years. It is a part of my marrow. I am a walking testament to the fact that this verse is true... it is as if I wrote it myself instead of the Psalmist.

Phil. 4:13 I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me.

This is a popular verse... you hear it a lot when someone is asked "What's your favorite Bible verse?" It is one of the few verses I remember memorizing when I was a teen. God took this verse and taught me to personalize it and eventually it became a verb in my life. My family is quite use to hearing me say "We are going to Phil. 4:13 this." That means it might seem un-doable, but we are going to do it with Christ. I share it often with friends... Sue can hold her tongue when she wants to snap back because Christ gives her the strength to do so... Margaret can have peace while waiting on the tests results because Christ, the Prince of Peace, enables her to do so. It is a great ACTIVE verse!

Eph. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us

I am immeasurably more... my parents were told no more children... 1 in a million chance... and my mother mourned that she would never have a daughter. A year later I came along... God taught them a great lesson. And He has taught me many with this verse. When I try to limit Him, He immediately brings this verse to mind. I have seen the immeasurably more... I have seem more than I can ask or imagine... the God I love and trust in is the Eph. 3:20 God!

Zeph. 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you. He will quiet you with His love. And He will rejoice over you with singing.

I have heard this verse for years, but then my kids gave me the CD Glory Revealed. All the songs are Scripture and this is the first one on the CD. I sing this verse more than I say it. The picture it paints in my mind is precious to me. My big strong Daddy God wraps me in His protective arms and with a smile brighter and wider than anything I can imagine He gently strokes my hair and sings to me with a love that is purer and truer than anything I know. When I feel worn out.... useless... ignored... unappreciated... I sing this verse to myself knowing that He is singing to my soul... I just have to listen.

Those are but a few of my life verses. I could go on for days! I challenge you to start digging in the Word and finding your life verses. They are there... you just have to open the book!

Psalms 38, 39 & 40

Written Oct. 20, 2008

Psalm 38 is a powerful Psalm and one I fear most of us cannot relate to. David is in anguish over the sin in his life…

v. 3-5 “Because of Your wrath there is no health in my body my bones have no soundness because of my sin. My guilt has overwhelmed me like a burden too heavy to bear. My wounds fester and are loathsome because of my sinful folly.”

Have you ever felt that way over the sin in your life? I can’t say it causes me anguish and certainly I don’t “go around” all day “mourning: (v. 6)

So should we? I think we should see our sin for what it is and be broken by it. 2 Cor. 7:10 says “Godly sorrow brings repentance that leads to salvation and leaves no regret but worldly sorrow brings death.”

We don’t want worldly sorrow … which is mainly upset for being “caught”… we want Godly sorrow.

I don’t believe we have to mourn all day as David did. We have Jesus and through Him the forgiveness of our sins.

1 John 1:9 promises that “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sings and purify us from all unrighteousness.”

What an awesome promise!

Psalm 39 starts with David trying to do the impossible…

v. 1 “I said, ‘I will watch my ways and keep my tongue from sinning; I will put a muzzle over my mouth.’”

James 3 makes it clear that no one can tame their tongue. Just try and you will quickly see how difficult and impossible this task is in your own strength. Only through God can this happen/

Verses 4 & 5 have come to my mind a number of times lately and I’ve realized what a powerful prayer they are…

Show me, O Lord, my life’s end and the number of my days; let me know how fleeting is my life. You have made my days a mere handbreadth; the span of my years is as nothing before You. Each man’s life is but a breath.

How differently would I live my life if I truly understood how short my time is here on earth?

Yesterday, my pastor told of a man given a terminal diagnosis and how he lived life differently and then he reminded us that we all are terminal and in light of the Kingdom calendar, we will all die soon. We need to live life with that mindset… I need to live life today with that mindset… and every day I have left where I have two days or 40 years.

V. 6 is a picture of the world today…

Man is a mere phantom as he goes to and fro; he bustles about, but only in vain; he heaps up wealth not knowing who will get it.

What a sobering and powerful verse!

“But now, Lord, what do I look for? My Hope is in You!” (v. 7)

The result of that hope is seen in Psalm 40:1-3

I waited patiently for the Lord; He turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; He set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.

David continues in Psalm 40 to talk of the blessings of trusting in the Lord. How different his tone here than in Psalm 38. Ps. 40 is a man who has been forgiven and is back on the right path.

V. 8 is one we should all learn and pray daily “I desire to do Your will, O my God, Your law is within my heart.”

That is key… get in the Word and get the Word in you.. then you will sing a new song like David.

Psalm 33

written Oct. 11, 2008

What a wonderful song of hope! The Psalmist starts off in verse 1 & 2 telling us to "sing joyfully to the Lord"... "praise the Lord" ... and the rest of this Psalm tells us why we are to do this. This Psalm is a picture of who God is and what He has done, is doing and will do. Really just a glimpse of all that for who can really grasp all God is and does!?

v. 4 "The Word of the Lord is right and true" Amen! How wonderful to know that we can stand on the promises knowing they are right and true!

v. 4 "He is faithful in ALL He does"

v. 5 "... the earth is full of His unfailing love"

v. 6-9 is a quick look at creation. I love being reminded that "by the Word of the Lord were the heavens made, their starry hosts by the breath of His mouth .... For He spoke and it came to be; He commanded and it stood firm."

Wow! I am always awed by the truth that God spoke the World into existence... I pray He speaks over me! Zeph. 3:17 tells me that He rejoices over me with singing.. how powerful that is in light of this reminder about the power in His Words.

v. 11 "The plans of the Lord stand firm forever, the purpose of His heart through all generations"

God is not fickle or wishy-washy. He has had a plan from the beginning and He will see it through to the end.

v. 18 "The eyes of the Lord are on those who fear Him, on those whose hope is in His unfailing love."

May I be one whose hope is in His unfailing love!

LOOK UP!

I continue to read through the Psalms.. slowly... and I am enjoying them and all that God is showing me but this morning I was just in need of a personal word... I asked God to give me that... to give me a verse to hang onto this week. I have a very hectic week ahead with lots of extra activity (all good, but still...) and there are some things weighing heavy on my heart right now (I keep giving them to Him and taking them back)... He lead me to read Colossians 3, which is a most awesome passage full of great scriptures... the one that kept ringing in my mind... the one I know was His Word for me... is verse 2 which says "Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things."

A short simple straightforward verse... but wow! It is exactly what I need to do.. what we all need to do.. always! And that is my prayer today... that when I feel the weight of the world creeping in.. when I feel the lures of the world calling me... in the midst of having to be IN this world and surrounded by all that comes with it... I will look up! Not that I won't deal with stuff and people, but my focus will be on things above... my heart set on them.. my hope in HIM!

I pray that for each of you today... LOOK UP! The view is great!

Psalm 19

from Sept. 9, 2008

Psalm 19 is a wonderful song of praise...

v. 1 The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

One need only stop and look at nature to see the truth of this... from amazing, breathtaking sights like the Grand Canyon, Mt. Everest, Red Rocks, the Redwoods in California, the Mississippi River, the Oceans... to small seemingly insignificant daily reminders... a day lily bloom... butterfly... rain shower... leaves on a tree... there is no doubt something greater than man created this world -- this cannot be an accident, happenstance -- especially not with the repeated actions of nature like day and night... seasons... yes, nature screams "Elohim! The Lord our Creator!"

Rom. 1:20 says "For since the creation of the world, God's invisible qualities - His eternal power and divine nature - have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made so that men are without excuse."

And Romans 1:22 - 23 says "Although they claim to be wise, they became fools and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles."

Rom. 1:25 adds. "They exchanges the truth of God for a lie and worshipped and served created things rather than the Creator - who is forever praised, Amen."

Man may not always praise Him -- glorify Him -- but nature does -- it can do nothing less.

We are give a choice - an obvious one!

Ps. 19:7-11 is a wonderful passage which looks at the value -- the awesomeness of God's Word:

The law of the LORD is perfect, reviving the soul. The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy, making wise the simple. The precepts of the LORD are right, giving joy to the heart. The commands of the LORD are radiant, giving light to the eyes. The fear of the LORD is pure, enduring forever. The ordinances of the LORD are sure and altogether righteous. They are more precious than gold, than much pure gold; they are sweeter than honey, than honey from the comb. By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward.

And Psalm 19 ends with a verse I pray often and fail at often... "May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing in Your sight, O Lord, my Rock and my Redeemer."