8/31/09

God is Faithful...

....even when people are not.

Give God the Glory

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see -
how good God is.
Blessed are you who run to Him.
Worship God if you want the best;
worship opens doors to all His goodness.
Psalm 34:8-9

Ascribe to the Lord, O might ones,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name;
worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.
Psalm 29:1-2

Give to the Lord the glory He deserves!
Bring your offering and come into His courts.
Worship the Lord in all His holy splendor.
Let all the earth tremble before Him.
Tell all the nations, "The Lord reigns!"
The world stands firm and cannot be shaken.
He will judge all peoples fairly.
Psalm 96:8-10

He does deserve the glory when it comes to my life. The circumstances in my life aren't on a "random" mode. What happens in my life is all because of God. The bad, the good; it all is His doing. He has blessed me beyond what I dreamed! He has led me through some rough, tough, stuff. But He judges fairly. I can rest in that. Oh...to rest in that and give Him the Glory He deserves.

8/28/09

I Lift Up My Eyes

Being down in the valley, the only way to look is up. So, as I lift my eyes, what do I see?
I see my God reaching down to me.
I see His kindness.
I see His direction and path.
I see the strength to get on that path.
I see forgiveness.
I see a Friend who sticks closer than a brother.
I see love.
Love that He has for me.
Love that I am to have for others.
Lord in You I find a refuge, strong tower, and hope. Amen.
Psalm 121:1-4
I will lift my eyes to the hills
From where does my help come?
My help comes from the Lord,
Who made heaven and earth.
He will not allow your foot to slip;
He who keeps you Israel
Will neither slumber nor sleep.

8/24/09

Sing for Joy

I have a lot to sing priases about. The Lord's faithfulness for sure! But His kindness. His goodness. H e has protected my integrity! He has loved me with an everlasting love! How can I not chose to be joyful?! The circumstances in life are hard sometimes - but we have to make that effort and CHOSE to sometimes be joyful.
O My God! I love You! :-)

May the nations be glad and sing for joy, for You rule the peoples justly and guide the nations of the earth. Psalm 67:4

I will praise You with the harp for Your faithfulness, O my God; I will sing praise to you with the lyre, O Holy One of Israel. My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to You - I, whom You have redeemed. Psalm 71:22-23

8/19/09

The Lord's Enduring Faithfulness

Praise the Lord, all you nations. Praise Him, all you people of the earth. For He loves us with unfailing love; the Lord's faithfulness endures forever. Praise the Lord! Psalm 117:1-2

I have talked about Your faithfulness and saving power. I have told everyone in the great assembly of Your unfailing love and faithfulness....Let Your unfailing love and faithfulness always protect me. Psalm 40:10-11

He gives food to those who fear Him; He always remembers His covenant. He has shown His great power to His people by giving them the lands of other nations. All He does is just and good, and all His commandments are trustworthy. They are forever true, to be obeyed faithfully and with integrity. Psalm 111:5-8

The Lord has always been faithful to me. As I travel through life, the difficulties and troubles seem to just get worse and worse. You think that as a teenager because he doesn't notice you that it is the worst in the world. Then, you grow up and face real battles. God was faithful back then - He is still faithful now. But what gives me hope and assurance is that He will be faithful - forever!!!!

O LORD! Your faithfulness never wavers...ever. Amen.

8/18/09

Helper of the Needy

Psalm 113:7-9
The Lord raises the poor from the dust and lifts the needy from the ash heap, to make them sit with princes, with the princes of His people. He makes the barren woman abide in the house as a joyful mother of children. Praise the Lord!

Psalm 109:30-31
I will give repeated thanks to the Lord, praising Him to everyone. For He stands beside the needy, ready to save them from those who condemn them.

Psalm 116:6-9
The Lord protects those of childlike faith; I was facing death, and He saved me. Let my soul be at rest again, for the Lord has been good to me. He has saved me from death, my eyes from tears, my feet from stumbling. And so I walk in the Lord's presence as I live here on earth!

After seeing a few homeless men in NYC, I am struck that I am not really who some of these psalms are talking about. Praise the Lord that He takes care of His own. When I think of all the people in the world whoa re in physical poverty, I am thankful (overwhelmed!) that Gad has a special place in His heart from them. When I think of the many, many, MANY spiritually poor, I am humbled and motivated to share my heavenly riches with them. I do not have money enough to give to all who are in need of it in the world. I do, however, have the riches from my King to give to them. O Lord, send me to those around me that need You. O Lord, send those around me to me so that I can share with them, You.
Amen.

8/11/09

I Sleep in Peace

O Lord, my sleep is restless and not at all peaceful. My heart is heavy with the burden of losing my friendship. I know that it isn't my choice that the friendship is over. O Lord, hold my heart in Your hands. The depression threatens to over take me. Save me from it. Give me the peace I desperately need! O Lord, may I not rely on my feelings but things I know to be true. May I lay down and sleep then awake again because You have sustained me. Amen.
Lord, be kind to us.
But You have made me very happy,
happier than they are,
even with all their grain and new wine,
I got to bed and sleep in peace,
because, Lord, only You keep me safe.
Psalm 4:6-8
I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill.
I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
Psalm 3:4-5
It is no use for yout o get up early and stay up late...
The Lord gives sleep to thsoe He loves.
Psalm 127:2

8/8/09

Proclaim His Justice

Give great joy to those who came to my defense,
Let them continually say, "Great is the Lord,
who delights in blessing His servant with peace!"
Then I will proclaim Your justice,
and I will praise You all day long.
Psalm 35:27-28

For the word of the Lord is right and true;
He is faithful in all He does.
The Lord loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is full of His unfailing love.
Psalm 33:4-5

God, Your justice reaches to the skies.
You have done great things;
God, there is no one like You.
Psalm 71:19

The Lord works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.
Psalm 103:6

Those who obey God don't fear His justice, but rejoice in it! Those who fear God love His judgments. Even though I have been attacked because I obeyed God, I can still rejoice because He is the ultimate judge. He not only does what is right, but can see inside my heart and see my ultimate obedience. Lord, I surrender my actions and words to You today. I love You and Your justice!
Amen

8/7/09

Bless the Lord, O My Soul

Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And all that is within me, bless His holy name.
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget none of His benefits;
Who pardons all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases;
Who redeems your life from the pit,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion;
Who satisfies your years with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.
Psalm 103:1-5
Hallelujah! Praise God from heaven,
praise Him from the mountaintops;
Praise Him, all you His angels,
praise Him, all you His warriors,
Praise Him, sun and moon,
praise Him, you morning stars;
Praise Him, high heaven,
praise Him, heavenly rain clouds;
Praise, oh let them praise the name of God.
Psalm 148:1-5

O Lord, You are worthy to be praised! You have done such great things in my life. you have saved me. You have forgiven my sins and evil thinking. You have given me a heart of love. You help me to love, even when it seems impossible to love. Let me focus on You this day and all of Your goodness. This life isn't about me or how I feel - it is about You and the work You have for me. O let me bless YOU today - Amen.

O Lord, You are worthy.

For You Jason

Jason, I love you more than words could express. Four years ago today (Aug. 6, 2005) I promised to be your wife. I can't wait for this next year so that I can spend it loving you.

I would walk 1,000 miles
1,000 miles it's true
I would walk 1,000 miles
Just to be with You

'Cause you've got my heart and you've got my soul
You've got this promise too
I would walk 1,000 miles
Just to be with You

If I could live 100 years
Before my life is through
If I could live 100 years
I'd spend them loving You

Cause You've got my heart and you've got my soul
You've got this promise too
If I could live 100 years I'd spend them loving

You If I could write 10,000 songs
10,000 songs it's true
If I could write 10,000 songs
I'd Sing them all for you

'Cause you've got my heart and you've got my soul
You've got this promise too
If I could write 10,000 songs
I'd Sing them all for you

8/6/09

You Are My Strong Tower

Newsboys - "Strong Tower"
Strong and mighty
Strong to save us
Like a fortress
Never failing
Strong in battle
Strong in kindness
When we stray, Lord
You're strong to find us
When the winds come hard against us
You are steadfast, You are true
When the ground beneath us trembles
Your foundation never moves
Strong tower
High and glorious
Strong tower
Mighty in love
Our refuge
Our defender
Strong tower
Lord above
Strong to lead us
Through the shadows
Strong to carry
All our sorrows
When the enemy surrounds us
Closing in as darkness falls
Though his armies rage against us
They can never scale these walls
Strong tower
High and glorious
Strong tower
Mighty in love
Our refuge
Our defender
Strong tower
Lord above
You are my shelter, my shield
You are the home I could never deserve
Here I will serve, ever under Your gaze
Here I will serve, ever singing Your praise
Strong tower
High and glorious
Strong tower
Mighty in love
Our refuge
Our defender
Strong tower
Lord above
Hear my cry, O God;
listen to my prayer.
From the ends of the earth I call to you,
I call as my heart grows faint;
lead me to the rock that is higher than I.
For You have been my refuge,
a strong tower against the foe.
I long to dwell in Your tent forever
and take refuge in the shelter of your wings.
Psalm 61:1-4
Blessed be God, my mountain,
who trains me to fight fair and well.
He's the bedrock on which I stand,
the castle in which I love,
my rescuing knight,
The high crag where I run for dear life,
while He lays my enemies low.
Psalm 144:1-2 The Message

8/5/09

My Provider

The eyes of all look expectantly to You,
And You give them their food in due season.
You open Your hand
And satisfy the desire of every living thing...
The Lord is near to all who call upon Him,
To all who call upon Him in truth.
He will fulfill the desire of those who fear Him;
He also will hear their cry and save them.
Psalm 145:15-16, 17-19 NKJV
God remembered us when we were down,
His love never quits....
Takes care of everyone in time of need,
His love never quits.
Psalm 136:23, 25 THE MESSAGE
Sing to the Lord with Thanksgiving....
Who prepares rain for the earth,
Who makes grass to grow on the mountains.
He gives to the beast its food,
And to the young ravens that cry.
Psalm 147:7-9 NKJV


What does God provide?

The physical: food, clothing, shelter.

The emotional: love, protection, guidance, His presence.

The spiritual: His Son as payment for my sin, a direct access to His throne through prayer, The Holy Spirit to live inside me.

The Lord has provided everything: He is truly a provider. Just as He provided for the children of Israel in the desert...He provides for His children today. Thank God I am a true child of His.

8/4/09

Bless the Lord!

So many reasons to bless the Lord! Sometimes we overlook salvation- thinking not of how great that it is!!! We need not fear death or the unknown. Bless the Lord because nothing is unknown to our Lord! We bless Him for who He is and what He does. What about Him strikes me today? His faithfulness. His tenderness. His presence.

O My God - how my body and mind can rest in safety because You have me and will save me. O, How I Love You!

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice.
My body rests in safety.
For You will not leave my soul among the dead or allow Your holy one to rot in the grave.
You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of Your presence, and the pleasures of living with You forever.
Pslam 16:9-11

Salvation belongs to the Lord.
Your blessing is upon Your people.
Psalm 3:8

Behold, bless the Lord,
All you servants of the Lord,
Who by night stand in the house of the Lord!
Lift up your hands in the sanctuary,
And bless the Lord.
The Lord who made heaven and earth
Bless you from Zion!
Psalm 134:1-3

8/3/09

Walk with the Lord

How do I walk with the Lord? I read His word. How do I know His path for me? I read His word. I long to desire the Word like the psalmist. He sought to read God's word so much that it was his whole life. God's word is the avenue by which I will have peace, know what to do, and ultimately walk with the Lord. I not only need to seek to read, but to let His word seep into every aspect of my life: my relationships, my works, my words, my desires. May all of these things be permeated with God's Word.

O the joys of those who do not follow the advice of the wicked, or stand around with sinners, or join in with mockers.
But they delight in the law of the Lord, meditating on it day and night.
They are like trees planted along the riverbank, bearing fruit each season. Their leaves never wither, and they prosper in all they do.
Psalm 1:1-3 NLT

Lead me in the right path, O Lord....Make Your way plain for me to follow.
Psalm 5:8 NLT

How blessed are those whose way is blameless,
Who walk in the law of the Lord.
How blessed are those who observe His testimonies,
Who seek Him with all their heart.
Psalm 119:1-2 NASB

Desiring God

I want to want God more. I long to have more longing for Him. Only He can statisfy me. Only He can give me peace in my life. I may not feel the peace...but I can know that it is there.

O God, increase my longing for You! You are all that I want in this life. You are the only thing that is worth anything. If all that I have is You, than that is all I need. Thank you for loving me.

For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.
Psalm 84:10 NASB

Lord, I cry out to You, I say "You are my protection. You all I want in this life."
Psalm 142:5 NCV

Teach me Your way, O Lord; I will walk in Your truth; Unite my heart to fear Your name. I will give thanks to You, O Lord my God, with all my heart,
And will glorify Your name forever.
Psalm 86:11-12 NASB

I lift my hands to You in prayer.
As a dry land needs rain, I thirst for you.
Psalm 143:5 NCV