Psalm 107:23-34 - Miracles?

Psalm 107:23-32New International Version (NIV)

23 Some went out on the sea in ships;
    they were merchants on the mighty waters.
24 They saw the works of the Lord,
    his wonderful deeds in the deep.
25 For he spoke and stirred up a tempest
    that lifted high the waves.
26 They mounted up to the heavens and went down to the depths;
    in their peril their courage melted away.
27 They reeled and staggered like drunkards;
    they were at their wits’ end.
28 Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and he brought them out of their distress.
29 He stilled the storm to a whisper;
    the waves of the sea were hushed.
30 They were glad when it grew calm,
    and he guided them to their desired haven.
31 Let them give thanks to the Lord for his unfailing love
    and his wonderful deeds for mankind.
32 Let them exalt him in the assembly of the people
    and praise him in the council of the elders.

The other day I was talking with my sisters about miracles. Do miracles happen today? Are people miraculously healed because they have prayed? Do people find their keys because they prayed to find them? Does God work that intricately in our lives? I think yes and no. I think miracles are for God's purposes, not mans. The passage above to me perfectly explains a miracle. The Israelites were rebellious and God was attempted many things to bring them back to him. He put them in a situation of peril and when they cried out to him, he rescued them. It was a miracle! He calmed the seas! They gave thanks to the Lord. So, do miracles happen today? I think yes, but God's not our miracle maker in the sky. Miracles are for his purposes.

Lord, thank you for showing us examples of miracles in the Bible. Please help us to rely on you for all things and trust in you always. Amen.

Psalm 107:14 - Chains

He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
     and broke away their chains.

We all have chains. Chains of addiction, sorrow, pain or trouble. But when we allow God to bring us out of the darkness and into his glorious light, he also helps us break our chains. Chains don't always break overnight and if you are like me, you have a tendency to go back and put the chains back on, but with the hope of heaven in our sight, we know that these chains are not our master and one day we will be made perfect and chain free when we are with God.

Lord, thank you for bringing us out of the slavery of sin, Please help us to continually rely on you to remove our chains. Amen.

Luke 2:11 - Merry Christmas and remember those who have to work today

Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.

Merry Christmas to everyone!! I hope you have a wonderful day of celebration. Remember all of those who have to work on this holiday: health care workers, civil servants (police and fire), military personnel, hospitality (restaurants, hotels, entertainment) workers, retail workers, preachers (this year especially since Christmas is on Sunday) and any body else who has to work on the holiday.  I have worked every Christmas day for the last 6 years. For me Christmas has become a day of service in addition to a day of celebration.

Lord, thank you for special days, especially Christmas when we celebrate the birth of Jesus. Please bless everyone, especially those who have to work today. Amen.

Psalm 106:13 - God's timing

But they soon forgot what he had done
     and did not wait for his plan to unfold.

Psalm 106 tells of the repeated forgetfulness of the Israelites. So many times God's people disobeyed him and broke their covenant with him. They repeated the cycle over and over of disobedience, struggle, and returning to God. We also quickly forget what God has done for us: how he has made a plan for the forgiveness of our sins, helped us and comforted us. Then we get impatient and forgetful and rebel again. God's plan is not something we always see. We have to focus on God regardless of our circumstances and wait on his timing.

Lord, thank you for your plan. Please help us to be patient and fully reliant on you. Amen.

Psalm 105:25 - Hate...for a purpose?

whose hearts he turned to hate his people,
     to conspire against his servants.

Psalm 105 is a brief history of the Jewish people from Joseph to Moses and the exodus from Egypt. Verse 25 explains that God turned the hearts of the Egyptians against his people. It is frustrating when someone doesn't like us. It may not be as extreme as and entire nation hating another, but either way it can make our lives miserable. We may question ourselves and allow it to destroy our lives. But we never know what God's plans are. In the case of the Israelites, God was actually causing the hate. It was a part of his plan to get his people out of Egypt. God can use any negative in our lives for good. Sometimes we see the final result and it all makes sense. Sometimes we don't, but the thing to remember is our job is to focus on God and glorifying his name.

Lord, thank you for your plan in our lives. Please help us to be patient and focus on you when life is difficult. Amen.

Psalm 104:14-15 - The glories of everyday life

He makes grass grow for the cattle,
     and plants for people to cultivate—
     bringing forth food from the earth:
wine that gladdens human hearts,
     oil to make their faces shine,
     and bread that sustains their hearts.

Meat, fruit & vegetables, wine, oil and bread. Psalm 104 expounds on the glories God in of every day life: light, weather, water, food, trees, birds, animals, work, the sea. How God has set these things in motion and keeps them moving forward. I have missed my study the last two days and was considering taking a break for Christmas, but if I stop, it may be hard to begin again. Motion begets motion.

Lord, thank you for the glories of every day life we often take for granted. Please help us to continually recognize and praise you. Amen.

Psalm 103:8 - The great example

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
     slow to anger, abounding in love.

The Lord is a great example for us. God loves us and is compassionate and gracious towards us. He is so patient and is slow to anger. The other day at Wal-mart my son and I were making a large purchase of Christmas gifts for a family in need. While we were patting ourselves on the back for helping others, the cashier was really not helpful regarding a few pricing issues. While I ran through the store to get another item with the correct bar code, I had to remind myself to be kind and not get angry. In our interactions with family, fellow Christians, co-workers, store clerks, waiters, and any others we come across as we go about our lives, lets remember to be compassionate, gracious, slow to anger and abounding in love.

Lord, thank you for leading by example and treating us as we should treat others. Please help us to follow through treat others with the love you show us. Amen.

Psalm 102:25-26 - What is reality?

In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth,
     and the heavens are the work of your hands.
They will perish, but you remain;
     they will all wear out like a garment.
 Like clothing you will change them
     and they will be discarded.

We place a lot of faith in this world, on this earth. We rely on what we see and know, what we can touch and feel. This is reality...for now. But this is not reality for God. God's reality is so much more than we can imagine. This world is just here today and gone tomorrow, like a garment that is worn a while, then thrown out. The questions from here get so big, my brain can hardly formulate them,

Lord, thank you for the mystery of you. Please help us to look beyond our daily reality and know that your reality is more than we can fathom. Amen.

Psalm 102:2 - Sending up an SOS

Do not hide your face from me
     when I am in distress.
Turn your ear to me;
     when I call, answer me quickly.

There are times when there is nothing we can do but pray. We don't know how to solve the problem. We're not even sure what the solution is. But with faith in God, we know he hears, we know he sees us in our distress. We know he will take care of us.

Lord, thank you for the assurance of your help. Please be patient with us when we are crying out to you, feeling abandoned and hopeless. Amen.

Psalm 101:2 - Blameless

I will be careful to lead a blameless life—
     when will you come to me?
I will conduct the affairs of my house
     with a blameless heart.

Those who claim to be Christians are working toward this goal: we want to be blameless. We want to lead a blameless life and have a blameless heart. Perfection is a goal we won't achieve until we are with God in heaven, we are all sinners, but hopefully every day we are making progress in our obedience to God.

Lord, thank you for your promise of being with you in heaven. Until that time, please help me to live a blameless life. Amen.

Psalm 100:2 - Gladness

Worship the Lord with gladness;
     come before him with joyful songs.

In this holiday season, let us be ever joyful, glad while we are worshiping and as we are going about our daily lives.

Lord, thank you for being an awesome God so worthy of our joy and gladness. Help us to share that joy and gladness with others. Amen.

Psalm 99:3 - Awesome

Let them praise your great and awesome name—
     he is holy.

A few years ago the I heard a minister talk about the word "awesome" and how we use it so flippantly. "Wow, this pizza is totally awesome!" He suggested that this word should be reserved for things that truly are worthy of the expression. The Lord God Almighty is awesome!!

Lord, thank you for being so amazing we need words like awesome to describe you. Please help us to offer you the holy praise and reverence due to you. Amen.

Psalm 98:5-6 - Make music

make music to the Lord with the harp,
     with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn—
     shout for joy before the Lord, the King.

Musical instruments in worship...some people are for it and some are against it. I know we don't have any New Testament examples of worship with instruments, but I think this Old Testament verse assures us that God is praised with this form of worship as well. Honestly, I am happy to worship without instruments (which is what we do at the church where I am a member). I love the four part harmony and I think God is greatly praised and pleased with our voice offering. I also believe a church with a band can make an offering of song equally acceptable to the Lord.

Lord, thank you for giving us the gift of music so that we can return that gift to you. Please help us to rightly present this offering to you. Amen.

Psalm 97:6 - God made it!

The heavens proclaim his righteousness,
     and all peoples see his glory.

I saw this cartoon posted on Facebook earlier today, then I read my psalm for the day and the two went perfectly together. This psalm mentions the earth, shores, clouds, darkness, fire, lightning, mountains and the heavens rejoicing and proclaiming his name.

Lord, thank you for the gorgeous creation you have made. Please help all to see your hand in the majesty of this earth. Amen.

Psalm 96:2 - Day after day

Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
     proclaim his salvation day after day.

How often do we spend time singing to God and praising his name? How often do we proclaim his salvation? Sometimes we are content to focus on God only once or twice a week, or once or twice a month or even once or twice a year. God deserves our praise every day. We should be talking about salvation day after day.

Lord, thank you for being so worthy of our praise and for salvation. Please help us to daily praise you and share your salvation. Amen.

Ephesians 4:32 - Holiday stress

Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.

The holiday season can be a very stressful time of year. Let's all remember to be kind and compassionate to each other,

Lord, thank you for being the great example of kindness, compassion and forgiveness. Help us to offer these to our fellow humans. Amen.

Matthew 28:18-20 - Bible Study Challenge Day 7

18 Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”

Question 1 - Where are the lost?

They are everywhere, all nations, including those who live near us.

Question 2 - How can we reach them?

We can reach them by teaching them to obey everything God commands. We have to seek out people in the world. Find people who are struggling and looking for answers. If we live as a Christian example, some people may come to us looking for the reason for our joy and faith.

Question 3 - Why do we not seek them out?

Fear. We are scared people will say no and think we are bugging them. They might think we are a hypocrite if we say we are a Christian, yet are not perfect. We might be sacred they will ask something we don't know the answer to. 

Lord, thank you for trusting us with this commission. Please help us to go out and make disciples. Amen. 

Matthew 5:13-16 - Bible Study Challenge Day 6

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.  “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

John liked The Message version of part of verse 13 "You’re here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth."

Question 1 - Why was salt so important when this was written?
(This one is all John!) Because salt preserved food.  All through history the availability of salt has been pivotal to civilization. The word "salary" comes from the Latin word for salt because the Roman Legions were sometimes paid in salt, which was quite literally worth its weight in gold. In Britain, the suffix "-wich" in a placename means it was once a source of salt, as in Sandwich and Norwich.

Question 2 - How will you let your light shine this week?
John said he is giving platelets and sharing his good health with others. I enjoy writing this blog and posting only uplifting things on Facebook. Another way we both let our light shine is at work. He works with college students and I work with seniors with memory care issues and we both have co-workers. I think the people we work with know us better than most people because we go through so much together and reveal our true selves to them. Our reactions to situations are key in showing who we really are and letting our light shine or not.

Question 3 - How can someone's seeing your Christian example help them to glorify Christ?
When we are open about our Christianity, there are others around us who may also be Christians, but are not as open with their faith. We give them the OK to act like a Christian, that they are not going to be belittled or persecuted for their beliefs. They are comfortable talking to us about faith and this may encourage us both to grow stronger and more bold in glorifying Christ.

Lord, thank you for making us salt to season and light to shine. Please help us to use our saltiness and light to glorify you. Amen.

Matthew 6:19-24 - Bible Study Challenge Day 5

19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!

24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.

Question 1 - What treasures do we lay up here on earth?
Out treasures can be stuff. We fill our lives and houses with stuff. In the last few day I have spent a bunch of money on a bunch of stuff. It is easy to find our value in the stuff we purchase. Our treasures may be the things/activities we give our time and effort to, especially if it is more time and effort than we give to God. Our treasure may be our savings or retirement account. It's good to think ahead, be prepared and plan to take care of ourselves when we retire, but investments can fail, big expenses can drain us financially and all can be lost. We must be careful we are putting our trust and value in God, not our savings.

Question 2 - How can we keep the light in us?
We are a vessel for light. The more broken we are, the more light gets out to share with the world. We must fill our vessel daily/hourly through prayer, study and meditation, by believing and trusting in God.

Question 3 - Who or what competes to be our master?
So many things!!! Anything we obey rather than God. This could be our job, spouse, children, presidents, food and other addictions, money, etc...

Matthew 23:25-28 - Bible Study Challenge Day 4

“Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence. Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.  “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of the bones of the dead and everything unclean. In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.

Question 1 - How are we guilty of only cleaning the outside* of the cup?
We look the part of Christians and we want others to think well of us, Our body/actions project one image and our minds maybe another. We may have hidden sin we don't want anyone to know about. Maybe we focus on "Checklist Christianity" and do all the right things, but we have not allowed God to really pierce our heart.

Question 2 - Where do we show greed and self-indulgence?
Too much of too much...food, money, stuff, coffee, business, work, co-dependency on others, drugs, alcohol, etc... We focus on what "I want." This is dangerous because we can argue and convince ourselves anything is OK. Moderation is the key.

Question 3 - How can we be righteous inside and out?
The scripture says, "First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean." If we are focusing on God and allowing the spirit to work in our hearts and minds, then we won't have to worry about our appearance to others. We will look like a Christian because we are a Christian.

Lord, thank you for helping us to evaluate ourselves. Please keep our minds focused on you and your will, so that your spirit can impact our heart and mind, Amen.

*I think the author meant outside, not inside.

Matthew 5:11-12 - Bible Study Challenge Day 3

“Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Question 1 - How are we persecuted as Christians today?

We are persecuted when our government creates laws which do not allow us to follow our beliefs, when people make fun of our lifestyle and when we loose out on jobs and opportunities because of our faith.

Question 2 - What are the blessings that come from persecution?

Our openly displayed faith may not make us popular, but that may help keep us away from some temptations. Also, some doors may be shut because of our beliefs, but God will open other doors. The world may not acknowledge our sacrifice, but Heaven and God applaud us when we are persecuted.

Question 3 - How can we rejoice and be glad in the face of persecution?
We can know we are doing the right thing and that it is God they are rejecting, not us. We can be proud that people are noticing that we are Christians!

Lord, thank you for helping us to see the blessings in persecutions. Please help us to let our light shine and not be concerned about the negative consequences, Amen.

Matthew 11:16-19 - Bible Study Challenge Day 2

Read Matthew 11:16-19.

Question 1 - What was the relationship between John the Baptist and Jesus? (Luke 1:20-56)
They were cousins. John was a few months older and sent by God to prepare the people for the coming of Christ Jesus. John preached in the wilderness and baptized for repentance. Jesus was the son of God and provided salvation for all.

Question 2 - What would you compare our generation to?
This generation is all about instant gratification. We don't want to wait for anything.

Question 3 - What would a modern day comparison of a "drunkard" and "tax collector" be? Should we befriend them? Why or why not?
Modern day comparisons might be drug addicts and con-men or white collar criminals. If we are strong enough in our faith to resist the sins they are partaking in, then we may be called to associate with one of these groups of people in an effort to share the gospel with them (being in the world, but not of the world). I think we have to be careful to help when God is ready for us to help, but not enable them by "over-helping" when they face problems.

Lord, Thank you for being patient with us. Help us to wait for you and your will in all aspects of life. Amen.

Matthew 26:36-42 - Bible Study Challenge Day 1

This morning at church, our minister issued us a challenge: A Seven Day Family Bible Study. I study most mornings and post here on my blog, so this week my blog will serve to answer this challenge.
Each day, my husband John and I will read the verses and answer the questions listed in the study. I challenge you to read along with us and answer the questions for yourself before reading our thoughts. Day one is below.

Question 1 - Why was Jesus sorrowful?
Jesus knew what was about to happen. He knew the pain and agony he was going to feel, physically and spiritually. He knew what he was going to have to deal with, yet he was willing to do God's will.

Question 2 - How does Jesus teach obedience in this passage?
He is willing to do what God requires, even if he doesn't want to. He wants to follows God's will not his. He prays for a way to change the situation, but is accepting of God's plan.

Question 3 - When was a time you prayed to God like Jesus does here?
We both thought of times when we were praying for children. Parents love their children and want good things for them, but sometimes we have to allow God to work in their lives, which may may be hard for them and difficult for us to watch.

Lord, thank you for showing us such an example of obedience from your son. Please help us to always accept your will. Amen.

 

Psalm 95:7-8 - Hear his voice

Today, if only you would hear his voice,
     “Do not harden your hearts

I believe hearing God is essential. Before you even begin your walk with God, he will draw you to him, if you will only listen with your heart. While you are on our spiritual journey, he continues to guide you, you just have to open his word and your mind. As a Christian, you are instructed by his word and through the meditation of your heart-being still and hearing his voice.

Lord, thank you for speaking to us. Please help us to hear your voice. Amen

Psalm 94:19 - Anxiety

When anxiety was great within me,
     your consolation brought me joy.

I learned something the other day I need to share to correct some of my earlier blog posts. David did not write all the psalms. Some of the psalms say "Of David," some say others, some don't give an author. So...I just thought I needed to clear that up.

Psalm 94 focuses on the cries of an oppressed people. Today, my life is so easy and I have never lived as an oppressed person, but I can imagine how much comfort the Jews in concentration camps in WWII took from these passages. I have nothing like the anxiety I know they must have felt, but if God can bring consolation to anxiety on that level, then he can surely ease my anxiety and bring me joy.

Lord, thank you for consoling us in our anxiety. Please help us to rely on you with the anxieties in our life. Amen.

Psalm 93:3-4 - Pounding Waves

The seas have lifted up, Lord,
     the seas have lifted up their voice;
     the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
     mightier than the breakers of the sea—
     the Lord on high is mighty.

I thought this was such a beautiful passage. Reading these verses has the pattern of ocean waves breaking on the shore. David was such a great writer! This holiday week, I know several people who are spending time near the ocean. If you are, listen to the waves crash on the beach as you read this passage. If you are not near the beach, watch or listen to this video while you read the passage, then imagine yourself at the beach. The Lord on high is mighty!

Lord, thank you for your beautiful word. Please help us to relish in the glory of your word. Amen.

Ocean Waves You Tube Video
(There will probably be a commercial first.)

Psalm 92:14 - Useful

They will still bear fruit in old age,
     they will stay fresh and green,

In this psalm, the righteous are being compared to a tree. As long as we let him, God will make us a useful, vibrant part of his kingdom.

Lord, thank you for allowing us to grow in your house. Please help us to become and remain useful and vibrant. Amen.

Psalms 91:4 - Refuge

He will cover you with his feathers,
     and under his wings you will find refuge;
     his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.

Sometimes we just want to feel safe. We want to feel wanted, comforted and at home. God is that safe haven for us. He is our refuge. He will always accept us, no matter what, no matter what we have done, no matter who we have hurt, no matter who has hurt us, God will take us in. When we give up and give in to him, we have found our refuge.

Lord, thank you for being our refuge. Help us to give in to you. Amen,

Psalm 90:17 - Purpose

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
     establish the work of our hands for us—
     yes, establish the work of our hands.

We all want to know why we are here. What is my purpose? What am I supposed to be doing? I have chased a lot of different kinds of "work" and have never felt like I have known what I was meant to be doing. So today, I pray this prayer, "establish the work of my hands." In the mean time, I will just keep doing what is in front of me as if I am doing it for the Lord.

Lord, thank you for loving each of us. Please establish the work of my hands, I want to do your will and what you intend for me to be doing. Amen.

It also occurred to me this verse might be meaningful for those looking for a job.

Lord, thank you for giving us strong bodies and willing hands. Please bless those looking for a work with a job they will enjoy and which pays well. Amen.

Psalm 90:15 - Life, a curse or a blessing

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
     for as many years as we have seen trouble.

This is kind of a strange statement, but I get it. Life is so full of trouble, pain and sorrow. It is an affliction. Yet we ask God to help us see this affliction as a blessing and to be glad.

Lord, thank you for life, with all it's trouble. Please help us to see every year as a blessing. Amen.

Ephesians 3:16-17a - My prayer for you

I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith.

On Sunday at Webb Chapel Church of Christ, our lesson was on prayer. A challenge was issued for us to write out a prayer to God,, praying for a specific person, then give the written prayer to them. This is sort of a answer to that challenge. I am praying this prayer, as Paul prayed this for the Ephesian church, for you.

Lord, I pray that out of your glorious riches you may strengthen whoever is reading this prayer with power through your Spirit in their inner being, so that Christ may dwell in their hearts through faith. Amen.

Psalm 89:21 - God will take care of him

My hand will sustain him;
     surely my arm will strengthen him.

When someone you love is struggling, it is hard to watch. When you have hopes and dreams for them and you see some of those hopes and dreams falling away, it is so disappointing. But I have to remember, God is in control. He will sustain and strengthen them. He will let the things happen that need to happen. I am not in control of the situation and worry will not help. Look for the blessings within each disappointment and manage our expectations.

Lord, thank you for taking care of those we love. Please help them to reach out for your sustenance and strength. Amen.

Psalm 88:13 - Help!

But I cry to you for help, Lord;
     in the morning my prayer comes before you.

I have several things weighing very heavy on my heart this morning. Verse 3 of this psalm sums it up well, "I am overwhelmed by troubles." They are all things which I have almost no control over, so handing them over to God is really the only constructive option.

Lord, thank you for your omnipotent power and control over all things. Please help me and the situation which are overwhelming me. Amen.

Psalm 87:6 - Register of the peoples

The Lord will write in the register of the peoples:
     “This one was born in Zion.”

At the time this verse was written, "one born in Zion" meant an Israelite. Genealogies were very important because they established citizenship in the Israelite nation. As Christians, we have spiritual birth in Zion. Heaven is our spiritual home. We are written in the "book of life/register of the peoples."

Lord, thank you for offering us spiritual citizenship in your kingdom. Please help us to live as members of your family. Amen.

Psalm 86:16 - Thank you for my mom

Turn to me and have mercy on me;
     show your strength in behalf of your servant;
save me, because I serve you
     just as my mother did.

Reading through the Psalms, there is a lot of similar sounding text. When something is different, it grabs my attention. I loved the last phrase of the verse above, "just as my mother did." Did your mom serve God? Mine does. She is a wonderful example of how to live a Godly life of service. In this season of Thanksgiving, I would like to thank God for my mom. I serve God "just as my mother did".

Lord, thank you for my mother, a servant of Christ. Please help me to serve you just as she does. Amen.

Psalm 86:4 - Trust brings joy

Bring joy to your servant, Lord,
     for I put my trust in you.

On Wednesday night in Ladies class at church, we are studying One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp. Last week we talked about how when we trust God, we are given joy. The verse today echos this. When we trust God, we are giving up control and worry. In return we are able to relax and see the good in all things. We can be thankful for all things: for plenty and not enough, for health and sickness. I trust you God!

Lord, thank you for giving us joy. Please help us trust in you. Amen.

Psalm 85:12 - A Thanksgiving Verse

The Lord will indeed give what is good,

     and our land will yield its harvest.

Lord, thank you for the harvest and all that is good. Please help us to be always mindful of the blessings you give us. Amen.

Psalm 84:2 - My new favorite psalm

My soul yearns, even faints,

     for the courts of the Lord; 

my heart and my flesh cry out

     for the living God.
What a beautiful psalm! I believe this is my new favorite psalm. Psalm 84 focuses on heaven. Verse 5 calls our journey to Zion a pilgrimage. Verse 7 says we go from "strength to strength" on this journey. And I love verse 10: "Better is one day in your courts than a thousand elsewhere; I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of the wicked." Maybe I should have just printed out the whole psalm...or you could read it.

Lord, thank you for the promise of heaven, it keeps us going each day. Please help us to keep this heavenly focus at all times. Amen.

Psalm 83:18 - The purpose of overcoming enemies

Let them know that you, whose name is the Lord—
     that you alone are the Most High over all the earth.

In Psalm 83, David is asking God to defeat his enemies, but I like the last verse the best. If all we do is for the glory of God, then even the defeat of our enemies takes on new meaning. It's not about us and what we want, it's about God, bringing him glory and making his name known.

Lord, thank you for coming to us in our times of need. Please help us to do all things to your glory. Amen,

Psalm 82:1 - A verse for TODAY!!

God presides in the great assembly;

     he renders judgment among the “gods”:

This is a very timely verse. I was a little confused by this psalm, so I checked on some commentaries to help me out. In the verse above "gods" refer to human rulers and judges. This verse reassures us that God is in control. Those in power answer to a higher power, a judge of judges. The rest of Psalm 82 gives instruction to those in power and reminds them of how little they know. Verse 5 states: “The ‘gods’ know nothing, they understand nothing. They walk about in darkness; all the foundations of the earth are shaken." Sounds like our current election situation...

Lord, Thank you for presiding over the "gods" of this earth. Please help our rulers and judges. Amen.

Psalm 81:11-12 - Does God give up on us?

“But my people would not listen to me;
     Israel would not submit to me.
So I gave them over to their stubborn hearts
     to follow their own devices.

God gives us free will. He lets us choose if we are going to follow him or not. In the form of friends, family members and kind strangers, he comes to us, sharing the good news of Christ sacrifice for our sins. As with the Israelites in this Psalm, his pursuit of us will cease and he will allow us to make our choice and do what we want. The door remains open, but we have to walk through it.

Lord, thank you for giving us chance after chance to come to you. Please help us to seek a relationship with you. Amen.

Psalm 80:3, 7 & 19 - Routine maintenance

Restore us, O God;
     make your face shine on us,
     that we may be saved.

This verse is repeated three times in this Psalm, probably sort of like a chorus. I think is is appropriate for it to be repeated because we are in constant need of restoration. I have learned this lesson the hard way in the restoration of our house. We have been very neglectful of  routine maintenance on our house over the last 10 years or so. We are paying the price now. We are not just painting walls and redoing floors, we are having to rebuild some walls, floors, roofs and ceilings because we did not make it a point to constantly restore our home. Our lives are this way. If we regularly ask God for restoration and forgiveness, if we stay in regular contact with him, our relationship with him will mature and strengthen. If we let things go, we will have to do some tearing down and rebuilding.

Lord, thank you for your constant restoration. Please help us to come to you often and allow us to mature and strengthen. Amen.

Psalm 79:9 - For God's glory

Help us, God our Savior,

     for the glory of your name; 

deliver us and forgive our sins

     for your name’s sake.

It's all about bringing glory to God, even asking for help and forgiveness is about God's glory. 

Lord, thank you for helping us and forgiving us. Please let this bring glory to your name. Amen.

Psalm 78:38-39 - Mercy

Yet he was merciful;
     he forgave their iniquities
     and did not destroy them.
Time after time he restrained his anger
     and did not stir up his full wrath.
He remembered that they were but flesh,
     a passing breeze that does not return.

Time and again the Israelites disappointed God. Over and over they were unfaithful and rebellious. They constantly complained and sinned. Sounds like us. Thankfully, God is merciful. He understands we are human. He knows our short-comings better than we do. God has a plan to deal with our sin. Jesus Christ, his son, came to the earth and died on a cross, taking on all our sins. One perfect sacrifice. We only have to recognize our sin and accept this gift of mercy through baptism. Even as a Christian we will continue to sin, but God;s Spirit will live in us and help us to grow more like Christ every day.

Lord, thank you for your perfect plan of mercy. Please help us to sin less often. Amen.

Psalm 78:4 - Heritage of faith

We will not hide them from their descendants;
     we will tell the next generation
the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord,
     his power, and the wonders he has done.

The first 8 verses of  the 78th Psalm emphasize the importance of telling the next generation the amazing deeds God has done. As a follower of God, it is our responsibility to continue this "heritage of faith." It is a blessing to our children to teach them the stories of the Bible. We all have stories of the amazing deeds God has done in our lives to share.  How amazing to see our children, or others we have taught, become our brother or sister in Christ!

Lord, thank you for those who shared their faith with us. Please help us to pass it on. Amen.

Psalm 77:12 - When in doubt...

I will consider all your works
     and meditate on all your mighty deeds.”

Psalm 77 begins with doubt. David can't sleep and is in distress. He asks God if he has left. But the remedy to this is to meditate on God's miracles and mighty works. David thinks about the ways in which God has saved his people in the past. We can do the same thing. If we are worried or doubtful, think about the ways he has helped you in the past. Remember a time when he performed a miracle in your life. If you don't have this kind of history with God, find someone who does and allow their faith to teach you and lead you to Christ.

Lord, thank you for giving us a solution for doubt. Help us to meditate on your mighty deeds. Amen.