Psalm 134 - It's NOT How You Start.....

It has been so long since I have posted a blog to my psalter page that I just spent the last half hour trying to figure out how to log back in!!!  Can it really be two and one-half years since I first committed to blogging each and every one of the psalms?  Where DOES the time go????

Maybe it is true what they say, "it isn't how we start but how we finish" -- As we are approaching the end of yet another year, I will once again commit to finishing what I started.   

I NEED THIS much more than anyone that might look on and read along!  

Psalm 134

A song of ascents.

 ¹ Praise the LORD, all you servants of the LORD
   who minister by night in the house of the LORD.
² Lift up your hands in the sanctuary
   and praise the LORD.

 ³ May the LORD bless you from Zion,

   he who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

My prayers to family and friends as we embark on 2012.... "May the Lord bless you....He who is the Maker of heaven and earth!"

Psalm 133 - UNITY

 ¹ How good and pleasant it is
   when God’s people live together in unity!
³b For there the LORD bestows his blessing,
   even life forevermore. 



AMEN! AMEN!

If we want God's promised blessing we must put aside selfish motives and seek to live in peace with one another!!!

There ARE conditions to receiving the promises of God --

2 Chronicles 7:14 says:

IF my people, who are called by my name, 

will humble themselves and pray and seek my face 

and turn from their wicked ways, 

THEN will I hear from heaven 

and will forgive their sin and will heal their land. 

Are we willing to do OUR part?

Psalm 132 - The Lord is Not Slow in Keeping His Promises

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v11    The LORD promised David what would happen.
     He will not turn from it.
 
     The light of my Messiah will never go out. 

2 Peter 3:9 says:  "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promises, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you not wanting anyone to perish but everyone to come to repentance."

I looked up the definition of a PROMISE and was drawn to this one: 

an indication of something favorable to come. 

When having conversations with friends and colleagues I notice that we often are wanting and wishing to be at another point in time...  

 
We long for: 

"this week to be over" 

"the job to be complete" 

"the kids to be on their own" 

"the hurt to be healed" 

"this or that person to do this or that"

The list goes on and on.....  

  
We never seem to be quite satisfied with where we are!!

Scripture tells us that in Phillipians 4:19: 

"My God will supply all your needs according to HIS riches in Christ Jesus" . 

THAT is a promise from some VERY DEEP pockets!

Embrace today ! 

Embrace the moment!  

Believing something favorable is on the horizon,

Look for His promises in your TODAY!

He promises to deliver and WILL NOT turn from it! 
The light of my Messiah will NEVER go out!

Psalm 131 - In You Lord, I Have Found Peace

 ___________________________

 ¹ My heart is not proud, LORD,
   my eyes are not haughty; 
   I do not concern myself with great matters
   or things too wonderful for me.


² But I have calmed and quieted myself,
   I am like a weaned child with its mother;
   like a weaned child I am content.


 ³ Israel, put your hope in the LORD
   both now and forevermore.


Life is filled with so  much to do:.

Decisions to make ~

Tasks to be done~

Problems to solve ~  

Schedules to meet ~

For just a few moments, take the opportunity to calm and quiet your soul.  Do not concern yourself with contemplating and fretting over any "great matters" or solving any of  life's dilemma; but, like a child that is totally dependent on the protection and care of its mother, curl up in the arms of peace and love and total contentment and REST!

Psalm 130 - More than a Watchman...

¹ Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD;

 ² Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive
   to my cry for mercy.


 ³ If you, LORD, kept a record of sins,
   Lord, who could stand? 

⁴ But with you there is forgiveness,
   so that we can, with reverence, serve you. 

 ⁵ I wait for the LORD, my whole being waits,
   and in his word I put my hope. 

⁶ I wait for the Lord
   more than watchmen wait for the morning,
   more than watchmen wait for the morning. 

 ⁷ Israel [church], put your hope in the LORD,
   for with the LORD is unfailing love
   and with him is full redemption. 

⁸ He himself will redeem Israel [the church]
   from all their sins. 


*******     
Adapted from The Complete Personalized Promise Bible    

Declaration of Faith for the Church ~
[We] are redeemed from all of our sins. God's unfailing love saw its way to [us] and has erased EVERYTHING that could hinder [our] success.  [We] have full redemption - not a partial redemption, but a full, ample, complete and abundant redemption that covers [us] in every area of our life!


We wait!  More than a watchman waiting for morning.....

Psalm 129 - Down But Not Out

Today is Ash Wednesday, a day traditionally known as the beginning of Lent when many devote the next 40 days to sacrificing something for the sake of Christ.  I realize that this practice is mostly observed by the Catholic faith (as well as Methodist, Lutherans, and Anglicans - of which I am not) but, I'm wondering if I can use this next 40 days and instead of just "giving" up something - accomplish something! 

I wonder if I can blog for at least 21 of the 40 days and complete my task of blogging each and every chapter of Psalm. 

I'm giving it a go!!!  

************
Two years ago today, my mother lost most all of her worldly possessions when fire completely destroyed her house and belongings.  Thankfully (and miraculously) she was spared and was left with the task of picking up the pieces and beginning again at the age of 83.  But, she is a tough ole bird!

This is what comes to mind when reading Chapter 129:

 ¹ “They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”
   let Israel say;

² “they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,
   but they have not gained the victory over me.

³ Plowmen have plowed my back
   and made their furrows long.

⁴ But the LORD is righteous;
   he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.” .... 

There are many times that it seems that all is against us. 

Circumstances appear bleak,

Life seems oppressive

We strain under our load! 

 

"BUT"--  (what a great word that says "HOLD ON... We aren't done yet!")  

"The Lord is righteous.."

 

"He WILL cut us free from the cords of the wicked"

Yes, we may be down ----
But we are NOT out!!

Psalm 127 - Children, Our Heritage

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 ³ Children are a heritage from the LORD,
   offspring a reward from him.
⁴ Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
   are children born in one’s youth.
⁵ Blessed is the man
   whose quiver is full of them.


Interesting!

The last few days, I have had the opportunity to sit and just ponder the nuggets of information and spiritual insight that were uncovered at this month's women's worship service - Thirsty Thursday.  Our speaker, Lisa, boldly removed her mask of veiled spirituality and shared with the us the reality of the hard aches and heartaches of child (and adult-child) rearing.  She encouraged and challenged us to be REAL in our relationships - with each other, our families,  and with our God.  We must stop pretending that, because we are "Christian", we should have ALL the answers or should be (or pretend to be) "perfect".  

My mother always said that I would pay for my raising.... 
Contrary to vs. 3, sometimes the circumstances we endure with our children do not feel like we are being "rewarded" ......However, in the midst of the hours of worry and disappointment are countless hours of pride and comfort!  I thank God for the opportunity to be a parent and feel very blessed that He entrusted the rearing of three precious souls to Craig and I.  I have reminded my children that the only manual for child-rearing I know of is the scriptures.   It would be so great to be able to say that I always read its directions before proceeding with my parenting. But, just as in real life, I frequently just tore into the project THEN attempted to figure out what I should have done after a malfunction occurred.

NO.... I'm far from the perfect parent but I am nonetheless a very blessed parent!

Thank you Lord for blessing me with my small quiver!

Psalm 126 - Planting Seeds of Hope

Life can be so serious!   In the past week, we have been overwhelmed with the news story of the young man (how badly I want to say "punk") that took the lives of the six individuals in Arizona.  His is the true face of evil.  The lives of the wounded and families of the deceased will  undoubtedly be changed forever.
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Though I believe it to be possible, healing doesn't normally occur as a supernatural sudden event. My experience teaches me that healing is a process.  It takes time, proper treatment and patience!   Sometimes the treatments are painful and there will likely be days that seem like the nightmare will never end!  

I pray for the families in Arizona and I pray for others that may be experiencing personal pain right now.  

My prayer is that with the support of friends and communities, the time will soon come--

where the bondage of grief will be turn to songs of joy. 

that the witness of a life well-lived will plant a seed of hope

and that the tears of pain will be replaced with lots of laughter!

¹ Our enemies took us away from Zion [our place of comfort]
      But when the Lord brought us home,
      it seemed like a dream to us.
 ² Our mouths were filled with laughter.
      Our tongues sang with joy.....

⁵ Those who cry as they plant their crops
      will sing with joy when they gather them in.
 ⁶ Those who go out sobbing
      as they carry seeds to plant
   will come back singing with joy.
      They will bring the new crop back with them.

Psalm 125 - Surround Us, Lord

 A simple prayer this morning:

 ¹ Those who trust in the LORD are like Mount Zion,
   which cannot be shaken but endures forever.
² As the mountains surround Jerusalem,
   so the LORD surrounds his people
   both now and forevermore.
 ⁴ LORD, do good to those who are good,
   to those who are upright in heart. 


SURROUND US, LORD!