A Ray Of Morning Light

I was asking the Lord this morning to help me to love His Word.  I had just awakened and I knew I needed to read my Bible before I started the day, but my heart just wasn't in it. 

I remembered a time several years ago when I read the 119^th Psalm every day for a month.  It was an exercise I chose to do.  I don’t remember the reason, but the outcome was that I literally fell in love with God’s Word.  Just like the Psalmist, I loved God’s word.  It was my life, my passion, my love!

So this morning, I opened to Psalm 119 and started reading.  I won’t say it took my mind off of everything that I wanted to get done today and engulfed me with joy, but it did remind me that I depend on God for everything.  His Word gives strength to my soul.  It keeps me going when otherwise I would dissolve in a puddle of hopelessness.

Thank you God for Your Word.  It really is a light shining in the darkness, a ray of hope, a joy and peace, food for my heart.  Thank YOU!!!

photo credit: Will Montague via photopin cc

This is one of my "life" verses.

I was reading it yesterday morning.

Just wanted to share.

Over the past three years, I have been battling hormonal depression.  It's not been an easy fight and sometimes I don't experience the victory I should as a "Child of the King".  Anyway, yesterday was one of those days.  I woke up and just wanted to pull the covers up over my head and make the morning disappear.  I called out to God who is so very gracious to me, no matter what. I took out my Bible and ask what I should read.  I felt I should read Psalm 146.  Believe me, I didn't want to read a "happy" Psalm, but I went ahead and started to read.  

When I read the first two verses, I was in tears. I said, "Lord, I remember when I was this happy.  I remember when I wanted to sing Your praises every minute I was alive.  Here I am!  I know You deserve all my praise.  I give it to you even though I'm crying.

So I raised the hand that wasn't holding my Bible in an attempt to praise and read.  "I will praise the Lord all my life;  I will sing praise to my God as long as I live..."  I went on and read clear through.  Then, I read it again, & again.  Three times through.

I don't know when it happened, but my soul was quieted.  I wasn't so emotionally overwrought.  I prayed and thanked the Lord for the ability to pray and have Him answer.  I thanked Him for people to pray for and for sending them my way.  I thanked Him for being the only true God, a God worthy of all my praise all of the time. He's so good to me!  I really do trust Him and love Him.

My heavenly Father met me where I was.  It wasn't the first time and I'm sure it may not be the last, but He's so faithful to always be there, to not fuss at me when I "can't make it on my own," and to just love me where I'm at, no cajoling, no making fun, no staring at me with eyes of scorn, but loving me with compassion and mercy. He gives grace to the humble.  He shows lovingkindness to all He has made.  I'm so glad He made me.

Today is another day.  I'm glad He made you, too.  Chin up and have a hug!  God's loving arms are waiting to surround you and set your heart to singing again.  Bless you friend!

This is what I read this morning!  I love this Psalm!
Just wanted to bless your life with it today.  Thanks!

Joy

Psalm 136 (NAS)

Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
² Give thanks to the God of gods,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
³ Give thanks to the Lord of lords,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
⁴ To Him who alone does great wonders,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁵ To Him who made the heavens with skill,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁶ To Him who spread out the earth above the waters,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
⁷ To Him who made the great lights,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
⁸ The sun to rule by day,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
⁹ The moon and stars to rule by night,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

¹⁰ To Him who smote the Egyptians in their firstborn,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹¹ And brought Israel out from their midst,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹² With a strong hand and an outstretched arm,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹³ To Him who divided the Red Sea asunder,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁴ And made Israel pass through the midst of it,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁵ But He overthrew Pharaoh and his army in the Red Sea,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
¹⁶ To Him who led His people through the wilderness,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
¹⁷ To Him who smote great kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
¹⁸ And slew mighty kings,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting:
¹⁹ Sihon, king of the Amorites,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁰ And Og, king of Bashan,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²¹ And gave their land as a heritage,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²² Even a heritage to Israel His servant,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

²³ Who remembered us in our low estate,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting,
²⁴ And has rescued us from our adversaries,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting;
²⁵ Who gives food to all flesh,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.
²⁶ Give thanks to the God of heaven,
For His lovingkindness is everlasting.

CHARM & BEAUTY

Fear --- What? Why?

  The Lord is my light and my salvation —

whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

This verse from the Psalms has always been a favorite of mine.  In fact, this entire Psalm is one that I consider one of my "life's" Psalms.

 

There have been times when I've been afraid, frustrated, down or depressed that this particular verse has come to "rescue" me by helping me re-focus on the One who is my shelter, my protector, the light of my life even in times of darkness inside.

 

I pray: 

"The Lord is my light and my salvation—
whom shall I fear?

I shall fear no one!" (my response, sometimes weak)

"The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

of whom shall I be afraid?

I shall not fear anyone or anything!" (response, growing stronger)

It's good to have the Word of God resident in our souls.  It's encouraging and inspiring.   It rises up to be a shield around us, a staff to lean on, a light at the end of our tunnel-vision.  When the Lord brings it up, it's to encourage us and it invokes a response.  When we speak it aloud, it somehow encourages us even more, like the Bible says "Faith comes by hearing."  Speaking God's word, waters the faith seed planted in our souls.  When we respond to God's word with our own, we are bound to it in such a way that the fruit it produces in our lives grows and grows and can never be destroyed.

Thanks God!

Be Joyful

Hand Embroidery Pattern from Prim and Proper Cottage 

The Apostle Paul said, "Be Joyful, Be Constant, Be Hopeful, Be Always Rejoicing, Be Anxious for Nothing ..."  There's a whole swarm of "bees" in his teachings.  What do bees do besides be bees?  They pollinate!  How do we pollinate --- by spreading the word of God --- by being all these things through Christ who gived us strength.  Then, when we are being joyful, constant, hopeful, and not worrying, we spread the joy of the Lord everywhere we go.  Others see and rejoice or ask us where we found such joy then God grows new converts and stronger believers and plants new seeds of blessings that continue long past our "beeing" here on earth!  So "bee" ...

God of hope, joy & peace

The last few days have been an adventure you might say.  An adventure in learning, accepting and trusting in God --- our God, the Lord God Almighty --- who gives us hope and joy and peace, no matter what we see around us.  This is what I've learned.  (I sure hope I've learned it. LOL)

"No matter what we see, no matter what we hear, no matter what it seems is happening all around us, we can be comforted by this assurance.  When we trust God, He makes everything work together for our good."  I know that may sound glib to some and like "Christianese" to others, but it's really true. 

If the enemy means it for our harm, God will work it for our good just like Joseph told his brothers "What you intended for my harm, God meant for good."  If it's God working in our lives, then we know He always does what's best for us and all those involved. 

So, no matter where the situation arises or whether it's God or our enemy creating it, we can know with confidence and true hope that either way, it will work out for our good.

Be assured!  Stand strong!  Take courage!  Believe and be filled with joy and peace and "abound in hope" by the power of the Holy Spirit!

And by the way ... thank you for your prayers!!!

Hugs,

Joy

Yesterday, I had this particular scripture in mind, John 14:27.  I wanted to do it in calligraphy so I looked it up in several (15 or more) different Bible translations to see which one I wanted to use.  I read and re-read the scripture and the surrounding text over and over.  I couldn't choose one.  

I picked up my calligraphy pen and started to write.  Moments later, the words that you see in the above picture came out. 

Although, I used a font here instead of hand written calligraphy, the message remains the same. 

Enjoy!  Invite Jesus' peace to surround you and concentrate on loving Him.

Be Still ...

Listen! Creation is telling about our Creator!

The heavens tell about the glory of God.

The skies announce what his hands have made.

Each new day tells more of the story,

Each night reveals more and more about God’s power.

You cannot hear them say anything.

They don’t make any sound we can hear.

But their message goes throughout the world.

Their teaching reaches the ends of the earth.

Psalm 19:1-4 (ERV)