Psalm 56:8-10, 59:16-17, 61:1-4, 66:1-5, 67:1-7, 71:5, 8-9, 14-19, & 72:1-8

 

(Psalm 56:8-10) Thou tellest my wanderings: put thou my tears into thy bottle: are they not in thy book? / When I cry unto thee... this I know; for God is for me. / In God will I praise his word: in the Lord will I praise his word.

(Psalm 59:16-17) But I will sing of thy power; yea, I will sing aloud of thy mercy in the morning: for thou hast been my defense and refuge in the day of my trouble. Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defense, and the God of my mercy.

(Psalm 61:1-4) Hear my cry, O God; attend unto my prayer. / From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I. For thou hast been a shelter for me, and a strong tower from the enemy. / I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah.

(Psalm 66:1-5) Make a joyful noise unto God, all ye lands: Sing forth the honour of His name: make His praise glorious. / Say unto God, How terrible art thou in thy works! through the greatness of thy power shall thine enemies submit themselves unto thee. / All the earth shall worship thee, and shall sing unto thee; they shall sing to thy name. Selah. / Come and see the works of God.

(Psalm 67:1-7) God be merciful unto us, and bless us; and cause his face to shine upon us; Selah. / That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. / Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. / O let the nations be glad and sing for joy: for thou shalt judge the people righteously, and govern the nations upon earth. Selah. / Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee... / God shall bless us; and all the ends of the earth shall fear him.

(Psalm 71:5, 8-9, & 14-19) For thou art my hope, O Lord God: thou art my trust from my youth. / Let my mouth be filled with thy praise and with thy honour all the day. / Cast me not off in the time of old age; forsake me not when my strength faileth. / But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. / My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. / I will go in the strength of the Lord God: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. / O God, thou hast taught me from my youth: and hitherto have I declared thy wondrous works. / Now also when I am old and greyheaded, O God, forsake me not; until I have shewed thy strength unto this generation, and thy power to every one that is to come. / Thy righteousness also, O God, is very high, who hast done great things: O God, who is like unto thee!

(Psalm 72:1-8) Give the king thy judgments, O God, and thy righteousness unto the king's son. He shall judge thy people with righteousness, and thy poor with judgment. / The mountains shall bring peace to the people, and the little hills, by righteousness. / He shall judge the poor of the people, he shall save the children of the needy, and shall break in pieces the oppressor. / They shall fear thee as long as the sun and moon endure, throughout all generations. /  He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. / In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. / He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth.

Psalm 51: Whiter Than Snow

 

Psalm 51: Whiter Than Snow

(I originally wrote this in 2018 when we were still living in Idaho.  I took the above photo north of McCall in 2015.)

The words of Psalm 51 reflect my own heart.  I feel like to add my own words are not necessary if one reads this Psalm (listed at the end), but I doubt God put this theme in my head this morning just to copy and paste David's psalm!  

When you read the first few verses, you will note that we must first acknowledge our sin.  True repentance does not come if we insist we have done nothing wrong or are just going through the motions of asking God to cleanse us.  Admitting you need to be clean is an obvious first step.  As I have stated many times, grace may be a free gift, but we must still confess our sins and ask for forgiveness and actively choose to accept it. Nor do we abuse God's grace by refusing to change our sinful habits (Romans 6:1-2 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?).

(1 John 1:8-9) If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. IF WE CONFESS OUR SINS, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. 

Jesus, yes, is “just to forgive,” but we must first "confess our sins" and He expects us to do our very best to stay clean!  In John 8:1-11, a woman caught committing adultery is brought before the Lord.  I am sure you are familiar with this story.  Jesus sends her accusers away (some believe it was the accusers' sins He was writing in the sand).  But my focus is not on her confronters, but on the woman.  What does Jesus say to her?  Does He say, “I forgave you once, so go your merry way and do as you please from this day forward?”  Of course not!  Jesus tells her what He tells all of us after we have been forgiven, “Go and sin no more.” (John 8:11) Although I prefer to use the KJV Bible, the NIV translation of this verse is a good one, for it is worded as, "Go now and leave your life of sin."

In the below verses, the people are told to get rid of their evil ways so they can be cleansed as snow.  What I have always liked is the Lord saying, "Come now, and let us reason together.”  I picture a loving, heavenly Father, no, not allowing us to justify our sins and attempt to explain why we sinned but rather listening as we plea for forgiveness.  He then embraces us, wipes our tears of contrite repentance, encourages us to continue striving to enter in at the narrow gate, and reassures us that we are loved (Luke 13:24 Strive to enter in at the strait gate: for many, I say unto you, will seek to enter in, and shall not be able.).  His love, combined with our actions, makes us feel clean, white, and new.      

(Isaiah 1:16-18) "Wash yourselves, make yourselves clean; Put away the evil of your doings from before My eyes. Cease to do evil, Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow. Come now, and let us reason together," Says the Lord, "Though your sins are like scarlet, They shall be as white as snow; Though they are red like crimson, They shall be as wool.” 

What happens to snow on a day-to-day basis?  It gets dirty.  It looked so pristine that morning, but as the cars drove by, or the dog (excuse me for saying so) uses it, it turns brown and yellow.  Yet, behold, at the next snow fall, the beauty has been restored, all sparkly and white.  Pretty obvious symbolism here, isn’t it?  When we pray as David did, to be purged and to have a new, clean heart, let us make that a daily prayer.  

(Luke 9:23) Then He said to them all, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.  

Again, 1 John 1:9 says, "If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness." But note the first 5 words. We need to be proactive on our part and ask for forgiveness. Lamentations 3:22-23 says, "It is of the Lord's mercies that we are not consumed, because his compassions fail not. They are new every morning: great is thy faithfulness." Therefore, you know He is gracious enough to forgive us every single time we ask.

Short message today but living a clean life does not have to be overly complicated.  Admit to your sin, confess your sins, ask for forgiveness, cast away the old nature, and make a daily decision not to repeat old sins or commit new ones (no one is perfect, but this is a good goal to do our best to live righteously).  You cannot conquer sin on your own, but when you ask the Holy Spirit to help you, He will always answer.

We should evaluate our lives daily and strive to be the best person we can be every day.  If you want a new routine to help you be a better Christian, I suggest reading Psalm 51 and making this your theme.

(Psalm 51:1-4; 6-13; 16-17) Have mercy upon me, O God, According to Your lovingkindness; According to the multitude of Your tender mercies, Blot out my transgressions. Wash me thoroughly from my iniquity, And cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, And my sin is always before me. 

Against You, You only, have I sinned, And done this evil in Your sight-- That You may be found just when You speak, And blameless when You judge. Behold, You desire truth in the inward parts, And in the hidden part You will make me to know wisdom. 

Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; Wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me hear joy and gladness, That the bones You have broken may rejoice. Hide Your face from my sins, And blot out all my iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, And renew a steadfast spirit within me. Do not cast me away from Your presence, And do not take Your Holy Spirit from me. Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, And uphold me by Your generous Spirit. Then I will teach transgressors Your ways, And sinners shall be converted to You.   For You do not desire sacrifice, or else I would give it; You do not delight in burnt offering. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, A broken and a contrite heart-- These, O God, You will not despise. 

Psalm 27: 1, 4, 6-8, 30:4-5, 11-12, 31:1,3, 14, 23-24, 34:1-9, 37:4-5, 47:1, 5-8 & 48:1-3

 

(Psalm 27:) he Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? / One thing have I desired of the Lord, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the Lord. / I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the Lord. / Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. / When thou saidst, "Seek ye my face;" my heart said unto thee, "Thy face, Lord, will I seek."

(Psalm 30:4-5 & 11-12) Sing unto the Lord, O ye saints of his, and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness. / ...Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. / Thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing: thou hast put off my sackcloth, and girded me with gladness; To the end that my glory may sing praise to thee, and not be silent. O Lord my God, I will give thanks unto thee for ever.

(Psalm 31:1,3, 14, & 23-24) In thee, O Lord, do I put my trust; let me never be ashamed: deliver me in thy righteousness. For thou art my rock and my fortress; therefore for thy name's sake lead me, and guide me. / But I trusted in thee, O Lord: I said, Thou art my God. / O love the Lord, all ye his saints: for the Lord preserveth the faithful, and plentifully rewardeth the proud doer. Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.

(Psalm 34:1-9) I will bless the Lord at all times: his praise shall continually be in my mouth. / My soul shall make her boast in the Lord: the humble shall hear thereof, and be glad. / O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together. / I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears. They looked unto him, and were lightened... / The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear him, and delivereth them. / O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him. / O fear the Lord, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

(Psalm 37:4-5)Delight thyself also in the Lord: and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit thy way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass.

(Psalm 47:1 & 5-8) O clap your hands, all ye people; shout unto God with the voice of triumph. / God is gone up with a shout, the Lord with the sound of a trumpet. / Sing praises to God, sing praises: sing praises unto our King, sing praises. / For God is the King of all the earth: sing ye praises with understanding. / God reigneth... God sitteth upon the throne of his holiness.

(Note: I just want to make very, very clear that the castle you have and will see in several of my Bible journal drawings is one I have been drawing for around 35 years. In no way is it meant to represent any of the Disney castles, as I do not support Disney.  I think at the time I first drew it, I had only been inspired by a book on medieval castles, but I cannot remember which one.)

(Psalm 48:1-3) Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised in the city of our God, in the mountain of his holiness. / Beautiful for situation, the joy of the whole earth, is mount Zion, on the sides of the north, the city of the great King. / God is known in her palaces for a refuge.

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd

 

Psalm 23: The Lord is my Shepherd

In 2017 I read a book by Phillip Keller titled “A Shepherd Looks at Psalm 23.”  Keller preaches the Truth so eloquently that it struck me to the core.   Keller opened up the world of shepherds I never knew.  After reading his book, the 23rd Psalm, as well as the fact that Jesus refers to Himself as our Good Shepherd, makes this comparison so much more meaningful.  Real sheep 100% rely on their shepherd to properly care for them.  A bad shepherd has underfed sheep full of parasites living in dying pastures.  Just like Jesus, a good shepherd takes care of His sheep’s every need.  He takes great care moving his sheep from pasture to pasture in order to assure they always have plenty of green grass and still waters to drink from.  He anticipates their every need.  (Please read Keller’s book, he says it so much better, and you will see the Bible in a completely new light.)

(John 10: 1-4 & 7-11) [Jesus said,] "Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the shepherd of the sheep. To him the doorkeeper opens, and the sheep hear His voice; and He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. And when he brings out his own sheep, he goes before them; and the sheep follow him, for they know his voice."

Then Jesus said to them again, "Most assuredly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep. All who ever came the door. If anyone enters by Me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy. I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it more abundantly. I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.” 

Only our True Shepherd may enter through the correct door to our hearts.  The thief and robber, Satan, may try to gain access, but the sheep (the true believer) will not recognize his voice, and will not let him in.  Or should not let Satan enter.  When we first submit to God, then resist the devil in the name of Jesus, Satan will flee. 

(James 4:7) Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you. 

Our Good Shepherd protects not only the doors to our heart but literally laid His life down for us. 

Jesus is the door of life.  Jesus longs only for good things for our lives (see Jeremiah 29:11), and desires that we may lie down in green, lush, beautiful pastures next to still waters.  He longs for a life full of abundance, or full of plentiful blessings.   

Satan is the door of death.  Why would you choose to walk through a dark and twisted door that would only steal, kill, and destroy your soul? 

Do not waste your life waiting to decide whom you will follow and allow access to the door of your heart.  Choose today whom you will serve.  Make Jesus Lord of your heart, mind, body, and soul.  Lock the door of your heart to the sins of this world and do your very best to walk down paths of righteousness.    

(Psalm 23:1-6) The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. / He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters. / He restoreth my soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake. / Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me. / Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies: thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over. / Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Psalm 15:4: Do I keep my oaths even when I am hurting?

Psalm 15:4: Do I keep my oaths even when I am hurting? 

(Written in 2017) As I read Psalm 15:4 today, it ministers greatly to my heart.  Particularly the line that says, "He that sweareth to his own hurt, and changeth not."  I don't usually read the NIV of the Bible, but I like this translation of this portion of the verse in the NIV translated as, "Who keeps an oath even when it hurts, and does not change their mind."

Today I feel immense sorrow and heaviness in my soul. In my grief, do I change how I love God?  Do I keep my faith strong even when I hurt?  Do I keep my oaths to follow the ways of the Bible even when I am hurting?    

I remember that God NEVER changes (Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.).  Even when I push Him away, He still clings to me.  I will remember that God is always on my side.  I am determined that even when I am hurting, I will not change my mind and suddenly believe anything other than the fact that I am a beloved child of God! I will serve and love Him even in the midst of great sorrow.  Then I will heal.  

I praise you, Jesus for your patience and love!

Psalm 3:3-4, 7:8-11, 12:6, & 14:1-2

(Psalm 3:3-4)But thou, O Lord, art a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of mine head. / I cried unto the Lord with my voice, and he heard me out of his holy hill. 

(Psalm 7:8-11) The Lord shall judge the people: judge me, O Lord, according to my righteousness, and according to mine integrity that is in me. / Oh let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end; but establish the just: for the righteous God trieth the hearts and reins. My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. / God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day.

(Psalm 12:6) The words of the Lord are pure words: as silver tried in a furnace of earth, purified seven times.

(Psalm 14:1-2) The fool hath said in his heart, "There is no God." They are corrupt, they have done abominable works, there is none that doeth good. / The Lord looked down from heaven upon the children of men, to see if there were any that did understand, and seek God.

1 Chronicles16:8-14, 29-34, 29:17 & 2 Chronicles 7:17, 20:21, 29:25-30, & 32:26

 

(1 Chronicles 16:8-14 & 29-34) Give thanks unto the Lord, call upon his name, make known His deeds among the people. / Sing unto Him, sing psalms unto Him, talk ye of all His wondrous works. / Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord. / Seek the Lord and his strength, seek His face continually. / Remember His marvelous works that he hath done, his wonders, and the judgments of his mouth... He is the Lord our God; His judgments are in all the earth.

Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come before Him: worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness. / Fear before Him, all the earth: the world also shall be stable, that it be not moved. / Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice: and let men say among the nations, The Lord reigneth. / Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof: let the fields rejoice, and all that is therein. / Then shall the trees of the wood sing out at the presence of the Lord, because he cometh to judge the earth. / O give thanks unto the Lord; for he is good; for his mercy endureth for ever.

(1 Chronicles 29:17) I know also, my God, that thou triest the heart, and hast pleasure in uprightness. As for me, in the uprightness of mine heart I have willingly offered all these things: and now have I seen with joy thy people, which are present here, to offer willingly unto thee.

(2 Chronicles 7:14) IF my people, which are called by my name, SHALL 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.

(2 Chronicles 20:21) He appointed singers unto the Lord, and that should praise the beauty of holiness, as they went out before the army, and to say, "Praise the Lord; for his mercy endureth forever."

(2 Chronicles 29:25-30) And he set the Levites in the house of the Lord with cymbals, with psalteries, and with harps, according to the commandment of David... And the Levites stood with the instruments of David, and the priests with the trumpets... the song of the Lord began also with the trumpets, and with the instruments ordained by David king of Israel. And all the congregation worshipped, and the singers sang, and the trumpeters sounded... the king and all that were present with him bowed themselves, and worshipped... And they sang praises with gladness, and they bowed their heads and worshipped.

(2 Chronicles 32:26) Notwithstanding Hezekiah humbled himself for the pride of his heart, both he and the inhabitants of Jerusalem, so that the wrath of the Lord came not upon them in the days of Hezekiah.

1 Kings 22:19, 2 Kings 5:13, & 2 Kings 19:15

 

(1 Kings 22:19) Hear thou therefore the word of the Lord: I saw the Lord sitting on his throne, and all the host of heaven standing by him on his right hand and on his left.

(2 Kings 5:13) Wash, and be clean.

(2 Kings 19:15) And Hezekiah prayed before the Lord, and said, "O Lord God of Israel, which dwellest between the cherubims, thou art the God, even thou alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; thou hast made heaven and earth."

1 Samuel 15:22-23 & 16:7

Sorry for the poor-quality photos; I am still trying to get the camera to work right in lower light as it tends to be cloudy here a lot.

(1 Samuel 15:22-23) And Samuel said, "Hath the Lord as great delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices, as in obeying the voice of the Lord? Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice, and to hearken than the fat of rams. For rebellion is as the sin of witchcraft, and stubbornness is as iniquity and idolatry. Because thou hast rejected the word of the Lord, he hath also rejected thee..."

(1 Samuel 16:7) But the Lord said unto Samuel, "Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart."