Category: Psalms

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Quiet Moments with a Friend

Do you have a friend or family member that you would just like to sit with for a while and have uninterrupted conversation? You’ve been there I’m sure – talking to them on the phone or visiting with them in your living room or on the patio only to have someone interrupt the conversation, take the attention away from the what the two of you were saying and highjack the moment.

I hate when that happens because it’s a rare occasion that I can enjoy true one on one conversation with those I love.

Some people tell me that they just can’t imagine getting up as early as I do each morning and ask “how do you do it”. I don’t really “do it” anymore. It has become habit and it happens whether I think about it or not. I used to rise early to get out in the fields and bail hay or to have quiet before the kids got up but now I really can’t imagine starting my day any other way. Enjoying the morning sunrise with the Lord is the best!

This morning I was praying and told the Lord how glad I was that we have this time uninterrupted. How special it is to know that when I get up to meet Him, he’s already here. Yes, I know He never leaves me and is with me 24/7 but just sitting and talking about things early in the morning is the best.

And then it happened…

The interruption! What at 4:30am I had an interruption and it was of my own making. As I was telling the Lord how great it is to have time with Him my mind began to wander and I found myself composing my morning devotional on how great morning quiet time is! Really!! I wasn’t enjoying the moment we had to share but instead was planning for something completely different.

Oh Lord forgive me for being rushed and inattentive.

“I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart.
I will tell about the wonderful things you have done.
2 You make me happy, so I will rejoice in you.
God Most High, I praise your name.” Psalm 9:1-2 ERV

You know as well as that you can’t have a true friendship if only one person does all the talking. That isn’t conversation – that’s a monologue! I don’t want my time with the Lord to be one where I tell him all my joys, my disappointments, my needs and desires and then say “Amen” and walk away. No, I have to listen to what He tells me more that I expect to listen to what I say. That’s true relationship – learning about your friend by listening!

The sweetest moments of the day are those went I know that God is there and has given me an invitation to come and spend time with Him.

“Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. 13 You will search for me, and when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me.” Jeremiah 29:12-13 ERV

Yes, today I am thankful for the quiet moments – the moments of one on one with my God who loves me!

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The Best Part of Waking Up

Now if the advertising community has done its job you know how to finish the words of this morning’s title. But this morning I sit here with an empty cup! Shocking, I know but true all the same. Yesterday morning when I got up and started the coffee brewing I heard the GFI break kick off. So I reset the breaker and it popped again. Then I moved the coffee maker to another plug with the same result. Finally on the move to the third outlet it stayed on and I had coffee. But I also knew I had a problem.

No, not my addiction to the black full bodied substance that fills my cup but instead my problem was with the electronic device that produces the savory brew!

Yes, my faithful appliance had made its last pot of coffee. I didn’t run out right away and buy a new pot. I had to take some time to research them and made the determination that when we go to town today we will find the right pot. Then I went on about my day unaffected by the loss of this well used appliance. However, as I started getting ready for bed last night I realized that part of my routine was interrupted. I didn’t have a coffee pot to “get ready for morning”. I didn’t even have my old camp pot handy so I could just boil me a cup.

Are you beginning to understand that coffee is a big part of my morning? I thought you would. So I am sitting here staring at an empty cup while the water heats on the stove with a packet of grounds steeping and hoping that when the process is complete it will be something worth drinking.

Is my morning ruined – never! My morning of quiet, reading the Bible and talking to the Lord is sweet. Coffee or no coffee my day is set by spending time with the Lord. I can praise Him for so many things in my life – His unconditional love, my husband, children and grandchildren. My freedom to share these thoughts each morning. Dear family and friends. Health and peaceful surroundings. Protection and safety. Praying for those who have needs of healing, relationships that need binding, financial stresses and strength.

Yes, thankful for all these things this morning. Thankful that my God isn’t made of stone but is a living God who hears my prayers, answers from His word and then speaks to my heart each and every day.

“Show me your faithful love this morning.
I trust in you.
Show me what I should do.
I put my life in your hands!
9 Lord, I come to you for protection.
Save me from my enemies.
10 Show me what you want me to do.
You are my God.
Let your good Spirit lead me over level ground.
11 Lord, let me live
so that people will praise your name.
Show me how good you are
and save me from my trouble.
12 Show me your love
and defeat my enemies.
Destroy those who are trying to kill me
because I am your servant.” Psalm 143:8-12 ERV

…and one final thing. Thankful for a new coffeemaker.

Blessings to you all today!

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Thankful for Shepherds

I don’t know how many cowboy movies I have viewed in my lifetime but there have been many, some of them I have watched over and over. And in nearly every one, if they refer to a Bible verse they generally use Psalm 23, the Lord is my Shepherd. Time and again the Scripture refers to the Lord as our Shepherd. Jesus even gave example that he was the good shepherd who gives his life for his sheep.

This morning’s verse on giving thanks refers to that relationship as well.

“Then we, your people, will always thank you.
We are like sheep with you as our shepherd,
and all generations will hear us praise you..” Psalm 79:13 CEV

A good shepherd provides food, rest, protection. He is constantly with his sheep and protects them from intruders and cares for them if they do get hurt. Our shepherd does the same – His death provides for our salvation or as one Bible translation calls it – soundness.

Those of you reading this that have a horse background know better than others what it means to be sound. That’s what Jesus has done for us – He has made us sound, whole, strong.

So do what this verse says – show your praise to all generations. Talk of the Lord’s goodness to those of your own generation and to those older and younger. Our younger generations need to know the reality of God’s goodness.

Sing it loud and long today. Let the children know the goodness of the Shepherd.

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Grateful for Age

This week I have had the opportunity to be with one of the youngest members of our family, Sam, and the oldest, my mother. What a joy to spend time with them both. Sam was depend upon us for most everything he needed; meals, help getting dressed, supervising his activities, bath time, bed time – you get the picture.

Mom, too, is at a point in her life where she is more dependent. She doesn’t drive anymore and she walks slower and needs help getting around but her mind is still sharp and her memories bring her great joy.

I had fun telling Sam stories about Jesus, singing little choruses and praying with him. Praying for him to grow into a man that loves the Lord, honors his parents and impacts his world. And then I also had the opportunity to listen as Mom told me of her love for the Lord, her prayers for her children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. Her desire is to live her days as an example of God’s love and goodness. She said she can’t be burdened down with worry but instead has to trust the Lord to reach her family with His love so that each one is with her one day in heaven.

Both the youngest and the oldest have a quiet trust in the Lord, for that I am truly grateful!

“Praise him, young men and women, old people and children.
13 Praise the Lord’s name! Honor his name forever!
His name is greater than any other.
He is more glorious than heaven and earth.” Psalm 148:12-13 ERV

All through the Bible we find the older teaching the younger. There is a constant instruction to remind the younger ones of the milestones in life. Moses taught the people that they should be talking of the things of the Lord when they came in and when they went out; when they got up in the morning and when they went to bed at night.

“Always remember these commands that I give you today. 7 Be sure to teach them to your children. Talk about these commands when you sit in your house and when you walk on the road. Talk about them when you lie down and when you get up. 8 Tie them on your hands and wear them on your foreheads to help you remember my teachings.” Deuteronomy 6:6-9 ERV

I’m thankful that my parents and grandparents taught me to love the Lord and I’m grateful for the opportunity and the responsibility to teach my children and grandchildren of God’s goodness!

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Comfort in Troubling Times

Do you ever have thoughts come to you out of the clear blue? You know, you’re thinking about one thing and then something else just invades you thinking process. That’s the way it was for me this morning.

I wasn’t even really awake when a song I had heard on the radio on Sunday arrived in my heart and head bringing me to a place of conscious thought. Here are just a few of the lyrics that were written by Hillsong.

“What a wonderful Name it is
Nothing compares to this
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus
What a wonderful Name it is
The Name of Jesus”

And as I kept repeating that refrain my mind went to what Solomon wrote in Proverbs 18:9

“The Lord is a mighty tower where his people can run for safety—”

And then I began to pray for those who lost loved ones yesterday in Las Vegas and those who were injured and those who were called to care for the injured and the dying. How do we cope with such senseless acts of violence and destruction?

I run to the Lord and find comfort in His loving arms.

“When I am afraid, I put my trust in you.
4 I trust God, so I am not afraid of what people can do to me!
I praise God for his promise to me.” Psalm 56:3-4 ERV

God wants to use us to bring comfort and consolation to those around us. It’s important that we aren’t overwhelmed but that we stay anchored in His love.

“Don’t let evil defeat you, but defeat evil with good.” Romans 12:21 CEV

So even as I am writing this the chorus above keeps going through my mind. What a wonderful name it is, The name of Jesus! I will continue to trust in Him, to lean on Him for strength and will praise Him because He is greater than all my fears.

“Stand and shout praises to your Lord, the eternal God!
Praise his wonderful name, though he is greater than words can express.” Nehemiah 9:5 CEV

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Taste and See – It’s Good!

Yesterday we celebrated our grandson’s 2nd birthday. He had been running around playing with his friends but when his Mom said it’s time for cake, he was eager to climb up in his booster seat and buckle in.

It didn’t matter that his friends were still playing or that there was a lot of other activity going on, he just wanted the cake.

It was a funfetti white cake with black sky frosting sprinkled with silver stars. It was his and he loved it!

As I watched him experience such complete joy, oblivious to all that was around him, I thought of what King David wrote in the Psalms.

“This poor man cried out, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles. The angel of the Lord encamps all around those who fear (reverence) Him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who trusts in Him” Psalm 34:6-8

We can experience God’s love with the same abandon as Sam eating his cake. Its a kind of up-to-your-elbows, smeared-on-your-face kind of joy that you get when you realize that the Father loves you unconditionally, dirty face and all!

Start the day knowing that you are blessed and you have angels around you to protect and help you today.

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Sit – Stay

When Kaci was small we had a wonderful Australian Shepherd named Bear. He had been badly abused when we adopted him and made him a member of our family. He had trust issues to say the least. We were given the name of a good trainer and once a week I took him to class. It didn’t take long for him and I to learn to work together. The commands of sit and stay were some of the first we worked on. He needed to know that when I gave those commands he could TRUST that I wasn’t going to leave him or beat him into obedience.

Presently I am in a sit still stage of my life. I’m not doing it very well. I have things to do, places to go, people to meet and minister too and God is saying “Sit Still”. I have learned in the past and am learning again that it’s just as important to be obedient to that command as it is to “love thy neighbor” or “pray without ceasing”.

If you know me at all you know I always have a list – things need to be done! I don’t do SIT – STAY very well. Years ago I read a book by Tim Hansel, “When I Relax I Feel Guilty”, that describes me to a tea. Retirement isn’t easy for a “list person”. I had a very dear friend tell me that it’s just as important to wait as it is to march forward. Both have their place but we have to be obedient to what God is saying and when He’s saying it.

“Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The LORD of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.” Psalm 46:10-11

The children of Israel had a tangible, visible sign that they followed. The Lord placed a cloud over the Tabernacle and when it moved the moved; and when it stayed they stayed.

“Sometimes the cloud was over the Holy Tent for only a few days. So the people obeyed the LORD’s command—they followed the cloud when it moved. 21 Sometimes the cloud stayed only during the night—the next morning the cloud moved. So the people gathered their things and followed it. If the cloud moved, during the day or during the night, they followed it. 22 If the cloud stayed over the Holy Tent for two days, a month, or a year, the people stayed at that place. They did not leave until the cloud moved. When the cloud rose from its place and moved, they also moved. 23 So the people obeyed the LORD’s commands. They camped when the LORD told them to, and they moved when he told them to. They watched carefully and obeyed the LORD’s commands to Moses” Number 9:21-23 ERV

Obedience! That’s the key. We say “Lord, speak to me and I’ll do whatever you tell me to do.” And then He speaks something so simple as to stay – rest and we sit for 15 minutes and then want to get up and get back to our normal routine. It’s hard to rest!

Once again it’s the Holy Spirit teaching obedience and most of the time obedience involves crucifying the flesh. God’s way of doing things is generally contrary to the natural way. He told Joshua to march around a city and they would capture it – Jesus told us to achieve greatness we must strive to be a servant. Paul said when I am weak then am I strong. See – these things seem to be at opposite ends of the spectrum, but that’s God’s way.

I’m learning and I imagine I will be learning this lesson again. I hope what I am being taught will encourage you when it comes your turn to “rest”.

“The LORD is good and merciful;
our God is so kind.
6 The LORD takes care of helpless people.
I was without help, and he saved me.
7 My soul, relax!
The LORD is caring for you.” Psalm 116:5-7 ERV

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Don’t Worry – Be Happy!

Time to start a new week. What’s on your calendar today? Bring strength to your life today. Bring health to your body. Don’t let stress or “dis – ease” rob from you today!

Be thankful – focus on God and what is has done and is able to do and live in peace, joy, health and strength.

” Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy the good food and sweet drinks. Give some food and drinks to those who didn’t prepare any food. Today is a special day to our Lord. Don’t be sad, because the joy of the Lord will make you strong.” Nehemiah 8:10

” A merry heart doeth good like a medicine: but a broken spirit dries the bones.” Proverbs 17:22

“The Lord gives perfect peace to those whose faith is firm. 4 So always trust the Lord
because he is forever our mighty rock.” Isaiah 26:3-4

So many times we end up thinking that if we live a godly life we’ll be missing out on all the fun. However, just the opposite it true. God will show us the answer to our problems and fill our lives with joy and pleasure! If you are anxious, worried, stressed out and don’t know which way to turn – hang out with God today – there’s joy, pleasure and peace in His presence.

“You will show me the path of life, in Your presence is fullness of joy; at Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.” Psalm 16:11

Let the Lord fill your life with joy and bring you pleasure today!

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Are You Grounded?

Are you grounded? If I asked that question of a teenager, I might get an answer of “not currently”.

Being grounded can have several different connotations. To a pilot it means they can’t fly; to a kid it means they can’t hang out with their friends; to a horticulturalist it means their plants have a good root base and to an electrician it means the wires are safe.

The basis is the same. Grounded: rooted attached, secured, stabilized, immovable.

Yesterday a friend told me that my morning devotions were peaceful and got her grounded for the day. That stuck with me!

Lord, I want to be grounded. I don’t want to fly off if conditions aren’t safe. I don’t want to be hanging out with people that can cause me harm and I certainly don’t want to be touching something that could be shocking.

“16 I ask the Father with his great glory to give you the power to be strong in your spirits. He will give you that strength through his Spirit. 17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts because of your faith. I pray that your life will be strong in love and be built (GROUNDED) on love. 18 And I pray that you and all God’s holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ’s love—how wide, how long, how high, and how deep that love is.” Ephesians 3:16-18 ERV

I want my life to be like that of a tree that’s grounded. The roots run deep keeping it stable during the high winds and strong storms.

“Great blessings belong to those who don’t listen to evil advice, who don’t live like sinners, and who don’t join those who make fun of God.
2. Instead, they love the Lord’s teachings and think about them day and night.3 So they grow strong, like a tree planted by a stream— a tree that produces fruit when it should and has leaves that never fall. Everything they do is successful.” Psalm 1: 1-3 ERV
So I’ll ask again…are you grounded? I hope so.

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The Heart Connection

The heart and the mouth are connected – Jesus knew that and He gave some specific teaching in that regard.

“Every tree is known by the kind of fruit it produces. You won’t find figs on thorny weeds. And you can’t pick grapes from thornbushes! 45 Good people have good things saved in their hearts. That’s why they say good things. But those who are evil have hearts full of evil, and that’s why they say things that are evil. What people say with their mouths comes from what fills their hearts.” Luke 6:44-45 ERV
Listen to your words today. What do they say about you, the real you, the heart of you?

You don’t change your heart but changing what you say. What you say will change when your heart is transformed.

Say with the Psalmist David, “Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Lord my strength and my redeemer.” Psalm 19:13-14

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