For the choir director: A Psalm of David.

Chapter 19:1-14 NLT “The heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship.

Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.

They speak without a sound or word; their voice is never heard.

Yet their message has gone throughout the earth, and their words to all the world.

God has made a home in the heavens for the sun.

It bursts forth like a radiant bridegroom after his wedding. It rejoices like a great athlete eager to run the race.

The sun rises at one end of the heavens and follows its course to the end. Nothing can hide from its heat.

The instructions of the Lord are perfect, reviving the soul. The decrees of the Lord are trustworthy making wise the simple.

The commandments of the Lord are clear, giving insight for living.

Reverence for the Lord is pure, lasting forever. The laws of the Lord are true; each one is fair.

They are more desirable than gold, even the finest gold. They are sweeter than honey, even honey-dripping from the comb.

They are a warning to the servant, a great reward for those who obey them.

How can I know all the sins lurking in my heart? Cleanse me from these hidden faults.

Keep your servant from deliberate sin! Don’t let them control me. Then I will be free of guilt and great sin.

May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be pleasing to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.”

And just like that another perfect prayer from David, a beautiful depiction of how God watches over us from heaven reminding us of how grand our God is!

David’s insight into how perfect God’s instructions are, how lasting, how true, and how fair! To the believer and doer of God’s word and instructions, they become more valued than gold! More valuable than the finest gold and sweeter than honey.

This is so true, as we walk with Jesus, we learn the power of his example of peace and love in life, and towards others, we then, in turn, walk within his great rewards of peace and love.

The rewards of knowing that no matter what is going on in our lives he is with us, always! That he works all things out for the good of those who love him! No matter how hard life gets down here one day we will live in eternity in paradise with him!

Thanking Him daily for bringing unrecognized or hidden sins to our attention and cleansing us from their ugly hold upon us. Asking, that our words and thoughts be pleasing to him!

The Lord gives us instructions on how to live our lives connected to him, protected by him, led forth by him, provided for by him, and resting within him!

Why don’t you give the Lord a try? I can assure you that he’s a breath of fresh clean air on a hot stuffy day. A cold drink of ice water when you’re sweaty and parched. A refreshing pool of cool sparkling blue water to dive right into!

Our God is good! Take a full breath! Take a big drink! Dive right in and feel the security of his love!

Dear Lord Jesus,

I want what you offer! I ask you to come into my heart and be my Lord and Savior. I believe that you died on the cross for my sins and on the third day rose again, I want that resurrection power on the day of my death. One day, I wish to close my eyes down here and open them to you in heaven. I ask you to be with me every day, teaching me in every way. In your name, I pray Lord Jesus with humble thanksgiving, Amen 😌

Today we finished Chapter 18; I omitted a section that was personal writings from David, regarding his title, responsibilities, kingdom, etc.

Psalm 18-25-33 NLT “To the faithful you show yourself faithful; to those with integrity you show integrity.

To the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd.

You rescue the humble, but humiliate the proud.

You light a lamp for me. The Lord, my God, lights up my darkness.

In your strength I can crush an army; with my God I can scale any wall.

God’s way is perfect. All the Lord’s promises prove true. He is a shield for all who look to him for protection.

For who is God except the Lord? Who but our God is a solid rock?

God arms me with strength, and he makes my way perfect.

He makes me as sure-footed as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.”

17:46-50 “The Lord lives! Praise to my Rock! May the God of my salvation be exalted!

He is the God who pays back those who harm me; he subdued the nations under me and rescues me from my enemies.

You hold me safe beyond the reach of my enemies; you save me from violent opponents.

For this, O Lord, I will praise you among the nations; I will sing praises to your name.

You give great victories to your king; you show unfailing love to your anointed, to David and all his descendants forever.”

Dear Lord, Our Father in Heaven,

Holy is your name and greatly deserves our praise and worship. Who are we Lord, that you love us so much? Your written word assures us time and time again, that you are always with us. You protect us with your mighty arm, guide us with your Holy Spirit, and encompass us within the safety of heaven’s army.

Lord you and your ways are perfect and you are a shield to those who trust in you. Thank you for your protection, provision and guidance.

Lord, thank you for being the light that illuminates our path. Please, help us to see through the darkness, seeing those you put in front of us, and their needs whether it be a meal, a hug, or a listening ear.

Lord Jesus, Thank you for your faithfulness. You are the solid rock upon which we stand.

Thank you, Lord, for your strength daily as we scale the mountains of life with the sure-footedness of a deer!

O Lord are so awesome and we simply adore you.

We love you because you loved us first. ❤️

In your perfect and glorious name Lord Jesus, we give humble thanksgiving, as we pray. 😌

This chapter is long and it says much, so I am going to break it in half; Stay tuned tomorrow.

For the choir director; A psalm of David, the servant of the Lord. He sang this song to the Lord on the day the Lord rescued him from all his enemies and from Saul.

He sang:

Psalm 17:1-24 NLT “I love you, Lord; you are my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress, and my savior; my God is my rock, in whom I find protection.

He is my shield, the power that saves me, and my place of safety.

I called on the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and he saved me from my enemies.

The ropes of death entangled me; floods of destruction swept over me. The grave wrapped its ropes around me; death laid a trap in my path.

But in my distress, I cried out to the Lord; yes, I prayed to my God for help. He heard me from his sanctuary; my cry to him reached his ears.

Then the earth quaked and trembled. The foundations of the mountains shook; they quaked because of his anger.

Smoke poured from his nostrils; fierce flames leaped from his mouth. Glowing coals blazed forth from him.

He opened the heavens and came down; dark storm clouds were beneath his feet.

Mounted on a mighty angelic being, he flew, soaring in the wings of the wind.

He shrouded himself in darkness, veiling his approach with dark rain clouds.

Thick clouds shielded the brightness around him and rained down hail and burning coals.

The Lord thundered from heaven; the voice of the Most High resounded amid the hail and burning coals.

He shot his arrows and scattered his enemies; great bolts of lightening flashed, and they were confused.

Then at the command, O Lord at the blast of your breath, the bottom of the sea could be seen, and the foundations of the earth were laid bare.

He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.

He rescued me from my powerful enemies, those who hated me and were too strong for me.

They attacked me at a moment when I was in distress, but the Lord supported me.

He led me to a place of safety; he rescued me because he delights in me.

The Lord rewarded me for doing right; he restored me because of my innocence.

For I have kept the ways of the Lord; I have not turned from my God to follow evil.

I have followed all his regulations; I have never abandoned his decrees.

I am blameless before God; I have kept myself from sin.

The Lord rewarded me for doing right. He has seen my innocence.”

WOW! A lot is going on here, but I first want to point out David’s depiction of God! The picture he paints of God flying down from heaven, the rage against his enemies, and the powerful protection he provides is the exact picture we need to mentally visualize and carry.

We serve a Mighty God!

God not only rescues and protects, but he invites us to turn to him, relinquishing our battles to him, leaving our enemies and wanting revenge in his hands all the while resting in the safety of him.

We have the same God working on our behalf as David did on his; wrap your head around this! The battles we don’t see in the heavenly that God and his warring angels battle daily on our behalf. Just because we don’t see it doesn’t mean it isn’t there and happening!

We probably don’t have a crazy jealous king (Saul) trying to kill us nor are we camped out hiding in a cave but we all have enemies we battle. We might be battling our health, our finances, our spouses, bosses, or co-workers.

The pile of bills that has left you feeling as though you are drowning. The last doctors report stealing your breath and sucking you into the undertow. The final slam of the door, divorce looms and you are swimming in fear! “He reached down from heaven and rescued me; he drew me out of deep waters.”

God is always there to help us fight our battles; the choice is ours whether we share the load or drown under our own strength?

Tidbits:

The Lord is my rock!

He is my shield!

My place if safety!

He rescues me!

He delights in me!

And, that is a perfect place to end; with a smile that the Lord delights in me and you!

Be blessed today! ☺️

A prayer of David, A prayer for Us!

Psalm 17:1 NLT “O Lord, hear my plea for justice. Listen to my cry for help. Pay attention to my prayer for it comes from honest lips.

17:2 “Declare me innocent, for you see those who do right.

17:6 “I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray.

17:7 “Show me your unfailing love in wonderful ways. By your mighty power you rescue those who seek refuge from their enemies.

17:8 “Guard me as you would your own eyes. Hide me in the shadow of your wings.

17:8-10 “Protect me from wicked people who attack me, from murderous enemies who surround me. They are without pity. Listen to their boasting!

17:13 “Arise, O Lord! Stand against them, and bring them to their knees! Rescue me from the wicked with your sword!

17:14 “By the power of your hand, O Lord, destroy those who look to this world for their reward, but satisfy the hunger of your treasured ones. May their children have plenty, leaving an inheritance for their descendants.

17:15 “Because I am righteous, I will see you. When I awake, I will see you face to face and be satisfied.”

Hallelujah ✨

This collection of verses within chapter 17 not only provides us with a feeling of protection but also that of love and compassion as God looks down upon his children who cry out to him.

I hope you find comfort and strength in these words but also a perfect prayer to commit to a lost and hurting world governed by lies and greed disguised as care and compassion!

I pray for peace in Israel. I ask you, Lord Jesus, to shine brightly, in these dark days and that our lives would be illuminated by your glorious light.

We give you all the praise, all the glory! Amen 😌

A psalm of David~

“Keep me safe, O God, for I have come to you for refuge.

I said to the Lord, ‘You are my master! Every good thing I have comes from you.’

The godly people in the land are my true heroes! I take pleasure in them!

Troubles multiply for those who chase after other gods. I will not take part in their sacrifices of blood or even speak the names of their gods.

Lord, you alone are my inheritance, my cup of blessing. You guard all that is mine.

The land you have given me is a pleasant land. What a wonderful inheritance.

I will bless the Lord who guides me; even at night my heart instructs me.

I know the Lord is always with me. I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me,

No wonder my heart is glad, and I rejoice. My body rests in safety.

For you will not leave my soul among the dead or allow your holy one to rot in the grave.

You will show me the way of life, granting me the joy of your presence and the pleasures of living with you forever.”

Amen!!!

Within scripture, we can find little niblets upon which we can pluck at any moment. Tiny golden nuggets to draw from when our spiritual account is low. Small little weights tucked within the dumbells help keep us fit. The little daggers of God’s word are the best line of defense.

Since this chapter flows so easily it’s a perfect one to search for beautiful little gems within the treasure.

Here we go:

Every good thing I have comes from you! (God)

Lord, you are my inheritance, my cup of blessing.

You guard ALL that is mine (my soul, my body, my mind, my world, my family, my resources, and my walk with you!)

You guide me.

You are always with me.

I will not be shaken because you are right beside me.

My body rests in safety.

You will show me the way of life.

I will live with the joy of your presence, Lord, forever!

I find remembering entire verses to be a bit difficult but I carry and use snippets of his vows of love, protection, direction, provision, and friendship.

They are especially helpful in the wee hours when darkness prevails, worries, and fear creep around and your mind won’t shut off; grab your bundle of mini arsenal and repeat as many times as necessary.

As you read your Bible, be on the lookout for little gems and start building your tidbit collection, carrying them with you always, reminding you of who you are in the Lord; and who He is in you!

You are loved! He is mighty! ❤️☺️

A Psalm of David

“Who may worship in your sanctuary, Lord?

Who may enter your presence on your holy hill?

Those who lead blameless lives and do what is right, speaking the truth from sincere hearts.

Those who refuse to gossip or harm their neighbors or speak evil of their friends.

Those who despise flagrant sinners, and honor the faithful followers of the Lord, and keep their promises even when it hurts.

Those who lend money without charging interest, and who cannot be bribed to lie about the innocent.

Such people will stand firm forever.”

And there you have it; I can’t add much to these simple basic instructions.

No one is ever blameless because we walk on soiled ground but the Lord knows our hearts. He knows our thoughts behind the thought. He knows us better than we know ourselves!

So, when we slip and slide as we travel along, he understands. When an errant thought pops up and we quickly disregard it rather than ponder, he is proud. When we stop ourselves before joining in the gossip circle, he smiles. When we refuse to speak malice toward another, he beams.

The Lord supplies us with key instructions throughout the Bible for living a joyful life filled with his peace but we have to be willing to follow his lead!

Free to worship in his sanctuary! Free to worship in his presence! Standing firm forever! Hallelujah! 🥰

Have a most blessed day! 🥰

“O Lord, how long will you forget me? Forever? How long must I look the other way?

How long must I struggle with anquish in my soul, with sorrow in my heart everyday? How long will my enemy have the upper hand?

Turn and answer me, O Lord my God! Restore the sparkle to my eyes, or I will die.

Don’t let my enemies gloat, saying, ‘We have defeated him!’ Don’t let them rejoice at my downfall.

But, I trust in your unfailing love. I will rejoice because you have rescued me. I will sing to the Lord because he is good to me.”

Does the Lord feel far away? Does it seem as though your prayers are not being heard? King David felt the same way.

When we struggle in anguish and sorrow, the air feels like a wet blanket, breathing is difficult. The weight of our sorrow holding us down, our shoulders slump, our feet shuffle, our bodies seem to sag.

Now what? Do we sit and stare out the window, lost in our pain and emotions, or do we stop focusing on our problem and refocus on Our Lord in Heaven?

We should take David’s example and pray! Releasing all our emotions onto God, asking him for his strength, peace, and resolve, all the while restoring the sparkle in our eyes.

What happens when you think of sparkling eyes, a smile also forms, actually your whole face changes. Try it! Seriously, God is so cool! When our eyes are bright and we wear a smile, there is a light that accompanies us! Let’s choose God’s light over Satan’s darkness.

Place your tiny hand in God’s, remembering he holds all the waters of the earth in his palms. So he’s more than capable of holding you and keeping your enemies (trials) at bay.

Isaiah 40:12 NLT “Who else has held the oceans in his hands? Who has measured off the heavens with his fingers? Who else knows the weight of the earth or has weighed its mountains and hills on a scale.”

David, then goes on to do what David did best! He turned his sorrow to singing by reminding himself always who his God is and what his God is capable of!

He trusted in God’s unfailing love and rejoiced in remembering all the times the Lord came to his rescue. All, the while singing because each trial we give to the Lord, assures he is with us, and waiting triumphantly on the other side!

Maybe, just maybe we should try David’s example❣️🥰

“Help, O Lord, for the godly are fast disappearing! The faithful have vanished from the earth!

Neighbors lie to each other, speaking with flattering lips and deceitful hearts.

May the Lord cut off their flattering lips and silence their boastful tongues.

They say, ‘We will lie to our hearts’ content. Our lips are our own- who can stop us?

The Lord replies, ‘I have seen violence done to the helpless, and I have heard the groans of the poor. Now I will rise up to rescue them, as they have longed for me to do.’

The Lords promises are pure, like silver refined in a furnace, purified seven times over.

Therefore the Lord will protect the oppressed, preserving them forever from this lying generation, even though the wicked strut about, and evil is praised throughout the land.”

WOW!

I looked up when this psalm might have been written and I quote “Most modern scholars believe the Psalms were written during the pre-exilic period (around 600 BCE), or possibly post-exilic (500 BCE), but they are infamously difficult to date, somewhat because of their poetic nature.” honors blog.uark.edu>psalms

BCE is an abbreviation for “Before the Christian Era”

Here is a perfect example of history repeating itself! The author of this psalm could very easily be sitting in his office in a downtown high-rise office building, penning these exact words.

As I was reading this chapter, it screamed of the days we are living in. The news reports basically what they want us to hear, or at the very least twisting the message to reflect their beliefs and worldly agenda.

Our world is cold, fast, and scary. We have lost people with no one and nowhere to go; as they search for a warm place to lay down they probably find the doors are locked, the buildings are secured, and safety fences are in place, why because among the poor and oppressed are those bent on evil. Sadly, those who would rob you as you try and hand them a warm meal!

We can only do what the Lord places in our paths, helping those he puts in our line of focus. We can help supply food kitchens and pantries. We can donate clothes, coats, sleeping bags, and such.

But…

The best thing we can do is PRAY taking the last section of this chapter and thanking the Lord that…

He sees the violence done to the poor and helpless.

Thanking him that his word tells us he will rise and rescue them.

Thanking him, that his words are pure, true and steadfast!

Thanking him for his protection over the lost but also over us and our families every day as we wade through the currents of life.

Preserving us from this lying generation, because wicked struts about and evil is praised throughout our land.

But, you Lord are in control. You know those who belong to you and are always with us. We thank you for your protection! We thank you for your direction! We thank you for open hearts, hearing ears, and seeing eyes. Lord help us to correctly represent you while we are walking this earth. Let us be bright shining ambassadors of your love and message. In your glorious name Lord Jesus, we pray! Amen 😌

Psalm 9:1-2 NLT “I will praise you, Lord, with all my heart; I will tell of all the marvelous things you have done.

I will be filled with joy because of you. I will sing praises to your name, O Most High.”

Psalm 9:7-10 NLT “But the Lord reigns forever, executing judgment from his throne. He will judge the world with justice and rule the nations with fairness.

The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble. Those who know your name trust in you, for you, O Lord, do not abandon those who search for you.”

Psalm 9:15-20 NLT “The nations have fallen into the pit they dug for others. Their feet have been caught in the trap they set.

The Lord is known for justice. The wicked are trapped by their own deeds.

The wicked will go down to the grave. This is the fate of all the nations who ignore God.

But the needy will not be ignored forever; the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed,

Arise, O Lord! Do not let mere mortals defy you! Judge the nations!

Make them tremble in fear, O Lord. Let the nations know they are merely human.”

I don’t know about you but the verses in this chapter bring much comfort. First, we are told time and again not to worry, not to look at the ravages of our earth, not to fear those who oppress and oppose! Why? Because our Lord is always with us! He is near to the brokenhearted, the downtrodden, the tired, and the weary.

Secondly, the Bible speaks specifically about rulers, ruling nations, the government that God allows, the trials, the deceit, the power over the poor, and the power of joined forces, good or bad. Ultimately, God’s judgment upon the nations of the world!

We, Gods children, are not to question the ways in which the world is heading because we know God has a plan. We are governed to trust in his sovereign plan, resting in the knowledge of his love, protection and provision.

He tells us the hopes of the poor will not always be crushed! Rise, up and be loud, and proud of our heritage within him!

We need not fear the next president, even if we tread with trepidation and dread of what could be another four years of what we’ve just suffered. But, trusting that what God allows is lining all the players up for his ultimate purpose. We, God’s children, are the recipients of his ultimate purpose. 🥰

Fear not, for God holds the world in his hands, and He holds you as well! ❤️

By this be blessed 😌

Verses 1-9 NLT: “O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth! Your glory is higher than the heavens.

You have taught children and infants to tell of your strength, silencing your enemies and all who oppose you.

When I look at the night sky and see the works of your fingers-the moon and the stars you set in place-what are mere mortals that you should think about them, human beings that you should care for them?

You made them only a little lower than God and crowned them with glory and honor.

You gave them charge of everything you made, putting all things under their authority- the flocks and the herds and all the wild animals, the birds in the sky, the fish in the sea, and everything that swims the oceans currents.

O Lord, our Lord, your majestic name fills the earth!

The Lord is a stronghold in times of trouble! He is our shield and sword as we battle the daily trials of life. He teaches us and shows us his love, all the while providing constant protection and provision. We, in turn, share our testimonies of his love to a lost and hurting world.

When was the last time you sat quietly and gazed at the night sky? The vast darkness lit up my trillions of stars sparkling like tiny diamonds scattered at will.

Or, possibly the last vacation as you stood on a sandy beach looking out at the ocean, the water stretching beyond the horizon, the depths that go past our ability to imagine, the power of the waves as they crash and pound the shoreline.

Maybe you’re standing on the edge of a field of wildflowers that were planted by the creator’s hand, placed haphazardly here and there, dotting the landscape and creating carpets of glorious colors, shapes, and sizes.

A world created for us to enjoy and share not only with each other but with the creator himself.

This chapter of beautiful gifts from our heavenly father also gives us responsibility towards our stewardship and leaves us with some thoughts to ponder!

Who are we, that God loves us so much that he gave us dominion over his creation?

How are we doing with such a gift and responsibility?

He has crowned us with glory and honor!

We, in turn praise his Holy Name. 😌