I was reading in the book of Isaiah this morning and the Lord was predicting some wrath that would come upon Egypt at his hand.

In chapter 19 verse 18, we read; “On that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan and swear loyalty to the Lord of Armies. One of the cities will be called the City of the Sun.”

Hmmm, interesting so I looked up if there was ever a city in Egypt called the City of the Sun, this is what I found!

“Yes, there was a city in ancient Egypt called Heliopolis, which translates to ‘City of the Sun’ in Greek. It was a major religious center and capital of the 13th or Heliopolis Name of Lower Egypt. The city was the center of worship for the sun god, Ra, and was once home to the largest and most important temple of the pharaohs.” Wikipedia.org

I am not going to try and make heads or tails of today’s scripture as the book of Isaiah can be confusing as some of it was in real-time, some was for near prophecy and the rest is end-time prophecy!

What I do wish to point out is history!

I love it when a person, battle, or city appears in the Bible and we can find such within the pages of our history books.

The Lord has given us enough tangible evidence of his existence and landmarks throughout the world that point directly to the Bible and its historical teachings.

This always makes me wonder why people have such a hard time believing in God! When we can take situations, locations, and people from the Bible and align them with our history books what part of that doesn’t resonate?

God is giving us sneak peeks, helpful hints, and steps of the past leading us into the future but the masses still run blind from him, his peace, and his love.

This makes me sad! 😔

Dear Lord Our Father in Heaven,

Thank you for our eyes that see you and our ears that are attentive to your call. I thank you, Lord, that we, your children, might be that open door, leading the lost to you. The lost souls living in our world of decay.

Help us Lord to be examples of your love. Please, help us to share your words of wisdom, deliverance, and peace.

As we learn and grow, help us to share our testimonies with those who are ignorant of you, opening their eyes to the wonder of your love, protection, provision, and direction.

We give you all the praise and all the glory! In your perfect name Lord Jesus, we pray. Amen 😌

Zephaniah 3:17 ESV “The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.”

I have a couple of testimonies of just this very thing! God was in my midst. I went back to my childhood hometown this weekend for a railroad event I shared with my husband.

As preparations for this trip approached, I began hoping that I would see Max. A very dear friend from my early, early twenties. I knew I was going to be near the historic excursion train which he volunteers but would the train be scheduled to run the day, I was going to be there?

Saturday morning, we have our little motorized putt-putt train cars on the tracks ready for our excursion BUT they are also loading the excursion train. Hope arises within! My husband having been a manager on the railroad in Eastern Oregon popped over to the depot to see if he would recognize anyone! He reports, no Max and I’m disappointed.

We are standing for our RR briefing, receiving our courtesy and safety track rules when my husband taps me and points over to the left, Oh My Gosh, here comes Max all handsome in his conductor’s uniform. Tears form and I have to stand still and continue to pay attention during the briefing when what I wanted to do was take off in a dead run to go hug a dear, dear old friend!

I instantly knew God had just blessed my heart! Max was scheduled that Saturday, the same Saturday, I was going to be but a few feet away from the train he would soon board! I got the chance to see my friend and hug him if only for a couple of minutes! That’s God!

Next, my husband and I were driving home from said event Sunday evening and I got to thinking about “Cousin’s Country Restaurant” in The Dalles. A good warm meal that wasn’t fast food sounded so good. The next thing I hear is my husband suggesting we stop at the next McDonald’s or facsimile and grab something fast so we can continue home!

Ugg, the last thing I wanted was another fast-food burger but it did make sense and we were both tired. So, I started thinking about what I might eat instead of pouting as I’ve been known to do. We pulled in for gas with the intention of eating, but the place was jammed! My husband suggests we move on down the road and look for something else. Good idea!

Down the road we go and The Dalles is getting closer and out of the blue my husband looks at me and says, “How about I take you to Cousin’s for dinner?” I cracked up laughing and said, “I have been thinking about Cousins since Boardman.” That’s God!

In both of these equations, I could have forced my way! I could have called my friend and got him up and to the tracks early on a Saturday morning for but a few minutes! I easily could have told my husband where I desired to eat, ignoring that he was tired, and was driving and pulling a trailer!

I don’t believe in coincidences and here is how I view these incidences.

Psalm 37:4 ESV “Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” Amen, 😌

We often don’t know how to share the Lord. We fear ignorance, not knowing the proper verse or what chapter to find said verse, let alone what book it resides in within the Bible. But, we can always share our testimonies of his faithfulness, his deliverance, his presence, and his love. All we have to do is recognize his hand upon our lives and share a story or two!

These are my latest and I hope you are blessed!☺️

Have a most wonderful day! ☀️❤️

Psalm 25:11-22 NLT “For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.

Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.

They live in prosperity, and their children inherit the land.

The Lord is a friend to those who fear him. He teaches them his covenant.

My eyes are always on the Lord, for he rescues me from the traps of my enemies.

Turn to me and have mercy, for I am alone and in deep distress.

My problems go from bad to worse. Oh, save me from them all!

Feel my pain and see my trouble. Forgive all my sins.

See how many enemies I have and how viciously they hate me!

Protect me! Rescue my life from them! Do not let me be disgraced, for in you I take refuge.

May integrity and honesty protect me, for I put my hope in you.

O God, ransom Isreal from its troubles.”

We hear David asking God to forgive him for his many many sins, for God’s honor! God’s honor? We know that God is 100% honor. So in actuality, what David is saying is, ‘Lord, I want to honor you! I am full of sin! I know you cannot look upon sin, Lord, I am humbly asking for your honor sake to please forgive me.’

David trusts that the Lord will show him his path! As should we!

That the Lord is a friend and gladly teaches us his ways! Something we all need to truly grasp and remember!

The Lord rescues us from the traps others might be laying for us but he also rescues us from the traps we often get ourselves into! A GREAT BIG thank you, Lord!

He has experienced the feeling of being alone, left to battle distress in the darkest hours of life. He walked a mile in our shoes.

May integrity and honesty protect me! What a profound request how can integrity and honesty protect us? Because that is just what our Lord is; integrity and honesty! Upon that, we can rest. Upon that, we can trust! Upon that, we walk in confidence!

And in unison, we can repeat the simple prayer; “O God ransom Isreal from its troubles.” Amen!

Again, we need to constantly remind ourselves when facing challenges, fears, and needs of who God is, and who he has been for us in our past. We need to trust even when the road ahead looks dark and looming because we never walk alone and we never walk in darkness! Jesus is our light and his word tells us, “He never leaves us nor forsakes us!” Now, that’s some good news!

As we walk out of our front doors to begin our day, don’t forget to take your best friend.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank you for your words that always assure me of your love and presence. I ask humbly for your presence, guidance, protection, provision, and direction. I long for my life what you have planned! Please, help me to see beyond my scope of vision and trust in yours! In your name, I pray, Amen!

Psalm 25:1-10 New Living Translation (NLT)

“ O Lord, I give my life to you.

I trust in you, my God! Don’t let me be disgraced, or let my enemies rejoice over my defeat.

No one who trusts in you will ever be disgraced, but disgrace comes from those who try and deceive others.

Show me the right path, O Lord; point out the road for me to follow.

Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are a God who saves me. All day long I put my trust in you.

Remember, O Lord, your compassion and unfailing love, which you have shown from long ages past.

Do not remember the rebellious sins of my youth. Remember me in the light of your unfailing love, for you are merciful, O Lord.

The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.

He leads the humble in doing right, teaching them his way.

The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.

For the honor of your name, O Lord, forgive my many, many sins.”

As we travel through the Psalms it may seem as though David repeats his prayers as if he’s reminding himself who God is and all God has done in his life!

Exactly!!!

However, David isn’t reminding God of who God is and his promises of protection, direction, and deliverance. David is encouraging himself through God and all he has come to know about God!

He is setting the perfect example for us to follow!

When faced with life’s daily trials, people problems, money issues, health concerns, jobs, school, pressure, and more pressures!

We can become overwhelmed, and dizzy from spinning in circles and going nowhere. We become scared and anxious about said trials and deadlines quickly approaching. Everything feels out of control!

What do you do? You follow David’s example and pray to your Father above, casting your cares upon our Lord Jesus because one, he cares for you, two, he’s walked in your shoes and knows exactly how you are feeling!

You see we serve a mighty God who allowed himself to become fully man so that he might fully understand and relate to us, his children of the flesh.

So, today as you face the world and the world faces you back! Arm yourself with the knowledge that you never walk alone, God is always with you. Then, every time a worry, a dread, a fear tries to creep in do what David does, remind yourself who God is in your world and all he’s done in your life.

With that be blessed! 😌❤️☀️

Dear Lord Our Father In Heaven, Holy is your beautiful name, and blessed are we by your presence in our lives.

We turn to you on this day, Lord, asking for your powerful presence to be made known in our world. I pray for those of us who haven’t ushered you from our government, schools, churches, and lives. Yes, churches, as many are preaching what the masses demand to hear rather than what your Holy Word is.

Lord, hold us in your mighty hands and direct our steps. Please, help us to hear and know the truth. The media and masses are screaming so they are heard but we know you are in the quiet truth; let the truth ring loudly above the lies.

Father, the prices of living have risen so high that many can’t afford to live! Thank you for your comfort, thank you for the many who work in the pantries, food kitchens, and shelters.

Thank you for your grace and favor, helping us to stretch our dollar, supplying our needs with a little left over to share, and giving us a heart to share!

Kindness, Lord, fill our spirits with your spirit, that we might look upon the world with kindness toward the lost, the lonely, and those who look and appear different from us. Please, Lord, help us not to judge, help us not to condemn those who appear already condemned.

Compassion, Lord, bless those who tirelessly work on behalf of the forgotten. The ones who walk the streets checking on the unseen, the smelly, the addicts, the unmedicated, and the angry. Fill each of us Lord, with your compassion.

Help us Lord to have eyes that see beyond the casual glimpse. Help us to hear the silent cries for help. Help our hands to reach out and touch, our feet to carry us along your path of deliverance.

Be with us your chosen, help us to represent you and to represent you correctly. We, humbly ask you Lord for the ability to be the light in someone’s darkness, a hand to hold in someone’s fear, and a word of hope and encouragement in someone’s despair.

In your glorious name, we pray, with humble thanksgiving for your love and presence in our lives. We give you all the praise and all the glory. Amen 😌❤️

Aww, we have reached a very recognized and known chapter in the book of Psalms. Chapter 23 and the blessings it contains.

Chapter 23:1-6 NLT “The Lord is my shepherd; I have all that I need.

He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams.

He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honor to his name.

Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.

You prepare a feast for me in the presence of my enemies. You honor me by anointing my head with oil. My cup overflows with blessings.

Surely your goodness and unfailing love will pursue me all the days of my life, and I will live in the house of the Lord forever..”

The Lord is my shepherd.

A shepherd leads, watches over, provides for, and protects his sheep. We are Jesus’ sheep, we belong to him.

I have all that I need.

Philippians 4:19 NIV “And my God shall supply all your needs according to the riches in Christ Jesus.”

He leads me to rest.

Matthew 11:28 NIV “Come to me, all who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest.”

He renews my strength.

Philippians 4:13 NLT “I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.”

He guides me along right paths.

Jeremiah 29:11 NLT “For I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are good plans and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.”

When I walk in darkness, I will not be afraid.

Isaiah 41:10 NLT “Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my right hand.”

My cup overflows with blessings.

Proverbs 3:10 ESV “Then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

Romans 15:13 ESV “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.”

And I will live in the house of the Lord forever!

John 14:3 NLT “When everything is ready, I will come and get you, so that you will always be with me where I am.”

And what a glorious day that will be!

Throughout the Bible, God expresses his love for his children, his provision, protection and plan. Rest in this, rest in the security of his love, it’s the one thing you can always count on!

By this be blessed ☺️ Have a wonderful day ☀️❤️

:14 My life is poured out like water, and all my bones are out of joint. My heart is melting within me.

:15 My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay. My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth. You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.

:16 My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs; an evil gang closes in on me. They have pierced my hands and feet.

:17 I can count all my bones. My enemies stare at me and gloat.

:18 They divide my garments among themselves and throw dice for my clothing.

:19 O Lord, do not stay far away! You are my strength; come quickly to my aid!

:20 Save me from the sword; spare my life from these dogs.

:21 Snatch me from the lion’s jaws and from the horns of these wild oxen.

:22 I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters. I will praise you among your assembled people.

:23 Praise the Lord, all who fear him! Honor him, all you descendants of Jacob! Show him reverence, all you descendants of Isreal!

:24 For he has not ignored or belittled the suffering of the needy. He has not turned his back on them but has listened to their cries for help.”

Let us once again fast forward a thousand years to the scene of the cross and the prophecy David spoke within his lament to God.

John 19:28 NLT “Jesus knew that his mission was now finished, and to fulfill scripture he said, ‘I am thirsty.” (see verse 15)

John 20:24-29 NLT “One of the twelve disciples, Thomas (nicknamed the twin), was not with the others when Jesus came. They told him, ‘We have seen the Lord!’

But he replied, ‘I won’t believe it unless I see the nail wounds in his hands, put my fingers into them, and place my hand into the wound in his side.

Eight days later the disciples were together again, and this time Thomas was with them. The doors were locked; but suddenly, as before, Jesus was standing among them. ‘Peace be with you.’ he said. Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and look at my hands. Put your hand into the wound in my side. Don’t be faithless any longer. Believe!

‘My Lord and my God!’ Thomas exclaimed!

Then Jesus told him, You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.” (see verse 16)

John 19:23-24 NLT “When the soldiers had crucified Jesus, they divided his clothes among the four of them. They also took his robe, but it was seamless, woven in one piece from top to bottom. So they said, ‘Rather than tearing it apart, let’s throw dice for it.’ this fulfilled scripture that says, ‘They divided my garments among themselves and threw dice for my clothing.’ So, that is what they did. (see verse 18)

Once again, we see God using the Old Testament as a gateway into the New. The seamless weaving of the past, present, and future. We are children of the end times! So much of what we are witnessing is the prophetic written word of God!

So, among the prophecies we viewed; I think today is a great day for takeaways! ☺️

He will not ignore or belittle the suffering of the needy. He will not turn his back on them but will listen to their cries for help. Thank you Lord, and Amen!

A little something to pick up on that is huge. We hear Thomas, nicknamed the twin, better known as Doubting Thomas, exclaim to his fellow disciples that he wouldn’t believe it until he saw and touched Jesus’ scars!

Here’s our huge takeaway! Jesus wasn’t in the room when this conversation took place! Think about it! The first thing Jesus says upon his second visit to the disciples is “Thomas, put your fingers in my hands and touch the wound on my side!!”

Hmmmmm, what does this mean? It means that Jesus is always present. He hears us, sees us, watches over us, and is always walking with us! ALWAYS!!! Let that peace wash over you!

Last but by no means least; Jesus told him, You believe because you have seen me. Blessed are those who believe without seeing me.”

Blessed are we! 🥰 ☀️❤️

As we continue through this chapter, we know that David is praying a desperate prayer to God but little does he know, that he is also quoting prophecy.

“But I am a worm and not a man. I am scorned and despised by all.

Everyone who sees me mocks me. They sneer and shake their heads, saying, ‘Is this the one who relies on the Lord? Then let the Lord save him! If the Lord loves him so much, let the Lord save him.

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast.

I was thrust into your arms at birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

Don’t stay far from me, for trouble is near, and no one else can help me.

My enemies surround me like a herd of bulls; fierce bulls of Bashan have hemmed me in!

Like lions, they open their jaws against me, roaring and tearing into their prey.”

Dang, David is in serious lament, can you relate to the emotions and picture he paints? At any given time I believe we all can; life that feels like an enemy presently surrounds us, feeling hemmed in, open jaws against us, roaring and tearing!

Yesterday we read the correlation from the Old Testament to the New in the gospel of John; today’s is found in the gospel of Luke.

We fast-forward 1,000 years and Jesus is on the cross. 😔

Luke 23:35 NLT “The crowd watched and the leaders scoffed. ‘He saved others,’ they said, ‘let him save himself if he is really God’s Messiah, the Chosen One.”

He claimed to be God’s chosen one, God’s Messiah! “If he is indeed God in the flesh,” they were saying, “then let him save himself.” “Where is “God” now they sneered.” ‘Son of God,’ sure, where is your “Father” now, huh?

Have you ever been there? No, not strung up on a cross but receiving the same sneers and attitudes when non-believers hear your stance on the church, your faith in God to bring peace into your chaos, hope in something to pass, your walk that is the opposite of the world’s? Your beliefs contradict theirs!

I believe we all have! To be a believer makes you a Christian. To be a Christian makes you weird, and no fun, so the world thinks!

Ha, I happen to be a lot of fun and I know many “believers” who are a blast! We have to be careful about caring what the world thinks and how the world views us because frankly, look at the world! It’s a mess! Why, would we even want to join their forces? We are however called to be an example of our faith, belief, and walk in our Lord Jesus Christ.

But…

We have another takeaway here that needs some attention!

Yet you brought me safely from my mother’s womb and led me to trust you at my mother’s breast. I was thrust into your arms at birth. You have been my God from the moment I was born.

Jeremiah 1:5 NLT “I knew you before I formed you in your mother’s womb. Before you were born I set you apart and appointed you as my prophet to the nations.”

Think about that, before you were born, I set you apart!

We love him because he loved us first!

1 John 4:19 NIV “We love because he first loved us.”

You aren’t a child of God by accident. You weren’t accidentally at the right place at the right time. You didn’t just trip and fall into his grace, mercy, and favor! You were chosen!

Ephesians 1:11 NIV “In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will.”

I find this to be pretty awesome when you think about it; we didn’t choose God; He chose us! We are part of his, royal family, and his royal plan, and by this we should feel honored!

By this, we should feel comforted and safe, after all, we are God’s children. 🥰

Have a blessed day. ☀️❤️

I find God to be so amazing! He is such an intricate part of our lives, and so intuned to us, and yet we often miss his special little nuances.

Imagine my surprise and joy when my pastor taught much of his sermon yesterday around Psalm 22 and the prophecy it contains. The Psalm was written by David, who probably didn’t know what his own desperate personal cry for help was going to become.

Psalm 22:1-5 NLT “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me? Why are you so far away when I groan for help?

Every day I call to you, my God, but you do not answer. Every night I lift my voice, but I find no relief.

Yet you are holy, enthroned on the praises of Isreal.

Our ancestors trusted in you, and you rescued them.

They cried out to you and were saved. They trusted you and were never disgraced.”

First, the cry of distress! Haven’t we all been on the silent, waiting side of our prayers? The days and nights we cry out to God for relief and yet none seem to arrive!

The panic, the fear, the need; ‘Where are you, Lord, are you even listening?’ our minds and spirits cry! He’s where he always is, with us and working on our behalf even when it doesn’t feel like it.

Remember, this is when we need to use our faith muscle. The muscle that reminds us of all the times the Lord has been there and delivered us from our trials in the past and to trust he will do the same today and tomorrow!

Hebrews 13:8 NLT “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever.”

We see David doing just this! He cries to the Lord from his heart, asking God where he is, stating he isn’t hearing or feeling much from above, all the while reminding himself of God’s faithfulness in the past. His rescue of those who trusted in him who were never disgraced! Solid testimony of our God!

But…

Here is the amazing thing about the Bible, it is alive, it is the living word of God. Fast forward 1,000 years, and Jesus is hanging on the cross! 😔

Matthew 27:45-46 NLT “At noon, darkness fell across the whole land until three o’clock. At about three o’clock Jesus called out with a loud voice, ‘Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?’ which means ‘My God, My God, why have you abandoned me?”

Once again, we see the Old Testament align with the New Testament. Prophecy spoken in the Old, being lived out and respoken in the New! Again, solid testimony of our God!

If you are in a place we found David in; praying but with no relief remind yourself of who God truly is, has been in your past, and carry that peace into today. Your solid testimony of our God!

Dear Lord,

Thank you for your words of love reminding us of who you are, what you are, and have always been. I hold up to you today those who are scared, lonely, without, and in need of a quiet hug and message from your spirit to their hearts. Thank you, Lord, for your grace, favor, and mercy every day! We turn to you with hope, never to be disappointed or disgraced. In your glorious name Lord Jesus, we pray, Amen

Psalm 20:1-5 NLT

“In times of trouble, may the Lord answer your cry.

May the name of the God of Jacob keep you safe from all harm.

May he send you help from his sanctuary and strengthen you from Jerusalem.

May he remember all your gifts and look favorably on your burnt offerings.

May he grant your heart’s desires and make all your plans succeed.

May we shout for joy when we hear of your victory and raise a victory banner in the name of our God.

May the Lord answer all your prayers!”

This is my wish, this is my prayer!

Be blessed in his love and have a wonderful weekend! ☺️