I had a great day, though it was filled with errands - they were fun errands. Having a picture framed - made a new friend, saw some beautiful art. Getting information on our fountain and those famous koi. Having lunch with my hubby - at "our" favorite place. Now, I'm tired, more appointments for tomorrow coming. Going to bed with a thankful feeling for the day my Lord let me have. Tonight, there is NO, in spite of everything, it was all good.

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

    his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble

    but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;

    make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;

    he supplies the earth with rain

    and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle

    and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

the Lord delights in those who fear him,

    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;

    praise your God, Zion.

He strengthens the bars of your gates

    and blesses your people within you.

He grants peace to your borders

    and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

He sends his command to the earth;

    his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

    and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

    Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;

    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

He has revealed his word to Jacob,

    his laws and decrees to Israel.

He has done this for no other nation;

    they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord.

It doesn't help to make calls and schedule appointments - something always goes wrong. First two went fine, last one showed up at our old address, what happened? In spite of everything, we had some great technicians, a more or less restful day and a lesson in patience. I AM asking the Lord to show me what I need to learn, so He gives me lessons. How about you? What lessons are you learning?

Psalm 148

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord from the heavens;

    praise him in the heights above.

Praise him, all his angels;

    praise him, all his heavenly hosts.

Praise him, sun and moon;

    praise him, all you shining stars.

Praise him, you highest heavens

    and you waters above the skies.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for at his command they were created,

 and he established them for ever and ever—

    he issued a decree that will never pass away.

Praise the Lord from the earth,

    you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,

lightning and hail, snow and clouds,

    stormy winds that do his bidding,

you mountains and all hills,

    fruit trees and all cedars,

 wild animals and all cattle,

    small creatures and flying birds,

kings of the earth and all nations,

    you princes and all rulers on earth,

young men and women,

    old men and children.

Let them praise the name of the Lord,

    for his name alone is exalted;

    his splendor is above the earth and the heavens.

And he has raised up for his people a horn,

    the praise of all his faithful servants,

    of Israel, the people close to his heart.

Praise the Lord.

I know I really haven't, but...

I feel like I have spent all day on the phone, I know I really haven't, but... I was arranging home repair/inspection appointments for tomorrow. But, in spite of everything, I had some good short conversations with my children, a walk with my husband and homemade lasagna for lunch, so it wasn't bad after all. A good day, nothing exciting, just good. I hope you had a good day too.

Psalm 115

Not to us, Lord, not to us

    but to your name be the glory,

    because of your love and faithfulness.

Why do the nations say,

    “Where is their God?”

Our God is in heaven;

    he does whatever pleases him.

But their idols are silver and gold,

    made by human hands.

They have mouths, but cannot speak,

    eyes, but cannot see.

They have ears, but cannot hear,

    noses, but cannot smell.

They have hands, but cannot feel,

    feet, but cannot walk,

    nor can they utter a sound with their throats.

Those who make them will be like them,

    and so will all who trust in them.

All you Israelites, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

House of Aaron, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

You who fear him, trust in the Lord—

    he is their help and shield.

The Lord remembers us and will bless us:

    He will bless his people Israel,

    he will bless the house of Aaron,

 he will bless those who fear the Lord—

    small and great alike.

May the Lord cause you to flourish,

    both you and your children.

May you be blessed by the Lord,

    the Maker of heaven and earth.

The highest heavens belong to the Lord,

    but the earth he has given to mankind.

It is not the dead who praise the Lord,

    those who go down to the place of silence;

it is we who extol the Lord,

    both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord.

What a beautiful world the Lord has given us.

OK, errands all morning - then a wrong turn took us on the "scenic" route. What a life...came home to three mockingbirds trying to outdo the others - just beautiful. The trees are flowering, tulips are blooming, forsythia, bridal veil, and quince - dogwood are beginning to bloom. What a beautiful world the Lord has given us. May you have a good week, in spite of everything, savor the songs, smells and beauty of spring.

Evening prayer - Psalm 103

Psalm 103

Praise the Lord, my soul;

    all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

Praise the Lord, my soul,

    and forget not all his benefits—

who forgives all your sins

    and heals all your diseases,

who redeems your life from the pit

    and crowns you with love and compassion,

who satisfies your desires with good things

    so that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s.

The Lord works righteousness

    and justice for all the oppressed.

He made known his ways to Moses,

    his deeds to the people of Israel:

The Lord is compassionate and gracious,

    slow to anger, abounding in love.

He will not always accuse,

    nor will he harbor his anger forever;

he does not treat us as our sins deserve

    or repay us according to our iniquities.

For as high as the heavens are above the earth,

    so great is his love for those who fear him;

as far as the east is from the west,

    so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

As a father has compassion on his children,

    so the Lord has compassion on those who fear him;

for he knows how we are formed,

    he remembers that we are dust.

The life of mortals is like grass,

    they flourish like a flower of the field;

the wind blows over it and it is gone,

    and its place remembers it no more.

But from everlasting to everlasting

    the Lord’s love is with those who fear him,

    and his righteousness with their children’s children—

with those who keep his covenant

    and remember to obey his precepts.

The Lord has established his throne in heaven,

    and his kingdom rules over all.

Praise the Lord, you his angels,

    you mighty ones who do his bidding,

    who obey his word.

Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts,

    you his servants who do his will.

Praise the Lord, all his works

    everywhere in his dominion.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

A wonderful day...

Happy Easter! Christ is Risen! 

How blessed we are to have a Savior, willing to die for us - and then able to rise from the dead. If He is able to do that, why do we worry about the small things we want. All of us must learn to communicate with this wonderful Savior, to talk to Him as if He were sitting with us. 

"He walks with me and He talks with me. And He tells me I am His own.

And the joy we share as we tarry there, none other has ever known."

In spite of everything, let us take the time to tarry with our Lord. We will be better for it!

He is Risen indeed!

Psalm 93

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
    the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
    indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

Your throne was established long ago;
    you are from all eternity.

 The seas have lifted up, Lord,
    the seas have lifted up their voice;
    the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
 Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
    mightier than the breakers of the sea—
    the Lord on high is mighty.

 Your statutes, Lord, stand firm;
    holiness adorns your house
    for endless days.

I am already excited for Easter morning. Our church which is small celebrates Easter dinner together...I have made carrot cake and broccoli salad. Mom made deviled eggs, I have a sparkling Spanish wine chilling - we are a family!!! A family that knows Jesus Christ as Savior, what a blessing... Happy Easter- the best celebration, better than Christmas.

 Psalm 14

The fool says in his heart,

    “There is no God.”

They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;

    there is no one who does good.

The Lord looks down from heaven

    on all mankind

to see if there are any who understand,

    any who seek God.

All have turned away, all have become corrupt;

    there is no one who does good,

    not even one.

Do all these evildoers know nothing?

They devour my people as though eating bread;

    they never call on the Lord.

But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,

    for God is present in the company of the righteous.

You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,

    but the Lord is their refuge.

Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!

    When the Lord restores his people,

    let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Psalm 16

Keep me safe, my God,

    for in you I take refuge.

I say to the Lord, “You are my Lord;

    apart from you I have no good thing.”

I say of the holy people who are in the land,

    “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.”

Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.

    I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods

    or take up their names on my lips.

Lord, you alone are my portion and my cup;

    you make my lot secure.

The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;

    surely I have a delightful inheritance.

 I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;

    even at night my heart instructs me.

I keep my eyes always on the Lord.

    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.

Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;

    my body also will rest secure,

because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,

    nor will you let your faithful one see decay.

11 You make known to me the path of life;

    you will fill me with joy in your presence,

    with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Raining and dark...

Raining and dark - our Savior died....how must God, our Father have felt...sadness...loss - He gave His Son for us...

Psalm 22

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

    Why are you so far from saving me,

    so far from my cries of anguish?

My God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

    by night, but I find no rest.

Yet you are enthroned as the Holy One;

    you are the one Israel praises.

In you our ancestors put their trust;

    they trusted and you delivered them.

To you they cried out and were saved;

    in you they trusted and were not put to shame.

But I am a worm and not a man,

    scorned by everyone, despised by the people.

All who see me mock me;

    they hurl insults, shaking their heads.

“He trusts in the Lord,” they say,

    “let the Lord rescue him.

Let him deliver him,

    since he delights in him.”

Yet you brought me out of the womb;

    you made me trust in you, even at my mother’s breast.

From birth I was cast on you;

    from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,

    for trouble is near

    and there is no one to help.

Many bulls surround me;

    strong bulls of Bashan encircle me.

Roaring lions that tear their prey

    open their mouths wide against me.

I am poured out like water,

    and all my bones are out of joint.

My heart has turned to wax;

    it has melted within me.

My mouth is dried up like a potsherd,

    and my tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth;

    you lay me in the dust of death.

Dogs surround me,

    a pack of villains encircles me;

    they pierce my hands and my feet.

All my bones are on display;

    people stare and gloat over me.

They divide my clothes among them

    and cast lots for my garment.

But you, Lord, do not be far from me.

    You are my strength; come quickly to help me.

 Deliver me from the sword,

    my precious life from the power of the dogs.

Rescue me from the mouth of the lions;

    save me from the horns of the wild oxen.

I will declare your name to my people;

    in the assembly I will praise you.

You who fear the Lord, praise him!

    All you descendants of Jacob, honor him!

    Revere him, all you descendants of Israel!

For he has not despised or scorned

    the suffering of the afflicted one;

he has not hidden his face from him

    but has listened to his cry for help.

From you comes the theme of my praise in the great assembly;

    before those who fear you I will fulfill my vows.

The poor will eat and be satisfied;

    those who seek the Lord will praise him—

    may your hearts live forever!

All the ends of the earth

    will remember and turn to the Lord,

and all the families of the nations

    will bow down before him,

for dominion belongs to the Lord

    and he rules over the nations.

All the rich of the earth will feast and worship;

    all who go down to the dust will kneel before him—

    those who cannot keep themselves alive.

Posterity will serve him;

    future generations will be told about the Lord.

They will proclaim his righteousness,

    declaring to a people yet unborn:

    He has done it!

My, what an incredible day.

My, what an incredible day. Our friend Bill's funeral was so good - yes, good. The pastor explained why certain things are done within a Catholic service. He connected traditions to scripture and made sure we would be looking forward to seeing Bill in Heaven. The men that Bill played music with, were there and sang at the beginning and the end of the service. Wayfarin' Stranger was first and as one church assistant stated "the best sung and played version of I'll Fly Away (the band knew how to do it)" - they did! 

Tonight we go to the Maundy Thursday service, one of my favorites. Easter fast approaches!

Psalm 116

I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;

    he heard my cry for mercy.

Because he turned his ear to me,

    I will call on him as long as I live.

The cords of death entangled me,

    the anguish of the grave came over me;

    I was overcome by distress and sorrow.

Then I called on the name of the Lord:

    “Lord, save me!”

The Lord is gracious and righteous;

    our God is full of compassion.

The Lord protects the unwary;

    when I was brought low, he saved me.

Return to your rest, my soul,

    for the Lord has been good to you.

For you, Lord, have delivered me from death,

    my eyes from tears,

    my feet from stumbling,

that I may walk before the Lord

    in the land of the living.

I trusted in the Lord when I said,

    “I am greatly afflicted”;

 in my alarm I said,

    “Everyone is a liar.”

What shall I return to the Lord

    for all his goodness to me?

I will lift up the cup of salvation

    and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people.

Precious in the sight of the Lord

    is the death of his faithful servants.

Truly I am your servant, Lord;

    I serve you just as my mother did;

    you have freed me from my chains.

I will sacrifice a thank offering to you

    and call on the name of the Lord.

I will fulfill my vows to the Lord

    in the presence of all his people,

in the courts of the house of the Lord—

    in your midst, Jerusalem.

Praise the Lord.

Long day! Bless the Lord, oh my soul!

Long day! Bless the Lord, oh my soul!

Psalm 94

The Lord is a God who avenges.

    O God who avenges, shine forth.

Rise up, Judge of the earth;

    pay back to the proud what they deserve.

How long, Lord, will the wicked,

    how long will the wicked be jubilant?

They pour out arrogant words;

    all the evildoers are full of boasting.

They crush your people, Lord;

    they oppress your inheritance.

They slay the widow and the foreigner;

    they murder the fatherless.

They say, “The Lord does not see;

    the God of Jacob takes no notice.”

Take notice, you senseless ones among the people;

    you fools, when will you become wise?

Does he who fashioned the ear not hear?

    Does he who formed the eye not see?

Does he who disciplines nations not punish?

    Does he who teaches mankind lack knowledge?

The Lord knows all human plans;

    he knows that they are futile.

Blessed is the one you discipline, Lord,

    the one you teach from your law;

you grant them relief from days of trouble,

    till a pit is dug for the wicked.

For the Lord will not reject his people;

    he will never forsake his inheritance.

Judgment will again be founded on righteousness,

    and all the upright in heart will follow it.

Who will rise up for me against the wicked?

    Who will take a stand for me against evildoers?

Unless the Lord had given me help,

    I would soon have dwelt in the silence of death.

When I said, “My foot is slipping,”

    your unfailing love, Lord, supported me.

When anxiety was great within me,

    your consolation brought me joy.

Can a corrupt throne be allied with you—

    a throne that brings on misery by its decrees?

The wicked band together against the righteous

    and condemn the innocent to death.

But the Lord has become my fortress,

    and my God the rock in whom I take refuge.

He will repay them for their sins

    and destroy them for their wickedness;

    the Lord our God will destroy them.

...finally made it to the fabric/quilt store...

It's been a very long day, running errands. I finally made it to the fabric/quilt store to get some supplies for a banner. I do hope to start quilting again. I found a sweet new pattern, and I hope to say soon - that in spite of everything, I was able to pick out my fabric - we will see.

Psalm 6

Lord, do not rebuke me in your anger

    or discipline me in your wrath.

Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am faint;

    heal me, Lord, for my bones are in agony.

My soul is in deep anguish.

    How long, Lord, how long?

Turn, Lord, and deliver me;

    save me because of your unfailing love.

Among the dead no one proclaims your name.

    Who praises you from the grave?

I am worn out from my groaning.

All night long I flood my bed with weeping

    and drench my couch with tears.

My eyes grow weak with sorrow;

    they fail because of all my foes.

Away from me, all you who do evil,

    for the Lord has heard my weeping.

The Lord has heard my cry for mercy;

    the Lord accepts my prayer.

All my enemies will be overwhelmed with shame and anguish;

    they will turn back and suddenly be put to shame.

Psalm 12

Help, Lord, for no one is faithful anymore;

    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

Everyone lies to their neighbor;

    they flatter with their lips

    but harbor deception in their hearts.

May the Lord silence all flattering lips

    and every boastful tongue—

those who say,

    “By our tongues we will prevail;

    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,

    I will now arise,” says the Lord.

    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

And the words of the Lord are flawless,

    like silver purified in a crucible,

    like gold refined seven times.

You, Lord, will keep the needy safe

    and will protect us forever from the wicked,

who freely strut about

    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

It will be a little quieter here on earth...

A saint called home, today we heard that one of Peter's dear friends had died. Bill was a man that got Peter involved with a group of men that became his dear friends. Bill was a man who called Peter often after his stroke to encourage him to keep playing. In spite of everything,Bill was the man who got Peter out of the house and playing in front of people again. Bill was a banjo player himself, ever cheerful, ever encouraging - a great listener. He knew what music meant to Peter and helped him to keep on playing. I'm not sure how many people have friends like this, but it was special. As every phone call ended, I could hear Bill say, "I love you, brother" - he died in his chair, playing his banjo. It will be a little quieter here on earth...but, Bill "we love you, brother!"

Psalm 71

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

    let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;

    turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,

    to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,

    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,

    my confidence since my youth.

From birth I have relied on you;

    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

    I will ever praise you.

I have become a sign to many;

    you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise,

    declaring your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old;

    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

For my enemies speak against me;

    those who wait to kill me conspire together.

They say, “God has forsaken him;

    pursue him and seize him,

    for no one will rescue him.”

Do not be far from me, my God;

    come quickly, God, to help me.

May my accusers perish in shame;

    may those who want to harm me

    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

As for me, I will always have hope;

    I will praise you more and more.

My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

    of your saving acts all day long—

    though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

 Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

    do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

    you who have done great things.

    Who is like you, God?

Though you have made me see troubles,

    many and bitter,

    you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

    you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor

    and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp

    for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing praise to you with the lyre,

    Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy

    when I sing praise to you—

    I whom you have delivered.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts

    all day long,

for those who wanted to harm me

    have been put to shame and confusion.

...adults waving palm fronds...

I wonder if people driving by our church today knew what we were doing. A group of adults waving palm fronds and processing into the church - celebrating openly Jesus Christ. I hope your Palm Sunday was great.

The beginning of Holy Week, culminating with Easter. We have a wonderful Lord and great things to celebrate! Blessings!

...so, I didn't go anywhere....

I've had a self-imposed rest day. I got up this morning, anxious to get out of the house - but really no where to go - so I didn't go anywhere. I crafted, made pizza for lunch and even took an afternoon nap.

I really wanted to get out of the house, but, in spite of everything - I had a great day. Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, we are almost to Easter, examine the scripture that speaks of Holy Week - go to your "empty" church and think about Jesus...

Psalm 147

Praise the Lord.

How good it is to sing praises to our God,

    how pleasant and fitting to praise him!

The Lord builds up Jerusalem;

    he gathers the exiles of Israel.

He heals the brokenhearted

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name.

Great is our Lord and mighty in power;

    his understanding has no limit.

The Lord sustains the humble

    but casts the wicked to the ground.

Sing to the Lord with grateful praise;

    make music to our God on the harp.

He covers the sky with clouds;

    he supplies the earth with rain

    and makes grass grow on the hills.

He provides food for the cattle

    and for the young ravens when they call.

His pleasure is not in the strength of the horse,

    nor his delight in the legs of the warrior;

 the Lord delights in those who fear him,

    who put their hope in his unfailing love.

Extol the Lord, Jerusalem;

    praise your God, Zion.

He strengthens the bars of your gates

    and blesses your people within you.

He grants peace to your borders

    and satisfies you with the finest of wheat.

He sends his command to the earth;

    his word runs swiftly.

He spreads the snow like wool

    and scatters the frost like ashes.

He hurls down his hail like pebbles.

    Who can withstand his icy blast?

He sends his word and melts them;

    he stirs up his breezes, and the waters flow.

 He has revealed his word to Jacob,

    his laws and decrees to Israel.

He has done this for no other nation;

    they do not know his laws.

Praise the Lord.

...without need or want.

I had a wonderful lunch with my daughter today, then we shopped around the beautiful downtown area of Franklin. Shop local - the shopkeepers are very nice. In spite of everything, I didn't find a thing I needed or wanted. It's a good thing to be without need or want!

Psalm 95

Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord;

    let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation.

Let us come before him with thanksgiving

    and extol him with music and song.

For the Lord is the great God,

    the great King above all gods.

In his hand are the depths of the earth,

    and the mountain peaks belong to him.

The sea is his, for he made it,

    and his hands formed the dry land.

Come, let us bow down in worship,

    let us kneel before the Lord our Maker;

for he is our God

    and we are the people of his pasture,

    the flock under his care.

Today, if only you would hear his voice,

“Do not harden your hearts as you did at Meribah,

    as you did that day at Massah in the wilderness,

where your ancestors tested me;

    they tried me, though they had seen what I did.

 For forty years I was angry with that generation;

    I said, ‘They are a people whose hearts go astray,

    and they have not known my ways.’

So I declared on oath in my anger,

    ‘They shall never enter my rest.’”

Psalm 141

I call to you, Lord, come quickly to me;

    hear me when I call to you.

May my prayer be set before you like incense;

    may the lifting up of my hands be like the evening sacrifice.

Set a guard over my mouth, Lord;

    keep watch over the door of my lips.

Do not let my heart be drawn to what is evil

    so that I take part in wicked deeds

along with those who are evildoers;

    do not let me eat their delicacies.

Psalm 146

Praise the Lord.

Praise the Lord, my soul.

I will praise the Lord all my life;

    I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.

Do not put your trust in princes,

    in human beings, who cannot save.

When their spirit departs, they return to the ground;

    on that very day their plans come to nothing.

Blessed are those whose help is the God of Jacob,

    whose hope is in the Lord their God.

He is the Maker of heaven and earth,

    the sea, and everything in them—

    he remains faithful forever.

He upholds the cause of the oppressed

    and gives food to the hungry.

The Lord sets prisoners free,

     the Lord gives sight to the blind,

the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down,

    the Lord loves the righteous.

The Lord watches over the foreigner

    and sustains the fatherless and the widow,

    but he frustrates the ways of the wicked.

The Lord reigns forever,

    your God, O Zion, for all generations.

Praise the Lord.

...unfinished time with Jesus...

The day is slow and cloudy, but, in spite of everything - I've completed all of my unfinished projects and my table is clear. Yet, I know that I have unfinished time with Jesus - I need to spend time talking with Him - because, "blessed is the people whose God is the Lord." I hope I always have unfinished business with Him, for it will mean I am still growing....

Psalm 144

Praise be to the Lord my Rock,

    who trains my hands for war,

    my fingers for battle.

He is my loving God and my fortress,

    my stronghold and my deliverer,

my shield, in whom I take refuge,

    who subdues peoples under me.

Lord, what are human beings that you care for them,

    mere mortals that you think of them?

They are like a breath;

    their days are like a fleeting shadow.

Part your heavens, Lord, and come down;

    touch the mountains, so that they smoke.

Send forth lightning and scatter the enemy;

    shoot your arrows and rout them.

Reach down your hand from on high;

    deliver me and rescue me

from the mighty waters,

    from the hands of foreigners

 whose mouths are full of lies,

    whose right hands are deceitful.

I will sing a new song to you, my God;

    on the ten-stringed lyre I will make music to you,

 to the One who gives victory to kings,

    who delivers his servant David.

From the deadly sword 

 deliver me;

    rescue me from the hands of foreigners

whose mouths are full of lies,

    whose right hands are deceitful.

Then our sons in their youth

    will be like well-nurtured plants,

and our daughters will be like pillars

    carved to adorn a palace.

Our barns will be filled

    with every kind of provision.

Our sheep will increase by thousands,

    by tens of thousands in our fields;

our oxen will draw heavy loads.

There will be no breaching of walls,

    no going into captivity,

    no cry of distress in our streets.

Blessed is the people of whom this is true;

    blessed is the people whose God is the Lord.

If we look the same...

If we look the same as we did when we were young, are we still the same person? Are our faces supposed to change as we grow into what we are today? I know that worry, laugh and frown lines can show up on our faces - and we can let disappointment and sadness continue to haunt our eyes - but can our faces show maturity in the Lord? How does kindness and gratitude map our faces? Are we recognizable to old friends in good ways or bad? How do you feel when someone tells you, you look the same? I don't know, but I'm going to ponder these thoughts for a time, trying hard not to wrinkle my brow and let you know my conclusions at a later time. Smile - it feels good!

Psalm 128

Blessed are all who fear the Lord,

    who walk in obedience to him.

You will eat the fruit of your labor;

    blessings and prosperity will be yours.

Your wife will be like a fruitful vine

    within your house;

your children will be like olive shoots

    around your table.

Yes, this will be the blessing

    for the man who fears the Lord.

May the Lord bless you from Zion;

    may you see the prosperity of Jerusalem

    all the days of your life.

May you live to see your children’s children—

    peace be on Israel.

Psalm 129

“They have greatly oppressed me from my youth,”

    let Israel say;

“they have greatly oppressed me from my youth,

    but they have not gained the victory over me.

Plowmen have plowed my back

    and made their furrows long.

But the Lord is righteous;

    he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.”

May all who hate Zion

    be turned back in shame.

May they be like grass on the roof,

    which withers before it can grow;

a reaper cannot fill his hands with it,

    nor one who gathers fill his arms.

May those who pass by not say to them,

    “The blessing of the Lord be on you;

    we bless you in the name of the Lord.”

...we must trust in His answer for this world...

Spring has sprung in Franklin, Tennessee. The weather is beautiful, the flowers and trees are blooming and birds are singing everywhere.  Our Jewish friends are about to celebrate Passover, we Christians, Easter, our greatest Holy Day - and in other parts of the world there is such darkness. In spite of everything, we can look up to our Creator, and know He is aware and watching. We need to pray - we must pray - we must trust in His answer for this world - Jesus Christ, and His coming again.

Psalm 123

I lift up my eyes to you,

    to you who sit enthroned in heaven.

As the eyes of slaves look to the hand of their master,

    as the eyes of a female slave look to the hand of her mistress,

so our eyes look to the Lord our God,

    till he shows us his mercy.

Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy on us,

    for we have endured no end of contempt.

We have endured no end

    of ridicule from the arrogant,

    of contempt from the proud.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house,

    the builders labor in vain.

Unless the Lord watches over the city,

    the guards stand watch in vain.

In vain you rise early

    and stay up late,

toiling for food to eat—

    for he grants sleep to those he loves.

Children are a heritage from the Lord,

    offspring a reward from him.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior

    are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man

    whose quiver is full of them.

They will not be put to shame

    when they contend with their opponents in court.

Walking with the Word...

I went for a walk in a part of our new neighborhood that I hadn't seen before. I mean I had ridden through it in the car, but I hadn't really "seen" it. They are beautiful, grand homes, most of them on a lake, with well-taken care of yards.As I paid close attention to the architecture, I saw many patterns. I began to think of how the materials reflect the make-up of our lives. Some of the homes had rough, uneven stonework - if walked on would make you stumble. The bricks were rough and had small holes - like sponges - absorbable. The wood planks had fine grain, polished - perfect. 

How many times have I walked on uneven ground, because I had not paid attention to wear the right shoes? How many times had I absorbed wrong ideas, because I had not paid attention to where I was? How did I expect to have a fine, polished countenance when I did not spend time with my Lord? 

This Psalm answers those questions in my life and how to continue. Yet, I know, in spite of everything, God has his hand on my life! He gives me His word, to keep me from stumbling, to keep me from taking in the wrong ideas and gives me words of hope for a bright outlook on life.

Psalm 119

Blessed are those whose ways are blameless,

    who walk according to the law of the Lord.

Blessed are those who keep his statutes

    and seek him with all their heart—

they do no wrong

    but follow his ways.

You have laid down precepts

    that are to be fully obeyed.

Oh, that my ways were steadfast

    in obeying your decrees!

Then I would not be put to shame

    when I consider all your commands.

I will praise you with an upright heart

    as I learn your righteous laws.

I will obey your decrees;

    do not utterly forsake me.

How can a young person stay on the path of purity?

    By living according to your word.

I seek you with all my heart;

    do not let me stray from your commands.

I have hidden your word in my heart

    that I might not sin against you.

 Praise be to you, Lord;

    teach me your decrees.

With my lips I recount

    all the laws that come from your mouth.

I rejoice in following your statutes

    as one rejoices in great riches.

I meditate on your precepts

    and consider your ways.

I delight in your decrees;

    I will not neglect your word.

A good beginning to the week...

A new week awaits us, in spite of everything, let us look forward to what God will do.

Psalm 51

Have mercy on me, O God,

    according to your unfailing love;

according to your great compassion

    blot out my transgressions.

Wash away all my iniquity

    and cleanse me from my sin.

For I know my transgressions,

    and my sin is always before me.

Against you, you only, have I sinned

    and done what is evil in your sight;

so you are right in your verdict

    and justified when you judge.

Surely I was sinful at birth,

    sinful from the time my mother conceived me.

Yet you desired faithfulness even in the womb;

    you taught me wisdom in that secret place.

Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean;

    wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

 Let me hear joy and gladness;

    let the bones you have crushed rejoice.

Hide your face from my sins

    and blot out all my iniquity.

Create in me a pure heart, O God,

    and renew a steadfast spirit within me.

Do not cast me from your presence

    or take your Holy Spirit from me.

 Restore to me the joy of your salvation

    and grant me a willing spirit, to sustain me.

Then I will teach transgressors your ways,

    so that sinners will turn back to you.

Deliver me from the guilt of bloodshed, O God,

    you who are God my Savior,

    and my tongue will sing of your righteousness.

Open my lips, Lord,

    and my mouth will declare your praise.

You do not delight in sacrifice, or I would bring it;

    you do not take pleasure in burnt offerings.

My sacrifice, O God, is a broken spirit;

    a broken and contrite heart

    you, God, will not despise.

May it please you to prosper Zion,

    to build up the walls of Jerusalem.

Then you will delight in the sacrifices of the righteous,

    in burnt offerings offered whole;

    then bulls will be offered on your altar.

Psalm 71

In you, Lord, I have taken refuge;

    let me never be put to shame.

In your righteousness, rescue me and deliver me;

    turn your ear to me and save me.

Be my rock of refuge,

    to which I can always go;

give the command to save me,

    for you are my rock and my fortress.

Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked,

    from the grasp of those who are evil and cruel.

For you have been my hope, Sovereign Lord,

    my confidence since my youth.

From birth I have relied on you;

    you brought me forth from my mother’s womb.

    I will ever praise you.

I have become a sign to many;

    you are my strong refuge.

My mouth is filled with your praise,

    declaring your splendor all day long.

Do not cast me away when I am old;

    do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

For my enemies speak against me;

    those who wait to kill me conspire together.

They say, “God has forsaken him;

    pursue him and seize him,

    for no one will rescue him.”

Do not be far from me, my God;

    come quickly, God, to help me.

May my accusers perish in shame;

    may those who want to harm me

    be covered with scorn and disgrace.

As for me, I will always have hope;

    I will praise you more and more.

 My mouth will tell of your righteous deeds,

    of your saving acts all day long—

    though I know not how to relate them all.

I will come and proclaim your mighty acts, Sovereign Lord;

    I will proclaim your righteous deeds, yours alone.

Since my youth, God, you have taught me,

    and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray,

    do not forsake me, my God,

till I declare your power to the next generation,

    your mighty acts to all who are to come.

Your righteousness, God, reaches to the heavens,

    you who have done great things.

    Who is like you, God?

Though you have made me see troubles,

    many and bitter,

    you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth

    you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor

    and comfort me once more.

I will praise you with the harp

    for your faithfulness, my God;

I will sing praise to you with the lyre,

    Holy One of Israel.

My lips will shout for joy

    when I sing praise to you—

    I whom you have delivered.

My tongue will tell of your righteous acts

    all day long,

for those who wanted to harm me

    have been put to shame and confusion.

Musing on the differences...

I was musing on the differences of us all, and this song came to mind.

In spite of everything - we are...

One Bread One Body (John Michael Talbot)

Refrain

One bread, one body,

one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many,
throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

Verse
Gentile or Jew,
servant or free,
woman or man, no more.

Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many,
throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

Verse
Many the gifts,
many the works,
one in the Lord of all.

Refrain
One bread, one body,
one Lord of all,
one cup of blessing which we bless.
And we, though many,
throughout the earth,
we are one body in this one Lord.

in this one Lord.

Psalm 108:1-6

My heart, O God, is steadfast;
    I will sing and make music with all my soul.
 Awake, harp and lyre!
    I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, Lord, among the nations;
    I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
    your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens;
    let your glory be over all the earth.

Save us and help us with your right hand,
    that those you love may be delivered.

Psalm 112

Blessed are those who fear the Lord,
    who find great delight in his commands.

Their children will be mighty in the land;
    the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in their houses,
    and their righteousness endures forever.
Even in darkness light dawns for the upright,
    for those who are gracious and compassionate and righteous.
Good will come to those who are generous and lend freely,
    who conduct their affairs with justice.

Surely the righteous will never be shaken;
    they will be remembered forever.
They will have no fear of bad news;
    their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
Their hearts are secure, they will have no fear;
    in the end they will look in triumph on their foes.
They have freely scattered their gifts to the poor,
    their righteousness endures forever;
    their horn^[ will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked will see and be vexed,
    they will gnash their teeth and waste away;
    the longings of the wicked will come to nothing.