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.