Sunday Psalms 9

Posted on January 2, 2023 by Marie

Thank You for all You have done! You are the only ONE worthy of praise. You have judged my cause worthy and kept all enemies away. Their names will never be remembered.

You established Your throne for justice and judgment. Your decisions are and can only be right. You are the safe place for the oppressed. All who know You trust You. You are with all who seek You.

Sing His praises! Tell His story! Rejoice in His salvation!

The LORD has judged the nations. The wicked sat their own trap and got caught in it.

The wicked and all the nations who refuse to follow the One, True, God will be sent to hell.

The LORD has not and will not forget the poor and needy.

Show Yourself, LORD! Man doesn’t even come close to You!

Sunday Psalms are the Psalms in my own words. You can click on the Psalm number at the top to read it from the English Standard Version.

As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.

Keep The Appointment

Posted on November 29, 2013 by Marie

How often do we keep our God appointments? Are we more likely to say…If I have time today…Maybe later…and then it’s time to sleep and we have had no or little contact with Him?

1 Samuel 13:14 tells us of the consequences for King Saul when he decided to go his way and not keep the appointment God had given him.

God is out looking for your replacement right now! This time He’ll do the choosing. When He finds him, he’ll appoint him leader of His people. And all because you didn’t keep your appointment with God! The Message

What was the appointment? Samuel had told Saul to wait 7 days before attacking the Philistines at Gilgal. At that time he, Samuel, would sacrifice to God and the battle could begin. Saul waited the seven days, but in the meantime he was loosing his army to fear. On the 7th day when Samuel didn’t show up immediately Saul took matters into his own hands and did the sacrifice himself. Samuel showed up at the end of the sacrifice and said, “What on earth are you doing?” Saul’s answer was much like our own when we feel we’ve waited long enough and have to take matters into our own hands. Every time I decide I’ve waited long enough and it’s time to do it my way…there is a consequence. The results are not the ones I wanted. Saul’s consequence was not only the loss of his kingship but a serious bout of mental illness.

What is our appointment? God only wants one thing of us. He wants a relationship with us. Each day I set aside specific time to spend with the Lord of my life. I read His personal instructions to me (The Bible), I talk to Him about my day, my thoughts, and lift others up (in prayer), and I sit quietly and enjoy the moments with Him (Psalm 46:10). After reading the verse above, won’t you agree, it’s just to risky to miss the appointment.

Psalm 8

Posted on June 28, 2013 by Marie

Let’s look at another of David’s Songs. This one is dedicated to the director of music. That would lead me to think that it was either accompanied by instruments of the time or the words were set to music for use during worship.

This Psalm, gives me great peace when I need to be calmed down. Just knowing that God is in control makes life a little easier.

PSALM 8

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory above the heavens.

From the lips of children and infants you have ordained praise because of Your enemies, to silence the foe and the avenger.

When I consider Your heavens, the work of Your fingers, the moon and stars, which You have set in place,

What is man that Your are mindful of him, the son of man that you care for him?

You made him a little lower than the heavenly beings and crowned him with glory and honor.

You made him ruler over the works of Your hands; You put everything under his feet;

All flocks and herds, and the beasts of the field, the birds of the air, and the fish of the sea, all that swim the paths of the seas.

O LORD, our Lord, how majestic is Your name in all the earth!

O Lord, mighty, majestic, all-powerful and all-knowing. Hear our prayers and praises. Forgive our pettiness and selfishness. Heal and restore as only You can. Help us all to love as You love. I lift this prayer before the Throne in Jesus’ Precious and Holy name.

Prayerful Acronyms

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Marie

Do you find it difficult to stay focused on God during your quiet time with Him? Does your mind wander to and fro with the cares of everyday living? Perhaps these suggestions will be helpful.

1) A place that is peaceful and set aside for your prayer time. I love summer because I can sit in our gazebo and enjoy Creation’s song while praying. In the winter my desk by the window is my choice. But Jesus often withdrew to lonely places and prayed. Luke 5:16

2) A method that works for you. On your knees? Standing? Sitting? Journaling? Writing? That’s my method…writing. I find it easiest to write my prayers because I am totally focused. Do take time to reread your words and listen for God’s response. Write that down, too! Come, let us bow down in worship, let us kneel before the Lord our Maker Psalm 95:6

3) An organized plan. P-R-A-Y or F-A-C-T-S or A-C-T-S Each of these acronyms is designed to focus on those areas that are used in Biblical Prayers. Matthew 6:8-14

P – Praise R-Repent A-Ask Y-thank You

F – Faith A-Adoration C-Confession T-Thanksgiving S-Supplication (The faith section of this acronym is about knowing God’s Word so well it can be used in our prayers.)

A-Acclimation C-Contrition T-Thanks S-Supplication

I’ve used ACTS for many years. It helps me to remember the actions I should be using in every prayer, whether in community or alone. Talk to Him daily. He loves hearing from us!

Worship in Song Pray On by Babbie Mason

Heavenly Father, may the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in Your sight. Thank You for the ultimate Sacrifice so that I can come before the Throne with a clean heart. Grant my petitions and those from others, too. You are my God and King. Hear my prayer, Oh, Lord! In the Precious Name of Jesus I ask You to make it so!

God’s Resolutions

Posted on December 28, 2012 by Marie

At this ending of the year many are making resolutions to bring in the new. Things like lose weight, exercise more, learn more, read more and on and on and on… Interestingly these re-solutions to old problems last for only a few days, perhaps weeks at best. As I thought about this it crossed my mind that God has SOLUTIONS and has spelled them out very plainly for us in His Word. We only need to believe that He can and will do what He says He can.

10 Solutions from God (I have capitalized the solution.)

DON’T WORRY, because I am with you. DON’T BE AFRAID because I am your God, I will make you strong and will help you: I will support you with my right hand that saves you. Isaiah 43:1-3
The LORD’S LOVE never ends; His mercies never sop. They are new every morning; LORD, Your loyalty is great. I say to myself, “The LORD is mine, so I hope in Him.” The LORD is good to those who HOPE IN HIM, to those who SEEK HIM. Lamentations 3:22-25
COME TO ME, all of you who are tired and have heavy loads, and I will give you REST. Accept my teachings and LEARN FROM ME, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find REST for your lives. Matthew 11:28-29
God will show His MERCY forever and ever to those who WORSHIP and SERVE HIM. Luke 1:50
The LORD your God is with you; the mighty One will save you. He will REJOICE over you. You will REST IN HIS LOVE; He will sing and be joyful about you. Zephaniah 3:17
WAIT and TRUST the LORD. DON’T BE UPSET when others get rich or when some else’s plans succeed. DON’T GET ANGRY. Don’t be upset; it only leads to trouble. Psalm 37:7-8
I tell you the truth, whoever HEARS what I say and BELIEVES in the One who sent Me has eternal life. That person will not be judged guilty but has already left death and entered life. John 5:24
In Christ we can COME BEFORE GOD with freedom and WITHOUT FEAR. We can do this through faith in Christ. Ephesians 3:12
Anyone who speaks should SPEAK WORDS FROM GOD. Anyone who serves should SERVE WITH THE STRENGTH GOD GIVES so that in everything God will be praised through Jesus Christ. Power and glory belong to Him forever and ever. 1 Peter 4:11
Let the teaching of Christ live in you richly. Use all wisdom to teach and instruct each other by SINGING psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs with THANKFULNESS in your hearts to God. Everything you do or say should be done to OBEY JESUS your Lord. And in all you do, GIVE THANKS to God the Father through Jesus. Colossians 3:16-17

There are so many solutions in the Word it was hard to choose just 10. That really is the gist of this short article…the solutions are in the Word. I hope that every believer will spend more time this year, in the Bible, searching for God’s Solutions.

Heavenly Father, my One and Only, You alone are worthy of my praise. How can I ever give thanks often enough for the Words You have breathed on every page of the Bible. Oh, Lord, help us all have an uncurable passion for You and Your Word. I lift these words before the Throne in the Precious Name of Jesus. Make it so!

Scriptural passages from The Holy Bible, New Century Version