Depression…

 Depression…

I was reading Psalm 31, gray day, cold outside, dreary, my body is tired and desperately fighting this cancer,  listening to various news selections, hearing various reports….a bit depressing….

The first few verses didn’t exactly help…but, proved that people from all time periods have experienced similar distresses….they have been depressed or heading that way just as their modern day counterparts do…

 Be gracious to me, O Lord, for I am in distress;my eye is wasted from grief;my soul and my body also. 

For my life is spent with sorrow,and my years with sighing;my strength fails because of my iniquity,and my bones waste away. Because of all my adversaries I have become a reproach,especially to my neighbors,and an object of dread to my acquaintances;those who see me in the street flee from me. 

I have been forgotten like one who is dead;I have become like a broken vessel. 

For I hear the whispering of many—terror on every side!—as they scheme together against me,as they plot to take my life. 

But, just as we can , they put their trust in 

God’s amazing love and care…goodness…He has hasn’t changed over millennia…He is still here…he hears our pleas….

But I trust in you, O Lord;I say, “You are my God.” 

My times are in your hand;rescue me from the hand of my enemies and from my persecutors! 

Make your face shine on your servant;save me in your steadfast love! 

O Lord, let me not be put to shame,for I call upon you;

let the wicked be put to shame;

let them go silently to Sheol. 

Let the lying lips be mute,which speak insolently against the righteous in pride and contempt. 

Oh, how abundant is your goodness,which you have stored up for those who fear you and worked for those who take refuge in you,in the sight of the children of mankind! 

Blessed be the Lord,for he has wondrously shown his steadfast love to me when I was in a besieged city. 

I had said in my alarm,“I am cut off from your sight.”

But you heard the voice of my pleas for mercy when I cried to you for help. 

Love the Lord, all you his saints!

The Lord preserves the faithful but abundantly repays the one who acts in pride. 

Be strong, and let your heart take courage,all you who wait for the Lord!

Ps.31.9-19,Ps.31.21-24

Thank YOU….

God will make a way….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-XlEX36KYdc&list=RD-XlEX36KYdc&start_radio=1

Life is short…

 

Life is short….

When you get a diagnosis you don’t really want to hear, life gets shorter quickly…

Yesterday was the anniversary of meeting my husband for the first time…we married a year later, expecting a lifetime together…

God’s plan for us was 43 years which was amazing…not all good, not all bad…ups and downs, but for the most part great….faith building, learning…

I opened my Bible this morning and the note written in the column was…”Don, 67 years…April 16, 2012…”

 “O Lord, make me know my end and what is the measure of my days;

let me know how fleeting I am! 

Behold, you have made my days a few handbreadths,and my lifetime is as nothing before you.

Surely all mankind stands as a mere breath! Selah     

Surely a man goes about as a shadow!

Surely for nothing they are in turmoil;

man heaps up wealth and does not know who will gather! “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait?My hope is in you. “

Hear my prayer, O Lord,and give ear to my cry;hold not your peace at my tears!For I am a sojourner with you,a guest, like all my fathers. Look away from me, that I may smile again,before I depart and am no more!”

 Ps.39.4-7Ps.39.12-13

Bible study notes…

“Life is short no matter how long we live…if there is something important we want to do, we must not put it offforma better day…ask yourself, “if I had only six months to live, what would I do?” Feel someone you love him or her? Deal with an undisciplined area in my life? Tell someone about Jesus? Because life is short, don’t neglect what is truly important….”

Thank YOU….

Psalm 39 song…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBhqdGEpW1k&list=RDDBhqdGEpW1k&start_radio=1

Giant trees….

 

Giant trees…

Part of my growing up years were near the Redwood trees in Southern California. Then we moved to Northern California and we lived in the huge redwoods there…after I got married, we lived near and in the great red cedars and fir used for building

 homes, until  we set up residence in the sagebrush of Nevada…a far cry from the giant trees….if you have ever visited the Northern California coast, you find the trees very impressive to say the least…with drive-through slots cut out and thick bark, giant trees reaching for the heavens….

I thought of these amazing creations…as I read this Psalm…and the power of God’s voice…his words spoke into creation…it is powerful, more than our finite minds can ever fathom…he doesn’t have to mold or fashion…his words alone create…they are majestic …strength giving…and in the other hand they give us peace….

Thank YOU…

Theme of Psalm 29…God’s great power…he helps us weather the storms of life…

 Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,ascribe to the Lord glory and strength. 

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;worship the Lord in the splendor of holiness. 

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;the God of glory thunders,the Lord, over many waters. 

The voice of the Lord is powerful;the voice of the Lord is full of majesty. 

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars;the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon. 

He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf,and Sirion like a young wild ox. The voice of the Lord flashes forth flames of fire. 

The voice of the Lord shakes the wilderness;the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 

The voice of the Lord makes the deer give birth and strips the forests bare,and in his temple all cry, “Glory!” 

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. 

May the Lord give strength to his people!

May the Lord bless his people with peace!

Ps.29.1-11

“The cedars of Lebanon were giant trees that could grow up to 120 feet tall and 30 feet in circumference…a voice that could break the cedars if Lebanon would be truly a powerful voice…the voice of God…when  you feel weak and limited don’t despair…remember that .god can give you strength. The power that controls creation and raises the dead is avail to you…” Bible study notes…

Pslam 29 song…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PbsbBq-q2D8&list=RDPbsbBq-q2D8&start_radio=1

Black Friday…

Black Friday….

I am not usually a Black Friday shopper, as in being at a particular store at 5 or 6  am for the bargain of the year…if I am supposed to have it, it will be there at noon…or later…

This is the time of the year, I stock up socks and/or underwear for operation Christmas child boxes, as one store has those items 1/2 off for this day only…so late afternoon is my time for that excursion…no crowds…

But, I had to find out where the term came from and there are several references about it…some good ideas and some not so good…kind of a checkered past…but, it still goes on…we look for bargains when we can…

I think of this verse whenever I get a great bargain…the buyer wants a bargain, so he tries to barter down the price…only to boast when he wins…

 “Bad, bad,” says the buyer,but when he goes away, then he boasts.

Prov.20.14

Bottom line, God gives the funds, we are to be wise stewards, bringing glory to His kingdom, laying up eternal treasures, not loving money….there is no room for a trailer of “stuff” we accumulated…God is already at work on our eternal home….and we probably won’t need discounted socks or underwear…but those given in Jesus’ name may have brought someone into the kingdom…

 In my Father's house are many rooms. 

If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? 

And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, that where I am you may be also.

John.14.2-3

Thank YOU….

Silver and gold ….

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hZO9BPkqyCU&list=RDhZO9BPkqyCU&start_radio=1

https://www.history.com/articles/black-friday-thanksgiving-origins-history

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Friday_(shopping)

https://www.gotquestions.org/saving-money.html 

Thankful prayers…

 Thankful prayers….

“Thanksgiving” is the word today…

But, life can be so much better if we are daily filled with thanksgiving, gratefulness, gratitude, grace…God’s peace come with giving thanksgiving….what a treasure we miss without thanksgiving….

 For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.

2Cor.4.15

 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. 

And be thankful. 

Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 

And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

Col.3.15,Col.3.16,Col.3.17

 For everything created by God is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, for it is made holy by the word of God and prayer.

1Tim.4.4-5

Thank YOU….

Thank you song…

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zRCupFFF5k&list=RD_zRCupFFF5k&start_radio=1

https://www.biblestudytools.com/bible-study/topical-studies/25-short-thanksgiving-prayers-and-blessings-for-expressing-gratitude-around-the-dinner-table.html

Anger…

 Anger…

I was watching the news and the Secretary of Transportation was speaking about bring civility back into air travel…what a concept!

I wish more people would practice that…being kind, showing kindness, kind words would all be welcomed in society…I thought growing up that that was the way to act…swearing was not allowed, name calling a no-no, rudeness had no place…now it all seems so “acceptable “…the “wrongs “ have taken over the rights…and the “rights “ are now seen as wrong…where did civility go?

In the ESV translation  of the Bible the word anger is used 269 times…some very legitimate, while others are warnings….

Thank YOU…

A few….

 Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath!Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.

Ps.37.8

 And Aaron said, “Let not the anger of my lord burn hot. You know the people, that they are set on evil.

Exod.32.22 

 ‘The Lord is slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, forgiving iniquity and transgression, but he will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children, to the third and the fourth generation.’

Num.14.18

 So the anger of the Lord was kindled against Israel, and he sold them into the hand of the Philistines and into the hand of the Ammonites,

Judg.10.7

 “The godless in heart cherish anger;they do not cry for help when he binds them.

Job.36.13

 But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.

Ps.86.15, 103:8

 A soft answer turns away wrath,but a harsh word stirs up anger. A gentle tongue is a tree of life,but perverseness in it breaks the spirit.

Prov.15.1,Prov.15.4

 A man of wrath stirs up strife,and one given to anger causes much transgression.

Prov.29.22

 If the anger of the ruler rises against you, do not leave your place,for calmness will lay great offenses to rest.

Eccl.10.4

 The Lord is slow to anger and great in power,and the Lord will by no means clear the guilty.His way is in whirlwind and storm,and the clouds are the dust of his feet.

Nah.1.3

 Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, 

Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. 

Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Eph.4.26,Eph.4.31,Eph.4:32

 I desire then that in every place the men should pray, lifting holy hands without anger or quarreling;

1Tim.2.8

 Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.

Jas.1.19-20

Fruit of the spirit…

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RscbNxlMkvc&list=RDRscbNxlMkvc&start_radio=1&pp=ygUYZnJ1aXQgb2YgdGhlIHNwaXJpdCBzb25noAcB

Psalm 36:5-9…

 Psalm 36:5-9….God’s loved poured out…

I was reading this , this morning…God’s love poured out , his faithfulness, his righteousness, his light…there are just days I need to be reminded…and his Word is the place to go…

Thank YOU….

 5.  Your steadfast love, O Lord, extends to the heavens,your faithfulness to the clouds. 

6. Your righteousness is like the mountains of God;

your judgments are like the great deep;

man and beast you save, O Lord. 

 It is higher than heaven—what can you do?Deeper than Sheol—what can you know?

Job.11.8

 Your way was through the sea,your path through the great waters;yet your footprints were unseen.

Ps.77.19

 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!

 Rom.11.33

7. How precious is your steadfast love, O God!

The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. 

 The Lord repay you for what you have done, and a full reward be given you by the Lord, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge!”

Ruth.2.12

 Keep me as the apple of your eye;hide me in the shadow of your wings,

Ps.17.8

8.  They feast on the abundance of your house,and you give them drink from the river of your delights. 

 Blessed is the one you choose and bring near,to dwell in your courts!We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house,the holiness of your temple!

Ps.65.4

 He will not look upon the rivers,the streams flowing with honey and curds.

Job.20.17

 Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, bright as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb through the middle of the street of the city; also, on either side of the river, the tree of life with its twelve kinds of fruit, yielding its fruit each month. 

The leaves of the tree were for the healing of the nations. 

No longer will there be anything accursed, but the throne of God and of the Lamb will be in it, and his servants will worship him. 

They will see his face, and his name will be on their foreheads. And night will be no more. 

They will need no light of lamp or sun, for the Lord God will be their light, and they will reign forever and ever.

Rev.22.1-5

9. For with you is the fountain of life;

in your light do we see light.

 Ps.36.5-9

 for my people have committed two evils:they have forsaken me,the fountain of living waters,and hewed out cisterns for themselves,broken cisterns that can hold no water.

Jer.2.13

 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

1Pet.2.9

 The mouth of the righteous is a fountain of life,but the mouth of the wicked conceals violence.

Prov.10.11

 The teaching of the wise is a fountain of life,that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Prov.13.14

  The fear of the Lord is a fountain of life,that one may turn away from the snares of death.

Prov.14.27

 Good sense is a fountain of life to him who has it,but the instruction of fools is folly.

Prov.16.22

Be exalted …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8FwvEBULwIQ&list=RD8FwvEBULwIQ&start_radio=1