Psalm 90…

 Psalm 90…

We were sharing favorite psalms recently in our Women’s  Bible study…psalm 90 was referenced as one of many…

Written by Moses, “the man of God”…who loved 120 years…

Was just interesting how many times, “time” is in this psalm

Everlasting…

Thousand years…

Yesterday…

Watch in the night…

Morning…

Evening….

All of our days…

Years…

Years of our life…

Span…

Sigh…

We dwell on the phase , “teach us to number our days”, but what really struck me this time…was

“Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us”…(wasn’t too keen on the idea of “afflicted”, but as I am getting older, there are those days of affliction for sure)…

I wanted to dwell on the “make us glad”…(even in the affliction…)

Making each day count in some way…being thankful, seeing what God is doing in my life,in others’ lives, around the world and here close by..giving thanks in all circumstances…which can be difficult…

Make us glad…in all kinds of time…

Thank YOU….

 From Everlasting to Everlasting

 A Prayer of Moses, the man of God.

Lord, you have been our dwelling place in all generations. 

Before the mountains were brought forth,or ever you had formed the earth and the world,from everlasting to everlasting you are God. 

You return man to dustand say, “Return, O children of man!” 

For a thousand years in your sightare but as yesterday when it is past,or as a watch in the night. 

You sweep them away as with a flood; they are like a dream,like grass that is renewed in the morning: in the morning it flourishes and is renewed;in the evening it fades and withers. 

For we are brought to an end by your anger;by your wrath we are dismayed. 

You have set our iniquities before you,our secret sins in the light of your presence. 

For all our days pass away under your wrath;we bring our years to an end like a sigh. 

The years of our life are seventy,or even by reason of strength eighty;yet their span is but toil and trouble;they are soon gone, and we fly away. 

Who considers the power of your anger,and your wrath according to the fear of you?

 So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom. 

Return, O Lord! How long?

Have pity on your servants! 

Satisfy us in the morning with your steadfast love,that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 

Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,and for as many years as we have seen evil. 

Let your work be shown to your servants,and your glorious power to their children. 

Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us,and establish the work of our hands upon us;yes, establish the work of our hands!

Ps.90.1-17

https://www.gotquestions.org/life-Moses.html

https://www.biblestudy.org/beginner/learn-basic-bible-timeline/life-of-moses.html

My favorite psalm is, “all” …each has words to live by, principles to own, comfort, power, strength…they have all spoken to me at various times of life and they continue to, daily..always some new …because the Word is living…

Hebrews 4:12 (ESV)

For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart.

Proclaimed scriptures…death of a monarch…

 Proclaimed scriptures…death of a monarch…

 “For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there but water the earth,making it bring forth and sprout,giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;it shall not return to me empty,but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,and shall succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

Isa.55.10-11

These verses have been on my mind this week as I have watched bits and pieces of the Royal family in England go through the rituals and pomp of a royal funeral with the passing of the Queen of England and British Empire…

She was not only a queen but a wife, mother, grandmother and great grandmother…there have been various descriptions of her over the time she has reigned, a “woman of faith “, one of humor, peace loving, stalwart, the last of the “greatest generation “…

Throughout this ordeal, scripture has been proclaimed, read from the Word…over and over again…

The whole gospel story was read in one instance…

The following was also read…

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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. 

And you know the way to where I am going.” Thomas said to him, “Lord, we do not know where you are going. 

How can we know the way?” 

Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

John.14.1-6

Another person spoke of the Queen’s request at the beginning of her reign. Praying the prayer of Solomon…

 And Solomon said, “You have shown great and steadfast love to your servant David my father, because he walked before you in faithfulness, in righteousness, and in uprightness of heart toward you. And you have kept for him this great and steadfast love and have given him a son to sit on his throne this day. And now, O Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of David my father, although I am but a little child. I do not know how to go out or come in. And your servant is in the midst of your people whom you have chosen, a great people, too many to be numbered or counted for multitude. Give your servant therefore an understanding mind to govern your people, that I may discern between good and evil, for who is able to govern this your great people?”

1Kgs.3.6-9

Also, pictures of the various ceremonies, the cameras panned the beautiful windows of art…depicting so many scenes from the Word…

I did not know her heart, only God knows that…but I know that through her death, the Word is being  proclaimed worldwide…through the use of media…and that God can use his Word…it doesn’t come back empty or void…and that’s a promise to stand upon…

Thank YOU…

First blog…

 First blog…

This is my first blog, published in May of 2013…from there the words have been pouring out…I took this picture, one of my favorites, while visiting my father in the foothills of southern  

California, near Visalia…little did I know that within a few weeks, he would be living with me before having going into a hospital for terminal depression, his choice…

Those first blogs were part of my journey through grief…which later became a book…

These nine years since this first writing, so much has happened, time has passed quickly…family has grown, I have grown, but, I wanted to stay true the Word…not be a false teacher, but encourage others along their paths…praise God for his steadfastness…his comfort, care…through the thick and thin of life…

Thank YOU…

“Packing a suit case...

 



When I am getting ready to travel, it takes several days to pack. Not that there is that much, but I want what is neededfor that particular trip, not too much, just the right amount. Not too much weight as I  have to carry it, or roll it as the case may be...( i have switched from two wheel drive to four wheel drive this year with my suitcases, though...much easier)

 

On a longer journey, I lookup the weather and adjust my clothing for that climate or the itinerary . What will it Be like, what are the activities be?  It is casual , dress up?

I try to pack as many easy wash items as possible  so that I don't have to spend time at the laundry or will they do the laundry for me?

 

Preparation....a key task, in preparing for the journey...

 

What do I need in life's journey????who will I meet, what are the events..

In 2 Timothy 4, Paul exhorts Timothy to be prepared in season and put of season......

 

Throughout scripture the word "prepared" is used 79 times, people prepared for battle, they prepared meals, 

God prepared various things, times....each event, seems to be a thoughtful planned out time..preparing...getting ready for.....

 Again,  what do I need on life's journey ?

 

God ' s view of life

His Word

His care

His provision 

His view

His fruit

His pruning

 

Openness to His preparations for my life....not my own all the time...

 

1 Corinthians 2:9

However, as it is written: “What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived”— the things God has prepared for those who love him—

 

Now I need to go pack that suitcase for a journey...

 

Traveling through grief---

Grief causes growth like nothing else we know of. It reorders priorities and life values. It helps us appreciate the goodness of the smaller things found in each day, of children playing and nature all around .......”

 

Lists, lists, and more lists…

 Lists, lists, and more lists…

I make list for each day…having a Daytimer is great, which can keep appointments straight, but a daily list of things that “need” to be done, bills to pay, groceries to get, people to call …helps me make sure the important things are accomplished…

Both my parents were list makers as well. My dad always carried a notebook in his left shirt pocket with a stubby pencil. He wrote notes in there that were important, kept lists of people, items he needed, addresses, etc…

Mom, had a book on the counter for her lists…they had a combined list of all the addresses they wrote Christmas cards, businesses they worked with, etc.

The end-the-year ritual for both was to start a new notebook, Daytimer…transferring birthdays, anniversaries, information from the old books to a new one…

Mom eventually threw hers away, but dad had a box of those old pocket notebooks..

I do the same…wow, I have become my parents…but, now have added the phone with its lists as well…more things to keep straight!

The Word has lists as well…a few..

-the list of the days of creation..Genesis 1

-supplies needed to build the ark, tabernacle, the temple…Genesis, Exodus, Kings

-list of tribes…several times

-list of commandments, laws…Leviticus 

-lists of wise, fools…Proverbs

-lists on generations, genealogy …several times…

-list of what God hates…Proverbs, Galatians 

-lists of attributes of God, the Word, a wise woman, evil, fruit of the Spirit…Psalms, Proverbs, Galatians, more…

-lists of the faithful…Hebrews 11…

-lists of those who are blessed, cursed…several times…

-etc…lots of them…

There is no long list of how to have eternal life…as some would argue. As legalists would give all the do’s and don’ts, expectations…

Or lists of prayers that are steps to salvation…no mountains to climb, shrines to visit, foods to appease the gods…

Jesus made the list pretty short, he died, was buried, was resurrected so that we might be saved if we put our trust in Him as the Savior of the world, believing in Him, for who he is, the One and only Son of God, the Way, the Truth and the Life…

Thank YOU…

 “Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 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. And you know the way to where I am going.” Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you had known me, you would have known my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him.”

John.14.1-4, 6,7

Psalms, again and again…

 Psalms again and again…

I found myself fretting this past week again…over personal things, worldly things…just fretting…Psalm 37….”fret not yourself…”, trust, delight, commit, be still, refrain, take refuge…

Then psalm 38…waiting…

Followed the next day by Psalm 39…

 “O Lord, make me know my endand what is the measure of my days;let me know how fleeting I am! “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.

Ps.39.4,Ps.39.12

And finally today, psalm 40…some say that 37, 38, and 39 lead up to 40, praises for getting through…

Help, deliverer, new song, secure steps, delight…steadfast love…

After we get through the fretting, the doubting, the insecurities of life, we come back to the refuge, the Lover of our souls…the True help, the true deliverer…

Thank YOU…

 I waited patiently for the Lord;he inclined to me and heard my cry. He drew me up from the pit of destruction,out of the miry bog,and set my feet upon a rock,making my steps secure. 

He put a new song in my mouth,a song of praise to our God.

Many will see and fear,and put their trust in the Lord. 

Blessed is the man who makesthe Lord his trust,who does not turn to the proud,to those who go astray after a lie! 

You have multiplied, O Lord my God,your wondrous deeds and your thoughts toward us;none can compare with you!

I will proclaim and tell of them,yet they are more than can be told. In sacrifice and offering you have not delighted,but you have given me an open ear.

Burnt offering and sin offeringyou have not required. 

Then I said, “Behold, I have come;in the scroll of the book it is written of me: I delight to do your will, O my God;your law is within my heart.” 

I have told the glad news of deliverancein the great congregation;behold, I have not restrained my lips,as you know, O Lord. 

I have not hidden your deliverance within my heart;I have spoken of your faithfulness and your salvation;I have not concealed your steadfast love and your faithfulness from the great congregation. As for you, O Lord, you will not restrainyour mercy from me;your steadfast love and your faithfulness willever preserve me! 

For evils have encompassed me beyond number;my iniquities have overtaken me,and I cannot see;they are more than the hairs of my head;my heart fails me. 

Be pleased, O Lord, to deliver me!O Lord, make haste to help me! Let those be put to shame and disappointed altogether who seek to snatch away my life;let those be turned back and brought to dishonor who delight in my hurt! 

Let those be appalled because of their shame who say to me, “Aha, Aha!” 

But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you;may those who love your salvation say continually, “Great is the Lord!” 

As for me, I am poor and needy,but the Lord takes thought for me.

You are my help and my deliverer;do not delay, O my  God.

Ps.40.1-17

Dreaming….

 Dreaming…

I dreamt last night of a new watercolor font…woke up wondering how to do it….going over I my mind different techniques of how to achieve the look I saw in the dream…

My late husband had some funny dreams…we would chuckle each time we thought of them..

1. I was awakened from a sound sleep with this grinding sound…asked him what he was doing, “ chewing carrots”…was the response.

2. Found him down the hall, through the kitchen, opening the back door…”letting the people off the train”.

3. Found him digging through his closet, “ filling the hole with dirt”…

A few…

He was sound asleep, but could carry on a conversation, answer questions and insisted that he was wide awake…until I could finally wake him up…didn’t remember a thing…or the events that had just taken place…none that could be foretelling or of great importance…

My dog, who doesn’t bark, barks in his dreams…always wonder what he is barking at… 

There are 95 references to dreams from Genesis to Acts…I didn’t realize there were so many…and if you count Adam’s deep sleep in Genesis, 96…

Various times that God spoke to people, and not necessarily God- fearing ones…

Dreams that foretold something to happen…dreams the told people what to do…false dreams…

God kept Abraham and his wife safe because of dreams…

Joseph was ridiculed because of them , given hope and finally raised to prominence…

Gideon worshipped because of them…

Saul wanted an answer, but none came…

 Jeremiah speaks of them…

Daniel interpreted the king’s dream…

Joseph obeyed them as did the wise men…

Pilate’s wife was troubled by them…

In the book of Acts…

 “But this is what was uttered through the prophet Joel: 

“‘And in the last days it shall be, God declares,that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh,and your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,and your young men shall see visions,and your old men shall dream dreams; even on my male servants and female servantsin those days I will pour out my Spirit, and they shall prophesy. 

And I will show wonders in the heavens above and signs on the earth below,blood, and fire, and vapor of smoke; the sun shall be turned to darkness and the moon to blood,before the day of the Lord comes, the great and magnificent day. 

And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved.’”

Acts.2.16-21

This was just an interesting, thought provoking quick study…there are books, both Christian and non-Christian, written about dreams…am not caught up in that…or a big theological statement…God acts, teaches in the way He chooses…

I am glad to have the Word to read, to learn from, to meditate upon…glad to have the Holy Spirit to lead into truth, convict…

Thank YOU….

Earwigs…

 Earwigs….

They have found the fruit….

Every year these little pests make themselves know when the hummingbird feeders come out and then again when fruit is ripening….yuck…they slither and slide into tiny crevices…floating in the sweet hummingbird syrup, that needs to be changed …

I saw the cartoon in the Local paper recently…hunted diligently for the earwigs hidden in the boards as they climbed aboard the ark…to quickly find a dark hole to hide in…

Not sure which food chain they fit into, what purpose they have, except to creep around…but…Genesis says that God saw that what he made was good…so I will have to take His Word for it…



 There are lots of things I question…mosquitoes, snakes, life events, etc. wondering why they are here, why they happened and are happening…sometimes I can look back and say, “maybe this is why”…but even that is a guess…

I have to take the words in Roman’s at face value…

 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Rom.8.28

He is working good into my life ….He is conforming me…He  Comforts me…He has a plan for me…He loves me…He prayed for me…He stands in the gap…

Thank YOU

 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart.

Jer.29.11-13

Even with those pesky earwigs…ugh…

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Earwig

https://extension.umn.edu/nuisance-insects/earwigs