Psalm 118

Psalm 118 starts and finishes with "Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good!  His faithful love endures forever."  Let us draw inspiration from the psalmist as we listen what he shares in this Psalm.  It feels like a huge spotlight that is shining on both verses 1 & 29, telling us and emphasizing that no matter what is going on... or where we are... or what we do... or what we are going through... let us START each day and FINISH each day with giving thanks to the Lord. Why?  Very simple:  Because His faithful love endures forever.  

The verses in between shares that this person was going through some very difficult and distressing times, but despite all of what he was going through, his heart was joyful towards the Lord.  He was giving thanks to the Lord and his knowledge of the Lord's faithful love was not blurred by his current circumstances.  He knew where his strength came from.  He knew not to be afraid.  He knew that when he speaks to the Lord (praying), the Lord will answer him and that the Lord will set him free.  That is intimacy. This person had an expecting heart.  He didn't turn to all his friends (or relied on princes), no... he turned to the Lord and he discussed all his thoughts, problems and even life threatening situations with the Lord.  He knew the Lord would deliver him. He knew that the Lord was for him.  He knew he could take refuge in the Lord.  He knew that the Lord would give him victory. He joyfully shares his testimony, telling what the Lord has done for him and how the Lord saved him.  He personally then thanks the Lord and even goes on to say that "this is the day that the Lord has made, let us REJOICE and be glad in it".  But he doesn't stop there, he continues to ask from his Lord whom he trust so much, to please "give us success".  He wants everyone else to also share in these Blessings that he experience and receive from his beloved Lord.  His expectant and confident heart cause him to then boldly declare "The Lord is God, shining upon us".  These are some of the same words we heard in the Priestly Blessing from Numbers 6:24-26.  Nothing in him is doubting and he declares again that the Lord is his God.  

I got so much inspiration out of this Psalm and I am grateful for what I could learn from the psalmist in his approach to his problems and circumstances as well as showing me how to truly worship and I enjoyed how the psalmist, through his testimony, revealed so many amazing qualities of our loving Lord.

Abba Daddy God, loving Lord Jesus and Holy Spirit, thank you for loving us so much and always being there for us, and I ask that all of us will always experience You in such a close and intimate way that we know Your heart and Your faithful love for us.  Thank you for giving us this day that You have made and thank you for Blessing each one of us individually with what You know we need and with what You so graciously give us.  You are a good God, and I am grateful to be Your child, thank you for loving me and loving us so much.  In Jesus' precious and beautiful and powerful name I pray this.  AMEN.  

Today is the first day of a new journey

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 tells us that there is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens.  Today is the first day of a new journey and the start of my blogging season.  I just saw an image in my mind of a little seed that is planted under the soil, ready to sprout, grow stronger and eventually carry fruit that will be harvested and feed anyone who is hungry.  May this blog be like that little seed and may Jesus be the gardener who waters the seed, feeds it, prune it and harvest it when the time is right.

For the last two days I couldn't stop singing "give thanks to the Lord for He is good, His love endures forever"... over and over the words just burst forth out of my soul, like a stream of water that got stronger and stronger and the current just took me.  The more I sang it, the more I smiled. 

In 2 Chronicles 20:21 Jehoshaphat sent his singers to the front of the army proclaiming "Praise the Lord, for His mercy endures forever" and God literally turned their battlefield into the Valley of Berachah (meaning BLESSINGS).  It took them 3 days to gather all the spoils as God turned their situation into a great blessing (2 Chronicles 20:25-26).  Abba Daddy God is the same yesterday, today and forever and He will do the very same for you if you are facing a battle right now.  Thank you Lord Jesus, because your love and mercy really endures forever and ever and ever!

To celebrate this new blog and journey together, I joyfully share "YHVH is my Anchor" as a 10x8" printable gift for you.  To download, please click here.  My prayer is that you will always be anchored in Jesus' love for you and in every situation be anchored knowing that you are the righteousness of God in Christ, through the perfect completed finished work of what He did for you on the Cross.  No matter what circumstance you might find yourself in, always know He will NEVER leave, nor forsake you.  In Jesus' Mighty Name we pray this, AMEN.