Be Merciful to Me!

 God be merciful to us and bless us,

And cause His face to shine upon us,

Selah

That Your way may be known on earth,

Your salvation among all nations.—Psalm 67:1-2

Oh Father be merciful me, a miserable sinner!   Truly, all that is good in my life is because of Your great mercy!  Forgive my sins and cause Your face to shine upon me!  Direct my steps by Your word, and let no iniquity have dominion over me. 

You are the light of the world.  He who follows You will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.  In Your favor make my (Your) light in me shine bright.  May all who see it fear and place their trust in You.  Oh that each of us, Your children, would by Your Spirit have this same desire. Then, truly, Your way would be known on earth and Your salvation among the nations. 

For we do not preach ourselves, but Christ Jesus the Lord, and ourselves your bondservants for Jesus’ sake. 6 For it is the God who commanded light to shine out of darkness, who has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.—2 Corinthians 4:5-6

8 The LORD is merciful and gracious,

Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy.

9 He will not always strive with us,

Nor will He keep His anger forever.

10 He has not dealt with us according to our sins,

Nor punished us according to our iniquities.

11 For as the heavens are high above the earth,

So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;

12 As far as the east is from the west,

So far has He removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father pities his children,

So the LORD pities those who fear Him.

14 For He knows our frame;

He remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass;

As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.

16 For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,

And its place remembers it no more.

17 But the mercy of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting

On those who fear Him,

And His righteousness to children's children,

18 To such as keep His covenant,

And to those who remember His commandments to do them.—Psalm 103:8-18

24 “The LORD bless you and keep you;

25 The LORD make His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

26 The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.” ’—Numbers 6:24-26

He is Near…

Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer. From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed;  Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.  For You have been a shelter for me, A strong tower from the enemy. I will abide in Your tabernacle forever; I will trust in the shelter of Your wings.  Selah --Psalm 61:1-4

David is not really that far from home when he is crying out here.  He had fled from Jerusalem at the time of his son Absolom's betrayal and was probably just on the other side of the Jordan River.   What anguish of heart David must have been experiencing at his son's rebellion and betrayal!

Like David, when our own  hearts are overwhelmed, it can feel like help is a million miles away.  Our feelings, however, can very often deceive us.  God’s word is truth. His word will never deceive.  He, who is your Helper, IS near.

The Lord is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.—Psalm 34:18

God is our shelter…He is our resting place…He is our strong tower and as believers He abides in us...In Him we live and move and have our being.

Beloved, God is near to you, as close as your crying. The moment You cry out broken and overwhelmed, He is there.  He is your home away from home.  He is your defense and the rock of your strength. He is your shelter in the storm.  David's God is your God. 

Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:8

Blessed be God!!

 Blessed be God,

Who has not turned away my prayer,

Nor His mercy from me!—Psalm 66:20

Praising God this morning for the same!  His mercy is eternal…from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear Him and His righteousness to children’s children! 

Mercy is a form of love especially directed toward the needy or unworthy.  I don’t know about you, but that describes me.  My heart is full!  My God has not turned away my prayer…He has heard them.  His hearing and answering does not depend on me or the quality of my prayers.   He hears me and answers me simply because He is merciful.  His favor toward me is good!  

18 Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear Him,

On those who hope in His mercy,

19 To deliver their soul from death,

And to keep them alive in famine.

20 Our soul waits for the LORD;

He is our help and our shield.

21 For our heart shall rejoice in Him,

Because we have trusted in His holy name.

22 Let Your mercy, O LORD, be upon us,

Just as we hope in You.—Psalm 33:18-22

11 The LORD takes pleasure in those who fear Him,

In those who hope in His mercy.—Psalm 147:11

God watches out for His children….He loves them, protects them and rescues them.  How awesome it is beloved, to KNOW that when we pray in sincerity and truth, He who is mercy, hears us.  Matthew Henry says rightly that His mercy toward us is the foundation of our hopes, the fountain of our comforts; and ought to be the matter of our praises.  I. CAN. HOPE. IN. HIS. MERCY!

Praise the LORD!

Oh, give thanks to the LORD, for He is good!

For His mercy endures forever.—Psalm 106:1

The Way of Death…

There is a way that seems right to a man,

But its end is the way of death.—Proverbs 16:25

As I read Proverbs 16:25, my mind went backwards to the old me…to the me I was before I came to the Lord.  Frankly, my way NEVER seemed right to me.  Don’t get me wrong, most times I deceived myself into thinking it was right, but by God’s design and His grace I knew, deep down in my heart, that there was a God and that I was accountable to Him for my actions. Needless to say, I did not dwell on this truth.  In fact, as time went on I barely let it up for air.  The more I squelched it, the darker my thoughts and my way became.  Romans speaks to this well. 

For since the creation of the world His invisible attributes are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even His eternal power and Godhead, so that they are without excuse, 21 because, although they knew God, they did not glorify Him as God, nor were thankful, but became futile in their thoughts, and their foolish hearts were darkened.—Romans 1:20-21

Thankfully, through a series of circumstances (unfortunate, yet fortunate events) my gracious God painted me into a corner.  That precious corner brought me to the end of me and to the knowledge of God. 

But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus,—Ephesians 2:4-6

Beloved…if this is you…if there is a place in your heart that knows that there is a God and that you are accountable to Him…don’t wait.  Today is the day of salvation. Take that step of faith and do an about face…stop running from Him and turned toward Him who loves you with an everlasting love. Surrender to the One died while you were yet His enemy so that your sins could be forgiven and you could live forever with Him in heaven. 

5 For Moses writes that the man who practices the righteousness which is based on law [with all its intricate demands] shall live by it. 6 But the righteousness based on faith [which produces a right relationship with Him] says the following: "DO NOT SAY IN YOUR HEART, ‘WHO WILL ASCEND INTO HEAVEN?' that is, to bring Christ down; 7 or, ‘WHO WILL DESCEND INTO THE ABYSS?' that is, to bring Christ up from the dead [as if we had to be saved by our own efforts, doing the impossible]." 8 But what does it say? "THE WORD IS NEAR YOU, IN YOUR MOUTH AND IN YOUR HEART"—that is, the word [the message, the basis] of faith which we preach— 9 because if you acknowledge and confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord [recognizing His power, authority, and majesty as God], and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart a person believes [in Christ as Savior] resulting in his justification [that is, being made righteous—being freed of the guilt of sin and made acceptable to God]; and with the mouth he acknowledges and confesses [his faith openly], resulting in and confirming [his] salvation. 11 For the Scripture says, "WHOEVER BELIEVES IN HIM [whoever adheres to, trusts in, and relies on Him] WILL NOT BE DISAPPOINTED [in his expectations]." 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Gentile; for the same Lord is Lord over all [of us], and [He is] abounding in riches (blessings) for all who call on Him [in faith and prayer]. 13 For "WHOEVER CALLS ON THE NAME OF THE LORD [in prayer] WILL BE SAVED."—Romans 10:5-13 AMPLIFIED VERSION 

20 He feeds on ashes;

A deceived heart has turned him aside;

And he cannot deliver his soul,

Nor say, "Is there not a lie in my right hand?"—Isaiah 44:20

28 "Then they will call on me, but I will not answer;

They will seek me diligently, but they will not find me.

29 Because they hated knowledge

And did not choose the fear of the LORD,

30 They would have none of my counsel

And despised my every rebuke.

31 Therefore they shall eat the fruit of their own way,

And be filled to the full with their own fancies.

32 For the turning away of the simple will slay them,

And the complacency of fools will destroy them;

33 But whoever listens to me will dwell safely,

And will be secure, without fear of evil."—Proverbs 1:28-33

What is the Work of God?

Then they asked Him, "What are we to do, so that we may habitually be doing the works of God?" 29 Jesus answered, "This is the work of God: that you believe [adhere to, trust in, rely on, and have faith] in the One whom He has sent."—John 6:28-29

Jesus’ reply is short, simple and to the point. Believe On Him whom God has sent. 

Beloved, believe God...believe on Him today, the same way you believed on Him the very first time for salvation.  Believe on Him now, always and forever...continually and habitually.  This is the way, the only way, we live blessed...both in this world and in eternity.  

For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith. Who is it that overcomes the world but he who believes that Jesus is the Son of God?—1 John 5:3-5

Teach me Your way, O LORD;

I will walk in Your truth;

Unite my heart to fear Your name.—Psalm 86:11

For as many as are the promises of God, in Christ they are all answered "Yes." So through Him we say our "Amen" to the glory of God.—2 Corinthians 1:20

Do not be afraid; only believe.—Mark 5:36b

"I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End," says the Lord, "who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty."—Rev 1:8

Blessed is the Man You Choose…

 4 Blessed is the man You choose,

And cause to approach You,

That he may dwell in Your courts.

We shall be satisfied with the goodness of Your house,

Of Your holy temple.

5 By awesome deeds in righteousness You will answer us,

O God of our salvation,

You who are the confidence of all the ends of the earth,

And of the far-off seas;

6 Who established the mountains by His strength,

Being clothed with power;

7 You who still the noise of the seas,

The noise of their waves,

And the tumult of the peoples.

8 They also who dwell in the farthest parts are afraid of Your signs;

You make the outgoings of the morning and evening rejoice.—Psalm 65:4-8

As I read David’s words here in Psalm 65, I stood amazed along with him…not that God had chosen David to be part of His family and abide in His house, but that He has chosen me, as well!  I am also, one of the blessed!  I am the one for which atonement has been provided. By the blood of His precious Son I am able to draw near to Him.  I am the one who may dwell in His courts.  I am the one who is and will be satisfied with His goodness both here on earth and forever in Heaven. 

The God…

who is clothed with power

who established the mountains by His strength

who stills the tempest

who controls the wind and the waves, 

who causes wars and tumult’s to cease.

who makes the outgoing of the mornings and evenings to rejoice

 It is He who is my God!  It is HE, the CONFIDENCE of all the earth, who answers me when I cry!  

Beloved…Trust in the LORD forever, For in YAH, the LORD, is everlasting strength.  

11 But let all those rejoice who put their trust in You;

Let them ever shout for joy, because You defend them;

Let those also who love Your name

Be joyful in You.

12 For You, O LORD, will bless the righteous;

With favor You will surround him as with a shield.—Psalm 5:11-12

3 Trust in the LORD, and do good;

Dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness.

4 Delight yourself also in the LORD,

And He shall give you the desires of your heart.—Psalm 37:3-4

And whoever trusts in the LORD, happy is he.—Proverbs 16:20b

My Job is to Abide…

 I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgment is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me.—John 5:30

Oh, to live this way!  Completely and utterly submitted to the will of my Father in Heaven. No agenda but His!  No desires but His alone!  Truly, when I examine my life in the light of Jesus’ complete and utter submission to the Father, the ONLY thing I see is my own utter and abject failure to do this.  What’s worse, when I really allow His Spirit to search my heart in this, I don’t even find a sincere desire to completely submit because in completing submitting, I disturb “my” world and risk losing it all.  

O wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25 I thank God—through Jesus Christ our Lord!  So then, with the mind I myself serve the law of God, but with the flesh the law of sin.—Romans 7:24-25

And therein is the reason that I am thankful that it is God who works in me both to “will” and to “do” for His good pleasure.  He knows my frame…He knows that in me nothing good dwells.  He knows my hidden agendas and my wrong desires. He died for me anyway.  He will complete the good work He started in me.  My job is to abide. 

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. 5 "I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.—John 15:4-5

But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.—2 Corinthians 3:18

Beloved…

'Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,'

Says the LORD of hosts.

On Following Hard After Him…

 A Psalm of David When He Was in the Wilderness of Judah.  

O God, You are my God; Early will I seek You; My soul thirsts for You; My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirsty land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Because Your lovingkindness is better than life, My lips shall praise You. Thus I will bless You while I live; I will lift up my hands in Your name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness, And my mouth shall praise You with joyful lips. When I remember You on my bed, I meditate on You in the night watches. Because You have been my help, Therefore in the shadow of Your wings I will rejoice. My soul follows close behind You; Your right hand upholds me. But those who seek my life, to destroy it, Shall go into the lower parts of the earth. They shall fall by the sword; They shall be a portion for jackals.  But the king shall rejoice in God; Everyone who swears by Him shall glory; But the mouth of those who speak lies shall be stopped. 


To My Precious Daughters... 

Oh God, You are my God.  David always personalizes his relationship with his God!  I, following his example, do the same.  He is my God.  How sweet these words are to me when I say them.  I belong to Him...He belongs to me.  All His promises are mine.  All His love and care are mine.  I have the richest of what heaven and earth have to offer even now!  I have HIM!!  He has redeemed me and called me by name.   Hour by hour He supplies my needs.  He guides and upholds my every step.  When I rest on Him, He does not fail.  When I trust in Him, my trust is not in vain.  He delivers me out of all my troubles...He does not leave me in deep waters, nor do the flames that surround, burn me.  He is always with me. No one, not even me, can snatch me out of His hands.  Nothing..NOTHING... can separate me from Him.  He is my treasure.  In Him I live and move and have my being.  He is my all sufficient God.  Sufficient for my every need.  He keeps me as a King keeps His jewels...My God, will never for a moment forget me.

David sought God early and always.  His thirst like a physical thirst would be heard.  He was in a weary land and had a weary heart...His desire was to be in the presence of His God.  He looked for Him in the sanctuary.  He looked for Him everywhere and would not be distracted.  He followed hard after Him, knowing  His lovingkindness was better than life itself.  David followed at His God's heels...he did not let him out of his sight.  The withdrawal of the light of His countenance was as the shadow of death to David.  He knew that without the hand of His God upholding him, he would soon fall. He knew that everything he needed was in Him!  

I want to long after God as David did.  I want to follow hard after Him...to look for Him everywhere and to have eyes to see His hand in everything!  Life here on earth is temporary...our God and His mercy are from everlasting to everlasting.  I want my soul to be satisfied feasting, as David did, on the marrow and fatness of my God.  I want His shade to be my sweet, sweet resting place.  As I meditate on Him in the night, I pray that He brings to mind all the times He has delivered and that in my weakness I will  remember that in Him who is sufficient, I have everything I need. 

Sadly, however, David knew that because he did follow closely after God that there would be people who would want to destroy God's work of grace in His life.  As David sought His God, they earnestly sought his ruin.   David was a man with many enemies.  But he knew that his enemies would fade and he would flourish.  He knew that they would fall and be victims of their own wicked schemes.  The pit dug for David, they themselves would fall into.  The hell they prepared for David would swallow them up.   He knew they were destined for destruction so he would continue then to rejoice in His God.  It is so important to remember this.  We do not war against flesh and blood, but against prinicipalites and powers.  When you follow hard after God, there will be some that will follow just as hard after you in an attempt to destroy your witness for Him...to ruin His work of grace in your life.  THEY WILL NOT SUCCEED.  The Lord looks at them and laughs...He holds them in derision.  He sees there end.  Know that God has His banner of love on you.  His mercy to you will not fail.  He will bring forth your righteousness as the light and your justice as the noon day!  I love what Spurgeon notes here:  The mouth of those who speak lies will be stopped but the mouth that speaks praises to God will sing forever!

Delight yourself also in the LORD, And He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, Trust also in Him, And He shall bring it to pass. He shall bring forth your righteousness as the light, And your justice as the noonday. Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him; Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way, Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath; Do not fret—it only causes harm. For evildoers shall be cut off; But those who wait on the LORD, They shall inherit the earth. 

Love
Mom

Strengthen Yourself in God…

5 My soul, wait silently for God alone,

For my expectation is from Him.

6 He only is my rock and my salvation;

He is my defense;

I shall not be moved.

7 In God is my salvation and my glory;

The rock of my strength,

And my refuge, is in God.

8 Trust in Him at all times, you people;

Pour out your heart before Him;

God is a refuge for us.

Selah—Psalm 62:5-8

I love the Psalms where David speaks to and exhorts his own soul.  He strengthens himself in His God by reminding himself of truth. When I am anxious and fearful, the day before me can seem like a nebulous eternity.  If I continue down this road, I begin to unravel and become tied up in knots…literally trapped in wrong thinking and wrong responses.  How much better would it be for me to sit quietly and wait for the Lord.  In the midst of fear and anxiety, however, I don’t always think rationally.  This is why for me it is so important to purpose in my heart ahead of time to do exactly that when anxiety strikes.  To remember that as a believer, my life is now hidden with Christ in God.  I am His maidservant. My life is not my own.  I belong to Jesus.  How much better and more appropriate is it then for me as His maidservant to grab my Bible as I wait and allow the words of my Master to encompass, bring peace and strengthen my wavering heart.  My hope and my expectation come from Him.  He alone is my Rock and my Defense. He will not allow me to be greatly shaken..  I can give Him all my anxious thoughts and place my trust in Him no matter what might be happening.  My God is sovereign…He rules and overrules in the kingdom of men.  He is for me…on my side.  He works all things together for my good and His glory.  

Beloved, salvation from your present temptation and trouble is in Him and already on its way. He is the anchor of your soul and your strong consolation. Grace holds you.  Rest in the green pasture of His word. 

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

2 When the wicked came against me

To eat up my flesh,

My enemies and foes,

They stumbled and fell.

3 Though an army may encamp against me,

My heart shall not fear;

Though war may rise against me,

In this I will be confident.

4 One thing I have desired of the LORD,

That will I seek:

That I may dwell in the house of the LORD

All the days of my life,

To behold the beauty of the LORD,

And to inquire in His temple.

5 For in the time of trouble

He shall hide me in His pavilion;

In the secret place of His tabernacle

He shall hide me;

He shall set me high upon a rock.

6 And now my head shall be lifted up above my enemies all around me;

Therefore I will offer sacrifices of joy in His tabernacle;

I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the LORD.

7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice!

Have mercy also upon me, and answer me.

8 When You said, "Seek My face,"

My heart said to You, "Your face, LORD, I will seek."

9 Do not hide Your face from me;

Do not turn Your servant away in anger;

You have been my help;

Do not leave me nor forsake me,

O God of my salvation.

10 When my father and my mother forsake me,

Then the LORD will take care of me.

11 Teach me Your way, O LORD,

And lead me in a smooth path, because of my enemies.

12 Do not deliver me to the will of my adversaries;

For false witnesses have risen against me,

And such as breathe out violence.

13 I would have lost heart, unless I had believed

That I would see the goodness of the LORD

In the land of the living.

14 Wait on the LORD;

Be of good courage,

And He shall strengthen your heart;

Wait, I say, on the LORD!—Psalm 27

On Crying Out to God…

Jesus answered and said to her, “Whoever drinks of this water will thirst again, 14 but whoever drinks of the water that I shall give him will never thirst. But the water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of water springing up into everlasting life.”—John 4:13-14

These words of Jesus to the woman at the well bring me back to the moment of my own salvation. The moment it became completely evident to me that something inside of me had changed dramatically, and that I WAS NOT responsible for that change.  I had gone through many self-help books both from the library and bookstores.  I FINALLY cried out to God…to the fountain of living water…and bought a bible. I had tried reading the bible many times in my life.  The strangest thing for me was that I could read anything else and understand what I was reading...but I had never understood the Bible.  I always had to put it back on the shelf because it was like I was reading another language...there simply was no understanding. I did not have ears to hear.  (I figured it was the Bible’s fault, not mine . 😀). 

I remember coming home...sitting on the couch....opening the Bible up to Genesis 1 and before I reached Genesis Chapter 2 tears were streaming down my cheeks. The Spirit had spoken to my heart.  I understood!  Not just chapter 1 of Genesis but that He was my Rock in this world.  That this book I had in my hands was exactly what I needed.  It was black and white, it was definite and most importantly it had answers. Truth truly resided here in this book.  I knew at that moment that I could stand.  I knew that I had what I needed to raise my family..to make it through life in this world. My eyes were opened to the God who created the universe and who also cared for me. Circumstances would change, emotions would change, my life would change but He would not.  Jesus Christ the same today, yesterday and forever.  He would be my guide, my strong tower, my help, my strength and my hope.  I went from quicksand to the Rock. Psalm 40:1-3 speaks to me of what the my God did that day in my heart.

I waited patiently for the LORD; And He inclined to  me And heard my cry. He also brought me up out of a horrible pit, Out of the miry clay, And set my feet upon a rock,  And established my steps.He has put a new song in my mouth—Praise to our God;  Many will see it and fear; And will trust in the LORD.

It truly happened in the blink of an eye...and His word by His grace has never been far from my heart or my reach since.

Beloved…Jesus is the One for whom your empty heart longs.  Go to Him…today is the day of salvation. He longs to hear your cry and be gracious to you. In seeking anyone or anything else (whether you are saved or unsaved) you are in effect feeding on the wind and pursuing the east wind.  As it says in Jeremiah:

They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters,

And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water. 

All of your labor is for your mouth, but your soul is still not satisfied. 

1 "Ho! Everyone who thirsts,

Come to the waters;

And you who have no money,

Come, buy and eat.

Yes, come, buy wine and milk

Without money and without price.

2 Why do you spend money for what is not bread,

And your wages for what does not satisfy?

Listen carefully to Me, and eat what is good,

And let your soul delight itself in abundance.

3 Incline your ear, and come to Me.

Hear, and your soul shall live;

6 Seek the LORD while He may be found,

Call upon Him while He is near. —Isaiah 55:1-3;6