May 31....my life

Psalm 119:109 “Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.”

Heavenly Father,

I’m having trouble grasping this verse. It says, “Though I constantly take my life in my hands, I will not forget your law.” How do I do that? I take my life in my hands every day, by the decisions I make. My choices determine whether I act in your will or live the day by my own whims. I can only truly “take my life in my hands” if I snatch it away from you. I have given my life to you, because Christ gave his life for me. If I try to take back ownership of my own life than I must first refuse Christ. I pray with all my heart that I will never do that! I want to rest securely in your hands….not my own. I want to remain etched forever on the palms of your hands. Don’t let me go! Don’t let me fall once more, now that I am safe. “I will not forget your law (law=word=Jesus)”. I wish to spend the rest of my life remembering you and your law! Write it on my heart! Fill my mind with thoughts of you! If I read beyond this verse than I can see a connection to persecution…taking my life in my hands to stand for my beliefs. Help me to be single-hearted, steadfast, loyal, constant in my beliefs. Don’t let the evil one lead my astray from believing or from acting for you. He will try to make me “forget”. You can stop him from leading me astray. Be my strength and my deliverer! Be my guide and my foundation. Guard my life and keep it in your hands and not mine. Protect me from myself. Thank you for your assurance of pardon and salvation through Jesus Christ, my Savior. He will not let me forget or let me lose my life once more. He redeemed it and he holds me safe in his protection. Amen.

May 30....give me life

Psalm 119:107 “I am very much afflicted; O LORD, give me life according to your word.”

Heavenly Father,

My mind hears the words of a song from the 60’s….”Let me choose life, and the living of it”. I think the songwriter was thinking of other things, but his words still ring true. We need to choose life. And to do that we need to choose to follow Jesus Christ….your Word. When we ask you for the gift of life, you give it to us. Jesus makes life both now and in eternity the only and best possibility. Life without you is hell. Life with you is heaven. In choosing life…asking you to “give me life”….I must also accept that it must be “according to your Word”. Our lives were destined to be lived through Jesus Christ. He saves us from our sin and shows us how to live the kingdom life in this world. He makes it possible to change and to become more Christ-like in our actions. He modeled for us the perfect life lived in accordance with the will of his Father. We can’t live life on our own terms. We were destined to be connected to you…our Creator. Our hearts are meant to beat in time with yours. Our minds are meant to be in harmony with your wisdom and truth. Our souls, our spirit are meant to be one with you. We are tethered to earthly bodies, but we are actually spirit driven creations. Our spirit seeks your Holy Spirit and draws life from it. Give me life! I choose to follow my Savior, Jesus Christ! I want to live according to your Word! I am yours! Fill me, cleanse me, forgive me, love me, lead me. Amen.

May 29....never will I forget

Psalm 119: 93 “Never will I forget your precepts, for through them you give me life.”

Heavenly Father,

This is a strong statement…”Never will I forget your precepts, for through them you give me life.” AMEN! The word precepts is another term used to indicate your law, your commands, your word. Once again with substitution we have…”Never will I forget Jesus (your incarnate Word), through him you give me life”. How true! You Word incarnate, Jesus Christ, came to give us a free undeserved, unearned gift…grace, forgiveness, eternal life! Jesus is your Word, spoken once and for all. He is the way that you have chosen to give us your greatest gift…eternal life. Only through him, do we find the forgiveness we need to make our relationship with you perfect once again. Your Word is holy. Your Word is just. Your Word is merciful. Your Word is the only “law” or precept that matters. We can’t keep earthly laws to make us holy and right. Sin is inherent in us. It is our nature. To be “right” or sinless or “clean”, we need a filter to pass through, a door, a shepherd to guide us, a redeemer to buy us, a savior to sacrifice for us, a perfect answer for an imperfect world. Jesus is all of that. He shows us the way and he buys our ticket to enter. It costs us nothing (but to choose)…it cost him everything. Grace is a gift. Grace makes pardon sure. Grace makes change possible. Grace makes our journey home certain. You provided this “precept”, this law, this final Word! You gave us, Jesus that we might have eternal life. Thank you! Never will I forget! Jesus is my all in all, my precious gift. Amen.

May 28.....Comfort

WEEK TWENTY-TWO: CELEBRATE LIFE Psalm 119:50 “My comfort in my affliction is that your promise gives me life.”

Heavenly Father,

Maybe because I’m a quilter I see a play on words in the word “comforter”. “My comfort is…that your promise gives me life.” Comfort….being easy in our feelings, at home, safe, secure, cozy, resting. You are like a large, soft down-filled comforter that wraps around us for warmth and comfort and security. You are our “security blanket”! Every child understands that! And our security comes from your promise that “gives me life”. You don’t just make us comfortable or secure us…you give us life. We know that no matter what happens here…that you are our ultimate goal, our home away from here, our destination, our eternal life. In this verse the psalmist says his comfort comes during affliction or suffering. When we are miserable our desire to curl up in a ball wrapped in our favorite comforter or quilt is a strong one. We wish to hide from the world in a safe warm place and “lick our wounds”. Suffering is when we call on you most. Suffering is when we seek your presence in a reassuring way. We pray, we meditate, we question, we cry. Our comfort comes from your promise of a better place, a home with you beyond our sufferings, an eternal life in your presence. All through Jesus Christ. We wrap his love and forgiveness….our quilt of grace…around us and snuggle down in comfort knowing we are safe and at home. Thank you! amen.

May 27....sing praise, persevere in integrity

Psalm 101:1-2 “Of kindness and judgment I will sing; to you, O Lord, I will sing praise. I will persevere in the way of integrity (a blameless life NIV) ; when will you come to me? Matthew 5:8 “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.”

Heavenly Father,

Sometimes I feel I do so little that you must want me to do. I despair as to whether I do anything that pleases you. The psalmist lists 2 things here he will do….”sing your praises” and “persevere in the way of integrity”. When I feel discouraged or overwhelmed, I feel I do neither of these. When I am happy I do both. I need to find a more even way of life…centered on you fully so that the ups and downs are less obvious. I love to sing your praises and lose myself in songs to you, but I have to be careful that I’m not just enjoying the sound of my own singing rather than the words I sing. My songs are often internal….perhaps that is better…only you can hear them. I also must persevere in the way of integrity even when it is hard. If I am truly focused on you and not just on “doing” something than I should find it easier and not get discouraged. Jesus says that to “see God” we must be “pure in heart”. When I am totally centered on you, you will “come to me”. I must seek your abiding presence at all times and in all things. You will not come if I don’t invite you. Forgive me when I close in on myself and try to do things on my own or when I fail to do anything at all. Center my heart on You! Give me stronger faith, discernment, courage, perseverance, a heart full of praise, and purity of heart. I wish to see you, LORD, please come into my life and stay always! In the name of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior. Amen.

May 26....search me and know me

Psalm 139: 1-3 “Lord, you have searched me and know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. John 15:8 “My Father has been glorified in your bearing much fruit and becoming my disciples.”

Heavenly Father,

You know me! Like it or not you know my every move. That is a tremendous comfort when I need protection or provision. However, it means you also know when I am doing wrong and when I don’t do the things that are right. You know “when I sit and when I rise”. This fits an earlier lesson on not “sitting n the seat of mockers”. We can sit/abide with the wicked or we can rise and leave their company. The choice is always ours. It isn’t always easy to choose when friends encourage bad behavior. But you “perceive my thoughts” and know my “going out and my lying down”. You know what is in my mind. You try to guide me and remind me of the right choices. That is the Holy Spirit speaking if I allow him to and if I listen. Even though I sometimes fear what you will find when you “search me”, I still find comfort in knowing you are there. You set me a right standard of behavior to follow and you will enable me to abide with you in your way if I seek you and choose you as my God, my Way, my Truth, my Standard, my Council, my Home, my Father, my LORD and Savior, my All n all! Continue to search me, LORD, and prune me and test me and turn me and heal me. As long as you are “familiar with all my ways” it means you are watching me and that you are with me. I want that connection even when you also see the wrong that I do. Only you can bring me back into right relationship that I might abide in your presence and that you might abide in me. Thank you! May I bear fruit for your glory and show by my ways that I am your disciple. Amen.

May 25.....walking in integrity

Psalm 101: 2b-3a “I will walk in the integrity of my heart, within my house; I will not set before my eyes any base thing.”

Heavenly Father,

Walking in integrity is hard. We are surrounded by “base” things in our lives, and to not look at them is difficult. TV and movies are probably 2 of the biggest examples. Most of what is on TV is base an worthless…but it echoes life around us and it is easy to say “that’s not too bad” and find excuses to watch it. We excuse all sorts of bad behaviors and poor life styles. When we constantly accept bad behavior in others we gradually begin to accept it in our own life. If we make no attempt to separate ourselves from the world and to concentrate on you and on right behavior we slowly sink. Even one small verse from the Bible, like this one, can remind me to reflect on life around me and ask myself where I’m becoming too worldly and losing my focus on you. Integrity is honesty. I must walk in an honest way that follows your Way. I must be true to the things I know are right even when I don’t feel like it. I must seek a relationship with you above all else. Jest as I looked up to my earthly father for guidance and love and accountability for my actions, I must look even higher to You, my Heavenly Father to keep me honest and righteous in my ways. Guide me, O LORD! Create I me a clean heart and a renewed spirit and focus it on your truth and your way, Jesus Christ. Search me and try me and show me where I need to grow and change. Take vile and base things from my sight and make me not desire them. I can’t do this on my own but you assure me that “my grace is sufficient for you, my power is made perfect in weakness.” I rely on your grace in all things. Amen.

May 24....seeing The Word

Psalm 119:1-3 “Blessed are they whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. They do nothing wrong; they walk in his ways.” Luke 11:28 “Blest are they who hear the word of God and keep it.”

Heavenly Father,

If I paraphrase this psalm substituting Jesus for references to “your word”, your decrees, statues or law than a picture emerges of obedience to what you have shown us in Christ…the Way we should follow. The perfect Way. “Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in Jesus, who keep Jesus, who observe Jesus, who seek Jesus with all their hearts, who do no wrong but walk in Jesus.” You referred to Jesus as “the Word” for a reason. We often don’t listen when others speak…even when our God speaks. By “speaking” the Word, Jesus, into existence in human form we were given a visual picture to focus on that we could understand as well as listen to. Actions to suit the words. Jesus was the Word put into action and lived here with us. Your laws and decrees and statutes and commands that the psalmist speaks of were given a human form and acted out. Jesus spoke your words aloud in his teaching and explained your way, but now they were visible in him as the supreme example. When Jesus explained how we can be “blessed” and truly happy, he was telling us “your way”…the way we should live to be part of your kingdom and live in peace and harmony with you. We need to walk, talk, think, act, and live in accordance with your Word, Jesus Christ. If we walk in him, we also walk in your way. Luke says, “Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.” When we put Jesus in our hearts and single-mindedly follow him, we are blessed. He came to save us, to give us “the words of life”. In Jesus’ name I pray that I might live in him and in you always and follow the Way with all my heart. Amen.

May 23.....a tree planted near water

Psalm 1:3 “He is like a tree planted near running water, that yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.” Matthew 7:20 “You can tell a tree by its fruit.”

Heavenly Father,

(I was in Arizona when I wrote this) Here in Arizona I would learn a new appreciation for trees! Green trees are few and far between. The trees here have to have deep roots reaching down to water because there is little water to be had. Islands of trees grow near any true “stream of water”. Most of the rivers are dry on a daily basis. How do these stressed trees survive? By deep roots and perseverance. We are the same. If our roots don’t go deep into your Living Water and draw nourishment, we wither and die. It takes the “streams of water” to fill our thirst and to provide life. All trees have a purpose…to yield fruit. It may not be what we think of as fruit…fleshy, showy stuff we eat…but there is fruit somewhere and new seeds to be planted. Two signs of a healthy tree would be the fact that it “prospers” or “doesn’t wither” and the “fruit” that it bears. If we are to live healthy Christ-like lives we also need to send our roots deep into your Word and seek your wisdom and your grace, that we might grow and produce fruit. Trees aren’t meant to be stunted in their growth, but to mature and change and strengthen. Trees provide a haven for others creatures…birds, squirrels, etc. When we become Christ-like we too become a haven for those in need. We have been strengthened so that we might strengthen others, nourished so that we might nourish others. Trees have a purpose! Lord, make me a strong tree with deep roots in the Living Water of Christ. Prosper me, strengthen me, and produce fruit in me, that I might provide a haven for others in need. Amen.

May 22.....to do and to not do

Psalm 1:1-2 “Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers. But his delight is in the law of the LORD, and on his law he meditates day and night.”

Heavenly Father,

What to do and what not to do. This seems a very fitting verse to begin the Psalms with. After telling us what not to do we are encouraged to “meditate on his law day and night”. The psalms are a good place to meditate. If our lives are filled “day and night” with thoughts of You, we will learn to walk in your way. This psalm points out the contrast of your way and the evil one’s way. We fall into the evil one’s way if we walk or follow in the “counsel of the wicked”. When we listen to the evil one’s promptings and follow the bad advice he gives, we walk in his way. Once we begin to follow the evil one we will find ourselves “standing in the way of sinners”. We will adapt to our sinful environment and stand and join in with sinful ways and actions. When we are comfortable with this wrong life style we will than “sit in the seat of mockers”. You don’t sit down and make yourself at home until you feel safe and secure. If we feel safe with mockers,” who don’t believe or follow you, O LORD, than we’ve allowed the evil one to win the battle. None of that leads to blessedness or true happiness! To find our blessings we must “delight” in your law and “meditate” on it all the time….”day and night”. When we focus on you, we win peace, delight, joy, love, mercy, contentment. We arrive at the blessed state that Jesus spells out in the Beatitudes: poverty of spirit, mourning for our sins, meekly accepting our Savior, hungering and thirsting for the Way, showing and receiving mercy, purity of heart, peacemaking, and even being persecuted because we know now that your Way is the right Way! Lead me safely in your Way and make your law at home in my heart. Amen.

May 21.....the Way

Week Twenty-One: One Way…His Way Psalm 86:11 “Teach me your way, O LORD, and I will walk in your truth; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name.”

Heavenly Father,

It always amazes me how once you know about Jesus it gives new insight to OT truths. It completes them….as it should. This psalm speaks of “your way” and “your truth”. It is desired that we seek these and walk in them. In the NT we see Jesus referred to as “The Way” and he tells us, “I am the way, the truth, and the life.”. Jesus is your way and your truth. You sent him so we could see and understand more clearly. Jesus invites us to spend time with him…”come and see”. When we do this, his truth will penetrate our hearts and show us why he is the way, the truth. The psalmists asks that you “direct my heart” or in another translation, “give me an undivided heart”. First we come, then we beg to stay! We want to focus only on the truth and the way. The stated purpose is, “that I may fear your name.” The way and the truth lead us to you, O LORD, into your presence and into relationship with you as your children. Jesus is the door. He is an opening from this world into your world. He is the only way to get through the barriers of sin and death. Jesus ushers us in by grace. Like the psalmist our plea is…”teach me!”….”direct me!” We know Jesus is the way, the truth and most importantly the Life. Life with you, O LORD! We come and see, we seek , we ask. We want to know our Father and live in his kingdom forever! Home is where you are and Jesus is the way to your truth and your life for us. Thank you! Teach me in the name of Jesus Christ, amen.

May 20....do not remain silent

Psalm 109:1-2 “O God, whom I praise, do not remain silent, for wicked and deceitful men have opened their mouths against me; they have spoken against me with lying tongues.”

Heavenly Father,

I think everyone has times of feeling depressed by this. However, as a Christian we should actually be glad if we feel out-of-step with the world! Jesus says, “you do not belong to the world”. We are supposed to be different. The world should be able to recognize that we are “one of those Christians”. Our behavior, our attitudes, our thoughts, our habits, our speech…everything…should reflect our beliefs. Unfortunately, too often we fit into the world entirely too well. We speak the world’s language. We think the world’s thoughts. We act in a worldly way. Our “disguise” becomes reality. How to live “in” the world, but not be “of” the world? This is every Christians problem. How do we act? What do we say? How much ”apart” should we be, but still be a witness of our beliefs to others rather then going into isolation? We must keep you ever in front of us in our thoughts, so that our actions will follow your will. When we are misunderstood or rejected, like the psalmist we will cry out, “Do not be silent!” When we need you, you will be there. Anyone persecuted for righteousness, “theirs is the kingdom of heaven”! This is our reward and our solace. We will abide in your presence. Your kingdom is our kingdom and we won’t miss this world. Every time we live as ones set apart from the world, we draw closer to our true home and you. Give me strength and courage to leave the world behind and come into your kingdom each day. In Jesus Christ, amen.

May 19.....be exalted over all

Psalm108:5-6 “Be exalted, O God, above the heavens, and let your glory be over all the earth. Save us and help us with your right hand, that those you love may be delivered.” 1 John 3:1 “See what love the Father has bestowed on us in letting us be called children of God!” Heavenly Father, I’m not sure how to condense all of this! I feel bombarded with images. You, the Father, the Almighty One, are exalted “above the heavens” and “over all the earth”. Everywhere, the world sings your praise….all nations, all the earth, all the heavenly hosts! I think of Jesus saying that the rocks would cry out in praise to him. Following all that praise and recognition comes our cry for help…”save us”…”help us”…”deliver us”! Your “right hand”…Jesus Christ…is called upon to save those who love you, those you love. Your love is for all. Sometimes we sort of forget that and only focus on our own need of your love and want all your attention focused on us. Thankfully, you are a God who is big enough to love all, and to deal with the problems of all who seek you. You are big enough to love those who don’t yet seek you…who are still turned away. All parents experience waiting for their children to turn to them for help at some time. We never give up on those we love. We wait patiently for them to turn to us. You are our Father. You wait with more patience then we can imagine. “How great the Father’s love that we should be called children of God.” Without your great love, we could never become you children. Jesus has made it possible for us all to be adopted in the family of God. Your Right Hand delivers! Your Right Hand saves us and helps us!

“Be exalted, O God, above the heavens! May your glory be over all the earth!”

Praise and thanks to your holy name! Amen.

May 18....praise and thanks together

Psalm 107:32 “Let them extol him in the assembly of the people and praise him in the council of the elders.” Heavenly Father,

On Sunday morning when we have prayer request time we also have people who acknowledge “joys” that you have given to them. This psalm helps me realize how important that is. We need to share our praise with others to remind them of our blessings and not just our needs. It also gives you the credit you deserve in front of others…..affirmation. It also gives others a “lift”….a chance to smile because something good happened to someone and remind them of the source of the goodness. We get very focused on our troubles and the needs of ourselves, and our friends and family. We are so anxious to pray for our needs and seek your help, that we forget to say thanks and remember the good stuff. That is a mistake. Praise should always come first….and last. We praise and thank you for past favors, then present our petitions for current needs, and then praise and thank you for the answers we expect to receive based on your faithfulness. Sort of a “praise sandwich”! The praise holds the rest of the stuff together and makes it manageable. We need to mentally ingest our praise sandwich as well as offer it to you. Sharing praise with others is a strengthening exercise for the “assembly of the people”. It brings us together and unites us as one people with one God who provides for us. All of our prayer and praise together becomes incense rising up to you from your people. The fragrance of love and gratitude. Thank you, O God, my Father for all that you are and all that you do for me, through your Son, Jesus Christ, my Savior and Redeemer, and through your Holy Spirit. Amen.

May 17.....freely sacrifice

Psalm 54:6 “Freely will I offer you sacrifice; I will praise your name, O Lord, for its goodness.” (I will praise your name for it is good…NIV) Heavenly Father,

When Jesus died on the cross it was important that we know he chose to give his life rather then that anyone took it from him. This is sacrifice…doing something of free will for others, by his own choice. When we “freely” give you praise as a sacrifice, we are offering our hearts, our souls,, our lives to you in the only way we know how to say thank you. Praise comes from our hearts. Praise is a reaction to Christ’s sacrifice for us. Praise is a response to your faithfulness in our lives as Creator, Provider, Defender, Almighty God! Praise pours from us when we reflect on your deeds, your greatness, your words of life. “Freely” can have another meaning or characteristic. When we give “freely”, we give lavishly in great abundance. You “freely” gave us forgiveness and grace and we “freely” give words and songs of praise and thanks in response. There is no “arm twisting” involved in either meaning. It is a willing sacrifice, a choice, a natural response, an outpouring of love. All sacrifice involves love. It takes love to choose to give. We “praise your name for it is good”. Praise recognizes goodness. We would not praise something that was bad. Where there is praise, there is goodness. We are told that, “every knee will bow” before the name of Jesus. His name is love incarnate and all will come to know and praise it. It is a name that freely draws forth praise by those who know him. Those who don’t know him can’t understand this. Praise is a sacrifice they can’t comprehend. May the day all shall bow to your name and praise your goodness come coon! Draw all people to you, O LORD! Amen.

May 16....praise and obedience

Psalm 50:14-15 “Sacrifice thank offerings to God, fulfill your vows to the Most High, and call upon me in the day of trouble; I will deliver you, and you will honor me.” Heavenly Father, The psalmist lists 2 sacrifices here…”praise” and fulfilling our vows”. When we take the time to praise you, we offer a part of ourselves. We offer our time, we offer a verbal expression o our feelings, and we offer ourselves in a relationship to you by acknowledging your status as our God. When we “fulfill our vows”, I think that means we obey your commands. Actions follow our verbal commitment. Praise and obedience. These are sacrifices that should come easily to us, but they often don’t. Our hearts are grateful, but we don’t always take the time to express it. We seem to think that you should just know that we’re thankful and not expect us to take time to say it. Humans worry about “time” a lot! Our whole world focuses on it! We schedule every minute of our days and try to “fit you in” like come common ordinary appointment! Praise should be heartfelt, spontaneous and continuous. We need a constant attitude of awareness of you, no mater what we are doing or where we are. Sacrifice has an element of giving something that “hurts” in some way. It makes an impact on us and requires more than lip service. Obedience is the same ….praise in action. A response that is sacrificial. This verse ends with a circle relationship: call on me…I will deliver you…you will honor me. You sacrificed for us on the cross. We owe you our lives in sacrifice…a willing response to your love. Thank you! We praise you! amen.

May 15.....you give us victory

Psalm 44:7-8 “But you give us victory over our enemies you put our adversaries to shame. In God we make our boast all day long and we will praise your name forever.” Heavenly Father,

(written at the time of the Olympics) I guess this sounds appropriate right now because the Olympics are on and many are seeking victory and medals to take home. These 4 words….”you give us victory”… tell of a different, more important victory…winning against our spiritual opponent, the devil. It is important to seek this victory. The Olympics are only on every 2-4 years and men and women train to win between times. But the battle with the devil is on-going daily. He never lets up! We need a more permanent victory and a worthy champion who never wearies. We have no time to train without being in battle at the same time. But these 4 words from the Psalms are a great promise. “You”…God the Father, Jesus Christ, Holy Spirit. Not ourselves, but the most powerful force there is…Almighty God! Creator! I AM! Yahweh! El Shaddai! “Give”…this is a gift, something available to all, and also “give” in the sense of “make happen”. You….God, make it happen….give. “Us”….each and every creature, all humans who believe, those who say ‘yes’, those who ask, seek, knock, accept. “Victory”…not a temporary win, not just one year’s competition, not a tie, not a stand-off, not a no-show, but an undisputed win. “You give us victory over our enemies”…..now and forever more. Jesus conquered sin and death…our enemies…and gave us the medal….”grace”. We are on the winning side in this battle, when we follow Jesus Christ! “Victory in Jesus! My Savior forever!” Once we join his side…the victory is ours through him! Jesus won! Jesus is the victor! Jesus has the only “gold medal” that we need ever desire and grace makes it ours. Thank you,! amen.

May 14....mourning into dancing

WEEK TWENTY: Safe Haven Psalm 30:11-12 “You changed my mourning into dancing; you took off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness, that my soul might sing praise to you without ceasing; O Lord, my God, forever will I give you thanks. “ Jer. 29:13 “Yes, when you seek me with all your heart, you will find me with you.” Rom 8:18 “I consider the sufferings of the present to be as nothing compared with the glory to be revealed in us.”

Heavenly Father,

Mourning is a deep sadness for something. We mourn for lost ones. We mourn our sinful condition. We mourn what could have been and isn’t. But this psalm assures us that you can “turn my mourning into dancing”. Even through we mourn what is gone or “gone wrong” we can still find dancing in our spirit. We mourn the loved one’s death, but we dance in the happy memories of them and the knowledge of their eternal home with you. We mourn our sinfulness, but rejoice in the knowledge that Jesus has lifted that burden forever and led us into a new life of joy and dancing. We mourn what was or might have been, but we dance onward into new hope and new life and a new relationship with you. Our somber black is removed and instead we are “clothed with gladness”! “Our soul sings…without ceasing”. Once we know the freedom of salvation and grace we can sing praises to you even in times of troubles. We have that “blessed assurance” that the song writer speaks of, that allows us to dance and sing knowing Jesus has freed us, saved us, redeemed us, taken away our sin, healed our brokenness, made us new! “Forever will I give thanks!” No more deep mourning! No more black drapes of sorrow! No more somber introspection! “Blessed are they that mourn, for they will be comforted.” Blessed….we will dance in true happiness and the knowledge of our salvation! “Abba, Father!” May I always be clothed in your gladness and sing your praises ever more! I give you my thanks! With Christ who redeemed me, I join the dance! Amen.

May 13....I AM

Psalm 90:1-2 “Lord, you have been our dwelling place throughout all generations. Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.”

2Peter 3:18 “Grow rather in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Glory be to him now and to the day of eternity.”

Heavenly Father,

The psalmist speaks of time…he acknowledges that you “have been”, “are” and “ will always be”….everlasting to everlasting! You are I AM! I always see this as your greatest name. Jesus used this name also…and was killed for daring to identify his greatness and his mission with your name. It always sounds like a paradox…Jesus is you, Almighty God, yet as a man he could die while you exist in all eternity. We never understand fully, but we sense the rightness and the grace and peace and love that it brought to our lives. Because you “are” we also may dwell in eternity. Our dwelling place is secure. I like that term…dwelling place. You are where we live. You are our home. You are our refuge. A refuge is a place of safety and security and familiarity and comfort. We seek to dwell, to live, to abide in a place that fits all of those htings. In your presence, in relationship with you, we find that refuge, that “dwelling place”. Jesus has made it possible for us to enter the dwelling place….he is the Door. Like going through a metal detector, he identifies and removes our sins and allows us inside your presence. There we find love. There we find peace. There we find hope. There we find security and safety and eternal life. This gift of a home, a dwelling place, is there for all generations. You are faithful and just and your love never ends. Your love is endless. Your love is eternal, like you. Our dwelling place is secure and Jesus stands at your side beckoning….”Come!” Thank you! May I always dwell in the shadow of the Most High! Father! Amen.

May 12.....I hope in your word, Jesus

Psalm 119:113-114 “I hate men of divided heart, but I love your law. You are my refuge and my shield; in your word I hope. John 5:24 “I solemnly assure you, the man who hears my word and has faith in him who sent me possesses eternal life.”

Heavenly Father,

When I read scriptures I often see places for word substitutions. When I see “word” in a verse I tend to think of John 1:1..”In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God.” Word is one of the names for Jesus and thus refers to him. So in this verse from Psalm’s, I find myself reading, “ I have put my hope in Jesus (your word)”. He is where you want us to put our hope. You sent him to lead us home. You sent him to teach us, and show us what our lives can be when we hope in the Word. Hope is faith with expectation of a promised future based on a known past. We hope in what we have reason to believe will be. We don’t attach our hope to negative things. Hope is seeking a positive outcome based on our knowledge of the thing or person on which we place our hope. I can hope in Jesus because my knowledge of him from scriptures gives me assurance that he is a safe and secure person to trust and believe in. He has proven himself worthy. He loved me enough to die for me. He loved me enough to remove the sin that was destroying me, but at great cost to himself. He has shown me the way to true happiness and the way to eternal life. He has opened a door to a future in eternity. He has fed me and given me living water to sustain me and provide life. He has sheltered me and called me by name. He has led me into my Father’s presence and called me daughter and friend. He has graced me with all the riches of heaven. “I put my hope in your word,” Jesus Christ, my Lord and Savior now and forever more. Amen.

May 11....make the Most High your dwelling

Psalm 91:9-10 “If you make the Most High your dwelling…even the Lord, who is my refuge…then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.” Ex. 19:4 “I bore you up on eagle wings and brought you here to myself.”

Heavenly Father,

It is easy when reading this statement to want to say, “but that’s not true”…and then of course we feel guilty for thinking it. We know of too many good people who trust you and have made you their refuge who have died of cancer, had children die, been in accidents, lost jobs, been hit by tornados or hurricanes, etc. Our human minds see these things as “evil” and wonder why the God we trust lets these things happen. It isn’t easy at times. But I think we are confusing natural order, which you set in motion at creation but don’t control like a puppet, with evil, which is the work of the devil. Our world has a rhythm…nature…that we must live in harmony with. Sometimes it hurts us. We do not always attempt to harmonize with nature …we try to control it or bypass it to get our own way. Man is the cause of most of his own problems, even if not always intentionally, but only as a bystander to someone else’s actions. But the work of the evil one is spiritual…he tempts us to do wrong, he encourages bad habits, he plays on our emotions, he reminds us we are tired, he encourages us to be apathetic about much, he helps us waste time, he plants seeds of doubt, he points fingers of blame, he encourages greed, lust, selfishness, self-centeredness, and hatred. The evil one is cruel. He is focused on destroying all that is good and all that comes from God. The refuge we see, is to be safe spiritually from his influence no matter how he attacks us. We need our “breastplate of righteousness, helmet of salvation, shoes of peace, belt of truth, shield of faith and most of all our sword of the Spirit of God’s word”! When the Lord is our refuge and our strength, the evil one cannot prevail. “Evil will not befall us.” Thank you, amen.

May 10....shelter of the Most High

Psalm 91:1-2 “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “he is my refuge and my fortress, my God , in whom I trust.” John 15:9 “As the Father loved me, I have loved you. Remain in my love.” Heavenly Father,

(originally written on Valentine’s Day, but works nicely on Mother's Day, too!) Happy Valentine’s Day! The day we acknowledge our love for others. The psalm says that “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty”. Dwelling in your shelter, resting in your shadow. This is our home, our place to abide. This is where love is. This is where sanctuary is. This is where acceptance and forgiveness are. Because of this: “I will say…my refuge!….my fortress!….my God!….in whom I trust.” Refuge in love leads to trust and acknowledgement of our place in your family. Jesus invites us, also…”As the Father loved me, I have loved you…remain in my love.” An invitation to a home full of love. An invitation to complete joy, everlasting life, eternal peace, true happiness. Jesus invites us to remain forever in that haven of love with the Father. He has brought us there and given us a right to remain. He has commissioned us to bring others. AS he loved, we too are to love. The Almighty casts a large shadow…there is room for everyone. All can find rest. All can find love. How do I lead others, O Father God Almighty, into your shadow of rest? How do I show others your desire to have them come? How do I help them understand? Only your Holy Spirit can do this! Only your Holy Spirit within me can speak and be effective. I feel I often speak on my own…and fail. Draw me closer and show me to whom I must speak. Teach me how. I want to share your love! I want the world to know and to sing your praises! I want all to be saved! This is a day for love…draw the world to your refuge and spread the shadow of your love over all who need you. Open hearts in Jesus’ name….amen.

May 9....salvation...refuge

Psalm 37:39-40 “The salvation of the righteous comes from the Lord; he is their stronghold in time of trouble. The Lord helps them and delivers them; he delivers them from the wicked and saves them because they take refuge in him.” Matthew 25:34 “Come, you have my Father’s blessing! Inherit the kingdom prepared fro you from the creation of the world.” Heavenly Father,

Cause and effect…this is what I seem to see here. “The salvation of the righteous comes form the LORD….because they take refuge in him.” You are our salvation. No one else can save us. No one else can make us righteous. Only through Jesus Christ can we find salvation. By removing our sin, taking our punishment, redeeming us through his blood, he makes us clean and righteous in your sight. But to find this righteousness and this salvation we must first turn to you as our refuge. We must come. We must make a choice that we want to be saved. That sounds a bit strange! Why would anyone not want to be saved?? It is hard to understand. However, many don’t recognize that there is anything they need to be saved from. Life seems “OK” and they feel like “nice people”. Until we see our poverty of spirit we can’t seek the riches of grace! You have to be hungry to seek food, thirsty to seek water, dead to seek life. The greatest stumbling block to accepting grace is knowing that you need it. Jesus is a stumbling block for many. They are unable to pledge allegiance to anyone or to ask for the help they need. They would rather struggle to “do it themselves” then to seek help. How do we combat that attitude in the aura of independence that we are taught here in America? How do we convince people that the independence they trade will buy them a new freedom that is more wonderful than any they have ever known? When we take refuge in you…salvation is ours. The burden of life and sin and death is lifted and we have eternal life and love and grace in its place. We have you! Thank you…amen.

May 8....free me from the trap

Psalm 31:4-5 “Free me from the trap that is set for me, for you are my refuge. Into your hands I commit my spirit; redeem me, O LORD, the God of truth.” Luke 23:46 “Father into your hands I commend my spirit.” Heavenly Father,

(When I wrote this meditation our church was going through difficult times and making difficult decisions on what direction to go. I will leave out details of what was happening here and make this more general. All of us face this sort of problem in our church at some time.) I feel that our decision to let our minister go is a “trap” the evil one is setting to destroy us and I fear we will fall into it. He has split us. This psalm is my plea…”free me from the trap!” Whatever evil he plans, lead us away from it. Lead us toward your help and refuge. Keep us safe in your hands. Show us how to move forward in your will despite this. Lead us deep into your presence. Show us your will! Mike and I are struggling with this. We do not want to see the Sunday School children suffer from this decision. We don’t want to lose our ministry with these kids. They are more important than anything else…especially church politics. Help us to lead them, and for all of us to grow from this experience. Help us to continue to serve you as we best know how to do. Show us our mistakes. Keep the church free from anger, resentment, apathy, inward turning. Show us how to change. Show us how to live like Jesus. The second part of this verse was used by Jesus on the cross…”Into your hands I commend my spirit.” Help our church give itself to you and each of us as individuals to recommit ourselves and our spirits to you. Unless we make you our “all in all” we will fall into the trap set for us. Help us, O LORD! Lead us! Teach us! Be with us and in us and change our hard hearts and hard heads. Forgive me my anger and take it away from me. Amen.

May 7....apart from me

Week Nineteen: Eternal Refuge Psalm 16: 1-2 “Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; apart from you I have no good thing.” John 15:5 “Apart from me you can do nothing.”

Heavenly Father,

Jesus echoes our own feelings and thoughts with this word “apart”. We recognize that apart from you we don’t have anything in our lives of importance. You provide for our needs…physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. That is why we must take to heart your command to “Love the Lord, you God, with all your heart, all your mind, all your soul, all your strength.” By loving you and calling on you and forming a relationship with you, we find that we have something after all….a Father who loves us and forgives us, a God who provides for us, a Savior who redeems us, a Holy Spirit to keep us connected at all times and give us guidance. No more apart! Now together! Jesus came to make this reconciliation possible. Through him we are new and clean and forgiven and made righteous. Now we have no sin to separate us, no penalty of death or sentence passed against us. We’ve moved from death row to “your holy mountain, the place where you dwell.” No longer prisoners, now we are sons and daughters. Jesus knew that “apart from him” we could not find this relationship. Sin would always separate us from you. We could “do nothing”. But he has shattered the word “apart” and made it unnecessary, non-existent, void. With him we are never apart. With him we are accepted and loved. With him we are graced with forgiveness. All that we are, all that we do, all that we can be stems from Him and his healing of our broken relationship to you. Father, let me never be “apart” again! Without you, I am nothing. You are my reason for being! Thank you! amen.

May 6....the Rock

Psalm 71:1-3 “In you, O LORD, I have taken refuge; let me never be put to shame. Rescue me and deliver me in your righteousness; turn your ear to me and save me. Be my rock of refuge, to which I can always go; give the command to save me, for you are my rock and my fortress. Luke 1:50 “His mercy is from age to age on those who fear him.” Heavenly Father, This sounds like an emergency plan of action. A location, established ahead of time, where in an emergency we can always go and be safe. Of course no earthly location is truly safe ever, but at least our basements or rooftops or neighbors or whatever are the best plan we can formulate for that particular emergency to give us a feeling of safety. We need a spiritual safety plan for emergency, also. Where do we run when the evil of the world is after us? Where do we hide when stress and weariness are hounding us? Where do we go when we need comfort? Or forgiveness? Or salvation? Or healing? Or just someone “bigger” to talk to? We run to our Rock! We take refuge in your arms and hold tight to the One who can save us, who can lift us out of the deep waters, who can calm any storm, who is our “hiding place” where we are protected from trouble and listen to your “songs of deliverance”. The Rock who kills the giants of sin and evil on all sides! The Rock who is our foundation to build on! The Rock who is solid and secure and stands firm in any storm. And the really hopeful part….”to which I can always go.” Always. The Rock is always nearby. The Rock is always on hand just a prayer away.

“My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus blood and righteousness. No merit of my own I claim, but wholly lean on Jesus name. On Christ the Solid Rock I stand! All other ground is sinking sand!

”Thank, Rock of Ages, Rock of hope, Rock of firmness, Rock of eternity! Amen.

May 5....refuge

Psalm 118:8-9 “ It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in man. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”” 2 Cor. 1:3-4 “Praised be God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all consolation! He comforts us in all our afflictions and thus enables us to comfort those who are in trouble, with the same consolation we have received from him.” Heavenly Father,

This must be important wording…it’s stressed twice! “It is better to take refuge in the Lord”. Don’t forget it! We are told in these two phrases not to take refuge…in man or in princes. We shouldn’t seek refuge with our family and friends or with bosses or leaders. They aren’t bad places…but the LORD is better. From other sources we will get some comfort, much advice, and possibly an occasional “I told you so”. We need some of that and if we choose our sources well, it might be helpful. The Corinthian verse tells us that if we have experienced God’s comfort we can in turn comfort others with the same…but that means we must turn to those who are in touch with God and who minister comfort in his name. Not every friend is a refuge…only a godly friend who prays and knows God. Our first line of refuge should be God, himself…prayer. We need to spend time in your presence daily to know you and learn to rely on your wisdom and protection. You are there…but we need to come to you. The door is open…we need only walk in. Once we are in your presence the warmth of your love will make us safe and secure in all things. Men and princes don’t always give the best advice and sometimes they fail to be available when needed….but your wisdom is eternal and far above man’s! You are omnipresent…always there, omniscient…all wise, and omnipotent…all powerful. You can handle anything, anywhere at anytime! Thank you, O LORD, my refuge and my strength, my savior and my redeemer, my wisdom and my guide! Amen.

May 4....angels on guard

Psalm 91:9-12 “If you made the Most High your dwelling…even the LORD, who is my refuge…then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.” Matthew 18:10 “See that you never despise one of these little ones. I assure you, their angels in heaven constantly behold my heavenly Father’s face.”

Heavenly Father,

It is a great comfort, but also a great mystery to think about angels. It says that you will “command your angels to guard us”….if we “make the Most High our dwelling”. Angels have almost become a separate worship category for many people, so I tend to shy away from thinking about them. But angels are in scripture so I should try to understand them and their role in your work. You sent angels with messages to people you wished to work through…Mary, Joseph, Zechariah, the wise men, shepherds…all surrounding Jesus’ birth. This was a time when you reached down and touched the earth in a special way, so special angelic messages seem appropriate. But what way do angels function daily in our lives? I still don’t know. However, I can rely on any promises you make regarding them. As long as I make You, the Most High, my dwelling place, the place I abide, you will “command your angles to guard me”. The closer I am to you, the more likely I will feel the presence of angels in my life. I have always felt protected by you. There are times in my youth that I did many stupid and dangerous things but you have always kept me from harm. Your angels worked overtime in guarding me at times! Thank you! Thank you for your care of all the “little ones” “whose angles see your face” at all times. I pray that every child will find you someday and abide in your presence. I pray that all the little ones will sense your heavenly protection and love and come to know you. I pray for the child in all of us that needs your angelic protection and care. I still don’t understand angels, but I understand love and protection. Thank you! amen.

May 3....refuge brings joy

Psalm 64:10 “The just man is glad in the Lord and takes refuge in him; in him glory all the upright of heart.” (NAB) “Let the righteous rejoice in the LORD and take refuge in him; let all the upright in heart praise him!” (NIV) Heavenly Father,

We have a description of how the righteous or upright in heart should respond to your love….rejoicing, taking refuge, praising you. If we truly are in right relationship and have our hearts upright and aligned with your teachings, these things should come naturally. You have saved us…rejoice! You have secured us…take refuge! You have provided for us…praise! Often we live our lives as if none of this is true. We worry about everything that happens and many things that probably won’t happen. We gripe about minor inconveniences and petty irritations. We snap at loved ones, as well as strangers. We ignore needs we see around us and hide from work that might inconvenience us. We allow the world to place numerous weights on our shoulders and then try to carry the burden alone. We make decisions without consulting you or seeking your guidance. We live as if you are no part of our daily life! Forgive me, LORD, when I live this way! You are my refuge from the world! You are my strength when I’m weak! You are my provider and I need not worry! You are my joy when I allow you to fill my heart with singing! You are my “all in all”! You restore me when I am spent. You redeem me when I a condemned. You heal me when I am broken. You fill me when I am empty. You turn me right side up when the world seems upside down. You satisfy me when I am hungry and thirsty. You comfort me when I mourn. You hold me when I am afraid. You stay beside me when I am alone. You are my God! I love you, I need you, I praise you! amen

May 2....My Fortress!

Psalm 59:16-17 “For you are my fortress, my refuge in time of trouble. O my strength, I sing praise to you; you, O God, are my fortress, my loving God!” Matthew 6:13 “Subject us not to the trial but deliver us from the evil one.”

Heavenly Father,

“You are my Fortress!” A fortress is built to enclose us in safety and security and to keep the enemy out. We can’t walk around with stone walls enclosing us, but we can take your strength and presence everywhere we go. You are like invisible walls that protect us as we live in this world. The evil one is always there tempting us to sin and to stray outside your walls of safety. It’s easy to think we are safe and can go where we please, trusting our own strength and spirit. But that is just what the evil one wants. The minute we step outside your walls and try to “go it alone” we are open to his threat. When Jesus left heaven and walked on this earth the devil was there immediately to tempt this “human” form of God. He didn’t succeed because Jesus knew where his strength and protection lay…with his Father and obedience to his word alone. “You are my strength and my fortress”. This is our rallying cry, our reminder of where our home and security are found. Relying on a fortress to protect you in battle doesn’t show weakness, it shows common sense! Stepping outside the walls while the battle rages is foolhardy. And the battle is always raging on this world. Thank you, O LORD, that you are my fortress and safe haven every minute of every day. Keep me safe from the enemy and seal any holes he is breaching in the walls of your strength that surround me. You are my God! I want no other! The battle belongs to the LORD! Jesus Christ will reign forever! Amen.

May 1....in the shadow of your wings

Psalm 57:1-2 “Have pity on me, O God; have pity on me, for in you I take refuge. In the shadow of your wings I take refuge, till harm pass by. I call to God the Most High, to God my benefactor.” Luke 13:34 “How often have I wanted to gather your children together as a mother bird collects her young under her wings, and you refused me!”

Heavenly Father,

“In the shadow of your wings”…a place of refuge, a place to hide, a place to feel safe. The mother hen spreads her wings and gathers in all of her chicks to protect them from the storms of life and the dangers that stalk them. Her wings enfold them and keep them close, and warm and safe. When you are under a mother’s wings you are close to her heart and can hear the steady familiar beat that means “home” and security. Your refuge is constant. We can stay until “harm passes by”. We don’t need to fear that you might get tired of sheltering us and shove us back out into the world. The mother bird eventually gently pushes the birds out of the nest, away from her protective shadow so that they can learn to fly on their own and grow and produce families….but only when they are ready. The baby bird becomes too big to remain in the nest. But we never get too big to cease needing your loving protection. We all cast shadows, but your shadow, God’s shadow is the largest by far and never goes away. Our refuge is eternal. Our refuge is indestructible. Our refuge is You! I’ll always feel safe in the “shadow of your wings”. Thank you, LORD, for your loving protection. Hold me until all harm in this world is past and carry me into your kingdom to live forever. Amen.