Tag Archive | Psalm

Gathering

Dec24

How lovely are Your dwelling places, O Lord of hosts! My soul longed and even yearned for the courts of the Lord; My heart and my flesh sing for joy to the living God. How blessed are those who dwell in Your house! They are ever praising You. Selah. For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand outside. I would rather stand at the threshold of the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.       Psalms 84:1‭-‬2‭, ‬4‭, ‬10 NASB

For where two or three have gathered together in My name, I am there in their midst.” Matthew 18:20 NASB

not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.   Hebrews 10:25 NASB

My husband and I did some deliveries to homebound brothers and sisters yesterday and spent some time visiting. Our intention was to make the delivery and hopefully encourage those who we saw BUT I do believe that I was more encouraged and spirit lifted than they were.

What a blessing it is to spend time with the people of God. To speak of Jesus, His work in our lives, the lives of our love ones, to praise His mighty works, to encourage and be encouraged.

This morning my heart is joyful, content, at peace and believe it is because I dwelt in the courts of the Lord. Dwelt with God’s people where God is in the midst of our conversation, our small gathering. To God be the glory for His church.

As we celebrate around the world the birth of Jesus on December 25th, let us praise and thank Him for His church, the people of God, to whom He came to establish for His glory and purpose.

For a child will be born to us, a son will be given to us; And the government will rest on His shoulders; And His name will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, Prince of Peace.    Isaiah 9:6 NASB

🌹 Have a very Merry Christmas!

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

My Joy

Dec16

Remember me, O Lord , in Your favor toward Your people; Visit me with Your salvation, That I may see the prosperity of Your chosen ones, That I may rejoice in the gladness of Your nation, That I may glory with Your inheritance.        Psalms 106:4‭-‬5 NASB

This is my heart’s desire. God, I believe, is calling me to serve His inheritance, His people. There is no greater joy for me than to see God’s people experience Him, to know the joy of their salvation, the peace of God in the midst of turmoil, to know the hope of prosperity in His chosen ones (eternally walking with Him). I glory in His inheritance (His people).

🌹 When people truly experience Him they make a difference in a lost world.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Love Enabled

Oct15

And a lawyer stood up and put Him to the test, saying, “Teacher, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?” And He said to him, “What is written in the Law? How does it read to you?”  And he answered, “you shall love the  Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.” And He said to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” Luke 10:25‭-‬28 NASB

Sounds easy. Does it? Is it?

“Love with all your heart.”

“The heart is more deceitful than all else And is desperately sick; Who can understand it? Jeremiah 17:9 NASB

Without the manifestation of the Holy Spirit in us, we are not capable to love the Lord with all our heart.

“Love the Lord with all your soul.”

The soul. The inner, spiritual part of us. We are not able to love with all our soul unless our soul is in communion with the soul of God Himself.

Moreover, I will make My dwelling among you, and My soul will not reject you. Leviticus 26:11 NASB

“Love the Lord with all your mind.”

But their minds were hardened; for until this very day at the reading of the old covenant the same veil remains unlifted, because it is removed in Christ. 2 Corinthians 3:14 NASB

Without Christ in us we are blind and unable to love God with all our mind.

“The Lord is my strength and song, And He has become my salvation; This is my God, and I will praise Him; My father’s God, and I will extol Him. Exodus 15:2 NASB

We are weak without the Lord. He is our strength.

So how can we love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind and strenghth?

We need to know Him. Not of Him, but personally know Him.

How? Seek Him.

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. Matthew 7:7 NASB

But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.  Matthew 6:33 NASB

Seek the Lord and His strength; Seek His face continually. Psalms 105:4 NASB

Seeking God, you will find Him because He is love. His love, who He is, enables us to love Him with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength.

The one who does not love does not know God, for God is love. 1 John 4:8 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon 🌹

Worship Leads To . . .

Oct12

Sing to the Lord, bless His name; Proclaim good tidings of His salvation from day to day. Psalms 96:2 NASB

“Proclaim good tidings”, good news, “of His salvation”. How good are we at doing that? Do we proclaim the gospel “from day to day”?

If we are honest many of us have never even shared the gospel. We trust the church to do that so we invite people to church.

Could there be a missing link as to why we don’t share?

“Sing to the Lord, bless His name”.

🌹How is your prayer life? Where is your main focus directed throughout your day? Is worship of God a priority in your life? Do you have a personal, intimate, real relationship with Almighty God?

Enter His gates with thanksgiving And His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him, bless His name.
Psalms 100:4 NASB

If you do you will experience Him and be filled up with His Holy Spirit. Under the Holy Spirit’s guidance you can’t help but proclaim Jesus Christ.

🌹How is your relationship with God. He calls us to proclaim His gospel.

And He was saying to them, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore beseech the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.
Luke 10:2; Matthew 9:37-38 NASB

You might want to read Psalm 71 while contemplating the connection of the worship of God leading to proclaiming salvation to the lost.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

The Good in Me

Sep30

The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God,” They are corrupt, and have committed abominable injustice; There is no one who does good. Every one of them has turned aside; together they have become corrupt; There is no one who does good, not even one. Psalms 53:1‭, ‬3 NASB

The one who says there is no God will not do good. There is no good in our flesh.

For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh; for the willing is present in me, but the doing of the good is not. Romans 7:18 NASB

Good in me does not come naturally since my nature is to sin. I may be willing to do good but the accomplishment of good is beyond my capabilities. Good in me is only accomplished by the One who lives in me.

And He said to him, “Why are you asking Me about what is good? There is only One who is good; but if you wish to enter into life, keep the commandments.” Matthew 19:17 NASB

Does He live in you?

🌹God is the good in me.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Seek or Forsake

Sep15

Then I proclaimed a fast there at the river of Ahava, that we might humble ourselves before our God to seek from Him a safe journey for us, our little ones, and all our possessions. For I was ashamed to request from the king troops and horsemen to protect us from the enemy on the way, because we had said to the king, “The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.” So we fasted and sought our God concerning this matter, and He listened to our entreaty.
Ezra 8:21‭-‬23 NASB

Then we journeyed from the river Ahava on the twelfth of the first month to go to Jerusalem; and the hand of our God was over us, and He delivered us from the hand of the enemy and the ambushes by the way.
Ezra 8:31 NASB

Is the God you trust in stronger than earthly troops and horsemen?

Ezra and the people with him made a bold statement to the king regarding their God.

“The hand of our God is favorably disposed to all those who seek Him, but His power and His anger are against all those who forsake Him.”

They backed those words up by seeking the Lord and His protection. And God in His faithfulness protected them.

How big is your God? Is He big enough to conquer your fears and worries? Do you trust Him enough that you are at peace in fearful situations? Do you seek His protection against the evil around you? Do you love Him with all your heart, soul, mind and strength? I hope that you know the mighty, powerful, BIG God who conquers sin and delivers His own. Are you His?

🌹 Seek the Lord and His strength. Seek His face continually.
Psalm 105:4

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Apple of His Eye

Sep3

Behold, the eye of the Lord is on those who fear Him, On those who hope for His lovingkindness,
Psalms 33:18 NASB

Wow! To think that God’s eye is upon me is enough for me to fear, be in reverential awe of, Him. Who am I that the Holy God of the universe would have His eye on me?! It is enough to draw me close to and hope for His lovingkindness.

When we draw close, seek Him, stand before Him in reverential awe we are right in the midst of His love, kindness, protection and guidance.

I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with My eye upon you. Psalms 32:8 NASB

Do you realize how precious you are to God? He will fight for you. He will protect you. He will teach you. He will guide you. Guide your EVERY step. Will you let Him?

For thus says the Lord of hosts, “After glory He has sent me against the nations which plunder you, for he who touches you, touches the apple of His eye.
Zechariah 2:8 NASB

🌹Keep me as the apple of the eye; Hide me in the shadow of Your wings.
Psalms 17:8 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Joy

Aug27

You, O Lord, rule forever; Your throne is from generation to generation. Lamentations 5:19 NASB

Your throne, O God, is forever and ever; A scepter of uprightness is the scepter of Your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness; Therefore God, Your God, has anointed You With the oil of joy above Your fellows.
Psalms 45:6‭-‬7 NASB

Are you anointed with the oil of joy?

There is much joy to be found in knowing God is eternally seated on His throne. Our God who rules in righteousness and justice and love.

On awakening this morning and checking on the hurricane hitting the Louisiana and Texas coast, I read “this could have been so much worse”. Were you praying for the people in the path of this storm? God answered prayer. It may not have been the way we wanted but it was better than expected. Did you thank Him for His mercy in this situation?

As numbers seem to be rising in Covid cases, are you turning to, relying on the One who sits upon the eternal throne? God has this. Are you abiding in His strong tower? Is He your refuge?

But You, O Lord, abide forever, And Your name to all generations.
Psalms 102:12 NASB

God is your only hope in a world seeking their own way, truth and life. Jesus is the only way, truth and life and no one comes to the throne of the Father but by Him. Can you rejoice in that? Can you enter into the Holy of holies and bow before the throne? If not it is time to bow down in surrender to God and His will. That is where real joy is found even when everything around you is falling down.

“But You are the same, And Your years will not come to an end.
Psalms 102:27 NASB

Hallelujah!

🌹The joy of the Lord is our strength.

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

No Other

Aug19

The Lord has made known His salvation;
He has revealed His righteousness in the sight of the nations. Psalm 98:2

Therefore having overlooked the times of ignorance, God is now declaring to men that all people everywhere should repent, because He has fixed a day in which He will judge the world in righteousness through a Man whom He has appointed, having furnished proof to all men by raising Him from the dead.” Acts 17:30‭-‬31 NASB

“Behold, now is “the acceptable time,” behold, now is “the day of salvation” 2 Corinthians 6:2b NASB

“Turn to Me and be saved, all the ends of the earth; For I am God, and there is no other. Isaiah 45:22 NASB

🌹 For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Matthew 7:8 NASB

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon

Feast on Jesus

Aug12

“Your words were found and I ate them, And Your words became for me a joy and the delight of my heart; For I have been called by Your name, O Lord God of hosts.”
Jeremiah 15:16 NASB

Jesus is the word made flesh.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14 NASB

Jesus is the bread of life.

Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to Me will not hunger, and he who believes in Me will never thirst. John 6:35 NASB

God calls us to grace and mercy found and granted by Him alone. Called unto salvation. Called to a loving relationship with Him. Called to obedience that exudes out of our love for Him.

Are you missing the joy and delight of the Lord? If so, could it be that you are starving yourself?

He said to me, “Son of man, feed your stomach and fill your body with this scroll which I am giving you.” Then I ate it, and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. Ezekiel 3:3 NASB

The word of God is important to our spiritual health. Without the word to nourish our souls we are walking a misdirected path in weakness and Ill health. Just as our physical bodies need nourishment so does our spiritual bodies.

Let us not neglect the importance of God’s word. Feed in it daily. Chew on it throughout the day.

God’s word keeps us on the straight and narrow.

“I have not departed from the command of His lips; I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food.
Job 23:12 NASB

“How sweet are Your words to my taste! Yes, sweeter than honey to my mouth!” Psalms 119:103 NASB

Feast on His word everyday. Not only will they be sweet to the soul but you will get to know just how sweet our Lord is.

🌹 “O taste and see that the Lord is good;” Psalm 34:8

Continually Seeking Him,

Sharon