The Ultimate Valentine

Image via Wikipedia

For You, Lord, are kind and ready to forgive, 
rich in faithful love to all who call on You.

Psalm 86:5

Holman Christian Standard Bible (HCSB)

       This is the time of year when thoughts of love are in the air.  Gifts of candy, flowers, and other tokens of remembrance will pass between friends, lovers, and spouses as the deepest of human feelings are expressed.  But human love is fragile. 

        Misunderstandings may sever relationships.  Love is not always forever for we humans who sometimes have a difficult time with forgiveness.  Our memories are often short as today's love can smolder into tomorrow's distrust and disgust.

        Then there is the One whose love is unfailing and eternal.  He is patient with us and sets the example for the way we should be.  God's love for us never dies.  Tell Him that you love Him.  Let Him know that you want Him in your life.  He is there for you in your times of greatest need.

  Though the mountains be shaken 

   and the hills be removed, 
yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken 
   nor my covenant of peace be removed,” 
   says the LORD, who has compassion on you.

Isaiah 54:10

New International Version (NIV)

Related articles

• God's Love Never Fails (wecandoallthings.wordpress.com)
• At the Heart of Love (philfour13.wordpress.com)
• Psalm 91 English (stayingintheword.wordpress.com)

Look to Him for Help

Worry or Prayer (Photo credit: Leonard John Matthews)

Those who look to Him for help will be radiant with joy; 
      no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

Psalm 34:5

New Living Translation (NLT)

        Many of us have reason to feel sad, afraid, or disappointed about the state of our lives--or at least we think we do.   There is no reason to feel ashamed of struggling through difficult times.  Perhaps the way things are for us now is the consequence of bad decision making in our past or just plain bad breaks that came our way.  It's all a dark shadowy presence that is behind us.  Now is the time to let what has happened yesterday fall behind us.

         When we are moving ahead we are in the natural order of things.  For us time is a linear progression.  Time does not stand still and what has happened in the past is finished and can't be changed.  We can shape a positive future if we stay focused on the right things.   

So do not fear, for I am with you;
   do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
   I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

New International Version (NIV)

Related articles

• Day 35, A Prayer For The Day... February 4, 2012 (businessdevelopmentnow.wordpress.com)
• The New Thing (sabinspirations.wordpress.com)
• The Kingdon of Christ (brakeman1.wordpress.com)
• 25 Inspirational Bible Verses (christianpf.com)
• Depression, sadness, do we condemn, or love them through it? WWJD? (pastormikesays.wordpress.com)
• What Cancer Cannot Do (lbtk.wordpress.com)
• The Lord's plans stand firm forever; his intentions can never be shaken (sharinhislove.wordpress.com)

The House of the Lord

Image via Wikipedia

I was glad when they said unto me, Let us go into the house of the LORD.

Psalm 122:1

King James Version (KJV)

        There's a wall hanging that I pass every day that has this Bible verse.  It hangs on the wall of the stairway in our home, almost directly across from my writing office.  If I looked, it would be one of the first things I would see as I exit my office.  

         For some reason this hanging particularly caught my eye the other day.  I'm not sure why I stopped to looked at it and ponder the words.  I suppose partly it was because the quote was from Psalms and Psalms has been the focus of this blog.  That's why I chose psalmsunday as the web address for this blog.

         The thing that came to my mind was that I appreciate my home.  I thank God for this place that he has given me, this shelter and refuge.  My wife and I have a peaceful, protective home and I thank God for that.

         We often think of the building that we call church as God's house.  I once saw a former church that had become a restaurant.  On one occasion I attended a musical production at a theater that had formerly been a church.  Does God's house ever stop being God's house?

           My wife and I attend church regularly, but I am not always glad.  Sometimes there are other things that I'd rather be doing.  But what if I were no longer permitted to attend my church for health reasons or even political oppression.  I would not be happy about that and I hope this would never happen.

          I am happy in our home and thank God that we have this wonderful place to live.  We have been blessed.  God is always welcome in our home and I want to think of this as God's house just as much as I do our church.

          Then again, they are only buildings.

Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own...

1 Corinthians 6:19

New International Version (NIV)

           

      

           

Related articles

• Be Planted (victorychurch2943.wordpress.com)
• Why Go To Church (victorychurch2943.wordpress.com)
• Except the Lord Build The House... (setwatchman.com)
• The Central Thought of Psalms in Four Words (lifeandbuilding.com)
• "Serve the Lord with gladness." - Psalm 100:2 (trinitytuscaloosa.wordpress.com)
• Please Listen to Me Lord (psalmsunday.blogspot.com)

Who Do You Trust?

Image via Wikipedia

Some trust in chariots and some in horses, 
   but we trust in the name of the LORD our God.

Psalm 20:7

New International Version (NIV)

        There are probably not many who have much reliance on horses and chariots in our modern age.  But think of the things we do rely on.   

• What would you do without electricity?
• Do you feel a bit stranded when your car breaks down?
• Would you be inconvenienced if the grocery store shelves were empty?
• Can you do without television, radio, newspapers, and all other sources of news?
• Isn't it kind of a problem when the internet goes down?

     

           We live in a time when we take so much for granted, but any of this could be gone in a moment.  What a struggle many of us would have if we were deprived of the conveniences that make our lives so simple.

          We trust in the infrastructure of our society.   We trust in friends and family.  Many of us rely on ourselves and have trust that we can make it no matter what.   Then when failure comes we are dismayed and sometimes broken.  People and things of this world are not perfect and are subject to failure.  

          Where do you put your ultimate trust?

Related articles

• We Trust In The Name Of Our God (pureglory.net)
• Seeing the Hand of God in It (trinityspeaks.wordpress.com)
• The Kingdon of Christ (brakeman1.wordpress.com)
• Inside Out (fullofhisgrace.wordpress.com)

Dreams

Image via Wikipedia

I will bless the LORD who has counseled me; 
Indeed, my mind instructs me in the night.

Psalm 16:7

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

        God's voice is heard in many ways.  We must carefully watch and listen for what God is telling us.  

        Sometimes we draw conclusions from within, based on our own desires or what others tell us.  Always ask yourself first, "Is this God speaking to me?" And if it is God, then be sure that you are interpreting God's will and not your own.   

          There are numerous accounts in the Bible of people who were given dream messages.  Joseph's gift of dream interpretation incurred that wrath of his jealous brothers, but later endeared him to the ruler of Egypt.  The ability to understand God's dream messages placed Joseph in a position to help the family that had scorned him.

           Daniel likewise was able to tell King Nebuchadnezzar the meanings of this ruler's troubling dreams.  His God-given ability to decipher dream symbolism put Daniel in a place of importance in a kingdom where his people were enslaved.

           Not all dreams may be messages from God, but many may.  Through prayer and familiarity with God's word we can have a better understanding of what God might be telling us in dreams.   We can have a greater control over ourselves whether awake or sleeping if we practice what is instructed in Philippians 4:8:

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

         These are words to live--or to sleep by. 

Related articles

• Who originated the phrase I have dreamed a dream and now the dream is gone (wiki.answers.com)
• Daniel (pttyann.wordpress.com)
• Thinking Right Thoughts About God (gospeldrivendisciples.blogspot.com)
• On Point With God (gospeldrivendisciples.blogspot.com)
• Before that fall...... there it is Pride! (relyingdailyonjesus.com)

Open 24 Hours

Image by Getty Images via @daylife

The day is Yours, the night also is Yours;
         You have prepared the light and the sun.

Psalm 74:16

New King James Version (NKJV)

         Whether we are awake or asleep God is open for business.   


         God is like the 24 hour market that conveniently provides your needs whenever you need them.


         God is the fuel stop that never closes allowing you to reinvigorate yourself when you need a boost in life.


         God is like the emergency clinic where doctors are always available to tend to the sick and broken.


          God is the church that never closes its doors and is ready to accommodate prayer and worship at any time of day.


          God is open for business 24 hours a day.  The door is always open and the light is always on.

Related articles

• Show Me the Way, Lord (psalmsunday.blogspot.com)

Future Is Now

Image via Wikipedia

Restore us, O God;
         Cause Your face to shine, 
         And we shall be saved! 

Psalm 80:3

New King James Version (NKJV)

        Old year gone, new year here--

         Let God's love shine down on you.

         Don't be overcome by fear

         Or doubt--your soul's renewed.

         Lift up your hearts.  Rejoice His love.

         Angels sweep down from above

          To sing the glory of the Lord.

          Sing ye too and be restored.

                                        arlee bird

         

Related articles

• God Is For Me (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
• Does God Have The Answer To All Of My Questions? (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
• Why God Answered David's Prayer! (pttyann2.wordpress.com)
• God Will Come For You (gospelbondservant.com)
• "The Ultimate Giver of Love" (pjsprayerline.blogspot.com)
• His Mercy Endures Forever (19ya71.wordpress.com)