Psalm 138:8

"The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;

your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.

do not forsake the work of your hands."

I love the thought that God has a purpose for me, and that He will fulfill it. What love!!

May we be sensitive to God's leading, to the purpose he has for us, and may we submit to that purpose. May we wait patiently as God reveals this purpose to us, and may we always remember that His love endures forever. Amen!

Psalm 137:4... for yesterday

"How shall we sing the Lord's song in a foreign land?"

This psalm is a little strange, and ends on a really terrible note, but I was really struck by this verse. We are in a foreign land, and it does seem impossible to "sing the Lord's song". I am often struck by the differences between my beliefs and the world's... they are so different than me, they have such different standards. Also, Christianity, belief in God, is so often portrayed in such a negative light. This seems impossible... impossible seems to be the answer to this question.

I want to spend more time, effort, and prayer considering this very question... because there is an answer. There is a way to sing the Lord's song in this foreign land. God is an all-powerful God and will answer this question... He will one day sing his song, and all the world will know that He is Lord!!!

Psalm 136:26

for today...

"Give thanks to the God of Heaven,

for His steadfast love endures forever."

Beautiful, beautiful, beautiful.

Read this Psalm out loud, and give thanks.

Insert your own history of God's love for you, shown in your triumphs and tragedies.

God is a good God and all that he does is out of love for His people. This is the rock we can rely on and the hope that motivates us to pray and worship and live.

Psalm 135:5

For yesterday...

"For I know that the Lord is great,

and that our Lord is above all gods"

The Psalmist talks about God's great power, what He has done, and the weakness of gods made by men.

I want to be aware of any gods that have crept into my life, things that I am tempted to rely on or worship. I want to only rely on and worship our great Lord!!!

Psalm 134:1-3

Come, bless the Lord, all you servants of the Lord,

who stand by night in the house of the Lord!

Lift up your hands to the holy place and bless the Lord!

May the Lord bless you from Zion,

he who made heaven and earth!

Psalm 133:1

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is when brothers dwell in unity!"

I trust that all of us have experienced the joy of being together as a family. Whether it is your biological family or family of friends... the sweet fellowship of loved ones is truly good and pleasant. I am so thankful that God is a relational God who cares about... and blesses us with... family.

Thank God for your family, or "family", today.

Psalm 132:11

"The Lord swore to David a sure oath from which he will not turn back"

I am so thankful that we serve a promise keeping God. God's word is true and his promises never fail. This is what my hope is in.

Psalm 131:2

"But I have calmed and quieted my soul,

like a weaned child with its mother;

like a weaned child is my soul within me."

This verse paints a beautiful, tangible picture. This is how God wants me to live, how he wants me to hope in him.

Calm and quiet your soul today.

Psalm 130:5

"I wait for the Lord, my soul waits and in his word I hope"

I love that we can hope in God's word, that it is true. Our hope is based on truth. That is what I love about studying God's word. As my understanding of His word increases, so does my awe and amazement and confidence in God's Sovereignty and in His plan. He truly is working out His plan for His glory and for my.. for our... good.

This verse also reminds me of the value in waiting. There is growth and much to be learned by waiting for the Lord.

Speaking of Psalms...

Here is Jennifer Knapp's take on Psalm 27. It is truly beautiful... I highly recommend purchasing this song!!!!

He is my Light and my Salvation
whom have i to fear
in His secret place i'll hide and pray
that i might hear a simple word

oh, how I would have despaired
if You had not come found me there
i can lean against Your throne and find my peace
find my peace

and when my enemies draw near
i pray that they will find
that i'm protected and secure
all tempests He will bind with a mighty word

oh, how I would have despaired
if You had not come found me there
i can lean against Your throne and find my peace
find my peace

He is my Light and my Salvation whom have i to fear?

Psalm 129: 2b

"...yet they have not prevailed against me."

What a comfort that, though our enemies rise up against us, they will not prevail. We know the End, with a capital "E".

I am studying Romans 11 right now, and I was meditating on how Paul talks about the beginning, middle, and end of God's plan for Israel. The entire Bible points to the "End"... yes, there are applications for temporary "ends" along the way... but the final ultimate "End" is what counts. No matter how terrible and hard life seems... there is always an end... and ultimately... an End. They... all the wickedness and evil that we see... will one day END with Our Great and Sovereign Lord's Victory!!! What hope that gives me!!!

I can't resist adding a few verses from Romans...

Romans 5:3-5 More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance... character... hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

Romans 8:18, 24a For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing to the glory that is to be revealed to us... For in the hope we were saved.

Romans 11:33, 36 Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and how inscrutable his ways!... For from him and through him and to him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen.

Amen!!

Psalm 128:1-2

Blessed is everyone who fears the Lord, who walks in his ways!

this is what God wants for us... to experience the blessing that comes from walking in His ways...

You shall eat of the fruit of the labor of your hands;

Life is hard work... and God wants me to enjoy the fruit of that hard work. So often I finish one task and am on to the next, without enjoying the "fruit"...

you shall be blessed, and it shall be well with you.

I am so glad that I serve a God that desires me to live a life that is blessed. This blessing is a result of work and labor... this hope encourages me as I struggle to walk in the spirit and refuse to listen to the temptations of losing my temper, being lazy, or getting discouraged when I see so much left undone.

I pray that I will turn my gaze on the Lord, receive his blessing, labor, fear Him, and walk in His ways.

The Plan: A Pslam a Day until 20 Jan 2011

I have been inspired by the movie Julia and Julie... or is it Julie and Julia?? I can't remember. What I do remember is the inspiration to commit to a daily task, for an entire year. I am great at starting things... not so great at finishing. So, this is the plan. To read a Psalm a day, to meditate on this psalm, and to share with you how God used that psalm to encourage me this day.

Perhaps, I will also include photographs and stories of my story... but I can't commit to that right now. That is just a teaser to encourage you to continue reading.

so... I have been reading the occasional psalm... and I am actually on Psalm 127, so that is where I begin today, this 20th day of January, in the year 2010. May you also be blessed by my little "experiment" in the effect of instituting a little discipline and accountability into my life. Who knows where I will be in 2011!!!

Psalm 127: wow!! what a great Psalm to start off with!!! I could list the entire psalm, but I will write what verse pierced me to the heart... God's Spirit lovingly convicting me and speaking truth in the place I most needed to hear it... God's timing is amazing!!

verse 2: "It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep."

Lord, may I accept and appreciate and use your precious gift of sleep!!!