I created a short slide show of the artwork from my last series: 150 Psalms, 150 Days. The video boils it down to 90 seconds. The actual writing, artwork and posting was closer to 6750 minutes over the last 150 days. Yet, a mere blink in eternity.
A big Thank-You for following me and exploring the Bible together.
Happy New Year!!
I created a short slide show of the artwork from my last series: 150 Psalms, 150 Days. The video boils it down to 90 seconds. The actual writing, artwork and posting was closer to 6750 minutes over the last 150 days. Yet, a mere blink in eternity.
A big Thank-You for following me and exploring the Bible together.
Happy New Year!!
Today is day 150 and the final psalm. I give a nod-back to August 3rd, the day I began this journey. I was pretty sure I could do it, but also knew there were many projects and life events on my road – to the end of the year – that could derail my efforts for a day or two. So, I packed some grace and marched on and here I am. I was able to post each day ad I thoroughly enjoyed spending a day in a new psalm for 150 days.
One of my spiritual gifts is encouragement and there is an abundance of encouragement in the psalms. My biggest challenges came on the days when the psalm had an abundance of smack-talk against the enemies of their time. I had to look deeper to find the encouragment to share. But, on those days, in my mind’s eye, I could see all my sons, brothers, nephews, grandsons and my dad’s and husband’s chests puff , out. Imaging what God could do to their enemies would pump them up, like the ultimate action film.
Psalms 150 is a wonderful psalm for an encourager to end this journey on. This psalm is packed with reasons to praise God and creative ways to praise Him. My church encourages all kinds of worship and I have been fortunate to be in the presence of many worshippers who worship freely and show you new ways to sing a song to the Lord.
Have you tried any of the suggestions in psalm 150?
Praise him with a blast of the ram’s horn
Praise him with a lyre and harp
Praise him with a tambourine and dancing
Praise him with strings and flutes
Praise him with a crash of cymbals
Praise him with a loud clanging cymbals
Psalms 150:3-5
Other ideas: Praise him waving banners, flags or pompoms. Praise him with arms raised high.
Whatever love that comes from your heart to God’s ears is praise to him. Let your heart speak in the New Year.
I’ll start writing again in a month or two. I’m waiting for my next assignment. Until then, I pray that your intimacy with Jesus will grow by leaps and bounds in 2023. (Hey, you could praise God with a leap, if you are able! Or if you’re more like me, maybe a bow will do.)
Today’s photo is one of my own. Our godson, Kahlan, was waving a flag during worship and it looked like it started on fire. So cool to imagine the Kingdom of God breaking through on this photo.
See you in 2023.
Psalm 149 was written after Judah and Israel return from captivity and have worked together to rebuild the temple. As they are dedicating the temple, several psalms were written. In this psalm, the psalmist speaks of God’s great love and provision for his people. He also instructs God’s people to always be ready and willing to praise God and to defend themselves against their enemies.
Praise God with songs on your lips and a sword in your hand. Psalm 149:6
As we walk out our salvation, (our freedom from captivity) we too, are called to do both. We will desire to praise God and we have to learn how to carry a sword in our hands. The Sword, as described in the New Testament, is the word of God. The word is our weapon to study and apply. It helps us to discern good from evil, truth from deciet. We can use it to combat spiritual warfare in our surroundings. We can also use it to keep ourselves pure and to fight back the temptation and lies of the enemy within us.
For the word of God is living and active and full of power [making it operative, energizing, and effective]. It is sharper than any two-edged sword, penetrating as far as the division of the soul and spirit [the completeness of a person], and of both joints and marrow [the deepest parts of our nature], exposing and judging the very thoughts and intentions of the heart. Hebrews 4:12
As the New Year approaches and you make resolutions and plans for the new year, have you thought of adding: Learn to carry and use my Sword? Holy Spirit is ready to help you read the bible and learn how to apply it to your life. So is your Church. If you don’t have a Church, try some out. Learn to be the warrior God created you to be.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 150.
Psalm 148 is a call to all creation to celebrate God, the Creator. All of the heavens, the angels, stars and planets, all creatures and fish in the sea, all people, royal, ordinary, young and old. Remember your Creator and praise his holy name.
This is a preview of the end of our time. When Jesus returns and sets it all back to right. We will all sing praises to his holy name and know our creator, together.
Amen.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 149.
Psalm 147 celebrates the LORD’s dynamic qualities and the one thing he looks for and admires in us. The psalmist highlights the LORD as the Creator, and as our provider and protector. He is our answer for everything.
What does the LORD admire about us?
The LORD doesn’t care about the strength of horses or powerful armies. The LORD is pleased only with those who worship him and trust his love.Psalm 147:10-11
It means everything to God when you worship him and when you trust his love. How can you do this today? Can you trust him with the problem that wakes you up at night? Try it. He will help you.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 148.
The safest place to put our trust is in the LORD. This psalm reminds us how he cares for us and handles justice. We will never go wrong when we trust the LORD, first and foremost. We can trust him with our care, with our loved ones, with the plans for our lives and to always be there for us.
Don’t put your trust in human leaders; no human being can save you. When they die, they return to the dust; on that day all their plans come to an end. Psalm 146:3-4
We trust you LORD with our salvation and with our daily care. You will always be faithful to your word.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 147.
This beautiful psalm was written at the end of David’s life. He is praising the LORD and telling us about the LORD’s character. This is a good psalm to read throughout the year to remind yourself who God is. I especially love verses 8-9:
The LORD is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. The LORD is good to everyone. He showers compassion on all his creation.
The passion translations says. You’re kind and tenderhearted to those who don’t deserve it and very patient with people who fail you. Your love is like a flooding river overflowing its banks with kindness.
The phrase: “…and very patient with people who fail you.” Gave me a lot of food for thought. I am so grateful for God’s patience with me. Especially when I was rejecting Him and failing miserably. It also makes me think of my level of patience with those who fail me and I am challenged to change the way I pray for them. Jesus is being patient with them. My prayers will be less about “fixing” someone and more about “fixing” my heart towards them and being thankful for this gift he gives to me as well.
Thank you Jesus for being patient with me.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 146.
In Psalm 144, David is praying for Israel and asking God for bountiful provisions. He is also questioning what this life is about and why God would care so much for us. We are a wisp and God is eternal. He knows God could come down to us at anything and take charge in a magnificent and powerful way. Instead, God works with us, fighting for us. For our physical selves and our spiritual selves. It is too big for any of us to truly understand.
The psalm starts out with David thanking God for teaching him how to fight his battles. This verse made me think of how Jesus taught us to fight our battles. To love our enemies, to turn the other cheek, to not fight evil with evil, but to fight evil with good. It takes concentration, prayer and self control to fight this way and the victory won will belong to God.
Romans 12:14-18. Ask God to bless everyone who mistreats you. Ask him to bless them and not to curse them. When others are happy, be happy with them, and when they are sad, be sad. Be friendly with everyone. Don’t be proud and feel that you know more than others. Make friends with ordinary people. Don’t mistreat someone who has mistreated you. But try to earn the respect of others, and do your best to live at peace with everyone.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 145.
Crossroad decisions are often hard. Whether you have to pick between two good choices, two difficult choices or one or more of each. How do you know which way the LLORD wants you to go? It’s not always easy to discern. When I pray for direction, sometimes I know right away. Sometimes I have to wait. Waiting is the most difficult, especially if the answer is to stop and wait for a new option to emerge.
In management practice this is called “dealing with ambiguity”. Can you leave your options open long enough to feel confident in your decision? If you decide just to decide to end the stress of waiting, you’ve likely made the wrong decision.
Thankfully, as Christians, we have Holy Spirit with us to guide us. My challenge is often waiting long enough to be sure I heard His voice over the increasing volume of my desires.
Thank you Jesus for walking alongside us to help us. Help us hear you.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 144.
Psalm 142 was written during the season David was hiding from Saul in caves. He is pleading for God’s mercy and help, learning to trust him.
I think many of us can relate to David’s words. It’s late at night, he’s being pursued and he has some quiet moments to think about what might happen. If you’re like me, some of the worse things you’ve imagined might happen, never actually happened. Another way to say this is: some of the worse things in my life, never actually happened.
Instead of imagining the worse, we can talk to Jesus. We can tell him all our thoughts, troubles and worries. Then we can hand them over and ask for help. He will be faithful to help us.
I pray to you, LORD. I beg for mercy. I tell you all my worries and my troubles, and whenever I feel low, you are there to guide me. Psalm 142:1-3
See you tomorrow for Psalm 143.
Psalm 141 is a prayer for protection and inner cleansing. David is concerned about becoming like those around him. He does not want to fall into a sinful lifestyle. In verse 5, David humbly welcomes the rebuke of a righteous man. He opens himself up for this type of correction and considers it to be an act of loving devotion. A safety net to keep himself from getting caught in a snare of deception.
It’s good practice to have a few people in your life that you trust and with whom you can be transparent. Maybe this person is an accountability partner, a close friend, a spouse or a mentor. Someone whose feedback you treasure, even if it occasionally stings. I have had a range of experiences with this practice, some excellent, some awkward and some negative. A golden piece of advice one of my mentors gave me was: “share your truth, but only share it with people who have earned the right to hear it”. Be prayerful and careful.
My truest mentor is Jesus. He can hear all my truth and is not shy about correcting me. He corrects with love and with clear direction. He doesn’t shame us or gossip about us.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 142.
Psalm 140 is a prayer for protection. David is praying for protection with confidence that the LORD will protect him. David’s trials testify of God’s faithful protection.
Our enemy sets traps before us, whether we recognize them or not. We can suit up every day for this battle by putting on the armor of God.
Be ready! Let the truth be like a belt around your waist, and let God’s justice protect you like armor. Your desire to tell the good news about peace should be like shoes on your feet. Let your faith be like a shield, and you will be able to stop all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Let God’s saving power be like a helmet, and for a sword use God’s message that comes from the Spirit. (Ephesians 6:14-17. CEV)
Suit up and I’ll see you tomorrow for Psalm 141.
I am torn between saying very little about this psalm or writing a book about it. Psalm 139 speaks of God’s enduring presence with us and of his intimate knowledge of us. In ministry I find myself quoting this scripture often. In times of joy, struggle, curiosity, insecurity, happiness, frustration, hopelessness, or victory, you will be blessed by this psalm.
God knows everything about you and he loves you. He will never leave you. Your true identiy can be found only in Him.
I love everything about this psalm. The End. 🙂
Psalm 138 is a psalm of David, written near the end of his life. He praises God for God’s faithfulness and for being true to his word. David knows that it was God who helped him when he needed Him the most.
Verse 8 can be used as a prayer, over ourselves and our loved ones, to place our trust in God’s faithful hands. I pray it over my family this morning.
Lord, i know you will work out your plans for our lives, individually. Your lovingkindness, O Lord, endures forever. I know you will never abandon us. Thank you for the personal loving care you give to each of us. I trust you with myself and my family. May your good and perfect will be done in our lives.
Amen.
See you tomorrow for psalm 139.
How can we sing the songs of the LORD while in a foreign land? Psalm 137:4
Psalm 137 was written during the time Judah was held captive in Babylon. The psalmist longs for Jerusalem and looks forward to the punishment God will release on Babylon. Their captors request them to sing their joyful psalms about Jerusalem and the psalmist is clear that their hearts are not open to singing their songs in their current setting.
Sometimes as believers we find ourselves in settings that are not conducive to Jesus. Maybe we are at a neighborhood gathering, a work setting, a sports event, a shopping center. While worship may not be forbidden, it is unwelcome. Our pastor encourages us to bring our Sundays into our Mondays. To have hard feet and soft hearts. We can worship the LORD by refusing to go-along with the crowd or by diffusing anger with love. We can refrain ourselves and let others go first. To act in love is a subtle but powerful form of worship.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 138.
Psalm 136 is written in a responsive format. The psalmist declares a positive act of God and the audience responds with a statement that repeats throughout the psalm. The response is a version of “God’s faithful love endures forever”. I was curious how this response was translated by different versions. I found several variations and enjoyed thinking each of these through.
I made a word salad with all these words. My conclusion is that God’s love is hard to describe.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 137.
Psalm 135 is a historical psalm, reaching back to the time Israel was held captive in Egypt. The psalmist outlines many of the mighty miracles the LORD performed against the powerful nations that were a threat to Israel. He makes a confident statement regarding the LORD’s sovereignty.
I know that our LORD is great, greater than all the gods. Psalm 135:5
To know the LORD is to experience his mighty power. I love all His signs, miracles and wonders. One of my favorites is to witness the transformation a new believer goes thorugh. The way Jesus transforms their heart and their life – from anguish and emptiness to living with hope and peace. The consistency of which, only God could do.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 136.
This short psalm encourages us to praise the LORD with our arms raised. There is something very freeing about worshipping the LORD all out with arms raised and heart open. Not all churches worship in this way, so it can make some people uncomfortable. The comedian, Tim Hawkins, has a funny skit about how to start worshipping the LORD with arms raised. My sides literally hurt from laughing after attending one of his shows.
All kidding aside, are you willing to surrender to the LORD and lift your arms in praise? If you haven’t tried this in a church setting, try it at home. Abandon yourself for the LORD. You may experience a new level of blessing.
May the LORD who made heaven and earth bless you from Zion. Psalm 134:3
See you tomorrow for Psalm 135.
How wonderful and pleasant it is when brothers live together in harmony! Psalm 133:1.
The first verse of this psalm gave my mother’s heart a pleasant sigh. I took some time to remember my boys as they grew up. All the tussles, all the broken things in my house, all the tears and all the “smack talk” words. Then I remembered all the peaceful and kind times that nestled into the spaces between. Like mortar, those moments built the strong bond that keeps them together today.
Other versions replace “brothers” with “God’s people”. The psalmist describes God’s reaction to His people living in harmony as precious as anointing oil and refreshing as dew that runs down mount Zion. When we live in harmony, His love builds strength in us. A confident strength in His gift to us: life everlasting.
Amen.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 134.
Trust God’s promises.
There is some debate on the author of this psalm. I think it was Solomon because it speaks of his father David and the promise that God made to him.
The LORD swore an oath to DAvid with a promise he will never take back. “I will place one of your descendants on your throne.” Psalm 132:11
The final fulfillment of this promise began in Bethlehem, when Jesus was born. A timely memory for all of us in this advent season.
Psalm 132 celebrates God as a promis-keeper. God kept his promise to David and he will keep his promises to us. Jesus will return again one day.
Thank you Father for your promises and for being faithful to us. We look forward to celebrating the birth of Jesus in just a few weeks.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 133.
This short psalm is a powerful example of humility and surrender. David wrote this near the end of his life. He gives us words to consider as we come near the end of our fighting season. I’ve heard people say, “I’m all done trying to be God”, or “I let go and let God”, as they approach the end of their fight.
We weren’t made to know everything, but we were made to seek for love. The truest love we can find is the love that God offers to us. To love us in an unfailing way. There are many promises in the bible of the way God will care for you when you surrender to him. It’s a hard step for most of us and the most powerful thing you can do for yourself. Surrender to God, accept his son Jesus as your savior. Surrender your will to God’s will. An amazing transformation will begin on that day and end on your first day in heaven.
We can’t God, but you can, please do.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 132.
A song for pilgrims ascending to Jerusalem.
I have a note in my prayer journal that says “you don’t know what you’ll miss without a pioneering spirit”. The note is from a sermon that I heard years ago. The last section of my journal is for taking notes after I spend time listening. To have a pioneering spirit is to desire to know what Jesus is creating around us and to join in. Psalm 130 and the photo I found to illustrate it, reminds me to continue this quest.
One of the prayers I say to prepare my heart to listen is: “Jesus, I want to dream with you. What are you creating around me and how can I join in?” Then I listen as long as I can stay still – usually 15-20 minutes. If I hear something I write it down and continue to pray over it until I can discern what it means. If I don’t hear anything, I simply ask Jesus to interrupt me anytime of the day or night.
I wait (patiently) for the LORD, my soul (expectantly) waits, and in His word do I hope. Psalm 130:5
In late July, I felt a nudge by Holy Spirit to blog a psalm a day for the last 150 days of the year. I knew it was the Lord because i would not have come up with that on my own. I am already at 130 days of this journey. It’s been a great blessing to me in several ways. God’s unfailing love and His lovingkindness have transformed from phrases to a deep truth in my heart.
Also, I have met some other pilgrims along the way that are faithful to share God’s word on social media. One of them received the same nudge in August and has been blogging through the psalms backwards. We met on the day we both posted psalm 75 – our half-way point. It’s doubled my blessing to read her thoughts on each psalm as I go forward and she goes backwards. God is so amazing.
I am trying to stay in the present journey before seeking a new one. There are 20 psalms to study until the years end. Thank you for coming along with me.
See you tomorrow for psalm 131.
When we talk about our lives, we may talk about what we have achieved. We may talk about what we have survived. We may talk about both.
Psalm 129 looks to the future with hope, based on the evidence of what Israel, as a nation, has survived. Although they faced many trials, the LORD saved them and they know the LORD will save them again.
As a believer, my hope is also based on what Jesus has done. Jesus saved me, he healed me, he broke the chains that oppressed me, he gave me a new perspective and a longer runway. I know he will always be with me, whatever comes, and he will help me.
But the LORD is good, he has cut me free from the ropes of the ungodly. Psalm 129:4
See you tomorrow for Psalm 130.
Whenever there is a “rule” to follow, some of us want to test it, ignore it or rewrite it. It’s a common struggle in families to get kids to follow the rules you set for them. Just yesterday, I asked my 3 year-old grandson to pick something up. He stared at me and said “no” and didn’t move. I stared back, surprised. Turns out neither of us picked it up.
When God asks us to obey His word, he’s not asking us to do something painful or dishonorable. God’s instructions to us are made with our best interests in mind. God knows that if we follow his commands we will live our best lives, as well as, bring Him glory. The psalmist describes our benefits to be: God will bless us, our work will be productive, we will be happy, things will go well for us and for our families.
To say no to ourselves and yes to God will provide more than we need. To say yes to ourselves and no to God, will provide a chaotic life of ups and downs.
Thank you Father God for your helpful instructions and wise words to follow. We would be utterly lost without you.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 129.
Psalm 127 reminds us to invite Jesus into everything we do. Jesus will help us raise our families, build our homes, guard our souls. Whatever we do under our own will, excluding Jesus, is a waste of our time. Our efforts will eventually fail, but when our efforts are lead by Jesus, they will result in more that we imagined.
Start your next project with prayer, then wait for the Holy Spirit’s guidance. You will succeed in ways you cannot see right now. As hard as waiting can be, re-building can be even harder.
Unless the LORD builds the house, the builders labor in vain. Unless the LORD watches over the city, the guards stand watch in vain. Psalm 127:1
See you tomorrow for Psalm 128.
Psalm 126 has been in my heart for some time. I have returned to this psalm several times in my life when I am either in a season to plant or a season of harvest.
In seasons of planting, I have moved in faith without a glimpse of the horizon. I did what I knew was best, knowing the LORD would hear my prayers. When a long awaited prayer is answered, it can be humbling. In my experience, the LORD’s work is often far greater than what I imagined. I had tears of pain in the planting and tears of joy in the harvest. To know the LORD’s beautiful work, I’ve had to take courage and walk some long dusty trails.
Thank you LORD for hearing our prayers and for the comprehensive ways you answer us. Your work is far better than our own.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 127.
The psalmist of Psalm 125 is declaring that those who confidently rely on the LORD will be as steadfast as a mountain. Their confident trust in the LORD will hold them steady as the world swirls around them. The psalmist like us, desires justice and predictability.
In verse 4, he says: “Let’s ask the LORD to be kind to everyone who is good and completely obeys him.” He asks for the opposite fate for those who do evil in God’s sight.
We may not see the justice that the LORD brings in another person’s life, but we will see it’s conclusion in our own and ultimately in the world’s. While we wait, we pray, and we ask for His will to prevail as we do our very best to obey His Word.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 126,
Psalm 124 reminds Israel not to forget who rescued them. If it hadn’t been for God, their enemies would have destroyed them and the waters would have raged over them. But God, in His lovingkindness saved them with a series of incredible miracles.
Our souls have escaped like a bird from the trapper’s snare; the snare is broken and we have escaped. Psalm 124:7
This psalm remembers what God has done for Israel up to the date it was written. God has done so much more. Everything He has done is to be cherished. When I read verse 7, I think of Jesus. God’s most miraculous intervention for all of us. Where would you be if Jesus had not intervened in your life-story and rescued you? Sometimes, when the world gets loud and situations get difficult for us, we forget: we are free. God has saved us and nothing can change that.
If the Son gives you freedom, you are free! John 8:36
You are free.
See you tomorrow for psalm 125.
When I started to lose my vision, I was compelled to read every bible verse that had “eyes” or “look” in it. In my concordance there were 34 verses. I wrote them out long hand in hopes I would remember them. I became very fond of the verses that mentioned turning our eyes to the Lord. To catch a glimpse of what God was doing. To signal humility as we “look up” at the LORD who is greater than us.
Recently someone asked me if my other senses have increased as my vision decreased. I had to really think about that. I do feel like I can sense the LORD more in my heart, and my hearing is more sensitive. I pay attention whenever I hear someone in public say his name. My perception has improved, I am able to “catch on” to what’s happening around me faster. Is it because my vision has decreased or is it because I sought the LORD with earnest during this season of my life? Maybe the answer is “yes” to both. I’m still mulling it over. I can testify that you can see the LORD even with low vision.
LORD, I look up to you, up to heaven, where you rule. Psalm 123:1
I look to the LORD for mercy, understanding, acceptance, and to sense what He is doing so that I can join in.
Lord, give us eyes to see you and a heart to follow you.
See you tomorrow for Psalm 124.
Daily Bite 