Psalm 69:29-36 But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high!

Psalm 69:29-36
But I am afflicted and in pain; let your salvation, O God, set me on high! I will praise the name of God with a song; I will magnify him with thanksgiving. This will please the LORD more than an ox or a bull with horns and hoofs. When the humble see it they will be glad; you who seek God, let your hearts revive. For the LORD hears the needy and does not despise his own people who are prisoners. Let heaven and earth praise him, the seas and everything that moves in them. For God will save Zion and build up the cities of Judah, and people shall dwell there and possess it; the offspring of his servants shall inherit it, and those who love his name shall dwell in it.

Praise You, my Lord and my Master, for You are at my side through all trials and tribulations. I can come to You with thanksgiving and praise to make my prayers know to you and You will not only provide the guidance needed, but You will fill my heart and mind with Your peace.

Psalm 69:22-28 Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap.

Psalm 69:22-28
Let their own table before them become a snare; and when they are at peace, let it become a trap. Let their eyes be darkened, so that they cannot see, and make their loins tremble continually. Pour out your indignation upon them, and let your burning anger overtake them. May their camp be a desolation; let no one dwell in their tents. For they persecute him whom you have struck down, and they recount the pain of those you have wounded. Add to them punishment upon punishment; may they have no acquittal from you. Let them be blotted out of the book of the living; let them not be enrolled among the righteous.

Lord, I know that the Evil One sends many of his minions in a wide variety of forms. Sometimes a person, sometimes a tormenting spirit, sometimes a physical affliction, and sometimes a temptation to succumb to the wants and desires of the old man, but always something where You will stand between me and the temptation to yield to sin. Let Your praises ever be in my mouth and a two edged sword in my hand.

Lord's Day, 29 March 2009 Exodus 20:1-2, 14 And God spoke all these words, saying, "... You shall not commit adultery."

Lord's Day, 29 March 2009
Exodus 20:1-2, 14
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... You shall not commit adultery.

Adultery, now that's harsh, You know, Lord, that I wouldn't do that or fornication, what an ugly word. Well, maybe a little innocent flirting or some minor passing peccadillo. That's doesn't sound so bad, does it and everybody does it, right? You can't mean that I have to avert my eyes and my mind at every passing temptation? You cannot mean that I am to be faithful to my wife in thought as well as deed? And faithful to my family? And to my church? And to my friends and business relationships? And to all my promises and commitments? A good thing that You have sent the Comforter to guide and teach me.

Psalm 119:74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

Psalm 119:74 Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice, because I have hoped in your word.

Lord, how the Body rejoices as we welcome one more member into the fold. One more soul snatched from Satan's grasp by Your grace and mercy. And how we rejoice as we find that member seeking Your face, delving into Your Word, striving to walk in Your way.

Praise You, my Lord.

Psalm 69:19-21 You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you.

Psalm 69:19-21
You know my reproach, and my shame and my dishonor; my foes are all known to you. Reproaches have broken my heart, so that I am in despair. I looked for pity, but there was none, and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me poison for food, and for my thirst they gave me sour wine to drink.

I know, Lord, that my disobedience, my self-will, my greed and lust, all those evidences of the continued activity of the old man in my life, must cause You great sorrow and pain. You paid the ultimate sacrifice; I have sworn allegiance to Your name, yet I deny You through actions and words. I repent, I am covered with shame by my disobedience to the One who loves me so much. Forgive, me, Lord, and transform me through the working of the Holy Spirit in my life. Help me, Lord Jesus.

Psalm 69:13-18 But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD.

Psalm 69:13-18
But as for me, my prayer is to you, O LORD. At an acceptable time, O God, in the abundance of your steadfast love answer me in your saving faithfulness. Deliver me from sinking in the mire; let me be delivered from my enemies and from the deep waters. Let not the flood sweep over me, or the deep swallow me up, or the pit close its mouth over me. Answer me, O LORD, for your steadfast love is good; according to your abundant mercy, turn to me. Hide not your face from your servant; for I am in distress; make haste to answer me. Draw near to my soul, redeem me; ransom me because of my enemies!

Lord, as I struggle with a trial or test, it often first becomes a lesson in patience. Will I wait for You to provide the answer, release me from my torment, heal the sickness, relieve the anxiety and remove the depression? Do I trust You, do I really, truly have the belief that You are true to Your promises? When will I learn to give thanks in all circumstances for this is God's will for me as I learn to lean on You for strength and guidance?

Psalm 69:7-12 For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face.

Psalm 69:7-12
For it is for your sake that I have borne reproach, that dishonor has covered my face. I have become a stranger to my brothers, an alien to my mother's sons. For zeal for your house has consumed me, and the reproaches of those who reproach you have fallen on me. When I wept and humbled my soul with fasting, it became my reproach. When I made sackcloth my clothing, I became a byword to them. I am the talk of those who sit in the gate, and the drunkards make songs about me.

You, in obedience to the Father's will, took my sin and brokenness upon your self and fully paid the penalty. I repent, Lord, I seek through the forgiveness that comes as a gift of grace by Your death and the instruction that comes through the teaching of the Holy Spirit, to become a new man, a man being transformed from glory to glory into Your image.

Psalm 69:6 Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts;

Psalm 69:6
Let not those who hope in you be put to shame through me, O Lord GOD of hosts; let not those who seek you be brought to dishonor through me, O God of Israel.

What could be worse than leading someone away from You? To be the instrument of the destruction of another's faithful walk? Lord, keep me from this evil. Keep my eyes on You and my pride in remission.

Psalms 69:1-7 Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck.

Psalms 69:1-7 To the choirmaster: according to Lilies. Of David.
Save me, O God! For the waters have come up to my neck. I sink in deep mire, where there is no foothold; I have come into deep waters, and the flood sweeps over me. I am weary with my crying out; my throat is parched. My eyes grow dim with waiting for my God. More in number than the hairs of my head are those who hate me without cause; mighty are those who would destroy me, those who attack me with lies. What I did not steal must I now restore? O God, you know my folly; the wrongs I have done are not hidden from you.

Lord, without You in my life, is a life of no hope, no joy, no peace, no restoration, a life of pain, addiction, anxiety, depression, loneliness, sorrow and rejection. With You, I have the peace and joy that comes from knowing that You took the penalty on the cross for my sin, fully paying the price God's justice demanded and have accepted me a co-laborer in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Exodus 20:1-2, 13 And God spoke all these words, saying, "...You shall not murder."

Exodus 20:1-2, 13
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... You shall not murder."

Lord Jesus, how well you knew that pitfalls of this commandment when you counseled me against hating my brother. You knew that anger and hatred in my heart led to spiritual murder, that I cannot truly love my brother when I am angry with him; that I have committed symbolic murder of our relationship and that in turn, sours my relationship with You. Lord, heal me of anger and hatred; fill me with Your compassion and love for those who offend me.

Psalm 119:70-71 Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word.

Psalm 119:70-71
Before I was afflicted I went astray, but now I keep your word. It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

I was lost, Lord, wandering far from You and You afflicted me with the consequences of my sin and convicted me of my need for You. You showed me the mountain that I could not climb and lifted me over it by Your grace and love. Now you lay out before me all the wonders and majesty of a life lived in concert with You. A great panorama lies before me, the grand sweep of the rich life in Your Kingdom; this limitless valley of righteousness, peace and joy in the Holy Spirit that is mine to dwell in for the rest of my days.

Praise You, my Lord, Master and Savior.

Psalm 68:32-35 O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens,

Psalm 68:32-35
O kingdoms of the earth, sing to God; sing praises to the Lord, Selah to him who rides in the heavens, the ancient heavens; behold, he sends out his voice, his mighty voice. Ascribe power to God, whose majesty is over Israel, and whose power is in the skies. Awesome is God from his sanctuary; the God of Israel--he is the one who gives power and strength to his people. Blessed be God!

To You, O LORD, is all glory and honor and power and dominion and majesty and exultation and goodness and righteousness and joy and peace and justice and mercy and light and love. In You dwells all that is Good and Right. You are blessed and do bless.

Psalm 68:21-31 But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways.

Psalm 68:21-31
But God will strike the heads of his enemies, the hairy crown of him who walks in his guilty ways. The Lord said, "I will bring them back from Bashan, I will bring them back from the depths of the sea, that you may strike your feet in their blood, that the tongues of your dogs may have their portion from the foe." Your procession is seen, O God, the procession of my God, my King, into the sanctuary--the singers in front, the musicians last, between them virgins playing tambourines: "Bless God in the great congregation, the LORD, O you who are of Israel's fountain!" There is Benjamin, the least of them, in the lead, the princes of Judah in their throng, the princes of Zebulun, the princes of Naphtali. Summon your power, O God, the power, O God, by which you have worked for us. Because of your temple at Jerusalem kings shall bear gifts to you. Rebuke the beasts that dwell among the reeds, the herd of bulls with the calves of the peoples. Trample underfoot those who lust after tribute; scatter the peoples who delight in war. Nobles shall come from Egypt; Cush shall hasten to stretch out her hands to God.

The Day of the Lord is coming; the Day when all Your enemies become Your footstool; the Day when all shall bow before You and all voices declare that Jesus Christ is Lord; the Day when Shalom is restored and your people are called to their place at Your right hand to rule and administer Your Kingdom in all its perfection.

Psalm 68:15-20 O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan!

Psalm 68:15-20
O mountain of God, mountain of Bashan; O many-peaked mountain, mountain of Bashan! Why do you look with hatred, O many-peaked mountain, at the mount that God desired for his abode, yes, where the LORD will dwell forever? The chariots of God are twice ten thousand, thousands upon thousands; the Lord is among them; Sinai is now in the sanctuary. You ascended on high, leading a host of captives in your train and receiving gifts among men, even among the rebellious, that the LORD God may dwell there. Blessed be the Lord, who daily bears us up; God is our salvation. Selah Our God is a God of salvation, and to GOD, the Lord, belong deliverances from death.

You, my God, are a God of vast richness, Your blessings pour out on Your people as an endless torrent of goodness and richness. It is indescribable in its variety, in its beauty, in its creativity, in its scope. It is healing and restoring, it is reconciling, it is uniting, it is joy and peace forevermore.

Psalm 68:4-14 Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him!

Psalm 68:4-14
Sing to God, sing praises to his name; lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts; his name is the LORD; exult before him! Father of the fatherless and protector of widows is God in his holy habitation. God settles the solitary in a home; he leads out the prisoners to prosperity, but the rebellious dwell in a parched land. O God, when you went out before your people, when you marched through the wilderness, Selah, the earth quaked, the heavens poured down rain, before God, the One of Sinai, before God, the God of Israel. Rain in abundance, O God, you shed abroad; you restored your inheritance as it languished; your flock found a dwelling in it; in your goodness, O God, you provided for the needy. The Lord gives the word; the women who announce the news are a great host: "The kings of the armies--they flee, they flee!" The women at home divide the spoil--though you men lie among the sheepfolds-- the wings of a dove covered with silver, its pinions with shimmering gold. When the Almighty scatters kings there, let snow fall on Zalmon.

LORD, You in Your wisdom and goodness, provided for the ultimate is cleansing and restoration. You, from before the Beginning, chose Your son as the necessary and sufficient sacrifice for all sin. You sent Him to live among us, to teach us Kingdom living, to make the final sacrifice that set us free and then sent the Comforter to live within us. The precious Comforter. who guides us into all truth, who sets us free and who reminds us of all that You said to us.

Psalm 68:1-3 God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered;

Psalm 68:1-3 To the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A Song.
God shall arise, his enemies shall be scattered; and those who hate him shall flee before him! As smoke is driven away, so you shall drive them away; as wax melts before fire, so the wicked shall perish before God! But the righteous shall be glad; they shall exult before God; they shall be jubilant with joy!

Lord, one of my big problems is remembering that You are in charge as the turmoil appears to be on the increase. There seems to be no slacking of the bad news, even a hint of good news is tainted by uncertainty. How can I keep my eyes on You when so much assaults my eyes and ears? The answer is to let Your praises fill my mouth and You will provide a two edged sword in my hands for protection. Let Your praises be so loud in my mouth my ears cannot hear the wails and laments of a dying world. Let my eyes be so filled with Your glory and blessings that I cannot see the sin and decay that are destroying the world around me.

Matthew 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Exodus 20:1-2, 12
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "Honor your father and your mother, that your days may be long in the land that the LORD your God is giving you."

Matthew 22:39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

Lord, You began my training at my mother's knee as she taught me by example and by instruction, what it meant to honor my parents and by extension, to love my neighbors. Your teaching methods are so practical, so gentle and kind, so effective, why do I forget to emulate You as I attempt to teach my children and grandchildren.

Psalm 119:64 The earth, O LORD, is full of Your steadfast love; teach me Your statutes!

Psalm 119:64
The earth, O LORD, is full of Your steadfast love; teach me Your statutes!

Lord, teach me to see the way Your creation reveals Your statutes. Open my eyes to the beauty, grace and perfect wholeness of the creation so that I may learn to see the inner workings of Your hands in creation and in direction of the universe; in all aspects, from quantum to cosmos, from microbe to macroeconomics; all responding and operating according to Your good and wholesome law.

It seems that man, in his unique role as the sole defier of Your word, is the one to attempt to operate according to his law and as a consequence, has sullied all of creation.

Forgive me, Lord, and teach me to live according to Your word.

Psalm 119:59-60 When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.

Psalm 119:59-60
When I think on my ways, I turn my feet to Your testimonies; I hasten and do not delay to keep Your commandments.

Thank You and praise You, my Lord and Master, for providing me with Your word and testimonies as my guide for life in Your Kingdom. And for those nudgings through the Holy Spirit to observe my ways and turn from my path to Your path. Thank You for the passion in my heart to hasten to obey, and the understanding that to procrastinate in obeying grieves You when You have given me an awareness of sin in my life.

Psalm 119:57 The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

Psalm 119:57
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words.

I promise to keep Your words! Not a casual statement but a solemn oath. This is not a statement hedged with caveats and maybes, no "If I can" or If I remember" of If I..." This is an oath which is my side of the New Covenant, the side that declares "I will" as a public confirmation of the power of Your grace. It is an oath of response to Your directive and request, "If you love Me, you will keep my commandments."

I will, Lord, I will. Lord, help me in my unbelief.

Psalm 67:5-7 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

Psalm 67:5-7
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! The earth has yielded its increase; God, our God, shall bless us. God shall bless us; let all the ends of the earth fear him!

Lord, that these blessings that flow to me would flow out to others as a river of Grace so that all would be brought to fear and submit to You.

Psalm 67:3-4 Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you!

Psalm 67:3-4
Let the peoples praise you, O God; let all the peoples praise you! Let the nations be glad and sing for joy, for you judge the peoples with equity and guide the nations upon earth. Selah

Therefore, Lord, teach me to praise You with my whole being. Let me and everything about me speak of the righteousness of Your Justice. Put a newsong in my heart, a song of praise and joy.

Psalm 67:1-2 May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us.

Psalm 67:1-2 To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments. A Psalm. A Song.
May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face to shine upon us. Selah,that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

Lord, I get so self centered that I think that the object of Your blessings is to make me happy. But it is not at all that. You bless me so that Your Way will be known, so that all the world will know of your graciousness. Before the beginning of creation, You knew that a Way would be needed to demonstrate Your mercy and that You are Love.

Exodus 20.1-2, 8-11 And God spoke all these words, saying, “…Remember the Sabbath day,

Exodus 20:1-2, 8-11
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... "Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.

Lord, I know in my head that this day, this day of remembrance, is a special day, a jewel, a gift from You to me. That Your commandment to set it aside, to keep it holy, to spend it with You, is a call from You to me to enjoy a great blessing. When, Lord, will that knowing become so engraved in my heart that I will begin on Monday to meditate on the pleasures to come at the end of the week? O, Lord, help me to live in anticipation of the Lord's Day, that day when I am invited to spend the entire day in Your presence.

Psalm 119: 55-56 I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law.

Psalm 119: 55-56
I remember your name in the night, O LORD, and keep your law. This blessing has fallen to me, that I have kept your precepts.

I do have a problem, Lord, remembering Your name and to meditate on Your gracious law during the middle of the night. I tend to be upset because I have awakened.

Lord, let this blessing fall to me when I awake during the night: that I will be filled with thanksgiving, filled with the glory of Your presence, filled with sheer beauty of Your Word, filled with a burden of compassion for the lost and hurting, and grateful to have that precious time to be with You.

Psalm 119:53 Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,

Psalm 119:53
Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked, who forsake your law.

Lord, it is both indignation and sorrow as I watch those who make a mockery of Your just law. This comes in all forms: those who pursue a rationalist philosophy and deny You, those who claim that they are under grace not law, and those who depend on Your mercy to cover them as they continue to sin.

Give me the wisdom and discernment to speak of You and Your grace to all, that I may have the blessed feet of one who brings good news.

Psalm 66:16-20 Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul.

Psalm 66:16-20
Come and hear, all you who fear God, and I will tell what he has done for my soul. I cried to him with my mouth, and high praise was on my tongue. If I had cherished iniquity in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But truly God has listened; he has attended to the voice of my prayer. Blessed be God, because he has not rejected my prayer or removed his steadfast love from me!

Lord, You listen and You hold and guide us. Your love is steadfast, constancy is Your Name, You answer even when we don't see because the seeing is still beyond us.

We thank You that in your time, You gathered our mothers into Your gentle arms, bringing them both into the home they so earnestly desired. We praise You that both are with their Lord, the One they adored and longed to be with.

Psalm 66:8-15 Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip.

Psalm 66:8-15
Bless our God, O peoples; let the sound of his praise be heard,who has kept our soul among the living and has not let our feet slip. For you, O God, have tested us; you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net; you laid a crushing burden on our backs; you let men ride over our heads; we went through fire and through water; yet you have brought us out to a place of abundance. I will come into your house with burnt offerings; I will perform my vows to you, that which my lips uttered and my mouth promised when I was in trouble. I will offer to you burnt offerings of fattened animals, with the smoke of the sacrifice of rams; I will make an offering of bulls and goats. Selah

I know, Lord, that You were testing us to demonstrate Your power and goodness. I know that out of this challenge came a greater knowing of You, that our eyes gained in clarity and that we now see You in greater detail and with increased understanding. I know that this trial has brought us to increased maturity in You, but Lord, we need Your Spirit to continue to enable that pure joy in our hearts.

Psalm 66:5-7 Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man.

Psalm 66:5-7
Come and see what God has done: he is awesome in his deeds toward the children of man. He turned the sea into dry land; they passed through the river on foot. There did we rejoice in him,who rules by his might forever, whose eyes keep watch on the nations-- let not the rebellious exalt themselves. Selah

Lord, during this last year, as we have maneuvered our mothers through the sea of the medical system, dealing with confusion, uncertainty and doubt, You turned all into dry land and we walked safely through. We saw your mighty hand opening doors, making provision for rooms and support as needed, working out the quagmires of regulations.

Thank You for the peace that filled Betty's mother as she approached the end of her days. At the end, Lord, her anxiety had become anticipation. Praise You for Your great mercy to her and to us.

Psalm 66:1-4 Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name;

Psalm 66:1-4 To the choirmaster. A Song. A Psalm.
Shout for joy to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise! Say to God, "How awesome are your deeds! So great is your power that your enemies come cringing to you. All the earth worships you and sings praises to you; they sing praises to your name." Selah

LORD, how awesome are Your deeds. All Creation speaks of You and points to You, it sings of Your majesty without ceasing. Open our eyes to see every detail of Your revealing.

Exodus 20:1-2, 7 And God spoke all these words, saying, "You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain,

Exodus 20:1-2, 7
And God spoke all these words, saying, "I am the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt, out of the house of slavery. ... You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes his name in vain."

Lord, guide me today so that all my actions, deeds and conversation will exult you and bring honor to your name; that name which is above all other names and to which every knee shall bow, every tongue shall confess that you are Lord.