O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways. Even before a word is on my tongue, behold, O Lord, you know it altogether. You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me. -Psalm 139:1-5 (ESV)

I cannot help but be overwhelmed when I ponder the way God loves us. When I think about my life as it has been, the priorities I have chased that are so often contrary to God’s will for me, it is hard not to be overcome with amazement at His grace. Can you make the same claim? Does He know you as His own in Christ? Can you feel His hand on you? I hope you can say unreservedly yes! It is as simple to begin as it could be: acknowledge that He loves you and died for you on the Cross and ask Him to be Lord and Savior of your life. In prayer, ask God to guide you to a Bible-believing Church that teaches the Scripture. you will embark upon a new life beyond your wildest dreams as you get to know the God of the universe as your very own Father! What better Christmas present could anyone ever receive?

1 Blessed is the one whose transgression is forgiven,
whose sin is covered.
2 Blessed is the man against whom the Lord counts no iniquity,
and in whose spirit there is no deceit.

3 For when I kept silent, my bones wasted away
through my groaning all day long.
4 For day and night your hand was heavy upon me;
my strength was dried up[b] as by the heat of summer. Selah

5 I acknowledged my sin to you,
and I did not cover my iniquity;
I said, “I will confess my transgressions to the Lord,”
and you forgave the iniquity of my sin. Selah

6 Therefore let everyone who is godly
offer prayer to you at a time when you may be found;
surely in the rush of great waters,
they shall not reach him.
7 You are a hiding place for me;
you preserve me from trouble;
you surround me with shouts of deliverance. Selah

8 I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go;
I will counsel you with my eye upon you.
9 Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding,
which must be curbed with bit and bridle,
or it will not stay near you.

10 Many are the sorrows of the wicked,
but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord.
11 Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous,
and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!

The Holy Bible, English Standard Version. ESV® Text Edition: 2016. Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.

One of 7 penitential psalms, Psalm 32 is certainly closely related to Psalm 51, in which David looks to the LORD for forgiveness for his grievous sin with Bathsheba and the murder of Uriah. This in regard to psalm 32 from John MacArthur’s Study Bible (a favorite resource of mine): Life’s most important lessons about sin, confession, and forgiveness are skillfully shared by David…

For some reason, I have been hearing about Psalm 51 a lot lately: last Wednesday evening at mid-week Bible study/worship at my home Church, Sunday during Church again and also Monday evening at another Bible study at another Church! I am not complaining, it is something I need to be focused on in my daily walk with the LORD. In contemplating Psalm 51 (and also 32) this morning, I could not help but have a sense of remorse for my sins and also a sense of deep gratitude and love for the One who saved me from them. I seem to be growing closer to God each and every day in my walk with Him, and I pray I do not falter and stray from that path. There is a deep sense of serenity and satisfaction from feeling secure in His presence. Do you have that sense? If you feel Him calling you, now is the time to answer Him. This is the time when He may be found.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path. -Psalm 119:105

I have heard it said that the answers to all of life’s questions may be found in the Bible. I don’t hear that claim being made about other books or programs– just the Bible. Some may make that claim, but I have found that the Bible backs it up with a proven track record. I have been through dark paths in my lifetime and the light of God’s Scripture has always managed to shed some light on the road as I journey closer to Him.

Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful. But his delight is in the law of the Lord; and in his law doth he meditate day and night. And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth his fruit in his season; his leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper. -Psalm 1:1-3 

My mother always told me that “birds of a feather flock together.” Of course, that was intended to keep me from associating with people she deemed of poor character (by the way, she was usually right– although I didn’t see it at the time). Much in the same way, our Heavenly Father wants us to avoid people who are likely to drag us down and take us away from Him.

Some people like to complain about preachers that promote a “Prosperity Gospel” in their teaching. Funny, but I see the words prosperity mentioned in more than one place in the Bible– and it is usually connected to loving God and trying to live a life of obedience to Him. Don’t get me wrong, I see how things can be taken out of context and expectations can arise that will never be satisfied (sometimes, thank Him, He says “no”). I guess, too, that a lot depends on what one considers “prospering” to be. To me, prosperity comes in the form of a deep and abiding satisfaction I get when walking closely with the Lord.

The Eternal is my shepherd, He cares for me always.
He provides me rest in rich, green fields
beside streams of refreshing water.
He soothes my fears;
He makes me whole again,
steering me off worn, hard paths
to roads where truth and righteousness echo His name.
Even in the unending shadows of death’s darkness,
I am not overcome by fear.
Because You are with me in those dark moments,
near with Your protection and guidance,
I am comforted.
You spread out a table before me,
provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies;
You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil,
filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
Certainly Your faithful protection and loving provision will pursue me
where I go, always, everywhere.
I will always be with the Eternal,
in Your house forever. -Psalm 23 (The Voice)

I was reading an article about a more recent Bible translation called “The Voice”  that has made its way into a very crowded marketplace in recent times when I stumbled upon its rendering of the 23rd Psalm. I found it quite nice and thought it deserved a spot in my listing of posts! I hope you enjoy it as much as I do and derive equal comfort from its words.