Picture of the day

San Diego Flower!  The bees are loving it!  July 2010 at San Diego University.

Video of the day-Summer fishing at LBI

Picture of the day

A Psalm a Day (Psalm 7)

Psalm 7

A Meditation^[a] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

 ¹ O LORD my God, in You I put my trust;
         Save me from all those who persecute me; 
         And deliver me,
 ² Lest they tear me like a lion,
         Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 
         
 ³ O LORD my God, if I have done this:
         If there is iniquity in my hands,
 ⁴ If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
         Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
 ⁵ Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
         Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, 
         And lay my honor in the dust.  Selah  
         
 ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
         Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; 
         Rise up for me^[b]to the judgment You have commanded!
 ⁷ So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
         For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
 ⁸ The LORD shall judge the peoples;
         Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, 
         And according to my integrity within me. 
         
 ⁹ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
         But establish the just; 
         For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
 ¹⁰ My defense is of God,
         Who saves the upright in heart. 
         
 ¹¹ God is a just judge,
         And God is angry with the wicked every day.
 ¹² If he does not turn back,
         He will sharpen His sword; 
         He bends His bow and makes it ready.
 ¹³ He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
         He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. 
         
 ¹⁴ Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
         Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
 ¹⁵ He made a pit and dug it out,
         And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
 ¹⁶ His trouble shall return upon his own head,
         And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. 
         
 ¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness,
         And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Justice prevails through God not on our own doings. For we are all sinners saved through pure grace of Jesus Christ. As it says in the book of Matthew....

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,

that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

A Psalm a Day (Psalm 7)

Psalm 7

A Meditation^[a] of David, which he sang to the LORD concerning the words of Cush, a Benjamite.

 ¹ O LORD my God, in You I put my trust;
         Save me from all those who persecute me; 
         And deliver me,
 ² Lest they tear me like a lion,
         Rending me in pieces, while there is none to deliver. 
         
 ³ O LORD my God, if I have done this:
         If there is iniquity in my hands,
 ⁴ If I have repaid evil to him who was at peace with me,
         Or have plundered my enemy without cause,
 ⁵ Let the enemy pursue me and overtake me;
         Yes, let him trample my life to the earth, 
         And lay my honor in the dust.  Selah  
         
 ⁶ Arise, O LORD, in Your anger;
         Lift Yourself up because of the rage of my enemies; 
         Rise up for me^[b]to the judgment You have commanded!
 ⁷ So the congregation of the peoples shall surround You;
         For their sakes, therefore, return on high.
 ⁸ The LORD shall judge the peoples;
         Judge me, O LORD, according to my righteousness, 
         And according to my integrity within me. 
         
 ⁹ Oh, let the wickedness of the wicked come to an end,
         But establish the just; 
         For the righteous God tests the hearts and minds.
 ¹⁰ My defense is of God,
         Who saves the upright in heart. 
         
 ¹¹ God is a just judge,
         And God is angry with the wicked every day.
 ¹² If he does not turn back,
         He will sharpen His sword; 
         He bends His bow and makes it ready.
 ¹³ He also prepares for Himself instruments of death;
         He makes His arrows into fiery shafts. 
         
 ¹⁴ Behold, the wicked brings forth iniquity;
         Yes, he conceives trouble and brings forth falsehood.
 ¹⁵ He made a pit and dug it out,
         And has fallen into the ditch which he made.
 ¹⁶ His trouble shall return upon his own head,
         And his violent dealing shall come down on his own crown. 
         
 ¹⁷ I will praise the LORD according to His righteousness,
         And will sing praise to the name of the LORD Most High.

Justice prevails through God not on our own doings. For we are all sinners saved through pure grace of Jesus Christ. As it says in the book of Matthew....

"But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,
that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust."

A Psalm a Day (Psalm 6)

Psalm 6 (New King James Version)

Psalm 6

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. On an eight-stringed harp.^[a] A Psalm of David.

 ¹ O LORD, do not rebuke me in Your anger,
         Nor chasten me in Your hot displeasure.
 ² Have mercy on me, O LORD, for I am weak;
         O LORD, heal me, for my bones are troubled.
 ³ My soul also is greatly troubled;
         But You, O LORD—how long?
      
 ⁴ Return, O LORD, deliver me!
         Oh, save me for Your mercies’ sake!
 ⁵ For in death there is no remembrance of You;
         In the grave who will give You thanks?
      
 ⁶ I am weary with my groaning;
         All night I make my bed swim;
         I drench my couch with my tears.
 ⁷ My eye wastes away because of grief;
         It grows old because of all my enemies.
      
 ⁸ Depart from me, all you workers of iniquity;
         For the LORD has heard the voice of my weeping.
 ⁹ The LORD has heard my supplication;
         The LORD will receive my prayer.
 ¹⁰ Let all my enemies be ashamed and greatly troubled;
         Let them turn back and be ashamed suddenly.

FORGIVENESS. THE CROSS. JESUS CHRIST. LAMB OF GOD. SURRENDER. MAJESTIC BEAUTY. GRACE. PERFECT LOVE. THREE IN ONE. HIS LIKENESS. LIGHT. SHELTER. ETERNITY. EMBRACED IN HIS SPIRIT. RAPTURED BY HIS MERCY. 

A Psalm a Day (Psalm 5)

Psalm 5 (New American Standard Bible)

Psalm 5

Prayer for Protection from the Wicked.

For the choir director; for flute accompaniment. A Psalm of David.

    ^1(A)Give ear to my words, O LORD,
         Consider my ^[a](B)groaning.
    ²Heed ^(C)the sound of my cry for help, ^(D)my King and my God,
         For to You I pray.
    ³In the morning, O LORD, You will hear my voice;
         In the ^(E)morning I will order my prayer to You and eagerly ^(F)watch.
    ⁴For You are not a God ^(G)who takes pleasure in wickedness;
         ^(H)No evil dwells with You.
    ⁵The ^(I)boastful shall not ^(J)stand before Your eyes;
         You ^(K)hate all who do iniquity.
    ⁶You ^(L)destroy those who speak falsehood;
         The LORD abhors ^(M)the man of bloodshed and deceit.
    ⁷But as for me, ^(N)by Your abundant lovingkindness I will enter Your house,
         At Your holy temple I will ^(O)bow in ^(P)reverence for You.
    ⁸O LORD, ^(Q)lead me ^(R)in Your righteousness ^(S)because of my foes;
         Make Your way straight before me.
    ⁹There is ^(T)nothing reliable in what they say;
         Their ^(U)inward part is destruction itself
         Their ^(V)throat is an open grave;
         They flatter with their tongue.
    ¹⁰Hold them guilty, O God;
         ^(W)By their own devices let them fall!
         In the multitude of their transgressions ^(X)thrust them out,
         For they are ^(Y)rebellious against You.
    ¹¹But let all who ^(Z)take refuge in You ^(AA)be glad,
         Let them ever sing for joy;
         And may You ^(AB)shelter them,
         That those who ^(AC)love Your name may exult in You.
    ¹²For it is You who ^(AD)blesses the righteous man, O LORD,
         You ^(AE)surround him with favor as with a shield.

Something that I was reflecting on last night.  Jesus says in the book of John, "I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life." In this case (to me) that makes satan, not the way, the lie, and the death.  It is an interesting parellel to think about because everything that God is, the world is not.  God's ways are not the world's ways.  Take the example of what sex has turned into.  Our culture has twisted this expression that God created to bring together man and woman.  If someone  is now waiting until marriage, our world views this as strange, stupid, and impossible.  Our world shows us to take everything and anything we want, to not strive for self-control and discipline but to do as we please. 

I don't get heavy into politics, I don't follow much of politics at all, but I do truly believe that God is a God who is so amazing, that created us not to be caught up  in the wickedness of the evil one, but to shine in His Light, as lightbearers for His Kingdom (Philippians 2).  

A vision that God put on my heart this morning, was the idea that our world has been made into a cold ice age, our hearts and bodies frozen in a world that is desensitized, numb, and medicated by drugs, alcohol, shopping, sex, etc. Through relationship with Jesus Christ, one starts to thaw, heat up and become aware and connected again in union with Lord. As we heat up and thaw, the heat even spreads to those around us.  God doesn't want us to be blind and cold to one another, but to love one another unconditionally.  To see through His eyes this world that needs saving in His grace. "Wake up o' sleeper." See all that He has done and will always do to bring Glory and Honor to His name.

He calls us to join Him in Heaven, and seek relationship with His Son Jesus Christ.  To live a life in Him, which is what we were created for. A life that brings   Glory to our Creator.  Simplistic submission covered by the Blood of the Lamb. Peace in a heart protected from the noises and chaos trying to lure you. I pray that your heart is touched by the Words of the Living God...read Philippians 2, John 8, Romans 13, and Jude.  

I love you.

A Psalm a Day (Psalm 4)

Psalm 4 (New King James Version)

Psalm 4

To the Chief Musician. With stringed instruments. A Psalm of David.

 ¹ Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
         You have relieved me in my distress;
         Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
      
 ² How long, O you sons of men,
         Will you turn my glory to shame?
         How long will you love worthlessness
         And seek falsehood?  Selah
 ³ But know that the LORD has set apart^[a] for Himself him who is godly;
         The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
      
 ⁴ Be angry, and do not sin.
         Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still.  Selah
 ⁵ Offer the sacrifices of righteousness,
         And put your trust in the LORD.
      
 ⁶ There are many who say,
         “Who will show us any good?”
         LORD, lift up the light of Your countenance upon us.
 ⁷ You have put gladness in my heart,
         More than in the season that their grain and wine increased.
 ⁸ I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;
         For You alone, O LORD, make me dwell in safety.

You cannot add anything on to who Jesus Christ is, but I shall rejoice in the fact that His Love is my Rock, security, and brings sweet delight to my heart. I am excited for this day He has made, and that His light ALWAYS brings peace and warmth to my spirit.  He lifts us up through and against all darkness and we are called to dwell in Him and with Him in the Holy of Holies, the tent not made by human hands.  He fills our hearts with Eternity! (Ecclesiastes 3)

My prayer today is for Karen and her family. May God's Spirit bring her comfort and serenity through these times.  May her family be filled from head to toe with Your protection and peace.  Praise be to You, Lord Jesus. May she dance with You in the Heavens all the days on earth and in Heaven.

Meditate: to reflect on, contemplate; to think about something deeply.
I encourage you to meditate upon our Lord, for a deeper revelation and soaking of who He truly is.  In His word, in prayer, and in Spirit.  Encourage others around you as well, for we are His Body!