Wednesday, November 28, 2012

Psalm 107

We hear the first verse of this Psalm all the time, and I didn't realize it went with the rest of this...


"Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good;
    His love endures forever.

 Let the redeemed of the Lord tell their story—
    those He redeemed from the hand of the foe,
 those He gathered from the lands,
    from east and west, from north and south.

 Some wandered in desert wastelands,
    finding no way to a city where they could settle.
 They were hungry and thirsty,
    and their lives ebbed away.
Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble,
    and He delivered them from their distress.
He led them by a straight way
    to a city where they could settle.
 Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
    and His wonderful deeds for mankind,
for He satisfies the thirsty
    and fills the hungry with good things.

Some sat in darkness, in utter darkness,
prisoners suffering in iron chains,
because they rebelled against God’s commands
and despised the plans of the Most High.
So He subjected them to bitter labor;
they stumbled, and there was no one to help.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress
He brought them out of darkness, the utter darkness,
and broke away their chains.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind,
for He breaks down gates of bronze
and cuts through bars of iron.

Some became fools through their rebellious ways
and suffered affliction because of their iniquities.
They loathed all food
and drew near the gates of death.
Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble,
and He saved them from their distress.
He sent out his word and healed them;
He rescued them from the grave.
Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love
and His wonderful deeds for mankind.
Let them sacrifice thank offerings
and tell of His works with songs of joy."
-Psalm 107:10-22



It's truly beautiful. God's love is.



Friday, November 2, 2012

snow.

Even though I'm not a big fan of cold weather and don't want it to snow because I don't want the roads to be bad, I can't deny I am thankful for the beauty of each and every day and season we have here.

The way the snow falls can be so beautiful sometimes.



It makes me smile and think of God.

Peace. That's what it reminds me of.

The fact that God is in control. That is timing is slow. (slower than mine)... Slow, steady, and perfect. 


Just as every snowflake falls slowly, beautifully, perfectly to the ground, everything will fall perfectly in place at the right time, if I just place it all in His hands.





"But do not forget this one thing, dear friends: With the Lord a day is like a thousand years, and a thousand years are like a day. The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." -2 Peter 3:8-9

The moments when songs suddenly mean more than usual. When every lyric is like, wow, that's exactly what I need to hear right now.

Those moments are special.



God's love, that I am completely filthily undeserving of, is amazing. 



Every lyric of this song is me... and Him.







8 "The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.
9 He will not always accuse,
nor will He harbor His anger forever;
10 He does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.
11 For as high as the Heavens are above the earth,
so great is His love for those who fear Him;
12 as far as the East is from the West,
so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
13 As a Father has compassion on His children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear Him;"
-Psalm 103:8-13



 "Who is a God like you, who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry forever but delight to show mercy.  You will again have compassion on us; you will tread our sins underfoot and hurl all our iniquities into the depths of the sea."
-Micah 7:18-19 



  "The Lord our God is merciful and forgiving, even though we have rebelled against Him;" -Daniel 9:9


 "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." -Hebrews 4:16



"This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins."
-Matthew 26:28