#How powerful is Psalms 23?

[jesuslivesinyou]

కీర్తనలు 23: గొర్రెల కాపరి యొక్క మార్గదర్శక హస్తం

23 కీర్తనల గురి౦చి ఆలోచి౦చడ౦, పర్వత ప్రస౦గాన్ని విమర్శనాత్మక౦గా సమీక్షి౦చడానికి ప్రయత్ని౦చడ౦ లాంటిదే! చాలా మంది రచయితలు ఈ అందమైన రచన గురించి విస్తృతంగా రాశారు, నిస్సారంగా అనిపించకుండా జాగ్రత్త అవసరం. కోట్లాదిమందికి, దావీదు యొక్క ఈ కీర్తనలు ముత్యముగా ఉ౦టుంది.

కీర్తన 23 గురి౦చిన ఆశ్చర్యకరమైన విషయమేమిట౦టే, అందులో కేవలం ఆరు వచనాలు మాత్రమే ఉన్నాయి. అయినా, ఆ ఆరు చిన్న వచనాలు ప్రభావం ప్రపంచవ్యాప్తంగా కనిపించింది. 23వ కీర్తన అనేక శతాబ్దాలుగా అలసిపోయిన ఆత్మలకు విశ్రాంతినిచ్చి౦ది, మానవుని రచనలేవీ సరిపోలలేవనే ఆశా సందేశాన్ని అది అ౦ది౦చి౦ది.

యేసుక్రీస్తు మంచి కాపరి అని పిలువబడ్డాడు. ఆయన తన అనేక ఉపమానాల్లో తన పోలికను ఉపయోగించాడు. యోహాను 10:11 లో యేసు ఇలా అన్నాడు, "నేను మంచి కాపరిని. మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరి గొర్రెల కోసం ప్రాణత్యాగం చేస్తాడు." యేసు యోహాను 10:14 లో కూడా చెప్పాడు, "నేను మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరిని; నా గొర్రెలు నాకు తెలుసు, నా గొర్రెలకి నేను తెలుసు." క్రైస్తవులకు యేసుక్రీస్తు మంచి కాపరి. ఆయనతో కలిసిన వారు ఆయనకు తెలుసు, ఎందుకంటే ఒక సంబంధం ఉంది. ఆ బంధం ప్రేమ మీద ఆధారపడి ఉంటుంది. దేవుని ప్రేమ ప్రజలందరికీ రక్షణ మార్గాన్ని తెరిచింది.

కీర్తన 23 యేసుక్రీస్తును ఇలా సూచిస్తుంది మంచి గొర్రెల కాపరి, ఆయన తన శిష్యుల కోస౦ చేసే పనిని కూడా అది వర్ణిస్తు౦ది. గొర్రెల కాపరి తన మందను సంరక్షిస్తాడు మరియు పెంచుతాడు. విశ్వాసము, పశ్చాత్తాపము, ఒప్పుకోలు, బాప్తిస్మము ద్వారా యేసుక్రీస్తుతో కలిసిన వారికి అదే జరుగుతుంది. అందులో ప్రధానమైనది ప్రేమ. పాత నిబంధన లేఖనాల్లో విధేయత, తీర్పుకు ప్రాధాన్యమిచ్చారు. క్రొత్త నిబంధన లేఖనాల్లో విధేయత మరియు తీర్పు సూత్రాలు కూడా ఉన్నాయి; కానీ వాటితో యేసుక్రీస్తు ద్వారా దేవుని గొప్ప ప్రేమ, క్రీస్తులో ఉన్నవారు ఆస్వాదించగల ఆశీర్వాదాలు జతచేయబడతాయి.

క్రైస్తవులు క్రీస్తులోని పరలోక ప్రదేశాలలో ప్రతి ఆధ్యాత్మిక ఆశీర్వాదాన్ని పొందుతారని పౌలు వ్రాశాడు. క్రీస్తు యేసుకు వెలుపల ఉన్నవారు పోయారు. గొర్రెల కాపరి, రక్షణ లేని గొర్రెను మించిన నిస్సహాయత మరొకటి లేదు. కోల్పోయిన గొర్రెలు తోడేళ్ళు మరియు ఇతర జంతువులకు సులభమైన వేట. వారు సులభంగా చిక్కుకుంటారు మరియు వారు తమను తాము చూసుకోలేరు. గొర్రెల కాపరి లేని గొర్రెలు నశిస్తాయి, యేసు క్రీస్తు లేని ప్రజలు కూడా నశిస్తారు.

కానీ క్రీస్తులో ఉన్నవారికి మంచి కాపరి ఉన్నాడు. ఆయన వల్ల విశ్రాంతి, పోషణ, మార్గదర్శకత్వం లభిస్తాయన్న వాగ్దానం ఉంది. ఒక క్రైస్తవుడు జీవిత ప్రమాదాలను ఎదుర్కొన్నప్పుడు, అతడు లేదా ఆమె ఇలా అనగలరు, "నేను ఏ అపాయమునకు భయపడను, ఎందుకంటే మీరు నాతో ఉన్నారు; నీ దుడ్డుకర్రయు, నీ దండమును నన్ను ఆదరించును."

4వ వచనములో, "మరణపు నీడ లోయ" నేరుగా భౌతిక మరణ సమయాన్ని సూచించదు. 4వ వచనము నేటి జీవితంపై మరింత ప్రత్యక్ష ప్రభావాన్ని చూపుతుంది. "మరణపు నీడ లోయ", లేదా "చీకటి లోయ" అనేది ఈ జీవితపు అనుభవాలు తీవ్రమైన దుఃఖం, బాధ మరియు బాధకు దారితీసే సమయం. ఆత్మ వేదన భారంలో గుండె పగిలిపోయేలా చేస్తుంది.

చిత్రాలు చాలా స్పష్టంగా ఉన్నాయి! ఒక వ్యక్తి చీకటి మరియు ప్రమాదకరమైన ప్రదేశానికి దారితీసే మార్గంలో నడుస్తున్నాడు. చీకట్లో శత్రువు సమీపించడాన్ని చూడలేం. నీడలో, తదుపరి మలుపు చుట్టూ ఒక దాడి సిద్ధంగా ఉందో లేదో మీకు తెలియదు. ఒంటరిగా ఉన్న వ్యక్తికి ఎంత భయానక ప్రదేశం? కానీ క్రీస్తులో, ఒక వ్యక్తి ఒంటరిగా లేడు! అడుగడుగునా దేవుని బిడ్డ చెడు నుండి రక్షింపబడతాడు. సమస్యలు వచ్చినప్పుడు, పరిష్కారం లేనప్పుడు, నిరాశ అంచున వణుకుతున్నప్పుడు ఈ మాటలు గుర్తుంచుకోవాలి! మేము ఎప్పుడూ ఒంటరిగా లేము! ప్రభువును నమ్మండి!

ప్రేరేపిత దేవుని వాక్య౦ ఎల్లప్పుడూ జీవిత౦లో పరీక్షలు జరుగుతాయనే సత్యాన్ని చెబుతో౦ది. కానీ 5వ వచన౦ దేవుడు తన ప్రజలను - తన పిల్లలను జాగ్రత్తగా చూసుకుంటాడని మళ్ళీ నొక్కి చెబుతో౦ది. "నా శత్రువుల యెదుట నీవు నాకు భోజనము సిద్ధపరచుదువు. నూనెతో నా తల అంటియున్నావు. నా గిన్నె నిండి పొర్లుచున్నది."

పిల్లలు తమ శారీరక అవసరాలను తీర్చడానికి వారి తల్లిదండ్రుల వైపు చూస్తారు. ప్రేమగల తల్లిద౦డ్రులు తమ పిల్లలకు ఆశ్రయ౦, ఆహార౦, భద్రతను ఇవ్వడానికి ప్రయత్నిస్తారు. అదే విధ౦గా, దేవుడు తన పిల్లలను పోషించడానికి ప్రయత్ని౦చడమే కాదు, నెరవేరుస్తాడు. కొన్నిసార్లు భౌతిక౦గా, కానీ ఎల్లప్పుడూ ఆధ్యాత్మిక౦గా యెహోవా మనకు ఓదార్పును, పోషణను, శత్రువుల ను౦డి రక్షణను ఇస్తాడు.

చివరి వచనము ఈ కీర్తన దానిని వెల్లడిస్తుంది కిరీటం ధరించిన ఆభరణo: "నిశ్చయంగా మంచితనం మరియు కరుణ నా జీవిత కాలమంతా నన్ను అనుసరిస్తాయి మరియు నేను ఎల్లప్పుడూ ప్రభువు మందిరములో నివసిస్తాను." ఈ శక్తివంతమైన ప్రకటన ఈ రెండింటినీ ప్రతిబింబిస్తుంది. ప్రస్తుత సహాయం మరియు and శాశ్వతత్వం కోసం ఆశ—మన లోతైన అవసరాలను తీర్చే లోతైన కలయిక. దేవుని వర్ణనాతీతమైన వరానికి కృతజ్ఞతలు – మన ప్రభువైన యేసుక్రీస్తు!

[thewordfortheday]

“For the word of God is full of living power. It is sharper than the sharpest knife, cutting deep into our innermost thoughts and desires. It exposes us for what we really are” (Hebrews 4:12).

For this command is a lamp, this teaching is a light, and correction and instruction are the way to life, Proverbs 6:23

How sweet are Your words to my taste, sweeter than honey to my mouth! Psalm 119:103

“The Bible is alive, it speaks to me; it has feet, it runs after me; it has hands, it lays hold of me." Martin Luther

Read the Word of God (the Bible), everyday, the Lord will speak to you, guide you and counsel you. Be blessed!

[walkswithmyfather]

Philippians 3:8-11 (FBV). [8] “Truly, I count everything as loss in exchange for the incredible benefit I've gained through knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. I've thrown away all these things for him, and consider them trash, so that I might gain Christ. [9] I want to be found in him, not being right because of what I've done, or what the law requires, but made right through confidence in Christ, set right by God through trusting in him. [10] I want to really know him, and the power of his resurrection—to take part in his suffering and become like him in his death, [11] so that somehow I might be part of the resurrection from the dead!”

“Handling Difficult Circumstances” By In Touch Ministries:“Focus on Jesus instead of your difficulties—He will provide deliverance, comfort, and peace.”

“The apostle Paul understood how to handle tough situations. Even while he was in prison, he kept his eyes on Christ. Therefore, despite being in chains, he was able to celebrate the Lord’s work in his life. In fact, the epistle he wrote from jail to the Philippians was filled with rejoicing and praise (Philippians 1:18; Philippians 2:18; Philippians 3:1).

Focusing on Christ is neither a natural reaction nor an easy one. Our instinct is to dwell on the circumstance at hand, searching for solutions or stewing over the pain and difficulty. As a result, troubles can look scary and overwhelming.

However, fear and defeat can’t live long in a heart that trusts the Lord. That’s not to say you’ll forget what you’re going through, but you can choose to dwell on God’s provision and care instead. He is our Deliverer (2 Corinthians 1:10), Healer (Jeremiah 17:14), and Guide (Psalm 23:3). The believer who lays claim to divine promises discovers that God pushes back negative emotions and replaces them with hope, confidence, and contentment. This doesn’t mean you’ll be happy about a difficult situation, but you can be satisfied that God is in control and working things for your good.

Focus on Christ instead of your circumstances—God will give comfort and bring you through the trial. Then you’ll be ready to answer Paul’s call to “rejoice in the Lord always” (Philippians 4:4).

[Photo thanks to Christopher Sardegna at Unsplash.]

[faithfulreflections]

The Parable of the Prodigal Son

The Parable of the Prodigal Son, as recounted in Luke 15:11-32, is a testament to the depth of God's forgiveness and unwavering love. This story introduces us to the loving Father, the disobedient Prodigal Son, and the angry Elder Son, through whom Jesus conveys profound spiritual truths that should fill us with awe and reverence. 

"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God" (Romans 3:23). After squandering his inheritance, the younger son makes a pivotal decision that fills us with hope and resolves to return home. This repentance signifies the transformative power of recognizing our sins and seeking God's forgiveness. The Father's immediate action of running to meet his son, embracing him, and ordering a grand celebration captures the essence of God's grace. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us" (Romans 5:8). 

The Father's actions are not just a response to his son's return but a profound reflection of God's grace. The robe, the ring, and the sandals symbolize more than reinstated sonship and honor; they reflect how God forgives and restores our identity and dignity in His family. "I tell you that in the same way, there will be more rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous persons who do not need to repent" (Luke 15:7). 

The older son's reaction is not just a character attribute but a profound lesson on self-righteousness and the importance of grace. "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment" (Romans 12:3). His resentment reminds us to embrace humility and mercy. The Father's compassionate response, "My son, you are always with me, and everything I have is yours" (Luke 15:31), emphasizes God's freely given love and blessings, filling us with gratitude and humility. 

"The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love" (Psalm 103:8). This parable encourages us to lead lives characterized by repentance, humility, and joy in God's presence. Reflecting on 2 Corinthians 5:17, we become new creations through Christ, embracing the latest and leaving behind the old. Let us seek the Lord with repentant hearts, rejoicing in His restoration and renewal. 

May we fully embrace our roles as recipients of God's grace, extend that grace to others, and experience the transformative power of His love. 

P.S. Please look at the links below for a detailed discussion of the blog post.

Detailed Blog Post

[princelylove]

Synopsis: In which Enrico Pucci has some thoughts on his situation.

Warnings: Directly quoting the bible, general yandere content, spoilers for part three + six

Enrico tapped his finger on his own arm, unsure of what to do.

Ever since he met you, he’s been distracted.

Two.

He thought of what was written for him- what could only be written with the intent for him to see- and only grew more frustrated with himself. What was he doing here? What was his plan? What was his goal?

“He must be someone who can control his desires. Someone without a lust for power, honor, wealth, or sexual gratification. He must be someone who puts the laws of God before the laws of humans. Will I, DIO, meet someone like this one day?”

‘What a disgusting display,’ he thought to himself. Everything he was doing in this moment, every single one of his feelings, was a plague. It was a disease upon his very nature, the man he must be, yet he persisted. His mind turned traitor. 

Three.

Enrico often wondered what you were doing instead of handling the task at hand. He never understood Perla in his youth, despite supporting and loving most of her decisions. He had never been in love before. It seemed… silly. Frivolous. Like it was just something to pass the time, or something to keep humans from going extinct.

He would just say his feelings are fond. Affection is different from love. So is adoration, so is admiration. Enrico doesn’t know how to place his feelings for you. 

Perhaps it was best to leave them unspoken.

Five.

He made a promise, once. A vow. His feelings on the matter are insignificant. He was to continue DIO’s plan- at all costs. He wasn’t feeling love, he was feeling lust- and he is no sinner. 

Oh, if only he were that type of man. That isn’t the truth. Truthfully, he’s fine with sinning. Using the argument of sin against his wants was futile. It’s all just a means to an end. He would sin if he truly needed to- he has and Enrico will, again. His morals aren’t a part of this equation and, to be honest, they never will be.

He would have to find something else to discourage his thoughts of you.

Seven.

He thought of Psalm 23. 

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.”

DIO was all he needed. It’s asinine to think otherwise. 

“He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside still waters. He restores my soul. He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.”

Perhaps he was wrong. Perhaps this is what DIO wanted- to test him.

“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.”

DIO has never led him astray. DIO has never failed him. Even in death. 

“You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.”

Or perhaps this is exactly what his lord wanted for him. Something for good behavior- a reward for his loyalty. For his continuous struggle. 

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life, and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” 

Yes- that’s exactly it. Of course it is. This is the little bit of indulgence Enrico will ever get in his entire life. It’s just puppy love. It’ll go away. Surely he just needs to embrace it, and it’ll leave him. His obsession-, no, his infatuation would eventually pass, as all infatuations do. He’s merely fixated on your beauty like any other would be. You’re like something in the Louvre- something to be admired from afar and never to really touch. 

Eleven.

Love is not an option for Enrico Pucci. He only has one calling, and he loves Him like he loves God.

He will not have another- he cannot have another, regardless of the type of love, and the intensity. He has no family, as far as he’s concerned. He’s too old to have a crush.

He’s a failure to his Lord if he cannot meet the prerequisites set by Him. It was right there DIO’s diary- DIO needed someone who wouldn’t succumb to foolish urges such as love. 

With DIO’s death, it’s too late for Him to bet on another player. Enrico must do what he has to do. In Heaven, he’ll find love. He’ll find you again in eternal paradise. 

But admiration is not a hindrance. Appreciation isn’t going to get in his way. 

Thirteen.

“Do you believe that I am able to do this?” He mutters, to no one in particular. The person it’s intended for has long since passed, but it’s almost as if the universe laughs in His place.

The thought does not comfort Enrico in the slightest.

Seventeen.

The sound of a disc being ejected from a cd player is the only sound you can make sense of. Your head feels as if it’s splitting in two, and your vision is getting blurry. 

Enrico shushes you, both of his hands firm on your shoulders, slowly trailing down to your upper arms.

“Be not afraid.”

The whirr of the disc being ejected plays again, and you feel yourself losing consciousness. 

“The thought to harm you hasn’t even crossed my mind.”

Nineteen.

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

The Crisis for Saul

1-2 But Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the High Priest and begged him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, so that if he should find there any followers of the Way, whether men or women, he could bring them back to Jerusalem as prisoners.

3-4 But on his journey, as he neared Damascus, a light from Heaven suddenly blazed around him, and he fell to the ground. Then he heard a voice speaking to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?”

5 “Who are you, Lord?” he asked.

6 “I am Jesus whom you are persecuting,” was the reply. “But now stand up and go into the city and there you will be told what you must do.”

7-9 His companions on the journey stood there speechless, for they had heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they took him by the hand and led him into Damascus. There he remained sightless for three days, and during that time he had nothing either to eat or drink.

God’s preparation for the converted Saul

10 Now in Damascus there was a disciple by the name of Ananias. The Lord spoke to this man in a dream. calling him by his name. “I am here, Lord,” he replied.

11-12 Then the Lord said to him, “Get up and go down to the street called Straight, and enquire at the house of Judas for a man named Saul from Tarsus. At this moment he is praying and he sees in his mind’s eye a man by the name of Ananias coming into the house, and placing his hands upon him to restore his sight.”

13-14 But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard on all hands about this man and how much harm he has done to your holy people in Jerusalem! Why even now he holds powers from the chief priests to arrest all who call upon your name.”

15-16 But the Lord said to him, “Go on your way, for this man is my chosen instrument to bear my name before the Gentiles and their kings, as well as to the sons of Israel. Indeed, I myself will show him what he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

17 Then Ananias set out and went to the house, and there he laid his hands upon Saul, and said, “Saul, brother, the Lord has sent me—Jesus who appeared to you on your journey here—so that you may recover your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”

18-19a Immediately something like scales fell from Saul’s eyes, and he could see again. He got to his feet and was baptised. Then he took some food and regained his strength.

Saul’s conversion astounds the disciples

19b-21 Saul stayed with the disciples in Damascus for some time. Without delay he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues declaring that he is the Son of God. All his hearers were staggered and kept saying, “Isn’t this the man who so bitterly persecuted those who called on the name in Jerusalem, and came down here with the sole object of taking back all such people as prisoners before the chief priests?” — Acts 9:1-21b | J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS) The New Testament in Modern English by J.B Phillips copyright © 1960, 1972 J. B. Phillips. Cross References: Genesis 14:15; 1 Samuel 16:3; Psalm 27:12; Isaiah 6:8; Daniel 10:7; Mark 5:23; Luke 1:41; Luke 1:67; John 12:29; John 15:21; Acts 7:59; Acts 8:3; Acts 9:27; Acts 10:3; Acts 10:14; Acts 10:17; Acts 11:25; Acts 13:2; Acts 14:22; Acts 20:23; Acts 22:11; Acts 22:13; 2 Corinthians 11:32; Galatians 1:17

Read full chapter

From Persecutor Saul To Apostle Paul

[ome-magical-ramblings]

Anointing, Mystery of χ, and Psalm 23 / Chaldean Oracle Fragment 95

This character (sc. the letter Chi χ ), which belongs to the essence of souls, “…is placed in the heart ’ 5

as the property of every soul…these…are (the doctrines) of the theurgists and gods when they are describing unknown things (Chaldean Oracle Fragment 95)

Now I can't exactly say the procedure for unlocking the secrets of this verse from the Chaldean Oracle, but I can hint to it and point out by saying "hey maybe this and that might work". I promise to reach the where I can say that "this is practical" then stop just before I tell you the exact way to do it.

According to Plato {Tim., 36 b-d), the World Soul had the shape of a Chi (X), the axes of which were bent and joined together to form semi-circles. In Chaldean thought—since particular souls were patterned on the World Soul—they, too, had the same configuration. In the context of Proclus knowledge of this “character" had magical significance, permitting the theurgist to invoke the souls of certain heroes (e.g., Heracles, Pentheus) and even Plato himself Ruth Majercik's Chaldean Oracle

I will point out that our goal is about the letter χ and the anima mundi is in the shape of it! the word χρῑ́ω • (khrī́ō) is anointing and christ is literally χρῑστός (khrīstós) and ἔλαιον • (élaion) is Olive oil. Take Psalm 23:

You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

The Mystery is there. It's not about the exact procedure but the principle which lead to the result. You can do it in a different way than I did it and that's why I am not explicitly mentioning a method. The aim of the anointment is to put you at the center of that world soul and not something that will suddenly happen all at once but a slowly bringing you to the center within you.

Another aspect of the cross-shaped χ is that once you're in that center then that mean your own soul would at that center of spiritual authority, it can be a mere second or 5 seconds but in that period you can with full force bring the spirit of heroes like Heracles or even Hermes Trismegistus. Focus on that relation, it's not about becoming a king by virtue of hereditary but by virtue of the character's knowledge itself. The other more passive aspect of χ is just as you can bring the souls of great people to you, you can also look into the soul of other people with it and it is something I don't know how to describe except in most direct way is that you can see into people's soul, their desires and intentions with it. After a month of working with the character "χ" I can testify it have a great virtue and power by itself and the mysteries of it is in similar veins of anointment, Christ, and a solar initiation. Is there more to it? Definitely, but the more I would ramble about it the more I would lean toward mistakes, If you settle on this character and meditate on it's mysteries I am sure you will be able to see how it's power unfold and the door of mysteries open for you :)

[mental-health-and-jesus]

8-14-2024 | Heart Dive ❤️ Day 125 | Psalms 1: 2: 15: 22: 23: 24: 47: 68:

Book I Psalms 1-41 The Two Paths

‘But his delight is in the Law of the Lord, and on His law he meditates day and night. He is like a tree planted by streams of water, yielding its fruit in season, whose leaf does not wither, and who prospers in all he does.’ Psalms‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭3‬

“God will make it happen whenever it’s supposed to happen” ~ ❤️

The Triumphant Messiah

‘Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.’ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭2‬:‭11‬

“Submit to Him that is going to bring that Abundant Life” ~ ❤️

Who May Dwell on Your Holy Mountains?

A Psalm of David.

‘He who walks with integrity and practices righteousness, who speaks the truth from his heart, who has no slander on his tongue, who does no harm to his neighbor, who casts no scorn on his friend, who despises the vile but honors those who fear the Lord, who does not revise a costly oath,’ Psalms‬ ‭15‬:‭2‬-‭4‬

“So whenever we speak truth it’s got to be covered with Love” ~ ❤️

The Psalm of the Cross

For the choirmaster. To the tune of “The Doe of the Dawn.” A Psalm of David.

‘In You our fathers trusted; they trusted and You delivered them. They cried out to You and were set free; they trusted in You and were not disappointed.’ Psalms‬ ‭22‬:‭4‬-‭5‬

“He let go all of His power all of His glory so that He could be become a Man for us.” ~ ❤️

The LORD Is My Shepherd

A Psalm of David.

‘He restores my soul; He guides me in the paths of righteousness for the sake of His name.’ Psalms‬ ‭23‬:‭3‬

“He leads us to repentance, He purifies us He gives us a new beginning, gives us a new name.” ~ ❤️

The Earth Is the LORD’s

A Psalm of David.

‘The earth is the Lord’s, and the fullness thereof, the world and all who dwell therein. For He has founded it upon the seas and established it upon the waters.’ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭24‬:‭1‬-‭2‬

“Not only does creation belong to God but everything within it.” ~ ❤️

Clap Your Hands, All You People

For the choirmaster. To the Psalm of song of Korah.

‘He chooses our inheritance for us, the pride of Jacob, whom He loves. Selah’ ‭‭Psalms‬ ‭47‬:‭4‬

“Why was I Chosen by God.” ~ ❤️

God’s Enemies Are Scattered

For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. A song.

‘O God, when You went out before Your people, when You marched through the wasteland, Selah’ Psalms‬ ‭68‬:‭7‬

“Think about all of the things that He did, why He did it, how He did it.” ~ ❤️

[scribeforchrist-blog]

Shadows Without Hope 

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

=========================

+ 1 Corinthians 2:5 So that your faith might not rest in the wisdom of men but in the power of God.

=========================

VERSE OF THE DAY 

========================

+    2 Chronicles 29:15 We are foreigners and strangers in your sight, as were all our ancestors. Our days on earth are like a shadow without hope.

=========================

SUBJECT: Shadows Without Hope 

=========================

** SAY THIS BEFORE YOU READ; HERE’S SOME CHRISTIAN TRUTHS **

I AM FOCUSING ON GOD 

I AM A STRANGERS 

I AM LOVING 

I AM HOPEFUL

========================

READ TIME: 7 Minutes & 18 Seconds

========================

THOUGHTS:

=======================

    We often hear that we must be careful when handling things because we never know when our last day will be. We never know when we will see someone again. Sometimes, we take stuff like this for granted when we argue about things with family, especially since we never know when we will see them again, so we must be careful with what we do and speak. 

     I can say that sometimes looking over certain things is hard, and I immediately go to God and say, God, I can't get past this. Show me how to deal with this , and he would, and he’ll guide me through. The verse tells us we are strangers, foreigners, here, no matter how many ways we say it or see it, we got a home and a car and this and that, but if something happens today, we will be gone. The word says we are like a shadow, a vape, a mist; having any of theses things matters the disagreements we have all of is meaningless.

 

•James 4:14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

 

•Psalm 39:5 You, indeed, have made my days as handbreadths, and my lifetime as nothing before You. Truly, each man at his best exists as but a breath. Selah

•Psalm 144:4 Man is like a breath; his days are like a passing shadow.

 

 Since we don’t know what day what hour Jesus will return and we don’t know what our last day is here, even in our verses today, it tells us we are like a breath, and because we aren’t sure we must live a life of holiness yesterday, we talked about holiness and being a special instrument of God. Still, if we are going to continue to live any way when we die, we will go to hell.

   Many people don’t want to hear this apart; they want it sugar-coated, and they want this part made up, or they can’t dare hear any of it, and they want to believe  everyone goes to heaven, but friends,  I won't lie to you if you're not living a life of holiness if I am not living a life of holiness we aren’t going to make it to heaven, but it's up us, and a lot of people say well it’s no way God is sending me to hell for this, or it's no way he is sending me to hell for that, in our word it tells us who will make it and who won't, and he’s not sending us we are sending our selves. 

      •Matthew 7:21-23 Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. On that day, many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

     •Revelation 21:8 But as for the cowardly, the faithless, the detestable, as for murderers, the sexually immoral, sorcerers, idolaters, and all liars, their portion will be in the lake that burns with fire and sulfur, which is the second death.”

    •1 Corinthians 6:9-10 Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: neither the sexually immoral, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor men who practice homosexuality, nor thieves, nor the greedy, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God.

     This devotional is packed with scriptures because I want everyone to see this and know this is coming straight from the word of God. A lot of people say they don’t read the bible because they don’t want the bible to show them why or what they are doing wrong; we can go to any preacher to fill our itchy ears, but getting someone to tel us something we want to hear versus what we need to hear won’t help us in the long run.

  If you or I don’t live a life of righteousness   neither one of us will make it to heaven; we have to start getting it right and ask God to give us strength to let go over our fleshly ways and not hold on to every slight bit of bitterness, the word says to flee from it, and I know that some of us have had a lot we have went through. Still, we also must know that holding on to bitterness doesn't help us grow; it stagnates our growth in God. 

    ***Today, we learned that having all the things in the world cant keep us from hell; everything we do that’s not right in God's sight, we need to fix it, and to do this, we go to him; a lot of people don’t like devotionals like this because it’s stating we have a problem and a lot of people think how they are is just fine in the eyes of God but if you haven’t asked him to clean you with hyssop , do so by saying this “ Father if it’s anything in me that you don’t like please show me it can be selfishness, bitterness, lustful ways whatever it is I want to be pure for you, cleanse me like hyssop father.

  We never know when our time will be, so when we have arguments with anyone, we need to go to them and fix it; we always want to be ready and prepared, but this isn’t saying. We did nothing wrong, but we must go to them and say I am sorry if I offended you, and it’s up to them to accept. However, in everything we do, we must do it in love. God wants us to understand that certain things won’t be accepted in heaven: sexually immoral, thieves, greedy, idolaters, murderers, the faithless, etc. We must strive for perfection and holiness, and to do this, we must do it in his strength, not in ours; everything is impossible for us but not God; that’s why we do this in his strength. ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

========================

PRAYER

========================

Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything; we ask you today to be with us and show us the way.  Father, we are struggling right now, and we ask you to give us the strength to walk on the narrow road. Father, every day, we try, and it’s tough. We ask you to help us not to fall, but if we stumble, please help us to keep holding on to you, in Jesus' Name, Amen 

========================

REFERENCES 

========================

+ Jeremiah 31:3 I have loved you with an everlasting love; I have drawn you with unfailing kindness.

 

+ Exodus 34:6 And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness.

 

+ Zephaniah 3:17 The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love, he will no longer rebuke you but will rejoice over you with singing.”

========================

FURTHER READINGS 

=========================

Proverb 20

Leviticus 20

Jeremiah 26

Ephesians 3 

=========================

[tmarshconnors]

Scripture on Hearing God's Voice 2/2

Romans 8:16 - "The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God."

James 1:5 - "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him."

Galatians 3:5 - "Does he who supplies the Spirit to you and works miracles among you do so by works of the law, or by hearing with faith?"

Isaiah 55:3 - "Incline your ear, and come to me; hear, that your soul may live; and I will make with you an everlasting covenant, my steadfast, sure love for David."

John 14:21 - "Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him."

John 1:1 - "In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God."

Habakkuk 2:1-2 - "I will take my stand at my watchpost and station myself on the tower, and look out to see what he will say to me, and what I will answer concerning my complaint. And the Lord answered me: 'Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so he may run who reads it.'"

Psalms 29:1-11 - "Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength... The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord, over many waters."

Psalms 23:1-6 - "The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want... Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me."

Psalms 85:8 - "Let me hear what God the Lord will speak, for he will speak peace to his people, to his saints; but let them not turn back to folly."

Proverbs 3:30-32 - "Do not contend with a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm. Do not envy a man of violence and do not choose any of his ways, for the devious person is an abomination to the Lord, but the upright are in his confidence."

Revelation 3:20 - "Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in to him and eat with him, and he with me."

1 Corinthians 14:1-5 - "Pursue love, and earnestly desire the spiritual gifts, especially that you may prophesy... The one who prophesies speaks to people for their upbuilding and encouragement and consolation."

Psalms 91:15 - "When he calls to me, I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will rescue him and honor him."

Hebrews 2:1-3 - "Therefore we must pay much closer attention to what we have heard, lest we drift away from it. For since the message declared by angels proved to be reliable, and every transgression or disobedience received a just retribution, how shall we escape if we neglect such a great salvation?"

Acts 22:14 - "And he said, ‘The God of our fathers appointed you to know his will, to see the Righteous One and to hear a voice from his mouth.'"

Job 36:22 - "Behold, God is exalted in his power; who is a teacher like him?"

Hebrews 1:1-3 - "Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son... He is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature."

Ezekiel 37:1-28 - "The hand of the Lord was upon me, and he brought me out in the Spirit of the Lord and set me down in the middle of the valley; it was full of bones... Then he said to me, 'Prophesy over these bones, and say to them, O dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.'"

Job 35:10-11 - "But none says, 'Where is God my Maker, who gives songs in the night, who teaches us more than the beasts of the earth and makes us wiser than the birds of the heavens?'"

Mark 9:1-50 - "And he said to them, 'Truly, I say to you, there are some standing here who will not taste death until they see the kingdom of God after it has come with power.'"

Revelation 1:3 - "Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy, and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it, for the time is near."

Hebrews 3:7-8 - "Therefore, as the Holy Spirit says, 'Today, if you hear his voice, do not harden your hearts as in the rebellion, on the day of testing in the wilderness.'"

John 14:15 - "If you love me, you will keep my commandments."

Matthew 4:1 - "Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil."

Psalms 46:10 - "Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!"

1 Samuel 9:1-27 - (The story of Saul being anointed as king and listening to God's guidance through Samuel.)

1 Samuel 3:1-10 - "Now the boy Samuel was ministering to the Lord in the presence of Eli. And the word of the Lord was rare in those days; there was no frequent vision... And the Lord came and stood, calling as at other times, 'Samuel! Samuel!' And Samuel said, 'Speak, for your servant hears.'"

James 1:22 - "But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves."

John 3:16 - "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life."

[study-with-aura]

Thursday, February 29, 2024

Do you see how much writing I had today? I am surprised my hand lasted through it all. In other news, I enjoyed the proofs I did in geometry despite them being slightly time consuming. I have a test in Biology tomorrow. I looked over all of my notes today and completed a study guide, so I hope I do well.

Tasks Completed:

Geometry - Learned about coordinate proofs + practice

Lit and Comp II - Reviewed Unit 19 Vocabulary + read chapters 30 and 31 of Emma by Jane Austen + began working on my poetry notebook project

Spanish 2 - Read a description in Spanish about houses in Spain + answered questions in Spanish

Bible I - Read Joshua 23-24

World History - Read two poems by Wilfred Owen + answered a question about "Dulce Et Decorum Est" + listed imagery from both poems read (the other was "Anthem for Doomed Youth")

Biology with Lab - Completed Ecology study guide + reviewed ecology vocabulary and notes (test tomorrow)

Foundations - Read more on responsibility + read another page on media bias + read a quote from Noam Chomsky's Media Control: The Spectacular Achievements of Propaganda + wrote about how slogans can be used as propaganda

Piano - Practiced for two hours in one hour split sessions

Khan Academy - Completed High School Geometry Unit 6: Lesson 2 (part 4) and Unit 6: Lesson 3 (parts 3-7)

CLEP - Completed Module 10 reading "World War I" 12.2.6-12.3

Duolingo - Studied for 15 minutes (Spanish, French, Chinese) + completed daily quests

Reading - Read pages 1-28 of Nigeria Jones by Ibi Zoboi

Chores - Put away the dishes + took the trash out

Activities of the Day:

Personal Bible Study (Psalm 124)

Ballet

Pointe

Journal/Mindfulness

-

What I’m Grateful for Today:

I am grateful to myself for pushing through my study load today because it was a lot!

Quote of the Day:

Libraries were full of ideas—perhaps the most dangerous and powerful of all weapons.

-Throne of Glass, Sarah J Maas

🎧Waltz in F minor op. 1 - Alexander Scriabin

[awideplace]

How do I go about confessing my sins? It just always confuses me that Jesus sacrificed himself for our sins so that we are forgiven or can be forgiven? If we are already forgiven then why do we need to keep repenting when we unwillingly commit sins such as cursing when emotionally frustrating or doing things out of temper ... or if jesus is the reason why we can be forgiven then we wouldn't be forgiven no matter what if it werent for jesus? What about the people that existed prior to Jesus being born?

Your questions are many and I will try to break them each down simply and supportive with Scripture. Bear with me.

i. You pray to God and confess your sins, tell Him what you have done and ask for His forgiveness. When we sin, we sin against a Holy God and we don't feel right, there is a lack of peace and fellowship with God it can feel like (Ephesians 4:30, grieving the Spirit it's referred to for believers); it is a good thing if we cannot rest in our sin and have peace living in sin, because the Holy Spirit indwells the believer (Ephesians 4:30, 1 Corinthians 6:19). If we feel no guilt when sinning, we keep on and see no wrong and justify it, it would seem we are not saved because how can we love/rejoice in what God hates (John 14, 1 John 2, 1 Corinthians 11:32, Hebrews 12:8). There should be a "war", if you will, within a believer of sin and not having peace living in sin. We live in victory and not defeat, because Christ paid the cost, but we don't go on willfully sinning (Romans 6). We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23), but we don't stay there. We still sin (1 John 1), but a believer will not want to be enslaved to sin. It will bother a believer; that is the Holy Spirit conviction. This is a good thing! Sanctification is a process and it is a good thing to be convicted of sin and freeing to confess it to our Holy God who loves us.

ii. Yes, Jesus died on the cross for our sins. He paid the cost that we may no longer be guilty.

"When we accept Jesus as our Savior, we receive salvation and forgiveness. But that’s not all. The Bible says we also receive justification, redemption, reconciliation, atonement, propitiation, and regeneration. Each of these theological terms expresses wonderful truths about the blessing we receive when Jesus becomes our Savior. Salvation and forgiveness, while related, are not exactly the same. The term salvation comes from the Greek word sozo, which means 'to be delivered, rescued.' Salvation is deliverance from the penalty of sin, that is, eternal separation from God (Romans 6:23; Matthew 25:46). Salvation is God’s rescuing us from our deserved fate. Salvation also includes a more immediate deliverance from the power of sin in this life. Sin has lost its dominion over the saved ones (Romans 6:14). Faith in Jesus Christ rescues us from the empty and meaningless life described in Ecclesiastes and provides us with a life that is abundant and fruitful (John 10:10; Galatians 5:22–23). The term forgiveness comes from the Greek word aphiemi, which means 'to let go, to give up, to keep no longer.' When Jesus forgives us, our sins, trespasses, iniquities, and transgressions are erased, wiped off the record. Forgiveness of sin is analogous to financial debt being erased. When God forgives us of our sins, we are free. Our sins are wiped out. God will never hold them against us (Psalm 103:12). Salvation and forgiveness are closely related. There is no salvation without forgiveness. Salvation is God’s delivering us from the consequences of sin. Forgiveness is God’s erasing our sin debt. To use a financial illustration, forgiveness is God’s shredding the documents that list our debt, and salvation is God’s letting us out of debtors’ prison. Praise God for the wonderful salvation and forgiveness He has provided. May our lives reflect gratitude for all He has done for us (Romans 12:1)." Source

iii. I'm unsure I understand your full question, but apart from receiving Jesus as our Savior (the propitiation of our sins) there is no forgiveness. There is no other Way (John 14:6). We can never be good enough, keep the law perfectly, achieve nirvana, pay the debt, whatever you want to call it. Salvation, forgiveness, peace only comes through Jesus Christ. And this new life (being born again in Scripture; see John 3:6-7) will bring forth a new life in you; you will be set apart (sanctification; see 2 Timothy 2). "Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord." Hebrews 12:14. We are saved by grace alone through faith alone–"For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast" Ephesians 2:8-9. Our faith, however, will show forth a new life/being born again/sanctification- there will be fruit, where there is no fruit there is no new life. "Faith by itself, if it does not result in action, is dead." James 2:18; "He cuts off every branch of Mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and He prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more." John 15:2.

iv. See https://www.gotquestions.org/Old-Testament-salvation.html

[hiswordsarekisses]

From Amy Klutinoty:

The music you listen to.

The movies you watch.

The TV shows you binge.

The content you consume online.

Does it honor God?

These are all seeds you are sowing into your life. The harvest will reveal who or what you serve.

Sow wisely.

If a little leaven leavens the whole lump of dough and a mustard seed of faith is powerful enough to move a mountain…then nothing is “too small” or insignificant to make an impact in our lives. Good or bad…it all matters. I’ll just leave it at that for those who have ears to hear today.

•Galatians 6:7- Do not be deceived: God is not mocked, for whatever one sows, that will he also reap.

•Matthew 6:22-23// The eye is the lamp of the body. So, if your eye is healthy, your whole body will be full of light, but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light in you is darkness, how great is the darkness!

•Philippians 4:8- Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things.

•1John 2:15-17// Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride in possessions—is not from the Father but is from the world. And the world is passing away along with its desires, but whoever does the will of God abides forever.

•Psalm 101:2-4// I will ponder the way that is blameless. Oh when will you come to me? I will walk with integrity of heart within my house; I will not set before my eyes anything that is worthless. I hate the work of those who fall away; it shall not cling to me. A perverse heart shall be far from me; I will know nothing of evil.

•Ephesians 5:11- Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them.

•Proverbs 4:23- Keep your heart with all vigilance, for from it flow the springs of life.

•1Corinthians 10:31- So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.

[walkswithmyfather]

Psalm 27:1‭-‬14 (AMP). “The Lord is my light and my salvation— Whom shall I fear? The Lord is the refuge and fortress of my life— Whom shall I dread? When the wicked came against me to eat up my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies, they stumbled and fell. Though an army encamp against me, My heart will not fear; Though war arise against me, Even in this I am confident. One thing I have asked of the Lord, and that I will seek: That I may dwell in the house of the Lord [in His presence] all the days of my life, To gaze upon the beauty [the delightful loveliness and majestic grandeur] of the Lord And to meditate in His temple. For in the day of trouble He will hide me in His shelter; In the secret place of His tent He will hide me; He will lift me up on a rock. And now my head will be lifted up above my enemies around me, In His tent I will offer sacrifices with shouts of joy; I will sing, yes, I will sing praises to the Lord. Hear, O Lord, when I cry aloud; Be gracious and compassionate to me and answer me. When You said, “Seek My face [in prayer, require My presence as your greatest need],” my heart said to You, “Your face, O Lord, I will seek [on the authority of Your word].” Do not hide Your face from me, Do not turn Your servant away in anger; You have been my help; Do not abandon me nor leave me, O God of my salvation! Although my father and my mother have abandoned me, Yet the Lord will take me up [adopt me as His child]. Teach me Your way, O Lord, And lead me on a level path Because of my enemies [who lie in wait]. Do not give me up to the will of my adversaries, For false witnesses have come against me; They breathe out violence. I would have despaired had I not believed that I would see the goodness of the Lord In the land of the living.Wait for and confidently expect the Lord; Be strong and let your heart take courage; Yes, wait for and confidently expect the Lord.”

“Equipped for the Valley” By In Touch Ministries:

“God's Word builds the foundation we need for withstanding life’s storms.”“It is tough to remember everything we learn from the Bible, but the more we retain, the more wisdom we’ll be able to recall during tough times. And toward that end, writing can become a powerful tool in our spiritual walk. Putting words on paper etches wisdom deeper into the heart and mind, which helps build a solid biblical foundation.Consider King David, who wrote many of the psalms. He had a consistent habit of recording truths about God. As a result, he was equipped for hardship. In yesterday’s psalm, for example, David said that he did not fear evil (Psalm 23:4). What did he have to be scared of when the One who controls everything was on his side (Ps. 27:1)? How could he be stifled by anxiety while in the Spirit’s comforting presence (Psalm 34:4)? David held God to His promises, but he had to know those assurances in order to rely on them.Writing is not necessary for our walk with God, but when we’re struggling, it can help us remember valuable truths— such as the fact that God is upholding us (Isaiah 41:10) and our hardship has purpose (Romans 5:3). As we recall these spiritual realities, our faith is strengthened. Then we can face subsequent challenges with a more solid foundation of trust.”

[fierysword]

1 Oh my God, why have You abandoned me? Why are You so distant from the sound of my groaning? Why do You fail to save me? 2 Every day I call, but You do not answer. Every night I cry, but You are silent. 3 Yet my people have always praised You for Your holiness. 4 When they trusted in You, You always delivered them. 5 When they cried to You, You came to their rescue again and again. When they put their confidence in You, You never let them down. 6 But I feel as if I were more worm than human. I am despised and scorned by everyone around me. 7 My captors deride me, shaking their heads and mocking me: 8 "She trusted in God. If God truly delights in her, let God rescue her!" 9 I know You as the One who took me from the womb. You cradled me upon my mother's breasts. 10 From my birth I have been cast upon You. Since my mother bore me, You alone have been my God. 11 Do not forsake me now that I am in trouble, with no one else to help! 12 I am surrounded by guards who look like strong bulls. 13 Their mocking mouths are like the jaws of ravenous beasts. 14 My bones are pulled apart, and my limbs are like water. My heart melts within me like hot wax. 15 My strength is dried up like baked and broken pottery. My tongue clings to my jaws. Is it You who lay me in the dust of death? 16 Evildoers surround me like dogs, piercing my hands and feet. 17 I am so starved I can count all my bones. See how they stare at me! 18 They gamble over my clothing, dividing it among them. 19 O God, do not be so far away. Help me! Hurry to my rescue. 20 Deliver my soul from their attacks, my body from their assaults! 21 Save me from their devouring mouths, their evil threats and thrusts. 22 Shaddai! You have answered me!... I will proclaim Your saving grace to all my sisters and brothers. I will praise You among the assembly of the faithful! 23 All you children of my people, glorify God, and stand in awe before Her! 24 For Shaddai has not ignored the suffering of the afflicted. She has not turned away from the cries of those in pain. 25 You, O God, are the theme of my praise in the congregation of Your people. I will pay my vows before those who revere You. 26 Now I know that the starved shall eat and be satisfied. All suffering seekers will someday praise You! May their hearts live forever! 27 All the ends of the earth shall remember and return, O God, to You! All the families of the nations shall worship before You, Shaddai! 28 For to You belongs true dominion; Your reign reaches to the ends of the earth. 29 All the wealthy, all the poor, all those ground down in the dust- together they will worship before You. 30 Their children shall also serve You, and tell the next generation, 31 who in turn will proclaim Your deliverance to a people yet unborn: "Hear the great things God has done for us!"

Psalm 22 (feminine translation from Swallow’s Nest: A Feminine Reading of the Psalms by Marchiene Rienstra)

Possible uses of this psalm:

Deliverance from despair (read by a Pink Candle to brighten your attitude and help find a solution to a difficult situation; repeat v19 for instant help and encouragement when discouraged)

Pray for protection during travel (against storms, animals, and humans)

Prayer of lament

Prayer of praise/gratitude

1 sourced from Power of the Psalms by Anna Riva & 2 sourced from My New Everyday Prayer Book by Brother ADA 

[theprayerfulword]

June 1

Ephesians 4:4-6 There is one body and one Spirit … 6 one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all.

Psalm 25:4-5 Show me your ways, O Lord, teach me your paths; 5 guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long.

Psalm 23:2-3 He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, 3 he refreshes my soul. He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.

Mark 10:45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.

Isaiah 61:3 …They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of his splendor.

Proverbs 3:6 In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight.

May you never forget the grace of God which has always been extended toward you, even when you were in rebellion toward Him, so how much more now. 2 Samuel 18

May you remember that the battle is the Lord's, for as you do your part in resisting the enemy, you will find that those who are for you are greater than those who are against you, and the Lord will cause even the forest or the storm or the sea to rise up and overwhelm those that you cannot. 2 Samuel 18

May you set your affections on things above, recognizing and submitting to the hand of God in the events of your life, giving praise to the Lord in all things, that He may be free to accomplish His will. 2 Samuel 18, Colossians 3

May you not sorrow for the things of the earth which defy the will of God, or set your desires on the things of this world which are in rebellion against the Lord, but be about the Father's business, walking in the responsibilities He has given you, and trust Him to do what is impossible for men. 2 Samuel 19, Mark 10

May you seek the Lord early, even when you have no hope left, for even in sorrow, the promises of the Lord can bring joy to all who see and believe. John 20

May you have eyes to see Jesus, and revelation to recognize Him, without personal restriction, in the many times, and places, and ways in which He makes Himself available for you to see Him. John 20

May the Lord look upon your suffering, defending your cause, and deliver you through His redemption, preserving your life according to His promise, for you have not forgotten His law. Psalm 119

May you not turn from God's statutes, though there are many foes who persecute you, for the Lord, Whose compassion is great, preserves your life according to His laws, though salvation is far from the wicked since they do not seek out His decrees. Psalm 119

May you love the Lord's precepts, for all His words are true and all His laws are eternally righteous, therefore He will preserve your life according to His love, which is far from the faithless and the transgressors who care nothing for God's Word. Psalm 119

May you tremble at God's Word and rejoice in the Lord's promise for, though rulers persecute you without cause, you find great treasure in His truth. Psalm 119

What is your desire, My child? What do you seek as treasured and valuable enough to give your time and strength to locating and possessing? What are you willing to fight for and do battle over? Does your heart yearn for recognition by others and to be seen by all? Know, My bright one, that in Christ you are the light of the world, shining in the darkness, a city set on a hill, unable to be hid; therefore be strong in battle when powers of darkness seek to cover your light. Speak My words when you should, go against the crowd when I lead, do not deny My light within you, flee sin that would dim the light of My truth, show My love by meeting the needs of others. Is youth and vigor what you cling to, and struggle daily to keep it from slipping away? Come near to Me, My thirsty one, and allow Me to plant you beside the always-flowing river of living water. Sink your roots into the rich soil of the river-bank and satisfy your hunger and thirst as nothing in the world's culture of youth-worship has ever done for you. You will not be idolized by fickle fans, but you will be sought-out for your fruit and desired for the healing of your leaves, bringing comfort for your shade and joy for your beauty and strength which never wither but only increase over time. Whatever your heart's desire, My searching one, find it fulfilled in Me; let Me be your all in all. Know that I am all you need, and even more than you conceive. I bring the light and the dark into your life that is essential to growth and balanced development, just as I brought to the very first day at creation and established as an unbreakable covenant since that time. Recognize, My wondering one, that the dew of grace which refreshes comes during the dark, and the stars of My promises are never seen more gloriously than in the night of grief. Each hour has its duty, and each season has its work; I know your needs, My precious one, and I bring you all that you have need of, each in its proper time.

May you love God's law even as you hate and abhor falsehood, praising Him many times each day for His righteous laws. Psalm 119

May you love His law and wait for the Lord's salvation for then you will have great peace and nothing can make you stumble. Psalm 119

May you keep and obey God's statues, loving them greatly, for all your ways are known to Him. Psalm 119

May your cry and supplication come before the Lord, Who gives you understanding according to His Word and delivers you according to His promise. Psalm 119

May your lips overflow with praise as your tongue sings of God's Word for He teaches you His commands and decrees which are all righteous. Psalm 119

May you choose the precepts of the Lord, for His hand will be ready to help you since the law of the Lord delights you and the salvation of the Lord fills your longing. Psalm 119

May you not forget God's commands, for though you stray as a lost sheep, He will seek you and let you live that you may praise Him as His laws sustain you. Psalm 119

May you be wise enough to appease the King of kings, making peace with Him, and avoid the messengers of death sent to those under His wrath. Proverbs 16:14

May you receive the favor of the King of kings, for in the light of His countenance is life, and His clemency is refreshing like a spring rain. Proverbs 16:15