#Psalm 115:3-9

[granonine]

Trust in the Lord!

Psalm 115: 3-9. But our God is in the heavens: He hath done whatsoever He hath pleased. Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men’s hands. They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not: They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not: They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through…

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Living His Word

Why should the nations wonder where our God is? Our God is in heaven, and he does whatever he wants. — Psalm 115:2-3

God dwells in heaven. Although He has partially revealed Himself in visible, earthly terms on occasion to His prophets (see, for example, Exodus 33:19-23 and Isaiah 6:1-4), in general, He is invisible to people. In the future, the story will be different. In the future, after the return of Jesus Christ, God will dwell on earth, and all those who believed in Him even though they never saw Him, will see His face (Revelation 22:1-4). For now, however, we believe in Him without seeing Him in His heavenly glory.

Because He is unseen, people wonder about our God. They wonder where He is, if He really exists, and why we believe in Him. Why believe in a God who cannot be directly seen or heard? That's why false religions have set up alternative gods and God-substitutes that they can see. For them, sensory access is a minimum requirement for belief. For them, sensory access is a must, even if it means elevating a mere creature to divine status, even if it means accepting a paltry substitute for God.

Although God may not be seen, He's still God. He's in heaven, and He does whatever He wants. He's not a man-made god that has been specifically constructed to affirm the limited and faulty expectations of mere human beings. He rules and reigns over all things on His own terms despite what unbelieving people may think. His plans and purposes are heavenly, and as such, they are right and good. They may seem to us to be inscrutable and mysterious at times, but the Bible tells us that His ways and thoughts are high above us (Isaiah 55:8-9).

We don't need to worry that we have an imaginary God, because we can see the evidence of Him all around us. You may not be able to directly see His heavenly glory, but you can see Him and His rule and reign indirectly in everything He has made (Romans 1:20). Moreover, the words of the Bible reveal Him in even more clear and explicit terms.

Be confident — our God is the creator and sustainer of the universe, and one day we will behold Him. Until then, believe in Him and submit to Him.

© 2024 by Bible League International

[scribeforchrist-blog]

The Sovereignty of the Almighty God

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Proverbs 16:7 When a man's ways please the Lord, he makes even his enemies to be at peace with him.

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VERSE OF THE DAY

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+ Genesis 1:1  In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

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

I AM FREE

I AM LOVED BY GOD

I AM BLESSED

I AM ACKNOWLEDGING GOD

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READ TIME : 7 Minutes & 11 Seconds

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THOUGHTS:

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What does sovereign mean? God is in complete control over our lives; he is in complete control over heaven and earth; we might think, we run our lives, but we don’t; everything that happens down to the very second of our lives is controlled by His power, wisdom, and authority, and God can do anything He chooses within His creation. 

  God will never force us to do anything; no, but whatever God wants to happen, it will happen he can speak it and it will come to pass , the sovereignty of God explains a little more about God that we didn’t know here’s some verse to help explain SOVEREIGNTY of God

 • Psalms 115 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all he pleases.

 

•Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.

 

•Psalm 103:19 The Lord has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules overall.

     The first verse says he does all that he pleases, and whatever he wants to do will stand, and he rules over everything in the world; we might think he doesn’t, but he does; someone might say there's no way God is in control because if he was why did he let this happen to me but God allow the the good and the bad to happen to us, we learned that a few weeks ago in our devotional. Job said it, Job was a man who experienced so much grief, but he still realized that God is sovereign

     He realized that God made the situation according to what he liked, and it was something that he had to deal with, but God will always be merciful. He will always be gracious to us because we are his children. He’s not going to stand there and be unkind even though some people describe him in that way, but that’s not him at all. God is such a forgiving God to his creation look at the Israelites how many times they will sin against him and he came back and saved them from their punishment.

  Proverbs 16:9 The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.

   The lord's plans will always stand; we might think it’s going our way, but God establish our steps;we might not like it, but as we grow in God, we will learn to accept his we will , we will learn to accept his plans because he is God alone! God doesn’t want us to be robotic in anyway he wants us to acknowledge him in everything we do , he wants us to rely on him and some of us find that hard but knowing that One God can maintain this world shows he can maintain all of our lives .

   2 Samuel 7:5-6 5 “Go and tell my servant, David, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you the one to build me a house to dwell in? 6 I have not dwelt in a house from the day I brought the Israelites up out of Egypt to this day. I have been moving from place to place with a tent as my dwelling.

    David wanted to build a temple, but God said, no, not you, David, someone else; you have too much blood on your hands he said I will let your son do it. You think that’s what David wanted to hear, but David still accepted what God wanted to do. Being sovereign means, he’s over the weather, the environment, and our lives; he’s over everything, and everything happens for a reason.

  Psalm 90:2 Before the mountains were born or you brought forth the whole world,

from everlasting to everlasting, you are God.

  This is one of many Psalms Moses wrote, and as Moses was walking, he saw the mountains and realized that God was here before the mountains. Can you imagine that that God was here before anything was here? Moses acknowledged that this is hard for many people to comprehend because when we read in the beginning, he created these things, which means nothing was here; he chose the color, how things flowed, and everything in between that shows the power of God.

    In his great power, he decided to give us free will in our lives.

•   Proverbs 16:1: The heart's plans belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the Lord.

    •John 7:17 If anyone's will is to do God's will, he will know whether the teaching is from God or whether I am speaking on my authority.

  Because he gave us this will, he wants us to come to him, praise him, and follow him. He could make us, but he doesn’t want that ; he lets our decisions be ours. He whether for us to have a strong desire to be with him . Do you have a strong desire to be in the presence of the Great God Almighty??

    ***Today, we learned about SOVEREIGNTY, and honestly, the Holy Spirit could allow me to go on and on about it, but because of time, I can’t; what we learned is the bit of minor control we have is given to us to render to God. We don’t know which way to go; we don’t know his will until we pray , but whatever he has planned for us, we must allow it to stand, and allow him to show us the way.

   Genesis 1:1 In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth.

  It tells us he created heaven and earth; we might think he had help or that it was created and he just showed up; no, my friends, God even created that, and when we are serving a fantastic God like that, we have no other choice but to bow before the king and serve him, serve him with praise and glory and honor the sovereignty of God is such a significant topic. I pray that you all learned something from reading this or maybe bring more light to it. Still, I pray it touches you; just let this be a reminder to you that he is over everything because he’s all-powerful! ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father, we thank you for everything we have; we give you praises, glory, and honor; Father, we thank you for being who you are and allowing us to worship you in spirit and truth. Father, we give you every aspect of our lives to do whatever we want; lord, help us to be obedient even when it’s tough! Lord, we thank you for the wisdom and knowledge you have given us , we ask that you help us grow in you. In Jesus Name Amen.

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REFERENCES

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+ Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is and who was and who is to come, the Almighty.”

 

+ Psalm 93:2 Your throne is established from old; you are from everlasting.

 

+ Habakkuk 1:12 Are you not from everlasting, O Lord my God, my Holy One? We shall not die. O Lord, you have ordained them as a judgment, and you, O Rock, have established them for reproof.

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FURTHER READINGS

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Proverbs 13

Leviticus 13

Habakkuk 3

Genesis 1

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[stcecelia]

Women in Scripture Day One: Eve

(first off, sorry for the delay in post. We have class every Tuesday evening, but this week has been crazy with work and also starting my online college classes. anyway on to my notes ! )

It seems very fitting that for our first lesson on women in scriptures this semester, we discussed the very first woman in the scriptures: Eve

To start the class, our instructor posed us the question: "How does Eve's life and example deepen my conversion to the Savior?"

Then we began reading scripture. We bounced between the book of Moses and the book of Genesis, but I mainly used the book of Moses since it's the JST :)

The first Scripture we read was Moses 3:18, which reads, "And I, the Lord God, said unto mine Only Begotten, that it was not good that the man should be alone; wherefore, I will make an help meet for him."

To be honest, I was never a fan of this verse. I didn't like the implication that God created women only to be a helper to men. That seems to be the most widely held belief in the general christendom; God created women second, and only to be subservient and submissive. Lower in rank and duty and worth.

You could say I've been a feminist my entire life, even well before I knew what the word was or its meaning (my mom tells me that when I was little, I used to constantly ask why when I turned twelve I wouldn't be able to get the priesthood like my twin brother would. It didn't seem fair to me as a young child that had been told my entire life growing up I as a girl could do anything a boy could do, and it still didn't for a good portion of my life. It was only until a couple years ago that I really grasped why, and was ok with it). So this idea that in my God's eyes I was lesser than any man angered me. I believe I wasn't put on this earth to be a lower, side-kick, passive, baby-making, subdued woman that would sit idly by while the more important men in my life made decisions and gained educations and ruled over me.

But here's the thing, that was never Heavenly Father's intention for me, or for Eve.

In the original Hebrew scripture, the word for "help meet" is "Ezer Kenegdo". "Ezer" means "help", but not in the way our modern English language would suggest. Instead of just being a passive helper, being an "Ezer" means to strengthen, protect, and provide sanctuary. "Ezer" was used twenty-one other times in the Old Testament, and was only otherwise used to describe protection against the greatest forces of evil, from armies, and for divine guidance and strength for all of humankind. Here are a few of these verses:

Exodus 18:4 "For the God of my Father, said he, was mine help [ezer] and delivered me from the sword of Pharaoh." Psalm 115:9 "O Israel, thou has destroyed thyself, but in me is thine help [ezer]." Hosea 13:9 "In me [the Lord] is thy help [ezer]."

With this knowledge we can say with absolute certainty that to be an "Ezer" is to be a stand in for God's protection and love.

"Kenegdo" is generally thought by scholar's to mean "opposite or corresponding to". Like a puzzle piece, is what my instructor said.

Combining these two words together, we know that God created Eve to be a different but important and equal counterpart to Adam, with special power to comfort and protect against evil. How wonderful is that!!! Whenever we as women serve or help protect our communities and families, we are fulfilling our God given roles as ezer kenegdos.

And this was just the first half of class!

For the second half, we discussed the story of Eve being tempted by Satan to eat the fruit of the tree of knowledge, which led to her telling Adam to eat of the fruit, which led to their expulsion from the garden.

There are a few students in the institute who converted to the church only recently, and shared their previous religions perspectives on this scripture. That Eve was stupid and foolish, easily tricked by a much smarter man, and cursed all of mankind with the Fall that we should live in evil and misery and sin. But we are blessed to know, through living prophets and modern revelation, that the Fall was a necessary part of Heavenly Father's plan. In order for us to become more like Him, we need to have knowledge.

Lehi taught Jacob, "....wherefore they would have remained in a state of innocence, having no joy, for they knew no misery; doing no good, for they knew no sin". It reminds me of the final season of The Good Place, which is one of my favorite TV shows of all time, where when the protagonists finally make it up to heaven they find that the constant state of happiness has become insurmountably boring, and there's no real joy to be found. We can only appreciate wonderful things if we know what it means to be miserable.

2 Nephi 2:25 (the best scripture verse, IMO) sums it up entirely for us: "Adam fell that men might be, and men are that they might have joy."

Eve knew this, and she made the right decision. She was never remorseful, saying "were it not for our transgressions we ... never should have known good and evil, and the joy of our redemption, and the eternal life which God giveth unto all the obedient" (Moses 5:11).

So, how does Eve's life deepen my conversion to the Savior? Through her, I can be an ezer to the people in my life, and can comfort myself with the knowledge that through her's and Adam's transgression, I can find greater knowledge on both spiritual and worldly matters, and make mistakes that will lead me to grow closer to my Heavenly Parents. Through the "Fall" and the Gospel of our Savior Jesus Christ, I can repent for my sins and imperfections and develop into the woman God knows I can and will become

Amen!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

2nd June >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Solemnity of The Most Holy Body and Blood of Christ

(Liturgical Colour: White. Year: B(II))

First Reading Exodus 24:3-8 This is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you.

Moses went and told the people all the commands of the Lord and all the ordinances. In answer, all the people said with one voice, ‘We will observe all the commands that the Lord has decreed.’ Moses put all the commands of the Lord into writing, and early next morning he built an altar at the foot of the mountain, with twelve standing-stones for the twelve tribes of Israel. Then he directed certain young Israelites to offer holocausts and to immolate bullocks to the Lord as communion sacrifices. Half of the blood Moses took up and put into basins, the other half he cast on the altar. And taking the Book of the Covenant he read it to the listening people, and they said, ‘We will observe all that the Lord has decreed; we will obey.’ Then Moses took the blood and cast it towards the people. ‘This,’ he said, ‘is the blood of the Covenant that the Lord has made with you, containing all these rules.’

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 115(116):12-13,15-18

R/ The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

How can I repay the Lord for his goodness to me? The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

R/ The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

O precious in the eyes of the Lord is the death of his faithful. Your servant, Lord, your servant am I; you have loosened my bonds.

R/ The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

A thanksgiving sacrifice I make; I will call on the Lord’s name. My vows to the Lord I will fulfil before all his people.

R/ The cup of salvation I will raise; I will call on the Lord’s name.

Second Reading Hebrews 9:11-15 The blood of Christ can purify our inner self.

Now Christ has come, as the high priest of all the blessings which were to come. He has passed through the greater, the more perfect tent, which is better than the one made by men’s hands because it is not of this created order; and he has entered the sanctuary once and for all, taking with him not the blood of goats and bull calves, but his own blood, having won an eternal redemption for us. The blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a heifer are sprinkled on those who have incurred defilement and they restore the holiness of their outward lives; how much more effectively the blood of Christ, who offered himself as the perfect sacrifice to God through the eternal Spirit, can purify our inner self from dead actions so that we do our service to the living God. He brings a new covenant, as the mediator, only so that the people who were called to an eternal inheritance may actually receive what was promised: his death took place to cancel the sins that infringed the earlier covenant.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Sequence Lauda, Sion

(The Sequence may be said or sung in full, or using the shorter form indicated by the asterisked verses)

Sing forth, O Zion, sweetly sing The praises of thy Shepherd-King, In hymns and canticles divine; Dare all thou canst, thou hast no song Worthy his praises to prolong, So far surpassing powers like thine.

Today no theme of common praise Forms the sweet burden of thy lays – The living, life-dispensing food – That food which at the sacred board Unto the brethren twelve our Lord His parting legacy bestowed.

Then be the anthem clear and strong, Thy fullest note, thy sweetest song, The very music of the breast: For now shines forth the day sublime That brings remembrance of the time When Jesus first his table blessed.

Within our new King’s banquet-hall They meet to keep the festival That closed the ancient paschal rite: The old is by the new replaced; The substance hath the shadow chased; And rising day dispels the night.

Christ willed what he himself had done Should be renewed while time should run, In memory of his parting hour: Thus, tutored in his school divine, We consecrate the bread and wine; And lo – a Host of saving power.

This faith to Christian men is given – Bread is made flesh by words from heaven: Into his blood the wine is turned: What though it baffles nature’s powers Of sense and sight? This faith of ours Proves more than nature e’er discerned.

Concealed beneath the two-fold sign, Meet symbols of the gifts divine, There lie the mysteries adored: The living body is our food; Our drink the ever-precious blood; In each, one undivided Lord.

Not he that eateth it divides The sacred food, which whole abides Unbroken still, nor knows decay; Be one, or be a thousand fed, They eat alike that living bread Which, still received, ne’er wastes away.

The good, the guilty share therein, With sure increase of grace or sin, The ghostly life, or ghostly death: Death to the guilty; to the good Immortal life. See how one food Man’s joy or woe accomplisheth.

We break the Sacrament, but bold And firm thy faith shall keep its hold, Deem not the whole doth more enfold Than in the fractured part resides Deem not that Christ doth broken lie, ’Tis but the sign that meets the eye, The hidden deep reality In all its fullness still abides.

– – – – – –

*Behold the bread of angels, sent For pilgrims in their banishment, The bread for God’s true children meant, That may not unto dogs be given: Oft in the olden types foreshowed; In Isaac on the altar bowed, And in the ancient paschal food, And in the manna sent from heaven.

*Come then, good shepherd, bread divine, Still show to us thy mercy sign; Oh, feed us still, still keep us thine; So may we see thy glories shine In fields of immortality;

*O thou, the wisest, mightiest, best, Our present food, our future rest, Come, make us each thy chosen guest, Co-heirs of thine, and comrades blest With saints whose dwelling is with thee. Amen. Alleluia.

Gospel Acclamation John 6:51

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the living bread which has come down from heaven, says the Lord. Anyone who eats this bread will live for ever. Alleluia!

Gospel Mark 14:12-16,22-26 This is my body; this is my blood.

On the first day of Unleavened Bread, when the Passover lamb was sacrificed, his disciples said to Jesus, ‘Where do you want us to go and make the preparations for you to eat the passover?’ So he sent two of his disciples, saying to them, ‘Go into the city and you will meet a man carrying a pitcher of water. Follow him, and say to the owner of the house which he enters, “The Master says: Where is my dining room in which I can eat the passover with my disciples?” He will show you a large upper room furnished with couches, all prepared. Make the preparations for us there.’ The disciples set out and went to the city and found everything as he had told them, and prepared the Passover. And as they were eating he took some bread, and when he had said the blessing he broke it and gave it to them. ‘Take it,’ he said ‘this is my body.’ Then he took a cup, and when he had returned thanks he gave it to them, and all drank from it, and he said to them, ‘This is my blood, the blood of the covenant, which is to be poured out for many. I tell you solemnly, I shall not drink any more wine until the day I drink the new wine in the kingdom of God.’ After psalms had been sung they left for the Mount of Olives.

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[pugzman3]

Psalms chapter 115

1 Not unto us, O LORD, not unto us, but unto thy name give glory, for thy mercy, and for thy truth's sake.

2 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is now their God?

3 But our God is in the heavens: he hath done whatsoever he hath pleased.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.

5 They have mouths, but they speak not: eyes have they, but they see not:

6 They have ears, but they hear not: noses have they, but they smell not:

7 They have hands, but they handle not: feet have they, but they walk not: neither speak they through their throat.

8 They that make them are like unto them; so is every one that trusteth in them.

9 O Israel, trust thou in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

10 O house of Aaron, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

11 Ye that fear the LORD, trust in the LORD: he is their help and their shield.

12 The LORD hath been mindful of us: he will bless us; he will bless the house of Israel; he will bless the house of Aaron.

13 He will bless them that fear the LORD, both small and great.

14 The LORD shall increase you more and more, you and your children.

15 Ye are blessed of the LORD which made heaven and earth.

16 The heaven, even the heavens, are the LORD'S: but the earth hath he given to the children of men.

17 The dead praise not the LORD, neither any that go down into silence.

18 But we will bless the LORD from this time forth and for evermore. Praise the LORD.

[hiswordsarekisses]

This: “If there’s a single event in all the universe that can occur outside of God’s control, then we cannot trust him.

Confidence in God’s sovereignty in all that affects us is crucial to our trusting him.

His love may be infinite, but if his power is limited and his purpose can be thwarted, we cannot trust him.”

~ Jerry Bridges

Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases. Psalm 115:3

When I read this verse in psalm 115, I am reminded that many may read it and be discouraged. But if you KNOW The One you have believed, you can only rejoice and know deep in your knower that He is GOOD, and all of His ways with us are loving and purposeful, strategic and caring, unerring and perfect.

To have faith is to KNOW this God and to believe in His goodness.

The Bible says He does not afflict or grieve His children from His heart ~ it does not give Him pleasure. (Lamentations 3:33)

So if He has allowed some hard things in your life they are there for a purpose. Rather than focus on these things, focus on the GOOD GOD Who has allowed them and pray that His will and purposes in allowing it is accomplished.

Bad things send us to His feet, His heart, and His Word. Bad things cause us to be stretched in our faith and grow stronger. Sometimes bad things are consequences we have brought on ourselves - but still He is good even in our consequences! Bad things equal good things in the hand of the Lord. We can trust Him with it all.

Knowing the goodness of God, we can say with confidence: “I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day. 2ndTimothy 1:12

“God’s sovereignty does not begin at death. His sovereign direction in our lives even precedes our births. God rules as surely on earth as he does in heaven. He permits, for reasons known only to himself, people to act contrary to and in defiance of his revealed will. But he never permits them to act contrary to his sovereign will.

Our plans can succeed only when they are consistent with God’s purpose, and no plan can succeed against him.

(Proverbs 16:9; 19:21; 21:30).

No one can straighten what he makes crooked or make crooked what he has made straight (Ecclesiastes 7:13).

No one can say, "I’ll do this or that," and have it happen if it is not part of God’s sovereign will (James 4:15).

~ Jerry Bridges

[bibleversegarden]

Heartstrings: Glorious Praise to the God of Heaven and Earth

Praising God from a pure heart, acknowledging Him in all of our ways, is pleasing in His sight. He is God, Creator, and Ruler of all. We have no life apart from Him. The life of every living creature, and the breath of all mankind is in His hand. (See Job 12:10)

He has no pleasure in disloyal hearts. (See 1 Samuel 15:20-23, Isaiah 29:13-14, Ezekiel 33:31-32, and John 4:21-24)

"Let us lift our hearts and hands to God in heaven." (Lamentations 3:41)

"Oh come, let us sing to the Lord! Let us shout joyfully to the Rock of our salvation. Let us come before His presence with thanksgiving; let us shout joyfully to Him with psalms. For the Lord is the great God, and the great King above all gods. In His hand are the deep places of the earth; the heights of the hills are His also. The sea is His, for He made it; and His hands formed the dry land. Oh come, let us worship and bow down; let us kneel before the Lord our Maker. For He is our God, and we are the people of His pasture, and the sheep of His hand." (Psalm 95:1-7)

See Also: Psalm 1, Psalm 2, Psalm 3, Psalm 4, Psalm 5, Psalm 7, Psalm 8, Psalm 9, Psalm 13, Psalm 16, Psalm 18, Psalm 19, Psalm 22, Psalm 23, Psalm 24, Psalm 27, Psalm 28, Psalm 29, Psalm 30, Psalm 33, Psalm 34, Psalm 42, Psalm 43, Psalm 47, Psalm 48, Psalm 50, Psalm 64, Psalm 65, Psalm 66, Psalm 67, Psalm 75, Psalm 81, Psalm 89, Psalm 92, Psalm 98, Psalm 99, Psalm 100, Psalm 101, Psalm 103, Psalm 104, Psalm 105, Psalm 106, Psalm 107, Psalm 108, Psalm 111, Psalm 112, Psalm 113, Psalm 115, Psalm 117, Psalm 118, Psalm 134, Psalm 138, Psalm 144, Psalm 145, Psalm 146, Psalm 147, Psalm 148, Psalm 149, Psalm 150

For deeper meditation, read the entire Book of Psalms.

Speak to one another, in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make melody in your heart to the Lord, giving thanks always, for all things to God the Father, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. {Ephesians 5:19}

- A Walk In The Garden Devotions

[mstexalicious1961]

DOTK

devotion by Kesha Trippett

Prayer Over Children

Father God, I ask your forgiveness and cancel every word I have spoken over my children that does not align with your word. I speak out my mouth what you say, until I see what you say. According to Isaiah 54:13, all of my children are taught of the Lord, and great is their peace. My seed are mighty upon the earth (Psalms 112:2). Father God, I pray you will pour out your Spirit upon my seed and your blessing upon my offspring (Isaiah 44:3). I reverence you Lord and I pray you will increase me more and more, me and my children (Psalms 115:13-14). My children are mighty arrows in my quiver, pointed at the kingdom of darkness, and will be used greatly for your glory (Psalms 127:4). They are ten times wiser than their peers, possessing a healthy fear and reverence of the Lord (Daniel 1:20; Proverbs 9:10). They are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, your own special people, that they may proclaim the praises of Him who called them out of darkness into His marvelous light (1 Peter 2:9). In Jesus name, Amen.

[albertfinch]

Daily Meditations And Affirmations - October 15, 2024

Believers must be consciously aware that it is always the season to be a prepared Bride (read Matthew 25). It is always the season to be a wise virgin, pure in heart and prepared as you are bearing fruit that remains for His Kingdom through your Christ calling, longing for your Bridegroom to come.

The oil of intimacy is costly, but it cannot be purchased by anyone else for you (Matthew 25:9).  As we lay down our lives for the Lord and as we seek Him in intimacy, devoting our lives to advancing His Kingdom in the earth and to His presence, we will store up His Spirit's oil. It's not the time to be complacent in purchasing oil.

"Then the Kingdom of Heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went to meet the bridegroom. Five of them were foolish, and five were wise. For when the foolish took their lamps, they took no oil with them... And while they were going to buy, the bridegroom came, and those who were ready went in with him to the marriage feast, and the door was shut. Afterward the other virgins came also, saying, 'Lord, lord, open to us.' But he answered, 'Truly, I say to you, I do not know you.' Watch therefore, for you know neither the day nor the hour." (Matthew 25:1–3; 10–13)

Psalm 115:16 - "The highest heavens belong to the LORD, but the earth He has given to mankind."

We were born to dominate earth, not heaven. That is why heaven is always a temporary excursion for the human spirit; it is not our territory.

Without a clear understanding of God's purpose for our life, life becomes an experiment.  Where purpose is not known, abuse is inevitable. Without purpose activity has no meaning and time and energy are misused.  Purpose determines what is right.  Purpose protects us from doing something good at the expense of the right.

Repent - means to stop, turn around, and go in the opposite direction -- a complete change of mind and thinking -- a whole new mentality -- and a complete change of life direction. This suggests action, but action follows thinking.  Before we can turn around, we have to decide to turn around.

Jesus's purpose was twofold:  1. To proclaim the arrival of God's kingdom and, 2. through His blood make it possible for us to advance His Kingdom without interruption throughout the whole earth.

God’s purpose is to have us advance His Kingdom over the whole earth through our Christ calling as we deploy the great commission. (Matthew 28:19)

Affirmations:

I forget those things which are behind and reach forth to the calling God has put into my heart.  I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 3:14,15)

I continually ask, seek, and knock concerning the things God has prepared for me as a spiritual mentor because Jesus says I will receive, find, and it will be opened for me.  (Matthew 7:7,8)

I have the mind of Christ Jesus.  (Philippians 2:5)

ALBERT FINCH MINISTRY

[humbleservantprayerwall]

Daily Devotionals 10-05-2024

(Reading Your Bible Daily Is Fundamental) Verses of the Day: 1 Kings 19:8/1 Peter 2:5/1 Corinthians 10:31/2 Corinthians 6:2/2 Peter 3:8-9/Exodus 33:19-23/Genesis 35:2-3/Genesis 3:6/Hebrews 10:37/Habakkuk 2:2-3/Isaiah 6:1-4/Isaiah 55:6-9/Isaiah 64:1-4/John 3:36/Mark 16:16/Matthew 16:18/Matthew 28:19-20/Mark 7:9/Matthew 13:14-15/Mark 7:21-23/Matthew 7:13-14/Psalm 32:10/Psalm 115:2-3/Psalm…

[mybeautifulchristianjourney]

Jonah Disobeys God and Flees

1 So the word of the Lord came to Jonah son of Amittai: 2 “Get up. Go to Nineveh, the great city, and preach against it, for its people’s evil way has come up before me.”

3 But Jonah set out to flee to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. He paid the fare and boarded the ship to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord.

4 But the Lord hurled a great wind onto the sea, and there was such a great storm on the sea that the ship was about to break apart. 5 The sailors were afraid, and each one cried out to his gods. They threw the ship’s cargo into the sea to lighten the ship’s load.

Jonah had gone down into the hold of the ship. He was lying down and sleeping soundly. 6 The captain approached him and said, “How can you be sleeping so soundly? Get up and call on your god! Maybe your god will treat us with favor so that we will not perish.”

7 Then the sailors said to each other, “Come on, let’s cast lots so that we can find out whose fault it is that this disaster has come to us.” So they cast lots, and the lot fell on Jonah.

8 So they said to him, “Please tell us whose fault it is that this disaster has come to us! What is your occupation? Where do you come from? What is your country? What people are you from?”

9 He answered, “I am a Hebrew, and I fear the Lord, the God of Heaven, who made the sea and the dry land.”

10 Then the men were terrified and said to him, “What have you done?” The men already knew that he was fleeing from the presence of the Lord, because he had told them so.

11 Then, because the storm on the sea kept getting worse, they said to him, “What should we do to you, to quiet the sea that is raging against us?”

12 He said to them, “Pick me up and throw me into the sea. Then the sea will calm down for you, for I know that this violent storm striking against you has come about because of me.”

13 Instead, the men rowed hard to return the ship to dry land, but they could not, because the storm on the sea kept getting worse for them. 14 So they cried out to the Lord and said, “Please, Lord, please do not let us perish because of this man’s life, and do not charge innocent blood against us, for you, Lord, have done as you pleased.” 15 So they picked Jonah up and threw him into the sea, and the sea stopped its raging. 16 Then the men feared the Lord greatly, and they offered a sacrifice to the Lord and made vows.

17 Then the Lord provided a large fish to swallow Jonah, and Jonah was in the belly of the fish three days and three nights. — Jonah 1 | Evangelical Heritage Version (EHV) The Holy Bible, Evangelical Heritage Version®, EHV®, © 2019 Wartburg Project, Inc. All rights reserved. Cross References: Genesis 10:11; Genesis 14:13; Genesis 47:3; Exodus 1:15; Numbers 32:23; Deuteronomy 21:8; Joshua 7:19; 2 Samuel 12:22; 2 Samuel 24:17; 1 Chronicles 21:17; Job 27:22; Psalm 50:14; Psalm 65:7; Psalm 66:13-14; Psalm 93:3-4; Psalm 107:23; Psalm 107:25; Psalm 107:28; Psalm 115:3; Jonah 2:10; Matthew 12:39; Matthew 12:40-41; Matthew 16:4; Acts 1:23; Acts 9:36; Acts 9:38; Acts 27:18-19

[scribeforchrist-blog]

In The Orchestra Of God

MEMORY VERSE OF THE WEEK

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+ Romans 6:2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer

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VERSE OF THE DAY 

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+ Psalm 127:1 Unless the Lord builds a house,the work of the builders is wasted.

Unless the Lord protects a city, guarding it with sentries will do no good.

‭‭=========================

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

I AM NO GOOD WITHOUT GOD

I AM HIS

I AM FOCUSED

I AM HIS INSTRUMENT

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THOUGHTS:

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

   We can start any task we want, I mean anything; we can build a computer from scrapes or a car, we can run for mayor or president, we can go to school and get any degree, start a business with our own two hands, we can do anything we place our mind on, but at the end of the day, the Lord is telling us through this verse

IF HE DIDN’T build it , IF IT WASN’T started with him,IF IT WASN’T in his will IT. IS. A. waste of time, because whether we believe this is or not that everything must be done in the will of God, not ours, God gives us free will to do what we like, when we like , but we must do what his will is for our life ,so before we do anything we must do two things . Seek his will and give him credit for EVERYTHING.

We have to understand that God wants to be part of our lives every day; he wants to be included in our plans; he wants us to talk to him every day; he wants us to place nothing before him, and he wants us to love him and mediate on his word day and night.

   The next part of this verse says that unless the lord protects a city by guarding it with sentries, what sentries mean soldiers, so unless the city is protected with and by God placing guards near the entrance or in the city is no good it won't help, we can build whatever we want to block anything anyone out of a city. We can put any ADT security system on every house or Ring Door Bell;if God isn't who we say protects our house, it won't happen because God's strength is what keeps us and protect us from things seen and unseen. 

  " 1 Corinthians 3:7 So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth."

   It tells us here that we can get the best pastors and teachers to plant a seed of understanding; we can even have one of those pastors to water it, but it doesn't matter at all because God grows it; God is in control of everything and the moment we get this we will totally understand that our life isn't our own, as much as Paul had other plans to go kill a bunch of folks ,Jesus said no, he was immediately stopped and turned around, God controls everything even when Abraham gave his wife to Abimelek God blocked it and told Abimelek no you can't do this, see even if we say yes. God says no; it will always be left up to God. Now, sometimes, God will let us do whatever we like so we can see that he's in control.  We discussed on Sunday in the devotional Avoiding Bitter Fruit that God is in control, and we must follow. 

 •Psalm 115: 3 Our God is in the heavens; he does all that he pleases.

•Isaiah 14:24 The Lord of hosts has sworn: “As I have planned, so shall it be, and as I have purposed, so shall it stand,

•Job 12:10 In his hand is the life of every living thing and the breath of all mankind.

  God is in control of everything; we can try to go against this, but the Holy Spirit wants us to understand that in this through our devotionals this week that, our lives belong to God on high, everything that has breath must surrender to him alone, and that whatever you're doing in your life if you think that you're controlling it your not we must render whatever control we have and give it unto God now. 

  Isaish 55:8-9 For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the LORD.  “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.” 

  We will never understand God; he will give us fragments for us to know him, but our thoughts will never be his thoughts, our ways will never be his ways, and we will always be outside of everything, wondering about his mystery and glory and the reason being for us to continue to seek him if we know everything we will have no reason to seek him. Still, as long as we are curious and engaging and reading and talking to him, we will always wonder and need more and more.

***Today seek God give him praise , give him everything your suppose to render unto him because in today’s devotional as we can see that it means nothing until we give ourselves to him, we aren’t protected through our hands but his , we aren’t alive because of our body it’s because he says so , we are given opportunities each time to give God praise to give everything unto him honor , but it’s up to us to do it .

A lot of times we will forget because we like to get pats on the back but really and truly we aren’t due any praise we are just instruments in his orchestra and until we realize that we will always lack, give God credit in everything , and hear him when he speaks to you ! ©Seer~ Prophetess Lee

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PRAYER

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Heavenly Father we come to you today asking that you forgive us of any sins we have done . Help us to apply this lesson to our lives ! Lord we are sorry if we said that we are in control when we aren’t , we render control to you right now . Lord we also ask that you be with us and help us to hear your voice . Help us to stop when you say stop , help us to speak when you say speak help us to not just do it one day but every day help us to be a living sacrifice for you , use us father God ! Help us to seek you with our whole heart and not parts , lord we love you and need you in Jesus Name Amen

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REFERENCES 

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+ Job 2:10 But Job replied, “You talk like a foolish woman. Should we accept only good things from the hand of God and never anything bad?” So in all this, Job said nothing wrong.

+1 Corinthians 3:6 I planted the seed, Apollos watered it, but God has been making it grow

+ 1 Corinthians 3:10  By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care.

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FURTHER READINGS 

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Leviticus 1:1-3:17

Mark 1:29-2:12

Psalm 35:17-28

Proverbs 9:13-18

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[angeltreasure]

1 Not to us, LORD, not to us but to your name give glory because of your mercy and faithfulness.

2 Why should the nations say, “Where is their God?”

3 Our God is in heaven and does whatever he wills.

4 Their idols are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

5 They have mouths but do not speak, eyes but do not see.

6 They have ears but do not hear, noses but do not smell.

7 They have hands but do not feel, feet but do not walk; they produce no sound from their throats.

8 Their makers will be like them,and anyone who trusts in them.

9 The house of Israel trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.

10 The house of Aaron trusts in the LORD, who is their help and shield.

11 Those who fear the LORD trust in the LORD, who is their help and shield.

12 The LORD remembers us and will bless us, will bless the house of Israel, will bless the house of Aaron,

13 Will bless those who fear the LORD, small and great alike.

14 May the LORD increase your number, yours and your descendants.

15 May you be blessed by the LORD, maker of heaven and earth.

16 The heavens belong to the LORD, but he has given the earth to the children of Adam.

17 The dead do not praise the LORD, not all those go down into silence.

18 It is we who bless the LORD, both now and forever. Hallelujah!

[roman-catholic-mass-readings]

9th July >> Mass Readings (Except USA)

Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time 

or

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs.

Tuesday, Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time 

(Liturgical Colour: Green. Year: B(II))

First Reading Hosea 8:4-7,11-13 They have sown the wind; they will reap the whirlwind.

Thus says the Lord:

They have set up kings, but not with my consent, and appointed princes, but without my knowledge. Out of their own silver and gold they have made idols, which are doomed to destruction. I spurn your calf, Samaria, my anger blazes against it. (How long will it be before they purge themselves of this, the sons of Israel?) A workman made the thing, this cannot be God! Yes, the calf of Samaria shall go up in flames. They sow the wind, they will reap the whirlwind; their wheat will yield no ear, the ear will yield no flour, or, if it does, foreigners will swallow it.

Ephraim has built altar after altar, they have only served him as occasion for sin. Were I to write out the thousand precepts of my Law for him, they would be paid no more attention than those of a stranger. They love sacrificing; right, let them sacrifice! They love meat; right, let them eat it! The Lord takes no pleasure in these. He is now going to remember their iniquity and punish their sins; they will have to go back to Egypt.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 113B(115):3-10

R/ Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Our God, he is in the heavens; he does whatever he wills. The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of human hands.

R/ Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

They have mouths but they cannot speak; they have eyes but they cannot see; they have ears but they cannot hear; they have nostrils but they cannot smell.

R/ Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

With their hands they cannot feel; with their feet they cannot walk. Their makers will come to be like them and so will all who trust in them.

R/ Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield. Sons of Aaron, trust in the Lord; he is their help and their shield.

R/ Sons of Israel, trust in the Lord. or R/ Alleluia!

Gospel Acclamation cf. Ephesians 1:17,18

Alleluia, alleluia! May the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ enlighten the eyes of our mind, so that we can see what hope his call holds for us. Alleluia!

Or: John 10:14

Alleluia, alleluia! I am the good shepherd, says the Lord; I know my own sheep and my own know me. Alleluia!

Gospel Matthew 9:32-37 The harvest is rich but the labourers are few.

A man was brought to Jesus, a dumb demoniac. And when the devil was cast out, the dumb man spoke and the people were amazed. ‘Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel’ they said. But the Pharisees said, ‘It is through the prince of devils that he casts out devils.’ Jesus made a tour through all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Good News of the kingdom and curing all kinds of diseases and sickness. And when he saw the crowds he felt sorry for them because they were harassed and dejected, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is rich but the labourers are few, so ask the Lord of the harvest to send labourers to his harvest.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

------------------------------------

Saint Augustine Zhao Rong and his Companions, Martyrs 

(Liturgical Colour: Red. Year: B(II))

(Readings for the memorial)

(There is a choice today between the readings for the ferial day (Tuesday) and those for the memorial. The ferial readings are recommended unless pastoral reasons suggest otherwise)

First reading 1 John 5:1-5 Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has already overcome the world.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God; and whoever loves the Father that begot him loves the child whom he begets. We can be sure that we love God’s children if we love God himself and do what he has commanded us; this is what loving God is – keeping his commandments; and his commandments are not difficult, because anyone who has been begotten by God has already overcome the world; this is the victory over the world – our faith.

Who can overcome the world? Only the man who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.

The Word of the Lord

R/ Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm Psalm 125(126):1-6

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

When the Lord delivered Zion from bondage, it seemed like a dream. Then was our mouth filled with laughter, on our lips there were songs.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

The heathens themselves said: ‘What marvels the Lord worked for them!’ What marvels the Lord worked for us! Indeed we were glad.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Deliver us, O Lord, from our bondage as streams in dry land. Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

They go out, they go out, full of tears, carrying seed for the sowing: they come back, they come back, full of song, carrying their sheaves.

R/ Those who are sowing in tears will sing when they reap.

Gospel Acclamation Matthew 5:10

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy those who are persecuted in the cause of right, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Alleluia!

Or: John 17:19

Alleluia, alleluia! For their sake I consecrate myself, so that they too may be consecrated in the truth. Alleluia!

Or: 2 Corinthians 1:3-4

Alleluia, alleluia! Blessed be God, a gentle Father and the God of all consolation, who comforts us in all our sorrows. Alleluia!

Or: James 1:12

Alleluia, alleluia! Happy the man who stands firm, for he has proved himself, and will win the crown of life. Alleluia!

Or: 1 Peter 4:14

Alleluia, alleluia! It is a blessing for you when they insult you for bearing the name of Christ, for the Spirit of God rests on you. Alleluia!

Or: cf. Te Deum

Alleluia, alleluia! We praise you, O God, we acknowledge you to be the Lord; the noble army of martyrs praise you, O Lord. Alleluia!

Gospel John 12:24-26 If a grain of wheat falls on the ground and dies, it yields a rich harvest.

Jesus said to his disciples:

‘I tell you, most solemnly, unless a wheat grain falls on the ground and dies, it remains only a single grain; but if it dies, it yields a rich harvest. Anyone who loves his life loses it; anyone who hates his life in this world will keep it for the eternal life. If a man serves me, he must follow me, wherever I am, my servant will be there too. If anyone serves me, my Father will honour him.’

The Gospel of the Lord

R/ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

[catolinewsdailyreadings]

Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time

Readings of Tuesday, July 9, 2024

Reading 1

HOS 8:4-7, 11-13

Thus says the LORD: They made kings in Israel, but not by my authority; they established princes, but without my approval. With their silver and gold they made idols for themselves, to their own destruction. Cast away your calf, O Samaria! my wrath is kindled against them; How long will they be unable to attain innocence in Israel? The work of an artisan, no god at all, Destined for the flames— such is the calf of Samaria! When they sow the wind,  they shall reap the whirlwind; The stalk of grain that forms no ear can yield no flour; Even if it could, strangers would swallow it. When Ephraim made many altars to expiate sin, his altars became occasions of sin. Though I write for him my many ordinances, they are considered as a stranger’s. Though they offer sacrifice, immolate flesh and eat it, the LORD is not pleased with them. He shall still remember their guilt and punish their sins; they shall return to Egypt.

Responsorial Psalm

PS 115:3-4, 5-6, 7AB-8, 9-10

R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R./ Alleluia.

Our God is in heaven; whatever he wills, he does. Their idols are silver and gold, the handiwork of men. R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R./ Alleluia.

They have mouths but speak not; they have eyes but see not; They have ears but hear not; they have noses but smell not. R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R./ Alleluia.

They have hands but feel not; they have feet but walk not. Their makers shall be like them, everyone that trusts in them. R./ The house of Israel trusts in the Lord. or: R./ Alleluia.

Gospel

MT 9:32-38

A demoniac who could not speak was brought to Jesus, and when the demon was driven out the mute man spoke. The crowds were amazed and said, “Nothing like this has ever been seen in Israel.” But the Pharisees said, “He drives out demons by the prince of demons.” Jesus went around to all the towns and villages, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the Gospel of the Kingdom, and curing every disease and illness. At the sight of the crowds, his heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, “The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest.”