Praying the Psalms- Psalm 83

Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms.  I was fortunate enough to join at the start.  Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 83

"Let them know that you, whose name is the LORD—
   that you alone are the Most High over all the earth."  Psalm 83: 18

We welcomed, this week, a new member into our extended family.  A healthy baby boy.  A joyous occasion for every family, of course.  But for us, it spurred more than the usual fanfare.  You see, this little one already has a testimony of God's healing power.  One that started as he was being formed in his mother's womb.  


The doctors made many frightening pronouncements over this baby in the womb- sending family members and friends to our knees in intercession for this babe.  Each sonogram showed healing in one area but questions in another until my cousins bravely decided, "no more tests, we will simply trust God with this baby."  


As I prayed for this little one, I often closed with the petition that He show His glory, His power, His healing in the life of this child.  When I got the text early Saturday morning, that he was here and seemed completely healthy, chills covered my body and shouts of thanksgiving poured from my lips.  It's five days later and many doctors and nurses have examined this baby and pronounced him healthy.  


God has shown that He still is the Most High over all the earth.  I pray now that the miracle He worked in this baby's life will serve to bring those who heard of it- doctors, nurses, unsaved friends and family members alike- into a saving knowledge of God.  And that this little one will live out the rest of his days in awe of the God who formed him in his mother's womb and brought him forth as a testimony of His power, His faithfulness, His goodness.


Lord, thank You for this wonderful baby boy.  Thank You for answering our hearts' cry for his healing.  Thank You for showing Yourself mighty to those who don't know you through this circumstance.  May the trials, the fear, the suffering my cousins endured as they waited for Your plan to unfold be used to encourage others and to glorify You.  I pray for this baby that he will come to know you as his personal Savior at a young age and walk in the Truth all his life. And I pray for those who heard this amazing story, from the confounded medical professionals to our unsaved loved ones, that they would believe.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 82

Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms.  I was fortunate enough to join at the start.  Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 82

"Defend the cause of the weak and fatherless;
   maintain the rights of the poor and oppressed.
Rescue the weak and needy;
   deliver them from the hand of the wicked.
They know nothing, they understand nothing.
   They walk about in darkness;
   all the foundations of the earth are shaken."  Psalm 82: 3-5

There are times in our history when truths like these seem more obvious than ever before.   While millions suffer and perish in the Horn of Africa, pundits and self proclaimed experts work themselves into a frenzy over our economic woes.  One has to search out a news story on one of the worst humanitarian crises in modern history but cannot escape the constant panic over the stock market plunges.  


Yes, Lord, we know nothing.  Our rulers and judges understand nothing.  We are walking about in darkness while the foundations of the earth are shaken.  I look forward to Your return when all the wrongs will be righted and this earth and everyone in it will receive Your righteous judgement and Your indescribable mercy.  Come quickly, Lord Jesus!  In Your name I pray, amen.

Multitude Monday

 

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

1351.  A week-long wild celebration of God's unconditional love at Panda Mania VBS

1352.  A beautiful VBS Finale presentation

1353.  The privilege to serve at VBS

1354.  Serving alongside joyful servants of God whom I call friends

1355.  The opportunities my children have to learn about God and His Truth in a safe, appropriate and even fun way!

1356.  Seeing the boys happily lend a helping hand when breaking down VBS

1357.  An afternoon and evening spent at a local amusement park with family

1358.  Our admission and dinner- all a treat by my dad
1359.  All of us sleeping in on Saturday morning

1360.  Serving together as a family to help friends move

1361.  A peaceful Sunday afternoon spent with family after a wonderful yet busy week

1362.  Remembering my mother-in-law through pictures and stories on the anniversary of her passing


1363.  A day to plan and prep for our great homeschool experiment

You can read why I got started counting the gifts here.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 81

Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms.  I was fortunate enough to join at the start.  Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.


Psalm 81

"Sing for joy to God our strength;
   shout aloud to the God of Jacob!
Begin the music, strike the tambourine,
   play the melodious harp and lyre.
Sound the ram’s horn at the New Moon,
   and when the moon is full, on the day of our Feast;
this is a decree for Israel,
   an ordinance of the God of Jacob."  Psalm 81: 1-4

I love how joyful singing and shouting to God is a decree and an ordinance.  I have been serving as the worship leader at VBS this week at our church and boy, have we been doing lots of singing and dancing and shouting aloud to the Lord!  To see a sanctuary full of children, youth and adults all letting go of inhibitions and social norms to lift high the name of Jesus together just fills the heart to overflowing.  It doesn't seem fair that I signed up to serve because I wanted to be used to bless the kids but He has seen fit to bless me so completely too as I serve.  


Lord, thank You for the privilege of serving at VBS.  It is a joy to live out Psalm 81 with the children- to bring you praise and honor with our singing, dancing, music and shouting.  Go before us the rest of this week as we continue to bring Your Good News to these precious little souls.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Praying the Psalms- Psalm 80

Jenny is on a journey of praying her way through the Psalms.  I was fortunate enough to join at the start.  Each weekend, we pray through one psalm and post our prayer and/or meditations on that psalm as the Lord leads. Check out her journey and join us in Praying the Psalms.

Psalm 80

"Then we will not turn away from you;
   revive us, and we will call on your name.

 Restore us, O LORD God Almighty;
   make your face shine upon us,
   that we may be saved."  Psalm 80: 18-19

The summer, with all it days packed with outdoor fun that stretch into later bedtimes, is a time when I often struggle to stay spiritually awake.  I am often so tired in the mornings that I hit snooze one too many times and sleep my Quiet Time away.  Days turns into weeks and before I know it I have not sat before the Lord into too long.  My soul runs dry.  

Again, I purpose to get up early each morning and meet with Him.  My prayers echo the psalmist from those thousands of years ago.  Revive me, Lord, restore me.  Sometimes the Enemy succeeds in getting me to swallow the lie that He is tired of my faithlessness and of this pattern in my walk.  But He who is in me in greater than He who is in the world.   And He reminds me of His GRACE and no matter that I am faithless, He is faithful.  His grace and His faithfulness cover all my weakness and sin.


Father, thank You for Your grace, Your faithfulness and Your long-suffering toward me.  Revive me and restore the intimacy of our relationship and my joy in You.  In Jesus' name, amen.  

Multitude Monday (on a Tuesday)

 

Here are some of the things I was thankful for this week:

1336.  A safe road trip with the kids to and from my cousin's home 6 hours away

1337.  A week with my cousins and the kids with theirs

1338.  An extended family I truly love and enjoy being around (and miss when we part)

1339.  A pitstop at the National Baseball Hall of Fame on the way home

1340.  Wide-eyed joy on little boys' faces 

1341.  A little girl who has fun wherever her big brothers drag her- even a baseball museum!

1342.  Friends from church who blessed us with four great seats to a game of our favorite baseball team

1343.  A stranger giving us his extra free parking pass at the stadium lot

1344.  My sister and her daughter coming to have a special playdate with our girl while we went to the game

1345.  Swim and a movie at the park with my sister, her daughter and the kids on a summer evening

1346.  And plans to do it again next week

  

1347.  Learning the songs and signs for VBS

1348.  Setting up and decorating the church for PandaMania

1349.  A great first day with a record number of 76 kids showing up

1350.  Being blessed just as much- if not more- than the kids at VBS!

You can read why I got started counting the gifts here.