When I Am Afraid...

Psalm 56:3-4 (ESV)

3 When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
4 In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

David was afraid of the Philistines for they had seized him in Gath. What is the source of your fear today? How is it that we can have complete confidence in our Lord one minute and then the next minute, something scary comes from out of seemingly nowhere and challenges our confidence. It's a choice to put our trust in God. Will you choose to do so today? Make these verses your prayer and fill in the blank as it fits your situation. "What can mere _____ do to me?"

Agur's Proverb

Proverbs 30:1-9

New Living Translation (NLT)

The Sayings of Agur

30 The sayings of Agur son of Jakeh contain this message.

I am weary, O God;
    I am weary and worn out, O God.
2 I am too stupid to be human,
    and I lack common sense.
3 I have not mastered human wisdom,
    nor do I know the Holy One.

4 Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down?
    Who holds the wind in his fists?
Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak?
    Who has created the whole wide world?
What is his name—and his son’s name?
    Tell me if you know!

5 Every word of God proves true.
    He is a shield to all who come to him for protection.
6 Do not add to his words,
    or he may rebuke you and expose you as a liar.

7 O God, I beg two favors from you;
    let me have them before I die.
8 First, help me never to tell a lie.
    Second, give me neither poverty nor riches!
    Give me just enough to satisfy my needs.
9 For if I grow rich, I may deny you and say, “Who is the Lord?”
    And if I am too poor, I may steal and thus insult God’s holy name.

Proverbs 30 is written at least in part by Agur, son of Jakeh. Agur's name means hired servant. Except for the name of his father and meaning of his name, we know nothing else about this man who had one "hit" record so to speak. His few verses will forever be included in the written Word of God. It's definitely worth reading if you haven't in a while.
I love how real he was at the beginning making it clear that he was weary and not very smart. I've felt that way plenty of times. He was confident in the Word of God and he had two requests: never to tell a lie and to be neither rich or poor. He didn't want to do anything in poverty or wealth that would blemish the name of God. I think it is worth considering what requests we would make of God were we to beg Him for only two things. Would we choose favors that would bring honor and glory to our creator or would they be self satisfying and full of personal ambition? Just a little something to think about as you go through your day today...have a great one!!!

Fools Vent...the Wise Do Not

Proverbs 29:11 (NLT)

11 Fools vent their anger,
    but the wise quietly hold it back.

Our Bible study teacher mentioned the practice of reading a Psalm each day, but only reading until you reach the point of a verse speaking specifically to you. "Then," she suggested," use the cross references to bring more insight to that particular verse." I have been enjoying this method in the Proverbs. Today, I am struck by chapter 29, verse 11, almost to the point of leaving you with the verse and no comment. In truth, it speaks for itself...don't you think? It's interesting to note that in my Bible, there are no cross references for this verse.  Let me simply ask us some application questions: About what have you most recently vented? How did you feel about your rant afterward? Justified, validated, or foolish? How do you feel when you manage to hold back your angry words? It is possible to be angry and not sin. Our Lord promises we always have a way of escape when we are tempted. Lord, this is a hard one. Help us hold our tongues and not behave foolishly!

Neighbor Friends

Proverbs 27:9-10 (NLT)

9 The heartfelt counsel of a friend
    is as sweet as perfume and incense.

10 Never abandon a friend—
    either yours or your father’s.
When disaster strikes, you won’t have to ask your brother for assistance.
    It’s better to go to a neighbor than to a brother who lives far away.

This past weekend, we were privileged to host several long time friends. We discovered that for some of us, we had know each other now for 15 years. In our celebration, we decided a late night cake and punch party was in order. Truly, these friends have become as family to us over the years. They have stood by us through thick and thin and we have done the same for them. In ministry, our biological families have most often been far away. The Lord has been good to bless us with wonderful friends and neighbors in the places where He has sent us. Our lives are fuller because of them.
As we consider Proverbs 27:9-10, here are several questions for thought:
~ Who are your friends whom you trust for earnest counsel?
~ Are there friends with whom you have lost contact? Should you reconnect with them?
~ To whom does the Lord expect you to give earnest counsel?
~ Is there someone in calamity who needs you right now?
Let's thank the Lord today for the friends He has given us who have become like family. Let's be quick to obediently respond when the Holy Spirit prompts us to reach out to someone new and offer friendship. Have a blessed day!

Ebenezer

1 Samuel 7:8-13

Amplified Bible (AMP)

8 And the Israelites said to Samuel, Do not cease to cry to the Lord our God for us, that He may save us from the hand of the Philistines.

9 So Samuel took a sucking lamb and offered it as a whole burnt offering to the Lord; and Samuel cried to the Lord for Israel, and the Lord answered him.

10 As Samuel was offering up the burnt offering, the Philistines drew near to attack Israel. But the Lord thundered with a great voice that day against the Philistines and threw them into confusion, and they were defeated before Israel.

11 And the men of Israel went out of Mizpah and pursued the Philistines and smote them as far as below Beth-car.

12 Then Samuel took a stone and set it between Mizpah and Shen, and he called the name of it Ebenezer [stone of help], saying, Heretofore the Lord has helped us.

13 So the Philistines were subdued and came no more into Israelite territory. And the hand of the Lord was against the Philistines all the days of Samuel.

I thought it would be nice to put the words of this particular passage in scripture with the words of Robert Robinson's Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing. What a wonderful tribute Robinson has given to Samuel's special stone of remembrance which marked the Lord's help for the people of Israel. May we be prompted to remember how the Lord has been our very present help. Have you remembered to thank Him? Will you take some time now to write down in a keepsake place (perhaps a journal) things the Lord has done to you? Will you celebrate Him? Will you worship Him? Will you lift your voice to Him and sing this familiar hymn?

400. Come, Thou Fount of Every Blessing

Text: Robert Robinson, 1735-1790
Music: Wyeth's Repository of Sacred Music, Part Second
Tune: NETTLETON, Meter: 87.87 D

---

1. Come, thou Fount of every blessing, 
 tune my heart to sing thy grace; 
 streams of mercy, never ceasing, 
 call for songs of loudest praise. 
 Teach me some melodious sonnet, 
 sung by flaming tongues above. 
 Praise the mount! I'm fixed upon it, 
 mount of thy redeeming love. 

2. Here I raise mine Ebenezer; 
 hither by thy help I'm come; 
 and I hope, by thy good pleasure, 
 safely to arrive at home. 
 Jesus sought me when a stranger, 
 wandering from the fold of God; 
 he, to rescue me from danger, 
 interposed his precious blood. 

3. O to grace how great a debtor 
 daily I'm constrained to be! 
 Let thy goodness, like a fetter, 
 bind my wandering heart to thee. 
 Prone to wander, Lord, I feel it, 
 prone to leave the God I love; 
 here's my heart, O take and seal it, 
 seal it for thy courts above. 

To Everything There Is A Season

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 (AMP)

3 To everything there is a season, and a time for every matter or purpose under heaven:

2 A time to be born and a time to die, a time to plant and a time to pluck up what is planted,

3 A time to kill and a time to heal, a time to break down and a time to build up,

4 A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 A time to cast away stones and a time to gather stones together, a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 A time to get and a time to lose, a time to keep and a time to cast away,

7 A time to rend and a time to sew, a time to keep silence and a time to speak,

8 A time to love and a time to hate, a time for war and a time for peace.

Very late post...for that, I apologize especially if you are a faithful reader...
As a family, we are in a season of graduations and congratulations, finishing and beginning anew, considering accomplishments and dreaming new dreams, separating and joining together... Surrounded by friends and family, we will share laughter and teary eyed moments... I remembered this passage a coupled days ago when someone asked me if I was a crier when it came to events like graduation. I confessed that more often I am excited for the accomplishment and the next season of life. I thought of how the same season might stir joy in one person and sorry in another. I thought of how quickly the seasons of life change...
Will you join me in allowing the scripture to encourage us today? There truly is a season for everything and if you struggle in your current season will you trust that before long the seasons will change as sure as spring will make way for summer and summer for fall? May your weeping soon give way to laughter and your mourning give way to dancing. And if right now, your season is joyous, will you trust that if it should change without a moments notice, that too will pass as time passes on? Make the most in every season for the God of the seasons is working through every season in you!

Saturday in the Psalms (Psalm 131)

Psalm 131 (ESV)

I Have Calmed and Quieted My Soul

A Song of Ascents. Of David.

131 O Lord, my heart is not lifted up;
    my eyes are not raised too high;
I do not occupy myself with things
    too great and too marvelous for me.
2 But I have calmed and quieted my soul,
    like a weaned child with its mother;
    like a weaned child is my soul within me.

3 O Israel, hope in the Lord
    from this time forth and forevermore.

Oh! look not after great things: small breathings, small desires after the Lord, if true and pure, are sweet beginnings of life. Take heed of despising "the day of small things," by looking after some great visitation, proportionable to thy distress, according to thy eye. Nay, thou must become a child; thou must lose they own will quite by degrees. Thou must wait for life to be measured out by the Father, and be content with what proportion, and at what time, He shall please to measure.

                                                                                                                    Isaac Penington

Spiritual Hydration

John 7:37-44 (ESV)

³⁷ On the last day of the feast, the great day, Jesus stood up and cried out, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink. ³⁸ Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, ‘Out of his heart will flow rivers of living water.’” ³⁹ Now this he said about the Spirit, whom those who believed in him were to receive,for as yet the Spirit had not been given, because Jesus was not yet glorified.

⁴⁰ When they heard these words, some of the people said, “This really is the Prophet.” ⁴¹ Others said, “This is the Christ.” But some said, “Is the Christ to come from Galilee? ⁴² Has not the Scripture said that the Christ comes from the offspring of David, and comes from Bethlehem, the village where David was?”⁴³ So there was a division among the people over him. ⁴⁴ Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid hands on him.

When have you been thirsty? Perhaps after mowing the lawn, jogging, or eating something very salty. It is tempting to try to quench our thirst with something high calorie, sugary, or carbonated. What our bodies are really craving is hydration. Water is the best thirst quencher! The people of Jesus day were spiritually thirsty, but some were not convinced Jesus was the best thirst quencher. Therefore, they continued to search for satisfaction in other forms. They missed out on true spiritual hydration. Aren't we tempted to do the same? We are enticed to believe that high calorie, sugary, carbonated spiritual-ish things are enough when only Jesus will truly satisfy our souls thirst. Jesus said, once we have come to Him, we will never thirst again. Of Him, we can continually drink. We need to be careful not to partake of things that will ultimately weigh us down, but instead drink continually of His living water and walk in spiritual hydration.

The Example of Christ

Romans 15:1-4 (ESV)

The Example of Christ

15 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. ² Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. ³ For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.” ⁴ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

My intention was to write about verse 4 and talk about the importance of being in the Word on a daily basis in order that we would have the encouragement of the Scriptures to give us hope and help us endure through tough times. I did not realize the content of the preceding verses. When taken in context (as we should always try to do when handling Scripture), we see that the verses specifically deal with bearing with those in our lives who are weak...going through a time of weakness...less mature in the faith...struggling... Chapter 14 reveals to us that the issue at hand was a sensitivity about what foods were clean and not causing one another to stumble over something as simple as food. If it causes your brother or sister to stumble, then refrain from it. We are not to be intent on pleasing ourselves. Jesus wasn't out to please himself and neither are we to be. These things are written for our instruction... I wonder what other issues besides food could fit into this scenario. I suppose anything that serves our own interest, but causes someone weaker to stumble. We might have to think for a minute to think of how this relates to each of our lives. Try filling in the blanks I've left in chapter 14, verse 29. The words in scripture are "food" and "eats." What word applies where you are concerned? "Do not, for the sake of ________, destroy the work of God. Everything is indeed clean, but it is wrong for anyone to make another stumble by what he _______."

Romans 15:5-7 (NLT)

⁵ May God, who gives this patience and encouragement, help you live in complete harmony with each other, as is fitting for followers of Christ Jesus.⁶ Then all of you can join together with one voice, giving praise and glory to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
⁷ Therefore, accept each other just as Christ has accepted you so that God will be given glory.

Jesus' Unconditional Love #4

John 4:1-30

English Standard Version (ESV)

Jesus and the Woman of Samaria

4 Now when Jesus learned that the Pharisees had heard that Jesus was making and baptizing more disciples than John ² (although Jesus himself did not baptize, but only his disciples), ³ he left Judea and departed again for Galilee.⁴ And he had to pass through Samaria. ⁵ So he came to a town of Samaria called Sychar, near the field that Jacob had given to his son Joseph. ⁶ Jacob's well was there; so Jesus, wearied as he was from his journey, was sitting beside the well. It was about the sixth hour.

⁷ A woman from Samaria came to draw water. Jesus said to her, “Give me a drink.” ⁸ (For his disciples had gone away into the city to buy food.) ⁹ The Samaritan woman said to him, “How is it that you, a Jew, ask for a drink from me, a woman of Samaria?” (For Jews have no dealings with Samaritans.)¹⁰ Jesus answered her, “If you knew the gift of God, and who it is that is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him, and he would have given you living water.” ¹¹ The woman said to him, “Sir, you have nothing to draw water with, and the well is deep. Where do you get that living water? ¹² Are you greater than our father Jacob? He gave us the well and drank from it himself, as did his sons and his livestock.” ¹³ Jesus said to her, “Everyone who drinks of this water will be thirsty again, ¹⁴ but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.” ¹⁵ The woman said to him, “Sir, give me this water, so that I will not be thirsty or have to come here to draw water.”
¹⁶ Jesus said to her, “Go, call your husband, and come here.” ¹⁷ The woman answered him, “I have no husband.” Jesus said to her, “You are right in saying, ‘I have no husband’; ¹⁸ for you have had five husbands, and the one you now have is not your husband. What you have said is true.” ¹⁹ The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” ²¹ Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. ²² You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. ²⁴ God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.” ²⁵ The woman said to him, “I know that Messiah is coming (he who is called Christ). When he comes, he will tell us all things.” ²⁶ Jesus said to her, “I who speak to you am he.”
²⁷ Just then his disciples came back. They marveled that he was talking with a woman, but no one said, “What do you seek?” or, “Why are you talking with her?” ²⁸ So the woman left her water jar and went away into town and said to the people, ²⁹ “Come, see a man who told me all that I ever did. Can this be the Christ?” ³⁰ They went out of the town and were coming to him.

The Samaritan woman's story is one of my favorites. It is rich with application. We could spend several days right here growing in our knowledge and understanding of the Lord Jesus. I don't know if we could ever fully understand all the ways Jesus showed unconditional love to this woman, but let's name a few. First, He made a point to go to Galilee by way of Samaria. It would be worth your time to do a little research (if you haven't before) to better understand the relationship between the Jews and the Samaritans. Jews did not travel by way of Samaria. Second, He exposed her sinful life. Third, He reveled himself to her. We could go on and on...notice how He spoke the truth in love. In regard to the the pressures Jesus experienced,  once again the disciples were amazed by what He was doing. He had to have known what they were thinking...a woman and a Samaritan! How do you think the woman was feeling standing there at that well talking to the long awaited Messiah? How would you feel having your sins named by One who knew all you'd ever done? Will you take a minute to think about it? He does know all you've ever done. He goes out of His way to be with you. Spend time with Him...drink of Him...He wants to reveal Himself to you.

Waiting in the Aftermath of the Storm

Mark 5:21-23 (ESV)

²¹ And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.”

³⁵ While he was still speaking, there came from the ruler's house some who said, “Your daughter is dead. Why trouble the Teacher any further?” ³⁶ But overhearing what they said, Jesus said to the ruler of the synagogue, “Do not fear, only believe.” ³⁷ And he allowed no one to follow him except Peter and James and John the brother of James. ³⁸ They came to the house of the ruler of the synagogue, and Jesus saw a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. ³⁹ And when he had entered, he said to them, “Why are you making a commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but sleeping.” ⁴⁰ And they laughed at him. But he put them all outside and took the child's father and mother and those who were with him and went in where the child was. ⁴¹ Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise.” ⁴² And immediately the girl got up and began walking (for she was twelve years of age), and they were immediately overcome with amazement.⁴³ And he strictly charged them that no one should know this, and told them to give her something to eat.

My intent today was to write about Jesus' unconditional love for the Samaritan woman from John 4. However, in the dark aftermath of the storms which leveled parts of Oklahoma yesterday, I sense the Lord would have us look back at the passage from Sunday's blog. On Sunday, we focused on the woman with the issue of blood.  Today, I am reminded of Jairus' story which is told in part before Jesus' encounter with the woman and finished afterward. When Jairus left his young daughter sick and almost at the point of death, he had no idea how he would find her when he returned home. His only hope was to go and seek out Jesus. His story seems almost interrupted as Jesus stops to take time to interact with the woman who had been afflicted for  12 years. When Jairus' story continues, some people arrived from his home with news that his daughter had passed away. Jesus insisted they go to Jairus' house anyway. The Lord passed through the mourning crowd and made his way to the child's room where He privately restored her life.
We could ask the same questions concerning Jairus' daughter as we have asked the past few days regarding Jesus' unconditional love for the women in the other passages? I suggest we do that on our own, but for now, let's consider Jairus in relationship to the parents who have waited through the long night to hear about their children. The last these mothers and fathers knew, their children were in harm's way almost at the point of death. As they wait to hear of their fate, their only hope is to call out to Jesus. Regardless of the outcome, Jesus intends to make His way to their homes and offer healing either to the children or to the grieving hearts of the parents. Jesus is not delayed for He cannot be delayed. He is not late for He refuses to be late. May their hope be in Jesus as they wait. May they trust His sovereignty, feel His love, and be comforted by His Holy Spirit.

Jesus' Unconditional Love #3

Luke 7:36-50 (ESV)

A Sinful Woman Forgiven

³⁶ One of the Pharisees asked him to eat with him, and he went into the Pharisee's house and reclined at the table. ³⁷ And behold, a woman of the city, who was a sinner, when she learned that he was reclining at table in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster flask of ointment, ³⁸ and standing behind him at his feet, weeping, she began to wet his feet with her tears and wiped them with the hair of her head and kissed his feet and anointed them with the ointment. ³⁹ Now when the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would have known who and what sort of woman this is who is touching him, for she is a sinner.” ⁴⁰ And Jesus answering said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” And he answered, “Say it, Teacher.”
⁴¹ “A certain moneylender had two debtors. One owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. ⁴² When they could not pay, he cancelled the debt of both. Now which of them will love him more?” ⁴³ Simon answered, “The one, I suppose, for whom he cancelled the larger debt.” And he said to him, “You have judged rightly.” ⁴⁴ Then turning toward the woman he said to Simon, “Do you see this woman? I entered your house; you gave me no water for my feet, but she has wet my feet with her tears and wiped them with her hair. ⁴⁵ You gave me no kiss, but from the time I came in she has not ceased to kiss my feet. ⁴⁶ You did not anoint my head with oil, but she has anointed my feet with ointment.⁴⁷ Therefore I tell you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven—for she loved much. But he who is forgiven little, loves little.” ⁴⁸ And he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven.” ⁴⁹ Then those who were at table with him began to say among themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” ⁵⁰ And he said to the woman, “Your faith has saved you; go in peace.”

In this passage, Jesus is the dinner guest in the home of Simon, the Pharisee. We don't know know all the details surrounding the woman being allowed into Simon's home just that she found out Jesus was there and went in to worship Him. Obviously, the scene between the woman and Jesus drew the attention of the other's in the room. Let's enter the scene ourselves and note some of the details.
First, how did Jesus show unconditional love to the woman? Jesus did not send her away. He recognized her faith and he forgave her sins.
Second, who pressured Jesus not to act in love? Simon, the Pharisee, of course, and possibly the other guests, too. I can just imagine the disciples, leaving and mumbling to each other, "Awkward!" We are so like them!
Finally, how did the woman feel? I think she felt validated(able to withstand criticism or argument) by Jesus. Isn't that what Jesus did for us where Satan is concerned. Sure we are sinners, but when we put our faith in Jesus, He gives us His righteousness. I think it is worth noting that in validating her, Jesus did not justify her sin. Sin is never right. She also felt forgiveness, love, and salvation. We too are able to experience those things in Christ Jesus.
I hope you have been able to see yourself in this woman's story! I hope today you know what it is not to be condemned, but to stand forgiven and free in Christ Jesus as Lord of your life!

Jesus Shows Unconditional Love #2

Mark 5:21-34

English Standard Version (ESV)

²¹ And when Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a great crowd gathered about him, and he was beside the sea. ²² Then came one of the rulers of the synagogue, Jairus by name, and seeing him, he fell at his feet²³ and implored him earnestly, saying, “My little daughter is at the point of death. Come and lay your hands on her, so that she may be made well and live.” ²⁴ And he went with him.

And a great crowd followed him and thronged about him. ²⁵ And there was a woman who had had a discharge of blood for twelve years, ²⁶ and who had suffered much under many physicians, and had spent all that she had, and was no better but rather grew worse. ²⁷ She had heard the reports about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his garment. ²⁸ For she said, “If I touch even his garments, I will be made well.” ²⁹ And immediately the flow of blood dried up, and she felt in her body that she was healed of her disease.³⁰ And Jesus, perceiving in himself that power had gone out from him, immediately turned about in the crowd and said, “Who touched my garments?”³¹ And his disciples said to him, “You see the crowd pressing around you, and yet you say, ‘Who touched me?’” ³² And he looked around to see who had done it. ³³ But the woman, knowing what had happened to her, came in fear and trembling and fell down before him and told him the whole truth. ³⁴ And he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace, and be healed of your disease.”

Today is day 2 of looking at Jesus' unconditional love toward several New Testament women. I believe we will benefit in that we are sure to see ourselves in one or more of these women and be able to relate more closely with our Lord through their experiences. Our unchanging Lord has the same heart toward us today as He did toward these women 2000 years ago. What joy that scripture is never outdated!
How did Jesus show unconditional love to the woman? It stands out to me that when He felt the power go out from Him, He stopped and took time to acknowledge her and commend her faith.
Who pressured Jesus not to show love? It was the disciples, his close friends, who encouraged Him to go on for certainly the crowd was too large to know who touched Him.
How did the woman feel? She felt valued. She knew she was healed. She had been shown compassion. I think she finally felt as though she had been "tended to"...taken care of.
How does this story relate to your life? Do you have a long term need like the woman experienced? Do you tend to rush on like the disciples? Do you need to learn to slow down like Jesus and take time with others? So much for us to see in these passages...thank you for coming on this journey with me! To find out what happened to Jairus' daughter, read the rest of Mark 5.

Saturday in the Psalms (Psalm 145)

Psalm 145 (ESV)

Great Is the Lord

A Song of Praise. Of David.

145 I will extol you, my God and King,
    and bless your name forever and ever.
² Every day I will bless you
    and praise your name forever and ever.
³ Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised,
    and his greatness is unsearchable.

⁴ One generation shall commend your works to another,
    and shall declare your mighty acts.
⁵ On the glorious splendor of your majesty,
    and on your wondrous works, I will meditate.
⁶ They shall speak of the might of your awesome deeds,
    and I will declare your greatness.
⁷ They shall pour forth the fame of your abundant goodness
    and shall sing aloud of your righteousness.

⁸ The Lord is gracious and merciful,
    slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
⁹ The Lord is good to all,
    and his mercy is over all that he has made.

¹⁰ All your works shall give thanks to you, O Lord,
    and all your saints shall bless you!
¹¹ They shall speak of the glory of your kingdom
    and tell of your power,
¹² to make known to the children of man your mighty deeds,
    and the glorious splendor of your kingdom.
¹³ Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom,
    and your dominion endures throughout all generations.

[The Lord is faithful in all his words
    and kind in all his works.]
¹⁴ The Lord upholds all who are falling
    and raises up all who are bowed down.
¹⁵ The eyes of all look to you,
    and you give them their food in due season.
¹⁶ You open your hand;
    you satisfy the desire of every living thing.
¹⁷ The Lord is righteous in all his ways
    and kind in all his works.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to all who call on him,
    to all who call on him in truth.
¹⁹ He fulfills the desire of those who fear him;
    he also hears their cry and saves them.
²⁰ The Lord preserves all who love him,
    but all the wicked he will destroy.

²¹ My mouth will speak the praise of the Lord,
    and let all flesh bless his holy name forever and ever.

I hope you have taken time to read through Psalm 145 above. Would you take another moment now to go back through and highlight in your mind the specific statements regarding our Lord's character/His attributes/His heart toward us? Which one of these statements do you most need the Lord to do or be for you today?  David's heart cry in this psalm is to pass on to the generations the greatness of the Lord. These are great truths to teach to all those with whom you have influence and they are also excellent passages to pray back to the Lord. Will you bless and praise His name today in your time alone with Him and in the presence of others?