175th Week, Psalms Chapters 67-71 (Cllick on title for video Introduction)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction


Monday, Psalm Chapter 67
Theme:  Joy comes from spreading the news about God around the world.
Author:  Anonymous, possibly written for one of the hares feasts. 
Psalm 67
Verses 1-2
Mindy Strayer

Verse 1-2:  May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us, that your ways may be known on earth, your salvation among all nations.

THOUGHT
As Christians, devoted followers of Jesus Christ, we are privileged to have God’s face shining on us. God shows others His glory and His light through us. As I thought about this I asked myself how well I was allowing God to shine His light on my face so that those He places in my life will be able to see Him, and learn of His ways and His salvation. 

Sometimes we can cover up the glory of God in our lives by the ugly words that come out of our mouths, or the wrong choices we make about our priorities.  Maybe we were impatient or annoyed with someone in our life and complained to them instead of offering to help or pray with them. There are lots of things that can muck up the glory of God shining on our faces.

There are things in my life where I need to ask God to help me change or do better for His glory, for His kingdom. I want the Lord’s glory to shine brighter and brighter on my face every day. It is good to take some time and look over the events and interactions with people over the last week.  God will show you where you allowed His light to shine brightly and where you covered His light up.

PRAYER
Lord, we give You all the praise and honor and glory. Thank You so much for blessing us, for saving us and for keeping us close. Lord, thank You for shining Your light upon us. Help us, God, to be more aware each day of the responsibility and privilege You have given us to partner with You in reaching the lost. It starts with us, the believers. We must present Christ in His brightest light by allowing Him to shine through. Teach us Your ways, Lord, that we may walk in them and help others to do so as well. We love You! AMEN


Tuesday, Psalm Chapter 68
Theme: Remembering God's glory and power.  Times and cultures change, but God is always majestically present as defender and provider. 
Author:  David
Psalm 68
Verse 5
Delores Little

Verse 5:  A Father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.

THOUGHT
He has truly been that to me. After Willie died, He said He would take care of me, and He sure has. I’m just to give Him all my cares.  I prayed well over a year to move from the house I lived in for 40 some years.  I asked God to put a Christian couple in the home, and He did. He sent the right help I needed to move out to this apartment. 

Our moves, since we accepted Jesus, have been God controlled. We can rejoice or be sour about it.  We can look at it as another new door opening or just hide from what God wants of us. I confess that it has been interesting what God does in my life now. I have had family and people say to me, “You will not do that.”  Well, if God tells me to do it, I have no choice but to do it whether I understand or not.  The Lord did take care of this WIDOW. The Lord has surely carried my burdens. 

PRAYER (verses 32-35)
Sing to God, O kingdoms of the earth, sing praise to the Lord. Selah  To Him who rides the ancient skies above, who thunders with mighty voice.  Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies.  You are awesome, O God, in Your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God! AMEN


Wednesday, Psalm Chapter 69
Theme:  A cry in a sea of trouble.  We may have to suffer severely for our devotion to God, but that should cause us to look forward with joy to the day when evil and injustice will be gone forever.  
Author:  David
Psalm 69
Verses 34-36
Delores Little

Verse 34-36:  Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell there.

THOUGHT
After reading this I couldn’t help but think of all our Biblical Heroes – Jesus, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, David and Moses and more.  They had some real tough times. However, no matter what the difficulty, they learned to praise God in all things.  

I think of the “Faith Walk” we had when Willie found out he had cancer. It was an unwanted burden but God was going to get the glory. I know He did. So I’m going to the end of the chapter where the Praise starts.  I believe Praise breaks the yoke off of us and others.

As stated in verses 34-36:  “Let heaven and earth praise Him, the seas and all that move in them, for God will save Zion and rebuild the cities of Judah. Then people will settle there and possess it; the children of His servants will inherit it, and those who love His name will dwell there.”

The Lord is always with us no matter what our difficulty.  Let’s not forget to praise Him.  

PRAYER
Father, we do praise and thank You for everything in our lives, the good and the bad.  Let us keep our eyes on You.  Bless all this wonderful group of people who are so loving in this family and so care for one another.  AMEN


Friday, Psalm Chapter 70
Theme:  An urgent prayer for help.  It can be your prayer when you're short on time and long on need.  
Author:  David
Psalm 70
Verses 4-5
Delores Little

Verses 4-5:  “But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, ‘Let God be exalted.’ Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.”

THOUGHT
Here we get a call for help from God in the first few verses. Think of the Christians throughout the world who suffer for the Gospel sake and lose their lives. They do call out for help just as we do in our daily lives. 

Verses 4 and 5 tell us what to do. “But may all who seek You rejoice and be glad in You; may those who love Your salvation always say, ‘Let God be exalted.’ Yet I am poor and needy; come quickly to me, O God. You are my help and my Deliverer; O Lord, do not delay.”

We can rejoice in whatever He walks us through, because spiritually we are poor and needy for His help on a daily basis.  Wow, I cannot face a day without Him. I need Him here at home, driving a car or even going to church. I’m not a person who likes to be around lots of people. One on one is great for me. But God is taking me out of that place and putting me with more people. I wanted to get up and run away the first time. He did it to me after Willie died. I was put in a class of 25 people, and I could hardly breathe. I wanted to get out of there, but God informed me that I was right where He wanted me.  With our God we can do all things.  

PRAYER 
Father God, thank You for another new day and forgive us daily of our sins. Open us up to Your truths in the Word so we can fellowship with others. Let us learn to listen to Your voice every day to guide us. AMEN


Friday, Psalm Chapter 71
Theme:  God's constant help - from childhood to old age.  Our lives are a testimony of what God has done for us.
Author:  Anonymous
Psalm 71
Verse 9 & 18
Delores Little

Verse 9:  Do not cast me away when I am old; do not forsake me when my strength is gone.

Verse 18:  Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God, till I declare Your power to the next generation, Your might to all who are to come.

THOUGHT
Well, this morning I went to a morning Bible study.  When I got home I had two notices from the bank.  They had made some mistakes in my accounts. Upon talking with them I guess my voice was pretty loud as she said to calm down. My anger and unhappiness was ruling my actions.

I’m sharing this information to let you know that 1. I did not pray before I called her.  2. I lost my temper.  3. I was really upset.

Wrong, wrong, wrong on my part. I was not a light for my Lord.  I could see the devil running up to God and saying, “Delores really is blowing it. HA, HA, HA.”  I blew it big time.  No matter what age we get, the old Adam comes out of us. 

What kind of power did I show this lady?  It was the ‘worldly power’ of self. Thank God He is so forgiving.  I do ask for that now, Lord, and thank You for it. I so want to be a light to my family, grandkids, friends and church family. Verse 23: “My lips will shout for joy when I sing praise to You.  I, whom You have redeemed.”

PRAYER
Well Father, help me be the person You want me to be.  Help me get rid of self and trust You to guide me.  May I reflect the sweet spirit of Jesus.  Thank You for the gift of forgiveness.  In Jesus Name.  AMEN













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