Happy Birthday

God...
Fashioned me in my mother's womb.
Prepared good works for me to walk in.
Knows the good plans He has for me.
Rejoices over me with singing.
Loves me with an everlasting love.
Inscribed my name on the palms of His hands.
Wrote everyday of my life in His book before even I lived my first day.
Calls me by name.
Turns my mourning into dancing.
Knows my every thought from afar.
Gave me the gift of salvation and the faith to receive that gift.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME.

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Thine

In closing the Lord’s prayer, Jesus reminds us of the right we have to ask the preceding petitions. The right is based on God’s position, not on ours.

We don’t say:  For ours is the Kingdom, and ours is the power, and ours is the glory.
We don’t say:  Since we’re the ones in charge… Since we’re the ones who can make things happen... Since it’s all about us...
That would be trying to establish credibility on emptiness and air. We have no kingdom. We have no power. We have no glory. And we are as temporary as a blade of grass.

Jesus knows this, so he instructs us to make our appeal on grounds of God's abundant and everlasting substance.  THINE IS THE KINGDOM. THINE IS THE POWER. THINE IS THE GLORY. FOREVER. AND EVER.

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RANDOM #4

This is a poem I wrote a zillion years ago, but I rewrite it everyday:

Forgive me Lord, I forgot. 

You are God. I am not.

Other "random" blogs:

#7, #6,
#5,  #3,  #2,  #1

An evening prayer

If the chief aim of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, as we are instructed in the Westminster Catechism, then a daily evening prayer might be: 

Thank you, Father, for a day guarded by your sovereign and loving care. I worship you for your magnificent glory manifested to me this day.

I acknowledge and repent of the times today when in thought, word or deed I failed to bring your name the glory it is due.  Forgive me for the moments of this day when I allowed the cares of this day to overwhelm me and neglected your gift of faith -- and in so doing, I missed your offering of joy.

Bless you, O God, for the moments of this day when I beheld your glory and celebrated with joy...for the times when you and I shared quiet pleasure in each others company.

Thank you for the delight of your grace - seen and unseen by me this day. Grant me the rest and peace this night that will strengthen me so I can begin tomorrow equipped to glorify and enjoy you one more day. Amen.

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A morning prayer

If the chief aim of man is to glorify God and enjoy Him forever, as we are instructed in the Westminster Catechism, then a daily morning prayer might be:

This day, Lord, may I give perpetual praise to the glory of your name.
Thank you for a new day with new opportunities to bring you glory. Help me to recognize and seize each one.

     May I bring you glory in what my thoughts dwell upon.
     May I bring you glory in the words I speak and write.
     May I bring you glory in each action and reaction, deliberate and unintentional.
     May you receive glory by the choices I make to not do what I should not do.
     May you receive glory by the choices I make to do what I should do.

This day, Lord, may I enjoy you.
Your people. Your world. Your ways. Your gifts. Your word. Your love.

Restore the joy you gave me in the beginning when I first believed. That joy is tired and tarnished now. Refresh my joy this day that I might delight in your goodness once again. Grant me gladness of heart that I may dance before you.  Amen

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My Psalm 144:12-15

Psalm 144:12-15

May our children succeed.
May we have all we need.
May Your peace keep us safe.
May Your joy be our grace.


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A variation on Hymn #466

God be in my head
    and in my understanding.
God be in my eyes
   and in my looking.
God be in my ears
   and in my listening.
God be in my mouth
   and in my speaking.
God be in my heart
   and in my believing.
God be in my hands
   and in my serving.
God be in my feet
   and in my going.

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Lead me

"And lead us not into temptation" Matthew 6:13a (KJV)

I think this could be rendered "don't take us into trials that we can't overcome."  

Surely we don't want be lead there, but where do we want God to lead us?

• in the right path -- Psalm 5:8,  Psalm 27:11,  Proverbs 4:11 
• beside quiet waters -- Psalm 23:2, Isaiah 49:10 
• by your truth and teach me -- Psalm 25:5   
• like a shepherd, and carry them in your arms forever -- Psalm 28:9   
• to your holy mountain, to the place where you live -- Psalm 43:3   
• to the towering rock of safety -- Psalm 61:2   
• along the path of everlasting life -- Psalm 139:24
• forward on a firm footing -- Psalm 143:10
• down a new path, guiding them along an unfamiliar way -- Isaiah 42:16   
• in his mercy -- Isaiah 49:10
• home with great care  -- Jeremiah 31:9  
• along in Christ’s triumphal procession -- 2 Corinthians 2:14  
• into a full understanding and expression of the love of God and the patient endurance that comes from Christ -- 2 Thessalonians 3:5  
• springs of life-giving water -- Revelation 7:17  

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THIS DAY

This Day...

• is the day God made (Psalm 118:24)
• I can rejoice and be glad in it (Psalm 118:24)
• I should seek first His kingdom and His righteousness (Matthew 6:33)
• I should ask for the provisions needed (Matthew 6:11)
• I must not harden my heart (Hebrews 3:7,8)
• I must warn other believers to not harden their hearts (Hebrews 3:13)
• I will choose Whom I will serve (Joshua 24:15)
• Jesus is the same as He was yesterday and will be tomorrow (Hebrews 13:8)
• My spirit is being renewed (II Corinthians 4:16)
• has enough trouble of its own (Matthew 6:34)
• was recorded by God before I was even born (Psalm 139:16)
• He calls me to listen to His voice (Psalm 95:7)
• His mercies are new (Lamentations 3:23)
• my fears will not separate me from His love (Romans 8:38)
• I am being taught to trust in the Lord (Proverbs 22:19)
• is the day of salvation (II Corinthians 6:2)

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A Lesson #6

Perhaps the writer of Psalm 93 understood what the disciples -- in the storm, in the boat, with Jesus -- didn't quite get:


The floods have risen up, O LORD. The floods have roared like thunder; the floods have lifted their pounding waves.  But mightier than the violent raging of the seas, mightier than the breakers on the shore— the LORD above is mightier than these! 

Psalm 93:3-4 (NLT)