Great PEACE have they which love THY law...

" Seven times a day do I PRAISE Thee because of Thy righteous judgments." Psalm 119:164

Last night I was reading through a few psalms before going to bed. One of the psalms I took to reading was Psalm 119. Most of us know the psalm... or maybe we know a verse here or there that we've memorized.

But as I was reading,  I was reminded yet again of the importance of loving the law of the Lord... it's repeated throughout the whole psalm. 

The reminder to praise Him was much needed... how good of the Lord to a redirect my thoughts heavenward.

" seven times a day do I praise Thee..."  

It makes me wonder how many times during the day I am actually found praising the Lord? 

More often than not we are burdened and bowed down with the cares of this world.  It's much easier to  focus on the troubles, isn't it?  But you know, when we are found praising the Lord we gain so much more than when we sulk, or are unthankful. 

A heart that blesses the Lord... is a heart at peace.

" Every day will I bless thee;

 and I will praise thy name for ever and ever. " 

Psalm 145:2

And that makes me think... What do I love more? 

Shall I sow to the flesh (and my desires)... and reap corruption? 

Or...

Shall I sow to the Spirit... and reap life everlasting?

Oh, to be found delighting in His Word. 

"Great PEACE have they which love THY law..."

Psalm 119:165

Heavenly Father, thank you for the fullness of joy we find in your presence. Help us to have a thankful heart as we face the day before us. May we bless your Holy name for ever and be found delighting in your precious Word.  

Turn you eyes upon Jesus,

Look full in His wonderful face;

And the things of earth will grow strangely dim

In the light of His glory and grace.

Helen H. Lemmel, 1922

May you be strengthened in your walk today to praise the Lord and find peace in His presence alone.
~Ellie

Therefore I will look unto the Lord...

" He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap." Ecclesiastes 11:4

This morning was a dreary day. Clouds abounded in the sky. Looking outside, I noticed the darkness of the early hours lift up a bit. But there was no sun peeking out, just dark grey clouds. I went for a walk and felt the gloominess of the day take its toll on me. So focused was I on the clouds, that my disposition became gloomy within...

Do you ever change with the "weather" ?  Do you ever find yourself in a dark and gloomy place? Do you focus on the "clouds"  and fail to see the blessings they bring in the form of rain?

Sometimes, our surroundings... the trials and testings of the day....  keep us so focused on the "clouds"... that we begin to succumb to a state of hopelessness. A state where we are of no use... a state where there's no sowing of seeds, nor reaping of fruit.

As I kept walking, and felt myself downcast,  I heard an old familar hymn playing on a favorite online station... I caught just a single phrase:

" I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face..."

Oh, how that phrase brought me back to a state of thankfulness. It was, as in an instant, that I was able to lift my head "above the clouds" and see my Lord and Saviour as the only sunshine that I'd ever need!

And so, the morning, while dreary and gloomy...  all of a sudden began to look bright and full of hope. How thankful I was for the reminder that when I sit in darkness, He is my constant LIGHT that never ceases to shine in my life.

" ... when I sit in darkness, the Lord shall be a light unto me." 

Micah 7:8

" ... He will bring me forth to the light, and I shall behold His righteousness."  

Micah 7:9 

Yes, the clouds have a place in our lives... but how important to look beyond... and see the blessings they most surely bring. These couple of verses from the hymn I heard this morning was such a blessing to me, that I pray you too will be blessed to dwell upon the completed work of the cross...

Beneath The Cross of Jesus

Upon that cross of Jesus mine eye at times can see

The very dying form of One Who suffered there for me;

And from my stricken heart with tears two wonders I confess;

The wonders of redeeming love and my unworthiness.

I take, O cross, thy shadow for my abiding place;

I ask no other sunshine than the sunshine of His face;

Content to let the world go by to know no gain or loss,

My sinful self my only shame, my glory all the cross.

       Eliz­a­beth C. Cle­phane, 1868

Precious Father, how thankful we are for the Light that has shone in our hearts in the face of Jesus Christ.

May you delight in light of His presence today... 

~Ellie

...He hath clothed me with the garments of SALVATION..

" For He hath made Him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in Him." 2 Corinthians 5:21

This week my thoughts were much on the precious death of the Lord Jesus... coming down from glory on high to take take upon Himself the likeness of sinful flesh... and be made sin for us!

The Lord Jesus Christ took my place on the cross... that I might be made the rightousness of God ... in Him. 

Oh, worthy is the Lamb.... of ALL praise and honor!

I came upon a beautiful hymn that encouraged me to give glory to His name.  I hope it encourages you too.

"Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. " Acts 4:12

HIS ROBES FOR MINE

His robes for mine: O wonderful exchange!

Clothed in my sin, Christ suffered ‘neath God’s rage.

Draped in His righteousness, I’m justified.

In Christ I live, for in my place He died.

Chorus:

I cling to Christ, and marvel at the cost:

Jesus forsaken, God estranged from God.

Bought by such love, my life is not my own.

My praise-my all-shall be for Christ alone.

His robes for mine: what cause have I for dread?

God’s daunting Law Christ mastered in my stead.

Faultless I stand with righteous works not mine,

Saved by my Lord’s vicarious death and life.

His robes for mine: God’s justice is appeased.

Jesus is crushed, and thus the Father’s pleased.

Christ drank God’s wrath on sin, then cried “‘Tis done!”

Sin’s wage is paid; propitiation won.

His robes for mine: such anguish none can know.

Christ, God’s beloved, condemned as though His foe.

He, as though I, accursed and left alone;

I, as though He, embraced and welcomed home!

author Chris Anderson

" I will greatly rejoice in the Lord, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for He hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, He hath covered me with the robe of righteousness..." Isaiah 61:10

May you know the Saviour's sacrificial love for you today... and give Him praise.

~Ellie

The eyes of all wait upon Thee...

"The LORD is good to all: and His tender mercies are over all His works." Psalm 145:9

One day this past week, I was coming home from my morning walk. I was about to walk my last few paces before reaching the front door... when I was met with the beautiful sound of a meadowlark singing ever so sweetly. Such beautiful sound!

Immediately I looked up to find her perched on the very top branch... singing away... under the cloudy sky. 

I kept thinking how free she was, without a care in the world. How the heavenly Father takes care of her so marvelously, as she safely abides under His wings.

She still sings... under the clouds, the rain, the wind.

I couldn't  but be encouraged that morning. Yes, our heavenly Father takes care of us as well...

... even more so than the birds in the skies.

"Behold the fowls of the air: for they sow not, neither do they reap, nor gather into barns; 

yet your heavenly Father feedeth them. 

Are ye not much better than they?" 

Matthew 6:26

What a beautiful reminder to rest in the shadow of His wings... knowing we are loved and protected by the mighty power of God. 

"How excellent is thy lovingkindness, O God! 

Therefore the children of men put their trust under the shadow of thy wings. "

 Psalm 36:7

Oh, the peace to be free of the worries of this world... and sing praises to the Holy One.  

UNDER HIS WINGS

Under His wings I am safely abiding;

  Though the night deepens and tempests are wild,

Still I can trust Him, I know He will keep me;

  He has redeemed me, and I am His child.

  Under His wings, under His wings,

  Who from His love can sever?

Under His wings my soul shall abide,

    Safely abide forever.

Under His wings—what a refuge in sorrow!

  How the heart yearningly turns to His rest!

Often when earth has no balm for my healing,

  There I find comfort, and there I am blest.

Under His wings—oh, what precious enjoyment!

  There will I hide till life’s trials are o’er;

Sheltered, protected, no evil can harm me;

  Resting in Jesus I’m safe evermore.

Ira D. Sankey

May you find a haven of rest under the MIGHTY wings of God... and magnify His name in your life today. 

~Ellie

HIS banner over me was LOVE....

" The LORD thy God in the midst of thee is mighty; He will save, He will rejoice over thee with joy; He will rest in His love, He will joy over thee with singing." Zephaniah 3:17

The love of God....

Oh, love of God, how rich and pure!

How measureless and strong!

It shall forevermore endure—

The saints’ and angels’ song.

Frederick M Lehman ~1917

Nothing can separate us from the love of God... which is in Christ Jesus. (Romans 8:38,39) 

No, nothing.

I live by the faith of the Son of God, 

Who LOVED me, 

and 

GAVE Himself for me. 

Galatians 2:20

May you be comforted in the LOVE OF GOD for you today.... a love that lasts forever.

~Ellie

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty...

" I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust." 

Psalm 91:2

I heard this song this morning and was encouraged yet again... to look upwards. To gaze on the beauty of the LORD and not on the things around me.

Oh to depend on the ONE who alone can lift us up and take away our fears, grant us joys unspeakable and lavish us with grace abundant. 

I hope it encourages you as it did me.... to run always to Him... and desire to be in HIS presence.

 Lord I need You

Sometimes when life seems gentle and blessings flood my way,

I turn my gaze away from You and soon forget to pray.

But when the sky grows darker and courage turns to fear,

My anxious voice cries upward with words You long to hear.

Chorus: 

Lord, I need You when the sea of life is calm.

O Lord, I need You when the wind is blowing strong.

Whether trials come or cease, keep me always on my knees.

Lord, I need You. Lord I need You.

Lord help me to remember I'm weak but You are strong.

I cannot sing apart from You, for Lord, You are my song.

Though I'm prone to wander and boast in all I do.

Lord, keep my eyes turned upward so I depend on You.

written by Ron Hamilton

May you draw strength from God alone and depend on Him to guide and direct your paths today.

~Ellie

Thy Throne, O God, is for ever and ever....

" They shall perish, but THOU remainest... and they shall be changed, but THOU art the same." Hebrews 1: 11,12

Coming back from a recent trip visiting family and friends, I was welcomed home by an early morning call from a dear friend. " How was your trip? I couldn't wait  and called to see how you were doing." 

What a friend! 

"How have you been? Are you well?" 

In the few days that I had been away, my friend had started to experience some back and leg pain. The pain was making it difficult to walk,  It also made it difficult to sleep. But she wasn't complaining. 

And as our conversation continued, she shared how one night in her pain she had picked up the hymn book and came upon the song, "Blessed be the name of the LORD". The scripture reference brought her to Isaiah 9:6.

As she read the verse she was overwhelmed with the thought that God is everything to us... and we don't need anything else. 

His name alone brings peace and comfort.

"... HIS name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, 

the Mighty God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace."

 Isaiah 9:6

" Isn't it wonderful?", she said. "God is everything we'll ever need." That thought brought sleep to her heavy eyes. Peace from the Heavenly Father.

And as she shared the verse with me, I  thought how easily I've read over the names... many, many times. 

Indeed it was good to be reminded of God's attributes.

God IS: Wonderful. Our Counsellor. A Mighty God. The Everlasting Father. The Prince of Peace.  

What else do we need? 

Even when... 

~everything around us may look dim.

~when everything may perish. 

~when everything may change. 

GOD is still the same. 

HE remaineth... when all else around us perisheth. HE is the same... when all else around us changes.

And HIS throne is for ever and ever. Blessed be HIS name!      

"... let them also that love Thy NAME be joyful in Thee." 

Psalm 5:11

May you be reminded of God's never-changing character... and praise His HOLY name.

~Ellie

TURN AWAY mine eyes FROM beholding VANITY...

" TEACH me O Lord the way of THY statues... Give me UNDERSTANDING, and I shall keep THY law... Make me to go in the path of THY commandments... Incline my HEART unto THY testimonies, and not to covetousness... STABLISH THY WORD unto thy servant." PS. 119: 33-38.

Lately I've been thinking about our role here on this earth. What is the meaning of our salvation? As I was memorizing a few verses from Psalm 73, I came to the last verse, where it says, " But it is good for me to draw near to GOD, I have put my trust in the LORD, GOD... that I might declare ALL THY works.

I guess it's real simple. We are to show forth God's work in us. We are to live for HIS glory. And we are to imitate the LORD JESUS CHRIST through our actions.

Last night while getting ready for bed, my husband and I took a few hymns to sing together. And while he was still brushing his teeth, I was flipping through the hymn book, looking for a few hymns we could sing together. That's when I ran across a hymn I didn't seem to recognize... and I wasn't familiar with the melody either. But I loved the words!

It's not about us. We are to have the mind of Christ in us always... in our actions, thoughts and deeds.

I'm posting the words, not only because it's such a beautiful hymn, but I'm hoping it will encourage you as it did me.

O I want to be like Jesus,
As I walk along this pilgrim way;
O I want to live like Jesus,
Showing forth His beauty every day.
This my prayer and deepest longing -
To be pure without, within.
O I want to be like Jesus,
Cleansed from dross and free from self and sin.

O I want to talk like Jesus,
Gracious are the words from Him we hear:
Words of life and hope for sinners,
Tender healing words of love and cheer.
O the power and the value of a fitly spoken word!
O I want to talk like Jesus,
Any time or place my voice is heard.

O I want to serve like Jesus,
Willingly He came from Heaven above;
On the earth He lived for others,
Spent His life in kindly deeds of love.
I would follow where He leads me
And His bidding always do.
O I want to serve like Jesus
Till my traveling days on earth are through.

John W. Peterson

I'm again reminded of the LORD JESUS CHRIST... who came as a servant, not to to be served, but rather to serve... and in the end, gave HIS life that we may live.

We are to live for God... and to be free of self.

"And that He died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto HIM which died for them and rose again." 2 Cor. 5:15

May you be strengthened in the thought today... to live for Jesus... to talk like Jesus...and to serve like Jesus.

~Ellie