We were at Folsom Lake yesterday. It was a bit fierce with the gusty wind and a few massive turkey vultures circling but a “God beam” appeared over all of us.

After the guys took a dip, we had a snack huddled under towels. I refrained from swimming but enjoyed watching my grandson revel in the freedom of the water.

The Psalm below is one of my favorites. When I was a student in Dr. Eckman’s Hebrew class, I was determined to memorize the entire chapter in the original language. Although I only made it through verse 4, this passage has stayed with me as part of my daily prayer time.

This morning, I was reading the entire Psalm and a new appreciation for verse 9 touched me. (The Lord is good to all,
and his mercy is over all that he has made.)

Every one of us have a deficiency or deficiencies. God does not wait for us to be pretty near perfect before He shows us His goodness or mercy. His goodness and mercy are with us right here, right now.

With David we can say, “Great is the Lord and greatly to be praised- His greatness is beyond our comprehension.” *

He has plans for us that we may not understand all at once. It may take years before we recognize His goodness and mercy in situations that were uncomfortable. Looking back, I can see it more clearly. “He was really good to me, He was truly showing mercy to me”.

Thank you, Lord, for your goodness and mercy extended to even me. May we sing your praises every day and tell of your mighty works.

When you acknowledge God as King (who is good and merciful), then you too can bless His holy name- along with David. -Teresa

Psalm 145: 1-21 ( ESV) bold added

Great Is the Lord

^[a] 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^[b] 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.^[c]]
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.Read full chapter

Footnotes

a) Psalm 145:1 This psalm is an acrostic poem, each verse beginning with the successive letters of the Hebrew alphabet

b) Psalm 145:12 Hebrew his; also next line

c) Psalm 145:13 These two lines are supplied by one Hebrew manuscript, Septuagint, Syriac (compare Dead Sea Scroll)

*John Joseph Owens, Analytical Key To The Old Testament, Vol. 3, 1991. p. 513 (interpretation of verse 3)

This sweet memory near Father’s Day reminds me of the gratefulness King David expressed in the Psalm below.

Just as our marriage requires my whole heart, giving thanks for God’s steadfast love exalts God’s character, strengthening our souls.

Those on high sing of God’s glory and those who are lowly acknowledge His help with thanksgiving. No wonder David was helped, he regarded himself as lowly. #callonHim

God’s greatness will stand. Our purpose will also be fulfilled as we give thanks with our whole heart.

God does not forsake His work. Even more amazing is that we are the work of His hands (Psalm 100:3), fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14).

Lord, help us to be bold, strengthened by the truth of your steadfast love, which endures forever. Thank you for all the faithful fathers who have exemplified this truth in their families. -Teresa #purposeful #strong #bold

Give Thanks to the Lord

Of David.

Psalm 138:1-8 (ESV)*

1 I give you thanks, O Lord, with my whole heart;
    before the gods I sing your praise;
² I bow down toward your holy temple
    and give thanks to your name for your steadfast love and your faithfulness,
    for you have exalted above all things
    your name and your word.^[a]
3 On the day I called, you answered me;
    my strength of soul you increased.^[b]

⁴ All the kings of the earth shall give you thanks, O Lord,
    for they have heard the words of your mouth,
⁵ and they shall sing of the ways of the Lord,
    for great is the glory of the Lord.
⁶ For though the Lord is high, he regards the lowly,
    but the haughty he knows from afar.

⁷ Though I walk in the midst of trouble,
    you preserve my life;
you stretch out your hand against the wrath of my enemies,
    and your right hand delivers me.
⁸ The Lord will fulfill his purpose for me;
    your steadfast love, O Lord, endures forever.
    Do not forsake the work of your hands.Read full chapter*Bible gateway.com

Footnotes

1. Psalm 138:2 Or you have exalted your word above all your name
2. Psalm 138:3 Hebrew you made me bold in my soul with strength

Saul of Tarsus became “brother Saul” to Ananias, (follower of the Lord Jesus). Receiving his sight, Saul was also given a new perspective about those who followed Jesus as Lord.

Although Saul’s mission was to imprison those same followers, he was instead converted by a personal encounter with Jesus through a blinding light- literally, blinding. Without his sight, Paul was forced to ponder quietly what it meant to persecute Christ Jesus the Lord.

By accepting the assignment God had for him, Saul was filled with the Holy Spirit. The assignment was to receive Jesus as the Lord of his life. Until that time, he saw Jesus as a mere mortal. Now, he believed with all his heart that Jesus was who he claimed to be…the Son of God.

This change in perspective allowed Paul to be in alignment with God’s purpose for him. Even Ananias was given insight as to how much this new identity would “cost” Saul. It was like receiving a new name. #Paultheapostle

When we are “in Christ”, we also become new creations (2 Corinthians 5:17). The process of being changed for His purpose may cost us something. If it is wealth, reputation or being misunderstood, then you are in good company with many who have gone before.

Lord, help me to have your perspective and like Saul (aka Paul), be made new-seeing your glorious plan.

Did you know that Paul looked heavenward quite often and even visualized the many who would be there with him, bowing before the Savior (I Thessalonians 2:19). -Teresa #joyfulsubmission

Acts 9:10-25 (ESV)*

10Now there was a disciple at Damascus named Ananias. The Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” And he said, “Here I am, Lord.” ¹¹ And the Lord said to him, “Rise and go to the street called Straight, and at the house of Judas look for a man of Tarsus named Saul, for behold, he is praying, ¹² and he has seen in a vision a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him so that he might regain his sight.” ¹³ But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. ¹⁴ And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” ¹⁵ But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. ¹⁶ For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ¹⁷ So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.”¹⁸ And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; ¹⁹ and taking food, he was strengthened.

Saul Proclaims Jesus in Synagogues

For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. ²⁰ And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” ²¹ And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?”²² But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Saul Escapes from Damascus

²³ When many days had passed, the Jews^[a]plotted to kill him, ²⁴ but their plot became known to Saul. They were watching the gates day and night in order to kill him, ²⁵ but his disciples took him by night and let him down through an opening in the wall,^[b] lowering him in a basket.Read full chapter

Footnotes

1. Acts 9:23 The Greek word Ioudaioi refers specifically here to Jewish religious leaders, and others under their influence, who opposed the Christian faith in that time
2. Acts 9:25 Greek through the wall

*Bible gateway.com

It seems that we don’t get dressed up as much anymore, so I bought this dress to improve my personal style. In this passage, however, Peter needed no personal image improvements for the message to be effective.

In contrast, Peter was given supernatural ability (filled with the Holy Spirit), to answer the high priest’s question (prompted by the Sadducees’ concern) about what authority had been used to do this miracle and subsequently teach about resurrection from the dead.

It was by the name of ONE (Jesus Christ of Nazareth) who was given for the salvation of all mankind, meaning for both men and women alike.

The historicity of Jesus’ life, death, burial and resurrection, authenticates His claim as the Son of God. “…there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” #deliveredfromsin

What a great hope to hear those words. The people were weighed down with religious burdens. In fact, the very leaders who enforced those requirements had rejected the cornerstone of God’s building (the Church).

Lord, help us today to open our hearts to your authority. May we experience salvation and begin life anew in Your name. -Teresa #freetolove

Acts 4:1-14 (ESV)

4 And as they were speaking to the people, the priests and the captain of the temple and the Sadducees came upon them, ² greatly annoyed because they were teaching the people and proclaiming in Jesus the resurrection from the dead. ³ And they arrested them and put them in custody until the next day, for it was already evening. ⁴ But many of those who had heard the word believed, and the number of the men came to about five thousand.

⁵ On the next day their rulers and elders and scribes gathered together in Jerusalem, ⁶ with Annas the high priest and Caiaphas and John and Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family. ⁷ And when they had set them in the midst, they inquired, “By what power or by what name did you do this?” ⁸ Then Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, said to them, “Rulers of the people and elders, ⁹ if we are being examined today concerning a good deed done to a crippled man, by what means this man has been healed, ¹⁰ let it be known to all of you and to all the people of Israel that by the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God raised from the dead—by him this man is standing before you well. ¹¹ This Jesus^[a] is the stone that was rejected by you, the builders, which has become the cornerstone.^[b] 12 And there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given among men^[c] by which we must be saved.”

¹³ Now when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, and perceived that they were uneducated, common men, they were astonished. And they recognized that they had been with Jesus. ¹⁴ But seeing the man who was healed standing beside them, they had nothing to say in opposition.

Footnotes

a. Acts 4:11 Greek This one

b. Acts 4:11 Greek the head of the corner

c. Acts 4:12 The Greek word anthropoi refers here to both men and women

d. Acts 4:25 Or child; also verses 27, 30

e. Acts 4:26 Or Christ