Dahyenu

Thursday, May 7, 2009

Sometimes His faithfulness is seen more in how was are able to respond to life's challenges rather than the outcome. Sometimes it is the strength, even joy "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him, s that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13, He gives us in the mist of a trial. We know that He does not leave us alone to fend for ourselves, "and surely I am with you always to the very end of the age." Matthew 28:20b I am praising the Lord today in His faithfulness to carry me, to give me the self-control and renewed mind needed to face life in a difficult situation. I praise His Holy Name that I do not feel alone in those times, but that I can come before a Mighty God and be comforted under His wings, "He will cover you with His feathers, and under His wings you will find refuge; His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart." Psalm 91:4. Do you understand how powerful that is. We can come before the same God who created the heavens and the earth and we can cast our cares upon Him "Cast your cares on the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never let the righteous fall." Psalm 55:22, "Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you." 1Peter 5:7. We can trust that He cares for us because we are His and His Word is clearly proof. You will be blessed today if you take the time to focus on the comfort and strength you have experienced in the past just by knowing He was with you.
Remember His faithfulness the next time you come face to face with a moment of need. Instead of walking in fear walk by faith knowing He will be with you. Remember His character does not change. One of my favorite parts of the Jewish Passover Feast is when it is time to read and sing the Dahyenu song from the Haggadah (Haggadah is the text that sets out the order of the Passover Seder-diner). Dahyenu is the Hebrew word for, "it would have been enough for us." The song lists 15 things the Lord did for the Israelites from freeing them from being slaves in Egypt to the journey through the desert. Praise Him and do not forget that you do not stand alone even in the desert moments.

Psalm 103

Monday, May 4, 2009

"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Pausing for a moment I ask myself am I truly praising Him with all of me? With my inmost being. Are my thoughts on other things at the moment or am I truly focused on praising my God. Who is so worthy of my praise. Deuteronomy 6:5 tells me to "Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength." So I have to put myself-my worries, my struggles, my desires, even my family aside and focus on Him....to praise my worthy God. To meet with Him; to cherish Him.
Praise the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits-
His benefits! Oh His great faithfulness. My life is very proof of the benefits found in His great love. Today alone has even been defined by them. "Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders You have done. The things You planned for us no one can recount to You; were I to speak and ell of them, they would be too many to declare." Psalm 40:5 Do yourself a great favor and take the time to remember His benefits in your own life.
who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases,
I am so thankful for His forgiveness and healing power. Jehovah Rapha! I am so thankful to start each day new, forgiven. Only He can wipe the slate completely clean, I no longer stand under the weight of my sin but instead purified found righteous before the living God because of my faith in His Son. The price has been paid.
who redeems your life from the pit and crowns you with love and compassion,
How is that for a label? I am crowned with love and compassion!
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
This verse made me think about all the people in this world trying to stop time, trying to turn back to clock. The only One who can truly satisfy my desires is the Lord and not only will I be satisfied but renewed.
The Lord works righteousness and justice for all the oppressed.
From an uncomfortable work situation all the way to terrorism God is there. Turn to Him. He works.
He made known His ways to Moses, His deeds to the people of Israel:
He didn't hide it so why should we allow ourselves to forget it! I believe that we should not only remember it but dwell on it.
The Lord is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
I praise you Lord that You are slow to anger. I pray Lord that I would be slow to anger filled with compassion and gracious even to those it is hard to love.
He will not always accuse, nor will He harbor His anger forever,
If He doesn't I shouldn't... so much easier to say than to do. I am one to hold a grudge. I wish I wasn't but I can be so stubborn. You would think with how much He has forgiven me for I would be more willing to forgive others. By focusing on His forgiveness-His faithfulness in my own life I can walk by faith in forgiving and letting go.
He does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
Praise His holy name for His mercy! Seriously!
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His love for those who fear Him;
Even after my filthy sin, which He forgives me of and has mercy on me with, He still loves me...as far as the heavens are above the earth! Do you have any idea how huge that is?! The distance from the earth just to the sun is about 93,000,000 miles! I am a daughter of the King and He really loves me! "The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, He will quiet you with His love, He will rejoice over you with singing." Zephaniah 3: 17
as far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.
He forgives and He forgets.
As a father has compassion on his children, so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
In the old Testament when the Lord rested on Mt. Sinai if a person or animal got too close to the mountain the Israelites were instructed to kill them out of reverence to the Lord (Exodus 19:13). That same God, the same God who parted the Red Sea and set His people free from slavery is the same God we serve today. Do we truly fear-revere Him? I know personally I have to check myself all the time. I will come before Him with all my requests and desires forgetting that I am speaking to the great I AM!
for He knows how we are formed, He remembers that we are dust,
He formed us.
As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field;
Watching my babies grow up is a huge realization of just how fast life can be.
the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.
We have to make every fleeting moment count.
But from everlasting to everlasting the Lord's love is with those who fear Him, and His righteousness with their children's children-
This is one of my greatest desires and I believe my mission field right now. I want my children, my grandchildren to be covered in His love. I want to pass down the blessing so that they can fulfill His purpose in their lives. Praise the Lord for His love. He loves them even more than I do.
with those who keep His covenant and remember to obey His precepts.
Sometimes I feel like I could burst I am so in love with Him and being that I am an affectionate person I really wish I could give Him the biggest hug! Jesus said we can show our love by obeying Him. I pray for an obedient heart so that my life would be clear proof of my love for Him.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven and His kingdom rules over all.
It doesn't matter who is president or what is happening to our economy. It doesn't matter who has the most money or what country is the strongest in the threat of war. His kingdom rules over all. He does not sit back and enjoy the show He is living and active and believe me He is involved. Even the devil has to come before Him before making a move (Job). With my God on the throne and Jesus on His right side I have victory. I have hope.
Praise the Lord, you His angels, you mighty ones who do his bidding, who obey His word.
Praise Him in the good!
Praise the Lord, all his heavenly hosts, you His servants who do His will.
Praise Him in the bad!
Praise the Lord, all His works everywhere in His dominion. Praise the Lord, O my soul." Psalm 103
Praise Him for He is faithful and He is good and His character does not change! (Hebrews 13:8)