PSALM 124

How many times has the Lord saved you from a raging flood in life? ...the death of a loved one ... a financial crisis ... the pain of broken relationships ... threatening illness ... failures? Indeed if the Lord had not been on our side, we would have been swept away! We have escaped like a bird, out of the fowler's snare. Well guess what?...there are others who need God's help! If our help is in the name of the Lord, why not share that good news with others!

A Great Heron taken in Safety Harbor, FL

PSALM 123

As I stood at the top of the stairs, he would look at me intently. If I said "Let's go!", he would run down the stairs often jumping past the last steps.... and heading straight for the back door.... knowing a car ride was ahead. But if I said to Gabe, my Standard Poodle, "Go on.." he would just follow me to the bottom of the staircase.

"I lift up my eyes to you... the Lord our God"  Oh that we were so attentive to the commands of God!  

PSALM 122

When was the last time someone said, " O church is a great place to be.. I can't wait to go back!" Not exactly the conversation around the water cooler... "I rejoiced with those who said to me, 'Let us go to the house of the Lord."  Perhaps if we focused less on the three "Bs" {Budget, Buildings and Butts in the pew} and intentionally sought to connect people with the love of Jesus Christ in a geniune, winsome manner, church would once again be an attractive place to live!

PSALM 121

Again the song writer is making the journey up to Jerusalem to worship at the Temple. "I lift up my eyes to the hills- where does my help come from? My help come from the Lord, maker of heaven and earth." I must admit I get annoyed when people say, "Prayer works". There is nothing magical connecting the way we pray with positive outcomes! The more accurate statement would be "God has worked through my prayers." Why do we have such a difficult time giving God the credit? The song writer was not confused as to where help comes from! Neither should we!

PSALM 120

This begins a series of 15 psalms called the "the songs of ascent". Most agree they were sung by Jews traveling to the Temple for high holy days and since the Temple was on a hill, they ascended.... using traveling songs to remind them of their faith in God and the condition of their lives. Today's song cries out against lying and deceitfulness. So, with God's grace, lets stop ourselves from telling half truths! Let our yes be yes and our no be no.

PSALM 119

 Well we are finally at the longest chapter of the Bible! But if you really distill this long treatise, it boils down to - If you are smart, you will follow God's directions for living! Jesus continued this theme, when he listed all the benefits of being his apprentice or following his teaching; joy, friendship with God, a rich and fruitful prayer life and a home with God forever.  What is the first step to being an apprentice? Try this- Love the Lord with all your heart, mind and strength and love your neighbor as yourself.

Sign from Santa Fe, NM

PSALM 118

God's love endures forever... that is the repeated refrain of this psalm. And how does God's love effect our lives? ...God's love sets us free, protects us, helps us... "The Lord is my strength and my song..." Enter a new day with this song, "This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it."