Never Forget. Never. Forget.

S ~ Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    with my whole heart, I will praise his holy name.
2 Let all that I am praise the Lord;
    may I never forget the good things he does for me.
3 He forgives all my sins
    and heals all my diseases.
4 He redeems me from death
    and crowns me with love and tender mercies.
5 He fills my life with good things.
    My youth is renewed like the eagle’s!

                                                     Pslam 103:1-5

O ~ Bless the Lord O my soul - and all that is within me. 
King Dave reminds himself to never forget.
God forgives his sin - his past is dealt with.
God heals his diseases - his present sickness is dealt with.
God redeems him from death - his future is secured and he is crowned.
God fills his life, and renews his youth. Full and never growing old.

A ~ Today I 'selah' this psalm. 
Stop and pause and breathe.
Meditate and ponder and inhale.
My heart rises within me in praise.
Yes, the Lord is good.
And yes, the Lord does good for me.
The Lord does good for my family.
The Lord does good for His people.

My sin, oh the bliss, of this glorious thought - my sin not in part but the whole...is nailed to the cross and I bear it no more, praise the Lord, Praise the Lord, oh my soul!

He is the God whose very nature it is to heal. God is always on the side of healing.
Lord, if you are willing. "I am willing - be healed."

Eye has not see, ear has not heard, nor has it entered into the heart of man, what the Lord has is store for us. A crown. A reward. No need of sun or moon, for God  - our exceedingly great reward - will be our light.  No more tears, or sorrow.

Therefore the redeemed of the Lord shall return, and come with singing unto Zion, and everlasting joy shall be upon their heads. They shall obtain gladness and joy, and sorrow and mourning shall flee away.

P ~ Lord, thank You for Your goodness to me. It's everywhere. You have forgiven me so much, You have healed me, You have redeemed me and crowned me with Your lovingkindness and compassion. How can I say thanks, for the things You've done for me? Things so undeserved, yet You gave Your life for me - the voices of a million angels could not express my gratitude. All that I am, and ever hope to be, I owe it all to Thee. To God be the glory for the things He has done.

Dare To Hope

S ~ The thought of my suffering and homelessness is bitter beyond words. I will never forget this awful time, as I grieve over my loss. Yet I still dare to hope when I remember this:

The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease.
Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning.
I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!”

The Lord is good to those who depend on him, to those who search for him.
So it is good to wait quietly for salvation from the Lord.

Lamentations 3:19-26

O ~ Jeremiah has had a very difficult time. So much suffering, especially at the hands of his countrymen. Such suffering and betrayal and persecution.

It is clear that he will never forget this time. Ever.

Yet, his declaration is strong regarding the character of God. "I dare to hope". 

He remembers.

He speaks, even though he is only speaking to himself.

He waits quietly.

A ~ This is a difficult time for our family. Robyn's Health. Audrey's Health. Emily's Health. Barry's Health. Dougie's Health. Thankfully, Abby is healthy.

I will not forget this time of suffering, but I will dare to hope as I remember the faithful and steadfast ceaseless love of the Lord.

P ~ Lord, Jeremiah cried to You and You heard him, and delivered him out of the pit. 

It seems to me that my family is in a pit - but not the pit of despair - for we dare to hope in You.

Please heal Audrey.

Please heal Robyn.

Please heal Emily Dawn.

Please heal Dougie.

Please heal me.

Please keep Abby.

I wait quietly before You. May our healing - that comes from You - break forth speedily.

Amen.

The Road To Jerusalem

S ~ The roads to Jerusalem are in mourning, for crowds no longer come to celebrate the festivals. Lamentations 1:4

O ~ The roads to Jerusalem were to be roads full of praise, as people would 'go up to Jerusalem'. The Psalms of Ascent were to be sung as people made their way to the celebrate festivals in Jerusalem.  Now the even the roads mourn - for the people have been taken away into captivity. Not only did the Lord allow it, but the Lord had warned the people that this would happen if they continued in their sinful ways. Lament. Mourn. Grieve. 

A ~ What are the roads in and out out my life? Surely the Lord has pathways of praise and joy and celebration for me to walk in - but have those turned into joyless avenues of defeat and sorrow and captivity, because if sin or unfaithfulness?

P ~ Lord, my heart's desire is to honour You, and to live a life of obedience. I want to be faithful to You, and to your Word, to Your instructions and Your commands. I know that in doing so, there will be pathways of celebration, not roadways of sadness.