Tag: great is Thy faithfulness

Moving Forward in the Song of Ascents

Walk with me in victory in the Song of Ascents as we run our race and fix our eyes on Jesus, the Author and Finisher of our faith . . .

The Song of Ascents were recited as the children of Israel journeyed up to Jerusalem. Journey with me. Speak aloud the Songs. Pray the Songs, for such a time as this, together we ascend to our promised land:

Psalm 120, A Cry in Distress A Song of Ascents:

Quite accurate for our year 2020, Psalm 120.

In my distress I cried to the LORD, And He heard me.

Deliver my soul, O LORD, from lying lips And from a deceitful tongue.

What shall be given to you, Or what shall be done to you, You false tongue? Sharp arrows of the warrior, with coals of the broom tree!

Woe is me, that I dwell in Meshech, That I dwell among the tents of Kedar! My soul has dwelt too long With one who hates peace. I am for peace; But when I speak, they are for war Psalm 120.

We won’t stand still, we keep moving forward. Psalm 121 will help us with our focus:

Psalm 121, God is Our Keeper. A Song of Ascents.

The LORD will preserve those who trust in Him from all evil, from this time forth, and even forevermore.

Perhaps we walk in a desert place, but when we feed our hungry soul with faith as we drink the Living Word, we are refreshed in ways beyond our mind’s eye.

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy.

He who continually goes forth weeping

Bearing seed for sowing,

Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,

Bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126: 5,6.

But I can’t get ahead of myself. “The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in From this time forth, and even forevermore.”

We can rejoice in the Lord, always:

“Great is Thy faithfulness!” “Great is Thy faithfulness!”
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Thy hand hath provided—
“Great is Thy faithfulness, ” Lord, unto me!

Pardon for sin and a peace that endureth,
Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide;
Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow,
Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside!

How glad we are to enter the house of the LORD!

“I was glad when they said to me, “Let us go into the house of the LORD.” Our feet have been standing Within the gates, O Jerusalem!

Jerusalem is built. As a city that is compact together, Where the tribes go up, The tribes of the LORD, To the Testimony of Israel, To give thanks to the name of the LORD . . .

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: “May they prosper who love you. Peace be within your walls, Prosperity within your palaces.”

For the sake of my brethren and companions, I will now say, “Peace be within you.” Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek your good”Psalm 122.

“Yes, we pray for the peace of Jerusalem because You, dear Lord command us to. We seek Your good this day dear Lord. We rejoice that You hear our prayers.”

To you I lift up my eyes, O you who are enthroned in the heavens.

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of maidservant to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to the LORD our God, till he has mercy upon us.

Have mercy upon us, O LORD, have mercy upon us, for we have had more than enough of contempt.

Our soul has had more than enough of the scorn of those who are at ease, of the contempt of the proud Psalm 123.

Why should I feel discouraged
Why should the shadows come
Why should my heart feel lonely
And long for heaven and home
When Jesus is my portion
A constant friend is He
His eye is on the sparrow
And I know He watches over me

Cevilla D Martin, His Eye is on the Sparrow

Bring us to a new beginning Lord. We seek You. Help us believe You and Your Word. Help our unbelief. We cry “Mercy Lord.”

Renew.

Restore.

We walk with ears to hear:

Blessed is the man Who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly,

Nor stands in the path of sinners, Nor sits in the seat of the scornful; But his delight is in the law of the Lord,

And in His law he meditates day and night. He shall be like a tree Planted by the rivers of water, That brings forth its fruit in its season, Whose leaf also shall not wither; And whatever he does shall prosper . . . Psalm 1:1,2,3.

For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish Psalm 1:6.

The LORD God, Creator of heaven and earth, He is our hope and defense:

If it had not been for the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us, . . . Our help is in the Name of the LORD who made heaven and earth Psalm 124. (Calligraphy, tonirypkema.com)

“If it had not been the LORD who was on our side,” Let Israel now say – “If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us;

Then they would have swallowed us alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul; Then the swollen waters Would have gone over our soul.”

Blessed be the LORD, Who has not given us as prey to their teeth. Our soul has escaped as a bird from the snare of the fowlers;

The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Our help is in the name of the LORD, Who made heaven and earth Psalm 124.

Those who trust in the LORD are like mount Zion, which cannot be moved, but abides forever Psalm 125:1.

As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.

For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity.

Do good, O LORD, to those who are good, And to those who are upright in their hearts.

As for such as turn aside to their crooked ways, The LORD shall lead them away With the workers of iniquity.

Peace be upon Israel! Psalm 125.

Breath by breath, step by step, with our eyes focused up, we walk this journey meditating on God’s Word that we might be as trees planted by the rivers of water whose leaf shall not wither, (Psalm 1).

Because: “As the mountains surround Jerusalem, So the LORD surrounds His people From this time forth and forever.“

The Bible tells us so. Today, I hear the voice of the Lord, and I will stand on His promises. Join me in faith to believe God more and more and grow in understanding of His Holy Word? Yes and amen.

“For the scepter of wickedness shall not rest On the land allotted to the righteous, Lest the righteous reach out their hands to iniquity Psalm 125:3.

Nothing can for sin atone,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
Naught of good that I have done,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

This is all my hope and peace,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
This is all my righteousness,
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

We remember our hope:

What can wash away my sin?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus;
What can make me whole again?
Nothing but the blood of Jesus.

Nothing but the Blood of Jesus by Robert Lowry, 1876.

Those who sow in tears Shall reap in joy . . . The Lord has done great things for us, And we are glad Psalm 126.

When the Lord brought back the captivity of Zion,
We were like those who dream.
 Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
And our tongue with singing.

Then they said among the nations,
“The Lord has done great things for them.”
 The Lord has done great things for us,
And we are glad.

 Bring back our captivity, O Lord,
As the streams in the South.

 Those who sow in tears
Shall reap in joy.
He who continually goes forth weeping,
Bearing seed for sowing,
Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
Bringing his sheaves with him Psalm 126.

Do we sow in tears? We shall reap in joy.

Do we continually go forth weeping? We are bearing seed for sowing. We will rejoice again because the Lord is working. He is helping. He is drawing near as we draw near to Him.

“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob,
    all the remnant of the people of Israel,
you whom I have upheld since your birth,
    and have carried since you were born.
 Even to your old age and gray hairs
    I am he, I am he who will sustain you.
I have made you and I will carry you;
    I will sustain you and I will rescue you Isaiah 46:3,4.

“With whom will you compare me or count me equal?
    To whom will you liken me that we may be compared?
Some pour out gold from their bags
    and weigh out silver on the scales;
they hire a goldsmith to make it into a god,
    and they bow down and worship it.
 They lift it to their shoulders and carry it;
    they set it up in its place, and there it stands.
    From that spot it cannot move.
Even though someone cries out to it, it cannot answer;
    it cannot save them from their troubles.

“Remember this, keep it in mind,
    take it to heart, you rebels Isaiah 46:5-8.


Remember the former things, those of long ago;
    I am God, and there is no other;
    I am God, and there is none like me.
 I make known the end from the beginning,
    from ancient times, what is still to come.


I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
    and I will do all that I please.’Isaiah 46: 9,10.


From the east I summon a bird of prey;
    from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
    what I have planned, that I will do.
 Listen to me, you stubborn-hearted,
    you who are now far from my righteousness.


 I am bringing my righteousness near,
    it is not far away;
    and my salvation will not be delayed.
I will grant salvation to Zion,
    my splendor to Israel Isaiah 46:11-13.

Do we hear the voice of the Lord? Do we believe?

“I believe You, Lord.”

Aloud we proclaim Your Word. Our faith in increased. We are being changed.

Unless the LORD builds the house they labor in vain who build it Psalm 127:1.

Unless the LORD guards the city, the watchman stays awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows; For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the LORD, the fruit of the womb is His reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior, So are the children of one’s youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them. they shall not be ashamed, But shall speak with their enemies in the gate Psalm 127.

Moving forward in the Song of Ascents. Psalm 128:

Blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, Who walks in His ways.

When you eat the labor of your hands, You shall be happy, and it shall be well with you.

Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the very heart of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table.

Behold, thus shall the man be blessed Who fears the LORD.

The LORD bless you out of Zion, And may you see the good of Jerusalem All the days of your life. Yes, may you see your children’s children.

Peace be upon Israel!

Life might be messy, but with the LORD, it will be blessed!

Blessings come in many ways. Often by trial and hardship. They’re the good things that draw me closer and closer to the Lord. The pain brings remembrance of Him:

Who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness – by whose stripes you were healed 1 Peter 2:24.

In this collage of God’s Word and Psalms and hymns, I share encouragement from a Traditional Spiritual written in about 1800, There Is a Balm in Gilead:

There is a balm in Gilead to make the wounded whole; There is a balm in Gilead to heal the sin-sick soul.

  1. Sometimes I feel discouraged, And think my work’s in vain, But then the Holy Spirit Revives my soul again.
  2. If you can’t preach like Peter, If you can’t pray like Paul Just tell the love Jesus, And say He died for all.

Step by step we journey, fixed on the Author and Finisher of our souls. He speaks, . . .

with each step we’ve all been given privilege to choose:

See, I set before you today life and prosperity, death and destruction. For I command you today to love the Lord your God, to walk in obedience to him, and to keep his commands, decrees and laws; then you will live and increase, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land you are entering to possess Deuteronomy 30: 15,16.

 But if your heart turns away and you are not obedient, and if you are drawn away to bow down to other gods and worship them,  I declare to you this day that you will certainly be destroyed. You will not live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to enter and possess. Deuteronomy 30: 17,18.

 This day I call the heavens and the earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live  and that you may love the Lord your God, listen to his voice, and hold fast to him. For the Lord is your life, and he will give you many years in the land he swore to give to your fathers, Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.Deut. 30: 19,20.

Who will repeat His Word back to Him in faith and believing: “I chose life, so that me and my children may live. That we might love You, Lord God, and listen to Your voice, and hold fast to You.

For You, Lord are my life, and You give me many years in the land . . .

Peace be unto Israel. In Jesus name, Amen.”

Is there a 'MAPS App' for my 'life directions?

“Where is the MAPS App for my steps today? Is there a voice that can just ‘speak’ and direct me step by step?
“I AM here to those who have ears to hear. Do I have your ear?”
“Well, who are You that I would consider putting trust in You?”
“I am God, and there is none like Me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things that are not yet done, saying,’My counsel shall stand, and I will do all My pleasure.” (Is. 46:9,10).
“Do you know My name? “Thus says the Lord, who gives the sun for a light by day and the fixed order of the moon and of the stars for a light by night, who stirs up the sea’s roaring billows or stills the waves when they roar; the Lord of hosts is His name.” (Jer 31:35).
“Do you think you can trust Me? I lead the North Star?”
“How do I have peace and joy instead of striving and a sense of competitiveness? What are the steps I take?”
“Quite honestly, ‘truly, truly’ I say to you, you will not be free of this completely until you ‘abide in Me.’ But My speech is a mystery to you. “Stay close to Me, abide in Me,cling to Me.‘I tell you, stop being perpetually uneasy (anxious and worried) about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, and about your body, what you will put on. Is not life greater [in quality] than food, and the body [far above and more excellent’ than clothing? Look at the birds of the air…your heavenly Father keeps feeding them. Are you not worth more than they?(Matthew 6:25,26, Amplified).
‘Great is My Faithfulness to them and to thee!’ Look at the plants, or the flowers on display, “I tell you, even Solomon in all his magnificence (excellence, dignity and grace) was not like one of these. But if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is alive and green and tomorrow is tossed into the furnace, will He not much more surely cloth you, O you men with little faith?”(Matthew 6:29,30).
“I’ve heard all that before. ‘bla,bla,bla…it’s just words and no more!”
“And you are so right in what you say. ‘The natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him, nor can he know them because they are spiritually discerned.'”(1 Cor. 2:14).
“So, the first steps to ‘abiding’ or clinging to You I have to DO something too? Is there a password or something irritating?
“Simply ask…”Father, fill me with Your Spirit, and even more than that, ’empower Me with Your Spirit!’ “Teach me to abide in You!” “If you live in Me – abide vitally united to Me – and My words remain in you and continue to live in your hearts, ask whatever you will and it shall be done for you.” (John 15:7, Amplified).
“Seek first My Kingdom and My righteousness and all these things (Matthew 6:33), -all the direction, all the wisdom, all the understanding, all the courage, all the help you need – you will find in Me and in the power of My Spirit.”
“RIGHT NOW! What do I do RIGHT NOW?”
“Be still and know that I am God.”(Ps. 46:10). Put away ‘distilled spirits’ with their adventurous,smiling billboards dripping with deceit, “Do not get drunk with wine…but ever be filled and stimulated with the Holy Spirit!” (Eph. 5:18).
“HOW?!”
“Just ask!(John 15:7).  And as you ask, “Rise, pick up your bed and walk!”(John 5:8). Make no provision for failure.”Great is My faithfulness, for now, for tomorrow, for all eternity. ‘At all times and for everything give thanks‘ (Eph. 5:20),  in My Name to God the Father, and you will discover a power a-new and a song and great confidence too. “You are My beloved and I AM yours.(Song of Songs, (2:16). My banner over you is LOVE!”
“And let Me remind you again and again, HOW: “...if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you.” (Romans 8:11). That’s HOW!”
“Take comfort in ‘step by step’ instructions now that you’ve connected to MAPS: Mighty And Powerful Spirit – but it’s even easier than an App, simply Follow Me:“The LORD your God in your midst, The Mighty One will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness, He will quiet you in His love, He will rejoice over you with singing.” (Zeph. 3:17).And don’t forget to keep an ear open to My voice at all times,  It is, “Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit, says the LORD of hosts.” (Zech 4:6).
“So, step by step, “be filled with the Spirit’ and ‘speak to one another in a Psalm and a Hymn…’Have you not made melody in your heart in a long time? It is time, it is time…
“Pardon for sin and a peace than endureth, Thine own dear presence to cheer and to guide; Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, Blessings all mine, with ten thousand beside! Great is Thy faithfulness, Great is Thy faithfulness – morning by morning, new mercies I see! All I have needed, Thy hand hath provided…
Great is Thy Faithfulness, Lord unto Thee!”(Great is Thy faithfulness, Thomas O Chisholm).
“OK, OK! I hear, I see! My MAPS is God’s Mighty And Powerful Spirit! I will pray I connect each moment of my day!