August 23, 2025

We are our own worst enemy. God loves us and has given us every opportunity to submit to Him and follow His will for us, but we are so hard-headed that we want to have things our way, which causes us so much harm. If we would only live the way He intended for us, He would subdue our enemies and would never let us go hungry. If you think about it, those of us who love the Lord and cherish our moments with Him may not have perfect lives, but we can endure when the enemy tries to oppress us. That is something magnificent to be thankful for. 

Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee. Psalms 81:13-16

As of today, August 23, we are one month away from the Feast of Trumpets. According to some commentators, it is the one feast that Jesus hasn't fulfilled. So, every year at this time, I begin looking for my redemption because I expect that Jesus will make his appearance during this time of year. Do we know for sure that this feast hasn't been fulfilled? No, we don't, but then again, we can't be sure about anything except that God is our creator, Jesus is our redeemer, that we are dearly loved, and the Bible is the only truth we can count on, yet it is full of mysteries. Therefore, we wait with anticipation because our redemption draweth nigh. Get your house in order and wait patiently, as the exact day and hour may vary due to moon phases. However, if you pay attention, you'll be able to recognize the season. Stay awake, watch, keep oil in your lamp, and be ready because God could call us home at any moment. I'm excited, are you?

And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh. Luke 21:28

Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. Psalms 81:8 

August 22, 2025

Terrible things were happening to God’s people in Jerusalem. They were being slain by the sword, their blood pouring into the streets, and their bodies left for the animals to devour. They were not allowed to give them a proper burial. It is possible that Psalms 79 was written in remembrance of when Nebuchadnezzar and the Chaldeans destroyed the temple. The people were distraught over being treated so poorly. They cried out to God in distress, begging Him to make Himself known so that the Chaldeans could see that He was with them. It is a very sad psalm in which they plead for mercy and for God to save them. Knowing that the ones writing this psalm were probably some of God’s best servants, you feel for them because they are the ones who’ve stayed in close contact with God through the good times and the bad times. They can’t help that their fellow citizens had brought on this tragedy by their behavior against God. Still, they ask for mercy so that they not be massacred because of them. We would do well to continue to pray for our country and God’s people that his wrath be limited to those who are against Him and that we not become collateral damage in the process. He loves us and will protect those He loves. We can count on it, but we must make our request known to Him.

Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. Psalms 79:9-10

August 21, 2025

The psalms were to help Israel remember their history; it is much easier to recall when it has a tune. Psalms 78 is a history lesson from Moses to David, and if they could remember the song, it would remind them of their history. It covers all the good that God had done for them as well as His rebuke of them. It would be beneficial for us to remember not only God's goodness but also His chastisement of us. Those memory stones, or in our case, where we've written them in a book, are so essential for us to keep so we don't ever forget God's mercies. We always remember the verse that says that God will never leave us or forsake us, but we never look back to see that He got so mad that He left Israel to their own demise:

When God heard this, he was wroth, and greatly abhorred Israel: So that he forsook the tabernacle of Shiloh, the tent which he placed among men; And delivered his strength into captivity, and his glory into the enemy's hand. He gave his people over also unto the sword; and was wroth with his inheritance. Psalms 78:59-62

Don't get too cozy in your sin! He may not leave you or forsake you, but He will rebuke you. Don't disappoint God; give Him the respect He deserves. If you have iniquity that you cherish, you might be in danger of God stepping back from you and allowing you to wallow in it. Remember whose you are and remember who He is. If God says it is a sin, it is a sin. Run, do not walk, and seek forgiveness through Jesus, and turn your back on sinfulness. 

August 20, 2025

If you feel melancholy or are dealing with depression, know that even the psalmist of the Bible, who worshipped God through songs and instruments, had days like that, too. Sometimes we go through a rough patch in life and wonder if God is still with us or if He has abandoned us to our demise. It’s not hard to feel some kind of way when you look around at what is happening in the world; the things of the world spill over into our daily lives, causing us to have difficulty and stress. An example might be the price of food. Nowadays, it is enough to get a grip on your finances and make you feel down about your situation. Many other things can contribute to being downhearted, but we are most disheartened when God seems quiet. It is during such a time that you need to look back at the milestones in your life where God poured out His blessings upon you, especially when His voice was clear and understood, and when He answered your prayers. Life is not always bad, so make it a point to pull up those memories of the special times; that will help you hold firmly to your faith that He is still with you, even when you don’t sense his presence. 

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. Psalms 77:10-11

August 19, 2025

When God gives us a victory, we should shout it from the rooftops and exalt his name. Some commentators think that Psalms 76 was written by Asaph after a win against the Assyrians, who were led by Sennacherib. It explains that God broke their weapons and put their horses and chariots to sleep. Was that metaphorical, or did God actually break their weapons and put the horses to sleep? I don’t know, but it makes for an interesting song. The main point is that when the enemy comes after the meek, meaning the people of God, He stands up for them, making the way for victory, and judges those who are causing the trouble. However, it is our duty to offer worship, praise, and thanksgiving to Him, the maker of heaven and earth, who comes through for us when the enemy presses us. 

Are we approaching total victory in Jesus? Is his return sooner than you think? Each year, during the Feast of Trumpets, which day or hour is never known because it depends on when the first sliver of the moon is seen, I wait in expectation every year for the appearance of our Savior, and this year is no different, but with even more expectation than ever before. Although the exact day may not be known, September 23 is approximately the time the Feast of Trumpets begins. Make sure you are ready and your lamp filled with oil, in case our Lord and Savior brings our ultimate victory!

Vow, and pay unto the LORD your God: let all that be round about him bring presents unto him that ought to be feared. He shall cut off the spirit of princes: he is terrible to the kings of the earth. Psalms 76:11-12

August 18, 2025

We have so much to look forward to! Even though times are tough right now, there is a time coming when God will trample all the evil of this world, and those who love the Lord will be exalted. There are a couple of words in Psalms 75 that need to be defined:

Horn - refers to power. So when "horn" is used in a manner not attributed to an animal, it means power.

Dregs - are the sediment at the bottom of the barrel.

It is comforting to know that those who've sought to destroy the regular people and take everything for themselves will be dealt with, with the heavy hand of God, and that they won't get away with the mischief they've caused. In this psalm, the word of God says that the wicked will not be able to lift their horns; those horns will be cut off, and they will drink the dregs! If they are thirsty enough, they will drink from the bottom of the barrel. Yuck! This psalm makes it very clear that God is the One who sets up governmental power, whether good or bad; He has a use for both. We can rest easy knowing that God is in control and He will avenge and make whole those who are oppressed. This is good news for the people of God.

But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another.

For in the hand of the LORD there is a cup, and the wine is red; it is full of mixture; and he poureth out of the same: but the dregs thereof, all the wicked of the earth shall wring them out, and drink them.

But I will declare for ever; I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.

All the horns of the wicked also will I cut off; but the horns of the righteous shall be exalted. Psalms 75:7-10

August 17, 2025

There is always One you can count on to help you get through trials, God our Father. Though at times the road we travel may seem difficult and full of obstacles, and may seem lengthy and unending, we can expect that God is right there with us through every step of the way. Why does He let the ones he loves go through such challenging times? We can't always be sure, but what we can be sure of is that it brings us into communion with Him when otherwise we might be settled and forget Him when we are at ease. Think about it: how often do you pray when you are happy and settled? However, when times get tough and you are facing trouble, you call on Him several times throughout your day, rather than only during your morning and evening prayers. 

Some believe that Psalms 74 was written after Nebuchadnezzar's destruction of Jerusalem and the temple, when Asaph cried out to God for help, asking how long He would cast off His sheep. It is a reminder to invoke God's memory when asking Him to intervene in our troubles. It would also be a good idea to stir up your own memory to make sure you haven't left any sin on the table that might be causing you a rough time. Ask God; He will remind you of that sin so you can repent. 

Remember this, that the enemy hath reproached, O LORD, and that the foolish people have blasphemed thy name. O deliver not the soul of thy turtledove unto the multitude of the wicked: forget not the congregation of thy poor for ever. Psalms 74:18-19

 

Food for thought: Thou hast set all the borders of the earth: thou hast made summer and winter. Psalms 74:17

August 16, 2025

Psalms 72 was the last psalm written by David. Although it was not the last in the entire book of Psalms, it was placed last in Book 2 of the Psalms. It was written for Solomon who was rising into his kingdom, but portions of it are prophecy referring to King Jesus and his coming into his kingdom. When Jesus comes again, and I expect that it will be very soon, the enemies of him and his people will lick the dust. 

They that dwell in the wilderness shall bow before him; and his enemies shall lick the dust. Psalms 72:9

Everyone will know of Jesus’s return, even those who live far outside of the developed world. We do not wish for anyone to be left behind to endure famine or tribulation, but you can bet they will be sorry for ever coming against God’s people with their lies and treachery. Our prayer is that they will turn away from evil and do an about-face toward God before it’s too late. 

If you are like me and love the smell of freshly mowed grass after a rain, that is the soothing comfort we will feel with Jesus’ return. We have so much to look forward to; you may be enduring hardships right now, but the best is yet to come. Hold on to what you have, Jesus is coming!

He shall come down like rain upon the mown grass: as showers that water the earth. In his days shall the righteous flourish; and abundance of peace so long as the moon endureth. Psalms 72:6-7

August 15, 2025

Set your heart to be dependent on God. Don’t let the enemy convince you to traverse this world alone. God is our Father, and as His child, we should go to Him with all our troubles because He wants to help us and is the only one who can get us through challenging situations. If David was an example of anything, it was knowing that God was his help in times of trouble. He pleaded with God for intervention and praised Him, knowing the outcome was in His hands. He wasn’t afraid to ask God to foil the plans of his enemies using robust words in his request. I have a touch of vengeance within me, something I need to overcome. With the help of David’s psalms, I’m learning to pour out my heart to God in a manner that feels like vengeance, but puts that energy into God’s hands rather than me plotting the demise of the wicked who’ve plotted against me. Here is a sample prayer:

Let them be confounded and consumed that are adversaries to my soul; let them be covered withreproach and dishonour that seek my hurt. Psalms 71:13

I couldn’t have said that any better. It’s respectful of God, but also allows us to vent with our hearts open to Him. It’s a powerful prayer, yet vulnerable before God. Our enemies need to watch out when we state our case with an intense prayer like this one.

August 14, 2025

I am one of those people who find the water to be soothing to my soul, and the beach is my happy place. When there, I take an hour-long walk every day, which ends up being about two miles; I’m not a fast walker, I mosey along. After the fog clears in my brain, the words of gratefulness begin to flow, and my heart is laid open to God. Sometimes I repeat songs and prayers, but mostly, whatever thoughts come into my mind come out of my mouth as I release my cares to Him. It’s okay to repeat prayers, just not vainly as a way to be seen. Jesus gave us the perfect prayer to repeat in The Lord’s Prayer from Matthew 6, and I repeat it daily as a part of my prayer time. The reason I mention repetitive prayer is that Psalms 70 is a prayer repeated by David from Psalms 40; it is a duplicate of the last five verses. Sometimes, if you cannot find the words, God will remind you of something you’ve prayed for in the past. Here, David asks God to answer him quickly; we can all relate to wanting our prayers answered quickly, but we know that everything works out in God’s timing and not before. We must also remember that when we are having a hard time finding the right words to pray, the Holy Spirit can interpret our groaning. God makes loving and talking to Him easy. Relax, He hears your heart.

But I am poor and needy: make haste unto me, O God: thou art my help and my deliverer; O LORD, make no tarrying. Psalms 70:5

August 13, 2025

To the followers of Christ: Even if there was a purposeful act to resemble biblical prophecies, God can use such an act to fulfill His intentions. So if the enemy had designs to try and fool the masses by replicating those similarities to prophecy, you can bet that's how God will use what was meant for evil for our good. I mention this because I've heard it said that the prophecy we are seeing coming to fruition is only an act, including when Israel became a nation again back in 1948. Parts of Psalms 69 are prophecy written by David; he was suffering mental anguish because of his enemies, and poured out his heart, which was meant for a divine purpose to point to the suffering of Jesus on the cross. For the Jewish nation to continue to deny that their Messiah was Jesus is to their own detriment because they cannot see that the prophecy in this psalm has already been fulfilled. They have almost all the pieces ready for rebuilding the temple, including the stone masons and the cornerstone. They have completed a practice sacrifice of a red heifer and are gearing up to rebuild the temple to resume the sacrificial system. We know that Jesus was the ultimate sacrifice, and nothing they do could even compare to what Jesus did on the cross. We are so close! Our redemption is drawing near. Keep sharing the gospel with those you love because time is short and glory is on its way!  

Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none. They gave me also gall for my meat; and in my thirst they gave me vinegar to drink. Psalms 69:20-21

August 12, 2025

What do you consider a blessing? Our first thoughts often turn to physical needs, such as shelter, food, water, and the comforts of life. However, the most glorious blessing of all is spiritual in its nature. First and foremost is our salvation in Jesus; when that is secure, the Holy Spirit does the rest by giving us insight into the spiritual realm that is holy to God. There are many examples, but the one God has graciously given to me is my faith in Him, believing that He works all things out for our good. Since I’ve secured my belief and my faith is strong, I feel free to write daily, whether my work is good or mediocre. I believe the words will impact someone and help strengthen their faith. I’m not deterred from my foundation in Jesus if people don’t like my work, because my value comes from God. Now that the veil is thinning, and spiritual things are becoming more well known, it’s essential the you work on the things of the Spirit, and worry less about the things you can see, and concern yourself with the unseen, because they are here among us whether good or bad; you want your protection to be strong against spiritual darkness. Sleep in your armor, mighty warriors of God; time is at hand.

To the chief Musician on Neginoth, A Psalm or Song. God be merciful unto us, and bless us; andcause his face to shine upon us; Selah. That thy way may be known upon earth, thy saving health among all nations. Let the people praise thee, O God; let all the people praise thee. Psalms 67:1-3

August 11, 2025

Imagine being in fear of your enemy’s armed forces who are after you, designing to take your life. These are not your average hunters, but are expert marksmen, armed with bows and arrows, willing to secretly and precisely take you out. David was gripped with fear, knowing he was being pursued and prayed:

Hear my voice, O God, in my prayer: preserve my life from fear of the enemy. Psalms 64:1

He was being chased down and hunted like an animal. Not only that, but their words were cutting like a sword, sharp and precise. David knew he had a calling and was anointed for the good of God’s kingdom, but was also scared of losing his life, so he reached out to God for relief of his fear and asked God to preserve his life. Next time you are in fear for your life, remember whose hands you are in, knowing that God will only take you out only when it’s your time; then you will live in paradise forever. However, I feel we should all pray the portion where it says, “preserve my life from fear.” Fear will have you imagining things that will never happen, so ask God to help you control your emotions when if comes to fearing the unknown.

The righteous shall be glad in the LORD, and shall trust in him; and all the upright in heart shall glory. Psalms 64:10

August 10, 2025

If you are dealing with people who have designed trouble against you, wait. God will not tolerate negligence against His people for very long. Soon, they will face the consequences for their actions. Their lives are built on sinking sand; their foundation will crumble, and their walls will cave in. Though waiting may seem long and you may feel that you’ve been left to deal with your tormenters alone, God is watching and will move at the perfect time; those who’ve come against you will feel His wrath and know that your God is higher than the false gods they trust. 

He only is my rock and my salvation; he is my defence; I shall not be greatly moved. Psalms 62:2

In God is my salvation and my glory: the rock of my strength, and my refuge, is in God. Psalms 62:7

God hath spoken once; twice have I heard this; that power belongeth unto God. Also unto thee, O Lord, belongeth mercy: for thou renderest to every man according to his work. Psalms 62:11-12

Take these verses to heart and know that your strength comes from God, and He will move you in such a way that your enemies will crumble before you, and He will render to every man according to his work. That should terrify those who do the devil’s work. Stand firm, mighty warriors of God! The days of mischief are drawing to a close, and we will soon see our Savior come in all his glory.

August 9, 2025

Richard and I took a short trip to Nevada so Richard could attend a driving school. We went to the local Walmart to pick up a few essentials for our morning coffee. You can get to know the people of an area by how they act at Walmart. I now understand how miserable it must be to live in a desert, but these people could tell we were the outsiders and showed us their true colors. We were just outside of Death Valley, so I understand their misery, living so near a place called Death. Being uninterested in car racing, I took a little trip out to the Badwater Basin, in Death Valley National Park, where the elevation is 282 feet below sea level, the lowest elevation on earth. It was a salt flat, so I took off my shoes and stood there, realizing that I had stood on the ground nearest to hell, and that is the closest I will ever come to it; thank you, Jesus. Even though the place was dry, hot (up to 112 degrees while we were there), desolate, and void of greenery, we both maintained our joy. If you are happy in the Lord, it doesn’t matter where you are, even near the pit of hell, God is there with you, which is cause to be joyful. 

David began Psalms 61 sad, but concluded it full of the joy of the Lord. It may have been penned while on the run from Absolam, but he still found reason to praise God and knew God would hear him even being away from the  Tabernacle and the Ark of the Covenant. So, whatever situation you find yourself in, worshipping God will raise your countenance, and He can hear you no matter where you are. 

So will I sing praise unto thy name for ever, that I may daily perform my vows. Psalms 61:8

Pictured is some salt I collected. The photo from yesterday’s post is from where I was standing in the salt at Badwater Basin.

August 8, 2025

In Psalms 60, David is now king, and is in his heyday, and he has just triumphed over Edom.  With Joab commanding his army, he killed over twelve thousand men in the valley of salt. 

To the chief Musician upon Shushaneduth, Michtam of David, to teach; when he strove with Aramnaharaim and with Aramzobah, when Joab returned, and smote of Edom in the valley of salt twelve thousand. O God, thou hast cast us off, thou hast scattered us, thou hast been displeased; O turn thyself to us again. Psalms 60:1

David used this psalm as a teaching tool to remind the people not to credit themselves with a victory that God gave them. He was so excited for the win that he never wanted God to leave them to fight battles alone. From the way this psalm reads, it seems David thought God had left them to fend for themselves, then God showed up and gave them success. So, this is your reminder that if you feel you are losing, wait for it, and watch as God shows you your victory. Also, make sure you never take the credit for what God has done on your behalf, and make sure to praise Him whether you are in the valley or on the mountain top.  

Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies. Psalms 60:12

August 7, 2025

David was married to Michal, Saul’s daughter. Saul had staked out their home, watching David’s movements because he had designed to destroy him. However, as dreadful as Michal was, she helped David escape through a window. Psalms 59 was a poem about David’s prayer during that time. 

Have you ever wondered why God doesn’t just destroy your enemy as a way to remove you from their clutches? Here is what I learned: If God took them out right away, we wouldn’t be able to watch them dangle before the drop. We might think the judgment comes too slowly, but that gradual demise and outpouring of God’s wrath is a more painful option for our enemy. I’ve watched this happen! Someone whom I’ve never had a beef with set their designs against me without cause, and now, nearly 30 years later, they live in the worst part of town, have medical problems, and are barely making ends meet. I didn’t wish that upon them or even pray against them, but God saw what they had done to me and many others and served them His form of justice. 

David didn’t let his troubles overpower his worship and praised God, even during his pain. Never let your circumstances dictate your worship or overrule your joy.

Unto thee, O my strength, will I sing: for God is my defence, and the God of my mercy. Psalms 59:17

August 6, 2025

David had not yet ascended to the throne when it is thought that Saul may have brought charges against him in a judicial court, which gave Saul the authority to go after him. If true, David wrote Psalms 58 in response to the court's unjust act, who were probably bribed with gifts from Saul to render such judgment. David held nothing back in his response to their accusations of him being a lone wolf. The government was corrupt, much like we see today. They tremble when a leader with a proclivity for justice comes into power because their misdeeds will come under scrutiny.

Do ye indeed speak righteousness, O congregation? do ye judge uprightly, O ye sons of men? Yea, in heart ye work wickedness; ye weigh the violence of your hands in the earth. Psalms 58:1-2

God is just, so those who’ve had evil dealings will face his wrath, and the righteous will watch as they fall from their pedestal. Little by little, we are seeing God’s recompense of the wicked come to fruition, and soon we will rejoice in the demise of their activity. We look forward to a righteous government where Jesus is King and all our hopes and dreams come true under his reign.

The righteous shall rejoice when he seeth the vengeance: he shall wash his feet in the blood of the wicked. So that a man shall say, Verily there is a reward for the righteous: verily he is a God that judgeth in the earth. Psalms 58:10-11

August 5, 2025

David felt remorse for cutting off the skirt of King Saul's robe when he found him in the cave.

And it came to pass afterward, that David's heart smote him, because he had cut off Saul's skirt. 1 Samuel 24:5

David wrote Psalms 57 as a prayer of repentance. To us, it might seem that he should have felt more victorious, having spared Saul's life and knowing he had the upper hand. However, he felt guilty because Saul was God's king, even if he was bad. Then David suddenly shifts from prayer to praise, exalting God and giving Him the praise He deserves. Once again, I feel called out for my lackluster worship. Even though I make it a point to spend time with God in the early morning hours, it takes me an entire cup of coffee to awaken enough to comprehend the text and learn enough to enable me to write my thoughts. According to this psalm, I need to kick it up a notch and bring more lively worship to our awesome God. He is worthy of our best. 

My heart is fixed, O God, my heart is fixed: I will sing and give praise. Awake up, my glory; awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early. Psalms 57:7-8

August 4, 2025

Betrayal is one of the deepest emotional pains that I have ever felt, and is the hardest to get over. It’s pain cuts deep into the heart, especially when you think you have a friend and find out it was just a façade; everything you told that “friend” comes rushing back to you with regret. It is thought that David wrote Psalms 55 when he was running from Absalom, finding out that his friend and confidant, Ahithophel, had been part of the plot to overtake his throne. 

It is in this psalm that we find out that David prayed three times a day, morning, noon, and night. He opened up to God, and God rewarded him with peace in his situation. However, David didn’t pray for his enemies to be delivered from evil; he prayed that their days would be cut short and would go down quickly into hell. If you’ve ever been betrayed, you can get behind a prayer like that and understand why David prayed this way. Should we pray against our enemies this way? Is that how Jesus prayed when he was betrayed? No. He prayed that the Father would forgive them because they didn’t know what they were doing. However, we are not Jesus, but we do carry the Holy Spirit, so we should listen to him and feel sorry for those who come against us. Ultimately, they will regret their actions one day. 

Cast thy burden upon the LORD, and he shall sustain thee: he shall never suffer the righteous to be moved. Psalms 55:22