Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption. He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins.

Psalm 130

Israel, put your hope in the Lord, for with the Lord is unfailing love and with him is full redemption.  He himself will redeem Israel from all their sins. v7-8

We all sin and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).  Yet as the author states, we have a God - in Jesus Christ - that fully redeems our sins.  He saves us by paying the price for our sin (Romans 6:23).

We should wait for Jesus' return as the author does and as Jesus warns us to - to be ready (Parable of the Ten Virgins).

I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits,
    and in his word I put my hope.

I wait for the Lord
    more than watchmen wait for the morning,
    more than watchmen wait for the morning. v5-6

My Prayer: Lord You are an awesome God and I know You saved me by paying the price for my sins - You suffered and died for me on the cross.  Thank You Jesus and I know my words are insufficient for what You did and for Your love.  But my words and my life are all I have to give You - please accept my worship and my life.  I love You.  Forgive me for my harshness and impatience with others.  Help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith. Give me strength. Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked.

Psalm 129

But the Lord is righteous; he has cut me free from the cords of the wicked. v4

The world is full of sin (including myself) and I need protection from the sin and the wicked influences that are part of the world.  I am DEEPLY thankful that I have a God who is willing to die on the cross to protect me from the sting of sin and death.

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

Only God can do this and Jesus proved in Matthew 4 that God is more powerful than Satan.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God full of love, compassion and mercy.  You have saved me and You continue to save me from the sting of sin and death - thank You Jesus.  I am not worth such efforts.  I worry FAR too much.  Please forgive me. Help me overcome and turn from such sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him.

Psalm 128

Blessed are all who fear the Lord, who walk in obedience to him. v1

I am already blessed! And what a promise!

You will eat the fruit of your labor; blessings and prosperity will be yours. Your wife will be like a fruitful vine within your house; your children will be like olive shoots around your table. Yes, this will be the blessing for the man who fears the Lord. v2-4

I desire to be blessed in such a man but I know I am a work in progress - my focus must not be on the blessing but on glorifying God and serving Him.  I must endure and persist.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Hebrews 12:1-2

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God, You created all things, are in all things, and hold all things together.  You love me and are so full of patience, compassion, and mercy for me.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am harsh with my words and actions and impatient.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome my sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin, and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.

Psalm 127

Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him. v3

I already feel that Zach and Dustin are a heritage, something the dictionary defines as "a special or individual possession; an allotted portion."  I also feel that God HAS rewarded me with Zach and Dustin and I have often articulated in speech how I have become more like Jesus as a result of God providing the blessing of Zach and Dustin.

With Zach, I am developing more grace for him and others.  I have too often been quick to point out his mistakes when I need to be more graceful and forgiving.  I have.  Thank You Jesus.  With Dustin, I am developing more patience.  Thank You Jesus.

Like arrows in the hands of a warrior
    are children born in one’s youth.

Blessed is the man
    whose quiver is full of them.
They will not be put to shame
    when they contend with their opponents in court. v4-5

Both Zach and Dustin, with their lives right now, are a testimony to my life and to Lisa's life.  This is true now and God promises* to use both Zach and Dustin in the future to defend me in times of need.  Thank You Jesus. 

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are a great God full love of love and compassion.  You bless me well beyond what I deserve.  You bless me with family - with Lisa, Zach, and Dustin.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not worth such love and blessing.  I am harsh with my words and actions - please forgive Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.
       
*MacArthur, John (2005-05-10). The MacArthur Bible Commentary (Kindle Locations 23259-23260). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.

Psalm 127

Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain. v1

It is natural for people to have selfish desires.  While we were made in God's image, we are not Him and we easily fall prey to temptation.  It is only through God that we can defeat temptation and sin.  

Today's scripture is a reminder that it is a sin to build a life based on our own desires - for we are told to "[l]ove the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind" (Matthew 22:37), and to "deny [our]selves and take up [our] cross daily and follow [Jesus]" (Luke 9:23).  

We must build our lives on Jesus - He is The Cornerstone. 

My Prayer: Lord, You are Lord of All, THE Cornerstone - without You my life would be based on nothing and it would fall apart.  Thank You Jesus for being a lamp unto my path and for keeping my feet on Your path.  I know that apart from You I can do no good thing.  I continue to create far too many of my own plans - please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome such sin and turn towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength. Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy.

Psalm 126

The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy. v3

We should not wait for certain times of year (Passover, Thanksgiving, Christmas, etc.) to celebrate all of the great things God has done for us.  We should go to God daily with our praise and worship.  There will never be a shortage of gratitude in our lives.  Our love for God should grow as our appreciation of His blessings are more present in our live.

My Prayer: Lord, You are the King of Kings, the Lord of Lords and You are my personal Lord and Savior, You came for me, died for me, and You give me life to the full - thank You Jesus...amazing that You have done all of this and that You continue to bless me and be so full of compassion for me.  I am not worth such love.  I worry, I am impatient, etc.  Please forgive me Jesus, help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength.  Help me love others as You do.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore.

Psalm 125

Those who trust in the Lord are like Mount Zion, which cannot be shaken but endures forever. As the mountains surround Jerusalem, so the Lord surrounds his people both now and forevermore. v1-2

We know that the Lord is permanent and eternal (Psalm 102, Matthew 24, 2 Corinthians 4, Lamentations 5, Psalm 117, Hebrews 13).  As we strive to become more like Him (Romans 12:2), we should expect that we will not shaken, and our confidence rests in Him alone, based on a confidence that even when our earthly body goes away, we will be with Jesus forever.  

This is yet another great promise - and God keeps His promises (Luke 1:37).

BTW....Jerusalem is indeed surrounded by mountains: Mount Scopus (northeast),  Mount Herzl (west), Mount of Olives (east), Judean Mountains.

My Prayer: Lord, You are an awesome God and I know You are with me where ever I go...even in my sin.  Thank You Jesus that You love me so much - I am not worth such love.  I worry and I am easily distracted and worn out...I don't endure as You desire me to.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me turn from my sin towards You.  Help me endure!  Help me grow in my faith and trust in You.  Give me strength.  Give Lisa strength.  Please heal and cure her of her cancer and the side effects from chemo.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, mind and strength.  Help me love others as You love me.  Help me lead and serve Lisa, Zach, and Dustin...and serve You.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.