Numbering My Days

Tag: daily

  • Psalm 108

    My heart is confident, God;
    I will sing; I will sing praises
    with the whole of my being . . .
    For your faithful love is higher
    than the heavens,
    And your faithfulness reaches to the
    clouds

    David’s confidence was not in his own strength, or in the capacity of his mighty army. For he knew that “human help is worthless” and his only hope was in trusting God to “perform valiantly” on the behalf of Israel.

    Lord, grant me the confidence of David.

    I trust in you and have always been the recipient of your faithful love. I have known you to be faithful all my life.

    So, Lord, I look to you in this day. Whatever I face, I face it in your presence, counting on your strong arm to work for me – to work to accomplish your purpose, and fulfill your plan.

    To your glory.

    Praise the Lord, almighty!

    I decided to try an entirely different setting for the dawn. I ended up liking this, of all the dawn illustrations, for this Psalm. A glorious day in the snowy hills.

  • Psalm 107

    Let whoever is wise pay attention
    to these things
    and consider the LORD’s acts
    of faithful love.

    This Psalm begins the 5th book of Psalms. It calls us to remembrance and thanksgiving – and it advises me to pay attention.

    If I am wise I will note that the Lord is always at work, through His enduring faithful love.

    • He redeems those who are scattered to far places.
    • He rescues those who wander, and He feeds them in their hunger.
    • He rescues – saves out of prison those who are in chains.
    • He saves even fools from their self-caused distress, because of His faithful love.
    • He stills the storm-tossed lives on those of the seas of life, rescuing and bringing them to safe harbor.
    • He both judges and restores those who wander.
    • He lifts the needy out of suffering.

    Lord, allow me eyes to see, a mind to remember, wisdom to understand, and a voice to praise!

    Another morning sky – so beautiful – I have dozens of reference photos; maybe someday I’ll learn to paint this type of sky.

  • Psalm 106

    Save us, LORD our God,
    and gather us from the nations,
    so that we may give thanks
    to your holy name
    and rejoice in your praise.

    Save us, Lord!

    From what?

    From ourselves.

    We turn from God to worship what is worthless even when you, Lord, have proven yourself a faithful redeemer and savior.

    • Rescued us from Egypt – yet we rebel.
    • Sustained us in the desert – still we turn to sour rejection of your goodness.
    • Lord, though you provide, we worship the worthless. Become vile in our own actions, adopting the customs and rebellions of people known for their distance from you.

    Lord, save us again!

    From ourselves.

    In your lovingkindness, compassion, mercy – remember us, your children. Grant us your mercy that we may rest in you.

    Blessed be the Lord.

    A dawn sky – I love the morning sky; so hard to capture.

  • Psalm 105

    Give thanks to the LORD, call on
    his name;
    proclaim his deeds among the peoples.

    This Psalm begins with this call to thanksgiving. Thanksgiving that is founded on remembrance of the Lord’s deeds – His actions to create, protect, provide for, redeem, and establish Israel. From Abraham to the Promised Land, people remember God’s faithfulness, and they are thankful.

    I, too, must remember God’s faithfulness to me and recall it before all. Lord, you have provided for me all through my life. You give me above and beyond what I have needed. You have protected me, and given me purpose and opportunity to love and worship you, to proclaim you.

    And so I shall:

    Praise the Lord!

    Come into His presence with thanksgiving.

    Recall all His faithful deeds for us.

    He is The Lord – Master of all.

    Master of me.

    This is an example of reference images I was looking through to find the illustration for Psalm 108 (upcoming). I took this photo from the balcony of a cruise ship – I love the color of the sky, the haze on the Isle, the glow of the rising sun, and the reflection across the water. Tomorrow I’ll show an attempt to illustrate this – though this photo is much better.

  • Psalm 104:19-35

    How countless are your works, LORD!
    In wisdom you have made them all;
    the earth is full of your creatures.

    The Psalmist continues his praise of Creator God.

    And I join him.

    The earth is populated with the most amazing life – from the forrest animals, to the young lions, to the seas, teaming with life.

    And, amidst it all, mankind. Living, working, sleeping – while the creation enjoys the pleasures of the Creator.

    Lord, with the Psalmist, I praise you.

    You are indeed powerful, creative, caring; full of joy and purpose. And you have made a world that reflects your beauty, generosity, your glory forever.

    Lord, I praise you.

    I thank you.

    We sing to you in recognition of your glory in creation.

    Bless the Lord.

    Hallelujah!

    Our illustration this week comes from Psalm 108 – and I took several runs at it. I started here, trying to capture the morning sky: pinks, blues, etc. . . over a forest of trees. I abandoned this one – there is little to like about it, although I’m still trying to get that beautiful morning sky. . .

  • Psalm 104:1-18

    He established the earth
    on its foundations;
    it will never be shaken.

    The creation – our world – is a wonderful, amazing testament to the creativity and power of our God almighty!

    “Lord – you are very great!”

    You spread out the sky as a canopy over us, to provide our atmosphere to make a world that sustains.

    You created oceans, mountains, valleys, rivers – the plains, the hills – all the variety of our earth that we enjoy and that provides for us.

    You filled the world with living plants, grass. Food from the earth so that we might have all we need, all we want, all we can enjoy!

    Lord, you are great! Your works are miracles and wonderful. Open my eyes to see them, my heart to love them, and my soul to praise you!

    The Creator God who loves me.

  • Psalm 103

    My soul, bless the LORD,
    and do not forget all his benefits.

    Forgiveness. Healing. Redemption.
    Faithful love. Compassion. Satisfaction.
    Renewed strength. Righteousness. Justice.
    Revelation. Deeds on our behalf. Compassion.
    Grace. Patience. Abounding in love.
    Forgiveness. Mercy. Infinite love.
    He knows us.
    His faithful love is toward us.
    His righteous kingdom for us.

    Bless the Lord!

    Lord, you are wonderfully, amazingly, great, compassionate, faithful – you love me – even in my sin and failure.

    Bless you, Lord.

    You rule. You reign.

    Forever may your kingdom spread to encompass all your creation.

    Lord, fulfill your purpose and according to your will, use us as you see fit.

    Bless the Lord!

  • Psalm 102

    LORD, hear my prayer; . . .
    Do not hide your face from me
    in my day of trouble.

    I will face days of trouble – suffering physically, emotionally, perhaps even struggling to maintain life.

    And so, I cry out to the Lord: Hear my prayer!

    Don’t miss me, Lord.

    I need you.

    The struggle is real – the pain and anguish, the suffering and facing peril alone.

    But God is faithful. He is in control. His divine plan continues and He accomplishes His purposes.

    My temporary grief, pain, turmoil are but a moment before eternity. Lord, allow me to live to praise and serve you with joy!

    Yes!

    But more!

    You rule from your mighty throne and bring all the creation to awareness that you are enthroned forever as our God!

    Here’s the second bird on a roof.

    Sarah thought the first one was out of scale – the bird too big for the house. My thoughts – there’s not enough picture to determine all the scale/size. This second picture is an attempt to adjust the scale a bit. I don’t think it changes much. Not sure which bird I like better – but for now, this is the Psalm 102 image.

  • Psalm 101

    I will sing of faithful love and justice;
    I will sing praise to you, LORD.
    I will pay attention to the way
    of integrity.

    This vow of David honors God, first with worship.

    • God is faithful love
    • He is justice

    As such, He is worthy of all worship, and we come to Him, singing praise to Him.

    Lord, you are full of love and justice. I join David in my worship, praising you!

    David also vows to “pay attention to the way of integrity.”

    To live with integrity is a purposeful choice. To live without mixture of deceit, but purely before God.

    Not only a choice, also a choice that requires attention and effort.

    So easy to let slip in the scent of sin that spoils integrity.

    Pay attention! Do the work to maintain a life of integrity – for the praise of the Lord!

    Closer!

  • Psalm 100

    Serve the LORD with gladness;
    come before him with joyful songs.

    This is the heart and soul of the one who comes to worship the Lord.

    A heart full of joy and thanksgiving.

    For the Lord’s faithful love endures forever.

    Through all generations.

    The Lord’s faithful love toward us, toward me, never ends.

    He displays that love toward me every day in every way.

    Out of the blessings that He so generously gives I come before him – excited to be in His presence. Joyful for the opportunity to serve and worship Him. And thankful!

    Praise God from whom all blessings flow!

    Thank you, Lord, for all you are, all you have done, all you provide.

    You are my Great King and Lord.

    Praise God!

    A start on bird 2!