Psalm 118 - My Strength and My Song

The Lord brings songbirds to my backyard each day.
He also brings a songto my heart as I meditate
on his saving grace extended to me.

“I was pushed back and about to fall,
but the Lord helped me.
The Lord is my strength and my song;
he has become my salvation.”

“You are my god, and I will give you thanks;
you are my God, and I will exalt you.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”

Psalm 118:13-14, 28-29

“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.”
He is my strength to carry on
each day in every endeavor.
When I’ve been about to fall,
the Lord has helped me to stand.
My God is sovereign: he is Lord,
and nothing can thwart his plan.
You are my God. I give you thanks.
You’re my Savior to whom praise is due.
You will be my constant song,
and forever I’ll worship you.

Psalm 118 - What Can Man Do to Me?

When the squirrels in my backyard sense danger, they flee up a tree because God has given them the ability to climb and the coloring to hide them. When I am in distress, I need to flee to the Lord; for he will cover me with his pinions,
and I will find refuge and hope only in Him.

“In my anguish I cried to the Lord,
and he answered by setting me free.
The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.
What can man do to me?
The Lord is with me; he is my helper.
I will look in triumph on my enemies.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in man.
It is better to take refuge in the Lord
than to trust in princes.”

Psalm 118:5-9

Man can ridicule and insult me
and slander my good name.
Man can take my job from me
for not playing by the rules of his game.
Man can steal all that I own,
injure me, even take my life.
But he can only do what the Lord allows!
Then after this world of strife,
I know I’ll be safe for eternity
within my Savior’s arms.
Man thinks he can do all manner of things,
but I’ll never suffer ultimate harm.

Psalm 118 - His Love Endures Forever

Oak trees live a long time, but not forever.
This bird was perched on a high branch
in one of the old oak trees in our yard.
After watering the flowers in the morning,
I often sit very still on the patio,
camera on maximum zoom, and watch for birds.

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“Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.

Let Israel say:
‘His love endures forever.’
Let the house of Aaron say:
‘His love endures forever.’
Let those who fear the Lord say:
‘His love endures forever.’

Psalm 118:1-4

Thank you, Father, for you are good.
Your mercy and kindness endure.
Though I am frail and often fail,
your mercy and grace are assured.
Your love toward me is immeasurable
and lasts through eternity.
You walk with me through life on earth
and are preparing a home for me;
for your love endures forever!

Psalm 17 - Forever Faithful Father

I bought this rose bush
at our church missions plant sale this year.
In the early morning light, it seemed to glow!
I like roses because the blooms last long.
However, even the rose fades and petals fall;
but my Father’s love endures FOREVER!

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“O praise the Lord, all you nations!
Praise Him, all you people!
For His mercy and loving-kindness
are great toward us,
and the truth and faithfulness 571
of the Lord endure forever.
Praise the Lord!
Hallelujah!

Psalm 117 (Amplified Version)

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I praise you, Father, For your love is sure.
Your truth and faithfulness shall endure.
I know you work all things for my good.
Even difficult days will go as they should.
When I face trials, I can consider it pure joy;
for the testing of my faith is a tool you employ
to make me mature, not lacking a thing.
Forever faithful Father, your praises I sing!

Psalm 116 - Be at Rest, O My Soul

North Texas storms can be brutal.
I took this storm cloud photo
While standing on my front porch.
When hail and tornados are all around,
I call out to the Lord rather than worry.
He has the power to protect from harm
or to give grace to ride out the storm.

“I love the Lord, for he heard my voice;
he heard my cry for mercy.
Because he turned his ear to me,
I will call on him as long as I live…

The Lord is gracious and righteous;
our God is full of compassion.
The Lord protects the simplehearted;
when I was in great need, he saved me.

Be at rest once more, O my soul,
for the Lord has been good to you.”

Psalm 116:1-2, 5-7 (NIV)

The Lord heard my voice when I cried out for mercy
and compassionately extended His grace.
He saved me from the death caused by my sin,
and someday I will see him face to face.
My soul can be completely at rest,
my mind can remain at ease;
for my ultimate home is with Jesus,
and in his compassion he meets all my needs.

Psalm 115 - Blessing and Praise

Since I knew Mother and I would be at home most of the time,

I prayed specifically that the Lord would bless our flower garden this year

and provide beauty in my own backyard.

My miniature roses have never been this prolific!
Praise the Lord!

“May the Lord make you increase,
both you and your children.
May you be blessed by the Lord,
the maker of heaven and earth.

The highest heavens belong to the Lord,
but the earth he has given to man.
It is not the dead who praise the Lord,
those who go down to silence;
it is we who extol the Lord,
both now and forevermore.

Praise the Lord.”

Psalm 115:14-18 (NIV)

Our God is the owner of heaven and earth,
and everything therein is His to give.
I can trust Him for my daily bread
and to provide all I need to live.
But He blesses me exceedingly,
that I may have abundantly more
than I ever deserved or knew to desire.
Surrender to Him brings blessings galore!

Psalm 115 - Trust in the Lord

Mom looked out the window and said, “There’s a red-headed woodpecker pecking a hole in our tree!” I grabbed the camera and began taking pictures. Mr. and Mrs. Woodpecker have now built a secure home in which to hatch their eggs. They’ve spent much time and effort preparing this hole for nesting. If God gives the birds instinct to prepare a secure home for their children, I can be certain the home Jesus is preparing for me is going to be perfect!

“O house of Israel, trust in the Lord –
he is their help and shield.
O house of Aaron, trust in the Lord –
he is their help and shield.
You who fear him, trust in the Lord –
he is their help and shield.

The Lord remembers us and will bless us:
He will bless the house of Israel,
he will bless the house of Aaron,
he will bless those who fear the Lord – small and great alike.

Psalm 115:9-13

I run to You for refuge.
You are my help and shield.
I trust in you with confidence;
and to Your will, I yield.

I fear You, and I trust You.

You will make my path sure.

I can be completely confident;

for in You, I am secure.

Psalm 115 - God Does Whatever Pleases Him

I’ve never understood how people could worship idols of metal, wood, or stone that obviously had no power to create or rule.
Our God, Creator of everything, is so amazing! Look at the beauty of this woodpecker beginning its nest hole in my tree! How can anyone think the endless variety in nature just happened? All glory goes to God!

"Not to us, O Lord, not to us
but to your name be the glory,
because of your love and faithfulness.

Why do the nations say,
“Where is their God?”
Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him.
But their idols are silver and gold,
made by the hands of men.
They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes,
but they cannot see;
they have ears, but cannot hear, noses,
but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but cannot feel,
feet, but they cannot walk;
nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
Those who make them will be like them,
and so will all who trust in them."

Psalm 115:1-8 (NIV)

Lord, you are glorified in heaven,

and whatever pleases you is done.
We need not fear your sovereignty,

Father God, omniscient One.
Your love and faithfulness to us

extends through the generations.
The way you use adversity to mold us

is not obvious to the nations.
We glorify your name, O Lord,

for you’re the only omnipotent Lord.
We trust when we cannot understand.

We have your promises in your word.

Psalm 114 - Tremble at the Presence of the Lord

I prayed that since I am unable to go for walks in the park right now

that God would bring nature to my own backyard.

I had in mind birds, turtles, and things.

Our sovereign Lord outdid my expectations

with this fox standing in my yard before breakfast one morning!

Praise the Lord!

"When Israel came out of Egypt,
the house of Jacob
from a people of foreign tongue,
Judah became God’s sanctuary,
Israel his dominion.

The sea looked and fled,
the Jordan turned back;
the mountains skipped like rams,
the hills like lambs.

Why was it, O sea, that you fled,
O Jordan, that you turned back,
you mountains, that you skipped like rams,
you hills, like lambs?

Tremble, O earth,
at the presence of the Lord,
at the presence of the god of Jacob,
who turned the rock into a pool,
the hard rock into springs of water."

Psalm 114:1-8 (NIV)

Amazing the mighty works of our Lord…

Creator, Sustainer of all that we see!
He brought Israel out of Egypt, controlling the earth;

and now he takes care of me.
The God that parted the Red Sea for Moses

and for Joshua made the Jordan turn back;
is my Master and Owner, Controller of my life,

and provides everything that I lack.
The earth trembles at the presence of Almighty Creator

who turned the rock into a spring.
I bow before him, and worship in awe;

for he’s my Father, my Savior, my Everything.

Psalm 113 - The Lord Raises Us Up

When I came across this tiny turtle
while cleaning out my flower bed,
I thought,

“Wouldn’t my granddaughters love to see him!” God keeps bringing nature’s beauty
to my own backyard!



"He raises the poor from the dust
and lifts the needy from the ash heap;
he seats them with princes,
with the princes of their people.
He settles the barren woman in her home as a happy mother of children.

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 113:7-9 (NIV)

Lord, you raise the poor from the dust

and lift the needy from the ash heap.
Once we have given our lives to you,

your promises to us you will keep.
We are lowly and wretched beings, b

ut one day with you we will reign.
You will lift up each humble person

in front of those who looked on us with disdain.
You have already taken this barren woman

lifting me to be a merry-hearted mother.
I will never cease to give you praise.

Glory belongs to you and no other.

Psalm 113 - The One Who Stoops Down

“The Lord is exalted over all the nations,
his glory above the heavens.
Who is like the Lord our God,
the One who sits enthroned on high,
who stoops down to look
on the heavens and the earth?”

Psalm 113:4-6 (NIV)

When talking to a little child, I try to get down on their level.
I like to be able to talk face to face and eye to eye.
Oh, Lord, to speak to me required that you stoop down,
and humbled yourself to leave your throne on high.
Jesus, you brought the love of Almighty God to me.
You left your throne in heaven to dwell on earth.
You stooped down to the level of this little child
through your incarnation, your lowly birth.

Psalm 113 - Praise God Sunrise to Sunset

Sunrise from my kitchen window.

Sunset from my front porch.

“Praise the Lord.
Praise, O servants of the Lord,
Praise the name of the Lord.
Let the name of the Lord be praised,
both now and forevermore.
From the rising of the sun
to the place where it sets,
the name of the Lord is to be praised."

Psalm 113:1-3 (NIV)

Let me not be afraid to appear foolish in my praise.
May I create a scene as I clamorously raise
my voice in celebration of Your compassion and might.
May I sing of Your goodness from morning to night.

Psalm 112 - True Security

The leafy, round plants directly behind the red Crown of Thorns,

are hostas that bloom later in the summer.

These particular hostas have been established in my garden for years.

Each fall I cut back the dead foliage;

and each spring the plants come up with renewed vigor.

The ferns with the tall white flowers

that grow around the tree are perennials, aslo.

Perennials remind me that God always sends spring after winter.

“Good will come to him
who is generous and lends freely,
who conducts his affairs with justice.
Surely he will never be shaken;
a righteous man will be remembered forever.
He will have no fear of bad news;
his heart is steadfast, trusting in the Lord.
His heart is secure, he will have no fear;
in the end he will look in triumph on his foes.
He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor,
his righteousness endures forever;
his horn will be lifted high in honor.

The wicked man will see and be vexed,
he will gnash his teeth and waste away;
the longing of the wicked will come to nothing.”

Psalm 112:5-10 (NIV)

Lord, may I always be generous and just,
my heart steadfast on Him I trust.
Leaning on Jesus my heart is secure,
With confidence I can endure
all the enemy may place in my way;
for I know Christ will triumph on that day.

Lord, may my children live uprightly.
Draw them to You daily and nightly.
May they also never be shaken.
To your true security may they awaken.
May their hearts remain steadfast,
trusting in You and standing fast.

Psalm 112 - Delight in His Commands

My garage is very dark, but in the side mirror of my car I catch a glimpse of my garden bathed in the morning light. The ground hugging fern between the trees shoots up tall flowers to spread its offspring into the wind as the blooms die.

"PRAISE the Lord.
Blessed is the man who fears the Lord,
who finds great delight in his commands.
His children will be mighty in the land;
the generation of the upright will be blessed.
Wealth and riches are in his house,
and his righteousness endures forever.
Even in the darkness light dawns for the upright,
for the gracious and compassionate
and righteous man."

Psalm 112:1-4 (NIV)

Father I fear and am in awe of you.

Help me to abide in your word.
I will take pleasure in following your commands,

remembering that you are Lord.
I pray that my children will follow this example

that they may be truly blessed.
Help them to remember they can be upright

as in Christ’s righteousness they’re dressed.
May your light shine brightly in their darkest hours.

May they derive strength from you.
May they be gracious and compassionate in your name

and to your commands be true.
May the legacy I leave to my children’s children

be one of obedience to Christ.
I pray that your grace, love, and peace

will be evident throughout my life.

Psalm 111 - The Beginning of Wisdom

This vibrant vermillion rose
stands out in the midst
of my garden.


The Lord God stands way above
anything else people claim as god.
He is holy and awesome!




“He has shown his people the power of his works, giving them the lands of other nations.
The works of his hands are faithful and just;
all his precepts are trustworthy.
They are steadfast for ever and ever,
done in faithfulness and uprightness.
He provided redemption for his people;
he ordained his covenant forever –
holy and awesome is his name.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom;
all who follow his precepts
have good understanding.
To him belongs eternal praise.”

Psalm 11:6-10

God’s beautiful and majestic works, the grandeur of all creation
cause me to show reverence to the One in whom I trust.
His mighty and powerful deeds, conquering the nations
cause me to bow in fear of the One who is faithful and just.
Realizing God is holy and awesome is the beginning of understanding
my need of eternal salvation through Jesus who died in my place.
His precepts are trustworthy though they may seem demanding,
but His Holy spirit gives wisdom and strength for the race.

Psalm 111 - With All My Heart

This white rose reminds me
I must love God with a pure heart,
one that has been cleansed
by the blood of Jesus.











“Praise the Lord.
I will extol the Lord
with all my heart
in the council of the upright
and in the assembly.
Great are the works of the Lord;
they are pondered by all
who delight in them.
Glorious and majestic
are his deeds,
and his righteousness
endures forever.
He has caused his wonders to be remembered;
the Lord is gracious and compassionate.
He provides food for those who fear him;
he remembers his covenant forever."


Psalm 111:1-5

I will praise, I will thank, I will love the Lord

with all my heart, with all my being.
For great are the works, glorious the deeds,

of God almighty, all-knowing, all-seeing.
Forever righteous, yet gracious and compassionate,

is the loving Father I serve.
He cleanses my heart, provides all my needs.

I will give him the praise he deserves.

Psalm 110 - The Lord's Footstool

Christ will trod upon His enemies

as easily as I walk across my lawn!

“The Lord says to my Lord:
‘Sit at my right hand
until I make your enemies
a footstool for your feet.’
The Lord will extend
your mighty scepter from Zion;
you will rule
in the midst of your enemies.”

Psalm 110:1-2

This life is a spiritual battle that we’re engaged in every day.
We must remember that Jesus wins this war though we’re in the middle of the fray.
Everyone and everything is ultimately subject to our Lord.
We can stand upon this truth because it’s stated in His word.
Christ sits at the right hand of God on his throne until the day our faith is sight.
Then everything opposed to Him will be His footstool by the power of His might.
Today I can draw strength in knowing that His Spirit is by my side,
And He will guide me through this life when in His grace I abide.

]

Psalm 109 - Extol the Lord

This spring my miniature roses seem to shout praises to their Creator!

With my mouth I will greatly extol the Lord;
in the great throng I will praise him.
For he stands at the right hand of the needy one,
to save his life from those who condemn him.

Psalm 109:30-31

With my mouth I will extol the Lord,

praising Him in the midst of the crowd.

I am poor and needy in spirit

and have done things for which I am not proud,

God assures me there is now no condemnation

for those who are in Christ Jesus;

For He in His love sent Christ to die in my place,

shedding the blood that frees us.

Therefore, I will approach the Lord with thanksgiving,

ever praising His holy name.

Because of His greatness, His surpassing compassion,

I know I will never be the same.

Psalm 108 - Awaken the Dawn

Ray clouds always remind me of the glory of God. When I saw this view over the tops of my neighbors’ trees, I just had to run into the house for the camera. When I can’t get out and about to see God’s beauty in nature, he graciously brings it to me.






"My heart is steadfast, O God;
I will sing and make music with all my soul.
Awake, harp and lyre!
I will awaken the dawn.
I will praise you, O Lord, among the nations;
I will sing of you among the peoples.
For great is your love, higher than the heavens;
your faithfulness reaches to the skies.
Be exalted, O God, above the heavens,
and let your glory be over all the earth."

Psalm 108:1-5 (NIV)

Because of your faithfulness, my heart is steadfast.
Standing firm in my faith, I will not be moved.
Your faithfulness reaches to the skies, O Lord,
Your love for me has often been proved.
Therefore my songs will awaken the dawn.
I will begin each morning with praise.
You will be exalted above the heavens,
My Lord who died for me and was raised.

Psalms 106 & 107 - His Love Endures Forever

Red roses are a symbol of love.
“Greater love has no one than this,
that he lay down his life
for his friends.”
(John 15:13)

"Praise the Lord.

Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Who can proclaim the mighty acts of the Lord
or fully declare his praise?

Praise be to the Lord, the God of Israel,
from everlasting to everlasting.
Let all the people say, “Amen!”

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 106:1-2, 48 (NIV)

"Give Thanks to the Lord, for he is good;
his love endures forever.
Let the redeemed of the Lord say this –
those he redeemed from the hand of the foe,
those he gathered from the lands,
from east and west, from north and south.

Whoever is wise, let him heed these things

and consider the great love of the Lord."

Psalm 107:1-3, 43 (NIV)

The psalmist recounts your mercy and love

in spite of your people’s rebellion.
Your loving-kindness didn’t depend on their faithfulness,

but solely on your own.
Today your character remains the same:

you redeemed me from the midst of my sin.
My salvation does not depend on my works, b

ut on the grace of Christ alone.
I give thanks to you, Lord, for you are good.

Your love endures forever.
I’ll live my life in praise to you,

and trust in you to bring me home.

The sky was actually this color when I photographed the rainbow
over the crape myrtle in my front yard.
The rainbow is a symbol of God’s covenant with Noah,
and a reminder of His awesome act
of covering the entire earth with flood waters.

"Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name;
make known among the nations
what he has done.
Sing to him, sing praise to him;
tell of all his wonderful acts.
Glory in his holy name;
let the hearts of those who seek the Lord rejoice.
Look to the Lord and his strength;
seek his face always.
Remember the wonders he has done,
his miracles, and the judgments he pronounced."

Psalm 105:1-5

When I remember the wonders I read in your word
and those you have done in my own life as well,
how can I keep from praising your name?
When I meditate on your mighty acts, I must tell
everyone I know that you are awesome God!

My heart rejoices as I seek your face.
On your strength I know I can rely.
Help me to make known all you have done.
When people ask about my joy, may I reply
by recounting the wonders of my marvelous Lord!

Psalm 104 - Meditating Minstrel

Sometimes when I meditate upon the scripture, my thoughts are like the colors of this rose – mingled. I struggle at times for a clear focus; but as I pray, God puts it all together for me and helps me understand.



"I will sing to the Lord all my life;
I will sing praise to my God as long as I live.
May my meditation be pleasing to him,
as I rejoice in the Lord.
But may sinners vanish from the earth
and the wicked be no more.

Praise the Lord, O my soul.

Praise the Lord."

Psalm 104:33-35

Father, focus my meditation on you

and give me understanding from your word.
Let my songs continually praise you

and draw others to you as Lord.
I rejoice that you desire

to have communication with me.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.

God, help me to clearly see
your glory that endures forever,

the many works of your hands.
You are creator, sustainer of all the earth,

and my Father who understands.

These flowers are like the Lord’s blessings:
too many to count! They seem to shout a chorus of “Praise the Lord!” as they fill my flower bed with passionate pink.

"Praise the Lord, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits –
who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things so that your youth is renewed
like the eagle’s."

Psalm 103:1-5

From deep within, I praise you, Lord: I praise your holy name.
Because of all your benefits, I’ll never be the same.
My sins you have forgiven: you redeemed me from many pits.
These are just the beginning of your precious benefits.
Often times you’ve healed me or given me grace in my pain,
But most importantly you have blotted out my sin’s guilty stain.
You crown me with love and compassion, I’m completely filled with good things.
You renew my strength and empower me to mount up with eagle’s wings.
My soul will magnify you, Lord, and forever I’ll sing your praise.
Praise the Lord, O my soul. Praise him all of my days.

Psalm 101 - A Blameless Heart

Snow is often used to symbolize purity and innocence.
I love the way my garden looks when draped in snow.
This snow was especially pretty because the hyacinths were already up,
and the pansies were still blooming.

"I will sing of your love and justice;
to you, O Lord, I will sing praise.
I will be careful to lead a blameless life – when will you come to me?

I will walk in my house
with blameless heart.
I will set before my eyes
no vile thing.

The deeds of faithless men I hate;
they will not cling to me.
Men of perverse heart shall be far from me;
I will have nothing to do with evil."

Psalm 101:1-4

The true measure of character is how you behave

when no one else can see.
Do I walk in my house with blameless heart,

when no one’s watching me?
Lord, help me to be careful

to live in truth and integrity.
Help me to interact with others

with grace and sincerity.
Help me to guard my eyes

from anything profane or vile.
Help me to flee from perversity

and keep my eyes on you all the while.
I will sing of your love and justice,

and thank you for your grace.
To you, O Lord, who chose to save me,

I will always sing your praise.

Psalm 99 - The Lord Reigns

The top branches of one of our oak trees were wrenched off during a storm. My neighbor helped me move them up onto the yard since they were blocking my driveway. By the grace of God they stopped within two feet of my mother’s bedroom window! According to Jeremiah 10:13 God controls the wind and all its awesome power.

"The Lord reigns,
let the nations tremble;
he sits enthroned between the cherubim,

let the earth shake.
Great is the Lord in Zion;
he is exalted over all the nations.
Let them praise
your great and awesome name –
he is holy."

Psalm 99:1-3 (NIV)

I tremble at your power, Lord,

but I also trust.
Knowing that you reign supreme

makes dependence a must.
Insurance companies call “acts of God”

earthquakes, tornadoes, floods.
Yet we’re discouraged from acknowledging

your most important act, your blood
that you shed willingly on the cross,

to bring salvation to sinful men.
I pray our country will have revival

and turn to you once again.
Our nation needs to tremble,

to quake with violent fear;
for many refuse to turn to you,

to acknowledge you are here.
You are exalted above the nations,

to you we lift our praise,
and pray that you will heal our land

and bring others to your ways.

Psalm 98 - Shout for Joy!

Vivid colors are a visual shout.
In the early spring,
my flower bed bursts into
jubilant song.
My ears can’t hear it,
but my eyes delight
in the harmonies
of the variety of blooms
and foliage.





"Shoutfor joy to the Lord, all the earth,
burst into jubilant song with music;
make music to the Lord with the harp,
with the harp and the sound of singing,
with trumpets and the blast of the ram’s horn –
shout for joy before the Lord, the King."

Psalm 98:4-6

We are commanded to shout for joy,

make a joyful noise to the Lord.
Bursting into jubilant song

is good behavior according to God’s word.
So, Lord, I sing and shout my praise,

accompanied by instruments, too.
Music is my favorite expression

of my praise and adoration for you!
Lord, let my proclamation be heard

as I sing of the joy that you bring.
Thank you, Father, for saving me

and giving me reasons to sing!

Psalm 97 - Light is Shed on the Righteous

Now that I've finished the 40 days of preparation for Good Friday and Easter, I'm back to my study of Psalms and photographs of Beauty in My Own Backyard. This picture was taken a couple of years ago, but was in my backyard.
This much snow is rare in my part of Texas. God used these early hyacinths peeking up through the blanket of white to remind me of his ability to brighten up even the dreariest times of my life. Spring flowers in the snow are like joy in the midst of sorrow.

"Let those who love the Lord hate evil,
for he guards the lives of his faithful ones and delivers them from the hand of the wicked.
Light is shed upon the righteous
and joy on the upright in heart.
Rejoice in the Lord, you who are righteous, and praise his holy name."

Psalm 97:10-12 (NIV)

You deliver me from the wicked. You guard my life: in you I trust.
I will hate evil and turn from wickedness. If I love you, Lord, this is a must.
You shed your light upon me, for I’m covered in the righteousness of Christ.
You illuminate the path, making your way clear to me as I seek your light.
You bring the brightness of joy even in the midst of what seem to be dark days.
I will rejoice in you, my Lord, and seek to bring you glory and praise.

Easter Sunday

It's Easter Sunday, and I have a cold or something. I didn't get to go to worship services this morning; but I have been contemplating the resurrection of Christ. If Christ had not risen from the dead, we would have no hope; but since He has risen, I can be certain of my future. In John 14, Jesus tells believers that He has gone to prepare a place for us. When a Jewish man became betrothed, he began preparing a place for his bride in his father's house. Then he had to wait for his father to give the okay before going to claim his bride and bring her to her new home. Jesus is preparing a place for His bride, the church. When God the Father gives the word, Christ will return to take us to His Father's house. What a glorious day that will be!

When I was in high school, I took a few years of Spanish. My teacher challenged me to write poetry in Spanish as well as English. Spanish speaking readers, please forgive me if the following is not perfect grammar in Spanish. I wrote it when I was 16, but it still expresses my heart.


Tengo una esperanza
por cosas que viene
un día en el futuro
cuando Cristo volverá.

Y tengo un gran fe
que Dios hoy día existe
porque está viviendo
Jesús en mi corazón.

Y tengo un amor
porque conozco a Cristo,
un amor por todo el mundo,
un amor por ti también.


TRANSLATION:

I have a hope
for things that come
one day in the future
when Christ will return.

And I have a great faith
that God exists today
because Jesus
is living in my heart.

And I have a love
because I know Christ,
a love for all the World,
a love for you also.

Thoughts on Easter Eve

I wrote this poem years ago on rainy Saturday, the day before Easter. Today has been lovely, but it might as well have been raining because I have a cold and didn't feel like getting out an enjoying the sun. At least I could enjoy my miniature roses in the garden through the french doors to my patio. At times, our lives feel like a rainy day; but because of the resurrection of Christ that we celebrate tomorrow, we know the day of SONshine in Heaven is coming!

Thoughts on Easter Eve

The rain is tumbling down today
watering the earth.
Tomorrow will be Easter morn,
we'll celebrate rebirth.
And as the flowers rise in spring,
stretch toward the sun above,
our Savior rose up from the tomb
and shines on us His love.
He died to save us; lives to raise us;
we can be born again.
From death to life now the Bible tells how
We can become new men.
Feel the conviction; change your direction.
Surrender your life to the Lord.
He won’t ignore you. He will restore you.
God will stand by His word.
Life is glorious; we are victorious
when we live in His light.
He will guide us, stay right beside us
as against Satan we fight.
Sin can’t conquer us if in the Lord we’ll trust.
Christ will always come through.
If we confess to Him, and then we rest in Him,
we can start out brand new.

Karen Sue Hale
April 10, 1982

40 Days to Live - Day 0

Luke 23 - Be Crucified with Christ - Galatians 2:20

LIVE IT: From this day forward, die to yourself every day.

Is Christ’s anguish on the cross diminished
if we consider His omniscience,
that on the cross, He knew “It is finished!”?
Does the fact of His omnipotence,
that He could call angels to His defense,
make His suffering in our place less intense?
I think His love intensified
because He didn’t have to die
but willed Himself to be my sacrifice.

Jesus, I desire to be totally yours every day and in every way. Thank you for taking my place on the cross that I might live abundantly and eternally in your presence. Let me never take your sacrifice for granted. Live through me this day in such a way as to bring others closer to you.

40 Days to Live - Day 1

Luke 22 - Agonize with Christ

LIVE IT: Surrender to the Father's will at all costs.

Christ gave His life for me. How can I give less than my all to Him?

Lord, help me to serve you no matter the cost.

Help me daily to take up my cross.

My selfish desires, help me to deny.

Let me live for Christ, and to myself die.

THOUGHTS ON THE ARREST AND CRUCIFIXION

What would I do if all my friends forsook me?
Would I forgive them and love them just the same?
And if one of my best friends then denied me,
would I love him and then take on me his blame?
If the soldiers spit on me and mocked me,
then beat me and struck me in the face,
would I suffer, knowing I could stop it?
Would I take the pain to save the human race?
If they had me drag my cross to Calvary,
and I stumbled and fell along the way,
would I keep silent and not ask intervention
or complain that it’s too high a price to pay?
Would I lie down and let them drive the nails in?
Would I stay there though my flesh began to tear?
Would I endure the untold mental anguish
as the sin of all the world I had to bear?
For the friends who denied they ever knew me,
for the sinners who had not yet been born,
would I go through death and hell on Calvary?
Would I volunteer to wear a crown of thorns?
I wouldn’t do it for all the earthly riches.
I couldn’t do it; I don’t have that kind of love.
But I’m thankful that Jesus Christ went through it.
I’m so glad the Father sent Him from above.
For Jesus has that kind of mercy,
and Jesus has that kind of grace
that though His own men did forsake him,
He would suffer and die in their place.
And Jesus loved this unborn sinner
and bore on Calvary all my sin.
He suffered the penalty that I deserved,
rose from the grave the victory to win.
Because of His love, I am victorious.
Because of His mercy, I’m set free.
Because I’ve accepted Him as Savior and Lord,
I have joyous life with God eternally!

40 Days to Live - Day 2

Luke 21 - Lift Up Your Head

LIVE IT: Pray that you will persevere until the Day of Christ.

Will persecution come right here in America?

I do believe this possibility exists.

If persecution happens on my very doorstep,

will I be able to stand and resist

the temptation to give in, to deny my Lord?

Will my faith in Jesus Christ pesist?

Not by my own power, nor my intellect,

but by God's Spirit I will stand.

He promises He'll provide the words for my mouth,

and I don't need to worry beforehand.

So, Lord, I'm going to trust you to help me persevere.

Help me stand firm following Your command.

40 Days to Live - Day 3

Luke 20 - Fall on the Stone

LIVE IT: Fall on the mercy of Jesus Christ and confess your unworthiness.

A Circumcised Heart

I cannot follow my moral compass.
I cannot rely on religion or creeds,
Being born of a certain nation or race,
Or submitting to ritualistic deeds.
It is impossible to obey God’s law completely,
Never committing sin nor omitting good.
In my flesh, by my will, I cannot attain
To all of the rules I know that I should.
Only a circumcised heart can change me,
Only a spirit made new by the Lord.
Giving my life completely to Jesus
Is what will enable me to obey His word.
His blood has covered my many failures.
He gave His life to pay for my sins.
Accepting His precious gift of forgiveness
Frees me to live a life pleasing to Him.

“A man is not a Jew if he is only one outwardly,
nor is circumcision merely outward and physical.
No, a man is a Jew if he is one inwardly;
and circumcision is circumcision of the heart,
by the Spirit, not by the written code.
Such a man’s praise is not from men, but from God.”
Romans 2:28-29

40 Days to Live - Day 4

Luek 19:45-48 - Turn the Tables

LIVE IT: Cast out any false idols or empty religion in your life.

Sometimes we find ourselves going to church out of habit or feeling of obligation. Lord, help me hunger to know You, serve you wholeheartedly, and drop any religious pretense that gets in the way of a vital relationship with my Savior.

I was driving one day and passed by a U-Haul location with it's trucks neatly parked in a row. I said to myself, "There's a country song waiting to happen." When I got I home, that country song had to come out, and I wrote the following.

The U-Haul Song

I’m gonna rent me a U-Haul and fill it up

with all of the junk in my life that gets in the way.

Gonna give the keys to my heavenly Father.

Gonna wave good-by as He drives

that truckload of junk away.

‘Cause ain’t no junk gonna come

between my Lord and me.

I give my Lord permission to take it all

and set me free.

Gonna follow Him wherever He leads.

Won’t need that junk

‘cause He’ll take care of my needs.

Why don’t you rent you a U-Haul and fill it up

with all of the junk in your life that gets in the way.

Then give the keys to your heavenly Father

and wave good-by as He drives

your truckload of junk away.

Don’t let no junk come

between your Lord and you.

Give your Father permission to do what

you need Him to.

Then follow Him wherever He goes.

Won’t need that junk

because your every need He knows.

40 Days to Live - Day 5

Luke 19:28-44 - Weep Over Your City

LIVE IT: Weep over your city today - pray for a spiritual awakening.

Recently I sang a song for my Sunday school class. I wrote "Prayer for Santa Fe" after a mission trip to that city with the youth group from Glenview Baptist Church. After I finished singing it, one of the class members said, "You could just as easily be singing about Fort Worth." How often do I weep and pray over other places I've traveled on mission trips and fail to weep and pray for my own DFW area?

Prayer for Santa Fe (or FW or Hurst or Bedford)

High upon a hilltop in the morning light we stood,
and from that view the city looked so clean...it looked so good;
but as we closed our eyes to pray, their faces filled my mind,
and the thing that I remembered most was the darkness in their eyes.

Darkness had filled their minds.
Myriad philosophies had made them blind.
They were searching for salvation but apart from Christ.
Could our words bring hope to them and bring them life?

Lord, I pray for Santa Fe, for all of her people who have gone astray,
who think they’ll find salvation in some mystical New Age.
I pray that You’ll shine down on them and show the way.

For darkness has filled their minds.
Their myriad philosophies have left them blind.
They’re looking for salvation, but they don’t see Christ.
Let the things we shared bring them to Your light.

Father, take the seed that we planted on that night.
Grow it in their hearts and minds, fill them with Your light.
Take away their darkness. Replace it with Your truth.
Than let Your light so shine in them that it draws more men to You.

Chase the darkness out of their minds.
Take the myriad philosophies that made them blind.
Replace them with salvation, the light of Christ.
Then let their lives help others see that You are life.

40 Days to Live - Day 6

John 12:1-11 Worship Richly

LIVE IT: Praise God in an extravagant way today.

Mary anointed Jesus' feet with an expensive perfume, the best she had. The fragrance filled the room, so everyone was aware of what she had done. Judas criticized her as being wasteful, but Jesus rebuked him.

Sometimes we are criticized for praising Jesus extravagantly. I remember in my youth being told that I sang too emotionally and must be just trying to draw attention to myself. I took that so to heart, that the next time I was asked to sing, I insisted that I be hidden off stage. I wanted the people to only be aware of the song, not the singer. I wanted them to focus on the lyrics, not my face. I know I have been distracted by singers who seem to be so carried away with their praise that they are unaware of anything else. I should not feel this way. I should be glad they have the freedom to give themselves totally to praise even when before an audience and realize they are not performing for me, but for the audience of One; and He may be most pleased with them.

Longing to Praise Perfectly

I am so weak;
I am so bad.
I know my actions
must make You sad.
And my inaction
toward the things I should do
must be a great
disappointment to You.
You gave Your all.
You died for me.
You rose again
so I could be free.
My greatest love,
my most sincere praise
cannot be enough
to merit Your gaze;
yet You look at me
with love ever true,
forgiveness and grace
that come only from You.
To be so incapable
frustrates me so,
and I cry bitter tears
because I want to show
a love that is perfect
in every way,
to stand without flaw
in the bright light of day…
But I just have to praise you
for loving me now
although I’ll admit
I can’t understand how
You could possibly claim me
with all of my sin.
Through Jesus, cleanse me
anew to begin.
Thank You for loving me
as I am tonight,
but I pray for the day
when we’ll live in Your light.
And then, up in Heaven
I’ll be able to give
the perfect love You deserve
as long as I live…Forever!

40 Days to Live - Day 7

Luke 19:11-27 - Leave Your Comfort Zone

LIVE IT: Follow Jesus into a day that is not safe or comfortable.

Two men in the parable risked losing the master's money in order to gain more for him. One hid the coin he was given for fear of reprisal if he lost he one coin. The master rewarded the servants who used what they had to the best of their abilities. He punished the one who sat on the money and did nothing. God has given all of us in America many blessings...not only monetary wealth compared with other nations, but also freedom to live for Him boldly. Much too often we sit on what God has given us, take it for granted, and don't use it to the fullest each day. We fear what people think or the loss of social or financial standing if we follow Christ to the fullest measure. Will our careful Christianity receive a "well done, good and faithful servant"?
I think not.

Father, move me out of my safety,

away from my comfort zone.

Help me use all that I have,

my talents allow you to own.

Use my writing as you will.

Help me to risk my feelings

by submitting my work to publishers

that others might find healing.

Lord, help me to speak more boldly,

sharing You with the lost.

Remove all fear of rejection,

all worry about the cost.

May my reputation not matter.

May all be done to glorify You.

Let me know You more deeply

and to Your calling be true.

40 Days to Live - Day 8

Luke 19:1-10 Eat with Sinners

LIVE IT: Intentionally enter the world of someone who is not in Christ.

This one may take me a couple of days to do unless I do it via email or facebook. On Sundays I go to the grocery store. Most of my sack boys are Christians but occasionally I get to interact with a muslim young man who carries out my groceries. Last week I mentioned to him that I was going to a 5th Sunday sing that afternoon, and he shared with me that his mosque does that too! I didn't even realize they sang at mosque. He asked me how many hours I spent at church Sunday morning, so I told him a little bit about Sunday school and worship service. Perhaps this week I can try to check out where he's sacking and share more of Jesus with him.

Christ commands us to be His witnesses both at home and abroad. Much of the time I expect Jesus to bring the lost person to me when He has clearly told us to go out into the world and seek out those who need to hear about salvation. Although my going out is clearly limited right now, I can still watch for opportunities to share Christ at the store, the beauty shop, the bank or in line at the post office. Even though I might not have the freedom to invite them to my mother's home, I can invite them to this blog or to email me in order to share more of Jesus with them than our brief face to face encounters allow.

Lord, you came to this earth to serve,

to seek and to save the lost.

Help me to pour my life into others

no matter what the cost.

Open my eyes to see those in need

at the bank or the grocery store.

Help me to do more than smile and nod.

Open my mouth to share more.

When strangers share their pressing needs

as they often seem to do,

help me to say more than "I will pray."

Enable me to point them to you.

40 Days to Live - Day 9

Luke 18:35-43 - Be Healed

LIVE IT: Trust God for healing today - physical, emotional or spiritual.


While Dad was in the hospital following a major heart attack, God enabled my mother and me to encourage and witness to many people who came through the ICU waiting room. One mother even asked me to go into her daughter’s ICU room and pray over her, a request I’d never had before. I did pray for the young woman, as did several of my friends; and although the doctors said she had less than a 5% chance of surviving a severe illness stemming from a fungus in her lungs, she completely recovered and was able to go home for weekend visits within 5 weeks. God answers prayer! Daddy also survived triple bypass surgery a few days later even though the doctors thought his heart was too damaged to make it. Then he went on to live a fairly active life until cancer took him home on January 28, 2001 at the age of 75.

Trust Him
Karen Sue Hale
January 9, 1988

I serve a great and mighty God.
He knows my hurts and needs.
He places me in places
where He knows I need to be.
He works the worst of circumstances
to glorify His name.
He allows my life to touch others
so they’ll never be the same.
It’s not always easy to trust Him
when it seems the picture’s dim.
I must constantly remind myself
things are focused well for Him.
He sees the total picture
as clearly as can be.
All I can do is trust Him
through dark times when I can’t see.

40 Days to Live - Day 10

Mark 10:35-45 - Lead by Serving

LIVE IT: Commit yourself to serve in every relationship and circumstance.

Too many times we approach a personal, business, or even church home relationship with the attitude, "What can this do for me?" According to Jesus, the question should be, "How can I serve the Lord and others here?" Even those of us who are in the spotlight as preachers, teachers, and worship leaders, need to approach those responsibilities with humility and not for the praise of people. Do I enjoy applause when I sing or speak in a service? Certainly. It gives me the feeling that I've performed to the best of my ability. However, if the applause of people is my only motivation, I have fallen far short of what the Lord has gifted me to do. All glory needs to be given to God and my talents need to be a service to Him and to the hearers/readers. If the attention has been drawn to me rather than to my Lord, I have failed. If I step off the stage or climb off the piano bench and fail to care about, pray for, and if possible meet the needs of my brother or sister, I have failed. The good leader is the servant of those she leads. Father, help me to have a servant's heart today!

Thoughts on Philippians 2:6-8

Humility, servitude, obedience…
Lord, you epitomize all three.
I’m instructed to have the mind of Christ.
Lord, develop these attitudes in me.

40 Days to Live - Day 11

Luke 18:31-34 - Die to Yourself

LIVE IT: Evaluate your commitment to God's Kingdom today.

Sometimes the poor disciples seem clueless; but as this passage points out, the full meaning of Jesus' words was hidden from them. However, on this side of the cross, looking back, we should understand their meaning completely. Christ predicted his death and resurrection. Jesus died in my place on the cross, but He tells me to die to myself daily and live completely for Him. Complete commitment to the Lord and the work of His Kingdom is something I've grappled with most of my adult life. Many times I fall so terribly short, so I must praise Him for His grace! At the time I wrote the following prayer, my singleness and childlessness were what I struggled to surrender. God has since given my my children and shown me that He is my true love. However, surrender to the Lord is a daily battle. Christ knew that when he instructed us to take up our cross daily. I need to pray each morning that the Lord will show me anything that needs to be turned over to Him in order to bring glory to His Kingdom.

Lord, I try to tell You
What I think is best for me…
a godly, loving husband
and a happy family.
Lord, when will I realize
only You can truly see
what lies in the future
and what You know is best for me.

All I want right now, Lord,
is to give my all for You…
give up everything I own;
do what You’ve called me to do.
The path may not be easy
and my friends, they may be few;
but when the trials You do allow,
You’ve the strength to bring me through.

Keep my eyes on You, Lord,
and not on this world’s gold,
not on earthly pleasures
that can make my heart turn cold.
Help me to remember
that it’s to Your hand I hold.
When I share Your gospel,
through Your Spirit make me bold.

1985
Karen Sue Hale

40 Days to Live - Day 12

Luke 18:18-30 - Give It All Away

LIVE IT: Let go of whatever is impossible for you to give up today.

I recently let go of a possession that I would have thought impossible to give up - my vanity dressing table. But God enabled me to give it to someone who needed it and be joyful in doing so. However, it's much harder to let go of strong opinions and certain attitudes. It's hard to let go of a desire for praise. May the Lord help me to remember that He is my inheritance and I need nothing else.

Jimmy Draper shared a good sermon illustration when he was my pastor. He told us of a type of monkey that can be trapped by placing food it likes in a container with a hole that will allow ithe monkey to get its empty hand in but not be able to pull out his fist once it is full. The monkey WILL NOT let go of his prize and is, therefore, trapped. Today's lesson reminded me of that sermon and the poem I wrote that day. I needed to be reminded not to hold on tight but to give God everything!

Are we like the little monkey
who has his hand so full
that he won’t let go to free himself,
and we think him such a fool?

But in ways aren’t we just like him?

For we hold within our grasp
things that keep us from the Lord,
things that will not last.

It may not be a thing we hold.
It may be an attitude,
something that we should confess
so that we may be renewed.

And yet we hold on tightly
to these items we hold dear,
and we remain trapped in our sin,
in bitterness and fear.

If, in wisdom, we’d let go,
our freedom we would find.
For in giving everything to God,
His peace will fill our minds.

May 11, 1986
Karen Sue Hale

40 Days to Live - Day 13

Luke 18:15-17 - Celebrate Children

LIVE IT: Do something special to pour life into a child today.

I love the simple faith that children exhibit when discussing God. I remember asking a group of 5-yr-olds what they would thank God for if limited to just one thing. One said, "I would thank God for skunks." I asked him why on earth would he be thankful for skunks. He said, "My mom says we are to thank God for everything, and I think that's the hardest thing to thank Him for; so that would be my one thing." He wanted to give his best to God by doing the thing hardest for him. There's some good logic in that. Another child said, "I would thank God for God." Well, that says it all, doesn't it?

In my many years teaching at Glenview Christian School, I was privileged to observe the faith of children. I had one first grader come to me to talk after Bible time. Earlier in the week, we had a lesson on Adam and Eve being cast out of the Garden of Eden and away from the tree of life. He had asked, "So what's all this talk about that Heaven place, if no one can eat from that tree and get there anymore?" The other students did their best to express the gospel in a nutshell, and I told him to stay tuned for further lessons because Genesis was just the beginning of the story. Now he was demanding to talk to me "while those other kids are busy doing seatwork." He asked questions, and I answered with the good news of salvation. I asked him if he wanted to pray and surrender to Jesus to be the "boss of his life." He said he thought it might make his dad mad (the family was not in church, and as far as I know his father did not profess Christ). I answered him that he might be right: his dad might not be happy about it. He thought for a minute and said, "Well, the way I see it, God is bigger than my dad. Let's pray!" The faith of a child!

More recently, I've had the opportunity to talk to my great-nephew about God. One Sunday after church, he climbed into his car seat singing, "I am so glad that God made me." I said, "I'm glad God made you, too!" He asked, "But Aunt Susie, how did God make me?" I was not sure the birds and bees discussion should be had with a 4-yr-old but plowed on anyway.

"Remember when baby brother was inside Mommy's tummy?"

"Yes."

"God was making baby brother inside Mommy."

"It took a long time."

"It does take a long time for God to put everything together. Then when He was finished, he let baby brother know it was time to come out."

"And baby brother told Mommy, and she went to the hospital and said take him out, he's done."

"That's right. God made you the same way. Inside your Mommy's tummy."

"Oh, okay. I am so glad that God made me!"

I'm so glad he didn't ask how baby brother got inside Mommy's tummy in the first place or why God would choose to do it that way. We've also had conversations about how old God is and why God takes people to heaven when he knows we'll miss them. I pray for wisdom every time I take him to church because I know there will be more questions. I thank God for the privilege of sharing with him and being encouraged by him. Sometimes my nephew's conclusion when he can't quite understand it all is simply, "That's because He's God."

Father, help me to have the faith of a child,

to accept that I don't have to understand.

I simply need to trust in your love,

and know that you have things perfectly planned.

40 Days to Live - Day 14

Mark 10:2-12 - Celebrate Marriage

LIVE IT: Sow encouragement into a marriage (especially yours) today.

The Lord spoke strongly against divorce in the passage from Mark. God intended marriage to be for life because he knew that it is a joining not only of two lives but two families. I know the pain of divorce firsthand since my husband left me five days before our first wedding anniversary. I remember walking through my house like a zombie the next day. The firemen thought I was crying because my add-on den was under water. They assured me they could water-vac most of it. The neighbor girl came over to sell magazines for a school fundraiser but stopped in mid-sentence when she saw my tears. She said, "You don't need to hear about magazines today: you need to talk to my mother. Whatever it is, my mom is good with people who are hurting." Praise the Lord for that 13-yr-old girl! She took me by the hand and led me to her mother's bedroom. Then her mother (an evangelist's wife) came and comforted me. She invited me to FBC Euless that Sunday (my 1st wedding anniversary). Jimmy Draper as preaching on reconciliation to God. I realized God was speaking to me through that sermon. No matter what my husband chose to do, I needed to reaffirm my relationship with Christ and yield more completely to His control. I joined the church that morning.

I remember my niece, then 6 years old, asking, "Aunt Susie, doesn't Unlce Steve love us anymore?" I wasn't the only one who felt rejected. How do you explain to a 6-yr-old that he may still love her but wouldn't feel comfortable coming to see her? That makes no sense. If you love someone, you're there for them. But I know I missed Steve's family but would have felt awkward traveling to Esteline to see his granny even though she made clear to me that I was always welcome in her home.

I asked Steve to go to counseling with me, but his mind was made up. At this point, I didn't know there was another woman involved. That lack of knowledge was by the grace of God because I was so weak at that time I might have hurt someone had I known. By the time I found out almost two years later that Steve had remarried four months after the divorce was final, I had undergone much healing from the Lord and learned the importance of forgiveness. God is good. Divorce was not good, nor was it what God intended for my husband and me. Divorce is not God's will for us. However, God has used my singleness for his glory; and I am thankful.

What would I say to my married friends, relatives, and especially my son?

1. Marriage takes committment and hard work. WORK AT IT!
2. Watch the movie "Fireproof", get the "Love Dare" book, and JUST DO IT!
3. Pray for and with your spouse DAILY!
4. STAY IN A BIBLE TEACHING CHURCH!
5. Make time for each other even if it means paying a sitter or turning down overtime pay.
DATE NIGHTS!
6. Talk, REALLY talk and LISTEN to each other. Not just uh-huh and hmmm while watching
TV, playing computer games, or reading. TURN IT OFF AND PUT IT DOWN!
7. Read God's word together or share what He is showing you in your own QUIET TIME.

One of the best illustrations I've ever heard for a Christian marriage involved a ladder. This is the type of ladder than can be climbed on both sides. Imagine the husband climbing one side and the wife the other. At the top is Jesus. If both parties are getting closer to Jesus, they are also getting closer together. If either one goes back down or even stands still while the other continues to climb, they are getting farther apart. Both of you need to keep moving closer to Christlikeness. Being conformed to the image of Christ is always in God's will. Work on your own relationship to the Lord and encourage your spouse in his/her walk.

I wrote the following song many years after my divorce. I was at a retreat and still feeling the rejection and the stigma of being divorced, but God reassured me of his constant love for me through many events at the retreat. So, if you have already been divorced or are currently going through a divorce, know that God still loves you and wants to heal the hurts caused by the sin of unfaithfulness.

I Am His Treasure

Autumn Singles Retreat 1996

When I felt rejected, abandoned, and unloved,
I felt like someone’s garbage on the curb out by the street.
Then Jesus picked me up, held me in His arms,
and whispered that He’d always treasure me.

I am His treasure...He bought me with a price.
He treasures me...He paid with His own life.
The price was costly...The Father gave His Son.
And to think He would have done it if I’d been the only one...
I am His treasure.

I look into the mirror, and I don’t like what I see.
Then Satan whispers to my heart that no one could love me.
But it matters not if anyone ever sees my worth
because Jesus says He’ll always treasure me.

(chorus)

It’s not because of what I’ve done or who I have become.
I did not earn His love through worthy deeds.
For ’though He sees beyond my words and looks into my thoughts,
it’s by God’s grace that Jesus treasures me.

(chorus)

You are His treasure...He bought you with a price.
He treasures you...He paid with His own life.
The price was costly...The Father gave His Son.
And to think He would have done it if you’d been the only one...
You are His treasure.