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.