April 14, 2012: I Lift Up My Eyes

3 gifts found looking up:

• a robin sweetly singing her Maker's praise way up in the top of a tree this evening.
• much needed rain.
• comfort and peace from knowing the Lord is watching those I love. 

 Psalm 121. A song of ascents.  I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
  where does my help come from? 
 My help comes from the LORD,
 the Maker of heaven and earth.
 He will not let your foot slip—
   he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
   will neither slumber nor sleep.
 The LORD watches over you—
   the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
   nor the moon by night.
 The LORD will keep you from all harm—
   he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
   both now and forevermore.

February 24, 2012: Joy in the Morning

3 gifts before 11:00 am:

• The gift of being warm and cozy inside when it's snowing and blowing outside.
• The gift of a caring, compassionate physical therapist who encourages me to keep working.
• The gift of God's Word from David's Psalm 103. The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.  He will not always accuse,  nor will he harbor his anger forever;  he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.  For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him;  as far as the east is from the west, so far has he removed our transgressions from us (verses8-12). Hallelujah!

January 11, 2012: Fresh Mercy Colored Yellow

3 yellow things that strike you as fresh mercy:

• The moon: It's been amazing this week to see the moon full and round, high in the morning sky.  It has looked almost yellow, which I understand from my local TV meteorologist, means it's a waning gibbous moon.  The Heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.  Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.  There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.  Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.  Psalm 19:1-4
• The sun: Another sunny, warm day!  In the middle of January!!  As the sunshine floods my living room windows, so it floods my soul.  In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun, which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion, like a champion rejoicing to run his course.  It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other; nothing is hidden from its heat.  Psalm 19:5-6
• Honey: I heard a wonderful teaching on Psalm 19 at Bible study this morning.  This psalm of David gives three yellow metaphors for the Torah, God's Word: light, gold and honey.  I immediately pictured the beautiful jar of honey that I received from one of my precious sisters-in-law for Christmas.  It is pure and lovely, delicious to eat, just like the Word of God. The law of the Lord is perfect, reviving the soul.  The statutes of the Lord are trustworthy, making wise the simple.  The precepts of the Lord are right, giving joy to the heart.  The commands of the Lord are radiant, giving light to the eyes.  The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever.  The ordinances of the Lord are sure and altogether righteous.  They are more precious than gold, they are sweeter than honey, than  honey from the comb.  By them is your servant warned; in keeping them there is great reward. Psalm 19:7-11