Victory | Thankful Thursday

November sure has been moving steadily along. The end of the year seems to go quicker and quicker. I want to take time to thank God for victory today. Have you ever thought about that? God has given us victory through the work of Jesus on the cross. We are victorious in Him. What does that mean? What is victory?

According to Merriam Webster, victory is a noun. It has two meanings: the overcoming of an enemy or antagonist and achievement of mastery or success in a struggle or endeavor against odds or difficulties. Our adversary is the devil and because Jesus took the keys to death, hell, and the grave, we are able to walk in victory over our enemy!

Revelation 1:17b-18 Fear not; I am the first and the last: I am He that liveth, and was dead; and, behold, I am alive for evermore, Amen; and have the keys of hell and of death.

What a beautiful comfort to read that!! Because Jesus was victorious in overcoming His enemies, He has passed that same victory on to His children. We can achieve success in every struggle and endeavor we come across, against all odds and difficulties, because Jesus has already won the battle!

John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in Me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

The precious words of Jesus: the words in red, bring such peace and comfort to me. I know I am not alone. My Heavenly Father has sent Jesus to win the war in my life and I have victory through Him. I am not on my own and the battle is not mine!!

1 Corinthians 15:52-58 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.

What a wonderful reason to be celebrate! I give thanks to God my Father through the Lord Jesus Christ because He gives me the victory! We must take that victory and run with it. Let's be steady, unable to be moved from our post serving the Lord, always providing a plentiful supply of work to God knowing we are not working for nothing! Let's run in that victory today!!

What are you thankful for on this Thankful Thursday? Be sure to give thanks to God who always makes us triumph! 2 Corinthians 2:14 Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of His knowledge by us in every place. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 40 | Wednesday Bible Study

Welcome back to Bible Study Wednesday! This year God has pressed upon my heart to study the book of Psalms. Each Wednesday we take a closer look at a new chapter. Today we are going to chapter 40. If you have not done so, please take the time to read through these 17 verses. I will be sharing some thoughts about today's passage and break down this chapter below. Please pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive everything He has to teach you in today's passage. Let's begin!

This particular Psalm of David is about how God has answered his prayers in the past and a request for God to be faithful again. It is a testament of God's goodness and mercy. David knows he can trust and rely on God because God has never failed him. God has been faithful and just and Holy all through David's life. He knows that God is with him and helps him. Before we dive in fully to this study today, let's reflect on what we are asking God to do for us, and let's not forget the times He came through for us when we had nothing and no one else.

Verse 1

Are we patiently waiting for God to answer us, or are we impatiently waiting? There is no middle ground here, but one day can vary from the next. Some days I am waiting patiently for God to work everything out so we can have our own home again. I am content in knowing that I am in a temporary situation and it will soon end.

Other times, I am impatiently waiting. I have been guilty of going to God in prayer and in exasperation. I submit a list of good things I have done that should somehow hurry God up to get us to our intended destination. Yet, my works and my good effort has nothing to do with how God is working things out. He is moving things and changing things and rearranging things so that it will all fall into place up to the very smallest and last detail. How could I possibly be of any help to Him?

I have grumbled and complained and tried to change my circumstances on my own. God allowed me to try. He knew the outcome would not be what I wanted but it would show me that He is in control and I am not; and He has a far better plan than I do. He wants me to have a wonderful, blessed, and full life, but it includes storms, pain, suffering, and hardship. That is not what I had in mind at all, and yet the toughest valleys and darkest days were some of the best times of training and learning the character of God.

The last part  of this first verse is God listened and heard David's pleas. He is listening to us. We are His children and He loves us. Of course He is listening to us, but David was patiently waiting. It is something for us to pause and think about. How are we waiting for what we asked God to do?

Verses 2-3

David said God brought him up out of a horrible pit. Sometimes the pits we fall into are despair, suffering, lack, hunger, loneliness, and anger. What horrible pit has God pulled you up out of?

David said the pit he was in had miry clay for the bottom. Mire is deep slushy mud. I do not know about you but I deeply dislike getting dirty, and that includes getting mud on me. I will walk out of my way to avoid mud and dirt. This pit David says he was in is not a physical pit, though it could have been. Think of the situations that felt dirty, chaotic, disorganized, unpleasant, and where you felt like you were on a merry-go-round or roller coaster spinning out of control. Maybe you felt like nothing you did gave you any traction. David said he was there and God took him out of that environment and set his feet upon a rock.

There's something comforting about standing on a solid rock. I was at the ocean in Alabama and I had been on some uneven rocks and sand and it was hard to walk on. I was slowing down my pace so I didn't hurt myself or fall. But once I felt the cold rock beneath my bare feet I felt secure and steady. I smiled and I could hold my head up again and look at the beauty around me. I was no longer so careful to stare at the ground in front of me and watch each step I took.

David said God established his goings once he was on the Rock. The Rock is the revelation of who Jesus Christ is. Jesus asked His disciples who He was. Peter answered, "You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God." Matthew 16:17-19 And Jesus answered and said unto him, Blessed art thou, Simon Barjona: for flesh and blood hath not revealed it unto thee, but My Father which is in heaven. And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build My Church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And I will give unto thee the keys of the Kingdom of heaven and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in heaven: and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven. Not only did Jesus change Peter's identity and give him a new name, but He gave him the power to bind and loose things on earth and in heaven. David was granted his requests when he went to the Rock of Ages with his petitions.

God never blesses us for us alone. It is always so we can bless others. We can encourage our brothers and sisters in Christ who are struggling along that we can make it with God's help! We can witness to unbelievers and tell them of the goodness of God. Like, David we will have a new song to sing. We will praise God so that many will see it and fear God and come to trust in Him.

Verse 4

David tells us that those who trust in God are blessed. When we do not put the prideful and arrogant on a pedestal, or think highly of dishonest and corrupt leaders, we are blessed. There is no benefit to walking with those who dishonor God. There is no blessing tied to their lifestyle or beliefs. We are to trust in God alone to help us be successful and kind and share the message of His Kingdom with everyone we know.

Verse 5

How many answered prayers have you received from God in your lifetime? How often has God turned bad situations into good for you? How many times has He healed your body or your loved one's body because you prayed and asked? Think of all the times God protected and rescued us from dangers we never saw coming! I love this verse. David says, "MANY are the works of You God and they are WONDERFUL and Your thoughts toward us are so plentiful that if we began to count them and put them in order, they could not be numbered for the bountiful blessings You have given us!"

I used to sing a song at church called I Have Been Blessed and part of the verse says:

If the pen of a writer, could write everyday

Even this world could never contain

How I've been blessed.

The chorus says,

I have been blessed God's so good to me.

Precious are His thoughts of you and me.

No way I could count them.

There's not enough time.

So I'll just thank Him for being so kind.

God has been good, so good, I have been blessed.

Verses 6-8

God is not asking us to sacrifice everything and offer up special gifts to Him. He enjoys when we give and do things for Him, but He wants our heart. He wants our attention and our time. David says, "I delight to do Your will God, and Your Law is within my heart." I want to echo that. May my life be a love story to God about how much I adore Him and serve Him. He is worth loving. He is worth getting to know and to understand His ways as best as we can, David says God has opened his ears. Are your ears open to the voice of Holy Spirit? Are you tuned in to His still small voice? Are you hearing His instructions?

Verses 9-10

David preached Righteousness in the great congregation. King David had BIG influence and the people loved him. He has an opportunity to promote himself but he chooses to promote God and His power and love and goodness. He said, "God You know I have not refrained my lips from speaking the truth." We must ask for boldness to witness to our unsaved coworkers and neighbors. If David can share the Good News with a whole nation, we surely can share the goodness of God with those we come into contact with. David says, "I have not kept Your faithfulness, salvation, lovingkindness, and Your truth a secret. I shared it God." Can we say that? Let's pray that we have a desire to share the Good News of Jesus with everyone!

Verses 11-13

David makes a plea to God for deliverance. The situation he is in feels overwhelming and he feels outnumbered. Have you ever been there? Has the problems seemed to outweigh the good? Run to God. Let your prayer be the same as David's. "God, let it please You to deliver me. Hurry to help me God." Yes, I pray that today.

Verses 14-15

David wants his enemies to be ashamed and confused that try to destroy his soul. We have an enemy who is trying to destroy our souls, but God has placed us in the palm of His hand and we are untouchable from the enemy. The devil can wear us out and beat on us in this world, but he cannot destroy our soul! One day he will be banished forever! Revelation 19:20 And the beast was taken, and with him the false prophet that wrought miracles before him, with which he deceived them that had received the mark of the beast, and them that worshipped his image. These both were cast alive into a lake of fire burning with brimstone. One day it will be all over for the devil.

Verse 16

Do you love God? Is Jesus your Savior? If so, then this verse is for you! Let's exalt His Name on high. Let's say, "The LORD be magnified!" I exalt the name of Jesus. I praise Him for what He has done for me. I thank Him that He saved me and chooses to use me. I am nothing apart from Him. He is the reason I am here today. I love Him so much. I praise Him and I could not even get through today's Bible study without a praise and worship session of how wonderful God is to His children. He is wonderful in all of His ways. Even when we are in circumstances we can't see how we will make it through, we can worship Him and love Him because He is worthy of all praise and honor. Our situations don't change God's worth and as we worship Him and thank Him for all He is doing in our lives, we will see the miraculous happen as He begins to turn around all the evil for good in our lives! I have seen it happen over and over again.

Verse 17

I love the way this psalm ends. I am poor and needy, yet You think about me, God. You choose to think about me and love me. You have not forgotten about us. God when the days turn to weeks and the weeks into months, and the months into years, may we never forget that You have Your eyes on us and You are working everything out. Thank You Jesus for thinking about us and being mindful of us. What a wonderful and kind Risen King You are!

Friends, I hope this has been a thought-provoking study. I want us to take away from today's study that God sees us and loves us and is blessing us. He is going to make all things new and sometimes it hurts to go through the pruning process but in the end we will yield so much more fruit. Let me know in the comments if you are enjoying studying the Psalms with me this year. I always appreciate your feedback and love studying with you each week! My prayer is something you have read today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 24 | Wednesday Bible Study

Welcome back to Bible Study Wednesday! This year God has pressed upon my heart to study the book of Psalms. Each Wednesday we take a closer look at a new chapter. Today we are going to chapter 24. If you have not done so, please take the time to read through these 10 verses. I will be sharing some thoughts about today's passage and break down this chapter below. Please pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive everything He has to teach you in today's passage. Let's begin!

First of all, I want to mention that I realize this post is going up late. I have been unwell and had to start antibiotics but I want to do this week's Bible study. I apologize for those who may have looked for a Bible study post on Wednesday. I appreciate the prayers of those who have been keeping me in their prayers. Thank you so much!

Verses 1-3

David opens up this psalm with declaring who God is. He owns the earth and everything in it. The whole world belongs to God. He created it and established it and it all belongs to Him. We see similar statements in other Psalms as well as in 1 Corinthians and Genesis.

1 Corinthians 10:26 For the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.

Psalm 89:11 The heavens are Thine, the earth also is Thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, Thou hast founded them.

Genesis 1:1 In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.

Psalm 8:3-4 When I consider Thy heavens, the work of Thy fingers, the moon and the stars, which Thou hast ordained; What is man, that Thou art mindful of him? and the son of man, that Thou visitest him?

David declares the Sovereignty of God and then asks who is able to stand in God's Holy place? Remember when we studied Psalm 15 in April? We see in the verses following what it takes to see God.

Verses 4-6

Psalm 73:1 Truly God is good to Israel, even to such as are of a clean (pure) heart.

Matthew 5:8 Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see God.

To receive the blessing from God, and righteousness from the God of our salvation, we must have a pure heart, humbleness, and honesty. Anything else will separate us from God. In verse six, David says this is the generation that is seeking God's face. Often in prayer we seek God's hands. We want Him to do something for us, or give us something, or work something out for us. David says the key here is to seek God's face. Seek relationship.

Psalm 27:4, 8 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in His temple. When Thou saidst, Seek ye My face; my heart said unto Thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek.

Jeremiah 29:12-13 Then shall ye call upon Me, and ye shall go and pray unto Me, and I will hearken unto you. And ye shall seek Me, and find Me, when ye shall search for Me with all your heart.

The key to finding God when we look for Him, is having the right motives. Are we looking for Him because He is our Heavenly Father? Are we desiring to get to know Him better? Are we just desiring to be in His presence? Yes, He wants to answer our prayers, and He wants to bless us, but He also wants fellowship with His children.

Verses 7-10

Verses seven and nine are mirror verses of each other, as are verses eight and ten. Let's look at the first pair. These fraternal twin verses are referring to the ushering in of God's glory. It is a descriptive picture of gates and doors opening and welcoming the King of Glory.

Haggai 2:7 And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations shall come: and I will fill this house with glory, saith the LORD of hosts.

The last fraternal twin verses ask who is this King of glory? David says, The LORD, strong and mighty, the LORD mighty in battle, the LORD of hosts, He is the King of glory. Amen! He is!!

Revelation 19:13-16 And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called The Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Friends the day is coming when we will see Jesus. We may see Him as Righteous Judge and hear the scariest sentence in the world, "Depart from Me, I do not know you." We may see Him as Righteous Judge and Savior as He declares, "Enter in, well done, good and faithful servant." We will see Jesus one way or another. For God's people, this Bible study is exciting and we are ready to hail our King Jesus! We are ready to cast our crowns at His feet in gratitude for all that He has done for us and all the things He brought us through.

If you are not a part of God's family, and do not allow Him to direct your steps, and plan your future, you can change that! Ask Jesus to be your Lord and Savior. He will forgive you of your sins and He will seal you to be His child forever! Trust in Him and accept the gift of salvation that cannot be purchased or earned. Jesus paid the penalty for our sins on the cross, so we can go free today. Have you trusted in Jesus? I hope you will!

Thank you all for understanding about the delay in the blog posts. I am trying to get things worked out so the delays will be less frequent. I am thankful for all of you who read my blog and study with me each week. It is a blessing and I appreciate you all so much. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 23 | Bible Study Wednesday

Welcome back to Bible Study Wednesday! This year God has pressed upon my heart to study the book of Psalms. Each Wednesday we take a closer look at a new chapter. Today we are going to chapter 23. I know it is a familiar passage, but if you have not done so, please take the time to read through these 6 verses. I will be sharing some thoughts about today's passage and break down this chapter below. Please pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to receive everything He has to teach you in today's passage. Let's begin!

Verse 1

David begins this psalm declaring the LORD is his shepherd. We all know David was a shepherd boy. He was tending sheep when they called him to meet the prophet Samuel and was anointed king over Israel. He was looking after sheep when his father told him to take some food to his brothers and check on them, not realizing David would slay the giant Goliath. This is a special picture of God through David's eyes. He knows the commitment and the dedication it takes to be a good shepherd. A good shepherd will take care of the sheep's needs. They will not desire food, water, or shelter because the shepherd will provide. In Psalm 80:1, it says this, "Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, Thou that leadest Jospeh like a flock; Thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth." Another reference to God being the Shepherd of our souls. Jesus even called Himself the Good Shepherd. John 10:11 I am the Good Shepherd: the Good Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep. We know that Jesus did give His life for the entire world, for whosoever will accept the gift of salvation.

David declares that since God is his Shepherd, he will not want. That does not mean he will get everything he wants. It means that God will meet David's needs. David does not have to go without necessities in life. It may seem like some of our needs do not get met as quickly as we like, or in the way we would like, but God is our Shepherd and He will take care of us.

Verse 2

This verse has two parts. The first statement is that God provides green pastures. This is indicative of blessings and abundance. If you think like a sheep, a pasture full of lush, green grass would be delicious. You could eat to your heart's content and still have plenty. This is again, David referring to the providential hand of God. Psalm 65:11-13 Thou crownest the year with Thy goodness; and Thy paths drop fatness (abundance). They drop upon the pastures of the wilderness: and the little hills rejoice on every side. The pastures are clothed with flocks; the valleys also are covered over with corn; they shout for joy, they also sing. What a picture! The overflow of God's goodness. He is saying the low spots, the valleys, are covered over with corn. There is goodness even in the low spots. There is rejoicing and singing. It is a time of blessing and provision. Isaiah 55:11-13 So shall My Word be that goeth forth out of My mouth: it shall not return unto Me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing wherto I sent it. For ye shall go out with joy, and be led forth with peace: the mountains and the hills shall break forth before you into singing, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands. Instead of the thorn, shall come up the fir tree, and instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle tree: and it shall be to the LORD for a name, for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off. Instead of thorns you get pine cones and instead of briers you get dainty leaves that are green year round, and in summer you get star-like blossoms and the fragrance fills the air. Instead of receiving painful things, we receive useful and beautiful things. Wow! I love that!!

Part two of that verse says God leads us beside still waters. Sheep do not trust fast-flowing water. They will die of dehydration before they put their face in rushing water. They know they cannot swim well and it is a source of danger to them. The wool becomes heavy when soaked and the water bed is usually rocky and uneven. It would be easy for a sheep to topple over and drown. A good shepherd would never lead a thirsty flock to such a stream for the sake of letting them drink. Instead, they will take the sheep to calm waters.

This is the same for us. God leads us as the Good Shepherd. He does not intentionally take us into dangerous situations. Sometimes we have to cross rushing water, or tread along unsteady rock beds, but we know if He takes us through such circumstances it is for our protection and for our good. He will lead us beside the still waters as often as possible. We know that if He is leading, the path is safe as long as we follow where He leads.

 

Verse 3

Again, this verse contains two different parts. First, He restores our soul. When we are weary, and we have done everything we knew to do, we can become fatigued. The journey is long and hard when we choose Jesus as the Shepherd we follow. It is worth it, because of the benefits. Jesus restores our soul, which means He rebuilds it back to the original condition. Think of how one might restore an old car. There is a lot of work that goes into putting it back like it was. Sometimes the hard roads we travel seem nothing like the peaceful streams we read about in the Shepherd's psalm, but we have to remember, God is fixing some things in our lives. He is putting us back together. When we veer off the right path, He restores us back to where we belong.

Part two of this verse says, "He leads me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake." He does not force us back into the right path, He leads us there. He leads by example. He goes ahead of us and leads the way. He shows us what choices to make and gives us wisdom. David says in Psalm 5:8 "Lead me, O LORD, in Thy righteousness because of mine enemies: make Thy way straight before my face." Have you prayed that prayer? I know I have. I wanted God to put me in right standing with Him so that others who mocked me and ridiculed me would know God was ordering my steps. When God leads us onto paths of righteousness it is for His name's sake. The world will take notice that we are going in a different direction. We do not accept the same invitations. We do not partake in the same activities. We are different because we are on the righteous path of God.

Verse 4

This verse has been used in songs, movies, spoken at funerals and in times of great distress. There is a lot of comfort in this verse. Even though we walk through the valley of the shadow of death, we do not have to be afraid. Yes, the Good Shepherd will lead us through this valley many times through the course of our lives, but we do not need to fear. Why? For You, God, are with me. You comfort me with Your rod and staff. But what are those things, the rod and the staff?

The rod is for protection. The rod would be used on predators trying to devour the sheep. God gives us protection from our enemy as well. It has been said that shepherds used it to count sheep. The rod would be extended and the sheep would go underneath it one by one. It reminds me that the Good Shepherd will leave the 99 to go after the one lost sheep. How would it know there were any missing if it did not count the sheep? Each one mattered to the shepherd. We can be assured each one of us matter to our Good Shepherd as well. Matthew 18:12-13 How think ye? if a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them be gone astray, doth he not leave the ninety and nine, and goeth into the mountains, and seeketh that which is gone astray? And if so be that he find it, verily I say unto you, he rejoiceth more of that sheep, than of the ninety and nine which went not astray. Such a beautiful picture of God's love and protection to us.

In Psalm 16:8, David says, "I have set the LORD always before me: because He is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. And in Isaiah, what a loving promise we find. Isaiah 43:2 When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee. We can say that is all metaphorically speaking, but if we turn to Daniel 3:25, we read, "He answered and said, Lo, I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire, and they have no hurt; and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God. God will literally be with you and with me in each and every circumstance of our lives. He will lead us and guide us and protect us.

The staff is for guiding the sheep along the path the shepherd would take them on. He would use the curved top of the staff to rescue a sheep gone astray. Perhaps David recalled the times he would lean on the staff as he tended sheep. It was a great source to steady oneself on rough terrain and it would serve to support the shepherd. God is that staff for us. He guides us and pulls us back to safety. He also supports us and gives us a steady gait when navigating rough roads.

Verse 5

This particular verse has three main points. First, the LORD prepares a table before David in the midst of his enemies. God will spread a banquet table out for us to eat and enjoy while those who tried to discourage us and destroy us watch. He will give us the blessings and provision we have already read about in this passage so far. We will not eat and partake of these blessings in a prideful way, but we will humbly thank God for the blessings and He will lift us up when the time is right. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Likewise, ye younger, submit yourselves unto the elder. Yea, all of you be subject one to another, and be clothed with humility: for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. Humble yourselves therefore under the Mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time: Casting all your care upon Him; for He careth for you.

The second part of this verse is He will anoint your head with oil. What is the significance of that? To honor a guest, one would anoint their head with oil. We read in Luke 7:44-47, Jesus had just been anointed with oil by Mary and her perfume in the alabaster box. The guests at the dinner party Jesus was invited to were all treating the woman with disdain and disrespect. Jesus had something to say to defend her and to let Simon and the others know they were wrong. "And He turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for My feet: but she hath washed My feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head. Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss My feet. My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed My feet with ointment. Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little. David says his head is anointed with oil, indicating he feels like an honored guest at the table of God.

The third part of this verse is David's cup running over. If you have ever watched a young child pour a glass of milk, they are sort of unsteady and are learning when to stop pouring. Sometimes the child pours too much and the milk runs over spilling out onto the table or floor. David feels so rich with God's blessings and provision, he says his cup is running over. Today we enjoy the same treatment by our Heavenly Father. He sits us at His table and feeds us all the good and healthy things in front of the enemy who works against us. He anoints our head letting the devil know we are His chosen and anointed vessels. Then God fills our lives to overflowing with good things so it can spill over onto those around us. Isaiah 25:1 O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy Name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth. In Psalm 16:11, David says, "Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are pleasures for evermore. Jesus said, in John 15:11 These things have I spoken unto you, that My joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full. David's joy was running over it was so full.

Verse 6

David has confidence in God as His Good Shepherd. He knows that goodness and mercy, or loving kindness, will be David's traveling companions the rest of his life. What do you feel are your traveling companions? Sometimes it may feel like pain and suffering, or hardship and strife, maybe even loss and grief are constant companions to us in this life. We know that hard times do not last always when we serve the Risen King Jesus. David decided no matter what the circumstances of his life looked like, he would choose God's goodness and mercy to follow him.

In this life we have suffering and trials, but the good news is this life is not all there is. In fact, this life is fleeting. Remember what James said? James 4:14 Whereas ye know not what shall be on the morrow, For what is your life? It is even a vapour, that appeareth for a little time, and then vanisheth away. David knew he would dwell in the house of the LORD forever! We have the same assurance if Jesus is our Savior. Revelation 21:1-5 And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. And I John saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new. And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful.

We all have the promise that we will live with King Jesus forever more one of these days! We may endure hardship in this life now, but soon it will all be forgotten when we behold the glory of God and His majesty. We will know it was all worth it to look upon His face. To know that Jesus has paid the ultimate price for us to live with Him in eternity, will cause us to forget the toil and strife of this life. What a day that will be!

I hope you have enjoyed studying the Shepherd's Psalm with me today. What is your favorite part? God bless you!!

~Bridgett Owens

3 Ships | Fuel For The Weekend

Sometimes God gives me a word, a phrase, or a concept and I will write it down, but then it may be a while before God gives me the full download. On May 4, 2022, God gave me three words: Relationship, Friendship, Kinship. Today, I want to share three SHIPS God wants us to join Him in, what can hinder us from being in each SHIP, and what our responsibility is if we say yes.

RELATIONSHIP -the way in which two or more concepts, objects, or people are connected, or the state of being connected; the state of being connected by blood or marriage; the way in which two or more people or groups regard and behave toward each other.

God wants a relationship with us. We are connected to God by His Son Jesus. It is through the blood of Jesus that we are redeemed to God, and it paid for the sins that separated us from God. Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. We have all sinned and so we are all separated from God until we are cleansed in His blood. Isaiah 1:18 Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. 

If we will not choose Jesus to be our Lord, and if we refuse to admit our sins or turn from them, then we will not be in relationship with God. John 10:1 Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that entereth not by the door into the sheepfold, but climbeth up some other way, the same is a thief and a robber. John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep. Jesus is the only Way to get to God. If we try to get to God any other way than a real relationship with Jesus Christ, we will not make it to heaven. That will hinder us from joining Jesus in the ship.

What is our responsibility to have a relationship with Jesus? Matthew 10:32-33 Whosoever therefore shall confess Me before men, him will I confess also before My Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny Me before men, him will I also deny before My Father which is in heaven. We must confess Jesus Christ is Lord and admit we have sinned. He will forgive us and cleanse us. 1 John 1:9 If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.  When we do these things we will have a relationship with Jesus.

FRIENDSHIP -the emotions or conduct of friends; the state of being friends; a relationship between friends; a state of mutual trust and support between allied nations.

Jesus showed us what it is to be a friend. He said this in John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends. Jesus loved us so much that He laid down His life for all of us, His friends and His foes. Abraham was the friend of God. What did he do to get that title? James 2:23 And the Scripture was fulfilled which saith, Abraham believed God, and it was imputed unto him for righteousness: and he was called the Friend of God.

It sounds great to be called the Friend of God, doesn't it? So what are some things that hinder us from being His friend? James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adultresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. In today's culture, that is some strong statements, isn't it? To be a friend of the world is to be the enemy of God. What is friendship with the world? What does that look like? It looks like living for yourself, pleasing others, looking for fulfillment apart from God; in a career or relationship or being famous. Mark 8:36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? What good is it to be rich and famous in this life and have the entire world applaud you but in the life to come you are tormented for eternity because you never made room for God? You never put Him first. How can we prevent being friends with the world and instead be the Friend of God? 1 John 2:15-17 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.

Our responsibility to have a friendship with God is found in the book of John. John 15:14-15 Ye are My friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth: but I have called you friends; for all things that I have heard of My Father I have made known unto you. We are to do what Jesus commands. We are to love one another. We are to love our enemies. We are to love God. We must keep His commandments and they are not hard. 1 John 5:3 For this is the love of God, that we keep His commandments: and His commandments are not grievous. When we choose to obey Christ and follow Him instead of dancing to the piper of this world, we will have friendship with God.

KINSHIP -blood relationship; a sharing of characteristics or origins.

God granted our pardon through the blood of Jesus. 1 John 1:7 But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. Our relationship with God is secured by the blood of Jesus Christ.

We were without salvation before we had a relationship with Jesus Christ. Now we are family of God when we are born again. Ephesians 2:11-13 Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision in the flesh made by hands; That at the time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in the world: But now in Christ Jesus ye who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ. The blood of Jesus washed us clean and it allows us to draw near to Him. In Revelation chapter one, verse five it says that Jesus loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood. That is such a perfect picture of how He cleansed us.

What can hinder this kind of kinship with Jesus? John 3:16-21 For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world: but that the world through Him might be saved. He that believeth on Him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. And this is the condemnation, that light is come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil. For every one that doeth evil hateth the light, neither cometh to the light, lest his deeds should be reproved. But he that doeth truth cometh to the light, that his deeds may be made manifest, that they are wrought in God. To hinder kinship with Jesus is to reject Him. To hear the truth of God's Word and refuse to believe it. To want the darkness and evil deeds more than to walk in the light and revelation of Jesus Christ. This will not only keep you out of the family of God, but it will give you permanent residence in hell for all of eternity.

It is through the love of Jesus that we are free and in kinship with Him. We are in His family. 1 John 3:1-2 Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew Him not. Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when He shall appear, we shall be like Him; for we shall see Him as He is. How do we become the children of God? We must accept Jesus Christ. John 1:11-13 He came unto His own, and His own received Him not. But as many as received Him, to them gave He power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on His name: Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God. Our responsibility in being in the family of God is to accept Jesus Christ, be washed in His blood, have our sins forgiven, and live our lives to please Him. And the greatest responsibility is to tell others about Jesus so they can be in the family of God, too. Matthew 28:18-20 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto Me in heaven and in earth. Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. 

I hope that you will be in relationship with God, enjoy friendship with God, and become a family member in kinship with God. You have the choice right now. If you are a part of God's family, have you invited your family and friends to be a part of God's family, too? Remember the Great Commission Jesus gave us in Matthew 28:18-20. We must tell them all. This weekend, as you encounter friends, family, acquaintances, and strangers, be sure to invite them to join Jesus in these three ships today! God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 14 | Wednesday Bible Study

We are in the first week of April. As we begin this second quarter of the year, let's reflect on the things we have learned in the Psalms up to this point. In Psalm Chapter One, we learned to be successful we must stay connected to the Source of Living Water. In Psalm Chapter Two, we discovered Jesus Christ is the anchor we need to cling to in these evil days. In Psalm Chapter Three, we studied how David got his courage back when he was fleeing from his son Absalom. In Psalm Chapter Four, David finds the solution to insomnia. Psalm Chapter Five gives us a wonderful formula for how to pray boldly and effectively. Psalm Chapter Six is the first of seven penitential psalms dealing primarily with sin and forgiveness of sin. Psalm Chapter Seven is a shiggaion, which is a lyrical poem composed under great distress and persecution, but he still ends this song in praise. Psalm Chapter Eight, David begins and ends with proclaiming, "O LORD, our Lord, how excellent is Thy name in all the earth!" Psalm Chapter Nine, David ends this psalm with an awesome statement. Do you remember what he said? "Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah." What a sobering thought, huh? In Psalm Chapter Ten, we see the psalmist asking where is God. We often hear that same question in our world today, but the good news is we discover that God is always near to us, especially in times of grief, loss, and pain. Psalm Chapter Eleven, encourages us that when we go through the valley, it can be hard and feel lonely, but God will keep His promise to never leave or abandon us. Psalm Chapter Twelve, begins with lamenting and sorrow, and ends with hope and promise. And finally in Psalm Chapter Thirteen, we read David bearing his heart before God, upset and distraught, but then he begins to draw strength from God and ends the psalm saying that he is full of answered prayers! The see-saw motion of these psalms remind me of life today. We go to God upset and in tears over problems too big for us to handle, and then we begin to praise God and thank Him for what He has already done, and before we are done praying we have our joy back and we are strengthened. We end the prayer in praise because God has proven Himself faithful time and time again. Let's see what today's Bible study has in store.

If you have not already done so, please take a few moments to pray and ask Holy Spirit to open your spiritual eyes and ears to see and hear what the Spirit is saying to us today. Read the seven verses in today's passage. This is a psalm of David to the chief Musician. I love that! God is the chief Musician. Let's look at today's passage.

Verse 1

My study Bible says this, "The foolish individual (Heb. nabal) lacks spiritual discernment, not intelligence, denying the existence of God, and living as if God did not exist. The opposite of folly or foolishness in the OT is not intelligence but rather steadfast devotion to the Lord. Paul's use of Psalm 14 emphasizes that we are all foolish as long as we choose to separate ourselves from the wisdom of God found in the gospel of Christ (1 Cor. 1:18-25; compare Ps. 14 with Ps. 53).

In the Enduring Word Bible Commentary it says this: "The God-denying man is a fool because:

• He denies what is plainly evident.
• He believes in tremendous effect with no cause.
• He denies a moral authority in the universe.
• He believes only what can be proven by the scientific method.
• He takes a dramatic, losing chance on his supposition that there is no God.
• He refuses to be persuaded by the many powerful arguments for the existence of God."

The issue David points out is that the foolish one who says there is no God, is not only thinking that there is no God, but refuses to make room for God in his heart. The problem is not an intellectual issue only then, but a matter of the heart as well. To be an effective witness for Christ and His love for all of mankind, we must not just appeal to a person's thinking but also to the seat of their emotions, which is the heart.

The question then is raised, can one profess there is a God with their mind and yet deny Him in their heart? The answer is yes! There are many people today who attend church services, pay tithes, give generously, know when to sit and when to stand, when to clap, and when to be silent. They will do all the fundamental things a "Christian" should do in the church, but then walk out the doors of the church and deny Him by their lifestyle. The enormous task then is to reach the heart of that man or woman who only gives God a little time during one service a week, but completely closes Him out of their lives the rest of the day and the upcoming week and thinks they are doing well.

Verse 2

David paints us a picture in the second verse of this chapter. He says God looked down from heaven to see if there were any that did understand and seek God. What if God was to look down on planet earth today to see if any understood and sought God? What do you think He would find? This world is so corrupt. The evil laws passed in this country, state by state, and the wickedness in the hearts of many of our leaders is not missed by God. He sees the thoughts and intents of the heart.

Verse 3

David says there is not even one person who does good. We cannot say that every believer in Christ Jesus lives a perfect, sinless life; and every unbeliever is living wickedly. We do know that those who put their trust in Christ and choose to obey God's commands often make better choices than those who do not even acknowledge God's existence at all. There is a moral compass we abide by that those who are not followers of Christ Jesus do not necessarily agree with. Even doing good things and trying to do what is right, we are still in the category of none doing good. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

Verse 4

The Psalmist continues the question of sinners not having knowledge. It is not that there is not enough evidence to convince them that there is a God; and it is not that they lack intelligence, but rather they choose to deny God. They abuse God's people. The statement is they eat up God's people like they eat bread without giving thanks.

Verse 5

They will eventually come face to face with the undeniable reality of God. They can continue to reject Him but this verse says God is in the generation of the righteous. He is going to look out for His people who are making strides to live a life to please Him.

Verse 6

Here David reminds us that God is our refuge. We can run to Him and we are safe. Sure we may be ridiculed and mocked for our faith in God. We may be looked down upon because we put our hope and trust in Jesus Christ. Let them laugh. Let them scorn. They hated Jesus so that is why we are hated. Jesus said this, Luke 6:22-23 Blessed are ye, when men shall hate you, and when they shall separate you from their company, and shall reproach you, and cast out your name as evil, for the Son of man's sake. Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy: for, behold, your reward is great in heaven: for in the like manner did their fathers unto the prophets. They hate us because we are children of God. But God is our refuge so we do not have to be upset or worried about their reaction to us.

Verse 7

The celebration will happen when sin is abolished forever. We read about that great day in Revelation 19:11-16 And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and He that sat upon Him was called Faithful and True, and in righteousness He doth judge and make war. His eyes were as a flame of fire, and on His head were many crowns; and He had a name written, that no man knew, but He Himself. And He was clothed with a vesture dipped in blood: and His name is called the Word of God. And the armies which were in heaven followed Him upon white horses, clothed in fine linen, white and clean. And out of His mouth goeth a sharp sword, that with it He should smite the nations: and He shall rule them with a rod of iron: and He treadeth the winepress of the fierceness and wrath of Almighty God. And He hath on His vesture and on His thigh a name written, KING OF KINGS, AND LORD OF LORDS.

Friends, one day God is going to give the signal to say He has had enough. I believe it will not be long before Jesus returns in the clouds. He will not be meek and mild when He comes back. When I read that His eyes were like a flame of fire I know He is all business. He is triumphant and He wins! In the end, God will set all wrongs right and He will deliver His people. I do not know when He is coming but I know that He IS coming! Let's keep living for God. Let's continue to walk in His paths and lean not on our own understanding. Let's do all we can for Him while we are on this earth and when it seems like the world is so corrupt and undone, we can take refuge in our Savior and soon-coming King Jesus.

I hope you learned something new in today's Bible study. It was very good to study this. I read from my regular Bible, my Women's Study Bible, and two different commentaries online. I hope that something I shared on my blog today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Extra! Extra! Read All About It! | Thankful Thursday

These are some of the TOP HEADLINES today on ESPN: 

• Sources: NYC mandate to be rolled back Thu.
• Masvidal booked on battery, mischief charges
• Sources: U.S. snowboard accused of interference

From USA TODAY some news stories include:

• US to accept 100,000 Ukraine refugees; Zelenskyy calls for worldwide peace rally at NATO summit: Live Ukraine updates
• Russian elites, Duma: Updates
• 'Awful senseless mess': Russian journalist killed while filming in Kyiv
• Madeleine Albright, former Secretary of State, dies at 84
• Citing neglect, Florida increasingly removes kids from poor families
• Hospitals needed help in COVID crisis. Trump and Biden fell short.
• Latino college students dropped out at highest rates during pandemic
• North Korea test-fired suspected intercontinental ballistic missile, Japan says
• 6 students killed in crash were in car that seats 4, officials say
• See damage after tornadoes hit New Orleans area

The News. This is where we are expected to get our information from. Those who absorb the news think they are well-informed. I get my news from another source: the Bible. It is God's Holy Word. It is anointed and powerful on it's own. I do not need to add to it or take anything away. I am not telling you to never watch the news, but I am also not telling you to watch the news and soak in every word that is spoken. Unfortunately, much of the news we see is propaganda and many times it is false information. Hebrews 4:12 says this about the Bible, For the Word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any twoedged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. That is quite impressive! One book, the Holy Bible, written Word of God is alive and active. It is divisive, slicing between things others cannot separate. It distinguishes between what we think and the motives of our hearts.

Today on this Thankful Thursday, I am excited about the future. I am looking forward to the time that will come to pass that we can read about in Micah chapter four. Let's read this GOOD NEWS together.

MICAH 4:1-5 (1)But in the last days it shall come to pass, that the mountain of the house of the LORD shall be established in the top of the mountains, and it shall be exalted above the hills; and people shall flow unto it. (2)And many nations shall come, and say, Come, and let us go up to the house of the God of Jacob; and He will teach us of His ways, and we will walk in His paths: for the law shall go forth of Zion, and the Word of the LORD from Jerusalem. (3)And He shall judge among many people, and rebuke strong nations afar off; and they shall beat their swords into plowshares, and their spears into pruninghooks: nation shall not lift up a sword against nation, neither shall they learn of war any more. (4)But they shall sit every man under his vine and under his fig tree; and none shall make them afraid: for the mouth of the LORD of hosts hath spoken it. (5)For all people will walk every one in the name of his god, and we will walk in the name of our God for ever and ever.

I don't know about you, but I am looking forward to times of peace and not of war; times of joy and not sorrow; times of healing and not pain. I do not want to bury another loved one. I do not want to part with another friend. I am ready for God to rule and reign forever and ever. He is the Holy One and the Righteous Judge who sits on the throne forever more.

Think of what a wonderful transition that will be: from a life of hardships, sorrow, loss, suffering, and lack to one day living at peace and in harmony. It reminds me of the promise we have in Revelation. That particular passage brings me such comfort and strengthens my faith and hope that one day it will be like the Word of God says.

REVELATION 21:1-7 (1)And I saw a new heaven and a new earth: for the first heaven and the first earth were passed away; and there was no more sea. (2)And I John saw the Holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. (3)And I heard a great voice out of heaven saying, Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people, and God Himself shall be with them, and be their God. (4)And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes: and there shall be no more death, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away. (5)And He that sat upon the throne said, Behold, I make all things new, And He said unto me, Write: for these words are true and faithful. (6)And He said unto me, It is done. I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. I will give unto him that is athirst of the fountain of the water of life freely. (7)He that overcometh shall inherit all things; and I will be his God, and he shall be My son.

These are the news headlines over my day today. I am choosing to meditate on the Word of God and what He has promised for His children. It is okay to know what is going on in our world, but look at everything through the lens of scripture and do not be deceived. Soon this old world will pass away. We will be facing eternity sometime and there are only two options: You prepared for it and are ready; or you put it off and chose not to believe, and you are not going to inherit the promise of Revelation 21:7. The choice really is ours. What will you do?

I hope you will count your blessings along with me on this Thankful Thursday and enjoy the GOOD NEWS headlines I have discovered among the pages of God's Word. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Psalm 11 | Wednesday Bible Study

Welcome back to the blog. I am so glad you are joining me today. We are turning in our Bibles to Psalm chapter 11. This is a Psalm written by David. There are only seven verses in today's passage. If you have not already done so, please take the time to read through the passage and we will jump right in.

Verse 1

David makes a declaration at the opening of this chapter. He proclaims in the LORD God David trusts. Who have we trusted? The expected answer is God, but we must carefully examine our hearts. Do we trust God? Some trust the news, some trust social media, some trust religious leaders. We can trust in our spouse, our friends, our parents, our families, but we should be trusting God. We are told to not lean on our own understanding, but rather we are to trust God. Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. We read later on in Psalms where the psalmist had been taken by the Philistines at Gath and this is what he said: Psalm 56:11 In God have I put my trust: I will not be afraid what man can do unto me. It's time for us to read our Bibles more than we watch the news; to sit and talk with God in prayer more than we talk to friends and loved ones about our problems. It is time to fill ourselves up with God's Word and God's truth instead of blindly believing everything we hear and not bothering to check the Word for ourselves.

David says in verse 1, "How say ye to my soul, Flee as a bird to your mountain?" Isn't that like the world's message today? If something is uncomfortable, run! Indulge your flesh, follow your heart, and trust that everything will work out in the end. No! We must run to the Rock of Ages, the stone that the builders rejected. We do not run to the mountain; we run to the Mountain Mover!

Verse 2

This verse is saying that the wicked are preparing their bows and arrows to hurt us. They secretly do this, or the Bible says it literally means in darkness. They are not in the light. They are the ones in this world who live for themselves, seek to please themselves, and desire others to tell them how wonderful they are. The Bible says in Ephesians 6:16 "Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked." The shield of FAITH. That is your trust in God. That's how we put the fire out of the darts and arrows slung at us from the enemy. You may say what is faith? Hebrews 11:1 Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen. Faith is made up of what you are expecting God to do for you. It is not an idea that it might happen. It is a surety, a strong confidence that God is going to come through. It is proof of what you cannot see. You may not see it now, but you are trusting God to come through in His time and in His way and you are not backing down from that. You are trusting God.

Verse 3

David poses a question here. He says, "If the foundations be destroyed, what can the righteous do?" In Psalm 82:5 it reads, "They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course." In other words, the world does not know God, they cannot understand His ways, they walk in darkness, or ignorance. The very foundations are crumbling. We must build on a sure foundation. Do you remember the foolish man and the wise man building houses? Matthew 7:24-25 (24)Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of Mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: (25)And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock. The rock is Jesus! When we hear His words, read His Words, obey His words, we will no longer be in the darkness. We can suit up in our armor and hold high the shield of faith and quench every fiery dart of the wicked who are in the darkness shooting at us.

Verse 4

David says God is in His holy temple, and God's throne is in heaven. He is watching all of us and he examines the hearts of men and women, boys and girls. He sees it all. Nothing gets by the watchful eyes of God. He is seeing everything that is going on all at once and no one is getting by with anything! Revelation 5:6 in the Amplified Bible says this, "And there between the throne (with the four living creatures) and among the elders I saw a Lamb (Christ) standing, [bearing scars and wounds] as though it had been slain, with seven horns (complete power) and with seven eyes (complete knowledge), which are the seven Spirits of God Who have been sent [on duty] into all the earth." So we know that God's watchful eyes are everywhere. The enemy thinks it is hidden and that it is doing something in secret, but God knows what the devil will do before he even does it.

Verse 5

There are two categories of people: the righteous (those who love God and follow in His statutes) and the wicked (who love violence and revenge and pleasing their flesh). God tests the righteous. We face circumstances we do not like but it is to show whether we trust in God or not. Remember how God had tested the children of Israel in the wilderness? There was purpose in the journey. Deuteronomy 8:1-2 (1)All the commandments which I command thee this day shall ye observe to do, that ye may live, and multiply, and go in and possess the land which the LORD sware unto your fathers. (2)And thou shalt remember all the way which the LORD thy God led thee these forty years in the wilderness, to prove thee, to know what was in thine heart, whether thou wouldest keep His commandments, or no. If you continue to read this passage, it is a beautiful recounting of God's faithfulness to this rebellious group of people. God made them a promise and He planned on keeping it. God has made us a promise too, and when we do what He instructs us to do in His Word, we will receive all the promises of God.

The second part of this verse is that the God hates the wicked. He hates the violent and those who enjoy hurting other people. This goes against the nature of God. God is love. He loved us first. He loved us in our sin but He hated what we did. The same is true here. God hates the wicked ones. The book of Ephesians reminds us we wrestle not against flesh and blood but against these evil forces and that is who God despises. They will receive their reward: hell. God loves all of the people He created, but some choose to live for the devil and allow him to influence their lives. It was never God's will for anyone to die lost and undone, according to John 3:16.

Verse 6

This verse tells of what will happen to the wicked. They will not always slide by like they think they are doing. No, one day the judgment of God will fall on the earth and the wicked will receive the judgment coming to them. Matthew 25:41 Then shall He say also unto them on the left hand, Depart from Me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the devil and his angels:

Revelation 12:9 And the great dragon was cast out, that old serpent, called the Devil, and Satan, which deceiveth the whole world: he was cast out into the earth, and his angels were cast out with him.

The devil was kicked out of heaven when he tried to be like God. He wanted to overthrow God's Kingdom and power. That is impossible and he lost! We know he goes around the entire world trying to block God's message of love, freedom, and forgiveness. The devil wants everyone to be separated from God because he knows he has lost his chance. He will suffer greatly one day and all his minions with him. We do not want to find ourselves on the left hand hearing Jesus tell us to depart from Him and cursing us to the pit and everlasting fire. Friends, we want everlasting life with Jesus our Savior. But we know the wicked will have their judgment in that awful place. 

Verse 7

What a sweet picture of God in this verse. It is a wonderful way to end this chapter. "For the righteous LORD loveth righteousness; His countenance doth behold the upright." God is righteous and He loves righteousness. Merriam-Webster's dictionary defines righteousness as, "acting in accord with divine or moral law: free from guilt or sin." We know Jesus was without sin according to, 1 Peter 2:21-25 (21)For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow His steps: (22)Who did no sin, neither was guile (deceit) found in His mouth: (23)Who, when He was reviled, reviled not again: when He suffered, He threatened not; but committed Himself to Him that judgeth righteously: (24)Who His own self bare our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by Whose stripes ye were healed. (25)For ye were as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop (overseer) of your souls.

If you are going through a valley right now, it can be so hard and feel so lonely, but remember God promised to never leave us or forsake us and He will keep His promise. He is walking beside us. We are never alone. Ask God to reveal Himself to you and He will do it. James 4:8 Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded. Draw close to God and He will draw close to you. Let's ask Him to cleanse us and purify us and then let's make up our mind to trust God, regardless of what the circumstances look like. Circumstances can change, God does not. Put your hand in His and never let go!

I hope you have enjoyed today's Bible study. He has truly encouraged my heart and helped me with some things I have been facing lately. God is so wonderful and I love serving my King. He has blessed me so much and lifted the heaviness from me. I hope something I shared today has been strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens

Fuel Up For Free | Fuel For The Weekend

Happy Friday, friends. We have made it to the one day of the week most of us long for. I am working today and will be busy but I wanted to hop on here and share a little Fuel For The Weekend. Do you

have plans this weekend? Our family has a very important meeting scheduled tomorrow and it's exciting and scary all at the same time. We are looking forward to church on Sunday, too. Whatever you are doing and however you spend your weekend, I pray that it is a blessed time and productive in advancing God's Kingdom on the earth!

Have you ever been in a situation where you know you did something you shouldn't have, or said something that you should have just been silent about? Was someone upset with you? It does not feel good to have someone angry with me and especially when I have done something I knew I should not have done. The relationship changes a little and distance creeps in. The same is true when we sin and God is upset about the intentional sin we have committed and we start to feel distance in our relationship. It feels like God is not as close. Why? There is now something between us and God...it is the sin that we have in our lives.

Now going back to the original question where a friend or family member or coworker is upset with us for what we have said or done in error; doesn't it just feel so good to apologize to that person and get back in right standing with them? When I am willing to humble myself, acknowledge I messed up, and vow to do my best to not repeat that same mistake, the other person often softens, too. The wall comes down and we are able to fellowship again. How much more wonderful is it when our Heavenly Father hears our repentant prayer, accepts our apology, cleanses us from all unrighteousness, and we are now free to commune with God intimately that we were unable to before? I am so thankful that He is so loving, kind, and forgiving.

I want to give you some fuel for the weekend. There is a really short chapter in the book of Isaiah and it really speaks to me about the benefits that follow reconciling with God. I do not know if you have ever read this before but it is so beautiful and I want to share it here today.

ISAIAH 12:1-6 (1)And in that day thou shalt say, O LORD, I will praise Thee: though Thou wast angry with me, Thine anger is turned away, and Thou comfortedst me. (2)Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid: for the LORD JEHOVAH is my strength and my song; He also is become my salvation. (3)Therefore with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation. (4)And in that day ye shall say, Praise the LORD, call upon His name, declare His doings among the people, make mention that His name is exalted. (5)Sing unto the LORD; for He hath done excellent things: this is known in all the earth. (6)Cry out and shout, Thou inhabitant of Zion: for great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of thee.

I absolutely love this passage. "I will praise You God, and though You were angry with me before, now Your anger has turned away from me and You comfort me!" This is such a beautiful illustration of the way our Heavenly Father lovingly holds us and comforts us after a time of separation. He longs to be in fellowship with us, too. He misses the closeness we once shared when I strayed from Him. The same is true with how He feels about you.

I will trust You God and not be afraid. No matter what my situation looks like, no matter how bleak things may appear, I am trusting You God and I will not let fear have a place in my heart. JEHOVAH is my salvation, my strength, and my song. Psalm 56:3 What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

With joy we shall draw water out of the wells of salvation. We will gladly go to the Living Water and enjoy times of refreshing. Amen? What an exciting idea that we can freely receive a cup of fresh life anytime we desire! This life can leave us dry, depleted, and disappointed but we have the opportunity to come anytime and draw water from the wells of salvation. When we come with joy we can receive the thirst-quenching, life-renewing water that will never run dry. We have an unlimited resource in our Heavenly Father! Revelation 22:17 And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely.

Let's praise Him today. Let's tell others what He is doing in our lives. Let's be encouragers to those around us and make mention that His name is to be exalted. We must decrease so that He can increase. John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease. All the praise, honor, and glory are due Him. He is worthy of it all! He is great and greatly to be praised. Psalm 145:3 Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and His greatness is unsearchable. I magnify His great name and honor my King Jesus. He is daily working on our behalf, working all things together for our good and blessing us in ways we cannot even imagine. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to His purpose. Ephesians 3:20-21 Now unto Him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us, Unto Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus throughout all ages, world without end. Amen.

Whether you can sing well or not, it does not matter. Lift your voice and start thanking God for all the wonderful things in your life. Thank You Jesus for waking me up this morning, clothing me in my right mind. Thank You Jesus for refreshing me at the wells of Your salvation. Thank You for the breath in my lungs and that I can use my arms and legs without assistance. I thank You that my body is no longer racked with pain. I thank You Jesus for giving me joy down in my soul bubbling over and the peace that does not even make sense with the things I am facing and going through. You have done excellent things my King and it is known in all the earth! I adore You Jesus! Psalm 100:1-2 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all ye lands. Serve the LORD with gladness: come before His presence with singing. 1 Thessalonians 5:18 In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.

We are to be loud about it! That may be out of some people's comfort zones but it is okay to be excited about our relationship with Jesus. The scriptures say, "Cry out and shout!" Why? For great is the Holy One of Israel in the midst of where? In the midst of thee! He is in our midst. He is in our presence. He is going through the fire with us. He is in the lion's den with us. He is in the court room, the board room, the class room, the bedroom, the vehicle....wherever we are, He is there! He is Holy. He is Righteous. He is to be glorified and praised. Matthew 18:20 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, there am I in the midst of them.

No matter what plans you have this weekend, and no matter if they happen or not, let's not get caught up in the trivial matters of this life. Let's choose to magnify the good and not the bad. Let's choose to honor our King Jesus with our time and efforts and actions this weekend. Colossians 3:17 And whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father by Him. Let's use these six verses to navigate the upcoming weekend. Fill your tank up for free! Gas prices here in southern Indiana where I live are $4.25 and it seems that they increase toward the weekends. This fuel is FREE! It has been paid for by the precious blood of Jesus and it was PAID IN FULL. So, come to the wells of salvation and take your fill. Get satisfied. Let it quench your thirst. John 4:13-14 Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again: But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

I pray something you have read today has given you strength for your journey and light for your way. God bless you!

~Bridgett Owens