BLESS THE LORD!
Today’s Reading: Psalms 103
Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).
Heading south in the Kidron Valley you come to the Pillar of Absalom or Absolom’s Monument. 2 Samuel 18:18 tells us that, “Absalom in his life time set up a pillar for himself…..he called the pillar after his own name, and to this day it is called Absalom’s monument.” The Kidron Valley, also known as the King’s Valley, is located between the eastern walls of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.
GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.
Key Verses: Psalm 103:15-16
As for man, his days are like grass;
As a flower of the field, so he flourishes.
For the wind passes over it, and it is gone,
And its place remembers it no more.
We remember Prince Absalom, son of King David, who committed treason in trying to overthrow his father’s reign in Israel. Absolom’s untimely and violent death may have been in David’s mind when he penned the words of today’s reading. David grieved so very deeply over the death of his son (read 2 Samuel 18:9-33). Paul preached in the Antioch synagogue telling all that God said, “I have found David, the son of Jessie, a man after My own heart, who will do all My will.” The Apostle went on to say, “From this man’s seed, according to the promise, God raised up for Israel a Saviour – Jesus!” (Acts 13:22-23).
David had reason to grieve, but he ordered his soul to “BLESS THE LORD!” Six times in today’s reading these words appear. What does it mean to “BLESS”? It means that we are to make someone joyful! Let us ask ourselves this question: Does the smile of God’s approval rest upon our lives? My father often prayed at our family altar, “May the smile of Your approval be on our lives this day and always.” If we don’t have the assurance that God is blessed by our lives, we need to repent, ask forgiveness, and then look up again. Look for His joy to be revealed. Our souls will know when God is blessed!
PRAYER FOR TODAY:
Lord God, may the smile of Your approval be upon our lives this day and always. I pray that my soul will BLESS YOU, LORD GOD! Amen!!!
100 PERSONAL WORDS:
Bob Code, a man whom my mother led to Christ, along with his wife and daughter, would often say, “Bless the Lord!” I was about 13 years old then and I questioned how Mr. Code could bless God. I thought, “God is the One who does the blessing.” And God does bless us in awesome ways, but I’ve learned that blessing is a two-way street. God blesses us and we bless Him! Amen!
I’ve often read our key verses while standing at a graveside. I’ve just read again the verses just before, “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us. As a father pities his children, so the Lord pities those who fear [respect, awe, worship] Him. For He knows our frame; that we are dust” (Psalm 103:12-14).
Yours for being blessed and for blessing God and all with whom we come into contact!
David
The view from behind Absalom’s Monument. His pillar is sculpted out of the bedrock in the valley below the city walls. Tourists don’t usually see the sculpture from this angle. Our photographer, my son, David Reynold, was determined to get the best pictures for these blogs. Thank you, my son!
I will Bless the Lord o my soul forget not His benefits bless His Holy name The Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth my saviour and Lord and King of Kings waiting for your return Lord Jesus I’m nothing use me to bless You that You receive the Glory for my life was bought by Your precious blood shed for all my sin Praise Your Holy name
Today’s Blog
Reminders
a-Blessings
b- Benefits
c -Promise
Cross Reference
Ps 31.15 to Ps 103 12-14.
Praise The Lord.
Thank the Lord for his Blessings over me- song -you tube
I like that : BBP……
A good reminder – for us to bless the Lord. I praise & thank Him often but I will be more mindful to “bless” Him.
Amen Doreen!!
Amen, Doreen. “Bless the Lord, O my soul, Bless His Holy Name! “Like your grandfather’s prayer Ron.
Yes, “Bless the Lord Oh my soul, and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name!
For He has done Great things!! ….and “Forget not all His benefits”!!
Always find your Dad’s comments and wisdom so refreshing and enlightening. What a thought “may the smile of YOUR (God’s) approval be upon our lives this day and always”. Thank you Lord; and thank you David for leading us in that prayer!!
Thank you Reynold for those wonderful, creative photos!
Thank you Ron and Ann!
I need to mention that one of my accounts was locked up, and that is why I did not receive this blog, as it was in that account. That is now corrected and I have received each day’s daily blog, as well as today’s. Thank you again, for your faithfulness in posting it!
It is a good reminder Doreen to be grateful to God , and bless him daily
Lianne Hogg
Blessings to all on this site: TY for all your prayers! I was in a very bad state over the last 2-3 weeks, we had two 6 hour power outages and there was no Emergency Place set up for those people dealing with all sorts of health issues.
for me it was very difficult situation! I have a mental illness, sleep disorder, & SAD (seasonal affected disorder)….I am thankful in many ways because God has given me such miracles as removing smoking/alcohol in a snap of a finger; He gave me swimming from a broken leg; and He has done so many more wonderful things in my life that I just shake from His goodness, mercy and grace! He did all these things for me!
In the meantime life goes on and with shorter and colder days coming, I am battling suicide daily…..however…….I know that the time change is coming in November, I pray we do not change in the spring…..
I try and do the best I can, I joined a ukulele group, PTL; go swimming; I am learning to live one day at a time…..AGAIN A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PRAYED, I melted and cried and cried some more! THANK YOU……..
tonight is ukulele night! it is fun and very uplifting; the instrument is very easy to learn and very good music for the soul….again, I Thank God for leading to this group….
my only other big concern is my finances, I ask for prayers for the Lord to grant me a financial breakthrough!
Lord I thank You for hearing our prayers; I thank You Lord for never leaving us nor forsaking us! You are always around us, I pray that You Lord will bless each and every prayer blogger, grant them good health, grant them safety where ever they go; Thank You for forgiving us all our sins daily. In Jesus Name AMEN
Lord I bring Sah’s financial need before you. You word says us all our need “according to Your riches in Glory.” I pray for your financial provision for Sah according to her need. In Jesus Name I pray.
Thank you Lord that You are with her always…she is not alone. And thank You Lord for providing a ukulele for her, and for the fellowship in as she is with the group.
Agreeing in prayer with you Irene for Sah! Thank you Lord Jesus! AMEN !
Amen Irene! Agreeing with you in prayer for Sah.
Sah….I pray that the Lord will continue to carry you and provide for your needs, one day at a time, as He has been doing.
Glad that you have your swimming and ukelele to look forward to.
I bless you in the Name of Our Lord!
Amen! Luisa and Irene. Praying for Sah too.
We live by FAITH and not by SIGHT, Amen!
Bless the Lord oh my soul and all that is within me, Bless His Holy Name always, Amen!
HIS MERCIES ARE EVERLASTING!
TY TY TY TY AND THANK YOU TO EVERYONE FOR YOUR PRAYERS!
There was time when I would not have shared very much because I would be shamed or bullied….HOWEVER God seems to nudge me to speak about my issues BECAUSE there are many others who feel the same but cannot speak about them for the very same reason as I had in the beginning!
Years back I really felt the devil taunting me, daring me to say something, I felt threatened, I had to be careful so that my family did not feel the wrath of people….
AM GLAD TO SAY THAT THE LORD HAS GIVEN ME THE COURAGE TO SPEAK UP AND TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES…..
I live in a valley and it is completely socked in with cloud, no sun, and I now realize that as the days get shorter my illness will escalate and reach a climax on or around the end of December when the earth begins to turn back to the sun…..another situation we had no power for 2 nights for repairs to the electricial station, since I have a sleep disorder this really compounded the problem for……
again God provided things for me to do, swimming, music and Bible study in the late afternoon or evenings…..so, I come to the Lord and say Thank You Lord for all the blessings of this day…….I keep believing that He will send me a financial breakthrough soon….TY Lord
2 Corinthians 1:20 For all the promises of God find their Yes in Him. That is why it is through Him that we utter our AMEN to God for His glory!
Thank you again for all your prayer support!…..
SAH, thank you for sharing so honestly. You are precious in His sight. When the skies get dark, He will be your light! The Lord provides for ALL our needs.
Lord we entrust SAH’s needs to your loving care. Thank You for taking care of everything!
Continued blessings to you SAH!