Friday, September 20, 2013

YOU LIGHT UP MY LIFE

Suggested Reading: Psalms 26-27

Click scripture link to read online or HERE to listen online (then click the symbol of the audio speaker above the scripture portion).

 

Light breaks through the turbulent clouds on the dome of the Santi Luca e Martina church in Rome.

GOOGLE MAPS – To see where the photo was taken, click HERE.

 

Key Verse: Psalm 27:1

The Lord is my light and my salvation;

Whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the strength of my life;

Of whom shall I be afraid?

 

Like diamonds when the light strikes the many facets, so is the content of these two Psalms given to us by God and His shepherd king David. Let us join David in his prayers. He prays, “Vindicate me – Examine me – Try my mind and my heart – Redeem me and be merciful to me – Hear, O Lord, when I cry with my voice – Have mercy upon me and answer me – Teach me Your way, O Lord.” He encourages us to – Walk in integrity – Walk in truth – Tell of all God’s wondrous works – Dwell in the house of the Lord – Behold the beauty of the Lord – Inquire in His temple – Wait on the Lord – Be of good courage!!! As a result of prayer and of taking courage from God, David can state, “I shall not slip – My foot stands in an even place – The Lord is the strength of my life – My heart shall not fear – I will be confident – I will sing praises to the Lord – The Lord will take care of me!”

Now, why not confess out loud the words of our key verse! Are we ready to face another 24 hours of life? Yes! Yes! Yes!

PRAYER FOR TODAY:

O Lord, today I’m joining king David in his prayers. I’m making those prayers an integral part of my petitions to You! I wait on You Lord! You are strengthening my heart! Amen!!!

100 PERSONAL WORDS:

I’m thinking just now of the absolutely essential elements of loving and serving God which David highlights for us. In the 1970s, the song, “You Light Up My Life,” sung by Debbie Boone, was at the top of the pop charts for weeks. As I chose the key verse, “The Lord is my Light,” I was thinking of Debbie as she sat in the Green Room preparing to go out on the set of 100 Huntley Street. I may have told this story in a previous blog, but she was in Toronto performing the role of Maria Von Trapp in the “Sound of Music” production in a local theatre. My contact with Debbie was through her dad, Pat Boone, who had been our guest several times. As we prayed together, Debbie began to cry. I heard her say, “O Lord Jesus, it’s been so long, so very long.” She had obviously been so preoccupied with her role in such a famous production that she had neglected having a daily experience of the Presence of God. One of my reasons for this daily blog is so that I will never have to say, “It’s been so very long.” My son Ron just told me that I wrote about Debbie Boone in a previous blog, and we linked to a 100 Huntley Street interview with her. In case you missed it, here it is again.

One more thing – out of the thousands of guests I’ve had the privilege of interviewing, there were several who quoted Psalm 27:10 as their personal experience, “When my father and mother forsake me, then the Lord will take care of me.” I cannot imagine what life would be like if I didn’t know that God is taking care of me!!!

Yours for getting to know God better each day,

David

31 thoughts on “Friday, September 20, 2013

  1. This is a wonderful key verse! This verse is worthy of memorization. When we learn more of the nature of God and His love for us, our relationship to Him flourishes and grows. We gain a certain confidence and trust that He really does care for each of us personally.

    Romans 1:17 (NLT)
    This Good News tells us how God makes us right in his sight. This is accomplished from start to finish by faith. As the scriptures say, “it is through faith that the righteous person has life.”

  2. Blogging friends,

    I love the key verse and also the visual picture I get from Psalms 27:5:

    “For in the day of trouble
    he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
    he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
    and set me high upon a rock.”

    Many times in my life when I attached by fear and anxious feelings, I meditate on Jesus and even just picture him from one of the many pictures I have seen throughout my life. It is funny how concentrating on His image defeats the powers of this world for me.
    The above verses, along with new testament promises and assurances like what is in Matt. 6:25-28 or key phrases from scripture like, “I will never leave you, nor forsake you,” come to my mind and before I know it, I am not feeling the fear.

    I love Chris Tomlin’s song, “Whom Shall I Fear.” I think King David would have liked it as well: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qOkImV2cJDg

    Have a great weekend….

      • My husband Reg and I wanted to congratulate you and Norma Jean on your 55th w.a. on Sept. 19th. God bless you both and we pray for all of you and I send your 100 words daily to friends and relatives all over the world. We are celebrating ours on Oct. 19th – married in Bombay, India. We used to come to 100 Huntley St. in Toronto when you and Fr. Bob were here and the others.

  3. I add my thanks as have others to you for this blog. It actually is of that Guide to keep us on the Path. Also, Jesus’ glory is in you and is seen in your physical weakness as it was with Paul. It is also in those who love you. You glorify God in weakness and you glorify God in health. To heal you would not be a sign to the believer but a blessing. For you and us, be healed.

  4. Fear is a natural part of our lives even knowing Jesus we do still have fear , I know my latest fear was when my youngest daughter had to go for sergury for cervical cancer at a young age of 29 , then you think of her children and fear creeps in but praise God the operation was a success on the 17 of this week there were 2 spots totaly removed and upon Jesus our Lord we trusted for healing God uses
    Miracles
    Doctors
    Prayer
    And obedience to the word of God in layong hands on the sick
    So with Goc we have nothing to fear in JESUS NAME AMEN AMEN !!!!!!!??!!:)

  5. David my prayer is the same as yours today the scripture today is of courage and
    strength, and it helps me as well others when they need it. Scott that verse among
    others are good to memorize I have some taped up around my apartment and it works.
    God bless you
    Lianne Hogg

  6. Because of conflict at home, I lived with my grandparents at sixteen. One condition was that I went to church with my grandmother weekly. I am thankful for the fact our Lord takes care of us. So many youth benefit from being reminded of this at times when they may feel they are stranded. The last verse of Psalm 27:14 also struck out for me:
    Wait on the Lord;
    Be of good courage,
    And He shall strengthen your heart;
    Wait, I say, on the Lord!
    There are many times in our lives where we have no control and simply must wait on the Lord and be thankful for His promise to never leave or forsake us. Have a great day, to all!

  7. There are situations that are very hard to understand such as facing death and in knowing you will be leaving a vulnerable, frail, person behind. VERY DIFFICULT. But God’s promises are still TRUE. He will provide. This world is not our home – we are just passing through (as has been said). Claiming His promises and standing in the gap.

  8. Good morning David and fellow bloggers. Yesterday was as usual a very full day for me. I was in constant prayer yesterday, but, unable to read the blog until very late . So …..Happy belated Anniversary David and Norma-Jean xxoo 🙂

    Thank you Lord for this blog and every one involved in preparing it and those who share their feelings with us .
    I have an unspoken prayer request this morning. Please pray for me and my family. God knows the details .
    The Psalms are so comforting ……Thank you Jesus !

    Love and prayers to every one, have a wonderful week end.
    M.

  9. The last verse of Psalm 27 also stood out to me, as it did for David.
    Wait on the Lord;
    Be of good courage,
    And He shall strengthen your heart;
    Wait, I say, on the Lord!

    This verse brings to mind one of my favourite scriptures, Proverbs 3:5-6:
    Trust in the Lord with all thy heart,
    And lean not unto thine own understanding.
    In all thy ways, acknowledge Him,
    And know that He shall direct thy path.

    Life is full of testing times and struggles. But the power of our Lord’s undying love for us, and the comfort and strength that provides for us, never wavers.

    Wishing all saints a blessed day.

  10. Wonderful Psalm that speaks volumes to our hearts and worthy of praying out loud.

    I love the feeling I get from knowing that when fear comes I can give it over to My Saviour and know He will gather me under His care.

    Like others the last verse stands out…..WAIT ON THE LORD!!

  11. Thank you again Pastor David for this blog. This morning’s Psalms were just what I needed for today. Tears were streaming down my face as I was reading. I know the truth of God’s Word but sometimes “life” gets in the way and I need to pause and remember that God is the Light of this World and also “Wait on the Lord, Be of good courage and He will strengthen your heart”. Yes, my heart has been strengthened this morning. Praise God!!!!

    • God bless you, sister Ger. May your day be filled with sunshine, laughter and strength, and be free from pain and worry. I hope you have some delicious applesauce, today. 🙂

  12. I have a question: We have a spirit, soul and body. My soul holds my feeling, is my heart in my spirit.

    Grace be with you
    Shalom
    Dona

  13. Psalm 27 is one of my favorites…27:1 was the verse God gave me many years ago when my teenage son was in danger…”The Lord is the light of my salvation whom shall I fear. The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?” and He gave me peace in knowing my son was in His hands!!!

    He brought my son home safely…and I give Him all the Glory!!!

    Irene

  14. Sometimes in our modern world we forget how dark, dark was in David’s day. Not being able to see a wild beast approaching, or robbers in the road, or a pit right in front of you. Light was vital for protection, a little light from a campfire or a torch could literally be the difference between life and death.
    As believers we all know we are not immune from the darkness of this world, the darkness of sin, the darkness of our own thoughts, and just as the light from a fire was security to the ancient world, our Lord is truly our light in the dark nights of the soul and in the dark world we live in.
    David understood the depth of his metaphor when he said “the Lord is my light and my salvation”. May it never become a cliche off our lips. May we never forget or fail to grasp what David was saying from the depths of his being.
    Praying for all in darkness today, that they too may find the protection of the Light.
    Amen

  15. Thank you for the links, may God bless the parents who face such challenges that only by the Grace and Mercy of the Father can they be true conquerors.

  16. I re-read both psalms this morning and prayed them …there is a melody that goes with the first and second verse of Psalm 34 “I will bless the Lord at all times, His praise shall continually be in my mouth… O magnify the Lord with me and let us exalt His Name together; I sought the Lord and he found me and delivered me from all my fears”

    Please pray for my sister Ollie whose husband is in advanced stages of Alzeimers and it is time to place him in an extended care facility. She has been his care given up until this point for the past fifteen years. This has taken a great toll on her physically and emotionally. Please pray for their children as well.
    Irene

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