Showing posts with label psalm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label psalm. Show all posts

Be Still....
"Be still and know that I am God."  Psalm 46:10

Psalm 46-10 Art Poster print 12x12 - typography - textured art
Bonnie Bruno Photography
I think I've posted this scripture before, but God has placed it on my heart more than once this week.  And, usually when that happens, there is a reason. :)

It's so hard in this busy world we live in to be still.  So much is going on around us, our schedules are packed, our minds are full of all we have to do, our bodies are often tired from trying to do it all. 

It's so easy to take the free time we do have and focus more on sleep or falling into a chair in front of the TV or any of the others ways we find to unwind.

How about it we took that time and sat quietly and listened for God?  How about if we just sat and focused our hearts and our minds on God?  How about if we focused on the fact that God really does have it all in control and that, if we let Him, there is no need for us to rush and stress over all that we are trying to get done?

Do you find it as hard as I do to take time and just be still?  I'll be praying this week that we learn and that we will be still and open to all that God has in store for us.

Have a blessed Sunday in Him,
Melanie/Beads-N-Style
9:22 AM | Category: , , , | 10 comments

Sunday Scripture - Psalm 23
"The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not be in want....


He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters...

Breathe panorama photograh of fields, water, sky
New Creationz


.... he restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

ACEO signed print of fine art photograph Yosemite Path
Treasure From My Heart


Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Inspirational Prayer Hand Painted Greeting Card with Soft Peach Roses and Quotation - May Today There Be Peace - St. Theresa's Prayer
Hand Painted Petals


You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
 
 
Wee Designs

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

The Wood House Birdhouse
Birdhouse Blessings


Happy Sunday!

Melanie/Beads-N-Style
12:01 AM | Category: , | 7 comments

Oh, How I Wish I Had a Memory!
by Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks



We are so privileged in the USA to be able to carry our Bibles with us and to freely study them. In my house we may have 12 to 15 Bibles in various places. Periodically we get a new favorite. Right now my husband and I are reading through a Chronological Bible in the New International Translation format. It has a very interesting lay out but is not my favorite Bible. I am sure some of you are like me and have one special one… it is underlined, written in, marked up and has a few torn pages with a raggedy cover from being used and tossed around so much. My current favorite has big print which makes it easy to read. My friends all called me old when I got it and laughed at me. Since then several have picked up one too. (Then I laugh at them.)

I have lost count but think that I have probably read the Bible cover to cover 7 to 8 times. Some chapters (such as Ephesians) I have read dozens of times. I only share this because I really take to heart the following verse which tells me to write God’s word on my heart.

"Blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked or stand in the way of sinners or sit in the seat of mockers, but his delight is in the law of the Lord and on his law he meditates day and night."
Psalm 1:1-3

My big frustration is how am I to write it on my heart if I can’t memorize it? You’d think by now I would have huge chunks of the Bible memorized… do I? No! I try and try. I have memorized:
"the thief comes to steal kill and destroy but I have come to bring you life and bring it abundantly."
John 10:10
I never tried to memorize that, I just had a pastor 15 plus years ago who used that verse so much it never left me so it has stuck. Or so I thought... even that I don't have exactly right. The end of the verse should be:
"I have come that they may have life, and they might have it more abundantly."

Psalm 19 is one of my favorite Psalms (of course how can you even choose one over the other … each is such a work of art?) that I did try to memorize. I have literally memorized it beginning to end at the very least 3 times. I even had it successfully memorized each time for a full month. Could I recite it to you now? No… well, maybe the first 2 verses.

Oh how I wish I had a decent memory!

I worry sometimes that there will be a day when we no longer are able to have the freedom to carry our Bibles or maybe not be free to read them. There are countries even today where people are persecuted if they are caught with one. If that day comes I want to have it in my heart where no one can take it away from me.

Though this memory of mine struggles greatly, one thing that has been a comfort to me is that I have found is that when I need a verse God seems to just pop it into my mind…whew!
But in your hearts set apart Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect
1 Peter 3:15
That is another reason I read daily so that I may be so saturated in the God's words that it oozes out of me. And I want to be prepared to give a witness at all times. And (as if that was not enough) it encourages me as I continue to learn how much God loves me.

Some call the Bible a an old archaic book, some call it a fairy tale, some call it a love letter from God while others call it an instruction manual for daily living. (My son-in-law calls it a weapon of mass instruction.) Whatever you choose to call it... it is an incredibly precious gift from God not to be ignored or taken lightly or left to collect dust... and I love it!

BTW, what do you call it?

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Once again I have selected some great shops for you to check out and give them a heart. Keep in mind there is only 4 months and 2 days until Christmas!!






Daffodils on the Table by TheOldPostRoad






Garden of the Gods by sbradney





Garnet Necklace by MossflowerWoods





Scripture Art by lifeverse






Vintage Brooch by SweetWhimsyVintage






Tree platter by littlebearclayworks




Prayer beads by PrayerworksStudio



Psalm 19:1 Folk Art by mulberrylanefolkart
9:59 PM | Category: , , , , , | 7 comments

Can't Help but Love the Best Seller!
by Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks


Scripture photo by loveverb

From the best sources in the American Bible Society Archives,
the Scripture distribution for 1816 - 2000
(American Bible Society and United Bible Societies combined)
is as follows:

Bibles - 159,932,052

Testaments, Portions & Selections - 5,981,374,753

TOTAL - 6,141,306,805


The all time best seller in history still appears to be the Christian Bible! They (those who research such things-such as Russel Ash) won't totally commit to that statement because they do not have records of sales of books all the way back in history but as far as they could figure the Bible has been the all time best seller. The numbers quoted above are from 2000... can you imagine what it would be today?

I have been asked how can I believe in a book that is 2,000 plus years old. Does it not contradict itself? People have written more books than I can count on that subject and I certainly am not capable of answering it in terms that are theological or philosophical in nature to satisfy the many pundits of the world. I can only answer that question from my own experience. The words written over 2,000 years ago are as alive and real to me today as they were when they were first penned.

As I stated above I cannot give the theological and philosophical explanations but I do know God does not contradict Himself. I sometimes kindly suggest that they read it from cover to cover then ask me the question. How can they judge something they have not read? That usually stops their questions because they have no intention of reading it. The bible was written by 40 different people but only one author and that is God, Himself.

Have you ever tried walking in a wooded area in the dark with a flashlight? The woods are full of fallen branches, dips, hills, rocks and briers as well as surprise droppings from deer and the like. The few night walks in the woods I have experienced, I always was tempted to flash my light all around me to see the surroundings or to catch a glimpse of what created an eerie noise. When I did, I tripped or stumbled, twisted my ankle or stepped in something that grossed me out. In order to navigate the woods, I needed that flashlight to shine on the path and focus on where my feet were going. Since my flashlights were not flood lights, I could only see a few steps at a time. But for safe traveling that was all I really needed.

That is how God's word is, just like this verse:

"Thy word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path"

Simple as that. Like a flashlight shining on our feet in the dark to light the path. Our focus should be on the steps God is leading us. When we stop focusing on His Word and look all around it can cause us to stumble. What I love about this verse is that it does not say that His word is a flood light, but a lamp which only shows a few steps at a time. God knows our past, present and future. He also knows how much we can comprehend or handle at any given time. He does not choose to overwhelm us but only lights the part of each path that we need at that moment.

The other aspect of this verse that makes it so valuable to me is that it reminds me of the importance of His Word. When we commit His Word to memory, dwell on it and make it a part of who we are, we are able to use it as our counsel in order to make decisions. God gives us choices not all have a right or wrong to them but His Word can guide us in the principles that we should follow.


"Blessed is the man
who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked
or stand in the way of sinners
or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the LORD,
and on his law he meditates day and night."

Psalm 1:1,2

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Please take a few minutes to visit our wonderful CAST Team artists below. Think about upcoming Mother's Day, Father's Day, and I just want to get something for myself day!
Don't forget to heart!







10:00 PM | Category: , , , , , , , | 9 comments

Desires of the Heart
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart"

Psalm 37:4 (NIV)



By Phyllis Ducey
pfdoriginalartworks


When I was a little girl, I wanted to be like Lucia at Fatima and be so holy that I would see a vision of the mother of Christ. I stared at church walls for great lengths of time, sure that it would happen if I tried hard enough. I wanted so much to be important and special. I knew the priests and nuns would look at me different. I knew then they would want to listen to me. It didn't take more than a year or so before I realized that was hopeless (must have had to spend too much time in the confessional) .

When we were young in our marriage, we had little money and I really wanted this brown plaid jacket. I knew it would give me just the style that would impress all. I spent more than I should have and did not tell my husband. When I wore it, I never felt good in it.

Since I was a child I had wanted more than anything to have a horse. That stuck in the back of my mind until I was in my 50s and we moved to Minnesota. My husband said that when we get some acreage we could get the horse of my dreams. Well, my fantasy dream of owning a horse became a vision of shivering in the cold winters as I was trying to melt water troughs or shoveling out stalls with clothes pins on my nose and of breaking bones as I fell off the horse. My hubby was quite taken aback when I said I did not want one anymore.
In each life phase I had different desires, each would seem that they would fulfill me in some way, shape or form but it never happened. Most of the time the true desire of my heart was to fit in, be valued and to have someone just want to be around me because they wanted to not because they had to. Even after my marriage (almost 38 years ago) with a dear husband who has always complimented me and wanted to be with me, I had that same deep desire to "fit in". I am sure if a therapist got a hold of me they would say it is that child in me who never had an adult (including parents) give her special attention or tell her anything positive about herself. That my inner child had an emptiness that needed to be filled.

I did not need a therapist though, I needed God. I did not come to know Him from anyone's testimony or sermon but through God's own gentle nudging and proding. It was through seeing the awesome creation of my first child and of knowing that she was more than a bunch of molecules that accidentally collided. I wanted to find out who this Creator was that could form such a precious wonder. I drew from my Catholic background, I found a musty old Bible and searched. As I searched, God gently filled that vacuum in me. I realized He had a purpose and reason for my existence. He - my Creator, Rock and Savior -wanted to spend time with me! He let me know I was truly special and all my abilities were His special gifts to me! What a delight!

As I write this I realize just how much God has given me. He has given me all the desires of my heart but not until my heart was aligned with His... until I found delight in Him and wanted to live per His will. Then the well of emptiness was filled with His Grace.

I have learned that neither possessions nor people can fill the desires of my heart but only God can. That the only true desire that produces change, peace and joy is the desire to follow Him.

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So why do I suggest you check out our wonderful talented sellers on Etsy? Because God gifted them with talents that they can share to assist in supporting themselves and to bless others. And sometimes we are blessed enough to be able to find some wonderful items to enhance our lives or even something totally unneeded to bring a smile to us or to someone we care about.













3:05 AM | Category: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 15 comments

Angels Encamped Around Us
By Phyllis Ducey

In my post about Word Pictures I challenged you to tell me some of your favorite scriptures and how they speak to you. Vicki Elish (aka GracefulMoments) left this comment on that posting and I was so touched by it I wanted to share it with everyone else. I am hoping it will encourage you to share your thoughts on God's encouraging word pictures from the Bible.

"I have many scriptures that come to mind and it was hard to pick a favorite. Psalm 91 would definitely be a favorite from a word picture standpoint, especially verses 9 through 13. I often pray for the young soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan and missionaries in dangerous places and I ask that the Lord surround them with his angels and I envision these enormous angels surrounding them and God's shadow covering them so that the enemy cannot touch them. I also envision these angels and God's magnificent shadow protecting me and my loved ones during storms, travel and other difficult situations."


Psalm 91:9-13 (NIV)

"If you make the Most High your dwelling — even the LORD, who is my refuge-
then no harm will befall you, no disaster will come near your tent.
For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways;
they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
You will tread upon the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent."


What a wonderful prayer for our troops. I too can just imagine the angels around the troops guarding them as they sleep and as they go through their day.

I also pray for our missionaries and those who are being persecuted for their faith in Christ. I often wonder as I fall asleep in my warm bed under comfy covers if I could ever serve the Lord in such a self sacrificing way as they do. I then pray that the Lord protects them in ways I do not understand as well as keeping them warm in the cold, cool in the heat, providing drink with their thirst, and nurishment for their bodies. But most of all I pray that they receive the Lord's peace that surpasses all understanding to carry them through whatever they may be experiencing that they may continue to glorify the Lord.

Thank you Vicki for sharing with us your favorite word picture! It has truly blessed me and I am sure it will others.

If you would like to know more about Vicki, she has several shops and a blog.

Ellie Lee - Art and Photography http://ellielee.etsy.com
Ellie Lee's Attic - Vintage Finds http://ellieleesattic.etsy.com
Coming Soon - Graceful Moments - Inspirational Art and Photographs http://gracefulmoments.etsy.com
Blog: Graceful Moments: http://velishart.blogspot.com/

And please visit some of our other wonderful shops below.
(Just a little footnote. Sue Runyon had graciously been posting my blog each week and now I am trying to do it on my own... If things don't look quite as professional or links are not right... please bear with me as I learn! Thanks)


lordslivingworld

Angel OrnamentBlackBrookShop
2:00 AM | Category: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | 12 comments

Word Pictures


Purple coneflower & bee photograph by EllieLee

By Phyllis Ducey of pfdoriginalartworks

Being in the field of Human Resources I am constantly reading to keep updated with all the trends in hiring, employee issues and training. The other day I read an article that just made me chuckle. I think it was suppose to be cutting edge on changing employee’s behavior but it is taking a practice that was implemented thousand of years ago by our Creator and declaring it as a “new trend” in training. The concept is based on the study by scientists in the 1950’s that states people absorb only about 5% of what they learn in a lecture but if given a story or word picture they will retain much more. People identify with a story helping them to understand and retain it better. The scientists said that this was a better method to get people to learn and the writer of the article shared that this is how we should be training our employees. Once again scientists are barely catching up to what God has presented to us since the beginning of time.

When I started writing this I thought I would pick out one of my favorite word pictures from God’s Word to share with you… but how can anyone choose one? I suppose it depends on the day, my trials, or joys and what He has laid on my heart. Today I am on vacation relaxing in a condo overlooking the ocean, feeling privileged to be able take such a trip. Here is the verse that speaks to me as I take some time to enjoy the beauty of this wonderful creation He has chosen for us.

“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Day after day they pour forth speech; night after night they display knowledge.

There is no speech or language where their voice is not heard.

Their voice goes out into all the earth, their words to the ends of the world.

In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,

which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his pavilion,

like a champion rejoicing to run his course.

It rises at one end of the heavens and makes its circuit to the other;

nothing is hidden from its heat.”

Psalm 19:1-6

I have tried over and over to memorize Psalm 19 and have achieved doing so 3 or 4 times but if you asked me to recite it, I could not. The word picture speaks so vividly to me that I can close my eyes and know that if I choose to I can see and hear God through every ounce of creation. Not only do I, but so does every living person have that ability! God declares this as fact in this psalm.

I am going to share some wonderful Etsians shops that I feel relate well with this psalm but first I have three suggestions that I hope you will consider.

#1. I would like to challenge you to take time to see God’s glory in His creation whether you have an overwhelmingly awesome ocean to view, a unique unmatched snowflake or an incredibly intricate dandelion to pick. It does not make any difference, take time examine it closely and know it has something to declare to you.

# 2. I would ask you to pray for those who have chosen not to see or hear God speak to them that they would be able to hear and see.

#3. And lastly I ask if you could share with me your favorite word pictures from the Bible. I would like to write about them some time and if you choose to write why they are your favorite, I can include your remarks, maybe it will be your post that week instead of mine! You may add them to the comments here, convo me at my shop pfdoriginalartworks and/or you may email me at phyllis@pfdoriginalartworks.com.

By Phyllis Ducey of pfdoriginalartworks
9:00 AM | Category: , , , , , , , | 8 comments