The Rolling Thunder

Today I was woken by the wonderful sound of thunder and rain....there's something about storms that intrigues me, and we sure have needed this rain here in Florida!

It brings to mind the song, "How Great Thou Art" , where it says: "I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder, thou power throughout the universe displayed. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great thou art, How great thou art. Then sings my soul, my Savior God to thee, How great thou art........How GREAT thou art".

With that said, I found a passage in Psalms where David speaks of this very thing - the power of our Lord, and how the He reveals himself to us through nature.

Psalm 29

"Ascribe to the Lord, O mighty ones, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory due His name; worship the Lord in the splendor of His holiness.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters; the God of glory thunders, the Lord thunders over the mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful; the voice of the Lord is majestic.

The voice of the Lord breaks the cedars; the Lord breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon.

He makes Lebanon skip like a calf, Sirion like a young wild ox.

The voice of the Lord strikes with flashes of lightning.

The voice of the Lord shakes the desert; the Lord shakes the Desert of Kadesh.

The voice of the Lord twists the oaks, and strips the forest bare.

And in his temple all cry, "Glory!"

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood; the Lord is enthroned as a King forever.

The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace".

May you be blessed this Sunday.....

Janelle

Psalm 71

In thumbing through my Bible in search of something to share today, I came across Psalm 71, and it says exactly what I know someone needs to hear right now.

Psalm 71: 17 - 21

"Since my youth, O God, you have taught me,

and to this day I declare your marvelous deeds.

Even when I am old and gray, do not forsake me, O God,

till I declare your power to the next generation, your might to all who are to come.

Your righteousness reaches to the skies, O God, you who have done great things.

Who, O God, is like you?

Though you have made me see troubles, many and bitter, you will restore my life again;

from the depths of the earth you will again bring me up.

You will increase my honor and comfort me once again."



I know that this psalm rings true in my life, and our Lord has been faithful to bring me up "from the depths of the earth" many times.

I pray today, that if you are in a place of sadness, sorrow, loneliness or heartache, you will turn your heart towards the Lord, letting him bring you up to where he is - a place of love, comfort and healing.



Blessings,

Janelle

I Waited

This Psalm is special to me, because it takes me back to when Sarah and Dude were toddlers - about 4 yrs. and 2 yrs. old.
I had checked out an album (remember those?) from the library at First Baptist, Orlando, and it was called, "Psalms Alive", done by the choir at Chuck Smith's church out in California. Being raised in a Baptist church where mostly old hymns were sung, I'd never heard any of the Psalms put to music, and I fell in love with them!
I was making Christmas presents for my extended family; the kids playing in the living room beside me. I can't recall how many times I played this album over and over again, and I didn't realize how much of it my kids had memorized until I was putting them to bed one night.
After saying prayers, Dude says, "Mommy, sing 'I Waited'". I wasn't sure what song he was talking about and asked him how did the song go.
That precious little 2 year old boy starting singing this Psalm 40, and even did the sounds of the guitars and drum beats. My heart lit up and it was hard to fight back the tears as I started singing the "I Waited" song with my child.
Today I'd like to share this special Psalm with you.
Psalm 40, written by David (which happens to be my son's given name too)
I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry.
He lifted me up out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet upon a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.
He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.
Blessed is the man who makes the Lord his trust, who does not look to the proud,
to those who turn aside to false gods.
Many, O Lord my God, are the wonders you have done.
The things you planned for us, no one can recount to you; were I to speak and tell of them, they would be too many to declare.
Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but my ears you have pierced, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not require.
Then I said, "Here I am, I have come - it is written about me in the scroll.
I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.
I proclaim righteousness in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, as you know O Lord.
I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and salvation.
I do not conceal your love and your truth from the great assembly.
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O Lord; may your love and your truth always protect me.
For troubles without number surround me; my sins have overtaken me, and I cannot see.
They are more than the hairs of my head, and my heart fails within me.
Be pleased, O Lord, to save me; O Lord come quickly to help me.
May all who seek to take my life be put to shame and confusion; may all who desire my ruin be turned back in disgrace.
May those who say to me, ' Aha! aha!' be appalled at their own shame.
But may all who seek you rejoice and be glad in you; may those who love your salvation always say, "The Lord be exalted!"
Yet I am poor and needy; may the Lord think of me.
You are my help and my deliverer; O my God do not delay.