Paint Party Friday: The Joy of the Lord!

In my last post I showed the pile of hankies and cloth 

I tied up in rubber bands and other stuff like sticks.

Here I am dying it.

In the next post, I will put pictures of what I have come up with.

It's been raining though and I have not been able to dry what I have dyed!!!

"His faithful promises are your armor and protection." Psalm 91:4

If our lives were in danger, and we are asked, "Are you sure God will save you?", what will we answer? My answer would be a resounding yes! That no weapon formed against me would prosper! (Isaiah 54:17) Not that I would remember the exact bible verse which I just googled right now, but I do know I can stand on the promises of God. I'm almost 60 years old, and I can say that my whole life, I have lived in the shelter of the Most High and the shadow of the Almighty.  He alone is my refuge, my place of safety. He rescues me from any trap and protects me from the plague. I need not be afraid of the terrors of the night, nor fear the dangers of the day. I need not dread whatever stalks in darkness nor the disaster that strikes at midday. Psalm 91 goes on with many more promises, and in the Bible, there is so much more to claim. 

 I know that my security lies not on myself, nor my husband, nor the money in the bank. My security is in God and His promises. God did not promise to bless me and protect me because I am good, but because He is faithful and because He loves me.  But God always gives us a choice. We have to choose to claim His promises. We have to choose to listen to Him.  We have to choose NOT to listen and follow the enemy.  Sometimes God does allow bad things to happen. These may be a consequence of our actions, or it may not be. But if we stay trusting God, He will be sure and bring us through the dark valleys. Father, Your Word and Your promises are true. Help us to always trust in You, even during those times we do not understand why You are allowing things to happen to us. Help us to always stand on the the rock of Your word, and to believe Your promises. 

 "The joy of the Lord is your strength!" Nehemiah 8:10

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Ezra the priest read the Book of the Law aloud from early morning to noon on a high wooden platform, even to the children old enough to understand.  Then he and other priests interpreted God's Word to them, helping them to understand.  The people started weeping as they listened. Perhaps they felt guilty, perhaps ashamed that they were not obeying. Perhaps they felt God's overwhelming love. Why do we cry when we read God's Word and understand it? 

Then Nehemiah the Prophet said, "Don't weep on such a day as this! Go and celebrate, share gifts of food with those who have nothing. This is a sacred day before God. Don't be dejected and sad, for the JOY OF THE LORD IS YOUR STRENGTH!" Then the people went away to eat and drink a festive meal, to share gifts of food, and to celebrate with great joy because they heard God's Words and UNDERSTOOD them."  Two things. One, to hear and read God's Word, and to understand it, is something to celebrate. Joy is the fruit because God's Word is a seed planted in our hearts and it will bear fruit in due season.  Two, when we celebrate and eat good food, we must share with those who have nothing to eat. When we have parties, we must not forget the people God does not forget.

O Lord, thank you for the gift of Your Word. May I never take it for granted! Your word is my delight. May it find a place in the fertile soil of my heart so that Your joy will be my strength.  May I also remember those You love, those You do not forget-  the hungry, those in prison, those who are sick, the widows and the orphans. May I do what I can, where I am, with what I have. Amen.

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