A few verses stir my heart in ways I can't even write about. There's a lot going on in my heart and God knows, no surprises there. He's been so good to me! Here are the verses that jump off my pages:
Psalm 121: I look up to the mountains; does my strength come from mountains? No, my strength comes from God, who made heaven, and earth, and mountains. He won't let me stumble. My Guardian God won't fall asleep. Not on your life! He is right at my side to protect me this wedding week and forever more. God guards us from evil, He guards our very life. He guards me and you today when we leave and when we return. Always. I need to know that God is moving on my behalf this day and stirring up good things that we may know Him - He will raise my valleys and lower my mountains that I may know Him, not that things will work out for me.
Psalm 122 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Live in peace. I am very aware that I must be more concerned about how I am impacting other people than how they are impacting me this wedding week and forever.
Psalm 123 I look up to You for help. Like servants, alert to their master's commands, like a maiden attending her lady, We're watching and waiting, holding our breath, awaiting your word of mercy. Mercy, God, mercy!
Psalm 125 Those who trust in God are like Zion Mountain: Nothing can move it, a rock-solid mountain
you can always depend on. What is stronger in me? To depend on what I want to see happen? To depend on life turning out the ways I want it to turn out? To depend on strong people to come through for me? No and No and No. What is stronger in me---to depend on circumstances and people or to depend on an Invisible Hand on my life? Yes, God's Hand is turning my tide!
Psalm 130 Help, God—the bottom has fallen out of my life! Master, hear my cry for help! Listen hard! Open your ears! Listen to my cries for mercy. For those things I hold in my heart, I cry for help!
Psalm 131 Denouement. This is what my God is saying to me right now in my life. This chapter. Cultivate a quiet heart. Wait for God. Wait with Hope. Hope now; Hope always! Will you wait in Hope with me for our God to show up this day and stir our hearts for good? Hope now; Hope always!
So much fills my heart this morning with the readings, God's mercy, prayers for Jerusalem, and cultivating a quiet heart. But today, I won't barrage you with my long-winded thoughts.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to introduce my sister to our study. Jen is my twin sister and has been a mentor to me and many in her walk with the Lord. She's looking for a morning study and I think I convinced how lovely you are all and how much this part of my day has meant to me. I know you all will welcome her with open arms, and I'm happy to connect her with such a sweet place.
Bev, my dear friend, you have been and will be on my heart as you walk through this week. God is your guard, He is merciful, and He is your Mountain of strength. You are highly esteemed here and we love you very much. It's my privilege to lift you and your family in prayer, and can't wait to hear how God has carried you through. So many tender thoughts after just doing the same week with my daughter. Sending hugs...
Bev, how your words stir my heart. This has been my prayer in the past, that I would have a quiet heart. I do have it at times and at others it's not so quiet, and when that happens oh, how I cling to Him and praise Him and ask Him IF I can snuggle up in His arms. Of course, His answer is yes. Your testimony is such a blessing to all of us. Your passion for Him is so inspiring. I have truly prayed for your week this week...may all of your desires for this week and the special day come true.
ReplyDeleteAnnette,please tell your sister we would love to have her come and join us...we truly welcome her with open arms...there is always room for more.
I love the read today. Yes, The Psalms of Ascents. I so loved the Bible Study Beth Moore taught using Psalm 120 through Psalm 136. The Children of Israel would chant and sing these verse as they were journeying to the Temple.
ReplyDeleteJen, Annette's twin sister, I have met you once and I loved you from the start as your twin Annette is so very dear to me and blesses me richly. Welcome as the newest Pearl on this String God is putting together. May this blog bless you as richly as I have and am being blessed.
Bev, you are lifted to the throne of Grace all weekend during Blair's wedding activities. I pray God will keep you healthy that you are able to experience the full blessing God has waiting this weekend for you to know. Psalm 121:1 I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills from which cometh my strength. My strength cometh from the LORD, the Maker of Heaven and Earth..... Be Blessed Precious Bev. You are dearly loved.
This is a Song of several verses I had to Sing. Love, Sylvia
Jen, a warm welcome to the string of pearls. It is such a blessing to read about how the message touches all of our lives.
ReplyDeleteBev, I have had 2 weddings of my oldest daughters. The first one was in Las Vegas, it was surprisingly easy and fun.
The second wedding was here in Marquette, very stressful. She married a man who has caused much pain to our family.
I pray all will be well, remember, the wedding is after all, just one day in your lives, it will soon be just a happy memory.
Jen, we'd love for you to read with us. We love you already. We're just fellow pilgrims, sometimes ecstatic and sometimes weary, but it's a genuine place to wrestle with a God Who is sometimes silent but always present. Even this day, He is guarding every time we go and when we return. Would love for you and anyone else who reads this to join us. You are so welcome here.
ReplyDeleteRehearsal Luncheon. Rehearsal. Family Dinner. I so want the Beautiful God I adore to show up. I woke up crying this morning. I want the joy bells to ring in my heart. God has given me an opportunity to cultivate a quiet heart in midst of this hectic day. He will guard me when I go and when I return. He will guard my girl when she leaves and does not return to us. Oh God, we wait in hope for you to come and show up!
ReplyDeleteDear Bev,
ReplyDeleteThank you kindly for stopping by and leaving encouraging words for me. You blessed my heart. It was my joy to meet you at the SSTMC.
His Word is just so good!
LORD, I pray this busy wedding weekend that the mercy and peace You pour out on Bev will be unending and not cease. Give her overflowing stores of grace as this beautiful ceremony takes place. And dear Father, as Beverly desires to cultivate a quiet heart, answer her desire and more of You please impart. In the mighty, lovely, Name above all names, Amen.
Blessings!
Bev - You've been on my mind all day. Am wondering if you're at the rehearsal dinner right now. I'm praying for peace, gentleness, and a joy-filled heart for you. May the beauty of Christ shine through you to those around you! Love you, Cici
ReplyDeleteOh my goodness!
ReplyDeleteAnnette, I had no idea there were two of you! Welcome JEN!
AND Lora...by the lamplight...we needed you here! Welcome!
I noticed a new follower I invited over. Genevieve Thul. She's going through some very hard times and has been quiet so far on this site...but I welcome her, too.
Psalm 129:3,4
"Their plowmen plowed long furrows
up and down my back;
Then God ripped the harnesses
of the evil plowmen to shreds."
God spoke to me through these verses when I went through Beth Moore's study, "Stepping Up."
The psalms of the ascent kept me sane back in September of last year. I had been abandoned by my husband and God showed me that when I was lying there on the ground and Ken was treating me so horribly (plowing my back)...that Jesus walked over to me, reached down and took my hand and lifted me up...then He took my place.
I cried so much to know that Jesus was bearing my pain. I was able to tell my husband this when he started more of his angry tirade against me (so much rage and I had done nothing)...and he stopped accusing me. His rage was silenced towards me.
I also love the visual of one of the previous verses:
"like a maiden attending her lady,"
A different version of the Bible stated this as a maid watching her lady's hand...
That's how we should be towards God. Our eyes seeing nothing else except His moving hand needing something we can serve him by responding.
He is God, my God.
Pray for Jerusalem.
Did you know the buzzard population is increasing over there? Wondering if it may be for Armageddon...
And Annette...I love your shared thoughts. Bev, I'll be there in spirit. I can just smell the flowers! Enjoy the day and knowing it will be the day the Lord has made. Rejoice in it because He is good. His mercy never ends.
Welcome Jen! Bev, I have you in my thoughts and prayers this weekend.
ReplyDeleteWelcome Jen! Bev, you're in my thoughts and prayers this weekend.
ReplyDeleteAnnette G. & I have a friend from church Jennifer M. that I introduced to the blog today. She was so excited to discover a place such as String of Pearls. I met Jen in WatersEdge Bible Study when Beth was still teaching Sunday School. We have shared a lot of activities together the past four years but not much time just one on one. Recently we have begun to do this. Just like each Pearl on this blog, Jenn is an amazing, creative and talented, intelligent, bible student who is seeking to know more of who God wants to be in her life.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure when she will feel comfortable to comment...but I know she read our blog today as we discussed it over the phone.
Bev, I look forward to hearing about the dress God chose for you to wear at the ceremony tomorrow.
May God bless you beyond your wildest imagination as you share your life with the wedding party and guests. May God also provide a few very special moments alone with Blair on her wedding day to remember for a life time.
This is another Song I must sing of Welcome to my friend Jennifer M. and May God Grace Bev and the family in a very special way on Blair's Wedding Day. Annette's twin, Jen welcome again to this String of Pearls.
Grace and Peace,
Sylvia