Kris' Birthday

Today is Kris' birthday. He's 29 today. I can't believe it. Just yesterday he was 28.

Reading Today: Daniel Chapter 8 & 9, Psalms Chapters 13, 43, 73, 103 & 133, Proverbs Chapter 13.

Psalm 13:5&6 "But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. (6) I will sing unto the Lord, because he hath dealt bountifully with me."

I love this verse, or verses as it were. Trust, mercy, rejoicing...salvation begets many a positive responce. My favorite part though is in verse 6. "he hath dealt bountifully with me.
He has! What a blessing to know the source of the bounty I live under. Last night I prayed for the choir. Pastor Dan asked me to come down and grab the mic to lift up the multiple requests that were given. I was very honored and felt very nervous all at the same time. I nearly started crying. As I prayed I asked God to give us a new faith, and praised Him for His protection, emphasizing the fact that the devil cannot touch us. That nothing bad can happen to us. As I mulled over this later, sort of wondering what people thought of that last part, I realized that though bad things do happen all around us and even "at" us...when we are under the blood of Christ they cannot happen too us! We choose to be hurt, if we are Christians. We choose to be discouraged, put down or shamed. We are more than conquerors and the only thing that can change that is our ever present free will to accept the lie. I had a tubal pregnancy...Satan sought to kill (literally) steal (my joy and future) and destroy (my confidence, my hope, and my ability to bear children). This was a bad thing...but it never touched me. I am protected, I am under the shadow of the Almighty. "he who dwells in the secret place of the Most High, shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty." (Psalm 90:1) Jesus said that He came to give us LIFE. Life in Christ is more than just breathing...it is bountiful, abundant living, that exceeds temporal circumstances. I had a tubal pregnancy, but I am not limited by what my flesh experiences. I now "live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me." This is all because "I am crucified with Christ." (Gal. 2:20) When the Psalmist wrote that God had dealt bountifully with him...how little did he know of the coming sacrifice that would far exceed the bounty he spoke of then. In temporal blessings alone...I am far from deserving what God has given, but in spiritual blessings. I am a worm in a Rolex...I have all the honor of the one who died for me.

Psalm 43:5 "Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God."

Psalm 73:25&26 "Whom have I in heaven but thee? and there is none upon earth that I desire beside thee. (26) My flesh and my heart faileth: but God is the strength of my heart, and my portion for ever."

Psalm 103:1-5 "Bless the Lord, O my soul: and all that is within me, bless his holy name. (2) Bless the Lord, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: (3) Who forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; (4) Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; (5) Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's."

Wow...He's a good God!

It is a good day...I'm so full of love for God right now and I don't want it to let up. I need to pray and just lay it all before my creator and tell Him how glad I am that I am His.