Tears in Your Bottle~Beauty for Ashes

"You keep track of all my sorrows.
    You have collected all my tears in your bottle.
    You have recorded each one in your book."

~Psalm 56:8

"He has sent me to tell those who mourn 

that the time of the Lord’s favor has come,

and with it, the day of God’s anger against their enemies.

To all who mourn in Israel,

he will give a crown of beauty for ashes,

a joyous blessing instead of mourning,

festive praise instead of despair.

In their righteousness, they will be like great oaks

that the Lord has planted for his own glory.

They will rebuild the ancient ruins,

repairing cities destroyed long ago.

They will revive them, 

though they have been deserted for many generations."

~Isaiah 61:2-4

The Valley

"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.

You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

you anoint my head with oil

my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me

all the days of my life,

and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever."

~Psalm 23:4-6

Your Roots will Grow Down Into God's Love

"I pray that from his glorious, unlimited resources he will empower you with inner strength through his Spirit. Then Christ will make his home in your hearts as you trust in him. Your roots will grow down into God’s love and keep you strong. And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is."

~Ephesians 3:16-18

Majestic King and Good Shepherd

"Who is this majestic king?
The Lord who is strong and mighty!
The Lord who is mighty in battle!
 Look up, you gates!
Rise up, you eternal doors!
Then the majestic king will enter!
 Who is this majestic king?
The Lord who commands armies!
He is the majestic king!" (Selah)

~Psalm 24:8-10

"Then I will gather the remnant of my flock out of all the countries where I have driven them, and I will bring them back to their fold, and they shall be fruitful and multiply. I will set shepherds over them who will care for them, and they shall fear no more, nor be dismayed, neither shall any be missing, declares the Lord.

“Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch, and he shall reign as king and deal wisely, and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land. In his days Judah will be saved, and Israel will dwell securely. And this is the name by which he will be called: ‘The Lord is our righteousness.’

~Jeremiah 23:3-6

"So Jesus again said to them, “Truly, truly, I say to you, I am the door of the sheep.  All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the door. If anyone enters by me, he will be saved and will go in and out and find pasture."

~John 10:7-9

You are the Light of the World

 “You are the light of the world—like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.  No one lights a lamp and then puts it under a basket. 

Instead, a lamp is placed on a stand, 

where it gives light to everyone in the house.

 In the same way, let your good deeds shine out for all to see, so that everyone will praise your heavenly Father."

~Matthew 5:14-16

 “No one lights a lamp and then covers it with a jar or puts it under a bed, but puts it on a lamp stand so that those who come in can see the light. 

For nothing is hidden that will not be revealed, 
and nothing concealed that will not be made known and brought to light. ”

~Luke 8:16-17

The Lord Challenges...

Then the Lord answered Job from the whirlwind:

"Who is this that questions my wisdom...

Brace yourself like a man,

    because I have some questions for you,
    and you must answer them."

“Who created a channel for the torrents of rain?

Who laid out the path for the lightning? 

Who makes the rain fall on barren land,

in a desert where no one lives?

Who sends rain to satisfy the parched ground

and make the tender grass spring up?"

“Does the rain have a father?

Who gives birth to the dew?"

“Can you shout to the clouds

and make it rain?

Can you make lightning appear

and cause it to strike as you direct?"

"Who is wise enough to count all the clouds?

Who can tilt the water jars of heaven

when the parched ground is dry  and the soil has hardened into clods?"

~Job 38:1-3, 25-28, 34 &35, 37 & 38

My Rock

In my distress I called upon the Lord,
And cried to my God for help;
He heard my voice out of His temple,
And my cry for help before Him came into His ears.

~Psalm 18:6

Comfort, comfort my people,
    says your God.
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem,
    and proclaim to her
that her hard service has been completed,
    that her sin has been paid for...

A voice says, “Cry out.”

And I said, “What shall I cry?”

“All people are like grass,

and all their faithfulness is like the flowers of the field.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

    because the breath of the Lord blows on them.

Surely the people are grass.

The grass withers and the flowers fall,

but the word of our God endures forever.”

~Isaiah 40:1,2 & 6-8

I love you, Lord, my strength.

The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;

my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,

my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.

~Psalm 18:1,2

"This is the Way, Walk in it"...

And though the Lord give you the bread of adversity 

and the water of affliction, 

yet your Teacher will not hide himself anymore, 

but your eyes shall see your Teacher. 

And your ears shall hear a word behind you, saying, 

“This is the way, walk in it,” 

when you turn to the right or when you turn to the left. 

~Isaiah 30:20-21

My Help Comes from The Lord, the Maker of Heaven and Earth

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?

My help comes from the Lord,

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip-he who watches over you will not slumber; 

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you—

    the Lord is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day,    nor the moon by night.

The Lord will keep you from all harm-he will watch over your life; The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.

~Psalm 121 A Song of ascents