Faith or Fiction??

Do you ever wonder how someone becomes a “great person of faith”? Have you set back and wondered how come they have faith and I just seem to fumble my way along? It just doesn’t seem fair. It never seems that they have any problems or crisis to face. Well, have you ever taken a few moments and talked with them or got to know them and what goes on in their lives. Sometimes we will be surprised to find out that one reason they have faith is because they have trails that God is getting them through, one by one. The reason their faith seems great to you is because they have gone through great trails in their life. With each new conflict they go through their faith in God becomes stronger. Their courage increases. They have come to the full knowledge that only with faith in God can they face each day. Great faith in God doesn’t happen overnight, but it is a process, one trial at a time.

Each day we have a choice how we react to the trails we encounter. We can let them overwhelm us and send us into a tailspin or we can stand up and say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me.” Philippians 4:13.

Great faith brings about great expectations. Think about it, do you expect great results through your prayers and faith in God? Hmmm – makes you think doesn’t it? Are we not receiving because we are really not expecting? How much time in prayer and fasting do you spend earnestly seeking great things from God? We all want to hear Jesus say about us what Matthew 15:28 (NIV) says: "Then Jesus answered, 'Woman, you have great faith! Your request is granted.'" But do we pray with persistence until God moves as the woman did that Jesus was speaking to???

Please, please, please let’s really start praying to God for answers to our prayers and fervently believe Him for the answers. It is time that we stopped saying a meaningless prayer and then getting up and taking the problem to our sisters in Christ, or worse yet an unbeliever and giving them a distorted picture of our loving heavenly Father. God is NOT the reason our prayers are not answered!!! Let’s stand up and take responsibility for unanswered prayers and begin to do something about it. Ask God to help you to prayer and most importantly believe Him for the answers.

~Debbie~

Overwhelmed?

Check out this definition provided by dictionary.com

o·ver·whelm
1. To be overcome completely in mind or feeling:
Has this ever happened to you?

2. To overpower or overcome, esp. with superior forces;
Have you ever been buried by insecurities, worry or doubt?

3. To cover or bury beneath a mass of something,
Ever been buried by your to-do list? How about a mountain of laundry?

4. To overthrow.
Ever been thrown off course?

Ready to overthrow whatever’s overwhelming you?

Matthew 11:28-30 28 "Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30For my yoke is easy and my burden is light."

Keep this scripture at the forefront of your mind. When you begin to operate once again as a pack mule, cramming as much as you can, where you can, when you can…stop! What good are you frustrated, frazzled and ready to snap at any given moment. Remind yourself that there is someone so much stronger and wiser just waiting to be acknowledged and ever so ready to help.

Love you all,
~Terica

Jesus Is the Reason For the Season

"For everything there is a season, a time for every activity under heaven." ~ Ecclessiastes 3:1

The past few days this verse has replayed countless times over and over in my head. Partly because the seasons have finally changed (can I get an AMEN) and partly because it sums up this particular period of time in my life. There are things in my life right now that were once high priority that have become less important and things that I once dreaded that have become something I actually look forward to. The more I think on this the more I understand that sometimes God places certain things, people and events in our life at certain times and then for some reason or another He removes them. It may only be for a period of time or it may be forever. Sometimes I just have to stop and ask God why He does this. Well, God's Word clearly reassures us why as we read on in Ecclessiastes that there is purpose in the ever revolving door of life.

A time to be born and a time to die.
A time to plant and a time to harvest.
A time to kill and a time to heal.
A time to tear down and a time to build up.
A time to cry and a time to laugh.
A time to grieve and a time to dance.
A time to scatter stones and a time to gather stones.
A time to embrace and a time to turn away.
A time to search and a time to quit searching.
A time to keep and a time to throw away.
A time to tear and a time to mend.
A time to be quiet and a time to speak.
A time to love and a time to hate.
A time for war and a time for peace.

What do people really get for all their hard work? I have seen the burden God has placed on us all. Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end.

I will borrow a phrase that is generally reserved for the Christmas season, but totally fits any season of life to sum all of this up "Jesus Is the Reason for the Season!" Yes, it is cheesy, I know but it's oh so true. God has a reason for this paticular season of your life and in the end you will see that reason and glorify Him!

If you are experiencing a particularly dry season in your life than rest assured something truly beautiful is on the horizon and if you are wondering why God has placed you in this particular time and place then know that HE is on HIS way to taking you to new and exciting places that you have never been before. Celebrate this season because, it may be hard to see now,but God has something truly amazing awaiting you as the seasons change.

~Kazia~

He Knows & He is there...

Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm.

1 O LORD, you have searched me
and you know me.

2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.

3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.

4 Before a word is on my tongue
you know it completely, O LORD.

5 You hem me in—behind and before;
you have laid your hand upon me.

6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.

7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?

8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.

9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,

10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.

11 If I say, "Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,"

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.

13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother's womb.

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.

15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place.
When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

16 your eyes saw my unformed body.
All the days ordained for me
were written in your book
before one of them came to be.

17 How precious to [b] me are your thoughts, O God!
How vast is the sum of them!

18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand.
When I awake,
I am still with you.

19 If only you would slay the wicked, O God!
Away from me, you bloodthirsty men!

20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, O LORD,
and abhor those who rise up against you?

22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.

23 Search me, O God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.

24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.


~Laura

What More Do I Need?

Romans 5 NLT

1 Therefore, since we have been made right in God's sight by faith, we have peace with God because of what Jesus Christ our Lord has done for us. 2 Because of our faith, Christ has brought us into this place of undeserved privilege where we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to sharing God's glory. 3 We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. 4 And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. 5 And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love. 6 When we were utterly helpless, Christ came at just the right time and died for us sinners. 7 Now, most people would not be willing to die for an upright person, though someone might perhaps be willing to die for a person who is especially good. 8 But God showed his great love for us by sending Christ to die for us while we were still sinners. 9 And since we have been made right in God's sight by the blood of Christ, he will certainly save us from God's condemnation. 10 For since our friendship with God was restored by the death of his Son while we were still his enemies, we will certainly be saved through the life of his Son. 11 So now we can rejoice in our wonderful new relationship with God because our Lord Jesus Christ has made us friends of God.

Here's what I see:
* I have peace through Jesus (v1)
* I have access to God's very presence (v2)
* I have joy in suffering and even become stronger, so it is not a waste (v3)
* I continue to live in God's generous love (v5)

What more do I want and more importantly what more do I NEED????

~Debbie~

A Few Words For Today

Isaiah 30:15
This is what the Sovereign Lord,
the Holy One of Israel, says,
"In repentance and rest is your salvation,
in quietness and trust is your strength,
but you would have none of it."

Ecclesiastes 5:2
Do not be quick with your mouth,
do not be hasty in your heart to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven and you are on earth,
so let your words be few.

That's all I have to say today.

~ Terica

As You Wait

Has anyone ever told you "God is never too early and He's never too late"? I've been told that so many times and have learned over the years that there is an enormous amount of truth to that statement.

I'd like to say I am a patient person, but in all reality I am not. I tell my kids to hurry up when they don't move fast enough, I get extremely irritable when I get stuck in rush hour traffic and if my computer is running just a little too slow, I lose all nerve. So when I pray about certain situations and I don't receive an answer right away I tend to feel a little like God isn't listening to anything I am saying.

Well the truth of the matter is that He is all ears and already has as answer. He just longs to hear my voice and have my full attention a little bit longer. I don't know about any of you but my relationship with God is high priority when I am waiting on something from Him. I am in constant conversation with Him, thanking Him for his answers and relying on His strength to see me through.

I have seen this play out in my own life over the past month or so. I've been praying about a few different things and waiting on God for some answers. Today as I thought about one situation in particular and the answer I received from God I got down right joyful. It would've have been so easy to take matters into my own hands, do what I thought I needed to do and spare all the waiting around. Instead I waited and received exactly what, not only I needed, but what I wanted. All the while strengthening my relationship with Him. This remindes me of something my brother-in-law told me, that his sister used to tell her kids when they got impatient - Patience means happy to wait :-) I love that statement. I am happy to wait on God for His perfect timing.

Are you waiting for something from God? Have you lost hope that you will ever receive an answer? If so, I want to encourage all of you not to lose heart. Continue to wait on Him. Wait on His timing and wait on His voice. And as you wait cling to this encouraging word.

"But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint." ~ Isaiah 40:31

Happy to Wait!
~Kazia~

It's finally over...

Today my mom has gall bladder surgery....but more importantly they are removing her port. Now I know to most of you there is no understanding to what that means, I'll fill you in. 3 years ago my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, unfortunately not just your average-run-of-the-mill cancer. This cancer was the most aggressive form of breast cancer and was eating away at her body at an alarming rate. She was quickly forced to make decisions concerning how much of her body to cut away and was rushed into surgery in a matter of weeks. She then endured an especially grueling form of chemotherapy followed by radiation. The process was long and painful physically, and even longer and more painful emotionally. Part of the initial surgery was to install a port on the upper side of her chest to provide quick access into her bloodstream for all of the following treatments. From the very beginning she was informed that with this particular form of cancer she would be extremely lucky to make it one year without it coming back. What a beating...to go through the most painful year of your life knowing that in another year you will probably have to do it again! Well my mom decided to stand against the word that the doctors spoke over her and to stand on the word of her heavenly Father. She believed that our God was fully able and willing to protect her body from relapsing. Her one year checkup had her doctor in tears as she was so happy to have one of her patients make it one year as the last several with the same form of cancer hadn't. Ever since then my mom has been asking for them to remove the port as it is very uncomfortable for everyday life but the answer has been the same: "We would hate to remove the port so soon in case we were to need it again soon." In other words, there's no point. You're probably going to relapse and you will need the port again.
But as I said earlier, today they will be removing her port. Almost 3 years after surgery the doctors have finally stated with their actions what my mom has been longing for confirmation on: "It's finally over."

Now we all may not have severe life-altering medical issues that we can relate to. But I know we all have struggles and frustrations that we are desperate to be able to say, "It's finally over" about. Things that long after we have heard our Father whisper that he is calling us out of and through we want someone else to look us in the eye and confirm it. Ladies, our God doesn't desire that we dwell in emotional turmoil. He wants us to be "more than conquerors!" (Romans 8:37) His word tells us that "You will surely forget your trouble, recalling it only as waters gone by." (Job 11:16) Ladies, soon this will pass, it will finally be OVER!

~Laura

P.S. - Those of you attending our GLOW retreat in 18 days, be thinking about what you want to be able to say "It's finally over" about. God loves it when you come into time with Him with an expectant heart! Can't wait to see you there!

Run In The Dark ~ This Saturday

If you think that as a women - Mother, Wife, ETC. that you can't do anything to help out the community. Think again. There are many ways to get out in the community and help other in need. One way is the Run in the dark hosted by The Community Storehouse this Saturday night, September 18th. Make a date with your husband and get involved together to help others. Meet us at 6:15 at the volunteer tent in front of Keller Town Hall.

Visit newlifewired.com for more details.

Do You Still Have No Faith?

Mark 4:40 (NIV) says, He said to his disciples, "Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?" Jesus was asking the disciples this question. These men had been spending day and night in the presence of Jesus. They were eye witnesses to His miracles. They were first hand hearers of His teaching. Their lives were entwined with all that Jesus was doing. Yet when a storm came upon them as they were crossing the lake, with Jesus in the boat with them, they lost it. They allowed fear to take over. They questioned Jesus, "Teacher, don't you care if we drown?"

I had to stop and think about all the times in my life when I've asked the same question - "Jesus, don't you care?" I've grown up in church, I've always believed in God. But I had to ask myself do I truly trust Him??? Hmmmm Trust means a firm reliance on the integrity, ability, or character of a person or thing. Is that how I truly view my Lord and Savior or do I daily walk in my own strength and ability and only cry out when the storm get so bad the fear overwhelms me? The Lord has been asking me this question for a while now and I think I finally slowed down long enough to hear Him and I am really having to face some unpleasant truths about myself. I am a person of action and I jump in and take care of things but God has been whispering to me to let Him take part, let Him lead. This last couple of weeks He has been yelling at me this same thing and finally I am hearing.

For those of you who know me well, don't be surprised to see me taking action a little slower than usual. I have surrendered to my Lord that aspect of my character and will be following His lead before making a move. Please if any of you see me start to regress, please step in and lovingly remind me of Mark 4:40 because I know that in ALL things I can have faith that my Lord and Savior can be trusted and relied upon to handle any storm in my life.

Living by faith,
~Debbie~

Can you see Him?

As you begin your day, I want you to be on the look out for something. Today, I want you to make a conscious effort to recognize God at work in your life. He moves in so many ways on our behalf. If only we were mindful of Him, we might be more apt to notice. But, all too often I think we become numb to His touch. Almost to the point of being desensitized to His presence. Let's decide to change that today.

You see, it is in Him that we live. Acts 17:28 says, "For in Him we live and move and have our being." So, let's not focus on the tasks at hand but instead focus on the hand of the Father who helps us achieve those tasks. Then I love what Job 12:10 has to say, "In His hand is the life of every creature and the breath of all mankind." So, when you feel as though you are drowning, remember He is the source of our breath. So...breathe.

It is my prayer that today you see Him at work in your life. In the great and small things, God is at work. This day, I believe you will see Him. Lovingly and tenderly, you will see Him moving on your behalf. After all, you are His beloved.

~Terica

Today Is A New Day

Today I celebrate my 33rd birthday. Yes, that's two 3's!! My husband Brooks continues to remind me how old that sounds and that he is still 31 and that I am older than him. Which, to him I say you are only as old as you feel and today I feel, well, 33.

As we were sitting in his office talking about my birthday he said something really profound that I really had to stop and think about and share with you. He said that if you are a Christ-follower then everyday is like your birthday. Wow!!! A birthday everyday??? Yes, it's true. Each and everyday morning God pours out brand-new mercies. Yesterday's slate is wiped clean and today I am made new. It's like being reborn everyday. That is so incredible. God's faithfulness is so constant and His love is so pure that no matter what happened yesterday He has forgiven and provided us with a fresh start. And He has given us reassurance of this in His Word.

"The faithful love of the Lord never ends! His mercies never cease. Great is his faithfulness; his mercies begin afresh each morning. I say to myself, The Lord is my inheritance; therefore, I will hope in him!” ~ Lamentations 3:22~24

Thank you Jesus for blessing me with another day and another year. Your unending love and glorious grace are truly amazing.

~Kazia~

Parenting in a Broken World

I have been thinking a lot about parenting lately. What the ideals of a God-fearing parent should be....In what ways should my parenting strategies look different than those of the world? How do I teach my son to follow the narrow path? Well, soon I will share some of the thoughts I have accumulated about Godly parenting but today I found this blog post from a women's speaker I have great admiration and respect for. Her specific topic she addresses is sexting, but don't let her advice fall on deaf ears just because your children don't own a cell phone yet...She offers up some serious food for thought for anyone who's children will grow up in this broken world, ie all of us.
I hope you enjoy this youth pastor's wife as much as I do,
~Laura


Sexting

I was emailed an article from one of our parents this week and thought I would share it here on my blog to get your thoughts and perspective. The article is about “Sexting.” If you are not familiar with the term, it is a prevalent trend with young people these days. Sexting involves sending pornographic pictures and text messages via camera phones and if your child is a JH or HS student I guarantee you that they have heard about it, been exposed to it, or are actively participating in it. So what should our response be? This article explains the horrific details of this “craze” and the huge consequences involved. Did you know that teenagers passing around pornographic pictures of themselves or their girlfriends/boyfriends can actually be prosecuted for distributing child pornography and serve prison time? Check out this article for more information.

http://scribbit.blogspot.com/2010/08/sexting-one-more-thing-for-parents-to.html

This situation demands our attention and our response. What a sad and depressing state our society has come to that so many unacceptable things are considered “part of the norm.” We have to raise our voice, but what should that look like?

I saw many comments on the above article stating how they would not be allowing their teenagers to have phones, or they would never allow their children camera phones…but I’m not sure that this is the answer. To me this seems like the legalistic approach of the 80′s and 90′s that, though well-intentioned, drove many young people away from church and searching for grace.

To think that taking away cell phones or not allowing your kids and teenagers to be a part of our technologically advanced world is to protect them, I believe is naïve. Legalism has never worked. It breeds rebellion.

Consider the fairy tale of “Sleeping Beauty.” You know the story. The well-intentioned parents tried to remove their daughter from society and raise her in the countryside. They destroyed every spinning wheel in the kingdom because that was the one thing that they considered a danger to their daughter. They had wonderful intentions to protect her so that she could become the beautiful young woman she was created to be but…as we all know, when she rejoined the kingdom, she stumbled upon a spinning wheel and pricked her finger.

Perhaps her parents could have taken a better approach in teaching her what a spinning wheel looks like and why it was a danger to her. Maybe, equipped with the wisdom on how to live in the kingdom she was born into, she could have made a wiser choice.

I think we have a responsiblity as parents and leaders to “train up our child in the way they should go.” I am not advocating we expose them to all the horrors of society but we cannot be naïve to think that they won’t be confronted with some of the evils of this world, such as “sexting.” I think if we began to have open, honest discussions with our young people to teach and equip them with wisdom for how to respond to the dangers that are out there, we might see a better response.

We live in a world that is devoid of morality and devoid of God. We must begin to “respond” with wisdom and not “react” with fear. We must begin to bring God back into the picture because He is the only hope for this generation. This starts personally and begins to trickle out to all of those in our sphere of influence. We are supposed to be “the salt of the earth and light of the world.” We need to provide real solution to a hurting, confused world and I believe that will come through the knowledge of Jesus Christ and not a list of rules and regulations enforced by our own strength from our own fears.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, lean not on your own understanding. In all your ways, acknowledge him and He will direct your path.” (Proverbs 3:5)

When we trust in the Lord He will equip us with wisdom and knowledge for how to handle any situation we face. He will give us the words to speak and the wisdom to teach.

We must respond…we must raise our voice for what is right and be advocates for truth and justice but we must do so by bringing the truth of God’s love to the world around us and teaching our children to do the same.

XOXO

Meghan Robinson
Life Link Church in AZ

You can find out more about Meghan at meghanrobinson.wordpress.com

God Gives Me Strength

Have you ever had the overwhelming feeling that you just can't keep going? Well, I have. Lately I have had so much to do and so little time to do it. I continued to spend time with God's word and I know that this has been the only way that I have accomplished the tasks before me. The other day I was in Philippians again and came to one of my all time favorite verses. Philippians 4:13 (NIV) "I can do everything through him who gives me strength." The Message says, "Whatever I have, wherever I am, I can make it through anything in the ONE who makes me who I am." It goes on to say, "I don't mean that your help didn't mean a lot to me - it did. It was a beautiful thing that you came alongside me..." Many times lately I have had help to accomplish the tasks before me, and that meant so much to me and said so much about the people that I have surrounded myself with - BUT in all those times if I had just relied on my friends and family to help me, I could never had made it through everything. My joy would have turned into sorrow, my love would have turned into resentment, my peace would have disappeared if I had not embraced the fact that only through "the one who gives me strength" was I able to succeed.

My heart hurts for all the people around me that do not have that blessed assurance. They live their lives daily in a state of defeat. They have no joy, they have no true love, they definitely do not have any peace. They walk through their days with an empty hole inside that only the Son of God can fill. They try to find love in other people and are disappointed. They try to find joy in a bottle and wake up unhappy. They spend their days searching for a little peace and only uncover turmoil in all they do. What a waste of a perfectly good life when God has so many plans for them.

Please do not waste another minute of your life looking and searching, but reach out and accept the "one who gives you strength" and look to him when life gives you to much to handle.

~Debbie~

Feeling Prunish

Lately I've been feeling a little prunish. God has been carefully cutting away the old & dead in order to make way for the new. It has been a very painful and difficult process, but one I know will be magnificent in the end. I hold onto one of the greatest passages in all of God's Word as I continue on my journey. Meditate on it with me as I carry on.

Jesus, the True Vine “I am the true grapevine, and my Father is the gardener. 2 He cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more. 3 You have already been pruned and purified by the message I have given you. 4 Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me.
5 “Yes, I am the vine; you are the branches. Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing. 6 Anyone who does not remain in me is thrown away like a useless branch and withers. Such branches are gathered into a pile to be burned. 7 But if you remain in me and my words remain in you, you may ask for anything you want, and it will be granted! 8 When you produce much fruit, you are my true disciples. This brings great glory to my Father. 9 “I have loved you even as the Father has loved me. Remain in my love. 10 When you obey my commandments, you remain in my love, just as I obey my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. 11 I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow! 12 This is my commandment: Love each other in the same way I have loved you. 13 There is no greater love than to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. 14 You are my friends if you do what I command. 15 I no longer call you slaves, because a master doesn’t confide in his slaves. Now you are my friends, since I have told you everything the Father told me. 16 You didn’t choose me. I chose you. I appointed you to go and produce lasting fruit, so that the Father will give you whatever you ask for, using my name. 17 This is my command: Love each other." John 15:1~17

Love you all

~Kazia~

Memories

Well this Mama will be watching her youngest son get married this Sunday afternoon. Don't get me wrong I love his new wife to be but this is my baby. So many emotions have been going through my mind for the last couple of weeks. I wanted to put on the brakes and make time stand still and let me catch up with all that is happening. Impossible I know. I am looking forward to see all that will take place in their lives.

I spent time gathering pictures from his life for a slideshow and relived so many special moments that I plan to take time more often to sit down with Lee and just reminisce. While the kids were home with us, we were so busy with everyday life that we missed taking time to see all the blessings in our everyday lives. Time does go by so fast and if we are not careful we may miss opportunities to make special memories with the ones we love.

Take time to thank God for your children and all the blessings(not burdens) that they bring into your life. Busy times - yes, but it would be so boring without them.

~Debbie~

Praise the Lord, Oh my soul

I am completely awestruck at the continued greatness and faithfulness of our God. My heart is bursting at the seams and can hardly contain the love that runs so deep for Him…which is simply an overflow of the love He has for you and me. God is so real, true, giving, loving and oh so evident.

Read this passage of scripture. Let the words reach the inmost depths of your heart. Our God is amazing and so incredibly worthy of all praise.

~Terica

Psalm 103 (NIV)
Psalm 103
Of David.
1 Praise the LORD, O my soul;
all my inmost being, praise his holy name.

2 Praise the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits-

3 who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases,

4 who redeems your life from the pit
and crowns you with love and compassion,

5 who satisfies your desires with good things
so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.

6 The LORD works righteousness
and justice for all the oppressed.

7 He made known his ways to Moses,
his deeds to the people of Israel:

8 The LORD is compassionate and gracious,
slow to anger, abounding in love.

9 He will not always accuse,
nor will he harbor his anger forever;

10 he does not treat us as our sins deserve
or repay us according to our iniquities.

11 For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
so great is his love for those who fear him;

12 as far as the east is from the west,
so far has he removed our transgressions from us.

13 As a father has compassion on his children,
so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him;

14 for he knows how we are formed,
he remembers that we are dust.

15 As for man, his days are like grass,
he flourishes like a flower of the field;

16 the wind blows over it and it is gone,
and its place remembers it no more.

17 But from everlasting to everlasting
the LORD's love is with those who fear him,
and his righteousness with their children's children-

18 with those who keep his covenant
and remember to obey his precepts.

19 The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.

20 Praise the LORD, you his angels,
you mighty ones who do his bidding,
who obey his word.

21 Praise the LORD, all his heavenly hosts,
you his servants who do his will.

22 Praise the LORD, all his works
everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the LORD, O my soul