Bless the Lord

 “Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name.”  Psalm 103:1

We are standing on the threshold of another new year. The past year has brought sorrow and happiness to each of our lives. Events and memories that we carry forward as we face new challenges. Even though we can’t foresee what lies ahead, we can be assured that we won’t face it alone. Our Lord knows the future and walks with us.

The book of Psalms is of particular comfort to me when I am troubled. The Psalms flow with such emotion. Prayers and praise. They speak of real life and the struggle of reaching out to God, but also give us the encouragement to walk closely with Him. Hope and peace are found in the Lord and we can celebrate His goodness. When everything around us seems to crumble and despair overwhelms our hearts, lift His name in praise. Bless His holy name.

Some of the most memorized and quoted verses of the Bible are found in the book of Psalms. They offer light and truth. A balm to our hurts and fill our hearts with song during our personal worship time.

Many of the Psalms have become “scripture songs” that contain a partial or entire direct quote of scripture. These songs are short and designed for easy memorization so they can be sung as long as the Spirit moves. Andrae Crouch wrote such a song, Bless His Holy Name, using Psalm 103:1 in 1973. It became a staple of his repertoire and is still a blessing today. 

My prayer for everyone is that, whatever we find in the days to come, we will realize the blessings of God in our lives. That there will be comfort found in the Word of God, love found with family and friends, and hope found in our Lord Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord,
Thank you for giving me another year. Help me live each day as a reflection of You.

 

Savior

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” — John 3: 16-17

Every year, the Christmas season brings a flurry of new holiday movies with the hope that they will become new favorites and join the classics that return for another repeat performance. While the Spirit of Christmas is captured, not all tell the true story. The religious story. Christ’s story.

Recently, I had the chance to watch a cute, animated, film that originally appeared in movie theaters in November of 2017 — The Star. The main character is a little donkey who dreams of becoming a part of the royal caravan. Through a series of events, he ends up with Mary and Joseph at the stable. There, he realizes that the king he was destined to serve is his creator. 

Amidst the chaos and confusion, trials and troubles, the Savior came. God’s gift to the world. His one and only son, Jesus. Our Redeemer. 

So many people looked forward to the coming of the Messiah. Just like the little donkey, they dreamed of being part of a royal caravan. An earthly kingdom. Only a handful of shepherds found their way to the stable to bow before the true king. 

God so loved, He gave. Wholly and freely, He gave. Salvation from sin, offered to all.

Dear Lord, 
Thank you for loving me so much. Help me live a life that reflects You.

"His Name is Wonderful"

 “For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God , The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.”  — Isaiah 9:6

The Christmas season is my favorite time of year. Memories of my childhood flood my mind with every Christmas song I hear. Those especially close to my heart are the hymns. Christmas Eve candlelight services and the joy of the children’s programs carry their own special blessing. There is a peace and closeness to the Savior that gives comfort in the midst of a troubled world.

Too often, we get caught up in the material side of the season. The gift-giving, the party-going, and the decorations. While these are fun, they can also distract from the purpose of celebration. Many times, we can fall short in our gift-giving, but God gave us His most precious and perfect gift. His Son.

One of my favorite hymns, “His Name is Wonderful,” was composed by Audrey Mieir in 1955. Watching the children’s Nativity scene during their Christmas program at church and following the sermon afterward, went deep into her soul. At the conclusion of reading the scripture Isaiah 9:6, her pastor lifted his hands, closed his eyes, and said “His name is wonderful.” Mrs. Mieir quickly wrote the words on the flyleaf of her Bible three times, then added the name of her Lord. A few days later, she completed all of the music and a fuller description of Jesus.

Not only are the words of this song a personal testimony of the relationship between Mrs. Mieir and Jesus, but it also captures the testimony of every Christian. How praiseworthy He is. Let us bow down, love, and adore Him.

Audrey Mieir died in 1996 at the age of 80. Some of her last words were: “‘His Name is Wonderful’ will outlive the chubby human hands chosen to write a few black notes on five lines and four spaces. But it will never outlive the Father who glories in His Son’s name and who glories in our praise.”

Dear Lord,
     You are the Word made flesh and I’m filled with wonder and praise. I bow before Your throne of grace and proclaim You King.

A little bit of everything good!

Anthologies

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Blackbirds First Flight
By Various Authors
⇨ An unhappy wife can't decide what to do about her boorish husband until an uneaten meal gives her a dark idea...
⇨ Something is raising zombies in Tulsa, and Justina Grave is the only one who can stop it...
⇨ When a fat farm promises to make Edyth thin again, her dream comes true. She will never be fat again—or safe...
⇨ Hopping a freight train can be a cheap way to travel. Unless you pick the wrong boxcar...
⇨ One kiss gives Francois immortality, but at a cost he doesn't see coming...
⇨ A woman warrior must choose her fate as the Romans ravage her land...
⇨ Stalked by terrible creatures seeking vengeance, a band of robbers runs for their lives in medieval France...
This anthology will lead you into dark, twisted places filled with mystery and delight. Enjoy thrilling stories and chilling poems by authors Stephen B. Bagley, Kent Bass, Wendy Blanton, Gail Henderson, Tamara Siler Jones, and Jean Schara.
Buy on Amazon

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Blackbirds Second Flight
by Various Authors
Enjoy new dark and twisted stories and poems from Stephen B. Bagley, Wendy Blanton, Gail Henderson, Ken Lewis, Jean Schara, and Heath Stallcup
Buy on Amazon

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Blackbirds Third Flight
by Various Authors
Enjoy these dark fantasies:
✥ A dead girl asks one final question.
✥ A young man rides a forbidden dragon.
✥ With claw and fang, Malone will fight.
✥ Justina Grave battles a dangerous witch.
✥ A father faces his family's terrible secret.
✥ The end of the world begins in a backyard.
✥ A predator prowls on Halloween night.
✥ Thunder Mountain will kill the careless.
✥ Learn the final truth of the Tooth Fairy.
✥ A wolf reveals the face of the true beast.
And much more in this anthology of thrilling tales and poetry from Kathy Akins, Stephen B. Bagley, Wendy Blanton, Michael Canton, D.E. Chandler, Erin Cochran, Gail Henderson, Mariana Llanos, Jean Schara, and Heath Stallcup.
Buy on Amazon

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Prosateurs: Tales & Truth 
by the Prosateurs
Enjoy articles, essays, memoirs, poems, recipes, short stories, and more from members of the Prosateurs writing group, including
➼ 13 Ways to be More Creative in your life.
➼ How NOT to curse like a sailor.

➼ A daughter endures her mother melting away.

➼ What's alive in that garage can?
➼ How to bake a Fruit Cocktail Cake.

➼ Relish a sonnet for Autumn.

➼ Learn the amazing secret of the Thanksgiving Tree.

➼ How do you deal with doubt?
➼ An Air Force wife confronts her future.

➼ Special Bonus: Prosateurs share Writing Tips.

And much more!
Buy on Amazon!

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Yule Tidings
by the Prosateurs
The Prosateurs celebrate Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year's with articles, devotionals, essays, memoirs, poems, recipes, short stories, including:
Be the Hostess with the Mostest!
Enjoy Tasty Christmas Sausage Balls
Awake Prayer and Thanksgiving!
Marvel at the Ancient Yuletide Origins!
Listen to the Christmas Bells Sing!
Survive the Holidays with Ease!
When Does One Plus One Equal Eleven?
The Other Serving Girl Tells her Tale!
The Turducken Hits the Fan!
Realize You're Not Poor at All!
And much more!
Buy on Amazon!
Buy on Lulu!
Buy on Barnes & Noble!
Buy on BooksAMillion!

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