Kumquat tree and blueberry tree

Here is a picture of the kumquat tree. Hubby is probably taking it out so we can plant an avocado tree.

Here is a picture of the blueberry tree. Lots of blueberries this year!

Psalm 4

Ps 4:1 Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness!
You have relieved me in my distress; Have mercy on me, and hear my prayer.
:2 How long, O you sons of men, will you turn My glory to shame? How long will you love worthlessness and seek falsehood? Selah
:3 But know that the Lord has set apart for Himself him who is godly; the Lord will hear when I call to Him.
:4 Be angry, and do not sin. Meditate within your heart on your bed, and be still. Selah
:5 Offer the sacrifices of righteousness, and put your trust in the Lord.
:6 There are many who say, "who will show us any good?" Lord, lift up the light of Your countenanace upon us.
:7 You have put gladness in my heart, more then in the season that their grain and wine increased.
:8 I will both lie down in peace, and sleep; for You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.

Sacrifices of righteousness are those offered with the right attitude.

Verse 4 tells us to be angry and sin not. Are you ever angry with God because you feel you know exactly how He should handle something you are praying about and yet that is not what He does? Do you think if during that time you offered what you think is sacrifices of righteousness He would accept them? We must be willing to accept God's answer to our prayers even when we don't agree with the answer He has.

Psalm 3

Psalm 3 was written while David was fleeing from his son Absalom.
Ps 3:1 Lord, how they have increased who trouble me!
Many are they who rise up against me.
:2 Many are they who say of me,
"There is no help for him in God." Selah
:3 But You, O Lord, are a shield for me,
My glory and the One who lifts up my head.
:4 I cried to the Lord with my voice,
And He heard me from His holy hill. Selah
:5 I lay down and slept;
I awoke, for the Lord sustained me.
:6 I will not be afraid of ten thousands of people
Who have set themselves against me all around.

David had days just like we do. Some even worse then our worse day. His own son wanted to kill him. Not that he was angry with David, he literally wanted David dead! How horrible and heart breaking that must have been. And then we see here that people were telling him even God wouldn't help him. Sound familiar?
Ever been in a situation that even if people didn't voice God wouldn't help you, you know that was what they were thinking? We must NEVER lose sight of the fact that God is always with us. And like David if we follow God with our whole heart, He will be with us to help us and we can cry out to Him in confidence as David did, knowing He hears us and will help us if we are in His will.
God doesn't promise to change our situations, but He does promise to change us.
What type of enemies are you facing today? Personal ones trying to take over your life? Spiritual ones trying to attack your faith and confidence in God? Psalm 3 was written for you.
Just as God protected David from his attackers, He has promised to protect you and I.

Psalm 2

Psalm 2:1 Why do the nations rage, and the people plot a vain thing?
:2 The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying,
:3 Let us break Their bonds in pieces and cast away Yheir cords from us.
:4 He who sits in the heavens shall laugh; The Lord shall hold them in derision.
:5 Then He shall speak to them in His wrath, and distress them in His deep displeasure:
:6 Yet I have set My king on My holy hill of Zion.
:7 I will declare the decree: The Lord has said to me, you are My son, today I have begotten you.
:8 Ask of Me, and I will give you the nations for your inheritance, and the ends of the earth for your possession.
:9 You shall break them with a rod of iron; you shall dash them to pieces like a potter's vessel.
:10 Now therefore, be wise, O kings; be instructed, you judges of the earth.
:11 Serve the Lord with fear, and rejoice with trembling.
:12 Kiss the Son, lest He be angry, and you perish in the way. When His wrath is kindled but a little. Blessed are all those who put their trust in Him.
See verse 12? Kiss the Son? That is a show of submission to authority. We can't physically kiss Jesus right now, but we can by bowing our hearts and will to Him.

Psalm 1

Ps 1:1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;
:2 But his delight is in the law of the Lord, and in His law he meditates day and night.
:3 He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season,
:4 The ungodly are not so, but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.
:5 Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
:6 For the Lord knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.
In the first of the Psalms we are immediately faced with two choices. To go the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. What choice will you make? This way or your way? There are really only 2 options.
The opening word of this Psalm is a call to blessing. If you want a blessed life you must make a choice to not do certain things.
1. Don't think like people who have no time for God.
2. Don't act like the people around you who are going their own way.
3. Don't link your life to people who will pull you away from God.
4. Don't speak like people without God in their life.
Wise people focus on God's word. They meditate on His promises and instructions for living. While standing in long lines at the grocery checkout (I will face this today), they think about God's abundant provision of daily food. That can be difficult when you are tired and the lines are long, can't it? When they are faced with difficult decisions, wise people seek God's direction from His word. They memorize scripture so it is always available even when a bible isn't.
Those who choose to walk through life without God are easily blown about by the wind. They may stand fine right now among sinners, but when God evaluates their life they will lose.
Psalm 1 is the gateway to the other psalms. It gives us some principles that will help us to incorporate the rest into our lives.
1. We are encouraged to think of the psalms as providing God's guidance and wisdom.
2. We are challenged to think carefully, to meditate, on what we learn in these psalms. A quick glance will not give us enough time to pull out the riches God has for us here.
3. How we respond to each message will determine our ultimate destiny. Our obedience or lack of obedience will demonstrate whether we are on the right or wrong road.
4. We are confronted with the fact that God's ultimate purpose for us as His children is that we are blessed, not just in heaven some day, but every day in the here and now.

Plans

Proverbs 16:9 The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps.

God constantly knows your thoughts. Something to think about isn't it? This proverb deals with the plans we make in our mind. Ever feel like you have everything planned out in your thoughts and then feel like as you go through the day or situation that God laughs? Or is that just me?

We get so caught up sometimes in planning things out the way we think they should go that we totally miss what God is doing. If we just focus completely on God, turn our thoughts and plans over to Him we will be much happier and much more peaceful.

Peace

John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.
I needed this badly this morning. I woke with a bad uneasy feeling and haven't been able to shake it even after prayer. Then I begin my bible study and God, being God, knew exactly what I would need on this day at this time. He didn't give me this verse yesterday or last week. It was waiting for me today. How awesome is our God??
Here is another verse from my reading today.
2 Thess 3:16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.
Peace is a free gift Jesus promised the disciples and all who would follow Him. He provides it freely. It is our responsibility to receive this gift. Will you receive this gift today?

The Future

The past cannot be different from what has actually occurred. God wants to help you make a new beginning instead, starting right where you are.  Now is the only place you can start cause it is where He has you right now.
You are capable of living joyfully in this moment. All He is has asked you to deal with is the moment you are in right now.
We find it difficult to believe the future will be any different then our present when we are in the midst of things. The future is one of those secret things that only God knows. Release it to Him. Refuse to worry aobut things you have no control over anyway. You will find what He provides for you today to be sufficient for today.
Luke 1:37 For nothing is impossible with God.