Waste at Noon Day

Stark, black and white, raw pain.

Joyous my friend and I headed to our small, rural downtown to experiment and capture images of all we could envision. In quick, rising summer morning temperatures of late July, we had a blast!

Little did we know, for each of us, the raw pain pictured would be real within the month.

“Nor the destruction that lays waste at noonday.” Psalm 91:6 NKJV

But! As the Prophet Habakkuk who ministered “during the “death throes” of the nation of Judah,” each of us battles daily to hold tight the promises of God. For we know, we are pilgrims passing through this world awaiting His glorious Kingdom Come. Once again, to be reunited with our loved ones with joy unimaginable!

“Yet I will rejoice in the LORD,

I will joy in the God of my salvation.”

Habakkuk 3:18 NKJV

“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes;

There shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying.

There shall be no more pain,

For the former things have passed away.”

Revelations 2:4 NKJV

Quote from Holy Bible, New King James. Thomas Nelson. Nashville, TN. 1982. [page 1080]

The Joshua Journals – Introduction

Strong and Courageous -31 Days of Victory Through Joshua’s Battles

Can there be lessons learned from Joshua’s battles and victories found in the Book of Joshua? Joshua battled and claimed victory in the lands and territories of thirty-one different kingdoms.

Struggling with the battles and direction in my days, I couldn’t help wondering if there were insights on how to successfully look for and be forewarned of the little kings or enemies.  Those unexpected distractions diverting my attention and depleting my strength fighting battles throughout my day. How could I be more like Joshua and walk in the land God had promised and assured Joshua belong to him.

“Every place that the sole of your foot will tread upon I have given you, as I said to Moses.” Joshua 1:3 NKJV

In the following days, I invite you to share in fresh daily insights and reflections of the past two years of traversing the battles and more importantly the victories found in Joshua.

I thank you for joining me and pray you are empowered to live victorious daily in Strong and Courageous – 31 Days of Victory Through Joshua’s Battles.

Denise

“Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the LORD your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 NKJV

From The Joshua Journals by denisebalog©2020

Photo by denisebalog©2020

Arrows in the Daytime

Psalm 91:5

According to “Many Jewish scholars” verses 5 and 6 protection are “not merely to pestilence and natural dangers but to the realm of spiritual darkness that would come against God’s servants. These spirits are equated to “arrows that fly in daytime”. The Passion Translation. Foot note 91:6 Verses 5-6. {pg 875}

“You will never worry about an attack of demonic forces at night nor have to fear a spirit of darkness coming against you. Don’t fear a thing! Psalm 91:5 TPT

Amen! and Thank You Jesus!

“Unless the LORD guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain…

For so He gives His beloved sleep.”

Psalm 127:1&2 NKJV

Psalm 91:4 – Faith Pictures

Two weeks back, desperate to hear a word of encouragement from God, I went in search of the word “hope”.

I was surprised to find so many verses and variations of the word.

The “hope” I settled on is the Hebrew word machseh #4268 in the Strong’s Concordance. The definition surprised me. “hope, (place of) refuge, shelter, trust.”  His hope is my place of refuge and shelter when I trust in Him.

Often, I will look up to the word above and below to the next Hebrew word in the order. Often the Hebrew words are similar in spelling and a bit more of explanation is often given. Surprisingly, the word above and the word beneath “machseh” #4268 hit the reason for my desperate search for hope.

The word above #4267 machanaq means choking – strangling.

Hope, Refuge, Shelter, Trust

The word beneath #4269 machsowm means a muzzle – bridle.

This struck me, my Hope is found between the strangling and the bridle. I’ve pondered this for many days.

Last night, in the middle of the night, the sensation of pressure, or the strangling of my heart woke my sleep. I lay there praying, my hope, my place of refuge, my shelter, my trust is right here in the middle of any feeling of strangling of my heart or the muzzling of my freedoms. Peace replaced the pressure and I slept as His beloved for the rest of the night.

In step with the verses, today’s photograph, with the feather that began the whole Psalm 91 series which I will share another time, reminded me,

 He is my Hope, my Refuge, my Shelter, and my Trust.

Blessings,

Denise

Break of Day Luminous

“The revelation-light of His Word makes my spirit shine radiant.” Psalm 19:8 TPT

The Hebrew understanding of this verse can be as this:

The break of day, luminous light of His Word causes my eyes to shine with the knowledge of His Face, and favor in life.

Praying you too may be so captivated by the Light of God’s Word and the radiance of Jesus’ Face; your eyes will shine new with understanding of His love for you by His grace!

God bless you,

Denise

“The LORD bless you and keep you;

The LORD makes His face shine upon you,

And be gracious to you;

The LORD lift up His countenance upon you,

And give you peace.”

Numbers 6:24-26 NKJV

The Heavens Proclaim

Psalm 91:3 – Faith Pictures

The Hebrew word for pestilence can also mean “poisoned arrows”.

I can’t help but think the “poisoned arrows” are those doubtful thoughts “shot” into our head causing us to doubt what the Word of God says.

Jesus praying right before He begins the long night of His passion,

“I am not asking that You remove them from the world,

But I ask that You guard their hearts from evil,

For they no longer belong to this world any more than I do.

Your Word is truth!

John 17:15 & 16 The Passion Translation

In the Morning

Included in my prayers Sunday night while the temperatures dropped and the heavy snow continued to come down on the cows and outside animals, I asked the Lord to merciful in the morning.

Oh how my heart rejoiced to see the sun rising. Giving me hope and reassurance He hears my prayers and cares deeply for the concerns of our hearts.

God bless and stay warm as we get ready for the next storm this evening.

Denise

For All Generations

The Lord brought me to this Scripture this morning.

Last night as I tried to pray for our Country,

Joining in with the prayers of those going before us,

I couldn’t think of how to pray according to His Word.

This morning going out in zero degrees temperatures to feed the birds and take a picture or two, He showed me Psalm 33 and how to pray while I warmed up with a hot cup of coffee snuggled in His Word.

Appealing to Heaven according to His Faithful Word.

“I have set watchmen on your walls…

They shall never hold their peace day and night.

You who make mention of the LORD,

Do not keep silent,

And give Him no rest till He establishes…” Isaiah 62:6 NKJV

Remembering and honoring all those who fought and continue to fight for our Freedom.

Zero degree morning.

Thankful for the morning sunshine.

Have a blessed day,

Denise

Hearing Love – 2:14

My heart always skips a beat when I discover what I like to call a “2:14 heart verse”.

Spending time with my Beloved in the

Song of Solomon 2:14 NKJV

“O my dove, in the clefts of the rock,

In the secret places of the cliff,

Let me see your face,

Let me hear your voice,

For your voice is sweet,

And your face is lovely.”

Journaling my heart’s secret thoughts beside the Dead Sea, Israel.

Oh the sweetness found in 2 Corinthians 2:14

“Now thanks be to God who always leads us in triumph in Christ,

And through us diffuses the fragrance of His knowledge in every place.”

His fragrance is captivating.

Who could resist imaging oneself sitting at the table with Boaz our Kingsman Redeemer in

Ruth 2:14

“Now Boaz said to her at mealtime,

“Come here, and eat of the bread, and

Dip your piece of bread in the vinegar.”

Vinegar can speak of “tears” in the Bible. Oh, how my heart weeps with Jesus’ love and comfort when I spend time in His Word.

I can share my tears with Him safely.

And the ultimate love of the One Who gave His life for me found in

Colossians 2:14

“He canceled out every legal violation we had on our record and the old arrest warrant that stood to indict us,

He erased it all – our sins, our stained soul – He deleted it all and they cannot be retrieved!

Everything we once were in Adam has been placed onto His Cross and nailed permanently there as a public display of cancellation.” The Passion Translation

He first loved me.

I pray you find a 2:14 love verse for yourself as you curl up with the One Who loves us on this Valentine’s Day.

Love ya,

Denise

xoxox

Psalm 91:3 – Faith Pictures

“He will rescue you from every hidden trap of the enemy…” verse 3 from The Passion Translation

Psalm 91:2 – Faith Pictures

“He is the hope that holds me…”

The word “refuge” in Hebrew is also the word used for “hope”.

May we find His personal shelter and hope as we walk through this day; trusting in God alone, Who is our fortress and great confidence.

“He’s the hope that holds me,

And the stronghold to shelter me,

The only God for me,

And my great confidence.”

Psalm 91:2 The Passion Translation

Psalm 91 – Faith Pictures

Beginning a new journey. In the following days, I will be sharing my personal photographs with Scripture verses from Psalm 91.

It would be an honor to have you join me.

Blessings,

Denise