The Meeting

Opening where I left off, seeking to hear His voice, I happened upon Lazarus in his tomb.

“So when Mary heard this, she quickly went to find Him, for Jesus was lingering outside the village at the same spot where Martha…” John 11:29 TPT

-Stop-

Hearing Him speak directly to me,

‘the same spot where Martha left Him’.

Lord, where did I leave You?

Did my “Martha” and all her busyness inside “the village” concerned with the many details of work, and service, forget where I met with You last?

Was it in the quiet of summer past?

Have the days and months become one empty vat?

Where did I meet with You last?

Call forth the one who sleeps!

Awaken my ears and heart to beat.

Lazarus, come out!

“The Master is here and He’s asking for you.” John 11:28 TPT

“When Mary found Jesus…she fell at His feet in tears and said, “Lord”.

John 11:32 TPT

Lazarus, the one who God aids.

“And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:13 NKJV

He’s asking for you.

Photo by dbalog©2020-06-03

Psalm 91:14 – Attached to His Heart

“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will set him on high because He has known My name.” Psalm 91:14 NJKV

“He has set” in the Hebrew means to cling, to delight, to long, to love.

#2836 – chashaq in the Strong’s Complete Word Study Concordance, pg 1865.

May your heart be strengthen and blessed as you allow God to delight in you today❤️

Psalm 91:12 – Precious Value

“Lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Psalm 91:12 NKJV

As I thought on this verse, Holy Spirit brought the Parable of the Hidden Treasure and the Pearl to my mind’s eye.

This is how I believe Jesus sees each of us. We are His treasure, His pearl, worth great value that He gave up His heavenly Kingdom to open the way to bring us, His Bride, to His.

May you each be blessed today knowing, you are “very precious” and an “exquisite pearl” in His eyes.

“Heaven’s kingdom realm is also like a jewel merchant in search of rare pearls. When he discovered one very precious and exquisite pearl, he immediately gave up all he had in exchange for it.” Mathew 13:45-46 The Passion Translation

Psalm 91:12 – Moving Forward

“In their hands they shall bear you up.” Psalm 91:12 NKJV

This picture was captured from my window seat flying into Washington, DC in early August 2020. My family and I flew in to attend a postponed wedding of March 2020.

I selected this picture for verse 12 because the winding muddy river below. It reminded me of a snake. In the midst of the snake’s plaque upon our Land, the infestation of voices warning us over and over, “Do not go, it’s not safe to travel.”  In the midst of the world’s crazy, with His Word tucked in my heart, we stepped out in faith and moved forward.

Psalm 91 and the faith pictures of His hand of protection upon us brought us safely to the wedding and home again. No plague came near our tent, and for His Word we are forever grateful.

May you step into your day filled with God’s promises, and hand of protection upon you and your family.

Denise

Psalm 91:11 – Eyes on Him

“For He shall give His angels charge over you,

To keep you in all your ways.” Psalm 91:11 NKJV

Keeping my eyes up today remembering,

“The LORD by wisdom founded the earth;

By understanding He established the heavens;

By His knowledge, the depths were broken up,

And the clouds drop down the dew…

(My friends), let them not depart from your eyes –

Keep sound wisdom and discretion;

So they will be life to your soul,

And grace to your neck.

Then you will walk safely in your way,                                                                                                 

And your foot will not stumble…

For the LORD will be your confidence,

And will keep your foot from being caught.”

Proverbs 3:19-26 NKJV

Grace to your neck...just a thought, keeping my eyes on Him, I will be in the safe place of Hope – not in the middle of strangling, muzzling fear. Centered safely and secure in His Will and Word.

Blessings in your day,

Denise

Psalm 91:8

“Only with your eyes you shall see…” Psalm 91:8 NKJV

Causing me to think of the life advice in Proverb 4:23,

“Above all else, guard your heart…” Proverbs 4:23 NIV

The Passion Translation shares,

“So above all, guard the affections of your heart,

For they affect all that you are.

Pay attention to the welfare of your innermost being,

For from there flows the wellspring of life.”

Proverbs 4:23 TPT

Today, may you be encouraged to…

“Wait on the LORD,

And keep His way,

And He shall exalt you to inherit the land;

When the wicked are cut off,

You shall see it.

I have seen the wicked in great power,

And spreading himself like a native green tree,

Yet he passed away,

And behold, (look, see, observe)

He was no more;

Indeed I sought him,

But he could not be found.”

                                                                              
Psalm 37:34-36 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

Ready In White

This is a bit different for me, but as you read, I believe it will be a word of encouragement for each of us as we keep our eyes and heart set on Jesus Who loves us.  Love ya, Denise xoxox

“Sleeping sound throughout the night.

Dreaming a dream birthed in white.

Eyelet and threads of fine yard,

Woven in expectation of a new birth to be born.

Waking in peace as I remembered the plan.

At the end, I was rushing to pack,

For the plane would soon land.

Departure was imminent,

Its time was sure,

12:40 marked the numbers I saw on the door.

In peace and pleasantness I pondered these events.

“Lord, are You birthing something new in me, or is the message deeper sent?”

But as I lay in the folds of the breaking dawn,

My peace escaped me as the morning dove’s song.

Worry and anxiety replaced all birthed in me,

As I recalled the days of this now place in our current history.

Fighting back the fear of the doubts,

I grasped to recall the dream’s details shout.

“Departure at 12:40” but what was that all about?

So I searched the Scripture to see what I could see.

Psalm 12 has 8 verses, and David speaks it well.

“The wicked prowl on every side.”

So this verse could not tell.

Psalm 124 has 8 verses,

The Songs of Ascent.

David recalls the Lord’s faithfulness in their life’s events.

“Blessed be the LORD Who has not given us as prey to their teeth.”  Verse 6

Written in the margin,

Next to the teeth,

“They gnashed their teeth at Him.”

Spoke of my Jesus Who knows their deceit.

Thinking of the Man Who died for my sins.

Remembering He knows and has experienced the

Pain I’ve been in.

Fire ignited and I thought,

“Look in Luke!”

Maybe, the answer is found in his Book.

Well lo and behold, the verse spoke well clear.

Draw near my soul,

For I’ll write it down here.

“Therefore you also be ready,

For the Son of Man is coming

At an hour you do not expect.” Luke 12:40

One can’t get a better answer than that.

My Jesus is speaking directly to me.

“Do not have an anxious mind.” Luke 12:29

Nor a heart filled with anxiety.

“Do not fear, little flock,

For it is your Father’s good pleasure

To give you the Kingdom.” Luke 12:32

“For where your treasure is,

There your heart will be also.” Luke 12:34

“Let your waist be grided and

Your lamps burning.” Luke 12:35

For

“Blessed are the servants who the Master,

When He comes,

Will find watching.” Luke 12:37

For the Lord will surely come “quickly” Revelations 22:20

And make “All things new.” Isaiah 43:19

For continue to trust Me,

For I’m coming back for you.”

---

“I will come again,

And receive you to Myself;

That where I AM,

There you may be also.”

John 14:3

Beautiful In Time

“Go, lay down, its not time yet.”

I heard myself tell Abby, my dog, this morning.

How many times have I asked her to trust me.

Go ahead and rest.

Why does she doubt me?

I’ve always come through for her,

Why doesn’t she believe me?

Thinking these words, my heart heard the instruction to myself.

Denise,

“Go lay down, rest your emotions.

It’s not time yet.

Trust Me.

I AM Faithful and will work all things for your good according to My glorious plan and purpose.”

“I am convenience that any suffering we endure is less than nothing compared to the magnitude of glory that is about to be unveiled within us.

The entire universe is standing on tiptoe, yearning to see the unveiling of God’s glorious sons and daughters!” Romans 8:18-19 The Passion Translation

“He has made everything beautiful in its time.” Ecclesiastes 3:11

Resting in Jesus Who loves me,

Denise

Piercing Soul and Spirit

Day Eight – Gezer – Precipice – Cut Off

“…the king of Gezer, one.” Joshua 12:12 NKJV

The fierce enemy Joshua faces conceals a two-edge sword.

One side of the blade, his name Gezer means – precipice or a vertical cliff. On the other side of the edge, his name can also be spelled Gazer which means “cut off”.  

A vertical drop when I listen to his double talk. 

“Then Horman (his name means elevation) king of Gezer came up…and Joshua struck him and his people, until he left him none remaining.” Joshua 10:33 NJKV

Lord, my I too have a Joshua spirit! Cutting off the lies and double talk tactics of any attack against my mind and heart. May I open my mouth boldly by wielding the powerful sword of Your Word keeping my emotions, body, soul, and spirit firmly position on The Rock, Your Son Jesus Christ.

“For the Word of God is living and powerful, and

 Sharper than any two-edge sword,

Piercing even to the division of soul and spirit,

And joints and marrow,

 And is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12 NKJV

“And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God… that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the Gospel…” Ephesians 6:17 NKJV

From The Joshua Journals of denisebalog©2020

Photo by dbalog©2021 – Psalm 91:5 NKJV

His Word Shines!

31 Days of Victory Through Joshua’s Battles

Day Six – Lachish – Impregnable

“…the king of Lachish, one:” Joshua 12:11 NKJV

How can I find victory over an impregnable enemy who appears strong and not easily taken by force?

The key to success over Lachish can befound in this enemy’sfirst name.

“…Japhia king of Lachish,” Joshua 10:3 NKJV

  “Japhia” means “shine”.

Lachish wants to shine his strong imprisonment of distractions into my heart; causing me to battle with him all day.

Like Joshua, when I meditate, ponder, and store up God’s Wordin my heart, I’m empowered with the strongest shield of Light and an impregnable defensed against any battlefield tactic or diversion the king of Lachish can cause in my day.

“For in You is the fountain of life;

In Your Light we see light.”

Psalm 36:9 NKJV

Oh, mighty warriors, traveling companions of mine, when we meditate and let His Word Shine into our thoughts, we are empowered to conquer the Lachish of our minds!

God bless you and thank you for joining the study.

Denise

“But then I recall all You have done, O LORD.

I remember Your wonderful deeds of long ago.

They are constantly in my thoughts.

I cannot stop thinking about Your mighty works.”

Psalm 77:11-12 NLT

From the Joshua Journals of denisebalog©2020

Day 5 – Jarmuth – Height

Today’s word is Height.

I need to be on the lookout to guard my mind against anything (fear, anxiety, health, the concerns of my heart) that would exult itself above Christ.

“The Lord is my Shepherd;

I shall now want.” Psalm 23:1 NKJV

Thank You Lord for Your reminder. You are my Shepherd, and in You I have no lack.

Helmet on and ready to step into the day.

May you bless in Jesus Who loves you.

Denise

“For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds,

Casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought in to captivity to the obedience of Christ.” 2 Corinthians 10:4-5 NKJV