Faith – denisebalog…Grace filled devotionals.

Dreams to Dream

While my family sleeps, I can’t help but get up and dream.

“What does my eye and heart behold?

A sleeping greenhouse with plants untold.

Tucked inside are dreams of spring;

Planning, planting, and growth to bring.

Your Word is faithful as it speaks to me,

The possibilities are endless,

“Come and See.”

“It shall come to pass…

Old men shall dream dreams.” Joel 2:28

Dreaming my way into this season of light.

Blessings,

Denise

It’s Time

– Redeemed, quietly wait, trusting.-

“O people, of God, your time has come to quietly trust, waiting upon the Lord now and forever.” TPT

dbalogc2022

Photos by dbalogc2022

Because…

In God, praise rises – no fear.

“When I cry out to You,

Then my enemies will turn back;

This I know,

Because God is for me.”

“In God (I will praise His word),

In the LORD (I will praise His word),

In God I have put my trust:

I will not be afraid,

What can man do to me?”

Psalm 56:9-11 NKJV

Psalm 91:13 – Dancing Power of God

Faith Pictures

“You shall tread upon the lion and the cobra…” Psalm 91:13 NKJV

Verse 13 was one of the last Faith Pictures for Psalm 91 left for me to photograph.

I would pray and ask for God’s eye to point me in the right direction, but “Lion and cobra” left me blinded each time.

Interestingly, The Passion Translation notes this on verse 13.

“The Hebrew includes words for “lions,” “snakes,” and “dragons” as the three great symbols of satanic power.” [pg. 875]

Isn’t that just like us in the natural? How do we stomp on lions and cobras when we can’t see anything physical to stomp on.

Today’s picture is of the eclipse that occurred a few years back.

Remember the media and authorities warning us daily to “Don’t look”, “Don’t go out”, you may be blinded or something worse?

Well, I did go out. No, I didn’t look directly into the sky to see what was happening, but oh how I would have missed seeing the awesome display of God’s power dancing on the paths around my house.

Today, in God’s wisdom and discernment, may we not fear what the world fears, both in the natural and the unseen. Stepping into the Light of His path knowing in our heart, we will “the serpent you shall trample underfoot.” because Jesus “bruised His head” for us at Calvary. Genesis 3:15

Blessings,

Denise

Psalm 91:12 – Moving Forward

Faith Pictures

“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 91:7

Faith Pictures

“A thousand may fall at your side,
And ten thousand at your right hand;
But it shall not come near you.”
Psalm 91:7 NKJV

The “the right hand” speaks of favor (undeserved, unmerited goodness of God for you), and also, “strength”.

May you step out in His strength today, not yours but His, knowing you are loved and highly favored trusting in Jesus Who died for you ❤️

“We love (having strength in the hard places of the day) because He first loved us” 1 John 4:19 NKJV

“There is no fear in love;
But perfect love casts out fear…”
1 John 4:18 NKJV

Blessings,
Denise

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

God Will Open

Pull me out of thinking about last night, last year’s troubles.

Waking to remember, I got my car stuck in the mud last night bringing my Mom home in the pouring rain.

It didn’t help leaving the car running for 15 minutes while I got her settled in for the night. Then there was the hesitation when I tried to pull away. I knew then, “I’m in trouble now” Reminding myself of the advice I recently heard,

“To hesitate is to tolerate.”

Marcus, who helps me every night to transport Mom and her wheelchair up and back from our house for dinner, (she is no weight bearing for another couple of weeks), we tried throwing rugs under the front wheel, but the tires continued to spin and sink deeper into Mom’s front yard. How stupid is this, I know better, now I’ll have to tolerate (endure, accept, stomach) the results of my actions.

Determined not to let it ruin our night, the last night of the year, we gathered our things and walked back up the lane singing. Yep, what else could we do in the cold, pouring rain of New Year’s Eve 2020. Seemed like a fitting end to this year.

“Over the river and through the woods,” we walked home, feet soaked, (of course, I didn’t slip on my rubber boots by the backdoor before leaving the house. I’m only going to be 15 minutes) Yes Mom, I remember, “Always put-on clean underwear when you go out in case something happens.” Only this time I could have used this advice for wearing my rubber boots!

So this morning, the first morning of the new year, I wondered to myself pouring the first cup of coffee, before dealing with my car “stuck” in the mud, “Gosh Lord, is this the word for the new year?

Don’t get stuck thinking about your troubles of 2020.

As is my way to study and understand, I picked up the Concordance to see if “stuck” was in the Bible. Nope, no “stuck”. That’s comforting, looks like God doesn’t see things as stuck. Humm, “What are you trying to say Lord?”

Opening the pages to Isaiah, my eyes fell on

“For since the beginning of the world

Men have not heard,

Nor perceived by the ear,

Nor has the eye seen any God beside You,

Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”

Isaiah 64:4 NKJV

Yes Lord, “Who acts for the one who waits for Him.”

The editor noted in the margin, next to verse 64: 4 “Psalm 31:19”. Seeking to hear and understand, I followed the path to Psalm 31. The answer to my question for this year was found in verse 4.

“Pull me out of the net which they have secretly laid for me,

For You are my Strength.”

Psalm 31:4 NKJV

Pull me out –

Yes Lord, You “lead and guide me” verse 3.

Pull me out of thinking about last night, last year’s troubles.

Lead and Guide me, for You are my Strength.

The Hebrew word cluster for “pull me out” is numbered in the Concordance as #3318 (for those who like to dig deeper). Pull me out – yatsa – to go, to bring out, carry forth, a variety of words…shoot forth, spring out. #3319 – to finish.

Glancing up to see #3317 – (wait for it)

#3317 – Yiphtach or Jiphthah El

God will Open!

Now there’s a word I receive and can carry forth, shoot forth, spring out into the new year of 2021!

Don’t get stuck looking back on my troubles in 2020.

Yes, God knows I still have to deal with getting my car out of the mud, but I’m not to let, my troubles keep me stuck in yesterday’s problems. Following His path to see and hear, “God acts for the one who waits for Him”.

God will Open

Thank you Lord, You will open, carry forth, ALL Your good plans as we allow You to “lead” and guide” us through this New Year in Jesus’ Mighty Name! Amen!

And what was verse 19 in Psalm 31 that sent me there in the first place?

“Oh, how great is Your goodness,

Which You have laid up for those who fear You,

Which You have prepared for those who trust in You

In the presence of the sons of men!” Psalm 31:19

Ps: Blue and Sarah our good friends are on their way to help us out! Thank You Jesus!

The Circle Dance

2020-12-30

Gilgal – The Circle Dance

It’s been a while since I picked up my Joshua journal, opening the book, thumbing through the pages finding today’s date – Day 30 – and the words penciled – Gilgal.

Gilgal – the circle dance.

Spinning back around to the Promises of God. Held back, often by ourselves or the people we travel with in life, from the Promises of God. –

What is my Gilgal? What promises am I circling back around to today? Lord, I don’t believe it is by happenstance I reached for this book today. What are You speaking on this 30^th day of this season?

“Command the priest who bear the ark of the Testimony to come up from the Jordan…and it came to pass, when the priest who bore the ark of the covenant of the LORD and come from the midst of the Jordan, and the soles of the priests’ feet touched the dry land, the waters of the Jordan returned to their place and overflowed all its banks as before….and they camped in Gilgal.” Joshua Chapter 4:14-20 NKJV

Gilgal – The place where the priest, (a shadow of you and me) the place where the priest feet stood firm (trusting in God) in the crossing of the Jordan, (into the Promise Land) bearing the Ark of the Covenant, (His Word tucked into our spirit, soul, and mind) to come up out of this year stepping into all the good promises found in His Word and encamp there (staying in the Word, circling back around time and time again to His faithful promises) in the coming new year.

The circle dance of Gilgal.

“The Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, Amen.” Galatians 6:18 NKJV

Denise

“Praise the Lord!

Sing to the LORD a new song…

Praise His name with dancing…

For the Lord delights in His people.”

Psalm 149:1-4 NLT