New Year – denisebalog…Grace filled devotionals.

Opened to Know

“I sought the LORD and He answered me.

His Holy fire opened my eyes to see.

To know His Name and declare His fame,

For His consuming LOVE set me free!”

“I sought the LORD and He answered me

and delivered me from all my fears.”

Psalm 34:4 ESV

Beginning a new,

Denise

Photo and Poem by dbalogc2023

A Good Expectation

“Thank You Lord, for this day.

No expectations, only play.

Snoring dog on pillow resides;

Christmas tree in hope reminds.

This year has nearly come to close,

But here at Your feet,

A confident expectation of Your good

In the coming new year glows.”

“Out of Zion, the Perfection of Beauty,

God will shine forth.

Psalm 50:2 NKJV

Enjoying the last days of 2021.

Blessings to you and your household from Abby and me.

Denise

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!

Strap on Praise!

Whatever battle or disappointment you find this day,
Remember the LORD’s Strong Arm is not shorten
Nor is He unable or unwilling to save!

Cloudy and gray,

Road signs point,

Disaster coming our way.

But Your Love speaks a better Word!

One filled with Hope and not dread!

For You inhabit the praises of Your people;

For You are a Living God Whose Miracles

Continue to raise the dead!

Sing a new song, oh Your people,

Strap praise on thy thigh,

For the battle is the LORDS

When see through His eyes!

“O our God…we have no power against this great multitude (the concerns of our hearts) …nor do we know what to do,

But our eyes are upon You.” 2 Chronicles 20:12 NKJV

“So they rose early in the morning and went out into the Wilderness of Tekoa (valley of the trumpet); and as they went out, Jehoshaphat stood and said, “Hear me, O Judah (praise) and you inhabitants of Jerusalem (peace): Believe the LORD your God, and you shall be established…” 2 Chronicles 20:20 NKJV

“…he (Jehoshaphat) appointed those who should sing to the LORD, and who should praise the beauty of Holiness, as they went out before the army (the power of praise in their hands) and were saying:

“Praise the LORD,

For His mercy endures forever.”

Now when they began to sing and to praise, the LORD set ambushes against (their enemies) and they were defeated.” 2 Chronicles 20:22 NKJV

Whatever battle or disappointment you find this day,

Remember the LORD’s Strong Arm is not shorten

Nor is He unable or unwilling to save!

“Awake, awake!

Put on Your Strength,

O arm of the LORD! Isaiah 51:9 NKJV

“Strengthen the weak hands,

And make firm the feeble knees,

Say to those who are fearful-hearted

“Be strong, do not fear!” Isaiah 35:3 NKJV

“Thus says the LORD to you:

“Do not be afraid nor dismayed because of this great multitude

For the battle is not yours,

But God’s!” 2 Chronicles 20:15 NKJV

“Then you will understand what is right, just, and fair, and you will find the right way to go.

For wisdom will enter your heart, and knowledge will fill you with joy.

Wise choices will watch over you.

Understanding will keep you safe.”

Proverbs 2:9-11 NLT

Bring on 2021!

Prayers for each of you and your families as we strap on praise and enter into His peace for the coming new year!

Denise xoxox

Poem and photo dbalog©

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

Cat’s View

“Cats at the window

Bird’s in view.

Sunshine on the feeder,

Coffee in the brew.

Oh, I’ve enjoyed the season; rest and family time.

Open up the year LORD,

Direct my steps according to Thine.”

“Even the sparrow has found a home, and the swallow a nest for herself…”Psalm 84:3 NKJV

“…make His footsteps out pathway.” Psalm 85:13 NKJV

Enjoying the last day before heading back to work.

Denise

Poem by denisebalogc2020

Photos captured from my “quiet time” space. dbdancingfreec2020

The First Thing

“Commit to the LORD whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.” Proverbs 16:3 NIV

“Put God in charge of your work, then what you’ve planned will take place.” Proverbs 16:3 The Message

“The plans of the heart belong to man, but the answer of the tongue is from the LORD.” Proverbs 16:1 ESV

Over-fed, Stuffed or Blue?

What do I need to begin the new year fresh and new?

Nourishment that won’t cause me to feel over-fed, stuffed or blue?

Jesus…Jesus…Jesus.

May you begin the New Year feeding on the One Who is the finest bread of nourishment for our body, souls and spirits.

Jesus.

“And Jesus said to the, “I AM the bread of life. He who comes to Me shall never hunger, and he who believes in Me shall never thirst.” John 6:35 NKJV

Pictures captured in Israel 2018 in the market of the Mauristan. Located on the square south of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian Quarter Jerusalem.

Thank you for visiting my site. My hearts heals when I’m able to write, write, write.

God bless you in the coming New Year!

Denise

Wells of Joy!

“My cup runneth over;

Joy overflows the brim.

Sing a new song

To my Savior!

Let the year begin!

“Therefore with joy

You will draw water

From the wells of Salvation.”

Isaiah 12:3 NKJV

“My cup runneth over.” Psalm 23:5 KJV

Blessings for a Happy 2018 New Year!!

Thankfulness Said

“Today’s not the day

To think what’s ahead.

Embrace the past,

With thankfulness said.

Faithful,

Hope and

Presence so dear;

Covering us with love

Each day of the year.

Thank You Jesus

For the well-being of heart.

Let it be the song

We sing as the

New Year starts.”

“Praise the LORD,

Call upon His Name;

Declare His deeds among the peoples,

Make mention that His Name

Is exalted.

Sing to the LORD,

For He has done excellent things.”

Isaiah 12:4-5 NKJV

Call Home

“Remember the day

When Momma

Would say,

“Here’s a dime

To call home

When you’re too far away?”

Or the quarter you borrowed

To slip in the slot

Cause your running late for dinner,

Or completely forgot?

The day of the dime

Has come and long gone,

But the phone in

Your pocket sings

Its own song.

“Lighten my files

And restore some space too.

Why not upload your photos

To a “cloud” in the blue?”

By taking the time

Before singing “Auld Lang Syne”,

Begin the

New Year with a

“Text” of good cheer.

“Brighten the view,

Why not,

Upload a file or two!”

“Auld Lang Syne” (Scots pronunciation: [ˈɔːl(d) lɑŋˈsəin]: note “s” rather than “z”) is a Scots poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song (Roud # 6294).

Auld Lang Syne – Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auld_Lang_Syne