Conclusion to Psalms of Ascent

The study is over!  

I am sad!

I usually am when a Bible study is over,

it's like saying good-bye to a good friend.

But all good things must come to an end.

And so we conclude with 

Psalm 134

It's a benediction to those who had traveled

so far, the pilgrims who came to Jerusalem 

3 different times through the year.

This song is a song of blessing

blessing the Lord

and being blessed by the Lord.

Only 3 little verses 

but so powerful.

So worship, bless, acknowledge your God!

And receive blessings from Him that outnumber your blessing.

I'm going to include Beth's blessing to us, because it was so good!!!

"My beloved sister in Christ...

May God keep your heart set on pilgrimage.

May He keep your eyes upon the destination and never let you forget that your Goal is a person, Jesus Christ, and He is waiting for you - in person - at your finish line.

May you always remember what a great cloud of witnesses cheers you on in your journey to Mount Zion and bids you to "Be brave!"  The race is not long, Beloved, so run hard!

May your eyes be open to snares your enemy sets in you r path and, should you tumble in the ditch, may your troubled heart be disallowed to condemn you.  Jump in the air, twirl around, and buck like a bronco with repentance before your God until not a single speck of mud is left on your feet.  Let God wash them in the water of His Word and plant them back on your path.

When we feel heavy-laden in our journeys, may we check first to see if it's the burden of a swollen ego or the load of taking on a role that only belongs to God.

May we lay down what has no place in our packs and run with the wind.

When life is excruciating, may you find the strength in Christ to crawl on your hands and knees, sowing the Word of God and watering it with your tears.

May you never forget that you are inconceivable loved and that God will prove infinitely faithful.  And your way to the great feast in the heavenly Jerusalem, may you glance often to your right and to your left and offer a fellow pilgrim a helping hand.

May the Lord, Maker of heaven and earth, bless you from Zion."

My Psalm 133

Psalm 133

How good and pleasant and wonderful 

it is when believers live in

unity together

It is a precious annointing.

It is a blessing that falls like dew.

And in that unity, the Lord gives 

His blessing,

life forever!

My Psalm 132:11-18

Psalm 132:11-18

Father GOD, Thank You so much for

hearing

listening

responding 

when we call on You.

Thank You for Your promise of a 

SAVIOR

ONE 

that came long ago 

to save

me.

Father, help me to live like You want me to.

Teach me to be more like You.

Show me the things that need to change.

And keep me focused on You.

Father,

Thank You for Your blessings;

make me ever aware of them!

Thank You for never leaving me,

even when I have disobeyed.

Thank You for

ALL

of Your promises to Your children.

Thank You for salvation.

Thank You for sending Jesus, the anointed One.

Father GOD, I will sing and shout for joy

forever because of what 

YOU 

have done

-amen

My Psalm 132:1-10

Psalm 132:1-10

God, remember me and all the hardships 

I have gone through.

Remember, that I have said, no matter

what, I am going to praise Your name.

I'm not going to turn against You!

I'm not going to leave Your side!

I'm not going to follow the other path!

I'm going to forever worship You, LORD!!

I remember when You have held me,

comforted me, lifted my head.

I will come to You altar, 

Your footstool,

here on Earth and worship You!

Lord, come and meet me there!

Show up!

Show me Your strength, power and love!

May I be clothed in Your righteousness and

I will shout with joy and dance for You!

Because I AM YOURS!!!

Honor me, LORD, and don't reject me, LORD.

My Psalm 131

Psalm 131

Lord, help my heart not to be prideful;

help my eyes not to look down on others.

I don't want to do great things, Lord.

What I want is to have peace!

What I want is to be clam and quiet.

What I want is to be like child when he

is with his mother.

What I want is to have THAT peace;

peace of a small child on his mother's lap

being held.

Kari, put your hope in the Lord

now and for eternity.

My Psalm 130

Lord, out of my depths, 

I cry to You,

Yahweh,

I AM WHO I AM.

Adonai

Sovereign God,

please hear my voice.

May Your ears be attentive 

to my cry for mercy, help and love.

Father God,

if You kept a record of sins,

who would be able to stand?

BUT

WITH YOU

there is 

FORGIVENESS

and because of that,

You are awed and respected.

God,

I wait on You, 

LORD,

My soul waits and on 

Your word, I put my

HOPE.

I wait on the Lord like someone in 

darkness waits for the morning.

I wait like a watchman of a city,

even more so,

I wait.

Kari,

put your hope in the Lord,

because with 

HIM

is 

UNFAILING LOVE

and with the 

LORD

there is 

COMPLETE

100%

FULL

REDEMPTION!

God, Himself will redeem 

all of His children

from all of their sins.

My Psalm 129

Psalm 129

From my youth, the enemy has attacked me.

let me say again,

The enemy has afflicted me ever since I was young.

BUT!  HE HAS NOT PREVAILED OVER ME!!!!

I have been down,

people have hurt me, 

I have been bound,

BUT! the Lord is righteous and loyal!!!

He has my back,

He has cut the ropes,

He will never leave me!

May those who are against the Lord be put to shame.

Let their plans wither and die before they can come to fruition.

Lord, may Your Sovereignty be recognized and known!  Forever!

-Amen

My Psalm 128

Psalm 128

When you fear, respect the Lord, looking to Him in every matter, you will be blessed.  

When you walk on His path, following His ways you will be happy.

Enjoy the goodness and blessings from the Lord when you join Him where He is at work.

Stay connected to the true vine, bearing much fruit on your branch.  Remember that you have been chosen and the fruit you were appointed to bear is fruit that will last!

By doing this, respecting God and reflecting His ways, You will be blessed.

May God continue to bless you from Heaven, so that we may enjoy His blessings everyday of your life and that we may see His prosperity to generations to come.

                                                                                  -Amen

My Psalm 127

Psalm 127

Is Christ the foundation of your family?

Is God at work in the work you are doing?

Unless He is, you are working in vain.  If God is not at the center of all you do and in your family too, it is meaningless.

You get up early and stay up late, all to get ahead in the game.  Stop working so hard against the Lord and go where He is and do what He is doing and rest in Him who loves you.

Your children are a gift from the Lord, your babies a reward from Him.

Your sons are like arrows who will defend, protect and take care of you.
Happy is the parent who has many children.

Thank the Lord for His rewards

My Psalm 126

Psalm 126

When the Lord revealed Himself to me

and set this captive free,

it seemed like a dream too good to be true.

My mouth was filled with laughter and song,

My heart was joyful and light.

It was said, "God was wonderful to her!"

God WAS wonderful to me;

I am a happy person.

And now, God, years later, God

do it again-

rain down on my life again

So that which I planted with tears

I may harvest with shouts of 

HALLELUJAH joy!

And so others, as well, who have heavy hearts

will have laughter and many blessings.

-Amen

                    written on 10-20-08

My Psalm 124

Psalm 124

If the Lord had not been for me,

let me say it again.

If the Lord had not been for me, 

when I was attacked & threatened,

When hurt and agony were thrown at me,

the enemy would have swallowed me alive.

The ocean would have engulfed me,

I would have drowned in the torrent.

I would have lost my life 

in the raging, fuming rapids.

BUT!  Praise the Lord!

He didn't go off and leave me!

He didn't leave me there, abandoned,

defenseless, or helpless like a rabbit in a pack of snarling dogs.

I escaped, flying free like a bird from a hunter's trap

that was broken and I escaped!

My help is in the name of the Lord,

Who is the Maker of heaven and earth.

-Amen

written September 30, '08

My Psalm 123

Psalm 123

I lift my eyes to You, Lord, with longing, 

to the One who is enthroned in heaven.

Just like servants whose eyes are 

on their master, and like a servant girl's 

eyes are on her mistress, so are my eyes

on the Lord, my God, until He shows me

mercy, loving-kindness, mercy and grace.

Grace me, O Lord, Grace me!

For I am overwhelmed with 

disrespect and contempt.

I have had more than enough disrespect

from prideful and arrogant people.

-Amen

written on September 29, '08

My Psalm 122

Psalm 122

I am thrilled and excited whenever I have a chance 

to go to church - the house of the Lord - Living Hope.

My feet are planted here in College Station, a

closely knit community.

In this city, many believers of the Lord, come together

to praise the name of the Lord, following the Gospel 

at Living Hope.

There I find the Lord, full of love, grace, compassion,

mercy, hope and conviction.

We need to pray for the peace of College Station:

May everyone you know and love you be secure.

May there be peace within our city limits and

security and safety within our buildings.

For the sake of my family and friends, I will say,

"Peace be within you."

For the sake of Living Hope - the house of the Lord our God, 

I will seek for what is best for you.

-Amen

written 9-26-08

My Alliteration Psalm

Shout and sing praises to our

Sovereign Saviour who 

Shepherds and saves His sheep.

written 9-23-08

My Psalm 121

Psalm 121

I lift my eyes up to the hills 

and I know where my help comes from.

My help comes from my Lord, who is

the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let me fall because He

always knows where I am because 

He never sleeps.

He watches over me all the time 

because He never closes His eyes.

My God protects me; He is my covering 

that wraps around me like feathers on a wing.

My Lord keeps me from all harm; 

sun, moon, evil, Hell - everything! 

He guards, protects, watches over my life! 

My Lord knows about and watches over me 

wherever I go ALL THE TIME, now and 

Forever and ever!

-Amen

written on 9-22-08

My Psalm 120

Psalm 120

Lord, I call out to You in my worry

and I know that You hear me.

Save me Lord, from those who hate You 

or are being stubborn against You.

What will the Lord do to you, you 

who stay hardened?

Your only reward will be one of 

burning forever and ever.

Woe to me that I dwell here and

live among the tents on an unbeliever.

I have lived here a long time with those

who hate peace, hope, faith and love.

I am for Christ, for peace, for hope, for faith, 

for love; but the more I am for You, Lord, 

the more He turns against You!

-Amen

written 9-18-08