When I was eight years old my mom gave me my first Bible and taught me the 23rd Psalm. I carried it with me for years!

About 20 years later I split my intestines  and ended up with a blood infection, I found it lacking. Returning home after the hospital stay, I searched the Psalms for something that could do what I need in times of trouble and It was just a few chapters away.

The first thing that caught my attention was verse 27:4;

“the one thing I ask from the LORD, that I may seek: That I may dwell in the house of the LORD ALL THE DAYS OF MY LIFE TO BEHOLD THE BEAUTY OF THE LORD and to MEDITATE in HIS TEMPLE!”

Little did I know it would carry me through my whole life!

When Bart’s job was in trouble the first three verses helped:

“The LORD is my light and my salvation, Whom shall I fear?

The LORD is the defense of my life; Whom shall I dread?

When evildoers came upon me to devour my flesh, My adversaries and my enemies they stumbled and fell!

Though a host encamp against me My heart will not fear; though war arise against me IN SPITE OF THIS I SHALL BE CONFIDENT!”

These verses where enough for probably twenty more years! They carried me through until God decided to give me 5 new vertebrae in the middle of a CT Scan. I was meditating on these verses when all of a sudden the pain quit and I asked God, “what’s up?”

I walked out of the hospital with no pain.

I will continue the story of the 27th Psalm later this week.

God Bless You and try meditating on this Psalm or find one that helps you!

I have asked God for many years what does this mean?

1 Corinthians 11:29b, “eating and drinking judgement to himself if he does not judge the body rightly.”

God dropped the meaning into my soul, it is the righteousness that Jesus purchased for us.

When we think of ourselves with a sin nature then we are connected to the curse (sickness and poverty). This is what Jesus came to set us free from. But when we grow in sanctification we walk in the Blessing, (healing and Goodness of God overtake you) found in Deuteronomy 28, Jesus died to fulfilled the Law so we are able to receive righteousness.

In the Lutheran Church we confessed each week that “we are in bondage to sin and cannot free ourselves.” It took 20 years for The Word of God to grow in my soul teaching me to stop confessing that I am in bondage to sin! God says in Romans 6:6 our old self was crucified with Christ, that our body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin.

I quit confessing that I am a sinner because I know I am a saint who has been set free from sin and death and raised to righteousness by the death and resurrection of Jesus the Christ and Lord of my life.

Isaiah 53:5 But He was pierced through for our transgressions He was crushed for our iniquities; the chastening for our well-being fell upon Him and by His scourging we are healed!

1 Peter 2:24 He Himself bore our sins in His body on the cross, that we might die to sin and live to righteousness, for by His wounds we were healed.

Romans 8:1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus
Romans 8:2 For the law of the Spirit and life in Christ Jesus has set us free from the law of sin and death!

I live my life in the righteousness of Jesus the Christ growing in the Blessing as I become more and more as Jesus Is here on this earth. Come join me learning how to live healed. Amen!

One day last week God Prompted me to open my Bible to Leviticus 6, guilt offerings. The question He ask, “How were they convicted of guilt without the Holy Spirit?”
Is this why God had to give the Law so they would know they were not acting well?

Leviticus 6 When a person sins and acts unfaithfully against the LORD and deceives…or lies… then it shall be, when he sins and becomes guilty, that he shall restore what he took plus 1/5 and give a guilt offering to the LORD. The question is still how does he become guilty?
After they become guilty they need to repay and give the offering that gets rid of the guilt for one year. Did they actually feel free of guilt? Did the guilt come back when the year was up? Did they have to offer another guilt offering for the next year?

I remember in high school reading the Bible and being convicted of a sin. I believe it was Holy Spirit speaking to me, pointing out something I knew wasn’t good but it wasn’t until I actually saw it in print I was convicted. The problem was I stopped but still felt the guilt for 30 years!

It was in my late 30’s when God impressed upon me, “Jesus already paid! I didn’t have to pay!”
I now live guilt FREE, and shame FREE!

Jesus died to take all my sin and to give me His Righteousness!
Romans 10:4 “for Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to everyone who believes.” Romans 5:17b “much more those who receive the abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness will weigh in life though the One, Jesus Christ.”

The greatness of Jesus’ guilt offering is it is a one time gift for all time!

My pastor has been teaching, “Walking in the dust of the Rabbi.” What does that look like here on this earth, where the feet and dust of Jesus cannot be physically touched?

Several years ago, in a Bible study a different pastor accused me of being in an unhealthy love with my Bible on three separate occasions.

I didn’t know how to respond, but God gave me the answer through BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) question of the week. The answer is, “I Love my Bible because IT shows me WHO GOD IS.”

What Has my Bible shown me: The God Who Loved me became human to show me how to LOVE. When He left earth, He sent Holy Spirit to be the same guide to me as He was to Jesus. My goal is to learn the voice Holy Spirit uses to communicate, and obey.

A few years ago, we took the RV on a 5000mile trip for my mom’s January funeral.  We drove through snowstorms and deep snow on the way there. Not finding many places to camp in the middle of winter, we learned how to use rest stops.

As we start the return trip, Bart wants to get some road behind him before we stop.
When I start driving, we are in the Eastern Columbia River Gorge. The snow blowing ahead makes me wonder, “Should we stop and make food?”

Bart gets ready to sleep and says, “We should pass the first exit and stop at the second one.”

Driving 70 MPH through the mountain passes, I have the impression God wants me to stop at this first rest stop. I debate knowing to quickly pull over in this 25foot RV will not be easy. Do I listen and obey what I think God is impressing on me, or Bart’s desire to keep driving?

The decision is made quickly, as I pass the turn off.

Apologizing I ask, “God, did you want me to stop to keep us safe from the storm we are driving into?”

God responds, “No, I had someone for you to talk to.”

Tears fill my eyes as I say, “Oh God, Forgive me! Send someone else to talk to whoever You had for me to talk to!” Regret fills my soul as I pray for that person remembering all the times God has put people into my life to lift my spirits and let me know someone cares.

I pray daily, “Holy Spirit fill me! Put your Word in my mouth and meditations in my heart, Oh LORD, MY ROCK AND REDEEMER! Help me follow YOUR Guidance daily! Amen!”