this is beautiful

psalm 103

Praise the Lord, O my soul;
     all my inmost being, praise His holy name.
Praise the Lord, O my soul;
     and forget not all His benefits--
Who forgives all your sins
     and heals all your diseases,
who redeems your life from the pit
     and crowns you with love and compassion,
who satisfies your desires with good things
     so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's.
The Lord works righteousness
     and justice for the oppressed.
He made known His ways to Moses,
     His deeds to the people of Israel:
The Lord is compassionate and gracious,
     slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse,
     nor will He harbor his anger forever;
He does not treat us as our sins deserve
     or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth,
     so great is his love for those who fear Him;
as far as the east is from the west,
     so far has he removed our transgressions from us.
As a father has compassion on His children,
     so the Lord has compassion on those who fear Him;
for He knows how we are formed,
     He remembers that we are dust.
As for man, his days are like grass,
     he flourishes like a flower of the field;
the wind blows over it and it is gone,
     and its place remembers it no more.
But from everlasting to everlasting 
     the Lord's love is with those who fear Him,
     and His righteousness with their children's children--
with those who keep His covenant
     and remember to obey its precepts.
The Lord has established His throne in heaven,
     and His Kingdom rules over all.
Praise the Lord, you His angels,
     you mighty ones who do His bidding,
     who obey His word.
Praise the Lord, all His heavenly hosts,
     you His servants who do His will.
Praise the Lord, all His works,
     everywhere in his dominion.
Praise the Lord, O my soul.


when i read this scripture yesterday, the phrase, "He crowns you with love and compassion" really struck me.  i know this scripture is for everyone, but yesterday when i read it, i remembered that my name means "crowned one."  i am crowned with love and compassion.  he heals all my diseases.  he satisfies my desires with good things.  he restores my youth like the eagle's.  for always and eternity, his love is with me.

thank you, God.