Middle Verse in the Bible ~ Illuminated text of Psalm 118:8

Hullo there everyone! it is about time I did a calligraphy post, isn't it??

I am reading through the book of Psalms at the moment ( I read though the Bible in a year) and must admit am thoroughly enjoying them.. 

They, all 150 of them, are of varying writers*, thoughts, prayers and conversations, as well varying length (119 is 176 verses - click here and 117 is two verses (click here) longest and shortest chapters, respectively in the Bible).

(*yes not all written by David, under God's inspiration, others, including Solomon, wrote the Psalms, see Psalm 72:20 " this concludes the prayers of David the son of Jesse".)

Right in between these two Psalms 117 and 119, is the found the middle verse in the Bible, Psalm 118 verse 8 ~ the illuminated verse I am going to share today! 
"It is better to trust in the LORD, than to put confidence in man" Ps 118.8

 Although the Bible was not in chapters or verses when written in original manuscripts, those who were used of God in the original allocation of such things were God's servants, and so led of the Holy Spirit of God, so this verse in centre of Bible.  {By way, I have not counted to see if 118:8 is the middle verse, just taken the word of someone else, in a very sound book}.
 As you can see, God should also be in the very heart and centre of our decisions and our daily living :D 
{Amen, may You always be so, dear Lord, in all thing and all ways"}.

["amen", by the bye, means "so be it".]

I actually made this text up for myself before was blogging in 2009, but when a friend fell very ill, I gave it to her for encouragement as a present, to point that in spite of her illness, and perhaps because of it, she needed to keep looking to the LORD, not to man. She loved it. God has since blessed,her terminal cancer is now ok ~ praise His name!
 (It is made out of snippets, Di, linking over to play in the challenge, 
and also to Word Art Wednesday 
and to Little Birdee Blessings, Scripture Thursday - God's Letter to us) 
 Do take a peek at this last post, it will bless your socks (and heart).
This inked only piece was  in my pieces of inked outlines (yes calligraphy snippets :D), but not coloured work, and decided to try out my new pencils. It was done with Caran D'Ache Prismacolour Aquarelle pencils, with PVA glue size to build up layers for 3D effect. Similar to the way the gold is built up,to see click here .
The frame was even made of off cuts in shop, as there used to be this great framer {who was related to Di, I think} who would make up and sell frames cheaply out of bits too small to make up otherwise. Unhappily this second photo has a bad flare on it.

Reading the Bible through in a year - have been doing it at least once a year for over thirty years now, and it such a blessing, you truly get an overview which  you never ever tire of! {edit: there are differing methods of reading it as Bessie says in her comment below}
At least I know when near the half way mark of the Bible that must be on course if it is in June.  :D 

If you read four chapters a day you will read it through in a year. If you read ten a day (which I did when younger, and we had no tv) you read it through two and half times a year.
We are responsible for what we are given.

We are blessed with the freedom to read this precious Word of God. 
May we value it as much as those who have gone on before us, who have given their very life blood for it!
...  John Wycliffe, Gutenberg, the KJV translators, John Kramer, etc., the unnamed martyrs mentioned in Hebrews 11...

These have gone on before and are our examples, may we remember we too are living epistles "known and read of all men" (see passage 2Corinthians 3:1-3). 

Thus may we also be good examples to others, being encouragers, to point the way to the wonderful gift of salvation, God''s only Son, the lovely Lord Jesus.

My prayer is that all will truly all find peace with God, through the LORD Jesus Christ.

Thanks so much everyone of you who have popped over here for a peek and chat and may our wonderful God bless your day wherever you may be,

Shaz in Oz.x

The Anvil of God's Word

Last eve I paused beside the blacksmith's door,    And heard the anvil ring the vesper chime; Then looking in, I saw upon the floor,    Old hammers worn with beating years of time. "How many anvils have you had," said I,    "To wear and batter all these hammers so?" "Just one," said he, and then with twinkling eye,    "The anvil wears the hammers out, you know." "And so," I thought, "The Anvil of God's Word    For ages skeptic blows have beat upon, Yet, though the noise of falling blows was heard,    The Anvil is unharmed, the hammers gone."                         —John Clifford, D.D.

But the word of the Lord endureth for ever...  1 Peter 1:25