Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 68, 72, 86; John 14.
These few Psalms remind me of the recent sermon at our church. The pastor spoke of the A.C.T.S. method of prayer.
A - Adoration
C - Confession
T - Thanksgiving
S - Supplication
In Psalm 68 [and others of course] you can see how David adores God:
4Sing to God, sing praises to his name;
lift up a song to him who rides through the deserts;
his name is the LORD;
exult before him!
19Blessed be the Lord,
who daily bears us up;
God is our salvation.
26 "Bless God in the great congregation,
the LORD, O you who are of Israel’s fountain!"
35 Awesome is God from his sanctuary;
the God of Israel—he is the one who gives power and strength to his people.
Blessed be God!
David knows that God is powerful, he knows that God is worthy of praise, exalting, and that He is awesome. He fully understands that God is the Creator, Sustainer and Redeemer. David worships and loves Him with all his heart, soul and mind.
In Psalm 86, David prays again, seeking God's mercy, asking for strength and for a sign of God's favor, for comfort and help from his enemies.
The Bible Study Tools says of verse 17: "he [God] comforted him [David] by helping him against his enemies, and out of his troubles; and, by doing both, showed him a token for good, and filled his enemies with shame and confusion."
In John 14, we read about obedience.
15"If you love me, you will keep my commandments. 16And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever. [the Holy Spirit]
21 Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, it is he who loves me. And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him." 22 Judas (not Iscariot) said to him, "Lord, how is it that you will manifest yourself to us, and not to the world?" 23Jesus answered him, "If anyone loves me, he will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him. 24Whoever does not love me does not keep my words. And the word that you hear is not mine but the Father’s who sent me."
As any parent sets rule and boundaries for their children, it's intent and purpose is for the child's benefit and protection, not for making them miserable! Our hope is that the child will understand such rules as expressions of love and that obedience will be motivated more by the love, then by the fear of punishment or discipline. As with our obedience to Christ, it should be an expression of our trust in Him and that He cares for us and knows what is best and so we do our best to follow the commandments set before us...
Tomorrow's passages: Psalm 101, 103, 108; John 15
Showing posts with label PamJ's posts. Show all posts
Showing posts with label PamJ's posts. Show all posts
Saturday, June 4, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Saturday May 21 ~ PamJ
Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 4-6; John 7:1-27
This will be short today! Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend [albeit a rainy one here!]
Today's reading in Psalm 6, David speaks of healing.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my body is in agony. Psalm 6:2
Can God heal us? My Touchpoint Bible notes that He most certainly can repair it and restore it. He can also do so to our mind and spirit. This whole psalm is about prayer and what a powerful healing source it is! It brings us closer to the One who made us.
For me, if I don't open my bible and start my day with the Lord reading his word and praying, I have a pretty bad day and forget to turn to him in prayer, when I need to the most.
Will God heal us? He can. And He does. We don't often know or realize when He does. There are also times when He will let us go unhealed. Is that unfair?
My Touchpoint Bible says, "We must reserve that judgment until we see him face to face and understand why he healed one person but not another, why one person died while another was spared, why one person suffered a lifetime from the effects of abuse and another did not. We don't know all the mysteries of God. But we do know from His Word that He loves us enough to die for us and that He promises we will all be restore to wholeness in eternity."
The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer. Psalm 6:9
He loves us. He will answer our prayer [and not always the way we may want him to do so]. We will have all we need in eternity.
Today is May 21st, 2011. Around the web & media & gossip, there is talk of today being THE DAY the rapture is to occur. Although Jesus tells us that we will not know the day He is to come back, we should still be prepared for when He is to come. Love Him, accept Him into your heart and your life and bring others to him. Don't let the worldy possessions control you or your life. We can't take them with us in the end. No matter if that end is today, tomorrow, two weeks from now or 200 years.
Lord, I pray to you, knowing you hear my prayer. I pray that you heal my mind, heal my heart, and renew in me a right spirit. I pray for those reading this blog, and those who don't, that they can start their day off right with You, knowing that You love them so much more than they will ever know... I pray that You can renew their spirit as well Lord. We lift them up to you Lord. Let Your light shine!! Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 7-8; John 7:28-53
This will be short today! Hope everyone enjoys the long weekend [albeit a rainy one here!]
Today's reading in Psalm 6, David speaks of healing.
Have compassion on me, Lord, for I am weak.
Heal me, Lord, for my body is in agony. Psalm 6:2
Can God heal us? My Touchpoint Bible notes that He most certainly can repair it and restore it. He can also do so to our mind and spirit. This whole psalm is about prayer and what a powerful healing source it is! It brings us closer to the One who made us.
For me, if I don't open my bible and start my day with the Lord reading his word and praying, I have a pretty bad day and forget to turn to him in prayer, when I need to the most.
Will God heal us? He can. And He does. We don't often know or realize when He does. There are also times when He will let us go unhealed. Is that unfair?
My Touchpoint Bible says, "We must reserve that judgment until we see him face to face and understand why he healed one person but not another, why one person died while another was spared, why one person suffered a lifetime from the effects of abuse and another did not. We don't know all the mysteries of God. But we do know from His Word that He loves us enough to die for us and that He promises we will all be restore to wholeness in eternity."
The Lord has heard my plea;
the Lord will answer my prayer. Psalm 6:9
He loves us. He will answer our prayer [and not always the way we may want him to do so]. We will have all we need in eternity.
Today is May 21st, 2011. Around the web & media & gossip, there is talk of today being THE DAY the rapture is to occur. Although Jesus tells us that we will not know the day He is to come back, we should still be prepared for when He is to come. Love Him, accept Him into your heart and your life and bring others to him. Don't let the worldy possessions control you or your life. We can't take them with us in the end. No matter if that end is today, tomorrow, two weeks from now or 200 years.
Lord, I pray to you, knowing you hear my prayer. I pray that you heal my mind, heal my heart, and renew in me a right spirit. I pray for those reading this blog, and those who don't, that they can start their day off right with You, knowing that You love them so much more than they will ever know... I pray that You can renew their spirit as well Lord. We lift them up to you Lord. Let Your light shine!! Amen.
Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 7-8; John 7:28-53
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Saturday May 7th - PamJ
Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 30-31; Luke 24:1-35
Today in Samuel, we read about David destroying the Amalekites.
In Chapter 30, David and his men return to Ziklag only to find it burnt down & the women & children & everyone else had been carried off by the Amalekites.
4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
Afterwards David's men were very bitter about the loss of their families, even wanting to stone him -
6But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
He recognized his need for the Lord and his first instinct was to turn to God to seek guidance. The Lord instructed David to take his men & chase after the Amalekites. Along their journey, they found an Egyptian who was a slave to the Amalekites and was left behind. David & his men fed him so he could regain his strength and led them to the Amalekite camp. They slaughtered all but 400 men who escaped on camels.
David got back everything that had been missing and turned towards home. Once at Besor Brook, some of David's men thought the 200 men who were too tired to move on to fight the Amalekites beforehand did not deserve nor earn their share of the plunder brought back.
David said, 23"No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped defeat the enemy... We share and share alike." David knew that the success came from the Lord and blessed others with the blessings (plunder) he had received with help from the Lord, even sharing it with leaders of Judah & leaders of towns where David & his men had been.
In Chapter 31, we see the death of Saul. The Philistines now attacked Israel, killing Saul's sons - Jonathan (David's good friend), Abinab & Malkishua, also wounding Saul in the process. Saul groaned in pain to his armor bearer, asking to kill him, yet his armor bearer would not. So Saul took it into his own hands and fell on his own sword, killing himself.
In Luke 24, we see the resurrection. That early Sunday morning, Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary mother of James (& others apparently too) went to the Jesus' tomb taking with them the spices they had prepared & found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb! Confused as to why, two men appeared in dazzling robes saying 6"He has risen from the dead!" The women rushed back to tell the disciples but they didn't believe them. Peter ran to the tomb to look for himself though.
That same day two followers of Jesus were walking to Emmaus when Jesus (disguised as to make the two unaware of who he was) began walking beside him.
In this message, it is said that Emmaus was 7 miles from Jerusalem and 'far enough to get away from the misery and confusion of Jerusalem.'
Filled with their sadness, they assumed this man walking with them didn't know of the crucifixion & missing body of the prophet Jesus & that He was reported alive! Jesus said to them, 4"Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things efore entering his time of glory?" and continued quoting passages from what scripture had said about Himself. They listened but didn't truly hear Him.
The two followers begged Jesus to stay with them, as it was getting dark and late. Mathew Phillips said of this moment, 'I imagine a view of Jesus’ face before he turns back to them, a small smile breaking: his disciples were slow to believe, but at least they were kind to him—a stranger—and that was a lesson he had worked hard to teach.'
So they sat down to eat. Jesus asked a blessing upon the bread, gave it to them & at once they could see that they were in the presence of Jesus! And in that moment, He disappeared. We aren't told why he disappeared in that moment but we can learn from his vanishing that 'you can’t nail Jesus down in one place any better than you can nail him up on a cross.' [from here]
The two men noted how their hearts felt warm when speaking to Jesus along their walk. At once, they set off back to Jerusalem to report their story.
Mathew Phillip also says, 'God is present with us and shall always be, but it seems we can only feel it when we don’t expect to and often we only recognize the feeling as we look backwards, like the disciples who remembered the burning in their hearts as he spoke to them. Maybe there’s a place for you where you’ve felt the hand of Jesus touch you before, but going back there again won’t necessarily bring the same old feelings. We can’t make God fit our schedule. So we search for ways to feel the presence of Christ and to celebrate him.'
He is there always and especially when we need Him the most even if we don't happen to see that it is Him, He will fill our hearts and renew our spirit so that we might share his good news with others.
Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 24: 36-53
Today in Samuel, we read about David destroying the Amalekites.
In Chapter 30, David and his men return to Ziklag only to find it burnt down & the women & children & everyone else had been carried off by the Amalekites.
4Then David and the people who were with him raised their voices and wept until they had no more strength to weep.
Afterwards David's men were very bitter about the loss of their families, even wanting to stone him -
6But David strengthened himself in the LORD his God.
He recognized his need for the Lord and his first instinct was to turn to God to seek guidance. The Lord instructed David to take his men & chase after the Amalekites. Along their journey, they found an Egyptian who was a slave to the Amalekites and was left behind. David & his men fed him so he could regain his strength and led them to the Amalekite camp. They slaughtered all but 400 men who escaped on camels.
David got back everything that had been missing and turned towards home. Once at Besor Brook, some of David's men thought the 200 men who were too tired to move on to fight the Amalekites beforehand did not deserve nor earn their share of the plunder brought back.
David said, 23"No, my brothers! Don't be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped defeat the enemy... We share and share alike." David knew that the success came from the Lord and blessed others with the blessings (plunder) he had received with help from the Lord, even sharing it with leaders of Judah & leaders of towns where David & his men had been.
In Chapter 31, we see the death of Saul. The Philistines now attacked Israel, killing Saul's sons - Jonathan (David's good friend), Abinab & Malkishua, also wounding Saul in the process. Saul groaned in pain to his armor bearer, asking to kill him, yet his armor bearer would not. So Saul took it into his own hands and fell on his own sword, killing himself.
In Luke 24, we see the resurrection. That early Sunday morning, Mary Magdelene, Joanna, Mary mother of James (& others apparently too) went to the Jesus' tomb taking with them the spices they had prepared & found the stone rolled away from the entrance of the tomb! Confused as to why, two men appeared in dazzling robes saying 6"He has risen from the dead!" The women rushed back to tell the disciples but they didn't believe them. Peter ran to the tomb to look for himself though.
That same day two followers of Jesus were walking to Emmaus when Jesus (disguised as to make the two unaware of who he was) began walking beside him.
In this message, it is said that Emmaus was 7 miles from Jerusalem and 'far enough to get away from the misery and confusion of Jerusalem.'
Filled with their sadness, they assumed this man walking with them didn't know of the crucifixion & missing body of the prophet Jesus & that He was reported alive! Jesus said to them, 4"Wasn't it clearly predicted by the prophets that the Messiah would have to suffer all these things efore entering his time of glory?" and continued quoting passages from what scripture had said about Himself. They listened but didn't truly hear Him.
The two followers begged Jesus to stay with them, as it was getting dark and late. Mathew Phillips said of this moment, 'I imagine a view of Jesus’ face before he turns back to them, a small smile breaking: his disciples were slow to believe, but at least they were kind to him—a stranger—and that was a lesson he had worked hard to teach.'
So they sat down to eat. Jesus asked a blessing upon the bread, gave it to them & at once they could see that they were in the presence of Jesus! And in that moment, He disappeared. We aren't told why he disappeared in that moment but we can learn from his vanishing that 'you can’t nail Jesus down in one place any better than you can nail him up on a cross.' [from here]
The two men noted how their hearts felt warm when speaking to Jesus along their walk. At once, they set off back to Jerusalem to report their story.
Mathew Phillip also says, 'God is present with us and shall always be, but it seems we can only feel it when we don’t expect to and often we only recognize the feeling as we look backwards, like the disciples who remembered the burning in their hearts as he spoke to them. Maybe there’s a place for you where you’ve felt the hand of Jesus touch you before, but going back there again won’t necessarily bring the same old feelings. We can’t make God fit our schedule. So we search for ways to feel the presence of Christ and to celebrate him.'
He is there always and especially when we need Him the most even if we don't happen to see that it is Him, He will fill our hearts and renew our spirit so that we might share his good news with others.
Tomorrow's passage: 2 Samuel 1-2; Luke 24: 36-53
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Saturday April 23rd ~ PamJ
Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 1-3; Luke 17:20-37.
Happy Easter Weekend everyone! I will ditto what Tammi said yesterday and wish everyone a wonderful weekend full of family time, also remembering to reflect on the amazingness of why we celebrate Easter for God sent His son to die for US. That was by far the most amazing sacrifice, all because He loved us. Amen!
Today's passages speak of Samuel's birth. His mother, Hannah was barren for many years all the while being taunted by her husband's other wife who had may children. After much heartache she finally prayed,
"O LORD of hosts, if you will indeed look on the affliction of your servant and remember me and not forget your servant, but will give to your servant a son, then I will give him to the LORD all the days of his life, and no razor shall touch his head." Samuel 1:11.
This sort of mirrors the new testament later on where God gives up His only Son.
Hannah was willing to bargain with the Lord just to have a child, wean him, then give him back to the Lord. For He has great plans for Samuel's life. So Hannah fulfilled her promise and brought Samuel to the House of the Lord in Shiloh where Eli the priest was to care for him and raise him. Hannah had a strong, unwavering relationship with God and she honoured her vows, at ANY cost. Can you imagine only seeing your young child but a few times a year? Letting someone else raise him? It wasn't because she wasn't incapable of doing so, it was because she had made a promise with the Lord.
By doing this, the Lord blessed her with many children after Samuel was born.
And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him and let none of his words fall to the ground. 1 Samuel 3:19
Let's re-visit last year's post about this passage:
This commentary says,
a. The Lord was with him: Is there anything better than this? To have, and to know you have, the Lord with you? For the Christian, we can know we have God with us: If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans 8:31)
b. Let none of his words fall to the ground: This means ALL of Samuel’s prophecies came to pass, and were known to be true words from God. Therefore, all Israel . . . knew that Samuel had been established as a prophet of the Lord.
- William Newell, in his commentary on Romans, speaks well to this point: “Our weak hearts, prone to legalism and unbelief, receive these words with great difficulty: God is for us . . . They have failed Him; but He is for them. They are ignorant; but He is for them. They have not yet brought forth much fruit; but He is for them.” God is not for us because we are so good, or so great, but because of who we are in Jesus. God is for you. God is with you, even if you are not as good as Samuel, because you have given to you the goodness of Jesus.
- Since the days of Moses there have not been many prophets in Israel, and certainly no great prophets. Now, at this important time in Israel’s history, God raises up Samuel as a prophet.
- Coming in this place in Israel’s history, Samuel is rightly seen as Israel’s last judge and first prophet. Samuel bridges the gap between the time of the judges, and the time of the monarchy when prophets (such as Nathan, Elijah, and Isaiah) spiritually influenced the nation.
- Through the book of judges, when God raised up a judge, he led the nation mostly through political and military influence. Samuel, as a judge, mainly led the nation by his spiritual influence.
In Luke's passage today Jesus foretells what is to come when He returns.
Just as it was in the days of Noah, so will it be in the days of the Son of Man. They were eating and drinking and marrying and being given in marriage, until the day when Noah entered the ark, and the flood came and destroyed them all. Luke 17:26-27
Whoever seeks to preserve his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will keep it. Luke 17:33
If you ask me, that day is coming SOON. This temporary world we live in, is only getting worse. More violent, more self-destructive as every day passes on. We can only hope and pray that when that judgement day comes that we will have done all we could. And that we will be the one taken and not the one left.
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Saturday April 9th - PamJ
Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Joshua 10-12; Luke 10: 1-24.
In Joshua 10-12, we see God continually battling for Israel.
Joshua 10:10-11: LORD threw them [the men of Gibeon] into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them... the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
He was always there. He did more than the sons of Israel could do!
Joshua knew full well what the Lord was capable of for in verse 12 he said:
"Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
And no day has been like that since! The Lord then fought for Israel.
And so Israel defeats the Southern Kings, Israel kills the Five Southern Kings, and defeats the Northern Kings and also East and West of Jordan.
Moving on to Luke, the Lord sent out seventy two disciples, in pairs, to all places he planned to visit. They were sent (Luke 10:3) out as lambs in the midst of wolves. It was made clear that some towns would welcome them, feed them, & offer hospitality and they would be blessed. Of course, in some town's the disciples would not be welcomed with opened arms. Then they were to say (Luke 10:11) We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.
And so all those that accepted the message the disciples were sharing, would in turn be accepting Jesus. Those who reject them, would reject Jesus, and would reject God...
And after all seventy two came back with good reports that even demons obeyed them, Jesus told them that they would have a place in heaven!
What wonderful joy to hear first hand that indeed! You are going to heaven! Yes! You have passed and have earned your treasured place there.
In Luke 10:21-24 Jesus is filled with joy of the Holy Spirit. He thanks the Father for the Lord has (Luke 10:21) hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. And tells the disciples (Luke 10:23-24) "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
The disciples were His children, His little children. They were taught by the greatest teacher Himself. They saw and heard what most want to see and hear. I believe this is what Jesus calls all of us to do. To be His disciples. To learn from the Master Himself. Then we will hear. And we will see. And our place at the end of this temporary world will be in Heaven.
Tomorrow's passage: Joshua 13-15; Luke 10:25-42
In Joshua 10-12, we see God continually battling for Israel.
Joshua 10:10-11: LORD threw them [the men of Gibeon] into a panic before Israel, who struck them with a great blow at Gibeon and chased them... the LORD threw down large stones from heaven on them as far as Azekah, and they died. There were more who died because of the hailstones than the sons of Israel killed with the sword.
He was always there. He did more than the sons of Israel could do!
Joshua knew full well what the Lord was capable of for in verse 12 he said:
"Sun, stand still at Gibeon,
and moon, in the Valley of Aijalon."
13 And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped,
until the nation took vengeance on their enemies.
And no day has been like that since! The Lord then fought for Israel.
And so Israel defeats the Southern Kings, Israel kills the Five Southern Kings, and defeats the Northern Kings and also East and West of Jordan.
Moving on to Luke, the Lord sent out seventy two disciples, in pairs, to all places he planned to visit. They were sent (Luke 10:3) out as lambs in the midst of wolves. It was made clear that some towns would welcome them, feed them, & offer hospitality and they would be blessed. Of course, in some town's the disciples would not be welcomed with opened arms. Then they were to say (Luke 10:11) We wipe the dust of your town from our feet as a public announcement of your doom.
And so all those that accepted the message the disciples were sharing, would in turn be accepting Jesus. Those who reject them, would reject Jesus, and would reject God...
And after all seventy two came back with good reports that even demons obeyed them, Jesus told them that they would have a place in heaven!
What wonderful joy to hear first hand that indeed! You are going to heaven! Yes! You have passed and have earned your treasured place there.
In Luke 10:21-24 Jesus is filled with joy of the Holy Spirit. He thanks the Father for the Lord has (Luke 10:21) hidden these things from the wise and understanding and revealed them to little children. And tells the disciples (Luke 10:23-24) "Blessed are the eyes that see what you see! For I tell you that many prophets and kings desired to see what you see, and did not see it, and to hear what you hear, and did not hear it."
The disciples were His children, His little children. They were taught by the greatest teacher Himself. They saw and heard what most want to see and hear. I believe this is what Jesus calls all of us to do. To be His disciples. To learn from the Master Himself. Then we will hear. And we will see. And our place at the end of this temporary world will be in Heaven.
Tomorrow's passage: Joshua 13-15; Luke 10:25-42
Monday, April 26, 2010
Monday April 26 - PamJ
I apologize for the lateness of this post!
Today's reading from One-Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11-12:14; Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-25; 2 Samuel 5:14-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7; 1 Chronicles 3:5-9.
2 Samuel Chapter 11 explains of David's lust for Bethsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. He slept with her (after first seeing her bathing from atop his roof), sent her home then called upon his husband and eventually put him in the front lines to fight. In other words the most dangerous spot and put him to death.
2 Samuel 11:26 When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
Nathan later came to David, telling him of a parallel story of what David had done. David's response was anger! And said the man who did that deserves to die and pay for the lamb four times over. Nathan tells him YOU are the man. And will be punished by the Lord and so all his wives will be given to one who is close to him and will lay with them in broad daylight.
David recognized his sin and the Lord took it away.
In Psalm 51 David pleads with God to cleanse him from sin's stain. More on this later...
Back to 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, after Nathan had left Uriah and David's child became ill. At this time David fasted in hopes the Lord may be gracious and spare the child, though on the seventh day he dies. David's servants thinks it odd when David gets up and washes, changes and eats.
David goes to comfort Bethsheba, lays again with her, later giving birth to another son naming him Jedidia. And the Lord loved him! And David had thirteen more children after that.
Psalm 51:1-12 Salvation (lesson from Touch Point Bible)
"David had committed adultery and murder. In this psalm, he pleads with God to cleanse him from sin's stain. The image is not one of a superficial wiping away but one of a deep scrubbing of the soul. The result of David's confession is a heart made not merely clean but white as snow and then filled with the joy of salvation. Have you ever wondered if God could forgive you? David's prayer assures us that no matter how dark the stain, we can be made white and pure by God's forgiveness and cleansing. Make this psalm your daily prayer of personal confession."
2 Wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin.
Prayer - Oh Lord, you know our transgressions. Your love is unfailing. Wash me CLEAN, and purify me from my sin. Help me to recognize that sin. I ask you to give me back my joy again and I will rejoice! Create in my a clean heart O God, renew a right spirit within me.... Amen.
I also just have to mention that I really like this Chronological reading because I might not have otherwise known that David had asked for forgiveness from the Lord if I had just read 2 Samuel!
Now go and do good!
Tomorrow's reading is 2 Samuel 12:26-31, 1 Chronicles 20:2-3, 2 Samuel 13:1-14:33.
Today's reading from One-Year Bible Chronological Reading Plan is 1 Chronicles 20:1; 2 Samuel 11-12:14; Psalm 51; 2 Samuel 12:15-25; 2 Samuel 5:14-16; 1 Chronicles 14:3-7; 1 Chronicles 3:5-9.
2 Samuel Chapter 11 explains of David's lust for Bethsheba, wife of Uriah the Hittite. He slept with her (after first seeing her bathing from atop his roof), sent her home then called upon his husband and eventually put him in the front lines to fight. In other words the most dangerous spot and put him to death.
2 Samuel 11:26 When Uriah's wife heard that her husband was dead, she mourned for him. 27 After the time of mourning was over, David had her brought to his house, and she became his wife and bore him a son. But the thing David had done displeased the LORD.
Nathan later came to David, telling him of a parallel story of what David had done. David's response was anger! And said the man who did that deserves to die and pay for the lamb four times over. Nathan tells him YOU are the man. And will be punished by the Lord and so all his wives will be given to one who is close to him and will lay with them in broad daylight.
David recognized his sin and the Lord took it away.
In Psalm 51 David pleads with God to cleanse him from sin's stain. More on this later...
Back to 2 Samuel and 1 Chronicles, after Nathan had left Uriah and David's child became ill. At this time David fasted in hopes the Lord may be gracious and spare the child, though on the seventh day he dies. David's servants thinks it odd when David gets up and washes, changes and eats.
David goes to comfort Bethsheba, lays again with her, later giving birth to another son naming him Jedidia. And the Lord loved him! And David had thirteen more children after that.
Psalm 51:1-12 Salvation (lesson from Touch Point Bible)
"David had committed adultery and murder. In this psalm, he pleads with God to cleanse him from sin's stain. The image is not one of a superficial wiping away but one of a deep scrubbing of the soul. The result of David's confession is a heart made not merely clean but white as snow and then filled with the joy of salvation. Have you ever wondered if God could forgive you? David's prayer assures us that no matter how dark the stain, we can be made white and pure by God's forgiveness and cleansing. Make this psalm your daily prayer of personal confession."
2 Wash me clean from my guilt, purify me from my sin.
Prayer - Oh Lord, you know our transgressions. Your love is unfailing. Wash me CLEAN, and purify me from my sin. Help me to recognize that sin. I ask you to give me back my joy again and I will rejoice! Create in my a clean heart O God, renew a right spirit within me.... Amen.
I also just have to mention that I really like this Chronological reading because I might not have otherwise known that David had asked for forgiveness from the Lord if I had just read 2 Samuel!
Now go and do good!
Tomorrow's reading is 2 Samuel 12:26-31, 1 Chronicles 20:2-3, 2 Samuel 13:1-14:33.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Wednesday, February 3rd - PamJ
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are Exodus 7:14-9:35. Click here to read online.
Miriam said it VERY well yesterday about Pharaoh demonstrating his power by hardening his heart. Little did he know, the power of the Lord wouldn't make it easy for him.
Moses and Aaron changed the water of the Nile to blood. The fish died and stank. The Egyptians could no longer drink it's water and had to dig around it for their drinking water. The Egyptian magician's also did the sames things, and Pharaoh was not bothered.
Then came the plague of the frogs. Aaron stretched his hand over the waters and they came up and were everywhere! Although the magicians did this as well. I don't fully understand the purpose of the magicians doing these things as well. Perhaps it aided in the Pharaoh's denial of God.
It was Pharaoh who finally came up to Moses and Aaron, begging for them to get God to take away the hordes of frogs. He offered to let the people go, and Moses said he would pray for him and his people. Agreed. The next day they prayed, the frogs died and were piled in heaps, and yet again Pharaoh's heart was hardened.
This was followed by the plague of the gnats, the flies, the livestock, also plagues of boils and hail. Even the magicians told Pharaoh that this was the work of God!! But he refused to hear and acknowledge it.
It is important to note that the plague of the flies were not in the land of Goshen where the Isrealites lived. Their livestocks was also not affected. God wanted to make that 'distinction between my people and your people' Exodus 8:23.
Pharaoh promised twice that he would return the people. He broke that promise as many times. He only made those promised to end the plagues. To bring comfort to himself. As soon as they were over he sinned and took back his promises. My Bible's insert says "It's quite easy for us to form the habit of keeping our word only when it's comfortable. Examine your dealings with others, and unlearn any sinful habits before, like Pharaoh, you must learn the hard way." Making promises and going through with them please people. It shows that you are loyal and can be trusted. If you take back those and do not pull through, it is harder for others to trust in you. We can trust in God, because he never fails on his promises!
God knew that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened each and every time. Pharaoh was stubborn. I see those qualities in myself at times. I beg God to change something that may not be going in my favor, then after? I forget and move on to the next thing until I need him to fix something again. He wants to be the CONSTANT in our lives. By denying Him, He does not remove Himself from the scene. It merely removes the opportunity to relate to God. He remains the same. Always there. Just waiting for you.
Tomorrow's reading are Exodus 10 - 12:51. Click here to read online.
Miriam said it VERY well yesterday about Pharaoh demonstrating his power by hardening his heart. Little did he know, the power of the Lord wouldn't make it easy for him.
Moses and Aaron changed the water of the Nile to blood. The fish died and stank. The Egyptians could no longer drink it's water and had to dig around it for their drinking water. The Egyptian magician's also did the sames things, and Pharaoh was not bothered.
Then came the plague of the frogs. Aaron stretched his hand over the waters and they came up and were everywhere! Although the magicians did this as well. I don't fully understand the purpose of the magicians doing these things as well. Perhaps it aided in the Pharaoh's denial of God.
It was Pharaoh who finally came up to Moses and Aaron, begging for them to get God to take away the hordes of frogs. He offered to let the people go, and Moses said he would pray for him and his people. Agreed. The next day they prayed, the frogs died and were piled in heaps, and yet again Pharaoh's heart was hardened.
This was followed by the plague of the gnats, the flies, the livestock, also plagues of boils and hail. Even the magicians told Pharaoh that this was the work of God!! But he refused to hear and acknowledge it.
It is important to note that the plague of the flies were not in the land of Goshen where the Isrealites lived. Their livestocks was also not affected. God wanted to make that 'distinction between my people and your people' Exodus 8:23.
Pharaoh promised twice that he would return the people. He broke that promise as many times. He only made those promised to end the plagues. To bring comfort to himself. As soon as they were over he sinned and took back his promises. My Bible's insert says "It's quite easy for us to form the habit of keeping our word only when it's comfortable. Examine your dealings with others, and unlearn any sinful habits before, like Pharaoh, you must learn the hard way." Making promises and going through with them please people. It shows that you are loyal and can be trusted. If you take back those and do not pull through, it is harder for others to trust in you. We can trust in God, because he never fails on his promises!
God knew that Pharaoh's heart would be hardened each and every time. Pharaoh was stubborn. I see those qualities in myself at times. I beg God to change something that may not be going in my favor, then after? I forget and move on to the next thing until I need him to fix something again. He wants to be the CONSTANT in our lives. By denying Him, He does not remove Himself from the scene. It merely removes the opportunity to relate to God. He remains the same. Always there. Just waiting for you.
Tomorrow's reading are Exodus 10 - 12:51. Click here to read online.
Tuesday, January 26, 2010
January 26th - Guest Post by PamJ
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Job 26:1-29:25. Click here to read online.
Scripture: Job 27:3-4
as long as I have life within me,
the breath of God in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak wickedness,
and my tongue will utter no deceit.
Observation:
Through all that happened to Job, he still acknowledges that God is still his breath of life. He has been stripped of all earthy possessions, most of his sons and daughters were killed, he has insomnia, therefore cannot sleep at night, and if he tries he has nightmares. His health was taken. Through all of this, he still remains loyal to the one who created him and the one who took it all away from him.
Application:
Knowing that it doesn’t matter how bad things may get, God is ALWAYS giving us that breath of life. We should be thankful for every moment of everyday and each moment is a gift from God. Just as easily as it was given to us, it can be taken away.
Prayer:
Lord I pray that, although things may not go the way we want them to, I pray that we will not utter deceit and continue to praise you. To be loyal to you. To remember who gave us the precious gifts we have. Most importantly the gift of your Son. You are an awesome God and I am forever thankful.
Tomorrow's readings are from Job 30:1-31:40. Click here to read online.
Scripture: Job 27:3-4
as long as I have life within me,
the breath of God in my nostrils,
my lips will not speak wickedness,
and my tongue will utter no deceit.
Observation:
Through all that happened to Job, he still acknowledges that God is still his breath of life. He has been stripped of all earthy possessions, most of his sons and daughters were killed, he has insomnia, therefore cannot sleep at night, and if he tries he has nightmares. His health was taken. Through all of this, he still remains loyal to the one who created him and the one who took it all away from him.
Application:
Knowing that it doesn’t matter how bad things may get, God is ALWAYS giving us that breath of life. We should be thankful for every moment of everyday and each moment is a gift from God. Just as easily as it was given to us, it can be taken away.
Prayer:
Lord I pray that, although things may not go the way we want them to, I pray that we will not utter deceit and continue to praise you. To be loyal to you. To remember who gave us the precious gifts we have. Most importantly the gift of your Son. You are an awesome God and I am forever thankful.
Tomorrow's readings are from Job 30:1-31:40. Click here to read online.
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
January 12 Readings - SOAP - PamJ
Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Genesis 32:1-35:27. Click here to read online.
Scripture - The passage that stood out for me today was Genesis 33:9 "Brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."
Observation - Even after Esau was betrayed by his brother Jacob, with Jacob returning begging for forgiveness with many many gifts, he had learned to be content and happy with what he had. He did not fester over what he had lost. Esau did have strong feelings of hurting and killing his brother and it was a long process for him. He overcame his bitterness, forgave Jacob and moved on.
Application - We cannot be content in our lives if we dwell on all those feelings that consume us. The enemy loves it when we are frustrated, feeling angry and cheated! How can we prevent this? How can we learn to be content? How can we get to a point where we KNOW something needs to change? We need to be honest with God about the way we feel. He knows this already. He knows what is going on in your heart. Sees it all. But we need to admit it to Him. We need to forgive those who wronged us, and hurt us. We need to concentrate on God's gift to us. SALVATION. Anything else is obsolete. Two hundred twenty goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, thirty camels, forty cows, ten bulls, thirty donkeys - as nice as it sounds and as rich as one could be with all those animals, Esau had plenty.
Prayer - Lord, you know what is on my heart. You know what goes on in it and the thoughts that go around in my head. I pray that I can always come to you with those thoughts and feelings, no matter what circumstances may arise. Dear God, please help me to forgive those who need my forgiveness, whether they know it or not. You are an awesome God and I am so proud to be yours.
Any thoughts?
Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 36:1-19, 1 Chronicles 1:35-37, Genesis 36:20-30, 1 Chronicles 1:38-42, Genesis 36:31-43, 1 Chronicles 1:43 - 2:2. You can read the passages online by clicking here. If you find it to be distracting to flip back and forth so much - simply read Genesis 36 and then 1 Chronicles 1:35-2:2. If you'd prefer to read it this way online you can click here.
Scripture - The passage that stood out for me today was Genesis 33:9 "Brother, I have plenty," Esau answered. "Keep what you have."
Observation - Even after Esau was betrayed by his brother Jacob, with Jacob returning begging for forgiveness with many many gifts, he had learned to be content and happy with what he had. He did not fester over what he had lost. Esau did have strong feelings of hurting and killing his brother and it was a long process for him. He overcame his bitterness, forgave Jacob and moved on.
Application - We cannot be content in our lives if we dwell on all those feelings that consume us. The enemy loves it when we are frustrated, feeling angry and cheated! How can we prevent this? How can we learn to be content? How can we get to a point where we KNOW something needs to change? We need to be honest with God about the way we feel. He knows this already. He knows what is going on in your heart. Sees it all. But we need to admit it to Him. We need to forgive those who wronged us, and hurt us. We need to concentrate on God's gift to us. SALVATION. Anything else is obsolete. Two hundred twenty goats, two hundred ewes, twenty rams, thirty camels, forty cows, ten bulls, thirty donkeys - as nice as it sounds and as rich as one could be with all those animals, Esau had plenty.
Prayer - Lord, you know what is on my heart. You know what goes on in it and the thoughts that go around in my head. I pray that I can always come to you with those thoughts and feelings, no matter what circumstances may arise. Dear God, please help me to forgive those who need my forgiveness, whether they know it or not. You are an awesome God and I am so proud to be yours.
Any thoughts?
Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 36:1-19, 1 Chronicles 1:35-37, Genesis 36:20-30, 1 Chronicles 1:38-42, Genesis 36:31-43, 1 Chronicles 1:43 - 2:2. You can read the passages online by clicking here. If you find it to be distracting to flip back and forth so much - simply read Genesis 36 and then 1 Chronicles 1:35-2:2. If you'd prefer to read it this way online you can click here.
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