of mice and men...

Life seems to be very large these days. Summer came and went with the blink of an eye and now I find September knocking on my door. I've had the best of intentions but somehow I find that it's already the third of September and I haven't posted the reading list yet. Sigh. Believe it or not, by the end of September, we will be leaving the Old Testament and beginning our journey through the New. Press on!


September 1: Ezekiel 43-45

September 2: Ezekiel 46-48

September 3: Ezekiel 29:17-21; Daniel 4; Jeremiah 52:31-34; 2 Kings 25:27-30; Psalm 44

September 4: Psalms 74, 79, 80 & 89

September 5: Psalms 85, 102, 106, 123, 137

September 6: Daniel 7-8; 5

September 7: Daniel 9; 6

September 8: 2 Chronicles 36:22-23; Ezra 1:1-4:5

September 9: Daniel 10-12

September 10: Ezra 4:6-6:13; Haggai

September 11: Zachariah 1-6

September 12: Zachariah 7-8; Ezra 6:14-22, Psalm 78

September 13: Psalms 107, 116, 118

September 14: Psalms 125-126, 128-129, 132, 147, 149

September 15: Zachariah 9-14

September 16: Esther 1-4

September 17: Esther 5-10

September 18: Ezra 7-8

September 19: Ezra 9-10

September 20: Nehemiah 1-5

September 21: Nehemiah 6-7

September 22: Nehemiah 8-10

September 23: Nehemiah 11-13

September 24: Malachi

September 25: 1 Chronicles 1-2

September 26: 1 Chronicles 3-5

September 27: 1 Chronicles 6

September 28: 1 Chronicles 7:1-8:27

September 29: 1 Chronicles 8:28-9:44

September 30: John 1:1-18; Mark 1:1; Luke 1:1-4; 2:23-38; Matthew 1:1-17

Soon!

Ezekiel 46-48

Somehow the days have gotten away from me. (Now how could that happen?) Anyway, today's reading is Ezekiel 43-45. I should be able to post the entire month this evening. As long as no "adventures" come our way. Praying your September morning is a glorious one!

Thus says the LORD: "Let not the wise man boast in his wisdom, let not the mighty man boast in his might, let not the rich man boast in his riches,but let him who boasts boast in this, that he understands and knows me, that I am the LORD who practices steadfast love, justice, and righteousness in the earth. For in these things I delight, declares the LORD."
Jeremiah 9:23-24

This is what the LORD says:
"Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.
Jeremiah 6:16

August Reading Schedule

August 1: Jeremiah 10-13

August 2: Jeremiah 14-16

August 3: Jeremiah 17-20

August 4: 2 Kings 22:1-23:28, 2 Chronicles 34:8-35:19

August 5: Nahum, 2 Kings 23:29-37, 2 Chronicles 35:20-36:5, Jeremiah 22:10-17

August 6: Jeremiah 26, Habakkuk

August 7: Jeremiah 46-47, 2 Kings 24:1-4,7, 2 Chronicles 36:6-7, Jeremiah 25,35

August 8: Jeremiah 36, 45, 48

August 9: Jeremiah 49:1-33, Daniel 1-2

August 10: Jeremiah 22:18-30, 2 Kings 24:5-20, 2 Chronicles 36:8-12, Jeremiah 37:1-2, 52:1-3; 24; 29

August 11: Jeremiah 27; 28; 23

August 12: Jeremiah 50-51

August 13: Jeremiah 49:34-39; 34; Ezekiel 1-3

August 14: Ezekiel 4-7

August 15: Ezekiel 8-11

August 16: Ezekiel 12-14

August 17: Ezekiel 15-17

August 18: Ezekiel 18-20

August 19: Ezekiel 21-23

August 20: 2 Kings 25:1; 2 Chronicles 36:13-16, Jeremiah 39:1; 52:4; Ezekiel 24; Jeremiah 21:1-22:9; 32

August 21: Jeremiah 30-31, 33

August 22: Ezekiel 25; 29:1-16; 30; 31

August 23: Ezekiel 26-28

August 24: Jeremiah 37:3-39:10; 52:4-30; 2 Kings 25:2-21; 2 Chronicles 36:17-21

August 25: 2 Kings 25:22; Jeremiah 39:11-40:6; Lamentations 1-3

August 26: Lamentations 4-5; Obadiah

August 27: Jeremiah 40:7-44:30; 2 Kings 25:23-26

August 28: Ezekiel 33:21-36:38

August 29: Ezekiel 37-39

August 30: Ezekiel 32:1-33:20; Daniel 3

August 31: Ezekiel 40-42

whatever is right

Although he did not remove the high places from Israel, Asa's heart was fully committed to the LORD all his life. 2 Chronicles 15:17

In everything he walked in the ways of his father Asa and did not stray from them; he did what was right in the eyes of the LORD. The high places, however, were not removed, and the people continued to offer sacrifices and burn incense there. 1 Kings 22:43

At first glance, it seems like high praise. Asa's heart was fully committed to the Lord. Jehoshaphat did what was right in the eyes of the Lord. Yet, something is a little off. Neither father nor son removed the "high places." And the people continued to sacrifice to their idols.

We might say that they did the best that they could. That they spent their time being obedient and that should be enough. But were they obedient? Not according to scripture. I counted ten times from Exodus to 1 Samuel that God forbids idol worship. Their failure to completely eradicate idolatry in Judah would have tragic circumstances. Jehoshaphat's son, Jehoram, "walked in the ways of the kings of Israel, as the house of Ahab had done, for he married a daughter of Ahab. He did evil in the eyes of the Lord." (2 Chronicles 21:6) I have to wonder if the outcome might have been different if Asa or Jehoshaphat had removed all idols from the land.

I desire to walk a life that is pleasing to God. I want to have a heart that is fully committed to the Lord. I want to do what is right in the eyes of the Lord. And yet, I find myself "overlooking" certain areas in my life, assuring myself that they are too small to bother God. (impatience, irritated driving, and so forth.) However, scripture reminds me that "It only takes a minute amount of yeast, you know, to permeate an entire loaf of bread." (Galatians 5:9 MSG) If I continue to allow these "minute" sins to persist in my life, they will eventually "permeate" my entire being and my witness. From that point, who knows how it might affect future generations of my family. After all, it only took one generation for Judah's kings to go from "doing what was right" to following in the footsteps of one of the most wicked kings in Israel's history. What a sobering thought.

Your flip and callous arrogance in these things bothers me. You pass it off as a small thing, but it's anything but that. Yeast, too, is a "small thing," but it works its way through a whole batch of bread dough pretty fast. So get rid of this "yeast." Our true identity is flat and plain, not puffed up with the wrong kind of ingredient. The Messiah, our Passover Lamb, has already been sacrificed for the Passover meal, and we are the Unraised Bread part of the Feast. So let's live out our part in the Feast, not as raised bread swollen with the yeast of evil, but as flat bread—simple, genuine, unpretentious. 1 Corinthians 5:6-8 MSG

no turning back

Several weeks ago, our pastor preached a sermon series entitled Not a Fan. It was a thought provoking, inspiring message that has lingered with me through the weeks. (I'd highly recommend it. It can be found here.) The second sermon in the series was called Committed and during that sermon, Kyle mentioned Elisha's actions when Elijah called him to service.

So Elijah went and found Elisha son of Shaphat plowing a field. There were twelve teams of oxen in the field, and Elisha was plowing with the twelfth team. Elijah went over to him and threw his cloak across his shoulders and then walked away. Elisha left the oxen standing there, ran after Elijah, and said to him, “First let me go and kiss my father and mother good-bye, and then I will go with you!”

Elijah replied, “Go on back, but think about what I have done to you.”

So Elisha returned to his oxen and slaughtered them. He used the wood from the plow to build a fire to roast their flesh. He passed around the meat to the townspeople, and they all ate. Then he went with Elijah as his assistant. (1 Kings 19:19-21 NLT)

Kyle said that Elisha was obviously somewhat successful since he had 24 oxen to plow his fields. This was his livelihood. And yet, when he received the call, what did he do? He slaughtered his oxen and burned his plowing equipment and had a great big barbecue. He had no intention of coming back. And to make sure that he wasn't tempted to return to his old life, he burned all his bridges behind him. That's commitment.

I've thought a lot about that story since the sermon. And when I read it last week, I thought some more.

I tend to look before I leap.

Then I look some more.

And then I might sit down and think about it for awhile.

Ponder deep thoughts.

Second guess myself.

Think that God surely couldn't be asking me to do that.

Wait some more.

Look some more.

And if I wait long enough, sometimes the opportunity passes me by and I say, "obviously that wasn't God's will.)

But I wonder.

I wonder if there will come a day when the Lord says to me, "Karen, you missed this. Look at how much more you could have been if only you were willing to believe...commit..." It's not that I'm afraid of commitment. I think maybe I'm afraid of what commitment might lead to instead. Does that make sense? Maybe it's more that I'm comfortable where I am. With my oxen and my plow. Following a different path may take me to uncomfortable places. Put demands on me that I don't want to deal with. Require absolute trust in my God.

Yet here's the thing.

I don't want to miss it. The more I come to know Him, the closer I draw to Him, the more I want what He wants for me. So I think my prayer will change to become, "light the barbecue, Lord. Let's go."

July

July 1: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

July 2: 2 Kings 14, 2 Chronicles 25, Jonah

July 3: Hosea 1-7

July 4: Hosea 8-14

July 5: 2 Kings 15:1-7, 2 Chronicles 26, Amos 1-4

July 6: Amos 5-9, 2 Kings 15:8-18

July 7: Isaiah 1-4

July 8: 2 Kings 15:19-38, 2 Chronicles 27, Isaiah 5-6

July 9: Micah

July 10: 2 Kings 16, 2 Chronicles 28, Isaiah 7-8

July 11: Isaiah 9-12

July 12: Isaiah 13-16

July 13: Isaiah 17-22

July 14: Isaiah 23-27

July 15: Isaiah 28-30

July 16: Isaiah 31-35

July 17: 2 Kings 18:1-8, 2 Chronicles 29-31

July 18: 2 Kings 17,18:9-37, 2 Chronicles 32:1-19, Isaiah 36

July 19: 2 Kings 19, 2 Chronicles 32:20-23, Isaiah 37

July 20: 2 Kings 20, 2 Chronicles 32:24-33, Isaiah 38-39

July 21: 2 Kings 21:1-18, 2 Chronicles 33:1-20, Isaiah 40

July 22: Isaiah 41-43

July 23: Isaiah 44-47

July 24: Isaiah 48-51

July 25: Isaiah 52-57

July 26: Isaiah 58-62

July 27: Isaiah 63-66

July 28: 2 Kings 21:19-26, 2 Chronicles 33:21-34:7, Zephaniah

July 29: Jeremiah 1-3

July 30: Jeremiah 4-6

July 31: Jeremiah 7-9

gratitude

One area of my life that I struggle with constantly is remembering God's goodness to me. To be perfectly honest, I don't think about this much. It usually comes to light when I am working through a bible study and I'm asked to list a time that I remember that God did something wonderful. And while I know that he does many beautiful miraculous things on a daily basis, mostly I draw a blank. I've come to the conclusion that I just don't pay enough attention.

Anyhow, we recently read the story of Elijah and the widow at Zarephath.

Some time later the brook dried up because there had been no rain in the land. Then the word of the LORD came to him: "Go at once to Zarephath of Sidon and stay there. I have commanded a widow in that place to supply you with food." So he went to Zarephath. When he came to the town gate, a widow was there gathering sticks. He called to her and asked, "Would you bring me a little water in a jar so I may have a drink?" As she was going to get it, he called, "And bring me, please, a piece of bread."

"As surely as the LORD your God lives," she replied, "I don't have any bread—only a handful of flour in a jar and a little oil in a jug. I am gathering a few sticks to take home and make a meal for myself and my son, that we may eat it—and die."

Elijah said to her, "Don't be afraid. Go home and do as you have said. But first make a small cake of bread for me from what you have and bring it to me, and then make something for yourself and your son. For this is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: 'The jar of flour will not be used up and the jug of oil will not run dry until the day the LORD gives rain on the land.' "

She went away and did as Elijah had told her. So there was food every day for Elijah and for the woman and her family. For the jar of flour was not used up and the jug of oil did not run dry, in keeping with the word of the LORD spoken by Elijah.(1 Kings 17:1-16)

Here's a woman who is living life with a constant miracle. She knows that no human is putting flour in the jar and oil in the jar. There still is no rain so there is no hope for a harvest. Elijah has told her that God himself said that she would have flour and oil as long as there is no rain in the land. You have to think that she is feeling pretty good about the Lord and how He's blessed her family. Except...

Some time later the son of the woman who owned the house became ill. He grew worse and worse, and finally stopped breathing. She said to Elijah, "What do you have against me, man of God? Did you come to remind me of my sin and kill my son?"

"Give me your son," Elijah replied. He took him from her arms, carried him to the upper room where he was staying, and laid him on his bed. Then he cried out to the LORD, "O LORD my God, have you brought tragedy also upon this widow I am staying with, by causing her son to die?" Then he stretched himself out on the boy three times and cried to the LORD, "O LORD my God, let this boy's life return to him!"

The LORD heard Elijah's cry, and the boy's life returned to him, and he lived. Elijah picked up the child and carried him down from the room into the house. He gave him to his mother and said, "Look, your son is alive!"

Then the woman said to Elijah, "Now I know that you are a man of God and that the word of the LORD from your mouth is the truth." 1 Kings 17:17-24

I have to tell you that I was a little bit frustrated by the widow. She's living this miracle life and yet the moment her circumstances change, she's pointing the finger and blaming Elijah (and God). The note I made in my Bible says, "do our life circumstance cause us to forget the miracles in our lives?" But I still wasn't talking about me. Yet. It wasn't til later that I realized that I was no different than the widow. If I can't remember the good things the Lord has done in my life when I'm working through a bible study, what are the chances that I'll remember them when life comes pounding on the door? To carry the thought one step further, am I truly grateful as the Lord works throughout my day? And what can I do to change it if I'm not?

One of my favorite blogs is a Holy Experience written by Ann Voskamp. I will often reread her posts over and over just to allow them to seep into my soul. She has such a way with words and everything she writes has a scriptural tie. It's a beautiful thing. Anyway, she wrote a post entitled a thousand gifts where she talks about her journal of the gifts that the Lord has given her. Over the years she has surpassed one thousand and now goes on to number the thousands. She says, "Too often I miss Him, oblivious, blind. I don't see all the good things that He is giving me, gracing me with, brushing my life with. True, He is everywhere, always. But maybe, before The Gift List, I thought of Him as further off, not so close. When I started to see all the things that I love bestowed upon me, I started to see Him as near, present, everywhere, showering me with good things. Seeing the things I love all around me gives me eyes to see that I am loved, that He loves me."

Anyway, recently I decided to begin my own list of a thousand gifts. Some days are more challenging than others and I have to look a little deeper to see how He's blessed me. Some days are simple gifts such as the bluest sky that I've seen in a long time and some days the gifts are huge. Through it all, my hope is that when I seek Him, I will find Him. (2 Chronicles 15:2) And maybe the next time difficulties come knocking on my door, I'll remember the miracles that have come before and I will rely on the Giver of life.

thoughts on Kings...

A couple of verses stood out to me this weekend as I was reading.

2 Chronicles 12:14...He did evil because he had not set his heart on seeking the Lord.

2 Chronicles 15:2...The Lord is with you when you are with Him. If you seek him, he will be found by you, but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.

2 Chronicles 15:15...They sought God eagerly, and He was found by them. So the Lord gave them rest on every side.

2 Chronicles 16:9...For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to Him.

These verses make it very clear that we need to set our hearts on seeking the Lord. The first verse goes even further, saying that we do evil when we do not set our heart on the Lord. At first glance, that sounds incredibly harsh. We don't want to think of our actions as evil but clearly we are capable of it when we do not seek Him. Conversely, 15:15 says that when they sought Him (don't you love the word "eagerly"?), He gave them rest. Believe me, I could use some rest. And when I compare the words "evil" or "rest" as the outcome of my actions, the choice is easy to make.

One other thing that struck me this weekend was how Asa followed God with all his heart until he was older. I wonder if he grew complacent. Scripture says, "Though his disease was severe, even in his illness he did not seek help from the Lord, but only from the physicians." (16:12) What happened? Did he start believing his own press? Was he surrounded with people who told him how wonderful he was? I don't know. What I do know is that he is not the only person in the Bible that started out well but didn't finish strong. There's a lesson in that.

Then they bound themselves in a covenant to seek God, the God of their fathers, wholeheartedly, holding nothing back.They shouted out their promise to God, a joyful sound accompanied with blasts from trumpets and rams' horns. The whole country felt good about the covenant promise—they had given their promise joyfully from the heart. Anticipating the best, they had sought God—and he showed up, ready to be found. God gave them peace within and without—a most peaceable kingdom!
2 Chronicles 15:12,14-15 MSG

Do you ever wonder?

In 1 Kings 11, Solomon has turned his heart from God. (11:4) Verse 9-12 goes on to say, "The Lord became angry with Solomon because his heart had turned away from the LORD, the God of Israel, who had appeared to him twice. Although He had forbidden Solomon to follow other gods, Solomon did not keep the Lord's command. So the Lord said to Solomon, 'Since this is your attitude and you have not kept my covenant and my decrees, which I commanded you, I will most certainly tear the kingdom away from you and give it to one of your subordinates. Nevertheless, for the sake of David your father, I will not do it during your lifetime. I will tear it out of the hand of your son."

As far as I can tell, Solomon did nothing to change his ways after this Word from the Lord. Does anyone but me find this odd?

First of all, I'd like to think that if God had appeared to me twice, I'd make a little more effort to be obedient. I realize that it's a lot easier to maintain that "spiritual" feeling after a "mountain top experience." (anybody else remember camp?) However, I still think that an encounter with God Almighty would mark me forever.

Regardless, I'm fairly certain that if God came back and said, "Child, you've got an attitude that's got to go. Since I was fond of your parents, I'll wait and bring destruction on your children rather than you" I'd sit up and take notice. I'm pretty sure I'd be begging for forgiveness, changing my attitude and asking Him to punish me instead of them. As a mom, I can't even fathom allowing my children to be punished in my place. (and Solomon had to be aware that this wasn't a "time out" punishment. God is saying that He will tear the kingdom from him. That means war, bloodshed and death.)

Interestingly enough, this isn't the only time this happens in scripture. I remember reading about Hezekiah last year and Isaiah telling him the same thing. Except Hezekiah thinks, "will there not be peace and security in my lifetime?" (2 Kings 20:19)

I do not want to be that me focused. My prayer is that I will always be sensitive to God's correction (and my attitude) and that my eyes will not be so focused on myself that I am unable to see the harm that I might be doing others.

Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain. Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.
Psalm 119:36-37

But my eyes are fixed on you, O Sovereign LORD;
in you I take refuge
Psalm 141:8

Just a thought...

I've spent quite a bit of time thinking about Saul lately. He was a man chosen by God to do great things but somewhere along the way, he got sidetracked. As I've mentioned before, Saul is never the man that he might have been. Rather than rely on God and the things he knew to be true, he chose to "help God out" along the way. As a result, the Lord rejected Saul as king and chose David instead.

Then we have Solomon, son of David. He had the benefit of growing up under David's guidance. Certainly, as David was dying, he instructed Solomon on how to live. (1 Kings 2:2-3) From all appearances, Solomon followed those instructions. For awhile. (1 Kings 3:3) By all accounts, God was pleased with Solomon. Rather than ask for great wealth or a long life, he asked that the Lord would bless him with wisdom. The Lord gave him all three. (1 Kings 3:12-15) After the temple was built, the Lord appeared to him again and promised that as long as "you walk before me in integrity of heart and uprightness, as David your father did, and do all I command and observe my decrees and laws, I will establish your royal throne over Israel forever, as I promised David." (1 Kings 9: 4-5)

Sounds like a plan, doesn't it? After all, Solomon not only had the benefit of learning from Saul and David's lives, the LORD Himself had spoken to him and made clear His expectations. And since He had gifted Solomon with wisdom, wealth and health, Solomon knew that God would fulfill His words.

And yet, somewhere along the way, Solomon chose his own path. 1 Kings 11:4 says, "As Solomon grew old, his wives turned his heart after other gods, and his heart was not fully devoted to the LORD his God, as the heart of David his father had been." As I read those words, I sit here and shake my head. I don't get it. How could he take such a path? God HIMSELF spoke to him. He knew the benefits of obeying the Lord's statutes. So how did he go from here to here?

Ecclesiastes 2 may offer a clue. As I read the chapter last night, one thing kept coming to my mind. I thought, I said, I tried, I wanted, I undertook, I built, I made, I bought, I owned, I amassed, I acquired, I became, I denied, I refused, my heart, I surveyed, I had toiled, I turned, I saw, I came, I thought, I said, I gain, I hated, I toiled, I must, my heart... I don't know that I've ever seen so much "I" and "my" in any of our readings. Today, 24 hours later, I'm still pondering this. Wondering how much of my "self focus" keeps me from following Him...and asking God to make this the prayer of my heart today...

Direct me in the path of your commands,
for there I find delight.

Turn my heart toward your statutes
and not toward selfish gain.

Turn my eyes away from worthless things;
preserve my life according to your word.

Psalm 119:35-37

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 12

intercession

There is nothing that makes us love a man so much as praying for him. --William Law

Bev will be having surgery on June 9th and then will begin chemo and radiation to fight her cancer. Praise the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all His benefits--who forgives all your sins and heals all your diseases...Psalm 103:2-3

Yvonne and her husband are on sabbatical in England for the next month. (her youngest son is taking care of things at home while they are gone.) If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139:9-10

Annette's friend Wendy is a full time caregiver to her husband who has COPD. They have had to adapt to some difficult changes recently. O LORD my God, I called to You for help and You healed me. Psalm 30:2, Surely God is my help; the Lord is the One who sustains me. Psalm 54:4

After more than a year of waiting, Katie has not one but two schools interested in hiring her. Jeremiah 29:11 says, "I say this because I know what I am planning for you," says the Lord. "I have good plans for you, not plans to hurt you. I will give you hope and a good future."

It's my turn to wait on biopsy results. They apparently will tell the doctor what they need to do to treat this spot on my back. (I keep hearing Lady MacBeth's voice in my head.) Exodus 15:27 says, "For I am the Lord, who heals you."

Praying for you all today...

LPM Memory Verse 11

Prayer Request Wednesday

These are just a few of the requests that I am aware of:

Bev is waiting on some important test results due June 3rd and will be having additional surgery on June 9th.

Jessi is waiting for some test results as well.

Bible study started for a lot of women.

Katie has an interview for a teaching position.

India had a devastating cyclone recently with hundreds dead and thousands left homeless. There are concerns about Compassion's children in this area including our compassion daughter.

Then there's the supreme court nominee, the future of our nation, and so many other things going on in our own homes. Won't you take a few minutes and pray?

June

June 1: 1 Kings 9:1-10:13, 2 Chronicles 7:11-9:12

June 2: 1 Kings 4, 10:14-29, 2 Chronicles 1:14-17, 9:13-28, Psalm 72

June 3: Proverbs 1-3

June 4: Proverbs 4-6

June 5: Proverbs 7-9

June 6: Proverbs 10-12

June 7: Proverbs 13-15

June 8: Proverbs 16-18

June 9: Proverbs 19-21

June 10: Proverbs 22-24

June 11: Proverbs 25-27

June 12: Proverbs 28-29

June 13: Proverbs 30-31, Psalm 127

June 14: Song of Songs

June 15: 1 Kings 11:1-40, Eccles. 1-2

June 16: Eccles 3-7

June 17: Eccles. 8-12, 1 Kings 11-41-43, 2 Chronicles 9:29-31

June 18: 1 Kings 12, 2 Chronicles 10:1-11:17

June 19: 1 Kings 13-14, 2 Chronicles 11:18-12:16

June 20: 1 Kings 15:1-24, 2 Chronicles 13-16

June 21: 1 Kings 15:25-16:34, 2 Chronicles 17, 1 Kings 17

June 22: 1 Kings 18-19

June 23: 1 Kings 20-21

June 24: 1 Kings 22:1-40, 2 Chronicles 18

June 25: 1 Kings 22:41-53, 2 Kings 1, 2 Chronicles 19:1-21:3

June 26: 2 Kings 2-4

June 27: 2 Kings 5-7

June 28: 2 Kings 8-9, 2 Chronicles 21:4-22:9

June 29: 2 Kings 10-11, 2 Chronicles 22:10-23:21

June 30: Joel

Psalm 119

It may come as a shock to you, but I am not always a big fan of rules. I think I've mentioned before that I tend to drive a little too fast (because I know how fast I should go) and more often than not, I look for "gray" areas in the rules as an excuse to do whatever I want. (I once had a boss tell me that "rules were guidelines that we want people to follow." I think I took it to heart!) That's why I used to struggle with Psalms like 119 that tent to wax poetic about their love of the law. How on earth could anyone "delight" in the law?

Then I read a book.

And I looked at "the law" a little differently.

The book is called "Sitting at the feet of Rabbi Jesus." The statement that caught my attention was this: "For them (the Jewish people) the Torah was not an onerous rulebook or a vast catalog of laws as we might think, but a gift from God that taught them how to live." (25)

A gift from God? Yeah, I can totally get that. So, with that in mind, it came as no surprise to me last week that these were some of my favorite verses:

Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart. You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. (3-4)

I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. (10-11)

I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word. (15-16)

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law. (18)

Direct me in the path of your commands, for there I find delight. (35)

Turn my eyes away from worthless things, preserve my life according to your word. (37)

My comfort in my suffering is this: Your promise preserves my life. (50)

You are my portion, O LORD; I have promised to obey your words. I have sought your face with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise. (57-58)

May those who fear you rejoice when they see me, for I have put my hope in your word. (74)

My soul faints with longing for your salvation, but I have put my hope in your word. (81)

Great peace have they who love your law, and nothing can make them stumble. (166)

May your hand be ready to help me, for I have chosen your precepts. (173)

Gathering...

There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful than that of a continual conversation with God. --Brother Lawrence

I am so grateful that I can bring life's troubles to my God at any time, anywhere. And I am even more grateful that He already knows, that He is never surprised, and in all things He is working for the good of those who love Him.

Bev found out yesterday that she has cancer in some of her lymph nodes and will be needing more surgery. She is meeting with her surgeon and oncologist today. Please pray for strength, wisdom, peace and healing. And if you have a moment, please drop by and leave her an encouraging word.

My daughter has a doctor's appointment today to try and get some answers about a health issue she has been having. Jessi struggles with anxiety and sometimes trips to the doctor can trigger a panic attack. We have some strong concerns about what might be affecting her health so I'm asking that you would pray for an anxiety free visit, wisdom, answers, and healing.

Annette's friend Cathy began chemo yesterday for stage IV cancer. Please lift her up as she walks this difficult road. We know that words like "stage IV" do not keep our God from healing. He not only promises to guide us always but to strengthen our frames. (I love that scripture!)

Annette's daughter is also struggling with some school issues. She asks that we would pray for confidence, strength and "a hug from God since her mom is so far away." Nothing weighs heavier on a mom's heart than when one of her children is struggling. No matter how old they are.

Beth and her family are trying to adopt a princess and there are so many obstacles in their path that they seem insurmountable. Please pray that God will move mountains, that Maria will get the care that she needs and will be able to join the family she has fallen in love with.

Ang's nephew had a couple of seizures and his family are trying to decide what needs to be done. Please pray for wisdom and the mighty presence of the LORD as they figure out the details.

There are many families dealing with job situations right now. Some have lost jobs, some have had wages cut, some have had their jobs changed. Please be in prayer for the different families you know who are dealing with job uncertainties.

While I try to avoid politics on my blogs, I have to say that I have deep concerns about where our nation is headed. I'm not talking about leadership in this instance, I am talking about how easily is seems that our nation is turning away from God. Replacing God with anything and everything. My heart is so burdened about this. (and frightened. Because I remember what God said about nations who turn their backs on Him.) I think we need to pray daily that our nation will seek His face and return to Him.

Father, there is such a need for healing today. Whether it be physical, emotional or spiritual. Lord, I would ask that You move in each of these situations, that You would bring Your healing touch to each one. You are our strength, our salvation in times of distress. Help us to lean fully upon You.

Psalms

It's very easy for my emotions to be swayed by difficulty. I tend to be empathetic in nature so my feelings often control my outlook. Because of these things, I have been a little blue lately. It's hard to listen to the news, have a conversation, read a paper, or even look around my community without feeling fear, sadness, anger, frustration, irritation, disgust, outrage and a host of other emotions.

Then there's the Psalms.

like Psalm 16...
I have set the LORD always before me. Because He is at my right hand, I will not be shaken. (8)

Psalm 9...
The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name will trust in You, for You, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. (9-10)

Psalm 33...
We wait in hope for the LORD; He is our help and our shield. In Him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in His holy name. (20-21)

Psalm 37...
Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. If the LORD delights in a man's way, He makes his steps firm; though he stumble, he will not fall, for the LORD upholds him with His hand. (7,23-24)

Psalm 40...
I waited patiently for the LORD; He turned to me and heard my cry. He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Blessed is the man who makes the LORD his trust. (1,3,4)

Psalm 112...
Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who finds great delight in His commands. He will have no fear of bad news, his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. (1,7)

Psalm 121...
I lift my eyes to the hills--where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. The LORD watches over you...The LORD will keep you from all harm--He will watch over your life. (1,2,5,7)

Psalm 143...
O LORD, hear my prayer, listen to my cry for mercy. In Your faithfulness and righteousness, come to my relief. Let the morning bring me word of Your unfailing love for I have put my trust in You. Show me the way I should go for to you I lift up my soul. (1,8)

Psalm 73...
Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides You. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. (25,26)

I suppose it's no coincidence that my last two memory verses have come from these Psalms. And I also know it's no coincidence that these were the verses set down in September of 2008 for me to read this particular week.

God knew exactly where I'd be and what I'd need to claim this week.

How can I not adore Him? Give thanks to Him?

And while I am human (and swayed too often by emotion), hopefully in the days ahead, I will remember what I've read and what I've hidden in my heart. And they will bring comfort once again.

Grant that I may not pray alone with my mouth; help me that I may pray from the depths of my heart. -- Martin Luther

Here are just a few of the needs/praises that I am aware of:

The Freemans as they mourn the loss of their daughter and yet rejoice that she is completely whole now.

Bev's cancer surgery is Thursday the 14th. Please pray that she will have peaceful days leading up to the surgery. Pray for the surgeons as they operate and pray for Bev's healing and rapid recovery.

Noah is in the hospital and continues to baffle his doctors. (Is there nothing sadder than an ill toddler who does not understand why everybody keeps poking and hurting him?) Please pray for wisdom, healing and patience.

I am actually in Nashville today (posting on Tuesday) for an awards/anniversary chapel. I am celebrating my 21st year with LifeWay. Anyway, we are traveling home Wednesday and would appreciate your prayers for safe travel.

There are a lot of moms in transition at the moment. Graduations, Proms, Weddings, Jobs, Moving and so forth. Speaking for myself, being a mom is what has defined me for 21 years. While I will still be a mom, it will be different. I struggle with who I am supposed to be now. Please pray that God will guide our steps for the days ahead (and that we might be alert/sensitive enough to see where He is leading.) And that we might savor everyday that we have with our children.

Lastly, I would ask that you pray that each one of us would have such a hunger for God. For His Word. For a true relationship with Him. That He would be our center. It's so easy to lose focus these days. I want my eyes fixed on Him and nothing else. And I want this for you as well.

Praying for each one of you...

this weeks recap...

A Psalm...

In the morning, O Lord, You hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before You and wait in expectation. (5:3)

But let all who take refuge in You be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread Your protection over them, that those who love Your name may rejoice in You. (5:11)

My steps have held to Your paths, my feet have not slipped. (17:5)

Keep me as the apple of Your eye; hide me in the shadow of Your wings. (17:8)

When I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing Your likeness. (17:15)

for Your love is ever before me; and I walk continually in Your truth. (26:3)

The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in Him and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to Him in song. (28:7)

O LORD my God, I called to You for help and You healed me. (30:2)

...but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may remain for a night but rejoicing comes in the morning. (30:5)

God is our refuge and strength; an ever-resent help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea. (46:1-2)

Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to Your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin. (51:1-2)

Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (51:10)

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will never be shaken. (62:1-2)

Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from Him. He alone is my rock and my salvation; He is my fortress, I will not be shaken. My salvation and my honor depend on God; He is my mighty rock, my refuge. Trust in Him at all times, O people; pour out your hearts to Him, for God is our refuge. (62:5-8)

O God, You are my God; earnestly I seek you, my soul thirsts for You, my body longs for You, in a dry and weary land where there is no water. (63:1)

Be not far from me, O God; come quickly, O my God, to help me. (71:12)

but as for me, I will always have hope; I will praise You more and more. My mouth will tell of Your righteousness, of Your salvation all day long, though I know not it's measure. (71:14-15)

You are the God who performs miracles; (77:14)

In the day of my trouble I will call to You for You will answer me. (86:7)

I will praise You, O Lord my God, with all my heart, I will glorify Your Name forever. (86:12)

last weeks recap...

So, here's the deal. I have never not believed God. I have never doubted that He was real or questioned my faith. I know that I don't have all the answers and I don't believe anyone else does either. Questions about how dinosaurs and cro-magnon man fit into creation don't bother me. I have never felt that God doesn't care for me or doesn't love me. Maybe I just don't think deep enough but I mostly feel that whatever distance there is between God and myself comes from me and my disobedience rather than from Him. The point I'm trying to make is that so far in my life, I have not "struggled" with my faith. It just is. And I'm okay with that.

However.

Sometimes, I read verses that I just don't get. Not because I don't understand what they are saying (although that happens too) but because I don't understand the intent behind them. And I am a big believer in intent. A for instance would be the plagues in Egypt. Every time it appeared that the Pharaoh wanted to relent, God hardened his heart. Well, for some one like me, I find that puzzling. After all, didn't God want Pharaoh to let the Israelites go? If so, then why harden his heart. Well, after much study and thought, I've come to the conclusion that God hardened Pharaoh's heart because He had something He wanted to reveal to the world. And I'm okay with that. (and don't get me started on Judas. Maybe we'll discuss him when we read the gospels.)

So.

I'm slap happily reading along last week when I came upon 2 Samuel 24. The part where it says "Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and He incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah." Joab is hesitant but he obeys his king. Then, "David was conscience-stricken after he had counted the fighting men, and he said to the LORD,"I have sinned greatly in what I have done. Now, O LORD, I beg of you, take away the guilt of your servant. I have done a very foolish thing." Of course, God gives him three choices for his punishment and ultimately 70,000 Israelites died. And I don't get it. My basic understanding of the verbiage used was that God Himself incited (to stir, encourage, or urge on; stimulate or prompt to action) David to this action so why was He punishing him?

Well, here we are, a week later and I'm not sure that I am really any closer to understanding. However, I did find a couple of commentaries that shed a little light on some things. The New American Commentary focuses on the fact that God was already angry with Israel. (Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel and He incited David...) This writer says, "In order to bring judgment against Israel, the Lord "incited David" to take a census of Israel and Judah". Yahweh is Lord of the universe, exercising dominion over all powers and authorities, whether in heaven or on earth. From this position of utmost strength the Lord apportions power to lesser beings to be used in enforcing the moral aspects of the created order. (This addresses the apparent contridiction found in 1 Chronicles 21:1 where the writer credits Satan for inciting David to conduct the census.) He goes on to say, "Since the Lord explicitly permitted censuses to be taken and even ordered their undertaking in the Torah, David's sin does not seem to lie in the mere fact that he conducted one. It was either David's motivation for the census or the manner in which it was carried out. Perhaps it was undertaken for purposes of self-aggrandizement----David may have wanted to know how many Israelite males above the age of 20 there were in Israel in order to be able to boast more accurately. Alternatively, it may be that David did not require all enrolled males to pay the half-shekel ransom required by the Torah, an oversight guaranteed to bring a plague against Israel." Ray Stedman has this view in Adventuring through the Bible, "A plague came upon the people of Israel when David, in his pride, began to rely on his own resources and upon apparent military might, instead of relying upon the power of God. What does this teach us? That our old nature is always there, ready to spring into action the moment we cease to rely upon the Spirit of God. Sin never dies of old age. No matter how long you walk with God, it is still possible to fall. The only thing that maintains the spiritual life is the quiet, day-by-day, moment-by-moment walk of faith." p172.

Okay.

That's probably good enough for me. I don't have to understand everything. What's important for me to understand is that my old nature is always there. Waiting. Discouraging. Or encouraging. You don't have to read tonight. Give yourself a break. You're not smart enough to understand what the Word says. You're too old to memorize anything. Come on, take a break. What will a few days hurt? The question is...how will I respond? Who will I listen to? Who wins the battle today?

Prayer Request Wednesday

We need to figure out a catchy title. Anyway, here goes: (as always, if you know of a request or need, please feel free to let me know.)

Bev's surgery is scheduled for May 14th. (which seems a long way off to her.) She is also scheduled to see a neurologist because her cardiologist thinks she may be having small seizures. She also is having difficulty sleeping. Please pray for healing, peace, strength and comfort for her in the days ahead.

Katie is headed off to Disney World today. Pray for safe travel and a most wonderful, happy time.
Michelle and her family are dealing with a major family crisis right now. Pray for wisdom, patience, strength and faith for her and her family.

While Stellan is home and doing well, his mama put up a post asking for prayer requests. As of this morning, there were 536 requests on it. That's a lot of hurting people. If you have an opportunity, please stop by and pray for a few that were mentioned.

It's Mother's Day this weekend. Oddly enough, this can be a very difficult or complicated day for a lot of people. While last week was National Infertility Awareness week, please pray for the women who are longing to become mothers and for one reason or another are unable to do so. Also, please pray for those who have lost their mothers and those who have "difficult" relationships with their mothers.

National Day of Prayer is tomorrow. Beth Moore will be the honorary spokesperson for the event. The website has so many ways that we can pray for our nation, military, media, businesses, education, churches and our families. I encourage you to stop by there and see how you can pray. Also, please lift Beth up tomorrow as she participates in the event.

The Freeman's are hoping to bring Kayleigh home so she can spend her last days this side of heaven in her earthly home. Pray that everything would fall into place so that this might occur.

Annette is (hopefully) enjoying wedding planning for her daughter Lindsay. Pray that it will go smoothly and that she will enjoy this time with her daughter.

My daughter is having some health issues and we are unable to see the doctor until the 20th. Please pray for healing, patience, and a simple, easy resolution to her problem.

My heart has been moved by the work that Compassion does around the world. Whether you sponsor a child or not, would you commit to pray for them and their work?

Father, there are so many needs all around us in these days. But Lord, we know that You are enough to satisfy our needs. We thank You for the blessings that You have given us and we ask that we might have not only Your eyes to see the needs around us but also Your heart to react to those needs. We are so grateful that You are gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love. You truly are not only our strength but our song. We love You so, dear Lord.

Weekly recap

I am hoping to write a recap of this past week's readings some time this week. I am still pondering 2 Samuel 24 and looking through some commentaries to maybe answer some questions that I have about that particular chapter. If you have any thoughts, please let me know.

Again the anger of the LORD burned against Israel, and he incited David against them, saying, "Go and take a census of Israel and Judah."So the king said to Joab and the army commanders with him, "Go throughout the tribes of Israel from Dan to Beersheba and enroll the fighting men, so that I may know how many there are."But Joab replied to the king, "May the LORD your God multiply the troops a hundred times over, and may the eyes of my lord the king see it. But why does my lord the king want to do such a thing?"The king's word, however, overruled Joab and the army commanders; so they left the presence of the king to enroll the fighting men of Israel.

LPM Scripture Memory Verse 9

May

Updated: Thanks Sheryl for pointing out that the 10th and the 11th were the same. I think it's fixed now.

May 1: 2 Samuel 20-21, 23:8-23, 1 Chronicles 20:4-8, 11:10-25

May 2: 2 Samuel 23:24-24:25, 1 Chronicles 11:26-47, 21:1-30

May 3: 1 Chronicles 22-24

May 4: Psalm 30, 1 Chronicles 25-26

May 5: 1 Chronicles 27-29

May 6: Psalms 5-7, 10, 11, 13, 17

May 7: Psalms 23, 26, 28, 31, 35

May 8: Psalms 41, 43, 46, 55, 61, 62, 64

May 9: Psalms 69-71, 77

May 10: Psalms 83, 86, 88, 91, 98

May 11: Psalms 108-109, 120-121, 140, 143-144

May 12: Psalms 1, 14-15, 36-37, 39

May 13: Psalms 40, 49-50, 73

May 14: Psalms 73, 82, 84, 90, 92, 112, 115

May 15: Psalms 8-9, 16, 19, 21, 24-29

May 16: Psalms 33, 65-68

May 17: Psalms 75, 93-94, 97-100

May 18: Psalms 103-104, 113-114, 117

May 19: Psalm 119:1-88

May 20: Psalm 119:89-176

May 21: Psalms 122, 124, 133-136

May 22: Psalms 138-139, 145, 148, 150

May 23: Psalms 4, 12, 20, 25, 32, 38

May 24: Psalms 42, 53, 58, 81, 101, 111, 130-131, 141, 146

May 25: Psalms 2, 22, 27

May 26: Psalms 45, 47-48, 87, 110

May 27: 1 Kings 1:1-2:12, 2 Samuel 23:1-7

May 28: 1 Kings 2:13-3:28, 2 Chronicles 1:1-13

May 29: 1 Kings 5-6, 2 Chronicles 2-3

May 30: 1 Kings 7, 2 Chronicles 4

May 31: 1 Kings 8, 2 Chronicles 5:1-7:10

Prayer requests

One way that we continue to build on our relationship with God is through prayer. I am honored and blessed to have the opportunity to pray for you all. I hope that as you have time, you will continue to pray for one another as well. These are the needs that I am aware of this week. As always, if you have a request that isn't mentioned here, please leave it in the comments or send me an email.

Bev--she has three doctors appointments today (Wednesday) as she begins her battle with cancer. Please continue to pray for healing, strength, comfort, patience, and contentment. She also mentioned a praise that her son proposed to his girlfriend so they have a wedding in their future!

Both Annette and Annette are apparently battling torrential rains in their area of the nation and Annette has some flooding in her house. Oh, Annette's got a wedding in her future as well.

Continue to remember Sheryl and her family as her husband is still looking for work. She has a beautiful post here about being thankful in all things. Ahead of time.

Ang is asking for some peace and comfort from our Father (and maybe a little reassurance as well.)

Yvonne is still in Washington with an abundance of eighth grade girls (and boys.) They should be heading back in the next few days. Pray for safe travel, sanity, and spiritual growth as they finish up their trip.

The Freemans are grieving and making very difficult decisions right now.

The Compassion Bloggers have so much to say. You can see their thoughts and requests here, here, and here.

Stellan is home! Praise Jesus!

My boy is headed to the windy city on Friday for a "field trip." (Does anybody remember when field trips consisted of the zoo or McDonald's? Yes, I really did take a field trip to McDonald's when I was in kindergarten. First hamburger I ever ate. Probably the best tasting hamburger I ever ate as well. But I digress.) Anyhoo, he will be gone about 36 hours and I'm asking for safe travel and just a general good time for him. (I'd ask for memorable but I'm afraid of what might happen. Ask me whose child set off the metal detectors in Washington DC and got pulled out of line by the homeland security people? Not my child. No sirree. Oh, and the metal? It was a dime. Seems he didn't think they really meant it when they told him to empty his pockets.)

I'm praying for each of you this day. Blessings!

true beauty

I am reminded this week of the beauty of chronological reading. There's just something totally cool about putting the pieces of the Word together in the way they were written. I love reading the "story" and then reading the emotion (Psalm) that goes with it. I can feel David's fear in Psalm 57, his longing in Psalm 63, and his love and trust in his God in Psalm 18. Reading this way completes the picture for me. I hope you are finding this to be true for you as well.

We began this week with the ending of Saul's life. While Saul is not a particular favorite of mine, I find myself mourning the loss of who he might have been. I think there's a powerful lesson in his life. He allowed his weaknesses to keep him from reaching his full potential as God's chosen king. He relied on himself and others rather than relying on the Lord. And maybe most telling, he knew how and what he should be doing. He just seemed to prefer his way over God's. (1 Samuel 15) Perhaps one reason that Saul is not one of my favorites is that I see myself reflected in his actions. A consistent prayer of mine recently has been that I will become who He intends me to be, not who I think I would like to be.

Then I find myself envious of David. He is a man who certainly seems to have it all together. He seems (at this time in his life) to never take a misstep. Even when he has been marked for death and hunted down, he makes right choices (1 Samuel 24,26) and has complete and utter faith that God will rescue him. Again and again I saw the words, "David inquired of the Lord." I find myself longing for that relationship with God and I try to make it so complicated. I think, "well, David was obviously God's favorite." I justify why God might prefer him over me and how wonderful David must of been. However, you know what? I am the obstacle in way of a "David-like" relationship with God. Do I inquire with the belief that He will show me the way? Do I praise Him at every opportunity? Do I pour my heart out to Him? Do I expect Him to be there?

The real, honest answer is that while I am better at these things than I used to be, I am still a far cry from where I ought to be. I think, though, that I am finally at a point in my life where I will be satisfied with nothing less. And maybe that's the beginning after all. At the end of the day, I want it said that "she found strength in the Lord her God" (1 Sam. 30:6) , that "in her distress she called to the LORD; She called out to her God. From His temple He heard her voice; her cry came to His ears" (2 Sam. 22:7), that "the Lord was her support. He brought her out into a spacious place; He rescued her because He delighted in her" (Psalm 18:18,19) that "He turned her darkness into light." (Psalm 18:28)

How about you?

It's Wednesday

I've pondered the idea of having a regular day for prayer requests on this blog. Since I normally work late on Wednesdays, it seems like it might be the best day for something like this. If you have any additional requests, please feel free to put them in the comments or send me an email.

Here are the things that I am aware of at this very moment:

Yvonne will be herding a group of eighth graders to Washington DC on the school's annual pilgrimage. Please pray for patience and safety for them as they leave on the 25th.

Bev had a PET scan last week to determine where the cancer is and so forth. I'm not sure what results she's had but I know that she needs the healing and comforting touch of our Heavenly Father.

Sheryl and her family as her husband continues to look for work.

The Compassion Bloggers will be headed to India on Friday.

Stellan had his heart surgery yesterday. The surgeon put it like this: "a good play with an awful hand." The hope is that the surgery was successful enough to last until Stellan is big enough to have some better options. Either way, it went well and he is recovering. (and so is his mama.)

Kayleigh and her family have a desperate need right now.

Today is Junior Ring Ceremony. I have known most of these kids since they were itty bitty and it boggles my mind to think that they are now one short year away from graduation.

We will be consulting with Jessi's back surgeon in the next few weeks as we try to determine what the best course of action is for Jonathan. Pray that we might have the wisdom to make the best decision for him. (that involves the least amount of pain.)

I also encourage you to pray for one another, that we will stay the course with our readings and that our hearts would be sensitive to whatever God would have us see.

Enjoy the week!

Monday part 2

Sorry about the delay in posting. For more details about that, you can check it out here. Last year, when we read through this section, I came across a verse that became one of Jonathan's favorites. Seeing it again brought a smile and a laugh. It's from 1 Samuel 21 as David is pretending to be insane so that he might be able to stay with Achish. Achish responds by saying, "Do I have such a shortage of crazy people that you brought this one to act crazy around me? Is this one going to come into my house?" (1 Samuel 21:15)

Life has been a bit crazy for us lately. I found a great deal of comfort in Psalm 34 this week. As you go about your week, remember to Whom you belong. (in God I trust, I will not be afraid. What can man do to me? Psalm 56:11)

I will praise the Lord at all times.

I will constantly speak his praises.

I will boast only in the Lord;

let all who are helpless take heart.

Come, let us tell of the Lord’s greatness;

let us exalt his name together.
I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.

He freed me from all my fears.

Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;

no shadow of shame will darken their faces.

In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;

he saved me from all my troubles.

For the angel of the Lord is a guard;

he surrounds and defends all who fear him.
Taste and see that the Lord is good.

Oh, the joys of those who take refuge in him!

Fear the Lord, you his godly people,

for those who fear him will have all they need.

Even strong young lions sometimes go hungry,

but those who trust in the Lord will lack no good thing.

The eyes of the Lord watch over those who do right;

his ears are open to their cries for help.

The Lord hears his people when they call to him for help.

He rescues them from all their troubles.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted;

he rescues those whose spirits are crushed.

The righteous person faces many troubles,

but the Lord comes to the rescue each time.

Psalm 34:1-10,15,17-19

LPM Verse 8

While I have things to say about this past week's readings, I feel compelled to take this post in a different direction today. My heart has been burdened for several of ya'll recently and I just wanted to take a moment to ask that you pray for one another. Because we are family. So, if you have an extra moment or two, please lift these sisters up in prayer.

This past week, Bev received news that she has breast cancer. While this would be a struggle in and of itself, Bev and her husband moved to a new city last fall. I think to some degree they are still settling in and figuring out who, what and where. She is asking that we pray for the right team of doctors and that she would be able to rest at night.

Sheryl mentioned recently that her husband lost his job. As far as I know, he is still looking for work. Would you lift Sheryl and her family up as they wait upon the Lord?

I know that Yvonne is finishing up a school year (with students who want to be anywhere but in school!), Annette has been dealing with family illness and injury, Annette has taken on the role of encourager in some difficult situations, Mary Jane will soon be taking a much anticipated vacation, and I'm sure that there are many other situations that I am not aware of or forgot to mention. (Please feel free to email me if you have a prayer request. And if you don't want it broadcast to the entire Internet, let me know that as well.) Anyway, I know nothing brings me more comfort in difficult times than knowing that I am being covered in prayer so please lift these sisters up as you have time.

You are a blessing!

this gift of love...

Blessed Easter!

words fail me...

were you there?

Joshua 20 - Judges 16

I'm going to go about this backwards this week because it's what I found in the beginning of the week that continues to stick in my heart. (Plus I'm just goofy like that.)

Judges is full of fascinating people. Some I liked, some I wanted to know more about and some I did not care for at all. (I am not a big Samson fan.) My heart ached for Jephthah as his little daughter ran out to greet him (Judges 11:34). And yet, they were both faithful to his promise to the Lord. I wonder if God became frustrated with Gideon as he continued to request proof of His Will. (and I might have seen myself a time or two asking, "are you sure? really sure?") One other thing that caught my eye was the story of Gideon's ephod and how "it became a snare to Gideon and his family." (Judges 8:27) I'm not entirely sure why Gideon had the ephod made. Maybe as a remembrance for what he'd accomplished? Regardless, something that he intended as harmless became a stumbling block. Huh. Makes me want to examine some of the things in my life a little more closely. I wonder if he knew it was a snare, and yet like I often do, rationalized hanging on to it. (This old thing? It's harmless.)

I found Barak's refusal to go to war without Deborah interesting. He said, "If you go with me, I will go; but if you don't go with me, I won't go." (Judges 4:8) How many times do I put my faith in a leader rather than my God?

I was continually amazed that the Israelites made such poor, harmful choices. "They refused to give up their evil practices and stubborn ways." (Judges 2:19) "another generation grew up, who knew neither the LORD nor what He had done for Israel." (Judges 2:10) I found myself wondering how they could be...to put it bluntly...so stupid. Ray Stedman in Adventuring through the Bible has an answer of sorts for me. He says, "We read this story and we think, How foolish these Israelites were not to obey the commandment of God? But don't we do exactly the same? Don't we settle for less than complete victory over our sins and bad habits? don't we say, "well, yes, I do have a problem with anger (or gossip , or swearing, or impure thoughts, or alcohol, or tobacco), but it's just one little bad habit! I mean, we all need one small vise, don't we? No! God says that it is these little things that we accommodate ourselves to and compromise with that eventually defeat us and destroy us! We cannot afford to settle for anything less than complete victory!" (p144) Huh. It reminds me of the illustration about yeast. A small amount of yeast added in the mix will permeate (or taint) the entire batch of dough, so much so that you can no longer tell what part started out "yeast-less."

All of which brings me back to the beginning of the week. I saw these words repeated twice and they spoke to my heart. Checking back, the same phrase is used four times in Deuteronomy. The phrase? Hold fast to Him. Kind of sums it all up doesn't it? If we hold fast to Him, we will have complete victory. It's hard to hold fast to Him while dragging our ephods (and sins) along with us. The phrase "hold fast" conjures up a picture in my mind of a child's hands clinging so tightly to a parent that there is no doubt that they won't be separated. That's what I need to remember in the days ahead. Whether my day is calm and peaceful or harried and hurtful. May you "love the LORD your God, walk in all His ways, obey His commands, hold fast to Him and serve Him with all your heart and all your soul" this upcoming Easter week. (Joshua 22:5)

April

April 1: Judges 2-5

April 2: Judges 6-8

April 3: Judges 9

April 4: Judges 10-12

April 5: Judges 13-16

April 6: Judges 17-19

April 7: Judges 20-21

April 8: Ruth

April 9: 1 Samuel 1-3

April 10: 1 Samuel 4-7

April 11: 1 Samuel 8-10

April 12: 1 Samuel 11-13

April 13: 1 Samuel 14-15

April 14: 1 Samuel 16-17

April 15: 1 Samuel 18-19, Psalm 59

April 16: 1 Samuel 20-21, Psalm 56,34

April 17: 1 Samuel 22-23, 1 Chronicles 12:8-18, Psalm 54,63,142

April 18: 1 Samuel 24, Psalm 57, 1 Samuel 25

April 19: 1 Samuel 26-29, 1 Chronicles 12:1-7,19-22

April 20: 1 Samuel 30-31, 1 Chronicles 10, 2 Samuel 1

April 21: 2 Samuel 2-4

April 22: 2 Samuel 5:1-6:11, 1 Chronicles 11:1-9, 12:23-40, 13-14

April 23: 2 Samuel 22, Psalm 18

April 24: 1 Chronicles 15-16, 2 Samuel 6:12-23, Psalm 96

April 25: Psalm 105, 2 Samuel 7, 1 Chronicles 17

April 26: 2 Samuel 8-10, 1 Chronicles 18-19, Psalm 60

April 27: 2 Samuel 11-12, 1 Chronicles 20:1-3, Psalm 51

April 28: 2 Samuel 13-14

April 29: 2 Samuel 15-17

April 30: Psalm 3, 2 Samuel 18-19