Romance, Worship, Psalms 16-18

Oh, yippy - its a Monday. I know I totally live for the weekends. Not that I hate my job, and yes, I do ministry in the middle of the week too (probably more so). But on the weekends, that is the only thing I am doing, what I love to do isn't mixed in with what I have to do. Anyway...
This is a quote I just read from today's Oswald Chambers reading (www.myutmost.org) "Get into the habit of saying, "Speak, Lord," and life will become a romance" If God's Word is supposed to be His love letter to me, then when I listen to it, read it, teach it, live it, obey it, memorize it, my life will become more of the Romance that He wants it to be. Another thing in the reading was how we always ask other's advice about certain situations before we ask God's. Even though God does put people in our lives to ask for help and discernment - He never meant for them to take His place. He needs to remain where He belongs.
My favorite blog right now, Justin Taylor's - who was the editor for Desiring God (www.desiringgod.org) but who as of tomorrow will be the general editor for the new ESV Study Bible that is due out in 08 (www.esv.org) had a cool link on his blog yesterday (http://theologica.blogspot.com). It was a link to the SBTS (Southern Seminary) Worship Institute. All the lectures are on there from some of the key people in worship studies right now. Definitely worth checking out.
Today I'll start working on a comparison talk for girls next Sunday and also start diligently preparing for Bible study on Wed night for an intro to the Minor Prophets. Oh, how I love studying the Word for that purpose too. As JD said, it definitely has "preachworthiness".

Psalm 16-18
16.5 - I love this psalm, and have taught on it. Oh what a beautiful verse: The Lord is my chosen portion (even though I would never have readily chosen Him) and my cup, indeed I have a beautiful inheritance."
THere is a cool progression in these verses:
God gives me counsel
God is always before me and protects me
I will be glad and rejoice (oh what a good song)
I will not be abandoned (of course this is a prophecy about Christ) but by the same resurrection power is the power in my life.
God makes known to me the path of life and in Him there is fullness of Joy!
18.21-24 - May this be true to my life that I would know and obey the words and the laws of you. That I might be rewarded.
18.30 - This God! no other God can claim that His way is perfect. They were either never real or they are dead. gods of this age are gold and things and idols - not REAL LIVING GODS!
18.46 - More singing going on!

Sundays, the Body, Pride, and Psalm 12-15

Sunday morning is here.
I love Sundays - really, they are my favorite day of the week.
My pastor has started a series on 1 Corinthians (yes, he is an expository preacher - go figure). Check the link beside here if you want to go listen to his sermons, and I would highly suggest them. Anyway, so I thought for part of my Bible reading today I would read 1 Cor 1. Paul, in speaking to the church at Corinth, starts out about grace - that is what JD preached on last week. This week I assume he'll be in the next section. Paul is talking here about divisions in the church. Before this I just read an article about the local church congregation at Mark Dever's www, www.9marks.com, good read. One of the verses that stood out to me is that an unhealthy or divided congregation hurts the gospel. Listen to Paul: "1.17c - Lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power." Now, when churches are grumbling they would never say, "Oh, yeah, I want to hurt the cross, I don't want the world to see its power." But that is what Scripture says. And I will go with what Scripture says above anything else. And no matter how God chooses to grow our congregation and our influence at the Summit in the world and to Durham, let us always abide by 1.31 - "let the man who boasts, boasts in the Lord. And Let no one boast except in the cross - sound like Gal 6.14.
Church...
JD preached on the end of chapter 1, about the wise things of the world. A good thing was that even in all of our smartness - it is all still about God - no matter who the believer is. they didn't get to be a believer because they were smart. One verse that stood out to me was 1.21b - "it pleased God through the folly of what we preach to save those who believe" - Sounds an awful like Rom 10.14ff. He stepped on a lot of toes this morning...PRIDE. The root of sin - every kind of it - at least for me. When someone else gets the attention and they are looked at as something, then they stole my somethingness and I am nothing. Yes, one of those true but hurting sermons.
Chris started the service by declaring the Truth of Ps 34.1-3 - I will bless the Lord at all time - AT ALL TIMES. Not just when I feel like it or when I'm happy or when things are going my way - but when things are touch and when I'm hurting, sad, too busy, etc. His praises will be continually on my lips - again, what a great song.
Now onto other matters...

Psalm 12-15
12.6 - JD even talked about the Truth and Preaching Worthiness of the Word this morning: "The words of the Lord are pure words...purified seven times."
15.5 - This is of course something I am working on and do not want to continue to live in habitual sin.
15 - This also sounds a lot like Ps 24 - the blameless will dwell in the presence of the Lord.

kind of a john 4 story

This was also supposed to be in the blog below. This was taken one of the days we were shopping in my trip this summer. The reason we wore the jilbabs was that we wanted to be respected by the other women we came in contact with there. Kind of like a John 4 story - if we were not wearing our head coverings, then we were like the woman in John 4. But, the women would talk to us, just showing respect for the social-religious aspects of their country.

Learning to speak Thai

This was supposed to be in the blog below, but I don't know what happened. This is at the leprosy colony outside of Chiang Mai. The word means kitchen. This picture will get printed and I'll hang it in my kitchen so I remember to pray for the ministry that these servants are doing for the glory of God and the fame of His name in the world.

a million little lies, truth, integrity, stars, and psalms

Good Saturday morning. this post will be in two segments because I probably won't have time to do it all before friends come over today. I've also gotta clean a little bit, but nonetheless, it will get done.
If any of you have kept up with Oprah and the world of entertainment, you know that she was "duped" by james frey - author of a A Million Little Pieces. www.amillionlittlepieces.com - Most time this would do nothing for me and matter little, but it actually provided a good way to introduce the gospel to one of my co-workers. My co-worker loves that book, she read every bit of it as truth - stayed up until wee hours of the morning. BUt then when it all came out that it was a lie, she was so disappointed - personally. I grabbed that opportunity to tell her about Absolute Truth and Beauty in a world that always lets us down by lies and fakeness. I told her that is where my Hope lies - in TRUTH (John 14.6, John 8.32). She received it well and thanked me for my kind words. It was a start at least.
Another co-worked told me a dirty joke yesterday (it was based off a middle-school happening), and I laughed. Where was my integrity there? I shouldn't have laughed. What was up with that?
Last night I went to the Tomlin, Louie, and Matt concert at the BTI center in Raleigh. www.268generation.com - I was tired but it was good. I enjoyed most of it sitting down just pondering the God we serve and who we get to worship. This was one of the scenes from the intermission. My big thought for the night was that God named all the stars and put them all where He wanted them. They shine supremely for His glory. He doesn't have to tell them "Hey, Bob - shine for me, you are getting a bit dusty there, not as many people can see you, isn't that why I made you?" - no. But, us, He made us in His image, and we are constantly shining for our glory instead of His. He is beckoning us to take His glory into the world, yet we live for ours. For more info on how to live for God's glory, read the Bible (www.gnpcb.org/esv) and go to www.desiringgod.org - John Piper's website.

Psalm 9-11
9.1 This is what I've just gotten a chance to do. I got to sit for about 90 minutes and show pictures to a friend of mine of my trips to Southeast Asia and to Thailand. I've gotten to tell of His wonderful acts as He has let me see His workings in the world.
9.5 - You do this, I have seen your judgment both here and there for sin - for not recognizing and acknowledging your fame.
11.7 - Thank you for the promise that the righteous (Rom 5.21) will see your face! What an exciting day that will be - when "whom have I in heaven but you" is the truth made real - "right now we see but dimly, as in a mirror, but one day we will see clearly, as face to face."

kd

Do you like to read?

And someone really cool gave me a B&N card last night, Piper does have a new book out tomorrow, but I don't know what I'm going to get with it...
Anyway, go here and read this, scroll down about three entries till you get to one about reading - very worthwhile - less than 5 minutes.
http://blog.togetherforthegospel.org/
Al Mohler, the writer of this paragraph, is the President of Southern Seminary in Louisville KY, works with CBMW a lot, and a myriad of other things. www.sbts.edu, www.cbmw.org, www.albertmohler.com and he is one of the authors of the Together For The Gospel in article above

New look to blog, worship, and Psalms

Ok - so I am changing the look and personality of my blog a little bit. As I've gotten more into the whole blog thing, and just read the "The Lightness of Blogging" on another site - go here for that cool blog - http://blog.togetherforthegospel.org - I thought I might as well make it all I can! So, I hope you enjoy - whoever you are. Let me know if you check it out, and what you think.
The above link is for a blog for some pastors who are hosting a pastors conference at Southern Seminary in April. They are best friends and go back and forth in conversation, some fun, some theological. CJ Mahaney would have to be my fave out of all of them. He is the founder of Covenant Life Ministries, www.sovereigngraceministries.org, a reformed charistmatic church. He has written The Cross Centered Life, Christ Our Mediator, and Humility (which I just finished and now Sean has it - he's the pastor of a great and needed church plant in d-town Raleigh, www.treasuringchristchurch.com. That's Sean in the picture working on plants in a garden at a leprosy colony outside of Chiang Mai Thailand. He has a precious wife Dana, and 2 small boys. They are going to be leading worship at a college apologetics conference next weekend at Southeastern (www.sebts.edu).
As I've been reading Bob Kauflin's blog, www.worshipmatters.com, (He's the worship leader for CJ Mahaney's church in MD), I've been thinking more about worship (which I love to think about and study anyway. I have a great worship leader and have been under a great worship leader in the past (www.summitchurch.cc; www.anastasiabaptist.org), worship has always been a neat thing to study for me. Thanks to Bobby and Chris for such different styles of worship leading but with the same heart. Anyway...I'm going to hear Matt Redman, Chris Tomlin, and Louie Giglio tonight in Raleigh. www.268generation.com. I'm looking forward to a night of good worship - but what makes good worship? That is the questions...Any thoughts?
So, those are my thoughts as I start out this day - the last day of a work week, Praise God for Fridays!
Reading in the Psalms:
5.4 - Much like Is 6 and Ps 24 - "who can ascend the hill of the Lord?"
5.7-8 - Oh, here's a great answer to my above question. I love these verses. The only way we worship is through the abundance of God's love He has showed for us - GRACE.
5.11 - I love it when I'm reading Scripture and I just start singing it because people have written songs right out of the Psalms.
7.17 - Ends in a funny way. Here he has been saying that the Lord is righteous and he will destroy the wicke and those who do not repent. Then the last verse says I will rejoice because of that very thing.

Isn't she cute?

This is my cute litte baby - well, not actually mine, but...these are my friends Kasey and Frank. This is little Katelyn Abigail who was born at 11:00 pm on October 3 - a few days early. Kasey even let me come in shortly after she was born. Kase and I met in seminary, she is from Florida - notice a pattern. I was in their wedding, last January. Frank is a youth pastor in Apex and loves Jesus. He drives a great truck and is a great photographer. He loves the big oversized chair in my house and always asks me while I'm still single. Kasey loves Jesus too!

Long away friends

This is my friend S - who is serving JEsus in an undisclosed country as well. I just saw her in Thailand last week. I hadn't seen her in 2 1/2 years. She is amazing. She loves serving Jesus. We were good friends in seminary and are both from Florida, we started at the same time, and finished at the same time. She is much smarter than me though!

baking night in december

These are my girls - well, some of them. This was when Michelle was down in December and we were baking sugar cookies, and doing facials. This is Gray (who goes to NCSU - she's the newest member), Laura in front (she is about to graduate UNC in teaching - she's the oldest member), and Erin (who loves missions and football and will soon be my roomie). These girls mean so much to me. I'm so blessed that God has put them in my life!

5a partner

This is my friend and accountability partner, Rachael. Yes, we get up at 5 am during the week to pray together and talk about our day. I met her this summer at a Shane and Shane concert in Raleigh thanks to another friend Matt Webb! This was in Linville Falls for her b-day back in November. It was so pretty. She goes to SEBTS and loves Jesus and the Word. She is also a sharp dresser cause she works at JCrew. We both love to cook, read, and watch Pride and Prejudice.

far away friends

These are my friends who are serving Jesus in a far away country. K and T (to protect them). She is due with their first in March - J. I just saw them. I was in their wedding and T and I have been friends now for 6 years. They are incredible. Unfortunately though, K loves Kentucky and I'm a Gator fan!

family pix

This is my brother and sis-in-law, Alan and Tywonn. They live in Orlando, FL, near the Publix's and Islands of Adventure - great vacation spot. They have been married for 3.5 years ( I think). This was Alan's 30th!!! back in October at a Disney Resort with Mom and Dad. They want to do missions in Africa. Alan has his masters from Gordon-Conwell in Charlotte in Counseling and is working at a church in Orlando. Ty is a nurse and she works in an OR in Orlando Regional. They love going to Disney. Alan loves watching sports. Ty just puts up with him!

Fave family in St. Aug

OK - I'm slowly learning this picture thing. These are people very important to me. Phyllis is the best mentor in the world, her husband Billy (they all live in the best city in the world - St. Auggie), and Jill, their daughter, who has an amazing voice and can surf up a storm and she is living in Australia right now with a new puppy!

december visit from a friend

This is my friend Michelle while she was down in Durham in December. She is serving on staff at FBC Springdale, AR (www.fbcs.net) in the children's ministry. She is incredible. She can sing, play the guitar, cook, bike, hike, put on makeup and do facials (she works for Mary Kay as well). Most of all she loves the Word and Jesus. She is the Psalm 1 woman in my opinion. Anyway, we were suitemates in seminary and have stayed friends since we both graduated. She came down for a visit the weekend of Christmas Spectacular. This is Sunday after church we went to Tripps with another friend, Amanda. We had great service, but I guess it took too long (which we would never have noticed because of the all talking we were doing) and we got it all for free! I hope I will get to see her again soon!

Psalms and Rejoicing

Worship practice was incredible. It was just that. We were getting another chance to practice our worship of our God. It was great. Too bad I'm only going to be getting part of it from now on.
Feelings...can you trust them. I am reminded of the title of that book. No, we can't - but we can trust in the unfailing Word of God. That is the only thing that won't lead us astray - due solely to the Author.
"I will rejoice, I will rejoice, and be glad." Oh what simple words, hard to do, and yet powerful when we do it. That was an amazing time last night as we sang the words of that simple song - not perfected, harmonizing, broken up with spoken words, snapping, clapping, lifting of hands, praising in the sanctuary. I can't wait to sing that song on a Sunday and see if the congregation gets it - will they? do they often?
Anyway, these Psalms are great and have been often read - but Perfector of the Word in my life, I pray that you would bring something new to my life through their readings now.
1.2 - In contrast this verse doesn't say to go to books, other people, etc. It says blessed is the man who sits in the counsel of God - he rejoices in the Law and meditates on it constantly. How important that is. But, how often I go to Godly mentors and others in the Body or I go to other books on subjects I am struggling with.
1.4 - Chaff - unedible to humans (useless) seed casings of wheat, worthless, must be separated from the wheat before the wheat can be used. Do you want to be useless or useful for the kingdom - than obey the commands in the first 2 verse of this psalm.
2.8 - A great missions verse. Ask! That is what he tells us to do. Ask for the nations and what is his response - He will give them to us as our heritage, as our possession. Oh, as JD says, may the day come that the sun never sets on the Summit Church. I pray Lord that you would constantly be working in people's lives to see the importance of missions - short term, long term, etc. Strengthen them as they say no to the things of this world and yes to their more important heritage.
3.3 - You are my glory. I don't need to make a name for myself - Lord, you will do it - in your timing and in your way (which are totally other than mine).
3.5 - Even sleep you promise - good, sound sleep. Yippy - the promises of God.
3.8 - Salvation and blessing. They go hand in hand. Not necessarily blessings of our liking - but His blessings are so much better anyway.
4.1 - Recounting what the Lord has already done to ask him to be gracious to us again and repeat the same things - hearing us when we call. Bestowing grace.
4.2, 3 - WOW - These hit this morning as I read them;
- How do I turn the honor of the Lord into shame? Everyday single day. Whether I look to myself first instead of putting the needs of others before my own; daily habitual sin, when I am not obedient in telling others of your fame and glory.
- Love Vain words - How often I want the approval of man. Godly men and women, but approval from somewhere else other than God. If I can't get it or it seems to hard to earn - than I strive even more for it.
- Seek after Lies - I don't know if I would have ever thought I "seeked after lies". This means I earnestly go looking for them. In the way of things in my life that I think will please and fulfill me when only my Savior will do that. Pleasures of this world that are fleeting and temporary at best.
- Continue to consecrate me (OC today) - continue to set me apart for yourself - as a chosen people and a royal priesthood.
- Hear me when I call! Do not let me stand in the way of unanswered prayers than blame it on you, on your absence.
4.7 - Even when things are tough - thank you for this declaration of David - that even when things aren't going well - or they are hard - you put more joy in my heart than those things (even when they are going well).

Oh, the truth of God's Word. Much better than feelings. Not even in the same ballpark. Oh, that we would be astounded and wonder. Oh, that we would rejoice and be glad because of the fountain filled with blood drawn from Emmanuel's veins.

jan 25, the End of the Beginning

We get to the end of Genesis today.
I'm thankful for the new world of Blogs. It is helping me keep up with the ever changing world and especially our churches and how many of them are reacting to our culture. Yes, we should see and minister to our culture, but not let our culture change our theology.
The emerging church movement is less helpful to sound doctrine than it is helpful. I'm not saying God hasn't used it to bring people into a relationship with Him, but there is much harm done in their spiritual growth if staying in a church that doesn't believe in the inerrancy of Scripture, the blood of Jesus, the reality of hell for sinners who have not believed in Jesus as the only way to salvation from the Father.
48.15-16 - Blessings of a father - the life of an inheritance that is passed on to generations
49.18 - Even then the people of God were awaiting salvation from their God. They were longing for a promise that God had given His people. May we wait with baited anticipation - growing every minute.
50.20 - a well known verse. But, God does have different plans that the ones of the world. Let me know those as you would have me know them and wait on them. Not jump to conclusions about what you think - but wait on the Amen word of the Lord.

Jan 24 - where has the month gone? 41-46

Ok - so almost another month gone and what to show for it. This month more than others. Thailand, Hope for Durham, abort73, time in the word, praying for others, financial hardship, a coming worship time in Raleigh, one more year of life, many things - all because of your grace and due to your mercy.
45.8 - so it was not you who sent me here but God.

Monday - catch up with Genesis

31.4-8 - Similar to Rom 8.31 - If God is for us, who can be against us...
end of 32: We often pray to see God and to see His glory. But we don't often want the pain and humiliation that comes along with it. Jacob (Israel) never walked again. Isaiah had burnt lips. Moses had a shiny face. Peter fell on his face. John fell face down in worship because he wasn't worthy. We always ask for the glory but very seldom ever remembering that being in God's presence is painful because of the chasm between our sin and His holiness. Thank goodness for amazing grace!
39.21 - Presence, love, and favor...
39.23 - success
41.38 - To be known as a person on whom the Spirit of God rests. This is what Joseph was known for - among a people that didn't know God. Oh grant us that favor with outsiders.

Break in Thailand - Gen 30

Ok - so I'm almost done with Gen without having blogged a single day. Been in Thailand without ready access to the internet, so here we go.
30.22 "Then God remembered" sometimes we think He has forgotten, but He has never and will never go back on His promises.

Jan 7 - 2 days to go - Dan 10-12

Had a good packing day today - good stuff from Chris - Weird still to pray with certain people there because you aren't used to praying with them around...I don't know what that is. Its like my relationship with you can't be real with them around because it is hard to live with them...I don't know - have to think more about that.

Jan 6 - Dan 7-9

7.18 - but the saints of the most high shall receive and possess the kingdom. no one will be able to take it from us.
8.14 - We have promise that the sanctuary will be restored to the proper state - your kingdom will not forever encounter and receive reproach.
9.3 - Then he turned his face to the Lord in fasting and mercy. he knew where to find the answer
9.17 - For your own sake listen to the prayers of your people - don't act for our sake - act for yours.
9.18 - From piper's church thing on his www, Open our eyes to see our desolation and to see what only you can do - open their eyes - the next two weeks in Thailand - open their eyes.
9.19 - Hear, forgive, pay attention, act - for your sake

daniel

Continuing on in the saga of Daniel
Beginning of 4 - How God can change a man like Nebi. Wow - don't know if it was salvation, but it was definitely a proclamation!
4.25 - God will do whatever it takes to make men know that He is the Most High God.
4.27 - Break off your sins by doing righteousness and showing mercy.
4.34-35...Dominion everlasting, kingdom from generation to generation, we are nothing, does all that he wills, in heaven and on earth (sounds like the Lord's prayer, we can't question him - who are we?
5.11 - and the reknown of His works be remembered from generation to generation.
5.14 - Is that how people would consider me? is that what people would say of me?
6.4-5 Complete integrity and the only place to find fault was with his walk with God.
6.10 - Daniel didn't change his behaviors when the world started going downhill or when the govt was changing. Praying and being disciplines was something that He always did - no matter what. He just continued in what He had been doing.
6.16 - I wonder if Darius said this with a sad heart because he didn't believe in the saving power of God or with hope because he knew that Daniel believed in a powerful God? I wonder what kind of God people think I believe in?
6.27 - This is the king we serve!

Jan 4 - Daniel 1-3

Ok - you know, even on your birthday - life is not all about you. God is choosing the words Break, Stronghold, and Humility to start out my 29th year of being alive. Thank goodness for HIM! As CG said tonight - His Word is power and that is why we praise - Ps 33 - what a great Psalm to focus on!
Anyway, but that is not what I am reading tonight...
Oh what an amazing person of faith, obedience, and surrender - even in the face of death...
Daniel 1-3
1.7 - Its funny...we know Daniel by Daniel, we know the other three by their second names - hmmm, wonder why?
1.8 - Daniel resolved - and kept this resolution...he was resolved not to linger around things that distracted him but to focus on things that should be his stronghold...
2.22, 23 - The wisdom of God - impart please. Make known to me the things I don't know...Let me dwell in the light. Reveal the deep hidden things I know not yet...
2.47 - Will the answer to our prayers by God bring others to repentance and for them to claim that God is the God and King of all Kings...
3.16-18 - Boldness...will I continue to believe in God even if He never answers my prayers the way I wish for them to be answered? Yes...but help me to do that when and if the time comes. I know there will be times that you don't answer my prayers that way I think they should be answered. May I remember that your ways are higher and best!
3.28 - "And yielded up their bodies rather than serve and worship any god except their own God."

Jan 1-3, the little Johns and Joel

OK - I'm finally going to be caught up here...I know I've been saying that for a while.

1 John
1.1-4 - He said this because of the close walk the disciples had with Jesus - He was the Word of life sent to them and they were able to feel his hands and feet - wash them, see the holes, oh thank you for the incarnation.
2.1-2 Because we have sinned - we have a righteous advocate who is our propitiation (and the whole worlds) -
2.25 - And he keeps his promises - thank goodness! ( and all good comes from God!)
5.3 - We have the love of God, we keep his commandments - and they are not burdensome - they should bring joy to life - not be so weighted that we can't live.
5.14-15 - Confidence...ask anything according to his will...He hears...knowledge...Owning
5.20 - Jesus Christ is the true God and eternal life - what is unclear about that proclamation of truth?

2 John
The church:
Abide in and know the truth
Walk in the truth
Love one another
Walk in the commandments
Watch out for deceivers
Abide in the teaching of the Father

3 John
Joel
2.11 - Like many of the Psalms (24)
2.12 - Passion - even after all the destruction and the just rendering of the Lord...he pleads us to come back: return to me with all your heart, fast, weep, mourn, rend your hearts - not your garments - return for I am gracious
2.14 - Obedience opens up the door for a blessing
2.17 - Oh may people never say of us "Where is their God" Oh Jesus show up in Durham and in the triangle and every place we go - not that people would see the Summit - but that they would see YOU!
2.18-19 - God's jealousy leads to our satisfaction.

Jan 2 - Matt 23-28

Finally - the 2nd day of January and I'm already behind. JD gave us the normal reading plan, but I like the one I am doing better so I am going to stick with it.
But, 2 days behind and I've still gotta finish Matthew...
23.1-12 - Just what I was talking with Sharon about...the stuff I do and how I do it for my glory and so that people can know my name - but how I should be doing it not even thinking about myself but for Your glory and to be a servant to other people. Help me to have that servants heart in Thailand...I need to meditate on that verse...start doing it now so that maybe the Spirit can work it in my life by then...oh, Spirit - I believe you can work - I've seen you do it - help me to practice this verse...
24.14 - Help me to be a part of this on a daily basis, but oh to be a part of it to the ends of the earth as well...in Thailand - with the B monks, to be an encouragement to those who are on the lines every day, to help strengthen them...
25.21 - Obedience: enter into the joy of your Master
25.32 - Before Him will be gathered all the nations - we get to be included in that inheritance over the next 2 weeks...
25.34 - Oh to be blessed of God before the foundations of the world. But, since I don't know who is on the right and who is on the left - it is my job to go...
26.13 - What will I be known for. AJ is known for being a woman of God to someone who has only known her for a week. This woman will always be remembered by what she poured out on Jesus' feet - not much of anything else. What do I want to be remembered for? To strive for the presence of Jesus - to be known as one who walks closely with you. But, to walk closely with you not for that purpose but for the end in itself.
26.15 - I don't know when I was asked the questions - what are your 30 pieces of silver, but it is such a tough question....right now it is FoodTV, any tv for that matter, a few extra hours of restless sleep, sin, pure rebellious sin...
26.25 - I wonder how the rest of the disciples reacted to this news? Did they want to kill him? What was the reaction of the rest of the talmudine when one of the talmids rejected their Rabbi? Question for JD or Ray Vander Laan?
27.63 - They had to have had some belief in what Jesus said because they acted on it - maybe not out of right conviction, but they remembered what He had said and acted on it - the power of Jesus' words.
28.5 - Just like at His first coming to life - "Do not fear" and now at his second coming to life - "Do not fear."
28.15 - and I wonder if Matthew ever thought as he was writing this that the same false stealing the body routine would be carried out 2000 years later?
28.17-20 - Obedience, worship, missions...they all go hand in hand...

Matthew 20-22

Ok - I haven't been faithful in this at all and even Rach's prayer this morning was so convicting...thank you Lord for accountability like hers. Let me never rely on it for motive or reasoning, but let me pursue your face because its your face...

20.11 - why do we grumble at the grace we receive when we see others receiving it too? Does that cheapen the grace we get or do I just think I'm better and should receive it?
20.33 - something so simple - "Lord, let our eyes be opened". Wow - what a statement of simple faith and immediate reward.
22.12 - Thank you for being my wedding garment! :)

The Rest of Matthew on Christmas Day, 16-19, pt 1

Starting with Chapter 16
16.23 - Boy, Peter goes from the Rock to Satan - Faith and perseverance to protection...
16.26 - What does it look like to gain the whole world and forfeit LIFE? Lord, teach me how I do that everyday.
17.13 - We often ask for signs and wonders and then when they happen we do not recognize them. The Jews have asked for a Savior - but now that He has come - they do not recognize Him because He isn't exactly what THEY wanted. Help me to see what YOU do for Your glory and npt get it mized up with what I want.
17.17 - You have to think Jesus would get a little tired of faithless people. He had been with the same people this whole time and yet to think they still didn't know Him or believe in Him

Matthew 13-15

I can read at my own pace now till the end of the year because they allowed for some "catch up" days. Good thing - I've gotta read Matthew
13.16 - Thank you for your free gift of hearing ears and seeing eyes.
13.44 - What a great verse. he isn't reluctant to go and give up what he has to gain something better - he is joyful about it.
13.58 - If only they believed
14.13... - Jesus had just heard about the death of John the B, but the people wouldn't leave him alone - so he had compassion on them. I wouldn't want to minister - I would want my introvert time. flying pigs, Lord, flying pigs
14.30 - He looked at the wind and not Jesus - the Master of the Wind
15.8-9 - i know this is true of me sometimes, Jesus. Purify those times and help them to be never, but if sin arises - few and far between. Lord, let me focus on you and not the other things around worship.
2 Feeding stories - they all ate and were satisfied - Jesus is our portion - a constant friend is he - his eye is on the sparrow - and I know he watches me.

Dec 17 - 1 and 2 Thess

I gotta quit playing catch up and get on to todays - will read Matthew the rest of it, tomorrow.
1.5 - The people were chosen - power and conviction. No conviction takes places where the Spirit hasn't moved yet.
2.6 - May that be the case with me - never seeking glory from people - but only from you.
2.13 - May this also be for my ministry - may they never see the words that I speak as from me - but may they see them as your words - (if that be the case).
4.7 - For God has called us to purity - holiness - for Himself
4.18 - Encourage each other in these words - the coming of the Lord - should not bring fear or confusion from Christians - but encouragement.
5.21 - Test everything - hold fast to what is good. (Bruce)
5.23 - Peace - santification
1.3 - Just what Paul told them to do in the first letter - has happened in the second letter - obedience to the message of God to them.
2.16 - Very much like Rom 8.32

More in Matthew

10.34... - you have to be above the people we look to for authority in our lives. As someone wise said..."who is in control of your life...God or your parents?"
11.25... - How easy God is...but oh how hard. We try to do things on our own and He just wants us to rest in Him.
12.15... - Chosen, beloved, Spirited, victory and hope - Jesus
12.34 - OUt of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. Oh Jesus fill my mouth with words that are coming from my heart. Only let edifying and enriching things come out of my mouth - even things that are the truth. If they tear down they don't need to be said. I want to be of those who free the captives and bring hope to the hopeless.

More catching up with Matthew

It feels good to read again just for me and come through a time of set aside prayer and reading and worship in intercession for other people. REnewal comes through that like no other - fantastic and mysterious.
5.6 - what do I hunger and thirst for? Am I wanting other things to fill me?
5.13 - What do I do in every day life that causes me to lose my saltiness? Sleeping and eating too much - not paying enough attention to worship, disciplines, and the Word?
6.1 - How guilty I am of this often - when I worship - O Lord let my grace gifts be given to you and you alone
6.7 - Let my prayers be genuine - let my whole outward relationship with you be evidenced by the inner walk - not for show
6.10 - No authority here on earth can stop your will - we pray and claim that whatever your will is it will be done here on earth!
6.17 - Thank you for rewarding with your presence and Words from your Word
7.8 - Everyone who asks receives...what good promise!
7.11 - How much more? Thank you for being so far above us!
7.29 - He didn't need the authority of the scribes - He is the authority. All authority starts and ends with Him!
8.10 - Oh what a look at distant faith. To be like that - praised for the faith that is only given by grace.
8.19-22 - We think we are often so willing, yet when it comes down to it we really aren't. O Lord let me be willing to follow you wherever you might lead
8.26 - Why are you afraid and where is your faith?
9.9 - Another display of unhesitating obedience. True obedience.
9.29 - According to your faith - oh give me more grace that I can have more faith that you are going to complete your will here on earth.
9.38 - Pray earnestly!

Some catching up from Matthew

Matt 1 - How God uses our inadequacies and sins to bring about his plans. And Joseph - all he probably wanted to do was to settle down and have a nice little carpenter's life...imagine what he got himself into.
2.2 We saw his star - the one he spoke into existence, now they come to worship the creator born baby King
2.10 - Rejoiced exceedingly with great joy - do you think perhaps they were excited?
3.11 - Why don't I ever think I am that unworthy - not even to carry his sandals. But I think I'm worthy enough to sing his praises and teach his Word
4.2 - Did that mean he wasn't hungry during the 40 days and I can't even go 38 hours without being hungry? Again, fasting is only a tool...not the end to grace.
4 -end - When JEsus said go - these men left everything and followed Him. They didn't ask other people or want other's opinions - they went. May God command loudly!

Catching up - Dec 2-5

Ok - so this will be quite a long blog. With company - I didn't have my laptop right with me all the time, so I just read random stuff and not the plan. HEre we will finish up 2 Chron, James and some of Matthew.

30.8 - Yield, consecrate, serve - so that the anger and wrath of the Lord may be far from us. do not be stiffnecked - that is what he often referred the people of Israel too. Let me be yeilding to him.
30.12 - Humble and one heart. Wholeheartedly seeking after what God wants and not what we want.
31.21 - Seeking the Lord with all his heart - he did what he did and prospered - the way to true success
32.8 - Even against massive armies - the Lord was with the victor
33.10 - God - if and when you speak to me - help me not to pay no attention, Help me to listen and obey
34.2 - Diligence in doing right
34.31 - Josiah's covenant: walk after the LORd, keep his commandments, testimonies and statutes, with all he was, and to perform what the Lord said
35.7 - the king sacrificed for the people
James 1.4 - So the more trials we have the more steadfast, complete, and perfect we will be?
1.5-8 - Make M stable in all her ways - trusting in you to give her what she asks. GIve her wisdom because she asks for it.
1.17 - a small glimpse of unchanging love - there is no variation or shadow due to change
1.27 - we always forget this part - to keep oneself unstained from the world. That is included in true religion
2.10 - Edmund in Narnia
2.23 - believed an obedience - called a friend of God

2 Chron 25-28 - DECEMBER!!!

25.2 - He did what was right - but not with a whole heart. How this often charactizes my doing right. Lord - help my motives to be pure!
25.15 - Oh, just 13 quick verses - he goes from doing right to setting up gods. Make my heart pure and purify me where I am not prone to set up other gods.
26.16 - AGain, time elapses and we get stronger and then we tend to look toward ourselves. Lord - make me weak in and of myself that I might not grow strong in who I am or what gifts you have given me, but that I would look to you and what you have done and who you are!
28.22 - in times of distress or stress or hard times, let me not grow more faithless, but grow more faithful and look to you and know you even more through the pain.

2 Chron 21-24, the end of November and fall...

You are faithful even when my mind can't wrap around all your complexities of perfection and grace
21.13-15 - There are definitely consequences to our sins. For the wages of sin is death.
24.7 - Even to the extent of what Melissa said tonight - God's presence is within us and not just within a temple now. So, we do the same things that they did here. We use the things dedicated to the Living God to baals and worship them within our bodies.

Nov 29

Well, I can't very well look at other people's blogs without looking at God's blog even before blogs were cool. PRess on - be obedient. God rewards those who seek Him!
16.9 - God supports the blameless - even when the going gets tough!
16.12 - Even when people are most desperate for God they seek healing elsewhere - when they need ultimate healing - thank you Roger Bennett!
18.4 - Wanted to know what the Lord said before doing anything
20.12 - we do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you. - what a great declaration for all of God's people when the times don't seem so sure
20.22 - Oh what singing and praising do - here it allowed God to show u - it brought God to move in a way we could see. Let us act and see again!

Nov 28 - Enrich my understanding

And my passion for the Word - even the Chronicles...
12.1 - Why is it when we get strong - then we kind of start to live on our own and get weak again?
12.14 - Let me seek the Lord with my whole heart - that I might not do evil. When I seek after other things - even my own strength - that's when I go wrong...
14.11 - Let that be our prayer - we are weak without you - like Paul says - in our weaknesses you are strong. Let us go into battle against Durham and the evil in it behind you - not behind the name of the summit
15.7 - I prayed this for Indonesia - let me remember to pray this for Brad and Miles and also for Thailand - that our work will be rewarded because of WHO leads it.
15.16 - Not even family can keep you from serving the Lord!
The peaceful reign of Asa because his heart was true to the Lord

Continuing in the chronicles...

Alright - I admit - these readings have been hard and I am ready to get out of the chronicles - but I know they are there for a reason and God will prove His Word faithful!
Help me to always listen to wise counsel - not like Solomon's son did. I want to do what you want me to do - but let me listen to the wise people you put in my life. Let me always listen to you in the end though!

Nov 25, 26 - End of 1 - to the 2

1 Chron 29.9 - The people rejoiced because they had freely given to the Lord - the Lord loves a cheerful giver!
2 Chron 5.14 - The priests couldn't even minister because the glory of the Lord was so close in on them. oh, that we would experience your presence in that very way - that we wouldn't even be able to sing our songs because you would be so THICK!
2 Chron 6.40 - I would pray the same thing for the Summit...let your eyes be open and your ears attentive to the prayer of this place...
2 Chrons 7.14 - They have just bowed down in worship to the Lord because they have seen the cloud in the temple, then the Lord says this...then he will do what they have asked him in 6.40

Thanksgiving Day Post - 1 Chron 23-27

Thankful for: technology to keep up with all my friends and family, before that of course - the precious and irreplaceable cross of Christ, the mercy of the Lord, prayer, the WORD, The Summit, my family, my mentors Billy and Phyllis, jobs and health, football, hot water and a roof over my head that hasn't been destroyed, the freedom to preach Christ and Him born and crucified, for the knowledge and grace of God that saved me while I still an enemy to him, way before I was even born, music, worship, a worship leader that loves JEsus, a pastor that loves the Word, friends who love me and correct me when needed, a chance to love college girls and teach them the Word of God, a chance to go over the world and share the gospel and love on my friends, the hope of glory Christ - living in me, the Holy Spirit, being created in God's image, my education, cooking abilities, a Mom and Dad who love Jesus, a brother and sis in law who love Him too. And many other things...

Before Thanksgiving post - 1 Chron 19-22

19.13 - May the Lord do what seems good to HIm. We know that you work all things to the good of those who love you! Thank you!
21.8 - The heart of repentance: admitting what you have done is wrong, asking for removal of the sin and consequences of it, knowing you have done wrong.
21.13 - I would never have chosen the battling with the Lord because He is so much stronger than anyone, but David here chooses it because His mercy is so great! Oh, let me live in the mercy of the Lord.
21.15 - El Roi
22.13 - You will be successful if you are careful to obey the Word of the Lord.
22.19 - Set your heart and mind before the Lord. Mind is to what we think about and heart is what we yearn for - oh heal and correct both of those!

Nov 22, 1 Chron 15-18

I do not have a good attitude toward the Word right now. I'm in a boring book and I have put it off till I am tired and wanting to go to bed. Lord - change my heart to where I yearn for this book in every season. That I don't have a dry season, but daily want to be in this book so I can hear from you.
15.13 - The Lord's anger came upon them because they didn't seek His way of doing things...let me always seek you in how I should do everything...
15.29 - when others who have not experienced the Lord see us rejoicing in Him - they don't like us very much. Just like Michal didn't like her husband very much when he was making a "fool" out of himself.
16 - All the ways that David praised the Lord: giving thanks, calling on His name, proclaiming His deeds, singing, telling of what He has done, giving glory to Him, remembering what He has done, remembering his covenant, singing, telling, declaring to the nations, ascribing, bringing an offering, worshipping, tremble, rejoice, be glad, plead with God, bless the Lord
16.25-28 - what great things and true things to say about the Lord!
171.12 - Oh how disappointed David must have been when Nathan came and told him that he wasn't going to build the temple. How would I feel if God told me I wasn't to do something great for Him that I thought I was going to do?

I Chron 11-14

1Chron 11.9 - His strength and power and rule came because God was with him.
1 Chron 13.9-14 - There is a sense and fear and glory when it comes to God. David failed to have both and left the ark outside the city - so the other city got blessed by the presence of the Lord.
1 Chron 14.14 - Always pray about everything, because God may have different plans for different times - all to bring glory to Himself.

So, the blog has been lonely

Here is am playing catch up. Tired on Friday morning, slept in to go to the mtns on Saturday morning, and tired to get up for worship on Sunday morning. But God knew what I needed and allowed halfway through worship my headache to not play a factor and I came into communion with Him - good Scripture readings...still not totally true in my life. So, these are for the last two days and today...back to normal tomorrow. I'm glad this crazy schedule is only for 2 months!
140.13 - Stay with the upright - let me be righteous in my actions, made righteous by you!
141.2 - Evening sacrifice and incense...both things are to the alter. Made of things to give up - my prayers and my hands in surrender to you.
141.8 - But my eyes are toward you - let me look to see what you are doing and go there - not look elsewhere.
143.6 - Reaching to touch you, to be quenched by your everflowing water!
144.1-2 - See, that is just what we sang this morning - remembering the goodness of your Name and protection.
145.3 - His greatness is unsearchable - we can't even begin to know it?
146.3 - Don't put your trust in a son of man in whom there is no salvation.
147.1 - A song of praise is fitting and pleasant - oh then why don't I do it more often!
149.4 - He takes pleasure in His people - He takes pleasure and joy in us!
1 Chron 4.10 - Oh the randomness of the prayer of Jabez - this is what his name means, pain. But he asks this in the midst of the long list of names from all the generations. I know that your Word is completely useful and perfect, but this long list of names, I have yet to see the full use of - but I will continue to grow!
1 Chron 9.2 - Their captivity was because of their lack of faith - oh, don't let our faith wain.
1 Chron 10.13-14 - Saul died because of his sin - seeking the stars for guidance and not Him and not having faith in the Lord. Even in the OT we see that sin leads always to death.

Nov 17, Ps 134-139

Thinking and dwelling on the Word in the morning - what a concept
134 - Again, blessing Lord with our lifting up of hands and our steadfastness. If I could just ever get a full concept of what that means...
135.3 - Sing to Him because He is beautiful - more than anything else here on earth (or in Heaven) Ps 73
135.13 - Your name and your renown endures throughout all generations and nations. Oh, I get to be a part of that by taking your fame to the world.
138.2 - His Word is exalted along with His name. That shows the importance of knowing and reading His Word.
138.8 - Lord, whatever that purpose is you have for me, I know you will fulfill it. Give me a glimpse of it I pray, that I may see the earthly purpose you are going to have for me. But, I continue to trust in you for direction each day.

Back to the Psalms (126-133), Nov 16

Busy day, but thank you for waking me up and getting me in the Word!
126.2 - May this be a statement for those of us going to Thailand. That we would be filled with laughter and joy over you and the joy of your presence in our lives - that in turn all the nations will see that the Lord has done great things for us!
127.2 - Let me not do this getting up early in vain - for me, but to spend it with you. May I also get to bed early some time whenever would be nice!
130.3,4 - Thank you for forgiveness of sins and grace to be favored by you.
130.5 - Let me only put my trust inyou. I know about you through your Word - your true perfect Word that shows me who you are!

Nov 15, End of Hosea

12.6 - Only by the help of God can we do this...love, justice, and be patient for Him. We can't do it with our whoredom spirit within us if we live according to the flesh - oh, but today may I walk in the Spirit.
13.6 - in our fullness we forget you. oh God make us empty.
14.9 - Let me know and walk in your ways.

consider our harlotry

9.1 - We don't even consider our harlotry and we rejoice like we are faithful when we get money from other gods.
9.17 - I don't want to be rejected because of my faithfullessness. Let me come and come by JEsus and hold to JEsus and be faithful to JEsus.
10.12 - This was my yearly verse about 10 years ago now i guess..."for it is the time to seek the Lord that he may come and rain righteousnes upon you." Oh come make me more like you. Rain it down.
10.13 - We are sinful when we trust in our own ways to lead and sustain us.
11.4 - Even in this - the Lord is gracious and will bend down to lead me.
11.9 - He is the Holy One in our midst...what a great promise - let us live like it.
11.11 - "I will return them to their homes..."

Filth

Again, to continue in this realistic book on my life even with Christ today.
5.4b - For the spirit of whoredom is within them... - Oh but God you have put your New Spirit within me - the Holy Spirit - may I walk in Him daily and not walk in the flesh - may I live and walk with you - so that I might be able to deny the spirit of the flesh, spirit of whoredom that is within me if I am not within you!
5.11 - Because he was determined to go after filth - why are we so determined to go after things that aren't of you. I know I am. Break me of my rebellious spirit - Rise up within me breath of God and kill my determination.
5.15 - Oh please Lord do not make my life a distress before I turn back to you and leave my sins and press hard into your face, to get the imprint of your face on mine -
6.1-3 - Returning to you is painful - but ultimately it is healing. Oh, let me have grace and mercy so I can press on to know You - intimately.
6.6 - Not singing and bringing grain - S&S song
7.14 - Again it is all about show - let it be in the heart with me and our church as a whole. May we not worship you for show or because we are the Summit - but may we cry and be broken in our hearts because we are children of you who have been bought with a high price - not piddly pinnance from our pimps.

Fave OT book

Oh, I'm so excited about reading this - what a joy! It'll be hard to not write too much, but I guess it doesn't really matter
1.2-3 - What an odd request of the Lord. Go do something that I have told you not to do - commit adultery - that is what his wife did. Then, Hosea doesn't do anything but go and obey. He had such a good relationship with God that he didn't question even the oddest of tasks.
1.4-9 - What a thing...these kids had to go throughout their whole life knowing the forsakeness of God everytime their name was called by someone.
2.16 - May I have and long for that intimate relationship with you and not the legalistic only relationship with you.
2.19-20 - These are things that a harlot wouldn't know - steadfast love, mercy, righteousness, faithfulness - yet this is what God offers.
2.23 - Oh how cool it is that God changes our names
4.10 - We are not satisfied because we try to fill ourselves with things that won't and aren't intended to satisfy. Like the Caedmon's song - "you created nothing, that gives me more pleasure than you."
4.12 - They have left their God (faithful love, mercy, steadfastness, righteouness) to play the whore - fear, rejection, usage, cheapness

Nov 11 - Veterans Day, Ps 120-125

120.2 - Deliver me from sin - lying and deceit
121 - What a great Br0oklyn Tab song!
122.7 - Maybe not exactly what is meant here - but let peace reign in our community in the body of the Summit. Especially come Monday night.
124.8 - Our help is in the name of the Lord - let us call on it at all times (not just in times of distress)

the Long and the short of it

The shortest chapter of the Bible and the longest chapter of the Bible - I guess that makes us even!
And I am finding I'm much more excited about being in the Word in the morning - that is probably a freshness of a new day, no old thoughts on the day just spent - not being tired - having a fresh mind to the Word. Help me to get up in the mornings and pour in to the Word and your Presence to last me all day - to commune and be intimate with you.
118.5 - Distress needs freedom. Set us free. Set me free from perfectionism, impressing others, striving for others' approval, weight and food worries and issues, and many other things that hold me in bondage to the things of this world.
118.6 - Rom 8.31
118.18 - Disciplined - but not death. Sometimes we feel that way, but His discipline leads to life. without it we have none.
Since this is a psalm all about the Word - this is what it says about it:
1. we are blameless if we follow in it
2. we are blessed if we keep it
3. If I keep my eyes on it, I will not be put to shame
4. I can pure if I obey it
5. I can be wholehearted
6. If I store your Word, I won't have the tendency to sin
7. you are my teacher
8. I can delight and meditate in it and it will never lose its luster or wonder
9. Make my eyes closed to other things and open to it
10. Can I be consumed with your word and not with other things at all times - but not like the pharisees and/or scribes
11. I already have the best counselor and he doesn't cost 100$/hour
12. The Word is a great teacher (because of the Holy Spirit)
13. The Word is a stronghold in my life and the strength of it - the words of my Savior
14. Wholity of heart - that isn't even a word - being wholehearted
15. "Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things, and give me life in your ways."(37)
16. Let me find delight in your word and nothing else of the things this world offers
17. Good judgment and knowledge - things we long for in this world - come from knowing your Word.
18. Again, not a divided heart.
19. Let me be a person who hopes in your Word (even if it is the SS answers)
20. No matter what persecution I go through here on this earth - let me hope in the promises of your Word.
21. More understanding - more meditation.
22. Accept my worship and teach me your law - all in the same verse
23. Let me pant for your water -be dry and thirsty for your Word.
24. (133) Let no iniquity get dominion over me - oh, let this be true and right in my life.
25. May I weep for the people who do not keep your commandments
26. May I be more excited about your Word than I am with finding a great deal or a great book or a great recipe or hearing a great song

psalm of wonder

111.1 - with a whole heart. Kind of like unite my heart to fear your name...
111 - What a great psalm of wonder of many of God's attributes: great, splendor, majesty, righteousness, gracious, merciful, provisional, lovingkindness, powerful, giving, faithful, just, eternal, faithful, upright, redeeming, holy, awesome, feared, praiseworthy.
112.1 - Mirrors many other psalms, but 1.1-5 especially
112.7 - Even when we get bad news, may we be firm in the Lord and trust that you have everything in control.
114.7 - The whole earth will tremble! He is the maker of it all!
115.1 - As I sing the Tomlin song - may that be the way I live my life today - everyday
115 - Starts out with all this done to God's glory - give Him praise. Then he goes on to tell us what he is going to do for us - all for his glory!

hungering for the Word

I love the psalms - thank you for including them in your Word!
107.5 - we were hungry and thirsty - yet look at us now. Able to be completely filled and saturated with the Word, the Spirit, the Bread of Life, the Living Water...I could go on...
107.9 - Exactly what I said in the commentary above.
107.25 - He even commands the seas and oceans and they obey and listen to His voice (sound familiar to the gospels)
107.29 - Sound like something Jesus did - hmmm, could He be God - why yes He is!
107.43 - The wise is he who considers the steadfast love of the Lord!

God vs cows

I will bless the Lord at all times, at all times...I will bless the Lord. Thank you for those words this morning - help it to be true in my life.

104.2 - Caedmon's call
104.4 - He "ministers a flaming fire". This is one of the things that is listed as making Him great. What a concept - his ministering (which we always think of as positive) is listed with a fearful deadly thing of fire - his consuming fire-ness. Which ultimately is a positive thing, but not for our flesh.
104.13 - How the earth is even satisfied in what you do for her - how much more (Matthew) should we be satisfied with what you do for us?
105.1 - Worship, petitioning, missions - all in one verse - should say something about our lives?...
105.3,4 - What great verses to meditate on today (and everyday for that matter). Glory in His name - where our strength lies - then I will rejoice because I am glorying in His name and not my own. Seeking Him - looking for Him (and finding Him). Seeking and dwelling in His presence continually - always - and therefore living in His strength that He provides that is found in His presence.
105.40 - Bread in abundance, but only for the day. He made a law on it - needing it only to be given for the day and for them to obey and trust Him.
105.45 - He gave abundantly so they might obey and praise Him! So let me do in the abundance of my living...
106.5 - glory with your inheritance - not in which I what I would think...with...have to think on that preposition for a bit.
106.8 - You saved them to show your power - that is why you still save today - to show your power and your character.
106.20 - How silly that sounds...exchanged the glory of God for something that eats grass. If we looked at our "other" worship like that would we ever worship something besides God. Like the things we look at and have - the created things rather than the creator - the puny worthless things.
106.34,35 - Disobedience always leads to more disobedience.

fellowshipping

What a great Sunday - about sin and how it breaks our fellowship with a most holy God and singing about how that sin has been nailed to a cross - all of it - and how we can be friends of God - and go take that message to a world in desparate need of Him.
101.3 - The very thing JD was talking about this morning. Any worthless thing is anything less than God - He is worthy of our everything. Nothing should come between Him and us - and so often we are uncircumcised in heart and home.
102.18 -- Why kind of legacy will we leave - will a people yet created praise the Lord because of what they hear and see of us and our walk with God? Parents - what a legacy to your grandchildren!
103.3 - Who forgives all your iniquities - for us to do them no more!
103.5 - Who satisfied you with good - so you don't have to be not-satisfied with stuff that is not good.
103.13 - Just like the Father of Lights verse in the gospel - oh, the innerworkings of Scripture again!
Thank you for giving us the privilege to lavish blessings back to you - because you have given us so many! I bless your name, I give you honor, give you praise, you are the life, the truth, the way, I bless your name - I bless your name.

new name for durham

Here it is - the end of another major prophet

46.14 - This sacrificial worship is a perpetual statute. Even though we have Christ, we need to still obey the perpetual statute of sacrifice - daily dying to self and picking up our cross.
48.35 - Make that Durham's name - the Lord is there!

Facedown - Matt Redman

41.4 - He set out so many specifics for His Most Holy PLace - His dwelling place in the temple. Although He doesn't have a specific temple under the NEw Covenant - we meet in churches, He does have a temple for the holy Spirit and that is us and HE has set up specifics for that as well - that our bodies are temples. God help me to recognize my body as your body and it is your temple for you to dwell in.
43.3-5 - Ezekiel's reaction to seeing the glory of the Lord fill the temple - he fell face down at the glory of the Lord - out of respect and negation of self - out of homage and surrender. Oh how I wish you compelled me to do that more often - not out of sign to other people and not that I would do it out of show, but out of knowing and being in your glory.
44.4 - AGain, the reaction of Ez to the glory of the Lord - falling face down. We see that so often in Scripture - why isn't it more visible in our worship today?
44.28 - The Lord is their possession, their inheritance - they need nothing else.

Nov 3, Ez 37-40

37.6 - Cause the dead things (the parts of me that are dead to you and callous and dry) to come alive with the presence of you, your Word, your Spirit. Let them live - all of me - that I might know you
37.14 - I will put my Spirit within you and you shall live - I am the Lord and I will do it. He is true to His Word and He will act and do what He says He is going to do. Thank you for being faithful and breathing in us when we are dead to you.
37.27-28 - I will cleanse them - they shall live in me - then the nations will know that I am the Lord. Oh JEsus we need to be clean! Pray that you will work in the lives of the people going to Thailand right now that we will be cleaned of things in our lives that will hinder the Word of your Truth going out among the people of Chiang Mai.
38.23 - The terror of his holiness - but then they will know that He is the Lord
39.24 - Oh do not let us sin that you would hide your face from us. Pray that we would live in your presence that we would know the heat of your face.

Great Anticipation, Nov 2, Ez 33-36

What great chapters i get to read this morning. I'm looking forward to it, but help the old parts to be new to me this morning...
33.8 - we have the responsibility (even as Paul did in Rom 9.1) to tell others because we know the end outcome. They don't. We need to make them aware of it.
33.11 - God wants no evil one to perish. Mercy and justness...two go hand in hand. He asks them why will you die? When there is so great a salvation?
33.13 - It says the righteous shall live by faith, not by his own righteousness. Let me never lean toward the things I do for my salvation.
34.15 - Parallels Ps 23
36.21- He had concern for His holy name - jealous. He will not let it be suffered.
36.22 - He has to correct for his sake the things we have done to profane his name - just to to ourselves and our people, but among the nations.
36.23 - When through you I vindicate my holiness...what in the world does that mean? Mission trips or discipline - or perhaps both?
36.27 - New Spirit...walk in His ways...careful to obey rules and statutes. Galatians and walking by the Spirit
36.29 - And I will deliver you from all your uncleannesses. What a good promise.
36.32 - He again wants to remind us that He is not acting for our sake - but for his sake. Just in case we get prideful and think He is acting for us. Even with things at the SUmmit - you are acting for your Name. Help us not to get in the way - but let you act. Drive out the sin among us for your great name.
36.36 - A promise for Durham?
36.37-38 - Increase our numbers so that we can be sheep - be willing to lay our lives down for God and the people that He has given us. What an odd thought, but it is the cost of discipleship - something I have not read before. Help that to be true.

Yippy - November, Ez 29-32

29.9 - May we never think that anything that God has given us is ours. The Summit, work, money, friendships...
30-32 - The destruction of Pharoah - why? Because He has not known or given due to God - and God will do this so he will know the Lord God. Phil 2 11 - one day every knee will bow - so you might as well just do it now.

Oct 31, Ez 25-28

I'm so thankful that today, on All Hallow's Eve - that you reign in the world and that nothing goes on without you knowing about it!
25.14 - And people say that God is love (and that is all), but these three words: anger, wrath, vengeance...don't sound very loving...they are disciplining words...but I guess that is love in the long run...
26.13 - Even the music will be stopped...when the people don't worship and love God only.
28.2 - Often times it isn't even other things that i make a god in my life - it is me. Here it is says that they made themselves gods - doing what they wanted to do - worshipping themselves. Lord, let me not follow after my heart and know what i want out of life - let me follow after you, ask, believe, and obey you and not myself - so that i may know your favor.

Oct 30, Ez 21-24

21.17 - His fury is righteous and just. He set the standard and we do not follow it. We can never say that God is unjust or unfair in anything He does, because everything we get is grace.
23.49 - Again, we don't have to bear the sin of our adultery - Jesus did it for us. And thus we shall know that the Lord is God.
End of 24 - He took away their pride - where they worshiped. He doesn't want us to worship where we go to church (Summit) but he wants us to worship Him. There is such a vast difference!

your Beauty was perfect

A lot of reading today - must have read it wrong yesterday or a mis print - oh well.
16.14 - For your beauty was perfect through the splendor that I bestowed upon you. I do wish physically I could live up to that, but I can't - oh, please help!
16.15 - Oh, but if I had just read the next verse. Oh, never let me trust in my own beauty. That is what I do when I am thin. That doesn't mean I can't be thin - but let me trust in you no matter how long my hair is, what I weigh, what size I wear - or how good of a teacher I am - never let me trust in my self instead of you and play the harlot!
16.28 - Playing the whore doesn't satisfy...nothing will besides you. I try so often to fill it with other things and it just isn't going to help - only you will satisfy every desire that I have ever had and ever will have because that is how you created me
16.31 - I would never consider myself a harlot because I won't take payments. Who cares?? Than I am just being reckless with my heart and going after every thing looking to be loved. I have the best husband at home!
16.32 - Again, read the next verse!
16.60 - What a powerfu little word...yet.
16.62 - That you may know me!
16.63 - When I atone for all that you have done. Every time I play that harlot - that is the sin that has been covered by the eternal covenant that my God made with me when He sent JEsus.
18.23 - God takes no delight in the death of the wicked - but wants all men to come to repentance.
18.32 - So turn, and live - REPENT! Do do wicked things.
20.6-7 - He has given us the most beautiful land anywhere. yet we choose idols and play the harlot - but he wants us to know him because of who He is.
20.9 - He acts because He is jealous for His name. He did not want it to be profaned then - nor now.
20.12 - The Sabbath is use to sanctify. use that in my life!
20.26 - Why does he provide and why does he judge - so that we may know Him for who He is
20.32 - why do we want to be like other nations - whorring after other gods, worshipping wood and stone when we have a living God?
20.38 - By discipline you will know that I am the Lord your God who has brought you out of your sin.

Oct 28, Ez 13-15

Thank you jesus - my thoughts were his morning, what do i get to read. Thank you for energy and awakeness!
13.1-7 - It is a risky thing to prophecy. To know that you are saying something the Lord has said - you better be knowing that it is from Him. Thank you that we have the Word - we know what you have said. Give me your Word when i need to help someone - not my own.
13.8 - Opposite of Rom 8.31 - "If God is for us, who can be against us?" BUt, if God is against us because we sin in His name - than everyone's against us - just like the other nations came upon Israel.
overall - 13 - you shall know that I am the Lord God.
14.6 - What a great verse for looking at sin!
14.11 - This is the rest of verse 6 I feel like.
15.the end - Don't make our land desolate because we have sinned against you. I guess I should put that the way it should be. Don't let us sin so that we might live in front of you!

At My House

9.6 - "Begin at my house" Lord - I pray that you would start (really continue) to reform Durham and bring your glory here by starting at your house. Convict sin where it is in us - your Body. Its not easy to pray - but Lord do it. There is no question of who - everyone. Everyone needs your discipline because we are your children being sanctified every day.
11.10 - Out of judgment comes knowledge.
11.12 - Even in our disobedience - we will come to know that the Lord is God
11.19-21 - Let me be pliable in your hands - ready to do what you want me to do. If I get cocky Lord knock me down off my high horse. Because instead of knowing me, I want to know you. Instead of other's knowing me or any of the gifts you've given me, I want them to know you and only you.
12.28 - Perform it Lord - whatever it might be. Because we know that whatever you will say is exactly what we need to hear: as individuals, a body, as evangelists, as prophets, as worshipers. Thank you for still wanting to speak to us.

Little later this morning - Oct 26, Ez 5-8

I've been getting up early and starting the day praying with one of my friends, but I was disobedient this morning and stayed warm and therefore fell back asleep. But I like being in the Word before going to work.
5.8 - He will execute judgments for His great name - in their midst because they have disobeyed.
5.13 - Jealousy, glorious, wrath - all to satisfy Himself.
6.9 - Sort of reminds me of the Black Pearl - if they leave no survivors - who lives to tell of its fame? God wanted to leave some alive so they could tell of what He had done in their midst.
7.19 - No money is going to help in the throne room. nothing else will satisfy us - only God.
Judgment and they will know the Lord. No discipline and they will not know. Sounds like proverbs to me.

Oct 25, Another Major Prophet - Ez 1-4

When i saw that this was next I said yeah! I immediately thought of ch 36, but show me some other good stuff in this book.
1.28 - His response to seeing the glory of God (like so many others in the Word) - he fell face down, another right worship posture.
2.8-10 - Ez wasn't going to the nation of Israel with good, happy news. He was going with words of mourning. But, he was to eat - then share. God urged him not to be rebellious like the rest of that nation.
3.3 - These words of mourning tasted like honey to Ez. Just like Ps 19 says - let us treat the word of God as it is honey and sweet and get our fill of the word! (Just to be hungry for more).
3.15 - The task is often overwhelming - but we have a God who is bigger than the task at hand whatever it is!
3.27 - his mouth was shut unless he had a Word from God. God - let me speak wisely and words that are of you - and not just to hear myself talk.

Good morning - Oct 24, End of proverbs

28.5 - Help me to seek you and understand justice. Understand and know that I deserve hell and by your grace and for the glory of your name you chose in your wisdom to save me from eternal separation from you.
28.14 - Keep mine as a heart of flesh as brought to me only by you (Ez 36)
29.18 - Give us righteous prophets in our day - ones that will give us vision for the future, especially at the Summit as we continue to seek your face for where we are to go next.
29.20 - Make me stop and think before I talk: whether in my prayers, or in my interaction with girls, or in my interaction with outsiders (Col 4).
30.5 - Every WORD of God proves true - thank you for a faithful and exact Word that I know I can trust because of the One who spoke it.
30.32 - Since I have been foolish enough to praise myself in the past - I pray that you would cause my hand to go over my mouth when i feel like doing it again (29.20)
31.11 - What can I do now that would cause my husband to trust in me?
31.15 - Work this in me, don't let it always be a struggle - reward me with your presence while it is still night
31.25,26 - Give me wisdom, strength, and dignity - may they characterize me even now. There is some work to be done - or grace to be indebted to.

Oct 23 - Prvo 25-27

25.1 - What an odd statement - "it is the glory of God to conceal things." God gets more glory by not showing us everything in life that we WANT to know, and by only giving us the things that will lure us to trust him more in everything we do.
25.27 - It is not glorious to seek your own glory. How often I do that, say things that I have done or am doing just so I can get the praise from other people - most of the time it is people who don't even matter in the long run.
26.11-12 Already I have returned to my own folly, and I am not wise in my own eyes - but how much do I think I am.
26.17 - KEep me out of everyone else's affairs - I don't need to get in on them and I don't need to know everything that is going on everywhere.
27.6 - Deep accountability - that is what I long for and what I need. How I miss it here, thank you for giving me an sharpener, but I pray for a mentor.
27.9 - "Sweetness of a friend comes from his earnest counsel" - thank you for few people in my life who will give me earnest counsel.

Oct 22, Prov 21-24

21.1 - Sovereignty
21.2 - Weigh my heart Lord in the decisions that you put in front of me to make.
21.3 - Right worship- Rom 12.2 - is worth more than all the blood in the world
21.4 - Sin is often times for me more inward than outward.
21.9 -help me to be a non-quarrelsome wife
22.6 - One of the verses I clearly remember because it was imprinted on our yearbooks one year at LCS
22.24-25 - You will pick up on the habits of those you hang out with - so choose your friends wisely.

Oct 22 - A day late - Habakkuk

2.3 - Everything - even the visions that He gives the prophets - come in their duely appointed time. God's timing is perfect.
2.14 - The cry and deliverance of the Lord - "For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the Lord" They will know the preciousness of the Lord, not just the Lord himself.
2.20 - What a way to worship - "let all the earth keep silent before him."
3.17-19 - EVen when nothing else is going right - "yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will take joy in the God of my salvation, God the Lord is my strength"

Oct 20, The end of 2 Kings

I really thought this day would be split - but I guess we are going to finish it today!
20.5 - The prayers of the righteous avail much - but they still act in accordance with the will of God. It isn't like God shifted plans when Isaiah prayed - He wanted to get the glory from adding years to Hezekiah's life.
21.3 - He not only left them standing but he built them when they had been torn down.
21.13 - Even dish washing is in the Bible
22.11 - Hearing of the Word made even a righteous king rent his clothes because he knew that he had failed the things written in it, but most importantly, he had failed the God who wrote it.
22.19 - God hears the humble and is close to the broken-hearted - even if we are broken over our sin.
23.3 - follow the leader.
25.29 - He was able to dine at the king's table. I'm so glad I have a place at the banquet table, not because I get an allowance for doing good things, but because "living he loved me, dying he saved me, buried he carried my sin far away, rising he justified, freed me forever, one day He's coming back, glorious day!"

Oct 19, 2 Kings 17-19

What a great night of prayer and praise and choir practice. Man, to look forward to the days of being in on Wednesday nights - or Chris moving it to another night. Monday nights are good, but oh, the power in there on Wed nights - thanks God. I know its the same power - but multiply by experience and number. Thank you for the break from teaching this week - even though I love it - thanks for letting me sing "you're everything to me, more than a story, more than words on a page, of history, the air that I breathe, the water I thirst for, the ground beneath my feet, oh you're everything..." help that to be true.

17.7-23 - The exile of Israel was because they were idolators: sinned against God, feared other gods, walked in the customs of other nations, secret wrong things against the Lord, built high places in their towns, made offerings on the high places, provoked the Lord to anger, did wicked things, served idols, wouldn't listen and were stubborn, despised statutes and covenant, went after false idols and became false, followed nations around them, abandoned all the commandments of the Lord, made and worshipped metal images, burned children as offerings, witchcraft provoked the Lord to anger, led other nations astray.

17.33 - God has no competition and wants us to not have any in our lives.
17.41 - This is opposite the legacy that Chris was talking about tonight. But then Hezekiah comes in and starts a new legacy. Can't change the past, but can direct our future by following God and leading the way.
19.19 - The end is everything..."That all the kingdoms of the earht may know that you, O LORD, are God alone."

Oct 18 - 2Kings 13-15

Give yourself away...I'll give and I'll hold nothing...back
13.5,6 - God gave them a savior, but they didn't turn from their sin. Sound familiar? We have been given the SAVIOR and yet we still wallow in our sin - I wallow in my sin - all the time.
13.23 - Kindness and compassion on them based on his covenant - His eternal covenant which cannot be broken

Oct 17, nathan's b-day, 2 Kings 9-12

10.27 - What a thing to say...they made the house of baal a bathroom. According to the Word of the Lord no doubt, like the rest of this passage...
12.3 - Won't they ever learn to take down the high places so that no more sacrifices could be made?

Oct 16, 2 Kings 5-8

5.1 - Pain is no respector of persons (4Him song). Naaman was a great man, in high favor, mighty man of valor - BUT he was a leper.
5.11 - The cure is sometimes not what we would think - but what God wants to do is what matters.
5.14 - Obedience is something that must be done.
8.19 - God keeping in line with his prophecy and his promise

Oct 15 - Alan's B-day - 2 Kings 1-4

4.44 - The last few words of this section sums it all - according to the Word of the Lord. Whatever the Lord wills - will happen. No one can defeat His Word!

Oct 14, 1 Kings 20-22

20.4 - Even though this was said to a king, may I say it to my KING - "As you say, my lord, o King, I am yours, and all that I have." - Take my life, and let it be, always only for my king

Oct 13, 1 Kings 16-19

Just spent an amazing evening with a friend of mine who is a true sister in Christ, iron sharpening iron, convicting, edifying, sharing, loving, laughing...

16.31 - As if it was a light thing to walk in the sins of his father. Lord, it is never a light thing to walk in any sin...ANY sin! Make me remember that in everything I do. Rom 7.
17.24 - Lord, I don't want to have to raise the dead to make others see that you are with me. May it be even so that the people will know that the Word of the Lord in your mouth is truth. May people hear what comes out of my mouth and know that you live and are God!
18.21 - how long will you go limping between 2 opinions?...This is what the Lord says to me in many areas of my life: including strongholds that aren't him.
18.38 - Then the fire of the Lord fell and consumed the burnt offering. May our lives be lived to you in a burnt offering, not for us, but so that others would know that you are God!
18.39 - Oh, what a response to the consummation!

Oct 12, 1 Kings 13-15

When you vocalize things, both to others and to God in prayer, it helps to ease the situation. God does use other people who are wiser than you to help clear things up! Surround yourself with godly counsel.
13.24 - Always obey even the simplest of commands from the Lord because there are consequences of our disobedience.
15.26 - The sins of the leader makes its way to the people. Respect and trust your leaders and make sure you pray for them and that they are walking after God (close after God).

Oct 11, 1 Kings 10-12

11.1-2 UhOh, in the end of 10 we see that many things would probably start to go to his head, and sure enough they do. He thinks he is smart enough to disobey God. That's what sin is.
11.2b "For surely they will turn away your heart after their gods." I think this goes for all idols. They usually turn us not only to themselves, but to something else that is a distraction.
11.36 - He had to keep this in order to keep with the promises and the prophecies. See, no one can thwart the plan of the Lord - even with sin.
12.24 - Obedience - plain and simple

Oct 10, 1 King 8-9

8.11 - Boy, wouldn't this be a "happy" problem: the priests couldn't minister because of the cloud - which was the glory and presence of the Lord. Oh, that we would have that very problem. That we wouldn't be able to stand in worship due to the presence of the KING in that place.
8.12 - "thick darkness" This is what it means to have God's presence of His holiness among us when we worship.
8.41 - 43 - Solomon prays that "when foreigners come" because they have heard of HIs greatness - then they will know you as God and fear you and your name. That is the reason for missions and worship!
8.58 - Good verse on God choosing us..."that He may incline our hearts to him." The rest of the verses talk about obedience and God being near to us, but this clearly says that Solomon is praying that God would incline - would bend - our hearts toward HIM!

Sunday, Oct 9, 1 King 4-7

Good day in worship. Many thoughts in my head throughout both of them. Thank you for the Word and its use in conviction, encouragement, and edification, and the pursuit of holiness.
4.29 - Solomon was so wise - he did ask for it and God gave in abundance - just as He said He would. "breadth of mind like the sands of the seashore" - the same analogy used to describe the offspring of Abraham (his descendants).
6.12 - "If then" God's logic statements. We often don't follow through on the "if" part.
6.38 - 7 years - the number of perfection. The House of the Lord took perfection to build.

Oct 8 Sticking with the OT - 1 Kings 1-3

This is a combination of two days - this weekend. I start a new book: 1 Kings.

1.4 - I guess you can lie in bed and not "biblically know" a woman. Go David - restraint, but also health reasons.
1.29 - Toward the end of his life, he can again count on the rescueing and faithfulness of God - "who has redeemed my soul out of every adversity."
1.40 - Wow, there was an earthquake due to the noise from the of the people when Solomon became king.
2.1-9 - David's dying remarks (last wisdom) to Solomon - his son: Be strong, be masculine, keep God's charge, walking in his ways, obeying his laws, walk before Him in faithfulness, act according to wisdom
3.28 - They knew even his justice to be founded on God's word.

Oct 7 - Catch up from having no computer - Ps 93-100

WEll, since I stayed at a friend's houe, I didn't have access to a computer, so I actually had to write it down on a piece of paper! (GASP!)
93.1 - The ending punctuation mark could have come after the first three words!
93.3 - Even the creation (every where we look ) worships you.
93.5 - Holiness befits (is at home, looks good, befits) your house.
94.10, 11 - He who disciplines the nations - does He not rebuke? He who teaches man knowledge - the Lord - knows the thoughts of man, that they are but a breath - great verse - SELAH.
96.3 - Thailand is what we are called to do.
All this music - both from people and creation - that live in worship to God. Why do I find it difficult to do in my daily life: eating, working, talking, driving, spending, etc.

Oct 6, Ps 90-92

Finally, one on time!
90.12 - Be wise in knowing that the days are short - life has an eternal perspective.
90.14 - One of Piper's verses - Lord, Satisfy me, like I've been reading and learning - knowing that you are the only one who can do that, no matter how spiteful I get at people who have done me wrong or the blessings i don't have or the marriage i'm not in.
90.14-17 - Great verses to dwell on for Thailand - these are it:
Satisfaction comes from you and only you!
Rejoice and be glad!
Let your work be known to your servants (the missionaries and us) and to their children (as we are able to work with them)
We want the favor of the Lord!
Establish the work of our hands!

Oct 5 - Actually today's reading: Ps 87-89

88 - I wonder what this son of Korah was going through that he was so distraught - this definitely has to be a lament psalm. Oh that I may be like him when I get discouraged and downcast - lifting up my hands and my prayers to you instead of going to other people all the time.
89.11-13 - the very thing I taught on tonight - the sovereignity of God!
89.34 - I will not violate my covenant. This is God's staying true to Himself! This is why I like Him - He can't change, because that would mean that He isn't God!

Oct 5 - Ps 83-86 - Catch up #2

Keep right on going - Psalms are great - let me tell you!
83.16-18 - What great verses! All sorts of good things tonight: Shame us when we go against you so that we may seek your name. Consume us. Let us know you the God Most High over all the earth. Let that be our missions prayer as well!
84 - What a great psalm - even in song:
84.1 - Why do I think other things are so much lovelier than your dwelling place? I need and want to yearn to be in your presence. Create that desire in me!
84.10 - Only you can make this true in my life - oh how I pray this!
84.11-12 - These are our blessings: favor, honor, good things, sunlight and shield in danger, someone stable we can trust in! Let me walk in integrity!
85.2 - At the end of this verse about God forgiving our iniquity and covering our sins - it says to dwell on this thought. I can imaging the choirmaster and psalter singing this and then just pausing and standing there. But they didn't even have the full knowledge of Jesus yet - and I don't have it fully - keep pouring into my life till I see you Jesus - better is one day!
85.6 - Revive us to rejoice in You! When we are revived (brought back to fullness of life) than we will see our full joy and our pleasures forevermore!
86.11 - Teach me Your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth, unite my heart to fear your name. May everything in me fear your name and know that you are GOD

Honey from a rock

Another day in the psalms. I just spoke on some of the psalms - but neither are these. Good books. JD used a well-known Lewis quote out of Reflections tonight at prayer meeting. Good stuff!
79.8-9 - He will not bring against us our sin and our guiltiness because we are under the blood of Christ His Son. That is His compassion. And why does He help us and bring to us salvation - "for the glory of Your name".
80.3, 7, 19 - "Restore us O God" by letting your face shine on us. Restoration comes through being in God's presence (like Moses, Isaiah, Peter, Paul).
81.8 - God is pleading with us to hear his admonishing - to hear Him when He disciplines us (those whom He loves). We will not get anything good from listening, serving, and loving other gods or things or idols, etc.
81.10 - He saved us in the past and we have reason to think that He would fail us now? Open your mouth wide and I will fill it. All in the midst of discipline and remembrance!
81.16 - Finest of the wheat, honey from the rock - I WILL SATISFY YOU! These are the best of things that He will give us and then He will satisfy us Himself! What a great promise - if I will hear and obey the ways of the Lord.
82.8 - God has all the nations! What a great missions promise! Judge the earth, but I pray, in your wrath - that you would remember mercy. I begin praying for Thailand right now - that you would begin judging our hearts, but preparing the hearts of the people of Chang Mai right now. You have set before time this trip and these people that you will allow us to minister to. Thank you for that - thank you for hopefully letting me be a small part of what YOU are going to be doing there.

October 4 - Psam 76-78

76.4 - Even better than His creation. Creation gives us a glimpse of what God's glory looks like (Rom 1).
78.7-8 - Even if I may never have kids of my own, let me always work and minister to teach the next generation of your goodness and glory, whether it be college kids or kid kids.
78.30 - Let me never get satisfied with my desires - let me only get satisfied with you, not your gifts.
78.72 - Let me lead with integrity of heart and skillfulness of hands - let me not slack!

Oct 4 - The Entire Book of Lamentations

This book was also written by Jeremiah - so he wasn't done telling the thoughts of the nation of Israel - but I'm sure it is the same old story.
1.3 - We can do whatever we want and chase after the wind (as Solomon says) but 'she has found no rest' - we will never rest and be completely satisfied in anything but Jesus.
Chapter 2 - the Words that tell of the anger of God when His people defile His name: anger, swallowed up, wrath was thrown down, he has cut off, burned like a flaming fire, bent His bow, slain all, poured out His wrath like fire, become like an enemy, swallowed up, destroyed, violently treated, despised, rejected, abandoned, determined to destroy, destroyed and broken. God is jealous for His glory!
Lam 3.21-26 - Recall and have hope in this. God loves me with a forever love. Lord is all I need. He is good to all those who wait and seek Him. Not for a husband - for salvation.
Good reminder of what I am teaching tomorrow night as well.

October 2, Catch #1 Again, End of Jeremiah

Finally, we are at the end of Jeremiah. What a good book. I've learned the more of what I know is toward the beginning and more of the stuff I don't is at the end. But, I love the prophets. We often think that the words that God spoke to men is only in the prophets, but all the writers of Scripture were prophets in their own way - because they all communicated what God said to them through the Spirit and put it on paper!
49.4-5 - Why do we trust in things we do (as a church, as an individual) - even the things we do well and in the name of God - can be stripped away. God work in spite of our good things. We pray that you would use them, but not to the degree that people start looking at us and not at YOU! Because you still have the power to strip away and burn up our treasures!
50.34 - Their Redeemer is strong, the LORD of Hosts is His name. He will surely plead their cuase. Oh, God, thank you for redeeming me. Please hear the cry of our church today and bring people today who need to see your glory, see your face, see You move in their lives - so that they may live, and so that further more - YOU may get all the glory.
51.15-16 - Creator and Sustainer - not like the deists (Jefferson).
52 - last verses. What a picture of grace. The prisoner released by the king, his prison clothes thrown off, and then he dined with the king the rest of his life - what a picture of our life saved by grace! :)