Psalm 29-30

Ch 30

11 You turned my wailing into dancing;

    you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy,

12 that my heart may sing your praises and not be silent.
    Lord my God, I will praise you forever.

This chapter reminds me of a sermon Pastor Jay from Westview gave many years that always stuck with me.  He talked about spiritual growth coming from difficult times, in fact he said there must be challenge and pain to get growth.  I'm not sure if I agree the it is a must but I think it is true that relying on God during tough times and feeling how he guides you through them strengthens your faith.

For me when my Dad died was probably the most difficult time of my life and I do think it translated into growing closer to God.  Ultimately he turned my sackcloth (which I just learned is a garment worn during mourning) into joy that I share especially with Gina in the great memories and things he taught me.  Another challenging time was moving to Moline for 3yrs, pretty small in some peoples eyes but traumatic for our family yet I think he helped both Gina and I grow closer to Him and our family to each other through that experience.

#12 Knut out.

Psalm 27-28

³ 





v3  Do not drag me away with the wicked,
    with those who do evil,
who speak cordially with their neighbors
    but harbor malice in their hearts.


very quick today.  God looking past my actions directly into my heart again.  Some one who is evil goes beyond what we humans can observe.  Here no distinction is made for the wicked who do what I might think is evil versus someone who fakes kindness but in their/my heart has some bad thoughts or intentions.

Psalm 23-26

Psalm 26 2-3

² Test me, Lord, and try me,
    examine my heart and my mind;
³ for I have always been mindful of your unfailing love
    and have lived in reliance on your faithfulness.

I didnt have many great observations today, I always like Psalm 23 and today these verses in Psalm 26 were the ones that caught my eye.

Kind of daunting to invite God to test me and examine my heart and mind.  But I better be comfortable with it because he knows me better than I know myself, its not like I can hide my weaknesses from him.  

knut

Psalm 22

So after reading this I thought it sounded like Jesus on the cross but I thought the intro made it sound like David telling a story about himself.  After researching further I found that crucifixion didn't exist yet in David's time.  My friend Tom posted the piece below on this chapter, I think he nailed it.  later, Knut

Psalm 22:14-18 (NLT)

My life is poured out like water,
    and all my bones are out of joint.
My heart is like wax,
    melting within me.
My strength has dried up like sunbaked clay.
    My tongue sticks to the roof of my mouth.
    You have laid me in the dust and left me for dead.
My enemies surround me like a pack of dogs;
    an evil gang closes in on me.
    They have pierced my hands and feet.
I can count all my bones.
    My enemies stare at me and gloat.
They divide my garments among themselves
    and throw dice for my clothing.

Anyone who knows the story of Jesus’ crucifixion can picture the scene clearly in these poetic lyrics:

• The angry mob, incited by the religious leaders, screaming for his death
• His wrists and feet pierced by spikes and nailed to the wood
• His enemies standing below and taunting him
• His body, sapped of strength and unable to hold itself up, contorted  in agony
• His mouth so parched and void of fluids that merciful followers attempt to raise a wet sponge to comfort him
• His lungs, unable to breathe, giving way to asphyxiation
• His body pierced by a spear
• His executioners gambling for his seamless robe

So, what makes today’s chapter so incredible is that it was written 1,000 years before the event it so aptly describes.

Psalm 19-21

in keeping up the pace of going through Psalm I read 19-21 today.

Chapter 19

⁹ The fear of the Lord is pure,
    enduring forever.
The decrees of the Lord are firm,
    and all of them are righteous.

¹⁰ They are more precious than gold,
    than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
    than honey from the honeycomb.

I normally blow past words like these but today I was just thinking how  God inspired David to share how important the instructions are that are laid out in the Bible in a way that humans should be able to understand---yet I usually don't take the time to consider.

God's words are more precious than gold, if I had a lot of gold I'm pretty sure I would know where it all is and keep it in a safe place.  Do I know where all of his decrees are for me within the bible?--no but probably should.

Sweeter than honey, seems like something I should want to eat up and  digest and feed my body.  Do I read and consume the words and decrees in the bible---trying to daily, so for the past year and a half I'm doing better than ever but have a ways to go.

have a good day and weekend!

Knut

Psalm 18

Again first pass through I liked the story but didn't take a lot.  Now as I read and re-read it I'm running out of time this morning to investigate things I see.

David's song starts with him calling on God during his troubled times--the prayer thing again, and then a powerful image of how fierce God's response was to his prayers.  Would God answer my prayers with the same power?  I believe it should be possible, but it also says--

v20 The Lord has dealt with me according to my righteousness; according to the cleanness of my hands he has rewarded me. 21 For I have kept the ways of the Lord;.

So while I know I can't earn my way to heaven, it seems during our time on earth we may be directly impacted by how closely we follow his instruction.

Back to v2.
The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer;
    my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge,
    my shield^[b] and the horn^[c] of my salvation, my stronghold.

The horn of my salvation stuck out to me.  As I researched it people have various thoughts, it may represent strength, symbol of dignity, power.  Jesus is also referenced in the New Testament as the horn of salvation.  

Then in v15 The valleys of the sea were exposed
    and the foundations of the earth laid bare
at your rebuke, Lord,
    at the blast of breath from your nostrils.

The valley of the sea caught my eye.  In this simple statement is there a neatly tucked away clue to the fact that God is the creator of the universe?  I was thinking back in those days when I'm guessing they couldn't explore the depths of the seas by more than probably 100ft how would David even know to write about the valley's of the sea?  I did a little research and found others had the same thought long before me.  The link below has a few neat illustrations of things written in the bible that are clues to God's knowledge of all long before we humans on earth discovered it.

http://www.bibletoday.com/archive/proof_text.htm

pretty random I know thoughts--gotta run
knut

Psalm 17

I didn't take a lot from this one first pass through.  I did think David was pretty bold to be telling God in his prayer how righteous he was, I know I couldn't in good faith make the statements he did.

That said, in keeping with my personal theme of getting closer to God in prayer I take note of a one simple verse that my friend Kevin pointed out to me in his comments on their Chapter A Day blog.

6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;
    turn your ear to me and hear my prayer.

If we are bold enough to turn to God in prayer, he will hear us and he will answer us.  Back to that direct line we have to the creator of the universe.  Its right there for me and he has the ability to probe my heart.  No worries of miss-communication if I do use the exact words I mean, he knows my heart so just go to him in prayer.

knut

Psalm 11-16

Psalm 13 5-6
⁵ But I trust in your unfailing love;
    my heart rejoices in your salvation.
⁶ I will sing the Lord’s praise,
    for he has been good to me.


Psalm 16 8
⁸ I keep my eyes always on the Lord.
    With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.


Good reminders today to trust God, stay focused on him and be openly thankful to him for how good he has been to me and the confidence and safety he provides me.

I have been given a great opportunity at work.  I will be taking a month away from my job working for John Deere and placed in Thailand for all of May to work with about 9 other John Deere employees to help a local non-government  not for profit entity with a project TBD.  Its a leadership development program, I feel very fortunate to be selected--God has been good to me.  I'm not looking forward to being gone from my family for a month but hopeful the time will go by quickly.  I am hoping to use this time to grow not only in my ability to lead at work but to get closer to God.  I'll need your prayers when I depart on this trip.

knut

Psalm 10

As I read today I thought its an illustration of how an evil man lives life and all the bad things he does that seem to go unpunished, but ultimately its the weak that will prevail and live eternal happiness with God.  It probably is a story to illustrate that and as I read it the first time through I am picturing the evil person is someone other than me.   Then I read:

In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;
    in all his thoughts there is no room for God.

So while I don't think I have lots of the traits of the evil man portrayed in this story, I think this is one I do.  I desire a deeper connection and I'm trying to do it with prayer this is a reminder for me that when I don't seek him, not only am I missing something I'm on a slippery slope of acting like the wicked man.  I pray that I continue to seek him and grow in my ability to hear him.

knut

Psalm 5-9

³ Chapt 8:3 When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers,the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?^[c]

These 2 verses continue on the theme of out of all the universe, its hard to get my head around the fact that he cares so much for me and knows me personally.

Chapt 9:9 The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.

I wouldn't say I've gone through troubled times, but at the same time I have my own little concerns in life and he tells me here if I trust in him he will always keep me safe.  He doesn't promise to do what I want but at the same time he let's me know he will never abandon me, I'll never be alone.

knut

Psalm 2-4

I thought it would be nice to go through Psalm, but since its 150 chapters, some very short maybe we could do a few a day or what ever feels good.  What do you think?

4:3 Know that the Lord has set apart his faithful servant for himself;
    the Lord hears when I call to him.

This verse hit me because of the changes I'm trying to make to my life.  I want to be more connected to God throughout the day not just once in a while.  It tells us that the Lord hears when I call to him, that is an immediate direct line to the God of the universe---but he can't hear me if I'm not calling him.  So again for me I am starting with some dedicated times, but hopefully it morphs into anytime and all the time.  Just a constant conversation.

knut

Luke 24

³¹ Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him,and he disappeared from their sight. ³² They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?”


I really liked reading this chapter, I'm not sure I've ever read it so closely in the past the story was really coming to life for me.  This verse jumped out to me, Jesus was walking with them and amazed that they really hadn't put all the pieces together to realize the messiah had come.  He reminded them of what the scriptures had said about the messiah and they began to get excited.  Once they were fully stoked up about it and were allow to see him for who we is he disappeared from their human sight, but their fire continued to burn.

We don't get to see him with our eyes today, but we can have the same burning excitement by getting to know him better through the Bible and prayer like you said yesterday.

bing badda boom
knut

Luke 23

⁴⁰ But the other criminal rebuked him. “Don’t you fear God,” he said, “since you are under the same sentence? ⁴¹ We are punished justly, for we are getting what our deeds deserve. But this man has done nothing wrong.”

There a ton in this one.  This is the verse that got me today.  I keep thinking about what I deserve.......and how grateful I am to know that the punishment won't fit my crimes.  I should be acting more grateful for that tremendous gift.
The least of the actions that should be happening, is what you talked about yesterday.  At least talk to the One that sacrificed everything for me, on a regular basis.

Luke 22

As I read the v39-46 I Jesus Prays on the Mount of Olives I was noticing a few things about how Jesus prayed like going away from the disciples, making a request yet also asking His will be done.

Then I Googled the section of verses and found the following breakdown which went far beyond what I had noticed in the section.  It points out a blue print for prayer that Jesus is teaching that i really liked--

In Jesus’ prayer we find…

A retreat Jesus went out

A pattern  as usual

A location to the Mount of Olives

A posture knelt down and prayed

A connection Father

A request if you are willing

A moment of honesty take this cup from me

A submission yet not my will, but yours be done

A heavenly strength an angel appeared…and

strengthened him

A response to pain being in anguish, he prayed

more earnestly

A re-entry he rose from prayer and went back

One prayer I have is that I can learn to see these insights in the Bible more easily and put them into practice in my life.

knut

Luke 21

³⁴ “Be careful, or your hearts will be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness and the anxieties of life, and that day will close on you suddenly like a trap.


Not much for me today.  The widow's offering is always a good reminder of how we should give, but today this verse in the section about the warning of end times caught my eye.  I think I'm better than I use to be but still can struggle with anxiety caused by the daily activity of life.  Straight from Jesus he tells us be careful don't sweat the small stuff and don't get caught up in the sinful ways of the world this could all be gone in a snap.

knut

Luke 20

⁴⁶ “Beware of the teachers of the law. They like to walk around in flowing robes and love to be greeted with respect in the marketplaces and have the most important seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at banquets. ⁴⁷ They devour widows’ houses and for a show make lengthy prayers. These men will be punished most severely.”

This is the verse that stuck with me today.  We need to keep it real.  Don't act like a Christian because we think its the "right" thing to do.....or to gain attention or accolade.  It must be rooted in a humble, personal relationship with Jesus.

peace

Luke 19

Theres WAY too much in this chapter.  Multiple themes, multiple stories.

⁴⁷ Every day he was teaching at the temple. But the chief priests, the teachers of the law and the leaders among the people were trying to kill him. ⁴⁸ Yet they could not find any way to do it, because all the people hung on his words.

I pulled this section out.....i know its a little strange, with all the other topics in the chapter.  But, I love how the people who are open to his teachings are hanging on his every word.  The ones who think they have it figured out, are trying to kill him.  Its an ironic twist that sets in motion the end of his earthly time.  I read this part over and over.....wondering which side of the crowd I would be standing on?  Am I open to listening to his words?  Much like you said yesterday.....or is he standing right in front of me, screaming at me, and I'm not listening.

thanks for the constant encouragement and honesty about your own struggles.  this daily read has done a lot for me, to help me realize where my focus should be.

peace

Luke 18

The Parable of the Persistent Widow

18 Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up.

This one is KEY for me. I can't even remember the last time I persistently  prayed for something or someone.  I mean really persistently prayed.  I have issues/people that will pop into my mind from time to time, and I am always thinking and praying about my family.  But, to really pray for a specific thing over a long period of time.....all the while, having faith that God is listening and will react........I don't think I really do that.

Something to put on my list for the new year!

have a good one!