Sunday, July 17, 2011

July 17-23

Monday; (Law) Deuteronomy 34
Tuesday; (Rulers) 2 Chronicles 7
Wednesday; (History) Psalm 1
Thursday; (Wisdom) Isaiah 5
Friday; (Prophets) Hosea 5
Saturday; (Gospels) Luke 13
Sunday; (Epistles) 2 Corinthians 4

6 comments:

Unknown said...

"I have chosen this Temple and made it holy. So I will be worshiped there forever. Yes, I will always watch over it and love it." 2 Chr 7:16

We touched on this theme at camp, the tabernacle, the temple, the indwelling of the Lord of Hosts, and how we have the privelege to be indwelt by the Lord of Hosts in our very flesh. God desires for us to be an incarnational people, oozing Him into a world that is suffering all the symptoms of sin and needs an injection of God's grace and forgiveness to set things right. I want to be an incarnational person, I don't want this "temple" to become a place of moneylenders and distraction, I want to be set apart, above the daily grind, imbibed with purpose and meaning, to point to Jesus and reflect His glory. It requires an intense concentration to be surrounded by the hustle and bustle of earthly conformity that so easily distracts, and staying focused on conforming to Christ.

Unknown said...

Intro to Psalms:

"Worship. In two thousand years we haven't worked out the kinks. We still struggle for the right words in prayer. We still fumble over scripture. We don't know when to kneel. We don't know when to stand. We don't know how to pray.

Worship is a daunting task.

For that reason God gave ust he Psalms- a praisebook for God's people. This collection of hymns and petitions are strung together by one thread- a heart hungry for God.

Some are defiant. Others are reverent. Some are to be sung. Others are to be prayed. Some are intensely personal. Others are written as if the whole world would use them. Some were penned in caves, others in temples.

But all have one purpose- to give us the words to say when we stand before God.

The very variety should remind us that worship is personal. No secret formula exists. What myoves you may stymy another. Each worships differently but each should worship.

This book will help you do just that.

And let's remember, the language of worship is not polished, perfect or advanced. It's just honest."

This touched me where I'm at today. Especially the reference to caves and temples. This is a picture that God has been planting in my heart (the seventh time this comes up for me), I'm hearing it loud and clear. Whether we are on a spiritual high, up on the mountain like Elijah, or lying debilitated and played out in a cave, again, like Elijah, our job is to worship. On the good days and the bad. That's my job. When I'm happy, when I'm sad, that's my job. When I'm right and when I'm wrong. That's my job. When I'm feeling like a million bucks or when I'm feeling worthless. That's my job. What a blessing of a job it is.

Unknown said...

"They love the Lord's teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night." v2

Think about them. Not talk about them. Feeling essentially like a whack job because of my love for God and for His Kingdom, this verse breathes some form of consolation and challenge into my life. Yeah, okay, so maybe I do have my head in the clouds and really, really long legs. Isn't that what we're aiming for here? The mind of Christ? I just realized in the past couple of days though that I am so immature in some ways. I thought being open and honest and passionate was what God wants from us, but I'm beginning to see the immaturity in thinking that this is okay at all times in all places. Maybe I will become Mennonite in the end after all :) Private and cautious about discussing matters of faith. Yeah, I'm wishing for a little of that kind of padding right now. It's funny, (the most painful sort of funny), because I prayed a month ago for God to give me a heart that empathises and understands the mennonite culture because I just felt so out of the box, so that I couldn't relate, so wanting to feel united with this culture and at home here. Holy Cow. I'm empathizing and understanding a whole lot right now. My bad. But He works all things together for good in the lives of those who love Him and I entrust He will in this instance in each life in question. Only He can, but thankfully, He can.

Unknown said...

"How terrible it will be for those who think they are wise and believe they are clever." Isaiah 5:21

I never saw myself as being arrogant or self righteous. God is showing me some things, some really, really humbling things. HUMILITY is my flashing, crashing, neon sign right now. What does it look like? What does it produce in one? I need to learn about it and let it have its way in me.

Lois said...

You are such an encouragement to me! Thank you for sharing your sincere desire to learn and grow through every experience.

Unknown said...

"then I heard the Lord's voice saying, "Whom can I send? Who will go for us?" Isa 6:8

Such a classic missions verse. Such a joy and inspiration to be around so many people this week who have answered, "Here I am. Send me!"