Day 22: (Do the Write Thing) High on life

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 22

Psalm 9:1-2,7-12

Pollyanna.
Unbridled optimist.
Bright-sider.

The psalm section for today was written by someone in a GOOD mood.
Today is one of those days for me.  It's just starting off well and this passage underlines and bolds it.

Try some unbridled optimism on for size today.  
It suits you!

Song - Lemonade (Chris Rice)

Lord, this world is full of good days and bad days (and many sprinkled with both).
Remind me to relish the good.
And lean on you in the bad.
Keep me in your Word.
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 21: (Do the Write Thing) Calm my storm!

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 21

Psalm 107:28-32

Wild storms.  There's nothing else like them.
Thunder crashing so loud it shakes the house and rattles your nerves.
Lightning so close your hair stands on end.
Wind whipping the rain and tipping the trees sideways.

Sometimes feels like your life is like that, eh?
And then...

"He quieted the wind down to a whisper,
  put a muzzle on all the big waves.
And you were so glad when the storm died down,
  and he led you safely back to the harbor."

Song - Calm My Storm (Tyler Price)

Lord,
Your eye is on the sparrow.
If you care that much for something I don't even pay attention to, 
let that remind me how much more your eye is on me.
Calming my storms.
Routing those hurricanes around me in ways I can't even imagine.
Quiet my pounding heart and sweating hands.
Grant a quiet spirit within me.
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 20: (Do the Write Thing) [A Silent prayer]

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 20

Psalm 69:30-36

Sometimes words fail me.
Like right now - trying to find a cohesive thought or theme in this passage.
There are plenty in there - but my brain isn't connecting the dots.

Pastor mentioned a similar situation that we feel sometimes as it relates to prayer.
Words fail us.  It's either something so big we can't wrap our minds around it or so small we wonder why God would want to bother with it.

And God has sent a helper - his Holy Spirit - to say the words for us.  To offer the most elegant, eloquent and excellent prayer on our behalf.  
And He does.  Without fail.

Prayer

[Holy Spirit - can you take this one?]
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 19: (Do the Write Thing) Lost and found

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 19

Psalm 28:6-9

Our worship today focused on the time in Jesus life when he went to his first Passover festival with his parents (at age 12) - and hung around afterwards talking with the top spiritual leaders.  This was while mom and dad (Mary and Joseph) headed up the road on the 75 mile journey back to Bethlehem.

One day mom and dad realize Jesus isn't with them.  Three days (THREE DAYS) later they find him in the temple in Jerusalem.  Mom (Mary) says - "Son, why have you treated us like this?  Your father and I have been anxiously searching for you.".

Jesus replied by asking "Why were you searching for me?  Didn't you know I had to be in my Father's house?"  

In other words - Jesus wasn't lost.  His true Father (in heaven) knew exactly where he was and what he was doing.  

How often am I Mary - asking Jesus why he has treated me this way.

Jesus really poses the same question back to me.  
"Why are you searching for me?  I'm right HERE (pointing at your heart of faith)!"

I thought today's Psalm echoes the same thought.
The psalmist is talking about the end of their search for God.
"He's proved he's on my side, I've thrown my lot in with him; now I'm jumping for joy, and shouting and singing my thanks to him."

Song - And Now My Lifesong Sings (Casting Crowns)

Lord, 
I once was lost but now I'm found,
I once was blind but now I see,
I once was dead but now I live,
And so my lifesong sings.
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 18: (Do the Write Thing) Thanks-living?

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 18

2 Corinthians 9:12-15

This passage reminds me of a phrase I heard a few years back.
"Thanks-living".  

Not the one-time or when-I-happen-to-think-of-it "thanksgiving".
But "thanks-living".  An ongoing process of living in the thankful reality of the gift of God's grace.  Priceless, un-buyable, gifted grace in Jesus Christ.

Such a huge precious gift that I can't help but share it.
Let it spill out all over my life.

Video - Thanks-living (Eric Samuel Timm)

Thank you Lord.
That really doesn't cut it, does it.
At least I have trouble getting to the thanks-living from just thanks-giving.
Words. Actions. Re-actions.
That's what you're looking for.
Help me get there through the people I live with and love on today!
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 17: (Do the Write Thing) Protection from sob stories and arm-twisting...

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 17

2 Corinthians 9:6-11

I really enjoyed reading and writing the passage today.  It paints such vivid pictures.
It's talking about giving back to God - the what, the why, the how.
And the mindset we should have while thinking about it and doing it.

"Take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give.  That will protect you from sob stories and arm-twisting.  God loves it when the giver delights in the giving."

Song - God Loves A Cheerful Giver (Steve Green) - 
From one of my favorite Christian albums - the Hide 'em in Your Heart series.

God,
Hide a cheerful giver spirit in my heart today!
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 16: (Do the Write Thing) Not a day goes by...

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 16

2 Corinthians 4:13-18

Not a day goes by...
I usually hear this phrase when someone is thinking about revenge, or remorse, or guilt.

In our passage today it is talking about grace!
"Even though on the outside it often looks like things are falling apart on us, on the inside, where God is making a new life, not a day goes by without his unfolding grace."

Way better than revenge, remorse or guilt!

Song - It Is Well With My Soul (Wintley Phipps) [song starts at 1:48]

Jesus,
May the words from my mouth bring you praise!
Thank you!
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 15: (Do the Write thing) Thanks why?

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 15

Psalm 147:1-7

What's the best thanks you ever received?
What made it the best?
Because it was spontaneous, unrehearsed and/or unexpected?

That's today's Psalm writing/reading in a nutshell.
Right now you are blessed by something or someone.
Thank God for it or them.
Now!

Song - Thank You God (My Pingu)

Thank you for the world so sweet,
Thank you for the food we eat.
Thank you for the birds that sing,
Thank you God for everything.
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?

Day 14: (Do the Write thing) Self-service?

Do the Write thing 30-day series.  (write out this bible passage today - by hand! - in your favorite translation - or at least click the link and read through it...)

Day 14

Psalm 116:12-19

Self-service.
Service dog.  
Worship service.
Service your car at regular intervals.

So many kinds of service.
When this passage asks God to make me a servant - what service is it talking about?

Actually - when you write out the whole passage (and read the rest of the Psalm) it is self-explanatory.

Song - Make Me A Servant (Maranatha Singers)

Oh, Lord,
I am such a contradiction.
I "want" to serve you.
But I "really want" to serve myself first.
Help me get my priorities straight!
Amen.

Link to daily bible reading calendar (chronological - one chapter per day)

TIP: click the Bible Reference and then "more details" to get hyperlinks that open Bible Gateway

What's the big deal about Jesus?