Day 29: (Do the Write Thing) Eat some gold today...

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 29

Psalm 118:25-29

Every single one of these verses is a nugget of scriptural gold.
Pick it up.
Spin it around.
Look at it from all sides.
Throw it in your mouth.
Taste it.  Chew it.  Swallow it.
Inwardly digest it (a nod to Luther's Catechism...).

Mmm.  Mmm.  Good.

Song - Kyrie (Ola Gjeillo)
(and if you liked that - try the same composer's O Magnum Mysterium)

Lord, have mercy.
Christ, have mercy.
Lord, have mercy.
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 28: (Do the Write Thing) Gonna fly now?

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 28

Psalm 118:15-21

This interesting set of verses if full of joy and optimism.
Except in the middle.  Verse 18 starts "The Lord had chastened me severely..."
And then continues with a BUT.  "but he has not given me over to death."

Reminds me a conversation with my brother this morning.
He recalled a staff minister who reminded him to be aware of what you pray for.
When you pray for strength and patience - it doesn't come magically or instantly.
You only build strength through exercise of your spiritual muscle.
You only build patience by enduring (and learning how to endure).

Then verse 19 continues with joy and optimism again.
Yay God!

Song - Rocky Theme (orchestral)

Lord,
Give me strength and remind me that it comes from exercise.
Give me patience and remind me the next time I'm about to blow my top.
Give me courage and remind me that it only appears when I'm challenged.
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 27: (Do the Write Thing) Surrounded!

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 27

Psalm 118:8-14

"We have you surrounded.  There's no point.  Surrender."
(from any number of movies and TV shows...)

Today's scripture reminds us that when we are surrounded - we are not alone.  And the one we who is with us has a BIG surprise in store.

"I was pushed back and about to fall, but the Lord helped me.
  The Lord is my strength and my defense; he has become my salvation."

Song - God is Bigger than the Boogie Man (Junior Asparagus)

Oh God,
When my back is against the wall (or cliff or empty bank account or whatever) you are my strength and my defense.  
Bigger than anything that the world or Satan can throw at me.  
When I think I'm surrounded - tap me on the shoulder and remind me "I've got this one." 
Help me to trust you completely (and not just sometimes and in some ways).
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 26: (Do The Write Thing) Flicking flies

One way to flick flies...

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 26

Psalm 118:1-7

In scripture - I often see two ways to think of "enemies". 

• One is, shockingly, to love them (remember "Love your enemies...(Matthew 5:43-47)").
• The other is not to worry about them.  Don't let them be bigger than your God.

Because your God is a really big God.
He has it all covered.

Today's scripture pictures it this way: 
"God's my strong champion; I flick off my enemies like flies."

Song - Indescribable (Chris Tomlin)

God,
Make me a lover and a fly flicker.
Help me see my and your enemies for what they really our (and not just what they project/pretend themselves to be).  
Remind me that my enemies are temptations that want to distract me from You.
Keep my eyes straight ahead on You.
Especially on Jesus Christ and the salvation he won for 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 25: (Do the Write Thing) Recalculating...

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 25

James 1:16-18

Oh no.
I took a wrong turn.
The signs aren't making any sense.
The GPS won't stop recalculating.
Now what?

FYI - never happens with ultimate G(od's) Positioning System...

James reminds us God's road is straight and true.  Other sections of scripture tell us the road is narrow - but Savior Jesus is the ultimate guide and leads the way.

Song - All Good Gifts (Godspell cast)

God,
I really like to rely on my sense of direction.
I am lulled into a false sense that I can trust it - because it seems to get me where I want to go.
Where do you want me to go?
Lead me, guide me, along life's way.
Keep me on the narrow way.
Looking forward that ultimate vacation destination - Heaven!
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 24: (Do the Write Thing) Bottom of the barrel

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 24

Lamentations 3:22-27

Have you reached the bottom of your barrel?
The end of your rope?
The last ounce of patience?


This passage reminds us that God's mercies never run out.
So patiently wait.
Quietly hope.
Diligently seek.

Stick with God.
Especially when He's all you have left!
(and He always is.)

Song 
- Great is Thy Faithfulness (Jordan Smith)
- Great Is Thy Faithfulness (Hymnal.net)

Lord,
Show me your face when I'm overwhelmed.
When I'm played out.
When I'm spent.
Great is Your faithfulness.
Morning by morning new mercies I see;
All I have needed Your hand has provided—

“Great is Your faithfulness,” Lord, unto 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 23: (Do the Write Thing) Time like an ever rolling stream...

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 23

Psalm 90:12-17

Pastor Daron used this section of scripture to enlighten our New Years Eve 2015.  I want to share it with you as day 23.

Some excerpts:
- Time.  It controls everything.  Except one thing - the One who created it - our God.
- Verse 12 - Take inventory.  Number my days/hours/minutes/seconds.  Am I robbing God by not using the product (gifts) He has given me?

- Verse 13 - Please let up Lord!  I know I deserve nothing but punishment for my behavior.  Justice for my robberies.  But you are a compassionate God.
- Verse 17 - What is the "work of our hands"?  EVERYTHING we say/do/think.  In this verse I'm asking God to establish it.  Initiate it.  Start it in the right place!
- Verse 16 - Oh Lord - make your salvation working deeds obvious to me - open my eyes to the beauty and wonder.
- Verse 15 - How many days do we have?  Doesn't matter - but since I'm still here - what does matter is what I'm doing with them.

God has given me the time.  What am I doing with it?
"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to it." (Jonathan Winters)

Song 
- O God, Our Help In Ages Past (hymnal.net)
- O God, Our Help In Ages Past (Westminster Abbey choir and congregation)
- O God, Our Help In Ages Past (Promise Keepers version)

Lord,
A thousand ages in Thy sight
  Are like an evening gone;
Short as the watch that ends the night

  Before the rising sun.

O God, our help in ages past,
  Our hope for years to come,
Be Thou our guard while life shall last,

  And our eternal home.
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?