18 August 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 18 August 2014

another day.  Dear Wife is next door "watching" Beloved Grand-Niece.  Not sure she's really up to it, so I was over ther most of the morning.  a 19-month-old can be quite active.
We see that her rheumatologist appointment is for Wednesday, not tomorrow, so that gives an extra day to perhaps recover..
And the retirement check is scheduled to hit the bank tomorrow morning, we hope.  That will be a Big help.  Times are tough and may get a whole lot worse.  And not just for us.

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The Old Testament passage today is Psalms 109, 110, 111.
When I was growing up, our church referred often to the Psalms, which is proper.  But there were certain of the Psalms, we call them the "Imprecatory Psalms", which were NEVER even mentioned.  At all.  Ever.  Psalm 109 is one of them.  Might be unfamiliar to you also.

1
Hold not thy peace, O God of my praise;
2
For the mouth of the wicked and the mouth of the deceitful are opened against me: they have spoken against me with a lying tongue.
3
They compassed me about also with words of hatred; and fought against me without a cause.
4
For my love they are my adversaries: but I give myself unto prayer.
5
And they have rewarded me evil for good, and hatred for my love.
6
Set thou a wicked man over him: and let Satan stand at his right hand.
7
When he shall be judged, let him be condemned: and let his prayer become sin.
8
Let his days be few; and let another take his office.
9
Let his children be fatherless, and his wife a widow.
10
Let his children be continually vagabonds, and beg: let them seek their bread also out of their desolate places.
11
Let the extortioner catch all that he hath; and let the strangers spoil his labour.
12
Let there be none to extend mercy unto him: neither let there be any to favour his fatherless children.
13
Let his posterity be cut off; and in the generation following let their name be blotted out.
14
Let the iniquity of his fathers be remembered with the LORD; and let not the sin of his mother be blotted out.
15
Let them be before the LORD continually, that he may cut off the memory of them from the earth.
16
Because that he remembered not to shew mercy, but persecuted the poor and needy man, that he might even slay the broken in heart.
17
As he loved cursing, so let it come unto him: as he delighted not in blessing, so let it be far from him.
18
As he clothed himself with cursing like as with his garment, so let it come into his bowels like water, and like oil into his bones.
19
Let it be unto him as the garment which covereth him, and for a girdle wherewith he is girded continually.
20
Let this be the reward of mine adversaries from the LORD, and of them that speak evil against my soul.
21
But do thou for me, O GOD the Lord, for thy name's sake: because thy mercy is good, deliver thou me.
22
For I am poor and needy, and my heart is wounded within me.
23
I am gone like the shadow when it declineth: I am tossed up and down as the locust.
24
My knees are weak through fasting; and my flesh faileth of fatness.
25
I became also a reproach unto them: when they looked upon me they shaked their heads.
26
Help me, O LORD my God: O save me according to thy mercy:
27
That they may know that this is thy hand; that thou, LORD, hast done it.
28
Let them curse, but bless thou: when they arise, let them be ashamed; but let thy servant rejoice.
29
Let mine adversaries be clothed with shame, and let them cover themselves with their own confusion, as with a mantle.
30
I will greatly praise the LORD with my mouth; yea, I will praise him among the multitude.
31
For he shall stand at the right hand of the poor, to save him from those that condemn his soul.


1
The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool.
2
The LORD shall send the rod of thy strength out of Zion: rule thou in the midst of thine enemies.
3
Thy people shall be willing in the day of thy power, in the beauties of holiness from the womb of the morning: thou hast the dew of thy youth.
4
The LORD hath sworn, and will not repent, Thou art a priest for ever after the order of Melchizedek.
5
The Lord at thy right hand shall strike through kings in the day of his wrath.
6
He shall judge among the heathen, he shall fill the places with the dead bodies; he shall wound the heads over many countries.
7
He shall drink of the brook in the way: therefore shall he lift up the head.


1
Praise ye the LORD. I will praise the LORD with my whole heart, in the assembly of the upright, and in the congregation.
2
The works of the LORD are great, sought out of all them that have pleasure therein.
3
His work is honourable and glorious: and his righteousness endureth for ever.
4
He hath made his wonderful works to be remembered: the LORD is gracious and full of compassion.
5
He hath given meat unto them that fear him: he will ever be mindful of his covenant.
6
He hath shewed his people the power of his works, that he may give them the heritage of the heathen.
7
The works of his hands are verity and judgment; all his commandments are sure.
8
They stand fast for ever and ever, and are done in truth and uprightness.
9
He sent redemption unto his people: he hath commanded his covenant for ever: holy and reverend is his name.
10
The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: a good understanding have all they that do his commandments: his praise endureth for ever.



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The New Testament reading is chapter 16 from Paul's letter to the Romans.  Sorry to see the end, Romans is a favorite.


1
I commend unto you Phebe our sister, which is a servant of the church which is at Cenchrea:
2
That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.
3
Greet Priscilla and Aquila my helpers in Christ Jesus:
4
Who have for my life laid down their own necks: unto whom not only I give thanks, but also all the churches of the Gentiles.
5
Likewise greet the church that is in their house. Salute my well-beloved Epaenetus, who is the firstfruits of Achaia unto Christ.
6
Greet Mary, who bestowed much labour on us.
7
Salute Andronicus and Junia, my kinsmen, and my fellow-prisoners, who are of note among the apostles, who also were in Christ before me.
8
Greet Amplias my beloved in the Lord.
9
Salute Urbane, our helper in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.
10
Salute Apelles approved in Christ. Salute them which are of Aristobulus' household.
11
Salute Herodion my kinsman. Greet them that be of the household of Narcissus, which are in the Lord.
12
Salute Tryphena and Tryphosa, who labour in the Lord. Salute the beloved Persis, which laboured much in the Lord.
13
Salute Rufus chosen in the Lord, and his mother and mine.
14
Salute Asyncritus, Phlegon, Hermas, Patrobas, Hermes, and the brethren which are with them.
15
Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.
16
Salute one another with an holy kiss. The churches of Christ salute you.
17
Now I beseech you, brethren, mark them which cause divisions and offences contrary to the doctrine which ye have learned; and avoid them.
18
For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple.
19
For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.
20
And the God of peace shall bruise Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
21
Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.
22
I Tertius, who wrote this epistle, salute you in the Lord.
23
Gaius mine host, and of the whole church, saluteth you. Erastus the chamberlain of the city saluteth you, and Quartus a brother.
24
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
25
Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,
26
But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, made known to all nations for the obedience of faith:
27
To God only wise, be glory through Jesus Christ for ever. Amen.

17 August 2014

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 17 August, 2014

kinda brief here.
Dear Wife still not doing well, and I'm having a rough day myself.  Skipped church this morning, which I rarely do, and stayed home with her.  We do have a Command Performance for great-niece's 3-year-old birthday party at the park.  We'll make a brief appearance so that Honor Is Served, and then come back and get horizontal again, I guess.  Not much to say other than that.

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Old Tstament reading is Psalms 107 and 108

1
O give thanks unto the LORD, for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2
Let the redeemed of the LORD say so, whom he hath redeemed from the hand of the enemy;
3
And gathered them out of the lands, from the east, and from the west, from the north, and from the south.
4
They wandered in the wilderness in a solitary way; they found no city to dwell in.
5
Hungry and thirsty, their soul fainted in them.
6
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he delivered them out of their distresses.
7
And he led them forth by the right way, that they might go to a city of habitation.
8
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
9
For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.
10
Such as sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, being bound in affliction and iron;
11
Because they rebelled against the words of God, and contemned the counsel of the most High:
12
Therefore he brought down their heart with labour; they fell down, and there was none to help.
13
Then they cried unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saved them out of their distresses.
14
He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death, and brake their bands in sunder.
15
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
16
For he hath broken the gates of brass, and cut the bars of iron in sunder.
17
Fools because of their transgression, and because of their iniquities, are afflicted.
18
Their soul abhorreth all manner of meat; and they draw near unto the gates of death.
19
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he saveth them out of their distresses.
20
He sent his word, and healed them, and delivered them from their destructions.
21
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
22
And let them sacrifice the sacrifices of thanksgiving, and declare his works with rejoicing.
23
They that go down to the sea in ships, that do business in great waters;
24
These see the works of the LORD, and his wonders in the deep.
25
For he commandeth, and raiseth the stormy wind, which lifteth up the waves thereof.
26
They mount up to the heaven, they go down again to the depths: their soul is melted because of trouble.
27
They reel to and fro, and stagger like a drunken man, and are at their wit's end.
28
Then they cry unto the LORD in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.
29
He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.
30
Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven.
31
Oh that men would praise the LORD for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!
32
Let them exalt him also in the congregation of the people, and praise him in the assembly of the elders.
33
He turneth rivers into a wilderness, and the watersprings into dry ground;
34
A fruitful land into barrenness, for the wickedness of them that dwell therein.
35
He turneth the wilderness into a standing water, and dry ground into watersprings.
36
And there he maketh the hungry to dwell, that they may prepare a city for habitation;
37
And sow the fields, and plant vineyards, which may yield fruits of increase.
38
He blesseth them also, so that they are multiplied greatly; and suffereth not their cattle to decrease.
39
Again, they are minished and brought low through oppression, affliction, and sorrow.
40
He poureth contempt upon princes, and causeth them to wander in the wilderness, where there is no way.
41
Yet setteth he the poor on high from affliction, and maketh him families like a flock.
42
The righteous shall see it, and rejoice: and all iniquity shall stop her mouth.
43
Whoso is wise, and will observe these things, even they shall understand the lovingkindness of the LORD.


1
O god, my heart is fixed; I will sing and give praise, even with my glory.
2
Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.
3
I will praise thee, O LORD, among the people: and I will sing praises unto thee among the nations.
4
For thy mercy is great above the heavens: and thy truth reacheth unto the clouds.
5
Be thou exalted, O God, above the heavens: and thy glory above all the earth;
6
That thy beloved may be delivered: save with thy right hand, and answer me.
7
God hath spoken in his holiness; I will rejoice, I will divide Shechem, and mete out the valley of Succoth.
8
Gilead is mine; Manasseh is mine; Ephraim also is the strength of mine head; Judah is my lawgiver;
9
Moab is my washpot; over Edom will I cast out my shoe; over Philistia will I triumph.
10
Who will bring me into the strong city? who will lead me into Edom?
11
Wilt not thou, O God, who hast cast us off? and wilt not thou, O God, go forth with our hosts?
12
Give us help from trouble: for vain is the help of man.
13
Through God we shall do valiantly: for he it is that shall tread down our enemies.


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The New Testament passage is verses 21-33 from Romans 15


21
But as it is written, To whom he was not spoken of, they shall see: and they that have not heard shall understand.
22
For which cause also I have been much hindered from coming to you.
23
But now having no more place in these parts, and having a great desire these many years to come unto you;
24
Whensoever I take my journey into Spain, I will come to you: for I trust to see you in my journey, and to be brought on my way thitherward by you, if first I be somewhat filled with your company.
25
But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.
26
For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.
27
It hath pleased them verily; and their debtors they are. For if the Gentiles have been made partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister unto them in carnal things.
28
When therefore I have performed this, and have sealed to them this fruit, I will come by you into Spain.
29
And I am sure that, when I come unto you, I shall come in the fulness of the blessing of the gospel of Christ.
30
Now I beseech you, brethren, for the Lord Jesus Christ's sake, and for the love of the Spirit, that ye strive together with me in your prayers to God for me;
31
That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints;
32
That I may come unto you with joy by the will of God, and may with you be refreshed.
33
Now the God of peace be with you all. Amen.