13 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 13 August 2016

Off in a short while to make the 20 mile-one-way trip to attend Great-Niece's birthday party as she turns 5..  No doubt a Great Time will be had by All.  Yeah.  Wife's side goes in big for these things, particularly for the young ones.  Sometimes for the more "mature" ones as well.  This is wife's nephew's daughter.  Then back.  We've had on and off terrible rainstorms for the last several days, had yet another power outage last evening, fortunately short-lived.  More rain forecast for most of the next 10 days as well -- though those same weathercasters also confidently assured us that we'd be in a severe drought this summer.  Rainfall has been  -- up to now -- slightly below average though with the last few days' events that may no longer be the case, and more is predicted for soon.  Those same weathercasters are predicting a brutally cold and nasty winter coming at us.  I hope they're wrong in that as well:  I surely do miss what passed for winter in the Deep South.

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The Old Testament passage is Psalms 96, 97, and 98.  Hymns of praise. 

Psalm 96
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song: sing unto the LORD, all the earth.  
2 Sing unto the LORD, bless his name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. 
3 Declare his glory among the heathen, his wonders among all people.  
4 For the LORD is great, and greatly to be praised: he is to be feared above all gods. 
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols: but the LORD made the heavens.  
6 Honour and majesty are before him: strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.  
7 Give unto the LORD, O ye kindreds of the people, give unto the LORD glory and strength.  
8 Give unto the LORD the glory due unto his name: bring an offering, and come into his courts.  
9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness: fear before him, all the earth.  
10 Say among the heathen that the LORD reigneth: the world also shall be established that it shall not be moved: he shall judge the people righteously.  
11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof. 
12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice  
13 Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Psalm 97
1 The LORD reigneth; let the earth rejoice; let the multitude of isles be glad thereof. 
2 Clouds and darkness are round about him: righteousness and judgment are the habitation of his throne.  
3 A fire goeth before him, and burneth up his enemies round about. 
4 His lightnings enlightened the world: the earth saw, and trembled.  
5 The hills melted like wax at the presence of the LORD, at the presence of the Lord of the whole earth.  
6 The heavens declare his righteousness, and all the people see his glory.  
7 Confounded be all they that serve graven images, that boast themselves of idols: worship him, all ye gods.  
8 Zion heard, and was glad; and the daughters of Judah rejoiced because of thy judgments, O LORD. 
9 For thou, LORD, art high above all the earth: thou art exalted far above all gods. 
10 Ye that love the LORD, hate evil: he preserveth the souls of his saints; he delivereth them out of the hand of the wicked. 
11 Light is sown for the righteous, and gladness for the upright in heart.  
12 Rejoice in the LORD, ye righteous; and give thanks at the remembrance of his holiness.

Psalm 98
1 O sing unto the LORD a new song; for he hath done marvellous things: his right hand, and his holy arm, hath gotten him the victory. 2 The LORD hath made known his salvation: his righteousness hath he openly shewed in the sight of the heathen. 3 He hath remembered his mercy and his truth toward the house of Israel: all the ends of the earth have seen the salvation of our God. 4 Make a joyful noise unto the LORD, all the earth: make a loud noise, and rejoice, and sing praise. 5 Sing unto the LORD with the harp; with the harp, and the voice of a psalm. 6 With trumpets and sound of cornet make a joyful noise before the LORD, the King. 7 Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein. 8 Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together 9 Before the LORD; for he cometh to judge the earth: with righteousness shall he judge the world, and the people with equity.


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The New Testament reading is chapter 12 of Paul's letter to the Romans.
This is Good Stuff.

Romans 12
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service.  
2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.  
3 For I say, through the grace given unto me, to every man that is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think; but to think soberly, according as God hath dealt to every man the measure of faith.  
4 For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not the same office:  
5 So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 
6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of faith; 
7 Or ministry, let us wait on our ministering: or he that teacheth, on teaching; 
8 Or he that exhorteth, on exhortation: he that giveth, let him do it with simplicity; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that sheweth mercy, with cheerfulness.  
9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.  
10 Be kindly affectioned one to another with brotherly love; in honour preferring one another;  
11 Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;  
12 Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;  
13 Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.  
14 Bless them which persecute you: bless, and curse not. 
15 Rejoice with them that do rejoice, and weep with them that weep. 
16 Be of the same mind one toward another. Mind not high things, but condescend to men of low estate. Be not wise in your own conceits.  
17 Recompense to no man evil for evil. Provide things honest in the sight of all men.  
18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.  
19 Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath: for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, saith the Lord.  
20 Therefore if thine enemy hunger, feed him; if he thirst, give him drink: for in so doing thou shalt heap coals of fire on his head.  
21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.

12 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 12 August 2016

I was awakened at 05:45 by several cats who, imagining themselves to be at death's door from starvation, demanded breakfast.  So I crawled out of bed and did it.  Had visions of a few more minutes of snooze, but the alarm went off at 06:00 so Dear Wife could go next door to "watch" the Great=Niece.  She wanted a 10 minute snooze alarm.  Ok.  Then another, at which point one of the beasts decided to use her for a race track, ending thoughts of sleep and improving the disposition not one bit.  So I got up and made her coffee and toast and got a banana for her morning ritual of a banana sandwich on toast.  She was dressed by then (we use a toaster oven for a toaster and it takes a LOT longer than a standard toaster would).  And she dove in.  I "nuked" the remains of yesterday's pot of coffee while setting up the brewer for a new pot.  And then she's off next door.

Been a weird couple of days, the next few will probably be no better.  We shall see.  A lot of things going through my mind right now.

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Our assigned reading in the Old Testament is Psalms 93, 94, and 95.  Psalm 95 is a personal favorite and has been for quite some time.

Psalm 93
1 The LORD reigneth, he is clothed with majesty; the LORD is clothed with strength, wherewith he hath girded himself: the world also is stablished, that it cannot be moved.  
2 Thy throne is established of old: thou art from everlasting.  
3 The floods have lifted up, O LORD, the floods have lifted up their voice; the floods lift up their waves. 
4 The LORD on high is mightier than the noise of many waters, yea, than the mighty waves of the sea.  
5 Thy testimonies are very sure: holiness becometh thine house, O LORD, for ever.

Psalm 94
1 O Lord God, to whom vengeance belongeth; O God, to whom vengeance belongeth, shew thyself. 
2 Lift up thyself, thou judge of the earth: render a reward to the proud. 
3 LORD, how long shall the wicked, how long shall the wicked triumph? 
4 How long shall they utter and speak hard things? and all the workers of iniquity boast themselves? 
5 They break in pieces thy people, O LORD, and afflict thine heritage. 
6 They slay the widow and the stranger, and murder the fatherless.  
7 Yet they say, The LORD shall not see, neither shall the God of Jacob regard it. 
8 Understand, ye brutish among the people: and ye fools, when will ye be wise?  
9 He that planted the ear, shall he not hear? he that formed the eye, shall he not see?  
10 He that chastiseth the heathen, shall not he correct? he that teacheth man knowledge, shall not he know?  
11 The LORD knoweth the thoughts of man, that they are vanity.  
12 Blessed is the man whom thou chastenest, O LORD, and teachest him out of thy law; 
13 That thou mayest give him rest from the days of adversity, until the pit be digged for the wicked. 14 For the LORD will not cast off his people, neither will he forsake his inheritance.  
15 But judgment shall return unto righteousness: and all the upright in heart shall follow it.  
16 Who will rise up for me against the evildoers? or who will stand up for me against the workers of iniquity? 
17 Unless the LORD had been my help, my soul had almost dwelt in silence.  
18 When I said, My foot slippeth; thy mercy, O LORD, held me up.  
19 In the multitude of my thoughts within me thy comforts delight my soul.  
20 Shall the throne of iniquity have fellowship with thee, which frameth mischief by a law? 
21 They gather themselves together against the soul of the righteous, and condemn the innocent blood.  
22 But the LORD is my defence; and my God is the rock of my refuge.  
23 And he shall bring upon them their own iniquity, and shall cut them off in their own wickedness; yea, the LORD our God shall cut them off.

Psalm 95
1 O come, let us sing unto the LORD: let us make a joyful noise to the rock of our salvation. 
2 Let us come before his presence with thanksgiving, and make a joyful noise unto him with psalms. 
3 For the LORD is a great God, and a great King above all gods.  
4 In his hand are the deep places of the earth: the strength of the hills is his also. 
5 The sea is his, and he made it: and his hands formed the dry land.  
6 O come, let us worship and bow down: let us kneel before the LORD our maker. 
7 For he is our God; and we are the people of his pasture, and the sheep of his hand. To day if ye will hear his voice,  
8 Harden not your heart, as in the provocation, and as in the day of temptation in the wilderness: 
9 When your fathers tempted me, proved me, and saw my work.  
10 Forty years long was I grieved with this generation, and said, It is a people that do err in their heart, and they have not known my ways:  
11 Unto whom I sware in my wrath that they should not enter into my rest.



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The passage from the New Testament is verses 22-36 of Romans chapter 11.
 
Romans 11:22-36
 
22 Behold therefore the goodness and severity of God: on them which fell, severity; but toward thee, goodness, if thou continue in his goodness: otherwise thou also shalt be cut off.  
23 And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be graffed in: for God is able to graff them in again.  
24 For if thou wert cut out of the olive tree which is wild by nature, and wert graffed contrary to nature into a good olive tree: how much more shall these, which be the natural branches, be graffed into their own olive tree? 
25 For I would not, brethren, that ye should be ignorant of this mystery, lest ye should be wise in your own conceits; that blindness in part is happened to Israel, until the fulness of the Gentiles be come in. 
26 And so all Israel shall be saved: as it is written, There shall come out of Sion the Deliverer, and shall turn away ungodliness from Jacob: 
27 For this is my covenant unto them, when I shall take away their sins. 
28 As concerning the gospel, they are enemies for your sakes: but as touching the election, they are beloved for the father's sakes.  
29 For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance.  
30 For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief: 
31 Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.  
32 For God hath concluded them all in unbelief, that he might have mercy upon all. 
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! 
34 For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor?  
35 Or who hath first given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? 
36 For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen.

11 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday. 11 August 2016

 A quite day around here.  Didn't have much choice:  contrary to the prognostications of all the "in" weathercasters, who uniformly predicted severe drought for our area this summer, we had a second day of HEAVY thunderstorms and rain.  Didn't really want to go out in that, it was pretty heavy duty.  Fortunately, despite all the VERY near lightning strikes, we didn't lose power.  Yet, anyway: we are told that yet another band of storms should be on top of us Real Soon Now.  Some drought!

The cats don't like the rain storms and thunder, and perhaps -- like Dear Wife's arthritic knees and joints all over -- they are sensitive to the changes in barometric pressure and all the other things that accompany these storms.  So the adult males are off in an astral plane, sleeping.  The kitten snoozes, eats, walks around and gets in the way, then repeats the cycle.  I did some laundry and a whole lot of dishes while Dear Wife zoned  out.  She's up and about now, making a cake or two for one of the great-niece's birthday gatherings set for Saturday.  It will -- supposedly -- look like a Barbie princess with the cake representing the gowns.  Whatever.  I guess it's a "gurrrl" thing.  Whatever.

When my brother was visiting, he told me he's planning to retire in about 2 or 3 years, Lord willing and his diabetes doesn't get worse.  And he's talking about getting a place near to here, which would be nice.  He was married for quite a long time, his wife's second, and the moment the last kid (all of them from first go-around) were out of school and out of the house, she filed papers on him.  And kept the house.  He's been living a few hours from here, FAR from family, although he's made a couple of friends.  How close they are, I don't know, but I think he wants to get closer to here, which would be nice.  I know how he feels.  We shall see. 

And just a down type of day.

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 90, 91, and 92

Psalm 90
1 Lord, thou hast been our dwelling place in all generations. 2 Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever thou hadst formed the earth and the world, even from everlasting to everlasting, thou art God. 3 Thou turnest man to destruction; and sayest, Return, ye children of men. 4 For a thousand years in thy sight are but as yesterday when it is past, and as a watch in the night. 5 Thou carriest them away as with a flood; they are as a sleep: in the morning they are like grass which groweth up. 6 In the morning it flourisheth, and groweth up; in the evening it is cut down, and withereth. 7 For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled. 8 Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. 9 For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. 10 The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labour and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. 11 Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. 12 So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom. 13 Return, O LORD, how long? and let it repent thee concerning thy servants. 14 O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days. 15 Make us glad according to the days wherein thou hast afflicted us, and the years wherein we have seen evil. 16 Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their children. 17 And let the beauty of the LORD our God be upon us: and establish thou the work of our hands upon us; yea, the work of our hands establish thou it.

Psalm 91
1 He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. 2 I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. 3 Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler, and from the noisome pestilence. 4 He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be thy shield and buckler. 5 Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night; nor for the arrow that flieth by day; 6 Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness; nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday. 7 A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand; but it shall not come nigh thee. 8 Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked. 9 Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge, even the most High, thy habitation; 10 There shall no evil befall thee, neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling. 11 For he shall give his angels charge over thee, to keep thee in all thy ways. 12 They shall bear thee up in their hands, lest thou dash thy foot against a stone. 13 Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder: the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet. 14 Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him: I will set him on high, because he hath known my name. 15 He shall call upon me, and I will answer him: I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him, and honour him. 16 With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

Psalm 92
1 IT IS A GOOD THING TO GIVE THANKS UNTO THE LORD, AND TO SING PRAISES UNTO THY NAME, O MOST HIGH: 2 To shew forth thy lovingkindness in the morning, and thy faithfulness every night, 3 Upon an instrument of ten strings, and upon the psaltery; upon the harp with a solemn sound. 4 For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. 5 O LORD, how great are thy works! and thy thoughts are very deep. 6 A brutish man knoweth not; neither doth a fool understand this. 7 When the wicked spring as the grass, and when all the workers of iniquity do flourish; it is that they shall be destroyed for ever: 8 But thou, LORD, art most high for evermore. 9 For, lo, thine enemies, O LORD, for, lo, thine enemies shall perish; all the workers of iniquity shall be scattered. 10 But my horn shalt thou exalt like the horn of an unicorn: I shall be anointed with fresh oil. 11 Mine eye also shall see my desire on mine enemies, and mine ears shall hear my desire of the wicked that rise up against me. 12 The righteous shall flourish like the palm tree: he shall grow like a cedar in Lebanon. 13 Those that be planted in the house of the LORD shall flourish in the courts of our God. 14 They shall still bring forth fruit in old age; they shall be fat and flourishing; 15 To shew that the LORD is upright: he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him.


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The New Testament passage is verses 1-21 from Romans 11.

Romans 11:1-21
 
1 I say then, Hath God cast away his people? God forbid. For I also am an Israelite, of the seed of Abraham, of the tribe of Benjamin.  
2 God hath not cast away his people which he foreknew. Wot ye not what the scripture saith of Elias? how he maketh intercession to God against Israel saying,  
3 Lord, they have killed thy prophets, and digged down thine altars; and I am left alone, and they seek my life.  
4 But what saith the answer of God unto him? I have reserved to myself seven thousand men, who have not bowed the knee to the image of Baal. 
5 Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace. 
6 And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then it is no more grace: otherwise work is no more work. 
7 What then? Israel hath not obtained that which he seeketh for; but the election hath obtained it, and the rest were blinded.  
8 (According as it is written, God hath given them the spirit of slumber, eyes that they should not see, and ears that they should not hear;) unto this day.  
9 And David saith, Let their table be made a snare, and a trap, and a stumblingblock, and a recompence unto them:  
10 Let their eyes be darkened, that they may not see, and bow down their back alway.  
11 I say then, Have they stumbled that they should fall? God forbid: but rather through their fall salvation is come unto the Gentiles, for to provoke them to jealousy. 
12 Now if the fall of them be the riches of the world, and the diminishing of them the riches of the Gentiles; how much more their fulness?  
13 For I speak to you Gentiles, inasmuch as I am the apostle of the Gentiles, I magnify mine office: 14 If by any means I may provoke to emulation them which are my flesh, and might save some of them.  
15 For if the casting away of them be the reconciling of the world, what shall the receiving of them be, but life from the dead?  
16 For if the firstfruit be holy, the lump is also holy: and if the root be holy, so are the branches.  
17 And if some of the branches be broken off, and thou, being a wild olive tree, wert graffed in among them, and with them partakest of the root and fatness of the olive tree;  
18 Boast not against the branches. But if thou boast, thou bearest not the root, but the root thee.  
19 Thou wilt say then, The branches were broken off, that I might be graffed in.  
20 Well; because of unbelief they were broken off, and thou standest by faith. Be not highminded, but fear: 
 21 For if God spared not the natural branches, take heed lest he also spare not thee.

10 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 10 August 2016

Short shrift and hurried.  We have some BIG thunderstorms headed our way, nearly on top of us now, and I fear our power and connectivity may be affected.  Certainly we will be proactive and unplug TV, computers, Wi-Fi routers, cable boxes, etc.  Likely to be a day to catch up on sleep or something, if the crash of thunder and  panicky cats allows it.

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The Old Testament passage is Psalms 88 and 89

Psalm 88
1 O lord God of my salvation, I have cried day and night before thee: 2 Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; 3 For my soul is full of troubles: and my life draweth nigh unto the grave. 4 I am counted with them that go down into the pit: I am as a man that hath no strength: 5 Free among the dead, like the slain that lie in the grave, whom thou rememberest no more: and they are cut off from thy hand. 6 Thou hast laid me in the lowest pit, in darkness, in the deeps. 7 Thy wrath lieth hard upon me, and thou hast afflicted me with all thy waves. Selah. 8 Thou hast put away mine acquaintance far from me; thou hast made me an abomination unto them: I am shut up, and I cannot come forth. 9 Mine eye mourneth by reason of affliction: LORD, I have called daily upon thee, I have stretched out my hands unto thee. 10 Wilt thou shew wonders to the dead? shall the dead arise and praise thee? Selah. 11 Shall thy lovingkindness be declared in the grave? or thy faithfulness in destruction? 12 Shall thy wonders be known in the dark? and thy righteousness in the land of forgetfulness? 13 But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. 14 LORD, why castest thou off my soul? why hidest thou thy face from me? 15 I am afflicted and ready to die from my youth up: while I suffer thy terrors I am distracted. 16 Thy fierce wrath goeth over me; thy terrors have cut me off. 17 They came round about me daily like water; they compassed me about together. 18 Lover and friend hast thou put far from me, and mine acquaintance into darkness.

Psalm 89
1 I will sing of the mercies of the LORD for ever: with my mouth will I make known thy faithfulness to all generations. 2 For I have said, Mercy shall be built up for ever: thy faithfulness shalt thou establish in the very heavens. 3 I have made a covenant with my chosen, I have sworn unto David my servant, 4 Thy seed will I establish for ever, and build up thy throne to all generations. Selah. 5 And the heavens shall praise thy wonders, O LORD: thy faithfulness also in the congregation of the saints. 6 For who in the heaven can be compared unto the LORD? who among the sons of the mighty can be likened unto the LORD? 7 God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of the saints, and to be had in reverence of all them that are about him. 8 O LORD God of hosts, who is a strong LORD like unto thee? or to thy faithfulness round about thee? 9 Thou rulest the raging of the sea: when the waves thereof arise, thou stillest them. 10 Thou hast broken Rahab in pieces, as one that is slain; thou hast scattered thine enemies with thy strong arm. 11 The heavens are thine, the earth also is thine: as for the world and the fulness thereof, thou hast founded them. 12 The north and the south thou hast created them: Tabor and Hermon shall rejoice in thy name. 13 Thou hast a mighty arm: strong is thy hand, and high is thy right hand. 14 Justice and judgment are the habitation of thy throne: mercy and truth shall go before thy face. 15 Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. 16 In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. 17 For thou art the glory of their strength: and in thy favour our horn shall be exalted. 18 For the LORD is our defence; and the Holy One of Israel is our king. 19 Then thou spakest in vision to thy holy one, and saidst, I have laid help upon one that is mighty; I have exalted one chosen out of the people. 20 I have found David my servant; with my holy oil have I anointed him: 21 With whom my hand shall be established: mine arm also shall strengthen him. 22 The enemy shall not exact upon him; nor the son of wickedness afflict him. 23 And I will beat down his foes before his face, and plague them that hate him. 24 But my faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him: and in my name shall his horn be exalted. 25 I will set his hand also in the sea, and his right hand in the rivers. 26 He shall cry unto me, Thou art my father, my God, and the rock of my salvation. 27 Also I will make him my firstborn, higher than the kings of the earth. 28 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, and my covenant shall stand fast with him. 29 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, and his throne as the days of heaven. 30 If his children forsake my law, and walk not in my judgments; 31 If they break my statutes, and keep not my commandments; 32 Then will I visit their transgression with the rod, and their iniquity with stripes. 33 Nevertheless my lovingkindness will I not utterly take from him, nor suffer my faithfulness to fail. 34 My covenant will I not break, nor alter the thing that is gone out of my lips. 35 Once have I sworn by my holiness that I will not lie unto David. 36 His seed shall endure for ever, and his throne as the sun before me. 37 It shall be established for ever as the moon, and as a faithful witness in heaven. Selah. 38 But thou hast cast off and abhorred, thou hast been wroth with thine anointed. 39 Thou hast made void the covenant of thy servant: thou hast profaned his crown by casting it to the ground. 40 Thou hast broken down all his hedges; thou hast brought his strong holds to ruin. 41 All that pass by the way spoil him: he is a reproach to his neighbours. 42 Thou hast set up the right hand of his adversaries; thou hast made all his enemies to rejoice. 43 Thou hast also turned the edge of his sword, and hast not made him to stand in the battle. 44 Thou hast made his glory to cease, and cast his throne down to the ground. 45 The days of his youth hast thou shortened: thou hast covered him with shame. Selah. 46 How long, LORD? wilt thou hide thyself for ever? shall thy wrath burn like fire? 47 Remember how short my time is: wherefore hast thou made all men in vain? 48 What man is he that liveth, and shall not see death? shall he deliver his soul from the hand of the grave? Selah. 49 Lord, where are thy former lovingkindnesses, which thou swarest unto David in thy truth? 50 Remember, Lord, the reproach of thy servants; how I do bear in my bosom the reproach of all the mighty people; 51 Wherewith thine enemies have reproached, O LORD; wherewith they have reproached the footsteps of thine anointed. 52 Blessed be the LORD for evermore. Amen, and Amen.





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The New Testament passage is Romans chapter 10.  Very important, and I just don't have time to comment.  (as I see lightning flashes and the crash of VERY near thunder).

Romans 10
1 Brethren, my heart's desire and prayer to God for Israel is, that they might be saved. 2 For I bear them record that they have a zeal of God, but not according to knowledge. 3 For they being ignorant of God's righteousness, and going about to establish their own righteousness, have not submitted themselves unto the righteousness of God. 4 For Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth. 5 For Moses describeth the righteousness which is of the law, That the man which doeth those things shall live by them. 6 But the righteousness which is of faith speaketh on this wise, Say not in thine heart, Who shall ascend into heaven? (that is, to bring Christ down from above:) 7 Or, Who shall descend into the deep? (that is, to bring up Christ again from the dead.) 8 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach; 9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. 10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. 11 For the scripture saith, Whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed. 12 For there is no difference between the Jew and the Greek: for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon him. 13 For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. 14 How then shall they call on him in whom they have not believed? and how shall they believe in him of whom they have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher? 15 And how shall they preach, except they be sent? as it is written, How beautiful are the feet of them that preach the gospel of peace, and bring glad tidings of good things! 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Esaias saith, Lord, who hath believed our report? 17 So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. 18 But I say, Have they not heard? Yes verily, their sound went into all the earth, and their words unto the ends of the world. 19 But I say, Did not Israel know? First Moses saith, I will provoke you to jealousy by them that are no people, and by a foolish nation I will anger you. 20 But Esaias is very bold, and saith, I was found of them that sought me not; I was made manifest unto them that asked not after me. 21 But to Israel he saith, All day long I have stretched forth my hands unto a disobedient and gainsaying people.

09 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 09 August 2016

Up at (slightly before) 06:00.  Dear Wife to be over next door before 07:00 and three, yes THREE hungry cats clamoring for breakfast.  So she is in shower and such while I'm dressing, feeding cats, making her coffee and toast and such, nuking some leftover coffee for me and starting a new pot, putting out the flag (we fly the American flag here, daily, as do most others on this street (except for the Muslims across the street and several doors down, the ones with a Sudanese slave).  And I help her get dressed, fed, and out the door. In another 90 minutes or so, I'll carry over a second cup of coffee for her.  I had a bowl of instant "lower sugar" oatmeal.  And coffee.  Will have LOTS of that today.

Cats, momentarily sated, are off in some sort of alternate universe.  The place is quiet.  I could learn to like that.  No TV going (Dear Wife likes those terrible crime shows, the Investigation Discovery garbage, with idiot narrators like Lester Holt and Katie Kouric and the rest of that sub-75-IQ bunch.  Justification for plugging in headphones, listening to music, while reading or surfing or playing solitaire on the phone. 

The garden foliage got thinned out a bit last evening.  The zucchini had just about over-run everything, looked like an Amazon rain forest canopy, which did the tomatoes, beans, chard, and peppers no particular good.  We have cucumbers appearing -- FINALLY --- and a whole lot more coming if the explosion of flowers on the vines indicates anything.  She cut some dill flowers too, they're hanging to dry right now.  Many more still in garden.  I guess that means will be canning some dill pickles for winter use.  Sounds good to me!

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The Old Testament reading for today is Psalms 85, 86, and 87

Psalm 85
1 Lord, thou hast been favourable unto thy land: thou hast brought back the captivity of Jacob. 2 Thou hast forgiven the iniquity of thy people, thou hast covered all their sin. Selah. 3 Thou hast taken away all thy wrath: thou hast turned thyself from the fierceness of thine anger. 4 Turn us, O God of our salvation, and cause thine anger toward us to cease. 5 Wilt thou be angry with us for ever? wilt thou draw out thine anger to all generations? 6 Wilt thou not revive us again: that thy people may rejoice in thee? 7 Shew us thy mercy, O LORD, and grant us thy salvation. 8 I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. 9 Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him; that glory may dwell in our land. 10 Mercy and truth are met together; righteousness and peace have kissed each other. 11 Truth shall spring out of the earth; and righteousness shall look down from heaven. 12 Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good; and our land shall yield her increase. 13 Righteousness shall go before him; and shall set us in the way of his steps.

Psalm 86
1 Bow down thine ear, O LORD, hear me: for I am poor and needy. 2 Preserve my soul; for I am holy: O thou my God, save thy servant that trusteth in thee. 3 Be merciful unto me, O Lord: for I cry unto thee daily. 4 Rejoice the soul of thy servant: for unto thee, O Lord, do I lift up my soul. 5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee. 6 Give ear, O LORD, unto my prayer; and attend to the voice of my supplications. 7 In the day of my trouble I will call upon thee: for thou wilt answer me. 8 Among the gods there is none like unto thee, O Lord; neither are there any works like unto thy works. 9 All nations whom thou hast made shall come and worship before thee, O Lord; and shall glorify thy name. 10 For thou art great, and doest wondrous things: thou art God alone. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. 12 I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. 13 For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. 14 O God, the proud are risen against me, and the assemblies of violent men have sought after my soul; and have not set thee before them. 15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth. 16 O turn unto me, and have mercy upon me; give thy strength unto thy servant, and save the son of thine handmaid. 17 Shew me a token for good; that they which hate me may see it, and be ashamed: because thou, LORD, hast holpen me, and comforted me.

Psalm 87
1 His foundation is in the holy mountains. 2 The LORD loveth the gates of Zion more than all the dwellings of Jacob. 3 Glorious things are spoken of thee, O city of God. Selah. 4 I will make mention of Rahab and Babylon to them that know me: behold Philistia, and Tyre, with Ethiopia; this man was born there. 5 And of Zion it shall be said, This and that man was born in her: and the highest himself shall establish her. 6 The LORD shall count, when he writeth up the people, that this man was born there. Selah. 7 As well the singers as the players on instruments shall be there: all my springs are in thee.



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The New Testament reading is chapter 9 of Paul's letter to the Romans.

Romans 9
1 I say the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience also bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost,  
2 That I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart.
3 For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:  
4 Who are Israelites; to whom pertaineth the adoption, and the glory, and the covenants, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises;
5 Whose are the fathers, and of whom as concerning the flesh Christ came, who is over all, God blessed for ever. Amen.  
6 Not as though the word of God hath taken none effect. For they are not all Israel, which are of Israel:
7 Neither, because they are the seed of Abraham, are they all children: but, In Isaac shall thy seed be called.  
8 That is, They which are the children of the flesh, these are not the children of God: but the children of the promise are counted for the seed.
9 For this is the word of promise, At this time will I come, and Sarah shall have a son.
10 And not only this; but when Rebecca also had conceived by one, even by our father Isaac;  
11 (For the children being not yet born, neither having done any good or evil, that the purpose of God according to election might stand, not of works, but of him that calleth;)  
12 It was said unto her, The elder shall serve the younger.  
13 As it is written, Jacob have I loved, but Esau have I hated.  
14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.
15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion.
16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that sheweth mercy.  
17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might shew my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth.
18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth.  
19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will?  
20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?
21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?  
22 What if God, willing to shew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:  
23 And that he might make known the riches of his glory on the vessels of mercy, which he had afore prepared unto glory,  
24 Even us, whom he hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?  
25 As he saith also in Osee, I will call them my people, which were not my people; and her beloved, which was not beloved.  
26 And it shall come to pass, that in the place where it was said unto them, Ye are not my people; there shall they be called the children of the living God.
27 Esaias also crieth concerning Israel, Though the number of the children of Israel be as the sand of the sea, a remnant shall be saved:  
28 For he will finish the work, and cut it short in righteousness: because a short work will the Lord make upon the earth.  
29 And as Esaias said before, Except the Lord of Sabaoth had left us a seed, we had been as Sodoma, and been made like unto Gomorrha.  
30 What shall we say then? That the Gentiles, which followed not after righteousness, have attained to righteousness, even the righteousness which is of faith.  
31 But Israel, which followed after the law of righteousness, hath not attained to the law of righteousness.
 32 Wherefore? Because they sought it not by faith, but as it were by the works of the law. For they stumbled at that stumblingstone;  
33 As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and rock of offence: and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed


08 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 08 August 2016

short shrift and getting late at that.  Dear Wife's been "watching" the Little One next door all day -- niece was supposed to get off work and be home by around 2:30 p.m. but they had some "issues" at work and she didn't get home until late, and then had an errand that she had to run, so quick change of clothes, then she and the Little One headed back out and Dear Wife came home and collapsed.  Little One is 3-1/2+ now, definitely in one of those "stages" of growing up, and mom & dad aren't as firm as they might be.  So she's quite capable of being ornery.  And was.  All day long.  Wore Dear Wife out.
While she was gone, Yours Truly did dishes (by hand), dealt with cats and their issues, tried to do some Bible study and prayer, picked up stuff around the house, did several loads of laundry.  And on that last, our el-cheapo washer that we bought several states back, like around 2002, is showing its age.  The "safety" interlock ensuring that the lid is closed, is malfunctioning,  Usually.  Severity varies, and today was severe.  So every time it was going from normal agitation to drain or spin or whatever, I had to stand over it and hold the switch down with a small screwdriver.  Eats lots of time, can't do ANYTHING else during it, and makes the back ache and helps the mood not one bit.  Got most of the laundry done and put away.  Not exactly the most manly of things a guy might do, but needed to be done, Dear Wife isn't up to it and wasn't home anyway.  Before we were married, nearly 28 years ago, I lived alone and did all of these things myself anyway.  Normally in a laundromat, though up to just before the "I do" moment, I lived in an apartment building, and my apartment was right next to the laundry room (coin operated, but at least I didn't have to haul the stuff to the car and drive to a laundromat as I'd had to do in the teeeny tiny one I lived in before that (for four years).  So not having to stuff coins in is nice.  But the washer ( a Crosley, one of those you find in the low-end "rent to own" joints) is fading, and the switch would cost more than the thing is probably worth.  We Shall see, it's not the worst problem we've faced.  Beats using a washboard like grandma did, or a wringer washer as my mom did when I was small/
Wife is "watching the Little One in the morning, has to be over there before 07:00 so we are heading off to the horizontal Real Soon Now.

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The Old Testament reading is Psalms 82, 83, and 84

Psalm 82
1 God standeth in the congregation of the mighty; he judgeth among the gods.  
2 How long will ye judge unjustly, and accept the persons of the wicked? Selah. 
3 Defend the poor and fatherless: do justice to the afflicted and needy.  
4 Deliver the poor and needy: rid them out of the hand of the wicked.  
5 They know not, neither will they understand; they walk on in darkness: all the foundations of the earth are out of course.  
6 I have said, Ye are gods; and all of you are children of the most High.  
7 But ye shall die like men, and fall like one of the princes.  
8 Arise, O God, judge the earth: for thou shalt inherit all nations.

Psalm 83
1 Keep not thou silence, O God: hold not thy peace, and be not still, O God.  
2 For, lo, thine enemies make a tumult: and they that hate thee have lifted up the head.  
3 They have taken crafty counsel against thy people, and consulted against thy hidden ones.  
4 They have said, Come, and let us cut them off from being a nation; that the name of Israel may be no more in remembrance.  
5 For they have consulted together with one consent: they are confederate against thee:  
6 The tabernacles of Edom, and the Ishmaelites; of Moab, and the Hagarenes;  
7 Gebal, and Ammon, and Amalek; the Philistines with the inhabitants of Tyre;  
8 Assur also is joined with them: they have holpen the children of Lot. Selah. 
9 Do unto them as unto the Midianites; as to Sisera, as to Jabin, at the brook of Kison:  
10 Which perished at Endor: they became as dung for the earth.  
11 Make their nobles like Oreb, and like Zeeb: yea, all their princes as Zebah, and as Zalmunna:  
12 Who said, Let us take to ourselves the houses of God in possession.  
13 O my God, make them like a wheel; as the stubble before the wind.  
14 As the fire burneth a wood, and as the flame setteth the mountains on fire;  
15 So persecute them with thy tempest, and make them afraid with thy storm.  
16 Fill their faces with shame; that they may seek thy name, O LORD.  
17 Let them be confounded and troubled for ever; yea, let them be put to shame, and perish:  
18 That men may know that thou, whose name alone is JEHOVAH, art the most high over all the earth.

Psalm 84
1 How amiable are thy tabernacles, O LORD of hosts!  
2 My soul longeth, yea, even fainteth for the courts of the LORD: my heart and my flesh crieth out for the living God. 
3 Yea, the sparrow hath found an house, and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may lay her young, even thine altars, O LORD of hosts, my King, and my God.  
4 Blessed are they that dwell in thy house: they will be still praising thee. Selah. 
5 Blessed is the man whose strength is in thee; in whose heart are the ways of them.  
6 Who passing through the valley of Baca make it a well; the rain also filleth the pools.  
7 They go from strength to strength, every one of them in Zion appeareth before God. 
8 O LORD God of hosts, hear my prayer: give ear, O God of Jacob. Selah.  
9 Behold, O God our shield, and look upon the face of thine anointed.  
10 For a day in thy courts is better than a thousand. I had rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God, than to dwell in the tents of wickedness.  
11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.  
12 O LORD of hosts, blessed is the man that trusteth in thee.



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The New Testament passage is verses 19-39 from Romans 8

Romans 8:19-39
 
19 For the earnest expectation of the creature waiteth for the manifestation of the sons of God. 
20 For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him who hath subjected the same in hope,  
21 Because the creature itself also shall be delivered from the bondage of corruption into the glorious liberty of the children of God.  
22 For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.  
23 And not only they, but ourselves also, which have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body.  
24 For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?  
25 But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it.  
26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.  
27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.  
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.  
29 For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren.  
30 Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified.  
31 What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?  
32 He that spared not his own Son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things?  
33 Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth.  
34 Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us.  
35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?  
36 As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.  
37 Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.  
38 For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,  
39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.





07 August 2016

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 07 August 2016

been a day, for sure
Wife's not doing too well, which is not that unusual. Has to "watch" the Beloved Great Niece tomorrow.  Niece and husband and the Great Niece were off all weekend on a campout.  Real camping, in a tent, at a state park camp site about 90 minutes from here.  They left out early Friday afternoon, leaving their dog for us to take care of.  I've been taking him from the house, tying him out, bringing him food and water, taking him on long walks (yesterday's was about 1-1/2 - 2 miles), and taking him back in when he starts barking and disturbing all the neighbors.  They're back, so the mutt is their responsibility.
We're crashing real early, ate good and I washed up, and she's ready to collapse.  So am I.

Church services this morning were, well, unusual.  We had a couple visitors, former members I believe, who live a good distance away but were in town due to the death of his brother.  Had a very intense and, I think, useful discussion in the Sunday School time.  I think the Lord is moving something and someones, in that.  Perhaps that includes me.  We shall see.

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The Old Testament passage is Psalms 79, 80, and 81

Psalm 79
1 O god, the heathen are come into thine inheritance; thy holy temple have they defiled; they have laid Jerusalem on heaps. 2 The dead bodies of thy servants have they given to be meat unto the fowls of the heaven, the flesh of thy saints unto the beasts of the earth. 3 Their blood have they shed like water round about Jerusalem; and there was none to bury them. 4 We are become a reproach to our neighbours, a scorn and derision to them that are round about us. 5 How long, LORD? wilt thou be angry for ever? shall thy jealousy burn like fire? 6 Pour out thy wrath upon the heathen that have not known thee, and upon the kingdoms that have not called upon thy name. 7 For they have devoured Jacob, and laid waste his dwelling place. 8 O remember not against us former iniquities: let thy tender mercies speedily prevent us: for we are brought very low. 9 Help us, O God of our salvation, for the glory of thy name: and deliver us, and purge away our sins, for thy name's sake. 10 Wherefore should the heathen say, Where is their God? let him be known among the heathen in our sight by the revenging of the blood of thy servants which is shed. 11 Let the sighing of the prisoner come before thee; according to the greatness of thy power preserve thou those that are appointed to die; 12 And render unto our neighbours sevenfold into their bosom their reproach, wherewith they have reproached thee, O Lord. 13 So we thy people and sheep of thy pasture will give thee thanks for ever: we will shew forth thy praise to all generations.

Psalm 80
1 Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, thou that leadest Joseph like a flock; thou that dwellest between the cherubims, shine forth. 2 Before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh stir up thy strength, and come and save us. 3 Turn us again, O God, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 4 O LORD God of hosts, how long wilt thou be angry against the prayer of thy people? 5 Thou feedest them with the bread of tears; and givest them tears to drink in great measure. 6 Thou makest us a strife unto our neighbours: and our enemies laugh among themselves. 7 Turn us again, O God of hosts, and cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved. 8 Thou hast brought a vine out of Egypt: thou hast cast out the heathen, and planted it. 9 Thou preparedst room before it, and didst cause it to take deep root, and it filled the land. 10 The hills were covered with the shadow of it, and the boughs thereof were like the goodly cedars. 11 She sent out her boughs unto the sea, and her branches unto the river. 12 Why hast thou then broken down her hedges, so that all they which pass by the way do pluck her? 13 The boar out of the wood doth waste it, and the wild beast of the field doth devour it. 14 Return, we beseech thee, O God of hosts: look down from heaven, and behold, and visit this vine; 15 And the vineyard which thy right hand hath planted, and the branch that thou madest strong for thyself. 16 It is burned with fire, it is cut down: they perish at the rebuke of thy countenance. 17 Let thy hand be upon the man of thy right hand, upon the son of man whom thou madest strong for thyself. 18 So will not we go back from thee: quicken us, and we will call upon thy name. 19 Turn us again, O LORD God of hosts, cause thy face to shine; and we shall be saved.

Psalm 81
1 Sing aloud unto God our strength: make a joyful noise unto the God of Jacob. 2 Take a psalm, and bring hither the timbrel, the pleasant harp with the psaltery. 3 Blow up the trumpet in the new moon, in the time appointed, on our solemn feast day. 4 For this was a statute for Israel, and a law of the God of Jacob. 5 This he ordained in Joseph for a testimony, when he went out through the land of Egypt: where I heard a language that I understood not. 6 I removed his shoulder from the burden: his hands were delivered from the pots. 7 Thou calledst in trouble, and I delivered thee; I answered thee in the secret place of thunder: I proved thee at the waters of Meribah. Selah. 8 Hear, O my people, and I will testify unto thee: O Israel, if thou wilt hearken unto me; 9 There shall no strange god be in thee; neither shalt thou worship any strange god. 10 I am the LORD thy God, which brought thee out of the land of Egypt: open thy mouth wide, and I will fill it. 11 But my people would not hearken to my voice; and Israel would none of me. 12 So I gave them up unto their own hearts' lust: and they walked in their own counsels. 13 Oh that my people had hearkened unto me, and Israel had walked in my ways! 14 I should soon have subdued their enemies, and turned my hand against their adversaries. 15 The haters of the LORD should have submitted themselves unto him: but their time should have endured for ever. 16 He should have fed them also with the finest of the wheat: and with honey out of the rock should I have satisfied thee.



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The New Testament reading is verses 1-18 of Romans 8.  Romans is one of my favorite books, and the section we are in today and tomorrow is some of my favorites in Romans.

Romans 8:1-18
1 There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. 3 For what the law could not do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh, and for sin, condemned sin in the flesh: 4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. 5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit. 6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace. 7 Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be. 8 So then they that are in the flesh cannot please God. 9 But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now if any man have not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his. 10 And if Christ be in you, the body is dead because of sin; but the Spirit is life because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of him that raised up Jesus from the dead dwell in you, he that raised up Christ from the dead shall also quicken your mortal bodies by his Spirit that dwelleth in you. 12 Therefore, brethren, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live after the flesh. 13 For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. 14 For as many as are led by the Spirit of God, they are the sons of God. 15 For ye have not received the spirit of bondage again to fear; but ye have received the Spirit of adoption, whereby we cry, Abba, Father. 16 The Spirit itself beareth witness with our spirit, that we are the children of God: 17 And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together. 18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.