Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 30 August 2017

Mid-week now.

We see and hear more of the storms and disasters in coastal Texas centered on Houston, and now that tropical storm (downgraded from hurricane status) has made landfall in coastal Louisiana, with effects along that Gulf Coast region, with the spun-off tropical depression and storms expected to make it into the Tennessee Valley region in a few days.  Lots of stuff going on. Lots of death and damage, misery and loss.  Stories out of a drowned woman found with her small child, alive, still clinging to her.  Stories of ordinary citizens from around the country, unbidden, uncompensated, unofficial, making their way down, often with their own boats, performing rescues and transport.  Blood bank drives springing up around the country.  Donations being made by private citizens to the disaster agencies, church disaster groups (notably to include Regular Baptist Builders Club,  Baptist Global Response and Mennonite Disaster Service, among many others), Salvation Army, and Red Cross.

I woke with a song in the head that had, I think, been running through an often-sleepless night just past.  Andrae Crouch brought it, sang it at a Billy Graham crusade back around 1975 and it's been a favorite of many.  Through It All is the title.  Like most others, I would far prefer that the Lord would guide me around the storms of life.  Sure I would.  Won't deny it.  But, what has more often happened, and many of us know it, is that He more often guides us through those storms.  And, in many ways, we emerge as changed from what we were before.  We understand that He is stronger than the storm, no matter what it is.  Now, it is still hard to thank Him for the storms He's brought me through, and I won't deny it.  But it's how I'm learning daily to trust Him.  And that's worth something.  No matter how big the storm, He's in the boat with me.  He can be in your boat too.
By the way, look at some of the singers in the video I linked.  Some of them, Andrae himself included, are no longer with us on this world, like Joey Feek in the front row, Jessy Dixon beside Andrae, Ben Speer in the front row, and others.  Some were very ill even at that time, others went suddenly.  Some were in the midst of, or were just coming through some awful situations and trials.  But "through it all" was and is the testimony.

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The Old Testament passage here is Psalms 142, 143, 144.
Now, a good bit of this was NEVER spoken of when I was growing up in one of the "peace" churches.  Particularly verse 12 of Psalm 143 and the early parts of Psalm 144.  Never mentioned even once.
But also note verse 15 of 144.  Yes, it's frequently taken out of context, but it's also powerful in the stand-alone sense.  A nation that worships and obeys the Lord will certainly be a happy one, no matter what circumstances come.  

Psalm 142

1 I cried unto the LORD with my voice; with my voice unto the LORD did I make my supplication. 2 I poured out my complaint before him; I shewed before him my trouble. 3 When my spirit was overwhelmed within me, then thou knewest my path. In the way wherein I walked have they privily laid a snare for me. 4 I looked on my right hand, and beheld, but there was no man that would know me: refuge failed me; no man cared for my soul. 5 I cried unto thee, O LORD: I said, Thou art my refuge and my portion in the land of the living. 6 Attend unto my cry; for I am brought very low: deliver me from my persecutors; for they are stronger than I. 7 Bring my soul out of prison, that I may praise thy name: the righteous shall compass me about; for thou shalt deal bountifully with me.

Psalm 143

1 Hear my prayer, O LORD, give ear to my supplications: in thy faithfulness answer me, and in thy righteousness. 2 And enter not into judgment with thy servant: for in thy sight shall no man living be justified. 3 For the enemy hath persecuted my soul; he hath smitten my life down to the ground; he hath made me to dwell in darkness, as those that have been long dead. 4 Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. 5 I remember the days of old; I meditate on all thy works; I muse on the work of thy hands. 6 I stretch forth my hands unto thee: my soul thirsteth after thee, as a thirsty land. Selah. 7 Hear me speedily, O LORD: my spirit faileth: hide not thy face from me, lest I be like unto them that go down into the pit. 8 Cause me to hear thy lovingkindness in the morning; for in thee do I trust: cause me to know the way wherein I should walk; for I lift up my soul unto thee. 9 Deliver me, O LORD, from mine enemies: I flee unto thee to hide me. 10 Teach me to do thy will; for thou art my God: thy spirit is good; lead me into the land of uprightness. 11 Quicken me, O LORD, for thy name's sake: for thy righteousness' sake bring my soul out of trouble. 12 And of thy mercy cut off mine enemies, and destroy all them that afflict my soul: for I am thy servant.

Psalm 144

1 Blessed be the LORD my strength which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight: 2 My goodness, and my fortress; my high tower, and my deliverer; my shield, and he in whom I trust; who subdueth my people under me. 3 LORD, what is man, that thou takest knowledge of him! or the son of man, that thou makest account of him! 4 Man is like to vanity: his days are as a shadow that passeth away. 5 Bow thy heavens, O LORD, and come down: touch the mountains, and they shall smoke. 6 Cast forth lightning, and scatter them: shoot out thine arrows, and destroy them. 7 Send thine hand from above; rid me, and deliver me out of great waters, from the hand of strange children; 8 Whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood. 9 I will sing a new song unto thee, O God: upon a psaltery and an instrument of ten strings will I sing praises unto thee. 10 It is he that giveth salvation unto kings: who delivereth David his servant from the hurtful sword. 11 Rid me, and deliver me from the hand of strange children, whose mouth speaketh vanity, and their right hand is a right hand of falsehood: 12 That our sons may be as plants grown up in their youth; that our daughters may be as corner stones, polished after the similitude of a palace: 13 That our garners may be full, affording all manner of store: that our sheep may bring forth thousands and ten thousands in our streets: 14 That our oxen may be strong to labour; that there be no breaking in, nor going out; that there be no complaining in our streets. 15 Happy is that people, that is in such a case: yea, happy is that people, whose God is the LORD.

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Our New Testament reading today, verses 10-33 of 1st Corinthians chapter 10.
Verse 31 is a great "life verse".  Yes, WHATEVER we do, do it all for the glory of God.  Not for our own or for the praise of men or whatever.  For Him, and the smallest thing be done as being done directly for him.  He deserves our very best in everything, no matter how small or lowly.  And that attitude percolates through our very being, and shows, and further glorifies Him as people notice there's something different about him or her.  And there is, or should be.  Our faith and our walk, our daily moment-by-moment connection with the Lord should put Him on display.

I Corinthians 10:14-33

 

14 Wherefore, my dearly beloved, flee from idolatry. 15 I speak as to wise men; judge ye what I say. 16 The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not the communion of the blood of Christ? The bread which we break, is it not the communion of the body of Christ? 17 For we being many are one bread, and one body: for we are all partakers of that one bread. 18 Behold Israel after the flesh: are not they which eat of the sacrifices partakers of the altar? 19 What say I then? that the idol is any thing, or that which is offered in sacrifice to idols is any thing? 20 But I say, that the things which the Gentiles sacrifice, they sacrifice to devils, and not to God: and I would not that ye should have fellowship with devils. 21 Ye cannot drink the cup of the Lord, and the cup of devils: ye cannot be partakers of the Lord's table, and of the table of devils. 22 Do we provoke the Lord to jealousy? are we stronger than he? 23 All things are lawful for me, but all things are not expedient: all things are lawful for me, but all things edify not. 24 Let no man seek his own, but every man another's wealth. 25 Whatsoever is sold in the shambles, that eat, asking no question for conscience sake: 26 For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof. 27 If any of them that believe not bid you to a feast, and ye be disposed to go; whatsoever is set before you, eat, asking no question for conscience sake. 28 But if any man say unto you, This is offered in sacrifice unto idols, eat not for his sake that shewed it, and for conscience sake: for the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof: 29 Conscience, I say, not thine own, but of the other: for why is my liberty judged of another man's conscience? 30 For if I by grace be a partaker, why am I evil spoken of for that for which I give thanks? 31 Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 32 Give none offence, neither to the Jews, nor to the Gentiles, nor to the church of God: 33 Even as I please all men in all things, not seeking mine own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.