Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 11 January 2018

First order of business is the song of the day.  Now, this is not one you'll find in a hymnal, probably.  Definitely not "high church" or southern gospel.  OK?  But it was in my mind in that eerie half-awake/half-asleep period in the early morning hours.  And still is.  Yes, that just might set one's thoughts in the right order for the day, or, ideally, longer.
At The Cross is that title. 
Meditate upon that theme for awhile.  Yes, His sacrifice changed us, changed me.

It's 50° or so outside right now.  And .... the gas company is on the street, digging up front yards and all sorts.  They've got about 5 trucks, plus at least one backhoe that I could see.  So, of course, none of us, nobody on the street has gas for heat or hot water or cooking or anything.  I talked to the crew a few minutes ago, not sure if they've found anything yet, but I know they damage done to some front yards and landscaping has upset people up and down the road.  I hope they find and fix the problem today, this has not been fun at all.
And, yes, 50's today.  Tomorrow, depending on which  Tarot cards and Ouija boards that the weathercasters have consulted, we should be getting anywhere from 4 inches to a foot of snow.  Sunday's "high" expected to be in the mid-teens, and maintain that pattern for at least the following week if not longer.  So having some heat would be real nice.  But tomorrow we pick up another minute and 22 seconds of daylight.  We're at 9 hours 26 minutes now, which is not what I want, but it's a lot better than what we had a few weeks ago, and we're picking up speed.
But so would having water, even cold water.  We've been without water for more than a week now.  Brother-in-law was here night before last, the fix didn't last even 2 seconds.  He'd promised to be back yesterday afternoon after work, but we never saw him nor heard a word.  I've got piles of dirty dishes and dirty laundry and have enough water in a bucket to flush the toilet just once.  Not a lot of fun.


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Our passage for the day from the Old Testament is chapters 21 and 22 from the Genesis.

Genesis 21

21:1		And the LORD visited Sarah as he had said, and the LORD did unto Sarah as he had spoken.
21:2		For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.
21:3		And Abraham called the name of his son that was born unto him, whom Sarah bare to him, Isaac.
21:4		And Abraham circumcised his son Isaac being eight days old, as God had commanded him.
21:5		And Abraham was an hundred years old, when his son Isaac was born unto him.
21:6		And Sarah said, God hath made me to laugh, so that all that hear will laugh with me.
21:7		And she said, Who would have said unto Abraham, that Sarah should have given children suck? for I have born him a son in his old age.
21:8		And the child grew, and was weaned: and Abraham made a great feast the same day that Isaac was weaned.
21:9		And Sarah saw the son of Hagar the Egyptian, which she had born unto Abraham, mocking.
21:10		Wherefore she said unto Abraham, Cast out this bondwoman and her son: for the son of this bondwoman shall not be heir with my son, even with Isaac.
21:11		And the thing was very grievous in Abraham's sight because of his son.
21:12		And God said unto Abraham, Let it not be grievous in thy sight because of the lad, and because of thy bondwoman; in all that Sarah hath said unto thee, hearken unto her voice; for in Isaac shall thy seed be called.
21:13		And also of the son of the bondwoman will I make a nation, because he is thy seed.
21:14		And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and took bread, and a bottle of water, and gave it unto Hagar, putting it on her shoulder, and the child, and sent her away: and she departed, and wandered in the wilderness of Beersheba.
21:15		And the water was spent in the bottle, and she cast the child under one of the shrubs.
21:16		And she went, and sat her down over against him a good way off, as it were a bow shot: for she said, Let me not see the death of the child. And she sat over against him, and lift up her voice, and wept.
21:17		And God heard the voice of the lad; and the angel of God called to Hagar out of heaven, and said unto her, What aileth thee, Hagar? fear not; for God hath heard the voice of the lad where he is.
21:18		Arise, lift up the lad, and hold him in thine hand; for I will make him a great nation.
21:19		And God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water; and she went, and filled the bottle with water, and gave the lad drink.
21:20		And God was with the lad; and he grew, and dwelt in the wilderness, and became an archer.
21:21		And he dwelt in the wilderness of Paran: and his mother took him a wife out of the land of Egypt.
21:22		And it came to pass at that time, that Abimelech and Phichol the chief captain of his host spake unto Abraham, saying, God is with thee in all that thou doest:
21:23		Now therefore swear unto me here by God that thou wilt not deal falsely with me, nor with my son, nor with my son's son: but according to the kindness that I have done unto thee, thou shalt do unto me, and to the land wherein thou hast sojourned.
21:24		And Abraham said, I will swear.
21:25		And Abraham reproved Abimelech because of a well of water, which Abimelech's servants had violently taken away.
21:26		And Abimelech said, I wot not who hath done this thing: neither didst thou tell me, neither yet heard I of it, but to day.
21:27		And Abraham took sheep and oxen, and gave them unto Abimelech; and both of them made a covenant.
21:28		And Abraham set seven ewe lambs of the flock by themselves.
21:29		And Abimelech said unto Abraham, What mean these seven ewe lambs which thou hast set by themselves?
21:30		And he said, For these seven ewe lambs shalt thou take of my hand, that they may be a witness unto me, that I have digged this well.
21:31		Wherefore he called that place Beersheba; because there they sware both of them.
21:32		Thus they made a covenant at Beersheba: then Abimelech rose up, and Phichol the chief captain of his host, and they returned into the land of the Philistines.
21:33		And Abraham planted a grove in Beersheba, and called there on the name of the LORD, the everlasting God.
21:34		And Abraham sojourned in the Philistines' land many days.

Genesis 22

22:1		And it came to pass after these things, that God did tempt Abraham, and said unto him, Abraham: and he said, Behold, here I am.
22:2		And he said, Take now thy son, thine only son Isaac, whom thou lovest, and get thee into the land of Moriah; and offer him there for a burnt offering upon one of the mountains which I will tell thee of.
22:3		And Abraham rose up early in the morning, and saddled his ass, and took two of his young men with him, and Isaac his son, and clave the wood for the burnt offering, and rose up, and went unto the place of which God had told him.
22:4		Then on the third day Abraham lifted up his eyes, and saw the place afar off.
22:5		And Abraham said unto his young men, Abide ye here with the ass; and I and the lad will go yonder and worship, and come again to you.
22:6		And Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering, and laid it upon Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife; and they went both of them together.
22:7		And Isaac spake unto Abraham his father, and said, My father: and he said, Here am I, my son. And he said, Behold the fire and the wood: but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?
22:8		And Abraham said, My son, God will provide himself a lamb for a burnt offering: so they went both of them together.
22:9		And they came to the place which God had told him of; and Abraham built an altar there, and laid the wood in order, and bound Isaac his son, and laid him on the altar upon the wood.
22:10		And Abraham stretched forth his hand, and took the knife to slay his son.
22:11		And the angel of the LORD called unto him out of heaven, and said, Abraham, Abraham: and he said, Here am I.
22:12		And he said, Lay not thine hand upon the lad, neither do thou any thing unto him: for now I know that thou fearest God, seeing thou hast not withheld thy son, thine only son from me.
22:13		And Abraham lifted up his eyes, and looked, and behold behind him a ram caught in a thicket by his horns: and Abraham went and took the ram, and offered him up for a burnt offering in the stead of his son.
22:14		And Abraham called the name of that place Jehovahjireh: as it is said to this day, In the mount of the LORD it shall be seen.
22:15		And the angel of the LORD called unto Abraham out of heaven the second time,
22:16		And said, By myself have I sworn, saith the LORD, for because thou hast done this thing, and hast not withheld thy son, thine only son:
22:17		That in blessing I will bless thee, and in multiplying I will multiply thy seed as the stars of the heaven, and as the sand which is upon the sea shore; and thy seed shall possess the gate of his enemies;
22:18		And in thy seed shall all the nations of the earth be blessed; because thou hast obeyed my voice.
22:19		So Abraham returned unto his young men, and they rose up and went together to Beersheba; and Abraham dwelt at Beersheba.
22:20		And it came to pass after these things, that it was told Abraham, saying, Behold, Milcah, she hath also born children unto thy brother Nahor;
22:21		Huz his firstborn, and Buz his brother, and Kemuel the father of Aram,
22:22		And Chesed, and Hazo, and Pildash, and Jidlaph, and Bethuel.
22:23		And Bethuel begat Rebekah: these eight Milcah did bear to Nahor, Abraham's brother.
22:24		And his concubine, whose name was Reumah, she bare also Tebah, and Gaham, and Thahash, and Maachah.

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Our reading today in the Poetry section is Psalm 9

Psalm 9

9:1		I will praise thee, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will shew forth all thy marvellous works.
9:2		I will be glad and rejoice in thee: I will sing praise to thy name, O thou most High.
9:3		When mine enemies are turned back, they shall fall and perish at thy presence.
9:4		For thou hast maintained my right and my cause; thou satest in the throne judging right.
9:5		Thou hast rebuked the heathen, thou hast destroyed the wicked, thou hast put out their name for ever and ever.
9:6		O thou enemy, destructions are come to a perpetual end: and thou hast destroyed cities; their memorial is perished with them.
9:7		But the LORD shall endure for ever: he hath prepared his throne for judgment.
9:8		And he shall judge the world in righteousness, he shall minister judgment to the people in uprightness.
9:9		The LORD also will be a refuge for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.
9:10		And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
9:11		Sing praises to the LORD, which dwelleth in Zion: declare among the people his doings.
9:12		When he maketh inquisition for blood, he remembereth them: he forgetteth not the cry of the humble.
9:13		Have mercy upon me, O LORD; consider my trouble which I suffer of them that hate me, thou that liftest me up from the gates of death:
9:14		That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation.
9:15		The heathen are sunk down in the pit that they made: in the net which they hid is their own foot taken.
9:16		The LORD is known by the judgment which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion. Selah.
9:17		The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget God.
9:18		For the needy shall not alway be forgotten: the expectation of the poor shall not perish for ever.
9:19		Arise, O LORD; let not man prevail: let the heathen be judged in thy sight.
9:20		Put them in fear, O LORD: that the nations may know themselves to be but men. Selah.

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Our New Testament reading today is chapter 9 in the Gospel of Matthew

Matthew 9

9:1		And he entered into a ship, and passed over, and came into his own city.
9:2		And, behold, they brought to him a man sick of the palsy, lying on a bed: and Jesus seeing their faith said unto the sick of the palsy; Son, be of good cheer; thy sins be forgiven thee.
9:3		And, behold, certain of the scribes said within themselves, This man blasphemeth.
9:4		And Jesus knowing their thoughts said, Wherefore think ye evil in your hearts?
9:5		For whether is easier, to say, Thy sins be forgiven thee; or to say, Arise, and walk?
9:6		But that ye may know that the Son of man hath power on earth to forgive sins, (then saith he to the sick of the palsy,) Arise, take up thy bed, and go unto thine house.
9:7		And he arose, and departed to his house.
9:8		But when the multitudes saw it, they marvelled, and glorified God, which had given such power unto men.
9:9		And as Jesus passed forth from thence, he saw a man, named Matthew, sitting at the receipt of custom: and he saith unto him, Follow me. And he arose, and followed him.
9:10		And it came to pass, as Jesus sat at meat in the house, behold, many publicans and sinners came and sat down with him and his disciples.
9:11		And when the Pharisees saw it, they said unto his disciples, Why eateth your Master with publicans and sinners?
9:12		But when Jesus heard that, he said unto them, They that be whole need not a physician, but they that are sick.
9:13		But go ye and learn what that meaneth, I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: for I am not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.
9:14		Then came to him the disciples of John, saying, Why do we and the Pharisees fast oft, but thy disciples fast not?
9:15		And Jesus said unto them, Can the children of the bridechamber mourn, as long as the bridegroom is with them? but the days will come, when the bridegroom shall be taken from them, and then shall they fast.
9:16		No man putteth a piece of new cloth unto an old garment, for that which is put in to fill it up taketh from the garment, and the rent is made worse.
9:17		Neither do men put new wine into old bottles: else the bottles break, and the wine runneth out, and the bottles perish: but they put new wine into new bottles, and both are preserved.
9:18		While he spake these things unto them, behold, there came a certain ruler, and worshipped him, saying, My daughter is even now dead: but come and lay thy hand upon her, and she shall live.
9:19		And Jesus arose, and followed him, and so did his disciples.
9:20		And, behold, a woman, which was diseased with an issue of blood twelve years, came behind him, and touched the hem of his garment:
9:21		For she said within herself, If I may but touch his garment, I shall be whole.
9:22		But Jesus turned him about, and when he saw her, he said, Daughter, be of good comfort; thy faith hath made thee whole. And the woman was made whole from that hour.
9:23		And when Jesus came into the ruler's house, and saw the minstrels and the people making a noise,
9:24		He said unto them, Give place: for the maid is not dead, but sleepeth. And they laughed him to scorn.
9:25		But when the people were put forth, he went in, and took her by the hand, and the maid arose.
9:26		And the fame hereof went abroad into all that land.
9:27		And when Jesus departed thence, two blind men followed him, crying, and saying, Thou son of David, have mercy on us.
9:28		And when he was come into the house, the blind men came to him: and Jesus saith unto them, Believe ye that I am able to do this? They said unto him, Yea, Lord.
9:29		Then touched he their eyes, saying, According to your faith be it unto you.
9:30		And their eyes were opened; and Jesus straitly charged them, saying, See that no man know it.
9:31		But they, when they were departed, spread abroad his fame in all that country.
9:32		As they went out, behold, they brought to him a dumb man possessed with a devil.
9:33		And when the devil was cast out, the dumb spake: and the multitudes marvelled, saying, It was never so seen in Israel.
9:34		But the Pharisees said, He casteth out devils through the prince of the devils.
9:35		And Jesus went about all the cities and villages, teaching in their synagogues, and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing every sickness and every disease among the people.
9:36		But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad, as sheep having no shepherd.
9:37		Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;
9:38		Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.