Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 18 May 2018

Quiet.  Wife is somewhat better, but just told me "my lungs hurt", which is not the most comforting thing to be saying given the few ups and many downs we've been through for the last few weeks months years.  Not feeling that good myself.  I have planned to attend a city-wide gathering later today, but that is very much up in the air at this moment.
The next-door niece and husband still trying to figure out what to do next.  He lost his job about a week ago, they fired him and his manager as well.  That has left niece as the only one with a job.  She has only been working two days a week, particularly since shortly before the baby, now 11 months old, was born.  Having been fired, drawing unemployment is not going to happen.  So they're trying to figure out what happens next.   A very tough time for them.
We've been through some tough stuff ourselves.  Very tough.
But I had to run an errand for Wife just before lunch.  Found myself driving past some empty closed down businesses, a row of abandoned train trestles that carried rail traffic to/from now closed and abandoned factories, abandoned houses, all the rest.  I know, as well as any human does, how quickly one's life can seemingly fall apart, how the things upon which we relied, suddenly aren't there.
And I know how bitter a person can become, how angry/sad/ despairing.  I didn't follow the path into alcohol or drugs, but know quite a few who went that route.  Buried a few, in fact.
We tend to remember, and to fixate, upon those disasters.  We rehearse them in our minds, we too often fall into the trap of making those losses the centerpiece of our attention.
I know.
But I also know, also as well as any human does, of the other side of that.  How unexpected blessings can suddenly appear.  How chance encounters prove to have been the Lord at work behind the scenes.  How the good things that we didn't deserve can obliterate the bad ones, and how quickly it can happen.
I also know that we, and that means I, tend to spend far more time and attention on the bad things, than we do on the good.  The good ones we come to regard as being just our due, and the bad ones not.  That's wrong, and I am very guilty.

Our attitude, day by day and hour by hour, matters.

• Give thanks in all things.
• Pray without ceasing

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2nd Samuel 5

1  Then came all the tribes of Israel to David unto Hebron, and spake, saying, Behold, we are thy bone and thy flesh.

2  Also in time past, when Saul was king over us, thou wast he that leddest out and broughtest in Israel: and the Lord said to thee, Thou shalt feed my people Israel, and thou shalt be a captain over Israel.

3  So all the elders of Israel came to the king to Hebron; and king David made a league with them in Hebron before the Lord: and they anointed David king over Israel.

4  David was thirty years old when he began to reign, and he reigned forty years.

5  In Hebron he reigned over Judah seven years and six months: and in Jerusalem he reigned thirty and three years over all Israel and Judah.

6  And the king and his men went to Jerusalem unto the Jebusites, the inhabitants of the land: which spake unto David, saying, Except thou take away the blind and the lame, thou shalt not come in hither: thinking, David cannot come in hither.

7  Nevertheless David took the strong hold of Zion: the same is the city of David.

8  And David said on that day, Whosoever getteth up to the gutter, and smiteth the Jebusites, and the lame and the blind, that are hated of David's soul, he shall be chief and captain. Wherefore they said, The blind and the lame shall not come into the house.

9  So David dwelt in the fort, and called it the city of David. And David built round about from Millo and inward.

10  And David went on, and grew great, and the Lord God of hosts was with him.

11  And Hiram king of Tyre sent messengers to David, and cedar trees, and carpenters, and masons: and they built David an house.masons: Heb. hewers of the stone of the wall

12  And David perceived that the Lord had established him king over Israel, and that he had exalted his kingdom for his people Israel's sake.

13  And David took him more concubines and wives out of Jerusalem, after he was come from Hebron: and there were yet sons and daughters born to David.

14  And these be the names of those that were born unto him in Jerusalem; Shammua, and Shobab, and Nathan, and Solomon,

15  Ibhar also, and Elishua, and Nepheg, and Japhia,

16  And Elishama, and Eliada, and Eliphelet.

17  But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold.

18  The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

19  And David enquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

20  And David came to Baal–perazim, and David smote them there, and said, The Lord hath broken forth upon mine enemies before me, as the breach of waters. Therefore he called the name of that place Baal–perazim.

21  And there they left their images, and David and his men burned them.

22  And the Philistines came up yet again, and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim.

23And when David enquired of the Lord, he said, Thou shalt not go up; but fetch a compass behind them, and come upon them over against the mulberry trees.

24  And let it be, when thou hearest the sound of a going in the tops of the mulberry trees, that then thou shalt bestir thyself: for then shall the Lord go out before thee, to smite the host of the Philistines.

25  And David did so, as the Lord had commanded him; and smote the Philistines from Geba until thou come to Gezer.

2nd Samuel 6

1  Again, David gathered together all the chosen men of Israel, thirty thousand.

2  And David arose, and went with all the people that were with him from Baale of Judah, to bring up from thence the ark of God, whose name is called by the name of the Lord of hosts that dwelleth between the cherubims.

3  And they set the ark of God upon a new cart, and brought it out of the house of Abinadab that was in Gibeah: and Uzza and Ahio, the sons of Abinadab, drave the new cart.

4  And they brought it out of the house of Abinadab which was at Gibeah, accompanying the ark of God: and Ahio went before the ark.

5  And David and all the house of Israel played before the Lord on all manner of instruments made of fir wood, even on harps, and on psalteries, and on timbrels, and on cornets, and on cymbals.

6  And when they came to Nachon's threshingfloor, Uzza put forth his hand to the ark of God, and took hold of it; for the oxen shook it.

7  And the anger of the Lord was kindled against Uzza; and God smote him there for his error; and there he died by the ark of God.

8  And David was displeased, because the Lord had made a breach upon Uzza: and he called the name of the place Perez–uzzah to this day.

9  And David was afraid of the Lord that day, and said, How shall the ark of the Lord come to me?

10  So David would not remove the ark of the Lord unto him into the city of David: but David carried it aside into the house of Obed–edom the Gittite.

11  And the ark of the Lord continued in the house of Obed–edom the Gittite three months: and the Lord blessed Obed–edom, and all his household.

12  And it was told king David, saying, The Lord hath blessed the house of Obed–edom, and all that pertaineth unto him, because of the ark of God. So David went and brought up the ark of God from the house of Obed–edom into the city of David with gladness.

13  And it was so, that when they that bare the ark of the Lord had gone six paces, he sacrificed oxen and fatlings.

14  And David danced before the Lord with all his might; and David was girded with a linen ephod.

15  So David and all the house of Israel brought up the ark of the Lord with shouting, and with the sound of the trumpet.

16  And as the ark of the Lord came into the city of David, Michal Saul's daughter looked through a window, and saw king David leaping and dancing before the Lord; and she despised him in her heart.

17  And they brought in the ark of the Lord, and set it in his place, in the midst of the tabernacle that David had pitched for it: and David offered burnt offerings and peace offerings before the Lord.

18  And as soon as David had made an end of offering burnt offerings and peace offerings, he blessed the people in the name of the Lord of hosts.

19  And he dealt among all the people, even among the whole multitude of Israel, as well to the women as men, to every one a cake of bread, and a good piece of flesh, and a flagon of wine. So all the people departed every one to his house.

20  Then David returned to bless his household. And Michal the daughter of Saul came out to meet David, and said, How glorious was the king of Israel to day, who uncovered himself to day in the eyes of the handmaids of his servants, as one of the vain fellows shamelessly uncovereth himself!

21  And David said unto Michal, It was before the Lord, which chose me before thy father, and before all his house, to appoint me ruler over the people of the Lord, over Israel: therefore will I play before the Lord.

22  And I will yet be more vile than thus, and will be base in mine own sight: and of the maidservants which thou hast spoken of, of them shall I be had in honour.

23  Therefore Michal the daughter of Saul had no child unto the day of her death.

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Today, Psalm 100.  Good one to memorize.

Psalm 100

A Psalm of praise.

 

1  Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands.

2  Serve the Lord with gladness: come before his presence with singing.

3  Know ye that the Lord he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.

4  Enter into his gates with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise: be thankful unto him, and bless his name.

5  For the Lord is good; his mercy is everlasting; and his truth endureth to all generations.

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Acts 11

1  And the apostles and brethren that were in Judaea heard that the Gentiles had also received the word of God.

2  And when Peter was come up to Jerusalem, they that were of the circumcision contended with him,

3  Saying, Thou wentest in to men uncircumcised, and didst eat with them.

4  But Peter rehearsed the matter from the beginning, and expounded it by order unto them, saying,

5  I was in the city of Joppa praying: and in a trance I saw a vision, A certain vessel descend, as it had been a great sheet, let down from heaven by four corners; and it came even to me:

6  Upon the which when I had fastened mine eyes, I considered, and saw fourfooted beasts of the earth, and wild beasts, and creeping things, and fowls of the air.

7  And I heard a voice saying unto me, Arise, Peter; slay and eat.

8  But I said, Not so, Lord: for nothing common or unclean hath at any time entered into my mouth.

9  But the voice answered me again from heaven, What God hath cleansed, that call not thou common.

10  And this was done three times: and all were drawn up again into heaven.

11  And, behold, immediately there were three men already come unto the house where I was, sent from Caesarea unto me.

12  And the Spirit bade me go with them, nothing doubting. Moreover these six brethren accompanied me, and we entered into the man's house:

13  And he shewed us how he had seen an angel in his house, which stood and said unto him, Send men to Joppa, and call for Simon, whose surname is Peter;

14  Who shall tell thee words, whereby thou and all thy house shall be saved.

15  And as I began to speak, the Holy Ghost fell on them, as on us at the beginning.

16  Then remembered I the word of the Lord, how that he said, John indeed baptized with water; but ye shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost.

17  Forasmuch then as God gave them the like gift as he did unto us, who believed on the Lord Jesus Christ; what was I, that I could withstand God?

18  When they heard these things, they held their peace, and glorified God, saying, Then hath God also to the Gentiles granted repentance unto life.

19  Now they which were scattered abroad upon the persecution that arose about Stephen travelled as far as Phoenicia, and Cyprus, and Antioch, preaching the word to none but unto the Jews only.

20  And some of them were men of Cyprus and Cyrene, which, when they were come to Antioch, spake unto the Greeks, preaching the Lord Jesus.

21  And the hand of the Lord was with them: and a great number believed, and turned unto the Lord.

22  Then tidings of these things came unto the ears of the church which was in Jerusalem: and they sent forth Barnabas, that he should go as far as Antioch.

23  Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.

24  For he was a good man, and full of the Holy Ghost and of faith: and much people was added unto the Lord.

25  Then departed Barnabas to Tarsus, for to seek Saul:

26  And when he had found him, he brought him unto Antioch. And it came to pass, that a whole year they assembled themselves with the church, and taught much people. And the disciples were called Christians first in Antioch.

27  And in these days came prophets from Jerusalem unto Antioch.

28  And there stood up one of them named Agabus, and signified by the Spirit that there should be great dearth throughout all the world: which came to pass in the days of Claudius Caesar.

29  Then the disciples, every man according to his ability, determined to send relief unto the brethren which dwelt in Judaea:

30  Which also they did, and sent it to the elders by the hands of Barnabas and Saul.