Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 1 September 2013

A new day, a new week, a new month.  Blessings on all who stop by.
Still in the midst of all the "stuff" that accompanies a long-distance relocation.  SO MUCH STUFF has accumulated here over the last seven or eight years.  Two daughters lived here, both are gone, both left some gobs of their stuff (and decamped with some stuff of dear wife's, a sore subject from time to time).  Don't want to pitch out the treasures that remind us of other times, but sometimes it's not easy to distinguish junk from treasures.  They often look much alike.  I guess others have gone through this as well.

This morning we complete our annual trek though the Psalms with 148, 149, 150   Tomorrow will -- Lord willing -- see us in the Proverbs for a little while.
Praise the Lord is the theme.  Entirely appropriate on any day, but particularly on a Sunday



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The evening reading is verses 16-34 in 1st Corinthians chapter 11.

I Corinthians 11:16-34

Psalm 148  

1	Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the LORD from the heavens: praise him in the heights.
2	Praise ye him, all his angels: praise ye him, all his hosts.
3	Praise ye him, sun and moon: praise him, all ye stars of light.
4	Praise him, ye heavens of heavens, and ye waters that be above the heavens.
5	Let them praise the name of the LORD: for he commanded, and they were created.
6	He hath also stablished them for ever and ever: he hath made a decree which shall not pass.
7	Praise the LORD from the earth, ye dragons, and all deeps:
8	Fire, and hail; snow, and vapours; stormy wind fulfilling his word:
9	Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars:
10	Beasts, and all cattle; creeping things, and flying fowl:
11	Kings of the earth, and all people; princes, and all judges of the earth:
12	Both young men, and maidens; old men, and children:
13	Let them praise the name of the LORD: for his name alone is excellent; his glory is above the earth and heaven.
14	He also exalteth the horn of his people, the praise of all his saints; even of the children of Israel, a people near unto him. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 149  

1	Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints.
2	Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King.
3	Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp.
4	For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation.
5	Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds.
6	Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand;
7	To execute vengeance upon the heathen, and punishments upon the people;
8	To bind their kings with chains, and their nobles with fetters of iron;
9	To execute upon them the judgment written: this honour have all his saints. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 150  

1	Praise ye the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary: praise him in the firmament of his power.
2	Praise him for his mighty acts: praise him according to his excellent greatness.
3	Praise him with the sound of the trumpet: praise him with the psaltery and harp.
4	Praise him with the timbrel and dance: praise him with stringed instruments and organs.
5	Praise him upon the loud cymbals: praise him upon the high sounding cymbals.
6	Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

16	But if any man seem to be contentious, we have no such custom, neither the churches of God.
17	Now in this that I declare unto you I praise you not, that ye come together not for the better, but for the worse.
18	For first of all, when ye come together in the church, I hear that there be divisions among you; and I partly believe it.
19	For there must be also heresies among you, that they which are approved may be made manifest among you.
20	When ye come together therefore into one place, this is not to eat the Lord's supper.
21	For in eating every one taketh before other his own supper: and one is hungry, and another is drunken.
22	What? have ye not houses to eat and to drink in? or despise ye the church of God, and shame them that have not? What shall I say to you? shall I praise you in this? I praise you not.
23	For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, That the Lord Jesus the same night in which he was betrayed took bread:
24	And when he had given thanks, he brake it, and said, Take, eat: this is my body, which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of me.
25	After the same manner also he took the cup, when he had supped, saying, This cup is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as oft as ye drink it, in remembrance of me.
26	For as often as ye eat this bread, and drink this cup, ye do shew the Lord's death till he come.
27	Wherefore whosoever shall eat this bread, and drink this cup of the Lord, unworthily, shall be guilty of the body and blood of the Lord.
28	But let a man examine himself, and so let him eat of that bread, and drink of that cup.
29	For he that eateth and drinketh unworthily, eateth and drinketh damnation to himself, not discerning the Lord's body.
30	For this cause many are weak and sickly among you, and many sleep.
31	For if we would judge ourselves, we should not be judged.
32	But when we are judged, we are chastened of the Lord, that we should not be condemned with the world.
33	Wherefore, my brethren, when ye come together to eat, tarry one for another.
34	And if any man hunger, let him eat at home; that ye come not together unto condemnation. And the rest will I set in order when I come.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Saturday, 31 August 2013

We are now about to the point in the year that we used to think of as being the end of summer.  And, while the autumnal equinox is still several weeks distant, the transition into September probably still serves as that marker.  Even after having lived in the South for more than 20 years, and the Deep South for seven, I still associate September with that time of year in which we expect to see frost soon.  Don't see much of that here, just a hour or two from the Gulf of Mexico, but the memories of youth remain.  And, since in about a month, we plan -- Lord willing -- to be relocating back North, to that area in which that frost (and snow, brrrr!!) and those cycles of life are very much the expectation, perhaps it's just as well that the mind still runs on those tracks.  Moving from near the Gulf Coast up to near the North Coast (an hour from one of the Great Lakes) is not the pattern most people plan for their retirement years.  But we are going where we believe that the Lord is leading.  We shall see what else He has in store for us.
This has not been the life we planned or expected.  But a long time ago, we committed that we would go where He sends us.  Trying hard to keep that promise, but definitely will need Divine help and guidance.

The Old Testament reading for the morning continues in the Psalms with 145, 146, 147.  We will complete the trek through the Psalms tomorrow.

Psalm 145 

1	I will extol thee, my God, O king; and I will bless thy name for ever and ever.
2	Every day will I bless thee; and I will praise thy name for ever and ever.
3	Great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; and his greatness is unsearchable.
4	One generation shall praise thy works to another, and shall declare thy mighty acts.
5	I will speak of the glorious honour of thy majesty, and of thy wondrous works.
6	And men shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and I will declare thy greatness.
7	They shall abundantly utter the memory of thy great goodness, and shall sing of thy righteousness.
8	The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy.
9	The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10	All thy works shall praise thee, O LORD; and thy saints shall bless thee.
11	They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom, and talk of thy power;
12	To make known to the sons of men his mighty acts, and the glorious majesty of his kingdom.
13	Thy kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and thy dominion endureth throughout all generations.
14	The LORD upholdeth all that fall, and raiseth up all those that be bowed down.
15	The eyes of all wait upon thee; and thou givest them their meat in due season.
16	Thou openest thine hand, and satisfiest the desire of every living thing.
17	The LORD is righteous in all his ways, and holy in all his works.
18	The LORD is nigh unto all them that call upon him, to all that call upon him in truth.
19	He will fulfil the desire of them that fear him: he also will hear their cry, and will save them.
20	The LORD preserveth all them that love him: but all the wicked will he destroy.
21	My mouth shall speak the praise of the LORD: and let all flesh bless his holy name for ever and ever.

Psalm 146  

1	Praise ye the LORD. Praise the LORD, O my soul.
2	While I live will I praise the LORD: I will sing praises unto my God while I have any being.
3	Put not your trust in princes, nor in the son of man, in whom there is no help.
4	His breath goeth forth, he returneth to his earth; in that very day his thoughts perish.
5	Happy is he that hath the God of Jacob for his help, whose hope is in the LORD his God:
6	Which made heaven, and earth, the sea, and all that therein is: which keepeth truth for ever:
7	Which executeth judgment for the oppressed: which giveth food to the hungry. The LORD looseth the prisoners:
8	The LORD openeth the eyes of the blind: the LORD raiseth them that are bowed down: the LORD loveth the righteous:
9	The LORD preserveth the strangers; he relieveth the fatherless and widow: but the way of the wicked he turneth upside down.
10	The LORD shall reign for ever, even thy God, O Zion, unto all generations. Praise ye the LORD.

Psalm 147  

1	Praise ye the LORD: for it is good to sing praises unto our God; for it is pleasant; and praise is comely.
2	The LORD doth build up Jerusalem: he gathereth together the outcasts of Israel.
3	He healeth the broken in heart, and bindeth up their wounds.
4	He telleth the number of the stars; he calleth them all by their names.
5	Great is our Lord, and of great power: his understanding is infinite.
6	The LORD lifteth up the meek: he casteth the wicked down to the ground.
7	Sing unto the LORD with thanksgiving; sing praise upon the harp unto our God:
8	Who covereth the heaven with clouds, who prepareth rain for the earth, who maketh grass to grow upon the mountains.
9	He giveth to the beast his food, and to the young ravens which cry.
10	He delighteth not in the strength of the horse: he taketh not pleasure in the legs of a man.
11	The LORD taketh pleasure in them that fear him, in those that hope in his mercy.
12	Praise the LORD, O Jerusalem; praise thy God, O Zion.
13	For he hath strengthened the bars of thy gates; he hath blessed thy children within thee.
14	He maketh peace in thy borders, and filleth thee with the finest of the wheat.
15	He sendeth forth his commandment upon earth: his word runneth very swiftly.
16	He giveth snow like wool: he scattereth the hoarfrost like ashes.
17	He casteth forth his ice like morsels: who can stand before his cold?
18	He sendeth out his word, and melteth them: he causeth his wind to blow, and the waters flow.
19	He sheweth his word unto Jacob, his statutes and his judgments unto Israel.
20	He hath not dealt so with any nation: and as for his judgments, they have not known them. Praise ye the LORD.

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The New Testament reading is verses 1-15 of the 11th chapter in 1st Corinthians.

I Corinthians 11:1-15  

1	Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.
2	Now I praise you, brethren, that ye remember me in all things, and keep the ordinances, as I delivered them to you.
3	But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.
4	Every man praying or prophesying, having his head covered, dishonoureth his head.
5	But every woman that prayeth or prophesieth with her head uncovered dishonoureth her head: for that is even all one as if she were shaven.
6	For if the woman be not covered, let her also be shorn: but if it be a shame for a woman to be shorn or shaven, let her be covered.
7	For a man indeed ought not to cover his head, forasmuch as he is the image and glory of God: but the woman is the glory of the man.
8	For the man is not of the woman: but the woman of the man.
9	Neither was the man created for the woman; but the woman for the man.
10	For this cause ought the woman to have power on her head because of the angels.
11	Nevertheless neither is the man without the woman, neither the woman without the man, in the Lord.
12	For as the woman is of the man, even so is the man also by the woman; but all things of God.
13	Judge in yourselves: is it comely that a woman pray unto God uncovered?
14	Doth not even nature itself teach you, that, if a man have long hair, it is a shame unto him?
15	But if a woman have long hair, it is a glory to her: for her hair is given her for a covering.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Friday, 30 August 2013

I trust the day finds everyone well and in good spirits.  For many of you, this will be the work day before the start of the three-day Labor Day Holiday weekend.  I wish you well of it.  When I was a school kid, lo many moons ago and far from here, it was the weekend before the start of the school year.  School traditionally began the day after Labor Day, so it was quite an Event for us.  There was a big county fair held that weekend, in fact that practice continues even today with the Canfield Fair.  We're a l-o-n-g way off,and won't make it this year, and even when I was a kid, money was generally tight and we often could not go,.  A piece of Americana nonetheless.
But we are getting into the box packing phase of this relocation.  Still doing some paperwork stuff for retirement and such, we were e-mailing stuff off just yesterday afternoon still.  Be glad when it's accomplished and we can settle in and live like people.

The morning reading is Psalms 142, 143, 144.
Psalm 144 is a difficult one for me.  I was raised in a traditional "peace" church, the Mennonite church, which is opposed to war and violence including self-defence under any and all circumstances.  "non-resistance" was the watchword, and there is certainly Scripture that seems to support this view.  But then there are passages such as this.  Makes it difficult, for me at least.  It is not hard to see and decry the very evident evils of war and violence around the world and through all of human history.  It is not A Good Thing.  You will never hear me glorify war.  But passages such as this cause reflection, and that is perhaps a good thing in itself.

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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The evening passage is verses 14-33 in  chapter 10 of 1st Corinthians.

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.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 29 August 2013

Dear Wife is doing a little better this morning.  She pretty much slept all day yesterday, the weekly chemotherapy dose added to the need to go see the SSDI doctor nearly did her in.  But today is another day.  Just had the UPS deliver a part for our busted dishwasher, so we'll get that installed in just a bit, and I can get away from hand washing everything.  Not a big deal, I lived as a bachelor for more than 10 years before marriage and had no dishwasher, and the first 9 years of our marriage it was all done by hand.  We've dealt with worse, but one does get spoiled.

The morning's reading is Psalms 139, 140, 141.  Psalm 139 is a personal favorite, just so much wonderful there.  And true.  Very true.  I have reason to know.

Psalm 139 

1	O lord, thou hast searched me, and known me.
2	Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off.
3	Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways.
4	For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.
5	Thou hast beset me behind and before, and laid thine hand upon me.
6	Such knowledge is too wonderful for me; it is high, I cannot attain unto it.
7	Whither shall I go from thy spirit? or whither shall I flee from thy presence?
8	If I ascend up into heaven, thou art there: if I make my bed in hell, behold, thou art there.
9	If I take the wings of the morning, and dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea;
10	Even there shall thy hand lead me, and thy right hand shall hold me.
11	If I say, Surely the darkness shall cover me; even the night shall be light about me.
12	Yea, the darkness hideth not from thee; but the night shineth as the day: the darkness and the light are both alike to thee.
13	For thou hast possessed my reins: thou hast covered me in my mother's womb.
14	I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made: marvellous are thy works; and that my soul knoweth right well.
15	My substance was not hid from thee, when I was made in secret, and curiously wrought in the lowest parts of the earth.
16	Thine eyes did see my substance, yet being unperfect; and in thy book all my members were written, which in continuance were fashioned, when as yet there was none of them.
17	How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them!
18	If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.
19	Surely thou wilt slay the wicked, O God: depart from me therefore, ye bloody men.
20	For they speak against thee wickedly, and thine enemies take thy name in vain.
21	Do not I hate them, O LORD, that hate thee? and am not I grieved with those that rise up against thee?
22	I hate them with perfect hatred: I count them mine enemies.
23	Search me, O God, and know my heart: try me, and know my thoughts:
24	And see if there be any wicked way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

Psalm 140 

1	Deliver me, O LORD, from the evil man: preserve me from the violent man;
2	Which imagine mischiefs in their heart; continually are they gathered together for war.
3	They have sharpened their tongues like a serpent; adders' poison is under their lips. Selah.
4	Keep me, O LORD, from the hands of the wicked; preserve me from the violent man; who have purposed to overthrow my goings.
5	The proud have hid a snare for me, and cords; they have spread a net by the wayside; they have set gins for me. Selah.
6	I said unto the LORD, Thou art my God: hear the voice of my supplications, O LORD.
7	O GOD the Lord, the strength of my salvation, thou hast covered my head in the day of battle.
8	Grant not, O LORD, the desires of the wicked: further not his wicked device; lest they exalt themselves. Selah.
9	As for the head of those that compass me about, let the mischief of their own lips cover them.
10	Let burning coals fall upon them: let them be cast into the fire; into deep pits, that they rise not up again.
11	Let not an evil speaker be established in the earth: evil shall hunt the violent man to overthrow him.
12	I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and the right of the poor.
13	Surely the righteous shall give thanks unto thy name: the upright shall dwell in thy presence.

Psalm 141

1	Lord, I cry unto thee: make haste unto me; give ear unto my voice, when I cry unto thee.
2	Let my prayer be set forth before thee as incense; and the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.
3	Set a watch, O LORD, before my mouth; keep the door of my lips.
4	Incline not my heart to any evil thing, to practise wicked works with men that work iniquity: and let me not eat of their dainties.
5	Let the righteous smite me; it shall be a kindness: and let him reprove me; it shall be an excellent oil, which shall not break my head: for yet my prayer also shall be in their calamities.
6	When their judges are overthrown in stony places, they shall hear my words; for they are sweet.
7	Our bones are scattered at the grave's mouth, as when one cutteth and cleaveth wood upon the earth.
8	But mine eyes are unto thee, O GOD the Lord: in thee is my trust; leave not my soul destitute.
9	Keep me from the snares which they have laid for me, and the gins of the workers of iniquity.
10	Let the wicked fall into their own nets, whilst that I withal escape.

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The evening reading is verses 1-13 of 1st Corinthians chapter 10.

I Corinthians 10:1-13

1	Moreover, brethren, I would not that ye should be ignorant, how that all our fathers were under the cloud, and all passed through the sea;
2	And were all baptized unto Moses in the cloud and in the sea;
3	And did all eat the same spiritual meat;
4	And did all drink the same spiritual drink: for they drank of that spiritual Rock that followed them: and that Rock was Christ.
5	But with many of them God was not well pleased: for they were overthrown in the wilderness.
6	Now these things were our examples, to the intent we should not lust after evil things, as they also lusted.
7	Neither be ye idolaters, as were some of them; as it is written, The people sat down to eat and drink, and rose up to play.
8	Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.
9	Neither let us tempt Christ, as some of them also tempted, and were destroyed of serpents.
10	Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
11	Now all these things happened unto them for ensamples: and they are written for our admonition, upon whom the ends of the world are come.
12	Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.
13	There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Wednesday, 28 August 2013

mid-week and this still feels strange to me.  Dear Wife is having a rough time, in part from the side-effects of the medications, one being a chemotherapy drug  methotrexate.  If you've ever known someone on chemo, you know that the couple days after dose are pretty rough.  They are, believe me.  We had to be at the doctor for the disability application process yesterday and I thought I'd have to carry her and didn't think I could.  She could walk, leaning on me, and we got through it.  Not sure why it's become such and ordeal, this SSDI process:  she's legally blind, can barely walk half the time, is on, now, eighteen (18) meds that have to be taken regularly, and can't do a whole lot.  I'd think she qualifies. 
Ah, well.

This is brief as I'm stressed, just a bit.

This morning, Psalms 136, 137, 138

Psalm 136 

1	O give thanks unto the LORD; for he is good: for his mercy endureth for ever.
2	O give thanks unto the God of gods: for his mercy endureth for ever.
3	O give thanks to the Lord of lords: for his mercy endureth for ever.
4	To him who alone doeth great wonders: for his mercy endureth for ever.
5	To him that by wisdom made the heavens: for his mercy endureth for ever.
6	To him that stretched out the earth above the waters: for his mercy endureth for ever.
7	To him that made great lights: for his mercy endureth for ever:
8	The sun to rule by day: for his mercy endureth for ever:
9	The moon and stars to rule by night: for his mercy endureth for ever.
10	To him that smote Egypt in their firstborn: for his mercy endureth for ever:
11	And brought out Israel from among them: for his mercy endureth for ever:
12	With a strong hand, and with a stretched out arm: for his mercy endureth for ever.
13	To him which divided the Red sea into parts: for his mercy endureth for ever:
14	And made Israel to pass through the midst of it: for his mercy endureth for ever:
15	But overthrew Pharaoh and his host in the Red sea: for his mercy endureth for ever.
16	To him which led his people through the wilderness: for his mercy endureth for ever.
17	To him which smote great kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
18	And slew famous kings: for his mercy endureth for ever:
19	Sihon king of the Amorites: for his mercy endureth for ever:
20	And Og the king of Bashan: for his mercy endureth for ever:
21	And gave their land for an heritage: for his mercy endureth for ever:
22	Even an heritage unto Israel his servant: for his mercy endureth for ever.
23	Who remembered us in our low estate: for his mercy endureth for ever:
24	And hath redeemed us from our enemies: for his mercy endureth for ever.
25	Who giveth food to all flesh: for his mercy endureth for ever.
26	O give thanks unto the God of heaven: for his mercy endureth for ever.

Psalm 137  

1	By the rivers of Babylon, there we sat down, yea, we wept, when we remembered Zion.
2	We hanged our harps upon the willows in the midst thereof.
3	For there they that carried us away captive required of us a song; and they that wasted us required of us mirth, saying, Sing us one of the songs of Zion.
4	How shall we sing the LORD's song in a strange land?
5	If I forget thee, O Jerusalem, let my right hand forget her cunning.
6	If I do not remember thee, let my tongue cleave to the roof of my mouth; if I prefer not Jerusalem above my chief joy.
7	Remember, O LORD, the children of Edom in the day of Jerusalem; who said, Rase it, rase it, even to the foundation thereof.
8	O daughter of Babylon, who art to be destroyed; happy shall he be, that rewardeth thee as thou hast served us.
9	Happy shall he be, that taketh and dasheth thy little ones against the stones.

Psalm 138 

1	I will praise thee with my whole heart: before the gods will I sing praise unto thee.
2	I will worship toward thy holy temple, and praise thy name for thy lovingkindness and for thy truth: for thou hast magnified thy word above all thy name.
3	In the day when I cried thou answeredst me, and strengthenedst me with strength in my soul.
4	All the kings of the earth shall praise thee, O LORD, when they hear the words of thy mouth.
5	Yea, they shall sing in the ways of the LORD: for great is the glory of the LORD.
6	Though the LORD be high, yet hath he respect unto the lowly: but the proud he knoweth afar off.
7	Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.
8	The LORD will perfect that which concerneth me: thy mercy, O LORD, endureth for ever: forsake not the works of thine own hands.

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This evening, chapter 9 of 1st Corinthians

I Corinthians 9  

1	Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord?
2	If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.
3	Mine answer to them that do examine me is this,
4	Have we not power to eat and to drink?
5	Have we not power to lead about a sister, a wife, as well as other apostles, and as the brethren of the Lord, and Cephas?
6	Or I only and Barnabas, have not we power to forbear working?
7	Who goeth a warfare any time at his own charges? who planteth a vineyard, and eateth not of the fruit thereof? or who feedeth a flock, and eateth not of the milk of the flock?
8	Say I these things as a man? or saith not the law the same also?
9	For it is written in the law of Moses, Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox that treadeth out the corn. Doth God take care for oxen?
10	Or saith he it altogether for our sakes? For our sakes, no doubt, this is written: that he that ploweth should plow in hope; and that he that thresheth in hope should be partaker of his hope.
11	If we have sown unto you spiritual things, is it a great thing if we shall reap your carnal things?
12	If others be partakers of this power over you, are not we rather? Nevertheless we have not used this power; but suffer all things, lest we should hinder the gospel of Christ.
13	Do ye not know that they which minister about holy things live of the things of the temple? and they which wait at the altar are partakers with the altar?
14	Even so hath the Lord ordained that they which preach the gospel should live of the gospel.
15	But I have used none of these things: neither have I written these things, that it should be so done unto me: for it were better for me to die, than that any man should make my glorying void.
16	For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
17	For if I do this thing willingly, I have a reward: but if against my will, a dispensation of the gospel is committed unto me.
18	What is my reward then? Verily that, when I preach the gospel, I may make the gospel of Christ without charge, that I abuse not my power in the gospel.
19	For though I be free from all men, yet have I made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the more.
20	And unto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the Jews; to them that are under the law, as under the law, that I might gain them that are under the law;
21	To them that are without law, as without law, (being not without law to God, but under the law to Christ,) that I might gain them that are without law.
22	To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
23	And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you.
24	Know ye not that they which run in a race run all, but one receiveth the prize? So run, that ye may obtain.
25	And every man that striveth for the mastery is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a corruptible crown; but we an incorruptible.
26	I therefore so run, not as uncertainly; so fight I, not as one that beateth the air:
27	But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection: lest that by any means, when I have preached to others, I myself should be a castaway.