Today's Readings and Stuff -- Thursday, 09 April 2015

rain all day.  All day long.  We evidently have some sort of moisture buildup in our bedroom closet, the clothes smell musty, which is not A Good Thing at all.  Not at all.  And not sure just what I can really DO about it -- it's going to rain for at least another week, as is common in these parts this time of year.  At least I don't have to shovel rain.  Problem is, if I pull the clothes out and wash them and everything, where do I put them afterwards?  Now, in truth, most of those clothes belong to Dear Wife.  And most of them haven't been worn in over a year.  Like many who grew up very poor, she tends to over-do things like the shoes and clothes, stuff she didn't have when a kid though those around her did, and didn't let her forget it either.  Result is that we have a whole bunch in there and nowhere good to store them until I can figure the cause and address it (if possible).  Just another day.

I have doctor appointment First Thing in the Morning.  May be the last one in a long time:  our medical coverage is being messed with (like so many others, due to the abomination of Obamacare) and I may be dropped by first of May.  I refilled two of my meds today, hope to get the third filled next weekend.  Will try to get doc to re-authorize the maximum number of refills he can so at the very least I can get the meds self paid.  Since two of mine are in the WalMart $4 group, that may help.  Dear Wife's meds are another matter and I don't know what we will do.

============================
=====================================================

The Old Testament reading is chapters 1, 2, and 3 of 1st Samuel.  We are turning another corner here.  One of the phrases seen throughout the book of the Judges went along the line of "in those days there was no king in Israel, every man did what was right in his own eyes".  Which generally translated into "bad stuff going on".  That's about to change.  The king part.  Not immediately, but Samuel will be there when the king part changes and will be part of that.

I Samuel 1

1	Now there was a certain man of Ramathaimzophim, of mount Ephraim, and his name was Elkanah, the son of Jeroham, the son of Elihu, the son of Tohu, the son of Zuph, an Ephrathite:
2	And he had two wives; the name of the one was Hannah, and the name of the other Peninnah: and Peninnah had children, but Hannah had no children.
3	And this man went up out of his city yearly to worship and to sacrifice unto the LORD of hosts in Shiloh. And the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, the priests of the LORD, were there.
4	And when the time was that Elkanah offered, he gave to Peninnah his wife, and to all her sons and her daughters, portions:
5	But unto Hannah he gave a worthy portion; for he loved Hannah: but the LORD had shut up her womb.
6	And her adversary also provoked her sore, for to make her fret, because the LORD had shut up her womb.
7	And as he did so year by year, when she went up to the house of the LORD, so she provoked her; therefore she wept, and did not eat.
8	Then said Elkanah her husband to her, Hannah, why weepest thou? and why eatest thou not? and why is thy heart grieved? am not I better to thee than ten sons?
9	So Hannah rose up after they had eaten in Shiloh, and after they had drunk. Now Eli the priest sat upon a seat by a post of the temple of the LORD.
10	And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the LORD, and wept sore.
11	And she vowed a vow, and said, O LORD of hosts, if thou wilt indeed look on the affliction of thine handmaid, and remember me, and not forget thine handmaid, but wilt give unto thine handmaid a man child, then I will give him unto the LORD all the days of his life, and there shall no razor come upon his head.
12	And it came to pass, as she continued praying before the LORD, that Eli marked her mouth.
13	Now Hannah, she spake in her heart; only her lips moved, but her voice was not heard: therefore Eli thought she had been drunken.
14	And Eli said unto her, How long wilt thou be drunken? put away thy wine from thee.
15	And Hannah answered and said, No, my lord, I am a woman of a sorrowful spirit: I have drunk neither wine nor strong drink, but have poured out my soul before the LORD.
16	Count not thine handmaid for a daughter of Belial: for out of the abundance of my complaint and grief have I spoken hitherto.
17	Then Eli answered and said, Go in peace: and the God of Israel grant thee thy petition that thou hast asked of him.
18	And she said, Let thine handmaid find grace in thy sight. So the woman went her way, and did eat, and her countenance was no more sad.
19	And they rose up in the morning early, and worshipped before the LORD, and returned, and came to their house to Ramah: and Elkanah knew Hannah his wife; and the LORD remembered her.
20	Wherefore it came to pass, when the time was come about after Hannah had conceived, that she bare a son, and called his name Samuel, saying, Because I have asked him of the LORD.
21	And the man Elkanah, and all his house, went up to offer unto the LORD the yearly sacrifice, and his vow.
22	But Hannah went not up; for she said unto her husband, I will not go up until the child be weaned, and then I will bring him, that he may appear before the LORD, and there abide for ever.
23	And Elkanah her husband said unto her, Do what seemeth thee good; tarry until thou have weaned him; only the LORD establish his word. So the woman abode, and gave her son suck until she weaned him.
24	And when she had weaned him, she took him up with her, with three bullocks, and one ephah of flour, and a bottle of wine, and brought him unto the house of the LORD in Shiloh: and the child was young.
25	And they slew a bullock, and brought the child to Eli.
26	And she said, Oh my lord, as thy soul liveth, my lord, I am the woman that stood by thee here, praying unto the LORD.
27	For this child I prayed; and the LORD hath given me my petition which I asked of him:
28	Therefore also I have lent him to the LORD; as long as he liveth he shall be lent to the LORD. And he worshipped the LORD there.

I Samuel 2

1	And Hannah prayed, and said, My heart rejoiceth in the LORD, mine horn is exalted in the LORD: my mouth is enlarged over mine enemies; because I rejoice in thy salvation.
2	There is none holy as the LORD: for there is none beside thee: neither is there any rock like our God.
3	Talk no more so exceeding proudly; let not arrogancy come out of your mouth: for the LORD is a God of knowledge, and by him actions are weighed.
4	The bows of the mighty men are broken, and they that stumbled are girded with strength.
5	They that were full have hired out themselves for bread; and they that were hungry ceased: so that the barren hath born seven; and she that hath many children is waxed feeble.
6	The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up.
7	The LORD maketh poor, and maketh rich: he bringeth low, and lifteth up.
8	He raiseth up the poor out of the dust, and lifteth up the beggar from the dunghill, to set them among princes, and to make them inherit the throne of glory: for the pillars of the earth are the LORD's, and he hath set the world upon them.
9	He will keep the feet of his saints, and the wicked shall be silent in darkness; for by strength shall no man prevail.
10	The adversaries of the LORD shall be broken to pieces; out of heaven shall he thunder upon them: the LORD shall judge the ends of the earth; and he shall give strength unto his king, and exalt the horn of his anointed.
11	And Elkanah went to Ramah to his house. And the child did minister unto the LORD before Eli the priest.
12	Now the sons of Eli were sons of Belial; they knew not the LORD.
13	And the priest's custom with the people was, that, when any man offered sacrifice, the priest's servant came, while the flesh was in seething, with a fleshhook of three teeth in his hand;
14	And he struck it into the pan, or kettle, or caldron, or pot; all that the fleshhook brought up the priest took for himself. So they did in Shiloh unto all the Israelites that came thither.
15	Also before they burnt the fat, the priest's servant came, and said to the man that sacrificed, Give flesh to roast for the priest; for he will not have sodden flesh of thee, but raw.
16	And if any man said unto him, Let them not fail to burn the fat presently, and then take as much as thy soul desireth; then he would answer him, Nay; but thou shalt give it me now: and if not, I will take it by force.
17	Wherefore the sin of the young men was very great before the LORD: for men abhorred the offering of the LORD.
18	But Samuel ministered before the LORD, being a child, girded with a linen ephod.
19	Moreover his mother made him a little coat, and brought it to him from year to year, when she came up with her husband to offer the yearly sacrifice.
20	And Eli blessed Elkanah and his wife, and said, The LORD give thee seed of this woman for the loan which is lent to the LORD. And they went unto their own home.
21	And the LORD visited Hannah, so that she conceived, and bare three sons and two daughters. And the child Samuel grew before the LORD.
22	Now Eli was very old, and heard all that his sons did unto all Israel; and how they lay with the women that assembled at the door of the tabernacle of the congregation.
23	And he said unto them, Why do ye such things? for I hear of your evil dealings by all this people.
24	Nay, my sons; for it is no good report that I hear: ye make the LORD's people to transgress.
25	If one man sin against another, the judge shall judge him: but if a man sin against the LORD, who shall entreat for him? Notwithstanding they hearkened not unto the voice of their father, because the LORD would slay them.
26	And the child Samuel grew on, and was in favor both with the LORD, and also with men.
27	And there came a man of God unto Eli, and said unto him, Thus saith the LORD, Did I plainly appear unto the house of thy father, when they were in Egypt in Pharaoh's house?
28	And did I choose him out of all the tribes of Israel to be my priest, to offer upon mine altar, to burn incense, to wear an ephod before me? and did I give unto the house of thy father all the offerings made by fire of the children of Israel?
29	Wherefore kick ye at my sacrifice and at mine offering, which I have commanded in my habitation; and honorest thy sons above me, to make yourselves fat with the chiefest of all the offerings of Israel my people?
30	Wherefore the LORD God of Israel saith, I said indeed that thy house, and the house of thy father, should walk before me for ever: but now the LORD saith, Be it far from me; for them that honor me I will honor, and they that despise me shall be lightly esteemed.
31	Behold, the days come, that I will cut off thine arm, and the arm of thy father's house, that there shall not be an old man in thine house.
32	And thou shalt see an enemy in my habitation, in all the wealth which God shall give Israel: and there shall not be an old man in thine house for ever.
33	And the man of thine, whom I shall not cut off from mine altar, shall be to consume thine eyes, and to grieve thine heart: and all the increase of thine house shall die in the flower of their age.
34	And this shall be a sign unto thee, that shall come upon thy two sons, on Hophni and Phinehas; in one day they shall die both of them.
35	And I will raise me up a faithful priest, that shall do according to that which is in mine heart and in my mind: and I will build him a sure house; and he shall walk before mine anointed for ever.
36	And it shall come to pass, that every one that is left in thine house shall come and crouch to him for a piece of silver and a morsel of bread, and shall say, Put me, I pray thee, into one of the priests' offices, that I may eat a piece of bread.

I Samuel 3

1	And the child Samuel ministered unto the LORD before Eli. And the word of the LORD was precious in those days; there was no open vision.
2	And it came to pass at that time, when Eli was laid down in his place, and his eyes began to wax dim, that he could not see;
3	And ere the lamp of God went out in the temple of the LORD, where the ark of God was, and Samuel was laid down to sleep;
4	That the LORD called Samuel: and he answered, Here am I.
5	And he ran unto Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou calledst me. And he said, I called not; lie down again. And he went and lay down.
6	And the LORD called yet again, Samuel. And Samuel arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And he answered, I called not, my son; lie down again.
7	Now Samuel did not yet know the LORD, neither was the word of the LORD yet revealed unto him.
8	And the LORD called Samuel again the third time. And he arose and went to Eli, and said, Here am I; for thou didst call me. And Eli perceived that the LORD had called the child.
9	Therefore Eli said unto Samuel, Go, lie down: and it shall be, if he call thee, that thou shalt say, Speak, LORD; for thy servant heareth. So Samuel went and lay down in his place.
10	And the LORD came, and stood, and called as at other times, Samuel, Samuel. Then Samuel answered, Speak; for thy servant heareth.
11	And the LORD said to Samuel, Behold, I will do a thing in Israel, at which both the ears of every one that heareth it shall tingle.
12	In that day I will perform against Eli all things which I have spoken concerning his house: when I begin, I will also make an end.
13	For I have told him that I will judge his house for ever for the iniquity which he knoweth; because his sons made themselves vile, and he restrained them not.
14	And therefore I have sworn unto the house of Eli, that the iniquity of Eli's house shall not be purged with sacrifice nor offering for ever.
15	And Samuel lay until the morning, and opened the doors of the house of the LORD. And Samuel feared to show Eli the vision.
16	Then Eli called Samuel, and said, Samuel, my son. And he answered, Here am I.
17	And he said, What is the thing that the LORD hath said unto thee? I pray thee hide it not from me: God do so to thee, and more also, if thou hide any thing from me of all the things that he said unto thee.
18	And Samuel told him every whit, and hid nothing from him. And he said, It is the LORD: let him do what seemeth him good.
19	And Samuel grew, and the LORD was with him, and did let none of his words fall to the ground.
20	And all Israel from Dan even to Beersheba knew that Samuel was established to be a prophet of the LORD.
21	And the LORD appeared again in Shiloh: for the LORD revealed himself to Samuel in Shiloh by the word of the LORD.

==================================
=============================================

The New Testament reading is verses 1-34 of the 12th chapter in the Gospel of Luke.

Luke 12:1-34 

1	In the mean time, when there were gathered together an innumerable multitude of people, insomuch that they trode one upon another, he began to say unto his disciples first of all, Beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy.
2	For there is nothing covered, that shall not be revealed; neither hid, that shall not be known.
3	Therefore whatsoever ye have spoken in darkness shall be heard in the light; and that which ye have spoken in the ear in closets shall be proclaimed upon the housetops.
4	And I say unto you my friends, Be not afraid of them that kill the body, and after that have no more that they can do.
5	But I will forewarn you whom ye shall fear: Fear him, which after he hath killed hath power to cast into hell; yea, I say unto you, Fear him.
6	Are not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is forgotten before God?
7	But even the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: ye are of more value than many sparrows.
8	Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
9	But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God.
10	And whosoever shall speak a word against the Son of man, it shall be forgiven him: but unto him that blasphemeth against the Holy Ghost it shall not be forgiven.
11	And when they bring you unto the synagogues, and unto magistrates, and powers, take ye no thought how or what thing ye shall answer, or what ye shall say:
12	For the Holy Ghost shall teach you in the same hour what ye ought to say.
13	And one of the company said unto him, Master, speak to my brother, that he divide the inheritance with me.
14	And he said unto him, Man, who made me a judge or a divider over you?
15	And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.
16	And he spake a parable unto them, saying, The ground of a certain rich man brought forth plentifully:
17	And he thought within himself, saying, What shall I do, because I have no room where to bestow my fruits?
18	And he said, This will I do: I will pull down my barns, and build greater; and there will I bestow all my fruits and my goods.
19	And I will say to my soul, Soul, thou hast much goods laid up for many years; take thine ease, eat, drink, and be merry.
20	But God said unto him, Thou fool, this night thy soul shall be required of thee: then whose shall those things be, which thou hast provided?
21	So is he that layeth up treasure for himself, and is not rich toward God.
22	And he said unto his disciples, Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat; neither for the body, what ye shall put on.
23	The life is more than meat, and the body is more than raiment.
24	Consider the ravens: for they neither sow nor reap; which neither have storehouse nor barn; and God feedeth them: how much more are ye better than the fowls?
25	And which of you with taking thought can add to his stature one cubit?
26	If ye then be not able to do that thing which is least, why take ye thought for the rest?
27	Consider the lilies how they grow: they toil not, they spin not; and yet I say unto you, that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.
28	If then God so clothe the grass, which is to day in the field, and to morrow is cast into the oven; how much more will he clothe you, O ye of little faith?
29	And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.
30	For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.
31	But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.
32	Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom.
33	Sell that ye have, and give alms; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not, where no thief approacheth, neither moth corrupteth.
34	For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.