Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 24 July 2017

And now the "regular" week begins.  And this is the next-to-last Monday in July, so we are counting down the few days of the months with short names.  I know that it shouldn't bother me, but it does.  I look at the calendar and realize that in 16 weeks or so, it will be winter. 😝 Brrrrr!!! ☃ I  hate even the thought of it.  It's not like I never went through it before.  The other day, people were reminding me of an earlier time, the horrid winter, blizzards, bitter cold, and horrendous snowfall seen in this area way back in 1978, and asking who remembered it.  I did and do.  I was working an unusual job that had me on the local roads all night long.  Friend had a side business plowing snow in parking lots and drives for apartment complexes, small businesses, and the private drives of those who owned some of those operations.  He had me driving the plow while he was off at his "regular" job, having been up all night himself.  Neither of us got much sleep that winter (did his marriage no particular good either), and the memories of that are anything but good.  I was 40 years younger then, than I am now.  I didn't like it then and certainly wouldn't like it any better now.  NOT looking forward to it.  Yes, we're in the middle of Summer, and still have a week of July and a month of August before us.  But I know what's coming.  Why can't it be May all year long?

I was down yesterday.  Not violently ill, but not well either.  Wife is also down.  She's suffering a UTI, and it's probably strep in actuality.  Doc wrote a prescription for an antibiotic suited for that,, and it is having some good effect, but she still feels awful so no real downtime for me.  So we pretty much stayed quiet.  I missed church services, something that very rarely happens, but no help for it.  Perhaps the week to come will be better.
Her niece next door had a baby about 4 weeks ago now, and is talking about going back to work soon.  Not this week, and probably not the week thereafter, but the week after that, almost certainly.  They need the money, which I can understand, so Wife will be called into service as the Designated Sitter.  Meaning I'll be helping out I guess.  The Great-Niece turns 5 in a few months, so I guess that this coming year, meaning not next month but the month after, she'll be in kindergarten.  Like me, she'll miss the age cut-off for some stuff, so she'll turn 6 while still in kindergarten.  So Wife will be taking care of not one, but two Little Ones.  Should be fun.

Now, tomorrow she has doctor appointment with the gastroenterologist in the city just west of us, about 16 miles each way or so, I guess.  And Wednesday, she has an appointment with the endocrinologist (when I tell people that she has a "complex condition" it's not an exaggeration), which is about 25 miles each way.  A whole lot of driving in an old car which has a problem somewhere in the cooling system.  Somewhere.  So we'll be praying the whole time back and forth and while at the doctor offices as well.  And, with luck (PLEASE, Lord!) the "orphan drug" that the pharmacy had to have shipped in, will be there tomorrow so I can pick it up and get her back on it.  She's out and has been out for about two weeks now, and it makes a great difference in her health.
Part of our life.
But we're not complaining.  When Wife was born, many of the drugs and treatments that keep her alive had not yet been developed or proliferated.  And even had they been, her family could not have afforded them.  I guess the Lord has a purpose for keeping us around.

The "song of the day" is suggested by one of our Old Testament texts, Psalm 42.
As The Deer is a personal favorite.

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Our Old Testament readings are Psalms 41, 42 and 43.  VERY fond of 42, and not just because of the tie to our "song of the day".

Psalm 41

1 Blessed is he that considereth the poor: the LORD will deliver him in time of trouble. 2 The LORD will preserve him, and keep him alive; and he shall be blessed upon the earth: and thou wilt not deliver him unto the will of his enemies. 3 The LORD will strengthen him upon the bed of languishing: thou wilt make all his bed in his sickness. 4 I said, LORD, be merciful unto me: heal my soul; for I have sinned against thee. 5 Mine enemies speak evil of me, When shall he die, and his name perish? 6 And if he come to see me, he speaketh vanity: his heart gathereth iniquity to itself; when he goeth abroad, he telleth it. 7 All that hate me whisper together against me: against me do they devise my hurt. 8 An evil disease, say they, cleaveth fast unto him: and now that he lieth he shall rise up no more. 9 Yea, mine own familiar friend, in whom I trusted, which did eat of my bread, hath lifted up his heel against me. 10 But thou, O LORD, be merciful unto me, and raise me up, that I may requite them. 11 By this I know that thou favourest me, because mine enemy doth not triumph over me. 12 And as for me, thou upholdest me in mine integrity, and settest me before thy face for ever. 13 Blessed be the LORD God of Israel from everlasting, and to everlasting. Amen, and Amen.

Psalm 42

1 As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God. 2 My soul thirsteth for God, for the living God: when shall I come and appear before God? 3 My tears have been my meat day and night, while they continually say unto me, Where is thy God? 4 When I remember these things, I pour out my soul in me: for I had gone with the multitude, I went with them to the house of God, with the voice of joy and praise, with a multitude that kept holyday. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted in me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him for the help of his countenance. 6 O my God, my soul is cast down within me: therefore will I remember thee from the land of Jordan, and of the Hermonites, from the hill Mizar. 7 Deep calleth unto deep at the noise of thy waterspouts: all thy waves and thy billows are gone over me. 8 Yet the LORD will command his lovingkindness in the day time, and in the night his song shall be with me, and my prayer unto the God of my life. 9 I will say unto God my rock, Why hast thou forgotten me? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 10 As with a sword in my bones, mine enemies reproach me; while they say daily unto me, Where is thy God? 11 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope thou in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

Psalm 43

1 Judge me, O God, and plead my cause against an ungodly nation: O deliver me from the deceitful and unjust man. 2 For thou art the God of my strength: why dost thou cast me off? why go I mourning because of the oppression of the enemy? 3 O send out thy light and thy truth: let them lead me; let them bring me unto thy holy hill, and to thy tabernacles. 4 Then will I go unto the altar of God, unto God my exceeding joy: yea, upon the harp will I praise thee, O God my God. 5 Why art thou cast down, O my soul? and why art thou disquieted within me? hope in God: for I shall yet praise him, who is the health of my countenance, and my God.

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Our reading in the New Testament is chapter 24 in the Acts of the Apostles.
Things are pretty tense and the Gospel message is stirring up a lot of controversy.  But the controversy is enabling the preaching of that Gospel message into places that could not have been imagined a short while before.

Acts 24

1 And after five days Ananias the high priest descended with the elders, and with a certain orator named Tertullus, who informed the governor against Paul. 2 And when he was called forth, Tertullus began to accuse him, saying, Seeing that by thee we enjoy great quietness, and that very worthy deeds are done unto this nation by thy providence, 3 We accept it always, and in all places, most noble Felix, with all thankfulness. 4 Notwithstanding, that I be not further tedious unto thee, I pray thee that thou wouldest hear us of thy clemency a few words. 5 For we have found this man a pestilent fellow, and a mover of sedition among all the Jews throughout the world, and a ringleader of the sect of the Nazarenes: 6 Who also hath gone about to profane the temple: whom we took, and would have judged according to our law. 7 But the chief captain Lysias came upon us, and with great violence took him away out of our hands, 8 Commanding his accusers to come unto thee: by examining of whom thyself mayest take knowledge of all these things, whereof we accuse him. 9 And the Jews also assented, saying that these things were so. 10 Then Paul, after that the governor had beckoned unto him to speak, answered, Forasmuch as I know that thou hast been of many years a judge unto this nation, I do the more cheerfully answer for myself: 11 Because that thou mayest understand, that there are yet but twelve days since I went up to Jerusalem for to worship. 12 And they neither found me in the temple disputing with any man, neither raising up the people, neither in the synagogues, nor in the city: 13 Neither can they prove the things whereof they now accuse me. 14 But this I confess unto thee, that after the way which they call heresy, so worship I the God of my fathers, believing all things which are written in the law and in the prophets: 15 And have hope toward God, which they themselves also allow, that there shall be a resurrection of the dead, both of the just and unjust. 16 And herein do I exercise myself, to have always a conscience void to offence toward God, and toward men. 17 Now after many years I came to bring alms to my nation, and offerings. 18 Whereupon certain Jews from Asia found me purified in the temple, neither with multitude, nor with tumult. 19 Who ought to have been here before thee, and object, if they had ought against me. 20 Or else let these same here say, if they have found any evil doing in me, while I stood before the council, 21 Except it be for this one voice, that I cried standing among them, Touching the resurrection of the dead I am called in question by you this day. 22 And when Felix heard these things, having more perfect knowledge of that way, he deferred them, and said, When Lysias the chief captain shall come down, I will know the uttermost of your matter. 23 And he commanded a centurion to keep Paul, and to let him have liberty, and that he should forbid none of his acquaintance to minister or come unto him. 24 And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drusilla, which was a Jewess, he sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. 25 And as he reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee. 26 He hoped also that money should have been given him of Paul, that he might loose him: wherefore he sent for him the oftener, and communed with him. 27 But after two years Porcius Festus came into Felix' room: and Felix, willing to shew the Jews a pleasure, left Paul bound.