Today's Readings and Stuff - Tuesday, 18 July 2017

Today was the day for Dear Wife's oral surgery.  We left the house before 09:30 and just got back.  She's recuperating in the recliner, I'm at the desk.  She's on a diet of soup and smoothies, etc. for at least three days.  So I made some soup for her (from a can, OK?) and she had one of those yogurt smoothie things, and is trying to recuperate from the painkillers, etc.  (It's after 2 p.m. and I haven't eaten at all since last night, but I've always been one of "those" who doesn't get hungry until well into the second or third day. Used to drive my mom nuts).  I'll make sandwich or something in a few minutes.
The procedure went well, she wasn't in their more than half an hour. This guy is GOOD!  Fortunately, the antibiotics had worked well and he didn't see any remaining signs of infection, so that's a good thing.  And, also real good, our co-pay on this is about $300 LESS than what would have been the case had our dentist done it!  I don't understand that, but am grateful for it.

Tomorrow around noon, we have to set out on another trek to the lower edge of the county just south of us, so she can make the appointment with the rheumatologist.  Hopefully, he will OK the refills on several prescriptions she is out of.  And then, Friday morning, we get back on the road and head a good 15 miles west of here to see our new (we hope) Primary Care doctor, the one to replace the one who up and left the area on short notice.  With any luck, he'll OK the refills on the other meds she is out of.  We'd strung along, cutting pills in half, etc. to stretch them, but several are now empty bottles.  So we shall see.  And then, next week, the gastroenterologist and the endocrinologist, separate days, but a good haul in both cases.

Tomorrow night, as mentioned before, yet another funeral / memorial service for someone she once knew   Getting to be quite a few of these.

Last evening, we spent time outside with Niece, great-niece, and great nephew. Great Niece as having a Great Time on the "bounce house" in the yard between their place and ours.  Niece had gotten the thing at a garage sale for a song, maybe $30 or so, she's an eagle-eyed shopper.  I learned for the first time that we had paid for the blower to inflate the thing, also bought at some yard sale / garage sale / flea market.  The kids enjoy it and haven't managed to hurt themselves in it, so it's good deal.  The amount of time in the year that kids can run around outside without freezing to death is altogether too short by my standards,  so let them enjoy the few months of it that they get, before they're too old to play like this or there is half a foot of snow on the ground.

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Our reading from the Old Testament is Psalms 25, 26, and 27
From Psalm 27 we get our "song of the day"  "The Lord Is The Strength Of My Life".  Amen!  Ain't it the truth?  This, like some others, is one I've been blessed to sing while part of moderately large choral groups in several states.  It means much to me.  Not least because it is true.

Psalm 25

1 Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul. 2 O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed, let not mine enemies triumph over me. 3 Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed: let them be ashamed which transgress without cause. 4 Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths. 5 Lead me in thy truth, and teach me: for thou art the God of my salvation; on thee do I wait all the day. 6 Remember, O LORD, thy tender mercies and thy lovingkindnesses; for they have been ever of old. 7 Remember not the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions: according to thy mercy remember thou me for thy goodness' sake, O LORD. 8 Good and upright is the LORD: therefore will he teach sinners in the way. 9 The meek will he guide in judgment: and the meek will he teach his way. 10 All the paths of the LORD are mercy and truth unto such as keep his covenant and his testimonies. 11 For thy name's sake, O LORD, pardon mine iniquity; for it is great. 12 What man is he that feareth the LORD? him shall he teach in the way that he shall choose. 13 His soul shall dwell at ease; and his seed shall inherit the earth. 14 The secret of the LORD is with them that fear him; and he will shew them his covenant. 15 Mine eyes are ever toward the LORD; for he shall pluck my feet out of the net. 16 Turn thee unto me, and have mercy upon me; for I am desolate and afflicted. 17 The troubles of my heart are enlarged: O bring thou me out of my distresses. 18 Look upon mine affliction and my pain; and forgive all my sins. 19 Consider mine enemies; for they are many; and they hate me with cruel hatred. 20 O keep my soul, and deliver me: let me not be ashamed; for I put my trust in thee. 21 Let integrity and uprightness preserve me; for I wait on thee. 22 Redeem Israel, O God, out of all his troubles.

Psalm 26

1 Judge me, O LORD; for I have walked in mine integrity: I have trusted also in the LORD; therefore I shall not slide. 2 Examine me, O LORD, and prove me; try my reins and my heart. 3 For thy lovingkindness is before mine eyes: and I have walked in thy truth. 4 I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers. 5 I have hated the congregation of evil doers; and will not sit with the wicked. 6 I will wash mine hands in innocency: so will I compass thine altar, O LORD: 7 That I may publish with the voice of thanksgiving, and tell of all thy wondrous works. 8 LORD, I have loved the habitation of thy house, and the place where thine honour dwelleth. 9 Gather not my soul with sinners, nor my life with bloody men: 10 In whose hands is mischief, and their right hand is full of bribes. 11 But as for me, I will walk in mine integrity: redeem me, and be merciful unto me. 12 My foot standeth in an even place: in the congregations will I bless the LORD.

Psalm 27

1 The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 2 When the wicked, even mine enemies and my foes, came upon me to eat up my flesh, they stumbled and fell. 3 Though an host should encamp against me, my heart shall not fear: though war should rise against me, in this will I be confident. 4 One thing have I desired of the LORD, that will I seek after; that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD, and to enquire in his temple. 5 For in the time of trouble he shall hide me in his pavilion: in the secret of his tabernacle shall he hide me; he shall set me up upon a rock. 6 And now shall mine head be lifted up above mine enemies round about me: therefore will I offer in his tabernacle sacrifices of joy; I will sing, yea, I will sing praises unto the LORD. 7 Hear, O LORD, when I cry with my voice: have mercy also upon me, and answer me. 8 When thou saidst, Seek ye my face; my heart said unto thee, Thy face, LORD, will I seek. 9 Hide not thy face far from me; put not thy servant away in anger: thou hast been my help; leave me not, neither forsake me, O God of my salvation. 10 When my father and my mother forsake me, then the LORD will take me up. 11 Teach me thy way, O LORD, and lead me in a plain path, because of mine enemies. 12 Deliver me not over unto the will of mine enemies: for false witnesses are risen up against me, and such as breathe out cruelty. 13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living. 14 Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD.

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The day's reading from the New Testament is verses 17-38 in chapter 20 of the Acts of the Apostles.  Paul is setting off once again on a tough journey.  Nearly as tough, is saying farewell to those to whom he had ministered and discipled, knowing that he would never see them again on this earth.  A hard thing, some of us have reason to know.  Very hard.  But duty called.

Acts 20:17-38

17 And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church. 18 And when they were come to him, he said unto them, Ye know, from the first day that I came into Asia, after what manner I have been with you at all seasons, 19 Serving the LORD with all humility of mind, and with many tears, and temptations, which befell me by the lying in wait of the Jews: 20 And how I kept back nothing that was profitable unto you, but have shewed you, and have taught you publickly, and from house to house, 21 Testifying both to the Jews, and also to the Greeks, repentance toward God, and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ. 22 And now, behold, I go bound in the spirit unto Jerusalem, not knowing the things that shall befall me there: 23 Save that the Holy Ghost witnesseth in every city, saying that bonds and afflictions abide me. 24 But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. 25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. 26 Wherefore I take you to record this day, that I am pure from the blood of all men. 27 For I have not shunned to declare unto you all the counsel of God. 28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29 For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30 Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32 And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33 I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34 Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35 I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36 And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37 And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38 Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship.