Today's Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 22 August 2017

Next-to-last Tuesday in October.  In a mere ten days, Lord willing, we shall be in September, one of those awful "-berrr" months, and be headed towards the bitter cold months for which this part of the country is justly infamous.   I hate the very thought of it.  But, as usual, I'm not driving this bus.

Been an interesting day so far.

• starting with good news.  Dear Wife is -- FINALLY! -- starting to feel a bit better.  Not great, not "go jogging" good.  But able to breathe ok, more or less, and feeling a bit less lousy and doesn't appear right now to be suffering the fever that she had for about three weeks, perhaps longer.  Today is the EIGHTH day in her regimen of heavy-duty antibiotics, so we should have been seeing something break, finally.  Now, we had some experience in the past, particularly in our time in central Alabama, with nasty infections.  Her doctor there had set up something such that, after a given regimen, 8 or 10 days or whatever, and using up ALL the prescribed amount, wait a couple of days.  If it feels like a restart, the prescription allowed for a refill for a like amount, and go through all of those.  That worked, and I believe she and the doc here have set up something similar.  So we shall see.
• she got call about 2 hours ago from niece next door, could she please come over and watch the 4-year-old, who was feeling poorly, so that mom could take the 2-month-old to a WIC appointment and couldn't handle the snoots at WIC and a 4-year-old with a tummy ache and a 2-month-old who is "fussy" after FOUR shots this morning.  I ran over and filled in while Wife put on more presentable clothes and then took over.
• then niece came home, WAY early.  Early because she never made it to the appointment.  She had missed by a whisker and the grace of God, a horrible wreck just up the road going onto the big road (US Route 62) as a result of another driver who was OD'ing behind the wheel right in the middle of what is already a pretty dangerous intersection.  Had her blocked in, which is better than a fatal wreck. Police and first responders showed up (after she called).  They were able to revive the goniff, but it took NINE hits of Narcan to revive him:  three sprays up each nostril and three injections!!  He'll live, at least today.  And she and baby and car are fine.  But this was a close call, too close.
• Wife's Disability check went in this morning.  She had ordered refill on a two of her meds, one of which she is out of and has been, waiting for the money.  Plan was for me to go across The Line to the pharmacy and pick them up and pick up a few items that we are likely to need over the next 30 days or so.  But the pharmacy advised they are out of the one drug, won't be in until around 2 p.m. tomorrow, so the grocery thing is on hold for a day.  Which  is why we were able to go watch the 4-year-old earlier.  Someone's driving this bus, as I said.
• And we've had some weather.  This morning, we were being told that within the hour, we'd have horrid storms with wind gusts up to 50 mph, and hail of 1 inch diameter.  2-1/2 hours later or so, had some good rain and a few thunder bumpers.  Lasted less than 30 minutes, and then blue skies.  Two hours after that, a second round, about like the first. And then blue skies like right now.  The weather forecasts from the same "experts" who purport to know the temperature of the entire earth in 90 years or so.  Forgive my skepticism.

Wife is resting now without even one cat on her.  Most unusual!

Song of the day, "My Faith Has Found A Resting Place".  This came into the mind this morning in the pre-dawn hours, and remains there.  I couldn't find quite the video of this that was in mind. but this is a pretty good one.  

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Our Old Testament reading is verses 49-104 of Psalm 119.

Psalm 119:49-104

 

49 Remember the word unto thy servant, upon which thou hast caused me to hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction: for thy word hath quickened me. 51 The proud have had me greatly in derision: yet have I not declined from thy law. 52 I remembered thy judgments of old, O LORD; and have comforted myself. 53 Horror hath taken hold upon me because of the wicked that forsake thy law. 54 Thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage. 55 I have remembered thy name, O LORD, in the night, and have kept thy law. 56 This I had, because I kept thy precepts.  

57 Thou art my portion, O LORD: I have said that I would keep thy words. 58 I intreated thy favour with my whole heart: be merciful unto me according to thy word. 59 I thought on my ways, and turned my feet unto thy testimonies. 60 I made haste, and delayed not to keep thy commandments. 61 The bands of the wicked have robbed me: but I have not forgotten thy law. 62 At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. 63 I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts. 64 The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes. 

 65 Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word. 66 Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments. 67 Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word. 68 Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes. 69 The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart. 70 Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law. 71 It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes. 72 The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.  

 73 Thy hands have made me and fashioned me: give me understanding, that I may learn thy commandments. 74 They that fear thee will be glad when they see me; because I have hoped in thy word. 75 I know, O LORD, that thy judgments are right, and that thou in faithfulness hast afflicted me. 76 Let, I pray thee, thy merciful kindness be for my comfort, according to thy word unto thy servant. 77 Let thy tender mercies come unto me, that I may live: for thy law is my delight. 78 Let the proud be ashamed; for they dealt perversely with me without a cause: but I will meditate in thy precepts. 79 Let those that fear thee turn unto me, and those that have known thy testimonies. 80 Let my heart be sound in thy statutes; that I be not ashamed. 

 81 My soul fainteth for thy salvation: but I hope in thy word. 82 Mine eyes fail for thy word, saying, When wilt thou comfort me? 83 For I am become like a bottle in the smoke; yet do I not forget thy statutes. 84 How many are the days of thy servant? when wilt thou execute judgment on them that persecute me? 85 The proud have digged pits for me, which are not after thy law. 86 All thy commandments are faithful: they persecute me wrongfully; help thou me. 87 They had almost consumed me upon earth; but I forsook not thy precepts. 88 Quicken me after thy lovingkindness; so shall I keep the testimony of thy mouth. 

 89 For ever, O LORD, thy word is settled in heaven. 90 Thy faithfulness is unto all generations: thou hast established the earth, and it abideth. 91 They continue this day according to thine ordinances: for all are thy servants. 92 Unless thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction. 93 I will never forget thy precepts: for with them thou hast quickened me. 94 I am thine, save me: for I have sought thy precepts. 95 The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. 96 I have seen an end of all perfection: but thy commandment is exceeding broad.  

97 O how I love thy law! it is my meditation all the day. 98 Thou through thy commandments hast made me wiser than mine enemies: for they are ever with me. 99 I have more understanding than all my teachers: for thy testimonies are my meditation. 100 I understand more than the ancients, because I keep thy precepts. 101 I have refrained my feet from every evil way, that I might keep thy word. 102 I have not departed from thy judgments: for thou hast taught me. 103 How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth! 104 Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way.

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Our passage in the New Testament is chapter 4 from the First Epistle to the Corinthians.

I Corinthians 4
 

1 Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 2 Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. 3 But with me it is a very small thing that I should be judged of you, or of man's judgment: yea, I judge not mine own self. 4 For I know nothing by myself; yet am I not hereby justified: but he that judgeth me is the Lord. 5 Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God. 6 And these things, brethren, I have in a figure transferred to myself and to Apollos for your sakes; that ye might learn in us not to think of men above that which is written, that no one of you be puffed up for one against another. 7 For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it? 8 Now ye are full, now ye are rich, ye have reigned as kings without us: and I would to God ye did reign, that we also might reign with you. 9 For I think that God hath set forth us the apostles last, as it were appointed to death: for we are made a spectacle unto the world, and to angels, and to men. 10 We are fools for Christ's sake, but ye are wise in Christ; we are weak, but ye are strong; ye are honourable, but we are despised. 11 Even unto this present hour we both hunger, and thirst, and are naked, and are buffeted, and have no certain dwellingplace; 12 And labour, working with our own hands: being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we suffer it: 13 Being defamed, we intreat: we are made as the filth of the world, and are the offscouring of all things unto this day. 14 I write not these things to shame you, but as my beloved sons I warn you. 15 For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel. 16 Wherefore I beseech you, be ye followers of me. 17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. 18 Now some are puffed up, as though I would not come to you. 19 But I will come to you shortly, if the Lord will, and will know, not the speech of them which are puffed up, but the power. 20 For the kingdom of God is not in word, but in power. 21 What will ye? shall I come unto you with a rod, or in love, and in the spirit of meekness?