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.

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

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.

========

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.

Today''s Readings and Stuff -- Tuesday, 27 August 2013

G'day.  I mean, "good morning to all who stop by.  welcome.".  Better?  Sometimes a few words matter a lot, much more than we realize.  Was reminiscing the other day.  As some know, we are planning -- Lord willing -- to be relocating in the near future to an area midway between Cleveland, Ohio and Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.  Quite a change from Lower Alabama where I am sitting right now.  It''s an area Dear Wife and I lived in for much of our lives.  When I was in 4th grade, my family moved to another town, a very small one, in another county.  It was not a fun move, and for the next 8 years, I was on the 'outs' with most of the other students.  Wasn't from there and wasn't one of the in-crowd, such as it was.  No biggie, I guess, more than 30 years later, but very tough at the time.  One of the in-crowd stuck a note in my face one day:

Roses are red

Violets are blue

Doggies are spubit

And so are you

 and yes, he really did mis-spell that word.
Yet, more than 30 years later, I still recall the hurt.  He didn't have to do it, but he did because he could.  He knew, as I knew, that no one, including no one in authority, would take my side against his.  As I said, he was one of the in-crowd and I wasn't. 
I'm sure he has long forgotten the matter, and I generally don't dwell on it.  But I know in a way that others, perhaps, cannot, how words can affect others.  So we need to choose them carefully and utter them even more carefully.

Going to be a busy day.  Need to have Dear Wife to an appointment with a doctor this morning with reference to an effort for her Social Security Disability application.  Two physicians have already declared her to be legally blind, so I don't understand why this matter has now been dragging on for over a flipping year.  
But I am also on tap to transport someone to HIS physician, located in another part of town and roughly an hour after Dear Wife's appointment.  I foresee that no matter where I am, it will be the wrong place and either too early or too late or, more probably, both at the same time.

This morning's reading is Psalms 132, 133, 134, 135.  You may recognize Psalm 133.

Psalm 132  

1	Lord, remember David, and all his afflictions:
2	How he sware unto the LORD, and vowed unto the mighty God of Jacob;
3	Surely I will not come into the tabernacle of my house, nor go up into my bed;
4	I will not give sleep to mine eyes, or slumber to mine eyelids,
5	Until I find out a place for the LORD, an habitation for the mighty God of Jacob.
6	Lo, we heard of it at Ephratah: we found it in the fields of the wood.
7	We will go into his tabernacles: we will worship at his footstool.
8	Arise, O LORD, into thy rest; thou, and the ark of thy strength.
9	Let thy priests be clothed with righteousness; and let thy saints shout for joy.
10	For thy servant David's sake turn not away the face of thine anointed.
11	The LORD hath sworn in truth unto David; he will not turn from it; Of the fruit of thy body will I set upon thy throne.
12	If thy children will keep my covenant and my testimony that I shall teach them, their children shall also sit upon thy throne for evermore.
13	For the LORD hath chosen Zion; he hath desired it for his habitation.
14	This is my rest for ever: here will I dwell; for I have desired it.
15	I will abundantly bless her provision: I will satisfy her poor with bread.
16	I will also clothe her priests with salvation: and her saints shall shout aloud for joy.
17	There will I make the horn of David to bud: I have ordained a lamp for mine anointed.
18	His enemies will I clothe with shame: but upon himself shall his crown flourish.

Psalm 133 

1	Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!
2	It is like the precious ointment upon the head, that ran down upon the beard, even Aaron's beard: that went down to the skirts of his garments;
3	As the dew of Hermon, and as the dew that descended upon the mountains of Zion: for there the LORD commanded the blessing, even life for evermore.

Psalm 134  

1	Behold, bless ye the LORD, all ye servants of the LORD, which by night stand in the house of the LORD.
2	Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, and bless the LORD.
3	The LORD that made heaven and earth bless thee out of Zion.

Psalm 135  

1	Praise ye the LORD. Praise ye the name of the LORD; praise him, O ye servants of the LORD.
2	Ye that stand in the house of the LORD, in the courts of the house of our God.
3	Praise the LORD; for the LORD is good: sing praises unto his name; for it is pleasant.
4	For the LORD hath chosen Jacob unto himself, and Israel for his peculiar treasure.
5	For I know that the LORD is great, and that our Lord is above all gods.
6	Whatsoever the LORD pleased, that did he in heaven, and in earth, in the seas, and all deep places.
7	He causeth the vapours to ascend from the ends of the earth; he maketh lightnings for the rain; he bringeth the wind out of his treasuries.
8	Who smote the firstborn of Egypt, both of man and beast.
9	Who sent tokens and wonders into the midst of thee, O Egypt, upon Pharaoh, and upon all his servants.
10	Who smote great nations, and slew mighty kings;
11	Sihon king of the Amorites, and Og king of Bashan, and all the kingdoms of Canaan:
12	And gave their land for an heritage, an heritage unto Israel his people.
13	Thy name, O LORD, endureth for ever; and thy memorial, O LORD, throughout all generations.
14	For the LORD will judge his people, and he will repent himself concerning his servants.
15	The idols of the heathen are silver and gold, the work of men's hands.
16	They have mouths, but they speak not; eyes have they, but they see not;
17	They have ears, but they hear not; neither is there any breath in their mouths.
18	They that make them are like unto them: so is every one that trusteth in them.
19	Bless the LORD, O house of Israel: bless the LORD, O house of Aaron:
20	Bless the LORD, O house of Levi: ye that fear the LORD, bless the LORD.
21	Blessed be the LORD out of Zion, which dwelleth at Jerusalem. Praise ye the LORD.

======

The evening's New Testament passage is 1st Corinthians chapter 8. 

I Corinthians 8 

1	Now as touching things offered unto idols, we know that we all have knowledge. Knowledge puffeth up, but charity edifieth.
2	And if any man think that he knoweth any thing, he knoweth nothing yet as he ought to know.
3	But if any man love God, the same is known of him.
4	As concerning therefore the eating of those things that are offered in sacrifice unto idols, we know that an idol is nothing in the world, and that there is none other God but one.
5	For though there be that are called gods, whether in heaven or in earth, (as there be gods many, and lords many,)
6	But to us there is but one God, the Father, of whom are all things, and we in him; and one Lord Jesus Christ, by whom are all things, and we by him.
7	Howbeit there is not in every man that knowledge: for some with conscience of the idol unto this hour eat it as a thing offered unto an idol; and their conscience being weak is defiled.
8	But meat commendeth us not to God: for neither, if we eat, are we the better; neither, if we eat not, are we the worse.
9	But take heed lest by any means this liberty of your's become a stumblingblock to them that are weak.
10	For if any man see thee which hast knowledge sit at meat in the idol's temple, shall not the conscience of him which is weak be emboldened to eat those things which are offered to idols;
11	And through thy knowledge shall the weak brother perish, for whom Christ died?
12	But when ye sin so against the brethren, and wound their weak conscience, ye sin against Christ.
13	Wherefore, if meat make my brother to offend, I will eat no flesh while the world standeth, lest I make my brother to offend.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Monday, 26 August 2013

Monday.  We are planning to get heavily into packing today.  Always a difficult time, we've been through this so many times.  For the first time in many years, we're doing a long-distance move on our own.  Since 1992, we've moved across state lines four times.  Each time, my employer arranged with professionals to do the heavy lifting.  Those days are behind us, and this move, perhaps the last we'll ever do, is being done by us.  And the changes in our life over the last 21 have been profound.  Tough to be making decisions about those things that remind us of the days when our daughters were small.  Or the memories of our now-departed mothers, fathers, uncles, aunts, cousins, friends.  We've stood along so many graves, married off two daughters, been there for a raft of births, proms, divorces, all the stuff of life.  And each with its own memorabilia.  To be moved, or not.

Yesterday was a busy one as well.  We have a guy been staying on our couch for a while.  Diabetic, HIV+, gay, not too smart.  I was getting out of the shower when Dear Wife started screaming.  He was well into a diabetic coma.  911 call, ambulance, rescue squad, police, whole nine yards..  It appears that he had one of his gay buddies pick him up last night when we were in bed, and they were out drinking.  He came in and hit the insulin, without eating and without checking his sugar levels.  The result darn near killed him - when the medics got here and took his vitals (we'd briefed them) his sugar was down to around 29.  Not quite dead, but real close.  They pumped glucose into him and that brought him around.  Enough that they decided to leave without transporting him.
Needless to say, I didn't make it to the morning Bible study I lead.  Did make it to the 11:00 service. 

Then we had a long-planned get-together at pastor's house with the other deacons and their families. A very nice time, and we enjoyed it greatly.  But Dear Wife has become somewhat averse to being out of the house and around people, and by the end of it she was more than ready to leave.
So Sunday was not exactly a day of rest.  Worthwhile, but a good bit of stress.

The morning's Old Testament reading for today is Psalms 128, 129, 130, 131. 

Psalm 128  

1	Blessed is every one that feareth the LORD; that walketh in his ways.
2	For thou shalt eat the labour of thine hands: happy shalt thou be, and it shall be well with thee.
3	Thy wife shall be as a fruitful vine by the sides of thine house: thy children like olive plants round about thy table.
4	Behold, that thus shall the man be blessed that feareth the LORD.
5	The LORD shall bless thee out of Zion: and thou shalt see the good of Jerusalem all the days of thy life.
6	Yea, thou shalt see thy children's children, and peace upon Israel.

Psalm 129  

1	Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth, may Israel now say:
2	Many a time have they afflicted me from my youth: yet they have not prevailed against me.
3	The plowers plowed upon my back: they made long their furrows.
4	The LORD is righteous: he hath cut asunder the cords of the wicked.
5	Let them all be confounded and turned back that hate Zion.
6	Let them be as the grass upon the housetops, which withereth afore it groweth up:
7	Wherewith the mower filleth not his hand; nor he that bindeth sheaves his bosom.
8	Neither do they which go by say, The blessing of the LORD be upon you: we bless you in the name of the LORD.

Psalm 130  

1	Out of the depths have I cried unto thee, O LORD.
2	Lord, hear my voice: let thine ears be attentive to the voice of my supplications.
3	If thou, LORD, shouldest mark iniquities, O Lord, who shall stand?
4	But there is forgiveness with thee, that thou mayest be feared.
5	I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in his word do I hope.
6	My soul waiteth for the Lord more than they that watch for the morning: I say, more than they that watch for the morning.
7	Let Israel hope in the LORD: for with the LORD there is mercy, and with him is plenteous redemption.
8	And he shall redeem Israel from all his iniquities.

Psalm 131  

1	Lord, my heart is not haughty, nor mine eyes lofty: neither do I exercise myself in great matters, or in things too high for me.
2	Surely I have behaved and quieted myself, as a child that is weaned of his mother: my soul is even as a weaned child.
3	Let Israel hope in the LORD from henceforth and for ever.

======


The evening reading is verses 25-40 of chapter 7 in 1st Corinthians.

I Corinthians 7:25-40 

25	Now concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord: yet I give my judgment, as one that hath obtained mercy of the Lord to be faithful.
26	I suppose therefore that this is good for the present distress, I say, that it is good for a man so to be.
27	Art thou bound unto a wife? seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? seek not a wife.
28	But and if thou marry, thou hast not sinned; and if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned. Nevertheless such shall have trouble in the flesh: but I spare you.
29	But this I say, brethren, the time is short: it remaineth, that both they that have wives be as though they had none;
30	And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;
31	And they that use this world, as not abusing it: for the fashion of this world passeth away.
32	But I would have you without carefulness. He that is unmarried careth for the things that belong to the Lord, how he may please the Lord:
33	But he that is married careth for the things that are of the world, how he may please his wife.
34	There is difference also between a wife and a virgin. The unmarried woman careth for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and in spirit: but she that is married careth for the things of the world, how she may please her husband.
35	And this I speak for your own profit; not that I may cast a snare upon you, but for that which is comely, and that ye may attend upon the Lord without distraction.
36	But if any man think that he behaveth himself uncomely toward his virgin, if she pass the flower of her age, and need so require, let him do what he will, he sinneth not: let them marry.
37	Nevertheless he that standeth stedfast in his heart, having no necessity, but hath power over his own will, and hath so decreed in his heart that he will keep his virgin, doeth well.
38	So then he that giveth her in marriage doeth well; but he that giveth her not in marriage doeth better.
39	The wife is bound by the law as long as her husband liveth; but if her husband be dead, she is at liberty to be married to whom she will; only in the Lord.
40	But she is happier if she so abide, after my judgment: and I think also that I have the Spirit of God.

Today's Readings and Stuff -- Sunday, 25 August 2013

Happy Sunday to all!
Today will be a bit tough for us, though nice.  We -- Dear Wife and I -- hare invited to a get-together at pastor's home along with the other deacons and wives.  This change we're planning is difficult for all of us.  I've been honored to be the primary adult Bible teacher in this small congregation since late 2006-early 2007.  It's spanned a time that's seen three pastors, two other worship leaders now gone, several deacons pass away as well as several of the older members, and a lot of  other things.  The deacon senior to me is in bad health and his wife is in worse shape than he.  All in all, a lot of highly stressful things  As well as the usual interpersonal frictions and issues.  So some of that will be the backdrop for the get-together.
Yet the Lord is still in charge, still in control, and knew about all of this long before we did.  I suspect he's smarter than we are, and His will shall  be accomplished.  We're just seeking to do his will.
So bear with us.  Lots going on, even if it may not seem that way.

The morning's reading continues in the Psalms with Psalms 124, 125, 126, 127.  I find that no matter what the circumstances, the Psalms are like a prayer book, and I can find one that is appropriate for the situation.  Our troubles are not unique to us, and neither are the victories.

Psalm 124  

1	If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, now may Israel say;
2	If it had not been the LORD who was on our side, when men rose up against us:
3	Then they had swallowed us up quick, when their wrath was kindled against us:
4	Then the waters had overwhelmed us, the stream had gone over our soul:
5	Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.
6	Blessed be the LORD, who hath not given us as a prey to their teeth.
7	Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we are escaped.
8	Our help is in the name of the LORD, who made heaven and earth.

Psalm 125  

1	They that trust in the LORD shall be as mount Zion, which cannot be removed, but abideth for ever.
2	As the mountains are round about Jerusalem, so the LORD is round about his people from henceforth even for ever.
3	For the rod of the wicked shall not rest upon the lot of the righteous; lest the righteous put forth their hands unto iniquity.
4	Do good, O LORD, unto those that be good, and to them that are upright in their hearts.
5	As for such as turn aside unto their crooked ways, the LORD shall lead them forth with the workers of iniquity: but peace shall be upon Israel.

Psalm 126 

1	When the LORD turned again the captivity of Zion, we were like them that dream.
2	Then was our mouth filled with laughter, and our tongue with singing: then said they among the heathen, The LORD hath done great things for them.
3	The LORD hath done great things for us; whereof we are glad.
4	Turn again our captivity, O LORD, as the streams in the south.
5	They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.
6	He that goeth forth and weepeth, bearing precious seed, shall doubtless come again with rejoicing, bringing his sheaves with him.

Psalm 127  

1	Except the LORD build the house, they labour in vain that build it: except the LORD keep the city, the watchman waketh but in vain.
2	It is vain for you to rise up early, to sit up late, to eat the bread of sorrows: for so he giveth his beloved sleep.
3	Lo, children are an heritage of the LORD: and the fruit of the womb is his reward.
4	As arrows are in the hand of a mighty man; so are children of the youth.
5	Happy is the man that hath his quiver full of them: they shall not be ashamed, but they shall speak with the enemies in the gate.

==========

The evening reading in the New Testament is verse 1-24 from chapter 7 in 1st Corinthians.
Living the Christian life, especially for a new believer, can lead to a lot of questions and confusion.  Many of us, those who were raised in the faith, had a chance to see how those who had been there acted, had someone to ask, someone to be mentoring.  But Paul was dealing quite often with new churches, new believers, new situations.  Many, most of these had not come out of Judaism; many had been pagans up to the point of conversion, and most still lived in a pagan society.  The written Bible, at least the New Testament, really was still being written, and would not be widely available for a very long time.  Even if people could read, which was generally not the case.  Not surprising, then, that questions of the most basic sort came up.  Much of the Pauline letters were addressing such matters.  And some of the issues remain with us even today.

I Corinthians 7:1-24  

1	Now concerning the things whereof ye wrote unto me: It is good for a man not to touch a woman.
2	Nevertheless, to avoid fornication, let every man have his own wife, and let every woman have her own husband.
3	Let the husband render unto the wife due benevolence: and likewise also the wife unto the husband.
4	The wife hath not power of her own body, but the husband: and likewise also the husband hath not power of his own body, but the wife.
5	Defraud ye not one the other, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may give yourselves to fasting and prayer; and come together again, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinency.
6	But I speak this by permission, and not of commandment.
7	For I would that all men were even as I myself. But every man hath his proper gift of God, one after this manner, and another after that.
8	I say therefore to the unmarried and widows, It is good for them if they abide even as I.
9	But if they cannot contain, let them marry: for it is better to marry than to burn.
10	And unto the married I command, yet not I, but the Lord, Let not the wife depart from her husband:
11	But and if she depart, let her remain unmarried or be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.
12	But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.
13	And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.
14	For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.
15	But if the unbelieving depart, let him depart. A brother or a sister is not under bondage in such cases: but God hath called us to peace.
16	For what knowest thou, O wife, whether thou shalt save thy husband? or how knowest thou, O man, whether thou shalt save thy wife?
17	But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.
18	Is any man called being circumcised? let him not become uncircumcised. Is any called in uncircumcision? let him not be circumcised.
19	Circumcision is nothing, and uncircumcision is nothing, but the keeping of the commandments of God.
20	Let every man abide in the same calling wherein he was called.
21	Art thou called being a servant? care not for it: but if thou mayest be made free, use it rather.
22	For he that is called in the Lord, being a servant, is the Lord's freeman: likewise also he that is called, being free, is Christ's servant.
23	Ye are bought with a price; be not ye the servants of men.
24	Brethren, let every man, wherein he is called, therein abide with God.