Psalm 113 - 143: A free and full life

- Giving back:  A psalmist wrote, "What can I give back to God for the blessings he's poured out on me?"

• "Lift high the cup of salvation--a toast to God"
• "I'll pray in the name of God"
• "I'll complete what I promised God I'd do"...AND
• "I'll do it together with his people" (Psalm 116:9-11)

- Small but mighty.  Loved Psalm 117. It was only 5 lines!
- "A free and full life" -- it only comes from living God's way, but I want it (Psalm 118:21-25).
- The race:  "I'll run the course you lay out for me if you'll just show me how" (Psalm 119:32)
- Workin' your fingers to the bone?  "God enjoys giving reset to those he loves" (Psalm 127:1-2)
- The blessing:  "Children are God's best gift" (Psalm 127:3). Thank you, God, for two of them.
- My goal:  "My life a prayer" (Psalm 130:3)
- You are precious:  We are God's "prized possession" (Psalm 135:4). The Psalmist describes Israel this way, but through Christ we are adopted into God's family and we can enjoy the promises he made to his beloved people of Israel.
- Remember this next time you pray:  "Angels listen as I sing my thanks" (Psalm 138:1-3).
- Why David was a man after God's heart:  "I only have eyes for you," David wrote to God (Psalm 141:8). Pure and simple, David was in love with God.


Elena's verse of the day:  "You are my God. Show me what you want me to do, and let your gentle Spirit lead me in the right path" (Psalm 143:10).

2 Kings 4 - 15: Fresh baked bread!

- Multiplicity:  Precursors to Jesus' loaves and fishes miracle include Elijah's miracle providing oil and flour to the widow; Elisha providing the poor woman with oil to sell; and, Elisha providing fresh-baked harvest bread and apples to 100 men (2 Kings 4:42-44).

- Open his eyes:  Elisha's servant was afraid of losing a battle to the ferocious Arameans, so Elisha prayed, "God, open his eyes and let him see" (2 Kings 6:17). All at once, the servant saw horses and chariots of fire surrounding them. Apparently they were angelic beings, part of an army sent by God. What a wonderful thing to know that the God who created the universe is the same God who fights our battles. Next time you feel attacked, think about those horses and chariots of fire.
- A good egg:  So many evil kings. But one, Jehu, loved God enough to clean house and exterminate evil Ahab's line, including his wicked wife Jezebel, their sons, and the Baal priests (2 Kings 10).

Elena's verse of the day:  "The Lord was kind to the Israelites and showed them mercy because of his solemn agreement with their ancestors" (2 Kings 13:23).

Genesis 19-30: Angels, stew, & a stairway to heaven

Sharing a few thoughts from each day's reading. Feel free to jump in and share your own!

- Depravity:  I don't quite know what to think about Lot offering his daughters to the men of Gomorrah. Lot was supposedly a godly man. Sigh....Perhaps it's an illustration of how deep the depravity was at this soon-to-be-destroyed city. I don't know, but to me it's one of the most horrific events in Scripture.

- God hears:  The angels tell Lot that "the outcries of victims here to God are deafening!" (Gen 19:12-13). I love this--it shows that God listens.
- Stuck:  Lot did not want to leave Gomorrah, even though the angels told him to his face what was going to happen. They had to drag him out to safety.  Am I this way? Do I have to be dragged from sin at times? Do we need to be dragging others away from sin? Hmmm.
- Laughter:  Sarah says that laughter is a blessing. Can you picture God laughing? I bet he laughs at me a lot!
- Crying:  God heard Ishmael crying in the wildnerness. Again, God listening. Love this.
- Tribes:  Ishmael had 12 sons who were the founders of 12 tribes. This mirrors Jacob's 12 sons and 12 tribes, coming up in our readings.
 - Hungry Jack:  Esau's stomach led him astray when he traded his birthright for some stew.
- Naming:  You can see the significance of names in the Scriptures, with special notice given to names of people, places, cities, and even wells. The meaning of the name is often noted and tied to a significant event.
- Tithing starts here in Genesis, with Jacob vowing to give God 10% after he sees the entrance to heaven in his dream at Bethel.
- Rolling away the stone:  I don't ever remember reading this story before, but Jacob rolled away the stone from the well, singlehandedly, after he saw the gorgeous Rachel. The other shepherds had said "It takes all of us to roll the stone away from the well." Quite an adrenaline rush! (Gen 29:9-13)
 - Jacob was tricked by Laban, just as Jacob had tricked his father, Isaac.
- Misery:  Again, God listens and noticed Leah's misery. He cares!