Posted on

Memorize Scripture: Psalm 119:21-24

Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts

A couple of weeks ago, we began the third strophe of Psalm 119, looking at verses 17-20. This week, we will look at the second half of that stanza. You can find it at Psalm 119:21-24:

Psalm 119:21-24

As this stanza began, the psalmist speaks of the concept of alienation he feels because he so diligently follows God’s laws. He follows that thought with another; those who do not understand his commitment to God bring about slander and speak ill of him.

This slander takes a step past mere alienation, and not just because it is directed at the psalmist by the rulers of his people. As believers, it is natural that we feel like don’t fit it, that we are aliens. Because that is what we are. This world is not our home. We do not belong here. As a result, alienation is to be expected. But slander? That’s another issue entirely.

Slander is a falsehood. Slander is saying things about someone that are not true. Slander attaches false motives to the things we do, and may even bring false accusations of evil that we did not do. To not fit in feels bad enough, but to have people lie about us, and falsely accuse us of doing evil while we are striving to live for God feels even worse!

Please Pray For My Family

UPDATE: Later on February 16, just before noon, my grandmother took her final breath of this earthbound atmosphere and took her first breath of heavenly air in the presence of Jesus. I’m sure the reunion with her husband, son and grandson, among others, was sweet. And best of all, she finally heard those words, “Well done! Enter into my rest!”

My family and I could use your prayers at this time. My grandmother has been in declining health for the past few years, but recently her decline seem to have been speeding up. She is in her mid 90s, so this doesn’t come as any surprise, but it is still a difficult time for our family. Please be in prayer for us.

Because of this, things may be sporadic around here for the time being. I hope to be as consistent as I can be, but I expect to be in and out a lot more for the foreseeable near future.  Thanks for understanding.

And, so you know who you are praying for, here is a picture of my grandmother holding my youngest daughter.  Mercy is a newborn here, and she’s now three.  My grandmother loved being able to hold her just days after she was born.

Mercy And Her Great Grandmother    

Posted on

Coffee Break – 02.12.2018

Your Monday Dose Of Inspiration

On this day in history: In 1541, the city of Santiago, Chile was founded. In 1809, Abraham Lincoln was born, and 1892, his birthday was declared to be a national holiday. And in 1880, the National Croquet League was organized in Philadelphia, PA.

Coffee Break

Today Is Nation Clean Out Your Computer Day!
Ditch those files and programs you don’t need anymore!

Renaissance Artist Or Coffee? – Take the quiz and see if you know the difference.

The World’s First Roller Coasters – If roller coasters scare you now, think about what they were like in the beginning of their history!

The 5 Best Pocket Fountain Pens To Carry Every Day – I love fountain pens, especially vintage pens from the 30s and 40s, and especially especially Parker Vacumatics. But I don’t carry one daily. I carry a Fisher Space Pen daily. However, I could easily fit any of these into my daily carry without any problems, especially that Kaweco Sport, and especially in brass!

How Much Sleep Do You Really Need? – Have you ever wondered this? I have. And I have been told that we actually need less than we think we do. But just how much is the right amount? This is an interesting video, in spite of the evolutionary overtones it carries.

Posted on

Memorize Scripture: Psalm 119:17-20

Hiding God’s Word In Our Hearts

This week, we begin the third strophe of Psalm 119, Gimel. The psalmist begins this stanza with an accurate view of his place in relation to the God he serves, and the results that come along with it. You can see it for yourself in Psalm 119:17-20:

Psalm 119:13-16

The psalmist begins by stating that it is only with God’s help and actions that we can exist. In verse 17, he asks God to do good to him, and in verse 18, he asks that God open his eyes. In both of these requests, the author knows that God is the only one who can provide the answers needed: life, in accordance to God’s Word, and sight, in order to see the wonderful things in God’s Word.

But living in accordance to God’s Word leads to the world hating us. And in verse 19, the psalmist sees some of this. This is the first of four consequences that we will see over the next couple of stanzas. In all actuality, these are not consequences as much as they are trials that come because of our commitment to God.

Jesus told us that the world would hate his disciples in John 15:18-25, and the writer of this psalm experienced that same thing. Righteousness for the sake of God will always cause the world to hate us.

This idea of being a stranger on the earth can be seen in a couple of different ways, both equally true. First of all, this is not our home to begin with, we are just passing through, and our lives are short. There is limited time available to us, and we should devote what we can to reading and studying God’s Word and spreading the Good News that is found there to others.