20080229

Job 40 - Key

v2

Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct [him]? he that reproveth God, let him answer it.

I should be careful about the way I pray. We know we shouldn't say disrespectful things about the Lord. I also need to make sure to not say bad things about other people when I pray.


From: Redeemed, How I Love to Proclaim It!

By Fanny Crosby, in 1882 and William Kirkpatrick
Redeemed, how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed through His infinite mercy,
His child and forever I am.

Redeemed, redeemed,
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed, redeemed,
His child and forever I am.
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20080228

Job 39 - Outline

v1-4
God controls the birth of deer and goats
v5-8
the wild donkey
v9-12
the reem (unicorn, wild ox, buffalo, dinosaur, or rhinoceros?)
v13-18
birds
v19-25
the fearless battle-horse
v26-30
the eagle and the hawk

From: All Creatures of Our God and King

By Francis of Assisi, 1225 and from 17th Century German
And all ye men of tender heart,
Forgiving others, take your part,
O sing ye! Alleluia!
Ye who long pain and sorrow bear,
Praise God and on Him cast your care!

O praise Him! O praise Him!
Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia!
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20080227

your speech is beautiful

Songs 4

v3

Thy lips [are] like a thread of scarlet, and thy speech [is] comely: thy temples [are] like a piece of a pomegranate within thy locks.

It says, "thy speech [is] comely", which means fitting, or beautiful. We should speak pleasantly.


From: He Keeps Me Singing

By Lu­ther Bridg­ers in 1910
Soon He’s coming back to welcome me,
Far beyond the starry sky;
I shall wing my flight to worlds unknown,
I shall reign with Him on high.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
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20080226

Luke 6 - Key

v42

Either how canst thou say to thy brother, Brother, let me pull out the mote that is in thine eye, when thou thyself beholdest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Thou hypocrite, cast out first the beam out of thine own eye, and then shalt thou see clearly to pull out the mote that is in thy brother's eye.

A lot of this chapter, from the beginning about eating corn and healing the whithered hand on the Sabbath, to the parts about returning good for evil and not being a hypocritical judge, seems to talk about this idea.

When somebody else is doing something wrong, I tend to not pay enough attention to making sure my own behavior is right. For example, if somebody does something wrong, I might be mad and talk to them in an angry tone. I shouldn't do that.

Application

I'll think of something good to do for a certain person.


From: He Keeps Me Singing

By Lu­ther Bridg­ers in 1910
Though sometimes He leads through waters deep,
Trials fall across the way,
Though sometimes the path seems rough and steep,
See His footprints all the way.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080225

Luke 6 - Outline

v1-5
don't be too critical of other people's behavior
v6-11
don't wait and watch for people to do something wrong so you can accuse them
v12-19
Jesus had an all-night-of-prayer
v20-23
shift to a future-focus: joy and reward where they wouldn't be expected
v24-26
woe to those who have things well now
v27-36
love your enemies
v37-42
don't be a hypocrite, trying to hide behind a finger pointed at somebody else
v43-45
you can tell what your heart is full of by what you talk about
v46-49
be doers of the Word, not hearers only

From: He Keeps Me Singing

By Lu­ther Bridg­ers in 1910
Feasting on the riches of His grace,
Resting ’neath His sheltering wing,
Always looking on His smiling face,
That is why I shout and sing.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080224

when you suffer

Isaiah 41:10

Fear thou not; for I [am] with thee: be not dismayed; for I [am] thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.
  1. You are not alone.
    "I [am] with thee.", "will uphold thee..." It's like it comforts a scared little sibling when an older sibling is with them and holds their hand.
    1Cor 10:13

    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].
    "common to man":
    "There's within my heart a melody" - cyberhymnal.org says, Luther Bridgers "wrote this song after a tragic fire killed his wife and three sons." I'm ashamed for feeling sorry for myself when I hear of really serious suffering.
  2. You can overcome.
    "I will strengthen thee... uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness."
    In seemingly irresistible temptation, He gives strength to do right.

  3. This promise applies to us.
    The enemy lies, 'this was long ago, to Israel'.
    Rom 15:4

    For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
  4. This promise applies to sinners.
    The enemy lies, 'you're not righteous enough'.
    Luk 5:31,32

    And Jesus answering said unto them, They that are whole need not a physician; but they that are sick.
    I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.

From: He Keeps Me Singing

By Lu­ther Bridg­ers in 1910
All my life was wrecked by sin and strife,
Discord filled my heart with pain,
Jesus swept across the broken strings,
Stirred the slumbering chords again.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080223

let me hear thy voice

Songs 2

v14

O my dove, [that art] in the clefts of the rock, in the secret [places] of the stairs, let me see thy countenance, let me hear thy voice; for sweet [is] thy voice, and thy countenance [is] comely.

The Lord loves us like a husband in love with his wife. We should love to "hear His voice" by reading the Bible, and we should let Him hear our voice in prayer.

20080222

Job 39 - Key

v19

Hast thou given the horse strength? hast thou clothed his neck with thunder?

God knows and does many very great things.

Application

We shouldn't compare ourselves with him.


From: He Keeps Me Singing

By Lu­ther Bridg­ers in 1910
There’s within my heart a melody
Jesus whispers sweet and low,
Fear not, I am with thee, peace, be still,
In all of life’s ebb and flow.

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus,
Sweetest Name I know,
Fills my every longing,
Keeps me singing as I go.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080221

Job 38 - Key

v18

Hast thou perceived the breadth of the earth? declare if thou knowest it all.

We shouldn't be know-it-alls.

Application

I'll remember this when I'm tempted to talk like I know everything.

20080220

Job 38 - Outline

v1-3
The Lord answered Job
v4-7
the foundations of the earth
v8-11
the doors of the sea
v12-15
the dawn
v16-18
don't say you know it all
v19-21
the places of light and darkness
v22-30
the weather
v31-33
controlling space and the constellations
v34-38
controlling storms like they're your personal troops
v39-40
God provides for wild animals

From: Now Thank We All Our God

By Mar­tin Rink­art, cir­ca 1636 and Jo­hann Crü­ger, 1647
Now thank we all our God, with heart and hands and voices,
Who wondrous things has done, in Whom this world rejoices;
Who from our mothers’ arms has blessed us on our way
With countless gifts of love, and still is ours today.

All praise and thanks to God the Father now be given;
The Son and Him Who reigns with Them in highest Heaven;
The one eternal God, whom earth and Heaven adore;
For thus it was, is now, and shall be evermore.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080219

Luke 5 - Key

v16

And he withdrew himself into the wilderness, and prayed.

Sometimes we get really busy schedules with serving the Lord. At those times, we should make time to go by ourselves and pray.

Application

I'll go back to making sure I'm more in private when I pray.

20080218

Luke 5 - Outline

v1-11
from henceforth thou shalt catch men (v10)
v12-15
if You will, You can
v16
praying alone
v17-26
some people didn't believe Jesus was God
v27-32
Jesus is like the doctor for the sickness of sin
v33-35
the right situation for fasting
v36-39
analogies with old and new things

From: Faith Is the Victory

By John Yates, 1891 and Ira Sank­ey
Encamped along the hills of light,
Ye Christian soldiers, rise.
And press the battle ere the night
Shall veil the glowing skies.
Against the foe in vales below
Let all our strength be hurled.
Faith is the victory, we know,
That overcomes the world.

Faith is the victory! Faith is the victory!
O glorious victory, that overcomes the world.
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20080217

the importance of a name

Songs 1

v3

Because of the savour of thy good ointments thy name [is as] ointment poured forth, therefore do the virgins love thee.

When people love each other, their names are very special to each other. The Lord's name should be like that to us.


From: Thy name we love, Lord Jesus

By W. Yerbury, 1863 and from Greek melody
Thy name we love, Lord Jesus;
And lowly bow before Thee;
And while we live, to Thee we give,
All blessing, worship, glory;
We sing aloud Thy praises,
Our hearts and voices blending,
'Tis Thou alone we worthy own;
Thy beauty's all transcending.

Thy name we love, Lord Jesus;
It tells God's love unbounded
To ruined man, ere time began,
Or heaven and earth were founded;
Thine is a love eternal,
That found in us its pleasure,
That brought Thee low, to bear our woe,
And make us Thine own treasure.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080216

Fear God

Ecclesiastes 12

v13

Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this [is] the whole [duty] of man.

I noticed the part that said to "Fear God". The fear of God is an important thing.

The fear of God makes me think of children and their fathers. Children can be afraid to do evil things because of their fathers disciplining them. We should fear God like that, because God is our Father. Not because we're tormented by terror, but because we know He loves us, but He is a just judge. We should go away from doing evil things because we fear Him.

20080215

work in bad weather

Ecclesiastes 11

v4

He that observeth the wind shall not sow; and he that regardeth the clouds shall not reap.

There's always an excuse for a lazy person to not work. The weather can be a big one. When there's work to be done, we shouldn't be lazy. We shouldn't be unfaithful with our work because we're worried about the weather.


From: Awake, My Soul, to Joyful Lays

By Samuel Medley, 1782 and William Caldwell, before 1830
Though numerous hosts of mighty foes,
Though earth and hell my way oppose,
He safely leads my soul along -
His lovingkindness, O how strong!
Lovingkindness, lovingkindness,
His lovingkindness, O how strong!

When trouble, like a gloomy cloud,
Has gathered thick and thundered loud,
He near my soul has always stood -
His lovingkindness, O how good!
Lovingkindness, lovingkindness,
His lovingkindness, O how good!
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080214

Job 37

v23

[Touching] the Almighty, we cannot find him out: [he is] excellent in power, and in judgment, and in plenty of justice: he will not afflict.

This is a good verse to praise the Lord. Here are some great things about Him:

  • power
  • judgment
  • plenty of justice

20080213

yielding pacifies

Ecclesiastes 10

v4

If the spirit of the ruler rise up against thee, leave not thy place; for yielding pacifieth great offences.

Yielding pacifies great offenses. Sometimes when we're in a conflict, we should just yield, even when we think we're right, and especially when it's a conflict against somebody in authority.


From: More Like the Master

By Charles Gab­ri­el, 1906
More like the Master I would ever be,
More of His meekness, more humility;
More zeal to labor, more courage to be true,
More consecration for work He bids me do.

Take Thou my heart, I would be Thine alone;
Take Thou my heart, and make it all Thine own.
Purge me from sin, O Lord, I now implore,
Wash me and keep me Thine forevermore.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080212

do it with your might

Ecclesiastes 9

v10

Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do [it] with thy might; for [there is] no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest.

This is just a reminder again that we should do the best we can with everything.


From: Marching to Zion

By Isaac Watts, 1707 and Ro­bert Low­ry, 1867
Come, we that love the Lord,
And let our joys be known;
Join in a song with sweet accord,
Join in a song with sweet accord
And thus surround the throne,
And thus surround the throne.

We’re marching to Zion,
Beautiful, beautiful Zion;
We’re marching upward to Zion,
The beautiful city of God.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080210

the patient in spirit

How good is the God we adore,
Our faithful unchangeable Friend!
His love is as great as His power,
And knows neither measure nor end!

’Tis Jesus the First and the Last,
Whose Spirit shall Guide us safe home,
We’ll praise Him for all that is past,
And trust Him for all that’s to come.

From: How Good Is the God We Adore
By Joseph Hart, 1759 and in Lancashire Sunday School Songs, 1857


Ecclesiastes 7

v8

Better [is] the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: [and] the patient in spirit [is] better than the proud in spirit.

When we're tempted to be angry, we should remember that the end of the situation is going to be better. We should be patient.

    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080209

have your appetite filled

Ecclesiastes 6

v7

All the labour of man [is] for his mouth, and yet the appetite is not filled.

We could always think, "I just need to get satisfied." We would just keep thinking that, even if we end up with the situations we desire now.

We need to have our appetite filled with what we have.

20080208

enjoy your work

Praise to the Lord, O let all that is in me adore Him!
All that hath life and breath, come now with praises before Him.
Let the Amen sound from His people again,
Gladly for aye we adore Him.

From: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty
By Joachim Neander, 1680 and Erneuerten Gesangbuch, 1665


Ecclesiastes 5

v18

Behold [that] which I have seen: [it is] good and comely [for one] to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life, which God giveth him: for it [is] his portion.

I should have some time for enjoyment and to let myself be rewarded for my work.

    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080207

vain without a brother

Ecclesiastes 4

v8

There is one [alone], and [there is] not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother: yet [is there] no end of all his labour; neither is his eye satisfied with riches; neither [saith he], For whom do I labour, and bereave my soul of good? This [is] also vanity, yea, it [is] a sore travail.

I should be kind and friendly to my brothers, and work with them.

From: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

By Joachim Neander, 1680 and Erneuerten Gesangbuch, 1665
Praise to the Lord, who, when tempests their warfare are waging,
Who, when the elements madly around thee are raging,
Biddeth them cease, turneth their fury to peace,
Whirlwinds and waters assuaging.

Praise to the Lord, who, when darkness of sin is abounding,
Who, when the godless do triumph, all virtue confounding,
Sheddeth His light, chaseth the horrors of night,
Saints with His mercy surrounding.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080206

do good in life

Ecclesiastes 3

v12

I know that [there is] no good in them, but for [a man] to rejoice, and to do good in his life.

We should just keep working hard on doing what's right, whatever situation we're in.

From: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

By Joachim Neander, 1680 and Erneuerten Gesangbuch, 1665
Praise to the Lord, who hath fearfully, wondrously, made thee;
Health hath vouchsafed and, when heedlessly falling, hath stayed thee.
What need or grief ever hath failed of relief?
Wings of His mercy did shade thee.

Praise to the Lord, who doth prosper thy work and defend thee;
Surely His goodness and mercy here daily attend thee.
Ponder anew what the Almighty can do,
If with His love He befriend thee.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080205

what does fun do?

Ecclesiastes 2

v2

I said of laughter, [It is] mad: and of mirth, What doeth it?

We should remember this when we're tempted to waste time with things for fun, when we should be doing something else. That entertainment isn't for the Lord, so it practically doesn't do anything. We should do what's profitable.

From: Praise to the Lord, the Almighty

By Joachim Neander, 1680 and Erneuerten Gesangbuch, 1665
Praise to the Lord, the Almighty, the King of creation!
O my soul, praise Him, for He is thy health and salvation!
All ye who hear, now to His temple draw near;
Praise Him in glad adoration.

Praise to the Lord, who over all things so wondrously reigneth,
Shelters thee under His wings, yea, so gently sustaineth!
Hast thou not seen how thy desires ever have been
Granted in what He ordaineth?
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080204

labor for the Lord

Ecclesiastes 1

v3

What profit hath a man of all his labour which he taketh under the sun?

We should do our work for the Lord, because without Him, nothing we do would do any good.

From: When the Roll Is Called Up Yonder

By James Black, 1893
Let us labor for the Master from the dawn till setting sun,
Let us talk of all His wondrous love and care;
Then when all of life is over, and our work on earth is done,
And the roll is called up yonder, I’ll be there.

When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll, is called up yon-der,
When the roll is called up yonder I’ll be there.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080203

stand for life

Proverbs 31

v8

Open thy mouth for the dumb in the cause of all such as are appointed to destruction.

We should raise up our voices for those who have no voice, like unborn babies. We should keep standing for unborn babies' lives, and preaching the gospel outside of abortion clinics.

From: Rescue the Perishing

By Fanny Crosby, 1869 and William Doane, 1870.
Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Snatch them in pity from sin and the grave;
Weep o’er the erring one, lift up the fallen,
Tell them of Jesus, the mighty to save.

Rescue the perishing, care for the dying,
Jesus is merciful, Jesus will save.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file

20080202

avoid strife

Proverbs 30

v33

Surely the churning of milk bringeth forth butter, and the wringing of the nose bringeth forth blood: so the forcing of wrath bringeth forth strife.

In order to avoid strife, we should avoid wrath.

20080201

don't be an angry person

Proverbs 29

v22

An angry man stirreth up strife, and a furious man aboundeth in transgression.

I know I shouldn't be an angry person, but I really know I shouldn't stir up strife. What I didn't realize is that the Bible teaches that if I am an angry person, I will stir up strife.

When I'm tempted to be angry at somebody for their foolishness, I should remember how the Lord has forgiven me for so much sin, and I should forgive them.

From: The Master Hath Come

By Sar­ah Doud­ney, 1871 and from Welsh mel­o­dy
The Master hath called us, in life’s early morning,
With spirits as fresh as the dew on the sod:
We turn from the world, with its smiles and its scorning,
To cast in our lot with the people of God:
The Master hath called us, His sons and His daughters,
We plead for His blessing and trust in His love;
And through the green pastures, beside the still waters,
He’ll lead us at last to His kingdom above.
    headphonesdownload MP3 file
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