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Psalm 129

  129  (Biblical text in italics) 1“Many times they have assailed me from my youth up,” Let Israel now say, Perhaps a responsive reading? 2 “Many times they have assailed me from my youth up; Yet they have not prevailed against me. They remember how often Israel has been in trouble and that God has preserved them anyway. 3 The plowers plowed upon my back; They lengthened their furrows.” There has been definite suffering, slavery even.  4 Yahweh is righteous; He keeps His promises because God is good, no matter how we suffer.  By remembering past trials, we can trust God because we know how He has delivered us from them and stood by us while we dealt with them.  (See the book of Job, especially Job 13:15a.) He has cut up the cords of the wicked. He is just and saves them from slavery.  Ultimately, He saves us from the slavery of sin. 5 Let all who hate Zion Be put to shame and turned backward; 6 Let them be like grass upon the rooftops, Which dries up before it gro
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Beauty in the hard times

  I live in the woods.   There is a ring of grass around my house and then woods, including lots of weeds.   There are cacti around, which seems odd based on the climate and makes me wonder if someone dumped them out at one time.   There are also some weeds that have weird silvery leaves with spikes on the edges.   Today, I looked out of my window and one of the cacti has a beautiful yellow flower on top.   The spiky weed just a few feet away has a lovely purple bloom.   Isn’t it amazing how something so harsh, even painful, can have beauty come from it?   I am reading a book of Charles Spurgeon’s sermons from the book of Job (I’ll get to a book review on it when I finish).  Job suffered a lot and not because of anything he did or didn’t do.  Sometimes life is just hard.  Sometimes, God allows us to suffer so that we will have all the extra and unnecessary stuff stripped away and He can bless us with better.   That’s what I think of when I see these difficult “weeds” crowned wi
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Being a Pharisee

  This morning I was reading in Luke chapter 7, about Simon the Pharisee and the “sinful woman” and it hit me.   I have been struggling with pride my whole life, most of us do, I guess, but the last year or so it has been more and more obvious to me.   Have you ever noticed how much more we see our sin as we get to know the Father better?   Anyway, it hit me that I am, in many ways, a Pharisee.   I often think that my idea of how things should be is actually the way things should be.   As I was answering the questions in my study book, it became clear.   Simon was looking at the outside of a person, only her past actions, her clothes, her situation, etc.   How many times do I do that?   I was raised in a Christian home, but it was also clear that being a “successful, upper middle class American” was equally important and people were definitely judged by that standard.   I have worked in a private Christian school where students were made to feel that their grades, test scores, abilit
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Book Review - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

  Book Review - The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald This is one of those books I read in high school but couldn’t really remember (it has been decades since high school, after all).  I chose this book because it is on a number of reading lists for high schoolers and I wanted to see if it would be appropriate for my high schooler to read next school year.  I had originally picked another book for this “slot” in her assignments, but found it to be rather inappropriate in some of its content.  This book is much better, but you should know that its main plot involves extra-marital affairs.  While that is, of course, sinful, the author does not find it necessary to be graphic in any way about these encounters.  There is a lot to learn about the excesses of the 1920’s in this book.  The level of materialism and promiscuity is emphasized and will open up a lot of discussion about worldliness and materialism and the ways they can easily infiltrate our lives without us thinking about i
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Psalm 128

  128  (Bible text in italics) - another wisdom psalm, further showing the blessedness that was described in Psalm 127 1 How blessed is everyone who fears Yahweh, fear=respect and awe Who walks in His ways. Obedience is a sign of this respect.  We show our love for the Lord by our obedience (see John 14:15, 21, 23; 1 John 5:3; 2 John 6). 2 When you shall eat of the fruit of the labor of your hands, How blessed will you be and how well will it be for you. 3 Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine In the innermost parts of your house, Your children like olive plants All around your table. 4 Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed These are blessings from the Lord - work you enjoy that is fruitful, this references agricultural work that produces your food; a wife whose work at home is also fruitful and brings joy to your home; children who are growing and healthy, strong and fruitful.  Blessing flows from the Lord through those who fear the Lord.  Those who fear the Lord w
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Book Review - C.S. Lewis through the Shadowlands: The Story of His Life with Joy Davidman by Brian Sibley

  Book Review - C.S. Lewis through the Shadowlands: The Story of His Life with Joy Davidman by Brian Sibley WOW!  This book was so good.  This is the biography of C.S. Lewis and his wife Joy Davidman.  The author addressees the ups and downs of their lives, especially concerning their individual faith.  This is one of those books that I could hardly put down.  You will laugh, and you will definitely cry, but you will also examine your faith and the way you live your life in light of that faith.  It has also made me want to read more of Lewis’ books.  We’ll see what all I get to . . .
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Book Review - Lord, Where’s My Calling? by Teasi Cannon

  Book Review - Lord, Where’s My Calling? by Teasi Cannon Have you ever felt like you were looking for what God wanted you to do and you just couldn’t figure it out?  Have you ever thought that you were meant for something big in this world?  If you have, then this book is for you.  This book was so helpful for me in my confusion and struggle that has been brought about in this transition phase of my life (see previous post on Transitions).  It was very convicting and pointed me back in the right direction.  I won’t give away much, but if you want to live with purpose you should read this book.  Teasi Cannon helps us to figure out what our purpose is, what a calling is, what a goal is, and what a desire is.  Each of these definition are given with humor and great visual metaphors.  You’ll learn about being the best vacuum cleaner you can be.  You’ll understand that you are living on an area rug rather than a red carpet and that’s a good thing.  You’ll chuckle and you’ll end up on
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