Sunday Scripture

 

Yes, it's time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is part of an ongoing series on my simple study of Rachel Wojo's Everything Beautiful.  You can read about the plan here if you are interested in it for yourself: Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what I learned back in 2018, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later.  I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Today's study is from Psalm 1:1-6.  

S= "Blessed is the man who walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.
"But his delight is in the law of the LORD; and in His law doth he meditate day and night.
"And he shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season; its leaf also shall not wither; and whatsoever he doeth shall prosper.
"The ungodly are not so; but are like the chaff which the wind driveth away.
"Therefore, the ungodly shall not stand in the judgment, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.
"For the LORD knoweth the way of the righteous; but the way of the ungodly shall perish."  (Psalm 1:1-6)

O= Note for "man" (v.1) -- "The singular Hebrew word is used here to portray a representative example of a godly person."  

Cross-reference for "walketh not" (v.1) -- "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in the path of evil men.  Avoid it, pass not by it, turn away from it, and pass away."  (Proverbs 4:14-15)

Cross-reference for "counsel of the ungodly" (v.1) -- "Lo, their good is not in their hand; the counsel of the wicked is far from me."  (Job 21:16)

Cross-reference for "the way of sinners" (v.1) -- "My son, if sinners entice thee, consent thou not."  (Proverbs 1:10)

Cross-references for "sits in" (v.1) -- "I have not sat with vain persons, neither will I go in with dissemblers."  (Psalm 26:4)

"I sat not in the assembly of the mockers, nor rejoiced; I sat alone because of Thy hand; for Thou hast filled me with indignation."  (Jeremiah 15:17)

Cross-reference for "the seat" -- "Let them exalt Him also in the congregation of the people, and praise Him in the assembly of the elders."  (Psalm 107:32)

Cross-references for "scornful" (v.1) -- "How long, ye simple ones, will ye love simplicity?  And the scoffers delight in their scoffing, and fools hate knowledge?"  (Proverbs 1:22)

"Surely He scoffeth at the scoffers, but He giveth grace unto the lowly."  (Proverbs 3:34)

"An ungodly witness scoffeth at justice, and the mouth of the wicked devoureth iniquity.  Judgments are prepared for scoffers, and stripes for the back of fools."  (Proverbs 19:28-29)

"Scornful men bring a city into a snare; but wise men turn away wrath."  (Proverbs 29:8)

"But his delight is in the law of the LORD." (v.2) Stuart Briscoe writes, " 'But' is a great little word!  It's a key word in Bible study for it alerts the reader to the fact that there is another side to what has just been said, and it is about to be presented.  So far the psalmist has been at great pains to state where happiness isn't.  Now he speaks positively about the direction in which happiness can be sought and found.  'But his delight is in the law of the Lord' gives the clue that so many people need to discover."

Cross-references for "delight" (v.2) -- "Praise ye the LORD.  Blessed is the man that feareth the LORD, that delighteth greatly in His commandments."  (Psalm 112:1)

"Make me to go in the path of Thy commandments; for therein do I delight."  (Psalm 119:35)

"I will speak of Thy testimonies also before kings, and will not be ashamed.  And I will delight myself in Thy commandments, which I have loved."  (Psalm 119:46-47)

"Unless Thy law had been my delights, I should then have perished in mine affliction."  (Psalm 119:92)

Note for "law of the LORD" (v. 2) = "Instruction."

Cross-references for "law of the LORD" (v.2) -- "The law of the LORD is perfect, converting the soul; the testimony of the LORD is sure, making wise the simple."  (Psalm 19:7)

"Wherefore, the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith."  (Galatians 3:24)

Cross-reference for "law" (v.2b) -- "O how love I Thy law!  It is my meditation all the day."  (Psalm 119:97)

Cross-reference for "tree" (v.3) -- "Blessed is the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is.  For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful in the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."  (Jeremiah 17:7-8)

Note for "wither" (v.3) -- in the Hebrew, this word means "fade".

Cross-reference for "like the chaff" (v.4) -- Job 21:18 says of the wicked, "They are as stubble before the wind, and as chaff that the storm carrieth away."

Cross-references for the phrase "stand in the judgment" (v.5) -- "The foolish shall not stand in Thy sight; Thou hatest all workers of iniquity."  (Psalm 5:5)

"Who can stand before His indignation? and who can abide in the fierceness of His anger? his fury is poured out like fire, and the rocks are thrown down by Him."  (Nahum 1:6)

Cross-reference for the phrase "the LORD knoweth" (v.6) -- "The LORD knoweth the days of the upright, and their inheritance shall be forever."  (Psalm 37:18)

A= For this Scripture, there were also a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal.  

"Beauty stems from the stream of God's Word." -- Rachel Wojo

This thought of course alludes to verse 3, where the psalmist notes that the one who delights in and meditates on God's Word will be "like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that bringeth forth its fruit in its season."

 
Rachel also shares a "focus word" in each of the devotional pages.  For this lesson the focus word is "delight". 

 

We should find our delight in God's Word!  Warren Wiersbe comments in With the Word, "Blessing involves delight (v.2).  The Word guides your walk and rejoices your heart (Jeremiah 15:16).  Meditation is to your inner person what digestion is to your body: you make the Word a part of your life and you grow."

 

I decided to look up Jeremiah 15:16.  It reads: "Thy words were found, and I did eat them; and Thy word was unto me the joy and rejoicing of mine heart; for I am called by Thy name, O LORD God of hosts."

 

Wiersbe adds, "Blessing involves dependence (v.3).   Your spiritual roots grow deep into the resources of God's grace and you bear fruit because His life is at work in you."

The question was asked: How can I realign the eyes of my heart to see the Father's gift of everyday elegance?

My response in 2018: I need to delight in God's Word and meditate on it daily.  As I do, I will be like a tree planted by the water, growing, flourishing,  bearing fruit.  I will remain strong even through the dry or challenging seasons of life.

Answering this same question in 2024:  Realize that God does indeed give us everyday elegance even in challenging, difficult seasons.   For me, observing the beauty of His creation always leads to meditating on His great power, wisdom, and creativity.  Looking at these things points me back to Him every time.

This prompt was given, along with a list: Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.

These are the places I circled: The words I read; the places I go; the music I hear;  the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.

In 2024 I can note that for the music I hear,  we recently enjoyed the blessing of a string quartet at church, and also a teen ensemble singing a stirring song titled "People of the Way".  Both were so encouraging and edifying!

For the words I read, I mentioned that the imagery of a tree here and also in Jeremiah 17:7-8, is so beautiful. 

For the places I go, we had occasion to travel through the Lakes Regions of both New Hampshire and Maine recently.  The lakes are so lovely. 

 
For the air I breathe, I mentioned the cool morning air at our little cottage.

A journaling prompt was this:  Everything God made is beautiful.  Where have I noticed God's beauty in the last 24 hours?

My response in 2018: In the sun's warmth.  In the beauty of sunshine on snow.  In the loving concern of others.  In the friendship of God's people.

For my response in 2024, I added: In a glorious sunset one recent evening.  In the warmth of Christian fellowship.  Beautiful red bee balm flowers at our camp.  In the song of a robin outside our window.

P= "Lord,  I thank and praise You for the beauty and benefit of Your Word.  Help me to meditate on Your Word every day, understanding that doing so will help me to grow strong and steadfast, unwavering through the storms and dry seasons of life. I thank You so much for all that You have done and are doing in my life, even through the most challenging seasons.  In Jesus' name, Amen."

 And there is this week's Sunday Scripture!  I pray it's a blessing to someone. 

Sunday Scripture

Delightful graphic by Abby at Little Birdie Blessings

 
It's time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is part of an ongoing series on my simple study of Rachel Wojo's Everything Beautiful.  You can read about the plan here if you are interested in it for yourself: Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what I learned back in 2018, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later.  I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Today's study is from Isaiah 25:1-9.  

S= "O LORD, Thou art my God; I will exalt Thee, I will praise Thy name; for Thou hast done wonderful things; Thy counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.
"For Thou hast made of a city an heap; of a fortified city a ruin; a palace of foreigners to be no city; it shall never be built.
"Therefore shall the strong people glorify Thee, the city of the terrible nations shall fear Thee.
"For Thou hast been a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress; a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat, when the blast of the terrible ones is like a storm against the wall."
"Thou shalt bring down the noise of aliens as the heat in a dry place, even the heat with the shadow of a cloud; the branch of the terrible ones shall be brought low.
"And in this mountain shall the LORD of hosts make unto all people a feast of fat things, a feast of wines on the lees, of fat things full of marrow, of wines on the lees well refined.
"And He will destroy in this mountain the face of the covering cast over all people, and the veil that is spread over all nations.
"He will swallow up death in victory; and the Lord GOD will wipe away tears from all faces, and the rebuke of His people shall He take away from all the earth; for the LORD hath spoken it.
"And it shall be said in that day, Lo, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us; this is the LORD; we have waited for Him, we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation."  (Isaiah 25:1-9)

O= Isaiah chapter 25 is titled by Scofield, "Triumphs of the Kingdom age."  Believer's Bible Commentary titles this chapter "Israel's Song of Praise for Kingdom Blessings."

This commentary explains, "Here [along with chapters 26-27] the restored Jewish remnant praises the LORD for its deliverance through the Great Tribulation.  Enemy cities (not necessarily any particular city) have been pulverized, causing Gentiles to acknowledge Jehovah's power.  God has been to His people all that they needed."

Warren Wiersbe notes, "The 'city' (verse 2) ultimately refers to Babylon, but it applies to anything man makes and uses to defy God.  It does not take God long to wipe out a nation or destroy a city."

Cross-reference for "glorify Thee" (v.3) -- "Wherefore, glorify the LORD in the fires, even the name of the LORD God of Israel in the coastlands of the sea."  (Isaiah 24:15) 

Notes for "on the lees"  (v. 6)-- "Lees = "fermenting and aging."

"Lees are the dregs composing the sediment at the bottom of a container of wine". -- Scofield

"On Mount Zion the Lord spreads a feast of the finest spiritual delights." -- Believer's Bible Commentary

Cross-reference for "covering cast over all people" (v.7) -- "But their minds were blinded; for until this day remaineth the same veil untaken away in the reading of the old testament, which veil is done away in Christ.
"But even unto this day, when Moses is read, the veil is upon their heart.
"Nevertheless, when it shall turn to the Lord, the veil shall be done away."  (2 Corinthians 3:14-16)

"[The Lord] removes the covering of ignorance, the veil of satanic blindness that has shrouded all nations." -- Believer's Bible Commentary

Cross-references for "swallow up death in victory" (v.8) -- "I will ransom them from the power of the grave; I will redeem them from death.  O death, I will be thy plagues; O grave, I will be thy destruction; repentance shall be hidden from mine eyes."  (Hosea 13:14)

"So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory."  (1 Corinthians 15:54)

"And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire.  This is the second death."  (Revelation 20:14)

Cross-references for "wipe away tears from all faces" (v.8) -- "For the Lamb who is in the midst of the throne shall feed them, and shall lead them into living fountains of waters; and God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes."  (Revelation 7:17)

"And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain; for the former things are passed away."  (Revelation 21:4)

Cross-references for "we have waited for Him" (v.9) -- "I have waited for Thy salvation, O Lord."  (Genesis 49:18)

"And I will wait upon the LORD, who hideth His face from the house of Jacob, and I will look for Him."  ((Isaiah 8:17)

"Yea, in the way of Thy judgments, O LORD, have we waited for Thee; the desire of our soul is to Thy name; and to the remembrance of Thee."  (Isaiah 26:8)

"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ."  (Titus 2:13)

A= For this Scripture, there were also a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal.  

"God is my shelter from the storm." -- Rachel Wojo

This thought of course echoes verse 3, where the prophet notes that God has been "a strength to the poor, a strength to the needy in his distress; a refuge from the storm, a shadow from the heat."

 
Rachel also shares a "focus word" in each of the devotional pages.  For this lesson the focus word is "stronghold". 

Warren Wiersbe  says, "Tribulation is like a storm, but He is the Refuge; it is like desert heat, but He is the Cloud that blots out the hot rays.  God silences the noise of the enemy and brings peace."

 
I like that picture!  He has been my Refuge in the storm often, but I had not really thought of tribulation and trouble as being like desert heat.  I have been in desert heat, and found it nearly unbearable.  I love thinking of God as the Cloud that blocks out the hot rays.

Willow Beach, Arizona.  Sounds cool and refreshing, but was 117º and barely tolerable.

The Colorado River was our option for cooling off.  Huge rocks on the bottom and not particularly clean.  However.  It was God's provision and we all took advantage of it.  I think excessive heat is actually a great metaphor for trouble.

The question was asked: What season or circumstance in life challenges me to see God's gifts of beauty ?

My response in 2018: Mud season always challenges me to see God's gifts of beauty.  It's so ugly!  But God's beauty is always there.

Answering this same question in 2024:  Any ugly season of life, especially family or church difficulties.  And then I added these thoughts about mud season; In mud season, we see God's order and regularity.  It always comes.  We also see God transforming this ugliness into beauty.

This prompt was given, along with a list: Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.

These are the places I circled: The words I read; the places I go; the music I hear; the people I encounter; the food I eat;  the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.

In 2024 I can note that for the music I hear,  I had the most amazing blessing on Saturday night.  I was standing in the kitchen of our little camp, brushing my teeth at the kitchen sink.  All of the windows were open.  Suddenly I became aware of piano music wafting through the night air.  It was coming from our daughter's house next door, as she practiced music for Sunday morning.  Just the most beautiful sound, and it came through clearly enough  for me to identify the songs she was playing.  

For the words I read, I mentioned that Isaiah 25 contains several verses that are incredibly beautiful and meaningful.

For the food I eat, and the people I encounter, I noted that our longtime friends Mark and Dianna visited church on Sunday and treated us to an amazing lunch.  The fellowship was even better than the food.

For the places I go, I mentioned a tram trip up Cannon Mountain.  Being in the mountains always brings perspective.

For the air I breathe, I mentioned the fresh mountain air, scented with balsam fir.

A journaling prompt was this:  List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.

My response in 2018: Bask in any sunshine that is available.  Enjoy the blessing of having piano accompaniment to singing at church.  [At that time we had no pastor, and no regular pianist.]  Notice the fresh effect of an unexpected skim of snow overnight.

For my response in 2024, I added: Notice the varied songs of birds and make a point of trying to identify them.  Try and identify the tree frogs and insects we hear at night.

P= "Lord,  You know that ugly seasons of all sorts challenge me to see Your gifts of beauty.  Help me to remember that Your beauty is always there.  I just need to look beyond the circumstances.  I praise You that You have done wonderful things, and that your counsels of old are faithfulness and truth.  You are still working in the same ways, regardless of how ugly things may look.  I thank and praise You for all of this, in Jesus' name, Amen."

 And there is this week's Sunday Scripture!  I pray it's a blessing to someone.

 

Have you visited my Christmas Kitchen? Ir's Christmas in July!

 

 Just popping in to note, for those who haven't made their way over to Mrs. T's Christmas Kitchen, that it's Christmas in July over there.  

I've been busily writing and scheduling posts, and just barely staying ahead of the game.  So far there are some recipes, memories, vintage things, Christmas fabrics, and all sorts of ideas that might interest you.  

Starting today, and running through July 24,  I'll be having a Christmas in July sale at my Etsy shop, too.  25% off all listings in the Vintage Christmas category.  

Merry Christmas in July!

Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is part of an ongoing series on my simple study of Rachel Wojo's Everything Beautiful.  You can read about the plan here if you are interested in it for yourself: Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what I learned back in 2018, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later.  I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Today's study is from Isaiah 29:13-16. 

S= "Wherefore the LORD said, Forasmuch as this people draw near Me with their mouth, and with their lips do honor Me, but have removed their heart far from Me, and their fear toward Me is taught by the precept of men;
"Therefore, behold, I will proceed to do a marvelous work among this people, even a marvelous work and a wonder; for the wisdom of their wise men shall perish, and the understanding of their prudent men shall be hidden.
"Woe unto those who seek deeply to hide their counsel from the LORD, and their works are in the dark, and they say, Who seeth us?  And who knoweth us?
"Surely, your turning of things upside down shall be esteemed as the potter's clay; for shall the work say of him who made it, he made me not?  Or shall the thing framed say of him that framed it, He had no understanding?"  (Isaiah 29:13-16)

O= Scofield titles Isaiah 29:9-16 "God's reasons for the discipline" (of Judah and Jerusalem".

Cross-references for "with their lips" (v.13) -- "Nevertheless they did flatter Him with their mouths, and they lied unto Him with their tongues."  (Psalm 78:36)

"And they come unto thee as the people come, and they sit before thee as My people, and they hear thy words, but they will not do them; for with their mouth they show much love, but their heart goeth after their covetousness."  (Ezekiel 33:31)

"Well did Isaiah prophesy of you, saying,
"This people draweth near unto Me with their mouth, and honoreth Me with their lips; but their heart is far from me.
"But in vain they do worship Me,  teaching for doctrines the commandments of men."  (Matthew 15:7b-9)

Cross-reference for "marvelous work" (v.14) -- "Behold among the nations, and regard, and wonder marvelously; for I will work a work in your days, which you will not believe, though it shall be told you."  (Habakkuk 1:5)

Cross-references for "wisdom of their wise men"  (v.14) -- "Concerning Edom, thus saith the LORD of hosts.  Is wisdom no more in Teman?  Is counsel perished from the prudent?  Is their wisdom vanished?"  (Jeremiah 49:7)

"Shall I not in that day, saith the LORD, even destroy the wise men out of Edom, and understanding out of the mount of Edom?" (Obadiah 8)

"For it is written, I will destroy the wisdom of the wise, and will bring to nothing the understanding of the  prudent."  (1 Corinthians 1:19)

Cross-references for "seeth us" (v.15) -- "[The wicked] has said in his heart, God hath forgotten; He hideth His face; He will never see it."  (Psalm 10:11)

"Yet they say, The LORD shall not see; neither shall the God of Jacob regard it.
"Understand, ye stupid among the people; and ye fools, when will yet be wise?
"He who planted the ear, shall He not hear?  He who formed the eye, shall He not see?"  (Psalm 94:7-9)

"For thou hast trusted in thy wickedness; thou hast said, None seeth me.  Thy wisdom, and thy knowledge,  it hath perverted thee, and thou hast said in thine heart, I am, and none else beside me."  (Isaiah 47:10)

"Then said he unto me, Son of man, hast thou seen what the ancients of the house of Israel do in the dark, every man in the chambers of his imagery?  For they say, The LORD seeth us not; the LORD hath forsaken the earth."  (Ezekiel 8:12)

Cross-references for "understanding" (v.16) -- "Woe unto him who striveth with his Maker!  Let the potsherds strive with the potsherds of the earth.  Shall the clay say to him that fashioneth it, What makest thou?  Or thy work, He hath no hands?"  (Isaiah 45:9)

"But now, O LORD, Thou art our father; we are the clay, and Thou our potter, and we are all the work of Thy hand."  (Isaiah 64:8)

"O house of Israel, cannot I do with you as this potter?  saith the LORD.  Behold, as the clay is in the potter's hand, so are ye in Mine hand, O house of Israel."  (Isaiah 18:6)

"Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God?  Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus?"  (Romans 9:20)

A= For this Scripture, there were also a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal.  

"When I question the details of God's work in me, I am not appreciating His beauty." -- Rachel Wojo

This thought of course fits with verse 16, which asks, "Shall the thing formed say of Him that formed it, He had no understanding?"

 
Rachel also shares a "focus word" in each of the devotional pages.  For this lesson the focus word is "trust". 

 

We definitely do need to trust what God is doing in our lives, whether or not we understand it or whether or not we even see Him working. 

The question was asked: How can I realign the eyes of my heart to see the Father's gift of everyday elegance?

My response in 2018: By taking a different perspective on this season I am in.  I understand God is giving me time to rest, but I have questioned somewhat the involvement of pain.  I need to trust Him with the details of my life and to accept the fact that pain is sometimes necessary.

Answering this same question in 2024:  We're in what could be a very terrifying place as a country.  Teetering on the brink it seems.  Looking to God, even to the gifts of everyday elegance He sends our way, reminds us that He is in full control of our situation and is in it with us.

This prompt was given, along with a list: Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.

These are the places I circled: The words I read; the places I go; the music I hear; the people I encounter; the food I eat;  the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.

In 2024 I can note that for the music I hear,  I had the opportunity to watch and listen to a concert our granddaughter and friends played in, from an amazing venue in Sweden.  It was a delight to be able to watch this performance after the fact, with her safely home again and watching it with us.

For the food I eat, I recalled the gorgeous red strawberries we picked fresh from the field.

For the people I encounter, I noted the glowing smile of a friend I bumped into in the grocery store.

For the air I breathe, I mentioned cool breezes wafting through the window at our camp.

A journaling prompt was this:  Everything God made is beautiful.  Where have I noticed God's beauty in the last 24 hours?

My response in 2018: In blue skies and warmer temperatures.  In precious memories as I've recently completed a blog post concerning my recollections of maple sugaring.  In my husband's concern and loving kindness.

For my response in 2024, I added: At dusk and dawn at our little camp, the varied and beautiful songs of many birds.   (We have them here at our house too, but many of the birds are different.)  In glorious orange lilies and yellow primroses.  In clouds of fireflies dancing in the woods.

P= "Lord,  I am thankful for Your working in my life.  I ask Your forgiveness for questioning the details of that work.  I know that You have a plan and that Your plan is good.  You are all wise and all knowing, and I am not.  You know exactly what is necessary and best for me, as well as for our world and country, and I trust You to accomplish it.  I thank You for  all You are doing and  for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

 And there is this week's Sunday Scripture!  I pray it's a blessing to someone.

 

 

A glorious Independence Day to you!

  

This is pretty much a re-post from 2021, but my thoughts are still the same, so I am posting it again.)

I hope that each of you Americans reading this will have a glorious Fourth of July celebrating the birthday of our beloved country! Whether you celebrate with family, friends, or church family, whether you are here on US soil or elsewhere, whether you're enjoying a picnic, a parade, fireworks, or possibly even a meaningful visit to a cemetery, I hope that each of you will take a moment sometime throughout the day to thank God for the land He has blessed us to be able to live in. Our country has many serious problems and flaws, but it is still a wonderful place to live and we enjoy many blessings here which we often take for granted. The wonderful song "America the Beautiful" includes these powerful words:

"America! America!
God mend thine every flaw.
Confirm thy soul in self-control,
Thy liberty in law!"

I've often been reminded -- and it happens again whenever we sing this song -- that truly, God is the only One who can mend our flaws.  But we have to want that to happen and we need to beseech God that it will happen. I've often thought, too,  how so many of our citizens are so confused concerning the balance between liberty and self-control. Our land offers us many freedoms, yet we take them for granted and many times do not see the need to exercise self-control or self-restraint in any area of life. We want what we want, when we want it, and then when we meet the inevitable consequences of our lack of self-control, we expect our government to take care of us.

 Our flaws have never been more obvious, it seems, and never have I been more aware of how fragile our liberties are and how easily they can be snatched away.  Let's take time today to beseech God to help us "mend our flaws" as a nation, and to thank Him for the privilege of living in this land.

Today I'm also sharing a few links to previous Fourth of July posts that might be fun or encouraging reads on this meaningful day.

From 2019: Independence Day Medley

From 2018: Praying for our country

From 2017: July 4 Hodgepodge

From 2016: This Land is Our Land

 And then there is this one: Faith Like Fireworks, by Rachel Wojo

Just one sentence from Rachel (but you'll want to read the whole post!): "As Christians, we must not be afraid to shine God’s light into the night sky, revealing the beauty of the Gospel to a dark world."

Hope you'll enjoy these thoughts!  Happy Fourth of July!

Some goals for July

 

A new month means new goals (and with me, always some ongoing ones as well) -- so here goes!

* Keep up with Flylady's homemaking zones of the week
* Get back to working through the "Make Room Challenge" from Make Room for What You Love
* Spend time with our friends who are younger believers
* Enjoy our church ladies' gathering
* Post in this blog as often as possible
* Post every day in my Christmas blog for Christmas in July
* Continue planning for family birthday gifts and crafting any handmade ones
* Use Charles Swindoll's devotional Growing Strong in the Seasons of Life for my quiet time daily
* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday School lessons
* Continue studying and preparing for my Sunday Scripture blog posts
*Work on Even If, a study of Habakkuk from the Daily Grace Co.
* Continue stocking my Etsy shop and continue selling vintage items
* Write at least 4 encouraging notes to friends and family
* Touch base with teen grandchildren regarding the Stand Firm Bible study
* Help and encourage my local daughter as I'm able
* Plan meals with a greater emphasis on healthy eating
* Continue to work on memorizing the book of James
* Continue to help a widowed friend with the challenges of life in general
* Get to bed by 8:30 each night we are at home
* Drink enough water each day
* Walk and/or exercise at least 4 times each week
* Do some needed outside scraping and painting of our little cottage
* Help prepare for and serve at a Fourth of July picnic at church
* Do some planning of meals for a family vacation coming up at the end of July

HEALTHY HABITS FOR JULY:  Drink more water/get more sleep/get more exercise/intermittent fasting/limit carbs

WORD FOR 2024: Continue

Sunday Scripture

 

Time for another Sunday Scripture!  This is part of an ongoing series on my simple study of Rachel Wojo's Everything Beautiful.  You can read about the plan here if you are interested in it for yourself: Everything Beautiful Bible reading plan. My answers and input on this series are a combination of what I learned back in 2018, and what I found in looking over the Scriptures now, six years later.  I'm attempting to SOAP the passages too, though some of them are longer. [Quick reminder that S stands for Scripture; O stands for observation; A stands for application, and P stands for prayer.]  Today's study is from 1 Peter 2:1-9.  

S= Wherefore, laying aside all malice, and all guile, and hypocrisies, and envies, and all evil speakings,
"As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that ye may grow by it,
"If so be ye have tasted that the Lord is gracious;
"To whom, coming as unto a living stone, disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God, and precious,
"Ye also, as living stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.
"Wherefore also it is contained in the scripture, Behold, I lay in Zion a chief cornerstone, elect, precious, and he that believeth on Him shall not be confounded.

"Unto you, therefore, who believe He is precious, but unto those who are disobedient, the stone which the builders disallowed, the same is made the head of the corner,
"And a stone of stumbling, and a rock of offense, even to them who stumble at the word,  being disobedient; whereunto also they were appointed.
"But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a people of His own, that ye should show forth the praises of Him who hath called you out of darkness into His marvelous light."  (1 Peter 2:1-9)

O= Cross-reference for "tasted" (v.3) -- "Oh, taste and see that the LORD is good; blessed is the man who trusteth in Him."  (Psalm 34:8)

Cross-reference for "stone" (v.4) -- "But his bow abode in strength, and the arms of his hands were made strong by the hands of the mighty God of Jacob (from there is the shepherd, the stone of Israel)." (Genesis 49:24)

Cross-reference for "disallowed" or "rejected" (v.4)  -- "The stone which the builders refused is become the head of the corner."  (Psalm 118:22)

In reference to "holy priesthood" (v.5) and "holy nation" (v.9) there is this note: "In the New Testament, one Greek word, hagios, in its various forms, is rendered 'holy', 'holiness', 'sanctify', 'sancified', 'sanctification'.  It signifies set apart."

Cross-reference for "Behold, I lay in Zion" (v.6)-- "Therefore, thus saith the Lord GOD, Behold, I lay in Zion for a foundation a stone, a tested stone, a precious cornerstone, a sure foundation; he that believeth shall not make haste."  (Isaiah 28:16) 

Cross-reference for "stone of stumbling" (v.8) -- "And He shall be for a sanctuary: but for a stone of stumbling and a rock of offense to both the houses of Israel, for a gin and for a snare to the inhabitants of Jerusalem."  (Isaiah 8:14)

Cross-reference for "whereunto also they were appointed" (v.8) -- "Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honor, and another to dishonor?
"What if God, willing to show His wrath and to make His power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction,
"And that He might make known the riches of His glory on the vessels of mercy, which He had before prepared unto glory,
"Even us, whom He hath called, not of the Jews only, but also of the Gentiles?"  (Romans 9:21-24)

Cross-references for "chosen generation" (v.9) -- "For thou art an holy people unto the LORD thy God; the LORD thy God hath chosen you to be a special people unto Himself, above all people who are upon the face of the earth."  (Deuteronomy 7:6)

"I give waters in the wilderness, and rivers in the desert, to give drink to My people, My chosen."  (Isaiah 43:20)

Note concerning "royal priesthood" (v.9) -- "In the exercise of his office the New Testament believer-priest is 1) a sacrificer who offers a fourfold sacrifice: 

 * his own living body (Romans 12:1)
* praise to God (Hebrews 13:15)
* his substance (Romans 12:13)
* his service (Hebrews 13:16)

2) an intercessor (Colossians 4:12)

Note concerning "holy nation" (v.9) -- "In both testaments the same Greek words are rendered by the English words 'sanctify' and 'holy' in their various grammatical forms.  The one uniform meaning is to set apart for God." -- Scofield

Cross-reference for "people of His own" (v.9) -- "Now therefore if ye will obey My voice indeed, and keep My covenant, then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto Me above all people, for all the earth is Mine.  And ye shall be unto Me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation."  (Exodus 19:5-6a)

Scofield comments, "What under law was conditional is, under grace, freely given to every believer." 

"Praises" (v.9) literally means "excellencies".

Cross-references for "out of darkness" (v.9) -- "To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them who are sanctified by faith that is in Me."  (Acts 26:18)

"And I will bring the blind by a way that they knew not; I will lead them in paths that they have not known.  I will make darkness light before them, and crooked things straight.  These things will I do unto them, and not forsake them."  (Isaiah 42:16)

Cross-reference for "His marvelous light" (v.9) -- "For with Thee is the fountain of life: in Thy light shall we see light."  (Psalm 36:9)

A= Warren Wiersbe notes concerning verses 1-2: "Just as a baby has an appetite for the mother's milk, so the child of God has an appetite for the Father's Word.  If you lose that appetite and stop growing, check to see if any of the sins listed in verse 1 are infecting your life."  Food for thought, for sure!

For this Scripture, there were also a number of ways to apply it as prompted in the journal.  

"Remembering who I once was is important to realize who I am now." -- Rachel Wojo

This thought of course fits with verse 9, which reminds us that God has brought us out of spiritual darkness. 

 
Rachel also shares a "focus word" in each of the devotional pages.  For this lesson the focus word is "mercy". 

 
It's certainly God's mercy that brought us out of darkness into His marvelous light.  It's His mercy that has made us a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, and a people of His own.

The question was asked: Which of my own words have blocked the beauty of God's Word?

My response in 2018: Again, probably words like "This is too hard!" when God's Word clearly states that there is nothing too hard for Him.

Answering this same question in 2024:  Words like "I can't do all this!" when God clearly tells me that I can do all things through Christ.  I know I absolutely can do all things that are His will for me to do.  

As Elisabeth Elliot wrote, "If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there.  Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God."

This prompt was given, along with a list: Today I will keep my eyes open for God's beauty in one or more of these places.

These are the places I circled: The words I read; the places I go; the music I hear; the people I encounter; the air I breathe; the weather I experience; the rest I receive.

In 2024 I can note that for the words I read, there are the beautiful words of the Bible as well as lovely poetry I have recently read.

For the places I go, I noted how we are surrounded with cool, refreshing shades of green at our little cottage in the woods.

 For the people I encounter, I spoke of a diverse and unexpectedly large group of ladies in my Sunday School class, all encouraging one another with their insights.

For the weather I experience, I mentioned a string of perfect summer days.

A journaling prompt was this:  List one or more ideas to remind myself to intentionally look for God's beauty throughout the day.

My response in 2018: Walk outdoors or on the porch if at all possible.  Soak up any available sunshine.  Breathe deeply while outdoors.  Listen for birdsong.

For my response in 2024, I added: Enjoy hummingbirds at the camp, and a large variety of colorful birds at our feeder at home.   Watch for perennial summer flowers and wildflowers.  Admire the color of my homemade chive blossom vinegar!

P= "Lord,  I praise You today that You have called me out of darkness into Your marvelous light!  Your expectation is that I will show forth Your praises in my life.  I need to be sure I'm doing that every day, not just on days when I'm feeling fine.  Help me to show forth Your praises every day, and I thank You for all You will do, in Jesus' name, Amen."

 And there is this week's Sunday Scripture!  I pray it's a blessing to someone.