Restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition

¹⁹ But Lord, you remain the same forever!
    Your throne continues from generation to generation.
²⁰ Why do you continue to forget us?
    Why have you abandoned us for so long?
²¹ Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again!
    Give us back the joys we once had!
²² Or have you utterly rejected us?
    Are you angry with us still?  Lamentations 5:19-22

RESTORE

Definition:

: an act of restoring or the condition of being restored as a : a bringing back to a former position or condition : reinstatement <the restoration of peace> b : restitution c : a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition <the restoration of a painting>  http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/restoration

 I like c: a restoring to an unimpaired or improved condition.

If we have wandered from God, quit talking to him or quit listening to him not only can we restore our relationship with him but he can make it even better than it was before!

Remember that God is not a program or building. Going to "church" on Sunday does not mean you have a relationship again with God.

Talk to Him now. He is right there with you. God is with us. We don't have to make an appointment.

Don't be discouraged if it does not seem like He is there. Last night I prayed and then stopped and listened. I did not hear a thing. Eventually my mind started wandering. So I said "Amen". That's the way it goes a lot.

How about you? Do you ever have times like that or does God always seem to converse back and forth with you? Be honest, at least to yourself.

Today's passages:

LAMENTATIONS 5:1-22
OBADIAH 1:1-21
2KINGS 25:22-26
JEREMIAH 40:7-41:18

Tomorrow's passages:

 JEREMIAH 42:1-44:30
EZEKIEL 33:21-33

 

How is your day going?

⁹ Those killed by the sword are better off
    than those who die of hunger.
Starving, they waste away
    for lack of food from the fields.

¹⁰ Tenderhearted women
    have cooked their own children.
They have eaten them
    to survive the siege.   Lamentations 4:9-10

 Do you ever have that time in your life that it seems like things can't get any worse?

 Everything seems like it is the worse it has ever been? The world, your job, marriage, finances, family or even church?

Is there a point where it is really hopeless? Today's reading paints a scene that seems hopeless. A scene that we would never want to live to see repeated.

But even in the midst of the scenario we have been reading about and in the ones we find ourselves in today there is hope. Only one hope.

 ²¹ Yet I still dare to hope
    when I remember this:

²² The faithful love of the Lord never ends!^[i]
    His mercies never cease.
²³ Great is his faithfulness;
    his mercies begin afresh each morning.
²⁴ I say to myself, “The Lord is my inheritance;
    therefore, I will hope in him!”

²⁵ The Lord is good to those who depend on him,
    to those who search for him.
²⁶ So it is good to wait quietly
    for salvation from the Lord.
²⁷ And it is good for people to submit at an early age
    to the yoke of his discipline:

²⁸ Let them sit alone in silence
    beneath the Lord’s demands.
²⁹ Let them lie face down in the dust,
    for there may be hope at last.
³⁰ Let them turn the other cheek to those who strike them
    and accept the insults of their enemies.

³¹ For no one is abandoned
    by the Lord forever.
³² Though he brings grief, he also shows compassion
    because of the greatness of his unfailing love.
³³ For he does not enjoy hurting people
    or causing them sorrow.  Lamentations 3:33

The good news is always there. God is here. Christ is with us. He loves us.

Today's passages:

LAMENTATIONS 2:1-4:22

Tomorrow's Passages:

LAMENTATIONS 5:1-22 OBADIAH 1:1-21 2KINGS 25:22-26 JEREMIAH 40:7-41:18

Temporary Temple it ain't that simple

¹² Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. ¹³ Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever! I Kings 8:12-13

Then Solomon prayed, “O Lord, you have said that you would live in a thick cloud of darkness. ² Now I have built a glorious Temple for you, a place where you can live forever!” I Chronicles 6:1-2

¹⁸ Run from sexual sin! No other sin so clearly affects the body as this one does. For sexual immorality is a sin against your own body. ¹⁹ Don’t you realize that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit, who lives in you and was given to you by God? You do not belong to yourself, ²⁰ for God bought you with a high price. So you must honor God with your body. I Corinthians 6:18-20

²⁰ “What!” they exclaimed. “It has taken forty-six years to build this Temple, and you can rebuild it in three days?” ²¹ But when Jesus said “this temple,” he meant his own body. ²² After he was raised from the dead, his disciples remembered he had said this, and they believed both the Scriptures and what Jesus had said.  John 2:20-22

Okay so I did add some verses that was not included in today's reading.




After Solomon finished the temple he put what was important in the temple like The Ark and the silver, gold and various articles that his father David had dedicated.


We read that our bodies are a temple and there are 3 ways to put things in our temple.



Our mouth, our ears and our eyes.


What are we eating, smoking or taking that is destroying our temple?


What are we listening to that we are putting in to our temple?


What are we reading and looking at that we put in our temple?


Salomon's temple was magnificent but study the human body! What craftsmanship by the creator!


As we read on this year we will find out that this temple is temporary and we will get something new. 


Keep reading and putting god's word in your temple!

Today's Reading:1KINGS 8:1-11
2CHRONICLES 5:1-14
1KINGS 8:12-21
2CHRONICLES 6:1-11
1KINGS 8:22-53
2CHRONICLES 6:12-42


Tomorrow's Reading:
1KINGS 8:54-66
2CHRONICLES 7:1-10
1KINGS 9:1-9
2CHRONICLES 7:11-22
1KINGS 9:10-14

 

16,500 gallons of water

⁴ The Sea was placed on a base of twelve bronze oxen, all facing outward. Three faced north, three faced west, three faced south, and three faced east, and the Sea rested on them. ⁵ The walls of the Sea were about three inches^[g] thick, and its rim flared out like a cup and resembled a water lily blossom. It could hold about 16,500 gallons^[h] of water.

⁶ He also made ten smaller basins for washing the utensils for the burnt offerings. He set five on the south side and five on the north. But the priests washed themselves in the Sea.  2 Chronicles 4:4-6

When I read this my mind jumps in gear wondering how they carried 16,500 gallons of water. Then I wonder how they clean or change the water if it sits stagnant in a huge bowl and the priests are washing themselves in this sea.

But when searching I read that there is significance to the direction of the bulls, the water symbolizing the Red Sea, etc.




This is a perfect example of the depth of the scriptures. We can do a whole study on just the bronze sea.




If you have time to do some research of your own post what you have discovered about the bronze sea!

Today's reading:1KINGS 7:1-51
2CHRONICLES 3:15-4:22
Tomorrow's reading:
1KINGS 8:1-11
2CHRONICLES 5:1-14
1KINGS 8:12-21
2CHRONICLES 6:1-11
1KINGS 8:22-53
2CHRONICLES 6:12-42

What would you ask for?

⁵ That night the Lord appeared to Solomon in a dream, and God said, “What do you want? Ask, and I will give it to you!”

⁶ Solomon replied, “You showed faithful love to your servant my father, David, because he was honest and true and faithful to you. And you have continued your faithful love to him today by giving him a son to sit on his throne.

⁷ “Now, O Lord my God, you have made me king instead of my father, David, but I am like a little child who doesn’t know his way around. ⁸ And here I am in the midst of your own chosen people, a nation so great and numerous they cannot be counted! ⁹ Give me an understanding heart so that I can govern your people well and know the difference between right and wrong. For who by himself is able to govern this great people of yours?”

¹⁰ The Lord was pleased that Solomon had asked for wisdom. ¹¹ So God replied, “Because you have asked for wisdom in governing my people with justice and have not asked for a long life or wealth or the death of your enemies— ¹² I will give you what you asked for! I will give you a wise and understanding heart such as no one else has had or ever will have! ¹³ And I will also give you what you did not ask for—riches and fame! No other king in all the world will be compared to you for the rest of your life! ¹⁴ And if you follow me and obey my decrees and my commands as your father, David, did, I will give you a long life.”

¹⁵ Then Solomon woke up and realized it had been a dream. He returned to Jerusalem and stood before the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant, where he sacrificed burnt offerings and peace offerings. Then he invited all his officials to a great banquet.   I Kings 5:3-15 

If you were given this chance what would you ask for?



$$$ to get out of debt and never have to work?



Would you ask to be healed from a medical condition so you  no longer feel the pain?





Think.....what kind of wisdom can God give us? We can study, take classes and read books to obtain wisdom and knowledge that comes only from man.





Would you or have you ever asked for God's wisdom for something that was not to directly benefit you?

Today's Readings:PSALM 83
1CHRONICLES 29:23-25
2CHRONICLES 1:1
1KINGS 2:13-3:4
2CHRONICLES 1:2-6
1KINGS 3:5-15
2CHRONICLES 1:7-13

Tomorrow's Readings:1KINGS 3:16-28
1KINGS 5:1-18
2CHRONICLES 2:1-18
1KINGS 6:1-13
2CHRONICLES 3:1-14
1KINGS 6:14-38

Back in the 80's

In 1982 Debbie and Michael W Smith wrote a song "Great Is The Lord" Using scripture from Psalm 145:3

Great is the Lord! He is most worthy of praise!
    No one can measure his greatness. Psalm 145:3

We sang this song frequently back in the 80's and every time I read today's verse I start singing that song. It triggers me to praise God! All off that one verse in Psalms.


As you watch this short video think of how timeless God's word is. When King David wrote this he did not wear the type of clothes the people in this video are wearing and today we dress differently than when Micheal W Smith performed this song. But the words, the scripture is timeless!

If you did not find yourself praising God listen to it again!




I believe God is well pleased every time we declare "Great Is The Lord!"

Today's Readings:PSALM 144-145
PSALM 88-89

Tomorrow's Readings:PSALM 50
PSALM 73-74

Are you confident?

⁷ My heart is confident in you, O God;
    my heart is confident.
    No wonder I can sing your praises!
⁸ Wake up, my heart!
    Wake up, O lyre and harp!
    I will wake the dawn with my song.
⁹ I will thank you, Lord, among all the people.
    I will sing your praises among the nations.
¹⁰ For your unfailing love is as high as the heavens.
    Your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

¹¹ Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens.
    May your glory shine over all the earth.   Psalms 57:7-11

Are you confident that God has everything under control?

If so then we have less time to worry and more time to praise God, right?

His glory is shining all over the earth. If you do not see that then perhaps you have your eyes fixed on the wrong thing!

Please take time to see this week's video. I welcome your comments!

 

Today's readings:

 1SAMUEL 22:1-2
PSALM 57
PSALM 142
1CHRONICLES 12:8-18
1SAMUEL 22:3-23
PSALM 52
1SAMUEL 23:1-12
Tomorrow's readings:
1SAMUEL 23:13-29
PSALM 54
1SAMUEL 24:1-25:44

Transformation

⁹ As Saul turned and started to leave, God gave him a new heart, and all Samuel’s signs were fulfilled that day. ¹⁰ When Saul and his servant arrived at Gibeah, they saw a group of prophets coming toward them. Then the Spirit of God came powerfully upon Saul, and he, too, began to prophesy. ¹¹ When those who knew Saul heard about it, they exclaimed, “What? Is even Saul a prophet? How did the son of Kish become a prophet?”  1 Samuel 10:9-11

God gave Saul a new heart and then His spirit came powerfully upon him.

Did you know you can have that same transformation experience with God as well?

If so do you remember when your heart changed?

Does you life reflect the Spirit of God in it?

¹⁷ Later Samuel called all the people of Israel to meet before the Lord at Mizpah. ¹⁸ And he said, “This is what the Lord, the God of Israel, has declared: I brought you from Egypt and rescued you from the Egyptians and from all of the nations that were oppressing you. ¹⁹ But though I have rescued you from your misery and distress, you have rejected your God today and have said, ‘No, we want a king instead!’ Now, therefore, present yourselves before the Lord by tribes and clans.”

²⁰ So Samuel brought all the tribes of Israel before the Lord, and the tribe of Benjamin was chosen by lot. ²¹ Then he brought each family of the tribe of Benjamin before the Lord, and the family of the Matrites was chosen. And finally Saul son of Kish was chosen from among them. But when they looked for him, he had disappeared! ²² So they asked the Lord, “Where is he?”

And the Lord replied, “He is hiding among the baggage.”  1 Samuel 10:17-22

Has God called called you to lead?




Are you hiding among the baggage? 

Today's readings

1 SAMUEL 9:1-12:25

Tomorrow's Readings:
1CHRONICLES 9:35-39
1SAMUEL 13:1-5
1SAMUEL 13:19-23
1SAMUEL 13:6-18

Faithfully

¹⁶ But Ruth replied, “Don’t ask me to leave you and turn back. Wherever you go, I will go; wherever you live, I will live. Your people will be my people, and your God will be my God. ¹⁷ Wherever you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. May the Lord punish me severely if I allow anything but death to separate us!” ¹⁸ When Naomi saw that Ruth was determined to go with her, she said nothing more.  Ruth 1:16-18

Have you ever been this committed to a person/relationship?



Naomi had nothing to offer Ruth and it seemed like everything had been going wrong for Naomi.



The future was uncertain yet Ruth was faithful to her mother-in-law.



How committed are you? How faithful are you to God and others?



As you read the Book of Ruth notice the virtues of both Ruth and Boaz!



Today’s readings:
RUTH 1:1-4:12
Tomorrow’s readings:
RUTH 4:13-22
1CHRONICLES 2:9-55
1CHRONICLES 4:1-23
1SAMUEL 1:1-8

Too graphic to give a title!

²² While they were enjoying themselves, a crowd of troublemakers from the town surrounded the house. They began beating at the door and shouting to the old man, “Bring out the man who is staying with you so we can have sex with him.”

²³ The old man stepped outside to talk to them. “No, my brothers, don’t do such an evil thing. For this man is a guest in my house, and such a thing would be shameful. ²⁴ Here, take my virgin daughter and this man’s concubine. I will bring them out to you, and you can abuse them and do whatever you like. But don’t do such a shameful thing to this man.”

²⁵ But they wouldn’t listen to him. So the Levite took hold of his concubine and pushed her out the door. The men of the town abused her all night, taking turns raping her until morning. Finally, at dawn they let her go. ²⁶ At daybreak the woman returned to the house where her husband was staying. She collapsed at the door of the house and lay there until it was light.

²⁷ When her husband opened the door to leave, there lay his concubine with her hands on the threshold. ²⁸ He said, “Get up! Let’s go!” But there was no answer.^[d] So he put her body on his donkey and took her home.

²⁹ When he got home, he took a knife and cut his concubine’s body into twelve pieces. Then he sent one piece to each tribe throughout all the territory of Israel.

³⁰ Everyone who saw it said, “Such a horrible crime has not been committed in all the time since Israel left Egypt. Think about it! What are we going to do? Who’s going to speak up?”  Judges 19:22-30

I really did not wish to post all of this but since there are global readers who may not have a bible I put it up.
You can also find the daily readings at the following link:



One Year Bible Readings <--------------------


First, of course, when reading this a feel angry even after all these years. I thought about it for a long time this time and decided that hopefully when this woman, probably a young woman, died God erased that dreadful memory and she is experiencing eternal bliss in the presence of Jesus.


I have daughters and I can’t imagine for a moment this happening to them.


Next thing that came to mind was justice.

⁴⁶ So that day the tribe of Benjamin lost 25,000 strong warriors armed with swords, ⁴⁷ leaving only 600 men who escaped to the rock of Rimmon, where they lived for four months. ⁴⁸ And the Israelites returned and slaughtered every living thing in all the towns—the people, the livestock, and everything they found. They also burned down all the towns they came to.  Judges 20:46-48

A lot of people died over that event but I think that justice would have been that the Levite that shoved the woman out died too.



But justice belongs to God and I know we are thankful that we do not get what we deserve. 

What are your thoughts on what we have read today?

 

Today’s reading:
JUDGES 19:1-21:25
Tomorrow’s reading:
RUTH 1:1-4:12