Week 26. Cultivating a Quiet Heart…

We almost finished the Psalms during week 26.   

 We are still listening to the “Message” version of Psalms on our phone app as we read along in our Daily Walk Bible, and will probably  continue with the “Message” version for Proverbs, too, because it is contemporary and enables us to listen in a fresh way. 

There are so many verses in the Psalms that I have underlined and highlighted.

Here is a treasure in the NIV:  PS 119, verse 18: 

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

And I love the verses about meditating.  As we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s power and majesty and love, we find ourselves worrying less, and feeling more peaceful, no matter what challenges each day brings. His love endures forever. 

I discovered Psalm 131 during week 26….  A Psalm of Contentment…Here it is from the Message version:

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
    I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
    or fantasized grandiose plans.

 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
    my soul is a baby content.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
    Hope now; hope always!

and here is Psalms 131, beautifully interpreted  in the Good News Translation...

  

 What a beautiful image of quiet trust.  

In these days of worldwide unrest, we can cultivate a quiet heart. 

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 25. The LORD is robed in majesty.

Week 25’s readings through Psalm 73 – 106 included many beautiful verses about nature.   Psalm 93 reminded me especially of the ocean.  

Here are some of my ocean photos with Psalm 93:

“The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;

The LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;

Indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

Your throne was established long ago;

You are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, LORD,

The seas have lifted up their voice;

The seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

Mightier than the breakers of the sea-

The LORD on high is mighty.

Your statues, LORD, stand firm;

Holiness adorns your house

For endless days.

Nature reminds us of God’s awesome power.  And we are also reminded of God’s faithfulness, because no matter what is happening, the sun rises and the sun sets…the tide rises and the tide falls…and the seasons continue year after year. 

“Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me! “

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 24. Step out of the traffic

Week 24:  We finished reading BOOK ONE of the Psalms, and we also discovered a refreshing way to hear the Psalms:  through “The Message” version, on our Bible phone app.

We tried it one day and wow, it makes the Psalms come alive in a fresh and surprising way.  The reader is young and the language is contemporary.  So the familiar verses are heard in a new way.  We have decided to use The Message version on the phone app for the remainder of Psalms, to LISTEN daily as we read along in our Daily Walk Bible.

Example:  Psalm 46: 10 in the NIV says: “Be still and know that I am God…,” but in The Message, it says: “Step out of the traffic, and take a long loving look at me…” 

I have thought of that several times in the past week.  I am grateful that I can enter the mystery of God’s calming presence at any time, and at any place, and in any circumstance. 

Psalms 70 in The Message: “God!  Please hurry to my rescue!  God, come quickly to my side!” 

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 23. June 7. The LORD is our refuge.

We finally arrived at the book of Psalms!  It is a refreshing pause and feels good to me to read this book during these sunny summer days.  

I think the Introduction on page 593 is interesting…that the psalms compiled into this book were written by at least 7 authors and span about 1,000 years, and compiled into 5 books. 

So this was the temple hymnbook…I wonder what the music sounded like when they were sung long ago. 

We all have favorite verses.  They bring us joy, comfort and peace.  But one thing that has always disturbed me a little bit about the Psalms is how you are reading a pleasant Psalm and then, right in the middle of it; the psalmist is hating his enemies and asking God to destroy the wicked.  Psalm 11 verse 5 & 6 is a good example:

“The LORD examines the righteous, but he wicked, those who hate love violence, he hates with a passion.  On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burring sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.”

Wow!…

I have never really had any enemies in my life, so I could never identify with this before.  But as I started reading through Psalms last week, I thought of the world’s new enemy, “ISIS” , every time I  read about the “wicked” or “enemies” and it made so much more sense.  So, when I am afraid of terrorist attacks, when I feel a sense of doom,  & when I despair over all the bad news in the world, I now think of the Psalms and  remember that my security is from God.   Seeing things from this perspective changes everything.

Psalm 4: verse 8:   “In peace I will l lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. “ Psalm 9: 9, 10.

May true peace fill our hearts and minds as we keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 22, Well, shut my mouth!

May 31.  We have finished reading the book of Job this week.

I found chapter 28 interesting as it described mining.  I imagine that in ancient times, people would discover an underground vein of gold or precious stones and minerals from tracing a stream into an underground cavern.  (verse 10)  And the analogy is: wisdom is like that, you can find it, but you don't create it.  It is there for the discovering because it already exists in God.  And it is precious.

I found chapter 29 to be depressing.  It seems to describe a dying person who is struggling with depression.  Chapter 30 describes the pain and utter sadness of dying.   "And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me.  Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. ...I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me." (v. 16, 17, 20)
One thing is for sure, all humans suffer at some time or another and if we can remember to see people that way, it changes everything.

Then, we finally came to Chapter 38 when the Lord speaks.  Everything changes.  

Job's response is "well, shut my mouth" (my translation)  There is nothing more to say.  God is God.  who are we to argue with Him or even to try to figure out what He is doing?  All we can do is say "OK, yes."

So what can we take from Job: God is sovereign over the Earth and no matter what happens to us in this life, we know that our Redeemer lives.  I have had that on my mind all week.  There are several versions under the title " I know that my Redeemer lives" 

Here are the words to the hymn by Samuel Medly.  It is still as true today as it was when written in the 1700's, and as it was centuries before Christ was born, when Job declared it:  

"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"
by Samuel Medley, 1738-1799

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all-glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Now we get to move into the Psalms.  YEAH!  
Till next week, keep  reading.......