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Plan to read the Bible more this year?

Posted on January 7, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Many people begin with new year with a goal to read the Bible through, or at least to read it more. And that is a worthy goal. There are many good reasons to read the Bible.

I’d like to suggest, though, that if you don’t have some kind of plan of action, this goal, like many others, will likely fizzle out and you’ll get discouraged: likely either making the time will fall to the wayside, or you’ll hit or miss in favorite passages and not venture out into others.

So I would like to suggest that you make some kind of plan. Let me say up front, though, that not every day will go according to plan, and that’s ok. Don’t let it discourage you that you can’t do the exact same thing every day, when someone is sick, when on vacation, when something unexpected comes up. On “those days” just do what you can and then get back into routine as soon as you are able.

That’s one reason I like the Daily Light devotional book. I like to use it to begin my devotions and get my mind in gear, but there are some days that that may be all I can do, and on those days I know I’ve had a good “bite” into God’s Word — kind of like those days that you don’t have time for a proper breakfast but you grab a multi-grain nutrition bar rather than a donut.

I’ll confess that on Sundays I only read Daily Light (and sometimes other devotional books I am going through). Our routine is different on Sunday and everyone is home, making it a little harder to find a quiet time to concentrate, plus we’re at church 3+ hours with Sunday School and the morning and evening services. I look at it like going to Grandma’s house for a big Sunday dinner rather than eating at home: I am going to church for the “family meal” my pastor and teachers have prepared that day.

There are a number of plans online for reading the Bible through. One here is based, I believe, on the One Year Bible plan. BibleGateway.com has a few different ones: a comprehensive one for reading the Bible through in a year, a 121-day biographical one covering some of the major people in the Bible, a 61-day survey schedule, and a 61-day chronological reading plan.

There is a plan developed by Robert Murray McCheyne (or M’cheyne) here that will take you though the Old Testament once and the New Testament and Psalm twice in a year’s time.

Susan at By Grace posted links to some other Bible reading plans that I’m going to “borrow” and share with you here. One she saw at Mountain Musings is here with five different plans for many different versions (even foreign language ones). Another one has you reading from different parts of the Bible (Epistles, Law, History, Psalms, Poetry, Prophecy, Gospels) each day. Susan also shared a link to a free online version of Alexander Scourby’s audio reading of the KJV for those who learn better by listening than by reading (or who sometimes like to listen while reading).

There is a list of thirteen other Bible reading plans here.

Surely with all of those plans there is one to strike everyone’s fancy. 🙂

I’ve mentioned many times that I love reading the Bible through, and when I first started a plan kept me at it and on track. Over the past several years I have continued to read the Bible through, but not in a year. I usually read a couple of chapters a day, but in some of the narrative passages or some of the shorter epistles I’ll read more at a time. There are some places in the Bible that, if I try reading more, I am not comprehending it, and that’s the goal — understanding and meditating on what you read, not just getting through a list. Plus I want to be free to study out something that strikes me in my reading or look up cross references, etc., without feeling like I don’t have time to because I need to keep with the plan.

Sometimes I take a break in my regular reading to do a particular study or to go through a Christian book, like Changed Into His Image.

A few other posts I have written on this topic are Devotional tips, Having devotions when you’re not feeling very devoted, God’s Word, When there is no hunger for God’s Word, and What do you say about this book? One of my passions is getting people into the Word of God for themselves. It’s such a treasure.

In closing, here are some quotes from other well-known voices of the past about reading the Word of God:

“Above all theologies, and creeds, and catechisms, and books, and hymns, must the Word be meditated on, that we may grow in the knowledge of all its parts and in assimilation to its models. Our souls must be steeped in it; not in certain favorite parts of it, but the whole. We must know it, not from the report of others but from our own experience and vision,…Another cannot breathe the air for us, nor eat for us, nor drink for us.”
–Horatius Bonar from They Walked With God

“It will greatly help you to understand scripture if you note – not only what is spoken and written, but of whom and to whom, with what words, at what time, where, to what intent, with what circumstances, considering what goes before and what follows. “
–Miles Coverdale

“Some people like to read so many [Bible] chapters every day. I would not dissuade them from the practice, but I would rather lay my soul asoak in half a dozen verses all day than rinse my hand in several chapters. Oh, to be bathed in a text of Scripture, and to let it be sucked up in your very soul, till it saturates your heart! “
–Charles Haddon Spurgeon

“The Word of God well understood and religiously obeyed is the shortest route to spiritual perfection. And we must not select a few favorite passages to the exclusion of others. Nothing less than a whole Bible can make a whole Christian.” –AW. Tozer

“When you are reading a book in a dark room, and come to a difficult part, you take it to a window to get more light. So take your Bibles to Christ.” –Robert Murray M’Cheyne

“If there is anything in my thoughts or style to commend, the credit is due to my parents for instilling in me an early love of the Scriptures. If we abide by the principles taught in the Bible, our country will go on prospering and to prosper; but if we and our posterity neglect its instructions and authority, no man can tell how sudden a catastrophe may overwhelm us and bury all our glory in profound obscurity.” — Daniel Webster

Stray thoughts

Posted on January 5, 2008 by Barbara Harper

A new calendar. One of my favorite activities is getting out the new kitchen calendar for the year with its blank squares, and filling in the birthdays for the coming year. The fresh new one reminds me of Dr. Bob Jones, Sr.’s saying that “There are no stains on the pages of tomorrow.” As I look through last year’s calendar to get all the birth dates I also see the appointments, showers, special events, etc. that occurred last year and remember some with fondness and some, like those dentist’s visits, with something less than fondness. One more of those to go before getting back to regular visits. I also see my once-a-year appointment with my regular doctor is coming due. Ugh!

Christmas is officially over. We took down the decorations today. I had meant to do it Jan. 1, but we were all doing different things and just didn’t really feel like it then. When we put up Christmas decorations, I store the regular decorations in the Christmas boxes and then put them back out when we put the Christmas ones away. All the boxes are back in the attic and I am missing two heart-shaped doilies and the little topiary made of pink roses that I have shown often here. I hate to think they may be still back in those Christmas boxes and I just missed them. I don’t have the energy or mindset to go look for them just now.

Almost back to normal. Jim and Jeremy started back to work last week, Jesse starts back to school Monday, Jason is visiting his girlfriend in OK, due back Monday, then has to check in and buy books and such before classes start on Thursday. In some ways I am ready to get back into a regular routine, but I am not ready to start setting the alarm again and having all the busy activities starting up again and remembering what day Jesse needs his piano music and when’s the last time he brought his gym clothes home to be washed (current answer: before Christmas….they’ve been stuffed in his locker for weeks. Should be about ripe now!)

A Valentine’s idea… ArtsyMama had a post about a swap, which is now closed to participants, but the basic idea was a darling one that I am thinking about using this Valentine’s Day.

Do you read in the bathroom? Doesn’t everybody? Not that we ever really talk about it, but by the reading material you see in other people’s, you’d think so. Whenever people say they don’t have time to read I want to ask whether they read in there. Bet linked to a funny an interesting article the other day about reasons to read in the bathroom. I liked that one guy called it the “Fortress of Solitude.”

May you have some solitude this weekend to rest and regroup!

Updated: I did find the missing decorations tucked in other places, so I didn’t have to get back into the Christmas storage boxes, and this morning as Jesse was leaving for school he pulled his dirty gym clothes out of his backpack — they had been there all along! 🙄

Book Review: Never Say Can’t

Posted on January 5, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Some years ago I read a book called Never Say Can’t about a missionary who didn’t feel he had much natural ability but who determined that he would do whatever God called him to do and not make excuses, trusting God for the ability. In fact, he and his wife made a little ceremony of burying the word “can’t.” I couldn’t remember their names or the author’s, but I remembered that incident.

I was excited to find a used book by the same title and ordered it — but it’s not the same book. 🙂 It was an enjoyable read, though.

This Never Say Can’t by Jerry Ballard was about a missionary with the same motto, Thomas Willey, who ministered in Panama and Cuba. Rather than recapping the whole story, I want to just touch on a few things that stood out to me.

He had had to quit school,early to help take care of his family. Later when he felt called to preach he knew he needed to go to Bible college. He had been a hard worker and had saved money to go. But he was so out of touch academically that when the registrar asked him how many credits he had, he said, “How much do I need, sir? I have money in the bank and my credit is good as gold.” The ripple of laughter from the other students nearby caused him to realize he was missing something. Tom later wrote, “Who could forget the amazement on the dean’s face when he realized that he had an ignoramus on his hands, a young man past 20 who wanted to go to college yet couldn’t work fractions and had no knowledge of grammar or spelling.” The registrar asked to meet with him privately and told him he would have to take a lot of background courses in the academy before he could start college and that it would be a long, hard haul. Tom knew God had called him and settled in to work hard.

When Tom began missionary work with Indians in the jungles of Panama, “He knew civilization wasn’t their primary need. White man’s civilization without Christ would simply replace their primitive sins with more sophisticated ones. He only wanted to share his Savior.”

His first experience on the mission field came just after college, where the students had been experiencing a wonderful revival. He thought the mission field would be even more of a revival, but within just a few hours sensed “strange tensions” among the missionaries with whom he was assigned to work. He became a sounding board for both sides. “What shocked Tom was the inability of those involved to maintain spiritual victory over their emotions, to forgive in love and to forget.” After a few months “he became more sympathetic as he realized the strange drain which life in a continually threatening jungle environment could be to one’s spiritual resources. How easy it was to become so busy with mission affairs that prayer and Bible reading were neglected, and one became introverted and self-centered through the constant fight for survival.” After two years on that field he left 20 lbs. less, underweight, and “backslidden …himself due to his frustration in seeking to be a reconciling force among his co-workers.”

In the zealousness of youthful Christianity, when I first heard of missionaries having trouble getting along, I was similarly shocked. I thought surely any group of godly people shouldn’t have that problem. Well..after a little more maturity and experience, I’ve realized that any group of Christians can have trouble getting along. If that happens to us here, we shouldn’t be surprised it happens to people on the mission field, especially with the additional stresses they are under. That is an area we should pray for them more — grace and getting along with each other’s faults, foibles, differing ideas of how things should be done, etc.

Another area that stood out to me was the account of the rise of Communism in Cuba. Evidently Castro did not present himself as a Communist at first — there was none of the usual rhetoric or slogans. He was seen as a great liberator from an oppressive government. There is some disagreement as to whether he was really a Communist all along or whether he just chose that political line in order to “institutionalize his revolution.” The missionaries had been sympathetic to the revolutionaries, but had to make “late-hour course corrections to cope with another anti-Christian influence.” Though some of the soldiers themselves had originally seemed friendly to the missionaries, repression began.

Before repression became too bad however, Mr. Willey attended the trials of those deemed war criminals, then asked and was granted permission to visit those condemned to die before the firing squad. “The rebel authorities were impressed with Pop’s obvious concern for the spiritual needs of the condemned men.” Many of them had never heard the gospel. One told him, “Had we had this teaching, none of us would now be in this sad state. Please preach this in the streets, in the country, in the cities. This is the only hope for Cuba!”

Many believed. It was hard to see spiritual newborns put to death so soon after their conversion. “Pop,” as he was known, then took the dead men’s belongings to their families and was able to share the comfort of the gospel with them as well. Though God vitally used him in this way, the experience “took a heavy physical and emotional toll…He was never to be quite the same again.”

It wasn’t long before the missionaries had to leave Cuba. They found a ministry to exiled Cubans in Florida and in speaking to churches to stir up missionary interest. Eventually they ministered back in Panama.

Near the end of the book when the author recorded Tom’s death and the viewing and funeral, I thought he perfectly captured the mixed emotions one feels at the death of a Christian loved one: “Sorrowful because of earth’s loss. Joyful because of heaven’s gain. Awkward because of the paradox of extreme grief and extreme joy mingled in a single sensation.”

Even though this wasn’t the book I was originally looking for, I am glad I read of this servant of the Lord.

Saturday Photo Scavenger Hunt: Delicious

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Barbara Harper

PhotoHunt

Theme: Delicious | Become a Photo Hunter

For our anniversary Dec. 21, my husband got me some Lindor chocolate truffles. I had never heard of them before, and I was a little wary….I love chocolate, but not usually the fancy or gourmet varieties. But these were delicious.

I thought they were all gone, but a few days ago I was looking in the cabinet for my M&M stash and I found one last one that I had put up there when I was wanting to get rid of the box. I felt like I had found a lost treasure! I savored it — it was the most delicious of them all.

Show and Tell Friday

Posted on January 4, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Kelli at There’s No Place Like Home hosts “Show and Tell Friday” asking “Do you have a something special to share with us? It could be a trinket from grade school, a piece of jewelry, an antique find. Your show and tell can be old or new. Use your imagination and dig through those old boxes in your closet if you have to! Feel free to share pictures and if there’s a story behind your special something, that’s even better! If you would like to join in, all you have to do is post your “Show and Tell” on your blog, copy the post link, come over here and add it to Mr. Linky. Guidelines are here.“

Normally I stay far away from stores a couple of days before and after Christmas. I just can’t stand it when it’s really, really crowded and people are tense and there are horribly long lines. But I may have to change that policy! I found some really good deals when I did venture out — though I did still avoid the day or two after Christmas — and it wasn’t too very crowded, and people were pretty pleasant.

I had a gift card for Michael’s and wanted to find a vintage-looking scrapbook album and papers for the photos of my parents, grandparents, and my baby pictures that I’ve gotten over the last year or two. But I wanted to check Hobby Lobby just in case they might have something I liked better. I was also looking at the Christmas clearance items at both places. At Hobby Lobby, along a side wall by the Christmas things I found a table I just loved. I had been looking for some kind of table, bookcase, curio cabinet, or something to fit in this space by the door and to put seasonal Boyd’s Bear figurines and other things on:

The table I saw at Hobby Lobby looked nice and I thought it would fit, and it was a decent price. I’d seen dinky nightstands costing more. So I was thinking about it as I left the store — and I noticed a sign that all furniture was 30% off. Well, that certainly sweetened the deal! But I still went home to think about it. I went back a few days later — and it was still there!

Before I found someone to carry it for me I made a quick stop into the restroom, noticed this beauitful ivory rose flower arrangement, and then noticed all the flower arrangements were half off. I don’t think I could have made it from scratch for less. I thought about it for a little while, then snagged it on my way back to the table, found someone to carry the table (praying that if I was supposed to have it it would still be there — I’ve learned from sad experience that sometimes good deals get snatched up pretty quickly there), and checked out.

It fit perfectly in the space, and I was so pleased with how it looked.

The little snowmen candle holders were a gift from my middle son’s girlfriend’s mom. I thought they were cute anyway, but especially since I have three boys.

I was quite pleased not only to have found a table I liked that fit the space, but to have found it at such a good price, too. And I am thankful the Lord kept it there for me while I was thinking about it. 🙂 I am looking forward to decorating it with seasonal vignettes.

Booking Through Thursday: Anticipation

Posted on January 3, 2008 by Barbara Harper

The Booking Through Thursday question for this week is:

What new books are you looking forward to most in 2008? Something new being published this year? Something you got as a gift for the holidays? Anything in particular that you’re planning to read in 2008 that you’re looking forward to? A classic, or maybe a best-seller from 2007 that you’re waiting to appear in paperback?

I’m looking forward to The Restorer’s Journey by Sharon Hinck, third in the Sword of Lyric trilogy, due at the end of February. The series is a fantasy about an ordinary mom who gets suddenly pulled into an alternate universe with responsibilities thrust on her that she doesn’t want and doesn’t feel adequate for. I loved the first two and can’t wait to get the third. Sharon has become the kind of author from whom I eagerly look for the next thing she has coming out.

I’m also looking forward to Karen Kingsbury‘s Sunset with mixed emotions — I believe it’s the last series of series about the Baxter family. It began with the five-book Redemption series, continued with the Firstborn series of five books, and ends now with the fourth book in the Sunrise series. I’ve enjoyed the series immensely and am looking forward to seeing how it ends, but it will be sad that there will be no more new Baxter stories. This one is due out in April.

I already finished one of my Christmas presents, Sabrina by Lori Wick (review coming soon), and next on the queue is Between Sundays by Karen Kingsbury.

I’m eagerly anticipating spending more time with another of my Christmas presents, Sew Pretty Homsestyle by Tone Finnanger. It’s a craft book, but whether I ever make a project from it or not, it is a feast for the eyes in itself.

I would also like to read Les Miserables again some time this year. It’s one of my all-time favorite novels.

Works-For-Me Wednesday: Meals from leftovers

Posted on January 2, 2008 by Barbara Harper

Some years ago someone gave me this list for “Planover Recipe Ideas” — meal ideas that can be made from leftovers. I don’t know who made up the original list. But this contains several ideas of possible dishes you could make with leftover meats or potatoes from another meal. In some cases there might be just enough leftover to use some of these for lunch ideas for a couple of people, but in some cases you might have enough for a whole meal. You could also plan to make extra meat or potatoes and use the “planned leftovers” for some of the following. The list is just as I received it — I don’t have measurements or proportions. I think for many of these you could just “wing it” — for others you could search for a more specific recipe.
Roast Beef:

Hot Beef Sandwiches (meat slices with gravy over French bread)
Beef Salad Sandwiches (diced beef, celery, low-fat mayonnaise)
Beef slices in Pita Bread ( tomatoes, alfalfa sprouts, or romaine)
Beef and Peas on Baked Potatoes (beef, gravy, peas, tomato sauce)
Chili Con Carne on Rice (Beef, chili hot beans, tomato, onions)
Enchiladas (diced beef, shredded cheese in corn tortillas topped with tomato sauce and enchilada sauce mixture)
Beef Stir Fry (slivers of beef, gravy, soy sauce, sliced vegetables)
Beef Chunks and Gravy Over Noodles or Rice
Beef Barbeque with Potatoes (barbeque sauce and onions)
Beef Stew (beef, potatoes, carrots, green beans, tomatoes)
Beef Stroganoff (beef chunks, sour cream, onions, mushrooms, cream of mushroom soup)
Beef Hash (diced beef, potatoes, carrots, peas, ketchup)

Chicken:

Chicken Salad (diced chicken, salad dressing, pineapple, almonds)
Hot Chicken Salad (diced chicken, celery, nuts, salad dressing)
Chicken Almond Curry on Rice (slivered chicken, almonds, pimento, white sauce, dash of curry spice)
Creamy Chicken (chicken, sour cream, onions, white sauce)
Pepper Chicken on Rice (chicken, green peppers, onions, gravy)
Chicken Stir Fry (chicken, gravy, soy sauce, sliced vegetables)
Mexican Chicken (layer chicken, cheese, corn tortillas with sauce of onions, tomato sauce, cream of chicken soup, and chili)
Chicken Paprika (chicken, onion, broth, paprika, sour cream)
Chicken Bog (chicken, broth, rice, pepper, polska kielbasa)
Chicken and Dumplins (chicken, gravy, dumplins)
Enchiladas (shredded chicken, shredded cheese in corn tortillas topped with tomato sauce and enchilada sauce mixture)
Broiled Oriental Chicken (chicken, soy sauce, garlic salt, pepper)
Teriyaki Chicken (chicken, soy sauce, sugar, onions, broth)
Chicken Pie (diced chicken, gravy, peas, carrots, pie crust)
Chicken Barbeque (chicken, barbeque sauce)

Ham:

Ham Omelet (eggs, diced ham, onions, cheese, vegetables)
Ham Salad (diced ham, celery or relish, salad dressing)
Split Pea Soup (split peas, ham chunks, water, grated carrots)
Pinto Beans (pinto beans, ham chunks, water, garlic salt)
Quiche (pie shell, evaporated milk, diced ham, eggs, Swiss cheese, cooked chopped broccoli)
Pasta Salad (diced ham, pasta, green pepper, Italian dressing)
Swedish Rolls (rolls with ham slices and Swiss cheese topped with mixture of melted butter, mustard, onion flakes and Worcestershire sauce)
Chicken Cordon Bleu (roll ham slice with Swiss cheese slice in raw chicken breast, then dip in egg mixture and coat with bread crumb mix. Drizzle with melted butter; bake)
Ham Croquettes (chopped ham, thick white sauce, onion, chilled, formed into cones while rolling in bread crumbs)
Ham Patties (chopped ham, bread crumbs, onion, milk, egg)

Hamburger:

Spaghetti (hamburger, spaghetti sauce, spaghetti noodles)
Lasagna (hamburger, spaghetti sauce, pureed tomatoes, lasagna noodles, mozzarella cheese, ricotta cheese, Parmesan, egg — cover with plastic wrap and bake in microwave for 22 minutes)
Chili (hamburger, chili hot beans, onion, chili, catsup)
Sloppy Joes (hamburger, catsup, Worcestershire, mustard)
Stuffed Peppers (hamburger rice, tomato sauce, cheese)
Tamale Pie (hamburger, sliced canned tamales, torn corn tortillas, whole corn kernels, cheese)
Hamburger Stew (hamburger, water, potatoes, tomatoes, celery, car- rots, rosemary, thyme, onions, corn, green beans)
Hamburger Macaroni and Cheese (hamburger, mac & cheese)
Hungarian Goulash (hamburger, macaroni, tomato sauce, cheese)
Baked Bean Savory (hamburger, baked beans, sage, ketchup)
Haystacks (hamburger and baked beans placed on rice and corn chips, topped with cheese, lettuce, green pepper, and onion)
Hamburger Maindish (hamburger, cream cheese, ketchup, cream of mushroom soup, topped with biscuits)

Baked Potatoes:

Country Fried Potatoes (slice and fry on sprayed skillet)
Potato Salad (potatoes, eggs, celery, salad dressing)
Broiled Potato Wedges (wedged potatoes, oil spray, herbs)
Twice Baked Potatoes (potatoes, cheese or sour cream, herbs)
Spanish Omelet (eggs with diced potato, onion, cooked bacon)
German Potato Salad (potatoes, green pepper, onion, cooked bacon, vinegar dressing)

See more workable ideas at Rocks In My Dryer.

Biblical resolutions

Posted on January 1, 2008 by Barbara Harper

I don’t usually make New Year’s resolutions any more — not the kind you forget about by March. When I think about them, they are things I need to be doing as a matter of course any way, and usually nothing new. Nevertheless I can see that it is good to sit down and take stock of life and see if there is anything that needs to change, and the beginning of a new year seems a good time to do that. I do like the idea of making goals.

Sunday night at church, one of the verses the pastor mentioned in one of his points was from Psalms where David says, “I will…” It struck me that that is a resolution of sorts, a determination, a plan to do something. So I looked for the term “I will” in BibleGateway.com. There are many places where God says, “I will…” do a particular thing — that would make an interesting study in itself. But I bypassed those and the “I wills” of people making a particular promise or determination for a specific time or purpose (i.e., Jacob saying “I will work seven years for Rachel”) and just looked for those passages that could be said by any believer in any time period. Here’s what I found (I only got from Genesis through Psalms — there are hundreds more verses after that! But this should keep me busy for a while):

The LORD is my strength and song, and he is become my salvation: he is my God, and I will prepare him an habitation; my father’s God, and I will exalt him. Exodus 15:2.

Because I will publish the name of the LORD: ascribe ye greatness unto our God. He is the Rock, his work is perfect: for all his ways are judgment: a God of truth and without iniquity, just and right is he. Deuteronomy 32:3-4.

Hear, O ye kings; give ear, O ye princes; I, even I, will sing unto the LORD; I will sing praise to the LORD God of Israel. Judges 5:3. (See also Psalm 7:17;9:1-2; 52:9; 56:12; 57:7, 9; 59:16; 69:30; 71:22; 75:9; 89:1; 101:1; 104:33-34; 108:1-3; 138:1; 144:9; 145:2; 146:2.)

And he said, The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; The God of my rock; in him will I trust: he is my shield, and the horn of my salvation, my high tower, and my refuge, my saviour; thou savest me from violence. I will call on the LORD, who is worthy to be praised: so shall I be saved from mine enemies. II Samuel 22:2-4. (See also Psalm 18:2-3; 44:5-7;55:16-17;57:2; 86:7).

Therefore I will give thanks unto thee, O LORD, among the heathen, and I will sing praises unto thy name. II Samuel 22:50. (See also Psalm 30:12.)

What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee. In God I will praise his word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me. Psalm 56:3-4. (See also Psalm 3:5-6; 4:8; 23:4; 55:23; 56:11; 118:6.)

But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple. Psalm 5:7. (See also Psalm 138:2.)

That I may shew forth all thy praise in the gates of the daughter of Zion: I will rejoice in thy salvation. Psalm 9:14. (See also Psalm 13:5-6:27:6.)

I will bless the LORD, who hath given me counsel: my reins also instruct me in the night seasons. I have set the LORD always before me: because he is at my right hand, I shall not be moved. Psalm 16:7-8. (See also Psalm 34:1-3.)

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength. Psalm 18:1.

I will declare thy name unto my brethren: in the midst of the congregation will I praise thee. Psalm 22:22. (See also Psalm 22:25; 35:18; 66:13, 15; 116:14-18.)

I will extol thee, O LORD; for thou hast lifted me up, and hast not made my foes to rejoice over me. Psalm 30:1.

I will be glad and rejoice in thy mercy: for thou hast considered my trouble; thou hast known my soul in adversities. Psalm 31:7.

I acknowledge my sin unto thee, and mine iniquity have I not hid. I said, I will confess my transgressions unto the LORD; and thou forgavest the iniquity of my sin. Selah. Psalm 32:5.(See also Psalm 38:18.)

Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD. Psalm 34:11.

I said, I will take heed to my ways, that I sin not with my tongue: I will keep my mouth with a bridle, while the wicked is before me. Psalm 39:1.

I will make thy name to be remembered in all generations: therefore shall the people praise thee for ever and ever. Psalm 45:17.

My mouth shall speak of wisdom; and the meditation of my heart shall be of understanding. I will incline mine ear to a parable: I will open my dark saying upon the harp. Psalm 49:3-4. (See also Psalm 78:2.)

I will freely sacrifice unto thee: I will praise thy name, O LORD; for it is good. Psalm 54:6.(See also Psalm 139:14.)

I will abide in thy tabernacle for ever: I will trust in the covert of thy wings. Selah. Psalm 61:4.

Because thy lovingkindness is better than life, my lips shall praise thee. Thus will I bless thee while I live: I will lift up my hands in thy name. My soul shall be satisfied as with marrow and fatness; and my mouth shall praise thee with joyful lips: When I remember thee upon my bed, and meditate on thee in the night watches. Because thou hast been my help, therefore in the shadow of thy wings will I rejoice. Psalm 63:3-7. (See also Psalm 119:48.)

But I will hope continually, and will yet praise thee more and more. My mouth shall shew forth thy righteousness and thy salvation all the day; for I know not the numbers thereof. Psalm 71:14-15.

I will go in the strength of the Lord GOD: I will make mention of thy righteousness, even of thine only. Psalm 71:16.

And I said, This is my infirmity: but I will remember the years of the right hand of the most High. I will remember the works of the LORD: surely I will remember thy wonders of old. Psalm 77:10-11. (See also Psalm 119:93.)

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings. Psalm 77:12.

I will hear what God the LORD will speak: for he will speak peace unto his people, and to his saints: but let them not turn again to folly. Psalm 85:8.

Teach me thy way, O LORD; I will walk in thy truth: unite my heart to fear thy name. Psalm 86:11. (See also Psalm 26:11-12; 101:2; 114:45; 116:9.)

I will praise thee, O Lord my God, with all my heart: and I will glorify thy name for evermore. For great is thy mercy toward me: and thou hast delivered my soul from the lowest hell. Psalm 86:12-13. (See also Psalm 109:30; 111:1; 118:19, 21, 28; 119:7, 32-33.)

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust. Psalm 91:2.

For thou, LORD, hast made me glad through thy work: I will triumph in the works of thy hands. Psalm 92:4.

I will set no wicked thing before mine eyes: I hate the work of them that turn aside; it shall not cleave to me. A froward heart shall depart from me: I will not know a wicked person. Psalm 101:3-4.

I will take the cup of salvation, and call upon the name of the LORD. Psalm 116:13.

Open to me the gates of righteousness: I will go into them, and I will praise the LORD. Psalm 118:19.

I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly. Psalm 119:8, 69. (See also Psalm 119:106, 115, 145.)

I will meditate in thy precepts, and have respect unto thy ways. I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy word. Psalm 119:15-16, 48, 78.

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. (See also Psalm 145:5-6.)

At midnight I will rise to give thanks unto thee because of thy righteous judgments. Psalm 119:62.

The wicked have waited for me to destroy me: but I will consider thy testimonies. Psalm 119: 96.

Hold thou me up, and I shall be safe: and I will have respect unto thy statutes continually Psalm 119:117.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee. Peace be within thy walls, and prosperity within thy palaces. For my brethren and companions’ sakes, I will now say, Peace be within thee. Because of the house of the LORD our God I will seek thy good. Psalm 122:6-9.

Happy New Year!

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Barbara Harper

But the land, whither ye go to possess it, is a land of hills and valleys, and drinketh water of the rain of heaven: A land which the LORD thy God careth for: the eyes of the LORD thy God are always upon it, from the beginning of the year even unto the end of the year. Deuteronomy 11:11-12.

Wishing you a wonderful new year!

The year to come

Posted on December 31, 2007 by Barbara Harper

I have a maddening tendency to face new situations with anxiety rather than eager anticipation. My mind floods with “what ifs” that I have to wrestle to give to the Lord — not that I don’t want Him to have them; I do — but they want to keep coming back to me.

I don’t remember facing the new year with anxiety before, however. I’m not superstitious, but with this past year being relatively mild and knowing that every life will face it’s variety of trials, I have wondered with a little trepidation what this new year might hold.

I have been having devotions in the New American Standard Bible this past year. In my course of reading the Bible through, I am in Isaiah now. A few days ago I came to one of my all-time favorite verses, 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.” The NASB rendered it thus:

Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

“Do not anxiously look about you.” That was just what I needed.

God doesn’t always explain His actions or His reasons, but He promises His presence.

My weakness says, “I do want Your presence, Lord, but can’t I have it without painful or confusing or frustrating events?”

Yes — I do have His presence with me always. Yet there are many reasons He allows various trials to come. I know, from Scripture and from past experience, that He uses those trials for good, that something about them strengthens and deepens my relationship with Him and trust in Him, that there are things I learn and ways I grow that I would not have otherwise.

The last verse of the morning reading for the last day of the year in Daily Light is “Hitherto hath the LORD helped us.” (I Samuel 7:12). He has helped all along: He will help in the future.

He will help me.

He will strengthen me.

He will be with me.

Do not be afraid.

He is enough.