1“But my people did not listen to my voice; Israel(W) would not submit to me. 12So I(X) gave them over to their(Y) stubborn hearts, to follow their own(Z) counsels. When I read today’s Psalm selection, I couldn’t help but think about what it means for God to “give over” people to their stubborn hearts. When we turn out back on the Lord individually, taking our lives into our own hands without giving Him a second thought…the Lord gives us over to our stubborn hearts. I know a thing or two about stubborn hearts.  For goodness sake, I’m so stubborn I … Continue reading Psalm 81; 88; 92-93: Given Over

Getting through the book of Chronicles is not going to be easy.  My head swims with all the “sons of.”  But ancestry must be important to the Lord, so why should there not be a list of who’s who? I’m reading a novel about King Hezekiah.  The Assyrians were a brutal people, at least as described in this novel, and I am so sad for the people who lived in those days.  The Lord is the Lord of miracles, though, and He did give victory to his people over the Assyrians, if my memory serves me correctly. I am in … Continue reading 1 Chronicles 6: Rambling Again

The Lord has given me a passion for education.  I wanted to be a teacher from my first day of school and often subjected my stuffed animals and younger brother to my ministrations.  When a child “gets it,” and you see that a concept has been learned by the sudden bright quickening in her eyes, a nodding of the head, or even a hand slap to the forehead…the world seems new all over again. I like to think that my background in theater helped me become a better teacher.  I learned through theater how to project my voice.  I learned … Continue reading Psalm 73: 77-78: Education and Strength

Since I’m back in the Psalms tonight, I thought I’d pick out a few of my favorite verses, especially those that reach out to me when I am in the middle of an anxiety storm. Send forth your light and your truth, let them guide me; let them bring me to your holy mountain, to the place where you dwell. Psalm 43:3 Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes. 6 I do not trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;  Psalm 44:6 15 But God will redeem my life [f] … Continue reading Psalm 43-45; 49; 84-85; 87: What’s in a Name?