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280th Week, Job Chapters 5-9 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

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  Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Job Chapter 5 Job 5 Verse 17 Tanya Ruden Verse 17:  “Blessed is the man whom God corrects; so do not despise the discipline of the Almighty.” THOUGHT So this verse seems really out of place in today’s reading. I am not sure how many of you can remember from Mom’s devotion last week, but Chapter 4 was mostly Job’s “good friends” talking with him about his “bad luck”.  Then chapter 5 continues with much of the same.  However, his friend does make this statement among all of his “encouraging” words, and it is about the only truthful thing he has said.  Of course, this doesn’t really apply to Job’s situation, but I do think it applies to our lives.  It is a reminder that we do need boundaries in life to make us better people. I know those of you who have children understand the “joys” of summer vacation, but it definitely becomes time for school to start and summer to end.  My kids have been in more ‘trouble’...

279th Week, Job Intro - Chapter 4 (Click on Title for Video Intorduction)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Job Introduction Job Intro Delores Little THOUGHT Job did not write the book of Job.  They say it was an Israelite, but no name was given. Sounds like whoever wrote the book of Job was moved by the Holy Spirit to put it together.  Job is the book of suffering of a righteous man given into the hands of Satan, but not to kill him. As a tempter Satan seeks to alienate man from God. His all-consuming purpose is to drive an irremovable wedge between God and man, to effect an alienation that cannot be reconciled. Job had 3 friends.  The 4th came along at the end of the book of Job for a few chapters, and I say if we have friends like he had, we don’t need any enemies. But can I judge them and how they answered Job?  No, because I too have been guilty doing the same thing in my walk with God.  Have you felt like God isn’t here for you, and you can’t feel Him around or hear Him as you called out to Him in prayer? This was ha...

278th Week, Psalm Chapter 150 & Titus Intro-Chapter 3 (Click on Title for Video Intro)

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  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Psalm Chapter 150 Psalm 150  Delores Little THOUGHT So many of the Psalms were written by David.  They tell us of his walk with the Lord and his successes and failures.  Through it all we see the heart he had for the Lord.  The Psalms tell of the coming of Jesus, our Lord and King.   Psalms share about everything we read in the books before this book of the Bible.  It has the longest chapter, as in chapter 119 and the shortest chapter, as in Chapter 117.  The book ends with Praising our Lord in the following 6 verses. SANCTUARY-HEAVENS-ACTS OF POWER-TRUMPET-HARP-LYRE-TAMBOURINE-DANCING-WITH STRINGS-FLUTE-CLASH OF CYMBALS-AND LAST OF ALL OUR BREATH. Let us shout everyone together, “PRAISE THE LORD”!! Verse 1: Praise the LORD. Praise God in his sanctuary;          praise him in his mighty heavens. Verse 2: Praise him for his acts of power;          praise...

277th Week, Psalm Chapters 145-149 (Click on Title for Video Presentation)

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Click on Title for Video Introduction Monday, Psalm Chapter 145 Psalm 145 Verse 3 Jeanie Boldt Verse 3:  Great is the Lord and most worthy of praise; his greatness no one can fathom. THOUGHT There were so many verses that I loved in this chapter. David praised the Lord in such a great way and shared with many what beautiful assets our Lord possesses. Most of the Psalms are prayers, and most of the prayers include praise to God. Praise expresses admiration, appreciation, and thanks. Praise in the book of Psalms is often directed to God, and just as often the praise is shared with others. Considering all that God has done and does for us, what could be more natural than outbursts of heart-felt praise? Today I challenge each of you to shout out loud or to yourselves for an act, circumstance or situation that needs the words, “Praise God”, said right out loud. Even when things do not go well the phrase needs to be shouted. David extols the Lord for His greatness, grace, goodness, glo...

276th Week Psalm Chapter 140-144 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Psalm Chapter 140 Psalm 140 Verse 8 Jeanie Boldt Verse 8:  Do not grant the wicked their desires, O Lord; do not let their plans succeed, or they will become proud. THOUGHT This chapter speaks about protection against those who slander or threaten you. I guess I couldn’t help but think about the election going on right now. Isn’t it too bad that 75% of a person’s campaign is not about building one up but about tearing the opponent down? I pray that the Lord will put the most righteous man in the top position because he is doing the right things!! Satan fights anyone who is doing the will of God, and David was no exception. We must pray for Christian leaders especially, for they are prime targets for the evil one. The enemy has two favorite weapons; poisonous tongues and hidden traps. He slanders God’s leaders (sometimes using the lips of professed Christians), and he sets traps for them hoping to trip them up. David depended on prayer, God’s...

275th Week, Psalm Chapters 135-139 (Click on Title for Video Introduction)

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  Click on Title for Video Intro Monday, Psalm Chapter 135 Psalm 135 Verses 15-18 Kristin Strayer Verses 15-18:  The idols of the nations are silver and gold, made by the hands of men. They have mouths, but cannot speak, eyes, but they cannot see; they have ears, but they cannot hear, nor is there breath in their mouths. Those who make them will be like them, and so will all who trust in them.  THOUGHT We all probably have had times when we have not felt very close to God or been able to figure out what God’s will is. I think these verses give us one thing that can cause us to feel disconnected from God, and that is having idols in our lives. In my opinion, some of the idols of today include success, power, pleasing others, comfort, appearing perfect, living to have fun, etc.  As the above verses say, idols will keep us from speaking, seeing, and hearing, and they will suffocate us. All these things are necessary to communicate with God and to know where he is at wor...