Quiet Time : even more much needed wisdom!

Okay, so here is basically a list of other verses I found interesting (although this certainly isn't all of them, by far). Just one more chapter to go, then on to Ecclesiastes!

Proverbs 18 (KJV)

4The words of a man's mouth are as deep waters, and the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook.

Note: deep waters. i.e., obscure, hidden. Flowing brook. i.e., clear. Although some men's words are obscure. Others are sources of wisdom and convey the clear truth.

8The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.

Note: wounds...go down. Better, morsels greedily swallowed. Hearing gossip, like eating a delicacy, gives you something others do not have, and it is remembered in the inmost parts.

14The spirit of a man will sustain his infirmity; but a wounded spirit who can bear?

Note: sustain his infirmity. Better, endure his sickness. wounded=broken.

20A man's belly shall be satisfied with the fruit of his mouth; and with the increase of his lips shall he be filled.
21Death and life are in the power of the tongue: and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.

Note: A man's tongue can yield satisfaction, life, or death. Those who are prone to use the tongue must take the consequences of their words.

Proverbs 19 (KJV)

3The foolishness of man perverteth his way: and his heart fretteth against the LORD.

Note: The foolish man blames the Lord for failures he has brought upon himself.

21There are many devices in a man's heart; nevertheless the counsel of the LORD, that shall stand.

23The fear of the LORD tendeth to life: and he that hath it shall abide satisfied; he shall not be visited with evil.

Proverbs 20 (KJV)

9Who can say, I have made my heart clean, I am pure from my sin?

Note: The implied answer is "nobody," thus teaching the impossibility of sinless perfection.

13Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread.

Me: !!!!!

24Man's goings are of the LORD; how can a man then understand his own way?

Note: God's sovereignty over man's ways is beyond our full comprehension.

Me: What I assume is probably wrong; especially someone else's motives, or even my own!

27The spirit of man is the candle of the LORD, searching all the inward parts of the belly.

Note: The conscience searches the inner part of man to convict of sin.

Proverbs 21 (KJV)

2Every way of a man is right in his own eyes: but the LORD pondereth the hearts.

21He that followeth after righteousness and mercy findeth life, righteousness, and honour.

30There is no wisdom nor understanding nor counsel against the LORD.
31The horse is prepared against the day of battle: but safety is of the LORD.

Note: Do not fight against the Lord, and, if you want safety (victory), do not fight without Him.

Proverbs 23 (KJV)

18For surely there is an end; and thine expectation shall not be cut off.

Note: an end. Better, a future. Don't be unduly burdened by the problems of the present, but allow a proper prospective on the future to help you maintain a buoyant attitude in the present.

Matthew Henry commentary: Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart.

Proverbs 24 (KJV)

10If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small.

Matthew Henry commentary: Under troubles we are apt to despair of relief. But be of good courage, and God shall strengthen thy heart.

13My son, eat thou honey, because it is good; and the honeycomb, which is sweet to thy taste:
14So shall the knowledge of wisdom be unto thy soul: when thou hast found it, then there shall be a reward, and thy expectation shall not be cut off.

Proverbs 25 (KJV)

14Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.

Note: The gift of the braggart does not compare with what he promised.

20As he that taketh away a garment in cold weather, and as vinegar upon nitre, so is he that singeth songs to an heavy heart.

Note: Just as it would be heartless to take away a garment on a cold day or put vinegar on soda (nitre), rendering it useless, so would it be to sing to a sad person. heavy heart. Lit., evil heart; i.e. a sad heart.

27It is not good to eat much honey: so for men to search their own glory is not glory.

Note: The proverb warns against becoming too engrossed in one's share of honor. Excess, even of a good thing, is bad.

Proverbs 26 (KJV)

19So is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, Am not I in sport?

Note: in sport = joking. The person who makes a joke of his thoughtlessness is a dangerous person to be around.

Proverbs 27 (KJV)

8As a bird that wandereth from her nest, so is a man that wandereth from his place.

Note: Leaving the security and guidance of one's home may lead to the experience of a prodigal.

19As in water face answereth to face, so the heart of man to man. answereth. Better, reflects. to man.

Note: Better, reflects man. As water reflects the face, the heart of man reflects and reveals his inner person.

21As the fining pot for silver, and the furnace for gold; so is a man to his praise.

Note: A man's response to praise is a test of his character. Self-deprecation may reflect false pride. fining = refining. his praise, i.e., the praised accorded to him.

Proverbs 30 (KJV)

6Add thou not unto his words, lest he reprove thee, and thou be found a liar.

Note: Supplementing God's Word with man's speculation is foolish business.
Me: this reminds me of something in Radical Womanhood: Feminine Faith in a Feminist World - by Carolyn McCulley, about how Eve added to what God said in Genesis 3:3 (The Fall), and how we as fallen creatures are apt to do the same.

11There is a generation that curseth their father, and doth not bless their mother.
12There is a generation that are pure in their own eyes, and yet is not washed from their filthiness.
13There is a generation, O how lofty are their eyes! and their eyelids are lifted up.
14There is a generation, whose teeth are as swords, and their jaw teeth as knives, to devour the poor from off the earth, and the needy from among men.

Note: A picture of four kinds of evil men: the disrespectful, the hypocrite, the proud, and the greedy.

18There be three things which are too wonderful for me, yea, four which I know not:
19The way of an eagle in the air; the way of a serpent upon a rock; the way of a ship in the midst of the sea; and the way of a man with a maid.

Note: These four ways are difficult to understand either because their movements leave no track to follow or because they relate to things not easy to master. The way of a man with a maid refers to courtship.

24There be four things which are little upon the earth, but they are exceeding wise:
25The ants are a people not strong, yet they prepare their meat in the summer;
26The conies are but a feeble folk, yet make they their houses in the rocks;
27The locusts have no king, yet go they forth all of them by bands;
28The spider taketh hold with her hands, and is in kings' palaces.

Note: Four small creatures that manifest wisdom. Ants have foresight to make provision; badgers (conies) find protective shelter; locusts have an ordered (by bands) community; and the lizard (spider) is bold and fearless. taketh hold with her hands. Better, you can take hold of with the hands; i.e., you can catch in your hand.

Quiet Time : Much Needed Wisdom

Sorry to all of you readers (Mom!) about my lack of quiet time posts. The good news is that I have been having them regularly! Well, the real Good News is that Jesus Christ died for my sins, so that I might be justified by faith alone, in Christ alone - repent of my sins and believe, and therefore saved from God's ultimate wrath, and have a relationship with Him through His Son, by the help of the Holy Spirit... the way He intended it from the beginning...

Anyway, I have been really good about staying on course. And the interesting thing is when I have missed (like I did one day last week), I've noticed what a difference it makes for me spiritually. How that one day I did struggle more than on those other days that I started off in the Word.

I have been reading Proverbs, and let me just say WHOA! Every single verse has so much... good advice! I have been keeping a list of those that jump out at me, and will share some of them below.

But first I want to share this with you. If you have been reading my blog, you know that I have struggled with waking up in the morning. Last week I actually woke up early enough to go to Theology Breakfast (will explain what that is later), and I went back to sleep! When I got up to get ready for work that morning I was so disappointed in myself. I told myself 'next week, I just have to go, no excuses.'

This past Wednesday night I made sure to go to bed at a decent time, and set my alarm for 6 am. I prayed that God would help me to get up in the morning, because I really didn't want to disappoint myself again. Lo and behold, I got up! Got ready for work and went to Theology Breakfast! And it was so edifying... I got to sit in my pastor's study with other church members, and listen to him read from Martin Luther about Romans 4. And then to hear the thoughtful discussion that came from it was just... great! I mean so great that I can't find adequate words to express it... let's just say it's such a breath of fresh air to hear men speak about theology and doctrine so passionately, so much so that they have made it their life's work.

Afterwards I went home to have my quiet time. I read this:

Proverbs 26:14 (KJV)

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

Ryrie Study Bible note: The slothful person is as attached to his bed as a door is to its hinges.

That perfectly described me exactly one week before. It's not pretty, and it's definitely not how I want to be.

Soooooo, on to some verses: :)

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Proverbs 3:11-20 (KJV)

11My son, despise not the chastening of the LORD; neither be weary of his correction:
12For whom the LORD loveth he correcteth; even as a father the son in whom he delighteth.
13Happy is the man that findeth wisdom, and the man that getteth understanding.
14For the merchandise of it is better than the merchandise of silver, and the gain thereof than fine gold.
15She is more precious than rubies: and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto her.
16Length of days is in her right hand; and in her left hand riches and honour.
17Her ways are ways of pleasantness, and all her paths are peace.
18She is a tree of life to them that lay hold upon her: and happy is every one that retaineth her.
19The LORD by wisdom hath founded the earth; by understanding hath he established the heavens.
20By his knowledge the depths are broken up, and the clouds drop down the dew.

Proverbs 8 (KJV)

22The LORD possessed me in the beginning of his way, before his works of old.
23I was set up from everlasting, from the beginning, or ever the earth was.
24When there were no depths, I was brought forth; when there were no fountains abounding with water.
25Before the mountains were settled, before the hills was I brought forth:
26While as yet he had not made the earth, nor the fields, nor the highest part of the dust of the world.
27When he prepared the heavens, I was there: when he set a compass upon the face of the depth:
28When he established the clouds above: when he strengthened the fountains of the deep:
29When he gave to the sea his decree, that the waters should not pass his commandment: when he appointed the foundations of the earth:
30Then I was by him, as one brought up with him: and I was daily his delight, rejoicing always before him;
31Rejoicing in the habitable part of his earth; and my delights were with the sons of men.

Note: The passage shows wisdom is older than creation and is fundamental to it (v. 23), that it assisted in creation as a master workman (v.30), and that it rejoiced in creation (vv.30-31).

36But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death.

Proverbs 9 (KJV)

7He that reproveth a scorner getteth to himself shame: and he that rebuketh a wicked man getteth himself a blot.

Note: scorner = scoffer. The wicked person will not only not receive criticism but will turn on the one trying to help him. blot. lit., his blemish; i.e., an insult.

10The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom: and the knowledge of the holy is understanding.

Proverbs 10 (KJV)

5He that gathereth in summer is a wise son: but he that sleepeth in harvest is a son that causeth shame.

12Hatred stirreth up strifes: but love covereth all sins.

21The lips of the righteous feed many: but fools die for want of wisdom.

Proverbs 11:14 (KJV)

14Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counsellors there is safety.

Proverbs 12:15 (KJV)

15The way of a fool is right in his own eyes: but he that hearkeneth unto counsel is wise.

These two on seeking counsel are terrific! Oh what a difference it has made in my life to have people who I can go to, who I am accountable, who know God's Word and Truth, and can help me to see where I am struggling/sinning/improving! :)

Proverbs 13 (KJV)

12Hope deferred maketh the heart sick: but when the desire cometh, it is a tree of life.

19The desire accomplished is sweet to the soul: but it is abomination to fools to depart from evil.

Note: Nothing is so sweet as gaining some desired thing, but fools won't leave their evil ways to do that.

Proverbs 14 (KJV)

12There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.
13Even in laughter the heart is sorrowful; and the end of that mirth is heaviness.

Proverbs 15 (KJV)

13A merry heart maketh a cheerful countenance: but by sorrow of the heart the spirit is broken.

26The thoughts of the wicked are an abomination to the LORD: but the words of the pure are pleasant words.

Proverbs 16 (KJV)

3Commit thy works unto the LORD, and thy thoughts shall be established.

Note: Commit. lit., roll. Roll your burdens on the Lord; although they may cause you anxiety, they are not to great for Him.

6By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil.

Note: mercy. Loyal love. truth. Faithfulness. purged. lit., atoned for. The atonement for man's sin is the result of God's loyal love and faithfulness. The fear of the Lord motivates a man to turn away from sin when he is tempted.

17The highway of the upright is to depart from evil: he that keepeth his way preserveth his soul.
20He that handleth a matter wisely shall find good: and whoso trusteth in the LORD, happy is he.

22Understanding is a wellspring of life unto him that hath it: but the instruction of fools is folly.
(calls to mind Proverbs 4:23).

25There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.

Proverbs 17:16 (KJV)

16Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?

Note: wherefore = why. hath no heart to it. Better, has no understanding. This picture of a fool trying to buy wisdom is satirical, for wisdom cannot be purchased at any price. Nor is it reveived through some mechanical formula, but only by a proper heart attitude.



Whew! Okay, I have more, but will post them later. :)

CSL: "the devil laughs"

Last night, I was looking over my blog posts, and read this (from here):

"Self-pity is pride in response to trial (I am paraphrasing Mark who was quoting John Piper). On the flip side, boastfulness is pride in response to prosperity."

I know that I can have little pity parties when things aren't going my way; and how I can yearn for prosperity in many different forms. And although I heard this is a sermon LAST YEAR, and the above statement made perfect sense to me ... it makes even more sense to me know. Pride is ugly and it's sinful. And I don't want anything to do with it.

Then this morning, I read the following:

24 March

Dictatorship of Pride

It is a terrible thing that the worse of all vices [Pride] can smuggle itself into the very centre of our religious life. But you can see why. The other, and less bad, vices come from the devil working on us through our animal nature. But this does not come through our animal nature at all. It comes direct from Hell. It is purely spiritual: consequently it is far more subtle and deadly. For the same reason, Pride can often be used to beat down the simpler vices. Teachers, in fact, often appeal to a boy's Pride, or, as they call it, his self-respect, to make him behave decently: many a man has overcome cowardice, or lust, or ill-temper, by learning to think that they are beneath his dignity - that is, by Pride. The devil laughs. He is perfectly content to see you becoming chaste and brave and self-controlled provided, all the time, he is setting up in you the Dictatorship of Pride - just as he would be quite content to see your chilblains cured if he was allowed, in return, to give you cancer. For pride is spiritual cancer: it eats up the very possibility of love, or contentment, or even common sense. (emphasis mine)

- from Mere Christianity

1918 Edward "Paddy" Moore, Lewis's army roommate and friend, is reported missing in action. It is later learned that Paddy had been killed in action on March 21, 1918, resisting the German attack on Pargny, France.

C.S. Lewis, A Year With C.S. Lewis: Daily Reading From His Classic Works, Harper Publishers, 2003.

I read Mere Christianity a few years ago, and it's still so amazing to read the thoughts of such a great mind. And it makes me sad when I see the sin of pride in fellow Christians - makes me sick to see it in myself. The last sentence about pride being spiritual cancer and the effects of that sickness really stuck out to me. I don't want to be wrapped up in it, and I want to help others who seem to be so stuck that they don't see the situation that the are in.

Okay, now I'm tired and gave a migraine, so good night!

*I'm leaving the typos in, even though I realllllllly want to fix them... could that be my pride!??! Eh, I had a bad migraine, and it really doesn't matter. :)*

CSL : How Marriage Reconciles

21 March

How Marriage Reconciles

Lewis, grieving the death of his wife Joy:

'It was too perfect to last,' so I am tempted to say of our marriage. But it can be meant in two ways. It may be grimly pessimistic - as if God no sooner saw two of His creatures happy than He stopped it ('None of that here!). As if He were like the Hostess at the sherry-party who separates two guests the moment they show signs of having got into a real conversation. But it could also mean 'This had reached its proper perfection. This had become what it had in it to be. Therefore of course it would not be prolonged.' As if God said, 'Good; you have mastered that exercise. I am very pleased with it. And now you are ready to go on to the next.' When you have learned to do quadratics and enjoy doing them you will not be set them much longer. The teacher moves you on.

For we did learn and achieve something. There is, hidden or flaunted, a sword between the sexes till an entire marriage reconciles them. It is arrogance in us to call frankness, fairness, and chivalry 'masculine' when we see them in a woman; it is arrogance in them to describe a man's sensitiveness or tact or tenderness as 'feminine.' But also what poor, warped fragments of humanity most mere men and mere women must be to make the implications of that arrogance plausible. Marriage heals this. Jointly the two become fully human. 'In the image of God created He them.' Thus, by paradox, this carnival of sexuality leads us out beyond our sexes.

- from A Grief Observed

1957 Jack Lewis and Joy Davidman Gresham, united in a civil marriage the previous year, are married in an ecclesiastical ceremony in Wingfield-Morris Hospital by the Rev. Peter Bide. Bide also performs a healing service for Joy, who is believed to be dying of cancer.

C.S. Lewis, A Year With C.S. Lewis: Daily Reading From His Classic Works, Harper Publishers, 2003.

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This really struck me, because of how I often tire of "us verses them" talk. You know the kind. All guys are this way, and all girls are that. It's completely unfair and unconstructive. When I hear this, I just want to say 'we should REJOICE in our differences, not see them as liabilities.' It just seems like a waste of time, and is definitely unedifying. 90% of the time I just keep my mouth shut. So, just thought I'd share this quote. :)

Daily Dose of Spurgeon : "sweetness of my lot"

March 16, Morning

Psalm 39:12
I am a stranger with thee.

Yes, O Lord, with Thee, but not to Thee. All my natural alienation from Thee, Thy grace has effectually removed; and now, in fellowship with Thyself, I walk through this sinful world as a pilgrim in a foreign country. Thou art a stranger in Thine own world. Man forgets Thee, dishonours Thee, sets up new laws and alien customs, and knows Thee not. When Thy dear Son came unto His own, His own received Him not. He was in the world, and the world was made by Him, and the world knew Him not. Never was foreigner so speckled a bird among the denizens of any land as Thy beloved Son among His mother's brethren. It is no marvel, then, if I who live the life of Jesus, should be unknown and a stranger here below. Lord, I would not be a citizen where Jesus was an alien. His pierced hand has loosened the cords which once bound my soul to earth, and now I find myself a stranger in the land. My speech seems to these Babylonians among whom I dwell an outlandish tongue, my manners are singular, and my actions are strange. A Tartar would be more at home in Cheapside than I could ever be in the haunts of sinners. But here is the sweetness of my lot: I am a stranger with Thee. Thou art my fellow-sufferer, my fellow-pilgrim. Oh, what joy to wander in such blessed society! My heart burns within me by the way when thou dost speak to me, and though I be a sojourner, I am far more blest than those who sit on thrones, and far more at home than those who dwell in their ceiled houses.

"To me remains nor place, nor time:
My country is in every clime;
I can be calm and free from care
On any shore, since God is there.

While place we seek, or place we shun,
The soul finds happiness in none:
But with a God to guide our way,
'Tis equal joy to go or stay."

Whoa, that ROE? Yes, that Roe.

I remember reading somewhere about Norma McCorvey (better known as the "Roe" in Roe v. Wade). That she in fact did not have the abortion that started the lawsuit. That she eventually became pro-life. After posting about stem-cell research, I decided to google her. I came upon her website and read her testimony.

First of all, it's pretty powerful. Click here to read it, I highly encourage you to.

Second of all, it reminded me of something I thought about this morning. First, here is an excerpt:

"When I reached Pastor Sheats, I saw Jesus in his eyes. It made me feel so incredibly sorry for all my sins, especially for my role in legalizing abortion. I just kept repeating over and over, "I just want to undo all the evil I've done in this world. I'm so sorry, God. I'm so, so sorry. As far as abortion is concerned, I just want to undo it. I want it all to just go away." Finally, I stopped crying and broke into the biggest smile of my life. I no longer felt the pressure of my sin pushing down on my shoulders. The release was so quick that I felt like I could almost float outside."

I was thinking this morning about swimming. Please hang in there with me, this is relevant! I started to think of what we can learn about God from swimming. About how it could be a glimpse of Heaven. (please, just stick with me here). Being in/under water is the closest we can naturally get to weightlessness. Now I don't think we will be up in Heaven, literally weightless, like you see astronauts in space (although we might be, who knows?). But I quickly thought of it as a weightlessness from sin. That the feeling of sin would be lifted off our shoulders. How it will feel like the weight of 10 Empire State Buildings LITERALLY being lifted off our shoulders! (basically, it's indescribable). How even the most convicted of sinners will be surprised and delighted at the sensation. It's beyond comprehension!

Praise God for the day when all believers will be freed from sin! :)

Thirdly, I was just about to read a post on Desiring God, but hadn't read it yet. I had it open, but decided to look up Roe first. Here is a quote from McCorvey:

"When my conversion became public knowledge, I spoke openly to reporters about still supporting legalized abortion in the first trimester. The media was quick to use this to downplay the seriousness of my conversion, saying I typified the "general ambivalence" of our culture over abortion. But a few weeks after my conversion, I was sitting in O.R.'s offices when I noticed a fetal development poster. The progression was so obvious, the eyes were so sweet. It hurt my heart, just looking at them.

I ran outside and finally, it dawned on me. "Norma," I said to myself, "They're right." I had worked with pregnant women for years. I had been through three pregnancies and deliveries myself. I should have known. Yet something in that poster made me lose my breath. I kept seeing the picture of that tiny, 10-week-old embryo, and I said to myself, that's a baby! It's as if blinders just fell off my eyes and I suddenly understood the truth--that's a baby!"

Here is the post I had ready to read on my monitor, Pray for Blessed Eyes. Here is a quote:

"Do you have “blessed eyes”? The new birth is the gift of “blessed eyes.” This is what Paul was sent to do in the power of Christ: “I am sending you to open their eyes” (Acts 26:18).

And once we have “blessed eyes,” we pray for the fullest use of them every day.

Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law. (Psalms 119:18)"

Praise God for the apparent conversion of this women; the power of her testimony, those she can reach out to, and most importantly - that God is ultimately glorified!

Stem-Cell Research : I'll let others do the typing...

I almost didn't post anything about this, because I'm trying to be positive about things, but this just really bothers me. So, instead of voicing my own concerns (which I probably wouldn't do very effectively - I would rather pray about it than complain about it), I am posting links to what others have to say:

Al Mohler, The Floodgate is Now Open -- President Obama and the Vulnerable Embryo.

Quote: "The vulnerable human embryo is now at greater risk than ever before. And this, inevitably, means that every single human life is devalued by this decision."


Two articles I found linked on theologica:

First Things, Stem Cells: A Political History.

Quote: "Perhaps the recipe looks like this: Take the always-present human hunger for magic—for medicine as a kind of witchcraft, delivering thaumaturgical cures. Add the vague sense, shared by most people, that ever since the discovery of DNA’s double helix in 1953 we have been living in something like a golden age of biology. Include the strong sense, among political liberals, that religious believers must be discredited before they undo the abortion license. Now, wrap the whole thing up in money, the competition for trillions of dollars in research grants and the biotech companies’ stock dividends."


The Weekly Standard, Perpetuating a Needless Stem-Cell War.

Quote: "President Obama today fulfilled his campaign promise to lift federal-funding restrictions on research involving the destruction of human embryos. He couldn't have done so at a more inappropriate time, for just last week scientists made headlines again announcing yet another breakthrough in what is known as "induced pluripotent stem-cell" technology. Following up on the initial breakthrough in November 2007 that allowed scientists to produce the biological equivalent of embryonic stem cells without creating, using, or destroying any human embryos, scientists have continued to refine their methods. Last week's announcement was the latest in a long string of developments. If Obama truly wants to find honorable compromises that the entire nation can accept in good conscience and even endorse, he should be promoting these alternative sources."

Here are some Notes on Early Human Development, for your instructional pleasure.

Quiet Time : all good things must come to an end

I have finished the Psalms. Yes, all 150 of them. And what a blessing they were to read! :)

Seriously, my heart is overjoyed. I thank my God for His instruction and encouragement through His WORD!

I got behind on posting about my quiet times, but here are a few snippets:

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I will sigh and with all creation groan/As I wait for Hope to come for me*

Psalm 96:11-13 (KJV)

¹¹Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad; let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof.

¹²Let the field be joyful, and all that is therein: then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice

¹³Before the LORD: for he cometh, for he cometh to judge the earth: he shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with his truth.

Ryrie Study Bible: All creation will flourish when the curse is reversed in the Millennium.

See Romans 8:22 (KJV)

For we know that the whole creation groaneth and travaileth in pain together until now.

Psalm 98:7-8 (KJV)

⁷Let the sea roar, and the fulness thereof; the world, and they that dwell therein.

⁸Let the floods clap their hands: let the hills be joyful together

Ryrie Study Bible note: Nature will rejoice in its release when Christ rules in His millennial kingdom.

*lyrics from Brooke Frasers', "C.S. Lewis Song."

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Psalm 117 (KJV)

¹O praise the LORD, all ye nations: praise him, all ye people.

²For his merciful kindness is great toward us: and the truth of the LORD endureth for ever. Praise ye the LORD.

Ryrie Study Bible note: This shortest and middle chapter of the Bible is a hymn in its simplest form - a call to praise (v. 1) and the cause for that priase (v. 2).

Yep, only two verses, and isn't that cool!?!

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Psalm 119 (long, but awesome, did you expect any less?). The following verses really caught my eye:

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

⁶³I am a companion of all them that fear thee, and of them that keep thy precepts.

⁶⁴The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy: teach me thy statutes.

⁶⁵Thou hast dealt well with thy servant, O LORD, according unto thy word.

⁶⁶Teach me good judgment and knowledge: for I have believed thy commandments.

⁶⁷Before I was afflicted I went astray: but now have I kept thy word.

⁶⁸Thou art good, and doest good; teach me thy statutes.

⁶⁹The proud have forged a lie against me: but I will keep thy precepts with my whole heart.

⁷⁰Their heart is as fat as grease; but I delight in thy law.

⁷¹It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.

⁷²The law of thy mouth is better unto me than thousands of gold and silver.

and these three:

¹⁰³How sweet are thy words unto my taste! yea, sweeter than honey to my mouth!

¹³⁶Rivers of waters run down mine eyes, because they keep not thy law.

¹⁷⁶I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek thy servant; for I do not forget thy commandments.

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And then there is the last verse of the last chapter:

Psalm 150:6 (KJV)

⁶Let every thing that hath breath praise the LORD. Praise ye the LORD.

I didn't copy the note from my study Bible, but something about how appropriate that the last verse of the Psalms has to do with everything praising God!

SOMEONE wants me to be a morning person... already...

I'm not a morning person. It's no secret. Also, it's no secret that I feel as though the Lord wants me to wake up early. See here and here for previous posts.

Well, last week I got another jolt. You see, I was getting pretty good about waking up early, then last week it all went downhill. I could blame a resurgence of my migraines, but still... no excuses! Although I still made time for quiet time, I still want to wake up early!

Rewind to last week; last Wednesday specifically. I slept in just about as late as possible to still fit in a quiet time. This is one verse that I read that morning that REALLY got my attention:

Psalm 108:2 (KJV)

Awake, psaltery and harp: I myself will awake early.

(if you have time, read the whole Psalm. It's a short one. As always, I have a link to the whole Psalm above - or hey, go ahead and read all of them! ;) ).

I read that and thought to myself "whoa." That's about it, because I didn't have time to think of anything else! I blame that on me giving myself little time to read, and wanting to read to much. I read 10 Psalms that morning. I was sleepy, but I read them. (note: I'm thinking that if I wasn't so sleepy, I would get so much more out of them - so although I still got my quiet time in, I still need to wake up earlier!).

Last Thursday I woke up at 3 am. That was too early (and sooo not cool), so I went back to sleep. Then I woke up at 5 am. A-hem, as in 5 am CLUB! Still, my lazy flesh convinced me to go back to sleep. Then I woke up at 7 am. Geez! I then slowly got myself ready to have a quiet time.

I started out by reading Morning and Evening (another note: I usually read that days' Morning and Evening before my quiet times. I feel like I'm getting a mini-sermon before I dive into the Word). Although the devotion is about "Christian wakefulness" (not an argument for waking up early, per se), it really caught my eye. The verse for the devotion was:

1 Thessalonians 5:6 (KJV)

Let us not sleep, as do others.

It kinda felt like a slap in the face. A gentle, encouraging one, but still... an attention-getter to be sure! If you would like to read the full devotional, click here.

(just an aside: that morning I read Psalm 119, which consists of 176 verses!).

So, despite the time change (which I'm loving because of the extra hour of sunlight), I will AGAIN try to persevere to wake up early. I bought three Carolyn Mahaney books to start reading in the mornings, too. I'm starting out with Feminine Appeal, then I will follow-up (in no particular order, yet) with Girl Talk: Mother-Daughter Conversations Biblical Womanhood and *cough cough* Shopping for Time: How to do It All and NOT Be Overwhelmed.

*Awesome photo courtesy of Google Images/Washington Post, not my camera*

Addendum: Check out what Spurgeon has to say about the latter part of Psalm 108:2:

I myself will awake early. I will call up the dawn. The best and brightest hours of the day shall find me heartily aroused to bless my God. Some singers had need to awake, for they sing in drawling tones, as if they were half asleep; the tune drags wearily along, there is no feeling or sentiment in the singing, but the listener hears only a dull mechanical sound, as if the choir ground out the notes from a worn out barrel organ. Oh, choristers, wake up, for this is not a work for dreamers, but such as requires your best powers in their liveliest condition. In all worship this should be the personal resolve of each worshipper: "I myself will awake."