[7] Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See
how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient
about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. [8] You also,
be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at
hand. [9] Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may
not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. [10] As an
example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke
in the name of the Lord. [11] Behold, we consider those blessed who
remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you
have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and
merciful.
[12] But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by
earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be
no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.
GotQuestions.org
Saturday, April 21, 2012
Friday, April 20, 2012
Praise the Lord, for the darkness cannot contain you
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
- God, Psalm 139 in the bible
I have been going through a period of deep thoughtfulness and sadness in dealing with things in my life and family situations. It has surely felt like the 'darkness' has been trying to hide me. Unfortunately I have been using aviodence stratagies (something I learned about for Community Services this week) and have realised that I need to 'wake up' and seek God's face and bravely face my hardships head on instead of trying to aviod the pain of confrontation. Please pray with me that I will see the 'light' as it says in Psalm 139 "...the night will shine like the day, for the darkness is light to you". I wonder? Does that mean this is only how God sees our lives or do we sometimes get a measure of his viewpoint and 'glory' on earth as we long to be closer to His presence walking with Him, waiting on Him, searching His ways, and obeying Him even when or if it hurts? Any ideas or comments on this?
May the Lord bless all who read this. It is my prayer that you would continue to "search the Lord while He is still near", and "draw near to Him so He may draw near to you" and if you haven't started doing this already that Christ's love and compassion would set you on a quest to find the One who desires you to be closer to Him.
and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
- God, Psalm 139 in the bible
I have been going through a period of deep thoughtfulness and sadness in dealing with things in my life and family situations. It has surely felt like the 'darkness' has been trying to hide me. Unfortunately I have been using aviodence stratagies (something I learned about for Community Services this week) and have realised that I need to 'wake up' and seek God's face and bravely face my hardships head on instead of trying to aviod the pain of confrontation. Please pray with me that I will see the 'light' as it says in Psalm 139 "...the night will shine like the day, for the darkness is light to you". I wonder? Does that mean this is only how God sees our lives or do we sometimes get a measure of his viewpoint and 'glory' on earth as we long to be closer to His presence walking with Him, waiting on Him, searching His ways, and obeying Him even when or if it hurts? Any ideas or comments on this?
May the Lord bless all who read this. It is my prayer that you would continue to "search the Lord while He is still near", and "draw near to Him so He may draw near to you" and if you haven't started doing this already that Christ's love and compassion would set you on a quest to find the One who desires you to be closer to Him.
Psalm 139
New International Version (NIV)
Psalm 139
For the director of music. Of David. A psalm. 1 You have searched me, LORD,and you know me.
2 You know when I sit and when I rise;
you perceive my thoughts from afar.
3 You discern my going out and my lying down;
you are familiar with all my ways.
4 Before a word is on my tongue
you, LORD, know it completely.
5 You hem me in behind and before,
and you lay your hand upon me.
6 Such knowledge is too wonderful for me,
too lofty for me to attain.
7 Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
8 If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
9 If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea,
10 even there your hand will guide me,
your right hand will hold me fast.
11 If I say, “Surely the darkness will hide me
and the light become night around me,”
12 even the darkness will not be dark to you;
the night will shine like the day,
for darkness is as light to you.
13 For you created my inmost being;
you knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.
15 My frame was not hidden from you
when I was made in the secret place,
when I was woven together in the depths of the earth.
16 Your eyes saw my unformed body;
all the days ordained for me were written in your book
before one of them came to be.
17 How precious to me are your thoughts,[a] God!
How vast is the sum of them!
18 Were I to count them,
they would outnumber the grains of sand—
when I awake, I am still with you.
19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked!
Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty!
20 They speak of you with evil intent;
your adversaries misuse your name.
21 Do I not hate those who hate you, LORD,
and abhor those who are in rebellion against you?
22 I have nothing but hatred for them;
I count them my enemies.
23 Search me, God, and know my heart;
test me and know my anxious thoughts.
24 See if there is any offensive way in me,
and lead me in the way everlasting.
Footnotes:
- Psalm 139:17 Or How amazing are your thoughts concerning me
New International Version (NIV)Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica
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