1 Surely God is good to Israel,
to those who are pure in heart.
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds
Emphasis:
Gifts of God's nature
Gifts He offers us
Gifts he asks of us
to those who are pure in heart.
2 But as for me, my feet had almost slipped;
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
I had nearly lost my foothold.
3 For I envied the arrogant
when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.
4 They have no struggles;
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, "How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?"
their bodies are healthy and strong.[a]
5 They are free from common human burdens;
they are not plagued by human ills.
6 Therefore pride is their necklace;
they clothe themselves with violence.
7 From their callous hearts comes iniquity[b];
their evil imaginations have no limits.
8 They scoff, and speak with malice;
with arrogance they threaten oppression.
9 Their mouths lay claim to heaven,
and their tongues take possession of the earth.
10 Therefore their people turn to them
and drink up waters in abundance.[c]
11 They say, "How would God know?
Does the Most High know anything?"
12 This is what the wicked are like—
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
always free of care, they go on amassing wealth.
13 Surely in vain I have kept my heart pure
and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
15 If I had spoken out like that,and have washed my hands in innocence.
14 All day long I have been afflicted,
and every morning brings new punishments.
I would have betrayed your children.
16 When I tried to understand all this,
it troubled me deeply
17 till I entered the sanctuary of God;
then I understood their final destiny.
18 Surely you place them on slippery ground;
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
you cast them down to ruin.
19 How suddenly are they destroyed,
completely swept away by terrors!
20 They are like a dream when one awakes;
when you arise, Lord,
you will despise them as fantasies.
21 When my heart was grieved
and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
23 Yet I am always with you;and my spirit embittered,
22 I was senseless and ignorant;
I was a brute beast before you.
you hold me by my right hand.
24 You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will take me into glory.
25 Whom have I in heaven but you?
And earth has nothing I desire besides you.
26 My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart
and my portion forever.
27 Those who are far from you will perish;
you destroy all who are unfaithful to you.
28 But as for me, it is good to be near God.
I have made the Sovereign LORD my refuge;
I will tell of all your deeds
Emphasis:
Gifts of God's nature
Gifts He offers us
Gifts he asks of us
1) Large trees with big leaves on a hot day.
ReplyDelete2) A cool breeze
3) Ice
4) Sleeping baby chicks
5) Smoothies on a hot day.
6) Fans!
7) A home
8) Children's laughter
9) Blue eyes looking up
10) Growing grapes on my vines on my deck. They kind of hang there almost wanting to drip.
If it's Ok, I'd like to post parts of the book that make me stop and think a bit..... pg. 212
ReplyDeleteJesus says there is no other way to take up the faith but complete union: “I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you” (John 14:20). I am stilled. I think on being in Christ and Him being in me and He is wind whisperer and I am leaf and He stirs and I tremble: “Remain in me, and I will remain in you” (John 15:4). He’s calling me to graft on, become one with the True Vine, the vine the biblical symbol of joy, festivity … fullness. He’s calling to come and celebrate being made one, and in Him, by Him, to bear the fruit of the full life round.
Voskamp, Ann (2010). One Thousand Gifts: A Dare to Live Fully Right Where You Are (p. 212). Zondervan. Kindle Edition.