I'm not going to quote the sermons to you word for word, but each of the commandments will be spelled out in its own day and each will be shown to be either a blessing or a protection. If any of you want to contribute to this, speak up and you could be our next featured writer! I plan on beginning next week.

In unrelated news, it's no secret to anyone who knows me that I easily get songs in my head. Even my coworkers have mentioned my humming before, and not always to their amusement. Lately, I've had songs from the Newsboys rattling around in there. My favorites change from day to day, so the coworkers get to listen to a different tune but I tend to go back to certain songs on a regular basis.

One song in particular is Entertaining Angels, which speaks about the lives of most of us. Have you ever felt that your actions were so reprehensible that a perfect God should have nothing to do with you? Have you ever thought that He wouldn't even acknowledge you, much less love you? Has your life's path ever taken you in the opposite direction of what He would want for you? Me too. And do you know what He is doing during this time? He is patiently and anxiously waiting for you to turn to Him. Sometimes He'll give you a little nudge, and when you finally look to Him for guidance, He will accept you. Life's imperfections are the very reason we have a God to watch over us

one to another do you remember me i feel so small are you listening tonight so temporary things that i have seen i ran so far will you take me back again entertaining angels by the light of my t.v. screen 24-7 you wait for me entertaining angels by the time i fall to my knees host of heaven, sing over me

So the next time you hear someone humming an uplifting song, you never know what it might be. The song in their heart may just be because they are so glad that they can't keep it in any longer!

Yours in Christ,

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You know, these books of the Bible are a challenge for this project. There were times earlier when the census was taken and I wondered how I would be able to write a decent comment to add. Psalms and Proverbs is the polar opposite for me. What should I write about and the expense of not writing about something else?

For day one, I'll err on the side of under doing it. Twice in here, I noticed comments about praise of yourself. In both places, it says that it is best to let others do this. I had a great boss at my former job and she really talked me up to others. She defended some of my ideas that needed to be improved rather than dismissed and would back any decision I made in regard to the employees. I had absolutely zero reason to boast for myself and life was good. Had I talked myself up, that would have grown resentment among the others and I would have been labeled a braggart.

Another Proverb that stands out is the one about voicing your love. It practically goes without saying that if you love and/or respect someone, you need to tell them! Love is a blessing from God that is never used up. The more you use it the more it multiplies!

Day 2

Have I mentioned recently how much I love my wife? She and my son are my world (second only to God, of course). I'm going to break down what she means to me compared to Proverbs 31. I do have full confidence in her and she often surprises me with a little gift here and there. She hasn't shown me much in the way of sewing skills, but she works diligently at her job and just as hard, if not harder, at finding the best bargains for us. She oversees much of the workings of our home and we are taken care of.

Whenever a friend of mine meets her, their respect for me improves. I can see it in their eyes and in the compliments I receive. The latter part about how the husband of a good wife praises her has just been shown here, but this is not the only place I try to show it. Tina is my one and only and my love for her has gone nowhere but up in the 6+ years we have been married. Tina, I love you!

Day 3

This reading begins a plea from Israel to God, asking that they be allowed back into His good graces. They start by reminding us all that God had driven out the nations of the land they possessed. Care is given to remark that their arms and efforts were not enough to accomplish this, for God fought for them. As we know, they were later rejected by God due to their lapses of obedience and faith, but in this reading they seem to deny any wrongdoing, and I feel that their words were in error here.

Day 4

A wise statement is made here. The wise and the foolish all die the same death and take none of their possessions with them. Others grab it up as soon as it becomes available. Don't be upset by this, for this is what anyone should expect if they trust only in themselves. Those that trust in God, though, will be plucked from the grave in salvation to be taken up with God, where paradise is an understatement.

God has and will forgive the sins of us all if we allow him to do so. The writer of this set of Psalms is crying out to God to do just that.

Day 5

Much of this reading seems to be centered on the leaders of nations, but what is a home, but a nation comprised of a family? And what was Israel but a family that comprised a nation? Make the Lord your God and He will make your efforts magnificent! No effort you give is as powerful as the wave of his hand, so lean on Him constantly! I'm learning to pray about things that I would think petty.

He is also our comfort from the pressures of life. The solid ground in this quagmire we call the world. When our best effort fails, He is there to help us meet His goals. When it seems like it's just not worth trying anymore, He is there asking you to stop trying and let Him take over. If the God of Heaven and Earth wants to take over your life, can you give me one reason to resist?

Day 6

The perfect correction of God is expressed here, and it holds true "forever in both directions." The forty years of wandering after Israel was too timid to enter the Promised Land at the time God chose is mentioned here. Most of Israel had strayed from God, so they were not allowed His rest. Is that not true even today? If you reject the gifts from the Most High, isn't your life more complicated and isn't your promise after life even worse? True joy begins in the praise of God!

Day 7

God's sovereignty is expressed here. Our nations are merely tenants and He is the landlord of all. Nations come and go, but the Landlord persists. His rules are unchanging and His decisions are just. He decides the fates of nations, of the land and water, of nature itself. Like a good shepherd, he uses his authority to see that we are all cared for. Every aspect of everything is directed by Him like an orchestra, to see that His creation is cared for. With all of this authority/responsibility, how much do you think you mean to him? Enough to sacrifice himself for your sake. Praise be to God!

Weekly Link Living Water for Your Soul A daily blessing from the New Living Translation OK, I'll admit it. I'm a sucker for a good e-mail newsletter. This site has a daily devotional that is relatively short, and always very good. You can visit the site daily if you like, or you can have the devotional sent to you via e-mail, like I have done. It's concise and very well-written. I don't get a bunch of extra junk in my in-box. I get a daily uplifting of the spirit. And so can you do if you visit them or sign up to receive a daily dose of God's affirmation.

I hope you enjoyed this e-zine. If you know anyone else who would enjoy this newsletter, please forward this e-mail to them or direct them to http://www.coffeeswirls.com/weeklybible/
Thanks for sharing my goal of reading the Bible in its entirety this year!