tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19463570427169734112024-03-05T01:25:31.672-07:00Living Water“If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me [Jesus] and drink." –John 7:37Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.comBlogger108125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-5119056116332630362011-07-31T12:25:00.004-06:002011-07-31T12:32:33.519-06:00The Atmosphere: Our Unseen Protector<a href="http://www.williamsclass.com/EighthScienceWork/Atmosphere/AtmosphereEarth.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 398px; height: 261px;" src="http://www.williamsclass.com/EighthScienceWork/Atmosphere/AtmosphereEarth.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>I love science; it’s one of my favorite subjects. One reason is because I love exploring God’s creation. I am amazed how he’s made our world. Everything fits together like a well machine. I love looking at His creation, or His artwork. <div><br />Recently, I’ve learned a lot about our atmosphere. Before you say, how boring, remember that it is too apart of creation and very vital to our survival. I also think by the time we’re done, you’ll be amazed about the different roles our atmosphere plays. </div><div> <br /><b>First, the atmosphere and the air we breathe has the right mixture of gasses to support life.</b> We need oxygen: “A person will die if deprived of oxygen for only five minutes” (Steele & Parker 23). Clearly, we need oxygen to live, but, too much oxygen is harmful to humans and can cause “lung damage, chest pains, and even blindness” (Wile). If we have too much oxygen, it is harmful, but if we don’t have enough, we’ll suffocate. We need to have a perfect mix of oxygen, which thankfully we do. According to Bakich, earth’s atmosphere is made up of 20.9% oxygen (7). This level of oxygen is “<b>ideal for human life</b>” (Wile). So now we have the right amount of oxygen we need, but makes up the rest of our</div><img src="http://ffden-2.phys.uaf.edu/212_spring2011.web.dir/nicole_wade/images/air.png" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 164px; height: 212px;" border="0" alt="" /><div> atmosphere? What is diluting, or thinning the oxygen? According to Bakich, 78% is nitrogen, and 1% is other gasses, like carbon dioxide and water vapors (7). The nitrogen helps reduce the amount of oxygen so it isn’t too potent for life. Nitrogen is the perfect gas to dilute since “it does not react with our bodies in any way. We breathe in nitrogen with every breath, but then we breathe it right out again because it does not interact with our bodies. Almost all other gasses- carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, etc. - are poisonous to human life” (Wile). While most gasses are harmful to life, our atmosphere is made up of elements that don’t hurt us. </div><div><br />Isn’t that amazing how God’s done made this? I love it! This is just one of the amazing traits that our atmosphere has.<br /></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-47147240949527544362011-04-28T07:38:00.003-06:002011-04-28T07:58:09.435-06:00Hyssop<p>Don’t know what hyssop is? Then you’re not alone. I first time I stumbled across it was in John.<br /><br /></p><blockquote>“A jar of wine vinegar was there, so they soaked a sponge in it, put the sponge on a stalk of the hyssop plant, and lifted it to Jesus’ lips.” John 19:29</blockquote><br />Hum. That was interesting. At first I just thought John was adding detail to his account because he was there. Then, I stumbled onto the word again a few days later.<br /><br /><blockquote>“[<a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/04/first-passover.html">First Passover</a>] Take a bunch of hyssop, dip it into the blood in the basin and put some of the blood on the top and on both sides of the doorframe. None of you shall go out of the door of your house until morning.” Ex. 12:22</blockquote><br />This caught my attention. Jesus’ sacrifice often ties into the first Passover, when the angle of death passed over the houses with the lamb’s blood. So, what is the connecting between the first Passover and Christ’s death? What is hyssop?<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk0v4GQ2DhIPsAjzVoSD6bubNbEhBJW-oZRn8ie2bFpvLi97eKYtVeE0qpZO3T0OKuNKZFGDCLXmCz6vQqXUq4GChMGByTlAiPbSMga7tw32YUFe8xknwY1dm_0nNErfwh1iDgvGJJU1c/s200/hyssop1.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5600633080246406418" /><br /><div><br />Hyssop is a common herb which grew in Bible times. Common varieties grow to about two feet tall and spread about a foot. It has beautiful purple blue flowers and a strong mint smell. If you have ever seen or grown catmint, hyssop looks somewhat similar. Hyssop was often used as a cleaning agent and was widely used to clean sacred places such as temples.<br /><br />At both on Passover and Good Friday, a cleansing and forgiveness of sins was taking place. In both cases, someone else was taking our place and met death. In both cases, hyssop was used, and our sins were cleared.<br /><br />In Palms 51:7, David cries out “Cleanse me with hyssop, and I will be clean!” If you have accepted the forgiveness of Jesus, then you have been cleansed with hyssop! By the blood of the lamb, death was satisfied. Our sins were gone. We are clean!<p></p><p>Source: <a href="http://www.hannahscupboard.com/ST-hyssop.html">http://www.hannahscupboard.com/ST-hyssop.html</a></p></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-27982882513544735622011-04-21T11:27:00.004-06:002011-04-21T11:31:30.686-06:00Easter Designs<a href="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/crown_of_thronesTN.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 131px;" src="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/crown_of_thronesTN.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/2Cor5Cross_TN.JPG" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 131px;" src="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/2Cor5Cross_TN.JPG" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/FlareCross_TN.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 175px; height: 131px;" src="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/images/Portfolio/Thumb_nail/desktop/FlareCross_TN.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br />Here are some Easter designs I made. Feel free to use. More <a href="http://www.rebeccabrasby.com/portfolio_web/desktop.html">desktop sizes</a>.<div><br /></div><div><br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-18130634816055414422011-03-07T07:59:00.001-07:002011-03-07T08:03:51.383-07:00A+ student?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff5t2EZKvytEEGQNpjMWBULhadR-wtbXmCRG4XZ9UEr8mO9XQVePJDh1WNEKE8KZV1-8vw3CZoj0bqRLk9pAHNT6Yox1c7L32fX9SALsvKsgq9KAoaKtc3oNah-615dUKXTpLc1iBWvw/s1600/A%252B.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgff5t2EZKvytEEGQNpjMWBULhadR-wtbXmCRG4XZ9UEr8mO9XQVePJDh1WNEKE8KZV1-8vw3CZoj0bqRLk9pAHNT6Yox1c7L32fX9SALsvKsgq9KAoaKtc3oNah-615dUKXTpLc1iBWvw/s200/A%252B.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5581353483853025266" /></a><p>“I just to know what God wants from me.”</p><p><br /> Have you or a friend every said that? I have. It's good to want to do God's will, but sometimes we do it with the wrong motivation. We often feel like we need to please God, and that He is disappointed in us if we don’t measure up. We need to do such-and-such, or God will be angry with us. </p><p><br /> Sometime, we act like He’s a big school teacher. </p><p>If we show up for class, do well on the quizzes, and turn in all the assignments, then God will be happy with us. We’ll get an A. However, if we slack off and don’t do good work, God will be angry with us and give us a F. We aren’t as good enough. The A students make God happy, but God is disappointed in the F students. </p><p><br /> Is this statement true? Does God really grade us? Of course not. His love for us never changes. His commitment to love us in not limited on our actions. If we are good, He loves us. If we are bad, he loves us just as much. John 3:16, “For God so loves the world.” Not just the good people. Not just the Christian. Not just the A+ plus students. He loves the world. </p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-5779414301003307832011-03-05T07:39:00.000-07:002011-03-05T07:39:00.098-07:00Saved by Grace<p>“How could so-and-so be a Christian? She’s in jail for drugs!”</p><p><br /> Have you ever heard something like this? I have. Sadly, several times. Have you heard this one: “He’s so nice, he must be a Christian.” Again, I’ve heard that one too. Both statements are based on the same false assumption; Christians must do good deeds.</p><p><br /> Don’t misunderstand me. I’m not saying to stop doing good things; I’m saying our actions don’t define our salvation. Scripture is very clear on this.<br /></p><blockquote>Galatians 2:16&20<br />We know that a person is not justified by the works of the law, but by faith in Jesus Christ. So we, too, have put our faith in Christ Jesus that we may be justified by faith in Christ and not by the works of the law, because by the works of the law no one will be justified. I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!”</blockquote><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAN8BBxhz9jTZQcvy9iTau5rVYq6WwvRuGgABqweHhsjUJFER6cnt8igX5wnxZ-DqRUrU61V1mpNMETYWaujHh1QPQJyOBwjhIIGjmHkC-v8Ky1XHjKZ24qTD0C2ne_7oRMQhUPAmORkU/s200/Cross-at-Sunset_web.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 134px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579864210662835682" /><br />I think Paul is very clear here. We cannot be justified through obeying the law. We can’t be justified by doing good deeds. That last part of the verse is interesting: ‘Christ died for nothing.”<br />When we try to earn our salvation, we’re rejecting what Jesus did on the cross. We’re saying His sacrifice wasn’t good enough; we still need to live a good life. We’re rejecting His grace and His gift; it’s not enough. We’re, in short, saying, “thanks, but no thanks.”<br /> <br />Let’s not trade the precious gift of grace for man’s fumble attempts of trying to be good.<br /><p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-10799093146246239422011-03-03T06:50:00.003-07:002011-03-03T06:52:56.160-07:00Just You<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yZTlrnfIqEn4ziYrdaPh-ys1B-Zodb8p_sCAHFO8teyBZrzX-W9QWykOaB84VZDK_td77i_Ury3AK4xdMa4_S4mP85UQ-NkTeu8naLu-3WhwvTm5zwXAN6glUQAxtuXH8kBC8PoVB64/s1600/prodigal-son.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 168px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2yZTlrnfIqEn4ziYrdaPh-ys1B-Zodb8p_sCAHFO8teyBZrzX-W9QWykOaB84VZDK_td77i_Ury3AK4xdMa4_S4mP85UQ-NkTeu8naLu-3WhwvTm5zwXAN6glUQAxtuXH8kBC8PoVB64/s200/prodigal-son.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5579851169059993938" /></a><p>What can you give God? What is something you have that He doesn’t? You can’t give Him stuff; He created everything. He can make whatever He wants. You can’t give Him money; He owns that too. We can’t work hard enough; He can do it Himself. So what can we give Him?<br /> You can give Him yourself. He wants you.<br /><br /> In the parable of the prodigal son, the father waited for the son’s return. He watched for his son, waiting hopefully. When the son returned, the father was overjoyed and joyfully welcomed the son back home. <br /> <br /> God is always overjoyed when He has us. He rejoices when He has you. He just wants you. When the prodigal son returned, he didn’t have any money, or cloths, or anything of value. The father didn’t care; all he wanted was his son.<br /><br /> God doesn’t want your money or your stuff; He just wants you. You are His child, and He is longing to be with you. He doesn’t care if you don’t have anything else to give Him, or if you’re dirty; He just wants you.</p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-6330786888491774822011-03-01T08:06:00.000-07:002011-03-01T08:13:12.190-07:00The More I learnThe more I learn about God, the more I see how perfect He is. The more I see how perfect He is, the more I see how sinful I really am. The more I see how sinful I am, the more I see how much I desperately need His grace.Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-18365773580700387452011-02-07T07:26:00.005-07:002011-03-03T07:01:20.061-07:00Sweet lie #1: All you need is love<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAazo1NZbi9S9J4ZVDKbKNmKKFugktvSIHm6sgeBBMuvKzogQR03m7ppHvDNcatLjt_8gBTYt8ixox68bmUQSPWsjQIuf43evtZgG2u9jsI7xGGRS0snYLesKt40sWumBJMDqNXhicK90/s1600/couple-s-sunset.jpg"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAazo1NZbi9S9J4ZVDKbKNmKKFugktvSIHm6sgeBBMuvKzogQR03m7ppHvDNcatLjt_8gBTYt8ixox68bmUQSPWsjQIuf43evtZgG2u9jsI7xGGRS0snYLesKt40sWumBJMDqNXhicK90/s200/couple-s-sunset.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5570956625293765250" /></span></a><p>You’ve probably seen this one in a romance movie. Girl is broken and unfilled. Boy is broken and unfilled. They meet, and suddenly everything is perfect. They’re life is fulfilled, their broken heart fixed. Everything is perfect! They are never broken or wanting again.<br /><br />If only…<br /><br />This lie states that human love is the answer to all life’s problems. This is a lie, but it’s close to the truth. The truth is that God’s love is the answer. It’s His love we need.<br /><br />Human love is great, and we are called to love each other, but without the unfailing love of God in our life, we will found that human love is never enough. As my pastor likes to say, “It’s like pouring water through a grocery cart. Nothing sticks.”<br /><br />Human love is not the answer to all life’s problems: God’s love is.<br /><br /></p><blockquote>"But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved."<br />Ephesians 2:4-5</blockquote><br /><p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-32952444886232611062011-01-17T07:26:00.002-07:002011-01-17T07:49:36.175-07:00Simple<span style="font-size:100%;"><a style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0); font-family: georgia;" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2QuVVMMZhMkdfuXm9TisBgXiiMCZP06Dqv9GZtePfXW9vDTRaAvIn3cT6r88I5bhjkXFcyXuGpQa7bn2byQO9WphTJpd9Fk-qYIABlT4FDRr-rRQ7T2NSocCfzPDzXddi_2q1MD9fSc/s1600/reading-bible-blue.jpg"><img style="margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; float: right; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 132px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc2QuVVMMZhMkdfuXm9TisBgXiiMCZP06Dqv9GZtePfXW9vDTRaAvIn3cT6r88I5bhjkXFcyXuGpQa7bn2byQO9WphTJpd9Fk-qYIABlT4FDRr-rRQ7T2NSocCfzPDzXddi_2q1MD9fSc/s200/reading-bible-blue.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5563166627414615746" border="0" /></a><span style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;" >Christianity is simple. The Bible is simple. Sometimes, we think it’s too simple, and try to add rules and complicate the gospel: you have to pray this way, you have to worship that way, you have to serve this way, etc. That’s what the Pharisees did, right? They took the simple word of God and added their own rules. What does it mean to rest on the Sabbath? Can you cook? How far can you walk? We often like to add our own rules and definitions to God’s word.</span><br /></span><p style="color: rgb(0, 0, 0);font-family:georgia;"><span style="font-size:100%;">When Jesus was asked what the greatest command was, his answer was simple: Love God with your all heart, soul, mind, and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself. Simple right? You could take this one verse and lived by it for a year, and you could change a lot of lifes.<br /><br />Simple doesn’t mean easy. ‘Love your neighbor as yourself’ is simple, but it’s not easy. Being told ‘dig a ditch that’s 1’ wide, 1’ deep, and a mile long’ is simple. Is it easy? No. That’s the beauty of God’s word: It is simple, yet not easy.<br /></span></p><input id="gwProxy" type="hidden"><!--Session data--><input onclick="if(typeof(jsCall)=='function'){jsCall();}else{setTimeout('jsCall()',500);}" id="jsProxy" type="hidden"><div id="refHTML"></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-84646888835227392512010-12-18T09:07:00.005-07:002010-12-18T09:16:57.305-07:00100 posts<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGaLrw5ozFixB4w5V12D-Pp_Z9UhkuymitbnjPTDQZ9N6okNCf6WS4nHGpnZ3H4vJQOwk1adQA8r_gyouIFTXB-GozBINFdbuCP_g8fGHm1AgFh4VMsfe6sdn2RkurlU6L8GvyWlLkuk/s1600/100-age-l.gif"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 197px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtGaLrw5ozFixB4w5V12D-Pp_Z9UhkuymitbnjPTDQZ9N6okNCf6WS4nHGpnZ3H4vJQOwk1adQA8r_gyouIFTXB-GozBINFdbuCP_g8fGHm1AgFh4VMsfe6sdn2RkurlU6L8GvyWlLkuk/s200/100-age-l.gif" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5552056666324731650" /></a><br />Since I've started this blog, I have 100 posts (this is post #101.) It's a milestone worth noting. From videos to songs to Bible study to world views, it been a fun ride. Thanks to everyone who's been keeping up! So tell, which posts did you enjoy reading?Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-73780603824943380892010-12-16T08:50:00.003-07:002010-12-16T08:58:33.742-07:00As we grow<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQiOZXPLqChyphenhyphenEX6jOVxESh_fBcqjIPI4ozeEBLwuutxZ-tmMJxvScETGGzBuNe3BDKSHtvhEevhEBvHYRg1zAX9UPaPOdWnGmBT9gzOBdXvd7F0zp5ydhGugwvGmKqw8T1zFFqmMxHU/s1600/pc036.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 192px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQnQiOZXPLqChyphenhyphenEX6jOVxESh_fBcqjIPI4ozeEBLwuutxZ-tmMJxvScETGGzBuNe3BDKSHtvhEevhEBvHYRg1zAX9UPaPOdWnGmBT9gzOBdXvd7F0zp5ydhGugwvGmKqw8T1zFFqmMxHU/s320/pc036.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5551309840634877826" /></a>"Every year you grow, you will find me bigger." --Aslan.<div><br /></div><div>I love this quote from C.S. Lewis's <i>Prince Caspian.</i> Lewis does such a good job capturing the natural of God and Christianity. As our knowledge of life and God grow, the more we realize how big and powerful God is. The more we learn about God, the more we see we He is too big to understand Him fully. </div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-22193604808933864042010-11-29T07:07:00.002-07:002010-11-29T07:10:07.958-07:00How it Your Way by Britt Nicole<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >A powerful song by Britt Nicole</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; "><h1 id="watch-headline-title" style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 5px; margin-left: 0px; padding-top: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; border-top-width: 0px; border-right-width: 0px; border-bottom-width: 0px; border-left-width: 0px; border-style: initial; border-color: initial; outline-width: 0px; outline-style: initial; outline-color: initial; font-size: 1.8333em; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: transparent; font-weight: bold; height: 1.1363em; max-height: 1.1363em; line-height: 1.1363em; color: rgb(51, 51, 51); overflow-x: hidden; overflow-y: hidden; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; "><br /></h1></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Feels like I`ve been here forever,<br />Why can`t you just intervene?<br />Do you see the tears keep falling?<br />And I`m falling apart at the seams.<br />But you never said the road would be easy,<br />But you said that you would never leave.<br />And you never promised that this life wasn`t hard,<br />But you promised you`d take care of me.<br /><br />So I`ll stop searching for the answers,<br />I`ll stop praying for an escape,<br />And I`ll trust you,God, with where i am,<br />And believe that you will have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br /><br />When my friends and my family have left me,<br />And I feel so ashamed and so cold.<br />Remind me that you take broken things<br />And turn them into beautiful.<br /><br />So I`ll stop searching for the answers,<br />I`ll stop praying for an escape,<br />And I`ll trust you, God, with where i am,<br />And believe that you`ll have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br /><br />Even if my dreams have died,<br />And even if I don`t survive,<br />I`ll still worship you with all my life.<br />My life.<br />Whoa-oh..<br /><br />And I`ll stop searching for the answers,<br />I`ll stop praying for an escape,<br />And i`ll trust you, God, with where i am,<br />And believe that you will have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br />Just have your way.<br /><br />I know you will.<br />I won`t forget.<br />Whoa-oh<br />You love me.<br />Have your way.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Listen to the song</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/xEVlau4VEJk?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/xEVlau4VEJk?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-70941715319470891412010-11-09T08:00:00.002-07:002010-11-09T18:43:55.942-07:00Prayer: an act of humility<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmQ_Fx9rsKTTj4s7zgO1MaeGj_CQWuh245GyUNStpw4h2KxoiLQ0PhnbFho09hU7QyRoPQ4tFa14LyZlG0naSL0VbuyTmppROCI25tMMS3RX-zsVQ6YXw4XgutB76XavSYio2_R04RqM/s1600/j0442526.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbmQ_Fx9rsKTTj4s7zgO1MaeGj_CQWuh245GyUNStpw4h2KxoiLQ0PhnbFho09hU7QyRoPQ4tFa14LyZlG0naSL0VbuyTmppROCI25tMMS3RX-zsVQ6YXw4XgutB76XavSYio2_R04RqM/s320/j0442526.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5537325729279796658" /></a>There's something we need to be able to pray effectively: humility.<div><br /></div><div>Think about it. When we are praying, we have to admit that Someone is greater than we are. We have to admit that we can not control everything, and we have to go to Someone for help. </div><div><br /></div><div>This is one reason why praying on a daily biases is so important; to helps us remain humble. <div><br /></div></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-56902148821340690862010-11-07T07:15:00.004-07:002010-11-08T16:37:03.962-07:00Killer Questions<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH1OdLEYkExyaDSVvXrBV-vlo2TTRj76SmC6xWwmIFjjPi_YdVeb_81WWI1hvChMhKp2R4e5Q8mp5h4PCJpQ_2x6FD-s9mgatPrS4cHqqGReylnpZsYRTGarQcifeg5asTIfQnr5p9yI/s1600/Questions.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgH1OdLEYkExyaDSVvXrBV-vlo2TTRj76SmC6xWwmIFjjPi_YdVeb_81WWI1hvChMhKp2R4e5Q8mp5h4PCJpQ_2x6FD-s9mgatPrS4cHqqGReylnpZsYRTGarQcifeg5asTIfQnr5p9yI/s200/Questions.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5536813524699654594" /></a>If you don't know who Bill Jack is, you should get acquainted. I had the honor of meeting him at TeenPact. I bought some of his DVDs, of one which discussed the power of asking good questions.<div><br /></div><div>First, it takes little knowledge to ask good questions. Yon don't need to know everything, (which is good news for me!)</div><div><br /></div><div>These questions will get you to the heart or foundation believe of whoever you are talking to. I've used these questions before, and it's amazing how many people don't think through their world view. </div><div><br /></div><div>Here are the four killer questions:</div><div><ol><li>What do you mean by______________?</li><li>How do you know?</li><li>What if you are wrong?</li><li>What differences does what you're saying make? (or, so what?)</li></ol>If you know how to use these questions, you can get to the heart of any believe conversation you have. </div><div> </div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-65654765231325123812010-10-25T08:24:00.000-06:002010-10-25T08:25:40.780-06:00Sweetly Broken by Jeremy Riddle<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="apple-style-span"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size: 8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black">O the cross I look and to the cross I cling</span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height: 115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif";color:black"> </span></span><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"><br /><span class="apple-style-span">of its suffering I do drink</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">of its work I do sing</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">on it my savior both bruised and crushed</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">showed that god is love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">and god is just</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">at the cross you beckon me</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you draw me gently to my knees, and I am</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">lost for words so lost in love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken wholly surrendered</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">what a priceless gift undeserved life</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">have I been given</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">through Christ crucified</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you called me out of death</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you called me into life</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">and i was under your wrath</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">now through the cross I’m reconciled</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">at the cross you beckon me</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you draw me gently to my knees and i am</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">lost for words so lost in love,</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken wholly surrendered</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">at the cross you beckon me</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you draw me gently to my knees and i am</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">lost for words so lost in love,</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken wholly surrendered</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">in awe of the cross I must confess</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">how wondrous your redeeming love and</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">how great is your faithfulness</span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">at the cross you beckon me</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you draw me gently to my knees and i am</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">lost for words so lost in love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken wholly surrendered</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">at the cross you beckon me</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">you draw me gently to my knees and i am</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">lost for words so lost in love</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken wholly surrendered</span><span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><br /><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I’m broken for you</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I’m broken for you my lord</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">Jesus, what love is this</span><br /><span class="apple-style-span">I am sweetly broken</span></span><span style="font-size:16.0pt;mso-bidi-font-size:11.0pt;line-height:115%"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="mso-bidi-font-size:8.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"; color:black"><span class="apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;">Listen to the song</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;"><object width="350" height="221"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/O5_Z3ZZYLDc?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/O5_Z3ZZYLDc?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="350" height="221"></embed></object></span></span></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-75378616850301882152010-10-11T07:27:00.004-06:002010-10-11T08:42:21.496-06:00Why Parables?<span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Why did Jesus tell parables to make his point? He could have just told his listeners. Why did he tell stories?</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">One reason is because we remember stories. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium; ">Stories provide an emotion connection. It's one thing to be told something; it's another thing to see that principle in action. It's one thing to hear that God is forgiving; it's anther thing to see that forgiveness acted in the prodigal son.</span></div><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ_6BPrWCINRLGJFwvE8XUizqlwmMGYkPErkZja8RYZuWdDbXIPMc2adtNofPaOhyphenhyphensovq4ML-5i1SjHEehwcHpR7z4EPziZYZUF1uoTXCcli69fLQAk5S_VflNaL8SU3C_Ks4TbIZV3vc/s200/Jesus_telling.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526787954369760370" /><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jesus faced a lot of opposition in the later years in his ministry.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> That's about the same time he started telling parables. It was a way to make his point without the religious leaders breathing down his neck. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">The disciples also asked Jesus this question; why parables? </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; "><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23551" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "></sup><blockquote><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23551" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >11</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >He replied, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of heaven has been given to you, but not to them. </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23552" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >12</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Whoever has will be given more, and he will have an abundance. Whoever does not have, even what he has will be taken from him. </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23553" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >13</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >This is why I speak to them in parables:<br /> "Though seeing, they do not see;<br /> though hearing, they do not hear or understand. </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23554" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >14</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >In them is fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah:<br /> " 'You will be ever hearing but never understanding;<br /> you will be ever seeing but never perceiving.<br /></span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NIV-23555" style="line-height: normal; font-weight: bold; vertical-align: text-top; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >15</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >For this people's heart has become calloused;<br /> they hardly hear with their ears,<br /> and they have closed their eyes.<br /> Otherwise they might see with their eyes,<br /> hear with their ears,<br /> understand with their hearts<br /> and turn, and I would heal them.'--Mathew 13:11-15</span></span></blockquote></span></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-25064534898716822982010-10-09T07:02:00.010-06:002010-10-09T14:00:26.237-06:00What is a Parable?<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KZ-dDtd99MHpMq5A9abcc5x8qyPnwBhOVnZUcubBfdfZ5b071WwYp-Axhyphenhyphen-aP2nlrNBtjONJieCurc6RDKGd8ACvCxIdM8FZuQRM-VDdTDBSPor9IsFUCFEgP31IqaB6Zw7_Icmn0jo/s1600/jesus_teaches.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 174px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4KZ-dDtd99MHpMq5A9abcc5x8qyPnwBhOVnZUcubBfdfZ5b071WwYp-Axhyphenhyphen-aP2nlrNBtjONJieCurc6RDKGd8ACvCxIdM8FZuQRM-VDdTDBSPor9IsFUCFEgP31IqaB6Zw7_Icmn0jo/s200/jesus_teaches.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5526038509620473010" /></a><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="line-height: 115%; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Jesus told a lot of parables. Some where about fish, other about wheat, and another about rebellious sons. Jesus didn't tell these </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; ">stories merely as a form of entertainment. He told stories to make a point, or to show us something new about God.</span></p></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">First, what is a parable? Parables are earthly stories with a spiritual truth. Most parables are told by Jesus and are found in the Gospels, mostly Luke.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"></span>Parables compare the known to the unknown. Parables draw examples from the familiar.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">What are some things parables are not?</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> Parables are not f</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">ables. A fable is </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a myth or legend, or </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">a story that is not true; falsehood. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">In parables, the examples used should not always be emulated. The application should be repeated, but somethings the examples shouldn't be. When Jesus tells the parable about the sower, it doesn't mean we need to go down to the store, buy a bag of seeds, and casts them as we walk through our neighborhoods. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Should you ask your father for your half of the inheritance, then run off and waste it all on parties? Probably not. Somethings, the examples are not Biblical; a servant who refuses to forgive, or the shrewd manager who steals from his master. The application should always be applied, but the examples themselves should not alway be repeated.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Parables are not factual. The stories themselves aren't historic accounts. That's one reason there are no names in parables. Did a Samaritan really find a injured Jew on the road? We don't know. The point of a parable is not to tell a historic account, but rather that we learn something from the story.</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">I hope you can join me as we look at some of the parables that Jesus told and that we can find the meaning and application together. </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space:pre"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"> </span></span></span></span> </div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-7832690159316719632010-10-07T06:52:00.000-06:002010-10-07T06:52:00.319-06:00The Wager<p class="MsoNormal"><span class="huge"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >Belief is a wise wager. Granted that faith cannot be proved, what harm will come to you if you gamble on its truth and it proves false? If you gain, you gain all; if you lose, you lose nothing. Wager, then, without hesitation, that He exists.</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span class="bodybold"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >--Blaise Pascal</span></span></span></span><span class="apple-converted-space"><span style="line-height: 115%; color: black; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" > </span></span></span></span><b></b></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-64813300267237080742010-10-05T07:07:00.002-06:002010-10-05T07:17:21.001-06:00Forever with You by Decyfer Down<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Like shooting stars how brief we are<br />And I wish this moment could last forever<br />Here with You I am made new<br />I want to live like every breath matters<br /><br />You are not so far away, just hear me when I say</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chorus</b><br />I want to love what You love, I want to see what You see<br />I want a hope that burns like a fire in me<br />I want Your light in my life, I want my heart renewed<br />Here I am forever with You<br /><br />The falling rain can bring a change<br />I never knew how farther I could fall<br />I can hardly wait till I see You face to face<br />I can't believe Your love remains the same<br /><br />You are not so far away, just hear me when I say</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chorus</b><br />I want to love what You love, I want to see what You see<br />I want a hope that burns like a fire in me<br />I want Your light in my life, I want my heart renewed<br />Here I am forever with You<br /><br />Now I live with You after all that I've been through<br />I just can't live without the grace You gave to me<br />Now I see what You see<br />Your beautiful life forever in me<br /><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><b>Chorus</b><br />I want to love what You love, I want to see what You see<br />I want a hope that burns like a fire in me<br />I want Your light in my life, I want my heart renewed<br />Here I am, here I am, here I am forever with You</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "></span></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Listen to the Song</span></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" ><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><object width="425" height="344"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZMefngwAvBM?fs=1&hl=en_US"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ZMefngwAvBM?fs=1&hl=en_US" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="425" height="344"></embed></object></span></span></span></div></div></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-13429143227396138672010-10-02T18:29:00.003-06:002010-10-02T18:34:12.725-06:00Psalms 31: Trust in the Lord<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjzYGCNvqQdy8hZSzWf8HdK93H7HvQ-tTdfOQpT3rxuAUFzqTC-BPfleWzEBymrYZLOorGU4_iaYYdEFWpMcyUpRZ0NrFUXvENXgTVflOKwnFxW_-jPB5KvzJiy8ZgtngMf9jxNvh_1g/s1600/trust.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 150px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixjzYGCNvqQdy8hZSzWf8HdK93H7HvQ-tTdfOQpT3rxuAUFzqTC-BPfleWzEBymrYZLOorGU4_iaYYdEFWpMcyUpRZ0NrFUXvENXgTVflOKwnFxW_-jPB5KvzJiy8ZgtngMf9jxNvh_1g/s200/trust.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5523611531876987202" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; ">Psalms 31 has two very clear word patterns. <a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/09/psalms-31-god-is-refuge.html">The first theme</a> describes God as a protecting fortress. <a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/09/psalms-31-anguish-of-my-soul.html">The second theme</a> describes all the trouble David is having in his life. So what is one to do when afflictions come? When sorrow and grief arise? When it feels like everyone has abounded you?</span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></sup></b></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">14</span></sup></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> <i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal">But</i> I trust in you, O LORD;<br /> I say, "You are my God." <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>15</sup></b> My times are in your hands;<br /> deliver me from my enemies<br /> and from those who pursue me.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">The word "but" is very important. Even though everything around David looks hopeless, he is remembering the promises of God. He remembered who God is. He remembered what He has done in the past. He remembered that He is a protecting fortress, and he trusted in Him. <o:p></o:p></span></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-54387343164840631622010-09-29T07:24:00.001-06:002010-09-29T07:24:00.219-06:00Psalms 31: Anguish of my Soul<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-X7rq0Pknq_XfjL21aVgYLqWf7UZWkAaYIxxoApFG0abJ6QCACb_c9cMLJ-eqgEV65qWr3EBvnKM2bDLNjZyoSkPkuobtIxbvJ3T-XCuWpjjpdLY_wjisl7k5y9W0VgYFj1bgeeohmc/s200/darkstreet.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 134px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521960661518960130" /><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In the <a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/09/psalms-31-god-is-refuge.html">first part of Psalms 31</a>, David describes God as being a strong refuge. Now, the theme of the psalm is going to change. In verses 6-8, we start to see the second theme creek into the passage.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup>6</sup></b> I hate those who cling to worthless idols;<br /> </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050">I trust in the LORD</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup>7</sup></b> I will be </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#00B050">glad and rejoice in your love</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">,<br /> for you saw </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">my affliction</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"><br /> and knew the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">anguish of my soul</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>8</sup></b> You have </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#00B050">not handed me over</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> to the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">enemy</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"><br /> but have </span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050">set my feet</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> in a spacious place.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Can start to see the second theme creek in? All though David is still speaking to God and how God had helped him, you start to see trouble and sorrow coming; my afflictions, anguish of my soul, enemy, etc. You didn’t see any of these words in the first theme of the psalm.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">From verses 9-13, we see the second theme fully.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup></sup></b></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup>9</sup></b> Be merciful to me, O LORD, for I am in </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#002060">distress</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">;<br /> my eyes grow </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">weak with sorrow</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">,<br /> my soul and my body with </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">grief</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>10</sup></b> My life is consumed by </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#002060">anguish</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><br /> and my years by </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">groaning</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">;<br /> my </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">strength fails</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> because of my </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">affliction</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">, <sup>[</sup></span><a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms%2031&version=NIV#fen-NIV-14342a" title="See footnote a"><sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:blue">a</span></sup></a><sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">]</span></sup><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><br /> and my bones grow </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">weak</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>11</sup></b> Because of </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#002060">all my enemies</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">,<br /> I am the utter </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">contempt</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> of my neighbors;<br /> I am a dread to my friends—<br /> those who see me on the street </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">flee from me</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>12</sup></b> I am </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#002060">forgotten</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> by them as though </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#002060">I were dead</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">;<br /> I have become like </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">broken pottery</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>13</sup></b> For I hear the </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#002060">slander</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> of many;<br /> there is </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">terror on every side</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">;<br /> they </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">conspire</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> against me<br /> and </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">plot to take my life</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "> </span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; "></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">In the second theme, David is in the pit. Everything is going against him. He is weak and broken. So what is one to do when afflictions come? When sorrow and grief arise? When it feels like everyone has abounded you? We’ll see how David responded in the rest of the Psalm. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-28978253767079182972010-09-27T07:19:00.004-06:002010-09-27T08:53:30.221-06:00Psalms 31; God is my refuge<p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">I love how David describes God in the Psalms. He captures who God is with his good and rich adjectives. Psalms 31 is a good example. The whole psalm is well written; it describes God as a refuge, how wickedness is trying to destroy David, and last, how David cries out to God. We also see rich word patterns and a strong contrast between God and wickedness. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Today, we will look at the first word pattern in verses 1-5<img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiO6yfO9kFo87r4d8CHF_Me1b9A5husgERkq8kJtA0tjMw-5ewSHQFnfmQN0WP4AyABe_G4u34VRA0dUYeQJl9lATB6rTUUhev91-jH0iXeVD74IAI5ex2wLDI8qm4Aus2p9U-UmPCUJYo/s200/lighthouse+wave-705034.jpg" style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 198px; height: 200px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5521588018707570114" /><br /><b><sup></sup></b></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup>1</sup></b> In you, O LORD, I have taken </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#00B050">refuge</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">;<br /> let me never be put to shame;<br /> </span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050">deliver</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> me in your righteousness.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>2</sup></b> Turn your ear to me,<br /> come quickly to my </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#00B050">rescue</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">;<br /> be my </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#00B050">rock of refuge</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">,<br /> a </span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050">strong fortress</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> to save me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>3</sup></b> Since you are </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#00B050">my rock </span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">and</span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050"> my fortress</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">,<br /> for the sake of your name lead and guide me.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>4</sup></b> </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#00B050">Free me</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> from the trap that is set for me,<br /> for you are my refuge.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>5</sup></b> Into your hands </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#00B050">I commit my spirit</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">;<br /> </span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#00B050">redeem me</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">, O LORD, the God of truth.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Can you see the word pattern? David has a very strong and vivid description of God. He is strong fortress, refuge, deliver, etc. I like to look up the definitions of words. Let’s look at the adjectives in this passage:<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/refuge"><span style="color:blue">Refuge</span></a>-- a place of shelter, protection, or safety <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/deliver"><span style="color:blue">Deliver</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#333333">to set free or liberate: to release or save<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Rescue"><span style="color:blue">Rescue</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#333333">to free or deliver from confinement, violence, danger, or evil<br /></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><br /><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rock"><span style="color:blue">Rock </span></a>of Refuge--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#333333">a firm foundation or support </span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">shelter, protection, or safety strong fortress<br /><br />My <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/rock"><span style="color:blue">rock</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#333333">a firm foundation or support<br /><br /></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">My <a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/fortress"><span style="color:blue">fortress</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#333333">a large fortified place; any place of exceptional security; stronghold</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/Free"><span style="color:blue">Free</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#333333">pertaining to or reserved for those who enjoy personal liberty</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman""><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/commit"><span style="color:blue">Commit</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#333333">to give in trust or charge; to pledge (oneself) to a position on an issue or question</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><a href="http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/redeem+"><span style="color:blue">Redeem</span></a>--</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#333333">to discharge or fulfill (a pledge, promise, etc.); to buy back or recover<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; ">Don’t you love David’s rich word choices? With his words, he is about to paint a dramatic picture of God.</span></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-13654359089193701422010-09-24T11:30:00.004-06:002010-09-24T11:39:11.096-06:00Psalms 21<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"">If you want a good place to practice looking for <a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/09/word-patterns.html">word patterns</a>, the book of psalms is a good place to start. I’ve been reading through Psalms and have been amazed how much David uses word patterns. Sometimes, there are two or three contrasting patterns. Psalms 21 is a good explain of this. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;line-height:115%;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif""><o:p> </o:p></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; ">Most of the psalm is David is praising God because He is generous and gives freely to those who serve Him. Look at the word patterns:</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18px; "></span></p><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZchoIHYJTJc7jH1JtsctB_oHvak5e-M7jwX3Rt4BPa9w4r80M1wygB0nLs0RxQVFQnTph3E1YjMmJ3NWzracxEYEOgd8vhoufBqCDm-1JviPS_Pe7VC8DnIYg3Sd3h_3H70g0x2JNLyM/s200/generous.jpg" style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 200px; height: 133px;" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5520535182435848786" /> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">O LORD, the king </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#8064A2;mso-themecolor:accent4">rejoices</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> in your strength.<br /> How great is his </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#8064A2; mso-themecolor:accent4">joy</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> in the victories </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3; mso-themeshade:128">you give</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">!<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>2</sup></b> </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3;mso-themeshade:128">You have granted</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> him the desire of his heart<br /> and have </span><u><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3;mso-themeshade:128">not withheld</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> the request of his lips.<br /><br /><b><sup>3</sup></b> You welcomed him with </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3;mso-themeshade:128">rich blessings</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><br /> and placed a crown of pure gold on his head.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>4</sup></b> He asked you for life, and </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F6228; mso-themecolor:accent3;mso-themeshade:128">you gave</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> it to him— length of days, for ever and ever.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>5</sup></b> Through the victories </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3; mso-themeshade:128">you gave</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">, his glory is great;<br /> </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3;mso-themeshade:128">you have bestowed</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> on him splendor and majesty.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>6</sup></b> Surely you </span><u><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#4F6228;mso-themecolor:accent3; mso-themeshade:128">have granted</span></u><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"> him eternal blessings<br /> and made him glad with the joy of your presence.</span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">As you can see, David is very thankful for the blessings God has given him. Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p><blockquote> <b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">7</span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> For the king trusts in the LORD;<br /> through the unfailing love of the Most High<br /> he will not be shaken.</span></blockquote><o:p></o:p><p></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Now David spends a little time to contrast. What happens to thoughts who <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">don’t</i> trust in the Lord? Look for the words patterns. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup></sup></b></span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup></sup></b></span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><b><sup>8</sup></b></span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">Your hand will </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#632423;mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">lay hold</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> on all your enemies;</span></p><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> your right hand will </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#632423; mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">seize</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> your foes.</span></p></blockquote></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>9</sup></b> At the time of your appearing<br /> you will make them like a fiery furnace.<br /> In his wrath the LORD will </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#632423; mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">swallow</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> them up,<br /> and his fire will </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#632423; mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">consume</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> them.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>10</sup></b> You will </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#632423;mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">destroy</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black"> their descendants from the earth,<br /> their posterity from mankind.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>11</sup></b> Though they plot evil against you<br /> and devise wicked schemes, they </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family: "Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#632423; mso-themecolor:accent2;mso-themeshade:128">cannot succeed</span></i><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman";color:black">;<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>12</sup></b> for you will make them turn their backs<br /> when you aim at them with drawn bow.</span></p></blockquote><blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p></blockquote><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">As you can see, there is a big contract between the how God responds to the ‘those who plot evil’ and ‘those who trust in the Lord.’ To the righteous, God blesses and gives. To the wick, he takes away and destroys.<o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black">As for most of David’s palms, he ends the psalm like he began it; with praise. <span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun:yes"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"></span></p><blockquote><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> <b><sup>13</sup></b> Be </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight:normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:#8064A2;mso-themecolor:accent4">exalted</span></b><span style="font-size: 12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif";mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">, O LORD, in your strength;<br /> we will </span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal"><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#8064A2;mso-themecolor:accent4">sing and praise</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"> your might.</span></blockquote><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:black"><o:p></o:p></span><p></p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-22289049132638435292010-09-22T07:25:00.001-06:002010-09-22T07:27:24.139-06:00Ruth: Word Patterns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaEwfET0OAKJCv134Z182WLk5KNyLElxvw-QSYLUFHdKOplr_dXMjHPP6q5Sr-QpqJ6yJYsirVqWkOTIGx_oM4IM9B67x2G8A8mnSoo49ZYb9FPlm4o96rqhsjHG5SXaD-NQAdXgDtwM/s1600/Ruth+Gleening.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 148px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnaEwfET0OAKJCv134Z182WLk5KNyLElxvw-QSYLUFHdKOplr_dXMjHPP6q5Sr-QpqJ6yJYsirVqWkOTIGx_oM4IM9B67x2G8A8mnSoo49ZYb9FPlm4o96rqhsjHG5SXaD-NQAdXgDtwM/s200/Ruth+Gleening.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519086507209837986" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><a href="http://well-of-life.blogspot.com/2010/09/word-patterns.html">Last post</a>, we looked at how word patterns can show us what's important in a current. Sometime it can be tricky to find word patterns since we loved to use a thesaurus today.</span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Ruth is an excellent example. In the first chapter, the Hebrew word “shub,” which means “return,” is in the first chapter 10 times. Now, when translated, the word “return” is not always there, so it makes it more challenging to pick up the pattern. Try to also look for concepts as well as specif words. </span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Ruth Chapter 1:</b></span></span></div><div><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><i> </i></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>6</b></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> When she heard in Moab that the LORD had come to the aid of his people by providing food for them, Naomi and her daughters-in-law prepared to </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">return</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> home from there. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"></span></span><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><b>7</b></span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> With her two daughters-in-law she </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">left the place</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> where she had been living and set out on the road that would take them back to the land of Judah.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">8</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> Then Naomi said to her two daughters-in-law, "</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Go back</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">, each of you, to your mother's home. May the LORD show kindness to you, as you have shown to your dead and to me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">10</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> and said to her, "We will </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">go back</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> with you to your people."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">11</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> But Naomi said, "</span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Return</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> home, my daughters. Why would you come with me? Am I going to have any more sons, who could become your husbands? </span></span><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">12</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Return</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> home, my daughters; I am too old to have another husband. Even if I thought there was still hope for me—even if I had a husband tonight and then gave birth to sons- <o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">15</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> "Look," said Naomi, "your sister-in-law is </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">going back</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> to her people and her gods. Go back with her."<o:p></o:p></span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">21</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> I went away full, but the LORD has </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">brought me back</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> empty. Why call me Naomi? The LORD has afflicted </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">me; the Almighty has brought misfortune upon me."</span></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> </span></span><b><sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">22</span></span></sup></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> So Naomi </span></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span">returned</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span"> from Moab accompanied by Ruth the Moabitess, her daughter-in-law, arriving in Bethlehem as the barley harvest was beginning.</span></span><o:p></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="mso-margin-top-alt:auto;mso-margin-bottom-alt:auto; line-height:normal"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">As you can see, the concept of returning is very strong in this first chapter. Therefore, we know the that returning is a strong theme in the book of Ruth. </span></span></p></div>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1946357042716973411.post-26677528856894316262010-09-20T13:06:00.007-06:002010-09-21T08:55:47.320-06:00Word Patterns<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZLnKS3C2ZSU5XPvcttoEA4n4SMJO0pIT2lPCSVYGQFpNWQPI38aFB0X-kXkKJVZRIeYnLaFkmZ54Iaq0EzibjSZvNQ42ImpBqt65ZzPwtfPZEnR-EFRvjpOVLQsjcHXBpxSb82CDNQ/s1600/Praise_hands.jpg"><img style="float:right; margin:0 0 10px 10px;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 176px; height: 200px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkgZLnKS3C2ZSU5XPvcttoEA4n4SMJO0pIT2lPCSVYGQFpNWQPI38aFB0X-kXkKJVZRIeYnLaFkmZ54Iaq0EzibjSZvNQ42ImpBqt65ZzPwtfPZEnR-EFRvjpOVLQsjcHXBpxSb82CDNQ/s200/Praise_hands.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5519081504968155506" /></a><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal"><span style="font-family:"Georgia","serif"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; color:black">When you're studying the Bible, it's good to have a few tools to help you understand the meaning, or point of the passage. One of these helpful tools is too look for patterns. If a phrase or word is repeated, it is important. For example, look at <a href="http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalms%20150&version=NIV"><span style="color:blue">Psalms 150</span></a>: The word "Praise" is repeated. In six verses, the word "praise" in there 13 times. The word praise is apparently important. <o:p></o:p></span></p> <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height:normal">Sometimes it can be trickier to find the patterns. In today's world, we are taught <i>not</i> to repeat words, but to use a thesaurus. Sometimes, the translator doesn't like to use the same word over and over, so he turns to his thesaurus. In the example above, instead of using the word "praise" every time, he might also use "respect" "worship" "extol", etc. All though it may be easier to read, it will be harder to find the word patterns. We’ll look at an example from the book of Ruth tomorrow. </p>Rebeccahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13862813571998213624noreply@blogger.com0