Monday, May 23, 2005

May 23rd Reflection

Monday 5/23/2005

Acts 28.1-15 - So they were on an island now- the people there started a fire for the people ship wrecked to warm by - a snake crawled out and bit Paul- well the people of the island figured Paul must be a murderer - he survived the ship wreck but a snake is going to kill him- but Paul didn’t die- in fact Paul went to the house of the governor of the island and healed his father-- a few months later they left the island and sailed on in another boat they found on the island-- finally after a couple more stops they made it to Rome.

1 Samuel 4-5 - A funny couple of chapters- the Philistines were defeating Israel- well Israel tried a counter attack that didn’t work- anyway the Philistines eventually killed Eli’s sons and captured the sacred chest and took it with them-- in the meantime Eli heard the news- fell over backwards in his chair- since he was a heavy man he broke his neck and died- his daughter-in-law heard the news - she was pregnant and she went into labor over all this stuff and had a son - named him Ichabod (where is the glory?)-but she died giving birth - well the Philistines now place the ark -next to their god Dagon- every morning the stature of Dagon is found face down -like bowing to the ark- the second morning the head and both hands are broken off- this god Dagon is nothing but a statue -- God is God after all - so wherever the ark goes the people get sick-the funny part is the Masoretic reading describes the swellings as hemorrhoids-others say bubonic plague- I think God has a sense of humor sometimes- so they start sending it from town to town trying to get rid of it- finally the Philistines decide the only thing they can do is send the ark back to Israel.

Psalm 52 - Don’t trust in wealth or slick words- trust only in God- you can count of his love forever and ever - praise God

Focus on my relationship with God-He is with me in love always

God shows steadfast love to those who love him and keep his commandments- Love and trust God

1 Timothy 1.1-17 - Instruct others in love - a pure heart- a good conscience and sincere faith- Jesus appoints us to his service- Jesus came into this world to save sinners- I’m the foremost of them- making me an example of his grace

Colossians 3.12-17 - Clothe yourself with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience- put up with each other and forgive each other- above all clothe yourselves with love- let the peace of Christ rule in our hearts- let his Word dwell in us- teach each other and with gratitude sing!

Psalm 100 - Make a joyful noise to God! -- everything! - God id God- his love lasts forever

Prayer- Save me from those snake bites- and send me with your Word- to speak your Word and let you heal those in need of healing- for you are God- you are God that is over all - even over that stupid statue Dagon- how funny you can be - giving them rhoids? - I believe in you - I trust in you - I sing all my praises to you- send me out into your kingdom and clothe me with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, patience and most of all bind it all together with your love- I’m ready now- gotta go - you have something for me to do today----Amen

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