OzThoughts - Monday
Susan Lehmann
service and fellowship on God's day. Now as we face this week we carry the
blessings with uis but also seek fresh blessings from God.
As you read today's chapter, note any verse, and there may
be more than one, which "jumps out" and speaks to your situation. You may
like
to share it with others by email reply, or posting it on Twitter or
Facebook.
[You also may like to listen to the hymn music as you read
and meditate:
Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_956.mp3]
Proverbs 28 (The Message)
If You Desert God's Law
1 The wicked are edgy with guilt, ready to run
off even when no one's after them;
Honest people are relaxed and confident, bold as lions.
2 When the country is in chaos,
everybody has a plan to fix it-
But it takes a leader of real understanding
to straighten things out.
3 The wicked who oppress the poor
are like a hailstorm that beats down the harvest.
4 If you desert God's law, you're free to embrace depravity;
if you love God's law, you fight for it tooth and nail.
5 Justice makes no sense to the evil minded;
those who seek God know it inside and out.
6 It's better to be poor and direct
than rich and crooked.
7 Practice God's law-get a reputation for wisdom;
hang out with a loose crowd-embarrass your family.
8 Get as rich as you want
through cheating and extortion,
But eventually some friend of the poor
is going to give it all back to them.
9 God has no use for the prayers
of the people who won't listen to him.
10 Lead good people down a wrong path
and you'll come to a bad end;
do good and you'll be rewarded for it.
11 The rich think they know it all,
but the poor can see right through them.
12 When good people are promoted, everything is great,
but when the bad are in charge, watch out!
13 You can't whitewash your sins and get by with it;
you find mercy by admitting and leaving them.
14 A tender hearted person lives a blessed life;
a hardhearted person lives a hard life.
15 Lions roar and bears charge-
and the wicked lord it over the poor.
16 Among leaders who lack insight, abuse abounds,
but for one who hates corruption, the future is bright.
17 A murderer haunted by guilt
is doomed-there's no helping him.
18 Walk straight-live well and be saved;
a devious life is a doomed life.
Doing Great Harm in Seemingly Harmless Ways
19 Work your garden-you'll end up with plenty of
food;
play and party-you'll end up with an empty plate.
20 Committed and persistent work pays off;
get-rich-quick schemes are ripoffs.
21 Playing favourites is always a bad thing;
you can do great harm in seemingly harmless ways.
22 A miser in a hurry to get rich
doesn't know that he'll end up broke.
23 In the end, serious reprimand is appreciated
far more than bootlicking flattery.
24 Anyone who robs father and mother
and says, "So, what's wrong with that?"
is worse than a pirate.
25 A grasping person stirs up trouble,
but trust in God brings a sense of
well-being.
26 If you think you know it all, you're a fool for sure;
real survivors learn wisdom from others.
27 Be generous to the poor-you'll never go hungry;
shut your eyes to their needs, and run a gauntlet of curses.
28 When corruption takes over, good people go underground,
but when the crooks are thrown out, it's safe to come out.
[Listen: http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_956.mp3
]
Jesus comes! Let all adore him!
Lord of mercy, love and truth.
Now prepare the way before him,
Make the rugged places smooth;
Through the desert mark his road,
Make a highway for our God.
Jesus comes! Reward is with him,
Let the valleys all be raised,
God's great glory now revealing
As the mountains are abased.
Lift thy voice and greet the Lord,
Cry to Zion: See thy God!
Jesus comes! The Christ is marching
Through the places waste and wild;
He his Kingdom is enlarging
Where no verdure ever smiled.
Soon the desert will be glad
And with beauty shall be clad.
Jesus comes! Where thorns have flourished
Trees shall now be seen to grow,
Stablished by the Lord and nourished,
Strong and fair and fruitful too.
They shall rise on every side,
Spread their branches far and wide.
Jesus comes! From barren mountains
Rivers shall begin to flow,
There the Lord will open fountains
And supply the plains below;
As he passes, every land
Shall acclaim his powerful hand.
Author: Thomas Kelly (1769-1855),alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 159
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OzThoughts
Writer (Only):
Susan Lehmann
read from the first Chapter of Luke's Gospel. It is what we might consider a
long chapter with 80 verses, but when compared with many books, it is really
a
brief reading. It would probably be good
to read the whole chapter in one setting.
If you would like to read it in different versions or compare versions,
there are about 20 English versions and many more in other languages at
http://www.biblegateway.com
. Just type in Luke 1 in the little search window and use the drop down menu
to
select a version. (If you have difficulty with this send me a note at
Oztho...@hotmail.com).
In
today's reading (Luke 1: 26 - 38) we notice that for the birth of Jesus to
take
place according to God's plan a number of people had to show strict
obedience
to his will.
Mary and then Joseph whom God planned to be
the parents of Jesus, must have been absolutely shocked (Luke 1: 29) to know
what God wanted them
to do but their response was in Mary's words "I am the Lord's servant, May
it
happen to me as you have said." (Luke 1: 38 TEV).
If we are to maintain a right relationship
with God then we must say "Yes" to his plan for us.
[Listen: Piano (Richard Philips) -
http://www.salvoaudio.com/audio/music/mus_1764.mp3
All to Jesus I surrender,
All to him I freely give;
I will ever love and trust him,
In his presence daily live.
Chorus
I surrender all, I surrender all.
All to thee, my blessed Saviour,
I surrender all.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Humbly at his feet I bow,
Worldly pleasures all forsaken;
Take me, Jesus, take me now.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Make me, Saviour, wholly thine;
Let the Holy Spirit witness,
I am thine and thou art mine.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Lord, I give myself to thee;
Fill me with thy love and power,
Let thy blessing rest on me.
All to Jesus I surrender,
Now I feel the sacred flame;
O the joy of full salvation,
Glory, glory to his name!
Author: Judson Van de Venter (1855-1939)
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number:
474
Luke 1:26-38 (The Message)
26-28In the
sixth month of Elizabeth's pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to the
Galilean village of Nazareth to a virgin engaged to be married to a man
descended from David. His name was Joseph, and the virgin's name, Mary. Upon
entering, Gabriel greeted her:
Good morning!
You're beautiful with God's beauty,
Beautiful inside and out!
God be with you.
29-33She was thoroughly shaken, wondering what
was behind a greeting like that. But the angel assured her, "Mary, you
have nothing to fear. God has a surprise for you: You will become pregnant
and
give birth to a son and call his name Jesus.
He will be great,
be called 'Son of the Highest.'
The Lord God will give him
the throne of his father David;
He will rule Jacob's house forever-
no end, ever, to his kingdom."
34Mary said to the angel, "But how? I've
never slept with a man."
35The angel answered,
The Holy Spirit will come upon you,
the power of the Highest hover over you;
Therefore, the child you bring to birth
will be called Holy, Son of God.
36-38"And did you know that your cousin
Elizabeth conceived a son, old as she is? Everyone called her barren, and
here
she is six months pregnant! Nothing, you see, is impossible with God."
And Mary said,
Yes, I see it all now:
I'm the Lord's maid, ready to serve.
Let it be with me
just as you say.
Then the angel left her.
..........................