Psalm 116: Lord your mercy and love has comforted my soul - I want to serve you joyfully Lord!

Psalm 116

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ I love the LORD, for he heard my voice; 
   he heard my cry for mercy. 
² Because he turned his ear to me, 
   I will call on him as long as I live.

 ³ The cords of death entangled me,
   the anguish of the grave came over me;
   I was overcome by distress and sorrow.
⁴ Then I called on the name of the LORD:
   “LORD, save me!”

 ⁵ The LORD is gracious and righteous;
   our God is full of compassion.
⁶ The LORD protects the unwary;
   when I was brought low, he saved me.

 ⁷ Return to your rest, my soul,
   for the LORD has been good to you.

 ⁸ For you, LORD, have delivered me from death,
   my eyes from tears,
   my feet from stumbling,
⁹ that I may walk before the LORD
   in the land of the living.

 ¹⁰ I trusted in the LORD when I said,
   “I am greatly afflicted”;
¹¹ in my alarm I said,
   “Everyone is a liar.”

 ¹² What shall I return to the LORD
   for all his goodness to me?

 ¹³ I will lift up the cup of salvation
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁴ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people.

 ¹⁵ Precious in the sight of the LORD
   is the death of his faithful servants.
¹⁶ Truly I am your servant, LORD;
   I serve you just as my mother did;
   you have freed me from my chains.

 ¹⁷ I will sacrifice a thank offering to you
   and call on the name of the LORD.
¹⁸ I will fulfill my vows to the LORD
   in the presence of all his people,
¹⁹ in the courts of the house of the LORD—
   in your midst, Jerusalem.

   Praise the LORD.^[a]

^{Daniel's thoughts:}

Lord you have saved me from death and sin and you protect me everyday. You are my Savior. You have brought me up out of my past and brought me into new life. This new life in you has been so joyful and full of purpose. Lord I love you so much, for you have heard my cries all of my days and you have watched over me. You have protected me, but also used my choices and my past for my good. I walked a lonely life without much purpose even though I had so much going for me worldly because I did not really know you. You delivered me from that future without you at the center and without hope. I look back and see how you came into my life gently and with Love taking over my heart and changing my life!


<sup>Let everything I do be all to your glory! I want to serve you and honor you with all I do. I want to bring your kingdom! I know I have made promises to you and I want to fulfill them. 

Daniel's prayer:</sup>

^Lord

^{You have been my friend and my savior.} 

^{You brought me out of my past}

^{into marvelous light and life with you.}

^{You have comforted my troubled heart and mind.} 

Life with you is joyous!

^{I want to serve you.} 

^{I will to fulfill my vows to you.} 

^{Teach me and use me for you glory!}

^{God you know I will fail, but you have mercy.} 

^{You will mature me and make me into the man you want me to be.} 

^Amen

Psalm 115: To your name be the Glory!

Psalm 115

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ Not to us, LORD, not to us 
   but to your name be the glory, 
   because of your love and faithfulness.

 ² Why do the nations say,
   “Where is their God?”
³ Our God is in heaven;
   he does whatever pleases him.
⁴ But their idols are silver and gold,
   made by human hands.
⁵ They have mouths, but cannot speak,
   eyes, but cannot see.
⁶ They have ears, but cannot hear,
   noses, but cannot smell.
⁷ They have hands, but cannot feel,
   feet, but cannot walk,
   nor can they utter a sound with their throats.
⁸ Those who make them will be like them,
   and so will all who trust in them.

 ⁹ All you Israelites, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.
¹⁰ House of Aaron, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.
¹¹ You who fear him, trust in the LORD—
   he is their help and shield.

 ¹² The LORD remembers us and will bless us:
   He will bless his people Israel,
   he will bless the house of Aaron,
¹³ he will bless those who fear the LORD—
   small and great alike.

 ¹⁴ May the LORD cause you to flourish,
   both you and your children.
¹⁵ May you be blessed by the LORD,
   the Maker of heaven and earth.

 ¹⁶ The highest heavens belong to the LORD,
   but the earth he has given to mankind.
¹⁷ It is not the dead who praise the LORD,
   those who go down to the place of silence;
¹⁸ it is we who extol the LORD,
   both now and forevermore.

   Praise the LORD.^[a]

^{Daniel's thoughts}

<sup>I love how this psalm ties with 1 Corinthians 10:31-33. I have been pondering what that means to do everything to your glory God. That is such a perspective shift. How do I go to class, how do I rest, how do I do bible study all for the glory of God. I know I used to separate my time and think I will do school and then InterVarsity and bible study. It is freeing to know everything should be to God's glory and that I don't need to keep doing more and more bible studies, service and outreach. Those are all great things, but instead I need to change my mindset. Not only those things but everything I do should be to God's glory! 


Today the idols and gods of our society may not be Baal or pagan religions. Instead it is wealth, consumerism, selfishness, and putting faith in science and advancement. But as this verse says there is no power in those things created by man. They will not last. But our God is in heaven and in our hearts. He is everlasting and not only that but he loves us!</sup>


The second half of the first verse is comforting to remember that I want to give God the glory not out of obligation, but because it is my purpose and our  God is are faithful and loving. God I want to give you the glory because i love you and you are worthy!


Daniel's prayer:

Lord

Let my whole life be to the glory of your name

In the way I love, the relationships I have

in the work I do, my studies, my ministry

For you are faithful and loving! 

God you are everlasting and bless us abundantly!

Praise the Lord!

Amen

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: We were bought at a price!

1 Corinthians 6:19-20

<sup>New International Version (NIV)


19</sup> Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; ²⁰ you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.


Daniel's Thoughts:


I believe that scripture has to be read and understood contextually. When we pick and pull verses we can miss what God is saying because in that context the verse has a different meaning. For example this passage is in the context of sexual immorality which may have a hug impact on the meaning. I hope that I am not taking this out of context. I beg that the Holy Spirit would guide me as I read and write this blog, but if these are not God's words and truth then I pray they would be forgotten by you and me.


We were bought at a price. I think we have to remember that! The price was so great we can't even imagine. Also we have been bought so that we can live for Christ now, we are not our own. 


This is helpful for me to remember again that God loves me so much that he paid that price for me, but at the same time it is not just about me. God paid that price for me to live to him. In this redeemed life I am to live to Christ and the Glory of God! 


I know often I do not take care of my body and myself as I should for it is the temple of the Holy Spirit! In this context this passage was referring to sexual purity, which is a struggle for so many. For me today this means also that I need to honor and take care of my body by seeking rest, eating healthier, exercising, and overall just balancing everything in a healthy way. Also emotionally I think I need to take care of myself with more time getting spiritual rest with God and with people. I am a very relational person and I find life in having time one on one.  


Daniel's Prayers:

Savior

You have bought me at a price

Thank you so much

let me give thanks by living for you

I want to bring you glory!

Come Holy Spirit to dwell here in my heart

I want to seek righteousness and let you cleanse my brokenness.

I want to honor you God with my health physically and emotionally.

Amen

Leviticus 14: Cleansing Personally and Communally

Leviticus 14

New International Version (NIV)

Cleansing From Defiling Skin Diseases

¹ The LORD said to Moses, ² “These are the regulations for any diseased person at the time of their ceremonial cleansing, when they are brought to the priest: ³ The priest is to go outside the camp and examine them. If they have been healed of their defiling skin disease,^[a] 

...

³¹ one as a sin offering and the other as a burnt offering, together with the grain offering. In this way the priest will make atonement before the LORD on behalf of the one to be cleansed.”

³² These are the regulations for anyone who has a defiling skin disease and who cannot afford the regular offerings for their cleansing.

Cleansing From Defiling Molds

³³ The LORD said to Moses and Aaron, ³⁴ “When you enter the land of Canaan, which I am giving you as your possession, and I put a spreading mold in a house in that land, ...

⁵⁴ These are the regulations for any defiling skin disease, for a sore, ⁵⁵ for defiling molds in fabric or in a house, ⁵⁶and for a swelling, a rash or a shiny spot, ⁵⁷ to determine when something is clean or unclean.These are the regulations for defiling skin diseases and defiling molds.

Daniel's Thoughts:


After chapter 13 explains all the regulations for determining if a person is clean or still sick, now God instructs Moses and the Israelites what to do when a person is healed how to cleanse them. This is something that is hard for me to understand why these people are not only sick but also ceremonially unclean and in need of atonement. To help myself I compare it to guilt and sin and how we are washed as white as snow through the sacrifice of Christ.

God cares about these people and when it is safe for them to return to their people and they are no longer infectious God has a plan for them. They were to make an offering and God's priests would make atonement for them. Then they would be completely clean and accepted. They could reenter society. People would know they are clean. After years of isolation God makes it abundantly clear to others they can no longer isolate the healed person. They are completely clean and the Israelite community must accept them back joyfully because one who was lost has been able to return. They no longer needed to yell unclean wherever they went. They could be touched and welcomed with loving embraces.

Verse 34 sticks out to me because God says when I give you this land and put this spreading disease in your house. Why would God do that? Why would God make a house he has given to his people unclean? It hits home the fact that there is disease, famine and other natural disasters in the world. God created all things good, yet he allows and even sends these things into our world and our lives.

Again I have to come back to I trust you God, I don't understand but I trust you are good and you love us. Somehow this is all for your glory and brings about good.

Daniel's Prayer:

Loving Father

I know your love for people.

Thank you for cleansing your people.

Thank you for not being satisfied with that,

but also removing guilt and social barriers. 

You heal us personally and communally. 

God I thank you that in Christ our high priest

the sacrifice for our sin is complete

 and we are washed completely clean.

Amen

Psalm 114: Tremble at the presence of the Lord!

Psalm 114

New International Version (NIV)

 ¹ When Israel came out of Egypt,
   Jacob from a people of foreign tongue,
² Judah became God’s sanctuary,
   Israel his dominion. ³ The sea looked and fled,
   the Jordan turned back;
⁴ the mountains leaped like rams,
   the hills like lambs.
 ⁵ Why was it, sea, that you fled?
   Why, Jordan, did you turn back?
⁶ Why, mountains, did you leap like rams,
   you hills, like lambs?
 ⁷ Tremble, earth, at the presence of the Lord,
   at the presence of the God of Jacob,
⁸ who turned the rock into a pool,
   the hard rock into springs of water.

Daniel's Thoughts:


Gods very presence was with Israel as they came out of Egypt in a pillar of cloud by day and a pillar of fire by night to guide them. God was present in the ark of the covenant and in the temple.

But now the very presence of God is everywhere and in our hearts. The veil has been torn because of the death of Jesus! We can be with God and worship him anywhere!

John 4

¹⁹ “Sir,” the woman said, “I can see that you are a prophet. ²⁰ Our ancestors worshiped on this mountain, but you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.”
   ²¹ “Woman,” Jesus replied, “believe me, a time is coming when you will worship the Father neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem. ²² You Samaritans worship what you do not know; we worship what we do know, for salvation is from the Jews. ²³ Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. ²⁴ God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth.”


Daniel's Prayer:

Let the whole earth tremble at the presence of the Lord! 

And Praise God that he is present with us everywhere and we can worship him everywhere in Spirit and in truth!

Amen

Leviticus 13: Regulations about Skin Disease: Why God?

Leviticus 13

New International Version (NIV)

Regulations About Defiling Skin Diseases

¹ The Lord said to Moses and Aaron, 
 . . . .
¹⁷ On the seventh day the priest is to examine him, and if it is spreading in the skin, the priest shall pronounce him unclean; it is an infectious skin disease. 
. . . 
⁴⁵ “Anyone with such a defiling disease must wear torn clothes, let their hair be unkempt,^[c] cover the lower part of their face and cry out, ‘Unclean! Unclean!’ ⁴⁶ As long as they have the disease they remain unclean. They must live alone; they must live outside the camp.

Daniel Thought's:

Honestly reading through Leviticus has been a challenge. I sually love reading the word of God, but not always. Sometimes I am up really late or just tired and I have not done the reading for the day on my year bible plan. Sometimes I just go to bed, sometimes I read it and fall asleep while reading and sometimes I get really into it and I am able to really listen to God and wake up. Sometimes even when I am not tired I am just not excited about reading the word. Honestly where I am at in the 1 year plan to read the bible I have just gotten bogged down and not found joy in reading the word. Actually that is one of the reasons I started writing this blog. 

The question I ask as I read Leviticus and other passages that I struggle with is Why does God care? Really why is cleanliness like this so important to God? 

I don't have the whole answer, but I do know that God works through all things and uses them for our good as it says in Romans 8:28. I also know that all scripture has a purpose for us in bringing us closer to God our Father as it says in 2 Timothy 3:16. 

Romans 8:28

New International Version (NIV)

²⁸ And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[a] have been called according to his purpose.

2 Timothy 3:14-17

¹⁴ But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it, ¹⁵ and how from infancy you have known the Holy Scriptures, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. ¹⁶ All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, ¹⁷ so that the servant of God^[a] may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

So then I trust that God has a purpose in Leviticus 13 and in me reading this chapter. God is holy and cleanliness is important to God and his people. It is so important that God gave commands to Israel in the law about who or what is unclean and how Priests can examine them to determine if they are unclean.

The question I have is 
Why does God isolate these people? 
I believe that God still loves the unclean, yet his law requires that they be outcast and isolated from society.


Yet it is by the very hand of God that they are unclean and have a skin disease or whatever uncleaness and disease. How could God allow this and yet punish them for it. I think I can understand why people thought that the people must have committed a sin to be deserving of this punishment. They were asking the same question of God I think. How can you do this God? This doesn't make sense that you would do this to people. So they tried to justify and explain why God would do this. Based on my reading of the Gospels I get a completely different sense of God's love for people especially the diseased, sick, unclean and outcast people.

Matthew 8

New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Heals a Man With Leprosy

 ¹ When Jesus came down from the mountainside, large crowds followed him. ² A man with leprosy^[a] came and knelt before him and said, “Lord, if you are willing, you can make me clean.” ³ Jesus reached out his hand and touched the man. “I am willing,” he said. “Be clean!” Immediately he was cleansed of his leprosy. ⁴ Then Jesus said to him, “See that you don’t tell anyone. But go, show yourself to the priest and offer the gift Moses commanded, as a testimony to them.”

Jesus constantly interacts with the outcast, the sinner and the unclean. He loves them, reaches out to touch them both to comfort and heal. It is interesting in this verse that Jesus instructs the healed man to fulfill the command of the law about cleansing as described in Leviticus 14. It almost seems like God has two hearts here. How could God both allow the man to have this disease and command him to be labeled unclean and outcast? Yet God in the form of Jesus heals this man and has compassion on him, so much so that he reaches out and touches the man, making himself unclean.

Yet as I look back in Leviticus I realize how detailed the law is with instructions for the Priests to examine unclean people again and again to test if they are healthy now and no longer infectious. God puts his holy priests at risk to be unclean and catch these infectious diseases. But, God also has these laws in place to protect his people from the diseases.

As I read both Leviticus and the Gospels my heart breaks for these people. And I realize that this does not only happen in the history of Israel, but also here and now. A major example I can think of is people with AIDS and how destructive and isolating that disease is. I don't understand how our loving God can allow these people to suffer, be sick and above all be isolated. God you have the power to heal all people, so why don't you?

I wish I had any answer for you or myself, but I don't. I simply have to trust that God loves all people and somehow his love is at work even in this brokenness.

Daniel's Prayer:

Loving God

I don't understand your ways. 

My heart breaks for the sick and diseased

and the isolation and loneliness that also comes. 

I wish you would heal all people. 

I know you love each person deeply

so much so that Jesus reached out and touched the Leper and said I am willing.

God why don't you heal all people?

Reveal your love and truth to me, but especially to the sick and lonely.

God I trust in you even when I don't understand.

Amen

1 Corinthians 10:31-33 In everything we do, do it for the glory of God!

1 Corinthians 10:31-33

New International Version (NIV)

³¹ So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. ³² Do not cause anyone to stumble, whether Jews, Greeks or the church of God— ³³ even as I try to please everyone in every way. For I am not seeking my own good but the good of many, so that they may be saved.


Daniel's Thoughts


I came home from bible study a little discouraged that only one girl came to bible study besides my coleader and I. 


But I talked to my roommate when I got home and he told me about church at Red Rocks tonight and how one of the things they talked about is that:


Our entire purpose is to glorify God in everything we do! 


As long as we are living out God's call for us we are glorifying him and we are bringing him glory. He has a plan for everything and we can trust in that. I don't understand his plan, but I can rest assured that even if only one girl in the sororities comes to the bible study or even if none came that God would be glorified. I will keep persevering and trusting that God is at work. God I know you love the girls in the sororities and you have good plans for them. Please use me for your glory there, I submit to you and your plans.


Let us not worry or be discouraged but rejoice and do all things to the Glory of God!


Daniel's Prayer:

Lord

All glory power honor and praise be to you!

I want everything I do to glorify you!

But even though I fail I know you are victorious!

Amen!

Ecclesiastes 5:1-3 Stand in Awe of God

Ecclesiastes 5: Stand in Awe of God

New International Version (NIV)

 ^1 [a]Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know that they do wrong.

 ² Do not be quick with your mouth,
   do not be hasty in your heart
   to utter anything before God.
God is in heaven
   and you are on earth,
   so let your words be few.
³ A dream comes when there are many cares,
   and many words mark the speech of a fool.

Stand in Awe of God

Daniel's thoughts:

I have had many thoughts and words, but God you are the one who is worthy. God speak to me, speak to anyone who might be reading this. Remind us that you are the one that matters. Come Holy Spirit speak your truth. 

Let my words be few: I need to speak less and listen more in relationships but especially with you God in prayer, study of your word, in leadership, in InterVarsity and Church. 

Daniel's Prayer:

God

Let my words be few

speak

I want to listen

humble me

Amen

Matthew 26: Betrayal-Yet Christ in Glory to come!

Matthew 26

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰ Aware of this, Jesus said to them, “Why are you bothering this woman? She has done a beautiful thing to me. ¹¹The poor you will always have with you,^[a] but you will not always have me. ¹² When she poured this perfume on my body, she did it to prepare me for burial. ¹³ Truly I tell you, wherever this gospel is preached throughout the world, what she has done will also be told, in memory of her.”

²⁰ When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. ²¹ And while they were eating, he said,“Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

²⁶ While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

 ²⁷ Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. ²⁸ This is my blood of the^[b] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. ²⁹ I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

³¹ Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

   “‘I will strike the shepherd,
   and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’^[c]

^{39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”}

⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “Do what you came for, friend.”^[d]

   Then the men stepped forward, seized Jesus and arrested him. ⁵¹ With that, one of Jesus’ companions reached for his sword, drew it out and struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his ear.

   ⁵² “Put your sword back in its place,” Jesus said to him, “for all who draw the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? ⁵⁴ But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”

⁶² Then the high priest stood up and said to Jesus, “Are you not going to answer? What is this testimony that these men are bringing against you?” ⁶³ But Jesus remained silent.

   The high priest said to him, “I charge you under oath by the living God: Tell us if you are the Messiah, the Son of God.”

   ⁶⁴ “You have said so,” Jesus replied. “But I say to all of you: From now on you will see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of the Mighty One and coming on the clouds of heaven.”^[e]

Daniel's Thoughts:

Wow, that was intense. So much just happened in this chapter of scripture. Yet do we really feel it? I know I don't feel the gravity of what I just read. Even just one line, "one of you will betray me" one of the twelve who were chosen, who spent the most time with Jesus, his friend will betray him. And Jesus knew the whole time, yet he loved him. 

Jesus gives his disciples a gift: his last meal with them. But in that meal he gave all of us so much more: his body and his blood. The meal we eat remembering the sacrifice he made for us on the cross. 

Verse 52-54 really stick out to me: Jesus could have called upon his Father - God and summoned 12 legions of angels with power. Yet Jesus choose to submit to his Father's will and plan knowing the cost and yet knowing the value. In this gift his love would be made manifest in our salvation from sin and death. Christ choose the seemingly foolish death on a cross as his victory instead of legions of angels destroying the devil and his angels. 

Jesus says elsewhere that he is the Son of God, yet here he doesn't even need to say it. He know that the Cross and the future glory are testimony enough. Jesus does not need to prove himself, because his actions do. 

Christ is Victorious! From the his blood on the cross and his coming again!

Revelation 12

¹⁰ Then I heard a loud voice in heaven say:

   “Now have come the salvation and the power
   and the kingdom of our God,
   and the authority of his Messiah.
For the accuser of our brothers and sisters,
   who accuses them before our God day and night,
   has been hurled down.
¹¹ They triumphed over him
   by the blood of the Lamb
   and by the word of their testimony;
they did not love their lives so much
   as to shrink from death. 

Revelation 21

New International Version (NIV)

A New Heaven and a New Earth

 ¹ Then I saw “a new heaven and a new earth,”^[a] for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. ² I saw the Holy City, the new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. ³ And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God. ⁴ ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes. There will be no more death’^[b] or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.” ⁵ He who was seated on the throne said, “I am making everything new!” Then he said, “Write this down, for these words are trustworthy and true.”
 ⁶ He said to me: “It is done. I am the Alpha and the Omega, the Beginning and the End. 

The World may have captured and murdered Jesus on a Christ but he is Victorious!

Daniel's Prayer:

My Lord and Savior

You payed the price for my life

you were tempted, bruised and slain for my sin

Thank you God. 

Even more you are victorious in the Cross and in eternity!

I want to trust in your victory over all things!

You are the King of Kings and Lord of Lords!

Your Kingdom will come to this broken earth and make all things new.

For now I want to bring some of your kingdom to the world around me. 

Humble me!

To you be glory and power 

forever and ever! 

Amen