Reading: 1 Peter 2
"Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king." v17
Interesting statement and a guide even in shaky political times.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Thursday, August 29, 2013
Reading: Psalm 116
Setting:
Verses:
"Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." v2
"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" v12
"Oh Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."v16-17
The natural response to God for hearing us is to offer of ourselves to Him, and to call on Him more!
Setting:
Verses:
"Because He has inclined His ear to me, therefore I will call upon Him as long as I live." v2
"What shall I render to the Lord for all His benefits toward me?" v12
"Oh Lord, truly I am Your servant; I am Your servant, the son of Your maidservant; You have loosed my bonds.
I will offer to You the sacrifice of thanksgiving, and will call upon the name of the Lord."v16-17
The natural response to God for hearing us is to offer of ourselves to Him, and to call on Him more!
Wednesday, August 28, 2013
But the end of all things is at hand
Reading: 1 Peter 4
Setting: The beginning of a relationship, one that I have been almost too scared to admit may never have happened.
Verses that stood out (probably through my biased setting):
"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." v7-10
I guess in the big picture this WAS written to the church and not intended to be applied in a relationship setting, but I'm thinking - there could be worse things a relationship could be modeled on, and I'm all for more advice:-)
Prayer for each other has and will be on my list of priorities as a couple wanting to stay in tune with God while growing close to one another.
Fervent love - that stays after the initial starburst of the 'honeymoon period' has died down is both something I'm praying for and something I'm sure will be present.
Accomodating and making each other feel welcome, both physically and into each other's lives may not be the easiest of processes - especially how both of us (or myself particularly) have becomed accustomed to living as an individual and how my life is structured in a not particularly sharing kind of way (not just with food!) but also to NOT GRUMBLE about it? Going to have to remember that one in the days ahead:-)
And this area, which is a new concept to me - using our gifts to edify each other within the relationship setting - going to have to bring this one up with Penny - this could be exciting!
Setting: The beginning of a relationship, one that I have been almost too scared to admit may never have happened.
Verses that stood out (probably through my biased setting):
"But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.
And above all things have fervent love for one another, for 'love will cover a multitude of sins'.
Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.
As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God." v7-10
I guess in the big picture this WAS written to the church and not intended to be applied in a relationship setting, but I'm thinking - there could be worse things a relationship could be modeled on, and I'm all for more advice:-)
Prayer for each other has and will be on my list of priorities as a couple wanting to stay in tune with God while growing close to one another.
Fervent love - that stays after the initial starburst of the 'honeymoon period' has died down is both something I'm praying for and something I'm sure will be present.
Accomodating and making each other feel welcome, both physically and into each other's lives may not be the easiest of processes - especially how both of us (or myself particularly) have becomed accustomed to living as an individual and how my life is structured in a not particularly sharing kind of way (not just with food!) but also to NOT GRUMBLE about it? Going to have to remember that one in the days ahead:-)
And this area, which is a new concept to me - using our gifts to edify each other within the relationship setting - going to have to bring this one up with Penny - this could be exciting!
Tuesday, August 27, 2013
Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5
Setting:
Verses that stood out:
"See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit" v15-19
Was impressed by how each of these verses seemed to flow - the overspill of each action causing the next.
In pursuing good and not repaying the bad, rejoicing always is useful - it's a lot harder to not see the good in people when we have an attitude of rejoicing!
Rejoicing leads to prayer, in which an attitude of thankfulness then comes naturally.
And the Holy Spirit, being both the instigator and the embodiment of God in us, fuels the process and is strengthened by it simultaneously.
Cool, right?
Setting:
Verses that stood out:
"See that no one renders evil for evil to anyone, but always pursue what is good both for yourselves and for all.
Rejoice always,
pray without ceasing,
in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
Do not quench the Spirit" v15-19
Was impressed by how each of these verses seemed to flow - the overspill of each action causing the next.
In pursuing good and not repaying the bad, rejoicing always is useful - it's a lot harder to not see the good in people when we have an attitude of rejoicing!
Rejoicing leads to prayer, in which an attitude of thankfulness then comes naturally.
And the Holy Spirit, being both the instigator and the embodiment of God in us, fuels the process and is strengthened by it simultaneously.
Cool, right?
Pre-interview reading
The reading: Ecclesiastes 5
The setting: pre-nephrology multi-speciality interviews, knowing there's 20 applicants shortlisted for this and only 10 jobs for 1st year Advanced Trainees.
Verses that stood out (actually the whole passage did):
"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fools voice is known by his many words." v2-3
"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-" v4
"Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.." v6a
"For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God." v7
"As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand" v15
"Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.
For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." v 18-20
A superficial reading through this brought home the following to me:
1. To be transparent in my words and honest and forthright, not just in the interviews but also when I start work - wherever that may be.
2. To always DO more than I SAY
3. To not make excuses, especially after over-promising something
4. To keep the fear of the Lord in my life
5. To strive for works that are everlasting, and not those that are mortal
6. To be content with my lot, whether rich or poor or in between, being the gift of God (the gift not being the situation of being poor or rich etc, but the part about keeping myself busy with the joy of His heart)
The setting: pre-nephrology multi-speciality interviews, knowing there's 20 applicants shortlisted for this and only 10 jobs for 1st year Advanced Trainees.
Verses that stood out (actually the whole passage did):
"Do not be rash with your mouth, and let your heart utter anything hastily before God. For God is in heaven, and you on earth; therefore let your words be few. For a dream comes through much activity, and a fools voice is known by his many words." v2-3
"When you make a vow to God, do not delay to pay it; for He has no pleasure in fools. Pay what you have vowed-" v4
"Do not let your mouth cause your flesh to sin, nor say before the messenger of God that it was an error.." v6a
"For in the multitude of dreams and many words there is also vanity. But fear God." v7
"As he came from his mother's womb, naked shall he return, to go as he came; and he shall take nothing from his labor which he may carry away in his hand" v15
"Here is what I have seen: It is good and fitting for one to eat and drink, and to enjoy the good of all his labor in which he toils under the sun all the days of his life which God gives him; for it is his heritage.
As for every man to whom God has given riches and wealth, and given him power to eat of it, to receive his heritage and rejoice in his labor-this is the gift of God.
For he will not dwell unduly on the days of his life, because God keeps him busy with the joy of his heart." v 18-20
A superficial reading through this brought home the following to me:
1. To be transparent in my words and honest and forthright, not just in the interviews but also when I start work - wherever that may be.
2. To always DO more than I SAY
3. To not make excuses, especially after over-promising something
4. To keep the fear of the Lord in my life
5. To strive for works that are everlasting, and not those that are mortal
6. To be content with my lot, whether rich or poor or in between, being the gift of God (the gift not being the situation of being poor or rich etc, but the part about keeping myself busy with the joy of His heart)
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