Author Archives: Susan Wachtel

Storm by Jim Cymbala – A Good and Important Read

Posted in Book Review, BookLook, Storm by

_225_350_Book.1367.cover

It was my privilege to read Jim Cymbala’s newest book Storm – Hearing Jesus for The Times We Live In, coauthored with Jennifer Schuchmann.  I’ve never read a Jim Cymbala book before, but after reading this one I look forward to reading more of his work.

In Storm, Jim Cymbala Pastor of the Brooklyn Tabernacle came across as humble, concerned and broken over some of the trends he’s seeing in today’s Christian church in America.  He also wielded authority as he spoke truth and warnings from scripture.

This book was well balanced.  Too often I’ve read books in which Christians share their concerns about the church, but they seem judgmental and lack grace and mercy and aren’t speaking the truth in love.  Jim Cymbala came across as the man who after removing the log from his own eye, he gently helps the reader to remove the speck from their eye.

Jim speaks, not only to Pastors and church leaders in this book, but also to congregants and challenges each of us to live in the light of Jesus soon return.  He knows the power of the Gospel to change hearts, minds and lives of those who truly repent and receive Christ as Lord and Savior.  He also conveys the importance of daily reading and studying God’s Word for yourself and being a prayer warrior dependent upon God.

Jim shares warnings that there is a storm approaching and we need to beware of the tempest within the church and prayerlessness.  I especially appreciated the personal stories he shared about the radical transformation of some of the people in his church.

I’m one who likes to underline and make notes in my books.  I did a lot of that in Storm.  I found myself convicted, challenged, corrected and encouraged.

I highly recommend Storm by Jim Cymbala with Jennifer Schuchmann.  It’s a book you will want to read, reread and share with others.

I would like to thank the people at BookLook and Zondervan Publishers for the opportunity to read and review this book.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

My Prayer

Posted in Prayer by

2 Cor 5-17

Lord, I confess I don’t feel the same drive and passion I once did. But Lord I want that back. Father, I want to love You and listen to Your word – like I can’t get enough of it. I want to be captivated by You and Your incomprehensible love. May my eyes be fixed on You. Daily and forever may I be grateful for Your Son’s sacrifice for my sins and not forget how lost I was before Christ and remember my utter inability to save myself. May I be cognizant of my absolute security in Christ. I want to be aware of the Holy Spirit within me and His power and the transforming work He is doing in me. I want to have a heart of gratitude and wonder when I think upon You. I want to know the unchanging truth from the Word of God. I want to be in awe of grace perfectly balanced with truth, holiness and righteousness. Through Your Holy Spirit I want to love those with whom love doesn’t come naturally. I want to be patient, faith-filled and prayerful with those whom I love. I want my prayers to be seasoned with thanksgiving. I want to be a faithful friend. I want to hunger and thirst for truth and righteousness found only in You and Your word. I want to daily be transformed by the washing of the water of Your word. I want to make much of You, more of others and less of me. I want to begin each day in Your word, not racing through it because of pressures and demands. I want to be slow to anger and slow to speak, but quick to come to Your throne of grace in prayer. I want abide in the Vine and bear much fruit – love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness and self-control. I want to be wise and prudent and daily put on the full armor of God – belt of truth, breastplate of righteousness, feet shod with the Gospel of peace, helmet of salvation, take up the shield of faith, skillfully wield the Sword of the Spirit and be praying always. Make me and mold me through the Holy Spirit who dwells within me and wash me with Your word. Thank You Father for giving me a heart of flesh and that I am a new creation in Christ. It’s in His precious and mighty name I pray. Amen!

Love Gently Falling by Melody Carlson – Missed the Boat

Posted in Love Gently Falling, NetGalley, Uncategorized by

Love Gently Falling cover50505-mediumIt’s always easier and fun to write a review on a book that you really like. Unfortunately, this review is a little more of a challenge.

When I first became a Christian I had read some books by author Melody Carlson that I really liked. So I was excited at the opportunity to read Melody’s newest novel Love Gently Falling (available January 6, 2015). But that excitement was short lived.

Let me start with what’s good about the book. When the story’s main character Rita gets the news that her mother has suffered a stroke she quickly makes arrangements to travel home to be there with her mom, dad and brother. I appreciated how Rita made amends with an old friend with whom she had a falling out and their friendship was restored. I appreciated the character examining herself to see if she was a snob when she found herself liking a man who was a janitor. I appreciated that the book did not include sexually immorality or filthy language.

One of the main things I struggled with is that there was really nothing in this book that would lead me to conclusion that it was from a Christian author. I came back to a question I ask when reading books published by Christian authors. If a Christian writes a fiction book does that make it “Christian fiction”? I would say no.

In the book, Love Gently Falling, prayer was mentioned several times, but the author didn’t show Rita or the other characters dealing with issues of their faith. There were some plot developments that would have made good platforms to share the gospel message and what God’s word says. It would have been good to see characters work through the challenges they are facing through the grid of their Christian faith. But Melody Carlson didn’t take the opportunity to weave Christian faith into her newest book Love Gently Falling. Something else that bothered me was the way the main character Rita “came to the rescue” to help save her mother’s outdated and failing beauty salon. It smacked of the world’s view often seen in movies with children being wiser and smarter than their parents.

Apart from my criticism about this not being “Christian fiction”, the book is not overly deep. It was on the anemic side, but could have gone deeper with the storyline. I think that Melody Carlson missed the boat with Love Gently Falling and I was disappointed.

I would like to thank the publisher FaithWords and Net Galley for the opportunity to read Love Gently Falling in exchange for an honest review. I was under no obligation to write a favorable review.

 

The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel – by Mark Hitchcock – Interesting and Informative

Posted in Bible Prophesy, Blogging for Books, Book Review, The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel, Uncategorized by

Earlier this year I had the opportunity to hear Pastor Mark Hitchcock preach a message on Ezekiel 38 and 39.  It was a riveting and fast-paced hour.  So I jumped at the opportunity to read his book The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel and I was not disappointed.  He wrote this book to expand upon a chapter in an earlier book What on Earth Is Going On.  With radical Islam in the news on a regular basis readers may also wonder how Islam fits into Bible prophesy.

Mark helps the reader to understand who the players are, their ancient Biblical names and the corresponding countries and locations in today’s world.  He takes what can seem like a puzzle and helps put the pieces in place to reveal how these nations may play into God’s end time events as prophesied in Ezekiel and Revelation.

Mark also delves into God’s prophetic timetable:  How close are we to the Rapture and when will the Battle of Gog and Magog occur?  He is mindful that only God knows the day and the hour when the church will be raptured and when the Tribulation will begin.  But Mark closely examines the signs of the times and admonishes Christians to live in light of the Lord’s soon return.

I appreciated his clear presentation of the Gospel message and reinforcing biblical theology that God has not given up on Israel or replaced His chosen nation.

Whether you have a good understanding of Bible prophesy or are new to the study, I believe you will benefit from this book.  I highly recommend Pastor Mark Hitchcock’s book The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel.

I would like to thank Blogging for Books for the opportunity to read The Coming Islamic Invasion of Israel.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Making a Home in Texas

Posted in Leaving California, Uncategorized by

When I looked at the calendar today, I realized that it’s been exactly 2 months since my husband Chris and I left California to move to Texas.

In many respects it’s been an overwhelming two months, make that four months.  Once we made the decision to move, we contacted our realtor and got the house ready to put on the market.  In an answer to prayer our home sold quickly and following a short escrow we were on our way to Texas.

Leaving California was a hard thing to do.  Hard because we left family, friends and our church, Kindred Community Church.  We left a home that we loved and the state with an abundance of blessings.  A place where the weather is nice most of the time and you can be at the beach, desert and mountains in just a short time away.  It was hard to leave, but we both felt the Lord was leading us to move.

I’m so grateful that I didn’t know just how hard this would be…if I had known, I might have stayed put.  Thankfully, the Lord has walked with us through this each and every day.

Oh my goodness…I can scarcely believe the 1,500 mile drive with cars fully loaded with 3 cats, 2 birds and enough of our belongs to help us get through our time in temporary housing.  When we arrived we got settled in temporary housing, shortly thereafter we started our search for a new home.

In less than two weeks we found a home to purchase in a city we hadn’t really previously considered.  The Lord was with us as we went through and extended escrow period and all the demands required from the mortgage company with our limited access to documents and records.

On October 31st, we moved into our new home.  Boxes are scattered hither and yon and begging to be emptied and have things put away.  As much stuff as we gave away and threw away before we moved, I wish we had gotten rid of more stuff.  I didn’t realize how much stuff we had until we moved.

In the two months since we arrived in Texas, not only did we find a home, but we found a church home where the Word of God is faithfully taught.  There are many opportunities to study God’s Word throughout the week.

Something I took for granted is being in a church were you’ve been for a long time, you know people and they know you.  Your lives are intertwined as you pray for one another and go through life together.

On my first day in a woman’s Bible study I just wanted to cry.  It was weird being in a place where no one knows me and I don’t know them.  But the Lord comforted me with the assurance that overtime, our hearts and lives will be knit together and I will make friends.  Right now I still feel rather isolated.  I want to make sure that I remember what it’s like to be the new kid on the block and I’m grateful for the kindness of the ladies in the Bible study who reached out and befriended me.

In the past two months my blogging has been very sparse, but I hope to get back in the swing of things.  I’m transcribing the Psalms that I have been writing out during my morning devotional time.  I want to write about what the Lord has been teaching me.

As hard as it’s been, there are many good things about Texas and I hope to share some of those things too.

Psalm 6 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words, Psalm 6, Uncategorized by

Ps 6:9

Vs 1 – Lord, You are righteous and just in Your anger towards me, but I ask You to not rebuke or correct me in Your anger.  Please do not chasten me when you are filled with wrath.

Vs 2 – Instead, I ask You to please be gracious to me O Lord For I feel like I’m fading away.  Please touch me with Your healing hand.  Even my bones ache and are in pain; it’s like they understand and feel the dismay I am feeling.

Vs 3 – Even my soul is greatly grieved, burdened and weighted down.  Lord, how long will it be before You help me?

Vs 4 – Lord, I ask that You turn back to me and rescue my soul.  Save me, not because I am worthy, but out of Your lovingkindness.

Vs 5 – Do the unrighteous and ungodly make mention of you in death or give thanks to You in hell?  No!  But I give You thanks even in the midst of my trouble and my unknown future.

Vs 6 – I sigh all day long and have grown so very weary of my grief and depression.  I cry and feel like my bed is so filled with tears it’like a swimming pool.  If my couch could melt away when wet it would dissolve from all the tears I have shed.

Vs 7 – My eyes are wasting away from all the tears I’ve shed in my grief.  They feel like they are old and worn out because my adversaries pursue me relentlessly.

Vs 8 – But in my grief and fatigue I proclaim to my enemies who do inequity – depart from me and leave me alone – for the Lord God Almighty who reigns has heard me and seen tears.

Vs 9 – The Lord has heard every one of my prayers.  He has received my requests and will answer them and come to my aid.

Vs 10 – They day is soon coming when my enemies will soon be put to shame and be greatly dismayed.  For the hand of the Lord will turn against them.  It’s only then that they shall turn back and feel shame over their wrongdoing.

The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley – A Great Resource – Convicting, Challenging and Encouraging

Posted in Book Review, BookLook, Charles Stanley, The Spirit-Filled Life by

The Spirit Filled Life

It was my great privilege to read Pastor Charles Stanley’s newest book The Spirit-Filled Life in which he shared how a Christian can discover the joy of surrendering to the Holy Spirit.

Wow…this was a great read and a valuable resource to understand the work of the Holy Spirit in the life of a believer.  I found the book to be biblically sound and Pastor Stanley doesn’t mince word or back down when confronting people who misinterpret what it means to be filled with the Holy Spirit.  But he does so in a winsome manner.  He goes through the Scriptures that address being filled with the Spirit and presents a strong argument that the phrase does not mean being able to speak in tongues.  He also exposes an issue that arises with an incorrect interpretation, that of second class Christians, the haves and the have nots.

Pastor Stanley also goes through the Fruit of the Spirit and helps the reader to better understand what it means to Abide in Christ.  I’ve got to warn you, this book is very convicting and there were times I felt like he had read my diary and was expressing what I feel when I see a lack of the fruit of the Spirit in my own life.

Thankfully, Pastor Stanley also shares and encourages Christians how to remedy that through abiding in Christ and by surrendering yourself completely to God and recognize your own inability to live the spirit-filled Christian life on your own.  He stresses the absolutely necessity of reading the Word of God everyday, understanding it in context and gives examples of how the Holy Spirit may use Scripture to help us walk strong in Christ.

There were a couple of instances where I thought Pastor Stanley could have made a stronger argument on knowing God’s will where he addressed the question of Christians dating unbelievers and if it’s okay to continue to have relationships with people from our past when we were unbelievers and walking in sin.  He approached the subject from the standpoint of making wise choices, but there are scriptures that he could have used to show God’s will on those subjects.

I greatly appreciated Pastor Stanley’s openness and transparency from his own life, both the successes and failures, and seasons of fruitfulness and dryness.

I highly recommend The Spirit-Filled Life by Charles Stanley.  This book is a keeper and one that I will read again.  It would also make a great gift to someone who wants to better understand the Holy Spirit and what He does in the life of a Christian.

I would like to thank BookLook for the privilege of reading this book in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Psalm 5 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words by

Psalm 5-1-2

Vs 1 – O Lord my God, won’t You please listen to my cries for help, even when I lack words and groan in my spirit.

Vs 2 – Please listen to – attend, regard, consider – my cry for help, for You alone are my God and it is to You alone I pray.

Vs 3 – In the morning when I rise, I will cry out to You in prayer and You hear my voice.  May I rise and seek Thee with eagerness.

Vs 4 – You are righteous and holy God and take no pleasure in wickedness.  Evil cannot dwell with You.

Vs 5 – Those who boast and brag will not stand before You.  You hate sin and iniquity, evil, mischief, falsehood, unrighteousness, and wickedness.

Vs 6 – Those who are unrepentant liars and who speak falsely will be destroyed.  For You O God abhor – loath, utterly distain – the man who sheds innocent blood and is filled with lies and deceit.

Vs 7 – Unlike the unrighteous who have rejected You O Lord, it is by Your lovingkindness which flows abundantly that I will enter Your house.  O Lord when I come to Your holy temple I will bow down in reverence to You.

Vs 8 – Please lead me in paths of Your righteousness for foes seek to devour me.  Make the pathway straight before me.

Vs 9 – Nothing that the unrighteous and ungodly say is reliable and true.  Inwardly they are deceitfully wicked and bound for destruction.  When they open their mouth they only speak words of death and destruction.  In deceit they will flatter if they think it will be to their advantage.

Vs 10 – Lord God, I ask You for justice.  Should they continue on in their wickedness and unrepentant ways that You will find them guilty.  Let their deceitful ways cause them to fall.  As their sin and transgressions mount push them away with great force for they are ungodly and rebellious against the One True, Living and Holy God.

Vs 11 – Let all who love You, those who have repented of their sins and received forgiveness in Christ, take refuge in God and be glad.  Let them sing with joy because You keep and shelter them with Your great love and protection.  May those who have been redeemed love You and proclaim and exult Your Holy Name.

Vs 12 – It is God alone who blesses the righteous – those who have been forgiven of their sins and made righteous in Christ.  Your surround him with grace, forgiveness and mercy and are a shield about him.

Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury – Heartwarming, Touching, Loving and Redemptive

Posted in Book Review, NetGalley by

Angels-Walking

Angels Walking, by Karen Kingsbury, is her newest book about Tyler Ames, a talented up and coming baseball player, whose life takes an unexpected turn.  Just how would Alzheimer’s patient Virginia Hutchinson impact Tyler’s life for eternity?  How would those changes ripple out and affect Tyler’s broken relationships with his parents and former girlfriend Sami Dawson?  How in the world do angels figure into the story?  Well…you’ll have to read it to find out.

I’ve only read one other Karen Kingsbury book, but there was something about Angels Walking that drew me in.  Perhaps it was Virginia the Alzheimer’s patient or maybe I was intrigued by the thought of angels, God’s messengers, at work in our lives.  I knew I would find this book somewhat painful because my mother had Alzheimer’s but I wanted to read it and I’m so glad I did.

Karen Kingsbury is a very gifted writer and has a beautiful turn of a phrase.  She has a way of expressing feelings or a scene in a very vivid way that stays in the mind of the reader.  What came through in this book were love, grace, forgiveness and redemption.  I was reminded to never give up or stop praying and know that God is at work in our lives.  Karen’s Christian faith is interwoven throughout this book in a beautiful way.

There were a couple of times when Jesus Christ and salvation came up, but I found it fell short of a clear presentation of the gospel because sin wasn’t mentioned.  Without knowledge of my sin, I don’t know of my need for a Savior.

I recommend Angels Walking by Karen Kingsbury and look forward to future books in this series.  Your heart will be touched when you read this book and perhaps some healing will also take place in those broken places in your life.

I would like to thank the publishers at Howard Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to read Angels Walking in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to provide a favorable review.

Psalm 4 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words, Psalm 4 by

Psalm 7-4

Vs 1 –O LORD my God, I ask You to answer me when I call out to You in prayer.  For You alone are God, the One True Living God.  The God who is my righteousness.  In Your mercy, You provided relief for me when I was distressed.  I humbly ask You to please hear my prayers and be gracious unto me.

Vs 2 – What kind of world do I live in when my honor is viewed as reproach?  Unrighteous men just how long do you plan to love and pursue that which is worthless and try to deceive others?  Do you have no fear of God?

Vs 3 – I want you to know that God has set apart for Himself godly men and women.  May I be that godly woman through His work in me. The LORD Himself hears me when I call out to Him.

Vs 4 – I beg you foolish men to turn from your wicked ways and tremble and do not sin against God.  Meditate on God’s Word all day long, even when you lie down on your bed.  Be still and know that He is God.  Take time to think upon God.

Vs 5 – My own righteousness will never save me.  Yet I  have repented of my sin and received Jesus Christ as my LORD and Savior.  My sins have been forgiven through His perfect sacrifice on the cross.  May I be sanctified and offer the sacrifices of righteousness in gratitude and thanksgiving.  May I love and trust the LORD.

Vs 6 – People who don’t know You and even those who do feel the weight of oppression ask who will show good to us.  But I know You LORD as You have revealed Yourself in the Word of God.  I ask You to show us the light of Your countenance.

Vs 7 – You alone LORD have put gladness in my heart.  A gladness that does not depend upon things or favorable circumstances.  It’s a gladness that can not be taken away.  It’s greater than when I received grain from a bountiful harvest or when the new wine is poured to overflowing.

Vs 8 – When I lie down and sleep I am at peace.  You alone O LORD make me to dwell in safety and I am secure in You.

Whatever you do

Posted in Uncategorized by

Col 3-17

If all that I do and say is in the name of the Lord Jesus shouldn’t that impact what I do, what I say and how I do it?

 

Psalm 3 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words by

With a recent move to Texas it’s safe to say that much of my life has been turned upside down.  But thankfully the Word of God has been there to encourage, convict, correct and strengthen me in the midst of all this change.

Below is my rendering of Psalm 3 in my own words.  Be sure to read this scripture in your Bible and hear God’s inerrant Word for yourself.

Vs 1 – When I look around me LORD, all I see are adversaries and it seems like they have increased exponentially.  Many join their ranks to rise up and come against me.

Vs 2 – Many people speak against me and even say things about my soul.  They mock me and say that “even her God will not deliver her.”  But let me pause and think on what I know to be true from Your Word and from what You’ve already done in my life.

Vs 3 – You alone O LORD are my shield that surrounds me.  You God are my true glory and You lift my head.

Vs 4 – I cry out to You O LORD…out loud.  I don’t care who hears me or what they think because I know that You hear me and will answer me from Your holy mountain above.

Vs 5 – When I laid down I was able to sleep and got much needed rest.  When I awoke I reminded myself that the LORD has and will continue to sustain me.

Vs 6 – I will not be afraid – even if I’m up against 10,000 people or more.  Even if they came against me in one big force and surround me.

Vs 7 – I will call out to the LORD God Almighty, “please save me O God – for You have protected me and smitten my enemies on the cheek.  You have raised Your hand and shattered their teeth.  Who O LORD can stand against You?

Vs 8 – Salvation and deliverance comes from You LORD.  His blessing will be upon the people of His own choosing.

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good – What An Absolute Pleasure

Posted in Book Review, Putnam Publishers by

Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good

What an absolute pleasure it was to read Jan Karon’s newest book Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good!  With this new book, readers can continue to follow the lives Father Tim Kavanaugh and his wife Cynthia and a wonderful mix of characters in the lovely fictional town of Mitford, North Carolina.

When reading this book felt like I was going home and seeing the people whom I love, who are a little quirky.  But isn’t that part of what makes them so loveable?

Jan Karon’s writing is exceptional.  Characters come to life and are well developed over time.  The story is simple yet rich and complex in the ordinary adventures called life.  A composition of vignettes told through the perspective of everyone’s favorite Episcopal priest, Father Tim who is now retired.  The cast of characters is wide ranging and yet a beautiful blend of people I would like to know.

Jan Karon doesn’t strive to be edgy.  Instead she creates characters that are real and likable even with their imperfections.

My favorite thing about this book is how the characters Christian faith is interwoven throughout the story.  I loved reading Father Tim and Cynthia’s prayers.  I loved the compassion and brokenness that came through when Father Tim wept as he told of the failure and sin of fellow clergyman.  I learned that I want to have that kind of love and compassion that desires repentance and to restore a fellow sinner.  I so appreciate the sharing of the Gospel message in a simple way, but one so fitting the storyline.

I can always tell a book is really good when I’m thinking about the characters after I’ve set the book down and can’t wait to get back to them.  The only downside to this book is that it ends, but hopefully the story will continue in another book by gifted writer Jan Karon.

Even though this is the latest book in the Mitford series, it makes a good stand alone book.  I do caution you though, you will likely want to go back and read the earlier books when you fall in love with the characters.

Jan Karon is one of the best writers of her generation and I am grateful to have read her latest book Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good.

I would like to thank Putnam publishers for providing me with a copy of Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good to read in exchange for an honest review.  I was under no obligation to give a favorable review.

Psalm 2:6-12 – In my own words

Posted in Uncategorized by

Vs 6 – But as for Me, the Lord God Almighty, I have set in place My King upon Zion My holy mountain.

Vs 7 – My Son the King said I will surely tell of the decrees of the Lord God.  My Father has said to Me, ‘Thou are My Son – My Beloved Son.  Today I have brought You forth.’

Vs 8 – ‘Ask of Me My Son and I will give You the nations of the worlds as Your inheritance.  Even to the ends of the earth will be Your possession.

Vs 9 – Those wicked nations who have rejected You, You will break them with a rod of iron.  You will shatter them and they will be like broken pottery.’

Vs 10 – Kings of the earth be wise and discerning.  Listen to My warnings you judges.

Vs 11 – Work and serve the Lord with gladness and in holy reverence.  Rejoice with fear and trembling.

Vs 12 – Show respect and pay homage to the Son of God for He alone is worthy.  If you don’t, you may find yourself of the wrong side of God’s anger and you will perish because of your stubborn hard heart and unbelief.  There is a day coming in which God’s just wrath will be poured out.  But blessed and happy is the man who takes refuge in Jesus Christ the Son of God.

Psalm 2:1-5 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words by

Vs 1 – What in the world is going on?  Why are the nations causing a commotion and in an uproar?  They get together with the ungodly and the unrighteous people and seek to plot and plan something that is vain and empty and can do no good.

Vs 2 – The kings of the earth gather together to take a stand against God and desire to overthrow God’s rule and reign over them.  The rulers will get together and seek counsel on how they can come against the Lord God Almighty and His Anointed One Jesus Christ.  The problem is that they are a band of wicked and ungodly men who have rejected the Lord and His righteousness.

Vs 3 – They say let’s rip off these fetters that the Lord has placed on us and tear them apart.  We will throw away the cords which have bound us.

Vs 4 – But the Lord sits enthroned in the heavens above and throws back His head and laughs at them.  He scoffs and makes fun of their ridiculous plans.  They really don’t have a clue about Who He is and who they are.

Vs 5 – Right now the ungodly and unrighteous man thinks he is something and he is on his high horse.  But I’m telling you, there is a day coming in which they will know the full force and weight of God’s anger and fury.  For God’s fury will one day be poured out against the ungodly and unrighteous, those who are unrepentant and have rejected God and His rule and reign in their lives.  They will soon quake in terror.

Psalm 1 – In my own words

Posted in In my own words by

Vs 1 – How happy and at peace is the man who does not listen to the advice and counsel of the ungodly, wicked and condemned, nor will he stand in the path of those who willfully choose to do that which is wrong before God, nor will he sit down with and make a place with those who mock and make fun of God, His people and God’s way.

Vs 2 – But this man takes great pleasure in knowing, understanding and keeping the law of the Lord.  He meditates and thinks on it day and night.

Vs 3 – You can be sure, that man will be like a tree on the banks of a stream of water.  Like that tree he will be nourished and bear fruit in due season.  He will not dry out and die for the Lord will bless and prosper what this man does.

Vs 4 – But it’s a whole different story for the wicked who reject God.  They are like chaff that will be blown away by the wind.  Nothing that they do will last.

Vs 5 – The wicked will not be there when the Lord God Almighty rewards and judges His godly people, those declared righteous by the blood and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  The wicked won’t be seen when the righteous are judged.

Vs 6 – You can be certain that the Lord knows the righteous and what they are doing.  He also knows the wicked and that there is coming a day in which they will be judged rightly.  They will be in the place of torment forever as a penalty for their unrepentance and sins.  For they have rejected Jesus Christ and His perfect atoning sacrifice on the cross as payment in full for their sins.

Beginning Again

Posted in Uncategorized by

PS 119-105 Bible Heart Antique

Today, I finally finished writing out the book of Proverbs.  It all started over two and a half years ago when I decided to write out the book of Psalms in my own words during my morning devotional time.

I really grew to love writing out the Psalms and was amazed at how God spoke to me during that time.  No matter what I was going through there was a timely reminder about God and who He is.  I found comfort, encouragement, strength, peace, rebuke, wisdom, woodshed times, grace and mercy among many other things.

It took two years to get through the book of Psalms and when I concluded it, I thought I would just start back at the beginning and do it all over again.  But I felt the Holy Spirit leading me to carry on with writing out the book of Proverbs.

I struggled at times to complete writing out Proverbs.  I felt like I was going through a dry season and truly missed the deep, intimate fellowship I felt while going through Psalms.  I found myself wanting to slap the son that the father was instructing to stay away from the adulterous woman.  (“For Pete’s sakes, what is it going to take for you to get it boy?”)  Things were not quite as repetitive when I got into more general instructions found in Proverbs and I learned afresh wise instruction in how to live a godly life.

Now that I’m done with Proverbs and tomorrow plan to start going through Psalms again.  I’ll be in a whole different place in my life this time around…about 32 months after I originally started this practice.  Soon we will be in a whole new state, Texas, and our lives in many respects will be turned upside down.

I’m so looking forward to the reminders that no matter what, God is always there and He never changes.

Lord…keep my heart and mind close to You.  Help me to see You, the God who never changes, in fresh ways and know with confidence that You are there with me in all my circumstances.  Help me to grow in truth, wisdom and holiness.  May I be a woman after Your own heart.