Mind Myself: May 2012

Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Last Break - May 30

Here is the reading for today...

Psalm 74-75

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 74

A psalm of Asaph.

¹O God, why have you rejected us so long?
    Why is your anger so intense against the sheep of your own pasture?
²Remember that we are the people you chose long ago,
    the tribe you redeemed as your own special possession!
    And remember Jerusalem, your home here on earth.
³Walk through the awful ruins of the city;
    see how the enemy has destroyed your sanctuary.

⁴There your enemies shouted their victorious battle cries;
    there they set up their battle standards.
⁵They swung their axes
    like woodcutters in a forest.
⁶With axes and picks,
    they smashed the carved paneling.
⁷They burned your sanctuary to the ground.
    They defiled the place that bears your name.
⁸Then they thought, “Let’s destroy everything!”
    So they burned down all the places where God was worshiped.

⁹We no longer see your miraculous signs.
    All the prophets are gone,
    and no one can tell us when it will end.
¹⁰How long, O God, will you allow our enemies to insult you?
    Will you let them dishonor your name forever?
¹¹Why do you hold back your strong right hand?
    Unleash your powerful fist and destroy them.

¹²You, O God, are my king from ages past,
    bringing salvation to the earth.
¹³You split the sea by your strength
    and smashed the heads of the sea monsters.
¹⁴You crushed the heads of Leviathan
    and let the desert animals eat him.
¹⁵You caused the springs and streams to gush forth,
    and you dried up rivers that never run dry.
¹⁶Both day and night belong to you;
    you made the starlight and the sun.
¹⁷You set the boundaries of the earth,
    and you made both summer and winter.

¹⁸See how these enemies insult you, Lord.
A foolish nation has dishonored your name.
¹⁹Don’t let these wild beasts destroy your turtledoves.
Don’t forget your suffering people forever.

²⁰Remember your covenant promises,
for the land is full of darkness and violence!
²¹Don’t let the downtrodden be humiliated again.
Instead, let the poor and needy praise your name.

²²Arise, O God, and defend your cause.
Remember how these fools insult you all day long.
²³Don’t overlook what your enemies have said
or their growing uproar.

Psalm 75

For the choir director: A psalm of Asaph. A song to be sung to the tune “Do Not Destroy!”

¹We thank you, O God!
We give thanks because you are near.
People everywhere tell of your wonderful deeds.

²God says, “At the time I have planned,
I will bring justice against the wicked.
³When the earth quakes and its people live in turmoil,
I am the one who keeps its foundations firm. Interlude

⁴“I warned the proud, ‘Stop your boasting!’
    I told the wicked, ‘Don’t raise your fists!
⁵Don’t raise your fists in defiance at the heavens
    or speak with such arrogance.’”
⁶For no one on earth—from east or west,
    or even from the wilderness—
    should raise a defiant fist.
⁷It is God alone who judges;
    he decides who will rise and who will fall.
⁸For the Lord holds a cup in his hand
    that is full of foaming wine mixed with spices.
He pours out the wine in judgment,
    and all the wicked must drink it,
    draining it to the dregs.

⁹But as for me, I will always proclaim what God has done;
I will sing praises to the God of Jacob.
¹⁰For God says, “I will break the strength of the wicked,
but I will increase the power of the godly.”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2074-75&version=NLT
New Living Translation (NLT)

Tuesday, May 29, 2012

Brooklynn's Cabinet

This was cute.

I come in the kitchen and Brooklynn is crawling into the cabinet. So the first thing I do is scold her for messing with the cabinets because she's not supposed to be messing with them. But them Sunnshyne tells me that it is her cabinet. So I took a picture.

I wish I had my own cabinet to play in. I really don't remember if I played in the cabinets when I was younger or not. I may have to ask my mom.

Last Break - May 29

Here is the reading for today.. sorry it is a little late..

Psalm 72-73

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 72

A psalm of Solomon.

¹Give your love of justice to the king, O God,
    and righteousness to the king’s son.
²Help him judge your people in the right way;
    let the poor always be treated fairly.
³May the mountains yield prosperity for all,
    and may the hills be fruitful.
⁴Help him to defend the poor,
    to rescue the children of the needy,
    and to crush their oppressors.
⁵May they fear you as long as the sun shines,
    as long as the moon remains in the sky.
    Yes, forever!

⁶May the king’s rule be refreshing like spring rain on freshly cut grass,
    like the showers that water the earth.
⁷May all the godly flourish during his reign.
    May there be abundant prosperity until the moon is no more.
⁸May he reign from sea to sea,
    and from the Euphrates River to the ends of the earth.
⁹Desert nomads will bow before him;
    his enemies will fall before him in the dust.
¹⁰The western kings of Tarshish and other distant lands
    will bring him tribute.
The eastern kings of Sheba and Seba
    will bring him gifts.
¹¹All kings will bow before him,
    and all nations will serve him.

¹²He will rescue the poor when they cry to him;
    he will help the oppressed, who have no one to defend them.
¹³He feels pity for the weak and the needy,
    and he will rescue them.
¹⁴He will redeem them from oppression and violence,
    for their lives are precious to him.

¹⁵Long live the king!
    May the gold of Sheba be given to him.
May the people always pray for him
    and bless him all day long.
¹⁶May there be abundant grain throughout the land,
    flourishing even on the hilltops.
May the fruit trees flourish like the trees of Lebanon,
    and may the people thrive like grass in a field.
¹⁷May the king’s name endure forever;
    may it continue as long as the sun shines.
May all nations be blessed through him
    and bring him praise.

¹⁸Praise the Lord God, the God of Israel,
who alone does such wonderful things.
¹⁹Praise his glorious name forever!
Let the whole earth be filled with his glory.
Amen and amen!

²⁰(This ends the prayers of David son of Jesse.)

Book Three (Psalms 73–89)

Psalm 73

A psalm of Asaph.

¹Truly God is good to Israel,
    to those whose hearts are pure.
²But as for me, I almost lost my footing.
    My feet were slipping, and I was almost gone.
³For I envied the proud
    when I saw them prosper despite their wickedness.
⁴They seem to live such painless lives;
    their bodies are so healthy and strong.
⁵They don’t have troubles like other people;
    they’re not plagued with problems like everyone else.
⁶They wear pride like a jeweled necklace
    and clothe themselves with cruelty.
⁷These fat cats have everything
    their hearts could ever wish for!
⁸They scoff and speak only evil;
    in their pride they seek to crush others.
⁹They boast against the very heavens,
    and their words strut throughout the earth.
¹⁰And so the people are dismayed and confused,
    drinking in all their words.
¹¹“What does God know?” they ask.
    “Does the Most High even know what’s happening?”
¹²Look at these wicked people—
    enjoying a life of ease while their riches multiply.

¹³Did I keep my heart pure for nothing?
Did I keep myself innocent for no reason?
¹⁴I get nothing but trouble all day long;
every morning brings me pain.

¹⁵If I had really spoken this way to others,
    I would have been a traitor to your people.
¹⁶So I tried to understand why the wicked prosper.
    But what a difficult task it is!
¹⁷Then I went into your sanctuary, O God,
    and I finally understood the destiny of the wicked.
¹⁸Truly, you put them on a slippery path
    and send them sliding over the cliff to destruction.
¹⁹In an instant they are destroyed,
    completely swept away by terrors.
²⁰When you arise, O Lord,
    you will laugh at their silly ideas
    as a person laughs at dreams in the morning.

²¹Then I realized that my heart was bitter,
    and I was all torn up inside.
²²I was so foolish and ignorant—
    I must have seemed like a senseless animal to you.
²³Yet I still belong to you;
    you hold my right hand.
²⁴You guide me with your counsel,
    leading me to a glorious destiny.
²⁵Whom have I in heaven but you?
    I desire you more than anything on earth.
²⁶My health may fail, and my spirit may grow weak,
    but God remains the strength of my heart;
    he is mine forever.

²⁷Those who desert him will perish,
    for you destroy those who abandon you.
²⁸But as for me, how good it is to be near God!
    I have made the Sovereign Lord my shelter,
    and I will tell everyone about the wonderful things you do.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalms%2072-73&version=NLT
New Living Translation (NLT)

Monday, May 28, 2012

Last Break - May 28

Here is the reading for today..

Psalm 70-71

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 70

For the choir director: A psalm of David, asking God to remember him.

¹Please, God, rescue me!
    Come quickly, Lord, and help me.
²May those who try to kill me
    be humiliated and put to shame.
May those who take delight in my trouble
    be turned back in disgrace.
³Let them be horrified by their shame,
    for they said, “Aha! We’ve got him now!”
⁴But may all who search for you
    be filled with joy and gladness in you.
May those who love your salvation
    repeatedly shout, “God is great!”
⁵But as for me, I am poor and needy;
    please hurry to my aid, O God.
You are my helper and my savior;
    O Lord, do not delay.

Psalm 71

¹O Lord, I have come to you for protection;
    don’t let me be disgraced.
²Save me and rescue me,
    for you do what is right.
Turn your ear to listen to me,
    and set me free.
³Be my rock of safety
    where I can always hide.
Give the order to save me,
    for you are my rock and my fortress.
⁴My God, rescue me from the power of the wicked,
    from the clutches of cruel oppressors.
⁵O Lord, you alone are my hope.
    I’ve trusted you, O Lord, from childhood.
⁶Yes, you have been with me from birth;
    from my mother’s womb you have cared for me.
    No wonder I am always praising you!

⁷My life is an example to many,
    because you have been my strength and protection.
⁸That is why I can never stop praising you;
    I declare your glory all day long.
⁹And now, in my old age, don’t set me aside.
    Don’t abandon me when my strength is failing.
¹⁰For my enemies are whispering against me.
    They are plotting together to kill me.
¹¹They say, “God has abandoned him.
    Let’s go and get him,
    for no one will help him now.”

¹²O God, don’t stay away.
    My God, please hurry to help me.
¹³Bring disgrace and destruction on my accusers.
    Humiliate and shame those who want to harm me.
¹⁴But I will keep on hoping for your help;
    I will praise you more and more.
¹⁵I will tell everyone about your righteousness.
    All day long I will proclaim your saving power,
    though I am not skilled with words.
¹⁶I will praise your mighty deeds, O Sovereign Lord.
    I will tell everyone that you alone are just.

¹⁷O God, you have taught me from my earliest childhood,
    and I constantly tell others about the wonderful things you do.
¹⁸Now that I am old and gray,
    do not abandon me, O God.
Let me proclaim your power to this new generation,
    your mighty miracles to all who come after me.

¹⁹Your righteousness, O God, reaches to the highest heavens.
    You have done such wonderful things.
    Who can compare with you, O God?
²⁰You have allowed me to suffer much hardship,
    but you will restore me to life again
    and lift me up from the depths of the earth.
²¹You will restore me to even greater honor
    and comfort me once again.

²²Then I will praise you with music on the harp,
    because you are faithful to your promises, O my God.
I will sing praises to you with a lyre,
    O Holy One of Israel.
²³I will shout for joy and sing your praises,
    for you have ransomed me.
²⁴I will tell about your righteous deeds
    all day long,
for everyone who tried to hurt me
    has been shamed and humiliated.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2070-71&version=NLT
New Living Translation (NLT)

Sunday, May 27, 2012

Last Break - May 27

Here is the reading for today. We are on our Sunday verse for the month which is..

Luke 16:10

New International Version (NIV)

¹⁰“Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much.

Here is the story that was taught this past week in the Kid's Ministry at church. I happen to love this story and it has a very good challenge.

Luke 10:30-37

New Living Translation (NLT)

Parable of the Good Samaritan

³⁰Jesus replied with a story: “A Jewish man was traveling from Jerusalem down to Jericho, and he was attacked by bandits. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him up, and left him half dead beside the road.

³¹“By chance a priest came along. But when he saw the man lying there, he crossed to the other side of the road and passed him by. ³²A Temple assistant walked over and looked at him lying there, but he also passed by on the other side.

³³“Then a despised Samaritan came along, and when he saw the man, he felt compassion for him.³⁴Going over to him, the Samaritan soothed his wounds with olive oil and wine and bandaged them. Then he put the man on his own donkey and took him to an inn, where he took care of him. ³⁵The next day he handed the innkeeper two silver coins, telling him, ‘Take care of this man. If his bill runs higher than this, I’ll pay you the next time I’m here.’

³⁶“Now which of these three would you say was a neighbor to the man who was attacked by bandits?” Jesus asked.

³⁷The man replied, “The one who showed him mercy.”

Then Jesus said, “Yes, now go and do the same.”

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke%2016:10&version=NIV
New International Version (NIV)

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=luke%2010:30-37&version=NLT

New Living Translation (NLT)

Saturday, May 26, 2012

A Silly, But Yet Informative Post

Where do people get the names of some of the things they write? That is a question I often ask myself. "I wonder how they got the name for that?"

So I figured I would share with you how I name some of my blogs. Most of the time I get the name from the subject of the post.

Some of the time I use a phrase, line or quote from within the post.

Every once in a while I use a time stamp.

Only one time have I ever used a date.

Also, sometimes I name a post that might be continued in another post later, for example, the post entitled "The Good..." went along with "...The Bad..." and so on. It made one post "The Good...The Bad...And the Peaceful". So I like doing that as well.

This is sort of a silly post. But I figured that maybe (sometimes like I do) you might wonder where the names come from. I know I can be a little weird.

Last Break - May 26

Here is the reading for today.

Psalm 68-69

New Living Translation (NLT)

Psalm 68

For the choir director: A song. A psalm of David.

¹Rise up, O God, and scatter your enemies.
    Let those who hate God run for their lives.
²Blow them away like smoke.
    Melt them like wax in a fire.
    Let the wicked perish in the presence of God.
³But let the godly rejoice.
    Let them be glad in God’s presence.
    Let them be filled with joy.
⁴Sing praises to God and to his name!
    Sing loud praises to him who rides the clouds.
His name is the Lord—
    rejoice in his presence!

⁵Father to the fatherless, defender of widows—
this is God, whose dwelling is holy.
⁶God places the lonely in families;
he sets the prisoners free and gives them joy.
But he makes the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.

⁷O God, when you led your people out from Egypt,
    when you marched through the dry wasteland, Interlude
⁸the earth trembled, and the heavens poured down rain
    before you, the God of Sinai,
    before God, the God of Israel.
⁹You sent abundant rain, O God,
    to refresh the weary land.
¹⁰There your people finally settled,
    and with a bountiful harvest, O God,
    you provided for your needy people.

¹¹The Lord gives the word,
    and a great army brings the good news.
¹²Enemy kings and their armies flee,
    while the women of Israel divide the plunder.
¹³Even those who lived among the sheepfolds found treasures—
    doves with wings of silver
    and feathers of gold.
¹⁴The Almighty scattered the enemy kings
    like a blowing snowstorm on Mount Zalmon.

¹⁵The mountains of Bashan are majestic,
    with many peaks stretching high into the sky.
¹⁶Why do you look with envy, O rugged mountains,
    at Mount Zion, where God has chosen to live,
    where the Lord himself will live forever?

¹⁷Surrounded by unnumbered thousands of chariots,
    the Lord came from Mount Sinai into his sanctuary.
¹⁸When you ascended to the heights,
    you led a crowd of captives.
You received gifts from the people,
    even from those who rebelled against you.
    Now the Lord God will live among us there.

¹⁹Praise the Lord; praise God our savior!
For each day he carries us in his arms. Interlude
²⁰Our God is a God who saves!
The Sovereign Lord rescues us from death.

²¹But God will smash the heads of his enemies,
    crushing the skulls of those who love their guilty ways.
²²The Lord says, “I will bring my enemies down from Bashan;
    I will bring them up from the depths of the sea.
²³You, my people, will wash your feet in their blood,
    and even your dogs will get their share!”

²⁴Your procession has come into view, O God—
    the procession of my God and King as he goes into the sanctuary.
²⁵Singers are in front, musicians behind;
    between them are young women playing tambourines.
²⁶Praise God, all you people of Israel;
    praise the Lord, the source of Israel’s life.
²⁷Look, the little tribe of Benjamin leads the way.
    Then comes a great throng of rulers from Judah
    and all the rulers of Zebulun and Naphtali.

²⁸Summon your might, O God.
    Display your power, O God, as you have in the past.
²⁹The kings of the earth are bringing tribute
    to your Temple in Jerusalem.
³⁰Rebuke these enemy nations—
    these wild animals lurking in the reeds,
    this herd of bulls among the weaker calves.
Make them bring bars of silver in humble tribute.
    Scatter the nations that delight in war.
³¹Let Egypt come with gifts of precious metals;
    let Ethiopia^[c] bow in submission to God.
³²Sing to God, you kingdoms of the earth.
    Sing praises to the Lord. Interlude
³³Sing to the one who rides across the ancient heavens,
    his mighty voice thundering from the sky.
³⁴Tell everyone about God’s power.
    His majesty shines down on Israel;
    his strength is mighty in the heavens.
³⁵God is awesome in his sanctuary.
    The God of Israel gives power and strength to his people.

Praise be to God!

Psalm 69

For the choir director: A psalm of David, to be sung to the tune “Lilies.”

¹Save me, O God,
    for the floodwaters are up to my neck.
²Deeper and deeper I sink into the mire;
    I can’t find a foothold.
I am in deep water,
    and the floods overwhelm me.
³I am exhausted from crying for help;
    my throat is parched.
My eyes are swollen with weeping,
    waiting for my God to help me.
⁴Those who hate me without cause
    outnumber the hairs on my head.
Many enemies try to destroy me with lies,
    demanding that I give back what I didn’t steal.

⁵O God, you know how foolish I am;
    my sins cannot be hidden from you.
⁶Don’t let those who trust in you be ashamed because of me,
    O Sovereign Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
Don’t let me cause them to be humiliated,
    O God of Israel.
⁷For I endure insults for your sake;
    humiliation is written all over my face.
⁸Even my own brothers pretend they don’t know me;
    they treat me like a stranger.

⁹Passion for your house has consumed me,
    and the insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.
¹⁰When I weep and fast,
    they scoff at me.
¹¹When I dress in burlap to show sorrow,
    they make fun of me.
¹²I am the favorite topic of town gossip,
    and all the drunks sing about me.

¹³But I keep praying to you, Lord,
    hoping this time you will show me favor.
In your unfailing love, O God,
    answer my prayer with your sure salvation.
¹⁴Rescue me from the mud;
    don’t let me sink any deeper!
Save me from those who hate me,
    and pull me from these deep waters.
¹⁵Don’t let the floods overwhelm me,
    or the deep waters swallow me,
    or the pit of death devour me.

¹⁶Answer my prayers, O Lord,
    for your unfailing love is wonderful.
Take care of me,
    for your mercy is so plentiful.
¹⁷Don’t hide from your servant;
    answer me quickly, for I am in deep trouble!
¹⁸Come and redeem me;
    free me from my enemies.

¹⁹You know of my shame, scorn, and disgrace.
    You see all that my enemies are doing.
²⁰Their insults have broken my heart,
    and I am in despair.
If only one person would show some pity;
    if only one would turn and comfort me.
²¹But instead, they give me poison for food;
    they offer me sour wine for my thirst.

²²Let the bountiful table set before them become a snare
    and their prosperity become a trap.
²³Let their eyes go blind so they cannot see,
    and make their bodies shake continually.
²⁴Pour out your fury on them;
    consume them with your burning anger.
²⁵Let their homes become desolate
    and their tents be deserted.
²⁶To the one you have punished, they add insult to injury;
    they add to the pain of those you have hurt.
²⁷Pile their sins up high,
    and don’t let them go free.
²⁸Erase their names from the Book of Life;
    don’t let them be counted among the righteous.

²⁹I am suffering and in pain.
Rescue me, O God, by your saving power.

³⁰Then I will praise God’s name with singing,
    and I will honor him with thanksgiving.
³¹For this will please the Lord more than sacrificing cattle,
    more than presenting a bull with its horns and hooves.
³²The humble will see their God at work and be glad.
    Let all who seek God’s help be encouraged.
³³For the Lord hears the cries of the needy;
    he does not despise his imprisoned people.

³⁴Praise him, O heaven and earth,
    the seas and all that move in them.
³⁵For God will save Jerusalem
    and rebuild the towns of Judah.
His people will live there
    and settle in their own land.
³⁶The descendants of those who obey him will inherit the land,
    and those who love him will live there in safety.

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=psalm%2068-69&version=NLT
New Living Translation (NLT)