33 Day Bible Reading Challenge-Day 17

 

Day 17/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 7:15-29 15 “Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. 16 By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 Likewise, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. 18 A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them. 21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven. 22 Many will say to me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name and in your name drive out demons and in your name perform many miracles?’ 23 Then I will tell them plainly, ‘I never knew you. Away from me, you evildoers!’ 24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” 28 When Jesus had finished saying these things, the crowds were amazed at his teaching, 29 because he taught as one who had authority, and not as their teachers of the law.   Psalm 17 A prayer of David. 1 Hear me, LORD, my plea is just;     listen to my cry. Hear my prayer—     it does not rise from deceitful lips. 2 Let my vindication come from you;     may your eyes see what is right. 3 Though you probe my heart,     though you examine me at night and test me, you will find that I have planned no evil;     my mouth has not transgressed. 4 Though people tried to bribe me,     I have kept myself from the ways of the violent     through what your lips have commanded. 5 My steps have held to your paths;     my feet have not stumbled. 6 I call on you, my God, for you will answer me;     turn your ear to me and hear my prayer. 7 Show me the wonders of your great love,     you who save by your right hand     those who take refuge in you from their foes. 8 Keep me as the apple of your eye;     hide me in the shadow of your wings 9 from the wicked who are out to destroy me,     from my mortal enemies who surround me. 10 They close up their callous hearts,     and their mouths speak with arrogance. 11 They have tracked me down, they now surround me,     with eyes alert, to throw me to the ground. 12 They are like a lion hungry for prey,     like a fierce lion crouching in cover. 13 Rise up, LORD, confront them, bring them down;     with your sword rescue me from the wicked. 14 By your hand save me from such people, LORD,     from those of this world whose reward is in this life. May what you have stored up for the wicked fill their bellies;     may their children gorge themselves on it,     and may there be leftovers for their little ones. 15 As for me, I will be vindicated and will see your face;     when I awake, I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.

33 Day Bible Challenge-Day 16

 

Day 16/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 7:1-14 7 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you. 3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye. 6 “Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. 7 “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 8 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. 9 “Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? 10 Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? 11 If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! 12 So in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you, for this sums up the Law and the Prophets. 13 “Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. 14 But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it.   Psalm 16 A miktam of David. 1 Keep me safe, my God,     for in you I take refuge. 2 I say to the LORD, “You are my LORD;     apart from you I have no good thing.” 3 I say of the holy people who are in the land,     “They are the noble ones in whom is all my delight.” 4 Those who run after other gods will suffer more and more.     I will not pour out libations of blood to such gods     or take up their names on my lips. 5 LORD, you alone are my portion and my cup;     you make my lot secure. 6 The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;     surely I have a delightful inheritance. 7 I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;     even at night my heart instructs me. 8 I keep my eyes always on the LORD.     With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken. 9 Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;     my body also will rest secure, 10 because you will not abandon me to the realm of the dead,     nor will you let your faithful one see decay. 11 You make known to me the path of life;     you will fill me with joy in your presence,     with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

33 Day Bible Reading Challenge-Day 15

 

Day 15/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 6:25-34 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.   Psalm 15 A psalm of David. 1 LORD, who may dwell in your sacred tent?     Who may live on your holy mountain? 2 The one whose walk is blameless,     who does what is righteous,     who speaks the truth from their heart; 3 whose tongue utters no slander,     who does no wrong to a neighbor,     and casts no slur on others; 4 who despises a vile person     but honors those who fear the LORD; who keeps an oath even when it hurts,     and does not change their mind; 5 who lends money to the poor without interest;     who does not accept a bribe against the innocent. Whoever does these things     will never be shaken.

33 Day Bible Reading Challenge-Day 14

 

Day 14/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 6:16-24 16 “When you fast, do not look somber as the hypocrites do, for they disfigure their faces to show others they are fasting. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 17 But when you fast, put oil on your head and wash your face, 18 so that it will not be obvious to others that you are fasting, but only to your Father, who is unseen; and your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 19 “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20 But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22 “The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are healthy, your whole body will be full of light. 23 But if your eyes are unhealthy, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 24 “No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money.   Psalm 14 For the director of music. Of David. 1 The fool says in his heart,     “There is no God.” They are corrupt, their deeds are vile;     there is no one who does good. 2 The LORD looks down from heaven     on all mankind to see if there are any who understand,     any who seek God. 3 All have turned away, all have become corrupt;     there is no one who does good,     not even one. 4 Do all these evildoers know nothing? They devour my people as though eating bread;     they never call on the LORD. 5 But there they are, overwhelmed with dread,     for God is present in the company of the righteous. 6 You evildoers frustrate the plans of the poor,     but the LORD is their refuge. 7 Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion!     When the LORD restores his people,     let Jacob rejoice and Israel be glad!

Encouragement

 Encouragement

“Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan, I will now arise,” says the LORD. “I will protect them from those who malign them.” And the words of the LORD are flawless, like silver purified in a crucible, like gold refined seven times. // Psalm 12:5-6

A Note from Pastor Al

Discuss.

As we enter the message for this week, I’m drawing heavily on three passages—Deuteronomy 6:6-7, Luke 24:13-27, and Hebrews 10:22-25—to look at our next tool of discipleship: discussion. 

Deuteronomy 6 is one of our key passages from two weeks ago (the Mezuzah - Osmosis) and these two verses zero-in on a key aspect of discipleship: talking about the Very Words of God in the context of daily life. God’s Word was never meant to be divorced from the events of our everyday. They are purposely designed by God to be a natural part of our day-to-day schedule. This is the concept that is involved in John 8 where Jesus says that a disciple is defined by “abiding in the Word of God.”

As soon as a person relegates the Words of the Living God to a spiritual context on Sunday morning between 9 and noon, then we lose 97% of the Bible’s potential to impact our life; our emotions; our spiritual, physical, and relational well-being. 

Why do I use the number “97%”? It’s simple math: we have seven days in a week with 24 hours a day. If you take out 8 hours for sleeping then you are left with 112 hours. If only 3 of those hours are utilized as an opportunity to learn the Words of God and discuss them in the context of life, that is a simple equation of 3/112 or 2.7% (rounded up from 2.678571).

It is in the daily discussions of life where we have the greatest opportunities to look as the Word of God and compare what we see and experience with what life has to offer us. For example, when the first heavy days of the Covid-19 issue entered our lives with full steam, and Governor Walz issued the stay-at-home orders, I specifically remember my emotional reactions. 

I recall hearing that Minnesota had its first confirmed case of Covid-19 and I did a real serious gulp. I think my face even flushed because I was wondering who, of all those I know and love, might be affected by this virus. I had some real impactful thoughts of fear and unease starting to simmer below the surface, like a volcano building up its explosive power. It was not healthy—OK, I was afraid!

But then I had numerous opportunities to settle into the Word and start discussing this whole shift in our nation under the scrutiny of the Word of God. In our open perusal of the Word of God, we quickly discovered passages like this: 

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isaiah 41:10)

And . . . 

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. (Isaiah 43:2)

As we discussed these passages, it became clear that God was acknowledging the natural presence of fear in the human psyche. He was not denying our human frailty but rather addressing it. And then God gave sincere reasons why I could drop my fears. He promised he wouldn’t leave me or any of my loved ones alone. He was going to be with us in the thick, thin, and blur of future events. 

Further discussions that centered on God’s Words brought the encouraging truth that God had purposely claimed the position of “Our God.” He was not going to let anything or anyone else dethrone Him. Would I be willing to live according to this truth? The more I talked about this with God’s people and kept the Words of God close, the whole combination became highly encouraging.

Why did I need others with whom to discuss this? Why couldn’t I sit in my own room and just pore over His truth for myself? I can’t claim to know all the reasons why, but Hebrews 10 says that the body of believers possesses a gift called “encouraging.” God made us to be encouraged by others. Do you have this encouragement? If you don’t, it is my prayer that you will.

Where can you find this encouragement? We find it wherever two or three gather in the name of Jesus. We find it in coffee shops where two, three, or four believers sit down and discuss life over an open Bible. We find it on Saturday morning Zoom Bible class as believers share, ask questions, and quote and discuss the Very Words of the Living God. It is, as Hebrews 10 puts it, NOT something to be neglected. We are to gather, and we are gathering, so that there is encouragement.

May we all find open Bibles with open-hearted believers; may we have a fellowship that is rich with discussion and study. May God ignite our Spirits with the presence of His Spirit.

Blessings!

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Luke 24:13-27 (ESV)
13 That very day two of them were going to a village named Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, 14 and they were talking with each other about all these things that had happened. 15 While they were talking and discussing together, Jesus himself drew near and went with them. 16 But their eyes were kept from recognizing him. 17 And he said to them, “What is this conversation that you are holding with each other as you walk?” And they stood still, looking sad. 18 Then one of them, named Cleopas, answered him, “Are you the only visitor to Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?” 19 And he said to them, “What things?” And they said to him, “Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, a man who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, 20 and how our chief priests and rulers delivered him up to be condemned to death, and crucified him. 21 But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things happened. 22 Moreover, some women of our company amazed us. They were at the tomb early in the morning, 23 and when they did not find his body, they came back saying that they had even seen a vision of angels, who said that he was alive. 24 Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but him they did not see.” 25 And he said to them, “O foolish ones, and slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Was it not necessary that the Christ should suffer these things and enter into his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he interpreted to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning himself.

2 Corinthians 1:3-7 (ESV)
3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, 4 who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. 5 For as we share abundantly in Christ's sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. 6 If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. 7 Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.

Hebrews 10:22-25 (ESV)
22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
6 And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. 7 You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

---

W(ORD OF GOD) → Abide in the Word

O(SMOSIS) → Soak up the Word

N(EED) → Understand our need to love and be loved

D(ISCUSS) → Talk about the Word with other believers

E(XPERIENCE) → Try out what you’ve learned

R(ELAY) → Pass on what you’ve learned

33 Day Bible Reading Challenge-Day 13

Day 13/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 6:1-15 1 “Be careful not to practice your righteousness in front of others to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. “So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 3 But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 4 so that your giving may be in secret. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 5 “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. 6 But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. 7 And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. 8 Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 9 “This, then, is how you should pray: “‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done,     on earth as it is in heaven. 11 Give us today our daily bread. 12 And forgive us our debts,     as we also have forgiven our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation,     but deliver us from the evil one.’ 14 For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 15 But if you do not forgive others their sins, your Father will not forgive your sins.       Psalm 13 For the director of music. A psalm of David How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? 2 How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? 3 Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, 4 and my enemy will say, “I have overcome him,”  and my foes will rejoice when I fall. 5 But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. 6 I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.

DIGITAL MESSAGE 2 | WONDER SERIES | OSMOSIS

The link below will get you to the Wonder-Osmosis

Wonder Series-Osmosis

Wonder - Word of God - Digital Message 1

The link below will get you to the Wonder-Word of God

Digital Message 1

In-Person Worship - January 24th, 2021

 If you were unable to attend worship in person. The link below will give you an opportunity to view

the In-Person Service from Mt. Olive.

 In-Person Worship

33 Day Bible Reading Challenge - Day 12

 

Day 12/33 

Matthew 5:33-48

33 “Again, you have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘Do not break your oath, but fulfill to the Lord the vows you have made.’ 34 But I tell you, do not swear an oath at all: either by heaven, for it is God’s throne; 35 or by the earth, for it is his footstool; or by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the Great King. 36 And do not swear by your head, for you cannot make even one hair white or black. 37 All you need to say is simply ‘Yes’ or ‘No’; anything beyond this comes from the evil one.

38 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Eye for eye, and tooth for tooth.’ 39 But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also. 40 And if anyone wants to sue you and take your shirt, hand over your coat as well. 41 If anyone forces you to go one mile, go with them two miles. 42 Give to the one who asks you, and do not turn away from the one who wants to borrow from you.

43 “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 44 But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, 45 that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. 46 If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? 47 And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? 48 Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.

   

Psalm 12

For the director of music. According to sheminith. A psalm of David.

1 Help, LORD, for no one is faithful anymore;

    those who are loyal have vanished from the human race.

2 Everyone lies to their neighbor;

    they flatter with their lips

    but harbor deception in their hearts.

3 May the LORD silence all flattering lips

    and every boastful tongue—

4 those who say,

    “By our tongues we will prevail;

    our own lips will defend us—who is lord over us?”

5 “Because the poor are plundered and the needy groan,

    I will now arise,” says the LORD.

    “I will protect them from those who malign them.”

6 And the words of the LORD are flawless,

    like silver purified in a crucible,

    like gold refined seven times.

7 You, LORD, will keep the needy safe

    and will protect us forever from the wicked,

8 who freely strut about

    when what is vile is honored by the human race.

 

 

33 Day Bible Challenge - Day 11

 Group

Day 11/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 5:21-32 21 “You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ 22 But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment. Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’ will be in danger of the fire of hell. 23 “Therefore, if you are offering your gift at the altar and there remember that your brother or sister has something against you, 24 leave your gift there in front of the altar. First go and be reconciled to them; then come and offer your gift. 25 “Settle matters quickly with your adversary who is taking you to court. Do it while you are still together on the way, or your adversary may hand you over to the judge, and the judge may hand you over to the officer, and you may be thrown into prison. 26 Truly I tell you, you will not get out until you have paid the last penny. 27 “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’ 28 But I tell you that anyone who looks at a woman lustfully has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 29 If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell. 30 And if your right hand causes you to stumble, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to go into hell. 31 “It has been said, ‘Anyone who divorces his wife must give her a certificate of divorce.’ 32 But I tell you that anyone who divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, makes her the victim of adultery, and anyone who marries a divorced woman commits adultery.       Psalm 11 For the director of music. Of David. 1 In the LORD I take refuge.     How then can you say to me:     “Flee like a bird to your mountain. 2 For look, the wicked bend their bows;     they set their arrows against the strings to shoot from the shadows     at the upright in heart. 3 When the foundations are being destroyed,     what can the righteous do?” 4 The LORD is in his holy temple;     the LORD is on his heavenly throne. He observes everyone on earth;     his eyes examine them. 5 The LORD examines the righteous,     but the wicked, those who love violence,     he hates with a passion. 6 On the wicked he will rain     fiery coals and burning sulfur;     a scorching wind will be their lot. 7 For the LORD is righteous,     he loves justice;     the upright will see his face.

33 Day Bible Challenge - Day 10

 

Day 10/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 5:13-20 13 “You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled underfoot. 14 “You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. 15 Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16 In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven. 17 “Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them. 18 For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth disappear, not the smallest letter, not the least stroke of a pen, will by any means disappear from the Law until everything is accomplished. 19 Therefore anyone who sets aside one of the least of these commands and teaches others accordingly will be called least in the kingdom of heaven, but whoever practices and teaches these commands will be called great in the kingdom of heaven. 20 For I tell you that unless your righteousness surpasses that of the Pharisees and the teachers of the law, you will certainly not enter the kingdom of heaven.       Psalm 10 1 Why, LORD, do you stand far off?     Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble? 2 In his arrogance the wicked man hunts down the weak,     who are caught in the schemes he devises. 3 He boasts about the cravings of his heart;     he blesses the greedy and reviles the Lord. 4 In his pride the wicked man does not seek him;     in all his thoughts there is no room for God. 5 His ways are always prosperous;     your laws are rejected by him;     he sneers at all his enemies. 6 He says to himself, “Nothing will ever shake me.”     He swears, “No one will ever do me harm.” 7 His mouth is full of lies and threats;     trouble and evil are under his tongue. 8 He lies in wait near the villages;     from ambush he murders the innocent. His eyes watch in secret for his victims; 9     like a lion in cover he lies in wait. He lies in wait to catch the helpless;     he catches the helpless and drags them off in his net. 10 His victims are crushed, they collapse;     they fall under his strength. 11 He says to himself, “God will never notice;     he covers his face and never sees.” 12 Arise, LORD! Lift up your hand, O God.     Do not forget the helpless. 13 Why does the wicked man revile God?     Why does he say to himself,     “He won’t call me to account”? 14 But you, God, see the trouble of the afflicted;     you consider their grief and take it in hand. The victims commit themselves to you;     you are the helper of the fatherless. 15 Break the arm of the wicked man;     call the evildoer to account for his wickedness     that would not otherwise be found out. 16 The LORD is King for ever and ever;     the nations will perish from his land. 17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted;     you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, 18 defending the fatherless and the oppressed,     so that mere earthly mortals     will never again strike terror.

33 Day Bible Challenge-Day 9

 

Day 9/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 5:1-12   Now when Jesus saw the crowds, he went up on a mountainside and sat down. His disciples came to him, 2 and he began to teach them. He said: 3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 4 Blessed are those who mourn,     for they will be comforted. 5 Blessed are the meek,     for they will inherit the earth. 6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,     for they will be filled. 7 Blessed are the merciful,     for they will be shown mercy. 8 Blessed are the pure in heart,     for they will see God. 9 Blessed are the peacemakers,     for they will be called children of God. 10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,     for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. 11 “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. 12 Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.   Psalm 9 For the director of music. To the tune of “The Death of the Son.” A psalm of David. 1 I will give thanks to you, LORD, with all my heart;     I will tell of all your wonderful deeds. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in you;     I will sing the praises of your name, O Most High. 3 My enemies turn back;     they stumble and perish before you. 4 For you have upheld my right and my cause,     sitting enthroned as the righteous judge. 5 You have rebuked the nations and destroyed the wicked;     you have blotted out their name for ever and ever. 6 Endless ruin has overtaken my enemies,     you have uprooted their cities;     even the memory of them has perished. 7 The LORD reigns forever;     he has established his throne for judgment. 8 He rules the world in righteousness     and judges the peoples with equity. 9 The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed,     a stronghold in times of trouble. 10 Those who know your name trust in you,     for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. 11 Sing the praises of the Lord, enthroned in Zion;     proclaim among the nations what he has done. 12 For he who avenges blood remembers;     he does not ignore the cries of the afflicted. 13 LORD, how my enemies persecute me!     Have mercy and lift me up from the gates of death, 14 that I may declare your praises     in the gates of Daughter Zion,     and there rejoice in your salvation. 15 The nations have fallen into the pit they have dug;     their feet are caught in the net they have hidden. 16 The LORD is known by his acts of justice;     the wicked are ensnared by the work of their hands. 17 The wicked go down to the realm of the dead,     all the nations that forget God. 18 But God will never forget the needy;     the hope of the afflicted will never perish. 19 Arise, LORD, do not let mortals triumph;     let the nations be judged in your presence. 20 Strike them with terror, LORD;     let the nations know they are only mortal.

33 Day Bible Reading Challenge-8/33

 

Day 8/33 Catch up to today's reading.   Matthew 4:18-25   18 As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. 19 “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will send you out to fish for people.” 20 At once they left their nets and followed him. 21 Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, 22 and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him. 23 Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, proclaiming the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. 24 News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed; and he healed them. 25 Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis, Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.   Psalm 8 For the director of music. According to gittith. A psalm of David. 1 LORD, our LORD,     how majestic is your name in all the earth! You have set your glory     in the heavens. 2 Through the praise of children and infants     you have established a stronghold against your enemies,     to silence the foe and the avenger. 3 When I consider your heavens,     the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars,     which you have set in place, 4 what is mankind that you are mindful of them,     human beings that you care for them? 5 You have made them a little lower than the angels     and crowned them with glory and honor. 6 You made them rulers over the works of your hands;     you put everything under their feet: 7 all flocks and herds,     and the animals of the wild, 8 the birds in the sky,     and the fish in the sea,     all that swim the paths of the seas. 9 LORD, our LORD,     how majestic is your name in all the earth!