Category: Read

A READING FOR YOU…

The Glories of God’s Law

¹ Happy are those whose way is blameless,
    who walk in the law of the Lord.
² Happy are those who keep his decrees,
    who seek him with their whole heart,
³ who also do no wrong,
    but walk in his ways.
⁴ You have commanded your precepts
    to be kept diligently.
⁵ O that my ways may be steadfast
    in keeping your statutes!
⁶ Then I shall not be put to shame,
    having my eyes fixed on all your commandments.
⁷ I will praise you with an upright heart,
    when I learn your righteous ordinances.
⁸ I will observe your statutes;
    do not utterly forsake me.

⁹ How can young people keep their way pure?
    By guarding it according to your word.
¹⁰ With my whole heart I seek you;
    do not let me stray from your commandments.
¹¹ I treasure your word in my heart,
    so that I may not sin against you.
¹² Blessed are you, O Lord;
    teach me your statutes.
¹³ With my lips I declare
    all the ordinances of your mouth.
¹⁴ I delight in the way of your decrees
    as much as in all riches.
¹⁵ I will meditate on your precepts,
    and fix my eyes on your ways.
¹⁶ I will delight in your statutes;
    I will not forget your word.

¹⁷ Deal bountifully with your servant,
    so that I may live and observe your word.
¹⁸ Open my eyes, so that I may behold
    wondrous things out of your law.
¹⁹ I live as an alien in the land;
    do not hide your commandments from me.
²⁰ My soul is consumed with longing
    for your ordinances at all times.
²¹ You rebuke the insolent, accursed ones,
    who wander from your commandments;
²² take away from me their scorn and contempt,
    for I have kept your decrees.
²³ Even though princes sit plotting against me,
    your servant will meditate on your statutes.
²⁴ Your decrees are my delight,
    they are my counselors.

²⁵ My soul clings to the dust;
    revive me according to your word.
²⁶ When I told of my ways, you answered me;
    teach me your statutes.
²⁷ Make me understand the way of your precepts,
    and I will meditate on your wondrous works.
²⁸ My soul melts away for sorrow;
    strengthen me according to your word.
²⁹ Put false ways far from me;
    and graciously teach me your law.
³⁰ I have chosen the way of faithfulness;
    I set your ordinances before me.
³¹ I cling to your decrees, O Lord;
    let me not be put to shame.
³² I run the way of your commandments,
    for you enlarge my understanding.

³³ Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes,
    and I will observe it to the end.
³⁴ Give me understanding, that I may keep your law
    and observe it with my whole heart.
³⁵ Lead me in the path of your commandments,
    for I delight in it.
³⁶ Turn my heart to your decrees,
    and not to selfish gain.
³⁷ Turn my eyes from looking at vanities;
    give me life in your ways.
³⁸ Confirm to your servant your promise,
    which is for those who fear you.
³⁹ Turn away the disgrace that I dread,
    for your ordinances are good.
⁴⁰ See, I have longed for your precepts;
    in your righteousness give me life.

⁴¹ Let your steadfast love come to me, O Lord,
    your salvation according to your promise.
⁴² Then I shall have an answer for those who taunt me,
    for I trust in your word.
⁴³ Do not take the word of truth utterly out of my mouth,
    for my hope is in your ordinances.
⁴⁴ I will keep your law continually,
    forever and ever.
⁴⁵ I shall walk at liberty,
    for I have sought your precepts.
⁴⁶ I will also speak of your decrees before kings,
    and shall not be put to shame;
⁴⁷ I find my delight in your commandments,
    because I love them.
⁴⁸ I revere your commandments, which I love,
    and I will meditate on your statutes.

⁴⁹ Remember your word to your servant,
    in which you have made me hope.
⁵⁰ This is my comfort in my distress,
    that your promise gives me life.
⁵¹ The arrogant utterly deride me,
    but I do not turn away from your law.
⁵² When I think of your ordinances from of old,
    I take comfort, O Lord.
⁵³ Hot indignation seizes me because of the wicked,
    those who forsake your law.
⁵⁴ Your statutes have been my songs
    wherever I make my home.
⁵⁵ I remember your name in the night, O Lord,
    and keep your law.
⁵⁶ This blessing has fallen to me,
    for I have kept your precepts.

⁵⁷ The Lord is my portion;
    I promise to keep your words.
⁵⁸ I implore your favor with all my heart;
    be gracious to me according to your promise.
⁵⁹ When I think of your ways,
    I turn my feet to your decrees;
⁶⁰ I hurry and do not delay
    to keep your commandments.
⁶¹ Though the cords of the wicked ensnare me,
    I do not forget your law.
⁶² At midnight I rise to praise you,
    because of your righteous ordinances.
⁶³ I am a companion of all who fear you,
    of those who keep your precepts.
⁶⁴ The earth, O Lord, is full of your steadfast love;
    teach me your statutes.

⁶⁵ You have dealt well with your servant,
    O Lord, according to your word.
⁶⁶ Teach me good judgment and knowledge,
    for I believe in your commandments.
⁶⁷ Before I was humbled I went astray,
    but now I keep your word.
⁶⁸ You are good and do good;
    teach me your statutes.
⁶⁹ The arrogant smear me with lies,
    but with my whole heart I keep your precepts.
⁷⁰ Their hearts are fat and gross,
    but I delight in your law.
⁷¹ It is good for me that I was humbled,
    so that I might learn your statutes.
⁷² The law of your mouth is better to me
    than thousands of gold and silver pieces.

⁷³ Your hands have made and fashioned me;
    give me understanding that I may learn your commandments.
⁷⁴ Those who fear you shall see me and rejoice,
    because I have hoped in your word.
⁷⁵ I know, O Lord, that your judgments are right,
    and that in faithfulness you have humbled me.
⁷⁶ Let your steadfast love become my comfort
    according to your promise to your servant.
⁷⁷ Let your mercy come to me, that I may live;
    for your law is my delight.
⁷⁸ Let the arrogant be put to shame,
    because they have subverted me with guile;
    as for me, I will meditate on your precepts.
⁷⁹ Let those who fear you turn to me,
    so that they may know your decrees.
⁸⁰ May my heart be blameless in your statutes,
    so that I may not be put to shame.

⁸¹ My soul languishes for your salvation;
    I hope in your word.
⁸² My eyes fail with watching for your promise;
    I ask, “When will you comfort me?”
⁸³ For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke,
    yet I have not forgotten your statutes.
⁸⁴ How long must your servant endure?
    When will you judge those who persecute me?
⁸⁵ The arrogant have dug pitfalls for me;
    they flout your law.
⁸⁶ All your commandments are enduring;
    I am persecuted without cause; help me!
⁸⁷ They have almost made an end of me on earth;
    but I have not forsaken your precepts.
⁸⁸ In your steadfast love spare my life,
    so that I may keep the decrees of your mouth.

⁸⁹ The Lord exists forever;
    your word is firmly fixed in heaven.
⁹⁰ Your faithfulness endures to all generations;
    you have established the earth, and it stands fast.
⁹¹ By your appointment they stand today,
    for all things are your servants.
⁹² If your law had not been my delight,
    I would have perished in my misery.
⁹³ I will never forget your precepts,
    for by them you have given me life.
⁹⁴ I am yours; save me,
    for I have sought your precepts.
⁹⁵ The wicked lie in wait to destroy me,
    but I consider your decrees.
⁹⁶ I have seen a limit to all perfection,
    but your commandment is exceedingly broad.

⁹⁷ Oh, how I love your law!
    It is my meditation all day long.
⁹⁸ Your commandment makes me wiser than my enemies,
    for it is always with me.
⁹⁹ I have more understanding than all my teachers,
    for your decrees are my meditation.
¹⁰⁰ I understand more than the aged,
    for I keep your precepts.
¹⁰¹ I hold back my feet from every evil way,
    in order to keep your word.
¹⁰² I do not turn away from your ordinances,
    for you have taught me.
¹⁰³ How sweet are your words to my taste,
    sweeter than honey to my mouth!
¹⁰⁴ Through your precepts I get understanding;
    therefore I hate every false way.

¹⁰⁵ Your word is a lamp to my feet
    and a light to my path.
¹⁰⁶ I have sworn an oath and confirmed it,
    to observe your righteous ordinances.
¹⁰⁷ I am severely afflicted;
    give me life, O Lord, according to your word.
¹⁰⁸ Accept my offerings of praise, O Lord,
    and teach me your ordinances.
¹⁰⁹ I hold my life in my hand continually,
    but I do not forget your law.
¹¹⁰ The wicked have laid a snare for me,
    but I do not stray from your precepts.
¹¹¹ Your decrees are my heritage forever;
    they are the joy of my heart.
¹¹² I incline my heart to perform your statutes
    forever, to the end.

¹¹³ I hate the double-minded,
    but I love your law.
¹¹⁴ You are my hiding place and my shield;
    I hope in your word.
¹¹⁵ Go away from me, you evildoers,
    that I may keep the commandments of my God.
¹¹⁶ Uphold me according to your promise, that I may live,
    and let me not be put to shame in my hope.
¹¹⁷ Hold me up, that I may be safe
    and have regard for your statutes continually.
¹¹⁸ You spurn all who go astray from your statutes;
    for their cunning is in vain.
¹¹⁹ All the wicked of the earth you count as dross;
    therefore I love your decrees.
¹²⁰ My flesh trembles for fear of you,
    and I am afraid of your judgments.

¹²¹ I have done what is just and right;
    do not leave me to my oppressors.
¹²² Guarantee your servant’s well-being;
    do not let the godless oppress me.
¹²³ My eyes fail from watching for your salvation,
    and for the fulfillment of your righteous promise.
¹²⁴ Deal with your servant according to your steadfast love,
    and teach me your statutes.
¹²⁵ I am your servant; give me understanding,
    so that I may know your decrees.
¹²⁶ It is time for the Lord to act,
    for your law has been broken.
¹²⁷ Truly I love your commandments
    more than gold, more than fine gold.
¹²⁸ Truly I direct my steps by all your precepts;^[a]
    I hate every false way.

¹²⁹ Your decrees are wonderful;
    therefore my soul keeps them.
¹³⁰ The unfolding of your words gives light;
    it imparts understanding to the simple.
¹³¹ With open mouth I pant,
    because I long for your commandments.
¹³² Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    as is your custom toward those who love your name.
¹³³ Keep my steps steady according to your promise,
    and never let iniquity have dominion over me.
¹³⁴ Redeem me from human oppression,
    that I may keep your precepts.
¹³⁵ Make your face shine upon your servant,
    and teach me your statutes.
¹³⁶ My eyes shed streams of tears
    because your law is not kept.

¹³⁷ You are righteous, O Lord,
    and your judgments are right.
¹³⁸ You have appointed your decrees in righteousness
    and in all faithfulness.
¹³⁹ My zeal consumes me
    because my foes forget your words.
¹⁴⁰ Your promise is well tried,
    and your servant loves it.
¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,
    yet I do not forget your precepts.
¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,
    and your law is the truth.
¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have come upon me,
    but your commandments are my delight.
¹⁴⁴ Your decrees are righteous forever;
    give me understanding that I may live.

¹⁴⁵ With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O Lord.
    I will keep your statutes.
¹⁴⁶ I cry to you; save me,
    that I may observe your decrees.
¹⁴⁷ I rise before dawn and cry for help;
    I put my hope in your words.
¹⁴⁸ My eyes are awake before each watch of the night,
    that I may meditate on your promise.
¹⁴⁹ In your steadfast love hear my voice;
    O Lord, in your justice preserve my life.
¹⁵⁰ Those who persecute me with evil purpose draw near;
    they are far from your law.
¹⁵¹ Yet you are near, O Lord,
    and all your commandments are true.
¹⁵² Long ago I learned from your decrees
    that you have established them forever.

¹⁵³ Look on my misery and rescue me,
    for I do not forget your law.
¹⁵⁴ Plead my cause and redeem me;
    give me life according to your promise.
¹⁵⁵ Salvation is far from the wicked,
    for they do not seek your statutes.
¹⁵⁶ Great is your mercy, O Lord;
    give me life according to your justice.
¹⁵⁷ Many are my persecutors and my adversaries,
    yet I do not swerve from your decrees.
¹⁵⁸ I look at the faithless with disgust,
    because they do not keep your commands.
¹⁵⁹ Consider how I love your precepts;
    preserve my life according to your steadfast love.
¹⁶⁰ The sum of your word is truth;
    and every one of your righteous ordinances endures forever.

¹⁶¹ Princes persecute me without cause,
    but my heart stands in awe of your words.
¹⁶² I rejoice at your word
    like one who finds great spoil.
¹⁶³ I hate and abhor falsehood,
    but I love your law.
¹⁶⁴ Seven times a day I praise you
    for your righteous ordinances.
¹⁶⁵ Great peace have those who love your law;
    nothing can make them stumble.
¹⁶⁶ I hope for your salvation, O Lord,
    and I fulfill your commandments.
¹⁶⁷ My soul keeps your decrees;
    I love them exceedingly.
¹⁶⁸ I keep your precepts and decrees,
    for all my ways are before you.

¹⁶⁹ Let my cry come before you, O Lord;
    give me understanding according to your word.
¹⁷⁰ Let my supplication come before you;
    deliver me according to your promise.
¹⁷¹ My lips will pour forth praise,
    because you teach me your statutes.
¹⁷² My tongue will sing of your promise,
    for all your commandments are right.
¹⁷³ Let your hand be ready to help me,
    for I have chosen your precepts.
¹⁷⁴ I long for your salvation, O Lord,
    and your law is my delight.
¹⁷⁵ Let me live that I may praise you,
    and let your ordinances help me.
¹⁷⁶ I have gone astray like a lost sheep; seek out your servant,
    for I do not forget your commandments.

LET’s GO2 CAREERLINK, THE GYM, THEN WORK.

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

³⁸ Now as they went on their way, he entered a certain village, where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to what he was saying. ⁴⁰ But Martha was distracted by her many tasks; so she came to him and asked, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to do all the work by myself? Tell her then to help me.” ⁴¹ But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and distracted by many things; ⁴² there is need of only one thing.^[a] Mary has chosen the better part, which will not be taken away from her.”

LET’s GO2 WORK. “Master’s Degree from the Pennsylvania State University in Business Administration. Dedicated, resourceful and goal-driven office administrator with over five years of program evaluation. Advanced orator and community leader. Works to create a better society to prosper in: one that supports, one that encourages, and one that stabilizes the lives of its citizens.” LET’s GO2 WORK. “

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

¹⁴ For this reason I bow my knees before the Father,^[a] 15 from whom every family^[b] in heaven and on earth takes its name. ¹⁶ I pray that, according to the riches of his glory, he may grant that you may be strengthened in your inner being with power through his Spirit, ¹⁷ and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith, as you are being rooted and grounded in love. ¹⁸ I pray that you may have the power to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth and length and height and depth, ¹⁹ and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.

²⁰ Now to him who by the power at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

LET’s GO2 WORK. (speaking tonight… walking tomorrow)

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

¹ O Lord, who may abide in your tent?
    Who may dwell on your holy hill?

² Those who walk blamelessly, and do what is right,
    and speak the truth from their heart;
³ who do not slander with their tongue,
    and do no evil to their friends,
    nor take up a reproach against their neighbors;
⁴ in whose eyes the wicked are despised,
    but who honor those who fear the Lord;
who stand by their oath even to their hurt;
⁵ who do not lend money at interest,
    and do not take a bribe against the innocent.

Those who do these things shall never be moved.

DON’T GIVE UP. YOU. DON’T GIVE UP.

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

¹³ I have also seen this example of wisdom under the sun, and it seemed great to me. ¹⁴ There was a little city with few people in it. A great king came against it and besieged it, building great siegeworks against it. ¹⁵ Now there was found in it a poor wise man, and he by his wisdom delivered the city. Yet no one remembered that poor man. ¹⁶ So I said, “Wisdom is better than might; yet the poor man’s wisdom is despised, and his words are not heeded.”

¹⁷ The quiet words of the wise are more to be heeded
    than the shouting of a ruler among fools.
¹⁸ Wisdom is better than weapons of war,
    but one bungler destroys much good.

LET’s GO2 CAREERLINK…

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

Better the poor walking in integrity
    than one perverse of speech who is a fool.
² Desire without knowledge is not good,
    and one who moves too hurriedly misses the way.
³ One’s own folly leads to ruin,
    yet the heart rages against the Lord.
⁴ Wealth brings many friends,
    but the poor are left friendless.
⁵ A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and a liar will not escape.
⁶ Many seek the favor of the generous,
    and everyone is a friend to a giver of gifts.
⁷ If the poor are hated even by their kin,
    how much more are they shunned by their friends!
When they call after them, they are not there.^[a]
8 To get wisdom is to love oneself;
    to keep understanding is to prosper.
⁹ A false witness will not go unpunished,
    and the liar will perish.
¹⁰ It is not fitting for a fool to live in luxury,
    much less for a slave to rule over princes.
¹¹ Those with good sense are slow to anger,
    and it is their glory to overlook an offense.
¹² A king’s anger is like the growling of a lion,
    but his favor is like dew on the grass.
¹³ A stupid child is ruin to a father,
    and a wife’s quarreling is a continual dripping of rain.
¹⁴ House and wealth are inherited from parents,
    but a prudent wife is from the Lord.
¹⁵ Laziness brings on deep sleep;
    an idle person will suffer hunger.
¹⁶ Those who keep the commandment will live;
    those who are heedless of their ways will die.
¹⁷ Whoever is kind to the poor lends to the Lord,
    and will be repaid in full.

LET’s WORK ON YOUR NEXT SPEECH…

YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

¹ To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
² O my God, in you I trust;
    do not let me be put to shame;
    do not let my enemies exult over me.
³ Do not let those who wait for you be put to shame;
    let them be ashamed who are wantonly treacherous.

⁴ Make me to know your ways, O Lord;
    teach me your paths.
⁵ Lead me in your truth, and teach me,
    for you are the God of my salvation;
    for you I wait all day long.

⁶ Be mindful of your mercy, O Lord, and of your steadfast love,
    for they have been from of old.
⁷ Do not remember the sins of my youth or my transgressions;
    according to your steadfast love remember me,
    for your goodness’ sake, O Lord!

⁸ Good and upright is the Lord;
    therefore he instructs sinners in the way.
⁹ He leads the humble in what is right,
    and teaches the humble his way.
¹⁰ All the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and faithfulness,
    for those who keep his covenant and his decrees.

¹¹ For your name’s sake, O Lord,
    pardon my guilt, for it is great.
¹² Who are they that fear the Lord?
    He will teach them the way that they should choose.

¹³ They will abide in prosperity,
    and their children shall possess the land.
¹⁴ The friendship of the Lord is for those who fear him,
    and he makes his covenant known to them.
¹⁵ My eyes are ever toward the Lord,
    for he will pluck my feet out of the net.

¹⁶ Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
¹⁷ Relieve the troubles of my heart,
    and bring me^[a] out of my distress.
¹⁸ Consider my affliction and my trouble,
    and forgive all my sins.

¹⁹ Consider how many are my foes,
    and with what violent hatred they hate me.
²⁰ O guard my life, and deliver me;
    do not let me be put to shame, for I take refuge in you.
²¹ May integrity and uprightness preserve me,
    for I wait for you.

²² Redeem Israel, O God,
    out of all its troubles.

LET’s GO2 THE LIBRARY…

YEAH. (third TUESDAY of every month) YEAH.

A READING FOR YOU…

Joseph’s Rise to Power

³⁷ The proposal pleased Pharaoh and all his servants. ³⁸ Pharaoh said to his servants, “Can we find anyone else like this—one in whom is the spirit of God?” ³⁹ So Pharaoh said to Joseph, “Since God has shown you all this, there is no one so discerning and wise as you. ⁴⁰ You shall be over my house, and all my people shall order themselves as you command; only with regard to the throne will I be greater than you.” ⁴¹ And Pharaoh said to Joseph, “See, I have set you over all the land of Egypt.” ⁴² Removing his signet ring from his hand, Pharaoh put it on Joseph’s hand; he arrayed him in garments of fine linen, and put a gold chain around his neck. ⁴³ He had him ride in the chariot of his second-in-command; and they cried out in front of him, “Bow the knee!”^[a] Thus he set him over all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁴ Moreover Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I am Pharaoh, and without your consent no one shall lift up hand or foot in all the land of Egypt.” ⁴⁵ Pharaoh gave Joseph the name Zaphenath-paneah; and he gave him Asenath daughter of Potiphera, priest of On, as his wife. Thus Joseph gained authority over the land of Egypt.

⁴⁶ Joseph was thirty years old when he entered the service of Pharaoh king of Egypt. And Joseph went out from the presence of Pharaoh, and went through all the land of Egypt. ⁴⁷ During the seven plenteous years the earth produced abundantly. ⁴⁸ He gathered up all the food of the seven years when there was plenty^[b] in the land of Egypt, and stored up food in the cities; he stored up in every city the food from the fields around it. ⁴⁹ So Joseph stored up grain in such abundance—like the sand of the sea—that he stopped measuring it; it was beyond measure.

LET’S GO2 THAT GYM B4.

YEAH.