Today’s Bible reading:
2 Kings 11-12; 2 Timothy 2; Hosea 3-4; Psalm 119:121-144

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So much to contemplate in 2 Timothy this morning.  Paul, who is imprisoned as he writes this letter states that he is “bound with chains as a criminal, but the word of God is not bound.”  Even though Paul is “in chains” the gospel continues to be proclaimed; through Paul, through Timothy, through all of those who have been trained by Paul and the other apostles.  I would guess that this might have been a very dark time for Timothy-we know from chapter 1 that he has been shedding tears, about what we are not told, but I wonder if perhaps it is for his spiritual father Paul, whose death has grown quite imminent.  I think Paul’s message here is vital for us to understand in the times we live as well.  We may begin to feel bound, but God is not bound.
 
More clearly, I think Paul’s advice to Timothy in verse 15 is good for me as well: “Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.”  Do your best.  Now there is a simple line I do not always live up to.  Imagine what dinner would be like for those who sit at my table if I did a half-hearted job. That paints an interesting picture for me-one of peanut butter sandwiches instead of roast beef because I did not take the needed time, one of rather scorched chicken because I was distracted-not my best for sure.  How much more important is it to present myself to God as a worker who has no need to be ashamed, rightly handling the word of truth.  (Of course the obvious take-away here is that I need to spend time in the word to even begin to rightly handle it.)
 
“So flee youthful passions and pursue righteousness, faith, love, and peace, along with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart.  Have nothing to do with foolish, ignorant controversies; you know that they breed quarrels.  And the Lord’s servant must not be quarrelsome but kind to everyone, able to teach, patiently enduring evil, correcting his opponents with gentleness.” -2 Timothy 2:22-25.  Wow-where do I even begin.  With action. Flee and pursue!  (I am at an age where I am not sure I can even pursue youthful passions but I have plenty of middle-aged ones…) This is not something that is just going to happen-righteousness, faith, love peace-these are the things I am to pursue.  And I do it on my own and I do it in fellowship with other believers.  This next part seems to hit on a nerve these days.  Anyone who ventures out in the world these days or is active on social media has seen the state of discourse in this country.  There are a lot of foolish, ignorant controversies out there, they are finding their way into our homes, into our churches, and they most certainly have bred quarrels.  But this is important-the Lord’s servant-of which I am one- MUST NOT BE quarrelsome but KIND TO EVERYONE.  The Lord’s servant-of which I am one-must be able to teach, patiently endure evil, correct his opponents with GENTLENESS.  Gentleness, patience...and do you know why?  Because, God may perhaps grant them repentance, leading to a knowledge of truth, and they may come to their senses and escape from the snare of the devil. (2 Timothy 2:25-26)  Can it be that our quarrelsome ways, our less than gentle approach to people who disagree with us, is hindering God’s work in their lives?    That is a very sobering thought.
 
Which brings me to Psalm 119 and my prayer for this morning as I close out my time:
Deal with Your servant according to Your steadfast love, and teach me Your statutes. I am Your servant; give me understanding, that I may know Your testimonies! (v.124-125)

Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul longs to keep them.  The unfolding of Your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. (v.129-130)

Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is Your way with those who love Your name.  Keep steady my steps according to Your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. (v. 132-133)

Make Your face shine upon Your servant, and teach me Your statutes. (v. 135)

Righteous are You, O LORD, and right are Your rules.  You have appointed Your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness.  (v. 137-138)

Your righteousness is righteous forever, and Your law is true.  Trouble and anguish have found me out, but Your commandments are my delight.  Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live.  (v. 142-144)
 
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra

​Today’s Bible reading:
2 Kings 9; 1 Timothy 6; Hosea 1; Psalm 119:73-96
 
As Paul closes his letter to Timothy he encourages him to “Pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love, steadfastness, gentleness.  Fight the good fight of the faith.  Take hold of eternal life to which you were called and about which you made the good confessions in the presence of many witnesses.”
 
If I spend my days pursuing this list I think I will keep rather busy.  As I ponder what it means to pursue these things I recognize that Paul makes this statement after saying what a folly it is to pursue riches. (1 Timothy 6: 6-10) In pursuing riches, in “craving” money “some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.” (v. 10) “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (v. 6) What is it I pursue?  What is it I crave?
I think it is very hard to pursue those things apart from spending time sitting at the Lord’s feet and listening to His word.  Would I be contemplating these words from 1 Timothy if I had not taken the time to stop and listen this morning?  Probably not, I would be off and running pursuing whatever else my day puts before me-which happens to be firewood today in order to warm the house for the winter.  A very good endeavor, but I chose to make time ahead of that to pursue the better thing.  In Psalm 119 I read this morning: “My soul longs for Your salvation; I hope in Your word.”  “In Your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of Your mouth.”  “I will never forget Your precepts, for by them You have given me life.”  It just seems to me that my pursuit of righteousness has to begin in God’s Word.  But it cannot end there-I cannot just read those words and not take hold of them, and not use them to fight the good fight.

What comes to mind as I ponder this is my current pursuit of firewood.  I am determined to cut out heating bills this year.  This required us to do a good bit of research to determine what would best meet our goals.  Installation of the wood fireplace insert required another good bit of research and the installation was several days of hard work on our part.  But then the inspector came and approved our labor and we were given the go-ahead to use our stove.  Now for this to be a success we need to have a good supply of dry firewood-to which end we began collecting it last year.  Our efforts to collect more this year are well underway and let me tell you it is work.  It takes effort-I have muscles complaining because they have not been used in this way in years. But that is often the way with something worth having-it takes effort, it demands my time-time away from pursuits that I might otherwise enjoy.  It has been quite a challenge to good out in the woods and NOT take my camera for that would just be too distracting for me.  Though we are building in some play time today after the work is done so I am looking forward to that.  But most of all I am looking forward to a warm, cozy house.  And isn’t that just like the hope we have?  The goal is out there-but at this time there is still effort needed by me in the pursuit of that goal.  Daily effort.  But that effort can become a joy if I keep my eyes on the prize-the upward call of Jesus Christ.
 
Grace, peace, and mercy,
Debra

I have some links on my home page for several Bible reading plans-check them out and find one that works for you.

Today's Bible Reading:
2 Kings 8; 1 Timothy 5; Daniel 12; Psalm 119:49-72

My thoughts today seem to be around a couple of verses in Psalm 119.
"This is my comfort in my affliction, that Your (God's) promise give me life." (verse 50)
"It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn Your statutes." (verse 71)

You know, I am not a fan of affliction.  I struggle with my struggles.  But one thing I have learned to do is run to God's word when I am afflicted.  Of course then He shares with me things like this rather than telling me that He will now stop everything and end my affliction. 

A current circumstance has weighed heavily for several months now with no real end in sight.  Every time I see a faint glimmer of hope it is snatched away. Today I shall give thanks for this affliction-I shall try to see it as the Psalmist says as something that is good for me, something good for all involved.  

And so, the Holy Spirit has brought another verse to mind this morning: "For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen.  For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. -2 Corinthians 4:17-18, ESV

This too shall pass, but I can't help wishing it would pass sooner than later-so perhaps a change in attitude is what is required.  Imagine viewing affliction as preparing us for an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison!  Hmmm-kind of goes with my thoughts yesterday from Daniel.

Grace, Peace, and Mercy,
Debra