"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet, and a light unto my path."
Psalm 119:105

About This Blog

Contributors and commenters on this blog are members of West Portal Church's BOOK clubs . . . consisting of women who are striving to read a portion of God's Word each day. This blog is a place for members to share their encouragement through posting insights, comments and questions as they pertain to their daily Bible reading.

Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Psalm 119:35



Paths. We each walk our path and have coices to make. I love that when we walk the path that God has commanded we will find delight. When I start trying to do things my way I get overwhelmed and run down. When I pause and rely on God's strength I somehow manage to get through. It amazes me everytime and yet I know that God is always there waiting for me to turn to him.

Since I misplaced the lovely bookmark from Florianne, I have chosen this verse to memorize so I will remember to walk in the path of God's commands. I am finding delight in the Palsms and hope you are as well.

Psalm 102 Before and After

Hi Gang:

I really love the Psalms. I think it is possible to find a Psalm to fit any emotion. I read Psalm 102 a few days ago. Here's my journal entry.

"It's interesting how we read Psalms. During a very difficult time I recently experienced I would have related to the first half: body weak, moaning, grass withered, lonely bird on a housetop. Now I concentrate on the last half: (12) But Thou O Lord dost abide forever (17) He has regarded the prayer of the destitute (27) But Thou, art the same."

Emotions are good and we should feel things. It's all in HOW we feel them and what we do with them. It needs to be based on trust. We should enjoy life. Today I read Psalm 47 "Clap your hands...Shout to God with voice of joy". We do that because we love Him and trust Him. Other Psalms describe our destitution, our sadness, our pain, our anger, our helplessness, our weakness. We go to HIM because we love Him and trust Him. He never changes. He is always the same. He is faithful. We can go to Him.....no matter what. That's incredible.

Tuesday, September 21, 2010

Hello there. So I am new to this book club thing and really new to blogging. I am not a blogger but thought I would use this forum to share a little bit.

So last night was book club night. I really didn't want to go. I didn't read at all (well hardly) and I just didn't feel like going. Not because I would be judged since I know it is a safe place and not to worry about that, but I just didn't want to go. But I did. I didn't have much to share but I did share that I wasn't going to come but did. It was great to be honest and open and know that it was okay.

As I was running errands today I was thinking about when I could sit down and read and do the little "assignment" we were given. I was going to give it my all to get into the Word today at some point as the morning didn't happen. And as I was driving I was starting to feel excited about reading. It was a great feeling.

So I did read. I let Psalm fall open and I read Psalm 58 which about God judging bad people and that good people will be rewarded. I also read Aleph section in Psalm 119 and in verse 7 "Then I could truly honour you as I study your fairness and goodness". And as I want my children to honour me as their mother I really want to honour God as his child too, so I need to read.

As I am typing this my daughter is asking me what I am writing and what we are reading. I told her Psalm and she said she loves Psalm and shared with me her favorite verse: Psalm 90:2 "I will say about the Lord, "He is my place of safety. He is like a fort to me. He is my God. I trust in him."

Very cool.

Monday, September 6, 2010

Growing in Faith

"By His divine power, God has given us everything we need for living a godly life. We have received all of this by coming to know Him." (2 Peter 1:3) And where can I get to know Him? By reading His Word and listening to and obeying the Holy Spirit. "And because of His glory and excellence, He has given us great and precious promises." We are asked to build upon what He has given us - "complement faith with good character, spiritual understanding, alert discipline, passionate patience, reverent wonder, warm friendliness, and generous love, each dimension fitting into and developing the others." (verse 5-7 from The Message). Alert discipline and passionate patience - an interesting choice of words for self-control and preseverence - puts a different perspective to it. The more I grow in this way, the more productive I will be. I need to submit to the Holy Spirit and allow Him to continually work in my life to make me more like Jesus.

In Hebrews 10 it talks about perseverence in the faith. "So let's do it - full of belief, confident that we're presentable inside and out. Let's keep a firm grip on the promises that keep us going. He always keeps His word." We are asked to encourage one another in love and good works and gather together to worship as the day of His return draws nearer. I am encouraged by this passage and hope that it encourages others. Thank you Lord for your unfailing love for me and I can depend on you to keep your promises in whatever situation I find myself in.