Psalm 119

To increase your appreciation of random details & knowledge of the Bible, or if you like worshipping God, I thought I would share this like bit with you. I would have never guessed that this psalm was so intricately revolved around the alphabet. I read some other person's commentary on all the specific phraseology and traits in the psalm that make him believe it was written by King David (Who wrote Psalm 119?
http://vesomsechel.blogspot.com/2006/11/who-wrote-psalm-119.html). Its amazing how much of a literary science there is to study the psalms. Although this one might be distinctively analyzed, it helps me appreciate God's word a little more. May you be reminded with me to worship God for who He is and how He has blessed us with the Bible today!

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TEACHING THE PSALMS: PSALM 119

"Psalm 119, both formal and elaborate, is the longest of all the Psalms as well as the longest chapter in the Bible. The poem is structured around the Hebrew alphabet, which contains twenty-two letters. Correspondingly, the Psalm is organized into twenty-two sections of eight verses each. In the first section, each line of the eight verses begins with Aleph, the first letter of the alphabet; in the second section, each line begins with Beth, and so forth through all the sections until all twenty-two letters have been represented. This acrostic-style structure was designed to help worshippers focus on the law of God and remember God’s teaching. Some speculate this disciplined and complex poetic form was the work of Ezra, the priest, after the temple was rebuilt, to be used as a repetitive meditation on the beauty of God’s Word.

Every one of the 176 verses of Psalm 119 except verses 84, 90, 121, 122, 132, 149, and 156 mentions the word of God using one of ten synonymous terms that refer to God’s law (teachings), testimonies (instruction), precepts, statutes, commandments, ordinances (decrees), word, ways (paths), promises, and judgments (rulings). The effect is a litany of praise for God’s Word that provides the worshipper with a structure to focus prayerful thoughts and a guide for living that leads to a life of confidence and peace."
 

July 31, 2005 10:04 PM

(C) 2005, Phyllis Wezeman & Ann Liechty

Retrieved on February 25, 2010 from:
http://rotation.infopop.cc/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/6216088121/m/1481031001

Love Haiti. Love the World.

Please Love Haiti. But PLEASE only do so with the understanding that your love cannot begin & end there:

"Esther Duflo, a professor in MIT's economics department, said, that every day, 25,000 children die of preventable causes, adding up every eight days to the approximate death toll of the Haiti earthquake. Though $2 billion has been pledged for the Haiti earthquake, Duflo asks why we don't make the same level of commitment to prevent the daily death toll of children" (Galant & Sutter, 2010).

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
Luke 12:32-34

"Some 27 million people are enslaved today; and a person in some parts of India can be sold into slavery for about $5, he said. But awareness and action could abolish slavery for good in 25 years, he says" (Galant & Sutter, 2010).

"Lord, you know the hopes of the helpless.
Surely you will hear their cries and comfort them.
You will bring justice to the orphans and the oppressed,
so mere people can no longer terrify them."
Psalm 10:17-18

Would refugee orphans in the United States foster care system = pure religion?
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,1966998,00.html

"Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you." James 1:27

http://www.starbucksloveproject.com/#/love/create/

Reference:
Galant, R., & Sutter, J. D. (2010, February 12). Ten big ideas from ted. CNN, Retrieved from http://www.cnn.com/2010/OPINION/02/11/ted.big.ideas/index.html?hpt=C1

Manifesto of the idle parent

Manifesto of the idle parent

• We reject the idea that parenting requires hard work
• We pledge to leave our children alone
• That should mean that they leave us alone, too
• We reject the rampant consumerism that invades children from the moment they are born
• We read them poetry and fantastic stories without morals
• We drink alcohol without guilt
• We reject the inner Puritan
• We fill the house with music and laughter
• We don't waste money on family days out and holidays
• We lie in bed for as long as possible
• We try not to interfere
• We push them into the garden and shut the door so that we can clean the house
• We both work as little as possible, particularly when the kids are small
• Time is more important than money
• Happy mess is better than miserable tidiness
• Down with school
• We fill the house with music and merriment

Hodgkinson, T. (2008, February 16). Idle parenting means happy children. Telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved from http://www.telegraph.co.uk/family/familyadvice/3355719/Idle-parenting-means-happy-children.html

Sing Sweet Sunset

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(Vs.1)
Oh, how sweetly does the sunset sing
When the pitter-patter of teensy feet
Hush as though the One has come
To brush away the gentle cares
And whose smile dissolves all little fears

(Chorus)
Sing sweet sunset
Shush oh day
Let the color fade away
Sing sweet sunset
Pray, peace through dawn
Lullabies now drift us on

(Vs.2)
Oh, iris nightly falls, the laughter fades
When the're deep-in dreamland of peaceful sleep
May they know the One is near
To squelch the dark, in corners hid
And whose breath creates the vision's dreams

02/04/10

Elisa Sue Johnston