Faith, Family, Interests, Journal, Photos, and Travels
Faith, Family, Interests, Journal, Photos, and Travels
Today's Bible Reading
God Needs No House
2 Samuel 7:1–11
When the king had settled into his palace and the Lord had given him rest on every side from all his enemies, 2 the king said to the prophet Nathan, “Look, I am living in a cedar house while the ark of God sits inside tent curtains.”
3 So Nathan told the king, “Go and do all that is on your mind, for the Lord is with you.”
4 But that night the word of the Lord came to Nathan: 5 “Go to my servant David and say, ‘This is what the Lord says: Are you to build me a house to dwell in? 6 From the time I brought the Israelites out of Egypt until today I have not dwelt in a house; instead, I have been moving around with a tent as my dwelling. 7 In all my journeys with all the Israelites, have I ever spoken a word to one of the tribes of Israel, whom I commanded to shepherd my people Israel, asking: Why haven’t you built me a house of cedar?’
8 “So now this is what you are to say to my servant David: ‘This is what the Lord of Armies says: I took you from the pasture, from tending the flock, to be ruler over my people Israel. 9 I have been with you wherever you have gone, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. I will make a great name for you like that of the greatest on the earth. 10 I will designate a place for my people Israel and plant them, so that they may live there and not be disturbed again. Evildoers will not continue to oppress them as they have done 11 ever since the day I ordered judges to be over my people Israel. I will give you rest from all your enemies.
“‘The Lord declares to you: The Lord himself will make a house for you.
The Past Few Days
Wednesday December 11, 2019
Baseball announced two more big free agent signings. The big record deal was Gerrit Cole signing with the Yankees. Cole and the Yankees agreed to a record-setting nine-year, $324 million contract. Later in the day, the 3rd of the three top free agents also signed. The Los Angeles Angels got third baseman Anthony Rendon on a seven-year, $245 million deal.
Tuesday December 10, 2019
Baseball’s winter meetings are going on in San Diego this week. Of course the Pirates are making any news of trades or free agent signing. The biggest news so far is Strasberg resigned with the Nationals for a record contract of $245 million for 7 year.
Monday December 9, 2019
Today was warm for December. We had a high of 54° (right before midnight). We got lots of rain, well over an inch.
Twila had trouble with her fireplace, it wouldn’t ignite. I couldn’t figure out what was going on so I called their support line. It turned out that there is a receiver inside the fireplace and the batteries needed to be replaced.
Sunday December 8, 2019
Lue turned 55 today. I reminded her that she is only 10 years away from retirement.
Brianna is sick and running a temperature well over 100°. She will have to miss school on Monday.
Saturday December 7, 2019
I went down to Grove City to watch two more of Hannah’s games. Rick and Laura drove up to see the second game. Barb and Rick were there too. Hannah played very well this evening. While driving on the way down, I took a picture of the sky at sunset. Today is the earliest that the sun sets. From now until June the sun will set later each day. However, the days are still getting shorter because the sun is still rising later each morning.
Friday December 6, 2019
I worked on cleaning the bedroom today. I think I am getting too old to be moving the mattress off of my California king bed. It could take all I could do to move it off the box springs. I will most likely be feeling it tomorrow. Perhaps I should consider buying a queen size bed.
Today's Devotion
Enlarge Your Tent!
Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. Isaiah 54:2
When God comes to a life in power, it is always a time of rejoicing and expectation for the future! Isaiah described this experience as similar to that of a child born to a previously barren woman. The child’s arrival changes everything! Life cannot continue as usual! Whereas the dwelling place might have been large enough for two, it must now be made bigger. The child’s presence causes the parents to completely rearrange the way they were living.
Isaiah proclaimed that when God comes, you must make room for Him in your life. You must “enlarge the place of your tent” because God’s presence will add new dimensions to your life, your family, and your church. You do not simply “add Christ on” to your busy life and carry on with business as usual. When Christ is your Lord, everything changes. Whereas before you may not have expected good things to come through you or in your life, now you should have a spirit of optimism. You ought to expect your life to become richer and fuller. You can anticipate God blessing others through your life. You can look for God to demonstrate His power through your life in increasing measure.
As a Christian, how do you make room for Christ in your life? You repent of your sin. You allow Christ the freedom to do what He wants in you. You watch eagerly for His activity in your life and in your family and in your church. You live your life with the expectancy that Christ will fill you with His power in the days to come and will “stretch” you to do things in His service that you have never done before.
3 years ago
Weather for Clarion
December has been warmer and wetter than normal.
Sunrise/Sunset
Yesterday: snow, 7° below normal, the coldest of the past 28 days.
