I read this passage this morning:

Blessed is the one … whose delight is in the law of the LORD and who meditates on his law day and night.

Psalm 1:1,2 (NIV)

It’s so easy scan, skim, and think “yeah, good word” when we read God’s Word.

Meditating on It is too often overlooked…

…than again, maybe I’m alone here.

forgive me Lord

Do you believe everything happens for a reason? Why or why not?

My answer:

This is an interesting question.  One whose answer is generally either formed or influenced by the circumstances in our life or a predisposed and faith-based belief one holds.  For me, I believe there is a reason for everything in life – the good, the bad, and the ugly. My faith in God and the truth of His word lead me in the belief.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

My belief is that God is God.  He is Creator and set everything in motion.  He has a plan.  His plan is for my good – which may not always be defined the way I define “good.”  I’ve written about this topic in various posts, but most recently in my Time Machine post.

Ladies and gentlemen, The Byrds…

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Ezra opened the [the Law of Moses]…and as he opened it, the people all stood up…and lifted their hands and responded, “Amen! Amen!”  Then they bowed down and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground. …all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.

Nehemiah 8:5-9

The whole of the people’s response above is sadly different from the whole repose that I often have…

I revere and love God and His Word and am regularly convicted and encouraged as I study it…but a complete response like the one in Nehemiah 8:5-9?

It can be easy to fall into a rote mindset when reading God’s precious Word – familiar stories, characters, themes, etc. – without regard for or response to the powerful lifesaving, life-changing and life-shaping power of it.  May it not be so in me.

forgive me Lord for often being casual and response-less when reading Your Word…
may i have an awe that is beyond the “awe” i have for things apart from You…
…may i be undone by Your Word.

When was the last time you were undone by God’s Word?

“Who needs a doctor: healthy or sick? I’m inviting outsiders, not insiders—an invitation to a changed life, changed inside & out.” -Jesus (-us?) [May 16]

“When Jesus finished saying all this in the hearing of the people,…” Luke 7:1 | Jesus wasn’t covert. May we be like Him in our day-to-day worship. [May 17]

We can mistakenly think the seed on “good soil” has it easy (LK 8). Don’t miss this phrase: “and by persevering”. God’s Word: Hear, retain, and persevere! [May 18]

“I didn’t keep the news of your ways a secret, didn’t keep it to myself. I told it all, how dependable you are, how thorough. I didn’t hold back pieces of love and truth for myself alone. I told it all, let the congregation know the whole story.” -David (PS 40:10 MSG) [May 19]

Jesus: “You give…” Disciples: “We only have…” LK 9:13 // How often we think/say/do this. Imagine living as if God were all-knowing/powerful & ever-present! [May 20]

Jesus to the 72: “Go! I am sending you out like lambs among wolves.” LK 10:3 / Why do WE assume/require comfort & safety to serve Him? [May 21]

Jesus finished praying in a certain place & a disciple said, “Lord, teach us” LK 11:1 / His posture made it clear He’d been w/God-does ours? [May 22]

The video, titled “Return to Hauna”, was about Wycliffe Bible translator Marilyn Laszlo.  In the video, she shared about the process of learning and documenting the Sepic Iwam language of Papua New Guinea and the 23-year process of translating the New Testament their language.

I found the first portion of the 30-minute video on YouTube:

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There were many things in the video that were encouraging, challenging, and convicting.  But the one thing that struck me was how much the Sepik Iwam people cherished and appreciated their “talk” being carved (which they saw as only limited to the white man – giving him power) and, equally as profound, the fact that “God’s carvings” was given to them in their “talk”.

Two observations:

• How often we take for granted our written language – whether we hold it in our hands or view it on a screen.
• Even more, how often we fail to cherish the fact that we have “God’s Carvings” freely available in our own language.

May we follow the example of the Sepik Iwam people:

Cherish and Appreciate.

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BTW, I found a transcript of a speech Laszlo gave a Urbana 1981.  It gives a good snapshot of her work at Hauna.

I pray I would have a passion for people as Marilyn has…