From Gary.... Looking for serendipities

This is an unusual picture; guess what it is???  I will keep you guessing for awhile, but in the meantime, here is a clue: This is a picture of a ship on the ocean, plus something else...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yesterday, was not a particularly great day, I was upset over my wife being depressed because of her injury and distance from home, something had given me a nasty rash and I only lost only two tenths of a pound this week.  And when I came home with my double meat Subway Club, I found out that a friend from church had died unexpectedly.  That coupled with a few more less-than-wonderful things left me talking to myself.  So, I had a little trouble sleeping and awoke before 6am.  Just goes to show you- one bad day will lead to another.  So much so, that I asked myself-  Why am I doing all this writing anyway.  This blog, why is it so important to me???  Unable to think clearly, I decided to start at the beginning- and looked up the word blog....

blog
 n 1: a shared on-line journal where people can post diary
 entries about their personal experiences and hobbies;
 "postings on a blog are usually in chronological order"
 [syn: web log, v 1: read, write, or edit a shared on-line journal

    -- From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

So, these little bits of writing I do (my blog, or web log) are my diary.  But it is a diary +.  And the plus makes all the difference!!!  Because when the Word of God is in you- you are never alone, even on the crummiest day.  This causes me to think of the Book of Acts...

Acts, Chapter 17

 22  Paul stood in the middle of the Areopagus, and said, “You men of Athens, I perceive that you are very religious in all things.  23 For as I passed along, and observed the objects of your worship, I found also an altar with this inscription: ‘TO AN UNKNOWN GOD.’ What therefore you worship in ignorance, this I announce to you.  24 The God who made the world and all things in it, he, being Lord of heaven and earth, doesn’t dwell in temples made with hands,  25 neither is he served by men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he himself gives to all life and breath, and all things.  26 He made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the surface of the earth, having determined appointed seasons, and the boundaries of their dwellings,  27 that they should seek the Lord, if perhaps they might reach out for him and find him, though he is not far from each one of us.  28 ‘For in him we live, and move, and have our being.’ As some of your own poets have said, ‘For we are also his offspring.’  29 Being then the offspring of God, we ought not to think that the Divine Nature is like gold, or silver, or stone, engraved by art and design of man.  30 The times of ignorance therefore God overlooked. But now he commands that all people everywhere should repent,  31 because he has appointed a day in which he will judge the world in righteousness by the man whom he has ordained; of which he has given assurance to all men, in that he has raised him from the dead.”

My friend who died yesterday had left the church for awhile and recently repented of her error and renewed her commitment to Christ before her demise. She had reached out to God in time and as our minister said last night- "Now she is in the hands of a merciful God".  I had also forgotten that my brother, Dave, sent my Linda a card which had cheered her up.  Thank God for Cortisone cream and for that two tenths of a pound I lost.  The double-meat Subway Club was a loaded with veggies one, so much so that even I had a "little" trouble finishing it. And through all this... God was there.  Forget yesterdays problems- today, today I am thinking that somehow the world will be a wonderful place; with unexpected blessings at each an every turn.

In fact, today has been full of surprises.  Kind of like that picture, surprising.  The unusual thing about that little picture is that the object at the right is a sandstorm.  Go ahead, wrap your mind around that little concept!!!  God will be right there when you get it!!!!

"Good night".... diary

From Mark Copeland... Our Condition Outside Of Christ (Ephesians 2:1-3)

                     "THE EPISTLE TO THE EPHESIANS"

                 Our Condition Outside Of Christ (2:1-3)

INTRODUCTION

1. In the last half of chapter one, we saw where Paul mentioned several 
   things for which he had been praying in behalf of the Ephesians:
   a. That they might know God - Ep 1:17
   b. That they might know the hope of His calling - Ep 1:18a
   c. That they might know the glorious riches of His inheritance in the
      saints - Ep 1:18b
   d. That they might know the exceeding greatness of God's power toward
      believers - Ep 1:19

2. In a previous lesson we briefly noted that Paul equated this great 
   power with the working of God that was exercised...
   a. In raising Jesus from the dead and exalting Him to be the head of 
      all things - Ep 1:20-23
   b. In our own conversion, when God took us who were "dead in sin" and
       made us "alive together with Christ" - Ep 2:1-7

3. In order that we might appreciate more fully the grace and power that
   was at work in our conversion, this lesson will focus on the 
   description of our condition BEFORE our conversion
   a. For we will not likely appreciate our PRESENT wealth, unless we 
      fully appreciate our FORMER poverty!
   b. Without a proper appreciation of our PRESENT wealth, we will not 
      likely heed the exhortations found later in this epistle (e.g., 
      Ep 4:1,17; 5:1-2)

[As we consider, then, "Our Condition Outside of Christ", we learn that 
prior to our conversion we were truly "the walking dead"!  For as Paul 
states at first, we were...]

I. DEAD IN TRESPASSES AND SINS (1)

   A. "DEAD" IN WHAT WAY?
      1. Not in the sense of being devoid of ANY good or godly desires
         a. As some who believe in "Total Hereditary Depravity" would 
            teach
         b. For consider that most of those people whose conversions are
            described in Acts were "God-fearing, Bible-believing" people
            BEFORE their conversion!
            1) The thousands of "devout men" in Jerusalem for Pentecost 
               - Ac 2:5
            2) The Ethiopian Eunuch, who had traveled great distances to
               worship God and was reading Isaiah when Philip found him 
               - Ac 8:27-28
            3) Cornelius, a devout God-fearing Gentile who "prayed to 
               God always" - Ac 10:2
            4) Lydia, a prayerful woman "who worshipped God" - Ac 16:
               13-14
            5) The "fair-minded" Bereans - Ac 17:11
            6) Saul of Tarsus (i.e., the apostle Paul) - Ac 22:3; Php 3:
               4-6
      2. Rather, "dead" in the sense of being "separated" from God
         a. Just as "physical death" is a separation of body and spirit 
            - cf. Jm 2:26
         b. So "spiritual death" exists when we are separated from God 
            - cf. Ro 6:23; Is 59:1-2
   
   B. THE CAUSE OF THIS "DEATH"...
      1. Our separation from God has been brought about by "trespasses 
         and sins" - cf. Ro 6:23
         a. "trespasses" (deviations from the straight and narrow path, 
            Hendriksen) - what we might call "sins of COMMISSION"
         b. "sins" (inclinations, thoughts, words, and deeds which "miss
            the mark" of glorifying God, Hendriksen) - including what we
            might call "sins of OMISSION"
      2. "trespasses and sins" that WE committed...
         a. As made clear in verse two of this chapter ("in which you 
            once walked...")
         b. Not those of our forefathers - cf. Ezek 18:20

[Before our conversion to Christ, then, we were "dead" because of our 
OWN sins, and as such, spiritually separated from God, even if we were 
as religiously devout as those described in the book of Acts.  That 
should tell us something about the terribleness of sin!

But the terribleness of sin becomes clearer as we learn what sort of 
"company" we kept before our conversion.  For though "dead", we were...]

II. WALKING WITH THE WORLD AND THE DEVIL (2)

   A. WALKING "ACCORDING TO THE COURSE OF THIS WORLD"...
      1. Before conversion, one walks "in conformity with the customs 
         and manners of the world at large" (Barnes)
      2. The moral condition of those still "in the world" is described 
         more fully in Ep 4:17-19
         a. Alienated from the life of God because of ignorance and 
            hardened hearts, those "in the world"...
            1) Walk in the futility of their mind
            2) Have their understanding darkened
         b. Being past feeling, those "in the world"...
            1) Give themselves over to licentiousness
            2) Work all uncleanness with greediness
         -- Sounds pretty much like our own present generation, doesn't 
            it?
      3. With keeping such "company" before one's conversion, you can 
         understand why they are spiritually "dead" (separated from God) 
         - cf. 1Jn 2:15-17

   B. WALKING "ACCORDING TO THE PRINCE OF THE POWER OF THE AIR"...
      1. Before our conversion, it is not just the "world" we walk 
         according to, but "him" who Paul describes as:
         a. "the prince of the power of the air"
         b. "the spirit who now works in the sons of disobedience"
      2. This can be none other than Satan himself!
         a. The great "Adversary" (the word "satan" literally means 
            "adversary") who seeks to "devour" all he can - cf. 1Pe 5:8
         b. Those "in the world" are under his influence, captives to do
            his will - cf. 2Ti 2:26
      3. Those still under his influence are called the "sons of 
         disobedience", because they serve him rather than obey God!

[Influenced by Satan, walking "according to the course of this world", 
we can see why a person before their conversion is truly "dead in 
trespasses and sins"!

But is this also true of those devout, religious souls who are not yet 
"in Christ"?  Like those devout Jews at Pentecost, the Ethiopian Eunuch, 
Lydia, the Bereans, Saul of Tarsus, and God-fearing Gentiles like 
Cornelius?

Yes!  For as Paul says in verse 3, "among whom ALSO WE ALL once
conducted ourselves...".  Yes, even the religiously devout before 
conversion to Christ were...]

III. FULFILLING THE DESIRES OF THE FLESH AND MIND (3)

   A. BEFORE HIS CONVERSION, EVEN A RELIGIOUSLY DEVOUT PERSON LIKE 
      PAUL...
      1. Conducted himself "in the lusts of our flesh"
         a. "Living to gratify the flesh" (Barnes)
         b. As described in Ro 7:14-24, even one who desires to do 
            good, outside of Christ finds himself "enslaved" to the "law
            of sin" in the members of his flesh
      2. Fulfilled "the  desires of the flesh and of the mind"
         a. The "desires of the flesh" are those "unrighteous cravings, 
            such as belong to and are spawned by the flesh" (Hendriksen)
         b. The "desires...of the mind" would include "all kinds of 
            hostile, self-righteous, and/or immoral plans and 
            cogitations, which finally result in wicked deeds"
            (Hendriksen)

   B. THUS, EVEN RELIGIOUSLY DEVOUT PEOPLE BEFORE CONVERSION ARE
      "CHILDREN OF WRATH"...
      1. "just as the others", Paul says, placing himself before 
         conversion on the same level as the "sons of disobedience" 
         described in verse two
      2. All are "children of wrath" (or "sons of disobedience") "by 
         nature"...
         a. Some understand this "nature" to be something one is born 
            with
            1) This passage (Ep 2:1-3) does not actually say "when" we
               began to be "children of wrath"
            2) Only that before we became "children of God" (at our 
               conversion), we were "children of wrath"
         b. The term "nature" can be understood as "a mode of feeling 
            and acting which by long habit has become nature" (Thayer)
            1) In the context of Ep 2:1-3, Paul is not talking about 
               sinful conduct committed by ancestors, the consequence of
               which is felt by their descendants
            2) But sins in which "YOU once walked", "WE all once 
               conducted ourselves", i.e., sins PERSONALLY committed
         c. Therefore, because of our "conduct" before our conversion, 
            we developed a "nature" that resulted in our being:
            1) "sons of disobedience" - 2:2
            2) "children of wrath" - 2:3

CONCLUSION

1. We have seen that "Our Condition Outside Of Christ" is one in which 
   we are...
   a. Dead in trespasses and sins - Ep 2:1
   b. Walking with the world and the devil - Ep 2:2
   c. Fulfilling the desires of the flesh and mind - Ep 2:3
   -- And thus "sons of disobedience", and "children of wrath"!

2. How can such "sons of disobedience" and "children of wrath" ever 
   become...
   a. "holy and without blame"? - Ep 1:4
   b. Receive the "adoption as sons"? - Ep 1:5
   c. And be "accepted" by God? - Ep 1:6

3. The answer will be explained more fully in Ep 2:4-10, where we 
   learn of "Salvation By Grace Through Faith"
   a. We will examine that answer in detail in our next lesson
   b. But for now, compare carefully Ep 2:5 with Col 2:11-13

Have you experienced the working of God's grace in your life, by being 
buried with Christ in baptism where your sins are "cut away" and then 
raised with Christ, thereby "made alive together with Him"...?

Executable Outlines, Copyright © Mark A. Copeland, 2011

From Jim McGuiggan... Matthew 8:5-7: Let's Go Heal Him!

 

Matthew 8:5-7: Let's Go Heal Him!

"When Jesus had entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, asking for help. ‘Lord,’ he said, ‘my servant lies at home paralyzed and in terrible suffering’. Jesus said to him, 'I will go and heal him'." Matthew 8:5-7

Not, "How sad, I'll go and visit him." Not, "I’ll go an sympathise with him." Not, "I’ll go and offer my condolences...my theological explanation...my encouragement...my best wishes." No, none of that, just a plain and simple, "I'll go and heal him."

Nothing about, "Now what exactly is his disease?" Nothing about, "Get him to fill in this card about his medical condition."

No sending friends to see just what his problem was in case he was too far-gone.

A simple, "I’ll go and heal him."

No hullabaloo, no grandstanding or flamboyant behaviour.

No anxiety, no self-doubt.

A simple, open-hearted, "yes-of-course-I-will" kind of response to a kind and caring man.

An easy and an assured, "well-we’d-better-go-and-get-this-poor-man-better" sort of tone.

Now that’s power. That’s authority. That’s power and authority in someone that has complete control of his own inner world. That’s one who has an authority that under-girds his visible and public authority.

Contrast him with the jokers you see strutting the stages and filling the television screens.

No wonder we admire and respect him as well as adore him!

©2004 Jim McGuiggan. All materials are free to be copied and used as long as money is not being made.

Many thanks to brother Ed Healy, for allowing me to post from his website, the abiding word.com.

From Ben Fronczek... Peaceful Sleep

 Peaceful Sleep

Acts 12 Peaceful Sleep   

How does a really, really stressful situation affect you? Some people eat more. Some people can’t eat at all. Some people get gittery they ramble and pace. Some cry. Some people get sick. In most cases if a situation is real bad we have a hard time sleeping. Some need to be medicated or even hospitalized.

If this afternoon you got a pain in your chest and you went to the emergency room and they told you have a problem with your heart and they have to perform emergency surgery tomorrow, but your chance for survival is poor, how well do you think you’d sleep tonight. Probably not very well if at all. Yet some people have no fear at all. I’m not talking about being macho, but rather some can sleep like a baby even in times of trouble because they are at peace and feel secure no matter what.

That is what our story is about today. Over the past two weeks we’ve looked at some lessons  in Acts chapter 12. First of all we read that James, the brother of John, had been killed by Herod. James was one of Jesus’ closest friends along with Peter and John. They were labeled ‘the inner circle’ because we see them together with Jesus so much. He was Jesus’ friend. And then Peter was arrested next.

The villain’s name was Herod. He was a ruthless leader who wanted nothing more than to win popularity. It seems as though he tried to buddy up with those who could give him more power and he was willing to exterminate all of his enemies just to gain a few more votes.

Herod came from a long line of ruthless leaders. His grandfather, Herod the Great was so barbarous history tells us that he executed one of his wives, her mother, and three of his sons. Shortly before his death, he lured prominent Jewish leaders to Jericho where he had them put into prison. He knew the people were not going to shed many tears when he died, so he ordered that when he died these Jewish leaders were to be killed as well. As a demonstration of their lack of respect for this cruel king, no one followed through with his order. Probably his most heinous crimes was the killing of all the male children near Bethlehem (as seen in Matthew 2:16) in order to try to get rid of the baby Jesus.

The Herod we are looking at this morning is the grandson of Herod the Great. Herod Agrippa I, reigned from 37 A.D. to 44 A.D. and he followed in the footsteps of his grandfather and also brought terror into the hearts of the people. He was a powerful man, but he knew in his heart that he wasn’t trusted or admired by the Romans or Jews. One way he tried to get in the good graces of the Jewish people was to persecute the Christians whom the Jews hated.

As we come back to this portion of Scripture today, we find that Herod Agrippa had already had James the brother of John put to death by the sword. He then ordered the arrest of Simon Peter to try and gain further approval of the Jewish leaders. There was a very good reason why Herod Agrippa chose the week of celebration following the Passover — there were lots of Jewish people present to see his act of defiance towards the Christians. It was an act of alliance with the Jews!

There is little doubt that Herod planned on having Peter executed as soon as the celebration ended. Herod wanted to make sure that Peter did not escape so he had Peter guarded by four squads of soldiers. The four squads of guards consisted of four guards each and they would rotate on their watch around the clock. I’m sure that Herod thought that there was no possible way for Peter to escape.

At any given time there were two men chained to Peter as he sat in his locked cell. And there were two other guards stationed outside the cell just in case he got by the two guards chained to him.

I think we could say that it seem like a pretty hopeless situation for Peter. James had been killed and the guards would assure that Herod’s bloodthirsty appetite would be quenched again with Peter’s blood.

But what we actually find happening in this story is I think is quite interesting:   Acts 12:4-7 “After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover.

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him.

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance.  Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.”

The very night before Peter was to be tried and more than likely killed, what do we find Peter doing? We read here that he was sound asleep; sleeping like a baby! I don’t know about you but if that was me I would have probably been a nervous wreck. Sleep would have been the last thing I would have been doing. I would have been sick with anxiety.  Yet Luke notes that Peter is just sawing wood.

I believe this is the sleep of complete confidence, even peace. This is a blessed peace that comes from a knowledge and trust in one’s Lord.

There are a number of reasons why Peter may have been so calm and able to sleep that night. Maybe Peter slept like this because the Church was diligently praying for him.

Or maybe he simply knew he wasn’t going to die the next day. The Lord Jesus Himself had plainly told him (in John 21:18) that he would die a martyr’s death, but not until he was an old man, John 12:18-19 says         “Very truly I tell you, when you were younger you dressed yourself and went where you wanted; but when you are old you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go.”  Jesus said this to indicate the kind of death by which Peter would glorify God. Then he said to him, “Follow me!” “

The phrase “stretch out your hands” (v. 18) was a euphemistic reference to crucifixion in the Roman world. Since Peter wasn’t old yet maybe he believed he wasn’t going to die yet. Maybe Peter slept so peacefully because he was resting confidently on the precious promises of Jesus. Maybe he remember what Jesus told him and turned the whole situation over to his Lord

He didn’t know how or when God would deliver him, but maybe he believed that deliverance was coming. And besides, this wasn’t the first time he was imprisoned. In Acts 5 we read that Jews had already arrested the Apostles once before and an angel had opened the door of the jail and brought them out.   Peter was not DOUBTING IN THE DARK WHAT GOD HAS PROMISED HIM THE LIGHT.

And even if Peter did not remember what Jesus had promised him that day, that he would live to be an old man, I truly believe that Peter faith in God gave him some peace of mind.

Through the ages there is an amazing blessing that faithful Christians have been able to lay hold of:  In the worst of times, even when believers were about to be persecuted or martyred for their beliefs, men and women found peace, and courage, and a sense of security and confidence in Jesus.

If you hold Jesus close to you, when the darkest times comes, He promise to hold on to you and set your mind at ease, and give you peace.

In John 14:27 Jesus told his closest disciples, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Paul wrote to this to the Philippian church, while in prison Phil 4:4-7  “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

And Paul wrote this to the Thessalonian church, “Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all!”     2 Thess. 3:16

Our Lord is the Lord of peace. He is the prince of peace.

Peter is not anxious, nor alarmed. He was completely resting in, and trusting in his Lord.

Paul wrote to the Ephesians, “He Himself is our peace” (Ephesians 2:14). Once you really understand this you too can have kind of peace no matter what storms sweep over the horizon.

Jesus said,  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”  (John 16:33)

So how can we get to that point where our relationship is that good with our Lord whereby we can have that confidence, that sense of peace even when everything around us starts to fall apart?

Like any other trusting relationship it’s a relationship that one needs to work at, and develop, and nurture. Just because you may be saved by the blood of Jesus and you are a Christian, it doesn’t mean that you will automatically experience the degree of peace that Peter did that night. By this point in life, Peter had learned how to give himself fully to the Lord. I believe he trusted Jesus more than anything and more than anyone else on the planet including himself.    Can you say the same?

Even after Jesus left the disciples I believe Peter continued to nurture and work on his relationship with Him.  How? By continuing to trust in Him no matter what. By talking to Him in Prayer. By serving Him faithfully and by loving and helping the other disciples in His name.   And so too, we need to realize that this is a formula for us learn from and follow.

Christianity is not just about religion and following a set of rules, rather it about developing a loving relationship with our Lord and God, and with one another. In doing so, a by-product of that, is you will find a peace and confidence that surpasses everyone else’s understanding;  even when things seem like they are at their worst. So practice His presence, talk to Him, fill yourself with positive spiritual things like good spiritual music, good sermons & lessons, good spiritual literature. Practice His presence..

I challenge you to work on your relationship with our Lord……. And you to will find some peaceful sleep.

For more lessons click on the following link: http://granvillenychurchofchrist.org/?page_id=566

From Gary... Bible Reading and Study October 1

Bible Reading and Study    

October 1

The World English Bible

Oct. 1

Psalms 121-124

Psa 121:1 I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?

Psa 121:2 My help comes from Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

Psa 121:3 He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.

Psa 121:4 Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Psa 121:5 Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.

Psa 121:6 The sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

Psa 121:7 Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.

Psa 121:8 Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, from this time forth, and forevermore.

Psa 122:1 I was glad when they said to me, "Let's go to Yahweh's house!"

Psa 122:2 Our feet are standing within your gates, Jerusalem;

Psa 122:3 Jerusalem, that is built as a city that is compact together;

Psa 122:4 where the tribes go up, even Yah's tribes, according to an ordinance for Israel, to give thanks to the name of Yahweh.

Psa 122:5 For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of David's house.

Psa 122:6 Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. Those who love you will prosper.

Psa 122:7 Peace be within your walls, and prosperity within your palaces.

Psa 122:8 For my brothers' and companions' sakes, I will now say, "Peace be within you."

Psa 122:9 For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good.

Psa 123:1 To you I do lift up my eyes, you who sit in the heavens.

Psa 123:2 Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; so our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, until he has mercy on us.

Psa 123:3 Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, for we have endured much contempt.

Psa 123:4 Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, with the contempt of the proud.

Psa 124:1 If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, let Israel now say,

Psa 124:2 if it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, when men rose up against us;

Psa 124:3 then they would have swallowed us up alive, when their wrath was kindled against us;

Psa 124:4 then the waters would have overwhelmed us, the stream would have gone over our soul;

Psa 124:5 then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.

Psa 124:6 Blessed be Yahweh, who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Psa 124:7 Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler's snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Psa 124:8 Our help is in the name of Yahweh, who made heaven and earth.

 

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

Psalms

 

Psalms 121 1

I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where does my help come from?

{A Song of degrees.} I lift up mine eyes unto the mountains: whence shall my help come?

A Song of the Ascents. I lift up mine eyes unto the hills, Whence doth my help come?

Psalms 121 2

My help comes from Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.

My help [cometh] from Jehovah, who made the heavens and the earth.

My help [is] from Jehovah, maker of heaven and earth,

Psalms 121 3

He will not allow your foot to be moved. He who keeps you will not slumber.

He will not suffer thy foot to be moved; he that keepeth thee will not slumber.

He suffereth not thy foot to be moved, Thy preserver slumbereth not.

Psalms 121 4

Behold, he who keeps Israel Will neither slumber nor sleep.

Behold, he that keepeth Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

Lo, He slumbereth not, nor sleepeth, He who is preserving Israel.

Psalms 121 5

Yahweh is your keeper. Yahweh is your shade on your right hand.

Jehovah is thy keeper, Jehovah is thy shade upon thy right hand;

Jehovah [is] thy preserver, Jehovah [is] thy shade on thy right hand,

Psalms 121 6

The sun will not harm you by day, Nor the moon by night.

The sun shall not smite thee by day, nor the moon by night.

By day the sun doth not smite thee, Nor the moon by night.

Psalms 121 7

Yahweh will keep you from all evil. He will keep your soul.

Jehovah will keep thee from all evil; he will keep thy soul.

Jehovah preserveth thee from all evil, He doth preserve thy soul.

Psalms 121 8

Yahweh will keep your going out and your coming in, From this time forth, and  forevermore.

Psalm 122 A Song of Ascents. By David.

Jehovah will keep thy going out and thy coming in, from henceforth and for evermore.

Jehovah preserveth thy going out and thy coming in, From henceforth even unto the age!

Psalms 122 1

I was glad when they said to me, "Let`s go to Yahweh`s house!"

{A Song of degrees. Of David.} I rejoiced when they said unto me, Let us go into the house

of Jehovah.

A Song of the Ascents, by David. I have rejoiced in those saying to me, `To the

house of Jehovah we go.`

Psalms 122 2

Our feet are standing Within your gates, Jerusalem;

Our feet shall stand within thy gates, O Jerusalem.

Our feet have been standing in thy gates, O Jerusalem!

Psalms 122 3

Jerusalem, that is built As a city that is compact together;

Jerusalem, which art built as a city that is compact together,

Jerusalem -- the builded one -- [Is] as a city that is joined to itself together.

Psalms 122 4

Where the tribes go up, even Yah`s tribes, According to an ordinance for Israel, To give

thanks to the name of Yahweh.

Whither the tribes go up, the tribes of Jah, a testimony to Israel, to give thanks unto the

name of Jehovah.

For thither have tribes gone up, Tribes of Jah, companies of Israel, To give thanks

to the name of Jehovah.

Psalms 122 5

For there are set thrones for judgment, The thrones of David`s house.

For there are set thrones for judgment, the thrones of the house of David.

For there have sat thrones of judgment, Thrones of the house of David.

Psalms 122 6

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem. They will prosper who love you.

Pray for the peace of Jerusalem: they shall prosper that love thee.

Ask ye the peace of Jerusalem, At rest are those loving thee.

Psalms 122 7

Peace be within your walls, And prosperity within your palaces.

Peace be within thy bulwarks, prosperity within thy palaces.

Peace is in thy bulwark, rest in thy high places,

Psalms 122 8

For my brothers` and companions` sakes, I will now say, "Peace be within you."

For my brethren and companions` sakes I will say, Peace be within thee!

For the sake of my brethren and my companions, Let me speak, I pray thee, `Peace

[be] in thee.`

Psalms 122 9

For the sake of the house of Yahweh our God, I will seek your good. 

 Psalm 123 A Song of Ascents.

Because of the house of Jehovah our God I will seek thy good.

For the sake of the house of Jehovah our God, I seek good for thee!

Psalms 123 1

To you I do lift up my eyes, You who sit in the heavens.

{A Song of degrees.} Unto thee do I lift up mine eyes, O thou that dwellest in the heavens.

A Song of the Ascents. Unto Thee I have lifted up mine eyes, O dweller in the heavens.

Psalms 123 2

Behold, as the eyes of servants look to the hand of their master, As the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress; So our eyes look to Yahweh, our God, Until he has mercy on us.

Behold, as the eyes of servants [look] unto the hand of their masters, as the eyes of a

maiden unto the hand of her mistress, so our eyes [are directed] to Jehovah our God, until he be gracious unto us.

Lo, as eyes of men-servants [Are] unto the hand of their masters, As eyes of a maid-

servant [Are] unto the hand of her mistress, So [are] our eyes unto Jehovah our

God, Till that He doth favour us.

Psalms 123 3

Have mercy on us, Yahweh, have mercy on us, For we have endured much contempt.

Be gracious unto us, O Jehovah, be gracious unto us; for we are exceedingly filled with

contempt.

Favour us, O Jehovah, favour us, For greatly have we been filled with contempt,

Psalms 123 4

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scoffing of those who are at ease, With the contempt of the proud. 

Psalm 124 A Song of Ascents. By David.

Our soul is exceedingly filled with the scorning of those that are at ease, with the

contempt of the proud.

Greatly hath our soul been filled With the scorning of the easy ones, With the

contempt of the arrogant!

Psalms 124 1

If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, Let Israel now say,

{A Song of degrees. Of David.} If it had not been Jehovah who was for us -- oh let Israel  say -

-

A Song of the Ascents, by David. Save [for] Jehovah -- who hath been for us, (Pray,

let Israel say),

Psalms 124 2

If it had not been Yahweh who was on our side, When men rose up against us;

If it had not been Jehovah who was for us, when men rose up against us,

Save [for] Jehovah -- who hath been for us, In the rising up of man against us,

Psalms 124 3

Then they would have swallowed us up alive, When their wrath was kindled against us;

Then they had swallowed us up alive, when their anger was kindled against us;

Then alive they had swallowed us up, In the burning of their anger against us,

Psalms 124 4

Then the waters would have overwhelmed us, The stream would have gone over our soul;

Then the waters had overwhelmed us, a torrent had gone over our soul;

Then the waters had overflowed us, The stream passed over our soul,

Psalms 124 5

Then the proud waters would have gone over our soul.

Then the proud waters had gone over our soul.

Then passed over our soul had the proud waters.

Psalms 124 6

Blessed be Yahweh, Who has not given us as a prey to their teeth.

Blessed be Jehovah, who gave us not up a prey to their teeth!

Blessed [is] Jehovah who hath not given us, A prey to their teeth.

Psalms 124 7

Our soul has escaped like a bird out of the fowler`s snare. The snare is broken, and we have escaped.

Our soul is escaped as a bird out of the snare of the fowlers: the snare is broken, and we

have escaped.

Our soul as a bird hath escaped from a snare of fowlers, The snare was broken, and

we have escaped.

Psalms 124 8

Our help is in the name of Yahweh, Who made heaven and earth.

 Psalm 125 A Song of Ascents.

Our help is in the name of Jehovah, the maker of heavens and earth.

Our help [is] in the name of Jehovah, Maker of the heavens and earth!

 Study Questions

Where does my help come from? 121:1-2

The World English Bible

Oct. 1

2 Corinthians 11

2Co 11:1 I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

2Co 11:2 For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

2Co 11:3 But I am afraid that somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, so your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ.

2Co 11:4 For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different "good news", which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

2Co 11:5 For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

2Co 11:6 But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

2Co 11:7 Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God's Good News free of charge?

2Co 11:8 I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

2Co 11:9 When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn't a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

2Co 11:10 As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

2Co 11:11 Why? Because I don't love you? God knows.

2Co 11:12 But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

2Co 11:13 For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ's apostles.

2Co 11:14 And no wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

2Co 11:15 It is no great thing therefore if his servants also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

2Co 11:16 I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

2Co 11:17 That which I speak, I don't speak according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

2Co 11:18 Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

2Co 11:19 For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

2Co 11:20 For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

2Co 11:21 I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

2Co 11:22 Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

2Co 11:23 Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

2Co 11:24 Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

2Co 11:25 Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

2Co 11:26 I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

2Co 11:27 in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

2Co 11:28 Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

2Co 11:29 Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don't burn with indignation?

2Co 11:30 If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

2Co 11:31 The God and Father of the Lord Jesus Christ, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don't lie.

2Co 11:32 In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes desiring to arrest me.

2Co 11:33 Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

The Composite Bible

The World English Bible

Darby's Translation

Young's Literal Translation

The Composite Bible is a effort to understand the Bible by considering it from different perspectives and different levels of literalcy. First, read the World English Bible (the least literal-black text) for comprehension of the text. Next, read both the World English Bible with the Darby Translation (more literal-blue text)to make comparisons and lastly, read all three versions (Young's is the most literal translation- red text) at one time to obtain an overview of the text. Doing this will make you think about what the Scriptures are actually saying and avoid reading in a superficial manner.

2 Corinthians

2 Corinthians 11 1

I wish that you would bear with me in a little foolishness, but indeed you do bear with me.

Would that ye would bear with me [in] a little folly; but indeed bear with me.

O that ye were bearing with me a little of the folly, but ye also do bear with me:

2 Corinthians 11 2

For I am jealous over you with a godly jealousy. For I married you to one husband, that I might present you as a pure virgin to Christ.

For I am jealous as to you with a jealousy [which is] of God; for I have espoused you unto

one man, to present [you] a chaste virgin to Christ.

for I am zealous for you with zeal of God, for I did betroth you to one husband, a

pure virgin, to present to Christ,

2 Corinthians 11 3

But I am afraid that by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve in his craftiness, your minds might be corrupted from the simplicity that is toward Christ.

But I fear lest by any means, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craft, [so] your thoughts

should be corrupted from simplicity as to the Christ.

and I fear, lest, as the serpent did beguile Eve in his subtilty, so your minds may

be corrupted from the simplicity that [is] in the Christ;

2 Corinthians 11 4

For if he who comes preaches another Jesus, whom we did not preach, or if you receive a

different spirit, which you did not receive, or a different gospel, which you did not accept, you put up with that well enough.

For if indeed he that comes preaches another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or ye get a different Spirit, which ye have not got, or a different glad tidings, which ye have not

received, ye might well bear with [it].

for if, indeed, he who is coming doth preach another Jesus whom we did not

preach, or another Spirit ye receive which ye did not receive, or other good news

which ye did not accept -- well were ye bearing [it],

2 Corinthians 11 5

For I reckon that I am not at all behind the very best apostles.

For I reckon that in nothing I am behind those who are in surpassing degree apostles.

for I reckon that I have been nothing behind the very chiefest apostles,

2 Corinthians 11 6

But though I am unskilled in speech, yet I am not unskilled in knowledge. No, in every way we have been revealed to you in all things.

But if [I am] a simple person in speech, yet not in knowledge, but in everything making

[the truth] manifest in all things to you.

and even if unlearned in word -- yet not in knowledge, but in every thing we were

made manifest in all things to you.

2 Corinthians 11 7

Or did I commit a sin in humbling myself that you might be exalted, because I preached to you God`s gospel for nothing?

Have I committed sin, abasing myself in order that *ye* might be exalted, because I

gratuitously announced to you the glad tidings of God?

The sin did I do -- myself humbling that ye might be exalted, because freely the

good news of God I did proclaim to you?

2 Corinthians 11 8

I robbed other assemblies, taking wages from them that I might serve you.

I spoiled other assemblies, receiving hire for ministry towards you.

other assemblies I did rob, having taken wages, for your ministration;

2 Corinthians 11 9

When I was present with you and was in need, I wasn`t a burden on anyone, for the brothers, when they came from Macedonia, supplied the measure of my need. In everything I kept myself from being burdensome to you, and I will continue to do so.

And being present with you and lacking, I did not lazily burden any one, (for the

brethren who came from Macedonia supplied what I lacked,) and in everything I kept

myself from being a burden to you, and will keep myself.

and being present with you, and having been in want, I was chargeable to no one,

for my lack did the brethren supply -- having come from Macedonia -- and in

everything burdenless to you I did keep myself, and will keep.

2 Corinthians 11 10

As the truth of Christ is in me, no one will stop me from this boasting in the regions of Achaia.

[The] truth of Christ is in me that this boasting shall not be stopped as to me in the

regions of Achaia.

The truth of Christ is in me, because this boasting shall not be stopped in regard

to me in the regions of Achaia;

2 Corinthians 11 11

Why? Because I don`t love you? God knows.

Why? because I do not love you? God knows.

wherefore? because I do not love you? God hath known!

2 Corinthians 11 12

But what I do, that I will do, that I may cut off occasion from them that desire an occasion, that in which they boast, they may be found even as we.

But what I do, I will also do, that I may cut off the opportunity of those wishing [for] an

opportunity, that wherein they boast they may be found even as we.

and what I do, I also will do, that I may cut off the occasion of those wishing an

occasion, that in that which they boast they may be found according as we also;

2 Corinthians 11 13

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, masquerading as Christ`s apostles.

For such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of

Christ.

for those such [are] false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves

into apostles of Christ,

2 Corinthians 11 14

No wonder, for even Satan masquerades as an angel of light.

And [it is] not wonderful, for Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light.

and no wonder -- for even the Adversary doth transform himself into a messenger of light;

2 Corinthians 11 15

It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also masquerade as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.

It is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of

righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

no great thing, then, if also his ministrants do transform themselves as

ministrants of righteousness -- whose end shall be according to their works.

2 Corinthians 11 16

I say again, let no one think me foolish. But if so, yet receive me as foolish, that I also may boast a little.

Again I say, Let not any one think me to be a fool; but if otherwise, receive me then even

as a fool, that *I* also may boast myself some little.

Again I say, may no one think me to be a fool; and if otherwise, even as a fool

receive me, that I also a little may boast.

2 Corinthians 11 17

That which I speak, I don`t speak after the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this confidence of boasting.

What I speak I do not speak according to [the] Lord, but as in folly, in this confidence of

boasting.

That which I speak, I speak not according to the Lord, but as in foolishness, in this

the confidence of boasting;

2 Corinthians 11 18

Seeing that many boast after the flesh, I will also boast.

Since many boast according to flesh, *I* also will boast.

since many boast according to the flesh, I also will boast:

2 Corinthians 11 19

For you bear with the foolish gladly, being wise.

For ye bear fools readily, being wise.

for gladly do ye bear with the fools -- being wise,

2 Corinthians 11 20

For you bear with a man, if he brings you into bondage, if he devours you, if he takes you

captive, if he exalts himself, if he strikes you on the face.

For ye bear if any one bring you into bondage, if any one devour [you], if any one get

[your money], if any one exalt himself, if any one beat you on the face.

for ye bear, if any one is bringing you under bondage, if any one doth devour, if

any one doth take away, if any one doth exalt himself, if any one on the face doth

smite you;

2 Corinthians 11 21

I speak by way of disparagement, as though we had been weak. Yet however any is bold (I speak in foolishness), I am bold also.

I speak as to dishonour, as though *we* had been weak; but wherein any one is daring, (I

speak in folly,) *I* also am daring.

in reference to dishonour I speak, how that we were weak, and in whatever any

one is bold -- in foolishness I say [it] -- I also am bold.

2 Corinthians 11 22

Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? So am I.

Are they Hebrews? *I* also. Are they Israelites? *I* also. Are they seed of Abraham? *I* also.

Hebrews are they? I also! Israelites are they? I also! seed of Abraham are they? I

also!

2 Corinthians 11 23

Are they servants of Christ? (I speak as one beside himself) I am more so; in labors more

abundantly, in prisons more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in deaths often.

Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as being beside myself) *I* above measure [so]; in

labours exceedingly abundant, in stripes to excess, in prisons exceedingly abundant, in

deaths oft.

ministrants of Christ are they? -- as beside myself I speak -- I more; in labours

more abundantly, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths

many times;

2 Corinthians 11 24

Five times from the Jews I received forty stripes minus one.

From the Jews five times have I received forty [stripes], save one.

from Jews five times forty [stripes] save one I did receive;

2 Corinthians 11 25

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I suffered shipwreck. I have been a night and a day in the deep.

Thrice have I been scourged, once I have been stoned, three times I have suffered

shipwreck, a night and day I passed in the deep:

thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice was I shipwrecked, a

night and a day in the deep I have passed;

2 Corinthians 11 26

I have been in travels often, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from my countrymen, perils from the Gentiles, perils in the city, perils in the wilderness, perils in the sea, perils among false brothers;

in journeyings often, in perils of rivers, in perils of robbers, in perils from [my own]

race, in perils from [the] nations, in perils in [the] city, in perils in [the] desert, in

perils on [the] sea, in perils among false brethren;

journeyings many times, perils of rivers, perils of robbers, perils from kindred,

perils from nations, perils in city, perils in wilderness, perils in sea, perils

among false brethren;

2 Corinthians 11 27

labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, and in cold and nakedness.

in labour and toil, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and

nakedness.

in laboriousness and painfulness, in watchings many times, in hunger and thirst,

in fastings many times, in cold and nakedness;

2 Corinthians 11 28

Besides those things that are outside, there is that which presses on me daily, anxiety for all the assemblies.

Besides those things that are without, the crowd [of cares] pressing on me daily, the

burden of all the assemblies.

apart from the things without -- the crowding upon me that is daily -- the care of

all the assemblies.

2 Corinthians 11 29

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble, and I don`t burn?

Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is stumbled, and I burn not?

Who is infirm, and I am not infirm? who is stumbled, and I am not fired;

2 Corinthians 11 30

If I must boast, I will boast of the things that concern my weakness.

If it is needful to boast, I will boast in the things which concern my infirmity.

if to boast it behoveth [me], of the things of my infirmity I will boast;

2 Corinthians 11 31

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forevermore, knows that I don`t lie.

The God and Father of the Lord Jesus knows -- he who is blessed for ever -- that I do not lie. 

the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ -- who is blessed to the ages -- hath

known that I do not lie! --

2 Corinthians 11 32

In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king guarded the city of the Damascenes in order to take me.

In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes shut up,

wishing to take me;

In Damascus the ethnarch of Aretas the king was watching the city of the

Damascenes, wishing to seize me,

2 Corinthians 11 33

Through a window I was let down in a basket by the wall, and escaped his hands.

and through a window in a basket I was let down by the wall, and escaped his hands.

and through a window in a rope basket I was let down, through the wall, and fled

out of his hands.

Study Questions

 How does Satan appear? 11:14