Month: June 2010

Today’s Scripture: Psalm 66-68

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• This psalm of thanksgiving recounts God’s awesome deeds and His commitment to His people as His eyes keep watch on the nations. For His great blessings on His people, they will tell what He has done for their souls (66:1-20).
• This short psalm thanks God for a fruitful harvest and petitions Him on behalf of the peoples of the world that they might come to know the one true God as His people know Him (67:1-7).
• This next psalm celebrates God’ continued protection and care for Israel and is thought by some to be a commemoration of David’s moving of the ark into the tabernacle, as described in 2^nd Samuel 6:12-15 (68:1-35).

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• Psalm 66 reminds me that our God is an awesome God!
• Psalm 67 teaches me that God cares greatly for His people, as evidenced by His providential guidance and involvement in our lives!
• Psalm 68 teaches me that God bears us up and is our salvation, He will deliver us from death and strike the heads of His enemies and, by His power he works for us! As I observe the awesome power of God from His sanctuary, I will sing praises to Him before the nations!

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• I will be glad, I will be jubilant with joy, and I will exult before God because He is the Father of the fatherless, and protector of widows and, in His goodness, I know He will provide for the needy!
• I will share God’s message with another person that I meet today!

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• That God will be gracious to us and bless us and make His face to shine upon us that His Way may be know upon the earth and His saving power among all the nations!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton

As we launch this new Remembering My Creator page, we invite you to read along! This page is targeted to young people, especially those new in the faith. We have several young Christians who have committed to writing for this page. Here is the schedule of topics for the coming year:

Month	Topic
June 2010	Daily Bible Reading
July 2010	Influences of the World
August 2010	Prayer
September 2010	Dating
October 2010	Dancing
November 2010	Video/Internet Issues
December 2010	TV & Movies
January 2011	Drinking
February 2011	Parents
March 2011	Friends
April 2011	Music
May 2011	How I Look

— Randy Sexton

Today’s Scripture: 1^st Kings 5-9

Things to remember in today’s reading:

• The preparation for the building of the temple by Solomon is described (5:1-18). “This picture reflects God’s intended result when the people of Israel have a wise ruler and they walk in obedience to God’s commandments” (ESV Study Bible, p. 602)
• The actual building of the temple and the royal palace complex is described (6:1-7:51). “Solomon began to build the house of the Lord… in the spring of 967 or 966 B.C. (1^st Kings 6:1; 2^nd Chronicles 3:1-2) and completed it seven years later, in the fall of 960 or 959 (1^st Kings 6:38) (ESV Study Bible, p. 605).
• The Ark of the Covenant, the great symbol of the Lord’s presence, is brought up out of the City of David to its place in the inner sanctuary of the completed temple (8:1-2).
• Solomon prays, reflecting upon the nature of God’s “dwelling” in the temple and offering a seven-fold petitionary prayer (8:22-53).
• Solomon blesses all the assembly of Israel, encourages every one of them to be wholly true to the Lord, and offers peace offerings to dedicate the house of the Lord (8:54-65).

Things God is teaching me in today’s reading:

• The reason God did not allow David to build the temple was the “warfare with which his enemies surrounded him” (5:3). The application for me is: my actions have consequences.
• The importance of obedience to God’s commands as we do His work (6:11-13).
• The importance of prayer to reflect upon God’s blessing of our work (8:22-24).
• We should go to our homes “joyful and glad of heart for all the goodness that the Lord has shown us” (8:66).

Things to act on in today’s reading:

• To pay close attention to God’s way, to walk before Him, that His will be confirmed in me (8:25-26).
• To be joyful and glad of heart for all of God’s goodness

Things to pray about in today’s reading:

• That God’s “eyes may be open night and day toward this house” (8:29)
• Lord, when I am defeated because I have sinned against You, help me to turn again to You and acknowledge Your name and pray and plead with You in Your house (8:33-34)
• Lord, thank You for all the goodness you have shown me!

Thanks for reading with me dear friend. Have a blessed day!!

— Randy Sexton