Contemplative Bible Reading

James 1:2 (New Living Translation) Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. This is one of the more annoying verses in the Bible. How did God put it in here? I suppose I am to put the emphasis on the word opportunity. That […]

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Lamentations 3:44 (New Living Translation) You have hidden yourself in a cloud so our prayers cannot reach you. The writer is lamenting the sorrowful state of God’s people. This verse gives one of the more awful things that has happened. The prayers of the people cannot reach God. Imagine we all have a new revelation […]

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James 5:19-20 (New Living Translation) 19 My dear brothers and sisters, if someone among you wanders away from the truth and is brought back, 20 you can be sure that whoever brings the sinner back from wandering will save that person from death and bring about the forgiveness of many sins. One way that I […]

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Ezekiel 21:21 (New Living Translation) The king of Babylon now stands at the fork, uncertain whether to attack Jerusalem or Rabbah. He calls his magicians to look for omens. They cast lots by shaking arrows from the quiver. They inspect the livers of animal sacrifices. The King of Babylon needed advice from his advisors, a.k.a., […]

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Psalm 119:73 (New Living Translation) You made me; you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands. Why is it that I struggle to do what I know is right? The Apostle Paul, among many,  wrote about this. I suppose this is part of the life of a person stained by sin […]

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Psalm 119:59 (New Living Translation) I pondered the direction of my life, and I turned to follow your laws. ponder: verb, think about (something) carefully, especially before making a decision or reaching a conclusion. Ever ponder the direction of your life? I have, probably too many times. The advice from the writer of this Psalm: […]

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Psalms 119:147 (New Living Translation) I rise early, before the sun is up; I cry out for help and put my hope in your words. I rise before the sun is about almost everyday of the year. Who cares? Lots of people do. I walk into the bathroom and flip that magic switch on the […]

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Psalm 119:54 (New Living Translation) Your decrees have been the theme of my songs wherever I have lived. When was the last time you took the words of a bill passed by Congress and sang them? How about never? How about this is one of the silliest questions ever asked. This is what the writer […]

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