Words Whispered in the Rain

I've been feeling completely and utterly uninspired lately,

And so, unable to come up with anything to say to all of you wonderful people,

I'll just share what's spoken to my heart in the last two days.

This one I thought of yesderday,

Considering we've been watching the Olympics all week.

It's one of my all-time favorites.

2 Timothy 4:1-8

New Living Translation (NLT)

4 I solemnly urge you in the presence of God and Christ Jesus, who will someday judge the living and the dead when he appears to set up his Kingdom: ² Preach the word of God. Be prepared, whether the time is favorable or not. Patiently correct, rebuke, and encourage your people with good teaching.

³ For a time is coming when people will no longer listen to sound and wholesome teaching. They will follow their own desires and will look for teachers who will tell them whatever their itching ears want to hear. ⁴ They will reject the truth and chase after myths.
⁵ But you should keep a clear mind in every situation. Don’t be afraid of suffering for the Lord. Work at telling others the Good News, and fully carry out the ministry God has given you.
⁶ As for me, my life has already been poured out as an offering to God. The time of my death is near. ⁷ I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, and I have remained faithful. ⁸ And now the prize awaits me—the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give me on the day of his return. And the prize is not just for me but for all who eagerly look forward to his appearing.

And this one

That just blew me away when I read it this morning,

Right there on the bookmark,

The planned reading for today,

And everything I needed to hear -

Everything I wanted to say:

Psalm 38

English Standard Version (ESV)

Do Not Forsake Me, O Lord

A Psalm of David, for the memorial offering.

38 O Lord, rebuke me not in your anger,
    nor discipline me in your wrath!
² For your arrows have sunk into me,
    and your hand has come down on me.

³ There is no soundness in my flesh
    because of your indignation;
there is no health in my bones
    because of my sin.
⁴ For my iniquities have gone over my head;
    like a heavy burden, they are too heavy for me.

⁵ My wounds stink and fester
    because of my foolishness,
⁶ I am utterly bowed down and prostrate;
    all the day I go about mourning.
⁷ For my sides are filled with burning,
    and there is no soundness in my flesh.
⁸ I am feeble and crushed;
    I groan because of the tumult of my heart.

⁹ O Lord, all my longing is before you;
    my sighing is not hidden from you.
¹⁰ My heart throbs; my strength fails me,
    and the light of my eyes—it also has gone from me.
¹¹ My friends and companions stand aloof from my plague,
    and my nearest kin stand far off.

¹² Those who seek my life lay their snares;
    those who seek my hurt speak of ruin
    and meditate treachery all day long.

¹³ But I am like a deaf man; I do not hear,
    like a mute man who does not open his mouth.
¹⁴ I have become like a man who does not hear,
    and in whose mouth are no rebukes.

¹⁵ But for you, O Lord, do I wait;
    it is you, O Lord my God, who will answer.
¹⁶ For I said, “Only let them not rejoice over me,
    who boast against me when my foot slips!”

¹⁷ For I am ready to fall,
    and my pain is ever before me.
¹⁸ I confess my iniquity;
    I am sorry for my sin.
¹⁹ But my foes are vigorous, they are mighty,
    and many are those who hate me wrongfully.
²⁰ Those who render me evil for good
     accuse me because I follow after good.

²¹ Do not forsake me, O Lord!
    O my God, be not far from me!
²²  Make haste to help me,
    O Lord, my salvation!

Reasons 1733-1793 today.

Still counting.

Always counting.

1733. He is from everlasting to everlasting (1 Chronicles 29:10)
1734. The greatness is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1735. The power is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1736. The majesty is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1737. The splendor is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1738. Everything in heaven is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1739. Everything in earth is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1740. The kingdom is His (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1741. He is exalted (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1742. He is exalted as head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1743. He is head over all (1 Chronicles 29:11)
1744. Wealth comes from Him (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1745. Honor comes from Him (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1746. He is the Ruler (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1747. He is the Ruler of all things (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1748. Strength is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1749. Power is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1750. Strength to exalt is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1751. Power to exalt is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1752. Strength to give strength to all is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1753. Power to give strength to all is in His hands (1 Chronicles 29:12)
1754. He is our God (1 Chronicles 29:13)
1755. His Name is glorious (1 Chronicles 29:13)
1756. Everything comes from Him (1 Chronicles 29:14)
1757. Because everything comes from Him, He can be given only that which has already come from His hand (1 Chronicles 29:14)
1758. We are foreigners and strangers in His sight (1 Chronicles 29:15)
1759. All abundance comes from His hand (1 Chronicles 29:16)
1760. All abundance belongs to Him (1 Chronicles 29:16)
1761. He tests the heart (1 Chronicles 29:17)
1762. He is pleased with integrity (1 Chronicles 29:17)
1763. He exalts His servant in the sight of all Israel (1 Chronicles 29:25)
1764. He bestows royal splendor on His servant (1 Chronicles 29:25)
1765. He bestows on His servant royal splendor such as no king over Israel ever had before (1 Chronicles 29:25)
1766. He endows with intelligence (2 Chronicles 2:12)
1767. He endows with discernment (2 Chronicles 2:12)
1768. He is Good (2 Chronicles 5:13)
1769. His glory fills His temple (2 Chronicles 5:14)
1770. When His people, who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, He hears them from heaven (2 Chronicles 7:14)
1771. When His people, who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, He forgives their sin (2 Chronicles 7:14)
1772. When His people, who are called by His name, humble themselves and pray and seek His face and turn from their wicked ways, He heals their land (2 Chronicles 7:14)
1773. He brings great disaster on those who forsake Him, who embrace other gods, worshiping and serving them (2 Chronicles 7:22)
1774. He delights in those whom He has chosen (2 Chronicles 9:8)
1775. He places those He delights in on His throne as king to rule for Him (2 Chronicles 9:8)
1776. Because of His love for His people, he makes those He delights in king over them (2 Chronicles 9:8)
1777. Because of His desire to uphold His people forever, he makes those He delights in king over them (2 Chronicles 9:8)
1778. He makes those He delights in king over His people, to maintain justice and righteousness (2 Chronicles 9:8)
1779. He commands His people not to fight against their fellow Israelites (2 Chronicles 11:4)
1780. He abandons those who abandon Him (2 Chronicles 11:5)
1781. He will not destroy those who humble themselves (2 Chronicles 11:7)
1782. He gives deliverance to those who humble themselves (2 Chronicles 11:7)
1783. He does not pour out His wrath on those who humble themselves (2 Chronicles 11:7)
1784. He teaches His people the difference between serving Him and serving the kings of other lands (2 Chronicles 11:8)
1785. He turns His anger from those who humble themselves (2 Chronicles 11:12)
1786. He does not totally destroy those who humble themselves (2 Chronicles 11:12)
1787. He sees the good (2 Chronicles 11:12)
1788. At the sound of His people's battle cry, He routes their enemies before them (2 Chronicles 13:15)
1789. At the sound of His people's battle cry, He delivers their enemies into their hands (2 Chronicles 13:15-16)
1790. At the sound of His people's battle cry, He subdues their enemies before them (2 Chronicles 13:15-18)
1791. His people are victorious when they rely on Him (2 Chronicles 13:18)
1792. He strikes down enemy kings (2 Chronicles 13:15-20)
1793. Those whom He strikes down die (2 Chronicles 13:20)

Counting 10,000 Reasons to worship Him: 

(Take the challenge with us!)

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Counting in community: