Joey's Journal August 2, 2006

Woke up when Carlyn brought Joshua in our room. Joshua said, ‘hi daddy’ ‘hi mama’. He was playing on our bed throwing the small pillows to my face. He also got a hug and a kiss from his mom. At 7:15am, Carlyn transferred me to wheelchair and parked beside the dining table. Joel left at 7:30 am for school. I prayed that God will give His protection for a safe ride to school and that His angels would watch over him at school in his behavior and attentiveness to his teachers and that he would be safe there.

Did my journal on the completion of the book of Colossians recorded in August 1 journal.

Today, I begin my bible reading and journalizing my reflections and after-thoughts on the book of Psalms.

My prayer in preparation for this reading – Dear Heavenly Father, as I prepare myself to reading and interpreting the book of Psalms, I ask that you impart your wisdom to my mind as I read thru the book and plant a seed in my heart in order for me to correctly interpret what the psalmist wants to say in his book. May I be enlightened by Your word and by my recording it, may your word touch the lives of the people who will read my journal. All these I pray in the Holy Name of Jesus. Amen.

Psalm 1 The Godly and the Wicked

The psalmist writes about how happy are the godly. They are the ones who do not follow the advice of the wicked or be with sinners. The godly delights in doing all the Lord wants, day and night they live His law. As compared to a tree planted along the river bank, the godly bear fruit each season without fail and leaves never wither, but prosper.

However, this is not true for the wicked, who are worthless chaff, scattered by the wind. They are condemned at judgment day. Sinners will have no place among the godly.

God’s promise – For the Lord watches over the path of the godly, but the path of the wicked leads to destruction.

My reflections – In this world we live in with all the temptation and material things that we want to possess like, money, fame, health, careers and relationships; how do we become godly? When someone ‘hits’ you on the right cheek with an offence, do you freely offer the other? How do we explain to ourselves about God’s fairness when we see evil doers stay in big houses and drive big cars? Is God ‘blessing’ the wicked too? It is tough O Lord.

But, the psalmist didn’t expound on the material possessions of people in those days. There were people then owning large herds of cattle, huge parcels of land and rulers and king, who lavishly held expensive banquets. Did they thank and praise God for what they had? Maybe some did, but many didn’t. Then there were many who clung on to their meager possessions, but honored and thanked God for what little they had. This is also true with our time. We, as human beings, have this envious attitude towards another person who has more than us. We want to outdo our neighbor with earthly possessions.

Thus, the psalmist is right in saying to live godly while on earth. If we live godly which means living and following God’s law, doing good and not evil to others, loving our neighbor and resisting the evil one’s temptation then, we will receive God’s reward as He promised. The godly will be watched over by God and will have the nourishment from the Lord like a tree planted by the riverbank drawing water for its growth and will bear fruit every season and its leaves will not wither. While the evil doers will find destruction in their paths. I believe the point here is ‘earthly possessions’. People who think this way only think of ‘life on earth which is temporary’ as mentioned in The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren. When we die, we all leave behind what we have, either riches or rags. No one brings their possessions to the after life.

My prayer – O Lord, I pray for Your guidance to be a godly person. I know it will be tough but with Your strength and reassuring promise of being with You, I am contented and I will follow Your law day and night; will not listen to the enemy and succumb to his clutches; and when I stumble, I will be refreshed by Your nourishment and assurance that as a godly person, I am near You, beside You and with You all the days of my life. Amen.

Today, is my niece’s birthday, Tina. I wished her via cellphone a happy birthday and many more to come. May her day be blessed as she continues her walk with the Lord. Hope and pray she’s coping well with their new addition in the family, Cassidy. May God continue to bless them in their missionary work in the Philippines and bringing in the nonbelievers to Christ.

by Joey B