Something Greater

Psalm 119:9-16 | Beth Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 28, 2022 How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you. Blessed are you, O LORD; teach me your statutes! With my lips I declare all the rules of your mouth. In the way of your testimonies I delight as much as in all riches. I will meditate on your precepts and fix my eyes on your ways. I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word. (Psalm 119:9–16, ESV) Image by Lynn Greyling from Pixabay Translucent, not Transparent! PURE: "zaw-KAW", translucent, innocent That which is translucent allows light to show through, but not to show detailed shapes. To be translucent is literally to "through shine". How can I mature into translucence? How can I live daily allowing Christ to shine through what I say a

Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 23, 2022 Image by Benjamin Nelan from Pixabay With my whole heart I cry; answer me, O LORD! I will keep your statutes. I call to you; save me, that I may observe your testimonies. I rise before dawn and cry for help; I hope in your words. My eyes are awake before the watches of the night, that I may meditate on your promise. Hear my voice according to your steadfast love; O LORD, according to your justice give me life. They draw near who persecute me with evil purpose; they are far from your law. But you are near, O LORD, and all your commandments are true. Long have I known from your testimonies that you have founded them forever. (Psalm 119:145–152, ESV) Hedged, Protected and Cared For Is this a bargain with God? What help or knowledge is Qoph crying out to God for an answer? It is something that overwhelms and fills the heart of Qoph. Qoph cries to God: "Save me! Save me that I may observe your testimonies." SAVE:

Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 20, 2022 Image by Pexels from Pixabay Righteous are you, O LORD, and right are your rules. You have appointed your testimonies in righteousness and in all faithfulness. My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words. Your promise is well tried, and your servant loves it. I am small and despised, yet I do not forget your precepts. Your righteousness is righteous forever, and your law is true. Trouble and anguish have found me out, but your commandments are my delight. Your testimonies are righteous forever; give me understanding that I may live. (Psalm 119:137–144, ESV) Consumed by Zeal My zeal consumes me, because my foes forget your words... ZEAL: kin-AW, jealousy or envy Shout aloud, show yourself mighty! Isaiah 42:13 Zeal escapes me...when have I felt stirred up emotionally to the point of shouting and striving mightily? Thank God for Christ's zeal! Tsadhe felt consumed with zeal, but had no strength to ac

Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 20, 2022 Image by Lorraine Cormier from Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/images/id-2770301/ Your testimonies are wonderful; therefore my soul keeps them. The unfolding of your words gives light; it imparts understanding to the simple. I open my mouth and pant, because I long for your commandments. Turn to me and be gracious to me, as is your way with those who love your name. Keep steady my steps according to your promise, and let no iniquity get dominion over me. Redeem me from man’s oppression, that I may keep your precepts. Make your face shine upon your servant, and teach me your statutes. My eyes shed streams of tears, because people do not keep your law. (Psalm 119:129–136, ESV) Steady My Steps How does my soul wonder at, and keep, God's Word? There are parts which resonate with how I am feeling at the moment God's Word promises something greater than human survival and conquest God's Word has one great theme

Psalm 119:105-112 | Nun Milt Reynolds | Last updated: February 23, 2022 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. I have sworn an oath and confirmed it, to keep your righteous rules. I am severely afflicted; give me life, O LORD, according to your word! Accept my freewill offerings of praise, O LORD, and teach me your rules. I hold my life in my hand continually, but I do not forget your law. The wicked have laid a snare for me, but I do not stray from your precepts. Your testimonies are my heritage forever, for they are the joy of my heart. I incline my heart to perform your statutes forever, to the end. - Psalm 119:105–112, ESV The Darkness of Affliction Image by Darkmoon_Art from Pixabay A light, one carried in the hand, helps only in times of darkness, whether at night, in a storm, or in shadows cast in late afternoon. It cannot illumine but only a few yards of distance, in front or behind. It cannot illumine where I must go tomorrow. It offers at best onl

Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 15, 2022 Image by Gary Cassel from Pixabay - https://pixabay.com/images/id-3481791/ The fool says in his heart, “There is no God.” They are corrupt, they do abominable deeds; there is none who does good. The LORD looks down from heaven on the children of man, to see if there are any who understand, who seek after God. They have all turned aside; together they have become corrupt; there is none who does good, not even one. Have they no knowledge, all the evildoers who eat up my people as they eat bread and do not call upon the LORD? There they are in great terror, for God is with the generation of the righteous. You would shame the plans of the poor, but the LORD is his refuge. Oh, that salvation for Israel would come out of Zion! When the LORD restores the fortunes of his people, let Jacob rejoice, let Israel be glad. (Psalm 14:1–7, ESV) If there is no one who does good, not even one...no one who understand nor even seek to un

Psalm 3 | Shield, Sustain and Satisfy Me! Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 9, 2022 O LORD, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O LORD, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the LORD, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah I lay down and slept; I woke again, for the LORD sustained me. I will not be afraid of many thousands of people who have set themselves against me all around. Arise, O LORD! Save me, O my God! For you strike all my enemies on the cheek; you break the teeth of the wicked. Salvation belongs to the LORD; your blessing be on your people! Selah (Psalm 3:1–8, ESV) Image by Stefan Keller from Pixabay Lord, how many are the things that are disturbing...or threaten to disturb...my peace right now! How many are the foes which threaten my security and satisfaction in life! How loud are my thoughts which do n

Psalm 119:1-8 | Aleph Milt Reynolds | Last updated: January 27, 2022 Blessed are those whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the LORD! Blessed are those who keep his testimonies, who seek him with their whole heart, who also do no wrong, but walk in his ways! You have commanded your precepts to be kept diligently. Oh that my ways may be steadfast in keeping your statutes! Then I shall not be put to shame, having my eyes fixed on all your commandments. I will praise you with an upright heart, when I learn your righteous rules. I will keep your statutes; do not utterly forsake me! - Psalm 119:1–8, ESV Image by Harut Movsisyan from Pixabay The Terrible Reality of Being Forsaken by God The entire life of Aleph, all hopes and joys and emotions, are connected closely to God's Word. Most striking is the desire to avoid shame and to be forsaken by God. Doing and delighting in God's Word promises a life of no shame. Here are some sources of shame: Blame for doi

Psalm 119 | The Word of God Milt Reynolds | Last updated: May 22, 2022 This work by Milt Reynolds is licensed under CC BY-NC 4.0 Meditations on Psalm 119 One could live a lifetime meditating on Psalm 119. For the past year or so I've a small bit of this poem daily, as one of the first things I do after waking. Nearly every line of Psalm 119 directs praise or prayer toward all that God has said. This makes Psalm 119 a consistent encouragement to trust and delight in all of The Holy Bible, as Scripture containing all that God has declared to all people. As I read, consider and pray through each stanza of Psalm 119, I find it helpful to handwrite my thoughts. It helps me to slow down as I read. It helps me clarify and communicate my thoughts later. I write on scratch paper (leftover from finished crossword puzzles that we've printed out!). At the end of each week I spend an hour or two transferring my handwritten meditations to my computer, formatted for posting to thi