bible Archives - Page 18 of 19

Mightier than the crashing waves

Ocean north of Belfast, en route to Giant's Causeway
North of Belfast, en route to the Giant’s Causeway (photo: Irene Bom)

Theme: Water.

Here is a psalm featuring the majesty of the ocean waves, reminding us that their power is nothing compared with the power that God has to sustain all life and to bring about change.

The Lord reigns, he is robed in majesty;
   the Lord is robed in majesty and armed with strength;
   indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.
Your throne was established long ago;
   you are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, Lord,
   the seas have lifted up their voice;
   the seas have lifted up their pounding waves.
Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,
   mightier than the breakers of the sea –
   the Lord on high is mighty.

(Psalm 93:1-4, NIVUK)

Song

About 10 years ago I was inspired by the words of Psalm 93 to write this song. I particularly enjoy the sensation of singing the words “crashing waves” and “pound as they sound”.

Recording

Lyrics
So strong, so majestic
The Lord reigns supreme
Ever constant, ever firm
His throne is everlasting.
Mightier than the crashing waves
He is worthy of all praise.

The floods lift up their voice
Hear the waves pound
as they sound out their praise.
The floods lift up their voice
Let us join the refrain:
‘Lord, you reign!’

For notation see website

More food for thought

A. From the “Born Optimistic” Podcast featuring Irish Singer, Wallis Bird (transcript taken from around 06:40 of the recording):

Interviewer: On the days when you find it hard to be positive, how do you cheer yourself up?
Wallis Bird: A little bit of sweating. There’s a lovely phrase: “Salt water is the cure of everything: sweat, the sea or tears.”

B. Water sounds by Bernie Krause

On Writing Prayer-Poems

prayer poems

PDF handout

I confess. I tend to borrow prayers from others. See the prayer sheets, for example, which are collections of prayers on a theme, sourced from books or other websites like re:Worship.

But sometimes you have to stretch yourself, so when I was putting together the series that became “The Gift” (Preparing for Pentecost) I decided to try my hand at writing some original prayers to accompany the Scriptures I had selected.

I’d like to share what I learnt from writing the twelve prayer-poems I wrote for the series. I hope you, in turn, will be inspired to write prayer-poems of your own.

Continue reading “On Writing Prayer-Poems”

From parched to satisfied

my God, I thirst ... satiisfaction

Mid-June our ladies Bible Group group reflected on PSALM 63, with its rich imagery and strong verbs. I was moved by David’s ability to use his physical circumstances (in the Desert of Judah) to inform his poetry. The theme of dry and parched established in the beginning (v.1) finds a resolution in v. 5 where the psalmist speaks of (true) satisfaction. Note that the act of praising God is an important catalyst. It is our connection with our loving, powerful, generous God that gets us through.

Psalm 63

A psalm of David. When he was in the Desert of Judah.

1 You, God, are my God,
earnestly I seek you;
I thirst for you,
my whole being longs for you,
in a dry and parched land
where there is no water.

2 I have seen you in the sanctuary
and beheld your power and your glory.
3 Because your love is better than life,
my lips will glorify you.
4 I will praise you as long as I live,
and in your name I will lift up my hands.
5 I will be satisfied as with the richest of foods;
with singing lips my mouth will praise you.

6 On my bed I remember you;
I think of you through the watches of the night.
7 Because you are my help,
I sing in the shadow of your wings.
8 I cling to you;
your right hand upholds me.

9 Those who want to kill me will be destroyed;
they will go down to the depths of the earth.
10 They will be given over to the sword
and become food for jackals.

11 But the king will rejoice in God;
all who swear by God will glory in him,
while the mouths of liars will be silenced.

Follow up #1

Some weeks later we used the words of Psalm 63 (arranged in alphabetical order) in a writing exercise.

This is what I wrote:

Remember being dry
Remember being satisfied
Those who cling to God
find the power to praise him
even when parched
even in the depths

by Irene Bom

Follow up #2

Since last week I have been chalking the word “remember” in different parts of the city of Rotterdam and have inspired and equipped others to do the same in their neighbourhoods.

Further reading
Also on the theme of water (theme of the month): The wells of salvation and Quiet near a little stream

The wells of salvation

Living water Isaiah 12:3 (NIVUK) reads:

“With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.”

“wells of salvation” – plural

Many years ago I took time to meditate on this verse. I imagined that some wells have well-trodden paths leading to them and may bring us in direct contact with others as we wait in line for our turn. Other wells will be more exceptional – wells we stumbled upon by ourselves, or that someone else recommended to us. A Bible verse, a book, a role model, awe-inspiring natural beauty, a daring step of faith, a daily practice.

What well of salvation do you need to draw on today to quench your thirst for more of God in your life?

A prayer

Trusting in your goodness
and great mercy, Lord, I come:
sick – I come to my Saviour;
hungry and thirsty – to the well of Life;
needy – to the King of heaven.

Thomas á Kempis (1380-1471)
from Lord, Teach us to Pray by Nicholas Hutchinson, 1999, p. 36

Digging deeper

Two Biblical encounters that took place at a well
– Genesis 24: Eliezer meets Rebekah, future wife of Isaac
– John 4: Jesus in conversation with the Samaritan woman

Further reading
– In the school of prayer with Eddie Askew
– A well blessed woman from paintedprayerbook.com

Song
Youtube video of the 2010 Summer School of Truth in Hualien singing “Therefore with joy shall ye draw water” with gusto.

Word study: Shema

Someone in my congregation sent me a glowing commendation for The Bible Project, especially their video devoted to the first word of the ancient biblical prayer called “The Shema”.

Hear, O Israel: the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.

(Deuteronomy 6:4-5, NIVUK)

The whole Shema series is available here: https://thebibleproject.com/explore/shema-listen/

About the series

“For thousands of years Jewish people have daily prayed these words which summarize the Bible’s call for faithfulness and devotion to God. We will explore all of the key words in this prayer and what they meant in their original language and historical context.” (https://thebibleproject.com/product/word-study-shema-listen-2/)

The Gift ||| The ground we covered

The Gift

It was good to reflect with you over a twelve-day period on different aspects of “The Gift” the Father has sent to minister to us and through us as we seek to live as Jesus’ disciples and witness to the new life we have in Christ.

May the Scriptures that were featured in the series continue to bear fruit in our lives as we go forward, led by the Spirit, in step with the Spirit, living by the Spirit (Galatians 5:13, 25).

The Gift #1 : The Holy Spirit ||| Acts 1:4-5 (NIV)
On one occasion, while he was eating with the apostles, Jesus gave them this command: ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about. For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’

The Gift #2 : For the asking ||| Luke 11:13 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!’

The Gift #3 : Re-minder ||| John 14:26 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘The Advocate, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.’

The Gift #4 : Counsel ||| Luke 12:11-12 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘When you are brought before synagogues, rulers and authorities, do not worry about how you will defend yourselves or what you will say, for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that time what you should say.’

The Gift #5 : Tell me ||| John 15:26 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘When the Advocate comes, whom I will send to you from the Father – the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father – he will testify about me.’

The Gift #6 : Guidance ||| John 16:13 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘When he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.’

The Gift #7 : Traces ||| Acts 1:8 (NIV)
Jesus said: ‘You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.’

The Gift #8 : Adoption ||| Romans 8:15 (NIV)
Paul writes, ‘The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”’

The Gift #9 : Joy ||| 1 Thessalonians 1:6-7 (NIV)
Paul writes, ‘You became imitators of us and of the Lord, for you welcomed the message in the midst of severe suffering with the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia.’

The Gift #10 : In us ||| 2 Timothy 1:13-14 (NIV)
Paul writes, ‘What you heard from me, keep as the pattern of sound teaching, with faith and love in Christ Jesus. Guard the good deposit that was entrusted to you – guard it with the help of the Holy Spirit who lives in us.’

The Gift #11 : Promised ||| Ephesians 1:13-14 (NIV)
Paul writes, ‘And you also were included in Christ when you heard the message of truth, the gospel of your salvation. When you believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession – to the praise of his glory.’

The Gift #12 : Recreator ||| Titus 3:3-8 (NIV)
Paul writes: ‘At one time we too were foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions and pleasures. We lived in malice and envy, being hated and hating one another. But when the kindness and love of God our Saviour appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Saviour, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life. This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who have trusted in God may be careful to devote themselves to doing what is good. These things are excellent and profitable for everyone.’

Evening prayer #2

Edinburgh twilight, August 2016 (photo: Irene Bom)

May your angels, holy Son,
guard our homes when day is done,
when at peace, our sleep is best:
Bid them watch us while we rest.

Prince of everything that is,
High Priest of the mysteries,
let your angels, God supreme,
tell us truth dressed as a dream.

May no terror and no fright
spoil our slumber in the night;
free from care our eyelids close;
Spirit, give us prompt repose.

We have laboured through the day;
lift our burdens when we pray,
then our souls in safety keep,
that our sleep be soft and deep.

‘Evening Prayer’, attributed to St Patrick
(c. 389 – c. 461)

(translation by Michael Counsell)

Source
from 2000 Years of Prayer compiled by Michael Counsell, p. 76

Related Scriptures
Psalm 91 (many parallels)
Hebrews 4:14-16 (Jesus, our High Priest)
Genesis 28:10-22 (Jacob’s Dream at Bethel)
Matthew 11:28-30 (Jesus’ invitation to bring him our burdens)

my help / your protector

I look up to the hills,
but where will my help really come from?
My help will come from the Lord,
the Creator of heaven and earth.

He will not let you fall.
Your Protector will not fall asleep.
Israel’s Protector does not get tired.
He never sleeps.
The Lord is your Protector.
The Lord stands by your side, shading and protecting you.
The sun cannot harm you during the day,
and the moon cannot harm you at night.
The Lord will protect you from every danger.
He will protect your soul.
The Lord will protect you as you come and go,
both now and forever!

(Psalm 121, Easy-to-Read Version)

Application
Thank God for His help and protection – often behind the scenes, in ways we might never know – and pray for those in need of God’s help and protection today.

walk, run, soar

Those who hope in the Lord
    will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
    they will run and not grow weary,
    they will walk and not be faint.

Isaiah 40:31 (NIV UK)

This post touches on three key elements we find in this beautiful verse from Isaiah 40 – walking, running and soaring – explored through the medium of video/film.

It all started with the first video.
My favourite quote: “Walking is medicine for me.”

WALK (from Millican’s Meaningful Journeys)

RUN (from Chariots of Fire)

SOAR (from American Beauty) esp. first 2 minutes

From the blog
Rise up (includes a song inspired by Isaiah 40:31)

Quiet near a little stream

With spring upon us, perhaps you can make some time to sit beside a little stream and meditate.
Here is some food for thought.

The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul.

Psalm 23:1-3

from Open House for Butterflies (1960)
by children’s author Ruth Krauss (1901–1993)
with illustrations by Maurice Sendak

More verses featuring streams:

Happy are those
who do not follow the advice of the wicked,
or take the path that sinners tread,
or sit in the seat of scoffers;
but their delight is in the law of the Lord,
and on his law they meditate day and night.
They are like trees
planted by streams of water,
which yield their fruit in its season,
and their leaves do not wither.
In all that they do, they prosper.

Psalm 1:1-3

As a deer longs for flowing streams, so my soul longs for you, O God.

Psalm 42:1

By the streams the birds of the air have their habitation; they sing among the branches.

Psalm 104:12

For more about Open House for Butterflies and the special relationship between author and illustrator, see brainpickings.org.