IHS TOGETHER / EVANGELICAL CHURCH ALLIANCE INTL.

PSALM 119:25-32

25 I am laid low in the dust;

    preserve my life according to your word.

26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;

    teach me your decrees.

27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

28 My soul is weary with sorrow;

    strengthen me according to your word.

29 Keep me from deceitful ways;

    be gracious to me and teach me your law.

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

    I have set my heart on your laws.

31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;

    do not let me be put to shame.

32 I run in the path of your commands,

    for you have broadened my understanding.

Psalm 119:17-24

17 Be good to your servant while I live,

    that I may obey your word.

18 Open my eyes that I may see

    wonderful things in your law.

19 I am a stranger on earth;

    do not hide your commands from me.

20 My soul is consumed with longing

    for your laws at all times.

21 You rebuke the arrogant, who are accursed,

    those who stray from your commands.

22 Remove from me their scorn and contempt,

    for I keep your statutes.

23 Though rulers sit together and slander me,

    your servant will meditate on your decrees.

24 Your statutes are my delight;

    they are my counselors.

PSALM 119:1-16

1 Blessed are those whose ways are blameless, who walk according to the law of the LORD. 

2 Blessed are those who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart— 

3 they do no wrong but follow his ways. 

4 You have laid down precepts that are to be fully obeyed. 

5 Oh, that my ways were steadfast in obeying your decrees! 

6 Then I would not be put to shame when I consider all your commands. 

7 I will praise you with an upright heart as I learn your righteous laws. 

8 I will obey your decrees; do not utterly forsake me. 

9 How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. 

10 I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. 

11 I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. 

12 Praise be to you, LORD; teach me your decrees. 

13 With my lips I recount all the laws that come from your mouth. 

14 I rejoice in following your statutes as one rejoices in great riches. 

15 I meditate on your precepts and consider your ways. 

16 I delight in your decrees; I will not neglect your word.

Psalm 119: 25-32

25 I am laid low in the dust;

    preserve my life according to your word.

26 I gave an account of my ways and you answered me;

    teach me your decrees.

27 Cause me to understand the way of your precepts,

    that I may meditate on your wonderful deeds.

28 My soul is weary with sorrow;

    strengthen me according to your word.

29 Keep me from deceitful ways;

    be gracious to me and teach me your law.

30 I have chosen the way of faithfulness;

    I have set my heart on your laws.

31 I hold fast to your statutes, Lord;

    do not let me be put to shame.

32 I run in the path of your commands,

    for you have broadened my understanding.

Psalm 37

Instruction in Wisdom

1 Do not be agitated by evildoers;

do not envy those who do wrong.

2 For they wither quickly like grass

and wilt like tender green plants.

3 Trust in the Lord and do what is good;

dwell in the land and live securely.

4 Take delight in the Lord,

and He will give you your heart’s desires.

5 Commit your way to the Lord;

trust in Him, and He will act,

6 making your righteousness shine like the dawn,

your justice like the noonday.

7 Be silent before the Lord and wait expectantly for Him;

do not be agitated by one who prospers in his way,

by the man who carries out evil plans.

8 Refrain from anger and give up your rage;

do not be agitated—it can only bring harm.

9 For evildoers will be destroyed,

but those who put their hope in the Lord

will inherit the land.

10 A little while, and the wicked person will be no more;

though you look for him, he will not be there.

11 But the humble will inherit the land

and will enjoy abundant prosperity.

Psalm 23

The Good Shepherd

A Davidic psalm.

1 The Lord is my shepherd;

there is nothing I lack.

2 He lets me lie down in green pastures;

He leads me beside quiet waters.

3 He renews my life;

He leads me along the right paths

for His name’s sake.

4 Even when I go through the darkest valley,

I fear no danger,

for You are with me;

Your rod and Your staff they comfort me.

5 You prepare a table before me

in the presence of my enemies;

You anoint my head with oil;

my cup overflows.

6 Only goodness and faithful love will pursue me

all the days of my life,

and I will dwell in the house of the Lord

as long as I live.

Warning, No Lines Painted: from the book "The Sole Balm" by Elmon Krupnik 2017

 As I was driving home to Phoenix this past weekend late at night, a flashing road sign alerted me that road construction was ahead and that no lines were painted on the road.  The yellow and white lines on the road are important because they tell us the lanes that we are in on the highway, set the boundaries, and tell us when we can pass.  It was interesting and at times scary to be traveling down a highway late at night with no boundaries and no guidance.  It made me realize how important those lines and boundaries are for protection and for safety for myself and others.  I had taken those lines for granted.

 I thought about the lines and boundaries (laws, regulations, orders, ethics) that are the boundaries, the painted lines that govern our lives.  The purpose of those lines is to protect me and to protect others.  Without those lines in my life, my life would be without order; rather, it would be chaos.  Proverbs 2:6-8 states, “For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”  We need to ensure that our lines are based on God’s wisdom, because that will create balance in our lives and guide us in the direction that God wants us to go.  Without that guidance and balance, we will get off of the road that we should be on and lose our way.  Let us remember to look to the true source of guidance to make sure that we are walking within the right lines. 

Blessings to all,

Chaplain Krupnik

Warning, No Lines Painted: from the book "The Sole Balm" by Elmon Krupnik 2017

 As I was driving home to Phoenix this past weekend late at night, a flashing road sign alerted me that road construction was ahead and that no lines were painted on the road.  The yellow and white lines on the road are important because they tell us the lanes that we are in on the highway, set the boundaries, and tell us when we can pass.  It was interesting and at times scary to be traveling down a highway late at night with no boundaries and no guidance.  It made me realize how important those lines and boundaries are for protection and for safety for myself and others.  I had taken those lines for granted.

 I thought about the lines and boundaries (laws, regulations, orders, ethics) that are the boundaries, the painted lines that govern our lives.  The purpose of those lines is to protect me and to protect others.  Without those lines in my life, my life would be without order; rather, it would be chaos.  Proverbs 2:6-8 states, “For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”  We need to ensure that our lines are based on God’s wisdom, because that will create balance in our lives and guide us in the direction that God wants us to go.  Without that guidance and balance, we will get off of the road that we should be on and lose our way.  Let us remember to look to the true source of guidance to make sure that we are walking within the right lines. 

Blessings to all,

Chaplain Krupnik

Warning, No Lines Painted: from the book "The Sole Balm" by Elmon Krupnik 2017

 As I was driving home to Phoenix this past weekend late at night, a flashing road sign alerted me that road construction was ahead and that no lines were painted on the road.  The yellow and white lines on the road are important because they tell us the lanes that we are in on the highway, set the boundaries, and tell us when we can pass.  It was interesting and at times scary to be traveling down a highway late at night with no boundaries and no guidance.  It made me realize how important those lines and boundaries are for protection and for safety for myself and others.  I had taken those lines for granted.

 I thought about the lines and boundaries (laws, regulations, orders, ethics) that are the boundaries, the painted lines that govern our lives.  The purpose of those lines is to protect me and to protect others.  Without those lines in my life, my life would be without order; rather, it would be chaos.  Proverbs 2:6-8 states, “For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”  We need to ensure that our lines are based on God’s wisdom, because that will create balance in our lives and guide us in the direction that God wants us to go.  Without that guidance and balance, we will get off of the road that we should be on and lose our way.  Let us remember to look to the true source of guidance to make sure that we are walking within the right lines. 

Blessings to all,

Chaplain Krupnik

Warning, No Lines Painted: from the book "The Sole Balm" by Elmon Krupnik 2017

 As I was driving home to Phoenix this past weekend late at night, a flashing road sign alerted me that road construction was ahead and that no lines were painted on the road.  The yellow and white lines on the road are important because they tell us the lanes that we are in on the highway, set the boundaries, and tell us when we can pass.  It was interesting and at times scary to be traveling down a highway late at night with no boundaries and no guidance.  It made me realize how important those lines and boundaries are for protection and for safety for myself and others.  I had taken those lines for granted.

 I thought about the lines and boundaries (laws, regulations, orders, ethics) that are the boundaries, the painted lines that govern our lives.  The purpose of those lines is to protect me and to protect others.  Without those lines in my life, my life would be without order; rather, it would be chaos.  Proverbs 2:6-8 states, “For the Lord gives wisdom and from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.  He holds victory in store for the upright, he is a shield to those whose walk is blameless, for he guards the course of the just and protects the way of his faithful ones.”  We need to ensure that our lines are based on God’s wisdom, because that will create balance in our lives and guide us in the direction that God wants us to go.  Without that guidance and balance, we will get off of the road that we should be on and lose our way.  Let us remember to look to the true source of guidance to make sure that we are walking within the right lines. 

Blessings to all,

Chaplain Krupnik