1)Verse 1 “Do not judge, or you too will be judged” – sometimes i wonder is this verse used too often to defend oneself? Say, if i did something wrong, some brethren came to correct me. And in my defensive mode, i would use this verse to rebuke them. Anyway, if we first inspect ourselves and correct ourselves, then we wouldn’t have the problem of getting corrected by others.;)

2) Verse 7 Ask, Seek, Knock. I always wonder… Does God grant all your pursuit in life?.. this verse is often used in spiritual pursuit (i.e seeking God). But how about our physical needs? lets say, your career, relationship, healing, deliverance from sickness etc… I hope some deacon/preacher would kindly advise me. Thanks.

3) Verse 24 “…hears these words of mine and puts them into practice…” How long have we hear the word of God? 1 yr, 3 yrs, over 20 years? Yes, we may have heard or even wearily of listening to the same sermons over and over again. But, have we put what we hear into practise. Eg. Do we still bear grudges? any anger? etc…

This comes to mind:
“He found him in a desert land and in the wasteland, a howling wilderness;
He encircled him, He instructed him,
He kept him as the apple of His eye.” (Deut 32:10)

Our God is a just and righteous God. As He requires of His children, the same He does for them, even to double and frequently many times more.

He requires that we keep His commands and laws as we protect the apple of our eye.

In turn, He keeps us as the apple of His eye too. Even much more,
2 times: He finds us,
3 times: He encircles us,
4 times: He instructs us,
5 times: He takes us up, carrying us on the wings to ride on high hills of teh earth (Isa 58:14)
…N times: He alone leads us to life.

Do we protect His words as the apple of our eye?

Do we see the world through His words as we see through the apple of our eyes? If not, are we blind?

(Word=Apple=Wisdom)

For mutual encouragement, please pardon me if i m too blunt:
From Gen 15 to 18, besides from Sarai to Sarah, did any other things change for Sarai/Sarah?

May be she passed the age of child bearing. The chin bible records directly as 她的月经停了 (Gen 12:5, Gen 16:2, Gen 18:11 and Gen 21:1)

May be this is a difference between man and woman. (1 Pet 3:7)

Yes, i believe that i am created in the image and likeness of my Heavenly Father too.

Yes, i want to go back to the home in heaven. And God says can, till now.

A man who commits adultery his soul died, so does the woman who commits adultery with him.

This is a simple reasoning.

This is a simple understanding.

The snare of adultery is very real for both.

Lord Jesus taught that there is a mental adultery.

Is there something called active adultery and passive adultery? For example the way we dress.

Prov 6:35 He will accept no recompense, nor will he be appeased though you give many gifts.

God is holy.

How would He be appeased when His bride commits adultery, mentally or otherwise?

Did you read it yet?

What does it sound like to you?

The Psalmist asks, “Who can live in the house of God and in His holy hill?” And then he carries on and gives a list of the qualities of those who can…

Blamelessly….

Uprightly…..

Truthfully…

It’s easy to read and yet not easy to read. Cause when I look at myself and see where I stand…

There is lots of improvement for me to go… and I don’t like to be reminded of it!

I will never, in this life be able to measure up to the standard of Christ.

But this does not mean I should give up.

And this does not mean that even though I wish I can stop reading Psalm 15 that I should stop reading it…

Because this is still the goal that I should strive for.

And pretty much what OurKing’sWatchman says…

To love others as He did. To walk in truth. To be so connected to the Father that everything I do and say is only what the Father does and says.

To do justly…

To love mercy…

And to walk humbly before our God.

So that I can too in the end live in the tabernacle of our Lord.

Although we may be simple folks or inexperience in life(v7), this verses give us a heads up on the vileness of this world. Just like docile ox (v22), if without understanding about the danger ahead, he will walk right into the slaughter.

Therefore, let us continue to pursue wisdom and understanding… It will indeed save us from dangerous blind spots.

In line with the above thought, I am thinking, Are we quick to portray ourselves as victim (in self-defense)when we are actually the cause of all that happen? In the case of King David, yes i agree his situation is very dire… have been tormented by his enemies etc.. but have we consider why? why all these happen to King David? Didn’t God thru prophet Nathan announced King David’s sentence? i.e because of Uriah incident, sword will never depart from his house(2 Samuel 12:9-10).

Therefore, let us examine ourselves rather than pointing or hating our enemies. To build up ourselves spiritually. I am not perfect, let us all learn to together.

Other verses that i like is Psalm 13.

v1 to 2 – Reminds me of my reaction when things in life isn’t going well. When God didn’t answer you, does it means He has forgotten about you? Have we ever, in our lowest point, question God before? Do we have 100% consistent faith in God? Even Abraham has his weaknesses. ie. He can’t wait for the promise of Lord and bore Ishmael thru Hagar his handmaiden. And later the Promised son, Isaac, thru Sarah.

v3 – again, it reminds me the self-righteous of David. Who can really see God face to face? Let alone, demanding God to “look at him and answer”.

v5 -6 Reminds me to always look upon God always. To look beyond current trial and tribulation, and upon His unfailing love. To rejoice in Him and sing praises to Him. I understand it is hard to do in times of affliction. I too need to learn. Look at Peter, he manage to walk on water when his eyes are on Jesus. And he sunk when he look at the raging waters. Perhaps, we too need to focus on God and all around us will be at peace.

One of my fave hymn: Turn your eyes upon Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p_t2sGfsQ8

I really like the idea of having two versions (Eng/Chi).