Guest Blog written by: Colin Raynor

What is this entire summer reading challenge about?  It’s about growing closer to God through reading his word.  Today we read my favorite verse in the entire Bible which also relates to the whole reason we are reading God’s word all summer.  It says “Your word is a lamp to my feet, and a light to my path” Psalm 119:105.  What I love about this verse is it shows how important God’s word is.  Jesus tells us that “the road is narrow” to him.  So how can we stay on that narrow road and not veer off?  Well, this verse tells us.  When we read the Bible, God’s word, it shows us where we need to walk and live our life.  So, as we continue to go throughout every day life may we remember to take time out of our day to spend in his word so we know what decisions to make and what way to walk.

Endure:  1.  to suffer patiently   2.  remain in existence; last

Dozens of times in these psalms the writer declares, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.”  I’ve always thought of these phrases as simply saying how much God loves us.  But consider the word, “ENDURE.”  It means so much more.  It means to remain or always be there, but it also can mean – to suffer patiently.  It’s obvious that the writer is describing the unending love of the Lord, but what about the other meaning?  As I read these psalms of praise to the Lord I’m struck by the thought, the weight, and the seriousness of my sin…of our sin.  God is perfect.  I am not.  He is the opposite of sin.  In fact, it’s sin that separates us from Him.  He is HOLY.  Imagine what it must be like for a holy God to love his creation despite their sin… it must be an ENDURING kind of love.  A love that suffers patiently, yet remains steady and lasts forever.  It’s that kind of love that endured the cross.  This morning I echo the words that were written thousands of years ago…”Give thanks to the Lord, for he is GOOD!”

Guest Blog written by: Molly Watkins

Throughout these verses, God is constantly being praised for all he has done for the Israelites but he is also being called upon.  David feels as if God has turned his back on the Israelites because they are following the ways of the world.  He is pleading with God to protect them from all the awful things that have been happening to them.  He feels abandoned by God, but he refuses to give up.  David has an amazing love for the Lord.  He know God will protect them because he knows God loves them no matter what dumb things they do.

Isn’t that how we can be?  We all know God is with us and we take that for granted until something bad happens.  Then, we call upon him, begging him to protect us.  I know God hears us when we call out but I believe he is trying to teach us.  He isn’t just there when something bad happens in our lives, he is always there watching over us and protecting us.

When I read these verses, a song kept popping up in my head, “I Am Not Alone” by Kari Jobe.  It says, “I am not alone, I am not alone.  You will go before me, you will never leave me.”  Isn’t that so true?!  God is ALWAYS there. Just like David, we should always call upon God and praise him.  We should not take him for granted though.  We are all guilty of it, including myself.  But we are not alone, he goes before making a path for us and he is right there walking down that path with us.