Jim Gallagher

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 17-18 & Psalms 143-144

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 17- What Matters Most

2 Chronicles 17:1
“Then Jehoshaphat his son reigned in his place, and strengthened himself against Israel.”

Sometimes, when reading our way through the Bible, we come across phrases that don’t seem to make sense. This is one of those times. In this text we find the king… Read More

2 Chronicles 18- Achilles Hill

2 Chronicles 18:31
“So it was, when the captains of the chariots saw Jehoshaphat, that they said, ‘It is the king of Israel!’ Therefore they surrounded him to attack; but Jehoshaphat cried out, and the Lord helped him, and God diverted them from him.”

Greek mythology tells the story of the great warrior, Achilles, who survived many battles. As a baby, the legend foretold… Read More

Psalm 143- Seeking First

Psalm 143:1
“Hear my prayer, O Lord, give ear to my supplications!”

In Matthew 6:33 Jesus told us, in the difficulties of life, we should seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness.

In Verse 1 of this Psalm, David cries out to the Lord and we see a very clear example of what seeking the Lord… Read More 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 15-16 & Psalms 141-142

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 15- It’s That Simple

2 Chronicles 15:2
“And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: ‘Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’”

Sometimes we come across passages of Scripture that are difficult to interpret. The imagery is something… Read More

2 Chronicles 16- Warning Label

2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

There are some truths that are so powerful it seems … Read More

Psalm 141- Recipe for Success

Psalm 141:1 “Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.”

Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute.”… Read More 

Psalm 142- Complaint Department

Psalms 142:2
“I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”

Complaining is often the result of looking at the one thing that is going wrong instead of the many things that are going well. We might have a day off work, be gathering with our family at a park or at the beach, and instead of enjoying the day we begin to complain that it is too windy, too hot… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 15-16 & Psalms 141-142

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 15- It’s That Simple

2 Chronicles 15:2
“And he went out to meet Asa, and said to him: ‘Hear me, Asa, and all Judah and Benjamin. The Lord is with you while you are with Him. If you seek Him, He will be found by you; but if you forsake Him, He will forsake you.’”

Sometimes we come across passages of Scripture that are difficult to interpret. The imagery is something we do not quite understand, or we feel as though… Read More

2 Chronicles 16- Warning Label

2 Chronicles 16:9
“For the eyes of the Lord run to and fro throughout the whole earth, to show Himself strong on behalf of those whose heart is loyal to Him. In this you have done foolishly; therefore from now on you shall have wars.”

There are some truths that are so powerful it seems… Read More

Psalm 141- Recipe For Success

Psalm 141:1 “Lord, I cry out to You; make haste to me! Give ear to my voice when I cry out to You.”

Psalm 141:2 “Let my prayer be set before You as incense, the lifting up of my hands as the evening sacrifice.”

Psalm 141:8 “But my eyes are upon You, O God the Lord; in You I take refuge; do not leave my soul destitute.” … Read More 

Psalm 142- Complaint Department

Psalms 142:2
“I pour out my complaint before Him; I declare before Him my trouble.”

Complaining is often the result of looking at the one thing that is going wrong instead of the many things that are going well. We might have a day off work, be gathering with our family at a park or at the beach, and instead of enjoying the day we begin to complain that it is too windy, too hot or there are too… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 13-14 & Psalms 139-140

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 13- Storms Of Life

2 Chronicles 13:18
“Thus the children of Israel were subdued at that time; and the children of Judah prevailed, because they relied on the Lord God of their fathers.”

I spent much of my life in California before moving to Florida. The people I first met in Florida… Read More

2 Chronicles 14- Facing Giants

2 Chronicles 14:11
“And Asa cried out to the Lord his God, and said, ‘ Lord, it is nothing for You to help, whether with many or with those who have no power; help us, O Lord our God, for we rest on You, and in Your name we go against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; do not let man prevail against You!’”

King Asa, and the nation of Judah, were facing an obstacle much too great for them… Read More

Psalm 139- Searchlight

Psalm 139:23-24
“Search me, O God, and know my heart; Try me, and know my anxieties; And see if there is any wicked way in me, And lead me in the way everlasting.”

In this portion of the Psalm, David prays three things: search me, try me… Read More

Psalm 140- Cover My Head

Psalms 140:7
“O God the Lord, the strength of my salvation, You have covered my head in the day of battle.”

David was familiar with warfare. He had faced Giants and well as giant armies. He knew the dangers of hand to hand combat and there is little doubt… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 11-12 & Psalms 137-138

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 11- When God Speaks

2 Chronicles 11:4
“Thus says the Lord: ‘You shall not go up or fight against your brethren! Let every man return to his house, for this thing is from Me.’  Therefore they obeyed the words of the Lord, and turned back from… Read More
2 Chronicles 12- You Have Forsaken Me

2 Chronicles 12:5
“Thus says the Lord:‘You have forsaken Me, and therefore I also have left you in the hand of Shishak. ’”

A few years ago I was… Read More
Psalm 137- Weeping

Psalms 137:1
“By the rivers of Babylon, There we sat down, yea, we wept when we remembered Zion.”

The story of Israel is a familiar one. They were saved by the marvelous grace and mighty hand of God who provided for their needs and gave them victory over their enemies. Soon they began to… Read More

Psalm 138- Praise Him

Psalm 138:1|
“I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to You.”

David paints a picture that is familiar to all of us. He is surrounded by those who are not following Jehovah, and are feverishly pursuing other things. The false gods of the heathen… Read More

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 9-10 & Psalms 135-136

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 9- Unraveling

2 Chronicles 9:6
“However I did not believe their words until I came and saw with my own eyes; and indeed the half of the greatness of your wisdom was not told me. You exceed the fame of which I heard.”

A person, standing at a distance and looking in at Solomon’s… Read More

2 Chronicles 10- Independence

2 Chronicles 10:4
“Your father made our yoke heavy; now therefore, lighten the burdensome service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put on us, and we will serve you.”

Solomon’s expansive building projects did not come cheaply, and had a devastating effect upon the nation of Israel. The people sat under a heavy … Read More

Psalm 136- Never Ending Mercy

Psalm 136:1
“Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever.”

It has been suggested by many, this psalm was sung by the worship leaders of Israel, with the congregation serving as the choir. The Levites would sing a verse and the people would respond, “For His mercy endures forever.” Imagine thousands of travelers finally arriving in Jerusalem, for one of the great feasts, and the skilled musicians begin… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 7-8 & Psalms 133-134

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 7- Our Nation

2 Chronicles 7:14
“If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”

The bible clearly teaches God is just, and will one day judge each nation for its… Read More

Psalm 133- How Sweet It Is

Psalm 133:1
“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!”

The psalmist is calling us to action. He desperately wants our attention, and calls us to look at the brethren dwelling together in unity. The unity he was speaking of was a united desire to seek after Jehovah. This Psalm was one of the many songs… Read More
Psalm 134- Bless The Lord

Psalms 134:1-2
“Behold, bless the Lord, All you servants of the Lord, Who by night stand in the house of the Lord! Lift up your hands in the sanctuary, And bless the Lord.”

The psalmist exhorts us to enter with the congregation of God into the presence of the Lord. He tells us that we should lift our hands as we bless the Lord. I find it interesting that it is possible to bless God. I understand how… Read More

 

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 5-6 & Psalms 131-132

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 6- The Cross

2 Chronicles 6:29-30
“Whatever prayer, whatever supplication is made by anyone, or by all Your people Israel, when each one knows his own burden and his own grief, and spreads out his hands to this temple: then hear from heaven Your dwelling place, and forgive, and give to everyone according to all his ways…”
… Read More

Psalm 131- Selfie

Psalms 131:1
“Lord, my heart is not haughty, Nor my eyes lofty. Neither do I concern myself with great matters, Nor with things too profound for me.”

… Read More
Psalm 132- Priorities

Psalm 132:4-5
“I will not give sleep to my eyes or slumber to my eyelids, Until I find a place for the Lord, A dwelling place for the Mighty One of Jacob.”

This psalm is referring to a time when King David took a spiritual inventory of his life. His days of fleeing from Saul and living in… Read More

TODAY’S DAILY READING: 2 Chronicles 3-4 & Psalms 129-130

Old Testament: 2 Chronicles 3- Established

2 Chronicles 3:17
“Then he set up the pillars before the temple, one on the right hand and the other on the left; he called the name of the one on the right hand Jachin, and the name of the one on the left Boaz.”

In addition to building the Temple, Solomon had two large pillars erected, which he… Read More
2 Chronicles 4- House Of God

2 Chronicles 4:19
“Thus Solomon had all the furnishings made for the house of God…”

The primary purpose of the Temple was to serve as a place where God and man could meet, however, it also serves as an illustration of the our salvation. Each of the furnishing depicts … Read More

Psalm 129- Under Attack

Psalms 129:1
“Many a time they have afflicted me from my youth,”

Difficultly is part of the journey for the people of God. Israel as a nation has been under constant scrutiny and attack since its inception and at the same it is true of the child of God. The moment you publicly proclaim the name of Jesus… Read More
Psalm 130- Accusations

Psalm 130:3-4
“If You, Lord, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But there is forgiveness with You, that You may be feared.”

The Psalmist is rejoicing in the pardon the Lord provides. In doing so, he considers what would happen to us if the Lord treated our wrongdoings the way we do. What would happen to us if, instead of forgiving sin, God kept a detailed record of it. Instead of removing it as far as the East is from the West, or casting it into the depths of the… Read More

Psalms 128:3
“Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine
In the very heart of your house,
Your children like olive plants
All around your table.”

In the financial world it is common to speak of ROI or “Return on Investment.” Decisions are made based upon the projected returns a particular investment will bring. The greater the return the better the investment. Another term used in the financial world is “Risk Free Investment.” Which refers to an investment where you are guaranteed to get back at least what you put in. Here the psalmist is speaking of a risk free investment that will yield a massive return. He writes about marriage and family and describes a scene with the family sitting around the table enjoying sweet fellowship with one another. There are few things in life that are more beautiful than seeing a family loving and caring for one another. This scene is often depicted in movies, art and even on commercials when holidays are approaching. Sadly, the scene is not nearly as common in real life. Statistically speaking the family has been under attack for decades. According to Pew Research Center 1/2 of America’s children are living in a home that has suffered divorce or where their parents were never married.

Since the family is the backbone of society great effort has been enacted in an attempt to strengthen the family. The American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) represents more than 50,000 marriage and family therapists throughout the United States, Canada, and abroad. While these efforts are valiant and there are certainly times when professional help is necessary there may be a more effective way to change the staggering trend we are on as a nation. What if each of us were to take more seriously our role as parents and make the necessary physical, emotional and spiritual investments in our spouse and children? This type of investment is risk free. The more we pour into our families the greater returns we will later enjoy.

The Bible speaks to husbands and wives to show mutual respect to one another and to express love in tangible and even extraordinary ways. Instead of looking at all the ways your spouse is failing to meet your expectations, take the time to pour into them. Love them, cherish them, respect them and watch what kind of returns you will yield.

The Bible speaks to parents regarding the need to care for, disciple, train, provide for and raise their children to honor, love and properly fear the Lord. This is to be accomplished by spending time with them and using real life as a classroom to instill in them godly values, goals and experience. It is the responsibility of the parent to teach by example. When we learn to live for Christ and walk in grace we will be a living bible for our children to read and follow.

It is never too late! No matter what family life has been like for you it is time to increase the efforts, make the proper investments and patiently await the return you will one day yield. The Bible even promises a day when many will see their prodigal children returning home.

Pastor Jim

Questions for Psalm 128

1. In verse 1 of this psalm, we are told that the person whose life is directed by a desire to please the Lord and do things His way is a happy person.  Then we see how this attitude affects various aspects of his life.
2. Look at verse 2.  How will his vocational and financial life be affected?
3. Look at verse 3 and 6. How will his family life be affected?