August 8, 2019 
The word Sabbath means to cease.  So as Dr. Brooks is away on sabbatical, we will be using his original devotionals from 2009 on the book of Psalms.  He will resume The Bible Project devotionals upon his return.  Thank you for reading with us and praying for him as he replenishes his soul for the next seven years of ministry.
Psalm 65
1 Praise awaits you, our God, in Zion;
    to you our vows will be fulfilled.
2 You who answer prayer,
    to you all people will come.
3 When we were overwhelmed by sins,
    you forgave our transgressions.
4 Blessed are those you choose
    and bring near to live in your courts!
We are filled with the good things of your house,
    of your holy temple.
5 You answer us with awesome and righteous deeds,
    God our Savior,
the hope of all the ends of the earth
    and of the farthest seas,
6 who formed the mountains by your power,
    having armed yourself with strength,
7 who stilled the roaring of the seas,
    the roaring of their waves,
    and the turmoil of the nations.
8 The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders;
    where morning dawns, where evening fades,
    you call forth songs of joy.
9 You care for the land and water it;
    you enrich it abundantly.
The streams of God are filled with water
    to provide the people with grain,
    for so you have ordained it.
10 You drench its furrows and level its ridges;
    you soften it with showers and bless its crops.
11 You crown the year with your bounty,
    and your carts overflow with abundance.
12 The grasslands of the wilderness overflow;
    the hills are clothed with gladness.
13 The meadows are covered with flocks
    and the valleys are mantled with grain;
    they shout for joy and sing.

New International Version (NIV)
What would God get if he received what he deserved?  “Praise awaits you O God in Zion;”  People will come to God and fulfill their vows.  Why should we worship God?

God deserves worship and obedience because he is the only one who can forgive our sins when they overwhelm us.  He is the only one who fills our emptiness with the good things of his house.  God answers!  Isn’t that good news.  In a world where many do not return their e-mails or calls, God never misses.  And when he answers it is with awesome deeds of righteousness.  No wonder God our Savior is the hope of all the ends of the earth!    He who formed the mountains and stilled the roaring seas calls forth songs of joy.

I associate this psalm with December 31.  For many years now, I have read a single psalm a day, each day for 365 days of the year.  So on the third time through the psalms, I always come to this one on or near the last day of the year.  Listen again to verse 8:  “Where morning dawns and evening fades, you call forth songs of joy.”  As the morning of a new year dawns, as an old year goes away, God calls forth our joyful songs.  Even the beauty of nature shouts for joy and sings to our God.  Not every day is a happy day for us.  But today can be!  Give God your worship and your obedience.  He really deserves them!
This year our Every Day with Jesus readings will follow The Bible Project Read Scripture Plan.  Copies of this reading plan are available at Tallowood Baptist Church, or download 
the app at readscripture.org.  Read through the Bible with us in 2019!
Joyfully, 
Duane 

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