Day 29 4/20

I opened up my QT with prayers on my heart...

-for my son to be protected from harm from swallowing a toothpick, and for wisdom for myself and my husband and doctors if need be

-for Linds mom to wake up and feel the warm sunshine and make the decision to choose Him today to lean on, not the ugliness of the past

-for my sister in law's Jill's health

-for the new mommies in my life to feel confident, empowered, not alone, and full of energy

-for clarity with the thought on my heart lately of doing some sort of mission trip? I've felt an aching or something to be exposed to how others live and to pour out God's love on them, probably more theirs on me really. I don't know

-for our political leaders once again, specifically Obama and Sarah Palin

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Decided to take a short recess from my Ch. 15 Exercise and focus my scripture towards Holy Week.

We read through Psalm 22 in Life Group and I wanted to read through it individually as well.

I was drawn to the fact that "O my Strength" was capitalized. I've never given God the name Strength. Thought that was very powerful and spent some time thinking about that. I pray for His and the Holy Spirit's strength, but I guess I have never addressed Him as "Strength". I really like that.

Also, I continue to be amazed at the accuracy in prophecy here by David.

After reading Psalm 22, I was drawn to look up specifically what Jesus said during His final hours on the cross and here is the quick study I came up with. Forgive me if I have misquoted or referenced something wrong. It is interesting to see what He did.

According to the Gospel writers here are His Words...

- "My God, My God why have You forsaken Me" (Matt 27:46, Mark 15:34, Psalm 22)

-I never caught this one before...He made arrangements for His mom, Mary to be taken care of (John 19:26-27)

-"I am thirsty" (John 19:28)

-"It is finished" (John 19:30)

-Jesus forgave a criminal next to Him hanging on the cross and promised that sinner he would be in heaven with Him that day after the man asked Him to remember him (Luke 23:43)

-"Into Your hands I commit My Spirit" (Luke 23:46)

After reading about Jesus' final hours on the cross, specifically His words, I am amazed at His intentionality, clarity, and calmness during this agonizing time, according to the Scriptures. I think He may have been praying through the Scripture as someone from my Life Group suggested. I don't know obviously and I haven't read through commentary on it, but praying was what Jesus did, all the time. Why wouldn't He have done it here? Reciting Psalm 22, may have been how He was getting through this horrendous death or maybe He was saying it for the people to hear and recognize what was happening. I don't know. I am not sure that many people could hear what He was saying, but He's God of course so He could have spoken as loud as He desired, but I think He was most likely saying it to Himself.

I do my best Lord to remember what You did for me. I am forever grateful that I will be with You in eternity because of Your Son, a perfect precious lamb slain for me.