Rumination Journal

“Once again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was cast into the sea and gathered fish of every kind. When it was full, the workers pulled the net ashore. Then they sat down and sorted the good fish into containers, but threw away the bad. “So will it be at the end of the age: The angels will come and separate the wicked from the righteous, and throw them into the fiery furnace, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. “Have you understood all these things?” “Yes,” they answered. Then Jesus told them, “For this reason, every scribe who has been taught about the kingdom of heaven is like a homeowner who brings out of their storeroom treasures both new and old.” (See Matthew 13:47-52) -

Jesus spoke more parables to the crowds: “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found the treasure, he hid it again, and in his joy, he went and sold all he had and bought that field. “Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls. When he found one very precious pearl, he went away and sold all he had and bought it.” (See Matthew 13:44-46) -

Jesus told the crowds still another parable: “To what can I compare the kingdom of God? The kingdom of God is like leaven that a woman took and mixed into three measures of flour until all of it was leavened.” (See Matthew 13:33; Luke 13:20-21) (Editor's Note: "Kingdom of...": In these series of parables of Jesus on the kingdom of God, the Gospel of Matthew uses the term "kingdom of heaven" while the Gospels of Mark and Luke use the term "kingdom of God." In these passages, the two terms are the same and the term which is used is at the preference of the writer.) -

Jesus put before the crowds another parable. He asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? With what parable shall I present it? It is like a mustard seed that a man plants in his garden. Although it is the smallest of all seeds sown upon the earth, it grows into the largest of all garden plants, becoming a tree and putting forth great branches, so that the birds of the air come and nest in the shade of its branches.” (See Matthew 13:31-32; Mark 4:30-32; Luke 13:18-19) (Editor's Note: "Kingdom of...": In these series of parables of Jesus on the kingdom of God, the Gospel of Matthew uses the term "kingdom of heaven" while the Gospels of Mark and Luke use the term "kingdom of God." In these passages, the two terms are the same and the term which is used is at the preference of the writer.) -

Jesus told the crowds another parable about the kingdom of God: “The kingdom of God is like a man who scatters seed on the ground. Each night and day he sleeps and rises, and the seed sprouts and grows, although how it does this, he does not know. All by itself, the earth produces a crop—first the stalk, then the head, then the grain ripens within the head. And when the grain is ripe, the man swings the sickle to reap, because the time for the harvest has come.” (See Mark 4:26-29) (Editor's Note: "Kingdom of...": In these series of parables of Jesus on the kingdom of God, the Gospel of Matthew uses the term "kingdom of heaven" while the Gospels of Mark and Luke use the term "kingdom of God." In these passages, the two terms are the same and the term which is used is at the preference of the writer.) -

(In observance of the season of Lent) Out of the depths, I cry to You, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice; let Your ears be attentive to my plea for mercy. If You, O LORD, kept a record of iniquities, then who, O Lord, could stand? But with You, there is forgiveness, so that You may be revered. I wait for the LORD; my soul does wait. And in His word, I put my hope. My soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning—more than watchmen wait for the morning. O Israel, put your hope in the LORD, for with the LORD is loving devotion. And with Him is abundant redemption. And He will redeem Israel from all iniquity. (See Psalm 130) -

(In observance of the season of Lent) I am the one who has seen affliction under the rod of God’s wrath. He has driven me away and made me walk in darkness instead of light. Indeed, He keeps turning His hand against me all day long. He has worn away my flesh and skin; He has shattered my bones. He has besieged me and surrounded me with bitterness and hardship. He has made me dwell in darkness like those dead for ages.  He has walled me in so I cannot escape; He has weighed me down with chains. Even when I cry out and plead for help, He shuts out my prayer. He has barred my ways with cut stones; He has made my paths crooked. He is a bear lying in wait, a lion hiding in ambush. He forced me off my path and tore me to pieces; He left me without help. He bent His bow and set me as the target for His arrow. He pierced my kidneys with His arrows. I am a laughingstock to all my people; they mock me in song all day long. He has filled me with bitterness; He has intoxicated me with wormwood...

(In observance of the season of Lent) Blow the ram’s horn in Zion; sound the alarm on My holy mountain! Let all who dwell in the land tremble, for the Day of the LORD is coming; indeed, it is near—a day of darkness and gloom, a day of clouds and blackness. Like the dawn overspreading the mountains a great and strong army appears, such as never was of old, nor will ever be in ages to come. Before them, a fire devours, and behind them, a flame scorches. The land before them is like the Garden of Eden. But behind them, it is like a desert wasteland—surely nothing will escape them. Their appearance is like that of horses, and they gallop like swift steeds. With a sound like that of chariots, they bound over the mountaintops, like the crackling of fire consuming stubble, like a mighty army deployed for battle. Nations writhe in horror before them; every face turns pale. They charge like mighty men; they scale the walls like men of war. Each one marches in formation, not swerving from the co...

(In observance of the season of Lent) Prove me right, O God, and champion my cause against an ungodly nation. Deliver me from deceitful and unjust people. For You are the God of my refuge. Why have You rejected me? Why must I walk in sorrow because of the enemy’s oppression? Send out Your light and Your truth. Let them lead me. Let them bring me to Your holy mountain, and to the place where You dwell. Then I will go to the altar of God, to God, my greatest joy. I will praise You with the harp, O God, my God. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior, and my God. (See Psalm 43) -

(In observance of the season of Lent) As the deer pants longingly for streams of water, so my soul longs after You, O God. My soul thirsts for God, the living God. When will I come and be in God’s presence? My tears have been my food day and night, while people ask me all day long, “Where is your God?” These things I remember as I pour out my soul: how I walked with the multitude, leading the procession to the house of God with shouts of joy and praise. Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why the unease within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him for the salvation of His presence. O my God, my soul despairs within me. So, I choose to remember You from the land of Jordan and the peaks of Hermon—even from Mount Mizar. Deep calls to deep in the roar of Your waterfalls. All Your breakers and Your waves have rolled over me. The LORD commands His steadfast love by day, and His song is with me in the night as a prayer to the God of my life. I say to God, my Rock, “Why have You for...

(In observance of the season of Lent) “In my distress, I called to the LORD, and He answered me. From the belly of Sheol, I cried. You heard my voice. For You threw me into the depths, into the heart of the seas. The current swirled about me. All Your breakers and waves swept over me. I said, ‘I have been banished from Your sight, yet I will look again toward Your holy temple.’ “The waters surrounded me to take my life. The watery depths closed around me. The seaweed wrapped around my head. I descended to the roots of the mountains. The earth beneath me barred me in forever! But You raised my life from the pit, O LORD my God! “As my life faded away, I remembered the LORD. My prayer went up to You, to Your holy temple. Those who cling to worthless idols forsake His loving devotion. But I, with the voice of thanksgiving, will sacrifice to You. I will fulfill what I have vowed. Salvation is from the LORD!” (See Jonah 2:2-9) -

(In observance of the season of Lent) Then Job replied to the LORD: “I know that You can do anything and that no plan of Yours can be prevented. You asked, ‘Who is this who hides My counsel without knowledge?’ Surely I spoke of things I did not understand, things too wonderful for me to know. You said, ‘Listen, now. I will speak. I will question you, and you will answer Me.’ I had heard you. But now I have seen You. So, I take back what I said, and I repent in dust and ashes.” (See Job 42:1-6) -

(In observance of the season of Lent) Have mercy on me, God, according to your steadfast love. According to the greatness of Your compassion, blot out my transgressions.  Wash me clean of my iniquity. Cleanse me from my sin.  For I know my transgressions. My sin is ever before me.  Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, so that You are justified when You speak, and blameless when You judge.  Surely, I was born in iniquity. In sin, my mother conceived me.  Surely, You desire truth in the inmost being. You teach me wisdom in the inmost place.  Purify me with hyssop, and I will be clean. Wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.  Let me hear joy and gladness. Let the bones which You have crushed rejoice.  Hide Your face from my sins. Blot out all of my iniquities.  Create in me a clean heart, O God. Renew a steadfast spirit within me.  Don’t cast me away from Your presence. Don't take Your Holy Spirit from ...