January 1st, 2023 - Self-Examination

Scripture Passage:  Psalm 139 

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Next Steps

Self-Examination

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Psalms: emotive spiritual poems.

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Known by God

You have searched me, Lord, and you know me... you are familiar with all my ways.

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Intimate or Intimidating?

Close or Controling?

5 You hem me in behind and before, and you lay your hand upon me?

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Rhetorical or Rebellious?

7 Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence?

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Transformative Presence

12 even the darkness will not be dark to you; the night will shine like the day, for darkness is as light to you.

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Appreciating first first formation

14 I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.

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Foreknowledge: Relational or Static?

16 Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.

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Starting fresh with God daily

17 How precious to me are your thoughts, God! How vast is the sum of them!
 18 ...when I awake, I am still with you.

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How does this fit?

19 If only you, God, would slay the wicked! Away from me, you who are bloodthirsty! ....

21 Do I not hate those who hate you, Lord,   ...?

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Hate the hate within

23 Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts.  24 See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.

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Pattern for Practice (Examen):

Let God search you.

First Formation

Evil worth hating

Truth telling

Repeat repeatedly