Judges

Pray- Austria
Austria, like many European countries, has a majority of people who believe in God, but not many who practice their faith.  I have been to Austria for a few days, and I think it is the most beautiful place I've ever visited.  While we were there, we went to several churches.  They are huge and old and beautifully made and empty.  Pray for leaders to grow congregations and for the younger generation who do not see a need for church.

Judges 1-3
Joshua has died and the Israelites are still conquering parts of the land, but they have started letting the people live.  The Lord has told them that they did not keep the covenant with Him by allowing the people to live in the land with them so He will no longer drive out their enemies before them and they will be snared by false gods.  The people wept when they heard this.  But, just as God said, the people began to chase after other gods... actually, it says they whored after other gods.  Pretty strong language.  Because of this, the Israelites ended up serving other nations.  When they would finally cry out in repentance to God, He would raise up a judge to save them.  The first three mentioned are Othniel, Ehud, and Shamgar.  Ehud has the most mention, as a left-handed man.  He was able to sneak a sword in when he visited the king (who was REALLY fat) and killed the king, then rallied the people to go and fight the Moabites.  And there was peace for a few years with each judge.

Luke 22:14-34
Jesus meets with His disciples in the upper room and gives them bread and wine as symbols of His body and blood.  Then they ask who is the greatest among them.  Jesus asks if a servant or master is greater.  Obviously, among our standards, the master is greater, but He assures them that He has come as a servant and they should make themselves like the youngest and one who serves.  Then Jesus tells Peter that he will deny Him three times before the rooster crows that day.

Psalm 92-93
92 "It is good to give thanks to the Lord, to sing praises to your name, O Most High; to declare your steadfast love in the morning, and your faithfulness by night, to the music of the lute and the harp, to the melody of the lyre.  For you, O Lord, have made me glad by your works; at the works of your hand I sing for joy."... "The righteous are like the palm tree and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.  They are planted in the house of the Lord; they flourish in the courts of our God.  They still bear fruit in old age; they are ever full of sap and green, to declare that the Lord is upright; he is my rock, and there is no unrighteousness in him."  I love these verses!

Proverbs 14:1-2
"The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down."  Lord, teach me to be wise!