December 5, 2008

January 5
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Genesis 11:1-13:4
Matthew 5:1-26
Psalm 5:1-12
Proverbs 1:24-28

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Hello everyone! I hope everyone is enjoying our "through the bible in a year" trek. today's readings are very interesting. As we continue through Genesis we are beginning to get a picture of Abraham. Pay attention to Abraham for it is to him that God promises to bless the nations, the entire world! Through Abraham and through the nation of Israel God will bring forth salvation for the world. Through this nation, Jesus is promised and Jesus is come! This allows us to understand Matthew and why he talks so much about Jesus "fulfilling" what the prophets said. The Bible makes sense as a whole and the more you read the more you'll understand, though we will always be learning because God's word is living. The Psalms continue to provide us with wonderful reflections on God's care for his people and the punishment of the wicked. God's justice will prevail in the end! Finally, Proverbs is a reading that will continue throughout the year and helps us to stay focused upon the quest for wisdom through the reading of God's word.

January 4

Today's Bible reading has both Proverbs and a teaching from Jesus teaching the same thing. I think it's clear that this teaching hasn't changed from the Old Testament to the New Testament. Can anyone tell me what it is?

Genesis 8:1-10:32
Matthew 4:12-25
Psalm 4:1-8
Proverbs 1:20-23

Thoughts on today's readings

Genesis...

Today's reading in Genesis is a wonderful account of the dawn of humanity as it continued in rebellion against the Lord of creation. Our Lord nonetheless is concerned with maintaining a distinctive presence amongst his people. No matter how things get, the Lord will always preserve a way for his people to seek and find his face and his will. The Bible constantly speaks of that balance between God's justice and God's redeeming love for this world.

Matthew...

"I baptize you with^[a] water for repentance. But after me will come one who is more powerful than I, whose sandals I am not fit to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire."

Here we read of so many particulars of God's redemption of us through Christ. John's baptism is of repentance. This repentance prepares the way, in the lives of his people, the way for the work of redemption. The Holy Spirit is promised, this Spirit will be God's means of applying Christ's cleansing sacrifice to his people. We should hang on every word as we realize the true meaning of our redemption in Christ!

Psalms...

No matter what enemy we may face in this life, we must always remind ourselves that God is on our side. This may comfort us on all sides!

Proverbs...

wow. this is a sobering reminder of where the motivations of the Godless derive. Those who are committed to their own ways, to living to please their own wants and desires will do anything to attain their ways. To commit ourselves to the way of the Lord requires us to submit our wills and desires to the wills and desires of our creator.

January 3rd -- Please pray for Pop

Howdy

Would you please pray for my step-father. You young men probably remember me asking you to pray for him to be rid of cancer. Mama & I took him to the hospital last night. He's not in a life-threatening situation, but it's not good either.

Genesis 5:1-7:24
Matthew 3:7-4:11
Psalm 3:1-8
Proverbs 1:10-19

After breakfast I'm going to get to eat some of the Word. Put on your swim trunks & take a deep breath -- today we read about a lot of folks treadin' water. :)

January 2 Bible Reading

Good morning, Bible Thumpers!

Below are the 4 passages of the Bible for today. I'll definitely delve into them on my lunch break. I can't wait until we get to 1st Samuel! :)

Genesis 3:1-4:26
Matthew 2:13-3:6
Psalm 2:1-12
Proverbs 1:7-9

January 1 fixed

Here are the links again. This time I hope they're fixed. :)


Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1:1-6
Proverbs 1:1-6

January 1 Bible Reading

Here are today's Bible verses:
Genesis 1:1-2:25
Matthew 1:1-2:12
Psalm 1
Proverbs 1:1-6

Oh, what a beautiful morning! Oh, what a beautiful year!

I'm starting the year off with a commitment to re-read the Bible this year. Why read something I've already read? (Try saying that last question with an Elmer Fudd voice. :) ) Because I forget things, because the world doesn't stop repeating its message, and because the Lord is worth focusing on every day.

Before you read it, pray about it. Pray that you get the point, that you believe it so much you LILYMI (Live It Like Ya Mean It), that you have the ability to tell others about it, and that you get addicted so the Word you keep coming back for more.

When you read it, tell us what you think about it.