Week 30. Don't be afraid

We were traveling in Scotland for the last couple weeks.  I took the Daily Walk Bible with me but I confess that I got behind on the daily reading in Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon. I do pledge to catch up those books.  Now, I have resumed reading in Isaiah.

I loved these verses in Chapter 32:
"The Lord's justice will dwell in the desert, his righteousness live in the fertile field, 
the fruit of that righteousness will be peace, its effect will be quietness and confidence forever.  

My people will live in peaceful dwelling places, in secure homes, in undisturbed places of rest.  

Though hail flattens the forest and the city is leveled completely, how blessed you will be, sowing your seed by every stream, and letting your cattle and donkeys range free."

There is much that I do not understand about what I am reading in Isaiah.  I think some of it was prophecy that has been fulfilled, and some of it has not been fulfilled yet.  But what I do understand is that no matter what happens, God will take care of His people and we can have peace, quietness and confidence in Him.

Chapter 40 of Isaiah contains many of the scriptures used in Handel's "Messiah".  Did you recognize them?

One little side note: the word "islands" was used 7 times in Isaiah Chapter 40 - 42.   I wonder why.  I guess I noticed it because we visited the Orkney Islands last week in Scotland.  I was aware of God's presence there, in those remote locations.  His presence fills the earth.

The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth.  He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. (Isaiah 40: 28)


...So do not fear, for I am with you, do not be dismayed, for I am  your God.  
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand...
for I am the Lord your God
who takes hold of your right hand and says to you,
Do not fear; I will help you. (Isaiah 41: 10, 13.) 

Here is a beautiful daily prayer in Isaiah 33: 2:
Lord, be gracious to us;
we long for you.
Be our strength every morning,
our salvation in time of distress.

So, we will keep reading, till next week,
Deep Peace of Christ to you,
Audrey 

Week 27, 28, 29. Half Way Through the Bible!

We are traveling in Scotland for a couple weeks so I am combining week 27, 28, and 29.

On June 30, we were at the half way point through the Bible!  We can do this!
We have finished Psalms.  There were many familiar ones and I discovered some new ones.
I especially liked Psalms 145.
verse 13:  "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations."  What a wonderful meditation!

and Psalms 148 is a great song of praise.  All creation praises God.

Proverbs has been interesting.  Again, we are listening to it it in the Message version.  
...Lots of practical wisdom.  It is interesting to think of wise King Solomon (who we read about previously) writing down all these insights because God gave him such wisdom.  We should all use our minds  more and live better.  Common sense would prevent so much heartache and so many mistakes.

While we are in Scotland, we will be reading Ecclesiastes and the Song of Songs and Isaiah.  We will take our "Daily Walk" Bible with us and will try to stay on schedule to read each day.

No matter where we travel on this earth, we are never away from God.

Psalms 145:13   "Your kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and your dominion endures through all generations."


Keep reading, and  till next time,  here is a Scottish blessing:

Deep peace of the running wave to you.
Deep peace of the flowing air to you.
Deep peace of the quiet earth to you.
Deep peace of the shining stars to you.
Deep peace of the gentle night to you.
Moon and stars pour their healing light on you.
Deep peace of Christ,
of Christ the light of the world to you.
Deep peace of Christ to you.

Week 26. Cultivating a Quiet Heart…

We almost finished the Psalms during week 26.   

 We are still listening to the “Message” version of Psalms on our phone app as we read along in our Daily Walk Bible, and will probably  continue with the “Message” version for Proverbs, too, because it is contemporary and enables us to listen in a fresh way. 

There are so many verses in the Psalms that I have underlined and highlighted.

Here is a treasure in the NIV:  PS 119, verse 18: 

Open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law.

And I love the verses about meditating.  As we fill our minds with thoughts of God’s power and majesty and love, we find ourselves worrying less, and feeling more peaceful, no matter what challenges each day brings. His love endures forever. 

I discovered Psalm 131 during week 26….  A Psalm of Contentment…Here it is from the Message version:

God, I’m not trying to rule the roost,
    I don’t want to be king of the mountain.
I haven’t meddled where I have no business
    or fantasized grandiose plans.

 I’ve kept my feet on the ground,
    I’ve cultivated a quiet heart.
Like a baby content in its mother’s arms,
    my soul is a baby content.

Wait, Israel, for God. Wait with hope.
    Hope now; hope always!

and here is Psalms 131, beautifully interpreted  in the Good News Translation...

  

 What a beautiful image of quiet trust.  

In these days of worldwide unrest, we can cultivate a quiet heart. 

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 25. The LORD is robed in majesty.

Week 25’s readings through Psalm 73 – 106 included many beautiful verses about nature.   Psalm 93 reminded me especially of the ocean.  

Here are some of my ocean photos with Psalm 93:

“The LORD reigns, he is robed in majesty;

The LORD is robed in majesty and armed with strength;

Indeed, the world is established, firm and secure.

Your throne was established long ago;

You are from all eternity.

The seas have lifted up, LORD,

The seas have lifted up their voice;

The seas have lifted up their pounding waves.

Mightier than the thunder of the great waters,

Mightier than the breakers of the sea-

The LORD on high is mighty.

Your statues, LORD, stand firm;

Holiness adorns your house

For endless days.

Nature reminds us of God’s awesome power.  And we are also reminded of God’s faithfulness, because no matter what is happening, the sun rises and the sun sets…the tide rises and the tide falls…and the seasons continue year after year. 

“Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me! “

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 24. Step out of the traffic

Week 24:  We finished reading BOOK ONE of the Psalms, and we also discovered a refreshing way to hear the Psalms:  through “The Message” version, on our Bible phone app.

We tried it one day and wow, it makes the Psalms come alive in a fresh and surprising way.  The reader is young and the language is contemporary.  So the familiar verses are heard in a new way.  We have decided to use The Message version on the phone app for the remainder of Psalms, to LISTEN daily as we read along in our Daily Walk Bible.

Example:  Psalm 46: 10 in the NIV says: “Be still and know that I am God…,” but in The Message, it says: “Step out of the traffic, and take a long loving look at me…” 

I have thought of that several times in the past week.  I am grateful that I can enter the mystery of God’s calming presence at any time, and at any place, and in any circumstance. 

Psalms 70 in The Message: “God!  Please hurry to my rescue!  God, come quickly to my side!” 

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 23. June 7. The LORD is our refuge.

We finally arrived at the book of Psalms!  It is a refreshing pause and feels good to me to read this book during these sunny summer days.  

I think the Introduction on page 593 is interesting…that the psalms compiled into this book were written by at least 7 authors and span about 1,000 years, and compiled into 5 books. 

So this was the temple hymnbook…I wonder what the music sounded like when they were sung long ago. 

We all have favorite verses.  They bring us joy, comfort and peace.  But one thing that has always disturbed me a little bit about the Psalms is how you are reading a pleasant Psalm and then, right in the middle of it; the psalmist is hating his enemies and asking God to destroy the wicked.  Psalm 11 verse 5 & 6 is a good example:

“The LORD examines the righteous, but he wicked, those who hate love violence, he hates with a passion.  On the wicked he will rain fiery coals and burring sulfur; a scorching wind will be their lot.”

Wow!…

I have never really had any enemies in my life, so I could never identify with this before.  But as I started reading through Psalms last week, I thought of the world’s new enemy, “ISIS” , every time I  read about the “wicked” or “enemies” and it made so much more sense.  So, when I am afraid of terrorist attacks, when I feel a sense of doom,  & when I despair over all the bad news in the world, I now think of the Psalms and  remember that my security is from God.   Seeing things from this perspective changes everything.

Psalm 4: verse 8:   “In peace I will l lie down and sleep, for you alone, LORD, make me dwell in safety.”

“The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.  Those who know your name trust in you, for you, LORD, have never forsaken those who seek you. “ Psalm 9: 9, 10.

May true peace fill our hearts and minds as we keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 22, Well, shut my mouth!

May 31.  We have finished reading the book of Job this week.

I found chapter 28 interesting as it described mining.  I imagine that in ancient times, people would discover an underground vein of gold or precious stones and minerals from tracing a stream into an underground cavern.  (verse 10)  And the analogy is: wisdom is like that, you can find it, but you don't create it.  It is there for the discovering because it already exists in God.  And it is precious.

I found chapter 29 to be depressing.  It seems to describe a dying person who is struggling with depression.  Chapter 30 describes the pain and utter sadness of dying.   "And now my life ebbs away; days of suffering grip me.  Night pierces my bones; my gnawing pains never rest. ...I cry out to you, God, but you do not answer; I stand up, but you merely look at me." (v. 16, 17, 20)
One thing is for sure, all humans suffer at some time or another and if we can remember to see people that way, it changes everything.

Then, we finally came to Chapter 38 when the Lord speaks.  Everything changes.  

Job's response is "well, shut my mouth" (my translation)  There is nothing more to say.  God is God.  who are we to argue with Him or even to try to figure out what He is doing?  All we can do is say "OK, yes."

So what can we take from Job: God is sovereign over the Earth and no matter what happens to us in this life, we know that our Redeemer lives.  I have had that on my mind all week.  There are several versions under the title " I know that my Redeemer lives" 

Here are the words to the hymn by Samuel Medly.  It is still as true today as it was when written in the 1700's, and as it was centuries before Christ was born, when Job declared it:  

"I Know that My Redeemer Lives"
by Samuel Medley, 1738-1799

I know that my Redeemer lives;
What comfort this sweet sentence gives!
He lives, He lives, who once was dead;
He lives, my ever-living Head.

He lives triumphant from the grave,
He lives eternally to save,
He lives all-glorious in the sky,
He lives exalted there on high.

He lives to bless me with His love,
He lives to plead for me above.
He lives my hungry soul to feed,
He lives to help in time of need.

He lives to grant me rich supply,
He lives to guide me with His eye,
He lives to comfort me when faint,
He lives to hear my soul's complaint.

He lives to silence all my fears,
He lives to wipe away my tears
He lives to calm my troubled heart,
He lives all blessings to impart.

He lives, my kind, wise, heavenly Friend,
He lives and loves me to the end;
He lives, and while He lives, I'll sing;
He lives, my Prophet, Priest, and King.

He lives and grants me daily breath;
He lives, and I shall conquer death:
He lives my mansion to prepare;
He lives to bring me safely there.

He lives, all glory to His name!
He lives, my Jesus, still the same.
Oh, the sweet joy this sentence gives,
"I know that my Redeemer lives!"

Now we get to move into the Psalms.  YEAH!  
Till next week, keep  reading.......

 

Week 21. Job, Misery Loves Company.

We spend  2 weeks reading Job.  It really helps to remember that Job is one of the oldest books of the Bible, and the books of the Bible are not in Chronological  order.  Job is grouped with the books of poetry (Job, Psalm, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.)

 I find this very interesting:

I'll have to admit; Job is not my favorite book.  After all, who wants to read about the pit of depression and slew of despair?  And the scriptures are not really favorite ones to hide in your heart.  But smack-dab right there in all that primitive thinking is s shining star:

You have to wonder: how did Job know that?    God simply revealed himself to Job, and Job recognized God as his redeemer.  And Job knew about eternal life.  Wow. 

And in the midst of despair and dark days, Job knew that God was in control of everything that was happening.  Knowing that can give us hope during our dark times, too.  And it kinda puts everything into a different perspective.  

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 20 Esther, the Beautiful Queen

Week 20 Esther, the Beautiful Queen

I found the book of Esther to be a refreshing pause in our reading last week.  As I read, it seemed like a novel, or a screenplay for a movie.  Esther had a lot of courage.  She was someone we would admire because she was beautiful on the inside as well as her external beauty.  God always looks at our heart.  

  Of course, at the end, there was the impaling of Haman and then the horrifying mass murder.  

The feast pf Purim is interesting.  It seems to me that Purim has evolved into a holiday that looks a lot like Mardi Gras and it is about the same time of year.  This year’s Bible readings have helped me understand  the Jewish history and celebrations better. 

It is helpful to remember that God’s sovereignty continues as it always has throughout history...people who pay attention to what is happening and honor God with their choices are always blessed.  Sometimes in this life, sometimes in the future. 

...And we continue our reading this week in the ancient book of Job. 

Week 19

I am late this week.  This one will be brief.  Last week, we finished reading Ezra and Nehemiah.  I really liked reading all the references in Nehemiah 11, 12, & 13 to music and musicians.  I wonder what the music sounded like.  Again, I see references to Sabbath. 

I still look forward to reading every day.  But I am really looking forward to reading The Psalms soon. 

Keep reading ….Audrey 

Week 18. May 3. Good King, Bad King…

This week we finished reading 2 Chronicles.  Wow, what a series of Good Kings and Bad Kings, Good Kings and Bad Kings…

One of those “bad kings” Jehoram, died “to no one’s regret” and wasn't even honored in his death with the usual funeral custom or buried with the other kings.  He must have been extra bad. (chapter 21, verse 20.)

The story of Joash, the boy king was interesting.  I wonder how you hide a little boy for 6 or 7 years… 

I liked reading about King Uzziah. He started good but ended badly.  I understood how he “loved the soil” (chapter 26, verse 10) because I do, too.  I liked that “as long as he sought the Lord, God gave him success. “ (verse 5) But “after he became powerful, his pride led to his downfall.”  (verse 16)

I enjoyed Chapter 29; reading about how they cleaned up and repaired and purified the temple. Verse 34 was interesting when they brought so many animals for offerings that there were not enough priests to skin them all (verse 34) so they had to go get their relatives to help them.   I cannot imagine what was like. 

Again, we read about the fall of Jerusalem into the hands of Nebuchadnezzar in chapter 36.  And in the midst of the fire and destruction of the beautiful temple and the people becoming servants, there is the interesting verse 21 about the land enjoying its Sabbath rest for 70 years… Another reminder that Sabbath is very important to God. 

And now as we begin Ezra, we get to see the temple being rebuilt.  It was built with such “large stones” that people were still commenting about them 500 years later (Mark 13:1).

When the new foundation was laid, some people shouted for joy and some wept, but it was really loud.

I was at “The Cove” (the Billy Graham Training Center in Asheville, NC) this week visiting a friend and had a few minutes to stop by the Chatlos Chapel there.  I loved this inscription on this stone at the entrance.

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 17. April 26. Honest Intent.

Week 17.  April 26

This past week, we read about the grand temple that Solomon built.  It must have been a beautiful building, and everything was covered with gold.  

I love the fact that David had been given all the instructions and the design for the temple by God.  (1 Chronicles chapter 28, especially verse 19.)  Even though he didn't get to build it, or live to see it, David must have spent many hours thinking about it, and drawing the blueprints and drawing models and planning.  And it was amazing to read about all the preparations and ordering all the materials: the cedar logs and the metals, & hiring all the craftsmen and artisans who did the work… and he also planned carefully for the administration of all the money and property, and the organization of the perpetual work of the temple.  

Did you catch that the priests were divided into groups who served in the temple for 2 weeks a year. This plan was still being used when Jesus was living; see Luke chapter 1, verses 5 and 8-10.    (by the way, in the middle of that long list of priests names on page 453, I liked the name “Happizzez” (verse 15)  (it’s a happy name)

The insight in the section we read on April 20 was interesting to me.  Sounds like the temple was re-built or re-modeled several times over history.  And how interesting it is, that the site of Solomon’s temple was the same place where Abraham and Isaac went to make the sacrifice when God provided the lamb (instead of Isaac).  Our scriptures this week called the site the threshing floor of Araunah, which is the same as Mt Moriah.  (Reference Genesis 22:2, 1 Chronicles 21: 18, and 2 Chronicles 3:1.)  

In Chronicles we finally got to see the psalms being used in worship.  I wonder what the music sounded like then, with all the musicians and all the instruments. 

David was not a perfect man, but he had a close relationship with God.  David is the one who said: “The Lord searches every heart and understands every thought and every desire.”  (1 Chronicles 28: 9)  

And “I know, my God, that you test the heart and are pleased with integrity.”   And he said he had handed everything over to Solomon willingly and with “honest intent” 

Honest intent…  Since God knows our heart, He also knows the intent of our heart.  That is a lot to ponder.

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 16. April 21. The remnant remains strong.

Week 16.   I’m a few days behind in writing.  We have just finished 2 Kings and read the book of 1 Chronicles in the past week. 

I must say that the end of 2 Kings was very interesting.  And also very sad to read about how everything fell apart.  God kept telling them not to worship other gods, but they slowly drifted away… 

I had a surprise at 2 Kings 1:5 when King Hezekiah broke into pieces the bronze snake that Moses had made because the Israelites had been burning incense to it.   Wow, I don’t remember ever knowing that fact before.  Amazing, isn't it, to think that they had been carrying it around for about 800 years!  (You could write an entire book about it)

Another verse that kinda stuck in my mind was 2 Kings 19:4.  “…pray for the remnant that still remains.”   It makes me think of the little pockets of common people here and there who were still faithful and who had a relationship with the living God, in the midst of a culture that had forgotten.  Life was terrible all around them, but God knew who they were, and where they were.  After reading chapter 23 of 2 Kings, I wondered how we are gradually accepting false gods and practices today in our modern culture.  And maybe we don’t even realize it.  And Chapter 25 is a very sad chapter.  Almost made me cry.  The Babylonians destroyed the beautiful temple that Solomon built.  ‘’’so Judah went into captivity, away from her land.”

But now, we get to read new books: Chronicles.  It’s a re-telling of the same history again, but written 500 years later.  It’s amazing how much some of the stories are identical down to the little details.  

Did you notice right there in the middle of all the names and names and names, there was that verse about the prayer of Jabez: (I Chronicles 4: 9,10.) 

I like reading about King David…David’s mighty warriors must have been really amazing, and I love the references to “The Three”.  Wonder what they were like.  And then David decides to bring the ark to Jerusalem…what a fascinating story…and such joy and happiness when it finally arrived.  

“For great is the LORD and most worthy of praise, he is to be feared above all gods.  For all the gods of the nations are idols, but the LORD made the heavens.  Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and joy are in his dwelling place”. (1 Chronicles 16: 25 – 27.)

Did you notice that King David’s gold crown weighed about 75 pounds?  Wow.

I have always love architecture and design, so I really like to read the chapters that describe the temple and all the materials that were used for the building and all the craftsmen and artisans that worked on the building.  Here is a  wonderful image from the Rose Book of Solomon's temple.   It would have been breathtaking, with all the gold.  wow.  

We will keep reading till next week….Audrey 

Week 15. April 12. Undivided Heart or Divided Heart?

Week 15.  Wow, it’s hard to believe that we have been reading for more than 100 days this year! I still look forward to reading and listening each morning.  But honestly, I have not enjoyed this past week of reading in 1st and 2^nd Kings.  It’s awful to read about the killing, beheading, killing pregnant women, sacrificing children, dogs eating bodies, etc, etc, etc. And it seems to go on and on.  If it were any book other than the Holy Bible, I would have stopped this week. 

I know the main point is that the Lord God wants our obedience and total allegiance… an undivided heart.  That is still our challenge today. 

One thing that I thought of several times this week was that there are some expressions in 1 and 2 Kings that sound contemporary.  It was obviously written by a different author than the previous book.  I noticed that 1 and 2 Samuel were written about 1000 - 930 BC.  But 1 and 2 Kings were written in the 500’s BC.   Reading several chapters daily, and in order, helps me to grasp the Old Testament in a new way. 

We recently purchased the “Rose Book of Bible Charts, Maps, and Time Lines. 

It’s helpful.  We look at it almost every day as we read to help us understand the timeline of History.  It is really full of great information.   It helps me to remember that what we are reading about right now took place during the Iron Age.  

We get to start reading 1 Chronicles this week and it will be better.  Back to good ol’ David. 

Hang in there, well get through these difficult chapter and we get to read the Psalms in June.  Something to look forward to.  And we keep reading…

Week 14. April 5, Easter Sunday.

To celebrate Easter, I am posting this prayer by Peter Marshall instead of the usual comments.
Peter Marshall was the Chaplain of the US Senate for several years until he died suddenly in 1949 from a heart attack at age 46.

EASTER 
by Peter Marshall

"We thank Thee for the beauty of this day, 

for the glorious message that all nature proclaims: 

the Easter Lilies with their waxen throats eloquently singing the good news; 

the birds, so early this morning, impatient to begin their song; 

every flowering tree, shrub, and flaming bush, a living proclamation from Thee.  

O open our hearts that we may hear it, too!

Lead us, we pray Thee, to the grave that is empty, 

into the garden of the Resurrection where we may meet our risen Lord.  

May we never again live as if Thou were dead!

In thy presence restore our faith, our hope, our joy. 

Grant to our spirits refreshment, rest, and peace.  

Maintain within our hearts an unruffled calm, 

an unbroken serenity that no storms of life shall ever be able to take from us.

From this moment, O living Christ, we ask Thee to go with us wherever we go; 

be our Companion in all that we do.  

And for this greatest of all gifts, we offer Thee our sacrifices of thanksgiving.  

Amen."

...Reading the Old Testament this  year is giving me a new appreciation for what God did for us through Jesus.  We are free!  And we have a beautiful future to look forward to no matter what is going on in our lives right now.  And we have His companionship right now. 

Happy Easter!  

Audrey

and we are walking...

Week 13. March 29. Bound securely in the Lord's treasure pouch.

Week 13.  We have been reading about David this week.  Some familiar stories and some surprises. 

I wonder why the writer of 1 & 2 Samuel does not mention more about David’s writings.  After all, most of the Psalms were written by David.  I wonder…when did he write them?  Did he write them all his life as things were happening, or did he write them later in life as we was writing is memoirs?  Did he write them all on little scraps and keep them in a secret place?  Or did he “journal” a little bit every day? 

Also, I can’t help but wonder why it was OK for David to go out to besiege neighbors.  And why sometimes they killed every living thing and took no plunder, and other times they took some of the people or animals, and sometimes they took some of the plunder. 

Also, why was it OK for them to have so many wives? 

Kinda hard to understand.

I found a verse that I really liked this week.  I Samuel 25: 29.  …”Even though someone is pursuing you to take your life …you are…bound securely in the bundle of the living by the Lord your God”…so I looked it up in New Living Translation: “your life is safe in the care of the Lord your God, secure in His treasure pouch”  What a neat thought! 

We are entering the Passion Week before Easter…and the Lord has bound us securely in his treasure pouch.  I wonder if Jesus thought of that scripture as he faced his accusers. 

Week 12. March 22. God looks at the heart.

Week 12.  We have entered into familiar territory.  We remember the stories of Samuel, Saul, and David from childhood days in Sunday School.

I liked the sweet story (in Chapter 1-3) of the little boy Samuel who grew “in the presence of God” under Eli.  I liked thinking about his mother bringing him a new little robe each year as he grew up, and how he wore a little linen ephod.   I liked Chapter 3 when God began to reveal himself to Samuel.

It was interesting as we read about tall King Saul, Samuel the dedicated prophet, and the chosen boy David, that they all had strengths and weaknesses. The scriptures don’t hide the ugly parts.  But that makes the characters seem more real to us.  So, there were many familiar scriptures this week, and a few surprises, too…those Philistines continued to be a problem.  The ark was moved around.  Battles continued.   The people forgot to honor God, but God continued to work on their behalf anyway.

One of my favorite verses was Chapter 16, verse 7.

We are in the midst of the Lenten Season…  

The Lord looks at our heart. 

Week 11. March 15. Seek protection under His wings.

Week 11, we have finished Judges and Ruth.

This week there were several stories of gruesome deaths:  from cutting off big toes and thumbs (chapter 1), from a sword being driven through the belly(Chapter 3)… from having a tent peg driven through the head (Chapter 4) beheadings (Chapter7)…dismembering (Chapter 19)

It sounds a little bit like some of the unrest in our world today, doesn't it? Scary, appalling, disgusting, terrifying.  Judges chapter 2 was a sad commentary: The people had forgotten the Lord of their ancestors and did evil in His sight.  God never forgot His covenant with them, but He could not help them when they turned their backs on Him.   So, today, we must still be diligent to remember and honor the God of our ancestors and continue to obey him if we desire to know Him and enjoy His blessing. 

The story of the virgin daughter being sacrificed as a burnt offering in Chapter 11 was sad…and the story of the women being treated like property in Chapter 21 was shocking… strange customs from an ancient time. 

The story of Gideon was interesting…a story of triumph in the face of overwhelming odds.

The story of Samson was also interesting…He had so much potential and physical strength and yet he was such a shallow man who just didn't seem to have self-control when there was a beautiful woman around. 

Ruth was certainly the bright spot in this week’s readings.  I loved the verse in Ruth 2: 12: “May you be richly rewarded by the LORD, the God of Israel, under whose wings you have come to take refuge.” 

It reminds me of another familiar verse: Psalm 91:4: “He will cover you with his feathers; under his wings you will find refuge.”   

This is a beautiful image of protection and rest under a bird’s wings for their vulnerable little baby birds. 

We are in the midst of the Lenten Season.   We search our souls and seek the Lord in a special way during this time of year as we prepare for Easter.  So, even today, we continue to seek shelter under God’s wings.  And He always welcomes us with open arms to give us rest under his “wings” of blessing and protection.   That is the best place to be. 

Week 10. Promises fulfilled.

We read through Joshua this week.  The land was divided up and Joshua stepped up as the new leader after Moses died. 

There were a couple familiar Bible stories about Jericho in this week’s readings: The story of quick-thinking Rahab hiding the spies and the story of how the walls of the city fell down.  We toured that area a few years ago and I have a strong memory of standing on the site where the old walled city of Jericho stood.   Jericho is still like an oasis in the desert, and even back then, they called it "The City of Palms".  

There was a surprise for me in this week’s reading:  The Jordan River parted so the people could cross over.   That was the second time God had done that.  I had forgotten that.  Joshua said in Chapter 3 verse 5: “Tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”  He wasn't kidding!   I liked reading about how they made a pile of 12 stones to designate where it happened.  Memorials are good to help us remember important events.  Several times in our reading thus far we have read that things still existed “to this day”.  So the oral history telling continued, to remind each new generation about what God had done in the past. 

The story of the Sun standing still was another miracle, and a familiar Bible story I remembered from my childhood days in Sunday School. 

But all the conquering of the cities and leaving no survivors is a little unsettling.  It’s one of those questions and mysteries we just need to leave in God’s hands to sort it all out. 

Finally, the Promised Land was allotted for the tribes.  Here is a map from another Bible that shows the territories. 

I like Joshua 21: 45.  “Not one of all the Lord’s good promises to Israel failed; every one was fulfilled.” 

 But God is rarely in a hurry...

  And now, we move into Judges together. 

Week 9. Blessings and Curses.

Well, we finished Deuteronomy!  This week contained lots of blessing and curses... 

Heads or Tails.  Obedience or Disobedience. 

So many beautiful passages...  One of my favorites is Deuteronomy 12:7.  And I love the beautiful blessing of Deuteronomy 33:13 – 16.  And of course, there is 33:27.

Chapter 34 was poignant.  I felt that I was losing a sweet old friend when Moses died, who the Lord knew face to face. 

And I loved the insight on the bottom of Feb 28^th’s meditation about the Mount of Transfiguration.  

That was a new thought for me. It is mysterious and I do not need to understand it all.  Just embrace it.

  And now, we move into Joshua together.