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.  

Week 8. Lessons in the Wilderness

It’s hard to believe that we have been reading for 52 days.  4 books down! We can do this.

 This week’s readings in Numbers were surprises!  I must say, sometimes God’s dealings seem harsh with his own people after they disobeyed or rebelled…Stoning the Sabbath-breaker in chapter 15 for gathering wood on the Sabbath day…the death of all the insolent people when the ground swallowed them up…the burning death of the 250 men who were offering incense…the venomous snakes…and Moses was not able to enter the promised land because he stuck the rock in anger instead of speaking to it in a way that honored God.   

Don’t you wonder why the Israelites just couldn't stop the complaining and rebelling? 

OK, so we get it.  We know that God is very serious about all this.  But don’t we still complain to God all the time…even today? 

Chapter 22 has that interesting section about Balaam and the talking donkey.

And I love the phrases in Chapter 24, verses 4 and 15…”whose eyes are opened” “whose eye sees clearly”… sometimes we can understand when our eyes are opened.

Did you notice the prophecy of the Messiah in Chapter 24 verse 17-19? 

And wow, the event with the Midianites in Chapter 31 was just astonishing. 

I highlighted Chapter 32 verse 23: “If you fail to do this, you will be sinning against the Lord, and you may be sure that your sin will find you out.”

An insight from Chapter 33: verse 3&4:  Did you ever think about the fact that when the Israelites were finally able to walk out of Egypt, all the Egyptians were burying their firstborn?  What a sight. 

As they prepared to take the Promised Land, did you notice how many times they were told to be brave and not to be afraid?   

I love the beautiful passage in Deuteronomy 4: 29 -31: “But if from there you seek the Lord your God, you will find him if you seek him with all your heart with and with all your soul.  When you are in distress and all these things have happened to you, then in later days you will return to the Lord your God and obey him.  For the Lord your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget you or forget the covenant with your ancestors which he confirmed to them by oath.”

Here is a map from another Bible that shows the paths of the desert wanderings. 

And we are still walking…

Week 7. God is Holy. Now this is serious.

What a week of reading!  We covered a lot of territory.  It’s fascinating.  God talked to Moses and told him such precise details about how to do everything.  It was all very important.  The festivals were all important.  I feel that we have barely scratched the surface and there will be so much more to learn as we read.  But I guess the main thing I “get”  loud and clear is that God wants us to take him seriously.  How many times did he say “I am the Lord”.  He is holy and he wants us to remember that.  I wonder if we are honoring God today.  Do we have confidence in him to fulfill his promises?  He is still holy. 

Today, I read Hebrews chapter 10.  Wow, it is beautiful to read it in the context of these Old Testament scriptures we have been going through.  Ah yes, I understand it better now.

I am still eager to read each morning and so thankful for this “Daily Walk Bible.” Today is DAY 46!  We can do this.

And we are still walking…

Week 6, Offerings, Offerings, Offerings….

Wow, what a week!  Our readings have immersed us up to our ears in all kinds of offerings:  Burnt Offerings, Grain Offerings, Fellowship Offerings, Sin Offerings, Guilt Offerings… Then there is all the meat, fat, blood, skin diseases, molds, unclean, unclean!  Then comes the Day of Atonement.

 All these chapters just make me so thankful that we don’t have to live like that anymore. 

The meditation on Feb 5 said it: “Aren't you glad Jesus Christ ended that uncertainty for all time?”  Yes. 

But I still hear God loud and clear: “Consecrate yourselves and be holy, because I am the Lord your God.  Keep my decrees and follow them.  I am the Lord, who makes you holy.”     

This is serious.  It matters. 

And we keep reading!

Week 5, Walking with the Israelites...

WOW, it's hard to believe that we've been reading the Bible together for a month.  So far, it has not been hard to stay up to date.  I still look forward to reading each day's scripture and I really enjoy listening to the "Listener's Bible" through my phone. (See week 3 if you want to see how to use a Bible App on  your phone.)  I find that HEARING the scripture helps me to pick up on little hidden gems that I would miss if I just read silently.  I also really like the daily devotions that are in the "Daily Walk" Bible.

When I started this venture on January 1, I decided to look for hidden treasures and mysteries as I read this year.  So far, I have found many.  ( I am highlighting them and making notes in my Bible as I read.) Some are insights, some are promises, some are little nuggets of information that I had forgotten or did not know.  It's like hunting for treasures in old manuscripts.

I love how God spoke to Moses face to face, like a friend.  (Exodus 33: 11.)   And I love how Moses' face was radiant after he had been with God.

Many of the ancient methods of worship seem so strange to us today, but I understand that God wants to keep his covenants.  I love this promise from God: "My Presence will go with you, and I will give you rest." (Exodus 33:14.)

One insight I am intrigued by is the Sabbath.  I see how important it is to God.  He knew it would be important to us because we need it.  As the season of Lent approaches, I feel compelled to incorporate more times of Sabbath rest into my daily and weekly routine.        

---and now, we are moving into Leviticus!  2 books down, and how many to go?
and we're walking...Audrey

Week 4. Walking through Egypt...

OK, we finished have Genesis and have moved into Exodus.   (One chapter down and 11 months to go!  We can do this!)   I think my favorite story in the Bible is the story of Joseph.  I love how it reveals the sovereignty of God.  What looked like so many unfair situations in Joseph’s life were used by God to preserve Joseph’s family.   Even today, we rarely recognize God’s hand in our lives until we look back and see how all the pieces fit together.    

Week 3 The Listener's Bible App...

Week 3.   I am behind on writing because we are traveling.  But with my Bible phone “APP”, I can still keep up with my reading and listening, anywhere I am.  Cool! 

Several friends have asked me how this works, so the best way to show you is with photos:

1.        Download the free Bible App.  I use an android phone, so my icon looks like this (it's the little brown "Holy Bible" icon): 

2.   Select the version you prefer.  I usually read the NIV.  

3.  Choose a version with the speaker icon to indicate that it features the “Listener’s Bible”. 

4.       Click on the speaker icon to turn on the “Listener’s Bible”. 

5.       Click on the triangle to play. 

6.        You can read along on your phone as you listen.  I like to listen as I walk with earphones. 

I love the reader’s voice on the NIV version.  He reads with such feeling, it makes it really interesting.  

Week 2. We're walking...

I am pleasantly surprised at how eager I feel every morning when I wake up and my first thought is "grab coffee and Bible."  Listening to the "NIV The Listener's Bible" on my phone app has made this so interesting.  Lots of the stories I remember from childhood in Sunday School are coming back, but wow, there are lots of little things they never told the children in Sunday School!  But it makes it seem very believable, because we are still up to the same tricks today.  And I loved the beautiful story of how Abraham sent his senior servant out to find a suitable wife for Isaac in Genesis 24.
I am so happy to hear from friends who are reading with me now.  And my husband is also reading with me.  It is encouraging to go on this journey together.  I know of at least 20 friends who have decided to read "The Daily Walk Bible" this year.  So, we continue!
And we're walking...Audrey

Week One, In the beginning...

Week 1 has gotten off to a good start.  The first day, on an impulse, I turned on my Bible App on my phone and LISTENED to the chapters for the day.  WOW, it really made it more interesting.  I have continued this each day and find that it helps me to pay attention as I follow along and it especially helped during the reading of the unusual names in the "Table of Nations" section in Chapter 10.  So, I plan to continue to LISTEN to "The Listeners Bible"each day as I read.
So far, so good.
Audrey

preparing for the walk...

This week, as I have prepared to WALK THROUGH THE BIBLE in 2015, I have had this very old hymn on my mind: "Of the Father's Love Begotten".  We usually only hear it at Christmas. But today, I read the final Chapters in the Bible, Revelation Chapter 21 and 22, and I thought of how the words of this song connect Emmanuel from Genesis to Revelation, from the beginning to the end.  He is the Alpha and Omega.
Read through the wonderful words of this hymn and let them sink in slowly as you prepare to begin this journey with me in 2015.  There is much mystery and wisdom to uncover as we read these ancient scriptures together.  
We begin on Thursday, January 1.
Peaceful beginnings, 
Audrey

"Of the Father's Love Begotten"
 by Aurelius C. Prudentius, 413 AD

Of the Father’s love begotten, ere the worlds began to be,
He is Alpha and Omega, He the source, the ending He,
Of the things that are, that have been,
And that future years shall see, evermore and evermore!

At His Word the worlds were framèd; He commanded; it was done:
Heaven and earth and depths of ocean in their threefold order one;
All that grows beneath the shining
Of the moon and burning sun, evermore and evermore!

He is found in human fashion, death and sorrow here to know,
That the race of Adam’s children doomed by law to endless woe,
May not henceforth die and perish
In the dreadful gulf below, evermore and evermore!

O that birth forever blessèd, when the virgin, full of grace,
By the Holy Ghost conceiving, bare the Savior of our race;
And the Babe, the world’s Redeemer,
First revealed His sacred face, evermore and evermore!

This is He Whom seers in old time chanted of with one accord;
Whom the voices of the prophets promised in their faithful word;
Now He shines, the long expected,
Let creation praise its Lord, evermore and evermore!

O ye heights of heaven adore Him; angel hosts, His praises sing;
Powers, dominions, bow before Him, and extol our God and King!
Let no tongue on earth be silent,
Every voice in concert sing, evermore and evermore!

Righteous judge of souls departed, righteous King of them that live,
On the Father’s throne exalted none in might with Thee may strive;
Who at last in vengeance coming
Sinners from Thy face shalt drive, evermore and evermore!

Thee let old men, thee let young men, thee let boys in chorus sing;
Matrons, virgins, little maidens, with glad voices answering:
Let their guileless songs re-echo,
And the heart its music bring, evermore and evermore!

Christ, to Thee with God the Father, and, O Holy Ghost, to Thee,
Hymn and chant with high thanksgiving, and unwearied praises be:
Honor, glory, and dominion,
And eternal victory, evermore and evermore!

Getting ready to walk...

Last week, a  friend, Mary, gave me a wonderful Christmas gift: A new Bible!  Now, if you are like me, you already own several Bibles; some with lots of underlines and highlights, and some with favorite quotes and poems stuck in the pages... some of my Bibles have been read, used and are a little bit worn out, and some are almost like new. All of them are on bookshelves or stuck in little nooks and crannies around my house... Have you ever read through the Bible?  I read through it at least once, but it was many years ago...and though I have tried it again, it seems like I always get bogged down somewhere in Leviticus,  Numbers, or Deuteronomy...but now I feel compelled to try it again in 2015.  This new Bible is different: It has a daily guide starting with January 1.  So, with a plan for the year, it will keep me on track. Somehow, it seems "do-able" this time.  And, it helps to have some accountability.  I know my friend, Mary, will be reading each day with me.  But it occurred to me that some other friends might like to  take my "Walking through the Bible in 2015" challenge.  First, you will need to get one of these beautiful versions.  You have time to buy one in the next week.  It has a beautiful color cover, showing a path winding through the green woods.  I love the quote on the cover: "Let's face it, reading through the Bible is hard.  The Daily Walk Bible makes getting through easier." 
I will try to post weekly, probably on Sunday evenings.  Here we go!