week 39. The Old Testament...who knew?

Congratulations!  I am posting this a few days late because today we finished reading the OLD TESTAMENT!  YEAH!!!

I don't know about you, but this is the first time that I have actually read every word.  I confess that I had read "through" the Old  Testament before, but had actually skipped over the parts that I found boring, or that I did not really want to read.  

But this time, by actually reading every word, I discovered many hidden treasurers that I had never known before.  I also found verses that were familiar (maybe from songs) but I had not known where to find them.  

Here is an example of a hidden treasure I discovered in Zechariah in chapter 9, verse 16, 17:

The LORD their God will save his people 

on that day

as a shepherd saves his flock.

They will sparkle in his land

like jewels in a crown.

How attractive and beautiful they

will be! 

There are many things I do not understand, but that is OK.  There is much mystery  that we cannot know yet.  But this I do know:  

I believe that God is in control of everything.  

The Old Testament has confirmed to me that God is the creator of EVERYTHING. 

The Old Testament has confirmed to me that God is sovereign over EVERYTHING.  

The Old Testament has reminded me that God wants our full attention and devotion.  

The Old Testament has reminded me that God knows our heart and intentions.  

The Old Testament has reminded me that God knows about all the bad stuff going on and it will be dealt with.  

And over and over, I read that God wants to restore us and redeem us and renew us.  

God always forgives us like a good father.  

God always cares for us tenderly like a good shepherd.  

And God  promised us eternal  life with Him.  wow.  

Now, as we start the New Testament, we will read about the fulfillment of many of the prophecies through Jesus Christ when he lived on planet earth. But we will also read about many prophecies that have not happened yet.  We get impatient.  We question and wonder if maybe we misunderstood.  But one of the main things the Old Testament has taught me is that God is not in a hurry.  He's not worried.  He knows what he is doing.  His timing is perfect, even though sometimes it looks like the "bad guys" are winning.  Many terrible things have happened over thousands of years on earth throughout history, as we have read in the Old Testament.  But God takes care of people who sincerely seek him.  He gives us PEACE OF HEART.  That is enough for now.  

I welcome new readers who are joining us for the New Testament.  We will finish in 3 months.  We can do this! 

If you have read the Old Testament with me, you can leave a comment here, or if you don't want to post a comment for the world to see, please send me a private email to tell me.  

You can send me an email here: TAB1431@aol.com and I promise I will not add you to a mailing list.  I would just like to hear from you.  

Let's keep reading! 

Audrey 

week 38. Sept 20. Living with confidence in Hard Times.

This week, we have sailed through the short books of Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah.  Hang in there, we are almost finished reading the Old Testament!

I am still highlighting the positive promises I read about God's goodness.  Some of my favorite verses are from the little book of Habakkuk. I remember this verse as a line in a song:

Today, when we listen to all the bad news and we almost despair and feel like there is no hope.  

This scripture  (Habakkuk 3: 17 - 19) just shines as a reminder of God's eternal goodness and sovereignty:

Yes, things are bad.  Might get worse.  There are no guarantees, except this: God continues to be our strength during the hard times.  

Today, Sept 20, we read the book of Zephaniah.  Did you notice how many times it says "the day of the Lord"?  I counted 6 times.  

I found this good definition on "GotQuestions.org"

Question: "What is the day of the Lord?"
Answer: The phrase “day of the Lord” usually identifies events that take place at the end of history (Isaiah 7:18-25) and is often closely associated with the phrase “that day.” One key to understanding these phrases is to note that they always identify a span of time during which God personally intervenes in history, directly or indirectly, to accomplish some specific aspect of His plan.

If you are curious, you might want to read more about the "Day of the Lord" here:

http://www.gotquestions.org/day-of-the-Lord.html#.Vf6TLF5h7lY.gmail

Be silent before the Sovereign Lord.  

for the day of the LORD is near. (Zephaniah 1:7)

So, no matter what, Peace of Christ to you.

(and keep reading, till next week) 

Audrey 

week 37. Sept 14. Loving others as only God can.

We are speeding through the Minor Prophets this month.  Today, Sept 14, is a day of "Reflection and Worship".  It is powerful.  (read page 1028 in our "Daily Walk" Bible)
"The world would be a better place if only God would destroy_______"
So, who did you fill in the blank?

I must admit, this made me really stop and think.  I can think of lots of problems I could change in an instant if I could just talk God into fixing it.  But, then I read the last part of today's page:
"Don't allow an individual or a group of people who are objects of God's love to become objects of your hatred or revenge." 

...SO, Our challenge is to try to see others the way God sees them and love them the way God loves them.  ...WOW...Even the really bad guys?    I will try to remember this as I watch the nightly news this week.

Have you been to see the movie "War Room" yet?  I encourage you to go see it while it is in the theaters.  Take a hanky.  

I am reminded that God looks at our hearts.  

"Life is too short to spend it hating the very people God longs to love and save".
Blessings to you this week,
Audrey

Week 36. Minor Prophets?

We have entered our last month of reading the Old Testament!

The section we are reading during the month of September is commonly referred to as "The Minor Prophets".
Have  you noticed that all the scripture we have been reading since July have been a mixture of history and prophecy, and not necessarily in chronological order?  It can get confusing.  I did a little reading about these books that make up the end of the Old Testament.  They are divided into the books of "Major Prophets" and the books of "Minor Prophets".

The books of Major Prophets are

Isaiah, Jeremiah, Lamentations, Ezekiel, and Daniel. The “major” prophets are so called not because the “minor” prophets are unimportant, but because the books of the Major Prophets are lengthier and cast a correspondingly longer shadow on Old Testament history and theology.  

The 12 books of Minor Prophets are:

Hosea, Joel, Amos, Obadiah, Jonah, Micah, Nahum, Habakkuk, Zephaniah, Haggai, Zechariah, and Malachi. They’re described as “minor” because they’re shorter in length. Together, their indictments of Israel’s drift away from God set the stage for the New Covenant that will be ushered in with the person of Jesus Christ.

These are  not the most popular books of the Bible, or easy ones to read.  So, for the next few weeks, let's look for the verses that tell of  God’s holiness, grace, and mercy.  It's like mining for gold.  

And, something else to look for: Have you noticed that at the  beginning of each new book in our "Daily Walk Bible", there is a key verse for the book?  

CHALLENGE:  Have you told somebody that you are reading through the Bible this year?  Have you invited somebody to join you in reading the New Testament this Fall?  

Keep on reading!  Audrey 

Week 35. Dare to be a Daniel!

We finished the book of Daniel in just a few days.  I found it to be a refreshing break from all the messages of impending doom that we have been reading from the books of prophecy.  The tales of Daniel’s life reminded me of the stories I learned in Sunday School when I was a little girl.  Do you remember the song "Dare to be a Daniel ?"

We can read the book of Daniel several ways:  as history or prophecy, but another way to read Daniel is as a book full of examples of Spiritual Disciplines.  Daniel lived a life of integrity and dedication to God in a culture that did not make it easy.  And he found strength in quiet obedience.  No matter the outcomes, he maintained his confidence in God. 

I was reminded that it is important to maintain my faith in God during the events of my own life.  No matter what happens, I can keep my confidence in God. 

The Rose Book had a couple good charts that explain the dream of King Nebuchadnezzar:

We will be finished with the Old Testament by the end of September.  Can you believe that we will read the entire New Testament in 3 months: October, November, and December?  

HERE'S A CHALLENGE TO YOU:  It is a good time to invite somebody to begin reading with you.  I am planning to invite all my family to read the New Testament with me.  Think of somebody you can invite.  

Thanks for reading the Old Testament with me this year. Please send me an email so I know if you are still reading.  I would love to hear from you.  You can email me directly at: PinPeddlers@gmail.com.

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey Brendel

Week 33 and 34. (August 9 – 22) Oy Vey!

In the last 2 weeks, we finished reading Jeremiah, Lamentations, and most of Ezekiel.

If you are like me, you are getting bogged down with all the daily messages of doom and gloom.  Makes me want to throw up my hands in comic relief and say “Oy Vey!  Woe is me!  Enough already! “ 

But I looked ahead, and the good news is that we will finish the Old Testament in September.  So, hang in there, and let’s pat ourselves on the back!  We are almost ready to start the NEW TESTAMENT! 

To keep it interesting, we are still listening to the scripture on our phone app as we read along in our Daily Walk Bible, because it enables us to hear scripture in a fresh way.  If I were not listening to it, I am not sure I would still be reading.    

To keep it hopeful, I am underlining and highlighting the messages of redemption in the middle of all the destruction. 

_______________________

Over and over I see “then you will know that I am the Lord”

Today, it is unpopular to think of God as a punisher, destroyer, or avenger.  It helps me to think of Him as a parent who will do whatever it takes to discipline and train and keep his children safe, because the parent is wiser and wants the child to grow to be a healthy, well-rounded and productive adult.   When I don’t like it, I still have confidence that God is sovereign and has the final say.  (Who is the clay to argue with the potter ?)

It also helped me to look at the Temple again to remember what the Babylonians destroyed.  This was the first temple, the beautiful one that Solomon built.  It was completed in 960 and had been part of the Jewish life for almost 400 years.   It was destroyed in 586 BC.  Solomon's Temple (the First Temple) is the one we are reading about now.  Here is an image of it:

The Jews were in exile for almost 70 years, and then some of them returned to Jerusalem and began to rebuild a new temple.  It was never as magnificent as the first one.  The second temple is the one that Herod enlarged and the one we read about in the New Testament.   It is also the one that was destroyed by the Romans in 70 AD.    Muslims built the 2 mosques on the site of the second Jewish temple that are still there today.  

If you want to read more, I found very interesting articles on the First and Second Temples on this website:

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Judaism/The_Temple.html

https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/History/secondtemple.html

Over and over again, I keep reading about how much God really hated idol worship and how important Sabbath was to Him.   Jeremiah Chapter 39 and 52 both describe the Fall of Jerusalem.  The people were trapped and starving for 2 years.  We have all seen enough movies and watched enough of the nightly news to imagine the horrors of war.  Lamentations was just plaid sad, except for that shining star of the beautifully comforting  verses in 

Lamentations 3:21-25

21 Yet this I call to mind
    and therefore I have hope:

22 Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed,
    for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
    great is your faithfulness.
24 I say to myself, “The Lord is my portion;
    therefore I will wait for him.”

25 The Lord is good to those whose hope is in him,
    to the one who seeks him;

Ezekiel Chapter 11 verses 17 – 20 are beautiful promises:

17 “Therefore say: ‘This is what the Sovereign Lord says: I will gather you from the nations and bring you back from the countries where you have been scattered, and I will give you back the land of Israel again.’

18 “They will return to it and remove all its vile images and detestable idols. 19 I will give them an undivided heart and put a new spirit in them; I will remove from them their heart of stone and give them a heart of flesh. 20 Then they will follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. They will be my people, and I will be their God.

___

Keep reading, till next week….Audrey 

Week 31 and 32. OK, we have been warned!

I am combining week 31 and 32 because I got behind again.   But I also got “caught up”.

I finished reading Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, and the Song of Solomon.  So I am up to date with my readings.  That was a good feeling. 

So, we have been reading Jeremiah lately.  Not one of my favorite books.  But I see again and again (and again) God warning His people that judgement was coming.  And I see that He really hated idols and false worship.  I loved verse 5 in chapter 10, where God described the idols like scarecrows in a cucumber field.  (They have to be carried because they cannot walk) 

It’s a comical image that we can all understand... 

And though God warns the people over and over, they did not want to listen or believe it.

I wonder if we are paying attention today.   We certainly can’t say He didn’t warn us.

What I see over and over is the promise that if we trust and obey, we will be OK. If we don’t, we will be sorry.

Jeremiah 17:7-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁷ “Blessed is the one who trusts in the Lord,
    whose confidence is in him.⁸ They will be like a tree planted by the water    that sends out its roots by the stream.
It does not fear when heat comes;
    its leaves are always green.
It has no worries in a year of drought
    and never fails to bear fruit.”
   

⁹ The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. 

Who can understand it? 

¹⁰ “I the Lord search the heart and examine the mind, 

to reward each person according to their conduct,

according to what their deeds deserve."

We need to pay attention.  We've certainly had lots of warning. 

So, keep reading, till next week... 

Audrey 

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