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.  

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