Tuesday, December 31st: Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31

Congratulations to everyone who completed the Bible in a Year today!!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in this blog with me over the past 10 years. It has been an incredible journey for me and I hope it has been for you as well. 10 years also seems like a good time to move on. There has been less participation by posters over the past few years and I am unable to continue on my own doing so many posts, so I have decided that this will be the last year I will host this blog.

If you would like to continue with something similar there are other blogs to follow. If you're interested in doing this same plan again, you can follow the One Year Bible Blog. If you're interested in a chronological plan, you can follow the Chronological Bible Blog. No matter what, I hope you continue to make reading the Word a priority in your life! May God bless you!

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Malachi 3:1 “Look! I am sending my messenger, and he will prepare the way before me. Then the Lord you are seeking will suddenly come to his Temple. The messenger of the covenant, whom you look for so eagerly, is surely coming,” says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies.
We've just finished celebrating (or are continuing to celebrate, if you celebrate the 12 Days of Christmas until epiphany) the fulfillment of the Promise of Jesus' 1st coming.  And we know that He will come again!  Something we're also reminded of in our Revelation passage today as well. May He come soon!

Monday, December 30th: Malachi 1:1-2:17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 31:10-24 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Malachi 1:1-2:17, Revelation 21:1-27, Psalm 149:1-9, Proverbs 31:10-24

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in this blog with me over the past 10 years. It has been an incredible journey for me and I hope it has been for you as well. 10 years also seems like a good time to move on. There has been less participation by posters over the past few years and I am unable to continue on my own doing so many posts, so I have decided that this will be the last year I will host this blog.

If you would like to continue with something similar there are other blogs to follow. If you're interested in doing this same plan again, you can follow the One Year Bible Blog. If you're interested in a chronological plan, you can follow the Chronological Bible Blog. No matter what, I hope you continue to make reading the Word a priority in your life! May God bless you!
Malachi 1:2a
“I have always loved you,” says the Lord.
May the wonder of this truth fill your heart and mind.  God has always loved us and will love us forever.  His love is amazing!

Do we love Him?  May our love for Him continue to grow deeper as we continue to get to know Him better.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Malachi 3:1-4:6, Revelation 22:1-21, Psalm 150:1-6, Proverbs 31:25-31

Friday, December 27th: Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Zechariah 10:1-11:17, Revelation 18:1-24, Psalm 146:1-10, Proverbs 30:33

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in this blog with me over the past 10 years. It has been an incredible journey for me and I hope it has been for you as well. 10 years also seems like a good time to move on. There has been less participation by posters over the past few years and I am unable to continue on my own doing so many posts, so I have decided that this will be the last year I will host this blog.

If you would like to continue with something similar there are other blogs to follow. If you're interested in doing this same plan again, you can follow the One Year Bible Blog. If you're interested in a chronological plan, you can follow the Chronological Bible Blog. No matter what, I hope you continue to make reading the Word a priority in your life! May God bless you!

Psalm 146:3-5

Don’t put your confidence in powerful people;
there is no help for you there.
4 When they breathe their last, they return to the earth,
and all their plans die with them.
5 But joyful are those who have the God of Israel[a] as their helper,
whose hope is in the Lord their God.

May we always remember where our help comes from!

Wednesday, December 25th: Zechariah 8:1-23, Revelation 16:1-21, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 30:29-31 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Zechariah 8:1-23, Revelation 16:1-21, Psalm 144:1-15, Proverbs 30:29-31

Merry Christmas everyone!!  I hope you have a great day celebrating the birth of our Saviour!

I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has participated in this blog with me over the past 10 years.  It has been an incredible journey for me and I hope it has been for you as well.  10 years also seems like a good time to move on.  There has been less participation by posters over the past few years and I am unable to continue on my own doing so many posts, so I have decided that this will be the last year I will host this blog.

If you would like to continue with something similar there are other blogs to follow.  If you're interested in doing this same plan again, you can follow the One Year Bible Blog.  If you're interested in a chronological plan, you can follow the Chronological Bible Blog.   No matter what, I hope you continue to make reading the Word a priority in your life! May God bless you!

Psalm 144:15b

Joyful indeed are those whose God is the Lord.

Rejoice in the birth of our saviour today!

Monday, December 23rd: Zechariah 4:1-5:11, Revelation 14:1-20, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 30:21-23 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Zechariah 4:1-5:11, Revelation 14:1-20, Psalm 142:1-7, Proverbs 30:21-23

Psalm 142:5
Then I pray to you, O Lord.
I say, “You are my place of refuge.
You are all I really want in life.


Is this true for us? May God be our place of refuge and may we realize He is all we really need.

Friday, December 20th: Haggai 1:1-2:23 Revelation 11:1-19 Psalm 139:1-24 Proverbs 30:15-16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Haggai 1:1-2:23, Revelation 11:1-19, Psalm 139:1-24, Proverbs 30:15-16

I love this whole psalm but these verses in particular are favourites, and quite wonderful if read through the lens of this upcoming Christmas season.

You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
    and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
¹⁴ Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
    Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
¹⁵ You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
    as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
¹⁶ You saw me before I was born.
    Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
    before a single day had passed.

Zephaniah 1, Zephaniah 2, Zephaniah 3, Revelation 10, Psalms 138:1-8, Proverbs 30:11-14

Zephaniah 2:1-2

Gather together—yes, gather together, you shameless nation. Gather before judgment begins, before your time to repent is blown away like chaff. Act now, before the fierce fury of the Lord falls and the terrible day of the Lord ’s anger begins.

A reminder to get our lives in order, or to check on a friend to make sure they have given their life to Christ, before its too late. We have an opportunity now to accept and live for Jesus, but that opportunity won't last forever. 

Wednesday, December 18th: Habakkuk 1:1-3:19 Revelation 9:1-21 Psalm 137:1-9 Proverbs 30:10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Habakkuk 1:1-3:19, Revelation 9:1-21, Psalm 137:1-9, Proverbs 30:10

Habakkuk 3:17-18
Even though the fig trees have no blossoms,
    and there are no grapes on the vines;
even though the olive crop fails,
    and the fields lie empty and barren;
even though the flocks die in the fields,
    and the cattle barns are empty,
¹⁸ yet I will rejoice in the Lord!
    I will be joyful in the God of my salvation!

I love this statement of faith - one of my favourite passages!

Monday, December 16: Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Micah 5:1-7:20, Revelation 7:1-17, Psalm 135:1-21, Proverbs 30:5-6

This verse stood out for me:
Micah 5:7 Then the remnant left in Israel[c]
    will take their place among the nations.
They will be like dew sent by the Lord
    or like rain falling on the grass,
which no one can hold back
    and no one can restrain.

A "remnant" means: a small remaining quantity of something.

When we think of a remnant we think of something leftover or that is not really worth anything because it's so small. Bethlehem was the tiny village and became the birthplace of our Saviour.

Then in Psalm 135:8 
He destroyed the firstborn in each Egyptian home,
    both people and animals.
Moses should have been destroyed but he was a "remnant" left behind and God used him in remarkable ways.

When we are thinking that we are too insignificant to be used, we need to remember that God uses all the remnants and no "scrap" is ever wasted.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Nahum 1:1-3:19, Revelation 8:1-13, Psalm 136:1-26, Proverbs 30:7-9 

Thursday, December 12th: Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23

Psalm 131:3 O Israel, put your hope in the Lord—
    now and always.

God is truly our only source of hope. May we run to Him first, instead of as a last resort.

Proverbs 29:23 Pride ends in humiliation,
    while humility brings honor.
Wise words to remember!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Obadiah 1:1-21, Revelation 4:1-11, Psalm 132:1-18, Proverbs 29:24-25

Wednesday, December 11th: Amos 4:1-6:14, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 29:21-22 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Amos 4:1-6:14, Revelation 2:18-3:6, Psalm 130:1-8, Proverbs 29:21-22

Lord, if you kept a record of our sins,
    who, O Lord, could ever survive?
⁴ But you offer forgiveness,
    that we might learn to fear you.

I appreciated this devotional..... (emphasis mine)


My friend Nick grew up in a church that was very eager to keep him from sinning. Leaders in the church were fond of reminding him and his friends that, someday, when they stood before the Lord, all of their sins would be “shouted from the rooftops.” Yes, if they had faith in Jesus as their Lord and Savior, they would be saved, but only after being publicly humiliated before all creation. This threat might have kept Nick from sinning in some cases, but mostly it filled him with terror and with a desire to hide from God.

As it turns out, this threat finds little support in Scripture. It is based on a passage in Luke where Jesus warns his disciples about the hypocrisy of the Pharisees. They think their sinful expressions will be kept secret, but the time is coming when these secrets will be “shouted from the housetops for all to hear” (Luke 12:1-3). Even if we were to take this language literally, it still refers only to things we say in secret, not to all of our sins.

The bigger problem with the threat of public humiliation in the judgment is its lack of fit with biblical teaching on God’s amazing grace. Psalm 130, for example, recognizes that if God kept a record of sins, we’d be utterly without hope of surviving (literally, of “standing” before him in the last judgment). But the good news is that God offers forgiveness. Implicitly, God does not keep a record of sins. As he promises through Jeremiah, concerning “the least to the greatest”: “And I will forgive their wickedness, and I will never again remember their sins” (Jer 31:34). Of course, God has the ability to know every sin we have ever committed. But, as he forgives us, he chooses to look upon us as if we had not sinned.

Now, one might fear that this kind of forgiveness might lead to unbridled disobedience. If God doesn’t keep a record of my sins, then am I free to sin all I want? In a sense, the answer is yes. But notice again what it says in Psalm 130:4: “But you offer forgiveness, that we might learn to fear you.” This is not fear of God as in, “Oh no, I’m afraid God is going to wipe me out because of my sin. I’d better hide.” Rather, this kinds of fear is profound respect and reverence. The more we comprehend the wonder of God’s forgiveness, the more we will freely offer our lives to him in service. We will seek to avoid sin, not because we are afraid of cosmic humiliation, but because we want to honor and glorify the God who has forgiven us so completely.
Amen!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Amos 7:1-9:15, Revelation 3:7-22, Psalm 131:1-3, Proverbs 29:23

Monday, December 9th: Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalm 128:1-6, Proverbs 29:18 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Joel 1:1-3:21, Revelation 1:1-20, Psalm 128:1-6, Proverbs 29:18

Revelation 1:8 “I am the Alpha and the Omega—the beginning and the end,”[e] says the Lord God. “I am the one who is, who always was, and who is still to come—the Almighty One.”
Truly an incredible statement.  The fact that God has always existed is one of those things that is difficult for our finite minds to grasp.  He alone is truly awe inspiring.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Amos 1:1-3:15, Revelation 2:1-17, Psalm 129:1-8, Proverbs 29:19-20

Friday, December 6th: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11

2 John 1:5 I am writing to remind you, dear friends,[c] that we should love one another. This is not a new commandment, but one we have had from the beginning. 6 Love means doing what God has commanded us, and he has commanded us to love one another, just as you heard from the beginning.

Love.  It's not optional!

Thursday, December 5th: Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8

1 John 5:4-5

For every child of God defeats this evil world, and we achieve this victory through our faith. And who can win this battle against the world? Only those who believe that Jesus is the Son of God.

Very comforting passage of scripture. As Christians we defeat the evil in this world through our faith in God and belief in His son - Jesus.

There is plenty of evil around us, we may see it at work or school, but we cannot give in to evil. It is a battle we may have to fight daily, but it is worth fighting, and can only be fought and won with the help of Jesus. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Hosea 4:1-5:15, 2 John 1:1-13, Psalm 125:1-5, Proverbs 29:9-11

Wednesday, December 4th: Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Daniel 11:36-12:13, 1 John 4:1-21, Psalm 123:1-4, Proverbs 29:2-4

1 John 4:⁹ God showed how much he loved us by sending his one and only Son into the world so that we might have eternal life through him. ¹⁰ This is real love—not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as a sacrifice to take away our sins.

Perfect verses for this advent season - reminding us that God loved us, not because of who we are, but because of who He is.  He came to rescue us, to redeem us, to restore us because of love and for HIs glory.  Amen!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Hosea 1:1-3:5, 1 John 5:1-21, Psalm 124:1-8, Proverbs 29:5-8

Monday, December 2: Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Daniel 9:1-11:1, 1 John 2:18-3:6, Psalm 121:1-8, Proverbs 28:27-28

Scripture:  Everyone who sins is breaking God’s law, for all sin is contrary to the law of God. 5 And you know that Jesus came to take away our sins, and there is no sin in him. 6 Anyone who continues to live in him will not sin. But anyone who keeps on sinning does not know him or understand who he is.

Observation: Sin separates us from God and the closer we are to God the less tempted we are to sin against him.

Application: This verse says "for all sin is contrary to the law of God". Not some sin, not big sins, not only bad sin but all. I think we sometimes think (or would like to believe) that some sin is worse than others. But there is no difference to God. Whether it is engaging in the sin of child pornography, cheating on your husband, or telling a lie which often leads to more lies to cover up the first one, these actions that prompt us to turn away from God cause us to become entrapped in sin. Jesus came to rid us from the guilt and the stain of sin. We can be quick to judge those who sin differently than us not realizing that we also fall short of God and rely on His mercy and forgiveness. I like the phrase in the Casting Crowns song that says: "But you can turn around, You've never been more than, One step away from surrender, One step away from coming home, coming home" We are always just one step away from God's forgiveness through our repentance.

Prayer: Creator God, You are the author of salvation and You have redeemed us from all our sin. We fall short of your GLORY and we think we can do things on our own. We are embarrassed and hide our sin in so many ways but You see it all. Help bring those sins to light so that we can see how desperately we need You. Thank you for being faithful to forgive us for everything and wiping our pasts clean. Help us to not judge those who sin differently than we do. Point out to us where we need to work in our own lives so that we are not focused on the trials of others but on our own lives to be right with you. Amen. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Daniel 11:2-35, 1 John 3:7-24, Psalm 122:1-9, Proverbs 29:1