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.

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!

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!

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

Friday, November 29th: Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Daniel 6:1-28, 2 Peter 3:1-18, Psalm 119:129-152, Proverbs 28:21-22

2 Peter 3:⁹ The Lord isn’t really being slow about his promise, as some people think. No, he is being patient for your sake. He does not want anyone to be destroyed, but wants everyone to repent. ¹⁰ But the day of the Lord will come as unexpectedly as a thief. Then the heavens will pass away with a terrible noise, and the very elements themselves will disappear in fire, and the earth and everything on it will be found to deserve judgment.

This passage makes it clear that God's patience is merciful, and that we cannot take it for granted or mistake it for lack of judgment.  The delay is for our benefit, for another opportunity to repent.  But there will come a day when that opportunity will be over and judgment will come.

So thankful for His mercy towards me!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Daniel 7:1-28, 1 John 1:1-10, Psalm 119:153-176, Proverbs 28:23-24

Wednesday, November 27th: Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Daniel 4:1-37, 2 Peter 1:1-21, Psalm 119:97-112, Proverbs 28:17-18 

It could be argued that King Nebuchadnezer was always a bit crazy.  After all, he expected his wise men to be able to tell him what he dreamt!  But eventually, he literally does go crazy after not heeding Daniel's advice after interpreting another dream promising that's what would happen if he did not change.

He didn't listen.

And he went crazy.  For 7 years!!  But that finally was enough to get his attention.

³⁴ “After this time had passed, I, Nebuchadnezzar, looked up to heaven. My sanity returned, and I praised and worshiped the Most High and honored the one who lives forever.

His rule is everlasting,
    and his kingdom is eternal.
³⁵ All the people of the earth
    are nothing compared to him.
He does as he pleases
    among the angels of heaven
    and among the people of the earth.
No one can stop him or say to him,
    ‘What do you mean by doing these things?’

³⁶ “When my sanity returned to me, so did my honor and glory and kingdom. My advisers and nobles sought me out, and I was restored as head of my kingdom, with even greater honor than before.

³⁷ “Now I, Nebuchadnezzar, praise and glorify and honor the King of heaven. All his acts are just and true, and he is able to humble the proud.”

Hopefully most people won't wait for such a drastic consequence before surrendering to God!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Daniel 5:1-31, 2 Peter 2:1-22, Psalm 119:113-128, Proverbs 28:19-20

Monday, November 25th: Daniel 1:1-2:23, 1 Peter 3:8-4:6, Psalm 119:65-80, Proverbs 28:14 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Daniel 1:1-2:23, 1 Peter 3:8-4:6, Psalm 119:65-80, Proverbs 28:14

As a child, the only portion of Daniel's life that I associated with him was the lion's den.  And obviously, that's a pretty dramatic and memorable story.  But Daniel lived out his faith consistently throughout his lifetime, and there were several times when his resolve to do so was tested.  I'm sure he had moments of doubt and maybe there were times when he didn't do the right thing, but from the biblical record of his life, he consistently obeyed God no matter the potential consequences.

And it started at a young age.  Daniel and his friends were young when they were taken into exile.  And it would've been very easy to go along with what was expected of them and eat unclean food.  It would have been very easy to justify it, and say they had no choice, as they were prisoners.

But Daniel stepped out in faith and asked for permission not to eat unclean foods, and God honoured his boldness.

Again, in the second chapter, we see Daniel act with wisdom and discernment in the face of imminent execution.  His past behaviour had likely earned him the ability to ask more questions and to go see the King before the edict was carried out.  And then he went directly to God for help. And again, God honoured his faithfulness.

I pray that I (that we all!) would have the wisdom, courage, and faithfulness of Daniel.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Daniel 2:24-3:30,1 Peter 4:7-5:14,Psalm 119:81-96,Proverbs 28:15-16

Friday, November 22nd: Ezekiel 44:1-45:12, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Ezekiel 44:1-45:12, 1 Peter 1:1-12, Psalm 119:17-32, Proverbs 28:8-10

Psalm 119:18
Open my eyes to see
    the wonderful truths in your instructions.

Often people think of the Bible as a list of do's and don'ts.

Obviously, the Bible does give us instruction about sin - but it's not to spoil our fun.
It's to pour light into the darkness.
It's to shine God's grace into our lives.
It's to reveal God to us.
It's to allow us to know Him.
It's to reveal truth - and that truth is wonderful. Open our eyes to see that Lord!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 45:13-46:24, 1 Peter 1:13-2:10, Psalm 119:33-48, Proverbs 28:11

Wednesday, November 20th: Ezekiel 40:28-41:26, James 4:1-17, Psalm 118:19-29, Proverbs 28:3-5 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ezekiel 40:28-41:26, James 4:1-17, Psalm 118:19-29, Proverbs 28:3-5

James 4:¹⁷ Remember, it is sin to know what you ought to do and then not do it.

This verse is a good reminder that sin isn't just doing something wrong, it's also not doing something right.

We can sin by doing the wrong thing.
We can sin by doing the right thing for the wrong reason.
We can sin by not doing the right thing when we know we should.
We can sin unknowingly.
We can sin purposefully.

We need to take sin seriously and be proactive about killing the sin in our lives.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 42:1-43:27, James 5:1-20, Psalm 119:1-16, Proverbs 28:6-7

Monday, November 18th: Ezekiel 37:1-38:23, James 1:19-2:17, Psalm 117:1-2, Proverbs 28:1 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ezekiel 37:1-38:23, James 1:19-2:17, Psalm 117:1-2, Proverbs 28:1

James 1:

¹⁹ Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. ²⁰ Human anger^[a] does not produce the righteousness^[b] God desires. ²¹ So get rid of all the filth and evil in your lives, and humbly accept the word God has planted in your hearts, for it has the power to save your souls.

²² But don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.

Wow, there's a lot in there!
Quick to listen
Slow to speak
Slow to get angry
Get rid of filth and evil
Listen to God's Word
But don't just listen, do what it says

It doesn't mention it in this passage but it's always a good reminder that all of these things can only be done through the power of the Holy Spirit, not our own strength.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 39:1-40:27, James 2:18-3:18, Psalm 118:1-18, Proverbs 28:2

Friday, November 15th: Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:18-20 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Ezekiel 31:1-32:32, Hebrews 12:14-29, Psalm 113:1-114:8, Proverbs 27:18-20

Hebrews 12
¹⁴ Work at living in peace with everyone, and work at living a holy life, for those who are not holy will not see the Lord. ¹⁵ Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many.

Our faith is both a personal thing and a community thing.  Obviously we are only responsible for our own choices - both good and bad.  But we are community.  We are to encourage each other, to live at peace with each other, to hold each other accountable, to lift each other up, to pray for each other, and to love each other.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 33:1-34:31, Hebrews 13:1-25, Psalm 115:1-18, Proverbs 27:21-22

Wednesday, November 13th: Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Ezekiel 27:1-28:26, Hebrews 11:17-31, Psalm 111:1-10, Proverbs 27:15-16

I love reading the Hebrews chapter of faith stories.  Those people listed did some really hard things because of their faith in God.

Faith in His faithfulness.
Faith in His promises.
Faith in His trustworthiness.
Faith in Him.

That's the key.  When our faith is placed in the Only One who is Good, True, Just, Almighty, Faithful; and when we rely on His power instead of our own, He will do amazing things through us.  We may never see or understand what we're being asked to do on this side of eternity, but the day will come when we will see clearly, and we will be amazed!

Until then, we must not only have faith, but act on that faith!


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Ezekiel 29:1-30:26, Hebrews 11:32-12:13, Psalm 112:1-10, Proverbs 27:17