January 8th Readings

Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Genesis 25:1-26 and 1 Chronicles 1:28-34. Click here to read online.

Today's reading is a rather short passage. We find more genealogies, including another concubine of Abraham's who bore him more children. Some think he married her after Sarah's death, and some think she was his concubine already beforehand - apparently the verb tense is unclear (took or had taken are both possibilites), and in 1 Chronicles she is referred to as a concubine. In either case, this shows us that Abraham was the father of a multitude of nations, but no matter how many children he had, Isaac alone was the child of promise.

God's promise to Abraham regarding Ishmael (17:20) is also shown to be fulfilled by him having 12 sons.

According to this commentary this chapter teaches the principle of divine election. God chose Sarah, not Hagar or Keturah to be the mother of the of the child of promise. He chose Isaac, before he was even born, to be that child. And he chose Jacob, instead of the (barely) elder Esau to be the next child or promise, also before they were born. God did not choose them based on the good deeds He knew they would do. In fact, they often had less than stellar actions (Jacob stoops pretty low in the coming chapters). God chose, not based on their good deeds, and despite their bad deeds, He simply chose.

Consider Romans 9:10-12 And not only this, but there was Rebekah also, when she had conceived twins by one man, our father Isaac, for though the twins were not yet born, and had not done anything good or bad, in order that God’s purpose according to His choice might stand, not because of works, but because of Him who calls, it was said to her, ‘The older will serve the younger’.

From the same article ...

The message of the Bible is that all of us deserve the eternal wrath of God for our sins (Romans 3:10-18,23; 6:23). The message of the gospel is that God has provided a solution for the sins of man. That solution is the sacrifice of Jesus Christ upon the cross of Calvary where He bore the punishment that we deserve. He offers us the righteousness we lack (Romans 3:21-26). It is true that those who are saved are those whom God has chosen from eternity past (Acts 13:48; 16:14; Ephesians 1:11, etc.). It is also true that all who are saved are those who have personally believed in Jesus Christ as their Substitute and their Savior. Every person who calls upon Him for salvation will be saved.

In Rebekah, we again we find another woman unable to conceive, all the while likely knowing about the promised descendants that are supposed to come through her. It took 20 years of marriage before she conceived! Unlike Sarah, however, Rebekah doesn't take matters into her own hands. Instead Isaac prays for her. And what is the result of her faithfulness that God would provide in His time? She became pregnant, with twins. And not only that - the Lord spoke to her!

Another great reminder for us that God's timing and our timing will not always match up - and it doesn't mean God has forgotten us! He who promised is faithful.

Tomorrow's readings are Genesis 25:27 - 28:5. Click here to read online.

January 7th Readings-Nicole

Today's readings from the Chronological Plan are from Genesis 21:8-23:20; Genesis 11:32; Genesis 24:1-67. Click here to read online.

Wow, what alot of things covered in these readings. I don't have time to touch on everything so I will point out what I spoke to me the most while reading.

We begin with a feast occurring for Isaac. Sarah see's that Ishmael is mocking and she tells Abraham to send them away. Abraham is distressed. This too is his son, he's concerned for his wellbeing, as any parent would. God assures Abraham that Ishmael will be cared for and made into a nation. I can't imagine how hard it would be for Abraham to send a son away, someone who was now a teenager, they would of spent alot of time together and now he is to leave. It does show that there are always consequences to sin, they may not be immediate, but because Abraham had taken things into his own hands and done the wrong thing, God had to make it right and send Ishmael away, no matter how hard it was on all of them. Another thing it shows is that our sins don't only affect us but others too.

I also felt that it showed another side of Sarah.I had forgotten she's mentioned in the NT as this wonderful woman, but I see things in her that I don't think are so wonderful. But I'm not that wonderful either...So I guess God was telling me to not judge so quickly, and to also not think of myself so highly and that all of us have fallen short, but for the grace of God we are saved.

The next big thing that stood out, and literally makes me weep is Abraham's test. I've read it loads of times, but its only since being a parent that my heart really connects with Abraham's. God even points out how hard this will be in 22:2 when He says "take your son, your ONLY son, Isaac, WHOM YOU LOVE..." This is going to be hard for Abraham. Isaac is all he has left. Its his beloved son. Its Sarah's beloved son.

Now we don't see Abraham talking to God here about this, asking why or pleading for his son's case like he did for Sodom and Gomorrah or for Lot. Did he plead? God doesn't tell him that there will be a replacement. Abraham is going to have to sacrifice his son to prove his love and commitment to God. Phew. It blows my mind away. I often used to wonder why God would even tell him to do that, especially because it was what the pagans did and God was against it. I found a quote from here "In this sense, God did not require Abraham to do anything that He Himself would not do. Indeed, the command to Abraham was intended to foreshadow what He would do centuries later on the cross of Calvary" that satisfied my questioning.

As the day progresses and Isaac keeps asking what is happening, I just tear up thinking of how painful this must of been for Abraham. How confusing too!! God promises this son, who he will make a great nation from and now God wants him to kill him? That's why I beleive that Abraham didn't doubt, he knew God had a plan and would keep his promise.

I also found it amazing that there is no mention of a struggle. That Isaac didn't cry out, or fight his father. The bond between them, the trust must of been so great. Gosh its making me cry even now... It wasn't until I got to this section that I REALLY got why Abrahams faith was considered righteousness. I mean beforehand he wasn't believing for that much really... But now! He's trusting on God to step in and save his son. And God does. Abraham has passed the test! Hurray for Abraham!!

I was reading in the article I posted above how the author believed that the test Abraham went through was preparing Abraham for Sarah's death in Genesis 23. That nothing that we go through God doesn't use to shape us, prepare us, cause us to grow. It's always true isn't it?

The story of Isaac and Rebekah concludes the readings for today. Abraham tells his servant to seek a wife for Isaac from his homeland, not from Canaan. The servant sets off and even before he has finished praying (v 15) Rebekah comes out with a jar on her shoulder. I love how God answers this prayer even before its finished being prayed. I have notes in my bible from an old sermon that described the wells at that time, I am not sure if its correct I haven't got time to look it up but the pastor had said that the wells had stairs and she would have to climb up and down, up and down, to get enough water for the camels, she gave above and beyond what was asked of her. What a great example to us, to go that extra mile. Rebekah takes him back to her brother and mother and they are told the story and they agree for Rebekah to go with the servant. The next morning however they say they will keep her 10 more days, when the servant pleads they not make her stay they ask Rebekah and she says " I will go". What a girl!! I love the last bit when they Rebekah sees Isaac and he sees her, and she goes to him and they become one, and he is comforted by his mother's death. How beautiful!

Tomorrow's readings are from Genesis 25:1-4; 1Chronicles 1:32-33; Genesis 25:5-6; Genesis 25:12-18; 1Chronicles 1:28-31; 1:34; Genesis 25:19-26 and Genesis 25:7-11. Click here to read online. Without flipping the passages are Genesis 25:1-26 and 1 Chronicles 1:28-33. Click here to read that version.

January 6th Readings

Today's reading from the Chronological Plan is Genesis 18-21:7. Click here to read it online.

Today's reading starts off with the most amazing event - the Lord appeared to Abraham! Can you imagine?! Seeing the Lord (and two angels too mind you!), and serving them food and engaging them in actual conversation. What an incredible priviledge! The Lord actually came in person to reassure Abraham of His promise to Him.

One thing that I noticed is that this appearance occurs after we are told of Abraham's obedience to God in ensuring that he, Ishmael and every male in Abraham's household were circumcised as God had commanded. I'd say he was blessed for his obedience indeed!

I am curious if Sarah knew who Abraham was entertaining. I'm assuming that she did not know, because she laughed at the Lord's promise!

I was also struck by Abraham's continued loyalty to Lot and his compassion for people. Abraham had previously risked his neck to rescue Lot and other prisoners of war in the previous chapters, and now he pleads with God to spare their lives and not destroy the city they were living in.

It may appear, at surface reading, that Abraham is changing God's mind about destroying Sodom and Gomorrah - however, this is not the case. God is all-knowing and He knew that there were not even 10 righteous people in the city. How's that for a staggering statistic?! Not even 10 righteous people in the entire city!

Chapter 19 contains one of the more disturbing passages in the Bible, and shows the depth of depravity humanity needed to be rescued from. So thankful that God loves us with this love that truly passes understanding.

What I find mind-boggling about this passage, isn't even so much the men's intent to harm the angels (though obviously that is evil as well), but that Lot's solution to this problem was to offer up his virgin daughters to these evil monsters. I realize that women were not exactly high up in importance back in those days, but this was unacceptable. And yet, is it that much different than what Abraham was willing to do with Sarah - giving her away to two different men to spare his own skin?

Lot then goes on to drink so much wine he's not even aware that he is sleeping with his own daughters. I can't even imagine how drunk you'd have to be to do that. Once again, Lot's daughters are taking matters into their own hands and doing what they think is the best course of action. And the result of this sin is the Moabites and the Ammonites - two nations that were to be a plague to Israel.

Here is a quote from an excellent article that discusses this chapter in greater detail.

Lot, at best, was halfhearted in his relationship with God. Abraham had a growing intimacy, evidenced by his intercession for Lot. Lot cared mostly for himself, even to the point of sacrificing his daughters. Abraham cared more for others, evidenced by his generosity in giving Lot the choice of the land and in interceding with God for Lot’s deliverance. Lot was a man who failed to learn from divine discipline. When he moved to Sodom and then was kidnapped, he returned to the same place without any apparent change in action or attitude. Abraham made many mistakes (sins), but he learned from them. Lot was a man who lived only for the present, while Abraham was a stranger and a pilgrim on the earth. He chose to do without many earthly pleasures for the joys of greater and more lasting blessings from God.

In Chapter 20 we see Abraham and Sarah deceiving Abimelech exactly the same way they had deceived Pharaoh. Here is a quote from another great article.

About twenty years later he did exactly the same thing with Abimelech, king of Gerar (Gen. 20:1-8). This shows how weak and faithless the faithful can be. There are probably some sins we think we will never commit again, but we must ever be watchful, for that is exactly where Satan will attack us.

We must never be proud when it comes to sin. No one is invincible, everyone is vulnerable - if we are not focused on Jesus and seeking His will.

Abraham, at the moment, didn't believe that God would protect him and Sarah, and again, did things the way he thought would work best. God intervenes again. I am so thankful that God's faithfulness does not depend on our faithfulness. Don't mistake me - we cannot count on God bailing us out when we make foolish decisions. But in this case, God's plan would not be thwarted. Abimelech could hardly make Sarah his wife, if God had promised to provide Abraham an heir through her.

Today's readings end with the miraculous fulfillment of God's promise, as Sarah delivers a son, Isaac. Despite Abraham's mistakes, he continued to seek God. And God was faithful to the promise He made Abraham.

Thank you Lord for your faithfulness despite our many failings!

Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 21:8-23:20, 11:32, 24:1-67. Click here to read it online.

Guest Posting "Instructions"

Here are the "instructions" for the posts.

Please put your name in the title or in the beginning of your post, so people know who you are.

Please include today's reference at the top and tomorrow's reference at the bottom of your posts. Please add the links to Biblegateway's corresponding Bible passages. If you don't know how to do it, I can edit your post to include it later.

Please put the following labels on your post - the book of the Bible the readings were from, and "Your Name's Posts".

What type of post you do on the day's readings is up to you. You can do a SOAP, you can do a devotional in a different format, you can ask questions, you can summarize, you can talk about a portion of scripture that stood out to you, the choice is yours!

Also - if you can, do your post the previous day/evening and then postdate it to sometime during the middle of the night so that it's ready to go for those of us who are early risers. That is, as long as guest bloggers can change post times (I think they can). If not, just try to get it up as early as you can that day, or simply post it the evening before and that'll be just fine.

Thank you all for participating in this blog - I know this will be a great year in our spiritual journeys!

January 5th Readings and Explanations - Kristi

Today's reading from the Chronological Plan is Genesis 15-17. Click here to read it online.

Hello everyone! It is so nice to "meet" you!

Today's Reading includes the introduction to the Abrahamic covenant, by which God promises Abraham an heir and eventual descendants who will one day possess the land of Canaan. He also promises Abraham that his descendants will eventually be as innumerable as the stars in the sky (verse 5 of chapter 15). Huge prophecies, parts of which we know came true in later chapters and parts that still continue on being fulfilled today. What I love about all the prophecy in chapters 15-16 is that they show the love that God has for His creation and His people. I'll get to that more specifically, in a moment. One thing I will note is the use of Abram and Abraham. They are one in the same person. God changes Abrams name to Abraham as you will see in chapter 17, verse 5.

Years have passed, and Abram was still without an heir. He pleaded his case to God and suggests adopting his servant as his heir. God tells him no and promises him that he will have an heir out of his own bowels (meaning physically procreated). This is the first sign of God's love. We just discussed Abrams previous short comings in previous text, and yet he brings his hearts desires to the Lord, and God hears him. Not only does He hear him, but He answers him and has compassion for him. God then tells Abram of His promises for him and his descendants.

In the beginning of chapter 16, we see me. No not really, but we see a woman with my temperament. We are told of Sarai, Abram's wife and how she decides that since she can't give her husband a son herself, she must figure out how to fix the problem on her own. Surely, God meant that you are to have a child with our handmaid, that must be it. And she gives her husband her maid, to conceive a child with. I have to hand it to her, that must of taken a lot of strength and desire to please her husband, in order to do that. But what she should have done, was believed in God's promise and waited upon Him. This is all to often what I do. If things aren't going along fast enough, or as I think they should be, I work my way in the middle of all of it, and think of what I can do to fix it. Like God's too busy, and needs me to step in and take over for Him....I don't think so. There are times where we need to put footwork to our prayers, but most of the time we need to be patient and wait upon the Lord. He does not forget His promises and He will NEVER fail us!

Of course, I can't leave out that Abram gave in to Sarai's plea, and joined in on her plan. He could have stopped this whole thing at any time. It shows his giving into the desires of the flesh rather than the desires of the spirit.

Hagar flees from Sarai and Abram due to harsh treatment, but is met by an angel in the wilderness. Here, the angel tells her that she is to go back and bear her child who is to be called Ishmael. Read verse 11 of chapter 16 carefully....in the King James, it is written, "...because the Lord hath heard thy affliction." Isn't that beautiful? God doesn't even forget about the maid. His compassion is more deep than we will ever know here on this earth! Hagar is told that Ishmael's seed will be great in number as well, but that he will be a wild man and there will always be turmoil between he and every man. God later provides for Hagar and Ishmael when they are alone and hungering in the desert. He never leaves us...ever.

Lastly, in chapter 17 we have the covenant to Abraham, now, and his seed. That they will have the land given to them by God as an everlasting possession. (verse 7,8) Everlasting, means that as long as this earth is here, that land is rightfully theirs. To this day, that land rightfully belongs to the Jews, and there will always be fighting and turmoil there as long as the Jews are being forced off it. America is in BIG TROUBLE as a nation when we stop backing the Jews. Then, God changes Sarai's name to Sarah, and promises to bless her and give her a child. This is another example of God's love I was talking about. All these horrible things that Sarah did, and God is blessing her. The seed of Ishmael today is still a thorn in the side of God's people, and Sarah and Abraham were at fault, but God looked past that and blessed them, and they still were able to do many wonderful things for God in their lives. We can too! No matter what our past, no matter what our present, we can change it, submit it to God and still be used for His honor and glory!

God promised Abraham that He would make Ishmael a great nation, and later Abraham and Ishmael, and all the men of Abraham's house, were circumcised as a part of the covenant. It indicated that his offspring were set apart and uniquely dedicated to God.

I'm sorry, I know it's a lot. A long post, but there are soooo many important things in these 3 chapters! As I said, I love these chapters and the characteristics of God that they display. Love, compassion, faithfulness, all knowing power. It's incredible! However on the sad note, this is where all the fighting in the middle east originates from. The Jews and the Arabs. God has promised us here that there will not be peace amongst these nations until His return. All we can do is pray and be thankful that there will be peace in eternity. And these chapters show His faithfulness, and truthfulness, and we can rest on that and have peace.

Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 18-21:7. Click here to read it online.

Post schedule and Testimonials

OK, I have the schedule of guest posters up and running on the right. If at any time you'd like to switch your days just let me know. Also, if your name isn't on the list and you'd like to start contributing a post regularly, let me know!

For those who are following along with us, feel free to post your comments as well, even if you don't do any guests posts. Everyone is welcome to participate as much or as little as they are able.

For those who are guest posting, can you please prepare a short testimonial and post it on Friday? I'd like us to get to know each other a little bit so we can better know how to pray for each other during this journey together. Please title the post "Tammy's Testimony" (except obviously use your own name :), and include the following...

1) a short testimony on when you became a Christian and where you are at spiritually right now
2) one or two things the Lord has done for you or how you've seen His hand at work in your life.
3) one or two things you hope to gain from participating in this blog, so that we know specifically what/how to pray for you

Please try to keep it short and sweet, as there will be several testimonies!

Even though this blog is not meant to be a chit chat blog (we can get to know each other that way by following each other's personal blogs if we'd like to) I'd love for us to get to know each other on a spiritual level as we read/study God's Word - so we can meet each other wherever we're currently at in our spiritual journeys, as well as challenge each other to grow in the Lord.

I want this blog to be open to both "new" and "old" Christians.

A place where those who are still new to the faith, or struggling with doubts to have a place where they can grow and where they can feel safe to ask questions.

A place where those who have been on this journey a long time can come alongside, perhaps offering some wisdom and insights, while also deepening their own faith - because no matter how mature of a Christian you are, no one has "arrived". We all need to be constantly learning, constantly changing as we strive to reflect Jesus to those around us.

I want this blog to be a place where we all can feel both accepted and loved for who we are and where we are at on our spiritual journeys, and yet challenged to grow at the same time.

So, along with committing to read and study the Bible this year, let's also commit to pray for each other, to encourage each other and to challenge each other in love.

Click here to read the post on today's readings.

January 4th Readings and Thoughts

Today's reading is Genesis 11 - 14 and 1 Chronicles 1:24-27. Click here to read it online.

We covered a lot of ground today.

The story of the Tower of Babel has always interested me. I heard someone speak on this passage once and they said that one of the biggest benefits of scattering humanity through the globe was to reduce our capacity for evil. If you think about it, the worst of crime seems to exist in cities packed with people. It's that group mentality where an idea starts and it just grows out of control. Changing the languages, and scattering people helped to curb this "natural" reaction. What do you think?

Pieter Bruegel the Elder ca. 1520 – 1569
The Tower of Babel (Vienna)

Chapter 12 I find to be an incredible chapter illustrating how far we can fall.

The chapter starts off with Abram showing an incredible faith in God. God commanded him to leave his country, his people, everything he had known all his life, and go. Just go. He didn't even know where he was supposed to go! And what did he do? He obeyed! Now that takes faith. I often try to put myself in other people's shoes as I'm reading and I can't even imagine how difficult that must've been.

But then the fall. Only verses later Abram is lying about his wife, giving his wife to Pharaoh. Why? Fear and selfishness. I think, as humans, we base a lot of our decisions on fear and selfishness - and look at the disastrous consequences!

When do we give in to fear? When we take our eyes off of God. Make no mistake - fear of man is not from God.

And yet, in spite of Abram's disobedience and wrong priorities - God intervenes on their behalf and strikes Pharaoh and his household with serious diseases until he gave Sarai back to Abram. God never gives up on us. God takes imperfect people, like Abram, like you and like me. And He works through us, despite our imperfections, to accomplish His holy purposes.

Later Abram lets Lot choose which land to settle in. Lot chooses the best land which also happens to be right near the evil city of Sodom. This lands Lot in a heap of trouble (consequences of selfishness once again!) and Abram has to come rescue Lot - with only 318 trained men he defeated 4 allied kings! On his return he was blessed by Melchizedek, king of Salem and priest of God Most High as pictured below.

Peter Paul Rubens ca.1625
Abraham Meets Melchizedek

Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 15-17. Click here to read it online.

January 3rd Readings

Today's reading is Genesis 7-10:5, 1 Chronicles 1:5-7, Genesis 10:6-20, 1 Chronicles 1:8-16, Genesis 10:21-30, 1 Chronicles 1:17-23, Genesis 10:31-32. You can read the passages online by clicking here. If you find it to be distracting to flip back and forth so much - simply read Genesis 7-10 and then 1 Chronicles 1:5-23. If you'd prefer to read it this way online you can click here.

Good morning everybody! Looking forward to another discussion on today's readings.

First of all, I wanted to put out a little note of encouragement. We touched on this just a bit in yesterday's readings - the fact is that sin is real, evil is real, Satan is real. And if you are committed to reading the Bible through in a year, Satan is committed to stopping you. Let's be real here - digging into the Word, spending time in prayer, spending time with God - that is going to cause you to grow in leaps and bounds. You will become a much stronger soldier in God's army. And, obviously the last thing our enemy wants is a strong army to fight. It reminds me of something I posted on my blog last year and I'm going to post again here (which is going to make this post rather long, I apologize for that, but I think this is a good time to remind ourselves of this)

From the LifeJournal website....

Why Is It So Important to Do Devotions Every Day?
What would the people in your church look like if they snacked on meager food morsels during the week and ate only one good meal on the weekend? You know the answer, don't you? You'd find yourself surrounded by emaciated, gaunt people in desperate need of nutrition.

And how would these undernourished believers fare against a demonic adversary? Can you imagine how this army would look? You'd see threadbare skeletons with hollow cheeks and sunken eye-sockets, lined up like phantoms. Weakened by famine, that shriveled militia could barely stand at attention; each would struggle to find the strength to keep his or her bony frame upright.

Could this "army" conquer an opposing force?

No way. No earthly general would send them out to fight.

Well, then, how about the army of the Lord? What of those who gather on Sunday mornings? Are they spiritually nourished to fight the battles ahead? Considering what most members of God's army subsist on—an occasional tidy snack from a devotional book and perhaps an average-sized meal on Sundays to satiate conscience—you'd have to conclude that God's fighting force has some serious training to do.

Have you ever wondered why marriages seemingly crumble overnight, and—out of the blue—Christians leaders fall to luring temptations?

The truth is, no marriage instantly disintegrates, and no one suddenly falls away from Christ. For that matter, no one dies from an eating disorder after missing a day or two of meals.

It could better be described as a slow decline—gradual spiritual starvation, barely even discernible to the outside observer. The malnourishment of God's sons and daughters happens over time, as they eat less and less. Then, in their weakness, they do something that shocks everyone, finally revealing what was really going on in their spiritual lives.

Did you know that more than 80 percent of those who call themselves Christians read their Bibles only once a week? And that's usually on Sundays, at church. They come to church to get their spiritual fill, and then snack on devotional tidbits for the rest of the week (if even that).

I wish for just one day God would change the way our eyes work, so we would see ourselves spiritually. We'd see most American churches filled with skeletal, hollow-eyed saints, looking as if a gust of wind would blow them away like tumbleweeds.

Which is why, when some new trend floods America and pushes our nation further away from God, further away from our spiritual roots, the church is unable to withstand the tide. We simply don't have the strength.

So what's the solution? ....

If we eat only once a week, it's no wonder the church is weak and struggling. But daily fresh bread can change all of that. Regularly dining on fresh bread makes for a stalwart, strong, developed army—the only kind of force that will always make a difference in this world.

So, don't expect things to go easy for you - especially these first few weeks. Make a deliberate effort to carve out time to get your readings done. But above all - do not quit! If you get behind, pick up where we are now. It's much better to miss a few days then to quit entirely!

OK, pep talk over.

Today's reading is Genesis 7-10:5, 1 Chronicles 1:5-7, Genesis 10:6-20, 1 Chronicles 1:8-16, Genesis 10:21-30, 1 Chronicles 1:17-23, Genesis 10:31-32. You can read the passages online by clicking here. If you find it to be distracting to flip back and forth so much - simply read Genesis 7-10 and then 1 Chronicles 1:5-23. If you'd prefer to read it this way online you can click here.

One more quick thing I wanted to throw in about yesterday's reading. I've always wondered a bit about the Nephilim mentioned in Gen 6:4, so I did a little reading up on it and found this article and this article that discuss the different interpretations of the Nephilim - if you're interested.

Today's readings are about the flood and some geneologies.

Jan Brueghel the Elder 1568 – 1625
The Animals Board Noah's Ark - 1613

A few questions struck me as I read this passage...
1) They were on the ark for just over a year - they must've needed a lot of food, for humans and animals alike! Did they possibly eat some of the animals? There were 7 of each clean animal onboard. I know they sacrificed some of the clean animals to God after the came out of the ark, but it doesn't say how many. Also, that must've been one stinky ship!
2) What happened to all the dead people and animals on earth?
3) How far did the ark travel during this year on the high seas?
4) How long did it take for Noah to build the ark? Did Methuselah die in the flood or before the flood?

I have always loved rainbows, I think they're beautiful. I love how they are a symbol of one of God's first promises to us in the Bible. I love how they give us a glimpse at God's amazing creativity.

Here is a picture that I find absolutely amazing....

What a mighty God we serve!

Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 11 - 14 and 1 Chronicles 1:24-27. Click here to read it online. (I'm not going to post the versions that do all the flipping, I'm just going to combine them from now on cause I think it's easier).

Also - I'm working on a schedule for all you guest posters - still waiting to hear back from a few of you. I will post a two week schedule on Monday using whomever has responded by then.

God bless you all as you read His Word!
Tammy

January 2nd Readings, Some Business, and SOAP

Click here to read today's Scripture passage (Genesis 4 - 5, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4, Genesis 6) online.

Hi everyone! There were some great thoughts on yesterday's passage. I'm excited about continuing this journey with you. During the next few days/weeks I will continue to get this whole system more organized - just going with the flow and learning how things work best as we go along here.

More on how this will work (please feel free to comment or email me with any ideas you may have).....
I have sent invites to the following people via email to become guest bloggers on this blog... Andrea, Tammi, PamJ, Pamela, Jen, Miriam, Kristilea, Jacquie, Nicole and Jen. If you have not received the invitation, please let me know. If your name is not on this list and you would like to contribute to the blog, please also let me know!

I would like to draw up a schedule for when you guest posters will be contributing your own thoughts/insights/devotionals to this blog. I don't know if there's any way to post that schedule directly to the blog so that you'll be reminded of when your day is coming up - if anybody knows if/how this is possible, please let me know!

In the meantime, please email me with a concrete # of times per month you would like to post. If you have a day preference, please let me know that as well. It wouldn't be a big deal to have two people posting on the same day, but I'd love it if we could have a full-fledged post up every day, so we may as well spread it out to make it easier on us all! So, if you want to post every other Friday, or every third Wednesday or whatever, please email me. You can always change this later (more/less often if you find it's too much/not enough), but please give me something concrete now. I have added an "Email me" link to the top right of the blog to make communicating with me easier for you all.

OK - enough business discussion - on to today's readings!

We are continuing in our Chronological Reading Plan. Today's Bible passage is Genesis 4 - 5, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4, Genesis 6. You can read the passages in the NIV online by clicking here. If you prefer a different translation you will notice a drop down box near the top of the page that currently says "New International Version" - simply click on the drop down box and select the version of your choice and click the "Update" button to the right.

A few things stood out to me today.

First was the verse in Genesis 5:24 Enoch walked with God; then he was no more, because God took him away. Enoch walked with God. That is my desire - to be able to truly say that I walked with God. That He is involved in every part of my life. That He is my Lord, that He is my Friend, that He is my Father, that He is my Saviour. There is so much meaning in that one phrase.

Next, I was curious about the timeline so bear with me while I type this out...

Seth was born when Adam was 130.
Enosh was born when Seth was 105 and Adam was 235.
Kenan was born when Enosh was 90, Seth was 195 and Adam was 325.
Mahalalel was born when Kenan was 70, Enosh was 160, Seth was 265 and Adam was 395.
Jared was born when Mahalalel was 65, Kenan was 135, Enosh was 225, Seth was 330 and Adam was 460.
Enoch was born when Jared was 162, Mahalalel was 227, Kenan was 297, Enosh was 387, Seth was 492 and Adam was 722.
Methuselah was born when Enoch was 65, Jared was 227, Mahalalel was 292, Kenan was 362, Enosh was 452, Seth was 557 and Adam was 787.
Lamech was born when Methuselah was 187, Enoch was 252, Jared was 414, Mahalalel was 479, Kenan was 549, Enosh was 639, Seth was 744 and Adam had died 44 years earlier.
Noah was born when Lamech was 182, Methuselah was 369, Enoch was no more because God had taken him away 69 years earlier, Jared was 596, Mahalalel was 661, Kenan was 731, Enosh was 821, and Seth had passed away 17 years earlier.

(Talk about big family gatherings going on back then!!)

What amazes me is that the 3rd generation was still alive when Noah was born. And in Noah's time people had already become so sinful, so corrupt that God decided to wipe them from the face from the face of the planet! The flood came 5 years after Noah's father died. The flood came the exact same year Methuselah died (makes me very curious - did he die before the flood or due to the flood? I would assume before).

Amazing how fast sin can take root.

Which brings me to my SOAP for today - very short cause I'm about to fall asleep.

Scripture - Genesis 4:7b But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.

Observation - Sin is real and it is actively seeking to destroy us. We must master it.

Application - We need to recognize the evil that is around us, the temptations that we are surrounded by, especially those that we are easily susceptible to (which will vary from person to person, we all have different weaknesses). But we cannot focus on sin. We need to focus on Jesus. Through Him we have victory of sin. Through Him we can master it and it's destructive force on our life!

Prayer - Lord, I thank you that you are a powerful God. I thank you for the shed blood of Jesus that washes away our sin. I thank you that you victory over sin and over death. Help us to be on alert, to be watchful of the sin that can so easily entangle us. Help us to focus on You, to live for You and to master our sin. Thank you Jesus. Amen.


Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 7-10:5, 1 Chronicles 1:5-7, Genesis 10:6-20, 1 Chronicles 1:8-16, Genesis 10:21-30, 1 Chronicles 1:17-23, Genesis 10:31-32. You can read the passages online by clicking here. If you find it to be distracting to flip back and forth so much - simply read Genesis 7-10 and then 1 Chronicles 1:5-23. If you'd prefer to read it this way online you can click here.

January 1st Chronological Reading and SOAP devotion

Happy New Year!!

And welcome to the Bible in a Year - and Beyond challenge! I am so excited about beginning this journey of digging into God's Word together.

We have chosen to read the Chronological Plan. Today's Bible passage is Genesis 1-3.

Click here to read today's scripture online in the NIV. If you prefer a different translation you will notice a drop down box near the top of the page that currently says "New International Version" - simply click on the drop down box and select the version of your choice and click the "Update" button to the right.

Genesis, written by Moses, is a book of beginnings. It describes the beginning of time, the beginning of the universe, the creation of man/woman, the beginning of sin, the beginning of God's redemptive plan, and more.

Today I'm going to use the SOAP format to discuss this passage (Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer) - which really means I'm only going to discuss one verse. And it's pretty late, so it's not going to be overly long.

Scripture - Genesis 1:27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

Observation - God created us. I know there are Old Earth Christians and Youth Earth Christians, but they do agree on one thing - God created us. Not only did He create us, He created us in His own image!

Application - This is were we get our self-worth from. It is not to be found in our family, our friends, our work, our hobbies, our race, our education, our economic status or anything else about us. Our worth comes from God and God alone. He created us in His image. We find out identity, our self-worth, our self-confidence in this. He created me. He created you. It is such a simple concept, and yet so powerful! Not only are we individually created by almighty God, but we are made in His image. In the image of the Creator, who simply spoke and the universe came into existence! You were created for a purpose. The biggest purpose of all is to live every moment to give glory to Him.

Prayer - Lord, I thank you for all the amazing work you did at creation. I thank you for the earth and everything in it, and that you entrusted it into our care. I praise you for your mighty power, for your creativity and for your love for us. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made in Your image. Help me to live every day, every moment with the express purpose of glorifying your Holy name. Amen.

What are you some of your thoughts on today's reading? Feel free to post in the comments.

Tomorrow's reading is Genesis 4 - 5, 1 Chronicles 1:1-4, Genesis 6. You can read the passages online by clicking here.