Wednesday, April 10th: Deuteronomy 34:1- Joshua 2:24, Luke 13:22-14:6, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 12:26 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 34:1- Joshua 2:24, Luke 13:22-14:6, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 12:26 

Joshua 1:6 “Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. 7 Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do.8 Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. 9 This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
I can only imagine how Joshua felt taking over as leader of the Israelites.  Moses had been the only human leader they had known and those were big sandals to fill!  And he was going to be the leader to bring them into the Promised Land.

God gives Joshua clear instructions on how to get through this transition and how to become a godly leader.  The key, of course, is God. 

Joshua needs to rely on God and God alone. 

He needs to rely on God's Word.  In order to that, he needs to know it inside and out (just like we need to, and why we are doing this blog together).  He doesn't just need to know it, he needs to obey it, he needs to apply it to his life. 

He needs to rely on God's presence.  Almost every time in the Bible that we see the instructions "Do not fear" it is followed by the reason we don't need to fear:  God is with us. 

The same holds true for us today.  We need to rely on God alone.  We need God to transform us through the power of the Holy Spirit and His Word.  We need to trust and rely on His presence every step of the way.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Joshua 3:1-4:24, Luke 14:7-35, Psalm 80:1-19, Proverbs 12:27-28

Tuesday, April 9th: Deuteronomy 33:1-29, Luke 13:1-21, Psalm 78:65-72, Proverbs 12:25 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 33:1-29, Luke 13:1-21, Psalm 78:65-72, Proverbs 12:25

Happy Birthday Tammy! I hope you have a wonderful day!!

Then Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? How can I illustrate it? It is like a tiny mustard seed that a man planted in a garden; it grows and becomes a tree, and the birds make nests in its branches.” He also asked, “What else is the Kingdom of God like? It is like the yeast a woman used in making bread. Even though she put only a little yeast in three measures of flour, it permeated every part of the dough.”  Luke 13:18-21

In the devotional that I am reading through I was really challenged by this...

"Just as the Jews of Jesus' day wanted the Kingdom of God to come triumphantly and comprehensively in one swift show of power and transformation, so we tend to want the reign of Christ to come into our children's lives...this isn't how his Kingdom comes into the world, and it's not how his rule and reign comes to our lives or the lives of our children. It starts small, like a tiny seed that requires nourishment and light to grow. It begins almost invisibly, doing its work from within, like yeast. The Holy Spirit works through the Word to make a dead heart come alive, and over time, that radical inner change works its way through the whole person. This means we, as parents, have to be patient. It means we should not be surprised that our children are not now everything we long for them to be."

I've really been struggling in the last year as my children get older and start making their own decisions. Decisions that I am not in control of any longer. I have to trust that God will take that mustard seed that we have hopefully planted in our children and will grow it into something wonderful. And I will have to be patient (willing to relinquish my desire and trust God) while watching them grow, sometimes turning slightly away from the sun or possibly having a leaf or two that dries up, but hopefully, ever-renewing, ever-growing, and ever-strengthening as they grow into all the God intends for them to be.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 34:1- Joshua 2:24, Luke 13:22-14:6, Psalm 79:1-13, Proverbs 12:26 

Monday, April 8th: Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, Proverbs 12:24 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, Proverbs 12:24 

Deuteronomy 32:45 When Moses had finished reciting all these words to the people of Israel, 46 he added: “Take to heart all the words of warning I have given you today. Pass them on as a command to your children so they will obey every word of these instructions. 47 These instructions are not empty words—they are your life! By obeying them you will enjoy a long life in the land you will occupy when you cross the Jordan River.”
A great reminder to be purposeful about speaking God's Word, speaking truth, speaking life into our children.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Luke 12:38b But whenever he comes, he will reward the servants who are ready.
Are we ready for the Lord's return?
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Proverbs 12:24 Work hard and become a leader; be lazy and become a slave.A reminder of the value of a strong work ethic.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:

Sunday, April 7th: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27, Luke 12:8-34, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 12:21-23 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27, Luke 12:8-34, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 12:21-23 

Luke 12:25 Can all your worries add a single moment to your life? 26 And if worry can’t accomplish a little thing like that, what’s the use of worrying over bigger things?
This reminds me of a question/quote:  Have you prayed about it as much as you've worried about it?

We know God is sovereign and that He is good - we need to trust and rest in those truths.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 32:28-52, Luke 12:35-59, Psalm 78:56-64, Proverbs 12:24

Saturday, April 6th: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalms 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalms 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20

Deuteronomy 30:19 “Today I have given you the choice between life and death, between blessings and curses. Now I call on heaven and earth to witness the choice you make. Oh, that you would choose life, so that you and your descendants might live! 20 You can make this choice by loving the Lord your God, obeying him, and committing yourself firmly to him. This is the key to your life. And if you love and obey the Lord, you will live long in the land the Lord swore to give your ancestors Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob.”
Choose life!

Love God, obey him, and commit yourself firmly to Him.

Of course, we cannot do this on our own. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit gives us a new heart and the strength to choose life.  May we remember not to rely on ourselves (because then we will fail) but to rely on Him alone.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 31:1-32:27, Luke 12:8-34, Psalm 78:32-55, Proverbs 12:21-23

Friday, April 5th: Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Luke 11:14-36, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 12:18 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Luke 11:14-36, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 12:18

“Wherever you go and whatever you do, you will be blessed.” - Deuteronomy 28:6

In today’s reading, we are reminded that there will be a reward for those who choose to follow God. If we work hard for Him on this earth, we will be rewarded in Heaven.

We also see the other side, that if we disobey God and choose to stray from Him, we will regret it forever.

So let’s hold on to the hope that there is something better coming, and not stray from the path that God has put in front of us. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 29:1-30:20; Luke 11:37-12:7; Psalms 78:1-31; Proverbs 12:19-20

Thursday, April 4th: Deuteronomy 26:1 - 27:26, Luke 10:38 - 11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17 

Deuteronomy 26: 9-11
[9]He brought us to this place and gave us this land flowing with milk and honey!
[10]And now, O  lord, I have brought you the first portion of the harvest you have given me from the ground.’ Then place the produce before the lord your God, and bow to the ground in worship before him.
[11]Afterward you may go and celebrate because of all the good things the lord your God has given to you and your household. Remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration.

The last part of this passage stood out for me, "remember to include the Levites and the foreigners living among you in the celebration".

The Levites didn't get any land to own, they  relied on God to provide for them.

Is this a position we would look down upon nowadays? Or is this a special calling, and people to be looked up to and respected? Can we help people in our churches or elsewhere that have chosen to follow God - in leadership?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:   Deuteronomy 28:1-68, Luke 11:14-36, Psalm 77:1-20, Proverbs 12:18 

Wednesday, April 3rd: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Luke 10:20b, 22 rejoice because your names are registered in heaven....No one truly knows the Son except the Father, and no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
This is indeed cause for rejoicing! From my devotional book.....
And this is what we so desperately want for our children. We long to peer into that registry in heaven and be assured that our children's names are there. We want them to have eyes that are open to seeing Jesus. And we realize that "no one truly knows the Father except the Son and those to whom the Son chooses to reveal him". So we want to pray that Jesus will reveal himself to our children!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Deuteronomy 26:1-27:26, Luke 10:38-11:13, Psalm 76:1-12, Proverbs 12:15-17

Tuesday, April 2nd: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11

If someone has a stubborn and rebellious son who does not obey his father and mother and will not listen to them when they discipline him, his father and mother shall take hold of him and bring him to the elders at the gate of his town. They shall say to the elders, “This son of ours is stubborn and rebellious. He will not obey us. He is a glutton and a drunkard.” Then all the men of his town are to stone him to death. You must purge the evil from among you. All Israel will hear of it and be afraid. Deuteronomy 21:18-21

The last several days in Deuteronomy have been pretty harsh. Lots of stoning and purging. Today's passage talked about stoning the disobedient, oldest son. I have to wonder how bad a child's behavior had to be that the parents were willing to bring their child in front of the elders and have him stoned. I'm not sure what my threshold would be to take that kind of action. I really appreciate what the devotional had to say about this passage...

"While there is no record of anyone being executed under this law, this instruction still alarms and perhaps even embarrasses us because it doesn't seem very godlike. But there is actually great hope in this dark scene. Centuries later, a firstborn Son who obeyed his Father perfectly would be put to death - not for his own stubborn rebellion, but for ours. He would experience the curse that all rebellious sons deserve so that we can experience the blessing of the long, full life that he deserved. He experienced the ultimate curse so that we can enjoy unending blessing."

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 23:1-25:19, Luke 10:13-37, Psalm 75:1-10, Proverbs 12:12-14

Monday, April 1: Deuteronomy 18:1- 20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 12:10 ~by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan: Deuteronomy 18:1- 20:20, Luke 9:28-50, Psalm 73:1-28, Proverbs 12:10 

Things that stood out for me:

9 “When you come into the land that the Lord your God is giving you, you shall not learn to follow the abominable practices of those nations.

Think about the blessings that God has given to us. It may not be land as it was in their case but think about our environment: our schools, our workplaces, our community centres/sports arenas, our grocery stores, and every other place we "live" out our lives. In these places, there are "abominable practices" that happen. There's un acceptable language, shady/dishonest business practices, questionable behaviour, and more. While we "live" in these places, our actions should not reflect what surrounds us but rather what God desires for us.

4 “This is the provision for the man slayer, who by fleeing there may save his life. If anyone kills his neighbour unintentionally without having hated him in the past—5 as when someone goes into the forest with his neighbour to cut wood, and his hand swings the axe to cut down a tree, and the head slips from the handle and strikes his neighbour so that he dies—he may flee to one of these cities and live,

There are consequences to our actions whether an action was intentional or not. However God commands a way out of repaying an accident with intentional harm. I couldn't help but think of the horrible accident that resulted in the Humbolt bus incident last year. Just like the illustration from Deuteronomy about the accidental slip of the axe head, I believe the bus driver did not intentionally mean to kill all of those people when his truck collided with their hockey bus but he did, in fact, end their lives. There are still consequences to an accident, in this case felling from all the person knows to the unknown (and living with others who are escaping their own fate) but they still can live and try and reconcile.

7 but you shall devote them to complete destruction,[j] the Hittites and the Amorites, the Canaanites and the Perizzites, the Hivites and the Jebusites, as the Lord your God has commanded, 18 that they may not teach you to do according to all their abominable practices that they have done for their gods, and so you sin against the Lord your God.

We need to devote ourselves to "complete destruction" of those things that lead us to "abominable practices" in our lives. Too bad we don't always submit to that...just like they didn't.


3 And all were astonished at the majesty of God.

Can you imagine the first hand accounts of actually walking and learning from Jesus? Witnessing the transfiguration, seeing demons being cast out, constantly being in awe by the things said and done. It's hard to imagine.

³  For I was envious of the arrogant
    when I saw the prosperity of the wicked.

Sometimes we are reluctant to let go of those "abominable practices" because we see others getting away with it or something way worse (in our eyes). What we fail to realize that our time here on earth is so incredibly short compared to eternity. Prosperity on earth is short-lived.

10 10 Good people are good to their animals;
    the “good-hearted” bad people kick and abuse them. (MSG)

 You can tell so much about people who show kindness and love to people and animals that are beneath them. Watch any crime show and you will learn that many serial killers started by abusing animals. It's a good warning to see how people treat their animals and to think that's likely how they will treat you as well.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Deuteronomy 21:1-22:30, Luke 9:51-10:12, Psalm 74:1-23, Proverbs 12:11