Sunday, March 3rd: Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalm 46:1-11, Proverbs 10:23 Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalm 46:1-11, Proverbs 10:23

Psalm 46

For the choir director: A song of the descendants of Korah, to be sung by soprano voices.[a]

1 God is our refuge and strength,
    always ready to help in times of trouble.
2 So we will not fear when earthquakes come
    and the mountains crumble into the sea.
3 Let the oceans roar and foam.    Let the mountains tremble as the waters surge! 

I've always loved this psalm, and it is one that I've memorized in the past (though don't ask me to recite it anymore!).

I read recently, and agree, that it is significant that the descendants of Korah wrote this psalm.  Korah was swallowed up in the earth because of his sin, but the sons of Korah did not die, and their story is a beautiful picture of redemption, grace and forgiveness.  The sons of Korah received their positions back, and more!  Further in Numbers, we see the sons of Korah given greater responsibility by King David, and they also become poets, writing several of the Psalms, including Psalm 46.

This commentary says .....
Every so often these psalms of Korah’s sons take an autobiographical turn that leaves me breathless with wonder at the profound gratitude rising from the image itself. I discovered one of these treasures just recently. I was reflecting on Psalm 46, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear though the earth gives way…”

A strong metaphor…for anyone except the sons of Korah. For them, the earth actually once had given way. The earth moved so decisively that it swallowed up their entire disaffected family. In writing Psalm 46, might they have been living in the memory of their familial rescue? In some dramatic fashion that remains veiled in this family’s history, God had been their refuge and strength on a day when the earth really did open up. So now, when I hear the Sons of Korah say there is no cause to fear—even in the midst of unprecedented human trauma—I listen with different ears.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Numbers 2:1-3:51, Mark 11:27-12:17, Psalm 47:1-9, Proverbs 10:24-25

Saturday, March 2nd: Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22

Mark 10:50-51 Bartimaeus threw aside his coat, jumped up, and came to Jesus. "What do you want me to do for you?" Jesus asked. "My Rabbi," the blind man said, "I want to see!"

From my parent devotional book (emphasis mine) ....

Oh, that our children would call out to Jesus and ask him to give them spiritual sight like this man asked for physical sight! King Jesus is able to give sight to the blind. He shines the light of his truth into a person's life and eradicates the darkness. He brings clarity where there is confusion. When our children can't see how beautiful Jesus is and how ugly their sin is, when they can't see how valuable Jesus is and how worthless the treasures of the world are, when they can't see how loving Jesus is and how much they are hated by the enemy of their soul, Jesus can open their blind eyes to see.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 27:14 - Numbers 1:54, Mark 11:1-26, Psalm 46:1-11, Proverbs 10:23

Friday, March 1st: Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21

The words of the godly encourage many,

    but fools are destroyed by their lack of common sense.

• Proverbs 10:21

We need to use our words to lift others up, not tear them down. Non-christians especially look at us to see how we might be different from them because of our faith. If we put other people down, we are hurting their image of who Jesus is. We need to always make sure we are doing our best to properly portray the image of Jesus, and that comes from encouraging others with our words.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 25:47-27:13; Mark 10:32-52; Psalm 45:1-17; Proverbs 10:22

Thursday, February 28th: Leviticus 22:17 - 23:44, Mark 9:30 - 10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19


Psalm 44: 3-8
It was not by their sword that they won the land, nor did their arm bring them victory; it was your right hand, your arm, and the light of your face, for you loved them.
[4] You are my King and my God, who decrees victories for Jacob.
[5] Through you we push back our enemies; through your name we trample our foes.
[6] I put no trust in my bow, my sword does not bring me victory;
[7] but you give us victory over our enemies, you put our adversaries to shame.
[8] In God we make our boast all day long, and we will praise your name forever.

A good reminder to me that everything I have or have accomplished, is thanks to help I received from God. I can do nothing on my own, there are too many things in life that are beyond my control.

I am glad that God is in control, and He will one day take us to be with Him in eternity, where things are perfect.

I have plenty to be thankful for, and it is God that I need to be thankful to.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 24:1-25:46, Mark 10:13-31, Psalm 44:9-26, Proverbs 10:20-21

Wednesday, February 27th: Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is  Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18

Mark 9:24 The father instantly cried out, “I do believe, but help me overcome my unbelief!”
Surely this phrase holds true for all of us.

Faith doesn't have to be perfect for it to be genuine.

This man believed as much as he was able, and trusted Jesus to strengthen and perfect his faith.  Just as we must.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 22:17-23:44, Mark 9:30-10:12, Psalm 44:1-8, Proverbs 10:19

Tuesday, February 26th: Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17

I find the conversation between the disciples and Jesus in Mark 9:14-21 to be very amusing...

The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened?  Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
“And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

And it makes me pause and think how many times God must ask this question of me. How many times has he shown me something and I still continue to question and doubt His power? I wonder how often God is up there shaking His head at me and wondering "Do you still not understand?".

I am so thankful for His patience with my lack of understanding. Maybe one day I'll get it...

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Leviticus 20:22-22:16, Mark 9:1-29, Psalm 43:1-5, Proverbs 10:18

Monday, February 25th: Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16

In Mark we see the mother who comes to Jesus, desperate for His help for her daughter.

She came to the right place.  She went to the only One who could help.

We, too, need to recognize the evil present in the world and the sin that can have so much power over our lives.  We need to come to Jesus, the only One who can break the bonds of sin and set us free, the only One that can transform our hearts.  Not because we deserve it.  But because He is good, and He is faithful to do what He has promised.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 19:1-20:21, Mark 8:11-38, Psalm 42:1-11, Proverbs 10:17

Sunday, February 24th: Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14

Mark 7:15  It’s not what goes into your body that defiles you; you are defiled by what comes from your heart.”
So often our attitudes, outlook, and actions betray what's really going on in our hearts.  But even when we can conceal it from others, we can't conceal it from God.  We need the power of the Holy Spirit to transform us, from the inside out!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 16:29-18:30, Mark 7:24-8:10, Psalm 41:1-13, Proverbs 10:15-16

Saturday, February 23rd: Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 14:1-57, Mark 6:30-56, Psalm 40:1-10, Proverbs 10:11-12

12 Proverbs 10:12 Hatred stirs up quarrels,
but love makes up for all offenses.

When we get upset at someone, it can be easy for us to drag up all sorts of past offenses.  But love doesn't do that.  Love forgives and then leaves it there.  That doesn't mean that we automatically trust again, that takes time.  But it does mean we don't keep beating people up for the same thing over and over. We can't forget, but we can choose not to purposefully remember and dwell on it. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 15:1-16:28, Mark 7:1-23, Psalm 40:11-17, Proverbs 10:13-14

Friday, February 22nd: Leviticus 13:1-59; Mark 6:1-29; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 10:10 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Leviticus 13:1-59; Mark 6:1-29; Psalm 39:1-13; Proverbs 10:10

And so, Lord, where do I put my hope?

    My only hope is in you.

• Psalm 39:7

This is a simple reminder but such an important one. I find this is something that I keep hearing over and over again, whether it’s in the verses I’m reading or song I’m listening to:

“In Christ alone...”, “My only hope is in you...”, “I lay down everything ‘cause you’re all that I want...”

This message that Jesus is all I need seems to be everywhere, which means it’s probably something I need to put more faith in.

It’s hard to believe that I would be okay if everything and everyone in my life was taken from me. But this message of “my only hope is in you” reminds me that it is a truth. Jesus is all that we need, and we need to put all of our hope in Him.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Leviticus 14:1-57; Mark 6:30-56; Psalm 40:1-10; Proverbs 10:11-12