Wednesday, December 5 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Corinthians 5-9

Today's scripture focus is: Romans 11:25-32

²⁵ I do not want you to be ignorant of this mystery, brothers, so that you may not be conceited: Israel has experienced a hardening in part until the full number of the Gentiles has come in. ²⁶ And so all Israel will be saved, as it is written:

“The deliverer will come from Zion;
    he will turn godlessness away from Jacob.
²⁷ And this is^[a] my covenant with them
    when I take away their sins.”^[b]

²⁸ As far as the gospel is concerned, they are enemies on your account; but as far as election is concerned, they are loved on account of the patriarchs, ²⁹ for God’s gifts and his call are irrevocable. ³⁰ Just as you who were at one time disobedient to God have now received mercy as a result of their disobedience, ³¹ so they too have now become disobedient in order that they too may now^[c] receive mercy as a result of God’s mercy to you. ³² For God has bound all men over to disobedience so that he may have mercy on them all.

Very interesting first line of this scripture.  Israel was hardened so that we (Gentiles) may come to Christ.  Which makes sense.  A portion of the Jews at the time of Christ's death persecuted the new Christians so that they fled to other parts of the world and therefore spread the gospel of Christ.  If the Jews had accepted the gospel and not persecuted the new Christians might not have spread the good news beyond their borders.  

What else is interesting is that there seems to be a set number of gentiles that are going to come to Christ and until that number is fulfilled Israel will remain hardened against the gospel.  

So I wonder, if all of this junk that is constantly happening over in Israel would cease if the last gentile came to Christ?  Probably not.  The only thing that will bring peace in the middle east is Christ coming back.  

I found verse 29 interesting as well.  God's gifts and call are irrevocable.  We cannot turn back the gifts that He has given to us, nor can we turn back the call He has placed on our lives.  I've seen that.  When a person has a call on their lives from the Lord and they do not act on it, the person withers   There is no "NO" to the Lord. 

We have been given a gift and a calling in that gift.  We have been given the gift of eternal life through Jesus Christ and through that acceptance of that gift we have accepted the calling to spread that good news to others.  I need to work better at fulfilling my calling to spread the good news.  

Lord God, you have given us a wonderful gift of new life, of eternal life.  May we not be quiet or shy in our sharing it to others.  May we not be selfish.  And Lord God help us to share it, help us to spread it so that your kingdom may be complete and that you return.  Give us boldness, give us courage and give us the words to speak.  We love you Father and we are so grateful for your sacrifice and love towards us.  Amen.

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Romans 11:33-36

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 2 Corinthians 10-13

Wednesday, November 7 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Matthew 24

Today's scripture focus is: Romans 7:13

¹³ Has then what is good become death to me? Certainly not! But sin, that it might appear sin, was producing death in me through what is good, so that sin through the commandment might become exceedingly sinful.

If this looks different to you its because I used the NKJV, I'm used to that.  This passage was a stretch for me, which is good, but I needed to use a version I am accustomed to.

The Law is necessary.  I often wondered why God just couldn't send Jesus to die on the cross, or whatever form of death He chose, first thing in the bible.  Why did He choose to make a first covenant with Abraham and on down through his descendants?  Now I get it, we need the Law, even now, to show us our sin, to show us just how sinful we are.  Without it Christ's death on the cross would make no sense.  His claims, His teachings wouldn't make any sense.  But because the Jews of Jesus' time did have that foundation of the Law, Jesus could jump right in and say "You aren't making it, you can't meet every aspect of the law.  You are drowning in sin.  You need a savior.  You need me."  If they didn't have that, there would be no understanding of what they needed saved from.

It's interesting, Paul knew this when he went to Athens and preached to the people there.  He started at the beginning and laid out the groundwork for them.  They didn't know they were sinners and needed a savior.  They didn't know they were sinning.  They didn't know that what they were doing and how they were born (in a sin nature) had separated them from their Creator God.  

We need the knowledge of the Law to show us that we can't make ourselves perfect.  We cannot make it into heaven on our own works.

We live in a culture much like the Athenians   Folks around us don't know the bible, they don't know the Law and they don't know they are separated from God.  They don't know that they are exceedingly sinful.  Oh, they might think they are maybe a little bad, but if they do some good that will 'correct' that bad.  They don't realize that if they hold themselves up to the light of the Law, the light of scripture they will never make it.

The Law is still relevant to today.  We still need it.  We need it to show us just how 'perfect' the Lord requires us to be.  We need it to show us just how far we have fallen.  And we need it to show us just how much we cannot make it.  While we are not under the Law, it is good and fitting for us to read it.  Even as Christians, we need to read it.  I think it's good to know just how much of a 'gap-filler' Jesus is, for lack of a better term.  He covered what we couldn't meet.

So my question is: How can we show/educate a culture that is bible-less about their need for a savior?  It's a tall order, but really, if they don't know they've failed, then why the need for a savor?

A vid to consider:

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Romans 7:14-20

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Matthew 25

Wednesday, October 3 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Matt 2; Luke 2:39-52

Today's scripture focus is Romans 1:21-23

²¹ For although they knew God, they neither glorified him as God nor gave thanks to him, but their thinking became futile and their foolish hearts were darkened. ²² Although they claimed to be wise, they became fools ²³ and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images made to look like mortal man and birds and animals and reptiles.

Wow, do I ever see our world today in this.  It's interesting that they know God and know His glory and how beautiful He is and they exchanged that glory, that beauty for passing things.  How many times do I exchange the beautiful blessings God has for me for the things that I want?

Really, when we deny God and make gods of our own, we are really trying to make ourselves God.  Because if we are making our own god, one who does what we say it will, then aren't we really the ones in control?  Aren't we really the 'god' in a sense?  How many times do I put God on a different level and try to make Him do what I want Him to do in an effort to become God?

We have a world full of 'fools' who think they are wise, but they deny God.  Isn't it interesting that the Christians, the followers of God are seen as stupid and backwards?  However, how many times do I become a fool because I use my own 'wisdom' instead of Gods?

It all comes down to Him and me, that is, choosing His wisdom, His glory, His reign, or my own.  Which am I choosing?  

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Romans 1:24-25

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Matt 3; Mark 1; Luke 3

Wednesday, September 5 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ezekiel 28-31

Today's scripture focus is : Matthew 19:13-30

¹³ Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them.

¹⁴ Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” ¹⁵ When he had placed his hands on them, he went on from there.

¹⁶ Now a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, obey the commandments.”

¹⁸ “Which ones?” the man inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘Do not murder, do not commit adultery, do not steal, do not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’^[a] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[b]”

²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

²³ Then Jesus said to his disciples, “I tell you the truth, it is hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. ²⁴ Again I tell you, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

²⁵ When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, “Who then can be saved?”

²⁶ Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

²⁷ Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

²⁸ Jesus said to them, “I tell you the truth, at the renewal of all things, when the Son of Man sits on his glorious throne, you who have followed me will also sit on twelve thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel. ²⁹ And everyone who has left houses or brothers or sisters or father or mother^[c] or children or fields for my sake will receive a hundred times as much and will inherit eternal life. ³⁰ But many who are first will be last, and many who are last will be first.

Good morning!  I always love the passages where Jesus makes someone something who usually is nothing.  Women and children often were insignificant in ancient cultures and even still sometimes are.  

But where my eye caught today was on the story of the rich young ruler.  Notice this first:

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Then notice this:

 ²⁷ Peter answered him, “We have left everything to follow you! What then will there be for us?”

Never made this connection before and it didn't make sense before, but I gather that Peter thought you had to sort of buy your way into heaven.  Peter's like 'hey Jesus, you just told a rich guy to sell everything to the poor and then he'll get into heaven.  We have nothing, how are we going to get there? Cuz you know, we are dirt poor!'  But Jesus is faithful and doesn't speak in too confusing tones.  At the very end he tells them that those who followed him will inherit eternal life. I love how he continues to use the money theme there.  

I'll tell ya, there are still many people who think they can buy their way into heaven.  And it seems that was a thought process in those days.  I wonder if the rich guy was thinking and implicating to Jesus the same thing.  He asked what he had to 'do'.  I wonder if he meant, who he had to 'pay' or how much he had to 'pay'.  I wonder if he knew that Jesus was the Christ and thought he was going to get into heaven via cash to the son.  But he was sad because Jesus wanted him indeed to give, but not to Jesus, rather to the poor.  See, I wonder if the rich guy thought he could give some but not all to Jesus.  You know, give what I have to to get what I want, but then be able to sit back, relax with the rest for myself.  He thought he could get to heaven by giving the minimal to Jesus and keep most of his money for himself.  

Ouch.  Conviction!  Hadn't thought of this passage in that light before.  What do you think?


Tomorrow's scripture focus: : Matthew 20:1-16

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Ezekiel 32-34

Wednesday, August 8 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Jeremiah 4-6

Today's scripture focus is Matthew 11:1-15

11 After Jesus had finished instructing his twelve disciples, he went on from there to teach and preach in the towns of Galilee.

² When John heard in prison what Christ was doing, he sent his disciples ³ to ask him, “Are you the one who was to come, or should we expect someone else?”

⁴ Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: ⁵ The blind receive sight, the lame walk, those who have leprosy^[b] are cured, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. ⁶ Blessed is the man who does not fall away on account of me.”

⁷ As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowd about John: “What did you go out into the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? ⁸ If not, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? No, those who wear fine clothes are in kings’ palaces. ⁹ Then what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. ¹⁰ This is the one about whom it is written:

“‘I will send my messenger ahead of you, 
    who will prepare your way before you.’^[c]

¹¹ I tell you the truth: Among those born of women there has not risen anyone greater than John the Baptist; yet he who is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.¹² From the days of John the Baptist until now, the kingdom of heaven has been forcefully advancing, and forceful men lay hold of it. ¹³ For all the Prophets and the Law prophesied until John. ¹⁴ And if you are willing to accept it, he is the Elijah who was to come. ¹⁵ He who has ears, let him hear.

I want to hone in on verse two.  It has always intrigued me that John, who prophesied about Jesus, saw the dove descend upon Jesus at the baptism and even proclaimed that He was the Lamb of God who takes away the sins of the world, seems to show doubt here.  I wonder if John was indeed doubting, or if he was simply checking to be sure.  Scripture doesn't give us intimate conversations that the two cousins would have had, but surely this issue would have been discussed prior.  Maybe not.  

However, lets look at John for a moment.  He's in prison, surely he knows that this is not going to end well.  This is probably a pretty low point for the man.  And isn't that the time when the enemy kicks us?  There is no other time I get more doubts, more negative thoughts in my mind than when I am down, when I'm hurt.  I find it comforting to see a great man, whom Jesus goes on to say was greater than all the other prophets, had doubts.  And Jesus didn't chastise John for those doubts, instead He allayed his doubts.  He comforted him in his low point.  

But isn't that like Jesus anyway?  He knows we are frail.  He knows we can't see past this moment we are in.  The God of all comfort comforts us so that we may comfort others in their weakness.  In Jesus answering John's doubts He is proclaiming to those listening that He is the Messiah, the One who was prophesied about.  

Our doubts can bring others to faith.  Interesting thought.  Doubts aren't all that bad.  And can end in some good, if we bring them to Jesus.  

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Matthew 11:16-19

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Jeremiah 7-9

Wednesday, July 4 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2 Kings 9-11

Today's scripture focus is Matthew 4:12-25

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Matthew 5:1-3

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: 2 Kings 12-13, 2 Chronicles 24

¹² When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. ¹³ Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali— ¹⁴ to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:

¹⁵ “Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
    the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
    Galilee of the Gentiles—
¹⁶ the people living in darkness
    have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
    a light has dawned.”^[a]

¹⁷ From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”

¹⁸ As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. ¹⁹ “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” ²⁰ At once they left their nets and followed him.

²¹ Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, ²² and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

²³ Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people. ²⁴ News about him spread all over Syria, and people brought to him all who were ill with various diseases, those suffering severe pain, the demon-possessed, those having seizures, and the paralyzed, and he healed them. ²⁵ Large crowds from Galilee, the Decapolis,^[b]Jerusalem, Judea and the region across the Jordan followed him.

Very interesting portion of scripture this morning.  I know that scripture doesn't tell us every minute thing that happened or everything that people thought, but I find it interesting that these men followed Jesus without question.  People in those days were trained and raised to do the profession of their father.  To do anything else was considered stupid (as you had a teacher to a sure-fire livelihood) and possibly rude to your parents.  This job was often all you knew.  Sure it was the same thing day in and day out but it was reliable.  And here comes this man, whom they probably didn't know squat about and he calls them to follow him.  A few things struck me about this:

• Jesus must have had some sort of physical pull to himself.  Something about him was attractive.  Enough so that all he had to do was say 'hey, come follow me'.  
• These men dropped certainty for uncertainty.  Family for a stranger.  

Which evokes a few questions in me:

• If I am to be Jesus to the world, am I that attractive?  
• Could I drop my family, my certain world, my livelihood if Jesus came to me today to ask me to follow him, right here, right now?  

I had to write this very early as I'm leaving for camp to counsel 8th grade girls.  These questions couldn't come at a better time.  It's not about what I wear (yes, as a 32 year old mother of two I'm worrying about that), or what I look like, it's do I exude Christ?  And while I don't believe he is asking me to abandon my family, I do believe he is asking me to put him first.  

All good reminders for us all.  

Wednesday, June 6 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Proverbs 7-9
Today's scripture focus is Ecclesiastes 3:16-22

16 And I saw something else under the sun:
In the place of judgment—wickedness was there,
in the place of justice—wickedness was there.

17 I thought in my heart,
“God will bring to judgment
both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
a time for every deed.”

18 I also thought, “As for men, God tests them so that they may see that they are like the animals. 19 Man’s fate is like that of the animals; the same fate awaits them both: As one dies, so dies the other. All have the same breath[a]; man has no advantage over the animal. Everything is meaningless. 20 All go to the same place; all come from dust, and to dust all return. 21 Who knows if the spirit of man rises upward and if the spirit of the animal[b] goes down into the earth?”

22 So I saw that there is nothing better for a man than to enjoy his work, because that is his lot. For who can bring him to see what will happen after him?

How depressing! And truly this is our lot if we don't have the Lord in our lives. We end up just enjoying, or partying in this life because we are nothing more than animals. That is what science tells us, right? We are nothing more than apes, so we might as well indeed just enjoy this life, our work and just die.

I believe Solomon is right, in part. I believe God does allow us to be tested so that we can see our shortcoming. So that we can see that we do not have any more power over our situation than the animals around us. He shows us that we, in and of ourselves, lost and nothing more than the created animals around us. He allows us to be tested so that we can see we are in deep need of a Savior.

How terrible for those who don't have their faith in Jesus. The hopelessness, the futility of it all. And Solomon does say that, it's all meaningless. Well of course it is if we all end up as the animals!! But we don't have to. We know there is an end. We know there is a day of judgment and we know there is a hope, a Savior. Praise be to God for His wonderful gift!!


Tomorrow's scripture focus: Ecclesiastes 4:1-7
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Proverbs 10-12

Friday, May 4 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 2Sam 5:11-6:23; 1Chron 13-16

Today's scripture focus is John 12:44-50

⁴⁴ Then Jesus cried out, “When a man believes in me, he does not believe in me only, but in the one who sent me. ⁴⁵ When he looks at me, he sees the one who sent me. ⁴⁶ I have come into the world as a light, so that no one who believes in me should stay in darkness.

⁴⁷ “As for the person who hears my words but does not keep them, I do not judge him. For I did not come to judge the world, but to save it. ⁴⁸ There is a judge for the one who rejects me and does not accept my words; that very word which I spoke will condemn himat the last day. ⁴⁹ For I did not speak of my own accord, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and how to say it. ⁵⁰ I know that his command leads to eternal life. So whatever I say is just what the Father has told me to say.”

I love texts that talk about Jesus being the light.  John's gospel has many themes and one of those is light.  The text I highlighted talks about believers in Jesus being in the light, or rather, those who believe not being in darkness.  

My son is 3, will be 4 in September.  He's been in a big boy bed since after he turned two.  Before we put him in a big bed he would stand in his crib after he had woken from a nap or nighttime asking to get out.  We put him in a big bed in hopes that he'd just get himself out.  That didn't work.  He still will lay in bed and yell for us, asking to get out of bed.  And I've figured it out.  He doesn't want to get up and move around in the darkness.  He doesn't like the dark.  The dark is scary, it can be dangerous, it holds the unknown.  

This text says that Jesus came so that those who believe in Him wouldn't stay in darkness.  People who haven't come to belief in Jesus are in total darkness. And in theory, when they come to Jesus they are in total light.  But when I am honest with myself I have to say there are areas that I haven't shed light on yet.  I am choosing to keep those areas in darkness.  Why am I choosing the fear of darkness rather than the warmth of light? 

What areas of our lives do we need to expose?  Why are we so afraid of letting them come to light?   

Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 13:1-20

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage:  Psalm 1-2; 15; 22-24; 47; 68

Wednesday, April 4

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 13-15

Today's scripture focus is John 4:43-54

⁴³ After the two days he left for Galilee. ⁴⁴ (Now Jesus himself had pointed out that a prophet has no honor in his own country.) ⁴⁵ When he arrived in Galilee, the Galileans welcomed him. They had seen all that he had done in Jerusalem at the Passover Feast, for they also had been there.

 ⁴⁶ Once more he visited Cana in Galilee, where he had turned the water into wine. And there was a certain royal official whose son lay sick at Capernaum. ⁴⁷ When this man heard that Jesus had arrived in Galilee from Judea, he went to him and begged him to come and heal his son, who was close to death.

   ⁴⁸ “Unless you people see miraculous signs and wonders,” Jesus told him, “you will never believe.”

 ⁴⁹ The royal official said, “Sir, come down before my child dies.”

 ⁵⁰ Jesus replied, “You may go. Your son will live.”

   The man took Jesus at his word and departed. ⁵¹ While he was still on the way, his servants met him with the news that his boy was living. ⁵²When he inquired as to the time when his son got better, they said to him, “The fever left him yesterday at the seventh hour.”

 ⁵³ Then the father realized that this was the exact time at which Jesus had said to him, “Your son will live.” So he and all his household believed.

 ⁵⁴ This was the second miraculous sign that Jesus performed, having come from Judea to Galilee.

Have you ever seen a poor king?  A poor prince or princess?  Well to be honest, I've never seen royalty period, but from what I've learned royalty lives on the backs of the people, so usually they are not hurting for money, possessions or health care.  We are not told if this man is a king only that he is royalty.  He had probably heard of Jesus already, so he knew of the things that Jesus could do, but he didn't go.  Why?  We could say it was because he lived far away (we see that it was at least a days walk from the royal's home to where Jesus was), but it appears that distance wasn't an issue because he was willing to make the trip anyway.  I think it's because the man didn't believe.  I believe he waited until that last minute because Jesus walked, talked and dealt with the scum of the earth.  Jesus himself didn't have a home.  I believe this man tried all the other avenues he could to get his son healthy, doctors, medicines.  But not Jesus.  Jesus even says that unless he would heal that man's son, he wouldn't believe.  But Jesus did it anyway, so that he would believe and he did.  

What struck me about this passage is that even though the man did not believe and asked out of a last resort, Jesus did it anyway so that the man (and others through this) would believe.  I often worry that if I'm not doing things right or saying prayers right my life will not turn out right.  This scripture shows me that's not true.  Christ is faithful to us even when we are faithless.  That encourages me.  

Tomorrow's scripture focus: John 5:1-15

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Judges 16-18

Wednesday, February 1 - Kathryn

Today's passage from the Chronological Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Exodus 7-9

Today's scripture focus is: Hebrews 8:7-9

⁷ For if there had been nothing wrong with that first covenant, no place would have been sought for another. ⁸ But God found fault with the people and said^[a]:

   “The time is coming, declares the Lord,
   when I will make a new covenant
with the house of Israel
   and with the house of Judah.
⁹ It will not be like the covenant
   I made with their forefathers
when I took them by the hand
   to lead them out of Egypt,
because they did not remain faithful to my covenant,
   and I turned away from them,
            declares the Lord.

It's interesting to be on the other side of the new covenant.  We have the benefit of the New Testament with the backdrop of the Old Testament for understanding.  Which is why I get irritated when I see 'bibles' with only the New Testament.  The New doesn't make much sense without the Old!  Anyway.

The last portion of this reading makes me wonder and think if there is anything we could do to make God turn away from us.  I mean, God did a lot of forgiving and taking back of the Israelites.  They did a lot of prostituting themselves away from God.   I guess this brings to mind the question: Can one lose their salvation?  If we do not remain faithful to the covenant, even the New where we are under grace, can we lose our salvation?  What do you think?

Tomorrow's scripture focus: Hebrews 8:10-13

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage passage: Exodus 10-12

Wednesday, December 28 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is  Nehemiah 10-11, Revelation 19 

Happy Last Wednesday of the year!

Scripture: Revelation 1:19

After this I heard what sounded like the roar of a great multitude in heaven shouting: “Hallelujah! Salvation and glory and power belong to our God...

Observation:
No one has the power to save except the Lord.

Application:
In our world of medical advances, insurance on cars, health, life, house, etc, we often feel we've made ourselves 'safe'.  We think there are things we can do to protect ourselves from the inevitable, when really, we deceive ourselves.
For a long time I had fear of studying revelation and I was very afraid of the end times.  I shied away from discussions surrounding the end times.  But, then I started studying Revelation and I learned a thing or two.
Those who are the Lords are in His care.  We need not fear the end because we are in the hands of the God who has the power to take us out of it, or carry us through it.  He knows the end.  Only He has the power to save.
The first part of that scripture can give us testament to just how much we can trust the Lord.  The roar of a great multitude is telling us this.  Have you ever been to an excited concert where a well known musicisian or group is about to come out?  The sound can be deafening.  All of those people can testify to the talent of the group.  This great multitude is testifying to the salvation of our Lord, to the power of our Lord and to the glory of our Lord.  We often learn a lot from word of mouth.  This perhaps is the best.
I do not fear the end now, because I know who controls it.  I trust Him.

Prayer:
Father God, as Your word says, You are awesome, glorious and most trustworthy.  Please help us to trust You more.  Illumine our hearts and minds to the truth You have given us in Your word.  Salvation belongs to You.  We trust You and we love You.  Amen.

Tomorrow's passage:  Nehemiah 12-13, Revelation 20

Wednesday, December 21 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Esther 3-5, Revelation 13


I have always enjoyed the book of Esther.  Mostly because she was a woman of great strength coming from a difficult situation and put into an equally difficult situation.  Her people had been deported to a pagan land, unable to sacrifice and so far away from home and the things they knew.  Esther was also an orphan, not something well  looked upon.  And, she was beautiful.  She had the cards stacked against her, but the Lord was with her.

I've learned a couple of things from reading Esther:

• She listened to, respected and (I'm unpopular here) obeyed the men around her.  This was both easy and not easy.  Perhaps it was easy to listen to Mordecai because he was a trusted cousin to her.  He had loved her and cared for her in place of her parents.  It was not easy, however, to listen to the heathens around her.  The eunuch placed over her, the King himself.  But in these situations when she listened to and did what they told her to, she was saved.  Mordecai asked her to go before the king, something no one could do unless called (punishable by death), yet she was saved.  
• She wasn't a pushover or timid.  Even though she listened and obeyed the men around her, she voiced her opinion and opposition.  She told Mordecai that hello!  I'm going to die if I go before the king!  Yet she was bold and courageous in going before the king and asking him twice to come to dinner.
• She knew how to work within her God given parameters to get what she needed/wanted.She was not a stupid woman.  She knew the way to endear a man.  She wasn't going to get anywhere stamping her foot and going into a tirade, or even doing things herself.  This is not popular thought today.  Many women are proud to say they need no man.  Yet this isn't scriptural, nor is it smart.  Women have their own power, and don't need to borrow the power that God has given men.  Both men and women were made to need each other in different ways.  

Esther is a great example of how to be effective right where we are at.  To be sure women were not revered or even valued in this culture, but Esther was able to work out God's will for her as a woman in that time.  God is able to use us right where we are at, we just need to be willing and open to His leading.

Tomorrow's passage: Esther 6-8, Revelation 14

Wednesday, December 14 - Kathryn

Today's reading from the Chronological OT/NT Reading Plan is Psalm 77-78, Revelation 6

I think our psalm reading today is very apropos to the end of the year.  I believe we've all had some pretty tough things that have left us grasping for God in prayer and tears.  And if it hasn't been us, we know people who we love that are doing just that.  It is good and right to grieve losses whether or not they are people.  There is much we don't understand when it comes to life and God's way of dealing with things.  But the psalmist has a great point:

¹⁰ Then I thought, “To this I will appeal:
   the years of the right hand of the Most High.”
¹¹ I will remember the deeds of the LORD;
   yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.
¹² I will meditate on all your works
   and consider all your mighty deeds.

 ¹³ Your ways, O God, are holy.
   What god is so great as our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who performs miracles;
   you display your power among the peoples.
¹⁵ With your mighty arm you redeemed your people,
   the descendants of Jacob and Joseph. 

God instructed the Israelites to set up memorials of things that God has done.  God knew that there would come a time that they would forget the greatness, the power that God has.  There would come a time that new ones would come along who hadn't experienced God's greatness yet, but those who had could share the story.
There is a woman in our church who has experienced God's greatness in many ways.  Her grown son is dying of cancer.  But she shared her great peace and comfort that could only come through the Lord.  Her witness met me and assured me of my God.  He will meet us even in our anguish of soul and comfort us.  He cares not only for our doings but also for our beings, our minds, our emotions.  He cares for the whole kit and caboodle.  It is both good to tell of what the Lord has done and to hear of what the Lord has done.
I would like to invite you to set up a memorial, a verbal, or written one right here about what the Lord has done this year for you.  How has He carried you?  How has He provided for you?  How has He met you right where you are at?



Tomorrow's passage: Psalm 79-80, Revelation 7