Wednesday, April 4th: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24

1 Samuel 1:12 As she was praying to the Lord, Eli watched her. 13 Seeing her lips moving but hearing no sound, he thought she had been drinking.

Hannah was praying at the tabernacle, but the priest thought she was drunk.  Talk about hastily jumping to conclusions without all the facts! 

This is a good reminder to me to not be quick to judge on appearances, particularly without knowing the facts. Eli was way off base here, and I'm sure I've done the same many times!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  1 Samuel 4-6, Luke 14:25-35

Tuesday, April 3rd: Ruth 1-4, Luke 13 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Ruth 1-4, Luke 13

23-25 A bystander said, “Master, will only a few be saved?”

He said, “Whether few or many is none of your business. Put your mind on your life with God. The way to life—to God!—is vigorous and requires your total attention. A lot of you are going to assume that you’ll sit down to God’s salvation banquet just because you’ve been hanging around the neighborhood all your lives. Well, one day you’re going to be banging on the door, wanting to get in, but you’ll find the door locked and the Master saying, ‘Sorry, you’re not on my guest list.’

26-27 “You’ll protest, ‘But we’ve known you all our lives!’ only to be interrupted with his abrupt, ‘Your kind of knowing can hardly be called knowing. You don’t know the first thing about me.’

28-30 “That’s when you’ll find yourselves out in the cold, strangers to grace. You’ll watch Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, and all the prophets march into God’s kingdom. You’ll watch outsiders stream in from east, west, north, and south and sit down at the table of God’s kingdom. And all the time you’ll be outside looking in—and wondering what happened.

I go to church...is that enough?

I pray...is that enough?

I read my Bible...is that enough?

Do I just do “enough” to feel good about myself or am I giving my life with God my total attention? Do I say that I know God but haven’t really given myself to him?

Am I any different than the next guy (that wouldn’t claim to be a Christian)?

~Do I love more?

~Am I kinder?

~Am I more generous?

~Am I more patient & slower to anger?

~Are my words more gentle, softer spoken, God honouring?

~Do the people around me see God in & through me?

Am I actively pursuing God? Do I seek him throughout my day? Do I strive to live a life of “Christ-likeness”?

Will he know me at that banquet table, knowing that I gave my best to him?

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: 1 Samuel 1-3, Luke 14:1-24

Monday, April 2nd: Judges 19-21, Luke 12:35-59 ~ Kaden

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 19-21, Luke 12:35-59

Luke12 says, "39 But know this, that if the master of the house had known at what hour the thief was coming, he would not have left his house to be broken into. 40 You also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect."

Jesus' teachings tell us to always be prepared for his return to Earth, for we do not know when he is coming, we also don't know when our time is for us to go to him, when he calls us home. As Christians it is our responsibility to go out and tell people about God, so they don't miss out on their chance at eternal life in Heaven. We must also live as Christ for when Judgement Day comes there will be no uncertainty in our lives that through our whole life, we were living as the Lord has told us.



Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Ruth 1-4, Luke 13

Saturday, March 31st: Judges 16-18; Luke 12:1-34 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 16-18; Luke 12:1-34

Luke 12:4 “Dear friends, don’t be afraid of those who want to kill your body; they cannot do any more to you after that. 5 But I’ll tell you whom to fear. Fear God, who has the power to kill you and then throw you into hell.[a] Yes, he’s the one to fear.
Today is the Saturday in between Good Friday and Easter Sunday.  We, of course, know how Easter Sunday turned out.  But the disciples and those that loved Jesus did not - even though Jesus had tried to talk to them about it many times.

That Saturday must have been a horrible day.  Jesus, God the Son incarnate, their Saviour, the One they thought was going to rescue them from Roman rule, was dead, and all their hopes and dreams along with Him.

But death did not have the final say.  And the very next day Jesus would rise victorious over death and sin!

And this Jesus is who we should fear.  We should not fear people who can only cause us temporal or physical harm - though that would not be easy and I don't mean to minimize the suffering that we can and will suffer while on earth.  What we should fear MORE is God.  But because of Jesus' birth, life, death, and resurrection, we can rest in the assurance of His love and the length He went to to save us.
We are also living in a constant state of "Saturday".  We are still waiting for the ultimate "Sunday" when Christ will return and we will live forever with Him in victory.

As Christians, we know that even though it is Saturday, we can rejoice because we know that Sunday's coming!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Judges 19-21, Luke 12:35-59

Friday, March 30th: Judges 13-15; Luke 11:33-54 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 13-15; Luke 11:33-54

““What sorrow awaits you Pharisees! For you are careful to tithe even the tiniest income from your herb gardens, but you ignore justice and the love of God. You should tithe, yes, but do not neglect the more important things.” - Luke‬ ‭11:42‬

One of my best friends is an atheist, which is very very heartbreaking. She came to my school (a public school) from a private Catholic school. The students and teachers at her school, according to the stories I have heard from her, seem like they cared only about the rules of the bible, and nothing about the friendship and relationship you can have with God. This caused my friend to turn away from all faith; it even took her a while to warm up to the fact that I’m a Christian. I’ll never forget what she said to me when she found out: “you’re a Christian? But you seem so nice”.

We need to make sure we, yes, obey the rules God has given us, but not forget the most important one: love. Love God first, and everyone else second. We need to give Christians (and God) an image of love and mercy. Not one that makes people surprised when they hear you’re a Christian because you “seem so nice”. God is love, and if we are supposed to act like Him, we need to be love too. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Judges 16-18; Luke 12:1-34

Thursday, March 29th: Judges 10 - 12, Luke 11: 1-32 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 10-12, Luke 11:1-32

Judges 11:38-39
“You may go,” he said. And he let her go for two months. She and her friends went into the hills and wept because she would never marry. [39] After the two months, she returned to her father, and he did to her as he had vowed. And she was a virgin.

After the rough life Jephtah had lived, and how he had turned things around with the help of God, I would have thought this story would have ended better. Jephtah had made a vow (v31), but I would have thought that God would help make things good for Jephtah after the battles he fought.

We live in a sinful world, things won't always go well for us if we make the right decisions here on earth. We need to keep focused on where we are going after death, and eternity there. We need to make good choices and live for God now and not expect the reward to come now, but later.

Luke 11:9
"And so I tell you, keep on asking, and you will receive what you ask for. Keep on seeking, and you will find. Keep on knocking, and the door will be opened to you.

We need to keep up asking, seeking and knocking. Just like we need to keep fighting the battles, not just look to God once in our lives and leave it, we need to keep going to Him throughout our lives.


Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Judges 13-15 ,Luke 11:33-54

Wednesday, March 28th: Judges 7-9, Luke 10 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 7-9, Luke 10

We are so prone to take credit for things we simply have no business taking credit for.  Yes, some of our accomplishments are possible in part because of our own hard work and effort, however the gift itself and even the physical ability to make honing our gift possible is only there by the grace of God.  It's so easy for us to forget that and to take all the credit and glory for ourselves.

That's what I love about the story of Gideon.  God weeded that army down until there was no doubt that the victory was God's and God's alone.  Gideon's army could not take credit for it, there was no doubt.  Hopefully we can remember to take that lesson to heart before God needs to weed our army down to remind us.

~~~~~~~


25 One day an expert in religious law stood up to test Jesus by asking him this question: “Teacher, what should I do to inherit eternal life?”
26 Jesus replied, “What does the law of Moses say? How do you read it?”
27 The man answered, “‘You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, all your strength, and all your mind.’ And, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”

Simple words, yet to hard to put into practice.  We cannot love God or our neighbour perfectly, yet that it what our goal should be.

~~~~~~~

The story of Mary and Martha is a good one to remind the Martha in me to be Mary sometimes.  Often we can become so busy doing things for God that we neglect to make time to be with God.  

I do think sometimes Martha gets a bad rep though - it is also true that we need to put hands and feet to our faith.  

Balance between the two is key!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Judges 10-12, Luke 11:1-32

Tuesday, March 27th: Judges 4-6, Luke 9:28-62 ~ Danae

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 4-6, Luke 9:28-62

Luke 9:61-
Still another said, “I will follow you, Lord; but first let me go back & say goodbye to my family.”

Let their be nothing holding me back from following you, Lord. Let there be no excuses or reasons. Help me not to hold onto any of the “old ways” but to give everything I am, each day completely & fully to following You. Amen.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Judges 7-9, Luke 10

Monday, March 26: Judges 1-3, Luke 9:1-27 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Judges 1-3, Luke 9:1-27

The Lord commanded the Israelites to drive the people out. But verse after verse tells us that they did not do it. There were long lasting consequences for their disobedience:

“I brought you up from Egypt and brought you into the land that I swore to give to your fathers. I said, ‘I will never break my covenant with you, 2 and you shall make no covenant with the inhabitants of this land; you shall break down their altars.’ But you have not obeyed my voice. What is this you have done? 3 So now I say, I will not drive them out before you, but they shall become thorns in your sides, and their gods shall be a snare to you."

How often do we too, disobey what God has commanded us. Do not lie, do not gossip, do not covet, do not be slaves to greed, lust, dishonesty.... Love your neighbour as yourself, turn the other cheek, forgive....and so many others. There are long lasting consequences for our disobedience against God too. Just like the Israelites that were swayed by these other nations to worship their gods, we too can be swayed by the ways of the world when we don't follow God's instructions.

In the NT, today's readings reminded me of something I heard recently. Satan first tempted Jesus at his weakness. After 40 days of fasting, Satan's first temptation was the offer of bread. Jesus must have been hungry. The temptation would not have seemed so appetizing if Jesus had just consumed a large meal. Satan will also tempt us where we are the weakest. It's the easiest thing to mess up on during a moment of weakness. We need to arm ourselves against the things that we struggle with so that we are not tempted.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Judges 4-6, Luke 9:28-62

Saturday, March 24th: Joshua 22-24; Luke 8:26-56 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Joshua 22-24; Luke 8:26-56

14 “So fear the Lord and serve him wholeheartedly. Put away forever the idols your ancestors worshiped when they lived beyond the Euphrates River and in Egypt. Serve the Lord alone. 15 But if you refuse to serve the Lord, then choose today whom you will serve. Would you prefer the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates? Or will it be the gods of the Amorites in whose land you now live? But as for me and my family, we will serve the Lord.”

In our passage today Joshua reminds the people that serving the Lord requires total commitment to Him, and to Him alone.

We cannot serve both God and, no matter what that "and" is.   Money, power, prestige, popularity, conformity, success, or anything else (even good things) that give any lordship of our lives to anyone other than God.

From here.....

Christ calls us to go all in, to worship only God, and to stop making excuses for our half-heartedness. So whom will you serve? Will you follow the tendency of others around you, and devote your time and your energy to this project or that activity, and only think about God when you are in trouble or it suits you? Will you busy yourself “playing church,” and hope that’s good enough? Or are you ready to commit yourself fully to serving God and God alone? Are you ready to stop playing church and start being church as a devoted follower of Jesus Christ? Will you stand with Joshua and say, “As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord?”
Tomorrow: Catch up Day
Monday's Bible In a Year Passage: Judges 1-3, Luke 9:1-27