Wednesday, January 9th: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

God doesn't always step in to save us from ourselves or prevent us from sinning.  But in Genesis 20 He did intervene.

This is now the second time Abraham has lied about his relationship with Sarah out of fear.  It's also worth noting that our passage says Sarah kept up the deception as well.  Though the Bible teaches that wives are to submit to their husbands, they are absolutely not supposed to follow them into sin.  Our allegiance to God and His ways has to be our highest priority.

The reason God intervened is quite simple - there could be absolutely no doubt that Abraham was the father of Isaac, so there could be no hint of Sarah having any other sort of sexual relationship with anyone else.  This time, God intervened.

We cannot count on God to intervene when we are sinning, or for Him to allow us to escape the consequences of our actions.  We reap what we sow, and despite there being grace and forgiveness, there is still repercussion for sin.  We don't sin in a vacuum.  Our sin hurts people around us, always.  Abraham and Sarah's sin hurt Abimelech, his wife, and his female servants.  Not to mention the damage we do to God's reputation when we, who claim to be His followers, fall into sin.

We cannot become complacent about sin.  We must always be vigilant!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6

Tuesday, January 7th: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 ~ Jeannine

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is, Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 

I always find this story of Abram pleading with God very fascinating over the city of Sodom. I wonder at God's patience with Abram. God knows that there aren't even 10 men in that city that are righteous and yet he patiently waits while Abram pleads his case each time. I think of myself in a position like that when one of my kids tries to barter his/her way out of or into something and I know that my patience would be tested. But there is no indication that God was annoyed at all with Abram. I sometimes find myself thinking that God must be tired of hearing my same questions or prayers over and over again. But he will patiently wait for me to understand or to see the truth of the situation just like Abram finally saw the truth in the city of Sodom.

I thought this really fit well with the passage from Matthew 6:7-11

“Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks it will be opened. Or which one of you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a serpent? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!

Another thing that really stuck out from today's passage is how Lot and his family continued to live in the city and eventually, Lot was even willing to give his daughters to these evil men. What a warning for us to not be desensitized and accepting of the sin and evil around us. It is not up to us to judge the evil and sin around us but we cannot let it seep into our lives.

Again, this fits well with Matthew 6: 13-14

“Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many. For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

I pray that we can stay on that narrow path and when things get difficult we petition God to intercede just as Abram did.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7:15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

Monday, January 7: Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5 by Pamela

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5 

It's hard to wait on God's timing. It's something that I really struggle with. Sarai struggled with waiting on God's timing too. She decided to take matters into her own hands and gave Hagar to Abram. I often wonder what Abram's thoughts were. Was he eager to enter into this union? Did he think God was taking too long to allow him to become a father? Who would be the mother of his many offspring...did Abram think it did not matter as long as he was the father?

Not only did Sarai not wait on God's timing, she laughed at the promise of a child. Do we also scoff at God when he answers our prayers not our way but His way?

In the NT, this verse stood out for me:

6 But when you pray, go into your room and shut the door and pray to your Father who is in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will reward you.

As we are waiting on God, may we be confident that the desires and prayers in our quiet time are being heard by the creator of the universe and Giver of all good things.

The reading in Psalm concludes with this verse:

17 I will give to the Lord the thanks due to his righteousness,
    and I will sing praise to the name of the Lord, the Most High.

I hear a song on the radio often that begins with the lyrics:

Remember the days that you prayed for the things you got now

Do we remember to thank God for his righteousness and for the blessings he bestows on us daily? I know this is something I need to be more conscious of doing.

2 Proverbs 2: 2

making your ear attentive to wisdom
    and inclining your heart to understanding;

May this be our goals for 2019: To wait patiently on God's timing, be confident that He will hear our prayers and answer them, Praise God in all circumstances (even as we wait!), and may we seek to listen to wise teachings and commit it to our hearts through our words and actions.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15 

Sunday, January 6th: Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

There is some fascinating information in our Genesis passage that we miss out on because of not understanding Jewish culture.  I first heard this in a Ray Vanderlaan lecture online and was able to find this description from another blog.....

Abram knows exactly what to do because this is a common practice in the world of covenants. They are setting up what is called a bloodpath covenant. This is a covenant sign that is often used in Abram's day to signify a betrothal (engagement) covenant. Those very animals are used, cut in half, and arranged opposite one another on opposing slopes. Here is a picture of what the covenant looks like:





The arranged halves create a path of blood in between the animals. I will use the example of a betrothal to explain the ceremony. As the two parties agree to the marriage, the lesser party (in the example, this would be the future groom; he is asking the father of the future bride to marry his daughter) dons a white robe and then passes through the path of blood. As the blood splashes up on his white robe, the symbolic statement is, "If I mistreat or abuse your daughter, you may do this in my blood". After this, the father dons a white robe and passes through the blood path, saying, "If I do not supply you with a virgin for a daughter, you may do this in my blood".

It's the collateral covenant that allows for the parties to be held liable for their promises.

God sets up an engagement covenant for Abram.
Now, whose move is it? Who is the lesser party? Abram is, obviously.

But Abram doesn't pass through the halves. In fact, he chases away the vultures. What does that tell you? This ceremony has been set up for some time.

But Abram knows that he'll never be able to keep his end of the covenant. He won't be able to live obediently for God for the rest of his days.

If Abram's little toe hits the bloodpath, he's a dead man.

And so God puts him in a deep sleep (the same sleep He put Adam in, by the way) and, while Abram is greatly distressed and troubled, Abram sees a flaming torch and smoking pot pass between the halves. Now, fire and smoke always symbolize the presence of God (think the pillar of fire/smoke). So what does Abram see?

God is passing through the covenant halves — twice.
God passes through the halves on behalf of Abram.

In other words, "Abram, when you fall short, I will cover your shortfall. We will pay for it in my blood."

Goosebumps yet?
That's incredible. And every Christian immediately sees Jesus in this story.

But I would make this point. It's not just that this story is a foreshadowing of Jesus. It's that this is who God has ALWAYS been. God has ALWAYS taken our sin on Himself. God has ALWAYS covered our shortfall. This is who God is. There is no "God of the Old Testament" and "God of the New Testament". He always has been the same God.

His message has always been the same: "I am God. I love you. I am for you. I will fight for you in spite of yourself."
Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5

Saturday, January 5th: Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Our pastor recently mentioned how the Bible is not a story of us and how we can reach God, but rather about God reaching out to us.  Our Genesis passage reflects this perfectly.

In Genesis 11, we see people, not even reaching for God, but reaching for the heavens and wanting to make a name for themselves.  Basically trying to fill the God-sized holes in their lives with the wrong thing.

In Genesis 12 we see God reaching down to Abram.  He promised to bless Abram, to make his name great, to bless the world through him, and to take care of him.  This was all a gift of grace that Abram had not earned and in no way deserved.

I want my life to look like Genesis 12, not Genesis 11.

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I also thought it interesting that this passage lined up with the beatitudes where we see God's definition of being blessed!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage:  Genesis 13:5-15:21; Matthew 5:27-48; Psalm 6:1-10; Proverbs 1:29-33

Friday, January 4th: Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23 ~ Emma

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 8:1-10:32; Matthew 4:12-25; Psalm 4:1-8; Proverbs 1:20-23

This year, I am following the blog but I am only reading the Old Testament through in a year.

Today, what stood out to me was in Genesis 9:8-17, where God is talking about His new covenant. 

We can see that God’s promises stayed true, because the earth has never been flooded again, the seasons have always come as expected, and the rainbow keeps appearing in the sky. I love that we see God’s faithfulness early on in the Bible, so we already know that this is an important part of His character. 

I also wonder what it would have been like to be among the firsts to see a rainbow. The skies are always dark and gloomy when it rains, so imagine going from days upon days of that, to seeing so many different vibrant colours in the sky arranged so perfectly. That would definitely have been an amazing thing to see!

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

Thursday, January 3rd: Genesis 5:1- 7:24, Matthew 3:7- 4:11, Psalms 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19 ~ Nathan

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 5:1- 7:24, Matthew 3:7- 4:11, Psalms 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

I've found this new Bible reading plan this year to be very interesting, we get a taste of each part of the Bible each day.

The parts of today's reading that stood out for me were...

Genesis 6:9-13
This is the account of Noah and his family. Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God. [10] Noah had three sons: Shem, Ham and Japheth. [11] Now the earth was corrupt in God's sight and was full of violence. [12] God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. [13] 13 So God said to Noah, “I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth

Always found this interesting, that only Noah was living for the God the way he should. Many others were also around, but they chose to live their own ways and not for God. This is like a lot of situations we may be in,  we may be the only ones in our work places or schools that we know of that are living for God. A good reminder that God notices us and our lives lived for Him, even when we feel lost in a crowd of unbelievers.

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Matthew 4: 8-9
Again, the devil took him to a very high mountain and showed him all the kingdoms of the world and their splendor. [9]  “All this I will give you,” he said, “if you will bow down and worship me.”

How often do we get this proposition thrown at us? Short term gain but long term pain and totally not worth it. It pays in the end to worship and devote ourselves to God and not fall for short term success achieved by appeasing people instead of God.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8Proverbs, 1:20-23

Wednesday, January 2nd: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-2:12, Proverbs 1:7-1:9 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-2:12, Proverbs 1:7-1:9

It is always heartbreaking to read about the Fall.  What was once perfect relationship with God, turned into rebellion and brokenness. 

And it sure didn't take long for sin to flourish with the very first child born on earth murdering his brother. 

Thankfully, Jesus came to earth, born to die, the only man to ever live a sinless life.  His death covers our sin and our shame, and He offers us grace and mercy.  May we grab hold of that offer and allow our sin and shame to be washed by His blood.

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

Tuesday, January 1st: Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-1:6, Proverbs 1:1-1:6 ~ Tammy

Today's passage from the Bible In a Year Reading Plan is Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-1:6, Proverbs 1:1-1:6

I always love reading the creation story.  And it's such a fitting way to start a new year - reading about the beginning of time as know it.

It's incredible to me to think about God being infinite - existing outside of time, having always been, and always will be. 

The devotion I read today reminded me that before creation, there was nothing - it was a dark and barren wilderness - but that nothing, was brimming with possibility that only the power of the Word could ignite.  God's Word was all it took to pierce the darkness and create light.  God's Word was all it took to create the entire universe. 

And for us now, God's Word and only His Word, can pierce the darkness of our hearts and bring forth light, can redeem us and give us life, can change us and make us whole, can shape us into something beautiful for His glory. 

Tomorrow's Bible In a Year Passage: Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-2:12, Proverbs 1:7-1:9

Plan for 2019

Happy New Year and welcome to the tenth year of the reading and studying the Bible together on this blog! 

This year we have chosen to do the One Year Bible Plan - this plan includes approximately 2 chapters in the OT, 1 chapter in the NT, 1 Psalm and a portion of Proverbs in every reading.

The benefit of this plan is that there is something for everyone, no matter your time commitment. You can read through the entire Bible, you can read only the OT, you can read only the NT, you can read only the Psalms, or even only the Proverbs - or any combination of those! Once again, if you get behind, don’t worry about catching up, just jump back in. Just don’t quit!

I, personally have purchase a book called The One Year Praying Through Your Bible for Your Kids book by Nancy Guthrie.  She uses this same Bible reading plan, then pulls a few verses from one of the passages and does a devotional, followed by a prayer focused on this scripture for our kids. I’m really looking forward to this companion reading, but it is certainly in no way necessary to follow this blog or participate this year. But if you’re interested, I’ve included the link above.

This year we have Nathan, Pamela, Emma, Jeannine, and myself participating (a few more still considering) - I am excited to go through this journey with you again this year!

We will be using the following schedule....

Mondays - Pamela and Tammy

Tuesdays - Jeannine

Wednesdays - Tammy

Thursdays - Nathan

Fridays - Emma 

Saturdays and Sundays - depending on the weekend I may do these posts (following the devotional will help give me some ideas!)

I think that’s it - looking forward to a great year of growing in God's Word and in our faith.