Thru The Bible - Deuteronomy

I was discouraged a little bit when I first started reading Deuteronomy because I just felt like it was a lot of repeat of what I had learned in the previous chapters. Then it hit me - if God put it in the bible more than once - he MUST have a reason. With that one little statement, I was humbled....

Then just as I was humbled, God showed me some great NEW things that I was almost apt to "skim" right over. Thank you God for your patience with me.

I had a thought that even with all the great things that Moses did, his last purpose was encourage Joshua to become the leader the people needed. Moses spent his last days preparing the way for Joshua to inherit what Moses knew as the Promised land.

I loved the number of times that people were showed that GOD would be fighting the battle for them. In some cases, they had to show up to swing the sword but how much power of God's they must have felt. Think about all the men that fought opponents that for all reason should have one; but the victory was theirs because God willed victory for them. It would have made a blockbuster movie, I am sure!

I forget how many "other gods" the Isrealites were comfronted with. The more I read, my thoughts are changed about how those chosen men and women lived. They lived in a society inindated with a god for everything. Not much different than today. Their "simple life" was much more complicated than I often consider it to be.

I felt blessed by the number of times that God chose to express his love for us. His abounding love that will carry us like a father a carrys a son and for thousand generations to come. Such a precious love letter from my father!

I love that God let us see His watchful care for all generations. He not only is working things out for us but may be fulfilling something in our life to open a great blessing to our children. There is no greater thought in the world than to be reminded that God planned in the beginning how HE would bless my children. It gives me goosebumps!

Such a great reminder about how a "little sin" of allowing destable things into our home cause us to be like the rest of people. Instead, God tells us to abhor and detest these things.

I love Deut. 11:19 - I want to be reminded by God's word to let my actions speak to my children as well as my words.

I am still so shocked how much of the American judicial system is embedded within the words of bible. If we could just get back to living within God's laws we would not need so many legalities!

The bible says women can not wear men's clothing. When we use to wear decorated boxers to school (as shorts) my dad said this was forbidden in the bible. I thought he was joking, but it appears he was right! LOL

In chapter 24, it talks about how a newly married man should not be sent to war. Once again, there is reminder of God's protection over marriage. He wants us to be successful and to have time to be with one another.

I was so taken with Chapter 32. I loved the verse that says to "let my teaching fall like rain". I stopped to pray that God would shower me withHis teaching so that I daily fall more in love with His ways. It closes by saying "They are not just idle words for you, they are your life". How true I want this to be in my life.

To wrap us this chapter that I first began reading as if it was a "repeat" I read these words : "The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are everlasting arms". Thank you God for your grace...Thank you for your mercy....and most of all thank you for your love!

Thru the Bible....Numbers

We just finished the Book of Numbers and I am enjoying this journey so much. This year has been such a blessing of really "digging in" and finding new treasures from God's word.

Everyone talks about the beauty of the Mona Lisa, which is really quite ordinary if you think about it. A simple portrait done by an amazing artist who found a way to create a timeless piece of art. The "life" of her ability to follow people with her eyes as she moves is an oddity, to say the least. Yet, it was with precision, passion, talent, form, and artistic ability that da Vinci was able to create this piece of work even though he considered it unfinished.

To me, the book of Numbers was the same as the Mona Lisa in a few ways. It also is a timeless word portrait of a living society. It was an artistic expression of our Creators plan for eventual salvation. The record of millions of people living and awaiting God's instruction to reach a Promise Land. It is a beautiful strategic plan for God's army of which I am descendant of. Yet, unlike daVinci, God knew his work of creation would not be unfinished but reach completion.

- As one loving genealogies, I have to admit it makes me a little curious as to which one of the "tribes", I was a descendant of. Not that it matters, but wouldn't it be interesting to know?

- I found Numbers reminding me of a special bond and care that God had for women. Some things seem so unfair and so judgmental against women but really God set up a plan for man to care for his wife. He also set up a plan to have care for widows, for husbandless daughters and young women. An authority not to oppress us but to support us. That was really encouraging to me, even with the somewhat questionable liberties of males during this time.

- I loved the blessing of the Priest. I love the image of Lord's face shining upon me or those I ask for him to bless. I should spend more time asking for God's grace, blessing and favor be upon those I love and care for. How much better would my world be if those I surrounded myself with were shining with the glory of God?

- I wonder if there is a significance to a man retiring at the age of 50? At this time, people were living to be around 100 or 120. God determined for them to work half their life but to be able to rest in their older years. Our society has this so wrong. We don't have provisions that are easily obtainable to work hard and then retire at this age and allow ourselves years to just be "helpers".

- Moses seemed to be confident in his relationship with God to be so bold. I love that Moses was able to honestly express his hardship and express why the burden he was carrying was too heavy and God immediately granted him a solution. God never intends for us to carry more than we can, but I guess this just reminded me that sometimes He expects us to ask for help.

Before Kaleb's dad disappeared he highlighted a verse in a bible for Kaleb. Since Kaleb's childhood's friend was named Joshua, he marked where Caleb and Joshua would be the men that entered into the promise land. I wish Kaleb would have had a the chance to see his father live out a faithful Christian life but that was not the case. However, I see this gesture just a simple glimpse of God's provision that my Kaleb would one day see the Promise Land. Kaleb's father, no matter what others say, did lay one foundation of a promise for his son in God's word and I think God honored that suggestion in making my Kaleb an amazing man! "But because my servant Caleb has a different spirit and follows me wholeheartedly, I will bring him into the land he went to and his descendants will inherit it".

How true, that my Kaleb also, has a different spirit that I am sure that God is pleased with.

- Even though Moses was told he would never enter into the Promise Land, I think he knew his real Promise Land was elsewhere. Why would he care to get there when he could get to heaven with God? He did not give up but seemed to continue to plan of God without complaining but with purpose.

- I don't understand why God had Moses make a snake. I know it later becomes an idol and it just seems like it gave something made of medal a symbol of power.

- I think the story of talking donkey is funny. Sometimes I guess God's sense of humor is so appropriate. With us calling the donkey a stubborn animal and donkey (or the other name for donkey) being a connotation of being difficult, it is quite comical that a donkey's voice was use to correct Balaam being difficult.

- The verse where it recaps the Israelites journey and states that they marched out BOLDLY in FULL VIEW of the Egyptians was a treasure to me. When God determines that his people (or me) has a purpose and is receiving a blessing from Him he will allow us to march out BOLDLY in front our enemy!

- Of all the things I struggled with in this chapter, really the amount of bloodshed still bothers me. I know God has purpose but it still seems so violent. I see God wiping away people with a blink of his eye but when he used man to do, it just impacts me to think why he wants man to do this?

Leviticus - Read Thru The Bible In A Year!

Well, I am few days late in posting; but really wanted to post what the book of Leviticus taught me this past few weeks. I think it is a book that I have ALWAYS read thru very quickly and skimming over. It was nice to break it down and really think it thru (well most parts).

First, my number one impression of Leviticus was that there were obviously as many idiots back then as there are today. Seriously, some things should not have to be said and should be common sense.

I am VERY thankful that we are not obligated to offer "sin offerings, fellowship offerings or grain offerings". God destined us all to live in the appointed time we live and I am pretty sure He knew this would not have worked for me. So much killing, so much blood ..... Yuck!

I understood more about why other religions practice what they do. Since I am still struggling on what MY responsibilies from old testament law are I will continue to pray this out.

Loved that God chose to put that being BALD was okay! So funny....

Was glad to learn that a sin offering for having children was not for "having children" as I had always thought. Without understanding the types of offerings I had always been perplexed by that verse.

I loved that God took the time to address the smallest of concerns. How much he does care for his people? It touches my heart to feel His love when reading his provisions for His people.

I was reminded that the world is still dealing with the same sins today that they were post Exodus. They human race just can't do it right without God. The destruction people will put upon themselves is unbelievable.

I am still wondering how sin was covered without Jesus. It was such a flawed system without the blood of Christ and the grace of God. I know God is not flawed but I am thankful. Just really sad again to know that it was not an animal that shed blood for me but Jesus. Very humbling...

My favorite verse this book was "Rise in the presence of the aged, show respect for the elderly and revere your God, I am the Lord". It is nice to be reminded how very important God thought of the elderly. I am blessed with some of the most awesome "young-elderly" in the world and I want to respect that.

Numbers is under way.....

Thru the Bible - Exodus

Several weeks have passed by and we are to the end of January and already done with the book of Exodus. The time is flying by. The three chapters a day, the rich discussion in my home and with my church family is making this journey very exciting for me.

So, what impacted me about the book of Exodus was the detail God gave his people. I think of a child learning to bake cookies. The flour gets every where, the cookies have egg shells in the them and there are many finger prints on everything. It would be easier to just NOT allow the kids to bake; but they would miss the effort and how much sweeter the finished product is when they have participated. Since God could have willed any event to happen, how precious that he gives us the chance to roll up our sleeves and participate in His plan. How even more impressive that he is teaching foundational lessons to His people so that they would understand the life and death of Jesus Christ generations later.

The plagues. I have to admit I had a little bit of a difficult time with the plagues. I finally came to reconcile my understanding of God's plan by trusting that God had a purpose. For the first time, my study led me to understand that the plagues had a direct correlation with Egyptian gods that God was showing Himself to be mightier than them to the people. He was proving his majesty before their eyes. I just struggle with the fact that so many awkard things had to happen.

I don't understand how the people where able to "create" some of the same things with their magicians. This made me even more afraid of these types of events.

I questioned why there would be locust in Revelations if God said that there would never be a plague of them again. Kelly was really helpful in looking up the answer to me on this one.

I was convicted with why I did not keep the Sabbath holy any longer. John explained one time the difference between why the Jewish worship on Saturday and us on Sunday. I am not sure where I stand on this particular issue right now with regards to housework, cooking, cleaning and etc. It is listed as a lasting convenant but no one seems to make that big of a deal of it.

Loved looking at the fact that so many of our laws are based upon biblical principals. Exodus is a great example of the American judicial system in the simplest of forms.

I loved the verse that talked about the fact that Moses face was radiant because he spoke to the Lord. I would have loved to have heard their conversations.

My favorite verse was Exodus 14: 14 "The Lord will fight for you; you only need to be still".

Now, on the Leviticus.....

Thru The Bible in 2011 - Genesis

Our church is reading thru the bible is 2011. I can already see the fruits of the labor in myself, my family and my fellow church members. It is giving a community of people an amazing experience together. To read God's word, to ask questions and to ponder what God is trying to teach you.

I thought it might be fun to blog what I am getting out of each book of the bible as we read thru in 2011. Since I just finished Genesis this morning, I thought it was time to share what Genesis has meant to me or what I have learned that I want to share. (I am sure there will be many things that I need to leave between God & I; but who knows?)

- I had never thought to ask how old Eve was when she died. She just kind of disappears from the story.

- A funny "Troyism" was that we might have had other animals on earth when Noah came out the ark but he was hungry and who knows what he chose to eat? I got such a laugh from that.

- That very soon God noticed the fact that man could not be alone and created woman. He had a plan for marriage and the exclusiveness of relationships at the very moment that men were made. This just reinforces to me that God will always favor helping marriages succeed because this event was not a by-product of his creation. It was the plan!

- I love Genesis 4:7. I think for my children this is one the verses that I hope to impress upon their hearts. For me, I will live accordingly to this verse as much as I can. My favorite verse from the book of Genesis reads "If you do what is right, will you not be accepted? But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must rule over it.”

- I was saddened by the number of times that God's heart was described to filled with pain or aching over humankind.

- That Abraham's request to "bargain" for his fellow man was honored by God. Encourages me to pray for the people in my life because God is willing to listen.

-I loved when Abimelech's & his people said "We saw clearly that the Lord was with you". Other stories tell of people seeing God's favor on someone but I wonder if it was always seen "clearly". I so want to live a life where people could say that they saw "Clearly" God was with me.

- It was interesting the Esau's wife was a source of grief for Isaac and Rebekah. This encourages me to pray for the future relationships with my children's spouses.

- I loved that when Jacob kissed Rachel he began to weep aloud. I felt that way with Kaleb in months to come; but I love that Jacob was so certain of his love for Rachel that he wept aloud.

- That the favored people of God did acquire wealth. When we are seeking God's will and not man's will God can bless us with worldly things also.

- That Schechem was willing to give any amount of money for Dinah but he did not value her enough to protect her virtue.

- That Joseph was able to forgive his brothers for selling him and attributed the events to God's greater purpose for him.

- That the Pharaoh (who was in charge of everything in Egypt) honored the fact that Jacob made Joseph swear to carry him home to be buried. He could have arranged for it to be done or told Joseph "not a good time" but instead he insisted that Joseph go and carry out the wish of his father.

For me, Genesis is wonderful in that from the very beginning there was a plan for the end. I don't know rather my time is closer to that of the end or that of Genesis but I am glad that God has a plan.