Checking in at long last!

As I was thinking back over the first half of 2010, I reflected on the Scripture and comments in my blog entry on January 1st.  I quote here:

I am going to use the ESV Bible (English Standard Version) for my readings this year. I appreciate the clarity of this recent translation.

"Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O LORD, God of hosts."
~ Jeremiah 15:16 ~ (ESV)

So, ultimately, I guess I am aiming for the joy and delight found in God and in His Word. That will make for a wonderful 2010! :)  

Yes, it has been a continual joy and delight as I have been reading through His Word. ... God was/is always there in spite of the state of His people!

Reading through the history books of the Old Testament has been like reading the newspapers today.  How foolish mankind is to think that life can be lived apart from God.  Apart from Him, what a mess we make of things.

This little "nugget" I found in I Chronicles 22:12, David speaking to his son Solomon, sums up the overall truth that has impressed me.

"Now set your mind and heart to seek the Lord your God. ..."

Wow! ... Having that as my goal will surely prioritize everything else!

At long last ...

I am back to my blog.

It has been my joy for the past few weeks to have the company of a good friend in my home.  We had good times together and good talks, but time for blogging had to take a back seat.

Over these weeks I read through Exodus and through Mark.  The truth that impressed me in both these sections of Scripture is the overALL, complete sovereignty of the Lord God.

Here are just two quotes ... one from Exodus in the Old Testament and one from Mark in the New Testament. ...

Exodus 9:13-17, 34   
(Pharaoh thought he was in charge.  Not so - it was God!)

Then the Lord said to Moses, "Rise up early in the morning and present yourself to Pharaoh and say to him, 'Thus says the Lord, the God of the Hebrews, let my people go that they may serve me.  For this time I will send all my plagues on you yourself, and on your servants and your people, so that you may know that there is none like me in all the earth.  For by now I could have put out my hand and struck you and your people with pestilence, and you would have been cut off from the earth.  But, for this purpose I have raised you up, to show you my power, so that my name may be proclaimed in all the earth.  You are still exalting yourself against my people and will not let them go." ... ... ... But when Pharaoh saw that the rain and the hail and the thunder had ceased, he sinned yet again and hardened his heart, he and his servants.  So the heart of Pharaoh was hardened, and he did not let the people of Israel go, just as the Lord had spoken through Moses.

Mark 14:49
(The Jews of that day wanted Jesus out of the way, and, ultimately, to take His life ... when they finally did lay their hands on Him, Jesus spoke of the true situation ... God's word was being fulfilled.)

And they laid hands on him and seized him. ... And Jesus said to them, "Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me?  Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me, but let the Scriptures be fulfilled."

* * *  In these uncertain times in which we live,
in which the rulers of this world think they are in charge,
what a comfort it is to know that the Lord God is sovereign. 
He is working all things together for good ... and for His glory.

Writing while waiting ...

I'm waiting for a return phone call in answer to a question I had, so while I am waiting I will add to my blog.

Since writing my last blog post, I have continued with the Bible reading plan I chose to do this year.  Now that I am six days into it, it has been confirmed in its use that I made the right choice for my temperament.  I am really liking concentrating on one book of Scripture at a time.  The Bible I am using was new for my birthday back in November, so I approach my reading time with colored pencils in hand and mark the text with a color code system I devised years ago when I took a class in Bible study methods.

As I am reading along, and the Lord calls my attention to a verse or section of verses I either underline the verse or bracket the section with the pertinent color in my system.  (I find Crayola colored pencils work best.)

     orange -  God
     blue -     Jesus
     purple -  Holy Spirit
     red -      salvation
     green -   commands to obey, ways to grow in the Christian life
     yellow -  promises to claim, treasures in Christ
     brown -  sin/Satan

Doing this helps me to concentrate and to see connections between one portion of the text and another.
I also use a regular lead pencil if I want to mark a time line or circle key words/names or draw an arrow from one related section to another.  This also makes it easy to go back and find something that relates to something else I am reading at a later date or if I am in need of reviewing a certain passage that would apply to a particular problem, or need, I might have subsequent to my reading on any given day.

This system works well for me.  Give it a try some time - you may find it beneficial in your reading.

At this date I am still reading in Genesis. 

It struck me how Noah's salvation and keeping in the ark is such a picture of our salvation and keeping in Christ.  Noah was given the rainbow as the sign of his covenant with God.  (Genesis 9:11-17)  We are given the Holy Spirit. (Ephesians 1:13-14) ... "In Him [Christ] you also when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in Him, were sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of His glory." (ESV)

Two days of snow to begin the new year ...

I just came in from clearing my driveway.
I know I will have sore muscles tomorrow, but I feel invigorated.

This makes me think of the new Bible reading plan I am doing this year.  Bible Reading Plan (I chose the Book at a Time option.)
Digging into God's Word exercises my spiritual "muscles" ... what He shows me will invigorate my walk with Him. I look forward to all that He wants to show me in this year ... it may hurt as He chips away at rough edges, but it's exciting to think of growing into His image.

We have had a snow "marathon" since Friday evening, so, being more or less housebound, there has been a good amount of free time to read and ponder over His Word. That will become more of a discipline when I get back to the classroom tomorrow.

I have been reading in Genesis, and what struck me the most was when the serpent said to Eve ... "Did God actually say ...?" (chapter 3) ... Yes, God did actually say!

As I read day-by-day, He is going to say many things to me. My prayer is "Lord, help me not to fall into the same trap that Eve did. Help me to count on what You have said."

What are you aiming for in 2010?

Have you heard the saying, "Aim for nothing, and that's what you get."?
I don't know about you, but it sure helps me to see an outline of what I want/need to do.

I came across these Bible Reading Plans, and thought I would share them ... there are 3 different options to choose from - I am doing the "Book at a Time" option because I like to concentrate on a particular section of Scripture at a time, but there are two other options that may fit your personality/approach better.

Check out the three options here ... print out the one you like.
~ Bible Reading Plans ~

I am going to use the ESV Bible (English Standard Version) for my readings this year. I appreciate the clarity of this recent translation.

"Your words were found, and I ate them,
and your words became to me a joy
and the delight of my heart,
for I am called by your name,
O LORD, God of hosts."
~ Jeremiah 15:16 ~ (ESV)

So, ultimately, I guess I am aiming for the joy and delight found in God and in His Word. That will make for a wonderful 2010! :)

God got my attention with a bumper sticker!

Today is a gloomy, rainy Saturday.
I am sick and on antibiotics, but I made myself go out to do some necessary errands. The news came on the radio, and, hearing the re-hash of all that is going on, made me feel worse than I did already! As I pulled out of the library parking lot I saw the red light at the intersection around the corner and applied my brakes. How thankful I am for that red light because having to stop enabled me to read the bumper sticker on the car in front of me. ...

It said ... "RELAX - God is in control."

As the light turned green I wished I could thank the driver of the car. Wow! - It was the shortest green light interval I ever remember at that intersection. That driver and I were stopped again. I put my car in park, got out and walked up to the driver's window and knocked. He looked at me quizzically, but rolled down his window. I said, "I want to thank you for the message on your bumper sticker. I needed that!" He smiled the biggest, happiest smile I have seen in a long time and said to me with a comforting Haitian accent, "You are very welcome!"

I walked back to my car thanking God for His message through that dear man.

Pray ... "For Our Children"

I have never had any children of my own, but having taught for over 40 years I have had the wonderful opportunity to love hundreds of children. Over those 40+ years, I have seen many changes in our culture, changes which create great concern for "my" children and the children of "my" children.

Scripture says, "... whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue, and if there is anything praiseworthy -- meditate on these things." (Philippians 4:8)

Everything contrary to what that Scripture verse says was present 2000 years ago when it was penned, but in today's culture with the media, the internet, facebook, etc. etc. the contrary is ever so much more readily accessible. All of this can be used for good, but the temptation for our children (and for us) is ever present for the contrary.

I am always challenged and/or encouraged by reading Amy Carmichael's books. She was an Irish missionary to India in the last century who worked to rescue children from temple prostitution. Today I came across this prayer/poem that she wrote. Lord, help me to be faithful to pray for "my" children.

FOR OUR CHILDREN

FATHER hear us, we are praying,
Hear the words our hearts are saying,
We are praying for our children.

Keep them from the powers of evil,
From the secret, hidden peril,
From the whirlpool that would suck them,
From the trecherous quicksand, pluck them.

From the worldling's hollow gladness,
From the sting of faithless sadness,
Holy Father, save our children.

Through life's troubled water's steer them,
Through life's bitter battle cheer them,
Father, Father, be Thou near them,
Read the language of our longing,
Read the wordless pleadings thronging,
Holy Father, for our children.

And wherever they may hide,
Lead them Home at eventide.