Day 23 Reviewed

  **A quick disclaimer about this blog...
     If you happen to stumble across this blog at this point in time, there are a few things I want you to know. Right now, I'm reviewing my 30 days of reading. Most posts are jumbled to say the least. They are mostly quick thoughts, unedited, of what stood out to me in each day's passage. Also, keep in mind, my thoughts usually have something to do with being "at ease," or being "at peace," because that's the theme I looked for specifically as I read this time! **

Daniel 4 - Micah 2

• Nebuchadnezzar

     I thought it was nice when the king acknowledges the King ;) "Now I Nebuchadnezzar praise, exalt and honor the King of heaven, for all His works are true and His ways just, and He is able to humble those who walk in pride," (Daniel 4:37).

• Hosea

     A book of compassionate pleading. Like the man towards his wayward wife, I love this book!!

"Come, let us return to the Lord, For He has torn us, but He will heal us. He has wounded us, but He will bandage us. He will revive us after two days; He will raise us up on the third day that we may live before Him. So let us know, let us press on to know the Lord. His going forth is as certain as the dawn; and He will come to us like the rain, Like the spring rain watering the earth," (Hosea 6:1-3).

• Joel

     The answer, as in Esther...God knows!!! :)

"'Yet even now,' declares the Lord, 'Return to Me with all your heart, and with fasting, weeping, and mourning; and rend your heart and not your garments.' Now return to the Lord your God, For He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in lovingkindness, and relenting of evil. Who knows whether He will not turn and relent, and leave a blessing behind Him..." (Joel 2:12-14).

• Amos

     "Woe to those who are at ease in Zion, and to those who feel secure in the mountain of Samaria, the distinguished men of the foremost of nations...those who recline on beds of ivory...like David have composed songs for themselves," (Amos 6:1,4,5). I'm not sure I get it? Didn't David compose songs for God and not himself? Is Amos calling David lazy or wrong?
     "Nevertheless, I will not totally destroy the house of Jacob," declares the Lord, "For behold, I am commanding, and I will shake the house of Israel among all nations as grain is shaken in a sieve, but not a kernel will fall to the ground.

• Jonah

     "Who knows, God may turn and relent, and withdraw His burning anger so that we shall not perish?" Jonah knew, he saw. But was not quite at ease, haha, even till the end when he was sitting by his pathetic little tree. Oh Jonah, I've known your turmoil. We were so silly!
     "Do you have a good reason to be angry?" God says!! Ha!
  

Day 22 Reviewed

  **A quick disclaimer about this blog...
     If you happen to stumble across this blog at this point in time, there are a few things I want you to know. Right now, I'm reviewing my 30 days of reading. Most posts are jumbled to say the least. They are mostly quick thoughts, unedited, of what stood out to me in each day's passage. Also, keep in mind, my thoughts usually have something to do with being "at ease," or being "at peace," because that's the theme I looked for specifically as I read this time! **

Ezekiel 21 - Daniel 3

     "O Tyre, you have said, 'I am perfect in beauty,'" (Ezekiel 27:3). A city (not unlike a man), can become complacent with his high and secure status. But inevitably, their demise, "Now that you are broken by the seas In the depths of the waters, you have become terrified, and you will be no more," (27:34, 36).
    
     Ezekiel too continues to speak those same, assuring words over Israel from the Lord, "When I gather the house of Israel from the peoples among whom they are scattered, and shall manifest My holiness in them in the sight of the nations, then they will live in their land which I gave to My servant Jacob. And they will live in it securely; and they will build houses, plant vineyards, and live securely, when I execute judgments upon all who scorn them round about them," (Ezekiel 28:25)...
     .....OH Father, Father, Father! All for your ONE GREAT PURPOSE..."Then they will know that I am the Lord their God," (28:26).
     "As for you, My sheep, the sheep of My pasture, you are men, and I am your God," declares the Lord, (34:31).

• The Holy Name

     God's name is Holy. I don't know very much about His name yet, but I intend to learn more! What I know thus far, is, His name is a BIG deal. His name is Holy, His name is peace, His name is healing for the nations. His name is protection, His name is provision. So it makes sense when He must tell the people, Israel...

"But I had concern for My holy name, which the house of Israel had profaned among the nations where they went...It is not for YOUR SAKE, O House of Israel, that I am about to act, but for MY HOLY NAME, which you have profaned among the nations where you went. And I WILL VINDICATE THE HOLINESS OF MY GREAT NAME...(so)...I will SPRINKLE CLEAN WATER ON YOU, and you will be clean; I will CLEANSE YOU FROM ALL YOUR FILTHINESS...I will give you a NEW HEART and put a NEW SPIRIT within you; and I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put My Spirit within you and cause you to walk in My statutes, and you will be careful to observe My ordinances," (Ezekiel 36:21-27, emp mine)...

     ...And I will BLESS you on and on and on and on...but not for your sake, but because GOD is GOOD. That is such a lame way of putting it. Ha! I wish I could express more! :) I can only feel it well up inside of me!

• Daniel

     Just barely getting into him today. We'll start with this. Daniel - another neat guy acknowledging God's power. About dream interpretation he states, there is no man who can (though he himself can), "however, there is a God in heaven who reveals mysteries, and He has made known to King Nebuchadnezzar what will take place in the latter days," (Daniel 2:28).

Day 11 Reviewed

2 Kings 24 - 2 Chronicles 6

• Jehoiachin

     I just couldn't skip over this, even though the details are a little spotty for me, there was something here too cool to miss.
     I had to do a little additional research to find out more about Jehoiachin, because the books at this point in the Bible jump around from story telling to history, and some is out of order, making it a little harder to follow for a first timer.
     Jehoiachin was a king. He reigned only for 100 days, and was succeeded by his uncle. According to what I looked up, he was the last heir to the Jewish throne! Interesting. He was taken captive to Babylon by Nebuchadnezzar, and imprisoned for 37 years, until a (new?) king, Evil-merodach redeemed him.
     "And Jehoiachin changed his prison clothes, and had his meals in the king's presence regularly all the days of his life; and for his allowance, a regular allowance was given him by the king, a portion for each day, all the days of his life," (2 Kings 25:29-30).
     This struck me as an awesome thing to have said about one's life! Quite simple, but awesome! I won't dwell too much. But to add a detail like, "changed his prison clothes," spoke volumes I think. We know that we have gone to from slave to free in Jesus Christ, but have you changed your prison clothes? Do you wear a garment of praise, of righteousness, of peace, of servitude? Do you sit in the king's presence regularly and allow him to provide for you? Something I need to consider!!

• Record Keeping  (1 Chronicles)

     The lists of recorded generations in the Bible amazes me. I know my parents and grandparents, but beyond that I've never met anyone who came before me. I think I do have a little family history recorded somewhere, but nothing to the extent of generation upon generation! Sometimes I'm tempted to feel like it's just me. Like I didn't really come from anything...but just as recorded here, I come from generations upon generations! I am just the last down a loooong line right now. Gives a little perspecitve, hm? :)

• David passing the Torch

     Along those lines, a quick generational blessing. David tells his son Solomon, "Be strong and courageous, and act; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord God, my God, is with you. He will not fail you nor forsake  you until all the work for the service of the house of the Lord is finished," (1 Chronicles 28:20). Such a great lesson, to look for what God has set aside for us to do and even pass that annointing/ blessing on to the next generations, empowering them let God work mightily through them, bearing fruit, in peace, with ease.
     Solomon, for one, picked up this torch and kept it ablaze. He worked on the temple with gusto. Not only was it superb in it's building mechanics, but also in it's dedicated purpose. Solomon prayed and interceded fervently for the people and their interaction with God surrounding the temple. I mean, his prayers were so inspiring, they could be a model for intercession today!! His hearts cry was that through their sin and repentance, and through anyone's interaction with the temple, even foreigners, that they would come to know the true, living God! (2 Chronicles 6).
     It's no wonder he had such powerful prayers, after asking God humbly and earnestly for wisdom and understanding to lead his people well!