Through The Word in 30 Days

Thursday, March 3, 2011

Day 31 Reviewed

Faith

   "Without faith is it impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is, and that He is a rewarder of those who seek Him," (Hebrews 11:6). With a little faith and also trying to be really good and keep him commands? NO!!! Without faith = impossible!!

     Hmmmm....at the same time, no jot or tittle discontinued? "But one who looks intently at the perfect law, the law of liberty (oh wait), and abides by it, not having become a forgetful hearer but an effectual doer, this man shall be blessed in what he does," (James 1:25).

     I've tended to hear myself say a lot lately, I do not like organized religion! James says, "If anyone thinks himself to be religious, and yet does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this man's religion is worthless. This is pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father, to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world," (James 1:26-27).

     "JUDGMENT will be merciless to one who has shown no mercy, mercy triumphs over judgment," (James 2:13).

     "Even so faith, if it has no works, is dead, being by itself...You see that faith was working with his works, and as a result of the works, faith was perfected...You see that a man is justified by works, and not faith alone," (James 2:17, 22, 24).

Stay Away

     "For where jealousy and selfish ambition exist, there is disorder and every evil thing. But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy. AND the seed whose fruit is righteousness is sown in PEACE by those who make PEACE," (James 3:17-18). Make peace, God's way!!

     And be careful..." You have lived luxuriously on the earth and led a life of wanton pleasure; ; you have fattened your hearts in a day of slaughter," (James 5:5). Yucko.
     "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. Behold, the farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, of the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not complain, brethren, against one another, that you yourselves may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing right at the door," (James 5:7-9).

1 Peter

     Submission. (To the Lord!!)
     "...to every human institution," (1 Peter 2:13)
     "...wives...to your own husbands," 3:1)
     "...let it be the hidden person of the heart, with the imperishable quality of a gentle and quiet spirit," (3:4)
     "...sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence," (3:15)

2 Peter

Something that sets me at ease is knowing that I don't need to look outside of God and His true Word for everything I need!!! "seeing that His divine power has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence," (2 Peter 1:3).

1 John

"By this you know the Spirit of God: every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is from God," (1 John 4:2).

"There is no FEAR IN LOVE,"!!! (4:18).

2 John

"Beloved, do not imitate what is evil, but what is good. The one who does good is of God; the one who does evil has not seen God," (2 John 11).

Revelation

     "BLESSED is he who reads and those who HEAR the words of the prophecy, and heed the things which are written in it; for the time is near," (Revelation 1:3). I told my dad these words and asked him if he wanted me to read the book out loud to him, and he agreed! It took maybe an hour or hour and a half, but I read the WHOLE thing, every word, out loud to him. I read, he heard = we are both blessed :) The baby heard too :)

     "And they overcame him became him because of the blood of the Lamb and because of the word of their testimony, and they did not love their life even to death," (12:11).

     The time will come...woah, "And another angel came out of the temple, crying out with a loud voice to Him who sat on the cloud, "Put in your sickle and reap, because the hour to reap has come, because the harvest of the earth is ripe," (14:15).

     "Woe, woe, the great city, in which all who had ships at sea became rich by her wealth, for in one hour, she has been laid waste! Rejoice over her, O heaven, and you saints and apostles and prophets, because God has pronounced judgment for you against her...And in her was found the blood of prophets and of saints and of all who have been slain on the earth," (18:19-20, 24).

     "Hallelujah! For the Lord our God, the Almighty reigns. Let us rejoice and be glad and give the glory to Him, for the marriage of the Lamb has come and His bride has made herself ready," (19:7).

"I saw thrones, and the sat upon them, and judgment was given to them. And I saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of the testimony of Jesus and because of the word of God, and those who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and had not received the mark upon their forehead and upon their hand; and they came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who has a part in the first resurrection; over these the second death has no power, but they will be priests of God and of Christ and will reign with Him for a thousand years," (20:4...) Ok, I got carried away. I could really type this whole thing out. So interesting.

"And I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God, the Almighty, and the Lamb, ARE ITS TEMPLE...city has no need for sun or of the moon to shine upon it, for the glory of God has illuminated it, and its lamp IS THE LAMB," (21:22-23).

"And there shall no longer be any curse; and the throne of God and of the Lamb shall be in it, and His bond-servants shall serve Him; and they shall see His face," (22:3-4).

Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Day 30 Reviewed

Foolish (Galatians)

     "Are you so foolish? Having begun by the Spirit, are you now being perfected by the flesh?" (Galatians 3:3). Is He speaking directly to me? I think so :) Ha ha. Because sometimes, I got nervous that I did not know all the answers...all the truth.
     Be calm, child. Be at ease.
     "And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into our heart, crying, 'Abba! Father!'" (4:6). Yes! and "like Isaac, (we) are children of promise," (4:28). Wow. Like Isaac.
     Be calm, be at ease...
     "Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, this he will also reap," (6:7).

Ephesians

This verse struck me ever since I first heard it. The reason is that when I first heard it, I thought it was being read out of some flowered-up version of the Bible because of all the extra adjectives. Well, it's not. This is just how it reads!! Awesome!!
"Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us," (Ephesians 3:20).

Philippians

     Be calm, be at ease...
     "For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain," (Philippians 1:21).
     Be "in NO WAY ALARMED by your opponents - which is a sign of destruction for them but of salvation for you," (1:28).

   "Not that I speak from want; for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH HIM WHO STRENGTHENS ME," (4:11-13 emph mine). And, "My God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus," (4:19).

Colossians

Paul struggled so that, "their hearts may be encouraged, having been knit together in love, and attaining to all the wealth that comes from the full assurance of understanding, resulting in a true knowledge of God's mystery, that is, Christ Himself, in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge," (Colossians 2:2). Not fear, encouragement.
"Therefore, let no one act as your judge in regard to food or drink or in respect to a festival or a new moon or a Sabbath day -- things which are a mere shadow of what is to come; but the substance belongs to Christ," (2:16-17). And for good measure, "Let NO ONE keep defrauding you of your PRIZE by delighting in SELF-ABASEMENT and the worship of the angels, taking his stand on VISIONS he has seen, inflated without cause by his fleshly mind," (2:18). hmmmmmmm...

1 Thessalonians

"Therefore comfort one another with these words," (1 Thessalonians 4:18). These words are referring to ALWAYS BEING WITH THE LORD. Read chapters 4 and 5 please.

1 Timothy

I have to stick this in, speaking of things, er, being at ease :) "No longer drink water exclusively , but use a little wine for the sake of your stomach and your frequent ailments," (1 Timothy 5:23). Had to :)

Titus

"To the pure, all things are pure; but to those who are defiled and unbelieving, nothing is pure, but both their mind and their conscience are defiled," (Titus 1:15).

Hebrews

     He's for us. "For assuredly He does not give help to angels, but He gives help to the descendant of Abraham...For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, he is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted," (2:16,18). Tempted to fear, Lord. And you were too. And you did not.

     "Let us therefore draw near with CONFIDENCE to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and may find grace to help in time of need," (Hebrews 4:16 emph mine).

     A NEW COVENANT!!!!!!!!!!
     "who does not need daily, like those high priests, to offer up sacrifices, first for His own sins, and then for the sins of the people, because this He did ONCE FOR ALL when He offered up Himself. For the Law appoints men as high priests who are weak, but the word of the oath, which came after the Law, appoints a Son, made perfect forever," (7:27-28).
     Interesting truth. I don't think I would have had the guts to call something God did imperfect, the Word says, "For if that first covenant had been faultless, there would have been no occasion sought for a second," (8:7) and quotes the prophet Isaiah.
    Because gifts and sacrifices cannot make the worshipper perfect :) (9:8).

Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Day 29 Reviewed

"being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ J E S U S; whom God displayed publicly as a propitiation in His blood through faith. This was to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the forbearance of God He passed over the sins previously committed; for the demonstration, I say, of His righteousness at the present time, that He might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. WHERE THEN IS BOASTING? It is excluded. BY WHAT KIND OF LAW? Of works? NO, BUT BY A LAW OF FAITH. For we maintain that a man is justified by faith apart from the LAW," (Romans 3:24-28 emph mine).

Therefore, God is the God of the Jews AND the Gentiles.
The law is NOT nullified, it is to be established. But no man is justified by it, in case Paul doesn't make this completely clear :)

"What then? That which Israel is seeking for, it has not obtained, but those who were chosen obtained it, and the rest were hardened; just as it is written,
God gave them a spirit of stupor,
eyes to see not and ears to hear not,
down to this very day," (Romans 11:7-8).

Good, Practical Advice for Living (Romans 12-13)

     "Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil; cling to what is good.
     Be devoted to one another in brotherly love; give preference to one another in honor;
     not lagging behind in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord;
     rejoicing in hope, persevering in tribulation, devoted to prayer,
     contributing to the needs of the saints, practicing hospitality.
     Bless those who persecute you; bless and curse not.
     Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
     Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
     Never pay back evil for evil to anyone.
     Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
     If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men.
     Never take your own revenge, beloved, but leave room for the wrath of God, for it is written, 'Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,' says the Lord"....................

     .......and the whole rest of chapters 12 and 13, I'm not going to type them all out!

     Except, the fulfillment of the law : to love your neighbor as yourself. wow. I'm still working through this one. It fulfills the law, but we are still to establish the law?

     How about this..."One man regards one day above another, another regards every day alike. Let each man be fully convinced in his own mind. He who observes the day, observes it for the Lord, and he who eats, does so for the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who eats not, for the Lord he does not eat, and gives thanks to God," (14:5-6). We don't live or die for ourselves, it says...

1 Corinthians

"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are profitable. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be mastered by anything. Food is for the stomach, and the stomach is for food; but God will do away with both of them. Yet the body is not for immorality, but for the Lord; and the Lord is for the body," (1 Corinthians 5:13).

"If one of the unbelievers invites you, and you wish to go, eat anything that is set before you, without asking questions for conscience' sake," (10:27).

2 Corinthians

     "For as many as may be the promises of God, in Him they are YES; wherefore also by Him is our Amen to the glory of God through us," (2 Corinthians 1:20).

     "Now the Lord is the Spirit; and WHERE THE SPIRIT OF THE LORD IS, THERE IS LIBERTY," (3:17 emph mine).

     "...by evil report and good report; regarded as deceivers and yet true; as unknown yet well-known, as dying yet behold, we live; as punished yet not put to death, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as having nothing yet possessing all things," (6:8-10).

     "And God IS ABLE to make all grace abound to you, that ALWAYS having ALL sufficiency in EVERYTHING, you may have an ABUNDANCE for every good deed...He scattered abroad, He gave to the poor, His righteousness abides forever...Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food, will supply and MULTIPLY your seed for SOWING and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for ALL LIBERALITY, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God," (9:8-11 emph mine).

Monday, February 28, 2011

Day 28 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! **

John 21 - Acts 28

     The first thing that stood out to me in the book of Acts was the statement, "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no other name under heaven that has been given among men, by which we must be saved," (Acts 4:12).
     Period.

Ethiopian Eunuch

     What I am learning right now firsthand in the way of discipleship is how important explaining can be. It is imperative that someone read the scriptures for themselves, but very helpful, especially at first, to have come alongside and help explain. Especially before that person is able to hear clearly God's Holy Spirit, the ultimate explainer :)
     The Eunuch flat out asked for help, and so Phillip "opened his mouth, and beginning from this Scripture he preached Jesus to him," (Acts 8:34). I love that it says he opened his mouth, first of all!!!
     That is the first step in most cases. Or, perhaps, opening a blank email :)

Peter and Cornelius

Such a wonderful, enlightening passage as I search to know more about what it is to be clean or unclean before the Lord. So important! Peter comes to understand, as I long to, "that God is not one to show partiality," (Acts 10:34). Amen!

Continually Joy-Filled

What a complete description of a ministering life. Succinctly: "And the disciples were continually filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit," (Acts 14:52 emph mine).

God has been showing me lately how judgmental my heart is. So this verse, in particular speaks to me, "Now therefore why do you put God to the test by placing upon the neck of the disciples a yoke which neither our father nor we have been able to bear? But we believe that we are saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, in the same way as they also are," (Acts 15:10-11 emph mine). Except that I have tended to place judgment on people who aren't even disciples. Just in my heart. Without them even knowing. Yucky :(

Paul on Trial - Just Tell it Like it is

     "And Agrippa said to Paul, 'You are permitted to speak for yourself.' Then Paul stretched out his hand and proceeded to make his defense: 'In regard to all the things of which I am accused by the Jews, I consider myself fortunate, King Agrippa, that I am about to make my defense before you today," (Acts 26:1-2 emph mine). He considered himself fortunate! Ha! Perhaps because he was about to give his "defense," he was really just about to tell God's truth, and evangelize!
   He just went ahead and told his whole tale, and concluded with quoting from the prophet Isaiah! And, "Let it be know to you therefore, that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will also listen," (Acts 28: 28).
     Bam!

Day 27 Reviewed

Zaccheus

To obey what the Lord has called each of us to do in our own lives. That is key. And Zaccheus stopped and said to the Lord, "Behold, Lord, half of my possessions I will give to the poor, and if I have defrauded anyone of anything, I will give back four times as much," (Luke 19:8). And Jesus said to him, "Today, salvation has come to this house, because he, too, is a son of Abraham," (19:9). Zaccheus did not have a repentant heart because Jesus told him to repent. He had a repentant heart because Jesus asked him to come near, to dine in his home.

John

The first thing I marked in John wasn't until the 9th chapter! Anyway, my notation in the margin was, "God gets the glory!" Let's see why...

As (Jesus) passed by, He saw a man blind from birth. And His disciples asked Him, saying, 'Rabbi, who sinned, this man or his parents, that he should be born blind?' Jesus answered, 'It was neither that this man sinned, nor his parents; but it was in order that the works of God might be displayed in him," (John 9:1-3).

How powerful! So that the works of God might be displayed in him! So that we could see that regardless of the cause, the Lord's will is for healing, to the glory of His Name!
At the end of the chapter, He says something marvelous..."FOR JUDGMENT I CAME INTO THIS WORLD, THAT THOSE WHO DO NOT SEE MAY SEE; AND THOSE WHO SEE MAY BECOME BLIND," (9:39).
I love paradoxical reality!!!

Day 26 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! **

Mark 10 - Luke 17

In Mark, when Jesus is questioned by the high priest, He is asked flat out if He is the Christ, the "Son of the Blessed One?" (Mark 14:61). He answers simply, "I am; and you shall see the Son of Man sitting at the right hand of power, and coming with the clouds of heaven," (14:62). How many live today as if this claim is as crazy as some tried to treat it then?

Luke

     Mary, Mary! "For nothing will be impossible with God," (Luke 1:37). Amen!! And the words I long to embody as a woman of the Covenant: "Behold, the bondslave of the Lord; be it done to me according to YOUR WORD," (1:38 emph mine)


     Lineage. There's something to be said about the Divine Hand in creating generation after generation with no mistake, hiccup, or interruption on down through Christ's lineage. I think about how sons and daughters come about today. Some "wanted," some desperately prayed for, some out of less than optimal circumstances. I can't help but imagine it was like that all the way down the line, but somehow (actually it's no mystery how - but still blows me away!!) everything lined up. My not in the Bible over chapter 3 was: "God did this."



     Simon, James, and John were just trying to run a business and make ends meet. The Lord shows up and prospers them in an instant. Still, He tells them of even greater things he wants to do in and through their lives. They don't hesitate. They follow! (Luke 5:11).

     Something I'm interested in is the law. the Torah. Yes, I know we are not under the law, but the "New Covenant," but the Messiah did not wipe away the law, He taught from it and fulfilled it, but what are the implications for us as He still calls us to follow His commands? Matthew chapter 6 gives a good overview of this. "But love your enemies, and do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return; and your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High; for He Himself is kind to ungrateful and evil men," (6:35 emph mine).

     Martha, Martha :) "you are worried and bothered about so many things; but only a few things are necessary, really only one," (10:42). Only One. One. Only. Lord open my eyes to the One.

   "Watch out that the light in you may not be darkness," (11:35). Because the lamp of the body is the eye. The eye. Oh what am I putting in front of my eye? I know well what I've been putting their lately. "When your eye is clear, your whole body is full of light (11:34). I can't say that I've been, ahem, full of light, lately. Something to consider :)

      DO NOT BE AFRAID. "Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has chosen gladly to give you the kingdom," (12:32).

     And, (do not be afraid) on that day..."let not one who is on the housetop and whose goods are in the house go down to take them away; and likewise let not the one who is in the field turn back. Remember Lot's wife. Whoever seeks to keep his life shall lose it, and whoever loses his life shall preserve it," (17:31). So many thoughts, such simple words My Messiah. Let them sink deep and ponder.

Sunday, February 27, 2011

Day 25 Reviewed

Matthew

   Matthew chapter 10 stood out to me as "Discipleship Training." I should refer to this when attempting to be an effective disciple as well as trying to guide someone in the Way.

   The next thing that stood out here in the New Testament was to see truth with ease. To keep truth easily accessible so that it does not become hidden or convoluded. Not to stray far from the truth. Make sense? "Come to Me, all who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart; and you shall find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My load is light," (Matthew 11:28-30).

     Be at ease, God will judge, God will divide. "Allow both (tares and wheat) to grow together until the harvest; and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers, 'First gather up the tares and bind them in bundles to burn them up; but gather the wheat into my barn,'" (13:30).

     Like Solomon, seek understanding. Understanding brought this woman from the outside in. And in what way am I different than her? Not hardly! She was a Canaanite and He was the One sent to the lost sheep of Israel. "Yes, Lord; but even the dogs feed on the crumbs which fall from their masters' table," (15:27). Jesus called her faith great and her daughter was healed.

     It's easy to follow the rules and look good on the outside. "Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you are like whitewashed tombs which on the outside appear beautiful, but inside they are full of dead men's bones and all uncleanness," (23:27).

     I had a sense that it was good to use our gifts the way of the expensive perfumes. "'For this perfume might have been sold for a high price and the money given to the poor.' But Jesus, aware of this, said to them, 'Why do you bother the woman? For she has done a good deed to Me,'" (26:9). This may be presumptuous on my part. Something to ponder.

     To the accusations, "He did not answer him with regard to even a single charge, so that the governor was quite amazed," (27:14). Be at ease. If it's God's work, He will accomplish His will. Even if I don't understand. They mocked Him...spat on Him...beat Him on the head...took His robe off...took Him away to crucify Him. Chapter 27.

Mark

     The Lord is showing me this one repeatedly lately: "Take care what you listen to. By your standard of measure it shall be measured to you; and more shall be given you besides," (Mark 4:24). The first part especially, and I'm not even close to having the full understanding.

     Even in fear and trembling, tell Him the whole truth, and be made well, be at peace, be healed of your affliction. "Who touched Me?" "But the woman fearing and trembling aware of what had happened to her, came and fell down before Him, and told Him the whole truth," (5:33).

     You (me!) use your resources! I will multiply! (like fish and loaves 6:37-44).

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Thursday, March 3, 2011

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Tuesday, March 1, 2011

Monday, February 28, 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011