Wednesday, January 6, 2010

Day 2

Genesis 13

Abram and Lot split ways. I have read over this before and it is obvious that you can make a case for arguing and quarrelling being bad form these passages but there is something else that stuck out to me when I read this. Abram called on the name of the Lord. When reading that, it was as if those words jumped out to me. When was the last time we called on the name of the Lord? So many times I believe we as Christians wait for God to come to us instead of seeking after Him. How desperate are we to meet with God? Desperate enough to spend 15 minutes in prayer? What about an entire day? Just something to think about.

Genesis 14

Ok. SO this may be wrong but the idea of armies falling into tar pits and dieing makes me chuckle. I love reading about wars int he Bible. 4 kings against 5 with tar pits and hill sides and battles. It makes me think of the Lord of the Rings movies and I get these awesome battle scenes in my head. Doesn't that excite you?
It amazes me how in this chapter Abram is going to rescue Lot but in the chapter before they split ways so that there would not be any fighting.
I love how Abram didn't accept any thing that was being offered to him. Money seems to rule the world and I wonder if we would be able to say no to money being offered to us even if we knew it did not please the Lord?

Genesis 15

As I read this it reminds me again of how we always take things into our own hands instead of trusting God with the details. Abram didn't see it possible for his wife to have a child so he decided if God wants me to have children then I have to find another way. Why is it that when God closes a door we always try to open another one? Man, we have a long history of not trusting God with the details!

Matthew 5:1-26

The beatitudes are famous for sermons. Not much to say there except that we should read over those again.
Salt and light solders. For any one who knew Jerry Falwell Sr. they knew the sermon. Salt is used to preserve things but if it loses it's saltiness than it is worthless for its purpose. I feel like when we lose our passion and heart for God, we lose our purpose. If that is true we need to seek after God more than anything else in this world. More than a job promotion and harder than a good report card. A city on a hill can not be hidden! If we are the light that reflects God's glory we should never live ashamed of God. I remember in High School I went through a faze where I was a little embarrasses to let people know I was a Christian. I was afraid of what they may think about me and I wanted them to accept me into their group so that I could "fit in" and then "witness to them." We should NEVER be ashamed of our relationship with God. We should never try and hide our light!
I love how these passages talk about murder being compared to having anger between you and a fellow Christian. It is more important to right your wrong than to ignore it and let it fester and build. How many times have we let anger get between relationships that could have easily been fixed with honest communication? This passage makes me want to go talk to some people and make sure everything is settled and ok. Good stuff!

Proverbs 5

This proverb talks about adultery and how it is wrong. One verse says don't even get close to her doorstep. It reminds me that we shouldn't fool with temptations. How often do we step close to the line saying well this isn't bad and I am not going to do anything? We shouldn't even be near the door that opens to what we are tempted with!
Ok. If you haven't read this chapter there is one line that will stick out to you. Does the Bible really say "may her breasts satisfy you always" ? This is talking about a married relationship but seriously, it always shocks me to read things like that! I love to read things in the Bible that shock me. Reminds me that the Bible isn't boring!

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

The Challenge Blog!

So I attend Thomas Road Baptist Church and as a church body we have been encouraged to read through the entire Bible in a year using a specific reading plan so that we will all be reading the same thing. I have been struggling with my spiritual discipline when it comes to consistently getting in the Word and I thought that maybe if for the next few weeks I blogged on my reading, maybe it would help me get back to a consistent schedule so for at least the next few weeks I am going to blog every day on scripture that TRBC should be reading. I will be one day off of the reading in my posts but here goes nothing.

DAY 1

Genesis 10

Names, names, names! Ahh! Sometimes the long lists of names in the OT really bore me. But when I was reading this chapter a certain section of scripture really stuck out to me.
8 Cush was the father of Nimrod, who grew to be a mighty warrior on the earth. 9 He was a mighty hunter before the LORD; that is why it is said, "Like Nimrod, a mighty hunter before the LORD."
Ok. So get this. This man is in the Bible, and what is he known for? He is a famous warrior for God. Like come on. Think about that. This man's profession was a warrior and he used his profession to glorify God. I could totally see something like Brad is known as a accountant who handles money before the Lord! Corny sounding I know, but I guess it just reminds me that when we do something with our entire heart to glorify God, we are truly worshiping Him.

Genesis 11

The Tower of Babel. I can't tell you how many lessons and sermons I have heard on this passage, but I also can't tell you what any of them were about. Funny how that works right? Anyways, something stuck out to me right away. Look at this!
"Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves"
Now most of us, we don't realize that is what we are doing but wow! Could you imagine hearing some one say "Come, let us pray together so that we can be the best Christians and make a name for our Church!" That may sound ridiculous and even a little funny but what is sad is that at some point in our lives we will all do this. As humans we are fed a lie that self worth= our performance+ other's opinions. When we live off this lie we start trying to make a name for ourselves. We have to be special in order to be loved right? Wrong! I love how the Lord steps in and ruins their plans. I believe that we try to make our own plans so many times and then even worse, we ask God to bless them. Sure enough things never get finished just like the Tower of Babel. The Lord steps in, and He ruins our plans! Just one chapter ago we read about a mighty warrior for the Lord who was trying to Make God's name known, not his own. May we be like him!

Genesis 12

Abram's call. It is so easy to read over this and to not think much, but how hard would it be if God asked you to pick up everything you have and move somewhere new? Would you be willing to do it? Just a thought.
Abram in Egypt. So I understand he is trying to protect his wife, but his lie cost a lot of people unneeded pain. So many times we take things into our own hands. Why couldn't he trust God to protect him and his wife? And why can't we trust God to do the same for us? There is this awesome lyric in a song by Barlow Girl called I Don't Regret. Check it out because I think it sums this up right here.
'Why do we think if we trust God too much will fail us
Nothing has come when I chose its that in me I'd trust
Separate me You have called out to follow You blindly
I won't fear You're leading me"

Matthew 4

Jesus was tempted. I think there is enough said right there. Not only do we face temptations but Jesus faced them also. The thing is, how often do we quote Truth to fight off our temptations? This makes me want to memorize God's Word more!
I love how when I am reading about the first apostles to follow Christ it says that they immediately followed Christ. Do we follow with that type of obedience? leaving our life and world and efforts behind to follow after Him?
I love how this chapter ends with Jesus healing people. Healing has a new meaning for me as i am working through emotional healing right now that only l God can give me.

Proverbs 4

I think I will just post this last chapter because there is not much explaining needed and there is a lot involved in it.

"1 Listen, my sons, to a father's instruction; pay attention and gain understanding.
2 I give you sound learning, so do not forsake my teaching.
3 When I was a boy in my father's house, still tender, and an only child of my mother,
4 he taught me and said, "Lay hold of my words with all your heart; keep my commands and you will live.
5 Get wisdom, get understanding;do not forget my words or swerve from them.
6 Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you.
7 Wisdom is supreme; therefore get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding.
8 Esteem her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you.
9 She will set a garland of grace on your head and present you with a crown of splendor."
10 Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many.
11 I guide you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths.
12 When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble.
13 Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.
14 Do not set foot on the path of the wicked or walk in the way of evil men.
15 Avoid it, do not travel on it; turn from it and go on your way.
16 For they cannot sleep till they do evil; they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.
17 They eat the bread of wickedness and drink the wine of violence.
18 The path of the righteous is like the first gleam of dawn, shining ever brighter till the full light of day.
19 But the way of the wicked is like deep darkness; they do not know what makes them stumble.
20 My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words.
21 Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart;
22 for they are life to those who find them and health to a man's whole body.
23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life.
24 Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips.
25 Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you.
26 Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm.
27 Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil."