Read the Bible in a Year Week 2 2013

Day 8: Luke 9:1-27– Read Scriptures

This is a packed chapter.  I get goose bumps when I let it all soak in.  First of all, can you imagine, Jesus in the flesh, commissioning you?  When we choose Jesus, we too become His disciples.  We too gain the ability to go out into the villages and share the good news and watch of His miraculous workings.  That in itself is beyond exciting.  But I can’t get my mind to wrap around Jesus standing in flesh giving me that authority and direction. And then to return to Him; to share with Him of the journey and experiences, knowing He already knows but wants time with me to tell of the experiences.  We do this in prayer every time we seek Him and talk to Him.   But to see Him… to tangibly be able to look in to His eyes and see of His love and approval. It’s just too much!  And of course, I love the story of the loaves and bread.  And I lived it.  I have seen God do that for me and my family.  When my son feel terminally ill in an instant, we went from a 2 income family to a 1 income family overnight, paired with astronomical financial stresses to try to care for our sweet boy.  It never, ever added up on paper how we were able to pay the regular bills, come up with unexpected travel money, and etc. etc. etc.  For 18 months, through God’s power and His people, our loaves and fish kept multiplying.  It was remarkable and miraculous.  I always smile when I read that story.  The power of truth is so deep for us.  But then, the closing verses just take my breath away.  I close my eyes and I imagine myself sitting there with my Savior, hearing Him speak of his ultimate sacrifice still to come, while He reminds me of the choice each of us will make.  It is hard for me to fathom any of them being able, after looking deep into the eyes of our perfect Redeemer, to reject or deny Him ever again.  It’s hard that is, until I look into the mirror and realize how many times I have, in my own way, been guilty more than once of the very thing I can’t imagine from them.  I have not seen the face of my savior, but I have felt His grace in a way that I will never be able to write.  And yet, how many times have I sought my own plans over His, thought of my own way instead of His, and laid down that blood stained cross for the world’s lackluster replacement?  Oh how grateful I am for grace.  He tasted death for me that I and any, who choose to believe and trust in Him, may experience the Kingdom of God.  Hallelujah.  For the disciples that failed and for me, who fails.  He spoke it then, He speaks it now.  Take up our cross and follow Him and we WILL be given the Kingdom of heaven, but only, only if we heed the warning.  Lord, please help me live as you call.  I can’t do it alone.

 

Day 9: 28-62 – Read Scriptures

The theme of these scriptures for me is WAKE UP!  It seems so clear to us when we read of all that Jesus was doing and how He was even foreshadowing His horrific death on the cross for the second time that they need to wake up.  How could they continue to miss the point?  How could they, at such a serious, pivotal time in the life of God in flesh, worry about who was numero uno?  How, how how…. Oh… wait…. There is the mirror again.  The one that reflects my own heart.  How many ways has Jesus shown me His glory?  How many times has Jesus demonstrated His power and love to me and those around me?  How many times have I read and known and believe fully in the truth of the cross and the cost He paid?  Yet, how many times has my focus turned to the moments or situations rather than what Christ has made clearly known to me?  How many times have I missed the point?  How many times have I made Jesus shake His head at my lack of faith?  And yet how many times have I elevated myself to a place of superiority over others in my faith walk.  How about you?  But then, I look at my youngest daughter.  She was just baptized on Christmas break.  Her faith is full and first.  She trusts first and seeks answers later.  It’s her nature.  It’s how Christ showed us in these scriptures we are to be.  Why then, do we make it so complicated?  Oh Lord, let me yes be instant every single time you ask me to follow You in any direction.  May I go trusting like a child. You are worthy.  Help me to dig deep into you and remember that beyond any situation. 

 

Day 10:   Luke 10:1-20 – Read Scriptures

This chapter gets me excited!  When Jesus sent the 70 out, His instructions were so black and white… and so freeing.  He told them exactly what to do and how to do it and He sent them together so that the one could help the other.  He told them to go into the homes, offer His peace, pray for their souls in earnest, and receive their generosity in return with freedom of full enjoyment, realizing it was a small response to the gift of peace they have brought.  He was clear that they must go in prayer, not be bogged down by possessions, and expect difficulties. Heal, drive out demons, and proclaim the good news in His name.  And then enjoy, understanding that those that receive their kindness are really receiving Him and that is worth celebrating and enjoying.  They returned to Him after what was a difficult journey, where they faced rejection and probably physical exhaustion at times, but proclaimed joy.  They got it!  They experienced in full what it means to walk with Him and do His work and their joy was deep in spite of any circumstance.  I want to live like this!  I want to truly, truly, truly live like this.  It’s so hard in our “microwave, please me now” day and age.  And it’s hard when the journey is hard.  But man, when we keep proclaiming, praying, and trusting, we experience that same joy they did.  And it is good.  It is always, always good. 

 

Day 11:  Luke 10:21-42 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures make it so simple.  He comes to those willing to receive Him like a child.  Eternal life is found in those that show mercy to others as He has shown to us.  And stop being so preoccupied with the world’s distractions that we forget to enjoy the One who gave us the world.  Why, when it really is that simple, do we continually make it so hard?  Just this past week, I had so much on my mind.  Big things taking place in our family.  Good things, but some of them difficult to say the least.  I found myself wound up and emotional and even on edge.  I forgot to be like a child, give of myself fully to others not thinking of my own needs, and focused more on the distractions than Him. Sometimes I am really good at being Mary.  God is so near to me sometimes that I am just overwhelmed with Him.  But many days, I get to doing what I think I have to do, and I just flat fail to enjoy Him.  I take for granted He is there, but somehow, I start trying to direct the day. But oh, the peace that flows like a river when I do it the simple way.  I love that I serve a powerful God that can move mountains… and make them for that matter… but simplifies the way to peace so that when we are willing, the sweet taste of heaven touches us right here on earth. 

 

 

 

Day 12:  Luke 11:1-28 – Read Scriptures

These verses give me great hope for those I pray for that doesn’t know my Savior.  Jesus teaches us how to pray, but even more, He commands us to be bold in asking in prayer.  I love that these scriptures remind us that God is ready to bestow His blessings on us, but He waits for us to ask boldly.  And then, when we pray boldly for a lost soul, Christ will drive out the devil from that dwelling place.  We can’t force it or make it happen, but in fervent prayer, in His power and for His glory, Christ transforms the heart just as He drove out demons. It’s not how much we know or even preach; it’s not how much we try to force someone to something; rather it is about the heart.  Without Christ, we are comfortable in our sin and our self-righteous nature is strong.  But when we fall in prayer, seeking and asking God always in all things, we are transformed and our prayers are used in the transformation of others.  The evidence of who has dwelling place rights in our heart is proven in our desire to live His way and we will then begin to see the transformation in others because we will have the eyes of Christ and no longer will we see things from any form of self-righteousness.  “Open they Eyes of our Heart Lord!”

 

Day 13:  Luke 11:29-54 – Read Scriptures

We are so like this.  I find myself saying, “Lord, how about an email?  Can you just make it that clear?  I want a neon sign!”  These verses sting, because I have been given the greatest neon sign of all, the Holy, LIVING Word of God! I can read of every detail of the miracles and signs He has left for us and I can see His miracles every day around me when I look yet, how much I take for granted and act just like these He is calling a wicked generation.  God has given me the sign, His light has come into me, and the more I dig into His word, spend time in His word, and dwell with His son, the more He will show in me so that others will be drawn out of the darkness.  Why would I need more than that?  And yet so often I do.  And then religion… religious people…. I could get on a soap box here, but then, that in and of itself would be hypocrisy because I am just as guilty as the next from time to time.  The key is daily remember humbly, the greatest gift of all, and allow our hearts to be open so that He truly can fill every ounce of our being more and more each day. 

 

Day 14:  Luke 12:1-31 – Read Scriptures

God knows us.  Every single one of us.  Not one of us, whether we remember Him or not, is forgotten or missed by Him.  He knows every hair on our head, our every need, and our comings and goings.  He knows what we do in the open and what we keep hidden.  He knows who comes against us and when trouble will strike.  And He knows what to do about it.  The worst thing that can happen is death and He has defeated death.  It all goes back to faith.  We are here for His glory.  We are here for His purpose.  Just as those beautiful wildflowers by the thousands, planted in that field, without a care in the world, just here doing what they were created to do, so should we.  Does that mean be careless?  Absolutely not.  It just means, that we are to do what it is we are called to do and not spend our time fretting about the what if’s because He is already at work in that.  It isn’t easy.  I find in my life, many circumstances really are challenging to truly release.  But the more I pray and the more I focus on His power, the more I am able to take it one moment at a time.  I yearn for the day my faith is strong enough to be like the lilies of the fields.  Until then, I am just going to keep going back to the truth in these verses… my mantra… GOD HAS THIS 

Read the Bible in a Year - week 1 2013

Welcome!  My prayer is that the focus will be the word.  I share some thoughts that come to my heart as I read through and God speaks, but please, let His word wash over you personally.  God will reward us in precious, tender ways as we seek Him through His Holy Word! I would love you to share your comments.  God can speak fresh to us through His touch on others.  I am praying for you.  God knows you by name, even if I don't.  Will you pray for me as well!  I can't wait to see where He takes us as we journey through His entire word in a year!

Blessings and love in Jesus name!

Robin

 

January 2013

Day 1:  Luke 5:27-39 – Read the scriptures

As I read this, I was immediately convicted.  I am a Christian.  The Lord rescued me at a young age… and He has been rescuing me every day since then.  I know that He called me out to follow Him just as He called Levi.  Though I am not seen as many saw Levi in His day, I can honestly say, without Him in my life, I probably could have been seen much worse.  It is only through His grace that I have any favor this side of heaven at all.  I am humbled by the reminder of how Jesus calls.  I am humbled that He chooses to be with this sick… not the physically sick, though He is beautiful with that as well, but my deepest humility arises when I reflect on the trueness of His love for choosing, in all His splendor and perfection, to be among those most unrighteous in order to draw them into righteousness.  May I never choose to try to be in the swamps of my flesh on purpose, but may I never, ever forget that without Jesus that is where I would remain for eternity.  And may I always, always approach my opinion of sin in others only through first remembering how Christ Himself approaches it, and in remembering how He approaches me.  Graces is a wondrous gift.

 

Day 2:  Luke 6:26-27 – Read Scriptures

The Sabbath and how we should live will forever remain a source of argument among even the most well intended Christians and modern day Pharisees alike.  It is a day that we water down, justify, or condemn others about.  God speaks to me hear, realizing even while my Savior was on earth in flesh on God’s Sabbath, the debate and accusatory tone was present.  What does it say to me?  It’s a heart thing.  If I want to know what God alone desires for me on His Sabbath, then I need to be in touch with Him.  I need to seek Him and trust that if He calls me to something on His day, I best be doing it, but if I am putting anything ahead of Him on His day, I best be recognizing it.  Only God is righteous enough to determine.  And if that leaves any question, the rest of the scripture goes on to confirm, my enemy will be near to bring condemnation and confusion.  I will only be blessed if I am clinging to the gospel truths and in communion with my Father.  I cannot afford to be without His word, His presence, and even His convictions.  The enemy, the world, they are always near ready to confuse my focus.  So quickly I can be sucked into the things of the world and drift from the things of God.  When I do, suddenly that is the only blessing I have.  But my eternal blessing that then enriches my blessings on earth, comes only when I truly desire God more than anything else.  Then, treasures beyond my wildest imagination are offered up for eternity.  Oh thank you God.  Lead the way… on your Sabbath and every other day.

 

Day 3:  Luke 6:27-49 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures always convict.  I have never read these passages and not realized I have a lot of work to do.  It is not easy to do well to those who do harm and wish bad for me or those I love.  And just when I think, “But Lord, this is too much!” I am struck with the remembrance of Jesus when the soldiers came to lead Him to His death.  Peter, in justified anger, struck the soldier, cutting off his ear.  Jesus, without any anger at all, stopped Peter and healed the soldier.  That soldier, without a doubt, because of the good Jesus did in spite of the evil coming upon Him, knew instantly He was in the presence of someone far greater than any man could ever be.  Sometimes we just want to get even.  I think one of the hardest things on earth is turning the other cheek.  But when I read these scriptures, I realize the truth.  It is so easy to love those that love back, but the true blessing is loving someone that seems near impossible.  Then and only then does our tree flourish fully with fruit.  Loving the unlovable is how Jesus ministered many into His following while on earth.  And loving the unlovable, forgiving the wrongs, and looking into our own sin first, is how Jesus draws many into His following through us.  It isn’t easy and it takes very intentional work.  I am amazed at the cruelty on social media, especially with teens.  The way people tear down and attack, even their own friends, is beyond my understanding, always, but especially when I see it happening among Christians.  I get so upset and these verses of bearing good fruit come to mind.  Suddenly, no matter how much a person has loved the Lord, if they are behaving in an enemy fashion, the thing that sticks out is no longer the love, but the hate.  But when the light shines, the fruit is so rich and evident and it becomes easy to recognize those in an authentic walk.  They make it through hard times, painful times, and even hurtful times, with a grace that is unshakable.  I yearn to be like this always.  Sometimes I make it; sometimes it is sadly clear that I haven’t been ensuring my roots are deep in the word and prayer.  The Lord loves me.  May that be the motivation of everything I then do, even when I am wronged.  It isn’t easy.  I fail, but the more I seek Him, the more His ways become mine.  Praise God, there is hope!

 

Day 4: Luke 7:1-17 – Read Scriptures

Stories of Christ’s merciful miracles always give me goose bumps!  I love how many times we are shown of His mercy, not just for our soul, but for our earthly hurts as well.  I am overwhelmed in the story of the Centurion, the humbleness was so great he didn’t even feel worthy of Christ coming to his house.  He had so much faith in Christ; he knew that even without seeing Christ, without witnessing a touch from Christ, his servant could be healed. I am even more overwhelmed that Christ did it… just that simple. And I love, love, love the example of the master loving his servant, how much that servant must have loved his master, and how that led to the ultimate Master, pouring out His love as well.  Chills course down my spine to think of that beautiful transaction!  He rewarded the faith with a miracle.  But the story of the widow, whose son Jesus raised from the dead, brings me to such a tender place.  That story hits a deep, deep chord with me.  Oh how I cried out for my son. I can envision the widow’s grief so personally as I too watched as my son was carried out in his casket, so tiny for a 3 year old body. And I remember holding him for 4 hours that night he died, his little lifeless body growing cold as my tears poured down on him.  And even as I held him, begging God, doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, and even my precious husband to do something, I felt deep in my soul, God already had.  Our faithful prayers for my son were answered.  Not the way I wanted, but in a way that was perfect for my child who was so, so very sick.  A miracle had happened that night and I had been there.  But sometimes, I can close my eyes and imagine what I might have felt, should God have decided to bring him back suddenly.  Do I shout the joy of his miracle as much in his earthly death as I would have if I had been granted a physical healing for my child? And then I go even deeper.  Do any of us, rise up in our new life in Christ, and truly walk in the miracle we have been given in our new, healed soul?  So much more to these stories that just the miracle.  We must love our Master and know that His love will come back ten-fold.  And we must rise up, no matter how our miracles look, and glorify Him in faith.  That is our daily challenge. 

But ma

Day 5:  Luke 7:18-50 – Read Scriptures

It is all about the heart transformation.  All other things are nothing, without the heart transformation! It never has been, nor ever will be about what we have to offer or how good we look doing it.  And it is those that forget this that begin to miss out on the truth of things and begin to tear down the beautiful grace of God.  Those who had not received understanding from John the Baptist, when he came preparing the way for the One that was coming, were the very ones that did not understand Jesus Himself.  They were dealing in what they thought looked right according to law and not grace.  But those that listened and did the heart work, wisdom was attained.  We are no different.  We will either dig into the word to understand and search our heart condition in order to continue to receive what God has for us both now and for eternity, or we risk full destruction!  It is that simple really.  It was then, it is now.  It is us, in our ego and refusal, which complicates it all.  But man, when I am truly leaning into God, searching His word, my desire to think less of myself and to want to wash His feet with my tears, becomes a longing.  Tonight, as I read this scripture, the question that surfaced is “Where do I fall?  Am I blessed with wisdom to the point that I weep at the feet of Jesus or am I playing Christian and missing the transformation.  My prayer is when that Pharisee attitude creeps in, I will remember this tender woman, so overwhelmed that Christ forgave her in spite of her sin, and may I right then, desire nothing more than to humbly worship Him for saving me the same way!

 

Day 6:  Luke 8:1-25 – Read Scriptures

These scriptures give us very clear understanding that our faith is an action.  It is not in what we say but in how we live.  The parable of the sower, the example made through the lamp stand, the commanding of the winds to be still… and they were, just from the sound of His voice to the amazement of those with him on the boat that day, all remind us that our faith is an action.  We must seek the One from whom our faith comes from or we will never find ourselves deeply rooted in the faith that breeds evidence both within ourselves and in the life we lead.  But my favorite part of this scripture is how Jesus treats us when we dive into Him with all we have.  There was His earthly family, trying to come to Him, but He was under such crowd demand they couldn’t get to Him so they sent word they were outside. What was Jesus’ response when He was told His family was outside?   He said His family was any of us who choose to believe in Him and live out that belief in faith.  He gives me grace.  He gives me mercy.  He gives me salvation.  And then… and THEN… He calls me family.  He levels the playing field and makes me one if HIS OWN.  I can’t even write more on that.  It’s just too much!

 

Day 7: Luke 8:26-56 – Read Scriptures

I love the New Testament and especially the gospels.  I am so encouraged by the hope that is provided my sometimes deeply burdened soul through them!  Does it not give you kind of an adrenaline rush to realize that even the demons are afraid of Jesus?  I fear demons.  Not in a debilitating way, but in a way that I know they are real, ruthless, and they hate me.  They hate me because what they see when they see me, is Jesus.  And oh how they hate Jesus.  But here we see that even as they try to ravage this man they possess, just the presence of Jesus makes them beg out of fear of Him.  This man didn’t have Jesus, but Jesus was bigger than what had the man.  Man that is powerful to grasp.  No matter our demons… health battles, broken relationships, money issues, pain that we wouldn’t share with anyone…. No matter what it is and in our fallen world, there is much….those situations are rendered instantly afraid at the mention of His name!  He proves it in driving the demon out, then He goes on to solidify for anyone still questioning, by instant healing due to one simple touch of His garment, and even through again defeating death when He raises the girl.  He is just powerful.  When I read of His miraculous works and I envision this horrid demon becoming such a baby instantly in the presence of Jesus, the adrenaline flows and I really start to feel what God means when He says that when we are weak, He is strong.  He is made strong through what I can’t do and He overcomes all the things we never could alone.  Just flat cool.  I love God… and I am thankful I am for Him and not against Him.