Bible In 90 Days – Day 55

Reading: Jeremiah 10:14 – Jeremiah 23:18

Take Away(s):

• Steadfast. 12:5b. It’s so easy to trust God in the easy times.  It’s the hard times that show our true faith.
• Heart & Mind. 17:10. God knows us COMPLETELY.  Sometimes I forget that in my actions, intentions, and thoughts.  Forgive me Lord.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 56

Reading: Jeremiah 23:9 – Jeremiah 33:26

Take Away(s):

• Trust. 29:4-11. I think most focus on verse 11 in this passage – God knows the plans and they are for our Good, our hope, and future.  The interesting part is to take this verse in the context of Jeremiah’s letter – particularly verse 4-10.  God is telling Israel to live their lives (build homes, plant gardens, get married, have children).  In the margin of my bible, I wrote, “In exile, find contentment.  God is in control.”
• Approachable…Personal. 31:33-34. A picture of Christ in us. The writer of Hebrews quotes this in chapter 8.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 54

Reading: Jeremiah 1:1 – Jeremiah 10:13

Take Away(s):

• Chose. 1:5. Just a cool thing…my bible has a note that the word”knew” also can be “chose.” Just like Psalm 139 – hugely profound and personal.
• Rescue. 1:8. I think if we were writing this (or our own personal story), this would read, “Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue ensure nothing bad, uncomfortable, stressful, hurtful, harmful, etc. happens you,” declares the LORD.  There is safety in God – even security, but He doesn’t guarantee a life free from  – well “life”.
• Braveheart! 1:17-19. As I read this, it made Mel Gibson’s Braveheart pep talk seem like a “little girl!”  I think when we live life and are having a hard time, we sometimes we forget God is FOR US!  Skip ahead to the New Testament:

• Where is God? 2:5-8. As I read this passage, as a ministry leader and elder at our church I was pretty convicted.  I wrote in the margin of my Bible, “As a leader at church, where is God in my program or ministry?”  God, I pray that amid my striving for excellence for You in all that I do at church, You would not be lost or forgotten.
• Though we try, we can’t. 2:22. No mater how we try, no matter what we try – WE cannot cleanse our sin. Thank you God for offering Your Son!
• Harsh, but TRUE. 3:3b-5. Harsh illustration, but how often we do just the same with our sin. “Look at me God…see what I’m doing!  Just forget the poor attitude or wrong motive I had a day…OK, a second ago.”
• Outward vs. Inward. 4:4. The Israelites obeyed outwardly (circumcision) but not inwardly.  How often we put on a show of obedience for God (even though He is not fooled) and others (who can be fooled, most of the time) – all the while having a heart that is completely opposite.  Forgive me for this Lord.
• Offensive. 6:10. How often, God’s Word is like an offense to us – it goes against what WE think is right or pleasurable as humans.
• Honesty in Leadership. 8:11. The temptation, as leaders, is to forgo the hard and awkward task of being honest and truthful with people (in love of course and according to New Testament principles).  We wrongly say “it’s OK. You’re OK.” When, in many cases, they probably need to actually hear the exact opposite.  Makes me think of some of the flat-out honest comments that some of the Judges made to Israel and Judah.  May I have courage and love in this area.  NOTE: I know this is an area that is so much broader than this single paragraph…but this is certainly a starting point.
• Boast. 9:23:24. May my boast always be of the Lord and not myself.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 53

Reading: Isaiah 52:13 – Isaiah 66:24

Take Away(s):

• !!!. 52:13-15. This passage reminds me of a Tweet exchange that I had with a few people after Michael Jackson died.  RT @inprogress: i hope twitter is this over capacity when Christ comes back. sheesh. / Headline: THE KING OF KINGS LIVES! IT WAS ALL TRUE!. No reflection on MJ – just the awe that will be when Christ returns. !!!
• My Substitute. 53:10. Words cannot express the gratitude for this guilt offering. An offering that I should have offered – really with my life, but God lovingly sacrificed His only Son in my place. My Substitute. My Savior. My Friend. My Lord.
• Unfailing 54:9-10. Imagine how God feels now – in our time – and He still is faithful to His promise and mercy. Unfailing…crazy…insane love.  We just can’t understand it.
• Incomprehensible. 55:8. VERY hard.  Sometimes we wish we could understand and know all about God and understand His ways.  If that were the case – He wouldn’t be God.  It’s hard, but that is faith.
• Potter. 64:8

Bible In 90 Days – Day 52

Reading: Isaiah 41:19 – Isaiah 52:12

Take Away(s):

• Contrast. 46:1 & 3b. Notice the language: Idols are borne by animals. Images carried are burdensome. Compare with “I have upheld you.”  We carry idols that are nothing but burdens.  God hold us up.  What a contrast.
• Futile. 44:12-20. Interesting passage. I may not make a statue, but how easy to let things become more important to me than God.  Things that I make or do.
• Remember. 46:15-16. I forget stuff. I always have too much on my mind.  I think like or transfer our forgetfulness to God.  We say, “He ‘can’t’ remember me. There are too many other ‘important’ people out there.”  So untrue. So depressing.  God DOES NOT forget us.  He is HUGE enough to remember the smallest detail or hurt. He knows how many hairs are on our heads.  DON’T COMPARE GOD’S MEMORY TO OURS!

Bible In 90 Days – Day 51

Reading: Isaiah 29:1 – Isaiah 41:18

Take Away(s):

• Religion. 29:13. This verse is a perfect picture of “religion.” All about rules, criteria, tradition…not about relationship.  Heart.  This is not to say that structure is bad, but if we think that saves us, we miss the whole of the Gospel.  God, I pray that I would never become so structured in my worship…in my relationship with You that I miss the true heart of relationship with You.
• Wrong Role. 29:16. Sometimes we get our role wrong.  We are not the creator.  We are the creation.  Easier said (or written) than done sometimes.  Praise God for His Amazing grace!
• Still. 30:15. Sometimes we think we must “do” rather than just “be still and know.”
• FOREVER. 40:8. I think sometimes the gravity of a word’s definition is lost on our wrong weak use of the word. Forever is such a huge word.  We can use it in our conversation or writing; but just think, no one other than God can really verify  or back up the full meaning of that word.
• The Same! 40:12-14. A huge passage about a huge God.  The same God who, “so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)  I have that reference written by these verse in my bible to remind me!
• Hello? Anybody home? Think, McFly. Think! 40:21 & 28a. Blogged about these passages before.
• Father. 41:13. I think sometimes we forget that the amazing Creator of the universe is our Heavenly Father. Picture a time when you were afraid and someone comforted you. Imagine God doing that. He can.  He does. He desires to have that relationship with us!  Not sure what this means?  Don’t think this applies to you?  Take 15 minutes and watch this video.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 49

Reading: Isaiah 1:1 – Isaiah 13:22

Take Away(s):

• Addiction. 1:1-9. I know this is talking about Judah and Jerusalem, but the language just struck me as sounding like someone who was addicted to something.  Especially the question that verse 5 asked: “why do you keep on…?”  It reminded me that just like Israel and Judah, we foolishly think we can bargain with God through our “changed” behavior and offer Him some halfhearted commitment and “it’s all better now, God!”.  As we’ve read already, God has no use for the physical sacrifice offered – He desires obedience – and a changed heart. Sin is addicting – Spirit-lead conviction and worshipful obedience is freeing.
• Contrast. 1:18. What an amazing word picture of sin and God’s forgiveness.
• Meaningless. 2:6-9. When I read this, I thought back to Ecclesiastes and how the teacher wrote that everything is meaningless.  How often we try to fill our lives with things, people, objects that bring fleeting pleasure and “meaning” to life.  All the while, neglecting God.  At some point…every knee will bow.  We will be humbled.
• Undone. 6:5. Woe…”grievous distress, affliction, or trouble.” I can’t personally identify with the gravity of this word in my own life experience.  Sure I have had some trying times, sorrow when my mom died, but nothing that seems to compare with the deepness of this word.  I know God is approachable and personal; but at the same time, He is God.  Would I be undone, completely undone if I were to suddenly be in His presence?  Of course!  Um, He is with me right now – does my attitude reflect someone who is undone?
• Hume. 6:8. The youth group from East Valley is at Hume Lake Camp this week.  I remember being there and making this verse personal at the Victory Circle campfire pit on the last night of camp, maybe in my freshmen year.  I committed to go or do whatever God wanted me to do.  I had it written on the inside cover of my bible back then…not sure what happened to that bible.  My life is and has been far from perfect – but I pray that even my stumbling and bumbling for Christ will be honoring of Him and the commitment I made back then.  I think I will write that in the Bible I use now just as a continuing reminder.   If you go to EVC, take some time each day this week to pray for the 14 young men and women at camp.  Pray that God will be personal in their lives and that they will sense His calling in their lives.  Friday is always the climax to the week – pray hard that night for each student.

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Bible In 90 Days – Day 50

Reading: Isaiah 14:1 – Isaiah 28:29

Take Away(s):

• Perfect. 26:3. I like the descriptor – not just any peace…PERFECT PEACE! I can’t think of anyone who wouldn’t want perfect peace.  The hard part is getting there…steadfast in God’s purposes.  We’re just like Israel and Judah…oh so easily distracted by the things around us and the thought that God “can’t” or “won’t”, so “we better.”  Help me to align my purposes with Your, Oh Lord.  The benefit is so desirable.
• GRRRRRR. Isaiah, to date. The hard part about reading the Bible in 90 days, is that it is so intensive that you can’t really study passages.  Reading on average 12 pages each day (more like 15 in the briefcase-size Bible I use), means that reading is all you can do – maybe catching the obvious or familiar truths and other things that the Holy Spirit illuminates in a particular day’s reading.  I know I could spend a lot of time digesting and studying most passages  – but, I have other obligations (work, wife,…sleep, etc.).  I know God will honor this intensive reading – I already see the benefits.  Really, it is a plus-plus: reading the bible in a continuous and intensive way to get the general interconnectedness of God’s amazing Word (HIStory) and having the Holy Spirit wet my appetite so that on day 91, I am in such a habit of spending a fair chunk of time in His word that doing that intensive study of the passages like the ones today in Isaiah is already a desired habit.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 48

Reading: Ecclesiastes 3:1 – Song of Solomon 8:14

Take Away(s):

• Sovereign. Ecc 3:9-14. Sometimes we wrongly think that God sits back and lets things spin out of His control.  While it may seem like that way, if we truly believe that He is SOVEREIGN, we must realize that even if we make choices (good or poor)…God has ordained them all.
• Aloneness is powerless. Ecc 4:9-12. When you consider that this was probably written by someone who received wisdom from God and had no equal (1 Kings 3:10-13), it pretty much goes without saying that we need each other.  We need to find someone in our lives to encourage us, help us, pray with/for us, defend us, etc.
• Few. Ecc 5:2. While this verse isn’t calling for silence, I think I need to ponder what I say more.  I try, but sometimes I can’t help myself!  Is my comment just a comment to be “heard” or one that actually enhances or builds up?
• Greed. Ecc 5:8-17. As I read this, I thought about the excessive greed in the world. May my heart not be greedy.  Forgive me Lord.
• Adoption. Ecc 7:8. When I read this verse, I immediately thought of Karen and my whole children journey.  Blessed be the name of the Lord!  Glorify Yourself, oh GOD!
• Hard of Hearing. Ecc 7:21-22. If you’re like me, there re many times when you hear things (good or bad) said about yourself.  The temptation is to either gloat or defend – depending upon the comment.  Sometimes it’s better to be hard of hearing and let words fall by the wayside.
• Hard to Understand. Ecc 8:14. This verse is a question of the ages that we, in our humanness, just cannot understand.  In some cases, it is one of the things that people cannot get past in their journey to know/believe in/trust God.  In “our” version of life’s story, bad things only happen to “bad” people.  The truth is that we live in a fallen and sinful world. A world that is NOT as God created it – sin terribly changed it.  The ultimate is God’s glory and honor – sometimes it involves good and bad happening opposite to the way we think it should be.
• The Bottom Line. Ecc 12:13-14. From the wise writer who (if this was Solomon) knew everything and had everything and experienced everything – this final advice: Fear God and keep His commandments. That pretty much sums it up. New Testament equivalents:

Rom 12:1 “…God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him.” [The Message]

2 Tim 2:15 “Concentrate on doing your best for God, work you won’t be ashamed of, laying out the truth plain and simple.” [The Message]

Col 3:17 ” Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.” [The Message]

• Need to research. Song of Solomon. OK, this book is not one that I have really spent much time reading – ever. After reading it, I glanced at my study bible…I need to read through the info – there is so much there.
  
• Know Thy Wife. Song of Solomon. One thing I did appreciate was the intimate knowledge that the “lover” and the “beloved” had for each other.  It is a call to really KNOW our spouses.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 47

Reading: Proverbs 20:22 – Ecclesiastes 2:26

Take Away(s):

• Heart. 21:2. A call to check the true intentions of our actions.  Even if they seem RIGHT – are they at the heart of what is important to God? Easier said than done…especially in an instant!
• Direction = Destination. 22:3. This verse, and a podcast series by Andy Stanley (Destinations) pretty much undid me recently.  I HIGHLY suggest giving this 4-part series a listen – maybe even twice.  It is worth the 2.5 hour investment.
• Excuses, excuses!. 22:13.  A weird verse when you first read it, but one that speaks volumes to the excuses or reasons we don’t do the things that we should do! Often, we manufacture the reason…well, excuse…and it just is silly sounding.  Sometimes I think if we had to watch our day over again on video, we’d be surprised the things we would change!
• Balance. 23:4.  Laboring is good – knowing when to stop is wise.  [How many of us want wisdom in our lives? My hand is raised REALLY high!]  I need to be cognizant of the TIME I put into things that seem worthy and noble – especially when they are at the expense of the really IMPORTANT things.
• Enemies. 25:21-22. Sometimes “enemies” is a pretty strong word and most of us would like to think that we really don’t have “enemies.”  We think of that word when we consider those who are out to harm or injure us or our loved ones.  Reread this verse and insert “difficult person who rubs me the wrong way at work/school” or the name of any person who is not evil, but generally irritates you in place of “enemies” in this verse.  Then, go “Nike”…JUST DO IT! (Do it for the reward, not for the burning coals part!)
• Karen. 31:10-31. Thank you Lord for the precious gift of Karen!
• Benefits. Eccl 2:26. The benefits of pleasing God (really obeying Him – ecause that is how we please him are desired by most people I know.)  Everyone desires wisdom, knowledge, and happiness.  The path is so obvious…treading down that NARROW path is often unattractive and most certainly hard.  God, help me make the often hard choices and decisions that please You in all that I do.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 46

There is so much meat in Proverbs…it’s hard to decide what to highlight!

Reading: Proverbs 7:1 – Proverbs 20:21

Take Away(s):

• Words. 12:18. How often I speak recklessly (def: utterly unconcerned about the consequences) and don’t consider the damage done.
• Count to 10. 14:29. I’ll admit it – I can have a short fuse (sometimes…not always). Most people won’t believe that, but Karen can confirm that statement. I think if I had a video of the times I lost it, it would be pretty funny…and sad.  Folly – pretty convitcing word.  My ESV Study Bible says this about this verse: “The person who is slow to anger reflects the Lord’s character” – GULP!
• God Uses Everything. 16:4. I think sometimes we think that when people are hurtful or just plane mean or evil, they are outside God’s control.  In reality, God is the one in control and he ordains everything.  Everything. EXAMPLE? Jesus before Pilate. Do not miss the gravity of Jesus’ first sentence in verse 11. HUGE!
• Sure-fire Success. 19:21. Ever wonder how to have completely assured success? Know that God is in complete control and seek to fulfill His purpose in our plans.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 45

Reading: Psalm 135:1 – Proverbs 6:35

Take Away(s):

• Personalize. 136. I think I (we) often read the Bible and think, “that is a nice story” or “wow, that passage is pretty cool” and fail to personalize it.  Sure, it may have been written about or specifically for someone else, but God’s word is timeless in its application!  I have read this psalm many times.  Lead it as a responsive reading at church. When I read it this time, my thoughts were “why not personalize verses 10-24?”.  Think about it – God has probably done some pretty amazing or cool things…why not personalize the verses in this passage (changing them from things He did for Israel to things He has done for me!).  I think I will do this in a future post…
• HE KNOWS me. 139:1-16. When you think of the gravity of these verses it is mind blowing.  In fact, I don’t think that we (in our humanness) can truly grasp them.  Funny/cool: Someone Tweeted this today…“Today was written before time began. God has a beautiful plan.”
• Precious. 139:17. I don’t use precious in my vocabulary that much.  Sometimes when I read, I will look up words that I already know the definition for – just to see alternate meanings (maybe a little freaky?). When you look at any of the definitions for precious, and read this verse…it’s pretty cool.  (Even the def with “flagrant” in it – when you really read the definition to that word.  Just like prodigal (think of that word with God’s love in mind), some words often it has a bad rap.)  That said, is God’s word precious to me?  You?  I pray it is and remains so.
• Lead. 139:23-24. Brave prayer here. It’s one of those that we can carelessly pray without considering the ramifications of God answering our prayer (not that the ramification should prevent us from praying this!)  Notice how the last phrase in verse 24 says “lead me” and not “push me”.  We must constantly surrender to God and actively follow His leading in our lives.
• Tell. 145:3-7. I think in general I don’t “tell” of God’s goodness in my life. I probably think (like many maybe) that my life is mundane and not worthy of huge expressions of “telling”.  The sad truth is that God is actively doing things in the lives of ALL who follow Him.  HUGE things. Providential things.  How sad when I keep them to myself thinking that they are unimportant or unnecessary.  Its like we’re suppressing His goodness by keeping it to ourselves.
• Trust. Prov 3:5-6. I know God is big.  I know He is sovereign.  I know He is in complete control. How often I give this verse lip service though.  I quote it; but, in my heart, still keep a little space reserved for the doubt that He truly can be trusted.  I know this is Satan; but, in my human fear, I fall for the sham that God can’t be trusted. God is big.  He is sovereign.  He is in complete control. I CAN trust Him. I believe Lord, Help me in my unbelief!