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!
  

Bible In 90 Days – Day 44

WOW – We are at the halfway point (I know…90 days, but it is actually 88 [they factor in 2 grace days!])  This has been an amazing undertaking and awesome time in God’s Word!

Reading: Psalm 109:1 – Psalm 134:3

Take Away(s):

• Difficult to Grasp. 111:7-8. When we read this passage (and tons of others about God and His word’s fidelity), its hard to associate what words like faithful, trustworthy, and steadfast mean in our humanness.  We don’t have TRUE examples.  We’d like to think we do – even in ourselves; but, at our core, we are sinful and…well, unfaithful, untrustworthy, and capricious.  I think this is why we have a hard time trusting – truly trusting God.  We compare Him to the known instead of trusting His fidelity.  It’s called faith…and hope.
• Answer. 116:7. In the margin of my bible, I’ve written the answer to the question posted in this verse: A life of worship – Romans 12:1, “Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship.”
• False Fear… 118:6. Sometimes we fear things – whether we will admit it or not.  We forget that God is greater than anything or anyone we will encounter.  I wrote a blog post about this a while back…We need Correct Courage!
• To do. 119:11. NOTE TO SELF: I need to memorize more scripture.
• Content. 131. In the midst of our busy lives, can you imagine having this kind of contentment?  Can I consider this type of contented relationship with God?  Not always asking why or needing to understand His reasoning or rationale – just being content in the assurance that He is in control and all powerful! Help me Lord – I long to be there!

Bible In 90 Days – Day 42

Reading: Psalm 69:22 – Psalm 89:13

Take Away(s):

• Rock. 71:3-9. God is THE rock. I know this…I’ve read it…I’ve seen it in and experienced it in my life.  The sad truth is that sometimes I forget this when times get tough…maybe not for the whole time, but for a brief period.  I don’t think I will ever get to that default response until I am standing before him…it’s just my humanness.
• Remember. 77:4-15. I love the IF/THEN statements in the Bible.  I think most people do – we like the “this equals that” part.  It helps us know what God would have us do.  This passage is about time of trouble and the response of remembering how faithful and good God has been in our past.  In my Bible, this passage is divided into two section: 4-9 is Trouble?, 10-15 is REMEMBER!.  Lord, I pray that when struggles and hard times come, my memory will be filled with the MANY, MANY times You have been faithful, faithful, faithful in my life.
• Games. 78:36. Sometimes we mistakenly think we can “flatter” God or “fool” Him like we do the people in our lives.  How foolish on our part…He is GOD!  Thank You for Your mercy, God!

x

Bible In 90 Days – Day 43

Reading: Psalm 89:14 – Psalm 108:13

Take Away(s):

• Awareness. 90:12. To me, this talks to having an awareness of our lives.  Asking God to guide by His Word and through the people He has led into our lives.  The result is a wisdom in life that helps us make wise choices.
• Heal. 103:3. This verse has always bugged me – “healing all diseases.”  There are times when God doesn’t heal – at least in the way we expect (which [in my humanness] isn’t much comfort, but He is God and in sovereign control). I haven’t read and consulted my study bible on each verse, but I couldn’t resist here.  Here is the note:  Heals often refers to curing someone from a physical sickness, but it can also be used as a metaphor for restoring the moral and spiritual life.  Since it is in parallel with forgives, the metaphorical use may be intended here.  Thus sins is like diseases, which weaken and corrupt; it is God’s mercy that takes them away.  These sentiments reflect David’s own experience of God’s forgiveness. So this doesn’t refer to physical healing in this case.
• Far. 103:12. God forgives…and forgets.  Sometimes I think that we can accept God’s forgiveness, but can’t forget our own sin.  We judge His reaction to our sin by how we would react to someone letting us down or hurting us.  God, You have FORGOTTEN. Help us to forget…and to accept Your grace, Your amazing and mind-blowing grace.  Thank You for sending Your Son to pay the price for my sin.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 41

Reading: Psalm 46:1 – Psalm 69:21

Take Away(s):

• A price I Cannot Pay. 49:7-9. This is a hard set of verses.  No mater our desire, no mater our efforts, no matter our words or pleas – we cannot redeem (save) people.  Our hearts may break and tears may flow, but ONLY Christ can redeem.  “For God so loved the world that he gave [sacrificed on a cross] his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16
• God Doesn’t NEED Our Offering. 50:8-15. How often we have a wrong view of sacrifice for God or giving our time and money.  Sometimes, we think that He is in need and we’ll dole out some cash or a few hours for Him…just to make Him feel better. [forgive us…me…Lord] He desires our obedience – which is the motivation for giving an offering…really worshiping…Him.
• GULP! 50:17. Can you imagine hearing this verse from God? The phraseology in the second part of this verse was also in Nehemiah 9:26. I wrote a blog about it, so I won’t retype it here!  Check it out (scroll to the “Scary”one.)
• …Then… 51:10-13. How often we seek God, we ask for His blessing, we read His word for guidance and peace, we do and ask so many thing of Him…and keep it to ourselves.  He loves us.  He will NEVER forsake us.  But how often we are selfish with His faithfulness and blessings (v. 10-12).  Reading the “then” in verse 13 reminded me that God’s awesome blessing, faithfulness, grace, and mercy (which are really undeserved if we applied the criteria we often use for showing grace and mercy other people) MUST result in an outward response in our lives.
• Specifics. No specific verse here, just an overall observation on how specific the Psalmist is in the language used in conversation with God.  How often we generalize and gloss over our requests and general prayers with God (I know I’m guilty.) Our Heavenly Father is just that and so interested in our lives, heart, everything.  Let’s get specific – God is interested!
• Enemies. No specific verse here, just an overall observation on the Psalmist’s language about “enemies.”  I always have a hard time reconciling and applying the prayers and pleas of the Psalmist against his enemies.  Reconciling it with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:43-45, “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven.” I know in context, they are about David’s conflict with the various people who pursued him, but it just seems weird – especially when they are mixed with the great passages that describe God or our response to Him.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 40

Reading: Psalm 25:1 – Psalm 45:17

Take Away(s):

• Same God – Different Dwelling Place. 26:8. Imagine the profound change from David to…well, me: God dwells not in a building or in a golden consecrated box, but in me!
• Same God – Different Dwelling Place – Part 2. 26:4-6. Sure these verses speak to the joy found in spending time in God’s Tabernacle – in today’s world, our physical church buildings.  But, just like the previous point, think about this verse in the context of David and God’s people only knowing that God dwelt in the Tabernacle and that was where they went to meet with Him (or at least the priests and Levites in any intimate manner).  Under God’s new covenant (through the death [ultimate sacrifice] of Jesus and with the veil torn thereby giving us unlimited access to God), we can experience God anywhere, anytime, for as long as we desire.  Thank You God for this awesome and sometimes unappreciated gift!
• Desperately Thirsty. 42:1-2. Oh that I would have an honest and true desire and thirst for the Lord as described in this verse.  Lord, I desire to know You, to truly KNOW You.  The language in these verses is so strong – may they be true in my life…honestly true.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 39

Reading: Psalm 1:1 – Psalm 24:10

Take Away(s):

WOW!  In 39 days, we are at Psalms! The hard part will be limiting myself to a few key verses/thoughts each day!

• Delight! 1:2. Can you imagine if we actually delighted in God’s word and thought about it constantly?  If we considered each and every action or inaction in the light of it’s awesome and profound power? Lord, I how often I “intend” and “hope” for this attitude, only to make the choice to use other “things” or “ideas” as my guide and focus. Forgive me…
• HIS way. 5:8. How often I phrase this verse (in my heart, because I would NEVER do it out loud!) “…MY way before me” instead of “…YOUR way before me.” OUCH, only at chapter five and I am already ruined!  Thank You for Your mercy – Oh, God!
• MAJESTY! Chapter 8. Every time I read this Psalm, I am taken back to singing this song in my high school choir! So cool…and true! (NOTE: this is not my choir…just the song.)
• LOVE. 8:3-4. In my bible, I have these verses circled and John 3:16 written in the margin. AMEN!
• Steadfast. Chapter 15. Interesting to read this and consider Job’s life.  And mine…
• Jesus. Chapter 22. I will let this video speak for me.
• From, To. 22:25. As much as I feel that I am offering praise to the Lord from my inmost being – it really comes from Him.  My heartfelt praise…comes from Him.  Blessed be the Name of the Lord!
• Psalm 23. Always. Forever. God is with us and cares for us. Interesting that verse 4 doesn’t say “when” – it says “Though”.  We will walk through hard times – but God will NEVER let go of us.  Our only appropriate response is worship.

Bible In 90 Days – Day 38

Reading: Job 25:1 – Job 42:17

Take Away(s):

In general, Jobs friend’s advice and dialogs are not correct when applied to Job’s specific situation – he was blameless and upright.  That said, I think some insight into the mind of God can be gained from their speeches.

• Science! 26:8. I think sometimes we miss the fact that people in ancient times were scientific.  They may not have had all the answers, but some of the observations are cool!
• Integrity. 27:5. Job knew in his heart that he had not sinned and he refused to compromise his integrity.  I pray that I always refuse compromising.  I am not without sin – no one is – but we can, and must maintain our integrity.
• Undone…completely. 30:11. The language here is incredible, “Now that God has unstrung my bow and afflicted me.” A bow without its string is useless – completely undone.  Can you imagine the low point that Job was at in thinking this…I can’t.
• Personal Purity. 31:1-4.  Job make a personal commitment about looking at women in wrong ways (v. 1) – knowing full well that he couldn’t fulfill the commitment without God (v. 4).  I pray that I would strive for this same covenant…stumbling, leaning in my dependent state on my Savior.
• Why bother to hide it. 34:22-23. Consider the depth of these two verses: “There is no dark place, no deep shadow, where evildoers can hide. God has no need to examine men further, that they should come before him for judgment.” Why bother to think we can hide anything from God.  Yet we try.  TRUTH: 1 John 1:9-10
• Hurt God? 35:6-8. As I read this, it convicted me.  How often we think that by sining we are “hurting” God or somehow making Him ineffective.  That couldn’t be further from the truth – He is GOD!  He is displeased, maybe disappointed, but NEVER hurt.
• More Science! 36:27-29. See above note…
• Gulp! 38:2 & 40:2. Can you imagine GOD saying this to you: “Who is this that darkens my counsel with words without knowledge?” OR “Will the one who contends with the Almighty correct him? Let him who accuses God answer him!” Think about when we “suggest” to God that we know better than He how things should go…GULP.  Praise God He is full of grace and mercy!
• [speechless] 42:5. I don’t even know what to call this bullet.  Can you imagine hearing about God and living a life that honored Him – to the point that He bragged about you to Satan – and then seeing and hearing Him.  I can’t imagine…but, someday, I will see Him!
• Why? It is interesting that God never tells Job the story behind all that happened to him.  Or that Job never said, “Um, Awesome God…what’s the back story now that it’s all over?” Again, I think it goes to Job’s integrity, uprightness, and blameless life.  He knew God was GOD and didn’t owe him any for of explanation…let alone life!
• Ever wonder why God didn’t kill Job’s wife? Me too – I blogged about it a while back – scroll to Number Two: A Question.