Today's reading continued my thankfulness that I do not live under the laws of Leviticus. And I especially appreciate that I go to the Dr. not the priest if I get a skin infection... If I thought the laws regarding clean and unclean food were confusing, well, skin disease and mildew are just as confusing. If it has a white hair in it..... but if it has a black hair in it.... Yikes.
On the up side I combined riding my stationary bike with reading today's reading benefiting my physical health and my spiritual health all in the same time frame. Yeah me!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
February 21
I'm in Leviticus now. All those clean and unclean rules, so confusing! - It's unclean if it has this kind of hoof, but not if it has this kind, or if it chews the cud.... insects with wings are detestable to you and unclean unless it has a jointed leg, then its fine.... if an unclean thing falls onto something it has to be washed and it's unclean til evening, but if it's a clay pot it has to be smashed.... Oh my goodness, wash it, break it, eat it don't..... UGH so glad I don't have to think about such things anymore. Crazy!
Friday, February 18, 2011
February 18
Dear Blog,
Oh how I ignore you.... It has been nearly a week since I posted. I was getting really weary of the details of the building of the tabernacle. The curtains, the coverings, the specifics on everything.... Not exactly riveting reading after awhile. Still good to think about God being so specific in nature, and to be reminded when we want to be "generally" good etc. I was so excited to move on, and I suppose it is because I forgot that next comes all the specifics about sacrifice.... Now I am longing to hear about fine purple and blue thread again.... It's so gross all the sacrifice talk, and explained with every bit as much detail as the building of the tabernacle.
Some lovely notes from recent NT readings though: Mark 2:27 Then Jesus said to them, " The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." We need to rest, to pause, to recharge our batteries and God knew this and built into His expectations for us a way to meet that need. But we ignore it and go go go go constantly. The Sabbath is a gift, and a command, not just a good idea. We are wired to be connected to our Heavenly Father through worship too. So often I think we do not tend to our spiritual health. Worship on Sunday, and get enough rest! Take a breath, enjoy the pause, you, your work, your spiritual life, your physical life will all benefit!!
Loved this from Psalm 36 (vs 5 -7) Your unfailing love, O Lord is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."
Also loved this from Psalm 37 (vs 5) Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you."
And some good advise from Psalm 37:8 "Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper- it only leads to harm."
It's Friday with a busy week end coming up. I find it doubtful that I will pay attention to you, dear blog, until sometime next week. However, I will keep reading, and if anything cannot wait, I promise to post it right away!
Oh how I ignore you.... It has been nearly a week since I posted. I was getting really weary of the details of the building of the tabernacle. The curtains, the coverings, the specifics on everything.... Not exactly riveting reading after awhile. Still good to think about God being so specific in nature, and to be reminded when we want to be "generally" good etc. I was so excited to move on, and I suppose it is because I forgot that next comes all the specifics about sacrifice.... Now I am longing to hear about fine purple and blue thread again.... It's so gross all the sacrifice talk, and explained with every bit as much detail as the building of the tabernacle.
Some lovely notes from recent NT readings though: Mark 2:27 Then Jesus said to them, " The Sabbath was made to meet the needs of people, and not people to meet the requirements of the Sabbath." We need to rest, to pause, to recharge our batteries and God knew this and built into His expectations for us a way to meet that need. But we ignore it and go go go go constantly. The Sabbath is a gift, and a command, not just a good idea. We are wired to be connected to our Heavenly Father through worship too. So often I think we do not tend to our spiritual health. Worship on Sunday, and get enough rest! Take a breath, enjoy the pause, you, your work, your spiritual life, your physical life will all benefit!!
Loved this from Psalm 36 (vs 5 -7) Your unfailing love, O Lord is as vast as the heavens; your faithfulness reaches beyond the clouds. your righteousness is like the mighty mountains, your justice like the ocean depths. You care for people and animals alike, O Lord. How precious is your unfailing love, O God! All humanity finds shelter in the shadow of your wings."
Also loved this from Psalm 37 (vs 5) Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you."
And some good advise from Psalm 37:8 "Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper- it only leads to harm."
It's Friday with a busy week end coming up. I find it doubtful that I will pay attention to you, dear blog, until sometime next week. However, I will keep reading, and if anything cannot wait, I promise to post it right away!
Saturday, February 12, 2011
February 12
Kind of struggling with the daily part of this plan.... I had to read three days of readings today to get caught up again. I need to work out a plan so that I do not get behind like this, because I find that I do not enjoy reading this much at a sitting and tend to rush and not really think or contemplate it much. There was a lot of interesting stuff in this three days of reading, and I'm sure I'd have tons to comment on, but when it is three days worth, not only is it a lot to read, it's a lot to type about and I don't feel like doing that much of a book report! So, super going to try to get better at the daily part! It's only February 12th! I cannot let it slip away if I am to be successful with the goal of completing the "cover to cover" plan! But thankfully as of today again I'm all caught up!!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
February 9
Exodus 29:1-30.... Aaron and His sons are in their priestly garments, and directions for the sacrifices are given. What a blood bath. It just sounds so gross and stinky. It makes me think of flies everywhere. Maybe the incense that had to be burned helped with the smell?? Aaron's garments sounded so beautiful, trimming of pure gold, and gem stones.... And now sprinkled with blood. Even as I type this I can feel my face squished into a grimace..... EWW.
Matthew 26:14-46 is the account of the Last supper and the garden of Gethsemane. As I think about the sacrifice of Christ replacing the need for the sacrificing I read about in Exodus I am relieved that His blood took care of sin in a permanent way. I'm sad that my sin required such a tremendous payment, and truly unable to express appropriate gratitude for Christ's sacrifice. I am especially touched by Christ's prayer in the garden. "If it's possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Three times this prayer. So often I am about telling God my will in my prayers. May I be enabled to follow the example of my Savior and trust God's will for my life, even when it is impossibly hard.
Matthew 26:14-46 is the account of the Last supper and the garden of Gethsemane. As I think about the sacrifice of Christ replacing the need for the sacrificing I read about in Exodus I am relieved that His blood took care of sin in a permanent way. I'm sad that my sin required such a tremendous payment, and truly unable to express appropriate gratitude for Christ's sacrifice. I am especially touched by Christ's prayer in the garden. "If it's possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine." Three times this prayer. So often I am about telling God my will in my prayers. May I be enabled to follow the example of my Savior and trust God's will for my life, even when it is impossibly hard.
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
February 7
As I expected, keeping up with the blog is a challenge! Sometimes I just am too lazy to log on and type something, and other times I don't have anything interesting to say!
Today's OT reading is a little on the dull side... Except that it's interesting to note the very explicit detailed instructions God gave with regard to the building of the Tabernacle, and for the making of the priestly garments. I suppose it would be good to remember the next time I want to fudge a little on the details of obedience that God is pretty specific in His nature, and not at all "general".
In the NT reading in Matthew it is several parables. In the story of the ten virgins the point is that we are all responsible for our own spiritual condition. It can't be bought or borrowed at the last minute.... The story of the talents shows how important it is to use well what God has entrusted to us. Not just money, but time talent etc. as well. It doesn't matter how much we have of something, but it sure does matter how we use what we do have. In the parable of the sheep and goats really emphasises the importance of serving others in the life of a Christian. "I tell you the truth" Jesus says, "whenever you did/didn't do.... onto the least of these brothers of mine you did/didn't do it unto me"
Today's OT reading is a little on the dull side... Except that it's interesting to note the very explicit detailed instructions God gave with regard to the building of the Tabernacle, and for the making of the priestly garments. I suppose it would be good to remember the next time I want to fudge a little on the details of obedience that God is pretty specific in His nature, and not at all "general".
In the NT reading in Matthew it is several parables. In the story of the ten virgins the point is that we are all responsible for our own spiritual condition. It can't be bought or borrowed at the last minute.... The story of the talents shows how important it is to use well what God has entrusted to us. Not just money, but time talent etc. as well. It doesn't matter how much we have of something, but it sure does matter how we use what we do have. In the parable of the sheep and goats really emphasises the importance of serving others in the life of a Christian. "I tell you the truth" Jesus says, "whenever you did/didn't do.... onto the least of these brothers of mine you did/didn't do it unto me"
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
February 2
I let myself get 3 days behind.... It's only the beginning of February, I can't start slipping already, or I'm going to be in big trouble! I got caught up, although some of it was more a quick skimming rather than a word for word reading. It's easy to convince myself that's ok when I am so familiar with the section. The OT had the parting of the Red Sea, and then the complaining starts pretty immediately following... We're hungry, we're thirsty, we should have just stayed in Egypt. Oh how often the grass is greener on the other side of the fence, and how quickly we forget that we (to keep with the analogy) didn't even have a lawn in the prior situation... Some things just don't change.
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