Vacationing in Northern AZ with no cell service

I went up into the mountains for a few days in northern Arizona to camp in the Tonto National Forest, located about an hour outside of Payson. It was warm during the day and freezing at night. And there was no cell service, so no blogging. I climbed up to the highest spot, and still no bars, so I had to just enjoy the views. After midnight, the elk were mating, and the coyotes were howling, which made for sleepless nights. But I was with friends, and it was fun to share meals, talk, and warm ourselves around a large campfire every night.

So I'll be posting the Bible readings that I missed until I'm caught up for the day. 

Day 274 Bible Readings – Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV)

Jeremiah 2:31-37, Jeremiah 3, Jeremiah 4:1-9, Proverbs 1:8-19

Jeremiah 3:12-13 (ESV)

“Go, and proclaim these words toward the north, and say, ‘Return, faithless Israel, declares the Lord. I will not look on you in anger, for I am merciful, declares the Lord; I will not be angry forever. Only acknowledge your guilt, that you rebelled against the Lord your God and scattered your favors among foreigners under every green tree and that you have not obeyed my voice, declares the Lord.”

In Jeremiah 3:12-13, the prophet Jeremiah instructs the northern kingdom of Israel to return to the Lord. The northern kingdom had turned away from Father-God by worshiping other deities. Jeremiah urges them to recognize their guilt, rebellion, and disobedience to the Lord’s authority and guidance. He emphasizes that if they repent, Father-God will not remain angry and will show his mercy.

These verses remind us that as followers of Jesus Christ, we serve a merciful God who continually calls us to return to him. He desires a relationship with us, and even when we are unfaithful and disobedient, he is ready to forgive. To restore our relationship with the Lord, we must recognize and admit our sins to Him and truly repent. True repentance requires a genuine change of heart and a commitment to obeying the Lord’s laws and guidance. Father-God’s desire is for restoration of our relationship and healing, and not punishment. He is always prepared to forgive and restore those who return to him.

If my reflections on these Bible verses have inspired you, and you are looking for a Father-God who is always ready to forgive and restore you, even in times of disobedience, I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 273 Bible Readings – Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

Jeremiah 1, Jeremiah 2:1-30, Philippians 2:1-11, Proverbs 1:1-7

Proverbs 1:7 (ESV)

“The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge; fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

Solomon, the son of King David, wrote the book of Proverbs, which was divinely inspired by Father-God, to guide His people in moral behavior. "Proverbs" are short sayings that express practical truths. These proverbs emphasize the application of the Lord’s wisdom in everyday life, enabling individuals to live in alignment with Father-God’s will. In verse 7, Solomon states that fearing the Lord provides a foundation for acquiring knowledge, as Father-God is the source of all wisdom. The only individuals who seem to reject the Lord’s ways are fools, who prefer to live according to their own understanding. A "fool" willfully disregards any correction, instruction, or training that could lead to wisdom.

This verse resonated with me this morning because I appreciate Solomon's assertion that Father-God is the source of all true wisdom and knowledge. Those who do not believe in the Lord risk becoming "fools," suffering the consequences of rejecting divine principles in their lives. We all know people who resist correction or instruction, and we can observe the problems that arise from their behavior. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have the Holy Spirit to help us align our lives with Father God’s will. When we do so, we mature and develop a deeper relationship with Him. However, this growth can only occur when we actively apply biblical principles to our daily lives.

If you found encouragement in my reflections on this Bible verse, and through your faith in Jesus Christ, you want the guidance of the Holy Spirit to apply biblical principles to your life so you can deepen your relationship with Father-God, then I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness through the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen. If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.

Day 272 Bible Readings – Zephaniah 3:1-2 (ESV

Zephaniah 1-3, Philippians 1, Psalm 150

Zephaniah 3:1-2 (ESV)

“Woe to her who is rebellious and defiled, the oppressing city! She listens to no voice; she accepts no correction. She does not trust in the Lord; she does not draw near to her God.”

As I read today’s Bible readings, I was struck by verses 1 and 2 from Zephaniah 3. The prophet Zephaniah was prophesying to the people of Judah about the judgment that would come from Father-God for their past disobedience. Zephaniah talks about the coming destruction of Jerusalem because the city was full of corrupt oppressors, who were in rebellion against Father-God’s commands for justice and righteousness. Zephaniah tells us that the city of Jerusalem did not listen to the Lord. When the people of Jerusalem finally heard the Lord’s calls for repentance, they did not accept correction. The people of Jerusalem did not trust in the Lord or draw near to him.

The description of the people of Jerusalem reminded me of my past self. Father-God has always been in my life, but I was often rebellious. I ignored the voice of the Holy Spirit and resisted any corrections from Him regarding my behavior. A friend of mine advised me that my inability to trust Father-God prevented me from drawing near to Him. I knew she was right, but I didn’t know how to begin trusting the Lord. I blamed Father-God for everything that had gone wrong in my life. It wasn’t until I let go of my anger towards Father-God that I was able to develop a relationship with Him. When I was born again, the Holy Spirit helped me process my anger and surrender it to Father-God. Now, I wake up every morning feeling enveloped by His love, and I feel truly blessed.

If you found encouragement in my reflections on these Bible verses, and through your faith in Jesus Christ, you want to wake up every morning to feel the love of Father-God surrounding you and blessing you, then I invite you to pray the following prayer aloud:

Heavenly Father, I want to give you my Life. Forgive me of all of my sins. Wash me in your blood. I believe in my heart You raised Jesus from the dead. I confess with my mouth that Jesus is my Lord and Savior. Right now, I receive forgiveness by the blood of Jesus. I am saved, I am forgiven, I am clean, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed this prayer, welcome to the family of Father-God! Do yourself a favor and find and join a Holy Spirit-filled, full Gospel, Bible-based church where you can hear the words of Father-God preached and experience signs, wonders, and miracles in your life.