Day 363 Bible Reading

Revelation 20: 14-15 (ESV)

“Then Death and Hades were thrown into the lake of fire. This is the second death, the lake of fire. And if anyone's name was not found written in the book of life, he was thrown into the lake of fire.”

My pastor said in a sermon recently how confident were we that our name was written in the Book of Life in Revelation. I thought about his question, and my immediate answer was Yes. I don’t know why I thought that, but that was the answer I received. I have a close relationship with God, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. They have been with me since I was six years old, and although I know that sometimes I was not that close to God, he has always been part of my life. Do I often think I have disappointed God? Yes. Do I doubt God hears me and answers my prayers? All the time. But do I doubt that I have a relationship with God? Never. Wondering whether your name is written in the Book of Life is quite the thought to have on New Year’s Eve of what many are calling will be a tumultuous year of 2024. Will my faith be tested in 2024? Absolutely. Will I waver in obedience to God? Of that there is no doubt. The only thing I can be certain of is I have a relationship with God, and I work on relationship daily. And maybe that’s good enough for me in my mind to be written in the Book of Life. 

Day 362 Bible Reading

Nehemiah 9: 17 (ESV)

“But you are a God ready to forgive, gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love, and did not forsake them.”

I love this passage from Nehemiah 9. It makes me think about all the times I have not listened to God or did wrong things or have not obeyed his commandments. God has always been loving and ready to forgive me. His patience with me seems infinite and he always tells me how much he loves and is proud of me whenever I do something right. Even when I have felt forsaken by God, I’ve come to learn that God has never forsaken men. He is there to always answer my prayers and talk to me about what I have done wrong. God speaks to me with such love in his voice and understanding of who I am, what my needs are, and seems to always know why I do the things I do. There is nothing that compares to the love of God in my life. It’s something I can’t explain because there are no human words for it, and God’s love has to be experienced first hand.

 Day 361 Bible Reading

Psalm 148: 1-6 (ESV)

“Praise the Lord! Praise the Lord from the heavens; praise him in the heights! Praise him, all his angels; praise him, all his hosts! Praise him, sun and moon, praise him, all you shining stars! Praise him, you highest heavens, and you waters above the heavens! Let them praise the name of the Lord! For he commanded and they were created. And he established them forever and ever he gave a decree, and it shall not pass away.”

Another beautiful Psalm that praises God. It sounded like a song, so I searched on YouTube for Psalm 148 and found several musical versions of this psalm. This is one is my favorite.

Enjoy!

 Day 360 Bible Reading

Proverbs 31: 10-20 (ESV)

“An excellent wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels. The heart of her husband trusts in her, and he will have no lack of gain. She does him good, and not harm, all the days of her life. She seeks wool and flax, and works with willing hands. She is like the ships of the merchant; she brings her food from afar. She rises while it is yet night and provides food for her household and portions for her maidens. She considers a field and buys it; with the fruit of her hands she plants a vineyard. She dresses herself with strength and makes her arms strong. She perceives that her merchandise is profitable. Her lamp does not go out at night. She puts her hands to the distaff, and her hands hold the spindle. She opens her hand to the poor and reaches out her hands to the needy.’

I love this passage from Proverbs 31. There is so much disinformation on how the Bible’s view of women is demeaning, but this passage from Proverbs 31 proves otherwise. This bible verse contains much praise of an “excellent wife” who is also a smart and responsible woman. The writer of Proverbs 31 lists all the things that a wife does and tells the reader what a great partner in life she will make to a man. This woman is also kind and strong to boot! Of course one has to find this kind of wife, but this Bible verse also provides a road map for a woman to remember to not be ashamed use all the gifts that God has given her to support her husband, her children, and her community.

 Day 359 Bible Reading

Psalm 147: 13-15 (ESV)

“For he strengthens the bars of your gates; he blesses your children within you. He makes peace in your borders; he fills you with the finest of the wheat. He sends out his command to the earth; his word runs swiftly.”

I like this passage from Psalm 147. It reminds me of the blessings of God and what happens when you have them. Every day seems like a miracle and things just seem to go your way. You have a season where everything in your life goes right and the world seems like it is at your feet. But deep in your heart, you know none of it is possible without God in your life. You obeyed everything he wanted you do for many years, and this new life, this new season is your reward. 

Day 358 Bible Reading

Psalm 147: 3 (ESV)

“He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds.”

I was struck by line 3 from Psalm 147. I have many memories of being brokenhearted and feeling myself held in the palm of God’s hand. God was healing me and binding up my emotional wounds. Sometimes I don’t even know I am brokenhearted, and then I feel myself being held the palm of God’s hand, and I realize that I have been hurt but God has bore the brunt of it because I am safe and protected by him. I felt safe and secure in God’s hands when my mother died, and this feeling lasted for months as my sadness at my mother’s passing was so severe. I often wondered during those months how people bore such grief without a God. That time of grief was so unbearable, and only confidently knowing I was in palm of God’s hand, was I able to survive that period in my life. I also wondered after that, how often God had held me in the palm of hand during my other times of grief. I am sure God did protect me during those times, but my faith was weak, and I rarely acknowledged God’s presence in my life in my youth. But with my stronger faith, I can now openly acknowledge to myself and the world that I feel very privileged and proud that God does hold me in the palm of his hands when I need to be held.

Day 357 Bible Reading

Psalm 146: 3-4 (ESV)

“Put not your trust in princes, in a son of man, in whom there is no salvation. When his breath departs, he returns to the earth; on that very day his plans perish.”

I was struck by this Bible passage when I read from Psalm 146. It made me think of all the people I’ve worked with at corporations where I saw fellow employees put all their trust in their boss. They supported their bosses 100% and were rewarded with promotions if that boss was promoted. But as soon as their boss left the company, their good fortune seemed to leave them. I’ve seen new vice presidents come in and bring their friends and former co-workers to replace the heads of the departments that reported to them. I also think of myself as an example where I put my trust in someone only to be very disappointed. I’m not saying you cannot put your trust in anyone, but like the writer of Psalm 146, I think it would be a mistake to put all your trust in one person. The only person who is 100% deserving of our trust is Jesus Christ. He is there from the beginning of our lives and will be there until the end when we take our final breath. He will never leave us, never depart from us, and always love us.