I am caught up on the reading for Bible in 90 days. Actually have only gotten behind twice. Both times on Sabbath. Odd day to get behind huh? But that is what happened the last two weeks.
Hopefully, I'll find a way to rearrange my Sabbath schedule to accomodate the 12 to 15 chapters. Otherwise, I'll continue to use Sunday and Monday to catch up.
As you can see I have not been blogging lately. I have been posting on Youversion.com however. You can follow me there (vbordlee) if you so desire. It's much more convenient since I'm able to post directly from my phone disturbing the rest of the family as little as possible. (My reading time is around 5 am or earlier!)
While in Numbers, Deuteronomy, and Joshua I did not write nearly so prolifically. But, the Sanctuary has always been of enormous interest to my creative/writing side.
I love reading the Bible through at this pace (something I never did before). It reminds me that the Bible truly is our source of wisdom for Salvation.
Wednesday, July 27, 2011
Thursday, July 14, 2011
Plant a Seed~~Grow a Nation Bible in 90 Days--day 4
Today's reading was full of drama. Rags to riches kind of drama. Riches to rags---rags to riches. Joseph played a starring role. But Jacob too wins my admiration. He seems so wise unto salvation as he pronounces the blessings and the factual curses (brought on themselves by some of the sons). Buried in the blessings to Judah are words that I've somehow passed over for years. Words that unpack the message we read in Revelation regarding "washing our robes in the blood of the lamb". There in the blessing to Judah is the key I believe. Yet, I've never heard a Bible scholar refer to this passage. True I have not been far from home in my studies of the Bible so I cannot say that nobody has mentioned it in connection with the text in Revelation. I fully expect to find many others who have noticed this reference.
Yesterday I had a question as to how many of the sons were born from Leah. Today that question was answered. She bore Jacob six sons. Her handmaid delivered two. Rachael bore him two sons and her handmaid also delivered two more. Altogether there were twelve. The six sons of Leah seem to fit better in the candlestick arrangement. And Joseph nourished them along with his full-blooded brothers there in Eqypt. Joseph definitely lived out the Christ-figure in his role. He acknowledges how the brothers meant to do him harm but God meant the whole experience to bring restoration and nourishment to the family. He is their savior no less. Even to the whole nation of Eqypt. They buy grain from him while none of his brother's money is ever accepted for payment.
The rest of Jacob's sons were born in pairs to three different women. Two handmaids and one very much loved woman who was not however buried with her husband in the cave of Machpelah like Leah was. Jacob seemed to understand that God intended Leah's marriage to him for good similarly to the understanding the Joseph later had regarding his being sold into servitude by his brothers that fateful day. Ishmaellites had purchased him. Ishmael--the brother whom Sarah sent away. They seem to have played a part in the saving of Joseph's life. I am amazed at how God takes despised and rejected humanity and elevates them to positions of honored service. Quietly they go about their work while only heaven takes note. Surely there was celebration over Joseph's life being spared. Just as I celebrated in my heart to read about Joseph in turn sparing the lives of the brothers who had all conspired against him to ruin his life.
There are so many verses that jumped off the page. I should have stopped to mark them as I read through Youversion this morning. Tomorrow I will use that nifty note feature to help me blog. Today, I'm left with my sketchy memory. Let's see, I recall the place where Jacob returns to worship was the place where God had first revealed himself to him (the ladder dream I believe). That place is mentioned. Not sure of the name---hmm. Beersheba is mentioned. So is Mamre'. Mamre'----the word---always reminds me of mammary glands. And I was reading through the story while breastfeeding my second son. I recall imagining that Joseph was like a Mama to the whole world. Feeding them through the famine. The silver cup he put in the sack of Benjamin (to frame him and thereby testing his other ten brothers) reminds me of the cup of wine on the table of shewbread (back to the sanctuary funiture parallels). The cup is said to have been his divining cup. Seems he truly did divine the characters of the brothers in the process of planting it in the sacks each time.
Judah's character comes out shining. Why? He chose to trade his life for hte life of Benjamin. He had truly changed. God had wrought repentence in his heart. He was vexed with the thought that his father's heart might break again with the loss of Benjamin too. As I ponder and meditate over this portrait of godly sorrow, I am humbled to recall the times that I have not looked upon my struggling brother or sister with this kind of love. My prayer today is that I will seek to save and never condemn. For how do I know who has been framed among me? I cannot divine people's hearts as Jesus can.
Finally, I remember that God had told Abraham that his seed would be placed in Eqypt. On the journey to Eqypt the author (Moses) mentions how that all Jacob's seed went with him. Each family member is numbered. There are 66 altogether (seed). But, 70 go to Eqypt. Jacob accounts for number 67 and Joseph with his two sons account for the other three. Sixty-six, of course reminds me of sin. 70 reminds me of maturity or perfection. Jesus said "I am the vine and ye are the branches. Except a branch abide in me...." I forget the exact wording of the rest but I will look it up.
Addendum---this was published before proofreading (there are some typos and whole portions that don't really connect the way I thought I was writing them). What happened was I had finished and just before I clicked to pre-view---my computer shut down for updates. Without warning. The only way I could recover it was to select publish beside the saved draft. It would not let me view it for there was no option for that. I will edit this later today but leave it published for now. I need to fill in some sketchy parts especially.
Ok. Here's a key point that I failed to mention. Joseph stored up all the grain during the time of 7 years of plenty. He then sold it to the Egyptians. This is the fact I'm am drawing on to say that he was like a Mama to the world during the time of famine. It is interesting to me that the Pharoah was willing to put his trust in a Hebrew whom Egyptians considered an abomination. God was surely able to turn things around for not only Joseph but for the whole Hebrew clan. Hunger does seem to steeply decrease our differences. He wasn't foolish when it came to choosing to abide by tradition in the wake of necessity. He realized Joseph was there for the good of all Egypt and he wasted no time in accepting this help from Joseph's god. It reminds me of how Jesus commentd, "...I have not found greater faith," when speaking to one of the gentiles that he had healed.
Yesterday I had a question as to how many of the sons were born from Leah. Today that question was answered. She bore Jacob six sons. Her handmaid delivered two. Rachael bore him two sons and her handmaid also delivered two more. Altogether there were twelve. The six sons of Leah seem to fit better in the candlestick arrangement. And Joseph nourished them along with his full-blooded brothers there in Eqypt. Joseph definitely lived out the Christ-figure in his role. He acknowledges how the brothers meant to do him harm but God meant the whole experience to bring restoration and nourishment to the family. He is their savior no less. Even to the whole nation of Eqypt. They buy grain from him while none of his brother's money is ever accepted for payment.
The rest of Jacob's sons were born in pairs to three different women. Two handmaids and one very much loved woman who was not however buried with her husband in the cave of Machpelah like Leah was. Jacob seemed to understand that God intended Leah's marriage to him for good similarly to the understanding the Joseph later had regarding his being sold into servitude by his brothers that fateful day. Ishmaellites had purchased him. Ishmael--the brother whom Sarah sent away. They seem to have played a part in the saving of Joseph's life. I am amazed at how God takes despised and rejected humanity and elevates them to positions of honored service. Quietly they go about their work while only heaven takes note. Surely there was celebration over Joseph's life being spared. Just as I celebrated in my heart to read about Joseph in turn sparing the lives of the brothers who had all conspired against him to ruin his life.
There are so many verses that jumped off the page. I should have stopped to mark them as I read through Youversion this morning. Tomorrow I will use that nifty note feature to help me blog. Today, I'm left with my sketchy memory. Let's see, I recall the place where Jacob returns to worship was the place where God had first revealed himself to him (the ladder dream I believe). That place is mentioned. Not sure of the name---hmm. Beersheba is mentioned. So is Mamre'. Mamre'----the word---always reminds me of mammary glands. And I was reading through the story while breastfeeding my second son. I recall imagining that Joseph was like a Mama to the whole world. Feeding them through the famine. The silver cup he put in the sack of Benjamin (to frame him and thereby testing his other ten brothers) reminds me of the cup of wine on the table of shewbread (back to the sanctuary funiture parallels). The cup is said to have been his divining cup. Seems he truly did divine the characters of the brothers in the process of planting it in the sacks each time.
Judah's character comes out shining. Why? He chose to trade his life for hte life of Benjamin. He had truly changed. God had wrought repentence in his heart. He was vexed with the thought that his father's heart might break again with the loss of Benjamin too. As I ponder and meditate over this portrait of godly sorrow, I am humbled to recall the times that I have not looked upon my struggling brother or sister with this kind of love. My prayer today is that I will seek to save and never condemn. For how do I know who has been framed among me? I cannot divine people's hearts as Jesus can.
Finally, I remember that God had told Abraham that his seed would be placed in Eqypt. On the journey to Eqypt the author (Moses) mentions how that all Jacob's seed went with him. Each family member is numbered. There are 66 altogether (seed). But, 70 go to Eqypt. Jacob accounts for number 67 and Joseph with his two sons account for the other three. Sixty-six, of course reminds me of sin. 70 reminds me of maturity or perfection. Jesus said "I am the vine and ye are the branches. Except a branch abide in me...." I forget the exact wording of the rest but I will look it up.
Addendum---this was published before proofreading (there are some typos and whole portions that don't really connect the way I thought I was writing them). What happened was I had finished and just before I clicked to pre-view---my computer shut down for updates. Without warning. The only way I could recover it was to select publish beside the saved draft. It would not let me view it for there was no option for that. I will edit this later today but leave it published for now. I need to fill in some sketchy parts especially.
Ok. Here's a key point that I failed to mention. Joseph stored up all the grain during the time of 7 years of plenty. He then sold it to the Egyptians. This is the fact I'm am drawing on to say that he was like a Mama to the world during the time of famine. It is interesting to me that the Pharoah was willing to put his trust in a Hebrew whom Egyptians considered an abomination. God was surely able to turn things around for not only Joseph but for the whole Hebrew clan. Hunger does seem to steeply decrease our differences. He wasn't foolish when it came to choosing to abide by tradition in the wake of necessity. He realized Joseph was there for the good of all Egypt and he wasted no time in accepting this help from Joseph's god. It reminds me of how Jesus commentd, "...I have not found greater faith," when speaking to one of the gentiles that he had healed.
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Salvation's Story Board----Bible in 90 days---Day 3
This morning when I first woke up it occurred to me that the stories of the patriarchs seem to depict different pieces of the sanctuary furniture. Yesterday's reading covered Isaac's life and part of Jacob's and of course the day before covered much of Abraham's. I really like reading in this raceway fashion because it encourages me to see things from a different perspective. More like flying above the ground in a small plane and viewing your neighborhood from above. It's a very different view.
The first piece of furniture seems to be a reminder of Abraham's life. The altar. Abraham built an atar when he left Ur of the Chaldees. Then when the son of promise, Isaac, finally came---Abraham knew the distinct voice of God so well that he had no doubt whose voice it was who told him to offer Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. It so amazes me that Abraham's faith had grown to the point that he would knowingly raise up a weapon against his own son, the son of promise (albeit his second son--not his firstborn). He was willing to let go and let God. What faith he had. It makes me wonder now if when Abraham told Sarai to lie to Abimilech---was he hearing the voice of God there too? The only one who rebuked him was Abimilech. Seems God knew just how to approach Abimilech. No bible scholar has ever suggested this I'll admit. And it seems rather radical. But, I'm just saying that's how the story reads. Unless you add a lot of commentary.
But, back to the second piece of furniture. I do get sidetracked so easily which is why these flybyes are so critical to me refocusing. The second piece of furniture was the laver. Isaac dug wells with the help of his father. Then after Abraham died, the citizens of the land where they were sojourning filled the wells with dirt forcing him to find other sources for water. Isaac then dug many wells during his lifetime. The laver was full of water. And it seems to represent a well. The well is a beautiful metaphor. Incidentally, Jacob met his wife at a well---ok he met her inderectly through Eleazar. Jacob's favored son Joseph almost lost his life in a pit. One of those wells that had been filled with dirt? Makes me wonder. The well has always reminded me of new birth. Jacob's life started out with a very interesting birth (grabbing the heel of his brother). Also of interest is the seemingly mirror image story of the twins born to Tamar (Judah's daughter-in-law). There has to be something important for us to grasp in these two stories. But, how often do scholars discuss the second story?
The third piece of furniture was the table of shewbread. It held the wine and the bread. Two stacks of bread and one cup of wine if my memory serves me correctly. I guess when we get to Exodus and Leviticus I will be reminded once again. But for now, I'll just draw from my sketchy memory. Esau's life was about hunting and barbecuing. Jacob's life was about domestic cooking---he made the red pottage. Esau wanted the red pottage. That's all he could think about on that fateful hungry day when he lost his birthright to Jacob. Esau had many sons just like Jacob. And they were all tribe leaders called chiefs. The table of shewbread seems to point to the stories of Jacob and Esau.
Finally, the candlestick with the seven lights seems to depict Joseph. First of all the coat of many colors reminds me of a rainbow which is merely light bending or bowing. Joseph's famous dream was about the sheaves bowing to one in the middle. The candlestick is in the shape of a rainbow (well it's upside down I suppose--but the shape is still there). Also, the six lights are bent or bowed around the one center one. I guess there aren't twelve brothers around one center brother but then I wonder if the sons of the conqubines might be depicted elsewhere in the sanctuary? I have yet to check and see how many sons were born by the servants versus the wives. But, it does make me wonder. I've felt for a long time that the candlestick depicts Joseph's life and that studying the life of Joseph could help me understand this element of salvation. In a way, I guess I see the sanctuary as a large interactive story chart. Like a teacher uses to set up discussions. The type of chart that sorts information for study and discussion.
I can't wait to read tomorrow and see if there are any more icons that seem to line up with the sanctuary story board.
After previewing this post--I recall now that snugly inserted there somewhere after the story of Jacob is the story of Joseph's encounter with the butler and the baker. Seeing those two stories so closely together---I can't help but notice that the butler and the baker's stories seem to fall into the category of the table of shewbread. There's the glass of wine and the baskets of bread. One loses his life, the other one lives. The one with the wine lives. Not exactly what you'd expect. Wine and grapes are often symbols of something negative (from what I recall). More study for another day....
The first piece of furniture seems to be a reminder of Abraham's life. The altar. Abraham built an atar when he left Ur of the Chaldees. Then when the son of promise, Isaac, finally came---Abraham knew the distinct voice of God so well that he had no doubt whose voice it was who told him to offer Isaac on the altar of sacrifice. It so amazes me that Abraham's faith had grown to the point that he would knowingly raise up a weapon against his own son, the son of promise (albeit his second son--not his firstborn). He was willing to let go and let God. What faith he had. It makes me wonder now if when Abraham told Sarai to lie to Abimilech---was he hearing the voice of God there too? The only one who rebuked him was Abimilech. Seems God knew just how to approach Abimilech. No bible scholar has ever suggested this I'll admit. And it seems rather radical. But, I'm just saying that's how the story reads. Unless you add a lot of commentary.
But, back to the second piece of furniture. I do get sidetracked so easily which is why these flybyes are so critical to me refocusing. The second piece of furniture was the laver. Isaac dug wells with the help of his father. Then after Abraham died, the citizens of the land where they were sojourning filled the wells with dirt forcing him to find other sources for water. Isaac then dug many wells during his lifetime. The laver was full of water. And it seems to represent a well. The well is a beautiful metaphor. Incidentally, Jacob met his wife at a well---ok he met her inderectly through Eleazar. Jacob's favored son Joseph almost lost his life in a pit. One of those wells that had been filled with dirt? Makes me wonder. The well has always reminded me of new birth. Jacob's life started out with a very interesting birth (grabbing the heel of his brother). Also of interest is the seemingly mirror image story of the twins born to Tamar (Judah's daughter-in-law). There has to be something important for us to grasp in these two stories. But, how often do scholars discuss the second story?
The third piece of furniture was the table of shewbread. It held the wine and the bread. Two stacks of bread and one cup of wine if my memory serves me correctly. I guess when we get to Exodus and Leviticus I will be reminded once again. But for now, I'll just draw from my sketchy memory. Esau's life was about hunting and barbecuing. Jacob's life was about domestic cooking---he made the red pottage. Esau wanted the red pottage. That's all he could think about on that fateful hungry day when he lost his birthright to Jacob. Esau had many sons just like Jacob. And they were all tribe leaders called chiefs. The table of shewbread seems to point to the stories of Jacob and Esau.
Finally, the candlestick with the seven lights seems to depict Joseph. First of all the coat of many colors reminds me of a rainbow which is merely light bending or bowing. Joseph's famous dream was about the sheaves bowing to one in the middle. The candlestick is in the shape of a rainbow (well it's upside down I suppose--but the shape is still there). Also, the six lights are bent or bowed around the one center one. I guess there aren't twelve brothers around one center brother but then I wonder if the sons of the conqubines might be depicted elsewhere in the sanctuary? I have yet to check and see how many sons were born by the servants versus the wives. But, it does make me wonder. I've felt for a long time that the candlestick depicts Joseph's life and that studying the life of Joseph could help me understand this element of salvation. In a way, I guess I see the sanctuary as a large interactive story chart. Like a teacher uses to set up discussions. The type of chart that sorts information for study and discussion.
I can't wait to read tomorrow and see if there are any more icons that seem to line up with the sanctuary story board.
After previewing this post--I recall now that snugly inserted there somewhere after the story of Jacob is the story of Joseph's encounter with the butler and the baker. Seeing those two stories so closely together---I can't help but notice that the butler and the baker's stories seem to fall into the category of the table of shewbread. There's the glass of wine and the baskets of bread. One loses his life, the other one lives. The one with the wine lives. Not exactly what you'd expect. Wine and grapes are often symbols of something negative (from what I recall). More study for another day....
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Sleepless in the South
My human nature keeps me in trouble. This time I couldn't sleep. So, I figured why not read? The Youversion.com usually takes me right back to where I left off reading and since that was in the reading plan "through the bible in 90 days" I assumed it would tell me where to stop. Well, it would have it I'd been on the right page. Not sure how I got off the page because I am sure I started on the right page. Oh well, I read way ahead but since I was sleepless, I'm not sure how much of it registered in the right lobe. Or left lobe...especially the frontal lobe where I need it the most.
So, I'm left with just some images that stuck with me after reading. These include the wells that Abraham and Isaac digged together. Each had special names and I recall upon reading this story which is only cursory, seems to imply a portrait album of Jehovah (the new American Standard version is what happened to turn up on Youversion so that is the version I am reading). Of course I want to go back and study this later. But moving on, I recall how when Jacob deceived his father and then was sent to the homeland of his mother out of necessity for his life and secondarily to find a wife, how God visited him in a dream. That famous Jacob's ladder dream. I've wondered if that location was the eventual location of a great event. Maybe I read about that somewhere. Later, yes, I want to study that too.
God's visit through the dream leaves an impression on me. There was no reprimand about his deception. No. Not one word. Only promises. Jacob of course must surely have been led to understand the end of decptive practices after experiencing all that Laban would dish out. Still, God's pervasive arms of love extend through Jacob's web. He meets with him in dreams to give him inside knowledge of the way in which his flocks are multifplying. He reveals his justice to him in spite of the fact that his mother's sin (well, I guess it still is a sin if you are faced with trying to honor God's prophecy of the elder serving the younger son). Jacob had been faced with either serving his mother or his father. I'm sure that his mother's story about God telling her how Esau would serve him must have caused distress.
Discerning God's will is not an easy thing according to these stories in Genesis. Far be it from me to condemn any of them. I'm amazed at the way God keeps pursuing Jacob and coming close to him throughout his journey towards increasingly developing a more godly character. To think that he fought with God and had a scarred hip to prove it. That is just mind boggling. It reminds me of the day when my youngest son was born and I chose to forego the anesthesia (first experience wasn't a good one so that helped make the decision). I remember that feeling of fighting for my blessing. Believing that my child would be born healthy. Doing everything humanly possible to facillitate the process. He was born! And I will never forget the nickel-sized bald spot on the pinacle of his head. It looked like someone had shaved it off. I realized that it was due to the fact my spine had been stuck and not budging. One trip to the chiropractor had allowed his head to move beyond that one point. Later, the chiropractor put me back in alignment. But, I'd have been willing to do whatever it took to help him be born.
I guess God is that way only moreso. He did what it took to help Jacob be born again. I think that when his name was changed to Isreal--that was significant of his character change. It was something that was changed in Jacob's heart. He understood the end results of sin. And he was changed in ways that his sons had not yet had the life experiences to understand.
These stories are so full of depth and amazing parenting models about how God parented his children. I pray that God will give me wisdom to parent as he does.
So, I'm left with just some images that stuck with me after reading. These include the wells that Abraham and Isaac digged together. Each had special names and I recall upon reading this story which is only cursory, seems to imply a portrait album of Jehovah (the new American Standard version is what happened to turn up on Youversion so that is the version I am reading). Of course I want to go back and study this later. But moving on, I recall how when Jacob deceived his father and then was sent to the homeland of his mother out of necessity for his life and secondarily to find a wife, how God visited him in a dream. That famous Jacob's ladder dream. I've wondered if that location was the eventual location of a great event. Maybe I read about that somewhere. Later, yes, I want to study that too.
God's visit through the dream leaves an impression on me. There was no reprimand about his deception. No. Not one word. Only promises. Jacob of course must surely have been led to understand the end of decptive practices after experiencing all that Laban would dish out. Still, God's pervasive arms of love extend through Jacob's web. He meets with him in dreams to give him inside knowledge of the way in which his flocks are multifplying. He reveals his justice to him in spite of the fact that his mother's sin (well, I guess it still is a sin if you are faced with trying to honor God's prophecy of the elder serving the younger son). Jacob had been faced with either serving his mother or his father. I'm sure that his mother's story about God telling her how Esau would serve him must have caused distress.
Discerning God's will is not an easy thing according to these stories in Genesis. Far be it from me to condemn any of them. I'm amazed at the way God keeps pursuing Jacob and coming close to him throughout his journey towards increasingly developing a more godly character. To think that he fought with God and had a scarred hip to prove it. That is just mind boggling. It reminds me of the day when my youngest son was born and I chose to forego the anesthesia (first experience wasn't a good one so that helped make the decision). I remember that feeling of fighting for my blessing. Believing that my child would be born healthy. Doing everything humanly possible to facillitate the process. He was born! And I will never forget the nickel-sized bald spot on the pinacle of his head. It looked like someone had shaved it off. I realized that it was due to the fact my spine had been stuck and not budging. One trip to the chiropractor had allowed his head to move beyond that one point. Later, the chiropractor put me back in alignment. But, I'd have been willing to do whatever it took to help him be born.
I guess God is that way only moreso. He did what it took to help Jacob be born again. I think that when his name was changed to Isreal--that was significant of his character change. It was something that was changed in Jacob's heart. He understood the end results of sin. And he was changed in ways that his sons had not yet had the life experiences to understand.
These stories are so full of depth and amazing parenting models about how God parented his children. I pray that God will give me wisdom to parent as he does.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Back from Vacation and ready for my 90-day trip through the Bible!
Just returned from a thrilling vacation out in nature with my family. My sons were both baptised in Lake Martin! They had witnessed a depiction of the events which led to the cross (renacted by college students) and each of them with tender hearts pleaded to be baptised. "It's the perfect place!" my eldest son proclaimed. It was!
A portion of this morning's reading was shared with my youngest son since he gets up early and joins me. He wasn't ready to quit at chapter 16! I suppose I need to find the section for the Children's Survey of the Bible in 90 days. I didn't sign up for it. Hopefully it isn't too late.
There were several parts of today's reading that stopped me with questions. Genesis always does make me wonder about so much. But, it is good to speed past the questions on toward the edges of this vast portrait of God...so I don't get bogged down with the trees and miss the proverbial forest!
A couple things which would not have jumped off the page had I stopped with chapter 2 or 3 as you would do in a typical reading plan, was the fact that God led Abram to the land of Canaan where the people who were living under the curse of their father's sin lived. This proves once again that for every discipline God metes out---inherent in that discipline is the great love of the Father. Somewhere else in the Bible it says that God chastens those he loves. Abram's willingness to go and be an evangelist by living in the land where rebellious people who had left Adam's God, Jehovah, to run from God--- simply amazes me. He (Abraham)is so much like God.
Now to figure out how to link my blog to my mentor Sue's blog.
TTB90days
A portion of this morning's reading was shared with my youngest son since he gets up early and joins me. He wasn't ready to quit at chapter 16! I suppose I need to find the section for the Children's Survey of the Bible in 90 days. I didn't sign up for it. Hopefully it isn't too late.
There were several parts of today's reading that stopped me with questions. Genesis always does make me wonder about so much. But, it is good to speed past the questions on toward the edges of this vast portrait of God...so I don't get bogged down with the trees and miss the proverbial forest!
A couple things which would not have jumped off the page had I stopped with chapter 2 or 3 as you would do in a typical reading plan, was the fact that God led Abram to the land of Canaan where the people who were living under the curse of their father's sin lived. This proves once again that for every discipline God metes out---inherent in that discipline is the great love of the Father. Somewhere else in the Bible it says that God chastens those he loves. Abram's willingness to go and be an evangelist by living in the land where rebellious people who had left Adam's God, Jehovah, to run from God--- simply amazes me. He (Abraham)is so much like God.
Now to figure out how to link my blog to my mentor Sue's blog.
TTB90days
Wednesday, June 29, 2011
Blogging Through the Gospels John 11
This morning John 11 spoke to my heart and soul. I was amazed at how Jesus was deeply moved in his spirit as Mary shared her anguish after the death of her brother. Jesus knew that he was about to raise Lazarus to life. Yet, he also knew that he would soon be led down the road of ridicule and rebuke---ending in complete separation from his father. I think that it was this fact and temptation that really shook Jesus up all the more. He truly was tempted like we are---only so much more. The weight of the universe was on his shoulders. And he trusted in the father for the duration of his life on earth.
Another thing that rose off the page for me was the fact that the high priest, though totally at odds with Jesus earthly ministry (which went against the grain of the Jewish traditions) actually prophesied Jesus death even though he could not, with uncleansed heart, appreciate the real application for the entire universe.
This reminds me that even when things seem to be dark and desperate, God is at work weaving those golden strands of redemption throughout the tapestry of our lives. I can lift up my head and rejoice in the night.
Another thing that rose off the page for me was the fact that the high priest, though totally at odds with Jesus earthly ministry (which went against the grain of the Jewish traditions) actually prophesied Jesus death even though he could not, with uncleansed heart, appreciate the real application for the entire universe.
This reminds me that even when things seem to be dark and desperate, God is at work weaving those golden strands of redemption throughout the tapestry of our lives. I can lift up my head and rejoice in the night.
Blogging Through the Gospels
#Mom'sToolbox is a new and delightful blog I ran across last week. That's where I learned about blogging through the Bible. Through the Bible in 90 days doesn't begin for a few more days. So, I thought I'd test this blogging/twitter thing out via the current studies. John 11 is where I'm jumping on. Wheee!
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