In 2011, I read through the entire Bible. Last year I decided to cut the amount down and just did the OT. At the end of the year I did the Priscilla Shirer study that I have previously blogged about. It taught me some really valuable tips on journaling and so when I decided to do the NT this year, I began writing my thoughts in a journal. As I was riding to NOLA last week, Dustin had his ear buds in and I just turned the radio down and rode in the silence. I was staring at the stars and praying and my thought led to my blog. I thought about blogging what I had journaled. I wasn't sure if I should do it though. I didn't want it to be this whole "look what I am doing" thing and I wasn't sure that people would want to read. I put a feeler out on FB and several said they would enjoy reading it...SO here we are. I am going to go back and start at the beginning. I would love to tell you that I do this every day. That would be a lie. I try. But somedays I let Satan have the victory. I am trying to fight that battle. Maybe this will make me more accountable. Keep in mind, I am no Bible scholar. Also, what speaks to me may not always be the verses we always hear. They are not always what jump off the page at me. I try to think about things in different ways to see what I may have missed before. I would love any and all feed back. I hope this becomes an encouragement to you. If you are not doing daily reading right now, maybe this will be the push you need. Please prayerfully read and enjoy(I hope!)
Matthew1:
- The only 4 women listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew were women who had horrid stories that God decided to transform. How beautiful.
1. Tamar-(from Genesis) Her husband died and her brother in law would not fill his obligation to get her pregnant. So, she pretended to be a prostitute and tricked her father in law into getting her pregnant.
2. Rahab- A prostitute who hid the Israeli spies and in return they saved her and her family.
3. Ruth- Her husband died but Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, married her.
4. The wife of Uriah, Bathsheeba,- Adulteress who later married David after he had her husband killed. That child died but she was later given many more.
***God takes our mistakes and bad choices and messes and can turn them for our good. And the good of others.
--Odd fact in verse 17(a math nerd like me LOVES this stuff)
Abraham--14 generations-->David--14 generations-->Deported to Babylon--14 generations-->Christ.
--Joseph is one of my biblical heroes. He is kind. He did not want to shame Mary after being so hurt thinking she had cheated on him **How much grace do I give people? Especially when I am seriously wounded?
--Joseph did not sleep with Mary until after she had given birth to Jesus. He had all the right to. I am sure he wanted to. BUT keeping the whole birth of the Son of God Holy and pure overrode his desires. **How often do I let my own desires override what God wants and the Spirit is telling me???
**Joseph constantly amazes me I believe he is one of the most overlooked characters of the Bible. SO honorable. So faithful.
Matthew 2:
--Verse2: "his star" They knew who the star belong to!
--The wisemen outsmarted Herod.
--Verse 10: "going into the house" Jesus obviously lived in a house at this time.
--Verse 10: They worshiped with exceedingly great joy. **How do I worship??
--Jesus lived in Egypt for part of his young life.
--Verse 16-18: I cannot imagine my child being killed for no reason. Especially the horrific way they died.
--The wisemen, the trickery, Herod dying. It all fulfilled certain prophecies. That is no coincidence. God knows all and it is so apparent. God is faithful to His Word.
Matthew 3:
--Verse 4: John the Baptist looked and acted different. **Am I willing to act and be perceived as weird or different for the sake of Christ?
--Verse 9: God does not care who I am or who I come from. He wants me honestly and fully.
--Verse 10: Am I producing good fruit??
--Verse 11: Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. It awakens us and keeps us working for Him. Water baptism is for repentance.
--Verse 16-God's spirit descended "like a dove" and it rested on Him. To see that must have been incredible. I actually find it hard to imagine. It doesn't say it was a dove, just like a dove. Very hard to picture exactly what that was like. One of those "you had to be there" moments.
--Verse 17: I want God to call me beloved and for Him to be well pleased.
I hope you enjoy. Some things I get way more out of than others. I believe that is how the Holy Spirit works. He talks to us all different ways. I hope maybe I encouraged you and maybe helped you see something new or something old in a different way!
Matthew1:
- The only 4 women listed in the genealogy of Jesus in Matthew were women who had horrid stories that God decided to transform. How beautiful.
1. Tamar-(from Genesis) Her husband died and her brother in law would not fill his obligation to get her pregnant. So, she pretended to be a prostitute and tricked her father in law into getting her pregnant.
2. Rahab- A prostitute who hid the Israeli spies and in return they saved her and her family.
3. Ruth- Her husband died but Boaz, the kinsman redeemer, married her.
4. The wife of Uriah, Bathsheeba,- Adulteress who later married David after he had her husband killed. That child died but she was later given many more.
***God takes our mistakes and bad choices and messes and can turn them for our good. And the good of others.
--Odd fact in verse 17(a math nerd like me LOVES this stuff)
Abraham--14 generations-->David--14 generations-->Deported to Babylon--14 generations-->Christ.
--Joseph is one of my biblical heroes. He is kind. He did not want to shame Mary after being so hurt thinking she had cheated on him **How much grace do I give people? Especially when I am seriously wounded?
--Joseph did not sleep with Mary until after she had given birth to Jesus. He had all the right to. I am sure he wanted to. BUT keeping the whole birth of the Son of God Holy and pure overrode his desires. **How often do I let my own desires override what God wants and the Spirit is telling me???
**Joseph constantly amazes me I believe he is one of the most overlooked characters of the Bible. SO honorable. So faithful.
Matthew 2:
--Verse2: "his star" They knew who the star belong to!
--The wisemen outsmarted Herod.
--Verse 10: "going into the house" Jesus obviously lived in a house at this time.
--Verse 10: They worshiped with exceedingly great joy. **How do I worship??
--Jesus lived in Egypt for part of his young life.
--Verse 16-18: I cannot imagine my child being killed for no reason. Especially the horrific way they died.
--The wisemen, the trickery, Herod dying. It all fulfilled certain prophecies. That is no coincidence. God knows all and it is so apparent. God is faithful to His Word.
Matthew 3:
--Verse 4: John the Baptist looked and acted different. **Am I willing to act and be perceived as weird or different for the sake of Christ?
--Verse 9: God does not care who I am or who I come from. He wants me honestly and fully.
--Verse 10: Am I producing good fruit??
--Verse 11: Jesus baptizes with the Holy Spirit and fire. It awakens us and keeps us working for Him. Water baptism is for repentance.
--Verse 16-God's spirit descended "like a dove" and it rested on Him. To see that must have been incredible. I actually find it hard to imagine. It doesn't say it was a dove, just like a dove. Very hard to picture exactly what that was like. One of those "you had to be there" moments.
--Verse 17: I want God to call me beloved and for Him to be well pleased.
I hope you enjoy. Some things I get way more out of than others. I believe that is how the Holy Spirit works. He talks to us all different ways. I hope maybe I encouraged you and maybe helped you see something new or something old in a different way!
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