Journaling My Way Through the Bible

I was always told that when something is repeated in scripture it is considered very important. Here in the first chapter of Haggai we have the phrase "consider your ways" twice in 2 verses. This phrase means to ponder your actions and the resulting experiences. I think this is important. I was talking to my mom today on the phone and we were talking about a person who died recently. She asked me if this person was a Christian and I said that they went to church and claimed to be a Christian but that they lived a more worldly life than I was comfortable with. She commented, "If Christianity was made illegal, would there be enough evidence to convict you?" Wow! Talk about considering your ways? I have been thinking on that question all day. Would my life stand up in court if I was accused of being a Christian. What witnesses would there be? What evidence would be brought forth? I definitely makes you think!

I really have been reading lately. Just not blogging. We had a marathon baking day yesterday and I have not been feeling well. So here is two books in one blog. Habakkuk - Wait! The thing that struck me about Habakkuk is the change that occurs in his life throughout the book. We go from a man who is complaining to God to one who is saying that he will wait for the deliverance of God and rejoices. At the beginning of the book we hear Habakkuk's lament or complaint to God. Not just once but twice. God responds in each case. The second response of God is very interesting. That is where Habakkuk is told to be patient. He tells Habakkuk that the "righteous shall live by faith." It is interesting because that verse is quoted in the New Testament in some form 4 different times. Romans 1:17, Galatians 3:11, Ephesians 2:8 and Hebrews 10:38-39 I never realized those familiar passages were actually referencing an Old Testament verse. In Habakkuk's prayer in Chapter 3 he says he ...

Most people reading this book would not think of comfort as a theme. That is what Nahum means and it fits. This book tells of the ultimate destruction of Nineveh and the Assyrians. This message that Nahum brings is COMFORT to the Israelites. The Assyrians had been used by God to bring punishment to them but then God would turn around and bring destruction to the Assyrians. The Assyrians were not destroyed for any reason other than they were godless and idolatrous. Does that sound familiar. America has become like Nineveh. We are a godless and idolatrous nation. We are totally me focused as a nation. Christians are as guilty of this as the ones who claim there is no God. Especially around Christmas time I am absolutely amazed at the greediness and pure selfishness of my fellow Americans. I am guilty of it too. I should be doing all I can to help those that are less fortunate than myself and yet I stay in my house. I am afraid of what others my think of me. I know this has gotten off top...

Th every first words of Micah are to hear and to pay attention. Micah is talking about the judgement that is to come to Israel and Judah as a result of their sin. Even though this book is about punishment and condemnation, we see some very familiar and famous passages included in it. I think the admonition at the beginning to pay attention reminds us to keep reading. Despite being told again about the sin of Israel and other nations we find nuggets of scripture here in this book, but we have to pay attention or we will miss it. The first nugget for me came in chapter 5. We have the wonderful prophecy of a ruler that is to be born in a lowly city named Bethlehem. From this tiny village will come a shepherd who will bring peace to all. He will be ruler that was talked about from of old. Right smack in the middle of doom and gloom is the hope of all the world so PAY ATTENTION! The next nugget I found was in 6:8. Here we find what God requires of us. The laws of God summed up in one verse....

Four chapters that have been made into plays, books, poems, movies, and is one of the most well known and well loved Bible stories. Most Americans will be able to tell with some accuracy the story of Jonah and the whale. The Bible calls it a great fish, not a whale, but that is not what I noticed about this book. The first thing I notice is that Jonah was given a command BUT he went in the opposite direction trying to flee from God. We think that Jonah doing this is pretty silly. How can we run from God? Psalm 139:7-12 states that there is no where that we can flee from God. HE is everywhere. What struck me is that today we still try to do the same thing Jonah did. We know what we are supposed to do and we make every excuse not to. We will do whatever it takes to not do what God commands. The funny thing is occurs in the next BUT in this book. God is in complete control and no matter what we do He always brings us back to where he want us to be. Even in the midst of something that was ...

One Chapter Who was Obadiah anyway? We only know him by his name but what a powerful name it is. Obadiah means "one who serves Yahweh." Maybe I should name our next boy Obadiah. Obadiah speaks judgement on a nation that God used to punish the Jews for not obeying. The thing that struck me was how prideful they were. They thought they did everything in their own power and strength. Verse 3 states that "the pride of your heart has deceived you." Wow! Pride is extremely deceiving because it causes us to think that we can do no wrong. Everyone else is at fault. There is no way that we have blame in anything that goes wrong. In verse 12-14, Obadiah lists eight things that Edom did wrong. Four of them had to do with gloating, boasting, and rejoicing over the downfall of Judah and their distress. How often do I rejoice in the downfall of someone? I see a news story on television about a murderer being caught and sent to prison and I think "Yes, justice is served. They...

Two years ago our pastor at Calvary Baptist Church challenged us all to read the Bible all the way through in a year. I had done it before but it had been a while. I was saved at the age of 12 and had read it through about 8 times. Last year I started and was doing very well. Life took some turns and I did not finish. This year I made the commitment to read all the way through. Life again took some turns but I was really committed. In fact, my plan was to read it through twice. I was right on track even with the birth of Caleb in June. In September I had to deal with some really difficult decisions that had to be made regarding my marriage. I have to admit that I have not read my Bible consistently since September. I have studied it with several Bible studies I am doing but I have not read it every day. Because of all the extra reading I did this year I am still on track to finish by the end of the year. I only have some of the minor prophets left. I think that the Lord was preparing m...