Old Versus New

Previously when I read through the Bible in a year, I always read straight through, Genesis to Revelation. And I'm not gonna lie, theNew Testament is easier. There is some horrific stuff in the Old Testament, hard to get through. Most likely because the story of redemption isn't a pretty one. First off anything that needs redeemed is in a bad place to begin with. And, I suppose, every redeemer has to do some self-sacrificing in order to accomplish his or her mission. Think of an antiquer restoring a valuable piece, or an architect renovating an old house, or a construction worker shoring up a dilapidated barn. How much harder to redeem a fallen, falling apart, sinful person. Let's face it, the human race (my people and yours) are scoundrels -- not totally our fault. God gave us this self-centered heart and then (what was He thinking?) He gave us free will. The picture in the Old Testament is clear, people don't choose well and even the best of them do some terrible bad things. King David for example.

All that to say, I'm glad to be following a reading program that mixes Old readings and New, Psalms and Proverbs added in. Today, I finished Genesis, continued in Matthew, read Psalm 14 and Proverbs 4:20-24. Good words from Proverbs to meditate on today, "...give attention to (God's) words...keep them in your heart; for they are life to those who find them, and health to their flesh."

Oswald Chambers Daily Devotional Bible

Today is the last day of January. I began these daily devotions one week into January 2012, so I'm a week behind...but...who cares? I will be absolutely jubilant if I read through the entire Bible by the end of next January. That's something I haven't done for quite a while. It's time. For added incentive I've got a girlfriend working along side me...maybe two girlfriends. Just today my friend, Lisa, asked if she could get in on it. Sure, the more the merrier! The better to be held accountable, too.

We're up to Genesis 48, Matthew 15, Psalm 13 and Proverbs 4.

Today's bit of inspiration from the great Oswald Chambers is Great is Your Faith  from Matthew 15:22-28. It starts out, "Common sense is not faith, and faith is not common sense..." I'm intrigued. Must go read.

For Operation Christmas Child, 'tis the Season

Merry Christmas!

Give gifts to children who need and appreciate them. Give the gift of love.

The department stores are putting out their holiday displays. I don't mind. It's a wonderful season. I like to think of it as pre-advent. Let's get ready, to get ready, for the coming of the babe who will bring salvation. I love the Christmas story. It brings tears to my eyes when I think what it would have been like for his earthly mother and father. The conception, the birth, the miraculous signs and wonders.

Of course Christmas is just a celebration remembering what Jesus has already done for us. He came, he walked and talked, lived and breathed, he died and rose again -- that we might have eternal life. And make no mistake, He came to save the world, not to condemn it. That's the message we should share more often than we do. God so loved the world...

Think on that for these next couple of months while the lights are blinking, the music is playing, and the jolly fat gift giver is handing out presents. Grab onto the gift God gave and live ever after.

Psalm 90:17

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
   establish the work of our hands for us—
   yes, establish the work of our hands.

Really? Two Blogs?

What made me think I could keep up two blogs? Here, let's do this...http://betsyhenning.blogspot.com/2011/09/sunny-sunday-morning.html

I know that's cheating, but hey, I'm only cheating myself -- out of writing practice. Still.

Be Safe and Secure

The nicest place to be is in someone's thoughts. The safest place to be is in someone's prayers.
And the best place to be is in God's hands.
C. Marilyn Austin

God Bless America

I'll probably be embarrassed for posting this tomorrow, but that doesn't stop me now. It's something I've been thinking about all day.

I heard that there was a service to commemorate the tragedy of 9/11 held at "Washington National Cathedral, representatives from several religions will be leading—including a Buddhist nun, an Imam, a rabbi, and a Hindu priest—but no Protestant or evangelical Christian. President Obama will be attending and delivering his remarks on Sunday evening. (Click here to read the article from Fox news.)" I just copied and pasted so that link probably won't work. No matter, I'm not a fan of Fox news -- just wanted you to know where this information came from. Below is my response to  Paul Chappell's blog post entitled Where is Tolerance? Pastor Chappell motivated me to write something since, as I said, I was thinking all day today on this sad anniversary of 9/11 about Christians, faith, politics, and tolerance...

Today many of us evangelical Christians pray for God to bless America while slandering the leadership He has placed over us. For better or for worse, we're not a tolerant people. It's no wonder we find ourselves excluded from nationwide events that promote tolerance.

Let's forgive whoever was responsible for excluding Christians from the commemorative service for 9/11. That would be the Christ-like thing to do. Besides, it was a service to honor the fallen, and we Christian evangelicals can't always be trusted to stick to the script. Hey, any platform to tell people about Jesus! More importantly, if we stop throwing stones at sinners (a category we all fall into) we might get included in that exclusive, but not all inclusive, club that promotes tolerance here in the good old U.S.of A.

(And my reply to Jonas Harley's comment in which he says,

1. Doesn’t surprise me. Even if they did invite an evangelical who had any grit and conviction, he would turn them down. I wouldn’t be interested in praying along side a prophet of Baal. It would be perceived by many as syncretism and the devil loves syncretism.)
   
   Me @Jonas — it should be an honor to pray next to a prophet of Baal. I’ve read that our God answered the prayer of one righteous man in a dramatic way even while 400 prophets were trying, sans result, to get Baal’s attention. Wow, it would be so cool to see that happen again!