January 28, 2018

Readings for this week:

28 Jan.                        Exodus 7-8/Psalms 13-14

29 Jan.                        Exodus 9-10/Matthew 21

30 Jan.                        Exodus 11-12/ Matthew 22

31 Jan.                        Exodus 13-14/Matthew 23

1 Feb.             Exodus 15-16/Psalms 15-16

2 Feb.             Exodus 17-18/Matthew 24

3 Feb.             Exodus 19-20/Matthew 25

 

Things to look for as you read this week:

·      What Jewish group did not believe in a resurrection of the dead?

·      God provided for the children of Israel in the wilderness not only by giving them manna. What else did God give them for food?

·      What does the eighth commandment prohibit?

 

Last week's answers:

• What does God tell Moses to say to the children of Israel when they ask the name of the God who sent him? ("I AM," or "I AM WHO I AM."—Exodus 3:14)
• Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Who answers, and what does he say? (Simon Peter replies, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.")

 

 

Celebrate Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow

I just came from a "Celebration of Life!"  It was held on Saturday for my dear Aunt Nancy, who passed away last week.  The service was inspiring and was filled with wonderful memories of Nancy. Many of her family members shared heart felt stories including my sister and mother.  The service was filled with tears and laughter; and God's Holy Word was the centerpiece.  I was struck by so many who loved Nancy and the impact that she had on their lives. She was kind.  Never a discouraging word. She was positive.  Uplifting.  Sweet. She was......Nancy.  But what I will remember the most from her celebration was something that my mom said to me privately. 

Mom shared with me through tears that Nancy was the last person left here on earth that could share memories of their childhood together. Her parents and siblings had all passed. And mom is left. I so understand that feeling. As I have grown older, I have realized how much I enjoy time with people my age or older.  There is a special spark that we baby-boomers have when it comes to memories and stories of our childhood. Even the smallest things we share like song lyrics, jokes from the past, stories about school, or events that have marked our lives come flooding back when you spend time reminiscing with someone your own age.  It's comfortable. It's joyful.  It's a smile.  It's the past.  

Scripture is a lot like those times together with our family and friends.  Scripture tells us of a past that we all can share. Regardless of our age!  Things that guide us and lead us through the struggle we call life.  Those who lived before us seem to look into our souls when we read passages about our conflicts and fears.  And God is there.   He is there to confide in and share our most intimate stories. He understands, just like mom understood Nancy's feelings. He has been with us through it all. From the first time we came to be, to the moment that loved ones are gathered around us to say goodbye.  After mom said this to me I told her that at some point in everyone's life, we can look back with fondness but we have to look forward to those we love that are here with us.  A time to make new memories!  She nodded her head yes and went back to what she was doing. Just as we should look ahead, scripture also can be used to guide us in our future.  God promises that, even though we will not be spared trials and tribulations of this life, He will be with us and will not let us go.  He is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble (Psalms 46:1).  

Life has a funny way of reminding us that we are God's children, and He is God.  I was reminded by the powerful moment when we gave God His child back. As the sunlight poured into that plain white room at the funeral home, a feeling of grace and love overcame our emotions. What once had seemed a tearful beginning, God had revealed Himself through His scripture and the words spoken and sung.  A comfort, beyond understanding, came in with us, and abided with us.  Nancy's earthly body was gone, but her spirit and soul were walking through Heaven's gates as He had promised. And we knew it. We all could sense it. Scripture is our life. It is our way to better understand God and His plan for us.  It's a comforting story from our past and an enlightening story for our future. As you read the Bible through this year, find your story.  Your path. God is on your path and if you read His word, He will meet you there. I know!  I just came from a "Celebration of Life!"  And I met Him there.  Celebrate in His Word!

Scott

January 21, 2018

YEAR OF THE BIBLE READINGS:

21 Jan.        Genesis 43-44/ Psalm 10

22 Jan.        Genesis 45-46/ Matthew 16

23 Jan.        Genesis 47-48/ Matthew 17

24 Jan.        Genesis 49-50/ Matthew 18

25 Jan.        Exodus 1-2/ Psalms 11-12

26 Jan.        Exodus 3-4/ Matthew 19

27 Jan.        Exodus 5-6/ Matthew 20

Things to look for as you read this week:

• What does God tell Moses to say to the children of Israel when they ask the name of the God who sent him?
• Jesus asks His disciples, "Who do you say I am?" Who answers, and what does he say?

Last week's answers:

• While Jesus considers natural descent and family important, what is still more important?  (Doing God's will--Matt. 12:46-50)
• Shortly after being sold as a slave in Egypt, Joseph's position worsens. Why? (He is falsely accused of immorality and ends up in prison.--Gen. 39:20)

Bible Study This Sunday at 5pm

We're having our very first monthly Bible Study this Sunday at 5pm! We'll discuss scriptures we've read and explore what they mean in our lives.

If you'd like to come, click here. 

...so we'll know how many are coming. (If you've already signed up, no need to double-reserve: we'll hold your spot.)

It doesn't matter if you're behind in the Bible readings, or even if you haven't signed up to be part of the reading group. Just come and learn! See you Sunday!

~ The Year of the Bible Planning Team

The Power of One’s Bible

Three days before Christmas I attended the funeral of a colleague and friend. His name was David. He died suddenly and the church was packed. He and his wife attended a large congregation here in Knoxville and the pastor did not know him well. Several friends and family members spoke about David and then it was the pastor's turn to deliver his remarks.

He started out by telling us he had asked David's wife if he could borrow David's bible. He then read the inscription in the bible: To David from Sherry, 1973.

He proceeded to flip through David's bible, seemingly at random, choosing passages David especially liked. He knew this, he told us, because the pages were bent at the corner, there was blue and red underlining, and notes in the margin.  

I was astonished. I had worked side by side with David for over ten years and he never once mentioned God, the bible, or his deep faith. But it was there, all along. It sustained him.

And the message we all heard at David's funeral was incredibly powerful.

I have never read the Bible with any regularity and I certainly never thought of it as a spiritual diary.

Since I had a little downtime over the Christmas season, I started reading, following the recommendations in the Year of the Bible study guide. And I find it is hard for me to put the book down.

Join me?

~ Katie High

 

Bible Reading Q/A from Jan 14

YEAR OF THE BIBLE READINGS:
15-Jan Genesis 30-31, Matthew 11
16-Jan Genesis 32-33, Matthew 12
17-Jan Genesis 34-36, Matthew 13
18-Jan Genesis 37-38, Psalm 9
19-Jan Genesis 39-40, Matthew 14
20-Jan Genesis 41-42, Matthew 15

Things to look for as you read this week:
• While Jesus considers natural descent and family important, what is still more important?
• Shortly after being sold as a slave in Egypt, Joseph’s position worsens. Why?

Last week’s answers:
• What’s the reaction of Abraham & Sarah to the news that God will give them a son? (They laugh – Gen 17:17, 18:12).
• When Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, who carried the wood? (Isaac – Gen 22:6).
• Laban tricks Jacob, the trickster. How? Switching his daughters – Gen 29:21-23).

Subscribe to weekly helps and updates at www.lakehillspres.org/bible

January 13, 2018

Today's post is not about today's--or even this week's--Scripture readings. Rather, it is about the value of regularly reading and studying God's Word.

 

My beloved aunt is dying. My family has spent the last week by her bedside at the hospital. At first, it seemed that recovery was a possibility, but as her condition worsened, we understood the inevitable outcome. During the long hours of her painful suffering, we gathered around her bed, holding her hands, smoothing her furrowed brow, softly playing hymns of the faith. The words we spoke were words of encouragement from Scripture--God's promise never to leave her, the assurance of her salvation, the place He has prepared for her in heaven. 

Among us, we knew these promises, but we didn't always know their exact "address" in the books and verses of the Bible. What mattered was that we could call them to mind, then finding them was an easy task. Using our phones, we found the references we were looking for, so that the words we spoke to my aunt Nancy were God's own words from the pages of Scripture. Mom read to her from John 14, where Jesus declared Himself the Way, the Truth, and the Life; where He promised a place with Him in His Father's house; and where He promised the gift of the Holy Spirit, the Comforter. Before we left that day, I prayed over her the blessing God gave Moses for the Israelites (Numbers 6): The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord turn His face toward you and give you peace. 

And that is my prayer for you today, as well.

May you be blessed by the reading of God's Holy Word. And may the Spirit bring to mind the promises and blessings you need.

Bible Reading Q/A from Jan 7

YEAR OF THE BIBLE READINGS: Week 2
8-Jan Genesis 16-17, Psalm 3-4
9-Jan Genesis 18-19, Matthew 7
10-Jan Genesis 20-21, Matthew 8
11-Jan Genesis 22-23, Psalm 5-6
12-Jan Genesis 24-25, Matthew 9
13-Jan Genesis 26-27, Matthew 10
14-Jan Genesis 28-29, Psalm 7-8

Things to look for as you read this week:
• What’s the reaction of Abraham & Sarah to the news that God will give them a son?
• When Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac, who carried the wood?
• Laban tricks Jacob, the trickster. How?

Last week’s answers:
• What does the rainbow after the flood symbolize? (God’s covenant never again to destroy humanity with a flood. – Gen 9:11-13)
• Who were the two sets of brothers among the disciples? (Peter and Andrew, James and John. Matt 4:18-22)

Subscribe to weekly helps and updates at www.lakehillspres.org/bible

Noah, from this week’s readings

Despite this being a very familiar story, I had forgotten how difficult it must have been to be Noah. To be in the middle of the woods and fields, planting and harvesting crops, and God tells him to build a huge boat, with complete instructions, because He is going to destroy creation since "every inclination of the thoughts of man's heart was only evil all the time."
According to our reading, God was grieved and His heart was filled with pain. Yet He spoke to Noah and Noah listened.
Can you imagine how Noah's friends, possibly family and community must have mocked and made fun of him while he constructed a gigantic boat that just sat, 450 feet long, in a field?
It made me think. Do I allow the opinions, fascinations, culture and directions of those around me to influence my journey in life or do I listen for God to speak? That is my prayer today: Have mercy on me, O God. Blot out my transgressions and help me to hear your voice and spirit like Noah.

Sent from my iPad

Updates to Subscriptions & Website for Year of the Bible

Hey Bible-Readers:

It's your codemonkey with a quick update on the status of both the site and the mailing of blog posts.

If you sign up for emails of posts, then every day at 4pm, IF THERE IS A NEW BLOG POST at www.lakehillspres.org/bible the day's post will be emailed to you. (You can also read the posts at the site 24/7.)


I listened to the day's readings while in the car, both yesterday and today. I used my phone. Worked fine. The NIV reader-guy seems to emphasize, "Then he DIED!" when telling the ages of the patriarchs in Genesis. I guess if you live 600 years, the event of your death should be emphasized.

~ James

January 1, 2018

Wow! It's here! The beginning of 2018! 

I'm in not-so-sunny Tampa with my son and granddaughter, and the day's agenda included taking down the Christmas tree, preparing a traditional New Year's Day "good-luck" dinner, and baking cupcakes with the 5-year-old. Lots going on, for sure, but I will not go to bed tonight without having read the designated Scripture passages for today. Last year, I read the Bible through in the NIV version, which is probably my favorite. This year, I plan to begin reading the Message.

If you've already read today's passages, I hope you've been encouraged and are eagerly looking forward to what God has in store for you personally and for our LHPC family in 2018!

Blessings,

Cherie