Cover to Cover: the end is near...

I cannot believe that there are twelve chapters left to read. While I never thought I'd actually reach this point, it seems like only yesterday that we were beginning this journey. Wednesday we will be ending this journey...and I am not the same. As the writer of Hebrews says, "For the Word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart." Hebrews 4:12,13. I know that these words in this Book were meant for me this year. Too many times His Words have coincided with whatever events were going on in my life. I have been so blessed to live in a country where I can read my Bible through. Without persecution or fear. Actually, I am blessed to live in a country where I can choose to read my readings from one of several Bibles I own.

I struggled some with Hebrews. I don't know if it's changing the rhythm of writing after reading nothing but Paul or if it was the content itself. I found myself having to go back and reread certain passages to be sure that I didn't miss anything. Here's what lingered in my heart this week:

...but the message they heard was of no value to them, because those who heard did not combine it with faith. Hebrews 4:2b I never want to hear that His message is of no value to me.

But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil. Hebrews 5:14 The words "constant use" fascinate me. Am I allowing His teachings to permeate every part of me? Do I constantly use the Word as a measuring stick for all that I encounter?

...and He will appear a second time, not to bear sin, but to bring salvation to those who are waiting for Him. Hebrews 9:28b I love the picture of the believers waiting for Him. Are my mind and heart focused on Him? Would He consider me to be waiting for Him?

Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful. Hebrews 10:23 Enough said.

Whoever claims to live in Him must walk as Jesus did. 1 John 2:6 Can people see by my walk that He lives in me?

If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? 1 John 3:17 I was recently reminded of this verse through a situation that we encountered. Once again, am I reflecting Him? Do I see the opportunities He places before me to be "the body of Christ?"

We covered many standards in this week's reading as well. "Behold, I stand at the door and knock", "faith is being sure of what we hope for", and "without faith it is impossible to please God" to name a few. I love reading along and coming across these gems...it's like finding an old friend nestled in amongst new concepts.

While I find much of Revelation confusing and beyond my grasp, I have to marvel at the pictures John paints for us. Most endearing was this:

Never again will they hunger; never again will they thirst. The sun will not beat upon them, nor any scorching heat. For the Lamb at the center of the throne will be their shepherd; He will lead them to springs of living water. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Revelation 7:16-17

It has been a privilege and a pleasure to take this journey with you. I look forward to seeing each of your precious faces one day, whether on this earth or in heaven.



...let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus...

Cover to Cover:models of goodness

I do not consider myself an "older" woman. I'm fairly certain that title belongs to someone else. Recently though, I've realized that I am not as young as I used to be. (Believe it or not, I used to be the "baby" at work. I am still not the oldest, however. For now.) My babies are not babies any more. My oldest will begin wedding plans in earnest this upcoming year and start her senior year in college. My youngest ordered his senior ring a month or so ago and will finish up next year planning which college he wants to attend and what he wants to do with his future. Nope, no more babies. And unless God Himself leaves a little bundle of joy on my doorstep, there will be no more babies in this house (other than puppies) until grandchildren make their blessed appearance. In addition to not having any babies, I am no longer a newlywed. Josh and I have been married for almost 22 years now. While I will never know everything about being a good wife (much less put it into practice), I should be able to speak to a thing or two about marriage.

All this said, I read Titus 2 with my normal, "oh, he's talking about someone else. I wonder where the older women are?" Then, all I can say is that God caught my attention and had me reread those verses. You know the ones.

Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God. Titus 2:3-5

This prickly, uncomfortable feeling began to creep over me. The one that tapped me on the shoulder and said, "you are this woman." (kind of like, "you might be a redneck if..." only it was "you might be this woman if...")

My first reaction was, "I do not want to be this woman." I think it was the "older" thing that really threw me. Because I am still sixteen in my head. (a much smarter 16 than I really was.) But you know what? I don't remember seeing or having older women in my childhood church who were willing to be mentors. Who were willing to teach us what it meant to be godly young women. I'm sure our church had them. I just needed them to be visible. I don't know if they might have helped me to avoid some of the mistakes I made, but I would like to have found out.

So, while I don't like the idea of being an older woman, scripture instructs me that I am live life as a model of goodness. By looking at them, the younger women will know how to love their husbands and children, be virtuous and pure, keep a good house, be good wives. (message)

Which means I'd better get started.

Other verses that caught my heart this week were:

...many live as enemies of the cross of Christ. 19Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things. But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ Philippians 3:18-20

Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7

...for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. Philippians 4:11

And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19

...we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe. 1 Timothy 4:10

...set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. 1 Timothy 4:12

But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that. 1 Timothy 6:6-8

...be prepared in season and out of season; 2 Timothy 4:2

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good. Titus 2:11-14

May you find peace this week as we celebrate His birth. I pray that you remember the blessed Gift that God has given to each of us...an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade--kept in heaven for you. (1 Peter 1:4)


And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless until the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God. Philippians 1:9-11

Cover to Cover:Life Principles

Be very careful, then, how you live-- Ephesians 5:15

I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. Ephesian 4:1

Two things lingered with me this week. Not two verses. There were so many to choose from once again. But two main thoughts. First was how passionate Paul was about convincing his reader. As I read, I could almost hear the desperation in his voice. Desperate that they would believe. Desperate that nothing would turn them away from his Lord. For many years I was not a huge fan of Paul. I felt he was wordy. After completing To Live is Christ, I felt I understood him better. It wasn't until reading through this year, maybe even this week, that I began to look at him as a passionate soul whose only real desires were to bring others to Christ and to instruct believers in how they should live. And it's a beautiful thing.

Perhaps this realization made the other thought linger this week. It seemed to me that Ephesians and Colossians were clearly instructing us in how to live. We are called to be:

Humble (Eph. 4:2)
Gentle (Eph. 4:2)
Patient (Eph. 4:2)
Bearing with one another in love (Eph. 4:2)
Speaking encouragement (Eph. 4:29)
Kind (Eph. 4:32)
Compassionate (Eph. 4:32)
Forgiving (Eph. 4:32)
Serve wholeheartedly (Eph. 6:7)

While I know these things, it means so much more to hear them in a voice of a man so passionately committed to Christ that he was willing to die for his Lord. In other words, these are not principles that can be easily overlooked or followed when I feel like it. These are my life principles. At a time of year when we say goodbye to old, bad habits (put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature... Colossians 3:5) and consider new ones,(Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience. Colossians 3:12) I cannot think of a better list to work on.

We'd love to have you join us over at Bev's place for a recap of the week.

So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in Him, rooted and built up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness. Colossians 2:7

Cover to Cover

I have to wonder if Mary Jane will be glad when I finish reading through the New Testament. I've been peppering her with questions such as "who is the brother mentioned in 2 Corinthians 8:19?" or "why don't we follow Paul's instructions when dealing with members of the body who are wallowing in their sin? why do we close our eyes and pretend that it doesn't exist?" (for the record, I'm still waiting on her answers.)

Well, we are in the final weeks of our reading through this year. Bev asks us what lingers in our hearts each week. I have found these past weeks to be so chock full of goodies that it is difficult to pick just one or two. I suspect that's a good thing. Because all of the Word should be lingering in my heart.

I was kind of surprised to find so many familiar things as I read this week. So many passages reminded me of sermons heard, books read or bible studies worked through. It was like being with old friends. Let's visit a few....

..and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. 2 Cor. 2:14b-15

Do we reflect Him in our daily walk? Are we a fragrant perfume, leading others to a better life through Him?

We are pressed on every side by troubles, but we are not crushed. We are perplexed, but not driven to despair. We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Cor. 4:8-9

Truly one of my favorite verses. (I think it's because I'm often perplexed. It's a blonde thing.) I love the phrase "never abandoned by God." No matter what life brings, do we believe that He holds us close?

Our hearts ache, but we always have joy. We are poor, but we give spiritual riches to others. We own nothing, and yet we have everything. 2 Cor. 6:10

The NIV phrases it as "sorrowful, yet always rejoicing." Even in my sorrow, do I rejoice? For I truly do have "everything" that matters. This is one that continues to turn over and over in my mind.


...and our prayer is for your perfection. 2 Cor. 13:9b
Aim for perfection, listen to my appeal, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you. 2 Cor. 13:11

This caught my eye because I don't find myself praying for perfection...ever. For anybody. I mean, if perfection is impossible to obtain, then why bother with it? And yet, Paul clearly states that his desire for them is their perfection. Not only that, but he admonishes them to aim for it. The Amplified Bible phrases it this way: And this we also pray for: your all-round strengthening and perfecting of soul (9) Be strengthened (perfected, completed, made what you ought to be);(11)
Made what I ought to be. Perhaps it's time to start praying for a little perfection.

Furthermore, since they did not think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, he gave them over to a depraved mind, to do what ought not to be done. Romans 1:28

Um...did you catch that? Since they didn't think it worthwhile to retain the knowledge of God, He gave them over to a depraved mind. I don't know about you, but this verse scares me. It seems to state very clearly that we have two choices. We can fill our minds full of God or we can fill it full of ick. (reminds me of Breaking Free. If we don't fill our minds and hearts with God once we've broken free, ick just comes right back to stay.) Then, we follow up with this:

Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; Romans 8:5-6

There are so many more treasures in these chapters. Too many to list here. I will leave you with this thought...

I'm absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God's love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us. Romans 8:38-39

Cover to Cover: thankful...part 2

Always be joyful. Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you who belong to Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

I am so blessed. How can I keep from singing His praise?

I pray that God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

2 Thessalonians 1:2

Cover to Cover

Bev always asks us what lingers in our readings for the week. Most of the time I read, make notes, ponder a bit and then move on to the next day, not really thinking about what came before until time to pull it all together for Cover to Cover.

But not this week.

I have several passages marked (the first three chapters of James could provide blog fodder for a week at least) but one passage has lingered all week, tugging at my soul.

Repent, then, and turn to God; so that your sins may be wiped out, that times of refreshing may come from the LORD. Acts 3:19

times of refreshing...doesn't that appeal to your heart? I cannot think of anything more comforting than the thought of my sins being forgiven (not just forgiven but wiped out) and a time of refreshing (a gift from God) beginning. It just makes my heart sing!

My prayer for you is that you experience His gift of refreshing this week.

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.
Numbers 6:24-26

Cover to Cover: we too may live a new life

There have been many times along this journey when I haven't known what to say or how to express it. Sometimes the passages have been too complex and sometimes there have been too many choices.

But this week...I am without words.

I feel like nothing I say could in any way express the feelings I have had as I read through these scriptures.

The overwhelming sorrow and despair at His crucifixition...the profound joy at His resurrection.

So, I'll leave you with this: a verse and a song...

"but the angel said, “Don’t be alarmed. You are looking for Jesus of Nazareth, who was crucified.
He isn’t here! He is risen from the dead!"
Mark 16:6

Join us at Bev's for other recaps from the week.

Cover to Cover:How well do you see?

I don't know where to begin. (I think I'll be saying this a lot in the NT.) One of the beautiful things about the NT is how familiar it is. And yet, in spite of reading the very familiar passages, God has hidden so many gems for my heart this time around as well.

I woke up this morning thinking about the healing of the blind man at Bethsaida. When they arrived at Bethsaida, some people brought a blind man to Jesus, and they begged him to touch the man and heal him. Jesus took the blind man by the hand and led him out of the village. Then, spitting on the man’s eyes, he laid his hands on him and asked, “Can you see anything now?” The man looked around. “Yes,” he said, “I see people, but I can’t see them very clearly. They look like trees walking around.” Then Jesus placed his hands on the man’s eyes again, and his eyes were opened. His sight was completely restored, and he could see everything clearly. Mark 8:22-25 For some reason, the story just captured my attention. I guess it appears to be a story of partial then total healing. Which didn't make sense to me at first. I mean, Jesus healed everyone else completely. Why did it take this man two tries before he could see clearly? Which may have been why I was pondering this story days later. But this morning, the light dawned. Kind of like the blind man's sight. How many times am I blinded to the truth of scripture? Then, gradually, the truth reveals itself...until finally I can see His intent. Matthew Henry puts it this way: The cure was wrought gradually, which was not usual in our Lord's miracles. Christ showed in what method those commonly are healed by his grace, who by nature are spiritually blind. At first, their knowledge is confused; but, like the light of the morning, it shines more and more to the perfect day, and then they see all things clearly.
***
I like to check out different translations to see how things are worded. While I would never use the Message for scripture memorization, I often love how things are worded there. This passage is no exception: Every person the Father gives me eventually comes running to me. And once that person is with me, I hold on and don't let go. This, in a nutshell, is that will: that everything handed over to me by the Father be completed—not a single detail missed—and at the wrap-up of time I have everything and everyone put together, upright and whole. John 6:37, 39
First the promise that He holds on and never lets go, then the promise that at the wrap up of time we will be put together, upright and whole. I'm telling you, these are some promises that I've needed to hear lately. Especially the promise that no matter how mixed up things might seem at the moment, some day I will be upright and whole. Praise Jesus!
***
Do you ever stop and think how many times certain things are mentioned in scripture. When I saw this again this week, I began to wonder how much clearer Someone might be trying to make the point to me. But the things that come out of the mouth come from the heart, and these make a man 'unclean.' Matthew 15:18 I think this verse is tied together with Mark 8:15: Be careful," Jesus warned them. "Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod." Just as good things permeate lives like yeast in flour (Matthew 13:33), so can the taint of evil work it's way through our lives, affecting all that we touch.

***

I have to confess something at this point. (Those that know me well will be nodding their heads at this next part.) As we travel closer to Jerusalem and Jesus's Crucifixion, I will have a difficult time reading and processing these passages. I hate knowing that He is going to suffer and die. Even though I know He is going to rise again and it is all a necessary part of God's plan. It hurts my heart. (Just ask me about how much trouble I had doing the homework in Jesus the One and Only during crucifixion week.) Anyway, maybe that's why this part caught my eye. As the time drew near for him to ascend to heaven, Jesus resolutely set out for Jerusalem. Luke 9:51 Did you see it? He resolutely set out. I think too often we think this was easy for Him. He was obedient to His Father's Will and He knew all along what the big picture was. So surely He marched right into Jerusalem to carry out God's Will, right? Well, yes, He did. But I don't think it was easy. He knew it was necessary. The dictionary says resolutely means to be firmly resolved or determined, to be set in purpose. The Message says: he gathered up his courage and steeled himself for the journey to Jerusalem. For some reason, those six little words in the NIV make me even more grateful and aware of the sacrifice that He made for me.

***

There's so much more to this weeks reading. We could talk about Mary and Martha, the six woes, the parable of the rich fool (a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions), the sending out of the seventy two...oh, how rich the Word is. However, this post is already terribly wordy and slightly scattered. Please join Bev and the gang and read coherent thoughts on things that I missed. You'll be blessed! (and thanks for your patience with my wordiness. If that's a word.)

Cover to Cover: Treasure

This is one of those weeks where I struggle to tie all the scriptures together and present them in a coherent package. Since my brain seems to be operating strictly in blonde mode these days, I'm just going to plop them out there and let you put them together.

And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Matthew 6:7 This speaks to me on two levels. I too often feel that the more words I use, the more I'll get my point across. The NLT says that "They think their prayers are answered merely by repeating their words again and again." I am also guilty of rushing through my prayers, repeating the same things by rote, so that I can check that portion of my day off my to do list. Ouch.

But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:20-21 Since I began reading through the Bible chronologically, I have become more and more convinced that His Word is my greatest treasure. I am convicted daily that this is the the treasure that I need to be storing up. So, once again, I am working on scripture memorization. (not my favorite thing to do, can you tell?)

“Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves. You can identify them by their fruit, that is, by the way they act. Can you pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? A good tree produces good fruit, and a bad tree produces bad fruit. A good tree can’t produce bad fruit, and a bad tree can’t produce good fruit. " Matthew 7:15-18 This got me to thinking. Do we know enough about "fruit" to recognize bad fruit when we see it? How well do we know the Word so that we know false teachings? Can people see good fruit in my life? I don't think "trees" produce neutral, ineffective or so-so fruit.

"These words I speak to you are not incidental additions to your life, homeowner improvements to your standard of living. They are foundational words, words to build a life on. If you work these words into your life, you are like a smart carpenter who built his house on solid rock. Rain poured down, the river flooded, a tornado hit—but nothing moved that house. It was fixed to the rock. " Matthew 7:24-25 (Don't you just love the Message sometimes?) Nothing moved that house! What is my house "fixed" to? Another reminder of how important the Word truly is to our lives.

You brood of vipers, how can you who are evil say anything good? For out of the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. The good man brings good things out of the good stored up in him, and the evil man brings evil things out of the evil stored up in him. But I tell you that men will have to give account on the day of judgment for every careless word they have spoken. Matthew 12:34-36 Every careless word? Ouch.

"When a defiling evil spirit is expelled from someone, it drifts along through the desert looking for an oasis, some unsuspecting soul it can bedevil. When it doesn't find anyone, it says, 'I'll go back to my old haunt.' On return it finds the person spotlessly clean, but vacant. It then runs out and rounds up seven other spirits more evil than itself and they all move in, whooping it up. That person ends up far worse off than if he'd never gotten cleaned up in the first place.
"That's what this generation is like: You may think you have cleaned out the junk from your lives and gotten ready for God, but you weren't hospitable to my kingdom message, and now all the devils are moving back in." Matthew 12:43-45 Beth Moore talked about the importance of filling our lives with Him as we break free from the things that keep us in bondage. This scripture is one that she uses to illustrate her point.

I suspect when it is all said and done, the most overwhelming message to me this week was the necessity of keeping ourselves in the Word. Constantly. Totally.

Annette has a great piece on John the Baptist this week and we'd love to have you join Bev and the gang over at her place for a recap of the week. Blessings to all!

Cover to Cover:Love has come..

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.

A funny thing happened on the way to the New Testament. I was praying about our readings and telling God how much I was looking forward to the New Testament when suddenly I found myself in tears. I was trying to explain to Him that although I love the story of Jesus and find the New Testament full of so many pieces of life advice, I was going to miss the Old Testament. Because God spoke there. He made His presence felt there. He held us in the palm of His hand there. He called us His treasured possession, His delight, the apple of His eye. How could you not miss that? Of course, I was acting like I would never be able to read the Old Testament again and I felt a bit foolish about it, but it just tugged at my heart so to be leaving Him behind. . So now you know that I am a dork. But I did wonder if any of you felt the same way.

Okay, on to the readings. (Don't forget to check out Bev's new blog where she'll be doing the cover to cover, New Testament recap.)

One of the things that I love so much about the early chapters of Luke and Matthew are the glimpses of the baby Jesus. As a mom, I can so relate to the love that His parents had for this Child. I picture Mary cuddling baby Jesus and wondering what life would hold for Him. This song is from "the beginners Bible" and is one of my favorites. (we had it sung at Jonathan's baby dedication.) It is supposed to be Mary singing to Jesus.

But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. Luke 2:19

Another of my favorite stories is that of Simeon.

At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Messiah to come and rescue Israel. The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace,
as you have promised.
I have seen your salvation,
which you have prepared for all people.
He is a light to reveal God to the nations,
and he is the glory of your people Israel!”
Luke 2:25-32

I love the picture of a faithful man, righteous and devout, waiting for his Messiah. Ron Dicianni has a picture called "Simeon's Moment" that is one of my favorites. (It seems that this must be Karen's Favorites week!) One of the things that I love about it is the outline of the world superimposed over Simeon and baby Jesus. I love how the world is no longer dark where Jesus is. (can you tell that I am a visual person?)


Wouldn't you have loved to be in the temple that day?

And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon Him. Luke 2:40

One of the wonderful things about reading scripture (especially familiar scriptures) is how something catches your eye that you have missed before. (it's especially great when it's convicting scripture. And yes, that might be a bit of sarcasm there.) This little gem was stuck in the middle of John the Baptist preparing the way. Prove by the way you live that you have repented of your sins and turned to God. Matthew 2:8.
Ouch.
Enough said.

I think I'll close with this little gem. When the devil had finished tempting Jesus, he left him until the next opportunity came. Luke 4:13. So many times as we battle temptation, we fool ourselves into believing that when it's over we can relax and let our guard down. I think I often forget that satan is just waiting for the next time. My job is to immerse myself in the Word and be diligent. (putting on the full armor of God....Ephesians 6:11)

Light has come into the world...(John 3:19)

Cover to Cover: where will they find you?

Welcome to cover to cover, the continuing story of what God is revealing in our lives through His Word.

We started this week by finishing Ezekiel and moving into Daniel. I have mixed feeling about leaving Ezekiel. On the one hand, I find him utterly fascinating. What a life of obedience and faith. Such dedication to the Lord. However, I really struggled with his visions sometimes and the whole cubit thing about drove me crazy. I am not a math kind of girl. But I will miss him and he is now on my list of people to sit down with some day.

I love revisiting old stories and finding a fresh word. I don't know how many times I pass over something because I "know" it and think that it holds nothing new for me. (Or how many times I tune somebody out because I know what they are going to say or close my eyes to the scenery in front of me because I've seen it all before. How much do I miss?) Anyhow, we read the story of Daniel and the lions den this week. So I am be bopping along, reading and halfway paying attention because after all, this is a children's Sunday school story...isn't it? The administrators are jealous and working hard to set Daniel up and Daniel hears the new decree and what does he do? He goes to his room where the windows are open toward Jerusalem and gives thanks to God "just as he had done before." (Daniel 6:10) Trouble comes and Daniel does what he always does. Gets down on his knees and prays. However, this is not the only thing that caught my attention. Not only does Daniel stay the same (character-who you are when no one is looking), the administrators knew he would be on his knees and praying. They found him exactly where they thought they would. On his knees, praying.

Oh, how this speaks to me.

Where would they expect to find us in times of trouble? Or in times of joy?

And more importantly, would you find us there?

"If you'll hold on to me for dear life," says God, "I'll get you out of any trouble. I'll give you the best of care if you'll only get to know and trust me. Call me and I'll answer, be at your side in bad times; I'll rescue you, then throw you a party. I'll give you a long life, give you a long drink of salvation!" Psalm 91:14-16

Cover to Cover

Over the past weeks and months that I have been reading chronologically and participating in cover to cover I've developed a system for making notes and pulling my thoughts together. It's not a sophisticated system but it works for me. As I read, if I find something that speaks to me, I put a small numbered post it note on that page. This is particularly useful for me as we tend to jump around as we read and the numbered system helps me to see when I read what.

The thing that jumped out at me this week came from Ezekiel 39. We have been reading so much about the destruction that God will be bringing to Israel and the suffering that they will endure. As I read Ezekiel 39:28-29 I realized that while this punishment was for Israel's own good (and mine as well), God continues to show His great love for His people. He leaves them with a promise that after the punishment has been endured, "for though I sent them into exile among the nations, I will gather them to their own land, not leaving any behind. I will no longer hide my face from them, for I will pour out my Spirit on the house of Israel, declares the Sovereign LORD."

I then went back to see what else I had marked for the week (because my mind is full of butterflies that flit from thing to thing) and this is what I discovered:

"For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Jeremiah 31:34b

'For this is what the Sovereign LORD says: I myself will search for my sheep and look after them.' Ezekiel 34:11


...the people will be secure in their land. They will know that I am the LORD, when I break the bars of their yoke and rescue them from the hands of those who enslaved them. Ezekiel 34:27b

I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. Ezekiel 36:25-27


...for I will save them from all their sinful backsliding, and I will cleanse them. They will be my people, and I will be their God. Ezekiel 37:23b

I will make a covenant of peace with them; it will be an everlasting covenant. I will establish them and increase their numbers, and I will put my sanctuary among them forever. Ezekiel 37:26

So, do you see any theme here? I love the thought of God's forgiveness and the thought that He is waiting to welcome them home. Join us at Bev's this week for a recap of this weeks readings.

And I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep. I myself will make sure they get plenty of rest. I'll go after the lost, I'll collect the strays, I'll doctor the injured, I'll build up the weak ones and oversee the strong ones so they're not exploited. Ezekiel 34:11

Cover to Cover:falling on deaf ears

Join us at Bev's for a complete review of this weeks readings.

The Lord, the God of their ancestors, repeatedly sent his prophets to warn them, for he had compassion on his people and his Temple. But the people mocked these messengers of God and despised their words. They scoffed at the prophets until the Lord’s anger could no longer be restrained and nothing could be done. 2 Chronicles 36:15-16

She made herself dirty by her sins and did not think about what would happen to her. Lamentations 1:9

Again and again I sent my servants the prophets, who said, 'Do not do this detestable thing that I hate!' But they did not listen or pay attention; they did not turn from their wickedness or stop burning incense to other gods. Jeremiah 44:4-5

You know, reading this, I can't think of anything to add to it. Other than how clearly it seems to mirror us today. We continue to be a nation that turns it's back on God. How long will He wait before His anger can no longer be restrained against us?

And yet, still, there is hope. Even in their darkest night, even in His fiercest anger, He offers hope.

'The days are coming,' declares the LORD, 'when I will fulfill the gracious promise I made to the house of Israel and to the house of Judah. 'In those days and at that time I will make a righteous Branch sprout from David's line; he will do what is just and right in the land. In those days Judah will be saved and Jerusalem will live in safety. This is the name by which it will be called: The LORD Our Righteousness.' Jeremiah 33:14-16

But I will keep on hoping for your help; I will praise you more and more. I will tell everyone about your righteousness. All day long I will proclaim your saving power, though I am not skilled with words. Psalm 71:14-15

May His warnings not fall on deaf ears. And regardless of our circumstances, may we keep our hope in Him.

God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up.They're created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God (I say it over and over). He's all I've got left. Lamentations 3:22-24

Cover to Cover

***Please lift up Jean and the Myers family as they grieve the loss of little CJ. ***

I don't know where to begin with this week's readings. (For more coherent thoughts, check out Bev's blog. There are lots of wonderful insights there.) Ezekiel absolutely fascinates me and I am sure that I am missing more than I am catching. However, let me share a little bit of what caught my heart these past few days.

Then the Glory of God left the Temple entrance and hovered over the cherubim. I watched as the cherubim spread their wings and left the ground, the wheels right with them. They stopped at the entrance of the east gate of the Temple. The Glory of the God of Israel was above them. Ezekiel 10:18

Then the cherubim spread their wings, with the wheels beside them and the Glory of the God of Israel hovering over them. The Glory of God ascended from within the city and rested on the mountain to the east of the city. Ezekiel 11:23

I have to wonder if they even noticed that the Glory of God had departed. I'm guessing not. Their hearts were so fixed on their idols. Are my eyes fixed on something other that God? Henrietta Mears says, "We grieve the Spirit when we do not allow ourselves time to read the Word or pray. We limit the Spirit when we refuse to be clean vessels through which He can work. We resist Him by allowing idols to be in our hearts. Remember, your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit. Does His presence glow in your life?" (p261 What the Bible is all about.) Or am I instead, "with my back toward the temple of the LORD and my face toward the east," bowing down to something other than Him? (Ezekiel 8:16)

After having finished up the NOG study this past week, I am somewhat sensitive to the mention of idols. (Praise God! May I not only stay sensitive, but work constantly to remove them from my path.) I thought these verses were very clear on what God thinks of idolatry.

'This is what the Lord God says: Change your hearts and lives, and stop worshiping idols. Stop doing all the things I hate. Any of the Israelites or foreigners in Israel can separate themselves from me by wanting to worship idols or by putting up the things that cause people to sin. Then if they come to the prophet to ask me questions, I, the Lord, will answer them myself. I will reject them. I will make them a sign and an example, and I will separate them from my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 14:6-8

Another thing that tugged at my heart was found in Ezekiel 20. This is something that I have caught in other places as we've read and I still have no real answers. Four different times God mentions Israel desecrating the Sabbath. He states, "and keep my Sabbath days holy, for they are a sign to remind you that I am the Lord your God.’ Ezekiel 20:20. He says in Ezekiel 20:16, "...they rejected My laws and did not follow My decrees and desecrated My Sabbaths. For their hearts were devoted to their idols." Warren Wiersbe says that desecrating the Sabbath would be the same as treating it as another other normal day. These scriptures rest heavy on my heart. I am afraid that I don't treat the Sabbath in a way that God would find pleasing. Too many times I wait until the end of the weekend to catch up on things that should have been done on Saturday. Too often, I let a lack of organization or just plain laziness stand in the way of getting things done Saturday. It has never been my intention to treat anything of the LORD's as "another normal thing." Something to think about.

There are many other things that I could ramble on about. The death of Ezekiel's "delight", his wife. Oh, how that struck me. Not just that he saw his wife as his "delight" (and he must have, because God recognized it as such) but that he continued on, in unrelenting obedience to God. I don't know if I could do the same. At the very least, I think I might have hesitated just a moment. Oh, to be such a person of God.

Then there was this.

'Your priests violated my law and desecrated my holy things. They can't tell the difference between sacred and secular. They tell people there's no difference between right and wrong. They're contemptuous of my holy Sabbaths, profaning me by trying to pull me down to their level. Your politicians are like wolves prowling and killing and rapaciously taking whatever they want. Your preachers cover up for the politicians by pretending to have received visions and special revelations. They say, "This is what God, the Master, says..." when God hasn't said so much as one word. Extortion is rife, robbery is epidemic, the poor and needy are abused, outsiders are kicked around at will, with no access to justice.'
"I looked for someone to stand up for me against all this, to repair the defenses of the city, to take a stand for me and stand in the gap to protect this land so I wouldn't have to destroy it. I couldn't find anyone. Not one. So I'll empty out my wrath on them, burn them to a crisp with my hot anger, serve them with the consequences of all they've done. Decree of God, the Master." Ezekiel 22:26-30

So much of this reminds me of the times in which we live today. I hope that there is someone to stand in the gap, to take a stand for Him. May we be that someone.

Cover to Cover

For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Jeremiah 29:11


Every year, around April or May, we start getting in all kinds of product with this verse on it. Pictures, picture frames, bookmarks, plaques, desk sets, bible covers, pillows...you name it and someone puts this verse on it. It is universally recognized as THE verse to go along with graduation. The thinking is that the graduate needs reassurance and a reminder that God is looking over their shoulder and He has their life mapped out. He's just waiting for them to take the next step. I've flippantly quoted the same verse any time someone expressed a lack of direction or confusion over what they should do next. And I'm not saying that any of that stuff was wrong. (except maybe the "flippant" part.)

This past week, however, as I was reading the verse in context (yay, chronological reading!), something else struck me. Here the Israelites are, getting ready to enter one of the darkest times in their history. Certainly it will be the darkest that any in this generation can remember. (and isn't it funny what they perceive to be "dark"? I'm sure God thinks their darkest times are when they turn from Him.) Yet even in this bleakest time, a time of horrible loss, God had a plan. A plan to prosper them. To give them hope and a future.

Did they believe Him?

Do I believe Him?

When days pass that aren't quite what I've expected or planned for, do I believe that God has a plan for me?

That He hasn't forgotten me during whatever loss I might be walking with?

And I guess the other thing that reached out and tugged on my heart was that no matter how angry God was at His treasured people, He left them with this promise. A promise that was designed to offer a measure of comfort in the darkness. You could even say it was a nightlight of sorts, meant to guide them back to Him.

This is God's Word on the subject: "As soon as Babylon's seventy years are up and not a day before, I'll show up and take care of you as I promised and bring you back home. I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out—plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for. "When you call on me, when you come and pray to me, I'll listen. "When you come looking for me, you'll find me. "Yes, when you get serious about finding me and want it more than anything else, I'll make sure you won't be disappointed." God's Decree. "I'll turn things around for you. I'll bring you back from all the countries into which I drove you"—God's Decree—"bring you home to the place from which I sent you off into exile. You can count on it.
Jeremiah 29:11-14

Cover to Cover: Me Too!

My thoughts are a bit scattered but I am going to try and see if I can get this point across. If you're still confused at the end, just nod your head and say, "uh huh." I get that a lot. Then pop on over to Bev's and get some clarity there.

I have lots of moments where I am reading something or hearing someone speak about something and a lightening bolt strikes, and I think, "me, too!"

Sometimes the Me Too realization isn't a pleasant one. During the sermon today, when Kyle was talking about a certain "idol" behavior, I had a Me Too moment. These moments are usually followed by an "uh oh" moment. And hopefully a "I'm not going to do that anymore" moment.

Sometimes my Me Too moments are a moment of shared kinship. A positive thing. A feeling of, "oh yeah, I get that. I do that too. I totally know where you are coming from." And I had one of those this weekend.

Beth taught about the parable of the seed this weekend. During the last session, she talked a little about her life and the abuse that she'd suffered and how she didn't know at one point how she was going to survive it.

Friends, I can totally relate to that.

And not in a good way.

But that wasn't my real Me Too moment.

She went on to talk about how she began really reading her Bible. As she read, she fell in love with the Word. And my heart started shouting, Me Too! Me Too! Because I am loving my Bible. I can't describe how much JOY the Word brings to my heart. I am fascinated by the Words that He put there for me. (and you!)

Beth went on to say that she didn't realize it, but as she read, God began to heal her heart.

And this time, my heart was asking "Me Too? Could this happen to Me Too?" Psalm 107:20 says, "He sent His word and healed them; He rescued them from the Pit."

And I believe it!

When I got home yesterday and began reading through my chronological list, I came across this: When your words came, I ate them; they were my joy and my heart's delight, for I bear your name, O LORD God Almighty. Jeremiah 15:16

I had to smile...and my heart was shouting...Me Too!

Cover to Cover: Handel

Okay, before we start this week, did anyone else hear Handel's Messiah playing in their heads as we read through Isaiah 40? Years ago, I went and saw Handel's Young Messiah performed and this song (along with others) stuck in my head. So, as I read this week, I kept thinking, "I know this." Cool stuff.

Most of you know that I am doing the Kelly Minter No other gods study with a huge group of people. One of the things that we learned early on in the study was that while satan may tell us things that are "true" they are not the "truth". An example would be something like, "Josh fussed at me because I forgot to shuck the corn." While this is true, satan tries to convince me that I am a horrible wife because I don't take care of my family by shucking corn. This is not Truth. Anyway, I continue to look for examples of this to keep me on my toes and wise to the lies of satan. Isaiah 36:14 says, "Do not let Hezekiah deceive you. He cannot deliver you." While this is true, it is not truth. Hezekiah cannot save his people, however, he knows the One who can. He cries out to God and God hears and delivers.

Did you notice 2 Kings description of Hezekiah? Chapter 18, verse 6 says, " He held fast to the LORD and did not cease to follow Him; he kept the commands the LORD had given Moses." What a wonderful tribute and one that I certainly would like to apply to my life. Do I hold fast? In good times as well as bad? (Isn't it so much easier to cling like a child when the times are bad?)

I guess at this time in my life, I am fascinated with scripture that talks about clinging to God, trusting in Him, yearning for Him and so on. Isaiah 25:8-9 says, "The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; He will remove the disgrace of His people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken. In that day they will say, Surely this is our God; we trusted in Him and He saved us. This is the LORD, we trusted in Him; let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation." Isaiah 26:9 goes on to say, "My soul yearns for You in the night, in the morning my spirit longs for You." Again, something that I would like to apply to my life. I love God, but do I yearn for Him, long for Him above all other things?

I also love the comfort that God offers in these passages. In Isaiah 41:9-11, He says, "I took you from the ends of the earth, from its farthest corners I called you. I said, 'You are My servant'; I have chosen you and have not rejected you. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand." Or in Isaiah 43:1b-2. "I have summoned you by name; you are Mine. (Doesn't that just give you chills? He summoned me and I am His!) When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze." How about this one? "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am He, I am He who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4) Since I am feeling my age more and more lately, I really liked the comfort of this verse!

We also covered several verses referring to the coming Messiah. The one that I struggle with time and again is Isaiah 53:2, "He had no beauty or majesty to attract us to Him, nothing in His appearance that we should desire Him." While I understand the point that Isaiah is making (It wasn't charisma or good looks that drew people to Jesus, it was God), I still think my Jesus would be beautiful to me! :) One thing that I saw this time that I had not seen before (or at least didn't pay any attention to) was in Isaiah 53:5b, "the punishment that brought us peace was upon Him." I guess I hadn't thought of His crucifixion as bringing us peace before. That kind of stops me in my tracks. What a heavy price to pay for my peace. Isaiah also refers to the LORD "making His life a guilt offering" (53:10). So that I might have peace. That's something that I am going to be thanking my Savior for over and over this coming week.

To be perfectly honest, there are so many other things that I could list here. Isaiah is so much richer than I would have ever believed. (Yay for chronological reading!) There are several more passages that spoke to me this week but I don't want to make this so long that no one will finish it. So I will end with these two scriptures.

“Come to me with your ears wide open. Listen, and you will find life." Isaiah 55:3a

"It is the same with my word. I send it out, and it always produces fruit. It will accomplish all I want it to, and it will prosper everywhere I send it." Isaiah 55:11

May you hear His Word, seek Him and find life this week and may you always be aware that His Word accomplishes what He desires. Blessings to you!

Cover to Cover:a great big shout out...

First of all, I have to give a giant "thank you" to whoever thought up the idea of the Bible in chronological form. I have struggled for years with various formats to read the Bible through. I usually do well until I get to Isaiah. All the doom and gloom stuff makes it difficult for me to get through. (remember, I am the girl who only watches a movie if it has a guaranteed happy ending.) I just didn't get it. Until now. Reading through chronologically makes everything fall into place. I finally understand why Isaiah says and feels the things that he does. And although I love reading the Psalms, I often felt like I was be-bopping back and forth between praise and thankfulness and woe and fear and anger as I read them. However, now that we are reading them in the order that they were written, the continuity is beautiful. (It's like a story. Imagine that!)

Anyhow, here are the things that spoke to me this week.

I loved God's response to the king of Assyria. Sennacherib was strutting around, all puffed up about the mighty things he had done. And God says, "Have you not heard? Long ago I ordained it. In days of old I planned it; now I have brought it to pass." (2 Kings 19:25) In other words, "you would be doing none of those things if I had not allowed it. " How many times to I strut around, proudly congratulating myself about things that I really had no part in, other than being in the path that God chose to take? Do I give glory where glory is deserved?

Following along those lines, Psalm 75:2-3 says, "You say, "I choose the appointed time; it is I who judge uprightly. When the earth and all its people quake, it is I who hold its pillars firm." All things happen in God's timing, not mine. And when things don't turn out quite the way I expect, God is there, holding me firmly.

We had a truly worshipful church experience today which made these words all the more hard hitting this evening: The LORD says, "These people come near to me with their mouth and honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. Their worship of me is made up only of rules taught by men." (Isaiah 29:13) How many times to I go to church and sit in the service and think about a world of other things while mouthing the words to praise songs? How many times do I enter the sanctuary with a prayerful and repentant heart, ready to praise Him and hear the words that He has for me? (and why do I feel like I have to go to an "event" just to get a word?)

Where is the god who can compare with you— wiping the slate clean of guilt,Turning a blind eye, a deaf ear, to the past sins of your purged and precious people?You don't nurse your anger and don't stay angry long, for mercy is your specialty. That's what you love most. And compassion is on its way to us. You'll stamp out our wrongdoing. Micah 7:18-19 The Message

See, God has come to save me. I will trust in him and not be afraid. The Lord God is my strength and my song; He has given me victory.” Isaiah 12:2

And finally,

As for me, I look to the Lord for help. I wait confidently for God to save me, and my God will certainly hear me. Micah 7:7

Blessings to you this week. For more insights on the Word this week, check out Bev's blog and the wisdom you'll find there.

Cover to Cover:Got Truth?

I don't believe in coincidences. I also believe that God speaks to His children. In unique ways. So, when something runs by me time and time again, both in the Word and through my church and in other areas as well, I try to pay attention.

A couple of weekends ago, we had the privilege of hearing Kay Arthur speak about a very difficult truth. Using Ezekiel 14 as one of her texts, she asked the question, "what happens if a country sins against God?" (I will turn against such people and make a terrible example of them, eliminating them from among my people. Then you will know that I am the Lord. Ezekiel 14:8) She went on to express her passionate concern that America no longer knows Truth. We have been (sometimes willingly) deceived. (So we have driven away justice, and we have kept away from what is right. Truth is not spoken in the streets; what is honest is not allowed to enter the city. Isaiah 59:14) She talked about how many churches would rather offer platitudes and positive messages rather than Truth so that people might not be frightened or offended. (To whom can I speak? Whom can I warn? Who will listen to me? The people of Israel have closed ears, so they cannot hear my warnings. They don't like the word of the Lord; they don't want to listen to it! Jeremiah 6:10)

As we travelled from the conference to our condo in Florida, I read these words from last weeks chronological reading:

The LORD says: I will not relent from punishing Judah for three crimes, even four, because they have rejected the law of the LORD and have not kept His statutes. The lies that their ancestors followed have led them astray. Amos 2:4

Five times in Amos chapter 4 He says, "yet you did not return to Me" after He describes the punishments He inflicted upon the Israelites.

The answer, it seems, is fairly simple. "For the LORD says to the house of Israel:
Seek Me and live!" Amos 5:4

Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the LORD, the God of Hosts, will be with you, as you have claimed. Amos 5:14

The Lord God says: "The days are coming when I will cause a time of hunger in the land. The people will not be hungry for bread or thirsty for water, but they will be hungry for words from the Lord. Amos 8:11
What hurts our Father more? When a nation is deprived of His Word or when they willing choose to ignore it or put other things in it's place?

Our sermon today talked about the importance of knowing the Truth and doing what is right in the eyes of God no matter what society would have us choose. (Woe to them, because they have strayed from me! Destruction to them, because they have rebelled against me! I long to redeem them but they speak lies against me. Hosea 7:13)


I have to believe that God is trying to get my attention. And He has. We need to know God's Word. We need to know who and what we are fighting against. We need to understand the cost for disobedience or ignorance. And we need to know that He promises, "For the Lord your God is gracious and merciful. If you return to him, he will not continue to turn his face from you.” 2 Chronicles 30:9.

So press on, dear ones. May His word burn in your heart like a fire (Jeremiah 20:9). Join Bev and the girls this week for a recap of their cover to cover. And check this out for a more coherent explanation of Deeper Still.


Come, let us return to the LORD.
He has torn us to pieces
but he will heal us;
he has injured us
but he will bind up our wounds.
Hosea 6:1

Cover to Cover: My Deliverer is Coming

This is not a normal Cover to Cover post. But it is from my heart.

I have been weary. We have been battered by storms, both inside and outside the house. And I have been weary. Too weary to hear God, too weary to seek God, too weary to listen to God.

We had a storm this afternoon. Our second youngest dog has recently become terrified of storms. Whenever he senses a storm coming, he whimpers and runs panicked through the house. He tries to hide under the smallest things, digging into whatever he can get his paws on, often destroying anything in his path. No amount of reasoning or reassurance that it will be alright breaks through his fear. I was telling him this afternoon that if he would only listen and trust me, I wouldn't let anything bad happen to him. I would protect him when the storms came.

And then I felt the nudge.

As if God were saying, "Yes, daughter, if only you would listen and trust Me. I am always there. I will protect you in the storms."

So, now I am not as weary. My storms are still there. More may come. But it will be okay. Because I have Someone to carry my burden and shelter me when the storms come. Someone who loves me. My Deliverer is coming, My Deliverer is standing by...

But I have trusted in thy mercy; my heart shall rejoice in thy salvation. I will sing unto the LORD, because he hath dealt bountifully with me. Psalm 13:5-6