Merry Christmas!!
The Savior of the world was born to save mankind from his sins. We needed saving. We need saving. God had a plan from the very beginning to save us. That plan was His own Son Jesus. To not see that plan laid out before us in the Scriptures is to deny Jesus. "And beginning at Moses and all the Prophets, He (Jesus) expounded to them in all the Scriptures the things concerning Himself." (Luke 24:27) All the Scriptures point to Jesus. We must read them like Jesus would want us to, with an eye to see Him.
So let's continue our communication with God as we read His Word. Let's hear what He has to say to us about His Son, His will, and His love for us.
Merry Christmas. Thank you Jesus for leaving heaven and doing all you did for us.

Hello friends! ...so, how far have you gotten in our Bible reading extravaganza?

Well, I got through Leviticus and Numbers. And, surprisingly (since many pastor/teachers I have known have professed they find these books difficult to read/study through), I found knowledge and understanding and truth...imagine that!...God's Word imparting wisdom!! I have read these books before. I have attended Bible studies on various parts of them. I have heard men give surveys of them. Fortunately, I left many scrawled notes that aided this my most recent trek through these books. This time, though, I have decided not to take too many notes in my Bible; I just want to read. I'll make chapter and verse notations in a little notebook to look at and remind myself of treasures I find. Here are a few from this week.

• Exodus 32:32. Moses knew about the Book of Life. And he was willing to give up His place in it to arrange for God's forgiveness of Israel's sin. Wow. Would I give up my place in the Book of Life for anyone? Would I give up heaven (and gain hell) for anyone...my wife, my children? Thank you Lord that I will never have to answer that question. "And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name JESUS, for He will save His people from their sins." Matthew 1:21. (Paul also entertains this thought in Romans 9:3 but concludes in 9:16 that it is not our efforts but God's mercy at work in the great gift of salvation.)


• Leviticus 2:1. Frankincense played a vital role in the giving of grain offerings (voluntry acts of worship). The magi's gift to baby Jesus suddenly has a little bit more meaning.


• Leviticus 19:18. Jesus' teachings weren't all that different from what Israel already knew.


• Leviticus 19:32. Starting to like my gray hair!!


• Leviticus 22:32-33. After pages and pages of instructions and ordinances concerning sacrifices and offerings, God makes an extremely powerful statement. He is the Lord who sanctifies! It's not the sacrifices. Not the offerings. Not the cleansing rituals or periods. Not the incense. Not the blood. Not the fire. Not anthing or anyone or any way. Only HIM.


• Leviticus 25:20-22. Imagine the faith it would require to trust that God would provide enough food in the sixth year to cover the people's needs for that year, the seventh, and the eighth. God so wants us to trust Him. And we fall so very, very short. Oh ye of little faith. Matthew 6:30, 8:26, 14:31, 16:8. Give us Your faith Lord Jesus.


• Numbers 6:24-26.


• Numbers 11:23. It really is not wise to question God's governance, provision, or power. They have no limit. Yet we do. Each one of us in ways great and small in nearly all our days don't recognize His omniscience or omnipotence. Help us to see You Lord.


• Numbers 11:31-33. I think I would have been a vegetarian that day!


• 1 Thessalonians 1:10. They need to make a movie and name it The Rescue.


• Numbers 14:10. Pretty intense scene as the people are ready to stone Moses, Aaron, Joshua, and Caleb. And just in the nick of time God intervenes, restores order, and disciplines the offenders. Then He makes a pretty cool prophesy in 14:21.


• Numbers 18:20. An answer for all who call God unfair when it comes to physical appropriation of gifts: land/money/beauty/health. None of it really matters because the only inheritance that matters is HIM! (Matthew 20:15 "Is it not lawful for me to do what I wish with my own things? Or is your eye evil because I am good?")


• Numbers 19:1-12. Red heifer, ashes, water, washing, purification. Interesting passage. I can't help but think about baptism.


• Numbers 22:34. "If"...really Balaam?! There's still a question in your head at this point?! Ahh...but how often do I rationalize in the exact same way.

I'd love to hear what God showed you in your reading this week. Let's keep reading. Pray for me and I pray for you. Give us strength to run the race Lord.

seven hours

What can you do in seven hours?
You can.....go to work..go camping..go to a concert..go to church/lunch/shopping/chores/and back home..go to work again..go to school..build something..drive to San Diego (really fast with no traffic)..fly to Hawaii and have lunch..drive to Ely, NV..read a book (maybe the whole thing)..write some letters (to everyone you know!)......

...or you can talk with a good friend about God, His Word, and His will for our lives. Thank you good friend. Thank you Lord for good friends. Proverbs 16:20-24.

remembrance

We set days apart to remember things. Pearl Harbor Day. Don't forget. And don't forget God. Psalm 105:5.

week 1

Well, I got through Genesis and Exodus. Reread many beloved stories...but also found some new stuff:

• Cain murders Abel...God's response: protection. Wow.
• Sarai (at 80) was apparently a ravishing beauty desired by heads of state.
• I'm thinking that if Lot and Noah could do it over, they would be teetotalers.
• Abraham and his dad had already left their home and were moving towards Canaan when Abe got his marching orders.
• Moses' adopted uncle really got mad at him...tried to kill him.
• Aaron really looks like a meathead after the whole golden calf debacle...yet look at the means by which God sets him apart.
• Joshua started out as a man-servant.
• Looking for a wife...I triple dare you to try the Isaac approach to dating. Double dare you to try Jacob's. Why can't we just trust God to hook us up?
• Got questions about masturbation, safe-sex, or birth control? Swing by Genesis 38:9-10 and have a chat with God and Onan. I warn you, it is tough stuff. Matthew 10:37-39. God's ways are not our ways. How do we respond?
• Pharoah was one tough hombre! Stubborn, arrogant, and full of pride...but man was he tough. He went head to head with God and lasted 10 rounds. But it is quite apparent that God could have easily decimated him in the pre-fight announcements. Mysterious are His ways.

I have many questions about God's purposes, plans, methods, reasons. I pray and am hopeful that further immersion in His word will reveal truth and wisdom.