Every time I prove fickle, the Lord proves faithful and I have to admit how desperate I am for his beautiful grace. He shows up, as always, and I think to myself, “Well, I certainly did not deserve that.”
I am a nail biter of the worst kind. I go weeks, even months, with nice ladylike nails. But you can always tell when I am worrying about something because I have nothing but nubs.
When I was in high school, I was a candystriper in a nursing home. There was one female resident who was appalled at the state of my fingernails. I remember her looking at me and asking, “What do you do with the nails? Do you swallow them or take to spittin?” Clearly, neither of those options were appealing and, so, I would quickly change the subject. I could always distract Miss Ruth by asking her about the latest Harlequin romance novel she was reading. She would giggle and blush and tell me I was too young for those things.
{That story has nothing to do with anything. Just a sweet memory that popped into my mind. I am sure Miss Ruth has been gone quite some time.}
Here is our reading plan for the next seven days. We are finishing up Genesis and moving into Exodus. It may seem odd, but Exodus is really one of my favorite books.
Today begins week 4 of our Hide the Word challenge for 2015. I hope you have been able to keep up but, if not, just keep plucking along. This is not a competition.
Here is the reading for the next seven days.
January 22 – Genesis 30 and 31
January 23 – Genesis 32, 33 and 34
January 24 – Genesis 35, 36 and 37
January 25 – Genesis 38, 39 and 40
January 26 – Genesis 41 and 42
January 27 – Genesis 43, 44 and 45
*****
In other news, I saw a post on Facebook about someone making Ice Cream Bread.
Ice cream. Bread.
Bread. Ice cream.
I have to be honest. I just couldn’t see any negatives to this. So, I grabbed some leftover ice cream {I know, who has leftover ice cream?} from the freezer and gave it a whirl.
I found the recipe on a blog called The Hungry Housewife. If I were a superhero, I would call myself The Hungry Housewife because it’s a really great name.
She makes a point of saying that this recipe doesn’t work as well with low fat ice cream. Low fat ice cream? Don’t even get me started.
So, here is the final result. I’m not going to say it’s the best thing ever, but it would certainly do in a pinch for a little something-something. My girls all enjoyed it and I may have enjoyed it twice.
Now may be a good time to try that new exercise video I just got. Or to sit in the recliner and watch HGTV. I’ll let you know which one I choose. Actually, I won’t. You can use your imagination.
I am a huge fan of the book of Revelation – the drama and mystery of it all. There is so much that I do not fully understand but I am oddly okay with that. I am perfectly okay not knowing what I can’t know. One of the mistakes the church makes {in my oh-so-humble opinion} is that we often feel the need to know everything. We want to be able to rationalize and explain and figure out every little thing about an infinite God.
It’s true that, often, my I don’t know really means I have no desire to go into that with you right now. Like when we are reading through Exodus and my daughter asks me what it means that all of the men were to be circumcised. Or when my husband asks me why there is a rubber band through the button hole of my jeans.
Sometimes, however, I don’t know really means I do not have an answer for that. And we need to just get over ourselves and be okay with that. Let there be a little mystery, for crying out loud.
In addition to my goal to Hide the Word in 2015, I’ve been reading through chapters 2 and 3 of Revelation. I find these two chapters GREATLY encouraging because they list the rewards for those who endure – those who carry their crosses boldly to the end. {And, lest we forget, we are more than conquerors through Christ (Romans 8:37.)} Here is just a little taste of what is to come…
To the one who conquers I will grant to eat of the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God. (Revelation 2:7)
The one who conquers will not be hurt by the second death. (Revelation 2:11)
To the one who conquers I will give some of the hidden manna, and I will give him a white stone, with a new name written on the stone that no one knows except the one who receives it. (Revelation 2:17)
So far, so good. Am I right?
Then, I read this.
The one who conquers and keeps my works until the end, to him I will give authority over the nations, and he will rule them with a rod of iron, as when earthen pots are broken in pieces, even as I myself have received authority from my Father. And I will give him the morning star. – Revelation 2:26-28
Follow me.
The one who suffers and endures, the one who conquers? That person is to eat freely of the tree of life. That person will not be hurt by the second death. That faithful follower is going to be given hidden manna and a white stone and a new name and authority – the same kind of authority that Christ himself received. Oh, and by the way, that person will be given the morning star.
I’m sorry. Does that not make you want to jump out of your chair? Maybe, we need to flip on over to Revelation 22:16 for a moment.
I, Jesus, have sent my angel to testify to you about these things for the churches. I am the root, the descendant of David, the bright morning star.
I, Jesus, am the bright morning star.
I’ve always wondered what the tree of life looked like and what sort of fruit must have been hanging from its limbs. I am a real wimp when it comes to pain, so I’m all about avoiding the whole second death thing. Hidden manna, white stone, new name – it all sounds really, really cool.
But when I have dragged my cross through deep, dark valleys. When I have endured sorrow and suffered through betrayal. When Satan has lied to me, stolen those I love and killed dreams. When my scarred, weary, broken body crosses the finish line – just give me Jesus.
The bright morning star – that is all I want or need.
****
Here is your daily readings for Hide the Word – week 3!
Well, how did week one go? I am so excited to be hiding the word right along with you in 2015. Hearing from y’all via Facebook and email holds me accountable and encourages me to continue opening God’s Word early each morning. {And I mean early thanks to those middle of the night/early morning baby feedings.}
I hope that you are taking your time when reading. This is not a race. Each day’s reading does not have to be done in one sitting. Just a few tips to keep in mind while you’re reading…
Take your time! If you zoom through each day’s reading, check it off of your list and it makes no difference in your life – it was all for nothing.
Think about what you are reading. What does it mean to be “made in the image of God?” {Genesis 1:26 – Day 1}
Don’t be afraid to stop and look up another passage. For instance, when I read Genesis 2:7, I was struck by the idea of “God breath.” My mind then went to Ezekiel 37 where God was again breathing life where there was none. And, again, in Isaiah 42:5 and Job 33:4. It’s like a treasure hunt; the more you dig – the more you find.
Read out loud. This is especially important when reading familiar passages. When reading about Noah or Moses, it is easy to mentally skim the passage without even realizing it. But, if you read out loud and slowly, you will be amazed at the things you never knew that you never knew. Do you know who buried Moses? For the longest time, I didn’t. Then, I read out loud and slowly. It blew my mind, y’all. Oh no, I’m not telling. You start diggin’ for yourself. 🙂
Those are just a few tips that I hope will make your attempt to Hide the Word a little more enjoyable and productive.
Love y’all so much! Keep leaving me comments, sending me notes on Facebook and emailing me to let me know how it’s going!
There is just something so invigorating about a brand new year! I don’t really make resolutions; I’m far too fickle for them. And, for the most part, folks tend to make resolutions about things they have little desire to do but feel some obligation to do.
But, if there is something I can get really fired up about, it’s God’s Word, y’all.
I’ve been reading through the Bible with my girls and we have made it into Exodus. It has taken us quite awhile and that is even with me skipping the part about Noah getting drunk and naked because no mama has time for that. The girls are loving it and I’m loving seeing them loving it. I am teaching my 2 year old the Psalm 119:11 song and I caught her singing it to herself over breakfast. *love*
For this new year, I want to read the Bible chronologically because that is something I have never done. We all need to hide a little Word in our hearts. As I read today’s reading, I was struck by the fact that God’s first act of creation was to dispel the darkness. God has always been about bringing light to his people.
God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. – Genesis 1:4
Satan wants God’s people to be in the dark. He wants us to hide away with our pain and our pasts. He wants us to cower in fear and shame. But God said, “Oh no. I’m bringing the light.”
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; on those living in the land of deep darkness a light has dawned.– Isaiah 9:2
I wonder how many of you feel trapped by the darkness. How many of us are stumbling, searching, seeking? We want to walk on a new, brighter path. But how do we find this new path?
By knowing God’s Word.
Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path. – Psalm 119:105
So, if you would like a little light for the path, hide a little Word in your heart. And why not start today?
Here is the reading plan for the first week of Hide the Word 2015.
