Comments on January 31st One Year Bible ReadingsTypePad2017-01-31T03:21:55ZOne Year Biblehttps://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/tag:typepad.com,2003:https://www.oneyearbibleblog.com/2017/01/january-31st-one-year-bible-readings/comments/atom.xml/Pat commented on 'January 31st One Year Bible Readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef01b8d25b3232970c2017-02-01T17:29:40Z2017-02-01T17:29:40ZPatMike, I've commented before under a different (now obsolete) email account. So thankful for this site, and your continued commentary...<p>Mike, I've commented before under a different (now obsolete) email account. So thankful for this site, and your continued commentary on the One Year Bible. The 1YB changed my life reading through it for the first time in 2000 (and subsequent years). I love this verse you mentioned and wish I had it on a T-shirt: "The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my victory. He is my God, and I will praise him; he is my father's God, and I will exalt him!" It expresses what changed that year for me as I pondered all the connections and mysteries in His Word. Even becoming a Christian at a young age, and 'growing up in the church,' your life will change...you will BECOME...as you meditate continually on the letter He's left us.</p>
<p>To answer your question about singing...my voice is just passable. Meaning I can carry a tune, lol...and even pick up an alto for most pieces I hear and sing, probably due to hearing my mom harmonize in church each Sunday. But I've found even those not overtly blessed musically can still worship Him musically...if not with voice or an instrument, then perhaps via jogging, dance, or other activity done while listening to worship music. For me, I love to skate at a local rink wearing an iPod playing my favorite worship songs. During the day the rink is practically deserted and my best worship times have been there skating to "I Can Only Imagine" ('will I dance for you Jesus or in awe of You be still?'), "Holy, Holy, Holy," and other inspired pieces. If the day comes when I can no longer skate, then I imagine I'll put on the tunes each morning and still bike or walk and whisper-sing to the music. And when I can't do that, I'll probably creep in my walker to the songs, imagining myself dancing with my Creator. Because there's just intangible blessing and happiness doing so--He is the One, after all, who keeps this heart dancing and singing even as this relentlessly aging body tries to keep up. </p>Carol commented on 'January 31st One Year Bible Readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef01b7c8d0de72970b2017-02-01T14:57:39Z2017-02-01T14:57:39ZCarolMy day, my thoughts, my focus are so much different when I have read my Bible and prayed in the...<p>My day, my thoughts, my focus are so much different when I have read my Bible and prayed in the morning then when I have not. I sure enjoy this Blog also. It's like this little treat after my readings and I garner so much from it...so thank you so very much!<br />
</p>Jeff commented on 'January 31st One Year Bible Readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef01b8d25ad045970c2017-01-31T19:40:56Z2017-01-31T19:40:56ZJeffhttp://profile.typepad.com/6p01b7c8c35140970bI'm amazed that it took so, so many plagues from God before the hard heart of Pharoah was finally changed....<p>I'm amazed that it took so, so many plagues from God before the hard heart of Pharoah was finally changed. I cannot imagine why he didn't give in sooner -- God's plan? or is it simply incredibly difficult for us humans to give up on some things, like slavery? -- think about the tremendous pain (including even a Civil War) our country had to endure dealing with slavery.<br />
Makes me think about those worldly things that I'm so attached to that I wouldn't give up, even for God. </p>Ramona commented on 'January 31st One Year Bible Readings'tag:typepad.com,2003:6a00d8341c5ebf53ef01b7c8d04355970b2017-01-31T03:25:38Z2017-01-31T04:54:55ZRamonaExodus 12:14-13:16 Random thoughts and impressions I jotted down as I read the Old Testament today. Also, take your flocks...<p>Exodus 12:14-13:16</p>
<p>Random thoughts and impressions I jotted down as I read the Old Testament today.</p>
<p>Also, take your flocks and your herds, just as you have spoken, and leave. But bless me (Pharaoh) also." (Exodus 12:32 NET.)</p>
<p>When I read this I thought, “Did Moses “Bless” Pharaoh? Was there some kind of bank of heaven where Blessings are stored up for certain people and applied accordingly? Pharaoh would have to rely on the mercy of God because he did not have a relationship with the God of gods and I think God’s Mercy had run out on Pharaoh.</p>
<p>The Lord gave favor to the people in the eyes of the Egyptians, and they gave them whatever they wanted, and so they plundered Egypt. (Exodus 12:36 NET.)</p>
<p>The word plunder implies war and those that plunder are the victors. Israel had been in a battle; however, it was God fighting their fight against the ineffective gods of Egypt. To the victor belong the spoils of war. Paul wrote in his letter to the Romans, Yet amid all these things we are more than conquerors and gain a surpassing victory through Him Who loved us. (Romans 8:37 AMP). What does it mean to be more than a conqueror? To gain victory automatically bestows title of champion, but to be more than a conqueror has not been something I’ve contemplated. Israel’s march out of Egypt carrying her treasure with them made her more than a conqueror without having lifted up one weapon, God did it all.</p>
<p><br />
This night had been reserved by the LORD to bring his people out from the land of Egypt, so this same night now belongs to him. It must be celebrated every year, from generation to generation, to remember the LORD's deliverance.(Exodus 12:42 NLT)</p>
<p>After rereading the above verse in other translations, I realized this particular rendition brought something to the story I had never seen before, God’s timing. In Eternity past God had reserved that specific night for Israel’s deliverance out of Egypt. If God is the same yesterday, today and forever, can the things, which so easily beset me, the things I have allowed to entrap me, can the day of my deliverance also have been set in eternity past? Hmmm</p>
<p>"If an immigrant is staying with you and wants to keep the Passover to GOD, every male in his family must be circumcised, then he can participate in the Meal--he will then be treated as a native son. But no uncircumcised person can eat it. (Exodus 12:48 MSG)</p>
<p>God has always provided for those outside of His Covenant to enter in and become His People. As for the congregation, there shall be one statute both for you, and for the stranger that sojourneth with you, a statute for ever throughout your generations; as ye are, so shall the stranger be before the LORD. (Numbers 15:15 JPS)</p>
<p><br />
Finally the passage I had found so very intriguing three years ago and that continues to fascinate me today.</p>
<p>Every firstborn of a donkey you shall redeem by [substituting for it] a lamb, or if you will not redeem it, then you shall break its neck; and every firstborn among your sons shall you redeem. (Exodus 13:13 AMP)</p>
<p>The previous verse states every firstborn sons and male animals MUST be presented before the Lord, yet the donkey could be redeemed. Why? It is because the donkey is a work animal and can be ridden by man, or is there some other thing going on?</p>
<p>Jesus came into Jerusalem riding on a donkey as He entered Jerusalem during His Passion.</p>
<p>When He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the mount called [the Mount of] Olives, He sent two of His disciples, Telling [them], Go into the village yonder; there, as you go in, you will find a donkey's colt tied, on which no man has ever yet sat. Loose it and bring [it here]. (Luke 19:29-30 AMP)</p>
<p>Jesus, the Lamb of God came into Jerusalem on the back of a young donkey. Not only did he Redeem man from his sins, he redeemed that donkey from having its neck broken.</p>
<p>Grace and peace,<br />
Ramona</p>