December 31, Psalm 119:169-176

Click here to go to Psalm 119:169-176

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

I'm so excited for those of you who've participated in this journey with me. As I look forward to the new year and starting reading again with John.  I hope you'll enjoy in the journey and see what God has to tell us from His Word this next year. 

For the final day of 2012 we finish Psalm 119. Here are a couple of verses that I enjoyed:

171 

Let praise flow from my lips,

    for you have taught me your decrees.

172 

Let my tongue sing about your word,

    for all your commands are right.

December 30, Psalm 119:161-168

Click here to go to Psalm 119:161-168

165 

Those who love your instructions have great peace

    and do not stumble.

December 29, Psalm 119:153-160

Click here to go to Psalm 119:153-160

156 

Lord, how great is your mercy;

    let me be revived by following your regulations.

160 

The very essence of your words is truth;

    all your just regulations will stand forever.

December 28, Psalm 119:145-152

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152 

I have known from my earliest days

    that your laws will last forever.

December 27, Psalm 119:129-144

Click here to go to Psalm 119:129-144

135 

Look upon me with love;

    teach me your decrees.

136 

Rivers of tears gush from my eyes

    because people disobey your instructions.

143 

As pressure and stress bear down on me,

    I find joy in your commands.

144 

Your laws are always right;

    help me to understand them so I may live.

As pressure and stress bear down we can find joy in God's Word. 

December 26, Psalm 119:105-128

Click here to go to Psalm 119:105-128

A little bigger reading today to finish by the end of the year.

So many good things in this section so here are a few of my favorites:

105 

Your word is a lamp to guide my feet

    and a light for my path.

114 

You are my refuge and my shield;

    your word is my source of hope.

125 

Give discernment to me, your servant;

    then I will understand your laws.

December 25, Psalm 119:97-104

Click here to go to Psalm 119:97-104

Merry Christmas!!

98 

Your commands make me wiser than my enemies,

    for they are my constant guide.

Another thing God's Word does for us... makes us wiser.

December 24, Psalm 119:89-96

Click here to go to Psalm 119:89-96

90 

Your faithfulness extends to every generation,

    as enduring as the earth you created.

91 

Your regulations remain true to this day,

    for everything serves your plans.

December 23, Psalm 119:81-88

Click here to go to Psalm 119:81-88

86 

All your commands are trustworthy.

    Protect me from those who hunt me down without cause.

87 

They almost finished me off,

    but I refused to abandon your commandments.

88 

In your unfailing love, spare my life;

    then I can continue to obey your laws.

December 22, Psalm 119:73-80

Click here to go to Psalm 119:73-80

73 

You made me; you created me.

    Now give me the sense to follow your commands.

76 

Now let your unfailing love comfort me,

    just as you promised me, your servant.

December 21, Psalm 119:65-72

Click here to go to Psalm 119:65-72

65 

You have done many good things for me, Lord,

    just as you promised.

66 

I believe in your commands;

    now teach me good judgment and knowledge.

Good judgment, what a great thing to have, some days I feel like I have it while other days... well....not so much.

December 20, Psalm 119:57-64

Click here to go to Psalm 119:57-64

With all my heart I want your blessings.

    Be merciful as you promised. (58)

December 19, Psalm 119:49-56

Click here to go to Psalm 119:49-56

Your promise revives me;

    it comforts me in all my troubles. (50)

December 18, Psalm 119:41-48

Click here to go to Psalm 119:41-48

47 

How I delight in your commands!

    How I love them!

48 

I honor and love your commands.

    I meditate on your decrees.

December 17, Psalm 119:33-40

Click here to go to Psalm 119:33-40

This is such a great chapter... but today I like this verse the best:

I long to obey your commandments!

    Renew my life with your goodness.

December 16, Psalm 119:25-32

Click here to go to Psalm 119:25-32

Sorry that my comments were in white bars again... I do these the evening before and it's scheduled to post at 12:30 the morning of so I don't see it right away...  I copied today's comments into notepad first and now into blogger so hopefully it won't hold the "white background"

I love this whole section!


25 I lie in the dust;
    revive me by your word.
26 I told you my plans, and you answered.
    Now teach me your decrees.
27 Help me understand the meaning of your commandments,
    and I will meditate on your wonderful deeds.
28 I weep with sorrow;
    encourage me by your word.
29 Keep me from lying to myself;
    give me the privilege of knowing your instructions.
30 I have chosen to be faithful;
    I have determined to live by your regulations.
31 I cling to your laws.
    Lord, don’t let me be put to shame!
32 I will pursue your commands,
    for you expand my understanding.

I think 29 is the best: Keep me from lying to myself...

But such good stuff!

December 15, Psalm 119:17-24

Click here to go to Psalm 119:17-24



Open my eyes to see
    the wonderful truths in your instructions. (18)

I am always overwhelmed
    with a desire for your regulations. (20)


To be overwhelmed with a desire for God's Word, I wish I could say that, but most days it's still work. 

December 14, Psalm 119:9-16

Click here to go to Psalm 119:9-16

In the second section we are asked the question of how we can stay pure. The answer follows:
By obeying God's Word.

Again the focus is the Word of the God.

This was probably one of the first verses I was taught as a child:
I have hidden your word in my heart,
    that I might not sin against you. (12)

December 13, Psalm 119:1-8

Click here to go to Psalm 119:1-8

I'm kind of glad I saved this Psalm to finish the year. It's extremely encouraging on the importance of reading God's Word and taking it to heart.
Here's the footnote from www.biblegateway.com regarding Psalm 119:
This psalm is a Hebrew acrostic poem; there are twenty-two stanzas, one for each successive letter of the Hebrew alphabet. Each of the eight verses within each stanza begins with the Hebrew letter named in its heading.

This Psalm opens with letting us know what it takes to be joyful:

• People of integrity
• People who follow God's instructions
• People who obey God's laws
• People who search for Him
• People who do not compromise 
• People who walk only on God's path

I love the last line and seem to pray it often, "Please don't give up on me!"

December 12, Revelation 22

Click here to go to Revelation 22

13 I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.”!! PRAISE BE TO GOD. WE DID IT!

I thought we would finish out the year reading through Psalm 119.

December 11, Revelation 21

Click here to read Revelation 21


3 I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, “Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them. 4 He will wipe every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death or sorrow or crying or pain. All these things are gone forever.”

5 And the one sitting on the throne said, “Look, I am making everything new!” And then he said to me, “Write this down, for what I tell you is trustworthy and true.” 6 And he also said, “It is finished! I am the Alpha and the Omega—the Beginning and the End. To all who are thirsty I will give freely from the springs of the water of life. 7 All who are victorious will inherit all these blessings, and I will be their God, and they will be my children.

22 I saw no temple in the city, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple.

It's going to be amazing!

December 10, Revelation 20

Click here to go to Revelation 20

I've always heard after the tribulation Satan will be thrown into a pit for 1,000 years and then he'll be released. During that time he will gather an army of those in heaven that will try to defeat God. I assume this chapter is where they get that idea.

It's hard to imagine that anyone could be in the presence of God and decide to take sides with Satan.

I don't get it but I think that's what this chapter is saying.

December 9, Revelation 19

Click here to go to Revelation 19

Sorry about the weird text the past couple of days, not sure why it happened and hopefully I figured out how to stop it from happening...

Again the thing that struck me is the worship  in this chapter. It is beautiful, but this section is so cool to imagine:

11 Then I saw heaven opened, and a white horse was standing there. Its rider was named Faithful and True, for he judges fairly and wages a righteous war. 12 His eyes were like flames of fire, and on his head were many crowns. A name was written on him that no one understood except himself. 13 He wore a robe dipped in blood, and his title was the Word of God. 14 The armies of heaven, dressed in the finest of pure white linen, followed him on white horses. 15 From his mouth came a sharp sword to strike down the nations. He will rule them with an iron rod. He will release the fierce wrath of God, the Almighty, like juice flowing from a winepress. 16 On his robe at his thigh was written this title: King of all kings and Lord of all lords.

17 Then I saw an angel standing in the sun, shouting to the vultures flying high in the sky: “Come! Gather together for the great banquet God has prepared.

Faithful and True is our Lord!

December 8, Revelation 18

Click here to go to Revelation 18

¹⁶ “How terrible, how terrible for that great city!
    She was clothed in finest purple and scarlet linens,
    decked out with gold and precious stones and pearls!
¹⁷ In a single moment
    all the wealth of the city is gone!” (16, 17)

Even though there is great evil there will be those that will be sadden when it is destroyed.

December 7 - Revelation 17

Click here to go to Revelation 17

¹¹ “The scarlet beast that was, but is no longer, is the eighth king. He is like the other seven, and he, too, is headed for destruction. ¹² The ten horns of the beast are ten kings who have not yet risen to power. They will be appointed to their kingdoms for one brief moment to reign with the beast. ¹³ They will all agree to give him their power and authority.¹⁴ Together they will go to war against the Lamb, but the Lamb will defeat them because he is Lord of all lords and King of all kings. And his called and chosen and faithful ones will be with him.”

Regardless, the Lamb will defeat them because he is LORD OF ALL LORDS and KING OF ALL KINGS!  Amen!

December 6, Revelation 16

Click here to go to Revelation 16

¹⁷ Then the seventh angel poured out his bowl into the air. And a mighty shout came from the throne in the Temple, saying, “It is finished!” ¹⁸ Then the thunder crashed and rolled, and lightning flashed. And a great earthquake struck—the worst since people were placed on the earth. ¹⁹ The great city of Babylon split into three sections, and the cities of many nations fell into heaps of rubble. So God remembered all of Babylon’s sins, and he made her drink the cup that was filled with the wine of his fierce wrath. ²⁰ And every island disappeared, and all the mountains were leveled. ²¹ There was a terrible hailstorm, and hailstones weighing as much as seventy-five pounds^[d] fell from the sky onto the people below. They cursed God because of the terrible plague of the hailstorm.

John 19:30 - When Jesus had tasted it, he said, “It is finished!” Then he bowed his head and released his spirit.

Matthew 27:50 - 53
⁵⁰ Then Jesus shouted out again, and he released his spirit. ⁵¹ At that moment the curtain in the sanctuary of the Temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. The earth shook, rocks split apart, ⁵² and tombs opened. The bodies of many godly men and women who had died were raised from the dead. ⁵³ They left the cemetery after Jesus’ resurrection, went into the holy city of Jerusalem, and appeared to many people.

Hopefully I'm not proof texting here, but when God says "It is finished!" It's powerful.
 
 

December 5, Day 338 - Revelation 15

Click here to go to Revelation 15

³ And they were singing the song of Moses, the servant of God, and the song of the Lamb:

“Great and marvelous are your works,
    O Lord God, the Almighty.
Just and true are your ways,
    O King of the nations.^[a]
4 Who will not fear you, Lord,
    and glorify your name?
    For you alone are holy.
All nations will come and worship before you,
    for your righteous deeds have been revealed.”

⁸ The Temple was filled with smoke from God’s glory and power. No one could enter the Temple until the seven angels had completed pouring out the seven plagues.

 

December 4, Day 337 - Revelation 14

Click here to go to Revelation 14

Then I saw the Lamb standing on Mount Zion, and with him were 144,000 who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads. ² And I heard a sound from heaven like the roar of mighty ocean waves or the rolling of loud thunder. It was like the sound of many harpists playing together.
³ This great choir sang a wonderful new song in front of the throne of God and before the four living beings and the twenty-four elders. No one could learn this song except the 144,000 who had been redeemed from the earth

That is going to be amazing!

December 3, Day 336 - Revelation 13

Click here to go to Revelation 13

More troubles for those who do not follow "the beast" by being unable to buy or sell. There are notes in The Voice bible:

The number "666" stands in contrast to the perfection of the Lamb and the Spirit. Because this number is "the number of a person," readers have tried to pin down the identity of this person throughout history. In John's day, the name and title "Nero Caesar" was a likely candidate for the beast because Nero persecuted and executed believers, demanding obedience and even worship. Every era seems to have its Neros, those beastly characters who occupy seats of power and yet use their power to oppress God's people. The speculation continues as to this person's identity, but what has not changed is the message of hope in the midst of extreme persecution; that is the beauty proclaimed in this vision given to John.

My Pastor always says to remember that scripture was written for those of the time. I think the line he uses "it means what it meant." I do like what the notes say in The Voice that every era has those trying to destroy Christianity, but there is always hope! Thank God for our hope!

December 2, Day 335 - Revelation 12

Click here to go to Revelation 12

This sounds like something from a bad syfy channel movie! (Sorry, my husband is watching some weird movie on SyFy right now.

The imagery in this chapter is intense to say the least.

⁷ Then there was war in heaven. Michael and his angels fought against the dragon and his angels. ⁸ And the dragon lost the battle, and he and his angels were forced out of heaven. ⁹ This great dragon—the ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, the one deceiving the whole world—was thrown down to the earth with all his angels.

Reminds me of Frank Peritti's "Darkness" series and the passage from Ephesian that reminds us that we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world (6:12 NLT)

 

December 1, Day 334 - Revelation 11

Click here to go to Revelation 11

This is tough stuff.
I do find this section interesting:
⁴ These two prophets are the two olive trees and the two lampstands that stand before the Lord of all the earth. ⁵ If anyone tries to harm them, fire flashes from their mouths and consumes their enemies. This is how anyone who tries to harm them must die. ⁶ They have power to shut the sky so that no rain will fall for as long as they prophesy. And they have the power to turn the rivers and oceans into blood, and to strike the earth with every kind of plague as often as they wish.
⁷ When they complete their testimony, the beast that comes up out of the bottomless pit^[a] will declare war against them, and he will conquer them and kill them. ⁸ And their bodies will lie in the main street of Jerusalem,^[b] the city that is figuratively called “Sodom” and “Egypt,” the city where their Lord was crucified. ⁹ And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. ¹⁰ All the people who belong to this world will gloat over them and give presents to each other to celebrate the death of the two prophets who had tormented them.
¹¹ But after three and a half days, God breathed life into them, and they stood up! Terror struck all who were staring at them. ¹² Then a loud voice from heaven called to the two prophets, “Come up here!” And they rose to heaven in a cloud as their enemies watched.

I've read a couple of fiction books that have used this passage in their books.