Day 3 of 40 Daily Bible Reading

04 January 2014, Saturday

Genesis 8

This is the chapter about Noah and the Ark with all the animals, where God stops the rain in Genesis 8:1-5.

When does God stop the torrential downpour of the rain? After 150 days, verse 3.

Where? The boat stops on the mountains of Ararat in Genesis 8:4. (For more information about the Mountains of Ararat, see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mountains_of_Ararat.) It’s in what we call Turkey today, according to some sources. Others say Armenia, Iran, and Azerbaijan. Mount Ararat today is located in Turkey.

It took 150 days for the boat to come to a stop on the Mountains of Ararat, verses 3-4.

Why? Why did it take 2.5 months + 40 days before Noah released the raven to see if they could leave the ark? (See Genesis 8:6-9.) Answer: Think about it. Think of all of the people, animals, and plants that were swept away and killed from this storm. Think about the stench of the decay. That’s why it took so long. The smell needed to die down.

How long did it really take before Noah and family and animals could leave the ark? See Genesis 8:3-14.

Verses 21-22 are God’s never again list. RE-read them. They are interesting.

Other resources:

1 The Noah’s Ark Searches: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Searches_for_Noah%27s_Ark

2 Mount Ararat in Turkey: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Ararat

How does Genesis 8 apply to my life?

God took special care of Noah, the family, and the animals. Hence, He does the same for me. He does not change, so that’s how I can be confident He cares about me and even the smallest of details.

Matthew 8

Key verses in my opinion today: 2, 8, 13, 18, 24-27,

Jesus calmed the storm and rebuked it in Matthew 8:23-27.

How does Matthew 8 apply to my life?

Trust Jesus in the days of calm and in the days of storm. Don’t doubt or question. Just trust.

Ezra 8

Key verses in my opinion: 21-23, 34, 36.

How does Ezra 8 apply to my life?

Pray for all of life’s journeys, whether traveling or walking the path of the life in general.

Acts 8

Key verses are: 1, 3, 4

How does Acts 8 apply to my life today?

Verse 4 made me stop in my tracks. This is one of those verses I could spend days to weeks to months to even years on—where I think on it all day and night.

So, I am going to stop and allow this verse to sink in for a while and what it means to me and my life. I think it’s critical for us to stop and rest, Selah, in a verse whenever it gets our attention—and allow God to help us glean everything we can from it. Acts 8:4 is one of those verses for me.

If this pause means I take longer than 365 days to read the Bible, or more than 30 days to get through Psalms and Proverbs, so be it. I think it’s far more important for me to get the most out of Acts 8:4 as possible. 

Day 2 of 40:

02 January 2014, Thursday, 1140 a.m.

An Opening Prayer

Lord, guide me. Today is your day. You have a purpose for me this day. After all, today is Your day, not mine. Help me to live it as such. I want to live Your will and not mine. God Almighty, help me not to get too far ahead of You or too far behind. Guide my steps and help me stay on Your path alone.

Also, help me not to get distracted and focus on You and on You alone.

Psalm 90:12 NOG

Today’s http://BibleGateway.com Verse of the Day is: Psalm 90:12 NOG

12 Teach us to number each of our days

so that we may grow in wisdom.

-- NOG: Scripture is taken from NAMES OF GOD BIBLE (WITHOUT NOTES) ®, © 1995 God’s Word to the Nations. Used by permission of Baker Publishing Group.

Wow. What a wonderful verse for the start of a new year, a new prayer journal, and a new Devotional Bible Study series.

Lord, teach me to number my days and each of my moments. Show me how to do this. I do not want to take one moment for granted. I know I do, but I really do not want to do so. I want to live for You and Your will alone, so I can bring You glory. Help me to think of this often and throughout the day and night.

My M’Cheyne One Year Reading Plan for the Day:

Genesis 7, Matthew 7, Ezra 7, Acts 7

Genesis 7:

Verse 1 talks about how when everything was prepared and ready, then God spoke. Verse 1 in some versions starts with the word, “THEN.”

When does God speak? When we do everything He says, and when everything is ready. Then, He speaks. He speaks when the time is right and best. He does not speak until then.

How many times do I expect God to speak to me now—and not wait? How many times do I want my timing, after all, I know the best timing, right? Hah! Wrong. But, I catch myself trying to get God to move along to my pace. Then, it hits me what I am doing, eventually, and I realize, how wrong I am. God’s timing is always best. Always. Without fail.

More on Genesis 7:1: God tells Noah how He has observed how only Noah is righteous on earth and in this generation. Noah was in right standing with God. He was upright.

Lord, how many times have I said to my husband, “Is there one, besides the very few we know, who are Christ-followers?” I wondered this regarding Christians and unbelievers both. Too many times. The presidential elections of 2012 really hit me in the stomach like a fist. I’m still reeling from it and it’s been over a year. It let me know how few of Christians are truly informed and are in the Bible. I firmly believe this nation would be radically different if we did (I’m looking in the mirror).

How many Christ-followers are really here on earth?

And, then, I remember… WHO AM I to judge? It’s, frankly, none of my business. Their spiritual lives are their choice, not mine.

But, then, I remember how not everyone has had the same advantages as me. Not everyone realizes they have the time to be in the Word and in prayer all day long, for they weren’t taught how to do so. Moreover, not everyone has read the Bible all the way through as many times as I have. Nor has everyone studied the Word like I have. So, what does this mean?

God’s given me the spiritual gift to teach. Hence, that’s what I will do, rather than judge or question. I will love people instead. I will walk with them instead as well.

Moreover, most importantly, I will look in the mirror first and foremost. Period. I have a lot to learn. A lot, a lot, a lot.

Lord, am I acting like Noah in Genesis 7:1? Am I following the Bible? Am I living in the middle of Your will God, and not mine? And, am I doing so 24/7/365?

Answer: Hardly.

How many times do I get distracted and sidetracked and jump, not just step, off Your path, Lord? This is truly my thorn.

Break

My hubby came home early, so we went out to eat and then ran to Target. Now, I’m back home and will continue with my Bible reading of Genesis 7.

Genesis 7, Part 2

How many each of the animals did Noah take on the ark? Hah. That’s a trick question. Most people answer this one incorrectly., after all. The answer is found in Genesis 7:2-3. Seven pairs of every clean animal.

Verse 5 is another verse I want to live by:

Genesis 7:5 NLT

5 So Noah did everything as the Lord commanded him.

-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

Lord, I want to do everything You command me to do—without hesitation and without questioning. Teach me how to do so and help me to be mindful thereof.

Matthew 7

The entire chapter is a good one. I could stop and spend several days contemplating and focusing on those verses. All of it is applicable to life.

Ezra 7

Ezra 7:6 talks about how Ezra knew the Law of Moses well. He was well-versed, skilled, and an expert in it. For a Christian, the Law of Moses refers to the entire Bible, as well as Genesis through Deuteronomy.

Lord, may that be said of me one day. I hope to be well-verses, skilled, and an expert in Your Word—and will spend my lifetime trying to achieve this goal. Verse 10 is another one I want to apply as well and goes right along with Ezra 7:6, along with Ezra 7:11.

Acts 7

Acts 7:1-50 is a nice summary of the Old Testament.

In Acts 7:51-60, Stephen is stoned for speaking truth.

Reading Through Psalms and Proverbs in a Month

Psalm 7, 37, 67, 127. Proverbs 7. 

Day 1 of 40: Introduction: A New Beginning

01 January 2014, Wednesday

MY HEART AND TREASURE PRAYER JOURNAL, Part 1:

A DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY

I am a prayer journalkeeper and have been for over thirty years and ever since I was a little girl. It's something I do every single day and have for years and I prayer journal throughout the day and evening. Therefore, it's something that's very important to me.

Every year, and throughout the year, I try to find a better way to prayer journal since it is so important to me and my life. Needless to say, I keep an eye out for new resources and suggestions that might lead me to a better way to prayer journal. I also try to do it in several different ways and keep up things fresh throughout the year. It's always a good thing to keep prayer journaling fresh, for each journal entry is a way to connect with God, and I want to grow as close to God as possible.

I woke up this morning to one of the best blog posts, or daily devotionals, I have ever received. It got me thinking and it inspired me. The blog post, or daily devotional, was by Stephanie Clayton and here is the source:

http://stephanieclayton.org/2014/01/01/treasure-journal/

So, that's where I got the idea to do this for my new prayer journal I am starting this year.

Would you care to join me? 

Two Different Books

I've decided to write a regular devotional book and a devotional Bible study book for this series and will in time do a prayer journal. Here are the covers: