Bible 365: Week 30

Pardon the late Bible 365 post this week.  If you haven't heard, the YUMMommy family had a recent crisis.  We're actually pulling off the most stressful move of our lives to date.  You can read all about it here.  Tomorrow is moving day and I couldn't be more happy to be free of this place, our landlord and the loud neighbors who rent the other side of the duplex.  I'm going to miss our neighbors across the yard though. They are truly the sweetest elderly couple and welcomed us into the neighborhood with open arms from day one.  Anyways, I'm sharing seven things that I learned from Week 30 below.

1-"But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint." (Isaiah 40:31)  I definitely learned about waiting on the on the Lord to move in our lives over the past few days.  Really over the past year.  And tomorrow we're definitely mounting our eagles wings and flying out this situation.  God is an on time God for real because our new rental came through literally at almost the eleventh hour it seems.  Through it all I kept my hand in His hand because at the end of day He knows what's best for us.

2-"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow you,.  When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned, nor shall the flame scorch you." (Isaiah 43:2)  His protection is always with us.  

3-"The person who made the idol never stops to reflect, 'Why, it's just a block of wood!  I burned half of it for heat and used it to bake my bread and roast my meat. How can the rest of it be a god?  Should I bow down to worship a piece of wood?'" (Isaiah 44:19)  The Israelites still haven't learned their lesson several generations later.  Here God points out foolish it is that they worship an idol/god made of the same thing they use to cook their food with. He's trying to get them to see that these idols do nothing for them, but that it is Him who has been blessing them and delivering time and time again.

4-"I create the light and make the darkness.  I send good times and bad times.  I, the Lord, am the one who does these things." (Isaiah 45:7) This scripture came to mind because I while back I overheard someone saying that God never sends bad times upon us.  Of course, I wanted to but in and say yes He does.  Sometimes, it's to punish us when we act like the Israelites and stray from His will and other times it's to help us grow stronger in our faith. 

5-"But he was pierced for our rebellion, crushed for our sins.  He was beaten so we could be whole.  He was whipped so we could be healed." (Isaiah 53:5)  Isaiah tries to tell the people of Jesus' future coming and how he will suffer because our the world's wickedness.  My Bible refers to Jesus as the "sin-bearing servant."  And heaven knows Jesus had a lot of sin to bear from the Israelites and all the nations who were living outside of God's will then and today.  I often wonder why they couldn't get it right back them and why we can't get it right today?  Why is it so hard to be good to each other and live in positivity?

6-"Good people pass away; the godly often die before their time.  But no one seems to care or wonder why.  No one seems to understand that God is protecting them from the evil to come.  For those who follow godly paths will rest in peace when they die." (Isaiah 57:1-2)  I've loss a lot of people who've meant a lot to me before what I considered was their time to depart this world. However, reading this scripture gives me peace finally.  I never looked at death as a type of protection but more of a curse or unfortunate part of life.  After it sounds like life in Heaven would be way better than living a life down here on Earth if you have to be surrounded but evilness 24/7.  I hope this verse gives others comfort.

7-"Were they ashamed when they had committed abomination?  No!  They were not at all ashamed; nor did they know how to blush.  Therefore they shall fall among those who fall; at the time I punish them, they shall be cast down," says the Lord." (Isaiah 60:15)  People who do wrong always justify their actions by saying 'Ain't no shame in my game.'  In their minds if they don't feel shameful then that makes their bad habits and wrongdoing ok somehow.  No, my friends.  If you don't find shame in it, trust me God does!

Week 31 Readings

7/29:  Jeremiah 11-15

7/30:  Jeremiah 16-20

7/31:  Jeremiah 21-24

8/01:  Jeremiah 25-29

8/02:  Jeremiah 30-33

8/03:  Jeremiah 34-38

8/04:  Jeremiah 39-45