April in Acts

1. Acts 1
2. Acts 2
3. Acts 3
4. Acts 4
5. Acts 5
6. Acts 6
7. Acts 7
8. Acts 8
9. Acts 9
10. Acts 10
11. Acts 11
12. Acts 12
13. Acts 13
14. Acts 14
15.  Acts 15
16. Acts 16
17. Acts 17
18. Acts 18
19. Acts 19
20. Acts 20
21. Acts 21
22. Acts 22
23. Acts 23
24. Acts 24
25. Acts 25
26. Acts 26
27. Acts 27
28. Acts 28
29. OFF
30. Introduction to the Epistles

March in Luke and John

If you are reading according to the yearly schedule, you can start the Friday before Palm Sunday in John 12 and follow the schedule differently from below. Then get back on schedule after that. See below for the Palm Sunday dates in the future.

1. Luke 16
2. Luke 17
3. Luke 18
4. Luke 19
5. Luke 20
6. Luke 21
7. Luke 22
8. Luke 23
9. Luke 24
10. John 1
11. John 2
12. John 3
13. John 4
14. John 5
15. John 6
16. John 7
17. John 8
18. John 9
19. John 10
20. John 11
21. John 12:1-11 (or the Friday before Palm Sunday of the year you are doing this)
22. John 12:12-19 (or Palm Sunday)
23. John 12:20-50 (or Monday of Holy Week) 
24. John 13-14 & 15:1-18:24 (or Tuesday-Thursday of Holy Week) 
25. John 18:25-19:42 (or Good Friday of Holy Week)
26. TOMB REST DAY
27. John 20:1-23 (or Easter Sunday)
28. John 20:24-21:25 (Now get back on schedule - you have some cushion days)
29. OFF
30. OFF
31. OFF

• Palm Sunday in future years:
• 2024: March 24

• 2025: April 13

• 2026: March 29

• 2027: March 21

• 2028: April 9

• 2029: March 25

• 2030: April 14

• 2031: April 6

• 2032: March 21

• 2033: April 10

• 2034: April 2

• 2035: March 18

February in Mark and Luke

1. Mark 4
2. Mark 5
3. Mark 6
4. Mark 7
5. Mark 8
6. Mark 9
7. Mark 10
8. Mark 11
9. Mark 12
10. Mark 13
11. Mark 14
12.  Mark 15
13. Mark 16
14. Luke 1
15. Luke 2
16. Luke 3
17. Luke 4
18. Luke 5
19. Luke 6
20. Luke 7
21. Luke 8
22. Luke 9
23. Luke 10
24. Luke 11
25. Luke 12
26. Luke 13
27. Luke 14
28. Luke 15
29. LUKE LEAP DAY!

January in Matthew and Mark

I wanted to give a "heads-up" that you can also read the integrated Gospels chronologically on the Gospel Harmony Book Club blog.

Here is a page with all the Microsoft Word Downloads for the Bible Book Club:

Bible Book Club Page of Download Links (links will be updated by the end of 2023)

JANUARY

1. Overview of the Four Gospels/Matt 1
2. Matt 2
3. Matt 3
4. Matt 4
5. Matt 5
6. Matt 6
7. Matt 7
8. Matt 8
9. Matt 9
10. Matt 10
11. Matt 11
12. Matt 12
13. Matt 13
14. Matt 14
15. Matt 15
16. Matt 16
17. Matt 17
18. Matt 18
19. Matt 19
20. Matt 20
21. Matt 21
22. Matt 22
23. Matt 23
24. Matt 24
25. Matt 25
26. Matt 26
27. Matt 27
28. Matt 28
29. Mark 1
30. Mark 2
31. Mark 3

Introduction to YEAR ONE of the Bible Book Club

We are starting our FOURTH three year cycle of the Bible Book Club! Come and read 1-2 chapters a day.

There is a page entitled "How the Bible Book Club Came to Be" above to hear the story!

My approach to the Bible is what Dallas Willard says below: 

Its purpose is practical, not academic. An intelligent, careful, intensive but straightforward reading—that is, one not governed by obscure and faddish theories or by a mindless orthodoxy—is what it requires to direct us into life in God’s kingdom. Any other approach to the Bible, I believe, conflicts with the picture of the God that, all agree, emerges from Jesus and his tradition.
Willard, Dallas (2009-02-06). The Divine Conspiracy . Harper Collins, Inc.. Kindle Edition.

So come join us for a three year, practical, intensive but straightforward reading. Each day I will have a . . .

BACKGROUND - If you get stuck, it helps give information that might be helpful.

REFLECTION - My musings on the passage

APPLICATION - An idea for a possible "I WILL" statement for you!

PRAYER

The only thing that is missing is accountability from others so you can do "Kingdom" living together! Try to find someone so you can hold each other accountability in your "I WILL's"!  

YEAR ONE involves Creation to the Kingdom of Israel with Psalms and Proverbs interspersed in their time periods. 

Day 31: Worthy is the Lamb - Scene 4 (53)

Part of "Worthy is the Lamb", the final chorus of Messiah by Handel, from the composer's autograph score.
By Novello Ewer & Company Uploaded by Tim Riley at en.wikipedia
 [Public domain, Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

HEART HEARING

Movement 53 (2:15:21)

(For those of you reading on the "by Christmas" schedule, I have you ending on Christmas Eve rather than Christmas morning as this is a very reflective last movement of Messiah and perfect for the night before Christmas, especially the very long "Amen" segment of the movement. I suggest going back to the "Hallelujah Chorus" for Christmas morning!) 

Do not miss listening to the entire "AMEN"! It is beautiful.

Scene 4 - "The glorification of the Messianic victim"

53. Chorus 2:15:21 (a link that goes directly to the song)

Worthy is the Lamb that was slain and hath redeemed us to God by His blood, to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. Blessing, and honour, glory, and power, be unto Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb, for ever and ever.  Amen.  (Revelation 5:12, 9, 13-14)

MIND MEDITATION

Revelation 5

This chapter is the culmination of all that we have learned in the three years of Bible reading in the Bible Book Club and The Scarlet Thread of Redemption that we have been tracking from Genesis - Revelation! If you are just doing this devotion and have not been part of the Bible Book Club, consider doing it in the next cycle that starts January 1!

Revelation 5 opens with God, on His throne, holding a book (scroll) that is sealed up with seven seals. The loud voice (the first of 20 in the book of Revelation) of a strong angel asks, 

"Who is worthy to open the book and to break its seals?" (5:2)

The only one worthy was the "Lion that is from the tribe of Judah, the Root of David." Remember that David came from the tribe of Judah, and Jesus came from the line of David (Matthew 1:1). Jesus fulfilled the prophecy of a King who would come. 

“I, Jesus, have sent My angel to
 testify to you these things for the churches. 

I am the root and the descendant of David, 
the bright morning star.”

(Revelation 22:16)

Revelation 5:5 says that the Lion has "overcome." This statement ties in with the "victory" songs at the beginning of the last scene. "Overcome" and "victory" are derived from the same Greek root word, nike. Jesus is the victor in the battle against Satan and sin, and He has given us the victory.

Even though Jesus was introduced as a Lion, John saw a "Lamb standing, as if slain." In His first coming, Jesus came as the "Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world" (John 1:29). In His second coming, He will be the conquering Lion. Revelation 5 is the only place in this book where Jesus is referred to as a Lion, but He is referred to as a Lamb 27 times! "He is a lion to conquer Satan, a lamb to satisfy the justice of God" (Matthew Henry Commentary on the Whole Bible, p. 2471). 

What about the scroll?

The scroll represents Christ’s “title deed” to all that the Father promised Him because of His sacrifice on the cross. “Ask of Me, and I shall give Thee the heathen [nations] for Thine inheritance, and the uttermost parts of the earth for Thy possession” (Ps. 2:8). Jesus Christ is the “Heir of all things” (Heb. 1:2). He is our beloved “Kinsman-Redeemer” who was willing to give His life to set us free from bondage and to restore our lost inheritance (see Lev. 25:23–46; the Book of Ruth; Jer. 32:6–15). (The Bible Exposition Commentary Volume 2, p. 584, Re 5:1)

A title deed can only be opened by the heir, and Jesus is the heir of all things (Hebrews 1:2).

Also, Jesus "purchased" (agorazō means "to redeem") people from every tribe, language, people, and nation (salvation is available to ALL). His blood bought us all out of slavery. 

When the Lamb takes the scroll, the only response of the elders, living creatures, and eventually angels, totaling an innumerable multitude, is WORSHIP. Then, every created thing in heaven, on earth, under the earth, and on and in the sea give power, riches, wisdom, might, honor, glory, blessing, and full-on WORSHIP to Him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb because He is so very WORTHY! 

HALLELUJAH AND AMEN!!!

SOUL SEARCHING

Whew! That was so fun to meditate in the Messiah every day for a month. How lovely to wake up every morning with the musical movements of Scripture playing in my head. This has been so enriching. I will never tire of it.

And speaking of the music, I love the way Handel built this last chorus to where there is this piling up of a multitude of voices going higher and higher with instruments coming in all over the place. It is so moving, but imagine what heaven will be like when we are in full-on worship of Him!

Jesus is the Lamb that was slain for US. He bore it all on the cross for US.  "In His wounding, we found our healing" (Isaiah 53:5, The Passion Translation).

And for that, we can be eternally grateful and can only say AMEN and (for me) cry like a baby.

Thank you, Jesus, for your gift of love. May my life be worthy of the price that You paid. I want to give You everything and hold nothing back until my last breath on earth because YOU are WORTHY.

And all God's people said, AMEN!

STRENGTH STRETCHING

Listen to the Amen again and worship Him as we conclude this wonderful time in Handel's Messiah . . . 

and the end of the THREE-YEAR CYCLE of the Bible Book Club! 

May your new year be blessed!

Light Looked Down 

Light looked down and beheld Darkness.

"Thither will I go," said Light.

"Thither will I go," said Peace.

Love looked down and beheld Hatred.

"Thither will I go," said Love.

So came Light and shone.

So came Peace and gave rest.

So came Love and gave brought life.

And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us. 

by Laurence Housman

In 2025, we will be ending the 6th cycle of the Bible Book Club. (I did it all in 2023 because I decided to read mostly the Bible this year and read through the Bible Book Club. What an encouraging time! I am so grateful to have this record of God's faithfulness!)

Maybe, I will see some of you at the next three-year cycle of the Bible Book Club! Go to. . . 

LINKS TO ALL THREE YEARS OF THE BIBLE BOOK CLUB 

Day 30: If God Be For Us, Who Can Be Against Us? - Scene 3 (52)

HEART HEARING

Movement 52 (2:10:50)

Scene 3b - "The victory over death and sin"

52. Aria (Soprano)

If God be for us, who can be against us? Who shall lay any thing to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is at the right hand of God, who makes intercession for us. (Romans 8:31, 33, 34)

MIND MEDITATION

Romans 8

Sadly, this aria is often cut out of Messiah performances because it seems anti-climactic after the victorious chorus in the first part of Scene 3, but Romans 8 is a perfect follow-up. We have been given the victory, and this is how you can live in that victory between the "now" and the "not yet"!

To understand Romans 8, I need to go back to Romans 6, In this chapter, Paul exhorted believers to "count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God" (6:11); "do not let sin reign in your mortal body" (6:12); "do not offer the parts of your body to sin . . . but rather . . . to God" (6:13). 

In Romans 7, Paul taught that believers had died to the Law through Christ, but that our sin nature continues to wage war against our desire to live in holiness and righteousness. Consequently, willpower alone cannot help us to obey God (7:14-25).

The conflict of Romans 7 opens up to present the free life lived according to the "law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus" of Romans 8.

The Christian life is essentially life in the Spirit, that is to say, a life that is animated, sustained, directed and enriched by the Holy Spirit. Without the Holy Spirit, true Christian discipleship would be inconceivable, indeed impossible.  John Stott

This whole process of the work of the Holy Spirit by which we become more and more like Jesus and are being made holy is called sanctification (Romans 6:19, 22; 1 Thessalonians. 4:3, 7; 2 Thessalonians. 2:13; Hebrews. 12:14). In this process, we put to death the deeds of the body and set our minds on the things of God, yielding to the leading of the Holy Spirit because we are adopted "sons" with full rights and benefits of a biological one (8:6, 13-14, 15-17). 

Since we are identified with Christ, we also suffer with Him (8:17), but this suffering is only temporary because we will one day be with Him in glory. Right now, we are in the process of sanctification between the "now" (justification) and the "not yet" (glorification, 8:18-19, 30, 1 John 3:2). The process is a long struggle full of suffering (8:5, 10, 12-13, 17-27), but the hope of sharing in Christ's glory is at the end of that journey and the Spirit is praying for us and giving us the power to live (8:27-28).

On top of all of that, God wants us to succeed in this "not yet" time! He is for us. If He gave His only Son for us and had Him die for our sins, He has so MUCH invested in us living in the victory that Christ accomplished on the cross. Satan may try to accuse, but we must listen to God alone (8:33)! He wants to give us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3) through Jesus Christ! Through Jesus Christ, we have been justified ("declared righteous", 8:33). He died and rose again so that we could live in that resurrection power. 

Even more, Christ is at the right hand of God, in heaven, interceding for us right now (8:34)! Through all of this, we can be assured that nothing will separate us from the unwavering love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord (8:39)!

That is such a comfort to our souls! So why leave it out of Messiah!

SOUL SEARCHING

Romans 8 is my favorite chapter in the Bible. You will see why when you read the reflection that I wrote for a devotional booklet to prepare the participants for a women's retreat. If you have been in the Bible Book Club since the beginning you know the story.

This chapter is so rich and powerful. Listen to the music of Messiah and soak in Romans 8 deeply!

Hearing God’s Voice

"There is therefore now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus."

(Romans 8:1)

I quoted this verse over and over as I walked (and cried) along the shores of Lake Washington back in September of 1983. I had burned the candle at both ends and had to leave the ministry I thought I would be doing for the rest of my life. Some would even term what happened to me as a nervous breakdown. Whatever it was, I had no idea what the next step would be. All I knew was to put one foot in front of the other and cry and pray.  This verse kept me going while feeling like an utter and complete failure.

It seems like the time God speaks to me in the loudest way is when I am stripped of everything. At that time, I had no energy to think about the next step in my life. All I could do was walk and cry and pray. I could not “do” anything.

C.S. Lewis once said:

“God whispers to us in our pleasures, 
speaks to us in our conscience, 

but shouts in our pains: 
It is His megaphone to rouse a deaf world.”

Well, God had a great opportunity for shouting because I was in pain. I know, now, I was right where God wanted me to be.

So, I waited on God and walked and cried and prayed and meditated through Romans 8. I got to the end of the chapter where Paul asks this question:

"Who will separate us from the love of Christ?" (Romans 8:35)

The answer resounded from the Lord through Paul’s message to the Romans:

"For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor  angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."

(Romans 8:38-39)

Not even a huge failure in ministry and a breakdown could separate me from God’s love through Christ. He was not there to condemn me for my failure but to love me and be near to me.

"The LORD is near to the brokenhearted

And saves those who are crushed in spirit.

The LORD redeems the soul of His servants,

And none of those who take refuge in Him will be condemned."

(Psalm 34:18, 22)

In fact, a breakdown was what God used to bring me closer to Him so that I could hear His voice and learn about walking in the Spirit. It is so easy to go fluttering about in the flesh doing good things! We think God wants us to do them because what we are doing is good. 

And I was doing so much good! I was reaching out and discipling women on the University of Washington campus. That was (in my mind) the ultimate in good! Even though it was good, it was not God’s best for me; and it was not what the Spirit was leading me to do, I was just too busy and exhausted in my doing to really listen. Therefore, God had to humble me and shout out to me in my pain: 

"STOP! I have something that is my BEST for you."

So, I stopped, and I walked and cried and prayed and LISTENED to what God had for me in the next step. He had 100% of my attention. 

As I was drifting off to sleep one night, God told me three specific things:

1) Move to Corvallis and live with this specific couple you knew from your college days. (That was weird. I had not seen them in years, and they were more acquaintances than good friends.) 

2) There is a group of women there who want to grow, and I will use you as My instrument to help them because of the things you have been through (2 Corinthians 1:3, 4). 

3) You will meet the man you are to marry. (No joke, I saw a vision of a tall, dark, and handsome man.)

I had planned to go back to live with my parents, but on the way down, I stopped in Corvallis, Oregon (home of my alma mater, Oregon State University). Within a couple of days, I was offered a job. A couple of days later, a college friend introduced me to the group of women in #2! Over the next year, they each came to me telling me that God told them to tell me of their struggle and to ask me for help.  This led to seven years of ministry with this group of women.

Within a few months, the married couple called and asked me to live with them because the Lord had laid me on their hearts (#1). This led to a center of ministry activity with this group of women because this married couple knew them all!

Honestly, I gave up on the tall, dark, and handsome man because I thought maybe I had made that up in my mind. Four years after this vision, the night before I was to leave Corvallis for a job in Eugene, I walked into the dining room of that married couple to see my future husband, George, sitting at their table (#3)! The rest is history.

God knew that even though the ministry in Seattle was good, He had a ministry that was the BEST! God IS for us!  I rejoice in my breakdown now because, through it, He taught me a valuable lesson about listening to Him and walking in the Spirit! Having a breakdown at such a young age (24) was the best thing that ever could have happened to me!

STRENGTH STRETCHING

Since 1993, my friend, Teala, and I have welcomed the New Year with a day of prayer to hear from God about goals for the coming year. I heartily suggest doing it even if it is only for part of the day. Taking extended time with God is so rich and rewarding. In fact, I led a leadership class a few years ago, and out of the entire curriculum, the majority said this was the most significant thing we did! Here is a handout to help you in that process:

How to Spend a Day in Prayer

I hope you never have to go through a breakdown to get yourself to slow down, but I really and truly believe that we do not hear God because we do not stop long enough to hear His voice. Maybe that is because we don’t believe He really will speak.  I suggest asking yourself the question Michael Card asks in the song I have at the end of this meditation:

Is the reason we're not still

To hear You speak because

We don't believe You will?

Here is a meditation exercise. You can start with Romans 8 since this was our chapter for today:

1) GET ALONE AND GET STILL – SIMPLIFY: It does not have to be for a huge amount of time. Do what you can do. Remove all things electronic; turn off your cell phone, step away from the computer, and get out of the house if you have to do it. Make sure kids are well-cared for by someone else and . . .

"Be still [cease striving, let go, relax] 
and know that I am God."
(Psalm 46:10)

Meditate on this verse over and over again and settle down into the Lord.

2) CLEAR YOUR PLATE: Begin your time by praying that God will “open your eyes, that you might behold wonderful things from His law” (Psalm 119:18). Get some paper or a journal and write “On My Heart” at the top, and list anything that comes to mind. Write your burdens, distractions, and even your shopping list! The goal is to lay it down on paper as if you were laying it down before the Lord so that you may be free to focus on His Word. Remember: “Be still and know that [He is] God” (Psalm 46:10).

3) MEDITATE: The primary way that God speaks to us is through His Word.  So, chew on a section of Scripture and journal your thoughts. “Pour out your heart like water before the presence of the Lord” (Lamentations 2:19).

4) WAIT and LISTEN: This is always the hardest thing to do. Waiting may mean having to walk away for more pressing matters, but continue to be in a posture of waiting on and listening to the Lord. Try to cultivate this posture 24/7/365! When you hear, write it down. A great book to encourage you in this exercise is God Guides by Mary Geegh.

5) OBEY: If you need to act on what God tells you, do not hesitate! There are so many blessings in obedience to His voice! 

6) COMMUNICATE: When you hear, communicate it to others. It helps reinforce His Word in you and encourages the Body!

As I listened and obeyed today, I heard, once again, how God’s best plan was for me to move to Corvallis to meet my husband! My “I WILL” for today was to tell my husband that and bring him coffee and breakfast in bed while he had his morning devotional time! I am so grateful that my failure resulted in the BEST person to ever come into my life!

PRAYER

Here are the words to a song by Michael Card that speak of God's guidance and presence through "Stillness and Simplicity." Read it as a prayer to God.

Colossians 3:15

In stillness and simplicity
In the silence of the heart I see
The mystery of eternity
Who lives inside of me

In stillness and simplicity
I hear the Spirit's silent plea
That You, oh Lord, are close to me
In stillness and simplicity

You're the Word Who must be heard
By those who listen quietly
Is the reason we're not still
To hear You speak because
We don't believe You will

In stillness and simplicity
I lose myself in finding Thee
Oh Lord, You mean so much to me
In stillness and simplicity

So, seek the One who dwells in you
The kingdom that within is true
That innermost reality
In stillness and simplicity
Amen