Day 30 - God-sized Stories

Daily Reading:  Exodus 8-10

Exodus 10:2 "....that you may tell your children and grandchildren how I dealt harshly with the Egyptians and how I performed my signs among them, and that you may know that I am the Lord."


Footnote:

God told Moses that his miraculous experiences with Pharaoh should be retold to his descendants. What stories Moses had to tell! Living out one of the greatest dramas in Biblical history, he witnessed events few people would ever see. It is important to tell our children about God's work in our past and to help them see what he is doing right now. What are the turning points in your life where God intervened? What is God doing for you now? Your stories will form the foundations of your children's belief in God.

Please share answers to any of these questions.  Leave a comment!

Let's encourage each other with stories of God's faithfulness, big and small. To God be the glory!

Having trouble viewing this video?  Visit the blog at www.biblechallengeblog.blogspot.com

O n e - t w e l f t h !

Celebrating small victories! We have been reading the Bible for a whole month.....we've read 1/12th of the Bible!

Keep reading -- 335 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 29 - GOD IS....always at work!

Daily Reading:  Exodus 5-7

Then Moses went back to the Lord and protested, "Why have you brought all this trouble on your own people, Lord? Why did you send me? Ever since I came to Pharaoh as your spokesman, he has been even more brutal to your people. And you have done nothing to rescue them!  Exodus 5:22-23

Footnote:

Pharaoh had just increased the Hebrews' workload, and Moses protested that God had not rescued his people. Moses expected faster results and fewer problems. When God is at work, suffering, setbacks, and hardship may still occur. In James 1:2-4, we are encouraged to be happy when difficulties come our way. Problems develop our patience and character by teaching us to 

1. trust God to do what is best for us, 

2. look for ways to honor God in our present situation, 

3. remember that God will not abandon us, and 

4. watch for God's plan for us.

“For My thoughts are not your thoughts, and your ways are not My ways.” [This is] the Lord’s declaration. “For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts.”—Isaiah 55:8–9

Did it cause you any concern that the magicians were able to duplicate Moses' miracles?

Footnote:

Some of their feats involved trickery or illusion, and some may have used satanic power since worshiping gods of the underworld was part of their religion. Ironically, whenever the sorcerers duplicated one of Moses' plagues, it only made matters worse. If the magicians had been as powerful as God, they would have reversed the plagues, not added to them.


Keep reading -- 336 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

August Reading List

Hope you're ready for August!  We will cover a lot of books of the Bible this month!

     
        AUGUST
❏1   Exodus 14-17
❏2   Exodus 18-20
❏3   Exodus 21-24
❏4   Exodus 25-27
❏5   Exodus 28-31
❏6   Exodus 32-34
❏7   Exodus 35-37
❏8   Exodus 38-40
❏9   Leviticus 1-4
❏10 Leviticus 5-7
❏11 Leviticus 8-10
❏12 Leviticus 11-13
❏13 Leviticus 14-16
❏14 Leviticus 17-19
❏15 Leviticus 20-23
❏16 Leviticus 24-27
❏17 Numbers 1-3
❏18 Numbers 4-6
❏19 Numbers 7-10
❏20 Numbers 11-14
❏21 Numbers 15-17
❏22 Numbers 18-20
❏23 Numbers 21-24
❏24 Numbers 25-27
❏25 Numbers 28-30
❏26 Numbers 31-33
❏27 Numbers 34-36
❏28 Deuteronomy 1-3
❏29 Deuteronomy 4-6
❏30 Deuteronomy 7-9
❏31 Deuteronomy 10-12


This is the Junior Bible Challenge reading list for August.

    AUGUST
❏1   Genesis 37
❏2   Genesis 39
❏3   Genesis 40
❏4   Genesis 41
❏5   Genesis 42
❏6   Genesis 43
❏7   Genesis 44
❏8   Genesis 45
❏9   Genesis 46
❏10 Genesis 47
❏11 Job 1
❏12 Job 2
❏13 Job 38
❏14 Job 42
❏15 Exodus 1
❏16 Exodus 2
❏17 Exodus 3
❏18 Exodus 4
❏19 Exodus 5
❏20 Exodus 6
❏21 Exodus 7
❏22 Exodus 8
❏23 Exodus 9
❏24 Exodus 10
❏25 Exodus 11
❏26 Exodus 12
❏27 Exodus 13
❏28 Exodus 14
❏29 Exodus 15
❏30 Exodus 16
❏31 Exodus 17

It works really well to print your list and use it as a bookmark!

Day 28 - Exodus

Daily Reading:  Exodus 1-4

The Lord said, "I have indeed seen the misery of my people in Egypt. I have heard them crying out because of their slave drivers, and I am concerned about their suffering. So I have come down to rescue them from the hand of the Egyptians and to bring them up out of that land into a good and spacious land, a land flowing with milk and honey -- the home of the Canaanites, Hittites, Amorites, Perizzites, Hivites and Jebusites. And now the cry of the Israelites has reached me, and I have seen the way the Egyptians are oppressing them. So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt."  Exodus 3:7-10

Footnote:

God's rescue doesn't always come the moment we want it. God had promised to bring the Hebrew slaves out of Egypt. (Gen 15:16, 46:3,4) The people had waited a long time for that promise to be kept, but God rescued them when he knew the right time had come. God knows the best time to act. When you feel that God has forgotten you in your troubles, remember that God has a time schedule we can't see.

Did anybody find Exodus 4:24-26 a little strange? God calls Moses and then all of the sudden he's going to kill him!

Footnote:

God was about to kill Moses because Moses had not circumcised his son. Why hadn't Moses done this? Remember that Moses had spent half his life in Pharaoh's palace and half his life in the Midianite desert. He might not have been too familiar with God's laws, especially since all the requirements of God's covenant with Israel (Gen. 17) had not been actively carried out for over 400 years. In addition, Moses' wife, due to her Midianite background, may have opposed circumcision. But Moses could not effectively serve as deliverer of God's people until he had fulfilled the conditions of God's covenant, and one of those conditions was circumcision. Before they could go any farther, Moses and his family had to follow God's commands completely. Under Old Testament law, failing to circumcise your son was to remove yourself and your family from God's blessings. Moses learned that disobeying God was even more dangerous than tangling with an Egyptian pharaoh.

Keep reading -- 337 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 27 - Job is Restored

Daily Reading:  Job 38-42

What a great ending! Didn't you love these chapters?

Instead of answering all of Job's "why" questions, God asks him a bunch of things he can't possibly answer, but they make Job realize exactly who God is!

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm........  Job 38:1

Footnote:

Out of a mighty storm, God spoke.  Surprisingly, he didn't answer any of Job's questions; Job's questions were not at the heart of the issue.  Instead, God used Job's ignorance of the earth's natural order to reveal his ignorance of God's moral order.  If Job did not understand the workings of God's physical creation, how could he possibly understand God's mind and character?  There is no standard or criterion higher than God himself by which to judge.  God himself is the standard.  Our only option is to submit to his authority and rest in his care.

Keep reading -- 338 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 26 - Beyond Our Understanding

Daily Reading:  Job 35-37

How great is God -- beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. Job 36:26

Footnote:

One theme in the poetic literature of the Bible is that God is incomprehensible; we cannot know him completely. We can have some knowledge about him, for the Bible is full of details about who God is, how we can know him, and how we can have an eternal relationship with him. But we can never know enough to answer all of life's questions, to predict our own future, or to manipulate God for our own ends. Life always creates more questions than we have answers, and we must constantly go to God for fresh insights into life's dilemmas.

Lord, help us remember to come before you ALWAYS for EVERYTHING!

Keep reading -- 339 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 25 - Why??

Daily Reading:  Job 32-34

In this reading, Elihu claimed to have the answer for Job's biggest question, "Why doesn't God tell me what is happening?"
Footnote:

Elihu told Job that God was trying to answer him, but he was not listening. Elihu misjudged God on this point. If God were to answer all our questions, we would not be adequately tested. What if God had said, "Job, Satan's going to test you and afflict you, but in the end you'll be healed and get everything back"? Job's greatest test was not the pain, but that he did not know why he was suffering.

Our greatest test may be that we must trust God's goodness even though we don't understand why our lives are going a certain way. We must learn to trust in God who is good and not in the goodness of life.

What if God did tell us everything that was going to happen? Sometimes it might make things a lot easier, knowing the end result, but in many other situations, it would make us live in constant fear and anxiety if we knew some of the things that were just right around the corner. What do you think?

Keep reading -- 340 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 24 - Wisdom

Daily Reading:  Job 28-31

Chapter 28 of Job was refreshing.  Is anyone reading The Message Bible?  I'm not a big fan of that translation but I like how this passage from The Message reads:  

"We all know how silver seams the rocks, we've seen the stuff from which gold is refined,
We're aware of how iron is dug out of the ground
   and copper is smelted from rock.
Miners penetrate the earth's darkness,
   searching the roots of the mountains for ore,
   digging away in the suffocating darkness.
Far from civilization, far from the traffic,
   they cut a shaft,
   and are lowered into it by ropes.
Earth's surface is a field for grain,
   but its depths are a forge
Firing sapphires from stones
   and chiseling gold from rocks.
Vultures are blind to its riches,
   hawks never lay eyes on it.
Wild animals are oblivious to it,
   lions don't know it's there.
Miners hammer away at the rock,
   they uproot the mountains.
They tunnel through the rock
   and find all kinds of beautiful gems.
They discover the origins of rivers,
   and bring earth's secrets to light.

 ^12-19 "But where, oh where, will they find Wisdom?
   Where does Insight hide?
Mortals don't have a clue,
   haven't the slightest idea where to look.
Earth's depths say, 'It's not here';
   ocean deeps echo, 'Never heard of it.'
It can't be bought with the finest gold;
   no amount of silver can get it.
Even famous Ophir gold can't buy it,
   not even diamonds and sapphires.
Neither gold nor emeralds are comparable;
   extravagant jewelry can't touch it.
Pearl necklaces and ruby bracelets—why bother?
   None of this is even a down payment on Wisdom!
Pile gold and African diamonds as high as you will,
   they can't hold a candle to Wisdom.

 ^20-22 "So where does Wisdom come from?
   And where does Insight live?
It can't be found by looking, no matter
   how deep you dig, no matter how high you fly.
If you search through the graveyard and question the dead,
   they say, 'We've only heard rumors of it.'

 ^23-28 "God alone knows the way to Wisdom,
   he knows the exact place to find it.
He knows where everything is on earth,
   he sees everything under heaven.
After he commanded the winds to blow
   and measured out the waters,
Arranged for the rain
   and set off explosions of thunder and lightning,
He focused on Wisdom,
   made sure it was all set and tested and ready.
Then he addressed the human race: 'Here it is!
   Fear-of-the-Lord—that's Wisdom,
   and Insight means shunning evil.'"

Footnote, Life Application Study Bible, NIV:

Job stated that wisdom cannot be found among the living.  It is natural for people who do not understand the importance of God's Word to seek wisdom here on earth.  They look to philosophers and other leaders to give them direction for living.  Yet Job said that wisdom is not found there.  No leader or group of leaders can produce enough knowledge or insight to explain the totality of human experience.  The ultimate interpretation of life, of who we are and where we are going, must come from outside and above our mortal life.  When looking for guidance, seek God's wisdom as revealed in the Bible.  To be lifted above and beyond the boundaries of life, we must know and trust the Lord of life.

Keep reading -- 341 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 23 - Perseverance

Daily Reading:  Job 25-27

Perseverance - patient endurance of hardship; persisting in a state or enterprise in spite of difficulties and discouragement.

Job is mentioned in James 5:11

"As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy."

Job definitely had to persevere....through his hardships, his suffering, his friends comments! 

What else does the Bible have to say about perseverance?

Romans 5:3 says:

"Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope."

James 1:2-5

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

James 1:12

"Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him."

And finally....

Hebrews 12:1

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us."

Are you behind in your Bible reading? Has Job been a difficult book for you? PERSEVERE!

Think on the mental picture of  taking this challenge, running the race set before you. Let us run with perseverance!

Keep reading -- 342 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 22 - God is Able

Daily Reading:  Job 21-24

But he knows the way that I take;
when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold.

Job 23:10

Footnote:

In Chapter 22, Eliphaz had tried to condemn Job by identifying some secret sin which he may have committed.  Here Job declares his confidence in his integrity and God's justice.  We are always likely to have hidden sin in our lives, sin we don't even know about because God's standards are so high and our performance is so imperfect.  If we are true believers, however, all our sins are forgiven because of what Christ did on the cross in our behalf (Romans 5:1; 8:1).  The Bible also teaches that even if our hearts condemn us, God is greater than our hearts (1 John 3:20).  His forgiveness and cleansing are sufficient; they overrule our nagging doubts.  The Holy Spirit in us is our proof that we are forgiven in God's eyes even though we may feel guilty.  If we, like Job, are truly seeking God, we can stand up to others' accusations as well as our own nagging doubts.  If God has forgiven and accepted us, we are forgiven indeed.

Keep reading -- 343 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 21 - Job's Faith

Daily Reading:  Job 18-20

I know that my Redeemer lives,
and that in the end he will stand upon the earth.  

Job 19:25

Footnote:

At the heart of the book of Job comes his ringing affirmation of confidence: "I know that my Redeemer lives."  In ancient Israel a redeemer was a family member who bought a slave's way to freedom or who took care of a widow.  What tremendous faith Job had, especially in light of the fact that he was unaware of the conference between God and Satan.  Job thought that God had brought all these disasters upon him!  Faced with death and decay, Job still expected to see God -- and he expected to do so in his body.  When the book of Job was written, Israel did not have a well-developed doctrine of the resurrection.  Although Job struggled with the idea that God was presently against him, he firmly believed that in the end God would be on his side.  This belief was so strong that Job became one of the first to talk about the resurrection of the body.


Keep reading -- 344 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 20 - Suffering

Daily Reading:  Job 14-17

The following is taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV:

Through no fault of his own, Job lost his wealth, children, and health. Even his friends were convinced that Job had brought this suffering upon himself. For Job, the greatest trial was not the pain or the loss; it was not being able to understand why God allowed him to suffer.

Suffering can be, but is not always, a penalty for sin. In the same way, prosperity is not always a reward for being good. Those who love God are not exempt from trouble. Although we may not be able to understand fully the pain we experience, it can lead us to rediscover God.

He feels but the pain of his own body

and mourns only for himself.  Job 14:22

Footnote:

Job's profound speech in this chapter illustrates a great truth: to have a right set of doctrines is not enough. To know what to believe is not all that is required to please God. Truth untested by life's experiences may become static and stagnant. Suffering can bring a dynamic quality to life. Just as drought drives the roots of a tree deeper to find water, so suffering can drive us beyond superficial acceptance of truth to dependence on God for hope and life.

Keep reading -- 345 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Job 19 - Worthless Physicians

You, however, smear me with lies;

you are worthless physicians, all of you! 

Job 13:4

Footnote:

Job compared his three friends to physicians who did not know what they were doing. They were like eye surgeons trying to perform open-heart-surgery. Many of their ideas about God were true, but they did not apply to Job's situation. They were right to say that God is just. They were right to say God punishes sins. But they were wrong to assume that Job's suffering was a just punishment for his sin. They took a true principle and applied it wrongly, ignoring the vast differences in human circumstances. We must be careful and compassionate in how we apply Biblical condemnations to others; we must be slow to judge.
This reading is a reminder once again of God's sovereignty and the true meaning of faith. In this story, only God knew the whole story but the friends were quick to judge and put in their two cents. Only God sees the whole picture and knows the ending!

"Never stop praying. Be thankful in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you who belong to Christ Jesus." 1 Thessalonians 5:17 & 18

Keep reading -- 346 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Job 18 - Wrong Assumptions & Self-pity

Daily Reading:  Job 8-10

What he trusts in is fragile;
what he relies on is a spider's web.
He leans on his web, but it gives way; 
he clings to it, but it does not hold.
Job 8:14, 15

Footnote:

Bildad was upset that Job still claimed innocence while questioning God's justice.  The basis of Bildad's argument (the justice of God) was correct, but his idea of God's justice was not.  Bildad's argument went like this; God could not be unjust, and God would not punish a just man; therefore Job must be unjust.  Bildad felt there were no exceptions to his theory.  Like Eliphaz, Bildad wrongly assumed that people suffer only as a result of their sins. Bildad was even less sensitive and compassionate, saying that Job's children died because of their wickedness.

Bildad wrongly assumed that Job was trusting in something other than God for security, so he pointed out that such supports will collapse (what he trusts in is fragile).  One of man's basic needs is security, and people will do almost anything to feel secure.  Eventually, however, our money, possessions, knowledge, and relationships will fail or be gone.  Only God can give lasting security.  What have you trusted for your security?  How lasting is it?  If you have a secure foundation with God, feelings of insecurity will not undermine you.

I loath my very life;
therefore I will give free rein to my complaint 
and speak out in the bitterness of my soul.  Job 10:1

Footnote:

Job began to wallow in self-pity.  When we face baffling affliction, our pain lures us toward feeling sorry for ourselves.  At this point we are only one step from self-righteousness, where we keep track of life's injustices and say, "Look what happened to me; how unfair it is!"  We may feel like blaming God.  Remember that life's trials, whether allowed by God or sent by God, can be the means for development and refinement.  When facing trials, ask, "What can I learn and how can I grow?" rather than "Who did this to me and how can I get out of it?"


Keep reading -- 347 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 17 - Job Continues

Daily Reading:  Job 5-7

But if it were I, I would appeal to God; I would lay my cause before him.  Job 5:8

Footnote:

All three of Job's friends made the mistake of assuming that Job had committed some great sin that had caused his suffering. Neither they nor Job knew of Satan's conversation with God. It is human nature to blame people for their own troubles, but Job's story makes it clear that blame cannot always be attached to those whom trouble strikes.

Oh, that I might have my request, that god would grant what I hope for, that God would be willing to crush me, to let loose his hand and cut me off!  Job 6:8,9

Footnote:

In his grief, Job wanted to give in, to be freed from his discomfort, and to die. But God did not grant Job's request. He had a greater plan for him. Our tendency, like Job's, is to want to give up and get out when the going gets rough. To trust God in the good times is commendable, but to trust him during the difficult times tests us to our limits and exercises our faith. In your struggles, large or small, trust that God is in control and that he will take care of you.

Keep reading -- 348 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 16 - Job is Tested

Daily Reading:  Job 1-4

Talk about a bad day.................

If we ever think we're having a bad day, maybe Job is the book to read! Some people don't like this book; some people find comfort in reading it. Let's seek to learn a little more about God's character as we persevere through it.

The following is an introduction of Job from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV:

Trees snap like toothpicks or fly upward, wrenched from the earth. Whole rooftops sail, cars tumble like toys, walls collapse, and a mountain of water jumps the shore and engulfs the land . A hurricane cuts and tears, and only solid foundations survive her unbridled fury. But those foundations can be used for rebuilding after the storm.

For any building, the foundation is critical. It must be deep enough and solid enough to withstand the weight of the building and other stresses. Lives are like buildings, and the quality of their foundation will determine the quality of the whole. Too often inferior materials are used, and when tests come, lives crumble.

Job was tested. With a life filled with prestige, possessions and people, he was suddenly assaulted on every side, devastated, stripped down to his foundation. But his life was built on God, and he endured.

Job, the book, tells the story of Job, the man of God. It is a gripping drama of riches-to-rags-to-riches, a theological treatise about suffering and divine sovereignty, and a picture of faith that endures. As you read Job, analyze your life and check your foundation.   And may you be able to say that when all is gone but God, He is enough.

Job -- what do you think?  Hate it or love it so far?

Keep reading -- 349 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 15 - Joseph's Last Days

Daily Reading:  Genesis 47-50

You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.  Genesis 50:20


In the beginning, Joseph's life seems bleak, but by the end of the story he's placed in a position of authority, wealthy, able to bless and save his family (and Egypt), is trusted by Pharoah........

Footnote:

The faithfulness of Joseph affected his entire family. When he was in the pit and in prison, Joseph must have wondered about his future. Instead of despairing, he faithfully obeyed God and did what was right. Here we see one of the exciting results. We may not always see the effects of our faith, but we can be sure that God will honor faithfulness.

Joseph's life has some of the "Laws of the Harvest" written all over them!
1. You reap what you sow.
2. Sometimes you reap what others sow (good or bad).

He definitely reaped hardships for many years from his brothers evil actions but in the end, he reaps from his faithfulness in God!

Footnote:

God brought good from the brothers' evil deed, Potiphar's wife's false accusation, the cupbearer's neglect and seven years of famine. The experiences in Joseph's life taught him that God brings good from evil for those who trust him. Do you trust God enough to wait patiently for him to bring good out of bad situations? You can trust him because, as Joseph learned, God can overrule people's evil intentions to bring about his intended results.

We finished Genesis!  If you are behind, today is the perfect day to catch up!  We are moving to Job next.

Keep reading -- 350 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 14 - Joseph & His Brothers

And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  Genesis 45:5

Are you enjoying the story of Joseph? It's such a great story with so many things to love.....forgiveness, blessing, God's sovereignty.......

Footnote for 45:17-20

Joseph was rejected, kidnapped, enslaved, and imprisoned. Although his brothers had been unfaithful to him, he graciously forgave them and shared his prosperity. Joseph demonstrated how God forgives us and showers us with goodness even though we have sinned against him. The same forgiveness and blessings are ours if we ask for them.

Be blessed today!

Keep reading -- 351 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 13 - Imprisonment & Appointment

Daily Reading:  Genesis 40-42

"So Pharaoh sent for Joseph, and he was quickly brought from the dungeon..." Genesis 41:14

Can you believe the cupbearer didn't remember Joseph?!

Joseph was a slave and in prison for 13 years!

Footnote:

Our most important opportunities may come when we least expect them. Joseph was brought hastily from the dungeon and pushed before Pharaoh. Did he have time to prepare? Yes and no. He had no warning that he would be suddenly pulled from prison and questioned by the king. Yet Joseph was ready for almost anything because of his right relationship with God. It was not Joseph's knowledge of dreams that helped him interpret their meaning. It was his knowledge of God. Be ready for opportunities by getting to know more about God. Then you will be ready to call on him when opportunities come your way.

Keep reading -- 352 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 12 - Joseph

Daily Reading:  Genesis 37-39

Character Sketch of Joseph

As a youngster, Joseph was overconfident.  His natural self-assurance, increased by being Jacob's favorite son and by knowing of God's designs on his life, was unbearable to his ten older brothers, who eventually conspired against him.  But his self-assurance, molded by pain and combined with a personal knowledge of God, allowed him to survive and prosper where most would have failed.  He added quiet wisdom to his confidence and won the hearts of everyone he met -- Potiphar, the warden, other prisoners, the king, and after many years, even those ten brothers.

Perhaps you can identify with one or more of these hardships Joseph experienced:  He was betrayed and deserted by his family, exposed to sexual temptation, and punished for doing the right thing; he endured a long imprisonment and was forgotten by those he helped.  As you read his story, note what Joseph did in each case.  His positive response transformed each setback into a step forward.  He didn't spend much time asking "Why?"  His approach was "What shall I do now?"  Those who met Joseph were aware that wherever he went and whatever he did, God was with him.  When you're facing a setback, the beginning of a Joseph-like attitude is to acknowledge that God is with you.  There is nothing like his presence to shed new light on a dark situation.

Keep reading -- 353 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 11 - Got Idols?

Daily Reading:  Genesis 33-36

So Jacob said to his household and to all who were with him, "Get rid of the foreign gods you have with you, and purify yourselves and change your clothes.  Then come, let us go up to Bethel, where I will build an altar to God, who answered me in the day of my distress and who has been with me wherever I have gone."  Genesis 35:2-3

Jacob tells his household to get rid of the foreign gods.............

Footnote:

Why did the people have these idols ("foreign gods")? Idols were sometimes seen more as good luck charms than as gods. Some Israelites, even though they worshiped God, had idols in their homes, just as some Christians today own good luck trinkets. Jacob believed that idols should have no place in his household. He wanted nothing to divert his family's spiritual focus.

Jacob ordered his household to get rid of their gods. Unless we remove idols from our lives, they can ruin our faith. What idols do we have? An idol is anything we put before God. Idols don't have to be physical objects; they can be thoughts or desires. Like Jacob, we should get rid of anything that could stand between us and God.
It would be tempting to read this passage and not give it much thought but when you realize that an idol is really anything that you put before God, it's easy to see our need to "get rid of the foreign gods" in our own lives as well.

Keep reading -- 354 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 10 - Jacob's Family

Then God remembered Rachel; he listened to her and opened her womb.  Genesis 30:22

Footnote:

Each of the three great patriarchs (Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob) had wives who had difficulty conceiving children.. It is interesting to note how each man reacted to his wife's predicament. Abraham had relations with Sarah's maidservant in order to have his own child, thus introducing bitterness and jealousy into his family. Isaac, by contrast, prayed to God when his wife was barren. God eventually answered his prayers, and Rebekah had twin sons. Jacob, however, followed his grandfather's example and had children by his wives' maidservants, leading to sad and sometimes bitter consequences.

Jacob's many wives (two wives and two "substitute" wives) led to sad and bitter consequences among the children.  Anger, resentment, and jealousy were common among Jacob's sons.  It is interesting to note that the worst fighting and rivalry occurred between Leah's children and Rachel's children, and among the tribes that descended from them.

In case you missed it:

Jacob and Leah had Reuben, Simeon, Levi, Judah, Issachar, Zebulun, and Dinah (only daughter).

Jacob and Zilpah (Leah's maidservant) had Gad and Asher.

Jacob and Rachel had Joseph and Benjamin.

Jacob and Bilhah (Rachel's maidservant) had Dan and Naphtali.

Keep reading -- 355 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 9 - Jacob

Daily Reading:  Genesis 27-29

I am with you and will watch over you wherever you go, and I will bring you back to this land.  I will not leave you until I have done what I have promised you.  Genesis 28:15


Lies, sibling rivalry, deceit.....there's really nothing new under the sun. It's all been done before!

Footnotes on Jacob:

Although Jacob got the blessing he wanted, deceiving his father cost him dearly. These are some of the consequences of that deceit:

1. he never saw his mother again
2. his brother wanted to kill him
3. he was deceived by his uncle, Laban
4. his family became torn by strife
5. Esau became the founder of an enemy nation

6. he was exiled from his family for years

Ironically, Jacob would have received the birthright and blessing anyway (25:23). Imagine how different his life would have been had he and his mother waited for God to work his way, in his time!

Despite all of this, some lessons learned from Jacob's life are:

1. security does not lie in the accumulation of goods and
2. all human intentions and actions - for good or evil - are woven by God into his ongoing plan.

A comforting thought -- no matter what's going on, God is still in control. Even when we make bad choices or decisions, God still has the ability to turn it around for good when we humble ourselves and seek Him!

What did you think about the story of Rachel and Leah? Do you feel sorry for Leah because she wasn't loved by Jacob OR bad for Jacob that he was tricked by Laban and had to work another 7 years for Rachel OR do you have sympathy for Rachel because she was barren? Talk about a love triangle.............

Keep reading -- 356 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 8 - The Story of Isaac

Daily Reading:  Genesis 23-26

This section of scripture was definitely full of stories.  Sarah dies.  Abraham looks for a wife for Isaac.  Abraham dies.  Jacob and Esau are born.  Isaac and Abimelech make a peace treaty.

May it be that when I say to a girl, Please let down your jar that I may have a drink, and she says, Drink, and I'll water your camels too -- let her be the one you have chosen for your servant Isaac.  By this I will know that you have shown kindness to my master.  Genesis 24:14

Footnote:  Was it right for Abraham's servant to ask God for such a specific sign?  The sign he requested was only slightly out of the ordinary.  The hospitality of the day required women at the well to offer water to weary travelers, but not to their animals.  Eliezer was simply asking God to show him a woman with an attitude of service -- someone who would go beyond the expected.  An offer to water his camels would indicate that kind of attitude.  Eliezer did not ask for a woman with looks or wealth.  He knew the importance of having the right heart, and he asked God to help him with his task.

Rebekah had physical beauty, but the servant was looking for a sign of inner beauty.  Appearance is important to us, and we spend time and money improving it.  But how much effort do we put into developing our inner beauty?  Patience, kindness, and joy are the beauty treatments that help us become truly lovely  -- on the inside.  

What is a birthright?

Footnote:  A birthright was a special honor given to the firstborn son.  It included a double portion of the family inheritance along with the honor of one day becoming the family's leader.  The oldest son could sell his birthright or give it away if he chose, but in so doing, he would lose both material goods and his leadership position.  By trading his birthright, Esau showed complete disregard for the spiritual blessings that would have come his way if he had kept it.  In effect, Esau "despised" his birthright.

Esau traded the lasting benefits of his birthright for the immediate pleasure of food.  He acted on impulse, satisfying his immediate desires without pausing to consider the long-range consequences of what he was about to do.  We can fall into the same trap.  When we see something we want, our first impulse is to get it.  At first we feel intensely satisfied and sometimes even powerful because we have obtained what we set out to get.  But immediate pleasure often loses sight of the future.  We can avoid making Esau's mistake by comparing the short-term satisfaction with its long-range consequences before we act.  

Did you find anything interesting in your reading and studying of God's Word?

Keep reading -- 357 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 7 - Abraham Tested

Daily Reading:  Genesis 20-22

Do not lay a hand on the boy, he said.  Do not do anything to him.  Now I know that you fear God, because you have not withheld from me your son, your only son.  Genesis 22:12

Footnote:

God tested Abraham, not to trip him and watch him fall, but to deepen his capacity to obey God and thus to develop his character. Just as fire refines ore to extract precious metals, God refines us through difficult circumstances. When we are tested we can complain, or we can try to see how God is stretching us to develop our character.
The purpose of testing is to strengthen our character and deepen our commitment to God and his perfect timing.  Through this difficult experience, Abraham strengthened his commitment to obey God.  He also learned about God's ability to provide.  

Keep reading -- 358 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 6 - Abraham (continued)

Daily Reading:  Genesis 16-19

For I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children and his household after him to keep the way of the Lord by doing what is right and just, so that the Lord will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him.  Genesis 18:19

Who said the Bible wasn't interesting? These chapters were really full!

Chapter 16:

Sarai offering her servant girl to Abram...kind of strange, but not to them. That was the custom. Having children was so important that if a woman was barren, the husband would have children with the servants so they would have heirs. Although it was a common practice, Abram and Sarai took matters into their own hands when God had already promised them descendants.


Chapter 17:

Footnote for 17:1:  The Lord told Abram, "I am God Almighty; walk before me and be blameless." God has the same message for us today. We are to obey the Lord in every respect because he is God -- that is reason enough. If you don't think the benefits of obedience are worth it, consider who God is -- the only one with the power and ability to meet your every need.
Footnote 17:9, 10:  Why did God require circumcision?

1. As a sign of obedience to him in all matters. 2. As a sign of belonging to his covenant people. Once circumcised, there was no turning back. The man would be identified as a Jew forever. 
3. As a symbol of "cutting off" the old life of sin, purifying one's heart, and dedicating oneself to God.  
4. Possibly as a health measure. 

Circumcision more than any other practice separated God's people from their pagan neighbors. In Abraham's day, this was essential to develop the pure worship of the one true God.

Chapter 18 & 19:

What did you think about Sodom and Gomorrah? There was a lot going on there -- an evil city, Abraham's plea for the righteous, God's mercy on Lot, Lot's hospitality to the angels, the evil and perverted mob, Lot's wife "turning back", the sister's desperate act of incest.

An interesting footnote says that Moab and Ben-Ammi were the products of incest and they became the fathers of two of Israel's greatest enemies, the Moabites and the Ammonites BUT Ruth, the great-grandmother of David and an ancestor of Jesus, was from Moab.

This whole scenario is a reminder that we are all sinners and although God can forgive our sin and still use us for His glory, we cannot escape the consequences of sin.

A lot to think about.............

What did you find interesting, confusing or just plain STRANGE?!

Keep reading -- 359 days left!

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 5 - Abraham

Daily Reading:  Genesis 12-15

Abram believed the Lord, and he credited it to him as righteousness.  Genesis 15:16

In God's economy obedience equals blessings but not a trial-free life! Abram obeyed God by going to the land he would show him but he still had obstacles to overcome, like a famine!  God shows us how human and imperfect all of these people were -- Abram lets fear overtake him in Egypt and LIES about Sarai. Abram was still a good guy, though, and definitely a good relative....he lets Lot choose which land he wants and then he has to go and rescue the guy!   I love that he didn't want to take anything from the king so that God would get all the glory.

Footnote:

Although Abram had been demonstrating his faith through his actions, it was his belief in the Lord, not his actions, that made Abram right with God (Romans 4:1-5). We too can have a right relationship with God by trusting him. Our outward actions -- church attendance, prayer, good deeds -- will not by themselves make us right with God. A right relationship is based on faith -- the heartfelt inner confidence that God is who he says he is and does what he says he will do. Right actions will follow naturally as by-products.


NEED MORE FAITH??


Jesus is the author and perfecter of our faith...Hebrews 12:2!

The disciples asked Jesus to increase their faith...Luke 17!

Ephesians 2:8 says faith is a gift from God and that he has given each of us a measure of faith...Romans 12:3.

Scripture also says that faith comes from hearing the word of God....Romans 10:17!


Keep reading -- 360 days left! 

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 4 - The Tower of Babel

Daily Reading:  Genesis 10 & 11

Then they said, "Come, let us build ourselves a city, with a tower that reaches to the heavens, so that we may make a name for ourselves and not be scattered over the face of the whole earth."

Footnote:  The tower of Babel was a great human achievement, a wonder of the world. But it was a monument to the people themselves rather than to God. We may build monuments to ourselves (expensive clothes, big house, fancy car, important job) to call attention to our achievements. These may not be wrong in themselves, but when we use them to give us identity and self-worth, they take God's place in our lives. We are free to develop in many areas, but we are not free to think we have replaced God. 

What "towers" have you built in your life?

Keep reading -- 361 days left! 

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 3 - The Flood

Daily Reading: Genesis 6-9

God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways. So God said to Noah, "I am going to put an end to all people, for the earth is filled with violence because of them. I am surely going to destroy both them and the earth. Genesis 6:12 & 13

Footnote:  The boat Noah built was no canoe!  Picture yourself building a boat the length of one and a half football fields and as high as a four-story building.  The ark was exactly six times longer than it was wide -- the same ratio used by modern ship-builders.  This huge boat was probably built miles from any body of water by only a few faithful men who believed God's promises and obeyed his commands.

Many have wondered how this animal kingdom roundup happened.  Did Noah and his sons spend years collecting all the animals?  In reality the creation, along with Noah, was doing just as God had commanded.  There seemed to be no problem gathering the animals -- God took care of the details of that job while Noah was doing his part by building the ark.  Often we do just the opposite of Noah.  We worry about details over which we have no control, while neglecting specific areas (such as attitudes, relationship, responsibilities) that are under our control.  Like Noah, concentrate on what God has given you to do, and leave the rest to God.

Can you identify with Noah?  Have you ever felt like God was asking you to do something BIG?  Something that went against what everyone else was doing or their way of thinking?  How did it turn out?  Did you do your part?  Can you testify to the ways God worked out the details?  Spend some time thinking, praying and praising God for his work in your life.  If you feel comfortable, please share!   

Keep reading -- 362 days left! 

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 2 - The Fall of Man

Daily Reading: Genesis 3-5

When the woman saw that the fruit of the tree was good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom, she took some and ate it. She also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. The the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made coverings for themselves. Genesis 3:6-7

Footnote: The thought of two humans covered with fig leaves trying to hide from the all-seeing, all-knowing God is humorous. How could they be so silly as to think they could actually hide? Yet we do the same, acting as though God doesn't know what we're doing. Have the courage to share all you do and think with him. And don't try to hide -- it can't be done. Honesty will strengthen your relationship with God.

What did you think about Genesis 3:22? The NIV reads, "And the Lord God said, 'The man has now become like one of us, knowing good and evil. He must not be allowed to reach out his hand and take also from the tree of life and eat, and live forever.' "

Why wouldn't God want us to live forever?

Footnote: Life in the Garden of Eden was like living in heaven. Everything was perfect, and if Adam and Eve had obeyed God, they could have lived there forever. But after disobeying, Adam and Eve no longer deserved paradise, and God told them to leave. If they had continued to live in the garden and eat from the tree of life, they would have lived forever. But eternal life in a state of sin would mean forever trying to hide from God. Like Adam and Eve, all of us have sinned and are separated from fellowship with God. We do not have to stay separated, however, God is preparing a new earth as an eternal paradise for his people.

Now, it makes sense! God didn't want us to live forever in our sinful state! Praise God! God is JUST but he's also LOVING!

How did you like the genealogy in Chapter 5?

Footnote: Why are genealogies included in the Bible? The Hebrews passed on their beliefs through oral tradition. For many years in many places, writing was primitive or nonexistent. Stories were told to children who passed them on to their children. Genealogies gave a skeletal outline that helped people remember the stories. For centuries these genealogies were added to and passed down from family to family. Even more important than preserving family tradition, genealogies were included to confirm the Bible's promise that the coming Messiah, Jesus Christ, would be born into the line of Abraham.

Genealogies point out an interesting characteristic of God. People are important to him as individuals, not just as races or nations. Therefore God refers to people by name, mentioning their life span and descendants. The next time you feel overwhelmed in a vast crow, remember that the focus of God's attention and love is on the individual -- and on you!

Have you ever thought about this?

All human beings are related, going back to Adam and Eve. Mankind is a family that shares one flesh and blood. Remember this when prejudice enters your mind or hatred invades your feelings. Each person is a valuable and unique creation of God.

Thoughts anyone?  Who will be the first to respond?  Ready, set, go!

Keep reading -- 363 days left! 

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.

Day 1 -- The Beginning

Daily Reading:  Genesis 1 & 2

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Genesis 1:1

How appropriate!  As we begin our challenge, we read about THE BEGINNING.......

Genesis 1:1 Footnote:  The simple statement that God created the heavens and the earth is one of the most challenging concepts confronting the modern mind.  The vast galaxy we live in is spinning at the incredible speed of 490,000 miles an hour.  But even at this breakneck speed, our galaxy still needs 200 million years to make one rotation.  And there are over one billion other galaxies just like ours in the universe.  

Some scientists say that the number of stars in creation is equal to all the grains of all the sands on all the beaches of the world.  Yet this complex sea of spinning stars functions with remarkable order and efficiency.  To say that the universe "just happened" or "evolved" requires more faith than to believe that God is behind these amazing statistics.  God truly did create a wonderful universe.

God did not need to create the universe; he chose to create it.  Why?  God is love, and love is best expressed toward something or someone else -- so God created the world and people as an expression of his love.  We should avoid reducing God's creation to merely scientific terms.  Remember that God created the universe because he loves each of us.

Genesis 2:16, 17 Footnote:  Why would God place a tree in the garden and then forbid Adam to eat from it?  God wanted Adam to obey, but God gave Adam the freedom to choose.  Without choice, Adam would have been like a prisoner, and his obedience would have been hollow.  The two trees provided an exercise in choice, with rewards for choosing to obey and sad consequences for choosing to disobey.  When you are faced with  the choice, always choose to obey God. 

Genesis 2:18-24 Footnote:  God's creative work was not complete until he made woman.  He could have made her from the dust of the ground, as he made man.  God chose, however, to make her from the man's flesh and bone.  In so doing, he illustrated for us that in marriage man and woman symbolically become one flesh.  This is a mystical union of the couple's hearts and lives.  Throughout the Bible, God treats this special partnership seriously.  The goal in marriage should be more than friendship; it should be oneness.

These are just a few interesting footnotes from this section of reading.  Do you have any thoughts or information to share?  Please comment!

This was probably a very familiar section of scripture -- one you've heard many times -- ask God to show you something you've never seen before.

Keep reading -- 364 days left! 

All footnotes taken from the Life Application Study Bible, NIV.