Take Ten In '10, Week 9 Reading Schedule

We're beginning the third month of reading, March! Promises of spring and sunshine, longer days and warmer nights are in the air.

Congratulations are in order for finishing 2 months of reading. Let's keep at it!

Schedule for March 1-7, 2010

Monday, March 1st

Numbers 6,7

Luke 2

Tuesday, March 2nd

Numbers 8, 9

Luke 3

Wednesday, March 3rd

Numbers 10-12

Luke 4, 5

Thursday, March 4th

Numbers 13, 14

Luke 6, 7

Friday, March 5th

Numbers 15, 16

Luke 8

Saturday, March 6th

Numbers 17-19

Luke 9, 10

Sunday, March 7th

No reading. Use the day to finish any that were missed

If Cleanliness Is Next To Godliness...

. . . then uncleanliness is next to dogliness.




Everyone in this house has chores. Pepper thinks she should have some also.

I'm all in favor of dogs working. The black lab we had prior to this chocolate lab-rat brought our newspaper to us each morning . . . and anyone else's if they didn't get it themselves before our retriever's first morning outing.

But we don't have a newspaper delivered anymore, and Pepper just isn't the type that could be trusted to bring the newspaper inside in readable condition anyway, so the unemployed dog tries to find any work she can. Her dream job is taking the trash out. Not out to the garbage can. Just out.

Take Ten In '10, Week 8 Reading Schedule

Do you like this time of year? I complain a lot about the snow (we have about one foot on the ground right now and we haven't seen much of the sun or our grass for the last two weeks) but actually I like it. But like it or not, somewhere during the winter I usually reach a point called "Is It Over Yet?"

The same could be said for Bible reading. Somewhere around the middle of Leviticus the Bible-reading blahs have a tendency to set in. I confess that some days that is exactly how I feel. You, too? But don't give up! If you read with an air of sympathy toward the people in the narrative - real people like Aaron who lost two sons - and an eye toward the types of Christ found within the pages you'll find some wonderful nuggets of spiritual food to digest.

That's also why these passages are coupled with the Gospel of Mark. If you'll notice, Mark doesn't waste any time going from event to event. Mark is a man in a hurry to get things moving! Just what we need on a cold winter's day.

I pray you receive a blessing this week as you read God's Word.

Schedule for February 22-28, 2010

Monday, February 22nd

Leviticus 17-19

Mark 11

Tuesday, February 23rd

Leviticus 20-22

Mark 12, 13

Wednesday, February 24th

Leviticus 23-25

Mark 14

Thursday, February 25th

Leviticus 26, 27

Mark 15

Friday, February 26th

Numbers 1-3

Mark 16

Saturday, February 27th

Numbers 4, 5

Luke 1

Sunday, February 28th

No reading. Use the day to finish any readings that were missed this past week.

Happy Valentine's Day From the One Who Loves You the Most

Take Ten in '10, Week 7 Reading Schedule

This past week we read the Law given by God to Moses. We also read about Jesus who said that He came not to abolish the Law but to fulfill it. We also began reading the book of Leviticus. This book reminds me of a job manual, which it is, in this case for the priests offering the sacrifices. And since we also finished reading the last few chapters of Matthew we were able to see the Supreme Sacrifice of God's own Son that those Old Testament sacrifices pictured.

Can you see how the sacrifices in Leviticus 1, 2, and 3 pictured the Messiah?

1. Male without spot or blemish? Check
2. Offering of flour mixed with oil but without leaven? Check; the Lord's Supper still uses elements made from these ingredients to represent Christ's body that was given for us.
3. Offering of first fruits? Check.
4. Need a peace offering acceptable to God? Check.

I pray you have a blessed week in the Word!

Schedule for February 15-21, 2010

Monday, February 15th

Leviticus 4,5

Mark 2, 3

Tuesday, February 16th

Leviticus 6, 7

Mark 4, 5

Wednesday, February 17th

Leviticus 8, 9

Mark 6

Thursday, February 18th

Leviticus 10, 11

Mark 7, 8

Friday, February 19th

Leviticus 12-14

Mark 9

Saturday, February 20th

Leviticus 15, 16

Mark 10

Sunday, February 21st

No reading. Use the day to finish any readings that were missed.

Since When Are These In Such High Demand?

I was reading an article about the snow that is blanketing the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. And, yes, I know that this is a serious situation. I'm currently smack-dab in the middle of it, so I'm aware. However, something I read struck my funny bone.

The wallop of back-to-back storms is causing certain items to disappear from grocery shelves. According to the article one of those items is Brussels sprouts.

O-o-k-a-a-y.

I happen to like Brussels sprouts. Really. But if my family is a fair representation then it is safe to say that most people do not.

I know that there were other events recently besides snowstorms that precipitated (pun intended) a raid on the stores, but since when are Brussels sprouts an hors d'oeuvre served while watching the Super Bowl?

If you have such a recipe, please share. I obviously need to find a new way to present them since what I'm doing now isn't working!

Make Me A Blessing

I like to pay attention to the words of songs as we sing them. We sang this hymn today and I made it a heart-felt prayer. It sums up how I feel about blogging, the ministry, and just being a daughter, wife, mom, Gram, cousin, in-law, and friend. I'm not perfect in any of these roles or duties, (I'm not really good at that "true every moment you live" stuff) but I hope my life counts for the Lord in some small measure.

1 Out in the highways and byways of life,

many are weary and sad; are weary and sad

Carry the sunshine where darkness is rife

making the sorrowing glad.

Refrain:

Make me a blessing,

Make me a blessing,

Out of my life, out of my life

May Jesus shine;

Make me a blessing,

O savior, I pray, I pray Thee, my Savior,

Make me a blessing to someone today.

2 Tell the sweet story of Christ and His love;

Tell of His pow'r to forgive; His pow'r to forgive.

Others will trust Him if only you prove

true ev'ry moment you live.

Refrain

3 Give as 'twas given to you in your need;

Love as the Master loved you;

Be to the helpless a helper indeed;

Unto your mission be true.

Refrain

Words by Ira B. Wilson

(Music by George S. Schuler)

Sunday Snowday Encouragement

Come now, and let us reason together, saith the LORD:

though your sins be as scarlet,

they shall be as white as snow;

though they be red like crimson,

they shall be as wool.

Isaiah 1:18

Lovely Weather We're Having! Not!

This photo was taken yesterday afternoon when the snow had just begun to fall, which was approximately 24 hours after we'd arrived home from our "winter tour" in Florida and Texas:



This photo was taken this afternoon:

And to think that in another month my favorite greenhouse will be opening for business! Maybe some of my trees will be showing the signs of spring by then. I can hope, can't I?

On second thought, it is lovely, but I'm ready for some warmer loveliness.

Take Ten in '10, Week 6 Reading Schedule

Words. They are so important. Without them we would be seriously hampered in our communication. Without them no one would know our thoughts or intentions.

Jesus said that there are people who honor him with their lips but their hearts remain far from him (Matt. 15:8,9). He also said that the words that come out of our mouths can show just how defiled our hearts are (Matt. 15:18, 19).

The disciples did not always understand these principles. A good example would be when they asked questions about who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven, possibly with the hope that Jesus would brag on them. Jesus answered by setting a small child in front of them (Matt. 18:1-6). Just one chapter later those same disciples rebuked the people who brought small children to see Jesus. They had already forgotten His object lesson.

Day after day the disciples saw God-in-the-flesh and listened to His words but they failed to take His teaching to heart. They weren't so different from their ancestors, the Children of Israel, who received instruction from God in the wilderness.

After giving the Law to the Israelites, God reaffirmed His covenant with them. This was the same covenant that He'd made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It was important that they hear the same words directly from the mouth of God. When they heard they responded by promising obedience as their part of the bargain. These people didn't just hear God, but they saw Him, too! (Ex. 24:1-10) Even though we haven't read that far yet, we know that it will not be too many days after this amazing event that the people will forget the words of their promise and will break the covenant.

How very like them I am! I see God through His Word, I hear His commandments, and in response I make commitments to be obedient only to break my promise. Thankfully, the same God who kept the Abrahamic covenant by bringing the undeserving Israelites into the Promised Land kept His promise by bringing undeserving me into the Promised Land of salvation.

This week we will finish Exodus and Matthew. We are moving along in our goal of reading through the Bible this year.

I pray that you see God and hear His words clearly this week as you read His Word. And if something you read blesses your heart feel free to share it with me either by leaving a comment or sending me an email at Karabeth6@gmail.com.

Have a blessed week!

Schedule for February 8-14, 2010

Monday, February 8th

Exodus 31, 32

Matthew 22, 23

Tuesday, February 9th

Exodus 33, 34

Matthew 24, 25

Wednesday, February 10th

Exodus 35, 36

Matthew 26

Thursday, February 11th

Exodus 37, 38

Matthew 27

Friday, February 12th

Exodus 39, 40

Matthew 28

Saturday, February 13th

Leviticus 1-3

Mark 1

Sunday, February 14th

No reading. Use the day to finish any that were missed.

(Spend some time today reflecting on your eternal Valentine, God, Who loved you so much that He gave His only begotten Son so that He can spend forever with you. Love doesn't get any better than that!)

A Day In Dallas

We returned today from Dallas, TX where Pastor Dad preached a series of messages at one of the suburban churches. We were very blessed on this trip in that it was a wonderful meeting and a personal encouragement to us, too. We're blessed to have renewed some old friendships and to have made new ones with the pastor and his wife and members of the church. God is so good!

The pastor and wife were extraordinary host and hostess and they spent the mornings taking us to local points of interests. We came home laden with books we bought at various bookstores. I'm envious of the super sized Half Price Books and the Mardel bookstores where we shopped! I thought for sure we'd be surcharged for having an overweight suitcase as a result. No surcharge, but the skycap sure looked surly as he lifted the bag!

We visited downtown Dallas on Monday and toured the museum in the Texas Book Depository. Very interesting presentation! Even though it commemorates an event that sparks major memories for most people (Where were you when you heard that JFK was shot?) I have only a minor recollection of sitting in the kitchen and eating my breakfast the next morning while my mom listened to the news on the radio. I asked her what was going on and she told me. I had just turned 4 years old so none of it made much sense to me at the time. But taking the audio tour this week caused me extreme sadness as I witnessed the events of that day via pictures and video. It was more than my 4 year old brain could comprehend in 1963 and it is still incomprehensible to me today.

But this was the only sadness we encountered except when the time came to say good-by to our friends there in the Lone Star State. Thanks, all, for your Texas hospitality!