Bible in 90 Days – Day 45

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This morning I finished reading Psalms and started Proverbs! The reading covered Psalm 135 through Proverbs 6.

The very last verse of Psalms is used in a more modern praise song.

Let every thing that hath breath praise the Lord.
Praise ye the Lord
Psalm 150:6.

I’m very excited to start reading Proverbs, though I know will only be spending several days reading through it. Every time I read through Proverbs, I learn something new. It seems that each verse is packed with wisdom and knowledge.

The proverbs of Solomon
the son of David, king of Israel;

To know wisdom and instruction;
to perceive the words of understanding;

To receive the instruction of wisdom,
justice, and judgment, and equity;

To give subtlety to the simple,
to the young man knowledge and discretion.

A wise man will hear, and will increase learning;
and a man of understanding shall attain unto wise counsels:

To understand a proverb, and the interpretation;
the words of the wise, and their dark sayings.

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge:
but fools despise wisdom and instruction
Proverbs 1:1-7.

I want to be one who has the fear of the Lord! I want to hear and increase learning.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 44

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Today marks the halfway point of the Bible plan. The program is called Bible in 90 Days but the schedule is actually 88 days of reading with two “off” days. I am now on Day 44, thus I have read half the Bible (when measured in pages).

The reading covered Psalms 109 through 134. I actually noted quite a few praise song based on the Psalms but I only marked two that have spoken to me personally.

This first psalm is used in Steven Curtis Chapman’s song “Moment Made For Worshiping.” It’s a beautiful song and reminds us that every moment is a moment made for worshiping.

From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same
the LORD’s name is to be praised
Psalm 113:3.

This second song is one that I remember hearing many times as a child. The year we sung it as the theme song for Vacation Bible School was particular poignant.

Thy word is a lamp unto my feet,
and a light unto my path
Psalm 119:105.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 43

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Today I covered Psalms 90 through 108. I thought it would be fitting to post a psalm that I think makes a great Valentine to and from God.

He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High
shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.

I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God;
in him will I trust.

Surely he shall deliver thee from the snare of the fowler,
and from the noisome pestilence.

He shall cover thee with his feathers, and under his wings shalt thou trust:
his truth shall be thy shield and buckler.

Thou shalt not be afraid for the terror by night;
nor for the arrow that flieth by day;

Nor for the pestilence that walketh in darkness;
nor for the destruction that wasteth at noonday.

A thousand shall fall at thy side, and ten thousand at thy right hand;
but it shall not come nigh thee.

Only with thine eyes shalt thou behold and see the reward of the wicked.

Because thou hast made the LORD, which is my refuge,
even the most High, thy habitation;

There shall no evil befall thee,
neither shall any plague come nigh thy dwelling.

For he shall give his angels charge over thee,
to keep thee in all thy ways.

They shall bear thee up in their hands,
lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.

Thou shalt tread upon the lion and adder:
the young lion and the dragon shalt thou trample under feet.

Because he hath set his love upon me, therefore will I deliver him:
I will set him on high, because he hath known my name.

He shall call upon me, and I will answer him:
I will be with him in trouble;
I will deliver him, and honour him.

With long life will I satisfy him,
and shew him my salvation

Psalm 91.

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Great books

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I wanted to highlight a couple great books I’ve read lately.

In the Time of the Butterflies is inspired by the true story of the Mirabel sisters, known as las mariposas (the butterflies). From the back of the book – “They were the four Mirabel sisters – symbols of defiant hope in a country shadowed by dictatorship and despair. They sacrificed their safe and comfortable lives in the name of freedom… [the book] describes the everyday horrors of life under the Dominican dictator Trujillo.”

I knew the book was going to be a tearjerker. But I didn’t realize how much it was going to draw me into the story, make me feel as if I lived under that government and was suffering for want of freedom. I was pulling for the sisters, hoping (irrationally) that they would survive in the end, knowing full well that the sisters were martyred. I couldn’t put the book down even though I was heartbroken by the way the government treated its people and the consequences people suffered in standing up for themselves. This really is a story of courage and standing up for one’s beliefs.

June Bug surprised me. I spotted this book on the “new” bookshelf at my library and grabbed it on a whim. I’d never read anything by this author, though I’m definitely going to look for his other books. This is the story of a young girl who discovers her photo on the missing persons board at Walmart. It describes her experiences in trying to find out who she really is as well as her adopted father’s thoughts and feelings as he tries to raise his daughter by himself. The writing was great and I felt the author had an authentic voice for June Bug. What was even more shocking was how the ending, the events around John’s adoption of June Bug, came as a complete surprise! Normally Christian fiction is very formulaic but this book was a breath of fresh air.

My only complaint is that I wish there had been just one more chapter. I wanted to know what happened next!

I loved How Do I Love Thee?, a slightly fictionalized account of Elizabeth Barrett Browning. This is the first Nancy Moser book I’ve read but I can’t wait to get my hands on others. The book started a bit slow and I almost returned it to the library. But then I started getting really interested in Elizabeth and Robert and wanted to know how they were going to marry when Elizabeth’s father had forbidden any of his children to marry. Could their love break Elizabeth free from her controlling father?

While reading through the book, I couldn’t help but wonder how much of it was based on truth and how much was fictionalized. The author was kind enough to include a chapter by chapter list of the events that were true to life. The vast majority of this book is true! That made the story all the more engaging.

This is one of my new favorite poems (and just in time for Valentine’s Day!):

If thou must love me, let it be for nought
Except for love’s sake only. Do not say
`I love her for her smile … her look … her way
Of speaking gently, … for a trick of thought
That falls in well with mine, and certes brought
A sense of pleasant ease on such a day’
For these things in themselves, Beloved, may
Be changed, or change for thee,–and love, so wrought,
May be unwrought so. Neither love me for
Thine own dear pity’s wiping my cheeks dry,
A creature might forget to weep, who bore
Thy comfort long, and lose thy love thereby!
But love me for love’s sake, that evermore
Thou may’st love on, through love’s eternity.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 42

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I’m so excited that I’m still reading through Psalms on this Sabbath day. What a wonderful way to spend time this morning and again this afternoon. Today I read Psalm 70 through 89.

Instead of finding praise songs in the psalms, I found one text that is a great model for living life and another that praises God.

I will remember the works of the LORD:
surely I will remember thy wonders of old.

I will meditate also of all thy work, and talk of thy doings
Psalms 77:11-12.

Surely his salvation is nigh them that fear him;
that glory may dwell in our land.

Mercy and truth are met together;
righteousness and peace have kissed each other.

Truth shall spring out of the earth;
and righteousness shall look down from heaven.

Yea, the LORD shall give that which is good;
and our land shall yield her increase.

Righteousness shall go before him;
and shall set us in the way of his steps
Psalm 85:9-13.

Praise the Lord! He is good. His mercy endures forever.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 41

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Today’s reading covered Psalms 46 through 69. Psalms is so long that I cannot believe I have already read half of it. This schedule really pushes you through the Bible.

I found two texts almost back to back that I know as praise songs. I love this first song, sung by Steven Curtis Chapman.

Be still, and know that I am God:
I will be exalted among the heathen,
I will be exalted in the earth
Psalm 46:10.

O clap your hands, all ye people;
shout unto God with the voice of triumph
Psalm 47:1.

I couldn’t find a video for the version of this song that I’m familiar with. But it was an old campfire song that we loved to sing.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 40

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I am really enjoying reading through Psalms. I only wish I could slow down a bit to savor them. This morning I read Psalms 25 through 45. As I was reading, I kept looking for praise song lyrics and found several more.

Unto thee, O LORD, do I lift up my soul.

O my God, I trust in thee: let me not be ashamed,
let not mine enemies triumph over me.

Yea, let none that wait on thee be ashamed:
let them be ashamed which transgress without cause.

Shew me thy ways, O LORD; teach me thy paths
Psalm 25:1-4.

O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together
Psalm 34:3.

As the hart panteth after the water brooks,
so panteth my soul after thee, O God
Psalm 42:1.

Listening to these praise songs makes me really content. They bring back a lot of really good memories and I feel close to God. Singing praises to Him is one of the very best forms of worship.

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Bible in 90 Days – Day 39

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Today I read Psalms 1 through 24. As I was reading through these Psalms, I was looking for verses that I know are praise songs. I found a few. With Psalm 8:9, some translations show “majestic” instead of “excellent.”

O LORD our Lord, how excellent is thy name in all the earth!
Psalm 8:9

Who is this King of glory?
The LORD of hosts, he is the King of glory. Selah
Psalm 24:10.

For this last Psalm, I’m not sure if verses 1 and 2 are contemporary songs. Verse 3 is a well known praise song, but I loved verses 1 and 2 and had to include them in my list.

I will love thee, O LORD, my strength.

The LORD is my rock, and my fortress, and my deliverer; my God, my strength, in whom I will trust; my buckler, and the horn of my salvation, and my high tower.

I will call upon the LORD, who is worthy to be praised:
so shall I be saved from mine enemies
Psalm 18:1-3.
The LORD liveth; and blessed be my rock;
and let the God of my salvation be exalted
Psalm 18:46.

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Bible in 90 Days – Days 37 & 38

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I’m still trying to catch up with my reading after having missed both Sabbath and Sunday. Today I finished reading Job (should be on Psalm 45). Tomorrow I’ll try to read through Psalm 45 and then I will be only one day behind. Hopefully I can catch up fully by this weekend.

Job is still a bit confusing to me. I understand the basic story. Satan attacks Job because God says that Job is perfect. Job mourns his losses but doesn’t curse God. Job’s friends chastise Job for harboring secret sin when Job hasn’t done anything wrong. Another friend sticks up for Job but lectures him about not portraying God correctly. God tells Job that Job isn’t God. Job gains back all his prior wealth (plus some) and has a second set of children.

I don’t understand why Elihu was lecturing Job. I also don’t understand the exchange between God and Job. I’m going to add this book to my list of Bible topics to come back and study later this year. While I am reading through the Bible quickly, I miss the in-depth study.

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Playing catch up

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I missed a second day (yesterday) in the Bible in 90 days program. I’m pretty bummed about it, but I’m trying to catch up. I’m half way through Job but should be around Psalm 24. Tomorrow, I’m planning on finishing up Job and starting Psalms.

Job’s story is a real tear jerker. He lost everything but his wife and his own life. All in one day, he lost his cattle, his servants, and his children. That’s like losing your family and all your wealth. Unfortunately, Job’s friends are accusing Job of harboring secret sin. They believed that God was punishing Job for something.

It’s been a long time since I’ve read Job, but I’m looking forward to seeing what God’s response is.

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