State of the Dead discovery

Job still isn't my favourite book but I am getting more out of it than the last time I read it. In today's reading (Job 14-16) I discovered that the book of Job talks about death as a sleep (Job 14: 10-12). I never realized that before. I still wish that Job had been written more as a story and less as poetic dialogue, petitions, and prayers but I'm doing my best to try to gain something from each reading.

Have to do a better Job

It's only the fourth day of our reading-the-Bible-in-a-year resolution and I've already messed up. Last night I opened my Bible to Genesis 12 and read the four chapters I thought I was supposed to read for January 4 plus an extra one because I got to the part about Hagar and Ishmael and couldn't just stop without reading that chapter, too. I didn't actually go check to make sure it was the right reading for the day, but just started where Jonathan and I had left off the day before and read five chapters, which I assumed was more than the allotted reading for the day. I was feeling pretty good about how well I have kept up with this project so far and mentioned to Jonathan this evening that I'd even done a little extra reading in Genesis last night. "Ali, the reading for yesterday was the first five chapters of Job," he set me straight. "Job? Already? Man, here I thought I was ahead and now I find out that not only am I behind by a day's reading, but I already have to start the book of Job?" I questioned, watching him nod as I finished my mini-rant.

I've read Job once. Several years ago, likely when I was still in high school, I read the book in one sitting when I decided to read through several books of the Bible on a Sabbath afternoon. I wasn't impressed with much of the book after the first two chapters. This time around I'm going to try to keep a more open mind so I can learn from Job's conversations with God and the dialogue between Job and his three friends. Besides Job was included in the Bible so that must mean there's something (probably a lot of things) I can gain from my second time reading through the book.

A new year's resolution / In the Beginning

Ali and I decided to read through the Bible this year, going by historical order. I'm pretty excited about doing this, and hope that it will be a great blessing to us!

Today we started with reading Genesis 1-3. Chapter 1 outlines what took place in the six days of creation. Chapter 2 kind of expands on certain aspects of that, and also describes the countryside surrounding the Garden a bit. Finally, Chapter 3 tells the story of Adam and Eve's fall, and God's curse laid on them, on the earth, and on the Serpent.

The road to Emmaus

I read chapter 83 of the Desire of Ages today, and I was struck by one of Mrs. White's observations from the story of the Road to Emmaus. When the three travelers were reaching Emmaus, and the two men were heading to their place of lodging, Jesus acted as if he were going further, but the disciples pressed the invitation, "Stay with us, it is evening and the day is far spent." Luke 24:29. So Christ accepted the invitation.
From Desire of Ages, p. 800, "Had the disciples failed to press their invitation, they would not have know that their traveling companion was the risen Lord. Christ never forces His company upon anyone. He interests Himself in those who need Him. Gladly will He enter the humblest home, and cheer the lowliest heart. But if men are too indifferent to think of the heavenly Guest, or ask Him to abide with them, He passes on. Thus many meet with great loss. They do not know Christ any more than the disciples as He walked with them by the way."
I want to invite Jesus to come and spend time with me. Lord, help me to always invite you in to my heart, and help me not to be indifferent to think of You.

Wisdom

I read three chapters this morning, Proverbs 7-9. The overpowering theme here is the admonition to acquire wisdom. In Proverbs 8, Solomon speaks as wisdom, and says in verse 20: "I lead in the way of righteousness, in the midst of the paths of judgement..." Thus will I seek wisdom from God, who giveth to all who ask.

More Proverbs

Well, so far my "daily" blog hasn't been too successful, but hopefully i'll get better at remembering...

I read Proverbs 6 today, and as usual, there is a lot of great wisdom to be had. One of my favorite passages is verses 20-22:

My son, keep thy father's commandment, and forsake not the law of thy mother;
Bind them continually upon thine heart, and tie them about thy neck.
When thou goest, it shall lead thee; when thou sleepest, it shall keep thee; and when thou awakest, it shall talk with thee.

I want to have God's law bound about my neck; I want Him to write His law in my heart.

Proverbs 4

Chapters in Proverbs sometimes seem very similar, especially the first several. However, there are unique thoughts in each chapter, probably even in each verse, that can be found. Today I read chapter four, and found an interesting verse:
"Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life." verse 23.
This verse can be read two different ways. On the one hand, we must keep our hearts with diligence, by means of healthful living and exercise, etc., which will keep the life blood flowing strongly. But on the other hand, we must guard our hearts against temptation, and this only with God's help, which will keep His life flowing through us.