Third week of scriptures for sisters and nieces

By Maggie

This week’s readings were harder for me to understand but I will do my best.

Exodus 23:1-2 “You must not pass along false rumors. You must not cooperate with evil people by lying on the witness stand. You must not follow the crowd in doing wrong.”

I so often in life find myself sitting around with my friends while they are in a conversation talking about others and I join them rather than getting up and not including myself in that conversation or even better telling them it is not the right thing to do and is hurtful to the other person. It is not the right thing to do but we often find our self in that situation. I actually just recently found myself on the other end of it. I was in the other room and heard someone that is close to me talking about me. I was extremely hurt and now am asking God to help me forgive that other person. I think that God has our best interest in mind when he tells us not to do these kinds of activities.

Exodus 9-14 I really like how important prayer was to Moses. This passage shows us that through prayer anything is possible. We just need to remember to ask God for what we need. I also think that I often remember to pray for things I need but forget to thank God for his many blessings on my life. This coming week I am going to focus on thanking God for his many blessings on my life.

Exodus 34:6 “Yahweh! The Lord! The God of compassion and mercy! I am slow to anger and filled with unfailing love and faithfulness”

I want to be slow to anger. I find myself getting angry very easily. God is so good and loving.

I had a very hard time reading the rest of Exodus. I guess I don’t understand why the descriptions were so in depth in the bible. All the measurements were so hard to follow and understand. What can I learn from all of the rules on how to give sacrifices and how to build the temples? I feel like I am really missing something in these scriptures.

This was in my bible and kind of helped me but I still feel like I’m missing something.

Exodus 40 Exodus began in gloom and ends in glory. The Israelites were once Egyptian slaves making bricks without straw. Now they’re free and on their way to the land God promised them. This parallels our progress as Christians. We begin as slaves to sin, are bought at a price by God, and end our lives on Earth with the promise of living with God forever. Is that a promise you’re counting on?

Leviticus 1-5 Again I had a hard time reading through these chapters as well. The one thing that stood out to me as I read this was that I am so thankful that Jesus died on the cross for our sins. I could not imagine having to give sacrifices for our sins. The song that stood out to me this week was by Carrie Underwood. It’s called Jesus take the wheel. Although it’s about a girl getting into a car accident I really feel like it fits in my life at this time. I want to surrender my entire life to God and have Jesus take the wheel in my life.

Scriptures for Sisters #4

It's Sunday night and I'm glad I have Mag holding me accountable to do my post about our readings. I really loved reading all of the details in building the Tabernacle, but his week Exodus Chapter 34 hit me the most.

"And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, “The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness, "maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished; he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” Exodus 34:6-7

As I was reading the bottom of my study Bible regarding these verses it talked about children suffering for the sins of their parents. They asked us to consider child abuse and alcoholism as well as selfishness and greed. This bothers me... a lot! I have always considered alcoholism as sickness; not sin. To me it is mental illness (that needs to be treated immediately!). Children definitely suffer because of these sins; there is no question about it. I know God is a forgiving, loving God and can handle any kind of stronghold, especially alcoholism, anxiety and addictions. To me it just seems children suffer enough when they have a parent who is hurting them as a result of their illness. I believe it is genetic (please don't judge me) and I just don't understand why it is treated as sin... that needs to be punished. And what if we are married to an alcoholic - and the whole "in sickness and in health" part? I feel so sorry for spouses, children of alcoholics and victims of child abuse. I have no words to describe how terrible this is for them. It was also interesting that selfishness and greed were compared to it; they just don't seem the same. Those don't seem to hurt my children and grandchildren the same; or is it just as serious? Yes!

"Do not worship any other god, for the LORD, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." (Exodus 34:14)

This verse helps me better understand the issue above. I love that He is a jealous God and that He does not want us to worship any other god than Himself. I think too many of us use alcohol, anxiety, people, money, food, addictions, etc. as our God. We trust these things for comfort more than we trust God to help us feel better. He loves us SO much that He wants/needs/requires us to trust Him to get us through the trials and storms in our lives. Life is hard; it's not supposed to be easy; this is not Heaven. We are to trust Him in these difficult times and totally depend on Him to get us through the rough times. I love that He is jealous... for us!

" But whenever he entered the LORD’s presence to speak with him, he removed the veil until he came out." (Exodus 34:34)

Moses' face was radiant after spending time with the Lord. Isn't that so cool?! He felt the need to cover it with a veil so he would not scare anyone. I love how he removed the veil when he was in the Lord's presence; when he was speaking with him. When we are desperate for God in our life it is necessary to be completely honest with Him and not hide behind anything. He already knows what's going on in our life, but it helps to be real and share our deepest worries and concerns with HIm. He can be trusted. I just love that; I just love Him.

Happy THANKful Thursday!

43- sump pumps going out when we are in town... and before a flood
44- learning how to do a spreadsheet
45- having the money to pay the plumber
46- salisbury steak dinner my sister-in-law cooked
47- having small dinner gatherings so we can really talk
48- dinner with friends
49- being free to spontaneously help at a friend's dental office
50- a nice work schedule
51- baby showers
52- text message pictures
53- having the money to buy airplane tickets
54- old blogging friends stopping by for a visit here
55- those days where I get a lot accomplished
56- those days when I feel I can put an outfit together
57- mild winter days
58- looking down and seeing my mother's hands typing this post
59- a clean bathroom
60- a book about marriage that EVERYBODY should read: The Meaning of Marriage. by Tim Keller.

Do you have your own Thankful Thursday list going?

Niece Maggie #2 :)

by Maggie

Scripture for Sisters….and nieces.

This is the second week that I am writing about what I read. I am learning so much by writing about what I read and then reading your comments that you leave me. I want to say thank you for reading and commenting on what I write.

Exodus 2:3 But when she could no longer hide him, she got a basket made of papyrus reeds and waterproofed it with tar and pitch. She put the baby in the basket and laid it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile River.

I couldn’t imagine living at a time where we had to sacrifice a life for any reason. We come across very difficult decisions at times and we have to pray and follow what God wants us to do. When I read this it makes me think of my mom. When I was in her womb I got the measles from her. The doctors told her I would be mentally challenged and would have a hole in my spine. They told her the best thing to do was to have an abortion. My mom made the appointment, but the day of the appointment she decided that she could not have the abortion. My mom and dad prayed for the rest of the pregnancy until the day I was born. My mom said I was perfect; the doctors were amazed that there was nothing wrong with me. I know that God sees the effort we make to do the right thing even when it is hard. I am very thankful that my mom and dad decided to give me a chance at life.

Exodus 4:10-12 But Moses pleaded with the Lord, “O Lord, I’m not very good with words. I never have been, and I’m not now, even though you have spoken to me. I get tongue-tied, and my words get tangled.” Then the Lord asked Moses, “Who makes a person’s mouth? Who decides whether people speak or do not speak, hear or do not hear, see or do not see? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go! I will be with you as you speak, and I will instruct you in what to say.”

I can really relate to Moses in this situation. I am shy and have a very difficult time speaking in front of people if I am not sure what to say as well. I am a nurse and I can think of a time that I had to go speak with a family about their son who was dying. I had to tell the parents that we are not going to be able to keep their son alive because his heart is too weak. I was terrified. I am not even sure what I said. The Holy Spirit took over and spoke for me. What a relief to know that we are not alone.

Exodus 14:14 The Lord himself will fight for you. Just stay calm.

When we are going through a tough time it is hard to stay calm. We think that God is not with us and we have to do everything for ourselves. It is comforting to know that he will fight for us. I am going through a rough time right now. This is a good scripture to memorize when things get tough.

My question for the week?

Exodus 21:12 Anyone who assaults and kills another person must be put to death.

My question is, is there anywhere in the bible where God addresses the military? I know they are trained to kill people for our freedom but my concern is how does God feel about this?

Scriptures for Sisters #3

There was so much in this week's readings, but these verses got my attention in a fresh way:

"You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them." (Ex 4:20-21)

These verses are some of the most comforting I know in the whole Bible; and I need to hear them often. Everything happens for a reason and it's never by accident. He is so kind, caring and compassionate.

"But when Pharaoh saw that there was relief, he hardened his heart and would not listen to Moses and Aaron, just as the LORD had said." (Ex 8:15)

So often in times of trouble when I get some relief I start believing I don't need God anymore; or worse yet, I don't give God credit and think I had something to do with it. And when I have a "hardened heart" I am not open to hearing what God wants me to hear, and I am prone to wander. I don't obey and life doesn't go smoothly.

"The LORD will fight for you; you need only to be still.” (Ex 14:14)

The LORD will fight for me and for you! All we need to do is be still. It sounds so simple, yet I forget to just breathe and Believe He has everything under control. His plan is perfect!

"Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided, and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left." (Ex 14:21-22)

If God can divide the Red Sea I think He can handle this... and this... and this... :)



Do you need to soften your heart just a little bit, so God can do huge things in your life?

A Song for Saturday

Memories for Jen, Liz, Mag & Tim

My nieces and nephew were young when their mom passed away. Early this morning I woke up thinking about some of the many things I remember that they may have been too young to realize or may have forgotten.



(Clay Crosse was my first concert with Vic.)

-She was a morning person.
-She loved lists.
-She always had a glass of water before water was popular.
-She couldn't eat a sandwich if there were no chips in the house.
-She acted like a short order cook for her kids making them anything they wanted.
-She was at every single event her kids were involved in.
-She was crafty and always had something going.
-I think she "had" to have the crafts because she was nervous not doing something.
-Her house was either a mess or spotless; there was no in-between.
-Her priorities were in the right order and she would rock her kids (or any baby) with the house looking like a tornado just hit.
-She was more like a mom to me than a sister and I would go to her room if I was ever scared and she would protect me.
-She was very artistic.
-She was left-handed.
-She was Spiritual before it was easy and she didn't have the internet.
-She loved music.
-She used playing the piano as therapy.
-She would write letters, especially to resolve conflicts.
-She often wrote thank you notes.
-She was an excellent cook of comfort food.
-She always had her family eat dinner at the kitchen table.
-She always had the best groceries in the house.
-Her laugh.
-The way she teased, but never at the expense of anyone.
-How she set me up to do "singles" chats when I was single.
-How meticulous she was about cleaning.
-Her love for animals and always had cats, hamsters etc.
-She loved the windows open.
-She loved her garden and was proud to show you.
-She loved games like Scrabble and Rummy and was very good at them.
-She loved Sunday family dinners.
-She always made people feel comfortable stopping by and she was always home.
-She was the first to call me, "Ann."
-She loved hanging around the kids at a party more than the adults.
-She took me to my first Christian concert.
-She loved going out for breakfast; I loved to join her.
-She loved going to daily Mass.
-She was very quick to forgive her husband.
-She really knew how to make a home.
-There are many songs I hear that make me think of her.
-She loved wearing sweatshirts.
-She was the one I chose to be the Godmother of my firstborn.
-She enjoyed smoking.
-She loved candles.
-She cleaned houses and was a bus driver & had other jobs I don't remember.
-She didn't live for her job; she lived for her family.
-She would laugh when Mom wanted us to be serious; and we would follow her lead.
-She made cleaning look like fun.
-I think she was a Hippie in her day. She had a waterbed, incense and often wore a bandana.
-She was usually barefoot.
-She never wanted to disappoint Dad.
-She sometimes held a grudge and would forgive but not forget.
-She loved to be silly with her kids and tickle them almost until they cried.
-She was beautiful inside and out and she loved her family.
-She had a beautiful voice and I loved hearing her play the piano and sing.

Whenever I hear the song, "Leaving On a Jet Plane"  I think about the early morning when I heard God came to take her home. I also remember how happy I was that she wanted to go alone with me to Frankenmuth (that ended up being her last trip anywhere).  I will never forget her telling me that she was honored God was ready to take her, but was disappointed that it was taking so long. She was ready to go. She had planned every detail of her funeral and had a list waiting. I was honored that Fred asked me to do a reading at her funeral Mass. I am so grateful for all of the gifts she gave me in her life and the gift she gave me that when it's my turn to leave this world I will be okay and at Peace.



Vic still lives in each one of her precious children.  When I talk with them I feel like I am talking to my sister.  I will never forget her or stop talking about her. Please pray for each one of her children and grandchildren who miss her more than words can say. Thank you!

How do you want to be remembered at the end of your life?

Whoa... It's Thursday!

What an amazing Thursday!



27- beautiful snowflakes falling down and not having to be anywhere
28- a permanent job offer this week in an excellent setting
29- sharing in the excitement of my friend's first granddaughter
30- words of encouragement from readers of this blog
31- knowing someone who has the courage to deal with their stuff in a healthy manner
32- realizing that by getting rid of clothes I actually have more to wear
33- two big garbage bags of clothes that I get to give away
34- the furry boots I got for my birthday last year
35- laughing with my husband
36- house parties
37- finding this video in my inbox about validation
38- having a million reasons to smile
39- time to sit and write this post in the middle of the afternoon
40- finding a song that is perfect for my loved one who is working through her grief
41- remembering... if I didn't go through "that" I wouldn't be here writing this post
42- roses



This short video about validation is worth taking the time to watch. Trust me! What happened in your life this week that made you smile?

Angie
xoxo

the full amount of time necessary

"taking a full forty days, for that was the time required for embalming. And the Egyptians mourned for him seventy days." (Gen 50:3)

"...they lamented loudly and bitterly; and there Joseph observed a seven-day period of mourning for his father." (Gen 50:10)

Joseph wept and mourned for months. We all need time to work through our grief when we lose someone close to us; and whatever amount of time it takes for each of us is different. It helps to cry and share our feelings.

Lord, I pray for all who are mourning the loss of someone they love. Please help them know they are not alone. Help them feel Your arms wrapped around them. I thank You for being there for me... Through it All. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Scriptures for Sisters... and nieces too! :)

Hi Everyone,

I would like to introduce you to my niece, Maggie who has decided to read through the Bible with me this year. I told her about how we will do a post every Monday and she e-mailed me her thoughts today. I'm so honored to be reading it with her. She is my sister, Vic's daughter and I just know my sister is smiling down from Heaven tonight as I publish this post. Oh, and I wanted to tell you how grateful I am for the internet. I live in Michigan and Maggie lives in California. God is SO good! ~Angie


Here is what I wrote. Hope you like.

Hello my name is Maggie and this is my first time ever blogging. I’m not the best writer but I am trying new things. I have been reading along with scripture for sisters and I wanted to write what I thought about so far. I do have some questions also as that I was hoping to get answered. Since I missed last week this week will be long because I’m starting at the beginning of Genesis. Here goes…….

Genesis 1:26 Then God said, “Let us make human beings in our image, to be like us. They will reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, the livestock, all the wild animals on the earth and the small animals that scurry along the ground.”

As I sit and think about how great God is it is amazing that he wanted to create us in His image. He wanted us to be like him. I think about the world today and how many people don’t even know Christ. This makes me realize that we need to do a better job at spreading His word so that more people can be like Him. That’s what we were created for.

Genesis 2:18 Then the Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper who is just right for him.”

Thank you Lord that you knew that it is not right to be alone. I couldn’t imagine my life alone. As I think about this and have been struggling in my relationship I know that I am never truly alone because I have Christ in my life but even Christ knew that we needed an earthly companion.

Genesis 4:6 …..But if you refuse to do what is right watch out. Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master.

Sin is knocking at the door all the time, it is our choice how we react to it. I find as I spend more time with the Lord and as my relationship gets stronger with Him, the enemy is closer than ever trying to destroy what I have. We have to learn how to not give in to the enemy. I struggle with this but I am finding the more I fight with it and not give in it the easier it is to control.

My first question?

Genesis 20:4 ….”Lord will you destroy an innocent nation?”…. This is where Abraham lied and told everyone that Sarah was his sister and not his wife because he did not want them to kill him and take her. My question is the bible keeps referring to nations. I think they are referring to families but I am not sure. If they are why do they call them nations?

Genesis 21:6 And Sarah declared, “God has brought me laughter. All who hear about this will laugh with me. Who would have said to Abraham that Sarah would nurse a baby? Yet I have given Abraham a son in his old age!”

I love that this made Sarah laugh. What a blessing to have a baby at such an old age. I hope the day I get pregnant I will laugh with God as well.

This is directly out of my study bible and I really like it so I thought I would share it.

Genesis 27:5-10 When Rebekah learned that Isaac was preparing to bless Esau, she quickly devised a plan to trick him into blessing Jacob instead. Although God had already told her that Jacob would become the family leader (25:23), Rebekah took matters into her own hands.

I think that we do this a lot when we are not patient. These verses really stuck out to me this week. I have not been patient in my relationship because I want it to move faster than God wants it to move. God has a great plan for our future and we have to be patient to receive it.

This brings up my next question: Isaac blessed Jacob instead of Esau because Rebekah and Jacob deceived him. Why would God keep that blessing? As we read through Genesis we read about all of the blessings that he gave Jacob and then gave Jacobs son Joseph. Do you think this is because he asked Esau for forgiveness? I know that God is a forgiving God and I am very thankful for that.

Then in Genesis 33:4 we get to see Esau forgive his brother after what he had done to him. I think that as much as the Lord wants us to ask for forgiveness he wants us to forgive others.

Genesis 30:22-24 As we read through these passages we read about how Rachel wanted a baby in her own time. She was not patient and had her servant girl sleep with Jacob to gain a baby. God knows our wants and desires and will bless us we just have to be patient and believe in Him.

Genesis 32:9 Then Jacob prayed…

When Jacob was returning to his family land and saw Esau he was afraid of the outcome. He prayed to God for guidance and strength. I find that when I am in difficult situations or I am angry I have so many other emotions going on that I forget to pray. I have been making a conscious effort this week to control my emotions and pray and ask God what he wants me to do.

Genesis 39:21 But the Lord was with Joseph in the prison and showed him his faithful love.

I admire the faithfulness of Joseph. Even when he was locked away in prison and in the worst situations he was faithful and tried to make the best out of his situations.

Genesis 45:5 But don’t be upset, and don’t be angry with yourselves for selling me to this place. It was God who sent me here ahead of you to preserve your lives.

Genesis 49 While Jacob is in his last days he blesses all of his children. He does this based on their past. God is in total control even when we think that he is not. This makes me look at bad situations and try to get the best out of them.

Each and every day has an effect on our lives so we need to live them the way that God wants us to live them.

My bible also had this that I wanted to share with you. Your faith is like a muscle-it grows with exercise, gaining strength over time.

I told Maggie I like to add a song at the end of my posts and she told me this song got her through the week; it's perfect!

"Wrap Me In Your Arms" by Michael Gungor



I love you and am honored to read and learn with you, Mag. Now let's try to get some answers to your questions.
~Aunt Annie

Scriptures for Sisters #2

These verses got my attention this week in our readings:

"She said to herself, “If I only touch his cloak, I will be healed.”
Jesus turned and saw her. “Take heart, daughter,” he said, “your faith has healed you.” And the woman was healed at that moment." (Matt 9:21-22)

I love this reminder that all we really need is Faith. The woman was healed immediately. If you don't already know the story, she had been "subject to bleeding for twelve years." Being a woman I cannot fathom bleeding for that long. She must have been desperate and knew there was Only One who was capable of healing her. And I don't know why, but when I hear Him call her "daughter" it is so very comforting. We all want to feel special.

Have a great week, my beautiful Sisters. Keep Believing God for huge things in your life!
With Love and by Faith,
Angie

I ran across a great post about marriage. There is no such thing as coincidence! If you want to read it click here. What do you need in a best friend? Think about it; and be that person.

A poem worth remembering...

A Life Well Lived

Ready or not, some day my Life will end.

There will be no more sunrises, days, hours or minutes.

No more cell phones or calls and mail to be returned.

Every thing I will have collected, be it treasured or forgotten, will pass to someone else.

My wealth, fame and temporal power will shrivel to irrelevance.

It will not matter what I owned or what I was owed.

My grudges, resentments, frustrations, and jealousies will finally disappear.

So will my hopes, ambitions, plans, and To Do List: All will expire with me.

The wins and losses that once seemed so important to me, will fade away.

It won't matter where I was born or what side of the tracks have I lived.

It won't matter if I rented, or owned a house or lived on a boat.

It won't matter whether I was clever, beautiful or brilliant.

My gender, skin color, ethnicity will be irrelevant.

So what WILL matter?

What will be the measure of my days,weeks and years passed?

How will my life be valued?

What will matter is not what I bought, but what I have chosen to build.

Not what I received, but what I have shared and given you.

What will matter is not the level of my success, but my significance.

What will matter is not what I learned, but what I have taught.

What will matter is every act of integrity, compassion, courage and sacrifice that enriched, empowered or encouraged others to emulate from my example.

What will matter is not my competence, but my integrity and character; my true grit.

What will matter is not how many people I have known,rich or poor,
But how many will feel a lasting loss when I am gone.

What will matter are not my faded memories,
But the memories of those who knew and have loved me.

What will matter is how long I will be remembered, by whom, and for a
kaleidoscope of reasons, like a brilliant rainbow.

Living a life that matters doesn't happen by accident.

It's not a matter of circumstance.

It is one made of choice; one of my own choosing.

And in so doing, I dance and write my name with Destiny.

I Choose to live a life that matters.


By Donna Maris

UPDATE TO OUR READING PLAN:

Hi, Sisters!

There has been a change of plans for our 2012 reading plan. We will continue to read along with the String of Pearls ladies, although I am going to be reading the NIV version in my Bible. On my blog I will do a Monday post to share what stood out to me the prior week and how I plan to apply His Word to my life.

You can find the reading plan HERE.
You can share daily with Bev and the String of Pearls HERE.

I'm sorry for the confusion. It's not too late for you to jump in and join us!

Have a nice Friday. It appears Winter has returned here in Michigan! I'm ready for some snow! Did I say that? :)

It's Thursday!

Happy Thankful Thursday!

Okay, so I missed the first Thursday of 2012. I was visiting my family in Wisconsin so I have a good excuse. Sort of. Actually, I better take responsibility. I chose not to because technically I could have done it if I had made it a priority. I was sick. Is that a better excuse? No, I wouldn't buy that one either if I was on the other side of the computer screen. Anyway, it's a New Year so I'm going to start my list and get to 1000 by June. Whew. I hoping that's realistic. Remember, there is no order to my list.

I'm Thankful for:

1- my niece calling to share her life with me
2- technology so I can talk or text in an easy, relaxed fashion
3- my new seating arrangement in our great room; so much more cozy!
4- bunco and cards with my friends
5- a new recipe for chili from Connie
6- the facial Jan gave me for my birthday (a little early)
7- my health so I can get on my elliptical machine
8- so many friends wanting to "do" lunch lately
9- the growth of BAH last year and a good start for this year
10- that a friend who had a scary incident last weekend is okay
11- the time I had with my niece in Chicago last weekend
12- the sound of John's voice as he is excited about his new externship
13- our new vitamix
14- this nice weather in January- 44 degrees yesterday
15- the smell of my new candle from Annette
16- that Apple helped me retrieve my photo library for free when my warranty expired yesterday
17- balanced checkbooks
18- starting a reading plan of the Bible and the anticipation of hearing from God in His Word
19- that I am busy
20- that I can go into my former office in a little while with my head up
21- the words a patient (personal trainer/dancer in NYC) shared with me last week: "It's not about how much you weigh, or if you have a muffin top; it's about how you move across a room with confidence, gracefully and with good posture."
22- that I made Meghan cry happy tears by sending her a surprise
23- that through talking with someone special I was reminded how God comforted me many years ago when I was struggling and taught me that I cannot make a person be my God; that He is the Only One capable of being God- and He is enough.
24- that I feel loved
25- that Lincoln still makes me laugh
26- that I didn't lose one of my favorite pictures of John:

What are you thankful for today? Do you have a gratitude list going? Do you want to do it with me this year? It would be awesome if you joined me!

Scriptures for Sisters #1

As we begin our first week of Scriptures for Sisters we had a little catching up to do. Just last night my friend, Annette and I decided on our plan to read through the Bible together. (It's not too late for you to join us!) Each week on Monday we are going to share what God has taught us in the previous week of our readings. What do we want to take away from it? How does God's Word help us in our life... today? We will do our best to seek God and be open to what He wants us to learn.

These verses stood out to me this week:

"And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness. God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day." (Gen 1:3-5)

God made it very clear in the beginning. It's the difference between night and day (and God made both). The light is good and darkness is bad. It's about opposites. I am either following Jesus or I'm not. I'm either obeying Him or not. I either have faith or I don't. I either trust Him with my life or I don't. I'm either in His Word or I'm not. I either love His people or I don't. I am not just a little pregnant. I'm either pregnant or I'm not. And I have the choice. Today I am making a commitment to spending this year in His Word... and it is good!

"This is the account of the heavens and the earth when they were created, when the LORD God made the earth and the heavens.
Now no shrub had yet appeared on the earth and no plant had yet sprung up, for the LORD God had not sent rain on the earth..." (Gen 2:4-5)

In the beginning of time God had to send the rain to make the plants spring up. He had to send the rain to bring growth. He had to bring tears so we would see the beauty that comes from it. If there was no rain there would be no beautiful flowers. If there was no sadness in our life we wouldn't appreciate the goodness that comes only from Him.

"Now the serpent was more crafty than any of the wild animals the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, “Did God really say, ‘You must not eat from any tree in the garden’?” (Gen 3:1)

Let's start right out in week #1 acknowledging Satan (the serpent). He is very crafty and he wants us to doubt. He doesn't want us to trust God with our lives. He wants us to put ourselves in the place of God. He is very real and he is very sneaky. I don't want to talk too much about him because it's not about him; it's about God.

These are the verses that got my attention first thing this morning. It's going to be a lot easier reading a little bit at a time from now on. If you cannot keep up, don't worry, just read what you can and if you get behind start reading the day's reading. If you click on Scriptures for Sisters you will find our plan. If you are reading and want to share anything that stood out to you but you don't have a blog, feel free to comment here. I'd love to hear what God is teaching you.

Have a great week!
By faith,
Angie

Your personal invitation to join us in reading.

A beautiful group of women on String of Pearls are reading through the Bible again this year. I so wanted to join them but honestly, I need the NIV version instead of the version they chose. It's a little embarrassing to admit, but it's easier for me to understand. When I read the NIV with them a few years ago it was life-changing!

A dear friend of mine who I met here on my blog has agreed to read along with me. Annette, I can't thank you enough. If anyone reading this blog would like to join us, we would be honored. Just click here on what we are calling, "Scriptures for Sisters" and it will show you exactly where to read in your Bible. You can click on the day's readings on your computer or in your own Bible. I am going to read my own so I can underline what stands out to me. I'm a little old-fashioned and enjoy turning the pages. It's super easy. If you have any questions feel free to ask me.

Every single Monday we are going to do a post on our blogs to talk about what we feel God wants to teach us through the readings. We want to apply God's Word to our daily life.

I'm praying for an open heart and mind to fully understand and hear His voice.
Word of God Speak to me and my Sisters in 2012. I'm SO excited!

the first of 2012

Happy 2012!

This year I hope to grow stronger in my faith; focus on what is truly important when it's all said and done; improve on my goal of making it NOT about me, while counting the ways He loves me.

I'm Believing God,
Angie