Read the Bible in a Year Week 48

Week 48

Sunday, January 28                   Jeremiah 49:1 - 50:46
Monday, January 29                  Jeremiah 51:1 - 52:23
Tuesday, January 30                  Jeremiah 52:24 - Lamentations 2:22
Wednesday, January 31             Lamentations 3:1 - 4:22
Thursday, February 1                Lamentations 5:1 - Ezekiel 3:27
Friday, February 2                     Ezekiel 4:1 - 7:27
Saturday, February 3                 Ezekiel 8:1 - 11:25

Read the Bible in a Year Week 47

Week 47

Sunday, January 21                   Jeremiah 25:1 - 27:22
Monday, January 22                  Jeremiah 28:1 - 31:14
Tuesday, January 23                  Jeremiah 31:15 - 33:18
Wednesday, January 24             Jeremiah 33:19 - 36:32
Thursday, January 25                Jeremiah 37:1 - 40:16
Friday, January 26                    Jeremiah 41:1 - 44:30
Saturday, January 27                Jeremiah 45:1 - 48:47

The song of Moses

Daily Bible Verse

Exodus 15:2 (NIV)

The Lord is my strength and my defense;

    He has become my salvation.

He is my God, and I will praise Him,

    my father’s God, and I will exalt Him.

The Lord is my light

Daily Bible Verse

Psalm 27:1 (NIV)

The Lord is my light and my salvation—

    whom shall I fear?

The Lord is the stronghold of my life—

    of whom shall I be afraid?

Nothing can separate us from God's love

Daily Bible Verse

Romans 8:38-39 (NIV)

For I am convinced that 

neither death nor life, 

neither angels nor demons, 

neither the present nor the future, 

nor any powers, 

neither height nor depth, 

nor anything else in all creation, 

will be able to separate us from 

the love of God that is in 

Christ Jesus our Lord.

God's Everlasting Love

Daily Bible Verse

Romans 8:35, 37 (NIV)

Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?

Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or 

famine or nakedness or danger or sword?

No, in all these things we are more than conquerors

through Him who loved us. 

Read the Bible in a Year Week 46

Week 46
Sunday, January 14                   Jeremiah 1:4 - 4:4
Monday, January 15                  Jeremiah 4:5 - 6:30
Tuesday, January 16                  Jeremiah 7:1 - 9:26
Wednesday, January 17             Jeremiah 10:1 - 13:14
Thursday, January 18                Jeremiah 13:15 - 17:13
Friday, January 19                    Jeremiah 17:14 - 21:10
Saturday, January 20                Jeremiah 21:11 - 24:10

A Blue Apron Meal

My daughter gets the Blue Apron boxes. (Blue Apron is a meal kit service that's shipped right to your door. It has everything you need to make a two-serving (or more depending on which plan you choose, and this kit came with food for two two-serving meals to make) healthy meal. She gave me one of her boxes because she wasn't going to be able to use it that week, so I bravely embarked on a cooking adventure. For those who don't know me, I am not one who cooks, and often any attempts at cooking come out badly. My daughters once (jokingly) accused me of trying to food poison them. Once, I burned juice. Boiling water is a triumph for me. So, this was a bit overwhelming. It involved some multi-tasking and following directions, but, in the end, it came out, tasted wonderful, and I felt like I accomplished something. Maybe, I even promoted myself (in my eyes) to a new level of cooking mastery (HA!)

Here's the aftermath:

It was worth it.

Life Through the Spirit

Daily Bible Verse

Romans 8:1 (NIV)

Therefore, there is now no condemnation 

for those who are in Christ Jesus,

A Bird Called Wanda

I came home from church Sunday to find this on top of the washing machine...

(Notice the box says "Free Range Turkey"). When I peeked inside, I found this:

A whole lot smaller than any turkey I've ever seen, and still alive.
My husband got home from church a few minutes before I did and when he opened the garage door he saw this baby finch just sitting there. When he approached her, she didn't move so he picked her up thinking maybe she was frozen from the gruesome temperatures we've been having. So, he took her in the house and put her in the box. We went to lunch and when we came home she was still standing there in the same corner of the box. She hadn't moved an inch since we left. We decided to see if she would take any food or water.

She allowed my husband to hand feed her. After her tummy was full, she decided to just hang out and watch the game.

She actually sat there, perched on his thumb for over 2 hours. She drank water from an eyedropper. We deduced that she was blind and unable to fly, so I looked up birdcages on FB Marketplace, found one for sale in town, and went and picked it up. In getting her situated in her new cage, we discovered that she could, in fact, fly. Why she chose to keep that a secret for so long will forever be a mystery. My husband cleaned off her eyes with some water on a q-tip. It must have felt nice because she didn't try to pull away. Hopefully, her eyes will clear up and we'll be able to set her free. In the meantime, she seems to be coming out of the daze she was in. She's now exploring her cage, drinking water, and eating food on her own. One eye still looks swollen, but the other seems fine now. I love these little unexpected blessings.

Read the Bible in a Year Week 45

I've missed several weeks during the past holidays but do intend to finish this Bible Reading Plan which we started last January. There are approximately 8 weeks left to finish and then we'll start with a different plan which I'm trying to develop, with God's guidance. The new plan isn't so much about reading, as it is becoming familiar with the Bible as presented by a layperson (me). We'll look at the how the Bible is organized, and the timeline of its contents; I'll offer my simplistic view in the hopes that it will clarify things that maybe you don't even realize can be confusing. It will make more sense as we dive in, but I just wanted to give you a head's up. I am so thrilled with how much my audience has grown and I want to keep you engaged as we learn about Jesus and the life we're meant to live.

Week 45
Sunday, January 7                   Isaiah 37:1 - 40:31
Monday, January 8                  Isaiah 41:1 - 43:28
Tuesday, January 9                  Isaiah 44:1 - 47:15
Wednesday, January 10           Isaiah 48:1 - 51:23
Thursday, January 11               Isaiah 52:1 - 57:13
Friday, January 12                   Isaiah 57:14 - 62:12
Saturday, January 13                Isaiah 63:1 - Jeremiah 1:3

Attention Writers - Finishing School

I participated in a 10-day writing challenge in December and won a scholarship to attend a 7-week group coaching program Finishing School which begins this Wednesday (January 10th, 2017). It's all online except for a one day retreat in Covington, Kentucky (which can be attended virtually). I'm really excited about this program and anticipate finally finishing my novel that's been several years in the making. The program is developed by Kelly Thomas, owner of Kelly Grace, LLC. She's very hands-on, extremely knowledgeable, and so very inspiring.
If you have a book in the works and want to sign up for this experience, Kelly will honor the early-bird price of $325 until January 15, 11:59 pm EST if you list "Seven Degrees of Me" as a reference. Please email her kgracethomas@gmail.com with any questions.
http://www.kgracewrites.com/finishing-school/

TGIF

Get Moving

I've been doing a lot of talking about exercise lately. I'm going to start exercising, someday, probably, well maybe. I'll start tomorrow; no, I'm busy tomorrow, this weekend - oops, lots of plans for this weekend...how about next Monday?
I've tried a few gimmicks like self-hypnosis. That helps to an extent, but still...
Yesterday I got some good advice that I think will help:
     Instead of this full-blown, "I will exercise" that is really very vague, I need to tell myself specifics. So, today I will start moving more by parking further away from the door, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, getting up at least once an hour at work and walk around, etc... Then build on that for tomorrow...tomorrow I will get on the elliptical at 6:30, then I will dig out my "Sweatin' to the Oldies" VHS tape for Monday morning, etc. The idea is that I Get Moving. It could be stretching while I do housework, squats while I brush my teeth, whatever it is, make specific statements for what I plan to accomplish every day as it relates to "exercise". I don't need to plan time to read because I do that whenever I have spare time, and it's something I love to do so I'm not going to procrastinate. But this "exercising" stuff is something I never seem to have time for, so I need to make it a part of my daily routine. I need to think of it as moving instead of exercising because anything I do that isn't sitting at my computer is an exercise-type accomplishment (especially since I love being on the computer).
So what are you waiting for? Get moving!

Record Your Days

   Sunday, December 31, 2017.  The Preacher spoke about this life and about time as a commodity, measured in days. He was speaking on Psalm 90 and suggested that we record each day as a means of numbering our days "that we may gain a heart of wisdom". This is my new project for the New Year. It will bring focus to accomplishing something each day, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, do something to help others, to make someone else’s day a little better, to let others know they aren't alone.
   I believe some people don’t want to commit to Christianity because they don’t feel like they can live a Christian life, or because they don’t want to give up their sinful life. I try my best and that’s all I can do. When I slip up, I pray and ask forgiveness. Christ died on the cross so that I can be forgiven, and so  I can have eternal life. I want to spend eternity with everyone I love, and even with those that I’m not too fond of. I wouldn’t wish eternity in hell on anyone. So I try to live my days purposefully. If nothing else, I hope to illustrate what a Christian life looks like, that it is flawed, but it is true and blessed. Even in difficult times, I look to Jesus for answers, guidance, and strength. I have so much to share with you.
   Join me in making each day count.

Psalm 90:10-17 (NIV)
10 Our days may come to seventy years,
    or eighty, if our strength endures;
yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow,
    for they quickly pass, and we fly away.
11 If only we knew the power of your anger!
    Your wrath is as great as the fear that is your due.
12 Teach us to number our days,
    that we may gain a heart of wisdom.

13 Relent, Lord! How long will it be?
    Have compassion on your servants.
14 Satisfy us in the morning with your unfailing love,
    that we may sing for joy and be glad all our days.
15 Make us glad for as many days as you have afflicted us,
    for as many years as we have seen trouble.
16 May your deeds be shown to your servants,
    your splendor to their children.

17 May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us;
    establish the work of our hands for us—
    yes, establish the work of our hands.