Tag: bible

April Scriptures

For the past few years, I have taken on the goal of reading my Bible through one of the one-year reading plans.  Mostly, I’ve used the NLT One-Year Chronological Bible. I seem to prefer this particular one because it’s written as it happened, in chronological order.  It’s interesting to me, when reading the Bible this way, how events in history transpired simultaneously through some of the different books and also the different order of the books from how the Bible is laid out.

Like I said, I read the One-Year Bible for several years using this particular version.  But last year, 2019, I didn’t just want to read the Bible, I wanted to make sure I got something out of the daily reading. So I decided I would find one verse or scripture passage that spoke the most to me during each day of Bible reading.

My goal was to read the Bible each day, highlight the specific verse or scripture passage that I found and then write it down to keep in a journal. I used a certain highlighter color so I could keep track of which verse I picked for the daily reading, versus other highlights already in there.

Then, late last year, I decided I wanted to do more with my daily verses, besides keeping them in a journal.  I wanted to share them. So for each month in 2020, I plan to post the scriptures I found for that month in 2019.  I fell behind again, so for May you’ll get the April scriptures (this post) and then the May scriptures (later post).

My prayer for you is that as you read these scriptures that spoke to me last year, they will speak to you right here and now; either to something you’re searching for, an answer you need or just confirmation of what God has been speaking to you.

April 1—Judges 6:14

Then the Lord turned to him and said, “Go with the strength you have, and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!”

April 2—Judges 8:34

They forgot the Lord their God, who had rescued them from all their enemies surrounding them.

April 3—Judges 11:27

Therefore, I have not sinned against you. Rather, you have wronged me by attacking me. Let the Lord, who is judge, decide today which of us is right—Israel or Ammon.

April 4—Judges 13:20

As the flames from the altar shot up toward the sky, the angel of the Lord ascended in the fire. When Manoah and his wife saw this, they fell with their faces to the ground.

April 5—Judges 16:28

Then Samson prayed to the Lord, “Sovereign Lord, remember me again. O God, please strengthen me just one more time. With one blow let me pay back the Philistines for the loss of my two eyes.”

April 6—Judges 20:11

So all the Israelites were completely united, and they gathered together to attack the town.

April 7—Ruth 4:12

“…And may the Lord give you descendants by this young woman who will be like those of our ancestor Perez, the son of Tamar and Judah.”

April 8—Ruth 4:15

“…May he restore your youth and care for you in your old age. For he is the son of your daughter-in-law who loves you and has been better to you than seven sons!”

April 9—1 Samuel 2:21

And the Lord blessed Hannah, and she conceived and gave birth to three sons and two daughters. Meanwhile, Samuel grew up in the presence of the Lord.

April 10—1 Samuel 7:15

Samuel continued as Israel’s judge for the rest of his life.

April 11—1 Samuel 10:1

Then Samuel took a flask of olive oil and poured it over Saul’s head. He kissed Saul and said, “I am doing this because the Lord has appointed you to be the ruler over Israel, his special possession.”

April 12—1 Samuel 13:14

“…But now your kingdom must end for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of His people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.”

April 13—1 Samuel 15:22

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams…”

April 14—1 Samuel 17:50

So David triumphed over the Philistine with only a sling and a stone, for he had no sword.

April 15—1 Samuel 20:42

At last Jonathan said to David, “Go in peace, for we have sworn loyalty to each other in the Lord’s name. The Lord is the witness of a bond between us and our children forever.” Then David left, and Jonathan returned to the town.

April 16—Psalm 57:5

Be exalted, O God, above the highest heavens! May your glory shine over all the earth.

April 17—1 Samuel 24:11

“…Look, my father, at what I have in my hand. It is a piece of the hem of your robe! I cut it off, but I didn’t kill you. This proves that I am not trying to harm you and that I have not sinned against you, even though you have been hunting for me to kill me…”

April 18—Psalm 56:3

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.

April 19—1 Samuel 30:23

But David said, “No, my brothers! Don’t be selfish with what the Lord has given us. He has kept us safe and helped us defeat the band of raiders that attacked us…”

April 20—2 Samuel 2:6

And now may the Lord show kindness and truth to you. I also will repay you this kindness, because you have done this thing.

April 21—2 Samuel 3:18

“…Now then, do it! For the Lord has spoken of David saying, ‘By the hand of My Servant David, I will save My people Israel from the hand of the Philistines and the hand of all their enemies.’”

April 22—2 Samuel 5:3

So there at Hebron, King David made a covenant before the Lord with all the elders of Israel. And they anointed him king of Israel.

April 23—1 Chronicles 15:28

So all Israel brought up the Ark of the Lord’s Covenant with shouts of joy, the blowing of rams’ horns and trumpets, the crashing of cymbals, and loud playing on harps and lyres.

April 24—Psalm 60:12

With God’s help we will do mighty things, for he will trample down our foes.

April 25—2 Samuel 8:15

So David reigned over all Israel and did what was just and right for all his people.

April 26—Psalm 51:7

Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.

April 27—2 Samuel 14:14

All of us must die eventually. Our lives are like water spilled out on the ground which cannot be gathered up again. But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been separated from him.

April 28—2 Samuel 15:30

David walked up the road to the Mount of Olives, weeping as he went. His head was covered and his feet were bare, as a sign of mourning. And the people who were with him covered their heads and wept as they climbed the hill.

April 29—Psalm 3:3

But you, O Lord, are a shield around me; you are my glory, the one who holds my head high.

April 30—Psalm 7:17

I will thank the Lord because he is just; I will sing praise to the name of the Lord Most High.

**All verses are written from the New Living Translation.

**The verses are taken from the NLT Chronological One-Year Bible from YouVersion

March Scriptures

For the past few years, I have taken on the goal of reading my Bible through one of the one-year reading plans.  Mostly, I’ve used the NLT One-Year Chronological Bible. I seem to prefer this particular one because it’s written as it happened, in chronological order.  It’s interesting to me, when reading the Bible this way, how events in history transpired simultaneously through some of the different books and also the different order of the books from how the Bible is laid out.

Like I said, I read the One-Year Bible for several years using this particular version.  But last year, 2019, I didn’t just want to read the Bible, I wanted to make sure I got something out of the daily reading. So I decided I would find one verse or scripture passage that spoke the most to me during each day of Bible reading.

My goal was to read the Bible each day, highlight the specific verse or scripture passage that I found and then write it down to keep in a journal. I used a certain highlighter color so I could keep track of which verse I picked for the daily reading, versus other highlights already in there.

Then, late last year, I decided I wanted to do more with my daily verses, besides keeping them in a journal.  I wanted to share them. So for each month in 2020, I plan to post the scriptures I found for that month in 2019.

My prayer for you is that as you read these scriptures that spoke to me last year, they will speak to you right here and now; either to something you’re searching for, an answer you need or just confirmation of what God has been speaking to you.

March 1—Numbers 6:23-26

“Tell Aaron and his sons to bless the people of Israel with this special blessing: ‘May the Lord bless you and protect you. May the Lord smile on you and be gracious to you. May the Lord show you his favor and give you his peace.’”

March 2—Numbers 13:30

But Caleb tried to quiet the people as they stood before Moses. “Let’s go at once to take the land,” he said. “We can certainly conquer it!”

March 3—Numbers 14:9

Do not rebel against the Lord, and don’t be afraid of the people of the land. They are only helpless prey to us! They have no protection, but the Lord is with us! Don’t be afraid of them!

March 4—Numbers 18:29

Be sure to give to the Lord the best portions of the gifts given to you.

March 5—Numbers 20:11

Then Moses raised his hand and struck the rock twice with the staff, and water gushed out. So the entire community and their livestock drank their fill.

March 6—Numbers 23:19

God is not a man, so he does not lie. He is not a human, so he does not change his mind. Has he ever spoken and failed to act? Has he ever promised and not carried it through?

March 7—Numbers 26:64

Not one person on this list had been among those listed in the previous registration taken by Moses and Aaron in the wilderness of Sinai.

March 8—Numbers 27:17

Give them someone who will guide them wherever they go and will lead them into battle, so the community of the Lord will not be like sheep without a shepherd.

March 9—Numbers 31:47

From the half-share given to the people, Moses took one of every fifty prisoners and animals and gave them to the Levites, who maintained the Lord’s Tabernacle. All this was done as the Lord commanded Moses.

March 10—Numbers 33:53

Take possession of the land and settle in it, because I have given it to you to occupy.

March 11—Numbers 35:34

You must not defile the land where you live, for I live there myself. I am the Lord, who lives among the people of Israel.

March 12—Deuteronomy 3:20

When the Lord has given security to the rest of the Israelites, as he has to you, and when they occupy the land the Lord your God is giving them across the Jordan River, then you may all return to the land I have given you.

March 13—Deuteronomy 3:22

Do not be afraid of the nations there, for the Lord your God will fight for you.

March 14—Deuteronomy 7:9

Understand, therefore, that the Lord your God is indeed God. He is the faithful God who keeps his covenant for a thousand generations and lavishes his unfailing love on those who love him and obey his commands.

March 15—Deuteronomy 11:13-14

“If you carefully obey the commands I am giving you today, and if you love the Lord your God and serve him with all your heart and soul, then he will send the rains in their proper seasons—the early and late rains—so you can bring in your harvests of grain, new wine, and olive oil.”

March 16—Deuteronomy 15:10

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the Lord your God will bless you in everything you do.

March 17—Deuteronomy 20:4

For the Lord your God is going with you! He will fight for you against your enemies, and he will give you victory!

March 18—Deuteronomy 23:23

But once you have voluntarily made a vow, be careful to fulfill your promise to the Lord your God.

March 19—Deuteronomy 28:1

“If you fully obey the Lord your God and carefully keep all his commands that I am giving you today, the Lord your God will set you high above all the nations of the world.”

March 20—Deuteronomy 31:6

So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.

March 21—Deuteronomy 32:4

He is the Rock; his deeds are perfect. Everything he does is just and fair. He is a faithful God who does no wrong; how just and upright he is!

March 22—Deuteronomy 34:9

Now Joshua son of Nun was full of the spirit of wisdom, for Moses had laid his hands on him. So the people of Israel obeyed him, doing just as the Lord had commanded Moses.

March 23—Joshua 4:14

That day the Lord made Joshua a great leader in the eyes of all the Israelites, and for the rest of his life they revered him as much as they had revered Moses.

March 24—Joshua 8:31

He followed the commands that Moses the Lord’s servant had written in the Book of Instruction: “Make me an altar from stones that are uncut and have not been shaped with iron tools.” Then on the altar they presented burnt offerings and peace offerings to the Lord.

March 25—Joshua 11:23

So Joshua took control of the entire land, just as the Lord had instructed Moses. He gave it to the people of Israel as their special possession, dividing the land among the tribes. So the land finally had rest from war.

March 26—Joshua 14:13

So Joshua blessed Caleb son of Jephunneh and gave Hebron to him as his portion of land.

March 27—Joshua 17:18

The forests of the hill country will be yours as well. Clear as much of the land as you wish, and take possession of its furthest corners. And you will drive out the Canaanites from the valleys, too, even though they are strong and have iron chariots.

March 28—Joshua 18:1

Now that the land was under Israelite control, the entire community of Israel gathered at Shiloh and set up the Tabernacle.

March 29—Joshua 21:45

Not a single one of all the good promises the Lord had given to the family of Israel was left unfulfilled; everything he had spoken came true.

March 30—Joshua 22:5

But be very careful to obey all the commands and the instructions that Moses gave to you. Love the Lord your God, walk in all his ways, obey his commands, hold firmly to him, and serve him with all your heart and your soul.

March 31—Judges 3:30

So Moab was conquered by Israel that day, and there was peace in the land for eighty years.

**All verses are written from the New Living Translation.
**The verses are taken from the NLT Chronological One-Year Bible from YouVersion

January Scriptures

For the past few years, I have taken on the goal of reading my Bible through one of the one-year reading plans.  Mostly, I’ve used the NLT One-Year Chronological Bible. I seem to prefer this particular one because it’s written as it happened, in chronological order.  It’s interesting to me, when reading the Bible this way, how events in history transpired simultaneously through some of the different books and also the different order of the books from how the Bible is laid out.

Like I said, I read the One-Year Bible for several years using this particular version.  But last year, 2019, I didn’t just want to read the Bible, I wanted to make sure I got something out of the daily reading. So I decided I would find one verse or scripture passage that spoke the most to me during each day of Bible reading.

My goal was to read the Bible each day, highlight the specific verse or scripture passage that I found and then write it down to keep in a journal. I used a certain highlighter color so I could keep track of which verse I picked for the daily reading, versus other highlights already in there.

Then, late last year, I decided I wanted to do more with my daily verses, besides keeping them in a journal.  I wanted to share them. So for each month in 2020, I plan to post the scriptures I found for that month in 2019.  I’m a little behind, so in February 2020, you’ll get two…January (this post) and then February (coming soon).

My prayer for you is that as you read these scriptures that spoke to me last year, they will speak to you right here and now; either to something you’re searching for, an answer you need or just confirmation of what God has been speaking to you.

January 1—Genesis 1:28

Then God blessed them and said, “Be fruitful and multiply. Fill the earth and govern it. Reign over the fish in the sea, the birds in the sky, and all the animals that scurry along the ground.”

January 2—Genesis 6:8

But Noah found favor with the Lord.

January 3—Genesis 9:13

I have placed my rainbow in the clouds. It is a sign of my covenant with you and with all the earth.

January 4—Genesis 13:16

And I will give you so many descendants that, like the dust of the earth, they cannot be counted!

January 5—Genesis 17:16

And I will bless her and give you a son from her! Yes, I will bless her richly, and she will become the mother of many nations. Kings of nations will be among her descendants.

January 6—Genesis 18:14

Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return about this time next year, and Sarah will have a son.

January 7—Genesis 22:17-18

I will certainly bless you. I will multiply your descendants beyond number, like the stars in the sky and the sand on the seashore. Your descendants will conquer the cities of their enemies. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed—all because you have obeyed me.

January 8—Genesis 25:21

Isaac pleaded with the Lord on behalf of his wife, because she was unable to have children. The Lord answered Isaac’s prayer, and Rebekah became pregnant with twins.

January 9—Genesis 26:4

I will cause your descendants to become as numerous as the stars of the sky, and I will give them all these lands. And through your descendants all the nations of the earth will be blessed.

January 10—Genesis 30:22

Then God remembered Rachel’s plight and answered her prayers by enabling her to have children.

January 11—Genesis 31:54

Then Jacob offered a sacrifice to God there on the mountain and invited everyone to a covenant feast. After they had eaten, they spent the night on the mountain.

January 12—Genesis 35:11

Then God said, “I am El-Shaddai: ‘God Almighty.’ Be fruitful and multiply. You will become a great nation, even many nations. Kings will be among your descendants!”

January 13—Genesis 36:6-7

Esau took his wives, his children and his entire household, along with his livestock and cattle—all the wealth he had acquired in the land of Canaan—and moved away from his brother, Jacob. There was not enough land to support them both because of all the livestock and possessions they had acquired.

January 14—Genesis 39:2

The Lord was with Joseph, so he succeeded in everything he did as he served in the home of his Egyptian master.

January 15—Genesis 41:41

Pharaoh said to Joseph, “I hereby put you in charge of the entire land of Egypt.”

January 16—Genesis 42:25

Joseph then ordered his servants to fill the men’s sacks with grain, but he also gave secret instructions to return each brother’s payment at the top of his sack. He also gave them supplies for their journey home.

January 17—Genesis 46:30

Finally, Jacob said to Joseph, “Now I am ready to die, since I have seen your face again and know you are still alive.”

January 18—Genesis 50:19-20

But Joseph replied, “Don’t be afraid of me. Am I God, that I can punish you? You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.”

January 19—Job 1:21

He said, “I came naked from my mother’s womb, and I will be naked when I leave. The Lord gave me what I had, and the Lord has taken it away. Praise the name of the Lord!”

January 20—Job 5:17

“But consider the joy of those corrected by God! Do not despise the discipline of the Almighty when you sin.”

January 21—Job 8:5-6

But if you pray to God and seek the favor of the Almighty, and if you are pure and live with integrity, he will surely rise up and restore your happy home.

January 22—Job 12:10

For the life of every living thing is in his hand, and the breath of every human being.

January 23—Job 16:5

But if it were me, I would encourage you. I would try to take away your grief.

January 24—Job 19:25

“But as for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and he will stand upon the earth at last.”

January 25—Job 22:21

Submit to God, and you will have peace; then things will go well for you.

January 26—Job 28:28

And this is what he says to all humanity, ‘The fear of the Lord is true wisdom; to forsake evil is real understanding.’

January 27—Job 31:6

Let God weigh me on the scales of justice, for he knows my integrity.

January 28—Job 33:29-30

“Yes, God does these things again and again for people. He rescues them from the grave so they may enjoy the light of life…”

January 29—Job 37:23-24

We cannot imagine the power of the Almighty, but even though he is just and righteous, he does not destroy us. No wonder people everywhere fear him. All who are wise show him reverence.

January 30—Job 40:3-5

Then Job replied to the Lord, “I am nothing—how could I ever find the answers? I will cover my mouth with my hand. I have said too much already. I have nothing more to say.”

January 31—Job 42:10

When Job prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes. In fact, the Lord gave him twice as much as before!

 

**All verses are written from the New Living Translation.

**The verses are taken from the NLT Chronological One-Year Bible from YouVersion.

 

 

The Master’s Plan

Many of you know that earlier this year, my husband and I were expecting our first baby. And then shortly after we found out, I had a miscarriage and we lost the baby. As I’ve gone through this year, I often check the calendar to see where I would’ve been had my pregnancy not ended. With the month of October, the thoughts surround me quite often, as this would’ve been my ninth month of pregnancy. My due date was estimated to the end of October.

Had everything worked out, I’d be preparing to go on maternity leave with my job. For those of you that don’t know, I’m a government employee, too. No one in our office has been furloughed yet, but the impending thought hangs over our office like a very dark cloud. I can’t help but think how much extra stress my husband and I would be feeling right now, if I were about to take my maternity leave, only to realize that all the sick time and vacation time I had saved to cover my maternity leave was about to vanish in the blink of an eye.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” ~Jeremiah 29:11

When things happen in our lives that we don’t plan or don’t want to happen, we have a tendency to blame God for those circumstances. We have never once blamed God for the miscarriage we had. We’ve asked “Why?” but never blamed Him. The devil is the one that steals our dreams, kills our hopes and destroys the things we hold dear. But God comes to give us life. And not just life…ABUNDANT LIFE!! The devil may have temporarily stolen a dream from us, but God is going to restore that dream. And not just restore what was stolen…restore it 100-fold!

I can’t help but think this current time I’m enduring at work is a small answer to the “Why?” question. It could just be my own human mind trying to make sense of a tragedy that I suffered. God knows our future. He knows what’s ahead. He sees what we cannot see. God sees the BIG picture. God doesn’t take our future from us; he prepares us for what’s ahead.

“Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us…” ~Ephesians 3:20

Our dream is soon to be restored and I look forward to that coming day. Right now, I sit and pray and wait expectantly for the “exceedingly abundant” things to come. No matter what our future holds, God is taking care of us, providing for us and preparing the way for the ABUNDANT LIFE He has for us!!