RUTH, EPHESIANS, PSALMS - THROUGH THE SUMMER

The end of summer is approaching.  I only have so many more weeks to eat all of the banana popsicles in the frig.  They are a sign of summer!  Only a few more weekends on the lake and then "fall fishing" starts at our house.  We have a tradition every year of decorating our house, inside and out, for fall.  Fall is our favorite time of year.  Emily, our oldest daughter, celebrates big time on Labor Day weekend.  She decorates, inside and out, fixes her favorite fall dinner and favorite fall dessert and gets out the fall candles.  She goes all out. She will be visiting family in Detroit this year, so she is going to decorate early.  Maybe she already has!  I will wait until Labor Day or the week after.  Fall is a big deal at our house.  It is the beginning of football season, wienie roasts, burning leaves, golf cart rides to the lake which is now deserted until next summer.

So we wrap up our summer blog.  It has been fun.  It has kept me accountable.  I have read every assignment even if I was late posting.   Our small group will be meeting again at the mall after a get together at El Chicos to kick off the year and catch up.  I'm not sure how many years we have met at the mall. It has evolved.  God keeps bringing us together.  This semester, we have a new person signed up.  I hope she feels welcome.  Jerry and I have signed up to host a Wagoner small group on Friday nights.  I don't know where God will take that, but we want to be willing.  So let's finish out this post with the rest of summer.  If you "had" comments on Ruth (sorry I didn't get that one in) please comment.  We will finish with Ephesians and Psalms 43-50.  September will start our new list and we don't have that yet.  So just keep posting and I will keep reading!!!

AUGUST 3 THROUGH 10

I have decided that I like routine.  The same mundane routine.  Sometimes I like surprises and sometimes I get bored, but all in all, I am a creature of habit.  I look forward to routine.  It is comforting to me to know what is coming next.  I can kind of understand the Israelites' cycle.  Their routine was doing what was evil in the sight of the Lord.  It was their habit.  You know how hard it is to start a new routine or break out of an old one.  We seem to gravitate toward the familiar.  If we have no motivation, nothing changes.  I am trying to create a new routine.  A routine of exercising on a more regular basis, take my vitamins more consistently, check things off my check list sooner, drink more water, eat more summer fruit, etc.  But it is hard to stick with it everyday.  My motivation is my health and a better outlook.  You would think if Israel was being taken captive and living in bondage as much as they were, they would be motivated.  But they needed a physical leader, a role model they could see, they were in the routine of worshiping images!  So God would send a judge and they would do good for a while.  The whole picture was to show us our need for a savior.  We can only do good so long on our own without some supernatural help to give us the power and strength to persevere.  He lives through us.  So the story continues  on in Judges.   It has been extremely interesting so far.  Let's see what this week holds!!


Sunday, August 3 - Judges 17
Monday, August 4 - Judges 18
Tuesday, August 5 - Judges 19
Wednesday, August 6 - Judges 20
Thursday, August 7 - Judges 21

Friday, August 8 - Galatians 1
Saturday, August 9 - Galatians 2
Sunday, August 10 - Galatians 3

JULY 26 THROUGH AUGUST 2

We are in the book of Judges and seeing a cycle repeat itself over and over again.  We do the same.  We do the same thing over and over again and expect a different result = insanity.  We don't see judgment as judgment sometimes, maybe just unlucky or just a victim when we were actually the cause.  We use excuses to justify our behavior, to ride both sides of the fence or make the scriptures fit our lifestyle or create a God in our own image.  I'm guilty.  I have lots of excuses.  I am my worst enemy.  But.....I am thankful for grace.  Because like Gideon, my faith is weak at times but God's patience is unending.  Grace makes me want to obey and love God and live for Him.  I'm not perfect, I'm reminded everyday.  I'm reminded everyday of grace.  It is amazing.

Here is the next schedule and lots of lessons to be learned:

Saturday, July 26 - Judges 9
Sunday, July 27 - Judges 10
Monday, July 28 - Judges 11
Tuesday, July 29 - Judges 12
Wednesday, July 30 - Judges 13
Thursday, July 31 - Judges 14
Friday, August 1 - Judges 15
Saturday, August 2 - Judges 16

"THORNGIRLS THROUGH THE BIBLE" JULY 18 TO JULY 25 - JUDGES!

We are heading into Judges!  Judges reminds me of today.  The theme is "everyone did what was right in their own eyes"; if it doesn't bother you, why should you care; you do your thing, I'll do mine; no absolute truth; your truth is the only truth that matters.  The only problem with all of that is that your actions do affect me and others and sometimes a whole nation.  We get to watch Israel go right down the tubes!  After all the work it took to get to the Promise Land, right down the tubes.  They have a short memory.  They forget where they came from and what God told them.  You are fixin to reap what you sowed.  Just like us.  History does repeat itself, over and over.  Let's learn from their mistakes.  Jesus is the same yesterday, today and forever.

Here is the reading schedule until next Saturday:

Friday, July 18 - Judges 1
Saturday, July 19 - Judges 2
Sunday, July 20 - Judges 3
Monday, July 21 - Judges 4
Tuesday, July 22 - Judges 5
Wednesday, July 23 - Judges 6
Thursday, July 24 - Judges 7
Friday, July 25 - Judges 8

Don't forget to leave your comments with your chapter!  Comment, comment, comment!!!!

THORNGIRLS THROUGH THE BIBLE: JULY 9 THROUGH 16

The fourth was the best ever.  Hope you all had a really good fourth with family, food and fireworks like we did!  This is short and sweet so I can get to the schedule:

JULY 9 - WEDNESDAY - JOSHUA 9
JULY 10 - THURSDAY - JOSHUA 10
JULY 11 - FRIDAY - JOSHUA 11
JULY 12 - SATURDAY - JOSHUA 12
JULY 13 - SUNDAY - JOSHUA 13
JULY 14 - MONDAY - JOSHUA 14
JULY 15 - TUESDAY - JOSHUA 15
JULY 16 - WEDNESDAY - JOSHUA 16
JULY 17 - THURSDAY - JOSHUA 17

That concludes Joshua.  July 18 we begin Judges 1!!!  Won't be long, we will be back in small group.  Hope you all can come and bring your friends!

THORNGIRLS THROUGH THE BIBLE: JULY 1 THROUGH JULY 8

Summer is flying by!  I actually did my devotions for the rest of last week but forgot to post.  It was Parade of Homes week so I got home fairly late a few days.  I don't know why I love the Parade of Homes so much.  I think it's because I love home.  I love the concept of home, a place for family and everyday life.  I love to see the changes every year, new concepts, new ideas.  I look forward to it every year and love every minute.  I wish it would last longer!!!!

I hope you are taking time to smell the roses.  This last week, the mama deer brought her spotted little baby out for us to see.  Only once.  She comes out and eats corn we leave out for her and leaves her baby sleeping, growing, close by.   I saw a painted bunting fly through the front yard migrating to somewhere else, but he was beautiful.  I saw a bunny taking a dirt bath.  I didn't know they did this until I saw my daughter's chinchilla taking a bath in the dirt.  I saw a chickadee land in a crepe myrtle right beside me and take a flower bud and fly off.  Didn't know they did that.  I was driving home and a baby deer jumped out of the bar ditch and ran for the woods.  I'm always amazed at God's creations and how He puts things in my path that are a part of nature that make me happy.  If I am looking, He always shows me.

We are having a wedding .....and a baby all in the same year....this year!  That makes me happy!  That makes me ecstatic!  Everyone will be here for the 4th of July and I am so excited.  We will have a new son-in-law and a new little person at the table next year.  It's beyond words.  I keep asking Emily when is the baby going to have ears because I need to tell her (?) that I love her, Jesus loves her and we can't wait to meet her.  Life is always changing, you better hold on.  It is exciting and I am so happy for my children.  It is a double blessing!

I wonder if that's what Joshua felt like.  Wandering around for years and years and years.  Now, God was going to give them their homes (kind of like their Parade of Homes!)  Were they giddy?  Were the women decorating in their thoughts and discussing drapes and colors and landscaping?  They were packing up.  They were heading for green, lush land, milk and honey.  Could they sleep at night or were they daydreaming of land and gardens and children playing, finally relaxing in their own homes?  I imagine there was a buzz and they were all talking and excited and couldn't wait to get there.  So we get to go on their journey with them.  We are on the banks of the Jordan, getting ready to cross.  I am excited and happy for them.  Can't wait to travel on their journey with them.  Are you ready?

JULY 1 - TUESDAY - JOSHUA 1
JULY 2 - WEDNESDAY - JOSHUA 2
JULY 3 - THURSDAY - JOSHUA 3
JULY 4 - FRIDAY - JOSHUA 4
JULY 5 - SATURDAY - JOSHUA 5
JULY 6 - SUNDAY - JOSHUA 6
JULY 7 - MONDAY - JOSHUA 7

THORNGIRLS THROUGH THE BIBLE: JUNE 20 THROUGH 27

This week we are ending 2 Corinthians and landing in Psalm 32.  It will be a good relief.  I feel like I have been corrected enough!  Now for some encouragement!   Hope everyone is keeping up.  Be sure to leave your comments, they are always very insightful.  I love how God speaks to each one of special, according to what we need to hear.  That's how His word is alive and active.  Enjoy Psalms and see you in the comments!

JUNE 20, FRIDAY - PSALM 32
JUNE 21, SATURDAY - PSALM 33
JUNE 22, SUNDAY - PSALM 34
JUNE 23, MONDAY - PSALM 35
JUNE 24, TUESDAY - PSALM 36
JUNE 25, WEDNESDAY - PSALM 37
JUNE 26, THURSDAY - PSALM 38
JUNE 27, FRIDAY - PSALM 39