PICTURE: a new book. I am starting this book with my middle school girls that I meet with on Monday nights. They picked this book out. We read through the first chapter tonight, and already I am wanting to devour the entire thing! It is so good. The premise of the first chapter was teaching us what it means to "really live" for Jesus. It should be an exciting and insightful journey.
READING : Deuteronomy 24-27. God makes us soooo many promises that we take for granted. His promises are amazing....like this one in Deuteronomy 26: 19 "He has declared that he will set you in praise, fame and honor high above all the nations he has made and that you will be a people holy to the LORD your God, as he promised."
PICTURE: Upward Celebration! Today was the final day for Upward. It ended with a great celebration. This is the best pic I could get of my team. They don't look too thrilled, but the atmosphere was amazing and they were great. There was a juggler and they were watching rather intently. I had an absolute BLAST this season. I was blessed with a great group of kids and a wonderful assistant.
READING: Deuteronomy 20-23. One verse really stuck out to me and I want to share it. Deuteronomy 23:14 "For the LORD your God moves about in your camp to protect you and to deliver your enemies to you. Your camp must be holy, so that he will not see among you anything indecent and turn away from you."
PICTURE: girls' night! I went to my friend, Amanda's, for some girl time. We had on our sweats, watched a few movies, ate fruit with dip and carmel, and went to Wendy's to get frosties! It was a great, much-needed night of laughing and hangin out.
READING: Deuteronomy 16-19.Deut. 17:18-20 "When he takes the throne of his kingdom, he is to write for himself on a scroll a copy of this law, taken from that of the Levitical priests. It is to be with him, and he is to read it all the days of his life so that he may learn to revere the LORD his God and follow carefully all the words of this law and these decrees and not consider himself better than his fellow Israelites and turn from the law to the right or to the left. Then he and his descendants will reign a long time over his kingdom in Israel." What would happen if the leaders of today followed the rules in these 3 verses? Is it possible for a hum to not get power hungry when they are placed in a place of authority?
READING: Deuteronomy 12-15. Moses, for being shy and having bad speech, sure can share a word about the Lord with the people. Deut. 13:4 says, "It is the LORD your God you must follow, and him you must revere. Keep his commands and obey him; serve him and hold fast to him." God is the ONLY person we have ever been commanded to follow 100%. Sure we have leaders, many of whom God has paved the way for. But, God deserves our faithfulness 24/7.
PICTURE: school is closed. This is the view out of my window at 7:30 this morning. It looks so pretty but the road is coated with ice. So, school is closed for the 6th time since Christmas Break. UGH....ready for a full week with no delays or closings. But, happy to have a morning to read and catch up with friends.
READING: Deuteronomy 9-11. From my 55 days of reading, I have realized something. Just reading the account of the Israelites is enough to make me want to worship God! He didn't have to do any of the things He did, but God loves his children and wants the best for them. Who am I not to worship God and obey him?! I want to share a chunk that really hit me. I hope you take the time to read it all and soak up all that God has done.
Deuteronomy 10:14-22 To the LORD your God belong the heavens, even the highest heavens, the earth and everything in it. Yet the LORD set his affection on your ancestors and loved them, and he chose you, their descendants, above all the nations—as it is today. Circumcise your hearts, therefore, and do not be stiff-necked any longer. For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who shows no partiality and accepts no bribes. He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing. And you are to love those who are foreigners, for you yourselves were foreigners in Egypt. Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him and take your oaths in his name. He is the one you praise; he is your God, who performed for you those great and awesome wonders you saw with your own eyes. Your ancestors who went down into Egypt were seventy in all, and now the LORD your God has made you as numerous as the stars in the sky.
PICTURE: wrist tat. I got this tattoo a year and a half ago (right before school in August of 2009). It says "trust Him". I used to wear a bracelet on that same wrist. Over this past Christmas I took the bracelet off for a change. The cool part, I see this tattoo DAILY now. It is not longer "hidden" by my bracelet. The other cool thing is other people see it. I never dreamed that a tattoo, gotten as a reminder for me, would open so many doors for sharing my testimony. It is one of 3 tats that I have. Lately, it has been my favorite.
READING: Deuteronomy 5-8. Holy buckets!!!!! So much great reading in these 4 chapters. I am beyond encouraged and filled with a sense of hope. I have been in a rut lately (about 2 months) and these provided hope - Hope that God is good and has HIS best for me and everyone who chooses to follow him.
I want to share Deut 5:32-33 with you. I pray that you are encouraged as well. "So be careful to do what hte LORD your God has commanded you; do not turn aside to the right or to the left. Walk in all the way that the LORD your God has commanded you, so that you may live and prosper and prolong your days in the land that you will possess."
PICTURE: uptown snow pile. Um....where did all of this snow come from!?! I wasn't expecting it, and I don't think I was alone in that. Oh well...I love the snow! One of my favorite sights around town are the HUGE piles on Main Street. The city plows, piles all of the snow in the middle of the street, then comes and hauls it away. I have been trying to get a pic of the piles of snow all winter. Today my wish came true. The pile in the pic is about twice as tall as my Jeep!!!!
READING: Deuteronomy 3-4. I enjoyed these chapters. They are a good recount of all that has happened to the Israelites on their journey to the Promised Land. God truly does take care of his peeps.
Deut 4:31 "For the LORD your God is a merciful God; he will not abandon or destroy you or forget the covenant with your forefathers, which he confirmed to them by oath."
PICTURE: new hair! Since I didn't post a pic yesterday, I am posting 2 today! I had the day off...thank you Presidents! I spent the entire, sleeting, snowing day with my friend Erin and her 2 cutieheads. She has done my hairs for a long time. Today, I got to hold sleeping Oliver while my hair processed (Erin was doing dishes). That's the first pic. The second pic is my STRAIGHT hair (it will be curly when I wash it next).
READING: Deuteronomy 1-2. Chapter 1 verses 16-18 seem like rules for a court to follow - judge fairly, do not discriminate, be fearless. BUT, God is the ultimate judge.
I really liked Deut 1:30 "The LORD your God, who is going before you, will fight for you...." It is always good, for me, to be reminded that God has already paved the way for my life. He will take me down that path if I continually choose to follow him.
PICTURE: Didn't take one today. Had intentions to take one of Robin and I at lunch, but conversation took priority today.
READING: Numbers 33-36. I FINISHED IT!!!!
I find, as I have been reading through Numbers, myself talking to my Bible. When the Israelites want to quit and go back to Egypt, get mad at Moses and Aaron, or just go astray, I find that I am telling them NO! Wait! Reading their account and knowing that Jesus is coming is frustrating.
I can't help but wonder if that is how God feels. When I am ready to give up or have grown weary and go astray, I am sure God is saying "don't stop! Dina, I know how your story ends. Keep going!"
Tomorrow I start a new book, Deuteronomy, and I am excited. I also know that it is the 5th in the books of the law. So, I find myself, again asking for God's strength to keep my routine. I am learning so much and ready to move on.
PICTURE: my sister-in-law, Melissa. A group of us went out to celebrate her bday! She has been part of the family for over 10 years. We had a good time and sang a little karaoke together (Pat Benetar...Hit Me With Your Best Shot).
READING: Numbers 30-32. The Israelites set out to destroy the Midianites (who had led them to follow Baal of Peor), but they spared the source of the problem - the women! I can't help but wonder if they were being 'gentlemanly' or thinking like guys. Good for Moses, seeing that the source of the plague is still alive, that he ordered the women be killed.
I also found an answer to my question about Caleb and Joshua. Numbers 32:12 "Caleb son of Jephunneh the Kenizzite and Joshua son of Nun, for they followed the LORD wholeheartedly."
