"Look up at the heavens and count the stars"

I had a really tough week. It isn't even worth talking about, but... because I started the week on the wrong foot, my whole week was off. I did not read any until Thursday. So, I am trying my hardest to catch up, and still get out of this everything I should. My friend Kristina has joined me on this journey! She isn't following "Prof. Horner's Bible Reading System! But, she is rocking it!

So, this post will be set up into a few installments. I hope you are able to stick with me again. Starting on Monday, I will be waking up at 6:00am to get my reading in before the day starts!

Genesis
In Genesis 12:13 Abram tells his wife to tell everyone she is his sister, so that he will be treated better (for her sake...) By doing this, he showed his lack of faith in God's plan. He later suffered the consequences. When I read this, I know that there are situations in my life where I do something, to play it safe, which ultimately means I do not trust in God's greater plan. This is something that I am trying to work on. I know that God has a plan and it is far better than I could ever imagine. I pray that God will give me patience and more strength to trust in His greater plan, and not take the safe road!
I loved reading Genesis 15. God and Abram were having a conversation on trusting in the Lord. This is a conversation that I know we all have had with God. God constantly says to us "Do not be afraid. I am your shield, your very great reward." We have no reason to doubt the Lord. He is great, He is almighty, and He will bring us through everything. He hears our deepest needs, and hears our prayers!

Joshua
As I have posted before, I have trouble with the history in battles, and genealogy. Joshua 12 is a list of the defeated kings. A note in my Bible says. "Why list all these victims?" It says that it s a praise-song declaring the message: 'LOOK AT ALL GOD HAS DONE! Behold the once proud kings who feel to our God!" How powerful is that? To me, it gives me a reason to read the list of kings! :)

Job
"I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end He will stand upon the earth." Job 19:25 I love how Job's despair turns quickly into hope. He began to look into the future and understand that "I myself will see Him with my own eyes - I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!" vs. 27

Psalms
In Psalm 13 David crys out to the Lord and says "How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hid your face from me?" vs. 1. By vs.5 David is crying out "But I trust in your unfailing love: my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord for he has been good to me." It was interesting to read this after reading Job 19, because Job battled with the same problem. He was in complete despair in the beginning of the chapter and by the end he was expressing his unfailing trust in the Lord. In moments when we are lacking in trust, we need to remind ourselves that we can trust in the the Lord's unfailing love. He has been good to us!
Recently, a lady from work was explaining to me that when the Bible mentions a hill or a mountain, it may actually mean the church. I was a bit confused by this. Reading Psalm 15:1, I began to understand what she was meaning a bit more. "Lord, who may dwellin you sanctuary? Who may live on your holy hill?"
Psalm 16 is truly beautiful. "Keep me safe, O God, for in you I take refuge." "Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; my body also Will rest secure, because you will not abandon me to the grave, nor will you let your Holy One see decay. You have made known to me the path of life; you will fill me with joy in your presence, with eternal pleasures at your right hand."

Tonight, I am going to NewSpring with my brother Corey, and friend Ellen. I am stoked! I will leave you with this, and finish the post soon!

Much Love, and God Bless.