December 23, 2013

Dear Friends,

            As we enter into the final few days of our journey through the scriptures, I pray that this journey has been one that has lifted your hearts and strengthened your faith. The Bible is a wondrous, intriguing, complicated and sometime difficult book to read, but it is also filled with stories and passages which chronicle the love and grace of God which is made manifest in Jesus Christ. My hope is that this journey has whetted your appetite for the scriptures and that in the coming year, you will dig deeper into those passages which touched you in significant ways over the past year. The Bible is a timeless book which we can read over and over again and discover new insights and understandings each time through the power of God's Holy Spirit.

            In these final few days of our journey, our reading from Zechariah will lead us to a passage (Zechariah 9:9) which is often associated with Jesus' entry into Jerusalem. Both Zechariah and Malachi encourage us to wait for the coming of the Lord, which is certainly appropriate as we gather with family and friends to celebrate the birth of Jesus.

            In our reading from Revelation, we read of John's vision of the final battle and rejoice in God's victory and can rejoice in the promise of Christ who proclaims, "Surely, I am coming soon," to which we respond as does the text, "Amen. Come, Lord Jesus."

            May God continue to speak to us through the wonder and power of his Holy Word.

 

Grace & Peace,

 

Tom Lovell

 

A YEAR WITH THE BIBLE. Below are the daily readings for this week thru Tuesday, Dec. 31, 2013. You may also read or listen online at http://dailyaudiobible.com.

 

Date	Old Testament	New Testament	Proverbs
Dec. 23	Zechariah 4:1-5:11	Revelation 14:1-20	30:21-23
Dec. 24	Zechariah 6:1-7:14	Revelation 15:1-8	30:24-28
Dec. 25	Zechariah 8:1-23	Revelation 16:1-21	30:29-31
Dec. 26	Zechariah 9:1-17	Revelation 17:1-18	30:32
Dec. 27	Zechariah 10:1-11:17	Revelation 18:1-24	30:33
Dec. 28	Zechariah 12:1-13:9	Revelation 19:1-21	31:1-7
Dec. 29	Zechariah 14:1-21	Revelation 20:1-15	31:8-9
Dec. 30	Malachi 1:1-2:17	Revelation 21:1-27	31:10-24
Dec. 31	Malachi 3:1-4:6	Revelation 22:1-21	31:25-31

December 16, 213

Dear Friends,

            This week, our journey through the scriptures continues to move through the Minor Prophets. As we conclude our reading of Micah, we will read two familiar passages, the first in chapter five as the prophet proclaims that God's chosen will come from Bethlehem, and the second in chapter six where the requirements for a faithful life in accord with God's desires are listed as "to do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God." The following prophets, Nahum, Habakkuk, and Zephaniah are words to the people of God prior to their exile with Haggai and Zechariah being post-exilic. In Revelation we move into the heart of this apocalyptic vision of John as we read of the opening of the seventh seal, the six trumpets, and the vision of the two beasts. As I noted last week, it may be helpful to have a good commentary to assist you as you read this interesting but oft-confusing book.

            May God continue to bless us as we near the end of this scriptural journey.

Grace & Peace,

Tom Lovell

 

A YEAR WITH THE BIBLE. Below are the daily readings for this week thru Sunday. You may also read or listen online at http://dailyaudiobible.com.

 

Date	Old Testament	New Testament	Proverbs
Dec. 16	Micah 5:1-7:20	Revelation 7:1-17	30:5-6
Dec. 17	Nahum 1:1-3:19	Revelation 8:1-13	30:7-9
Dec. 18	Habakkuk 1:1-3:19	Revelation 9:1-21	30:10
Dec. 19	Zephaniah 1:1-3:20	Revelation 10:1-11	30:11-14
Dec. 20	Haggai 1:1-2:23	Revelation 11:1-19	30:15-16
Dec. 21	Zechariah 1:1-21	Revelation 12:-13:1	30:17
Dec. 22	Zechariah 2:1-3:10	Revelation 13:2-18	30:18-20