Musings on Deuteronomy

The other morning as I read Deut. 26-29, I cringed when I thought about all the things Moses warned would happen if the people turned away from God. Yet, we know they did, and they suffered just what Moses told them God said would happen. It’s easy to think - oh, how could they have turned from God when Moses was giving them God’s word personally. But….we too have God’s Word given to us personally, and how many times do we turn away. Deut 29:18, 19 really hit me: “Beware lest there be among you a root bearing poisonous and bitter fruit, one who, when he hears the words of this sworn statement blesses himself in his heart, saying, ‘I shall be safe, though I walk in the stubbornness of my heart.’ This will lead to the sweeping away of the moist and dry alike.”

How many times have I walked in the stubbornness of my heart thinking I will be OK. But the rest tells me that my own actions do not affect just me, they affect others as well. That made me stop and ponder this section.

Verse 29 made so much more sense to me now. I don’t know if I ever really understood it before…. “The secret things belong to the LORD our God, but the things that are revealed belong to us and to our children forever, that we may do all the words of this law.”
Granted, we are not “under” the Law, but we are to obey Christ’s commands. We are to teach them to our children, to share them with others. We may not understand why certain things happen in our lives - those are secret, only God knows - but He has revealed to us many other things. Are we using them? Teaching them? Sharing them? Living them?
This was my “aha” moment a few days ago.

A Glorious Day in Maine

It is if you like snow! This is our house this morning after another 10" of fresh snow. Today is blustery and sunny. that makes it a good "Pooh" day ~ huddled inside with a pot of honey (tea/coffee/cocoa!)I do. Hubby had to get up extra early to get the driveway snowblowed out.

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I don't like to see a brown winter which we have had the past few years where we end up getting snow late Feb. - April. By April, I want Spring! So I look at the snow as a blessing. It also reminds me that Jesus has washed me "whiter than snow". Wow! That's WHITE!

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So, I am enjoying a snow day catching up on odds and ends, putting away some Christmas decorations, writing thank you notes, hemming some new comfy, corduroy pants, and yes, playing on the computer. But I did do my bible reading first. OK.... I did some of it. I guess I better be totally honest. I am easily distracted. A very big problem for me..... anyone else?

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I have a Chronological Bible that I like a lot, and I am going to read chronologically again using a guide I found online. For Christmas, I bought a new Nelson's Study Bible for my hubby and me. It looks like it has some awesome study helps which I am anxious to start reading. I still love my John R Rice Reference Bible which has been my guide for the past 25 years and will remain a favorite, but I do like reading others as well.

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If you are interested in joining me and some of my friends in reading through the Bible this year, here is another site with many guides and here is one that you can listen to while you read. I will say that this last one is not KJV if that is what you want.

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Well, I must go accomplish more of my list of things that need to be finished. Have a wonderful day.

New Year's Eve

The Coffey Home Graphics

Isn't that a beautiful promise from God's Word? A nice reminder as we begin a new year.

Don't you wonder what God's plans are for you this year? Do you have a sense of excitement about what He is going to do in your life, the lessons He has, the journey He will take you on?

Aren't you glad we can have a hope and a future with Him? I am.

It's a quiet evening for us. Hubby was working on his computer and now snoozing in his chair! I've been catching up on some blog reading. Earlier I made some hand stamped thank you notes, or I should say, I have started some. I must go finish them soon and pick up my mess. I'm not so sure I will be able to stay up to see the New Year in as I usually do. I must be getting old, but it's just over an hour away now.

I have not made any resolutions. The ones I've made in the past, I usually fail at, so why set myself up for failure??! Of course there are things I hope to accomplish.

I love to read inspirational fiction. Not "fluff" books, but those that have a message, a challenge, an encouraging word. For the past few years I have been telling myself that I should read more non-fiction. I am thinking that for every fiction book I read, I need to read a non-fiction one. I certainly have plenty sitting in my bookcases. Why buy them if I am not going to read them? Osmosis hasn't happened yet, and I don't expect it will!

I have many, many handcraft projects started.... it would be nice to finish some of them.

Of course, I have spiritual goals as well. I would like to be a better pray-er. I would like to read the Bible through in 1 year - not the 4 that it has taken me (and I still am not done). I like reading it in chronological order and will plan to do that again. This plan looks a bit different than my Chronological Bible and I can use a regular Bible for it. I hope to get myself onto a schedule now that I am teaching so I can set time aside to lead a ladies Bible study again. We need that time together.

I'm sure there are other things I will think of later. Most of all, I was Jesus to be seen through me. I want to be a shining light for Him. I want the children I teach, and the teachers I am in contact with, and others to know there is something different in my life.

How about you? Do you have special goals or resolutions for 2008? May God bless you and may He be glorified through us. ~