Up 'till now in 2011

A New Year A New Beginning

My Purpose is that all who read the Bible, God’s Word, be encouraged in the whole person to believe the promises of Almighty God and live a life of love and good deeds for the glory of God alone.

Hebrew 10:24-25

And let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.

My Plan is to share reflections on God’s Word (The One Year Chronological Bible NIV Tyndale House) and from time to time projects for future study.

Genesis The book of beginnings

How far reaching is the certainty that God is the Creator of all things. What are the implications for me that He spoke the world into existence? How will this fact affect my prayer life? IS ANYTHING TOO HARD FOR GOD?

What does it mean to me personally that the Creator, Master Builder, of all created me “in His image”? In what ways are men and women “in His image”?

In what ways are men and women distinctly different? (Physically, roles, etc.)

As a Christian wife to a particular husband how can I fulfill the mandate of being the helper? Do you believe in your heart of hearts that it is not good for man to be alone? How may this knowledge change the way you spend your time?

Noah and the Ark - First Rain and Rainbows!

When you consider Noah’s life which came first God’s favor or Noah’s righteousness? What is another word for favor? As you “trace rainbows” what do you remember about God? Do you believe that God always keeps His promises? What promise or promises are you believing God for today?

The Tower of Babel – a new start

When man built the Tower of Babel what was his purpose? Why did God confuse the language? Do you believe that God is still in the business of giving His people impossibilities? Why might this be so? What seeming “impossibilities” do you see today?

*Project for the future and an extra blessing!

At the top of a page in your notebook write out verses that encourage you to believe God for hard things. Then list “impossibilities” (your own life, the lives of family members, your church, society as a whole). Pray over your list often in the next year with anticipation and faith. Prepare yourself for great surprises from God! Pray your verses in relationship to your impossibles and your faith will grow. The book of Hebrews states that faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God. What can God’s word do for you? It builds trust in God!

Job - understanding the heart of the sufferer and the true nature of God

Job’s words are the deep expressions of the longings of the sufferer. Reflecting on his words helps me understand the sufferer’s heart.

The book of Job is filled with questioning. As you read mark in the margin the questions of Job the sufferer with a small ? then mark the questions of God for Job with a large ?

Neither Job nor his friends ever questioned the sovereignty or power of God. Their error was in questioning God’s goodness and His purposes. What did they think of the justice of God? These ancient men were good observers of life but not of causes and effects.

God has much to teach us through observing His creation. (“ . . . Consider the lilies of the field . . .”) Am I a careful observer of His world?

Job spent days self absorbed and occasionally had a flash of clarity regarding the true nature of things and asked the right questions of his friends and God. His pain was so great that he seldom thought of anything else. He mistakenly thought that blessings were over and God had abandoned him.

Reflect on the differences between Job and his friends. In the end Job “spoke of God what was right”. That phrase appears indicative of repentance. (Job 42:8) Job asked many questions of God and then in Chapter 38 God begins to question Job. Spend some time asking yourself the questions that God asked Job. Perhaps this will put us in the right position before God – on our faces before Him in repentance and humility.

*Project for the future and an extra blessing

• interpret the sufferings of Job in the light of New Testament scriptures on suffering.


• Mark with a star where the true nature of God is mentioned. Spend some extra time praising God and thanking Him for all that He is.