I have been slowly losing the sight in my right eye. So, I decided before I lose my vision entirely, I want to read the Bible cover to cover. I am using this app to track my progress.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.sirma.mobile.bible.android
Also, I really started these notes, just to keep track of them and, keep them organized. I decided to share them just because it may encourage someone else to read for themselves or, find hope or encouragement in my words.
August 7th
Exodus 32, Moses persuaded the Lord to change his mind.
This chapter really hit me hard, can all the Christians in the world ask God to change his mind? The word of God is so amazing! I never saw God as persuadable before. I am going to continue meditation on this verse and, keep it in mind as I keep reading.
Also, August 7th
I am 10 days into my full read of the Bible and I have to say, keeping the sabbath day holy, and not doing work on the sabbath are mentioned so many times. I'm not that far in yet but, it is mentioned more than any other subject so far.
August 9th
2 thoughts
1 from Leviticus: I never put two and two together on this one but now I get it. The flesh is wicked, it is born wicked, and it will die wicked. So, if someone says they were born gay they are right. Their flesh is prone to sin like any other.
thought 2 is more general. But I probably wouldn't have picked it up if I wasn't going back and forth between old and new testaments. I get why no graven images is such a big deal. What we call the "Christian calendar" i.e., the calendar that starts January 1st, really hinders the celebration of Old Testament holidays. Also, I don't believe the shape of the cross is ever expressed in the Bible. So, being that historical crucifixion were done on x shaped crosses. I think no graven images applies to incorrectly shaped crosses.
August 10th
So, in Leviticus a lot of things are laid out as unclean. But, by 1st Corinthians 10:23 nothing is unlawful, but not everything is good for me. Upon some reflection and meditation, I think the reason for this is pretty simple. Things like pork and bacon probably just are not that healthy and, things like crustaceans just couldn't be stored in a way to make them safe to eat. Also, along the same line, Leviticus talks of boils and leprosy and separating the unclean. I think this may just be about staying away and cleaning bacteria and germs.
Unrelated thought: I'm going to focus my meditation on how the jubilee year every fifteenth year could apply to our lives today.
August 11th
It strikes me that most of the great people of the Bible strive for very communal living situations. I'll try to understand why as I keep reading
August 12th
So, the sabbath day just keeps its grips on me as I'm going through reading. I'm now 1/6th of the way through this reading and, it is still by far the most common topic.
I also had a thought on Mark chapter 12. "Give unto Ceasar what is Ceasars" and how it connects to the parable earlier in the chapter. I don't think this is fully encompassed, by saying pay your taxes. I think it's more like don't get caught up in the system of the world. In essence, the system of money isn't yours to worry about, your focus should be on God and the souls of those around you.
Years ago, I had a breakthrough in my prayer life. I found my prayers were way to self-centered and I took myself out of my prayers. So, I stopped praying for anything selfish. However, going through the scripture, it strikes me that prayers in the Bible are selfish in general. It seems I need to focus on faithfulness in my prayers. Back to Exodus 32, Moses changes God's heart. I have been thinking on this a lot. This may be what John Calvin missed in his writings.
Deuteronomy 8:18
Paraphrasing
It is God who gives the opportunity to gain wealth
Something to think about as I keep reading
August 13
Avenger of blood? Are they similar to a Marshall? Or a Bailiff? Or a bounty hunter? Found in Deuteronomy and Joshua
Deuteronomy 22:5, so androgynous clothes are not acceptable.
Unicorns mentioned again
August 14
So, Joshua fought a lot of battles. But isn't mentioned as much as Abraham Moses and others in the gospels.
Humility seems to be the best attribute of Joshua. Before reading the book of Joshua, I believe the only thing I knew of him was the battle of Jericho and how the walls fell. I honestly think his tactics at Ai should be what he is known for. But I guess the story of Jericho really is more about God's influence.
Luke 5 Jesus refers to old wine as better
It's amazing how different the gospels are. How to one of them details are described that others ignored. I really like how Luke Paraphrases the sermon on the mount differently than Matthew. It's like a photographer taking a shot from 45 degrees from another shot. You can tell it's the same place, but the details are different.
August 15
Sower incite finally after reading in Luke. I think I am most likely the seed sown and devoured by thorns.
August 16
After reading Joshua judges and Ruth the past couple days I am going to ask God for a sign of the impossible, Like Gideon. I think if God wants me to enter the ministry, fully He would do a sign of the impossible. So, I am asking for 1 of these 2 signs; 1 grow the hair back on the top of my head. 2 the Detroit Lions win the Superbowl.
August 18
Luke really short verse says "remember Lot's wife" it is amazing when Jesus says something that powerful with 3 words.
Also 2 Samuel David dances for the Lord at a sacrifice where a large array of instruments are played. I like the thought of God enjoying his people dancing.
So, from the death of Moses to king David it feels like the people of Iseral are just always at war.
August 21
This is day 26 of my read through and I have completed 1/3 of the Bible currently finishing up Luke, and in chapter 3 of 1 Kings in the Old Testament.
Still, I think the most common theme is to keep the sabbath holy.
August 25
It is amazing how communally living seems to be Gods preferred way of life. God didn’t want Israel to have a King but, reluctantly aloud Samuel to anoint Saul, then God put David up who was constantly humbled by his brothers, which helped bring back some freedom.
September 10
Halfway through! Favorite book in the first half of the Old Testament is Esther. Although I learned the most from the story of David.
September 19
Psalm 62 really gave me something to think on. I think I want to bookmark it and give it some regular meditation.
Also, just a general thought Romans really shows how to feel as a Christian. It is such a walk through the mind of the writer. I see why John Calvin focused on it so much. If only he had read the rest of the Bible maybe, he wouldn’t have been so wrong.
October 3
A couple weeks ago a coworker mentioned that his father finally was able to join a church leadership group, when my coworker asked them. “Where in the Bible, it says you can’t be a leader and be divorced?” They had no answer. Well now I do 1 Corinthians 5.
Also, I recently finally made the decision to be baptized, and that happened yesterday, I think my life has changed forever with this decision.
Also, what is a false prophet, I have always thought of Joseph Smith as a false prophet, but I’ve changed my mind after reading 2/3rds of the Bible. The simple fact is because of Joseph Smith Millions more people love Jesus. And, I just can’t say he compares to any of the examples in the Bible.
1 Corinthians 14 I just read it and then read it again to be clear. So, it is clearly written women cannot be priests. It is not clear why, and there are plenty of women doing important things, but not leading a church meeting.
October 4th
2 Corinthians 3:6 Wow just wow, totally confirms my false prophet thoughts from yesterday. The spirit of the law is bringing people to love Jesus. The letter of the law is so strict no one can follow it completely.
October 6th
Ecclesiastes 10 Curse not the king in your thoughts. I guess you have to think it to say it or write it.
2 Corinthians 12:10 “Take pleasure in infirmities” I have begun to do that with my eyesight.
October 17th
1 Timothy 4 forbidding meat is of the devil
October 20th
I’m in the last 7th of my read though and I have had so many moments during my readings that took my breathe away, but today was different.
I had a really bad day at work yesterday, I really am finding that the people I work with have no sympathy. As I am going blind, I need more ambient light around, for the vision I do have remaining to work. The office I work in has 18 light bulbs, of which 7 of them are usually on. Well, last weekend I made three more work, so that I could see a lot better and not strain my eyes. But, when I got back to work yesterday the extra bulbs were turned back off, and I was told not to touch them. Also, soon after I arrived yesterday a coworker in my department answered a call and we found out there had been a rollover accident by one of our drivers. Naturally my first thought was to pray for the driver. The first thing out of the mouth of my other coworker was “I hope there’s not auto parts on that trailer”. Which of course really bothered me. Then an email regarding the accident came across with a thought hoping the driver was okay. I couldn’t help but respond, with just a few words, thanking him for thinking about the driver and not the load. I was told my email was inappropriate, and not to speak of the driver at all in email.
So, last night my reading of 2 Timothy 3 really got me thinking about my place. Which really prepared me for this morning when in my meditation and prayer I had an epiphany. I have always had strong ability for sympathy, but almost no ability for empathy. I always thought of my lack of empathy as something I need to work on, but it just never came naturally. So, what if God gave me this set of gifts for a reason? I may have figured out the reason. I may be called to be a chaplain of some sort. Maybe, not in any official way or position. I feel like I can sympathize and even weep with the weeping but, my lack of empathy could actually help me not be burnt out with emotions as I minister.
Also, I know it’s been said before but as I get to the end of Paul’s writings, I am finding all his statements of the “end times” are true today.
So, in total it took me 98 days to read the entire Bible. Biggest take away, Jesus is by far the best example to live life by. Second sabbath day holiness, third blessed with infirmity.
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