Reading thru the Bible

A few weeks ago I started a 90 day read through the Bible, my pace has slowed down a bit the last few days but I hope to catch up this weekend.  At the same time, we are in a series at Hope that is looking at different stories from Genesis 1 through Acts 2.  I always enjoy reading the Bible cover to cover and am always surprised at things I find that I missed or did not stand out before even in books like Dueteronomy and Leviticus.  As I read those books last week, I saw the principle of stewardship jump out in the founding of the nation of Israel.  God clearly laid the foundation that all was His and he was giving Israel the responsiblity of taking care of what He was entrusting to them.  Sort of sounds like Genesis 1 and 2.  How often do I remember that?  I am responsible for the things God has entrusted me (I don't own them, they are His!).  The home I live in, how am I the best possible steward; the car I drive ... and on it goes.  It impacts my attitude and my view on the things I 'own'.

A long time, one short story

Going through the Story of God has been great so far!  This week we move from the Old Testament to the New Testament.  The jump actually feels much larger than that since we jump from Moses to Jesus with on story.  What is interesting is that even though it is one story, that time period of Bible history sort of feels like on story with revolving characters.  The people are close to God; the people fall away from God; God allows the people to experience hardship - they fall out of His blessing; the people cry out; God responds.  Throughout each story we see God's continual desire to have a relationship with people despite the people and their actions.

That is pretty powerful for me to think of in the context of my own life.  God is at work through my situation and the situations of those around me to be revealing Himself to me and those around me.  How can God use what is happening in Zach's life to impact Zach or others?  God pursues me regardless of whether I pursue Him.  God can use all that happens - probably even snow storms, though that is hard to believe - to restore the Good that was and will one day be again.

Some scattered thoughts from a story that covers a lot of time but yet is very relevant toay.