March 1-5 Read the Bible

In our personal Bible reading, Psalm 4 was on the schedule. The suggested call to wroship for Sunday was also Psalm 4. Coincidence? Maybe God wanted me to learn a little something.

“Hear me when I call, O God of my righteousness: thou hast enlarged me when I was in distress; have mercy upon me, and hear my prayer” (Psalm 4:1).

Was the psalmist convinced God would answer his prayer? The psalmist identified his Rescuer as the “God of my righteousness.” David, who composed this psalm, knew that intervention in his difficulties would only come from God and not from himself. Jeremiah recognized it was “the Lord our righteousness” who would “save Judah and [cause] Israel to dwell safely” (Jeremiah 23:6). Paul explained that believers are “in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us…righteousness” (1 Corinthians 1:30). I seem to be asking myself now more than ever before, “With Jesus Christ’s righteousness in me, why would I even think of looking to myself or others to deliver me from trouble?”

Here is the suggested reading for March 1-5. You will find a corrected copy of the schedule at the link below. To make everything simple, one week was added at the end of the year (or the beginning of next year). Our Bible Study on Wednesday will still be selected from the reading in the New Testament.

  • Monday: Genesis 21-25
  • Tuesday: Joshua 21–Judges 1
  • Wednesday: Matthew 21-25
  • Thursday: Isaiah 21-25
  • Friday: (to Psalm this week to correct the mistake)
  • Saturday: Isaiah 43:13-28; Zechariah 5

Follow this link to download a copy (2 pages) of the entire reading schedule: Click here.

February 22-26 Read the Bible

Here is the (corrected) suggested reading for February 22-26. What do I mean by “corrected”? Chapters 16-20 were left out of the cycle. The original reading schedule will need to be repaired.

Our Bible Study on Wednesday will still be selected from the reading in the New Testament. The Scripture selection last Wednesday night was Matthew 13. Jesus teaches seven “Parables of the Kingdom.” What was the people’s response to the Perfect Teacher’s parables? Verses 53-58 are evidence of His rejection as God, as the promised Messiah. What was Jesus teaching in the parables? In this age there will be a mixture in the church of those who are genuinely saved and those who aren’t (but say they are) until Jesus comes back with His angels to set up His Kingdom. Then He will separate the good from the bad.

  • Monday: Genesis 16-20
  • Tuesday: Joshua 16-20
  • Wednesday: Matthew 16-20
  • Thursday: Isaiah 16-20
  • Friday: Psalm 4, 54, 104, 119:17-24
  • Saturday: Isaiah 43:13-28; Zechariah 4

Follow this link to download a copy (2 pages) of the entire reading schedule (which will be corrected by next week): Click here.

Going Home

No doubt you read in the bulletin that God has taken Forest Stine home to heaven. While we rejoice for Forest, we sorrow with Nancy and their family in the loss of Forest’s physical presence with them and the love he gave. I did not know that Forest was saved at Bell Gardens Baptist. What an encouragement to be reminded of God’s saving work in the past in this church as He continues to work here as well as in a million other places around the world. We have much for which to praise the Lord.

I have begun my annual DVD project for Talbot Bible Lands. At times I think the “tail is wagging the dog” when it comes to putting this together. I’d appreciate your prayer about this as I attempt to progress.