The Books of the BIBLE (and what they mean for Christians) -The Old Testement

THE LAW: ORDER
Genesis - Beginnings
Exodus - Worship 
Leviticus - Holiness
Numbers  -  Rebellion
Deuteronomy - Covenant

THE PROPHETS: JUSTICE
Joshua - Fulfillment
Judges - Control
Samuel - Kingship
Kings - Evil
Isaiah - Service
Jeremiah -Politics
Ezekiel - Temple
The 12 - Society

THE WRITINGS: WISDOM
Psalms - Devotion
Job - Authority
Proverbs - Folly
5 Festal Scrolls (Ruth, Songs, Ecclesiastes, Lamentations, Esther) - Seasons
Daniel - Civilization
Ezra - Return
Nehemiah - Reform
Chronicles - Humanity   

Some Interesting Findings

I've been  writing down verses every day and adding other passages that I feel relate to the Daily one.
A verse in Isaiah (40:3) caught my attention.

         A voice cries out in the wilderness, "Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God!"

A related passage was Mark 1:1-3 

The beginning of the gospel of Jesus Christ.  As it is written in the prophets 

"See I am sending my messenger ahead of you who will prepare your way;

the voice of one crying out in the wilderness

Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!"

 I saw this and wondered what of the other Gospels make this reference to Isaiah.  So, I started looking.  And I was amazed to see that all FOUR gospels make this reference to Isaiah.  

Matt 1:1-3

Mark 1:1-3

Luke 3:1-6

John 1:19-23

And who would this messenger God is sending to prepare the way be?

According to the four gospels, this messenger is John the Baptist! 

December Scripture Reflection: Day 2nd

Welcome back brothers and sisters.

Verse:   

For a child has been born for us,

               a son given to us;

authority rests upon his shoulders; 

and he is named

Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

His authority shall grow continually

But and there shall be endless peace

for the throne of David and his kingdom.

He will establish and uphold it

with justice and with righteousness

from this time onward and 

forevermore.

The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Isaiah 9:6-7

In a time of great darkness, God promised to send a light who would shine on everyone living in the shadow of death.  He is both "Wonderful Counselor" and "Mighty God".  This message of hope was fulfilled in the birth of Christ and the establishment of his eternal kingdom.  He came to deliver all people from their slavery to sin.

 

But you, O Bethlehem of Ephrathah, 

who are one of the little clans of Judah, 

from you shall come forth for me one who is to rule Israel, 

whose origin is from of old,

from ancient days.

Therefore he shall give them up until the time

when she who is in labor has brought forth;

then the rest of his kindred shall return 

to the people of Israel.

And he shall stand and feed his flock in 

the strength of the Lord, 

in the majesty of the name of the

Lord his God.

and they shall live secure, for now he

shall be great

to the ends of the earth;

and he shall be one of peace.

Micah 5:2-5

This ruler is Jesus, the Messiah.  Micah accurately predicted Christ's birthplace hundreds of years before Jesus was born!  The promised eternal king in David's line, who would come to live as man, had been alive forever - "Whose origins are from the distant past".  Although eternal, Christ entered human history as the man, Jesus of Nazareth.

Know It!

Q: What will Israel be like when the new ruler comes?

A: Peaceful

Think About It!
Q:  What are some ways you can bring peace?
A:  I can bring peace simply by showing tolerance to those who are different from me.   I can further embrace this idea by being an example

 

December Scripture Reflection: Day 1st - Purpose of creating this blog

The purpose of this blog is so that I may become closer to Christ and understand The Message through reading, writing, and reflecting on The Word.
What I have planned is:

•  December-Advent/Christmas related verses
• January -  Focus on Scripture that talks about how to improve/(Resolutions)
• February -Focus on Love in all forms (starting Feb 14th, LENT related verses as that is Ash Wed.)
• March -Focus on Fear/Anxiety (continuing with Lent)
• April - Focus on making Happiness a Habit
•  May- Parenthood
• June -Patience and Perseverance
• July - Learn how to reach out to non-believers/new Christians.

December Scripture Writing: 12/1/17
Verse:  "Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign.  Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel.  He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good.  For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.  The Lord will bring on you and your people and on your ancestral house such days as have not come since that Ephraim departed from Judah - the king of Assyria."
                                                       Isaiah 7:14-17
 New Word: sign- an object or event that gets you to pay attention or see something new.

    "Virgin" is translated from a Hebrew word used for an unmarried woman who is old enough to be married, one who is sexually mature.  Some have compared this young woman to Isaiah's young wife and newborn son.  this isn't likely because she had a child, Shear-joshub, and her second child was not named Immanuel.  Some believe that Isaiah's first wife may have died , and so this is his second wife. It is more likely that this prophecy had a double fullfilment. A young woman from the house of Ahaz who was not married would marry and have a son.  Before three years passed, the two invading kings would be destroyed!
     Matthew 1:23 quotes Isaiah 7:14 to show further fulfillment of this prophecy in that a virgin named Mary conceived and bore a son, Immanuel, the Christ.

Know It!
Q: What will the woman name her child?
A: The name shall be Immanuel.

Think About It! (if you have a Bible group you are a part of, use this as a discussion question)

Q: What signs help you see God near you?
A: The number one sign I see that reminds me that God is near is my son.  He is my special gift from Him.  And to be able to watch him grow up in front of me is an amazing reminder that God is in my life.

Now as an interaction with my readers, whenever you see the "Know It" and "Think About It" sections, I will also add "Try It"  for any of my readers with either children or a Bible group of their own to try.  Let me know in comments for that day how you did (and answer the Think About It question yourself).
 Try It!
Make up two hand signs for "God loves you".  Teach them to others.