2 Kings 22-23; 2 Chronicles 34-35 Don’t let anyone tell you that you are too young to make a difference in the world.  Josiah became king when he was eight years old, and he was one of the best kings Israel had ever had! The life and times prior to Josiah were unrecognizable.  The people had blended worship of the Lord with idol worship to such an extent that it was hard to tell where one stopped and the other one started.  For example, the shrine prostitutes had living quarters INSIDE the Temple of the Lord!  Can you imagine the … Continue reading Never too young

Nahum Woe to Ninevah!  That’s the topic of the book of Nahum.  It’s a warning to the King of Assyria.  I had to look that up…I didn’t realize that Sennacherib’s seat of government was Ninevah in his Assyrian Kingdom. Nahum’s prophesy of scarlet-wearing soldiers descending on Ninevah came true when a united Babylonian and Midian army stormed the city for about three months before the city fell.  Archeologists have uncovered the remains of some of those who tried to defend Ninevah from the attackers. This all makes me wonder about the gift of prophesy…so many biblical prophesies have come true, … Continue reading Mighty in prophesy

2 Chronicles 32-33 A bit more of the story of Hezekiah and his son Manasseh are unveiled in these chapters.  Manasseh did a great deal of evil, even going so far as to set up an image in the temple.  But after he was captured by Babylon and carried away — by a hook in his nose — he repented and turned back to the Lord.  And the Lord had mercy on him. How sweet is the word mercy!  It is comforting to read how the Lord restored Manasseh and let him start over again.  It reminds me that the … Continue reading Wiping the ugly pages clean

2 Kings 20-21 Don’t be a show-off.  That’s the message I take tonight from the story of Hezekiah.  After the Lord healed him of a terrible disease…and after the Lord altered time as we know it (causing the shadows to go backwards)…Hezekiah apparently contracted Big-Head-Itis.  When envoys from Babylon came to visit, Hezekiah showed them everything he had.  I don’t think that he had an attitude of thanksgiving towards the Lord for all his blessings.  At that point in his life, did he think maybe the Lord blessed him so much because he deserved it and not simply because of … Continue reading No showing off!

Isaiah 64-66 The only thing about the Bible reading plan is that I don’t really get the chance to “camp out” in a particular chapter of the Bible.  I could re-read portions and then still the next day’s reading…but it doesn’t leave me very much room to explore.  That’s okay for this season in my life: it is taking a great deal of discipline for me to read and blog every day.  My husband has been fabulous in encouraging me on those days when I really feel too weary to read or write…he is helping me stay accountable. I am … Continue reading