Routine

When I am not at home I can never seem to keep my usual routine.  For Christmas, I was at my parents' house, which was great, but which also meant that I never did my reading first thing in the morning.  I did keep up with it, just in the evening.  But now I am back home and have gotten back to my morning reading and finally today, back to my blog.  The reading has been going well, and I have gotten to the end of the countries in Operation World.  I am now going through the appendixes at the end and they are full of great information!

Leviticus 15-16:28
Brief recap: There have been more gory details of offerings, two of Aaron's sons have died, and there were detailed instructions for those with leprosy.  The first part of today's reading was about bodily discharge.  It was nice and specific just like the rest of the book, but I think the thing that struck me the most is the fact that something that is just a natural part of a woman's life made her unclean.  There was nothing she could do to stop it, but it made her unclean for at least seven days.  What is it that I have in my life now that "naturally" makes me unclean?  What in my flesh causes me to not be presentable to the Lord?  I know that there is not one answer to this question, but many.  Lord, make me aware of the things in my life that are unclean before You.
The second part of today's reading was about the day of atonement.  This is the first time the concept of a scapegoat is introduced.  Aaron had to place the sins of the Israelites on a goat that was then sent out into the wilderness to carry them away.  It is overwhelming to think that Jesus did that for me.  That all the things in my flesh that cause me to sin have been removed from me and I am made righteous and pure.  Praise God!

Mark 7:1-23
I have really been enjoying Mark a lot.  There have been several lessons that I have needed to hear as I have read through the book.  The first was when Jesus' family came after Him because they thought He was out of His mind.  Not that my family really thinks I'm crazy, or that they treat me any differently, but sometimes I wonder how much of what I do they really understand.  Then Jesus calms a storm while in a boat with the disciples.  When He does so He questions them and says, "Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?"  This was really convicting for me because I had been worrying about certain aspects of my life and it was good to have the Lord put me in check.  He has always provided abundantly for me, so why am I fearful?  Why do I still not trust Him?  I do trust Him, I just loose perspective sometimes.
Today Mark wrote about traditions in the church and how sometimes they can make the Word of God void.  Jesus tells the Pharisees, "This people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me." verse 6  May that never be me!  I desire nothing more than for my heart to honor the Lord.  Jesus then goes on and explains that nothing that goes into a person, physically, can make him unclean, but only the things that come out of a person are able to defile him.  The things that come out are what is in your heart.  It is interesting to read this now because just a couple of days ago in Leviticus, the Israelites had been given laws about what they could eat that was clean and unclean.  I'm so thankful for the new covenant!

Psalm 40:11-17
A psalm of praise and pleading.  David is asking for deliverance from his enemies but also recognizing the greatness and steadfast love of the Lord.

Proverbs 10:13-14
These and the last few verses have had many references to what we speak.  The wise man speaks life and understanding, but the foolish man babbles and brings ruin.  I also liked verse 12 which says, "love covers all offenses."

Pray- World Leaders