Hello, Nell

Dear Nell,
Thank you for always reading my blog.  I'm so glad I got to see you last weekend and that you told me you'd been reading.  I had no idea!  I didn't really think anyone was reading, so it's good to know someone is keeping up with me.  It helps keep me accountable to writing about what I'm reading and learning.  I'm also really glad you got to meet Tim.  He really enjoyed his visit with you and Barbara!  I know I haven't written in a few days, but I have been keeping on schedule with reading my Bible and praying for the world.  So, I'll pick up with what I read today.
Love you!
Sarah

Africa- For several days now I have been praying for the continent of Africa.  There is a lot of devastation due to war and one of the saddest things is that they used to export large amounts of food but because of the state of the land, they now have to import food and generally don't have enough for their people.  Religion is also very important and defining throughout the continent.  Generally speaking, the south is Christian and the north is Muslim.  There is a very distinct geographical line between the two which is very volatile.  Today was prayer for the Church in Africa.  There is a great need for discipleship because even though the Church is growing, they are not maturing.  African culture, including witchcraft and evil spirits, are still present in the Church.

Numbers 19-20
Laws for purification- who is clean/unclean and when.  Miriam died.  The Israelites complained about not having any water and God told Moses and Aaron to speak to a rock for water.  But, Moses struck the rock and did not follow the Lord's instructions so he and Aaron were told they would not enter the promised land.  Not only that, but the Lord instructed Moses to take Aaron and Eleazar, his son, up on a mountain, to strip Aaron of his clothes and give them to his son, and that Aaron was to die there.  The people of Israel wept for Aaron when he died.

Luke 1:1-25
Luke was a doctor, and I think you can tell in his writing.  It is very different from Mark.  He says himself in verse 3 that he wanted to write and "orderly account" for Theophilus.  The name Theophilus means lover of God... it's one of my favorite names in the Bible.  After the brief introduction, Luke describes Zechariah's visit from Gabriel and how he became mute for the duration of Elizabeth's pregnancy.

Psalm 56
David has been captured by enemies, but he says, "What can man do to me?" verse 11  His trust was fully in God.  May I trust You as well!

Proverbs 11:8
"The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked falls into it instead."