Day 261

I have been at this for quite a while.  261 days!  I am so glad to be reading through the Bible.  It is hard on some days, but I love getting to spend time in the Word.  This has been a really full weekend, and I have plenty to do this week as well.  I can't believe how quickly summer is falling away.

Isaiah 32-36
There is quite a bit of back and forth here.  It will talk about the destruction of a place and how the Lord plans to remover sin, then it will talk about how the Lord will restore those places as well.

Psalm 63 & 64
In my Bible these have the headings "My Soul Thirsts For You" and "Hide Me From The Wicked."  63 talks about our longings for the Lord and how He satisfies us, and 64 talks about asking for help and receiving the power of the Lord against enemies.

Proverbs 23:22-23
Listen to your parents.  Buy truth, wisdom, instruction, and understanding, and don't give it away!

Galatians 5
What an excellent chapter!  Paul is reminding the Galatians that Christ has set them free.  This does not mean they must keep the law to be saved... it no longer matters whether or not they (or we) are circumcised.  We are only saved by faith.  He tells them that they were doing so well in their walk with Christ, and is now wondering what has happened.  He asks who has hindered them.  He tells them that the law is now summed up with "love your neighbor as yourself."  Then he goes on to say that we are to walk by the Spirit and not by the flesh.  He lists the works of the flesh and then the fruits of the Spirit.  (This makes me want to sing a song from my childhood!)  "Those who belong to Jesus Christ have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires."  Thank you, Jesus for taking fleshly passions and desire and becoming my only true passion and deep desire!

Japan-
Had a really great economic boom, and then a bit of a recession.  They were also effected by the 2008-2009 world-wide recession.  Freedom of religion is guaranteed.  They are mostly nonpracticing of any type of religion, but the culture revolves a lot around Shintoism.