Ephesians 2
A lot of times I have trouble focusing when I am doing my Bible study time.  Today is particularly bad.  And last night after women's group I was so excited to spend time with the Lord.  (I still am, by the way!)  So, I'm having a really hard time getting through the passage and then I come across these verses:  "For by grace you have been saved through faith.  It is not of your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast."  Familiar words, right?  Well, today what they said to me was that my salvation and love from God has nothing to do with what I can do to justify myself.  It would not matter if I did not make it all the way through this year of radical living of Bible study and prayer, because it does not save me.  Is it good and bringing me closer to God?  Yes.  But it is not required of me.  I have no requirements other than to have faith and receive God's grace.  Let me boast in You, Lord!!

Psalm 67
"May God be gracious to us and bless us and make his face shine upon us."  I think many people pray like this... whether they believe in God or have a personal relationship with Him or not.  But what is our motivation in this type of prayer?  Is it so that we can have a good life?  So we can be prosperous?  Or any number of other selfish motivators?  What I didn't include, though, is the correct punctuation in this verse, because, you see, there is not a period at the end of this statement but rather a comma.  Here's what comes after it.  ", that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations."  That's where the period really should be.  Oh, that we would grasp this mindset and make it our own.  Lord, teach me to live outside of myself so I can see how to make You known to all.

Proverbs 23:29-35
These verses talk about the effects of wine (alcohol) in excess.  One who is addicted to wine will have woes, sorrow, complaining, wounds, and redness of eye.

Isaiah 41:17-43:13
Ok, this one was a little confusing for me.  It kept going back and forth between God will take care of His people, and the people get into a bad place so the Lord has to lead them out.  I suppose that is all of Israel's story, though.  And it is so much like my own that I love reading about how God takes care of His people in spite of themselves.