My Faith View from Here - Daily readings and thoughts

For those who have been following my posts, you may notice the writing has improved since my first post.  AI has become much more common so you may be curious if that’s the difference.  In a small part I have used AI for titles and sometimes grammar but no more.  The real improvement is due to my editor.  No, I don’t have an editor on payroll but I do have a wife who was an editor for several years for a weekly newsletter.  Sylvia is much more than an editor, she is also a writer.  She is currently considering writing a memoir book as well but she is still early in the planning stages.  So every 4 weeks, Syl has agreed to make an entry on my blog.  So with no further adieu here is Syl’s second post.  Steve **INTERMISSION** Happy Saturday, friends of Steve (or friends of his blog at least). I’m writing this as Friday slowly, quietly comes to a close in Parkers Cove. It’s a silent night — a rarity considering our property lacks sufficient trees...

  Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 30,31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2030%2C31&version=NASB1995 Psalm 46 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2046&version=NASB1995 Isaiah 42:14-25 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2042%3A14-25&version=NASB1995 Mark 6:1-13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%206%3A1-13&version=NASB1995 Blind Step, Sure Ground Today, I am clinging to Psalm 46:1 “God is our refuge and strength, A very present help in trouble.”  I’m also thankful in verse 11 to read, The LORD of hosts is with us; The God of Jacob is our stronghold. Last night I slept poorly.  It’s the 3rd night in a row that I didn’t sleep well.  This time, my brain was continually active and I was anxious.  I’ve mentioned in the last few posts that our dog is recovering from a tumour removal and because of this, he has to be kept quiet, wear a cone on his head and one of us needs to keep ...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 29 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2029&version=NASB1995 Psalm 45 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2045&version=NASB1995 Mark 5:21-43 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205%3A21-43&version=NASB1995 Entering the King's Palace The reading from Exodus is one of my least favourite parts of the Bible because there is so much talk about sacrifice offerings.  So much is required for atonement of sin and in this case the consecration of the priests who will be responsible for bringing the offerings of the people to God.  Before Jesus, the only way people could approach God was through blood sacrifices done by the priests. They prepared and offered the sacrifices on behalf of the people.  How do you approach a perfect and Holy God?  As you are, you can’t. You must be perfect - without blemish or sin. Who on this earth is perfect? No one. Only one person throughout t...

  Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 28 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2028&version=NIV Isaiah 41:17-42:13 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041%3A17-42%3A13&version=NIV Mark 5:1-20 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%205%3A1-20&version=NIV Freedom Starts Now I have some questions.  Who can be described as: Having God’s Spirit A person of peace Gentle Not being disheartened Establishing justice on earth A new covenant to the people A light to the nations Opening blind eyes Freeing the prisoners There is a joke question that I will not repeat but the answer  a young child gives is, “I know the answer must be Jesus…but it sure sounds like a squirrel.”  In this case, I think we can be assured, the answer is in fact, Jesus. The above list is from our reading in Isaiah 42 today, written several hundred years before Jesus arrived on the scene.  I’m not going to try to prove to anyone the authenti...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 27 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2027&version=NIV Psalm 44 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2044&version=NIV Isaiah 41:1-16 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2041%3A1-16&version=NIV Mark 4:13-41 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%204%3A13-41&version=NIV Worry or Faith The details have been provided for the building of the tabernacle in the wilderness.  If you are curious about the tabernacle and surrounding court, check out the following link.  https://www.esv.org/resources/esv-global-study-bible/illustration-02-tabernacle/ Though Israel was God’s chosen people, we have read in the books of Psalms and Isaiah that Israel struggled when they did not follow God’s direction for them.  When they did not follow God’s direction, things would turn bad and they would realize their mistakes. In Psalm 44 verses 23 to 25, we read their desperate plea: “Aw...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 25:31-26:37 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2025%3A31-26%3A37&version=NIV Isaiah 40:18-31 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040%3A18-31&version=NIV Mark 3:13-4:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%203%3A13-4%3A12&version=NIV Infinite yet Intimate God is God of the details.  We are reading the details of the tabernacle construction in Exodus.  We are seeing the specific directions God is giving Moses, right down to the method of joining the acacia wood, the makeup of the curtains with their loops and clasps to join them.  He is very specific.  If you wonder if God cares about the details of your life, all you need to do is read His instructions for the building of His tabernacle.   Two examples: He knows that you just stubbed your toe (if you happened to stub your toe….and He knows what you said when you did) and he knows why Jake the dog was staring ...

Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 24:-25:30 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2024%3A1-25%3A30&version=NIV Psalm 43 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2043&version=NIV Isaiah 40:1-17 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2040%3A1-17&version=NIV Mark 2:23-3:12 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202%3A23-3%3A12&version=NIV The Rhythm of Rest On a typical Sunday, I will wake up when I wake up, walk the dog, have some breakfast, do my daily reading, do some blog writing and then attend church.  If the weather is bad, we’ll watch the church service online.  After church is finished, our intention is to do things that energize and revitalize.  Sometimes, I’ll take a walk to shore on my own to enjoy God’s creation and spend some time in conversation with God.  Sometimes, I’ll tinker with some fun project that is unrelated to my regular routine.  There are times I just continue my reg...

  Today's Reading (Bible in 1 year) Exodus 22:16-23:33 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Exodus%2022%3A16%20-%2023%3A33&version=NIV Psalm 42 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2042&version=NIV Isaiah 39 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Isaiah%2039&version=NIV Mark 2:1-22 https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%202%3A1-22&version=NIV Following God’s Heart 1. As I read some of the laws that God, through Moses, gave the Israelites, I came to realize that many of the laws were simply caring for and respecting others.  For example, Exodus 22: 26-27  talked about taking a person's cloak as a pledge. It was to be returned before the sun sets because it’s his only covering while he sleeps.  Chapter 23:6 says “You shall not pervert the justice due your needy brother in his dispute…..” and verse 8 states “You shall not take a bribe because it blinds the clear-sighted and subverts the cause of the just.”  ...