Seeking Pearls

These beautiful, often un-read books show us beautiful truths and realities of God's patience, love, justice, and righteousness. They also bring us great hope for the day when the Kingdom that can't be shaken comes in its fullness.

Today we look into the prophecies or Obadiah, Jonah, and Micah. God has mighty things to tell us!

Both Joel and Amos teach us about the great and dreadful say of the Lord...the day when God judges sin. It will be glorious for those who love God and dreadful for those who reject God. Much in these books is disputed and unknown for certain, but the beauty and power of our God, and the provision of Jesus' blood for our sins...those truths are clear and certain.

Hosea shows us God's passionate love for his people. Just as Hosea's promiscuous wife continually turned against him, so have God's people turned against him time and again. Yet, God promises to restore his faithful covenant if Israel is willing to repent and come home.

Daniel! Such an amazing book of the Bible! It is impossible to cover all of the amazing prophecies of Daniel in one podcast, but I do my best to summarize and teach the lesson in each chapter that grabbed my heart the most.

Many Bible scholars consider the end of Ezekiel to be one of the most complicated sections of text in the Bible. Therefore, we know we won't exactly understand everything we read and discuss today; but that is okay! We get an amazing foretaste of resurrection and the hope of the River of Life. Best of all is the promise that God will dwell forever with his people.

In the midst of judgment on the nations, Ezekiel brings words of hope and restoration. We are pointed to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, to the Kingdom of God-mustard tree that will never fall, and to the restored Garden of Eden.

In today's chapters we face the reality and severity of God's judgment. There is no way around it. But as we read, let us remember that God himself suffers as his people suffer, and in the end he bears the full weight of our sin upon himself. We also see the beauty here of Jesus being the true vine, and we are his branches. Let us live in him, for apart from him we can do nothing.

Ezekiel's prophecy can be confusing and obscure, but it is also filled with marvelous visions of God that ought to take our breath away.

In today's text we read about God bringing judgment to many nations, and we hold onto his promises of restoration. At the end of Lamentations we see the beautiful promise that God's throne and God's Kingdom will last forever, as all other kingdoms fall.

As we read about the downfall of Jerusalem and God's judgment on the nations, let us remember that God is a long-suffering God who suffers with his people. In the end, God takes our punishment for sin upon himself by sending His Son to save the world.

Jeremiah's ministry is filled with strife and suffering, and yet God gives him, the Israelites, and us a promise of the abundance of true peace.

Jeremiah 13-24

Today we begin Jeremiah!

What a joy Isaiah has been! Today's text is filled with magnificent descriptions about the New Creation and the redemption of Jesus.

These chapters in Isaiah are an amazing gift! What a joy to get to read and talk about the New Creation and the return of Christ with you! One of the most thrilling parts is looking into the layering of the prophetic fulfillments, and how many prophecies are fulfilled in different ways at different times in history. Ultimately, Jesus fulfills them all.

Today's text is filled with incredible prophecy that is ultimately fulfilled in Jesus!

Today's text includes one of my absolute favorite passages in the entire Old Testament! Although we see alot of judgment on sin and evil, we also see great and beautiful promises or restoration and redemption.

Today's text includes great judgment on the nations for oppressing the poor and trampling the refugee. In the end, we hold onto hope for the throne that is established in love.

Isaiah! Wow! The prophet Isaiah wrote an incredible book offering hope, justice, truth and righteousness. In Isaiah we read about God's judgment on sin, his love for the poor and oppressed, and glorious promises of his Kingdom to come.

Today we celebrate God's gift of marriage and human sexuality with the Song of Songs.

Who knew that teaching on the most depressing book of the Bible could be so fun! Ecclesiastes teaches us to set our eyes above, not on things "under the sun."

Today's text has some wonderful wisdom and some very challenging texts. When we get to Proverbs 31, you will hear my honest struggles with the text. Suffice it to say that if it's really about how I should be as a wife and mom, I am falling short!

There is so much wisdom in our Proverbs today! So many of these verses jumped off the page and grabbed my heart. I want to be wise; seeking wisdom and knowledge from God is the only way to get there.

Today we begin Proverbs! Let us seek wisdom! The Proverbs reading will be: Day 53: Proverbs 1-11 Day 54: Proverbs 12-21 Day 55: Proverbs 22-31

Today we finish our time in the Psalms! I have absolutely loved the last 11 days of studying the magnificence and beauty and honesty of the Psalms!

Today's Psalms are known as the Psalms of Ascent, sung for hundreds of years by Jewish pilgrims who were going to Jerusalem for festivals. As we read them, let us join together in these ancient songs of praise and dependence on God.

Today we get to talk about the gems of Psalm 119! Join me!

Today Psalms include many amazing truths about God, as well as some extremely important verses that Jesus and the NT writers use to explain the deity of Christ. We also read the middle chapter and the middle verses of the Bible today! The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15
Day 43: Psalms 16-30
Day 44: Psalms 31-45
Day 45: Psalms 46-60
Day 46: Psalms 61-75
Day 47: Psalms 76-90
Day 48: Psalms 91-105
Day 49: Psalms 106-118
Day 50: Psalm 119
Day 51: Psalms 120-134
Day 52: Psalms 135-150

Today's collection of Psalms includes incredible poetry and theology about God. We see victory over the enemy, the second coming of Christ, the New Creation, and fabulous celebration of God's creation. The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

Today's text is filled with more stunning Psalms, filled with poetry about the wonders, love, and beauty of our God. The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

I love today's Psalms! Join me as we read and discuss God's power, care, refuge, Kingship, and prophecies about Jesus!

We have some wonderful truths in today's text! There is a river that bring us hope, life and vitality! Additionally, we can know for certain, as David knew, that God is for us. The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

Today's selection of Psalms again includes the full gamut of human emotions, from shouts of praise to cries of despair. The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

Today's Psalms are all written by David. As we read and pray these psalms, we get to express the full range of human emotions, all resulting in praise and honor of God.  The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

The Psalms are Israel's ancient worship book, and they are also the most quoted OT book in the NT. Every NT author quotes or references the Psalms, and Jesus himself quoted the Psalms many times. The Psalms include honesty with God regarding every single human emotion. There is nothing we cannot bring to God!  The reading plan for the Psalms portion of 100 days is: Day 42: Psalms 1-15 Day 43: Psalms 16-30 Day 44: Psalms 31-45 Day 45: Psalms 46-60 Day 46: Psalms 61-75 Day 47: Psalms 76-90 Day 48: Psalms 91-105 Day 49: Psalms 106-118 Day 50: Psalm 119 Day 51: Psalms 120-134 Day 52: Psalms 135-150

What a joy it has been the last four days to study Job with you! As we conclude Job, we see the majesty, wonder, authority, power, intelligence, and might of our amazing God. Join me!

In today's text we get more mixed theology from Job's friends. We also see Job longing for friendship with God, yet knowing for sure that God is with him and will restore him.

In today's text we see Job's friends offering very little help and very much criticism. Job's suffering leaders him through a myriad of feelings from utter hopelessness to moments of resurrection hope. The raw honesty of Job should encourage us to bring our honest feelings to God.

In the first 10 chapters of Job we see fascinating interactions between God and Satan; we see intense suffering, and we see the mediator between God and mankind, the Lord Jesus who intercedes for us all the time.

Today we reached a milestone in our 100 Days journey- we finished all the historical books! This is an overview of what I have learned about the history of the Jewish people and most importantly about God himself.

In the wonderful story of Queen Esther, we see God saving his people through the courage and bravery of a young woman and her uncle. God is sovereign through all the events of every empire. His Kingdom is the only one that will last forever.

In Nehemiah we see that God protects us against our enemies. It is our job as Christ-followers to know the opposition, figure out their schemes, and keep following God anyway.

In the book of Ezra we see God bringing back waves of exiles back into the land of Israel. God mightily uses kings of other countries to support, send, and finance the project of the temple rebuilding. The people trust in God for protection, provision, and joy.

In the last section of 2 Chronicles we see the people of Judah ping-ponging back and forth in faithfulness and disobedience to God. God, however, remains steadfast and faithful. We see his forgiveness in a mighty and powerful turn of events, and we hang on for dear life to the God who receives us despite our sin.

Today's chapters include a great deal of rivalry, intrigue, battle, murder, and betrayal. More important than any of that, however, is the faithfulness of our long-suffering, covenantal God who never lets go of his people.

As we begin 2 Chronicles, we see Solomon rise to the Kingship. What starts out faithfully and strong ends in idolatry. And yet, even though God knew it would happen, he still comes and fills the temple with his glory, presence and power.

Today's starts out with some surprising spiritual warfare and several mighty encounters with the Angel of the Lord! By the end, we are praying for an undivided heart to serve our God wholeheartedly.

In today's reading we see the faithfulness of God as he leads David to power and victory and reinforces his covenant with David. We also see the holiness of God as David attempts to move the Ark of the Covenant without God's instruction or guidance. Correction: In the podcast I mentioned that the ark was in Kiriath-jearim for several centuries; however, I meant to say several decades.

God is into the details! As we read genealogies, let us remember that God cares deeply for every person listed. He knows their stories, and He sent his son to die for their salvation. These names matter!