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January 3rd Reading – Packing up Christmas

Today’s reading – Genesis 7:1-Genesis 10:31-32 and 1 Chronicles 1:5-1:23

Just some thoughts on today’s reading…
v.7:2 – I honestly never knew that Noah was asked to bring 7 of every clean animal and 2 of every unclean animal. Did you know that? All this 2 by 2 stuff—I had it all wrong. It says in verse 9 that it was done “as God had commanded Noah” so it was in fact a lot more animals than I EVER imagined! I was reading John Wesley’s commentary on this. Wesley says this was really God’s care and kindness to man. Thank goodness he writes that the Earth was created to be populated with heards of Buffalo and sheep rather than tigers! Yes, God’s care and kindness indeed!

v.7:24 – Ok…I always thought of Noah and the animals sitting in that stinky boat for 40 days. But it was actually 6 LONG stinky months. For 150 days the waters remained floading the earth–and then several weeks later after sending the dove out twice they finally got off the boat. Can you imagine SIX long months!

v.9:3 – Did you realize that in the beginning God instructed Adam and Eve to eat the plants but NOT the meat. BUT–here in verse 3 we get the go ahead to eat meat. It just has to be dead without lifeblood. I like my hamburgers well-done.

Chronicles reading—How about that description of Nimrod? Nimrod “grew to be a mighty warrior on earth”. So…the next time someone calls you a nimrod—don’t get your feelings hurt;)

Packing up Christmas:(

I’m in denial. I finally packed up Christmas. The real tree went to the curb on Christmas day making me look like a ba-hum-bug to my neighbors (I forgot to water it and it HAD to go!)…but it was very much still Christmas here with 4 artificial trees. 3 of them came down today. 1 left to go tomorrow. Because I’m in denial…here’s a picture pulled from our Christmas family time…

The YOUNG women…
IMG_8905 copy Okay…it’s the Young women and I’m represented BEHIND the lens;). Can I just say I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the family I married into? Not only are they so fun to around–but they are so encouraging and edifying too. What a blessing that EVERY woman in this picture KNOWS the LORD! What a blessing and a gift! I look forward to all of our get togethers–and we travel near and far to be with them. I just LOVE.

12 responses to “January 3rd Reading – Packing up Christmas”

  1. Melissa Avatar
    Melissa

    I am really impressed you are getting up so early and then getting to your blog! Oh,I remember in East Asia when you were petrified by hiking up that mountain, I think you held onto me the whole time! And I remember when you made that magnetic board for parker, I am impressed that the kids still really like it! It really is a great idea! I think when I finish all my paper work for the adoption, maybe getting to make this would be a reward! I love creating things! You truly are blessed with such great in-laws! Have a great Sunday!

  2. Andrea Avatar
    Andrea

    I do remember that Melissa!!! Still as just afraid of heights! And don’t let the post time fool you;)…I wrote that the night before and put it on a scheduled post time:) I am NOT a morning person either!!! But I know some people do their reading in the morning so with our scripture reading I wanted to post early. My brain actually doesn’t begin functioning normally until at least 11am;)

  3. Amy @ Filled With Praise Avatar
    Amy @ Filled With Praise

    My husband and I are reading the bible readings at night when the kids are in bed, so my comments might be a bit delayed in relation to the reading for the day.

    I love what you did with the magnet board…so cute. The pics of Frank in the chair are so cute. Ryann thinks she is as big as her siblings too. Guess that’s what happens when you are the baby. It won’t be long though and she will be trying to love on Elijah like Taylor and Cade love on her 🙂
    Blessings,
    Amy

  4. Amber Avatar
    Amber

    Hey! I’m not doing the exact same reading plan, but Scott and I are doing our own together. But, like most reading plans it started out just the same as yours. 🙂 Something that stuck out to me (us) is that when Eve ate the apple from the tree…she wasn’t alone. Adam was right there beside her. So many times women get the bad rap about “causing sin in the world” – but we really can’t take all the credit. 🙂 I’m enjoying reading your blog, and even though we’re not doing the same reading plan, I still feel some accountability.

    Oh, my fantasy is to go in a hot air balloon ride. If I ever get to, I’ll be sure to take lots of pictures for you!

  5. Heather Avatar
    Heather

    The readings were good this morning. Everyday will be though! That would stink to live on the boat for 6 months! There are a couple of questions I thought of. Do you think the animals while on the boat had offspring because it says when Noah got off the boat, he immediately made an animal sacrifice/offering to God. I guess there were 7 of the clean animals, so they may not have had offspring. It would have gotten a little crowded. Also, do you guys think that fish and sea creatures died as well? They were already in water, so……? Just a thought. There may be something I missed in the reading. Thanks for your thoughts! I never would have put the Nimrod name together! That’s cute!

  6. Charisa Avatar
    Charisa

    Hey gal…kids are making a movie (rather loudly I might add) and hubby is watching a game on the tv..and I’m sitting here drinking tea and doing Bible Study with ladies who I really don’t even know where they are…kinda sweet! (Also..I am going to post the readings on my blog too and link back to yours if that’s okay) Kinda neat to see how many people God can move through this!

    Alrighty, Here are my thoughts!

    I love thinking of all those animals walking up into the ark! I am an animal lover and that just excites me so! Can you imagine..all those animals–BIG ones at that too with the tiny ones…I would have LOVED to have been there for that part..(the everyone dying..not so much)

    Neat thing to do is measure that out for your kids..(ark size) I did that for children’s church one time and they were blown away..it so hard to just imagine a size..but seeing it is so more real. I would love to see that one in the Netherlands.

    ch. 8 vs 1 . I did a bible study once on the God ‘remembering’. From what I ‘remember’–it’s not that God forgets. But it is when He acts. Like when we do something in remembrance of someone. We never forgot that them but we acted and did something because we have them on our minds. I kinda like that thought of God ‘remembering’ me.

    Ch 8 vs.10 Noah waiting 7 days to let the dove back out…I think I would have tried every morning and been frustrated! God is still working on my patience!

    Chapter 9 re-iterates to me how precious life is to God. I can’t fathom how bad it must have really been that Noah and his family were the only ones that were able to be in the ark. That ALL the people were that corrupt. I can’t imagine how that must have grieved God and even Noah.

    Ch 10 vs. 8–Nimrod, mighty warrior and hunter..I loved that too! Made my heart smile when I read it. I always wonder how God would describe me in His Word. Humbling thought!

    Also..for question whether fish/sea creatures died. I always understand that they didn’t. Re-reading it, it says the ‘face of the earth’ so I am taking that to mean land. But I haven’t researched it for the root meaning.

    Thanks Andrea for starting this!

  7. julie johnston Avatar
    julie johnston

    Oh, Heather, that’s a good thought on the animal sacrifice. My husband is in semianry, and I love to pepper him with questions! On an adoption note, some of you have sent me the most ENCOURAGING notes over the past week….. I have printed them all off and am saving them in my “adoption journal”. I received a lot of orders this week, and am so thankful! Also, a fundraising opportunity just “fell out of the sky” (hum, wonder who made it fall?:) I am kindof a coupon nut, and have spent months learning how to regularly walk out the grocery store with $200 or so worth of food for under $50. I love getting “paid” to take things from CVS. I mentioned this on face book a couple weeks ago, and there are masses of ladies wanting a couponing class!!!! I am setting a few up and am going to charge a $10 donation to our fund! I am THRILLED about this! I think we could come up with about half the agencies fees through these classes…a church is even thinking about hosting it with a nursey for a “ladis retreat” type thing!!! Yea!!! Praising the Lord…and so ready to sign that AGCI contract and start with the process!

  8. Nikki Avatar
    Nikki

    3 for 3 so far… whew! Thanks so much for your insight… I, too, was surprised to read about the numbers of “clean” animals brought aboard the ark, and I’ve read Genesis how many times in my life? 🙂

    These first few readings especially brought to mind the book “Many Waters” by Madeline L’Engle. So many unanswered questions re the Nephilim, the “Sons of God” intermarrying with humankind, etc. I’ll just add those questions to the long list I already have, all of which I hope will be answered in Eternity… when we will see not just in part but in the whole.

  9. Megan Avatar
    Megan

    One thing I noticed for the first time was that the waters gushed from underground as well as from the sky. I suppose I just always pictured it as a heavy rainfall. But God is more creative than I am! =) After all…He created my creativeness! But how depressing to see nothing but rain for 40 days!!! Yuck! And I thought Seattle was bad! I am just in awe of how much water it took to cover the earth…and twenty-something feet above even the highest mountain…and for 150 days! 10 and a half months is a LOOONG time to be cooped up on a boat – talk about cabin fever!!! This story really is just incredible.
    Now this is really random…maybe…but when did animals live on our planet? My husband’s theory was always that they died during the flood…but God said to take every animal on the boat, so that can’t be it. My theory was that that during the creation…it says a day was as 1000 years. So maybe when God created all of the animals, dinosaurs roamed the earth, but died off before God even created man! Hmmm…that’s a question I want to ask God when I get to heaven!!! Good thing we’ll have tons of time for question and answers!!! =)
    Anyway…it saddens me to think of how God felt during the flood. I picture a tortured look on His face as the water levels rose, drowning all those animals and people.
    Thanks for being so great about posting early…it gets me all geared up…I’m not a mornign person either but I find I’m a much more positive person if I immerse myself in the word right away!
    Also, love the chalkboard/magnet idea! So cute!!! Frank and my boy seem to be about the same age. I wish we could get them together!!!

  10. becky Avatar
    becky

    I came across your blog from another blogger friend. I recognized Rebecca in your photo and showed my mom who recognized all the girls! Such a small world…my mom and Rebecca were best childhood friends. We adopted our son from Ethiopia in April and came upon your blog looking through adoption blogs, which i still love to follow!

    Love your blog!

  11. admin Avatar
    admin

    SUCH great thougths and insights!!! Loving reading these comments throughout the day. It’s so great to read different perspective! Yes—I’m with Charisa–I always understood it as the sea creatures didn’t die. Good stuff girls:) This is going to be a great year!

  12. Lena Avatar
    Lena

    I always enjoy reading your blog Andrea. I need just an ounce of your creativity. 🙂 So I’m in love with your small chairs that Frank is sitting on in the pictures. Can you share where you found those treasures? I’m searching for some play chairs and nothing has made me happy so far. Way to go on the auction by the way. I can’t get on ebay because I get so determined to win if someone else is bidding. I go nuts!

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