2019 Reading

I read 31 books in 2019 and the entire New Testament to finish my goal of reading the Bible.

The Bible

In April of 2013 I started reading the book of Genesis with the goal of reading the Bible cover to cover.  Just shy of 7 years later, I accomplished my goal!  It has been such a commitment, experience and period of discovery.  I have had dry spells, can't get enough spells, and lukewarm to the idea of it spells.  But isn't that our journey of faith?  Discovery, and falling in love over and over with God and his word?

It's Not What You Think

I really enjoyed this book's perspective.  It is just a author's interpretation of their understanding of the Bible, but it was good perspective and thinking.  I just remind myself that the Bible is the true answer and authority.  As I read other books, I must keep checking the Bible to be sure I'm not being led astray. 

But this book was a quick read with good perspective and thoughts.

Love Does

I enjoyed this book and his passion for others and doing things.  It was clear he comes from a perspective of having the funds for wild adventure.  I'm sure he's worked hard for that and prioritizes well.  It made me think of an example of to whom much is given, much is expected.  But I had a hard time imagining incorporating big actions in this book into my life.

Jude

• Fight to keep your faith
• People in your group are sinful and misleading
• Remember the destruction of the Old Testament
• False teachers blame others and do evil
• Show mercy to others
• Praise God and stay in His love

3 John

• Help fellow believers teaching the Good News

2 John

• Love each other; obey God's command
• False teachers won't say Jesus came as a human to Earth

2 Peter

• God gives us blessings, so in our lives we need to add faith - goodness - knowledge - self-control - patience - service to God - kindness to brothers and sisters in Christ - love
• Prophecy came from God by the Holy Spirit through the prophets
• False teachers are sinful
• Wants to help Christians remember
• God is being patient with people for He doesn't want them to be lost
• Be ready and look forward to the second coming
• Keep your faith
• Don't wrongly interpret Paul's letters

1 Peter

• Blessings cannot be destroyed and are kept in heaven
• Faith is shown pure in troubles
• Before we know we follow evil ways; now tat we know, we must live a holy life
• As babies want milk, want the teachings; Jesus is the cornerstone
• Live for God, obey authority
• Respect our spouse; wives be holy to influence; not influential by clothes and/or jewelry
• Suffer for doing right = blessed
• Respect Christ, be ready to explain your hope with gentleness and respect
• Strengthen yourself as Christ did to withstand evil desires
• Love will cause sins to be forgiven
• Suffering because a Christian trust and faith gets you through
• Watch over your people humbly as an example not as a ruler
• Give your worries to God

a hope more powerful than the sea

This was a heavy book that stirs compassion.  It's a true story of a journey that is awful (and that is putting it lightly). 

It is something I wish more people would read, embrace and think on in a world that is so quick to judge and hate. 

It reminds of the saying I once heard "there's not a person you wouldn't love if you know their story."

Faithful: Christmas Through the Eyes of Joseph

Our church's Advent Bible Study is reading this book.  While I don't attend the Bible Study class with other folks, I do read along.  And our Pastor preaches on this lesson for the week on Sunday's too, so I enjoy following along.

However, I did not love this youth study book version.  I found it only loosely connected to Joseph and distracted from the story of Joseph with many other stories along the way.  Each with their own merit, but I wish I'd just read the original book in place of this.

James

• Trouble should equal joy for troubles test our faith and give us patience
• Doubters are like waves in the sea; thinkin in 2 different directions at once and being undecided
• Poor proud because rich in spirit; rich proud because shown spiritually poor
• God does not tempt anyone; lead to sin by our own evil desire
• Listen, study and obey God's word
• Care for orphans and widows and stay free of evil
• Do not make some people more important than others
• Disobey a command and it is like you've broken all the commands
• Faith without action is nothing/dead
• Deeds alone don't show belief; demons believe in on God too
• Faith made perfect in action; they work together
• Control your tongue, we all make mistakes but good and bad shouldn't come from the same source
• True wisdom is pure, peaceful, gentle and easy to please
• Selfish desires lead us away from God
• Come near to God and God will be near to you
• Don't judge
• Knowing the right thing and not doing it is sin
• Worldly riches don't last
• Be patient and watch your words
• Prayer is powerful

Hebrews

• God spoke through prophets before Jesus; then the Son reflected the Glory of God
• The Son is greater than all of the Angels; angles worship the Son
• Lord will remain even when Earth and skies are destroyed and He will never change
• Angels are spirits who serve God and help those who will receive salvation
• Don't stray from trust; salvation is great
• God -> Jesus -> Angels -> People
• Jesus became lower than angels as human; suffered and died for us; then rose to be at God's right hand
• Jesus didn't help the angels
• Jesus was the high priest on Earth
• Jesus no can help those who are tempted because He suffered and was tempted
• Jesus is greater than Moses; builder is greater than the house; God is builder of every thing
• Keep the faith until final rest; don't turn away
• Nothing can be hidden from God
• Jesus is our high priest, chosen by God, an honor, sacrifice for eternal salvation because of his obedience and perfection
• Move forward in learning and teaching to grow
• Do not leave the faith and sin shaming God; work hard until Hope and God's promise are reached
• God cannot lie in promise or oath; He is our safety and hope to anchor our soul
• Priest Melchizedek, means King of Goodness and King of Peace and no one knows who his parents were, when he was born or when he died; he continues to be a priest forever
• Abraham gave Melchizedek 1/10 of everything from battle even though he wasn't from the tribe of Levi
• Jesus is like Melchizedek and is priest forever bringing us near to God
• Jesus the priest is unlike the other priests who had to make sacrifices daily for Jesus offered himself
• Jesus is at the right hand of God
• God made a new agreement with us through Jesus
• Reminder of the Old Agreement and the Holy Tent with the Ark
• A will is useless until someone dies
• Christ bring a new agreement; blood cleanses and shows death of sins
• Holy Place replaced with heaven = most Holy Place
• Christ death takes away sin
• Christ second coming is for those waiting for salvation
• Trust God, don't turn back; help others and go to church
• Faith is being sure of things we hope for knowing it is real even though we can't see it
• Cannot please God without faith
• Go to God believing He is real and knowing he rewards those who seek Him
• Examples of faith from any people in scripture
• God has something better planned for us
• Keep the faith; follow the examples before us, follower Jesus example; remove things that hold us back
• Let God's discipline teach and change us
• Live with God in mind
• God's kingdom cannot be shaken but everything created will be
• Welcome strangers; remember those suffering and in prison; keep your marriage pure
• Strengthen your heart with God's grace, not food rules

The American Heiress

I wasn't so sure about this book for sections of it.  In my Bible reading lately, I'd been learning a little about the mere following of the law doesn't make our hearts right.  And with the rigid expectations of positions and appearances it was a great example of just because everything look good on the outside and rules were followed, hearts weren't in the right place.  Ultimately the ending brought it altogether so I didn't dislike the book anymore. Maybe I never really disliked the books, but I certainly wasn't excited about it for period of time either.

Philemon

• A letter from Paul and Timothy to Philemon, a sister and a fellow worker
• Philemon is full of faith and love for others
• Paul doesn't want to give orders, but wanted Philmont to work with Onesimus
• Onesimus was a slave, now a useful servant

Titus

• Paul write to Titus
• Titus is appointing elders in towns; elders must have only 1 wife and believing children
• Elders hold onto what is true and can tell others when their ways are wrong
• Paul tells Titus to encourage the people: young and old; men and women - to be wise and true; to show they serve God and are waiting for hope and the coming of Jesus
• Don't speak evil and do goo
• Don't follow the enjoyment of your body, but remember the kindness and love of God and do good deeds
• Also Titus, help others teaching the Good News

2 Timothy

• Paul encourages Timothy
• Timothy comes from a family of faith
• They serve sharing the Good News
• Avoid evil and quarreling and do good
• In the last days, believers will turn away and turn to evil
• Follow the teachings, use the scripture to guide your life; keep the faith

1 Timothy

• A letter from Paul to Timothy
• Stay and tell them not to spend time on false teachings but on faith items
• God shows mercy when we believe
• Jesus is patient
• Don't shipwreck your faith
• Pray for believers and leaders
• Men: pray without anger or arguments
• Women: do good deeds, not fancy clothes
• Women should be quiet and not teach because of Eve, but saved through children
• What qualifies someone to be an elder and deacon
• Don't follow false teachers
• Serve other and serve God for it helps you in every way in this life and the future
• Treat others with respect as parents and siblings
• Care for windows who are alone, let families care for their own windows
• Families should care for each other so the church can care for those without family
• Don't share in others sin
• Some sins and deeds aren't easily seen until later
• Want of money leads you astray; serving God makes us very rich

2 Thessalonians

• Paul, Silas and Timothy brag of the Thessalonians to other churches for they stand in suffering and trouble
• When they Lord comes, non-believers will be punished
• Man of Evil will come and turning away from God by the people before the Lord will come again
• Man of Evil from Stan and will do false miracles, signs and wonders
• Stand strong and believe Good news teachings
• Pray the Good News keeps spreading
• Be willing to work for yourself, but don't treat those who don't as enemies, but warn them as fellow believers

1 Thessalonians

• Thessalonians believed and stopped worshipping idols and spread the Good News
• Paul uses his words to try to please God, not people
• Paul accepted them as the word of God, not just people
• Paul wants to visit again, but is glad when Timothy brings good news of them back to him
• Live a life pleasing to God, no sexual sin
• Take care of your business and you will be respected
• When the Lord comes again, those who have died first will go before those still living
• The Lord's coming will be a surprise but believers should be prepared and not asleep; faith, love and hope will protect us in the coming of the Lord
• Appreciate hard workers
• Live in peace
• Encourage the afraid
• Help the weak
• Be patient
• Don't return wrong with wrong
• Keep what is good, stay away from evil