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?

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

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

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

Colossians

• Paul writes to the people of Colossee wishing grace and peace and thanking them for their faith, hope and love
• Christ is first; all things are created through Him and for Him; Christ first rose from the dead and made us friends with God again
• Christ is our only hope for glory; so we share all God's teachings with other people to bring everyone to God
• Paul in body is away from them, but with them in heart
• Be strong in faith as taught and thankful
• Don't be fooled by human teaching
• Don't follow rules of people about eating, drinking, feats; hold tight to Christ - the rules don't really control sinful desires as they aim to
• Paul tells of how you should live with your new life in Christ: think only of heaven, stop evil things for doing them is like serving a false God, forgive, love, everything you do, do for the Lord
• Treat other people well
• Always be kind and pleasant with talking with others
• Paul tells of the people whit him and who he sends to the people
• Share the letter with the church

Philippians

• Paul opens his letter wishing them grace and peace from prison
• Paul prays joy and thanks for these people in Philippi and prays for their love and understanding and the work God is doing in them
• Paul in prison helps spread the Good News; people are more bravely sharing the message
• Some are sharing Good News for the wrong reason, but the message is still being shared
• Be unselfish like Christ; be humble
• Hoping Timothy and Epaphroditus are sent to them soon for they work in Jesus
• Paul strictly followed the law as a Pharisee, then he learned of Christ and was made right
• Paul is continuing toward Christ's goal for him, but he hasn't yet reached it
• Our homeland is in heaven
• Christians should be full of joy in the Lord, be gentle and kind; don't worry about anything; pray about everything; give thanks; God will bring peace
• Think about good and worthy things
• Paul is tankful for their care and giving
• Paul can live in poverty and plenty with strength of Christ
• Paul isn't wanting gifts, but wants Christians to have the good that comes from giving

Ephesians

• God chose His people before Jesus in love; He has given us every blessing with Jesus
• Heaven & Earth joined together; Christ is the head
• Holy Spirit is guarantee of God's promise
• We are all sinful and deserve God's anger for our sin; but God's mercy is great and He gave us new life with Christ
• We cannot save ourselves
• Christ broke down the barriers between Jews and non-Jews
• God's love is more than we can understand
• Christ gave gifts to people, the body of Christ to grow each other in peace and love toward Christ's perfection
• Change your life; know Biblical truth not false prophets; don't steal; don't say harmful words; be kind, loving & forgive
• Live a life of love
• No sexual sin; don't talk of other dark sins
• Be careful how you live
• Husbands love your wives as you love yourselves; wives respect your husbands
• Children obey parents; parents teach your kids about the Lord
• Slaves and masters: treat each other well
• Wear the amour of God

Galatians

• Paul wishes grace and peace to others
• Beware of things other than the Good News for they should be judged guilty
• Paul does not get advice from people
• Paul only met Peter and James, no other apostles
• Paul & Titus stood against spies and false believers in their group
• Peter told Jews; Paul told non-Jews
• To God everyone is the same importance
• If we could be made right with God by the law, Christs death would be unnecessary
• Law cannot save, faith does
• God's agreement stands firm even before the law
• Law is a guide to faith
• Paul loves the Christians and is sad when they turn away
• We are like children of Sara, for God and free; not slaves like children of Hagar
• Christ made us free, do not go back to slavery
• If we are with Christ, faith is key
• Spirit and sinful selves are against each other
• Must follow the Spirit
• Must avoid sinful choices and follow the fruits of the Spirit
• Help fellow Christians who are struggling
• Judge only your own actions, not others
• You only harvest what you plant
• When there is opportunity to help others, do it
• Do not grow tired of doing good so you can harvest eternal life
• Circumcision doesn't matter, don't let others tell you different

2 Corinthians

• Begins with thanks for God (just as in 1 Corinthians)
• Paul's plans to visit Corinth changed, but God's always constant
• Paul didn't write the firs time to make them sad, but to show his love (he was troubled and unhappy)
• Forgive those who sin against you
• Share victory in Christ; don't sell it
• The law brings death; Spirit gives life
• Law had glory; Spirit has even more glory
• Death is working within us, but so is life; trouble around, but we are not defeated
• Spirit is new in us everyday
• We want our heavenly home; what we cannot see
• Goal is to please God, we will receive what we should, good or bad
• Out of our minds for God
• Tell others of peace from God
• Don't let the grace you received be for nothing
• Be careful being attached to non-believers for they are different than believers
• Paul had joy in the change his letters brought to the people; he was sorry at first because it made them sad, but their sorrow was short and brought change in their lives
• Share in your abundance; when you are in need others will share their abundance
• Titus helps
• Help your fellow Christians
• Paul says our weapons are power from God
• Don't brag about anything but the Lord
• Paul wants to give others to Christa as a pure bride, but people are so willing to accept false teaching
• Some workers lie and change to be like apostles of Christ, but they lie
• Paul has been beaten and lived without food and clothes
• Paul will brag on his weakness
• Paul won't brag of himself so people won't think of him more than his message
• Paul brags only of his weakness because then God's power shines through
• Paul had a painful physical problem he begged God to remove, but it kept Paul weak; God's grace is enough
• Paul loves the Christians and wants to teach them and not be a burden to them, but to give to them
• Test yourself and your faith
• Paul wants to build people up, not tear down