October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 30 and 31

Wow!  It's the end of October already!  Wasn't it just October 1st?  Well, here's the last 2 days of the October verse challenge.

Day 30 was "Clothes."  I could think of lots of verses about clothes.  Here's one.

"And they crucified him. Dividing up his clothes, they cast lots to see what each would get." - Mark 15:24 (NIV)

And today's theme is "Whatever you please."  I'm going to take that literally.

"Why do the nations say,

“Where is their God?”

Our God is in heaven;
he does whatever pleases him." - Psalm 115:2-3 (NIV)

This has been a really fun challenge for me, and I've enjoyed finding the verses each day.  I'd love to do it again sometime.  :)

Oh, and Happy Halloween!  :D

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 and 29.

Heh heh heh, let's not waste time on excuses.  Day 24.  "Weather."  There's a lot of verse about weather in the Bible, but I can't find the exact one I was thinking of, since I don't know the reference. This one's close.

"He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. " - Matthew 5:45 (NIV)

Day 25 was "People."

"I will say to those called ‘Not my people,’ ‘You are my people’;
and they will say, ‘You are my God.’” - Hosea 2:23b (NIV)

Day 26's theme was "Listening to."  I'm not sure if I actually ever settled on a verse for this one. 

"Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with me. " Revelation 3:20 (NIV)

The theme for day 27 was "Morning."  I thought of this verse right away.  It was very fitting, as it seems like a lot of people have been having bad stuff happening in their lives lately.

"For his anger lasts only a moment,

but his favor lasts a lifetime;

weeping may remain for a night,
but rejoicing comes in the morning. " - Psalm 30:5 (NIV)

Yesterday's theme was "Looking back."  Well, I thought of the classic Bible story of Lot's wife.

"But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt. " - Genesis 19:26 (NIV)

And finally, today's theme.  "Moon."  And yes, I have used this verse before.  It's a good verse!

"When I consider your heavens,

the work of your fingers,

the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him? " - Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

Well, there you have it.  6 day's worth of verses.  I have been finding the verses on their assigned days, I just haven't gotten around to posting them.  :)

How's your week been?

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 22 and 23

Day 22: "In your town."

"After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands." - Revelation 7:9 (NIV)

What does this have to do with my town?  Well, people from my town will be part of that great multitude.  :)

Day 23: "The view from here."  Is it cheating to use a verse twice?  Ha ha.  I'll just do two verses. 

"Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known." - 1 Corinthians 13:12 (NIV)

I've used this verse before, but it definitely fits.  Our view from here is so dim and warped. 

"When I consider your heavens,
the work of your fingers,
the moon and the stars,
which you have set in place,
what is man that you are mindful of him,
the son of man that you care for him?" - Psalm 8:3-4 (NIV)

Another view from here is the stars.  Well, ok, it's cloudy tonight, but whatever.  When we consider the stars and the hugeness of the universe, it changes our view on things and we realize how small we are.  But yet, we are still so important to God!  Crazy, right?

Niki

October Verse A Day Challenge: Day 21

I love today's theme.  "Calm."  I love that it was today's theme, because God was really speaking to me on the topic of peace and trust this morning in church.  Someone read this story, and it really got my attention.

^"14 The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, except for one loaf they had with them in the boat. ¹⁵ “Be careful,” Jesus warned them. “Watch out for the yeast of the Pharisees and that of Herod.”
 ¹⁶ They discussed this with one another and said, “It is because we have no bread.”
¹⁷ Aware of their discussion, Jesus asked them: “Why are you talking about having no bread? Do you still not see or understand? Are your hearts hardened? ¹⁸ Do you have eyes but fail to see, and ears but fail to hear? And don’t you remember? ¹⁹ When I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
“Twelve,” they replied.
 ²⁰ “And when I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many basketfuls of pieces did you pick up?”
They answered, “Seven.”
 ²¹ He said to them, “Do you still not understand?” " - Mark 8:14-21 (NIV)

This story takes place right after Jesus miraculously feeds 4,000 people.  The disciples are in their boat, and they've forgotten to bring enough food.  I don't think this story is really about them forgetting their lunch, but part that hit me was when Jesus asks them how many baskets of leftovers they picked up after His miraculous meals.  Did the Lord only provide "just enough?"  No!  He provided abundantly more than was required.  What does this have to do with "calm?"  I guess the Lord was just showing me that I need to chill out and trust Him, because He's going to take care of things.  We can have peace because of that promise.  Jesus is the Prince of Peace.  And just for fun, here's another story about calm for you. 

^"35 That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” ³⁶ Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. ³⁷ A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. ³⁸ Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?”
 ³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm.
 ⁴⁰ He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?”
 ⁴¹ They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!”" - Mark 4:35-41 (NIV)

Jesus spoke and there was instant calm.  Isn't that awesome? 

So there.  You get a lot of verses and thoughts from me today.  It was a good Sunday.  I visited my best friends church today, and it was a good spiritual change of pace.  So yeah, I was feeling extra wordy.  And I'm not sorry.  ;)

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 16, 17, 18, 19 and 20

 

Another catch-up post.  It's been a busy week.  I finally had a day off yesterday after working 7 and 8 hour shifts the last 3 days.  Anywhoo.

Day 16: "Something you wrote."  I wrote this verse on a piece of paper on a magnetic heart frame on my dresser so that I would remember to focus on it.  Theoretically.

"Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship." - Romans 12:1


Day 17 was "Fruit."

“Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. By their fruit you will recognize them. Do people pick grapes from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? Likewise every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, and a bad tree cannot bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.Thus, by their fruit you will recognize them." - Matthew 7:15-20 (NIV)

18's theme was "Made you smile today."  Well, it was a beautiful sunny day, and the wind was blowing through the colorful fall trees.  That made me smile.

"He makes clouds rise from the ends of the earth; he sends lightning with the rain and brings out the wind from his storehouses." - Psalm 135:7 (NIV)

Yesterday's theme was "Letters."  There are lots of letters in the Bible.  Most of the New Testament is made up of letters to churches or individuals.  I've always loved the little personal greetings at the ends of some of them and the other things that remind you that it was a real letter written by a real person.  


"See what large letters I use as I write to you with my own hand!" - Galatians 6:11 (NIV)

And finally, today's theme is "4 o'clock."  Nothing came to mind right away, so I did a quick Google search, and lo and behold!

"Come and see," he said. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon when they went with him to the place where he was staying, and they remained with him the rest of the day." - John 1:39 (NLT)

I intended do a post last night, but the internet stopped working.  Ugh.  Anyway, I hope you are all doing well and enjoying this lovely October that is flying by all too quickly.  :)

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 11, 12, 13, 14 and 15 (Yikes!)

Oh dear.  It's been a while since I posted.  I've been kinda busy with work and stuff.  I haven't been putting together the greatest outfits, since the only place I've been going is work, and I haven't finished any of my many projects that are lying around either, so I haven't had any good post material.  But enough excuses.  Here's 5 days worth of verses.  I've found the verses (mostly) on their respective days, I just didn't get around to posting them. 

Day 11: "Something close up."

"For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known." - 1 Corinthians 12:13 (ESV) 

Now we see dimly, but then we'll see face to face, or close up.  :)

Day 12 was "On the table."

"You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.  You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows." - Psalm 23:5 (NIV)

Self-explanatory?

Day 13 = "Landscape."  This one was hard.  Probably because I was trying to find a verse right before bed.  I don't think I ever really settled on one that day, but here's one that works.

"I lift my eyes up to the hills -- where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth." - Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV)

I'm sure there's plenty of verses about landscapes in the Bible, but I had a hard time thinking of one that night.  :P

Day 14's theme was "Makes you laugh."  This one was hard too.  But this Bible story is a little humorous in a weird way. 

"Then he went up from there to Bethel; and as he was going up by the way, young lads came out from the city and mocked him and said to him, “Go up, you baldhead; go up, you baldhead!” When he looked behind him and saw them, he cursed them in the name of the LORD. Then two female bears came out of the woods and tore up forty-two lads of their number." - 2 Kings 2:23-24

It's actually kind of horrible...but it's so random, you kind of want to laugh.  I don't know...

And finally, today's theme for day 15 is "Dinnertime."  Perhaps a verse about one of the most famous dinners of all time is in order.

"While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”  Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you.  This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins.  I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.” - Matthew 26:26-29 (NIV)

Well, I'll try to be more consistent this week.  :)

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 9 and 10

 

 

Day 9's theme was "Red."  The first verse I thought of was this.

 

"The sun will be turned to darkness and the moon to blood before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord." - Acts 2:20 (NIV)

 

It doesn't actually have the word "red" in it, so I also found this one.

 

"Then another sign appeared in heaven: an enormous red dragon with seven heads and ten horns and seven crowns on his heads." - Revelation 12:3 (NIV)

 

Then today's theme is "Emotion."  There are so many I could choose for this topic.  The Bible can be a very emotional book.  :)  The obvious choice for today's verse is the shortest verse in the Bible.

 

"Jesus wept." - John 11:35

 

Sometimes, I think we tend to portray Jesus as an un-emotional person, and we treat emotions almost like they are sin.  I've even heard people say "You know, the Bible doesn't ever say that Jesus laughed..."  I don't think they're trying to say that Jesus didn't laugh, but it came across as if they thought of Jesus as a very serious person.  I don't agree.  Laughter is a gift from God.  Of course, it can be used in the wrong way, to make others feel bad, but true, joyful laughter is beautiful.  I believe that Jesus laughed with His friends, just as much as I believe He wept for them.  We also know that Jesus got angry.  He drove money-changers out of the temple with a whip!  Jesus understands our emotions, because He experienced them too.  Interesting thought.  Well, that's it for now.  :)

 

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Day 8

Ok, so today's theme is a lot harder than any of the others so far.  "Angle."  There was nothing in the concordance for angle, and an internet search just corrected it to "angel" which isn't what I wanted.  So I had to get creative.  I thought of two possibilities.

"as far as the east is from the west,

so far has he removed our transgressions from us. " - Psalm 103:12  (NIV)

 

As far as the east is from the west is an angle, right?  Sort of?  I also thought of this one.

 

"'For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,'

declares the Lord.

'As the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways

and my thoughts than your thoughts.'" - Isaiah 55:8-9

 

The heavens being higher than the earth is a math/angle thing, sort of.  Also, this verse talks about how God has a different perspective about things because He is God and we are not.  Different perspective equals different angle, more or less.

 

So there's my verses for the day.  They were kind of a stretch for the theme, but whatever.  :)

 

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 6 and 7

Another two day post.  I did actually think of a verse yesterday, I just didn't get a chance to post it.  :)

The theme for yesterday was "I'm thankful for..."  There are so many verses about gratitude and thanksgiving in the Bible.  That's because it's important.  :)  And I have so much to be thankful for.  But here is the verse I chose.

"giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.  For he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins." - Colossians 1:12-14 (NIV)

That's what we ought to be most thankful for all the time.  That God has qualified us to be apart of the Kingdom of his Beloved Son, and has chosen to redeem us from all of our sin.  I definitely take this for granted sometimes, when I shouldn't.

Ok.  Day 7.  "Light."  Wow.  So many choices for this one, too.  But as soon as I looked at the list today and saw that word, I immediately thought of this verse.

"When Jesus spoke again to the people, he said, 'I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.'" - John 8:12 (NIV)

Just another thing to be thankful for.  We will never walk in darkness, because we have Jesus, the light of the world. 

I hope you all are having a wonderful Sunday!

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Day 5

Today's theme for the Verse a Day challenge was "shadow."  I thought of 2 verses. 

"He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty." - Psalm 91:1 (NIV)

"Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me." - Psalm 23:4 (NIV)

I love both of these verses.  They're both about the comfort that the Lord gives us.  :)

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge: Days 3 and 4

Day 3's theme was "This happened today."  I don't know why, but almost immediately I thought of this (I didn't think of the whole verse by memory, though):

"Also before the throne there was what looked like a sea of glass, clear as crystal.

In the center, around the throne, were four living creatures, and they were covered with eyes, in front and in back. The first living creature was like a lion, the second was like an ox, the third had a face like a man, the fourth was like a flying eagle. Each of the four living creatures had six wings and was covered with eyes all around, even under his wings. Day and night they never stop saying:

'Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord God Almighty,
who was, and is, and is to come.'"  - Revelation 4:6-8 (Emphasis mine)

I was struck by how the 4 creatures never stop praising God.  They praised Him yesterday, they praised Him today.  While we went about our day, these beings were praising God.  We always talk about the things the Bible says God does, but sometimes I think I forget that He is doing those things today.  As in now.  I don't know if I can explain quite what I mean, but this thought really got my attention yesterday as I was thinking about the challenge theme.

Now for day 4.  "What you read."  Maybe this is an odd way to interpret the theme, but I thought of this story:

"So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. " - Nehemiah 8:2-3

Again, I had to look it up to get the details.  I couldn't even remember who it was that read the Law aloud...oops.  Anyway.  Everytime I read this story, I'm amazed that the people stood and listened attentively for hours!  It started a huge revival.  But I can't picture most Americans ever paying attention to anything for that long.  Maybe we need to become better listeners.  :)

Well, there's my thoughts for days 3 and 4!

Niki

Verse a Day Challenge: Day 2

Today's theme for the Verse a Day challenge is "Lunchtime."  Well, there's a lot of verses about food and eating in the Bible.  Here's just one.

"Better a meal of vegetables where there is love, than a fattened calf with hatred." - Psalm 15:17.

I've always loved food.  But I've been learning that you can eat way less and way healthier and still be completely satisfied and happy. 

I planned to post more tonight, but I've gone and misplaced my camera card.  I think it's inside the couch somewhere.  That'll be the second one.  I'm gonna tear the couch apart now to try to find it.  So there may be another blog post later tonight.  :)

Niki

October Verse a Day Challenge

So apparently, October is the month to challenge yourself to do 31 days of something.  I've seen stuff on a couple different blogs, but I love this particular challenge because it actually seems do-able and is a great thing to focus on everyday.  And no, I'm not taking a picture every day, although I actually might now I think about it...Anyway, I'm going to come up with a verse that goes along with the "Photo A Day" list.  I got this idea from Helen at the Blue Eyed Beauty Blog, who got it from someone else. 

Today's theme was "Where you stood."  Well, that's kinda obscure, but a verse did come to mind right away.  I thought of the verse that talks about how the Lord knows when we sit and when we rise, when we go out and when we are at home.  I looked it up and I love this translation of it.

"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home.  You know everything I do." Psalm 139:2 (NLT)

Do you want to take the verse a day challenge too?  I'd love it if you'd join me!

Niki