Imagine That! Reading a Whole Letter in One Sitting!

I wanted to read through the book of Hebrews this afternoon, but I wasn't sure if my Sunday nap would try and take over! Why did I feel like this was such an accomplishment? Wouldn't the early church read through whole letters all the time in one sitting? Or maybe even standing!

I was thinking about how we have more copies of the word than ever before, but perhaps read it less, comparatively speaking. Or at the least, maybe our easy access makes the word seem less valuable.

Well, here's an excerpt from my reading today (formatting mine):

19 Therefore, brothers, 
   since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the         blood of Jesus, 20 by the new and living way that he               opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his           flesh, 21 and 

since we have a great priest over the house of God,

22 let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. 

23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without                 wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And 

let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works,
25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but 
encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

Hebrews 10:19-25 English Standard Version (ESV)

Joseph and Lottie

Joseph surprises me sometimes (he's 7). "Mom, what year is Lottie's birthday?

Me: Uhh, 2017 in August, cause that's when the girls and I went to Texas. Do you mean when she would have been born? Because she was due in March. It's kinda weird, cause her birthday  and death day are the same day- at the end of August. Oh, are you wondering because you wanna know when we're gonna have the cake?

Joseph: Yeah!

(He had asked earlier if we could celebrate Lottie's birthday like we celebrate every one else's - with a special dessert. I had asked him what he thought we should have, and he said yellow cake with brown sugar frosting. And guess what? That's his favorite too!😁)

The Lord Is My Shepherd

I was struck by this as I read it this morning:

15 And he blessed Joseph and said,
“The God before whom my fathers Abraham and Isaac walked,
    the God who has been my shepherd all my life long to this day,
16 the angel who has redeemed me from all evil..."  [Genesis 48:15-16a English Standard Version (ESV)]

Many of us would say that God is our shepherd. But there is something about Israel, formerly Jacob, saying this, the man who worked 7 years taking care of his father-in-law's flocks for each of his wives. He knew what it meant to be a shepherd.

David also knew what it meant to be a shepherd, and he wrote:

Psalm 23 English Standard Version (ESV)
A Psalm of David.
23 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name's sake.

4 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.

5 You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever.