DAY Twenty-Seven

                                            The First Book of the
                                               CHRONICLES
                                            King James Version
                                              HOLY BIBLE 

The books of First and Second Chronicles cover the same period of Jewish history described in Second Samuel through Second Kings, but the perspect of the Times." Chronicles wasive is different. These books are no mere repetition of the same material, but rather form a devine editorial on the history of God's people. While Second Samuel and First and Second Kings give a political history of Isreal and Judah. First and Second Chronicles present a religious history of the Davidic dynasty of Judah. The former are written from a prophetic and moral view-point, and the latter from a priestly and spritual perspective. The Book of First Chronicles begins with the royal line of David and then traces the spiritual significance of David's righteous reign.

     The books of First and Second Chronicles were originally one continuous work in the Hebrew. The title Dibere Hayyamim, meaning "The Words Events [accounts, events] of the Days. "The equivalent meaning today would be "The Events of the Times." Chronicles was divided into two parts in the third-century a.c. Greek translation of the Hebrew Bible (the Septuagint). At that time it was given the name Paraleipomenon, "Of Things Omitted," referring to the things omitted from Samuel and Kings. Some copies add the phrase, Basileon louda, "Concerning the Kings of Judah." The first book of Chronicles was called Paraleipomenon Primus, "The First Book of Things Omitted." The name "Chronicles" comes from Jerome in his Latin Vulgate Bible (A.D. 385-405): Chronicorum Liber. He meant his title in the sense of the "Chronicles of the Whole of Sacred History."

                                                            Day 27

                                                    Meditation of the day

We know God by spiritual vision. We feel that He is beside us. We feel His presence. Contact with God is not made by the senses. Spirit- consciousness replaces sight. Since we cannot see God, we have to perceive Him by spiritual vision. Many persons, through they cannot see God, have had a  clear spiritual consciousness of Him. We are inside a box of space and time, but we know there must be something outside of the box, limitless space, eternity of time, and God.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may have a consciousness of God's presence. I pray that God will give me spiritual vision.

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Day Twenty-Four

                                                   The Book of Psamls
                                               King James Version Bible.

THE Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps most widely used book in the Bible. It explores the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way. Its 150 "songs" run from the Creation through the patriarchal, theocratic, monarchical, exilic, and postexilic periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgement, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament. The Psalms were set to the accompaniment of stringed instruments and served as the temple hymnbook and devotional guide for the Jewish people.
     The Book of Psalms was gradually collected and originally unnamed, perhaps due to the great variety of material. It came to be known as Sepher Tehillim--"Book of Praises"-- because almost every psalm contains some note of praise to God. The Septuagint uses the Greek word Psalmoi as its title for this book, meaning "Poems Sung to the Accompaniment of Musical Instruments." It also calls it the Psalterium (A Collection of Songs"), and this word is the basis for the term Psalter. The Latin title is  Liber Psalmorum, "Book of Psalms."

                                                                Day 24     

                       Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it. Then all the trees of the
                                   woods will rejoice before the Lord. For he is coming.
                                                                                Psalms 96 : 12-13

There's a sense of excitement and anticipation as harvest time nears. Days, even weeks before I plan to harvest from my garden. I begin to prepare. I collect my harvesting "tools"--like fabric sacks. Yes, I  said fabric sacks (bags). I use my large fabric sacks that I sewed 6 years ago during the cold winter months. I like to use my large fabric sacks when I pick fruits and veggies. When the apples or carrots are gathered in the sack. I can wash them outside. I can turn my sacks inside out, shake the dirt out, toss them in my washer and they are ready to go the next trip out to my garden or to the grocery store any where I need to carry extra storage with me. They save time and keeps most of the mess outside the house.

As harvest approaches, I also take stock of my pantry. I count and check canning jars, shop for freezer bags and canning lids, and clear my freezer and basement shelves to make way for the new harvest stock.

Getting ready for harvest time is necessary and exciting! Preparing builds my anticipation and heightens my sense of purpose and joy about gardening.

Psalms 96 reminds me of a different kind of harvest--the final judgement--when our Lord and Savior, Jesus, will return to judge the earth and take us home to heaven. You might want to read the entire psalm to catch the excitement!

One day the final harvest will come. What a priviledge it is that God invites us to have a part in the preparation for that harvest--Judgement Day. How does the Holy Spirit help us prepare? He gives us a sense of purpose--to share our faith with others. The Spirit gives us strength--to remain faithful to Christ no matter what happens. And the Holy Spirit gives us joyful anticipation--the sure knowledge that the eternal life in heaven awaits us and all believers in Jesus, our risen and reigning Lord.

Prayer suggestion. Ask your Lord Jesus to help you purposefully live today in preparation for His final harvest.

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Day Twenty-Three

                                                         The Book of                  
                                                           PSALMS
                                           King James Version Holy Bible

The Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps most widely used book in the Bible. It explores the full range of human experience in a very personal ans practical way. Its 150 "songs" run from the Creation through the patriarchal, theocratic, monarchical, exilic, and postexilic periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgement, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament. The Psalms were set to the accompaniment of stringed instruments and served as the temple hymnbook and devotional guide for the Jewish people.
     The Book of Psalms was gradually collected and originally unnamed, perhaps due to the great variety of material. It came to be known as Sepher Tehillim--"Book of Praises"--because almost every psalm contains some note of praise to God. The Septuagint uses the Greek work Psalmoi as its title for this book, meaning "Poems Sung to the Accompaniment of the Musical Instruments." It also calls it the Psalterum ("A Collection of Songs"), and this word is the basis for the term Psalter. The Latin title is Liber Psalmorum, "Book of Psalms."

                                                                     Day 23

                                                          Those who sow in tears
                                                                Shall reap in joy.
                                                 He who continually goes forth weeping,
                                                           Bearing seed for sowing,
                                                Shall doubtless come again with rejoicing,
                                                        Bringing his sheaves with him.
                                                                              Psalms 126:5 - 6

You need more than seeds to grow trees--you also need patience and longevity. That's because trees are very slow growers. If I plant a small sapling today, even if weather conditions are perfect, disease and pests are absent, and the sapling itself is from healthy stock,I still may not live long enough to see that tree reach maturity.

Why then do I plant trees? Because I love them! I know how good it feels to sit under a tree's shade. I love hearing the breeze whisper through the branches. I appreciate the strength and solid rootedness a tree represents. Will I see my trees reach maturity? I don't know, but I intend to keep planting them!

The sower in today's Bible reading  isn't planting trees, but he demonstrates the patience and faith of a person who plants seeds of a different type-seeds of faith that are sown as the Word of God is shared with others. Even though the job sometimes brings the sower to tears, he nevertheless keeps on planting.

Where are you sowing the seeds of God's Word? At work? With family members or friends? Do you ever feel discouraged? Then why sow seeds? Why share God's Word? Because you know what it's like to be securely held in your Savior's arms, and you know love how the Holy Spirit whispers encouragement into your life. You've come to appreciate and depend upon your Father's strength and love. And you want others to experience all these good gifts of God, too!

Most of all, we keep sowing the seeds of the Word because God has promised a harvest:

                        [The LORD says,] My word... shall not return to Me void,
                                       But it shall accomplish what I please, 
                               And it shall prosper in the thing for which I sent it.
                                                                               Isaiah 55:11

Prayer suggestion. Pray today for people who need to hear and believe the Good News of salvation through Jesus. Pray for help in sowing, too. </145494>
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Day Twenty-two

                                                           The Book of
                                                             PSALMS

The Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps most widely used book in the Bible. It explores the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way. Its 150 "songs" ran from the Creation through the patriarchal, theocratic, monarchical, exilic, and postexilic periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgement, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament.
     The Book of Psalms was gradually collected and originally unnamed, perhaps due to the great variety of material. It came to be known as Sepher Tehillim--"Book of Praises"--because almost every psam contains some note of praise to God. The Septugint uses the Greek word Psalmoi as its title for this book, meaning "Poems Sung to the Accompaniment of Musical Instruments." It also calls it the Psalterium ("A Collection of Songs"), and this word is the basis for the term Psalter. The Latin title is Liber Psamorum, "Book of Psalms."  King James Version, Holy Bible.

                                                           Day 22

                                                         Like a tree...
                                      That brings forth its fruit in its season.
                                                                              Psalms 1:3

Timing is everything. If you want to enjoy your garden year-round, plant the right types of flowers, trees, and brushes, and you can enjoy color in your yard from January to December and every month in between. Planting the right combination of vegetables at the right time can ensure garden-fresh eating for months!

The Bible verse for today reminds us that every living thing brings forth its unique fruit in its season-at the proper time. I wonder if the same holds true for the harvest of "fruit" in our own lives. Here's what I mean: When I was young, I wished I was older so that I could sing in our church choir.

About the time I was old enough to join the choir, I wished I could be a teacher in a Christian school. When I was old enough to become a Christian teacher, I dreamed about serving as a missionary. And on it went. As I continually looked to the future, I failed to act on current opportunities for service--the "here-and-now harvest."

Don't misunderstand-I think dreams and aspirations are fine. I also know that preparation and maturity are sometimes a prerequisite for certain types of service. But merely waiting for the right time might mean an opportunity lost forever. It's great to work toward a goal, but the Holy Spirit also wants us to be open to fruit-bearing opportunities all along the way.

Prayer suggestion. Are you waiting for a more opportune "harvest time" in your own life? Could God be opening a door for service for you today? Ask Him to help you see fruitful possibilities in your life right now.
</145494>  King James Version, Holy Bible

Twenty-First Day

                                          The First Book of Moses Called
                                                         GENESIS
                                            King James Version, Holy Bible

The first part of genesis focuses on the beginning and spread of sin in the world and culminates in the devasting flood in the days of Noah. The second part of the book focuses on God's dealings with one man, Abraham. Abraham and his descendants learn firsthand that it is always safe to trust the Lord in times of famine, blessing and bondage. From Abraham...to Isaac...to Jacob...to Joseph...God's promises begin to come to fruition in a great nation possessing a great land.
     Genesis is a Greek word meaning "origin,"  "source,"  "generation,"  or "beginning."  the original Hebrew title Bereshith means "In the Beginning."
     The literary structure of Genesis is clear and is built around eleven seprate units, each including the word generations in the phrase "There are the generations" or "The book of the generations":  (1) Introduction to the Genealogies (1:1--2:3);  (2) Heaven and Earth (2:4--4:26);  (3) Adam (5:1--6:8);  (4) Noah (6:9--9:29);  (5) Sons of Noah (10:1--11:9);  (6) Shem (11:10-26); (7) Terah (11:27--25:11); (8) Ishmael (25:12-18); (9) Isaac (25:19--35:29); (10) Esau (36:1--37:1); (11) Jacob (37:2--50:26).

                                                     Twenty-first Day

                              While the earth remains, seedtime and harvest
                 cold and heat, winter and summer, day and night, shall not cease.
                                                                                   Genesis 8:22

Ever wonder why gardeners garden? It's a valid question-one I've often asked myself. Especially as I hunker down in the damp spring soil to carefully cull weeds that are nested between emerging seedlings.

Why garden? I wonder, as I pinch potato beetles and slap at mosquitoes that buzz around my head.

Why garden? is the question I hear in my mind as I wrestle my tomato plants into their cages or apply calamine lotion to my poison ivy spots.

Why garden? I ask, especially when my kitchen temperature tops 90 degrees as quarts of green beans sizzle inside the pressure canner, and I frantically search cookbooks for new ways to use up the never-ending supply of zucchini.

Most gardeners garden because of the harvest--fresh fruit, ripe from the trees; snappy vegetables, bursting with flavor; or beautiful bouquets of fragrant, homegrown flowers. It's the harvest. It's all about the harvest.

The harvest is a reminder of the cycle we call life. Read Genesis 8:22 once more. There is a sure and abiding comfort in this verse. It's a promise that helps keep me focused on the real reason for living-God is growing me for His harvest. There will be difficulties-summer, slugs, and sadness; winter, weeds, and worries- but as long as the earth remains and I have life, God will be with me.  Along with the cold, my Savior will provide warmth of His forgiveness and love. Nighttime won't frighten me, because I know that as  I sleep, my God will not. And in the end-the very end- God will gather up His harvest. It will be a great and joy-filled harvest of believers in Jesus, the Savior.

Prayer suggestion. Picture yourself in the final harvest of believers. Ask Jesus to help you live today with that final harvest in mind.   http://a1itsinthebag.blogspot.com,http//lindagjehoich.blogspot.com,http://listening4u.blogspot.com, http://www.orble.com/Winning

Day Twenty

                                                         THE ACTS
                                                       of the Apostles
                                           King James Version Holy Bible

JESUS' last recorded words have come to be known as the Great Commissions: "Ye shall be witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the earth" (1:8). The Book of Acts, written by Luke is the story of the men and women who took that commission seriously and began to spread the news of a risen Savior to the most remote corners of the known world.
     Each section of the book ( 1-7; 8-12; 13-28) focuses on a particular audience, a key personality, and a significant phase in the expansion of the gospel message.
     As the second volume in a two-part work by Luke, this book probably had no seperation title. But all available Greek manuscripts designate it by the title Praxeis, "Acts," or by an expanded title like "the Acts of the Apostles.' Praxeis was commonly used in Greek literature to summarize the accomplishments of outstanding men. While apostles are mentioned collectively at several points, this book really records the acts of Peter (1-12) and of Paul (13-28).

                                                           Day 20

                                    The gift of the Holy Spirit was poured out.
                                                                         Acts 10-45

What kind of gift can you give your favorite gardener? Most gardeners enjoy receiving packets of seeds, bulbs, and plant containers. Tools are useful, as are getting books. But for something a little out of the ordinary, consider giving homemade, organic plant food, better known in gardening circles as "willow water."

For centuries, herbalists and gardeners have used this simple, homemade solution for propagating seedlings and stimulating growth in existing plants.

It's easy to make willow water, or willow tea, as it's sometimes called. Simply cut tender, new-growth stems and leaves from a willow tree.

Trim your gathered foilage to one-inch pieces, and place roughly three cups of the willow trimmings into a five--gallon bucket of water. Let the mixture steep for several days, then strain the tea--colored willow water into jars and refrigerate. This unsual gift is sure to please your favorite gardening friend.

Not many gifts are "poured out" before they become useful. But take another look at today's Bible verse. In fact, you may find it helpful to read Acts 10 in it's entirety. This section of Scripture recounts the apostle Peter's visit with Cornelius. As Peter preaches, the Holy Spirit is suddenly poured out on everyone listening--Jews and Gentiles alike.

Peter made himself available to the Spirit's leading. The Spirit, in turn, worked through the apostle's message to instill faith in the hearts of the many listeners. Many were filled with the Spirit and were baptized.

What do you think happened next? The Spirit continued His work-pouring out God's grace and mercy-through the words and actions of those new believers. And on and on...

Prayer suggestion. How can you better yield to the Spirit's guiding in your own life? What obstacles sometimes prevent you from passing on the Good News of salvation to others? Talk to your Lord about it.
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The Holy Bible.

Day Nineteen

                                                 The Book of
                                                      Psalms  King James Version Bible

 The Book of Psalms is the largest and perhaps most widely used book of the Bible. It explores the full range of human experience in a very personal and practical way. Its 150 "songs" run from the Creation through the patriarchal, theocratic, monarchical, exillic, and postexillic periods. The tremendous breadth of subject matter in the Psalms includes diverse topics, such as jubilation, war, peace, worship, judgement, messianic prophecy, praise, and lament. The Psalms were set to the accompaniment of stringed instruments and served as the temple hymnbook and divotional guide for the Jewish people.
     The Book of Psalms was gradually collected and originally unnamed, perhaps due to the great variety of material. It came to be known as Sepher Tehillim--"Book of Psalms"--because almost every psalm contains some note of praise to God. The Septuagint uses the Greek word Psalmoi as its title for this book, meaning "Poems Sung to the accompaniment of Musical Instruments.; It also callls it the Psalterium 9A Collection of Songs"), and this word is the basis for the term psalter. the Latin title is Liber Psamorum, "book of psalms." King James Version... Holy Bible.

                                                     Day 19

                          How precious is Your lovingkindness, O God!
                                   ...With You is the fountain of life.
                                                                  Psalms 36: 7-9

The quiet bubbling of a garden fountain adds peaceful tranquilty to any garden setting.

That's what the newspaper advertisement proclaimed, but I needed no convincing. I'd dreamed about a garden fountain for a long time, and now seemed like the perfect opportunity to act.

I toured several garden shops and home-inprovement stores in search of just the right fountain for my yard. The longer I looked, the more confused I became.

Fountains, I discovered, come in all sizes and shapes. There are stark, sleek, modern designs, as well as elaborately detailed fountains. Animals and human forms adorn some, while other fountains boast of flowers and birds. Each fountain produces its own unique sound, as well--from gentle gurgling to fierce splashing--and every sound in between. Then there are pump sizes, water requirements, installation, and maintence considerations.

The complexity of choosing a fountain suprised me. I'm glad the fountain in today's Scripture verse is a lot simpler! Can you see the picture the psalms paints? God's love and kindness bubble into and over our lives through the power of the Holy Spirit. His mercy and grace splash down on us, even though we've done nothing to deserve it. The fountain of eternal life never runs dry, it pours out in continual streams, over and over and over again. Day after day, minute by minute, the fountain pours down blessings--a deeper relationship with Jesus, our Savior, and a continual growth in Him, demonstrated as we serve others in self--forgetful love.

God's beautiful and enduring fountain--aperfect picture of His love.

Prayer suggestion. Think about the first time the fountain of God's grace splashed mercy down on you. How is the Spirit currently refreshing you? Praise and thank Him for His eternal fountain of love. </145494>

Day Eighteen

                                      The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to the
                                                        ROMANS       King James Version, Bible.

Romans, Paul's greatest work, is placed first among his thirteen epistles in the New Testament. While the four Gospels present the words and works of Jesus Christ, Romans explores the significance of His sacrificial death. Using a question-and-answer format, Paul records the most systematic presentation of doctrine in the Bible. Romans is more than a book of theology; it is also a book of practical exhortation. The good news of Jesus Christ is more than facts to be believed; it is also a life to be lived--a life of righteousness befitting the person, "justified freely by [God's] grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (3:24).
     Although some manuscripts omit "in Rome" in 1 :7, 15, the title Pros Romaious, "To the Romans," has been associated with the epistle almost from the beginning.

                                                     Day 18

                  The love of God has been poured out in our hearts
                                          by the Holy Spirit.
                                                                 Romans 5:5

I love the taste of fresh, homegrown tomatoes. This hearty plant does best when its roots grow deep into the soil so it can tap subsoil moisture during the dry, hot days of summer. I've found that if I water my tomatoe plants in a normal fashion, the roots tend to grow near the top of the ground, rather than at a deeper, healthier depth.

To solve my "shallow root" problem, I use a rather unconventional method to water my tomatoes. Here's what I do: First, I throughly clean an empty 2-liter plastic bottle or milk jug. I polk several holes in the sides and bottom of the bottle and bury it (up to the neck of the bottle) beside my tomato plant. Everyday, when I water the garden, I fill the buried container with water. Droplets slowly seep through the holes all day long, keeping the roots deeply hydrated. The constant, steady watering seems to produce a much healthier tomato plant.

Constant, steady watering...hmm, maybe there's a lesson that all of us can learn. Could there be a way for the Holy Spirit to constantly refresh us all through our day? Consider:

--Reading our Bible during breakfast

--Hearing Christian stations programmed into your car's radio

--Glancing at an inspiritional calendar or notes on your desk at work

--Persuing a pocket-sized Bible in your purse

--Placing "sticly dots" on your computer and elsewhere as a reminder to invite the Holy Spirit's help and peace

--Listening to Christian music CDs as you commute/or exercise

--Meditating on the text of a Bible or prayer book on your nightstand

Prayer suggestion. What can you do to keep a continual, steady stream of God's Word working in your life through the Holy Spirit? Ask your Lord's help in adapting new "watering methods" in your life today. </145494> http:lindagjehoich.blogspot.com,http://a1itsinthebag.blogspot.com,http://www.orble.com/Winning

Day Seventeen

                                         The Epistle of Paul the Apostle to
                                                           TITUS

TITUS, a young pastor, faces the unenviable assignment of setting in order the church of Crete. Paul writes advising him to appoint elders, men of proven spiritual character in their homes and businesses,to oversee the work of the church. But elders are not the only individuals in the church who are required to excel spiritually. Men and women, young and old each have their vital functions to fulfill in the church if they are to be living examples of the doctrine they profess. Throughout his letter to Titus, Paul stresses the necessary, practical working out of salvation in the daily lives of both the elders and the congregation. Good works are desirable and profitable for all believers.
     This third Pastoral Epistle is simply titled Pros Titon. "To Titus." Ironically, this was also the name of the Roman general who destroyed Jerusalem in A.D. 70 and succeeded his father Vespasian as emperor. King James Version, The Bible.

                                                     Day 17

                     According to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of
                 regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out
                              on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior.
                                                                           Titus 3: 5 - 6

It's a gardener's dream--a slow, steady, soaking rain. The kind of rain that sinks in, rather than runs off. Rain that gently, but thoroughly, washes off the dust and grime from eve and makes each plant's colors more vibrant and beautiful than before. Rain that hits the earthry leaf, every petal, and makes each plant's colors more vibrant and beautiful than before. Rain that hits the earth with purpose, steady streaming down--deep down--to the roots of every garden plant. Life--giving, life--sustaining rain.

A steady, soaking rain--that's the picture my mind paints as I consider today's Bible verse. I invite you to step into the picture, too.

Can you see yourself? Hesitantly removing your shoes. Your bare toes stepping out onto the grassy garden path. Catching the clear, cool water drops with your tongue. Laughing as streams of mercy wash across your nose and cheeks. Twirling, then dancing in the rain--rejoicing in God's forgivness and grace. Kicking up water drops with joy, knowing that you are clean--righteous because of your Savior, Jesus. Jumping and splashing in water puddles with wild abandonment.

God, your good Gardener, sees you. And as He watches your joyful dance, He smiles.

Prayer suggestion. Write a personal prayer of praise to your Lord today. Thank Him for His gift of forgiveness and salvation through Jesus. </145494>