Day 34 - February 5, 2010

Today's Reading: 2 Chronicles 35 - Ezra 10

Something to Ponder:
What difficulties did the Jews experience during rebuilding, and does that remind you of any of your experiences? (Ezra 1-9)

Today's Key Verse:  Ezra 3:11
With praise and thanksgiving they sang to the LORD:
"He is good; his love to Israel endures forever."
And all the people gave a great shout of praise to the LORD, because the foundation of the house of the LORD was laid.

Encouragement for Today:
I keep hearing from our folks of the excitement of this challenge.  Even one of our retired pastors has remarked how refreshing and "eye-opening" sitting and reading these large chunks of Holy Scripture is.  How do we process what we are reading.  Luther taught consistently, " ask what God is trying to teach you in this." But he always counseled that this is best asked in prayer!   

The Lutheran Word for Today:
"One Christian who has been tried is worth a hundred who have not been tried, for the blessing of God grows in trial.  He who has experienced them can teach, comfort, and help many others in bodily and spiritual matters."  Martin Luther, in an exposition on Genesis 27:28-29