60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Jun 30

It's Day 56 and we're in 2 Samuel 8.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Nothing really jumped out to me today.

Help:
- Verse 2 - Why David chose this unusual, random, and seemingly cruel method for executing some of his enemy is a mystery to me.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 55 - Sat Jun 29

It's Day 55 and we're in 2 Samuel 7.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - We need to hold onto some of this "who am I" no matter how long we've been walking with God.  Spiritual pride is deadly.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 54 - Fri Jun 28

It's Day 54 and we're in 2 Samuel 6.

Is the Bible an old dusty book? Nope - ". . . the Word of God is living and active. . ." (Hebrews 4:12). Dig into today expecting it to speak to you.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 14, 16 - When you're praising God with abandon, oblivious to others' opinions, you're probably going to end up making someone unhappy.

Help:
- Verses 7-8 - This seems like an unnecessarily harsh punishment for the "crime."  Presumably it was intended to show Israel the holiness of the Ark.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Where God Spoke To You:
- "Ecclesiastes is one of my favorite books of the Bible..
Yesterday’s Bible Study sure was a God-Send....
Ecc. 3:3, 4, 6, 8....a time to break down and a time to build up....a time to mourn and a time to dance, a time to keep and a time to throw away, a time to keep silence and a time to speak...  AND in Ecc. 4:9-12 .. The Value of a Friend..... made me realize that I sure do miss my Friend - my brother who passed away June 4.... We were not close during our teen years, but since then (many years ago)... We grew pretty close... I sure miss him!"

* * * * *

Here are the readings for the new 60 days, which starts Monday.  If you'd prefer to have the readings on a one-page PDF, just email me at butcher@ymail.com.

1: 2 Samuel 9 (Monday, July 1)

2: 2 Samuel 10
3: 2 Samuel 11
4: 2 Samuel 12
5: Matthew 1
6: Matthew 2
7: Matthew 3

8: Matthew 4 (Monday, July 8)

9: Matthew 5
10: Matthew 6
11: Matthew 7
12: Micah 6
13: Haggai 2
14: Zechariah 13

15: Zechariah 14 (Monday, July 15)

16: Malachi 3
17: Hebrews 1
18: Hebrews 2
19: Hebrews 3
20: Hebrews 4
21: Hebrews 5

22: Hebrews 6 (Monday, July 22)

23: Hebrews 7
24: 1 Samuel 16
25: 1 Samuel 17
26: 1 Samuel 18
27: 1 Samuel 19
28: 1 Samuel 20

29: 1 Samuel 21 (Monday, July 29)

30: 1 Samuel 22
31: 1 Samuel 23
32: 1 Samuel 24
33: 1 Samuel 25
34: 1 Samuel 26
35: Matthew 8

36: Matthew 9 (Monday, August 5)

37: Matthew 10
38: Matthew 11
39: Matthew 12
40: Matthew 13
41: Matthew 14
42: Lamentations 1

43: Lamentations 5 (Monday, August 12)

44: Song of Solomon 1
45: Song of Solomon 2
46: Hebrews 8
47: Hebrews 9
48: Hebrews 10
49: Hebrews 11

50: Hebrews 12 (Monday, August 19)

51: Hebrews 13
52: Acts 13
53: Acts 14
54: Acts 15
55: Acts 16
56: Psalm 47

57: Judges 13 (Monday, August 26)

58: Judges 14
59: Judges 15
60: Judges 16

60IN60 Day 53 - Thurs Jun 27

It's Day 53 and we're in 2 Samuel 5.

We're going to be reading some of the key passages where David takes over as king up through his sin with Bathsheba.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 10 - Instead of trying harder, we need to get closer to God.  One of the consequences would be that God would move on our behalf and we would see greater things through our lives.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 52 - Wed Jun 26

It's Day 52 and we're in Ecclesiastes 3.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? We have the Word so that as believers we can be "equipped for every good work" (2 Timothy 3:17). Read the Word so you're ready for what life throws at you.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - He has "set eternity in their hearts."  There is something within each of us that longs for life beyond this life.  I think it's there because there is life beyond this life.

Help:
- Verse 1-22 - Remember that Ecclesiastes is written from the perspective of someone trying to make sense of life without a vibrant relationship with God in their life.  Understanding that helps passages like verses 17-22 to make more sense - those are not the words of someone who deeply understands God.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

* * * * *

We're starting a new 60 days on Monday.  Here are the readings:

1: 2 Samuel 9 (Monday, July 1)
2: 2 Samuel 10
3: 2 Samuel 11
4: 2 Samuel 12
5: Matthew 1
6: Matthew 2
7: Matthew 3

8: Matthew 4 (Monday, July 8)

9: Matthew 5
10: Matthew 6
11: Matthew 7
12: Micah 6
13: Haggai 2
14: Zechariah 13

15: Zechariah 14 (Monday, July 15)

16: Malachi 3
17: Hebrews 1
18: Hebrews 2
19: Hebrews 3
20: Hebrews 4
21: Hebrews 5

22: Hebrews 6 (Monday, July 22)

23: Hebrews 7
24: 1 Samuel 16
25: 1 Samuel 17
26: 1 Samuel 18
27: 1 Samuel 19
28: 1 Samuel 20

29: 1 Samuel 21 (Monday, July 29)

30: 1 Samuel 22
31: 1 Samuel 23
32: 1 Samuel 24
33: 1 Samuel 25
34: 1 Samuel 26
35: Matthew 8

36: Matthew 9 (Monday, August 5)

37: Matthew 10
38: Matthew 11
39: Matthew 12
40: Matthew 13
41: Matthew 14
42: Lamentations 1

43: Lamentations 5 (Monday, August 12)

44: Song of Solomon 1
45: Song of Solomon 2
46: Hebrews 8
47: Hebrews 9
48: Hebrews 10
49: Hebrews 11

50: Hebrews 12 (Monday, August 19)

51: Hebrews 13
52: Acts 13
53: Acts 14
54: Acts 15
55: Acts 16
56: Psalm 47

57: Judges 13 (Monday, August 26)

58: Judges 14
59: Judges 15
60: Judges 16

60IN60 Day 51 - Tues Jun 25

It's Day 51 and we're in Ecclesiastes 2.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - Without the hope of eternal life, there is a bitterness in knowing our only legacy is left to those who may mistreat it.

Help:
- Verse 1-26 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to today.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 50 - Mon June 24

It's Day 50 and we're in Ecclesiastes 1.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is. . . profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness" (2 Timothy 3:16). Reading the Bible will make your day more "profitable."

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - More knowledge often makes your life more difficult.

Help:
- Verses 1-18 - It's essential to understand the purpose of Ecclesiastes.  It is a wise man who is not following God describing how the world seems to him.  What is why it references all these wonderful things of life that the writer (almost certainly Solomon) ultimately finds "vanity" (i.e. meaningless).  The point of Ecclesiastes is this: no matter how much of the wonders and glory of this earth you experience, if you don't have God in your life, you will ultimately find it meaningless.  Ecclesiastes is my favorite Old Testament book because it speaks so clearly to today.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Comment And Questions:
- ³ Be on your guard! If your brother sins, rebuke him; and if he repents, forgive him. ⁴ And if he sins against you seven times a day, and returns to you seven times, saying, ‘I repent,’ forgive him.”
"This is the verse preceding the disciples exclamation to increase their faith.  So often I've been preached to by well-meaning friends that I have to forgive some egregious error done to me by someone.  It seems to me, if I understand the words of Christ, that the offender must initiate the response by asking for forgiveness.  Then there's the turn the other cheek premise.  I suppose it's healthier to forgive an offense whether or not one has been approached by the offender asking for forgiveness, but perhaps it isn't a requirement?" - While these verses point toward the idea that the guilty party should request forgiveness, there are other passages that do not include that requirement.  They simply require that we are to forgive the one who has wronged us.

60IN60 Day 49 - Sun Jun 23

It's Day 49 and we're in Luke 24.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 49 - A good principle to remember: don't move till you receive power from on high.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 48 - Sat Jun 22

It's Day 48 and we're in Luke 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 39 - "Save Yourself and us!" - He couldn't do both, and He chose to save us.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 47 - Fri Jun 21

It's Day 47 and we're in Luke 22.

What's the Bible say about the book you're reading today? "All Scripture is inspired by God. . ." (2 Timothy 3:16). So reading the Bible helps me know how God sees things.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 35 - I needed the reminder today that He won't allow me to lack what I need.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 46 - Thurs Jun 20

It's Day 46 and we're in Luke 21.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 10-24 - These are frightening and upsetting ideas that we'd rather ignore, but Christ says they are a part of the future.  We've got to squarely face them. . . and be ready.

Help:
- Verse 18 - Verse 18 is a word of comfort, but you have read it in the context of verse 16.  This is not a promise that no trouble will come, but that we are eternally protected spiritually.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 45 - Wed Jun 19

It's Day 45 and we're in Luke 20.

One thing that's important as we read daily: being eager to hear Him speak to you. Go into your reading expectant that God desires to share something with you.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 46-47 - God help me to live a life of spiritual honesty and not settle for a façade of spirituality the way the Pharisees did.

Help:
- Verses 41-44 - This can be a difficult passage to understand.  The gist of it is this:  The Christ was to come after David.  Given that the ancestors generally received greater honor, the Christ should have honored David (his ancestor) by calling him "Lord."  Instead, the Bible records that David calls the Christ "Lord."  Why?  The correct answer (and one that His enemies would not want to acknowledge) is that the Christ was born after David, but was greater than him because He was God Incarnate.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 44 - Tues Jun 18

It's Day 44 and we're in Luke 19.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - It's enormously encouraging to know that God wants us to live productive, fruitful lives - lives that produce ten-fold, a hundred-fold.  It's also enormously challenging to know that God expects great things from our lives through the power of the Spirit.

Help:
- Verses 8-9 - It seems odd that Jesus claims salvation for Zac here even though he hasn't made a traditional "confession of faith."  I think that what Zac does is an indication of the internal change of heart that has happened.  At the end of the day, it's not saying a particular set of words that gets us right with God - it's grabbing onto Jesus and wanting Him in our hearts to change our lives that matters.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 43 - Mon Jun 17

It's Day 43 and we're in Luke 18.

Remember that your daily reading in the Bible isn't about gaining information - it's about changing your life to be more like Christ. That means that you need to take action on what God speaks to you about.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 29-30 - I really needed these this morning to deal with a problem I'm facing.  God supplied the promise I needed at the right moment.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 42 - Sun Jun 16

It's Day 42 and we're in Luke 17.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 5 - This is a cry we all need to be making regularly.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 41 - Sat Jun 15

It's Day 41 and we're in Proverbs 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 17 - I think it's easy to envy those deep in sin when we ignore the eventual consequences of those actions.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Where God Spoke To You:
- "Verse 17: Who am I to stand in God's way, even when He's doing something, whether in my life or the life of someone around me, that I don't understand or like? This verse also makes me think that while I don't always agree with ALL the beliefs in my siblings' churches, as my brother once said to me, "Well, as long as we both believe in Jesus as the Savior, that's what's really important, right?" He's right and I need to have more respect for their beliefs, even if I don't agree with them."

- "Verse 26: I love reading the history of when/how we first became knows as 'Christians.'"

60IN60 Day 40 - Fri Jun 14

It's Day 40 and we're in Acts 12.

One thing that can impede God speaking to you is the presence of unconfessed sin in your life. Are you coming to the Word today with a clean heart or are you holding things back from God?

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 12 - Why don't we pray like this for people?

Help:
- Verse 15 - This is the only passage that seems to hint at the idea of guardian angels.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 39 - Thurs Jun 13

It's Day 39 and we're in Acts 11.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 18 - Sometimes God's message to us surprises and we have that moment when all our objections melt away in the awareness that this must be God's will.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 38 - Wed Jun 12

It's Day 38 and we're in Acts 10.

One reason to be in the Bible regularly? It helps you avoid nonsense. There are so many different ideas out there today about God. It's important that we base our image of God on who He said He is, not what other people wish He was.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 35 - "is welcome to Him" - I like the inviting way that puts it.  He's eager to receive us.

Help:
- Verse 1-48 - This chapter is a milestone in the church.  Up to this point, the presumption among Jesus' followers was that the salvation Jesus brought was only offered to Jews.  This chapter details God opening up salvation to Gentiles (i.e. you and me).

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 37 - Tues Jun 11

It's Day 37 and we're in Acts 9.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 22 - All of Paul's learning in the Old Testament, even long before he had any idea that he would become a Christian, was all used by God to further His Kingdom.  God is preparing things even when we don't realize it.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Comments You Have:
- "Hmm, 750 # of silver, 150 # of gold and 10 changes of clothes!  He must have had the King of Israel mixed up with Benny Hinn. ;-)"

60IN60 Day 36 - Mon Jun 10

It's Day 36 and we're in 2 Kings 5.

If you struggle with the feeling that you need to hurry through the reading, it can be helpful to lay aside a certain length of time for the reading. "I'm going to spend the next ten minutes reading the Bible. If I get done early, I'll go back and re-read it. If I don't get it done, that's fine. Now I can relax and not try to hurry through so I can get on with the other things I need to get done today. I'm going to be here for ten minutes."

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 11 - Sometimes we don't just want God to move - we want Him to do things the way that we want Him to do it.  Of course, He has the right to do it however He wants.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Your Comments:
- "This is one of my favorite passages.  I am still amazed when reading it at the woman's response to her son just dieing, " Everything is alright". !  And I'm assuming that she didn't have the indwelling of the Holy Spirit that we Christians enjoy.  God grant to me this type of faith!!!!"

60IN60 Day 35 - Sun Jun 9

It's Day 35 and we're in 2 Kings 4.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 6 - It's interesting to me that God was willing to fill as many vessels as she brought.  Sometimes how much God gives depends on how much we ask for.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 34 - Sat Jun 8

It's Day 34 and we're in Jeremiah 38.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verses 3-4 - How often do we only want to hear God's truth if it's something we want to hear and how often do we want to hear God's truth no matter what?

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Questions You Have:
- "Just curious, can/does the prophecy in Chapter 23, especially verses 5-6 refer to the first and/or second coming?  It seems almost more pertinent to the second coming, since His Kingdom was and is rejected by the world as a whole." - It definitely fits the Second Coming better than the first, but I would be more inclined to think that it fits the Messianic Kingdom.

60IN60 Day 33 - Fri Jun 7

It's Day 33 and we're in Jeremiah 31.

Father, what do You want to teach us today through Your Word?

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 33 - What we have today is vastly superior to the way things operated in the Old Testament.

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

60IN60 Day 32 - Thurs Jun 6

It's Day 32 and we're in Jeremiah 23.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 16 - I wonder how much of what gets attributed to God is actually from Him?

If you want to read the chapter online, here's a link.

If you have a question or comment, email me at butcher@ymail.com.

Questions And Comments You Have:
- "The subject of divorce is always a touchy one. My feelings are this based on my own personal experience. Entering into marriage without seriously considering if you and your spouse are in agreement on Christ is a sin. Living a life, especially while raising small children, with a person that commits multiple sins openly without concern of themselves or their families spiritual well being is a sin. Divorce is a sin. The Bible even states marrying after divorce is a sin. There is no way around what the Bible teaches us. The Bible says divorce is a sin. How can we question that? With that being said I also believe this. There is no sin that God won't forgive when a person approaches Him with sincere remorse and desire of forgiveness. I was married to a non believer for many years. I didn't give up on my marriage without a fight. The sinful life my spouse was leading was a strong influence on my children and challenged my own personal walk with God. I am remarried now to a Christian man and we try to spend our lives putting Christ first, and teaching our children the same. Would God have preferred me to stay in an unevenly yoked marriage and raised my children with this lifestyle around them? I personally feel that God approves of my choice to live my life the way I do now with my new husband and we are blessed beyond measure. That does not mean that I am not in need of repentance for this as I am required for all sins that I allow to come into my life. After all, even a little white lie, anger, and envy are sins. If we commit these sins does that keep us from entering the Kingdom of Heaven after we repent for them?"
- "Do you find any irony in the last verse, where it says if the brothers wouldn't listen to Moses and the prophets, they weren't likely to listen to 'one who rises from the dead'?" - I think the point you're thinking of was exactly the point He was making (although obviously there was no way they would understand it until after everything happened).