60IN60 Day 1 - Mon Nov 2

It's Day 1 and we're in Matthew 1.

Because of the way the months fall, we have a little overlap between the end of the last "60IN60" cycle and the new one, so today is Day 1 of a new cycle instead of Day 57 of the old one.  "60IN60" starts the first Monday of every other month.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 24 - Sometimes the word from the Lord points you in directions that you weren't planning on going.

Help:
- Verses 1-16 - The genealogy makes for mostly dry reading, but it's in there because it's important to establish the Jewish lineage of Jesus in order to show that He is qualified to be the Messiah.

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 and Questions:

- 2 Samuel 12. "I used to hate verse 15; in fact, it scared me. What kind of God was I chasing? David was the culprit. David, whose moniker was The Warrior King, didn't go out with the rest in the spring but stayed back and, for all intents and purposes, raped a married woman. A woman whose husband fought for David wholeheartedly. There's no indication in scripture that Bathsheba knew him as anything other than the King. She's bathing at night. Why is David out and about on the rooftops? He sends for her, and this wasn't a request. She conceives and David searches for a way out. Then God steps in and strikes the child. Hard as this is to accept, God's covenant was always with Israel. Time and again, God intervenes in Israel's history lest they get wiped out because if Israel ceased to be, no redeemer for  mankind could be born. Who knew how this child could have affected God's redemptive plan?. Absalom did his damage, but this child of Bathsheba's, when the truth came out, could have easily started a civil war. Uriah was loyal to his men; undoubtedly, they felt the same way about him. In all likelihood, other commanders and their troops would have joined in. The nation of Israel would have destroyed itself over a one night stand. Secondly, David (why he was given so much godly wisdom I'll never know) makes the statement, 'I am going to him, but he will not return to me.' David knew of the redemptive promise and is saying that the child is now with God. I don't believe he was speaking of the netherworld, but union with God. He's hopeful and surprisingly cheerful.  That he goes on to make Bathsheba his wife is another discussion."

60IN60 Day 56 - Sun Nov 1

It's Day 56 and we're in 2 Samuel 12.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 13 - I think the core thing that God loved about David (and the Bible makes it clear that He did love him) is wrapped up in this verse and similar ones. There is a humility in David acknowledging that he is guilty. That doesn't justify the horrific behavior, but it's something that God can work with.

Help:
- Verse 15 - I don't like this verse (I'm not saying it's not true - I'm just saying I don't like it). I understand within the larger situation why this would happen, but it would seem a much fairer punishment would be for David to get sick.

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 Oct 31

It's Day 55 and we're in 2 Samuel 11.

A scary thought: the Bible is "able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart" (Hebrews 4:12). That can be frightening, but know that God loves you the way you are, but too much to leave you that way. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 15 - How far are we willing to go to cover up our sin? Usually, it's farther than we would have originally guessed.

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 Oct 30

It's Day 54 and we're in 2 Samuel 10.

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 3-4 - So many of the problems that societies and people encounter aren't necessary. They're merely the result of our stupidity in handling situations poorly.

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 53 - Thurs Oct 29

It's Day 53 and we're in 2 Samuel 9. 

Where God Spoke To Me:
- Verse 8 - I hope we've all experienced moments of generosity from God where we felt the same way.

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 and Questions:

- 2 Samuel 6. "Although we don't get struck down for disobedience like Uzzah, could the Ark and this punishment be symbolic too?  Losing your life for just touching the Ark seems very harsh. But God had do's and don'ts in place for the Ark just like he has for us. Maybe Uzzah's death was to show the Israelites that there is no 'small' disobedience; and the same for us. A person can take $20 from dad's wallet, or rob a bank of $20,000; both are stealing. A married person could have a one-night stand, or an affair that goes on for years; it's still adultery. How often does a small thing, left unchecked, become a big thing? We watch a movie with 'just mild profanity' then it becomes our everyday speech. We start missing church once a week then before we know it we haven't been in months. We decide to check our email and find we've wasted 3 hours sitting at the computer surfing the internet. I see this incident with the Ark as God saying, 'if you want my greatest blessings, you need to be obedient in the small things before they become big things'." 

60IN60 Day 52 - Wed Oct 28

It's Day 52 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 51 - Tues Oct 27

It's Day 51 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.