I will be unable to blog the next 11 days. However, I’m still going to be doing the reading plan. I’ve listed the readings below. In invite you to interact with by responding to this post with observations on what you read.

• Mar 13 Num 19:1‐20:29, Luke 1:1‐25, Ps 56:1‐13, Prov 11:8
• Mar 14 Num 21:1‐22:20, Luke 1:26‐56, Ps 57:1‐11, Prov 11:9‐11
• Mar 15 Num 22:21‐23:30, Luke 1:57‐80, Ps 58:1‐11, Prov 11:12‐13
• Mar 16 Num 24:1‐25:18, Luke 2:1‐35, Ps 59:1‐17, Prov 11:14
• Mar 17 Num 26:1‐51, Luke 2:36‐52, Ps 60:1‐12, Prov 11:15
• Mar 18 Num 26:52‐28:15, Luke 3:1‐22, Ps 61:1‐8, Prov 11:16‐17
• Mar 19 Num 28:16‐29:40, Luke 3:23‐38, Ps 62:1‐12, Prov 11:18‐19
• Mar 20 Num 30:1‐31:54, Luke 4:1‐30, Ps 63:1‐11, Prov 11:20‐21
• Mar 21 Num 32:1‐33:39, Luke 4:31‐5:11, Ps 64:1‐10, Prov 11:22
• Mar 22 Num 33:40‐35:34, Luke 5:12‐28, Ps 65:1‐13, Prov 11:23
• Mar 23 Num 36:1‐13; Deut 1:1‐46, Luke 5:29‐6:11, Ps 66:1‐20, Prov 11:24‐26
• Mar 24 Deut 2:1‐3:29, Luke 6:12‐38, Ps 67:1‐7, Prov 11:27

Today’s Readings: Num 15:17‐16:40, Mark 15:1‐47, Ps 54:1‐7, Prov 11:5‐6

Proverbs 11:6 The righteousness of the upright delivers them,
but the treacherous are taken captive by their lust.

Observations:
• Righteousness delivers
• Lust takes people captive

We know that the gospel shows us that we cannot live apart from sin. We also know that Jesus has ultimately delivered us where our unrighteousness could not. With that in mind, the principle expressed in the Proverb is exciting. If we live righteously we are delivered from many of life’s traps. If we are not careful we can be taken captive by lust.

Apply:
We cannot let the desire for things of the flesh take over our drive to live righteously before God.

Prayer:
Lord, show me areas of my life that have been taken captive. Give me the strength to live righteously and deliver myself from the traps that are set for me.

What steps are you currently taking to deliver yourself?

Today’s Readings: Num 14:1‐15:16, Mark 14:53‐72, Ps 53:1‐6, Prov 11:4

Mark 14:72 And immediately the rooster crowed a second time. And Peter remembered how Jesus had said to him, “Before the rooster crows twice, you will deny me three times.” And he broke down and wept.

Observations:
• Peter remembered Jesus’ words.
• His sin here was literally denying Jesus… In many ways, that is what all sin is.
• The conviction of his sin broke him down emotionally.
• Peter wept.

Do we let our sin affect us in this way? 2 Cor 7:10 says “…Godly grief produces a repentance that leads to salvation without regret…” If we truly agree with God in relation to our sin, we would be broken. In Nehemiah 1, Nehemiah hears that the walls of Jerusalem are broken down and he “…sat down and wept and mourned for days” (Neh 1:4).

Apply: Often I move immediately from seeing my sin to trying to fix it. Today, I want my sin to break me down and produce a godly grief that leads to repentance.

What produces Godly grief in your life?

Today’s Readings: Num 11:24‐13:33, Mark 14:22‐52, Ps 52:1‐9, Prov 11:1‐3

Proverbs 11: 2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with the humble is wisdom.

Observations:
• Pride = disgrace
• Humble = wisdom

Scripture is clear that we should follow Christ’s example and humble ourselves (Phil 2). Today I want to humble myself before God and others (Luke 14:8-11, Prov 25:6-7).

Lord, give me a true heart of humility. Show me my pride and give me an accurate picture of who I am before you.

What do you do to help you fight pride in your life?

Today’s Readings: Num 10:1‐11:23, Mark 14:1‐21, Ps 51:1‐19, Prov 10:31‐32

Psalm 51:4 Against you, you only, have I sinned
and done what is evil in your sight,
so that you may be justified in your words
and blameless in your judgment.

Psalm 51 is one of the most beautiful examples of confession in the Bible. When we confess sin we are agreeing with God. We are identifying with who we have wronged. We are saying that our sin must be judged. Basically, Lord I know that _____________ played a part in your Son’s death on the cross.

Have you confessed all of your sin to God? It will restore the joy of your salvation (v12).

Today’s Readings: Num 8:1‐9:23, Mark 13:14‐37, Ps 50:1‐23, Prov 10:29‐30

Mark 13:35-37 Therefore stay awake—for you do not know when the master of the house will come, in the evening, or at midnight, or when the rooster crows, or in the morning— 36 lest he come suddenly and find you asleep. 37 And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake.”

There is a problem with Christ returning and finding his people asleep. Unfortunately, if Christ came back today, I think he would find many people I know sleeping spiritually. I can, through the power God has given me, do more to let others know that Christ is returning and we need to be awake when he does.

At Pine Cove, we have a new tag line: “Awaken a Generation.”

What has motivated awakening and revival in your life?

Today’s Readings: Num 6:1‐7:89, Mark 12:38‐13:13, Ps 49:1‐20, Prov 10:27‐28

Numbers 6:24-26:
24 The Lord bless you and keep you;
25 the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;
26 the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.

Are you praying blessings over the ones that you love?

Growing up, my father prayed this prayer over blessing over me every night he was home. It showed me my father loved me, he believed that God had control of my live, and he asked God to bless my life consistently. Since before Anna was born, I have prayed these words over her when I put her down at night. Last Thursday night, I asked her what songs she wanted me to sing and she said: “Daddy, sing face shine.”

What did your father do that blessed you?

Today’s Readings: Num 4:1‐5:31, Mark 12:18‐37, Ps 48:1‐14, Prov 10:26

Mark 12:30 “Which commandment is the most important of all?” … Jesus responded “…30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.”

Observations:
• He quotes the Shm’a out of Deuteronomy 6
• Love the Lord your God (intimate side – love and your)
• Jesus uses all (holos – whole or complete) four times

Application: I am to love God with all of my being.

Prayer: Lord, show me where I am not loving you. Help me to transfer my affection to you alone.

Today’s Readings: Num 2:1‐3:51, Mark 11:27‐12:17, Ps 47:1‐9, Prov 10:24‐25

Proverbs 10:25 When the tempest passes, the wicked is no more,
but the righteous is established forever.

Observations: (Proverbs are Principles not Promises)
• All storms end. “When the tempest passes…”
• Storms destroy the wicked
• Storms establish the righteous
• Storms help the righteous make it through future storms. “…established forever”

There are two seasons in life: stormy season and the calm before a storm. What season are you in? Are you seeking first the kingdom of God and his righteousness? If you are, you can look forward to the ultimate results of the storm (Romans 8:28).

Where else do you see this principle in the Bible?