Bible reading of the day (Feb 13)

Ex 35:10-36:38, Matt 27:35-66, Ps 34:1-10, Pr 9:7-8

^{Ex 36:2} So Moses summoned Bezalel and Oholiab and all the others who were specially gifted by the Lord and were eager to get to work. ³ Moses gave them the materials donated by the people of Israel as sacred offerings for the completion of the sanctuary. But the people continued to bring additional gifts each morning. ⁴ Finally the craftsmen who were working on the sanctuary left their work. ⁵ They went to Moses and reported, “The people have given more than enough materials to complete the job the Lord has commanded us to do!”

⁶ So Moses gave the command, and this message was sent throughout the camp: “Men and women, don’t prepare any more gifts for the sanctuary. We have enough!” So the people stopped bringing their sacred offerings. ⁷ Their contributions were more than enough to complete the whole project.

^{Ps. 34:4} I prayed to the Lord, and he answered me.
      He freed me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him for help will be radiant with joy;
      no shadow of shame will darken their faces.
⁶ In my desperation I prayed, and the Lord listened;
      he saved me from all my troubles.
⁷ For the angel of the Lord is a guard;
      he surrounds and defends all who fear him.

^{Pr. 9:7} Anyone who rebukes a mocker will get an insult in return.
      Anyone who corrects the wicked will get hurt.
⁸ So don’t bother correcting mockers;
      they will only hate you.
   But correct the wise,
      and they will love you.

Bible reading of the day (Feb 12)

  Ex 34:1-35:9, Matt 27:15-34, Ps 33:12-22, Pr 9:1-6 

Ex 34 keeps talking about the God’s presence. It reminds me that the Lord’s presence is really more precious than anything. We should have a daily time for Him, while also communion with Him every moment. The Lord is good. God is willing to travel among us today because Jesus already took all our sins and complete the salvation.

^{Ps. 33:16} The best-equipped army cannot save a king,
      nor is great strength enough to save a warrior.
¹⁷ Don’t count on your warhorse to give you victory—
      for all its strength, it cannot save you.

¹⁸ But the Lord watches over those who fear him,
      those who rely on his unfailing love.
¹⁹ He rescues them from death
      and keeps them alive in times of famine.

²⁰ We put our hope in the Lord.
      He is our help and our shield.
²¹ In him our hearts rejoice,
      for we trust in his holy name.
²² Let your unfailing love surround us, Lord,
      for our hope is in you alone.

Bible reading of the day (Feb 11th)

Ex 32:1-33:23, Matt 26:69-27:14, Ps 33:1-11, Pr 8:33-36

^{Ex 33:1} The Lord said to Moses, “Get going, you and the people you brought up from the land of Egypt. Go up to the land I swore to give to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. I told them, ‘I will give this land to your descendants.’ ² And I will send an angel before you to drive out the Canaanites, Amorites, Hittites, Perizzites, Hivites, and Jebusites. ³ Go up to this land that flows with milk and honey. But I will not travel among you, for you are a stubborn and rebellious people. If I did, I would surely destroy you along the way.”

Lord’s presence is the most valuable treasure in our life, more valuable and essential than our breath and food. Because without the Lord’s presence, we will just be people in the maze with no lead.
However, because of sin, God cannot be with us, even though He really wants. He is the pure and holy God, he cannot be with us if we are sinning against him, otherwise the anger of righteousness will destroy us.
I really appreciate what the Lord Jesus has done for us. He took all our sins and made the atonement for us before God. So now we can come to the Lord with no fear. He is not as some manly priest who want to be a bar before man and God, but He is the bridge. With Lord Jesus’ life in us, we can come to God and worship Him, have closed relationship with Him, communion with Him. What a blessing!
I don’t know about others, but for myself, often time when I sinned against God, say lying with no regrets, I cannot feel the Lord’s presence and cannot face the Lord. I think this is the human nature of fear of the holy righteous Lord. But what I really need to do is opposite: go before the Lord, bow down and confess, repent, thank for His forgiveness and praise Him, from bottom of my heart. In this way, He will still be with me and I can really get out from sin.

^{Matt 27:11} Now Jesus was standing before Pilate, the Roman governor. “Are you the king of the Jews?” the governor asked him.

   Jesus replied, “You have said it.”

¹² But when the leading priests and the elders made their accusations against him, Jesus remained silent. ¹³ “Don’t you hear all these charges they are bringing against you?” Pilate demanded. ¹⁴ But Jesus made no response to any of the charges, much to the governor’s surprise.

This the an example Jesus set for us. Don’t be so defensive. Sometimes I get too defensive because I am coward inside and have no truth inside. But the Lord here had all the truth in Him. However he was not defending Himself, but humbled Himself, submitted Himself to the Father. This is what exactly what I should do if I face accusations.

Bible reading of the day

Ex 30:11-31:18, Matt 26:47-68, Ps 32:1-11, Pr 8:27-32

^{Ex 31:12} The Lord then gave these instructions to Moses: ¹³ “Tell the people of Israel: ‘Be careful to keep my Sabbath day, for the Sabbath is a sign of the covenant between me and you from generation to generation. It is given so you may know that I am the Lord, who makes you holy. ¹⁴ You must keep the Sabbath day, for it is a holy day for you. Anyone who desecrates it must be put to death; anyone who works on that day will be cut off from the community. ¹⁵ You have six days each week for your ordinary work, but the seventh day must be a Sabbath day of complete rest, a holy day dedicated to the Lord. Anyone who works on the Sabbath must be put to death. ¹⁶ The people of Israel must keep the Sabbath day by observing it from generation to generation. This is a covenant obligation for all time. ¹⁷ It is a permanent sign of my covenant with the people of Israel. For in six days the Lord made heaven and earth, but on the seventh day he stopped working and was refreshed.’”

^{Matt 26:52} “Put away your sword,” Jesus told him. “Those who use the sword will die by the sword. ⁵³ Don’t you realize that I could ask my Father for thousands of angels to protect us, and he would send them instantly? ⁵⁴ But if I did, how would the Scriptures be fulfilled that describe what must happen now?”

Lord, oh our dear Lord. What an obeying heart towards the Father!

Psalm 32

A psalm of David.

¹ Oh, what joy for those
      whose disobedience is forgiven,
      whose sin is put out of sight!
² Yes, what joy for those
      whose record the Lord has cleared of guilt,
      whose lives are lived in complete honesty!
³ When I refused to confess my sin,
      my body wasted away,
      and I groaned all day long.
⁴ Day and night your hand of discipline was heavy on me.
      My strength evaporated like water in the summer heat.
Interlude

⁵ Finally, I confessed all my sins to you
      and stopped trying to hide my guilt.
   I said to myself, “I will confess my rebellion to the Lord.”
      And you forgave me! All my guilt is gone.
Interlude

⁶ Therefore, let all the godly pray to you while there is still time,
      that they may not drown in the floodwaters of judgment.
⁷ For you are my hiding place;
      you protect me from trouble.
      You surround me with songs of victory.
Interlude

⁸ The Lord says, “I will guide you along the best pathway for your life.
      I will advise you and watch over you.
⁹ Do not be like a senseless horse or mule
      that needs a bit and bridle to keep it under control.”

¹⁰ Many sorrows come to the wicked,
      but unfailing love surrounds those who trust the Lord.
¹¹ So rejoice in the Lord and be glad, all you who obey him!
      Shout for joy, all you whose hearts are pure!

This psalm is speaking what exactly in my chest now. I love it. Yes, we need to come to the Lord, confess our sins and we will be forgiven. And that shows our trust in Him that He surrounds us with his unfailing love. At this moment, I really just want shout for joy, really, to praise and thank the Lord!

Bible reading of the day (Feb. 9)

Ex 29:1-30:10, Matt 26:14-46, Ps 31:19-24, Pr 8:14-26

Jesus Prays in Gethsemane

^{Matt 26:36} Then Jesus went with them to the olive grove called Gethsemane, and he said, “Sit here while I go over there to pray.” ³⁷ He took Peter and Zebedee’s two sons, James and John, and he became anguished and distressed. ³⁸ He told them, “My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

³⁹ He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

⁴⁰ Then he returned to the disciples and found them asleep. He said to Peter, “Couldn’t you watch with me even one hour? ⁴¹ Keep watch and pray, so that you will not give in to temptation. For the spirit is willing, but the body is weak!”

⁴² Then Jesus left them a second time and prayed, “My Father! If this cup cannot be taken away unless I drink it, your will be done.” ⁴³ When he returned to them again, he found them sleeping, for they couldn’t keep their eyes open.

⁴⁴ So he went to pray a third time, saying the same things again. ⁴⁵ Then he came to the disciples and said, “Go ahead and sleep. Have your rest. But look—the time has come. The Son of Man is betrayed into the hands of sinners. ⁴⁶ Up, let’s be going. Look, my betrayer is here!”

Bible reading of the day

Ex 28:1-43, Matt 25:31-26:13, Ps 31:9-18, Pr 8:12-13(NLT)

Psalm 31:9-18

⁹ Have mercy on me, Lord, for I am in distress.
      Tears blur my eyes.
      My body and soul are withering away.
¹⁰ I am dying from grief;
      my years are shortened by sadness.
   Sin has drained my strength;
      I am wasting away from within.
¹¹ I am scorned by all my enemies
      and despised by my neighbors—
      even my friends are afraid to come near me.
   When they see me on the street,
      they run the other way.
¹² I am ignored as if I were dead,
      as if I were a broken pot.
¹³ I have heard the many rumors about me,
      and I am surrounded by terror.
   My enemies conspire against me,
      plotting to take my life.

¹⁴ But I am trusting you, O Lord,
      saying, “You are my God!”
¹⁵ My future is in your hands.
      Rescue me from those who hunt me down relentlessly.
¹⁶ Let your favor shine on your servant.
      In your unfailing love, rescue me.
¹⁷ Don’t let me be disgraced, O Lord,
      for I call out to you for help.
   Let the wicked be disgraced;
      let them lie silent in the grave.
¹⁸ Silence their lying lips—
      those proud and arrogant lips that accuse the godly.

Bible reading of the day (Feb. 7th)

Ex 26:1-27:21, Matt 25:1-30, Ps 31:1-8, Pr 8:1-11

^{Matt 25:28} “Then he ordered, ‘Take the money from this servant, and give it to the one with the ten bags of silver. ²⁹ To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given, and they will have an abundance. But from those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away. ³⁰ Now throw this useless servant into outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’

Those who do nothing, even what little they have will be taken away.

Bible Reading of the day (Feb. 6th)

Ex 23:14-25:40, Matt 24:29-51, Ps 30:1-12, Pr 7:24-27

Psalm 30

A David Psalm

¹ I give you all the credit, God— you got me out of that mess,
      you didn't let my foes gloat.
^2-3 God, my God, I yelled for help
      and you put me together.
God, you pulled me out of the grave,
      gave me another chance at life
      when I was down-and-out.
^4-5 All you saints! Sing your hearts out to God!
      Thank him to his face!
   He gets angry once in a while, but across
      a lifetime there is only love.
   The nights of crying your eyes out
      give way to days of laughter.
^6-7 When things were going great
      I crowed, "I've got it made.
   I'm God's favorite.
      He made me king of the mountain."
   Then you looked the other way
      and I fell to pieces.
^8-10 I called out to you, God;
      I laid my case before you:
   "Can you sell me for a profit when I'm dead?
      auction me off at a cemetery yard sale?
   When I'm 'dust to dust' my songs
      and stories of you won't sell.
   So listen! and be kind!
      Help me out of this!"
^11-12 You did it: you changed wild

lament
      into whirling dance;
   You ripped off my black mourning band
      and decked me with wildflowers.
   I'm about to burst with song;
      I can't keep quiet about you.
God, my God,
      I can't thank you enough.

Bible Reading of the day (Feb. 5th)

Ex 21:22-23:13, Matt 24:1-28, Ps 29:1-11, Pr 7:6-23

^{Ps 29:11} God makes his people strong.
God gives his people peace.

Proverbs 7:6-23

^6-12 As I stood at the window of my house
   looking out through the shutters,
Watching the mindless crowd stroll by,
   I spotted a young man without any sense
Arriving at the corner of the street where she lived,
   then turning up the path to her house.
It was dusk, the evening coming on,
   the darkness thickening into night.
Just then, a woman met him—
   she'd been lying in wait for him, dressed to seduce him.
Brazen and brash she was,
   restless and roaming, never at home,
Walking the streets, loitering in the mall,
   hanging out at every corner in town.
^13-20 She threw her arms around him and kissed him,
   boldly took his arm and said,
"I've got all the makings for a feast—
   today I made my offerings, my vows are all paid,
So now I've come to find you,
   hoping to catch sight of your face—and here you are!
I've spread fresh, clean sheets on my bed,
   colorful imported linens.
My bed is aromatic with spices
   and exotic fragrances.
Come, let's make love all night,
   spend the night in ecstatic lovemaking!
My husband's not home; he's away on business,
   and he won't be back for a month."
^21-23 Soon she has him eating out of her hand,
   bewitched by her honeyed speech.
Before you know it, he's

trotting behind her,
   like a calf led to the butcher shop,
Like a stag lured into ambush
   and then shot with an arrow,
Like a bird flying into a net
   not knowing that its flying life is over.

Bible Reading of the day (Feb. 4th)

Ex 19:16-21:21, Matt 23:13-39, Ps 28:1-9, Pr 7:1-5

Matt. 23:22A promise is a promise. God is present, watching and holding you to account regardless.

^{Pr. 7:1-5} Dear friend, do what I tell you; treasure my careful instructions.
Do what I say and you'll live well.
   My teaching is as precious as your eyesight—guard it!
Write it out on the back of your hands;
   etch it on the chambers of your heart.
Talk to Wisdom as to a sister.
   Treat Insight as your companion.
They'll be with you to fend off the

Temptress—
   that smooth-talking, honey-tongued Seductress.

Bible Reading of the day (Feb. 3rd)

Ex 17:8-19:15, Matt 22:33-23:12, Ps 27:8-14, Pr 6:27-35

^{Matt 23:1-3} Now Jesus turned to address his disciples, along with the crowd that had gathered with them. "The religion scholars and Pharisees are competent teachers in God's Law. You won't go wrong in following their teachings on Moses. But be careful about following them. They talk a good line, but they don't live it. They don't take it into their hearts and live it out in their behavior. It's all spit-and-polish veneer.

^4-7"Instead of giving you God's Law as food and drink by which you can banquet on God, they package it in bundles of rules, loading you down like pack animals. They seem to take pleasure in watching you stagger under these loads, and wouldn't think of lifting a finger to help. Their lives are perpetual fashion shows, embroidered prayer shawls one day and flowery prayers the next. They love to sit at the head table at church dinners, basking in the most prominent positions, preening in the radiance of public flattery, receiving honorary degrees, and getting called 'Doctor' and 'Reverend.'

^8-10"Don't let people do that to you, put you on a

pedestal like that. You all have a single Teacher, and you are all classmates. Don't set people up as experts over your life, letting them tell you what to do. Save that authority for God; let him tell you what to do. No one else should carry the title of 'Father'; you have only one Father, and he's in heaven. And don't let people maneuver you into taking charge of them. There is only one Life-Leader for you and them—Christ.

^11-12"Do you want to stand out? Then step down. Be a servant. If you puff yourself up, you'll get the wind knocked out of you. But if you're content to simply be yourself, your life will count for plenty.

Thank you Lord. Thank you for sending on this self-content msg to me. I have been so not content of who I am. Lord, I know I am wrong. And I pray that I can get out of this bondage. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’ name I pray.

 

^{Ps. 27:13-14} I'm sure now I'll see God's goodness
      in the exuberant earth.
   Stay with God!
      Take heart. Don't quit.
   I'll say it again:
      Stay with God.

Bible Reading of the day (Feb 2nd)

Ex 15:20-17:7, Matt 22:1-32, Ps 27:1-7, Pr 6:20-26 (MSG)

^Ex15:22-24 Moses led Israel from the Red Sea on to the Wilderness of Shur. They traveled for three days through the wilderness without finding any water. They got to Marah, but they couldn't drink the water at Marah; it was bitter. That's why they called the place Marah (Bitter). And the people complained to Moses, "So what are we supposed to drink?"

²⁵ So Moses cried out in prayer to God. God pointed him to a stick of wood. Moses threw it into the water and the water turned sweet.

²⁶ That's the place where God set up rules and procedures; that's where he started testing them.

Starting from now, I see much whining and lots of complaints from Israelites and every time God provided something to satisfy them. They got content for a little while and started to complain again when the got tested again. It is like a mirror! I see myself in it. And as I’ve already read the story, I know none of them got to enter in the promise land. So whining has no good result. I may got content for now, but for a long run, I will lose the best thing. So God, I want to quit whining and be content where I am as long as you are with me. Amen!

^{Matt 22:14}"That's what I mean when I say, 'Many get invited; only a few make it.'"

When I read the story above this sentence, I feel honored to be invited to the wedding. And I think we should feel honored because He is the King! If we don’t cherish this invitation and dishonor it, we won’t be able to make it either.

^{Ps. 27:4} I'm asking God for one thing,
      only one thing:
   To live with him in his house
      my whole life long.
   I'll contemplate his beauty;
      I'll study at his feet.
⁵ That's the only quiet, secure place
      in a noisy world,
   The perfect getaway,
      far from the buzz of traffic.

This is also my only asking. Dwell with him, every day and night!

Seven Things God Hates

^16-19 Here are six things God hates,
    and one more that he

loathes with a passion:
      eyes that are arrogant,
      a tongue that lies,
      hands that murder the innocent,
      a heart that hatches evil plots,
      feet that race down a wicked track,
      a mouth that lies under oath,
      a troublemaker in the family.

主所恨与所憎恶的七样事

箴 言 6:16-19

¹⁶ 耶 和 华 所 恨 恶 的 有 六 样 ， 连 他 心 所 憎 恶 的 共 有 七 样 ：

¹⁷ 就 是 高 傲 的 眼 ， 撒 谎 的 舌 ， 流 无 辜 人 血 的 手 ，

¹⁸ 图 谋 恶 计 的 心 ， 飞 跑 行 恶 的 脚 ，

¹⁹ 吐 谎 言 的 假 见 证 ， 并 弟 兄 中 布 散 纷 争 的 人 。

Bible Reading of the day (Feb 1st)

Ex 13:17b-15:19, Matt 21:23-46, Ps 26:1-12, Pr 6:16-19 (MSG)

^{Ex. 14:13} Moses spoke to the people: "Don't be afraid. Stand firm and watch God do his work of salvation for you today. Take a good look at the Egyptians today for you're never going to see them again.
¹⁴ God will fight the battle for you.
      And you? You keep your mouths shut!"

Keep the mouth of your heart shut! Don’t ask God why, because that’s a sign of your doubt and unbelief. But simply trust Him completely no matter what we are facing.

^{Ps. 26:1} Clear my name, God; I've kept an honest shop.
   I've thrown in my lot with you, God, and
      I'm not budging.
² Examine me, God, from head to foot,
      order your battery of tests.
   Make sure I'm fit
      inside and out
³ So I never lose
      sight of your love,
   But keep in step with you,
      never missing a beat.

What a heart toward God! I just love this passage because most of time I am too afraid to even think so. “I am not budging” I said that sometime, but failed many times. So I know I cannot do that by my flesh life, Lord, I need your help. I need your life in me so I can be not budging.

I love the poet’s heart, yes, the closest communion and fellowship with GOD. I do also want that. That’s the fountain of life, joy and strength.

^{Pr 6:16-19} Here are six things God hates,
    and one more that he loathes with a passion:
      eyes that are arrogant,
      a tongue that lies,
      hands that murder the innocent,
      a heart that hatches evil

plots,
      feet that race down a wicked track,
      a mouth that lies under oath,
      a troublemaker in the family.

I confess to you God, I still lie from time to time in order not to lose my face or to protect others’ feelings. However, I know you hate it. I really need lesson on how to humble myself, be willing to lose face and protect others’ feelings without lying to them and telling them what they want to hear. Lord, I sinned on that matter and I confess that. Please forgive me and teach me how to avoid these sins. Thank you Lord. In Jesus’ name I pray.