Days 12-19 of 2020.
So I tried something a little different…instead of overloading your email inbox or social media with my daily journaling as I read through the Bible in a year, I thought I’d read and journal on a week’s worth of material.  This format may be an overload as well.  So…this week, I’ll try posting the journaling only a couple of days.  Please let me know what is best for you.
I’m just a girl trying to motivate and encourage you to grow in Christ, learn more about Him, become wise and knowledgeable in His word, and fall deeply rooted and in love with God.
If this is your first time here…first of all, welcome. I mainly post about lessons in life God reveals to me through daily living. When 2020 came around, I desired to take Soaking up The Son back to the beginning (see the December 31, 2019 entry titled “2020 Vision”).  The bullet points below each day and scripture are exactly that…bullet points…thoughts that come to my mind while reading the given scripture.  Please join me.  Please, oh please, don’t just read my thoughts and not the scripture.  These thoughts are designed to motivate you to dig deep and read God’s word for yourself.
Enjoy days 12-19:
Day 12 of 2020:
Genesis 26:17-27:46
*Be a person of peace, not hostility. God will bless you.
*God keeps His promises.
*Let others be able to see Christ in you.
*Ugh, I sure hope mine and Tim’s children are careless and miss out on who God has planned for them to be their spouse.  You marry the person, yet also into the family. I would be devastated if our children’s spouse made life miserable for us, like Esau’s wives did.
*Don’t be dishonest.
*Allow God to do His work. He is God…we are not.   
Matthew 9:1-17
*Be an encourager and help your friends to Christ.
*Jesus heals…spiritually and physically.  His main concern is your spirituality.
*God knows your thoughts…in your mind and heart. Be wise.
*Matthew didn’t delay in his response to Jesus. He got up and followed Christ. We should be immediate in following Him as well.

*Jesus was influential to ALL.  When questioned why he ate with “such scum”, He replied, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor – sick people do.”  PLEASE be careful when judging others for who they are associating with for a moment. Remember that judging is God’s business, not yours.  Yet, PLEASE be strong in your faith when hanging out with others who are not Christians. Be a good, godly witness. Show mercy.

Psalm 10:16-18
God knows.  He sees. Hang on.  The LORD is king forever and ever.
Proverbs 3:9-10
Give God your best…first…in your finances…and in life.  It’s all truly His anyhow. He is being generous and gracious. Give your best and be blessed.
Day 13 of 2020:
Genesis 28:1-29:35
*Even when we may think God isn’t there, He is.  
*Jacob got a taste of his own medicine…trickery.  
*I do not understand how it took Jacob until the next morning to realize that he had married Leah instead of Rachel.  Crazy!
*My heart breaks for Leah while reading these verses. To feel unloved…so lonely.  Please know that God loves you so much! You are loved.
Matthew 9:18-38
*”but you can”…the leader of a synagogue knew that Jesus could heal. He can, and He did.
*people may laugh at you because you are a Christian, just keep living for Jesus.  Jesus was laughed at when he told them the dead girl was just asleep. Guess who was right…He was. I can just imagine all their expressions when the girl walked out alive!
*When we are without Christ, we are dead. Become alive…with Christ.
*Have faith
*Open your eyes to a life of faith in God.
*Don’t let popularity blur your vision of Jesus. Again…He is God, we are not.
*We serve a God of compassion.
*There are many people who need Jesus.  Will you be the little Christ (Christian) they need to see? Allow God to work through you for His purpose and glory.
Psalm 11:1-7
*Just because you have God on your side doesn’t mean that you will not have trials in this world.  
*The LORD will protect you.
*God watches over everyone closely, and examines all.
*The Lord loves justice.
*When fleeing from your enemies, run to God.
Proverbs 3:11-12
*I received many of spankings when I was a child.  They were for my own good. And, I’ve given my share of them to my own children…for their own good as well.  God will give you a whoopin’…for our own good. Don’t reject it, learn from it.
*He does this because He loves us.
Day 14 of 2020:
Genesis 30:1-31:16
*I’m reminded again…”He is God.  I am not.”
*Again, I think about…”Ain’t no more women gonna be with my man!” LOL, not really LOL. And Jacob just kept sleeping with whomever his wives gave him. Ugh!
*Catfight.  Bitterness. Resentment.  
*”Will sleep with you for food.” Cheap!
*Greed, wasting money, and stealing…only leads to trouble. 
Matthew 10:1-23
*Be generous, God is, and He was to you by giving us His Son.
*Be hospitable.
*Lack for nothing, because God will provide.
*Share God’’s message.
*It’s a tough world out there…be strong and wise, gentle and peaceful. Sharing The Good News will not be easy. You’ll be ridiculed and hated. Don’t stop sharing wherever you go.
*God will give you the words to say at the right time.  The Holy Spirit will speak through you.
Psalm 12:1-8
*I read this chapter four times, in different translations.  It saddens me as our government came to mind, and the division and deceit in our country from many. My heart breaks. I pray for faithful men and women to rise up, and for God to be illuminated.
*There are times when we may feel alone in our belief in God.  Be strong, we are not alone.
*Lying, flattering lips, deceitful hearts, boastful tongues…some people may think that these are characteristics to get ahead in life, but they are so wrong. They may think that they can get away with their heinousness, but God sees.
*God will rise up, rescue, protect, and preserve.
*God keeps His promises.
Proverbs 3:13-15
*Want to be joyful ? Then find wisdom and gain understanding. It’s priceless. You are worthy of it. We find this in God’s word.  Read it.
Day 15 of 2020:
Genesis 31:17-32:12
*Work hard.  
*State you case.
*Be a person of much integrity.
*God sees all, even when no one else does. 
Matthew 10:24-11:6
*You will be threatened or even killed as a Christian. Jesus was threatened and killed. Don’t be afraid. He is with you. (Praise God, He rose again, and we can also live eternally with Christ. 
*You are valuable and known. 
*Acknowledge Christ while living. Do not deny Him. He will acknowledge or deny you when you get to Heaven. 
*Love Jesus more than anything or anyone. 
*If you ever doubt your relationship with Christ, turn to the Bible, turn to Christ, and reflect on what all He has done for you.
Psalm 13:1-6
*God is so good to us.
*Even when we feel He is silent and not answering our prayers in the timeframe we have set…trust in His unfailingnlove, rejoice because He has rescued you, and sing to the Lord. He is good forever! He’s got this. 
Proverbs 3:16-18
*Hold on tight to Wisdom/God. 
*They will guide you down delightful paths. I like that…delightful paths. 
*Their ways are always satisfying. Trust.
Day 16 of 2020:
GENESIS 32:13-34:31
*family brokenness can be mended.
*Why didn’t Jacob follow Esau to Seir, where he told his brother he would meet him?
*Uncontrolled passion led to devastation. 
MATTHEW 11:7-30
*Repent.  Believe. Follow.
*There is no excuse for our society to not follow Christ. Their own stubbornness is keeping them from living eternally in heaven. Hell awaits anyone who doesn’t believe in Jesus Christ and repent from their sin.  Turn to Christ, show others how your life has changed because of His graciousness.
*To truly know Christ is to have a relationship with Him.  It’s not a religion, but a relationship that matters.
*Jesus is humble and gentle at heart.  He wants to help you through your challenging times.  Rest in Him.
PSALM 14:1-7
*Someone who says that there is no God is an atheist.  They try to frustrate anyone who believes in God. Trouble will come their way.
*Seek God. Obey Him.  You will find joy.
PROVERBS 3:19-20
*The LORD is wise, understanding, and knowledgeable.
*He created the earth and heavens.
Day 17 of 2020:
GENESIS 35:1-36:43
*Get rid of anything you idolize above God. You don’t want your focus to be on anything or anyone but God.
*God is with you.
*These verses are where Jacob received a new name from God.  God called him Israel.
*Ahh, Rachel died after giving birth to Benjamin.
*Whew, my head is spinning from all the ancestry.  
MATTHEW 12:1-21
*Jesus Christ is Lord. He is The Son of Man.  Jesus is lord over all. He shows mercy. Christ is more concerned about your relationship with Him than religion.
*God is always at work.
*You are valuable to Him.
*Jesus is Hope.
PSALM 15:1-5
*Want to stand strong and be confident in how you live your life while serving God?  Here are some ways to live: walk straight, act right, tell the truth, don’t hurt your friend, don’t blame your neighbor, and despise the despicable. Keep your word even when it costs you, make an honest living, never take a bribe. (Simple words that The Message translation used)
PROVERBS 3:21-26
*When you have wisdom and discernment, hold them tightly.  Wear them well. They will be a reflection of who you are on the inside and will reflect on the outside. Hmmm…sounds like Christ. They/He will refresh your soul, give you peace, and keep you safe. Yep…sounds like Christ.
*The LORD will be your security.
Day 18 of 2020:
GENESIS 37:1-38:30
*Jealousy.  Favoritism. Hatred.  All these feelings cause division, bitterness, and evilness often results in the end.
Joseph sounded cocky about his dream, but it was all true end the end. (Keep reading in Genesis.)
*A good note in my study notes portion of my bible reads, “Because our talents and knowledge come from God.  It is more appropriate to thank Him for them than to brag about them. Later Joseph gave God the credit in Genesis 41:16.”  That’s a great lesson to learn. Give God all the glory and thank Him, don’t be a bragger. 
*While reading about Jacob sending Joseph to check on his brothers and then report back, I glanced at the mapped and discovered that the distance wasn’t like me telling one of my children to go check on their sibling out in the pasture, which is directly in front of our home.  Nope, this “check-on” adventure was over 100 miles away! A 17 year old kid hiking it alone across much land. I had never thought about that.
*https://soakinguptheson.com/new/daily-journaling/dreaming/ here’s a past journal entry on dreaming.
*Y’all!!! I am reading this, making connections, shaking my head, and just saying, “OH MY GOODNESS!”  Gen 38 is so immoral. Ok, there have already been numerous disgusting stories from this history book (the Bible), but oh my! The marriages of Tamar between two brothers (who God took their lives because of their evilness), her disguising herself as a prostitute to sleep with her father-in-law, became pregnant, and more deceit between brothers…Tamar’s twins.  This is cable television stuff. Sad to think, but nowadays…regular networks would probably produce these plots too.
*I know I’ve read these pages many times before, but God always amazes me how He keeps it fresh and teaches me new things each time.  God’s word is alive and active. I want to encourage you to read it, believe it, allow it to change your life, and grow closer to Him.
MATTHEW 12:22-45
*Jesus knew the Pharisees thoughts, and He knows your thoughts too.
*If we say we are Christians, then we need to act like it.  Anyone who dabbles in the world is not completely committed to Christ.  They are working against Him. It’s not me saying this…it’s the Word.
*Sin can be forgiven. Period. The ONLY sin this is not forgiven (the unpardonable sin) is blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
*Stop cussing, slandering, gossiping, etc.. You have to give an account for every idle/careless word you say.  Verse 37 reminds us that our words will show us innocent or guilty.
*When you give your life to Christ, we must fill our hearts and minds with Christ-filled thoughts.  When we don’t, Satan will easily fill it. Hey, I love me some time in the word, chatting with Jesus constantly throughout the day, listen to Christian music a lot, etc. to continually fill myself with Jesus. But…Satan still has a way of creeping into my thoughts.  I just have to remind myself of who I am (a child of God) and Whose I am (God’s) and that He has given me the power and confidence to live with Him. Y’all, the struggle is real. Stick with God. Stay close to Him. Shine for Jesus.
PSALM 16:1-11
*Such a beautiful psalm to God that David said.  When we live in companionship with God we should feel as David did: blessed, guarded, guided, and instructed by God. 
*The Lord is always with me.
*He bring me joy and safety.
*The Lord will show me the way to live.
PROVERBS 3:27-32
*Help others out.  Be a good neighbor.
*Don’t choose to imitate or envy violent people.The Lord detest that.
*Be a friend of God.
Day 19 of 2020:
GENESIS 39:1-41:16
*Live knowing that God is with you.  He will bless you. People will notice a difference in you.  Others will trust you in their daily dealings.
*Be careful of the temptations in life.  Wickedness will come your way. Sin will be persistent. Stay strong in your faith with God. Don’t give in to evil ways.
*Even when others plot against you and lie about you, don’t lose faith.  
*God will bless you when you remain in Him.
*Oh how quickly we can forget those who have helped us along the way, or be the one forgotten.  Again…stay the course…trust in God and continue doing His work wherever you are…in His time you will receive the blessing you deserve.  Remember those who have treated you right.
MATTHEW 12:46-13:23
*When you surrender to Christ, you are His family.
*Chapter 13 starts with the classic parable of the farmer sowing the seeds in various types of soil. (Verses 3-9)  I pray that we will listen and learn from Jesus, and be deeply rooted in Christ.
*In verses 18-23 describe what the parable means.
*Live deeply rooted in Christ, not as one who: doesn’t understand God’s word, or crumbles when problems come your way or are persecuted for believing in God, or allows the worries of this life and the lure of wealth to get to you.  No, understand and be fruitful.
PSALM 17:1-15
*Follow God’s commands, not cruel and evil people.  While typing this, I’m thinking…This shouldn’t even be debatable to not follow cruel and evil people, but we can be deceived so easily if we aren’t careful. Be discerning in your ways so that all you do is backed by the word of God.
*God’s love is unfailing.  He will guard, hide, and protect you.  Cry out to Him.
*People are watching you…not just on how you live for God, but watching for the chance to tear you apart.  Stand firm in Christ.
*Ahhh, seeing God face to face will be satisfying.  Yet, we don’t have to wait until we are in heaven…seek His face daily by staying in His word, looking at the beauty around that he provides for us each day.
PROVERBS 3:33-35
*Do right and be blessed.
*Be humble, and see God’s graciousness fall on you.
*Be wise, and you will earn honor.
 
Whew!  Was that daily journaling overload or did you survive?  Either way…if you read all the way to the end of this entry, your survived!  Congrats.  I’m thinking I already know my thoughts on this, but I will continue to listen to God and allow Him to speak to me, through me, and share what He desires.  To God be ALL the glory!
I treasure each of you.  Stay strong in Christ.
Blessings to you and yours,
Stephanie

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