Today´s reading:
OT: Joel 1
NT: Revelation 1
Ps: Psalm 128
Pr: Proverbs 29:18
Today´s notable verse:
Blessed are all who fear the LORD, who walk in his ways.
Psalm 128:1 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
Author: Chip Bennett
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OYB December 9
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OYB December 8
Today´s reading:
OT: Hosea 10-14
NT: Jude 1
Ps: Psalm 127
Pr: Proverbs 29:15-17Today´s notable verses:
5 I will be like the dew to Israel; he will blossom like a lily. Like a cedar of Lebanon he will send down his roots;
6 his young shoots will grow. His splendor will be like an olive tree, his fragrance like a cedar of Lebanon.Hosea 14:5-6 (NIV)
Interesting that this reading should come this week! We found out that we are going to have a girl, and have been discussing names. It is very important to me that we give our children names with significant meanings, so that we are speaking something positive into them every time we call them by name. In my search of name meanings I came across two that appear in this passage: Lilian and Olivia. Lilian is derived from the lily, which is used as biblical symbolism for purity and resurrection, and also in this Hosea passage as symbolism for God’s grace. Olivia is derived from the olive or olive tree, which is used as biblical symbolism for beauty, prosperity, and religious privilege.
But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
Jude 20 (NIV)
A great reminder to rely upon the strength and working of the Holy Spirit in our lives, and that building ourselves up in faith is an active, purposeful endeavor.
3 Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him.
4 Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are sons born in one’s youth.
5 Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them. They will not be put to shame when they contend with their enemies in the gate.Psalm 127:3-5 (NIV)
I remember reading these verses six months ago, and wondering when God would give me this greatest of blessings – and now, here we are, a short four and a half months away from the birth of our first, blessed, baby girl! God is amazing, isn’t He!
15 The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother.
17 Discipline your son, and he will give you peace; he will bring delight to your soul.Proverbs 29:15-17 (NIV)
I eagerly look forward to the wonderful relationship I will share with my daughter. I saw her face in our first 4-D ultrasound, and I knew then that I was already in trouble. That said, I know that raising her is a huge responsibility, and that to love her, I must discipline her and raise her to be a responsible woman who loves and serves the Lord. These verses are a great reminder of that responsibility.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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OYB December 7
Today´s reading:
OT: Hosea 6-9
NT: III John 1
Ps: Psalm 126
Pr: Proverbs 29:12-14Today´s notable verse:
Dear friend, do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen God.
III John 1:11 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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OYB December 6
Today´s reading:
OT: Hosea 4-5
NT: II John 1
Ps: Psalm 125
Pr: Proverbs 29:9-11Today´s notable verse:
A fool gives full vent to his anger, but a wise man keeps himself under control.
Proverbs 29:11 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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It’s a Girl!
We had a doctor appointment today, and got new ultrasounds. Thanks to these 19-week photos, we are ecstatic to announce that our baby is…
A Girl!
I won’t post the ultrasound that proves she’s a girl, but suffice it to say it was obvious. And without further ado, here she is!
4-D head/face shot: isn’t she beautiful?
Photo © Chip Bennett, all rights reserved. -
OYB December 5
Today´s reading:
OT: Hosea 1-3
NT: I John 5
Ps: Psalm 124
Pr: Proverbs 29:5-8Today´s notable verse:
14 This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 15 And if we know that he hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we asked of him.
I John 5:14-15 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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OYB December 4
Posted December 5, 2006; back-dated.
Today´s reading:
OT: Daniel 11:36-, Daniel 12
NT: I John 4
Ps: Psalm 123
Pr: Proverbs 29:2-4Today´s notable verse:
We love because he first loved us.
I John 4:19 (NIV)
Only seven words, yet they contain such depth. “We love because he first loved us.” Without God’s love for us, exemplified in Christ, we would now know the true meaning of love. Without God’s love for us, demonstrated in Christ, we would not have the freedom from sin and guilt nor the ability to love. Without God’s love for us, carried out through Christ, we would have no reason to love.
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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OYB December 3
Today´s reading:
OT: Daniel 11:2-35
NT: I John 3:7-24
Ps: Psalm 122
Pr: Proverbs 29:1Today´s notable verse:
Those who obey his commands live in him, and he in them. And this is how we know that he lives in us: We know it by the Spirit he gave us.
I John 3:24 (NIV)
The One Year Bible Blog´s comments for today.
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Our First Christmas Tree!
Stephanie and I are celebrating our first Christmas together, and our new home now has its first Christmas tree:
Our First Christmas Tree
Photo © Chip Bennett, all rights reserved.
(See the entire set of Christmas 2006 photos.)The tree is a 6-foot, Randolph Pine. It is perfect for our apartment, since it is only 35 inches wide at the base. With two strands of white lights, this set of shatterproof (and hopefully, cat-proof), silver ornaments, along with several ornaments from my grandmother, as well as our family’s traditional, annual Christmas ornaments, our tree is rather well-trimmed for our first Christmas.
The first ornaments we put on the tree were these three.
Traditional annual Christmas ornaments for our first Christmas together.
Photo © Chip Bennett, all rights reserved.My family has had a tradition for several years now, in which each year at Thanksgiving, every family member gets a gift of a Christmas tree ornament. This year, Stephanie and I each got one individually, as well as a third, commemorating our first Christmas together as a couple. (I still need to find a good picture to put into the “2006 Christmas Together” ornament – maybe a picture of us to be taken on Christmas day?) This year’s ornaments are especially memorable, since Stephanie’s celebrates the expected coming of our new arrival in the spring: hers is a “Mommy To Be” ornament. (I must admit: I’m jealous. I would have loved a “Dad To Be” ornament, but apparently, they haven’t been popular since 1990 or so. I’ll probably blog more about that, later.)
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Our New Home
I am extremely happy and relieved to announce that we now have our own home! Due to everything going on, we decided to put off buying a house a while longer so that we could concentrate on preparing for the baby in the spring. So, I found a 2BD/2BA apartment less than 10 miles from the office, at Hazelwood Forest. Not only will my commute to work go from about 45 minutes down to about 10, but trips to Indy and Cincy will be much easier as well, since we can just cross the I-270 Chain of Rocks bridge, rather than deal with downtown traffic and the Poplar Street Bridge.
Here is a layout of what should be a very decently-sized home for us, our two cats, and our soon-to-arrive baby:
2 bedroom, 2 bath, 970 sq. ft.
Image by Hazelwood Forest ApartmentsWe moved into our new home Saturday, November 18th. Our extreme gratitude goes out to my parents, who not only brought us a washer, dryer, kitchen table and chairs, and lots of decoration; but also spent two days helping us get moved. Trekking all of our (mostly, my) stuff up to the third floor certainly wasn’t easy; but it would have been impossible without my dad’s help.
Now, we’re trying to get everything unpacked, in place, and organized – a job that will likely go on for several weeks. Most importantly, though, I have the living room and kitchen mostly done, and have the DSL connection set up. After more than three years of broadcast-only television, I decided to get a basic cable package, so Stephanie would have more options. (I must admit, I’m already hooked on Top Chef.)