Hebrews!

I went to Panera today and sat and read Hebrews. It was very cool. I've been inspired to really start to think about the bible as a whole. Book by book and not scripture by scripture. I was surprised at how much more sense it made to just sit and read through it. I've always had a soft spot in my heart for Hebrews because of Chapter 11. The beginning of the book made me feel really connected to Jesus.

1v³The Son is the radiance of God's glory and the exact representation of his being, sustaining all things by his powerful word. After he had provided purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty in heaven.

I just feel in love with this scripture. How glorious! And again..

2^v9But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Amazing.

2v¹⁸Because he himself suffered when he was tempted, he is able to help those who are being tempted.

It's just filled with so much goodness!!

4 ¹²For the word of God is living and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart. ¹³Nothing in all creation is hidden from God's sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

I was seriously challenged by this next scripture. Oh my goodness! I really felt like 'he' was talking right to my face!!

5 ¹¹We have much to say about this, but it is hard to explain because you are slow to learn. ¹²In fact, though by this time you ought to be teachers, you need someone to teach you the elementary truths of God's word all over again. You need milk, not solid food! ¹³Anyone who lives on milk, being still an infant, is not acquainted with the teaching about righteousness. ¹⁴But solid food is for the mature, who by constant use have trained themselves to distinguish good from evil.

6⁷Land that drinks in the rain often falling on it and that produces a crop useful to those for whom it is farmed receives the blessing of God. ⁸But land that produces thorns and thistles is worthless and is in danger of being cursed. In the end it will be burned.

I feel like I'd never heard this before--I'm sure I've read it before but I don't think I've ever understood it. I just thinks its gorgeous. I mean, I don't want to be land that produces thistles.... I would like to be a gorgeous crop producing field. I know that the only thing that will keep me that way is 'drinking in the rain often'. oh, i just love this picture. It makes me want to paint a picture or something....hey, maybe I will!!

Such a gorgeous scripture about God's promise...

¹⁹We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.

I just love that I read this at this point at my life. I think God was just calling me to it. I hope that my continuing to learn about God's love never ends. I just can't believe that he loves me enough to send his son to die for me. That Jesus gave the ultimate sacrifice for me sin. It's a 'basic' stuff, but this is what keeps me going every day. This is what gives me hope for the rest that they talked about in Chap 4. I can't wait until that rest!!
Ok, I'm going to stop there for now but I have lots more to say! Mostly for myself because I can so often forget how I felt as I read certain things...