I'm Jim Manship, one of the elders at theAlley. I'll be attempting to write a little something from my daily Bible reading this year. I'm using the calendar from Masters Line and my NIV Bible. Every day we'll read a little from the Old Testament - Psalms - Proverbs and the New Testament. I'll pick something from one of the books that inspired me, informed me, confused me or just something that makes me wonder about the place, the time, the way of life, etc. Don't look to me for answers, I'll inevitably disappoint you. The bible has the answers - God has the wisdom. My goal is to make you think, wonder, question, test, or dig deeper into this book. If you do, we'll all be richer for it each day of the coming year. Come along with me, won't you?

Jim Manship - click to contact Jim & Bev were married in 1985 at Woodbury Lutheran Church and are blessed with three lovely young-adult daughters.  Jim loves taking time to be active with his family in all they do.  "I love that the Bible and Jesus are the center of our church and I'm honored to be serving Jesus here at the Alley."

Daily Bible Reading – 12.31

December 31: Malachi, Ps. 150, Pr. 31, Revelation 22

After one year of blogging on the Bible, Psalm 150 sums it up better than I ever could.

“Praise the Lord!  Praise God in his sanctuary; praise him in his mighty heavens!  Praise him for his mighty deeds; praise him according to his excellent greatness!  Praise him with trumpet sound; praise him with lute and harp!  Praise him with tambourine and dance; praise him with strings and pipe!  Praise him with sounding cymbals; praise him with loud clashing cymbals!  Let everything that has breath praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!”

Daily Bible Reading – 12.30

December 30: Esther 8 – 10, Ps. 149, Pr. 30, Revelation 21

Revelation 21 – WOW.  There is a new heaven and a new earth.  All that the angels had poured from their bowls cleansed the earth and prepared it for this time.  Now God will live here with His people.  21:3 “…Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man.  He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God.”  The world will be a perfect place, just like God intended in the beginning.  We’ve been given all we need to be a part of this world.  We just need to seek Jesus – the hard part is already done.

Daily Bible Reading – 12.29

December 29: Esther 4 - 7, Ps. 148, Pr. 29, Revelation 20

So much great scripture!  Revelation 20 is really something today, but I can’t let the book of Esther go by without comment.  The historical account of Esther is an amazing story.  God’s plan is worked through king Ahasuerus and Mordecai and Esther in such a way as to save the Jewish people from certain destruction.  No one could see this plan unfolding until it reached its end with the death of Haman.  Then all of a sudden you could look back and see that everything occurred for a purpose.  It’s more than just a good story – It’s a God story.  His chosen people, the remnant, saved to rise another day.  This all dovetails into Jesus coming… His people are redeemed again, not only the people of Israel, but anyone who accepts Jesus is saved.  This story then rolls right up into Revelation where we read today that some of His people will be with God and rule for a thousand years before all the rest are resurrected before final judgment.  Oh, to be in that first group of souls – but there may be a price to pay – these are the souls who gave their life for Jesus.  (Or maybe were willing to – like Esther?)  Are we willing?

Daily Bible Reading – 12.28

December 28: Esther 1 – 3, Ps. 147, Pr. 28, Revelation 19

Since we’ve been reading the bible all year long, Psalm 147 today seems especially appropriate for today.  “Praise the Lord!  For it is good to sing praises to our God; for it is pleasant, and a song of praise is fitting.”  After reading of the destruction of Jerusalem and our reading in Nehemiah… verse 2 “The Lord builds up Jerusalem; he gathers the outcasts of Israel.”  And then this insight into God himself in verse 10 “His delight is not in the strength of the horse, nor his pleasure in the legs of a man, but the Lord takes pleasure in those who fear him, in those who hope in his steadfast love.”  David always gives praise in to God in the Psalms, we need to do the same.  I appreciate the Psalms, they show us how to give praise.  Praise the Lord!

Daily Bible Reading – 12.26

December 27: Nehemiah 11 – 13, Ps. 146, Pr. 27, Revelation 18

In Revelation 18 today, we’re closer and closer to the time of God’s reign on earth.  At this point, Babylon has grown into what seems a world trade central location and is filled with all kinds of evil.  All through the Old Testament, God gave His people warning before His wrath.  Here at the end of time He again makes sure His people can get clear, kind of like the warning Lot had to get away from Sodom and Gomorrah.  18:4 “Then I heard another voice from heaven saying, ‘Come out of her, my people, lest you take part in her sins, lest you share in her plagues; for her sins are heaped high as heaven, and God has remembered her iniquities.”  God truly loves those people who are His people.  He always has in history and always will.  We can benefit from that kind of love – sinners as we are.  Jesus came to be sure we have a way.  Study this word and then you know – accept Jesus and then follow His commands to love God and love one another.  Simple… right?  Depend on God to help and keep room in your heart – we don’t do this alone – none of us.

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