3 Week Challenge, Day 1

So, it is the second day after Retreat '10 sans-pine valley.

Though I am sad to have left Pine Valley once again, and it feels like I am thrust into the business of school all to quickly, and that I have too much unnecessary work to be bothered with, and that I desperately wish to do one more QT on the rocks, or have one more meal at the dining hall (maybe..without the gas), and that I miss almost every aspect of retreat--Kay's, cabins, coffee shop, worship, messages and all--

I am sort of excited. (and a tad scared).

Today marks the first day of Greg's three-week challenge, complete with the five P's: Partner, Place/Time, Plan, Prize, Punishment (optional) to encompass the concept of Read, Meditate, and Memorize the S-word. Small group--PAVE, has decided to embark this challenge together by studying the book of Matthew; one chapter per day:

Partner: PAAV (Pat, Abby, Agatha, Victoria)
Place/Time: My desk in the computer room, at some point between 8-11 pm each night
Plan: 1 chapter of Matthew, 1 memory verse, and 1 journal entry (thoughts, questions, etc), followed by prayer (sincere, bold, and with faith)
Prize: TBA. Dinner, perhaps? Or if we're feeling especially festive, Disneyland? Or froyo. Something food related.
Punishment: Skip 1 day of lunch and give the money's worth of that lunch ($5) to Oscar, the church, or some non-profit, Christian-based organization. [per skipped day]

Personally, I liked Greg's suggestion of a journal, so I decided to journal my "Quality/Quiet Times," both via paper and the internet (hence the creation of this blogspot)..

So here goes!


TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2009:
Passage: Matthew 1 (The Genealogy of Jesus, The Birth of Jesus Christ)

Memory Verse: "2My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely, Christ" -Colossians 2:2

Notes: [v.1-17]-- Jesus's genealogy consisted of Solomon, the child of David and Bathsheba. David had forced Bathsheba to commit adultery against her husband and his soldier, Uriah (ref. 1 Samuel 11) So why did God still bless David through this particular son, even after such great sin? (adultery and murder). Had David not any other sons?
[v.22-23]--"23All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet" The words of the prophet were fulfilled through Jesus's birth. Which prophet? Reference?
-Immanuel: God with us
-Joseph was obedient to the Lord, even after he considered divorcing Mary.