Monday: Joshua 7
Tuesday: 2 Chronicles 14
Wednesday: Psalm 8
Thursday: Isaisah 12
Friday: Hosea 12
Saturday: Luke 20
Sunday: 2 Corinthians 11
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In pastures green He leadeth me. Join me on the journey.
What's Going on Here?
We are reading our way through the bible one chapter per day. The idea behind my personal reading plan is to read through books chronologically, but not solely one book at a time. Thus on Monday we read from the books of the law, Tuesday the books of kings and judges, Wednesday the books of Jewish History, Thursday Books of Wisdom, Friday the Prophets, Saturday the Gospels and Sunday the Epistles. The next Monday we pick up at the chapter we left off in ancient history. You may think that this would be disjointed and would cause you to "lose your groove" but I have found the contrary to be true, the threads of promise, redemption and grace show up more clearly as I make my way slowly through these books in a parrallel fashion and when I pick up where I left off a week before I am reminded of things that stood out to me from last week's reading. Journaling is a big part of my processing scripture and fixing particular tidbits in my mind for the purpose of life application. I would love to have you join me!
Basic Reading Plan
Mon (Law): Genesis-Joshua
Tues (Rulers): Judges-Chronicles
Wed (History): Ezra-Psalms
Thurs (Wisdom): Prov-Jer
Fri (Prophets): Lam-Malachi
Sat (Gospels): Matthew-Acts
Sun (Epistles) Romans-Revelation.
The theme I have given each section is general. Joshua is not a book of the law and Psalms is not a book of history. The main chunk of reading in each section is, however, suitably classified as the theme it is under. In order to make the sections even out to have the same general number of books/chapters, this was the closest I could come. Otherwise one would be reading through certain sections (like the Law) for instance, much more often than the wisdom books, etc.
Posts
A Place of Fellowship....
(Fellowship is) an expression of both love and humility. [It] springs from a desire to bring benefit to others, coupled with a sense of personal weakness and need. It has a double motive – the wish to help, and to be helped; to edify, and to be edified. It has a double aim – to do, and to receive, good. It is a seeking by Christian people to know God better through sharing with each other what, individually, they have learned of Him already. J.I. Packer.
A few introductory words of encouragement....
Think of your time feeding on God's Word as a vital aspect of your health and wellness. You wouldn't go a week without brushing your teeth, or eating physical food, don't treat the nourishing of your soul by the Word of God with any less care.
Don't cram multiple chapters if you fall behind of plan, but *do* "back-read" if you have the passion and earnest desire to do so. My habit if I miss a chapter is usually to leave it until that book comes up again the next week (based on my own reading plan) and then read two consecutive chapters rather than the one I am scheduled to read.
Don't be legalistic about the when and how. If you don't get a quiet time in the morning, THAT'S OKAY. Find a moment in the afternoon to grab a drink, sit down and put your feet up, and soak up a chapter. And if that doesn't happen, THAT'S OKAY. Take 15-20 minutes at the end of the day to plump some pillows up in your bed and soak it up before you go to sleep. And if that doesn't happen, IT'S OKAY. Tomorrow is a new day. Don't let the enemy discourage you from spending time in the word TODAY because you didn't YESTERDAY. That's just dumb. Did you get that? DUMB.
If you don't have time to read, meditate. Allow God to bring a passage of scripture to mind and allow yourself to listen. Take time to be quiet in your spirit. While you are washing dishes, folding laundry, vacuuming... cleaning bathrooms.
Spruce things up. Get yourself a PRETTY journal and jot down little things that stand out to you. Use your favourite mug or a pretty glass to pour your favourite drink. Sit in your favourite spot (this could change from day to day and depending on the time of day you read. A sunny spot on the porch in the morning, a wing back chair and a blanket if it's chilly, a garden swing in the shade on a hot afternoon, or plumped up in bed with soft lamplight in the evening. Again, don't be legalistic about the location, pick a happy spot that fits the moment/opportunity.) Oh, and DON'T wait for the pretty journal. Plain lined notepaper or even a crumpled scrap paper will work just FINE until you get one....
Remember while you read, God's word is FOR YOU. yes, it was written to a particular audience in a particular time in history and for a particular reason. But it was also written with YOU in mind, TODAY in mind, and is designed to give you strength and wisdom for the journey.
Claim ONE part of the passage and take it to heart. Read through the chapter without too much introspection at first and see what part most stands out to you. Go back and look at that part more specifically and ask yourself what is in there for YOU?
Ask relevant questions. I usually look at a passage with 2 questions in mind. 1. What does this passage tell me about God's character? 2. What does this passage tell me about humanity (ie, ME, in relation to God? a final and very important question to ask is "What does this passage require of me on a practical level?" Write down one attitude, practice or truth you want you live out TODAY in light of what God has just revealed to you. This is how we take ownership of the Word of God and allow it to relate to us and shape us on a personal level.
Build yourself a monument. As I ponder a passages relevance to me I journal the thoughts that arise. Jotting them down somehow cements my convictions in my mind, almost like laying out stones in a monument so I can go back to that place later and be reminded. I also use those notes to come here and share my thoughts later with others.
Keep your actual quiet time concise. This will help make it more likely the habit will continue to happen on a regular basis. Better to spend 15 minutes in the word daily, than 1 hour once a week.
Don't require absolute "alone" and uninterrupted time (without kids around). If they are around, they can learn to not interrupt you for 15 minutes, just like you spend time with other people when they are around, you can spend time with the Lord with them around too.
Think of God’s Word as a love letter to you. When you read stories of God’s wrath in the Old Testament, think about WHAT love paid the price for all that wrath and how a hand that once smote anyone who dared touch the ark of His covenant now beckons YOU to draw near to the throne of grace. Read everything in light of who God is and how much He loves mankind that in spite of our being so deprived, His love story reaches out, encompasses us, washes us clean, and seeks to draw us near.
May you seek Him, may He be found by you, and may you be blessed on the journey.
Don't cram multiple chapters if you fall behind of plan, but *do* "back-read" if you have the passion and earnest desire to do so. My habit if I miss a chapter is usually to leave it until that book comes up again the next week (based on my own reading plan) and then read two consecutive chapters rather than the one I am scheduled to read.
Don't be legalistic about the when and how. If you don't get a quiet time in the morning, THAT'S OKAY. Find a moment in the afternoon to grab a drink, sit down and put your feet up, and soak up a chapter. And if that doesn't happen, THAT'S OKAY. Take 15-20 minutes at the end of the day to plump some pillows up in your bed and soak it up before you go to sleep. And if that doesn't happen, IT'S OKAY. Tomorrow is a new day. Don't let the enemy discourage you from spending time in the word TODAY because you didn't YESTERDAY. That's just dumb. Did you get that? DUMB.
If you don't have time to read, meditate. Allow God to bring a passage of scripture to mind and allow yourself to listen. Take time to be quiet in your spirit. While you are washing dishes, folding laundry, vacuuming... cleaning bathrooms.
Spruce things up. Get yourself a PRETTY journal and jot down little things that stand out to you. Use your favourite mug or a pretty glass to pour your favourite drink. Sit in your favourite spot (this could change from day to day and depending on the time of day you read. A sunny spot on the porch in the morning, a wing back chair and a blanket if it's chilly, a garden swing in the shade on a hot afternoon, or plumped up in bed with soft lamplight in the evening. Again, don't be legalistic about the location, pick a happy spot that fits the moment/opportunity.) Oh, and DON'T wait for the pretty journal. Plain lined notepaper or even a crumpled scrap paper will work just FINE until you get one....
Remember while you read, God's word is FOR YOU. yes, it was written to a particular audience in a particular time in history and for a particular reason. But it was also written with YOU in mind, TODAY in mind, and is designed to give you strength and wisdom for the journey.
Claim ONE part of the passage and take it to heart. Read through the chapter without too much introspection at first and see what part most stands out to you. Go back and look at that part more specifically and ask yourself what is in there for YOU?
Ask relevant questions. I usually look at a passage with 2 questions in mind. 1. What does this passage tell me about God's character? 2. What does this passage tell me about humanity (ie, ME, in relation to God? a final and very important question to ask is "What does this passage require of me on a practical level?" Write down one attitude, practice or truth you want you live out TODAY in light of what God has just revealed to you. This is how we take ownership of the Word of God and allow it to relate to us and shape us on a personal level.
Build yourself a monument. As I ponder a passages relevance to me I journal the thoughts that arise. Jotting them down somehow cements my convictions in my mind, almost like laying out stones in a monument so I can go back to that place later and be reminded. I also use those notes to come here and share my thoughts later with others.
Keep your actual quiet time concise. This will help make it more likely the habit will continue to happen on a regular basis. Better to spend 15 minutes in the word daily, than 1 hour once a week.
Don't require absolute "alone" and uninterrupted time (without kids around). If they are around, they can learn to not interrupt you for 15 minutes, just like you spend time with other people when they are around, you can spend time with the Lord with them around too.
Think of God’s Word as a love letter to you. When you read stories of God’s wrath in the Old Testament, think about WHAT love paid the price for all that wrath and how a hand that once smote anyone who dared touch the ark of His covenant now beckons YOU to draw near to the throne of grace. Read everything in light of who God is and how much He loves mankind that in spite of our being so deprived, His love story reaches out, encompasses us, washes us clean, and seeks to draw us near.
May you seek Him, may He be found by you, and may you be blessed on the journey.
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12 comments:
Joshua 7:1 "But the Israelites did not obey the Lord."
v 11 "that is why they cannot face their enemies, they turn away from the fight and run..."
Obedience. The essence of "feeling" right with God and being able to rest in the fact that He has got our back whatever comes our way. If we are not walking in His will we know we have taken our own path and subconsciously quake at what we will meet up with on the trail.
I love the way Asa came in and destroyed everything in opposition to God's laws as soon as he came in to power. SHAZAAM! And how God blessed him for his deliberate actions with peace in the land. INCREDIBLE.
2 Chronicles 14:5 ....so the kingdom had peace. Obedience results in peace. Even if sometimes it is only an inner peace, but really, what greater peace could we desire?
Opposite of obedience? At the heart of the matter, disobedience is rebellion. As such it means one is choosing to make oneself Lord of their own life, which is I suppose a form of idolatry.
Peace like a river, I like that picture. It came up at camp this summer. It's not peace like a pond, just gentle and still, but peace like a RIVER, that rushes, that has power to push away anxiety and fear and discontent in the power of its current. Love it.
:) didn't see your comment before I posted. I concur :)
I'm going to think about that 'river' comment- very cool.
Not sure what vs 2 is getting at- the because of your enemies bit- but I KNOW that I have a yearning to just sit under the stars and be amazed with God... somehow I never seem to do that, and yet they're available nearly every. single. day. Hopefully soon. The stars seem to bring God's majesty much closer.
I love this Psalm!
The amazing power of God's name. It has the power to make His enemies flee, to empower the struggling believer, to cause the heart to rejoice and the spirit to soar. I love your name, Lord.
"You have taught children and babies to sing praises to you..."
This verse always makes me smile. I love the way little kids make up praise songs to Jesus and belt them out at the top of their lungs. When Elle was little (3 maybe) we were sitting in the doc's office one afternoon and she was playing in the middle of the floor with some toys and making up a song about how Jesus loves all the people in the world, red and yellow black and white, and one day he was going to come back from heaven to get all the people who love him, and you better love him because if you don't you will go to hell." Oh dear. You could see the magazines go up in front of people's faces to hide their smiles (at least no one seemed offended! that could have been awkward)
from the mouths of babes. gotta love it.
Even now I will be surprised to hear the girls singing hymns while they are washing dishes. Choruses I get, but remembering the words to the verses of "Ancient Words" always gets me teary eyed and blesses me. They love that song and I love that they love it.
Last thought, the honor that God has given us. To make us co-heirs with Christ and given us the role of ruling in the heavenlies. This is such a privelege and honor, we have been created to reign with Christ. Favorite and most life changing read of my entire life was "Destined to the Throne." Changed the way I live more than any other book. We are partners with Christ, working to bring about God's will on earth. WOW.
Psalm 8
Wow, I was just thinking about how great our God is and how I needed to read my Bible today. And Psalm 8 totally reflected my feelings of amazement and admiration! Love it! Like my bible notes for this one too:
"When we look at the vast expanse of creation, we wonder how God could be concerned for people who constantly disappoint him. Yet God created us only a little lower than himself and the angels! The next time you question your worth as a person, remember that God considers you highly valuable. We have great worth because we bear the stamp of the Creator. Because God has already declared how valuable we are to him, we can be set free from feelings of worthlessness."
I did a couple of word studies this morning.
"praise" yadah; literally to use (that is, hold out) the hand; especially to revere or worship (with extended hands);
just a few weeks ago I was wondering where the custom of raising hands in worship came from. Now I know!
I also looked up cry out (tsahal) and shout (ranan)and both meanings are steeped in the expression of great joy.
Count it all joy! That's my recent motto for my days.
Hosea 12:1 "What Israel does is as useless as chasing the wind; he chases the east wind all day."
I sometimes feel like life is like this. When I think of how different our life could be if my kids went to school and I went to work to make more money so we could afford more things, it would be remarkably different. But I feel it would be a chasing. A striving. After what? Money? For what? Things? Trips? To make memories and buy my kids ds's and whatever the latest thing to have is?
But the reality is it's all wind. The memories are made daily here on our porch swing with a good book and a glass of homemade crab apple slush. I don't need to look anywhere else or for anything else besides the good Lord and my good home and these good gifts that surround me daily, recognizing they are from his hand because this is the stuff real memories are made of. If I just have the eyes to see.
It's a discipline, to not chase after the wind. One I have been letting slip lately. I need to get back to a clarity of vision and purpose and a contentment in being rooted and setting the example for my kids how "godliness with contentment is great gain" 1 tim 6:6 plays out in the every day.
I also like the reference to Jacob wrestling with God. How it didn't offend God. How God would rather have us duke it out with him, be real, and even aggressive, than just give him the cold shoulder and go our own way. I am thankful to know that I can approach Him however I am feeling and be real with Him and trust Him to not be condescending and aloof with me in my less than stellar moments. What a great example to me as a parent, of the kind of attitude I should take with my kids.
I thought about a conversation I had earlier this week when I read the first part of this chapter. The severity of the sentence "He will come and kill those farmers and will give the vineyard to other farmers."
I think the end point is that justice is severe. You either accept mercy (Christ) or reject mercy and choose justice. Justice, in this case, is death (for the wages of sin is death).
Sometimes I think people look at the "justice" aspect of God and don't see it as that. They see it as unfair, as unforgiving, as unmerciful.... but the truth is, it wouldn't be JUST any other way.
He is just and merciful. But the mercy of life everlasting is extended to those who receive it, not to those who reject it.
"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live"
Deuteronomy 30:19
2 cor 11, I love the sarcasm and wit in this chapter :)
there are a couple of things that stood out to me here, but the one that touched my heart the most was probably verses 28-29
"Besides all this, thee is on me every day the load of my concern for all the churches. I feel weak every time someone is weak, and I feel upset every time someone is led into sin."
This is the burden of an intercessor. When God's spirit is in you and moves you to pray and love and fight for another, you take on the weight that they are carrying. You "share" it with them. I experience this more and more as I am growing and while it is a heaviness and a burden, it is all at once a privilege and a blessing. It demonstrates a new level of communion with God that I have never experienced before. One where it is not all about me, but about what God is doing, the battles He is fighting and the ways He is inviting me to participate with Him. Prayer is partnering with God. It takes me outside of myself and my own petty little idiosyncrasies. It opens up a world of mission and purpose for me as a child of God's family, a workman equipped and commissioned.
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