monday: joshua 18
tuesday: 2 chronicles 26
wednesday: psalm 19
thursday: isaiah 23
friday: amos 6
saturday: john 7
sunday: ephesians 3
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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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11 comments:
Joshua 18:3 So Joshua said to the Israelites: "Why do you wait so long to take your land? The Lord, the God of your ancestors, has given this land to you."
God has given me a future and a destiny and a territory to govern (both physically and spiritually) now. Am I claiming and utilizing all the gifts and privileges that He has bestowed on me for living and investing and reaping a bountiful harvest of spiritual fruit in my own life and for the benefit of His kingdom? Am I laying hold and pioneering and establishing a heritage for my descendants?
Chronicles 26:2 "Uzziah obeyed God while Zechariah was alive, because he taught Uzziah how to respect and obey God. And as long as Uzziah obeyed the Lord, God gave him success."
this theme seems to come up periodically in the stories of the kings. Kings who had spiritual mentors who "taught them how to respect and obey God" but they never seem to find their own feet in learning to obey God without guidance. I sometimes think that discipleship is one of the strongest missing links in the church today, this "teaching HOW to respect and obey God" but on second thought, no. In our culture the resources for discipleship are limitless, I have allowed myself to be discipled my entire life from scripture, books, sermons and study guides. If we don't commit to learn and follow and grow out of our own commitment and love for God, being spoon fed discipleship for our whole life isn't going to cause us to grow up into maturity unless we are personally committed and desiring that end.
Ephesians 4:14,15 - Be no longer children, but grow up in Christ.
2 Peter 3:18 - but grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:3 - The Thessalonians grew exceedingly in faith.
Philippians 1:9 - Paul prayed for their love to abound more and more
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heartbe acceptable in your sight,O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalm 19. Read this one from the message this morning, I like to do that when I am quite familiar with a passage and get a different "twist".
v. 9 God's reputation is twenty-four-carat gold,
with a lifetime guarantee.
The decisions of God are accurate
down to the nth degree.
this one comforted and encouraged my heart today. God is in His heaven, all is right with the world. Despite the fact that all is not right with the world. God IS in control.
11-14 "There's more: God's Word warns us of danger
and directs us to hidden treasure.
Otherwise how will we find our way?
Or know when we play the fool?"
Love this. My time in the word is my road map for my day. It shows me where to direct my steps, and which paths to avoid. It helps me recognize when I find myself all tangled up in jungle vines or sinking in quicksand how and where I stepped off the path. Where would I be without it? THANK YOU GOD FOR YOU WORD that lights the path and guides my way!!!
" Keep me from stupid sins,
from thinking I can take over your work; "
Amen and amen.
Isaiah 23:4 ""I've never had labor pains, never had a baby,
never reared children to adulthood,
Never gave life, never worked with life.
It was all numbers, dead numbers, profit and loss."
the way of this world is definitely the "material way". Amass wealth, amass possessions, amass a greater and greater collection of stuff and nonsense. God's way is investing in people. Investing in moments. Investing in eternity. At the bottom of the chapter when it talks about God providing for the needs of his people I always just get so humbled and overwhelmed when I think of how God has provided for us so abundantly despite the fact that we never pursued the way of wealth. We never pursued the eductation, sought the good life or the good job, and yet He has blessed us to allow us to live 100% debt free for the past 7 years of our 15 year marriage even though we live on one pretty low income with 8 people. That blows me away and I give him glory and praise and thanks!!
Is. 23:9 - The Lord of Heaven's armies has done it to destroy your pride.
LAB says "Pride separates people from God. We must remember all true accomplishment comes as a result of our Creator's help. We have no reason to take pride in ourselves".
1-2 Woe to you who think you live on easy street in Zion, who think Mount Samaria is the good life. You assume you're at the top of the heap, voted the number-one best place to live. Well, wake up and look around. Get off your pedestal.
3-6Woe to you who are rushing headlong to disaster! Catastrophe is just around the corner! Woe to those who live in luxury and expect everyone else to serve them! Woe to those who live only for today, indifferent to the fate of others!
Woe to the playboys, the playgirls,
who think life is a party held just for them! Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain! those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles! They could not care less about their country going to ruin.
I was reminded of something I read the other day by John Stott from Human Rights and Human Wrongs, 1999. "Our Christian habit is to bewail the world's deteriorating standards with an air of rather self-righteous dismay. We criticize its violence, dishonesty, immorality, disregard for human life, and materialistic greed. 'The world is going down the drain,' we say with a shrug, but whose fault is it? Who is to blame? Let me put it like this. If the house is dark when nightfall comes, there is no sense in blaming the house; that is what happens when the sun goes down. The question to ask is 'Where is the light? Similarly, if the meat goes bad and becomes inedible, there is no sense in blaming the meat; that is what happens when bacteria are left alone to breed. The question to ask is 'Where is the salt?' If society deteriorates and its standards decline until it becomes like a dark house or stinking fish, there is no sense in blaming society; that is what happens when fallen men and women are left to themselves, and human selfishness is unchecked. The question to ask is 'Where is the church? Why are the salt and light of Jesus not permeating and changing our society?' It is sheer hypocrisy on our part to raise our eyebrows, shrug our shoulders, or wring our hands. The Lord Jesus told us to be the salt and light. If therefore darkness and rottenness abound, it is largely our fault and we must accept the blame."
This ties in to the "holy living" we are studying about at Bible study. Also reflects some of what we heard at Women's Journey of Faith.
Amos 6:4 You lie on beds decorated with ivory
and stretch out on your couches.
You eat tender lambs
and fattened calves.
5 You make up songs on your harps,
and, like David, you compose songs on musical instruments.
6 You drink wine by the bowlful
and use the best perfumed lotions.
But you are not sad over the ruin of Israel,"
Ouch. We are such an indulgent culture. Obsessed with food, entertainment, revelry and beauty.
The Message transposes it this way;
Woe to those who live in luxury
and expect everyone else to serve them!
Woe to those who live only for today,
indifferent to the fate of others!
Woe to the playboys, the playgirls,
who think life is a party held just for them!
Woe to those addicted to feeling good—life without pain!
those obsessed with looking good—life without wrinkles!
They could not care less
about their country going to ruin.
Again, this verse comes to mind;
"He has shown you oh man, what is good and what the Lord requires of you. To act justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God."
I always love your thoughts Annette, and have shared them both times throughout the week in situations where they have applied. Your quote about the loaves and fishes and the faith to watch God move got shared with the entire women of waldheim committee after I shared it with my friend Maxine when they were freaking out about 150 women buying tickets when they were expecting and prepared for only 75 :)
John 7:15 The people were amazed and said, "This man has never studied in school. How did he learn so much?"
16 Jesus answered, "The things I teach are not my own, but they come from him who sent me. 17 If people choose to do what God wants, they will know that my teaching comes from God and not from me."
This kind of jumped out at me today because of two things that happened to me this week. The first one being someone asked for my "opinion" of something. I prayed about it, a few verses came to mind, I looked them up, jotted them down, and wrote a note with the supporting verses showing what the bible has to say about the question at hand. The person I had this exchange with was kind of taken aback that I would take their question so seriously and look up scripture about it. They said "oh, I was just wondering what YOU thought and felt about it. This is a light bulb to worldview. When I look at life, or any question, I don't ask "what do I think or what do I feel about this topic?" I immediately ask "what does the Bible say about this?"
second, and connected. How to know how to find out what the bible says about it? Just last night when having a discussion with one of my friends she was like, how DO you know all this stuff? Familiarity. I read the bible. Every day. Just one chapter a day and you can read the bible through in 4 years. I am not sure how many times I have read the bible through cover to cover in the past 27 years, but it must be at least 7 times. There were years there where I did the bible in a year reading plan so it could be a few more. It is so little to read one chapter a day, but in the course of a lifetime it plants God's word in your heart.
I copy verses that impact me. I don't memorize them (maybe that will come with time?), but I copy them and return to them in my journal when they come to mind meditate on them as opportunity brings them to mind. The result of this is that parts of verses come to mind for me when I am thinking of stuff and I can very easily biblegateway a section of the verse, find it and write it out again when I need it.
So this verse just made me realize those two things afresh, how important our worldview is and how vital a lifestyle of learning from the right source is in order to have a biblical worldview.
and I hope that doesn't look smug or self righteous, because that is not my intent AT ALL. Just a passion of mine, to share an area where my lief has been enriched and strengthened incomparabily by tapping into the source. I want to be transparent and sincere enough to share my struggles AND not foster false pride or pretense that inhibit one from also freely sharing their strengths.
Ephesians 3:17 I pray that Christ will live in your hearts by faith and that your life will be strong in LOVE and be built on LOVE.18 And I pray that you and all God's holy people will have the power to understand the greatness of Christ's LOVE—how wide and how long and how high and how deep that LOVEis.19 Christ's LOVE is greater than anyone can ever know, but I pray that you will be able to know that LOVE. Then you can be filled with the fullness of God.
These verses were SO beautiful to me this morning, they caused a rush of warmth to flow over me. LOVE has been "my word" for 2011. Time to start searching out my word for 2012.
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