Monday - Genesis 4
Tuesday - 2 Chronicles 36
Wednesday- Psalm 29
Thursday- Isaiah 33
Friday- Micah 2
Saturday- John 17
Sunday- Colossians 3
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
skip to main |
skip to sidebar
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.
Blog Archive
- May (2)
- April (5)
- March (4)
- February (3)
- January (3)
- December (5)
- November (4)
- October (5)
- September (3)
- August (4)
- July (5)
- June (5)
- May (4)
- April (6)
- March (6)
- February (4)
- January (5)
- December (4)
- November (4)
- October (5)
- September (4)
- August (5)
- July (6)
- June (6)
- May (31)
- April (30)
- March (32)
- February (28)
- January (31)
- December (31)
- November (30)
- October (32)
- September (30)
- August (6)
- July (24)
- June (30)
- May (31)
- April (31)
- March (32)
- February (30)
- January (31)
- December (31)
- November (30)
- October (31)
- September (30)
- August (31)
- July (31)
- June (30)
- May (31)
- April (29)
- March (31)
- February (28)
- January (32)
- December (31)
- November (30)
- October (31)
- September (20)
18 comments:
thanks for putting this up, Chris. I spent the entire morning in the hospital with Seth, and the afternoon in a meeting, could use a little "quiet time" in my life right about now :)
Genesis 4. God sees and judges and disciplines the sins of man, and yet extends grace and never ceases to love. Extending grace does not mean the absence of consequence, but it means not punishing us as our sins deserve. It is because of His great love for us and His desire for good for us that He stops us in our tracks and shakes us up. That we may re-fix our eyes on Him, if we will.
Genesis 4
Adam and Eve’s disobedience brought sin into the human race. They may have thought their sin – eating a piece of fruit – wasn’t very bad, but notice how quickly their sinful nature developed in their children. Simple disobedience quickly degenerated into outright murder. Adam and Eve acted only against God, but Cain acted against both God and other people. A small sin has a way of growing out of control. Let God help you with your ‘little’ sins before they turn into tragedies.”
2 Chron 36:15And the Lord, the God of their fathers, sent to them persistently by His messengers, because He had compassion on His people and on His dwelling place.
16But they kept mocking the messengers of God and despising His words and scoffing at His prophets till the wrath of the Lord rose against His people, till there was no remedy or healing."
God is persistent and we are stubborn. If His grace and patience won't bring us to repentance and submission, we might expect to experience serious hardship that may.
This is really interesting- The people of Judah picked Josiah's younger son to be king first, but his reign only lasted 3 months due to his dethronement by the king of Egypt. J-haz's older brother (who should have rightfully had the throne) was then given the throne and renamed, while the king of Egypt carried of J-haz. Isn't that weird? I bet there's more to that story somewhere.
Then there's another weird twist with J-chin and uncle Zed- anyone else catch that? Babylon and Egypt really had a grip on controlling who was in power while the line of Judah was not following God.
Can you help me out with meanings in vs 21? The sabbath rests?
2 Chronicles 36
36:21
the Sabbath rests
“Leviticus strikingly predicts the captivity, telling how God’s people would be torn from their land for disobeying him. One of the laws they had ignored stated that one year in every seven the land should lie fallow, resting from producing crops. The 70-year captivity allowed the land to rest, making up for all the years the Israelites had not observed this law.”
36:16
God warned Judah about its sins and continually restored the people to his favour, only to have them turn away. Eventually the situation was beyond remedy. Beware of harbouring sin in your heart. The day will come when remedy is no longer possible and God’s judgment replaces his mercy. Sin often repeated, but never repented of, invites disaster.”
Psalm 29
Laurel's sister came to mind as I was reading this, may she "see" God's glory revealed around here, may she "hear" that voice that shakes the cedars and may she stand in awe of His majesty.
This verse moved me deeply;
11The Lord will give [unyielding and impenetrable] strength to His people; the Lord will bless His people with peace.
God is awesome and we stand in awe!
Chris, not sure if this is what you are asking, clarify if not, the Lord had previously prophesied 70 years of "sabbath" for the land of Israel if the people didn't repent (see Jeremiah 29:10). That was fulfilled through the diaspora (the exile to Babylon) which became an enforced physical sabbath for the land due to the land being laid waste of people to plant and harvest it. See also Ezra 1:1 and we also see Daniel being part of the unfolding of fulfilled prophesy at the end of the 70 years captivity.
oops, I just saw my email with the comment from Denise that answered the question!!!! Sorry for the repeat!
Both answers were really helpful- thank you!
I have seen His hand and voice through splitting trees, thunder & lightning- truly in awe and reverence over His power to command the earth and heavens... and just in my own small life. What a mighty God we serve!
Psalm 29
“Throughout history, God has revealed his power through mighty miracles over nature, such as the great Flood. He promises to continue to reveal his power. Paul urged us to understand how great God’s power is. The same power that raised Christ from the dead is available to help us with our daily problems. When you feel weak and limited, don’t despair. Remember that God can give you strength. The same power that controls creation and raises the dead is available to you.”
Is 33:3 Your powerful voice makes people run away in fear;
this builds on what we've been talking about here about the power of God, and the voice gave me goosebumps because of a verse we read last night in bible study where Daniel heard the voice of God speaking to Him from between the banks of the Canal in Daniel 8 and the effect it had on him. To think that we are welcomed before the throne of the universe to crawl up in the lap of this amazing God and call Him Father! May we be like adoring children, running to meet "Daddy" at the door!
Isaiah 33: 14-16
“These sinners realized that they could not live in the presence of the holy God, for he is like a fire that devours evil. Only those who walk uprightly and speak what is right can live with God. Isaiah gives examples of how to demonstrate our righteousness and uprightness: We can reject gain from extortion and brides, refuse to listen to plots of wrong actions, and shut our eyes to evil. If we are fair and honest in our relationships, we will dwell with God, and he will supply our needs.”
Micah 2: 6Do not preach, say the prophesying false prophets; one should not babble and harp on such things; disgrace will not overtake us [the reviling has no end].
7O house of Jacob, shall it be said, Is the Spirit of the Lord restricted, impatient, and shortened? Or are these [prophesied plagues] His doings? Do not My words do good to him who walks uprightly?
God does not look kindly on mediocrity and turning a blind eye to His ways and words. We can be so dull witted and distracted, losing sight of The Only Thing That Matters, keeping our eyes fixed on the goal for which He has called us heavenward and pursuing a life of selfless God worship.
I can't read this chapter without the lyrics and music to this Steve Bell song ringing through my head;
http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/This+Is+Love/3PueYf?src=5
this is love.
love it so much.
except for I don't like that version I linked to from the symphony sessions, this acoustic version is the one I know and love;
http://grooveshark.com/#!/s/This+Is+Love/2ubEBi?src=5
John 17:17
A follower of Christ becomes pure and holy through believing and obeying the Word of God. He or she has already accepted forgiveness through Christ’s sacrificial death. But daily application of God’s Word has a purifying effect on our minds and hearts. Scripture points out sin, motivates us to confess, renews our relationship with Christ, and guides us back to the right path.”
Collossians 1:1 IF THEN you have been raised with Christ [to a new life, thus sharing His resurrection from the dead], aim at and seek the [rich, eternal treasures] that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God.(A)
2And set your minds and keep them set on what is above (the higher things), not on the things that are on the earth.
3For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real] life is hidden with Christ in God.
4When Christ, Who is our life, appears, then you also will appear with Him in [the splendor of His] glory.
What a climax to today's sunday school lesson! love it.
Post a Comment