Saturday, March 31, 2012

Devotional Acronym

Pastor Darrell and I were having some discussions about discipleship this week and he passed on some information that he had obtained from a workshop he had attended.  I really like it and thought I would post it here with a link in the sidebar for future reference.  I used it when I read Nahum this morning, and it was helpful to organize my thoughts and enable me to journal.  The main idea is to 1. read, 2. summarize (journal a short summary of what the passage was about in your own words) and 3. pledge (write an "I will" type sentence of what you will apply practically in your own life).  The following acronym was offered to help you consider different avenues you can take in nailing down your own "I will" pledge.


S – Is there a Sin to avoid?

P – Is there a promise, a prayer, or praise in this passage?

E – Is there an example to follow (or not follow)?

C – Is there a command to obey?

K – Is there knowledge that I need to retain?

I know some of you have asked me for a more step by step process to help you apply the scriptures to your own life.  I think this might be a good exercise for you to start with.  After time you may find your own groove and way of interacting with the scriptures, or you might find this is a perfect fit for you and continue with it.


Monday, March 26, 2012

March 26-April 1

Monday - Genesis 12
Tuesday - Judges 8
Wednesday- Psalm 37
Thursday- Isaiah 41
Friday- Nahum 3
Saturday- Acts 5
Sunday- 2 Thess 3

Friday, March 23, 2012

My Desire.

My desire is for this place to not only be a reading schedule.  My desire is for it to be a place of encouragement and a conduit to relationship.  I want to open up this space to be more than just a response to the passage of the day.  I want it to be a place where God's name can be praised, for any reason, where we can stand in the gap for others, listening, encouraging, interceding and growing in faith through fellowship.  With this in mind I have started to share other little glimpses into my life and learning outside of the daily passage.  I want others to feel free and excited about doing the same.  To share any quote or thought, prayer request, something that stood out from a sermon, from a book, (doesn't even have to be a christian book!) a song on the radio. Whenever I hear the song "God bless the broken road" I can't help but think of it in terms of my broken life leading me to the feet of Jesus.  God speaks to us in the mundane, through nature, through others... He speaks to us everywhere if we are faithful to watch and listen.

I know so often people feel they are not good with words, or with grammar even, or are afraid of putting their words out there for "anyone" to see.  I want to challenge you to put that all on the altar.  The reward is so worth the small sacrifice of stepping forward.  And if it is too hard to let your guard down as "yourself" it is so easy to leave an anonymous comment.  It's not about me or anyone knowing WHO you are, it's about knowing who your God is and what He is doing in your life.  I hope and pray that this "place" will become a place of great testimony as to how God has spoken to me, and you, through the years.  I cherish the thought that one day my children will be able to come here, even if I am no longer here, and "fellowship" with me through the thoughts I have taken the time to record as a legacy of God's work in my life.  They are not words scattered to the winds, they are words planted in my heart, taking root, and causing me to grow.  Not without set backs, not without storms, not without weeds... but over time, the picture that emerges is one of prevailing righteousness.  God is at work in His world, God is omnipotent, omnipresent, omniscient and sovereign.  His name be praised.  I pray for you all, regularly.  I trust you do the same for me.  That is the greatest gift one person can give to another.   I thank God for the privilege of christian fellowship. I thank God for you.

Monday, March 19, 2012

March 19-25

Monday - Genesis 11
Tuesday - Judges 7
Wednesday- Psalm 36
Thursday- Isaiah 40
Friday- Nahum 2
Saturday- Acts 3
Sunday- 2 Thess 2

Monday, March 12, 2012

March 12-19

Monday - Genesis 10
Tuesday - Judges 6
Wednesday- Psalm 35
Thursday- Isaiah 39
Friday- Nahum 1
Saturday- Acts 2
Sunday- 2 Thess 1

Monday, March 5, 2012

March 5-12

Monday - Genesis 9
Tuesday - Judges 5
Wednesday- Psalm 34
Thursday- Isaiah 38
Friday- Micah 7
Saturday- Acts 1
Sunday- 1 Thess 4