Monday: Genesis 41
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 12Wednesday: Psalm 66
Thursday: Jeremiah 4
Friday: Lamentations 3
Saturday: Matthew 6Sunday Hebrews 10
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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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10 comments:
some themes that spoke to me this morning from Gen 41. We should be ready for any opportunity that gets thrown our way by being close to God and growing in knowledge of and trust in Him every day; that all we do should bring glory to God and praise to Him, not honor to ourselves; that everything we go through is part of our training to become who God wants us to be in order to accomplish what He has planned for us.
1 Sam 12 >God is the true king of every area of life. We must recognize his kingship and pattern our relationships, work life, and home life according to His purposes.<
we are constantly being molded to the make of the world, influenced by the culture, habits and current of the ebb and flow of people around us. If we don't stop, re-focus and listen to God's plan for our lives we will lose ourselves in the distractions of a world spinning madly on. I am so thankful for quiet, for reflection, for remembering and never losing sight of what matters most.
Samuel's words about prayer in verse 23 really got my attention as well. I have felt convicted more and more in recent years that when someone really seems "off" to me in a way that sets me off, that God wants my response to be one of concern and care, not irritation and to pray for His good work in their life, for Him to draw them, meet them where they're at and lift them to deeper, sweeter places with Him.
this Psalm matched my spirit so well! This past week I have been on a spiritual high, just overflowing with praise for God to the point of bursting. IN church on Sunday I felt like "WHOO-ing" and applauding vigorously and giving a standing ovation when Mike read those names of Jesus. And Katie.... Katie just left me weeping with love for how good and sweet and loving God is. This Psalm, it talks various times about LOUDLY singing praises.... I just want to holler for God! I can't even drive without raising my hand to praise him (and that is harder to do than ever in a standard with lots of turning to get to and from town *grin*. I just want to praise him today! This Psalm also confirmed so well what Katie shared about her TESTimony. "Come and listen all you who fear God, and I will tell you what He did for me. For I cried out to Him for help, praising Him as I spoke. If I had not confessed the sin in my heart, the Lord would not have listened. But God did listen! He paid attention to my prayer. PRAISE GOD, who did not ignore my prayer or withdraw His unfailing love from me." Psalm 66:16-20
I love it PC! I love to hear that you are SO full of love for God! Since this Sunday and Monday-Katie I have been feeling the same way! Yesterday as I went throughout my date my heart felt so full of love that I thought my chest would burst open! I actually felt physical pain in my chest at one point lol! Sing it PC! Lift your hands and SING IT!
As to your comment regarding 1 Sam 12 - it is funny - Mike Hack was here yesterday evening for coffee and my hubby asked him how he could get past some of the hurt that people in the church had caused to him and his family and Mike said to pray for them everyday (even put a picture of them up on the wall!)and pray that blessings would be rained down upon them!
That should say, "Yesterday as I went throughout my DAY..." (wish I'd had a date yesterday lol)
Psalm 66
YES, exactly how I am feeling! "Shout joyful praises to God, all the earth! Sing about the glory of his name! Tell the world how glorious he is." Love it! Had to dig my Bible out once again from the bottom of my to-do pile on my desk - ridiculous! Katie said she called her mom and asked what should she do, how could she overcome this despair she was feeling. Her mom said to turn off her phone, the TV, the internet, and get her nose in the Word. Great advice! One that I need to DO and MODEL for my children.
love ya sister chick.
Jeremiah 4. What a sobering chapter. I've been thinking lately how easily we twist things. That we love to hear about God's great and unfailing love for us, that it makes us feel good... but we forget, it's not because we are so lovable...that he adores us because of who we are. No, He loves us because of His great love. Because He IS love. Precisely BECAUSE His love is unfailing. It is because of His great love that we are not consumed.
We need to keep a right perspective on God's love because it will invoke the right spirit of worship. The purpose of God's love is not to make us feel good about *ourselves*. It is to fill us with an amazed spirit of love and worship and surrender to Him.
Like Israel, we are foolish, we are blind, we fall short, we fail in our love for Him... but His love is unfailing, and He DOES love us... because He IS love.
"Judah was clever at doing wrong but did not know how to do what was right. Right living is more tha simply avoiding sin. It requires decision and discipline. We must develop skills in right living because our behaviour attracts attention to our God. We should purse excellence in Christian living with as much effort as we pursue excellence at work."
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