Monday: Exodus 2
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 23Wednesday: Psalm 77
Thursday: Jeremiah 15
Friday: Ezekiel 9
Saturday: Matthew 17Sunday: 2 Peter 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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8 comments:
Exodus 2. I love God's sovreignty. How He orchestrates and weaves His will in and through and around us, using His humble servants, the proud and lofty, whoever. The frightened mom in the Jewish hovel... the proud princess in leaving her regal halls to bathe at the river. God brought the two threads to meet and wove them into His will for His chosen servant and His chosen people. He does the same with us today if we have eyes to see it. this thrills me.
1 Sam 23 "As true friends David and Jonathan were more than just companions who enjoyed each other's company. They encouraged each other's faith in God and trusted each other with their deepest thoughts and closest confidences. These are the marks of true friendship."
I love that. Any friendship worth having is worth being real and vulnerable and committed for the glory of God. I don't want to just rub shoulders with anyone. I want to touch hearts, and be enriched, both of us, through Him and His purposes in our lives.
"Your road led through the sea, your pathway through the mighty waters- a pathway noone knew was there!" Psalm 77:19
I love this. God's way is not the way of least resistance. God's way provides glorious inroads of growth and faith and praise and worship by leading us through the fire, through the flood, and through the spiritual battlefield learning to cling to, trust in, and be MORE than overcomers in the One who has already overcome!
Jeremiah 15
notes: we are here to influence others for God. not to be influenced by our culture toward the things of this world.
also contemplating good words, versus worthless words. When you learn to appreciate something of value, you are not going to be satisfied by, and you will be turned off by cheap knock offs. I believe that words of worth are as outlined in Phillipians 4:8; "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable and right and pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise." Where your mind is, there will your words be also :)
Ezekiel 9
What a heavy chapter. We never like heavy handed judgement and discipline and life and death consequences. We really like to soften the edges with grace and mercy, but we can't forget that justice and holiness are equally part of God's character. How someone can be gracious and merciful and yet just and holy at the same time is rather beyond our own scope of comprehension. And yet, as we grow, God peels away the layers and reveals Himself to us in continuously new and more amazing ways than we imagined possible. If we are growing, closer to Him, more like Him, more in tune with who He is, we will be continuously amazed by Him.
My notes say; "What is God's glory? It is the manifestation of God's character- His ultimate power, transcendence, and moral perfection. God is completely above humans and their limitations. Yet God reveals Himself to us so that we can worship and follow Him."
I was just thinking of the amazing ways that god revealed Himself to me in 2012. It's amazing how time dulls the senses and the miracles almost get covered over with the sands of time. Someone shared something with me that brought back my spiritual journey with God with sharp clarity, He has been so amazing to invite me into a whole new dimension of relationship that I never even imagined existed. It continuously amazes me how different my relationship is with Him this year than in the past, how rich and real and relational, how the door has been opened for Him to communicate with me in fresh and amazing ways that continue to astound me and knock my socks off as I listen and respond.
The God of the universe desires intimacy with us! He desires to accomplish His purposes through us! He speaks and works and has His way in us! I stand in awe of that.
Matthew 17. Thinking about Jesus taking Peter, James and John with him when he desired to "depart and be alone". Flipped over to check out who he took with him into the woods in the garden the night before his crucifixion and yes, indeed, the same three men. It appears that these three were somehow Jesus "besties". The ones he was drawn to have near even when he needed solitude. His inner circle. I love the kind of friendships where you just want to be alone, but those friends enrich and don't diminish your solitude. As "besties" these men got to see Jesus in all of his unleashed glory (the transfiguration) and agony (gethsemane). They fellowshipped with him in his high moments and low moments. I want to know Christ and the fellowship of His sufferings. I want to be united to him in the truth of all He is and has done and is going to do. I want to follow Him to the bright places of worship and the low places of transformation.
this chapter in 2 peter just tied in so well with Pastor Darrell's sermon yesterday. "Every day we must draw closer to Christ to that we will be prepared to stand for truth in any and all circumstances." It really is true how unwittingly twisted teachings can seep in and lead you off course or completely astray if you are not seeped in the character of God, the plans of God, the promises of God and the commands of God. My prayer is that God's church, worldwide, would realize the importance of being STEEPED, IMMERSED AND VERSED in His word, not for the habit of it, not for the "work" of doing it, but for the work it does in us.
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