Monday: Exodus 3
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 24Wednesday: Psalm 78
Thursday: Jeremiah 16
Friday: Ezekiel 10
Saturday: Matthew 18Sunday: 1 John 1
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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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Exodus 3 "God spoke to Moses through an unexpected source; a burning bush. God may use unexpected sources when communicating to us too, whether people, thoughts, or experiences. Be open to God's surprises."
"God told Moses to tell the people what he saw and heard at the burning bush. Our God is a God who acts and speaks. One of the most convincing ways to tell others about Him is to describe what He has done and how He has spoken to His people. If you are trying to explain God to others, talk about what He has done for you or for other people you know."
These were the exact words of confirmation and encouragement I needed from God this morning! So blessed by them. I have been making myself vulnerable to share some very intimate things about my relationship with God and where He has been leading me/taking me in the past month. It's somewhere I never would have asked to be taken, is completely unchartered territory for me and it is exciting but at the same time rather disconcerting as I was quite comfortable with my relationship with God before He started to reveal Himself to me in these ways. It's not that I'm not comfortable with the ways that He is revealing Himself to me, it's just that I'm not quite comfortable in talking about it with others (much like Moses, wasn't afraid to approach the burning bush, but talking to the Israelites about it, Lord... I don't know what they're going to think about all this?").
As I had made myself vulnerable to share quite honestly with someone last night, afterward I was immediately fearful. I don't know of what. Just vulnerable I guess. I felt confirmed and at peace again after reading these two notes.
Reading the story of Saul out to kill David, relentless, convinced that David is out to get him, chasing him down even though he is innocent of any wrongdoing and has no evil intentions toward Saul at all. And seeing how David responds compared to his men who want him to do away with Saul before Saul can do away with him, and David is just continuously humble, and seeking to make peace with Saul, and never getting bitter or resentful or angry. He just continues to say "he wishes Saul no evil" and even the way he says "maybe God will hold you to account for all of this, but that is His place to decide, not mine." that just blows my mind and is so christlike and shows me that there are many areas of my life I have NOT been willing to surrender to in discipleship. That "being right" when others wrong, offend, hurt, abuse you. That wanting them to be brought to justice rather than wanting them to soften and be transformed into beautiful people. This is not the heart of Christ in me and yet I somehow hold madly to this belief that "no, that's wrong what they are doing! they should suffer for it, not me!" And yet the truth is that when we submit to the call to "follow me" it is a call of surrender to a life of laying down rights, of taking the higher road, of becoming the kind of person who is beautiful, caring and compassionate no matter the circumstances and the rub. To let God be God and let others be as difficult as they happen to be, but to be Christlike (patient, kind, not keeping record of wrongs, etc) no matter what the circumstances.
Psalm 78:57 "They were as undependable as a crooked bow." That got my attention. A crooked bow is useless. Will always miss the mark. What things am I allowing to twist me out of shape and warp my life so that it is missing the mark I am called to in Christ Jesus. I have been thinking alot about this lately. Negative thoughts are definitely one thing that have to go. Don't get me wrong, it's not that I walk around thinking negative thoughts all the time, I usually don't, but when I do allow myself to harbor negative thoughts they have this way of festering and building a tornado within me that lays wasted to the beautiful, edifying, peaceful, pure and right things that I know God wants me to be focusing on. It twists me and makes me perspective all crooked and gnarled and ugly. This is one of my focuses for 2013. To live out Phillipians 4:8 "Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable--if anything is excellent or praiseworthy--think about such things."
from my Daily Discipler devotional this morning; (not related to the passage in Jeremiah, but it is what most stuck with me)
"Trying to be our own small g "god" has driven people to improve their appearance, to perform better and to seek a higher social status as a means of self verification. However, whatever pinnacle of self identity we manage to achieve soon crumbles under the pressure of rejection, criticism, guilt, fear or anxiety. Somebody will eventually look better, perform at a higher standard and reach a greater social status. Everything we have managed to achieve or possess by human effort we shall one day lose. We are incomplete without Christ and without him being our focus and nothing we can do by way of self help will make us whole."
Ezekiel 10. "God had to completely destroy what people had perverted in order for true worship to be revived."
That hit me like a hammer this morning.
1 John 1.
I read this chapter this morning, and it was timely that I did because my reading from the Daily Discipler had brought up something in the same theme that really got my attention. the idea of confession of and forgiveness of sins.
Both the Daily Discipler and the notes from my bible on this chapter were stating that confession is not necessary for forgiveness of sins. That God forgave all our sins in Christ Jesus, and that confession is our act of repentance and contrition, forgiveness is not hinged on it. Forgiveness is from God, through Christ. We receive it in full when we believe on Christ, for all past, present and future sins. Confession only brings US closer to God because we put things in the right place in our own heart and mind... He has already made things right in the heavenlies.
I am not sure I ever understood this concept fully, or could believe it with confidence. When you understand this it makes it much easier to cease your sin. You understand that Christ has paid the price for this, that there is no condemnation for you in this, that this is something that has no weight over or claim to you. So put it behind you and grow up into all that He desires for you since He has already paved the way.
This is a freeing and wonderful truth! Now I understand the verses about this not being a licence to sin, but a great call to live lives of holiness! Since you have been set free from the weight of sin, don't continue to let sin drag you down!
How could I not have grasped this simple, plain as day teaching at its full value... some things we just miss the forest for the trees I guess.
Good thoughts, P.C.
Of all the Bible Studies I went to as part of our church youth group, one stands out -- the one on I John 1:5 "God is light; in him is no darkness at all". This description of him helps me to worship him.
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