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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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5 comments:
found myself longing for a bit of sharing in the Word with you this morning.
What an adventure guide our God is. He created Moses knowing all the amazing places He would take him beforehand... even provided a friend in his brother to walk alongside him for a good part of the journey.
I continue to try to instill in our boys the blessing of having a brother for a best friend. Moses is a decent example of this. (alternately, Cain is not) :oP
I fear our generations have lost a holy fear of the Lord and of not keeping His commandments. It scares me to think of how we've brought consequences upon our children's children for the purposes of our own momentary gratifications. Brings me to my knees in confession and reflection...
ah, nice to see you here this morning!
What struck me was the way that they marked important events - altars, stone monuments, and here, the passover meal. God instructs them to do this even after they have settled into their land "And it shall be, when your children say to you, 'What do you mean by this service' that you shall say, 'It is the Passover sacrifice of the Lord, who passed over the houses of the children of Israel in Egypt when He struck the Egyptians and delivered our households'" (vv26-27)
I think we have lost this "remembrance" of the things that God has done for us. BGuy has a small book that he writes in once in a while the prayers that we have and the ways God has answered them, kind of a book of remembrance I guess, but we rarely look at it when there isn't something to write down, and we don't really involve the kids...
There has to be a way to pass down to our kids the remembrance of the things that God has done for us.
that's true... I love bringing up things that we've gone through as a family, and even telling the boys about Dave and I before they came along. It's also amazing as I remember to look for opportunities, that there are many parallels in my life with a character, story or lesson in the Bible. The more I do it the easier it is. I just hope my boys won't be rolling their eyes at age 8, going "here she goes again!!"
so wonderful to see your guys' thoughts (hearts) here. I didn't get here earlier today due to having hit the floor running and not had a moment's solitude until the past hour.
What a remarkable passage! I dont' know if it's just because I have been in a silent house (which I'm not used to) and so could actually be still and listen for WAY longer than usual... but this passage just seemed so rich and full, and inexhaustable. So sorry if my notes are exhausting but here they are =)
"You must not leave any of it until morning, but if any of it is left over until morning, you must burn it with fire." v 10. You must not... but if... God commands and concedes. His righteousness demands, His grace provides. I cried at the reflection of how much that "but if..." really says. It tells me that God's grace keeps going the distance. A tremendous distance.
""You must be fully dressed as if you were going on a trip. You must have your sandals on and your walking stick in your hand." v 11
I couldn't help juxtapositioning this with Saturday's passage and noticing the difference of stance. "When the Son of Man comes again, it will be as it was when Noah lived. People were eating, drinking, marrying, and giving their children to be married until the day Noah entered the boat. Then the flood came and killed them all. It will be the same as during the time of Lot. People were eating, drinking, buying, selling, planting and building. But the day Lot left Sodom, fire and brimstone rained down from the sky and killed them all. This is how it will be when the Son of Man comes again." Luk 17:26-30
Am I dressed to the hilt, staff in hand, eyes and ears alert for that flash of lightning and trumpet blast? Am I ready and anticipating THE TRIP to the promised abode? Or am I so dulled down by earthly attractions, so weighed down by earthly distractions that I will be caught unawares. I am sure that each person who ate that meal that night had every nerve standing at full alert. I want to be like that. Ready, alert, anticipating the Shofar blast that will inaugurate OUR Exodus from this world of captivity, into His glorious kingdom.
"That night I will go through the land of Egypt. I will also punish all the gods of Egypt.... but the blood will be a sign on the house where you are. When I see the blood, I will pass over you. Nothing terrible will hurt you when I punish the land of Egypt." v12
Another parallel to Luke 17. Lot redeemed from the wrath poured out on Sodom. Noah redeemed from the wrath poured out on the world. The Egyptians redeemed while God's wrath was poured out upon Egypt. So shall we be redeemed when His wrath is poured out on a sinful world in the last days.
"When your children ask you, "Why are we doing these things?" you will say..." v26 Oh what a responsibility is ours to expound to our children WHAT we are commanded to do and WHY. WHAT we believe and WHY. WHO we serve and WHY.
"That night the Lord kept watch to bring them out of Egypt." v42 I love that. The Lord kept watch.
"And so on this same night the Israelites are to keep watch to honor the Lord from now on." v42 Sometimes I think I would love to celebrate the Jewish feasts so much more than the stupid consumer oriented holidays that are a by product of the melting pot that is western civilizaiton. A feast where we actually remember the Lord keeping watch over His people, redeeming them wiht an outstretched hand. And we keep watch for Him. Makes Valentines day look pretty shallow in comparison.
you know, back in High School, I was totally fascinated by the Jewish faith. I've always felt like we're missing out on some really significant stuff, and have often longed to keep the feasts and stuff that they keep - those rituals that mark God's graciousness.
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