Monday: Genesis 34
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 5Wednesday: Psalm 59
Thursday: Isaiah 63
Friday: Zechariah 14
Saturday: Acts 27Sunday Hebrews 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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12 comments:
Gen 34.
Lois, your comment from yesterday about "kicking against the goasds" or resisting God's direction, or opposing God's will, seemed like a recurring theme to me today, too, in an indirect way. As I was reading about how the Israelites found such favor with the Shechemites, how desperately they wanted to mix and become one with them I was struck by the raw contrast between that picture and the rest of history to follow where Israel is a despised, persecuted and destitute nation. Chosen by God, other nations looked upon them with favor, envy, desire to be associated with them, united with them. How sad that because of "kicking against the goads" the coarse of the nation changed so drastically and the more they took matters into their own hands, the more God's blessing and direction was tabled and sidelined, the more injury they suffered and continue to suffer by the hands of others.
Genesis 34
“In all of this, the victim was overlooked. Dinah was neither comforted nor consulted. Instead, she was treated with almost as much disrespect by her family as she had been by Shechem. By handing her over the Shechem, they used Dinah as bait in a trap that led to the murder of all the men in Shechem’s village. Dinah’s brothers profited from the massacre of Shechem. Jacob was angry at his sons for their actions, but did nothing. Meanwhile, Dinah slipped back into oblivion. Her story reminds us of the tragedies that occur when family members are careless with each other. Someone ends up paying a high price.
You probably know someone who can identify closely with Dinah. Perhaps you have experienced that same anonymity as a victim who was unnoticed or forgotten. Remember several glimmers of hope: Even when everyone else forgets, God doesn’t; when no one seems to notice, God sees; when no one seems to care, God cares; when you feel all alone, you aren’t. And one of the first lessons God will teach you as you depend on him is that there are others who also care and are willing to help.”
>>when you feel all alone, you aren’t. And one of the first lessons God will teach you as you depend on him is that there are others who also care and are willing to help.”<<
love this.
"Although the Philistines had just witnessed a great victory by Israel's God over their god, Dagon, they didn't act upon that insight until they were afflicted wtih tumors (possibly bubonic plague). Similarily, today many people don't respond to biblical truth until they experience pain. Are you willing to listen to God for truth's sake, or do you turn to him only when you are hurting?"
that was what stood out to me, too. This really builds on Sunday's sermon, to have a daily discipline of interaction with God's word so that we will be seeped in truth and it will shape who we become.
Isaiah 63
v5"I was amazed to see that no one intervened, to help the oppressed."
this has been a theme for me in the past six months. The poor and poor of spirit, God's heart for them. Jesus did not surround himself with the beautiful, the powerful, the influential. The exact opposite. He was meek and lowly and He came to restore the hope of the hopeless. As I continue to "grow up" in learning what it means to be Christlike, more and more I see how it means caring, pursuing and having a heart and a passion for restoring the hope of the hopeless.
v8 "they are my very own people. Surely they will not betray me again." how heartbreaking. Surely they would and surely we do, but He is faithful and while He is just and must enforce or allow consequences, His love never changes and His mercies are new every morning if only we open our eyes and look to Him, He has never left and will never leave us, we are the ones who stray and abandon and ignore Him.
v13 "They were like fine stallions racing through the desert, never stumbling."
there is nothing as powerfully beautiful as a sleek and muscular stallion galloping through the great wide open. What a beautiful picture of what God wants our lives to look like. Not downtrodden, not overwhelmed, not guilt ridden, free, powerful, glorious.
Did we miss Wednesday?
oh dear. yes, *I* missed Wednesday :) I guess I can stop stressing out about my week flying by too fast for me and SLOW down a bit! LOL...
Psalm 59
“God’s constant love is our place of safety in a wicked world.”
“Throughout this psalm, David describes in grim detail the behaviour of his enemies. He conveys his own feelings of dread with the desperation and despair that he sees in the lives of those who want to harm him. What a delight, then, in these final verses to read about God’s role in David’s life as refuge, a place of safety, and a source of unfailing love. David had learned to turn negative circumstances into reminders of God’s faithful presence. What stresses in your life might be transformed today if you made them a starting point for praising God?”
Psalm 59 I just couldn't stop thinking about the fact that even though I have had a pretty rough life, I don't know what it is like to have "enemies" like this. People out for your blood. Wow. Perspective. Enmity is so sad, what makes people so cruel and full of drive to destroy another's reputation or rob their peace. I just want to impact everyone for good, encourage, inspire, support, love.
zech 14 At first when I started reading this chapter I wasn't in the groove of what it was referring to, but then when it hit me it awakened all my senses. I started to explain to the kids the history that has not even happened yet that will lead up to this event, at least according to the interpretation that makes the most sense to me regarding end time events. Before studying all the different end times interpretations this chapter would have been a complete make-my-eyes-glaze-over chapter, so I will share my understanding of this chapter based on my own past studies for anyone who might be thinking... "what the Sam Hill???" :)
I believe that any day Jesus could return for his church and catch us away to take us to heaven where we will experience various events like the judgement seat of Christ, the wedding of the lamb and being clothed in the white robes of righteousness and receive crowns etc. While that is happening I believe that the earth is going through a time of political upheaval like it has never experienced before where a one world economical system is set up and nations make a temporary but shortlived peace pact with Israel to restore their nation and temple and religion to them.
But after 3 1/2 years things turn sour and things get worse for Israel than they have ever been, and that is where we come in at the beginning of chapter 14... if you read ezekiel 36-39 you will see more details as to what actually takes place during this time. Israel all of a sudden in the middle of all this horror somehow comes to the realization that these scriptures explained all of this and tell what will happen, and all of a sudden the light bulb goes on and they're like... holy crow. Jesus was the Messiah! Look.... it's all here.... and when that happens they will wail and repent and cry out for forgiveness and restoration and THAT is when this coming of Christ to land on the Mt of Olives and everything that happens subsequently in this chapter takes place.
GOOSEBUMPS. We are exhorted to PRAY the coming of this restoration of Israel, not only their land, their nation, their dignity, but their proper relation with God and their personal relationship with Jesus. This has to be one of the most exciting chapters of scripture for us because it really is the climax of all things that God is working up toward. The restoration of His chosen people and our reign with Christ on the earth.
Mind blowing and awesome stuff!
ladies, I will be away until Wednesday after the long weekend. Will post next week's schedule today and continue to read and take notes while I am away but won't be able to check in online. Be blessed and always grow, grow all ways!
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