I love my church. I mean, I really love my church and how passionate they are for encouraging their members to get in the word, develop a strong relationship with the LORD and with each other, and to grow in faith and service to the LORD with a heart fully surrendered to Him. I have been a member for a couple years now, and I have to say - one of the things we are encouraged to do, I was not obedient to in the past.
What is this? I'm so glad you asked. Daily Bible Reading/Read the Bible in a Year. In the past I have been good and strong with it for a few days then I kind of trail off and don't get back into because I end up feeling overwhelmed with trying to "catch up". So this year, I made the commitment that I was going to read the Bible completely through this year no matter what it takes. This has been one of the greatest decisions I've made this year.
Now let me clarify real quick - it wasn't that I wasn't reading my Bible previously - I was just doing it with no focus. I tried what seemed like a hundred different methods to really dig in, read and digest the Bible (it was probably only a few different ways in all honesty), but I just couldn't figure out a way that was beneficial to me and helped me focus. I thank the Lord for helping me finally find a way to do this and grow! I never could have done it without Him.
I woke up one day, probably in January, and said I'm going to do this, I am not going to get overwhelmed and I'm going to do it in a way that makes sense to me. I have since completely filled an entire composition notebook with notes, thoughts and reflections concerning Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, parts of Deuteronomy and parts of Matthew (yes I know I missed Leviticus in there, I'm workin' on it). Today I started composition book #2, and I do not believe I have ever witness God reveal so much to me through this method, and all I do is so simple - it's a sad I didn't figure out sooner, but it definitely couldn't have come at a better time (God's timing is absolutely perfect) - as I read, I jot down any verse that sticks out at me and write down why it sticks out, my thoughts, reflections, amazements, and questions. Since my reading is usually during my one hour break at work, when I have a moment at home I go back through and type up my notes, categorize them, expand on my thoughts and research my questions. So if you've struggled with trying to find a method that works for you - take a moment to really think about what worked for you when it came to studying/taking notes in school, maybe that would help.
And now, here's just something that I found so utterly amazing. I was amazed at how amazing I found it and I know that my words can not fully do the amazement justice, but it never hurt to get it out there, and I know this is something I know - I just haven't taken the time to really reflect on it in a while and I am so thankful God laid it on my heart today. This is pretty much straight from my journal/notebook.
Deuteronomy 13, verses 1-3. "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." This verse warns the Israelites about how God will test them through prophets and dreamers of dreams. What a blessing to be told how God would be testing them! To know in advance was an act of grace over them - it was a way to say 'Hey, this is what's coming, be prepared.' The Israelites were given the opportunity to know what to be watching out for, somethign I wish that I had every once in awhile,. They could be alert and know what to expect so as to not be taken off guard! I know that I fail and make the wrong decision when I'm taken off guard, and here they are being told what to expect! I can't express how amazing this is to me, but God is blessing them in this act.
This also goes along to something I discovered in Matthew 13 when it comes to being chosen - being predestined to belong to God. God predestined people for His good, not everyone was predestined to belong to Him so that would mean that if there are people predestined for good then there are people who are predestined for bad/evil (I understand this is controversial). In this instance, God chose to use prophets and dreamers of dreams to have their prophesies fulfilled, yet have their intentions be evil. Deuteronomy 13:5 says "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst". God used these men who had the ability to prophesy and not be false in their prophesies to test the Israelites and their ultimate fate was death for teaching rebellion against the LORD. He created these men and he used their wickedness as a test, yet even though they were used by God it did not mean that they would still live. Even the wicked can be used as tools to further God's kingdom, but that does not mean that they will enter in as well. You must accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, surrender your life to Him and live a life that reflects a heart for God's good and perfect plan and not your own.
Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower (verses 1-9). Jesus spoke in parables to that those who were not chosen to follow Him couldn't understand. O my Lord, thank you so much for giving me the ears to hear Your words! You didn't have to choose me, but You did! Lord, my Father, thank You for Your love, Your mercy and Your grace over my life! My heart is glad that I am found in You.
*Please note that I do not have perfect theology and I have not ever claimed that I do. I'm still learning, with God revealing things to me through His word and through His people. I'm still learning and I'm certain I will until the end of my days.
What is this? I'm so glad you asked. Daily Bible Reading/Read the Bible in a Year. In the past I have been good and strong with it for a few days then I kind of trail off and don't get back into because I end up feeling overwhelmed with trying to "catch up". So this year, I made the commitment that I was going to read the Bible completely through this year no matter what it takes. This has been one of the greatest decisions I've made this year.
Now let me clarify real quick - it wasn't that I wasn't reading my Bible previously - I was just doing it with no focus. I tried what seemed like a hundred different methods to really dig in, read and digest the Bible (it was probably only a few different ways in all honesty), but I just couldn't figure out a way that was beneficial to me and helped me focus. I thank the Lord for helping me finally find a way to do this and grow! I never could have done it without Him.
I woke up one day, probably in January, and said I'm going to do this, I am not going to get overwhelmed and I'm going to do it in a way that makes sense to me. I have since completely filled an entire composition notebook with notes, thoughts and reflections concerning Genesis, Exodus, Numbers, parts of Deuteronomy and parts of Matthew (yes I know I missed Leviticus in there, I'm workin' on it). Today I started composition book #2, and I do not believe I have ever witness God reveal so much to me through this method, and all I do is so simple - it's a sad I didn't figure out sooner, but it definitely couldn't have come at a better time (God's timing is absolutely perfect) - as I read, I jot down any verse that sticks out at me and write down why it sticks out, my thoughts, reflections, amazements, and questions. Since my reading is usually during my one hour break at work, when I have a moment at home I go back through and type up my notes, categorize them, expand on my thoughts and research my questions. So if you've struggled with trying to find a method that works for you - take a moment to really think about what worked for you when it came to studying/taking notes in school, maybe that would help.
And now, here's just something that I found so utterly amazing. I was amazed at how amazing I found it and I know that my words can not fully do the amazement justice, but it never hurt to get it out there, and I know this is something I know - I just haven't taken the time to really reflect on it in a while and I am so thankful God laid it on my heart today. This is pretty much straight from my journal/notebook.
Deuteronomy 13, verses 1-3. "If a prophet or a dreamer of dreams arises among you and gives you a sign or a wonder, 2and the sign or wonder that he tells you comes to pass, and if he says, 'Let us go after other gods,' which you have not known, 'and let us serve them,' 3you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams. For the LORD your God is testing you, to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul." This verse warns the Israelites about how God will test them through prophets and dreamers of dreams. What a blessing to be told how God would be testing them! To know in advance was an act of grace over them - it was a way to say 'Hey, this is what's coming, be prepared.' The Israelites were given the opportunity to know what to be watching out for, somethign I wish that I had every once in awhile,. They could be alert and know what to expect so as to not be taken off guard! I know that I fail and make the wrong decision when I'm taken off guard, and here they are being told what to expect! I can't express how amazing this is to me, but God is blessing them in this act.
This also goes along to something I discovered in Matthew 13 when it comes to being chosen - being predestined to belong to God. God predestined people for His good, not everyone was predestined to belong to Him so that would mean that if there are people predestined for good then there are people who are predestined for bad/evil (I understand this is controversial). In this instance, God chose to use prophets and dreamers of dreams to have their prophesies fulfilled, yet have their intentions be evil. Deuteronomy 13:5 says "But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has taught rebellion against the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you out of the house of slavery, to make you leave the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall purge the evil from your midst". God used these men who had the ability to prophesy and not be false in their prophesies to test the Israelites and their ultimate fate was death for teaching rebellion against the LORD. He created these men and he used their wickedness as a test, yet even though they were used by God it did not mean that they would still live. Even the wicked can be used as tools to further God's kingdom, but that does not mean that they will enter in as well. You must accept Christ as your Lord and Savior, surrender your life to Him and live a life that reflects a heart for God's good and perfect plan and not your own.
Matthew 13 - The Parable of the Sower (verses 1-9). Jesus spoke in parables to that those who were not chosen to follow Him couldn't understand. O my Lord, thank you so much for giving me the ears to hear Your words! You didn't have to choose me, but You did! Lord, my Father, thank You for Your love, Your mercy and Your grace over my life! My heart is glad that I am found in You.
*Please note that I do not have perfect theology and I have not ever claimed that I do. I'm still learning, with God revealing things to me through His word and through His people. I'm still learning and I'm certain I will until the end of my days.
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