Tag Archives: bible

I want/need/don’t read my bible.

09 Saturday Apr 2016

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I have many people ask me how to read their Bible. Or how to study the Bible. My first thought is, well, you have to open it, look at the words and begin reading the sentences. bible-and-coffee

It isn’t that people don’t know how to read it. It really comes down to we don’t really want to read it. Everyone knows how to read. We read each and every Facebook update perfectly and even respond to some. So reading isn’t really the problem.

We even read books on how to read the bible. Doesn’t that seem a little crazy ? To have a book on how to read your bible ? We have replaced self-help books with self-help read your bible books.

So, if reading isn’t really the physical problem, then what is it?

Desire. The ‘want to’ read it, but the ‘want to read everything else’ is stronger.

We are all on this journey, if we have chosen to be. And it is a progressive journey. Just like the Shulamite woman in the Song of Solomon, it may take us 8 chapters to fully comprehend this life we have chosen.

In chapter 1 of Song of Solomon, she asks –

Tell me, you, the one I love:
Where do you pasture your sheep?
Where do you let them rest at noon?
Why should I be like one who veils herself
beside the flocks of your companions?

Today that would be – where are the ones to look up too? Where can I learn to follow you rightly? Where do I rest in your presence? Why should I be like the ones who say yes, but never do yes ?

He responds:

 If you do not know,
most beautiful of women,
follow the tracks of the flock,
and pasture your young goats
near the shepherds’ tents.

If you aren’t sure follow those who are already living in my presence, eating my Word and are truly living the ‘yes’

So here is my suggestion; open your bible and begin to read. If you don’t understand, then try another version. Visit a bible study that helps keep you accountable with the reading, but make sure it really is a bible study, where the bible is read and shared. Where you are learning and growing in the Word, not in a ‘topic’.

Sit with someone who you see that really reads the Word and has a passion for it, not just trying to sell you a book or method. Methods are great, but we can focus on the method and all the colored pencils and still not be reading.

I encourage you to read entire books, not just verses. Start with James, read the Gospels (Matthew, Mark, Luke and John), read ‘God Eats Pop Corn’ (Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians)

Just read.

The more you read, the more you will want to read and the more you will fall in love with the author. Which really is the point – reading the Bible is the way we begin to know God as our Father and how he talks to us.

I use a bible without study tools or added features for reading. Sometimes the added study tools, although awesome, can distract you from just reading. I do use a study bible, or several for when I want to dig into the Word at a deeper level.

I hope this encourages you to open the most beloved book from the most loving author.

 

 

 

The Lord is near…

22 Monday Feb 2016

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….to all who call on Him.

This is usually how we end this verse. We encourage people saying “God is near”. And He is. But not near as in a vending machine, that when I am hungry, I plug some cash and get His presence.

I think this is what happens when we read the Word for a quick fix or to find a verse to fit an argument, or like a band-aid. We just cut and paste a verse to fit my or any situation.

What would happen if we read the whole verse from Psalm 145. Or actually read the whole Psalm 145 ?

You would have a better understanding on why and how He is near.

Lets again read verse 18 (which often we only read the first line)

The Lord is close to all who call on Him,  yes, to all who call on Him sincerely.

From another translation is reads:

The Lord is near to all who call out to Him, all who call out to Him in integrity.

What is my point?

In our prayer life, we know that God is near. From all of His attributes we know that He is omnipresent and omniscient. There is never a time when He isn’t near me.

But how He responds to that nearness with me, depends on how my heart attitude is. It says with sincerity, or with integrity.

Just like our physical posture can dictate, so can our heart posture. For example it isn’t magical to stand during worship or kneel during prayer, but it does do something to my heart posture to kneel, stand or even raise my hands in surrender.

I think most times we begin to demand things, like “God you are near me, so do this and that NOW”.

Can you just hear the arrogance in that ?

Then, we are so very disappointed that God didn’t do what I just told him to do. Loudly. Because I probably screamed at Him like a spoiled child.

When my heart comes to Him sincerely, with integrity, other versions say “call on Him in truth (without guile), that is showing a posture of understanding that He is God. And I would have known that if I read the entire psalm 145.  Just saying.

He is near when I come to Him in Truth. What is truth ? The WORD.

It tells us in the Word, that the Word is the spirit of truth. I can come to Him when I am coming speaking truth in my heart, because His Word of truth is what I am declaring from my heart.

The Lord is near to all those who call on him, with sincerity of heart, with integrity, without guile, but in Truth –

Do you see how that changes things?

I can know and feel His nearness by how I chose to receive His nearness. I receive it by knowing it, declaring it and allowing His nearness to take me even deeper in walking out that integrity and sincerity.

If I am just screaming out that God is near, and I want Him to do what I say, I probably won’t feel His nearness. Why? Because if I have to tell or demand God to do something, I am saying that I know more than Him, which makes me a god telling God what to do. As if He is waiting in Heave for me to tell Him what to do.

To be a person of the Word, we have to really read all the Word.

The Word backs up the Word. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you.

It’s a promise and God keeps His promises. He is obligated to and by His Word.

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fear {five minute Friday}

19 Friday Jun 2015

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I never really thought of myself as a fearful person. Of course I had the fear of the dark as a child, and I admit that even today, I walk really fast if I am in a dark room.

But as a grown woman, lover of God and of all He tells me I am in Him, I don’t consider myself to be in fear.

I know all the verses and can whip them out like band-aids with the best of them.

But pondering this word today – I realize that I do fear.

I may use another word that sounds better – like ponder, or question, or I wonder – but I think it might actually come down to fear.

Fear of: am I doing the right thing, at the right time,

Fear of: will the ministry’s lease and bills get paid this month

Fear of: am I possibly drinking too much coffee

Fear of: am I hearing God correctly

Fear of: being fearful

What I am seeing is that sometime we cover fear with questions and then call it something else – like …’I’m just asking’ but isn’t it really based in the reality that comes from fear?

Fear of: failing       fear

Fear of: losing

So I am thinking that again today – I am going to choose to hand over the questions, the outcomes, the ‘fear of’ and picking up peace, and probably more coffee

But really coming to terms that just because I can quote a bible verse, doesn’t mean that fear doesn’t exist, it’s what I do when I realize the root of the question and where it stems from.

After writing this, I am feeling less fear and more hope – I am not except from fear, I just have something bigger than my fear to lean on, trust in and rely on.

 

 

 

Summer in the Psalms

09 Tuesday Jun 2015

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This is your personal invitation. (And your invitation to invite others!)

I am inviting you to join me and many others as we take the month of July and devote our time to reading the entire book of Psalms and Proverbs.

Did you know that if you read 5 Psalms each and every day, in one month you would have read the complete book of Psalms ? add 1 chapter of proverbs and you will have completed 2 books of the bible in 1 month !

Billy Graham once said that reading Psalms teaches us how to talk to God, and Proverbs is God talking back to us.

Psalms teaches us how to worship, how to expand our prayer language and get an understanding of what a prayer life could look like.

Each day you read 5 psalms – that is five complete ‘chapters’ – so for day 1 – beginning July 1st,  you would read Psalm 1, 2, 3, 4, 5.. and Proverbs 1, then on day 2 you would be continuing with psalm 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 and Proverbs 2

then you post or comment on page what God is showing you, what you are learning, what character or attribute of God did you see.  You can also join me on Facebook and invite others to join !

https://www.facebook.com/events/357805107748778/

I will also be posting what I am learning and what Character traits I am learning about of my Father God.  Use the #summerinthepsalms  and you can post pictures and ideas for others – you can also share with me on my instagram account ( I think it is on the side of the blog to connect with me on social media )

Get ready !

Pick your translation of the bible you want to ready !

Have colored pencils ready to color the words or phrases that captures your heart.

I am so excited to hear what God is speaking to you !

 

 

gift. {five minute Friday}

05 Friday Jun 2015

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Gifts are awesome ! Who doesn’t like getting a gift ? One of my favorite gifts to receive is probably an amazon gift card…its the gift that keeps giving ! Plus I love to read, so it is perfect for me. Or coffee mugs and coffee. It is my addiction.

But, I really love giving gifts.

For me, it is sometime easier to give a gift than to receive a gift.

When someone gives me a gift, I can almost act like it isn’t a good gift, because I just don’t know how to receive gifts. Or I get nervous and start my nervous talking – PLEASE someone stop me !!

Anyone else like that ?

I want gifts.

But they are so hard for me to receive !

I wonder if that is how God feels?

He keeps giving us gifts and we keep piling them up, not using them or really thanking Him for giving them. Are we afraid of His gifts ?  Or just to busy to even acknowledge them ?

Think about it. We are breathing today. That is a gift – did you thank Him for it?

You are loved, you are accepted, you are chosen – did you thank Him for that ?

gift-giving

Look at this picture – ‘the manner in which it is given is worth more than the gift’ – how powerful is that?

Maybe our response is wrong ?

What if every gift that came to us everyday from God, was acknowledged with thanks, praise and wonder – that the gift itself wasn’t the focus. But the giver was !

What if we didn’t focus on the gifts but the giver ?

The manner is which God gives us these gifts are free but yet so costly

and we should be thankful and in awe

So today – unwrap the gift He is giving you – and thank Him for it.

and if you happen to send me a gift – I will gladly thank you and receive it !

 

what seed are you eating ?

26 Tuesday May 2015

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I have been dieting my entire life. Today the scale did not lie. It showed my over indulgence or addiction to cakes, pies and desserts.

So I hit the pavement again this morning, pondering the book I just read by my friend Joyce Tilney called “Why Diets don’t work – food is not the problem”   ( http://www.whydiets.com/ ) and I was hit with a revelation that I want to share with you. Take it,  join with me or laugh and leave it.    book-cover-front-e1359421292739

It’s not what food we eliminate or take away from ourselves, it’s about the food we DO eat and put into our body. When we focus on what we cannot eat, we enter into a poverty/diet mindset. And you will always want what you cannot have – look at the Israelites – didn’t they crave the ‘choice food’ from Egypt, but God had a super food for them in the desert.

I heard God tell me it was all about the seed. What seed are you putting into your body ? Is this seed going to produce a good fruit in you ? Is this seed going to produce 30, 60 or 100 fold of good fruit in your body. You see, this is a Godly principal, not just a financial principal. So what seed I put into my body will produce that fruit. So if I am putting the seed of sugary sweets, it will produce the effects of that seed.

If I put good seed in, I will produce good fruit.

Hmm..

So do you see what I am thinking, learning and hearing ?

It isn’t about a diet, (and I highly recommend Joyce’s book – it is filled with powerful words from the WORD ) it’s about seed.

What seed are you eating ?

what seed are you producing ?

It isn’t about taking away, it’s about putting in. Putting in the good seeds of food into our body.

Maybe you want to join me ?

I am willing to go through Joyce’s book with you and deal with what seed we are struggling with – to have a physically and spiritually healthy body –

I would love to hear your thoughts and if you want to join me !

 

Rise. {five minute Friday}

22 Friday May 2015

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rise.

when you hear the word rise, what comes to your mind?

rise up. rise again. the sun rises. rise above it.     summer-morning-sun-rise

that last one really hits me.

rise above it.

I feel like it is time that we as the body of Christ rise above it.

rise above what ?

life ? situations ? judging ?

how about rise into ?

the sun rises each and every day – no matter what. after every battle, every storm, every attack. the sun continues to amaze us each and every morning and it rises into the sky and brings hope, healing and light.

what if we did that ?

what if each morning we would rise into – the things of God ?

what if we would rise above the raff that we find ourselves in ?

what does that look like ?

for me it looks like going lower. lower into the word, lower on my knees, lower on my agenda.

the word tells us that humble ourselves, that He would raise us up – He would lift us – He would cause us to rise.

is it possible that so many of us are tying to race to be the on the highest rise that we are missing the whole point ?

my prayer for you this morning is that you would rise into the depths of God –

rise into your bible

rise into your prayer life

rise into your compassion for others

rise into the very Son that has already risen.