Bible Reading

Hi Everyone,

Those who have been on here a while know that I come on here every January and make every effort to HELP you to read the Bible.

Over the last 8 years (or so) I've tried lots of different things.

I've done weekly (encouragement) reminders.

I've broken it down for you before too...If you want to read the whole Bible in:

1 year then read 3 chapters a day

6 months, then read 6 chapters a day

3 months then read 12 chapters a day

Don't just speed read as if this is a completion, please.

I've done other things like asking you to read the Sermon On the Mount every day for a month.

I remember one time we read all the Psalms and another where we read the Proverbs together.

I've had a lot of ideas over the years and here is a new one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

But before I reveal it I would like to say that I believe in MANY different styles of Bible reading. Slow, Quicker, Short Study, Tid-bits, Hard studies like the Precept upon Precept ... any kind of study/reading is okay with me. I've also been told that some of you, "don't have the time" because you're moms. I am the mother of 5 myself and a long time ago they were little. My advice is to read it standing up at the kitchen counter because children understand that mommy is busy when she does that. But when Mommy is in the recliner they think that Mommy ought to be playing with me, not reading.

I've heard from some of you that you read the Bible through with your church, GOOD, that's a great thing.

I've heard that some of have a plan already that you follow, GOOD, that's a great thing too.

Here is what happens most years, At the end of it about 3 of you get back to me in private mail and gush about the fact you DID get through your whole Bible that year, that it was great, it was NOT a burden and you enjoyed it.....AND.........you plan to do it again!!!

And that's why I do this..............for the 3 of you who will make it through your whole Bible in 2015.

Okay, the new idea. I heard from a reputable person that some man (don't know who) reads his Bible every 15 minutes.

Think about that.

You're on the phone and you say, "Just a sec I'll be right back" and do a bit of quick reading. (Or I have another tip that I do sometimes, I just keep an open Bible on my lap during phone calls. It keeps your mouth clean and "better" advice will flow from you.)

Or you're waiting for the bus and every 15 minutes your timer goes off (or you get used to knowing) and you read from your Bible.

I've been kicking this idea around for many years now and I think this is the year I try it. I may find that 30 mins.. is more doable....or 45 minutes.

There can still be "long" reading sessions too, don't get me wrong.

It took me years of considering this before I decided to take the plunge so I don't imagine all of you doing that. There is really something very nice about sitting with a Bible, (small or large). It just feels good.

 

The Rainbow Carpet

 

 

 

When I awoke today I found my whole world light and white. I have seen a lot of mist because I live in a valley on top of a steep hill. I have walked in beautiful misty meadows many times but I have never seen such a white mist.

 

The brightness was remarkable and all I could think about was heaven. I felt that the Lord wanted me outside right away without delay.

 

The bright, white mist was so the opposite of the dank, humid mist; I walked around praising Jesus and taking it in.

 

He had created all this mystical beauty and someone needed to enjoy it.

 

I watched as heavy white mist formed upward clouds and as these heaps of beautiful white left the ground they looked like snow angels. They were about the size of 3 men put together and as they rose upward they disappeared into the air.

 

I walked up the hill to see the rolling hills of light green grass contrasting with the dark green Douglas fir trees. The sky was very blue just in the horizon and I knew that it wouldn’t be long until the mist was no more and the powerful blue sky and bright sunshine would dominate, until next time.

I walked along the creek on my way back and the grass was covered in dew drops each a rainbow prism of color.

Because I’m nearsighted I can see this beautiful phenomenon two ways. With or without my glasses. With my glasses the rainbow dew drops are spectacular and you can’t take your eyes away. Without my glasses I’m standing in the midst of larger colored lights. Pure color. Dazzling bright and clear color. Golds, the brightest gold you’ve ever seen. Clear beautiful reds, blues, greens, and if you wait and focus on one dew drop only you will see something so remarkable. It will change color even if you do not move. It will go from that bright yet deep gold to yellowish green. Continue watching and it will turn blue and then red. It will slowly rotate through all those colors right before your eyes.

Who doesn’t want to walk on a rainbow carpet? Who doesn’t want to thank Jesus our Lord for this beauty so detailed that it’s difficult to describe.

Rainbow carpet and diamond rain. Who needs chemicals when the Lord’s creation is generously giving us all that we need and then so much more that nothing can be more fulfilling. Beauty, peace, wonderfully refreshing sleep, quiet and prayer. I don’t know why anyone would pursue any other path. The Lord said it was a narrow way and He didn’t have to make it so beautiful but He did for our enjoyment and I hope for His too.

 

When others reject our faith

Paul gives a detailed account of his conversion in Acts 22:17 and he teaches us something very interesting in the middle of this.

 “Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance  and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’”

The “Him” Paul saw was Jesus.

Has this ever happened to you?

You were talking to someone or a group of people and they did NOT receive your testimony about Jesus? Aren’t we always just a little bewildered as to why?

Whether we lean toward Predestination or not, as we are share our faith with someone, we are sharing something we know to be the absolute truth. It’s difficult to comprehend how they can reject that. It’s true, we know it is. Why don’t they?

I’m sharing this to remind myself and you that sometimes it’s not in our hands and it doesn’t matter how eloquent we are or how many perfect Scriptures we can pull up at just the right time. God is bigger and He is seeing all of this in advance. If it breaks our hearts it certainly “can” break His too but we rest in His will and His foreknowledge like an infant that does not need to concern herself with matters that are far beyond her comprehension.

Rest in the Lord’s will, it’s easier to do than you may aware.