Thoroughly Equipped: Cherish Your Bible

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Christian Living Thoroughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible
Thoroughly Equipped: Cherish Your Bible

So, did you get your Bible?  Do you have a notebook and pen?  Do you have a plan?  Of when you will have your devotional time, of where you will keep it so that you don’t have to look for it each day, of who you will invite to join you?  I am excited to get started!  I will mostly likely post notes towards the end of the week.  Please comment or email me what you are learning.  I know God will be generous in His divine lessons for all of us!

Each week, I suggest that you think through and jot down in a notebook the following:

Name one thing that you have learned from the Old Testament.

Name one thing you have learned from the New Testament.

Name one thing you have learned from the Psalms.

Name one thing you have learned from Proverbs.

Before you begin reading your Bible, whisper a prayer to God that He would teach you, rebuke you, correct you and train you in righteousness.  Pray that He would reveal any unconfessed sin so that the distance that causes would not keep you from hearing what he wants to teach you.

Your time with the Lord is not just about reading.  It is about listening.  Listening to the quiet, deeply personal whispers of your God to you, his beloved child.

The Holy Spirit is your teacher.  I simply want to be your encourager and accountability partner.  I want to share with you what I am learning and hear what you are learning.

May the Lord bless our endeavors this year.  May His Word bear great fruit in our hearts and minds and actions this year.

One final note before we begin.  In the coming months, I want to encourage you toward this end:

Cherish your Bible.  I first thought of other verbs which didn’t set right with my heart.  I thought of “read your Bible” I thought of “study your Bible”, but neither of those words seemed to convey what is on my heart. And then I thought of CHERISH.

Webster says CHERISH means: to hold dear: feel or show affection for; to keep or cultivate with care and affection; to nurture. It also means to entertain or harbor in the mind deeply and resolutely.

CHERISH your Bible.

In our travels to China Mont once spoke to a North Korean underground Christian who told about one technique the government used to find underground Christians.  The teachers were instructed to ask the children if their parents had a special book, one that they cherished, one that they hid in a special place.  When the children answered honestly, they had unknowingly betrayed their own parents to the police.  He told Mont that after that, some of the parents disappeared and were never seen again.  The children became wards of the state.  As horrifying as that story is, I would hope if my tiniest children were asked the same question, they would be able to say, “Yes!  My mom has a book like that—one that she cherishes above all others.”  There are many great Christian books out there, but they should never take precedence over THE BOOK.  It’s not okay to read a good Christian book for your devotion, instead of your Bible.  I can say that because I write Christian books.  Only the Bible is the Living Word, only the Bible is the Sword of the Spirit which defends you and defeats Satan’s schemes.  Only the Bible can give you strength and transform your heart.  Cherish your Bible.

As a reminder, I am reading the One Year Bible.  This is an easy way to read through the Bible in a year.  I have done this for years and it has enriched my life in more ways than I can explain.  You can purchase that particular Bible in whichever version you desire.  You can download the One Year Bible app.  This allows you to listen to the passages if you get behind.  But I do encourage you to also buy an actual Bible in book form.  Be prepared to mark it up, highlight what you find applicable, date it when you feel the Lord whispering to you, make notes in the margins, circle important words, etc.

When my grandmother died, I inherited one of her most prized possessions—her Bible.  I love to flip through it and read her notes in her own handwriting.  I hope my own kids and grandkids will enjoy this as much when I go to my heavenly home.  Starting this year, my plan is to buy a new Bible each year.  I will try out different translations, then probably end up back to the beloved NIV.  But each Bible will be fresh, and the notes which inspired me last year will not distract me from seeing something different.  And I will have many Bibles with my handwritten notes to pass down to my abundance of children!

Invite a friend to join us!  I will be praying for you tomorrow as I read the precious Word of God.

Schedule for Bible Reading: January

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Christian Living Thoroughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible
Schedule for Bible Reading: January

Hey, Friends!  I am so excited about reading through the Bible this year. Will you join me?  Each month, I will post a reading schedule and I will also post my own study notes at times.  Truth be told, I will probably start out strong and stumble along toward the end. No promises as to how often my “notes” will appear on my blog, but I will plan on posting several times a month.  So, let’s do it!  There is no better New Years Resolution we could make!

As I once again begin this annual challenge, my thoughts are on a special friend, Barb Archer.  She was one of the most faithful readers of my blog, and is the one who always reminded me to post the reading schedule.  She faithfully followed the reading plan, even though many of her days were difficult.  You see, she was battling cancer and enduring treatment and yet, her faith and desire for the Word of God never waivered.  She now spends her days where her faith has been made sight.  Though technically, she didn’t get to “finish” our year-long challenge when I began this study, she definitely finished the race set before her.  As we begin this Bible reading challenge once again, my thoughts are on Barb and her victorious “finishing”.  2 Timothy 4:6-8, says:

For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time for my departure is near. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.

Friends, we don’t know what lies ahead in this year.  But we do know Who holds us close, Who holds our future.  May He bless you abundantly with great understanding and fresh vision as you faithfully read His Word!

January 1:  Genesis 1:1-2:25, Matthew 1:1-2:12, Psalm 1:1-6, Proverbs 1:1-6

January 2:  Genesis 3:1-4:26, Matthew 2:13-3:6, Psalm 2:1-12, Proverbs 1:7-9

January 3:  Genesis 5:1-7:24, Matthew 3:7-4:11, Psalm 3:1-8, Proverbs 1:10-19

January 4:  Genesis 8:1-10:32, Matthew 4:12-25, Psalm 4:1-8, Proverbs 1:20-23

January 5:  Genesis 11:1-13:4, Matthew 5:1-26, Psalm 5:1-12, Proverbs 1:24-28

January 6:  Genesis 13:5-15:21, Matthew 5:27-48, Psalm 6:1-10, Proverbs 1:29-33

January 7:  Genesis 16:1-18:15, Matthew 6:1-24, Psalm 7:1-17, Proverbs 2:1-5

January 8:  Genesis 18:16-19:38, Matthew 6:25-7:14, Psalm 8:1-9, Proverbs 2:6-15

January 9:  Genesis 20:1-22:24, Matthew 7: 15-29, Psalm 9:1-12, Proverbs 2:16-22

January 10:  Genesis 23:1-24:51, Matthew 8:1-17, Psalm 9:13-20, Proverbs 3:1-6

January 11:  Genesis 24:52-26:16, Matthew 8:18-34, Psalm 10:1-15, Proverbs 3:7-8

January 12: Genesis 26: 17-27:46, Matthew 9:1-17, Psalm 10:16-18, Proverbs 3:9-10

January 13: Genesis 28:1-29:35, Matthew 9:18-38, Psalm 11:1-7, Proverbs 3:11-12

January 14: Genesis 30:1-31:16, Matthew 10:1-23, Psalm 12:1-8, Proverbs 3:13-15

January 15: Genesis 31:17-32:12, Matthew 10:24-11:6, Psalm 13:1-6, Proverbs 3:16-18

January 16: Genesis 32:13-34:31, Matthew 11:7-30, Psalm 14:1-7, Proverbs 3:19-20

January 17:  Genesis 35:1-36:43, Matthew 12:1-21, Psalm 15:1-5, Proverbs 3:21-26

January 18: Genesis 37:1-38:30, Matthew 12:22-45, Psalm 16:1-11, Proverbs 3:27-32

January 19: Genesis 39:1-41:16, Matthew 12:46-13:23, Psalm 17:1-15, Proverbs 3:33-35

January 20: Genesis 41:17-42:17, Matthew 13:24-46, Psalm 18:1-15, Proverbs 4:1-6

January 21: Genesis 42:18-43:34, Matthew 13:47-14:12, Psalm 18:16-36, Proverbs 4:7-10

January 22: Genesis 44:1-45:28, Matthew 14:13-36, Psalm 18:37-50, Proverbs 4:11-13

January 23:  Genesis 46:1-47:31, Matthew 15:1-28, Psalm 19:1-14, Proverbs 4:14-19

January 24:  Genesis 48:1-49:33, Matthew 15:29-16:12, Psalm 20:1-9, Proverbs 4: 20-27

January 25:  Genesis 50:1-Exodus 2:10, Matthew 16:13-17:9, Psalm 21:1-13, Proverbs 5:1-6

January 26: Exodus 2:11-3:22, Matthew 17:10-27, Psalm 22:1-18, Proverbs 5:7-14

January 27: Exodus 4:1-5:21, Matthew 18:1-20, Psalm 22:19-31, Proverbs 5:15-21

January 28: Exodus 5:22-7:25, Matthew 18:21-19:12, Psalm 23:1-6, Proverbs 5:22-23

January 29:  Exodus 8:1-9:35, Matthew 19:13-30, Psalm 24:1-10, Proverbs 6:1-5

January 30: Exodus 10:1-12:13, Matthew 20:1-28, Psalm 25:1-15, Proverbs 6:6-11

January 31: Exodus 12:14-13:16, Matthew 20:29-21:22, Psalm 25:16-22, Proverbs 6:12-15

 

 

 

 

Thoroughly Equipped: The Why

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Christian Living Thoroughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible Uncategorized
Thoroughly Equipped: The Why

 

2 Timothy 3: 16-17

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.

 

By now, you know of my invitation to read through the Bible this year.  I hope you have invited your friends and family!  I hope you have your Bible ready!  As I have previously said, I use the One Year Bible.  I have used the NIV version for many years.  This year I will use the NLT version.  Any version is fine.  Or use your regular Bible and find an online daily guide to get through the whole Bible in a year.

Today I want to prep us for our reading through the Bible.  I want us to think about the “why” of this endeavor.  Stop for a moment and read the above verse, 2 Timothy 3:16-17 aloud.

Let’s use this verse as our reason.  This verse captures the reason we want to do this.  The reason we will commit to reading and studying and being inspired by the Author of everything.  So let’s break it down.

All scripture.  This means the whole Bible, both Old and New Testaments.  The Old Testament gets a bad rap sometimes.  It is filled with history and laws and customs that can be confusing and sometimes downright boring.  However, if we take the time to study it out, we will find that the Old Testament is key to truly understanding the New Testament.  The Old Testament is Jesus concealed, the New Testament is Jesus revealed.  But both parts of the Bible are vital in discovering the life-changing truths our hearts long to know.

God-breathed.  This truth needs to stay in the forefront of minds.  I love to hear and quote many wonderful authors from many different backgrounds.  C.S. Lewis, Spurgeon, Tim Keller, Francis Frangipane, Oswald Chambers … these are some of my favorites.  God does equip and inspire many people to share their experiences and insight.  But only the Bible is God-breathed.  Only the Bible is the final word.

Is useful.  These two words are a comfort and a challenge to me.  These two words tell me that The Bible is for me today.  It is not just a history book.  It will help me day in and day out.  It will bring wisdom and comfort and strength and hope.  It will give me the mind of Christ.  It is useful for me each day, and is not a waste of time.

For teaching.  I remember clearly when I was nine or ten my mom telling me to sweep the floor after dinner.  I did that, and then went out to play.  A little while later, I heard, “Sara Stevens Williams, get back in here!”   Of course, I went immediately, because when I heard that tone I knew there was no messing around!  When I went in the kitchen, with much fear and trepidation, she said, “I thought I told you to sweep the floor!”  I said, “I did, Mama.”  And she began to point out all the places that I had missed.  I can remember tearfully saying, “But Mama, you never showed me how.”  At that point she took the broom, showed me how to hold it, showed me how to get under the cabinets, and pointed out all the spots to look for crumbs.  That was instruction.  Now I’m sure she thought I was old enough to have understood that all by myself, and maybe I could have, but after that night I never had another excuse not to do a good job, because now I knew how to do a good job. After instruction comes discipline, not before.  However, it is our responsibility to discover God’s instruction through reading and studying His Word.  He has given us a complete instruction manual but we must read it.

For rebuking.  My mother was extremely loving and a pretty strict disciplinarian.  She kindly instructed, but then was wise to rebuke or discipline me when I did not follow the instructions.  After my instruction of floor sweeping, she expected me to follow through on the instruction.  This is rebuke.  God has provided the proper rebuke in His Word when we stray from His path.  And we all will stray, just as all children disobey at times.

For correcting.  Sometimes, we unknowingly disobey.  We unknowingly cause harm or hurt.  The correction in His Word woos us to realign our hearts in every word and deed.  The small things become big things if not dealt with properly and immediately.  The Holy Spirit will correct us through the reading of the Word of God.  If we correct our course, we will not need the more severe rebuke.  We should keep short accounts with the Lord, and pray that our hearts are soft and pliable, quick to discern the course corrections which the Holy Spirit whispers through God’s Word.

For training in righteousness.  Now, I am grown and responsible for my own floor sweeping.  I am finally a great floor sweeper!  And I am responsible for training my children to become great floor sweepers themselves. Martin Luther King’s said: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.”  I believe this is an accurate description for being trained in righteousness.

Why?  So that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work.  Then, we are ready to go out and serve others with our sweeping.

My favorite phrase in this passage is “thoroughly equipped”.  This is a promise for all believers.  Scripture will provide what we need.  We can store it up, hide it in our hearts, and then the Holy Spirit will whisper it to our souls when we need it.  We will be thoroughly equipped for every situation, for everything God calls us to, for every trial and temptation.  But if we don’t read the Word, study the Word, memorize the word, savor the Word, we will not have the ingredients needed to make us thoroughly equipped.  So keep reading, my friends!

Throughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible

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Christian Living Thoroughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible
Throughly Equipped: Study Notes Through the Bible

Hello, Friends! It is almost a new year, praise the Lord! After two years of uncertainty, fear, and grief, I think we all are rooting for a break from the onslaught of difficulties. But, the truth is, we have no idea what this year holds. It could get better or it could be more of the same. I am convinced that our only hope, our only firm foundation is a relationship with Jesus. He is our rock and our fortress. And so, it makes sense to me that we should glance at the news and gaze at the Savior. We should look up more than we look around us. We should meditate on what it true, good, right–the truth that never changes no matter what is happening in our lives. And this truth is found in the Word of God. About four years ago, I issued a challenge to my friends to read the Bible through. Will you join me again? Read below to find out details!

This is what I wrote in late December of 2016:

I have found myself in several conversations lately.  Good conversations.  Godly conversations.  The conversations stemmed around what we were learning from the latest Christian books.  Good stuff, good inspirations, good ideas, good conversations.  We were uplifted.  We were inspired.  We were ready to become just like the authors of these books.  I noticed that my friends and I wanted to talk like the authors, dress like the authors, do what the authors did to change the world.  But then I realized, the conversations stemmed around the disciples of the One who matters, not about the One who matters.  The inspiration stemmed from books written by the disciples of the Living God, not from the Living Word written by the Living God.

Now, I am not knocking Christian authors.  I am a Christian author.  I love to read many kinds of books, and I am inspired by many different authors.  I hope one day you will read one of my books, and I hope you are inspired.  But here is the truth:  my books can’t change your life the way The Book can.  My books should not be used as your daily devotion.  That time should be reserved for The Book.  The Book is primary, my books—and all other Christian books—are secondary.

So, here’s the deal.  Let’s get back to The Book, God’s holy word.  Let’s read it all the way through this year—and maybe next year, and the next, and the next.

This is not to be a legalistic thing.  You will not be doomed nor judged if you miss a day, or a week, or even more.  But if you will make reading His Word a priority, you will tap into many beautiful truths which will transform your life.  Wanna join me?  I will share bits and pieces of what I am reading and I would love to hear what you are learning, too.  I will post my Bible Study notes every week or so and hope you will respond with your thoughts, as well.  So, grab your Bible and let’s get started.  I use the One Year Bible and have for years.  I like it because it gives a section of Old Testament, New Testament, Psalm and Proverbs each day.  There are many other wonderful yearly reading plans, but that is what I will be using.  So, grab your Bible and let’s get reading!

 

30 Days of Prayer: The Fullness of God

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Parenting
30 Days of Prayer: The Fullness of God

Day 30:  The Fullness of God 

For this reason I kneel before You, Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth derives its name. Lord, I pray that out of Your glorious riches my children may be strengthen with power through Your Spirit in their inner beings, so that You, Lord, may dwell in their hearts through faith. And I pray that they, being rooted and established in love may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that my children may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

                                    Ephesians 3: 14-19

This prayer found in Ephesians really says it all.  It combines the hopes and dreams I have for my children.  I want them to experience the fullness of God—not just a little bit, all of it.  I want them to know, really know, the love of Christ.  I want them to understand that the love of God is wide enough, long enough, high enough, deep enough to cover any mistake, any insecurity, any fear, any foe that they may encounter.  I want them to know the power of God in their hearts, and spirits, and souls, and minds.  I want them to be rooted in love, which will keep them steady when the tough winds of life blow.  It is for these reasons that I kneel before God, every day.  Many times I literally kneel, but always my heart is on its knees, bowing to the only One who has all the answers I need.

As these 30 Days of Prayer now come to a close, I hope that you will keep going.  I hope and pray that we are now in a habit of praying for the children in our lives.

It matters.

It makes a difference.

God does hear and will answer.

Just wait and see.