I Don’t Know How to Read the Bible

September 3, 2012 By 9 Comments

Welcome! We’ve created a Special Series for you this month! We’ll
take 4 weeks and focus on 4 elements to ‘Reset’ our lives for Him.
We’re calling it ’4×4 Reset’. If you missed the introduction, you
can find more details here. Each post will feature a READ IT
(scripture verse), a SEE IT (motivation), & a DO IT (challenge/
call to action). Our 4×4 Reset Toolbox is available and has links
to all the posts and to our resources, including our Build a Firm
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I Don’t Know How to Read the Bible

 

I feel the newness of the cool breeze and my spirit begins to
yearn for a fresh word. Do you sense the stir? Do you long to
know your Savior more intimately?

Reading God’s word daily always topped my new years goal
list. But somewhere along the journey, I even began to feel
guilty adding that to my goal list because I felt I didn’t know
how to read the Bible. I never followed through, because
reading the Bible never felt right.

I tried every which way to read the Bible:

1. I’d challenge myself to begin in Genesis and read
through Revelation. But somewhere in the book of
Leviticus nothing would be making sense and I’d give
up on my goal to read God’s word. I’d beat myself up
thinking I’ve known Jesus most of my life how can this not
make sense, I’m not a good enough Christian or this would
resonate with my heart.
2. I tried waking up each morning, praying God
would give me a word, then opening up my Bible
to wherever it would land. I wanted God to speak to
me through the randomness of scripture as He does to
others. But invariably I’d get passages such as “You will
be smashed like a piece of pottery . . . “ (Is. 30:14) I gave
up and hopped back on the guilt trip of not being able to
read the word of God.

After years of such frustration, I was beginning to doubt if I
could really read, understand, and hear a word from God on
my own. I had no trouble sitting under someone else’s teaching
or at church on Sunday, but I wanted more. I wanted my own
word – my own intimate relationship with God.

Christmas was approaching and I was beginning to write down
those big goals for the year ahead. I had decided I wasn’t going
to put reading the word of God on there because it carried too
much guilt when I didn’t follow through. That guilt made it
hard to enjoy the word when I was able to absorb it.

The Gift that Changed My Life

Little did I know that my life was about to change by a perfect
gift under the Christmas tree. My hubby handed me the
perfectly wrapped package and I opened it with delight. It was
the One Year Bible.

It was perfect. It was spelled out just the way I needed it
– Jan. 1, Jan. 2, March 31, etc. And on each day there was a
snippet from the Old Testament, New Testament, a Psalm and
a Proverb. It was a pure match made in heaven as I began to
devour these precious words.

If I missed a day, there was no need to hop on the guilt trip –
no; I could just pick up on the day’s date. There was no need
to feel bogged down in the Old Testament, because I knew I
would get a Jesus story from the New Testament before my
reading time was over.

Read It:

 

See it:

Set a fire down in my soul… Click here to watch this song’s video on YouTube.  Listen to the lyrics.  Let God set a fire down in your soul for more of His Word.  We want more of You, God…. We want more of You, God…

 

Do it:

Don’t forget to check out our 4x4Toolbox tab up at the top of every page.  Links to previous posts and to our printable tracking journal can be found there.  Make sure to connect with us on Facebook, Pinterest, Twitter and Instagram with the #4x4Reset hashtag too! 

 

Filed Under: 4x4Reset Tagged With: , , 9 Comments

Sit Down and Be Filled

April 2, 2012 By 5 Comments

If you grew up in Sunday school, you’ve probably heard the story of how Jesus fed the five thousand with a little boy’s five loaves of bread and two tiny fish. But if you look beyond the miracle, you see a precious story of Jesus and His people.

“One of the disciples said, ‘There’s a little boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish. But that’s a drop in the bucket for a crowd like this.’ Jesus said, ‘Make the people sit down.’ There was a nice carpet of green grass in this place. They sat down, about five thousand of them. Then Jesus took the bread and, having given thanks, gave it to those who were seated. He did the same with the fish. All ate as much as they wanted.” (John 6:8-11 MSG)

Beyond the miracle, we hear Jesus’ request for the crowd to sit down. How hard is sitting down for you? It’s OK, you can admit it — it’s hard, right?

We are a fast-paced society. We eat on the run. Actually, we’ve gotten good at doing most everything on the run. But notice, Jesus didn’t feed these people on the run. Jesus wasn’t concerned about how fast they got to where they were going. He simply said, “Make the people sit down.” He didn’t say, “Ask them if they want to grab a snack to go.” He said, “Sit down.”

Jesus only distributed nourishment to those who were seated. He made sure they had as much as they needed. Maybe He had them sit so they’d remember the miracle. Or maybe He had them sit so they could rest in His presence and be satisfied for the rest of the trip. The same is true for us. Jesus beckons us to come and sit because He wants to fill us to overflowing. 

God wants you humble, sitting at the feet of His Son. Feasting on His Word to fill you with His peace and presence. You can’t be humble by eating on the go. Likewise, feasting is not eating His Word once a week. No, it’s about devouring His truths everyday. 

It is only by sitting down and feasting on the Bread of Life, God’s Word, that Jesus can satisfy you.

Are you lonely? Come and sit.

Are you looking for direction? Come and sit.

Are you hurried, frazzled, or too busy? Come and sit.

Are you questioning and doubting? Come and sit.

If you sit feasting on the Bread of Life long enough, your burdens, fears, and anxieties will be lifted. Jesus will satisfy you with His goodness, rest, peace, and grace.

Oh friend, today is the day to sit down and be filled!

You can read more on this subject in Alene’s book I’m a Fixer Upper.

Filed Under: Emotional, Spiritual Tagged With: 5 Comments

Gather Around the Table for Memories

March 6, 2012 By 19 Comments

Are you struggling to keep the house clean, get the meals made, run the errands, finish the deadlines, or even get all the homework done?

Oh, I remember those days so well. It seemed there was always something important to conquer, a project to be made, and children to be tended to. I had a plaque that hung in my house back then that read

“Cleaning the house while the kids are still growing is like shoveling the walk before it stops snowing.”

Yes, certainly a great reminder to slow down and enjoy those little ones. I wish I could tell you I got it right all the time, but I didn’t.

I would get frustrated while juggling it all and miss those precious moments. Looking back, there are always things we’d love to change, right? However, I am thankful for the times I got it right. Especially the times we enjoyed each other’s company by just simply being together. No agenda. No deadline. No rushing.

As my son is just a few months away from college graduation and saying “I do,” I think I’ve gone a little sentimental. My heart wants to hug you young moms out there and say, “enjoy these moments!”

Yes, there are days when it seems like this season will never end. But in reality, it ends all too soon. And before you know it your babies will be getting engaged just like mine recently did.

Crazy, I know, but time really does fly by – so think about how you can slow your schedule for a minute and build moments together.

One of the best ways for the busy family to bond is to have planned family meals and gather around the table. You might not all get to sit down at the dinner table every evening together, but I bet there are a few days a week you can make that happen.

Family meals are a great way to connect a family. It’s easy to make those moments happen:

1. Plan which days your family dinners will be.

2. Put those days on the calendar and post it where the family will be reminded.

3. Pick a favorite family recipe and prepare the meal together.

4. Power down by turning off all electronics – tv, phones, internet connections – and enjoy your time together.

5. Linger over dinner.

6. Talk about what’s going on, plans coming up, and just laugh, and laugh, and laugh.

I can guarantee, you will not regret it! That precious love that is shared will never be forgotten, no matter how many deadlines you miss or rooms you don’t get cleaned.

There is a quote on the wall above our kitchen table that says, “Fondest memories are made when gathered around the table.” It is so true! Think back to Jesus’ words found in John 6:33 NIV

“For the bread of God is the bread that comes down from heaven and gives life to the world.”

The bread of God is what gives us life. What better way to ensure our kids are healthy on the word of God than to build time in to our chaotic schedules to speak truth into their lives.

And I wonder, what better time could there be to talk about the Bread of Life than over the bread at our family tables?

 

 

Filed Under: Physical, Spiritual 19 Comments