Weekly Reading

What are you planning to read this winter? Are you signed up for a new study? Continuing one you started in the fall? Did you make a New Year's resolution about Bible study yet?

I am always hesitant to make a New Year's Resolution. I have a buddy who has one or two good ideas...ways to purposefully seek what the Lord would have for her life. And so here I am, ready to dive in...to see where the Lord leads us in the coming year.

See the pic above? Those are the books I am hoping to work on this winter. If I am feeling a bit short on time, and cannot get through everything planned for the morning, I stick to my One Year Bible (OYB) and read the passages for the day. This blog will primarily focus on passages of the day from The One Year Bible. (OYB)  Do you have a plan for this season? A Bible study you have joined or planned to read through yourself? Have you ever tried to read through the whole Bible in a whole year? Are you excited about what the Lord may teach you in the coming months?

I was reading through some more of Psalm 119 today....once again in an attempt to grasp onto the truth because my very human heart was buying into the lies we all are tempted to struggle with....

This is what the Lord encouraged my heart with today...

My soul cleaves to dust;
Revive me according to Thy word.
I have told of my ways, and Thou has answered me:
Teach me your statutes.
Make me understand the way of Thy precepts,
So I will meditate on Thy wonders.
My soul weeps because of grief;
Strengthen me according to Thy word.
Remove the false way from me.
And graciously grant me Thy law.
I have chosen the faithful way:
I have placed Thine ordinances before me.
I cleave to Thy testimonies:
Oh Lord, do not put me to shame!
I shall run the way of Thy commandments,
For Thou will enlarge my heart.

Oh...such encouraging words! Notice the verbs the Psalmist uses...

about himself...cleaves, weeps, meditates.

about the Lord...revive, answered, strengthened, remove, grant, enlarge.

Did you see how the psalmist is cleaving to dust in the beginning, and by the end is cleaving to "Thy testimonies?" Do you ever experience that kind of day? Or do you ever have a day where you begin by trying to cleave to His testimonies, and by the end of the day you feel like "dust?"

Which kind of day do you experience more often?

May we all cleave to His testimonies. May we be strengthened in our spirits according to His Word.

May the Lord our God enlarge our hearts this coming year!

Weekly Passages

With the new year ahead of us, it seemed like a good time to try something new. For the last three years, just about every morning I pull out my One Year Bible. I read through that day's scripture. Funny how timely and relevant the words always seem to be. The perfect passages, for that very day...challenging me in how to manage all the nonsense that is encompassing our life and household. And every day, I scribble down those verses in a notebook...because for some reason writing it down always helps me remember it better...it's like making a sticky note that I post into my heart.

I was chatting with a buddy, about how she maintains her blog. She mentioned the idea of picking just one thing, that you could write about...either daily...or weekly. Maybe you like to knit? Or cook? Or you are starting a new diet? Perhaps you love to review books?

Well, the only thing I seem to manage on a daily and/or weekly basis, besides shouting at my kids, is fumbling through my One Year Bible. So why not blog about it?

So at least once a week...I'll drop by here and share some verses. A passage of scripture that the Lord has used to strengthen my soul. I might babble on a little about how I have been encouraged and/or challenged. I might post only the scripture...and leave the Word of God to do it's work.

I have no idea how this will go. But might as well give it a try!

Lately I have been also been reading through Psalm 119. Psalm 119 exhorts us to learn and follow the law of the Lord. Whenever I am facing a struggle in my life...when I am facing the truth of who I am and how weak and foolish I can be, I find myself schlepping back to this Psalm. It is a good kick in the tush to get back into the word, so the Lord can continue the work HE has started in your life. How can we change, and fulfill the purpose HE has for us, if we are not opening our heart to HIS words?

How can a young man keep his way pure?
By keeping it according to Thy word.
With all my heart I have sought Thee:
Do not let me wander from Thy commandments.
Thy word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against Thee.
Psalm 119:9-11 (NASB)

There are so many more wonderful passages in Psalm 119. Grab your Bible and check it out. Share some of your favorites if you'd like. If you are sitting around facing the truth of yourself...fretting and in despair with being stuck in your struggles....the WORD is the place to start. Open up your Bible, and let the Lord do His thing.