Writing through the Bible

Back in February I accepted a challenge to write out scriptures each day of the month that had to do with Love. The link is here. It was life changing. Now, I will say that I enjoy writing. Not just writing as in coming up with words, but writing as in hand writing things. Most of time it is much more practical to type (which I also enjoy) but when I took this challenge, it really made me think.

I have been reading the Bible for my entire life. Although I have never managed to read it from front to back, I am sure that I have read the entire Bible in some order. However, I have often read entire chapters without really stopping to think about what I had read. So, when I had to write out each word of these scriptures, it really gave me time to think and mull over each word that God gives to us. I was able to really pray and think about each word.

So I made a decision. I started in Genesis a few weeks ago and will continue as long as it takes to write out the entire Bible. Yes, I know this sounds crazy and I anticipate it taking several years. But I can only imagine how valuable it will be for me.

Today I am in Genesis 11 and I can already see a huge difference in how I am able to think about and pray about these chapters that I have read so many times in my life.

I don't have a real purpose in writing this other than to hold myself accountable to it. Maybe every once in a while I will share something I have thought about differently or something the Lord is teaching me. For now though, maybe it's just to challenge you to come up with a way to read the Bible in  way that will change your heart. A way that will open your eyes to new things and let Him change you through it.

Have a blessed day!

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Praying With a Broken Heart

Our home bible study group is going through a Bible study on Prayer right now. It is very interesting and amazing how sometimes something as simple as praying can make us so uncomfortable and so vulnerable at times.

Last night, one of the things that we talked about was how we can pray for the things going on around us. When we don't know what to pray about, it can be as simple as reading the newspaper headlines, or walking around our neighborhood and praying for things we see. Someone also brought up the quote, "Break my heart for what breaks yours." I have heard this a million times but I just never really thought about it in terms of my prayer life.

I am often saddened by the news, worried about the world, hopeful for my children's futures...etc. But, I really don't think I have ever let God "break my heart" like his is broken from all of my sins, and the awful sinful things happening today around the world.

So last night, I decided before going to sleep (at some horribly late hour might I add), that I would look at the news with new eyes and pray for the things happening around me. I wanted to pick something local, something nationwide, and something international and pray with my heart broken for the people.

Oh my.

What a night in the news. I was only on my phone for 15 seconds and had seen three different stories that took me down hard!

A local family who had fallen into a ravine at a State Park a bit south of us....and while five people had been pulled to safety, their two young boys, ages 6 and 9 were not found. 

A mass shooting in Orlando, Florida where over 50 people were killed and more than 50 others injured.

And horrible news about the suffering that is happening in Syria. 

We are tempted at times to turn away, not look at the pictures. But, somtimes it takes looking at those pictures and trying to put yourself there to let your heart be broken for the people in all of these places.

These stories could involve topics that we all may disagree on politically and the reality is, it doesn't matter what you think about homosexuality, or muslims, or ISIS, or gun control, or war, or what families choose to do on their Saturday. People are hurting and these are all people that God created. He loves them. We need to love them.

These are only three of the headlines that I saw as I skimmed articles last night and prayed, and prayed, and prayed  while I let God break my heart in a small sampling of a way that his is broken with each of these things.

Get on your knees. Pray alone, Pray with others. Gather together. We live in a time and place where, at the moment, we are still free to do that.

Surround these people with God's grace, His mercy, His love, His comfort and His care.

Let your heart be broken and know that each and every prayer is heard.

And, when your kids ask what those pictures are on the phone, computer, and TV. Don't just shrug them off. (I am also not telling you to try to let young children see and hear things that they cannot deal with on purpose...but it happens) Teach them to pray. And if they are scared, share this quote from Mr. Rogers that I have seen flying around on Facebook.

Because....there are a lot of evil things going on in the World today...and there always have been. But, there can be a lot of good too. 

So join with me and pray. Pray for the things we see going on around us. Pray for the people affected whether you know them or not. And let Jesus break your heart and heal it in a way that only He could possibly do. 

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Setting Goals

A few weeks ago, I didn't complete my Community Bible Study lesson so I decided to catch up this morning and complete it. God's timing is always perfect and I know that He wanted me to read this lesson today. We are studying the book of Mark and it has been amazing to read the same things that I have read so many times throughout my life and see them in a new light.

Today, one verse in particular stuck out to me.

I am someone who is constantly setting goals for myself...sometimes unrealistic ones...but always things that I really want to be successful with.

When struggling, I often think of a verse that my dad had me memorize when he was my Sunday School teacher in elementary school.

It has always been a great reminder that God gives us that nothing is impossible with him. but this morning, I was reminded that it isn't just that we can do all things with Him....we really can't do anything without Him. The verse from Mark 11 reminds me that these "goals" or "plans" that I have for myself need to be committed to Him in prayer before I even start. They need to be the things that God wants me to be working on, not things that I think I should be working on.

How often do we turn to Jesus when we are in times of need, rather than trusting Him with the situation before we even start?

As I begin my year of Simplify, one thing I have changed already is trying to let God lead my goals. I already am sure of a couple of areas that he wants my heart to be changed and I already feel more successful knowing that they are from His leading, rather than my own.

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Are you conforming?

So, this post has been swirling around in my head for a while but I wasn't sure how to write it down in a way that makes sense, so here goes!

I often hear people say that they would not want to be a "Christian" because it means they would have to follow a strict set of rules. They would have to "conform" so to speak to live life a certain way. It has come up a LOT lately and being the person that I am, I never have the right thing to say in the moment. However, it has led me to spend quite a deal of time thinking, praying, reading and listening on the subject.

The thing is, believing in the one true God is freeing. I don't and never have felt trapped in some sort of world that doesn't allow me to think or act freely. But I have grace that no other religion out there offers.

God gave each person a conscience to know the difference between right and wrong. Being a Christian doesn't make robbing a bank any more or less wrong. Being a Christian doesn't make murdering someone any more or less wrong. Wrong is wrong. Sin is sin.

I find more and more that NON Believers are the ones conforming. Trying to be accepted by this world, their friends and family.

Romans 12:2 says " Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will."

You want to fit in. You want to be loved and ultimately, you want acceptance.

So, why does Christianity take all of the slack for following a set of rules? As a Christian, I actually think the goal is to be set apart. Different from anyone else. So....why in this world full of people claiming to want to be different, don't they turn to Jesus?

And besides that. I have yet to meet another Christian who sees eye to eye with me on everything...we are not all the same. haha.

The Bible has been the most freeing thing in my life. It teaches me and is a resource for me to turn to for guidance. I have never felt stuck in a set of rules, but more guided and protected from things that could hurt me physically and emotionally.

If you are reading this and don't know who God is, I urge you to check this out.

I mean...what is the purpose of life without Jesus?

Ok...end of rant.

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