Tag: bible

A verse a week

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I am trying something new this year. I am commited to memorize one Bible verse each week.

We are a month into the new year – the time when most resolutions start to dwindle and fade.

Hang in there!

If you made a resolution, I hope you are sticking with it!

If you didn’t, this is a great habit.

I read the verse a few times a day, write it down, and repeat. It has not been hard to find a verse each week. Actually, they usually find me 🙂 I bought a cheap planner to keep track of each verse. This also makes it easy to re-read previous verses.

In case you are looking for a place to start, here’s what I have memorized so far…

Week 1

Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; Again I will say, rejoice.

Week 2

Proverbs 11:24 One gives freely yet grows all the richer; Another withholds what he should give, and only suffers want.

Week 3

Deuteronomy 31:6 Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.

Week 4

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Week 5

Isaiah 26:3 You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you.

Send me your suggestions for week 6!

The Ultimate “it’s not fair”

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I hear it from my kids all the time…”Mom, it’s not fair!”

Sometimes I think it or say it.

The nicest person you know is diagnosed with a terminal illness…it’s not fair.

The most devoted mother is tragically killed in a car accident...it’s not fair.

The hurricane batters a town still recovering from the last one…it’s not fair.

Unless you have buried your head in the sand, you know all too well life can seem unfair. Why me? Why her? It’s not fair.

But then we break out the eternal measuring stick.

Jesus

He was born a baby in a manger…it’s not fair. He should have had the best room in the house, not a smelly barn full of animals.

He was accused, betrayed, beaten, and hung on a cross…it’s not fair. He didn’t do anything wrong.

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God. 2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

Sometimes it feels like the “bad” people get away with things…it’s not fair! But the Bible says otherwise.

I tell you, on the day of judgment people will give account for every careless word they speak. Matthew 12:36 ESV

Things on earth will never be perfect. This is earth, not heaven. But it is reassuring to know one day, all of our “it’s not fair” feelings will melt away.

He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.”
Revelation 21:4 ESV

When things seem unfair, remember Jesus died for us, to carry the weight of our sin, even though He was perfect. Like most things, this is easy to believe when life is smooth. But when trouble comes and things get rocky, it will take a very firm foundation, built on knowing God and reading His word, to put things into perspective and keep the “it’s not fair” mindset from taking over.

Sometimes I picture God up there looking down on us, crossing our arms and stomping our feet, anxiously pacing back and forth because we don’t think something is fair. He can see, know, and hear all things. While we see one beach, He sees the whole ocean. We see one starry sky, He sees the whole galaxy. Yet we think we know better!

‘Ah, Lord God ! It is you who have made the heavens and the earth by your great power and by your outstretched arm! Nothing is too hard for you.
Jeremiah 32:17 ESV

…and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:18 ESV

So rest easy today. God is in control. God is fair. God loves you.

My trip through the Bible in a year

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I read the Bible in one year and this is what happened…

October 2, 2020 was the day I should have finished reading the entire Bible in a year. My final date-October 15th. Not too shabby, considering I am great at starting things but not so great at finishing. Can I get an Amen? I know I am not alone.

I have never really stuck with anything this long so I am SUPER proud of myself and the good habits I have built.

So many positives have come from this discipline!

  • For starters, I wake up earlier and less tired. (usually) Many days I would nod off during reading, especially at the beginning, but the majority of the time I got right to it. I think it got easier because I started looking forward to it (a lot more than expected!)
  • I am starting to understand the Bible a little better. It is not always an easy read, but the more you do it, the more comfortable you become. I followed a chronological plan that started January 1, but I started in October. I was on a different schedule, yet I still heard the messages I needed at the right time for me!
  • My time commitment to this habit grew throughout the year. I started off spending 15-20 minutes and now spend about 30-40 minutes each morning. Each day I set my alarm a couple minutes earlier (baby steps)
  • My overall mood is better…not perfect…but better. I am definitely more positive, but I attribute some of that to the gratitude journal I wrote about here. I don’t do it as often anymore, but I feel like the benefits of it have stuck with me.
  • I am looking forward to my next trip through the Bible. I don’t want to get out of the habit, so I will be starting again right away and my family is joining me this time!! We pray together but have never read the Bible together so I am excited to see what this brings for us!

My process

Read the daily Bible reading and listen to the Bible ReCap. At the beginning I was also reading the First 5 app that corresponded, but eventually I just stuck with the recap.

I have a color coding highlighting process (what type A person doesn’t?!?!)

When I could turn my brain on quick enough, I would remember to read a few opening verses before I started the plan of the day:

Psalm 119:18 open my eyes that I may see wonderful things in your law

Luke 24:45 Then he opened their minds to understand the scriptures

Psalm 51:10 Create in me a pure heart, O Lord, and renew a steadfast spirit within me

I will admit I was kind of expecting this miraculous, complete transformation…like day 365 I would suddenly have a bucket of patience that never runs out, and never have a bad day ever again… But that is not reality.

My anxiety and worry are not 100% gone, but I have some better tools (verses) to manage these ugly feelings when they creep in. I still have bad days, but I know just because you are a Godly person doesn’t mean everything will be perfect in your life. It just means God will be with you through it all.

I am not sure what role the Bible plays in your life currently, but if you don’t read it all, or only once in a while, I highly suggest you start! Start small. A few minutes a day is better than nothing. See what it does for you!