it's that time of year again. what time you may ask? it's january and i am once again attempting to read through the bible in a year. however, this year i'm following, what seems to be, a pretty great plan that requires 5 days of reading each week with 2 days off to either catch up or do a separate devotional, if that's what you want. i'm hanging in there. having a 3 and 1 year old does not afford me much time to myself and when i do have time, it is very difficult to sit and read without dozing off. and let's face it, the bible - it's a lot of reading. especially if you want to remember what you're reading about and learn from it.
now it may come as a shock that i have not sat and read the bible through in a year before. have i read the whole bible? i'm almost certain i have. do i remember it all? not at all. do i remember enough? i really don't know how to answer that question because the wonders of the Lord are always new and there is always more to be gleaned. i don't think i could ever get to a place where i know enough about the bible. well... i guess i do know how to answer that question. no, i do not remember nearly enough. with that being said and with so much vitriol being spewed everywhere and all the anger, hurt, and brokenness all around me, i have been convicted in my own walk. it has not been what it should be. oh sure, i pray and go to church and i have occasional discussions about things of the Lord. but i am seriously lacking in personal alone time with Him. i'm not allowing my heart to listen carefully to what God wants me to hear. i've not been searching out the scriptures for new things that i need to know. new things that will grow me into a better disciple. a better child of God. a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. so i'm following the Holy Spirits tug on my heart to read through the Bible. i'm trusting that i will learn new things from already familiar passages. i'm also trusting that i will learn new things from those books, chapters, and verses that i've not delved into in a long time or perhaps ever.
i also want to have a much smaller social media presence. i don't want to
be on facebook all the time. it's a serious addiction that i have and i'm aware of it. i think a lot of it stems from being lonely. i don't know many people in the area that are in a similar stage of life as me. i have a little boy who is in preschool 4 days a week, i have a one year old daughter who is just now starting to sleep longer than 2 hours at a time. i live with my wonderful in-laws as we pay off a significant amount of debt we incurred after the birth of our son. and it's just a chaotic time right now. it's wonderful and stressful all at once. anyway, i got off track. i want to get away from filling my time with facebook and spend more unadulterated time with my kids, more time with my husband without my phone in my face. and i desperately want to spend more time alone with Jesus. so with my conviction strong and pressing me forward, i've started the read the bible in a year plan. and you know what is remarkable - i'm less than a month in and God has shown me beautiful things about his character that have touched me tremendously.
for example:
i just finished up reading the gospel of mark and this particular passage stood out to me.
now it may come as a shock that i have not sat and read the bible through in a year before. have i read the whole bible? i'm almost certain i have. do i remember it all? not at all. do i remember enough? i really don't know how to answer that question because the wonders of the Lord are always new and there is always more to be gleaned. i don't think i could ever get to a place where i know enough about the bible. well... i guess i do know how to answer that question. no, i do not remember nearly enough. with that being said and with so much vitriol being spewed everywhere and all the anger, hurt, and brokenness all around me, i have been convicted in my own walk. it has not been what it should be. oh sure, i pray and go to church and i have occasional discussions about things of the Lord. but i am seriously lacking in personal alone time with Him. i'm not allowing my heart to listen carefully to what God wants me to hear. i've not been searching out the scriptures for new things that i need to know. new things that will grow me into a better disciple. a better child of God. a better wife, mother, daughter, sister, and friend. so i'm following the Holy Spirits tug on my heart to read through the Bible. i'm trusting that i will learn new things from already familiar passages. i'm also trusting that i will learn new things from those books, chapters, and verses that i've not delved into in a long time or perhaps ever.
i also want to have a much smaller social media presence. i don't want to
be on facebook all the time. it's a serious addiction that i have and i'm aware of it. i think a lot of it stems from being lonely. i don't know many people in the area that are in a similar stage of life as me. i have a little boy who is in preschool 4 days a week, i have a one year old daughter who is just now starting to sleep longer than 2 hours at a time. i live with my wonderful in-laws as we pay off a significant amount of debt we incurred after the birth of our son. and it's just a chaotic time right now. it's wonderful and stressful all at once. anyway, i got off track. i want to get away from filling my time with facebook and spend more unadulterated time with my kids, more time with my husband without my phone in my face. and i desperately want to spend more time alone with Jesus. so with my conviction strong and pressing me forward, i've started the read the bible in a year plan. and you know what is remarkable - i'm less than a month in and God has shown me beautiful things about his character that have touched me tremendously.
for example:
i just finished up reading the gospel of mark and this particular passage stood out to me.
"And immediately, while he was still speaking, Judas came, one of the twelve, and with him a crowd with swords and clubs, from the chief priests and the scribes and the elders. Now the betrayer had given them a sign, saying, “The one I will kiss is the man. Seize him and lead him away under guard.” And when he came, he went up to him at once and said, “Rabbi!” And he kissed him. And they laid hands on him and seized him. But one of those who stood by drew his sword and struck the servant of the high priest and cut off his ear. And Jesus said to them, “Have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? Day after day I was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. But let the Scriptures be fulfilled.” And they all left him and fled. (ESV)"
- mark 14:43-50
now, i don't know if i'm reading my own disappointment and sadness into the words Jesus spoke, "have you come out as against a robber, with swords and clubs to capture me? day after day i was with you in the temple teaching, and you did not seize me. but let the scriptures be fulfilled." when i read this i came to realize that this is proof of the beautiful humanity Jesus' had. Jesus was being arrested by people who He has known and seen day to day... He was being apprehended like a common criminal. and he questions them with truth and kindness and with resolve that the scriptures must be fulfilled. additionally, just prior to this, He had been praying to God the most intense prayers ever prayed. He was praying to the point that sweat like blood fell from his brow and He was asking for the cup that He was about to drink to be taken from Him. He was then betrayed by one of His own disciples, judas. and then you see that beautiful holiness and resolve to do His Father's work. Jesus, 100% God but also 100% human. He knew, in very real detail, was about to befall Him and he went willingly. "yet, not what i will but what you will." i have read that piece of scripture at least 50 times. i've even quoted it. but like i said before, God's word always has something new for us. He promises that his mercies are new every morning and i am seeing that. just in this brief yet very important passage of scripture. Lord, work in me to do your will and help me to grow and see your scriptures fulfilled.
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