Don't Walk in Darkness

So we are about a month into our "Read the Bible in a Year" plan and if you are like most people, you probably have fallen behind. And it's only been a month!

This post is not to beat you up over that, but to encourage you. The prospect of trying to catch up if you've missed a significant number of readings is enough to make many people quit. For those who are in that boat I have one word for you: Don't!

You do have a couple of options here. One is to catch up slowly, either on Sundays and/or maybe even a little bit every day. But I would encourage you to read the current day's assignment, then for your "catch up" time, you can go back. You do have 11 more months to do it, after all.

One other option is to forget the past and start anew. Just read what everyone else is reading and you'll "catch up" when we start the process again next year.

Psalm 119:105 - Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path.

Let's not walk in darkness!

The Grass Is Greener. . .

On the other side?

I heard on the radio today that someone once said, "If the grass is greener on the other side, it means that you are not watering your side enough." What a great quote!

As children of God, the greatness of our lives should only be measured by how pleasing we are to the Father. How much are you watering and feeding your relationship with him?

Jesus came to give us life to the full. Will you do all you can to take hold of the life to which you have been called?

Press On!

Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path...

We are now just about two weeks into the new year, and this is the time where people begin to waver on their commitments to their new year's resolutions. But hopefully this is not so with our commitment to read the Bible through in a year.

One Bible reading plan I saw was for the Bible to be read in three years. The reasoning was that reading about three chapters a day is unrealistic and going through the Bible a chapter or so a day was much more realistic.

On average, I take about 15 minutes to read through my daily assignment. 15 minutes! Isn't it a sad time when people aren't expected to devote even 15 minutes a day to reading God's word? I speak for myself as well, as I know that reading through the Bible in a year is not easy.

Interestingly enough, the other day I actually read farther than I was supposed to because I was getting into the story of Jacob in Genesis!

If you are experiencing difficulty keeping up with the daily readings, hang on! God's word is not just for show, but he uttered them with a specific purpose.

Isaiah 55:10-11

10 As the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and do not return to it without watering the earth and making it bud and flourish, so that it yields seed for the sower and bread for the eater, 11 so is my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.

Why Do You Praise God?

When you praise God, why do you do it? If you are not sure why you are praising when you say, "Praise God" then your praise is meaningless.

Argentinian Pastor Juan Carlos Ortiz makes the parallel this way: it is like giving God a present that is wrapped up very nicely, with a nice bow on it. But when he opens it, the box is empty.

When you praise God, make sure you know why you are doing so. It will mean much more to God and to you as well.

Happy New Year!

Ok, so it's day two of the "Read the Bible in a Year" campaign and I hope you haven't fallen behind already!

Hope everyone out there has a great '09, with God's fingerprints all over it!