Sunflower Faith

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

1 Peter 1,2,3,4,5

Scripture

¹⁷ And if you call on the Father, who without partiality judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves throughout the time of your stay here in fear; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with corruptible things, like silver or gold, from your aimless conduct received by tradition from your fathers, ¹⁹ but with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot. ²⁰ He indeed was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you ²¹ who through Him believe in God, who raised Him from the dead and gave Him glory, so that your faith and hope are in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21, New King James Version)

Observation:

This past year has been a year where our Heavenly Father has called on and convicted and begun a work of refinement that He has laid heavily on my  heart and that I accepted with just submission, praise and gratitude.

It’s funny how something as simple as just reading your bible, is a difficult task to do in today’s world, when we have so much going on and keeping ourselves, so busy, that we overlook, something as life giving and vital as working on our always growing and developing relationship with our Heavenly Father.

I am a huge advocate of that, because as I really begin to dig into reading His word, taking the challenge at church to read our bible, every day and finding the time to read our bible, I began to realize, that there was so much more in my growth that I needed to do that I welcome with open arms and a desire to submit myself to His will be done, not mine.

Using the life journal method and the S.O.A.P. help, for me, develop a discipline to read His word every day that it’s reach the point, I honestly feel incomplete if I don’t spend time reading His word so I incorporate that with our homeschool routine.

Biggest reason, is it helps the kids learn by example and not by words, how to pursue that active and living relationship with our Heavenly Father and if we don’t do that ourselves, how can we expect them to.

Application:

I’m learning to really look at my life and decide, how important is this over this and that over that. I am also learning that just because I volunteer at church, go to bible study, it’s not really “having a relationship”, but for me, it just felt more like doing everything, but going directly to Him and learning from Him, and growing in and through Him.

I started to say “no” to many activities and began to carve more time for Him and what I discovered, what a deeper conviction and desire in my heart to really follow Him, to learn from Him and that nothing in the world can truly replace or justify having that one on one relationship with our Heavenly Father and reading His Word.

Now…I read His word, before I read everything and it helps set that mental mindpath and that’s not to say, I still don’t slip and make mistakes.

I’m still human but I also learn not to use my mistakes as excuses but as growing markers in my life and to learn from them and strive not to repeat them.

My love and worship with our Heavenly Father is growing and maybe not rapidly, but that’s okay, it’s growing and I know that He is and always have been and will be more my center and focus of my life.

There is nothing on this earth that can replace Him and there is nothing on this earth He craves more than just to have that personal relationship, with you, with me, with everyone.

Prayer:

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

James 1,2,3,4,5

Scripture

 ¹ My brethren, let not many of you become teachers, knowing that we shall receive a stricter judgment. ² For we all stumble in many things. If anyone does not stumble in word, he is a perfect man, able also to bridle the whole body. ³ Indeed, we put bits in horses’ mouths that they may obey us, and we turn their whole body. ⁴ Look also at ships: although they are so large and are driven by fierce winds, they are turned by a very small rudder wherever the pilot desires. ⁵ Even so the tongue is a little member and boasts great things.
See how great a forest a little fire kindles! ⁶ And the tongue is a fire, a world of iniquity. The tongue is so set among our members that it defiles the whole body, and sets on fire the course of nature; and it is set on fire by hell. ⁷ For every kind of beast and bird, of reptile and creature of the sea, is tamed and has been tamed by mankind. ⁸ But no man can tame the tongue. It is an unruly evil, full of deadly poison. ⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.   
¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷ But the wisdom that is from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, willing to yield, full of mercy and good fruits, without partiality and without hypocrisy. ¹⁸ Now the fruit of righteousness is sown in peace by those who make peace. (James 3:1-18, New King James Version)

Observation:

*****Updated****

A friend just posted this great quote that I wanted to share; I think it goes well with today’s reading:

While we are never to put God to the test, we should certainly ask Him to test us. In surrendering to this examination, we are tried and often refined during the process.

` “Search me, O God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” ~ Psalm 139:23-24 (NIV) quoted by Laurie of “A Magnolia Heartbeats”.

James is a great book to read but it’s also a humbling book to read, because it seems to focus a lot on how we interact with others and how we use our words.

Honestly, whenever I read James, it makes me stop and do a major evaluation of how I use my words, be it here on the blog, on Twitter, on Facebook and in real life and how we present ourselves can make or break our testimony.

We live in a world that well, seems to be anything goes and sometimes prey on the exploitation of others for the rising of oneself. This is just a personal observation, and just a personal thought, but it sometimes, feel like, we revel in hurting or using our words to tear down others to build ourselves up, versus working on encouraging and lifting each other up.

When we speak, how does our words reflect ourselves, our spouses, our friends and more than anything our Heavenly Father?

Does the words and actions we portray, lift them up to the greater gloryof our Heavenly Father, or are they designed to just lift ourselves up?

I pray and hope that the words I speak and write would be in worship and praise our Heavenly Father and serve to lift His name up and to glorify only Him and not me, because me…well…I’m just really a small dot in the bigger picture of things.

Him; He is the beginning and He is the constant foundation that never changes and it’s always with prayers and hopes that this blog is in service always to Him.

Application:

James 3: 9-16,stays with me and will be something I will mull about over the day:

⁹ With it we bless our God and Father, and with it we curse men, who have been made in the similitude of God. ¹⁰ Out of the same mouth proceed blessing and cursing. My brethren, these things ought not to be so. ¹¹ Does a spring send forth fresh water and bitter from the same opening? ¹² Can a fig tree, my brethren, bear olives, or a grapevine bear figs? Thus no spring yields both salt water and fresh.   
¹³ Who is wise and understanding among you? Let him show by good conduct that his works are done in the meekness of wisdom. ¹⁴ But if you have bitter envy and self-seeking in your hearts, do not boast and lie against the truth. ¹⁵ This wisdom does not descend from above, but is earthly, sensual, demonic. ¹⁶ For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. ¹⁷

It’s a good reminder to take throughout the day, to remember and to ask oneself, where-ever we speak and where-ever we speak our words…who are we speaking about and for and how?

We can speak in such a way that even in gentle love and constructive encouragement, it can still glorify our Heavenly Father, but we can also speak in a way, that doesn’t show us to be followers of Christ, but follower’s of self or of  other.

A fine line to walk and something to remember throughout the day, when people see us, are they seeing us, or can they see our Heavenly Father in us?

My prayer and hope that when we speak, we speak in a way that will encourage and challenge and give strength and righteous conviction to refine not to judge and to condemn.

This is both an easy and a difficult passage to go over, but then again, if we seek to grow and mature, don’t we tell our children that sometimes it means having to face what is not easy and to persist through and from those lessons, we can grow and mature?

Yes, I will be hitting the commentary and re-reading this passage and well, just these chapters more later today, but it’s a welcome encouragement to understand and to apply further our Heavenly Father’s words and ask the difficult questions.

When people see me, will they see Him or do they see just me?

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for Your loving strength and Your loving guidance and I pray and hope You keep challenging, encouraging and convicting what needs to be challenged or refined or matured as I follow You,Heavenly Father.

I pray You will guide my heart and words as I seek You and that I reflect You in and through me, so it’s always about You, never about me.

Lord, I thank You for Your welcoming hands for the days that I stumble or stray and Your gentle reminder to go back on the path that I was on and not off into the wilderness, far from You and Your word.

Help keep my heart open and willing, teach me discernment and taming the tongue that it may always speak words that reflect Your work and love.

Thank You Father, Thank You.

Amen

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

Hebrews 12,13; Jude

Scripture

³ Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.(Jude 1:3, New King James Version)

Observation:

There’s never a “good time” to share our faith, or so we tell ourselves.

We don’t want to offend, it’s a bad time, we don’t know what to say.

Imagine if our Heavenly Father said the same to us.  But He found time and didn’t pay mind to those who were offended because sometimes when people get offended, it’s because they don’t want to hear the truth or want to feel that nagging suspicion to rethink what they spent so much time, convincing themselves they want to believe.

His truth is a sunshine that lights up and reveals everything, the good, the bad, the ugly. We don’t like it, but  there comes to a point either our hearts hardened to the truth or we awaken to the truth and strive to change.

Reading “Voice of the Martyrs” it’s a reminder that there are people in other countries, fellow brothers and sisters, who unlike us in the States, don’t have the freedom at all, to practice thier faith. Being a Christian is considered being the enemy.

Yet they pursue under worse challenges in a modern day reminder of the older days of Christian persecution.

We speak for those who have gone before us and for those who can not speak with us now.

If we had a stain on our shirt, we would want someone to let us know before we head out the door wouldn’t we?

If we had spiniach stuck between our teeth, wouldn’t it be nice someone tells us before we head into the office to meet the big boss?

Sharing our faith is not an easy thing but it’s not a hard thing to do either.

It’s by just our common day actions to each others and to those who are non-believers; It’s by living out our faith and not just speaking about our faith; It’s about not being afraid to share what our Heavenly Father has and will do with our lives and for those around us.

It’s taking the time to pray for others, even when it’s inconvenient for us, and just a simple note of encouragement.

We don’t have to have loud speakers to proclaim who we are or what we believe in, but we shouldn’t hide away our faith as if it’s something to be ashamed of either.

Application:

Truthfully, there have been days, I thought twice about pulling out my bible to read while at a doctor’s office without thinking “what will other people think” or sending a Christmas card with scripture for “fear of offending”, but as God laid it on my heart, I realize that by being more concerned what the world thought and not what He thought, I was choosing, by my actions, the world over Him.

I soon, stopped worrying and when I wait for the doctor, or whomever, I open my bible and read it, and send out cards with scripture in it, with a “Merry Christmas” and “God Bless You” in it.

There was a time, that no one said “God Bless You” to me or share His word with me. It was a time before I became a Christian and I can’t help but wonder, “What difference would it have made, had someone said that to me”.

Maybe I would have been offended, but it would have planted a seed, that you and I wouldn’t have seen, but later in the future it might have come to fruit.

We don’t have to share His word, by just pulling out a bible and quoting Scripture. We can share His word, by just simple actions, living His word and letting that speak for itself, rather than we speak for Him. It’s His job to save, but it’s our job to share His word and often not by verbalizing, but just by our very existance and letting that bear testament to His word.

Don’t feel like you can “show your faith” only around fellow believers and don’t think, you have to share your faith by standing on a corner.

Just sometimes, the simple act of extending a hand and saying” Hi” and letting your life speak for itself, can speak volumes for itself.

Don’t be afraid to say “God bless You” or  “Merry Christmas”, after all…doesn’t He bless us all rather we know it or not?

Prayer:

Lord, Thank You for standing up for us and seeking us even in the faces of those who had seek to silence Your Son and the work that He did; We don’t face the same as our fellow brothers and sisters, but we shouldn’t feel that we need to modify our faith to fit in a broken world that seeks to conform You to what it desires versus to allow You to change it for the better.

Lord, give us strength and words to speak and live in Your truth and not ours or that of the world.

Amen

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

Hebrews 5; Hebrews 6; Hebrews 7; Hebrews 8

Scripture:

 ¹ Therefore, leaving the discussion of the elementary principles of Christ, let us go on to perfection, not laying again the foundation of repentance from dead works and of faith toward God, ² of the doctrine of baptisms, of laying on of hands, of resurrection of the dead, and of eternal judgment. ³ And this we will do if God permits.
⁴ For it is impossible for those who were once enlightened, and have tasted the heavenly gift, and have become partakers of the Holy Spirit, ⁵ and have tasted the good word of God and the powers of the age to come, ⁶ if they fall away, to renew them again to repentance, since they crucify again for themselves the Son of God, and put Him to an open shame.
⁷ For the earth which drinks in the rain that often comes upon it, and bears herbs useful for those by whom it is cultivated, receives blessing from God; ⁸ but if it bears thorns and briers, it is rejected and near to being cursed, whose end is to be burned.   
⁹ But, beloved, we are confident of better things concerning you, yes, things that accompany salvation, though we speak in this manner. ¹⁰ For God is not unjust to forget your work and labor of love which you have shown toward His name, in that you have ministered to the saints, and do minister. ¹¹ And we desire that each one of you show the same diligence to the full assurance of hope until the end, ¹² that you do not become sluggish, but imitate those who through faith and patience inherit the promises. (Hebrews 6:1-12, New King James Version)

Observation:

Maybe it’s because it’s a Saturday or maybe as I read over today’s passages, I found myself reaching for the commentary, praying and mulling over what I had just read.

They are powerful passages,Hebrews 5; Hebrews 6; Hebrews 7; Hebrews 8, and I found myself sitting back and looking more deeply over what I had just read.

Normally, with Life Journals, it’s a verse here or there that really “hits” you, and for me, it’s often several that work in relation with itself.

Today, wow.

It was a good block of passages that wouldn’t fit my sticky note and tells me…this is something to re-read later today, if I can, and just really read through what our Father is sharing.

 Using MHC (Matthew Henry Commentary), I looked deeper at this particularly chapter, chapter 6.

From the MHC:

The faith and hope of the church encouraged from this.

 Every part of the truth and will of God should be set before all who profess the gospel, and be urged on their hearts and consciences.

 We should not be always speaking about outward things; these have their places and use, but often take up too much attention and time, which might be better employed. The humbled sinner who pleads guilty, and cries for mercy, can have no ground from this passage to be discouraged, whatever his conscience may accuse him of.

Nor does it prove that any one who is made a new creature in Christ, ever becomes a final apostate from him. The apostle is not speaking of the falling away of mere professors, never convinced or influenced by the gospel. Such have nothing to fall away from, but an empty name, or hypocritical profession.

Neither is he speaking of partial declinings or backslidings. Nor are such sins meant, as Christians fall into through the strength of temptations, or the power of some worldly or fleshly lust.

But the falling away here mentioned, is an open and avowed renouncing of Christ, from enmity of heart against him, his cause, and people, by men approving in their minds the deeds of his murderers, and all this after they have received the knowledge of the truth, and tasted some of its comforts. Of these it is said, that it is impossible to renew them again unto repentance. Not because the blood of Christ is not sufficient to obtain pardon for this sin; but this sin, in its very nature, is opposite to repentance and every thing that leads to it.

If those who through mistaken views of this passage, as well as of their own case, fear that there is no mercy for them, would attend to the account given of the nature of this sin, that it is a total and a willing renouncing of Christ, and his cause, and joining with his enemies, it would relieve them from wrong fears.

We should ourselves beware, and caution others, of every approach near to a gulf so awful as apostacy; yet in doing this we should keep close to the word of God, and be careful not to wound and terrify the weak, or discourage the fallen and penitent. Believers not only taste of the word of God, but they drink it in.

And this fruitful field or garden receives the blessing. But the merely nominal Christian, continuing unfruitful under the means of grace, or producing nothing but deceit and selfishness, was near the awful state above described; and everlasting misery was the end reserved for him. Let us watch with humble caution and prayer as to ourselves. (Heb 6:9)

It’s so easy to get caught up in the holiday season, with everyday life, with what is going on, on the outside and lose focus of what is going on spiritually or emotionally or mentally.

There are days that our hearts may feel like it will break from rejection, isolation, or maybe we’re just having a bad day, but there is something bigger than all of us, and our focus should be on that, because our Heavenly Father, is above that which ails us or we feel ails us.

It can be difficult and sometimes we may feel like, what is the point, but so many have gone before us, where they have faced worse adversaries.

When we feel like we are hurting, when we feel like we are at our most weak, that’s when we need to draw even more closer to our Heavenly Father, for there is no one on this Earth, that can supplement all that He does have to offer and can give.

He is the solid rock and never changing foundation that promises always to be there without condition.

Application:

Prayer:

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

Philemon;Hebrews 1,2,3,4

Scripture

   
¹¹ Let us therefore be diligent to enter that rest, lest anyone fall according to the same example of disobedience. ¹² For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. ¹³ And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account. (Hebrews 4:11-13, New King James Version)

Observation:

That funny little twing in our hearts when we do something we know against God’s word? That’s the Holy Spirit talking to our hearts and our conscious.

There is no such thing as being able to hide what we are doing. He doesn’t start and end at church on Sunday; If we truly have faith and believe that He is everywhere, knows everything, why in the walls of our homes, do we think that we can hide from Him like we can hide from the world?

It’s like Adam and Eve all over,hiding in the bushes, when they heard Him walking through the Garden of Eve. He knew they were there; He knew they were hiding.

He preferred that out of their own free will and conscious they came to Him rather than force them to come to Him.

It does get convicting when we read His word and funny, the things that tend to bother us the most are often things we try to tell ourselves, our justified ourselves that it’s okay to do.

Did we gossip today about someone with the intent to hurt or project our anger at them?

Did we steal?

Did we think…no one knows and act in a way that hurts our testimony but did it anyway, thinking no one sees?

His word is living.

His word is active.

No one can truly hide from our Heavenly Father and sometimes, its best to be honest with Him and ourselves, of our faults and our mistakes then to think that if we ignore them….they will just go away.

He offers us redemption and freedom…will we take it.

Application:

I want to be more than a Sunday Christian who goes to church and leaves it at the church door when I come home; I want to be more than someone who uses the bible for decoration or at church and on the rest of the days, never pick it up, read it or apply it to my walk with our Heavenly Father.

His words are not just words placed on paper, but it is food and sustance for our maturity as Christians and even picking and choosing it, doesn’t always give our spiritual growth, the sustance, it needs.

It’s a challenge to not be one thing and do another..It’s a challenge to apply His word, not legalistic or Pharisee, but as a living, growing relationship in all areas of our lives, and yes, it may hurt in some areas, but maybe those are areas of weakness, we must confront and allow Him to refine in us, in and through Him.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for this beautiful morning; It is cold, but the blessing is that we turn down the heat and turn on the fireplace and use that time as family time, to read Your word, to have fellowship as a family and to enjoy the changing of the seasons, that You created and are a reminder of Your creation.

I pray and hope that I apply Your word in my life and allow You to humble me, refine what is weak and imperfect to Your Glory, not mine and to be a testatment to You, for when I don’t know that my life can and will either reflect You or not reflect You and it is always with prayer, it reflects You.

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

2 Timothy 1,2,3,4

Scripture

   
¹⁴ Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. ¹⁵ Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. ¹⁶ But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. ¹⁷ And their message will spread like cancer. Hymenaeus and Philetus are of this sort, ¹⁸ who have strayed concerning the truth, saying that the resurrection is already past; and they overthrow the faith of some. ¹⁹ Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: “The Lord knows those who are His,” and, “Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity.”
(2 Timothy 2:14-19, New King James Version)

Observation:

No one wants to be like: Hymenaeus and Philetus; No one.

We see it around us more and more these days as people twist the truth to fit their lifestyles and expect our Father to work on their terms and not the other way.

Did we not seek Him to be free of our rebellious ways or are we seeking Him to try and corrupt what cannot be corrupt?

Humility is not natural for human nature; Look around us and we see it everyday, but it is something we and I know I pray for that I develop as second nature, should strive for in all our words and lives and part of that including how we also act (and react).

It’s so easy to say, but this is just how I work, but trouble is that we are no longer about the “I” and we are about “Him” now.

This is how He works…not us.

A simple litmus test for us to ask ourselves each day is…if I was having a one on one with our Heavenly Lord today, would I be able to present what I say, what I do, how I live my life, and look Him with humble worship and present our lives rightfully, or would I hang my head?

There is a classic saying that goes “Love means never having to say you’re sorry”; If we love our Heavenly Father like we say we do, shouldn’t part of that include living our lives “In Service to Him” by not being legalistic or Pharisee like, but by living a life that we want of our own free will, to be pleasing to Him and we can lift it up and give it up to Him in Glory.

If we are doing things that we could not give to Him without feeling a bit of twinge of guilt or sorry, turn away, it’s not that hard to stop doing whatever it is.

Application:

When we care about someone so much, we don’t want them to be hurt, or for them to be hurt by how we speak of them or portray them as, these verses are a wonderful reminder that as followers, when we profess to believe in Him, it’s not just our words that will reflect our faith and following of Him, but our actions and sometimes even our lack of actions.

This is a reminder that we have all sinners and though clothed still in that of a sinner, being imperfect does not give license to continue to sin. We will fall and have our bad days, and praise Our Father, He is there to pick us up, but we are not maturing or growing, if we don’t learn from what we shouldn’t and practice what we should.

Like an athlete, we don’t develop what we need to develop by not training, by not learning, by not seeking Him to train and guide us and if we seek to,not be approved by our good works, but by embracing and manifesting the grace that is given to all of us, like an athlete that is poorly or not at all trained, we fall behind and are left behind.

Keep up the good race and be diligent and study His word, but that alone is not what saves us, it’s by following Him and allowing Him to be in and work through us and to manifest Him by allowing Him the door to transform us into what He calls us to be and not by what we define ourselves as.

It’s never about us….It’s always about Him.

Prayer:

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

1 Timothy 5,6; Titus 1,2,3

Scripture

   
¹¹ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, ¹² teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, ¹³ looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, ¹⁴ who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
(Titus 2:11-14, New King James Version)

Observation:

This is just a reminder of what we should try to set out as goals, not in a legalistic, Pharisee way, but from the free will and desire of our heart, to strive to serve our Heavenly Father. We are human, we will fall, we will involuntary sin,and Praise His Name, that He seeks to lift us up and help us move forward, not stuck in one place or backward.

It’s an active choice, still though, how we react to the world and how we choose to live it. If we voluntarily seek a life we know is not pleasing to God, it’s of our own choice, but if we seek to free of us of that, He is pleased.

It feels hard sometimes doesn’t it?

My pastor described as having a “Sin Addiction” when we are newborn in Christ; We are clothed in the body still of our old life and it’s a process of working through what we use to be and embracing who we are now.

For some, the blessing is that it can happen quickly, for others, it’s a long road toward redemption but made by the free will choice to fully embrace the freedom and salvation that our Heavenly Father offers us.

When we choose to follow Him, we stop making excuses for sinning, and instead call out to Him and seek growth through reading His word, so we are no longer who we use to be, but we become who we are now.

Application:

It’s a reminder that no one but else make the choices to either live in the world or just with the world. It’s a reminder that no one forces us to make the choices that we choose to make, other than ourselves, and by taking the personal responsibilty of accepting this precious gift from our Heavenly Father, we choose ourselves, to follow Him or in some cases, deny Him with our lives.

If I had to choose between eating food that is good for me (this is just an example, lol), or food that is bad for me, ultimately, no one else is truly at fault than me, if I choose to eat the food, I know will not help me in my growth, and so, it’s a reminder of my growth as a Christian, to choose that which glorifies and lift HIS name up, by the choices I make of the heart and of the heart and not out of desire to be legalistic thinking by appearing good, it will save me.

Prayer:

Thank You Heavenly Father for teaching and gently (and sometimes not so gently) rebuking me where I need to be reminded, “wake up”. Lord, I pray that You will seek to humble me where I need to be humble and reminded that I am a broken vessel at Your hands to be remolded in Your image, not mine or that of the world and if I am not humble or speaking words of Glory to You,Lord that You, in Your way, remind me and set my path straight not crooked.

Amen.

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

1 Timothy 1,2,3,4

Scripture

 ¹ Therefore I exhort first of all that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and giving of thanks be made for all men, ² for kings and all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and reverence. ³ For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, ⁴ who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth. ⁵ For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus, ⁶ who gave Himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time, ⁷ for which I was appointed a preacher and an apostle—I am speaking the truth in Christand not lying—a teacher of the Gentiles in faith and truth. (1 Timothy 2:1-7, New King James Version)

Observation:

We all need prayer.

We are all sinners in a broken world that need Him and sometimes it takes longer (or not) to realize that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves, except in and through our Heavenly Father.

It’s tough to pray for our enemies, for people we don’t like, for people we fear to offend, for people we don’t know yet, but it’s a reminder to that at one time, someone must have prayed for us, whether we knew it or not and then hand it over to our Father to do what HE needed to do.

Someone at my church wisely told me, “We’re not the Holy Spirits”, that’s not our job, that the Holy Spirit’s job, but that our job as believers is to share His Word and to use the best tool, that we are blessed with, prayer.

And if we don’t think prayer is working, what do we do?

We pray more and harder.

We live in a broken world and like a farmer, if we tend to one seed, planted in the ground, how can we hope for a harvest at the end of season.

So what does a good gardener do?

Plant as many seeds as possible, tend to them all lovingly with water and nutrients, but let the sun and the earth that the seeds are nestled in, do their jobs too.

We may never see the final results of our prayers until the day we are in Heaven, but that’s okay; Our lives here on Earth is temporary but we have eternity to look forward to, with our Heavenly Father and family.

Application:

This is just a reminder that everyone needs prayer whether we or they know it. There was a time that someone, that I knew and probrably didn’t knew, pray for me and even now, may still be praying for me and so should we not use prayer as a clique to pick and choose a select favorite to pray for, but we should, when we can,take the time to remember to pray for our church, our pastors, the community and the world, and the man or woman we don’t know and may never know that one day we will all confess He is Lord of lords and King of kings and all knees will bow before Him in loving worship.

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for being Abba and for the power of prayer that led me, led others to You and I pray that we remember that just as someone has or still is praying for us, that we dont’ just pray for people we like, but for people we don’t like (with love) and people we don’t know that Your word and love permetrate all our hearts to YOUR Glory, Lord.

Amen

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

Colossians 1,2,3,4

Scripture

   
¹² Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; ¹³ bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. ¹⁴ But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection. ¹⁵ And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. ¹⁶ Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord. ¹⁷ And whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him. (Colossians 3:12-17, New King James Version)

Observation:

Our words, our actions, how we interact with each other as believers and how we interact with the world, defines us as people, as persons and as representatives of our Heavenly Father.

It’s a challenging walk and a reminder, particularly in the Christmas season, that when we speak to each other, be it on Twitter, Facebook, email or in person, we speak for Him, not for us, for Him.

Our words and our actions should reflect that and yes, it’s difficult, but it’s no excuse to work on this goal.

It’s also no excuse to expect from our Heavenly Father, mercy and love and understanding and forgiveness, but when we interact with each other, not show that same desire.

….And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us.

What does trespass even mean? Here is an interesting definition:

4.commit a sin; violate a law of God or a moral law
5. pass beyond (limits or boundaries)

This is such powerful words. This doesn’t justify sinning or that it’s okay to be ugly to one another, but that we are to love one another.

Application:

This is a reminder that in this holiday season, to remember, not just for the holidays, but for the every days, that we are not to excuse being ugly or sinning, and we are not to justify being ugly or sin ourselves, but we are to build each other up in our Christian growth and to show the same forgiveness, our Heavenly Father has shown us.

We are not perfect so we shouldn’t condemn others either if they don’t meet up to our expectations but look at how do we lift each other up and to work together in encouragment and forgivness and in the bonds of friendship and fellowship.

Prayer:

Father, Thank You for this beautiful gift of Grace and Salvation and I pray and hope we remember each day to “forgive each other ” as You forgive each of us and to work toward developing the life You have and desire for each of us.

I pray that we remember this not only on the holidays, but in everyday and look beyond what we see as You look beyond what we are and see what the possiblities are there.

Thank You Father, Thank You.

Amen

****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

Copyright secured by Digiprove © 2009All Rights Reserved

My Daily Bible Reading

Today’s Life Journal Reading is from:

Ephesians 1,2,3,4

Scripture

⁸ For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹ not of works, lest anyone should boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9, New King James Version)

Observation:

When the Apostle Paul was asked how we could be saved,“Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” (Acts 16:30 KJV),Paul shared with the jailor, ” And they said, Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved, and thy house.” (Acts 16:31 KJV). Even Jesus Christ, the Son of God, stated Himself,“Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”(John 14:6 KJV).

We can go to church, we can read our bibles, we can do community acts, but if we, ourselves, personally, have yet to accept Him as our Lord and Saviour, no amount of good work or intentions that we do, will ever be enough because it’s not about what we do, but a simple, acceptance that He is our Lord and Saviour.It’s a simplicity that I think makes it so difficult, because it doesn’t involve jumping through any hoops.

Our Heavenly Father already has paid the price and its a “FREE GIFT” with no strings attached; No requirements that we do this or that, just a simple:

A. Admit you are a sinner.
“There is no one righteous, not even one … for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
Romans 3:10,23. (See Romans 5:8; 6:23.)

Ask God’s forgiveness and repent of your sins.
“Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”
Romans 10:13

B. Believe in Jesus
(put your trust in Him) as your only hope of salvation.
“For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” John 3:16 (See John 14:6.)

Become a child of God by receiving Christ.
“To all who receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.” John 1:12 (See Revelation 3:20.)

C. Confess that Jesus is your Lord.
“If you confess with your mouth, ‘Jesus is Lord,’ and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.” Romans 10:9 (See verse 10.)

No one between you and Him. No one…It’s just you. It’s just Him.

Simple and waiting for you. A free gift to the taking.

Application:

This is just a reminder to me, to us, that it’s so easy to get caught up in the act of doing and thinking this supplements what has been done by our Heavenly Father and a reminder that the Pharisess knew the laws and the regulations and how to worship, but what they didn’t have, was Him, in their hearts.

From “Avoiding the Spirit of the Pharisees“, the following 10 things were shared that we should keep watch ourselves:

Jesus identified 10 main areas of corruption within the Scribes and Pharisees tenure of control and these are areas that we as ministers of God today are still susceptible to and must avoid at all costs.

• Doing things to be seen by men
• Putting heavy burdens upon the people of God
• Seeking the best seats
• Devouring widows houses
• Failure to discern holy things
• Neglecting the important issues of their role as the priesthood
• Focussing upon external laws rather than internal change
• Claiming righteousness with God while opposing His will
• Exalting mans tradition above the commandments of God

Prayer:

Heavenly Father, Thank You for this beautiful Friday and I pray that others will come to know You and the gift of salvation that You have to offer; Lord, keep me humble and learn discernment as I seek and apply Your word. I pray that Your words change me willingly, internally and not to be an external faith but an active living faith that is applied in all areas of my life.

Amen.

 

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****Purpose of this post****

Gentle Readers, There are days that I will read a verse or passage and just feel pulled to share here, but there are days when I will read something and just feel, I need to spend the day, in personal contemplation of what is being convey and may just post via Twitter, what passages I have read that day and post nothing on here.

That is what bible reading is about; It’s not about having to write something down everyday; There maybe days when you are reading say, Numbers and it’s just lineages, but other days, you may find yourself dealing with a “powerhouse verse” of the moment and have to just go “WOW” and seek God in personal time and prayer to understand what He is sharing.

I will try to post daily, but particularly on weekends, if I’m sick or I’m just completely in awe of what I’m reading or maybe I am trying to understand what I am reading, I may not post here, I may just write in my Life Journal (hardcopy), because I will find myself having to seek His Word and/or the Commentary and just seek in prayer to understand what our Father in Heaven is seeking to reveal.

Either way.

Reading His Word, is about getting to know Him better and developing your Christian growth and maturity. Do what is right and good for you.

If you do use the Life Journal and participate in the daily readings, I would like to hear from you and your perspective on each day’s reading, when I do have a post up, or feel free to comment on a previous “Daily Bible Reading post” or send me a quick email.

Please feel free to join in the linky that I post below, so others too, who uses the Life Journal/or SOAP method to read the bible can participate.

Don’t feel obligate to have to blog about each passage to be read, but if anything, feel free to share those passages that have the most impact on you that day.

There maybe some days that you may read your daily reading and find nothing to jot down in your journal or on your blog and that’s okay, but there maybe other days, that you will find yourself inspire.

This is about you being encouraged to have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father, and spending each day with Him, You and Him.

It is my prayer and hope that this will be an encouragement to establish a personal daily reading as well.

To find out more about using the S.O.A.P. method, here’s a link to an ehow article and here’s the link to the Life Journal to find out more what it is, and how you can use it for your own daily bible readings. If you don’t want to order the journal or if it’s not available through your local church, another method is simply, buy a journal or notebook or even blog about your life journal readings.

Disclaimer: I am not personally affiliated with the church that the link goes to, but merely share it as a resource of what the Life Journal is, how to order it.

 

Taking away the key of knowledge

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