Grow...part two.

If you're stopping by after reading "Grow...part one", welcome back! If not, just check out the previous  post, and you'll be all caught up! Yesterday, we discovered that just like milk to a baby, God's word is the nourishment we need to grow in our faith.  Today, I hope to share some things that will help you develop a love for reading your Bible every single day.  In my conversations with women, I hear lots of reasons why you don't read the Bible regularly. "I don't know where to start." "I don't understand it." "I'm just not motivated to read it." are some I hear most often.  So today, let's start right there.


"I don't know where to start."  That's totally understandable! The 66 books of the Old and New Testaments that comprise our modern day Bible can seem pretty intimidating.  There are several ways to dive in.  I've read through the Bible several times, and one of my favorite methods is The One Year Bible. Available in several different translations, the OYB divides the Bible into 365 daily readings, each including a bit from Psalms, Proverbs, Old Testament, and New Testament.  It only takes 15-20 minutes a day...brilliant!  When I was a new Christian (and had never read any of the Bible), many people told me to start in the Gospel of John, in the New Testament. The love of God and the story of Jesus are the themes of this book, and will make you want to read more!  Finally, visit http://www.youversion.com.  You'll find many translations of the Bible there, along with so many reading plans, you're sure to find one that's right for you.  It is a truly amazing, totally free resource!


"I don't understand it." I know. Neither did I! Here's what I've discovered:  Pray before you read. Just ask the Author of the Book to help you understand what you read.  He is well able, by His Spirit that lives in you (if you're a Christian), to reveal His words to you.  Get a Bible you like to read.  If you find yourself tripping over thees and thous and therefores, for Heaven's sake get a different translation!  You can spend a ton of money on a Bible, but you don't have to.  Check out online discount sites half.com, amazon.com, biblica.com, or christianbook.com. Join a Bible study group. I have been part of, and led, many study groups over the years, and I have grown so much from hearing other women's insights as we study together. We're starting a daytime study in late September at Crossroads, or try Community Bible study, or a group at your church.


"I'm just not motivated to read it." Rare is the person who is overwhelmed with desire to read the Bible as a new Christian. Discipline doesn't come naturally to any of us! For most people, it's something we grow into.  For me, I knew that I should read the Bible, so I did. But the wonderful thing is, the more I read, the more I wanted to read!  I think biggest motivator for me was discovering that God's word is no ordinary book.  Not at all!  The Bible contains the very words of the living God!  By His word, God created everything seen and unseen (Genesis 1).  His words are life (Proverbs 4:20-22, John 6:63), His word is the power of God that saves us (Romans 1:16), and His word accomplishes everything He desires (Isaiah 55:11). If I want to know Him better, I don't need to look any further than the words He has spoken to me...to us.  Knowing that His word is alive and filled with His creativity, His life, and His power changes how we feel about reading it. 


Tune in next time for part three of our Grow series.  I'm calling it "Bloom".


Today's Verse: The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life.  John 6:63 NLT


Prayer for Today: Father, I long to know You better.  I pray that as I open the pages of Your Book, You will meet me there, and make me more like Jesus as I read and apply your Truth. In His name I pray, Amen. 

Reader for life

"Lord, to whom would we go?  You have the words that give eternal life."  John 6:68 NLT

Wow. It's been over a month since I posted anything new. When my husband mentioned it, I told him I just haven't really had much to say. "All evidence to the contrary", he quipped. Ok, so maybe I have a tendancy to be a little opinionated and....umm....vocal. "He's right", I thought.  So why is the well that I write from so dry? I think I've found the answer.

I've become an avid-no,a voracious-reader. My husband and I are pastoring a growing new church, and I need wisdom in everything!  My nightstand is home to LOTS of books.  There are volumes on church growth, leadership, and creating community. Books about small groups, spiritual growth, and faith. There are titles by Hybels, Stanley, McManus and Chan. At any given moment, I'm reading at least two books.  But there's another book on my nightstand, one I don't read as much.  It's a large leather-bound volume, pushed to one side, behind my reading lamp.  Maybe you've heard of it.  It's called The Bible.  Oh yeah, that.  The Word of God.  The Word of life.  The Word that transforms, strengthens, instructs and corrects.  The Word that is wisdom.  That Book.  

Since I became a Christ follower, I've read, studied, prayed, meditated, believed, even memorized God's words.  But lately I've neglected them.  I've read about the Bible more than the Bible itself.  And it shows.  The last few months have been filled with amazing church growth, and so much fruitful work.  But there have also been growing pains, and a personal life filled with stress and change.  At times I find myself moody, sullen, quick-tempered, even weak in faith.  Why?  Because that really important Book is pushed to one side, behind my reading lamp instead of hidden in my heart, and on my lips. 

 If we feel dry or malnourished, maybe we need to look at our spiritual "diet" to find out why.  Perhaps we're not drinking from the rivers of living water (John 7:38)  Maybe we're neglecting the milk of the word (1Peter 2:2).  But the good news is we don't have to stay there.  I've commited to begin every day reading God's word.  Not just the devotions I read, or books about the Bible.  But reading the actual Bible every day, before I do anything else.  I don't want to be just a reader, but a reader for life!  Will you join me?

REAL FOOD

34"My food," said Jesus, "is to do the will of him who sent me and to finish his work. John 4:34 NIV

Being a Pastor’s wife and church planter, I talk to lots of people about church. “I love my church!” some tell me. I also hear “I’m just not being fed at my church”. Jesus had a thing or two to say about food and church, we’ll see in a minute. After nineteen years of serving in ministry, I’ve discovered that whether or not we’re “fulfilled” in our church experience, is almost entirely up to us. Yes, it matters what kind of church we choose. But let's also take some big-girl responsibility for our spiritual lives. Let’s allow this verse from John’s gospel to shed some light on the matter.

In this passage of scripture in John 4, after long days of preaching, teaching and healing, Jesus’ disciples were encouraging Him to eat. “C’mon, Rabbi, just a little sandwich?” they might’ve asked. Jesus totally confused them by saying “I have food to eat you don’t know about.” I'm sure they were asking each other "who brought Him lunch?" when He told them “My food is to do the will of Him who sent me, and to finish His Work.” His food, His nourishment, His fuel was doing the will of God. It’s our food, too.

I can say with certainty that the times in my life I’ve been weakest and most unhappy,are the times I’ve been focused on me, not others. I’ve known many people over the years who never DO anything in church but attend. Usually they are the most unhappy people in the church. They skip those opportunities to serve others. They are quick to point out problems, but don't offer to help. They hop from church to church in search of a more “satisfying” experience. What’s the problem here? No food. Spiritual malnutrition.

If we find ourselves complaining about church to our friends, or feeling like an outsider, it might be good to check up on the “food” supply. Ask yourself: Am I serving in my church? Do I support my church with my time and treasure? Am I focused on the needs of others? If you answered ‘no’ to these questions, you might be hungry for the kind of food Jesus is talking about in John 4:34. Doing God’s will. It’s the real breakfast of champions. Way better than Wheaties. Way better than anything!

Prayer for Today: Father, please help me to see where I’ve been selfish with my time, talent and treasure. Help me to see that I will be fed and nourished as I DO your will! In Jesus’ Name, Amen.