Bible Reading 2012

With the start of a new year, I’m attempting to read through the entire Bible in year. I’m using a similar chronological plan that I used last year. Keeping consistent with something for 365 is not an easy task, especially considering how busy were are on how much Satan wants to keep us from being in the Word of God. Here are a few tips from my reading experience last year that hopefully will help you in your 2012 en-devours.

1. Don’t go at it alone. Group accountability is huge. Studying the word of God should never be done in isolation and the group experience provides accountability, encouragement, answers to difficult questions and so much more.
2. Read for pleasure, and not as homework. Try not and treat your reading time as “homework” or an “assignment”. Every time I sit down to read with this type of attitude I end up failing. Go into the your time with wonder and awe. Pray and ask that God would reveal something new or exciting. Pray that you would read something and that God would give you strength and lift your spirit.
3. Read for relationship. The ultimate goal of reading scripture is to know the heart and thoughts of God. Read with the intent of knowing God. What does He like and dislike. How does He interact with others in the past. What are God’s main objectives and goals? This things will help you know and understand God better through scripture reading.
4. Last point is this: don’t get frustrated, and don’t give up. Even if you miss a couple of days and get really behind, DON’T GIVE UP! Last year at 3 different points I was 20 days behind on my reading. Just stick to it, and make up time when you can. The most important thing is just keep moving forward.

The plan that I will be using this year is available online and the direct link is http://www.youversion.com/reading-plans/chronological/. I really like the idea that this is accessible on your home computer, phone or tablet. If you have any other reading tips, please feel free to comment below!

Forgiveness

Recently there has been a song on Christian radio that I’ve heard before but didn’t pay attention to the lyrics until last night. The song is 7 x 70 by Chris August. The song started playing and the connection to me and my life hit me like a ton of bricks.

We’ve all been let down, disappointed, and maybe even abandoned by the ones we love.  God’s answer is not vengeance, revenge, or hatred.  God’s only solution to those situations is forgiveness.  Below is the music video that speaks to this idea of forgiveness.

The last set of lyrics really ring true for me:

I lost count of the ways you let me down
But no matter how many times you weren’t around
I’m alright now…cause
God picked up my heart and helped me through
And shined light on the one thing left to do
And that’s forgive you, I forgive you

The challenge for today is the challenge that Chris August gives us… will you say, “I’ll do what it takes to make it right”?  Who can you offer forgiveness to?

The Real Saint Patrick

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day!  Everywhere I look people are wearing green and are decorated with shamrocks.  Saint Patrick‘s day is one of those holidays I’ve never fully understood.  Why does everyone wear green?  Why do we celebrate the holiday?

A couple of years ago (by means of a Veggie Tales video) I started learning the details of the real Saint Patrick.  We only have a small amount of historical information about the real Saint Patrick.  The story line goes basically like this.  Patrick was born in Britain around 387AD to wealthy parents.  At age 16 he was kidnapped by some raiders from Ireland who were raiding the family estate.  He lived in Ireland as a slave tending sheep and working outdoors.  Legend has that while working in the fields he received a vision from God and it was in Ireland Patrick became a Christian.  Patrick escaped his captivity and returned to Britain at age 22.  When returning to his hometown he studied Christianity for 15 year in preparation for his ordination.   Afterwords he was sent back to Ireland to minister to Irish Christians and for missionary work to the Irish community.

What amazing story.  What a story of forgiveness!  Think about how hard this might have initially been for Saint Patrick.  Going to preach mercy and grace to the very people the invaded your house, stole from your family, put you in shackles and enslaved you for 6 years.  But we don’t hear of hatred, resentment, and anger.  We only here of the good news of Jesus Christ!

We need more people today like Saint Patrick.  Willing to minister to those who hurt them the most.  Willing to go through pain, suffering and humiliation all to preach Christ to those who don’t know of God’s glory in Christ. 

And my last rant for the day, I still don’t get the holiday of Saint Patrick’s Day.  Rather than celebrating the Irish, we should celebrate Christ.  Rather than green beer, we should celebrate our communion with God.  Rather than pinching those not wearing green, we should offer forgiveness and grace to those who have wronged us.  That’s what Saint Patrick would have done.