Falling In LOVE Again: How To...

A father was once asked by his son to explain how the Word of God cleansed a person. Instead of answering he asked his son to take a wicker basket down to the lake and bring him back a bucketful of water. The lad tried several times, but before he got back to where his dad was, the basket was empty. In frustration he complained to his father. "It's impossible, before I get it here the water has all run out." The father then called the boy's attention to how clean the basket was and said, "that is how the Word of God cleanses the believer as it passes through the mind." 

This story is found in chapter 2 of Tim LaHaye's book that I have mentioned many times, "How To Study The Bible For Yourself". The book that started "it all" (this blog).

 I can hardly put into words how I have been blessed by the reading of The Word since I started following the suggestions of the author. I just finished my first read through the entire New Testament, and I am ready to start my second time through. As I was finishing up Revelations this week a certain bumper sticker sentiment kept coming to my mind. I'm sure you know the one I am taking about... it says something about knowing how the book ends. I wish I could remember the exact words... I just googled it (giggle). It's "I've read the back of the book, and we win!" I didn't know it was also a gospel song, but I found that on google (YouTube) too.

The last few days as I was reading Revelations I kept getting very antsy to start Matthew again. I'm so excited to go again!

I am going to be more detailed in my journaling this time and follow Mr Lahaye's directions more carefully. Not that I am unhappy with my journaling so far, but I feel like I am now ready for more detail.

I will be reading the first 3 chapters of Matthew tomorrow, and answering some of Lahaye's questions while I journal. There are 5 journaling questions/topics to answer each day. You will find these questions and the reasons behind them in Chapter 3 on pages 31-37.

I do highly recommend this book. I would suggest a person do what they can at their own pace guarding against becoming overwhelmed. Tim LaHaye is carful to repeat this caution a number of times.

I have only just begun the suggestions for reading. I still have much to do. I reread some of the author's chapters on how to study the Bible, and found myself getting a bit overwhelmed just reading the instructions. I am glad that it is not time for that yet. I will continue to follow the steps one at a time. I know I will be ready for the next step each time I get to it. This is exciting to see the growth, and I anticipate more growth and learning ahead. I, of course, prayerfully continue knowing that when it seems like a lot "I can to all things THROUGH CHIRST." I know He will help me, because I know He is pleased with my efforts and desire in continuing and completing this endeavor.

As I type "completing" I am reminded that I will never be finished reading, studying, learning, growing... until He takes me HOME.

Chapter 2 "What Bible Study Will Do For You" gives an exciting list. I want to share it with you, because I think it will excite you to start a reading/studying plan such as this one.

1. It will make you a strong Christian. 1 John 2:14
(The longer I am a Christian the more I realize how weak I am, and I can only be strong because of Christ and His Word.)

2. Assures us of Salvations. 1 John 5:13
(How Satan wants to confuse us and cause us to doubt! The deceiver can be successful in stealing our joy, our peace, and our success as a Christian if we do not know what the Bible says about our eternal salvation!)

3. Gives us confidence and power in prayer. 1 John 5:14, 15, John 15:7
(All I can say is Thank you, Jesus!)

4. Cleansing from Sin. John 15:3, John 17:17, Psalm 119:9

5. It gives joy. John 15:11

6. It produces peace. John 16:33, Colossians 3:15

(Are you ready to get the book and get started? Wait there is more!)

7. It guides us in making the decisions of life. Psalm 119:105, Luke 11:28

8. It enables you to articulate your faith. 1 Peter 3:15

9. It guarantees your success! Joshua 1:8, Psalm 1:1-3

I am so excited to continue to grow in these areas listed. Before beginning this way of reading and journaling my Bible I didn't know how to begin or how to continue. This has been completely different than any other devotional or Bible study I have done before. The Bible is so mush more alive to me. I have truly "fallen in Love" with reading The Word like never before! I'm so glad I never forgot this book by Tim Lahaye that I read more than 8 years ago. There was a quiet whisper reminding me to get to work on it. Be quiet. You might hear it too.

(Please leave comments about your daily reading, and let me know if you get this book! I will be so excited for you, and would love to pray for you and support you as you start your journey.)

To-Do Lists

I read through first and second Peter last week... I was just looking back through some of my notes today, and 2 Peter chapter 1 caught my attention again.

There are a lot of lists in the Bible. I think Paul in particular like lists... Sometimes I think we (or I. I don't know about you.) read through them and then go on with the day almost unaffected. Yuck! Thinking about being unaffected... it makes my skin crawl... it's like taking a bite of spoiled food or a drink of sour milk... can't wait to spit it out! I know I am often unaffected. I will not pretend that I am not, but I desire to more consistently apply the Word and be changed by it. The more I desire this the more I am convinced I can not do this alone. Which puts me right where God wants me... fully relying on Him. But I digress... back to 2 Peter 1...

Verse 8 stood out to me...

For if these things be in you and abound, they shall make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

I don't want to be barren or unfruitful, and I crave more and more the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. So, "if these things be in you" - what things? Which lead me back to verses 5 through 7 and the list.

And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge, and to knowledge temperance, and to temperance patience, and to patience godliness, and to godliness brotherly kindness, and to brotherly kindness charity. 

With a list like this it helps me to define the words a bit, and my study Bible notes came in very handy for this.

"Virtue is moral excellence."
"Knowledge is spiritual truth."
"Temperance is self-control."
"Patience is endurance."
"Godliness is Godlikeness."
"Brotherly kindness is brotherly love."
"Charity is volitional (from the dictionary - voluntary, the power of using one's will, denoting a decision or choice) love"

That is quite a list! Then verse 9 and 10.

But he that lacketh these things is blind, and cannot see afar off, and hath forgotten that he is purged from his old sins. Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall:

What a contrast there! If I don't do these things I am BLIND and have FORGOTTEN! I love the word diligence. It implies to me work, responsibility, effort, attention, consistency... If I am diligent to do these things I will NEVER FALL.

...just a few thoughts

John 13:17 "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them."

In order to follow all the steps outlined, I am rereading "How to study the Bible for Yourself" by Tim LaHaye. You can get it for yourself... click here. 

Most people who say they don't believe the Bible, or who make other similar statements have never actually read it for themselves. This is one of my biggest pet peeves. "Really? You don't believe it? What part in particular do you not believe?" "What can you tell me about it?" Do they really know any of the narratives? Do they know the difference between true events in history and parables? How did they come to the conclusion that they do not believe it? 

By the same token, there are many believers who believe the Bible, and don't know it. This side of the coin is better, but not by much. 

Tim LaHaye writes, "...if you are ever going to be a happy, successful Christian it will be by regularly feeding on the Word of God and that takes work. The more you work at it the faster and better you will grow. You will find it is well worth the price you are called on to pay... Jesus gave the formula for success when He said, "If ye know these things, happy are ye if ye do them" (John 13:17). Happiness then is the result of knowing and doing the will of God as He has revealed it in the Bible. The problem with so many Christians is they have not spent the time learning the principles of the Bible so they don't  even know what is expected of them. It is no wonder they do not enjoy all the blessings of the Christian life."

Why was the Bible written? Who was the Bible written for?

In my reading over the past week... a few thoughts I have had... the verses I have highlighted...

Acts 3:12 "Why marvel ye at this? or why look ye so earnestly on us as though by our own power..."
I know I took this verse a bit our of context, but my thoughts as I read this verse before I went on to read the following verses were of praise recognizing that everything I have, everything I am, and everything I do is only because of Jesus.

Acts 4:24 "Lord, thou art God, which has made heaven, and earth, and the sea, and all that in them is." PRAISE THE LORD! These statements get me excited! If you want to really have a great day, say this statement over and over all day. Say it out loud to the Lord. Say it silently to yourself. Whisper it. Speak it. Sing it. Share it. Shout it! "LORD, THOU ART GOD!" The more you know it, the more you believe it, the more you understand the power and truth in this seemingly simple statement, the less everything else matters.

"LORD, THOU ART GOD!"
Lord, thou art my God. <3