Is the bible your favorite book? Really?

Do you like reading the bible? Seriously. You don’t have to answer out loud…but hear this, God knows your answer already. Scary thought huh? Especially if you’re a Christian who believes that reading your bible is incredibly important to God. Want to know my answer? My answer is not usually. I’ve been reading the bible regularly for 5 years and can honestly say that I still don’t understand a lot of it. And honestly, I hear that from a lot of people that I talk to so I don’t feel so bad about it anymore. But the thing is, we can’t just give up and decide not to read it just because we don’t get it or it’s boring or whatever excuse you’re giving yourself to make it okay.

So what should you do? Well do what I’m doing. Take it 1 chapter at a time.

So where should I start? First, ask God. Seriously. Just pray a simple prayer. “God, I really want to read your word and understand what I’m reading. Where should I start?” He may tell you. You may turn to a part of the bible that just feels right. You may read a quote someone posted and want to read more of where it came from. But…what happens if that doesn’t happen? Well here’s 2 options: 1-start with the book of Matthew (the beginning of the New Testament). Reading about Jesus is fascinating. Seriously. Or 2-follow me as I follow Lysa TerKeurst as she writes a blog helping people just like us read and understand the bible. Start now though – we just began! Part One, Part Two.

I just read Philippians 2 and got more out of it than I think I ever have. I honestly think I can read this chapter every day for the rest of my life and have something to work on and pray about lol. Seriously, in 1 chapter i’ve learned:

• I should be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose
• I should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
• I should look to the interests of others and not just myself
• My attitude should be the same as Jesus
• I should be a servant
• I should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give glory to God for him
• I should work out my salvation with fear and trembling
• God works in me according to His purpose
• I should do everything without complaining or arguing
• I should shine like a star in the universe as I hold out the word of life
• I should be glad and rejoice

OH MY GOODNESS. That’s all in 1 chapter. Imagine what we’ll learn after reading another chapter? And another? And another? The thing is, instead of seeing a list of things I have to be, I see a list of things I CAN be. What I can strive to be. What God can make me into if I let him. How cool is that?

Whatever you decide to read…take the time to see what you can learn from it and how you can apply it to your life. It really will make a difference and there is nothing boring about that.

Is the bible your favorite book? Really?

Do you like reading the bible? Seriously. You don’t have to answer out loud…but hear this, God knows your answer already. Scary thought huh? Especially if you’re a Christian who believes that reading your bible is incredibly important to God. Want to know my answer? My answer is not usually. I’ve been reading the bible regularly for 5 years and can honestly say that I still don’t understand a lot of it. And honestly, I hear that from a lot of people that I talk to so I don’t feel so bad about it anymore. But the thing is, we can’t just give up and decide not to read it just because we don’t get it or it’s boring or whatever excuse you’re giving yourself to make it okay.

So what should you do? Well do what I’m doing. Take it 1 chapter at a time.

So where should I start? First, ask God. Seriously. Just pray a simple prayer. “God, I really want to read your word and understand what I’m reading. Where should I start?” He may tell you. You may turn to a part of the bible that just feels right. You may read a quote someone posted and want to read more of where it came from. But…what happens if that doesn’t happen? Well here’s 2 options: 1-start with the book of Matthew (the beginning of the New Testament). Reading about Jesus is fascinating. Seriously. Or 2-follow me as I follow Lysa TerKeurst as she writes a blog helping people just like us read and understand the bible. Start now though – we just began! Part One, Part Two.

I just read Philippians 2 and got more out of it than I think I ever have. I honestly think I can read this chapter every day for the rest of my life and have something to work on and pray about lol. Seriously, in 1 chapter i’ve learned:

• I should be like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose
• I should do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit
• I should look to the interests of others and not just myself
• My attitude should be the same as Jesus
• I should be a servant
• I should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and give glory to God for him
• I should work out my salvation with fear and trembling
• God works in me according to His purpose
• I should do everything without complaining or arguing
• I should shine like a star in the universe as I hold out the word of life
• I should be glad and rejoice

OH MY GOODNESS. That’s all in 1 chapter. Imagine what we’ll learn after reading another chapter? And another? And another? The thing is, instead of seeing a list of things I have to be, I see a list of things I CAN be. What I can strive to be. What God can make me into if I let him. How cool is that?

Whatever you decide to read…take the time to see what you can learn from it and how you can apply it to your life. It really will make a difference and there is nothing boring about that.

What Only Jesus Can Do For Women

I really loved this post by Lysa TerKeurst. So today’s blog is actually a blog she wrote. Please find the original post on her website. Enjoy, comment, share. It’s a good one.

Has anyone else struggled with the Twilight rage?

I’ll admit I have. It was the same struggle I had with the Harry Potter rage. But my kids were never interested in Harry Potter so it was a mute issue in my home.

Now, before we go any further, I have to say I’m not writing this post to debate whether or not Christians should see these kinds of movies. I’m not judging anyone that loves these novels and lets their kids read them.

I’m not.

I’m actually not even writing this post to debate the movies at all. I am writing this post to point out one danger in the twilight movies. Something for us all to consider, ponder, pray and if you have older teenage daughters who see the Twilight movies- discuss.

My first inclination was to tell my teenage daughters that we were absolutely not going to see movies about vampires and blood mixed with unrealistic teenage hormones. But then I decided I wanted to enter into a more intelligent discussion of my concerns over these movies than just saying, “vampires are bad.”

My daughters expect more from me than that. I expect more of myself. And as a Christian mom, I need to equip my daughters to approach things in this world not from a harsh judgmental view point- but rather a spiritually sound, discerning veiwpoint.

There will be lots of “Twilight” type situations along their spiritual journey. And I want them to be Jesus girls who can see through the surface of the story.

So, I went to see the “New Moon” movie last night.

On the surface, I now see why this series is so appealing to young girls. Cute boys. Teenage love. Danger from which the cute boys always rescue the girl. The feeling that the teenagers know more about life and love than any of the adults in the film. And the hope that it really is possible to find a love that escapes the realities of everyday life. A love that is always thrilling, always passionate, always fireworks and rose petals.

Therein lies the dangerous thread I want to address.

No man can ever be what these types of movies portray. And if young girls fall in love with the notion that they too can find a man who will sit by their bed and stare at them adoringly all night just to say, “I’ll protect you forever,” they will set themselves up for failure.

No man’s love is ever perfect. No man can protect his love against all the evils of the world. No man can ever satisfy the deepest longings of a woman. No man can ever fully complete the hole in a woman’s soul.

Because even a great man, makes for a very poor God.

Only Jesus can do this for a woman.

We were designed as women to crave the affections and attention of the Great Lover of our soul. We were designed to want that enchanting love song sung over us. We are the perfect match for an embrace so tenderly fierce it strips away all our insecurities and envelops us in the best way. Our hearts were designed to receive a love letter written with words that move us, change us, direct us, and complete us.

We were made to live in angst without Him and in joy with Him. Even when sorrow comes, He really can make all things okay.

Misplacing those affections by placing unrealistic expectations upon our earthly love is disappointing at best, devastating at worst.

Earthly love can be wonderful. But it won’t ever be complete. And setting our girls’ hearts up to desire this from a boy is not healthy.

I want my girls to have Jesus in the deepest parts of their soul so that they are free to one day tenderly, realistically, forgivingly, and excitedly give the gift of their purity to a young man.

A young man who will have to get past my shotgun toting husband with a load of questions and a keen awareness of just how precious his girls are. And a young man whose skin better not glow like diamonds. I’m just saying.

I know many will see this movie and think it’s a simple chick flick. A fun escape that doesn’t need to be discussed. But I think these things are worth considering for both teen girls and us big girls as well.

The Most Important Time of My Day

Well kids, work is wearing me out and therefore blogging an original idea isn’t as easy as it once was. But bear with me, in 3 weeks I’ll be back to normal! But for now, here’s a devotional that really encouraged me. I hope it encourages you too. And hey – if you have any suggestions/comments/techniques you want to share – please leave a comment! We’re all in this together.

With love and sleepy eyes,

Jess

22 Oct 2009 - Lysa TerKeurst

“‘… Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’” Matthew 4:4 (NIV)

Is it really that important to have a quiet time with the Lord everyday? I mean the Lord knows how busy my life is, so if I just toss up a few prayers and listen to a Christian song on the radio while rushing into my day, that should suffice. Right?

It’s easy to let the busyness of life crowd out time for prayer, Bible reading, and sitting with the Lord. There are a million things on all of our to-do lists, time is tight, and quiet moments seem few and far between. But I’ve learned that if I make the choice to be with the Lord first thing in the morning, my outlook on life that day and my ability to handle things seems to go so much smoother.

Also, I’ve had to change my mindset on having a quiet time. Spending time with the Lord in the morning doesn’t end when I say “amen” and put my Bible back on the shelf. I’ve just invited the King of kings to participate in my day. So, I get up from spending time with the Lord in the morning and start eagerly looking for His hand of activity in my life.

I think about the Bible verses I read that morning and look for ways to apply them to my life that very day. I watch the circumstances that come my way hour by hour and ask the Lord to constantly give me wisdom to process life in the way that would be most honoring to Him. My mindset is healthier, my attitude more positive, and my ability to extend grace to those who rub me the wrong way is increased just by setting aside some time to be with the Lord.

If you are struggling with having quiet time with the Lord each day, try these helpful ideas:

1. Be honest with God and admit your struggle. Ask God to give you the desire to set aside time to be with Him.

2. Start with just a small amount of time. Even if it is just 5 minutes at first, give this 5 minutes solely to the Lord without any other distractions. Over the next weeks and months, your desire for more time with Him will increase.

3. Use a version of the Bible that lends itself to study. I use the NIV Life Application Study Bibleand I love it. It helps me understand the context each book was written in and gives me commentaries to understand specific verses.

4. Ask God for understanding as you read the Bible. When I first started reading the Bible I had a hard time. So, I started praying that God would open my spiritual eyes to see the truths in a life changing way for me.

5. Write some of the verses that seem most applicable to your life on 3×5 cards and use them in your prayers. For example, Matthew 6:19-20 says, “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth… but store up for yourselves treasures in heaven.” So, I could use this verse in my prayer time by praying, “God, help me to know how to store up treasures in Heaven. Help me to relinquish my tight hold on my earthly possessions so I can use them to build Your kingdom now. Show me how to best use that which You have blessed me with. Give me Your mindset for the money I have.”

6. Get involved in a Bible Study with friends. This will help hold you accountable to getting your study time done and will open up great discussions to deepen everyone’s understanding of applying God’s truths to everyday life.

I’ve found a daily quiet time with the Lord is very important and very doable as well.

Dear Lord, I want a more vibrant relationship with You and I know having a daily quiet time is an important part of that. Help me make this my most important priority each day, no matter how busy life is. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Guilty.

I really like posting and talking about the things I do right. I’m my biggest fan some days. But every once and a while I guess it’s necessary to post about the “other” me days. The days where I’m not so great and glamorous. The days I don’t praise God in my sickness and disappointment. The days where I’m just plain guilty and as Lysa pointed out in her blog today: ugly.

Last Saturday Chris and I took an adventure around the Hudson Valley. We went to FDR Mansion and Woodstock and attempted the Ulster County Fair and walked Main Street in New Paltz. There were good and bad times. The bad was getting 9 bug bites in 30 minutes of walking around FDR. The good was the sunshine and animals and waterfalls.  The bad of Woodstock was that there was no Ben & Jerrys as we thought there was. The good was driving around back roads and talking about the appeal of being a hippy. The bad times about the Ulster County Fair was that we sat in traffic for half an hour to find out the grounds were flooded and we’d have to part at SUNY New Paltz and shuttle over. The good times were choosing to not go and take a long but fun journey through Gardiner, NY and discovering the Red Rooster Cafe. The good time of New Paltz was sitting at a table eating homemade ice cream (finally!). The bad of New Paltz is why I’m writing this blog.

With all of the good and bad that happened that day – the only real thing that sticks out in my mind is the bad that I let myself become that day. The real ugly, rude side of me that I wish was gone.

Most of you that read this know me. I’m nice but I’m not exactly outgoing and overly friendly, especially if I don’t know you. So now imagine this. Chris and I are walking up Main St. in New Paltz. The road is jam packed with traffic because of the fairgrounds. As we’re walking I hear “JESSICA!” being shouted. So on the second shout (all people with common names know this feeling) I turn around, expecting someone to be shouting at another Jessica and I’d turn back around feeling slightly foolish. To my shock, there was a car filled with people across the street hanging out their windows shouting at me. “ME??”, I think. “Who are these people??” So as any nice Christian girl would do, I stared at them, looked at Chris, turned back around and kept walking. They kept shouting after me “Jessica! It’s been a long time!!” And I turn around again, look at them, still have no clue who they are, and walk away.

WOOO could I be a ruder biotch or what??

By the time I realized what I had done the car was gone. I felt absolutely horrible and ashamed of myself. No person should ever be that rude, let alone someone claiming to be CHRIST-LIKE.

So I did what any guilty person might do. I convinced Chris to get in the car and go to the fair so that we could find them and I can find out who they are and apologize for being so horrible to them. So we got in the car and sat in the same traffic they did, only to not see them again. *sigh*

This memory will haunt me forever. And at that moment I made a promise to myself and to God that I will try my best to NEVER do that again. No person ever deserves to have a reaction like that. Especially when they’re just trying to be friendly!

So this blog isn’t to have you post a comment telling me we all make mistakes. It’s to challenge you to find something in you that isn’t so pretty and ask God to help you make it pretty. This world needs more people that are pretty on the inside. I plan on being one of them.

Conference Frustration

I’m really frustrated with living in New York. Now before you give me a list of reasons why NY is great (probably to come from those who don’t live here)…let me explain.

Every movie, book and website will tell you that you need to be in NY or LA to make it big. So thank you, our state is overcrowded with people so focused on themselves and “making it” that we’re the rudest state in the country. But that’s not really what I’m currently frustrated with.

I’m frustrated with the fact that although many many bands, conferences and tours come to New York…not many of them are “Christian.” Now don’t get me wrong, many secular bands have Christian members, I’m not being judgemental…but I’m saying that when you do a google search for a band signed to a Christian label or even harder, a conference geared towards Christian life, often, they’re not coming here. It’s only been recently that Battle Cry and Revolve Tour are close…and even still, Revolve Tour is a trip to CT or PA. They don’t stop in NY. And women’s conferences I think are even harder to find. I once found a conference that I was insanely interested in going to…to find out it pretty much stayed in the mid-west. And the upcoming She Speaks Conference I would love to go to, is in North Carolina. It’s a conference specifically for women who speak, write, blog and lead ministries. It sounds awesome. So although I won’t be going this year…maybe one year down the line I will. For now I’ll just keep reading their blogs as they get super excited for it. Check them out! She Speaks Blog & Lysa TerKeurst.

I guess I’m hoping that 10 people will reply and tell me how crazy I am because there is a whole list of bands and conferences that come here and I’m just clueless. So go ahead, comment away

And if anyone has any power to change this, I would support your decision fully!