The whole thing

In 2008 I took on a challenge - to read the entire Bible in one year. It seemed daunting. I'd never read the entire Bible, a lot of parts of it but not the whole thing and certainly not at once. So when the church here in Howell took on the project I joined up. And it was a long year.

At first it went well - less than fifteen minutes a day and I was done. But then I'd get a day or two or four behind and I'd have to spend an hour catching up. Okay, do-able. But then summer came and moving and starting school again and suddenly I was a month and a half behind. But I was determined. And guess what? On December 30th I finished. I finished the whole thing.

Each day's reading included a passage from both the Old and New Testament and from the Psalms and Proverbs. The last reading of the year ended on Proverbs 31:25-31 and I smiled as I read the last three verses:

"Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive,and
beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her
the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

I like that I got to end the year with a sense of accomplishment and a sense of encouragement. A woman who fears the Lord is to be praised - I think this is true for all of us who try to follow God's word and His heart. Who try to love and just want to be loved in return. I also like the part telling that her works will bring her praise. I try to live my life as a Christian primarily through works. I know that words can be hollow and fall on deaf ears and I know that a good deed or an outstretched hand or assistance when least expected can mean so much more.

This year I will not read the Bible again, I think I need some time to reflect and I'm going to pick up one of my old daily devotionals again, but I do think I'll keep that proverb with me - and the rest of the teachings and stories I've spent the past 365 days reading.

Hello? Hello? Hello?

I know I haven't posted on here in a while. Is anyone out there still checking this blog? If so, let me know and I'll update but I feel it's useless to write if no one is reading.

Anyone still reading the Bible in One Year? I am, it took me a while to get back on track this fall but now that I am I am enjoying it again. Especially the New Testament sections. In fact, I started attending a new church/small group and some of the readings have prepared me well for this.

Okay, let me know who's out there - if anyone!

Off with their heads!

In the past months readings there's been a lot of beheadings, A LOT. I know there's a war going on but this seems violent to the extreme. I wonder what we are to take away from these New Testament readings? I wonder what we are to learn and apply to our lives today.

On the other side of the readings, I am enjoying hearing the stories of Jesus again, and being reminded of His words.

How's everyone doing?

~ Sarah

Anyone else?

I've not been the most religious reader. I've been known to miss 10 days and spend several hours on a Sunday morning catching up. But this week I've been trying to do better. I found a trick. I've been reading online, at work, when it's quiet and I have a free moment. Or when I need a moment!

So yesterday I had a horrible experience with my boss. He was disrespectful, dismissive, and downright rude to me in front of other teachers, my other bosses, parents and students. I felt it was totally uncalled for and so did most of the other witnesses. So much so that the rest of the day was a constant barrage of, "how can I help?", "what can I do?", "are you okay?" but of course nothing from my boss. Except a backhanded email that I was cc'd on that I feel as another slap in the face.

But I recall this story not to whine, or because I am looking for sympathy, I did plenty of that yesterday. But here's what I also did. I came right back to my office and I opened "my bible" (online of course) and I read. And I felt better. I felt like God was speaking to me and that no matter what happens to me here, I am to know I am loved and frankly, I am a better person for not retaliating as I had initially wanted to do.

I took my moment and I read, and prayed, and remembered what's really important in life. And I can't say a year ago I would have ever done that or even thought about doing that. I am so glad to have been able to have this experience of going through the bible. I find some of it really uninteresting but then comes along a story I really connect with or one I'd always heard about but never read for myself. Very cool.

I hope you all are getting something from this experience whether you're still in March's readings or you're a week ahead. Keep reading, I'm going to, I know God has a plan and I can't wait to read how it all started!

The Chosen

Ummmm.... I am not sure how to say this so I guess I will just say this. God is acting a bit like Hitler or maybe Hitler acted a little like God? Either way God is doing some serious ethnic cleansing in the latest readings. He is taking out everyone except the Israelites and in some gruesome ways. Sarah said it is because they were worshipping other Gods but the chosen ones kept doing that too and then bad things happened to them and then they would cry out "God help us!" and he would send a prophet to save them.

They didn't even have to ask for forgiveness. They whole thing seems shady to me. I don't get it. I guess I am glad I am I live in a post New Testament world and Jesus has saved me from God's wrath.

I promise I will never compare God and Hitler again.

Angela

Gideon

I have to say I relate quite a bit to this fellow Gideon:
"But sir," Gideon replied, "if the Lord is with us, why has all this happened to us?" (Judges 6:13)

And as I read I was comforted by how the Lord built Gideon up. Sometimes I wish God would just come down here and have a conversation with me, you know? Sometimes I wish I could just speak to Him face-to-face. Do you ever wonder why we can't?

~ Sarah

Friendship

Proverbs 12:26
A righteous man is cautious in friendship, but the way of the wicked leads them astray.
(Footnotes: Proverbs 12:26 - Or man is a guide to his neighbor).

This passage left me curious last night. "Is cautious in friendship" - what do you think that means? At first thought I guess it means you choose your friends caferfully, with, obviously, caution. But when I went online today I saw the footnotes for this passage and that got me wondering again. So are we supposed to set a good example? Is that what it means? What do y'all think?

Hope it's going well - I'm doing much better reading each passage on it's assigned day this week:-) It's a start!

~ Sarah