In the meantime

Awhile back, I mentioned using Journibles.   Have I mentioned how much I like them?!? I've recently finished my Galatians-2 Thessalonians  Journible. This is the first time that I've used a Journible for more than a few days and haven't gotten side-tracked. The more I journible , the more I love it and appreciate the simplicity of the concept of copying down Scripture.  I don't know about you, but no matter how many times I've been instructed in the steps of Bible study--Observe, Interpret, Apply--it is still a complicated and confusing process, and one that quickly overwhelms me. Maybe I'm dense, maybe it is my personality, or maybe it is just my learning style. Whatever it is, I need help in simplifying these steps in my mind, and I think Journibles  have helped to do just that Here's why I love the concept behind  J ournible-ing :  1. It slows me down  Because the idea is to copy down every single word of the passage, I not only ...

The chronological through-the-Bible reading scheduling I’m going through has me in the Major and Minor Prophet books right now.  I just finished up  Ezekiel and Joel, and am in the middle of the book of Daniel.  Throughout Ezekiel and Joel, one particular theme kept jumping out at me: over and over again, God declares that “ you will know that I am the LORD .”  In its most basic form, this statement reminds us that, whatever He does, God is going to act in such a way that all who see it—whether the children of Israel, the pagan nations around them, or even those of us who now hold the book in our hands and read about it—will know who the Lord is!  Now that I’m in the book of Daniel, the theme seems to continue.  The book of Daniel is filled with stories that were some of my favorites in Sunday school: the golden image and Daniel’s three friends thrown into the smokin’ hot furnace, Daniel interpreting the king’s dreams about the t...

The Psalms have become a precious source of specific encouragement.  I thought I’d take a minute to personally “respond” to particular passages that jumped out at me.  It is incredible how the Psalms keep driving me back to focusing on God, His Character, and His Word, no matter what may be going on around me.    ( BOLD is Scripture/ italics is my “response.”) Thou hast put gladness in my heart , [ joy is part of the fruit of the Spirit and the product of abiding in Him. Yes, He is the only source of true joy and gladness and He wants ME to have it!] more than when their grain and new wine abound [and a good crop gives reason for a lot of rejoicing!]   (Ps. 4:7) But I have trusted in Thy lovingkindness [ trusting in the Lord isn’t just a placement of trust in something ambiguous.  God has revealed His character, and among other things, I have the lovingkindness of God to trust in!] M y heart shall rejoice in thy salvation [S alvati...

This section from The Valley of Vision  was a particular blessing and challenge to me today:              "O God the Holy Spirit, Thou who dost proceed from the Father and the Son,      have mercy on me. When thou didst first hover over chaos,     order came to birth,     beauty robed the world, fruitfulness sprang forth. Move, I pray thee, upon my disordered heart; Take away the infirmities of unruly desires     and hateful lusts; Lift the mists and darkness of unbelief; Brighten my soul with the pure light of truth; Make it fragrant as the garden of paradise,     rich with every goodly fruit,     beautiful with heavenly grace,     radiant with rays of divine light. Fulfil in me the glory of thy divine offices; Be my comforter, light, guide, sanctifier; Take of the things of Christ and show them to my soul; Through thee may I daily learn more of his love,     gra...