quiet time check in/accountability

 

Happy Wednesday, friends, and welcome to my Wednesday bonus post. This year at the end of each month, I'm going to share an accountability update for you here on my blog about my Bible reading. I am not bragging, I promise, I'm only here for the accountability. I hope you're inspired in this and that you either chime in here in the comments, or that you do something similar on your own blog. Even if one person reads this (I'm looking at you, Bill), it'll be worth the extra time it takes to write this. 

This year, I'm reading the Bible in chronological order again, this time with The Bible Recap community. I started with them back in the fall of last year when they made it to the New Testament, and I loved it so much that I just started all over again on January 1, in the Old Testament. So far we've completed the books of Genesis and Job. One thing that Tara Leigh Cobble (TLC) says in her daily podcast is that we should be looking for the character of God (or the daily God shot) as we read. I have been doing that and thought I'd share some of what I've written in my journal this year in the two books we've finished and the third we just started.

I've seen God as Creator. He gave us breath and life, stars and sunlight, flowers and flakes of snow. His creation is beautiful, but only He is to be praised, never his creation.

I've seen God as faithful to His word. When He said (says as we read today) that He would do something, He always followed through. 

I've seen God as merciful, like when He knew that Adam and Eve had sinned against Him, and He provided coverings for them to cover their nakedness in the Garden of Eden.

I've seen God as patient, as He listened to Job and his friends drone on and on (and on and on and on).

I've seen Him as compassionate as He offered to be Moses' mouth to speak to the Egyptians. 

I've seen God as gracious in giving everything to His people that they ever needed. 

I've seen Him as Promise Keeper as He fulfilled His promise to Abraham. 

I've seen Him as loving as He longed for His people to obey His words. 

I've seen Him as holy, as He appeared to Moses from within a burning bush. He was in a flame of fire, but the bush was never consumed with the blaze! 

I've learned so much about Him this year as I've read, even though I've read the Bible from cover to cover at least ten times. That's the thing about His word that makes it living and active—my pastor says that this means that as you're reading it, it is reading you, which is why new things jump out at you all the time. Maybe you don't know the Lord at all, but your curiosity is peaked; this for you, as well! Get to know Him through His word! The Bible is composed of 66 books, written by men that were inspired by God. His words were written to the people in that time, and for us today. If you want more information or are have questions, don't hesitate to reach out to me here in the comments or in an email. My email address is allboys@gmail.com. I don't have all the answers, I assure you, but I'm glad to help out anyway I can. I can Google and research with the best of them!

If you're interested in joining in, all you do is download the YouVersion Bible app to your phone, and once you're there and have created an account, search for "The Bible Recap" with the blue logo. It's easy; you read the short devotional, which is not a devotional, but a prayer prompt, then you read, then you go back to the devotional part of each day and watch the ten minute long (at most) video to accompany that day of reading. You'll never be sorry! I read it sometimes, and other times I listen to it being read to me while I follow along in my Bible. You don't have to purchase anything special, but there are other resources that are available for you, if you're interested. 

Are you reading the Bible by a plan right now? I love the saying that if you don't follow a plan, you can plan to fail. It's true with Bible reading! I am all about following a plan to keep myself on track. I am not one to play "Bible roulette" and just open it to any old place and read and then be done for the day. I do know at least one person like that, and it works for her, but for most of us I would say that isn't the case. I'd love to hear about your own quiet time! Thanks for reading my thoughts this afternoon. Love to all!