In Mark 12:28-31, Jesus clearly tells us our most important commands (listed below) and you can see that it all comes back to love:
The Greatest Commandment
One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?"
"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.' The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."
Now, I want to share with you something profound I learned today that I think might push this command in a little deeper for you. In a book I am currently reading, it told me to read 1 Corinthians 13. Then, it said to take verses 4-7 and replace the words "love" and "it" with your own name. When I did this, it was PROFOUND!!! God's command is for us to love, and THIS tells you exactly what "love" means!
4 Paddon is patient, Paddon is kind. Paddon does not envy, Paddon does not boast, Paddon is not proud. 5 Paddon is not rude, Paddon is not self-seeking, Paddon is not easily angered, Paddon keeps no record of wrongs. 6 Paddon does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 Paddon always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Think about this passage and use it to guide your choices and interactions each day!
Love,
Jenn
Friday, April 9, 2010
Sunday, January 24, 2010
Bible Study Tips
*Start with a children's story Bible first. This will help give you an idea of the overall stories that are in the Bible, and then when you read the actual Bible verses it will make more sense to you and you'll be able to take in more of the details given in the actual scripture.
*I encourage you to purchase a Study Bible since this will give notes under the passages to help give you deeper meanings and histories to what you are reading. And I love the Bible in a year publishings. If you are interested in setting yourself up a good timetable to read and finish the Bible, these are great. The one I have had daily readings in both Old and New Testament and excerpts from both Psalms and Proverbs daily too. It broke down to about 30 minutes a day to read through each day's section, and it was easily broken out into two 15 minute readings. I know we can all find a few of those in the day.
*I recommend having various translations of the Bible. I go by the KJV (King James Version) and NIV (New International Version) and NCV (New Century Version). You want one that was translated against the original texts and not a translation of a translation. I also prefer the meaning for meaning as opposed to the word for word. If you've taken any kind of 2nd language course, you learn that translation is never as simple as just translating each word.
*Research the background of the texts so that you can take in what's being said in the right understanding. Questions you want to answer are "Who was the author?" "Who was the audience?" and "What is the approximate timeframe of the text?" Ususally in a good Study Bible, they will have this information and a summary of the text all at the beginning of each book of the Bible.
*Keep a Bible in your car. If you are like me, you spend quite a bit of time in there "waiting" for one thing or another. I'm not recommending reading while driving (not even at red lights!), but if you are early to an appointment this makes perfect reading opportunities!
*Get a Bible buddy!!! When you really start getting into the texts, you'll find yourself spanning all kinds of emotions over what you read. Sometimes I'd be excited, and sometimes I be mad! I was just desperate to talk to someone that had read this stuff to find out their take on it! It will not only make reading it more fun, but also help deepen your understanding by discussing it and reviewing it with someone else.
Hope these tips help!!
Love,
Jenn
*I encourage you to purchase a Study Bible since this will give notes under the passages to help give you deeper meanings and histories to what you are reading. And I love the Bible in a year publishings. If you are interested in setting yourself up a good timetable to read and finish the Bible, these are great. The one I have had daily readings in both Old and New Testament and excerpts from both Psalms and Proverbs daily too. It broke down to about 30 minutes a day to read through each day's section, and it was easily broken out into two 15 minute readings. I know we can all find a few of those in the day.
*I recommend having various translations of the Bible. I go by the KJV (King James Version) and NIV (New International Version) and NCV (New Century Version). You want one that was translated against the original texts and not a translation of a translation. I also prefer the meaning for meaning as opposed to the word for word. If you've taken any kind of 2nd language course, you learn that translation is never as simple as just translating each word.
*Research the background of the texts so that you can take in what's being said in the right understanding. Questions you want to answer are "Who was the author?" "Who was the audience?" and "What is the approximate timeframe of the text?" Ususally in a good Study Bible, they will have this information and a summary of the text all at the beginning of each book of the Bible.
*Keep a Bible in your car. If you are like me, you spend quite a bit of time in there "waiting" for one thing or another. I'm not recommending reading while driving (not even at red lights!), but if you are early to an appointment this makes perfect reading opportunities!
*Get a Bible buddy!!! When you really start getting into the texts, you'll find yourself spanning all kinds of emotions over what you read. Sometimes I'd be excited, and sometimes I be mad! I was just desperate to talk to someone that had read this stuff to find out their take on it! It will not only make reading it more fun, but also help deepen your understanding by discussing it and reviewing it with someone else.
Hope these tips help!!
Love,
Jenn
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Jan. 21, 2010--My Salvation Testimony
I've been thinking a lot about this journal and the things that should be shared in it for you. I made a short list already, but realized that one of the first things I should share is my Salvation testimony. This could get long, but hang in there with me because I think you'll find it interesting.
I was saved in early July 1998. It was at a special church service at Greg's family's church that both he and I had been invited to attend. I had just graduated high school that May and was 18 years old.
At times, I'm embarrassed that it took that long for me to get it. But, at the same time, I'm glad that I learned early enough that I still had most of my life left to give to serve God and reach those around me for Him.
From very early I remember an interest in God, but really didn't have an understanding. When we were little, a local church would pick up us kids and bring us to the Sunday morning services. The church was called Salisbury Baptist Church and the preacher was Bro. Jewell. The most I remember from that church was sitting in Ms. Faye's lap, the fun of Vacation Bible School, and the day my mom was baptized.
After a move when I was 8, I no longer remember going to church with my family again. Sometimes when I would spend the night with my friends, I'd go to church with them. Some of the those churches were Church of Christ, First Baptist, Nazarene, and other small Baptist churches. I even attended a Catholic church at Christmas one year with my stepdad's sister and her family.
My point is that I'd been in a lot of churches, but I didn't understand any of them or even anything about God, Jesus, or the Bible.
One thing I had heard at many of these churches and even from some friends at school was that you had to be saved. I had no idea what that meant! When I would ask people about how you know if you are saved, they'd say, "You'll know." But they would never give me any idea how or what would happen or if I had to do something or not. I was so confused!
In my child's mind, I could only imagine this great booming voice of God and a huge light from Heaven and angels all around. And, I'll tell you, I KNEW that hadn't happened to me!
I even searched for verses in the Bible that would tell me what to do. And all I found was a verse that said that all I had to do was believe in Jesus and I would be saved. (John 3:16-17)
So, as an 11 year old little girl, I sat in my room, closed my eyes, and said, "God, I believe in you and Jesus. Please save me."
And then I waited. I didn't hear a big voice, the earth didn't move, and the skies didn't part. Hmmm... I started peeking around with one eye open. Nothing felt different.
I said it again, but still never heard God. I concluded it must not have worked, but I had no idea why. I did what it said, but nothing happened.
A few years later I spent the night with a dear friend, Tabi. And we decided we were gonna both get "saved" that night! We had out a Bible, read the words again, and proceeded again to ask God to save us.
I don't know about her, but again I didn't feel anything. I kept thinking on the words of those who had been "saved"--that I would just know, and the only thing I knew was that I didn't "know".
I never gave up my search for salvation, but I really questioned whether it would ever happen to me. Deep in my heart I wanted to be a Christian, but the thing was I really didn't even know what a Christian was. I found this out rather embarrassingly when I visited my step-grandparents the summer I was 15.
They live near Chicago, and they arranged for me to fly up there for two weeks. The thing was, I had never flown before and was terrified! When I packed my bag, I put a Bible in there, I think as a good luck charm really.
When my grandma was unpacking my bag, she found the Bible. She said, "Why did you bring this?"
I said, "I thought it might help keep me safe."
And she said, "Are you a Christian?"
I replied, "Yeah." Cause even though I hadn't been "saved" I still thought God and Jesus were important.
Then she said, "Well, I'm not a Christian. I was raised Jewish."
And do you know what that dumb, unlearned 15 year old me said?!
I said, "Well, that's ok. We all believe in God and Jesus, and that's all that matters anyway, right?"
In my defense, I meant well! I just thought Jewish meant another denomination of church, and I'd been to a lot of different denominations already, and realized they all centralized on God and Jesus. They just had different ways of running the business, it seemed.
Anyway, my step-grandma learned me something that day!
She replied, "No, they are not the same. As a Jew, I don't believe in Jesus."
I was astounded. Even for someone who hadn't been "saved", I had never heard anyone say those words!
I stammered out, "What do you believe then?"
And she said that Jewish people believed in God, but they did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They did believe Jesus was a real man and a good man; but likened him to an important prophet like Moses or Isaiah. She continued by telling me of the cruel treatment she received growing up by the Christian kids telling her that she was going to Hell because she was a Jew. And then further admitted that she was no longer a practicing Jew, and wasn't sure what she believed.
I really didn't know what to think of all this new information. What if she was right?
In my teenage years, I stayed busy going to school, working, and having fun with my friends. I don't remember giving much thought to my eternal future. And I remember when people would tell me that they got saved and were baptized, I mainly thought they were lying. I couldn't figure out how THEY could be "saved" living the lives they lived, when I--who was a fairly good kid comparitively--hadn't been saved.
I brushed it off and didn't put much thought into it.
Then one day life became very real. July 1st, 1998, we found out a girl from our school had died in a car wreck. Her name was Nichole Hughes, and she was 16 years old (2 years younger than me!).
We weren't friends, though in Hartsville everyone knows everyone! Her death still hit me very hard. This girl had everything going for her, it seemed. She was beautiful, sweet, a cheerleader, and a runner-up in the school's beauty pageant. I'm pretty sure she made Homecoming Court too.
All I could think was, "Wow, if someone as beautiful and important as her could die right now, then what does that mean for someone as unimportant as me?!"
She had the life of dreams and all the sudden, it was over with no warning whatsoever.
During that same week was revival at Greg's family's church. His grandmother invited us to attend. With mortality very present on my mind, I told Greg that I wanted to go. He tried to talk me out of it saying that I didn't know what that church was like, and that was true because I'd never been to a Missionary Baptist Church before. But, I had been to plenty of others and couldn't imagine this one being so different that it would make me uncomfortable.
I told Greg we were going, and he agreed. But he gave me clear instructions going in to stay seated and not do anything. I wasn't sure what that meant, but really didn't expect that to be a problem.
At the service, it took an unusual turn. There was no preaching whatsoever, and it turned out to be a testimonial service. God knew I was there, I believe; and I think He knew how to finally reach me.
Person after person stood and told of the day they were "saved". They talked about how they got on their knees begging for forgiveness and opening their hearts to God. I noticed that some of the ones testifying were kids from my school, and I felt the conviction of their words and was moved by the heartfelt pleas to the lost souls to finally turn their lives over to Jesus.
People started a trail to the alter and many were pouring out their hearts to God. As I stood, remaining in the pew, I was compelled to bow my head and pray. I had Nichole on my mind and I prayed for her, but then I just started praying for me. The more I prayed the stronger I felt the urge to bow on my knees at the alter and really make things right with God. (this is called conviction, and I promise to address this with you too sometime.)
Finally, I stepped out from the pew and walked to the alter, still deep in prayer. I didn't even notice the people around me, I was too absorbed in my prayer. I was so consumed by the conviction of my heart that I was sobbing halfway down the isle.
I fianlly made it to the alter and crumbled to my knees. I prayed harder than I ever had in my life, and truly begged God to forgive me of my sins.
At some point, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a familiar voice speaking to me. It was Greg's grandmother, and she just kept saying, "You just keep praying until you get it."
All of the sudden, my tears were gone and I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of peace. And at that moment I knew that I got it.
Finally, after years of searching and confusion over the whole salvation thing, I finally understood my part and what I had to do to get there. It was as simple as asking for it, but what I needed to understand was WHY did I need to ask?
I needed to realize that I was a sinner, no matter how "good" I tried to be. I had to feel the guilt of my sins as well as have a desire not to sin anymore. And I had to truly accept that my life on this earth was short, but my eternal destination was permenant.
Without God's forgiveness, my destination was Hell. It didn't matter how good of a life I lived on earth, if I didn't accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, then I was a sinner destined for Hell.
It's a lot to take in, I truly know! But there will come a time with all of us that God's going to make it all clear for us. And it's at that moment you will be required to make a choice. You will either live your life for Jesus, or you will live your life for you.
I pray you'll decide to live for Jesus. You'll learn that choice doesn't mean you give up happiness and enjoyment in this life. In fact, this choice is the only way to get those exact things. God wants what is best for us, and the Bible clearly tells us that God is love! (1 John 4:8)
When you find yourself ready to make the choice, all you have to do is pray a very simple prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to pay for our sins and make the only way to our eternal home with You. I ask, Lord, for forgiveness for the sins that have kept me apart from You, and I pray that you will guide me daily in the way I should go. AMEN.
When you pray that and truly mean it with all your heart, then you have truly been SAVED.
You may not hear God's voice, you may not see angels, and the Heavens may not shine down. But, I can guarentee that your heart will be filled with a peace that you have never felt before. And at that point, you truly will KNOW.
Love and prayers!
Jenn
I was saved in early July 1998. It was at a special church service at Greg's family's church that both he and I had been invited to attend. I had just graduated high school that May and was 18 years old.
At times, I'm embarrassed that it took that long for me to get it. But, at the same time, I'm glad that I learned early enough that I still had most of my life left to give to serve God and reach those around me for Him.
From very early I remember an interest in God, but really didn't have an understanding. When we were little, a local church would pick up us kids and bring us to the Sunday morning services. The church was called Salisbury Baptist Church and the preacher was Bro. Jewell. The most I remember from that church was sitting in Ms. Faye's lap, the fun of Vacation Bible School, and the day my mom was baptized.
After a move when I was 8, I no longer remember going to church with my family again. Sometimes when I would spend the night with my friends, I'd go to church with them. Some of the those churches were Church of Christ, First Baptist, Nazarene, and other small Baptist churches. I even attended a Catholic church at Christmas one year with my stepdad's sister and her family.
My point is that I'd been in a lot of churches, but I didn't understand any of them or even anything about God, Jesus, or the Bible.
One thing I had heard at many of these churches and even from some friends at school was that you had to be saved. I had no idea what that meant! When I would ask people about how you know if you are saved, they'd say, "You'll know." But they would never give me any idea how or what would happen or if I had to do something or not. I was so confused!
In my child's mind, I could only imagine this great booming voice of God and a huge light from Heaven and angels all around. And, I'll tell you, I KNEW that hadn't happened to me!
I even searched for verses in the Bible that would tell me what to do. And all I found was a verse that said that all I had to do was believe in Jesus and I would be saved. (John 3:16-17)
So, as an 11 year old little girl, I sat in my room, closed my eyes, and said, "God, I believe in you and Jesus. Please save me."
And then I waited. I didn't hear a big voice, the earth didn't move, and the skies didn't part. Hmmm... I started peeking around with one eye open. Nothing felt different.
I said it again, but still never heard God. I concluded it must not have worked, but I had no idea why. I did what it said, but nothing happened.
A few years later I spent the night with a dear friend, Tabi. And we decided we were gonna both get "saved" that night! We had out a Bible, read the words again, and proceeded again to ask God to save us.
I don't know about her, but again I didn't feel anything. I kept thinking on the words of those who had been "saved"--that I would just know, and the only thing I knew was that I didn't "know".
I never gave up my search for salvation, but I really questioned whether it would ever happen to me. Deep in my heart I wanted to be a Christian, but the thing was I really didn't even know what a Christian was. I found this out rather embarrassingly when I visited my step-grandparents the summer I was 15.
They live near Chicago, and they arranged for me to fly up there for two weeks. The thing was, I had never flown before and was terrified! When I packed my bag, I put a Bible in there, I think as a good luck charm really.
When my grandma was unpacking my bag, she found the Bible. She said, "Why did you bring this?"
I said, "I thought it might help keep me safe."
And she said, "Are you a Christian?"
I replied, "Yeah." Cause even though I hadn't been "saved" I still thought God and Jesus were important.
Then she said, "Well, I'm not a Christian. I was raised Jewish."
And do you know what that dumb, unlearned 15 year old me said?!
I said, "Well, that's ok. We all believe in God and Jesus, and that's all that matters anyway, right?"
In my defense, I meant well! I just thought Jewish meant another denomination of church, and I'd been to a lot of different denominations already, and realized they all centralized on God and Jesus. They just had different ways of running the business, it seemed.
Anyway, my step-grandma learned me something that day!
She replied, "No, they are not the same. As a Jew, I don't believe in Jesus."
I was astounded. Even for someone who hadn't been "saved", I had never heard anyone say those words!
I stammered out, "What do you believe then?"
And she said that Jewish people believed in God, but they did not believe in Jesus as the Messiah. They did believe Jesus was a real man and a good man; but likened him to an important prophet like Moses or Isaiah. She continued by telling me of the cruel treatment she received growing up by the Christian kids telling her that she was going to Hell because she was a Jew. And then further admitted that she was no longer a practicing Jew, and wasn't sure what she believed.
I really didn't know what to think of all this new information. What if she was right?
In my teenage years, I stayed busy going to school, working, and having fun with my friends. I don't remember giving much thought to my eternal future. And I remember when people would tell me that they got saved and were baptized, I mainly thought they were lying. I couldn't figure out how THEY could be "saved" living the lives they lived, when I--who was a fairly good kid comparitively--hadn't been saved.
I brushed it off and didn't put much thought into it.
Then one day life became very real. July 1st, 1998, we found out a girl from our school had died in a car wreck. Her name was Nichole Hughes, and she was 16 years old (2 years younger than me!).
We weren't friends, though in Hartsville everyone knows everyone! Her death still hit me very hard. This girl had everything going for her, it seemed. She was beautiful, sweet, a cheerleader, and a runner-up in the school's beauty pageant. I'm pretty sure she made Homecoming Court too.
All I could think was, "Wow, if someone as beautiful and important as her could die right now, then what does that mean for someone as unimportant as me?!"
She had the life of dreams and all the sudden, it was over with no warning whatsoever.
During that same week was revival at Greg's family's church. His grandmother invited us to attend. With mortality very present on my mind, I told Greg that I wanted to go. He tried to talk me out of it saying that I didn't know what that church was like, and that was true because I'd never been to a Missionary Baptist Church before. But, I had been to plenty of others and couldn't imagine this one being so different that it would make me uncomfortable.
I told Greg we were going, and he agreed. But he gave me clear instructions going in to stay seated and not do anything. I wasn't sure what that meant, but really didn't expect that to be a problem.
At the service, it took an unusual turn. There was no preaching whatsoever, and it turned out to be a testimonial service. God knew I was there, I believe; and I think He knew how to finally reach me.
Person after person stood and told of the day they were "saved". They talked about how they got on their knees begging for forgiveness and opening their hearts to God. I noticed that some of the ones testifying were kids from my school, and I felt the conviction of their words and was moved by the heartfelt pleas to the lost souls to finally turn their lives over to Jesus.
People started a trail to the alter and many were pouring out their hearts to God. As I stood, remaining in the pew, I was compelled to bow my head and pray. I had Nichole on my mind and I prayed for her, but then I just started praying for me. The more I prayed the stronger I felt the urge to bow on my knees at the alter and really make things right with God. (this is called conviction, and I promise to address this with you too sometime.)
Finally, I stepped out from the pew and walked to the alter, still deep in prayer. I didn't even notice the people around me, I was too absorbed in my prayer. I was so consumed by the conviction of my heart that I was sobbing halfway down the isle.
I fianlly made it to the alter and crumbled to my knees. I prayed harder than I ever had in my life, and truly begged God to forgive me of my sins.
At some point, I felt a hand on my shoulder and heard a familiar voice speaking to me. It was Greg's grandmother, and she just kept saying, "You just keep praying until you get it."
All of the sudden, my tears were gone and I was completely overwhelmed with a feeling of peace. And at that moment I knew that I got it.
Finally, after years of searching and confusion over the whole salvation thing, I finally understood my part and what I had to do to get there. It was as simple as asking for it, but what I needed to understand was WHY did I need to ask?
I needed to realize that I was a sinner, no matter how "good" I tried to be. I had to feel the guilt of my sins as well as have a desire not to sin anymore. And I had to truly accept that my life on this earth was short, but my eternal destination was permenant.
Without God's forgiveness, my destination was Hell. It didn't matter how good of a life I lived on earth, if I didn't accept Jesus as my Lord and Saviour, then I was a sinner destined for Hell.
It's a lot to take in, I truly know! But there will come a time with all of us that God's going to make it all clear for us. And it's at that moment you will be required to make a choice. You will either live your life for Jesus, or you will live your life for you.
I pray you'll decide to live for Jesus. You'll learn that choice doesn't mean you give up happiness and enjoyment in this life. In fact, this choice is the only way to get those exact things. God wants what is best for us, and the Bible clearly tells us that God is love! (1 John 4:8)
When you find yourself ready to make the choice, all you have to do is pray a very simple prayer:
Dear Lord,
Thank you for sending Your Son, Jesus, to pay for our sins and make the only way to our eternal home with You. I ask, Lord, for forgiveness for the sins that have kept me apart from You, and I pray that you will guide me daily in the way I should go. AMEN.
When you pray that and truly mean it with all your heart, then you have truly been SAVED.
You may not hear God's voice, you may not see angels, and the Heavens may not shine down. But, I can guarentee that your heart will be filled with a peace that you have never felt before. And at that point, you truly will KNOW.
Love and prayers!
Jenn
Aug. 7, 2009--Feeding the right dog.
So this week I learned something that really stuck with me that I do feel is a lesson we should all take to heart.
See, at my church this month we have these special services called Marvelous Mondays. This Monday I went, and the subject was about strongholds. The preacher explained that a stronghold was anything that stands between you and worshipping God.
If you've been fervent in prayer, and suddenly can't utter the first word; that thing that happened that stopped your prayer is your stronghold. The same is true if there is an abrupt cease to church attendance, tithing, witnessing, serving, and any form of growing closer in your walk with the Lord.
Since this past year I experienced such an event, this sermon struck hard!
My heart got broken by an event in my life that I could not understand and certainly couldn't control. The devastation and depression of it all completely stunted my spiritual life. Though I wanted to retain the strong faith I strived to have, I was hit so hard by this "thing" that I had no idea where to begin.
So, part of the sermon was about identifying your strongholds, which I was very clear on what mine seemed to be. But... the other part was learning to overcome and break-free of these strongholds.
Before going there, I do want to say there is no shame in having strongholds! We ALL have them! And, you know, those strongholds can actually be a blessing in our lives. Because if we are able to overcome, God is able to use those shortcomings to make us even stronger warriers for Him!
So, now we get to my favorite part of this sermon, where the preacher shared about our Spiritual Dogs! He explained that each of us fight these daily spiritual struggles. And we should visualize them as 2 dogs.
One dog is the Good Dog. He wants us to do the right thing in all situations. His motto is:
See, at my church this month we have these special services called Marvelous Mondays. This Monday I went, and the subject was about strongholds. The preacher explained that a stronghold was anything that stands between you and worshipping God.
If you've been fervent in prayer, and suddenly can't utter the first word; that thing that happened that stopped your prayer is your stronghold. The same is true if there is an abrupt cease to church attendance, tithing, witnessing, serving, and any form of growing closer in your walk with the Lord.
Since this past year I experienced such an event, this sermon struck hard!
My heart got broken by an event in my life that I could not understand and certainly couldn't control. The devastation and depression of it all completely stunted my spiritual life. Though I wanted to retain the strong faith I strived to have, I was hit so hard by this "thing" that I had no idea where to begin.
So, part of the sermon was about identifying your strongholds, which I was very clear on what mine seemed to be. But... the other part was learning to overcome and break-free of these strongholds.
Before going there, I do want to say there is no shame in having strongholds! We ALL have them! And, you know, those strongholds can actually be a blessing in our lives. Because if we are able to overcome, God is able to use those shortcomings to make us even stronger warriers for Him!
So, now we get to my favorite part of this sermon, where the preacher shared about our Spiritual Dogs! He explained that each of us fight these daily spiritual struggles. And we should visualize them as 2 dogs.
One dog is the Good Dog. He wants us to do the right thing in all situations. His motto is:
It's never wrong to do right!
Then you have the other side of the fight--the Bad Dog. He wants to trick us into doing what we know is wrong.
Ok, so that visualization is easy enough to do, right? Well, here comes the profound part for me!!
He said in every case it is possible to predict which dog is going to win the fight! Are you ready for this...
The winner will be whichever dog was fed the most!
AHA! So that means all we gotta do is be sure we're feeding the right dog!
What are those foods? Well, I'll give you an idea, but just know it is certainly not comprehensive!
Good Dog Food
prayer
Bible study
church attendance
listening, reading, watching positive media
surrounding yourself with Godly people and influences
Bad Dog Food
doing the direct opposite of what is listed above!
So, I just want to leave you with a reminder to feed and take care of your Good Dog each and every day!
Love,
Jenn
July 4, 2009--Reading the Bible
Finally, I'm making my first entry. I didn't feel adequate to start this process until I had finished something very important first. And yesterday, July 3, 2009, I finally did just that. I finished reading the entire Bible--cover-to-cover!!!
This was big for me because it was one of those things I wanted to do before I died, and PRAISE GOD, He was gracious enough to let me live long enough to do it! I hope He'll give me a little longer now to use this knowledge to reach the ones I love for Him too. But, it's good to know that if I stand before Him by today's end, I can proudly know I took the time to read His Holy Word!
It's something I hope you do for yourself too one day! It's so important not to just take someone else's word for what the Bible says, but truly get in there and read it for yourself!
You'll find some really interesting things, some funny things, some shocking things, and some very inspiring words. Yeah, I'll admit, it has its share of boring in there, particularly when they go over all the procedures for the Holy Temple or the geneologies. But there is way more cool stuff to learn. And when you couple that reading with some good Biblical commentaries and you start learning the deeper history and meanings to the verses, you can't help but get hooked in!
Anyway, this first entry has gotten a little longer than expected (I get that way, you'll see!).
The main thing that I wanted to add was that years ago I read in the book "Life's Little Book of Lessons" one of the most significant statements for me, and it pushed my drive to read the whole Bible. It said, "Read the Bible like a letter from your best friend."
It hit home for me! How much more important is God? We know that we would definitely want to read every word written to US by a valued friend. Well, that's EXACTLY what the Bible is!!!
Think about it!!!
Love,
Jenn
This was big for me because it was one of those things I wanted to do before I died, and PRAISE GOD, He was gracious enough to let me live long enough to do it! I hope He'll give me a little longer now to use this knowledge to reach the ones I love for Him too. But, it's good to know that if I stand before Him by today's end, I can proudly know I took the time to read His Holy Word!
It's something I hope you do for yourself too one day! It's so important not to just take someone else's word for what the Bible says, but truly get in there and read it for yourself!
You'll find some really interesting things, some funny things, some shocking things, and some very inspiring words. Yeah, I'll admit, it has its share of boring in there, particularly when they go over all the procedures for the Holy Temple or the geneologies. But there is way more cool stuff to learn. And when you couple that reading with some good Biblical commentaries and you start learning the deeper history and meanings to the verses, you can't help but get hooked in!
Anyway, this first entry has gotten a little longer than expected (I get that way, you'll see!).
The main thing that I wanted to add was that years ago I read in the book "Life's Little Book of Lessons" one of the most significant statements for me, and it pushed my drive to read the whole Bible. It said, "Read the Bible like a letter from your best friend."
It hit home for me! How much more important is God? We know that we would definitely want to read every word written to US by a valued friend. Well, that's EXACTLY what the Bible is!!!
Think about it!!!
Love,
Jenn
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