Prayer of Jesus

We are finishing up the New Testament through the Books of the Bible.  The Gospel of John is one of the last books in this format.  As I read this gospel for probably the 10th time, I noticed Jesus's prayer like I have never read it before. I love that, as Jesus is facing not just death, but humiliation, mocking and torture, he is praying for the people who will one day believe in him and the people who will show them who He is!  Its simply one of the most beautiful and humbling prayers!

Have a great rest of your Sunday and your September!

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I Am With You Always

This weekend was rich beyond words, but I will do my best to use them to share with you what I am learning. 

A few weeks ago, one of our teaching pastors spoke at one of the parishes I attend/work for.  He talked about how he spends time in the word (bible) 3 times a day, 20 minutes each time.  He'll read and then reflect on what he is reading.  Excited about the idea and eager to go deeper, I gave it a try.  Like I normally do, it was more like 2 times a day for 10 minutes and little reflection.  What I was doing was still impactful but I longed for the whole package.  I'd love to say, after two weeks, that I have it all together and am on my way to making the 3 times a day work. But I am still on the journey to that pattern.  In fact, in those two weeks I think I spent less time reading then I did before.  But the time I did read, I was truly enjoying it.

This weekend, the same pastor spoke but at a different parish.  This time, a few of the things he spoke about struck the same chord and this time, I felt the pull to try it again.  So Saturday night, I read for about 20 minutes in Mark and 1 Peter.  The various words I read and heard earlier that day were spinning but they were refusing to sit still.  So at midnight, I started free writing, not worrying about form, or grammar or anything. Just attempting to put down on paper the thoughts in my head.  I love to write, even quit my 9 to 5 last year to pursue it more.  But, for the last year I have been in such a block.  What used to set me free was weighing me down instead. This week, I've had a few tastes of that freedom again and its been amazing.  I don't always write for other people, sometimes I write for me. But regardless, I haven't felt free to do either in a long time.

On Sunday morning, I woke up wanting to read more.  That's when I came across this little gem.  I've read 2 Peter many times especially the verse "make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge;  and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, mutual affection; and to mutual affection, love." but the following verse caught my attention this time. "For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. But whoever does not have them is nearsighted and blind, forgetting that they have been cleansed from their past sins."  I have really been struggling with the idea that I am ineffective & unproductive in my knowledge of my Lord Jesus Christ.  Reflecting back to the verse before, I felt like my eyes were opened to a simple truth I have forgotten.  I am still processing this verse and what it means day to day.  But I am so excited about where it is going to take me.

Another verse that this pastor shared was from Jesus' Great Commission in Matthew.  As Jesus is commissioning the 11 disciples, he ends it with "And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."  Another verse I have heard over and over again, but something about this time was different. I was open to hearing it in a new way.  As Jesus is preparing them for ministry without him physically, he is reminding them that he isn't going anywhere. He will be with them... ALWAYS.  Just as he is with us... Always.  We aren't alone in this journey.  We try and do this all on our terms, our own strength, but He is still right there, to the very end of the age. Just a beautiful reminder of God's love and provision.  

On top of some other more practical things, this weekend was rich in blessings!  

Thanks all for your encouragement and for reading my blog!  You make me smile!

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Books Of The Bible - "Jesus Wasn't Very Nice."

A few months ago, my pastor/boss attended a conference in Washington DC (QIdeas).  When he came back, he was excited about a new "book" they presented.  The book, called "Books of the Bible" is the NIV translation of the New Testiment but re-ordered and the format changed.  They took out the chapters and verse numbers along with a few other format changes to what we are typically used to with the bible.

At first, I was skeptical or rather bored by the idea of a new translation and book fad until I stopped to listen about what it really is.  Its the NIV translation so its not any different then what I'm used to.  Its just ordered differently.  The video below will explain it better then I can.

Along with the book,  they were promoting a group called the Community Bible Experience.  You basically just get together like a book club and go through the New Testament.  My church decided to start some groups.  I soon decided to pitch it to my discipleship group.  We started a few weeks ago.  

Its been pretty awesome. I am in no way a representative of Q or of Biblica.  I have no relationship with them other then being a consumer.  I am just a curious Christian woman who is reading through the bible with her girls.  I've been so blown away by reading this book.  I've seen things I never saw before.  To top that, in our group, we've had the most candid and curious conversations about the bible and the person of Jesus that I've ever had. 

"Jesus wasn't very nice." is one of the statements I've made as I read through the Luke.  Luke is the first book in the order.  To read it before Matthew or Mark or even John, you get a different, less soft view of Jesus.  Don't worry, we didn't stop there and write Jesus off as an unkind savior.... you have to read it in context, knowing who the writer was and who he was writing too. Its been challenging but in a way that leads you to read more, dig more, desire more of the Living God and the Holy Trinity.  I can't wait to go deeper.

I'm not necessarily plugging the book or the experience, but if you are looking to read through the New Testament, I recommend you taking this approach.  Some bible apps have it in their list now.  

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