Hello
friends!! I’m excited about this new challenge to improve my walk with God. .
but
I am SUPER excited that you are joining me!!
I’d like to explain to you how
this challenge came about. .
On
accident this past summer. .
while reading through the book of Acts. .
I found
a scripture reference that very specifically addressed a question that I had
pondered in the past. .
as I continued reading. .
I found a second reference in
the next chapter. .
sooo. .
I got a little notebook and wrote both references out
under the heading of the topic I was interested in. .
Several chapters later. .
I
found a reference dealing with another topic I had been wrestling with. .
so I
started a SECOND notebook paper. .
Long story short. .
as I continued to move
through the New Testament. .
each time I would note scripture that addressed
those two topics. .
I would list them out on their respective study sheets. .
I
was a little surprised to see how often those topics were addressed thru the
New Testament. .
I had never engaged in the Bible in a manner like this. .
a
study of particular topics to where I could look back at my own notes and make
sense. .
It was exhilarating (REALLY)! Fast forward to mid August. .
I went with
a few friends to a women’s day conference in
Hutchinson. The main speaker was the wife of one of the pastors at a community church there. .
she ALSO does ladies’ bible studies. .
and had
several of her studies for sale in the back corner. .
I really had no intent on
purchasing any. .
I was engaged in a lot of other learning activities and wasn’t
really needing anything extra. .
BUT. .
after lunch, she just did a quick
synopsis of each study she had available. .
and I found myself drawn to the one
called Between Our Earrings. .
She was recommending this for anyone who found
themselves in a position where they were frequently counseling others in
matters such as depression, marital issues, moral issues etc. .
That
automatically caught my attention. .
since it seems to be how I spend a majority
of my days!! The study is based on how to counsel ourselves (and ultimately
others) from the basis of God’s word. .
How does GOD tell us to handle
situations. .
what does God tell me my personality should look like, and how I
should get through struggles. .etc.
As I listened to her CD during my morning commute to work. .
She was talking
about her goal of reading a different book each month for the whole year. .
and
studying the book in more depth than just reading through. .
How exciting,
I thought!! Often as I read, I think. .
hmmm I wonder about that. .
or I wonder
what that word really means. .etc. .
This will be a great opportunity to be able
to do a little deeper digging!!
So.
.
I put some things into motion. .
and September 1. .
a group of ladies starting studying the scripture together. .
We started with 1 John. .
which is where our online study will begin as well.
We just finished studying 1 John. .
and are starting the book of Galatians in October.
But THIS blog study. .
Will start October 1 (or today would be great)
Read through the whole book of 1 John (all 5 chapters) as many times as
you can during the week. .
I think that a realistic goal would be to spend 70
minutes of time per week reading through this book. .
Of course, the more you
put in. .
the more YOU get out!! You should easily be able to read through the
book 2-3 times per week even if you put off the whole reading time until one
setting (which I would discourage you from doing!) The first week of each
month, I would have you read through the book. .
underlining or marking which
verses speak to you. .
in your life. .
that week. .
PERSONALLY. .
for example. .
For
a long time, I struggled with the aspect of how you are sure of your salvation.
.
1 John chapter 5 nails it TO. THE. WALL. .
I write these things to you so you
will KNOW that you have eternal life. .
Bang. .
that spoke VERY personally to me.
.
at that time!
I also remember some difficult days of my life and reading
through Psalms. .
some of those feelings that David had. .
and some of the
promises that God was giving through his inspiration to David. .
really hit home
to me. .
And you can find them underlined in my bible today. .
That’s the idea
here. .
not asking you to be a scholar or a theologian. .
just wanting you to be
personal.
As
the weeks go on. .
I will be posting some questions and information to consider as you read 1 John.
.
for instance. .
What can we learn about WHO God is in this book. .
what advice
is He giving us. .
what can I change in my own life to become more like
Christ?
Each week, I'll post suggestions for the next
week of reading. I will be adding some reading on what the culture was like back
then. .
and things that might help understand what the authors were saying to
the recipients of the letters being written and why. .
I will also suggest
reading the book in different translations a time or two. Those can easily be
found online in places like bible gateway. Since the book is relatively short.
.
it would be simple to print off several versions and put them near your
bible.
If you would like to participate on line. .
I
would encourage you to post a comment at least once per week. .
with your
thoughts. .
or an answer to one of the questions. .
or any insight that you have
gleaned. .
or just to encourage everyone else.
If you are going through the study by yourself or challenging another person you know to do it with you. .
I would encourage you to use a notebook to make comments to yourself. .
email back and forth with your friend. .
If you plan to do the study online with my blog. .
I would love to have you give a short introduction of yourself. .
You know. .
Name, a sentence or two about you. .
and what you hope to get out of this study!
Just
so you know. .
If you hang in there with me. .
God willing. .
This study will go for the next 4 months. .
At this time. .
the other books planned are Galatians, Romans
(which will be a longer book, but still easily read 1-2 times per week) and
finally James. .
I’m
excited to get started!!
I hope you are too. .
whether you are participating by yourself, or with us. .
or if you are just showing up to see what I have to say. .
So for this week. .
your goal is to see what God has to
say to you through His words in 1 John. .
We will plan to post what is most pertinent to our lives next weekend. .
So take some notes, or do some highlighting.
My
prayer for our study over the next 4 months was well written by the apostle
Paul in Ephesians chapter 1. .
Ephesians
1:17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the
glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you
may know him better.
God knows all about US. .
down to how many hairs are on our heads RIGHT now,
even if we pull one out!!
He WANTS us to know HIM as well. .
and He has blessed
us with EXACTLY what we need to know Him better. .
if we simply slow down in our
lives, breathe deeply, and LOOK!!
We lead busy lives. .
each of us. .
but if we
are skimping on our time with God, and settling for something less with Him
because we are. .
busy. .
tired. .
over committed. .
out of time. .
insert your
personal excuse. .
we are CHEATING ourselves out of something PHENOMENAL!!
Make
this study a priority in your life the next 4 months. .
and I think. .
no, I
KNOW. .
you will see some INCREDIBLE changes in your life!!
