All of us have had those times — a day or two here and there, or even a season, when getting into reading the Bible is especially tough because it doesn't seem to be "feeding" us the way we are hoping.
I was having one of those days a couple of years ago. I was reading but it felt rather pointless. I wasn't drawn anywhere in particular and whatever I read was uninteresting, and especially didn't engage me emotionally. I was a little frustrated and tempted to set my Bible down and get on to the day's TO DO list. But then I had a thought (thank you, Holy Spirit, how you guide our ideas!) which led to a discovery that was confirmed later that day.
SCRIPTURE IS POWERFUL FOR OTHERS WHEN IT COMES THROUGH US!
I prayerfully read a Psalm and just asked God if what I was reading maybe wasn't for ME at all, at least that particular day. I asked, "Lord, is what I'm reading going to be an encouragement to someone else today?" Sure enough, several hours later I got an email from someone going through something tough. That Psalm came to my mind and I was able to type out an email response with some of those verses and it was a blessing to my friend!
That experience helped me keep more dedication to reading God's Word even when it wasn't seeming to have a lot to offer me personally. I have been on the receiving end of someone's Word-sharing emails many times and it has abundantly blessed me and helped me through some very hard days. I am so thankful God showed me how He can use my dry days to soften someone else's hard day.
READING GOD'S WORDS FROM DIFFERENT BIBLE TRANSLATIONS SPEAKS FRESH INSIGHTS TO US!
Another thing that helps me is to read a different Bible. We've got several Bibles around our house and several different translations. We also have several different children's Bibles. Alex met Jesus because of one of those Bibles. A newer one I've been reading with Carly has spoken profound new insights into me lately.
We can be sure of one thing. God's Word always does a work when it goes out. Remember the promise of that in Isaiah 55?
How about you?
Let's share some ideas folks! What has been helpful for you? How do you keep momentum with your daily time reading God's Word?
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Saturday, February 20, 2010
When the Grief of Loss is RAW
On May 17, 2008, our friends Rob and Melody learned that their 21-year-old daughter, Danielle, had just been welcomed into heaven after a tragic car accident. All the angels rejoiced while a family here on earth experienced one of life's ultimate heartbreaks.
Anyone who has experienced loss knows there are some days when grief is overwhelming. Danielle's sister recently had one of those sorrow-filled days and Melody's heart broke again trying to comfort her daughter. With Melody's permission, I share here some beautiful and powerful discoveries she's made in God's Word that may speak comfort to many of us in various kinds of grief.
"February 2010 -- I received a late-night call from Ashley. She's having an emotional and teary evening missing her sister. After our phone call I prayed for comfort for Ashley and then opened my journal. I came across this entry that I wrote over a year ago.
PSALM 56:8 'You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in a bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.'
Why does God keep our tears in a bottle?
PSALM 84:6 'When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains!'
As a grieving person goes through the valley, their tears fall to mingle with the water in springs which can become a source of blessing to others. I'm picturing a pink bottle (filled with the tears from all those missing Danielle) and those tears are blessing others.
Further, in the midst of our pain, we can KNOW that He understands -- and weeps along with us."
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Today, God is using Danielle's story and the love of Christ in her family to spread the Gospel message, teach the consequences of choices, and share the contagious hope they have that God is using their pain for eternal value. Visit Danielle's website and learn more about the ministry that has emerged out of this mom's journey through loss:
http://www.daniellepound.com/27712.html
Anyone who has experienced loss knows there are some days when grief is overwhelming. Danielle's sister recently had one of those sorrow-filled days and Melody's heart broke again trying to comfort her daughter. With Melody's permission, I share here some beautiful and powerful discoveries she's made in God's Word that may speak comfort to many of us in various kinds of grief.
"February 2010 -- I received a late-night call from Ashley. She's having an emotional and teary evening missing her sister. After our phone call I prayed for comfort for Ashley and then opened my journal. I came across this entry that I wrote over a year ago.
PSALM 56:8 'You keep track of all my sorrows. You have collected all my tears in a bottle. You have recorded each one in your book.'
Why does God keep our tears in a bottle?
PSALM 84:6 'When they walk through the Valley of Weeping, it will become a place of refreshing springs, where pools of blessing collect after the rains!'
As a grieving person goes through the valley, their tears fall to mingle with the water in springs which can become a source of blessing to others. I'm picturing a pink bottle (filled with the tears from all those missing Danielle) and those tears are blessing others.
Further, in the midst of our pain, we can KNOW that He understands -- and weeps along with us."
--------
Today, God is using Danielle's story and the love of Christ in her family to spread the Gospel message, teach the consequences of choices, and share the contagious hope they have that God is using their pain for eternal value. Visit Danielle's website and learn more about the ministry that has emerged out of this mom's journey through loss:
http://www.daniellepound.com/27712.html
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
How BIG is Your Prayer?
JEREMIAH 33:2-3. "This is what the Lord says, He who made the earth, the Lord who formed it and established it - the Lord is His name. Call to Me and I will answer you and show you great and mighty things which you do not know."
[This devotional was shared with us by a friend of WRIM, and taken from today's devotions of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries http://www.hutchcraft.com/]
The One who made this promise is the one who owns it all, made it all, controls it all. God is saying, "Pray BIG." When we forget the size of God we're praying to, we under-pray, and we under-live.
Right now there are some God-sized things you need to be trusting Him for; things so big only God can do them. You're in the "God Alone Zone" - God alone can do this one! Prayer is God's access code to the unlimited resources of heaven - all the grace you need for what's going on, all the comfort you need, all the physical and emotional strength, and all the wisdom to know how to figure it out.
So pray like it!
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Anyone want to vulnerably share about a big prayer request we can all join you in taking to the Lord...or tell us about a big answer you've seen recently from our unspeakably huge God?
[This devotional was shared with us by a friend of WRIM, and taken from today's devotions of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries http://www.hutchcraft.com/]
The One who made this promise is the one who owns it all, made it all, controls it all. God is saying, "Pray BIG." When we forget the size of God we're praying to, we under-pray, and we under-live.
Right now there are some God-sized things you need to be trusting Him for; things so big only God can do them. You're in the "God Alone Zone" - God alone can do this one! Prayer is God's access code to the unlimited resources of heaven - all the grace you need for what's going on, all the comfort you need, all the physical and emotional strength, and all the wisdom to know how to figure it out.
So pray like it!
-------------------------
Anyone want to vulnerably share about a big prayer request we can all join you in taking to the Lord...or tell us about a big answer you've seen recently from our unspeakably huge God?
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