Quetion of the week #4

Do you prefer reading Bibles in paperback, hardback, or leather?

• For the most part, I like leather best. It holds up longer and is just a more comfortable feel in my hands. I do own all types though. When I worked at the thrift store, I would purchase any that would have been thrown out. I just couldn't see throwing out a perfectly good Bible because the person loved it enough to write notes in the margins or highlight passages.

Do you prefer red letter or black letter?

• I've not given much thought to the red letter/black letter idea. I guess for me, it would depend on the type size and font. I have very poor vision. I like a dark, bold, larger type. That's my only preference.

Do you have a favorite translation of the Bible? Why? What is it that you love?

• I don't really have a "favorite" I use the NIV a lot, because my favorite study Bible is NIV. However, I have found that I also enjoy the NASB and NKJV as well. I prefer something in a "modern" language. I did not grow up in a Christian home, reading the Bible. I have a hard time wrapping my head about the KJV, though there are many passages that I have memorized in King James. There are also passages that just plain sound better in King James. When I'm teaching the kids in Sunday School and Children's Church, I use the NIrV, because my kids are usually four to six years old. So, you see, I use many translations, and I love them all!

Do you prefer reading text-only Bibles? Or do you prefer reading study Bibles?

• For the most part, I enjoy a good study Bible. If I'm just looking up a passage, I use the text only. I also use the text only in my children's classes. But, for my daily readings, I use a study Bible, that way I can look up the notes while I'm reading to capture some insight I may have missed before.

Do you have a favorite study Bible?

• I do. My favorite is the Life in the Spirit study Bible. I purchased this when we started our current church five years ago. This poor Bible has been through so much since that it's actually falling apart. My dear husband has repaired it three times for me. It now sits on my nightstand to keep it from further damage.
  

Quetion of the week #3

Which Bible character do you identify with most? Is there one that you can really relate to and understand? What is it about the story or character that gets to you?

Sarah comes to mind. Let's read Genesis Chapter 18 (NKJV)

1 Then the LORD appeared to him by the terebinth trees of Mamre, as he was sitting in the tent door in the heat of the day. 2 So he lifted his eyes and looked, and behold, three men were standing by him; and when he saw them, he ran from the tent door to meet them, and bowed himself to the ground, 3 and said, “My Lord, if I have now found favor in Your sight, do not pass on by Your servant. 4 Please let a little water be brought, and wash your feet, and rest yourselves under the tree. 5 And I will bring a morsel of bread, that you may refresh your hearts. After that you may pass by, inasmuch as you have come to your servant.”
They said, “Do as you have said.”
6 So Abraham hurried into the tent to Sarah and said, “Quickly, make ready three measures of fine meal; knead it and make cakes.” 7 And Abraham ran to the herd, took a tender and good calf, gave it to a young man, and he hastened to prepare it. 8 So he took butter and milk and the calf which he had prepared, and set it before them; and he stood by them under the tree as they ate.
9 Then they said to him, “Where is Sarah your wife?”
So he said, “Here, in the tent.”
10 And He said, “I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son.”
(Sarah was listening in the tent door which was behind him.) 11 Now Abraham and Sarah were old, well advanced in age; and Sarah had passed the age of childbearing. 12 Therefore Sarah laughed within herself, saying, “After I have grown old, shall I have pleasure, my lord being old also?”
13 And the LORD said to Abraham, “Why did Sarah laugh, saying, ‘Shall I surely bear a child, since I am old?’ 14 Is anything too hard for the LORD? At the appointed time I will return to you, according to the time of life, and Sarah shall have a son.”
15 But Sarah denied it, saying, “I did not laugh,” for she was afraid.
And He said, “No, but you did laugh!”

Why do I relate to this? Because as a human, I, too often, forget that the LORD is in charge of all things. In my opinion, here Sarah is thinking only as a human. She was well past the age of child-bearing, so her human thoughts told her bearing a son was impossible. How would I react if I were in my nineties and someone told me I was to bear a son soon? I would guess the same way. She then denied her disbelief, being afraid of the consequences. It's pretty easy sitting her now, knowing what we know to wonder how she could have laughed at this thought and not immediately believe, and scorn her for lying about it too. However, one must really put themselves in others shoes before they judge. I believe I would have reacted the same, in both circumstances.

What's great about this, is that then, and now, the Lord looks pasts our very faults, and blesses us. Sarah may have scoffed at the thought of having a child in her old age, but the Lord blessed her with Isaac, and that son began a great nation. I may forget that the Lord can do all things when I'm wallowing in guilt or worry, but the Lord is faithful and provides my every need.

Then Sings My Soul - Hillsong Kids

This week I'm going with one we've done in Children's Church in the past. Since our DVD player quit, we haven't been able to do any of our HillSong Kids, but time's coming when we will!
Enjoy! I actually love Hillsong Kids, but then I'm a big kid at heart!

Last week it was all about goals. This week is slightly related to that. It's about plans--Bible reading plans to be exact. Do you need a plan to stay on track? Do you find reading plans helpful? Or are they more of a hindrance to you? Do you have a plan B? In other words, do you have it worked out what you're going to do when you fall behind, forget, get frustrated, get bored, etc.? (There are a dozen excuses why it might happen.) Do you see this as an all or nothing proposition?


Do you need a plan to stay on track?

• No, I don't need a plan to stay on track. I usually have a specific book I'm reading/studying. Right now I'm in the book of Hebrews.

Do you find reading plans helpful? Or are they more of a hindrance to you?

• I find the plans more of a hindrance to me. I know they have a wonderful purpose, but if I miss a day, I find myself spending so much time beating myself up over it, that I loose focus on what I was doing before.

Do you have a plan B? In other words, do you have it worked out what you're going to do when you fall behind, forget, get frustrated, get bored, etc.? (There are a dozen excuses why it might happen.) Do you see this as an all or nothing proposition?

• When I did a reading plan, my plan B was to jump right in and get caught up immediately, no ifs. ands, or buts. That didn't work. I would get so frustrated I would give up and start over. That ends up with too much of one part and not enough of the rest. I also tried just pacing myself, and catching up when I could. That does not work with my perfectionistic personality. Now, I read/study at a certain part of the day, not a specific time. When I first get up and before I go to bed is all I "require" of myself. Extra time in the day is just bonus food!
• I'm definitely more of an all or nothing personality. Thankfully, my husband keeps me grounded, just as I keep him grounded. The Lord has truly blessed us in this area!

Thanks again to Becky at Operation Actually Read Bible!

Then Sings My Soul - Amy Grant

Operation Actually Read Bible

Becky from Operation actually read the Bible is going to pose a weekly question. (I'm actually a week behind, but better late than never right? LOL )
Are you a goal setter? Do you set goals for yourself? How often? Yearly? Monthly? Weekly? Daily? If you don't meet your goals, do you beat yourself up about it? How do you stay motivated and on task? Do you have goals about your Bible reading? Why or why not?

• Are you a goal setter? Some-what: I have certain things I do on certain days to keep a schedule, other wise I loose track of time and accomplish nothing.
• Do you set goals for yourself? Yes and No. I have goals on what days to clean what room. Sometimes I do a good job, sometimes I gloss over. I set a daily goal at work to make it through the day without exploding at one of the younger crowd that does not know how to speak a full sentence without a cuss word. I make a daily goal to tell my husband love him as many times as I can. Otherwise, no, I don't.
• How often? Yearly? Monthly? Weekly? Daily? As you can see, I'm more of a day to day person. Tomorrow has enough worry without me adding to it. Now, don't think I don't put any thought into the future, I know when my bills are due, birthdays coming up, etc. But, basically, I stay grounded in the present.
• If you don't meet your goals, do you beat yourself up about it? Unfortunately, yes. This leans more towards my goals of reading my Bible more often. Forgetting a certain thing I wanted to pray about because I forgot to write it down.
• How do you stay motivated and on task? I write things down, and ask my husband to remind me of important things. If something is not written down, I will probably forget. I have a yearly planner on my computer desk with everything written down, day by day.
• Do you have goals about your Bible reading? Why or why not? Again, yes and no. I have goals to read more than I did the day before. I don't set specific goals, like read three chapters, or an entire book. I tried this before, and I failed, a lot. Then I beat myself up, a lot. There is nothing that will make the enemy happier than to come between a person and their Bible reading/study time and between them and their prayer time. I quit letting the enemy have a foothold in that department. Now I keep a Bible on my coffee table and my nightstand, as well as one in my Jeep. That way, when I sit down either to relax in the living room, or when I'm getting cozy in bed, my Bible is right there, and it says "Hey, lets get together!" When I'm stuck waiting somewhere in my car, I have one there too. So, my only "goal" in Bible reading is to have one convenient so I can grab and read at a moments notice.
  

The Cell Phone VS. The Bible

I found this on a blog and thought it was very neat. Take a minute to read and ponder the following words. It is very cool.

The Cell Phone VS. The Bible

Ever wonder who at would happen if we treated our Bible like we treat our cell phone?
What if we carried it around in our purses and pockets?
What if we flipped through it several times a day?
What if we turned back to go get it if we forgot it?
What if we used it to receive messages from the text?
What if we treated it like we couldn’t live without it?
What if we gave to kids as gifts?
What if we used it when we traveled?
What if we used it in case of emergency?
This is something to make you go… hmm, where is my Bible?
Oh and one more thing.
Unlike our cell phones, we have to worry about being disconnected because Jesus already paid the bill.
Makes you stop and think “where are my priorities?”
AND, no dropped calls.