How It All Began

Following That Inner Voice

"Treating Me Like a To-Do List?"

I heard the voice like it was someone lying in bed next to me.  I had been behind on my daily devotions for more than a week, and before going to sleep, I decided that I would get caught up. I've been a faithful You Version user, and typically I have 4 or 5 daily devotions going at one time.  I like variety, I like to take a moment out of my day to get 'regrounded' in Scripture, so that I can stay focused on remaining "in the Light" in this dark world.

Somehow during a serious case of 'life', I found myself more than 4 days behind on several devotions. So I began to complete the missing days.  I remember when I received that last "Day Complete" notification on my device, and I felt a sense of accomplishment.  I remember thinking to myself (or perhaps I said out loud) DONE!  That's when I heard it, just as clear as if He was sitting beside me "So now I'm nothing more than a To-Do List item?", and I was convicted.

Over the next 1-2 weeks, it seemed like every devotion that I read, sermon that I heard, podcast that I listened to was about God's Word, time, or effective Bible Study.  Verses that were impressed on me in this short time included:

• Joshua 1:8  - This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
• Psalm 119:18 - Open my eyes, that I may behold wondrous things out of your law.
• Psalm 119:10-11 - With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• 2 Timothy 3:16 - All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness,
• Psalm 119:9-11 - How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word. With my whole heart I seek you; let me not wander from your commandments! I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.
• Deuteronomy 11:18-22 - “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates, that your days and the days of your children may be multiplied in the land that the Lord swore to your fathers to give them, as long as the heavens are above the earth.    
• James 1:21-24 - Therefore, get rid of all moral filth and the evil that is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you, which can save you. Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. Anyone who listens to the word but does not do what it says is like someone who looks at his face in a mirror and, after looking at himself, goes away and immediately forgets what he looks like.
  
  

And there are many more - but you get the picture, and so did I.

I remember when I was a child, although I was typically a "good kid" I did do stupid things.  I remember when I got caught shoplifting (I might have been 10) while on a shopping trip (a back to school trip actually) with my mother and sister.  Oh the shame I endured for weeks after that.  It seemed like every time we were together as a family, at dinner, in the car going somewhere my 'mistake' was repeated over and over and over again.  And it wasn't enough to be just kept in the family, it was like there weren't enough people that my mother could tell. So besides the shame I felt just with my family, it now increased to family friends, relatives and who knows who else.  I even seem to remember that I was the source of a brief mention in my father's editorial in the local newspaper!!!!!

Thankfully, our God doesn't shame us in the same way.  He gently, lovingly reminds us of the ways that we should go.  Our duty as a Christian is to listen to those nudges, inner feelings or that inner voice.  And thankfully, our God does have a sense of humor, as during those several weeks following my conviction - when every reference to the Bible that I heard was regarding studying, memorizing, devotion of time, etc......  it got to be humorous and finally I lifted up my arms and said "yes Lord, message received loud and clear"!!!!   

But that night started me down another road as well.  We are constantly told that we need to study the Bible, we've heard this since we were in Sunday School, Vacation Bible School, and in Church, but yet I don't remember anyone ever teaching me "how" to study the Bible. So over the next few months I immersed myself in learning "how to study".  And it is that message I believe Christ wants me to deliver to others. So within each post, I will provide some sort of suggestion, tip or tool for you to use. Again, I'm no expert, I'm not a Bible Scholar or teacher, just someone who loves the Lord, who wants to share with others. 

As for writing, I've always enjoyed writing - I've just never been really serious about it.  My parents owned a small local newspaper, so I grew up around writing, so I contribute my love of reading and writing to my late father.  In the 1990's after my family and I moved back to Ks., I began helping my parents with the newspaper.  And it was during that time that I started writing a column for the paper. Many compared it to Erma Bombeck, and it was then that I truly discovered my love for writing.  But sadly, I never did anything with it until now.

That's my story, and I'm sticking to it! 

Now for today's Bible Study Tools, Tips or Tricks:

We all have what I call "wasted time", time when we are busy doing something but our brain is basically bored.  This could include dishes, laundry, yard work (yuk) or even getting ready for the day in front of the mirror.  I use this time to listen to podcasts, sermons, audio Bible or daily devotions by speakers or pastors that interest me.  Remember last post I told you about the Women's Bible Cafe?  I learned that by listening to a podcast by Chrystal Evans Hurst, who is the daughter of Dr. Tony Evans, and sister to Priscilla Shirer!!! (I didn't know all that until I stumbled across her podcast).  Dr. Tony Evans audio's can be found here http://www.oneplace.com/ministries/the-alternative/listen/ . Actually http://www.oneplace.com/ has an amazing wealth of information, devotions, studies and audio's.  Proverbs31, which I mentioned in the last blog, has an audio devotion here as well.  

Another one of my favorite weekly podcasts is Michelle Nezat who does the series "More Than A Song" where she takes scripture and helps you tie it back to today's popular Christian Music.

I thank God for each of you taking the time to read by blog, and I would be honored if you would leave me a comment below.

Be Blessed In Christ and remember To Live Like Christ in all your ways - everyday!

Until next time ......................

Koni -