Growing up in a Christian home I was taught that being a Christian included reading my Bible and praying. However, the questions of HOW to study the Bible, pray, and connect with God practically and effectively were never truly answered for me. I believe this has kept my relationship with God somewhat shallow for many years. After seeking answers from different sources, nothing seemed to satisfy me. Today I started attending a class at my church called "Reveal". I had heard how beneficial it was for many people, and felt led to take the step to learn how to deepen my relationship with God. We talked about how to study the Bible step by step in very practical ways. We were given questions to ask ourselves and God as we read a passage of scripture. This quote made so much sense to me: "The Bible wasn't given to increase our knowledge; it was given to change our lives." I have spent too long trying to build Bible knowledge without realizing it wasn't getting in deep to change my life. I read my Bible, but I am usually so distracted that I can't focus on what God is trying to say to me. No time is taken to sit, wait, and listen to hear from God. I would rush to be done, because I didn't understand the importance of reading, pondering, studying, and application. I used to find reading my Bible a duty as a Christian, not a privilege to grow in my relationship with Him. All of this is going to change with God's help. In a simple exercise we did in class, I felt God proving to me that there is so much more He has been waiting and wanting to reveal to me through His Word! Before we left, we were challenged to make a commitment by setting specific times to dive into God's Word and be accountable for following through. As we proceed through the next few weeks, I am excited to see how God continues to open my eyes and heart to the incredible deeper relationship I've longed to have with Him.
Sunday, March 23, 2014
Growing up in a Christian home I was taught that being a Christian included reading my Bible and praying. However, the questions of HOW to study the Bible, pray, and connect with God practically and effectively were never truly answered for me. I believe this has kept my relationship with God somewhat shallow for many years. After seeking answers from different sources, nothing seemed to satisfy me. Today I started attending a class at my church called "Reveal". I had heard how beneficial it was for many people, and felt led to take the step to learn how to deepen my relationship with God. We talked about how to study the Bible step by step in very practical ways. We were given questions to ask ourselves and God as we read a passage of scripture. This quote made so much sense to me: "The Bible wasn't given to increase our knowledge; it was given to change our lives." I have spent too long trying to build Bible knowledge without realizing it wasn't getting in deep to change my life. I read my Bible, but I am usually so distracted that I can't focus on what God is trying to say to me. No time is taken to sit, wait, and listen to hear from God. I would rush to be done, because I didn't understand the importance of reading, pondering, studying, and application. I used to find reading my Bible a duty as a Christian, not a privilege to grow in my relationship with Him. All of this is going to change with God's help. In a simple exercise we did in class, I felt God proving to me that there is so much more He has been waiting and wanting to reveal to me through His Word! Before we left, we were challenged to make a commitment by setting specific times to dive into God's Word and be accountable for following through. As we proceed through the next few weeks, I am excited to see how God continues to open my eyes and heart to the incredible deeper relationship I've longed to have with Him.
Sunday, March 9, 2014
my "bucket list"
After seeing people post their "bucket lists", it got me started thinking about what I would include on my list. What do I want to accomplish in life? What are my goals and dreams? So, I started a list of things I'd like to do, visit, and see....
1. get married 2. have children 3. swim with dolphins 4. walk the Great Wall of China 5. hike the Grand Canyon 6. tour a castle 7. camp under the Northern Lights
8. snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef 9. go scuba diving 10. live on a ranch with horses in Wyoming 11. learn how to dance 12. road trip across the U.S.- coast to coast
13. learn to ice skate 14. learn fluent Spanish 15. learn fluent French 16. volunteer at an orphanage 17. take photography classes and sell my photos 18. go skiing 19. finish my family book 20. trace my family history as far back as we can go 21. conquer my fear of flying 22. go backpacking across at least ten locations 23. ride a camel to the Egyptian pyramids 24. hike through a rainforest 25. go on an African safari 26. drive a husky dog sled team in Alaska 27. go para sailing 28. take a mission trip with every person in my family 29. run a 10k 30. learn how to play chess 31. adopt several children 32. travel to all seven continents 33. ride world's longest zip line 34. visit all fifty states in U.S. 35. go horseback riding in Montana 36. see Mt. Rushmore 37. join Peace Corps 38. watch sunset and sunrise from top of a mountain 39. chase a tornado 40. stand on top of the Eiffel Tower 41. visit Hershey, Pennsylvania 42. work at a zoo 43. visit a concentration camp 44. visit Israel/Bible lands 45. feel the spray of Niagara Falls 46. go to Yellowstone National Park 47. rescue animals
48. rock babies in a hospital NICU 49. visit Pearl Harbor 50. start a children's/teen ministry where I teach in another country
(and I'm sure I'll be adding to this as time goes on)
I had a lot of fun making this list! It reminded me of all the things I love in life. God has given me only one life to live and He intends for me to live it to its fullest. But, looking at these amazing things I may or may never do, some seem trivial compared to the life I believe God has ultimately called me to. A life of simplicity and heart of service are what give me purpose in life- not money or having traveled to the most places or fame. My purpose in life isn't based on how many of these things I accomplish, but how do I live Christ to the people around me, every day, wherever I am. How do I want to be remembered? I want to be remembered for living a life of selflessness and sacrifice. I want Christ's love to pour through me to the sick, lost, and hurting in a way that will continue even after I'm gone. So, I'll keep my "bucket list" handy, if the opportunities come I'll take them, but I'll remember my main passion in life is for something with far greater rewards.
1. get married 2. have children 3. swim with dolphins 4. walk the Great Wall of China 5. hike the Grand Canyon 6. tour a castle 7. camp under the Northern Lights 8. snorkel at the Great Barrier Reef 9. go scuba diving 10. live on a ranch with horses in Wyoming 11. learn how to dance 12. road trip across the U.S.- coast to coast
13. learn to ice skate 14. learn fluent Spanish 15. learn fluent French 16. volunteer at an orphanage 17. take photography classes and sell my photos 18. go skiing 19. finish my family book 20. trace my family history as far back as we can go 21. conquer my fear of flying 22. go backpacking across at least ten locations 23. ride a camel to the Egyptian pyramids 24. hike through a rainforest 25. go on an African safari 26. drive a husky dog sled team in Alaska 27. go para sailing 28. take a mission trip with every person in my family 29. run a 10k 30. learn how to play chess 31. adopt several children 32. travel to all seven continents 33. ride world's longest zip line 34. visit all fifty states in U.S. 35. go horseback riding in Montana 36. see Mt. Rushmore 37. join Peace Corps 38. watch sunset and sunrise from top of a mountain 39. chase a tornado 40. stand on top of the Eiffel Tower 41. visit Hershey, Pennsylvania 42. work at a zoo 43. visit a concentration camp 44. visit Israel/Bible lands 45. feel the spray of Niagara Falls 46. go to Yellowstone National Park 47. rescue animals
48. rock babies in a hospital NICU 49. visit Pearl Harbor 50. start a children's/teen ministry where I teach in another country
(and I'm sure I'll be adding to this as time goes on)
I had a lot of fun making this list! It reminded me of all the things I love in life. God has given me only one life to live and He intends for me to live it to its fullest. But, looking at these amazing things I may or may never do, some seem trivial compared to the life I believe God has ultimately called me to. A life of simplicity and heart of service are what give me purpose in life- not money or having traveled to the most places or fame. My purpose in life isn't based on how many of these things I accomplish, but how do I live Christ to the people around me, every day, wherever I am. How do I want to be remembered? I want to be remembered for living a life of selflessness and sacrifice. I want Christ's love to pour through me to the sick, lost, and hurting in a way that will continue even after I'm gone. So, I'll keep my "bucket list" handy, if the opportunities come I'll take them, but I'll remember my main passion in life is for something with far greater rewards.
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