Read With Me: Why Are We Reading Anyway?

*In January, a group of bloggers decided to read through the Bible in a year. This post is for them, and for anyone who may need encouragement to read the Bible.

Hello Read With Me friends!

Tanya is on a much needed vacation this and next week, so it is my privilege to fill our fearless (and faith-full!) leader's shoes.

So how are you doing?

Or wait...

Instead, tell me what you are learning?

We are nearly 3/4's finished with this shin-dig. But then again, maybe we're not.

Today I am going to share a quote that I have in my bible, on the very first blank page after the cover: (I scanned it so you would know its true)

If you can't read it, it says:

Why study the Bible?

Because for the Christian (for Kellie) it is more than a duty, it provides protection for the daily battle, comfort for dashed hopes, and continuing education for a live that is worth living.

-Howard Hendrix*

 I got a little behind in the Old Testament passages this summer. It was hard for me to keep up with the time when kings go to war, when it was the time to read literature poolside.

I did read a little every day  every other day (ish) and managed to keep up in the other sections.

Three weeks ago, when I decided to transition from the laid-back summer schedule to the more-structured school year schedule, I was tempted to despair...How in the world was I going to catch up? And finish with all y'all?

Amazingly, I opened up my Bible to that Hendrix quote, hand-written so long ago that I had forgotten it was there.

Y'all, are you like me? Do you need a reminder that this isn't a race, or a duty, or a To-Do List we get to scratch out every day?

Do you need to be encouraged to approach your reading with daily protection, encouragement, and wisdom for the daily battle of life, in mind?

I do.

As Abe Lincoln said, "Endeavor to persevere" my friends! You can do this. You can finish. But more importantly, you will come out better for it when you are done.

So, don't tell me where you land in the Read With Me schedule, because it really doesn't matter. Instead, tell me: How you have felt protected, or encouraged, or inspired toward a life worth living?

I tell you what I've learned in the comments too!

Happy Friday!

* I do believe I took the quote from a book entitled Living by the Book by Howard Hendricks. I do not know which page the quote is located on. Unfortunately, in my written quote the authors name has been misspelled.

Read With Me: Week 3

I missed posting on week 3 of the Read With Me (1 year bible reading plan)...but I'm still reading.

I am enjoying it so- very- much.

We cover quite a bit in a week - entirely too much to write about it all in this post, so I want to share one thing I took away from the last seven days.

Psalm 22 was part of the reading for this week.

Reading it was timely.

Especially in light of a conversation I had with my twelve year old son.

"I know you say that God is with me, but sometimes, Mom, I feel like God isn't with me."


He's in good company. There are many men (and women) in the bible who have felt the same way.

King David penned these words:

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?

Why are you so far from saving me?

So far from the words of my groaning?

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

by night, and am not silent.

Psalm: 22:1-2

But then, in verse 4, he says something interesting:

In you our fathers put their trust;

They trusted and you delivered them.

They cried to you and were saved.

In you they trusted and were not disappointed.

I love David's honesty.

I love that he's say's what's on his mind: Lord where are you? I am desperately alone.

But he also remembers the TRUTH: Lord, I know I can trust you, because you have faithfully answered the prayers of those I live my life with...with those who have walked before me.


But then....

In spite of his doubt, He chooses to set his heart on Truth, he sets his heart on the Lord.

In verse 22 he declares:

...I will praise you.

And encourages us to do the same:

You who fear the Lord praise him!

It is very difficult to explain why a Holy God does what He does. 

In many ways we aren't meant to know.

But, we can and must remember that God does love us. He does hear us. He never leaves us. He alone is sufficient. We can come to Him with all of our feelings and thoughts and misunderstandings, because He knows them anyway.

When we feel alone, we praise the God who is always with us, even when our feelings tell us He isn't there!

All right, Read with Me Gals, let press forward into another week!

Read with Me: Week 1

Whew! I made it through the first week of the Read with Me challenge.

I'm loving the format of reading a bit of OT, a bit of poetry (Psalm), a small portion from the Gospels, and then a bit of NT.

Today I thought I would give you a glimpse of where my quiet time is happening...

I've changed my venue....instead of reading in my office (which also serves as the math class, the gym, the ironing room and the craft explosion) I'm staying in my room.

Once I head downstairs its really hard to not switch into lets-plow-through-the-day-and-get-things-checked-off-my-list mode. Staying in my room will help keep my heart and mind relaxed, and to enjoy this time. So far its working. What helped was a gift I received last weekend.

The (amazingly talented and handsome) Mister built that lap desk for me, and I drink my coffee in my bed and read.

Can we spell s-p-o-i-l-e-d  r-o-t-t-e-n?

If you are interested in joining me and the other Read with Me Girls....its not too late! Click here, sign up, and start reading!

New Year Ramblings

Each morning when I wake up I try to find music that will motivate my troops to get up and get moving.

In my early morning haste, I grabbed the first CD I could reach and put it in the player. Avalons New Day started with a burst.

Providence...how I love thee.

Yes, its a new day, its a new time.....


I love new beginnings.

Of course this is a time when most are wont to make resolutions and new commitments. I am no excpetion, except.....

I don't really make resolutions, because that supposes that that list of things will be resolved--meaning  settled, or that a specific solution will fix the problem.

Let me tell you, if there is one place where I remain consistent it's in this: I am a continual (and not always in a forward motion) work-in-progress.

With that said, I desire to always be learning, creating and striving to be who God has created me to be.....and let's be honest here, there is nothing I like more than a list at the beginning of a new year.

So I make goals. Goals feel more do-able than resolutions. Goals put more emphasis on the journey than the destination.  I like that.

Am I sounding like the adults on a Peanuts cartoon? - whaa whaa whaa whaaaa......


Then let's move on.

This year I made three goals: A spiritual goal, a creative/relational goal, and a personal goal.

Spiritual: To read through the bible in a year.

I've read through the bible in a year 18 months before, but I am looking forward to having some accountability and some dialogue with Tanya and the other gals.

Creative/Relational: Last year I joined a tap class, and that was fun, but it didn't open the relational doors that I hoped it would. I am fairly sure that was because we were too busy concentrating and feel self-conscious about getting the steps right to actually look each other in the eye and make a friend.

This year I am considering a knitting class at my local library, or something creative that lends to more interaction with others.

Personal: Finally, one of the things that I really want to focus on this year is not to allow culture to dictate and influence my perception of beauty.

God has created each of us uniquely, and He is happy with what he has perfectly created.

How sad it must be to Him when he sees how critical we are; when we compare ourselves with others; when we don't appreciate the gifts, and talents, and bodies, and lives he has given to us.

I saw this design of "beautiful" on a t-shirt at the True Campaign store. They didn't have any in stock when I wanted to order one, so I embroidered/knitted the one in the picture above. I plan to frame it in my office; a reminder that to "Be you" is the most beautiful (and God honoring) part of beauty.

Its my creative interpretation of the Psam 139:13-16 and Psalm 45:11--

Psalm 139:13-16

For you created my inmost being;
       you knit me together in my mother's womb I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
your works are wonderful,
I know that full well.  My frame was not hidden from you

       when I was made in the secret place.

       When I was woven together in the depths of the earth,

your eyes saw my unformed body.
 All the days ordained for me

       were written in your book

       before one of them came to be.

Psalm 45:11 -

The King is enthralled with your beauty; honor him, for he is your Lord.

I want you to know that this, above all things, is a daily battle for me. There are days the war is full scale combat, and on others the white flag is raised. I know I'm not alone. I also know that we fight the good fight knowing that in Christ, the battle is already won.

So those are my goals for 2010.

If you would like to join the Read with Me gang. Follow this link to Tanya's site and let her know! Its certainly is not to late to join and the bible schedule we are reading is NOT DIFFICULT or overwhelming....it even gives you five days a month to catch up if needed. You can do it!

Happy New Year!