I don’t know why it’s one of the hardest things for me. Probably because I’ve never really maintained one, and getting momentum is often hard. You know what old Newton said.

I know God doesn’t give us extra credit for reading our Bibles regularly, and I know it’s more for me than it is for Him, but I really want to wind down 2011 in His word every day.

On FindingMyFitness, I’ve talked about making health and fitness easier by automating it. Finding ways to have to think less about doing a task so it becomes easier to actually complete it.

Not to cheapen Bible reading, but I think that’s what I need to do here.

Enter YouVersion.com

A while back I downloaded YouVersion Bible to my phone. It’s really helpful for finding verses while on the go, and it even has a way to “read” while driving because of the audio Bibles that come with it.

The other day they sent me an email with five different reading plans for Christmas, and I just really like that idea. I can sign up for one and either read it on my phone (it’s part of their app) or read it online.

Check out their Bible reading plans here.

Once Christmas is over

The plan I chose ends on December 26th, but I don’t want to stop there. I have a plan (a mental one, not a phone one) to read the Bible next year specifically for information regarding fitness and nutrition, but I also want to pick a year-long plan I can read each day as a small 5-10 minute devotional. This app has a lot of those as well.

Another thing I like is they have ways to remind you. You can sign up for email reminders or post about it on Twitter and Facebook and have your friends remind you. I’d love it if my phone would remind me, but I don’t see that option at the moment.

I didn’t expect this post to turn out to be a commercial for YouVersion, but I guess I really can’t recommend it enough if you have a smartphone (they have iPhone, Android, and Blackberry apps). It’s useful on the web too, but it’s much more convenient on your phone.

So there you have it. Automate your Bible reading by finding a plan. All you need beyond that is the discipline to actually do it (and that’s the hard part)!

God bless you guys,
-j

More great posts:

• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things
• The Hidden Bridge
• Two Verses
• Faith and Expectation
• Excellent Devotion

When I heard a couple days ago that they would begin pulling them up this week, I praised God. They got stuck in August, and for a long time no one thought they would be able to be rescued until November. I couldn’t imagine being shut off from everything for that long. They say you go crazy after a month in pitch blackness. These men don’t look crazy.

I don’t know why I’m being so emotionally affected by this rescue. But the whole thing makes me give glory to God. The reporters tell us that the miners held chapel in the shaft, that they say there were 34 people in the mine (themselves and the Lord). And when miner number 9 came out and after hugging his wife he knelt down and prayed for a good while. Tears started coming to my eyes, and all I could do was say “Amen” with him. A shirt was made especially for these miners and they are all wearing it as they come up the shaft. When I realized that it says “Thank You, Lord” I almost lost it.

Yesterday I heard something interesting. The number 33 is significant for at least three reasons, and I think one of them is the number of days early they are being rescued. I would imagine that the spiritual significance of that number hasn’t been lost on the miners either.

God is very good. In the middle of catastrophe He can be found, especially when He is called upon. They have called upon Him, and I believe He is being glorified today.

Just in case you have no idea what I’m talking about, here’s a link:
Miracle at the Mine

More great posts:

• Battle One, Battle Won
• “Starting” Weight
• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Old Friends, Good Herb, and Pilgrimages
• We made it to the next round

victory

A new coworker started today, and as is our tradition we went out to lunch with her. I love going to Mexican places, but at the same time I dread it. I love it because, well, it’s delicious Mexican food. I dread it because it’s dripping with fat. From the moment those chips come out to the moment that last bit of cheese-covered, guacamole-sour cream-beefy burrito slides down. Not today, my friends. Not today.

I woke up this morning just after 6 without trying. I debated waiting until my alarm went off, but I figured it was pointless. I was going to use the time wisely. Today was day-in-a-row number two for the morning jog. Two miles and 30 minutes later, I was getting ready for work feeling mighty fine. I packed two apples, two oranges, and a package of snow peas for the day. One apple was ravaged on the way to work where I also ate a package of oatmeal for breakfast. At 11 I had a 4oz container of cottage cheese so that I wouldn’t be hungry at lunch. I was feeling abnormally well (see my tweet to the right). I determined that today’s lunch would be different. A taco salad without the shell (I debated getting a fajita and not eating the tortillas), cheese and sour cream on the side.

At lunch I portioned out what I think was pretty close to a serving of chips and knocked back a bit of salsa. As soon as my salad arrived (they had forgotten the cheese and sour cream, but I’m better for it), I dumped out the insides and discarded the shell. It was really hard not to eat it, as well as the amazing cheese dip they brought out for the group, but I didn’t. Here’s why:

You might have read about the Bible study I’m doing about overeating. Combined with the Bible class on Sunday, yesterday’s study gave me what I think is the key I’ve been looking for: keeping my eyes on Christ. When Peter walked on the water and took his eyes of Jesus, he started to drown. When the Israelites were being bitten by snakes, they had to look at the bronze one and they would be healed. Jesus has already paid for my sin of gluttony, and beyond that He offers me a way out of it. I just need to fix my eyes upon Him.

The Bible class reminded me how good intentions aren’t enough. Uzzah died because he was trying to save the Ark of the Covenant. What he failed to do was give God the reverence He demanded. My prayer life does not give God that reverence. I usually pray however I am, and while I’m certain God hears my prayers, I’m missing out on something because I’m not being as reverent as I should. Last night I got on my knees and prayed for today. I prayed for the desire to run when I got up, and I prayed that God would show me what to eat, when, and how much. I confessed that I absolutely can’t do this on my own – I’ve tried many times – and how I trust Him to show me the way.

When I woke up today, that’s exactly what He did. This uneaten shell, the first of its kind, is the proof. Selah.

-j

More great posts:

• “Starting” Weight
• Did I Finally Find It?
• We made it to the next round
• First Signs Of Progress
• A Tip

Here’s the first one.

I fasted yesterday, and normally I wouldn’t mention it, but it’s worthy of reporting. It was the first time I felt in control of myself after a fast. Usually when I do it, I go from the evening before to around 7 or 8 that evening. Every time, if I actually made it all day without eating, I would go nuts at dinner because I was so “hungry”. Yesterday was different. I really made an effort to give the day to God, read His Word for my meals, and spend time in prayer at each. I had decided to go easy and break the fast with some light popcorn while watching Biggest Loser, and I added some protein into the mix with a bit of turkey breast. And I felt in control. God did some fun stuff with me yesterday. Here’s looking to the future!

-j

More great posts:

• Battle One, Battle Won
• We made it to the next round
• First Signs Of Progress
• Did I Finally Find It?
• Amazing

1. Kadeish – Blessings and the first cup of wine (“I will bring you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians”)
2. Ur’chatz – Traditionally, a ritual washing of your hands before the meal
3. Karpas – Dipping the green vegetable in the salt water and offering a blessing
4. Yachatz – Break the middle matzah and hide the larger piece as the Afikomen for later
5. Magid – The telling of the story of slavery to freedom and the second cup of wine (“I will deliver you from their bondage”)
6. Rohtzah – The second hand washing, including a blessing
7. Motzi/Matzah – The blessing and eating of the matzah
8. Maror – A blessing, dipping, and eating of the bitter herb
9. Koreich – Take some maror and a piece of matzah to make a sandwich and eat it
10. Shulchan Orech – Eat the Passover meal, traditionally starting with the egg
11. Tzafun – Eat the afikoman
12. Bareich – Recite the Birkat Hamazon, drink the Cup of Blessing or Redemption (third cup of wine), and welcome Elijah
13. Hallel – Praise and worship! Then the fourth cup, the Cup of Thanksgiving
14. Nirtzah – Conclude the seder with an expression of hope for the future (“Next year in Jerusalem!”)

The photo above is the plate I made for my seder. I think I’d like to try to find a nice plate to use for next year. The only thing I was missing was real matzah. I couldn’t find any that didn’t say “not for passover” on them!

Here are some links to do some research yourself:
How to Celebrate Passover
The Food Traditions of Passover
The reading I did
Matzoh candy…mmmmm
The charoset that I made

-j

ps- Sorry it took so long. I still have one more to go. Don’t expect it tomorrow, but it’ll be up soon.

More great posts:

• Food for my Seder
• My First Seder
• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Faith and Expectation
• Amazing

…Let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart. – Hebrews 12: 1b-3

I read this today in preparation for a Bible study at church and something stuck out to me in a way it never has before. Many Christians can rattle off at least most of these verses, and most of them know what is talked about previously. Tonight I’ve been hit by a brick.

I struggle with sin. Who doesn’t? That verse says it all – “sin that so easily entangles”. Have you ever let sin take a hold of you to the point that you don’t feel like you can adequately serve God? Maybe you don’t even sin like that anymore, but your guilt from past sins haunts you to the point where you’re nearly ineffective as a messenger of the Gospel. I’ve had moments where I felt like I had allowed sin to creep too far and that God shouldn’t even forgive me, though I know He does. I know at least one person who could probably be much more dynamic as a Christian if not for the grip of past sin.

May I use an ellipsis to make my point? “Throw Off…The Sin!” Throw it off! Get rid of it! The words may be out of context, but that’s exactly the point that God impressed on my heart tonight. I envisioned a guy about to run a race in layers of dark clothing, a backpack, ankle weights, a hat, just tons of stuff. One by one, he took each thing off. Threw off the backpack. Unstrapped the ankle weights. Let his coat fall to the ground. Removed the sweatpants and sweatshirt. Emptied his pockets of his wallet and loose change. Took his watch off. Took off the hat. Until there was nothing left but bright red shorts, a white tank top, and a race number.

I am currently training for a foot race at the end of March, so I paid a little more attention to these verses than before. My bi-daily runs last for about 40 minutes each, and I’m telling you by minute 30 I’m ready to be done. Running a race takes patience, endurance, and perseverance. Sometimes I tell myself “just put one foot in front of the other.” As long as I put one foot in front of the other, I’m making progress. Sometimes the putting is fast, and sometimes it’s slow. The slow times I use to rest so I can get ready to run fast again. At the end of my 40 minutes I’m fatigued and my legs are shaky, but I’m done. The run does have an end. Our Race has an end. Look at verse two again. It tells us to look “to Jesus…(who has already run and is sitting) at the right hand of the throne of God.” There is an end, and Jesus is there.

My charge is simple. Forget sins that have been forgiven, and get forgiveness for those that haven’t, and then forget them too. Toss your sins away (after all, God has), and don’t even look at them again. Just start running. And if you start to get tired, think about Jesus, who has already paved a trail for you.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• My Greatest Blogging Achievement To Date
• Amazing
• Battle One, Battle Won
• “Starting” Weight

In Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade when Harrison Ford goes after the Holy Grail, there is a final test where he has to take a step of faith to get to the Grail. He has to cross a chasm over what appears to be a bottomless pit in order to claim the cup so he can use it to heal his father (Sean Connery) from a fatal wound.The riddle he and his father have figured out has convinced him he must take a step out into the abyss – has to put his full weight into it – and as he does, sure enough, a bridge appears out of nowhere and his step lands on something solid that was not visible until the instant his foot came down on it in mid-air.All issues of faith are like this.It’s not enough to believe, you have to put your whole weight into it.And when you do, you risk falling, but you find something solid.

When I read that, I immediately begin to argue with myself. I know that is the type of faith I need – to walk out into nothingness hoping that somehow, some way I will not fall into it. But I’m so, so afraid that I will fall. Actually, what I’m afraid of, when it comes down to it, is that my faith is in the wrong place. Yes, my faith is in God, but is the decision I’m making the one He wants me to make? Is the abyss I’m about to step into the abyss where God is waiting with the invisible bridge, or did I make a wrong turn at the last tunnel?

I want to have that faith. I know that if I do I will have some utterly unbelievable stories to tell people as witness of God’s awesome power. Not only that, but there will be no doubt whatsoever that I was walking in God’s will once I see that bridge start to form under my feet. I think it’s important to note that it’s not blind faith. We have reason to go where we go, just like Indiana Jones knew he had to step out because of a riddle….he didn’t just come up with it on his own. God leads us places and brings us to points in our lives, so it’s not like we can’t even explain why we’re about to take that step of faith, even if the reason we have seems ridiculous.

Am I the only one who feels like this? I hope not…I don’t like being alone. At the same time, I hope there are others who boldly step out in faith this way. If you have, I’d like to hear about it. I’m not talking about things like I prayed about which car I should buy and God showed me. I’m talking about stuff like I felt called to sell every single thing I had to move to a crazy place and be a missionary, or even giving to the Lord in your need (how can I give financially to God’s work if I can’t pay my bills?). Stuff that was sink or swim, life or death. Those are great things to share, and maybe they can be used to uplift those of us who lack in our faith.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Amazing
• Battle One, Battle Won
• “Starting” Weight
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things

But why is it so difficult for me to do what He’s asking me to do?

I just want my lemonade.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Amazing
• Battle One, Battle Won
• “Starting” Weight
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things

Let’s say you know someone who’s dying of a terminal illness, and I’m talking they’re “supposed” to die like in a few days. The doctors all say it, and most of the laypeople surrounding the situation have resigned to this fact. But for some reason, you feel a clear word from God to pray for healing for this person. “They’re not dead yet,” you reason, “God can still work this miracle.” So you have this really strong conviction that God will heal this person and they will not die in a few days. It seems very unreasonable, but then again since when is God “reasonable”? You pray healing for this person because you believe that’s what God’s directing you to do. You know God can heal this person if He wanted to, but do you have the faith that He will?

After a couple days, you’re given clear direction from God to go to the hospital to visit this dying individual. Your job is to speak to this individual and tell them that God has led you in prayer for them and that you believe God will heal them. You need them to know this so you can pray with them about it. God can still provide this healing, but do you have the faith to claim victory over this illness such that this person will walk out of the hospital alive and without blemish?

What I’m trying to reason in my mind is the difference between faith and expectation. If I’m led by God in something, should I have the faith that it will work out the way I think it ought to work out? If I’m praying for healing for someone, should I expect that person to be healed? What if they’re not healed? Has my faith been in vain? If I really love this person, and I feel led by God to pray for their healing, and they die because of it anyway, what went wrong? Why would God want me to pray for healing only to have my loved one die?

In Luke 11:9-13 Jesus says if we ask it will be given to us, if we seek it we’ll find it, and if we knock the door will be opened to us. Is that talking about Salvation, or is that any petition we ask of the Lord? In other verses (that I can’t think of right now), we can read that if we ask God for something in His will, He will give it to us. Are we really trusting God if we pray for something we know God is leading us to but still keep our expectations low so we don’t get hurt? Am I the only one who feels that doing this cheapens the power of God in my life? So what if my expectations aren’t met? If I’m really doing what God is leading me to do, then there is a reason beyond my understanding for why things didn’t turn out the way I wanted, and I will know that reason in time. Maybe, just maybe, keeping my expectations low will keep me from reaping the blessings that God has in store for me as I follow His will.

Tell me your thoughts about this. I really want to hear them, especially if you have experience to back up your claims.

-j

More great posts:

• Here’s Some Help For Your Bible Reading
• Seder Series Part 3 – The Order of Things
• Amazing
• Battle One, Battle Won
• “Starting” Weight