Tonight...Jesus Spoke

Tonight was like any other evening in our home. Our daughter comes home from school, does homework, we eat dinner, have play time, do devotionals, then bed. *A little history* This year my eldest son has decided to read the Bible in a year and was doing so in his personal Bible (Dan's old one). We were clearing out some books to donate when I came across my Chronological Bible that I never used. (When I read through the Bible I prefer to use the Chronological schedule, but my own Bible, so I keep a print out of what to read each day in my ESV Study Bible.) Anyways, I thought my son would love it and he does! I ran across it on Monday and he has been in it every night and prior to Monday, he was in his personal Bible every night since January 1st.

Prior to this year, he has read through Revelations (yes, I know! Wow) and the Gospel of John. I couldn't be prouder of him...for REAL! He has cried a couple times this month because he lost track of time and it got too late for him to read his daily reading! It was hard on him, like really hard! Praying his future wife is growing in Jesus as well!

So, back to tonight --

Jesus spoke to me! After dinner, I came in the living room and sat down on my laptop to find "Duck Tape projects - Yes *shaking head as I picture duck tape stuck EVERYWHERE like hair and blankets. Oy!* *now shaking head and thinking maybe I should rethink these duck tape projects* Haha. Okay, so I am researching said projects and in comes Payton. He sits down, grabs a blanket from behind the sofa, grabs his Bible from the table, takes out his bookmark and settles in for his time with the Lord. My heart, friends!!!

So, here's the "thing" that God laid on my heart tonight! We have never made our children read their Bibles, we have never made them feel guilty for not reading. We encourage, we talk about how our relationships with God are nothing without time spent with Him. We have talked about how our lives are to consistently glorify our Lord. So, we read...we study...we intentionally put Jesus in our day!

So, seeing my kiddos read their Bible and know that this is because God has prompted their hearts to Him is unexplainable. I have seen many times how our children learn more out of watching, than by hearing, but this put a whole new look at what I already knew. Our kids see what we do (I know nothing profound, but can't explain this new feeling I got)! When we feel like reading is a task, or we get angry because we are interrupted, or when we only study when our kids are asleep, or when we "don't have time", our kids see! Our children, whom God has entrusted us to grow to glorify Him, are seeing that our time with the Lord is not a blessing. 

We need to live intentionally and know that our kids are watching! Our kids see our joy in God when we truly have joy in Him! We will mess up! Wow, do I mess up! Too often do I look at studying as a task or I want to rush it to get to something else. I know I do this, then I decide I'm not going to think like that, then two days later I think it again. Ugh! Satan get out! How many times do you say that? I feel I need to say it a lot! Like when Jesus turned to Peter and said, "Get behind me Satan!" He wasn't saying that to be funny or sarcastic, He was saying it because Satan was using Peter to temp Jesus away from His divine plan of dying on the cross for you and me!

I know that Satan uses my own flesh against me to keep me from my divine plan, to keep me from intentionally living for my children's divine plan. Like when I see my second oldest son and how amazing he is with the littles. I have NEVER seen a more helpful, loving, caring boy in my entire life. He will get his little brother's coat on and out in the car, grab Danté in his carseat and take him out, start the car, make bottles, etc without being asked. He is loving. So loving! However, sometimes he "gets in the way" as my flesh would say. Satan get out! I have to say this out loud and I have to say it often!

I want to live intentionally for my children to see the love of God we have in our hearts. I want to live so they see my faults and mistakes and how God uses them to strengthen, teach, and shape me. I want them to know that their faults and mistakes will bring them closer to God because He is the only one who can use them for something so much bigger! 

So, as God laid this gentle reminder on my heart I couldn't help but feel that I am not the only one who needs it... am I?? 

Here is to living and loving intentionally!

How I Study God's Word

I get questions all the time that include: what commentary do I use, when do I find time to study, what do I define as study, do I read only what I'm studying...

I would like to share just how I spend my time with the Lord in case anyone out there is wondering where to begin, what you can add, etc. I learned a lot of this in a session at a youth group summer camp for TEENAGERS :) We are never too old to learn :) This study style works for me and may not work for you! That is okay!

I always, always, always end with praying for my husband in our marriage journal! I blogged about that HERE if you would like to start that with your spouse or for your future spouse!

I sometimes study in the morning, sometimes late morning and other times after lunch. Honestly, I don't have a set time to study. I am a mom who homeschools and fosters, and my mornings are not always the same. So many people think you have to study first thing in the morning, well, you don't! We need our daily time with God, yes, but it does not have to be before a certain time in order to be a good Christian. It does need to be a time when we can truly focus and our hearts are with God. Pray before starting. Ask God to open your heart and eyes to what He is wanting you to see. Pray that He quiets your actions and stills your thoughts.

Secondly, when I study I get my tote with my pens, highlighters, notebook, and commentary out. Do you need all this? Absolutely not! I am a writer. I love pens. I love to write things in my Bible. When I pray for someone, I write their name, date, and short description of prayer for them in the margins. When I learn something, I write it in the margins. I underline, I highlight. I underline notes, and things in the introductions.


There are a few reasons why I do this. One is because I love the reminders! I love turning to a passage and seeing why God put it in my heart before and what new thing I learned from it today. Another is because it is my legacy to my children one day.

The notebook is for my notes from the commentary. This notebook is strictly for my study time. I write out every verse that I am studying. So, say today I was studying Ephesians 1:1-3, then I will write that passage out to start my study time. Secondly, I read through the commentary while cross checking along in my Bible. If something catches my attention, then I take note of it in my notebook and may write something in my Bible. For instance, when I found out Saints in the Bible means the same thing as Christians, I wrote that down in both places.

My commentary is written by James Montgomery Boice, I get them from Amazon. He is a wonderful writer, easy to understand, and very descriptive. The chapters are set based on how much is packed into each passage. Sometimes the passage is one to three verses and other times it could be six verses. I line up doctrinally with this pastor spot on (SUPER IMPORTANT). I use Logos as a study tool as well. It is more on the expensive side. Biblia is a free version sponsored by Logos. It doesn't have as much that you can do, but still good.

My Bible - well it is an ESV Study Bible.  This version is very as closely translated as possible. Other versions like NIV or NLT is translated a passage or sentence as a whole. ESV is translated word for word. NASB and KJV also translates word for word. KJV is much harder to understand so find one that works for you. All of these are great and we each have a preference - and that is OKAY!

These tabs on my Bible - well, these are my questions. Areas I have come to in my Chronological reading and haven't found an answer that has felt complete to me yet. God has spoken through people and I have removed a few this past year, then I add another, lol. Never ending - like when you're cleaning your house with kids - pick up one thing to turn around and see two more in its place :) It's good!

I am also reading the Bible chronologically! This is the second time I have done this and love it! Every time I finish, I start over again. Every time, I read something, I see something I didn't see before! This is my reading when my mind needs a break. Sometimes I start with my chronological reading and other times I end with it or do it in the evenings. My ten year old just said his goal this year is to read through the Bible, so he is starting at the Beginning :) <--- INTENTIONAL LIVING RIGHT THERE!!! :)

Most importantly, do what you do! Find your style, find what works. What time of the day works best. For my husband, his time is at work. He takes his to work every day and does it there. Sometimes he can't fit it in his lunch hour or he works through lunch so he sits in his truck in the driveway when he comes home. Find your time that you can solely be with God! Maybe a digital Bible or commentary is better for you to listen to while in the bath or driving home from work. WHATEVER IS PRIORITY, WILL BE PRIORITY! Don't fall into the trap where we say, "I don't have time". We all have time for what we want to do.

So, there you have it! Find a comfy chair and dig in...it's good :)