Bible in a Year

Hello,

I first read the Bible in a year back in 2007. At the time I was following a calendar schedule that mostly went from front to back, but occasionally mixed it up with the New Testament. This time I decided to read it chronologically. The OCD in me thought she would like that better. She does not.

In the beginning I was reading 3 chapters a day. And then Chronicles and Psalms got involved. It's been a little distracting moving around so much. Chronicles is basically repeating what I just read.

Another thing that is driving me crazy is jumping around within a book.

Today is 173 and I have kept it up. The only day that I missed was my Marathon and I made up for it the next day.

I will probably read the Bible in a calendar year again next year, but I will not do it chronologically...for my sanity.

The struggles I am having is that it isn't making me want to read. I get frustrated at the jumping around. That's not how reading the Bible should be. I should be eager to jump in and get started. The first time I read it in a year I was excited every day to read the Word.

I will finish what I started and try not to complain. It's a personal thing and I do my best to get past that and really focus on what I am reading, but sometimes I lose that battle.

I have learned so much from the Bible and I have read it every day for almost 9 years. I will never stop that. Sometimes I get more out of it when I focus on smaller amounts though and really soak it in. Perhaps my problem is that I haven't been able to carve out long periods of time to sit and absorb what I am reading daily. I will try to do better.

That's why I like Bible Studies. I do like summer, but I am ready for fall and for my studies to start up again.

*****

For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.
-Romand 15:4

Blessings before Meals

 

Hello,

 

Wow, okay I knew it had been a while since my last post, but I didn't realize that it was in February. There are so many things that I said I wanted to blog about. I'm going to make it my summer project to catch up.

 

One thing that I struggle with is saying a Blessing before my meals. I love when I am out to eat with friends and they say "Shall we say a blessing?" I have surrounded myself with such good people.

 

When I am out to eat by myself I can generally stop myself and silently thank God for the meal and nourishment. But, when I am eating at home I pretty much always forget. If anyone has an idea of how to remind myself I would greatly appreciate it. Case in point: I knew I wanted to blog about this today and did not remember to say anything before I ate.

 

The blessing I say is usually:

 

Bless us O Lord, for these thy gifts which we are about to receive from thy bounty through Christ our Lord. Amen.

 

 

I just googled blessings and there are others that I am familiar with:

 

God is great, God is good.
Let us thank him for our food.
By his hands, we are fed.
Let us thank him for our bread.

 

I did like this one:

 

For food in a world where many walk in hunger;
For faith in a world where many walk in fear;
For friends in a world where many walk alone;
We give you thanks, O Lord.

 

and this one:

 

Our Dear Heavenly Father, we thank Thee for this food. Feed our souls on the bread of life and help us to do our part in kind words and loving deeds. We ask in Jesus' name.

 

If you have a Blessing that you say please share it with me. And if you are having a meal with me, please remind me to say a Blessing. I truly appreciate all that God has provided and want to give Him thanks.

 

*****

 



 

Now as they were eating, Jesus took bread, and after blessing it broke it and gave it to the disciples, and said, "Take, eat; this is my body."
-Matthew 26:26