 Hi -- I don’t mean to put you off with this question, but I was just wondering - have you read your Bible today? Over the past several years, I have worked to make it a habit to read mine in the morning before the busyness of the day sets in. My desire and goal is to take time to listen to God before facing the world each day. It has become a time to lay aside every weight….looking unto Jesus so I can run with endurance the race that is set before me each day (Hebrews 12:1-2). Sometimes that means getting up pretty early and at first it seemed hard, but now it has become a habit I never want to break. I have come to appreciate how much I need that time in the Word.
I started nurturing my Bible reading habit about six and a half years ago when I decided I wanted to begin reading through the Bible, from Genesis to Revelation, every year. If you have ever done that, or made a resolution to do it, you know that you must make it a daily commitment. If you fall behind a few days, the missed reading swamps you and it’s hard to catch up. At that point it’s very easy to quit. But maybe you already know about that. I learned the hard way. I have read through the Bible every year for six years now, by the grace of God and my accountability plan. Let me tell you about the accountability plan. When I first started doing this, I decided that at the end of every year I would give the Bible I had read to one of my grandchildren. The first year was the toughest. There were many times I missed several days in a row or even a week. It was hard catching up and at times when I had twenty to thirty or more pages to read in a day, I definitely didn’t get much out of it. But during that first year, I discovered that praying for the child who would receive the Bible and asking God to show me verses and give me comments to share with him or her made the daily Bible reading extra special. By the end of December, I had a Bible with quite a few underlings, penciled in personal notes, hand-drawn hearts and stars and even some snippets of commentary. A most precious thing I have noticed is that every year of reading is different. First of all, I approach my reading differently because I’m reading for a different child. My prayers concerning my reading are unique for each child. Each one is an individual, created by God to be special and distinct from any other child. Each one is an original! The result is that each year I approach God’s Word in a fresh new way. I read with no preconceptions. I approach as a child. I read with mind and heart ready and eager to learn anew. From struggling to find time to fit this kind of daily reading into my life six and a half years ago, I now yearn for that time with God. It is the best part of my day, a part I refuse to miss. I still love and learn from doing my Bible study lesson, and that is a daily commitment as well. But this time with God is just for us and only to share with one other special person -- a grand child. Six of my grandchildren now have Bibles from Gram, given in love from the depths of my heart -- a heart that has grown softer, richer, fuller, and more thankful every year, having abandoned itself to the Word of God in a faithful though often feeble commitment to make it my priority. I pray that those who have received their Bibles will read them and learn to love, honor, and obey the Word and the Author. I am so thankful that God has called me to His Word in this way -- thankful that He has set His Word in my hand and in my heart -- thankful that His Word is near enough to touch and read -- thankful that I can pass it on to the youngest generation of my family. I'm wondering what you have read today that you will be passing on to someone else? Perhaps God is calling you to read His word and pass it on. written with love~ Suzie
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 Spring is here! I recently returned from a visit with my family in east Texas and you could tell spring was in the air because of all the people out biking, running, and walking. The cold rains (and sometimes snow) are past and the hot humidity of summer is in the seemingly distant future, so everyone is out enjoying the spring weather. Another reason you know its spring in Texas is the bluebonnets. They are in bloom everywhere, growing wild alongside the roadways. On Easter you see parents positioning their little ones, all dressed up in their Easter best, in among the bluebonnets for picture taking.
Here in Hawaii we don’t notice the coming of spring so much because the weather is almost always warm here -- great weather for walking and enjoying the colorful, fragrant flowers that bloom wild and in every garden all year round. I love walking in Hawaii! The air is always tinged with the scent of flowers, and the views of ocean, mountains, clouds and rainbows are ever-changing and never grow old. This past week, as I have gone walking with my dog each morning, I have thought of my friend Betty Newman who shared some Scriptures on Facebook on the theme of “walking.” Of course, she was referring to walking in the Biblical sense. When New Testament writers spoke of “walking”, they did not have in mind moving forward on foot at a fairly regular pace. They used the word “walk” in a metaphorical way as referring to a certain way of life, conduct, or behavior. Many times the Greek verb tense used by the biblical writer refers to a continuing, ongoing way of conduct or behavior. In fact, the term “to walk” can be translated “to live”. I’m thankful to Betty for inspiring me to learn more about my Christian “walk”. Her thoughts led me see what more the New Testament had to say about “walking” and how we are to “walk” the Christian life. I found that Ephesians 5:15 admonishes us to “be careful how you walk” (NASB), and Paul’s and John’s letters are filled with counsel on how to “walk” the Christian life. This week, as I have walked (in the physical sense) in the hills above Honolulu each day, I have been pondering just how God would have me walk (in the spiritual sense). Below are the Scripture passages I found on walking as a Christian. I have decided to take one verse a day to reflect upon, search the implications, and apply to my life. My prayer is that by the time I finish the list my daily walk will be more pleasing to the Lord and more in step with the life He exampled for us. I hope you will find a use for this list also. May God use it to bless you richly……Suzie walk in newness of life (Romans 6:4) walk properly, as in the day (Romans 13:13) walk by faith, not sight (2 Corinthians 5:7) walk in the Spirit (Galatians 5:16) walk worthy of the calling with which you were called (Ephesians 4:1) walk in love (Ephesians 5:2) walk as children of light (Ephesians 5:8) walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise (Ephesians 5:15) walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God (Colossians 1:10) walk in Him [Jesus Christ] (Colossians 2:6) walk in wisdom (Colossians 4:5) walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory (1 Thessalonians 2:12) walk properly (1 Thessalonians 4:12) walk in the light as He is in the light (I John 1:7) walk just as He [Jesus Christ] walked (1 John 2:6) walk according to His commandments (2 John 1:6) walk in the truth (3 John 1:3,4) |
SUZIE KLEIN
I have been involved in Disciplers since 1987, as a discussion leader, teacher, writer, and now as director. I am profoundly committed to the stewardship of this ministry which God has entrusted to me for a time. God’s word is the chief joy of my life. I cherish my personal time in the word, and I am filled with gratitude to be able to share His word with you, my fellow disciples in Christ. Categories |
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