Teachable Spirit

“All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching the truth, rebuking error, correcting faults, and giving instruction for right living,”—2 Timothy 3:16 (GNT)

Happy 2024!

God’s desire is for us to have an open and teachable heart. When a teacher makes an assignment, they give you directions on how to complete it. You are taught the necessary material to complete the task. God is our teacher. He is going to give us the tools to complete His plans for us. Rather than rely on my limited wisdom on what lies ahead of me, I need to be depending on my loving Father to guide me through His Word.

If you are like me and your mind can easily wander during your Bible reading time, try reading the passage out loud. It helps me take in the details. I also will go to Biblehub.com and look at different Bible translations. It can help me better understand what that scripture is saying. A study Bible can also be beneficial in comprehension. It has footnotes which can help with those difficult reads. It also has a synopsis before each book of the Bible for better understanding.

It is a misconception that reading the Bible takes too much time. One way to try and discipline yourself is by starting with 5 minutes a day. I think you will find; your heart will soon desire more time than that. Pick a time that you know you will be able to do it. Personally, if I did this at bedtime, I know I would fall asleep. Morning is best for me, but it may not be for you.

If you can dedicate 15 minutes a day, finding a Bible reading plan that has a corresponding podcast, is very helpful as well. The Bible is the voice of God in print. It is written for EVERYONE. It is called the Living Word. It lives in us. It convicts, inspires, comforts and changes us.

Reading the Bible helps me to experience God in a different way. I see Him at work not just in the Bible, but in me and in our world. The more time I spend in God’s Word, the more I desire to live and love like Jesus.

If I don’t dig into His Word, the Holy Spirit isn’t able to bring me new insight or mature my faith. This will be my fifth year to read the Bible cover-to-cover. I am going to be honest, the last few weeks were hard to do with the holidays. By the end there is a part of me that says, “maybe you take a break next year and just make sure you stay in the Word.”

I know me. A short break can turn into a long break. I need structure. Committing to some kind of yearly Bible reading plan is the only way I will pick up my Bible every day to read it. The first one I did, which I loved was the Bible Recap..

The 2nd year, I tried one where you read both the Old Testament and New Testament each day. I really prefer the chronological one. My 3rd year I went back to the Bible Recap. This year I tried a new one by The Daily Grace co. called, Eden to Eternity; The Chronological Story of Scripture. This year, they are doing a New Testament reading plan.

For 2024, I think I found one that might better suit me. It is called the Bible Reading Coach hosted by Karl Vaters I chose this one because rather than have a daily podcast that corresponds with my reading, he does one for the week. It is up to me how I want to break up what I read each day.

According to his website, If you've ever tried, but failed to read through the Bible, help is here! This weekly podcast will guide you from Genesis to Revelation. There is also a downloadable printable outline in weekly and daily formats as well as transcripts from each podcast.

I thought about maybe doing a 6-month Bible reading plan because I plan on signing up in the fall for Bible Study Fellowship. It will start at the end of August.  They will be studying the book of Revelation for their study next year. It will be pretty intensive. If I am able to manage doing both, I will. I know God will carve out the time for me, if it His will.

If you haven’t ever done a one year Bible reading plan, I would encourage you to try it for 2024. There are so many out there to choose. If you have the YouVersion app, you can search all of the different ones to see which one suits you the best. Maybe start out with a one week plan and work your way up to longer ones?

Father God,

Open my eyes to learn scripture as I study it. Help me to understand what You are saying to me.  Forgive me when I rush through my Bible reading. Thank You for the Holy Spirit which enables me to process what scripture says. Strengthen me through Your Word. Bring it to life for me and speak to my heart through it. May 2024 be a year of expanding my knowledge of who You are. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

January Verse

“It is truly wonderful when the people of God live together in peace.”—Psalm 133:1 (CEV)
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"For Unto Us a Child is Born...."

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Day is about celebrating the birth of our Lord and Savior as well as what He did on the cross for our salvation. Over 2000 years ago were given the gift of eternal life. God sent His Son to bring light into our darkness and offer a way out of our sins through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross for us.

Because of God’s grace and mercy, we have the gift of the Holy Spirit who we can call on any time of the day. He hears our cries. He gives us the strength to get through the difficult days.

While 2023 has had its ups and downs for me. I have much to be thankful for this year. From February 14th (when my mom got sick) until now, I have learned a new “normal” for my life. My word for the year was, minister. I had no idea when God gave me that word it would apply to me with my mother.

Typically, when I think of that word, I think about it in a religious sense. However, one of the definitions is; to give service, care, or aid; attend, as to wants or necessities. This is exactly what I have been doing for my mother the past 9 months. I thought God was going to use me to minister to other people, but He knew I was going to have to help with my mother. I don’t know how I would have gotten through this year, without leaning into God and His Word. He has been my source and strength that got me through those challenging days. Even though my mother is adjusting, I still never know what each day holds with her. God sustains me.

As we close this year, let us think about all the ways God has blessed us. Can you see His hand in the curve balls life may have thrown you? My mother’s Alzheimer’s progressed to the point where she needed to be moved to an assisted living apartment closer to me. This definitely wasn’t on my radar.

However, I can see the good that has come out of it. I have met some special people where she is living. I have a new appreciation for those who work in assisted living facilities as well as all those working at hospitals. Because Christmas Day falls on a Monday, many don’t have the flexibility to get that day off. They have staffing 24 hours a day every day. As many of us spend time with family and friends, today is a work day for them. They will have to choose another day to celebrate their Christmas.

I am thankful for their love and dedication to their jobs. My mother will spend some time with us Christmas Day, but after a few hours she will be ready to go back to her place. At least I know dropping her off, that there will be staff there to make sure she is okay. Not all the residents are fortunate enough to have a place to go or family that visits them. I am sure it hurts their hearts to feel “forgotten.”

Not only do I know God has not forgotten any of His children today, but He knows each of us by name. We thank Him for sending His son, Jesus to dwell with us. As Isaiah 9:6 tells me; He is my Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father and Prince of Peace and He is yours too. That is something worth celebrating not just today and tomorrow but every day. Merry Christmas and may your day be filled with God’s love, joy and peace.

Father God,

Thank You for loving us so much, that You sent Your Son, Jesus, Our Savior, into this world to save us. We celebrate today not only for His birth but also for what Christ did on the cross for our salvation. I give You praise for this eternal gift. I lift those up to You today, who are unable to be with their family due to their jobs. For those who are alone without family to talk to or visit them, may they feel the warmth and love of their Personal Savior. While they may feel forgotten, You know them , see them and love them. I pray these things in the name of Jesus. Amen.

  December Verse

“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”—Isaiah 9:6

If you are knitting or crocheting gifts to give away, please make sure you tweet @KnitPrayShare or share your projects on the Knit, Pray, Share Facebook page or Instagram using the hashtag #KnitPrayShare. Be sure to attach a tag to whatever gift you make