I’ve learned over the last several years not to rush with my Savior! He never rushes, but I sure wear myself out rushing ahead of Him, only to return, just so I can rush ahead again, only to return, and so it goes (Wait! Am I burning calories doing all this running back and forth?!). I've wanted to stay on task, keep up the pace, whatever pace that is, and not get behind. Jesus has so worked on my heart over the last several years when it comes to reading His Word, and kind of life in general. I can’t remember the last time I have been on a Bible reading plan. Please know, there is nothing wrong with them, not at all. They provide great structure, discipline and focus. I was the person that desperately needed it. I thought I would be a sloppy reader if I didn't have it, let alone a lazy one.
Well now, some might define my time in the word as sloppy, but certainly not lazy, because it is without discipline and without a steady, set pace. Instead, I read at the pace the Holy Spirit leads me to and I don’t worry about racing through the Bible in a year, just so I can say, “Look! Did it again! Read the whole Bible in a year!” Please do not let this convict you if it does not apply. This is what the Lord has done in my heart. I have been so excited in this time! Last year I spent the whole year in Genesis, Job, and then started the beginning of the Gospels (I’m reading the chronological New Living Translation so that is why it was Genesis and then Job). That was all I could get through. I started to let my soul hang out where God wanted to work, whether that was in me or through me. Trust me, most all of the time it was certainly in me. This girl here has constant, major construction work going on inside! If you ever hear a lot of clanging and noise when you are around me, sorry, it’s just Jesus working hard to get my sinful self out of His holy temple!
Hanging out with Job for that length of time kind of wore my emotions out, so I ran to the Gospels. I love reading them in this way. All blended together, in the order of events, as best as can be determined by scholars. This means I can read a snippet from all four Gospels in one sitting, if it lends itself to the situation. It’s been pretty incredible! But alas, I am caught up again, under serious construction in my soul, with the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). The Holy Spirit just has me mulling around those 42 verses and won’t let me go! I have wanted to move on, even said to my Jesus, “Lord! We gotta get goin’! I at least want to get through the Gospels by the end of the year!” I forget my own lessons at times :-)
It’s not even that I’m discovering all these new incredible insights that Jesus is only showing to me! In fact, so much of what is coming to mind has been spoken, shared, talked about before and well noted but hundreds of women and incredible teachers. One of my Pastors just did a great message on this passage at the end of 2014 that was so good! No, it’s just as simple as learning to sit at my Father’s feet and take in all of Him and all He has for me until He is done in this area of my life. I actually don’t want to leave Jesus and this dear woman at the well. Even as I write this, I realize I can’t possibly get out all of what I am learning in just one post. I’ve shared parts on Instagram, but there is still so much more…maybe this will be a few posts about the construction going on in my heart and soul as I experience how my Savior radically impacts this unlikely woman’s life. Yeah, that’s probably best…what’s the hurry!
To be continued…
Well now, some might define my time in the word as sloppy, but certainly not lazy, because it is without discipline and without a steady, set pace. Instead, I read at the pace the Holy Spirit leads me to and I don’t worry about racing through the Bible in a year, just so I can say, “Look! Did it again! Read the whole Bible in a year!” Please do not let this convict you if it does not apply. This is what the Lord has done in my heart. I have been so excited in this time! Last year I spent the whole year in Genesis, Job, and then started the beginning of the Gospels (I’m reading the chronological New Living Translation so that is why it was Genesis and then Job). That was all I could get through. I started to let my soul hang out where God wanted to work, whether that was in me or through me. Trust me, most all of the time it was certainly in me. This girl here has constant, major construction work going on inside! If you ever hear a lot of clanging and noise when you are around me, sorry, it’s just Jesus working hard to get my sinful self out of His holy temple!
Hanging out with Job for that length of time kind of wore my emotions out, so I ran to the Gospels. I love reading them in this way. All blended together, in the order of events, as best as can be determined by scholars. This means I can read a snippet from all four Gospels in one sitting, if it lends itself to the situation. It’s been pretty incredible! But alas, I am caught up again, under serious construction in my soul, with the woman at the well (John 4:1-42). The Holy Spirit just has me mulling around those 42 verses and won’t let me go! I have wanted to move on, even said to my Jesus, “Lord! We gotta get goin’! I at least want to get through the Gospels by the end of the year!” I forget my own lessons at times :-)
It’s not even that I’m discovering all these new incredible insights that Jesus is only showing to me! In fact, so much of what is coming to mind has been spoken, shared, talked about before and well noted but hundreds of women and incredible teachers. One of my Pastors just did a great message on this passage at the end of 2014 that was so good! No, it’s just as simple as learning to sit at my Father’s feet and take in all of Him and all He has for me until He is done in this area of my life. I actually don’t want to leave Jesus and this dear woman at the well. Even as I write this, I realize I can’t possibly get out all of what I am learning in just one post. I’ve shared parts on Instagram, but there is still so much more…maybe this will be a few posts about the construction going on in my heart and soul as I experience how my Savior radically impacts this unlikely woman’s life. Yeah, that’s probably best…what’s the hurry!
To be continued…
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