Bible in 90 Days

When the Bible Becomes More than the Good Book

March 8, 2013 By stacey 2 Comments

I’ve heard a lot of chatter lately about the Bible. The good book has its own mini-series on the History Channel. It even trended on Twitter last week. People are still fascinated by the greatest selling book of all time.

I’ve had a Bible my whole life. I have studied it for years. But last summer I did something I have never done before. I read it cover to cover in 88 days. It was not hard to do, but it did take a firm commitment. I read for about 1 hour each day, usually in the morning before my family woke up. I had an amazing group of online friends who read with me. We cheered for each other to keep going.

And somewhere in the middle of the summer, the Bible became more than the Good Book to me.

I’ve always known it to be good. But this epic story of God’s grace pierced my heart and gave me a fresh glimpse of my redeemer, I had never seen before. He relentlessly pursues us. He doesn’t have to. But He does. He loves us like no other. His patience astounds me. His story, is for me.

As I read, I wrote, too. I thought in light of all the Bible chatter, I would pull all my blog posts from last summer’s reading into one place. I don’t know if it will encourage you to read the Bible in 88 days. But, I sure hope it encourages you read the Bible a little bit each day. Maybe start with a cup a coffee and read through my journey, and if you want to join others in reading the Bible in 90 days (or 88) you can find out more by going to this website.

Have a wonderful weekend!

xo,

Stacey

Filed Under: Bible in 90 Days Tagged With: Bible, Bible in 90 Days, Scripture

2 Comments

A to the Men

August 24, 2012 By stacey 9 Comments

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen.” Revelation 22:21

:::

I finished reading the entire Bible yesterday in 88 days.

Yes, I cried.

I am overwhelmed and grateful for the journey.

From my first note,

“And God said….” (Gen 1:9)

to the last listed above – encountering God in His Word this summer has changed me.

And right now I am speechless. Unable to really put it into words. All I can say is

Amen.

:::

I pray that this weekend you have a chance to sit long with God and His Word, drink a cup of good coffee and praise Him with all your heart.

xoxo,

Stacey

Filed Under: Bible in 90 Days

9 Comments

The Most Powerful Place to Write

August 18, 2012 By stacey 7 Comments

You yourselves are our letter, written on our hearts, known and read by everyone. You show that you are a letter from Christ, the result of our ministry, written not with ink but with the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets of human hearts.

2 Corinthians 3:2,3

We open our hearts and from the beginning God begins to mark it with His holy pen. He, writes Christ on it – a stamp, telling those who read it, we are His only. Since He is the Word made flesh, this Word brings life and all the power of heaven with it.

And as we go on from there, our hearts bump into others and we write a message on their hearts as well.When we write His grace Words we build up, love on and encourage them. It gives me pause to think of the hearts I have written on today. What mark did I leave, when read by the world, to show how amazing and lovely I think they really are? Have I left a God Word there for others to read? Will my words on their hearts point others to Him?

The most powerful place to write is on the tablet of someone’s heart. I’m overwhelmed by this opportunity He so freely gives. It is sacred space.

His first mark says….

mine
daughter
grace lavished
loved
forgiven
lovely

Do my marks thereafter echo that?

Oh Lord, this pen is yours.

Move it by your holy hand.

Always.

Filed Under: Bible in 90 Days, Encourage, Writing

7 Comments

She Did What She Could

August 10, 2012 By stacey 6 Comments

Mark 14:6″ She has done a beautiful thing to me. .. She did what she could.”

What does He ask of me?

He only asks of me to do what I can do. And what can I do?

I can love my family.
I can teach my kids.
I can pray.
I can study God’s Word.
I can encourage women.
I can use my words to point to Him.
I can offer my song to Him and only Him.

So many times I think He is asking me to do more than I can – that is not my job.

That is His.

:::

Lord,

You are the one that takes my offering and multiplies it.

You make it glorious by your might.

Today I humbly offer what I can – I’m a weary mom who is pouring out her life.

I pray you are pleased with my offering.

Lord it is yours.

Filed Under: Bible in 90 Days, Grow

6 Comments

The Joy Dare

August 6, 2012 By stacey 3 Comments

This week, in my Bible in 90 Days I arrived in the New Testament. I am overwhelmed with joy in this journey through God’s Word. I wanted to take today, to list 21 gifts I have found in His Word just this week alone, won’t you rejoice with me?

The Joy Dare is searching for 1,000 Gifts in 2012

652. He Himself, searches for and looks after His sheep. (Ezekiel 34:11)

653. When we pray, He acts (Daniel 9:23)

654. In times of distress, He answers His children (Johan 2:1)

655. God hears us. (Micah 7:7)

656. He is a refuge in time of trouble. (Naham 1:7)

657. The Sovereign Lord is my strength (Habakuk 3:19)

658. He will take great delight in you (Zephaniah 3:17)

659. He is a God of compassion (Zechariah 10:6)

660. The LORD will be king of the whole earth. (Zechariah 14:9)

661 The Lord does not change. (Malachi 3:6)

662. His name is to be Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins (Matthew 1:21)

663. We don’t have to worry about tomorrow, because it will take care of itself. (Matthew 6:34)

664. He longs to give us rest for our weariness (Matthew 11:28)

665. Small faith = big mountains move (Matthew 17:20)

666. Success does note equal greatness, the humility of a child does (Matthew 8:2)

667. With God, all things are possible (Matthew 19:26)

668. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer. (Matthew 21:22)

669. He longs for His children (Matthew 23:37)

670. When He comes in His glory, and all the angels with Him, He will sit on His glorious throne. (Matthew 25:31)

671. He was willing to do the will of His Father (Matthew 26:39)

672. He understands our weakness (Matthew 26:41)

:::

What gifts have you found in His Word this week?

Filed Under: Bible in 90 Days, Joy Dare, Thankful

3 Comments

What Happens When We Pray

August 4, 2012 By stacey 5 Comments

Do you ever wonder what happens when we pray? Have you ever felt like your words are dropping quietly into the air unheard? If you were honest, would you say that sometimes you think it is all for nothing?

Can you close your eyes for a minute and imagine this scene unfolding in the heavenlies?

“As soon as you began to pray a word went out, which I have come to tell you for you are highly esteemed.” Daniel 9:23

A word went out…
The very moment you BEGAN to pray.
There is no back log of prayers.
No waiting for response.
You pray. He acts.

So what is happening? Why does it seem to us with worn out knees that we must persevere in prayer? A few verses later we may have the answer:

“Do not be afraid, Daniel. Since the first day that you set your mind to gain understanding and to humble yourself before your God, your words were heard, and I have come in response to them. But the prince of the Persian kingdom resisted me twenty-one days. Then Michael, one of the chief princes came to help me, because I was detained there with the king of Persia.” Daniel 10:12

That resistance you feel is real. Persevering in prayer is important because a battle of epic proportion may just be occurring in the unseen world on YOUR behalf. Your prayer is heard. It is not for nothing.

Wow. Any questions?