the Word
Halfway.
Today is day fifteen of my thirty day challenge. Every day has definitely not been an "ideal" time in the Word. Kids = unpredictability + interruptions. Can you relate? But I have committed to trying to get up before my kids and have spent time in the Word everyday. Everyday I am making an effort to make my time with the Lord the priority of my day.
A few weeks ago our pastor preached from 2 Timothy 3. He challenged us to let the Word of God make you complete. Complete. That is how I feel when I am in the Word. Not like I have arrived or my life is perfect or easy. But complete in that God's Word satisfies my deepest needs. I am a work in progress for sure. But I am thankful that I serve a God who more than makes up for the countless ways I am deficient. And because of that I am compelled to look to Jesus each day and stand firm on His promises as I spend time in the Word. He makes me complete.
How about you?
Are you making your time with the Lord the priority of your days this summer?
Are you allowing God's Word to satisfy your deepest needs?
Are you allowing Him alone to complete you?
I wrote these notes from the same sermon:
Hang onto God's Word
Prayerfully feed on God's Word.
It will equip us to make a dramatic difference in a perilous world.
I want to make a dramatic difference for the Lord...in my family and in this world. I know that the only way that is possible is by being connected to Him. And the only way to stay connected to the Lord is by prayerfully spending time in His Word everyday.
Every part of Scripture is God-breathed and useful one way or another--showing us truth, exposing our rebellion, correcting our mistakes, training us to live God's way. Through the Word we are put together and shaped up for the tasks God has for us.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (The Message)
I would love to hear how you are spending your quiet times too. Please share!
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And just one picture of my boys from Father's Day.
The boys think their daddy is pretty great...and so do I!
posted by the mcclenahans @ 7:00 AM
11 Comments:
I too try to get up before they do and I am amazed at how being "complete" as you put it completely changed the dynamic of my day. When I start my day with our Lord I am more of who I want to be and more heart is more at peace with who I am and who God is continuing to mold me into. Sometimes I feel a heavy weight from the responsibility of mothering my sweet babies and pouring into them in hopes that they would see the face of Jesus first in their momma and that weight always seems much lighter when my feet are firmly planted in the Lord. Our time with them is so short and I feel it is essential to seek as much godly counsel and instruction, first from our Almighty while raising them because before we know it they will be gone and above all I want to know that I did my best at directing them to the Lord, that is my biggest prayer for their life, that they may find Jesus at a young age and love and live for the Lord their whole life and I absolutely see how spending time everyday with the Lord is the only way this can be accomplished. It is a challenge like you say, but the fact that we are fighting through and doing it is so important I think! Sorry this is so long. Setting aside special time is something new to me this year and I am amazed at how much I need it and thankful at how it fills my heart. Thank you for doing the challenge Jes and encouraging other women to feel this way!
Blessings,
Lyss
I had to read a book called
Prayer: The Timeless Secret of High-Impact Leaders by Dave Earley for a grad school course this summer. It was pretty good. If you'd like to borrow it I can send it to you.
The best time for me to study my scriptures or read something uplifting is before I go to sleep. I get up very early each day to begin work at 7 am so I'm much too sleepy in the morning. But at night, I can reflect on my day and on His words to help strengthen me. Thanks for being a good example and always sharing your insight about God and how He impacts your life. It looks like your husband had a fun day with his boys, but I'm sure he took the time to remember his sweet Cora, too. Have a wonderful day and wonderful summer.
Thanks for sharing this Jess. I am right there with ya on your 30 day challenge. My own personal goal is to continue for the whole summer. I am a teacher, so when school is out I have the opportunity to put God first when my son goes down for a nap. My quiet time consists of also reading a a psalm, then turning to the New Testament and reading a couple of chapters from any book I feel compelled to dive into. I am also trying to listen to sermons from my church online throughout the week. Sometimes hearing the same sermon from Sunday a second time helps me to either solidify something I had already heard, or I will hear a completely different point from the sermon that I may have been zoning on when I heard it the first time. I sure appreciate the accountability you provide on your blog. It's nice to know we're all in this together. The prayer piece is an area I'd like to grow in. Particularly, the LISTENING for what He has to say to me... instead of me rambling on and on to Him. :) Thanks for sharing today. Love the scripture!
I think I needed to read this today. I know what I need to do. Thank you, Jess, for a timely post. I have been exercising for about six weeks, and have felt good physically, but...it can only help so much. I thought the other day,"If I spent the amount of time on my spiritual health as I do on my physical health, my life would look drastically different." Anyway, again, thank you.
Hi !! I actually wanted your opinion on something .I actually started to buy The Message as I have a hard time understanding words in the bible and get frustrated.Anyways I went to purchase it on Amazon and read people's comments on it and while most were good,a few said something about it not being the Bible at all and talked of it like it was false and evil.which scared me...what do you think ??? I wanted somebody's opinion who I know to be a child of God's and I just happened to read your post today and saw where you wrote a verse from The Message.Thanks so much for your help !!
I'm doing the Soul Detox plan on the youversion app w/ #shereadstruth. Love it so far! :]
Cutest....Babies.....Ever !!!
so funny! levi's little face was right in line with his baby picture on the side bar...and it is the same exact smile with more hair on his head! so cute with his expressions. you have a handsome brood of men in your life. : )(apologize my comment isn't related to the 30 day challenge)
Hi Jess - I haven't missed a day with my time in the word. Like I said - getting it on my phone makes it so easy for me. Lately there has been more tragic news in our house and I find that I cling to the word more then ever. I plan to keep this up after our 30 days is up as best as I can.
Have a blessed day.
~dt~
I would love to know what camera lens you use the most, your pictures are fantastic!!!!!!!!!!
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