Bible Reading, Busyness, & Distractions

As I mentioned last week, I started reading through the Bible in 90 days. It has already been an incredible and eye-opening experience. I have a friend who does this once a year and spends the other 9 months of the year studying specific texts more deeply through various studies. I will admit I first thought it a little crazy, but no longer and I'm only a week into this.

I'm amazed at the things I'm learning and the verses that jump out at me which I don't remember noticing before. I was worried I would feel like I was chugging so much information that I couldn't process it but it's simply a different learning experience. While I may not be studying each passage or story in depth, I am seeing how stories relate to each other and the repetition of certain things (which I think if God's repeats it, I'd better really pay attention).

The other thing I've definitely seen is how much Satan does NOT want us in God's word. I've had a couple of people ask me how do I have the time to read that much (it's about an hour a day if you're wondering). Time is a funny thing. We often complain we don't have enough and I completely understand this sentiment. I think I said it myself today. But once I really looked at how I spent my time, it's no wonder I constantly felt like I was beating my head against the wall when it came to my relationship with God. I wasn't giving Him a priority in my time. Through the Holy Spirit's conviction, I took an honest look at how much time I spent watching TV, on the internet, reading other things, some times sleeping, and most of all just plain busyness. The things that often fill my time are not "bad" things, but they are not God things. It's not like I've suddenly freed up loads of time, but I have been more purposeful with my time. I'm probably rambling at this point. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to spend the time I'm given.

Something I have to remind myself daily is that we have made Satan's job very easy these days in that all he has to do is keep us busy or distract us from the good things of God to keep us from growing in Christ.

Impromptu Days & Milestones

Today has been a really good day. I love to look back on a day and be able to state that. I think God is changing my perspective on things and I'm enjoying my days more. I am truly blessed. Life isn't always easy, but it's easier to enjoy when I view it through the eyes of gratitude.

We started the morning at the dentist office for Connor and Caleb. It was Caleb's first appointment. Caleb usually does not care for any doctor, hair cut, or basically anyone messing with him. So, we've been role playing going to the dentist office and he did GREAT! He was a little unsure about the chair moving up and down, but other than that loved it and says he wants to go back. He's a nut.

Afterwards, we realized it was such a gorgeous day and decided it should not be spent indoors. We ate outside at a great burger place. Then, we went over to Bastrop State Park and had fun playing and walking some nature trails. Cole said he was our "fiercest leader" on the trail. I think he meant fearless leader, but either one really fits him most days.

Below are a few pictures from the afternoon. I'm glad my iPod has a camera since our impromptu day meant I was without mine.

Then, we came home and the boys continued to play outside. I was inside doing a few things when Cole and Connor came running in, saying "Mom, come watch, you gotta see." I replied, "What's going on?" Cole excitedly says, "Connor can climb over the fence all by his self." I wish I had brought out the video camera as he went over the fence. He was so proud of himself.

Later, Cole came in telling me all about how he caught a football while running. This was the first time he was able to catch it without stopping to do so. I had no idea these were such big things to boys, but am so glad I was here to hear about it. Jason came in and said "Fence-climbing and football-catching are milestones for boys."

Impromptu family days are sometimes pure bliss!

Music Speaks to the Soul

On Sunday, Jason gave some challenges at church. One was to try listening to only Christian music for the next month. Well, I rarely listen to anything else, but I realized a few months ago that most of time I'm not truly listening. I am even singing along, but not really hearing what the words are saying. In the Beth Moore study on Psalms I just did, she talked one week about the affect music has on us, that is speaks to our soul. So, for the last month or so I have really been paying attention to the words of the songs I hear. I've re-discovered that most Christian music is good and much of it is AWESOME.

As I've been truly listening and contemplating the lyrics, it really does impact me and my attitude. In fact, there are a few of those awesome songs that have caused me to search God's word and spend some time in prayer. Also, as I spend more time in my Bible and listening to these lyrics, these are things filling my mind, which reminds me of Philippians 4:8, which says, "Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise."

There are several incredible songs rolling through my mind, but there is one that has really struck me. It's What Do I Know of Holy by Addison Road. If you haven't heard this song, here is a YouTube video with the lyrics,

Gratitude: My Word for 2011

I don't typically do New Year's resolutions or the like, but I was reading about Ali Edwards' One Little Word a couple of weeks ago and it stuck with me. She talks about choosing a word or that a word might choose you. Well, when I read that, the word "gratitude" immediately came to mind. The concept of gratitude and thankfulness have been in just about everything I've read lately from my Bible to blogs to even some fiction books. I've also been reading Ann Voskamp blogging about her gratitude journal and One Thousand Gifts (her new book which is in incredible so far and I'm sure I will write more about once I finish). I believe God has impressed this word upon me.

As I began looking at this word, I looked up the definition of it. Dictionary. com defines it as "the quality or feeling of being grateful or thankful." And Merriam-Webster's current dictionary similarly states that gratitude is "the state of being grateful." These do no justice to the word in my opinion so I continued to look it up and came across a beautiful definition in Noah Webster's 1828 American Dictionary of the English Language (you can look up words in this dictionary here),

An emotion of the heart, excited by a favor or benefit received; a sentiment of kindness or good will towards a benefactor; thankfulness. Gratitude is an agreeable emotion, consisting in or accompanied with good will to a benefactor,and a disposition to make a suitable return of benefits or services, or when no return can be made, with a desire to see the benefactor prosperous and happy. Gratitude is a virtue of the highest excellence, as it implies a feeling and generous heart, and a proper sense of duty.

This paints a better picture of this word I've been studying. As I have researched "gratitude," I've been most intrigued by words that are associated with it. Words like grace, indebtedness, abundance, response, praise, simplicity, and contentment have been repeated as I've searched.

I will continue to seek the word in scripture and started a gratitude journal myself a few weeks ago. I'm interested to see what journey God has in store for me with this word.

Reading through the Bible in 90 Days

Last year, I heard about reading through the Bible in 90 Days. I started it and never completed it once we started our move. This year I heard about momstoolbox.com hosting a 90 Day reading challenge with mentors and encouragement. I have signed up and today is day one of reading. I'm excited about completing this.

I know this reading plan is not for everyone. Jason usually says (he is quoting someone who I cannot remember right now) "The Bible is meant to be studied not finished." The Bible in 90 Days program itself says it's not meant to be an in-depth study. But there are also many reasons for reading it through like this. One is that people are having a higher success rate of completing this than reading through the Bible in a year. Committing to 90 days, even though the readings are longer, is less daunting to some. The reason I am choosing to participate is simply the same as the mission of the Bible in 90 Days organization, "To read, ATTENTIVELY, every word of the Bible in 90 days."

I am excited about this and seeing what God will teach and impress upon me during this time. If anyone is interested in doing this, here are some links to information and resources that might help you.

• The Bible in 90 Days website

• Tools to Help your 90 Day reading program at Moms Toolbox

• The Bible in 90 Days reading plan at You Version

If you are interested in other reading plans, check out youversion.com. They have many reading plans from the One Year Bible to Chronological Bible and several others. They have apps for your iPhone, Android, Blackberry, etc. to help you complete the reading plan you pick. All that I've seen on their site is FREE (there may be some plans that are not, but I've not come across them). It's a great site and resource.

2010: What a Year

All this week, I have been thinking back over the past year and am almost overwhelmed with all that has happened this year. I cannot remember a time where I would look back over my life and not see God's hand, but this year His hand seemed to be more evident, more seen, or something. Or perhaps, I am learning to listen and see better. I don't know what it is but I am blessed.

This has been a year of changes for us. It's been interesting to think back over these changes and how they've impacted us. Some of the small changes have had huge impacts on us. If I had to sum 2010 in one word, I would have to say EDUCATIONAL. I feel like I've learned so much this year. It's been amazing for sure.

Some of the changes that have taken place this year for us,

• Moving to a New Place - This was, of course, a major change for us this year. We moved away from an awesome church family and amazing friends to start a new journey in our lives. God has blessed us with another incredible church family. Seriously, I wonder how we could be so blessed to be a part of these wonderful churches.
• Homeschooling - This was another big change for our family. God placed homeschooling on my heart several years ago, but I was hesitant to commit to it. We continue to pray and decided to at least give it a try. It's been a great blessing to our family. It's given us the flexibility to be involved in many things this year that we wouldn't otherwise been able to do. I am continuing to learn how to teach and plan and look forward to the rest of this school year.
• Moving the TV out of the Living Room - This was a small change with a major impact on our family. For the last few years, the television has been a source of frustration to me. It seemed to be on way too much even though it was not my intention. I would turn the TV on to watch one show and end up watching three. Then, a dear friend was telling me about the year they turned the TV off. This really stuck with me. I started talking to Jason about it and praying about it. So, with the move, we got rid of cable and moved the TV out of the living room. It's been wonderful. I feel our home is more peaceful. We still have a TV and DVD player, but it's not the center of our home and when we view it now it's more intentional. It sounds silly, but it's been one of the best changes we've ever made.
• Eating more Nutritionally - This change actually began in 2009 as I started researching nutrition and how our food affects us. This year though I was introduced to Nourishing Traditions and "real food". Everything I was reading made so much sense yet completely contradicted the Food Pyramid and so much of what I've been taught about low fat, low carbs, etc. This is still a work in progress for us, but we are feeling so much better. It's been interesting for sure and I still devour just about any book on the subject.

I'm sure there's been many other changes, but these are some that stick out to me. I am excited about the new year and what God has in store for our family. My prayer is we follow hard after Him.

Happy Birthday Jesus!

I hope you all are having a very merry Christmas day. We started the day with our birthday cake for Jesus as we have for several years now (Jason got a little "artistic" with the icing this year). We finished our Jesse Tree book. We opened presents. And then I took a nap. It's been a wonderful day!