Thanks to the efforts of The JOY FM webmaster, we are now fully functional as an online Bible reading GROUP! What I’m excited about is the mutual encouragement we can experience as we choose to be involved. Check the “What is Read the Bible with Bill Martin?” page if you want a step-by-step explanation of how to get started and what you can do.
Please check back here, as I will be posting some of my own Bible reading notes and devotional thoughts. I might even highlight a note or comment from a member of our Bible reading community. The goal here is to use the interactive technology the internet provides to encourage daily Bible reading and devotions among imperfect people. Even if you’ve NEVER been successful in daily Bible reading before, now you can be.
If you’ll just start a good habit and take the emphasis OFF of the illusion of perfection.
Speaking of perfection, let me end this first post with one of my favorite verses. You should memorize this one. Really.
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6, ESV).
As a recovering perfectionist, I can tell you that learning the truth has liberated me, the truth that perfection is HIS work, and it comes at the END of the journey, not along the way. Where self-defeat formerly reigned, Christ now has full access. Open up your heart with me and come on the journey.
Wow! I don’t think I’ve read or paid attention to that verse before. That really makes me think – how great is it that we can let ourselves off the hook and just keep doing the best we can, fail, fall short, and try again and keep on truckin! Cool.
thanks for the invitation to participate with the Joy FM in reading through the bible this year:)
How is everyone doing. Knowing I you all are out there reading with me helps to keep me motivated.
This verse tells me clearly that God is not finished with us until He comes back for us. What a great feeling that is, to reailize we still have a lot to look foward to.
I share the “favoritism”, if I may call it that with your fav verse Phil. 1:6
It was only this past year that I came to more than understanding that Christ dwells in me but to actually internalizing it as truth. I have been a confessing Christian for many years. But, the loss of my husband two and a half years ago opened my eyes to look at what Christ has done in me….and what He can do through me.
I tried to read the Bible in a year (chronologically) last year…
I didn’t complete it; however, through Bible Study courses at my church, I learned that it was OK, because God has not completed His work in me and won’t until the day of His return. PTL!
I must confess, I had planned to read through the Old Testament this year… not doing so well. there either. But, I’ll get it down eventually; just got to keep practicing.
Lisa-Anne,
I think a lot of our spiritual pursuits are conditioned by influences outside our faith; in other words, our culture (modernity) values quanitity over quality and measurable results for any endeavor. In certain fields (like investments, for example) those values may be valid, but not necessarily in relationships. Spiritual pursuits are relational more than quantificational. Let yourself off the hook for “not finishing.” I think a better focus is taking God’s new mercies for each day, prioritizing fellowship with God and letting that value set my course, spiritual discipline helping me toward the goal. What Bible reading have I done today? What am I going to do tomorrow? If I fail today, tomorrow His mercies are new (Lamentations 3:22-23)! And I do fail, but failure is not complete unless and until I don’t get back up!
So, if you haven’t already done so, sign up for the First Steps Reading Plan. (Find the link on the “How to Get Started” page of this blog.) It will give you a reasonable amount of reading to do each day, and you can catch up at any time.
Hope this encourages you and others!
Bill,
Thank you for this group, I started today because of the tragedy in St. Pete.I needed something to hold on to in this time. Being a Firefighter in Pinellas Co. you get to know quit a few law enforcement officers and when it hits this close to home it makes you think. But in one day what I got out of Luke 24 1-12 and Luke 24: 36 thru 49 has helped me greatly. Again thank you for this group and your Prayers every morning on my way to work. God Bless and Thank you
Tim
This is a comment to the firefighter, Tim. Since the happenings around the world are so dismal, this is a word of thanks and encouragement. Although it wasn’t here in St. Pete, but in Sarasota, the Lord used a firefighter paramedic to help save my life. God placed the paramedic firefighter there that day to start my breathing again when a broken rib punctured my lung. So God Bless you, all the other firefighters, and every lifesaver in uniform out there protecting my life while risking your own.
Good morning Bill,
As we see the imperfect mess we are, in God’s eyes we are beautiful!
He sees in our hearts as we give them to Him, that is giving Him our All…
Trust, Love, Praise and Glory and our time as well to Him and others!
If we surrender our life to the Lord he will work in us and through us. Our Savior being the most perfect without sin, died for us and our sins.
The pain and trails we go through are nothing compared to what He endured for us.
So, we are trying to be perfect, as humanly possible but no one is. I think he made us to amuse Him.
He wants us to be happy, loved and that is what HE is- Love. He wants us to be in His peace. When we pray without ceasing we are in His peace and love no matter what we are going through.
God gave us all gifts that we can use to help others with.
Thank you for the gift of what you do Bill (which is perfect in His eyes) and helping others too! I look forward to studing with this group!
Have a blessed day everyone!