I’m lovin’ my new Bible
A couple of weeks again I bought a new ‘wide-margined’ Bible… I’ve always wanted one and finally got round to doing it… well I love it. This week I’ve entered my first scribblings (as you can see) and just been enjoying the wonder of God’s Word afresh. This week as I’ve read through the life of Elijah and Elisha, as well as the book of Colossians, I seen so many things ‘again’ or in a brand new and fresh way. It’s been exciting to see things and even ‘hear’ God’s voice through His word.
I’d love to hear from you if you’ve been seeing new or fresh things from God’s Word in the last couple of weeks. Why don’t you let me know what you have got out of the greatest book you own? As you share what you’re learning… maybe we can all learn together and get a buzz not only from the joy of learning but from the truth itself.
I can’t wait to hear from you.
John A
Pippa
June 19th, 2009 at 10:23 pm
I’m struck again by how God speaks afresh to your personal situation through words you have known for years. And when He speaks the word has His life in it -it communicates the very thing it speaks of (the challenge is often later when we are required to hold to his words in faith)This week i was anxious about abe (our 21 yr old son cycling on his own in the Pyrenees) and Ps 112 v 7 came to mind -He (she) will have no fear of bad news -his heart is steadfast trusting in the Lord. (Not necessarily an assurance there would never be bad news but that I do not need to live in fear!).Then I read Ps 95 – ‘The peaks of the mountains are his also’ !
Rachel Field
June 22nd, 2009 at 9:30 am
Been reading Corinthians as my devotions this week and Im struck by Paul’s confidence in his continous salvation as he writes it. He said “Imitate me and I imitate Christ” Ive read this over and over before and even thought about it. But I’ve been meditating on it following John’s message and I am overwhelmed. What a challenge for 21st Century Christians!!
Gavin Gray
June 24th, 2009 at 10:34 am
I read Luke 11 yesterday and was struck again the story of the man who knocked on his friends door at Midnight to ask for some bread and by Jesus conclusion in v9 – ‘Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be open to you’ – Am I being bold enough in what I ask from God?
Steve Watson
June 27th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Me and my brother (Sam, he lives down south and he’s 14) were talking about how God disciplines those he loves. There’s this bit in Hebrews 12, where it says ‘the Lord disciplines those he loves, and punishes everyone he accepts as a son.’ (vv. 5-6)God accepts me as a son… so he might punish me??? Scary. I couldn’t get my head round it at all…
And then I though of all those spoilt kids, who never got told off, or punished by their parents (Think of the sloppy chocolate-eating, fat kid off Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.) Now I sort of get it. Know what I mean?
Maybe it’s a good thing to get a clip round the ear every once in a while from my heavenly Dad??? I certainly don’t ever want to eat that many wonka bars.
D.J Daza
June 27th, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Catching up with all the recent blogs over the last 2 weeks. I was reading Genesis the other day and was reminded that God created everything in 6 days, however I realised the other day while doing some gardening that creation happens everyday and God is still creating things all the time and not just 6500 years ago during the Genesis account. Focussing on the text and missing the truth about what we read was an inspiring wake up call for me to take on board when I heard “our daily bread”. After just finishing Bible college, this for me was God speaking to me and if I don’t take anything else from this series that quote will get me back to reading the bible as it should be. That quote reminded me of the Wright brothers who were innovators in aviation (try saying that fast), they wrote a letter to their sister saying ” we have mastered the art of flying and we will be home for Christmas” upon reading this the sister was ecstatic as they had invented how to fly and showed the letter to a friend, the friends reply was “good your brothers will be home for Christmas”. It was true but not the truth of the letter. Speaking about what is true and what is truth, the scripture reading for “our daily bread” was Matt 4, I have a NIV study bible and it takes you to related verses, Psalm 91v11-12 was what the devil quoted however he missed a line out ‘to guard you in all your ways’ although it was true it was not the truth as he missed this out. John how important is this and what should we read in to this if anything, sounds like an essay question. Loving the series
D.J Daza
June 27th, 2009 at 6:23 pm
Hi again so quick, Just realised that I put down that the genesis account happened 6500 years ago. I know this because I have been told this as you can date the bible by going back in years from scripture. I have not actually done this my self, has anyone done this? It also struck me with this thinking that people will believe what they are told especially if it comes out of the tv. Last weeks “chew your food”you mentioned the T.V and internet and the amount of time we are on it or viewing it. The amount of false and potentially harming content that we can subject ourselves to is alarming. Although we can chew and meditate on good stuff coming out of these resources it just reminds me the opposite effect can happen if we are not careful. There is a question coming, last week or so a programme on bbc 1 called ‘Ina the missing link our earliest ancestor’ was on and basically they found a little fossilised dinosaur and because of the preservation and where it was found etc they could date it to 47 billion years old how do they know this? (that’s a long time). 2 things here the damage these kinds of programmes can do, I dated the bible to 6500 years they date Ina 47 billion years old, lots of questions people would ask and question God and the bible out of this, why was Ina before the bible and biblical times and why did God make Ina first etc.2, the main thrust of the blog. Nearly everyone who would watch and listen to this and similar do not question really intelligent and so called experts in this field they are all have Phd Doctorates etc and because it is showed on T.V it must be true. I guess the question is how can top scientists (creationists/evoloutionists) etc have polar opposite views on arguably the hottest topic of all. Also as Christians how involved should we get in these sort of topics ourselves. My personal view is we should always be ready to give an answer for the hope that we have(1Pet 3v15). Before I became a Christian I refused to believe because I could not understand why if there was a God why he put dinosaurs on earth first before humans, of course that was the lie of the devil because of all the evolution that is showed on T.V and in most school science books. Hope this helps and not hinders folks
Anthea Leadbetter
July 4th, 2009 at 4:52 pm
Dear John, I have bought a series of Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J.C.Ryle. I have just finished Matthew and I have so enjoyed it. It has given me a much greater understanding of Matthew. I can’t wait to start on Mark. I found some of them in Zim in November (there are 7 books in the set) and was praying for the rest and lo and behold in the same shop in May they only had the ones I needed! I was so delighted to have the whole set. Praise God. He is so gracious. I have also really enjoyed your series and learnt from that too.