IGNITE: Read 365 Key Chapters in the Bible

Our church has challenged us to participate in a Bible reading plan in which we will read 365 key chapters in the Bible. Just one chapter a day...simple! And yet, simplicity is not the word that describes what God will do in you if you spend this time in His Word each day. I am continually discovering new things in His Word. It's amazing how I can read a story over and over and each time, see and hear something that is new.

Feel free to print the images below. If you print it front and back, it will fold into a half sheet that will fit inside your Bible.

If you want to add a little extra to your reading time, this book will do the trick (also recommended by our church).

(Click on the image to link to Amazon's website.)

If you want to go a step further, consider journaling. Focus on one or two verses in the passage for the day that have spoken to you. Also suggested by our church, follow the acronym L.O.V.E. and journal just a few sentences for each. I've written an example from today's reading below.

Genesis 4

L (Learn) -
Genesis 4:7 "You will be accepted if you do what is right. But if you refuse to do what is right, then watch out! Sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you. But you must subdue it and be its master."

O (Observe) -
The words "sin is crouching at the door, eager to control you" stir uneasiness inside me. Of course, my sins are the disobedient choices I make that separate me from God, but this is the first time I've considered sin to be a presence waiting to control me. I must be on guard. One sin can escalate so quickly into more sin, causing such rubble in my life.

V (Value) -
Praise be to God that He is a God of forgiveness! While He is always just, He is also always loving. Sin doesn't have to control me as I have a God who forgives me when I repent. In repentance and forgiveness, my sins are washed away and my relationship with Him is restored!

E (Express) -
Thank you, Lord, for your constant gift of forgiveness. Help me to be obedient in all things and to trust Your ways above my own.

I'm so thankful to be in a church that equips us with great tools for Spiritual growth. I pray these tools will also be a blessing in your life as you seek to be closer to the Lord in 2011!

1.1.11

The Lord will give strength to His people;
the Lord will bless His people with peace.
~Psalm 29:11

One of the best things about living in Ohio is getting to experience the four seasons as they should be. Growing up in the south, I knew first-hand of one-and-a-half seasons; summer and sort-of-not-summer. I love how the seasons change here; four times a year we start a new chapter and four times a year, a chapter comes to an end. It's very easy to mark time by the seasons; there's definitely a beginning and an end and each to his own looks forward to one of those things and, in some cases, maybe both.

The seasons are a great reminder to me of how our Lord is a God of new beginnings. Each day is a new day in the Lord, a chance to love Him more than the day before, a chance to serve Him in bigger and better ways, and a chance to experience Him on a new level. I'm not usually one to make New Year's resolutions, as a year is a long time to try and stick to something new. Amen? However, I am feeling a "tug" in this new year to make 2011 a year of more of Him and less of me.

I struggle with the sin of passivity, the sin of the "I shoulds", the sin of the "maybe laters". I am as busy as the next person and definitely use my busyness as an excuse to not do more. I am also one that feels as if I need time alone on a regular basis and am very protective of "my" time. I am a perfectionist through and through. (I mean, really, I came from two perfectionists, it's not my fault; I can't help it!) It's easy for me to place importance on things that may not necessarily be that important.

But, I want this year to be different. I feel a "holy stir" in my soul and I'm not quite sure what it is just yet, but I know that God is beginning something in me and I better get myself ready for the job!

Well, ok, if I were to make a list of New Year's resolutions, it would probably look something like this:

Spend more time in the Word and in prayer.

Serve my family with a greater willingness and greater gladness.

Get involved in something that will make a difference in someone's

eternity and point them towards Christ.

These are truly what I long for, not just goals to check off with a gold star at the end of 2011. Authenticity is the word that keeps ringing in my head. I don't want to just have all the answers, I want to live them. I want to feel them. I want to share them.

I pray that 2011 is an exceptional year for you. 2010 has been a difficult year for many people. Cancer is a frequent word spoken around our dinner table as more people than I ever hoped to know personally with cancer have cancer. I pray that 2011 is the year of healing for those near and dear fighting this dreaded disease.

Here's to 2011! May it be a year of richest blessings!

Fall '10 Fun in Pics

Love that toothless grin!

Ben FINALLY lost a tooth! He actually decided to go over and above and lose both of his top teeth in a two-day span. (Of course, one was "helped" a little when he fell into the armchair.)

I just love this toothless grin!

My Story

Everyone has a story, a story that tells why you are who you are today, why you stand for the things you stand for, and how you hope to grow and change in the years to come. Our church challenged its congregation to put our personal stories to paper in 700 words or less. I will admit I have procrastinated organizing my thoughts and words into a story. That was until this past weekend. Jason and I were asked to share our testimonies with our new small group. Our group is made up of five couples and we have all been taking turns sharing our stories. Necessity trumped procrastination, and I finally took on the challenge. Written below is my story. My story is a story woven together by the grace of God. Why He would take the time to even notice me blows me away. But, this is the God I serve and will serve from today into eternity.

If you haven't taken the time to write your story, I encourage you to try. It can be a very therapeutic process, but my greatest reward in committing it to paper was another reminder of how amazing God is and how much I need Him and need Him to know how amazing He is to me.

I cannot tell you the exact day that I became a Christian as it seems like I’ve always believed in God and in His Son, Jesus Christ. I’ve known as far back as I can remember that Jesus died on the cross for my sins and that my salvation comes through faith in Him. I was baptized when I was 10 after walking down to the front of the church and accepting Christ publicly as my Lord and Savior. I have loved Him as long as I can remember and have experienced His presence in my life for just as long.

My family attended church regularly, sitting on the front pew every Sunday. I was active in Sunday School, church choir and youth group and became the church pianist when I was 15. Church was a big part of my life and became a place of refuge from living in a very dysfunctional family. My home life was a place of conflict and emotional abuse. My faith in God was all I had to hold onto at times, and I prayed to Him frequently.

The Lord provided a way for me to attend a small, private, Christian university and it wasn’t too long before I realized that my Christian walk was very shallow. I didn’t really have a true personal relationship with Christ. For the first time in my life, I felt free from all that I had lived with, and I no longer really needed God. I kept Him at a distance, calling on Him occasionally if I needed something, but most of the time, living my life for me. I made poor choices with my behavior and sacrificed my moral standards. However, the Lord never let go of me. He was always there to rescue me. I know He placed me in that environment to learn more about Him and to grow closer to Him.

During the summer before my senior year in college, I decided it was time to stop living for me and start living for Him. I ended the unhealthy relationships, began spending time in His Word and praying regularly. I took to heart the words of James 4:8 - “Draw near to God and he will draw near to you.” My relationship with Christ began to grow as I made time for Him in my life.

Having a relationship with Christ does not guarantee that life will be easy and free of hardship. In fact, the Bible tells us that we will have hardships and James 1:2 even says “Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kind.” I have endured many hardships in my life. I lived in a home that was very unloving and unkind. I have felt the pain of loneliness and depression. I have suffered marital strife as well as financial troubles. I could not have gotten through these things without my relationship with the Lord.

Although I sin daily and the distractions of life can pull me away from actively pursuing my relationship with Him, my desire is to be pleasing to Him and for my love for Him to grow stronger every day. Words cannot express how grateful I am that God loved me enough to sacrifice His own Son for my sins, and I know that I will spend my eternity in Heaven with Him.

Reminded, Renewed, Reassured, Refilled, Revived

There are many things I miss about being on a church staff and one of those things is being able to be renewed and revived in conference settings where those in attendance are of one heart. And for that one day (or few days), the daily grind that we are honored to be called to journey is paused for us to just be reminded, renewed, reassured, refilled and revived.

This is a video from a fantastic conference lead by Willowcreek Church. I had the privilege of attending the Leadership Summit for two years when I was on staff at our church in Houston. I loved the days to just soak it in. This video is about 10 minutes long, but is so worth your time.

We are beginning the process of joining a church here. It's been quite a journey for us to get to this place and, in turn, we drive 30 minutes one-way to attend this church. We were very spoiled in Houston. Our church was 4 minutes away, 6 if you caught the red light. Cuyahoga Valley Church is proving to be an amazing church and the right fit for us and what we prayed we would find in a church here. It's been a three-year journey, but so worth it.

I just encourage you (if anyone actually reads this...ha!), to find a church home for yourself and your family. This world is a difficult place and worldly solutions will not often pan out. Jesus Christ is the only way and surrounding ourselves with others of one heart keeps us reminded, renewed, reassured, refilled and revived.

Why are we here? What are we called to do? Does it really matter? I'm interested to know what you think after viewing this video.