Done With Mark

OK, so I'm still behind on my reading...but I'm happy that I'm finished with the book of Mark.

Now, I have to write what I know/understand, just like I would if I was studying for a test.

I'm also still working on having my Bible-reading sessions be something that I take pleasure in, instead of something that needs to be done.

I do enjoy reading my Bible, but there are times (like when I'm rushing to read it because of time) that I do it as something on my to-do list.

I am still a work in progress -- noting my faults and working to improve them is part of the 'progress' :)

Until next time,
God Bless!

I Can Be So Hardheaded Sometimes

Hey Guys,

As part of a Bible study that I do a few times a week, I read This Devotional on Our Daily Bread's website and it opened my eyes to something I have already realized multiple times!

I know that I can "cast my burdens on Him" and that there's no need to keep wallowing in my sorrow, but I keep ignoring this fact.

The times when life feels extra crappy are usually the times when I have drifted from the presence of God. If in his presence is where we find peace, then when we excuse ourselves from His presence...of course we're going to be worried and feel overwhelmed all the time!

I need to get and once and for all keep this in my spirit. Once I start feeling like life is getting to much to take, I need to "lift up my eyes unto the hills from whence cometh my help. My help cometh from the Lord which made Heaven and Earth" (Psalm 121:1-2)

Matthew to Revelation In Jan To Dec: Matthew 1

Hey Guys,

Like I brifely mentioned in a previous post, I will (along with my church) will be reading the New Testament, Matthew to Relevation this year.

I started January 1 and I finished the book of Matthew on the 24th, but I will be going over each chapter again and writing what I got or understood from each Chapter.

My brief understanding of Matthew 1:
- Matthew 1 starts off with the Lineage of Jesus Christ. It starts with Abraham who had Isaac and goes all the way down to Jacob who had Joseph, who became Mary's (Jesus' mother) husband.

- When Joseph heard that Mary was pregnant, he thought that she had been unfaithful and wanted to leave her. It wasn't until an angel of the Lord came and told him that Mary was pregnant with a child of the Holy Spirit and that His name will be called Jesus!

I could only imagine how Joseph was feeling around this time. First he finds out that his fiancee` was pregnant and it sure wasn't by him! And then to be told that it was a child of the Holy Spirit! That's a lot to take in.

God Bless!

Making Time For Him-- Why Does It Seem So Hard?

It's been somewhat of a New Years resolution to learn more about God's Word. I don't like the feeling of reading my Bible to be like a chore that needs to be done and it's been feeling like that a lot since i'm reading through the New Testament this year, so a few chapters a day.

I tend to have my 'Bible reading sessions' as a checklist-- something to do and get out the way-- and this isn't helping me or pleasing God!

I'm working on setting aside an hour everyday to read and study the Bible. I really want this to work out as planned, because there is nothing I want more that to get closer and closer to God!

GOD BLESS!

Getting Back On Track!

I remember sometime before the school semester began, I posted about having a personal bible study. However, when school started I kept putting it off to the point that I completed forgot about it.
Although school's not yet finished, I still want to at least try and continue my little bible study.

God's word is so powerful! It teaches everything we need to know about being 'good Christians' and living for God the right way! It's very important to take some time everyday to read the Bible!

Don't Worry About A Thing...Every Little Thing Is Gonna Be Alright!

Hey Readers,

I finished my Bible study (the book of Esther) about an hour ago, then I was just flipping through my Bible and then stopped on Jeremiah 17 and my eyes kind of scrolled down to the 7th and 8th verses which says:
(In King James Version) "Blessed be the man that trusteth in the LORD, and whose hope the LORD is. (verse 8) For he shall be as a tree planted by the waters, and that spreadeth out her roots by the river, and shall not see when heat cometh, but her leaf shall be green; and shall not be careful the year of drought, neither shall cease from yielding fruit."

And in New Living translation says "Blessed are those who trust in the LORD and have made the LORD their hope and confidence. (Verse 8) They are like trees planted along a riverbank, with roots that reach deep into the water. Such trees are not bothered by the heat or worried by long months of drought. Their leaves stay green and they go right on producing delicious fruit."

I stopped and re-read those verses over and over and then I realized what God was saying to me. NO MATTER WHAT is going on, just Trust in the LORD and everything is going to be alright!
Can you imagine how hard that can be? Imagine being sent eviction or foreclosure letters, not having enough money to get your next meal; family, friends and loved ones saying "see ya!" And still having a smile on your face saying "God I Trust you!" ???!!! The easier/natural and more human thing to do, might be to break down crying screaming "I give up!" or "I don't know what the [insert obscenities here] I'm going to do!"
BUT...remember Who made the Heavens and the Earth, who keeps the sun from crashing into the us, whose words alone can calm a storm! Why wouldn't He come to our rescue and save us from our little problems?? Yes, I said little, because compared to everything mentioned before, our problems are little, tiny, minute!
He make sure to provide for the animals, one way or the other, so WHY would he not do the same for us, who he loves and cares more for?
I hope this scripture verse encourages you as much as it encouraged me!!!

~God Bless! :)

Personal Bible Study!

Hello Readers,

I decided that I need to strengthen some of the weakest parts of my spiritual life, starting with: my knowledge of the Bible.
I don't know much about the Bible. I learned a lot of the popular stories and a few parables from Sunday school, but I know that I need to know more. I want to learn more about people in the Bible like, Ester, Daniel, Joshua and much more, who God used in mighty ways. Since I've offered up my life for God to use me to do His work; I might as well take some of these anointed people from the Bible as examples.

I'm starting with Ester (for no specific reason). I've read Ester 1-5 already and I've learned a good amount so far.
When a read a certain amount of chapters, I write about what I learned. I think that after the end of each book that I read, I'll write a post about it and how it does/can affect my (and your) life. So look out for that :)

~God Bless! :)

Pretty Little Study Bible

Hey Readers,


I went to Barnes and Noble's today with my beau and in the Bibles section found this bright pink study Bible.

It's the Student's Life Application Study Bible NLT( New Living Translation)

I spent some time flipping through it with him and came to the conclusion that: I love it! I want this bible (or one similar...one that maybe didn't come in such a bright pink color).

What I Love About It...

The New Living Translation Bible versions are so much easier to read than New/King James version. The old biblical words are translated (with the meaning kept) to words that are used currently and easily understandable, as much as I love my New Kings James Version, it is a lot easier to read the NLT.

I also like the fact that within the Bible there are side notes such as other young Christians' experiences with real life situations, an "I wonder" list of questions about what the bible says about certain issues (tattoos, sexual temptations, revenge, etc.) and much more!

I really recommend this bible to teens and college students/young adults. I'm going to continue looking for a nice study Bible and if I don't find one as much as I do this one, I think I'll get it, hopefully in another than the pink...like sky blue or something :)

~God Bless! :)