Author: Dave Dishman (Page 301 of 459)

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.

Today marks the beginning of a new year. Hopefully a year with less covid and more good cheer. Maybe a year of health, wealth and prosperity? Maybe a problem-free year, or maybe a year where all our favorite teams win championships?

Doubtful. This new year will bring successes and failures, losses and gains, good health and illness. The ebb and flow of life.

The first two verses of Genesis remind me that the same Holy Spirit who hovered over the waters, who formed the formless and filled the empty, hovers over my life with the ability to do the same for me. One constant in the unpredictabilities of life.

I pray that this year I will be brave enough to invite the Holy Spirit to develop my heart in new ways, to shape it using fresh designs. As the new year grows old, may the Creator continue his good work in me.

Genesis 1 in reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Ryan Parker

As I’ve read the Bible over and over, I find that some years I’ve planned for my reading better than others. Many times I’ve started at Genesis and ended in Revelation, reading straight through, as much as I feel like reading every day. Other years I’ve read in a chronological Bible, which helps me keep track of the timing of events, especially when reading through the prophets.

The last couple of years I’ve used a 5 day reading plan. This one is chronological, which I prefer, it’s well paced, and contains passages from both Old and New Testament each day. The pace is five days per week, with two days for catch-up, which I’ve found helpful when I miss a day or two along the way.

If you’d like to give it try, you can access the plan at the Five Day Bible Reading website. Along with the plan, they have other resources you might like. This plan is free, and easy to print for your Bible or journal. That’s where mine sits all year as I mark off the reading each day.

Whatever plan you choose, pick one that motivates you to move forward. A plan itself only serves as a tool to help you access and enjoy a year of walking through the Word of God,.

May your reading draw you closer to the heart of God!

Photo by Sixteen Miles Out

I just finished my trip through the Bible from cover to cover. I find it fascinating that the story of God and man starts in a garden, and so, so quickly goes bad. The twist at the end of the book? Eden restored.

After reading the entire Bible, I find hope in the promise of future restoration: Then the angel showed me the river of the water of life, as clear as crystal, flowing from the throne of God and of the Lamb down the middle of the great street of the city. On each side of the river stood the tree of life, bearing twelve crops of fruit, yielding its fruit every month. And the leaves of the tree are for the healing of the nation.

People throughout the Bible suffered persecution, warfare, famine and calamity. Stories of cowardliness and pride emerge, as well as powerful examples of bravery and sacrifice. Life rolls on, the good and the bad, the uplifting and the tragic. The upheavals and setbacks that mark our lives never seem to end. We live in a fallen world.

But the promise at the end of the book remains. One day, leaves from the tree of life, nurtured by waters from the throne of God, will carry their healing powers to all the nations. You and me included.

Then there will no more curse, and the servants of God will look upon His face. They will not need the light of a lamp or the light of the sun, for the Lord God will give them light. And they will reign for ever and ever.

Amen. Come, Lord Jesus.

Revelation 22 in week fifty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by Timothy Eberly

As a follower of Jesus, I know the value of reading my Bible. But the Bible is a big, intimidating book, filled with thee’s and thou’s, odd names and arcane rules. Some days I think, maybe I’ll just skip it. If that’s the way you’re feeling, here’s some handy excuses I tell myself to avoid my times of reading.

Summary

As you can see, I’ve developed a pretty good list of excuses. You can borrow any of these you want, or add some of your own. Even though I read through the Bible annually, I still have to fight through the inertia of getting started some days.

Remember, time in the Word of God is worth the effort. Your heart and soul, as well as those around you, will be better for it.

Week fifty-two of reading the Bible cover to cover

Photo by camilo jimenez