Bible Reading Challenge 1.09.10 + ten million other things I'm thinking about right now.

Hello my friends,

How has the new year been for you thus far? Blogging time has gotten away from me, but I'm very thankful for the amount of work hours I've had. And the amount of reading time!

I'm on in to Exodus at the moment. I'm always challenged by how the Lord used Moses, even though he showed signs of unwillingness and complained of incompetence. Its the Lord who gives purpose and grants success.

I'm excited for the fact that I've been reading reports of several participants who are already experiencing growth and encouragement from their reading. And I can most definitely say the same.

This happens a lot in my reading, but I'm hung up on a particular story back in Genesis-- The all too familiar Isaac and Rebekah story. I think I may post my thoughts on that in its own post. We'll see.

I'm making headway with my memory work -- the first chapter of James has proved to be a good sort of challenge to me spiritually, more than it is mentally challenging to memorize. Uh, does that make any sense?

Please be in prayer for my friends Marcus, Laura, Daniel, and Alana. They just headed off to Nepal with three others, to minister to youth by way of discipleship themed conferences. As there are a lot of unknowns about their trip, I know they would appreciate your prayers.

Also, please note that today is my lovely friend Laura's 23rd birthday. And yes, she's the Laura that just left for Nepal. So since I won't get to say this personally, I'll say it with the whole world reading-- Happy birthday abroad, Laura Lou!

Ok, back to the reading challenge-- If you've posted about how its going ,why don't you leave a link to it in a comment below. Thanks to those of you who've emailed-- Hope to send a return note soon. If you would rather email then comment or post, feel free to help yourself stay accountable and encourage me at the same time :  kaylenelise[at]yahoo.com (or if you happen to have my private email thats fine too)

PS... Don't save Leviticus for last. Or Numbers for that matter. Just a suggestion. ;)

Many hellos and too many goodbyes

pain. mistakes. joy. overcoming.

Reminiscent of the year 2009

Family and friends.  The Discipleship program.  Living with the Grandparentals. A truckload of Propel. Street and door to door evangelism. Saying a temporary good bye to Uncle Chuck.  Carenet pregnancy centers. Meeting new people.  The Coast. [my f.a.v.o.r.i.t.e. place on earth]  Eating fresh crab for the first time.  [it was h.o.r.r.i.b.l.e.] Bought another Honda.  Laura comes to visit.  Mission conferences.  Meaningful time with missionaries. Thousands of photos.  6 months away from home.  Driving with my bro, 1500 miles cross country- going home.  Camp nurse for Good News Camp.  Fourth trip to Mexico in 3 years. Home again. Back to Oregon for Family vaca.  Home again.  Trips to the city with Alana. Home again. Caregiver for the elderly.  Colorado for Thanksgiving. Home again.

I realize not all my blog readers are participating in the Bible Reading Challenge. I think I've said before I don't think its something everyone should do. One reason being that its hard to do in depth word studies when we place a time restriction on ourselves. The most important thing is that all of us are in The Word daily. How much?-- Well, thats between you and Him.

But keeping in mind that not everyone is doing "our challenge", I hope to keep a fair balance of posts on other topics-- though I hope you all can gain from our journey through the Bible.

Remember friends, as we're headed into this new year, that God is seeing the big picture that we are not. Pray for the Lord to give you a revelation of eternity. Pursue those things of eternal value. I've run across a few links over the last few days, that I deem worthy to be pondered and shared. All pertain, in my opinion, to the start of a new year as we re-focus our hearts and minds on new or revised (and hopefully worthy) goals and ambitions.

10 predictions for 2010 --a short list that helps "keep it all in perspective".
When Social Media is Distracting -- A thought provoking look at virtual versus personable communication

Death is Not Dying -- The testimony of a woman who passed away from cancer last July. I highly recommend watching this. Take the time, sit down (maybe even with a pen and paper), and listen to these incredibly wise words. If this doesn't help give you eternal perspective, I don't know what will. It will inspire you in your Bible reading. It convicted me even more of my lack of a servant's heart. (HT: hope road blog)

Through trials and joys-- may this be the best year yet. Cheers to 2010!

You all have done so well with spreading The Word. I'm excited that twenty two (!) of you and your friends have joined me in the Bible reading challenge. I'm motivated and challenged  when I think about each of you individually being willing and motivated to pursue the Lord in this way. I'm praying for you as we begin this challenge. Be sure and comment, post on your own blog, or email me to let me know how its going for you! Also, check out each other's journey by clicking the names of particpants in my sidebar. I think you will find them inspiring.

I'm off to a fairly good start to my Bible Reading. I decided to go ahead and start in Genesis and maybe here pretty soon, split part of my reading up and read somewhere in the New Testament as well. I'm amazed because everytime I start Genesis, I have expectations of being bored with a book I've read so many times. How foolish I am. I see something new e.v.e.r.y. time.

I'm also going to attempt 365 verses in a year-- a challenge Melinda is doing over at her blog. I'm going to start off with the book of James. This book and I have a love/hate relationship. Intending no disrespect, I only mean that the truth both hurts and yet gives guidance and peace. I love the beauty of that paradox. James constantly puts me in my rightful place. As I was previewing the verses I plan to memorize the following ones struck me as very very important to those of us who are committing ourselves to the reading of The Word. James 1:21-25:

herefore lay apart all filthiness and superfluity of naughtiness, and receive with 

meekness the engrafted word, which is able to save your souls. 

But be ye doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving your own selves.

For if any be a hearer of the word, and not a doer, he is like unto a man

beholding his natural face in a glass: For he behold himself and goeth

his way, and straightway forgetteth what manner of man he was.

But whoso looketh in the perfect law of liberty, and continueth

therein, he being not a forgetful hearer, but a doer of the work,

this man shall be blessed in his deed.

Like I said, I'm pretty bad at keeping resolutions. But I'm really, really good at making them. So naturally I have this impulse to write out a new year's "priority list". I've got a lot of purposeful statements floating around in my head. Some of them are depressing, because they were on this year's mental list and didn't get accomplished. Others (well, all of them really) I realize just aren't happening, until I fully surrender that area to God. For some reason that simple lesson seems to take a whole life to learn.

My thinking and plans for 2010 go something along the lines of:  Exercising more, drinking more water, eating healthier. hehe.. the normal stuff you see on a list of resolutions. But there are some heavier ones too, like: Speaking less, doing more. Using my time more purposefully. Maybe see if life goes just as well, if I complain and worry a little a lot less. (its gotten so bad that I complain that I complain too much.)  Eradicating selfishness. Yeah, all of that and more. So basically, I'm on the transplant list for a servant's heart. Prayer would be nice.

What are you're thoughts for the New Year? Or are you a resolution maker?

My heart is so proud. My mind is so unfocused.

I see the things You do through me as great things I have done. 

And now You gently break me, then lovingly You take me 

and hold me as my father and mold me as my maker.

I ask you: "How many times will you pick me up, 

when I keep on letting you down?
And each time I will fall short of Your glory, 

how far will forgiveness abound?"
And you answer: " My child, I love you.
And as long as you're seeking My face, 

photo-  "trainees- kaylene sam alexis t.j." by Soryn V.

song-   "grace" by Laura Story

...And because I think they're special, I must take time out from my regular posting to bring to your attention a most notable date and to introduce to you these two lovely people (if you don't already know them). Today makes exactly 24 years ago that my parents, Ken and Marcy, got married. (the picture was taken just a little more than 24 years ago, I think)

As handsome of a couple as they are (they sure are pretty people, aren't they?) this is not their greatest attribute. They both strive to please the Lord in their relationship and how they've raised us kids. That is their greatest attribute, for which I am deeply grateful and forever indebted. On that train of thought, this could be a very long post, so I'll just leave it at that and without further ado, I would just like to wish my parents a very....

Happy Anniversary!

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Only 4 days 'til we start our Bible reading challenge. I'm really looking forward to getting started. If you haven't already, you're welcome to join us! In fact, you can join at any time even after January 1 as long as you don't mind reading extra so you can be sure and finish with us by July 1.

This is the best reading checklist I found online. I strongly suggest printing it off, or one like it, and marking as you go. This gives you liberty to do a little bit of skipping around without losing track of what you've already read. Plus I find it motivating to have a "picture" of  progress (or lack thereof- hehe).

Please be in prayer going into this. I wasn't kidding when I said Satan's going to fight you on this. He uses the smallest things to distract from this very important element in your relationship with God. Blessings on everyone's new year!