Tag Archives: Reading

Make Me a Follower

Posted on May 21, 2011 at sometime around 7:27 am

To be a follower of Christ is to be devoted.  To be someone who is passionate about the Kingdom of God.  To be someone who loves with every part of his or her heart.

To be a follower of Christ is to be a disciple.  To be constantly filling their cup, believing you are their strength.

So Lord, we ask to be replenished by your Spirit as we gather together in community.

We ask that you would meet with us in our solitude, that we might hear your gentle voice that calms our storms.

Lord, we ask you to make us your followers.

“Teach me to follow your decrees, O LORD; then I will keep them to the end.” (Ps 119:33)

“I have taken an oath and confirmed it, that I will follow your righteous laws.” (Ps 119:106)

We desire not to give into the other gods in our lives, but to be sold out to your way.  We want to exalt your holy name above everything else and be dedicated to your cause of redemption.

Make your love contagious in us, as we love our world.

Amen.

 

[This is a corporate prayer reading from 2010. Feel free to download the word .docx file and use it for free - for anything.]

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“All Praise Be Given” Reading

Posted on February 9, 2011 at sometime around 12:13 pm

praisegod

Below is a reading our church will be reading this Sunday at church.  Feel free to use it for your church or for you own personal praise of our God. If you’d like to give me credit, that is great, but you do not have to.

You can download the document for free here at my online storage site, or copy and paste it from below.

All Praise Be Given

All praise be given to the Lord, the one who made the ultimate sacrifice for our sin.

All praise be to the Light of the world, the one who shines light into the darkness.

All praise be given to the Forgiver, the one who took our sins upon his shoulders.

All praise be to the God of the universe, the one who holds the sun and moon in his hands.

All praise be given to the Care-giver, the one who loves each one of his creatures individually.

All praise be given to the Savior of the entire world, the one who came for every lost person and loves each the same.

All praise be to the merciful judge, the one whose perfect justice will bring restoration to this broken world.

All praise be to the eternal King, the one who was, is, and is to come.

All praise be to the God who will never abandon us, the one who shelters and protects our souls.

All praise be to the God of peace, to the one who will end the suffering of this world.

All praise be to God who is not just our Lord, but the one who is also our friend: Jesus the Christ.

Amen.

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5 Tips To Improve Your Bible Reading

Posted on August 1, 2009 at sometime around 12:00 am

I read an article from Beliefnet that I thought my followers could find helpful.  The author is Chris Brooks, of whom I know nothing about, but I liked his simple and quick insights. Normally I would just share a link (which I did), but it is harder to navigate the way they set it up as compared to the list form I have below.  I will be “On a Boat” for the next week so I won’t be blogging at all. Have a great week!

Brooks says:

“All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness” (2 Tim 3:16).

And yet there are so many passages that make you go “huh?” Over the years I’ve found five questions that can help make any passage “devotional.” These aren’t necessarily quick and easy to apply, but with a little time and thought they can help you get to some of the juicy goodness in a passage.

1. What Does This Tell Me About God?

The nature and character of God is the bedrock on which the scriptures are built. Sometimes you have to look past the details of the text and ask what they tell you about God. Find out what the passage is telling you about God and worship Him anew.

Example: Leviticus 10 (Don’t take the easy option and think about God’s “temper.”)

2. What Does This Tell Me About Me or Humans?

The Bible has lots to say about God. It also has a lot to say about human nature (especially my nature). Reflect on what it teaches you about you.

Example: Deuteronomy 13

3. What If It Were Me?

I often read the Bible as if it were on a higher plane, but those events took place in our world. Get down into the details: feel those people’s pain; cry with them; laugh with them. Read the Bible narratives like you would any other story.

Example: Isaiah 6 (At some point you should say, “Ouch!” Reflect on what that teaches you.)

4. How Does This Fit Into the Grand Narrative?

The Bible is one story, from Genesis to Revelation. Each event is part of that over-arching story. Find where the passage you’re reading fits into the grand narrative and you will better understand the passage; you may also see God’s plan in a new light.

Example: Joshua 8

5. Is There Anything I Need to Know, Stop, Change, or Do?

This comes straight out of 2 Timothy 3:16. Every passage should tell you at least one of these things. (Be careful not to stop at “know” too often; that’s an easy cop-out.) The epistles are obvious, but the narratives are God-breathed too. Look for the insight, for the example, or for the warning in historical and prophetic passages.

Example: Amos 2:6-16

Take It One Question at a Time

Ask these questions one at a time until one of them reveals a truth upon which you can meditate or worship or which you can apply to change your life.

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