Announcement!

Hello everyone!

As you know this blog is devoted to the pursuit of knowing God more through Bible reading, prayer, memorization, and meditation.

But the devil tries everything he can to keep us away from these things.  And one of his biggest traps is the internet.  For some reason, whenever we get on here, our time slips away, and before we know it, the evening is here.  And none of the time we spent on here was eternally profitable.  Then as evening comes, we're too tired to get out our Bible, so instead we push little buttons on a TV remote, hoping that it will provide the joy and fullness that only come through Jesus Christ.

These two things, internet and TV, are the greatest traps of the devil.

It is my goal to develop my relationship with Jesus, getting to know Him in a deeper and more personal way. The internet hinders this growth.  

So in light of all the above information, I have decided to fast from the internet and television (not that I watch that much anyway, but the evenings my family decides to watch a movie could be better spent before a Bible) for the month of August.

It is my goal to read at least 10 chapters (but hopefully more like 20 chapters) of the Bible each day.  I would like to spend approximately an hour in prayer with my Savior.  I also plan on memorizing the books of Jonah and Colossians.  Because meditation isn't really quantifiable, lets just say I plan to do a lot of meditation.  :)

So I guess the announcement of today is that I will not be posting anything, or answering any of your questions for the month of August.  You are welcome to submit them, and to answer the survey of my book, but I won't be able to reply to anything until September 1st.

I encourage you to join me in this pursuit as well.  I can guarantee that though it will be hard, the results will be more than worth it.

Psalm 19:7-11

"The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul;

The testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple;

The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart;

The commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes;

The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;

The judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,

Yea, than much fine gold;

Sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb.

Moreover by them Your servant is warned,

And in keeping them there is great reward."

A Call to Bible Reading

I was reading The Pursuit of God, by A.W. Tozer, and some of his quotes really stood out to me.

"We read our chapter, have our short devotions and rush away, hoping to make up for our deep inward bankruptcy by attending another gospel meeting or listening to another thrilling story told by a religious adventurer lately returned from afar.

The tragic results of this spirit are all about us: shallow lives, hollow religious philosophies, the preponderance of the element of fun in gospel meetings, the glorification of men, trust in religious externalities, quasi-religious fellowships, salesmanship methods, the mistaking of dynamic personality for the power of the Spirit.  These and such as these are the symptoms of an evil disease, a deep and serious malady of the soul."

This is a problem in our current Christians society.  We have an empty faith, no true relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.  We care more about ourselves and our pursuits than we do about the Lord.  This is the crisis in the Kingdom of God.  We do not have a personal relationship with our Savior.  Oh, we say that we know Him, we utter prayers every now and then, we read a chapter every day or so --but do we really know Him?  Do we know Him like we know the President, or do we know Him like we would know someone in our immediate family?  Here's the test:

“He who does not long to know more of Christ, knows nothing of Him yet.” -Charles Spurgeon

"Now by this we know that we know Him, if we keep His commandments. He who says, “I know Him,” and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps His word, truly the love of God is perfected in him. By this we know that we are in Him." -1 John 2:3-5

Our generation is lost, even though we claim to be Christians.  We are in the dark, although we are saved by the Light.

We must rend our hearts and turn from our evil way (Joel 2:13) to the Lord our God, if we expect this to change.  If we want vibrant lives that are on fire for the Lord, we must pore over the Word, giving ourselves entirely to it (1 Timothy 4:15).  The Scriptures must become our passion, our only pursuit.

Spend hours in them, studying the truths that lie within.  Live in them.

“Holy Scripture requires searching—much of it can only be learned by careful study.”

That one chapter a day of Scripture reading isn't going to work.  If we want to be like Christ, we must spend time getting to know Him, becoming intimate with His soul.  We must study His words.

Instead of spending all your free time on social media, I encourage you to give yourself to the Lord for the next few weeks.  Set aside 3-4 hours to spend in God's Word each day, reading it, studying it, memorizing it.  Watch how, without really even trying, the Word shapes and changes you.  This is because it is living and active (Hebrews 4:12).  Even though you may not love God's Word right now, or think it more valuable than gold (Psalm 19:10), as you spend time buried deep in its pages, you will find out what Job meant when he said, "I have treasured the words of His mouth more than my necessary food" (Job 23:12).

I agree completely with Spurgeon when he said,

“We should be better Christians if we were more alone, waiting upon God, and gathering through meditation on His Word spiritual strength for labour in his service.”

Time

"A life once spent is irrevocable.  It will remain to be contemplated through eternity....The same may be said of each day.  When it is once past, it is gone forever.  All the marks which we put upon it, it will exhibit forever....Each day will not only be a witness of our conduct, but will affect our everlasting destiny....How shall we then wish to see each day marked with usefulness...!  It is too late to mend the days that are past.  The future is in our power.  Let us, then, each morning, resolve to send the day into eternity in such a garb as we shall wish it to wear forever.  And at night let us reflect that one more day is irrevocably gone, indelibly marked." -Adoniram Judson

"Be careful to make a good improvement of precious time." -David Brainerd

"Oh, how precious is time, and how it pains me to see it slide away, while I do so little to any good purpose." -David Brainerd 

"God hath given to man a short time here upon earth, and yet upon this short time eternity depends." -Jeremy Talor

"Time is your most precious gift, because you only have a set amount of it." -Rick Warren

"Time is given us to use in view of eternity." -Harry Ironside

"Closet communion needs time for the revelation of God's presence. It is vain to say, "I have too much work to do to find time." You must find time or forfeit blessing. God knows how to save for you the time you sacredly keep for communion with Him." -A.T. Pierson

"You can use your time to no better advantage than to pray whenever you have a moment, either alone, or with others, while at work, at rest, or walking down the street! Anywhere!!" -Ole Hallesby

The devil realizes the value of our time.  It is his desire to take it away, not day by day, but minute by minute, second by second.  Let us remember that our days are fleeting (James 4:14) and use them to pursue a deep and intimate relationship with our Savior.

The devil wants so desperately to steal our time.  Don't let him.  Make use of the hidden gems of time throughout the day and devote them to Bible reading, prayer, memorization, and meditation.

"Only one life, ’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ will last. 

And when I am dying, how happy I’ll be,
If the lamp of my life has been burned out for Thee." -C.T. Studd

Matthew 4:4

"But He answered and said, 'It is written, "Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God."'"

God's Word is like food.  How many times do you feed your physical body every day?  Three times with snacks in between?

In the same way, we must be feeding our spiritual bodies at least three times a day, with "snacks" in between.  God's Word should be something that we think about often, in the same way that we think about food.

We also keep an ample supply of food around the house.  So too should we have easy access to God's Word wherever we go.

How long should we read for?  Well, how long do you eat for?  My family's meal usually lasts for 20-30 minutes, with talking around the table afterward.  Likewise, the actual reading should be followed up by prayer with our Father.

Let us learn these lessons from the way that we eat, and apply them to the way that we taste of the Bread of Life and living water.

God's Will Be Done

Are you willing to pray, "God, your will be done," no matter what?  Watchman Nee, a leader of the Chinese House church movement was.

     The time: World War II.  The place: Shanghai, China.  Once I bustling city, now the streets were quiet; desolation filling the air.  The inhabitants of the city only left their homes if they had too.  But not Watchman Nee.  He visited Christian homes, praying with the believers, and encouraging them in the Lord.  
     One thing burdened him though.  As he visited home after home, one theme ran through all their prayers, "Lord, give us the victory.  Stop Japan so that we may gain the victory, please Lord Jesus."
     Watchman Nee knew this was the cry of the Chinese Christians, but were there not Christians in Japan and Germany and America too who were crying the same thing?  Were they all praying for themselves and against their enemies?
     How then are we to pray in wartime, he asked himself.  Matthew 6:9-10 held the answer:  "In this manner, therefore, pray... Your kingdom come. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven."  He knew the answer, and was excited to share it with others.
     Gathering together a group of believers, he told them, "I want to talk to you, not as Chinese people, but as men and women in Christ."  He then proceeded to give them a history of how God has used government in the lives of the people.
     "God is not interested in the future of a particular nation," Watchman said, gazing around the room gravely, "but in the obedience of His people all over the world."
     The people shifted uncomfortably in their seats.  He continued, "When we pray, it must be possible for British and German, for Chinese and Japanese Christians to kneel and pray together, and all to say 'Amen' to what is asked.  If not, there is something wrong with our prayer, for we are all one body of believers in the Lord's eyes."
     Nee could see them look uncomfortably at each other.  He knew the were wondering, Could we kneel together with Japanese Christians, and pray together?  These are our enemies?  Are they not in the wrong?  In response to these unasked questions, Nee said, "We may tell God what we see wrong with the attitude Japan has toward Him--but we must also confess to God that in China may Christians have too much relationship with the government."
    "What then shall we pray?" questioned the believers.
    "As Christians, we must be different from the others and pray in this way, 'Father, we ask neither for a Chinese nor a Japanese victory--but for whatever will bring glory to your Son, Jesus Christ.'"
     Nee looked around the room at the faces who loved Jesus more than life itself.  "If the whole Church around the world prayed such a prayer, the war could soon be settled God's way.  But let it begin with us..."

We too must be willing to ask not for what we think is best, but what God knows is best.  Join with Jesus in praying this way,
   "Our Father in heaven,
   Hallowed be Your name.
   Your kingdom come.
   Your will be done
   On earth as it is in heaven.
   Give us this day our daily bread.
   And forgive us our debts,
   As we forgive our debtors.
   And do not lead us into temptation,
   But deliver us from the evil one.
   For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen."

The Precious Word of God

“THIS BOOK (The Bible) contains the mind of God, the state of man, the way of salvation, the doom of sinners and the happiness of believers. Its doctrines are immutable. Read it to be wise, believe it to be safe and practice it to be holy. It contains light to direct you, food to support you and comfort to cheer you. It is the traveler’s map, the pilgrim’s staff, the pilot’s compass, the soldier’s sword and the Christian’s charter. Here paradise is restored, heaven opened and the gates of hell disclosed. Christ is its grand object; our good is its design and the glory of God its end. It should fill the memory, rule the heart, and guide the feet. Read it slowly, frequently, and prayerfully. It is a mine of wealth, a paradise of glory and a river of pleasure. It is given you in life, will be opened in the judgment, and will be remembered forever. It involves the highest responsibility, will reward the greatest labor, and will condemn all who trifle with its sacred contents.” ~Anonymous

The Bible is so amazing my friends.  Any problems that we may have are solved by His Word.  Who would not want to pursue it?

Choose today to spend time in this precious Word, gleaning from the truths therein.

Ministry Verse: Colossians 3:16

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord."