April 22, 2008

He Stirs My Soul

A few months ago, probably back in January, I was looking for a bible reading plan that would be interesting enough for me to stick with throughout this year. I've read the bible through in chronological order several times-I was getting bogged down with that idea and needed something fresh to try.
I ended up at desiringgod.org.-the "John Piper" website. After digging around over there I found a short article written by John's wife, Noel. It was her bible reading plan. She said she reads the bible through every year, but doesn't read it through in sequence. She just reads one book at a time and reads approximately 3 or 4 chapters a day. By reading it that way she reads the entire bible every year. Noel went on to say that she reads with a highlighter in her hand.
She said the first year she did this she highlighted everything the bible says about God: His names, word pictures about Him, what He likes and dislikes, how He reacts to faithfulness and sin...Noel said her bible flyleaves are filled with lists. Lists of God's names, Jesus' names, and the Spirit's names. She also created a list of pictures the bible uses to describe God like: shepherd, potter, nursing mother, etc. One other list she's created is one that lists bible verses so beautiful she knew she'd want to find them again and again. I don't think she works on all these lists every year. I think, if I remember correctly, she focuses on one or two each year.
I loved that idea and jumped right in. I am really enjoying it! I had a blank journal and being the sanguine person that I am, I've started on 3 hunts through the scriptures for this year:

-Lists from the bible (For example: Mark 7:20-23)

-Wonderful promises (Josh. 1:5 Deut. 31:6-8 Heb. 13:5)

-My favorite list is the one I've called: Scriptures That Stir My Soul

Take a minute and read these verses!

He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also He has put eternity in their hearts, except that no one can find out the work that God does from beginning to end. I know that nothing is better for them than to rejoice, and to do good in their lives.....
Ecc. 3:11-12


Oh the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are His judgements and His ways past finding out!
For who has known the mind of the Lord?
Or who has become His counselor?
Or who has first given to Him and it shall be repaid to Him?
For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.
Romans 11:33-36


Sorrow is better than laughter, for by a sad countenance the heart is made better.
Ecc. 7:3



But to the tribe of Levi, Moses had given no inheritance; the Lord, the God of Israel, is their inheritance, as He promised them.
Josh.13:33



Those verses really do stir my soul to trust Him. To worship Him. To be amazed by Him. Noel's plan has made the bible come alive for me again! I am really enjoying "the hunt". This idea has made reading the bible fun and deep and enjoyable and refreshing once more.

4 comments:

  1. That sounds like a great study! What is that website? And thanks for the encouragement over at my blog!! I always love getting your comments!!

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  2. Great idea! I've done that when doing intensive inductive studies, so why not when reading the whole thing?

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  3. This is a great idea! I've started something like that before, but never gave it a name and never finished it. I love the imagery in the first verses you listed.
    TTYS - Sniz

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  4. Since you are a homeschool mom, the next step would be to diagram all of the sentences in the bible. Heh. Heh.

    Actually, what you described sounds great...and I love that Romans verse. An old co-worker of mine put that passage to music. I'm hoping to sing it at church someday.

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