when i have hunger pains, i get something to eat. i don't like to feel uncomfortably hungry. i take time to grab something even if it's just a piece of cheese or a handful of pita chips. when i'm thirsty, i grab a bottle of water or pour myself a glass of juice. there are times, though, when i just feel kind of weak or lethargic and realize much later that i haven't really eaten well all day or had a single serving of water (much less the 8 recommended by the experts).
i am so hungry for truth. sometimes i feel the hunger pains but recognize that's what i'm experiencing after a full day of malnourishment. ugh. sometimes it's after a season/maybe days/months/even yrs...of sad nutrition.
as a christian...Christ-follower..i know that my source of truth is the bible. i have a whole lot of it stored up in my head and heart from many years...most of my lifetime...of knowing Christ. but i haven't always daily fed myself with needed portions of His Word. and i've had a desire forever :) to really understand what i'm reading and understand the history and the prophetic writings...they haven't always made sense to me without the context/understanding of what was going on in the lives of the people who were writing or the people the author was writing to. so...i have taken a few masters' level classes the past year and a half from a university that makes it priority to teach the truth of the bible. i just barely got through the classes because of the other responsibilities of life and of course wish i could've given them more of my time and attention. however!...i studied just enough to enlighten my poor understanding of those historical context and old testament prophetic writing concerns. i also armed myself with enough knowledge of other religions/other philosophies of thought to wrap my head around why i believe the bible word-for-word and disregard systems of thought contrary to it. and...i have some great resources/textbooks and writings about the bible/to access when i get to a place where i have questions.
i'm writing all of this because i have decided to read a few chapters of the bible everyday and do some writing as i read. if i commit to writing about it daily, i know i will take the time to go to the textbooks and resources i have and really understand what i'm reading. so...i'm going to start this all as the new year starts....
i have wanted to really understand the bible for years and years and am finally taking some time this coming year to study. i know we all go through different seasons of life at different times...so if you happen to be in a season where it would be helpful to read and study along with me, i want to invite you to read the bible with me and let me share some of what i'm studying as we read.
i will start writing/blogging on january 1. my plan is to start at genesis and finish with revelation in december 2012. i'm going to use the "canonical plan" that youversion.com recommends for reading the bible from beginning to end. i also read from the new american standard bible because it is a very literal/very close to the original written hebrew (old testament) and greek (new testament).
it would encourage me to the core if i had some friends to read and study with...i would love love love to invite you to journey with me. -steph
