sarahg

A Confession & my Bible Reading Plan

Over these last several months I've come to realize that I need a plan. I need a list. I need something to help guide me. I need something to mark off. I've done some Bible studies this year and wanted something basic. So, I'm starting a new Bible reading plan that I wanted to share, in case any of you are also interested in using it to guide you through your Bible. Let me also say, HONESTLY... I have never read through the Bible in a year. (kinda sad, I know)

The one that I'm using is a chronological reading plan that arranges the Bible so that you read them in the order that the events happened (not necessarily in the order the books were written).

I've tried out different reading plans over several years and have often wished that I had read about this prophet when I was reading about that event back in Kings or Chronicles. So, I set out to find a plan that would help me get a larger understanding of what all was going on (particularly regarding Old Testament events), intertwining the history with the prophets of the era with the Psalms being sung and so forth. I think this will help me actually complete it. Read the ENTIRE Bible.

From the research I've done, it seems that this reading plan that I've selected will do that. It's set up so that by reading between about three and four chapters a day, you'll make it through the entire Bible in a year.

But, I think that having a plan to help guide me through my Bible reading is incredibly useful and motivating, especially when you're not really in the mood to read (because that is reality some days!).

Anyway, so if you want to try this reading plan, you can print out a 2-page PDF that lists out each date and the corresponding readings for that day. Then just keep it with your Bible and mark off the days as you go.

(There are also a variety of other reading plans you can choose from, if you're not into the chronologically-arranged type. They also have ones that walk you through the Old and New Testaments simultaneously, or ones that integrate daily Psalms and Proverbs readings, as well as others.)

Do you have a reading plan you're using that you really like? Feel free to share it in the comments!

Adios...I'm off to St. Louis!

It's 11:03pm and I am just now sitting down to blog. I'm exhausted ... but I am excited! Tomorrow I will be leaving in the morning to attend Joyce Meyer's three day conference in St. Louis, MO. I will be traveling with my dear friend Laura, her mom and sister.

I am expecting it to be great.

I am expecting it to be life-changing.

I am expecting to miss Sophia like crazy (it will be the first time we have been apart this long).

I am expecting to come home renewed and refreshed.

I am expecting to have a new perspective on everyday life.

It will be great! If you want to know more, click on the love life pic below. I've set up some posts for you for the next 3 days...enjoy! Hope you have a wonderful weekend.

 

Safe

Earthquakes, tornadoes,blizzards, hurricanes, flooding, hail, tsunamis, hail, extreme heat, wildfires, etc...

The last few months it seems like this stuff has been on overdive. I've witnessed some of this powerful weather on my own and heard about it on the news. Then I see a map like this... Where To Live to Avoid a Natural Disaster.

I think of all my family in Texas and at the same time secretly thinking moving to the northwest or to Alaska might not be a bad idea. Hehe. Wherever you are I hope you feel safe.

What...Bleeding Blue?

Ok. So this girl is NOT a sports fanatic...BUT this post...is just about that. Sports.

Growing up my dad coached and he always loved sports. He graduated from Indiana University and to this day he watches all of their games and proudly calls himself a Hoosier. (His favorite movie: Hoosiers) I can remember the last time I was excited about sports. It was 1993 and I was in the 8th grade. We lived in Grapevine, Texas and the Dallas Cowboys were on their way to the Superbowl. To this day...I can remember the phrase: "You know why there is no roof on the stadium? Answer: So God can watch His team play. I remember wearing blue and silver and I remember the halls of our middle school being decorated in the same colors.

Now I live in Kentucky. And am surrounded by University of Kentucky basketball fans. Sunday morning at church, I was asked by more than one person...am I watching THE GAME? These people know me...(ha!) I didn't even know what time it was playing! I happily said Anth and I were going out. That night, as we dinned at Cheddars with some friends we were bombarded with THE GAME on TV and our waitress seemed to be more interested in THE GAME than us. When the table behind us welcomed more friends to their table, they very happily opened their coat and displayed a UK wildcat t-shirt. I found it all quite amusing. Did I watch THE GAME...yes...I did.

While checking my facebook that night...I couldn't help but chuckle at all the posts about UK and "the final four BABY", "Houston bound", and my favorite: "Rock, Chalk, Choke"! (hehe!) And yes, some of my friends did drive out to the airport and welcome the Cats home. So now, I end this post...that yes...this girl is gonna bleed blue (may even purchase Sophia's first UK t-shirt) and will be watching the Kentucky Wildcats play in the Final Four on Saturday...why not?! ;)

 

 

Middle of the Week

working| just finished a mini scrap book for my sister's birthday (pics to come later), working on scrap layouts for challenges with my dear friend.

listening| right now, Passion's new album- Here For You. (which is totally worth the 10 bucks) My favorite song right now... Waiting Here For You. I have a friend who I know would sing this song beautifully.

 reading| On recommendation from a friend, I am reading The Choice by Suzanne Woods Fisher. Yes, the Amish fascinate me. And this book, Everything Is Illuminated. It is taking me FOREVER to get through. But I have it on good authority to finish it...it will be worth it.

 feeling| Pretty good, to be perfectly honest. We are taking a little trip to Cincinnati this weekend and I am looking forward to that.

 right now| I am listening to Sophia read to herself. It's so wonderful that she loves books the way she does. I got my hair cut last week, and I am really enjoying it. I kept it longer...instead of going short.

 worth thinking about| ^Romans11:33 Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes.

Happy Wednesday everyone!

Friday...oh Friday

 

So, I have started this blog post several times all rambling on into different directions. Then I highlight it and click delete. Although it was good therapy for me, here I am still with nothing written in this post for you to read. Let's see....

I guess I could tell you how I got sucked into watching Friday Night Lights. (via Netflix) I've never watched the show before but I got sucked in fast. And yes, I have finally finished every season available on Netflix.

Or I could tell you how I'm proud of myself lately for making homemade bread. 

Or a favorite moment with Anth this week:

                  Me: You know you could mail those reciepts yourself.

Anth: I don't know where the envelopes are...

Me: (rolling my eyes) seriously, they are on the bottm shelf

in a box marked "envelopes".

Anth: Well, I don't know where the stamps are, either.

Me: Oh my gosh! They are infront of your face every time

you're on the computer in that file thingy.

Anth: (totally serious) Well, how much are stamps?

I don't even know how much they are?

Me: (insert HUGE LOL here) are you being for real? you really

don't know how much they are...you're a mailman

and you don't know the cost of a stamp. anth,

this is why i love you.

Anth: (chuckling) no I really don't!

Or I could tell you how proud I am that I finished yet, another book yesterday. Goooo Sarah! (leg kick)

Or I could tell you how unbelieveably excited I am that it's Friday and Anthony has the whole weekend off!!!! Happy Friday everyone!

A Conversation

This past weekend in Campbellsville with the youth of LFA was SO fun. Watching teenagers use their gift to glorify God was amazing. But to be honest, more than half of the time I was being weighed down by a load of insecurity, fear, and doubt. I kept looking ahead at this next season in life and feeling completely and utterly inadequate. Frustrated that I couldn’t FEEL as confident as I want to. You know what I’m talking about? It was a battle of a couple of days, and then I finally, really experienced some freedom on Wednesday. Through the wise words and tender heart of my husband, some friends, and through the Lord speaking in the ordinariness of that day.

Yesterday, I was reminded of a conversation I had with my dad awhile ago. How clearly the words he spoke...then I really didn't want to hear it. Now, I feel like the Lord is bringing it up all again. I was sharing about my time with the Lord and how inconsistent and sparse it has been. Then Dad said something, I won't ever forget. He said... "Sarah, I don't see how you cannot spend time with someone you love. Do you love Him?" I could tell that my dad really didn't understand why. I was beyond frustrated, it was as if the Lord exposed my heart and just left it out there to be beat up. I was completely open honest with my family that night. You see for me, in the beginning it was all about discipline. I thought it was all about the day-to-day, getting up early, reading for hours.  But the Lord used my dad, and for me it wasn't about discipline at all.

It's all about my love for Him.

Ever since that conversation, in small ways I have been reminded of it. During lunch with a DEAR friend just this week, I was reminded of it again.  The attitude of my heart has changed. And I know it isn’t my efforts doing it. It’s very tangibly not of me.  These times, even this afternoon that I have spent with the Lord have been awesome. 

This afternoon, in my journal, these were the things I felt led to write down, stare at, and remember that He is completely able in:

In the impossible. In the tragic. In the unknown. In the hopeless places and moments. In helpless feelings (like this past weekend). He is able! HE IS ABLE! So…why do I drag my feet in bringing those things to Him? Why do I think He won't care?

When I read these verses today, I felt them pointed directly at me:

“The Lord sets the prisoners free; the Lord opens the eyes of the blind.

The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous.” [Psalm 146:7,8]

Read those out loud. He DOES those things. He does the impossible! He sets the prisoners free– read Acts 12, the account of Peter being busted out of jail in the middle of the night by an angel. It was so impossible that he thought he was dreaming. He opens the eyes of the blind. He lifts up those who are bowed down. He loves the righteous. If you’ve been around the church at all, you’ve probably heard that famous verse,

“The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” [James 5:16]

I have read and heard that verse so many times and felt SO disqualified. Righteous...me? James must have been talking about someone who prays five hours a day, or is living on the mission field in Africa, or volunteers all their free time to a homeless shelter. Is THAT what makes a man or woman righteous before God?

“But now a righteousness from God, apart from law, has been made known…

This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe.” [Romans 3:21,22]

We are righteous because of Jesus, and therefore He loves us … AND, our prayers before Him are powerful and effective. That… is… HUGE. If that doesn’t create God-glorifying expectancy in your heart as you steal away for time with Him today, I don’t know what will.

Just because I have discovered this new app for my iphone...(yes, I'm a little obsessed) here's some pics of my little bit this week. Enjoy!

 

 

It's the little things...

Lately, it's been the (little) things that have made me stop and think and realize I do have it really good. Sometimes it's these (little) things that make my day! Things like...

Eating dinner by candlelight.

Waking up to the sound of Sophia's babbling in the monitor.

An unexpected package delivered with all sorts of goodies.

Sitting in just the right spot so the warm sun is shining on me.

Peeling a cheese stick on the first try.

Sharing a meal with friends and losing track of time because you are enjoying their company so much.

Being able to play with Sophia.

Listening to music and hearing a song that takes you WAY back.

Clicking spell check on my blog posts and not seeing anything underlined in red.

Eating lunch with my parents...knowing how awesome it is that they live so close.

Just when you think your favorite candle is finished, it miraculously keeps burning through the evening.

Hearing "mama" over and over again from the back seat.

Getting so lost in a book that when you put it down you are still feeling the emotions that it evoked.

A text asking me how my day has been!

When I check the mail and it's raining...I love that my little mailbox is on the front porch and all I have to do is reach out and grab it.

Creating a scrapbook page in 30 minutes and actually liking it.

Watching a movie and my husband pauses it to say he has to go to the bathroom, but goes up stairs and comes downstairs with popcorn.

Making dinner and getting a leg hug.

I hope that you can find time to enjoy the (little) things in your day!

Youtube, napping, tator tots, and sweetened condensed milk

Thursday @ 10:04 pm:  I am working on some things on the computer in the office and Anth comes in to give me a kiss and tells me he is heading upstairs to bed.  I needed to just finish up a couple of things, so I told him I would be up in a little bit. YEAH RIGHT! I got sucked in to the madness that is Youtube. I started watching a video, and just couldn't stop.

Thursday @ 11:45pm: I manage to look at the clock and realize it's almost midnight. But do I stop watching and go to bed?? NO! I watch a couple more Youtube videos. Watch you must realized is that I usually don't watch Youtube...I mean when I hear people that watch it for hours- I laugh...I mean seriously, how can you waste that much time?

Friday @ 1:16am: It's now officially past 1am. My eyes are still glued to the computer screen watching Youtube. I know...I am crazy. It's okay. I realize this.

Friday @ 2:24am: I am having to hold my eyes open and realize I seriously need to go to bed. I have an 18 month old that will wake up promptly at 8am and expect breakfast. So, there it is folks my Thursday night/Friday morning. And here is watch consumed most of my time on Youtube. Enjoy: Cimorelli.

 

Friday @ 9:32am: I manage to open my eyes and stare at the clock. HOLY COW! I hear Sophia talking and it surely is not to me. My husband has managed to leave for work at 7am and come home on his break only to find me fast asleep and Sophia talking away in her crib. That's right folks...in her crib.  She was in there for an hour and half while mama got her sleep on. (I felt SO unbelievably guilty) Somehow when I managed to come to bed in my state of mind I didn't turn the baby monitor up loud enough. So...I didn't hear Sophia at all. Apparently, I didn't hear Anthony tell me goodbye OR wake me up when he came home again. OH MY! So my amazingly wonderful hubby not only got Sophia up and ready but made breakfast too. While eating, I must admit that I was not in the best of moods. I explained to Anthony why my state. I mean I have never had a hang-over, but seriously that is what I felt like. Extremely lethargic, nauseated, a pounding headache. All he said was I hope you enjoyed your nap. (ouch!)

Friday @ 9:54am: I told Anthony I was going to have to make it up to him, by making his favorite...tator-tots. Seriously folks, this man is NOT hard to please.

Friday @ 12:43pm: Feeding Sophia lunch and I decided that the only way I was going to feel better was to take a nap. I put Sophia down for her nap and I climbed into bed. Yes, I remembered to turn the monitor up this time.

Friday @ 4:34pm: After a 3 hour nap (yeah!) dinner plans are in the works. I change my mind and decide to make an AWESOME (aaaaalllejuah! picture the angels singing) meal. I cook away, making Pork/Sausage stuffing, sweet-potatoes, and peas.

Friday @ 6:06pm: Anthony (the king) walks in the door kicks off his shoes and sits down to eat to an awesome meal! right!?! WRONG! I tell him what's for dinner and he gets this disappointed, hurt, wounded puppy dog look on his face. Don't get me wrong...he liked the meal. But what he was looking forward to was tator-tots!

Sunday @ 8:02 am: So, I have planned to make this Chicken Enchilada Soup and I know Anthony will really enjoy it. I informed him I was doing so and he was excited about actually coming home for lunch on Sunday afternoon. It's a really eazy-peasy recipe. You just open a bunch of cans (chicken, enchilada sauce, nacho cheese soup, evaporated milk, cream of chicken) and combine them. I did this. Well, almost. While pouring in the sweetened condensed milk, I thought it was really thick. 
But that's about it. Seriously, folks I should have thought about it alot more.

Sunday @ 1:03pm: Anthony serves our soup up and we eat. Only...we don't. I taste one bite and the soup is SWEET! Totally ruined the entire batch! I now know the difference between evaporated milk (like the recipe called for) and sweetened condensed milk. SHEESH!  I felt so bad. I went into the kitchen, cried, and offered to make him a sandwich, but he said he wasn't hungry. Another meal = ruined by yours truly.  And yes, if you know me I did take a picture of this disaster (to the left).

Sunday @ 2:15pm: Sophia is napping and I tell Anthony...dinner will be hamburgers and fries. There's no way I am ruining this meal.

So, my dear sweet husband. Thank you for holding down the fort while I was napping after staying up too late watching Youtube. Thank you for loving the simple things like tator-tots. Thank you for not being so hard on me Sunday afternoon after I completely ruined another meal for you. Thank you for laughing...because I needed it. Next time I make Southwest Chicken Enchilada soup I will be sure to use evaporated milk (like the recipe said). Love you.

Listen. And then listen some more

The way her hands move when she talks, while her mouth tries to find the words she is looking for. The cheeks that plump up when she laughs. She's trying to talk. To converse. She watches closely for my reaction. She looks up at me with those big blue eyes just to see if I am listening to her. This week I have done alot of this...listening.  Trying to understand that baby babble is sometimes hard. Sure, she can say some words and she is desperately trying to speak sentences. But sometimes, I just don't get it. So I listen. And listen some more.

Sitting on the couch and my ear is to a cell phone. I can't see his face. I can't tell if those brown eyes are serious or funny. This has been most of our serious conversations lately. Mostly me talking and him listening. Me trying to figure him out. Trying to fix the un-fixable. I am trying to change (with the Lord's help). Listening to him isn't always easy. He isn't always right and he isn't always wrong. But he does need to be heard...especially his heart. Sometimes, if I am quiet long enough and quit interjecting my "two cents", he reveals his feelings and thoughts. So, I listen. And then listen some more.

And in the morning, I wake up. Crack open the Bible. My hands are dry and sometimes I still have sleepy in my eye. His Word is life-giving. I read...slowly...trying to soak up every word. Trying to listen to what He says. I put it all aside and drop to my knees. Sometimes it's short and thankful and other times it's weeping and long. I pour out my heart and He listens. But more and more it's me who needs to listen. To stop, be still, and listen. And then listen some more.

"There comes a time when the world gets quiet and the only thing left is your own heart. So you'd better learn the sound of it. Otherwise you'll never understand what it's saying."
-Sarah Dessen