The idea of keeping a journal of my personal thoughts always intrigued me. I'd buy a journal and write a few pages, but then I'd quickly become bored and lose interest. No matter how many times I tried, I just couldn't seem to stick with it. I had all sorts of excuses for why I wasn't successful at persevering: I lacked confidence in my understanding and use of proper grammar skills; I felt inept at writing; it was difficult for me to remain focused; I was too busy; and my excuses went on and on. Besides, when did I have any "extra" time in my busy schedule to spend writing? My excuses and feelings of inadequacy got in the way and eventually my idealized notion of keeping a journal fell by the wayside.
But then IT happened—a defining moment that forever changed our lives. Caught up in "the storm," my husband and I turned to each other and to God and HIS Word for strength and guidance. We thought "the storm" would soon pass over. The waiting began. One year passed—and "the storm" was still raging around us. Another year passed—and still "the storm" raged on. As we waited, I suddenly knew. I knew—I was supposed to start over in reading the Bible again; I knew—I was supposed to write down what I was learning; and I knew—I was to begin keeping a journal as a means to gather and organize the many notes, references, and dates I'd written throughout the margins of my Bible. Keeping a personal journal was no longer an intriguing or idealized notion. It was now a directive—something I knew I was supposed to do.
So, I once again went out and bought journals. Funny how everything that used to block me from writing was no longer an issue. I was no longer bored; it was easy to set aside the time to read and write; and I no longer cared about my lack of writing skills. I would read a chapter(s) in my NCV Bible and then read the same chapter(s) in the well-worn KJV and NIV Bibles I received from a treasured friend upon her passing. After reading the chapter(s) in all three versions, I would then read the corresponding Life Lesson and the Exploration Verses in my Bible. I would typically read the passages in the morning and then spend the rest of the day thinking about what I had read and what God was saying to me in HIS Word. The next morning I would head up to my special quiet area—the loft above our kitchen. I would read the chapter in my version again, and then begin writing.
Four years passed.
I continued to read and write and we continued to wait for "the storm" to be over. My journey of reading through the Bible and writing my thoughts was coming to an end. I only had a few more chapters left in Revelation before I would be finished. What was I going to do? Reading and writing had become such an integral part of my daily life that I couldn't imagine what my life would be like when my days of keeping a journal while reading through the Bible ended. I began to pray and ask God what HE wanted me to do next.
It suddenly became very clear—I'm not done after all! While I had thirteen full size identical journals containing my thoughts and all the notations written in my Bible, there was no easy way to access what I had written without figuring out some way to index what was in each journal. I knew—I was to label and organize the journals in chronological order; I knew—I was to put my writings into a format where I could categorize the topics; and I knew—I was to find a way to be able to privately share the details of our story and what we were learning with our children, grandchildren, and a few close friends.
I started asking questions and researching the idea of how to accomplish what I knew I was supposed to do. Blogger seemed to be a perfect fit. But what would I call the blog which chronicled our six year journey of faith? A title, which I felt accurately described our journey, immediately came to my mind.
And so my private blog began. In just a few short days, my personal journals that record my journey through the Bible (and my personal thoughts and feelings) will be finished and it will be time to start at the beginning again. This time I will transcribe my handwritten journals into this format, adding addendum thoughts to what I originally wrote. I'm looking forward to reading what God originally showed me and to seeing what He wants to teach me now.
This post was originally written to my family on August 24, 2013. Never in a million years could I have imagined what God had planned for my journals and my personal journey through the Bible. NEVER! But then: LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!! happened and everything changed.
I am not a writer, and I am not a Bible scholar. I'm just a simple and ordinary person who loves and serves an extra-ordinary God. I don't know how God plans to use my journals; I only know we are the recipients of A Blessed Event and we cannot squander all HE has done. I hope our story and Jane's story—which is HIS Story—will encourage you to walk your own narrow and winding footpath with unwavering faith because of HIS great faithfulness. I pray HIS Story brings you blessings and encouragement.
I hope you will consider reading through the Bible with me. Purposely reading through HIS Word from beginning to end brought great peace, joy and contentment to my life. I know it will do the same for you.
But then IT happened—a defining moment that forever changed our lives. Caught up in "the storm," my husband and I turned to each other and to God and HIS Word for strength and guidance. We thought "the storm" would soon pass over. The waiting began. One year passed—and "the storm" was still raging around us. Another year passed—and still "the storm" raged on. As we waited, I suddenly knew. I knew—I was supposed to start over in reading the Bible again; I knew—I was supposed to write down what I was learning; and I knew—I was to begin keeping a journal as a means to gather and organize the many notes, references, and dates I'd written throughout the margins of my Bible. Keeping a personal journal was no longer an intriguing or idealized notion. It was now a directive—something I knew I was supposed to do.
So, I once again went out and bought journals. Funny how everything that used to block me from writing was no longer an issue. I was no longer bored; it was easy to set aside the time to read and write; and I no longer cared about my lack of writing skills. I would read a chapter(s) in my NCV Bible and then read the same chapter(s) in the well-worn KJV and NIV Bibles I received from a treasured friend upon her passing. After reading the chapter(s) in all three versions, I would then read the corresponding Life Lesson and the Exploration Verses in my Bible. I would typically read the passages in the morning and then spend the rest of the day thinking about what I had read and what God was saying to me in HIS Word. The next morning I would head up to my special quiet area—the loft above our kitchen. I would read the chapter in my version again, and then begin writing.
I continued to read and write and we continued to wait for "the storm" to be over. My journey of reading through the Bible and writing my thoughts was coming to an end. I only had a few more chapters left in Revelation before I would be finished. What was I going to do? Reading and writing had become such an integral part of my daily life that I couldn't imagine what my life would be like when my days of keeping a journal while reading through the Bible ended. I began to pray and ask God what HE wanted me to do next.
It suddenly became very clear—I'm not done after all! While I had thirteen full size identical journals containing my thoughts and all the notations written in my Bible, there was no easy way to access what I had written without figuring out some way to index what was in each journal. I knew—I was to label and organize the journals in chronological order; I knew—I was to put my writings into a format where I could categorize the topics; and I knew—I was to find a way to be able to privately share the details of our story and what we were learning with our children, grandchildren, and a few close friends.
I started asking questions and researching the idea of how to accomplish what I knew I was supposed to do. Blogger seemed to be a perfect fit. But what would I call the blog which chronicled our six year journey of faith? A title, which I felt accurately described our journey, immediately came to my mind.
Walking on His Footpath
(Following the Master's Lead)
(Following the Master's Lead)
And so my private blog began. In just a few short days, my personal journals that record my journey through the Bible (and my personal thoughts and feelings) will be finished and it will be time to start at the beginning again. This time I will transcribe my handwritten journals into this format, adding addendum thoughts to what I originally wrote. I'm looking forward to reading what God originally showed me and to seeing what He wants to teach me now.
*****
This post was originally written to my family on August 24, 2013. Never in a million years could I have imagined what God had planned for my journals and my personal journey through the Bible. NEVER! But then: LORD – What Am I to Do?; The LORD Answers!; and I Didn't Know—BUT GOD DID!! happened and everything changed.
I am not a writer, and I am not a Bible scholar. I'm just a simple and ordinary person who loves and serves an extra-ordinary God. I don't know how God plans to use my journals; I only know we are the recipients of A Blessed Event and we cannot squander all HE has done. I hope our story and Jane's story—which is HIS Story—will encourage you to walk your own narrow and winding footpath with unwavering faith because of HIS great faithfulness. I pray HIS Story brings you blessings and encouragement.
I hope you will consider reading through the Bible with me. Purposely reading through HIS Word from beginning to end brought great peace, joy and contentment to my life. I know it will do the same for you.
Jeremiah 29:12–14a - "Then you will call my name. You will come to me and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will search for me. And when you search for me with all your heart, you will find me! I will let you find me," says the LORD.
When you are willing to search for the LORD—you will find HIM—and it will change your life. Let's begin the journey. Let's read HIS words together.
Next Entry: Genesis 1:1 – 3:24
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