Personal Bible study

For my own personal Bible study I am using an app on my phone called First 5. I am really enjoying it mainly because I have been able to stick with it! You can set alarms from the app. Mine is set at 7am. If I am up before it goes off I can make some coffee and sit at the table by myself and read it. Otherwise I just lay in bed and read it that works too! It is a simple for meaningful plan to follow and it get me in the Word first thing each morning which has not always been the case.

I am sharing this because I was reminded once again how God is in the details! This current study is in Ruth, Esther and Song of Songs. Monday was our first day of school and Monday's Bible study was in Esther. It was 9:20-32. After the scripture reading there is always a short devotional. Reading through the devotional one of the other verses they tied in was Isaiah 61:1-3.  Look at the top of my blog!!  That verse is our school verse! Of all the verses to be used in connection with the study today. I just felt peace and comfort of God talking to me about our first day back to school.  How cool is that!!  You should go check out this devotional and join in if you don't have one you are currently using.

Family Bible Study

So how have we been doing with our commitment to our daily family bible study?? Please don't take this as bragging (just excitement) but I am happy to say we are still going strong and have stayed up to date. You can check back here to see how we got started on October 19. I don't share anything in this post to say "hey look at us" but to humbly give encouragement that you too can do this as a family if you make the commitment. We are sad to admit that this is our first year ever reading through the Bible together as a family. We should have started years ago. I just wanted to share some logistics with you of how we do it.

For our family, most of Jay's work is in the evening hours. So first thing in the morning when we are up and eating breakfast (usually between 8 and 8:30)is when we do our reading. Some mornings Jay reads and some mornings I read. I like to read because I love the way he cooks my eggs. :) So I read while he cooks. If the kids are done eating they are allowed to color at the table. I have found this works wonders for keeping hands busy and minds engaged; especially the little ones. This schedule works for us the majority of the time. But, yes we have gotten behind before but never more than 2 days. We either get caught up by reading two days in one or if we are all going somewhere together in the car I bring the Bible with and read then (captive audience).

We all commit to many things during a week and follow through. If you right now are saying "we just can't commit to that". Really think about what you are saying. Put the reading of God's word first and you won't regret it! It is amazing the things we are learning and the discussions we are having as God's word is being revealed to us in this simple way. This will be a tradition we will continue, year after year!

After we are done reading each day we pray together and right now we are praying through the world. Check out operationworld.org for more info.