For myself, I can tell you that I find I stray often into the whisperings of “good” vs “best”. What always encourages/amazes me is that God is still with me and still provides correction and reproof…even when I don’t listen as well as I should.

He also has convicted me of a way of knowing, beyond a shadow of a doubt, His desires. It’s called “The Bible” and I make no apology for having read it through several times in the past 6 years….. and continuing to read it. In fact, the more I read it, the more disappointed I am in all the latest and greatest ‘manifestos’ about ministry, missions, and God Himself.

I use a “read The Bible through in a year” plan. I missed doing it last year. I was going to do a “study” instead. HA! That worked out well………NOT! Satan used that “good” thing to help me find subtle ways of actually staying OUT of The Bible. A distinct detriment, I can tell you!

I’m not trying to toot my own horn here. God knows you’ve certaingly seen be at my “best”! bwahahahahaha!
It took God speaking to me for almost 20 years before I answered His call to read the complete Bible. He knew I needed it. He knew that even just “reading” was essential to MY life. He knew that each time, He would provide all I would need to find His BEST, not just MY (Satan’s) ‘good’. He knew that it would serve as a constant reminder that HE is all I need!
It always proves to be a new and incredible experience….one that I hope and pray to never be distracted from again.

So when you’re feeling ‘guilty’ about telling people The Bible is the book you’re reading right now, remember this particular “manifesto” and that glo said “It’s ‘The Greatest Story Ever Told’, Greg. Get over it!”

In the words of scripture itself:

…….from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus.
All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness;
so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.
2 Tim.3:15-17 (NASB)

Thanks for letting God use you to exemplify His work!

Over the weekend I was thinking how Christians would rather read “The Shack” rather then the Bible. I was one of those people who had a hard time reading the Bible when I came to Christ and instead read “spiritual books” written by men. New Christians need to read the Bible how else will they know about the real Jesus.

I am ashamed to admit it, but I have not read the whole Bible. In Aughust God made it clear that I was suppose to get in His word and study it and I also find myself just wanting to absorb His word.

I write this because early this morning I woke up to a wicked voice and laughter coming through the radio. Thinking it was part of a program I listened carefully and the voice kept repeating, “She thinks the Bible is going to save her.” I waited for a commercial or music to come on then I realized that it was satan and I turned the volume all the way down, but could still hear the voice so I leaned over and shut the radio off. That is one voice I don’t want to ever hear again. I immediately started to pray. After lying there a while I got up and read my Bible.

Keep throwing those punches.

Always keeping you in my prayers.

SOMEONE AGREES WITH ME!!! I thought I was alone on this one…

I feel like I’ve been walking around in a social justice bubble for the past 2 years. Between the Invisible Children and Irresistible Revolutions, I’ve struggled to see the gospel – the call for every knee to bow and every tongue to confess the risen Lord. The Relient K song “This Week the Trend” keeps filtering through my mind, as I think of how trendy social justice and “issues” have become in youth ministry. Ironically, most who tackle these issues are only doing them just to do them. So goes the fate of relativistic moralism.

@ Brian above: PREACH IT! At my previous youth group, I took my kids to help a Christian service organization that focuses on building and restoring homes in a community. The problem was that the construction was the only thing we focused on. The time of worship each day was a “second thought” to the leaders. In my mind, worship should always be the main point. Everything else is a result of worship.

I usually carry one and if someone needed it I would probably give it to them!!

Great post. I really love the fact that you are so real in them. It’s encouraging as a newbie to see that those that have come before me are still growing in Christ.