I will be taking a break from writing this week to enjoy my nephew’s wedding in New Hampshire; just wanted to share a few thoughts about my blog before I do.
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Some have commented on the short format of my devotional posts. My daughter calls them “user friendly;” a compliment coming from a very busy, efficient lady. :) There is a reason for the format, and I thought I would take this morning’s entry to explain.
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These devotional readings are from my book THE GOD WHO SEES ME – A Devotional Prayer Journal. They take up the left hand page of a small book, with a lined blank journal page on the right. This is to encourage the reader to record their own observations on the selected reading, usually one or two chapters. So the complete devotion, including the assigned reading, is not so short after all. These are the goals I hope to accomplish:
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1. To encourage a through-the-Bible reading of Scripture, seeking to understand the big picture as well as the details that will affect my life.
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2. To emphasize primarily the lives of real people who lived in Bible times, setting their stories in the actual historical context in which they happened.
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3. To model a two way conversation by letting God speak to my heart through His Word, then praying back the principles He has spoken to me, by writing it in a journal format.
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4. To encourage the reader to do the same, letting the Word speak personally in whatever stage or circumstance of life he/she may be.
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5. To use direct quotations whenever possible in order to allow God’s living Word to do its work. For the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a Discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart. Hebrews 4:12 NKJV
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6. To use the NIV translation because of its popularity, and the NKJV because it is my favorite, and closer to the KJV which I read and memorized for many years.
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I will expand on some of these goals in the future when I have more time. One thing I hope to do someday is to provide links so the Scripture reading can be easily accessed online. I realize that most people do not have their Bibles handy when they read my entries.
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I want to thank my husband Ron for carefully editing to be sure the Scripture references are accurate. Copying and pasting from my PC Study Bible seems to include the number of the following verse. Ron has been very helpful in spotting this. I also have a habit of using the first half of a verse and then later deciding to use the rest. He has managed to catch me at using both the NIV an NKJV in a single verse! :) That means he has to have both translations at his side when he is editing. Thank you, Ron.
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