Bible Reading

Bible Reading:Ten ways to read your Bible:

1. 365 important Bible chapters in a year
2. Through the Bible in a year, Old Testament and New Testament daily readings.  Get yourself a One year study Bible.  I am using the John Mac Arthur Study Bible.
3. Through the Bible in a year - cover to cover on a consecutive schedule.  Using a 6day plan for flexibility.
4. New Testament in a year
5. Two or three chapters of the Old Testament per day.
6. One chapter of the Gospels and Acts and one chapter of the epistles per day.
7. Five Psalms and one chapter of Proverbs per day.
8. 31 Key Psalms per month
9. 31 chapters of Proverbs per month - one chapter per day
10. Psalm 119 in 22 day cycles - 8 verses per day.

               Wait on the Lord to open His Word to you and put your hope and trust in Him.

TAKE THE FOLLOWING STEPS WHEN YOU READ YOUR BIBLE:

• Opening prayer:  ask God to prepare your thoughts and fill you with the Holy Spirit so that His Word can speak to you.
• Read the portion carefully and thoughtfully
• Think about the truths about God and what they mean personally.  Write them down in your journal and express that truth to God.
• Love and adore God in your heart on the basis of that truth.
• Submit yourself to God.
• As you focus on the Word of God, ask yourself: 

1. Is there a command to obey? 
2. Is there a promise to claim?
3. Is there a sin to avoid?
4. Is there a lesson to learn?

Christmas Celebrations in June/July!

Why is it appropriate to celebrate Christmas in June/July? What happened 6 months before Jesus was born? John the Baptist was born. What was John the Baptist's work? He prepared the way for Jesus. He said about the Lord Jesus: John 3:30 “He must become greater and I must become less.”

In Europe it is very interesting that in June after the longest day the days become shorter and darker until December and then the days become longer and brighter. John's message was that he was not the Christ, but was sent ahead of Him. His light has to become less and less as the days from June to December and then when Christ was born, The light of Jesus must be in our lives like the days from December onwards who become longer and brighter!!

Let us look at my June/July Christmas table setting. I decorate my table with 5 colours so that I can explain the Gospel message to you.

1. Gold – round golden plate: God is our Creator– Gen. 1:1; He is a Holy God who hates sin; Rev. 4:8 and Isaiah 6:3; God is a God of love– John 3:16. God is in Heaven.
2. Black: black heart or black place mat: Rom. 3:23 says all have sinned and fall short of God's glory. Our sin separates us from God. Sin is everything that we do, say or think that is not glorifying God.
3. Red: Red cross or red tablecloth or red flower: Jesus came to earth as our Saviour. He was sent by God to pay for our sins on the cross. 1 Cor. 15:3-4.
4. White: white heart or white tablecloth: John 1:12 says that everyone who acknowledges that he/she is a sinner; who believes in the Lord Jesus and calls on the Lord for salvation, will be saved.
5. Green: green tree or leaves: The moment you become a child of God, it is important to grow spiritually. To grow you need to read your Bible, pray, witness to others about your faith, confess your sins and have fellowship with other believers. 2 Pet. 3:18.

Two gifts:

1. The gift that we received from God because of His grace is John.3:16 – His Son. Jesus took away God's wrath, He paid the full price and we receive everlasting life!
2. The second gift is what we can give our Holy God when we are in Christ. We can give ourselves. This is the only gift we can give God. Ask Him to help you everyday to live in such a way that you will make Him proud! That you will have a relationship with Him and put Him first in your life.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

Heidelberg Catechism: Question:  How many things necessary for you to know to live and die happily?

Answer: Three.  1. How great my sins are.  2. How I may be delivered from them. 

3.  How I shall express my gratitude to God for such deliverance.

The ABC to become a Christian:

A - acknowledge that you are a sinner - Rom 3:23

B - believe that the Lord Jesus died for your sin - Joh. 3:16

C - Call on the name of the Lord and accept Jesus as your Saviour.  Joh. 1:12

Spiritual growth:
As a believer, it is good to remember the 5 ingredients that help you to grow spiritually:

1.  Read your Bible

2.  Pray

3.  Witness about Christ Jesus

4.  Confess your sins

5.  Have fellowship with other believers

Quiet Time:

Communion with God is absolutely necessary for a child of God, because this is your most important relationship-building activity:
* You can talk to God as His child and He talks to you through His Word
* His will becomes your wishes and your prayers become more and more what His Will for your life is.
* The Holy Spirit helps you to understand God's Word and Will and He is interceding when you pray.
* Jesus made it possible for you as believer to enter the Throne Room and have Communion with God.
* Jesus is your High Priest who gave His life for you on the cross at Calvary.
* He is sitting at the right hand of God where He is interceding and by His grace making it possible that you as the King's child may talk to your Heavenly ABBA FATHER!
* This relationship where you commune with God daily and praise and worship Him, confess your sins to Him, thank Him, intercede for the Kingdom to come and holding on to His promises, will help you to live with peace in your heart.  Phil. 4:6-7

Quiet time starts with God - Rev. 3:20  "Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.  If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with him, and he with Me."

Women's Quiet Time:

Half a day (few hours)of quiet time:

Keep a journal and write down your prayers and God's answers.

Opening prayer: where you pray for wisdom and guidance. Ask that the Holy Spirit will open your heart and life when you talk to God and He talks to you through the Word. (10min.)

Praise: Read a Psalm of Praise: Psalm 8 or Psalm 103 and worship God because He is All mighty, All knowing, Sovereign, Creator, Saviour....... (20 min.)

Confession: In the light of God's Holiness, we realise our shortcomings. Confess to the Lord with the words of Apostle's Creed or Ps. 51 your sins. Ask the Lord to forgive you and to help you forgive others and yourself! (15 min.)

Bible Reading: Read Hebrews 11 and look at the page about the Faith Heroes and how to apply the characteristics to your life. Ask the Lord to help you to do that. (30 min.)

Supplication: Pray for your family, friends, our area, our country, our world. Pray Ephesians 3:14-21 for everyone who believe. (20 min.)

Contemplation: Rest and listen to a CD with Christian songs or go for a walk and meditate on the Lord's grace and mercy. (20 min.)

Application: Write down how you have to lay down the old man (woman) and clothe yourself with the new man (new woman) (20 min.)