Wednesday, March 19, 2014

Week 1, Day 2, Mark 1:1 Continued

A CONFESSION ABOUT MARK 1:1: I WANT TO SLOW DOWN AND ABSORB EACH WORD AND MEANING

I don’t know about you, but I could meditate on each of the words of Mark 1:1, plus the entire verse, and all of its meanings, for days, if not weeks and months. There is a great deal of information to glean in such a short verse. So, I do not want to short-change it or rush through it.

I’ve also decided to give up the idea of twelve verses per week and see what happens. I think it’s far more important to get as much out of a verse than check a box and say, “Studied twelve verses this week. Check.”

Umm… No. I refuse to do that. So, this means this could very easily become a much longer study than six years—or who knows. It could be a six+ year study, but not too many days beyond the six year mark. It depends. I’m not going to sweat it. I would rather slow down and get as much as possible out of each and every word and each and every verse than have the checkmark and checklist kind of faith. Moreover, the more we try to soak in each word, each verse, and all of its depths and meanings, the more we’ll get out of this study of the Four Gospels and the more we will learn how to live a life of Jesus.

I don’t want to rush. I would rather be in the Word than miss something because of rushing.

Once a month, my husband, whom I will call ‘B’ and I go to Historic Jamestowne. I have three family members who went through there in 1607 and many more thereafter. So, it’s quite meaningful to me to see the place and hear all about the latest findings with the archaeological dig. When we get there, we check in at the ranger’s desk and we then leave the building and walk about fifty feet or so, where a walkway of cement and metal takes us to the monument and to the dig site.

It’s along the walkway that B and I have seen more critters than you could imagine: turtles, beavers, muskrats, herons, fish, frogs, snakes, raccoons, woodpeckers, mocking birds, finches, robins, deer, etc. What absolutely amazes us is how as we stand there, looking for or at critters, how many people fly by without slowing down, let alone stopping. I cannot tell you how many cool critters people have missed through their rushing.

I cannot tell you how many blessings people have missed because of their short-sighted rush.

And, I cannot tell you how many blessings I know I’ve missed in my similar state.

The same thing has happened at Virginia Beach, when B and I walk up and down the boardwalk. There have been four times at least, where we have seen several hundreds to a thousand to three of people all along the beach, and suddenly several dolphins come close to the shore and play in the water. Do you know how many people have stopped to watch them of all the hundreds of people along the beach? The max amount of people we’ve seen stop and watch the dolphins is ten. Ten out of hundreds.

We are just too caught up in our own world that we miss tons of blessings, right in front of our noses—or worse, we see them and don’t stop and enjoy the glory of God we see in the blessings.

I do not want to do this with the Four Gospels. I don’t want to rush through so fast we miss all of the blessings. So, this “Six+ Year Four Gospel Project” will probably take a great deal more than six years to get through.

I don’t want to shortchange God.

And, I sure don’t want to shortchange the Word of God and the blessings He wants to show me and us through each word and each verse of all Four Gospels.

PRAYER JOURNALING:

Are you the rush type? How many critter sightings do you think you’ve missed in your rush? What can you do to stop and smell the tulips, so to speak? What can you do to avoid missing the blessings of God and His Word, the Holy Bible?

MOST BIBLE STUDIES ARE SHORTER, LET’S BE HONEST

Let’s be honest here. Again. Most people don’t want to do a Bible study that takes more than three months, let along six+ years. In fact, the shorter ones sell better than the longer Bible studies, unless you’re David Jeremiah, Charles Swindoll, Beth Moore, or Kay Arthur (for example). Longer studies are avoided because of the time commitment they require.

Rush, rush, rush.

We are just flat-dab in too much of a hurry today we miss numerous blessings God has for us each day.

We are not going to fall for that trap. We will do what we can each day, will keep going, and will do our best to learn to slow down and catch every single blessing throughout our day. We will do what we can to get the most out of each word and each verse of the Four Gospels.

In doing so, we will do what most have not. Let me prove it to you. List ten people you know of personally who have studied the Four Gospels for at least years. If you know of a New Testament scholar, add them to that list. Do you ten of them? Most of us do not. In fact, most of us haven’t studied anything for six years in a row from the Bible. So, in doing so, we will learn more than most. We will slow down and allow the Four Gospels to become parts of our lives and we will learn how to live a life of Jesus.

A life of Jesus isn’t rushed. It is one of the Word of God, for Jesus is the Word. Let’s not minimize this and let’s realize the importance of being in the Word and absorbing every morsel of every word and verse, passage and chapter, book and testament.

(15 MINUTE STUDY) ANOTHER METHOD OF STUDYING THE BIBLE: TRANSLATION STUDY METHOD

On top of Emphasizing, focus, and cross-references, there’s another method of studying the Bible. It’s studying several versions of the Bible, which I will call the Translation Method.[1]

The Translation Method is where you first look up your favorite version of the Bible and then you do the Bible study methods of: INITIAL READING AND PRAYER JOURNALING, EMPHASIZE, FOCUS, and CROSS-REFERENCES. Then, you look up the same verse in ALL English versions or translations. Pick at least three you want to focus on, preferably nine or more. (P.S. Now, you see why I said yesterday you will in time need at least nine translations of the Holy Bible.)

For those of you who are willing to use the internet, check this out. It makes it easier to look up all English translations in a very easy way. Here’s what you need to do:

1 Click on this link: http://www.biblegateway.com/

2 In the search box, you can only use ONE verse at a time, or the “in all English translations” feature will not work. So, since we’re studying Mark 1:1, put that in the search box. Choose your favorite version/translation. Hit “Search.”

3 Go to underneath the verse which is not written out on the screen. Do you see the feature, “in all English translations”? Click on that.

4 Your new screen opened and it should look like this:

http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=mark+1%3A1&version=HCSB

Do this with every verse we study and you’ll glean great insight and can do this translation study. After all, there are well over thirty English translations for us to read, glean from, and deepen our understanding of the verse.

DO THIS WITH EACH NEW TRANSLATION OR VERSION YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY

We’re going to look at somewhere between three and thirty translations, and we will want to do each of the following with EACH translation we read and for EACH verse we study. While it may seem time-consuming and complicated as you look at it, once you try it, you’ll see it goes pretty fast, particularly if you copy and paste these steps into your prayer journal.

Do this for a total of 15 minutes:

PRAYER JOURNAL EACH OF THE FOLLOWING FOR EVERY VERSE AND FOR EVERY TRANSLATION YOU CHOOSE TO STUDY:

1 Answer each of these questions for each translation you read and study: What jumped out at you? What was different from this translation than from the last one (or ones) you read and studied? What was the same? What did you learn? What more can you apply to your life? What did you say to God? What did God say to you? What more did you learn about Jesus, if anything? How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? How can this help you live a life of Jesus?

Keep reading and studying another verse until you reach the ten minute mark.

There, It’s really that simple.

2 Then, do this: Write a summary of each of these questions in your prayer journal, combining everything you prayer journaled from this translation method:

PRAYER JOURNALING

Answer each of these questions: What jumped out at you? What did you learn? What can you apply to your life? What did you say to God? What did God say to you? What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? How can this help you live a life of Jesus?

3 Write a summary or final prayer.

CONCLUSION OF 15-MINUTE STUDY

Here are all the steps of the Bible Study Method we will use for this this “Six+ Year Four Gospel Project”:

1 INITIAL READING AND PRAYER JOURNALING

2 EMPHASIZE

3 FOCUS

4 CROSS-REFERENCES

5 TRANSLATIONS

6 REFERENCE

7 SUMMARY

8 FINAL PRAYER

So, you see… Fifteen minutes a day will simply not be enough time to get as much out of a verse or passage as you can. That’s why it’s imperative to build up to more than 60 minutes a day in time, and that you use the weekend to play catch-up.

By the way, this is also why I want to build up to at least three hours per day on the weekend of studying and build up to at least four hours Monday through Friday. The truth is, I don’t think even this will be enough to give any given Bible verse. But, from what I figure, I can always do another six+ year study later of the Four Gospels. (I’m not kidding.) And, as it is, I know for a fact I will refer back to the prayer journaling I do for this “Six+ Year Four Gospel Project” often in the future even if I don’t do it again.

Just something to keep in mind yourself. Fifteen minutes a day is simply not enough time to do a true study of the Word of God, the Holy Bible.

30 MINUTE STUDY

Do more of translation study until you reach 30 minutes. Do all three steps.

45 MINUTE STUDY

Do more of translation study until you reach 45 minutes. Do all three steps.

60+ MINUTE STUDY

Do more of translation study until you reach 60+ minutes. Do all three steps.

[1] By the way, before I go any further, translations and versions are the exact same thing. They are synonyms of one another.

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

Week 1, Day 1 Welcome and Mark 1:1

NOTE

Note to anyone who has read this blog up to now. We're hitting the re-use button. Pretend like you haven't read anything before. We're hitting the reset button. Let's do this over and see what happens. Day 1 is the same.

WHAT IS THE "SIX+ YEAR FOUR GOSPEL PROJECT?"

The purpose of the "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" is to go through the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John, at a rate of twelve verses per week, five days a week. It will take six+ years to accomplish this project. Moreover, it will be divided into eight week sessions, so there will be over forty of the eight week sessions overall.

DO YOU WANT TO KNOW JESUS MORE AND LIVE A JESUS LIFE?

There are three main focuses of the "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" are the three reasons why you (and me) should go through this project:

1 Do you want to get to know Jesus more? How about in a deeper, more thorough way than you ever have before?

2 Do you want to do the same with the Word of God, the Holy Bible?

3 Do you want to learn how to live a life of Jesus?

If you said yes to any of the previous questions, then you will get a great deal from this "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project." If you commit to this project, you will get more of it than any other study you've ever done. After all, I'm fairly certain you haven't committed to a more than six year singular study before, which you might find a little intimidating at this point.

A SIX+ YEAR COMMITMENT? (WHAT?!? GULP.)

I have two concerns:

1 I don't know about you, but I cannot help but wonder: Who in the world would WANT to make this commitment--AND be successful to start and finish this project? I will be even more honest now. My throat constricts at the thought. After all, six years is a long, long, long time. Isn't this a bit too much?

2 Wouldn't it get boring? Wouldn't it be boring to do day in, day out, for days, months, and years on end? The answer to it all is this: It depends on your priorities.

Do you want to fulfill the three main focuses listed in the previous section? If you do, it will take time, work, and intentionality--each and every day.

Will it get boring? Only if you allow it, will it get boring. Being bored requires a choice. Why would you ever choose not to get deeper in the Word of God? If you are ever bored, it's because you choose to be bored and are not diving deeper as you could.

I guarantee, if you want to get deeper with Jesus and the Word, and get to know how to live a life of Jesus, then you'll quickly discover how it's a worthwhile choice to dive into this "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project."

Sure. It will require a great deal of work and intentionality, but aren't we supposed to do all of that anyway as it is? Aren't we supposed to be in the Word and meditate on it morning, noon, and night (see Psalm 1:2)? So, why not make this commitment to try to get become Gospel experts in our own right?

Shouldn't we get as much as possible out of the Word, every time we are in it, each and every day? That's what this "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" offers.

Shall we get started?

WHAT MATERIALS DO YOU NEED FOR THIS PROJECT?

There are some Bible studies which include videos or audio, books, workbooks, journals, and/or devotionals. I love those studies. I get a great deal of them and can't wait to do more of them

Guess what, though? With this one, you get all of that in one book. After all, this project will be forty books or more. So, the more I include in each book, in an effort to keep this easier and cheaper.

What will you need for this project for each of the forty or more of the eight week sessions?

1 A book for each session.

2 A prayer journal to use as a workbook (if you do a digital or electronic journal, it's free).

You can get a paper journal at any Target, Wal-Mart, Barnes and Noble, Tuesday Morning, etc.

As far as prayer journaling on your computer, I recommend using something like Microsoft Word and starting a blank document for each eight-week session of this Bible study and journaling memoir. Then, save it down to the Cloud so you can access it at any time from anywhere, if your laptop, PC, tablet, and cell are all damaged in an act of God, for example, a hurricane, fire, earthquake, tornado, etc.).

3 At least three different versions or translations of the Bible, but preferable nine or more. One of which will preferably a Chronological Study Bible. I realize this sounds expensive, and it is if you buy the paper versions. But, it doesn't have to be. If you are the type that prefers the paper kind, then save for one Bible at a time--and all I can say is check http://Amazon.com. they go on sale quite often and when they aren't on sale, they are still pretty inexpensive. So, buy one at a time, as you can, if you prefer the paper version. Get at least one right away--and make sure to check out used book stores, too.

If you want to use the internet, you can use my favorite site: http://www.BibleGateway.com--iteven has an app for your phone. There are well over forty English versions or translations of the Bible. And, it's free. This is the one I use.

If you like e-books, as I also do, they cost money. Therefore, do what I suggested regarding paper books.

As to the Chronological Study Bible, here is the one I have and will use. It comes in paper or e-book:

http://smile.amazon.com/Chronological-Life-Application-Study-Bible-ebook/dp/B007V69GTM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395145080&sr=1-2&keywords=chronological+study+bible

There are several other types of Chronological Bibles, so make sure to look around and see what you like and prefer. Shop around.

But, again, make sure to build your tools a little at a time, you don't have to get everything at once. You'll still get a lot out of this study. You'll just get more out of it when you have more tools.

WHAT MAKES THIS A BIBLE STUDY AND A JOURNALING MEMOIR?

The Bible study part should be obvious. We will study the Bible. That’s the main purpose of this eight week series, every eight weeks, for six plus years as we study the Four Gospels.

As to how this is a journaling memoir, think about what this sounds like and you’d be correct. As we prayer journal our responses to each question asked in this first eight week series or book, we will naturally be writing a memoir of remembrance of our journey and walk with God doing this eight week segment in our lives. I will share my story with you as we go and I hope you will email me your stories and will attach comments to the end of any blog post (hint, hint).

PRAYER JOURNALING

Every day, I will have several thoughts to ponder and questions to answer. Do both in your prayer journal. Make sure to prayer journal at the start of each day, at the end of each day, and at several points throughout your day.

Be thorough when you answer any question or comment on any thought to ponder. In fact, come back to the question or thought several times throughout your day today and for the next month or so, and keep adding to your response. Therefore, if you are doing a paper prayer journal, leave several blank spaces at the end of every point to prayer journal. It will give you space to keep returning to answer. This also shows why doing prayer journaling over your computer is an easier thing. It’s easy to add material as you go.

Your prayer journaling is meant to be used as a way to talk with God (about 25% of your time, and listen to god, 75% of your time. It’s also meant to help you remember what God has done in your life, through your life, and around your life.

And, don’t forget to count your blessings each day (always give thanks).

Those are the purposes of prayer journaling.

I’ll warn you now. If you’re doing the prayer journaling thing best, and where you’ll get the most out of it, you’ll probably go through more than one journal for this eight week session, if you’re doing the paper journaling thing.

EACH DAY WILL BE DIVIDED IN YOUR CHOICE OF STUDY

Each one of us will approach this study at a different point in our lives and will even approach each day with certain time restrictions. While, it is the ideal we will each build up to a minimum of one hour per day, we might not be there today, though. Or, if we are, something might have come up. So, this study is designed to give you options: 15 Minutes Option, 30 Minutes Option, 45 Minutes Option, and 60+ Minutes Option.

For week 1, I recommend with starting with the 15 Minutes Option. Get used to doing Bible study seen days a week. Five days will be the intense study, one day will be catch-up and review, and the final day is review. So, start with the 15 Minutes Option.

Then, for weeks 2 to 3, do the 30 Minutes.

Then, weeks 4 to 5, do the 45 Minutes.

Then, weeks 6 to 8, do the 60+ Minutes.

The whole idea is to build up to what you’re used to.

Then, in the second eight week series, or book 2, build up to 120 Minutes.

I will give you all of the options, though, each day, in case you are already having a time each day that lasts more than 15 minutes. Then, make sure to increase by fifteen minute intervals, as I suggested, just start with week 1 where you are on average as far as minutes.

Another suggestion would be to do whatever I suggest from above, then go back and do another fifteen minute interval for your favorite days from the past in this study. Ideally, you will do all of the suggested exercise and the 15, 30, 45, and 60+ minute intervals for each and every day.

For instance, for me right now, I average two hours a day in the Word of God and for my quiet time. I really would like to get up to three hours. So, I will start week 1 with 60 Minute intervals. Weeks 2 to 3, I will do 60 + 15 Minute intervals each day. I will go back and do an additional segment, as suggested in the 60+ Minute interval from my favorite days from the past. Does this make sense?

TIP:

Try to do the 15 Minute interval first thing in the morning. Then, at points throughout your day, steal some time to do another interval. Keep doing this until you reach the 60+ Minute interval mark.

Now… Shall we get started with our chronological study of the Four Gospels, the “6+ Year Four Gospel Project?”

15 MINUTE STUDY

LET’S READ MARK 1:1

Read Mark 1:1 in your favorite version of the Bible. As you read it, prayer journal any thoughts that come to mind, word by word, prayer journal until you come to the end.

Prayer journal about anything that jumped out at you and why.

Make sure to read the verse all the way through, word by word. Don’t skip any. Prayer journal your thoughts when you get to the end.

EMPHASIZE: Then, read it through even more slowly, word by word. Make sure to prayer journal about how the verse changes as you emphasize a different word each time you read the verse. Prayer journal as to what each word emphasis means. Let me give you an example of this:

I enjoy rainy days. (Emphasize the first word and then prayer journal your thoughts.)

I ENJOY rainy days. (Emphasize the upper case word and then prayer journal your thoughts.)

I enjoy RAINY days. (Emphasize the upper case word and then prayer journal your thoughts.)

I enjoy rainy DAYS. (Emphasize the upper case word and then prayer journal your thoughts.)

Do you see how much the meaning changes with each different emphasis? It changes quite a bit, doesn’t it? Make sure to prayer journal this. And, something to remember with the Word of God, it’s alive. So, what this means is each is true. Each word emphasized and prayer journaling the new meaning from the emphasized new word brings deeper understanding. Each meaning is true, all at once. So, make to prayer journal an overall meaning after you do the emphasis of each word.

Emphasize every time you study a verse.

FOCUS: Then, focus on every noun, then every verb, then every ‘and’ or ‘or’. What does the verse say about each noun (along with he, she, we, they, I)? What does the verse say about each verb? Is there an AND? If so, what does it connect? It’s the same with OR. What does the verse mean if you take out everything except the nouns, verbs, ‘and,’ and ‘or?’

PRAYER JOURNALING QUESTIONS:

Answer each of these questions: Emphasis? Focus? What jumped out at you? What did you learn? What can you apply to your life? What did you say to God? What did God say to you? What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? How can this help you live a life of Jesus? Write out a prayer at the very end.

30 MINUTE STUDY: CROSS-REFERENCES

Now, it’s important to look up cross-references. So, how do you do this?

1 Use this source:

http://www.studylight.org/com/tsk/

Look up each verse. Answer all of these prayer journaling questions, each of them, for each of the cross-references:

2 Use a study Bible with cross-references. Answer all of these prayer journaling questions, each of them, for each of the cross-references:

45 MINUTE STUDY: REFERENCES

Look up as many of these references as possible in fifteen minutes at least, and prayer journal your answers to the following questions after reach reference you read:

What jumped out at you? What did you learn? What can you apply to your life? What did you say to God? What did God say to you? What did you learn about Jesus, if anything? How can this passage deepen your knowledge of Jesus Christ? How can this help you live a life of Jesus? Write out a prayer at the very end.

The references can be found here:

http://www.studylight.org/search.cgi?section=bsr

60+ MINUTES STUDY: REFERENCES

Look up as many of these references as possible in 15 minutes at least, and prayer journal your answers to the following questions after reach reference you read:

The references can be found here:

http://www.studylight.org/search.cgi?section=bsr

Do this in 15 minute segments until you reach however many hours you want to reach.

Monday, March 17, 2014

Starting Over: A New Chronological Project

STARTING OVER: A NEW CHRONOLOGICAL PROJECT
I am going to start the "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" over again and do this study in chronological order. I think this will help me grasp the four gospels a great deal more. Reading them is one thing. Reading them as is in the Bible, is perfect for--reading. But, it isn't working for me to fully grasp the four gospels and the life of Jesus.
Needless to say, this "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" is now a chronological one. I want to study the four gospels in which they happened. It's more like real life and just a story.

SUGGESTION
In order to get the most of this "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project," you should consider using a Chronological Study Bible. If you have one, great. Start using it right away..
If not, that's just fine. You can still get a great deal out of this study. No worries. If you want, start saving to purchase one. You really will get more out of this study because you'll be able to hold it in your hand and make it yours.
The one I have and will use is this one:

"Chronological Life Application Study Bible":
http://smile.amazon.com/Chronological-Life-Application-Study-Bible-ebook/dp/B007V69GTM/ref=sr_1_2?s=digital-text&ie=UTF8&qid=1395074719&sr=1-2&keywords=chronological+study+bible

Updated last on March 18, 2014 at 1141 a.m.

Sunday, March 16, 2014

Nothing

There is nothing and no one more important than Jesus.

He alone brings life.

A Week 1 Extra: A Journaling Memoir Entry

March 15, 2014, Saturday

WHY WOULD ANYONE BE INTERESTED IN DOING A 6+ YEAR FOUR GOSPEL PROJECT? ISN’T THIS A LITTLE EXTREME

Let’s be honest. If those questions haven’t popped into your mind yet, just wait. They will. After all, six years and more is quite the commitment. Who can argue with that statement? Let’s be honest here. It is quite the commitment to make and who knows what’s going to happen tomorrow, let alone a year from now. But, six or more years?

However, you think about a little more and realize it would be a good aim. Maybe this is a little lofty, but you’re willing to give it your best shot. Right? Or, at least, you hope so.

More than six years is quite the commitment. Yes.

Is it extreme? Really? Is being in the Word of God extreme? Ever? If we answer yes to this question, then haven’t we missed the entire point of the Word of God?

The kind of questions of interest and extremism has only one source: Sin. Which has ties to the enemy, to our fleshy nature, and to self-centeredness.

WOULDN’T STUDYING ONE BOOK OF THE BIBLE FOR MORE THAN A YEAR GET BORING?

Well… I know of people who will avoid this project thoroughly, and will even run from it because of this fear. They are the same people who have busy, busy, busy lives who don’t have time to breathe, let alone take time to really read, study, apply, and remember the Word of God. (Boy, I’ve been there. Still am right now in some ways.)

Isn’t this fear of boredom understandable? I know I sure think so. Nevertheless, what we need to understand is this: We are talking the living, unchangeable, all-powerful, all-knowing Word of God.

We are hardly talking about running, eating, hobbies, work, play, entertainment, gaming, etc. you fill in the blank. Those are all earthly activities that satisfy a temporary whim. They are shallow and short-lived. Versus the eternal Word of God that brings us to eternity and to God. That alone means it will not be boring.

And, if you ever feel bored, I would suggest doing this devotional bible study journaling memoir in different ways, at different times, in different places. Spice it up and don’t let your spiritual life of completing this project ever allow you to think for a second you’re bored. If that happens, remember who that’s coming from—it isn’t coming from God.

Remember to spice it up and add variety. That will help.

Remember this is the Word of God. That should help.

But, if all else fails, read and prayer journal Psalm 119 until you can claim each verse as your own. (I’m not kidding.) Psalm 119 will teach you the passion to seek and live the Word of God in our lives.

THE EASY WAY

Let’s be honest again. We want the easy way. We don’t want to commit. We don’t want to spend too much time on the stuff we haven’t made a priority in our lives. We are lazy, self-absorbed and we forget to live for eternity, not for today. While we are to give our every today our intentional effort and focus, we are to remember why we have today. It’s to prepare for tomorrow in eternity.

We want easy. It doesn’t take work.

We want easy. It takes less time (or so we think).

We want easy, for everybody’s doing it.

We want easy, for we don’t have the self-control, discipline, and commitment.

We want easy, for we are lazy.

We want easy, not complicated.

We want easy because we’re busy and just don’t have the time for anything else.

But, where in the Bible does it say we should pursue any of these things?

Seriously. Answer that question in your prayer journal. List every verse you can think of or find in the Bible. If you can’t think of any, look things up in a concordance or use the search field on any Bible site. Look up “EASY.” I’m not kidding. Do that, please.

Then, look up all the verses you find. Do not read ahead until you do. Prayer journal about what you learned.

Now, look at least two more versions or translations—and do the same. Prayer journal about what you learn.

ANSWER TO EASY AND THE BIBLE

You will not find anything in the Bible that says easy is good. EXCEPT—when it applies to living the way of Jesus Christ and the Bible (see Proverbs 19:23; Matthew 11:30). As a matter of fact, look at these passages:

Matthew 7:13-14 / Expanded Bible (EXB)

13 “Enter through the narrow gate. [L Because] The gate is wide and the road is ·wide [broad; spacious; or easy]that leads to ·hell [L destruction; ruin], and many people enter through that gate. 14 But the gate is small and the road is ·narrow [or difficult; hard] that leads to true life. ·Only a few people [And there are few who] find that road.

Luke 13:23-24 / New Living Translation (NLT)

23 Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few be saved?”

He replied, 24 “Work hard to enter the narrow door to God’s Kingdom, for many will try to enter but will fail.

-- NLT: Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

PRAYER JOURNAL ABOUT EACH OF THESE THINGS ABOUT THOSE TWO PASSAGES:

JOURNALING MEMOIR

The idea of making a six-year commitment is a little… Too much. It’s: Intimidating, overwhelming, unfathomable, scary… Exciting, peace-bringing, contentment stirring, and pleasing. It’s practically every emotion combined into one body, mind, and heart at once and is a great deal to try to grasp.

Panic starts to set in and I realize how the scope of the “6+ Year Four Gospel Project” is so far beyond me it’s unreal.

God? Are you really talking to me? I’m hardly qualified for this project—never mind how massive it is. This is me we’re talking about here. Then, in the next breath, I think, “He will do it, not me. I just need to cooperate.” But, God… Are you sure? Okay, You do this—because I know I can’t.

Let’s be honest. I’ve been trying to write for the last ten years and haven’t been able to stick with one writing project, or Bible study project that I write about, for more than six months, never mind a year—and surely, never mind multiple years. Needless to say, I am apprehensive at best. (Look around at this blog and see how many times I’ve changed my mind about a project as an example.)

And, do I need to mention how I can be the busy, busy, busy gal at times?

My husband, B, does ministry work of sorts and I do work by his side from time to time. I help him with marriage counseling and hospital visits. Friday night, we finally rolled into bed around midnight, after B’s full day. I keep his same schedule and adjust it daily, and more often than not, throughout the day, right along with him. When he gets up, I get up. When he goes to bed, I go to bed. I want us to be on the same schedule. (We don’t have a kiddo yet, so it’s easier.)

Last night… No. This morning, we rolled into bed around two in the morning because we had a hospital visit. So, I’m tired at best. I’m also run-down and need some time off, never mind time to breathe.

I say all of this, not to complain, but I know what it means to be busy. Boy, do I know. This is the type of busyness I do not want to avoid, though. Being there for people when they need it is always worthwhile. I wouldn’t be anywhere else. They are more than worth every bit of it.

Needless to say, I can think of a billion excuses why this 6+ Year Four Gospel Project will never work—for me or anyone else. No. Actually, that isn’t entirely true. I can come up with a quadrillion or more. How about you? I’m sure you can, too.

Here’s a question, my friend and fellow traveler along this journey of faith of living a life of Jesus: Why come up with excuses? We should just stop—and be honest with ourselves. We will ALWAYS be busy. We will ALWAYS have something get in the way. If we wait for the convenient time, we’ll never find one. If we wait to do it ‘til it feels right, it never will. If we wait to do it until… Fill in the blank… We will never do it.

So, let’s not go there.

Let’s just do it.

Shall we?

Before we get to that point, though, let’s look at the anatomy of doubt.

JOURNALING MEMOIR: IT'S ABOVE ME AND IS BEYOND ME

Just thinking about the scope of the "Six+ Year Four Gospel Project" makes my stomach sink, my nerves to act up, doubt starts to creep in, and I know this is something I cannot do. Really. I am experiencing these sensations right now, did earlier when I thought about it, and I sense I will in the future as well. This project is so far above and beyond me. I am silly 'ol me. There is nothing special about me. I am a sinner and deserve death, but have been given grace and eternal life.

I can't do this. It will take me writing about forty devotional Bible study and journaling memoir books. Forty. Not one or two, or even three. Not ten or twenty. Forty. Gulp. How intimidating.

This is my human side. My worldly, freshly, carnal side. However, I need to remember where fear is, there is enslavement. It is not of God, so it is something I shouldn't draw my focus.

Romans 8:14-16 / GOD’S WORD Translation (GW)

14 Certainly, all who are guided by God’s Spirit are God’s children. 15 You haven’t received the spirit of slaves that leads you into fear again. Instead, you have received the spirit of God’s adopted children by which we call out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God’s children.

So, no fear. I should not choose it or allow it. Rather, I will choose to trust the Lord and in His Word.

What does this mean, then?

One day at a time is how I will approach this different mindset. I won't even think of how much of a commitment this Six+ Year Four Gospel Project will require. Nor will I think of finishing this one book. I will focus on God and the Word in the Book of Luke on this day. This day is God's. Not mine. Tomorrow is His as well. One day at a time.

How about you?

I'm still nervous, but I do my best to ignore it and press forward to today, the Lord's Day.

DETERMINING TODAY NOT TO TAKE THE EASY PATH

How many people do you know of who have made the commitment to read and study the Four Gospels day in and day out, 24/7/365 for six+ years? Answer this in your prayer journal. List every person you know of who has. Contact them and verify. Then, ask them about their journey and what they experienced.

However, I guarantee most of us will not find on person who can make this claim—unless we know a New Testament scholar.

So, why would I even ask this exercise of you? It’s because I want to make a point. Everything I ask you to do or think about in this book, by the way is for the same reason. Everything I say is to make a point. It’s been thought out and I am saying it intentionally and purpose. Every word, even, means something. I am not lackadaisical with my words or with what I ask of you in this book. This exercise was and is no different.

I guarantee most of us cannot think of one individual who has done this (again—unless they are a New Testament scholar). Not one. So, what does this mean of us?

Let’s be the first—and see how many others we can get to join us. Let’s start our own community—who refuses to take the easy way.

24/7/365 DEVOTIONAL BIBLE STUDY AND JOURNALING MEMOIR

If you take this mentality, it actually makes doing the next six years easier. Word on this book, and reading the Word, ten minutes (plus or minus), here and there, at several times throughout your day. Some days, you might only be able to do this two to four times, because you have a truly busy day in which you live your priorities (and not lived on a whim and neglected your priorities). Other days, you might be able to do ten or more ten-minute intervals.

Also, at first, three ten-minute intervals might be extreme. You just might not be able to do more time than this. However, every week, add a ten-minute interval until you can do a total of one hour, then two hours, then three or more hours each day.

How do you do this? How can you do this when you are so busy? Adding ten-minutes every week is easier than you think. Particularly because you will add it to your schedule. You’ll start to realize the stuff you can get rid of in your life so you can spend more of your time with God, not running from or avoiding or ignoring.

If you do several ten-minute intervals with the Lord and His Word, with this study, throughout your day, it’s far easier to make a 24/7/36 commitment. You’ll naturally be moving in that direction when you add another ten-minute interval to be with God each week.

TV, gaming, social media, internet browsing, reading mainstream fiction and non-fiction will start to lost their appeal as you seek god more and less of this world. After all, you’ll make the commitment to be with God and His Word, not with the world.

LET’S BE HONEST: MAKING THE COMMITMENT FOR THE RIGHT REASONS

Now, let’s be even more honest.

Shouldn’t we have the commitment for the rest of our days to turn to the Word of God, the Holy Bible, in such a reverent, daily manner? Shouldn’t we be daily thoroughly reading, studying, learning, applying, and remembering the Scripture? And, shouldn’t we be doing it all day and night long?

Shouldn’t we?

Let’s do this.

We’re in this together. We refuse to take the easy way. We refuse to neglect God and His Word another second. We acknowledge something will always try to keep us from doing what is right. We will make the commitment to this book and to the Six+ Year Four Gospel Project anyway.

We forget to live for eternity, not for today. We will change this through this study.