Day20

We did it!  We met the challenge.  Read the comment on Day 19 talking about today's lesson in John 15.  Jesus tells us to abide in Him and bear much fruit.  I love the term abide.  Think about your relationship with the Lord and abiding which means to remain or dwell.  Isn't that what we have been intentional to do the last 20 days.  To dwell in God's Word.  I hope and pray you have found the different methods helpful and can take what you've tried and taylor make it to fit your quiet time.  There are many more study styles in the back of your book.  Try them out.  Found out what technique works for you.

Well done ladies.  I am grateful you took the 20 minutes a day for 20 days in God's Word challenge with me.  Anyone up for 20 minutes a day every day for the rest of your life?  What do you say?  Are you in?

Day 19

Can you believe we have almost finished the 20 day challenge?  I feel like we just finished retreat last weekend.  How is everyone doing?  We finished day 3 of the FLAP method in which we dug apart the story of Jonah.  I really can't imagine being on that boat and telling the crew members it is my fault the storm is occurring and to throw me overboard.  Can you?  I think Jonah finally got it.  You can run but you can't hide.  God is the all seeing sovereign God and His plan will not be thwarted.  Jonah's experience has caused me to ask myself, is there an area in my life I am running from God?  What am I going to do about it?  Is there an area of sin that keeps me from giving my best to God?  All things I will pray about. Let me know how you are doing.  Remember, we're in this together.

Day 18

Facts and Lessons portion of FLAP method is today's exercise.  How many times have you read this story and still today as you dig it apart you see new truths.  I have always been so focused on Jonah that I have never noticed verse 16 "They were awestruck by God's greatness and vowed to serve Him." God used Jonah's disobedience to show His glory and draw these men to himself.  Isn't it amazing how God works even in our sin to draw others to himself.  I love that these men truly understood it was God who calmed the sea and wanted to serve Him as a result.  Did you see anything new in this passage that you hadn't really noticed before?  What lessons stand out to you?

Day 17

Well I have been hearing from a lot of you as I wander the church halls on your 20 day challenge.  You are all so encouraging and gleaning exactly what we had hoped for you.  To find new ways to get into God's Word and realize how quickly your 20 minutes goes by.  Our verse from Joshua 1: 8 "Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night,..." is exactly what we are doing in this challenge.  I hope you are finding your time with the Lord life giving.

Day 16

Okay, it's a new method today.  The FLAP method.  Facts, lessons, application and prayer.  I love this method when I am needing to pull apart the scripture verse by verse. If I were leading you in a study, I would use this method to prepare.  For those of you who are Precept studiers, this method will likely appeal to you.  Day one of FLAP is completed for you so take it in and see how Debbie pulled the scripture apart and gleaned nuggets.  Tomorrow you will be putting it to the test yourself.  Enjoy!

Day 15

I don't know about you but I just can't get enough of the Psalms.  Today's devotional references several Psalms.  What stands out to me today is all that God does for those who fear Him.  He is a rock, fortress, deliverer.  He is my God, a refuge, shield, and horn of my salvation.  He is my stronghold.  He fulfills, hears, saves, rescues and is my fortress.  He saves, hears, knows, promises and delivers us from death.  Wow!  Did you get all that?  What a mighty and personal God we serve!

Day 14

What do you think of the devotional method of getting into God's Word?  I would love to hear from some of you how you are doing in this 20 day challenge.  It is so encouraging and life giving to be in God's Word.  Today I am reminded I am the only one who wanders, not God.  He is always with me and I need not fear.  Sometimes that is so very difficult and so challenging to see where God is working but I wholeheartedly believe God is with me and each of us who believe.  So I am reminded though I am being refined with fire, which often going through the refiners fire is painful, is to remove the impurities from my life.  He loves us so much  he will be our refuge in times of trouble.  He cares for those who trust in Him.  What an amazing truth to cling to.  Praise God!

Day 13

The tongue, yikes!  I always feel so convicted when  I read these passages.  I have always said the Lord put the book of James in the bible for me. What a terrific warning of what an instrument of destruction the tongue can be.  But these verses also contrast how powerful in encouraging others our tongues can be.  I want to be an encourager rather than destructive with my words.  This is another reminder why I need to be in God's Word and prayer continually because my tongue can not be tamed on it's own.

I hope you are finding this 20 minutes a day guide helpful at getting you started in your time with the Lord daily.  There is so much to learn and such a gracious God we serve who patiently teaches us.  Stick with it, you can do it.

Day 12

Okay so this is the 2nd day of the devotional style.  What do you think?  How do you like it compared to the Psalms method and Simply Scripture method.  I have to say this is not my favorite method.  I think it feels to me like someone else put the time in with the Lord for me and I didn't have to dig into His word for myself.  It may be a totally inaccurate assessment but what can I say.  So far the Psalms method is my favorite.  I told you all I don't like to journal but I think I'm starting to love journaling and the Psalms method shows so much of God's character and attributes I could journal about Him endlessly. What joy to spend time with the Lord.

Day 11

Well we made it half way through the challenge.  Way to go!!!!!  I hope you are finding it is getting easier to carve out time. Be creative.  Use the time while waiting for the dentist, or picking up kids or between meetings to grab some time with the Lord . It will be worth it.

I am having so much fun going back through this challenge because each day He is showing me something different.  Last time I went through this guide He really showed me I needed to wait His timing. This time He is teaching me how to wait:  patiently, keeping his way, trusting his timing, being still, joyously praising his name and having faith.  So cool.  Both amazing lessons.  Each given to me right when I needed them.  What an amazing God we serve!