2008 Devotional Material

[Marsha Lynn]

It's a new year. What devotional material are you using? What is your approach to Bible reading and what version are you using this year?

After five years of gradually easing into reading the Bible in Spanish (starting with just a Psalm each day with dictionary close at hand and eventually making it through the entire Bible), I'm ready to go back to English but am reluctant to just start over at Genesis another time. Thus far, I'm making an attempt to choose random passages as I encounter them -- from the lectionary, the SS lesson, Wednesday night Bible study, other books, etc. -- and jump around that way, but I don't think it will work. (1) It's too hard to make sure I'm on schedule. (2) I'm afraid that I'll skim off all of the "good" OT passages in the beginning and end up faced with weeks and months of Leviticus and Numbers, etc. in order to finish up another cycle. (3) I didn't read the Bible at all this Saturday morning. :eek: That's a bad omen for my chosen approach. I need to reconsider.

As far as devotional material, I pulled My Utmost for His Highest off my bookshelf on 1/1/08 as a source of a scripture passage and I think I'm hooked - again. I know that the only inspired scripture is the Bible, but MUfHH sure speaks to me in ways other books outside the canon do not. It's as inspirational the 5th time through as the 1st. (For those of you who may disdain this little book, I realize that I have now revealed the lack of depth in my own spiritual life, but the truth had to come out sooner or later.)

I actually do basically all of my reading for spiritual growth as devotional material and haven't used anything intended for that purpose lately. (A new book from my Christmas loot is Monday Morning Church (http://www.amazon.com/Monday-Morning-Church-Sanctuary-Streets/dp/1582294895/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1199548412&sr=8-1) by Jerry Cook) I'm just curious as to what devotional projects you all are starting (or continuing) in 2008.

Marsha

[David Warren]

Hi Marsha,

This is an interesting question for me because I'm always looking for something different or new to keep a freshness in my devotional time. I've not been up to trying a different language but do pick a different translation for my devotional time each year and very rarely is it the NKJV which is what I use in church most of the time. This year I'm using the New Living Translation. Have used the NRSV, NIV, NASB, The Message, KJV and The Living Bible in the past and it just helps give a little different perspective.

One thing I am doing this year, which I do every so often, is reading through the Bible chronologically. It just helps put it all together for me time and event wise.

I don't believe you can ever go wrong with "My Utmost For His Highest" but I also like Bob and Mike Benson's " Disciplines For The Inner Life". It's the one I come back to time and again every few years.

Upper Room has put out a couple of devtionals by Job and Shawchuck; " A Guide to Prayer for Ministers and Other Servants" and " A Guide to Prayer For All God's People" that I have also enjoyed.

These have the same format as Bensons devotional which is; an invocation, a Psalm, a daily passage of scripture, reading on a weekly theme, a prayer, a hymn and a benediction all centered around a weekly theme. I like these because there is as much or as little as you may want to use so no matter where you are in your spiritual journey you can get something out of them.

If you'd like to borrow one let me know today. Bruce Yates is filling in at Odon tomorrow and I could send one of them with him. :basic01

[Terri Knoll]

I looked something up about Paul one day and was amazed at the information and resources in that dictionary. Paul led me to Matthew, Mark, Luke and along with the historical things I am learning, I like looking up the passages in each definition. Not only am I learning scripture, I am learning how/what/why/when etc about Scripture and the "church". It's like I just discovered the Bible :rolleyes:
so far I am loving it.

ps I use NIV dictionary and NLT Bible.

[Jon Twitchell]

Try: http://www.navpress.com/Magazines/DiscipleshipJournal/OriginalBibleReadingPlan/

This plan gives you four brief readings each day... so you don't get bogged down in Leviticus. Also, with only 25 readings per month, you can either a) take Sundays off, b) catch up on missed days, or c) use the end of the month to reread particular passages.

[Jeremy D. Scott]

Marsha -

We're following the Church year and not the calendar year, so we're well into this, but our scripture reading plan (which we call our "community scripture way") is below:
http://www.northst.org/discipleship/csw.htm

[Marsha Lynn]

Try: http://www.navpress.com/Magazines/DiscipleshipJournal/OriginalBibleReadingPlan/

This plan gives you four brief readings each day... so you don't get bogged down in Leviticus. Also, with only 25 readings per month, you can either a) take Sundays off, b) catch up on missed days, or c) use the end of the month to reread particular passages.

Yes, I have been using this plan for a dozen years or more and love it. (I take Sundays off.) However, I break the OT down more -- Psalms/Proverbs every year, the rest of the OT spread over three years -- year 1: Genesis to Deuteronomy, year 2: Joshua to Song of Solomon (except Psalms/Proverbs); year 3: the Prophets. I like the length of OT passages better that way. It's very manageable.

I like the plan, especially the part about being in the Gospels year-round, and will use it at least to mark my progress this year. I'm just ready to do something other than start over at Genesis in a version I've already read.

[Marsha Lynn]

One thing I am doing this year, which I do every so often, is reading through the Bible chronologically. It just helps put it all together for me time and event wise.

I've been interested in doing this for a long time. Do you have a chronological edition of the Bible or some sort of chart that tells you what to read when?

I don't believe you can ever go wrong with "My Utmost For His Highest" but I also like Bob and Mike Benson's " Disciplines For The Inner Life". It's the one I come back to time and again every few years.

If you'd like to borrow one let me know today. Bruce Yates is filling in at Odon tomorrow and I could send one of them with him. :basic01

Man, you set off alarms here with that comment. Nothing against Bruce, but we're really hoping to see Doug & Dede tomorrow morning for our Faith Promise service. My husband (NMI president) made a phone call after I told him of this post and verified that they're planning to be here. So, yes, we are borrowing from your congregation (again) but different people this time.

Thank you for your generosity.

;)

Marsha

PS: I wonder where Bruce is really going! Maybe I shouldn't blow his alibi here? (I have an embarrassing history of facilitating communication within the Spencer church from afar. Just ask Doug & Dede.) :o

[Joanne Vergin]

This website had a couple of charts you could print up. The chrono one was better than some I found.