by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
Project 2013: Read Your Bible Through in a Year starts tomorrow. Remember that “context is everything,” when you are reading the Bible. That’s why it’s so important to read it through. You begin to see God’s overall plan. There is a continuity throughout the Word which many people miss, as they jump around from verse to verse.
I will be commenting each day. Sometimes I may have lots to say; sometimes little.
It would be great for you to leave comments also.
There are a few rules:
- We are assuming that the Bible is truly God’s Word. (If you don’t believe that the Bible is truly His Word, you are welcome to read along with us, but please don’t try to argue that God wasn’t behind the writing of this special book).
- And speaking of arguing, let’s don’t do it. If you have positive insights, please feel free to express them, but don’t be argumentative.
- If you miss a day or two or three, don’t give up. You can catch up with us.
- Try to look at the Word with fresh eyes. If you have read the Bible through many times before, you may feel that you already know everything it says. Let God speak to you anew and afresh as you read. That’s where the blessings are.
- We will be reading from the Old and New Testaments every day.
So here goes
January 1: Genesis 1 and Matthew 1
January 2: Genesis 2, 3 and Matthew 2
January 3: Genesis 4, 5, 6 and Matthew 3
January 4: Genesis 7, 8, 9 and Matthew 4
January 5: Genesis 10, 11, 12 and Matthew 5
January 6: Genesis 13, 14, 15 and Matthew 6
January 7: Genesis 16, 17, 18 and Matthew 7
January 8: Genesis 19, 20, 21 and Matthew 8: 1-17
January 9: Genesis 22, 23, 24 and Matthew 8: 18-34
January 10: Genesis 25, 26 and Matthew 9:1-17
January 11: Genesis 27, 28 and Matthew 9:18-38
January 12: Genesis 29, 30 and Matthew 10:1-20
January 13: Genesis 31, 32 and Matthew 10:21-42
January 14: Genesis 33, 34, 35 and Matthew 11
January 15: Genesis 36, 37, 38 and Matthew 12:1-23
January 16: Genesis 39, 40 and Matthew 12:24-50
January 17: Genesis 41, 42 and Matthew 13:1-30
January 18: Genesis 43 ,44, 45 and Matthew 13:31-58
January 19 Genesis 46, 47,48 and Matthew 14:1-21
January 20: Genesis 49, 50 and Matthew 14:22-36
January 21: Exodus 1, 2, 3 and Matthew 15:1-20
January 22: Exodus 4, 5, 6 and Matthew 15: 21-39
January 23: Exodus 7, 8 and Matthew 16
January 24: Exodus 9, 10, 11 and Matthew 17
January 25: Exodus 12, 13 and Matthew 18: 1-20
January 26: Exodus 14, 15 and Matthew 18: 21-35
January 27: Exodus 16, 17, 18 and Matthew 19
January 28: Exodus 19, 20 and Matthew 20:1-16
January 29: Exodus 21, 22 and Matthew 20: 17-34
January 30: Exodus 23, 24 and Matthew 21:1-22
January 31: Exodus 25, 26 and Matthew 21: 23-46
I’m looking forward to a great year of growth in understanding of Gods plan.
So get ready for the starting bell tomorrow!
Happy New Year!
Suellen
by Suellen | Prayer
The foundation for a successful prayer life is a relationship with Jesus, and a knowledge that He is involved in what you are doing. Only then can you believe that He hears your prayers and wants to answer them…In the words of Francis Schaeffer, He is “The God Who Is There” and “He Is Not Silent.”
In this audio, I share my story of how I came to know Him. I include some excerpts from my book, Forever Upward.
Now here’s to strong foundations for all of us.
The Foundation Of Successful Prayer
by Suellen | Project 2013: Read The Bible
On a cold winter night in 1981, I had a life changing experience with the Lord. I remember the year, because our country was going through a crisis at the time. A revolution in Iran had occurred, overthrowing the Shah, and putting the radical Islamic rulers (the same ones who threaten the world today) into power, and in the process, seizing the American Embassy. By the time of my encounter, all of the workers had been held hostage for more than a year, and there seemed to be no solution to getting them released.
That night, as I drifted off to sleep, a voice woke me suddenly. I knew that God was speaking to me, but the message seemed strange. “What if you could send a coded message to the hostages in Iran which would contain a perfect plan of escape?” I sat up in bed, pondering this unusual message. Of course, I thought that was a good idea, but the question seemed so strange. I knew it was God speaking, but I didn’t understand why he was saying that.
Then He clarified the statement. “That’s what I have done with My Word.” Suddenly what he was saying became crystal clear.
People all around the world are being held hostage by their circumstances. They may be victims of abuse, neglect, or poverty. They may have hurts, fears, and frustrations which run very deep. Anger, resentment, and bitterness may seem to rule their lives.
Yet they don’t have to stay that way, because we have been given a plan of escape. God’s Word is that plan of escape. It will point us in the direction of release from all of the negative influences which try to hold us, and it will give us the power to overcome those influences.
Some see the Bible as merely a history book; others see it as a rule book. Yet the Bible is so much more than either of those things. If we will begin to read it and ask Him to show us His plans and purposes, we will begin to see a God of unconditional love who is reaching out to us. We will begin to understand His power toward us and we will want to latch onto it.
Here’s the thing. We have to read it for it to make a difference, and we have to meditate on what we have read. It is a coded message which only God’s Holy Spirit can reveal in its entirety. As we read, pray, and listen, our eyes are opened to see realities we have never seen before.
Joshua 1:8 says it well. This book of the law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do all that is written in it; for then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have success.
There’s wisdom in God’s word and there is power. When you allow yourself to feed upon His word, something happens on the inside of you. You find your faith and confidence increasing. You also see your world view changing – coming closer to the way God sees things.
The best part is that you receive the liberating message which sets you free from the negative elements of the world around you. You are no longer a hostage to these evil forces, but you are set free – into the liberty of God’s plan.
Forever Upward!
P.S. Check out my daily Bible readings available on Amazon. As you allow the context of God’s Word to come into focus, your life will be changed. https://www.amazon.com/Soar-Bible-Through-First-Quarter/dp/150521503X/ref=sr_1_3?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1426682950&sr=1-3&keywords=suellen+estes
by Suellen | The Church Awakening
I often tell a story about my granddaughter, Lauren. When she was in second grade, as a school project, Lauren had to give an oral report on her favorite state. Since she lives in Atlanta, we were flattered that she chose Mississippi, where we live. Her accompanying prop was a white poster board with many symbols of our state. The symbols included a Magnolia blossom, items related to the zoo we visit, certain facts, and a tiny (and I do mean tiny) dot with the words “Blue Mountain,” our town. The dot and words were cut out of a map and placed right in the center of the poster.
We couldn’t help but chuckle. From the display, there was no context at all. Just a tiny dot and tiny words. There was no way of knowing where the town was located, or anything else about it – except that it was small.
I think that we are like that about the Bible sometimes. We pull verses out of the Bible and put them on the refrigerator. Without the proper context, there are times when we totally miss the meaning. The words would mean so much more if we would read them in the framework around them.
Thus my 2013 project. I want to read the Bible through with a group of people who want to discuss it. If we break it down into daily bites, it’s a doable project even for the busiest among us.
So starting January 1, we will have assignments of our daily reading. I will have a group going on Facebook and we will do it here also. I would love to have you join us. Just check in, read with us, and add your comments, if you like.
I think that 2013 is going to be a significant year for those who want to follow God. I believe that we will see many dreams come into fruition – many dreams that have seemed elusive for a long time.
Hope you can join the venture.
Many blessings, and forever upward!
Suellen
by Suellen | Successful Living
Psalm 139:16
Thine eyes have seen mine unformed substance, And in Thy book they were all written, The days that were ordained for me, When as yet there was one of them.
I love that verse! Especially the words “unformed substance.” Think about it. On the inside of each of us there are gifts and talents, even desires, which we haven’t discovered yet.
Why is it “unformed?” It’s only potential; it hasn’t been realized.
Then what about the “days that were ordained?” God has plans for us – great days for us. It’s almost too awesome to comprehend.
I’m sure that when we get to heaven, we are going to be surprised to see what “could have been.” What was God’s plan? What great things had He planned for us to do? Which gifts had we never discovered?
Every time I read that verse I get motivated to “get with His program.” I want to dream God’s dreams and tap into His plans. Only then can I live the life He has ordained.
So how do I do that? I spend time in God’s Word, reading and getting insight into how to live this life. I also spend time in prayer, asking my Creator to direct my steps, reveal to me His desires, and empower me to carry out the walk.
Finding His best is always a process. It cannot and will not happen over night. The successful results are the product of a life lived with Him and for Him. Day by day and step by step.
Life is like a path, and as we walk down that path, walking closely with our God, we will come upon treasure troves which bring us to a new level of understanding and purpose. We will often say, “Oh, that’s why that happened those many years ago. I need that experience now.” And we continue to walk.
My prayer for you today is that you will see yourself as God sees you. You are unique – no one just like you. He knows your disappointments and frustrations, but He also has the answers for everything, if we just trust Him completely. He always wants us to shake off the sorrows, to get up, and to live our lives to the fullest, making every day count.
I pray also that you grow in your love for God and become closer to Him than ever before. May you continually discover your “unformed substance” and tap into your “ordained days.”
