This is my first time actually linking up since we restarted but not my first topic to write, Life has just been kicking my butt so I never got to finish the other one.
Scripture is very close my heart I love spending time reading my Bible. Even before I fully embrace my Faith, I started reading the Bible. I have read the whole Bible but not in a year, I have never been able to follow one of those plans. I do memorize scripture verses though sometimes I remember the words but forget where it's from.
I own five physical Bible so far, I like the different translations for better understanding. I also have an app or two on my phone. I love reading over different books and getting a different understanding from the last time. I highlight, underline, write notes and questions. I do read my Bible everyday but I do not "read" my Bible everyday. There are days I just go through the motions and there are days when I am so excited I read way more than I had planned.
My favourite Bible, pictured above is the NSRV translation but I also love the NABRE. I also own a New Jerusalem Bible which is an English, as in England, translation and spelling which I prefer for the Psalms.
I have used the Scripture for prayer and also right now I am trying something I am calling "Living Sripture". Example this week my verse is 1 Thessalonians 5:14 " And we urge you, beloved, to admonish the idlers, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with all of them." I am challenging myself to how I can realistically living this out in my daily life. I can't say that I've admonished any idlers besides myself but I can say that I have done some encouraging and helping and there have definitely been instances where I have been patient when I haven't wanted to be. When a co-worker asks me once again to help her because she just doesn't get a task but I'm so over it I remind myself that I am asked to encourage, help (one translation has support) and be patient.
Verses that speak to me as a single woman
The first is not a whole verse but just the first three words: "But if not..." Daniel 3:18
Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego are about to get thrown into a burning, they give their speech about how great God is and His ability to save them and deliver them, then they say But if not (God chooses not to deliver them) they still refuse to serve and worship the idols. I feel called to marriage, I want to be married and have kids, lots and lots of kids. I pray about it, I dream about it but if God decides that is not the plan He has for me He is still God, He is still good and it is His will that I seek.
"Be still and know that I am God" Psalm 46:10 for those times when I think I can "fix" things. Get them to go my way.
"This is the day the Lord has made let us rejoice and be glad in it." Psalm 118:24 for really bad days when all I can think about is what has gone wrong
"For I know well the plans I have in mind for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope" Jeremiah 29:11
"Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer." Romans 12:12
What is your relationship with Scripture? What are your favourite verse?
