Tag: disciple

Lifestyle

5 Undeniable Reasons To Start Bible Journaling

by Molly Gonzalez8 Comments on 5 Undeniable Reasons To Start Bible Journaling
5 Undeniable Reasons To Start Bible Journaling
Reading the Bible shouldn’t be a fad diet we quit in 2 weeks. Nor should it be another box on my to-do list. It’s about relationship and personal growth. No time table or deadlines; one day at a time, moment by moment I’m learning to walk God’s joy-lined path.
Through journaling I can take my tangled-up thoughts, feelings, and realities and realign them on the page according to God’s truth. Journaling is the ability to take scripture and make it meaningful and relevant in your life. It’s great if I hear people say that the Word is living and active, but without application I’ll never personally know that for myself. In my journal I can literally write TO God. Ask Him questions, argue with him, argue with myself, be silly, stupid, cranky, spoiled and selfish. No matter how it goes, He’s still God and I’m on my knees.
Everyone learns and responds to scripture differently. I prefer to write down my thoughts in the large plain Moleskine notebooks for my journaling. The plain pages give me the freedom to doodle and write however I want. Bible decorating is another thing that is getting tons of attention lately. In the same way that adult coloring books have been all the rage for relaxation, you can ponder the scriptures while decorating it to your heart’s content. Go ahead, give yourself an excuse to go shopping for some new art supplies. 😃 Just look what people are creating.
Have you ever tried journaling through the Bible? I think everyone ought to give it a try at least once. But if you’re still not convinced, here are 5 undeniable reasons to start journaling:
  1. Journaling helps information stick. Ever notice how a new idea tends to “pop up” everywhere? When you engage with scripture, your mind will naturally recognize what you are learning in everyday situations. Better decisions come from an informed conscience.  Be a doer of the Word not just a hearer(James 1:22)
  2. Journaling allows us to discover for ourselves. Don’t just take someone else’s word for it. As well meaning as pastors and bloggers are, we are human! Don’t be a victim of bad theology – make sure you know what you believe. Journaling will help you to look closely at the source and know what you believe. (Acts 11:17)
  3. Journaling helps us apply God’s word. The word is living and active and meant to change us from the inside out.Of what use will the Bible be if you read but immediately forget what it says? (James 1:23) Make the connection by writing it down and owning it.
  4. Journaling is better than cramming. Studies show that we learn best in little spurts. A little bit of journaling (studying) will go a long way. Remember, there’s no heavenly scantron to look forward to. This is real life and the fruit of our discoveries is relevant right now. Inaccurate recall of the scriptures can cause us to operate under false wisdom and may even lead others astray. (Galatians 5:7-12) Not good.
  5. Journaling can be whatever you need it to be. Maybe you want to study a specific verse or even a whole book of the bible. Write your thoughts and prayers as your go verse-by-verse. Had a hard day and need to vent? Write about it and listen for God’s response in the scripture. Need to forgive someone but it’s too hard? Look up verses related to “forgiveness” and ponder them in writing. There is no wrong way to journal. It’s a perfectly wonderful way to invite God into your “here and now”.

I hope you enjoyed this post! Have I sufficiently inspired you to try  journaling for yourself?

Want to see more? Let me know on the Tea & Testimony Facebook page and share what you have created!

Thanks for reading, Molly

 

Bible Study

Seeking God: When scoffers scoff

by Molly Gonzalez5 Comments on Seeking God: When scoffers scoff
Seeking God: When scoffers scoff

Read: Psalm 129:1-8, Isaiah 53:2-3

Christ: Who has believed our message? And to whom has the arm of the Lord been revealed? I don’t come with clanging cymbals and flashing lights. Only those with discerning eye of faith can see Me in truth and Spirit. As my disciples you will not be treated with respect by everyone. You’ll encounter some persecution from time to time because no one likes to be told to loosen their grip on the world. Even so, do not let this upset or discourage you because I’m the only one whose opinion matters and I’m the one who holds your hand through everything.

they have greatly oppressed me from my youth, but they have not gained the victory over me.jpg

Think: Jesus said “The student is not above the teacher, but everyone who is fully trained will be like their teacher” (Luke 6:40). Have I ever been mocked for following Jesus? How did I react? Sometimes the way we react by instinct does not match the way we want to react. Take a moment to pray for the next time we are persecuted. Ask the Holy Spirit to strengthen your resolve.

Pray: Jesus, you came to save the poor and weak in faith, not the ones who think they have it all together. We can see your beauty and glory. Help us to remain strong in our faith when it is challenged. We pray that seeds would be sown in these encounters. Amen.

Bible Study

Seeking God: The forgotten people

by Molly Gonzalez2 Comments on Seeking God: The forgotten people
Seeking God: The forgotten people

Read: Psalm 10:12-17, Luke 5:31-32

Christ: God will not fail to call everyone to account. This is why I came, to help you who are lost in the tangled web of your own sins. I offer the free gift of exoneration to the wicked as well as the helpless, and it is my dearest wish that ALL would choose to come to me. However, there are some who will exercise their free right to reject my love. For those people, I’m telling you that it may seem like they are getting away easy now, but they will not escape justice.

I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners and need to repent.”

Think: If Jesus does not choose who comes to him, neither should I.   A stranger at the checkout counter is just as deserving of my love as are my best friends. How can I reach out in love to someone new today? Who in my life is being forgotten by me?

Pray: Dear Lord, Let me go about my day today, looking for the people around me whom I would ordinarily ignore and forget. There are more of these than I care to acknowledge, but I desire to model Jesus. Help me to keep my heart open to ALL the souls you have put in my path. Amen.

Thank you for reading! Please feel free to leave a comment below or send us feedback at purediscipleblog [at] gmail.com. We love to hear from you!

~The PD Team

Archives

Sharing A Seed

by Molly GonzalezLeave a Comment on Sharing A Seed
Sharing A Seed

Tonight I met up with a dear friend who lives abroad, but with whom things never seem to change no matter how long between visits. We shared the stories of the past 8 years of our lives over two enormous vanilla lattes. (I’m convinced that I could die happily in a cozy corner of a coffee house sipping a latte with a friend.)

As we chatted, the conversation organically turned to faith. While she’s not a believer, she was a genuine and ready listener. I silently asked Jesus to give me His words wherever the conversation went.

She wanted to know why Christians follow some parts of the Bible like Jesus’s commands in the new testament, but other parts were ignored, like the temple laws in Leviticus. Amazingly, I was able to launch into an explanation of the difference between old and new covenants, and how Jesus changed the game upon his arrival. And consequently, very fitting for the Christmas season!)

Afterward, I was astounded by how much I actually understood. As much as we downplay our abilities to “got out and make disciples”, we often know more than we think we know. Most of the apostles were simply ordinary guys. Jesus proved to us that you don’t need to hold a degree in Biblical Studies in order to share God’s truth.

Tonight I shared a tiny seed of truth into God’s purpose and plan with a friend. Even if I never get to see it, I know for certain that it will not fail to produce fruit somewhere, somehow.

Read

10 “The rain and snow come down from the heavens
    and stay on the ground to water the earth.
They cause the grain to grow,
    producing seed for the farmer
    and bread for the hungry.
11 It is the same with my word.
    I send it out, and it always produces fruit.
It will accomplish all I want it to,
    and it will prosper everywhere I send it.

Isaiah 55:10-11 New Living Translation (NLT)

Think

Have you ever shared the gospel of Jesus with anyone?

Did you leave feeling satisfied that God would use your efforts?

Read 1 Thessalonians 2:13.

Pray

Dear Jesus, Thank you for the opportunity to share your truth with another one of your children. I pray that as we go out into the world “ready to give a reason for the hope that we have”, we would always remember that it is YOUR words, not our human ideas, that are being communicated. Help us to keep your word in reverence and to immerse ourselves in it daily. We love you and praise you because you are. Amen.