WOW!!! It is hard to believe that it is 2019. What is harder to believe is that I have not written an original blog post since September 2017. There are many reasons for this, but one one of the primary reasons is a new adventure in pursuing nursing school that began during the summer of 2017. I have been in class almost non-stop since then. I am not in school for the first half of 2019 but Lord willing, I will be in a nursing program in September. Until then, I would like to get back into communicating via blogging and sharing my passion for Jesus in hopes of inspiring others to grow in that same passion.
I have two primary goals this year: to loose weight and get healthier in general and two reestablish the spiritual disciplines of prayer and reading the scriptures. I have struggled in these areas for some time which is ridiculous since we all know that the crazier life is, the more we should be digging in to these disciplines right? Thankfully, the one discipline that hasn't waned is gathering together with other believers, at least not on Sunday mornings anyway. Admittedly, small group fellowship has been a scheduling struggle. Regardless, the teaching and fellowship that happens on Sunday mornings and the reestablishing of our men's ministry meetings has kept me plugged in and convicted regarding what it means to be a man of God and what that should look like.
Our church is really drilling down this year on these same disciplines of prayer and reading/studying the word of God. Without these disciplines we as Christians will flail and flounder in our consistency of daily living a God honoring life. As a church we are coordinating multiple bible reading plans as small groups. This idea is also being divided between the women's and men's ministries. This not to cause division. It is for two reasons that I perceive: 1.) The women got started first and are actually being and inspiration to the men, 2.) there is something to be said biblically for women building each other up in the faith (Titus 2:3-5) and men building each other up in the faith. This is not to suggest that the genders always have to be separate, Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks to all Christians faithfully meeting together to stir one another up to good works and encourage each other. This act of community is part of what helps Christians to remain strong and obedient in the faith.
A while back, I was convicted about bible study and we were trying to get one off the ground at work. That has not been successful yet unfortunately, but that does not take away from its importance. As a result of this thought process, I wrote a few blog posts about bible study that I never published and shared. I think I would like to start the year out by thinking about this publicly and sharing it with you. It is of utmost importance to no only read, but contemplate the scriptures. A lot of the bible plans that our small groups are doing together provide opportunity to provide comment and share thoughts on the passage with each other. This builds community and helps us to encourage each other along the way regarding the understanding of all that we read.
I hope that the blog posts that I share about bible study will do the same. After that I will restart and expand the last subject of posts that I was writing when I was interrupted. These posts focused on working through the bible and speaking to large topical concepts regarding what God has given us through scripture and through Christ.
My goal, as I pursue new beginnings, is that perhaps I will be able to encourage others to the same effect. If you are struggling or perhaps just looking for some fresh encouragement and thoughts regarding your Christian walk, or even if you are not much of a person of faith but have curiosities, I welcome you to follow what I am doing here and reach out if you have questions or concerns. The point of this blog is to draw hearts and minds closer to Jesus and no one is excluded from that opportunity.
It is always a blessing to me to write these posts as I always learn and am edified as I write. I pray it will be blessing to someone else as well.
Blessings,
Josh
I have two primary goals this year: to loose weight and get healthier in general and two reestablish the spiritual disciplines of prayer and reading the scriptures. I have struggled in these areas for some time which is ridiculous since we all know that the crazier life is, the more we should be digging in to these disciplines right? Thankfully, the one discipline that hasn't waned is gathering together with other believers, at least not on Sunday mornings anyway. Admittedly, small group fellowship has been a scheduling struggle. Regardless, the teaching and fellowship that happens on Sunday mornings and the reestablishing of our men's ministry meetings has kept me plugged in and convicted regarding what it means to be a man of God and what that should look like.
Our church is really drilling down this year on these same disciplines of prayer and reading/studying the word of God. Without these disciplines we as Christians will flail and flounder in our consistency of daily living a God honoring life. As a church we are coordinating multiple bible reading plans as small groups. This idea is also being divided between the women's and men's ministries. This not to cause division. It is for two reasons that I perceive: 1.) The women got started first and are actually being and inspiration to the men, 2.) there is something to be said biblically for women building each other up in the faith (Titus 2:3-5) and men building each other up in the faith. This is not to suggest that the genders always have to be separate, Hebrews 10:24-25 speaks to all Christians faithfully meeting together to stir one another up to good works and encourage each other. This act of community is part of what helps Christians to remain strong and obedient in the faith.
A while back, I was convicted about bible study and we were trying to get one off the ground at work. That has not been successful yet unfortunately, but that does not take away from its importance. As a result of this thought process, I wrote a few blog posts about bible study that I never published and shared. I think I would like to start the year out by thinking about this publicly and sharing it with you. It is of utmost importance to no only read, but contemplate the scriptures. A lot of the bible plans that our small groups are doing together provide opportunity to provide comment and share thoughts on the passage with each other. This builds community and helps us to encourage each other along the way regarding the understanding of all that we read.
I hope that the blog posts that I share about bible study will do the same. After that I will restart and expand the last subject of posts that I was writing when I was interrupted. These posts focused on working through the bible and speaking to large topical concepts regarding what God has given us through scripture and through Christ.
My goal, as I pursue new beginnings, is that perhaps I will be able to encourage others to the same effect. If you are struggling or perhaps just looking for some fresh encouragement and thoughts regarding your Christian walk, or even if you are not much of a person of faith but have curiosities, I welcome you to follow what I am doing here and reach out if you have questions or concerns. The point of this blog is to draw hearts and minds closer to Jesus and no one is excluded from that opportunity.
It is always a blessing to me to write these posts as I always learn and am edified as I write. I pray it will be blessing to someone else as well.
Blessings,
Josh
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