Recording Completed: Exodus

Yesterday, on September 24, 2014, I finished recording the entire book of Exodus aloud!

To see what I’ve been doing and why, here is my original post on recording the Bible: https://blonderj.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/rjs-1-new-years-resolution/

Two lessons I took away from the book of Exodus:

• People love to disregard “the God of the Old Testament,” but God is the same now as He was then.  The God of Exodus is a personable God. He sounds like a righteously angry parent when He comes across sin. He delights in His children and spends time with them one on one. He makes us shine with His beauty.
• God doesn’t just use us in a spiritual, metaphysical sense. God uses our actual hands and feet and talents. He uses us in our jobs, even if they seem menial.  God has great things planned out for us.

Favorite verses from Exodus:

• On purpose in life: “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.” 9:16
• On the truest love I have ever found: “So Moses went back to the Lord and said, ‘Oh, what a great sin these people have committed!  They have made themselves god of gold. But now, please forgive their sin – but if not, then blot me out of the book you have written.’” (I can’t imagine! ❤ ) 32:31
• On the Personhood of God and how He gets angry like we do about sin: “But I will not go with you, because you are a stiff-necked people and I might destroy you on the way.” 33:3b
• On what to strive for in my relationship with the Lord: “The Lord would speak to Moses face to face, as a man speaks with his friend.” 33:11
• On how God likes to bless us when we want to know Him: “And the Lord said to Moses, ‘I will do the very thing you have asked, because I am pleased with you and I know you by name.’” 33:27
• On the radiance of a believer’s countenance: “(Moses) was not aware that his face was radiant because he had spoken with the Lord.”  34:29b
• On how God uses our talents: “And He has filled him with the Spirit of God, with skill, ability, and knowledge in all kinds of crafts – and He has given both him and Oholiab son of Ahisamach, of the tribe of Dan, the ability to teach others.” 35:31, 34

Recording Completed: Matthew

Today, on August 25th, 2014, I finished recording the entire book of Matthew aloud!

To see what I’ve been doing and why, here is my original post on recording the Bible: https://blonderj.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/rjs-1-new-years-resolution/

Two lessons I took away from the book of Matthew:

• God is a righteous God, and He expects righteousness from us.  However, He sent Jesus to pay the penalty for our unrighteousness, since there is NO way we could keep His law on our own.
• God loves children, and He saves those who chooses to save.  I must give my own children up to Him and trust that He will answer my prayers for their salvation.  As I wait for this, I must not fear, but trust His timing and His plan.

Favorite verses from Matthew:

• On confidence, honesty, and faith in prayer: “And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.  Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.”  6:7-8
• On fear of people: “Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul.  Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”  10:28
• On wanting to be angry with and doubt God because He has not saved your family member yet: “Anyone who loves his father or mother more than me is not worthy of me; anyone who loves his son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me.”  10:37
• On how God feels about evil people: “Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to sin!  Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!”  18:7
• On trusting God with your child’s salvation: “For I tell you that (these little ones’) angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven.  In the same way your Father in heaven is not willing that any of these little ones should be lost.”  18: 10b, 14″When the disciples heard this, they were greatly astonished and asked, ‘Who then can be saved?’  Jesus looked at them and said, ‘With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.'”  19:25-26
• On the seriousness of forgiveness: “In anger his master turned him over to the jailers to be tortured, until he should pay back all he owed.  This is how my heavenly Father will treat each of you unless you forgive your brother from your heart.”  18:34-35
• On how God views disobedience: “‘What do you think?  There was a man who had two sons.  He went to the first and said, “Son, go and work today in the vineyard.”  “I will not,” he answered, but later he changed his mind and went.  Then the father went to the other son and said the same thing.  He answered, “I will, sir,” but he did not go.  Which of the two did what his father wanted?’  ‘The first,’ they answered.  Jesus said to them, ‘I tell you the truth, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you.”  21:28-31

Recording Completed: Genesis

Today, on January 27th, I finished recording the entire book of Genesis aloud!

To see what I’ve been doing and why, here is my original post on recording the Bible: https://blonderj.wordpress.com/2014/01/06/rjs-1-new-years-resolution/

Two lessons I took away from the book of Genesis:

• God uses very fallen people.  The twelve sons of Jacob were a bunch of very bad boys, yet God created the entire nation of Israel through them, even allowing His Messiah to come from Judah’s line!  While nothing excuses sin, you can still be used by God to further His kingdom.
• Everything that happens is part of God’s plan.  We see and know so little.  We are so finite.  It’s okay to feel sorrow and sadness over life’s twists and turns as well as trials and hardship, however it is all in God’s plan and is for good.

Favorite verses from Genesis:        

• On temptation and sin addiction: “If you do what is right, will you not be accepted?  But if you do not do what is right, sin is crouching at your door; it desires to have you, but you must master it.”  4:7
• On those who are living in sin and fallen away: “Cain said to the Lord, ‘My punishment is more than I can bear.  Today you are driving me from the land, and I will be hidden from your presence… But the Lord said to him, ‘Not so, if anyone kills Cain, he will suffer vengeance seven times over.'” (This shows God’s mercy, and how He still protects and gives second chances.  He didn’t let Cain die before his time or others mistreat him to the point of death.  He was giving Cain mercy, even though Cain was a murderer himself.)  4:13-14a, 15
• On difficult change in our lives: “And now, do not be distressed and do not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives that God sent me ahead of you.  So then, it was not you who sent me here, but God.”  45:5, 8

RJ’s #1 New Year’s Resolution

*clearing throat and putting down the microphone*    

Psalm 6 was fun.  I got to put a lot of emotion into it.  I’ve always wanted to be an actress – even a voice actress!

My New Year’s Resolution this year is…

… to record the entire Bible in a year.

I’ve been involved in Bible studies outside of the home for 18 years, since I was 9 years old.  I started in BSF, graduated out of that into CBS (both are excellent, by the way), and don’t forget AWANA scattered throughout my elementary years.

However, it’s been at least a decade since I’ve gone a whole year without missing my quiet time a single day.  I miss it frequently.  This pains me a lot, but it’s the honest truth.

Now, there’s nothing magical about reading some of God’s Word and saying a prayer every 24-hour period, however, I can promise you that, since I started a relationship with my husband, Brad, back in 2007, there hasn’t been a single day I missed speaking to him.  Even if, during finals when he was in school, it was just a, “Hello!  I love you.  Goodnight!” I have faithfully spoken to my main man.  Now that he lives in my home, most days involve lengthy conversations about my day, our daughters, or my thoughts and feelings on life.  I care to hear what he has to say, as well, and want to get wisdom, instruction, and love from him.

If God is more important than Brad, and if I am to love Him more, then why is this not the case with my heavenly Father?

My sister convicted me – this sister who has gone something like two years without missing her quiet special time with God – that I need to set my relationship with my Ultimate Main Man above everything else.  If I care about God’s wisdom, instruction, and love, and if He deserves my all, then he should get at least more than a “Hello!  Goodnight!  And fix my problems!”

Because the Bible studies I’m in tend to have things set up for study just six days a week, I thought I would add something to my plate – to make sure I got in that special time with the Person I’ve neglected every single day.

Reading through the Bible in a year.

I’ve never done this, mainly because I’ve always been a studier.  I thought that just reading the Bible was pointless if I wasn’t studying it and answering questions on it and hearing a sermon on it.  I didn’t think God could or would just speak to me with His Word alone.  I thought It needed help from study groups and discussion leaders and commentaries.

But I’m an auditory learner.

Therefore, I can be the type to read at breakneck speed and not really learn anything.  To not digest it.  But, if I was going to own a One-Year Bible, then I knew I’d need to do something beyond just read it – otherwise it might be pointless to me.  Like food that just passes right through without nourishing.

I love to read out loud.  I learn best by listening.  I wanted to force myself to go slowly and think.

So I’m recording myself reading the Bible out loud every day.

Chapter by chapter.

I’m the first week into it, and I’ve recorded 25 chapters so far!  (Following the One-Year Bible plan.)

Passages that I know I’ve read before are suddenly leaping out at me.  I have a notebook (an idea from my mother-in-law) divided up into sections where I can write down potent Scriptures on certain topics.

My husband was like, “What?  But why?”

Reasons for Having the Bible on CD

• My daughter is suddenly fearful to sleep in her new toddler bed at night.  Instead of music or nightlights or stuffed animals, all of which doesn’t work, she can now listen to the voice of her mother, reading aloud God’s Word to her.  My children can clean their room or color their coloring books or do their chores and listen to their mother read Scripture – even if I’m not there in person.
• For memorizing Scripture.  However, having read it out loud already, it’s making it easier!  Since I am an auditory learner, I remember things I’ve heard.  This is already helping me recall Scripture.
• On busy days, I can put the cds in my car.
• We had a family member with reading difficulties.  He used God’s Word on cd for his personal Bible study.  It was so much easier and more effective than reading it for himself.
• All Scripture is God-breathed and useful, so the possibilities of this being used for good are endless!
• I can share this idea with others!

And hold me accountable!  I know how resolutions fall flat, some times as soon as February.  I want to complete this amazing project, and am excited to see how God uses it in my life!