Catching up

Amazing! It's hard to believe that this blog site has not been updated since last year!! It's hard to believe that six months have gone by since Christmas and the start of a new year. This year, we started again on our "A Year With the Bible" challenge, and many have risen to the challenge. I will continue to post the readings on this site so that you can keep up with us. I encourage you to set aside some quiet time to read the Bible every day. God has many messages for you, and you can hear them if you just read God's love letter to you - the Bible.

You know, time slips by, and our busy-ness gets in the way of our doing our very best for the Lord. We get so wrapped up in the "stuff" of life that we soon realize that it has been days, or even weeks, since we spent quality time in prayer and Bible study. If this has happened to you -- if you've lost track of your quiet time with God -- then I have good news for you. The year still has 7 months to go, and you still have time to regain your ground. Here's how:

* Begin by setting aside a time to be alone with God every day.
* Set an alarm on your cell phone to remind you that you have an appointment - the most important one of the day -- and don't break it!
* Grab a pencil and a prayer journal to jot down things that God puts on your heart.
* Begin with prayer. Open your mind to the Lord and clear your mind of the clutter of the day.
* Write down prayer requests in your journal to keep your mind free and clear. This way, you won't forget to pray for someone or something, but it won't be the first thing on your mind.
* Start by telling the Lord just how grateful you are to spend time in meditation and prayer.
* Remember that our relationship with the Lord is the firm foundation for all other relationships. If this one is not right, chances are the others won't be either.
* When you pray for something, open your mind to God's answers rather than seeking approval for your own answers.
* Don't forget to be thankful. God loves to hear our praises and thanks (read the Psalms if you don't believe me).
* Don't put it off - start today. You can start anew today and you will be amazed at the ways God will speak in your life as you grow in the love of the Lord.

Happy Growing!