A New Year, A New Challenge!

Happy New Year, Moms!  I was blessed to receive a one year reading plan, titled, "Journey Through The Bible In One Year!" in our church's bulletin last Sunday.  I had been praying about embarking on that journey in the new year.  So, there it was, my invitation from the Lord!  Will you pray about joining me? 

Perhaps, like me, you've read the bible cover to cover, but never within the same year.  It took me more than eight years to finish my first pass through my beloved Life Application Study Bible!  I read a lot of commentary and paused my pace for bible studies; I journaled; I took my time. But, this time, I'd like to read God's word, without commentary, just He and I and the Holy Spirit, at a rapid enough pace that I hope I can retain the chronological order of events.

Maybe, you've read the bible through in a year before, but it was a long time ago and God's inviting you to do it again.

If you and the Lord have traveled this road together more than once, could it be the year to invite your husband, son or daughter to do this with you?  At 2 1/2, my son is a bit young for this, but how cool would it be to read the Bible in a year with your child(ren) or as a family? I know at least a couple of you do daily devotions with your children and, while this would certainly be a bigger commitment and require more time, what a blessing it would be!  If not your family, is there someone you are discipling who you feel led to share this with?

After receiving a blessing called out to Him from a woman in the crowd who had just seen Jesus cast out demons and was listening to his teaching, Jesus replied, “But even more blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice." - Luke 11:28

I've attached photos of the one year plan, taken from Calvary Chapel's bulletin dated December 28-January 3.  I'm sorry that I couldn't find the information online to provide the link here.

Let's start off this year together in prayer for Parakaleo, our readers and our families. 

Dear Heavenly Father, we thank you for Kate and her willingness to invest in your kingdom by starting this blog and for using it as a tool to encourage us in our role as moms.  We thank you and praise you for the opportunity to serve alongside of and encourage one another in Your Name.  We pray,  Lord, that you would bless this ministry this year.  That the words we read would be yours and not ours and that you would use them to bless, encourage, challenge and edify us.  Help us, Jesus, to glorify you in the way that we raise our children and to love them as you do.  Help us to draw ever closer to you this year through your word.  If you are calling us, our children or anyone else in our lives to embark on this one year journey through the Bible with you, please make it clear to us and see us through as only you can.  In Jesus Name, we pray.  Amen.