Don’t Read The Bible! (Newsletter)

“Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.” (2 Timothy 2:15 KJV)

Is reading the Bible a struggle for you?  Well, you aren’t alone! Quite often I am asked one of two questions:

1) Why should I read the Bible? or, 2) I read the Bible, but don’t understand it, is there an easier way to read it?

The answer in short is that we don’t read the Bible, we study the Bible! The knowledge found in the Bible (also called the Word) is our “life source, our help, and our hope!”

I too struggled with these questions for many years until I learned to study the Word. With this new knowledge I then changed how I spent my time with the LORD and Holy Spirit begin teaching me the mysteries of the Word.

Reading the Bible is treating it as a novel, whereas studying the Bible is wanting to become a student receiving God’s approval drawing close to Him.

Our newsletter is named Journey In His Word for a specific reason: we should begin our daily travels in the Word as our first point of interest. As we journey in His (God’s) Word, we will find strength and wisdom for the challenges that may appear in our path! We will learn the answer for every problem in life and most importantly, the great love God has for us.

There are many, many precious gems in the Bible that promises every Believer a victorious and abundant lifestyle. In order to receive these gems we need to know them, hence study the Word.

One precious gem is freedom! Jesus Christ came to set those bound in sin free. Studying the Word, we learn that we are “free agents!” Yes, free!

Upon salvation we become a “new person” in Christ making us free so that we don’t have to live with our old habits, old traditions, old mindsets, old ways of thinking, worry, or fear.

Romans 12:2 tells us that we are “no longer to be conformed to this world’s ways of thinking and doings.” We are to allow our minds to be renewed by the knowledge of truth found in the Word of God. The truth has the power to transform us from sinners to the children of God with eternal hope.

Studying the Word, we learn that freedom is our gift from God to make choices of life or death, free or bond. God puts no restrictions on us. He tells us all things are lawful for us, but are they beneficial. In other words, we can smoke a cigarette, the choice is ours to make. If we smoke, we risk addiction and possibly lung cancer? If we don’t smoke, we will have healthy clean lungs and no addiction. The choice is ours to make.

Studying the Word of God also teaches us the paths to take for a victorious, healthy and abundant life (Psalm 119). That path begins when we seek to love God with all our heart and soul and to love our neighbor as ourselves.

The question every Believer should ask themselves is, do I want to live in freedom as a new person or stay in bondage with old worldly ways. Studying the Word, we learn truths that has the power to transform us. Part Two: “Tips For Studying The Word”

Financial Fitness 101: Proverbs 27:23-24 tells us to “Be thou diligent to know the state of thy flocks, and look well to thy herds. For riches are not for ever: and doth the crown endure to every generation?“

It’s hard to believe we are only three to four months away from Thanksgiving and Christmas! Are you prepared for these fast approaching holidays or will you wait until it happens? The Book of Proverbs informs us to be knowledgeable at all times of our net worth through planning and budgeting, and that includes purchases for the holidays.

Why not start now by planning and budgeting for the upcoming holidays. On two separate sheets of paper do a cost analysis for these holidays.

Label one sheet Thanksgiving; and label the other sheet Christmas. On each sheet make 2 columns: name one column Items/Food and second column Pricing. Now…

Planning:
1. On the appropriate sheet, make a list of foods you plan to cook or take as a covered dish for Thanksgiving and Christmas. Include individual pricing in column 2.

2. On the appropriate sheet, make a list of decorations you need. Include individual pricing in column 2.

3. On the appropriate sheet, make a list of gifts you need to buy for family, friends, mail carrier, outfits you intend to buy, etc. It’s a good idea for gift buying to set a limit per gift, such as $20-25 per person. Remember what the real meaning of Christmas is about!  Include individual pricing in column 2.

4. Tally up column 2 on both sheets.

Budgeting: If I did my math correctly, as of August 6th there are 15 weeks before Thanksgiving and 18 weeks before Christmas. So, the following is an idea for meeting holiday costs:

1. Take the total dollar amount for Thanksgiving in column 2 and divide it by the number of weeks (15). If total is $400 ÷ 15 weeks. You will need to budget $27.00 per week or $108 monthly. That’s how much you will need to save per week to pay cash for the Thanksgiving Holiday. No charging!

2. Take the total dollar amount for Christmas and divide it by the number of weeks (18). If total is $1500 ÷ 18 weeks. You will need to budget $84.00 per week or $336 monthly. That’s how much you will need to save per week to pay cash for the Christmas Holiday. No charging!

Ministry Updates: The last day to register for our September A.L.I.V.E. Community Workshop is August 23th. The September workshop will be “Blooming Where You’re Planted.” For information about our A.L.I.V.E. Community click here.

Scripture For Reference Prayer Journal: April of this year, the A.L.I.V.E Community start an ongoing Reference Prayer Journal (click here to watch YouTube Video 1 for detailed instructions).

The journal was created with predesignated categories. Participants were given 3 scriptures to add to each category.  Every month I will post a new scripture to be added in a specific category.

This month’s category is Love: Romans 8:35-36 KJV “Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? [36] As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; We are accounted as sheep for the slaughter.” 

Georgetta, Christian Lifestyle & Budgeting Coach

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