God Bless,  Pastor Jim

Happy New Year,
We believe it’s important to spend time daily reading, meditating on and
studying the Bible.
For the first quarter of this year we are incorporating our Sunday messages
with this reading plan. Our hope is that as we read through and
study the Bible together we will grow even more unified in our understanding
of just how great our Heavenly Father is and how He might use
us this year to do great things for His glory. We’re family and we’re better
together! Here are some reminders and helpful hints for you as you
begin this plan:

All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting
and training in righteousness, so that the man of God may be
thoroughly equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

The most useful habit we can develop to grow in our understanding of
God and His purpose for our lives is Bible reading and study. We express
our love for God by our obedience to His commands.

Jesus said, “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one
who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too
will love him and show myself to him.” John 14:21

There are many benefits to a regular intake of God’s Word. Many
never experience these benefits because they haven’t developed the
habit of Bible reading. If you desire 2011 to be a year of great spiritual
growth, and we hope you do, then a daily intake of God’s Word is critical
to achieving this goal.

Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light for my path. Psalm 119:105

Knowing God’s Word will:
• Help me to resist temptation – Psalm 119:9-11
• Guide me to make wise decisions- Psalm 119:105
• Strengthen me when I’m weak- 2 Corinthians 12:9-10
• Comfort me when I’m sad- Jeremiah 15:16
• Help me to witness to unbelievers- 1 Peter 3:15

Before you begin reading make the decision to follow God’s Word in
your life. Be prepared to obey God’s instruction when He speaks to you
through His Word. God is a loving Father who knows what’s best for you
- Trust Him! (Proverbs 3:5-6)

Make it your habit to have a daily quiet time, a time set aside to be
alone with God to get to know Him better. Jesus often went to lonely
places and prayed. (Mark 1:35; Luke 22:39) If Jesus found His strength
through personal time alone with God, how much more do we need to do
the same?

Have a plan. Two keys to starting a quiet time are to select a time that
can be regular and a special place. Consistency and location are both
very important to having a quiet time.

Gather your resources. Grab your Bible and a notebook (to write down
what God speaks to you about and to keep a prayer list), and begin with
the right attitude. We should have an attitude of reverence, expectancy
and obedience.

But the man who looks intently into the perfect law that gives freedom,
and continues to do this, not forgetting what he has heard, but doing it–
he will be blessed in what he does. James 1:25

What if you miss a day? If you miss a day don’t feel guilty, don’t become
legalistic, and don’t give up. It’s been said that it takes 3 weeks for
most people to become familiar with a new task and another 3 weeks
before it will become a comfortable habit. Let us not become weary in
doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give
up. Galatians 6:9

We were created to have fellowship with God. He made this possible
through Jesus’ death on the cross. We each need to have daily time
alone with God. Make a commitment to spend at least some time every
day with God in a quiet time of Bible reading and prayer. Ask God for
the strength you need to be consistent, and remember, Don’t give up!