Confessions of an Ex-Bible Reader

Seek out the book of the Lord and read... 
Isaiah 34:16a

​I’m convinced priests had no lives. If they had lives, there’s no way they could dedicate themselves to the Word like they did. They couldn’t have had children to feed or clothes to iron or bosses to satisfy. At the very least, they surely didn’t have my life. I can barely fit in time to devote to reading scripture. It’s saddening that one of the most important parts of my spiritual life used to be scripture reading. It used to be such a joy to read and be read by the Word. Not anymore. When I used to read, there were no sermons to prepare, no lessons to teach, nothing to decipher or decode. I read for pure desire. I read to get closer to God. Now, my reading is burdened by deadlines and expectations. Now, I hear each verse asking “What will you do with me?” when before I used to ask “What will you do with me?” In fact, I don’t even know if I read anymore – instead I scour.


​This year, I want to rekindle a relationship with the Bible that is based on love and not obligation. I’m challenging myself to read the entire Bible this year. I've created a calendar that I’ll be using to get through the year. I don’t want to get burned out or dejected so I’ve built in weekly times of Sabbath. I’ve also built in a month  of no readings at all! This will mean some heavier reading loads some days, but it’s important for me to have rest and to be realistic if I need to make up some readings during some part of the year. It’s also important to celebrate accomplishing things and to step away so it doesn’t become a burden again.



​I’m excited and interested to see what this year holds spiritually. I don’t believe the Word of God was given to me to be a chore or a bore. I believe it is God’s love letter to me. I believe God’s Word has outdone William Shakespeare, Zora Neale Hurston, and J.K. Rowling. I desire to be swept away again in it’s stories, lessons, and spirit. If you wish, feel free to grab a pen, curl up in a quiet spot, and join in the journey.*  “In the beginning, God…”



Read,
j.a.g.




God, I hope you hear my heart. I want to be close to you. Please give me the strength and openness to read with new eyes. Please open my eyes that I might see the wonderful things in your law. I long to know You and be known by You. Thank You. Amen.

 

 



*Email me at jeagilmo@gmail.com and I can send you the reading calendar.

On Resting Like Jocelyn

Time with a child can bring inspiration; having a child can bring transformation.


Our daughter, Jocelyn Ariana Danielle Gilmore, was born June 29 at 8:23 am. She is a healthy beautiful baby. Like most new parents, my wife and I are finding a new rhythm to life with her. The one thing that has been compromised the most is rest. Whatever we thought about missing sleep before, we really had no idea. Jocelyn requires consistent attention and devotion. - Though this may seem taxing (and at times it is), it is much easier to do than you would think. When your child needs something, there is something in you that just kind of kicks into gear. It is an amazing testimony of the relationship God creates between parents and children. - All this said, I now have a much deeper appreciation for rest. When you can get it, take it. When you take it, value it.

Other interesting observations about rest have come from Jocelyn herself. Babies need lots of sleep. Yet, they need certain things done in order to sleep well. God has been sharing with me the similarities between Jocelyn’s physical rest and our spiritual rest. In order to have spiritual rest, we can model these behaviors in our relationship with God.

Jocelyn rests easiest when…

She is near my heart. When we place Jocelyn on our chest, she is comforted. She knows who we are, trusts us, and feels safe in our presence. Likewise, we must be close to God’s heart in order to be at rest. We must know Him, trust Him, and rely on Him. Exodus 33:14 below

She has been fed. Ok, you knew this already, but when she eats, she is ready to rest easy. (It’s actually quite funny – her eyes roll back when she’s done and she starts to fall asleep immediately.) Similarly, we must eat/drink the sincere milk of the word in order to be satisfied and strengthened. One of the most practical ways we can receive from God is right under our noses – from the Bible. I Peter 2:2 below

She has been cleaned/changed. After a bath or after changing a dirty diaper (oddly, you get used to this too), Jocelyn is usually ready to sleep. She feels refreshed and is comforted by being clean. This is the same in the spirit with us – we become dirty with sin and need to be forgiven and cleansed. Even if we don’t sin, we can become complacent and need to be changed. We must seek purity, holiness, sanctification, or as I like to put it, better-ness. Psalm 34:14 below

Finally, there was another way I just found out to give Jocelyn rest. The other morning, she was lying next to me and I simply put my hand on her and she went to sleep. It was amazing. I did nothing more than gently place my hand on her chest. It was here that God revealed to me His desire for us. We can have rest when His hand is on our lives. Every day we can walk in His peace, in His rest when we know He is covering us. I leave with a scripture from Job that sums this up… Job 22:21 – Acquaint now thyself with him, and be at peace: thereby good shall come unto thee.

Grateful,

j.a.g.

Thank You Lord for the blessing of a child. Please allow me to continue learning from her. Thank You for rest in You. Please forgive me for times when I am impatient, unclean, or unaware. Allow me to be sensitive to Your Spirit and Your hand on my life. I believe that as I trust in You, You will give me perfect peace and perfect rest. Finally, Lord please bless those who are troubled in their spirits. Give them a peace about their lives, their decisions, and their place with You. Thank You in advance.

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Exodus 33:14 – And he said, My presence shall go with thee, and I will give thee rest.

I Peter 2:2 – As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby.

Psalm 34:14 – Depart from evil, and do good; seek peace, and pursue it.