I've always said I wasn't afraid of responsibility, but recently I'm seeing that become more and more untrue. I was obviously much less afraid of it when I started this blog, way back last year, because I should have known then that I wouldn't keep it up. And no, I'm not posting this to officially shut the thing down. Actually, I'm restarting it. It has to do with New Year's resolutions.
I'm gonna be an adult soon. That's a weird, creepy, daunting thing to say, but it's true. And as an adult, I'm gonna have to start dealing with copious amounts of responsibility. Better to start now. So this year, instead of jotting something inane like "I'm gonna be nicer" or "I'm gonna eat more salad" on my list of resolutions, I actually made a list of real, responsible things that I need to prioritize. Yes, eating right and exercising are on that list, as well as finding a job, getting my license, studying more, preparing for my graduation, etc, but the main one was this: I need to find a steady way to spend more time in God's presence.
I'm kind of a slob when it comes to this stuff. My relationship with God is awesome and fulfilling I have no problem praying on a regular basis, I feel closer to Him everyday. But as far as studying the holy book goes, I find myself stuck on an endless loop of guilt and avoidance. So that's why on the top of my list this year was this: I'm going to start reading the Bible in a year, and I'm going to post my progress here, daily. Or semi-daily. Whatever. But OFTEN, and here's why: I need readers to keep me responsible.
I don't exactly know what's going to go into this project: most likely, my random daily thoughts about what I've read, how it applies to life, etc.
I do not feel in the writing mood today. I'll just go ahead and say that. Some days I write novels every time I have to make a grocery list, and sometimes, like today, nothing seems to want to come out. Be prepared for that. So I'm just gonna go ahead and start, because otherwise I never will.
I'm using a sight that suggests several different methods, and I'm going to use the one that uses a bit from the new testament and a bit from the old testament, so hopefully it will keep things exciting.
The first thing I read was Genisis 1 -3. I am reading in ESV, and I'll never get over how beautiful the beginning passages are. Like poetry, only true, meaningful. People very rarely comment on how beautifully written this book is, but it hits a chord with me every time:
"In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. 2 The earth was without form and void, and darkness was over the face of the deep. And the Spirit of God was hovering over the face of the waters.
3 And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light. 4 And God saw that the light was good. And God separated the light from the darkness. 5 God called the light Day, and the darkness he called Night. And there was evening and there was morning, the first day.
6 And God said, “Let there be an expanse[a] in the midst of the waters, and let it separate the waters from the waters.” 7 And God made[b] the expanse and separated the waters that were under the expanse from the waters that were above the expanse. And it was so. 8 And God called the expanse Heaven.[c] And there was evening and there was morning, the second day.
9 And God said, “Let the waters under the heavens be gathered together into one place, and let the dry land appear.” And it was so. 10 God called the dry land Earth,[d] and the waters that were gathered together he called Seas. And God saw that it was good."
Genesis 2 has descriptions of the newly-formed earth, and then the gorgeous part that is the creation of woman:
“This at last is bone of my bones
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”[q]
and flesh of my flesh;
she shall be called Woman,
because she was taken out of Man.”[q]
The third chapter is about the fall. I find it interesting that number of events: creation, perfect life, fall. Another thing I noticed here that had never really stuck out at me before, is verse 8: "And they heard the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day..." I wonder how literal the original Hebrew is here, did the LORD physically walk in Eden with Adam and Eve? Did he have the appearance of a man?
The next thing it wants me to read is Mathew 1. I think I'll really like this set-up, because I've never had the sensation before of reading the Fall, and then almost immediately, the birth of Christ. Problem, solution. It just seems right. Of course, before that is the genealogy. One day I will go through this thing with a pencil and paper and pick out all the potential baby names I'm always finding in there. This is the shortest version of the nativity story ever, but what really sticks out at me here is Joseph's bravery, something I've never really thought about before.
And that's it. That was simple. I can do that, even if I really do have to force myself to write when I can only do so in a voice like Garfield. Like now. Anyway, I plan to do this every day, and one day I will right a really real introduction instead of this.
How are you doing on your resolution?
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