My Conversation with God

I got up early this morning. Really early. I was awake, so I thought I would come downstairs and catch up on my Bible reading. I had let a few days of reading and writing slip away so easily, that I hardly gave it any thought. After all, just three days ago I was completely caught up. I was on track with "the plan". But it appears that "The Plan" has taken on a life of its own. I remember the intense feeling of accomplishment that swept over me as I did my final edit and proudly hit "submit" for Sunday, January 17th's blog. I made a quick phone call to one of my two devoted followers: "Have you read my blog today? Don't miss it, it's really a good one!"
"OK, Mom, I'll read it" :o)

Enter Wednesday, January 20th. I had a rude awakening when I started reading this morning. I discovered I was 13 chapters behind according to the plan. What??? How in the world did that happen?!!!! My head started spinning in confusion. Let me think back...what exactly has gone on in the last few days that allowed this to happen? Ok, focus Marsha, this is really important. Let's see, there was the big caregiver meeting yesterday, and billing to get out, and payroll to put in, and my husband's birthday, and a dinner party to plan, and groceries to buy, and recipes to cook, and a big house to clean. And knitting. I had to finish that dishcloth because I only have 17 of them in my kitchen drawer and I need more! (And, besides that, I can't forget that I am on an important quest to find the perfect yarn that will absorb the most water and become the ultimate American dishcloth. If I conquer this, I could start a business selling genuine hand-made American dishcloths. After all, I've got to pay for Bible College next year, somehow, don't I??? God could be showing me the way, even if it does take 3 hours to make a single dishcloth) but I digress. At least I had some reasons to help explain how I got so off track!

As I flipped through the pages of Genesis chapters 12 through 25 I glanced down at the chapter headings to get an overview of all the events that have taken place during my short reading sabbatical. Oh dear, did a hundred years really go by in the last three days? Come on, on Sunday all I knew about a man named Abram is that he was born to a man named Terah. And now, by the time I'm suppose to be caught up with the plan again, he's lived out his entire life, had two very significant children by two different women, that will grow up to affect the entire world for every generation to come, and in chapter 25 he's already dead.

Discouragement sets in. Ok, time to recalculate. How can I fix this? I know, I will skim through the last few days of reading, because I know the story anyway. I've read it before. I could be all caught up and back on track with the plan in an hour or less if I really focus.
Then the Lord speaks to my heart. "Why are you doing this?" "Ummm, what do you mean Lord?" "Maybe you should spend some time thinking about why you are doing this." "I thought I already knew why I am doing this." "Maybe you should REALLY think about why you are doing this."

Ok. I thought back to day one when I made the original goal statement. I wanted to be able to look back on December 31, 2010 and say that I had read the entire Bible, cover to cover, from Genesis to Revelation. "So, that's why you're doing this?" "Well, yes, that's one of the reasons, but that's probably not the reason your looking for, is it." "No." I spent some more time thinking about His question to me. "Ok, now I know Lord, it's because you put it on my heart to do it." "You're right, I did put it on your heart." "And I want to be obedient because you told me it would change my life. Right Lord?" "It's a good answer, but why do you think I told you it would change your life?" After some more meditation on that next question, I came to realize that my "Bible blogging" will have many facets to it.

1. It is true that I can look back and say "I did it". And that's pretty cool.
2. It does gives me an opportunity to exercise my love of writing. And that's motivating and fun.
3. It may speak to someone who reads it, after all, I do have followers.
4. It helps me to remember what I've read. And that's important.

It didn't take much longer to come to an understanding of what the Lord was asking me. He led me to read the Scripture I had put on the home page of my blog, right next to my picture. Ephesians 3:19. "and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God." "Remember, you said that was your prayer".

The Lord asked me if I really wanted that verse to be fulfilled in my life. Did I really want to know Him? The word know that He was referring to is the Greek word "ginosko" which means to experience God. The truth is anyone can read the Bible and get knowledge about God. But what God wants for me, and for all of His children, is to ginosko Him. This is the experiential knowledge that surpasses knowledge. I just read that verse again asked myself the question, what would I become if I was filled with all the fullness of God? "Now, that's a great question!" "Thanks!" "No more blogging today, ok?" "But Lord, I haven't written anything about Abraham, Sarah, Isaac or any of the amazing things they did yet." "You don't have to, I already did. Chapters 12 thru 25." "Just spend some quality time reading My Word today and when your reading, look for my heart and look for my Son, Jesus. He's there you know". "That's so awesome Lord, but what if after I finish reading today I have something I want to say to my followers? They're counting on me to say something, it's been a few days already." "Just be obedient and you'll have more than enough to share tomorrow. You'll be filled to overflowing." "I like the sound of that Lord." "I thought you would." "And Marsha, I really liked our conversation today. This is fun, talking back and forth like this, isn't it. "It really is Lord, I could do this all day."

"Now I'm getting somewhere..."