Six helpful Bible study tips

How do you study the Bible in practical terms? How does it work in real life? 

In my last blog I shared how the Word of God transformed my mind and even changed the course of my life. I received a great response and so I would like to elaborate on this further. 

*Choose a Bible you can understand. 

There is an array of different Bibles and it can be a bit intimidating. Also there are so many translations. So I’m sure there is a Bible that will fit you. Try it online first. Go to a bookstore and look at them in person. Ask your friends what they like. 

My favorites are: NIV study Bible. I’ve had one for many years and it’s great for in depth study. There are cross references in the middle and commentary at the bottom. The NIV is very easy to understand. 

ESV (English Standard Version), is a new version that I am enjoying. It is a smaller Bible I take to church, my Bible study and I use it when I teach or speak. Since I am a writer I love words, and the ESV is written beautifully. I’ve been very pleased with it. 

The Message Bible. This Bible reads like a book. I use it online from time to time to better understand a verse I’m pondering on. 

These are the ones that I am very familiar with. Again do your research and I’m sure you’ll find one to your liking. 

*Choose a theme, book, or person to study. 

I realize this could be intimidating also. What to study? Which book of the Bible? What studies should I use? 

I’ve used many Bible studies over the years. There are wonderful ones in book form or online. A few I am familiar with are: http://shereadstruth.com/  She reads Truth is an awesome Bible study you can follow online.http://proverbs31.org/ Proverbs 31 ministries have online studies.http://www.precept.org/ I love Kay Arthur’s Precept Ministries. She has online studies and wonderful study books. I use them for my Sunday School class. 

You could also choose a person in the Bible to focus on. Choose a theme, such as faith, prayer, etc... Focus on a certain book of the Bible. There is no set way to study the Bible, just get your spiritual pick and start mining the truths of God’s Word. There are gems there for the diligent and seeking heart. 

*Set aside a time and place to study.

Make it a special place. I have a study/office. My desk faces a window that looks out on my bird feeder. This is my special place every morning. Now  you may not have a place like this. It doesn’t have to be fancy. But just make it your place to meet with Jesus. Moses had his Tent of Meeting in the wilderness where he had his “face to face” with God. 

Now as for the time, that is totally up to you. My best time is in the morning. Yours may be different. It may not be an easy thing to set aside time. There will surely be plenty of distractions to pull us away from that “good portion.” Luke 10:42  

*Use Bible online study helps.

I have two sets of commentaries on my bookshelf and I treasure them. I have The Pulpit Commentary and Matthew Henry. If you don’t have any, there are plenty for you to dive into online. http://www.biblestudytools.com/ Bible Study Tools is a wonderful website that has access to commentaries and different Bible versions. http://www.preceptaustin.org/ Kay Arthur’s Precept Ministries study website is my favorite. You will find an endless supply of commentaries and sermons. She also has some verse by verse commentary. It’s my frequent source when I study. 

*Know that “no one comprehends the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God.”

In 1 Corinthians 2:11-14 it tells us:  For who knows a person’s thoughts except their own spirit within them? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. What we have received is not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may understand what God has freely given us. This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, explaining spiritual realities with Spirit-taught words. The person without the Spirit does not accept the things that come from the Spirit of God but considers them foolishness, and cannot understand them because they are discerned only through the Spirit.

Commentaries, sermons, Bible studies are all wonderful sources we can dive into when we study. But there is no substitute for our teacher, the Holy Spirit. 

He will “open your eyes to the wonderful things in the Word” Psalm 119:18. Pray before you study. Ask Him to teach and show you “the great and hidden things that you have not known.” Jeremiah 33:3. 

Take your time. This doesn’t have to be about reading a chapter a day or the Bible in a year, although these are great things. You’re not speed reading. Remember you are mining the gems of His Word. The Holy Spirit isn’t impatient. Ponder and meditate on what you are studying. Sometimes I will camp out in a chapter for a few days. 

Also we need to realize that we are all in different seasons of life. I’m a empty nester who works nights. So I have the day basically to myself. You are probably in a totally different place. 

Whether you are a young mother, a working mom, a empty nester such as myself, whatever stage you are in; this time in the Word is vital like food. “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.” Matthew 4:4

I still have to make an effort, a choice to get off the couch and away from the TV and social media to study the Word. 

*Write down your thoughts.

I mentioned in my last blog that I keep a journal. I have found this to be invaluable. I love to write anyway, but it’s also very practical. If I don’t write down my thoughts, I will forget them later. I can look back on something I studied a few months ago and the Lord can encourage me through that entry. It’s been a great tool for my blog and for teaching. 

Lastly I want to recommend a Bible podcast that I am loving. https://dailyaudiobible.com/ Daily Audio Bible. I’ve been telling all my friends about this. I listen everyday. Brian Harden will take you through the Bible in a year. He has such a soothing voice. It’s very calming. He usually shares from his heart at the end and always ends with a prayer. You will love it. 

I hope these ideas are helpful and encourage you to study the Word. I guarantee you the Word will change your life and renew your mind. Please feel free to leave any comments on how the Word has changed your life, or if you have further questions on this. 


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The Living and Active Word

March 20, 2001. On this day I began journaling. Since I love writing, it’s only natural that I would delight in writing down my own “Notes Along the Journey”. Yes, that is how I came up with my blog name. 

I have five journals now. Five journals full of rich treasure that range from Bible study insights, special days, anguish, dejection, encouragement etc... As you can see, my journals run a spectrum of emotions I have experienced  over the past fifteen years. 

I remember clearly the day I sat down and wrote my first entry. I was approaching the end of a raging storm that was battering me and threatened to destroy my marriage.  

Of course I wasn’t aware of that at the time. Hind sight and all. At that time I felt like I was right in the middle of it. Yet I had peace and a settleness deep within that came when I surrendered and handed over the controls to the Great I Am. You can read about my story here.

At that time I worked nights. I would get up in the morning and go about the business of the day just like I did everyday. But Jesus began to lead me in another direction. I felt Him drawing me to His Word. To really study it, immerse myself in it. 

Now up to this point sadly, I was hit and miss when it came to my “alone” time with Jesus. He was now drawing me deeper. So on the morning of March 20, 2001 I sat down at my kitchen table with my Bible, the Matthew Henry commentary, (a gift from my brother) and my journal. 

My first entry was from Ezekiel 47. From that point on I studied the Minor Prophets, Daniel to Malachi. My life was never the same again. I was especially broken when I got to Hosea. Hosea will do that to you. 

The Word changed me as I immersed myself in it. It got in my spirit, and transformed my mind. I grew by leaps and bounds. My marriage was healed and restored. I even began to teach Sunday School and eventually led the Women’s group. And now a blog and occasionally speak. 

One memorable entry in my journal is on August 17, 2008. My women’s group had a weekend retreat. It had been an amazing weekend. A woman who I haven’t seen for a long time joined us. 

She told me something so incredible. “What happened to you while I was away? I am amazed at how you have changed and how God is using you.”

I was flabbergasted. It blew me away. I believe God gave me that moment to show how I had grown. To show me the wonder of His handiwork. I’ll always treasure that moment. It proved how powerful God’s Word truly is. 

Beloved, when you take in the Word, when you immerse yourself in it, when it becomes vital soul food, I guarantee  it will change your life. Because it isn’t just words on a page. It’s God breathed. 

“It’s a lamp to your feet”, “It will not return empty”, “It is living and active”, “It’s living and abiding”, “It will remain forever”, “It will renew your mind”. 

It’s not just simply reading it that will change your life. It’s believing it and settling in it. I encourage you today to get alone with Jesus and allow your Teacher, the Holy Spirit to “Open your eyes to the wonderful things in the Word.” 

Leuchtturm is a journal that I am loving. It’s soft covered, it has numbered pages with a table of contents in the front, which is very useful. There are different sizes and colors. I love the paper. At the back is a hinged pocket. Also there are stickers included. 

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A Little R and R

Why not give God a chance?

It had been a challenging week for me. I felt weary and drained. It had been one of those teaching moments. Once again God showed up and proved His faithfulness. Just like He does every time. 

So why do I give in to doubt and fear? Do I forget so soon? 

Ironically, in the middle of this trial, God showed me a powerful example in His Word. He seems to always point to something in His Word that is relevant to me. He’s good at that. 

When the Ethiopians great army came against Judah, King Asa immediately cried out to the Lord. I so love his prayer in 2 Chronicles 16:

“There is none like you to help, between the mighty and the weak. Help us Lord our God for we rely on You and in Your name we have come against this multitude. O Lord, You are our God; let not man prevail against You.” 

Don’t you just love his prayer? God responded powerfully to his sincere prayer and thoroughly defeated the mighty Ethiopians. 

Now look ahead ten years at another incident:

King Baasha of Israel threatened Asa. Not exactly catastrophic like the Ethiopian invasion, but still alarming. The situation could percolate into trouble for the King and his people. 

So did he seek the Lord again? Unfortunately no. Instead of relying on God, he “fixed” the problem himself. He bribed the King of Syria to break their covenant with Israel and help him. The King of Syria was only too happy to comply. 

Ben-hadad the king of Syria attacked Israel in the North and conquered some of Israel’s cities. So did the bribe work? In a manner of speaking yes, King Baasha backed down and was not a threat anymore. 

This is what happens sometimes when these not so catastrophic issues pop up. I feel threatened and anxious about the possible troubles that may arise.  The Bible calls them “False imaginations”. 

Instead of seeking God’s face and relying on Him, perhaps I can “fix” the problem. You know, “help” God. Funny how that never turns out good. It sure didn’t work for King Asa. The Syrians proved to be an annoyance in the years to come. 

God sent the Prophet Hanani to speak to Asa. “Because you relied on the king of Syria, and did not rely on the Lord your God, the army of the King of Syria has escaped you. Were not the Ethiopians a huge army with very many chariots and horsemen? Yet because you relied on the Lord, He gave them into your hand. 

For the eyes of the Lord run and fro throughout the whole earth, to give strong support to those whose heart is blameless toward Him. 2 Chronicles 16:7-9

In the middle of my challenging week, my husband asked the question, “Why don’t we give God a chance? Let’s pray about this situation. I don’t think we should give up on this.” 

Now don’t get me wrong, I had been praying. But this situation was different. So would it be harder for God? Silly I know. But I can be pretty dense sometimes. 

My husband’s wise words were like a breath of fresh air. We prayed and sought God to intervene. Well...guess what? The Lord showed us the way and He truly intervened on our behalf. No surprise right?

Will we give God an opportunity to intervene?

Will we rely on Him, or just try to work it out in our own strength? 

What great miracles do we miss out on because we refuse to rely on Him? 

I urge you today not to give up on God. He’s looking for someone to believe so He can show Himself strong in their life. Why not be that person?


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Rambling Thursdays

Football is over. Now I am in the cold clutches of winter. There is snow on the ground and more is coming. It's going to be brutally cold the rest of the week. I'm not sugar coating it. I don't like this time of year. 

I've seen around social media lately people sharing the things that help them survive the winter. So for today's blog I will share my own:  

*My bird feeders. I am a bird lover and have many feeders around my house at strategic viewing spots. They truly brighten my day. 

*Coloring. Yes I'm all in the coloring book craze and love it!  

*My office/study.  I love sitting at my desk, gazing out the window at the bird feeder, studying my Bible, writing and reading.  It's become my favorite place in the house. 

*TV. Everyday before I go off to work, I DVR any potential shows and enjoy them at my leisure. I so love DVR. It has totally transformed my TV viewing. 

*Midweek dates. My husband and I have set a Wednesday lunch date. It's been a great way to break up the normal, mundane week. 

*My Bible study group. I am blessed to be a part of a great group of ladies who meet every Thursday. I love the fellowship and digging into the Word. It's been a lifeline. 

All in all, it really hasn't been such a bad winter. But this time of year I really begin to dream of warm, sunny days. I miss sitting on my porch. 

You know, it's just the little, simple things like I've listed above that get you through. I don't need a trip to the Bahama's to survive the winter, (although I wouldn't mind it, don't get me wrong!) 

What about you cold weather people? What gets you through? 

Secrets of an enduring, happy marriage

This Sunday is Valentine's Day and also my anniversary. We will be married 29 years, which seems hard to imagine. I posed a question on my Facebook page asking those who have been married for a long time their secrets. This is what they share:

*Don't bring up past offensives. Don't be a book-keeper. Agape love keeps no record of wrongs.

*Honor and respect each other.

*Don't go to bed mad. Resolve anger, forgive quickly. Resentment can and will develop poisoning your relationship. Agape love is not easily angered.

*Give grace freely. After all you need it too. You've been forgiven of much.


*Make time for each other. Be intentional. Sometimes you even have to fight for what is priceless. It is worth it always.

*Make your spouse feel special, needed. Again, don't you desire the same thing?  Well, he does too.

*Never, ever put them down in front of other people. This is downright ugly and demoralizing.

*Choose battles wisely. You don't have to be right all the time. Sometimes it's best just to drop it.

*Humor is very important. Laughing together is surprisingly intimate.

*The D word should never be mentioned. It's never an option. Unless of course there is abuse. Agape love always preserves through the lean hard times. Marriage is not a sprint, but a marathon.

*Communicate!  Your spouse can't read your mind. I don't care how long you've been married.

*Concentrate on making each other happy, by doing this you'll make yourself happy. Agape love is not self seeking.

*Pray together and for each other.

*Understand that your fulfillment is in Christ alone. Take the pressure off your spouse. They are just a human, not God.

*Be thankful for what God has given you. Learn contentment. The grass is not greener on the other side.

All Fall Down

Jericho. A city surrounded by massive walls, so massive that houses were built on them and chariots could travel side by side. Strong and impenetrable, they blocked the Israelites. Beyond lay the Promised Land, but first Jericho had to be taken. 

The walls of my personal Jericho seemed just as impenetrable, immovable.  They loomed over, casting a shadow over me. 

The Israelites were geared up to take Jericho. The mighty warriors were poised, their swords glinting in the sun. Joshua, their fearless leader stood before them to give the battle commands. Yet these were strange commands. 

They were to march once every day for six days around the city walls with the Ark of the Covenant leading. On the seventh day, they had to march seven times. They had to keep silent the whole time-no charging the city, no shouting, just silently marching. 

They certainly didn’t understand why it had to be done that way; it didn’t make sense. Yet patiently and silently, they circled the walls as commanded. On that last march around the walls, they shouted, and the immense walls fell flat. God delivered Jericho into their hands. What looked impossible became possible because of their obedience and trust in the Great I Am.

My personal Jericho was my prodigal husband. Three years into our marriage he told me that he wasn’t going to church with me anymore. He was dealing with habitual sin that was threatening to take him and our marriage down a dark path. My heart was crushed, it was so hard to accept. It hurt so badly. 

I struggled and resisted, rushing the walls with my sword, cursing them. I wanted the walls to collapse now! Yet the struggle went on, in vain for years. 

I reached a breaking point and in the end I slumped against the walls, battered and bruised. My sword was broken off at the hilt; my knuckles were bloodied. Emotionally spent, I crumpled to the ground, tears of frustration filling my eyes. 

Why won’t the walls collapse? I’ve done everything possible to make it happen. Now my strength is gone and all I’ve accomplished is to make a mess of things. 

In my despair I cried out to Jesus and I felt His sweet presence near. I felt His gentle touch. But oh, He had to be disappointed at my pitiful efforts. I botched up everything. 

He spoke kind and comforting words to me. My child, you have exhausted yourself needlessly. Are you ready to do it My way now? You cannot bring the walls down in your own strength. It is beyond your capabilities. I spoke the universe into existence; don’t you think that I can do this? All I ask you to do is circle the walls with prayer. Be patient and let Me work. Be still and know that I am God. I will deliver this city into your hands in My time and in My way. My presence will go before you. 

His strength entered my body. I felt His peace deep within. 

The walls were still standing, but they didn’t seem so intimidating anymore. My circumstances had not changed, but I had changed. My focus was on Jesus now, not on the walls, not on myself. I became determined to see this situation through, but I resolved not to rush ahead of God.

I give my husband into Your hands, I told Jesus, You take over now. I’m so weak, I can’t fix this, but You are strong and able. My confidence is in You. 

I began to bombard the walls with prayer as I circled them. I followed the battle plans God gave me, even when I didn’t understand them. I kept my eyes on the One who led me. 

At times I still messed up. I’d take my sword and rush the walls screaming. These incidents happened less frequently as my faith grew stronger. I circled the walls many times. Sometimes I felt like giving up, but Jesus always encouraged me so I could walk on unwavering. He would feed my faith through HIs Word. 

Then I began to see cracks form in the walls. This drove me to pray harder. 

One glorious day, on my final lap around the city, the walls crashed down. What seemed impossible and immovable was now flattened. I shouted with triumph to my God who promised deliverance. I learned firsthand that whatever His lips promised, His hands will perform. 

My husband’s surrender to Jesus was a miracle. It was impossible for me to break down my husband’s spiritual walls. Only Jesus could change his heart. I only had to get out of the way and let Him work. I am overwhelmed at what God has done in my husband’s life. But also what He did in me.

This was a refining tool for me. Through this my life was forever changed as well. God desired my devotion, my trust and my heart. 

Do you have a Jericho in your life? Are you failing as you try to bring the walls down? You cannot do this through your own efforts. Get out of the way and allow Him to do the impossible. Be still and know He is God. The walls will collapse. 


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Rambling Thursdays, Meno-prose

In today’s Rambling Thursday I’m sharing a few thoughts on the lovely experience of menopause. 

Fan, how do I love you? Let me count the ways....I’ve used a fan while sleeping for years now. I can’t sleep without one humming in the background. Slowly it has progressed to desperation. Yet there is a fine line I cannot cross before my husband gripes. It’s strategically placed so that it blows only on me. And Lord help us if a puff of air blows on him. 

Now it’s spiraled to a new level of dependency. We are positively joined at the hip. A fan sits in the living room pointed at the love seat where I sit. I’ve even contemplated handhelds but it’s not to that extreme yet.....Yet. 

Layer, layer, toil and trouble....I love jackets, hoodies, turtlenecks, sweaters, cardigans, etc... I would open the closet and throw them on with nary a thought. Now I hesitate with trepidation. When the burning ball ignites within my chest, my striptease begins. First the outer layer, then the sleeves pulled up. It’s a dilemma. 

I love scarves. It’s kind of like a women’s tie. Love the various colors, how it dresses up any outfit. Now at times it suffocates like a boa constrictor. And oh how the new ponchos allure me. But wrapping a blanket around me would probably be a bad idea. Layers are a must for survival, and for not indecent exposure. Thankfully we are in the midst of winter. We won’t think about summer for now. 

Sleep, Sleep, O how I yearn for thee....I remember a long ago time when my son slept till three in the morning, and we were positively giddy. Previously I was up about every two to three hours feeding him. Oh how wonderful it was to sleep uninterrupted hours of blissful sleep. 

I love sleep. I heard a woman say she wished her husband would carry her into the bedroom, throw her on the bed, take her clothes off, tuck her in and then leave to do the dishes. Oh yes, sleep is such a wondrous thing. Due to the nightly ball of fire in my chest, (And I don’t mean a passionate ball of fire), sleep has become a fleeting thing. It’s no wonder I’m walking around in a zombie state for most of the day.

That reminds me...As far as I can recall...If memory serves me correctly....Oh forget it!!!

This is probably related to the sleep issue, but I’m finding myself doing questionable things. Once I tried to place the milk jug in the cabinet next to the cereals. I’m forgetting names terribly. True conversation between my husband and I about an upcoming TV show: I can’t wait to watch that new show next week. It has that one actress who sings also? Oh really, what’s her name? At this point all I can remember is it starts with a J. I rack my brain for any clues. No help there. Oh forget it, I can’t remember her name. 

Another lovely conversation: What is this payment for? Husband questions me...I petition my lethargic brain for any clues. I believe it’s for my credit card payment. No, it’s for this book I bought. Husband implores me: Well you need to write this down in the check balance sheet. I remark back: That’s what an online back account is for. It’s asking too much to write it down when I can barely remember it the next hour. 

Now don’t get me wrong, we are not approaching financial ruin, but it certainly adds a certain excitement to an otherwise mundane conversation. 

So there’s nothing left to say now, except to see the humor in it all, to laugh at the absurdity. It helps to know millions upon millions of women have gone through this and come through the other side. I will also. 

I leave you with this today: Chin up soul sister!

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