The past six months have been a new adventure for me. When I posted my first post at An Open Book on July 21, 2008, I had serious doubts about this blog lasting for any length of time. I was truly expecting to post a couple times, then let it drop.
Well, that didn't happen.I think it is generally fair to say that, six months and 100 posts later (that's about a post every day and a half!! yikes!), An Open Book has lasted. And it has absolutely blessed me, and I hope many of you. Being a blogger has been a true blessing--from my amazing new "bloggy friends," to encouragement on my book progress, to exhortation.
So, as a way of thanking you folks for your support and encouragement, I'm gonna have a contest/giveaway. However, unlike my cafe holiday expo giveaway (which is still going on through December 12 at midnight, by the way), I'm making you work for it (a bit, anyway!).
You see, part of my daily quiet time is reading from God's Word, and each year I read through the Bible from beginning to end. Just about every year, I use a "Bible In A Year" reading plan that lays out exactly what I need to read each day so I'm finishing off Revelation on December 31.
Well, this year was different. God led me to read the Bible through--but without a set schedule. I started in Genesis, and depending on how I felt led (and time, of course), I generally read two to four chapters. This has been a wonderful experience for me....but I have a problem.
You see, if I read as I expect, I'm actually going to be finishing up the Book of Revelation early: about a week and a half before New Year's Eve. So, in order to stay in the Word daily through 2008, I need a plan for the last ten days or so of the year.
That's where you come in.To qualify for my giveaway, you need to share a ten-day Bible/quiet time plan for me to use during the last days of December--or any time of year. You can either create it yourself or you can share something you've done or heard of in the past. It does not have to be Christmas-themed, but there are a few requirements, which I have listed below.
- Each day's activities must take no more than twenty-five minutes, and no less than five minutes.
- I must be required to open and read from my Bible each of the ten days.
- Recommending a resource to use for this plan (e.g. a devotional book) is fine, but it must cost no more than $10. (I already have a Bible, Concordance, and whatever else can be accessed free online)
- by responding to this post with the plan (equivalent to one entry)
- by emailing the plan to me (also one entry)
- by posting it on your blog (with a link back to my site) and adding your link to the Mr. Linky gadget below (equivalent to two entries)
day, December 17 (not consequentially, ten days from today!), probably in the late afternoon, I will put all the entries in a bowl, and have one of my darling children draw a name out. That person will win a copy (signed, if you'd like) of It Happened By Design, an anthology of true "God-incidence" (think coincidences orchestrated by God) stories to which I am a contributing author. I will also have a special "surprise" for the entrant whose ten-day plan I actually end up using to close out the year.So, have fun. Thanks for helping me celebrate this blog milestone, and for ending my year with a wonderful time in His Word. I look forward to "inspecting my options" for the last part of December!
Oh, I like!! I'll be here with bells on!
ReplyDeleteWhy? Because I love a giveaway, YOU'RE in that book (and very possibly other friends of mine!!), and because I loooooove you! And one more reason: I'm in the same boat you are! I'll be done with my cover-to-cover read through before the end of the year! Hooray for us!
Gotta get busy now...
Huggles!
My wheels are turning!
ReplyDeleteThis is a GREAT idea, Jo. I'm not sure if I'll be able to participate or not, but I certainly will if the inspiration hits me!!! Congrats on number 100!
ReplyDeleteOooh, A give-away. And one I have to work for! And a GOOD one!! I'll be thinking hard on this one.
ReplyDeletehmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.
:)
Cat
Joanne's 10-day Quiet Time Plan....
ReplyDeleteComing soon!!!
I should be finished tonight, so be prepared! I think you are going to like it.
{:-D)
30 Days of Promises
ReplyDeleteYour readers responded to your earlier request to share their favorite promise given to us in Scripture with some awesome Words from God. And when God makes a promise, He WILL follow through!! I was encouraged and comforted reading the many responses.
Following are the 29 Promises that were posted in response to your blog prompt, plus one more of my personal favorites to make an even 30.
On each of the days remaining in 2008 after you finish Revelation, choose one of these promises, read the chapter where it is spoken (and, as, time allows, the chapter before and after.) Journal or blog (your choice) on two things: 1. What this promise meant to the original receivers of the Word; and 2. What this promise means to you, personally, in this season of your life and your current walk with Christ.
Enjoy!! (I might just do this myself. :) )
Love you
Cat
1. "All the promises of God are 'yes!' in Christ Jesus."
II Corinthians 1:20
2. "All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. AND SURELY I AM WITH YOU ALWAYS, TO THE VERY END OF THE AGE."
Matthew 28: 18-20
3. “He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust”
Psalm 91:1-2
4. "Then when you call, the Lord will answer.
‘Yes, I am here,’ he will quickly reply.
“Remove the heavy yoke of oppression.
Stop pointing your finger and spreading vicious rumors!
Feed the hungry,
and help those in trouble.
Then your light will shine out from the darkness,
and the darkness around you will be as bright as noon.
Isaiah 59:9-10,
5. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
6. “For God so loved the world so much that He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life.”
John 3:16
7. “Call to me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things that you do not know.”
Jeremiah 33:3
8. "The One who calls you is faithful, and HE will do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
9. "The Lord is my strength and my song. He has become my salvation."
Psalm 118:14
10. “But with God all things are possible.”
Matthew 19:26
11. ”Because of the Lord's great love
we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail,
They are new very morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:21-23
12. ”Where can I go from your Spirit?
Where can I flee from your presence?
If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
if I make my bed in the depths, you are there.
If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
if I settle on the far side of the sea, even there your hand will guide me,your right hand will hold me fast.”
Psalm 139:7-10
13. “In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”
Matthew 5:16
14. "Before they call, I will answer"
Isaiah 65:24
15. "For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord."
Romans 8:38-39
16. “One thing I ask of the LORD,
this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.”
Psalm 24:7
17. “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Psalm 46:10
18. "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."
1 Thessalonians 5:24
19. “For the Lord gives wisdom; from His mouth come knowledge and understanding. He holds success in store for the upright, He is a shield to those whose walk is blameless.:
Proverbs 2: 6-7
20. "...for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."
Hebrews 13:6
21. “and in this wilderness where you saw how the LORD your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way you went until you came to this places.”
Deut 1:31
22. "O our God, will You not judge them? For we are powerless before this great multitude who are coming against us; nor do we know what to do, but our eyes are on You."
II Chron.20:12
23. "So here's what I want you to do, God helping you. Take your everyday, ordinary life - your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life - and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him."
Romans 12:1 (The message)
24. "And the days of your mourning shall come to an end."
Isaiah 60:20
25. “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.”
Lamentations 3:22-23
26. “I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.”
Philippians 4:13
27. "But I trust in your unfailing love..and sing songs in the night."
Psalm 13.
28. "Delight thyself also in the Lord; and he shall give thee the desires of thine heart. Commit they way unto the Lord; trust also in him; and he shall bring it to pass."
Psalm 37:4
29. "I know that my Redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand upon the earth. And after my skin has been destroyed, yet in my flesh I will see God; I myself will see him with my own eyes--I, and not another. How my heart yearns within me!"
Job 19:25-27
30. If God is for us, who can be against us?
Romans 8:1
Oh, Cat - I LLLOOVVEE it!!!!! That is SUCH an awesome idea! Thank you, thank you THANK YOUUUU!! You're awesome. (and it looks like I might finish with 12 days to go, so this is nice and flexible!) Sooooo cool!
ReplyDeleteWell, the idea I wanted to use, just did not pan out, even with spending a couple hours on it. *rats* And now, after reading Cat's awesome idea, I'm truly mumbling into my hand, even though it's a 'solid' idea. *shaking head at myself* LoL--All Scripture reading is 'solid'. So here's my idea--but do Cat's idea!! Read 3 chapters of Proverbs a day. Sure to give you a smart start for the year--(get it: the book of Wisdom). See? Do Cat's!
ReplyDelete*wandering off mumbling into scarf*