Blog Archives
Useful Things This Week
- Mind Pumps MAPS Programs – I’ve been running MAPS Workout Programs for almost a year now. Decided to try weightlifting after giving up running due to arthritis in my feet. I’ve completed MAPS 15, MAPS Anabolic, MAPS Performance, MAPS Aesthetic, and now working through MAPS Strong. Mostly 12-week programs that change it up enough to keep it interesting. And programmed well, so there is very little soreness or joint pain. Feeling stronger.
- Bible Memory App – 2,037 straight days of using the Bible Memory App. I picked it up years ago to reboot scripture memory as a habit and it has been a great tool and companion. I now have over 2,000 verses mastered in the app. I review those scheduled for review every morning and evening. And I review those I read during my regular Bible Reading time every morning. Memorizing the word aids in witnessing, preaching, and meditating. I’ve written about how to get started with the Bible Memory App HERE. And about why and how of Scripture Memory HERE. Get a discount off the Pro Version HERE.
- Masters of the Air – Loving Spielberg’s latest WW2 series about the B-17 Bombers in Europe. New episodes every Friday.
- The Importance of Children’s and Student Ministry: 72% of Evangelicals came to faith before adulthood. We must prioritize Kids and Student Ministry. It’s not just a way to get more people in church. It’s THE way to reach the nation.
- NewChurches.com Preaching Masterclass – Starting the masterclass with our church’s Preaching Collaborative. Short vids with discussion guides. Looking forward to getting sharper in this area of my life and ministry.
What are you finding useful in life and ministry right now?
Bible Reading Plans for the New Year
Time to plan for Devotional greatness in the New Year! Following a Bible Reading plan is a challenge for many people. Like many other areas of life, we are good at starting but struggle to finish our best-made devotional plans. It’s worth the struggle! God’s Word breathes life into my weary soul; it provides wisdom and direction, answers life’s deepest questions, and pierces the hearts of those I’m hoping to influence in a new direction. So, I hope you think about a Bible Reading goal for the New Year. Here are a few that I’ve greatly benefited from that might be a fit for you:
- The One Year Bible Reading Plan is a Whole Bible in 365 Days Plan. It is a great challenge to read the Bible all the way through in a year. It can be done in about 15 minutes per day. I’ve utilized the One Year Bible Reading Plan for years. Daily readings from the Old Testament, New Testament, Psalms, and Proverbs. And you actually go through Psalms twice. Breaking up the reading like this assures there’s always some meat and milk, even when reading through difficult books in the Old Testament. I’ll be following this plan again next year. Friend me on the Bible App, and let’s do it together. PDF Version Here.
- The Disciple Journal Bible Reading Plan from NAV Press – If you’d like to tackle the whole Bible but are unsure if you can do it daily. I understand. No commandment says, “Read the Bible every day or else.” This is a get-to, not a have-to kind of thing, with more benefits the more you read. But anyway, the DJ Bible Reading Plan is a 25-Day per month Plan. So you have 5 catch-up days every month, 60 for the year. I’ve followed this plan several times. If you can stick with daily or almost daily, you’ll finish before the end of the year and can do something different during the holidays. Get a PDF Version Here.
- The F260 Plan – Replicate Ministries has a great plan that covers its picks for the most important major themes in the Bible. It’s a 260-day plan, so 105 days to catch up. There’s also a suggested Scripture Memory Plan provided by Replicate. I’ve put them in the Bible Memory App HERE. Solid plan. I followed it a few years ago and greatly enjoyed it.
There are three of my favorite plans. What’s your plan for the New Year? What plans would you recommend to others?
Swells: Lessons from the Psalms on Surviving Life’s Ups and Downs
Bridge Church tackled the book of Psalms in our summer series called Swells. We covered 8 major themes in Psalms including: Worship, the Word of God, Dealing with Difficult People, Dealing with Discouragement. Get the audio from this series HERE or by subscribing to our Podcast on Itunes. Here are a few highlights:
- Two truths that stand out in the Psalms: God is bigger than anything I face & God is with me no matter where I am or what I’m going through.
- Psalms reminds us that it’s OK to have lows in life. It’s actually NOT a sin to be discouraged or depressed. The very best of folks in this life, do. It IS a sin to go to the wrong place to heal discouragement & depression.
- Our faith in God, not the surface waves of life ultimately define us.
- There are only three kinds of people in life. People who are in the midst of a storm. People who just came out of a storm. People who are about to go through a storm.
- there is POWER in the Word of God. We’re not just reading a good self-help book, we’re connecting with the Living God, through the means he chose to reveal himself to us.
- When waves come, you need resources. And the earth’s resources will not be enough! You need strength inside. Strength from heaven.
- John Bunyan said it well: “This Book (the Bible) will keep you from sin, or sin will keep you from this Book.”
- D.L. Moody said, “The only way to keep a broken vessel full is by keeping the faucet turned on.” Keeping the faucet of God’s Word running repeatedly through your mind will clear out the garbage and keep you pure.
- It’s OK to FEEL FRUSTRATED & FEARFUL. As long as you take those frustrations to the right place. We often think – “I shouldn’t have these feelings.” But feelings are a part of the journey toward experiencing God. We don’t waller in our feelings. That’s called sulking & doesn’t accomplish much. David kept moving, took his feelings to God, & expected God to do something about it.
- If you’ve ever realized how badly you needed grace, you’re more likely to extend it to others.
- People & our feelings will let us down. But God will be a shelter.
- We can’t always say that bad things happen in our life are the consequences of sin, but sometimes they are. You will know. Sometimes bad things happen b/c we live in a bad world. Sometimes bad things happen b/c of other people’s bad decisions. Sometimes it’s just the natural outworkings of foolish decision making. Sometimes it may be discipline from God. God disciplines those he loves.
- There’s great freedom in living a life of integrity & character, powered by God’s son.
- Becoming a Christian is not an insurance policy from bad things. It IS an insurance policy against purposeless, meaningless life. We can be assured, that even the bad things that we can’t figure out are a part of God’s plan. And we can cry out to God for deliverance & be assured of His presence & that He will answer us.
- Results of Trusting God should be greater courage, greater confidence, victory over fear, risk taking for God’s kingdom & for the sake of lost people!
- Some of us never experience God’s protection, b/c we’re so focused on providing for our own safety & comfort. We learn to trust God outside of our comfort zone. “God doesn’t give you more that you can handle.” No! God always gives you more than you can handle, so that you can learn to trust him.
- There’s never a place that worship should not break out in our hearts & minds. We should always be in awe of him. We should always be coming back to the truth – HE IS WITH ME! HE IS BIGGER THAN THIS!
Lane Corley 