One Word 2011

I am straying away from the Project 66 blogs to add and extra post to participate in One Word 2011. This is something that my community group at church is doing and was started this year by blogger Alece Ronzino. The idea is to drop the list of New Year's Resolutions and focus on one word to live your year by. I had a hard time coming up with a word and continually came back to how I would just like to live my life more like Jesus this year than ever before. Loving like Jesus, Serving like Jesus, praying like Jesus, acting like Jesus...etc. Obviously that is more than one word...so I summed it up with the word "sixty-six" (technically two words but when you add a - it makes it 1 :-) right?) In 2011 I will read through most of the Bible with Project 66. I am 2 weeks behind and caught up in Numbers but will catch up and finish reading through the Bible at the beginning of 2012. With my one word "sixty-six" I hope be intentional about living a more Biblically focused life. Through really studying all 66 books of the Bible I hope to redirect my life to one of obedience in what God has instructed us to do and better follow the example of Jesus.

Week 5: Song of Songs

I was dreading blogging about Song of Songs since I started this project...but here it is. I have no idea what I'm going to write so it will be interesting to see how this turns out. Song of Songs is a series of poems between King Solomon and his bride. The verses describe intimate feelings towards husband and wife and are also supposed to illustrate God's love for us. I have pulled out a few verses that I remember hearing pastors speak on in the past.

"How fragrant your cologne; your name is like its spreading fragrance. No
wonder all the young women love you!" ~1:3

This verse sounds like something my younger brother (yes Walton, you) would think girls would say about him and his cologne. I have had to wash sweatshirts of mine several times after he's worn them to make it stop smelling like a Hollister model. You smell good Walton and all the young women love you. But the smell of his cologne is not the only thing that the young woman attracted to King Solomon is impressed with or the reason she believes all the young women love him. She said that his name spreads like the fragrance of his cologne. I remember hearing a preacher speak on this verse and referred to the name as King Solomon's reputation. The young woman is much more impressed by the reputation and name that King Solomon has made for himself than by the fact he smells good. Walton and Zack (my other brother) this is the type of fragrance you want to spread and what you want to attract women to you. Lucky for you both you have done an unbelievable job maintaining a great name and reputation for yourself.

"I am the spring crocus blooming on the Sharon
Plain, the lily of the valley. Like a lily among thistles is my darling
among young women. " ~2:1-2

The first sentence is said by the young women describing herself as plain and common and the second verse is said by the young man saying that he thinks she is unique and rare. I just like these two verses because every girl wants to be the exception and seen as different and unique among others. This was even true in the Old Testemant of the Bible. This could also relate to God's love for us. Though we think we are one out of a gazillion people to God and he couldn't possible see us as different or special he still knows the count of every hair on our head and has a unique plan and design specifically for us.

"Place me like a seal over your heart, like a
seal on your arm. For love is as strong as death, its jealousy as enduring
as the grave. Love flashes like fire, the brightest kind of flame.
Many waters cannot quench love, nor can rivers drown it. If a man tried to
buy love with all his wealth, his offer would be utterly scorned."
~8:6-7

These verses explain the unconditional, never ending love that marriage should entail. It states that true love is priceless and can't be quenched.

"Promise me, Oh women of Jerusalem, by the
gazelles and wild deer, not to awaken love until the time if right." ~2:7
and ~3:5

King Solomon and the young woman speak of gazelles and wild deer a lot in this chapter...don't quite understand that! However, I do understand the second part of this verse, which the young woman repeats throughout the chapter. Do not awaken love until the time is right. The first time she says this she means not to fall in love until the time is right. She means not to let emotions and infatuation get the best of you too soon and to wait until the time and the person are right to fall in love. In the second verse she is reffering to waiting until marriage. Throughout the book she constantly refers to the beauty of love and the joy that it brings her and in God's outline and timing for love and marriage I really have to believe that there is so much more joy in his timing than in my own.

And Song of Songs is over and wasn't too painful. The next book....Numbers. This is a long one...good thing I have a vacation this week.

~Kenlyn

Week 4: Philemon

There's a book in the Bible named Philemon? Bible Trivia question that I would fail...oops! Thank goodness I am now finally discovering the whole Bible...it's about time. This book is a letter from Paul and Timothy to Philemon, who was a wealthy man and a member of the church of Colosse. (Thank you Life Application Study Bible!) The letter is written on behalf of Onesimus, who ran away from Philemon to Rome where he met Paul who led him to Christ. Paul persuade Onesimus to return to Philemon so Paul wrote this letter encouraging Philemon to forgive Onesimus because he was a changed man. So the overall theme of this very short 1 chapter book is forgiveness. The letter egins with Paul stating that he prays for Philemon and has heard that his "faith in the Lord Jesus and [his] love for all of God's people" ~1:5. Paul goes on in verse 6 to say that he is praying that Philemon will put this faith and love and generosity into action.

"And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes
from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in
Christ. Your love has given me much joy and comfort my brother, for your
kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God's people." 1:6-7

I think we so often are quick to love and show generosity to those we are friends with or even strangers that have done us no harm but as soon as someone we know whether it is an acquaintance, close friend, or family wrongs us we are no longer as quick to show generosity and forgiveness. Maybe its because we expect more of these people or because we are hurt more so its harder to forgive. Paul is asking Philemon to practice his love and generosity to Onesimus even though he has wronged him by running away. Paul also acknowledges that Onesimus is a changed man and is now a brother in Christ. I think as Christians we are so quick to judge people for things in their past and forget that the power of Jesus cleanses all sins and makes everyone a completely new creation. We are also quick to forget that we once were made a new creation and that without Christ's salvation we all fall short of the glory of God. The power of Jesus can completely change hearts and lives and we need to forgive the wrongdoings of others in our lives. Our forgiveness, love, and generosity towards those that have hurt us might be the very thing that shows them the love and forgiveness of Jesus.

When this book was written it was legal for a master to kill a runaway slave. Onesimus feared for his life and Paul urged Philemon to welcome Onesimus back home. He offers to take on everything that Onesimus owes Philemon. Paul showed Onesimus such grace. Just as we are blessed in order to be a blessing we are extended grace so that we in turn might extend grace.

The end of the book doesn't say whether or not Philemon forgives Onesimus and welcomes him home debt free or not. Hopefully I will learn this in one of the 62 books left! I doubt it will be this week: Song of Songs! This might be interesting...

"May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your Spirit" 1:25

~Kenlyn

Week 3: Hebrews

I am late posting about Hebrews! I am not a great writer so I have to be in the "mood" to write for sentences to come out making even partial sense. I also needed time to process all of Hebrews, which explains the greatness of Jesus, the beauty of the gospel, and what our faithful response to Jesus should look like. I was confused at first with some of the wording, which often happens when I read through the Bible. I think it's because "the word of God is alive and powerful. It is sharper than the sharpest two edged sword, cutting between soul and spirit, between joint and marrow. It exposes our innermost thoughts and desires." ~4:12 That's a lot to digest and should cause us to dwell a little longer than other books. However, having to read through these verses a few times to grasp the meaning seems very fitting for what the chapters of Hebrews are trying to reveal: The Superiority of Christ. His greatness and the sacrifice and love he has for us is completely unfathomable. The design and beauty of the gospel which is explained in chapters 9 and 10 is incredible. God thought of every detail of how the death of His son would sacrifice his life in order to save us all from our sins and place us blameless in His eyes. Seeing how, through Jesus, God was able to bring us to Him and develop a relationship with us that would trump the law so that for eternity He will never again remember our sins and lawless deeds (10:17). The details and beauty of the gospel story makes it impossible for me to believe that Jesus can be anybody other than the Son of God.

"The Son radiates God's own glory and expresses the very character of God, and he sustains everything by the mighty power of his command. When he had cleansed us from our sins, he sat down in the place of honor at the right hand of the majestic God in heaven." ~1:3

"...Yes, by God's grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone. God for whom and through whom everything was made, chose to bring many children into glory. And it was only right that he should make Jesus, through his suffering, a perfect leader, fit to bring them into their salvation" ~2:9-10

"For only as a human being could he die, and only by dying could he break the power of the devil, who had the power of death. Only in this way could he set free all who have lived their lives as slaves to the fear of dying" ~2:14-15

"Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people. Since he himself has gone through suffering and testing, he is able to help us when we are being tested." ~2:17-18

"But because Jesus lives forever, his priesthood lasts forever. Therefore, he is able, once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to interceded with God on their behalf. He is the kind of priest we need because he is holy and blameless, unstained by
sin. he has been set apart from sinners and has been given the highest place of honor in heaven." ~7:24-26

"Under the old system, the blood of goats and bulls and the ashes of a young cow could cleanse people's bodies from ceremonial 1impurity. Just think how much more the blood of Christ will purify our consciences from sinful deeds so that we can worship the living God. For by the
power of the eternal Spirit, Christ offered himself to God as a perfect sacrifice for our sins. That is why he is the one who mediates a new covenant between God and people, so that all who are called can receive the eternal inheritance God has promised them. For Christ died to set them free from the penalty of the sins they had committed under the first covenant" ~9:14-15

"In fact, according to the law of Moses, nearly everything was purified with blood. For without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness. That is why the Tabernacle and everything in it, which were copies of things in heaven, had to be purified by the blood of animals. But the real things in heaven had to be purified with far better sacrifices than the blood of animals. For Christ did not enter into a holy place made with human hands, which was only a copy of the true one in heaven. he entered into heaven itself to appear now before God on our behalf. And he did not enter heaven to offer himself again and again, like the high priest here on earth who enters the
Most Holy Place year after year with the blood of an animal. If that had been necessary, Christ would have had to die again and again, ever since the world began. But now, once for all time, he has appeared at the end of the age to remove sin by his own death as a sacrifice." ~9:22-26

"For God's will was for us to be made holy by the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ, once for all time" ~10:10

"For by that offering he forever made perfect those who are being made holy." ~10:14

"This is the new covenant I will make, with my people on that day, says the Lord: I will put my laws in their hearts, and I will write them on their minds. Then he says " I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds."" ~10:16-17

"We can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place. And since we have a great High Priest who rules over God's house, let us go right into the presence of God with
sincere hearts fully trusting him. For our guilty consciences have been sprinkled with Christ's blood to make us clean and our bodies have been washed with pure water" ~10:19-22

So there it is...the explanation of the gospel and why it was necessary for Jesus to shed his blood in order to cleanse the sins of the world for all time. We can boldly and sincerely enter God's presence because Jesus has cleansed us through his sacrifice. Incredible.


The question now is how do we respond to this sacrifice? If you truly think of all that Jesus gave us...his life I think the proper response is to give him ours. The end of Chapter 10 and the rest of Hebrews tells us how we should respond to the gospel. Ways mentioned to honor Jesus include loving one another, showing hospitality to strangers, remembering those in prison, honoring marriage, and being satisfied with what you have. (Chapter 13:1-6) Another major theme of the end of Hebrews is remaining faithful in order to please God. All of Chapter 11 is a faith hall of fame where each verse starts with "It was by faith that____". Each person mentioned was part of an amazing act of God because they were faithful and trusted God. I can't help but think about what would follow my name if the chapter continued and the verse read "It was by faith that Kenlyn..." I can't think of anything at this point in my life where I have stepped out in faith to participate in one of God's miracles. Definitely something to be more intentional about.

Chapters 10-13 provide several encouragements to remain faithful as well as definitions of what faith actually is.

"Think back on those early days when you first learned about Christ. Remember how you remained faithful even though it meant terrible suffering. Sometimes you were exposed to public ridicule and were beaten, and sometimes you helped others who were suffering the same
things. You suffered along with those who were thrown into jail, and when all you owned was taken from you, you accepted it with joy. You knew there were better things waiting for you that will last forever. So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do
God's will. Then you will receive all that he has promised." ~10:32-36

"Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we cannot see." ~11:1

"By faith we understand that the entire universe was formed at God's command, that what we now see did not come from anything that can be seen." ~11:3

"And it is impossible to please God without faith. Anyone who wants to come to him must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who sincerely seek him" ~11:6

"Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated at the place of honor beside God's throne. Think of all the hostility he endured from sinful people; then you won't become weary and give up. After all, you have not yet given your lives in your struggle against sin." ~12:1-4

"So take a new grip with your tired hands and strengthen your weak knees. Mark out a straight path for your feet so that those who are weak and lame will not fall but become strong" ~12:12

"Therefore, let us offer through Jesus a continual sacrifice of praise to God, proclaiming our allegiance to his name. And don't forget to do good and to share with those in need. These are the sacrifices that please God." ~13:15

Great encouragement to remain strong in the faith: we believe that God
is greater and that the reward and joy He gives us is far greater than anything
of this world can ever give us. We remain faithful to Him, who can only be faithful to us, and in return we are the ones that inherit all that he
has promised. Is there really anything at all worth missing out on all He has promised??

So I think I might have written a novel longer than the actual book of Hebrews...stay tuned for a much shorter blog next week because the new book is Philemon. Until next week...(or really in 5 minutes when I post the blog on Philemon because I am behind on blogging) I will leave you with this!

"Now may the God of peace who brought up from the dead our Lord Jesus, the great Shepherd of the sheep, and ratified an eternal covenant with his blood may he equip you with all you need for doing his will. May he produce in you, through the power of Jesus Christ, every good
thing that is pleasing to him. All glory to him forever and ever. Amen" ~13:20-21

~Kenlyn

Week 2: 2 Timothy

This week I studied 2 Timothy, which is a letter to Timothy written by Paul from prison. These are Paul's last written words before his death. He writes this letter to encourage Timothy to continue following Christ though he might encounter suffering and persecution for his faith. Paul encourages Timothy to never be ashamed of the gospel he is preaching. The following verses show Paul's perseverance and faithfulness to God and sharing the gospel even while in prison for doing so. Paul knows that the God he has placed his trust in is much larger than his suffering and that God will give him the strength and power to overcome the persecution he receives.

"So never be ashamed to tell others about our Lord. And don't be ashamed of me, either, even though I'm in prison for him. With the strength God gives you, be ready to suffer with me for the
sake of the Good News." ~1:8

"That is why I am suffering here in prison. But I am not ashamed of it, for I know the one in whom I trust, and I am sure that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him until the day of his return" ~1:12

"So I am willing to endure anything if it will bring salvation and eternal glory in Christ Jesus to those God has chosen." ~2:10

"Yes, and everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution" ~3:12

As an American following Christ requires very little, if any, suffering. Yes there are things I have given up and worldly pleasures that I don't take part in because I trust that a life in Christ provides much more joy but I can't say I have ever actually suffered because of my faith. My community group at church is currently reading the book "Radical" by David Platt. This book talks a lot about suffering for the sake of being a Christian and how several Christians in other countries risk their lives to read their Bibles and participate in secret church services where they have to meet in hiding so that they don't die. I am currently writing about 2 Timothy in a coffee shop enjoying a cup of French Vanilla coffee and laughing at the table of 8 year old girls practicing cheers next to me...hardly suffering. The book posed the question "would we as American Christians still be willing to follow Christ if we were persecuted for it daily and if we risked our lives and the lives of our families for doing so?" I would like to say that I love Jesus enough that I would continue to follow him in the presence of suffering and even death but would I really? Definitely a heart check.

Paul encourages Timothy to continue preaching the gospel by telling him that preaching is a spiritual gift that God gave him and that he has instilled in him a spirit of power, love and self discipline and not one of fear and timidity. He is saying that he doesn't need to be afraid or ashamed of the gospel because he has the power of the Holy Spirit with him.

"I remind you to fan into flames the spiritual gift God gave you when I laid my hands on you. For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." ~1:6-7

Paul also discusses discipleship with Timothy and how it is important to teach the gospel to others so that they in turn can continue to share. A friend was talking recently about how discipleship is the root of how the gospel is spread. Jesus spent all of his time with 12 men teaching them how to go to all nations and share the love of Christ. He poured himself into 12 followers who he equipped and empowered to go out and share to others who would then share with others.

"You have heard me teach things that have been confirmed by many reliable witnesses. Now teach these truths to other trustworthy people who will be able to pass them onto others" ~2:2

My favorite verses in 2 Timothy are these:

"Of we die with him, we will also live with him. If we endure hardship, we will reign with him. If we deny him, he will deny us. If we are unfaithful, he remains faithful, for he cannot deny who he is" ~2:11-13

God is never going to be who he isn't and therefore, cannot be unfaithful to us. He keeps his promises and will continue to be with us even when we stray away from Him. Paul fully grasped that God cannot deny who He is and was willing to suffer for the opportunity to tell others of the faithful God he served. I think when we really get to know Christ and his love for us then there will be no way we can deny him or be ashamed of Him.

So that is all for 2 Timothy! Stay tuned next week for Hebrews!

Kenlyn

Week 1: Galatians

Blogging about each book is going to be much harder than I originally thought. I mean pastors devote an entire series of sermons to only a couple of verses or a chapter. I think I could write for a while about all that is packed into the six chapters of Galatians. I will just highlight a few verses that stuck out.

"Obviously I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant." ~1:10

If only I could have the confidence of Paul to say that I am obviously not trying to win the approval of people! My church in Nashville just finished a series on idolatry and approval ranked very high as something I tend to place above God. I center my life around trying not to disappoint others rather than pleasing God. When in all actuality the only approval I need is God's and praise the Lord that in Him I stand complete.

"But we refused to give into them for a single moment. We wanted to preserve the truth of the gospel message for you" ~2:5

Paul, Titus, and Barnabus were being forced to follow the Jewish regulations and laws but refused to give into for fear that it would hurt their witness to the Galatians that it is not by law that you are saved but by faith in Christ Jesus. This is the focus of the rest of Galatians. This verse shows how Paul exemplifies Christian witness and perseverance. How different would we act if we knew that our actions were preserving the truth of the gospel message for those we came in contact with?

The next few verses deal with the question that continues to be asked today. This question presents itself in several ways. There are people that believe that by obeying the law and being a good person they have a ticket to heaven while others believe that once they have faith that Christ has indeed died on the cross to save them from their sins that they now have the freedom to sin. There is also the tendency for Christians to feel like they need to earn their salvation and God's love through continuous good works. These verses sum up the answer to the question: "Is salvation through Christ alone , or dos it come through Christ and adherence to the law".

"Yet we know that a person is made right with God by faith in Jesus Christ, not by obeying the law. And we have believed in Christ Jesus, so that we might be made right with God by obeying the law. " ~2:16

" I do not treat the grace of God as meaningless. For if keeping the law could make it right with God, then there was no need for Christ" ~2:21

" Let me ask you this one question: Did you receive the Holy Spirit by obeying the law of Moses? Of course not! You received the Spirit because you believed the message you head about Christ. How foolish can you be? After starting your Christian lives in the spirit, why are you now trying to become perfect by your own human effort?" ~3:2-3

"So it is clear that no one can be made right with God by trying to keep the law. For the scriptures say "It is through faith that a righteous person has life" ~2:11

"For you have been called to live in freedom, my brothers and sisters. But don't use your freedom to satisfy your sinful nature. Instead use your freedom to serve one another in love. For the whole law can be summed up in this one command "love your neighbor as yourself" ~5:13

"So I say, let the Holy Spirit guide your lives then you won't be doing what your sinful nature craves" ~5:16

To sum up all of these verses I would say that instead of obeying the law and doing good works in order to win God's favor we should want to obey the law and do good out of the love for God. It also says that by having the Holy Spirit inside of us we will be led away from our sinful nature.
We will want to serve others because the Holy spirit is producing His fruits in our lives and leading us in every part of our lives.

"What is more important is faith expressing itself in love" ~5:6

"But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self control." ~5:22

"But those who live to please the spirit will harvest everlasting life from the spirit. So lets not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don't give up. Therefore, whenever we have the opportunity , we should do good to everyone" ~6:8

That about wraps up Galatians! Now onto the book for week two: 2 Timothy!!

"If you think you are too important to help someone, you are only fooling yourself. You are not that important." ~Galatians 6:3 (This made me laugh and I kinda want to put it on the back of Crosspoint's Serve and then Some T-shirts)

Until Next week,
Kenlyn

The Challenge

There are 66 books of the Bible. All of which are filled with God's guidance and love for us. None of which I have fully read and diligently studied on my own. This has to change. I tend to skip around a lot while reading the Bible and to skim rather than really studying what God is saying. I love reading books that are written by Christian authors but these books need to stop taking the place of studying God's word. I am desiring to get to know the Bible better and am truly looking forward to spending time really studying each book. So for the next 66 weeks I will be studying a book a week. I have serious committment issues when it comes to reading and sticking to something for 66 weeks so I had to give myself ways to keep this going. Pretty pitiful that I have to motivate myself to continue reading the Bible but I have too much ADD to go from Genesis to Revelation. I have always struggled with looking at the Bible and being overwhelmed and not knowing where to start. So I made cards with each book of the Bible on them and will pull out a different one each week. This way I won't get overwhelmed trying to pick the book and my ADD won't kick in. I plan on writing about what God is teaching me through each book. I will write at the end of each week and then reveal the next week's book! I hope that by blogging I will hold myself more accountable to reading. Feel free to join me! I started on Sunday November 7th, 2010 and will finish on February 5th, 2012. 66 weeks is a long time I am excited to see how this changes my life. The first book I drew was Galations! I'll let you know how that goes on Sunday!