“… my daily bread …
When I was a boy, my good mother started encouraging me to be a “daily Bible reader”. Sometimes she would read to me … other times she would let me read to her. As I got older, she became more creative. I would come in from a date … find my Bible open on my pillow. She knew that when I saw my Bible … I would read it.
Well … her example and training worked. I am 56 years old … and I can without boasting (except in her devotion to the Lord on my behalf) say that I have been a “daily Bible reader” (give or take a day now and again) for 50 years. Thank you … Mother.
At my worst … I did the random read approach – just letting the Bible fall open and reading whatever was there without much interest or intent on hearing from the Lord. At my best … I devoured page after page of Scripture – for several years reading the entire New Testament once a month and the entire Old Testament 4 times a year - laying up words from God by the chapter and even whole books (letters) in my heart.
I don’t have the time (or maybe it is that I don’t take the time) like I once did when I was a preacher … but I still continue to daily read God’s Word, seeking my daily bread.
About a year ago … some of our folks at the OPEN asked me for suggestions on how to develop the habit of reading the Bible daily … but they also wanted help to read the Bible through – from Genesis to Maps – in this year. Well … on January 1, 2008 … I began posting on this blog suggested readings from the Scriptures along with a brief comment that I hoped would help them get the gist of what the Lord was saying to us in each day’s reading.
We finished reading through the Bible … yesterday. Therefore, this will be my last post on this blogsite. (My math skills are suspect, because I had intended for it to take us all year.) I hope that you have found these posts helpful … whether you were intending to read the whole Bible or just seeking a Word from the Lord for the day. God bless you all … and may we all continue to look in His Word … for our “daily bread”.
November 18, 2008 at 9:52 am
I think we should start over! What a blessing this has been to read along with you and see more of God through his word. Thank you for being willing to take this on.
Does it really have to be the end? What if I smiled big and made you cookies?
November 18, 2008 at 10:18 am
Wow! I didn’t know that was the goal of this website when I found it, but have read it faithfully since being directed here. I would hate for “my daily bread” to end, as it has become a part of my morning routine to open “My daily bread” and read as I sipped my coffee. I’m with Sarah, let’s start over. I’ll throw in the cookies too!!!!!
November 18, 2008 at 10:25 am
I cannot thank you enough for being willing to do this for us Rex. I believe this is the first time I’ve ever read the entire Bible. I know I’ve tried, but never could stay motivated. The way you did this, really helped me. It was easy to read the daily portions and then your comments made it easier for me to start studying.
I have learned so much about reading and learning more about the Bible. Now when I read, I see things I never saw, and I pay much closer attention. I’ve learned to study and ask why … to look for answers and to appreciate God’s clarity.
I loved finding things that were seemingly small observations … that “God devised a way” … and “yet, if there is an angel” … were two phrases that I found that stuck in my heart and took root. Finding treasures like that in God’s Word made me want to keep looking for more and more.
You have taught me to eat the Word as if it is my daily bread … not as a snack, but as a meal … as my strength giving meal from the Lord.
Thank you, thank you, thank you.
November 18, 2008 at 10:57 am
We did it! Your help with this was so valuable! Thank you for explaining and motivating and getting us through. And in record time too! (Some of those slices in the Old Testament were kinda thick! hehe)
It never ceases to amaze me that no matter how many times I read the Bible through I will see something new each time! I catch myself saying “HOW DID I MISS THAT BEFORE!” I think my “dailybiblereading” was more of a routine than a study. And I also think that God will use His word to touch my heart just when I need it, with exactly the words I need to hear.
I know that it took a chunk of your time to write a blog every day like this. Thank you for doing it. You are so good for us and to us. God bless you my friend.
November 19, 2008 at 11:24 am
I just noticed this link on your other blog a week or 3 ago and started checking it every day just to see what insights you had.
I realized you were reading through Revelation, but didn’t know how this blog got started.
I’m sorry I missed the journey… but now very interested in reading the archives.
What a fun journey to have taken together.
November 19, 2008 at 5:57 pm
There was a small window of time in my life that this blog gave me a reason to get up and move every morning…for that I am eternally grateful. Some days it was my only hope in a dark place. One day it was a saving grace, a comfort to my battered soul and rest to my wounded spirit. (July 10th is permanantly fixed in my heart and inside my Bible)
I am sad that its over. I wish I had been here for the whole ride….I wish I’d made the time to read the entire chapters everyday instead of just some days. But I guess for me, the fact that I read at least the selected verse everyday was a great improvement over never cracking my bible outside of church. And its made me so I want to read something in my Bible everyday now. Sometimes its random…sometimes I’m looking for something specific…sometimes I want to read to find the answer to a question. My life if drastically different than it used to be in so many ways. (and sadly the same in so many other ways) But I have you to thank for the good stuff.
Even though I’m sad to see it go, it thrills me to know it will add some time to your day! I’m sure you will find something else to fill it up. If you leave the archives up I will make my new years resolution to read through the Bible next year….what do ya say??
December 4, 2008 at 3:29 pm
As Jesus took the bread, blessed it and broke it and gave it to others, so have you been doing for lo these many years. I thank God for the godly mother who helped set you on this path. And I thank God for the breaker of the bread that I have known and loved for nearly 34 years now. And I thank God for the Bread of life…so willing to be broken.