Guilt Free Bible Reading Plan: Genesis 1 - In the Beginning ...

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth. Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.
Genesis 1:1-2

The earth was formless and empty. If we are honest, we can all relate to that description - formless and empty.  As we begin a New Year, perhaps we are all seeking the same thing - a new beginning - a new direction - form and purpose - a full and meaningful life.

John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, wrote a prayer that has become a part of the service of commitment for a New Year in the United Methodist Book of Worship:

I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee, exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty. Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit, thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.And the covenant which I have made on earth, let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.

I love the more contemporary version that has been written by Craig Finnestad:

I was once mine. From this point forward, I am yours. Make clear my purposes in life.
Place me among my loved ones and expand my heart to love all.
Help me to think the things you want me to think, say the things you want me to say,
and do the things You want me to do, even if it means I am belittled, ignored, or criticized.
Give me people to encourage, serve, and love.
Give me times of peace and rest so I can love and be loved by You.
Let me be a light to a dark world so people can see you working in me.
Make me humble and remind me that everything I have is because of You.
Thank You for times of happiness and prosperity - they are a gift.
Thank You for Your presence and promise in days of sadness and hardship that I may emerge stronger and wiser. Let me discover and embrace Your will for my life.
With joy and in fullness, I give my possessions, my time, and my energy to You and to Your purposes.
Almighty, holy, and blessed God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, You are my true love and I am Yours.

And so it is. Let the covenant I am making here on earth be acceptable and pleasing to You.

Amen.

Perhaps if this would be our prayer each day of the New Year, we could each discover that our lives are filled with meaning and purpose - just as God intended ... in the beginning ...


 

A New Year: A New Resolution

Change [cheynj] become different in some particular way, without permanently losing one's former characteristics

Let’s face it, change is hard no matter how you define it. At this time of the year it is customary to make promises, or resolutions, to improve our lives. The problem is that most of us will break those promises before the New Year is a month old. So let me introduce you to another word:

mul·li·gan [ˈmə-li-gən] a free shot sometimes given a golfer in informal play when the previous shot was poorly played.

In life we could all use a mulligan - especially after a "poorly played" action on our part. When it comes to making changes in our lives, we need things like mulligans. Because when we try to make the right changes in our lives, we often fail.  Let me invite you in those moments of failure to take a mulligan – just start over. The beauty of taking a mulligan is that you can do it without guilt! We could all use a second chance that comes without guilt.

A NEW RESOLUTION

A few years ago, as I read through the Bible, I made a commitment to blog daily based on my readings.  To be honest, it was good for me as a writer, and horrible for me as a person.  I became driven by the need to blog daily and was often overcome by guilt if I missed a day. Perhaps you can relate regarding resolutions you have made?

I want to invite you to read along with me this year.  However, I want you to have a an unlimited supply of mulligans for the year.  Miss a day or a week. That's okay.  Just start again with whatever day we are currently reading - guilt-free. No strings attached. It’s truly guilt-free.
I hope that if you take this approach, you will actually read more of the Bible this year than any other year in your life. Reading through the Bible in a year only takes about 15 minutes a day – but it’s 15 minutes a day that can (and will) change your life forever. 

If the Bible were simply an ancient book, I don't think I would waste my time - remembering reading the Homer's Iliad in HS Senior Literature? (I can honestly say I have never wanted to read that again!)  But this book is God's Word - eternal and true.  The power to change lives is contained in the pages of this book. 

TRAVELING WITH FRIENDS

I dare you to grab a friend and read through the Bible in 2014 – sharing regularly with each other what God is revealing to you.  Traveling alone is fun, but with friends it is an adventure.  Reading together with friends will enhance your experience and keep you accountable.

GETTING STARTED
1. Get a Reading Plan.
    Here is the one I’m using this year. You can use the Bible you already have.
    Print the plan off, put it in your Bible. Download it here.
    For my techie friends. Try the YouVersion App: You can follow this same reading plan on your
    computer, phone or tablet via YouVersion by clicking here. The benefits of YouVersion are that
    it’s free, sends reminders (if desired), is portable (you’ll always have it with you), access to
    multiple translations. If you don’t already have the YouVersion app you can download it here.

2. Invite Some Friends
    Who do you invite you ask?
    How about your spouse, your kids, neighbors, small group, friends from church, family from
    across the country, etc, etc.

3. Start Reading ...

4. Share with others ...

5. I'll be starting my blog as I read along with you beginning Monday January 6th.

Here's to a year of change that will do us all a lot of good!