Wow! We’ve been Bible journaling consistently for the past twenty-eight days through the book of Matthew. Great job! Did you realize in this chapter the command, “Be not afraid,” is repeated twice? Twice in twenty verses. I needed this chapter and those words growing up. I needed The Word growing up.
I grew up afraid. And eventually, afraid just became habit. As strange as it sounds, afraid became my safe place. Contradiction? Not really, because being afraid was my normal state…my “resting state”, it was my comfortable place…although uncomfortable. Does that make any sense? And it is still very easy to quietly slip back into that habitual fear.
I’ve written before about how my Bible helped me start changing some of my scary, negative thinking habits. But here’s something I have not mentioned. I sleep with a Bible under my pillow. There is something comforting to me to slip my hand under my pillow when I’m feeling anxious and touch the Word of God. I usually repeat a verse of Scripture quietly in my mind…if I can remember one. If not, I parse one together. It’s ok, God understands my intention. (The Bible under my pillow is a Slimline Bible so it’s not too bulky.)
In addition to a Bible under my pillow, I sleep with a rosary beside me or under my pillow as well. Again, just slipping my hand under my pillow at night and running the beads through my fingers gives me comfort when I’m feeling scared or unsettled. I’ll have to post a couple of picture of my rosary. I have two that are “in case of tornado sirens” I grab to keep with me. One was give to me by some friends when I was going through a spiritul growth spurt–a reversion–a conversion–a complete reordering of myself in Christ; it is a small, purple St. Therese of Liseaux rosary. The other, my sweet daughter Veronica made me. It is a blue rosary with a Seven Sorrows centerpiece. (Veronica is going to begin making and selling a limited number of wire wrapped rosaries to help offset her soccer costs. I’ll let you know when she has one available. If you would like to special order one, just contact me by email.)
But back to our Bible journaling…Be not afraid.
POWERful Bible Journaling: Matthew 28
P –Lord I am so happy that Your Word is…
True–Every word of God proves true; he is a shield to those who take refuge in him. (Proverbs 30:5)
Living and Active–Indeed, the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing until it divides soul from spirit, joints from marrow; it is able to judge the thoughts and intentions of the heart. (Hebrews 4:12)
Inspired and Useful–All scripture is inspired by God and is useful for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, (2 Timothy 3:16)
a Lamp and Light–Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path. (Psalm 119:105)
Powerful— Therefore rid yourselves of all sordidness and rank growth of wickedness, and welcome with meekness the implanted word that has the power to save your souls. (James 1:21)
Eternal–Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will not pass away. (Matthew 24:35)
O –Jesus is with me always. I listened to an online sermon the other day that said, “Never, ever lose the state of grace.” It just isn’t worth it…to lose Jesus.
W —vs 20…and teaching them to obey everything that I have commanded you. And remember, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
E –Not only is Christ with me, I am summoned to share Him. I don’t have to blog to share Christ–when I greet my children in the morning with a sweet voice and smile–I am sharing Christ. When I smile at the elderly man, pregnant woman pushing a cart full of children, drive thru cashier, visitor at Church–I am sharing Christ
R –Lord, keep me close to You. I don’t want to lose You. Show me how to share You because I want others to know, love and serve You in this world and the next.
Please leave your POWERful reflections in the comments
deb00 says
P: Dear Lord help me to put You first. Help me to never be “too busy”, “too rushed” to pray and meditate on Your word. Give me the hunger to know yYou better thru studying Your word.
O: The Blessed Mother did not come to see the tomb for she had faith in His resurrection and believed that what He had said would come to pass. Wow to have faith and trust as she did!!!! I can’t imagine being there to see all Jesus had said come true right before my eyes. Interesting how the chief priests and elders lacked the courage to admit all that was happening. They were more worried about their reputation and losing their followers and so paid the guards to lie. What would i have done in the circumstances??? been fearful? ran and hid? anticipated that what He had said would of course come to pass?
W: Mt28:20 and behold I am with you always until the end of the age
R: Lord give me great Faith as Your Mother had. Help me to trust in You!
Jenny says
Yes, a hunger. You know I just thought I would always want to read my Bible, but the truth is, so days it just seems like one more thing. So I ask Him for a desire, or hunger as you say, to want to read His Word.
Deb00 says
A struggle here as well! Hard to find the right time and make it A habit and priority. Seems I always let life get in the way
Michelle says
I want to mention that all of your posts have been full of grace and light. So, thank you for that.
My prayer today is to recognize that someone’s bad or strange behavior might be coming from a place of pain or fear. Aside from hunger, etc., maybe it’s really about all of her military friends who have moved away just in time for the new school year.
If someone snaps at me, let me first check my behavior, and then know that if they were secure, they would probably be happier with me and everyone else. Just for today, let me blow it off. Or I could say to them, “You seem _____ today.” They may or may not talk about it. If they do, there will be healing.
Matthew 28:16 The eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
I’ve read that before, but now I really notice the tragic absence of Judas and can’t help but wonder how they all felt about that ~ and especially our Blessed Mother. I hope what I’ve always hoped; that Judas’ soul was spared somehow and we will see him again and his heart will be full of joy.
Today, I want to surrender my pride and sense of entitlement.
Jenny says
I was just talking to my children about the sin of pride and how it can manifest itself. For instance, getting angry at someone for some thing…”I can’t believe they…Don’t they know…I would never…” I personally try to remember “hurt people hurt people.” That phrase has helped me heal and forgive some in my past.