TooManyFlowers

I have been encouraged to write out a recent comment I shared with Susan, on my own blog so here it is…….but it will not make sense unless you hear her quote that she blogged about by JC Ryle…….so thanks Susan for inspiration!

http://kerugma.net/blog

Begin reading your Bible this very day. The way to do a thing is to do it, and the way to read the Bible is actually to read it. It is not meaning, or wishing, or resolving, or intending, or thinking about it; that will not advance you one step. You must positively read. There is no royal road in this matter, any more than in the matter of prayer. If you cannot read yourself, you must persuade somebody else to read to you. But one way or another, through eyes or ears, the words of Scripture must actually pass before your mind.”

~ J.C. Ryle

This was my response and testimony

Years ago (when I was about 30 years old) when I had 3 or 4 children I had this insatiable urge to have read EVERY word in the Bible…….

I remember being in a meeting and seeing a preacher’s bible so marked/ noted/ underlined and USED……I was convicted but challenged……

I wanted to literally touch every page and write on it……I wanted a DIRTY (like well read) lively Bible, like a friend I write letters to, jotting thoughts ideas and even sermons……it sparked a challenge in my life

TO READ THE WHOLE BIBLE IN A YEAR, EVERY YEAR OVER AND OVER AND OVER……

I even wrote the date I started on the first page of the Old and New Testament each time….I became accountable to myself

I refuse to be legalistic and pedantic, but I really LOVE my challenge…….I am aware we serve a graceful God…….but there is something EMPOWERING when you can say you have read His Word numerous times cover to cover……….

I bought a wide margin bible so I could write my notes next to the verses. I also write sermon notes with the dates and name of the preacher in my margins……..so amazing to look back on…….

Do not get me wrong I have “failed” over the years (especially when a new baby was born-huh reading was hard through bleary eyes)- but I refused to give up nor come under condemnation….God knew my circumstances, but I was still burning to be a woman of the word…..so I plodded on……

12 years later I can look back and see how many times I have read my God’s love letter to me…….and realise I HAVE GROWN and with some satisfaction I HAVE DONE IT…Ryle was right you JUST GOTTA DO IT……….The Nike Revelation…heee heee………JUST DO IT!!!

There is power and life in the word, even when it is dry bickkies there are pockets of life and amazing insight ESPECIALLY when you see the BIG picture of the WHOLE bible, even bible geography and timelines marriages, generational problems begin to make sense…….

Please note dear ones I am telling you this not to brag or boast but to urge you to read, praying for hours was not an option for me not with kids hanging off me 24/7, I became the queen of the arrow prayers……….but I could read….. here is my reading plan

Each Day
3 of the Old
2 of the New
You’ll read the Bible the whole way through
(A Marilyn Hickey saying and oldy but a goody)

In 12 years I have read the Old Testament 7 times and the New Testament 8 times, this does not include extra study and reading a chapter each day to my children, ………..so I have aimed for the stars and hit the mountain top…BUT I JUST DID IT……

I did it whilst Homeschooling, I did it with 3-6 children, I did it whilst being a wife, I did it in pregnancy, breastfeeding and beyond, I did it in hard times, I did it in good times………

Now looking back it was the BEST decision I ever made, I am who I am today because I JUST acted

You can “use” or “be used” by this busy time around babies kids and wifehood…….time will just fly by you especially while you are in the baby bearing season…so use this time to sow the Word into your life, there is lots we cannot do in the baby bearing season, but there are some things we can do.  I pray we see the season and USE it wisely!

If you can read the Word during these days it will be like a seed……….. and this tiny seed  the will burst into life 10 years down the track…….I am seeing this now in reality, and of course it helps your daily transformation too!!!!

So come on let’s get some Nike Revelation people……

JUST DO IT!!

You don’t need fancy highbrow traditions or money to really learn. You just need people with the desire to better themselves.

Adam Cooper and Bill Collage, Accepted, 2006

This was one of my favourite classes……the ladies around here were so lovely and responsive

Gasungan is an area by the sea wall (River wall….ummmmm both!)

The houses are closely packed on sandy gritty soil with lots of water in wet season

They have an outdoor church, under a shelter that an Aussie team erected whilst we were there…..perfect for meetings, classes, even washing!!

The only downer was the flies……they were thick as there! Dunno why, just are.

Here are my ladies……….one of my ladies had 16 children and she looked a million bucks……amazing

Gasungan Church simple and humble…makes our churches seem gaudy

Built in benches and shelter from the sun and rain……..perfect for classes too

Classes range from formal to informal in a circle, I even play games with them!

This class was on breastfeeding, what is exciting is when the LIGHTS go on in the people’s eyes, when they understand what I am talking about.

This was very apparent as we talked about breastfeeding, especially the bans that they are NOT subject to in the Philippines…….they were amazed at the deception of the multinational companies and angered at the advocacy of infant formula. Rewarding indeed!!

Precy my faithful, gorgeous interpreter……in the begining the scary embarrassing words were too much for her, but by the end she was confident and secure!!

We were having a Brainstorming session on problems after birth, eg breastfeeding etc

Breastfeeding in action……………..

An informal fun photo of kids and mums in my class!

They LOVE my baby doll and pelvis…the kids just love the WHITE baby doll

Matilda’s son just loves baby doll!!

Sweet Matilda who is an upcoming leader in Gasungan

Don’t you love bulging bellies!!

A final goodbye photo!!

Classes were a drop in the ocean……but it was a start, the leaders were certainly impacted and learnt lots of things…this I think was a victory, but a small one……..

Education must result in change that is my prayer!

The great aim of education is not knowledge but action.

Herbert Spencer
English philosopher (1820 – 1903)