La Belle Design

  If you haven't guessed, my favorite book is the Bible. It is the most beautiful love story, and it is also filled with intrigue, mystery, drama, poetry, and some of the most astounding stories (with a lot of broken families and people) you or I will ever read. The beauty of it is that it gives us a glimpse into the mind and heart of God. I can study it all my life and never mine a fraction of the gems found within. If you have never read it from beginning to end, there is no time like the present. Now it is easier than ever. Start with a plan like the ones below. If you find yourself short on time to sit and read, I highly recommend listening to the Bible on Audio. It is a great way to hide God's word in your hearts. There are a number of Bible apps that offer an audio option for free. I use the audio on both Bible Gateway and the ESV apps. If you need to stretch your plan to longer than a year or two, there is no condemnation. We have different seasons in our life when thing

  The Bible is my favorite book, and I have read it fully a number of times, which I highly encourage for all Christians. If reading it all seems daunting, you may prefer to listen to it. That may be especially helpful for some of the chapters that seem to be filled with endless lists or names that are difficult to pronounce. And while I think reading the Bible through is important, I also think all Christians should make time for more in-depth Bible study. Why? Because with a cursory reading, a lot of it is difficult to understand and much of its original intent can be lost when we don't have a framework to put it in. There are so many great ways to study the Bible. I have been leading Bible studies for over 35 years, and my favorite way to study the Bible is inductively. This method is the opposite of many study guides that tell you what everything means. Instead with the inductive method you study the scripture yourself and like a detective, determine what God's word says. T

At the beginning of each year people talk about their resolutions to do this and that thing better so their lives will be better and they will be happier. That is great, but I am hesitant to make hard and fast resolutions. I like to think of mine as a plan with room for God to redirect. I am a planner by nature but over and over again throughout my life, God has shown me that my plan isn't always His best. Sometimes I willingly lay down my plans, and other times He has to hit me over the head to get me to let go of them. I hope I am getting better. With that said, I will share some wisdom I have gained through the years that may help as you make your yearly "plans." God designed us with bodies that need rest. From the beginning of creation, He added a day of rest, the seventh day, not because He is a God who gets tired, but to set an example and a rhythm for us. He also created night and day. Again, not because He needs rest, but because those He would place on the earth