Celebrate the Bible, Coming This November

Join me this November to celebrate the Bible. I would encourage you to read and meditate and study Psalm 119 with me. I would encourage you to pick up your Bible and read something. Even if you choose not to dedicate the month to the longest Psalm in the Bible!!! My goal is not to have you fall in love with Psalm 119. My goal is to have you fall in love with God's Word. I want you to "taste and see that the LORD is good!" I want you to join with me in saying, "Oh, magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together!"

I'll be sharing some resources below. But I'll also be sharing resources throughout the month of November.

Week One, November 1-8

November 1, read Psalm 119
November 2, read and mediate on Psalm 119:1-8
November 3, read and meditate on Psalm 119:9-16
November 4, read and mediate on Psalm 119:17-24
November 5, read and meditate on Psalm 119:25-32
November 6, read and meditate on Psalm 119:33-40
November 7, read and meditate on Psalm 119:41-48
November 8, read Psalm 119 OR read OR listen to John Piper's Scripture the Kindling of Christian Hedonism. It is available to read. It is available to watch as video. It is available to listen on their site, or you can download it.

Week Two, November 9-15

November 9, read and meditate on Psalm 119:49-56
November 10, read and meditate on Psalm 119:57-64
November 11, read and meditate on Psalm 119:65-72
November 12, read and meditate on Psalm 119:73-80
November 13, read and meditate on Psalm 119:81-88
November 14, read and meditate on Psalm 119:89-96
November 15, read Psalm 119 and/OR read J.C. Ryle's Bible Reading

Week Three, November 16-22

November 16, read and meditate on Psalm 119:97-104
November 17, read and meditate on Psalm 119:105-112
November 18, read and meditate on Psalm 119:113-120
November 19, read and meditate on Psalm 119:121-128
November 20, read and meditate on Psalm 119:129-136
November 21, read and meditate on Psalm 119:137-144
November 22, read Psalm 119 and/OR listen to Alistair Begg's sermon How To Know Your Bible and/OR read John MacArthur's post How To Study Your Bible

Week Four, November 23-29

November 23, read and meditate on Psalm 119:145-152
November 24, read and meditate on Psalm 119:153-160
November 25, read and meditate on Psalm 119:161-168
November 26, read and meditate on Psalm 119:169-176
November 27, read Psalm 34
November 28, read Psalm 19
November 29, read Psalm 119 and/OR read Charles Spurgeon's sermon "Christ's Indwelling Word."

So why did I choose Psalm 119 for this little project? Well, I LOVED hosting "Give Thanks" last November which focused on reading the book of Psalms. So I wanted to do something, host something this year. But ever since I've read Kevin DeYoung's Taking God At His Word last spring, I've wanted to do something focusing on the Bible itself.

This book begins in a surprising place: with a love poem. It's not a new poem or a short poem. But it is most definitely a love poem. You may have read it before. You may have sung it, too. It's the longest chapter in the longest book in the longest half of a very long collection of books. Out of 1,189 chapters scattered across 66 books written over the course of two millennia, Psalm 119 is the longest.

I can think of three different reactions to the long, repetitive passion for the word of God in Psalm 119. The first reaction is, “Yeah, right.” This is the attitude of the skeptic, the scoffer, and the cynic. You think to yourself, “It’s nice that ancient people had such respect for God’s laws and God’s words, but we can’t take these things too seriously. We know that humans often put words in God’s mouth for their own purposes. We know that every ‘divine’ word is mixed with human thinking, redaction, and interpretation. The Bible, as we have it, is inspiring in parts, but it’s also antiquated, indecipherable at times, and frankly, incorrect in many places.” The second reaction is “Ho, hum.” You don’t have any particular problems with honoring God’s word or believing the Bible. On paper, you have a high view of the Scriptures. But in practice, you find them tedious and usually irrelevant. You think to yourself, though never voicing this out loud, “Psalm 119 is too long. It’s boring. It’s the worst day in my Bible reading plan. The thing goes on forever and ever saying the same thing. I like Psalm 23 much better.”
If the first reaction is “Yeah, right” and the second reaction is “Ho, hum,” the third possible reaction is “Yes! Yes! Yes!” This is what you cry out when everything in Psalm 119 rings true in your head and resonates in your heart, when the psalmist perfectly captures your passions, your affections, and your actions (or at least what you want them to be). This is when you think to yourself, “I love this psalm because it gives voice to the song in my soul.” The purpose of this book is to get us to fully, sincerely, and consistently embrace this third response. I want all that is in Psalm 119 to be an expression of all that is in our heads and in our hearts. In effect, I’m starting this book with the conclusion. Psalm 119 is the goal. I want to convince you (and make sure I’m convinced myself) that the Bible makes no mistakes, can be understood, cannot be overturned, and is the most important word in your life, the most relevant thing you can read each day. Only when we are convinced of all this can we give a full-throated “Yes! Yes! Yes!” every time we read the Bible’s longest chapter.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Give Thanks: Conclusion

If you joined me in reading Psalms in the month of November, I'd love to hear about your experience! 

Did you read the thirty selected psalms? 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57, 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

OR. Did you read the whole book of Psalms?

Did you learn anything about God? Did it change your perspective? Did you learn anything about yourself? 

What were some of your favorite Psalms?    

Let us strive, every year we live, to become more deeply acquainted with Scripture. Let us study it, search into it, dig into it, meditate on it, until it dwell in us richly. (Colossians 3:16.) In particular, let us labor to make ourselves familiar with those parts of the Bible which, like the book of Psalms, describe the experience of the saints of old. We shall find it most helpful to us in all our approaches to God. It will supply us with the best and most suitable language both for the expression of our needs and thanksgivings. Such knowledge of the Bible can doubtless never be attained without regular, daily study. But the time spent on such study is never misspent. It will bear fruit after many days. ~ J.C. Ryle, Expository Thoughts on the Gospel of Luke

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Give Thanks: Week Four

In November, I hope you'll join me in reading Psalms. I'd love to have you join me in reading all 150 chapters. But, I also know that the number may overwhelm or intimidate those not in the habit of Bible reading. So I've got an alternate plan in place: I've chosen thirty--one for each day of November. If you're just in for the 30 psalms, here is the list:

Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57, 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

The key to overcoming the lies of the enemy is not simply knowing about the Bible; it is knowing the living Word, which is none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. ~ A.W. Tozer

Whether we want him to be there or not, he is there. We do not negotiate what we want for reality. God defines reality. When we come into existence, we stand before a God who made us and owns us. We have absolutely no choice in this matter. We do not choose to be. And when we are, we do not choose that God be. No ranting and raving, no sophisticated doubt or skepticism, has any effect on the existence of God. He simply and absolutely is. ~ John Piper

It is interesting that you can read a human book and understand it without knowing the author of the book. But if you want to know the Bible, you need to know the Author and have Him as your Teacher. Only the spirit of God can make the Word of God real to you. ~  J. Vernon McGee

The greatest encouragement throughout the Bible is God's love for His lost race and the willingness of Christ, the eternal Son, to show forth that love in God's plan of redemption. The love of Jesus is so inclusive that it knows no boundaries. At the point where we stop caring and loving, Jesus is still there loving and caring. ~ A.W. Tozer

There is no book so fitted or so suited to us as the Bible is. There is no book that knows us so well. There is no book that is so much at home with us. There is no book that has so much power over us if we will but give ourselves up to it! ~ Charles Spurgeon

Week Four, November 24-30
Psalms 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148
or
Psalms 116-150
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 4



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Give Thanks: Week Three

In November, I hope you'll join me in reading Psalms. I'd love to have you join me in reading all 150 chapters. But, I also know that the number may overwhelm or intimidate those not in the habit of Bible reading. So I've got an alternate plan in place: I've chosen thirty--one for each day of November. If you're just in for the 30 psalms, here is the list:

Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57, 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

No matter how weak you are, God can use you; and you cannot say what a stream of salvation you may set in motion. ~ D.L. Moody

The key to spirituality is the development of little habits, such as Bible reading and memorization and prayer. In putting one foot in front of the other day after day, we become the kind of person who grows and endures rather than withers and dies. ~ Randy Alcorn

Progress in the Christian life is exactly equal to the growing knowledge we gain of the Triune God in personal experience. And such experience requires a whole life devoted to it and plenty of time spent at the holy task of cultivating God. God can be known satisfactorily only as we devote time to Him. ~ A.W. Tozer

Week Three, November 17-23
Psalms 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107,
or
Psalms 81-115
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 3




© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Give Thanks: Week Two

In November, I hope you'll join me in reading Psalms. I'd love to have you join me in reading all 150 chapters. But, I also know that the number may overwhelm or intimidate those not in the habit of Bible reading. So I've got an alternate plan in place: I've chosen thirty--one for each day of November. If you're just in for the 30 psalms, here is the list:

Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57, 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

Without Christ, you can do nothing, and you are nothing, and you have nothing. Come to Jesus as you are, and put your trust in him, and then all things are yours. ~ Charles Spurgeon

We are in a wrong state of mind if we are not in a thankful state of mind. ~ Charles Spurgeon

The unbeliever rationalizes his sinfulness, but the Christian is sensitive to his unworthiness. ~ R.C. Sproul

Wherever in all the world there is a human heart, God also is there. And He is there in order to have that heart poured out before Him. ~ Alexander Whyte

Week Two, November 10-16
Psalms 46, 47, 51, 57 63, 66, 71,
or
Psalms 46-80
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 2



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Give Thanks: Week One

In November, I hope you'll join me in reading Psalms. I'd love to have you join me in reading all 150 chapters. But, I also know that the number may overwhelm or intimidate those not in the habit of Bible reading. So I've got an alternate plan in place: I've chosen thirty--one for each day of November. If you're just in for the 30 psalms, here is the (whole) list:

Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

For the first week, those chapters will be: Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42

Quotes:

The most basic truth in worship, then, is the worshiper's understanding of God. (John MacArthur, Worship The Ultimate Priority, 82)

The story of worship makes it clear: God is at the center of all of our worship. He is the single most glorious thing in the whole universe, the One to whom we ascribe the greatest and highest worth. (Mike Cosper, Rhythms of Grace, 75)

When a man falls on his knees and stretches his hands heavenward, he is doing the most natural thing in the world. Something deep within compels him to seek someone or something outside of himself to worship and adore. In his unredeemed condition, man has lost the way and cannot clearly define the object of his wistful adoration, and so his search takes him far from God. When he does not find God, man will fill the void in his heart with anything he can find. That which is not God can never satiate the heart exclusively created for God's presence. (A.W. Tozer, The Purpose of Man, 52)

A God forgotten is as good as no God to us. (Stephen Charnock, The Existence and Attributes of God, 88)

Week One, November 1-9:
Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42
or
Psalms 1-45
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 1



© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Treasury of Truth: Give Thanks Edition

In November, I hope you'll join me in reading Psalms. I'd love to have you join me in reading all 150 chapters. But, I also know that the number may overwhelm or intimidate those not in the habit of Bible reading. So I've got an alternate plan in place: I've chosen thirty--one for each day of November. If you're just in for the 30 psalms, here is the list:

Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42, 46, 47, 51, 57, 63, 66, 71, 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107, 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148.

If you'd like to read the whole book of Psalms, there are a few methods I can recommend. The thirty day plan involves reading five chapters a day. If you read ten chapters a day, you can finish the book in fifteen days. (If you just read Psalms on weekdays, that's three weeks.)

There is a certain sense in which God's sovereignty should influence our attitude toward prayer, at least with respect to adoration. If anything, our understanding of God's sovereignty should provoke us to an intense prayer life of thanksgiving. Because of such knowledge, we should see that every benefit, every good and perfect gift, is an expression of the abundance of His grace. The more we understand God's sovereignty, the more our prayers will be filled with thanksgiving. ~ R.C. Sproul, Does Prayer Change Things

I have often said that prayer and praise are like the breathing in and out of air and make up that spiritual respiration by which the inner life is instrumentally supported. We take in an inspiration of heavenly air as we pray; we breathe it out again in praise unto God from whom it came. If, then, we would be healthy in spirit, let us be abundant in thanksgiving. Prayer, like the root of a tree, seeks for and finds nutriment; praise, like the fruit, renders a revenue to the owner of the vineyard. Prayer is for ourselves; praise is for God. Let us never be so selfish as to abound in the one and fail in the other. (Charles Spurgeon, The Practice of Praise, 93)

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. (A.W. Tozer, Knowledge of the Holy, 1)

Faith is born and sustained by the Word of God, and out of faith grows the flower of joy. ~ John Piper, Desiring God, 127

How long should a person thank God for forgiving his sins? Is life long enough? Is time long enough? Is eternity long enough? How long should a man thank God for saving him from going down to hell? Would fifty years suffice? Oh, no, that would never do; the blessing is too great to all be sung of in a millennium. (Charles Spurgeon, Power in the Blood, 69)

Week One, November 1-9:
Psalms 1, 19, 23, 25, 27, 32, 34, 37, 42
or
Psalms 1-45
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 1

Week Two, November 10-16
Psalms 46, 47, 51, 57 63, 66, 71,
or
Psalms 46-80
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 2

Week Three, November 17-23
Psalms 84, 91, 95, 98, 100, 103, 107,
or
Psalms 81-115
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 3

Week Four, November 24-30
Psalms 119, 121, 130, 138, 139, 145, 148
or
Psalms 116-150
Extra Credit: Read Philippians 4

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Treasury of Truth: Conclusion

Did you participate in this month's Treasury of Truth? I'd love to hear about your experiences! This mini-challenge focused on a concentrated reading of several Psalms: Psalm 23, 25, 100, 103, and 139. (As a bonus, I also included Romans 8 for the final week!) The Psalm we were encouraged to read each day of the month was Psalm 139. All Scripture quotes are taken from the NKJV, except for Psalm 25 which is quoted from the NIV).

Why I chose Psalm 139:

I chose Psalm 139 because it is RICH in truth. Truth about who God is. Truth about who we are. (We are God's creation! We are fearfully and wonderfully made by God!) Truth about how we can have a relationship with God. Truth about how God is always, always, always with us! There is great comfort in knowing that "In Your book they all were written, the days fashioned for me, when as yet there were none of them."

What did you learn from reading, studying, or meditating on Psalm 139? Did any verses speak to you? Want to share any insights?

Why I chose Psalm 23:

Psalm 23 was an obvious choice. I knew I was choosing one of the better known Psalms. But I chose it because it was true and comforting even if it was familiar and obvious. Sometimes the truth we need to have spoken are OBVIOUS truths. God is a God of comfort. This Psalm highlights a relationship: a tender, trusting, loving relationship. Again, we have highlighted the fact that God is WITH US. And because he is with us, there is no reason to fear. For God is tenderly, carefully watching us, guiding us, restoring us. Isn't it wonderful that we will dwell in the house of the LORD forever?

Is Psalm 23 one of your favorites? Do you have a favorite verse?

Why I chose Psalm 25:

Did you notice that the theme of this challenge is Psalm 25:4-5? "Show me your ways, LORD, teach me your paths. Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you are God my Savior, and my hope is in you all day long." This plea, this prayer should be OURS. Christians should seek the truth, love the truth, treasure the truth! I also chose this Psalm because it is so honest and conflicted. The writer is very emotional; and this is very personal. Go to God as you are, with all your feelings, with all your being. As Alexander Whyte said so beautifully, "Wherever in all the world there is a human heart, God also is there. And He is there in order to have that heart poured out before Him."

Did you learn anything from reading Psalm 25?

Why I chose Psalm 100:

I chose Psalm 100 because it is so JOYFUL. It is short, joyful, and has quite a few gems! We are designed to worship God. We are called to DELIGHT IN GOD; our joy is to overflow from glimpsing God's majesty, God's glory. The more we know of God, the more we KNOW God, the more we want to praise Him, need to praise Him. Verses one and two and four and five all speak of praising God. Verse three highlights one good reason to praise Him: Know that the LORD is God. It is he who has made us, and not we ourselves; We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. I thought this Psalm complemented Psalm 139 and Psalm 23 beautifully! I love the imagery of us being the sheep of His pasture. For it reminds me of John 10:11 and John 10:27-28. (Another GREAT verse is found in Isaiah 40:11, which reads: He will feed His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs with His arm, and carry them in His bosom, And gently lead those who are with young.)

Do you enjoy singing praises to God?

Why I chose Psalm 103:

Psalm 103 was one of the very first Psalms I chose for this project. In fact, I was tempted to make this Psalm the one we should read each and every day! It is so very rich in truth. This Psalm contains great truths about who God is and what God has done for us in Christ. How can one read this without rejoicing?! He has not dealt with us according to our sins!!! Why?! Because of Jesus Christ who took our sins and satisfied the wrath of God! Our transgressions, our sins are gone! God forgives. God heals. God redeems. God crowns. God satisfies.

Bless the LORD, O my soul;
And all that is within me, bless His holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul,
And forget not all His benefits:
Who forgives all your iniquities,
Who heals all your diseases,
Who redeems your life from destruction,
Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies,
Who satisfies your mouth with good things,
So that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

He has not dealt with us according to our sins,
Nor punished us according to our iniquities.
For as the heavens are high above the earth,
So great is His mercy toward those who fear Him;
As far as the east is from the west,
So far has He removed our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:10-12)

What did you learn from reading Psalm 103? What verses spoke to you? Can you imagine what a blessing it would be to live every day of your life holding onto these truths?

Why I chose Romans 8:

Reading Romans can change lives. Martin Luther writes that Romans is, "the true masterpiece of the New Testament and the very purest Gospel, which is well-worthy and deserving that a Christian man should not only learn it by heart, word for word, but also that he should daily deal with it as the daily bread of men's souls. It can never be too much or too well read or studied; and the more it is handled, the more precious it becomes, and the better it tastes." While I love many, many chapters in the book of Romans, I chose just one for this treasury of truth project, the 8th chapter. It is an amazing chapter.

Yet in all these things we are more than conquerors through Him who loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor power, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:37-38)

What verses are your favorites?

I also chose five songs, one for each week. I included a video link each time so you could listen to the song for free.

Song of the Week: "Just As I Am" by Andrew Peterson (amazon mp3)
Song of the Week: "Meant to Be" by Steven Curtis Chapman (amazon mp3)
Song of the Week: "How Great Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin (amazon mp3)
Song of the Week: "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin (amazon mp3)
Song of the Week: "Never Been A Greater Love" by Aaron Shust (amazon mp3)

If you haven't taken the time to listen to these songs yet, consider it. They were chosen because they were biblical songs rich in truth. These songs can remind and encourage! 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week Five, Treasury of Truth

Welcome to the mini-challenge, Treasury of Truth! I hope you benefit from reading, meditating, and studying the Word this month! Perhaps Bible reading isn't a daily part of your life, this would be a great opportunity to start! Here are the goals for this week:


Week five, May 26-May 31
Primary goal: read Psalm 139 five to six times
Secondary goal: read Romans 8 three to four times
Extra Credit: read the book of Romans
Song of the Week: "Never Been A Greater Love" by Aaron Shust (amazon mp3)

From Note to Self by Joe Thorn

Crave the word of God. Be desperate for it! Seek it. Yearn for it. Long for it. Desire it. Tolerate nothing in your life that might diminish your hunger for God's Word. And apply it with vigor and spiritual energy! The Word of God, whether it is preached and heard or read and memorized is more than simply true. It is effectual. The Word of God does more than merely announce: it accomplishes! It doesn't just impart information: it creates life! ~ Sam Storms, Foreword, (19) 

From Purity by Lydia Brownback

We will never love God purely--wholeheartedly--apart from immersing ourselves in God's Word because it is only in Scripture that we learn what God is like. To know him is to love him, and we always desire more of what we love most. (23)

From God Loves You by David Jeremiah

The profound thought of God's love should begin and end your every day. It should define your every goal, your every action. (3)

From Expository Thoughts on the Gospels by J.C. Ryle

Our sins may be many and great, but the payment made by our Great Substitute far outweighs them all.

From God's Power For Your Life by A.W. Tozer

"I stand alone on the Word of God," is the most important truth that we can know.

The people of God ought to be people who have chewed the book, swallowed the book, digested the book, and absorbed the book until it has colored them and given them the right complexion... God's people are called to be heroic. They are called to ingest and work through even the difficult truths contained in God's Word.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week Four, Treasury of Truth

Welcome to the mini-challenge, Treasury of Truth! I hope you benefit from reading, meditating, and studying the Word this month! Perhaps Bible reading isn't a daily part of your life, this would be a great opportunity to start! Here are the goals for this week:

Week four, May 19-May 25
Primary goal: read Psalm 139 five to seven times
Secondary goal: read Psalm 23 three to four times
Extra Credit: read John 13, 14, 15, 16, 17
Song of the Week: "I Will Rise" by Chris Tomlin (amazon mp3)

From Gospel: Recovering the Power That Made Christianity Revolutionary by J.D. Greear

Always "begin again" with the gospel. Abide in it; swim in it; make your home in it. See more and more of your life through it. Be absolutely convinced at every moment of every day of the goodness of God in your life. That's the only way you'll ever really grow. (22-3)

True love for God cannot grow when we are unsure about His feelings for us. (35)

Right now, if you are in Christ, when God looks at you--regardless of your situation--He sees the righteousness of Christ. If we really believed that--not only with our heads but also with our hearts--it would change everything in our lives. (47)

Each day Jesus says to us, "You are my beloved child. I am well pleased in you. Now live that way." Satan, on the other hand, says, "Look at you. Look at the condition of your circumstances. Look at how poorly you're living. There is no way you are God's beloved child." Which voice are you going to believe? There's an eternity of difference between them. (52)

Perhaps one of the reasons we fail to treasure God is we have such a limited view of Him. God is a God of such massive size that our minds cease questioning when we see Him. We tremble and believe. (93)

As we see the beauty of God and feel His weightiness in our hearts, our hearts begin to desire Him more than we desire sin. Before the Bible says, "Stop sinning," it says, "Behold your God." (97)

From Preparing For Jesus' Return by A.W. Tozer

It is essential that we learn how to read the Scriptures, to meditate upon the Scriptures and discipline ourselves in memorizing Scripture. It is absolutely essential that the Bible have top priority in our thought life. Nothing else should surpass the Scriptures. Everything we do should have roots in the Scripture. Our morning sessions with God over the Scriptures should set forth the pattern and temperament of our daily walk that day. We truly have not read the Bible until we have seen Jesus Christ. (197)

David would settle for nothing short of the face of God. Our problem today is that we usually settle for anything and everything but that shining face of God. The cost and inconvenience of pressing deep into His presence are too much for the kind of life we are living. (82)

From Jesus is Victor by A.W. Tozer

The question is this: What are we allowing the Word of God to say to us, and what is our reaction to that Word? Have we consumed and digested the book? Have we absorbed the Word of God into our lives? Or are we among those content to be a part of a Christian congregation where there are no extreme demands, where fellowship will be consistently pleasant and without responsibility? When we, as Christians, love our Lord Jesus Christ with heart and soul and mind, the Word of God is on our side! If we could only grasp the fact that God's Word is more than a book! It is the revelation of divine truth from the person of God Himself. It has come as a divine communication in the sacred Scriptures. It has come to us in the guidance and conviction imparted by the divine Spirit of God within our beings. It has been modeled for us in Jesus Christ, the incarnate Word and the eternal Son. (165)

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week Three, Treasury of Truth

Welcome to the mini-challenge, Treasury of Truth! I hope you benefit from reading, meditating, and studying the Word this month! Perhaps Bible reading isn't a daily part of your life, this would be a great opportunity to start! Here are the goals for this week:


Week three, May 12-May 18
Primary goal: read Psalm 139 five to seven times
Secondary goal: read Psalm 25 three to four times
Extra Credit: read the book of Colossians
Song of the Week: "How Great Is Our God" by Chris Tomlin (amazon mp3)

For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. (Psalm 103:11)

Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. (Psalm 103:1-5)

For this reason I bow my knees before the Father, from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named, that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith--that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may have strength to comprehend with all the saints what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-21)

From Bookends of the Christian Life by Jerry Bridges and Bob Bevington

Every day we must re-acknowledge the fact that there's nothing we can do to make ourselves either more acceptable to God or less acceptable. Regardless of how much we grow in  our Christian lives, we're accepted for Christ's sake or not accepted at all. (29)

From Christ the Eternal Son by A.W. Tozer

We must meditate on the eternal nature of God in order to worship as we should. 

In the light of His love, let us always remember that every individual has eternal significance and meaning in the heart of God and that He is emotionally concerned with the individual. 

All of the general faith you have about God will not do you any good at all unless you are willing to believe that He meant you--you yourself--when He said "God so loves that He gave His Son for you!"

From Everlasting Righteousness by Horatius Bonar

We are forgiven, that we may be like Him who forgives us.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week Two, Treasury of Truth

Welcome to the mini-challenge, Treasury of Truth! I hope you benefit from reading, meditating, and studying the Word this month! Perhaps Bible reading isn't a daily part of your life, this would be a great opportunity to start! Here are the goals for this week:


Week two, May 5-May 11

Primary goal: read Psalm 139 five to seven times
Secondary goal: read Psalm 103 three to four times
Extra Credit: read the book of Philippians
Song of the Week: "Meant to Be" by Steven Curtis Chapman (amazon mp3)

Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. (Psalm 46:10)

Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer. (Psalm 19:14)

Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture. (Psalm 100:3)

O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! For who hath known the mind of the Lord? or who hath been his counsellor? Or who hath given to him, and it shall be recompensed unto him again? For of him, and through him, and to him, are all things: to whom be glory for ever. Amen (Romans 11:33-36)

From Jesus in the Present Tense by Warren W. Wiersbe

God knows us thoroughly. In the Scriptures He tells us what we are, and we had better agree with Him. But what we are in ourselves isn't important; it's what we are in Christ that really counts. (157)

From "Rubbing Hope into the Reality of Death" by Timothy Keller

Nobody who knows you completely can love you completely. There are people who think you're great because they don't really know you. There is nobody on the face of the earth who could know you to the bottom and love you to the skies. But we want that. When someone likes you but doesn't know you, it's not that satisfying. And when someone knows you and doesn't like you, that certainly isn't satisfying. What we want is to be utterly known and utterly loved. And on that day, at the coming of the Lord, we'll finally get what we've longed for--from him and one another. We'll be utterly known and utterly loved. Yes, the future is a world of love, the kind of love you want, a personal love. (89-90)

From A Million Ways To Die: The Only Way to Live by Rick James

Jesus is truth, and He relates to us in truth. We do not relate to Him with any intimacy in our mental story, the one that pits us as the hero and sees the world orbiting around us. The "us" of our vain imaginings is fictional, and Jesus does not relate to fictional people. It is only when we humble ourselves that we experience Him and taste His presence. Jesus relates to us as we are, not as we imagine ourselves to be. (264)

From Expository Thoughts on Matthew by J.C. Ryle

There is something unspeakably solemn in the thought that the Lord Jesus knows all things. There is an eye that sees all our daily conduct. There is an ear that hears all our daily words. All things are naked and opened unto the eyes of Him, with whom we have to do. Concealment is impossible. Hypocrisy is useless. We may deceive ministers. We may fool our family and neighbors. But the Lord sees us through and through. We cannot deceive Christ. 

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Psalm 139 1-12

From the New English Bible

Lord, thou hast examined me and knowest me.
Thou knowest all, whether I sit down or rise up;
thou has discerned my thoughts from afar.
Thou has traced my journey and my resting places,
and art familiar with all my paths.
For there is not a word on my tongue
but thou, LORD, knowest them all.
Thou hast kept close guard before me and behind
and has spread thy hand over me.
Such knowledge is beyond my understanding,
so high that I cannot reach it.
Where can I escape from thy spirit?
Where can I flee from thy presence?
If I climb up to heaven, thou art there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, again I find thee.
If I take my flight to the frontiers of the morning
or dwell at the limit of the western sea,
even there thy hand will meet me
and thy right hand will hold me fast.
If I say, 'Surely darkness will steal over me,
night will close around me',
darkness is no darkness for thee
and night is luminous as day;
to thee both dark and light are one.

From the Revised English Bible

Lord, you have examined me and you know me.
You know me at rest and in action;
you discern my thoughts from afar.
You trace my journeying and my resting-places,
and are familiar with all the paths I take.
For there is not a word that I speak
but you, LORD, know all about it.
You keep close guard behind and before me
and place your hand upon me.
Knowledge so wonderful is beyond my grasp;
it is so lofty I cannot reach it.
Where can I escape from your spirit,
where flee from your presence?
If I climb up to heaven, you are there;
if I make my bed in Sheol, you are there.
If I travel to the limits of the east,
or dwell at the bounds of the western sea,
even there your hand will be guiding me,
your right hand holding me fast.
If I say, 'Surely darkness will steal over me,
and the day around me turn to night,'
darkness is not too dark for you
and night is as light as day;
to you both dark and light are one.

© Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible

Week One, Treasury of Truth

Welcome to the mini-challenge, Treasury of Truth! I hope you benefit from reading, meditating, and studying the Word this month! Perhaps Bible reading isn't a daily part of your life, this would be a great opportunity to start! Here are the goals for this week:

Week one, April 29-May 4

Primary goal: read Psalm 139 three or four times

Secondary goal: read Psalm 100 two or three times

Extra Credit: read the book of Ephesians

Song of the Week: "Just As I Am" by Andrew Peterson (amazon mp3)




From Knowledge of the Holy by A.W. Tozer

What comes into our minds when we think about God is the most important thing about us. (1)

What is God like? What kind of God is He? How may we expect Him to act toward us and toward all created things? Such questions are not merely academic. They touch the far-in reaches of the human spirit, and their answers affect life and character and destiny. When asked in reverence and their answers sought in humility, these are questions that cannot but be pleasing to our Father which are in heaven. (13)

We can hold a correct view of truth only by daring to believe everything God has said about Himself. It is a grave responsibility that a man takes upon himself when he seeks to edit out of God's self-revelation such features as he in his ignorance deems objectionable. (80)

From The Root of the Righteous by A.W. Tozer

The Christian is strong or weak depending upon how closely he has cultivated the knowledge of God. (8)

 © Becky Laney of Operation Actually Read Bible