This is a time of year when many of us reflect on the past twelve months and anticipate what lies ahead in 2012. For our family it has been a year of much change; empty nesting, the wedding of our daughter, a new city, and a new church family – just to name a few. However, I have learned that the way I respond to change will determine how I am changed. Cheryl and I feel so blessed to have shared in the great things that God has done here at Central in 2011. There have been many decisions for Christ, many baptized in water, and a number of testimonies of God’s healing and restoration. We should celebrate all that God has done in 2011.
But what about 2012? What does God have in store for you this year? What is God’s heart for Central Church this year? How do we unify our hearts around His vision for us, individually and collectively? It is really not that complicated. His plans and purposes for you and for our church are easily found in His Word. That is why it is critical for us as individual believers to READ THE WORD EVERY DAY.
In 2012, we are asking everyone at Central to unify their hearts around the Word of God by reading through the entire Bible as a congregation. Cheryl and I began reading through the Bible a few years ago. In recent years we read through the Bible in chronological order. It has been a life-changing experience for us! So many things came together in the Word when we read it in chronological context.
We have made available to you this Chronological Bible Reading Plan in a number of different ways. There will be hard copies available at the information desk, as well as copies on our website throughout the year. For you “smart phone” users, there is a fee app on youversion.com (the link can be found on our website as well).
I want to challenge you to start on January 1 with us. If you miss a day, don’t worry about it. Pick it up where you left off. I guarantee that if you commit to 15 minutes a day to read through the Bible this year, your life will be different this time next year. Will you join me and the leadership as we go after God this year through a unified focus on His Word? Let’s take the journey together. Who knows what God will do in 2012? All I know is that I want to be a part of it. How about you?
In His grip,
J.P.
Tags: Bible, Christ, Christianity, God, Reading, Smartphone, Word, YouVersion
