The journey involves reading the Standard Works in a year. For those who are members of the LDS church, the Standard Works include; The Bible, (New and Old Testament), the Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price. There are 2468 pages in all, which averages to about 7 pages of scripture reading a day. Easy, peasy, right?
I must admit, I have NEVER read the Old Testament word for word. I've read some scriptures here and there but have never delved in to it as I am now. It's refreshing and an eye opener!
Emily Freeman, an author and frequent speaker at Time Out for Women, has made this journey her brain child.
She has a "Journal/blog" "Daily Closer to Christ" where she writes her insights of the passages of scripture that we read that day.
Her thoughts are poignant. Her pictures are beautiful.
She likens the scriptures to us; you and me.
She helps shed light on those things that may be confusing. (Let's face it, much of the Old Testament can be confusing)
I would like to share part of her first journal entry that she wrote to invite us to join her.
She tells of seeing a hopscotch, drawn with chalk, on a street by her home. Usually a hopscotch has 10 spaces. This one had 110! The words, written in chalk, at the beginning of the "course" reads, "For those 10 and under. Enter If You Dare!"
These are Emily's words:
"As the enthusiasm of the designer captured my imagination I couldn’t hold back the happy giggle. She had spent the good part of an afternoon setting up a challenging course. I wondered how many of her friends dared join her adventure…and how many finished?
In the spirit of this enthusiastic hopscotch designer I am about to invite you on a journey. I have spent the good part of a month exploring this idea, and I should probably warn you ––this isn’t your average journey.
The masthead for this adventure reads:
FOR THE WILLING ADVENTURER…
Enter if you are weary and in need of a rest
Enter if you are looking for hope, or peace
Enter if you seek answers to questions of the heart
Enter if you shoulder a burden heavier than you can bear on your own
Enter if you long for the companionship of the Lord
Enter if you are looking for hope, or peace
Enter if you seek answers to questions of the heart
Enter if you shoulder a burden heavier than you can bear on your own
Enter if you long for the companionship of the Lord
"Maybe sometime during the next few weeks you might decide that this adventure is for you. If so, perhaps you could spend some time thinking about just what your heart needs from this journey. What would you like to gain from this experience? You might consider reading Elder Bednar’s talk, A Reservoir of Living Water, as you prepare. As always, this is an open ended invitation, which means you can invite anyone you want to join us on this journey.
Already I feel my heart preparing for the New Year. I feel the reaching, the yearning for growth, the desire for 2012 to be a different year than 2011 was. I ponder opening my heart wider to allow Him more room for molding me, shaping me, leading me. What better way to be led than through His word daily? What better way to be molded and shaped than by learning from those He has molded and shaped before. Holy words on gilded pages. This year my soul longs to know more of those words.
Will you join us?"
It's not too late to join. You can jump right in with both feet. After all, we've been reading for only 28 days! You haven't missed much, only the creation of the world, Adam and Eve, Joseph being sold into Egypt, the plagues, the Israelites leaving Egypt, the parting of the Red Sea, and the building of the tabernacle. But you already know those stories, You can go on Emily's blog and read her insight and then continue on the journey with us. Click here for a reading schedule.
It's a good way to start a new year.
