{"id":4125,"date":"2016-03-23T22:07:13","date_gmt":"2016-03-23T22:07:13","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/shalominthecity.com\/?p=4125"},"modified":"2016-03-23T22:07:13","modified_gmt":"2016-03-23T22:07:13","slug":"on-becoming-a-bible-study-boss","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.patheos.com\/blogs\/shalominthecity\/2016\/03\/on-becoming-a-bible-study-boss\/","title":{"rendered":"On Becoming a Bible Study Boss!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<\/head>

\"On<\/p>\n

It\u2019s 6am and the kiddos are asleep.\u00a0 In fact, everyone is asleep. I\u2019m the only morning person in the Moore House.<\/p>\n

There are so many things I could do in those first quiet moments of the morning, like check Facebook or fold a load of laundry, but ever since I started attending that Bible Study that worries me<\/a>, I\u2019m eager to ignore my phone and stumble into the living room for my morning \u201cquiet time\u201d.<\/p>\n

You know, I really hate that phase, \u201cquiet time\u201d. It feels like I\u2019m putting myself in time out with God.\u00a0 Like I\u2019ve been a bad girl and the only redemption for my naughty ways is to memorize the genealogy in Deuteronomy or exegete obscure dietary laws in Leviticus. It feels all together too obligatory. It lacks the personal connection to a loving God that daily study should be. Plus, I feel like at any moment, 1990 Osheta will pop in and announce,\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019m sorry to say this Hon, but you\u2019re not \u2018on fire\u2019 enough to call this thing you\u2019re doing a \u2018quiet time\u2019\u201d.\u00a0 Because honestly, y\u2019all\u2014 I\u2019m not.\u00a0 I actually wrote that I\u2019m scared to attend a bible study because I feel too heretical to \u201cfit in\u201d.\u00a0 \u201cOn fire\u201d girls are never heretical and they always, always fit in.\u00a0 With matching WWJD bracelets, to boot.\u00a0 But\u2026I digress.<\/p>\n

Do you see what a tizzy the term, \u201cquiet time\u201d can put me in?\u00a0 It\u2019s problematic to say the least. BUT it\u2019s oddly appropriate too.\u00a0 The past two weeks of a regular time in the morning with God, reading the Bible, and praying for my day has, in fact, quieted my soul.<\/p>\n

The more I make my morning study time a priority, the more I realize that Jesus\u2019 words are like air to me. I\u2019m with Simon Peter when he said to Jesus who asked him, if he would leave\u00a0 like the other disciples,<\/p>\n

\u201cLord, to whom shall we go? You have words of eternal life.<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

I kinda knew going in to that Bible Study group, that I would come alive through our study. Within minutes of discussing the bible and our goals for the six weeks together at that first meeting I knew the missing piece of my daily routine was a \u201cquiet time\u201d. But again I was worried (gee..it seems like I need to spend some time in Matthew\u2026Jesus has some things to say about worry).\u00a0 \u2018What if I don\u2019t keep it up?\u00a0 What if I get behind in my homework or get bored or just don\u2019t feel like it so I skip a day and have to cram the hour before our meeting?\u2019<\/p>\n

Like all good changes there\u2019s the concern that the habit won\u2019t \u201cstick\u201d and then I\u2019m back to square one, feeling all dried up, disconnected from God, and\u2026.Hello Newfound Shame.<\/em>.. because I didn\u2019t \u201cmake it work\u201d.<\/p>\n

So, to shut down the shame and show up 1990 \u201con fire\u2019 Osheta,\u00a0 I\u2019ve developed some strategies to making Bible study less of a chore and more of a joy every single morning. Maybe they can help you too.<\/p>\n

1: Find your most awake time of the day<\/h2>\n

For me it\u2019s morning.\u00a0 But with God being omnipresent and all, I think you\u2019re totally ok doing your study in the evening.\u00a0 Just choose a time when you\u2019re able to focus and really get the most out of your study.<\/p>\n

2: Always have a study or two on hand<\/h2>\n

Right now, I\u2019m doing \u201cSeamless\u201d by Angie Smith and\u00a0 I:Believe a study on the Nicene Creed by the If:Gathering.\u00a0 Yesterday, I had energy to do both back to back, today, I only did the one on the Nicene Creed.\u00a0 The key is to have a variety of topics available to you.\u00a0 Seamless is a study of the whole bible as one story from Genesis to Revelation, while the If Study is on a richly theological and important document in church history.\u00a0 The variety keeps my quiet time interesting.<\/p>\n

3: Strike up your favorite movie soundtrack while studying<\/h2>\n

I find that music centers me in whatever I\u2019m doing. So, naturally I\u2019d want to create a playlist for my study time, but as I added various worship songs to my Bible study playlist, I realized one problem: if my worship jam came on, it would be too hard to focus on the reading the study. (Because seriously who can sit still when \u201cWorthy of it all\/ I Exalt Thee\u201d comes on?)\u00a0 No, I needed instrumental\u2014but NOT BORING music and I didn\u2019t really have time to audition several classical albums.\u00a0 Enter movie soundtracks\u2014 my Bible study secret weapon.\u00a0 Think about it. Most soundtracks are instrumental.\u00a0 The scores are written to tell a story, they\u2019re cinematic and thoughtful and engaging without a single distracting lyric. They\u2019re prefect background noise for Bible study.\u00a0 For \u201cSeamless\u201d I like plucky rom-com soundtracks like, \u201cThe Intern\u201d, and for the Nicene Creed, I\u2019m listening to a lot of the \u201cHarry Potter\u201d soundtracks.\u00a0 The sky\u2019s the limit, really, as long as you\u2019re not listening to the \u201cJaws\u201d theme while studying Jonah and the Big Fish, I think you\u2019re ok.\u00a0 Or maybe\u2026would that be fun?<\/p>\n

4:\u00a0 Create a Bible Study Bag<\/h2>\n

\"IMG_8581\"<\/p>\n

As soon as I left group,\u00a0 I went home and created this bag. One of the things I hate about Bible study is the looking for a pen, my bible, the study, a highlighter\u2026all the things.\u00a0 By the time I find it all, a kiddo is awake asking for Lucky Charms and my Bible studying mood is gone.<\/p>\n

So, I wrote a list of my study essentials:<\/p>\n

Sacred Ordinary Days Planner<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8583\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8586\"<\/p>\n

Bible<\/p>\n

\"My
My favorite bible right now is the NIV Women\u2019s Bible from Zondervan.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

and Study (or a two, see point #2)<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8589\" \"IMG_8590\"
\nI also like to keep a lighter in the bag (no I\u2019m not a pyromanic or smoker, you\u2019ll see why soon) and a back up pen, just in case.
\nI put them together in a tote bag and voila\u2026instant study!\u00a0 Just add eager, mildly \u201con-fire\u201d Christian girl.<\/p>\n

But, really this has been a game changer for making my time in the morning intentional and special.\u00a0 My Bible Study is portable and ready for me whenever.\u00a0 So, say a kiddo is sprawled out on the couch blaring his Manga cartoon at 6am because it\u2019s Spring Break\u2014 I can grab my Bible Study Bag and go sit by the pool with my cup of coffee.<\/p>\n

No harm. No foul. No snapping at the teenager.\u00a0 Perfect way to start the day.<\/p>\n

5: Reward Thyself Faithful Student<\/h2>\n

Inside the Study Bag I have my essentials but I also have a few comforts I purchased at the beginning as a reward to committing and then as the weeks progress, I\u2019ll add a new treat to the bag.<\/p>\n

The first reward was the bag itself.\u00a0 The Westward bag from Noonday<\/a> is perfect for your study bag. It\u2019s large enough to hold your two studies, a bible, a journal, and so much more, but it\u2019s also has pockets for pens and note cards.\u00a0 Plus, it\u2019s ethically made, creates sustainable income for artisans in India, and it\u2019s SO CUTE!\u00a0 I love feeling spiritual, saavy, and chic all at once.<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8591\"<\/p>\n

The second reward I bought at the beginning of the study was a scented candle.\u00a0 I find lighting a candle really sets the time aside. The light reminds me to turn to Jesus, the light of the world, when I feel dark and twisty inside.\u00a0 When I smell the candle I know it\u2019s time to pray and invite the Holy Spirit in to my time in the word.<\/p>\n

The third and final reward I bought at the very beginning was a journal.\u00a0 I like to start a new journal with a new study.\u00a0 It\u2019s great for taking notes and writing prayers that coincide with the study of the day. I\u2019m excited to look back after six weeks and see how I\u2019ve grown.<\/p>\n

Since I\u2019m doing a seven week study with Seamless, I\u2019ve planned six additional treats to add, every Friday of the study as a reward for being a faithful student.<\/p>\n

Week 1:<\/strong> Pretty pen and sticky notes<\/p>\n

\"IMG_8588\"
\nUpcoming treats:
\nWeek 2:<\/strong> comfy socks ( I like to get cozy whilst I get\u00a0 holy)<\/p>\n

Week 3:<\/strong> Chocolates or Trader Joes Chocolate Croissants (These need to be defrosted overnight, so I imagine setting up a croissant on my desk with a sign for the kids\u2026eat Mama\u2019s breakfast with Jesus and meet Him sooner than you\u2019d expect).<\/p>\n

Week 4:<\/strong> Colored ink pens for extensive marking because by five weeks of continuous study, I\u2019m so on it and I\u2019ll need to color-code my findings: Red for Jesus\u2019 words, blue for Hebrew root words, Yellow for quotes I love from my favorite theologians, etc. etc.\u00a0 etc.<\/p>\n

Week 5:\u00a0<\/strong> New candle because after 45 days burning every day, it\u2019s probably on it\u2019s last leg\u2026err wax.<\/p>\n

Week 6:<\/strong> New Study and journal. I know it seems a little counter intuitive to reward studying with a study, but the truth is there are so many great studies out there that I never buy because I\u2019m not sure I can make it.\u00a0 Rewarding myself at this point with the next one is not only a huge vote of confidence in myself, but a promise that there are six more weeks of treats to come. I\u2019m excited about going to Paper Source and walking around for more inspiration for rewards.<\/p>\n

Thanks to these strategies, I\u2019m not too worried about giving up on my morning quiet time.<\/p>\n

Like I\u2019ve been writing in my \u201cOMG\u201d journal since I started,<\/p>\n

The word of God is alive and active.\u00a0 Sharper than a double-edge sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.<\/a><\/p>\n

Hebrews 4:12<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

(and yes, I did write that by memory.\u00a0 Booyah 1990 on fire Osheta!)<\/p>\n

I may not be as \u201con fire\u201d as I was as a teen, but I\u2019m wiser and more attuned to the way God made me. I know what inspires me and keeps me accountable.\u00a0 I love pretty and making events out of everyday things, and I really, really love Jesus and his teachings.\u00a0 So, I\u2019m probably going to always to be listening for new movie soundtracks and keep a bible study bag.<\/p>\n

I\u2019m also going to start owning that phrase, \u201cquiet time\u201d and quiet those fears that keep me from studying the Bible every single day.<\/p>\n

What\u2019s your strategies for keeping up a regular bible study? Do you call it a \u201cquiet time\u201d? Which six treats would you add to your<\/em> bag?<\/h3>\n

Do you want your very own super chic bag for Bible Study? Noonday is giving this La Bella Bag away here!\u00a0 The contest ends on Friday, so go on over and enter. <\/a><\/p>\n

\"La-Bella-Bag\"<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

If you win and decide to not use it for a bible study bag\u2026no worries, my friend.\u00a0 Grace upon grace for you. I\u2019m way nicer than our \u201con fire\u201d friend with a WWJD bracelet!<\/p>\n

Shalom-y, Spiritual, and Chic,
\nOsheta<\/p>\n<\/body><\/html>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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