Reserve time for Bible reading and prayer

Celebrate Recovery Steps:
Reserve a time with God for self-examination, Bible reading, and prayer in order to know God and His will for my life and to gain the power to follow His will. (Steps 10 and 11)

Yield myself to God to be used to bring this Good News to others, both by my example and my words. (Step 12)

“Happy are those who are persecuted because they do what God requires.”

I have found that my life is much more manageable when I take time to study the Bible, to read devotionals, and to pray. I like the Celebrate Recovery program as it is not specific to just one addiction, but is open to any addiction, as well as dealing with "hurts, habits, and hang-ups".

I have found many sites which have enriched my Bible study and my prayer and devotional life. As I am desk-bound most of the day, finding resources on the Internet for Bible study, devotion, and prayer helps me make it through my day and stay focused on God.

I wanted to share some of my favorite sites with my readers.

My favorite online NRSV Bible browser is:
oremus Bible Browser

But, I also use BibleGateway.com to find scriptures in other versions.

I have also downloaded E-Sword which is a wonderful Bible study program which is free to download. It is feature rich, and has many resources available for free. There are many versions of the Bible one can install which allows the user to study the Bible as a parallel Bible. Other features include the ability to make a prayer list, make a Bible reading plan, make verse lists for memorization, even a screen saver! Additionally, the user can purchase added resources, making this a wonderful study resource not just for laity, but for seminary students and pastors.

An additional resource I treasure is the Vanderbilt Library Revised Common Lectionary. I think this is by far the best lectionary site available online.

I posted yesterday about the Faith Comes By Hearing ministry. Today I want to add a link to their podcasts. This resource offers audio Bible selections in a daily podcast format, great if you want to sample their audio Bibles. I am especially impressed with the selection "31 Days of Wisdom and Inspiration", which is 31 podcasts of selections from Proverbs and Psalms. I listened to Day 1 today, and look forward to making this a part of my devotional time for the next 30 days.

Hope these resources may enrich your spiritual life as they have mine.

God,
Thank you for the presence of ministries on the Internet which help bring your Word to people all around the world. Bless the work of these ministries.
Amen.

Free audio bible

I'm excited to share information about a free audio Bible ministry.

The ministry is "Faith Comes By Hearing". You can download a free MP3 audio New Testament Bible. While the download was fairly slow, it was worth the wait. My favorite translation of the Bible is the NRSV which I was very pleased was offered as one of the available versions. But, the site also offers the Contemporary English Version, New International Version, Good News, King James, and New King James Version. There is even a Kidz Bible New International Readers Version which has stories from the Old and New Testaments. Additionally, many of the translations are also offered in a dramatic version with sound and music effects.

Having the audio version of the Bible has greatly motivated me with my Bible study. I have already listened to the Gospels of Matthew, Mark, and John, as well as listening to Acts and Romans. I have loaded the entire New Testament onto my MP3 player and my personal computer, so I can listen while doing housework and other things, or listen while I read along in my NRSV Bible. Additionally, my five-year-old son has enjoyed hearing the Bible. I am downloading the Kidz version for him, which uses simpler language for early readers. I think he is going to enjoy listening to it on my MP3 player.

"Faith Comes By Hearing" really is a neat ministry.

Currently, Faith Comes By Hearing offers 380 Audio Scripture recordings in 321 languages reaching more than 4.4 billion people in more than 97 countries.

They even offer a solar-powered proclaimer device so missionaries can take translations of Bibles into the field which is especially important in regions where many people are illiterate and are accustomed to an oral tradition of story-telling.

I hope you will take the time to visit the link to "Faith Comes By Hearing". As someone who is in "recovery"...the Bible is the most important thing in my survival kit.

Matthew 11:15 - Let anyone with ears listen!