a note

I received an incredibly encouraging note from someone who is taking the Quest with us. Check this out (names removed for the sake of provacy)

Rick - I'm blown away at all of this. I just read your blog and could NOT agree more about how awesome the reading is/has been.

2 quick notes:

1 - Personally - Monday night - we all sat down after dinner and read together, each child taking 5 verses, and all others following along in the same version. We read the introduction, prayed and sent them all to the showers and to bed. It was hilarious, our youngest was reading excellent, but mis-pronounced just about every name - we all were enjoying the entertainment, even him. It was also challenging in that the verses were relating directly to what each child has been dealing with. I couldn't have asked for a better "1st time" reading together.

We have had previous family devotions - we read Proverbs. But there is no "story" to follow along. We also never had the same version. These two factors - each child taking 5 verses, and the same version - - really made a difference.

Those with small children need to be encouraged to include EVERYONE in on the reading...

2 - Beware as the church body begins to find blessings during this time.... I feel we ALL will be challenged. Our relationships will be squeezed, our kids will make us angrier or our finances will become smaller - - whatever and wherever the areas that the evil one will test us - - he knows the blessing is just right around the corner. "to devour" doesn't leave nice feelings in my heart... oh - it's just "challenges" or whatever - - nope - he's looking to DEVOUR us...

I don't want to discourage you AT ALL - but encourage you to let you know that this is such an amazing undertaking and an amazing blessing to each of us individually and all of us as a church body. It is your willingness to lead, to see where the body needs attention - that this is coming to bless all of us.

Thanks Pastor Rick for listening and obeying. I'm excited to see what the next 29 days will bring.
This is what Quest is all about!

March 4: Mark 1-8
A new Gospel! I love the way Mark begins: Mark 1:1 “The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God.” (NIV) It is like he is saying, “I have Good News about Jesus!”.

That’s what Mark’s all about!

Just one note about an unusual scripture: Maybe you’ve never noticed it before.
Mark 3:21 When his family heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, "He is out of his mind."
Mark 3:31-35 Then Jesus' mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, "Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you." 33 "Who are my mother and my brothers?" he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God's will is my brother and sister and mother." (NIV)

Tomorrow’s reading: Mark 9-16. Keep up!