SOUL CrossTraining

I have a fond attachment to my Bible. I doubt anyone would want it. It's the one with the scuffed blue cover, torn inside pockets, sections nearly falling out, varied colors of highlighting and personal notes strewn throughout the pages. I purchased this Bible back in the early 80s while I was in high school. It’s pretty basic. It is a NIV (New International Version) with a mini concordance in the back. One of the reasons this is my favorite Bible is because in these pages I see evidence of God coming alive in me. If you were to take a look, you’d find notes of my journey with God. You’d find notations of the God working in my life, teaching me more about who He is and who I am. As I flip through these pages again, I notice the bits and pieces of a leaf found at the base of an old oak tree some 25 years ago. These dried fragments mark a moment in time which represents much of my journey with God. My mind wanders back to a picnic table in Mounds State Park in Anderson, Indiana. I ...

Bible 101—some helps for choosing a Bible. Reading the Bible – sounds simple enough! Warning – there are dozens to choose from! Check them out. Get familiar with a few different translations of Scripture. You can easily do this online at http://www.biblegateway.com/ Check out the different translations by looking up Psalm 23. Read them and see which style you most perfer. Translations – New Living Translation (NLT) is a current, accurate, easily read translation. In the end choose one you will read! Other good options include: New International Version (NIV), New American Standard Bible (NASB), and New Revised Standard Version (NRSV). Keep in mind all texts are translated either word for word or phrase by phrase. A word on using The Message ®. We’d suggest using this version of the Bible as a compliment to any translation. Just keep in mind The Message ® is not a translation but rather a paraphrase of scripture based on the author’s perspective, personal insight, and is geared towar...

This is God's love letter to you. watch read listen

But you, O God, do see trouble and grief; you consider it to take it in hand. The victim commits himself to you; you are the helper of the fatherless …. You hear, O Lord, the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry, defending the fatherless and the oppressed, in order that man, who is of the earth, may terrify no more. Psalm 10:14, 17-18 Sing to God, sing praise to his name, extol him who rides on the clouds—his name is the LORD—and rejoice before him. A father to the fatherless , defender of widows , is God in his holy dwelling. God sets the lonely in families, he leads forth the prisoners with singing;... Psalms 68:4-6a Go to God Father God, You are my heavenly Father, my true Father…that has been one of the huge things I have come to realize over these past five years. You are so great and powerful, yet You are a Father to Your children, defender of the widow, setting the lonely in families, and leading prisoners with song. You are so righteous, grea...

All of You is more than enough for all of me For every thirst and every need You satisfy me with Your love And all I have in You is more than enough You are my supply My breath of life And still more awesome than I know You are my reward worth living for And still more awesome than I know... listen to Chris Tomlin's Enough Proclaim the power of God, whose majesty is over Israel, whose power is in the skies. You are awesome, O God, in your sanctuary; the God of Israel gives power and strength to his people. Praise be to God. Psalm 68:34-35 The heavens praise your wonders, O Lord, your faithfulness too, in the assembly of the holy ones For who in the skies above can compare with the LORD? Who is like the LORD among the heavenly beings? In the council of the holy ones God is greatly feared; he is more awesome than all who surround him. O Lord God Almighty, who is like you? You are mighty, O Lord, and your faithfulness surrounds you.Psalm 89:5-8 Go to God Father God, There is no doubt ...

As you read the Bible you’ll find a variety of descriptions and metaphors for God. One of the metaphors you’ll notice is that of “shepherd.” Most of us are familiar with Psalm 23 which begins with “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not be in want….” We’d love to invite you to think about God as your shepherd. Although it’s a stretch to imagine the full significance of this metaphor (since we suburbanites have little reference for sheep and shepherding) there is still much to be discovered about Who God is and how he relates to His sheep (oh I mean people). There are two passages of scriptures we’d love to encourage you to read. Psalm 23 and John 10:1-18. As you read these two passages, what are you discovering about Who God is and how He thinks about you? Meditate on this Verse I am the good shepherd; I know my sheep and my sheep know me… John 10:14 Go to God Father God, I am SO thankful that You are my Shepherd…leading and guiding me. You are all knowing and Your wisdom I cannot fat...

As the new year begins, we find many are facing economic crisis and if not crisis at least concern. It seems life as we know it is changing all around us. These are uncertain times. We don't know what will come to pass in the days and months ahead. YET... { I love that word} YET adverb inspite of everything used to stress that it remains possible that something will happen or that you are still determined to do something despite present difficulties {Here's what I know} God never changes . He is dependable, consistent, immovable, reliable, steadfast... He is CERTAIN. Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see. Hebrews 11:1 I don't know where you are on your journey with God, but I know God longs for you to know Him. Over the next several weeks, we are going to be blogging about the many attributes of God. We hope this is a great way to help in your pursuit of God. We believe that as we focus our eyes on God and who He is, we'll be enc...