“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” John 1:1
Have you ever had God hit you upside the head with one little sentence?? And then have it travel to your heart?
“Don’t leave the Word(s) on the page!”
BAM…BAM… and BAM!! And I didn’t even have to time to duck.
Those words, “Don’t leave the Word(s) on the page” spoken by Melissa Taylor during our “Unglued” conference call series hit me and hit me hard. Especially with her challenge for us to be intentional with our quiet time. To make our quiet time a priority. To allow the Word of God to transform us … to transform our hearts … to make us more like Him! BAM, number one.
I had my Bible laid out beside me as I listened intently to the rest of the call. I knew, without glancing, what the second BAM was going to be. It was going to be the VERY first verse. “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God,” (John 1:1). Read it again. Did you catch it? “The Word was God!” And yep, I can’t tell you how many times I have left GOD on the page! How many times have I sat down to read and spend time with God only to leave Him where I found Him? Only to walk away with a ‘check mark’… a line drawn through one item on my ‘to do list’. And I can line up excuse after excuse …. I wasn’t feeling it …. my mind was elsewhere … I just don’t have the time to sit, to be still and to know. (“He says, ‘Be still, and know that I am God.'” Psalm 46:10) And that makes me sad…really really sad. And I can only imagine how sad it made Him.
And then the final BAM. Memorizing the Word. Memorizing GOD! And trust me, I’ve got excuse after excuse for not doing that one too!! I think back to each of the online studies I’ve participated in and how each Sunday night we were given a verse of the week – a verse to memorize – a verse to hide in our hearts – a Word – God to hide in our hearts! And I didn’t! I got the gist of most of the verses. I knew they were in the Bible. But to memorize them …. I didn’t.
So I’m sitting here thinking ….how can I really have a heart transformation if I’m leaving God on the page, if I’m not spending quality time with Him, if I’m not hiding His Words in my heart, no make that, if I’m not hiding God in my heart?? And it comes down to this …. I can’t …. I honestly can’t expect my heart to be transformed, to become more like His if I don’t do these things! HELLO, wake up call! HELLO, new perspective!!
Andy Andrews in his book “The Noticer” introduces a character by the name of Jones. Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss – something Jones calls a little perspective. “Your time on this earth is a gift to be used wisely,” he says. “Don’t squander your words or your thoughts. Consider even the simplest action you take, for your lives matter beyond measure…and they matter forever.”
I’m thinking the words of Jones pretty much sums it up for me. How about you? Will you join me on this new “perspective” … this new journey not to leave God on the pages??
Lord, I praise You and I thank You for being the God who sees all, who knows all and who controls all. I thank You for being You. I thank you that you desire to know us. Forgive us for the many times we’ve left You on the pages. Forgive us for checking You off as an item on our to do list. Make us thirsty for You. Give us a new perspective of who You are every day. Thank You for first loving us. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
Who would like to join us on the conference calls?? Leave a comment and I will be giving away another conference call series by Thursday noon time!
Donna Bostick 
Comments on: "Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective" (42)
Good morning Donna. I read your words this morning and they were pretty much a reflection of my heart, my heart’s desire, my life. I am a “doer”, I like to do things, accomplish things – but I’m not an absorber or a change my life drastically type of person. I am comfortable in my life and nervous to change it. So it was with much, much trepidation I signed up for the conference call series Melissa is doing. I was honest in my posting when everyone else was getting excited, saying they couldn’t wait to start, to see what God had in store for them. I didn’t get it, didn’t see why everyone was so excited. Melissa put out a challenge and I’m not sure I’m up for it but I stepped out. And I’m glad I stepped out. OK – the call had some wonderful how-to hints and you can do it this way – all great and beneficial. But what got me was when she got tough – all Simon Cowell on us! If I’m not serious – call the office tomorrow – our money would be happily refunded. Basically, stop putting God on the back burner and leaving Him in this box we call “quiet time”.
So I did “my thing” this morning and Jesus smacked me in the face!, spoke straight to my heart again, said – where you been girl?. There’s much more but I want to thank you for putting my heart into such lovely words.
God Bless
Yay!!! I love that Jesus “smacked you in the face and said ‘where you been girl?'” That’s exactly what I prayed for! For all of us. Thank you so much for sharing this. I know it was a comment for Donna, but it really blessed me.
What totally awesome thoughts today! As a Christian i know the Word is God, but i forget and don’t think of it like that. The Word is God! This is God on paper revealing Himself to us through the words He inspired others to write. This is who He is, what He is, how He operates, He shows us how to be like Him, how to deal with our trials and satans firey darts, how to deal with others in the examples of who He is – the Word is God! Thank you Donna for this rich reminder. God bless!
WOW! Thanks Donna! The Word is God!! We just started last night a study at church about praying God’s word. We talked about how powerful God’s word was but we did not bring up this scripture. I can’t wait to share this with the ladies. Hate that I missed the conference call but can’t wait to dig into John starting with this verse!!! I spend my lunch hour studying and am ready to dig in!! 🙂
BAM! Donna, you are so funny. I’m SO THANKFUL that God is speaking to you right where you need it & I’m also thrilled that you are sharing it all on your blog. Love this! Love you!
I definitely am going to want to do the calls for the unglued study! I loved last nights call too!
Hi Donna! I was so thrilled at what Melissa embedded into my heart last night on that conference call! And BAM, you just drove the message in just a little deeper! WOW! I have always loved John 1 and KNOWING He Is The Word! But was I leaving Jesus “on the page?” I know my life is going to be radically transformed through this study!
Much needed PLEASE!!
I would reallyove to join you ladies on these calls. I saw some of the Facebook posts from the one last night and it sounded awesome! Such good information! I believe this book and bible study is going to help so many people! Thank you for offering this giveaway!
This is beautiful Donna! Great reminder for me and something that has been going on in my heart as well! Blessings to you sister!! LUL!
I would love to win this! I am trying to study on my own, but it would be so nice to have some support.
A good “slap in the face” for me. Needed this so much. Thanks
BAM!!! Don’t feel bad…..God just hit me with your beautiful words. Wow! You have just given me my “God Breeze” for the day! Thank you!
Oh how i long to be transformed by the word of God, but it just seems to go in one eye and out of the other, it misses the brain. I need to really start studying it but im not much oc a study er. where do i begin?
never seen that verse like that before,
Thank you for your post. It reminds me not to treat bible study like a chore.
Wow, I never thought about it that way! What a wake up call. God is so amazing!!!
Donna, you slammed it home with this one, girl! “The Word was God.” How many times have I heard that passage, and felt like, ho hum, yada yada yada. (Embarrassed to admit this.) But your response to Melissa’s Don’t leave the Word on the Page created a new perspective in me. I get this… Wow!! I need that ~ hiding God’s Word in my heart, Hiding GOD in my heart! Turn the page, shut the book, and carry Him right out the door hidden in my heart. How else do we grow a relationship with someone special if we don’t carry them in our hearts? How can I expect to truly know God’s grace, His acceptance and peace if I don’t have Him in my heart? You blessed me with your insights, Donna! Surely a “GP” (God Provides) moment for me! Have a blessed day!
Somehow I missed that the conference calls were for Unglued ~ I gotta sign up!
I so need to be more diligent in my walk. Thanks for the slap! I read but dont Memorize as I should! I know I need to tuck away his word in my heart more diligently !
Donna ~ You hit it the nail on this head for sure! I’m right there with you ~ I didn’t memorize the verses either. I passed so much so sad. I know how important it is to ‘hide the word in your heart’ cuz what’s in the heart comes out the mouth. My Mom had Alzheimers the last 6 years or so of her life (I cared for her through this so got to see a lot) but she hid Jesus words in her heart and you know she lost a lot of her marbles but she could always quote Him! I want to do that so . . . . I like ‘don’t leave God on the page’. I think this will be my new motto ~ I am going to take Him with me! Thank you for inspiring me to this! Jesus is using you in a mighty way!
I LOVED your words of encouragement Donna. Thank you much. 🙂
This touched my heart. Thank you!
Wow Donna! This really spoke to me because I realize this is what I do…I leave God on a page. I need to read, memorize his word. I am like you that I would get the memory verse and not memorize it. After reading you blog I will take an stand and memorize verses. I am going to be buying a spiral notebook like Melissa mentioned and will be reading the book of John until the “Unglued” bible study starts. I would really love to be able to be on the conference calls!
Hey Donna, Thank you so much for these wonderful wake up words…I love the quot from Andy Andrews…It all matters beyond measure. This is my first online Bible study. So excited, hope I am not missing to much by not doing the conferince calls. Thanks again Blessings
Donna, so with you! I too, have known I need to memorize scripture, have had good intentions…. but have left God on the page. This HAS to change! BTW, am really enjoying your blog 🙂
It is so easy not to apply what we hear or read! We know it to be true, but to put it into practice is touch sometimes! I so cannot wait for the next unglued study!
Donna, wow.. Talk about speaking to my heart.. first last night , now this… WOW..
Thank you for being obedient and writing YES.. I want to be thirsty lord for You for Your Word for every single part of You and Your purpose for my life.. show me Lord , please .. and please prepare me by my coming to You and listening to what You speak to me thru Your word and any other way .. Give me a new perspective….
Love you, Donna!!
Thanks for sharing.
I love seeing how God is molding you into His girl even more than before. It is so encouraging to see you transforming. Thank you for letting me into your world to experience it with you.
I love how God keeps putting His word in print when He knows it needs to be observed as He provides answers ‘Be still, and know that I am God’ has been surfacing more times than I have counted since Wednesday evening last (not to mention that the Holy Spirit provided these very words to be spoken thru my lips several times this week in conversations with friends seeking comfort. Thank you for your posting today.
Wow. memorizing God. never thought of it like that before. mmm……time to get my bible out, i think.:-)
You just helped me make that bridge from head to heart perspective. The Word is God. I study the Word. I study God. I memorize the Word. I memorize God. I don’t want to leave the Word on the page anymore. How could I? Wow. Thank you.
Donna I am enjoying your blog tremendously! I was not on the conference call but I am blessed to hear a summary from your perspective
WOW! I never took that verse to heart as you just explained it. I am just as guilty. Thank you for being so truthful. I’m going to be more diligent in hiding God in my heart as He is the Word 🙂
“Perspective”….believe it or not, that has been the key word that God has been knocking me with….its all about perspective. Thanks Donna!
Thank you Donna! I love this!
I am all about my TO DO list – and I don’t want my bible study to become a task to be checked off the list. Part of the reason I want to guide a study is to force myself to do it each day – but your blog post today made me realize that it might make it more of a chore. I will need to pray on this – thanks.
God bless you for giving us these words today.
Thank you Donna for your wonderful words….they speak right to my heart. I love checking off lists and having a since of accomplishment but am realizing that when it comes to my walk with Christ….my check off list just won’t cut it. Thank you again! Hugs & love…..Michelle
I have read most of ‘Unglued’. Its a great book. 🙂
Wow! Did Melissa light a fire under you during and after the pre-conference call last night. What an awesome day getting prepared, doing our first assignment, reading all the awesome posts from our excited and creative Unglued CC Sistas and now I have hopped over to your blog! It’s like I’m starting the day all over, actually I am, its now another day. I have being trying to go to bed since 11:00PM and now it’s 2:11AM. I have been so wound up about all this that I cannot settle. In just a few minutes I am going to have to get on my knees and say God, I have had ENOUGH today!! When I say enough, its been a good enough! Because I can promise you that tomorrow I will be an absolute mess. This girl needs her sleep!! O, how I love the heading of your blog that says “Sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.” I have to giggle about that one, because I am always looking under, over and through things trying to figure out where it is hiding on any given day. I can promise you that scenario tomorrow because I have lost way to much of my needed sleep. I’m going to re-read the part of your blog that says, so I’m sitting here thinking ….how can I really have a heart transformation if I’m leaving God on the page, if I’m not spending quality time with Him, if I’m not hiding His Words in my heart, no make that, if I’m not hiding God in my heart?? And it comes down to this …. I can’t …. I honestly can’t expect my heart to be transformed, to become more like His if I don’t do these things! HELLO, wake up call! HELLO, new perspective!! There will not be any pondering over this tonight, only closed eyes. But I can almost promise you that God will remind me of these words over and over through this study. WOW! Now I am going to praise God for opening your heart to the message that He wanted you to share with us! Sweet Dreams, Hugs in Him…
i loved The Noticer! have you read the sequel? Thanks for the wake up call!
Wow, Donna! I’d have to say I do that a whole lot of the time…sit down to have time with Jesus as if He’s not even in the room. Thank you so much for this new perspective!