Jen Russum

Digging Deep: Deep and Wide

Digging Deep: Deep and Wide

Now that we've talked a bit about why we should study the Bible, I want to move to the how. For the next few days I will give some practical tips and resources to help you to dig into the Word. I know it can feel intimidating to study Scripture, considering the Bible is thousands of years old and over a thousand pages long, but it doesn't have to be overwhelming. The Bible was written for you. God wants you to read it, understand it, and enjoy it. With a thoughtful plan in place and the help of the Holy Spirit, you can make reading the Word a daily part of your life and watch as God renews your mind and heart. When considering how to approach the Bible, I think we need to go deep and wide {yes, this is a pun for the 80s and 90s Sunday School kids}. What I mean is that you should read the Bible both broadly and deeply. You should read the whole thing and you should also do in-depth studies of specific books and chapters. The good news is you don't have to do both these things at the same time. {via Doorposts} If you have never read the whole Bible, I urge you to do it. The whole Bible is the story of Christ and to only know bits and pieces of His story is not only sad {because you are missing out on so much truth, goodness, and hope} but it also makes it hard to share the Gospel with others if the entire scope of Christ's story isn't firm in your mind. Did you know the first prophesy about Christ comes in Genesis 3? Did you know the Bible says Jesus created the world {John 1:3} and upholds the universe in His hand {Hebrews 1:3}, which means He was definitely around in Genesis 1? That's why you need to read the whole thing. The only way to understand God's commands, to comprehend His extravagantly loving salvation plan, and to share that story with  others is to know His Word... the covenant with Abraham, the Exodus, the importance of Israel's history and throne, the prophets, the genealogies, the parables, the apostolic letters, and the promises for the future. All of it. It all goes together. It's all important. You need to read every word. But after {or before} your read the whole Bible, you also need to learn Bible study skills and methods so you can go deep into specific passages. Since the Bible was originally written in different languages and has been translated a number of times, even studying specific word definitions can be enlightening as to who God is and what He commands of us. Every verse is rich in meaning, so it's essential to go deep and study small portions of Scripture at a time. Tomorrow, I will give you some resources for reading through the Bible broadly and then we will spend a number of days looking at how to study Scripture deeply. Personally, I've started alternating how I read the Bible on a yearly basis, meaning for one year I will read the entire book and the next year I will do a series of shorter, in-depth studies on specific passages. I will share my methods as a way to encourage you, but there is no one right way to do it. Make it a goal to know the Bible broadly and deeply, and pray to the Spirit for guidance and discipline  as you choose a plan that works best for you. Read the rest of the Digging Deep series here... ... Read more

Digging Deep: The Gift

Digging Deep: The Gift

Before we go any further with how to study the Bible, I want to pause for a second and talk about why we should study it. The answer seems obvious enough... because the Lord commands us to. Throughout Scripture, God tells us to read the Word {Deuteronomy 17:19}, study the Word {Ezra 7:10}, share the Word {Romans 10:14-15}, obey the Word {Ezekiel 36:27}, and meditate on the Word {Psalm 1:1-2}. Not only Jesus himself, but also the prophets of the Old Testament and the apostles of the New Testament, memorized significant portions of Scripture and were able to recite it publicly in order to share the Gospel or defend their faith. The reality is if you are not in the Bible, you are sinning. But sometimes that perspective, although true, doesn't feel encouraging. Perhaps you desire to read your Bible, and you already feel discouraged that you don't do it often enough. When you contemplate your lack of willingness to read Scripture, you mentally add it to a long list of your sins and you feel completely deflated. But I think there is another perspective to take when we think about reading God's Word... {via HGTV} It's a gift. It's truly a gift. We don't deserve the Bible. God wrote it and gave it to us, so we could know Him and His love for us more clearly. He preserved the words for centuries and protected His story, so it could sit in our laps each day, wispy and bound in leather. Some people in the world have never heard the story. Some people only a have access to bits and pieces of the Bible. Some people don't have Scripture written in their native language. Some people whisper verses to each other because the Bible is outlawed in their country and they constantly face the threat of persecution for their belief. To have a Bible, perhaps multiple copies, sitting in our homes is a privilege, an honor, and gift from the Lord. Don't neglect the gift. Consider it the best one you've ever received. If you received a car for your sixteenth birthday, did you leave it parked in the driveway? If someone delivered a new iPhone to your door today, would you continue to use your old phone with the cracked screen? If your spouse bought you a sweater or shoes you had been eyeing for weeks, would you wear it or would you let it sit dusty in the closet? I speak of these worldly images only to paint a picture of a more heavenly scene. The Father loves us. One of the main expressions of that love is through the words that He ordained, preserved, and passed down to His children, generation after generation. Through His words, He wants us to know we are cherished, we are protected, and we have a lasting hope. He put these truths in ink, so we could return to them again and again. He knew we would often feel confused, unloved, or downcast, so He gave us a book to remind us we are loved. And the gift is not some old artifact. The Words are alive and active, and they can change your heart and your life every time you read them. Accept the gift. Open the gift. Enjoy the gift. Read the rest of the Digging Deep series here... ... Read more

One Year!

One Year!

Growing - Zianne was 24 pounds, 8 ounces at her well check and 32 1/4 inches. This is the first time since her first week of life that she was under the 100th percentile for weight (93rd percentile), but she was still well above 100% for height and head size. Eating - We officially made it to a year of breastfeeding and I'm so humbled and joyful! I remember making that my goal a year ago, knowing that it might be really hard. Thankfully, it was easier than expected, although I'm excited to wean her and get my body back to myself for awhile. Z dropped to two feedings a day about a week and half before her birthday. I'm still nursing morning and night but Z is showing less and less interest. I'm going on a trip in a couple of weeks and wouldn't be surprised if she is completely done with breast milk by then. Sleeping - Z is still sleeping extremely well, if not better, due to the exhaustion caused by her added mobility. She'll usually nap for 60-90 minutes in the morning and for 1-2 hours in the afternoon. She is sleeping in until 8:00am again {and sometimes 8:30 - holler!}, and I'm loving it! Wearing - Z is wearing a mix of 24 month and 2T clothing and I'm pretty sure she'll hover in this stage for awhile. I've been putting her in 18 month shorts all summer, but now that it's October it might be time to pack them away. Doing - Crawling like a mad woman, pulling up to standing, taking steps with her new walker toy, opening cabinets and making messes, dancing, riding her Barbie Power Wheel with help, wrestling with dad, experimenting with new sounds and words, waving at people more than ever. Loving - Dessert, pancakes, the song "All About That Bass," her new guitar, and the lovey blanket she strokes as she falls asleep in her crib. Loathing - Being told she can't touch cords, eating avocados, having her ears cleaned and her fingernails trimmed. Daddy's girl - Micah and Z have started playing a new game I call "wolf pack." I read a book that mentioned how adult wolves play hard with their pups, in a way that shows the offspring that its parents are both strong and gentle. Micah and Z now chase each other around on the floor, fake bull fight, and nuzzle each other. I just figure they are bonding like wolves... Milestones - Well, making it to a year feels like one huge milestone, but many fun little things happened this month too. Z devoured her first cupcake at her birthday party to the point that she was still eating crumbs off her body when I put her in the bath afterward. We went to San Diego where she rode her first carnival ride, boogied on the dance floor at a wedding until 10pm, and attended her first Seahawks game. She pulled up to standing for the first time over Labor Day weekend {and then did not attempt it again for almost three weeks}. Also over Labor Day weekend, she began exploding with words while we were at our friends' cabin. She was saying "ook" {book} and "gog" {dog} all week before the trip, and while we were there we got her to say "cracker" "baby" and "zoom" as well. But when we got home, she clammed up and wouldn't say anything but "mama" and "bye bye" for weeks. Now she's getting more verbal again. "Dog" "dada" and "baby" are back in her vocabulary, and she's also added "doll" and "Boppy" to the list. As soon as we got home from our trip to Seattle, Zianne took her first steps with the help of her new walker toy. For a baby that took so long to crawl, I was flabbergasted when she started walking so quickly. Micah helped her, and she figured out how to take 5 or 6 consecutive steps on her very first day trying. ... Read more