Schedule and General Musings

Blogging is not going to be very convenient because most of my writing is done out in my office rather than here in the house. I spend just about every morning, now that it is winter, out in my office by 5:30-6:00 a.m. getting inspired from my regular ongoing study in the book of Romans. On the days I take my oldest two (Jesse and Jennarose) to the YMCA, I am up by 4 a.m. and out there by 4:30-4:45 a.m. We get at the Y by 6 - 6:15 a.m. and home again by 7:45 - 8 a.m. so that Jennarose can begin getting the 2 littlest girls ready and start breakfast. Jesse gets the wood and tosses the other boys out of bed (he enjoys doing this - the tossing part!). He then cleans the bathroom (he has other chores to do as well). All is very well if school begins by 9 a.m. That is the goal. It is getting much more regular nowadays. This is good.

My devotionals consist of much writing. I will pray briefly and begin studying where I left off from the previous day. I will not get too far before the Lord inspires me and I will start writing. The last blog was 3 pages. This started as a time in the morning writing my thoughts down. Most of my devotional writings however, are commentary. This is different from journaling because I am trying to make it as practical as possible. From time to time I will post a commentary that has especially impacted me. Romans 11 for instance I have spent much time struggling over and meditating on. As a result I have many, many pages of devotional thought. Romans 8 was another chapter I spent dozens of pages of writing on. But the neat thing is the reward when it becomes time to move on. My commentaries are in no wise scholarly. I am reading scholarly work right now in Calvin's commentaries and find them very good. I don't know Greek or Hebrew but I do use my Greek dictionary whenever possible to get a fuller understanding of what that particular passage is trying to communicate. I find my time with the Lord is very satisfying. But this has not always been the case in my life.

-Joe