Gò0dNews for Everyone
Listen
by Bill Fortenberry
T
he Bible is God talking to me personally. I will, therefore,
second person as if God were talking to me personally: Bill, I
listen to it carefully and obey it fully. And I will endeavor
want you to pay attention to your gates. You are a gatekeeper.
to internalize it in my life by doing four things: I will
Then, I made a third pass at my journal and extracted
know it in my head by diligent study; I will stow it in my heart by
the thoughts into first-person action points. I will not watch
memorization and meditation; I will show it in my life by obeying
television, movies, or videos that cause me to think negatively,
its teachings; and I will sow it in my world by witnessing.
to fear, or pull me away from God. I will not listen to music or
I have recited those words almost weekly for more than
podcasts or read articles or books that do those things.
five years, but I don’t think I truly understood them until this year. Each year, I read the Bible through from Genesis to Revelation or chronologically. Last year, I added journaling to that daily discipline, underlining and writing notes in the margin of a new Bible with the idea that I would give it to my son at Christmas. I wanted him to have God’s Word in his hand with notes and prayers that I had made in my handwriting. The idea came when I found some old recipes that my sweet mama had copied into a notebook and onto index cards. I immediately recognized her handwriting, and it brought tears to my eyes. Thanks to today’s digital world, my kids don’t have
It took me a few days to go back over what I had already journaled, but God’s voice was loud and clear. All
many things in my handwriting. What better way to give
Scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for doctrine, reproof,
them something than to journal in a Bible just for them? This
for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be
year, I’m doing the same for my daughter.
perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.
But this year brought an unexpected bonus: God pointed out themes in the Old Testament that kept
The Bible is God talking to me personally. He wants me to listen and take action.
resurfacing. I told others about them. Those same themes showed up in the sermon podcasts I listen to. God was telling me something. a notch. I went back through my notes and wrote down the recurring themes. From there, I rewrote the Scripture in
20 // September 2020
About The Author
To make sure I didn’t miss it, I took my journaling up
Bill Fortenberry worked 17 years as a newspaper reporter, editor and columnist, and has worked in healthcare communications since 2001. Bill serves as the chairman of the board of managers of Haven Health Clinic for Women and is a men’s ministry leader and small group facilitator at his church, HBC Rome. He and his wife, Lisa, have two children, Ethan and Autumn. A storyteller at heart, Bill writes an occasional blog at kudzudad.blogspot.com.
