Reading the scriptures for yourself

Why are you reading the Bible? What are your motives? Simple questions to start off with before reading your Bible.
Do not get discouraged reading and studying your Bible. Pray that God will open your eyes to His truth and for His spirit to guide you. Don't get so caught up in the details that you lose focus of the main points in reading the scripture. The plain things are the main things, and the main things are the plain things. There will be a time to go back and do a thorough investigation. Read the entire chapter or book in context.  Ask yourself questions. Write them down. Do an honest investigation? If you cannot find an answer move on and come back to it later. Just remember, The plain things are the main things! You do not need a college degree to figure out how to read, or how to understand the Bible.
Was is not our heavenly Father  that was and is still speaking to us, His children? What good is a promise if we do not understand what it's about? Or a warning if it is shrouded in mystery?
If we are His children ( and we are! 1 John 3:1-2) then His spirit will guide us from infancy to maturity in all wisdom, knowledge, and truth. He is the Author and the one who spoke first in the beginning in a language that we could understand. (Therefore the human language is a divine gift.) It was the serpent who took the Holy Words of God and manipulated them and questioned the interpretation.

I'm not saying that we do not need help understanding the Word! We were told in James 1:5 "If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you." Teachers and preachers are called by God for this. It is a gift! Their job is not to give all the answers but too stimulate the mind of the student. What I am saying is to read the word of God for yourself so that you are not mislead; to discover for yourself, the God you say that you trust, love, and obey. To discover the blessings and promises of His Holy Word. The more you read the better you will understand, and the more you understand the stronger your relationship . Put what you read/learn into action. Let me give you an example from my own experience to why it's important to read the Bible.

Many things I grew up hearing concerning the Bible were false or added to make it sound more appealing! Like the three wise men at the nativity scene . The Bible never said there were three wise men but three gifts. Cliches like:  The Lord never gives us more than we can handle.. Or we become angels when we die. The Bible says we will be like the angels but not an angel. I want Gods truth, not man's attempt to sugar coat that which is already perfect!  But these things can only be found by reading it for yourself and discovering the truth. Believe me you cannot afford for someone else to be wrong! Because when it comes down to our final destination, it is you that will be held accountable. Excuses will not suffice.
The clarity of God's word:
Deuteronomy 30:11-14 NIV

Now what I am commanding you today is not too difficult for you or beyond your reach. It is not up in heaven, so that you have to ask, “Who will ascend into heaven to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” Nor is it beyond the sea, so that you have to ask, “Who will cross the sea to get it and proclaim it to us so we may obey it?” No, the word is very near you; it is in your mouth and in your heart so you may obey it.

De 30:11-14. The Commandment Is Manifest.

11-14. For this commandment … is not hidden … neither is it far off—That law of loving and obeying God, which was the subject of Moses' discourse, was well known to the Israelites. They could not plead ignorance of its existence and requirements. It was not concealed as an impenetrable mystery in heaven, for it had been revealed; nor was it carefully withheld from the people as a dangerous discovery; for the youngest and humblest of them were instructed in those truths, which were subjects of earnest study and research among the wisest and greatest of other nations. They were not under a necessity of undertaking long journeys or distant voyages, as many ancient sages did in quest of knowledge. They enjoyed the peculiar privilege of a familiar acquaintance with it. It was with them a subject of common conversation, engraven on their memories, and frequently explained and inculcated on their hearts. The apostle Paul (Ro 10:6-8) has applied this passage to the Gospel, for the law of Christ is substantially the same as that of Moses, only exhibited more clearly in its spiritual nature and extensive application; and, accompanied with the advantages of Gospel grace, it is practicable and easy.

Walking in the light, part 1 of 3

This is my very first Blog but here it goes. I am not a writer and I am limited in education. But, I do have something to say from time to time.
From the days of past till now, G-d has been building me up for His will. I feel and see now, I should be dead or at lease put to death for all the bad things I have done. But my Father stepped in and sent his son to take my place and He did, His name is "Yeshua HaMashiach" in English is Jesus the Messiah. God Himself took my place, WOW All Glory and Praise to the King of Kings
I have read the Bible as a book but never as a living word of G-d, This time has been different, I prayed for understanding of His word and that is what happen. No man teaching me the living word but the Holt Spirit. Now that is just what has been has been happening, I have been shown how to walk in the Light of G-D, to fellowship with Him. Only in the light of G-d will sin show up, to acknowledge, repent and ask for forgiveness. Sin shows up you didn't even know was there. Because when we are  in the dark, we can't see sin. You got to have the light to see. As the light of G-d becomes brighter in our spiritual life, He begins a process of purification, to cleann the stinking trash out of our life. When I am speaking in terms of trash, I am referring to James 4:1-3. A cleaning of the mind, body and spirit. G-d will have nothing to do with darkness or sin but He gave us a way to get rid of it. This is just the beginning of the process or should I say "part 1" ( Getting rid of the old self)
Part 2 is being born again in the spirit, to become childlike before G-d. This process is a building process. We start to learn how it is to be like a child submitting and receiving Love from our Father in heaven. As a child is dependent on His parents, we become dependent on G-d our Father. He starts teaching and forming our thoughts and lives with His living word. We latterly eat His words to grow. Soon after consuming His living word, we start to change and grow. There are 3 stages to this growth that I can simple put to words of understanding. Infant, teenager, and adult. This process is different from person to person. I am not going to go through each of those steps right now, but you get the point. Reference to ( Matthew 18:3, 1 Peter 2:2) and (Ephesians 4:15, 1 Corinthians) This is the end of part 1