~~Ancient Words, Fresh and New ~~

M’Cheyne One-Year Reading Plan

My church has us reading the Bible using M'Cheyne's one-year Bible reading plan. Here's a little bit about it if you are not familiar with it.

M'Cheyne will have you reading:

• the NT twice,
  
• the Psalms twice, and
  
• the rest of the OT once.

The plan begins with the four great beginnings or "births" of Scripture: Genesis 1 (beginning of the world), Ezra 1 (rebirth of Israel after her return from Babylonian exile), Matthew 1 (birth of the Messiah), Acts 1 (birth of the body of Christ).

Also available is D.A. Carson's For the Love of God (vol. 1 and vol. 2 are available--vols. 3 and 4 are forthcoming). Carson's introduction and preface--which includes a layout of the M'Cheyne calendar--you can find them available here for free online.

Robert M'Cheyne loved to sing the Scottish Metrical Psalms and mentions this in the introduction to his Bible Reading Calendar.

There's an on-line version of The Scottish Metrical Psalter on the web-site of Still Waters Revival Books
Look at the following page - http://www.swrb.com/newslett/actualnls/Psalter0.htm
Also they have some related music stuff on this page - http://www.swrb.com/music/psalm.htm

The Trinitarian Bible Society publish an ecclesiastical edition of the Metrical Psalms.

Lists of Psalters in various languages found at - http://members.aol.com/Puritanone/needps.html

You may also be interested in ......
The Genevan Psalter (with some MIDIs) - http://www.redeemer.on.ca/academics/polisci/psalter.html

It was in 1832 through reading The Sum of Saving Knowledge, generally appended to the Westminister Confession of Faith, that brought M'Cheyne to a clear understanding of the way of acceptance with God. Two years later he recorded in his diary, "Read in The Sum of Saving Knowledge, the work which I think first wrought a saving change in me. How gladly would I renew the reading of it, if that change might be carried on to perfection!"

I would also recommend along with the reading of your Bible, the Westminster Confession of Faith without a doubt! Never have I read/studied anything beside the Word of God such as this. Anymore I struggle having to pay for Bible Studies on the market today when this is available and written by such profound men. It is stout, I tell you, Stout!!

I am also reading "365 Days with Calvin" by Joel R. Beeke.

The sun is starting to fade on this very first day of the year 2009. Have YOU read your Bible or spent time at the foot of the cross? One of my favorite hymns is Ancient Words. Everytime I hear it my heart swells as my thoughts travel thru the Bible and what it means to me. May the Ancient Words become fresh and new to you, guiding you home, changing your heart, heed these words and hold them dear as they do resound with God's own heart.

ANCIENT WORDS
Holy words long preserved
For our walk in this world
They resound with God's own heart
O let the ancient words impart
Words of life, words of hope
Give us strength, help us cope
In this world, where'er we roam
Ancient words will guide us home
Chorus:
Ancient words, ever true
Changing me and changing you
We have come with open hearts
O let the ancient words impart
Holy words of our faith
Handed down to this age
Came to us through sacrifice
O heed the faithful words of Christ!
(The original lyric is "word of Christ", as I was referencing Col. 3:16)
Martyrs' blood stains each page
They have died for this faith
Hear them cry through the years,
"Heed these words and hold them dear!"

Walk in the Word and under the Word in this year of 2009.

God Bless you and yours!

Pam <><
1Tim. 1:15-17 NKJV