August Bible Reading Plan

THE PLAN FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST WILL BE TO READ ROMANS CHAPTER 8 EACH DAY!

THANK YOU, dear friends, for reading these daily devotionals I’ve been posting month-by-month this year. It has not always been easy to keep up with my writing, but I’m blessed in being privileged to share with you. I would much appreciate your prayers that I might be, and remain, Spirit-motivated and led in the endeavor.

In recent weeks, I’ve struggled to formulate a plan and theme for the month of August. I was toying with a daily reading of Galatians 5:16-26 with the theme of “walking by the spirit.” Then I thought to focus on heaven for the month, and correspondingly write daily devotionals drawn from the many Scripture passages related to that. I had other thoughts to do something related to “triumphing through trials” or a reading plan through the book of Philippians. But none of those plans seemed to fit.

These are exceptional times in which we live, unlike any that we older folks have ever witnessed before. Things are changing fast and there is a lot of uncertainty in our world. But there is no uncertainty with God or with His plan and purpose for His creation or for His children. That being said, for the month of August, the focus will be on Romans chapter eight. It’s a chapter that is all about certainty-and assurance and security and triumph in the Lord Jesus! It deals with several of the themes that I was already considering.

Let me otherwise try to encourage you in this plan. Martin Luther once said of this chapter, “If the Bible were a ring, then Romans would be the gem that enhanced the ring… and Romans 8 would be the brilliant splendor that emanated from that ring.”

As many of you know, I wrote a little book for our Ugandan friends entitled “First Steps with Jesus.” Having been translated into Lugandan, we distributed hundreds of copies in the region in which we have ministered. Because of the way the book was printed, there were to be a couple of blank pages in that back of the book. So, rather than leave them blank, I added Romans Chapter 8 (in Lugandan) to the last pages. I chose this chapter because of its ability to instruct and encourage us in so many wonderful truths. Unsurprisingly, it includes several of the most memorized of Scripture passages.

Finally, Charles G. Trumbull surveyed the chapter this way: “The eight of Romans has become peculiarly precious to me, beginning with ‘no condemnation,’ ending with ‘no separation,’ and in between, ‘no defeat.’ This wondrous chapter sets forth the gospel and plan of salvation; the life of freedom and victory; the hopelessness of the natural man and the righteousness of the born again; the indwelling of Christ and the Holy Spirit; the resurrection of the body and blessed hope of Christ’s return; the working together of all things for our good; every tense of the Christian life, past, present, and future; and the glorious, climactic song of triumph, no separation in time or eternity ‘from the love of God which is in Jesus Christ our Lord’.”

As you are reading this, would you now please take a moment to pray for me? Thank you so much for your help and your partnership in this! May God work to lead and encourage us all in these needy, yet opportune, times.

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Author: looking2jesus13

Jerry L. Conklin was born and raised in Hillsboro, Oregon. After graduating from high school, he enlisted in the United States Navy and served for six years in the Navy’s Nuclear Power Program. He was assigned to the USS *Omaha* (SSN-692), a nuclear-powered fast-attack submarine, where he served as a reactor-plant electrical operator. His military service took him to ports and locations throughout the world and provided extensive technical training, leadership experience, and an enduring appreciation for those who serve in the Armed Forces. Following his Navy service, Jerry earned a bachelor’s degree in Nuclear Technology from Thomas Edison State University. He worked at the Trojan Nuclear Plant near Rainier, Oregon, first as a reactor operator and later as a training specialist. After sensing God’s call to pastoral ministry, he left the nuclear-power industry and earned a master’s degree in theology from Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon. Jerry served for twenty-seven and a half years as senior pastor of Lewis and Clark Bible Church in Astoria, Oregon. During those years, he preached and taught the Scriptures, provided pastoral counseling, performed weddings and memorial services, trained church leaders, and served individuals and families throughout the community. He also served as a fire department chaplain and participated in a variety of community ministries. After retiring from full-time pastoral ministry, Jerry and his wife, Laura, moved to Heppner, Oregon. There he served for approximately four years as a chaplain with Pioneer Memorial Home Health and Hospice, providing spiritual and emotional support to more than 150 patients and their families. In 2023, the Oregon Association for Home Care honored him as its Chaplain of the Year. Jerry also helped establish South Morrow County Seniors Matter, a nonprofit organization created to address the needs of older adults following the COVID-19 pandemic. As chairman, he worked with community leaders and volunteers to develop a weekly senior meal program, a monthly veterans’ lunch, and other activities and services. The organization served hundreds of seniors, mobilized more than 200 volunteers, and received statewide and national recognition. In 2025, Jerry was named Heppner’s Man of the Year, and his community service was later recognized by United States Senator Jeff Merkley. International missions have also been an important part of Jerry’s ministry. He has made ten trips to Uganda, where he has taught at pastors’ conferences, preached in churches, participated in Bible-school graduations, distributed Bibles and Christian materials, and encouraged local pastors and ministry leaders. He developed the discipleship booklet *First Steps with Jesus* to help new believers understand and grow in their faith. Jerry is the author of numerous books, Bible studies, devotionals, and teaching resources, including works centered on prayer, Christian hope, spiritual growth, and the person of Jesus Christ. His decades of preaching and teaching reflect his commitment to presenting biblical truth clearly, practically, and faithfully. Jerry and Laura were married for nearly forty-two years and raised four children. They were also blessed with three grandchildren. Laura passed away in August 2025 following an eight-and-a-half-year battle with cancer. Jerry currently lives in Hillsboro, where he helps care for his elderly father. He continues to preach, teach, write, and serve others through pastoral and community ministry.

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