I am always looking for new Bible study books. I've got a couple shelves in my room, and a huge one in my closet, filled with books I've completed. There's a great one on the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7, and an excellent Beth Moore study entitled "Believing God", oh and several notebooks filled with handwritten copies of Psalms and my personal reflections. And I've got even more books that I'm dying to go through when I can find some time.
Along with countless other Christians, I am always on the search for some new profound discovery about God. Hungry to know Him more, we dig into the Bible and get help from some pretty brilliant scholars. That's not necessarily a bad thing, but I fear that in the process we forget already know the most profound thing...
"For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die. But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from wrath through Him. For if when we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life. And not only that, but we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received the reconciliation." - Romans 5:6-11
This Easter weekend isn't about egg hunts, bunnies, new dress shopping, and awesomely delicious dinners with family. It's for remembering the most profound Biblical truth - that God loves us and sent Jesus to die for us, and then defeated sin and death itself by resurrecting Him.
Thank you Abba Father for loving me so much!
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Sweeter Than Honey
Dad had to take off a Wednesday night recently to visit a church member in the hospital and left the lovely Mrs. Jane Garner in charge of the mid-week meeting. I absolutely adore her. If I didn't have such a great mentor in my mommy, I would want to be under the teaching of Mrs. Jane. She's so full of love for Christ and His church and she can also make me nearly fall out of my chair with excessive laughter. I want to be just like her when I grow up.
She is also full of love for God's word, which is what she taught about on Wednesday. And what she said really resonated with me. She read Psalm 119:97-104 and commented on the psalmist's words describing how he felt about the word of God. The primary idea was that he loved it. It wasn't just something he respected and read every morning with his coffee and bowl of Lucky Charms, it was something he treasured.
The psalmist also said that God's word is sweeter than honey to him. Now you can buy a bear-shaped bottle of honey for less than $2 at your nearest Walmart, but at the time this was written it was a rare treat. Instead of honey, I adore chocolate and my favorite TV show Chuck. But can I honestly say that God's word is more desirable and enjoyable to me than my beloved snack (that I probably already have too much of) and favorite story (which I may or may not be completely addicted to)?
Lately I've been incredibly busy at work with longer-than usual hours and several new responsibilities. Reading and meditating on my Bible has been a little less frequent and treated like a chore. But if I really, truly loved the word of God and desired it like this psalmist, I would have never gone a day without studying it. Through Mrs. Jane, God pointed out to me that night that my priorities have been a little off. And I'm so excited to see what God does when I really begin to treasure his word.
(Just to let you all know, you can be a better stalker now and follow my blog by email! Look to your right and follow the instructions!)
She is also full of love for God's word, which is what she taught about on Wednesday. And what she said really resonated with me. She read Psalm 119:97-104 and commented on the psalmist's words describing how he felt about the word of God. The primary idea was that he loved it. It wasn't just something he respected and read every morning with his coffee and bowl of Lucky Charms, it was something he treasured.
The psalmist also said that God's word is sweeter than honey to him. Now you can buy a bear-shaped bottle of honey for less than $2 at your nearest Walmart, but at the time this was written it was a rare treat. Instead of honey, I adore chocolate and my favorite TV show Chuck. But can I honestly say that God's word is more desirable and enjoyable to me than my beloved snack (that I probably already have too much of) and favorite story (which I may or may not be completely addicted to)?
Lately I've been incredibly busy at work with longer-than usual hours and several new responsibilities. Reading and meditating on my Bible has been a little less frequent and treated like a chore. But if I really, truly loved the word of God and desired it like this psalmist, I would have never gone a day without studying it. Through Mrs. Jane, God pointed out to me that night that my priorities have been a little off. And I'm so excited to see what God does when I really begin to treasure his word.
(Just to let you all know, you can be a better stalker now and follow my blog by email! Look to your right and follow the instructions!)
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
Fight
"...Remember the Lord, who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons and your daughters, your wives and your homes." - Nehemiah 4:14
So many times I've seen someone I love make a mistake that wound up being life altering. I hated it for them, but they knew they were wrong and probably needed to crash 'n burn in order to learn their lesson. After some effort to talk some sense into them, I would give up and hope they grow up.
But this quite passive attitude is completely unacceptable. I need to fight for them. Instead of fighting with a sword or bow and arrow like in my favorite action/adventure movie, I need to fight through prayer. The God who has promised to answer that prayer is "great and awesome," and has already proven Himself to me countless times.
Jeremiah 32:17 says "A Lord Jehovah! Behold You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for You." He holds all that power, so granting a little wisdom to a loved one would be no trouble at all for Him.
Psalm 62:11-12 says "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving." So not only does He have that strength, but He also loves His kids. When one of the kids He adores requests wisdom, guidance, or strength to do what's right, He's not going to hold it back!
Obviously, He is the one who holds all the power. My words of advice to a friend are only so potent. So what can I do? Fight. Get on my knees and fight. Remember MY Lord who is great and awesome and pray for this loved one. I'm going to pray for a miracle and expect a miracle. And then I'm going to excitedly praise His name when He does something awesome.
So many times I've seen someone I love make a mistake that wound up being life altering. I hated it for them, but they knew they were wrong and probably needed to crash 'n burn in order to learn their lesson. After some effort to talk some sense into them, I would give up and hope they grow up.
But this quite passive attitude is completely unacceptable. I need to fight for them. Instead of fighting with a sword or bow and arrow like in my favorite action/adventure movie, I need to fight through prayer. The God who has promised to answer that prayer is "great and awesome," and has already proven Himself to me countless times.
Jeremiah 32:17 says "A Lord Jehovah! Behold You have made the heavens and earth by Your great power and by Your outstretched arm; there is nothing too hard for You." He holds all that power, so granting a little wisdom to a loved one would be no trouble at all for Him.
Psalm 62:11-12 says "One thing God has spoken, two things have I heard: that You, O God, are strong, and that You, O Lord, are loving." So not only does He have that strength, but He also loves His kids. When one of the kids He adores requests wisdom, guidance, or strength to do what's right, He's not going to hold it back!
Obviously, He is the one who holds all the power. My words of advice to a friend are only so potent. So what can I do? Fight. Get on my knees and fight. Remember MY Lord who is great and awesome and pray for this loved one. I'm going to pray for a miracle and expect a miracle. And then I'm going to excitedly praise His name when He does something awesome.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Goodbye 2010!
Thank God 2010 is over! For a while, I thought it would never end! All in all, it's been a pretty great year for me. Sure, it was sprinkled with challenges and some heart-wrenching disappointments as any year. But I can say beyond a shadow of a doubt that God has blessed me abundantly in these 12 months. It's been so awesome that I simply couldn't move on to another goofy post before stopping to acknowledge some of the things He's done for me. Here's three of the main things that stick out to me this year...
1. Purchasing my new car! As my '95 Nissan Sentra was parked on its death bed, I had to car hunt in three of the hottest weeks of summer. After my first test drive, I was in love with a 2008 Toyota Corolla and God orchestrated the entire purchasing experience perfectly. I knew and trusted the only previous owner and got an excellent deal when I paid nearly half of the cost up front. I'm still in awe of how greatly it worked out!
2. Graduating with my Associates in Applied Science, Computer Information Technology! It took my nearly three years of schooling at Carteret Community College, but I finally left the place with a degree! I haven't done a single thing with it yet, but it's still a great accomplishment and the diploma looks awesome hanging on my wall. And because of the last two years there, I developed a good friendship with Katrina Barber.
3. Completing Beth Moore's Believing God study! It took me nearly twice as long as it should have to finally finish the study, but that's my own fault for being slow on it. The entire study seriously changed my life. My growth closer to God this year has been mostly due to Beth. It was so eye-opening and I can't thank God enough for bringing it to me. If you ever have the opportunity to do this study, please do not pass it up. You won't regret it.
Last year was good because of these three things and countless others and I am giddily looking forward to what God has in store for me this year. Jeremiah 29:11 says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" I've absolutely no idea what my future looks like in 2011 - where I'm going or what I'll to be doing - but I know it's going to be great and completely perfect for me. Because of Him, I can have hope. And I'm about to explode of it!
1. Purchasing my new car! As my '95 Nissan Sentra was parked on its death bed, I had to car hunt in three of the hottest weeks of summer. After my first test drive, I was in love with a 2008 Toyota Corolla and God orchestrated the entire purchasing experience perfectly. I knew and trusted the only previous owner and got an excellent deal when I paid nearly half of the cost up front. I'm still in awe of how greatly it worked out!
2. Graduating with my Associates in Applied Science, Computer Information Technology! It took my nearly three years of schooling at Carteret Community College, but I finally left the place with a degree! I haven't done a single thing with it yet, but it's still a great accomplishment and the diploma looks awesome hanging on my wall. And because of the last two years there, I developed a good friendship with Katrina Barber.
3. Completing Beth Moore's Believing God study! It took me nearly twice as long as it should have to finally finish the study, but that's my own fault for being slow on it. The entire study seriously changed my life. My growth closer to God this year has been mostly due to Beth. It was so eye-opening and I can't thank God enough for bringing it to me. If you ever have the opportunity to do this study, please do not pass it up. You won't regret it.
Last year was good because of these three things and countless others and I am giddily looking forward to what God has in store for me this year. Jeremiah 29:11 says "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" I've absolutely no idea what my future looks like in 2011 - where I'm going or what I'll to be doing - but I know it's going to be great and completely perfect for me. Because of Him, I can have hope. And I'm about to explode of it!
Friday, December 24, 2010
The Livestock's Christmas
On Sunday, we had a very interesting Bible study meeting. We deviated from our studies of the Sermon on the Mount to do a special Christmas story exercise. After reading the Christmas story from Luke 2, a few of us retold the story from the perspective of certain key characters. There was a retelling concerning Mary, Joseph, and the Shepherds as anyone would expect. But I was assigned the livestock. That's right, the livestock. Here's how I think it sorta went that first Christmas night...
It was like any normal evening in that Bethlehem stable. The cows, pigs, sheep, and goats were flinging yo mama jokes across the room. Every now and then one of the cows would have the audacity to say "Your girlfriend's a heifer!" to one of the other cows. The jumpy sheep were so happy that the angry cows were in their own stalls. When the pigs weren't being obnoxious, they would ask the other animals when the food was gonna get there.
Unexpectedly, the door was opened and their owner entered with no food, but rather a couple of unfamiliar humans. As they moved sluggishly past the pigs, they snorted that these tired and sweaty people smelled worse than they did a week after their baths. The shorter of the two with the higher-pitched voice patted the heads of the shy sheep who suddenly decided they may very well like the new people who settled themselves in the corner.
They soon noticed the unusual form of the short one and some of the animals became alarmed. They asked among themselves why she was so fat. "Maybe she is sick?" a cow inquired. The pigs selfishly began asking about food for the fifteenth time that day, and then the old grumpy goat in another corner glared at the annoying swine, saying "Maybe she ate too much bacon." If only you could have heard the chorus of the animals' laughter as the pigs grunted at the joke, but to Mary and Joseph's ears it sounded of only moo's and baa's.
The stable had been calm for a while as the animals enjoyed people-watching, but then the woman started to make some less than calming noises. As she got louder, the sheep scurried as far away as possible while the cows peered out of their stalls to see what was happening. They soon regretted that. Quickly, the stable became abuzz with animal chatter, saying...
"Oh my gosh, what's happening to the woman?"
"That's not normal, is it?"
"Is she broken?"
"OH! OH GROSS! MY EYES, MY EYES!!"
"Make it stop!! MAKE IT STOP!!"
"I'll have nightmares about this for weeks!"
"Where's my food?"
"What IS that wrinkly thing?!"
"It's gross! ...but cute!! ... but gross!"
"Why are they setting it in my food trough?!?!?!"
The chatter died down as the little human looked around at all the animals. Silence fell upon them and chills went down each of their spines when they realized this was something special. This was not a normal mini human. This... this was their Creator. The one who painted the spots on the cows, carefully designed the pigs' twisty tails, and formed the legs of the frolicking sheep. Even the grumpy old goat had to fight off tears of joy as he came face to face with God himself. Their only regret was that they couldn't follow him home and see what He was here to do.
I've no idea what went through the minds of those animals that night, but it is certainly fun to imagine. In all seriousness, please remember that Christmas isn't about Santa, food, and presents. It's about remembering God's gift to us - Salvation through Jesus. Merry Christmas, my friends!
It was like any normal evening in that Bethlehem stable. The cows, pigs, sheep, and goats were flinging yo mama jokes across the room. Every now and then one of the cows would have the audacity to say "Your girlfriend's a heifer!" to one of the other cows. The jumpy sheep were so happy that the angry cows were in their own stalls. When the pigs weren't being obnoxious, they would ask the other animals when the food was gonna get there.
Unexpectedly, the door was opened and their owner entered with no food, but rather a couple of unfamiliar humans. As they moved sluggishly past the pigs, they snorted that these tired and sweaty people smelled worse than they did a week after their baths. The shorter of the two with the higher-pitched voice patted the heads of the shy sheep who suddenly decided they may very well like the new people who settled themselves in the corner.
They soon noticed the unusual form of the short one and some of the animals became alarmed. They asked among themselves why she was so fat. "Maybe she is sick?" a cow inquired. The pigs selfishly began asking about food for the fifteenth time that day, and then the old grumpy goat in another corner glared at the annoying swine, saying "Maybe she ate too much bacon." If only you could have heard the chorus of the animals' laughter as the pigs grunted at the joke, but to Mary and Joseph's ears it sounded of only moo's and baa's.
The stable had been calm for a while as the animals enjoyed people-watching, but then the woman started to make some less than calming noises. As she got louder, the sheep scurried as far away as possible while the cows peered out of their stalls to see what was happening. They soon regretted that. Quickly, the stable became abuzz with animal chatter, saying...
"Oh my gosh, what's happening to the woman?"
"That's not normal, is it?"
"Is she broken?"
"OH! OH GROSS! MY EYES, MY EYES!!"
"Make it stop!! MAKE IT STOP!!"
"I'll have nightmares about this for weeks!"
"Where's my food?"
"What IS that wrinkly thing?!"
"It's gross! ...but cute!! ... but gross!"
"Why are they setting it in my food trough?!?!?!"
The chatter died down as the little human looked around at all the animals. Silence fell upon them and chills went down each of their spines when they realized this was something special. This was not a normal mini human. This... this was their Creator. The one who painted the spots on the cows, carefully designed the pigs' twisty tails, and formed the legs of the frolicking sheep. Even the grumpy old goat had to fight off tears of joy as he came face to face with God himself. Their only regret was that they couldn't follow him home and see what He was here to do.
I've no idea what went through the minds of those animals that night, but it is certainly fun to imagine. In all seriousness, please remember that Christmas isn't about Santa, food, and presents. It's about remembering God's gift to us - Salvation through Jesus. Merry Christmas, my friends!
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Thanksgiving!
It's almost THANKSGIVING!!! I cannot tell you how much I am looking forward to the days off work and the great feast of which I will soon partake. Oh, the turkey, stuffing, and freshly mashed potatoes covered in lakes of gravy! And the nap that follows such a feast will be heavenly. I'm giddy just thinking about it.
Often amidst the gigantic meal of pure deliciousness, I fear that the purpose of Thanksgiving is forgotten. It's supposed to be a time of thanks to God for all of His blessings. But this nearly nonexistent time of thanks shouldn't be on just one day a year, it should be a constant attitude for those who love Him. First Thessalonians's 5:18 says " Give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus." This isn't just a suggestion, it's His will for us! This is an attitude that His people need to be portraying always.
I like how that verse says "in all circumstances." We've all gone through times where thanking God is the very last thing on our minds. But I think it's in these moments where thanking God has the most power. Back in May of 2009, I was going through a time where nothing was going as I wished and I often complained to God about it in my journal. After our Sunday School lesson on thankfulness, I decided to make a list of things I was thankful for. This small list turned into multiple pages of things I was glad to have, ranging from serious to frivolous. But by the end of that list, God had pointed out countless things that I often take for granted. It totally changed my perspective from a whiny girl unhappy with her circumstances to a very thankful girl in awe of how Father in Heaven had so sweetly blessed her.
Just for fun, here's part of that list:
- My awesome cell phone (which isn't near as awesome as the Android phone I have now!)
- My Godly family
- School
- Blankets (I like being warm, but I probably have too many)
- Coffee
- Movie theaters
- Brownies
- My CAR!! (Although the Corolla is much nicer than the one I had then)
- Mountain Dew :)
- Flip flops
- My country (Sometimes it annoys me, but as written in this post, I'd rather be here than anywhere else)
This is what I wrote after the multi-page list:
"God, you've given me so many things. Please help me to be thankful for all these things I listed instead of sad about the things that aren't a part of this list. I don't deserve any of it, but you give it to me anyways. Father, help me to be overflowing in thankfulness."
My prayer above that I would always be thankful is the same one I have today. While it's deliciously great to have that giant meal, I don't want to be thankful just one day a year. God requires and deserves so much more than that.
Sunday, November 21, 2010
God Giggles
I am convinced that God likes humor. I know He often looks down on me and calls His angel buds over, saying "Look at my girl! Right there! She's absolutely ridiculous! I made her that way!" I'd like to think I bring God a giggle every now and then, maybe with my spontaneous singing of Disney Channel songs, my clumsiness that causes me to run into unsuspecting family members in the house hallway, or my awesome dancing to Owl City tunes (New single drops Tuesday! So excited!) as I'm driving down the highway at possibly higher-than-legal speeds. Well He probably doesn't laugh at the law breaking, but let's change the subject, shall we?
So why do I think God has a sense of humor? Well other than the fact that He made my dad, I think it shows up tons throughout the Bible but we don't take the time to notice it. For instance, check out Matthew chapter 7, particularly verses 39 and 40. A pharisee was complaining about Jesus under his breath, knowing that He wouldn't hear. Just imagine for a moment the look on the man's face when Jesus answered his muttered, incomprehensible complaint. I picture it as shock with his eyes wide and jaw dropped, wondering if maybe he'd gone crazy. This is one of those times when I wish I'd been a fly on the wall to see this man's attempt to regain composure after such a zing from Jesus.
Another part of the Bible that makes me laugh is Numbers 22:1-35. Balaam is traveling when his donkey notices an armed angel on the path before them. The donkey tries several tactics to stop Balaam, first by turning off the path, then running him into a wall, and finally by lying on the ground. Now, Balaam is walking with many officials of the region who are probably looking at him like he's an idiot. What kind of Bible time dude can't control his own donkey?! But then it gets even better. In verse 28, God opened the donkey's mouth and it begins talking to Balaam. Do you read of any shock or even a confused pause of the prophet? No! He carries on a whole conversation with a talking animal without a single stop to check his sanity! It absolutely cracks me up that this entire ordeal would not give him the least bit of alarm. Even though God was angry with Balaam at the moment, I've no doubt that He must have let out a laugh when He saw how his boy couldn't take a hint.
I also think God shows humor in nature. I mean, why else would He create the platypus? (You've no idea how hard I'm fighting to not burst out with the Perry the Platypus theme song right now) It's so weird, a mammal with a duck bill and beaver tail that lays eggs. My guess is the He made it just for fun and to give Himself a giggle. Which makes me wonder, what does a God giggle sound like?! Imma have to find that out eventually, because that has got to be absolutely epic.
So why do I think God has a sense of humor? Well other than the fact that He made my dad, I think it shows up tons throughout the Bible but we don't take the time to notice it. For instance, check out Matthew chapter 7, particularly verses 39 and 40. A pharisee was complaining about Jesus under his breath, knowing that He wouldn't hear. Just imagine for a moment the look on the man's face when Jesus answered his muttered, incomprehensible complaint. I picture it as shock with his eyes wide and jaw dropped, wondering if maybe he'd gone crazy. This is one of those times when I wish I'd been a fly on the wall to see this man's attempt to regain composure after such a zing from Jesus.
Another part of the Bible that makes me laugh is Numbers 22:1-35. Balaam is traveling when his donkey notices an armed angel on the path before them. The donkey tries several tactics to stop Balaam, first by turning off the path, then running him into a wall, and finally by lying on the ground. Now, Balaam is walking with many officials of the region who are probably looking at him like he's an idiot. What kind of Bible time dude can't control his own donkey?! But then it gets even better. In verse 28, God opened the donkey's mouth and it begins talking to Balaam. Do you read of any shock or even a confused pause of the prophet? No! He carries on a whole conversation with a talking animal without a single stop to check his sanity! It absolutely cracks me up that this entire ordeal would not give him the least bit of alarm. Even though God was angry with Balaam at the moment, I've no doubt that He must have let out a laugh when He saw how his boy couldn't take a hint.
I also think God shows humor in nature. I mean, why else would He create the platypus? (You've no idea how hard I'm fighting to not burst out with the Perry the Platypus theme song right now) It's so weird, a mammal with a duck bill and beaver tail that lays eggs. My guess is the He made it just for fun and to give Himself a giggle. Which makes me wonder, what does a God giggle sound like?! Imma have to find that out eventually, because that has got to be absolutely epic.
Tuesday, October 5, 2010
To Die Is Gain
After getting out of the shower Monday morning, I noticed there was a missed call on my cell phone. As usual, it was mom. I swear she always calls when I'm not available. So I called her back, expecting it to be a cute question on how to make something on her computer work. But she answered with the voice of one with a very heavy heart as she gave me some unexpected news.
An acquaintance from my high school days had been murdered over the weekend. I barely knew Jonathan, but the news still hit me hard. Everyone I know thought very highly of the young man who was participating in Youth and Family studies at a nearby Christian college.
I pulled a yearbook out of my closet and found his senior page decorated in pictures of him with his family and friends. Amidst the photos of good times was a verse, Psalm 56:11 "In God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Man did the very worst possible thing to him by taking his life. But what did that really do? That brought him immediately into the presence of the God he loved and lived his life for.
I'm reminded of Philippians 1:21, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." As much as I can remember and what I have heard of him tells me that Jonathan's life reflected Christ. He passionately followed God's leading in his life and wanted to help people as He instructed. But his death was not the loss of his life. Jonathan gained an eternal fellowship with God that I can't even begin to imagine. I mourn for his family, but I'm also rejoicing in the fact that he is face to face with his Creator and Savior at this very moment.
While I'm looking forward to being in God's presence as Jonathan is now, I am in no real hurry to get there. God had a plan for Jonathan's life, He fulfilled it, and He took Jonathan home. Apparently God still has a plan for my life, and when I complete it, then I will gain that face to face fellowship with the God that I love too.
Please pray for Jonathan's mom, dad, and little brother. I know they're relying on God during this time, but it's still going to be difficult for them. Thanks.
An acquaintance from my high school days had been murdered over the weekend. I barely knew Jonathan, but the news still hit me hard. Everyone I know thought very highly of the young man who was participating in Youth and Family studies at a nearby Christian college.
I pulled a yearbook out of my closet and found his senior page decorated in pictures of him with his family and friends. Amidst the photos of good times was a verse, Psalm 56:11 "In God I trust. I will not be afraid. What can man do to me?" Man did the very worst possible thing to him by taking his life. But what did that really do? That brought him immediately into the presence of the God he loved and lived his life for.
I'm reminded of Philippians 1:21, "To live is Christ, and to die is gain." As much as I can remember and what I have heard of him tells me that Jonathan's life reflected Christ. He passionately followed God's leading in his life and wanted to help people as He instructed. But his death was not the loss of his life. Jonathan gained an eternal fellowship with God that I can't even begin to imagine. I mourn for his family, but I'm also rejoicing in the fact that he is face to face with his Creator and Savior at this very moment.
While I'm looking forward to being in God's presence as Jonathan is now, I am in no real hurry to get there. God had a plan for Jonathan's life, He fulfilled it, and He took Jonathan home. Apparently God still has a plan for my life, and when I complete it, then I will gain that face to face fellowship with the God that I love too.
Please pray for Jonathan's mom, dad, and little brother. I know they're relying on God during this time, but it's still going to be difficult for them. Thanks.
Sunday, September 19, 2010
My New Fave
For years, my favorite story from the Old Testament was of the prophet Elijah and the showdown against the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. (I always think of it as caramel, and then it makes me hungry... why couldn't they have named it something not muchies-inducing?) I get such a kick out of his heckling the other priests in 1 Kings 18:27 saying, "Why won't your god answer? Maybe he's busy in the bathroom? Or maybe he's asleep?" And then at the end of the showdown, Elijah calls on God to consume an offering so drenched it would be impossible to put it on fire by any human means. And then God did. Just imagining the show gives me goosebumps.
But now one story has totally eclipsed this for me. Near the end of Beth Moore's study "Believing God," she discusses an amazing story of Israel found in Joshua 10 that I heard but never really thought about in detail. Earlier, God had instructed Israel to not make any pacts with local cities, but Israel had entered into one with their deceitful neighbor without consulting Him. Upon discovering this new pact with an undefeated nation, other nearby rulers banded together to attack the city who had befriended God's people. Israel had no choice but to honor the foolishly-made pact and come to the rescue of their neighbor.
Despite their foolishness, God had promised Joshua in verse 8 that they would have the victory in this battle. But after an all night march, they faced an uphill fight in unfamiliar territory. Half way through the battle after they had seen God take out many of the enemy with hail stones, the warrior and intelligent battle-strategist Joshua knew they would need a little more help in order to receive the victory he was promised. So he prayed something that very few people would have had the audacity to even think. In verse 12, he prayed that the sun would hold still and provide enough daylight to finish the fight. And God made it happen.
Oh how I want to be like Joshua! In the middle of a serious battle, he stopped to pray for something as bold and maybe ridiculous as the sun standing still. I cannot help but wonder how many warriors nearby heard him, said "Whaaaaaaaa?" and marked it as something too crazy for God to do. Yet God delighted in Josh's request in absolute faith and honored it. How often do we think a certain request is too big, too ridiculous, too impossible, or just that it's something God would never do? I don't want to doubt the ability of my God anymore. In faith, I'm going to pray big and expect Him to answer big.
Another thing I loved about this story was that even though Israel had made a big fat mistake, God did not force them to endure the consequences on their own. In my own life, I've messed up and think that God would say "You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out." That's a common thing people do, but I'm so glad that God is not like that at all. While we may have to face the consequences of our actions, He does not expect us to face them on our own. Just like He was with them and for them in a battle they should have never had to enter, he will also be with us and for us in the problems we get ourselves into. I don't know about you, but that's a huge comfort to me.
As a side note, this study that I've mentioned in several posts has been a life changing experience. I've grown so much closer to God throughout my weeks of study, and it's exciting to know that I've only just BEGUN to believe Him. I'm so beyond thrilled to see how God works in my life from here on out!
But now one story has totally eclipsed this for me. Near the end of Beth Moore's study "Believing God," she discusses an amazing story of Israel found in Joshua 10 that I heard but never really thought about in detail. Earlier, God had instructed Israel to not make any pacts with local cities, but Israel had entered into one with their deceitful neighbor without consulting Him. Upon discovering this new pact with an undefeated nation, other nearby rulers banded together to attack the city who had befriended God's people. Israel had no choice but to honor the foolishly-made pact and come to the rescue of their neighbor.
Despite their foolishness, God had promised Joshua in verse 8 that they would have the victory in this battle. But after an all night march, they faced an uphill fight in unfamiliar territory. Half way through the battle after they had seen God take out many of the enemy with hail stones, the warrior and intelligent battle-strategist Joshua knew they would need a little more help in order to receive the victory he was promised. So he prayed something that very few people would have had the audacity to even think. In verse 12, he prayed that the sun would hold still and provide enough daylight to finish the fight. And God made it happen.
Oh how I want to be like Joshua! In the middle of a serious battle, he stopped to pray for something as bold and maybe ridiculous as the sun standing still. I cannot help but wonder how many warriors nearby heard him, said "Whaaaaaaaa?" and marked it as something too crazy for God to do. Yet God delighted in Josh's request in absolute faith and honored it. How often do we think a certain request is too big, too ridiculous, too impossible, or just that it's something God would never do? I don't want to doubt the ability of my God anymore. In faith, I'm going to pray big and expect Him to answer big.
Another thing I loved about this story was that even though Israel had made a big fat mistake, God did not force them to endure the consequences on their own. In my own life, I've messed up and think that God would say "You got yourself into this mess, you get yourself out." That's a common thing people do, but I'm so glad that God is not like that at all. While we may have to face the consequences of our actions, He does not expect us to face them on our own. Just like He was with them and for them in a battle they should have never had to enter, he will also be with us and for us in the problems we get ourselves into. I don't know about you, but that's a huge comfort to me.
As a side note, this study that I've mentioned in several posts has been a life changing experience. I've grown so much closer to God throughout my weeks of study, and it's exciting to know that I've only just BEGUN to believe Him. I'm so beyond thrilled to see how God works in my life from here on out!
Sunday, August 15, 2010
Living With Little?
In light of my last post depicting my happiness about shopping, this article seemed ridiculous when I first read it. A couple in Oregon are living with 100 items each including clothes and other necessities. Just in my dresser I have probably 200 items already, so the idea of living with so little seemed insane. But what about all my beloved shoes?? What about my Psych DVD collection?? And oh my gosh, what about my bag full of makeup must-haves?!?!?! But upon further thought, it really doesn't sound all that bad.
In my Sunday School class, we've been talking about the costs of being a follower of Christ. One of those costs is that we "give up" all the possessions we have. (Luke 14:33) It does not necessarily mean that we are to walk through life with nothing but the clothes on our backs, but upon deeper study into my trusty lexicon, it means "our belongings being placed away from us into their proper category and not being permitted to be a part of us." So in essence, do not be attached to your possessions, and put them in their "proper category" so that your priorities remain in the right place.
And then today, Dad was preaching about being content with what we have instead of chasing satisfaction in things that cannot give it. Hebrews 13:5 says "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'" I cannot get satisfaction from the latest product of awesomeness and God has promised to care for me, so why do I bother seeking contentment in anything but Him?
All that being said, I don't think I'm gonna start living with 100 items alone. God has chosen to bless me with lotsa stuff to dust, and I don't want to waste it, haha! But what if I started spending less money on unnecessary and temporary things and focusing on God for my satisfaction? Not only would my life feel richer because I was closer to my Heavenly Father, but I would be able to save up for maybe a house later on in life and I would also have excess money to give to my church and to those who need help! Who really needs 20 pairs of shoes anyhow?
In my Sunday School class, we've been talking about the costs of being a follower of Christ. One of those costs is that we "give up" all the possessions we have. (Luke 14:33) It does not necessarily mean that we are to walk through life with nothing but the clothes on our backs, but upon deeper study into my trusty lexicon, it means "our belongings being placed away from us into their proper category and not being permitted to be a part of us." So in essence, do not be attached to your possessions, and put them in their "proper category" so that your priorities remain in the right place.
And then today, Dad was preaching about being content with what we have instead of chasing satisfaction in things that cannot give it. Hebrews 13:5 says "Let your character be free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you.'" I cannot get satisfaction from the latest product of awesomeness and God has promised to care for me, so why do I bother seeking contentment in anything but Him?
All that being said, I don't think I'm gonna start living with 100 items alone. God has chosen to bless me with lotsa stuff to dust, and I don't want to waste it, haha! But what if I started spending less money on unnecessary and temporary things and focusing on God for my satisfaction? Not only would my life feel richer because I was closer to my Heavenly Father, but I would be able to save up for maybe a house later on in life and I would also have excess money to give to my church and to those who need help! Who really needs 20 pairs of shoes anyhow?
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
What Am I Looking At?
A couple weeks ago, two thirds of my family took off to Myrtle Beach SC for a week long summer youth conference. This is only the second time in the last ten years that the bus full of luggage, teens and snacks has taken off without me. Although I did get to follow it down there a couple days later to rescue my mommy with a sore back. Nine hours of driving in my new car, baby. But the eye twitching in the last hour tells me that my limit should just be eight. Anyways, the few days of a silent house gave me a chance to remember several of the things I had learned while attending SeeSalt.
Yep, it's called SeeSalt. I know you're thinking "They spelled it wrong!" but no, it's intended to be that way. That, or they misspelled it while first creating the conference and never bothered to change it. But since the constant theme of the conference is being the light of the world and salt of the earth, Imma go with a purposeful misspelling. The conference is unique in more aspects then just its name though. Unlike many other youth conferences, they use no preaching in their evening worship services. At all. All of their messages are told through brilliant dramatic performances and it is quite effective. For someone like me who has grown up listening to sermons each Sunday, it's a refreshing change and always enjoyed it.
Every time I attended the conference, I came home having learned so much. While I could go on and on about all the various things I discovered, one of the things that has stayed with me is an interesting aspect of the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) that I never really considered before then. I forget the main point of the class I had heard this in, but the teacher went on to talk about how the Israelites were paralyzed in fear at the sight of the giant while young David confidently went to battle with him. She pointed out that the main issue the Israelites had was where they were placing their focus. While they were busy focusing on the size and muscle of the enemy, David was focusing on God and all His power. The people shook in their boots while David was peaceful and calm, knowing that their great and mighty God would give him the victory.
So who are we looking at? Who are we focusing on? Are we focusing on the problems standing before us ready to beat us to a bloody pulp? Or are we focusing on the God who has the power to use the abilities He gave us to defeat the threat? So often I get caught up in a paralyzing, dropped-jaw stare at the challenges facing me that I forget He promised He would take care of me no matter what. I need to divert my focus from the problems and place it on the ultimate Problem Solver. He's much bigger than my problem anyways, so why do I even bother wasting the time and energy by being scared of it? Apparently, that lesson is a little more difficult to learn than the ones at the conference.
Yep, it's called SeeSalt. I know you're thinking "They spelled it wrong!" but no, it's intended to be that way. That, or they misspelled it while first creating the conference and never bothered to change it. But since the constant theme of the conference is being the light of the world and salt of the earth, Imma go with a purposeful misspelling. The conference is unique in more aspects then just its name though. Unlike many other youth conferences, they use no preaching in their evening worship services. At all. All of their messages are told through brilliant dramatic performances and it is quite effective. For someone like me who has grown up listening to sermons each Sunday, it's a refreshing change and always enjoyed it.
Every time I attended the conference, I came home having learned so much. While I could go on and on about all the various things I discovered, one of the things that has stayed with me is an interesting aspect of the story of David and Goliath (1 Samuel 17) that I never really considered before then. I forget the main point of the class I had heard this in, but the teacher went on to talk about how the Israelites were paralyzed in fear at the sight of the giant while young David confidently went to battle with him. She pointed out that the main issue the Israelites had was where they were placing their focus. While they were busy focusing on the size and muscle of the enemy, David was focusing on God and all His power. The people shook in their boots while David was peaceful and calm, knowing that their great and mighty God would give him the victory.
So who are we looking at? Who are we focusing on? Are we focusing on the problems standing before us ready to beat us to a bloody pulp? Or are we focusing on the God who has the power to use the abilities He gave us to defeat the threat? So often I get caught up in a paralyzing, dropped-jaw stare at the challenges facing me that I forget He promised He would take care of me no matter what. I need to divert my focus from the problems and place it on the ultimate Problem Solver. He's much bigger than my problem anyways, so why do I even bother wasting the time and energy by being scared of it? Apparently, that lesson is a little more difficult to learn than the ones at the conference.
Monday, July 19, 2010
I Don't Do Mornings
Last Friday, my family took a mini vacation to the Outer Banks to see my mom's aunt at her cute little beach house in Cape Hatteras, and then up to Chesapeake to see some of my dad's side of the family. The trip was quite nice, except for the part where we had to get up at 4 am in order to make the first ferry from Cedar Island to Ocracoke. I didn't even know that 4 o'clock came twice a day until then.
When I was little, I would annoy my mom because I would wake up with the sun. I was always excited the start the day. Oh how silly I was! Now that I am older and more understanding of the value of sleep (and sleeping late), I take the beginning of Psalm 127:2 to heart, "It is vain for you to rise up early." Amen! I still have to work on the next part of the verse that talks about not staying up late... but I LOVE the last part that says "He gives His beloved sleep," so I try to take full advantage of that gift. I don't wanna waste it!
So yeah, I do not like mornings. I don't even want to be talked to until I've been awake for an hour, and no amount of coffee can change that one hour restriction. And if I am talked to, I respond in incomprehensible moans and growls. I discovered a verse recently that I think justifies this state of morning hatred in Proverbs 27:14, "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him." I seriously laughed when I first read this. God tries so hard to give us some common sense, don't He? Ok, so it doesn't completely justify my morning grouchies, but it warns perky morning people that evening people don't take kindly to sweet words in the early hours. If only people understood that!!!
I think that God Himself understands the horribleness of mornings. In Lamentations 3:22-23, it describes how His mercies are new each morning. Why should they be new each morning? Because He knows just how annoying they are, and therefore how much more we need those mercies! So am I irrational to think that mornings are so awful? According to the Bible, I think not!
Disclaimer: Yes, I know that I completely took some of these passages out of context and did not discuss their meanings correctly. But I know it got you thinkin'. ;)
When I was little, I would annoy my mom because I would wake up with the sun. I was always excited the start the day. Oh how silly I was! Now that I am older and more understanding of the value of sleep (and sleeping late), I take the beginning of Psalm 127:2 to heart, "It is vain for you to rise up early." Amen! I still have to work on the next part of the verse that talks about not staying up late... but I LOVE the last part that says "He gives His beloved sleep," so I try to take full advantage of that gift. I don't wanna waste it!
So yeah, I do not like mornings. I don't even want to be talked to until I've been awake for an hour, and no amount of coffee can change that one hour restriction. And if I am talked to, I respond in incomprehensible moans and growls. I discovered a verse recently that I think justifies this state of morning hatred in Proverbs 27:14, "He who blesses his friend with a loud voice, rising early in the morning, It will be counted a curse to him." I seriously laughed when I first read this. God tries so hard to give us some common sense, don't He? Ok, so it doesn't completely justify my morning grouchies, but it warns perky morning people that evening people don't take kindly to sweet words in the early hours. If only people understood that!!!
I think that God Himself understands the horribleness of mornings. In Lamentations 3:22-23, it describes how His mercies are new each morning. Why should they be new each morning? Because He knows just how annoying they are, and therefore how much more we need those mercies! So am I irrational to think that mornings are so awful? According to the Bible, I think not!
Disclaimer: Yes, I know that I completely took some of these passages out of context and did not discuss their meanings correctly. But I know it got you thinkin'. ;)
Monday, July 12, 2010
Being a Disciple of Christ
In my Sunday School class, we're starting a new study on what it means to be a disciple, or follower, of Christ. I've done this study before, but since we have a lot of fresh meat - Oh, I mean, new students in the class, we figured we would do this study again. Honestly, I have forgotten most of it, so it will be a great reminder for me.
We began Sunday morning by looking at Matthew 10:16-39, a portion of what Jesus told the twelve apostles after He called them to follow Him. You could consider this speech as the job description for these men. But unlike potential employers today who generally sugar coat everything and leave out the nasty aspects of each job, Jesus was brutally honest when laying out the pros and cons that apply to both the apostles at that time and to us now.
Jesus gave them many instructions, including have the wisdom of a snake but the gentleness of a dove, do not be worried about what to say, and beware of men but do not fear them. Love God more than family, and take up your cross to follow Him. All these warnings and the reference to a humiliating death doesn't sound too great, does it?
But Jesus also gave them some assurances. He said His Spirit would give them the words to say when they need them. He also gave them a heck of an encouragement in the comparison to sparrows in verses 29-31. Stating that the cheapest of birds are of concern to God, Jesus assured His audience that the God who cares for those birds cares so much more for them that He even keeps track of the number of hairs on their heads. So even though the instructions are difficult and intimidating, God is going to take care of them (and us) no matter what.
Accompanying those instructions and assurances are also some statements of what would happen to them. Jesus said they would be hated because of their association with Christ. They would also be brought to trial before kings, their families would be divided, and they may even suffer death for His sake. As a side note, the death and suffering thing generally does not happen where we are, and I am ever so thankful for that, but it is happening all over the globe to other followers of Christ who continue to follow in spite of the results.
If this were any standard job interview, I would be grabbing my stuff and running out the door at this point. Is the position difficult? Are the outcomes harsh? Yes and yes, but is it reasonable?? At first thought, one would think not. But upon considering all the pain and suffering Jesus endured for me, it quickly becomes a reasonable aspect of the position. Jesus gave His life for me, and in return I have surrendered my life to Him, so I should be willing to do anything He asks of me no matter the consequences.
So why would Jesus choose to discuss the horrible aspects of the job first while typical employers would hide such details? Because He has absolutely no use for sissy, fair weather followers who would grab their stuff and run out the door at the first sign of such trouble. He wants dedicated people who are totally sold out for Him. The position of a follower of Christ is no easy task, but it has undoubtedly worthwhile benefits. Verse 39 ends saying, "he who loses His life for My sake will find it." If you dedicate your life to Christ entirely, then He will give you eternal life in His presence. That's the golden parachute in addition to all the other perks that makes the job awesome. Now, where do I sign?
We began Sunday morning by looking at Matthew 10:16-39, a portion of what Jesus told the twelve apostles after He called them to follow Him. You could consider this speech as the job description for these men. But unlike potential employers today who generally sugar coat everything and leave out the nasty aspects of each job, Jesus was brutally honest when laying out the pros and cons that apply to both the apostles at that time and to us now.
Jesus gave them many instructions, including have the wisdom of a snake but the gentleness of a dove, do not be worried about what to say, and beware of men but do not fear them. Love God more than family, and take up your cross to follow Him. All these warnings and the reference to a humiliating death doesn't sound too great, does it?
But Jesus also gave them some assurances. He said His Spirit would give them the words to say when they need them. He also gave them a heck of an encouragement in the comparison to sparrows in verses 29-31. Stating that the cheapest of birds are of concern to God, Jesus assured His audience that the God who cares for those birds cares so much more for them that He even keeps track of the number of hairs on their heads. So even though the instructions are difficult and intimidating, God is going to take care of them (and us) no matter what.
Accompanying those instructions and assurances are also some statements of what would happen to them. Jesus said they would be hated because of their association with Christ. They would also be brought to trial before kings, their families would be divided, and they may even suffer death for His sake. As a side note, the death and suffering thing generally does not happen where we are, and I am ever so thankful for that, but it is happening all over the globe to other followers of Christ who continue to follow in spite of the results.
If this were any standard job interview, I would be grabbing my stuff and running out the door at this point. Is the position difficult? Are the outcomes harsh? Yes and yes, but is it reasonable?? At first thought, one would think not. But upon considering all the pain and suffering Jesus endured for me, it quickly becomes a reasonable aspect of the position. Jesus gave His life for me, and in return I have surrendered my life to Him, so I should be willing to do anything He asks of me no matter the consequences.
So why would Jesus choose to discuss the horrible aspects of the job first while typical employers would hide such details? Because He has absolutely no use for sissy, fair weather followers who would grab their stuff and run out the door at the first sign of such trouble. He wants dedicated people who are totally sold out for Him. The position of a follower of Christ is no easy task, but it has undoubtedly worthwhile benefits. Verse 39 ends saying, "he who loses His life for My sake will find it." If you dedicate your life to Christ entirely, then He will give you eternal life in His presence. That's the golden parachute in addition to all the other perks that makes the job awesome. Now, where do I sign?
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Resistance Is Futile
No, this post is not about Star Trek.
Ever had one of those days when God's trying to teach you something and you really don't want to learn it? You know what He's saying is true and important, but you want to cover your ears and sing "LALALALALALA" hoping to drown it out? Today was one of those many days for me.
It started out as any other Sunday morning at my little church. I got my coffee with a ridiculous amount of cream and sugar, and then kicked off my cute but uncomfortable shoes under the small table in our almost-as-small classroom, quickly settling into our normal routine. We chatted for a few minutes about our crazy week, then officially began the class as we shared prayer requests. And as always, I lead the prayer. But this morning, I spent a little more time asking God to teach us something today. ...Dangit.
It just so happened that this morning's lesson was about loving other people as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - one of mine, and I daresay everyone's most difficult challenges. I have absolutely no problem loving the people I like, but God calls us to love everybody. We make so many excuses to not show love to some people, and many of those excuses seem very legitimate from our point of view. As I mention this now, the name of someone you cannot easily love has popped into your head probably along with a long list of reasons. Just as it did in my head this morning. But your reasons and mine mean nothing to God.
You may be thinking that it's not humanly possible for you to love that certain somebody, much less everybody. And you are absolutely correct. But yet, God instructs Christians to love as Christ loved. (Ephesians 5:1-2) So how the heckins are we supposed to do that?! Something pretty awesome that I've learned about God over the years is that if He wants you to do something, He will give you the ability to do it. (Philippians 4:13) In fact, if you belong to Christ, you already have that ability! When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are given His Spirit, and one of the results of that is love. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I think that many times we are quite content in not loving certain people. It's simply easier to avoid them altogether and not put in the effort. But think about what would've happened had Christ not put in the effort for us? We would have remained in a state of hopelessness forever if He had not loved us enough to take the consequences for our sins upon Himself. So who are we to say who we will and will not love? God's love is freely offered to everyone and we need to be allowing His love to flow through us to everyone with whom we come in contact.
Like I said, this is a difficult challenge for me, and I'm sure that you would say the same thing if you were honest with yourself. But this was something very important that I really needed to be reminded of, and it's something I'm going to be working on, and I hope that you will too.
As a warning, don't ask God to teach you something unless you're really willing learn it! Because, my friend, resistance to God's instruction is futile. So much better than Star Trek, right?
Ever had one of those days when God's trying to teach you something and you really don't want to learn it? You know what He's saying is true and important, but you want to cover your ears and sing "LALALALALALA" hoping to drown it out? Today was one of those many days for me.
It started out as any other Sunday morning at my little church. I got my coffee with a ridiculous amount of cream and sugar, and then kicked off my cute but uncomfortable shoes under the small table in our almost-as-small classroom, quickly settling into our normal routine. We chatted for a few minutes about our crazy week, then officially began the class as we shared prayer requests. And as always, I lead the prayer. But this morning, I spent a little more time asking God to teach us something today. ...Dangit.
It just so happened that this morning's lesson was about loving other people as described in 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 - one of mine, and I daresay everyone's most difficult challenges. I have absolutely no problem loving the people I like, but God calls us to love everybody. We make so many excuses to not show love to some people, and many of those excuses seem very legitimate from our point of view. As I mention this now, the name of someone you cannot easily love has popped into your head probably along with a long list of reasons. Just as it did in my head this morning. But your reasons and mine mean nothing to God.
You may be thinking that it's not humanly possible for you to love that certain somebody, much less everybody. And you are absolutely correct. But yet, God instructs Christians to love as Christ loved. (Ephesians 5:1-2) So how the heckins are we supposed to do that?! Something pretty awesome that I've learned about God over the years is that if He wants you to do something, He will give you the ability to do it. (Philippians 4:13) In fact, if you belong to Christ, you already have that ability! When you accept Christ as your Savior, you are given His Spirit, and one of the results of that is love. (Galatians 5:22-23)
I think that many times we are quite content in not loving certain people. It's simply easier to avoid them altogether and not put in the effort. But think about what would've happened had Christ not put in the effort for us? We would have remained in a state of hopelessness forever if He had not loved us enough to take the consequences for our sins upon Himself. So who are we to say who we will and will not love? God's love is freely offered to everyone and we need to be allowing His love to flow through us to everyone with whom we come in contact.
Like I said, this is a difficult challenge for me, and I'm sure that you would say the same thing if you were honest with yourself. But this was something very important that I really needed to be reminded of, and it's something I'm going to be working on, and I hope that you will too.
As a warning, don't ask God to teach you something unless you're really willing learn it! Because, my friend, resistance to God's instruction is futile. So much better than Star Trek, right?
Friday, May 28, 2010
Hebrews 11
I'm still slowly working my way through Beth Moore's "Believing God" and I'm still loving it. Lately, we've been studying Hebrews 11, the "Faith Chapter" of the Bible. Beth is like the tour guide walking us down this long hallway and stopping at every portrait to explain exactly why these people have the honor of being mentioned in this famous chapter.
I remember being little and thinking these "heroes" of the Bible were so cool. My silly little mind pictured them walking through life as depicted in a stained glass window, so perfect and bright and always did the right thing. But upon further study, I discovered that this was definitely not the case.
Enoch, who was taken straight into the presence of God and spared from death, spent the first sixty-five years of his life apart from God. (Genesis 5:21-22) Abraham, who became the father of the Jewish nation, was a foolish liar. (Genesis 20:2) Moses, who lead the Jews out of captivity in Egypt, was a murderer. (Exodus 2:12) And Rahab, who saved her family from the destruction of Jericho, was a prostitute! (Joshua 2:1)
Their failures are part of the point of this chapter of faith. They weren't remembered because of their actions, because if they were, their bad actions would outweigh their good ones! But they are remembered for their faith in God. They believed that God is who He says He is and that He would do what He promised He would do. And because of that unwavering faith, God blessed them abundantly and used them for His greater purposes.
I dunno about you, but I am not perfect. I have committed more than my fair share of sins. But I find comfort in the fact that I am not alone. Not that I'm glad these Bible heroes messed up, but I'm glad to see that God does indeed use people despite their mistakes in life. He will reward continual faith in Him, and I don't want to miss out on that.
I remember being little and thinking these "heroes" of the Bible were so cool. My silly little mind pictured them walking through life as depicted in a stained glass window, so perfect and bright and always did the right thing. But upon further study, I discovered that this was definitely not the case.
Enoch, who was taken straight into the presence of God and spared from death, spent the first sixty-five years of his life apart from God. (Genesis 5:21-22) Abraham, who became the father of the Jewish nation, was a foolish liar. (Genesis 20:2) Moses, who lead the Jews out of captivity in Egypt, was a murderer. (Exodus 2:12) And Rahab, who saved her family from the destruction of Jericho, was a prostitute! (Joshua 2:1)
Their failures are part of the point of this chapter of faith. They weren't remembered because of their actions, because if they were, their bad actions would outweigh their good ones! But they are remembered for their faith in God. They believed that God is who He says He is and that He would do what He promised He would do. And because of that unwavering faith, God blessed them abundantly and used them for His greater purposes.
I dunno about you, but I am not perfect. I have committed more than my fair share of sins. But I find comfort in the fact that I am not alone. Not that I'm glad these Bible heroes messed up, but I'm glad to see that God does indeed use people despite their mistakes in life. He will reward continual faith in Him, and I don't want to miss out on that.
Sunday, May 2, 2010
More on Prayer
God has been teaching me so much lately! A lot of it is stuff I've known for the longest time, but He and reality have been slapping me in the face. In so many areas, I'm not practicing what I've studied. Most of the problems are in my prayer life, and I've already talked about it in my posts Believing God and Prayer's Pretty Awesome. But He continues to show me new things!
So when someone hurts a member of my family or one of my friends, I'm so quick to get angry and potentially violent. I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to drive to someone's house and punch them in the face. Yeah, I know you're shocked because I'm just too sweet to want to do something like that. Pardon me while I do my do my evil laugh... k I'm back. But I definitely have my violent tendencies when someone I love is hurt. Maybe that's partially due to the movies full of explosions that I love so much, I dunno.
Anyways, God pointed out to me today that my fight is not supposed to be against flesh and blood. It's supposed to be against evil forces. Instead of putting on my brass knuckles and preparing to make somebody sleep with the fishies, I need to put on the full armor of God and fight with prayer for my friend. Because it's not other people attacking my friends. It's the enemy and his nasty homies. My God is great and awesome and can fix a situation so much better than I can with duct tape and a cinder block. (Ephesians 6:12-18)
Instead of being quick to desire revenge, I need to be quick to prayer. And not just a "God bless so-and-so" generally heartless prayer, but specific petitions. I've seen recently how God does in fact answer prayers, so I can't help but wonder how many times people I love have suffered because I refused to come to God with prayers specifically about certain situations. Prayer and the God who hears it have sooo much power and I'm not taking advantage of it. And it's so stupid of me.
From now on, I want to daily use prayer to battle the enemy and defend my family and friends. It's gonna be like this epic battle scene at the end of Lord of the Rings, but instead of wielding a sword, I'm gonna use the power of prayer and watch as my amazing God slays the enemy before me. Though unlike that battle scene, we will win not because of our skills with an ax or bow, but because we trusted and relied on God and He gave us the victory.
So when someone hurts a member of my family or one of my friends, I'm so quick to get angry and potentially violent. I cannot tell you how many times I have wanted to drive to someone's house and punch them in the face. Yeah, I know you're shocked because I'm just too sweet to want to do something like that. Pardon me while I do my do my evil laugh... k I'm back. But I definitely have my violent tendencies when someone I love is hurt. Maybe that's partially due to the movies full of explosions that I love so much, I dunno.
Anyways, God pointed out to me today that my fight is not supposed to be against flesh and blood. It's supposed to be against evil forces. Instead of putting on my brass knuckles and preparing to make somebody sleep with the fishies, I need to put on the full armor of God and fight with prayer for my friend. Because it's not other people attacking my friends. It's the enemy and his nasty homies. My God is great and awesome and can fix a situation so much better than I can with duct tape and a cinder block. (Ephesians 6:12-18)
Instead of being quick to desire revenge, I need to be quick to prayer. And not just a "God bless so-and-so" generally heartless prayer, but specific petitions. I've seen recently how God does in fact answer prayers, so I can't help but wonder how many times people I love have suffered because I refused to come to God with prayers specifically about certain situations. Prayer and the God who hears it have sooo much power and I'm not taking advantage of it. And it's so stupid of me.
From now on, I want to daily use prayer to battle the enemy and defend my family and friends. It's gonna be like this epic battle scene at the end of Lord of the Rings, but instead of wielding a sword, I'm gonna use the power of prayer and watch as my amazing God slays the enemy before me. Though unlike that battle scene, we will win not because of our skills with an ax or bow, but because we trusted and relied on God and He gave us the victory.
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
New Cell Phone!
I will readily confess that I have been envying my dad's smart phone. It's such a snazzy phone with a touch screen, 8GB of space, and countless free apps. I've been planning that when costs go down on smart phone plans, I would get one like his because I simply could not swing an $80 cell phone bill right now.
So dad went into the Verizon store yesterday to ask about air cards for laptops, but noticed they were having a sahweet deal on those phones and adding smart phones to our existing plan. After about 20 minutes of playing phone tag, and talking myself into it while telling my boss about it, we decided to go for it.
Now I am the giddy owner of a brand new Droid Eris by HTC! I spent last night downloading a few must-have apps including the Facebook one and a Bible one with several versions and translations. Every Sunday, dad has the congregation hold up their Bibles as a subtle encouragement to bring them, and I'll be super happy to hold up my cell phone at that time! And then I transferred songs from my computer to my phone. I still have 7GB of free space that I haven't figured out what to do with yet.
I played with the texting last night and this morning, and it's going to take a while to get used to. This thing has touch screen keyboards, so I'll miss the cute little buttons on my other one. But I do loooove that I can play music and do other stuff on the phone at the same time! I can't multi task well, but this phone sure can!
I loved my little LG Banter. But this geek needed an upgrade.
So dad went into the Verizon store yesterday to ask about air cards for laptops, but noticed they were having a sahweet deal on those phones and adding smart phones to our existing plan. After about 20 minutes of playing phone tag, and talking myself into it while telling my boss about it, we decided to go for it.
Now I am the giddy owner of a brand new Droid Eris by HTC! I spent last night downloading a few must-have apps including the Facebook one and a Bible one with several versions and translations. Every Sunday, dad has the congregation hold up their Bibles as a subtle encouragement to bring them, and I'll be super happy to hold up my cell phone at that time! And then I transferred songs from my computer to my phone. I still have 7GB of free space that I haven't figured out what to do with yet.
I played with the texting last night and this morning, and it's going to take a while to get used to. This thing has touch screen keyboards, so I'll miss the cute little buttons on my other one. But I do loooove that I can play music and do other stuff on the phone at the same time! I can't multi task well, but this phone sure can!
I loved my little LG Banter. But this geek needed an upgrade.
Thursday, April 22, 2010
Prayer's Pretty Awesome
I just want to take a few moments to tell you what God is doing in my life right now. Last week, I had talked about the Believing God study and what I was learning through that, specifically that I can fully rely on His promises even when He answers my prayers with a "no." But today, God has reminded me that He does in fact answer prayers affirmatively!!
For the last several weeks, I had been praying that a friend of mine would accept Christ as her Savior. But last Sunday, I prayed for her at church with one of my sisters. Yesterday morning, I received a message from my friend saying that she got saved recently, and I can't thank God enough! This made me so happy, and that's a big deal because I'm never so happy ten minutes after waking up! Never!
Lately during Wednesday night prayer meetings, we have been walking through the church building praying that the rooms would be filled up with people, that those who come would have their socks blessed off, and whatever else that God lays on our hearts concerning those who darken our doorways. Last week, me and a couple of other people prayed in one of the women's Sunday school classrooms, and this past Sunday, they had a room absolutely full of ladies! (The teacher of the class said that next time we do the prayer walk, she wants us to go back to her room, haha!) Also, from my perch up in the sanctuary balcony, it seemed like there were more people in the building this Sunday than there had been the last few weeks. Coincidence? I think not!
I think that a lot of the time, we are like Peter's friends in Acts 12. Peter was in jail, and his friends prayed fervently for his release. But when Peter showed up at their doorstep, they responded "No way...... wait, really?" Many times, we pray for something, but don't really expect God to answer it. But I do not want to be like these loyal, but somewhat slow people. I want to be the person that immediately recognizes God's answer to my prayer and is overwhelmed with thanks!
We have a great big awesome God that is so ready and willing to bless our socks off. But I think that sometimes, He's just waiting for us to ask.
For the last several weeks, I had been praying that a friend of mine would accept Christ as her Savior. But last Sunday, I prayed for her at church with one of my sisters. Yesterday morning, I received a message from my friend saying that she got saved recently, and I can't thank God enough! This made me so happy, and that's a big deal because I'm never so happy ten minutes after waking up! Never!
Lately during Wednesday night prayer meetings, we have been walking through the church building praying that the rooms would be filled up with people, that those who come would have their socks blessed off, and whatever else that God lays on our hearts concerning those who darken our doorways. Last week, me and a couple of other people prayed in one of the women's Sunday school classrooms, and this past Sunday, they had a room absolutely full of ladies! (The teacher of the class said that next time we do the prayer walk, she wants us to go back to her room, haha!) Also, from my perch up in the sanctuary balcony, it seemed like there were more people in the building this Sunday than there had been the last few weeks. Coincidence? I think not!
I think that a lot of the time, we are like Peter's friends in Acts 12. Peter was in jail, and his friends prayed fervently for his release. But when Peter showed up at their doorstep, they responded "No way...... wait, really?" Many times, we pray for something, but don't really expect God to answer it. But I do not want to be like these loyal, but somewhat slow people. I want to be the person that immediately recognizes God's answer to my prayer and is overwhelmed with thanks!
We have a great big awesome God that is so ready and willing to bless our socks off. But I think that sometimes, He's just waiting for us to ask.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Believing God
An hour ago, I started typing up intellectual stuff about the Bible study I've been going through. My fingers went clickity-clickity across the keyboard making arrangements of letters pop up on my screen, but after two paragraphs, I realized that just wasn't working for me. So I backed up a few sentences and restarted. Then that didn't work for me either. Sitting in my bed, frustrated, my dad's simple words after every sermon flew through my brain... "Tell somebody what Jesus has done for you."
That said, this is what Jesus has done for me so far through this Bible study...
Through Beth Moore's study "Believing God," He has pointed out to me the disconnect between what I know as facts and how these facts are interacting with my life. My theology has been totally different from my reality. I KNOW that God is capable of miraculous things and is looking out for the best for me, but I haven't bothered to pray for anything miraculous in a loooooong time. To me, it was pointless because He would do whatever He thought was best whether I prayed for it or not. Why bother asking Him for anything, getting my expectations up when I may very well be disappointed? So I spared myself the disappointment and pretty much never brought any requests before Him.
Until just a couple weeks ago.
With the last year of politics leading up to a critical vote in congress concerning new laws that I thought could very well destroy the nation I love, I was sick to my stomach in worry. In the twenty-four hours before the vote, I finally took these worries to God, telling Him my fears although He already fully knew them. Moments before the vote, I passionately prayed that God would do wonders either on Capitol Hill or within my own life.
At the end of that prayer, I felt such a peace that I can't even begin to explain. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that He would take care of me no matter what happened in Washington that night. But it wasn't like the careless and cluesless knowledge that He would care for me as described before. No, this was total peace and confidence in His promises to me, and it was so ridiculously refreshing. As I logged onto my laptop and saw the news that the potentially nation-crippling bill had passed, I found myself still at peace trusting the God who was in charge, not disappointed in Him because it didn't go the way I wanted.
Two days later, dad brought in the mail at lunchtime and tossed an envelope in my lap. Curious, I opened it to find an unexpected check addressed to me for a big church thing I taught a class for weeks ago. With my jaw dropped, I did a happy dance in the inside... that might or might not had migrated to the outside. An hour later, I went to work where I was given yet another envelope. A random appreciation card from my bosses held a walmart gift card. Again, my happy dance took over, but then I stopped as an idea suddenly struck me. In an unnecessary response to my prayers two days before, God had proven to me that He was going to personally care for me. I nearly fell to the floor in thankful tears.
One intense instance of total belief in God resulted in Him pouring out His blessings upon me. In the last several years, what have I missed out on because I had not been exercising trust in Him? I may never know. But I do know that I don't want to miss out on that ever again.
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