Wow. That title made it sound like a chore. Like I am excited to be done with it. Like it is a horrific thing I am finishing and moving on. It wasn't anything like that. It was so far from that I can't even explain it. What we did wasn't extraordinary. It wasn't remarkable or amazing. But in 2014 we did something in our family that I honestly did not believe we could do.
We read the Bible all the way through as a family.
Was the first paragraph some un-fancy build-up then you thought "THAT is what she is excited about?" We didn't go deep sea diving. We didn't climb the tallest mountain (or with my knee, even the smallest of hills). We didn't go zip lining through a rain forest. We didn't go on a mission trip to help save orphans or feed families. But...
we read the Bible all the way through as a family.
I am not tooting our own horns. I'm really not. Other families have done far more amazing things for humanity and the planet. This really shouldn't be that big of a deal, but it is to me.
This is what I learned.
1) We can do it! I had no doubt that the hubs or I could do it. We have both read through the Bible before a couple of times. We just never have together.
2) If we put our minds to it and it is important enough to us, we can do something long-term. Sometimes we have these brilliant ideas and they last two weeks. Sometimes we say we will do it but it never gets farther than the discussion. Like organization. Or Bible study together. Or cleaning and organization.
3) It is important. Not only did it carve a few minutes of time every night to family only time, we were focusing on God's word during that time. It wasn't a selfish time, or a time to just spend together because we have to. It was time well spent. A quiet time with family and God.
4) My kids heard the Word. Sure, they hear it often throughout the week, at Sunday School and church or in books we read at home. They also heard it every single night. This ensured it. (Disclaimer: it wasn't every single night for 365 nights, but it was probably at LEAST 350+ of those nights. If we missed a night we made it up next day, except the week of Hayley's wedding - we might have missed 3-4 nights then, but we made it up.)
5) My kids not only heard the Word, they WANTED to hear the Word. I thought we would have to practically pull teeth to get them to sit through it every night. NO. Not even the 18/19 year old complained. He may not have always wanted to sit there, but not one complaint came from his mouth. Even the littles waited for that time. They looked forward to that time to sit down and cuddle with mama and dad and big bro before going to bed. If I ever said "time for bed" and we hadn't read yet, they were quick to say "after the Bible, right?".
6) Reading this Book all the way through from start to finish gave us a broader picture. In Sunday School, you hear the "important" stories. Adam and Eve; Moses; Samson; Kings Saul, David, & Solomon; Jesus; Paul. They are all important stories, don't get me wrong. But they don't give you the big picture. They don't help you see that since the fall of man, we have a God who is lovingly and painstakingly trying to woo us back to Him. You don't see that throughout history, He has been building up, story by story and brick by brick, to our redemption and restoration. Reading it page by page, story by story, my kids have a better understanding of what the Word is, who God is, and who they are in His story.
7) Hearing the Word of God out of your children's mouths is amazing. A was a good reader. She has been since the moment the reading light bulb came on. However, reading from the Bible, I honestly believe, has helped her become an even better reader. What is more precious than hearing your 7/8 year old read Scripture? Or how about that 5 year old who can't read yet, or is barely reading now, but wants so badly to "read it" that you take the extra time to read a half sentence and have him say it back? P.R.E.C.I.O.U.S.
Sure, there was a LOT they didn't understand. Shoot, there is a LOT I don't understand. But they have heard it. They craved it. They have hidden it in their hearts. I pray that this first reading was the first tiny seed of many seeds in years to come that fall on good soil and produce a great crop (Others, like seed sown on good soil, hear the word, accept it, and produce a crop - some thirty, some sixty, some a hundred times what was sown." Mark 4:20). I pray that it was a foundation for their daily reading of the Word in many days and years to come.
Sure, reading the Bible all the way through in a year isn't something that people are amazed by and that some would even call foolish. However, it honestly was the best thing we have ever done. I didn't write this post so people would think "YAY Traver fam!" I didn't writ it so people can be amazed at our feat (and for us it was a feat!!). I wrote it so you can know that with small children it IS possible if you really want to do it AND So I can remember in years to come why I felt so blessed at the end of this year.
A truth quote has been floating around Facebook. I believe this wholeheartedly so I am going to end this post with this anonymous thought:
"If we don't teach our children to follow Christ, the world will teach them not to."
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible Study. Show all posts
Thursday, January 1, 2015
Tuesday, April 29, 2014
The Day I Paid Attention
I fancy myself as fairly intelligent. I mean I am no rocket scientist. I definitely won't ever win a Nobel Prize for
anything. When it comes to certain
topics (or subjects in school) I definitely freeze, or my eyes glaze over. But for the most part, I THINK I am at or
just slightly above average intelligence (until said subjects are the topic of
conversation).
I used to think when it came to the Bible that I was fairly
knowledgeable, but I certainly knew there was so much more I didn't
understand. It seems as though when I
read a familiar passage, I understand.
Until one day I read it with a fresh set of eyes, or a different
mindset, or I really pay attention to what I read.
And one day it happened.
I read Matthew 6:9-13, and this time I really paid attention. The Lord's
Prayer. I have read and recited this
prayer so many times in my life that I don't even have to pay attention if I
don't want to. It is as ingrained into
my memory as the alphabet song is.
Our Father in heaven,
Hallowed be Your name.
Your kingdom come.
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts,
As we forgive our debtors.
And do not lead us into temptation,
But deliver us from the evil one.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. Amen.
Great prayer, right?
After all, Jesus spoke this prayer.
He taught this prayer. So I have
recited it all my life. It wasn't until
recently that I realized I hadn't been paying attention.
Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name ~ great start,
right? Holy is His name, praising Him
right from the start. I can do it.
Your kingdom come, Your will be done, on earth as it is in
heaven. Do we really mean this? I think we think we do, but do we act like
this is really what we want? Do we
understand that sometimes His will is not what we expect? That it may not be what we want? Then we think, "God. How can You do this to me? This is not what I wanted." Yet until we align our hearts and our minds with
His heart and His mind, our will won't be His will. We need to think on things as He does, feel
about things as He feels, have a heart for those He does. We need to align our will with His. Then we can ask Him for what we want, because
we will want what He wants.
Give us this day our daily bread. Ouch this one hurts. It doesn't say "Give us this day our
daily bread and the daily bread of those who are living in poverty." It doesn't say "Give us this day our
daily bread, regardless of whose back had to be broken for me to get
it." It doesn't say, "Give us
this day our daily bread and give it in extreme abundance; in
excess." It says give us what we
need daily. So why does my home, why
does my life, why do my jeans show excess and extreme abundance?
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. This one by far is the scariest notion of
all. I used to skim over this one,
"Yes, please God, help me forgive others as You so graciously forgave
me." It was like a goal for me to
shoot for. Some days I might be able to
do it, others not so much. Then I sat
down and really read it. I mean R. E. A.
L. L. Y. read it. And forgive us our
debts, as WE FORGIVE OTHERS.
Wait...what? Forgive me the way I
forgive others? Suddenly this is no
longer a goal I should shoot for. What
if God did forgive me as I forgive others?
What would that look like? Some
days that means He wouldn't forgive me at all.
Or He would say He forgave me, but He wouldn't act like it. And He would bring it up, at least in His
mind if not verbally, every chance He got.
And do not lead us into temptation, but deliver us from the
evil one. God allows us to be
tempted. I am not sure He, Himself leads
us there, but we certainly find ourselves there. God loves us each so very much. He wants to know how much we love Him. He
wants to see how strong our faith is.
Sometimes perhaps He allows it so WE can see how strong our faith
is. 1 Corinthians 10:13 reads: No
temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is
faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but
with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to
bear it.
For Yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory
forever. My eyes are opened. I understand now, I am paying attention now,
to what you taught me to pray. Forgive
me, Lord, for not having a heart after You, for living in excess while others
live in poverty, for not forgiving others as I would want you to forgive me. Thank you for delivering me from the evil one
and making a way of escape; please help me take that escape. Yours truly is the kingdom. Yours truly is the power. And Yours truly is the glory forever and
ever. Amen.
Friday, November 29, 2013
Minimally and Missionally
Over the last two years I have really been desiring to downsize and the last two months desiring to even go as far as living minimalistically (is it a word??) as I can. I am doing a Bible study by Jen Hatmaker called Interrupted and in it are some incredibly horrifying statistics. Ones I knew, but never really thought about deeply. Ones that I am embarrassed by. Not in a "I hate America" kind of way, because I don't. I love my country. I know that God blessed us abundantly. I am eternally grateful for that. However I am personally embarrassed to be contributing to the consumerism, materialism, and overabundance while there are people struggling to survive the day.
In her study, Jen noted:
How can I say I am a Christ follower if 1) I can't honestly say I do in every instance where He says "follow Me", 2) I don't feed his sheep spiritually and physically, and 3) I don't, on a daily basis, practice the religion that God accepts as pure and faultless {Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27} (NIV).
I am also in the final weeks of a study, also by Jen Hatmaker, called "7: an experimental mutiny against excess." In it, you do a "fast" of sorts against the excess of 7 different topics - clothes, shopping, waste, stress, media, possessions, and food. I can tell you that I have been impacted greatly by this study. It has just reinforced my desire to live more simply with fewer things. I know that people come on hard times. I know of the Great Depression, I know of the bad recession in the 80s, I know that we have been living in a recession now. We tend to put away or store up for ourselves after we come through something like that, for future times. However, God tells us in His Word: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21(NIV)
I believe that if able, a savings account is a good thing. One that allows you to weather small emergencies and provides a little peace of mind. What I don't think we should do is store up in abundance, whether it be money or material items, when there are people all around us in our country or overseas who could benefit from what we have stored up. And if we invest in ourselves by storing up large amounts of money or material goods, then our heart lies in those goods. It also means that we don't trust God to provide what we need. If we save a little but give the rest away to those are needing it, we have invested in God's people and are storing up treasures in heaven.
I don't believe it is easy to be able to invest in others and give what they need if I continue to fill my home with trinkets and gadgets and watchamadoohippies.
I wrote the first five paragraphs yesterday, then had to save it and come back later. Last night I was tired and while Hayley and the girls watched Despicable Me 2 downstairs I came up and fell asleep fairly early. The unfortunate thing is that I woke up just before 1:00 a.m. and was awake for the day. God took that time that I should have been sleeping and used it to get me thinking. How does living minimally look for me? What changes do I need to make? If I make these changes, will it allow me to then live more missionally? To invest more in others; to give what they need. I believe that God used this time this morning to show me that it can be done, that I can start down this path and make a difference. He put dreams in my heart and thoughts in my mind. I brainstormed and studied His word and Jen's word. I started brainstorming what living minimally and missionally meant in my life. When the sun was starting to come out I went on the back patio to watch the clouds and the sun and the mountains and I studied some more.
This time in Thailand has been good for me so far (other than a few small issues). I have been able to see what Hayley has been doing here and that has been a great privilege. I also feel this week has been sort of a retreat. With the holiday, we have had quite a bit of down time Wednesday afternoon, most of Thursday, and basically all of today. I have had time to sit and think, to brainstorm ideas for what God has laid upon my heart, and to just spend more time studying His word. It doesn't hurt at all that part of that time I am doing that, I am staring up into some of His beautiful creation. I feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to jump back into life as we know it when I get back home.
I am excited to start some of the things I have been planning. I am excited to share these with my kiddos and the hubs. I imagine it will be hard for them to comprehend at first - it will seem crazy - but I believe that in the long run we will be more fulfilled and more Christ-like in our living.
_______________________________________________________________
Hatmaker, Jen. Interrupted. Nashville, TN.: Lifeway Press. 2012. Print
Holy Bible, New International Version. www.biblegateway.com. Web. November 28-29, 2013.
In her study, Jen noted:
- 40% of the world lacks basic water sanitation, resulting in disease, death, waste water for drinking, and loss of immunity; Americans spent $16 BILLION on bottled water in 2008.
- We spend more annually on trash bags than nearly half the world spends on all goods combined.
- 1/3 of all American families own three cars; 8% of the REST OF THE WORLD owns a car.
- Roughly 40 million people die annually from starvation, disease, and malnutrition; 65% of US adults and 15% of children and adolescents are overweight or obese.
- The US makes up 5% of the global population, but we consume 25% of the world's oil, 20 million barrels of oil a day; next is China at just 6.9 million a day.
- When a group of leaders from developing nations begged US government leaders to explore intervention options for their countries in crisis, a US official was quoted as saying: "The American lifestyle is not up for negotiation." (Hatmaker, p 23)
How can I say I am a Christ follower if 1) I can't honestly say I do in every instance where He says "follow Me", 2) I don't feed his sheep spiritually and physically, and 3) I don't, on a daily basis, practice the religion that God accepts as pure and faultless {Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world. James 1:27} (NIV).
I am also in the final weeks of a study, also by Jen Hatmaker, called "7: an experimental mutiny against excess." In it, you do a "fast" of sorts against the excess of 7 different topics - clothes, shopping, waste, stress, media, possessions, and food. I can tell you that I have been impacted greatly by this study. It has just reinforced my desire to live more simply with fewer things. I know that people come on hard times. I know of the Great Depression, I know of the bad recession in the 80s, I know that we have been living in a recession now. We tend to put away or store up for ourselves after we come through something like that, for future times. However, God tells us in His Word: "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21(NIV)
I believe that if able, a savings account is a good thing. One that allows you to weather small emergencies and provides a little peace of mind. What I don't think we should do is store up in abundance, whether it be money or material items, when there are people all around us in our country or overseas who could benefit from what we have stored up. And if we invest in ourselves by storing up large amounts of money or material goods, then our heart lies in those goods. It also means that we don't trust God to provide what we need. If we save a little but give the rest away to those are needing it, we have invested in God's people and are storing up treasures in heaven.
I don't believe it is easy to be able to invest in others and give what they need if I continue to fill my home with trinkets and gadgets and watchamadoohippies.
I wrote the first five paragraphs yesterday, then had to save it and come back later. Last night I was tired and while Hayley and the girls watched Despicable Me 2 downstairs I came up and fell asleep fairly early. The unfortunate thing is that I woke up just before 1:00 a.m. and was awake for the day. God took that time that I should have been sleeping and used it to get me thinking. How does living minimally look for me? What changes do I need to make? If I make these changes, will it allow me to then live more missionally? To invest more in others; to give what they need. I believe that God used this time this morning to show me that it can be done, that I can start down this path and make a difference. He put dreams in my heart and thoughts in my mind. I brainstormed and studied His word and Jen's word. I started brainstorming what living minimally and missionally meant in my life. When the sun was starting to come out I went on the back patio to watch the clouds and the sun and the mountains and I studied some more.
This time in Thailand has been good for me so far (other than a few small issues). I have been able to see what Hayley has been doing here and that has been a great privilege. I also feel this week has been sort of a retreat. With the holiday, we have had quite a bit of down time Wednesday afternoon, most of Thursday, and basically all of today. I have had time to sit and think, to brainstorm ideas for what God has laid upon my heart, and to just spend more time studying His word. It doesn't hurt at all that part of that time I am doing that, I am staring up into some of His beautiful creation. I feel relaxed, rejuvenated, and ready to jump back into life as we know it when I get back home.
I am excited to start some of the things I have been planning. I am excited to share these with my kiddos and the hubs. I imagine it will be hard for them to comprehend at first - it will seem crazy - but I believe that in the long run we will be more fulfilled and more Christ-like in our living.
_______________________________________________________________
Hatmaker, Jen. Interrupted. Nashville, TN.: Lifeway Press. 2012. Print
Holy Bible, New International Version. www.biblegateway.com. Web. November 28-29, 2013.
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Spiritual Warfare
It is real. It isn't some made up Hollywood trick to make a movie scarier. It isn't something someone made up to make a story seem wilder. Spiritual warfare can take on many forms. I don't even know how many. It can be dark spirits, rustling around in the trees near an African orphanage. It can be that voice in your head that tells you to hurt yourself. It can be that thought you have that you are not good enough, that you don't measure up, that you might as well give up. It can be that unclean thought about your neighbor, a friend, a stranger. It can be a voice telling you that you cannot win.
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
But I tell you right now, that regardless of the hold spiritual warfare has on your life, on my life, that God can defeat it.
I have been suffering from attacks from Satan on my mind since August. I have briefly written about it in the past. I am not proud of them; I don't really want to talk about them. But I feel like writing this out helps vanquish them. For a while, Satan was getting the best of me. I let him tell me that I didn't measure up. I wasn't good enough to do Women's Ministry (and I am not, but through Christ I can do all things). I chose the wrong path to stay home with my kids. That I was a bad mother, a bad wife, a bad daughter, a bad friend. In fact I have no friends. I have no one on my side. I'm surrounded by people in this house, but I am all alone. I'm surrounded by people in this town, but I am all alone. My kids aren't safe. I'm ruining them. They could be hurt or worse. My life is a lie.
Can you see the funk I was in? Can you see where I allowed Satan to deceive me with lies, and I accepted it as truth? It didn't start out this way. How did it get so far? Because I accepted one lie as truth. When Satan saw he could deceive me like this, and I wouldn't fight back, he fed me another. And another. And another. Until all I was having for breakfast was lies. He attacked me in my most vulnerable places ~ my self-worth and my children.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 8:44 - ...He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
I have been trying to battle my way out and it is getting better. Because I do know these are all lies that Satan ~ the father of lies ~ tells me. I KNOW THAT. But I was doing nothing to take control of my mind back.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep. So after watching one and a half episodes of Monk and still not sleeping, I decided to get up and do my Bible Study. I am currently working on The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian. I started working on this because I know my prayer life is not what it should be. I want so much to be a prayer warrior, someone who can just easily slip in and out of conversation with God, so much so that it is one day long conversation like I would with a friend or family member that was hanging out all day.
Guess what today's topic was?? "Lord, She Me How to Take Control of My Mind". Not kidding. She talks about a weekend she had all to herself that she was planning to have some quiet time and get writing done. Sounds like a heavenly weekend to me! But Satan ruined her weekend by attacking her mind in such a way that she was literally paralyzed to do anything about it.
Have you been there? I have. Recently.
She fasted, waiting for God to speak to her, and very early on Sunday morning such a great anxiety laid on her that she began to pray and read her Bible. In Isaiah 61:3, she read "...the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." NIV reads Isaiah 61:1-3 as:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
At that moment she began praising God and spoke His word out loud. She rebuked the enemy and thanked God. She said, "Then, as clearly as I have ever felt anything, I sensed the dark, heavy blanket of spiritual oppression lift."
So it is possible to defeat the war being waged in our minds. It is possible to overcome Satan's lies with God's truth. God has given us His word ~ His promise ~ that He will defeat Satan in our lives for us if we let Him. He gives us power and authority to overcome the enemy.
Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
1 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
There are so many other scriptures that speak of how God gives us what we need to defeat Satan. We cannot do it alone; only through God and His word can we be set free. If you are hearing or believing Satan's lies ~ claim God's promises for you. Renew your mind. Take captive every thought, every lie. Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). And pray. Pray that God will vanquish the lies from your life. Pray that God will vanquish the lies from someone else's life.
And if you will, pray for Megan. Pray for Hayley. Pray for me. We are beautiful in God's sight. We will win, because Christ has already won.
Father - I ask that you help Megan, Hayley, and so many others, including me, see Satan's lies for what they are. Help us not to conform to the pattern of this world but help us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have been taught to put off our old selves and that we are new in Christ. Help us see others and ourselves as you see us. You know our thoughts Lord. I ask that you break the pattern of worthless thinking and you set us free from the evil one's lies. Help us fight with the divine power you have given us to demolish the devil's strongholds in our minds. Help us take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. Your word is alive and active and is sharper than any double-edged sword. Keep our minds focused on You and Your Word. Place a hedge of protection around Megan, please guard her heart and mind from the enemy. Place a hedge of protection around Hayley. She is about to do great things in Your kingdom's work and the enemy is trying to attack her and tell her she cannot win. But she has already won, because You have already won. Lord, guard my heart and my mind so that I rebuke Satan's lies in my life. And God there are others who are listening to Satan's lies and don't even know it. Lord, give them the discernment to know they are his lies and help them defeat the stronghold in their lives. In Your holy power and name I give you praise this morning. Amen.
Ephesians 6:12 - For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
But I tell you right now, that regardless of the hold spiritual warfare has on your life, on my life, that God can defeat it.
I have been suffering from attacks from Satan on my mind since August. I have briefly written about it in the past. I am not proud of them; I don't really want to talk about them. But I feel like writing this out helps vanquish them. For a while, Satan was getting the best of me. I let him tell me that I didn't measure up. I wasn't good enough to do Women's Ministry (and I am not, but through Christ I can do all things). I chose the wrong path to stay home with my kids. That I was a bad mother, a bad wife, a bad daughter, a bad friend. In fact I have no friends. I have no one on my side. I'm surrounded by people in this house, but I am all alone. I'm surrounded by people in this town, but I am all alone. My kids aren't safe. I'm ruining them. They could be hurt or worse. My life is a lie.
Can you see the funk I was in? Can you see where I allowed Satan to deceive me with lies, and I accepted it as truth? It didn't start out this way. How did it get so far? Because I accepted one lie as truth. When Satan saw he could deceive me like this, and I wouldn't fight back, he fed me another. And another. And another. Until all I was having for breakfast was lies. He attacked me in my most vulnerable places ~ my self-worth and my children.
1 Peter 5:8 - Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.
John 8:44 - ...He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
I have been trying to battle my way out and it is getting better. Because I do know these are all lies that Satan ~ the father of lies ~ tells me. I KNOW THAT. But I was doing nothing to take control of my mind back.
I woke up at 3:30 this morning and could not go back to sleep. So after watching one and a half episodes of Monk and still not sleeping, I decided to get up and do my Bible Study. I am currently working on The Power of a Praying Woman by Stormie Omartian. I started working on this because I know my prayer life is not what it should be. I want so much to be a prayer warrior, someone who can just easily slip in and out of conversation with God, so much so that it is one day long conversation like I would with a friend or family member that was hanging out all day.
Guess what today's topic was?? "Lord, She Me How to Take Control of My Mind". Not kidding. She talks about a weekend she had all to herself that she was planning to have some quiet time and get writing done. Sounds like a heavenly weekend to me! But Satan ruined her weekend by attacking her mind in such a way that she was literally paralyzed to do anything about it.
Have you been there? I have. Recently.
She fasted, waiting for God to speak to her, and very early on Sunday morning such a great anxiety laid on her that she began to pray and read her Bible. In Isaiah 61:3, she read "...the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness..." NIV reads Isaiah 61:1-3 as:
The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion—
to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of joy
instead of mourning,and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.
They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.
At that moment she began praising God and spoke His word out loud. She rebuked the enemy and thanked God. She said, "Then, as clearly as I have ever felt anything, I sensed the dark, heavy blanket of spiritual oppression lift."
So it is possible to defeat the war being waged in our minds. It is possible to overcome Satan's lies with God's truth. God has given us His word ~ His promise ~ that He will defeat Satan in our lives for us if we let Him. He gives us power and authority to overcome the enemy.
Luke 10:19 - I have given you authority to trample on snakes and scorpions and to overcome all the power of the enemy; nothing will harm you.
1 Corinthians 10:3-5 - For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does. The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.
Romans 12:2 - Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.
Hebrews 4:12 - For the word of God is alive and active. Sharper than any double-edged sword, it penetrates even to dividing soul and spirit, joints and marrow; it judges the thoughts and attitudes of the heart.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.
Isaiah 26:3 - You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Ephesians 4:22-24 - You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self, which is being corrupted by its deceitful desires; to be made new in the attitude of your minds; and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.
There are so many other scriptures that speak of how God gives us what we need to defeat Satan. We cannot do it alone; only through God and His word can we be set free. If you are hearing or believing Satan's lies ~ claim God's promises for you. Renew your mind. Take captive every thought, every lie. Put on the armor of God (Ephesians 6:13-18). And pray. Pray that God will vanquish the lies from your life. Pray that God will vanquish the lies from someone else's life.
And if you will, pray for Megan. Pray for Hayley. Pray for me. We are beautiful in God's sight. We will win, because Christ has already won.
Father - I ask that you help Megan, Hayley, and so many others, including me, see Satan's lies for what they are. Help us not to conform to the pattern of this world but help us be transformed by the renewing of our minds. We have been taught to put off our old selves and that we are new in Christ. Help us see others and ourselves as you see us. You know our thoughts Lord. I ask that you break the pattern of worthless thinking and you set us free from the evil one's lies. Help us fight with the divine power you have given us to demolish the devil's strongholds in our minds. Help us take captive every thought and make it obedient to Christ. Your word is alive and active and is sharper than any double-edged sword. Keep our minds focused on You and Your Word. Place a hedge of protection around Megan, please guard her heart and mind from the enemy. Place a hedge of protection around Hayley. She is about to do great things in Your kingdom's work and the enemy is trying to attack her and tell her she cannot win. But she has already won, because You have already won. Lord, guard my heart and my mind so that I rebuke Satan's lies in my life. And God there are others who are listening to Satan's lies and don't even know it. Lord, give them the discernment to know they are his lies and help them defeat the stronghold in their lives. In Your holy power and name I give you praise this morning. Amen.
Wednesday, May 2, 2012
The Glory Test
A friend of mine posted a while back "Seeking how to apply 1 Corinthians chapter 10...". I decided to study that chapter to see what I could learn and why she chose this particular chapter. I'm totally loving the new ways I learned to study the Bible. I can't say that I know the honest and true answer, but for me in this time, the answer is the Glory Test.
Chapter 10 is broken into 3 categories, which at first glance, seem unrelated. 1 - Warnings from Israel's history, 2 - Idol feasts and the Lord's Supper, and 3 - the Believer's Freedom. However when you really study, they are very much related.
God was with Israel in her beginnings. She was His chosen people. When He led them out of Egypt, He accompanied them in a pillar of cloud. He brought them through the red sea, yet He was displeased with them. They practiced idolatry, were sexually immoral, they tested God's patience, and they grumbled or complained about God's provisions. God punished them then used their punishment to teach us how to act.
In the second section, he goes back to idolatry. You can't practice idolatry and seek the Lord. He again mentions Israel and her actions as a warning. To pursue idolatry is to arouse the Lord's jealousy. You must choose God or gods.
There are times in our lives that we believe because we are saved or because we are free that we can do whatever we want. Maybe there isn't anything stopping us or maybe there is and we choose to ignore it. Sometimes we think we can do this one thing and because we are saved we will be forgiven. But as children of God, that couldn't be further from God's plan for our lives. Sure, He will forgive us if we are truly repentent of our actions. As His chosen children, we should live our lives in a manner becoming of the King. We shouldn't have the desires to do those things for which we know in advance we need forgiveness. Truly saved means throwing out our past (but learning from the mistakes) and living a new life in Christ.
That is where the Glory Test comes in. To ensure we don't make the same mistakes Israel did, and all the generations before us, we have to live each day running the Glory Test. How do we ensure that we are not practicing idolatry? Or that we are not acting sexually immoral? Or that we are not testing Christ or God? Or that we are not grumbling (really?? now I am in trouble)?? What is the Glory Test? It is 1 Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Seems easy enough, right?? As mentioned in verse 13, "...And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." So when you are doing/saying something (or about to do/say something), you aren't sure it passes the Glory test (which means NO!!), and you hear this still, small voice to STOP, it is God giving you an out. Take it!
I am sure running the Glory Test will be the hardest thing I do all week. But to live for Christ is the only way to truly live. So I am challenging myself this week, month, year to ask before I do something or say something - is this idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, or grumbling? CAN I HONESTLY SAY THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO IS ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD? If I cannot say yes, then I need to rethink my actions or my word.
Does this mean I cannot watch MU football? I mean how can that be to God's glory? I don't believe God is saying we cannot enjoy ourselves, but if our actions do not bring God glory, then we need to take a long, hard look. So as long as my words and actions are pure and good while watching my fave sports team and I am not putting this game before God, I can bring God glory. So basically...it's a good thing MU is going to the SEC. Otherwise I could have honestly not watched MU/KU (at any sport), because as James tells us, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." And honestly, now I know I must run the Glory Test to ensure I do not fall into the traps in which the Israelites fell and be punished.
The Glory Test. The hardest test I'll ever have to take. But the most rewarding. To God be the glory, forever and ever Amen.
{Mizzou-rah!!}
Chapter 10 is broken into 3 categories, which at first glance, seem unrelated. 1 - Warnings from Israel's history, 2 - Idol feasts and the Lord's Supper, and 3 - the Believer's Freedom. However when you really study, they are very much related.
God was with Israel in her beginnings. She was His chosen people. When He led them out of Egypt, He accompanied them in a pillar of cloud. He brought them through the red sea, yet He was displeased with them. They practiced idolatry, were sexually immoral, they tested God's patience, and they grumbled or complained about God's provisions. God punished them then used their punishment to teach us how to act.
In the second section, he goes back to idolatry. You can't practice idolatry and seek the Lord. He again mentions Israel and her actions as a warning. To pursue idolatry is to arouse the Lord's jealousy. You must choose God or gods.
There are times in our lives that we believe because we are saved or because we are free that we can do whatever we want. Maybe there isn't anything stopping us or maybe there is and we choose to ignore it. Sometimes we think we can do this one thing and because we are saved we will be forgiven. But as children of God, that couldn't be further from God's plan for our lives. Sure, He will forgive us if we are truly repentent of our actions. As His chosen children, we should live our lives in a manner becoming of the King. We shouldn't have the desires to do those things for which we know in advance we need forgiveness. Truly saved means throwing out our past (but learning from the mistakes) and living a new life in Christ.
That is where the Glory Test comes in. To ensure we don't make the same mistakes Israel did, and all the generations before us, we have to live each day running the Glory Test. How do we ensure that we are not practicing idolatry? Or that we are not acting sexually immoral? Or that we are not testing Christ or God? Or that we are not grumbling (really?? now I am in trouble)?? What is the Glory Test? It is 1 Corinthians 10:31 - So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Seems easy enough, right?? As mentioned in verse 13, "...And God is faithful; He will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, He will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." So when you are doing/saying something (or about to do/say something), you aren't sure it passes the Glory test (which means NO!!), and you hear this still, small voice to STOP, it is God giving you an out. Take it!
I am sure running the Glory Test will be the hardest thing I do all week. But to live for Christ is the only way to truly live. So I am challenging myself this week, month, year to ask before I do something or say something - is this idolatry, sexual immorality, testing God, or grumbling? CAN I HONESTLY SAY THAT WHAT I AM ABOUT TO DO IS ALL FOR THE GLORY OF GOD? If I cannot say yes, then I need to rethink my actions or my word.
Does this mean I cannot watch MU football? I mean how can that be to God's glory? I don't believe God is saying we cannot enjoy ourselves, but if our actions do not bring God glory, then we need to take a long, hard look. So as long as my words and actions are pure and good while watching my fave sports team and I am not putting this game before God, I can bring God glory. So basically...it's a good thing MU is going to the SEC. Otherwise I could have honestly not watched MU/KU (at any sport), because as James tells us, "If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them." And honestly, now I know I must run the Glory Test to ensure I do not fall into the traps in which the Israelites fell and be punished.
The Glory Test. The hardest test I'll ever have to take. But the most rewarding. To God be the glory, forever and ever Amen.
{Mizzou-rah!!}
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Remember Lot's Wife! (and Lot)
I was reading my Bible tonight, studying Genesis chapter 19. It is a story we all know, but I felt compelled to really study it tonight. Even though I know this story, tonight it felt particularly harsh. It pointed a light into my dark corner of the world and showed me places where I am so much like Lot and so much like his wife, and so very little like Abraham.
We start out in verses 1-3 with Lot welcoming the angels of the Lord into Sodom. The said they would stay in the town square but Lot insisted they go with him to his house. And why? Because even Lot knew the wickedness of his city and it was demonstrated throughout verses 4-14. Lot even demonstrates some wickedness of his own by saying, "No, my friends" and offering up what he saw as a lesser evil when he offered his daughters. To completely understand what he offered, we have to remember that when girls/women had been with a man but not married to him, she was considered unworthy and unredemptive (see 2 Samuel 13). Regardless of his wicked ways, the angels of the Lord sought to save Lot from the coming destruction because of God's promise to Abraham. They told him what was coming and how to escape. What does Lot do? At first he hesitates. Then he tries to bargain with them.
Eventually Lot does as he is told and he, his wife, and his daughters flee the city. On the way, Lot's wife turns around and she becomes a pillar of salt. When you read this you might say why on earth did she turn around?
These 29 verses can pack a punch if you really stop and meditate on them. When I chose this section of scripture, I thought it was going to be a lesson of not looking back on evil with fondness, but it is so much more.
1. Why do we live in such wickedness, knowing it is wickedness? Lot knew he lived in it but didn't do anything about it. Yet he acted almost embarrassed of the situation when the angels appeared.
2. When we live in this world and allow the world and its wickedness to take control, we find we are a friend of this world. When Lot tried to discourage those who were trying to get to the angels, he said, "No, my friends..." Then he offered up his daughters (see notes above).
3. When we find ourselves in trouble, God tries to rescue us as He did Lot. Verse 16 reads: "When he hesitated, the men grasped his hand and the hands of his wife and of his two daughters and led them safely out of the city, for the Lord was merciful to them." Lot hesitated. God was giving him a way out of the coming destruction, and he hesitated. But in so many aspects of our lives, we hesitate when God tries to save us. God is merciful to us as well, if we allow Him to be.
4. Lot finally was led out of Sodom, but then disagreed with the angels on where he should go. God's angels listened to Lot, but could have easily said never mind to him. We read about how ridiculous Lot is to argue with them, but how many times in our lives do we say yes to God, but then try to manipulate the plan, the will, or the outcome?
5. After fleeing the city, Lot's wife turned around and became a pillar of salt. The Amplified Bible says this about verse 26: "Lot's wife not only 'looked back' to where her heart's interests were, but she lingered behind; and probably overtaken by the fire and brimstone, her dead body became encrusted with salt...".
6. Luke 17:20-37 mentions Lot's wife as well. Jesus is talking about the coming of the Kingdom of God and tells the Pharisees to "Remember Lot's wife!" How frightening on that day to think as God's Kingdom is coming, that some of us might be like Lot's wife and look back to where our heart's interests are.
It scares me to think of where my heart lies. Will I be embarrassed of where my life is if an angel of the Lord visits? If God tries to save me, will I hesitate or argue? If Christ returns in my lifetime, will I "look back"? Where are my heart's interests?
It is time to stop sitting in this wickedness and turn my heart and its interests and desires toward kingdom things.
I want to be like Abraham in verse 29 "...he remembered Abraham..." and behold God's promises He makes to me.
Father God - I thank You for the opportunity to come before Your presence. You are an awesome God and I praise You. Lord I ask that you make my heart's interests what interests You. I ask that You make my heart to be like Your heart. I want to know You, to love You, and to be that light that always points to You. Forgive me Father when I fail to do or be those things. Forgive me when I am easily led astray. Lord I ask that I make Your will my will and that I not try to make my will Your will. I pray for my children Lord, that they will know and love You and they will seek to do Your will. I pray each person who knows You that they will also turn their hearts to You. I pray that those who do not know You will hear of the good news. Help me be Your hands and feet and the tool You use to reach a hurting world. I love You so much and it is in Jesus' precious name that I pray. Amen.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
New Bible Study
I started a new Bible Study with Little Girl yesterday while Little man was napping. I was pretty excited about starting it. It is a 52 session study on people in the Bible. It is meant for Sunday Schools, but can be adapted to Home School. And before anyone gets in an uproar about the latest decision...NOPE it is not a decision I am making. I am not up to the task of home schooling. However, I am up to the task of studying people of the Bible with a little one.
We started our study on Joseph. Joseph had a big family. He was his father's favorite son. His father treated him special. Joseph had dreams that angered his brothers and father about wheat bundles and stars bowing down to his wheat bundle or him. It was a lot more in depth than that. We learned a new song that God made our arms that wave and we will praise Him with those arms. We also learned, "I'll praise you because you made me." Psalm 139:14
And then Little Girl's favorite part??? CRAFTS!!!
We made people out of pipe cleaners or furry sticks as they now appear to be called (ha ha, who knew??). Just like Joseph, we are a part of a family. Don't ask why we have a cheesy goofy grin...I just don't know what that is about now.
Then we cut out and colored little mini mama and little girl. And colored them. I believe we use them in a craft later in this session. I really like that about this book, we may make something on day 1 that is used again later.
Obviously, Little Girl is the brightly colored, interesting, happy girl on the left. Mama is the gray haired chick with the Mizzou shirt. Who knew??
We learned our song about our arms while putting these together. We also learned that Joseph was important in his family but God had something even more important planned for his life. We will hear about that more today and Thursday (not doing lessons on Wednesdays).
Super excited to continue with this Bible Study with my fave 5 year old little girl. It is a precious thing to watch her learn more about these important people and what God has in store for her.
We started our study on Joseph. Joseph had a big family. He was his father's favorite son. His father treated him special. Joseph had dreams that angered his brothers and father about wheat bundles and stars bowing down to his wheat bundle or him. It was a lot more in depth than that. We learned a new song that God made our arms that wave and we will praise Him with those arms. We also learned, "I'll praise you because you made me." Psalm 139:14
And then Little Girl's favorite part??? CRAFTS!!!
We made people out of pipe cleaners or furry sticks as they now appear to be called (ha ha, who knew??). Just like Joseph, we are a part of a family. Don't ask why we have a cheesy goofy grin...I just don't know what that is about now.
Then we cut out and colored little mini mama and little girl. And colored them. I believe we use them in a craft later in this session. I really like that about this book, we may make something on day 1 that is used again later.
We learned our song about our arms while putting these together. We also learned that Joseph was important in his family but God had something even more important planned for his life. We will hear about that more today and Thursday (not doing lessons on Wednesdays).
Super excited to continue with this Bible Study with my fave 5 year old little girl. It is a precious thing to watch her learn more about these important people and what God has in store for her.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Is it enough? pt 2
Is it enough was too loaded for it to just have one post. There are two aspects ~ am I doing enough? And even if I am, are my "good works" alone enough? No.
My first notes for this blog were written on August 2, with this scripture found in James 1:22: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
That seems simple enough, but yet those four simple words "Do what it says" might be the four hardest words ever. Love God. Love one another. Be a servant.
We know that no act by a human can be enough to fully render us worthy of God's grace. But by faith, we can receive God's grace which will save us. What does that mean we should do?
Is it enough that I am kind to others?
Is it enough that I go to church?
Is it enough that I try not to sin?
Is it enough that while I am at church, I am fully worshipping Him?
Is it enough that I try to be a good example?
Is it enough that I am trying to forgive when others break my heart?
The answer is still no.
Once salvation has changed your life, there is still much to do. It isn't enough to just be saved and do nothing. Are you truly saved if your life is unchanged and you do nothing for your neighbor?
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
In John 21:17, Jesus tells Peter to "Feed my sheep."
Matthew 28:18-20 reads: "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
I have to stand for His name. I have to reach out to those who are hurting, who are lost, who need hope. I must not only love Him and believe in Him, I must put my words into actions. If people cannot see Him through me, I am not doing enough.
Jesus asked, "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."
Anyone can do any of those things I wrote above. But only those truly committed to His ways can feed His sheep. We have to reach all people, those of all walks of life, of all nationalities, of all religions. We can't just walk around obeying laws and going to church on Sunday (although we need to do that also!!) You can't be half in. You gotta go All. The. Way. I want to be one of those people that when I die, there is no question of which master I served.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
<and as a side note, a really awesome song by one of my fave Christian groups MAYWOOD is "So-called Savior" - if you don't know them, FIND THEM!!You will be blessed!!>
My first notes for this blog were written on August 2, with this scripture found in James 1:22: "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says.”
That seems simple enough, but yet those four simple words "Do what it says" might be the four hardest words ever. Love God. Love one another. Be a servant.
We know that no act by a human can be enough to fully render us worthy of God's grace. But by faith, we can receive God's grace which will save us. What does that mean we should do?
Is it enough that I am kind to others?
Is it enough that I go to church?
Is it enough that I try not to sin?
Is it enough that while I am at church, I am fully worshipping Him?
Is it enough that I try to be a good example?
Is it enough that I am trying to forgive when others break my heart?
The answer is still no.
Once salvation has changed your life, there is still much to do. It isn't enough to just be saved and do nothing. Are you truly saved if your life is unchanged and you do nothing for your neighbor?
James 5:16 Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.
In John 21:17, Jesus tells Peter to "Feed my sheep."
Matthew 28:18-20 reads: "Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.”
“The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
I have to stand for His name. I have to reach out to those who are hurting, who are lost, who need hope. I must not only love Him and believe in Him, I must put my words into actions. If people cannot see Him through me, I am not doing enough.
Jesus asked, "Do you love me? Feed my sheep."
Anyone can do any of those things I wrote above. But only those truly committed to His ways can feed His sheep. We have to reach all people, those of all walks of life, of all nationalities, of all religions. We can't just walk around obeying laws and going to church on Sunday (although we need to do that also!!) You can't be half in. You gotta go All. The. Way. I want to be one of those people that when I die, there is no question of which master I served.
“His master replied, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!’ Matthew 25:21
<and as a side note, a really awesome song by one of my fave Christian groups MAYWOOD is "So-called Savior" - if you don't know them, FIND THEM!!You will be blessed!!>
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Is it enough? pt 1
I have been pondering over the last month what to write in this blog. I have had my heart set on the question of "Is it enough?" for at least that long, if not longer. I don't know what the question does for you, but it opens a myriad of doubts and deeper questions and dilemmas for me.
Is it enough that I believe He is God?
Is it enough that I believe He created the universe and everything in it?
Is it enough that I go to church?
Is it enough that I care for a friend when s/he needs help?
Is it enough that I mention church or God or salvation around lost friends?
Is it enough that I don't cuss (or often anyway) and that I don't drink?
Is it enough that I love my children more than my own life?
Is it enough that I gave up my job for my children, hoping that I can teach them the right ways?
No.
It isn't enough. It will never be enough.
Every single one of those things is what I ought to be doing because I call myself by His name. But those good works alone are not sufficient; they are not enough.
Romans 3:23-25: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
No matter what I do, it is not enough to save myself. Only Christ, through His blood and sacrifice, can grant me enough mercy to save me.
Hebrews 10:10 says, "10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Not through our sacrifice, but through His.
It is not enough that I believe in God and that He created all things. James 2:19 reminds us: "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
The plan for eternity is recorded from the first page to the last page of God's Holy Word. Not everyone can or will read it from start to finish and no one will ever comprehend its every word. However, the plan of salvation is simple.
1. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord, " and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with you mouth that you confess and are saved.
4. Mark 16:15-16 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
If you aren't already saved by Jesus' atoning sacrifice, what are you waiting for? We have not been promised tomorrow. Our lives are but a flash and then they are over. And He is coming again. It isn't enough to believe He is Lord. You must give your life to Him and follow the plan of salvation. He is waiting.
Is it enough that I believe He is God?
Is it enough that I believe He created the universe and everything in it?
Is it enough that I go to church?
Is it enough that I care for a friend when s/he needs help?
Is it enough that I mention church or God or salvation around lost friends?
Is it enough that I don't cuss (or often anyway) and that I don't drink?
Is it enough that I love my children more than my own life?
Is it enough that I gave up my job for my children, hoping that I can teach them the right ways?
No.
It isn't enough. It will never be enough.
Every single one of those things is what I ought to be doing because I call myself by His name. But those good works alone are not sufficient; they are not enough.
Romans 3:23-25: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. God presented Christ as a sacrifice of atonement, through the shedding of his blood—to be received by faith.
No matter what I do, it is not enough to save myself. Only Christ, through His blood and sacrifice, can grant me enough mercy to save me.
Hebrews 10:10 says, "10 And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all."
Not through our sacrifice, but through His.
It is not enough that I believe in God and that He created all things. James 2:19 reminds us: "You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder."
The plan for eternity is recorded from the first page to the last page of God's Holy Word. Not everyone can or will read it from start to finish and no one will ever comprehend its every word. However, the plan of salvation is simple.
1. John 3:16 - For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.
2. 1 John 1:9 - If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness.
3. Romans 10:9-10 - That if you confess with your mouth, "Jesus is Lord, " and believe in your heart that God raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified and it is with you mouth that you confess and are saved.
4. Mark 16:15-16 - He said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned."
If you aren't already saved by Jesus' atoning sacrifice, what are you waiting for? We have not been promised tomorrow. Our lives are but a flash and then they are over. And He is coming again. It isn't enough to believe He is Lord. You must give your life to Him and follow the plan of salvation. He is waiting.
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
Friendships
I truly believe that God brings friends into our lives for a season and for a reason. With some friends, the season is longer. I have a few such friends; those that were there when I was 7 or 16 and are still friends today. We aren't as tight as we once had been - I don't rush to the phone to tell them what exciting thing just happened or who broke my heart. But they knew who I was and remind me where I came from and still they are my friend.
Then there are those friends who God brings in for a season - maybe just a few years, maybe less. These friends don't mean any less to me just because the friendship is short. He knew I needed that person at that time.
Regardless of the time these people have been my friends, obstacles have come our way and from time to time, and my focus wasn't always on nurturing those relationships.
No matter what the season or the reason, friends can make us laugh or cause us tears. They can lift us up or break our hearts. A true friend, though, shows loyalty and love, even if it seems crazy to others. One of the greatest examples of that kind of loyalty and love was found in my Bible Study this morning in 1 Samuel 18:1-4. Jonathon was the son of the king (Saul), who I am sure most assumed would be the next king. As we know, God had already chosen David to succeed Saul. Rather than be bitter and resent David, he became his friend.
(1, 3-4) After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Jonathon made a covenant with David. The Complete Word Study Old Testament book defines a covenant as a "treaty, alliance of friendship, a pledge, an obligation between a monarch and his subjects, a constitution. It was a contract which was accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath which sealed the relationship with promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience."
Jonathon's sign and sacrifice were given as Jonathon removed his royal robe and tunic and gave them to David. He gave to David what was rightfully his, per the king's wishes, but clearly Jonathon wanted to follow God's will. He offered them as a sign of his covenant, but also as a sacrifice of what could have been for the fulfillment of what should be.
Jonathon also provided a solemn oath. We don't know what his words were, but I find it highly unlikely that Jonathon handed over all his princely items, including his sword, bow, and belt and then had nothing to say.
What an amazing example of friendship. One person sees God's will in another's life and humbly sets himself aside for the good of the other. I can only hope to start acting as Jonathon did - to be humbly loyal to and love each of my friends so that God's will can be done in their lives.
As time ticks down for another change in one of my friendships, I wait with bated breath to see all God has planned for her and for me. It breaks my heart to know this change is coming, yet I know it is in God's will. So, I will do my best to be loyal and to show love to her and all my friends. And I will wait to see if God has plans to bring a new friend into my life or reinforce one of my current friendships, not to replace a friendship, but to fill the void of one that is changing.
Then there are those friends who God brings in for a season - maybe just a few years, maybe less. These friends don't mean any less to me just because the friendship is short. He knew I needed that person at that time.
Regardless of the time these people have been my friends, obstacles have come our way and from time to time, and my focus wasn't always on nurturing those relationships.
No matter what the season or the reason, friends can make us laugh or cause us tears. They can lift us up or break our hearts. A true friend, though, shows loyalty and love, even if it seems crazy to others. One of the greatest examples of that kind of loyalty and love was found in my Bible Study this morning in 1 Samuel 18:1-4. Jonathon was the son of the king (Saul), who I am sure most assumed would be the next king. As we know, God had already chosen David to succeed Saul. Rather than be bitter and resent David, he became his friend.
(1, 3-4) After David had finished talking with Saul, Jonathan became one in spirit with David, and he loved him as himself. And Jonathan made a covenant with David because he loved him as himself. Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.
Jonathon made a covenant with David. The Complete Word Study Old Testament book defines a covenant as a "treaty, alliance of friendship, a pledge, an obligation between a monarch and his subjects, a constitution. It was a contract which was accompanied by signs, sacrifices, and a solemn oath which sealed the relationship with promises of blessing for obedience and curses for disobedience."
Jonathon's sign and sacrifice were given as Jonathon removed his royal robe and tunic and gave them to David. He gave to David what was rightfully his, per the king's wishes, but clearly Jonathon wanted to follow God's will. He offered them as a sign of his covenant, but also as a sacrifice of what could have been for the fulfillment of what should be.
Jonathon also provided a solemn oath. We don't know what his words were, but I find it highly unlikely that Jonathon handed over all his princely items, including his sword, bow, and belt and then had nothing to say.
What an amazing example of friendship. One person sees God's will in another's life and humbly sets himself aside for the good of the other. I can only hope to start acting as Jonathon did - to be humbly loyal to and love each of my friends so that God's will can be done in their lives.
As time ticks down for another change in one of my friendships, I wait with bated breath to see all God has planned for her and for me. It breaks my heart to know this change is coming, yet I know it is in God's will. So, I will do my best to be loyal and to show love to her and all my friends. And I will wait to see if God has plans to bring a new friend into my life or reinforce one of my current friendships, not to replace a friendship, but to fill the void of one that is changing.
Sunday, July 31, 2011
When God is Behind Us
In my Bible reading today, 1 Samuel 14:1-14, I read about Jonathon, son of Saul. He had such faith in God that without his father's knowledge, he and his armor-bearer went to the Philistine camp. He told his armor-bearer that if the Philistines told him to stay where he was that he would, but if they said to come up to the camp, he would go up to them and defeat them. Jonathon was such a fabulous person that his armor-bearer said, "Do all that you have in mind. Go ahead; I am with you heart and soul.” What kind of loyalty is that? Awesome loyalty. One single man told another single man that he would essentially walk to his death for him, he had that much trust and faith in Jonathon. Jonathon had that much faith and trust in God.
That is an awesome picture. But what struck me most of all is the verse following Jonathon's defeat of the Philistines (and oh yes, he gave them defeat). After Jonathon went up and defeated the Philistines, verse 15 says, "Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God." Jonathon did as God told him and he defeated the enemy. Then God caused the enemy to panic. Then God sent an earthquake.
That is so true for us even today. When we are following God's will in our lives, when we seek him for His truth and His way, he can help us defeat our enemy. He can cause our enemy to panic. And while we may not literally feel the cold, hard ground shake as they did the day Jonathon defeated the Philistines, it doesn't mean he isn't sending an earthquake. He may be shaking up the enemy in other ways. God is behind us when we follow His will. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
That is an awesome picture. But what struck me most of all is the verse following Jonathon's defeat of the Philistines (and oh yes, he gave them defeat). After Jonathon went up and defeated the Philistines, verse 15 says, "Then panic struck the whole army—those in the camp and field, and those in the outposts and raiding parties—and the ground shook. It was a panic sent by God." Jonathon did as God told him and he defeated the enemy. Then God caused the enemy to panic. Then God sent an earthquake.
That is so true for us even today. When we are following God's will in our lives, when we seek him for His truth and His way, he can help us defeat our enemy. He can cause our enemy to panic. And while we may not literally feel the cold, hard ground shake as they did the day Jonathon defeated the Philistines, it doesn't mean he isn't sending an earthquake. He may be shaking up the enemy in other ways. God is behind us when we follow His will. "If God is for us, who can be against us?" (Romans 8:31).
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
A Mother's Sacrifice
I cried this morning when I read my Bible study. That isn't normal for me. I mean I can cry at a good movie, or even a bad movie. I can be moved by a Bible story. But I am not sure I have ever actually been moved to tears by the lesson alone.
1 Samuel 1:19-28 reads:
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."
“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
I can understand wanting something so badly that I attempt to bargain with God. God doesn't bargain with us. He doesn't have to. But when he reads our hearts and our desires, sometimes He grants us those things we desire so much. Hannah had been provoked repeatedly by Elkanah's other wife. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she vowed that if God gave her a child, she would give the child back.
I can imagine making a promise like that when it seems there is no hope. But God looked into her heart and knew that she would be faithful to her vow. After God blessed her with a child, the one dream that had seemed so out of reach, she trained him in the ways of the Lord.
Then when he turned three years old, she took him to Eli and left Samuel there at the house of the Lord, just as she had promised.
I have read this passage many times. It took my study this morning and the book I am reading to really slow it down for me and let the words jump off the page. I hurt for her. I hurt for the child. That is my weakness showing through. Hannah was BLESSED by this child. Samuel was BLESSED by the life he was going to live. Yet my mind and heart grieved for them. I cannot even begin to comprehend leaving my three year old child. If I had been Hannah and made a vow such as she did, would I have been strong enough and faithful enough to follow through? I thought of Breckin. I can't even think of taking him somewhere and leaving him. He is almost the age Samuel was when Hannah left him with Eli.
So while I grieved for Hannah and Samuel, I also grieved for myself and my own children. Do I love God enough and trust Him enough to give them to God in whichever way He sees fit?
I don't know the answer to this. I would like to think the answer is yes. I trust that He and His plans our sovereign. What I don't trust is my humanity and my weakness. So with tears in my eyes I ask myself, "What stands in the way of me giving my children totally over to God?"
So until we know how God will use them, I will vow to teach them about God, to teach them His word, and attempt to live my life in such a way that when it is over someone might say that I had faith, that I sought God, and that I fulfilled my vow with a mother's sacrifice.
1 Samuel 1:19-28 reads:
Early the next morning they arose and worshiped before the LORD and then went back to their home at Ramah. Elkanah made love to his wife Hannah, and the LORD remembered her. So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son. She named him Samuel, saying, “Because I asked the LORD for him.”
When her husband Elkanah went up with all his family to offer the annual sacrifice to the LORD and to fulfill his vow, Hannah did not go. She said to her husband, "After the boy is weaned, I will take him and present him before the LORD, and he will live there always."
“Do what seems best to you,” her husband Elkanah told her. “Stay here until you have weaned him; only may the LORD make good his word.” So the woman stayed at home and nursed her son until she had weaned him. After he was weaned, she took the boy with her, young as he was, along with a three-year-old bull, an ephah of flour and a skin of wine, and brought him to the house of the LORD at Shiloh. When the bull had been sacrificed, they brought the boy to Eli, and she said to him, “Pardon me, my lord. As surely as you live, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD.” And he worshiped the LORD there.
I can understand wanting something so badly that I attempt to bargain with God. God doesn't bargain with us. He doesn't have to. But when he reads our hearts and our desires, sometimes He grants us those things we desire so much. Hannah had been provoked repeatedly by Elkanah's other wife. Hannah so desperately wanted a child that she vowed that if God gave her a child, she would give the child back.
I can imagine making a promise like that when it seems there is no hope. But God looked into her heart and knew that she would be faithful to her vow. After God blessed her with a child, the one dream that had seemed so out of reach, she trained him in the ways of the Lord.
Then when he turned three years old, she took him to Eli and left Samuel there at the house of the Lord, just as she had promised.
I have read this passage many times. It took my study this morning and the book I am reading to really slow it down for me and let the words jump off the page. I hurt for her. I hurt for the child. That is my weakness showing through. Hannah was BLESSED by this child. Samuel was BLESSED by the life he was going to live. Yet my mind and heart grieved for them. I cannot even begin to comprehend leaving my three year old child. If I had been Hannah and made a vow such as she did, would I have been strong enough and faithful enough to follow through? I thought of Breckin. I can't even think of taking him somewhere and leaving him. He is almost the age Samuel was when Hannah left him with Eli.
How poor is my faith? So shallow, so poor. But Hannah had faith. And God had a plan. He gave Hannah a child who she raised and trained faithfully. She prepared Samuel for the life he was going to live. When Samuel was three years old and his mother left him with Eli, how did Samuel react? He WORSHIPPED the Lord.
God asked Abraham to sacrifice his beloved Isaac, then later provided a ram. Hannah sacrificed her three year old child to God's service. Beth Moore states, " God does not ask of us that we take our children to the temple and leave them there to be reared by priests, but we must give them to God in other, equally important ways."
So while I grieved for Hannah and Samuel, I also grieved for myself and my own children. Do I love God enough and trust Him enough to give them to God in whichever way He sees fit?
I don't know the answer to this. I would like to think the answer is yes. I trust that He and His plans our sovereign. What I don't trust is my humanity and my weakness. So with tears in my eyes I ask myself, "What stands in the way of me giving my children totally over to God?"
So until we know how God will use them, I will vow to teach them about God, to teach them His word, and attempt to live my life in such a way that when it is over someone might say that I had faith, that I sought God, and that I fulfilled my vow with a mother's sacrifice.
Friday, June 3, 2011
The Parable of the Ten Virgins - Cali Care May 2011
Jesus had a distinctive style of teaching by His use of parables. Throughout His public ministry until the last days in Jerusalem, you will come across His timeless parables. A parable is a comparison from nature or daily life, designed to teach a spiritual truth.
Matthew 25:1-13. In these passages, Jesus warns His disciples against not being ready for His return. When Christ comes back, He will judge all humanity, separating people into one of two categories – those who will be rewarded with eternal life and those who will be eternally separated from God. The criterion for determining which a person receives is how that person responded to Jesus.
The story begins after Jesus left the temple and went to the Mount of Olives. His disciples joined him and asked him to tell them when the end of the age he had talked about would come. Jesus began describing for them the signs of the end of the age. One of the parables He used was the Parable of the Ten Virgins, to remind them to be watchful and await His return.
1 “At that time the kingdom of heaven will be like ten virgins who took their lamps and went out to meet the bridegroom. 2 Five of them were foolish and five were wise. 3 The foolish ones took their lamps but did not take any oil with them. 4 The wise ones, however, took oil in jars along with their lamps.
“At that time” refers to the time of the tribulation that Jesus has described for the disciples. The Church and those awaiting Christ’s return are symbolized through the ten virgins. Outwardly all ten appear the same – they are virgins, they have lamps, and they are doing the same thing. However five were wise and five were foolish. The five foolish only outwardly prepared for the bridegroom’s coming. They didn’t make lasting preparations. The same can happen to us. We may look like those around us, possess the same things as those around us, and do the same as those around us. But those who are wise will have genuine, authentic worship and will prepare in our lives for Christ’s coming.
5 The bridegroom was a long time in coming, and they all became drowsy and fell asleep.
Jesus isn’t placing blame on anyone – the bridegroom for being a long time in coming – or the virgins for being asleep. Being able to sleep may show that they felt an assurance that they were ready for the bridegroom’s return. Jesus tells us in Matthew 24:36 that “No one knows about that day or hour, not even the angels in heaven, nor the Son, but only the Father”. The foolish may have felt the same assurance, that He was coming, but they were mistaken about their readiness. They were not prepared for the bridegroom’s return.
6 “At midnight the cry rang out: ‘Here’s the bridegroom! Come out to meet him!’
7 “Then all the virgins woke up and trimmed their lamps. 8 The foolish ones said to the wise, ‘Give us some of your oil; our lamps are going out.’
The foolish virgins who had not taken any oil with them began to panic. They had not fully prepared for the bridegroom’s return and saw their lamps going out. We can be like those foolish virgins. We can outwardly prepare by going to church and doing things that “good Christians” do, but if we don’t store up and prepare for His coming, we will see our own lights are not enough to light our path to Christ. It is imperative that we prepare our hearts and our lives for the bridegroom, the Christ. We do not want to be like those who only outwardly prepare.
9 “‘No,’ they replied, ‘there may not be enough for both us and you. Instead, go to those who sell oil and buy some for yourselves.’
It may seem as though the wise virgins were unkind because they did not share their oil, but they did not have enough oil for themselves and those who had not brought oil. Oil had to be replenished every 15 minutes, so it took large amounts of oil to keep the lamps burning. The wise virgins instructed the foolish to go and buy for themselves. In the same way, we cannot give part of the Holy Spirit we have allowed in our lives to someone who is not prepared on the day of His coming or our judgment. We must each choose to accept Christ into our heart and receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit is a free gift to us, but each person must make his own choice to accept it.
10 “But while they were on their way to buy the oil, the bridegroom arrived. The virgins who were ready went in with him to the wedding banquet. And the door was shut.
11 “Later the others also came. ‘Lord, Lord,’ they said, ‘open the door for us!’
12 “But he replied, ‘Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.’
While the foolish were gone, trying to make last minute preparations, the bridegroom arrived. Those who were ready were able to join him at the wedding banquet. The foolish ones returned, but found that it was too late. They begged Him to let them in, but the bridegroom merely answered, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
What frightening words to hear! Christ is rejecting a relationship with those who did not prepare for His return.
We can prepare for His return, regardless of whether we are alive during the time of His second coming.
We must read God’s word, store it in our hearts, live our lives in the way Jesus calls us to do. We should be caring for the poor, orphaned, and widowed. We should give willingly and generously. We should spread the gospel and show others what it means to walk in truth. Unless we have prepared our lives in this manner, we will be like the foolish virgins who were not ready for the return and we will hear, “Truly I tell you, I don’t know you.”
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