I have not been as faithful in my devotions this month as I'd like to be, because holiday busyness crept in and..... So I am still in Ezekiel. And I was a bit distressed as I read this passage this morning:
The word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, behold, I am about to take the delight of your eyes away from you at a stroke; yet you shall not mourn or weep, nor shall your tears run down. Sigh, but not aloud; make no mourning for the dead. Bind on your turban, and put your shoes on your feet; do not cover your lips, nor eat the bread of men."
Ezekiel 24:15-17
It seems apparent, since God refers to Ezekiel's wife as "the delight of your eyes", that Ezekiel loves his wife. Now God has been using Ezekiel as a living illustration in His prophecies against Israel, and some of them have been pretty bizarre, but this just seems over-the-top harsh. It's bad enough that the Lord is taking Ezekiel's wife, but the Lord forbids him to even grieve!!!
So I pondered a little more, and was reminded that we must not "pass judgement" on God.
For I will proclaim the name of the LORD; ascribe greatness to our God! "The Rock, his work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity, just and upright is he. They have dealt corruptly with him; they are no longer his children because they are blemished; they are a crooked and twisted generation. Do you thus repay the LORD, you foolish and senseless people? Is not he your father, who created you, who made you and established you? Remember the days of old; consider the years of many generations; ask your father, and he will show you, your elders, and they will tell you. When the Most High gave to the nations their inheritance, when he divided mankind, he fixed the borders of the peoples according to the number of the sons of God. But the LORD's portion is his people, Jacob his allotted heritage.
Deuteronomy 32:3-9
"Seek the LORD while he may be found; call upon him while he is near; let the wicked forsake his way, and the unrighteous man his thoughts; let him return to the LORD, that he may have compassion on him, and to our God, for he will abundantly pardon. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.
Isaiah 55:6-9
Monday, December 31, 2012
Sunday, December 30, 2012
Fun and Games???
I like to play games... and win! ;) I'm insanely competitive. I come from a family that played for blood, and a family that said they didn't... I'm that player who, when I lose, becomes a storm-- or tears-- or both. I refuse to play games that I lose repeatedly.
You may be thinking, "So what? Nobody likes to lose. Everyone enjoys a game more when they win." But I've been really pondering this, because this is a lesson that the Lord is trying to make me understand. Much of what I've played at recently, I've lost at-- repeatedly. And it's like a dragon begins to breathe fire inside my chest when I lose. As I have ruminated over the why's and wherefore's of this, I've come to the conclusion that my reaction to loss flows from my sinful pride. I want to win because I want to feel important. And so, when the inferno begins, I start to pray for less of me...
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11-17
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25
You may be thinking, "So what? Nobody likes to lose. Everyone enjoys a game more when they win." But I've been really pondering this, because this is a lesson that the Lord is trying to make me understand. Much of what I've played at recently, I've lost at-- repeatedly. And it's like a dragon begins to breathe fire inside my chest when I lose. As I have ruminated over the why's and wherefore's of this, I've come to the conclusion that my reaction to loss flows from my sinful pride. I want to win because I want to feel important. And so, when the inferno begins, I start to pray for less of me...
One's pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.
Proverbs 29:23
The haughty looks of man shall be brought low, and the lofty pride of men shall be humbled, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day. For the LORD of hosts has a day against all that is proud and lofty, against all that is lifted up--and it shall be brought low; against all the cedars of Lebanon, lofty and lifted up; and against all the oaks of Bashan; against all the lofty mountains, and against all the uplifted hills; against every high tower, and against every fortified wall; against all the ships of Tarshish, and against all the beautiful craft. And the haughtiness of man shall be humbled, and the lofty pride of men shall be brought low, and the LORD alone will be exalted in that day.
Isaiah 2:11-17
Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. And those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:19-25
Friday, December 28, 2012
Friend
I spent my childhood moving every four to five years. I had many friends over the course of my childhood, but although we shared things in common, none of them quite met my expectations. The friendship that has lasted the longest to date, is with a sweet young woman I met on a mission trip between my freshman and sophomore years in high school. I'm thinking about friends this morning because we enjoyed an evening of fellowship last night with one of the families from our church. It was a last minute deal, and they walked in as my house was all topsy-turvy. You know, the post-Christmas chaos of taking down decorations and trying to find homes for all your new stuff... My house was a maze of "Christmas threw up". ;) My sister in Christ walked in and said, "You don't have to clean for us." Over the course of the evening, we talked about all kinds of things. But I was marveling at how, with this family, I am able to be me. I can confess what a mean, selfish, hard-headed, rebellious child I was-- and often still am as an adult-- and this brother and sister still love me. And I thought of the verse in Proverbs:
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
As I was pondering that, I was overwhelmed thinking about how IN CHRIST my "friends" really are my sisters and brothers! =)
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:16-29
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
Hebrews 2:7-12
A man of many companions may come to ruin, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother.
Proverbs 18:24
As I was pondering that, I was overwhelmed thinking about how IN CHRIST my "friends" really are my sisters and brothers! =)
And his mother and his brothers came, and standing outside they sent to him and called him. And a crowd was sitting around him, and they said to him, "Your mother and your brothers are outside, seeking you." And he answered them, "Who are my mother and my brothers?" And looking about at those who sat around him, he said, "Here are my mother and my brothers! For whoever does the will of God, he is my brother and sister and mother."
Mark 3:31-35
The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs--heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God. And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
Romans 8:16-29
You made him for a little while lower than the angels; you have crowned him with glory and honor, putting everything in subjection under his feet." Now in putting everything in subjection to him, he left nothing outside his control. At present, we do not yet see everything in subjection to him. But we see him who for a little while was made lower than the angels, namely Jesus, crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. For it was fitting that he, for whom and by whom all things exist, in bringing many sons to glory, should make the founder of their salvation perfect through suffering. For he who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one source. That is why he is not ashamed to call them brothers, saying, "I will tell of your name to my brothers; in the midst of the congregation I will sing your praise."
Hebrews 2:7-12
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Hit and Miss
Sorry it's been hit or miss with my posts recently. Christmas and the trappings thereof have consumed my life for the last month. =) But, the day is past, and I'm expecting my life to settle down-- at least a little bit! ;)Thankfully, my God is NOT hit and miss, even when I am inconsistent.
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 1:1-18
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about the light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through him, yet the world did not know him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God. And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father's side, he has made him known.
John 1:1-18
Friday, December 21, 2012
Build Worthy
I've been thinking about our pastor's sermon all week. I think I've mentioned before that I like the word pictures in the Bible. The passage he preached on was about building the church well on the foundation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I was really struck by the word picture. Jesus is the foundation. He is completely good and beautiful and majestic. And the question is how we build upon that. Do we act in faith & build with gold, silver, and precious stones? Or do we build with wood, hay and straw? So I was thinking about the great buildings that I've seen. It would be absurd to think about Westminster Abbey being built of mud bricks, with a thatch roof. Can you imagine if, after laying the foundation that it has, the White House were made of hay bales? And I thought about when someone says that currency is "not worth the paper it's printed on". It's a similar concept. So, I'll pass on the challenge that our pastor gave us: Build God's church well in your local community of faith.
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
For we are God's fellow workers. You are God's field, God's building. According to the grace of God given to me, like a skilled master builder I laid a foundation, and someone else is building upon it. Let each one take care how he builds upon it. For no one can lay a foundation other than that which is laid, which is Jesus Christ. Now if anyone builds on the foundation with gold, silver, precious stones, wood, hay, straw-- each one's work will become manifest, for the Day will disclose it, because it will be revealed by fire, and the fire will test what sort of work each one has done. If the work that anyone has built on the foundation survives, he will receive a reward. If anyone's work is burned up, he will suffer loss, though he himself will be saved, but only as through fire. Do you not know that you are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in you? If anyone destroys God's temple, God will destroy him. For God's temple is holy, and you are that temple.
1 Corinthians 3:9-17
Wednesday, December 19, 2012
Opposites
I love reading to my Crew! And I love that some of them are now big enough to read to me! ;) One of my favorite books to read to them when they were little was called Archibald's Opposites. In it, Archibald (a Veggie Tales character) is teaching about opposites. My Crew loved it because I read it with a British accent. =) Archibald defines opposites this way: "When things are as different as different can be, we call them opposites. Now do you see?"
I've pondered the simple opposite pairs presented in the book. I've also been thinking about opposites like love and hate, passion and indifference, good and bad... and then I started wondering if there was an "opposite" for God. So I had a meeting with my friend Webster. =)
op-po-site: diametrically different (as in nature or character)
So I guess the answer to my question is, "yes and no". Satan and fallen humanity are both diametrically different in character to God. However, God's nature is infinitely greater than man's or Satan's! =) And that is such great news to me! That means that God is ABLE to accomplish His purposes!
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalms 86:8-12
"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:5-11
There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7
I've pondered the simple opposite pairs presented in the book. I've also been thinking about opposites like love and hate, passion and indifference, good and bad... and then I started wondering if there was an "opposite" for God. So I had a meeting with my friend Webster. =)
op-po-site: diametrically different (as in nature or character)
So I guess the answer to my question is, "yes and no". Satan and fallen humanity are both diametrically different in character to God. However, God's nature is infinitely greater than man's or Satan's! =) And that is such great news to me! That means that God is ABLE to accomplish His purposes!
There is none like you among the gods, O Lord, nor are there any works like yours. All the nations you have made shall come and worship before you, O Lord, and shall glorify your name. For you are great and do wondrous things; you alone are God. Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may walk in your truth; unite my heart to fear your name. I give thanks to you, O Lord my God, with my whole heart, and I will glorify your name forever.
Psalms 86:8-12
"To whom will you liken me and make me equal, and compare me, that we may be alike? Those who lavish gold from the purse, and weigh out silver in the scales, hire a goldsmith, and he makes it into a god; then they fall down and worship! They lift it to their shoulders, they carry it, they set it in its place, and it stands there; it cannot move from its place. If one cries to it, it does not answer or save him from his trouble. "Remember this and stand firm, recall it to mind, you transgressors, remember the former things of old; for I am God, and there is no other; I am God, and there is none like me, declaring the end from the beginning and from ancient times things not yet done, saying, 'My counsel shall stand, and I will accomplish all my purpose,' calling a bird of prey from the east, the man of my counsel from a far country. I have spoken, and I will bring it to pass; I have purposed, and I will do it.
Isaiah 46:5-11
There is none like you, O LORD; you are great, and your name is great in might. Who would not fear you, O King of the nations? For this is your due; for among all the wise ones of the nations and in all their kingdoms there is none like you.
Jeremiah 10:6-7
Tuesday, December 18, 2012
Wicked Hearts
The school shooting in Newtown, Connecticut last week was tragic. My heart grieves for the families who no longer have the presence of their precious blessings. As our church prayed for the victims and the shooter on Sunday, it really hit home with me that if MY children had been attending that school, I could have lost two of my precious blessings that day. =( And of course, the debates have arisen again about how we prevent this type of thing from happening in the future. Please understand that WE CAN'T! We can do all in our power to regulate guns, treat mental health patients, better diagnose mental health issues, get greater security in the schools... But we are powerless to change hearts. Only the light of the gospel of Jesus Christ, the God-Man, and the intervention of the Holy Spirit, the very hand of God can change a sinner's heart. And His people need to share that message! =)
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:5-7
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Genesis 8:18-21
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jeremiah 17:7-10
And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Matthew 15:10-19
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:14-25
The LORD saw that the wickedness of man was great in the earth, and that every intention of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And the LORD was sorry that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him to his heart. So the LORD said, "I will blot out man whom I have created from the face of the land, man and animals and creeping things and birds of the heavens, for I am sorry that I have made them."
Genesis 6:5-7
So Noah went out, and his sons and his wife and his sons' wives with him. Every beast, every creeping thing, and every bird, everything that moves on the earth, went out by families from the ark. Then Noah built an altar to the LORD and took some of every clean animal and some of every clean bird and offered burnt offerings on the altar. And when the LORD smelled the pleasing aroma, the LORD said in his heart, "I will never again curse the ground because of man, for the intention of man's heart is evil from his youth. Neither will I ever again strike down every living creature as I have done.
Genesis 8:18-21
"Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD. He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit." The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately sick; who can understand it? "I the LORD search the heart and test the mind, to give every man according to his ways, according to the fruit of his deeds."
Jeremiah 17:7-10
And he called the people to him and said to them, "Hear and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but what comes out of the mouth; this defiles a person." Then the disciples came and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees were offended when they heard this saying?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be rooted up. Let them alone; they are blind guides. And if the blind lead the blind, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain the parable to us." And he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth passes into the stomach and is expelled? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this defiles a person. For out of the heart come evil thoughts, murder, adultery, sexual immorality, theft, false witness, slander.
Matthew 15:10-19
For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified. And the Holy Spirit also bears witness to us; for after saying, "This is the covenant that I will make with them after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my laws on their hearts, and write them on their minds," then he adds, "I will remember their sins and their lawless deeds no more." Where there is forgiveness of these, there is no longer any offering for sin. Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water. Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.
Hebrews 10:14-25
Monday, December 17, 2012
Lost Days
I feel like I lost today. I got up and was feeling a little off, but fully expected to make some candy and do other Christmas prep. Unfortunately, I realized that the reason I was feeling "off" was because I've got a UTI. So I drank water like it was going out of style, made an appointment with the doctor and sat curled up on the couch all morning. I really Really REALLY don't like to be sick! It makes life as a mama SO DIFFICULT! My Crew are bigger now, and fairly independent, but now they recognize when I feel bad and they worry about me. I used to throw grand pity parties in my head when I was sick, but my perspective has changed drastically in the past few years. Now I keep reminding myself that when I feel WELL it is God's grace. And it makes me yearn for Christ's return when all will be made RIGHT! =)
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Genesis 3:1-7
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Genesis 3:14-19
Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
Isaiah 60:18-21
Now the serpent was more crafty than any other beast of the field that the LORD God had made. He said to the woman, "Did God actually say, 'You shall not eat of any tree in the garden'?" And the woman said to the serpent, "We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden, but God said, 'You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die.'" But the serpent said to the woman, "You will not surely die. For God knows that when you eat of it your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil." So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate, and she also gave some to her husband who was with her, and he ate. Then the eyes of both were opened, and they knew that they were naked. And they sewed fig leaves together and made themselves loincloths.
Genesis 3:1-7
The LORD God said to the serpent, "Because you have done this, cursed are you above all livestock and above all beasts of the field; on your belly you shall go, and dust you shall eat all the days of your life. I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring; he shall bruise your head, and you shall bruise his heel." To the woman he said, "I will surely multiply your pain in childbearing; in pain you shall bring forth children. Your desire shall be for your husband, and he shall rule over you." And to Adam he said, "Because you have listened to the voice of your wife and have eaten of the tree of which I commanded you, 'You shall not eat of it,' cursed is the ground because of you; in pain you shall eat of it all the days of your life; thorns and thistles it shall bring forth for you; and you shall eat the plants of the field. By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread, till you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; for you are dust, and to dust you shall return."
Genesis 3:14-19
Violence shall no more be heard in your land, devastation or destruction within your borders; you shall call your walls Salvation, and your gates Praise. The sun shall be no more your light by day, nor for brightness shall the moon give you light; but the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your God will be your glory. Your sun shall no more go down, nor your moon withdraw itself; for the LORD will be your everlasting light, and your days of mourning shall be ended. Your people shall all be righteous; they shall possess the land forever, the branch of my planting, the work of my hands, that I might be glorified.
Isaiah 60:18-21
Saturday, December 15, 2012
No List
I like lists. I write lesson plans, meal plans (sometimes), to do lists, wish lists. I just wrote a list of lists! =) Lists give me a plan & a goal to strive for. I don't always love my to do list when I can't check anything off of it! ;) But I've learned as my faith has grown that there really is not much of a "list" in faith-- not a detailed list, anyway.
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:36-40
It's just that a detailed list is easier. A "do and don't list" doesn't make me search my heart. But God wants my WHOLE heart, and that takes time, and thought, and prayer, and reading the Word, and being with Christ's church. It is hard, and painful to face the reality of sin in my heart. But the law is incapable of saving me. The law is good, but sin makes me unable to follow the law.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
And as I have been reminded this week; in Christ, I am dead to the law. I should seek to please my Savior and King out of love, not some misguided attempt to earn His favor. I can do NOTHING to either improve or reduce God's favor towards me.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And I was amazed again when I read whispers of this in Ezekiel this week. God's plan has always been to save a people through the redeeming work of His Son.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11
So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ezekiel 20:10-12
"Teacher, which is the great commandment in the Law?" And he said to him, "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the great and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets."
Matthew 22:36-40
It's just that a detailed list is easier. A "do and don't list" doesn't make me search my heart. But God wants my WHOLE heart, and that takes time, and thought, and prayer, and reading the Word, and being with Christ's church. It is hard, and painful to face the reality of sin in my heart. But the law is incapable of saving me. The law is good, but sin makes me unable to follow the law.
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
And as I have been reminded this week; in Christ, I am dead to the law. I should seek to please my Savior and King out of love, not some misguided attempt to earn His favor. I can do NOTHING to either improve or reduce God's favor towards me.
For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Romans 8:38-39
And I was amazed again when I read whispers of this in Ezekiel this week. God's plan has always been to save a people through the redeeming work of His Son.
"Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Six days you shall labor, and do all your work, but the seventh day is a Sabbath to the LORD your God. On it you shall not do any work, you, or your son, or your daughter, your male servant, or your female servant, or your livestock, or the sojourner who is within your gates. For in six days the LORD made heaven and earth, the sea, and all that is in them, and rested on the seventh day. Therefore the LORD blessed the Sabbath day and made it holy.
Exodus 20:8-11
So I led them out of the land of Egypt and brought them into the wilderness. I gave them my statutes and made known to them my rules, by which, if a person does them, he shall live. Moreover, I gave them my Sabbaths, as a sign between me and them, that they might know that I am the LORD who sanctifies them.
Ezekiel 20:10-12
Friday, December 14, 2012
Less is More
I've got several things on my mind today, but also quite a lot on my proverbial plate, so I thought I'd stick with the safest and most expedient! ;) I'm still struggling off and on with being content with my house. I want to both model and teach contentment to my children, but I feel like I don't do a very good job... As my candy business has taken over my kitchen, my Christmas tree has taken over my living/dining room, and Christmas gifts have taken over my closet, I find my mind often wandering to our "dream" house plan...
But when it does that, the Lord quickly brings to my mind a portion from a blog that a sister sent me. She was focusing on being content with her smallish house, and said a smaller house means less to clean. I had to laugh out loud at that one, because I really DON'T LIKE to clean. Don't get me wrong, I love the clean smell, the shiny look, and the comfortable feeling of a clean home, I'm just not a fan of the PROCESS! ;) I know it has something to do with how quickly my Crew can undo all my work. =/ But I want to be faithful with all the things that the Lord entrusts to me, for His glory... So I'll pull out the mop, sweep out the dust, and TRY to conquer the mountains of laundry that seem a never-ending part of my life... And some of you can expect an invitation to my smallish, messy-ish home in the near future! =)
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29
But when it does that, the Lord quickly brings to my mind a portion from a blog that a sister sent me. She was focusing on being content with her smallish house, and said a smaller house means less to clean. I had to laugh out loud at that one, because I really DON'T LIKE to clean. Don't get me wrong, I love the clean smell, the shiny look, and the comfortable feeling of a clean home, I'm just not a fan of the PROCESS! ;) I know it has something to do with how quickly my Crew can undo all my work. =/ But I want to be faithful with all the things that the Lord entrusts to me, for His glory... So I'll pull out the mop, sweep out the dust, and TRY to conquer the mountains of laundry that seem a never-ending part of my life... And some of you can expect an invitation to my smallish, messy-ish home in the near future! =)
"For it will be like a man going on a journey, who called his servants and entrusted to them his property. To one he gave five talents, to another two, to another one, to each according to his ability. Then he went away. He who had received the five talents went at once and traded with them, and he made five talents more. So also he who had the two talents made two talents more. But he who had received the one talent went and dug in the ground and hid his master's money. Now after a long time the master of those servants came and settled accounts with them. And he who had received the five talents came forward, bringing five talents more, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me five talents; here I have made five talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' And he also who had the two talents came forward, saying, 'Master, you delivered to me two talents; here I have made two talents more.' His master said to him, 'Well done, good and faithful servant. You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.' He also who had received the one talent came forward, saying, 'Master, I knew you to be a hard man, reaping where you did not sow, and gathering where you scattered no seed, so I was afraid, and I went and hid your talent in the ground. Here you have what is yours.' But his master answered him, 'You wicked and slothful servant! You knew that I reap where I have not sown and gather where I scattered no seed? Then you ought to have invested my money with the bankers, and at my coming I should have received what was my own with interest. So take the talent from him and give it to him who has the ten talents. For to everyone who has will more be given, and he will have an abundance. But from the one who has not, even what he has will be taken away.
Matthew 25:14-29
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
More on Traditions
I have been pondering traditions for the last few days. Our family has quite a few traditions. Some are continuations from my childhood, some are from Shorty's side, and some we've developed on our own. =) I was thinking about why I enjoy our traditions so much. When I pull out the Christmas ornaments, I am reminded of fun Christmases past. When I set the table with my china on Saturday mornings, my thoughts travel back to the many Saturdays we've sat around sipping coffee & listening to books, or playing puzzles, or whatever. So traditions give us a link to our past. But they also give us hope for the future. My Crew look forward to Thanksgiving because I make pie. And on Black Friday we eat leftover pie and scrambled eggs for breakfast. And they can't wait! They start talking at lunch on Thanksgiving about which kind of pie they will have for breakfast the next morning!!! =) They know that they get to place their respective ornaments on the Christmas tree, and they look forward to it!
So, traditions are valuable because they link us to our past and give us something to look forward to in the future. But I have a tendency to unintentionally elevate our traditions to supreme status. There are times when we are unable to repeat certain traditions for one reason or another, and I find myself getting either angry or depressed. Obviously this is a sign of the sin of idolatry in my heart. But Jesus lived, never bowing His heart to idols, and died to pay for my continual idolatry. And so I am justified before my God. =) And I want my Crew to know that I WANT the gospel to be supreme in my life-- and theirs.
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban"' (that is, given to God)-- then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Mark 7:1-13
So, traditions are valuable because they link us to our past and give us something to look forward to in the future. But I have a tendency to unintentionally elevate our traditions to supreme status. There are times when we are unable to repeat certain traditions for one reason or another, and I find myself getting either angry or depressed. Obviously this is a sign of the sin of idolatry in my heart. But Jesus lived, never bowing His heart to idols, and died to pay for my continual idolatry. And so I am justified before my God. =) And I want my Crew to know that I WANT the gospel to be supreme in my life-- and theirs.
Now when the Pharisees gathered to him, with some of the scribes who had come from Jerusalem, they saw that some of his disciples ate with hands that were defiled, that is, unwashed. (For the Pharisees and all the Jews do not eat unless they wash their hands, holding to the tradition of the elders, and when they come from the marketplace, they do not eat unless they wash. And there are many other traditions that they observe, such as the washing of cups and pots and copper vessels and dining couches.) And the Pharisees and the scribes asked him, "Why do your disciples not walk according to the tradition of the elders, but eat with defiled hands?" And he said to them, "Well did Isaiah prophesy of you hypocrites, as it is written, "'This people honors me with their lips, but their heart is far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines the commandments of men.' You leave the commandment of God and hold to the tradition of men." And he said to them, "You have a fine way of rejecting the commandment of God in order to establish your tradition! For Moses said, 'Honor your father and your mother'; and, 'Whoever reviles father or mother must surely die.' But you say, 'If a man tells his father or his mother, "Whatever you would have gained from me is Corban"' (that is, given to God)-- then you no longer permit him to do anything for his father or mother, thus making void the word of God by your tradition that you have handed down. And many such things you do."
Mark 7:1-13
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
The Most Wonderful Time of the Year
I LOVE Christmas! It was so full of traditions and happy memories for me as a child. And I am trying to carry on many of those same things with my Crew. One of our collective favorites is CANDY! =)
I also love our Christmas tree! And driving around looking at Christmas lights! I LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts to the special people in my life! Not that you have to wait until Christmas, but it is a good excuse... ;)
The last couple years, I have been introduced to Advent. I always thought Advent was a Roman Catholic thing, but our pastor has explained that Christians have celebrated Advent since the earliest days. And he pointed out that it is not just to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, but also to look forward to His return. Now that's something worth celebrating!!! =)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
I also love our Christmas tree! And driving around looking at Christmas lights! I LOVE LOVE LOVE giving gifts to the special people in my life! Not that you have to wait until Christmas, but it is a good excuse... ;)
The last couple years, I have been introduced to Advent. I always thought Advent was a Roman Catholic thing, but our pastor has explained that Christians have celebrated Advent since the earliest days. And he pointed out that it is not just to remember the birth of Jesus Christ, but also to look forward to His return. Now that's something worth celebrating!!! =)
For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
Isaiah 9:6
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made. In him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
John 1:1-5
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:14
But the day of the Lord will come like a thief, and then the heavens will pass away with a roar, and the heavenly bodies will be burned up and dissolved, and the earth and the works that are done on it will be exposed. Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.
2 Peter 3:10-13
Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband. And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling place of God is with man. He will dwell with them, and they will be his people, and God himself will be with them as their God. He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away."
Revelation 21:1-4
Monday, December 10, 2012
Faithless
I've been reading through Ezekiel the last couple weeks, and the theme that seems woven through is that God's people have chosen to be faithless. He showers and lavishes them with GOOD gifts. He gives them of HIMSELF, and they take all His gifts and abuse and worship them. When I was younger, I used to think that the Israelites were horrible for forgetting God and chasing their idols. Now as I read, I find myself thinking, "Yeah, I do that." =( I forget God's FOREVER FAITHFULNESS, and I chase His gifts to worship them!!! =P I am SO VERY MUCH like God's people of old-- I am faithless. But God is faithFUL. He keeps His promises! My faithlessness cannot veto His faithFULness! Faithful is one facet of who He is-- and He MUST act according to His nature! =)
"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. Also my bread that I gave you--I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey--you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.
Ezekiel 16:8-22
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
"When I passed by you again and saw you, behold, you were at the age for love, and I spread the corner of my garment over you and covered your nakedness; I made my vow to you and entered into a covenant with you, declares the Lord GOD, and you became mine. Then I bathed you with water and washed off your blood from you and anointed you with oil. I clothed you also with embroidered cloth and shod you with fine leather. I wrapped you in fine linen and covered you with silk. And I adorned you with ornaments and put bracelets on your wrists and a chain on your neck. And I put a ring on your nose and earrings in your ears and a beautiful crown on your head. Thus you were adorned with gold and silver, and your clothing was of fine linen and silk and embroidered cloth. You ate fine flour and honey and oil. You grew exceedingly beautiful and advanced to royalty. And your renown went forth among the nations because of your beauty, for it was perfect through the splendor that I had bestowed on you, declares the Lord GOD. "But you trusted in your beauty and played the whore because of your renown and lavished your whorings on any passerby; your beauty became his. You took some of your garments and made for yourself colorful shrines, and on them played the whore. The like has never been, nor ever shall be. You also took your beautiful jewels of my gold and of my silver, which I had given you, and made for yourself images of men, and with them played the whore. And you took your embroidered garments to cover them, and set my oil and my incense before them. Also my bread that I gave you--I fed you with fine flour and oil and honey--you set before them for a pleasing aroma; and so it was, declares the Lord GOD. And you took your sons and your daughters, whom you had borne to me, and these you sacrificed to them to be devoured. Were your whorings so small a matter that you slaughtered my children and delivered them up as an offering by fire to them? And in all your abominations and your whorings you did not remember the days of your youth, when you were naked and bare, wallowing in your blood.
Ezekiel 16:8-22
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, "That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged."
Romans 3:3-4
Saturday, December 8, 2012
Piles
I have been discovering, over the past five years or so, that many of my idols were erected when I was rather young. Before my teens. It's funny how God then works at wearing them away, by keeping situations similar. I come from a long line of pack rats. One of the ways that manifested itself in our home, when I was growing up, was lots and LOTS of piles! I HATED the piles! And ESPECIALLY the game of "shifting piles". You know, you need a space that is occupied by one of your piles, so you "shift" it to another flat surface... I determined, before my teens, that when I grew up I would not have piles! FAMOUS LAST WORDS... ;)
The Lord has graciously provided my family with a smallish house. When Shorty & I got married, there were two rooms in our house that we essentially didn't even use. Then when we had our first baby, the whole house was suddenly in use! =) It didn't really begin to feel "tight" until our third little one started moving... But as I look back, I see that I have always had piles. I just had a bit more time and space to go through them early on. ;) Now I am constantly fighting the battle of the piles, or playing "shifting piles". =P Through this, God has revealed idols in my heart that I didn't even know were THERE! He's also given me a lot more compassion for my mom and her piles. =) God is just TOO LOVING to let our idols stand uncontested. And when God enters a battle, He ALWAYS wins-- in His PERFECT time! =)
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalms 96:1-9
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Isaiah 6:1-5
The Lord has graciously provided my family with a smallish house. When Shorty & I got married, there were two rooms in our house that we essentially didn't even use. Then when we had our first baby, the whole house was suddenly in use! =) It didn't really begin to feel "tight" until our third little one started moving... But as I look back, I see that I have always had piles. I just had a bit more time and space to go through them early on. ;) Now I am constantly fighting the battle of the piles, or playing "shifting piles". =P Through this, God has revealed idols in my heart that I didn't even know were THERE! He's also given me a lot more compassion for my mom and her piles. =) God is just TOO LOVING to let our idols stand uncontested. And when God enters a battle, He ALWAYS wins-- in His PERFECT time! =)
Oh sing to the LORD a new song; sing to the LORD, all the earth! Sing to the LORD, bless his name; tell of his salvation from day to day. Declare his glory among the nations, his marvelous works among all the peoples! For great is the LORD, and greatly to be praised; he is to be feared above all gods. For all the gods of the peoples are worthless idols, but the LORD made the heavens. Splendor and majesty are before him; strength and beauty are in his sanctuary. Ascribe to the LORD, O families of the peoples, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength! Ascribe to the LORD the glory due his name; bring an offering, and come into his courts! Worship the LORD in the splendor of holiness; tremble before him, all the earth!
Psalms 96:1-9
In the year that King Uzziah died I saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up; and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him stood the seraphim. Each had six wings: with two he covered his face, and with two he covered his feet, and with two he flew. And one called to another and said: "Holy, holy, holy is the LORD of hosts; the whole earth is full of his glory!" And the foundations of the thresholds shook at the voice of him who called, and the house was filled with smoke. And I said: "Woe is me! For I am lost; for I am a man of unclean lips, and I dwell in the midst of a people of unclean lips; for my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!"
Isaiah 6:1-5
Thursday, December 6, 2012
Song of the Day- 6
I heard "Hard to Love" by Lee Brice on the radio a couple months ago. This morning, I woke up with the chorus on repeat in my brainwaves.
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
you say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me good
The affection is a bit misplaced in the song (he's addressing his girlfriend/wife), but I love the sentiment that someone of excellence is loving someone unlovely. If we changed the line "you say that you need me" to something like "I know you don't need me", we could sing the chorus in church! And God's love is transforming in the lives of His people so that as He loves us, we become-- at least a little bit-- lovely.
Hard to Love- Lee Brice
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:6-10
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
I don't make it easy,
I couldn't do it if I stood where you stood
I'm hard to love, hard to love,
you say that you need me,
I don't deserve it but I love that you love me good
The affection is a bit misplaced in the song (he's addressing his girlfriend/wife), but I love the sentiment that someone of excellence is loving someone unlovely. If we changed the line "you say that you need me" to something like "I know you don't need me", we could sing the chorus in church! And God's love is transforming in the lives of His people so that as He loves us, we become-- at least a little bit-- lovely.
Hard to Love- Lee Brice
For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person--though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die-- but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God. For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.
Romans 5:6-10
For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:3-7
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
It's All in the Nature
We watched "Wreck-It Ralph" with our Crew a couple weeks ago. The kids laughed-- Shorty and I did too! =) It was really cute. My favorite part, though, wasn't all the funny, silly stuff. I told Shorty on the way home that I LOVE that the characters had to behave within their natures. What I mean is, Ralph is Mr. Destruction in his video game. But he's lonely-- I mean, who wants to keep a guy around who destroys EVERYTHING he touches?!? ;) So Ralph decides that he doesn't want to be the "bad guy" anymore and sets out to prove that he doesn't have to be. His only problem is that, even when he's being "good" he can't HELP but break stuff! And the same is true for Fix-It Felix-- Ralph's "good guy" counterpart. He ends up in jail in another video game, and when he uses his golden hammer (which fixes things) to try to break the worn away prison bars, they go back to looking like new! =D
I love that concept because it holds true in real life. Without God's intervention, people have to act a certain way- in accordance with their natures. But when God saves a person, He gives a NEW nature!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Galatians 4:8
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:16-20
I love that concept because it holds true in real life. Without God's intervention, people have to act a certain way- in accordance with their natures. But when God saves a person, He gives a NEW nature!
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind.
Ephesians 2:1-3
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.
2 Corinthians 5:17
Formerly, when you did not know God, you were enslaved to those that by nature are not gods.
Galatians 4:8
For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek. For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith for faith, as it is written, "The righteous shall live by faith." For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth. For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them. For his invisible attributes, namely, his eternal power and divine nature, have been clearly perceived, ever since the creation of the world, in the things that have been made. So they are without excuse.
Romans 1:16-20
Monday, December 3, 2012
Sacrifice
I've got a lot of thoughts floating around on this one, but I'll try to be concise. First, love is willing to sacrifice for the good of another.
Sacrifice is a grand theme in many movies. The one I'm thinking of today is "Captain America". At the end of the movie, when Captain America crashes the flying craft into the Arctic Ocean, no one sighs in exasperation and asks, "Why did he waste his life? He could have done so much MORE!" We all recognize that according to the storyline, Captain America saved not only the United States, but the entire world and life as we know it. We consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.
You may think I'm over-dramatizing, but why then when a woman chooses to pour her mind, talents, and abilities into raising her children is it "A waste of her life/mind/education?" Mama's who accept this high calling are, in fact, preserving life as we know it. I often hear suggestions that women "take time for themselves", "take care of themselves so they can take care of their families". And where there is a place for the concept that we SHOULD do our best to take care of our bodies, it seems more like a suggestion for selfishness. Besides, childhood is SO BRIEF!
I've mentioned before that I LOVE to read. Books have been a major part of my life for longer than I can remember. But during the five years that I was having my children and before they were in school, about the only reading I did was when I read them storybooks at naptime. Was that a waste of my time/passion? I would say emphatically, "NO!!!" I was exposing them to God's world, and instilling in them a passion for books and reading. After all, you can travel millions of places in books that you might never get to otherwise. =)
So, all you mama's out there-- especially if you have little ones-- pour your life into your precious blessings for the brief years that the Lord entrusts them to your care. And remember that sooner than you can imagine, they will not be little anymore. Motherhood is a worthwhile sacrifice!
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:4-11
Sacrifice is a grand theme in many movies. The one I'm thinking of today is "Captain America". At the end of the movie, when Captain America crashes the flying craft into the Arctic Ocean, no one sighs in exasperation and asks, "Why did he waste his life? He could have done so much MORE!" We all recognize that according to the storyline, Captain America saved not only the United States, but the entire world and life as we know it. We consider it a worthwhile sacrifice.
You may think I'm over-dramatizing, but why then when a woman chooses to pour her mind, talents, and abilities into raising her children is it "A waste of her life/mind/education?" Mama's who accept this high calling are, in fact, preserving life as we know it. I often hear suggestions that women "take time for themselves", "take care of themselves so they can take care of their families". And where there is a place for the concept that we SHOULD do our best to take care of our bodies, it seems more like a suggestion for selfishness. Besides, childhood is SO BRIEF!
I've mentioned before that I LOVE to read. Books have been a major part of my life for longer than I can remember. But during the five years that I was having my children and before they were in school, about the only reading I did was when I read them storybooks at naptime. Was that a waste of my time/passion? I would say emphatically, "NO!!!" I was exposing them to God's world, and instilling in them a passion for books and reading. After all, you can travel millions of places in books that you might never get to otherwise. =)
So, all you mama's out there-- especially if you have little ones-- pour your life into your precious blessings for the brief years that the Lord entrusts them to your care. And remember that sooner than you can imagine, they will not be little anymore. Motherhood is a worthwhile sacrifice!
In this the love of God was made manifest among us, that God sent his only Son into the world, so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we have loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. Beloved, if God so loved us, we also ought to love one another.
1 John 4:9-11
And you were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience-- among whom we all once lived in the passions of our flesh, carrying out the desires of the body and the mind, and were by nature children of wrath, like the rest of mankind. But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ--by grace you have been saved-- and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 2:1-7
Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Philippians 2:4-11
Saturday, December 1, 2012
Freedom
My girls like watching the Barbie movies. Last night while we were visiting my parents, I let them watch the newest one, "The Princess and the Popstar". I really liked "The Princess and the Pauper". It had themes of responsibility and self-sacrifice. However, in "The Princess and the Popstar" it was highlighting a concept of freedom. These are the lyrics of the chorus from a song early in the movie:
I wish I had her life
then I would be so free
I wish I had her life
I'd be another me.
As I chewed on this a little more, I was a bit frustrated by the bizarre concept of "freedom" that seems so prevalent in the U.S. The idea is: "I can be/do anything I want." Although we have SO MUCH freedom-- freedom to choose where I live, what career I pursue, what church to attend... or if I attend church at all-- I CANNOT be/do ANYTHING. I cannot be a dog or a horse, no matter how much I may think I'd like to be. I cannot steal or kill-- unless I'd like to go to jail or worse. And I cannot fly any more than I can change the shape of my arms or the size of lungs and liver to be more like a man's.
But in Christ, I am free to fellowship with my King. I am free to glorify my God. And I am FREE from slavery to sin! =)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
Psalms 118:1-5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:6-13
I wish I had her life
then I would be so free
I wish I had her life
I'd be another me.
As I chewed on this a little more, I was a bit frustrated by the bizarre concept of "freedom" that seems so prevalent in the U.S. The idea is: "I can be/do anything I want." Although we have SO MUCH freedom-- freedom to choose where I live, what career I pursue, what church to attend... or if I attend church at all-- I CANNOT be/do ANYTHING. I cannot be a dog or a horse, no matter how much I may think I'd like to be. I cannot steal or kill-- unless I'd like to go to jail or worse. And I cannot fly any more than I can change the shape of my arms or the size of lungs and liver to be more like a man's.
But in Christ, I am free to fellowship with my King. I am free to glorify my God. And I am FREE from slavery to sin! =)
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; for his steadfast love endures forever! Let Israel say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let the house of Aaron say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Let those who fear the LORD say, "His steadfast love endures forever." Out of my distress I called on the LORD; the LORD answered me and set me free.
Psalms 118:1-5
For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery.
Galatians 5:1
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another. For the whole law is fulfilled in one word: "You shall love your neighbor as yourself."
Galatians 5:13-14
We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin. For one who has died has been set free from sin. Now if we have died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness.
Romans 6:6-13
Friday, November 30, 2012
the Word IN me
I am SO EXCITED about beginning to practice Scripture memory again! When I was growing up, my family memorized several passages and verses together. Some of them (like Psalm 23) I could recite for you in my sleep. Others I've mostly forgotten. I also memorized quite a few verses in high school. Since becoming an adult though, I've mostly neglected that particular discipline. But I listened to a session earlier this week about the importance, indeed the MANDATE in Scripture to memorize Scripture. So I got with a precious sister yesterday and we have committed to practicing Scripture memory together. And I'm PUMPED! I want to know Scripture better, because that is how my God has ordained to reveal Himself to His people. So, I want to encourage you to get God's Word IN you! =)
Transformation by the Word: The Power of Scripture Memory Workshops - The Gospel Coalition 2012 National Women's Conference Mary K. Mohler | Jun 22, 2012
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:2-17
Transformation by the Word: The Power of Scripture Memory Workshops - The Gospel Coalition 2012 National Women's Conference Mary K. Mohler | Jun 22, 2012
Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming. In these you too once walked, when you were living in them. But now you must put them all away: anger, wrath, malice, slander, and obscene talk from your mouth. Do not lie to one another, seeing that you have put off the old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator. Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all. Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.
Colossians 3:2-17
Thursday, November 29, 2012
Gushing
I love when I get a break from teaching school to my Crew! I love teaching them too-- at least sometimes. ;) But I love the breaks because I have so much more freedom in terms of what I do with my days. When I am sewing, or cleaning, or cooking, I am able to listen to sermons and things. I don't get that opportunity when I'm teaching school. So this week I've been sewing, and listening to more sessions from The Gospel Coalition's Women's Conference. After spending the better part of two days being poured into by these women of faith, I am literally GUSHING! When I think of gushing, I think of Old Faithful. So last night after the kids went to bed, I just spewed all over Shorty! =) Fortunately for him, it was gushing about the greatness of our God, and not complaints. He has been the sad victim of that kind of gushing before. =(
One portion of one of the sessions that stood out to me was when the speaker was setting the context for her particular passage. She went back to the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve had sinned. And she said that as Adam and Eve heard God pronounce judgement on the serpent-- he was the first to receive judgement-- that God was already showing them grace. You see, God had told them that on the day that they ate from the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would DIE. But as God spoke judgement on the serpent He said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring..." (Gen 3:15) And offspring means LIFE! Before God ever spoke judgement on Adam and Eve, he offered them grace and hope! That was just such a HUGE thought to me! Grace greater than all our sin! =)
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalms 32:10-11
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalms 33:18-22
One portion of one of the sessions that stood out to me was when the speaker was setting the context for her particular passage. She went back to the Garden of Eden, after Adam and Eve had sinned. And she said that as Adam and Eve heard God pronounce judgement on the serpent-- he was the first to receive judgement-- that God was already showing them grace. You see, God had told them that on the day that they ate from the fruit of the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil, they would DIE. But as God spoke judgement on the serpent He said, "I will put enmity between you and the woman, and between your offspring and her offspring..." (Gen 3:15) And offspring means LIFE! Before God ever spoke judgement on Adam and Eve, he offered them grace and hope! That was just such a HUGE thought to me! Grace greater than all our sin! =)
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the LORD. Be glad in the LORD, and rejoice, O righteous, and shout for joy, all you upright in heart!
Psalms 32:10-11
Behold, the eye of the LORD is on those who fear him, on those who hope in his steadfast love, that he may deliver their soul from death and keep them alive in famine. Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.
Psalms 33:18-22
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Glory
I've been reading in Revelation during my devotions. Well, I finished yesterday, but I've decided to read through Ezekiel, Daniel, and Revelation for the rest of this year. It's difficult for me to read... but I'm loving seeing how the texts mirror one another! And I'm praying that the Lord will give me insight. So today as I read the first few chapters of Ezekiel, I noticed something.
Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel 1:28
So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
Ezekiel 3:23
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18
Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."
Exodus 33:18-23
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.
Exodus 34:5-8
Consistently, the prophets are laid flat on their faces when they behold the glory of God. And as terrifying as God's glory and holiness are-- I want to see His glory! It is a good thing to be on your face before the Lord! =)
Like the appearance of the bow that is in the cloud on the day of rain, so was the appearance of the brightness all around. Such was the appearance of the likeness of the glory of the LORD. And when I saw it, I fell on my face, and I heard the voice of one speaking.
Ezekiel 1:28
So I arose and went out into the valley, and behold, the glory of the LORD stood there, like the glory that I had seen by the Chebar canal, and I fell on my face.
Ezekiel 3:23
When I saw him, I fell at his feet as though dead. But he laid his right hand on me, saying, "Fear not, I am the first and the last, and the living one. I died, and behold I am alive forevermore, and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Revelation 1:17-18
Moses said, "Please show me your glory." And he said, "I will make all my goodness pass before you and will proclaim before you my name 'The LORD.' And I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious, and will show mercy on whom I will show mercy. But," he said, "you cannot see my face, for man shall not see me and live." And the LORD said, "Behold, there is a place by me where you shall stand on the rock, and while my glory passes by I will put you in a cleft of the rock, and I will cover you with my hand until I have passed by. Then I will take away my hand, and you shall see my back, but my face shall not be seen."
Exodus 33:18-23
The LORD descended in the cloud and stood with him there, and proclaimed the name of the LORD. The LORD passed before him and proclaimed, "The LORD, the LORD, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, but who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children's children, to the third and the fourth generation." And Moses quickly bowed his head toward the earth and worshiped.
Exodus 34:5-8
Consistently, the prophets are laid flat on their faces when they behold the glory of God. And as terrifying as God's glory and holiness are-- I want to see His glory! It is a good thing to be on your face before the Lord! =)
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Precious Father
I've always known that my Daddy loves me. That's not to say he's perfect. And I was blessed at a very early age that when I thought of God, I thought in terms of all the best characteristics that I saw in Daddy perfected, without any of the negatives. I KNEW that God is a perfect Father. But I am so quick to forget that He loves me. Sometimes I want His love to be mushy-- you know, all happiness and fluff and stuff. But His love is SO MUCH GREATER than that! He loves me too much to allow me to be satisfied with anything less than Himself-- at least, not for long. He is the most Precious Father. =)
Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalms 103:1-22
Of David. Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name! Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits, who forgives all your iniquity, who heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit, who crowns you with steadfast love and mercy, who satisfies you with good so that your youth is renewed like the eagle's. The LORD works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. He made known his ways to Moses, his acts to the people of Israel. The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love. He will not always chide, nor will he keep his anger forever. He does not deal with us according to our sins, nor repay us according to our iniquities. For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his steadfast love toward those who fear him; as far as the east is from the west, so far does he remove our transgressions from us. As a father shows compassion to his children, so the LORD shows compassion to those who fear him. For he knows our frame; he remembers that we are dust. As for man, his days are like grass; he flourishes like a flower of the field; for the wind passes over it, and it is gone, and its place knows it no more. But the steadfast love of the LORD is from everlasting to everlasting on those who fear him, and his righteousness to children's children, to those who keep his covenant and remember to do his commandments. The LORD has established his throne in the heavens, and his kingdom rules over all. Bless the LORD, O you his angels, you mighty ones who do his word, obeying the voice of his word! Bless the LORD, all his hosts, his ministers, who do his will! Bless the LORD, all his works, in all places of his dominion. Bless the LORD, O my soul!
Psalms 103:1-22
Monday, November 26, 2012
Guidance
I don't know about you, but I pray for guidance often. And usually in conjunction with provision. I've told you before that I tend to worry. I'm actually in a worry cycle right now, and have had a bit of a dry spell spiritually. And in times like these, I find that other Christians are able to better articulate the truth I need.
'Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.
Thus it appears that the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in the God who will not let us ruin our souls. Our concern, therefore, in this discussion should be more for his glory than for our security-- for that is already taken care of. And our self-distrust, while keeping us humble, must not cloud the joy with which we lean on "the Lord Protector"-- our faithful covenant God.'
~Knowing God by J.I. Packer
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:12-14
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:14-17
'Guidance, like all God's acts of blessing under the covenant of grace, is a sovereign act. Not merely does God will to guide us in the sense of showing us his way, that we may tread it; he wills also to guide us in the more fundamental sense of ensuring that, whatever happens, whatever mistakes we may make, we shall come safely home. Slippings and strayings there will be, no doubt, but the everlasting arms are beneath us; we shall be caught, rescued, restored. This is God's promise; this is how good he is.
Thus it appears that the right context for discussing guidance is one of confidence in the God who will not let us ruin our souls. Our concern, therefore, in this discussion should be more for his glory than for our security-- for that is already taken care of. And our self-distrust, while keeping us humble, must not cloud the joy with which we lean on "the Lord Protector"-- our faithful covenant God.'
~Knowing God by J.I. Packer
"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.
John 16:12-14
I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.
John 17:14-17
Saturday, November 24, 2012
Dominate
We put up our Christmas tree last night. It completely DOMINATES our living room! The footprint on this tree is HUGE-- five foot diameter, I measured. And the star is ALMOST touching the ceiling. ;) We've been working our way up from a Charlie Brown style Christmas tree by shopping the after Christmas sales. =) You may wonder why we felt the need to get this massive tree, since our house is small. One of the kids' favorite of our traditions is that we go shopping for ornaments each year. Each person gets to choose a new ornament for the tree. It looks pretty eclectic with Coca Cola cans, dogs, lions, bears, fish, and of course snowmen! ;) But I told Shorty last year that I can't bear-- at this point anyway-- to make the kids choose which ornaments to put on the tree and which don't make it out of the box any given year. So there you have it. I have a tree that is a decorating "don't", and we all LOVE IT!
Where am I going with this today? I was laughing as I thought about the concept of something dominating my life. I was created and redeemed so that Christ can dominate my life. He is doubly worthy to be my King. I thought that one reason that I'm okay with our huge Christmas tree is because, in about a month, it will come down. And I was contemplating how I will often allow something LESS than my King to dominate my life for a season... =(
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:9-18
I've been spending my devotions in Revelation. And the scene from Heaven is at the forefront of my mind right now. Let your life be dominated by the One who is Worthy.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:8-11
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:6-10
Where am I going with this today? I was laughing as I thought about the concept of something dominating my life. I was created and redeemed so that Christ can dominate my life. He is doubly worthy to be my King. I thought that one reason that I'm okay with our huge Christmas tree is because, in about a month, it will come down. And I was contemplating how I will often allow something LESS than my King to dominate my life for a season... =(
We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under law but under grace? By no means! Do you not know that if you present yourselves to anyone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one whom you obey, either of sin, which leads to death, or of obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God, that you who were once slaves of sin have become obedient from the heart to the standard of teaching to which you were committed, and, having been set free from sin, have become slaves of righteousness.
Romans 6:9-18
I've been spending my devotions in Revelation. And the scene from Heaven is at the forefront of my mind right now. Let your life be dominated by the One who is Worthy.
And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:8-11
And between the throne and the four living creatures and among the elders I saw a Lamb standing, as though it had been slain, with seven horns and with seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. And he went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who was seated on the throne. And when he had taken the scroll, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb, each holding a harp, and golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of the saints. And they sang a new song, saying, "Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth."
Revelation 5:6-10
Friday, November 23, 2012
Traditions
I love traditions! We have different traditions all year long, but there seem to be a concentration of traditions for us in November and December. From foods to decorations to activities, we spend lots of fun time together. And I hope that in all the fun, my Crew are catching the gospel from me.
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all, which is the testimony given at the proper time.
1 Timothy 2:5-6
Thursday, November 22, 2012
Discontentment vs. Thankfulness
My oldest daughter is very much like me sometimes. She chooses (not intentionally, I think) to dwell on the unpleasant parts of her life, rather than looking at the good things. Last year, I was having particular trouble getting her to do her school lesson because she was so busy looking at ALL the bad things she could think of. And I was reminded of the many admonitions in Scripture that we should be thankful.
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So I told her that we were going to play a game. I explained that I would name something I was thankful for, and then she would have to name something SHE was thankful for. Her initial response was to sigh and tell me that she WASN'T thankful for anything. I was having a good parenting moment, so I replied that, in that case, she would just have to say something that she COULD be thankful for. And so we began. I'm not sure how long we played our "game", but when I let her stop, she had a smile and her heart had been reminded to be thankful.
I've been struggling this week with discontentment. Rather ironic since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. =/ My discontentment generally revolves around my house. But as I was praying this morning that the Lord would help me to be content and thankful, He did EXACTLY that. He showed my how, little by little, He has taught me to make better use of the space He's provided for me. And how He's provided, little by little, for me to improve my little house. And he reminded me that He is also equipping my Crew for whatever He has in store for their lives. That's a pretty BIG job, for a pretty LITTLE house! But God is BIG enough to use ANYTHING for His purpose! And as a brother reminded me last night, Jesus is sufficient for me. =)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:24-26
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
So I told her that we were going to play a game. I explained that I would name something I was thankful for, and then she would have to name something SHE was thankful for. Her initial response was to sigh and tell me that she WASN'T thankful for anything. I was having a good parenting moment, so I replied that, in that case, she would just have to say something that she COULD be thankful for. And so we began. I'm not sure how long we played our "game", but when I let her stop, she had a smile and her heart had been reminded to be thankful.
I've been struggling this week with discontentment. Rather ironic since we are celebrating Thanksgiving. =/ My discontentment generally revolves around my house. But as I was praying this morning that the Lord would help me to be content and thankful, He did EXACTLY that. He showed my how, little by little, He has taught me to make better use of the space He's provided for me. And how He's provided, little by little, for me to improve my little house. And he reminded me that He is also equipping my Crew for whatever He has in store for their lives. That's a pretty BIG job, for a pretty LITTLE house! But God is BIG enough to use ANYTHING for His purpose! And as a brother reminded me last night, Jesus is sufficient for me. =)
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us, in all wisdom and insight making known to us the mystery of his will, according to his purpose, which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fullness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth. In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory. In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him, were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance until we acquire possession of it, to the praise of his glory.
Ephesians 1:3-14
The LORD is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot. The lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; indeed, I have a beautiful inheritance. I bless the LORD who gives me counsel; in the night also my heart instructs me. I have set the LORD always before me; because he is at my right hand, I shall not be shaken. Therefore my heart is glad, and my whole being rejoices; my flesh also dwells secure.
Psalms 16:5-9
"The LORD is my portion," says my soul, "therefore I will hope in him." The LORD is good to those who wait for him, to the soul who seeks him. It is good that one should wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD.
Lamentations 3:24-26
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Minion
This is the beginning of my favorite time of year. Thanksgiving combines Family, Friends, and Food. (I have three pies just out of the oven, and will have two more by the end of the day! Not to mention all the OTHER yumminess that I will be cranking out in the next couple days! =)) Next will be my birthday, and the birthdays of several of my favorite ladies. And then Christmas. This time of year has always meant extra moments with my family, and lots of fun-- if exhausting-- activities with my church family. But for me, and many others I know, it can also be a time of extra STRESS. How do you juggle time with all the family? What gift to buy for that hard-to-shop-for person (or persons) on your list? Or in these tighter economic times, how to AFFORD gifts for those on your list? How to keep your priorities straight in this highly commercialized culture?
I've been thinking for a few weeks now about how to stretch our budget. Our candy business will be gearing up next week, and I've been praying that it will be a good year. But this morning as I was doing my devotions, I had the strangest thought flit through my head. I tend to be very much like the little yellow minions in "Despicable Me". They wander around running into things, getting into random mischief, and chattering unintelligibly. As the "things to do" ramp up, I just tend to get worried. And worry is worthless.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:24-27
So rather than worrying, today I'm going to try to think about the One who is Worthy of praise.
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:2-11
I've been thinking for a few weeks now about how to stretch our budget. Our candy business will be gearing up next week, and I've been praying that it will be a good year. But this morning as I was doing my devotions, I had the strangest thought flit through my head. I tend to be very much like the little yellow minions in "Despicable Me". They wander around running into things, getting into random mischief, and chattering unintelligibly. As the "things to do" ramp up, I just tend to get worried. And worry is worthless.
"No one can serve two masters, for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and money. "Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? And which of you by being anxious can add a single hour to his span of life?
Matthew 6:24-27
So rather than worrying, today I'm going to try to think about the One who is Worthy of praise.
At once I was in the Spirit, and behold, a throne stood in heaven, with one seated on the throne. And he who sat there had the appearance of jasper and carnelian, and around the throne was a rainbow that had the appearance of an emerald. Around the throne were twenty-four thrones, and seated on the thrones were twenty-four elders, clothed in white garments, with golden crowns on their heads. From the throne came flashes of lightning, and rumblings and peals of thunder, and before the throne were burning seven torches of fire, which are the seven spirits of God, and before the throne there was as it were a sea of glass, like crystal. And around the throne, on each side of the throne, are four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind: the first living creature like a lion, the second living creature like an ox, the third living creature with the face of a man, and the fourth living creature like an eagle in flight. And the four living creatures, each of them with six wings, are full of eyes all around and within, and day and night they never cease to say, "Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord God Almighty, who was and is and is to come!" And whenever the living creatures give glory and honor and thanks to him who is seated on the throne, who lives forever and ever, the twenty-four elders fall down before him who is seated on the throne and worship him who lives forever and ever. They cast their crowns before the throne, saying, "Worthy are you, our Lord and God, to receive glory and honor and power, for you created all things, and by your will they existed and were created."
Revelation 4:2-11
Tuesday, November 20, 2012
Perspective
A couple months ago we were having dinner with a sweet couple from our church family. She was praising her husband for how he helped her wash the dishes. I laughed and said that Shorty REFUSES to do dishes (load the dishwasher) for me because I used to be too particular about HOW they were done. I thought they needed to be in the dishwasher "just so". I keep telling him that I've mellowed over the past few years, but he's sticking to his guns! =) I did say that he'd been helping me a lot with the laundry, though. He laughed and said his primary motivation was so that he'd have his workout clothes clean. (I knew that.) It was really funny though later as Shorty and I were talking about it. I told him, I guess I could be thinking about it in terms of, "He only does the laundry HE thinks is important. He's not thinking about me." =P That is such a terrible line of thought! It would breed so much needless frustration and anger and bitterness into our relationship. It could be my optimist coming out, but I prefer to think of it in terms of, "That's one load of laundry that I don't have to wash and dry." =) It's all a matter of perspective!
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.
Ephesians 4:31-32
For though we walk in the flesh, we are not waging war according to the flesh. For the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh but have divine power to destroy strongholds. We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ, being ready to punish every disobedience, when your obedience is complete.
2 Corinthians 10:3-6
Put on then, as God's chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful.
Colossians 3:12-15
Monday, November 19, 2012
Heart --> Action
Shorty and I are trying to teach our children that all our bad behavior
flows out of our sinful hearts. So, if I get angry with them, it is NOT
their fault for disobeying (for example). Their disobedience IS sin, but
it simply gives me opportunity to pour out the sin from my own heart in
the form of anger. As I was telling Daddy about my plan to use The Chronicles of Narnia this year instead of the reading curriculum I have used the past several years, I explained that this year there seems to be a lot more focus on behavior instead of heart issues. So we talked a little bit about some different characters, and Daddy said that Edmund, in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, had some pretty serious behavior issues.
Adara has just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was really impressed by the change in Edmund just through the course of this book. In the beginning of the book, he takes great delight in making Lucy feel miserable. And when the four children get into Narnia and hear about Aslan, Edmund is already soundly in the Witch's camp. He is hostile toward Aslan, and making excuses for why the Witch really SHOULD be queen. He is ALMOST indifferent to the consequences for his siblings when he decides to betray them to the Witch. But, as he spends more time in the Witch's company, his eyes begin to be opened to her true nature, and he begins to repent for his treachery. In the end of the story, he acquits himself well by sacrificing himself to break the Witch's wand. Well, almost the end. Edmund and his sibling go on to rule Narnia for many years, and (I think because of all that Aslan had done for him) Edmund is known as "King Edmund the Just".
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
Adara has just finished reading The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. I was really impressed by the change in Edmund just through the course of this book. In the beginning of the book, he takes great delight in making Lucy feel miserable. And when the four children get into Narnia and hear about Aslan, Edmund is already soundly in the Witch's camp. He is hostile toward Aslan, and making excuses for why the Witch really SHOULD be queen. He is ALMOST indifferent to the consequences for his siblings when he decides to betray them to the Witch. But, as he spends more time in the Witch's company, his eyes begin to be opened to her true nature, and he begins to repent for his treachery. In the end of the story, he acquits himself well by sacrificing himself to break the Witch's wand. Well, almost the end. Edmund and his sibling go on to rule Narnia for many years, and (I think because of all that Aslan had done for him) Edmund is known as "King Edmund the Just".
For by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin. But now the righteousness of God has been manifested apart from the law, although the Law and the Prophets bear witness to it-- the righteousness of God through faith in Jesus Christ for all who believe. For there is no distinction: for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God's righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus. Then what becomes of our boasting? It is excluded. By what kind of law? By a law of works? No, but by the law of faith. For we hold that one is justified by faith apart from works of the law.
Romans 3:20-28
Saturday, November 17, 2012
MORE Strawberry Jam
My girls LOVE strawberry jam! They have done their best to eat the strawberry jam I made a few months ago. In fact, I think they've eaten (with a little help from Judah, Shorty & me) about a gallon of it! Since they've eaten so much already, I decided to snatch up the 12 pounds of "quick sale" strawberries I saw at HEB Thursday night. And I made more strawberry jam! =)
Here's the thing: when you are doing a repetitive action for a long period of time, you have LOTS of time to think. So I was thinking about my previous post Strawberry Jam, and pondering the analogy of sugar representing the gospel. Some jam recipes call for a 1:1 ratio of fruit to sugar, but some recipes, like the strawberry jam recipe, call for a nearly 1:2 ratio. I'm not saying that it takes twice as much gospel as my "contribution".
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Romans 7:18
My thought, as I looked at a batch of jam, was, "That's A LOT of sugar!" I mean, you really don't see much fruit when you pour all the ingredients in the pan. And I thought, "It takes a lot of gospel to preserve this sinner-- and on a larger scale, His church!" It takes SO MUCH MORE than a 2:1 ratio! It takes infinite gospel!!! =) And God doesn't have a shortage! =)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:14-16
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Ephesians 3:8-12
Here's the thing: when you are doing a repetitive action for a long period of time, you have LOTS of time to think. So I was thinking about my previous post Strawberry Jam, and pondering the analogy of sugar representing the gospel. Some jam recipes call for a 1:1 ratio of fruit to sugar, but some recipes, like the strawberry jam recipe, call for a nearly 1:2 ratio. I'm not saying that it takes twice as much gospel as my "contribution".
For I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh. For I have the desire to do what is right, but not the ability to carry it out.
Romans 7:18
My thought, as I looked at a batch of jam, was, "That's A LOT of sugar!" I mean, you really don't see much fruit when you pour all the ingredients in the pan. And I thought, "It takes a lot of gospel to preserve this sinner-- and on a larger scale, His church!" It takes SO MUCH MORE than a 2:1 ratio! It takes infinite gospel!!! =) And God doesn't have a shortage! =)
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John bore witness about him, and cried out, "This was he of whom I said, 'He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.'") And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
John 1:14-16
To me, though I am the very least of all the saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ, and to bring to light for everyone what is the plan of the mystery hidden for ages in God who created all things, so that through the church the manifold wisdom of God might now be made known to the rulers and authorities in the heavenly places. This was according to the eternal purpose that he has realized in Christ Jesus our Lord, in whom we have boldness and access with confidence through our faith in him.
Ephesians 3:8-12
Friday, November 16, 2012
Breaking Dawn
I am a chocoholic. I'm also a bookaholic. I LOVE to read!!! I like theology books, history books, (some) technical books, children's books, but my favorite to read just for recreation are fantasy books: Percy Jackson, the Inheritance cycle, The Chronicles of Narnia, etc. I would rather spend eight hours reading a book, than two hours watching a movie-- unless the movie is based on a book! ;) I'm a fan of all the details!
Before the movie "New Moon" came out, Shorty & I decided to read the books to see what all the fuss was about-- and to be able to talk about them intelligently. Over the next few months, we read all four books in the Twilight series. After reading Breaking Dawn I was bluesy for several days-- or maybe longer. It usually took Shorty and me a few weeks to process through the themes of the books and address them through a biblical perspective. When I had had time to process, I came to the conclusion that Breaking Dawn frustrated me because it offered all the benefits of eternal life-- youth, strength, beauty, power, immortality-- without correcting the root issue: sin. This was especially hard for me at the time because I was being faced with my own mortality and sin.
I was up late reading recently and came across this passage in Knowing God:
"We have all heard the gospel presented as God's triumphant answer to human problems-- problems of our relation with ourselves and our fellow humans and our environment. Well, there is no doubt that the gospel does bring us solutions to these problems, but it does so by first solving a deeper problem-- the deepest of all human problems, the problem of man's relation with his Maker. And unless we make it plain that the solution of these former problems depends on the settling of this latter one, we are misrepresenting the message and becoming false witnesses of God-- for a half-truth presented as if it were the whole truth becomes something of a falsehood by that very act. No reader of the New Testament can miss the fact that it knows all about our human problems-- fear, moral cowardice, illness of body and mind, loneliness, insecurity, hopelessness, despair, cruelty, abuse of power and the rest-- but equally no reader of the New Testament can miss the fact that it resolves all these problems, one way or another, into the fundamental problem of sin against God."
Now I know that Breaking Dawn was not attempting to preach a biblical gospel, but it does offer a "hope", albeit a fictional one. As a Christian engaging in this world, I want to be able to contrast those well, and hopefully offer someone a TRUE and REAL hope. =)
A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalms 130:1-8
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Before the movie "New Moon" came out, Shorty & I decided to read the books to see what all the fuss was about-- and to be able to talk about them intelligently. Over the next few months, we read all four books in the Twilight series. After reading Breaking Dawn I was bluesy for several days-- or maybe longer. It usually took Shorty and me a few weeks to process through the themes of the books and address them through a biblical perspective. When I had had time to process, I came to the conclusion that Breaking Dawn frustrated me because it offered all the benefits of eternal life-- youth, strength, beauty, power, immortality-- without correcting the root issue: sin. This was especially hard for me at the time because I was being faced with my own mortality and sin.
I was up late reading recently and came across this passage in Knowing God:
"We have all heard the gospel presented as God's triumphant answer to human problems-- problems of our relation with ourselves and our fellow humans and our environment. Well, there is no doubt that the gospel does bring us solutions to these problems, but it does so by first solving a deeper problem-- the deepest of all human problems, the problem of man's relation with his Maker. And unless we make it plain that the solution of these former problems depends on the settling of this latter one, we are misrepresenting the message and becoming false witnesses of God-- for a half-truth presented as if it were the whole truth becomes something of a falsehood by that very act. No reader of the New Testament can miss the fact that it knows all about our human problems-- fear, moral cowardice, illness of body and mind, loneliness, insecurity, hopelessness, despair, cruelty, abuse of power and the rest-- but equally no reader of the New Testament can miss the fact that it resolves all these problems, one way or another, into the fundamental problem of sin against God."
Now I know that Breaking Dawn was not attempting to preach a biblical gospel, but it does offer a "hope", albeit a fictional one. As a Christian engaging in this world, I want to be able to contrast those well, and hopefully offer someone a TRUE and REAL hope. =)
A Song of Ascents. Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD! O Lord, hear my voice! Let your ears be attentive to the voice of my pleas for mercy! If you, O LORD, should mark iniquities, O Lord, who could stand? But with you there is forgiveness, that you may be feared. I wait for the LORD, my soul waits, and in his word I hope; my soul waits for the Lord more than watchmen for the morning, more than watchmen for the morning. O Israel, hope in the LORD! For with the LORD there is steadfast love, and with him is plentiful redemption. And he will redeem Israel from all his iniquities.
Psalms 130:1-8
For this reason I remind you to fan into flame the gift of God, which is in you through the laying on of my hands, for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which he gave us in Christ Jesus before the ages began, and which now has been manifested through the appearing of our Savior Christ Jesus, who abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel,
2 Timothy 1:6-10
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Caught
My snowmen are out of hibernation! That is mostly due to the fact that my oldest daughter brought the boxes in out of the shed. =) I was beginning to think that the snowmen were just going to have to wait until we decorate for Christmas...
So I put my snowmen out and put the other stuff away. The kids were SUPER excited-- so much so that we had to make them sit on the couch so they wouldn't break anything! =? And as I was looking around once everything was in its place, I thought, "My Crew has caught my enthusiasm for all things snow/winter." And I was reminded of one of the messages I listened to this summer-- I don't remember which ONE ;) -- in which the pastor said that passion is "caught", not "taught". Our children will tend to believe that what we are passionate about is the "main thing". And his point was that we need to be passionate about the gospel. Good works are, in fact, good-- but they should flow out of our passion for the gospel. So as I looked around at my snowmen, I prayed- and am still praying- that I will have a "catching" passion for the gospel! =) I think that's what God had in mind when He commanded His people to teach their children His law.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:1-5
So I put my snowmen out and put the other stuff away. The kids were SUPER excited-- so much so that we had to make them sit on the couch so they wouldn't break anything! =? And as I was looking around once everything was in its place, I thought, "My Crew has caught my enthusiasm for all things snow/winter." And I was reminded of one of the messages I listened to this summer-- I don't remember which ONE ;) -- in which the pastor said that passion is "caught", not "taught". Our children will tend to believe that what we are passionate about is the "main thing". And his point was that we need to be passionate about the gospel. Good works are, in fact, good-- but they should flow out of our passion for the gospel. So as I looked around at my snowmen, I prayed- and am still praying- that I will have a "catching" passion for the gospel! =) I think that's what God had in mind when He commanded His people to teach their children His law.
"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates.
Deuteronomy 6:4-9
Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you--unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures, and that he appeared to Cephas, then to the twelve.
1 Corinthians 15:1-5
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Perfect Timing
I'm not very good at being on time. In fact, if it weren't for Shorty, I'd probably be late for EVERYTHING!!! =) I also tend to be not much a finisher... That could have SOMETHING to do with the fact that I am a procrastinator. I make grand plans to prepare for things, but in the end, unless the deadline looms large on the horizon, I feel like I have "plenty of time". ;)
I was up late last night reading. (I made the mistake of drinking caffeinated tea at supper.) I had started Knowing God about a year ago, got halfway through, and then skipped on to other reading material. I was just in awe though as I picked it up last night because the author, J.I. Packer, was referencing Bible passages that I've recently read/studied. It is a beautiful thing when God applies His Word to the hearts of His people! And I was thinking about how much less the chapters I read would have resonated without the time I've already spent in those passages. So I was praising God for His perfect timing as He puts together the mess that is my life, to make me look more like my Savior.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14-15
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
Titus 1:1-3
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
I was up late last night reading. (I made the mistake of drinking caffeinated tea at supper.) I had started Knowing God about a year ago, got halfway through, and then skipped on to other reading material. I was just in awe though as I picked it up last night because the author, J.I. Packer, was referencing Bible passages that I've recently read/studied. It is a beautiful thing when God applies His Word to the hearts of His people! And I was thinking about how much less the chapters I read would have resonated without the time I've already spent in those passages. So I was praising God for His perfect timing as He puts together the mess that is my life, to make me look more like my Savior.
He has made everything beautiful in its time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end.
Ecclesiastes 3:11
Now after John was arrested, Jesus came into Galilee, proclaiming the gospel of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel."
Mark 1:14-15
Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ, for the sake of the faith of God's elect and their knowledge of the truth, which accords with godliness, in hope of eternal life, which God, who never lies, promised before the ages began and at the proper time manifested in his word through the preaching with which I have been entrusted by the command of God our Savior;
Titus 1:1-3
Now to him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with great joy, to the only God, our Savior, through Jesus Christ our Lord, be glory, majesty, dominion, and authority, before all time and now and forever. Amen.
Jude 1:24-25
The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
2 Peter 3:9
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Someone Else's Mess
The trouble with used appliances, or houses, is that you often end up cleaning up someone else's mess. =P I was blessed (read that with a question mark) with a used oven a little over a year ago. I was excited at the time, but a little frustrated with how messy it was! I scrubbed it down pretty well before we even moved it to our house, but there were some places that I couldn't figure out how to get to, to clean the gunk out. Today I couldn't stand it anymore & pulled out a couple screwdrivers and my cleaning supplies & proceeded to scrub my oven.
At the beginning I was thinking, "Arrrggghhhhh!!! I HATE cleaning up other people's messes!" Now I've mentioned before that I'm a slow learner. I think God just keeps repeating the same lessons because I keep forgetting. Anyway, He reminded me that He keeps cleaning up my mess (read that "sin") WITHOUT complaints. Duly chastised, I finished scrubbing my oven thanking my Father that He is willing to clean up my messy heart, AND thanking Him for my oven. =)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
At the beginning I was thinking, "Arrrggghhhhh!!! I HATE cleaning up other people's messes!" Now I've mentioned before that I'm a slow learner. I think God just keeps repeating the same lessons because I keep forgetting. Anyway, He reminded me that He keeps cleaning up my mess (read that "sin") WITHOUT complaints. Duly chastised, I finished scrubbing my oven thanking my Father that He is willing to clean up my messy heart, AND thanking Him for my oven. =)
But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin. If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
1 John 1:7-9
I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you. And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit within you, and cause you to walk in my statutes and be careful to obey my rules.
Ezekiel 36:25-27
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
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