Do you struggle with prayer? Maybe you don't pray often, or maybe you have trouble focusing, or maybe you feel like you don't know enough of the situation to pray well. In any of these circumstances, we have a Helper! And He doesn't just help us pray. He will faithfully bring us to faith and then to glorification! We were given the Son as a sacrifice for our sins, and we were given the Spirit as the guarantee of our inheritance. The Father has already given us the greatest gift! =)
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 1:13-14
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. And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?
Romans 8:26-32
Saturday, March 30, 2013
Friday, March 29, 2013
Sugar Rush
I LOVE SUGAR!!! Obviously not the way I love my family or my friends,
but I take GREAT DELIGHT in consuming it! When I was younger my motto
with regard to sugar was "The more, the Better!" Now you may be
wondering what this has to do with Romans, since I've been blogging about it all week... =)
As my dear sister and I were discussing this last week, she commented about the part "we hope for what we do not see". We talked about how we BELIEVE what God has said about the goodness that will be in His kingdom when Christ returns, but we really have no concept of what that will be like. We talked about how our understanding of what eternity will be has changed. And I said, I cannot imagine what it will be like to eat sugar and enjoy sugar, but not WORSHIP sugar. I will eat and enjoy sugar and all the time be worshiping the MAKER of the sugar and not the sugar itself! What will that even be like?!? I don't know... but I can't wait to find out! =)
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.
Romans 8:18-25
As my dear sister and I were discussing this last week, she commented about the part "we hope for what we do not see". We talked about how we BELIEVE what God has said about the goodness that will be in His kingdom when Christ returns, but we really have no concept of what that will be like. We talked about how our understanding of what eternity will be has changed. And I said, I cannot imagine what it will be like to eat sugar and enjoy sugar, but not WORSHIP sugar. I will eat and enjoy sugar and all the time be worshiping the MAKER of the sugar and not the sugar itself! What will that even be like?!? I don't know... but I can't wait to find out! =)
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.
Romans 8:18-25
Thursday, March 28, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 4
Do you long for the return of the King? Jesus came somewhere around 2000 years ago. And when He ascended into heaven before the eyes of his disciples He promised that He would come back. A dear sister and I were talking recently about longing for the return of our King. We both laughed about how, when we were younger, we hoped that Christ would wait to return until we had gotten married and had children and...
And how silly that seems to us now. How our view of eternity in God's presence was severely lacking. When I was young, I saw all that this life has to offer. But the older I get (don't laugh-- I know I'm not "old" to some of my readers) the more I see the effects of sin on everything! And I LONG for the day when Christ will return and fix His world and FINALLY free His people from our sin to worship and enjoy Him FOREVER!!!
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.
Romans 8:18-25
And how silly that seems to us now. How our view of eternity in God's presence was severely lacking. When I was young, I saw all that this life has to offer. But the older I get (don't laugh-- I know I'm not "old" to some of my readers) the more I see the effects of sin on everything! And I LONG for the day when Christ will return and fix His world and FINALLY free His people from our sin to worship and enjoy Him FOREVER!!!
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.
Romans 8:18-25
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 3
Slaves vs. Sons
In chapter 6 we are told that we "were once slaves of sin" but are now "slaves of righteousness". The concept is a harsh and abusive master as compared to a benevolent master. Slaves obey from a fear of the consequences they will suffer for disobedience. Fear is the driving force. If they ever get the opportunity to leave the master, they will.
In chapter 8, the picture Paul uses is no longer slaves, but sons. Sons obey out of love. Sons delight to bring pleasure to their fathers. Through the work of Christ, we have the privilege of adoption into God's family. We are not simply slaves in His house, we are SONS! And because we are sons, our obedience should be driven by love and a desire to bring pleasure to our Father!
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 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.
Romans 8:12-17
In chapter 6 we are told that we "were once slaves of sin" but are now "slaves of righteousness". The concept is a harsh and abusive master as compared to a benevolent master. Slaves obey from a fear of the consequences they will suffer for disobedience. Fear is the driving force. If they ever get the opportunity to leave the master, they will.
In chapter 8, the picture Paul uses is no longer slaves, but sons. Sons obey out of love. Sons delight to bring pleasure to their fathers. Through the work of Christ, we have the privilege of adoption into God's family. We are not simply slaves in His house, we are SONS! And because we are sons, our obedience should be driven by love and a desire to bring pleasure to our Father!
So then, brothers, we are debtors, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh. For if you live according to the flesh you will die, but if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. For all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God. For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, "Abba! Father!" 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.
Romans 8:12-17
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 2
Taken by itself, this is probably the lowest point in chapter 8, because we know from the previous chapters that there is nothing "good" in anyone. After all, "No one is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God." (Rom 3:10-11) So here Paul lays out what looks to me like a vicious cycle, "set your mind on the things of the flesh --> live according to the flesh" and whatever you are living you are thinking about. And so on and on it goes...
--> mind set on flesh --
| |
| |
-- live according to <--
flesh
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But Paul very quickly shifts to the language of grace with a "however", and shows us an alternate cycle. Because of the Spirit of God who dwells in believers, who has sealed us until we are fully delivered from our sin, we are able to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. We are able to pursue things that please God in a way that pleases Him! And that leads to LIFE and PEACE!!! =)
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10
--> mind set on flesh --
| |
| |
-- live according to <--
flesh
For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace. For the mind that is set on the flesh is hostile to God, for it does not submit to God's law; indeed, it cannot. Those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
Romans 8:5-8
But Paul very quickly shifts to the language of grace with a "however", and shows us an alternate cycle. Because of the Spirit of God who dwells in believers, who has sealed us until we are fully delivered from our sin, we are able to set our minds on the things of the Spirit. We are able to pursue things that please God in a way that pleases Him! And that leads to LIFE and PEACE!!! =)
You, however, are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if in fact the Spirit of God dwells in you. Anyone who does not have the Spirit of Christ does not belong to him. But if Christ is in you, although the body is dead because of sin, the Spirit is life because of righteousness.
Romans 8:9-10
Monday, March 25, 2013
Romans 8-- Part 1
I have been meeting with one of my sisters from church for Bible study for a few months now-- with a break in the middle because of sickness... =(
When we started we decided to work our way through Romans. So we read a chapter a week, and then we meet and talk about our observations from that chapter. We chose Romans after reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer. He says that we should read all of Scripture through the lens of Romans. He also says in the book that you really need the book in its entirety to appreciate its parts. For the last couple of weeks, I have really felt the truth of that statement. Like I mentioned, we've been meeting for a few months (probably about 15 weeks) and we are only in chapter 8. I believe we were in chapters 4-5 for five weeks during the sickness break. Then we missed another week so we were in chapter 6 or 7 for two weeks. Let me tell you, after reading chapters 6 and 7 for three weeks, I felt like I was being crushed with the weightiness of God's standard and my sin!
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. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:29-31
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:18-25
But we finally made it to chapter 8 and it was like having held your breath and finally being able to breathe again!!!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
There is way too much goodness in chapter 8 to fit it all into one post-- well, the length of my posts anyway! ;)
So, more to come...
When we started we decided to work our way through Romans. So we read a chapter a week, and then we meet and talk about our observations from that chapter. We chose Romans after reading Knowing God by J.I. Packer. He says that we should read all of Scripture through the lens of Romans. He also says in the book that you really need the book in its entirety to appreciate its parts. For the last couple of weeks, I have really felt the truth of that statement. Like I mentioned, we've been meeting for a few months (probably about 15 weeks) and we are only in chapter 8. I believe we were in chapters 4-5 for five weeks during the sickness break. Then we missed another week so we were in chapter 6 or 7 for two weeks. Let me tell you, after reading chapters 6 and 7 for three weeks, I felt like I was being crushed with the weightiness of God's standard and my sin!
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. For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened. Claiming to be wise, they became fools, and exchanged the glory of the immortal God for images resembling mortal man and birds and animals and creeping things. Therefore God gave them up in the lusts of their hearts to impurity, to the dishonoring of their bodies among themselves, because they exchanged the truth about God for a lie and worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator, who is blessed forever! Amen.
Romans 1:18-25
They were filled with all manner of unrighteousness, evil, covetousness, malice. They are full of envy, murder, strife, deceit, maliciousness. They are gossips, slanderers, haters of God, insolent, haughty, boastful, inventors of evil, disobedient to parents, foolish, faithless, heartless, ruthless.
Romans 1:29-31
as it is written: "None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands; no one seeks for God. All have turned aside; together they have become worthless; no one does good, not even one." "Their throat is an open grave; they use their tongues to deceive." "The venom of asps is under their lips." "Their mouth is full of curses and bitterness." "Their feet are swift to shed blood; in their paths are ruin and misery, and the way of peace they have not known." "There is no fear of God before their eyes."
Romans 3:10-18
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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing. Now if I do what I do not want, it is no longer I who do it, but sin that dwells within me. So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.
Romans 7:18-25
But we finally made it to chapter 8 and it was like having held your breath and finally being able to breathe again!!!
There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. For the law of the Spirit of life has set you free in Christ Jesus from the law of sin and death. For God has done what the law, weakened by the flesh, could not do. By sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh, in order that the righteous requirement of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not according to the flesh but according to the Spirit.
Romans 8:1-4
There is way too much goodness in chapter 8 to fit it all into one post-- well, the length of my posts anyway! ;)
So, more to come...
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Loss
You don't have to live very long to experience loss in this world. From a favorite toy or a beloved pet as a child, to the death of loved ones as an adult. And death doesn't wait to touch us until we are adults. My Pawpaw passed away just before I turned twenty, but my children lost their Granddad before they were ten. The title of my devotional reading today was "Divestiture". I am often self-absorbed. If something doesn't impact me directly and explicitly, I don't tend to notice. I love this devotional book because it is so centered on Christ. Here are a couple of paragraphs that jolted me out of my self-absorption... at least for a minute.
"Even though we're all familiar with loss, and some losses are agonizingly grievous, we've never experienced the loss that was known in heaven when the Father sent his Son to earth (1 John 4:14). Even though we are quite familiar with separation in relationship, we can't imagine what it cost the Trinity to redeem us. Think about the Trinity: here was a relationship that was completely perfect in every way. There was an abundance of love and joy flowing in eternal reciprocity between the three members of the Godhead. Never was there a shadow of doubt about commitment, affection, honor. Complete faithfulness, complete agreement, complete self-sacrificing delight, and complete transparency forever and ever. As I said, we can't imagine what our sin cost him. We can't imagine the depth of a love that would sacrifice such joy for the good of another...
Astonishing as it was, the incarnation wasn't the most astonishing divestiture. Christ's return to the glories of heaven and enjoyment of the unhindered sight of his Father's glory was going to be delayed by another loss. On the cross, the Father would forsake the Son and pour out all his wrath upon him. We cannot imagine the horror and stripping felt by the God-man Jesus Christ when his Father poured out full wrath on him and forsook him. All he could cry was, "Why?" We cannot imagine the loss of the Father, who was "pleased" to crush the beloved one who brought him such pleasure. We've never known separation and loss like that. Thank God that we never will." ~~Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-14
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1-12
"Even though we're all familiar with loss, and some losses are agonizingly grievous, we've never experienced the loss that was known in heaven when the Father sent his Son to earth (1 John 4:14). Even though we are quite familiar with separation in relationship, we can't imagine what it cost the Trinity to redeem us. Think about the Trinity: here was a relationship that was completely perfect in every way. There was an abundance of love and joy flowing in eternal reciprocity between the three members of the Godhead. Never was there a shadow of doubt about commitment, affection, honor. Complete faithfulness, complete agreement, complete self-sacrificing delight, and complete transparency forever and ever. As I said, we can't imagine what our sin cost him. We can't imagine the depth of a love that would sacrifice such joy for the good of another...
Astonishing as it was, the incarnation wasn't the most astonishing divestiture. Christ's return to the glories of heaven and enjoyment of the unhindered sight of his Father's glory was going to be delayed by another loss. On the cross, the Father would forsake the Son and pour out all his wrath upon him. We cannot imagine the horror and stripping felt by the God-man Jesus Christ when his Father poured out full wrath on him and forsook him. All he could cry was, "Why?" We cannot imagine the loss of the Father, who was "pleased" to crush the beloved one who brought him such pleasure. We've never known separation and loss like that. Thank God that we never will." ~~Comforts from the Cross by Elyse Fitzpatrick
But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith-- that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
Philippians 3:7-14
Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned--every one--to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.
Isaiah 53:1-12
Friday, March 22, 2013
Astute Observation
We love to watch movies with our Crew. Shorty and I have found that for our family, movies are a useful tool to expose our Crew to the world and to worldviews different than our own. Recently we watched "Rise of the Guardians"-- three days in a row, in fact! =) Shorty and I were pleasantly surprised by the positive themes in the movie, like self-sacrifice, compassion, and the "god" character being stronger than the "evil" character.
As we were watching near the end, Adara made an astute observation. The bad guy was being chased by his minions, and she asked, "Why are they chasing their master?" So we got to have a conversation about how he wasn't REALLY their master. He had taken something that belonged to someone else and twisted it. But as soon as his power dwindled, they turned on him. And we talked about how Satan isn't really the master of sin. He tempts us to sin, but he is not greater than sin. HOWEVER, God is greater than both Satan AND sin! =)
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 6:12-18
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 6:13
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
As we were watching near the end, Adara made an astute observation. The bad guy was being chased by his minions, and she asked, "Why are they chasing their master?" So we got to have a conversation about how he wasn't REALLY their master. He had taken something that belonged to someone else and twisted it. But as soon as his power dwindled, they turned on him. And we talked about how Satan isn't really the master of sin. He tempts us to sin, but he is not greater than sin. HOWEVER, God is greater than both Satan AND sin! =)
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 6:12-18
For when God made a promise to Abraham, since he had no one greater by whom to swear, he swore by himself,
Hebrews 6:13
Little children, you are from God and have overcome them, for he who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.
1 John 4:4
Thursday, March 21, 2013
Take My Own Advice
I've mentioned recently that my affection for my Savior has been waning. I'm just not delighting in Him during this particular season like I was for a while. At our monthly womens' Bible study, I encouraged our ladies to "cultivate their gardens"-- a metaphor for pursuing growth in faith-- primarily by having a steady diet in the Word. My affections tend to wax and wane in direct correlation to my devotions. So I think I'd better take my own advice!
We,
as believers in Jesus Christ, have the presence of God with us at all
times through the Holy Spirit. But even with the indwelling of the
Spirit, we can live minutes, hours, days, weeks, or even years giving
our God little thought. We have to cultivate our hearts in His
direction, and the primary way we can do this is by being in His
Word. Here is a sampling from Psalm 119 telling the benefits of God's
Word.
v.9-
How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to
your word.
v.11-
I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin
against you.
v.16-
I will delight in your statutes; I will not forget your word.
v.17-
Deal bountifully with your servant, that I may live and keep your
word.
v.25-
My soul clings to the dust; give me life according to your word!
v.28-
My soul melts away for sorrow; strengthen me according to your
word!
v.42-
then shall I have an answer for him who taunts me, for I trust in
your word.
v.49-
Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me
hope.
v.65-
You have dealt well with your servant, O LORD, according to your
word.
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Bargain
We are in the process of buying a house. And the first step-- after you find one you like ;) -- is to make an offer. I don't enjoy this part of the process. There are too many details, and with many of the houses we've looked at, Shorty and I don't think they are worth the list price. So you begin the bargaining process. It's not like we are looking for a "steal", but we know what we want and need, and also how much money we have available. We want the best deal for our money.
But as I thought about this earlier, I was struck by my own tendency to try to bargain with God. "I know what you tell me to do, Lord, but..." And the excuses begin to flow. Or, "Can't I just [this] instead of [that]?" Here's the problem. It's one thing to put a dollar amount on a piece of real estate. To offer a seller less than asking price. But God offers salvation-- which cost the Son His LIFE-- and He demands the entirety of our lives in return. At first this may seem like a fair deal: A life for a life. But Jesus is God the Son, the infinite Word become flesh, and He is infinitely valuable. And while people are God's image bearers, our value is infinitely lesser than that of our Maker. So when I try to bargain with God, I am saying that Christ is not as valuable as me. And that is ABSURD!!! We don't pay royalties to books, we pay them to authors. The "Windows" empire is not credited to computers, but to Bill Gates. And as famous as the Mona Lisa is, Michelangelo is far more so.
I want the infinite value of Christ to be real to me. And I want others to see His value too. So I want to be a faithful and obedient servant. No more bargains...
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Deuteronomy 7:7-9
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 Peter 1:17-19
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:11-12
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
But as I thought about this earlier, I was struck by my own tendency to try to bargain with God. "I know what you tell me to do, Lord, but..." And the excuses begin to flow. Or, "Can't I just [this] instead of [that]?" Here's the problem. It's one thing to put a dollar amount on a piece of real estate. To offer a seller less than asking price. But God offers salvation-- which cost the Son His LIFE-- and He demands the entirety of our lives in return. At first this may seem like a fair deal: A life for a life. But Jesus is God the Son, the infinite Word become flesh, and He is infinitely valuable. And while people are God's image bearers, our value is infinitely lesser than that of our Maker. So when I try to bargain with God, I am saying that Christ is not as valuable as me. And that is ABSURD!!! We don't pay royalties to books, we pay them to authors. The "Windows" empire is not credited to computers, but to Bill Gates. And as famous as the Mona Lisa is, Michelangelo is far more so.
I want the infinite value of Christ to be real to me. And I want others to see His value too. So I want to be a faithful and obedient servant. No more bargains...
It was not because you were more in number than any other people that the LORD set his love on you and chose you, for you were the fewest of all peoples, but it is because the LORD loves you and is keeping the oath that he swore to your fathers, that the LORD has brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt. Know therefore that the LORD your God is God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him and keep his commandments, to a thousand generations,
Deuteronomy 7:7-9
And if you call on him as Father who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.
1 Peter 1:17-19
But when Christ appeared as a high priest of the good things that have come, then through the greater and more perfect tent (not made with hands, that is, not of this creation) he entered once for all into the holy places, not by means of the blood of goats and calves but by means of his own blood, thus securing an eternal redemption.
Hebrews 9:11-12
I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.
Romans 12:1-2
Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable in your sight, O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Psalms 19:14
Tuesday, March 19, 2013
Holy, Holy, Holy
I had the most wonderful time in my devotions this morning! It's been a bit dry lately, possibly because my affection has been waning... But God is faithful and gracious and kind. =)
I was reading in Psalms. I usually try to read through a book, but I like keeping a marker in Psalms all the time. So this morning I read Psalm 99. One of the first things I noticed was that God is introduced as the King. And the reaction to the King is trembling before His awesome power!
The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!
Psalms 99:1-3
Then we are introduced to His justice and righteousness.
The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
Psalms 99:4-5
In the next part, I was struck by the King's NEARNESS to His people.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
Psalms 99:6-7
And then the fact that even though He has the right to judge sin, He is MERCIFUL to His people!
O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Psalms 99:8
The Psalm ends with the admonition to "Exalt the Lord..."
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!
Psalms 99:9
After reading through a couple of times, I realized that the word "holy" occurs only three times in this Psalm. God, the King, the Just Judge, and the Merciful Savior of His people is "holy, holy, holy"! =)
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.
Isaiah 6:3-4
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!"
Revelation 4:8
I was reading in Psalms. I usually try to read through a book, but I like keeping a marker in Psalms all the time. So this morning I read Psalm 99. One of the first things I noticed was that God is introduced as the King. And the reaction to the King is trembling before His awesome power!
The LORD reigns; let the peoples tremble! He sits enthroned upon the cherubim; let the earth quake! The LORD is great in Zion; he is exalted over all the peoples. Let them praise your great and awesome name! Holy is he!
Psalms 99:1-3
Then we are introduced to His justice and righteousness.
The King in his might loves justice. You have established equity; you have executed justice and righteousness in Jacob. Exalt the LORD our God; worship at his footstool! Holy is he!
Psalms 99:4-5
In the next part, I was struck by the King's NEARNESS to His people.
Moses and Aaron were among his priests, Samuel also was among those who called upon his name. They called to the LORD, and he answered them. In the pillar of the cloud he spoke to them; they kept his testimonies and the statute that he gave them.
Psalms 99:6-7
And then the fact that even though He has the right to judge sin, He is MERCIFUL to His people!
O LORD our God, you answered them; you were a forgiving God to them, but an avenger of their wrongdoings.
Psalms 99:8
The Psalm ends with the admonition to "Exalt the Lord..."
Exalt the LORD our God, and worship at his holy mountain; for the LORD our God is holy!
Psalms 99:9
After reading through a couple of times, I realized that the word "holy" occurs only three times in this Psalm. God, the King, the Just Judge, and the Merciful Savior of His people is "holy, holy, holy"! =)
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.
Isaiah 6:3-4
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!"
Revelation 4:8
Monday, March 18, 2013
Raw Materials
I like making things. Things to eat especially, but also things from textiles. In fact, I could spend many hours and far too much money in the fabric/craft departments. =) Because of my love of making things, I have piles and boxes of "raw materials". Yards and yards of fabric that I have yet to cut out and sew up, skeins of yarn waiting to be made into something...
I started thinking about how raw materials just take up space. If I use the fabric to make a dress or shirt or whatever, it is useful. The same with the yarn. Sitting around, its use really is just hypothetical, but in the hands of a skilled crafter it can become something SPECTACULAR! Then I thought about how God is a skilled craftsman who takes the "raw materials" of my life and is in the process of making something for his glory. After all, when you see a gorgeous dress, or an awesome scarf, or the perfect ring, you don't talk about the materials, you praise the designer! =)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
I started thinking about how raw materials just take up space. If I use the fabric to make a dress or shirt or whatever, it is useful. The same with the yarn. Sitting around, its use really is just hypothetical, but in the hands of a skilled crafter it can become something SPECTACULAR! Then I thought about how God is a skilled craftsman who takes the "raw materials" of my life and is in the process of making something for his glory. After all, when you see a gorgeous dress, or an awesome scarf, or the perfect ring, you don't talk about the materials, you praise the designer! =)
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18
Thursday, March 14, 2013
Spring Cleaning
Last year when we took spring break, I decided that we would also do spring cleaning. No trips for us-- unless you count a "trip" to the library, or Dairy Queen. ;) We got a lot done, and adjusted to the time change, and all felt a little more ready to tackle the last chunk of our school year. It worked SO WELL, that I plan for that to be our annual routine. =)
So Monday we got up and got started. And my schedule got interrupted and rearranged.... and my motivation has deserted me. I'm pretty good at starting well, but not terribly good at finishing...
Today I'm thankful that I serve a God who is GOOD at FINISHING! =)
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
Genesis 2:1-2
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:45-46
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
So Monday we got up and got started. And my schedule got interrupted and rearranged.... and my motivation has deserted me. I'm pretty good at starting well, but not terribly good at finishing...
Today I'm thankful that I serve a God who is GOOD at FINISHING! =)
Thus the heavens and the earth were finished, and all the host of them. And on the seventh day God finished his work that he had done, and he rested on the seventh day from all his work that he had done.
Genesis 2:1-2
Then the soldiers of the governor took Jesus into the governor's headquarters, and they gathered the whole battalion before him. And they stripped him and put a scarlet robe on him, and twisting together a crown of thorns, they put it on his head and put a reed in his right hand. And kneeling before him, they mocked him, saying, "Hail, King of the Jews!" And they spit on him and took the reed and struck him on the head. And when they had mocked him, they stripped him of the robe and put his own clothes on him and led him away to crucify him.
Matthew 27:27-31
Now from the sixth hour there was darkness over all the land until the ninth hour. And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, "Eli, Eli, lema sabachthani?" that is, "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?"
Matthew 27:45-46
After this, Jesus, knowing that all was now finished, said (to fulfill the Scripture), "I thirst." A jar full of sour wine stood there, so they put a sponge full of the sour wine on a hyssop branch and held it to his mouth. When Jesus had received the sour wine, he said, "It is finished," and he bowed his head and gave up his spirit.
John 19:28-30
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
Philippians 1:6
Wednesday, March 13, 2013
Hibernation
I packed up my snowman collection on Monday. I say that they've gone into "hibernation". After all, Texas summers-- and often winters, for that matter-- are just TOO HOT for snowmen to survive. ;) But I kind of feel like my brain has gone into hibernation. I start the school year with a bang, but then I kind of fizzle out. And as I am reminded of my weakness, I'm thankful that I serve a God who doesn't change, and never "hibernates"! =)
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
Psalms 102:25-28
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121:2-4
God is not man, that he should lie, or a son of man, that he should change his mind. Has he said, and will he not do it? Or has he spoken, and will he not fulfill it?
Numbers 23:19
Of old you laid the foundation of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you will remain; they will all wear out like a garment. You will change them like a robe, and they will pass away, but you are the same, and your years have no end. The children of your servants shall dwell secure; their offspring shall be established before you.
Psalms 102:25-28
My help comes from the LORD, who made heaven and earth. He will not let your foot be moved; he who keeps you will not slumber. Behold, he who keeps Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.
Psalms 121:2-4
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Enough
As I was praying yesterday morning, I began thanking God that He is big enough and strong enough and wise enough to use sinners for His glory. It really is amazing when you stop to think about how VERY powerful God is. Infinite is just too much for me to digest. =)
Then I started thinking about the fact that I say, "God is enough." But I often live like He is not. I act like He is not enough to provide for my family. I think that He is not REALLY enough to save me from my sins, now I have to clean up my life (emphasis on the "I"). I live like He is not enough to make me happy, I NEED other things...
Even as I chewed on this yesterday morning, I lived like He is not enough. My "to do" list being finished in MY time frame yesterday was what I thought I needed to make me happy. And that's a funny thing, because I finished my "to do" list and more, but not in my time frame and not without my own selfish anger leaping out. You see, I wanted afternoons to be "break" time during our spring break, because there is a book I want to read this week. I was making my day all about me. But God is faithful! And He is ENOUGH!
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. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:5-11
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Psalms 73:25-28
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
Psalms 119:57-58
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "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 3:22-26
Then I started thinking about the fact that I say, "God is enough." But I often live like He is not. I act like He is not enough to provide for my family. I think that He is not REALLY enough to save me from my sins, now I have to clean up my life (emphasis on the "I"). I live like He is not enough to make me happy, I NEED other things...
Even as I chewed on this yesterday morning, I lived like He is not enough. My "to do" list being finished in MY time frame yesterday was what I thought I needed to make me happy. And that's a funny thing, because I finished my "to do" list and more, but not in my time frame and not without my own selfish anger leaping out. You see, I wanted afternoons to be "break" time during our spring break, because there is a book I want to read this week. I was making my day all about me. But God is faithful! And He is ENOUGH!
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. For you will not abandon my soul to Sheol, or let your holy one see corruption. You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:5-11
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. For behold, those who are far from you shall perish; you put an end to everyone who is unfaithful to you. But for me it is good to be near God; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, that I may tell of all your works.
Psalms 73:25-28
The LORD is my portion; I promise to keep your words. I entreat your favor with all my heart; be gracious to me according to your promise.
Psalms 119:57-58
The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. "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 3:22-26
Sunday, March 10, 2013
Broken Record
When I was little, my parents had an old record player and a small collection of vinyl records. Most of them were in excellent condition, but we did come across a record occasionally that would no longer play properly. On those records you would hear the same phrase again and again and again. It really is very similar to the way a CD behaves when it gets scratched.
As I was thinking about what to write today, I thought of a song. But since it is one of my favorites, I checked to see if I had shared it before. I didn't want to be a "broken record". However, I was reminded of some of the great men of the faith, and even apostles, who preached the same message again... and again... and again... and again... And I decided that I would be in good company! =)
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
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
2 Peter 1:3-12
"Before the Throne of God Above" by Shane and Shane
As I was thinking about what to write today, I thought of a song. But since it is one of my favorites, I checked to see if I had shared it before. I didn't want to be a "broken record". However, I was reminded of some of the great men of the faith, and even apostles, who preached the same message again... and again... and again... and again... And I decided that I would be in good company! =)
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
His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue, and virtue with knowledge, and knowledge with self-control, and self-control with steadfastness, and steadfastness with godliness, and godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love. For if these qualities are yours and are increasing, they keep you from being ineffective or unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. For whoever lacks these qualities is so nearsighted that he is blind, having forgotten that he was cleansed from his former sins. Therefore, brothers, be all the more diligent to make your calling and election sure, for if you practice these qualities you will never fall. For in this way there will be richly provided for you an entrance into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Therefore I intend always to remind you of these qualities, though you know them and are established in the truth that you have.
2 Peter 1:3-12
"Before the Throne of God Above" by Shane and Shane
Thursday, March 7, 2013
Transitions
As the weather makes its yearly transition from Texas "winter" to spring, our family is making some transitions too. We had gotten a Dodge intrepid when our oldest was seven. It was a tight fit to get three car seats in the back, and the "seat" in the middle of the front seat was only big enough for a tiny hiney-- but it worked for us and got quite reasonable gas mileage. However, it died a couple months ago. This was due to a bit of neglect on our parts, but there's no use living in "if". So we have been juggling our one vehicle. Now with the various activities of our growing children, we've decided
that this juggling of one vehicle is NOT going to work. So we are looking for a minivan.
About the time the car died, we discovered (to our very great surprise) that we can finally afford to buy a bigger house! Our current home is about 1350 square feet, with one TEENSY little bathroom. I told a friend recently that while sittting on the toilet, you can reach the bathtub faucet, the sink faucet and ALMOST all the shelves. She replied, "Well that's convenient." -- Not exactly the way I'd normally describe it! ;) So we've been on a house hunt. And I've been trying to figure out what things I can pack away now, to save a little bit of headache when we find our new house...
I've been just a little stressed trying to fit these extra things into my already busy life, but I was reminded this morning that God NEVER CHANGES!!! That is such a comfort to my soul when life goes haywire! No matter what circumstances come my way, I can rest in the changeless nature of my God! =)
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalms 90:2
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalms 100:4-5
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalms 107:1
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
Psalms 111:2-3
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalms 136:1-4
About the time the car died, we discovered (to our very great surprise) that we can finally afford to buy a bigger house! Our current home is about 1350 square feet, with one TEENSY little bathroom. I told a friend recently that while sittting on the toilet, you can reach the bathtub faucet, the sink faucet and ALMOST all the shelves. She replied, "Well that's convenient." -- Not exactly the way I'd normally describe it! ;) So we've been on a house hunt. And I've been trying to figure out what things I can pack away now, to save a little bit of headache when we find our new house...
I've been just a little stressed trying to fit these extra things into my already busy life, but I was reminded this morning that God NEVER CHANGES!!! That is such a comfort to my soul when life goes haywire! No matter what circumstances come my way, I can rest in the changeless nature of my God! =)
Before the mountains were brought forth, or ever you had formed the earth and the world, from everlasting to everlasting you are God.
Psalms 90:2
Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
James 1:17
Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.
Hebrews 13:8
Enter his gates with thanksgiving, and his courts with praise! Give thanks to him; bless his name! For the LORD is good; his steadfast love endures forever, and his faithfulness to all generations.
Psalms 100:4-5
Oh give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever!
Psalms 107:1
Great are the works of the LORD, studied by all who delight in them. Full of splendor and majesty is his work, and his righteousness endures forever.
Psalms 111:2-3
Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the God of gods, for his steadfast love endures forever. Give thanks to the Lord of lords, for his steadfast love endures forever; to him who alone does great wonders, for his steadfast love endures forever;
Psalms 136:1-4
Wednesday, March 6, 2013
Repurposing
"Repurposing" is the new big thing in DIY, going green, and good old-fashioned frugality. I tried to find a definition in the dictionary, but apparently this word hasn't made it in yet... ;) Basically, it's using something-- most often, after it's original use has expired-- for other than it's intended use. So empty cans into pencil holders, or holey socks for polishing rags.
Remember that analogies always fall short. But as I was reading my Bible this morning I was awestruck at the miracle that is regeneration (God making a dead soul alive in Christ).
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
And as I pondered how to share my wonder, I thought of repurposing. God took what was really beyond repair (sinful people) and makes us new!
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
He brings life from death!
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
He makes the utterly ugly to reflect His own beauty! He teaches the unlovable to love!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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 4:7-11
So back to the original thought for today, God is the original and ULTIMATE repurposer! =)
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
Remember that analogies always fall short. But as I was reading my Bible this morning I was awestruck at the miracle that is regeneration (God making a dead soul alive in Christ).
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
And as I pondered how to share my wonder, I thought of repurposing. God took what was really beyond repair (sinful people) and makes us new!
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
He brings life from death!
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
He makes the utterly ugly to reflect His own beauty! He teaches the unlovable to love!
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love. 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 4:7-11
So back to the original thought for today, God is the original and ULTIMATE repurposer! =)
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
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
Primary
One of the most important spiritual disciplines that a Christian should cultivate is reading and studying the Bible. God has given us His very words in the pages of Scripture!
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
And yet, even with the knowledge that the Creator and King of the universe has taken time to communicate with me as one of His people, I am likely to neglect the primary means of that communication! I fail so often, and my love for my Savior wanes so quickly. I am too quick to seek other "comforts" (which may not be comforts at all!) when my days get stressful, when what I really NEED is to be refreshed in His presence! But God is patient and faithful to always draw me back to Himself. =)
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
Psalms 94:19
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Psalms 36:7-9
When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Psalms 65:3-4
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be competent, equipped for every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
And yet, even with the knowledge that the Creator and King of the universe has taken time to communicate with me as one of His people, I am likely to neglect the primary means of that communication! I fail so often, and my love for my Savior wanes so quickly. I am too quick to seek other "comforts" (which may not be comforts at all!) when my days get stressful, when what I really NEED is to be refreshed in His presence! But God is patient and faithful to always draw me back to Himself. =)
When the cares of my heart are many, your consolations cheer my soul.
Psalms 94:19
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God.
2 Corinthians 1:3-4
Since then we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus, the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:14-16
You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
Psalms 16:11
How precious is your steadfast love, O God! The children of mankind take refuge in the shadow of your wings. They feast on the abundance of your house, and you give them drink from the river of your delights. For with you is the fountain of life; in your light do we see light.
Psalms 36:7-9
When iniquities prevail against me, you atone for our transgressions. Blessed is the one you choose and bring near, to dwell in your courts! We shall be satisfied with the goodness of your house, the holiness of your temple!
Psalms 65:3-4
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Grumpy Bear
As we were eating breakfast yesterday, Chaya said, "It's family day! It's been a LONG time since we had family day." (Family day is when we spend the whole day together to build our relationships as a family.) Shorty told Chaya that we were committed to helping a family from church move. She replied, "We can have a family day and help them move." So we decided that after the moving was done, we would have at least a "family afternoon". =) After lunch, the kids started playing a game, so I decided that I'd read a book while they were playing. But by the time I needed to start supper, I was in a really grumpy mood. I really thought I'd have time to finish my book, but I didn't. So I was frustrated with myself for using that time to play instead of doing some of the chores that were waiting for me. I snapped at the kids, and huffed and puffed, and generally made myself pretty unpleasant to be around.
I've written before that there is nothing I can do to make God love me any more, and nothing I can do to make Him love me any less than He already does in Christ. And I believe that. I find great comfort in that. But I like to feel good about myself. When I behave as I described above (because this is not a singular occurrence) I don't feel good about myself. Part of the reason is because I know that God expects more from me than that, but that is laced with selfish sinfulness. BUT GOD is patient, and good, and never surprised by my sin. He sees me more clearly than I can even see myself, and He chose to love me! =)
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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18-19
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 2:4-7
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:25-26
I've written before that there is nothing I can do to make God love me any more, and nothing I can do to make Him love me any less than He already does in Christ. And I believe that. I find great comfort in that. But I like to feel good about myself. When I behave as I described above (because this is not a singular occurrence) I don't feel good about myself. Part of the reason is because I know that God expects more from me than that, but that is laced with selfish sinfulness. BUT GOD is patient, and good, and never surprised by my sin. He sees me more clearly than I can even see myself, and He chose to love me! =)
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. For I do not do the good I want, but the evil I do not want is what I keep on doing.
Romans 7:18-19
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 2:4-7
Whom have I in heaven but you? And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.
Psalms 73:25-26
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