Well, girls, here is my list. As I look at it I am both exctied and scared to death. Many of these things are outside of my comfort zone. It will be a long journey, but I am looking forward to what God plans to do in my life through each of these goals. I hope you'll join me in posting your goals so we can encourage and pray for one another.
1. To embark on a healthy eating plan.
a. To allow God to be my portion.
b. To turn to God instead of food for my comfort, reward and all other emotional needs in my life.
2. To add scripture memory to my daily life.
a. I’ve joined the SSMT- Siesta Scripture Memory Team with Beth Moore to ensure I will continue in my goal to memorize scripture this year. (You can too, it's easy. Just go to http://blog.lproof.org/2010/12/siesta-scripture-memory-instructions.html and read the instructions.)
b. My goal is to memorize 24 verses in 2011!
3. To spend quality time with God daily.
a. To learn to love the Lord more deeply than I do now.
b. To enjoy my time with Him and not feel like it’s just another item to check off of my to-do-list.
c. To crave God.
4. To invest more in others.
a. To be active in the outreach ministries of our church.
b. To actively seek to reach out to my extended family- parents, brothers, sisters-in-law, aunts, uncles, and cousins.
Thursday, December 30, 2010
The Checklist
Checklists. Oh, how I love them! I have one for so many things in my life. Grocery list, to-do-list, honey-do list, lists of projects to finish, prayer list and the several different lists I have just to keep me on task at work! I’m not sure I could function without them. Funny, the older I get them more lists I seem to rely on. How about you? Do you have lists everywhere like me?
These checklists are the tools I use to organize my mind and get things done in my life. Organized. That’s the key word. I’m a very organized person. Structure is a blessing to me, not a curse.
But lately God seems to be showing be something else. First, this new concept was brought to my attention by Lysa TerKurest in Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl and now Francis has brought it up too.
“Most Christians have been taught in church or by their parents to set aside a daily time for prayer and Scripture reading. It’s what we are supposed to do, and so for a long time it’s what I valiantly attempted. When I didn’t, I felt guilty.” There it is again. God is working in my heart to get over the need to spend time with Him so I can “check it off” my list. Maybe this has become such a theme because, like Francis, I too feel really guilty when I fail to do it.
Francis goes on to say, “Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him- frequently and zealously. Jesus didn’t command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ He called this the ‘first and greatest commandment’. (Matt. 22:37-38) The results are intimate prayer and study of His word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love.”
The Pastor challenged us to set goals for this year. So this is one of mine. I’m going to work towards spending time with my Savior daily, not so I can check it off my list, but to learn and grow closer to Him.
As you think about your goals for 2011 consider posting them here. I’ll have my list up this weekend. Accountability is a wonderful thing.
Have a great New Year!
These checklists are the tools I use to organize my mind and get things done in my life. Organized. That’s the key word. I’m a very organized person. Structure is a blessing to me, not a curse.
But lately God seems to be showing be something else. First, this new concept was brought to my attention by Lysa TerKurest in Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl and now Francis has brought it up too.
“Most Christians have been taught in church or by their parents to set aside a daily time for prayer and Scripture reading. It’s what we are supposed to do, and so for a long time it’s what I valiantly attempted. When I didn’t, I felt guilty.” There it is again. God is working in my heart to get over the need to spend time with Him so I can “check it off” my list. Maybe this has become such a theme because, like Francis, I too feel really guilty when I fail to do it.
Francis goes on to say, “Over time I realized that when we love God, we naturally run to Him- frequently and zealously. Jesus didn’t command that we have a regular time with Him each day. Rather, He tells us to ‘love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ He called this the ‘first and greatest commandment’. (Matt. 22:37-38) The results are intimate prayer and study of His word. Our motivation changes from guilt to love.”
The Pastor challenged us to set goals for this year. So this is one of mine. I’m going to work towards spending time with my Savior daily, not so I can check it off my list, but to learn and grow closer to Him.
As you think about your goals for 2011 consider posting them here. I’ll have my list up this weekend. Accountability is a wonderful thing.
Have a great New Year!
Video from Francis Chan
Chapter 4
This one goes along with Chapter 4. It's called Lukewarm and Loving it.
This one goes along with Chapter 4. It's called Lukewarm and Loving it.
Wednesday, December 29, 2010
I Warned You!
So has it happened yet? Has Francis stepped on your toes? Has he offended your delicate Baptist beliefs yet? Well, sister, if he hasn’t, then you haven’t read far enough! Tonight at church I’ll be sporting a sturdy pair of steel-toed boots!! Ouch!
Francis has many statements that bruise my toes, but they make me think and stretch me at the same time. I talked about one yesterday. Rejoice in the Lord always! When we’re not doing this because of worry and stress we’re not obeying God. I hadn’t looked at the verse in Phil. 4 in that light before. That stretching sound you hear is my view being broadened!
But this morning, as I read chapter three, I think Francis must be the one wearing the steel-toed boots as he marched across my toes! Double ouch. He asked a very tough question. “The best things in life are gifts from the One who steadfastly loves us. But an important question to ask ourselves is this: Are we in love with God or just His stuff?” See what I mean?
Now many you may not struggle with this question, but as I thought my love for God it bothered me. Someone once told me I could check my love for God by comparing it to the love I have for my spouse. Ask yourself, do I long to spend time with God like I do my spouse? Do I devote as much time to God as I do to my spouse? Who do I put first, God or my spouse? Tough questions.
If God never gave you another thing; if he took your health and wealth, would you still love him? Job comes to mind. Look at all God allowed Satan to take from him yet Job still loved God through it all. Amazing faith and love is what Job had for God.
You may not know this about me, I’m a movie buff. I love movies. One of my favorites is Facing the Giants. In it the coach’s wife wants a child more than anything. They prayed and tried, but she didn’t conceive. They were tested and discovered that the coach was the problem. He asked her, “If God never gives us with a baby will you still love Him?” It was a struggle for her. The pain of that question was obvious. After going to the doctor for the third time that year and being told she wasn’t pregnant again, she bowed her head and told the Lord that yes, she would still love Him. Somebody pass me a tissue!
So Francis has thrown out this tough question. “Are we in love with God or just His stuff?” I think the answer lies with your relationship with God. Job’s relationship with God was solid and secure.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:8-11
God described Job as a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. A mature Christian. Satan thought that Job’s love for God was due to God’s blessing in Job’s life. But it wasn’t. With all that Satan took from Job, he still loved God.
That’s the type of love for God I want to strive for. How about you?
Francis has many statements that bruise my toes, but they make me think and stretch me at the same time. I talked about one yesterday. Rejoice in the Lord always! When we’re not doing this because of worry and stress we’re not obeying God. I hadn’t looked at the verse in Phil. 4 in that light before. That stretching sound you hear is my view being broadened!
But this morning, as I read chapter three, I think Francis must be the one wearing the steel-toed boots as he marched across my toes! Double ouch. He asked a very tough question. “The best things in life are gifts from the One who steadfastly loves us. But an important question to ask ourselves is this: Are we in love with God or just His stuff?” See what I mean?
Now many you may not struggle with this question, but as I thought my love for God it bothered me. Someone once told me I could check my love for God by comparing it to the love I have for my spouse. Ask yourself, do I long to spend time with God like I do my spouse? Do I devote as much time to God as I do to my spouse? Who do I put first, God or my spouse? Tough questions.
If God never gave you another thing; if he took your health and wealth, would you still love him? Job comes to mind. Look at all God allowed Satan to take from him yet Job still loved God through it all. Amazing faith and love is what Job had for God.
You may not know this about me, I’m a movie buff. I love movies. One of my favorites is Facing the Giants. In it the coach’s wife wants a child more than anything. They prayed and tried, but she didn’t conceive. They were tested and discovered that the coach was the problem. He asked her, “If God never gives us with a baby will you still love Him?” It was a struggle for her. The pain of that question was obvious. After going to the doctor for the third time that year and being told she wasn’t pregnant again, she bowed her head and told the Lord that yes, she would still love Him. Somebody pass me a tissue!
So Francis has thrown out this tough question. “Are we in love with God or just His stuff?” I think the answer lies with your relationship with God. Job’s relationship with God was solid and secure.
“And the LORD said unto Satan, Hast thou considered my servant Job, that there is none like him in the earth, a perfect and an upright man, one that feareth God, and escheweth evil? 9Then Satan answered the LORD, and said, Doth Job fear God for nought? 10Hast not thou made an hedge about him, and about his house, and about all that he hath on every side? thou hast blessed the work of his hands, and his substance is increased in the land. 11But put forth thine hand now, and touch all that he hath, and he will curse thee to thy face.” Job 1:8-11
God described Job as a man of perfect integrity, who fears God and turns away from evil. A mature Christian. Satan thought that Job’s love for God was due to God’s blessing in Job’s life. But it wasn’t. With all that Satan took from Job, he still loved God.
That’s the type of love for God I want to strive for. How about you?
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
March's Book
Hey Girls,
Here is the book well be doing in March. It's call One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer.
I'm looking froward to this one too! Below is a little video about the book. I hope you'll be excited about the book after seeing it.
Shocker! It’s Not All About Me!
In high school, I knew these girls who were convinced that life was all about them. You know the type. The popular ones who had the perfect hair, perfect smile, perfect body or at least they thought so. Now if you were one of these girls, I mean no disrespect. It’s just, the group I knew truly thought that everything was about them. They planned the dances, the prom and the homecomings… everything to carter to their desires. I once overheard the head of the prom committee say she chose the color scheme to go with the dress she had bought for the prom. Please!
It would have come as a great shock to them to know that majority of the high school population could care less about their hair, cars or social calendars. Life in high school was not all about them.
As I read chapter two, I’ve realized that I sometimes live my life just like those girls did in high school. Francis says, “When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job- I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a “right” to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.” Francis is referring to Phil. 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
The word rejoice means- to feel joy or great delight. “In everything Lord?” was my first question. Then I read it again and realized it said “in the Lord.” I am to rejoice in the Lord no matter what’s going on in my life.
“Basically, these two behaviors (worry and stress) communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.” Francis sure knows how to step on some toes, doesn’t he? He goes on to describe the movie of history and how we are not the main character, God is.
I say all this to remind myself that life is not all about me. The point of my life is to point to Him.
“This culture is mass producing wimpy narcissists.” (Beth Moore- 12/28/10 blog post) Generations of people who are so wrapped up in themselves they can’t see the big picture. I for one am grateful the Lord reminds me that life isn’t about me.
Lord, please give me the strength and wisdom to point others to you. Help me to remember that my life is not the feature film but instead one of the minor plots that has been interwoven with millions of others in this thing called life. Encourage me to lift up your Name everywhere I go. Thank you, Lord, for showing me the humbling truth.
It would have come as a great shock to them to know that majority of the high school population could care less about their hair, cars or social calendars. Life in high school was not all about them.
As I read chapter two, I’ve realized that I sometimes live my life just like those girls did in high school. Francis says, “When I am consumed by my problems-stressed out about my life, my family, and my job- I actually convey the belief that I think the circumstances are more important than God’s command to always rejoice. In other words, that I have a “right” to disobey God because of the magnitude of my responsibilities.” Francis is referring to Phil. 4:4. “Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.”
The word rejoice means- to feel joy or great delight. “In everything Lord?” was my first question. Then I read it again and realized it said “in the Lord.” I am to rejoice in the Lord no matter what’s going on in my life.
“Basically, these two behaviors (worry and stress) communicate that it’s okay to sin and not trust God because the stuff in my life is somehow exceptional.” Francis sure knows how to step on some toes, doesn’t he? He goes on to describe the movie of history and how we are not the main character, God is.
I say all this to remind myself that life is not all about me. The point of my life is to point to Him.
“This culture is mass producing wimpy narcissists.” (Beth Moore- 12/28/10 blog post) Generations of people who are so wrapped up in themselves they can’t see the big picture. I for one am grateful the Lord reminds me that life isn’t about me.
Lord, please give me the strength and wisdom to point others to you. Help me to remember that my life is not the feature film but instead one of the minor plots that has been interwoven with millions of others in this thing called life. Encourage me to lift up your Name everywhere I go. Thank you, Lord, for showing me the humbling truth.
Monday, December 27, 2010
Live Like You Were Dying
In 2004 Tim McGraw released a song called Live Like You Were Dying. And for a brief moment we were taken to a place where we thought about death. Our death. The end of our life. Well, at least I was.
The words were powerful. The scenarios of the people in the verses were relateable . You could picture yourself in their shoes. For a brief moment, we thought about death.
But on an average day, how often do we think about the end of our lives? Once, twice or maybe not at all.
Life is so fragile. I don’t think we really comprehend that on an average day. In Chapter two, Francis opens with thoughts of life and death. He reminds us of our fragile life really is.
As I was reading this I’m reminded of what’s really important. Like the chorus of Tim’s song, we need to live our lives as if we were dying. Breathing in every moment of our day as if it were the last. Loving, forgiving and enjoying the people who are dear to us. Loving God with our whole hearts.
Sisters, I am so grateful for each of you. You have blessed me more than I will ever be able to express. I love you all.
So……
What would you do today if you knew today was your last day on earth?
The words were powerful. The scenarios of the people in the verses were relateable . You could picture yourself in their shoes. For a brief moment, we thought about death.
But on an average day, how often do we think about the end of our lives? Once, twice or maybe not at all.
Life is so fragile. I don’t think we really comprehend that on an average day. In Chapter two, Francis opens with thoughts of life and death. He reminds us of our fragile life really is.
As I was reading this I’m reminded of what’s really important. Like the chorus of Tim’s song, we need to live our lives as if we were dying. Breathing in every moment of our day as if it were the last. Loving, forgiving and enjoying the people who are dear to us. Loving God with our whole hearts.
Sisters, I am so grateful for each of you. You have blessed me more than I will ever be able to express. I love you all.
So……
What would you do today if you knew today was your last day on earth?
Saturday, December 25, 2010
Merry Christmas
Merry Christmas to all my book club girls! I love you all. Thanks for making this first year of blogging and reading and discussing the book so much fun. I am looking forward to 2011!!!!!
Thursday, December 23, 2010
A Trillion Thoughts or More
“O LORD, thou hast searched me, and known me.” Psalm 139:1
I love the Psalms. I find myself pulled to them whenever my Bible lays open on my lap. They offer so much wisdom and insight to our lives. By far, my favorite is Psalm 139.
In a culture that teaches us to be guarded about our true selves it’s refreshing and a little intimidating that God knows us so well. Listen to how well your God knows you. “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:2-4
God knows where you go. Remember the song you learned when you where little. Oh be careful little feet where you go….. How true the ending is- for the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful little feet where you go. Have your little feet taken you places you ought not to go? I know mine have. We would do well to remember that God knows our downsitting and uprising.
He knows and understands your thoughts. I am amazed by this. Sometimes a thought will pop into my head and I’ll wonder, “Where did that come from?” God knows. Of the thousands of thoughts we have every day, God knows them all. Think about that. For the nine of us in this book club, with an average of 12,000 thoughts a day, God hears and understands all 108,000 of them. Wow! For our church of 562 individuals that’s 6,744,000 thoughts. And God knows them all. All SIX MILLION+ of them. Our God is amazing! For the population of Ocoee- 292,692,000 thoughts. For the population of the US- 3,731,568,000,000. That’s TRILLIONS of thoughts for just one day. Just think what the worlds would be……
Not only does God know where we are and every thought we have, but he knows all our ways and every word we speak. I don’t know about you, but for me that’s a lot of words! Daunting thought isn't it? Especially when we think of what we think and say. I love Lysa's advice on this subject. You can read about it at http://lysaterkeurst.com/?s=psalm+139
Francis made a good point about this in the section on God is all-knowing. He says, “He (God) knows each of us, deeply and specifically. He knows our thoughts before we think them (Wow!!!), our actions before we commit them, whether we are lying down or sitting or walking around. He knows who we are and what we are about. We cannot escape Him, not even if we wanted to. When I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn’t come as a surprise to God.”
God knows it all. If you aren’t familiar with Psalms 139 take a moment to read it. I always feel greatly comforted by it. I’ll leave you with my favorite part.
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:17-18
I love the Psalms. I find myself pulled to them whenever my Bible lays open on my lap. They offer so much wisdom and insight to our lives. By far, my favorite is Psalm 139.
In a culture that teaches us to be guarded about our true selves it’s refreshing and a little intimidating that God knows us so well. Listen to how well your God knows you. “Thou knowest my downsitting and mine uprising, thou understandest my thought afar off. Thou compassest my path and my lying down, and art acquainted with all my ways. For there is not a word in my tongue, but, lo, O LORD, thou knowest it altogether.” Psalm 139:2-4
God knows where you go. Remember the song you learned when you where little. Oh be careful little feet where you go….. How true the ending is- for the Father up above is looking down with love, so be careful little feet where you go. Have your little feet taken you places you ought not to go? I know mine have. We would do well to remember that God knows our downsitting and uprising.
He knows and understands your thoughts. I am amazed by this. Sometimes a thought will pop into my head and I’ll wonder, “Where did that come from?” God knows. Of the thousands of thoughts we have every day, God knows them all. Think about that. For the nine of us in this book club, with an average of 12,000 thoughts a day, God hears and understands all 108,000 of them. Wow! For our church of 562 individuals that’s 6,744,000 thoughts. And God knows them all. All SIX MILLION+ of them. Our God is amazing! For the population of Ocoee- 292,692,000 thoughts. For the population of the US- 3,731,568,000,000. That’s TRILLIONS of thoughts for just one day. Just think what the worlds would be……
Not only does God know where we are and every thought we have, but he knows all our ways and every word we speak. I don’t know about you, but for me that’s a lot of words! Daunting thought isn't it? Especially when we think of what we think and say. I love Lysa's advice on this subject. You can read about it at http://lysaterkeurst.com/?s=psalm+139
Francis made a good point about this in the section on God is all-knowing. He says, “He (God) knows each of us, deeply and specifically. He knows our thoughts before we think them (Wow!!!), our actions before we commit them, whether we are lying down or sitting or walking around. He knows who we are and what we are about. We cannot escape Him, not even if we wanted to. When I grow weary of trying to be faithful to Him and want a break, it doesn’t come as a surprise to God.”
God knows it all. If you aren’t familiar with Psalms 139 take a moment to read it. I always feel greatly comforted by it. I’ll leave you with my favorite part.
“How precious also are thy thoughts unto me, O God! how great is the sum of them! If I should count them, they are more in number than the sand: when I awake, I am still with thee.” Psalm 139:17-18
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Is God Created for Us?
“For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:” Colossians 1:16
From the very beginning of scripture God tells us that He created all things. “In the beginning God created the heaven and the earth.” Genesis 1:1 For years I taught this simple truth to my Kindergarten students. Many would accept this without question, while others would say, “But why?” I would read to them Colossians 1:16. God created everything for Himself. And still some would say, "But why?" but that's a whole different topic!!!
While reading Crazy Love I found that Francis quoted Colossians 1:16. Then he asked this question, “Don’t we live instead as though God is created for us, to do our bidding, to bless us, and to take care of our loved ones?” I was struck by how I do feel that way sometimes.
In our media driven world all the propaganda is focused on one thing. Think about yourself! Lookout for #1! It’s warped our thinking of God. It's warped our thinking of ourselves too. It’s made us selfish. Instead of thinking about what we can do for the Creator, we think instead of what we can do for ourselves or worse what can God do for us.
We’re taught in Sunday school to pray and ask God for our needs. To ask for blessings and good health. To ask for the desires of our hearts. Its here I think sometimes we go astray. Here is where the focus is taken off of God and shifted to us. Don’t get me wrong, all of these things are taught in scripture, but if we’re not careful we’ll find ourselves expecting God to answer every request just as we asked Him too. Forgetting that He is the all-knowing One who does what is best for us.
You can check yourself by looking at your attitude when God’s answer to something you really wanted is no or wait. Do you get angry or frustrated? Then your focus was on yourself rather than God.
Christians need a reminder that life is not all about us. We were created for God. For His pleasure. To do His will. When we question God or get upset because He didn’t do for us what we expected we need to remember this, “All the inhabitants of the earth are counted as nothing, and He does what He wants with the army of heaven and the inhabitants of the earth. There is no one who can hold back His hand or say to Him, “What have You done?” Daniel 4:35 HCSB
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Crazy Love-Preface
Francis Chan feels that our American churches are not doing well. I’d have to agree. Look around and you’ll see so many churches that open their doors week after week, but fail to open their hearts to God. So many of the pastors, deacons, staff and members are just “going through the motions.” And what’s sad is we are raising the next generation to do the same. It’s no wonder so many teenagers choose not to go to church after graduation; churches are closing their doors at an alarming rate and the false religions are abounding with new growth.
Chan says, “I grew up believing in God without having a clue what He is like. I called myself a Christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all of the things that “good Christians” avoid—drinking, drugs, sex, swearing. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (which was often), I’d walk around feeling guilty and distant from God.” Looking back over my “religious” experience in church, I remember learning Bible “stories,” but not how they applied to my life. I remember being told not to sin because it made God sad. And just like Francis, I remember sinning and feeling so distant from God. But what I don’t remember is learning about God’s character-- Who He is. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I started to discover who God really is. My view of God has been so small and narrow.
So Francis wrote, Crazy Love, for those of us who want more Jesus. Not just more church, but more of God Himself. He tells us, “It’s exhilarating to be part of a group of believers who are willing to think biblically rather than conventionally…” That statement struck me. I want to be a woman who thinks biblically. I praise God that our church, WOBC, has a Pastor that thinks biblically, but even being part of a wonderfully lead church, a person can be stagnant. Sometimes I look across the sanctuary and wonder how many of our people feel they have “enough God.”
Chan boils down what he thinks is the problem with American church. “The core problem isn’t the fact that we’re lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is WHY we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God.” Though his book we’ll look at who God really is and examine ourselves. He doesn’t promise it will be easy. It’s going to challenge us greatly. I am looking forward to our discussion in January!!
Just a heads up about the book. Francis asks for each of us to watch a video as we read each chapter. I’ll include the video for the next chapter at the end of my last blog about the current chapter. Happy Reading!
Chan says, “I grew up believing in God without having a clue what He is like. I called myself a Christian, was pretty involved in church, and tried to stay away from all of the things that “good Christians” avoid—drinking, drugs, sex, swearing. Christianity was simple: fight your desires in order to please God. Whenever I failed (which was often), I’d walk around feeling guilty and distant from God.” Looking back over my “religious” experience in church, I remember learning Bible “stories,” but not how they applied to my life. I remember being told not to sin because it made God sad. And just like Francis, I remember sinning and feeling so distant from God. But what I don’t remember is learning about God’s character-- Who He is. It wasn’t until just a few years ago that I started to discover who God really is. My view of God has been so small and narrow.
So Francis wrote, Crazy Love, for those of us who want more Jesus. Not just more church, but more of God Himself. He tells us, “It’s exhilarating to be part of a group of believers who are willing to think biblically rather than conventionally…” That statement struck me. I want to be a woman who thinks biblically. I praise God that our church, WOBC, has a Pastor that thinks biblically, but even being part of a wonderfully lead church, a person can be stagnant. Sometimes I look across the sanctuary and wonder how many of our people feel they have “enough God.”
Chan boils down what he thinks is the problem with American church. “The core problem isn’t the fact that we’re lukewarm, halfhearted, or stagnant Christians. The crux of it all is WHY we are this way, and it is because we have an inaccurate view of God.” Though his book we’ll look at who God really is and examine ourselves. He doesn’t promise it will be easy. It’s going to challenge us greatly. I am looking forward to our discussion in January!!
Just a heads up about the book. Francis asks for each of us to watch a video as we read each chapter. I’ll include the video for the next chapter at the end of my last blog about the current chapter. Happy Reading!
Monday, December 13, 2010
A New Year
Well girls, 2010 is drawing to a close. It's been a very busy four months or so in my life. I can tell because I seem to be praying about my stess level a lot lately.
Funny how when things in our lives get so busy, we lay aside the things that bring us the greatest peace and joy. My time with God seems to be so much shorter these days. I miss the peace I get from spending quailty time with Him in the mornings.
Blogging has brought me such joy. I love writing about the books we have explored. But as of late I havn't taken the time to read much less blog! I'm looking for the slower pace after the holidays.
So here is a renewal of commitment to our book club and blogging. I hope you'll join my in the renewed spirt of reading and sharing our thoughts as be tackle Crazy Love.
Funny how when things in our lives get so busy, we lay aside the things that bring us the greatest peace and joy. My time with God seems to be so much shorter these days. I miss the peace I get from spending quailty time with Him in the mornings.
Blogging has brought me such joy. I love writing about the books we have explored. But as of late I havn't taken the time to read much less blog! I'm looking for the slower pace after the holidays.
So here is a renewal of commitment to our book club and blogging. I hope you'll join my in the renewed spirt of reading and sharing our thoughts as be tackle Crazy Love.
Monday, November 1, 2010
Exciting News
Hello Girls,
I have some exciting news to share and it couldn't wait till our next meeting. Do you remember when Jason Goh, our missionary from Thailand, came and spoke to us? He touched my heart with his stories of the Burmese children who are refugees in Thailand. So, taking a big step, I decided to sponsor one of the children. I'm so excited because today Jason sent me a picture and information about the child God paired me with! Her name is Mine Mine.
Isn't she adorable?! She's 5 years old. She loves the color pink, rope skipping and enjoys apples and chicken soup. She wants to be a teacher when she grows up. Isn't that neat? I'm so excited! She drew a picture and wrote a note too. It's so cute!
Thanks for letting me indulge and share this piece of news with you!
Friday, October 22, 2010
An Encounter with God
The Lord truly is amazing to me. Last night Myra made an observation about Experiencing God that helped me understand why I seem to be struggling with this book so much. She said, “This book seems to be written to pastors, missionaries and men.” The more I thought about it, the more I think she is right. I found myself wishing for someone, Henry’s wife maybe, to write a book about experiencing God for women.
Wouldn’t that be great!?! Well, guess what?!? This is where God is so amazing to me. About a month ago I bought another of Lysa TerKeurst books, What Happens When Women say Yes to God- Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways!!!!!! It’s been on my shelf for a month. I was waiting until I got “caught up” with things in my life before being to read it. Maybe this is why my life has been so busy for the last month. God was doing this in my life so I could experience Him in an amazing way!
So this morning, I thought to myself, I’m a little ahead in our book so I’ll start it. I pick it up off my shelf and put it in my bag. When I got to work, I just wanted to refresh my memory on what the book was about. Shazam!!!!!! God answered my wish!!!! (not even a prayer, just a wish!) So I wanted to let you read the back too. (Click on the picture to make it bigger.)
Wouldn’t that be great!?! Well, guess what?!? This is where God is so amazing to me. About a month ago I bought another of Lysa TerKeurst books, What Happens When Women say Yes to God- Experiencing Life in Extraordinary Ways!!!!!! It’s been on my shelf for a month. I was waiting until I got “caught up” with things in my life before being to read it. Maybe this is why my life has been so busy for the last month. God was doing this in my life so I could experience Him in an amazing way!
So this morning, I thought to myself, I’m a little ahead in our book so I’ll start it. I pick it up off my shelf and put it in my bag. When I got to work, I just wanted to refresh my memory on what the book was about. Shazam!!!!!! God answered my wish!!!! (not even a prayer, just a wish!) So I wanted to let you read the back too. (Click on the picture to make it bigger.)
See? Isn’t that amazing! It’s a book about how to experience God for women! Written by one of my favorite authors! (This will most likely be a book we’ll do in 2011!) Just wanted to share where God showed Himself in my life! Well have a great day!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Not about the Book, but Still Great
Someone sent this to me and I loved it so I thought I would share it with you.
The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.
The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter HIS Kingdom so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention!
GOD
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice. Remember: you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!
RECALL NOTICE:
The Maker of all human beings (GOD) is recalling all units manufactured, regardless of make or year, due to a serious defect in the primary and central component of the heart.
This is due to a malfunction in the original prototype units code named Adam and Eve, resulting in the reproduction of the same defect in all subsequent units.
This defect has been technically termed "Sub-sequential Internal Non-Morality," or more commonly known as S.I.N., as it is primarily expressed.
Some of the symptoms include:
1. Loss of direction
2. Foul vocal emissions
3. Amnesia of origin
4. Lack of peace and joy
5. Selfish or violent behavior
6. Depression or confusion in the mental component
7. Fearfulness
8. Idolatry
9. Rebellion
The Manufacturer, who is neither liable nor at fault for this defect, is providing factory-authorized repair and service free of charge to correct this defect.
The Repair Technician, JESUS, has most generously offered to bear the entire burden of the staggering cost of these repairs. There is no additional fee required. The number to call for repair in all areas is: P-R-A-Y-E-R.
Once connected, please upload your burden of SIN through the REPENTANCE procedure.
Next, download ATONEMENT from the Repair Technician, Jesus, into the heart component.
No matter how big or small the SIN defect is, Jesus will replace it with:
1. Love
2. Joy
3. Peace
4. Patience
5. Kindness
6. Goodness
7. Faithfulness
8. Gentleness
9. Self control
Please see the operating manual, the B.I.B.L.E. (Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth) for further details on the use of these fixes.
WARNING: Continuing to operate the human being unit without correction voids any manufacturer warranties, exposing the unit to dangers and problems too numerous to list and will result in the human unit being permanently impounded. For free emergency service, call on Jesus.
DANGER: The human being units not responding to this recall action will have to be scrapped in the furnace. The SIN defect will not be permitted to enter HIS Kingdom so as to prevent contamination of that facility.
Thank you for your attention!
GOD
P.S. Please assist where possible by notifying others of this important recall notice. Remember: you may contact the Father any time by 'Knee mail'!
Monday, October 4, 2010
Next Month's Meeting
Good Morning girls,
I just wanted to say thank you to those who made it last Thursday night and tell the ones who weren’t there we missed you.
Sorry the night ran a little longer than normal. Experiencing God seems to be more challenging than the other books we have tackled in the past. I believe we need to slow down a bit to absorb what God has for us through this book.
So, with that in mind, the October 21st meeting we will cover chapters 10-16. (Chapters 10-12 were supposed to be covered last week, but we just didn’t get to them.)
November and December gets busy quick so I want to go ahead and plan those dates so we can get them on the calendar. Our normal night would be November 18th, but we have a ladies activity plus Lysa TerKeurst will be speaking in the area that night . So I’m planning our November meeting for Monday, November 15th. Bible study will be over the week before. For November’s meeting we will finish Experiencing God by covering chapters 17-26.
December is so busy, but I would still like to try to meet on Monday, December 13th. I was thinking we could do a small Christmas party. We could use this month invite some new people to join us. Also, instead of trying to read new material for December we will review of all the books we have done this year. I think that will be less stressful for all of us. What do you think?
I just wanted to say thank you to those who made it last Thursday night and tell the ones who weren’t there we missed you.
Sorry the night ran a little longer than normal. Experiencing God seems to be more challenging than the other books we have tackled in the past. I believe we need to slow down a bit to absorb what God has for us through this book.
So, with that in mind, the October 21st meeting we will cover chapters 10-16. (Chapters 10-12 were supposed to be covered last week, but we just didn’t get to them.)
November and December gets busy quick so I want to go ahead and plan those dates so we can get them on the calendar. Our normal night would be November 18th, but we have a ladies activity plus Lysa TerKeurst will be speaking in the area that night . So I’m planning our November meeting for Monday, November 15th. Bible study will be over the week before. For November’s meeting we will finish Experiencing God by covering chapters 17-26.
December is so busy, but I would still like to try to meet on Monday, December 13th. I was thinking we could do a small Christmas party. We could use this month invite some new people to join us. Also, instead of trying to read new material for December we will review of all the books we have done this year. I think that will be less stressful for all of us. What do you think?
Monday, August 30, 2010
The Will of God
Have you ever found yourself wondering if you’re doing the will of God? I have. You read and hear about the great missionaries and people off doing big things for God and it makes me wonder, “Am I suppose to be doing that?” What am I doing for the kingdom of God? Who am I affecting?
I think my view of the will of God gets distorted in this multimedia world. With so many people writing books, starting organizations, becoming missionaries and holding big speaking conferences the “little guy” gets lost in all of it. At least to some degree I’ve develop the mindset that because I’m not doing something that impacts thousands of people that I’m not in God’s will. This mindset is self centered.
Blackaby makes a good point about this. We need to ask the right question concerning the will of God. “’What is God’s will for my life?’ is not the best question to ask. The better question is, ‘What is God’s will?’ Because people are naturally self-centered, we tend to view the whole world-even God’s activity- in terms of our own lives.” (p. 32). Isn’t that so true? I am amazed at how I view everything in my life with the perspective of how it affects me?
God wants to work in our lives by involving us in what He is doing in the world around us. His purpose for all of humanity involves us working in the corner of the world we are in. I know that God calls many to move to a new corner of the world or to write, or speak to thousands, but I feel sure that came after they worked in the area they were in first.
I enjoyed this chapter because it reminded me to be still and know that He is God. I needed that reminder. I need to be abiding in Christ in order for Him to work out His plans for me.
I think my view of the will of God gets distorted in this multimedia world. With so many people writing books, starting organizations, becoming missionaries and holding big speaking conferences the “little guy” gets lost in all of it. At least to some degree I’ve develop the mindset that because I’m not doing something that impacts thousands of people that I’m not in God’s will. This mindset is self centered.
Blackaby makes a good point about this. We need to ask the right question concerning the will of God. “’What is God’s will for my life?’ is not the best question to ask. The better question is, ‘What is God’s will?’ Because people are naturally self-centered, we tend to view the whole world-even God’s activity- in terms of our own lives.” (p. 32). Isn’t that so true? I am amazed at how I view everything in my life with the perspective of how it affects me?
God wants to work in our lives by involving us in what He is doing in the world around us. His purpose for all of humanity involves us working in the corner of the world we are in. I know that God calls many to move to a new corner of the world or to write, or speak to thousands, but I feel sure that came after they worked in the area they were in first.
I enjoyed this chapter because it reminded me to be still and know that He is God. I needed that reminder. I need to be abiding in Christ in order for Him to work out His plans for me.
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Pineapple Principle
Hey girls,
I found these two videos from Lysa that go with her Pineapple Principle. So I thought I would share them with you. (Note: the first one is tape in a coffe shop and it's noisy so you have to listen carefully to them.)
I found these two videos from Lysa that go with her Pineapple Principle. So I thought I would share them with you. (Note: the first one is tape in a coffe shop and it's noisy so you have to listen carefully to them.)
A Love Relationship
Do you remember the first day of a new job? The sights, the sounds, the chaotic feeling of the unknown? I do. I’ve held seven jobs in my lifetime and with each I felt the fear of failure on the first day.
That fear came from not knowing how to do the job I was hired for and not knowing the people I was working with and for. With each one, there was a period of training. In high school, working at McDonald’s, I had a two week training period where someone taught me everything I needed to know to serve the public their Big Mac with a smile. “Would you like fries with that?” In college, someone taught me how to run the fancy new cash register and tell every lady in the Belk’s ladies’ department if the dress she was trying on was flattering or not! Even that first year of teaching, I had someone who faithfully guided me through the procedures of teaching at FCCS. With each new job, I got to know new people and new bosses.
Blackaby tells us to take the same approach to our service for God. First, we must get to know Him before doing His will. For how do we know His will, if we don’t know Him? It would be the same as trying to do a new job without knowing how. “I think God is crying out to us: “Don’t just do something. Stand there! Enter into a love relationship with Me. Get to know Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me love you and teach you about Myself as I work through you. .. Your relationship with God must come first.” (p. 33) I think I missed that because I was saved at church camp at an early age. The lack of discipleship distorted my view of how service to God is suppose to work.
I hope each of you are getting something from this month's book. Until tomorrow......
That fear came from not knowing how to do the job I was hired for and not knowing the people I was working with and for. With each one, there was a period of training. In high school, working at McDonald’s, I had a two week training period where someone taught me everything I needed to know to serve the public their Big Mac with a smile. “Would you like fries with that?” In college, someone taught me how to run the fancy new cash register and tell every lady in the Belk’s ladies’ department if the dress she was trying on was flattering or not! Even that first year of teaching, I had someone who faithfully guided me through the procedures of teaching at FCCS. With each new job, I got to know new people and new bosses.
Blackaby tells us to take the same approach to our service for God. First, we must get to know Him before doing His will. For how do we know His will, if we don’t know Him? It would be the same as trying to do a new job without knowing how. “I think God is crying out to us: “Don’t just do something. Stand there! Enter into a love relationship with Me. Get to know Me. Adjust your life to Me. Let Me love you and teach you about Myself as I work through you. .. Your relationship with God must come first.” (p. 33) I think I missed that because I was saved at church camp at an early age. The lack of discipleship distorted my view of how service to God is suppose to work.
I hope each of you are getting something from this month's book. Until tomorrow......
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
God Works According to His Nature
“Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.” 1 John 4:7-8
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
I, for one, am glad that God works according to His nature aren’t you? Can you image what this world would be like if the Lord worked in our lives like we tend to do with others? Ugh, what a mess that could be! Thankfully He doesn’t.
God operates according to His nature.
1. God is love- His will is always best.
2. God is all-knowing- His directions are always right.
3. God is all-powerful- He can enable you to accomplish His will.
These truths aren’t new to most of us, but it was good to hear them again. Blackaby reiterated them in a way that reminded me to trust God more with my life. He reminded me that God works through His love in my life with my best interest in mind. Blackaby says, “I always view my circumstances against the backdrop of the cross, where God clearly demonstrated once and for all His deep love for me.” We ought never to doubt His love for us because He showed us his love when he died on the cross for our sins.
I’ll go one step farther and say He showed us His love when He willingly left heaven and became man. In the book, A Love Worth Giving, Max Luacdo talks about all Jesus’ sacrificed for us. “Love goes the distance… and Christ traveled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us…. When he saw the size of the womb, he could have stopped. When he saw how tiny his hand would be, how soft his voice would be, how hungry his tummy would be, he could have stopped. At the first whiff of the stinky stable, at the first gust of cold air. The first time he scraped his knee or blew his nose or tasted burnt bagels, he could have turned and walked out. When he saw the dirt floor of his Nazareth house. When Joseph gave him a chore to do. When his fellow students were dozing off during the reading of the Torah, his Torah. When the neighbor took his name in vain. When the lazy farmer blamed his poor crop on God. At any point Jesus could have said, “That’s it! That’s enough! I’m going home.” But he didn’t. He didn’t because He is love. And “love…endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7) He endured the distance. What’s more, he endured the resistance.” When you think about Jesus’ love in those terms it is humbling.
I hope you’re getting a blessing from our current book. I want to encourage you to get started if you haven’t. There’s only 38 days till our next meeting!
“And we have known and believed the love that God hath to us. God is love; and he that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him.” 1 John 4:16
I, for one, am glad that God works according to His nature aren’t you? Can you image what this world would be like if the Lord worked in our lives like we tend to do with others? Ugh, what a mess that could be! Thankfully He doesn’t.
God operates according to His nature.
1. God is love- His will is always best.
2. God is all-knowing- His directions are always right.
3. God is all-powerful- He can enable you to accomplish His will.
These truths aren’t new to most of us, but it was good to hear them again. Blackaby reiterated them in a way that reminded me to trust God more with my life. He reminded me that God works through His love in my life with my best interest in mind. Blackaby says, “I always view my circumstances against the backdrop of the cross, where God clearly demonstrated once and for all His deep love for me.” We ought never to doubt His love for us because He showed us his love when he died on the cross for our sins.
I’ll go one step farther and say He showed us His love when He willingly left heaven and became man. In the book, A Love Worth Giving, Max Luacdo talks about all Jesus’ sacrificed for us. “Love goes the distance… and Christ traveled from limitless eternity to be confined by time in order to become one of us…. When he saw the size of the womb, he could have stopped. When he saw how tiny his hand would be, how soft his voice would be, how hungry his tummy would be, he could have stopped. At the first whiff of the stinky stable, at the first gust of cold air. The first time he scraped his knee or blew his nose or tasted burnt bagels, he could have turned and walked out. When he saw the dirt floor of his Nazareth house. When Joseph gave him a chore to do. When his fellow students were dozing off during the reading of the Torah, his Torah. When the neighbor took his name in vain. When the lazy farmer blamed his poor crop on God. At any point Jesus could have said, “That’s it! That’s enough! I’m going home.” But he didn’t. He didn’t because He is love. And “love…endures all things” (1 Cor. 13:4-7) He endured the distance. What’s more, he endured the resistance.” When you think about Jesus’ love in those terms it is humbling.
I hope you’re getting a blessing from our current book. I want to encourage you to get started if you haven’t. There’s only 38 days till our next meeting!
Monday, August 23, 2010
Knowing God by Experience
Have you started our book of the month yet? I hope so. As I read and answer the questions at the end of each chapter I have discovered that this book is going to be a little more challenging as far as the blogging goes. Regardless, I’m going to give it a try.
The second quote is, “Merely knowing ABOUT God will leave you unsatisfied. Truly knowing God only comes through experience as He reveals Himself to you through His word and as you relate to Him.” Again this quote would work with the examples above.
Blackaby goes on to talk about the names of God and how we experience His character through His names. I’m currently doing a Bible study on the names of God called Knowing God by Name by Mary A. Kassian. I’ve enjoyed it immensely. With each new name I study I learn more about Him. (Here is a link to a sample of Mary's Bible study- http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_wmn_KG_week2.pdf) Blackaby’s first chapter has taught me to go beyond that and ask Him to reveal Himself to me through each name I study. I’ll leave you with this verse for today. Happy reading girls!
Psalm 89:15-16 "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. "
Chapter one was an introduction to knowing God by experience. Blackaby had a couple of quotes that I really liked. First, “There is a world of difference between knowing something to be true in your head and experiencing the reality in your life.” This one rang a bell for me. A few years ago the Clines and I took a trip to Yellowstone National Park and The Grand Tetons National Park. Now I’m a planner and a photographer, which means that I had researched the parks and all their glory months ahead of time. I had read articles about every element of the parks, but most importantly I had looked at hundreds of pictures as I studied what “shots” I wanted to take for myself. I knew the parks would be breathtakingly beautiful. What I wasn’t prepared for was how amazingly beautiful they was in person. Pictures can never do them justice.
.JPG) |
| Grand Tetons |
It’s the same with God. You can tell someone over and over about how wonderful God has been to you, but they won’t truly understand until they experience God for themselves. For example, I don’t know our Lord as the God of all comforts when it comes to the death of a close loved one. I know many people who have told me how God has comforted them through their grief, but I don’t really understand it on a personal level.
The second quote is, “Merely knowing ABOUT God will leave you unsatisfied. Truly knowing God only comes through experience as He reveals Himself to you through His word and as you relate to Him.” Again this quote would work with the examples above.
Blackaby goes on to talk about the names of God and how we experience His character through His names. I’m currently doing a Bible study on the names of God called Knowing God by Name by Mary A. Kassian. I’ve enjoyed it immensely. With each new name I study I learn more about Him. (Here is a link to a sample of Mary's Bible study- http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_wmn_KG_week2.pdf) Blackaby’s first chapter has taught me to go beyond that and ask Him to reveal Himself to me through each name I study. I’ll leave you with this verse for today. Happy reading girls!
Psalm 89:15-16 "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O LORD, in the light of thy countenance. In thy name shall they rejoice all the day: and in thy righteousness shall they be exalted. "
.JPG) |
| Grand Tetons |
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Luke's Commandments
On Thusday night we talked about the "homework" on page 176. "An interesting exercise would be to survey one of the Gospels-- Matthew, Mark, Luke, or John-- and make a list of Jesus' commands. Then, to really start examining our heart in relationship to them. Were we aware of these commends? Are we willing to obey them? Which ones come naturally? Which will be the most difficult, and why?" I forgot to bring everyone a copy, so I thought I would post it here so you could see it. Remember, the list might not be perfect, but it's all the commands I found.
1. Do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God. 4:4
2. Worship and serve the Lord only. 4:8
3. Do not test the Lord. 4:12
4. Do not be afraid. 5:10
5. Rejoice in the days of your affection. 6:23
6. Love your enemies. 6:27
7. Do good to those who hate you. 6:27
8. Bless those who cure you. 6:27
9. Pray for those who mistreat you. 6:27
10. Turn the other check. 6:29
11. Give to those who take from you. 6:29
12. Give without asking for things to be returned to you. 6:30
13. Do for others as you would want them to do for you. 6:31
14. Be merciful. 6:36
15. Do not judge others. 6:37
16. Do not condemn others. 6:37
17. Forgive. 6:37 17:3-4
18. Examine yourself before finding fault in others. 6:42
19. Keep your heart clean. 6:45
20. Build your life on the solid foundation of Christ. 6:48
21. Be careful how you listen. 8:19
22. Deny yourself and take up your cross. 9:23
23. Pray for worker for the harvest. 10:2
24. Rejoice that your name is written down in heaven. 10:20
25. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 10:27
26. Show mercy to others. 10:37
27. Pray and ask, seek and knock and it shall be given to you. 10:9-10
28. Beware of false doctrine. 12:1
29. Fear God. 12:5
30. Guard against being greedy. 12:15
31. Don’t worry about the necessities of your life. 12:22
32. Don’t be anxious. 12:29
33. Seek the kingdom of God. 12:31
34. Give to the poor. 12:33
35. Be watchful and ready for the Lord’s return. 12:40
36. Be humble. 14:11 18:14
37. Show kindness to those who cannot repay you. 12:13-14
38. Love the Lord above all others. 14:26
39. Pay your taxes. 20:25
40. Tithe 21:1-2
41. Do not follow false teachers. 21:8
42. Communion 22:19:20
1. Do not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from God. 4:4
2. Worship and serve the Lord only. 4:8
3. Do not test the Lord. 4:12
4. Do not be afraid. 5:10
5. Rejoice in the days of your affection. 6:23
6. Love your enemies. 6:27
7. Do good to those who hate you. 6:27
8. Bless those who cure you. 6:27
9. Pray for those who mistreat you. 6:27
10. Turn the other check. 6:29
11. Give to those who take from you. 6:29
12. Give without asking for things to be returned to you. 6:30
13. Do for others as you would want them to do for you. 6:31
14. Be merciful. 6:36
15. Do not judge others. 6:37
16. Do not condemn others. 6:37
17. Forgive. 6:37 17:3-4
18. Examine yourself before finding fault in others. 6:42
19. Keep your heart clean. 6:45
20. Build your life on the solid foundation of Christ. 6:48
21. Be careful how you listen. 8:19
22. Deny yourself and take up your cross. 9:23
23. Pray for worker for the harvest. 10:2
24. Rejoice that your name is written down in heaven. 10:20
25. Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself. 10:27
26. Show mercy to others. 10:37
27. Pray and ask, seek and knock and it shall be given to you. 10:9-10
28. Beware of false doctrine. 12:1
29. Fear God. 12:5
30. Guard against being greedy. 12:15
31. Don’t worry about the necessities of your life. 12:22
32. Don’t be anxious. 12:29
33. Seek the kingdom of God. 12:31
34. Give to the poor. 12:33
35. Be watchful and ready for the Lord’s return. 12:40
36. Be humble. 14:11 18:14
37. Show kindness to those who cannot repay you. 12:13-14
38. Love the Lord above all others. 14:26
39. Pay your taxes. 20:25
40. Tithe 21:1-2
41. Do not follow false teachers. 21:8
42. Communion 22:19:20
Friday, August 20, 2010
Thursday Night’s Meeting
I am so excited every month when we get together to discuss our current book. I just love it! Thank you girls for honoring me with your presence! What a blast we had last night!
Last night was bitter-sweet as we finished Lysa’s book, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. I enjoyed the book so much. The second half of the book was just as good as the first. Lysa sure knows how to dig into God’s word to help girls in their daily walk. I’m sure we will be reading another one of her books in the future.
Speaking of the future, our next book is Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. Most of you have it already, but if you don’t there are some links on the left side of the blog to websites where you can purchase the book online. Family Christian and Lifeway Books also have a few copies. If you need me to order it for you, just bring $13.00 on Sunday and I’ll take care of it. Our next meeting is September 30th. For those who weren’t there last night, we are going to do the first half of the book (pages 1-172) in September since it’s so large. This book lends itself to more interaction so I hope everyone will take advantage of the blog as we go along.
I’ve put some fun things that will enhance our book club experience on the blog. There’s also information that you’ll find useful. On the left side of the blog there is a poll on how helpful Lysa’s book was to you. Please take a minute to cast your vote. The poll question changes every two weeks so you can cast your vote on other things too.
Some of the other fun things are video links that go with the books we are reading. I’ve put a link to the video “Lukewarm and Loving It” that we talked about last night.
Thanks again for the fun last night! See you in September! Happy Reading!
Kimberly
Last night was bitter-sweet as we finished Lysa’s book, Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl. I enjoyed the book so much. The second half of the book was just as good as the first. Lysa sure knows how to dig into God’s word to help girls in their daily walk. I’m sure we will be reading another one of her books in the future.
Speaking of the future, our next book is Experiencing God by Henry Blackaby. Most of you have it already, but if you don’t there are some links on the left side of the blog to websites where you can purchase the book online. Family Christian and Lifeway Books also have a few copies. If you need me to order it for you, just bring $13.00 on Sunday and I’ll take care of it. Our next meeting is September 30th. For those who weren’t there last night, we are going to do the first half of the book (pages 1-172) in September since it’s so large. This book lends itself to more interaction so I hope everyone will take advantage of the blog as we go along.
I’ve put some fun things that will enhance our book club experience on the blog. There’s also information that you’ll find useful. On the left side of the blog there is a poll on how helpful Lysa’s book was to you. Please take a minute to cast your vote. The poll question changes every two weeks so you can cast your vote on other things too.
Some of the other fun things are video links that go with the books we are reading. I’ve put a link to the video “Lukewarm and Loving It” that we talked about last night.
Thanks again for the fun last night! See you in September! Happy Reading!
Kimberly
I just love these girls!
See Sharon, you can take a good picture!
Saturday, August 14, 2010
From Emotion to Devotion
This section seemed to rise up and jump right off the page to me. My poor book looks like a sea of underlines sentences and whole paragraphs! It’s like my little blue pen had a mind of its own!
Lysa begins by telling us about Whitney’s climb to the top of a 40-foot pole. I won’t retell the story, but congrats to Whitney for even attempting the climb. I would have been cowering behind something, to scared to watch someone else, much less tackle that height myself. In the last few feet, while attempting to reach the top, Whitney fell. Gasp! Now, not to worry, she was harnessed so she didn’t fall to her death, although, she might have felt that way the first few seconds of the fall! Just thinking of it gives me the woolies! But in that moment, before she fell, she caught a glimpse of what the view was like from the top. Later it caused her to reflect on her relationship with God. “Too many times she has stopped just shy of full-on devotion to the Lord. She realized she has little spiritual stamina, that the emotion that helped her start her journey with God would never be enough to finish. She would have to have a level of devotion she wasn’t sure she had.” (p. 174) I’ve felt that way.
Lysa ask the question, “Have you ever wanted more in your relationship with God but, for fear of failing, stopped just shy of full-on devotion?”(p. 175) YES! And as I read this I found myself realizing that I truly wanted more. I felt my heart stir.
Like Lysa, I wondered what was stopping me from that type of devotion. Lysa believes too many of us have never dared to believe the glorious possibility Jesus clearly offers when He says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21KJV
Lysa goes on to break down the verse, section by section, to help us see what glorious possibilities there are if we will love God with our whole hearts (pages 176-177). Again my pages are a sea of blue underlines! If your reading this blog, but don’t have the book, I encourage you to purchase it. It’s amazing.
So to boil down the explanation of the verse, “Rather Jesus is clearly explaining to us that if we love God, if we love Jesus, we will want to obey His commands. Doing so will no longer be our duty; it will be our desire. We’ll follow Him not to win His love or prove how good we are. But rather to live in His love and delight in how good He is.”
So many people fall into the trap of thinking of God as the “Big Fixer and Benevolent Giver.” I know, I’ve been there. I believe that’s why so many don’t have the relationship with God that God desires. We don’t “live in His love and delight in how good He is.” We need to move past just thinking of Him as our cure-all God and see Him as He really is. Our creator that loves and wants to spent time with us. I don’t want to be that little child that looks up to Dad and always wants something. I want to move passed that mindset to a place where just spending time with Him is enough.
I hope these blog entries have been a blessing to you. I enjoy writing them because they help me to clarify my thoughts as I consider each section of our book. Thank you to those who have posted comments. Your thoughts are a blessing and encouragement to me! I love them!
Lysa begins by telling us about Whitney’s climb to the top of a 40-foot pole. I won’t retell the story, but congrats to Whitney for even attempting the climb. I would have been cowering behind something, to scared to watch someone else, much less tackle that height myself. In the last few feet, while attempting to reach the top, Whitney fell. Gasp! Now, not to worry, she was harnessed so she didn’t fall to her death, although, she might have felt that way the first few seconds of the fall! Just thinking of it gives me the woolies! But in that moment, before she fell, she caught a glimpse of what the view was like from the top. Later it caused her to reflect on her relationship with God. “Too many times she has stopped just shy of full-on devotion to the Lord. She realized she has little spiritual stamina, that the emotion that helped her start her journey with God would never be enough to finish. She would have to have a level of devotion she wasn’t sure she had.” (p. 174) I’ve felt that way.
Lysa ask the question, “Have you ever wanted more in your relationship with God but, for fear of failing, stopped just shy of full-on devotion?”(p. 175) YES! And as I read this I found myself realizing that I truly wanted more. I felt my heart stir.
Like Lysa, I wondered what was stopping me from that type of devotion. Lysa believes too many of us have never dared to believe the glorious possibility Jesus clearly offers when He says, “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” John 14:21KJV
Lysa goes on to break down the verse, section by section, to help us see what glorious possibilities there are if we will love God with our whole hearts (pages 176-177). Again my pages are a sea of blue underlines! If your reading this blog, but don’t have the book, I encourage you to purchase it. It’s amazing.
So to boil down the explanation of the verse, “Rather Jesus is clearly explaining to us that if we love God, if we love Jesus, we will want to obey His commands. Doing so will no longer be our duty; it will be our desire. We’ll follow Him not to win His love or prove how good we are. But rather to live in His love and delight in how good He is.”
So many people fall into the trap of thinking of God as the “Big Fixer and Benevolent Giver.” I know, I’ve been there. I believe that’s why so many don’t have the relationship with God that God desires. We don’t “live in His love and delight in how good He is.” We need to move past just thinking of Him as our cure-all God and see Him as He really is. Our creator that loves and wants to spent time with us. I don’t want to be that little child that looks up to Dad and always wants something. I want to move passed that mindset to a place where just spending time with Him is enough.
I hope these blog entries have been a blessing to you. I enjoy writing them because they help me to clarify my thoughts as I consider each section of our book. Thank you to those who have posted comments. Your thoughts are a blessing and encouragement to me! I love them!
Thursday, August 12, 2010
Glimpses of God
“If I could give only one gift to every woman on this planet, it would be the gift of being able to glimpse God throughout their days- the miraculous mixed with the mundane. This would radically change the way we think, the way we process life, and certainly the degree to which we trust God. It would make us more than good Bible study girls. “(p. 173)
In the spirit Lysa wrote this challenge, I want to hear from you. Did you catch a glimpse of God in your day? If so, how? Tell us about it….. I’ll go first to give you the courage to post a comment yourself.
For me, it was during my doctor’s appointment yesterday. I have a mole that has changed shape and color, so kicking and screaming, I went to the doctor yesterday to have it looked at.
Now, you must know something about me to truly understand my fear of doctors and needles. When I was pregnant with Kyle my doctor had to insert, and I use the term loosely, a 12 inch needle through me and into him to drain fluid that had built up around Kyle’s organs during pregnancy. Not once but twice! No numbing me up, no knocking me out, just grin and bear it. Good night it was awful!
So you can image how my stomach tightened and fear threaten to overwhelm me when the doctor said they would have to do a biopsy on the mole yesterday. That meant needles and a knife! Lord, help me! I was prepared to have it “looked at” thinking they would schedule another appointment for the biopsy. (giving me time to prepare myself for the needles) Oh no, they wanted to do it right then. Good grief!
So you’re wondering where was God was in all of this. First, He knew how scary this was for me, so He made sure Rodney could work the appointment into his schedule. Second, He had Rodney there at the office before me, ready to hold my hand through it all. (For those who know how busy Rodney’s life is from sun up to well past sun down this was HUGE! LOL). And third, when it came right down to it God answered my prayer. I asked for the strength to get through it and I had strength come over me that was so calming. Thank you Lord! You truly are amazing!
So now it’s your turn… let us know how God is showing up in your life!
In the spirit Lysa wrote this challenge, I want to hear from you. Did you catch a glimpse of God in your day? If so, how? Tell us about it….. I’ll go first to give you the courage to post a comment yourself.
For me, it was during my doctor’s appointment yesterday. I have a mole that has changed shape and color, so kicking and screaming, I went to the doctor yesterday to have it looked at.
Now, you must know something about me to truly understand my fear of doctors and needles. When I was pregnant with Kyle my doctor had to insert, and I use the term loosely, a 12 inch needle through me and into him to drain fluid that had built up around Kyle’s organs during pregnancy. Not once but twice! No numbing me up, no knocking me out, just grin and bear it. Good night it was awful!
So you can image how my stomach tightened and fear threaten to overwhelm me when the doctor said they would have to do a biopsy on the mole yesterday. That meant needles and a knife! Lord, help me! I was prepared to have it “looked at” thinking they would schedule another appointment for the biopsy. (giving me time to prepare myself for the needles) Oh no, they wanted to do it right then. Good grief!
So you’re wondering where was God was in all of this. First, He knew how scary this was for me, so He made sure Rodney could work the appointment into his schedule. Second, He had Rodney there at the office before me, ready to hold my hand through it all. (For those who know how busy Rodney’s life is from sun up to well past sun down this was HUGE! LOL). And third, when it came right down to it God answered my prayer. I asked for the strength to get through it and I had strength come over me that was so calming. Thank you Lord! You truly are amazing!
So now it’s your turn… let us know how God is showing up in your life!
Tuesday, August 10, 2010
The Events in Our Past
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Hebrews 12:1-2
In the chapter, Learning to Simply Like Me, I found a nugget of truth that reminded me how the Lord has blessed me. On page 166 Lysa states, “Becoming more than a good Bible study girl requires a heart free of the entanglements of self-distraction thoughts.” I don’t consider myself one that is overly focused on myself. Selfish at times, yes, but not distracted by thoughts of all my shortcomings. I have had some very difficult things happen in my past that Satan could use against me. Thankfully the Lord has caused me to forget the pain associated with these events so that they are not the focus of my thoughts. I’ve even learned to use some of them to help others. Many times, while I was a teacher, I used my experiences during my parents’ divorce to help encourage children that they, too, can overcome this difficult time in their life.
Like Lysa’s abortion, other events are more secret and hidden. I can understand Lysa’s feeling of suffering in silence wrapped in a cloak of shame, but thankfully God has helped me work though these events so maybe one day I’ll be able to use them to help someone else.
How about you? Is there something in your past that you use to help others?
In the chapter, Learning to Simply Like Me, I found a nugget of truth that reminded me how the Lord has blessed me. On page 166 Lysa states, “Becoming more than a good Bible study girl requires a heart free of the entanglements of self-distraction thoughts.” I don’t consider myself one that is overly focused on myself. Selfish at times, yes, but not distracted by thoughts of all my shortcomings. I have had some very difficult things happen in my past that Satan could use against me. Thankfully the Lord has caused me to forget the pain associated with these events so that they are not the focus of my thoughts. I’ve even learned to use some of them to help others. Many times, while I was a teacher, I used my experiences during my parents’ divorce to help encourage children that they, too, can overcome this difficult time in their life.
Like Lysa’s abortion, other events are more secret and hidden. I can understand Lysa’s feeling of suffering in silence wrapped in a cloak of shame, but thankfully God has helped me work though these events so maybe one day I’ll be able to use them to help someone else.
How about you? Is there something in your past that you use to help others?
Monday, August 9, 2010
Becoming More Than A Good Bible Study Girl in My Thoughts
Of all the places I get myself mired in sin, the quickest is in my thought life, but I suspect that is true for most of us. Lysa’s unit on thoughts has been a powerful one to me. Lysa begins this journey with “What do I do when I don’t feel God?” This has been a reoccurring theme in my thoughts and studies lately.
Man’s emotions verses God’s truths.
Because of this battle I’ve been having, the words of this chapter felt like daggers piercing my heart to the point I had to wake up and take real notice of what Lysa was saying. It began with the concept of being chosen. “In human terms, it seemed quite presumptuous to think God would pause to pay attention to me.” (page 154) I couldn’t agree more. But as I read the verses Colossians 3:12, Psalm 25:12 and John 15:19 I began to understand. God has chosen each of us.
“The problem is, we have been trained to process life based on the way we feel.” (page 155) This profound statement has affected me to the core. It plays over and over in my mind. And as I think about it, I have discovered Lysa is right. With so many things in life you hear people say, “I don’t feel like it.” I began looking at my life and found that I put things off because I don’t feel like doing them. Sin creeps in this way. I didn’t do my Bible study or pray because I didn’t feel like it. I ate that second piece of cake because I felt like it. I was ugly to the cashier because she upset me and I felt like being ugly back to her. I didn’t read to Johnny tonight because I was so tired and didn’t feel like it. (Oh boy! Watch your toes!)
This way of processing life has distorted how we process the truths of God. “We think we must feel love for love to exist. We think we must feel wanted to truly be chosen. We think we must feel God’s presence for Him to really be close. But God never meant for us to feel our way to Him.” (page 155) Our Lord wants us to learn to stand on the absolute truths from the Word of God no matter how we may “feel” at the time. “When I process life through my feeling, I am left deceived and disillusioned. When I process life through God’s truth, I am divinely comforted by His love and made confident in His calling on my life.” (page 155)
Lysa boils it all down to her quiet time with God. She uses running as her example. She does it each day because it’s good for her, not because she loves it. And she regrets it when she’s not able to do it. Oh, how many times I have gone to bed regretting not having spent time with God that day. Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Spending time with God, seeking Him, will fill the void that our “feelings” leave in us. God promises that He will not leave us empty-handed or empty-hearted.
Do you find that you have been processing life by your feelings like I have? I am working on standing firm on the truths of God’s word. How about you?
Man’s emotions verses God’s truths.
Because of this battle I’ve been having, the words of this chapter felt like daggers piercing my heart to the point I had to wake up and take real notice of what Lysa was saying. It began with the concept of being chosen. “In human terms, it seemed quite presumptuous to think God would pause to pay attention to me.” (page 154) I couldn’t agree more. But as I read the verses Colossians 3:12, Psalm 25:12 and John 15:19 I began to understand. God has chosen each of us.
“The problem is, we have been trained to process life based on the way we feel.” (page 155) This profound statement has affected me to the core. It plays over and over in my mind. And as I think about it, I have discovered Lysa is right. With so many things in life you hear people say, “I don’t feel like it.” I began looking at my life and found that I put things off because I don’t feel like doing them. Sin creeps in this way. I didn’t do my Bible study or pray because I didn’t feel like it. I ate that second piece of cake because I felt like it. I was ugly to the cashier because she upset me and I felt like being ugly back to her. I didn’t read to Johnny tonight because I was so tired and didn’t feel like it. (Oh boy! Watch your toes!)
This way of processing life has distorted how we process the truths of God. “We think we must feel love for love to exist. We think we must feel wanted to truly be chosen. We think we must feel God’s presence for Him to really be close. But God never meant for us to feel our way to Him.” (page 155) Our Lord wants us to learn to stand on the absolute truths from the Word of God no matter how we may “feel” at the time. “When I process life through my feeling, I am left deceived and disillusioned. When I process life through God’s truth, I am divinely comforted by His love and made confident in His calling on my life.” (page 155)
Lysa boils it all down to her quiet time with God. She uses running as her example. She does it each day because it’s good for her, not because she loves it. And she regrets it when she’s not able to do it. Oh, how many times I have gone to bed regretting not having spent time with God that day. Psalm 9:10 “And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, Lord, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.” Spending time with God, seeking Him, will fill the void that our “feelings” leave in us. God promises that He will not leave us empty-handed or empty-hearted.
Do you find that you have been processing life by your feelings like I have? I am working on standing firm on the truths of God’s word. How about you?
Friday, August 6, 2010
How Jesus Helps Me Get My Groove Back
I enjoyed the story from Lysa’s adventure in Ecuador. I have often thought of the women she met as I go through my day. Just to give you a quick idea of her life, she lives in a cave, literally, on the side of a mountain. She cooks over an open fire, goes to a river to wash her clothes, and goes to the market everyday for food. Up and down the path she walks daily to take her kids to school and do the rest of these things. I am still amazed that people live this way. We, as pampered Americans, truly know very little of how most of the world lives.
Our days are full of demands and everyday tasks. Just this week, I’ve had to go to Publix twice, Wal-mart, the dry cleaners, shoe shopping, the bank, the mall, back to the mall to return the shoes I bought and to work. If I had to do all of that without my car, I think I would cry. All the modern technologies we have truly are astonishing when compared to her life. Yet with as little as she had, when asked what the team could do for her, she basically answered, “Pray that my husband comes to know the Lord and that I will have the strength to carry on each day.” Wow! Lysa uses her meager life to remind us to be thankful when our bad or ungrateful attitudes take over. “The uglies cause us to lash out; an attitude funk causes us to shut down.” (page 135)
Being thankful is the secret to adjusting your attitude. Praise and thanksgiving remind us of our position in Christ, and of the promise God has made to us. Our circumstances are only temporary. “Bad attitudes breed bad attitudes. Grumpy hearts breed more grumpy hearts. Ungratefulness breeds ungratefulness. On the flip side, praising God breeds more reasons to praise God. Thankfulness breeds more thankfulness. And a person who daily practice both praising and thanking has a rare joy that very few people possess.” (page 137)
So what are you thankful for today?
Our days are full of demands and everyday tasks. Just this week, I’ve had to go to Publix twice, Wal-mart, the dry cleaners, shoe shopping, the bank, the mall, back to the mall to return the shoes I bought and to work. If I had to do all of that without my car, I think I would cry. All the modern technologies we have truly are astonishing when compared to her life. Yet with as little as she had, when asked what the team could do for her, she basically answered, “Pray that my husband comes to know the Lord and that I will have the strength to carry on each day.” Wow! Lysa uses her meager life to remind us to be thankful when our bad or ungrateful attitudes take over. “The uglies cause us to lash out; an attitude funk causes us to shut down.” (page 135)
Being thankful is the secret to adjusting your attitude. Praise and thanksgiving remind us of our position in Christ, and of the promise God has made to us. Our circumstances are only temporary. “Bad attitudes breed bad attitudes. Grumpy hearts breed more grumpy hearts. Ungratefulness breeds ungratefulness. On the flip side, praising God breeds more reasons to praise God. Thankfulness breeds more thankfulness. And a person who daily practice both praising and thanking has a rare joy that very few people possess.” (page 137)
So what are you thankful for today?
Thursday, August 5, 2010
Despite my feeling
Oh my, have I been a bad blogger lately! Life has gotten so busy that I just haven’t taken the time to jot down my thoughts on the second half of our book. I had better get going because you girls know me, I’m already reading both of the books for Sept and Oct.! Oh my!
I will have to say that so far Lysa’s book is still my favorite. Her insight and wisdom of God’s word inspires me. Part 4 is about becoming more than a good Bible Study girl in my struggles. If you’re like me, you have your own mountain of struggles. And like Lysa, my “ugly” comes out when I get stressed. How about you? I loved this chapter because it gave me a practical way to deal with my emotions when I am overwhelmed. The reality is that stress and problems will be part of our everyday lives. Like Lysa says, “Since days like this are a reality, what’s a girl to do? Especially a girl on a quest to live out the realities of Jesus in the midst of everyday life.” (page 122)
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 forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
These verses hold the key to getting through the “ugly” times. Praise the Lord! Now I know what I used to think when people would tell me this. How are you supposed to act all happy and joyous and praise God when you have a problem in your life that is causing you to feel sad or upset? I struggled with that question for a long time. I think it is because my definition of praising God was skewed. I like what Lysa says, “All I have to do to sense His presence is to acknowledge His presence, ask for His help, and make the choice to praise Him despite my feelings.” (page 125) Despite my feeling… that was my key. I thought praising God was something you do when you’re happy or grateful, not sad or distraught. But praising God unlocks the His character in the ugliest of situations. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 God inhabits our praises. He becomes active when we come to Him with praise when our hearts are confused, hurting or upset about a situation. I loved the examples Lysa gave on page 126. These really helped me to see what praising God in the hard times looks like.
Mandisa and Amy Grant have songs that talk about this. Amy’s “Better than an Hallelujah” is on the radio so hopefully you have heard it. Mandisa’s “Broken Hallelujah” is another one that talks of giving God praise in tough times.
Well, I’m on a roll again and the post is a testament to that! So I better close this one out before it becomes a book!
Thanks for reading! Please leave your comments on what you think about praise God in tough times. If you have an example I would love to hear it.
I will have to say that so far Lysa’s book is still my favorite. Her insight and wisdom of God’s word inspires me. Part 4 is about becoming more than a good Bible Study girl in my struggles. If you’re like me, you have your own mountain of struggles. And like Lysa, my “ugly” comes out when I get stressed. How about you? I loved this chapter because it gave me a practical way to deal with my emotions when I am overwhelmed. The reality is that stress and problems will be part of our everyday lives. Like Lysa says, “Since days like this are a reality, what’s a girl to do? Especially a girl on a quest to live out the realities of Jesus in the midst of everyday life.” (page 122)
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 forgiveth all thine iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; Who redeemeth thy life from destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies; Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s. Psalm 103:1-5
These verses hold the key to getting through the “ugly” times. Praise the Lord! Now I know what I used to think when people would tell me this. How are you supposed to act all happy and joyous and praise God when you have a problem in your life that is causing you to feel sad or upset? I struggled with that question for a long time. I think it is because my definition of praising God was skewed. I like what Lysa says, “All I have to do to sense His presence is to acknowledge His presence, ask for His help, and make the choice to praise Him despite my feelings.” (page 125) Despite my feeling… that was my key. I thought praising God was something you do when you’re happy or grateful, not sad or distraught. But praising God unlocks the His character in the ugliest of situations. “But thou art holy, O thou that inhabitest the praises of Israel.” Psalm 22:3 God inhabits our praises. He becomes active when we come to Him with praise when our hearts are confused, hurting or upset about a situation. I loved the examples Lysa gave on page 126. These really helped me to see what praising God in the hard times looks like.
Mandisa and Amy Grant have songs that talk about this. Amy’s “Better than an Hallelujah” is on the radio so hopefully you have heard it. Mandisa’s “Broken Hallelujah” is another one that talks of giving God praise in tough times.
Well, I’m on a roll again and the post is a testament to that! So I better close this one out before it becomes a book!
Thanks for reading! Please leave your comments on what you think about praise God in tough times. If you have an example I would love to hear it.
Monday, July 12, 2010
Thursday Night Book Club
Hello Ladies,
Thursday night is our book club meeting. I am so excited about this meeting. I even have a theme for the decorations! Remember we are going to discuss the first three units of our book this week. I'll see you there!
Thursday night is our book club meeting. I am so excited about this meeting. I even have a theme for the decorations! Remember we are going to discuss the first three units of our book this week. I'll see you there!
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Seeking God Everywhere.
Tues. 6/29/10 - Seek Him Everywhere
You'd think by now that we'd have learned already to seek our Lord with all of hearts, minds and souls, in every place, in every thing, in ALL that we live. Yet we still get blinded by living in this time and place that we lose focus of Him with how busy we are, how much of a hurry we are in and instead of looking for Him everywhere, all the time, we just 'live'.
In Chapter 16 of Lysa Terkeurst's Book, "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl", she speaks of her season of seeking God to become published and the rejection and hard times that came before the blessings. On page 190, I have highlighted where she states, "Seeing the good come from hard times takes time" "Not getting those opportunities sooner were not God's way of keeping me from my calling; they were His way of Preparing me for it" "God used that preparation time to teach me how to be passionate about following only His plans."
In the same chapter Lysa tells us about a convention she went to where she found a notebook and felt led to leave a note with her contact information. Only by the Hand of God could it have been left at that moment for her to find and leave that message for the women it belonged to. Talk about Divine Intervention. I'll take that kind of Intervention every day thank you! :)
I decided to look up the word seek, yes, I'm trying to 'Seek' His Word more and truly get it and like we hear so often yet wonder if it is true, once you get a thirst and hunger for HIS Word, it's all you can do to not stay in it 24/7. Talk about exciting. The verses I've listed are only a small few that remind us to seek Him.
How often do I seek Him in all that I do or have patience to see HIS Hand upon the bad or hard times to know that HE is there and HE is in control? Not enough I'm sure. Like Pastor said, I know for me at least I have a closet full of unfinished clutter where I start something and it becomes to hard so instead of pushing through and seeing it thru I just stop.
For example, weight loss. A topic I know we all LOVE. But I know I MUST lose this weight and I'll start out on a good kick, eating well and working out even heck I even went 6 whole months of doing it and lost 30+pounds. But then instead of continuing at the point that would've been the catalyst, I stopped. I'm talking 100% stopped and said I'll never get there.
So guess what, oh yeah, I've gained at least 10+ pounds of the 30 I'd lost and can see how easily it could be to gain it all back, but I'm inspired with the messages the Lord has sent me not only thru the Pastor's sermons but thru Lysa's books, thru Beth Moore's Studies and more than anything because they all have the same purpose, Perservere, push through it, do not be afraid, Be strong in the Lord and HE will bless you.
So, here's to a new day, a new challenge and a new season in my life where I pray that I can seek HIM in ALL that I am, do, say, etc. and when I get to the point where I have to choose to be afraid of the next step which could be failure or success, I'm gonna choose to step out in faith and know that either way, GOD will be there to intervene and HE will receive all the Honor and Glory...which in the end is all I really want anyway.
Psalm 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psalm 24:5-7 (King James Version)
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psalm 34:9-11 (King James Version)
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Hosea 10:12 (King James Version)
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
You'd think by now that we'd have learned already to seek our Lord with all of hearts, minds and souls, in every place, in every thing, in ALL that we live. Yet we still get blinded by living in this time and place that we lose focus of Him with how busy we are, how much of a hurry we are in and instead of looking for Him everywhere, all the time, we just 'live'.
In Chapter 16 of Lysa Terkeurst's Book, "Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl", she speaks of her season of seeking God to become published and the rejection and hard times that came before the blessings. On page 190, I have highlighted where she states, "Seeing the good come from hard times takes time" "Not getting those opportunities sooner were not God's way of keeping me from my calling; they were His way of Preparing me for it" "God used that preparation time to teach me how to be passionate about following only His plans."
In the same chapter Lysa tells us about a convention she went to where she found a notebook and felt led to leave a note with her contact information. Only by the Hand of God could it have been left at that moment for her to find and leave that message for the women it belonged to. Talk about Divine Intervention. I'll take that kind of Intervention every day thank you! :)
I decided to look up the word seek, yes, I'm trying to 'Seek' His Word more and truly get it and like we hear so often yet wonder if it is true, once you get a thirst and hunger for HIS Word, it's all you can do to not stay in it 24/7. Talk about exciting. The verses I've listed are only a small few that remind us to seek Him.
How often do I seek Him in all that I do or have patience to see HIS Hand upon the bad or hard times to know that HE is there and HE is in control? Not enough I'm sure. Like Pastor said, I know for me at least I have a closet full of unfinished clutter where I start something and it becomes to hard so instead of pushing through and seeing it thru I just stop.
For example, weight loss. A topic I know we all LOVE. But I know I MUST lose this weight and I'll start out on a good kick, eating well and working out even heck I even went 6 whole months of doing it and lost 30+pounds. But then instead of continuing at the point that would've been the catalyst, I stopped. I'm talking 100% stopped and said I'll never get there.
So guess what, oh yeah, I've gained at least 10+ pounds of the 30 I'd lost and can see how easily it could be to gain it all back, but I'm inspired with the messages the Lord has sent me not only thru the Pastor's sermons but thru Lysa's books, thru Beth Moore's Studies and more than anything because they all have the same purpose, Perservere, push through it, do not be afraid, Be strong in the Lord and HE will bless you.
So, here's to a new day, a new challenge and a new season in my life where I pray that I can seek HIM in ALL that I am, do, say, etc. and when I get to the point where I have to choose to be afraid of the next step which could be failure or success, I'm gonna choose to step out in faith and know that either way, GOD will be there to intervene and HE will receive all the Honor and Glory...which in the end is all I really want anyway.
Psalm 9:10
And they that know thy name will put their trust in thee: for thou, LORD, hast not forsaken them that seek thee.
Psalm 24:5-7 (King James Version)
5He shall receive the blessing from the LORD, and righteousness from the God of his salvation.
6This is the generation of them that seek him, that seek thy face, O Jacob. Selah.
7Lift up your heads, O ye gates; and be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors; and the King of glory shall come in.
Psalm 34:9-11 (King James Version)
9O fear the LORD, ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.
10The young lions do lack, and suffer hunger: but they that seek the LORD shall not want any good thing.
11Come, ye children, hearken unto me: I will teach you the fear of the LORD.
Hosea 10:12 (King James Version)
12Sow to yourselves in righteousness, reap in mercy; break up your fallow ground: for it is time to seek the LORD, till he come and rain righteousness upon you.
Thursday, June 24, 2010
Becoming More that a Good Bible Study Girl in my Relationships.
When I read the title of the third unit, I thought to myself, “Oh good, I won’t need this chapter so much.” Wow, was I wrong. I may not have owned a copy of “The Official Preppy Handbook,” but I did eat and sleep everything the popular crowd did from elementary to high school. I desperately wanted to be one of those girls. I really didn’t understand why until recently. As God has begun to heal so many areas of my life, I have discovered the “whys” to many of the pains of childhood.
In this instance, acceptance by my peers drove me. The hunt to be accepted by the popular kids began at the tender age of eleven. I’ll never forget my first attempt and the humiliating failure that went with it. This popular boy in my class had discovered that my dad had bought me a set of NFL pencils. They were cool and very special to me. He devised a plan to swindle me out of them one by one. Does check “yes or no” ring any bells? Oh yes, that cute little note with the treasured words, “Will you be my girlfriend?” was passed to me in the hall by none other than one of the most popular and cutest boys of Tripp Middle School. But there was a catch, “don’t tell anyone.” I should have know right then! As each day passed he would ask for a pencil and I would willingly turn over my treasures to him. He was getting what he wanted, but I was not. No recognition, no affection, no nothing! I was frustrated and wanted to tell the whole school. He wanted nothing of the sort. So one day in class, someone asked him where he got the cool pencil. My best friend piped up and said, “From his girlfriend, Kimberly.” I puffed up, sat up straight and smiled so broad I thought my face would spilt! This would be the day he told all his popular friends about me! But instead he said, “Yea right, I only asked her to get the pencils. I would never date someone like her for real.” My world crashed around my feet. I can still feel the pain and humiliation to this day. I had been used.
Looking back on that horrible event in my life is not as painful as it once was. God has healed my broken heart. He also has taught me several things from it. First, I need only seek the approval of God to be truly happy. Second, when a relationship seems too good to be true, it probably is. When someone only wants something from you and gives nothing in return it’s time to “cut bait” and move on. Third, slipping into sin happens little by little. Each day I would let go of something I treasured. Not realizing that by the end of the whole mess he had most of my pencils. Satan uses this clever tactic with us. It’s just one drink, just one kiss, just one lie, just one....whatever. Soon you’ll discovery “your treasure” has been stolen from you too. And the kicker, you gave it away willingly.
In this instance, acceptance by my peers drove me. The hunt to be accepted by the popular kids began at the tender age of eleven. I’ll never forget my first attempt and the humiliating failure that went with it. This popular boy in my class had discovered that my dad had bought me a set of NFL pencils. They were cool and very special to me. He devised a plan to swindle me out of them one by one. Does check “yes or no” ring any bells? Oh yes, that cute little note with the treasured words, “Will you be my girlfriend?” was passed to me in the hall by none other than one of the most popular and cutest boys of Tripp Middle School. But there was a catch, “don’t tell anyone.” I should have know right then! As each day passed he would ask for a pencil and I would willingly turn over my treasures to him. He was getting what he wanted, but I was not. No recognition, no affection, no nothing! I was frustrated and wanted to tell the whole school. He wanted nothing of the sort. So one day in class, someone asked him where he got the cool pencil. My best friend piped up and said, “From his girlfriend, Kimberly.” I puffed up, sat up straight and smiled so broad I thought my face would spilt! This would be the day he told all his popular friends about me! But instead he said, “Yea right, I only asked her to get the pencils. I would never date someone like her for real.” My world crashed around my feet. I can still feel the pain and humiliation to this day. I had been used.
Looking back on that horrible event in my life is not as painful as it once was. God has healed my broken heart. He also has taught me several things from it. First, I need only seek the approval of God to be truly happy. Second, when a relationship seems too good to be true, it probably is. When someone only wants something from you and gives nothing in return it’s time to “cut bait” and move on. Third, slipping into sin happens little by little. Each day I would let go of something I treasured. Not realizing that by the end of the whole mess he had most of my pencils. Satan uses this clever tactic with us. It’s just one drink, just one kiss, just one lie, just one....whatever. Soon you’ll discovery “your treasure” has been stolen from you too. And the kicker, you gave it away willingly.
Wednesday, June 23, 2010
Deeper Connection with Christ
previously posted on 6/18/10 - my path ~ Christy T
How often do we truly pray with sincerity to our Lord? I know I like to believe I pray without ceasing but too often I know this isn't true especially at work or when our minds are running wild. In reading Lysa Terkeurst's book for the book club (don't be surprised if you see me talk about this a lot because it's a great book and one I'm enjoying going back thru), in her first chapter one of her prayer's is listed as follows (pg 26)
"God, will You help me to have a deeper connection with You and find truer fulfillment as You transform every area of my life. That is my cry and desire of my heart."
Then she also adds four requests to add to it:
"God, I want to see You.
God, I want to hear You.
God, I want to know You.
So that I can follow hard after You every day."
For several years before finding WOBC and our great family in Christ, I knew HE was calling to me to restore my relationship with Him. In living in the world, it's easy to get swayed and slide back especially without being surrounded by fellow Christians to encourage and lift you up. And once my mom passed, I felt like there was an empty space again which I hadn't felt in a long time...like before I was saved.
Not a good feeling but even being a Christian, our hearts can become hard against the Word (Mark 8:17 "And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?").
Which is why it is so important to ask God for forgiveness constantly. In the small things, in the big things, in the thoughts before the sin, in the sin itself, it doesn't matter. In the Esther Bible Study this week, on pg 78, Beth stated the following, "Let's learn to be thankful every time we feel sorry for even our smallest offense toward someone. God designed conviction to be uncomfortable so that we'd hurry to repentance and find relief in restoration."
Thankfully our God is a Loving and Forgiving Father that will accept with His arms wide open when we fail and fall short...cause we always will. We should strive more and more to seek His Presence and fill our minds with His Wisdom, His Words, His Truth and let that be what is filling our hearts.
The best news is that God can soften a harden heart if we listen and obey when HE calls. Which is why it is so important to spend time with Him, to cry out to Him and to desire that our lives be for HIM 24/7. It won't always be easy but every second will be worth it when we are with Jesus in Heaven, and one way we can get a touch of that future life, is by living for Him so others see HIM in us. It is when we are living for HIM and being obedient to His Will that HE will reveal a glimpse of what is to come. Yahoo!!!
So today my friends, I pray that you revisit Lysa's prayer and ask yourself how soft or hard is your heart. Don't let people or this world determine it because it would be hard as stone, instead, let our Lord, Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ free it from breaking and fill it with the unbreakable Truth, Light and Way...which HE IS.
How often do we truly pray with sincerity to our Lord? I know I like to believe I pray without ceasing but too often I know this isn't true especially at work or when our minds are running wild. In reading Lysa Terkeurst's book for the book club (don't be surprised if you see me talk about this a lot because it's a great book and one I'm enjoying going back thru), in her first chapter one of her prayer's is listed as follows (pg 26)
"God, will You help me to have a deeper connection with You and find truer fulfillment as You transform every area of my life. That is my cry and desire of my heart."
Then she also adds four requests to add to it:
"God, I want to see You.
God, I want to hear You.
God, I want to know You.
So that I can follow hard after You every day."
For several years before finding WOBC and our great family in Christ, I knew HE was calling to me to restore my relationship with Him. In living in the world, it's easy to get swayed and slide back especially without being surrounded by fellow Christians to encourage and lift you up. And once my mom passed, I felt like there was an empty space again which I hadn't felt in a long time...like before I was saved.
Not a good feeling but even being a Christian, our hearts can become hard against the Word (Mark 8:17 "And when Jesus knew it, he saith unto them, Why reason ye, because ye have no bread? perceive ye not yet, neither understand? have ye your heart yet hardened?").
Which is why it is so important to ask God for forgiveness constantly. In the small things, in the big things, in the thoughts before the sin, in the sin itself, it doesn't matter. In the Esther Bible Study this week, on pg 78, Beth stated the following, "Let's learn to be thankful every time we feel sorry for even our smallest offense toward someone. God designed conviction to be uncomfortable so that we'd hurry to repentance and find relief in restoration."
Thankfully our God is a Loving and Forgiving Father that will accept with His arms wide open when we fail and fall short...cause we always will. We should strive more and more to seek His Presence and fill our minds with His Wisdom, His Words, His Truth and let that be what is filling our hearts.
The best news is that God can soften a harden heart if we listen and obey when HE calls. Which is why it is so important to spend time with Him, to cry out to Him and to desire that our lives be for HIM 24/7. It won't always be easy but every second will be worth it when we are with Jesus in Heaven, and one way we can get a touch of that future life, is by living for Him so others see HIM in us. It is when we are living for HIM and being obedient to His Will that HE will reveal a glimpse of what is to come. Yahoo!!!
So today my friends, I pray that you revisit Lysa's prayer and ask yourself how soft or hard is your heart. Don't let people or this world determine it because it would be hard as stone, instead, let our Lord, Savior and Redeemer Jesus Christ free it from breaking and fill it with the unbreakable Truth, Light and Way...which HE IS.
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
The Pineapple Principle
Don’t you just love this book!?! I know I will learn something new with every page I turn. Chapter six is no exception.
I enjoy the way Lysa uses everyday things as illustrations. The pineapple example is a wonderful analogy of how we struggle to attempt something when we don’t know much about it. The Pineapple Principle really got me thinking.
“For years, I took the same approach with studying the Bible as I did with the pineapple. I looked at biblical truth from afar. I didn’t feel equipped to open it and attempt to study it on my own. Instead of reading the fresh truth for myself, I only read books that talked about the Bible.”(page 73) Lysa’s words were sobering to me. The last sentence resounded in my heart all morning.
You girls know I love to study God’s Word. I have no less than 2-3 Bible studies going at one time. Pouring over them for hours is relaxing and exhilarating. The way God uses them in conjunction with each other just blows my mind. I just love it! However, I did feel a convicting tug on my heart about how much time I spend studying the Bible on my own. I read it daily, but I’ll admit I don’t pour over it like I do my Bible studies.
“Becoming more that a good Bible study girl means pursuing God’s truth so passionately that it actually becomes part of our nature.” (page 74) That’s my goal. After reading Lysa’s example of David and Goliath: The Back Story, I took a deeper look at the scripture I was reading that morning. I applied the five steps I found in Lysa’s example. 1. Look at the content around the story. 2. Do word studies on the words that jump out. 3. Examine yourself. Look at the character’s dilemma and see how it applies to you. 4. Learn to ask why if something seems off. 5. Look for biblical principles that apply to your life.
I was encouraged with the results. I felt I knew more about Moses when I finished studying Exodus 33-34. And as a result something exciting jumped off the page. Moses interceded for millions of people. He found grace in the sight of the Lord and God granted his request for the people of Israel. All of them. That’s millions of people. WOW. That truth gives me a ton of encouragement about praying for others. “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” Exodus 33:17
“For years, I took the same approach with studying the Bible as I did with the pineapple. I looked at biblical truth from afar. I didn’t feel equipped to open it and attempt to study it on my own. Instead of reading the fresh truth for myself, I only read books that talked about the Bible.”(page 73) Lysa’s words were sobering to me. The last sentence resounded in my heart all morning.
You girls know I love to study God’s Word. I have no less than 2-3 Bible studies going at one time. Pouring over them for hours is relaxing and exhilarating. The way God uses them in conjunction with each other just blows my mind. I just love it! However, I did feel a convicting tug on my heart about how much time I spend studying the Bible on my own. I read it daily, but I’ll admit I don’t pour over it like I do my Bible studies.
“Becoming more that a good Bible study girl means pursuing God’s truth so passionately that it actually becomes part of our nature.” (page 74) That’s my goal. After reading Lysa’s example of David and Goliath: The Back Story, I took a deeper look at the scripture I was reading that morning. I applied the five steps I found in Lysa’s example. 1. Look at the content around the story. 2. Do word studies on the words that jump out. 3. Examine yourself. Look at the character’s dilemma and see how it applies to you. 4. Learn to ask why if something seems off. 5. Look for biblical principles that apply to your life.
I was encouraged with the results. I felt I knew more about Moses when I finished studying Exodus 33-34. And as a result something exciting jumped off the page. Moses interceded for millions of people. He found grace in the sight of the Lord and God granted his request for the people of Israel. All of them. That’s millions of people. WOW. That truth gives me a ton of encouragement about praying for others. “And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken: for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name.” Exodus 33:17
Summer Bible Study with Beth Moore
Hey Girls,
On Beth's blog today, she introducted her Summer Bible Study. It seems like a neat way to do a Bible study so I'm going to try it. If you would like to join me, let me know! Just watch the video for all the details. I'm going to Lifeway this Saturday to get the book so if you want me to pick one up for you, let me know Wednesday night. They are $12.95 each.
http://vimeo.com/12751191
On Beth's blog today, she introducted her Summer Bible Study. It seems like a neat way to do a Bible study so I'm going to try it. If you would like to join me, let me know! Just watch the video for all the details. I'm going to Lifeway this Saturday to get the book so if you want me to pick one up for you, let me know Wednesday night. They are $12.95 each.
http://vimeo.com/12751191
Monday, June 21, 2010
The Difference in Knowing
Do you know who Meg Ryan is? What can you tell me about her? I can tell you she an actress. She’s famous. She’s a mother and wife. She’s met some very famous people.
Do you know who Barack Obama is? What can you tell me about him? Obviously, he’s the president of the United States. He’s married to Michelle Obama. He has two daughters and a dog. He lives in the White House. He’s a democrat.
Do you know who Beth Moore is? What can you tell me about her? She is a Bible Study teacher. She lives in Texas. She’s married to Keith Moore and has two grown daughters, Amanda and Melissa. She has a grandson named Jackson and the first granddaughter is on the way. She loves women’s ministry. She loves to study God’s word. She travels extensively to speak. She runs Living Proof Ministry. She loves Starbucks. For her last birthday, her staff took her to a painting class.
Do you know who Carol is? What can you tell me about her? I can tell you she’s married to Rick. She and Rick were high school sweethearts. She has two children. Tiffany and T.J. are both adults. She has three sisters. Her dad has passed away. She loves pastel colors. She knows every actor and actress on the planet and what they have played in. She teaches in Awana. She goes to WOBC. She lived in Chicago as a child. She knows Orlando like the back of her hand. She loves old movies. She enjoys hot tea. She enjoys people and loves to go out to eat. She can talk for hours. She’s a great friend.
Now of all the people above which one do I really know? I’ve never met or even seen Meg in person. I know who she is, but I don't really know her. I’ve never met the president or even seen him in person. I know who he is, but I don't really know him. I have seen Beth in person. I’ve watched her teach many times, but I’ve never shook her hand. I know who she is, but I don't really know her. Which one do I sit and talk for hours with? Which one has been in my home, hugged my neck, laughed and cried with me? You guessed it! Carol. She and I have been friends for many years. I love her and trust her with my heart. She’s a true friend.
You may be thinking, that’s great, but what’s it got to do with the book we’re reading? In chapter five, Lysa makes a statement that I can’t get out of my head. It’s had a profound affected on me for weeks. She says, “I want to see Him (Jesus) in me, around me, and through me. I want to hear His voice so clearly that I won’t doubt when He asks for my obedience. I want to know Him-not just facts about Him- but really know Him personally and intimately.” I got to thinking about my relationship with Christ. Do I know Him or do I just know facts about Him? Do I know Him like I do Meg, President Obama or Beth? Or do I know Him like I do Carol?
Psalms 46:10a tells me to “Be still and know that I am God...” In Psalm 100:3a God instructs me to “Know ye that the LORD he is God...” God desires a close personal relationship with each of us. One in which when He speaks to us, we will know it’s Him. One that allows us to talk to Him about anything. A relationship that expects daily communication. The difference in knowing just the facts about God and knowing Him is vastly different. I like this quote by Tim Hansel. “There is a difference between memorizing Scripture and thinking biblically. There’s a difference between knowing the words and experiencing their meaning. There is a difference between having sentences embedded in your head and having their impact embedded in your heart. There is a difference between “doing Christianity” and being a Christian.” It’s my prayer that I will seek to “know God” in a deep and intimate way.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Beyond Sunday Morning
Part two of our book would have to be my favorite. Reading through it for a second time has been such a treat. Lysa has so many pearls of wisdom on every page of these chapters. I will have to say that I love the way she writes. She gives practical advice and then goes the extra mile to follow up with examples. I love that about her.
Lysa opens this unit with a story from her childhood. For many years I went to a church that made me feel like Lysa did as a little girl sitting in church. How sad is that? But it’s true. I would sit through service after service bored and frustrated. Looking back on it I will have to admit it was as much my fault as it was the pastors. I wasn’t a self-feeder. I was relying on the church to feed me spiritually, but with all the problems our church was having it was difficult.
At that time I wasn’t reading and studying the word of God for myself. To be honest, other then reading it from time to time, I wouldn’t have known how to really “study” it. Since then, I’ve learned how to dig deeper into the Scriptures. It has been such a wonderful enlightenment.
Lysa's “formula” for studying the Bible is one I’ve heard many times. Pray, study the content and read the passage phrase by phrase is Lysa’s advice. (and she gives an example of how to do it! Love it!)
This morning I used the “formula” to study the temptation of Christ in Luke 4:1-13 in my KJV Life Application Study Bible and Spirit Filled Life Bible. The opening words are, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost..” In both Bibles they gave the references of Isaiah 11:2 and 61:1 next to Jesus’ name. There is so much to discover about Jesus in the Old Testament!
Here’s what I learned. In Isaiah 11:2 is says, “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” So from this we learn that the spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus. He has the spirit of wisdom and understanding. The same thing Paul asked for in Ephesians 1:17! Jesus also has the spirit of counsel and might. So we can go to Him for counsel. And he has the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. What wonderful things we can ask for, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might and knowledge, all because Jesus has them.
Isaiah 61:1 tells us what Jesus’ mission was on earth. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Praise the Lord! I love this verse. Jesus was sent to bind up my broken heart and set me free! Glory to His name! It’s time for hands to be raised girls! Thank you Lord!
Just in the first line of the passage from Luke I’ve learned so much. The Bible truly is amazing. I went on to finish studying the rest of the account of Jesus’ temptation and reveled in taking the verse apart and looking at them phrase by phrase.
I am looking forward to talking to each of you in our next group session about this chapter, but until then…. Blog on!
Lysa opens this unit with a story from her childhood. For many years I went to a church that made me feel like Lysa did as a little girl sitting in church. How sad is that? But it’s true. I would sit through service after service bored and frustrated. Looking back on it I will have to admit it was as much my fault as it was the pastors. I wasn’t a self-feeder. I was relying on the church to feed me spiritually, but with all the problems our church was having it was difficult.
At that time I wasn’t reading and studying the word of God for myself. To be honest, other then reading it from time to time, I wouldn’t have known how to really “study” it. Since then, I’ve learned how to dig deeper into the Scriptures. It has been such a wonderful enlightenment.
Lysa's “formula” for studying the Bible is one I’ve heard many times. Pray, study the content and read the passage phrase by phrase is Lysa’s advice. (and she gives an example of how to do it! Love it!)
This morning I used the “formula” to study the temptation of Christ in Luke 4:1-13 in my KJV Life Application Study Bible and Spirit Filled Life Bible. The opening words are, “And Jesus being full of the Holy Ghost..” In both Bibles they gave the references of Isaiah 11:2 and 61:1 next to Jesus’ name. There is so much to discover about Jesus in the Old Testament!
Here’s what I learned. In Isaiah 11:2 is says, “And the spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him, the spirit of wisdom and understanding, the spirit of counsel and might, the spirit of knowledge and of the fear of the LORD;” So from this we learn that the spirit of the Lord is upon Jesus. He has the spirit of wisdom and understanding. The same thing Paul asked for in Ephesians 1:17! Jesus also has the spirit of counsel and might. So we can go to Him for counsel. And he has the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord. What wonderful things we can ask for, wisdom, understanding, counsel, might and knowledge, all because Jesus has them.
Isaiah 61:1 tells us what Jesus’ mission was on earth. “The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound;” Praise the Lord! I love this verse. Jesus was sent to bind up my broken heart and set me free! Glory to His name! It’s time for hands to be raised girls! Thank you Lord!
Just in the first line of the passage from Luke I’ve learned so much. The Bible truly is amazing. I went on to finish studying the rest of the account of Jesus’ temptation and reveled in taking the verse apart and looking at them phrase by phrase.
I am looking forward to talking to each of you in our next group session about this chapter, but until then…. Blog on!
Thursday, June 17, 2010
When I Feel Like I Don’t Measure Up
Day three of our blog and the excitement is still so fresh. I can’t help but wonder if girls like Lysa and Beth felt this way as they published their first blogs. Not that I am anywhere close to being in their league, but it does make me wonder! I can’t wait for all of you to start posting too!
As I’ve told you before, this book has had such an effect on me. Chapter three has jumped up and down on my toes! I’m going to need steel-toed shoes by the end of this book!
Lysa opens the chapter with her account of the “great brownie failure of 2008.” Ever been there? I know I have! So many times I have tried to accomplish something great for my kids and totallt failed! Each time I find myself letting Satan use that failure to make me feel inadequacy. “Satan delights in our feelings of inadequacy,” Lysa states. Girls, I don’t want any part of my life to be a delight to Satan! How about you? Here's a verse from Psalm 119:71 that wowed me this morning, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes." So there ya go. I have seen that my affliction has been good because now I can learn that God does not want me to feel this way any longer!
So I’m going to take Lysa's advice and learn to separate my shortcomings from my identity. Praise God! I am a child of the King! Redeemed and loved. Not a total failure! "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14
As I’ve told you before, this book has had such an effect on me. Chapter three has jumped up and down on my toes! I’m going to need steel-toed shoes by the end of this book!
Lysa opens the chapter with her account of the “great brownie failure of 2008.” Ever been there? I know I have! So many times I have tried to accomplish something great for my kids and totallt failed! Each time I find myself letting Satan use that failure to make me feel inadequacy. “Satan delights in our feelings of inadequacy,” Lysa states. Girls, I don’t want any part of my life to be a delight to Satan! How about you? Here's a verse from Psalm 119:71 that wowed me this morning, "It is good for me that I have been afflicted: that I might learn thy statutes." So there ya go. I have seen that my affliction has been good because now I can learn that God does not want me to feel this way any longer!
So I’m going to take Lysa's advice and learn to separate my shortcomings from my identity. Praise God! I am a child of the King! Redeemed and loved. Not a total failure! "I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made..." Psalm 139:14
Wednesday, June 16, 2010
Quote of the Week
Hey Girls, I thought it would be fun to add our favorite quotes from the book during the week. I hope you'll join me.
Mine comes from page 34. "When God's Word gets inside of us, it becomes the new way we process life. It rearranges our thoughts, our motives, our needs, and our desires."
Looking forward to reading yours!
Kimberly
Mine comes from page 34. "When God's Word gets inside of us, it becomes the new way we process life. It rearranges our thoughts, our motives, our needs, and our desires."
Looking forward to reading yours!
Kimberly
Video for You
Hey Girls,
I found some great videos on Lysa's site. I've created a Links to Video List so you can watch them too. One is a promo about the book we are reading. The other is from a speaking engagement where she is teaching from her book. Enjoy!
I found some great videos on Lysa's site. I've created a Links to Video List so you can watch them too. One is a promo about the book we are reading. The other is from a speaking engagement where she is teaching from her book. Enjoy!
Flitting To and Fro
In reading chapter two I learned what I’ve been doing to find fulfillment for so long hasn’t been working. For many years I've had that empty feeling in my heart. I had everything the world said you needed, a amazing husband, two wonderful children, a nice home, a super job, a great car (many in fact!) good friends, and a church home. I never truly realized I was trying to force these people and things to supply fullfillment in my life. My eyes have been opened!
God is the only source of complete fulfillment. The Bible says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13 Joy and peace are amazing, but when we rely on people and things to supply them, we will be let down every time. My husband brings me great joy daily, but to hang all my hope on him being able to fulfill my need for joy is unrealistic. He’s going to have days that aren’t going to bring me joy. The same applies for things. I love my job, but to demand that it give me peace is going to be a let down. Only Christ can do that.
Lysa said some tough things in this chapter. Comparing the people and things that we look to for fulfillment to false gods was hard for me to hear. On page 31 she used the account of Elijah’s and King Ahab’s battle to prove who was the ‘one true God’ as an example. (I Kings 18:26-29) She had this to say, “’But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention’, It’s a vivid picture and a strong warning, and the same response we’ll get whenever we try to get our fulfillment from a false god-from anyone or anything apart for the one true God.” Ouch! That one stung.
As I pondered this I was shocked at how Satan uses this human tendency against us. All it takes to see it is to watch a few commercials, read the cover of woman’s magazine or listen to today’s popular music. They are all saying, do “this” and life will be more fulfilling. Go on this vacation, take this medicine, buy this product and all will be right in your world. I’m ashamed to say I have bought into that lie so many times.
Freedom comes from knowing the truth. Thank you Lord for your truth! So now I am on a quest to find my true fulfillment in Jesus. How? Well, I’ll start by doing what Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” By believing in God’s promise to fulfill me with joy and peace I’ll abound in hope through the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in me!
God is the only source of complete fulfillment. The Bible says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” Romans 15:13 Joy and peace are amazing, but when we rely on people and things to supply them, we will be let down every time. My husband brings me great joy daily, but to hang all my hope on him being able to fulfill my need for joy is unrealistic. He’s going to have days that aren’t going to bring me joy. The same applies for things. I love my job, but to demand that it give me peace is going to be a let down. Only Christ can do that.
Lysa said some tough things in this chapter. Comparing the people and things that we look to for fulfillment to false gods was hard for me to hear. On page 31 she used the account of Elijah’s and King Ahab’s battle to prove who was the ‘one true God’ as an example. (I Kings 18:26-29) She had this to say, “’But there was no response, no one answered, no one paid attention’, It’s a vivid picture and a strong warning, and the same response we’ll get whenever we try to get our fulfillment from a false god-from anyone or anything apart for the one true God.” Ouch! That one stung.
As I pondered this I was shocked at how Satan uses this human tendency against us. All it takes to see it is to watch a few commercials, read the cover of woman’s magazine or listen to today’s popular music. They are all saying, do “this” and life will be more fulfilling. Go on this vacation, take this medicine, buy this product and all will be right in your world. I’m ashamed to say I have bought into that lie so many times.
Freedom comes from knowing the truth. Thank you Lord for your truth! So now I am on a quest to find my true fulfillment in Jesus. How? Well, I’ll start by doing what Romans 15:13 says, “Now the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that ye may abound in hope, through the power of the Holy Ghost.” By believing in God’s promise to fulfill me with joy and peace I’ll abound in hope through the power of God’s Holy Spirit living in me!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
A Desire to Know God More
So here we go... our first post about the book. This month we're reading Becoming More Than a Good Bible Study Girl by Lysa Terkeurst. I choose this book because of the impact it made on me within just the first few pages. I pray it will have the same effect on all of you. So in the spirit of blogging about the book here goes…
Lysa talks about her desire to become more than just a good Bible study girl. You know the type. One who fulfills all the “requirements” for being a good Christian. Pray, read the Bible, do a Bible study, go to church, be nice… you know the drill. But if you’re like me, doing these things wasn’t really fulfilling what my soul wanted. Lysa says, “I want my life with Jesus to be fulfilling. I want to be so certain of God’s presence that I never feel like I have to face anything in my own strength or rely on my own perspectives. My perspectives get skewed by my emotions.”(page 25)
Oh, how true is that last statement! Just recently I experienced it in an emotional way. It’s amazing how we see things one way based on our pasted experiences and others see something total different.
Lysa goes on to remind us that all those things on the list are good things. Things we are commanded to do, but just going through the motions won’t lead you to a closer walk with God. “They must be done with the great expectation and heart cry for God to lead us into a deeper and more life-changing connection with Him.”(page 25) I love Lysa’s reason for writing this book. First, to help us find a meaningful connection with God and second to have truer fulfillment from God by letting Him transform every area of life.(page 26)
It’s my prayer that God will accomplish those two things in my life. I am on a new Quest for God. I hope you’ll be taking the journey with me!
Lysa talks about her desire to become more than just a good Bible study girl. You know the type. One who fulfills all the “requirements” for being a good Christian. Pray, read the Bible, do a Bible study, go to church, be nice… you know the drill. But if you’re like me, doing these things wasn’t really fulfilling what my soul wanted. Lysa says, “I want my life with Jesus to be fulfilling. I want to be so certain of God’s presence that I never feel like I have to face anything in my own strength or rely on my own perspectives. My perspectives get skewed by my emotions.”(page 25)
Oh, how true is that last statement! Just recently I experienced it in an emotional way. It’s amazing how we see things one way based on our pasted experiences and others see something total different.
Lysa goes on to remind us that all those things on the list are good things. Things we are commanded to do, but just going through the motions won’t lead you to a closer walk with God. “They must be done with the great expectation and heart cry for God to lead us into a deeper and more life-changing connection with Him.”(page 25) I love Lysa’s reason for writing this book. First, to help us find a meaningful connection with God and second to have truer fulfillment from God by letting Him transform every area of life.(page 26)
It’s my prayer that God will accomplish those two things in my life. I am on a new Quest for God. I hope you’ll be taking the journey with me!
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