So in this walk with God, we will all stumble. So I will stumble. I have to give myself credit for trying though. The last couple of days I have had issues getting to my Bible study. Friday morning, I was distracted and just couldn't get to it. So I tried again on Friday night. My Sabbath. I was able to read a chapter in Romans. I am currently on chapter 8. I read the chapter and got confused. I am not really sure why. Maybe I was still to distracted. I have had a heck of time concentrating too.
I tried again to concentrate on the Bible study this morning, same chapter actually. I ended up not getting but through a couple of verses. Arguing with my husband and children. Keeping them on task and then trying to get to church on time. I also noticed that I am incredibly irritable today. I don't know why, but it started yesterday too.
I went out of town on Wednesday and Thursday, had a very good time with a friend. But I realized when I got home how much I had to get done. I usually get down around the beginning of the month and this seems to go with it too. So I have been in a down mood and very moody to top it off. So then I guess I can see how it was hard to concentrate on my Bible study.
Today 3 people in my house are gone, while my other 2 children were watching a nice, Sabbath movie, I took a nap. After that I made cookies and then I did the same Bible study. I am still moody, but feel more able to deal with it now. I also spent some time in prayer with God. Some time in the Living Room. Some necessary time, to get myself back into acting like the Child of God I am.
I ended up using 3 versions of the Bible; a NIV, a NLT, and a KJV study Bible. I also used 2 online commentaries and a SDA Bible Commentary. I only made it through verse 17, but I understand it now, and that's all that matters. I actually went through it verse by verse and rewrote it in my own words. This really helped it to cement into my brain.
The gist of the first 17 verses of ch 8 of Romans is that because Jesus died for us on the cross, his sacrifice has released us from death in sin. We have life, if we live in Christ, according to the Spirit. We must put our old lives of sin to death and be raised up new in Christ. God has adopted us as his children and we are then heirs to his glory, along with Christ, but that also means that we share in his sufferings. This is still a continuation if you will notice of what was being said in ch. 7. The Good News is that Jesus died for us, for our sins, to free us from that sin, but the obligation is now on us to live a life in the Spirit. To truly become God's children in spirit as well as truth.
Now that I understand these verses more fully, I appreciate even more the sacrifice of Jesus. The other thing I liked about this in depth study technique, was the ability to compare other translations and to really delve deep into meanings of words. I also like, really like having a deeper understanding of the obligation I now hold in my body, mind and heart.
I did read ch. 7, while I was out of town and really found a lot in it and quite a bit I want to share with you, so I will post it later.
If you haven't read, really read Romans, then I really recommend you do so. There is a message of hope for Believers that is so reassuring.
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Tuesday, November 30, 2010
Romans 6
So all of that to get to this...
Romans 6
Romans 6:22-23 "But now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What promise in those words, what power and what potential!
These final 2 verses are the culmination in Paul's discussion on sin. He starts off asking if we should continue to sin now that we have been covered by grace. The answer is a resounding no! He goes on to explain that if we have been baptized in Christ then we have died to sin just as he did.
As I explained in the previous chapter I have been baptized twice, both by immersion. The SDA church believes that we are called to be baptized just as Christ was. In, Matt 3:13-17, John the Baptist, baptizes Christ in the Jordan river by immersion and when he emerges, he is blessed by God.
But if we take Paul's words in this chapter about dying with Christ in sin and being reborn in Christ, we can think about baptism this way. As Jesus died on the cross, so our sinful self dies with him as we are going under the water. As Jesus was buried in the tomb, so our sinful self is buried, while we are under the water. And just as Jesus rose from the dead, so we emerge from the water a new being; our sinful self dead and left behind. We are in union with Christ. Reborn.
So if like Christ we have died to sin, then we cannot go on to sin, even if we are covered by grace. Does that mean that we wont sin again? Most likely not, we are all human and we will slip up. It does mean that we have a way back and that God is calling to us, especially if you have been baptized in Christ.
I mentioned that I wasn't as committed to Christ as I should have been. I wasn't ready to trust him in a relationship of the magnitude required. But he was working on my heart. He knew what I needed, I just wasn't ready to listen. I never fell into the life I could've because I could feel his call. this kind of ache just at my heart, or like a string being tugged.
But remember one sin has the domino effect. You will justify the one and then the next and then the next, until you are in deep and have to dig your way out. (Remember, no matter how deep, you can always get out, Jesus is there to give you his hand). Its a slippery slope down the wrong road. That is why Paul tells us not to let sin reign. He reminds us that we have a new master and must obey him., "when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness" (6:16).
While sin did not have full reign over me, it was gaining ground, when I was LED to the book and class and Women of Faith. God used those to put me back where he wants me. Obeying him. A slave to God. What a word picture that is. The loving master, who has my best interests at heart, and I am a slave to that! Just saying it makes me feel good.
So I have a question for you - Which one are you? Are you a slave to sin? Are you still trying to justify your sins and sinful life. Or are you like me and becoming a slave to the LIVING God? Have you taken responsibility for your actions and then given them to God to take away, to cover?
God has given us free will, and it is a choice. But it is one we must make. I choose God. I have to do this every day. I have to recommit my life, my thoughts, my words, and my actions. Which will you choose?
Romans 6
Romans 6:22-23 "But now you have been set free from sin and have become slaves to God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." What promise in those words, what power and what potential!
These final 2 verses are the culmination in Paul's discussion on sin. He starts off asking if we should continue to sin now that we have been covered by grace. The answer is a resounding no! He goes on to explain that if we have been baptized in Christ then we have died to sin just as he did.
As I explained in the previous chapter I have been baptized twice, both by immersion. The SDA church believes that we are called to be baptized just as Christ was. In, Matt 3:13-17, John the Baptist, baptizes Christ in the Jordan river by immersion and when he emerges, he is blessed by God.
But if we take Paul's words in this chapter about dying with Christ in sin and being reborn in Christ, we can think about baptism this way. As Jesus died on the cross, so our sinful self dies with him as we are going under the water. As Jesus was buried in the tomb, so our sinful self is buried, while we are under the water. And just as Jesus rose from the dead, so we emerge from the water a new being; our sinful self dead and left behind. We are in union with Christ. Reborn.
So if like Christ we have died to sin, then we cannot go on to sin, even if we are covered by grace. Does that mean that we wont sin again? Most likely not, we are all human and we will slip up. It does mean that we have a way back and that God is calling to us, especially if you have been baptized in Christ.
I mentioned that I wasn't as committed to Christ as I should have been. I wasn't ready to trust him in a relationship of the magnitude required. But he was working on my heart. He knew what I needed, I just wasn't ready to listen. I never fell into the life I could've because I could feel his call. this kind of ache just at my heart, or like a string being tugged.
But remember one sin has the domino effect. You will justify the one and then the next and then the next, until you are in deep and have to dig your way out. (Remember, no matter how deep, you can always get out, Jesus is there to give you his hand). Its a slippery slope down the wrong road. That is why Paul tells us not to let sin reign. He reminds us that we have a new master and must obey him., "when you offer yourselves to someone to obey him as slaves, you are slaves to the one whom you obey - whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness" (6:16).
While sin did not have full reign over me, it was gaining ground, when I was LED to the book and class and Women of Faith. God used those to put me back where he wants me. Obeying him. A slave to God. What a word picture that is. The loving master, who has my best interests at heart, and I am a slave to that! Just saying it makes me feel good.
So I have a question for you - Which one are you? Are you a slave to sin? Are you still trying to justify your sins and sinful life. Or are you like me and becoming a slave to the LIVING God? Have you taken responsibility for your actions and then given them to God to take away, to cover?
God has given us free will, and it is a choice. But it is one we must make. I choose God. I have to do this every day. I have to recommit my life, my thoughts, my words, and my actions. Which will you choose?
More about me...
So before I tell you about Romans 6, I need to give you some history of me.
It is a cold, wet day in April, it's early evening and I am doing laundry. I am 16 years old. A few months before, my father had taken a long-haul truck driving job and we hadn't seen him since. My parents had been separated for 2 years at this point. I was not sad or disappointed, nor did I miss him. When he left, the abuse had stopped. My mother had asked multiple times about possible abuse, but I had always denied it. I felt guilty, full of shame and at fault. The master manipulator at work. This was the first year that I had also stopped going to church.
Over the years I had told some friends the things happening in my house, or really at my dad's house. I got one of two reactions. The main reaction was shock and then a kind of distancing. The other was those friends then turning on me or my mother. So by this time, I had 2 very close friends and I had only told one of them. He was great about it, but had made me promise to tell my mother. He had informed me that I told her that night, or he would come over and tell her himself.
So on that cold and rainy night in April, I sat her down and told her. Interestingly she reacted exactly as I thought she would. Outrage, hurt, anger, all of it directed at Dad. She was saddened I hadn't told her sooner. At that time I had blocked a lot of the early abuse and really could only remember about 2 years of it. As I would later find out I had still managed to block the severity of that abuse. That would come to a head in about 2005. But that night was good in that we were communicating. I don't remember much else about that night or even the rest of that school year. We moved to Vancouver, WA. in June, my mom had been transferred.
The next couple of years were new friends, I only found 2 again, new and final school, and settling in. But in my Senior year a lot did happen. First of all Mom and I started going to church again. My sister had her fair share of problems, and church became a refuge for me. I had become the peacemaker in the house.
Another final thing that happened that year? I met the man who would become my husband. I didn't know he would be my husband, but I did know that I had a huge crush on him. We met while we both worked at Dominoes Pizza. I was only 18, so I couldn't drive, and back then they still had separate phone people. He was a driver. We started stopping for a salad or something after work and getting to know one another. I guess you could call it dating, but we never did. Actually he was 2 hours late for our first official date.. it was too funny. I found out he was Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), and I told him I attended an Open-Bible Church. I enjoyed the church and the people. Later, after we started officially dating he asked me to go to church with him. In our discussions I had figured out that they were Christians and that he was adamant about his Sabbath. That was all I knew. I wanted to know more. I hadn't even heard of SDA's before that.
So I went to a church with him. The building was like any other, as were the people. It looked, and felt like a church. The only difference of course is that it was Saturday morning. The pastor of this church was gone and so an elder spoke. A likable enough man, but about a subject that was boring and over the top for this Sunday going girl. None of my questions were really answered. So Tim invited me to go to his home church with him and his Dad, Step-mom and little sister. I really enjoyed both the service at this church and later over lunch (vegetarian :) ) with his family, I had many questions answered.
That would be my last experience with a SDA church, or any church for the next 5 years. Tim and I moved in together 9 months later, married 3 years after that, and had our first child a year later. Alex was 10 days old when we stepped back into a church of any kind, and it was a SDA church. They were very friendly and very nice. I made some friends there while we continued to attend and had discussed Bible study with the Pastor, then we moved. Tim and I moved back to Seattle. Well Auburn actually, close to his Dad's family who had moved up there a few years before. We continued to attend church and I went through Bible Studies to check out the Adventist doctrine and beliefs. To see if they matched with mine.
I found they did so I was baptized by immersion, 2 months after our daughter was born (they are 15 mos apart). Interesting, that although my beliefs matched, for the most part. I didn't have that relationship with Jesus I needed. I was still craving something. I thought by becoming SDA I would "fix" that shame in me. I would be whole. I was wrong. For years we continued to attend churches, in Seattle and later in Longview after we moved down here. I was never whole, I was never fixed. We had problems over the years, lots of them and I will get to some of those as they are reasons I stayed away. But the point I am trying to make is that I decided in 2006 that I needed to be renewed, completely.
In 2005, God had led me to counseling for the abuse, good counseling and after following his direction I haven't had any more problems with that aspect of my life. I have let it go. I had also met some great friends that I was getting closer to, but I was still distant. I still didn't trust completely. This was the closest I came before the last month to completely surrendering to God. I really felt that I needed to be re baptized, and so I was. I was baptized in Toutle River, on a warm summers day, by immersion. in 2006.
That was the day of my true rebirth in Christ. While I may not have stayed as committed as I should have, I still felt that baptism, that union with the Lord. I still felt his call when I would go to far away. I still felt pulled when sin would enter my life. I felt the conflict in me, and I wasn't full yet. But I think I was beginning to see that I could be.
It is a cold, wet day in April, it's early evening and I am doing laundry. I am 16 years old. A few months before, my father had taken a long-haul truck driving job and we hadn't seen him since. My parents had been separated for 2 years at this point. I was not sad or disappointed, nor did I miss him. When he left, the abuse had stopped. My mother had asked multiple times about possible abuse, but I had always denied it. I felt guilty, full of shame and at fault. The master manipulator at work. This was the first year that I had also stopped going to church.
Over the years I had told some friends the things happening in my house, or really at my dad's house. I got one of two reactions. The main reaction was shock and then a kind of distancing. The other was those friends then turning on me or my mother. So by this time, I had 2 very close friends and I had only told one of them. He was great about it, but had made me promise to tell my mother. He had informed me that I told her that night, or he would come over and tell her himself.
So on that cold and rainy night in April, I sat her down and told her. Interestingly she reacted exactly as I thought she would. Outrage, hurt, anger, all of it directed at Dad. She was saddened I hadn't told her sooner. At that time I had blocked a lot of the early abuse and really could only remember about 2 years of it. As I would later find out I had still managed to block the severity of that abuse. That would come to a head in about 2005. But that night was good in that we were communicating. I don't remember much else about that night or even the rest of that school year. We moved to Vancouver, WA. in June, my mom had been transferred.
The next couple of years were new friends, I only found 2 again, new and final school, and settling in. But in my Senior year a lot did happen. First of all Mom and I started going to church again. My sister had her fair share of problems, and church became a refuge for me. I had become the peacemaker in the house.
Another final thing that happened that year? I met the man who would become my husband. I didn't know he would be my husband, but I did know that I had a huge crush on him. We met while we both worked at Dominoes Pizza. I was only 18, so I couldn't drive, and back then they still had separate phone people. He was a driver. We started stopping for a salad or something after work and getting to know one another. I guess you could call it dating, but we never did. Actually he was 2 hours late for our first official date.. it was too funny. I found out he was Seventh Day Adventist (SDA), and I told him I attended an Open-Bible Church. I enjoyed the church and the people. Later, after we started officially dating he asked me to go to church with him. In our discussions I had figured out that they were Christians and that he was adamant about his Sabbath. That was all I knew. I wanted to know more. I hadn't even heard of SDA's before that.
So I went to a church with him. The building was like any other, as were the people. It looked, and felt like a church. The only difference of course is that it was Saturday morning. The pastor of this church was gone and so an elder spoke. A likable enough man, but about a subject that was boring and over the top for this Sunday going girl. None of my questions were really answered. So Tim invited me to go to his home church with him and his Dad, Step-mom and little sister. I really enjoyed both the service at this church and later over lunch (vegetarian :) ) with his family, I had many questions answered.
That would be my last experience with a SDA church, or any church for the next 5 years. Tim and I moved in together 9 months later, married 3 years after that, and had our first child a year later. Alex was 10 days old when we stepped back into a church of any kind, and it was a SDA church. They were very friendly and very nice. I made some friends there while we continued to attend and had discussed Bible study with the Pastor, then we moved. Tim and I moved back to Seattle. Well Auburn actually, close to his Dad's family who had moved up there a few years before. We continued to attend church and I went through Bible Studies to check out the Adventist doctrine and beliefs. To see if they matched with mine.
I found they did so I was baptized by immersion, 2 months after our daughter was born (they are 15 mos apart). Interesting, that although my beliefs matched, for the most part. I didn't have that relationship with Jesus I needed. I was still craving something. I thought by becoming SDA I would "fix" that shame in me. I would be whole. I was wrong. For years we continued to attend churches, in Seattle and later in Longview after we moved down here. I was never whole, I was never fixed. We had problems over the years, lots of them and I will get to some of those as they are reasons I stayed away. But the point I am trying to make is that I decided in 2006 that I needed to be renewed, completely.
In 2005, God had led me to counseling for the abuse, good counseling and after following his direction I haven't had any more problems with that aspect of my life. I have let it go. I had also met some great friends that I was getting closer to, but I was still distant. I still didn't trust completely. This was the closest I came before the last month to completely surrendering to God. I really felt that I needed to be re baptized, and so I was. I was baptized in Toutle River, on a warm summers day, by immersion. in 2006.
That was the day of my true rebirth in Christ. While I may not have stayed as committed as I should have, I still felt that baptism, that union with the Lord. I still felt his call when I would go to far away. I still felt pulled when sin would enter my life. I felt the conflict in me, and I wasn't full yet. But I think I was beginning to see that I could be.
Monday, November 29, 2010
Balance
In his eyes I see eternity; and
With his eyes I see need,
Together, we see the homeless man on the corner;
the abused woman in the store; and the lonely
child in the schoolyard.
Together, we see the multitudes in need of His love.
In his arms I find rest; and
With his arms I find work;
Together, we work in the House of the Lord;
on the streets of the city; in my heart and home;
in your heart and home.
Together, we work to provide help for His people.
At his feet, I find my heart in worship, and
With his feet I find places to go and people to help;
Together, we go to serve food to the hungry; clothes
and shelter to the homeless; to give the lonely man a
friend; and to give the hurting woman, solace.
Together, we go to show the world Jesus' love is real.
In his heart I find hope, and
With his heart I feel compassion;
Together, we feel the desperateness of the hungry and homeless;
the pain for the hurting and lonely; the walls of the guilty and
rejected; we weep and mourn with his people.
Together, we lament for those who do not know the healing
power, the freedom, and joy, in the unceasing Love of God.
In his eyes, arms, feet and heart I am renewed. AND
With his eyes, arms, feet and heart I can change the world..
Note: Both are necessary. We have to have the relationship with Jesus to succeed in seeing and feeling and working with Him.
With his eyes I see need,
Together, we see the homeless man on the corner;
the abused woman in the store; and the lonely
child in the schoolyard.
Together, we see the multitudes in need of His love.
In his arms I find rest; and
With his arms I find work;
Together, we work in the House of the Lord;
on the streets of the city; in my heart and home;
in your heart and home.
Together, we work to provide help for His people.
At his feet, I find my heart in worship, and
With his feet I find places to go and people to help;
Together, we go to serve food to the hungry; clothes
and shelter to the homeless; to give the lonely man a
friend; and to give the hurting woman, solace.
Together, we go to show the world Jesus' love is real.
In his heart I find hope, and
With his heart I feel compassion;
Together, we feel the desperateness of the hungry and homeless;
the pain for the hurting and lonely; the walls of the guilty and
rejected; we weep and mourn with his people.
Together, we lament for those who do not know the healing
power, the freedom, and joy, in the unceasing Love of God.
In his eyes, arms, feet and heart I am renewed. AND
With his eyes, arms, feet and heart I can change the world..
Note: Both are necessary. We have to have the relationship with Jesus to succeed in seeing and feeling and working with Him.
Romans 5 and the final chapters of the Mary/ Martha
So we will start with Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, by Joanna Weaver. I have already discussed how much I am enjoying her book, and how through the suggestions in this book I have been able to reconnect in a profound way with God. As all I did was give you the biggest things I took from the book before, I will continue in that vein. Hopefully it will inspire you to find God in your life again and to keep him there.
1. Find a balance. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to have a rhythm that fits you and your life.
2. Balancing work and worship, God and service, is hard, but worth it in the end.
3. Keep Christ as your anchor, as your fulcrum. In order for me to be balanced, he must be the supports. That doesn't mean I have to feel guilty if I miss a day of Bible study, especially if I was in service somewhere, but it does mean to have that relationship with God, or I will not be able to keep up when the storm hits.
4. I am a work in progress. Changing my character is a process. The Lord is refining me. He does that through tests, sufferings and other character building fun stuff. Sounds like fun right? Yeah OK. Again, I remind myself if it was easy, it wouldn't be worth as much.
5. God wants to be a partner with me and most of all he wants me to persevere. She backs this statement up with many different verses, anecdotes, and practical ideas. She again is very descriptive and helpful in helping me determine where I am and where I need to be.
So that wraps up the book. As you know I have greatly enjoyed the lessons learned. Hmm, enjoyed may be the wrong word, but I have benefited greatly by working through her Bible studies. I have learned an awful lot about me, about hidden resentments, about open sores, and most of all about the healing love of God.
Interestingly I read chapter 12 first thing this morning, did her Bible study, then settled in for my personal reading and meditation time. Before opening my Bible, I pray for enlightenment, that He will guide me in learning what he is trying to tell me. For an open heart and mind and for understanding. So I open my Bible to Romans 5 and start reading...
Rom 5:2,3-5 says "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
OK Lord, I get it!! When the Lord wants to push a point, he really makes it clear doesn't he? Joanna Weaver discusses different reactions to strife/ struggles in our lives. I have always known that I escape. I look for the way out. She calls this the Jonah approach. That's me.
I do believe that God is trying to tell me something. It's time to stop hiding. It's time to turn into the struggle and partner with the Lord. It's time to accept the character building. Now does that mean that I will jump for joy the next time I have a problem with my daughter. No, but it does mean that I will do my best to be thankful for the lessons I am learning from it. It means that I will rejoice in my Lord, knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel and again that I trust in him and HE has a PLAN!! I will persevere in my relationship with Jesus and with him I will come out ahead.
Paul continues in this chapter about God's love. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ dies for us." (5:8) and "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (5:19).
I mean really, what more needs to be said?
1. Find a balance. It doesn't have to be perfect, but it does need to have a rhythm that fits you and your life.
2. Balancing work and worship, God and service, is hard, but worth it in the end.
3. Keep Christ as your anchor, as your fulcrum. In order for me to be balanced, he must be the supports. That doesn't mean I have to feel guilty if I miss a day of Bible study, especially if I was in service somewhere, but it does mean to have that relationship with God, or I will not be able to keep up when the storm hits.
4. I am a work in progress. Changing my character is a process. The Lord is refining me. He does that through tests, sufferings and other character building fun stuff. Sounds like fun right? Yeah OK. Again, I remind myself if it was easy, it wouldn't be worth as much.
5. God wants to be a partner with me and most of all he wants me to persevere. She backs this statement up with many different verses, anecdotes, and practical ideas. She again is very descriptive and helpful in helping me determine where I am and where I need to be.
So that wraps up the book. As you know I have greatly enjoyed the lessons learned. Hmm, enjoyed may be the wrong word, but I have benefited greatly by working through her Bible studies. I have learned an awful lot about me, about hidden resentments, about open sores, and most of all about the healing love of God.
Interestingly I read chapter 12 first thing this morning, did her Bible study, then settled in for my personal reading and meditation time. Before opening my Bible, I pray for enlightenment, that He will guide me in learning what he is trying to tell me. For an open heart and mind and for understanding. So I open my Bible to Romans 5 and start reading...
Rom 5:2,3-5 says "And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character, and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hears by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us."
OK Lord, I get it!! When the Lord wants to push a point, he really makes it clear doesn't he? Joanna Weaver discusses different reactions to strife/ struggles in our lives. I have always known that I escape. I look for the way out. She calls this the Jonah approach. That's me.
I do believe that God is trying to tell me something. It's time to stop hiding. It's time to turn into the struggle and partner with the Lord. It's time to accept the character building. Now does that mean that I will jump for joy the next time I have a problem with my daughter. No, but it does mean that I will do my best to be thankful for the lessons I am learning from it. It means that I will rejoice in my Lord, knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel and again that I trust in him and HE has a PLAN!! I will persevere in my relationship with Jesus and with him I will come out ahead.
Paul continues in this chapter about God's love. "But God demonstrates his own love for us in this; While we were still sinners, Christ dies for us." (5:8) and "For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous." (5:19).
I mean really, what more needs to be said?
Romans 4
Isn't it interesting how time can get away from us? It's been a busy but fulfilling weekend around here. My husband's birthday was Saturday and as that is also my Sabbath, no computer for me. I meant to get on here Sunday, but was busy cleaning, trying to get ready for the tree. Which, btw, the living room is still not ready! LOL, of course. So here it is Monday and I have 2 chapters in Romans to discuss. So I will get right down to it!
Romans 4
I liked this chapter. The promises that Paul gives us are a real foundation to understanding God's love for us.
Rom 4:7-8 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count
against him."
Paul quotes these two verses from Psalms 31:1,2. I love how David is also talking about our sins being forgiven and covered. In both Psalms and here in Romans, both writers are discussing how we are credited righteousness through faith, not works. It is by believing we are given this, not doing alone. Paul goes on to confirm that this promise is for all people, not just the Jewish nation. He talks about Abraham and how through Abraham's experience it is proven that it is belief and all men, not works and just the Jewish people. Gen 15:6 says that God had "credited him with righteousness, because he believed". Not because he performed or did. Paul quotes that verse as well. But he also reminds us that God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations. He also reminds us, that we are all children of Abraham. While I really liked verses 7 and 8, My favorite verses in this chapter are Roman 4:23-25 which says, "The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." I guess what I like is that Paul is backing up what he is preaching with the Bible. He isn't just spouting off, he proved it. I love that. I also really liked the part about his death and life. I hadn't thought of it that way, and was comforted by his words.
I was going to give you my impressions of 5 as well, but as that set of verses goes so well with my final 2 chapters in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, I will post it separately. I also wrote a poem, I hope you will enjoy.
I also still need to write up my thoughts on the book of Job. It was well worth the time and meditation. God is really leading me in new directions and I am both dreading parts of the journey and really looking forward to it. Kind of like a ride on a roller coaster. I personally hate them, but have been told of the almost scary excitement that comes with the anticipation and fulfillment of the ride. Well that is how I feel about this journey. But I keep reminding myself that nothing truly good has ever come easy. Until next time...
Romans 4
I liked this chapter. The promises that Paul gives us are a real foundation to understanding God's love for us.
Rom 4:7-8 "Blessed are they
whose transgressions are forgiven,
whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man
whose sin the Lord will never count
against him."
Paul quotes these two verses from Psalms 31:1,2. I love how David is also talking about our sins being forgiven and covered. In both Psalms and here in Romans, both writers are discussing how we are credited righteousness through faith, not works. It is by believing we are given this, not doing alone. Paul goes on to confirm that this promise is for all people, not just the Jewish nation. He talks about Abraham and how through Abraham's experience it is proven that it is belief and all men, not works and just the Jewish people. Gen 15:6 says that God had "credited him with righteousness, because he believed". Not because he performed or did. Paul quotes that verse as well. But he also reminds us that God told Abraham he would be the father of many nations. He also reminds us, that we are all children of Abraham. While I really liked verses 7 and 8, My favorite verses in this chapter are Roman 4:23-25 which says, "The words "it was credited to him" were written not for him alone, but also for us, to whom God will credit righteousness - for us who believe in him who raised Jesus our Lord from the dead. He was delivered over to death for our sins and was raised to life for our justification." I guess what I like is that Paul is backing up what he is preaching with the Bible. He isn't just spouting off, he proved it. I love that. I also really liked the part about his death and life. I hadn't thought of it that way, and was comforted by his words.
I was going to give you my impressions of 5 as well, but as that set of verses goes so well with my final 2 chapters in Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, I will post it separately. I also wrote a poem, I hope you will enjoy.
I also still need to write up my thoughts on the book of Job. It was well worth the time and meditation. God is really leading me in new directions and I am both dreading parts of the journey and really looking forward to it. Kind of like a ride on a roller coaster. I personally hate them, but have been told of the almost scary excitement that comes with the anticipation and fulfillment of the ride. Well that is how I feel about this journey. But I keep reminding myself that nothing truly good has ever come easy. Until next time...
Friday, November 26, 2010
Romans
I had said that I would tell you what I was reading in the Bible and then let you know my impressions of what I am reading. I really do invite your comments on this. I hope you follow along and get a different impression. A good discussion would be welcome!
So I am going to start with my current reading, to date. Then I will post about both of the last two books I have read in separate posts. I will then begin each post with the current days reading. A habit to cultivate is daily Bible reading. You wont believe what you will learn just by spending 20 minutes a day in the Bible and some time in prayer with the Lord.
In Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver talks about keeping a Bible reading Journal. I have never been successful in journaling before, but I do like to write my thoughts down. She gives an example journal page in the appendix and I liked the layout. So I decided to try it. Wow, is all I can say. Keeping this journal has done wonders for my understanding. I also write my prayer down. It cements it for me and allows me the freedom to say what I am thinking. I don't do silent prayer well and I am rarely, if ever, truly alone during this time. However the choice is, quite obviously, yours.
As the title of this post states, I am currently reading Romans. I should preface this by saying that I spend some time in prayer before deciding which book to read. I have received very definite impressions on what I should be reading. I really am working to surrender all control to God, and that includes my Bible reading. He is guiding me and I am letting him. Try it, see how freeing it really is.
Romans 1
Rom 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written. The righteous will live by faith."
These 2 verses seriously impacted me the morning I read them. They still do actually. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more I feel his presence as I read in the morning. By the way, what time of day you do your reading doesn't matter, as long as you do it with a pure and intentional heart. I like the morning, it starts my day off well and that's the only time of any kind I get to myself. I wasn't having any conscious problems that I know of believing in the Bible, but this did cement the fact. Again. Huh, odd right? Hmm, nope, not if you are dealing with God. Paul (the writer of this book) goes on to talk about how we've turned from God and how "the wrath of God is being revealed" (1:18) in our godlessness and evil doing. Some of what he talks about shocked me at first. Because he is talking about the EXACT same things that we have in our world today. Wow, I thought, still the same? What a thought right? But the two verses above really revealed to me the answer that I needed. The Bible will REVEAL all I need to know of God. Interestingly, I have always known that.. I have just refused to listen, or maybe it was a refusal to care.
Romans 2
Rom 2:13, "It is not good enough to hear the law, but to obey it also. Only then are we righteous in God's sight."
Again we hear that we must obey the law, not just hear it. For me personally, I don't see this as obeying the old law. But the Ten Commandments are not the law. The Ten Commandments are what I believe he is talking about here. I also believe he is talking about obeying God's commands. So what are God's commands. To love God and to love one another. If you haven't read the 10 Commandments, do so. Exodus 20: 3-17. The first 4 commands are ways to show our love for God. The 5th is a way to show love and respect for our parents (no matter what they've done), and the last 5 are ways to show love to the rest of mankind. While meditating and praying about this verse I came to the conclusion that I am not observing the Sabbath the way I should. I, by the way, think your walk with God is between you and God. Please remember that this is a personal walk, and I am talking only about me and my family. I have been getting better and have been led to change many things in our house, but I haven't made the Day special. I read a book recently that equated The Sabbath to having royalty come to your house for the day. Wouldn't you do all you could to make it special for the queen. How much more special should the day be for a visit from THE KING? So I have a new command to obey, or maybe I should say, return to obeying.
Romans 3
Roman 3:22-24, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace. through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Amazing, that. Though we have all sinned and are still sinners, Jesus has redeemed us. It is by his grace that we are givenesus. That's it. Believe he was sent for us, to save us and we are saved! Have faith in the Messiah and our righteousness is returned to us. I said it before, I will say it again. Amazing, that.
Note, while redemption is free to us. Jesus paid the ultimate price. He gave his LIFE for this freedom!
I read one chapter, for the most part, a day. I am not going to date these, on here. I do in my personal Journal. I believe it shows both where I was, where I am and where I am going (another practical hint from Joanna Weaver). It also shows who is leading and who is following. There is a time to be a leader, however, in a walk with God is not that time. Let God lead you, he has the plan and we are his.
So I am going to start with my current reading, to date. Then I will post about both of the last two books I have read in separate posts. I will then begin each post with the current days reading. A habit to cultivate is daily Bible reading. You wont believe what you will learn just by spending 20 minutes a day in the Bible and some time in prayer with the Lord.
In Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World, Joanna Weaver talks about keeping a Bible reading Journal. I have never been successful in journaling before, but I do like to write my thoughts down. She gives an example journal page in the appendix and I liked the layout. So I decided to try it. Wow, is all I can say. Keeping this journal has done wonders for my understanding. I also write my prayer down. It cements it for me and allows me the freedom to say what I am thinking. I don't do silent prayer well and I am rarely, if ever, truly alone during this time. However the choice is, quite obviously, yours.
As the title of this post states, I am currently reading Romans. I should preface this by saying that I spend some time in prayer before deciding which book to read. I have received very definite impressions on what I should be reading. I really am working to surrender all control to God, and that includes my Bible reading. He is guiding me and I am letting him. Try it, see how freeing it really is.
Romans 1
Rom 1:16-17, "I am not ashamed of the gospel because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes; first for the Jew, then for the Gentile. For in the gospel a righteousness from God is revealed, a righteousness that is by faith from first to last, just as it is written. The righteous will live by faith."
These 2 verses seriously impacted me the morning I read them. They still do actually. The more time I spend with the Lord, the more I feel his presence as I read in the morning. By the way, what time of day you do your reading doesn't matter, as long as you do it with a pure and intentional heart. I like the morning, it starts my day off well and that's the only time of any kind I get to myself. I wasn't having any conscious problems that I know of believing in the Bible, but this did cement the fact. Again. Huh, odd right? Hmm, nope, not if you are dealing with God. Paul (the writer of this book) goes on to talk about how we've turned from God and how "the wrath of God is being revealed" (1:18) in our godlessness and evil doing. Some of what he talks about shocked me at first. Because he is talking about the EXACT same things that we have in our world today. Wow, I thought, still the same? What a thought right? But the two verses above really revealed to me the answer that I needed. The Bible will REVEAL all I need to know of God. Interestingly, I have always known that.. I have just refused to listen, or maybe it was a refusal to care.
Romans 2
Rom 2:13, "It is not good enough to hear the law, but to obey it also. Only then are we righteous in God's sight."
Again we hear that we must obey the law, not just hear it. For me personally, I don't see this as obeying the old law. But the Ten Commandments are not the law. The Ten Commandments are what I believe he is talking about here. I also believe he is talking about obeying God's commands. So what are God's commands. To love God and to love one another. If you haven't read the 10 Commandments, do so. Exodus 20: 3-17. The first 4 commands are ways to show our love for God. The 5th is a way to show love and respect for our parents (no matter what they've done), and the last 5 are ways to show love to the rest of mankind. While meditating and praying about this verse I came to the conclusion that I am not observing the Sabbath the way I should. I, by the way, think your walk with God is between you and God. Please remember that this is a personal walk, and I am talking only about me and my family. I have been getting better and have been led to change many things in our house, but I haven't made the Day special. I read a book recently that equated The Sabbath to having royalty come to your house for the day. Wouldn't you do all you could to make it special for the queen. How much more special should the day be for a visit from THE KING? So I have a new command to obey, or maybe I should say, return to obeying.
Romans 3
Roman 3:22-24, "This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace. through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."
Amazing, that. Though we have all sinned and are still sinners, Jesus has redeemed us. It is by his grace that we are givenesus. That's it. Believe he was sent for us, to save us and we are saved! Have faith in the Messiah and our righteousness is returned to us. I said it before, I will say it again. Amazing, that.
Note, while redemption is free to us. Jesus paid the ultimate price. He gave his LIFE for this freedom!
I read one chapter, for the most part, a day. I am not going to date these, on here. I do in my personal Journal. I believe it shows both where I was, where I am and where I am going (another practical hint from Joanna Weaver). It also shows who is leading and who is following. There is a time to be a leader, however, in a walk with God is not that time. Let God lead you, he has the plan and we are his.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
These poems are in order of when I wrote them. All of them came out of my Living Room time with the Lord. I had never written a single poem before this, and whether you think they are good or not, I wrote them for myself, and to God. For he is the true recipient of my adoration right now!
As I sit here, I wait on the Lord.
As I eat, I wait on the Lord.
As I drive, I wait on the Lord.
When I talk, I wait on the Lord.
Wherever I go, I wait on the Lord.
As I read, I wait on the Lord.
I wait on the Lord;
I wait for Him to come to me,
I wait for Him to heal me,
I wait for Him to love me,
I wait on the Lord.
As I sit here, the Lord waits for me.
As I eat, drive, or move, as I talk, clean, or read - - He waits for me.
The Lord waits for me;
He waits for me to come to Him.
He wants to heal me,
He already loves me,
He wants to show me, move me, be with me.
He wants me.
"Me? Why Me?" I ask, and he says:"I LOVE you; you are mine. Come to me child, and I will heal you."
As I sit here, He says, "Come to me."
In everything I do, He says, "Come to me."
He waits for me.
(Is he waiting for you too?)
A Love Song from My heart...
Oh Lord, My God
My Amazing God!
It is for you I live.
How have you changed me? Why did you care?
From where did this deep love come?
I didn't want it. I couldn't trust you!
I hadnt been shown how. I didnt even know where to start.
Trust and love are earned I thought.
They aren't earned, you have given them freely.
You showed me your grace and mercy at work.
You gave me friends, Your Word and stories I needed to hear and share.
You allowed me to go slowly, at my own pace, but you never let me stray
for long.
You never gave up on me!
I was allowed to choose. But choose I must!
You never forced me, but you wouldnt let me sit on the fence, either.
I HAD TO CHOOSE!
The choices? You? Or a life of sin?
Sin? Sounds good doesnt it. Seems so easy. All the good things in life,
all the fun I could ever have, all the "joy" brought to mr?
Oh but SIN... leads to a cold, empty and broken heart.
You? So hard. I had to obey you. Remain Faithful, LOVE you. Listen to you.
Obey your commands. I had to "give up" so much! I had to care for other
and let them care for me??? NO way! I had to TRUST you.
How could I do this? For years you led me, slowly, surely and look where
I am now!
You? Ah the rewards of choosing you!
It is only through You, because of You and For You that I can truly
live, breath and become the woman YOU have created!
It is only by your mercy and grace that I learned to trust,
Ah that first step...
This heart which was broken, cold and seemed so unmendable.
You have been mending!
My God! My Lord! MY SAVIOR!
For you Lord are my Savior. You have saved ME in your loving and gentle
way! And with those gentle, but hard words. My Amazing God who keeps
molding me and guiding me. Even when I stumble and fall (as I do often).
You pick me up, dust me off, and take my hand. You lead me HOME!
My loving Savior.
YOU ARE MY GOD!
I love you Lord! I give all thanks to you! Amen.
(Have you chosen?)
As I sit here, I wait on the Lord.
As I eat, I wait on the Lord.
As I drive, I wait on the Lord.
When I talk, I wait on the Lord.
Wherever I go, I wait on the Lord.
As I read, I wait on the Lord.
I wait on the Lord;
I wait for Him to come to me,
I wait for Him to heal me,
I wait for Him to love me,
I wait on the Lord.
As I sit here, the Lord waits for me.
As I eat, drive, or move, as I talk, clean, or read - - He waits for me.
The Lord waits for me;
He waits for me to come to Him.
He wants to heal me,
He already loves me,
He wants to show me, move me, be with me.
He wants me.
"Me? Why Me?" I ask, and he says:"I LOVE you; you are mine. Come to me child, and I will heal you."
As I sit here, He says, "Come to me."
In everything I do, He says, "Come to me."
He waits for me.
(Is he waiting for you too?)
A Love Song from My heart...
Oh Lord, My God
My Amazing God!
It is for you I live.
How have you changed me? Why did you care?
From where did this deep love come?
I didn't want it. I couldn't trust you!
I hadnt been shown how. I didnt even know where to start.
Trust and love are earned I thought.
They aren't earned, you have given them freely.
You showed me your grace and mercy at work.
You gave me friends, Your Word and stories I needed to hear and share.
You allowed me to go slowly, at my own pace, but you never let me stray
for long.
You never gave up on me!
I was allowed to choose. But choose I must!
You never forced me, but you wouldnt let me sit on the fence, either.
I HAD TO CHOOSE!
The choices? You? Or a life of sin?
Sin? Sounds good doesnt it. Seems so easy. All the good things in life,
all the fun I could ever have, all the "joy" brought to mr?
Oh but SIN... leads to a cold, empty and broken heart.
You? So hard. I had to obey you. Remain Faithful, LOVE you. Listen to you.
Obey your commands. I had to "give up" so much! I had to care for other
and let them care for me??? NO way! I had to TRUST you.
How could I do this? For years you led me, slowly, surely and look where
I am now!
You? Ah the rewards of choosing you!
It is only through You, because of You and For You that I can truly
live, breath and become the woman YOU have created!
It is only by your mercy and grace that I learned to trust,
Ah that first step...
This heart which was broken, cold and seemed so unmendable.
You have been mending!
My God! My Lord! MY SAVIOR!
For you Lord are my Savior. You have saved ME in your loving and gentle
way! And with those gentle, but hard words. My Amazing God who keeps
molding me and guiding me. Even when I stumble and fall (as I do often).
You pick me up, dust me off, and take my hand. You lead me HOME!
My loving Savior.
YOU ARE MY GOD!
I love you Lord! I give all thanks to you! Amen.
(Have you chosen?)
"Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World", by Joanna Weaver
The book has 12 chapters. I have read through Ch. 11. This is not a chapter by chapter run down of her book. What this is, is a synopsis of what I learned and took from her book. How some of what she said has impacted my walk with God. How her book, led me back towards the Lord. The rest of course will be up to me.
The basis of the book is the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Read that story. She finds many other bible verses and stories and other writings to go with what she is saying in the book as well. I am so grateful to the leaders of my Sabbath school class for picking this book, and praying for us to come to the class. It has moved me in a direction I don't think I would have gone otherwise.
1. We must spend time in God's presence, at Jesus' feet,. He will provide all we need to do what needs to be done and the support we need to get through the hard times.
2. "Salvation isn't about what I do; it's about what Jesus did", writes Joanna. That really got me thinking. I have always known it was about Jesus' sacrifice and not my works, but have you really thought about the LOVE behind his actions???
3. The only requirement for a more intimate relationship with Jesus is showing up with an open heart and mind. Bring yourself, he will do the rest!
4. There are "Three deadly D's of Destruction"
- distraction, discouragement, and doubt. These are straight out of her book. If you think about it, it makes sense. Satan uses these things to keep us from turning to God. He distracts us with busywork, then when we are distracted he discourages us which will in many cases lead to doubting God. If you look back you will see where all of these may have gotten you. I can see where they have gotten me.
5. In the story - Martha is busy working and preparing things for Jesus. She is in the Kitchen, while Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet in the Living Room. This is a running theme in this book. We MUST spend time in the Living Room with Jesus to be able to do all the things in the Kitchen. But we need to come as we are. She writes, "we can't get our spiritual act together, unless we go to the Living Room first". Let Jesus do the work on your heart. Let him in and you will change!
6. Be careful not to let the busyness of life come between you and Jesus. Again this is a form of distraction. You can fill up your life with many spiritual things, but its the relationship that counts. Keep that relationship and watch for things that detract from that hunger to know Jesus more.
7. Jesus is faithful, even when we are not! He is waiting for us! There are other poems about this.. but I wrote one that summed it up for me. My next post will have all 3 of the poems that have come out of my Living Room time with the Lord.
8.Jesus paid the ultimate debt. His sacrifice of HIS LIFE, paved the way for us to have a FREE intimate relationship with God. It's free for us to take! Again, he wants to know us! He wants us to come to Him!
9. Ch 8, " Lessons from Lazarus" had the biggest impact on my realization of God's abundant love for ME! ME???? and YOU! This chapter is about what we can learn from Jesus, Mary and Martha before, during and after Lazarus' death and resurrection:
6 lessons straight out of that chapter are:
a) "God's will does not always proceed in a straight line"
b) "God's love sometimes tarries for our good and his glory"
c)"God's ways are not our ways, but his character is still dependable" really hit me!
d)"God's plan is released when we believe and obey"
and God's Grammar Lessons....
a) "Never put a period where God puts a comma"
b) "Don't put a comma where God puts a period."
So the question I asked myself here is how do I know? Well our job is to follow God's will. So we pray and step out, I believe he will make his wishes known.
10. Have a teachable heart. Martha did. Be open to his rebukes and his commands. Follow his plan, not ours. Stop trying to write our own lives, let Him have the quill and the ink.
11.Show God your love the way Mary did. Abandon yourself to him. Give him your all!
I am still processing ch 11 and haven't read ch. 12 yet. I have been impacted by this book, BUT and this is a big but.. all it did was LEAD me back to the Bible! I found my answers there. Joanna Weaver includes many stories and quotes from others that helped to give me a better idea of what I was missing. In truth, the Holy Spirit was there, prodding me, poking me, shoving me! He wanted me to see, to understand, to read more about Him and about His Everlasting, Binding and Abundant Love.
Jesus gave his VERY life for us! So ask yourself this: (I did) Are you willing to give your all, everything you are over to him? To surrender completely to his will?
The basis of the book is the story of Mary and Martha in Luke 10:38-42. Read that story. She finds many other bible verses and stories and other writings to go with what she is saying in the book as well. I am so grateful to the leaders of my Sabbath school class for picking this book, and praying for us to come to the class. It has moved me in a direction I don't think I would have gone otherwise.
1. We must spend time in God's presence, at Jesus' feet,. He will provide all we need to do what needs to be done and the support we need to get through the hard times.
2. "Salvation isn't about what I do; it's about what Jesus did", writes Joanna. That really got me thinking. I have always known it was about Jesus' sacrifice and not my works, but have you really thought about the LOVE behind his actions???
3. The only requirement for a more intimate relationship with Jesus is showing up with an open heart and mind. Bring yourself, he will do the rest!
4. There are "Three deadly D's of Destruction"
- distraction, discouragement, and doubt. These are straight out of her book. If you think about it, it makes sense. Satan uses these things to keep us from turning to God. He distracts us with busywork, then when we are distracted he discourages us which will in many cases lead to doubting God. If you look back you will see where all of these may have gotten you. I can see where they have gotten me.
5. In the story - Martha is busy working and preparing things for Jesus. She is in the Kitchen, while Mary is sitting at Jesus' feet in the Living Room. This is a running theme in this book. We MUST spend time in the Living Room with Jesus to be able to do all the things in the Kitchen. But we need to come as we are. She writes, "we can't get our spiritual act together, unless we go to the Living Room first". Let Jesus do the work on your heart. Let him in and you will change!
6. Be careful not to let the busyness of life come between you and Jesus. Again this is a form of distraction. You can fill up your life with many spiritual things, but its the relationship that counts. Keep that relationship and watch for things that detract from that hunger to know Jesus more.
7. Jesus is faithful, even when we are not! He is waiting for us! There are other poems about this.. but I wrote one that summed it up for me. My next post will have all 3 of the poems that have come out of my Living Room time with the Lord.
8.Jesus paid the ultimate debt. His sacrifice of HIS LIFE, paved the way for us to have a FREE intimate relationship with God. It's free for us to take! Again, he wants to know us! He wants us to come to Him!
9. Ch 8, " Lessons from Lazarus" had the biggest impact on my realization of God's abundant love for ME! ME???? and YOU! This chapter is about what we can learn from Jesus, Mary and Martha before, during and after Lazarus' death and resurrection:
6 lessons straight out of that chapter are:
a) "God's will does not always proceed in a straight line"
b) "God's love sometimes tarries for our good and his glory"
c)"God's ways are not our ways, but his character is still dependable" really hit me!
d)"God's plan is released when we believe and obey"
and God's Grammar Lessons....
a) "Never put a period where God puts a comma"
b) "Don't put a comma where God puts a period."
So the question I asked myself here is how do I know? Well our job is to follow God's will. So we pray and step out, I believe he will make his wishes known.
10. Have a teachable heart. Martha did. Be open to his rebukes and his commands. Follow his plan, not ours. Stop trying to write our own lives, let Him have the quill and the ink.
11.Show God your love the way Mary did. Abandon yourself to him. Give him your all!
I am still processing ch 11 and haven't read ch. 12 yet. I have been impacted by this book, BUT and this is a big but.. all it did was LEAD me back to the Bible! I found my answers there. Joanna Weaver includes many stories and quotes from others that helped to give me a better idea of what I was missing. In truth, the Holy Spirit was there, prodding me, poking me, shoving me! He wanted me to see, to understand, to read more about Him and about His Everlasting, Binding and Abundant Love.
Jesus gave his VERY life for us! So ask yourself this: (I did) Are you willing to give your all, everything you are over to him? To surrender completely to his will?
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
The beginning
Do I have all the answers, of course not! I have found the answer that works for me in my life. I have found The Truth! At the beginning of September I signed up for a Sabbath School class at my church. This class was to be a discussion of the book, "Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World", by Joanna Weaver. So I missed the first class if I remember right, but made it to the second one, where I picked up my book. I took part in the discussion, even though I hadnt read anything yet. I really liked the women in the class. Some of these women I have known for years and some I am just getting to know. I feel comfortable with them. That, it would turn out, would be a turning point for me. I made it to a couple of more classes, and then came the best thing for me!
Women of Faith 2010, held in Portland, OR.
That was a major factor in my walk. Talk about getting me thinking! The first person I heard speak was Sheila Walsh and she talked about trusting God. Trust God? I thought, oh yeah I do that. But I didnt. I felt it more over that weekend, that I really never did. I learned a lot that weekend, that would take too much to go into, but for me the key that came out of that weekend was TRUST GOD! There were some wonderful speakers, some who made me cry, some made me laugh, ALL made me think! Something else that came out of the weekend, new friends. A sense of belonging, that I hadn't felt before. God is so good! That sense of belonging followed right into my Sabbath School class.
I came home from that weekend energized! I was ready to do the work. I dont mean just to work in the church, to be of service to others. I mean I was ready to do the work required to find My God. You see, I had lost Him. Somewhere along the way I had lost the connection. I had turned away, because HE never did. HE never left me! But I had to relearn that.
At some point I realized that I had lost that book. I couldnt find it anywhere. So I called one of the leaders of the class to ask if I could have another. There werent any, but (now listen up, proof that God is working), while I was talking to her, I FOUND IT! I had looked everywhere, all over my house for WEEKS! I couldnt find it anywhere. For those of you who know my housekeeping skills, you probably are not surprised, but I havent ever lost a book! So while on the phone with her, telling just some of what I had brought home from Women of Faith, there it was. Practically in plain sight.
I set the book aside and determined to start reading it. Well I was schooling my youngest two at the time, so I picked it up while they were working and started reading! That first chapter, really got me thinking. I liked her style and I liked what she was saying. At the end of the book was a bible study guide. I did that Bible study and realized how like Martha I was. But more than that, I wanted to learn more.
For anyone who has ever tried to learn anything, the desire to learn must be there. Let's say you are in a class in school and the subject just bores you, or maybe its the teacher. I had a history professor like that once. The sad fact is that I love history, and I couldnt stay awake in the class. So I lost my desire to learn. I have always said, "I dont read non-fiction. It bores me, I fall asleep!". Well her book didnt bore me,instead it made me think; I really wanted to move to the next chapter. Because I had been behind in my reading and had lost the book, I had to read to Ch. 7 to catch up to the class. I read a chapter a day and did the corresponding Bible study with each chapter. I learned so much about myself, and about God!
God has a way of shoving (oops I mean) showing us the way He wants us to go. Our job is to listen! My heart was finally ready for Him, in ways it never had been before. My mind was open, and that was a key factor for me! Joanna Weaver tells the story of Jesus' love, and its amazing power. I am almost done with the book now, and still I find this theme of Sacrificial Love. A story I have known all my life. But I didnt have it in my heart. I didnt trust it. His love wasnt REAL to me. I am still learning to trust it. I am still learning to follow God. But His love?? No, that is more real to me now than it EVER has been before.
This has gotten long, so I will post some of the deepest impressions I got from the book, but mostly from my Bible study time, later. She has a way of asking the hard questions. Questions that make you look inside yourself. Questions that make you search deeper, find those "burrs". More later....
Women of Faith 2010, held in Portland, OR.
That was a major factor in my walk. Talk about getting me thinking! The first person I heard speak was Sheila Walsh and she talked about trusting God. Trust God? I thought, oh yeah I do that. But I didnt. I felt it more over that weekend, that I really never did. I learned a lot that weekend, that would take too much to go into, but for me the key that came out of that weekend was TRUST GOD! There were some wonderful speakers, some who made me cry, some made me laugh, ALL made me think! Something else that came out of the weekend, new friends. A sense of belonging, that I hadn't felt before. God is so good! That sense of belonging followed right into my Sabbath School class.
I came home from that weekend energized! I was ready to do the work. I dont mean just to work in the church, to be of service to others. I mean I was ready to do the work required to find My God. You see, I had lost Him. Somewhere along the way I had lost the connection. I had turned away, because HE never did. HE never left me! But I had to relearn that.
At some point I realized that I had lost that book. I couldnt find it anywhere. So I called one of the leaders of the class to ask if I could have another. There werent any, but (now listen up, proof that God is working), while I was talking to her, I FOUND IT! I had looked everywhere, all over my house for WEEKS! I couldnt find it anywhere. For those of you who know my housekeeping skills, you probably are not surprised, but I havent ever lost a book! So while on the phone with her, telling just some of what I had brought home from Women of Faith, there it was. Practically in plain sight.
I set the book aside and determined to start reading it. Well I was schooling my youngest two at the time, so I picked it up while they were working and started reading! That first chapter, really got me thinking. I liked her style and I liked what she was saying. At the end of the book was a bible study guide. I did that Bible study and realized how like Martha I was. But more than that, I wanted to learn more.
For anyone who has ever tried to learn anything, the desire to learn must be there. Let's say you are in a class in school and the subject just bores you, or maybe its the teacher. I had a history professor like that once. The sad fact is that I love history, and I couldnt stay awake in the class. So I lost my desire to learn. I have always said, "I dont read non-fiction. It bores me, I fall asleep!". Well her book didnt bore me,instead it made me think; I really wanted to move to the next chapter. Because I had been behind in my reading and had lost the book, I had to read to Ch. 7 to catch up to the class. I read a chapter a day and did the corresponding Bible study with each chapter. I learned so much about myself, and about God!
God has a way of shoving (oops I mean) showing us the way He wants us to go. Our job is to listen! My heart was finally ready for Him, in ways it never had been before. My mind was open, and that was a key factor for me! Joanna Weaver tells the story of Jesus' love, and its amazing power. I am almost done with the book now, and still I find this theme of Sacrificial Love. A story I have known all my life. But I didnt have it in my heart. I didnt trust it. His love wasnt REAL to me. I am still learning to trust it. I am still learning to follow God. But His love?? No, that is more real to me now than it EVER has been before.
This has gotten long, so I will post some of the deepest impressions I got from the book, but mostly from my Bible study time, later. She has a way of asking the hard questions. Questions that make you look inside yourself. Questions that make you search deeper, find those "burrs". More later....
A little more about me
I should probably start by telling you that I am now a Seventh Day Adventist Christian, and have been for 13 years. I found that the doctrines of this church fit best with my personal beliefs. I also believe that we all must make our own choices and no one can make them for us. God has given us free choice, it is up to us to choose.
The reason I turned away from God seems to make sense. At least in a warped way. I was so wrapped up in anger and resentment that I couldnt really find my way back until now. It's interesting to note how that anger can fester in a person. Even when I had thought I had forgiven and forgotten, it was still there. I liken it to a burr in your clothes. You know its there, but you cant find it. You know there is a problem, but aren't totally sure what the problem is. So what do you do? If you are like me, and I think many are, you ignore it of course. But if you really have a burr in your clothes and ignore it, does it go away? Well no it doesn't. It gets more annoying and scratching and then starts to feel bigger than it actually is. Like that rock in your shoe, that papercut on your finger. That chip on your shoulder. That's what was happening to me. I didnt recognize it though. Ok let's be honest, I didnt want to.
So to enlighten those that don't know, (this may be a sensitive subject for some, but is needed to explain some things) I was abused by my father, sexually, emotionally, and verbally. It started when I was about 9 and ended when I was 16. I dont remember the exact starting date, because of the grooming and manipulation that pedophiles put into their "subjects", but I do remember the ending date. That date is not as important as the fact that I had, for the most part stopped trusting the Lord by then.
You see, I didn't have a good role model, but that wasn't the complete problem. The problem was and is that trust is a key factor. If you think I hadn't prayed and prayed that it would end, you would be wrong. If you have ever experienced anything like that, and everyone has, if not the actual abuse I did, then other life altering changes, you know what I mean. You know how hard it is to trust something you can't see, and when there are no answers, how you finally accept there never will be. And when there arent any answers, how do you trust in your own beliefs. How easy it is for Satan to get in there with his lies and change your life. But I didn't stop going to church, ever. I still went. I still found God, but I didn't trust Him.
So why is that so important? Well let's face it, if you are with someone you don't trust, you never fully give your heart do you? You keep a part of yourself away and that part gets locked behind doors, with bars and multiples locks. If you are in a relationship with someone and are holding part of you, and not a small part of you, back, then are you truly in that relationship? Or are you just giving it lip service. I was not there, not completely, and God requires surrender and trust. To truly trust God you have to give Him your all! You have to let go!
So how does that happen? Well that is part of what this journey is about. I have been keeping a written journal, that I will be working on typing into here. I have only been on this journey for about a month. A committed journey actually and I wasnt before.
I will be discussing the books I am reading, the Bible book I am reading at the time, including my impressions of what I read that day. If you want to read along with me, I welcome your comments. Maybe you will get something else out of the reading for the day, I hope you do, for that is what the Lord wants of us. If I do nothing else with this blog, but get some more people actively, intently and with purpose reading their Bible, I will consider this a complete success. By the way, the translation doesnt matter, as long as you are reading His Word!
This is a warning too, I will be discussing some tough subjects and ideas. What I wont be doing is naming names and I wont be putting people down. I am almost 40 (ack!) years old, of course there are hurts in my life, from many different sources, and to truly come back to God, those have to be identified, dealt with and let go. To my friends and family who read this, please dont take offense at what I say, please know that I have forgiven completely now and the feeling is so freeing, I wont be taking it back. I have given it all, every hurt, every pain, every thought to God!
The reason I turned away from God seems to make sense. At least in a warped way. I was so wrapped up in anger and resentment that I couldnt really find my way back until now. It's interesting to note how that anger can fester in a person. Even when I had thought I had forgiven and forgotten, it was still there. I liken it to a burr in your clothes. You know its there, but you cant find it. You know there is a problem, but aren't totally sure what the problem is. So what do you do? If you are like me, and I think many are, you ignore it of course. But if you really have a burr in your clothes and ignore it, does it go away? Well no it doesn't. It gets more annoying and scratching and then starts to feel bigger than it actually is. Like that rock in your shoe, that papercut on your finger. That chip on your shoulder. That's what was happening to me. I didnt recognize it though. Ok let's be honest, I didnt want to.
So to enlighten those that don't know, (this may be a sensitive subject for some, but is needed to explain some things) I was abused by my father, sexually, emotionally, and verbally. It started when I was about 9 and ended when I was 16. I dont remember the exact starting date, because of the grooming and manipulation that pedophiles put into their "subjects", but I do remember the ending date. That date is not as important as the fact that I had, for the most part stopped trusting the Lord by then.
You see, I didn't have a good role model, but that wasn't the complete problem. The problem was and is that trust is a key factor. If you think I hadn't prayed and prayed that it would end, you would be wrong. If you have ever experienced anything like that, and everyone has, if not the actual abuse I did, then other life altering changes, you know what I mean. You know how hard it is to trust something you can't see, and when there are no answers, how you finally accept there never will be. And when there arent any answers, how do you trust in your own beliefs. How easy it is for Satan to get in there with his lies and change your life. But I didn't stop going to church, ever. I still went. I still found God, but I didn't trust Him.
So why is that so important? Well let's face it, if you are with someone you don't trust, you never fully give your heart do you? You keep a part of yourself away and that part gets locked behind doors, with bars and multiples locks. If you are in a relationship with someone and are holding part of you, and not a small part of you, back, then are you truly in that relationship? Or are you just giving it lip service. I was not there, not completely, and God requires surrender and trust. To truly trust God you have to give Him your all! You have to let go!
So how does that happen? Well that is part of what this journey is about. I have been keeping a written journal, that I will be working on typing into here. I have only been on this journey for about a month. A committed journey actually and I wasnt before.
I will be discussing the books I am reading, the Bible book I am reading at the time, including my impressions of what I read that day. If you want to read along with me, I welcome your comments. Maybe you will get something else out of the reading for the day, I hope you do, for that is what the Lord wants of us. If I do nothing else with this blog, but get some more people actively, intently and with purpose reading their Bible, I will consider this a complete success. By the way, the translation doesnt matter, as long as you are reading His Word!
This is a warning too, I will be discussing some tough subjects and ideas. What I wont be doing is naming names and I wont be putting people down. I am almost 40 (ack!) years old, of course there are hurts in my life, from many different sources, and to truly come back to God, those have to be identified, dealt with and let go. To my friends and family who read this, please dont take offense at what I say, please know that I have forgiven completely now and the feeling is so freeing, I wont be taking it back. I have given it all, every hurt, every pain, every thought to God!
Monday, November 22, 2010
Why Blog this Journey?
I am a self professed Christian. I have been since I was about 8. I remember taking Jesus into my heart. I remember the walk up the aisle at the church, I even remember the smell of the church and the weather outside. I remember my father standing there, watching this procession. This was an amazing day to me. I remember thinking that Jesus would be with me forever. I would never leave Him. I would always love Him.
Thats what I remember about that fateful day in early June, 1980. What I didnt know, I would learn. I was a faithful follower for years! Years on years actually. I went to church no matter where we lived. I went to church whether my family did or not. I found God in all churches. I have been to EVERY known denomination of Protestant Christian churches, and even a couple that were not. It was hard to find people to go to church with. We moved a lot when I was growing up. I would later do the math and came up with the fact that I went to 13 elementary schools, 5 Junior Highs/ Middle Schools and 2 High Schools. I was a good student. What I wasnt was trusting. What I didnt have a lot of, was friends. What I learned in those years is that people are beyond cruel. But what I took, at least from the earlier years was a sense that Jesus was with me, that I could survive the cruelty and the loneliness. Because my Lord kept me company.
I have a very vivid memory of going to Methodist church, somewhere in Denver, CO. I went with a girl whose name I no longer remember. I remember that this church wasnt their church. They were in a temporary place, while theirs was being renovated. I also remember that I stayed for the whole adult service. My friend/acquaintance went to her Sunday School class and some kind of childrens church. That was fine with me, for I was worshipping my Lord. I was probably around 12.
I cant tell you the exact day I turned away from the Lord. I can tell you why. I can tell you that it was a slow and horrendously painful process. I can even tell you, almost to the minute, the day I came back. I will actually tell you all that, for that is the purpose of this blog. I am doing this for me, but I hope that you will find some kernel that will help you also. I am doing this to keep a log of My journey with God. So the choice is yours.. You can Journey with me, or not. I hope you will, and I hope that my Lord and Savior will touch you as much as He has me!
Thats what I remember about that fateful day in early June, 1980. What I didnt know, I would learn. I was a faithful follower for years! Years on years actually. I went to church no matter where we lived. I went to church whether my family did or not. I found God in all churches. I have been to EVERY known denomination of Protestant Christian churches, and even a couple that were not. It was hard to find people to go to church with. We moved a lot when I was growing up. I would later do the math and came up with the fact that I went to 13 elementary schools, 5 Junior Highs/ Middle Schools and 2 High Schools. I was a good student. What I wasnt was trusting. What I didnt have a lot of, was friends. What I learned in those years is that people are beyond cruel. But what I took, at least from the earlier years was a sense that Jesus was with me, that I could survive the cruelty and the loneliness. Because my Lord kept me company.
I have a very vivid memory of going to Methodist church, somewhere in Denver, CO. I went with a girl whose name I no longer remember. I remember that this church wasnt their church. They were in a temporary place, while theirs was being renovated. I also remember that I stayed for the whole adult service. My friend/acquaintance went to her Sunday School class and some kind of childrens church. That was fine with me, for I was worshipping my Lord. I was probably around 12.
I cant tell you the exact day I turned away from the Lord. I can tell you why. I can tell you that it was a slow and horrendously painful process. I can even tell you, almost to the minute, the day I came back. I will actually tell you all that, for that is the purpose of this blog. I am doing this for me, but I hope that you will find some kernel that will help you also. I am doing this to keep a log of My journey with God. So the choice is yours.. You can Journey with me, or not. I hope you will, and I hope that my Lord and Savior will touch you as much as He has me!
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