I struggle with health issues, so I was blessed when the bible study and today"s devotion came together with a word for me and maybe for you.
"Thank you lord for another day....to live for You. I am Your servant. Help me this day to be a healthy, responsible follower of Christ"
I am responsible for making wise healthy choices, until they become healthy habits. So, that I can serve Christ by serving others.
"We will not be perfect here on earth, but should be consistent in our service and obedience to God."
"God is still searching, ( not for perfect people), but for individuals who are passionate about Him and committed to His call on their lives.
A call to Love Him and love others.
Martin Luther can still inspire this generation with this quote.
"My conscience is captive to the word of God"
The Word is where we get our instructions.
He states that he has two days on his calender,,,This day and that day.
This day....To live for Christ and bear fruit
That day....To appear before Christ and give an account
Live this day to be ready to give an account on that day.
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday, July 12, 2013
I want to see Jesus
We were on the road all day today, So, I had a lot of time to study. I am reading Anne Graham Lotz book "I Saw the Lord." My Bible chart has me reading in Luke and Ephesians and they all tie together.
Her book is a wake up call for the heart based on Chapter six of Isaiah. In Chapters 1-5, Isaiah is a preacher pointing all the ways his nation sins against God and what they should do. Chapter 1:16-19 gives these instructions: Wash yourselves
Make yourself clean
Cease to do evil
Learn to do good
Seek Justice
Reprove the Ruthless
Help the oppressed
Defend the Orphans
Plead for widows
Isaiah was a good preacher and moral man who knew the problem facing his nation SIN
and urged them to repent and get right with God. But something was missing and He did
not realized it until Chapter 6
When He Saw the Almighty Lord sitting on
His Throne and His robe filling the temple
In the light of The Holiness of the Almighty God, he saw himself and was destroyed and undone,
Job did the same thing when he was confronted by God
Moses face shine so much after an encounter with God that He had to wear a veil.
Just reading chapters 7 and 8 of Luke we find these encounters with Jesus. The Bible is full of them
The faith of the centurion caused him to see Jesus for who He was and realized that he was unworthy
He trusted Him to heal with just a word and Jesus praised him for his faith.
When Jesus brought a widows son back to life, the city was gripped with fear, and they glorified God.
There was a group of ladies who recognized who Jesus was and ministered to Him
Jesus stopped a storm causing his disciples to wonder who was this man
He brought Jairus daughter back to life
He healed a woman with a 12 year disease with just a touch of his hem and her faith
Jesus sent demons out of a man and into pigs causing the city to come out and ask Him to leave
AND the King of the universe, got into a boat and left ( I hope that we are not rejecting Him)
Then there is the sinful woman who wept tears all over his feet and poured perfume and wiped
his feet with her hair. Such humility..Do you think that she realized who He was?
This story made me think of one of my favorite songs that I had not heard it a long time.
"I can only imagine"
A little later that song came on the radio (God's timing)......a few verses I like
"Surrounded by His glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
or in awe of you be still
Will I sing for you Jesus
or on my knees will I fall
Will I sing _H_______
or be able to to speak at all
I can only imagine"
Saul saw the light of Jesus and it changed the course of his life forever. Even changed his name
to Paul and he wrote most of the new testament. In the first chapter of Ephesians we see the redemption story of salvation through Jesus Christ by the will of the Father. His grace freely bestowed on His beloved...us. Sealed by the Holy Spirit that He promised to send.
In verse 18, He prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so that we can know.
Let's move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
I know that this is a lot, but I guess, I am just trying to say is, we need to really see God through Jesus and the word and have what Ann Lotz calls a personal revival.
Be still and know that I am God Psalms 46:10
She suggest we make two list and to mediate on them
List 1)
Examine our self against this list of Sin and be honest and add more as needed
In gratitude
neglecting Bible study
Envy
critical spirit
unbelief
unconcern for lost
hypocrisy
pride
family neglect
slander
lying
cheating
robbing God
anger
Jealousy
gossip
worry
doubt
immorality
Then all the things we should do that we do not do
List 2)
make a praise list of every characteristics of Jesus
This should help us see Jesus and self
I want to see Jesus.
"
Her book is a wake up call for the heart based on Chapter six of Isaiah. In Chapters 1-5, Isaiah is a preacher pointing all the ways his nation sins against God and what they should do. Chapter 1:16-19 gives these instructions: Wash yourselves
Make yourself clean
Cease to do evil
Learn to do good
Seek Justice
Reprove the Ruthless
Help the oppressed
Defend the Orphans
Plead for widows
Isaiah was a good preacher and moral man who knew the problem facing his nation SIN
and urged them to repent and get right with God. But something was missing and He did
not realized it until Chapter 6
When He Saw the Almighty Lord sitting on
His Throne and His robe filling the temple
In the light of The Holiness of the Almighty God, he saw himself and was destroyed and undone,
Job did the same thing when he was confronted by God
Moses face shine so much after an encounter with God that He had to wear a veil.
Just reading chapters 7 and 8 of Luke we find these encounters with Jesus. The Bible is full of them
The faith of the centurion caused him to see Jesus for who He was and realized that he was unworthy
He trusted Him to heal with just a word and Jesus praised him for his faith.
When Jesus brought a widows son back to life, the city was gripped with fear, and they glorified God.
There was a group of ladies who recognized who Jesus was and ministered to Him
Jesus stopped a storm causing his disciples to wonder who was this man
He brought Jairus daughter back to life
He healed a woman with a 12 year disease with just a touch of his hem and her faith
Jesus sent demons out of a man and into pigs causing the city to come out and ask Him to leave
AND the King of the universe, got into a boat and left ( I hope that we are not rejecting Him)
Then there is the sinful woman who wept tears all over his feet and poured perfume and wiped
his feet with her hair. Such humility..Do you think that she realized who He was?
This story made me think of one of my favorite songs that I had not heard it a long time.
"I can only imagine"
A little later that song came on the radio (God's timing)......a few verses I like
"Surrounded by His glory
What will my heart feel
Will I dance for you Jesus
or in awe of you be still
Will I sing for you Jesus
or on my knees will I fall
Will I sing _H_______
or be able to to speak at all
I can only imagine"
Saul saw the light of Jesus and it changed the course of his life forever. Even changed his name
to Paul and he wrote most of the new testament. In the first chapter of Ephesians we see the redemption story of salvation through Jesus Christ by the will of the Father. His grace freely bestowed on His beloved...us. Sealed by the Holy Spirit that He promised to send.
In verse 18, He prays that the eyes of our heart may be enlightened so that we can know.
Let's move from head knowledge to heart knowledge.
I know that this is a lot, but I guess, I am just trying to say is, we need to really see God through Jesus and the word and have what Ann Lotz calls a personal revival.
Be still and know that I am God Psalms 46:10
She suggest we make two list and to mediate on them
List 1)
Examine our self against this list of Sin and be honest and add more as needed
In gratitude
neglecting Bible study
Envy
critical spirit
unbelief
unconcern for lost
hypocrisy
pride
family neglect
slander
lying
cheating
robbing God
anger
Jealousy
gossip
worry
doubt
immorality
Then all the things we should do that we do not do
List 2)
make a praise list of every characteristics of Jesus
This should help us see Jesus and self
I want to see Jesus.
"
Spiritual food....the word
Christians today have the potential for two problems when it come to Spiritual food which is the Word of God.
1) Spiritual starvation
Never spending time feasting on the word of God. Which makes one complacent and stunts their growth.
2) Spiritually fat
The second one may surprise you. With all the access to materials for Bible study we are in danger of becoming fat and sassy in the word. Making us self-righteous, judgmental, prideful, and unkind with lots and lots of head knowledge.....too full of ourself..
To those who much is given, much is required. When we eat too much, we can become overweight with no energy. The remedy is to exercise.
God gives us many resources and it is His will that we use them to move from head knowledge twelve inches south to heart knowledge. He feeds us His word so that we have the energy to run the race of His kingdoms work. We can exercise our faith by building a relationship with Him and others.
STUDY_PRAY_APPLY
1) Spiritual starvation
Never spending time feasting on the word of God. Which makes one complacent and stunts their growth.
2) Spiritually fat
The second one may surprise you. With all the access to materials for Bible study we are in danger of becoming fat and sassy in the word. Making us self-righteous, judgmental, prideful, and unkind with lots and lots of head knowledge.....too full of ourself..
To those who much is given, much is required. When we eat too much, we can become overweight with no energy. The remedy is to exercise.
God gives us many resources and it is His will that we use them to move from head knowledge twelve inches south to heart knowledge. He feeds us His word so that we have the energy to run the race of His kingdoms work. We can exercise our faith by building a relationship with Him and others.
STUDY_PRAY_APPLY
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Day 1 Workcation
We were suppose to leave town around 11:30 after Doctor appointment. But things happen and we ran around town until 4:30 ( that's another story). Today was suppose to be one of the work days of these Workcation. I made up this word to describe this trip.
We only made it 295 miles to Cartersville. When we get close, I go online and look for hotels and call. The Howard Johnson had a great price and a good review about the hotel clerk. When I told her that she was the reason we choose this hotel, she almost teared up. When some one does a good job, it never hurts to let the know. Kind words never hurt.
We hiked on a country road behind hotel with loud cicadas and lots of lightning bugs. Tomorrow, we need to go to Tennessee, pick up trailer and stuff out of storage and take it to Kentucky, drop it off and head west. The adventure begins.
We only made it 295 miles to Cartersville. When we get close, I go online and look for hotels and call. The Howard Johnson had a great price and a good review about the hotel clerk. When I told her that she was the reason we choose this hotel, she almost teared up. When some one does a good job, it never hurts to let the know. Kind words never hurt.
We hiked on a country road behind hotel with loud cicadas and lots of lightning bugs. Tomorrow, we need to go to Tennessee, pick up trailer and stuff out of storage and take it to Kentucky, drop it off and head west. The adventure begins.
Wednesday, July 10, 2013
Can't sleep
When I was a little girl, the night before any trip my Daddy would have to give us magic water to help us sleep. I think it was blue food coloring in water, but it did the trick. I could use some now.
Tonight, I can not go to sleep. I can not turn off my mind. We had all the kids over for supper (except our Sara still in California). I am constantly please and amazed how well they all get along. They all have so many exciting things going on in their lives and I spend a lot of time praying for them. This weekend they are planning a big family yard sale at Drew's house. I love that.
We will not be here. In some families, the parents stay home and the kids travel. We have it backwards. Our kids will be home holding down the fort, while Mark and I go play for about a month. We feel really blessed to have neighbors who watch out for things and adult kids who are willing to house sit, cut grass and even clean out storage houses while we are gone.
We have been to and bought in all the states of this beautiful country, except for six. If all goes well, after this trip, we will be down to two states. We should hit Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah and many stares in between. We are planning to wait for cooler weather for Arizona and Nevada. We will finish with a huge sale in Kentucky called the 127 or world's longest yard sale. Hopefully, to pay for this trip.
Next week, we will be married for 37 years and feel very blessed to still be on this journey called life with my best friend.
Tonight, I can not go to sleep. I can not turn off my mind. We had all the kids over for supper (except our Sara still in California). I am constantly please and amazed how well they all get along. They all have so many exciting things going on in their lives and I spend a lot of time praying for them. This weekend they are planning a big family yard sale at Drew's house. I love that.
We will not be here. In some families, the parents stay home and the kids travel. We have it backwards. Our kids will be home holding down the fort, while Mark and I go play for about a month. We feel really blessed to have neighbors who watch out for things and adult kids who are willing to house sit, cut grass and even clean out storage houses while we are gone.
We have been to and bought in all the states of this beautiful country, except for six. If all goes well, after this trip, we will be down to two states. We should hit Montana, Wyoming, Idaho and Utah and many stares in between. We are planning to wait for cooler weather for Arizona and Nevada. We will finish with a huge sale in Kentucky called the 127 or world's longest yard sale. Hopefully, to pay for this trip.
Next week, we will be married for 37 years and feel very blessed to still be on this journey called life with my best friend.
Tuesday, July 9, 2013
Book of Isaiah
Just finished the book of Isaiah - 66 chapters, hard to understand book about God's love and the rebellion of His people.
About a servant who caught a glimpse of God's glory and holiness and realized how unclean he and his nation was. He was commissioned to go tell his people and accepted with words," here am I, send me."
He was a prophet who told of the coming child, born of a virgin, who would be called Immanuel, God with us, the prince of peace.
He tells of war, corruption, trials, judgement and the rise and fall of nations. Of the remnant who praises God and trust in His protection and is delivered through God's gracious mercy with a glorious future. He tells of God's greatness and how he comforts and encourages His people and blesses them.
He warns us of the folly of Idolatry (putting anything before God). God's supreme power is all over the pages of Isaiah. He shows us that He is the one true God who promises deliverance and salvation that reaches to the end of the earth. He promises to help His servants and that they will be lifted up. His invitation of Salvation and mercy extents to all and He promises that His word will not come back void. But that it will accomplish what He desires.
Isaiah tells us of the Lord's unfailing love and praises Him for all that He has done and rejoices in His greatness, mercy and love. He warns us to not grieve the Holy Spirit, but to remember the days of old. He tells us that," eyes have not seen, nor hears heard about a God like our God who acts on behalf of His people who wait on Him". He is our Father and the great Potter and we are his children and His clay. We are the work of His hands.
There will be a final Judgement and salvation. He will preserve a remnant to inherit and serve. He is creating a new heaven and new earth. Be glad and rejoice. Our work will not be in vain. He will bless those with a humble contrite heart who tremble at His word. For He knows what we do and knows or hearts. He will gather us up and we will see His glory.
Not sure where I go from here. I will have to check my Bible chart to see what section I go to next.
Have a blessed day. Mark is up and we have to go to work to get ready for our next adventure.
About a servant who caught a glimpse of God's glory and holiness and realized how unclean he and his nation was. He was commissioned to go tell his people and accepted with words," here am I, send me."
He was a prophet who told of the coming child, born of a virgin, who would be called Immanuel, God with us, the prince of peace.
He tells of war, corruption, trials, judgement and the rise and fall of nations. Of the remnant who praises God and trust in His protection and is delivered through God's gracious mercy with a glorious future. He tells of God's greatness and how he comforts and encourages His people and blesses them.
He warns us of the folly of Idolatry (putting anything before God). God's supreme power is all over the pages of Isaiah. He shows us that He is the one true God who promises deliverance and salvation that reaches to the end of the earth. He promises to help His servants and that they will be lifted up. His invitation of Salvation and mercy extents to all and He promises that His word will not come back void. But that it will accomplish what He desires.
Isaiah tells us of the Lord's unfailing love and praises Him for all that He has done and rejoices in His greatness, mercy and love. He warns us to not grieve the Holy Spirit, but to remember the days of old. He tells us that," eyes have not seen, nor hears heard about a God like our God who acts on behalf of His people who wait on Him". He is our Father and the great Potter and we are his children and His clay. We are the work of His hands.
There will be a final Judgement and salvation. He will preserve a remnant to inherit and serve. He is creating a new heaven and new earth. Be glad and rejoice. Our work will not be in vain. He will bless those with a humble contrite heart who tremble at His word. For He knows what we do and knows or hearts. He will gather us up and we will see His glory.
Not sure where I go from here. I will have to check my Bible chart to see what section I go to next.
Have a blessed day. Mark is up and we have to go to work to get ready for our next adventure.
Monday, July 8, 2013
Last lessons from Job
I finished Job this weekend and did not have my Sunday
School book with me. So, I did lessons July 7th and 14th
to work with the chapters that I read over the weekend.
The lesson suggested we make a list of insights and questions
gained from the last chapters of Job,
So, here it goes
Elihu (remember he is the youngest) reproves Job sharply,
saying that he speaks the truth, "for I am a well- rounded
man with perfect knowledge of God."
Oh be careful of the man who knows it all
His truth is "God gets your attention through adversity and
when you repent your wicked ways, you end your days
blessed in prosperity and pleasure."
Oh be careful when man tries to speak for God.
Pray and study the Bible with the help of the
Holy Spirit to hear from Him yourself.
God spoke to Job and told him to listen
God proceeded with an onslaught of questions
Where were you...
Do you know...
How...What...Who
Have you ever...
Have you seen...
Can you..
Can your voice..
Do you understand.
Can you explain..
When does...
Who causes...
Tell me about..
Now, Do you still want to debate with the Almighty
Jobs answer:
I have nothing to say
(can you see him put his hand over his own mouth)
I have already said too much
(sounds like me)
"I did not see or understand things too
wonderful for me to comprehend
My suffering was nothing compared
to the glory being revealed"
One glimpse of the awesome glory of Almighty God
causes Job to step back and see himself and repent.
I know now that I have avoided the book of Job
every since a college professor told our class that
God was wrong and had no right taking Job's\
kids away and then replace them with new kids.
Her statement was "A child can not be replaced"
I did not and still do not have an answer for that.
I do know that God does not owe us an explanation
He is God
I will not try to speak for God
I just know that God loves us and that He is in control.
This situation with Job is an example. It took special
servant of God to teach his generation and us a powerful
lesson. The traditional "truth" that God always punishes
evil and rewards good IS A LIE FROM THE DEVIL.
They believed it then and we tend to still believe it.
Until it happens to us, then we need to find answers in Job
God was very angry with Job's "friends" because they did
not speak truth about Job or about God. He told these self
-righteous men to bring sacrifices and have His servant Job
pray for them. Then He would hear His servant's prayer
and not punish them as they deserved because of their folly.
How did Job feel?
After all they had said about hime when he was at the lowest
point of his life. His willingness to pray for them showed
spiritual maturity and a growing relationship with God.
Our prayer life shows a lot about our relationship with God.
We all have what my Mama calls character building situations.
They provide opportunities to grow and mature in faith..
Building character and our relationship with God by
moving head knowledge to heart knowledge.
We will never have all the answers about the mystery
surrounding human suffering. But we can learn to
trust the Lord, submit to Him and be open to know
Him better and to build a loving relationship with this
awesome God of the Universe through our circumstances.
Good bye Job....I'm glad I studied your book
School book with me. So, I did lessons July 7th and 14th
to work with the chapters that I read over the weekend.
The lesson suggested we make a list of insights and questions
gained from the last chapters of Job,
So, here it goes
Elihu (remember he is the youngest) reproves Job sharply,
saying that he speaks the truth, "for I am a well- rounded
man with perfect knowledge of God."
Oh be careful of the man who knows it all
His truth is "God gets your attention through adversity and
when you repent your wicked ways, you end your days
blessed in prosperity and pleasure."
Oh be careful when man tries to speak for God.
Pray and study the Bible with the help of the
Holy Spirit to hear from Him yourself.
God spoke to Job and told him to listen
God proceeded with an onslaught of questions
Where were you...
Do you know...
How...What...Who
Have you ever...
Have you seen...
Can you..
Can your voice..
Do you understand.
Can you explain..
When does...
Who causes...
Tell me about..
Now, Do you still want to debate with the Almighty
Jobs answer:
I have nothing to say
(can you see him put his hand over his own mouth)
I have already said too much
(sounds like me)
"I did not see or understand things too
wonderful for me to comprehend
My suffering was nothing compared
to the glory being revealed"
One glimpse of the awesome glory of Almighty God
causes Job to step back and see himself and repent.
I know now that I have avoided the book of Job
every since a college professor told our class that
God was wrong and had no right taking Job's\
kids away and then replace them with new kids.
Her statement was "A child can not be replaced"
I did not and still do not have an answer for that.
I do know that God does not owe us an explanation
He is God
I will not try to speak for God
I just know that God loves us and that He is in control.
This situation with Job is an example. It took special
servant of God to teach his generation and us a powerful
lesson. The traditional "truth" that God always punishes
evil and rewards good IS A LIE FROM THE DEVIL.
They believed it then and we tend to still believe it.
Until it happens to us, then we need to find answers in Job
God was very angry with Job's "friends" because they did
not speak truth about Job or about God. He told these self
-righteous men to bring sacrifices and have His servant Job
pray for them. Then He would hear His servant's prayer
and not punish them as they deserved because of their folly.
How did Job feel?
After all they had said about hime when he was at the lowest
point of his life. His willingness to pray for them showed
spiritual maturity and a growing relationship with God.
Our prayer life shows a lot about our relationship with God.
We all have what my Mama calls character building situations.
They provide opportunities to grow and mature in faith..
Building character and our relationship with God by
moving head knowledge to heart knowledge.
We will never have all the answers about the mystery
surrounding human suffering. But we can learn to
trust the Lord, submit to Him and be open to know
Him better and to build a loving relationship with this
awesome God of the Universe through our circumstances.
Good bye Job....I'm glad I studied your book
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)