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Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe. Hebrews 12:28
A friend texted me this verse the other day… it stirs my insides…
Cultivate your own relationship with God, but don’t impose it on others. You’re fortunate if your behavior and your belief are coherent. Romans 14:22(The Message)
In today’s Slice, Jill Carattini brought something to my heart to ponder… she notes,
“[...]Yet if the universe has always been a disordered series of time plus matter plus chance, how do we account for the intricate orderedness to life, the uniformity of nature, or even the intricacy of the very mind that asks the question? [....]
Scribbled on a note card, a quote by Frederick Buechner marks the page of one of my favorite Scriptures: “We learn to praise God,” it reads, “not by paying compliments, but by paying attention.” In fact, much of Scripture is a call to remember and take notice, to bear in mind the stories of God in history and to fix one’s eyes on God’s presence in the world today.”
Jill concluded with describing,
“The verse I have marked with a reminder to pay attention was written by one who did just that: “When I look at your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars that you have established; what are human beings that you are mindful of them, mortals that you care for them? [...] Yet you have made them a little lower than God, and crowned them with glory and honor” (Psalm 8:3-9). David lived with an eye on the kingdom of God around him, and as such, throughout his days, he remembered there is a king. “O Lord, our Sovereign, how majestic is your name in all the earth!”
This stirs my heart… and serves as a reminder to stay present.
I don’t quite know how to fully articulate this, but there are some things floating around my head that I want to journal out. This is not profound, nor is it complete, it is mearly a glimpse into a train of thought that is atop my mind.
Recently the kids and I saw Horton Hears a Who, about an elephant in the jungle, named Horton, who heard voices coming from a speck as it floated by. He caught the tiny speck on a fuzzy looking clover and he listened, heard, and believed that there indeed was life on this speck, populated by Whos. Horton realized that the safety of the life on this speck rested solely on him, and he was determined to place it securely on the top of Mount Nool. But during his trek and journey, he was faced with great odds and opponents. In the jungle, a mother kangaroo character was set against Horton from the start. She urged Horton that it was all in his mind, on the basis of this logic, “if you can’t see it, if you can’t hear it, or if you can’t feel it, then it’s not real.” This kangaroo character goes so far as to get others to do her dirty work for her, finding a soulless old eagle to fit the bill and try to please her by managing get the fuzzy clover. The eagle is partially successful, but Horton never gives up. He tirelessly keeps his mission in mind, he stays focused on the task at hand, and he continues with his purpose of getting the Whos to safety.
The story concludes with Horton finding himself rejected by several of the animals in his community because he won’t denounce what he hears and give over the clover with the speck on it to be destroyed. The community of the jungle gang up on him (minus a trusty believing few), and they outnumber him and literally force him into a cage where he is powerless. At the last moment, the Whos make enough sound (and the Whos here… what’s happening in their world is a whole other storyline!) to be heard by someone else in the jungle… the kangaroo’s little boy who lives in her pouch. He hears the Whos, and tells everyone to quiet down, and then everyone in the jungle group hears the Whos chanting in unison “We are here, we are here, we are here!”
You cannot believe how I watched this movie drama unfold from this special and sometimes fragile place in my heart, for Horton heard the Who, and despite the fact that he couldn’t see the people on the tiny speck, or feel the people on the tiny speck… he knew what he heard, and what he continued to hear, and he just believed. He didn’t change his mind when things got difficult, he did not ask for the Whos to prove that they were real, he just believed what he heard. I was filled with joy when Horton pursued what he set out to do… his mission, and in the end rescue these precious lives.
Today… there was an awesome Slice of Infinity (to follow below). Very stirring picture she revealed… it certainly does turn my heart reflection in both directions, in and out. Many times I have paused on Jesus’ disciple Thomas and identified with him… my faith (or lack of) in certain seasons has literally prompted me to ask Jesus for a tangible feel of His hands to see if I could indeed touch holes that are noted to be there. I’ve spent many prayerful nights with the desire to be heeded and encouraged by Jesus to be faithless no longer, just as He shepherded Thomas.
The Christmas season is upon is… with it’s visit comes pressure. I feel the weight of so much right now…
Did Mary feel the heaviness too? The culmination of so many expecations and unknowns… just pressing in on her? I imagine her in the night when I wake up between little catnaps resulting from my unrest… I wonder if she awoke a lot during the night, reminded of the weight upon her with the Savior in her womb. She had a tangible weight… while mine is nearly invisable to the untrained eye.
It’s still there, regardless… and I can feel it.
My eyes are searching for joy…
busy searching and searching…
and finding bits of it hidden away here or there…
and yet many things threaten to rise up and gobble me whole.
WHOLE I tell you…
totally in one gulp, without chewing.
“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.”- Romans 12:12
Messy thoughts in my mind today… so much clutter and caca swirling around. It seems I sometimes find myself in a battle to just find how to access and live out the fruit of the Spirit…love
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
gentleness
self-control
joy
peace
patience
kindness
goodness
gentleness
self-control
it’s a beautiful list, and definitely something I desire to have in abundance… but in this miniscule part of today, I just sense I’m not quite tapping into the full potential. These very things, the fruit of the Spirit, are weapons to dispel their opposite counterparts… so in reality their impact is huge and limitless! But why is it then, that I have days in which accessing them seems nearly impossible. I realize I’m promised that nothing shall be impossible if I have faith the size of a mustard seed? Where are all my mustard seeds today? Where is even one mustard seed?
I know there here somewhere in my heart… I’ve run my hands through them before, and even held one between my thumb and index finger and closely examined it… yet right now, I find that some of my fruit, namely peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, and self-control are hard to realize the presence of.
A single mustard seed grew into this
just amazing. About the only fruit I can touch today is love… I feel like it’s the only one I possess… as for the others, I feel quite poor in Spirit. Is it really true that when I am weak, then I am strong? I don’t feel strength, only an echo of where it and peace could be… in my heart right now I feel the bones in my knees against the floor as I seek out God in this.
I think I might go dive into the spice cabinet and dig out a mustard seed and carry it around in my pocket…
++God… I’m hoping you have something to share with me today… thank you for searching me, even though it seems to hurt… turn on your Light within me and reveal Your glory and will. I fear not bearing my weaknesses, for I know I can cling to You. Use my weakness and lack to bring forth that you are the I AM.++
I am reading a book called “God’s Timing for Your Life,” by Dutch Sheets and I’m finding that I’m rereading a lot to not only try to understand what it means, but to also evaluate what my thoughts have been. This is illuminating much about my walk with God, and His purposes for the way He unfolds things through time for me. One of the first things that I am trying to wrap my hand around is His desire for us to understand our newness in Him.
Sheets goes into detail about the language used in three verses in Isaiah about God’s timing and transition into new seasons.
Isaiah 48:6
“You have heard; look at all this.
And you, will you not declare it?
I proclaim to you new things from this time,
Even hidden things which you have not known.
Isaiah 43:19
“Behold, I will do something new,
Now it will spring forth;
Will you not be aware of it?
I will even make a roadway in the wilderness,
Rivers in the desert.
Isaiah 42:9
“Behold, the former things have come to pass,
Now I declare new things;
Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
Sheets describes that the phrase “springs forth” in the last two verses is describing a shift in time. God is asking us “Will you not be aware of it?” How much is God revealing to us, that we are not aware of in the moments we recieve? Is it because our gaze is distracted and it causes us to not recognize, or is it that God reveals it to us when we are ready to understand?
After we see the springing forth, the author calls us to notice the word “new,” which also speaks of a coming shift. What was interesting was that in the New Testament, two Greek words are translated “new,” despite their different meanings. The explanation of the meanings opens up a lot for me.
“The word neos means numerically new but not different.” Sheets gives the example of a brand new car of a certain make and model, which although is a new car, it’s not unique, because there were thousands of the same year, make, and model of car that were produced. Then, “the other Greek word for “new” is kainos, which means not only numerically new but also qualitatively new.” So, what this means like comparing a new car made today to a Model T years and years ago. The new car is not only numerically new, but qualitatively new because it’s different.
When we look at the different definitions of these two words – neos and kainos is important to understanding Scripture. 2 Cor. 5:17 says that we are new (kainos) creations in Christ. Not duplications, or replicas of something else, which would be neos. We are new in a completely different way, like a Porshe to a Model T. Sheets says, “We are new creations- brand-new in kind and quality. God has put a different nature in us, transformed us and put the power of His Spirit in us. When we’re born again, we’re not just the same people with a few changes; we are kainos- brand-new on the inside.
In Matthew 9:17 we find that Jesus used both of the Greek words in one statement. “Neither do men pour new (neos) wine into old wineskins. If they do, the skins will burst, the wine will run out and the wineskins will be ruined. No, they pour new wine into new (kainos) wineskins, and both are preserved.” This new wine of the Spirit is not different, but more of the same, because the Holy Spirit can’t change or improve qualitatively. The Spirit desires to put more of Himself into us- numerically new wine. The wine isn’t different, it is the wineskin that needs to change, to be kainos, qualitatively new, in order to get another dose of His Spirit poured into us. Sheets describes that, “we must be transformed and changed from one stage to another. If we don’t become different- qualitatively new- we won’t be able to hold the new wine He is pouring out. We will miss this new “time.” So… the crux is that, “in order for God to prepare us for the new season, He changes us.”
So, it’s like a lobster (even though I think he meant to say crab, or do lobsters really abandon their shells?), and how they have to leave their shells in order to grow. So it’s a quandry, they need the shells to protect them, but the need to leave their shells to find bigger ones so that they can continue to grow. The dangerous time for them is when they are between shells, where they are left vulnerable to the currents, predators, and environmental hazards. So we, like some lobsters (crabs?), need to change to grow, and shed our shells, structure, comfort zones, etc. that we’ve depended on, and leave them behind as we explore becoming new with Christ.
lots more to come… on the divine shift, renewal, and joining of the seasons.
Blessed be God, even the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and the God of all comfort; Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God. For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ. And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation. And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation. 2 Corinthians 1:3-7
In the midst of our tribulations, He is there to comfort us, to alleviate the pain and sense of grief that threatens to wash over us… He will never let it overtake us and sweep us away. Through His comfort of grace, we can have, if we can recieve it, peace and joy. “Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. 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 hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” Rom. 5:1-5
Underneath all the confusion of the things surrounding us, I’m so suprised to know that He wants me to rejoice in my sufferings, because through them I will be given the insight and understanding of perseverance, character, and real hope. He’s covered it all. Because, “He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Phil. 1:6 In the very things that I am struggeling with, He is working, He is consoling, and He is encouraging me to know His hope and will.
Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other. And we urge you, brothers, warn those who are idle, encourage the timid, help the weak, be patient with everyone. Make sure that nobody pays back wrong for wrong, but always try to be kind to each other and to everyone else. Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:13-18. I don’t know how many times I have found my heart going over this verse and coming to a continued deeper understanding, and sometimes confusion, of it’s meaning. Analyizing what I’m succeeding at and where I’m failing, I’m still encouraged to know He’s still improving me, bringing me to conform more to Christ’s very own heart. Some days I’m so challanged, while others I feel lifted by Him into victory.
For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known. 1 Corinthians 13:12
Let us acknowledge the LORD ;
let us press on to acknowledge him.
As surely as the sun rises,
he will appear;
he will come to us like the winter rains,
like the spring rains that water the earth.” Hosea 6:3
This was the message at church today. Based from Proverbs 4:20-27 with an emphasis on v. 23
My son, pay attention to what I say; listen closely to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to a man’s whole body. 23 Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life. Put away perversity from your mouth; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil. Proverbs 4:20-27
So, the message was that we are to beware (this is a warning!!), that there are thieves that will and are coming to steal your treasure (your heart, where your wellspring of life is). Keep your heart with all vigilance and watchfulness. Guard your heart more than any treasure, because this treasure is the one that will attract thieves. Wanna know what the thieves are? I’ll tell you….
“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. ” John 10:10b
Abundantly, full, overflowing, bountious, beyond measure. He gave us life, to live it abundantly. He is the definition of generousity. He came and gave before we ever realized what to ask for, and not only that, He is continually giving to us so that our joy can be made full! “If you keep My commandments, you will abide in My love; just as I have kept My Father’s commandments and abide in His love. “These things I have spoken to you so that My joy may be in you, and that your joy may be made full.” John 15:10-11
His JOY is IN me and I am full!
What are our greater works? This passage makes my eyes widen… “I tell you the truth, anyone who has faith in me will do what I have been doing. He will do even greater things than these, because I am going to the Father. And I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Son may bring glory to the Father. You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it.” John 14:12-14 Is this right? Can we through intercession by the leading by the Holy Spirit do greater works that Jesus? Afterall, it is His job now at the right hand of God to give intercession for us (Heb.7:25).
What does it all mean and how is it even possible? I must be reading it wrong. What are they saying here?
Taking some time to sit with God and refocus thoughts and my heart. I’ll be back soon.
I’m just spending some time in my Bible tonight…being saturated with the way it lives and breathes into me. A while ago I came upon “Tasting the Powers of the Coming Age” (a totally must read) from a site I visit called Your Kingdom Come. I have had this in my binder (the place where I keep all the good stuff I want to read, re-read, and then re-read again) and so rignt now I am following up on a few things, like Ephesians 1:3-14 and the heavenly realms… In Christ:
Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ. For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will– to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us with all wisdom and understanding. And he made known to us the mystery of his will according to his good pleasure, which he purposed in Christ, to be put into effect when the times will have reached their fulfillment–to bring all things in heaven and on earth together under one head, even Christ.
In him we were also chosen, having been predestined according to the plan of him who works out everything in conformity with the purpose of his will, in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory. And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession–to the praise of his glory.
This is so awesome… all spiritual blessings are given to us… He blessed us (past tense)! We are seated next to Christ, right now, in the heavenly realms, and the heavenly realms are eternal, not temporal! We ARE a disciple, gifted with every blessing in Jesus Christ and we ARE in the heavenly realms. He chose us (past tense!) to be holy and blameless in His sight… for His pleasure!!!! We are His elect and chosen, it’s a done deal, it’s a sure thing… we are holy and blameless in His sight… we are a new creature in Him (2 Cor. 5:17), dead (unresponsive) to sin and alive in Christ (Rom. 6:11-14). He had made known (past tense) the mystery of His will… we know it, He doesn’t want to keep it a secret, through the blood of Christ, His will can now be fully understood. In Him, we are chosen and predestined (past tense!) according to His perfect plan which He is working out according to His will. In my Life Application notes it says that “Predestined means marked out beforehand. This is another way of saying that salvation is God’s work and not our own doing.” So, just as John 14:6 says, I am the way and the truth and the life. Now one comes to the Father except through me. God adopted us as His own children, and chose us in Him… and according to His own will and heart.
Do we even begin to “…know the hope to which He has called you, the riches of His glorious inheritance…” (Eph. 1:18)? Eph. 1:19a-23… goes on to say God’s strength “…exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right and in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in everyway.” Fullness is Christ…. filling his body, the church, with every spiritual blessing and gift.
It’s hard for me to truly grasp the depth of this… and I question if I am truly living with the fullness that He has already filled me with.
I was skipping through my Bible this morning while enjoying my morning coffee. As I wandered through the thin pages, I ended up in Proverbs. The descriptions are so deep in wisdom and fullness. I’m thinking God wants me to sit a while in Proverbs and soak it up. One thing I read that I don’t recollect that I’ve passed by before was Prov. 27:15-16 “A quarrelsome wife is like a constant dripping on a rainy day; restraining her is like restraining the wind or grasping oil with the hand.” That is such a great description that also hits my funny bone, I certainly don’t want to be a constant drip on what is already a wet day. What’s the point of dripping when the ground is already saturated with moisture from rain? Useless really, and what a pain that she can’t be contained… so not only does she run a way with herself headlong into nagging or a quarrel, but she can’t be reigned in or gotten a hold of, she’ll just slip through your hands like oil and continue to nag. *ack*
Note to Self: Monica… Don’t nag, or you’ll be a drip. Reflect the Fruit of the Spirit and speak in love.
Jollyblogger blogged on How to Study the Bible – Read it carefully! I love what he relayed here: “Truly, the old adage applies – the bible is shallow enough that a child can swim in it and deep enough that an adult can never touch bottom. So, there is always more to be received by those who will take the extra time and effort to swim out into the deeper waters.”
I’ve been thinking about how I’m spending my time in the Word and wondering if there is more I should be doing to wean off milk of seeing things at the surface, and to start eating solids, by grasping at it in deeper ways, with deeper reflections. Something Doug wrote a short time ago also struck me as a way to nurture my walk through the Word… and so far I’m still working on it, but I do feel that time I spend reading my Bible is deeply watering my soul. I know I can’t touch the bottom, but it feels good to swim and let go of the dock.
A friend wants me to camp on this for a while…John 17:13-26
“I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one. They are not of the world, even as I am not of it. Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. As you sent me into the world, I have sent them into the world. For them I sanctify myself, that they too may be truly sanctified.
Jesus Prays for All Believers:
“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. I have given them the glory that you gave me, that they may be one as we are one: I in them and you in me. May they be brought to complete unity to let the world know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me. Father, I want those you have given me to be with me where I am, and to see my glory, the glory you have given me because you loved me before the creation of the world. Righteous Father, though the world does not know you, I know you, and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.”
When Jesus prays, he does not ask amiss, and the Father is faithful to answer. He prayed ahead of time for all the believers who would come to Him through the Word. So, the believers who have accepted Jesus, have the love that the Father had for Him, within us! He wants us to know that and live inside that everyday, and share it to others to draw them unto Him.
The Bible Answer Man has two radio broadcasts archived, which cover the topic of “How to Witness the Truth in Love to Mormons,” just for future reference. The dates were 6/9/04 & 6/10/04, about halfway down the page.
Sunday’s message at church was “Scorpions and Prophets Don’t Mix,” and it was really thought provoking for me. It was given on Ezekial 2, and I have been thinking of it since Sunday, and because it has stuck with me, it deserves blogging.
From Ezekial 2, we learn three lessons and are given two warnings.
The lessons are:
1. The initiative is the Lords - in those days no one wanted to obey, as they were rebellious, but God continued to send His prophets, which demonstrated a clear sign of His mercy.
2. The mission is the Lords - God is the one who sends (v. 2). He sent the Spirit for the prophet and then sent the prophet to the Isrealites. God calls those He wants to serve Him.
3. Message is the Lords (v. 4) - Listen to My message, and translate it.
The two warnings given:
1. There is pressure to change the message:
The message God gives does not depend on the audience, rebellious or not (v. 6-7). Don’t change the message according to the audience and try to make it “more user friendly” depending on who we are relaying it to, or according to our own personal image of God. We need to keep the message as He designed it, we are made in His image, not Him made in our image. He has to be the same as He says He is, and we have to transform, not us transform Him depending on our needs, or the needs of others.
2. There is pressure to change the messenger:
His message doesn’t depend on the results (v. 7), whether they listen or not. We are not responsible for the results. We are called to faith, not popularity, and our success is in spreading the message, not in the results of spreading it. There is a danger of changing the messenger (v. 8), don’t rebel like them. If ministering is hard and difficult, we may become tempted to change and assimilate to the group. Ezek 33:20-33, Ezekial became a laughing stock for Isreal, the people came to him but didn’t listen and do what he said. The pressure was there to change the messenger (Ezekial) to blend in with the people.
Do we hold a Biblical world view? How many people consult the Bible when they have questions in life? The statistic quoted was that only 9% of Born Again Christians have a “Biblical” world view, meaning that they consult the Bible when problems arise, to look to God’s Word for the answers and guidance. The other statistic was that only 49% of Pastors did the same. So, the question arises, where are the other 91% of Christians, or the other 41% of Pastors getting the answers to the questions or the guidance for the problems that arise? Culture? Oprah & Dr. Phil? Have we submitted to the pressure of the culture so much so, that many fail to search and stick to the Biblical answers that God has provided.
The audience is changing the message and the messanger, which leads to spiritual battles. We need to be careful not to let our culture shape us, and instead let the Bible. God defines the message. Come to the Bible for the answers to your life questions.
In the stretches of time I’ve had today, and what I anticipate I will have tonight after I get my kids to bed, I am planning on spending a lot of time in my Bible and in prayer. I feel God’s call to spend more time with Him to seek His wisdom. : )
Last night, as I was reading my Bible before bed, I was thinking of sin and repentance. It sounds strange to admit, but I don’t like to think about sin or wickedness, because I can’t possibly fathom God’s wrath as a result of it, nor can I feel worthy of knowing Christ was nailed to the cross for me. It sickens me and makes me deeply sorry.
I freely and embarassingly admit that I am a sinner, and what haunts me about my own sin, is that I do it both intentionally and unintentionally. In reflection and in my alone time with God, there is nothing that I dread more than admitting to my willful sin. My unintentional sin on the other hand, somehow doesn’t seem so severe (even though I’m pretty sure God doesn’t rate it any less than intentional sin), so I gladly ask forgiveness because I mistakenly don’t feel “as guilty,” as I do compaired to intentional sin.
As I was reading my Bible the echo of what sin does just convicts me more that I still am so far away from living like Christ. In one index of my Bible (which I read many of the corrosponding verses last night) it reads:sin changes people, sin appears attractive, the effects of sin spreads, sin breaks fellowship with God, we try to excuse sin by blaming others, a small amount of sin can be deadly, “small” sins can spin out of control, we turn sinful acts into habits, sin may not seem costly at first, we ignore our own sin while we condemn others, sin won’t go unnoticed, compromise dulls our sensitivity to it, unintentional sins are still sins, and there is an extra danger in intentional sins, sin always hurts someone else, one sin leads to another, covering up sin leads to more sin, there is a danger of ignoring it, there is a danger of tolerating it, sin is a darkness in our lives, sin is not always punished immediately, you can’t have benefits of Chrisitanity while clinging to sin, forgiveness may not stop sin’s consequences, there is a difference between committing a sin and remaining in sin, we shouldn’t accomodate it under the guise of being open minded, and sin is ultimately against God. That isn’t even all of them…
Understanding the true depth of what sin does to my relationship with God exposes a lot in me. Is it something that you consider often? What do you think about it, and what do you do to conquer it?
The thought of my sin provoking God’s anger is really something I unfortunately know little about, as far as actual memorized Scriptures and such. I was reading a blog post a while ago from Reid and he was talking about God’s anger, and that is something I have a hard time thinking about and conceptualizing. I have a hard time remembering God’s anger, because I just think too much of His love because of Christ, so I immaturely just skip right over it. I have a lot of studying to do… I think after I exhaust looking at sin and repentance, I need to really look at God’s anger, and really what the true definetion of what it means to “fear Him.” After all that, I think I’ll go on to really study and understand true obedience. Obedience of my heart, will, mind, body, finances and future. What thoughts do you have on God’s anger and what it means to “fear Him?”
I’m so thankful for Christ, I don’t have the words to even describe all the ways I am thankful…. and still, I sense that I don’t even know the half of it. God is so awesome and He is growing me so much and through so many experiences, and I just hunger and thrist for more of His perfect wisdom.
I am going to do this, claim specific Scriptures for people, and personalize them with the names of those I love. The first is for my husband who isn’t a believer.
1 Peter 3:1-6
Wives and Husbands
Wives, in the same way be submissive to your husbands so that, if any of them do not believe the word, they may be won over without words by the behavior of their wives, when they see the purity and reverence of your lives. Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight. For this is the way the holy women of the past who put their hope in God used to make themselves beautiful. They were submissive to their own husbands, like Sarah, who obeyed Abraham and called him her master. You are her daughters if you do what is right and do not give way to fear
I am reminded the need to live in loving service, and my husband will see Christ shining through me, and be won over by the reflection of Him. I have thought before that I want my husband to still be able to recognize me, while at the exact same moment, be able to see me as completely transformed. My spiritual appetite is ravenous, but at times I feel I limit my reading of the Bible because I don’t want my husband to think I’ve “lost it.” I know that sounds hard to understand, but I guess I feel I need to go slow because I don’t want to turn him off, so to speak, from God. I want to leave my Bible open on the tables, I want to have Scriptures post-it-noted to my bathroom mirror, I want to have praise music playing at all times, I want to shout out prayers of joy whenever I feel like it, I want to talk with him about new discoveries or understandings I’m having when I read the Bible, and I want to ask questions of him as to what he feels. But he’s not at that point, and I think in many ways what I believe is foolishness to him.
I trust fully in God’s process in Mike… and I believe that God will complete what he started in him Phil. 1:6 …
<a title=”Spare Change: Sung to the Tune of And I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For” href=”http://www.twosents.net/blog/archives/001645.php”>Spare Change: Sung to the Tune of And I Still Haven’t Found What I’m Looking For this was wonderful to come across…
