In my sunday school/small group/whatever you wanna call it today my pastor gave us the homework of putting together a list of our values and how we measure up to them. Hit me like a ton of bricks that i should have had this done already. Do i really need to think what my values are? Do i really not know them completely? Yikes.
Holiness. Being "set apart" from the world. Choosing what is of God over what is of me.
Purity. Having no blemish. Being washed pure as SNOW by the BLOOD of Jesus.
Righteousness. right-standing with God. feeling no shame in His presence
Honor. Sticking to your values. (i guess that includes knowing them...)
Unity. Peaceful living. Agreeing in the same Spirit with those who follow Jesus.
Honesty. Truth. Not hiding the real or trying to confuse people but to open their eyes to understand.
Love. Putting others above myself. Not using them for my gain.
Wisdom. Knowing what God desires and putting it into action at the right time.
Endurance. Perseverance. Not giving up....
Patience. Knowing that it may take a while and enduring that...(they that wait upon the LORD...)
Perspective-in keeping my focus on the cross, i see that loneliness is not a four-letter word. Just because my best friends are out doing other things without me doesnt mean i can mope around missing them. I should be praying for them. i should be working on my relationship with Christ and keeping my values. Solitude is not a bad thing. Loneliness is a choice, and i will choose solitude over loneliness.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
The coolest bad day ever!
It starts out with me being tried in the old way. Temptation coming in the same fruit on the same tree. It's a comfort food, really, this fruit. i may say no a little while, but i eventually give in because i know what it is like. I enjoy it. it feels good on my lips and warms my belly. However, i know that God said not to eat of it, so as i read His Word i decide in my heart mind and soul to obey.
In the morning, i chose to sleep in just another 10 minutes, which really for me consists of laying in bed thinking, "ok so i have to do this, that then this. i need to pee. what day is it? i wish i could sleep for another ten minutes. oh nuts here goes the alarm" Mom and Dad made me oatmeal and coffee. That was nice of them. In order to have time to eat and drink it, i forgot my 5 min devo for the day.
As i drive to work, i spill my coffee twice. I look to the sky. Not anything as spectacular as i had been seeing lately but still a nice sunrise. reminded me of God and i thought how upset i was to have not gotten into His word yet.
At work i arrive just on time. Pulseox works perfectly and gives a great reading. Great start. this NEVER happens! Thanking God.
On the bus i am overwhelmed with a hunger for God and praising Him as the sunrise is looking more glorious than earlier. singing "Blessed"( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-cQxxRdkO0 ) though the only part that i could remember was "who's hearts are stayed on Our God" so i just HAD to find the Bible verse about it. Isaiah 26:3 proved very essential to me today. I sent it to various friends and they responded it encouraged them. Hm. blessings are not just for ourselves but to encourage our brothers and sisters. Check. :)
At school, lots of yelling. Big argument. Though i was not involved, i was in the room and you know how i get. Talked to my kid to try to keep him to focus on me instead of the yelling (didnt realize until the ride home the irony. "keep looking at me, listen to me, dont focus on the bad stuff goin on around you....Isaiah 26:3....). after it quieted down, temptation in the way of that same fruit reappeared. My nerves are still crazy at this point and i cant think about anything but what is going on in the classroom. i pray. i read some scripture. i watch like a hawk. Encouragement from a sister in Christ. some relief in the anxiety. another sister is put on my heart, to ask for her help in my struggle with the fruit as she had suggested i do. this is the second time God put her on my heart for this. i figured He did great with the song, i better trust Him with this too.After i text her i feel better. I have the strength to again say no to the beautiful fruit.
On my way home, the sister i texted responded. 1 cor 10:13. When i got home to look at the devo, guess what the verse was. Yep. 1 cor 10:13. And the armor of God. (one of my memory verses). standing firm now with my armor on. ready to endure.
At home, the fruit is again calling me to it. This darn fruit. i know it is yummy! i saved room in my belly for it. i prepared to get messy when i eat it. But i must say no. i will not eat from that tree! simply because i have died to myself. it is now Christ who lives in me.
Spent time with family and decided to exercise. Verse to motivate is 1 cor 9:27 "No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Alas, i must beat my body by not allowing it to eat this forbidden fruit. i am stayed on Christ and already committed in my mind,but the body is weak (Matt 26:41, Mark 14:38).
So although the day was horrible with the stress of an argument and the war of the flesh vs spirit, it was totally cool. God reminded me again that when i see the beautiful sunrise how much more glorious it is in Kenya. He gave me words to look up what He had to say to me. He used those words to speak to others. He encouraged me at work. He gave me a trial to grow my faith. He gave me a way out of temptation. My God never fails, and as long as "i keep my heart chasing after {Him}" (Building 429) I can endure and find peace!
In the morning, i chose to sleep in just another 10 minutes, which really for me consists of laying in bed thinking, "ok so i have to do this, that then this. i need to pee. what day is it? i wish i could sleep for another ten minutes. oh nuts here goes the alarm" Mom and Dad made me oatmeal and coffee. That was nice of them. In order to have time to eat and drink it, i forgot my 5 min devo for the day.
As i drive to work, i spill my coffee twice. I look to the sky. Not anything as spectacular as i had been seeing lately but still a nice sunrise. reminded me of God and i thought how upset i was to have not gotten into His word yet.
At work i arrive just on time. Pulseox works perfectly and gives a great reading. Great start. this NEVER happens! Thanking God.
On the bus i am overwhelmed with a hunger for God and praising Him as the sunrise is looking more glorious than earlier. singing "Blessed"( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y-cQxxRdkO0 ) though the only part that i could remember was "who's hearts are stayed on Our God" so i just HAD to find the Bible verse about it. Isaiah 26:3 proved very essential to me today. I sent it to various friends and they responded it encouraged them. Hm. blessings are not just for ourselves but to encourage our brothers and sisters. Check. :)
At school, lots of yelling. Big argument. Though i was not involved, i was in the room and you know how i get. Talked to my kid to try to keep him to focus on me instead of the yelling (didnt realize until the ride home the irony. "keep looking at me, listen to me, dont focus on the bad stuff goin on around you....Isaiah 26:3....). after it quieted down, temptation in the way of that same fruit reappeared. My nerves are still crazy at this point and i cant think about anything but what is going on in the classroom. i pray. i read some scripture. i watch like a hawk. Encouragement from a sister in Christ. some relief in the anxiety. another sister is put on my heart, to ask for her help in my struggle with the fruit as she had suggested i do. this is the second time God put her on my heart for this. i figured He did great with the song, i better trust Him with this too.After i text her i feel better. I have the strength to again say no to the beautiful fruit.
On my way home, the sister i texted responded. 1 cor 10:13. When i got home to look at the devo, guess what the verse was. Yep. 1 cor 10:13. And the armor of God. (one of my memory verses). standing firm now with my armor on. ready to endure.
At home, the fruit is again calling me to it. This darn fruit. i know it is yummy! i saved room in my belly for it. i prepared to get messy when i eat it. But i must say no. i will not eat from that tree! simply because i have died to myself. it is now Christ who lives in me.
Spent time with family and decided to exercise. Verse to motivate is 1 cor 9:27 "No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize." Alas, i must beat my body by not allowing it to eat this forbidden fruit. i am stayed on Christ and already committed in my mind,but the body is weak (Matt 26:41, Mark 14:38).
So although the day was horrible with the stress of an argument and the war of the flesh vs spirit, it was totally cool. God reminded me again that when i see the beautiful sunrise how much more glorious it is in Kenya. He gave me words to look up what He had to say to me. He used those words to speak to others. He encouraged me at work. He gave me a trial to grow my faith. He gave me a way out of temptation. My God never fails, and as long as "i keep my heart chasing after {Him}" (Building 429) I can endure and find peace!
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Random thoughts since last post
So for those of you who have been wondering what i'm thinking lately, here are some of the thoughts that i wrote down at various times. I'll see if i can bring them together somehow.
"The Twilight Saga is almost over, but the True Saga is Eternal, have you read it?" or SAGA-Story About God Almighty. Thought of these two phrases for shirts or a picture, just to get the word out? and make the design like the Twilight books (haha) or something to get their attention. Any artsy people out there wanna make this happen? ;)
Jesus HIMSELF is the greatest blessing. This thought came as i was thinking (as i have a LOT lately) about how when we seek God, we find Him. and He wants us to seek Him and walking with Him brings such joy....but i was just thinking that all those verses where it is talking about good gifts that God gives us and wanting to give us the desires of our hearts, that's HIM! If we are desiring something MORE than God then we are not loving HIM with ALL of our hearts souls minds strength. Also, when in Luke 11 Jesus gives the example of a father giving good gifts, He refers to God giving us His Holy Spirit. That is the most precious gift.
The other part of this thought was, Once we realize this, AND we ONLY look and aim for more of HIM will we be able to receive and ENJOY, truly appreciate, the other blessings God wants to give us! And we wants to give us a lot of blessing here too! The blessings He pours out on us are not only for our enjoyment, but also for the enjoyment of others and a way of bringing God the glory! Always thank Him for His blessings/gifts He gives. His mercies are new every morning. That is a beautiful blessing because how often do we need those mercies? Every morning. God is so good, He knows what we need and wants to bless us!
another thought was taken from Radical by David Platt. Following Christ means saying "yes" before you know what you are saying yes to. When we are truely following and seeking and walking with God, HE comes first. Nothing else matters but what HE wants. So no MATTER what He wants, we will say YES.
Build an arc because you are gonna bring this thing called a flood on the earth and i dont even know what rain is? YES-Noah
Sacrifice my only child when i am well past the age of having children and you promised me to have many children? Yes-Abraham.
Walk up to that river and walk through even though it is overflowing?-YES-Moses
Walk around this fortified city with all these weapons pointed at us? YES-Joshua
Marry the prostitute? YES-Hosea
BUY back my wife the prostitute?-YES-Hosea
Marry this woman who is claiming to be with child through the Holy Spirit? YES-Joseph
Give up my PERFECT life and die a horrible death to save people that hate me? YES-Jesus
I've found that the bigger your faith in God, the bigger the miracles. God wants to continue to grow our faith in Him. To do that, He gives us opportunities to increase His faith, opportunities where God HAS to do it. Opportunities where we look like a FOOL if He DOESN'T do it. But we must have faith that He will. And He does. That's what saying yes to God is all about.
"The Twilight Saga is almost over, but the True Saga is Eternal, have you read it?" or SAGA-Story About God Almighty. Thought of these two phrases for shirts or a picture, just to get the word out? and make the design like the Twilight books (haha) or something to get their attention. Any artsy people out there wanna make this happen? ;)
Jesus HIMSELF is the greatest blessing. This thought came as i was thinking (as i have a LOT lately) about how when we seek God, we find Him. and He wants us to seek Him and walking with Him brings such joy....but i was just thinking that all those verses where it is talking about good gifts that God gives us and wanting to give us the desires of our hearts, that's HIM! If we are desiring something MORE than God then we are not loving HIM with ALL of our hearts souls minds strength. Also, when in Luke 11 Jesus gives the example of a father giving good gifts, He refers to God giving us His Holy Spirit. That is the most precious gift.
The other part of this thought was, Once we realize this, AND we ONLY look and aim for more of HIM will we be able to receive and ENJOY, truly appreciate, the other blessings God wants to give us! And we wants to give us a lot of blessing here too! The blessings He pours out on us are not only for our enjoyment, but also for the enjoyment of others and a way of bringing God the glory! Always thank Him for His blessings/gifts He gives. His mercies are new every morning. That is a beautiful blessing because how often do we need those mercies? Every morning. God is so good, He knows what we need and wants to bless us!
another thought was taken from Radical by David Platt. Following Christ means saying "yes" before you know what you are saying yes to. When we are truely following and seeking and walking with God, HE comes first. Nothing else matters but what HE wants. So no MATTER what He wants, we will say YES.
Build an arc because you are gonna bring this thing called a flood on the earth and i dont even know what rain is? YES-Noah
Sacrifice my only child when i am well past the age of having children and you promised me to have many children? Yes-Abraham.
Walk up to that river and walk through even though it is overflowing?-YES-Moses
Walk around this fortified city with all these weapons pointed at us? YES-Joshua
Marry the prostitute? YES-Hosea
BUY back my wife the prostitute?-YES-Hosea
Marry this woman who is claiming to be with child through the Holy Spirit? YES-Joseph
Give up my PERFECT life and die a horrible death to save people that hate me? YES-Jesus
I've found that the bigger your faith in God, the bigger the miracles. God wants to continue to grow our faith in Him. To do that, He gives us opportunities to increase His faith, opportunities where God HAS to do it. Opportunities where we look like a FOOL if He DOESN'T do it. But we must have faith that He will. And He does. That's what saying yes to God is all about.
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