Blogging Through the #Gospels : Luke 21

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading: Luke 21

Scripture:   Luke 21: 16 - 19


16 You will be betrayed even by parents, brothers and sisters, relatives and friends, and they will put some of you to death. 17 Everyone will hate you because of me. 18 But not a hair of your head will perish. 19 Stand firm, and you will win life.


Observations:


It's about to get gnarly, folks.
I think that we can all see the writing on the walls.

(Just an aside.... have you ever noticed that the people preaching "tolerance" are only tolerant of things that they think are worthy of tolerance?)


The message of Truth sears and burns, and scalds and cuts. People, not understanding conviction, are quick to attack.  And often, the people closest to us, who don't understand a fear for their eternity is trumping "tolerance," reject, and curse and ridicule the messenger.

But-  even if we are imprisoned.  Not one hair on our head will be harmed.
If we stand firm to the TRUTH, we will gain LIFE.

Application:


In our little corner of the world, we have always been drastically in the minority.
But since moving back here, and feeling God's provision, and protection, there is a sense of excitement that the balance might shift a little bit because of the work that God is going to do here.

However -- for every one person that comes into the fold and finds the Truth, there will be dozens that reject and malign and hate the message, and the messenger.

I hate when people are angry with me.  I try to avoid confrontation.
So this warning -- this black and white prediction of absolute certainty that I am going to be hated for the Truth-- is probably the thing that I am most fearful of.

But.... my God has been faithful to provide for every need, every step along the way.

I have felt His peace in my heart, while everything was uncertain.
We have experienced His ability to provide in ways that we certainly didn't expect.

He has proved Himself faithful.
So....  now it is my turn to believe.


Prayer:


Lord, help me to get out of your way.

I have this idea of how everything is going to work....  and it is pretty prideful, to be honest.
I imagine that my standing in the community, as the band director that brought a struggling program back to life, is going to help our ministry.  (see? I told you it was prideful!)

When the reality is....
The ministry might lead to the loss of my precious career.

However --
Since you have proven yourself faithful, and we have been hearing over, and over again that You Will DO This....
It is not my job to understand how, or when.

It is my job to do what is before me.
And for the time being,  I am a band director that loves Jesus.

Help me to focus on the now, and trust you for the tomorrow.
Thank you for not giving up on me.

Amen.

Do what I can NOW: Blogging through the #Gospels- Luke 16

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading: Luke 16

Scripture: Luke 16: 27 - 31

27 “He answered, ‘Then I beg you, father, send Lazarus to my family, 28 for I have five brothers. Let him warn them, so that they will not also come to this place of torment.’

29 “Abraham replied, ‘They have Moses and the Prophets; let them listen to them.’

30 “‘No, father Abraham,’ he said, ‘but if someone from the dead goes to them, they will repent.’

31 “He said to him, ‘If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.’”


Observations:


My heart aches as I read this passage.  Nearly all of my family on both sides are unbelievers.    Abraham's response to the heartfelt plea for someone to warn them is a wake up call.

"If they do not listen to Moses and the Prophets, they will not be convinced even if someone rises from the dead."

And that was proven SO true a short time later when Jesus went to the cross for our sins, and rose again from the dead.  Did they believe?  We don't know.  But we know that the majority did not believe.

Applications:


Do all that I can NOW to show that my life is for an eternal purpose.
Lovingly speak the truth.... and when I can't speak the truth, live the truth.  Let my life, my actions, my words, my relationships and interactions, all be a window into this heart that is sold out for Jesus.

Prayer:


Lord...
The time has come.  Boldness is needed.  Give me the words, the courage and the opportunities to proclaim your truth to my family, and extended family.

Amen.

Castways: Blogging through the #Gospels, Luke 14

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy, from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading: Luke 14

Scripture: Luke 14:34 - 35

34 “Salt is good, but if it loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? 35 It is fit neither for the soil nor for the manure pile; it is thrown out.

Observations:

On Sunday we had the privilege of hearing the associate pastor of our new church teach for the first time.

His message was on the topic of Losing Your Salvation.  He had been brought up in one denomination, but then received training and education in another denomination, and the two have differing and conflicting views on this subject.

He led us through the Scriptures that the Lord gave to him during his personal study of the topic, for his own mind, his own heart... so that he could once and for all come to an understanding of this issue.

What Pastor Jeff asserted is this:

We will not lose our salvation.

But we may become God's castaways.  No longer fit for service.  No use to the kingdom.

The Isrealites in the desert --- all above a certain age died in the desert, as God's castaways, not able to received the reward of Canaan - the land flowing with mild and honey.  They were still God's children. They still had the inheritance.  But they missed out on the reward.

So it will be with us.

We will not lose our salvation. We have been adopted into God's family, and we will not be disowned.  But there will be no reward for a life that has no use to God for the Kingdom.

That is the picture that verse 14 and 15 are telling me.

We are to be the salt of the world.

But if we lose our saltiness, we are of no use. 

Application:

Lord,

Help me to embrace the qualities of salt that we are to be to this world.

Give me boldness when needed.

Give me strength when required.

Sustain me with your steadfast love.

Amen.

Not just listen: Hear and Understand. Blogging through the #Gospels, Luke 9B

Blogging through the Gospels  with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.




Reading:  Luke 9 :28 - 62

Scripture:  Luke 9: 35

35 A voice came from the cloud, saying, “This is my Son, whom I have chosen; listen to him.”

Observations:


What an endorsement.
From heaven a cloud descends, and a voice booms.
"This is my SON."


How blessed are we to have the accounts of these four Gospels.  We have the benefit of knowing the end of the story before we even get to the middle of the story.  The disciples, and the other people who decided to follow Jesus had only his words and actions, and often times they didn't understand what he meant.

We can look at the whole picture and see clearly the plan that God orchestrated from Genesis 1:1 through the crucifixion and ascension.  We have it so easy.

The followers in the time of Jesus believed that He was Messiah.
But they all had different ideas of how He would save them.

They listened to Him.
But their own expectations of how Messiah would save their people prevented them from hearing Him.

Application:


I need to not just listen.
I need to hear, and understand.


Lord, may I not be satisfied with just reading the words.
May I always seek the true meaning of the Gospels, the epistles, the whole counsel of Your word that you have left for us.

Help me to hear, and understand.




Prayer:


Lord,
I have it so much easier.
I don't have to guess what the parables were supposed to mean.
I don't have to guess what you were talking about when you were painting a picture of your crucifixion.

I want to take advantage of the knowledge of whole story that we have been given.

Help me choose to listen.
Help me choose to hear you.

Above all....
help me to continually choose You.


Amen.

let me choose You: Blogging through the #Gospels, Luke 9A

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.  It is changing my life. And I am so overwhelmed that I am not even using any exclamation points.  :)

Reading:  Luke 9: 1-27


Scripture:  Luke 9: 23

23 Then he said to them all: “Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me.

Observations:


Deny myself.
Take up my cross daily and follow.

The true Christian life is both wonderful and difficult.

Wonderful?
The Savior of the World loved me enough to die for me, to call me His own.
I am not my own, I am a dearly loved and provided for child of the most High God.

Difficult?
Getting out of my own way.
Dying to myself....
Denying myself.
Realizing that pride in myself and my accomplishments while "normal,"shouldn't be my default.
Realizing that when I am feeding my ego, my pride, or my emotions that I am choosing those things over my God and Savior.

Wonderful?
Seeing the way God has provided for our relocating back to the town I teach in.  All of the pieces fell together.  (Oh ... and we have hot water now!! Yay!!)  The timing was hurried in our eyes, but perfect now that we are getting settled.
Feeling that deep heart peace that we are right where we are supposed to be.

The things about our new home that were things that we had always wanted but never put on a list, because we didn't want to be tied to a list that might make us miss the right place for us.
Example?
Bay window in the kitchen.  Beautiful deck.  Beautiful back yard. Proximity to school/town.  Nice water pressure!!!  Beautiful warm yellow color (that we didn't even know we liked) on the walls. A chance to make this place a true home!!

The Difficult?
Fighting with my self to be kind and gracious in all situations.
Remembering that while I am living this life, this life is not about me.

The Wonderful?
Knowing that I have a purpose, even if I don't understand it.

So....
It is hard, but the daily effort- the daily choice to put myself last and put Christ first, is so very worth it.


Application:

Every single day.
Every decision.

I have thousands of opportunities every day to put Christ first.
I don't really want to take an in depth look and see how many times I fail.

Help me, Lord.


Prayer:


Lord,
I have this insane joy.
This unspeakable peace.
This certainty that you are who you say you are, and that you are worthy of my praise, my trust, my faith, and my own life.  After all, you gave yours so that I might live.

Help me see the opportunities in each decision.
Help me to choose you.
Let my words, my actions, and my facial expressions bring you honor and glory.
Even when I can't speak your name.

I am overwhelmed...
Amen.

Blogging through the #Gospels: Luke 8: 26 - 56

Blogging through the Gospels with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading: Luke 8 : 26 - 56

Scripture:  Luke 8: 47 - 48

47 Then the woman, seeing that she could not go unnoticed, came trembling and fell at his feet. In the presence of all the people, she told why she had touched him and how she had been instantly healed. 48 Then he said to her, “Daughter, your faith has healed you. Go in peace.”

Observations:


Think about this woman.

She had been dealing with an unclean disease for years.  She had probably been treated very badly because of it.

But she braved the crowds-- and got right up there in the middle of it, taking the chance of being shunned and shamed in public.

She believed that Jesus could heal her.  She believed that she didn't even need to speak to him, to look him in the eye.  A touch of his garment.


Application:


While I do not have the physical presence of the the Messiah, I have the Holy Spirit within me.

The same power to heal sickness, vanquish demons, and forgive sins resides within me.

What is my problem??
I need to be living like I believe that the All-Powerful God not only exists, but is with me.

We have been in our new home since Saturday.  We still do not have hot water.  We do not have things that were promised us. And are not able to connect our washer and dryer because of a dryer hose issue.  Our sink is overflowing with dishes that we are too exhausted to clean when it means boiling water on the stove to get it hot enough.  On Sunday night I did boil water so that I could wash my hair before my Memorial Day Parade commitments with my school bands.


My first reactions have not been patience, or love.
I have not been living as if all things are under the control of my Father.
I have not been living as if there might be an opportunity or a purpose for these inconveniences.

Prayer:


My Savior, my God who sees me, my God who heals me:

Please forgive me for being wrapped up in all of the nonsense.
Deep in the midst of all of the minor issues, we have a deep sense of home-ness. We feel at peace, knowing that we are right where you want us to be.

Please help me to remember that my life is not about me.
My life is to always be pointing others to you.


I am not good at this.
I am desperately wicked, and I need you.

Thank you for your mercy, thank you for the gentle reminders....
and for not squashing me like a bug when I get too full of myself.

I love you, Lord.

Amen.

Help me listen.... Blogging through the #Gospels: Luke 8A

Blogging through the Gospels, Luke 8 : 1 - 25 with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.

Reading:  Luke 8: 1 - 25

Scripture:   Luke 8:8

8 Still other seed fell on good soil. It came up and yielded a crop, a hundred times more than was sown.”

When he said this, he called out, “Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear.”


Observations: 
I love this parable.  It is comforting, as one who has worked with youth ministry, and as a family embarking on a ministry, to be reminded that how people receive the message is in large part due to their "soil."

We are not responsible for the condition of anyone else's soil.
But I am responsible for mine.

Application:


When I read through this first part of the chapter, it was as if a highlighter with trumpet sounds enabled were attached to the phrase "Whoever has ears to hear, let them hear."

And I knew what it meant.
It was a gentle rebuke for letting my morning quiet time slip away during the crazy hectic moving days.
It was a reminder that He is my portion, and that He has things to show me, to teach me.... but if I am not meeting Him, then I am just continuing to struggle and be overwhelmed.

I am called to an abundant life.
Lord... let me have ears to hear you, and the discipline to seek you.

Prayer:


Lord,

I still need you to get me through.
Help me to establish a new routine in a new home.

Help me to lean on you, cling to you, and really trust you more.

Amen.

Blogging Through the #Gospels : Luke 1A

So exciting to start a new Gospel with Amy from Mom's Toolbox.  Come and read/blog along with us!

Reading:  Luke 1 : 1 - 38

Sripture:  Luke 1: 38


Observations:


I adore the first chapter of Luke!!  Ever since I saw the movie The Nativity Story the,  I can really see Elizabeth and Zecharaiah.  I can picture Elizabeth, dealing with the shame of barrenness in a culture that reveres having children above nearly all else.  I can see Zechariah trying to communicate that he had just see an angel.

In fact, during my first read-through, I chose these verses.



6 Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly. 7 But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.

They were righteous in the sight of God.  The reason Elizabeth was childless was because of the blessing that He was holding for them!

But then I read further, and my heart again trembled with the bravery and faith of a young girl.  She didn't question God's ability--- only the logistics, and I love that the angel simply answered her, without rebuke.  There are no further details, but you can infer that when Zechariah was asking his question, it was incredulous, bordering on doubt.  When Mary asked, there was no doubt.  Just a wondering of how it was to take place.

38 “I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.

There are so many simply amazing things in this account.

1)  A young girl, finding favor  with God.
2) Hand picked by God to bring the Savior of the WORLD into the Earth.
3) Accepting what was foretold with faith.
4) Being afraid, yet knowing that what God was doing was more important than the culture's standards and ideals, and eventual accusations.

She takes my breath away.

Application:


She was young enough to still have her child-like faith.
An older, wiser woman might have thought too much of the cultural implications and balked in fear.
But a young girl, just approaching the season of womanhood, perhaps was open enough to accept the truth when the angel presented it to her.

Her faith....
It astounds me.

Prayer:


Lord,
Help me to have the unfettered, undistracted faith of Mary.  Help me not to be weighed down by what I know to be true of this world.  Help me to be free because of what I know to be true of YOU.

Amen.

Morning Reflections 1/17/11

I am currently laboring through "Seeking Him," a collaborative work by Nancy Leigh Demoss and Tim Grissom. I say laboring because there are some Bible studies that I devour. (Esther, by Beth Moore... a 10 week study that I did in three, with the bulk of it completed in the one week of school vacation.) This has been a bit more difficult because of.... my pride. I hate the fact that I had let myself get so independent, and not relying on God for nearly anything.

I am so happy to say that since the new year, and the weeks prior, that has changed in my life, and I am again giving gratitude and praise and honor to my Heavenly Father. What is also so incredibly exciting is that by modeling those attitudes, my 4 year old son is praying and seeing those prayers answered. He is seeking the Lord for himself! Wow.

In the past of the lesson that I completed today, the following scriptures were listed.

Luke 12:2

Nothing is covered up that will not be revealed, or hidden that will not be known.

Hebrews 4:13

And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account.

Then this question was asked:

In light of everything you have ever done, said, or thought, how do these verses make you feel?

Ugh.

My first reaction is shame, and embarrassment. So not only has he forgiven me for the horrible things that I have thought and said and done before I knew Him, he continually forgives me for the things I still do when I am not letting the Spirit guide my life, my actions and my thoughts.

Yikes.

So even though I haven't grumbled out loud about my husband this week (oh... um, except for that one day) I am still accountable for the thoughts, and for the state of my heart.

But then I think about the fact that not only is nothing that has already been done hidden from Him, nothing that WILL happen is unknown to Him.

He knew full well the day that He called me to Himself that I was going to be a hot mess from time to time. He created the artistic (and sensitive) temperament in me, and knew that I was going to fall flat on my face. Repeatedly.

How amazing is the love that continues to guide me, to hold me, to mold me and teach me. I am so overwhelmed that the God of the Universe would send his ONLY SON (and having two adorable boys of my own, this is HUGELY relevant for me) to come to Earth, and eventually bear MY SHAME and SINS on Himself, and die for me. And a violent, R rated death, not a gentle passing in ones sleep. We had communion yesterday at church, and I was in tears because I was so overwhelmed at the blessings of my life.

It is too incredible. I cannot intellectualize the fact that He is so intimately involved with all of humanity. But I know that it is true.

Help me, Lord, to continue to earnestly seek you. Create a hunger for your word. Create a hunger for your presence. Please, help me to die to myself, so that your love can be the only thing that is given to this world.