Well, I am almost done with Beth Moore's James study. It is bittersweet because I really do enjoy doing them, but I do like the success of the achievement of the finish line.
A couple things that hit me recently from the study:
In chapter 5 James says that the prayers of a righteous man have great effectiveness. Is James saying that God listens better to so called "righteous people"? I don't think so. I know that God hears all of us, but maybe when righteous people pray their motives are coming from a pure place. We all know when we want/ask for something under a different premise covering up our actual motives. The ends justifies the means, right? Well, in my opinion, I don't think we should necessarily live that way.
Remember when you were little (or maybe not so little) and you did something bad? It ate away at you all day until you finally had to tell someone. Or maybe you squashed it down and it didn't bother you, but when you were confronted about it, all the guilt came bubbling up and overwhelmed you. I can think of a couple examples in my own life. One involving me telling my mom that I had already brushed my teeth before bed, when I hadn't. I couldn't go sleep and had to get up and brush my teeth and tell my mom. Yes, I know. I was such a wicked child :) Ahh, but the feeling of relief when it is done and over. Confess it, it's forgiven, and your soul is clean. Can we think of ways to apply that in our "grown-up" lives?
Do you sometimes feel that when you are sick it is a punishment from God? I know I contemplate that sometimes. But God loves us, he doesn't want to hurt us. It doesn't add up in my head. Even Job, from the Bible. God didn't curse him, God allowed Satan to afflict him. But why? Well, God did know that Job was going to come out on the other end better than before. I still can't wrap my head around that. So, maybe when we are sick or ill or whatever, God is allowing it to happen for a reason. Maybe we just physically need some time to rest or else something worse would happen. Maybe if you hadn't called off work that day you would have been in a car accident. Thoughts, anyone?
P.S. I would love some prayers from all of you as I figure out what the next step is I want to take in my job world. Thanks!
Saturday, March 24, 2012
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Are we friends?
Good afternoon, folks! I realized I picked up using the word folks at Disney. Anytime I am attempting to get through a crowd of people in a work related capacity I call them "folks." It worked better at Magic Kingdom than it did for a lobby full of high school choir kids :)
Maybe it's just me, but do you ever stop listening to what others are saying because you are planning what you are going to say in response. I do it pretty much all the time. There is nothing wrong with thinking before you speak, but why do you have to stop listening to do it? I am going to try completely listening first and then planning! On the same hand, I sometimes feel that people will greatly benefit from my "superior knowledge" and if it has to be harsh, so be it. Why? Shouldn't wisdom have some gentleness to it? If you are truly wise in a matter you probably have gone through the same thing and will have some empathy.
Here's a simple thought: Ask God for what you want. He is a generous Father. He wants to bless us, but if we can't ask him for something, guess what? He isn't in it.
Bible study also had some interesting points on friendship. She brought up that friends have knowledge of your "master plan", a closeness of presence, and insider knowledge. The study was talking about how God can be your friend and that the Holy Spirit gives us insider knowledge while studying the Bible, but it was fun for me to think of my relationships and see how those themes played out.
Maybe it's just me, but do you ever stop listening to what others are saying because you are planning what you are going to say in response. I do it pretty much all the time. There is nothing wrong with thinking before you speak, but why do you have to stop listening to do it? I am going to try completely listening first and then planning! On the same hand, I sometimes feel that people will greatly benefit from my "superior knowledge" and if it has to be harsh, so be it. Why? Shouldn't wisdom have some gentleness to it? If you are truly wise in a matter you probably have gone through the same thing and will have some empathy.
Here's a simple thought: Ask God for what you want. He is a generous Father. He wants to bless us, but if we can't ask him for something, guess what? He isn't in it.
Bible study also had some interesting points on friendship. She brought up that friends have knowledge of your "master plan", a closeness of presence, and insider knowledge. The study was talking about how God can be your friend and that the Holy Spirit gives us insider knowledge while studying the Bible, but it was fun for me to think of my relationships and see how those themes played out.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Tough questions
I have some interesting questions for you guys today. Of course, these questions are straight from my Beth Moore study.
What good is your faith? Think about that for a second. What good is your faith? Do those we encounter benefit from it? Does the world benefit from it? It's kind of like the old hymn And they know we are Christians by our love. Or you can think of it this way. If we lived in a time (or region currently) where being Christian was grounds for great persecution, would we stand up? Or would we crumble? I don't want to elaborate much today because I want you to elaborate for yourself.
This came from the book of James. At this point he is talking about the link between faith and works. He puts is bluntly when he says:
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
Kind of scary isn't it? I asked it to myself this way, what makes me different than a demon? Sounds silly, as well, but it hits the nail on the head.
If these questions are hitting you hard (like they did to me), don't despair. God loves you and can create any change He wants to in you. Ask Him for a fruitful faith! God won't stop at one second chance... I believe that He will keep giving them to you.
What good is your faith? Think about that for a second. What good is your faith? Do those we encounter benefit from it? Does the world benefit from it? It's kind of like the old hymn And they know we are Christians by our love. Or you can think of it this way. If we lived in a time (or region currently) where being Christian was grounds for great persecution, would we stand up? Or would we crumble? I don't want to elaborate much today because I want you to elaborate for yourself.
This came from the book of James. At this point he is talking about the link between faith and works. He puts is bluntly when he says:
You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder. (James 2:19)
Kind of scary isn't it? I asked it to myself this way, what makes me different than a demon? Sounds silly, as well, but it hits the nail on the head.
If these questions are hitting you hard (like they did to me), don't despair. God loves you and can create any change He wants to in you. Ask Him for a fruitful faith! God won't stop at one second chance... I believe that He will keep giving them to you.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
Daily living
I feel like this James bible study is very hard hitting. James writes about
life issues in very black and white terms. There doesn't seem to be a lot of
gray issues with him. It's been difficult for me to look at my faith and
choices under James' microscope and evaluate myself. But who am I to judge,
even myself? I can say that doing this has prompted me to take action. I am
trying *key word trying* to live out my faith like James describes. Although, I
feel like I mess up everytime. But, Jesus still loves me!
Some of the points from the study over the last few weeks:
Ya know how when you have a scab and it's healing, but you have to go and pick at it until you break it open again? Isn't temptation like that? We all have temptations and we keep returning to them and ripping them open a little more, and when we do, we are screwing it up by ripping it open. I do believe that temptation is a process. Maybe you think about it once, then return to it again, then imagine, then act, act again, pretty soon it's a habit. It's a slippery slope no matter if your temptation is food, a person, drugs, you name it.
But, a silver lining in my pessimistic rant today, ALL GOOD THINGS ARE FROM GOD! Think of all the good things that have happened in your life. Maybe just all the good things from today. You woke up. You have your health. You have a home and a family and friends. I petted my dog. All good things. And God gave them to me. I can tell you that I definitely haven't earned them! What good things can you think of? On the same hand, don't we feel that sometimes God is holding out on us? We feel that we aren't living up to our full potential or that we need something and we will just take what we want? I have A, B, and C, but I want D and I want it now. Trying to force a situation that isn't in God's timing can have heart wrenching consequences. Waiting on God's timing can seem like the hardest thing in the world, but won't it be worth it when our D does happen?
I had a moment 2 Sundays ago where I really felt angry at Satan. Our laypastor went in for a major surgery for her colon cancer on Thursday and they announced it on Sunday. I thought, this is an attack from the enemy! Can't anyone be cancer free anymore? I feel like pretty soon everyone will have it. But you know what. He cannot break us. No matter what he does, we are God's children. He cannot take us from God's hand. In our earthly terms what is the worst case scenario? Death. Well guess what, where are we then? HEAVEN. Forever. An eternity with God. Satan cannot win.
It is easy for me to say these words when I am not close to the situation. I would hope that my words would remain the same if it was my situation. ( And I pray that it won't be.) But what simple thing can we do when we feel hopeless and angry at God? We can ASK for an increase of faith. That has never really occurred to me. I thought of faith as something you have that is given to you at a certain level, but no, we can change it. God wants to give us all these great things, and all we have to do is ask!
God, increase our faith.
Some of the points from the study over the last few weeks:
Ya know how when you have a scab and it's healing, but you have to go and pick at it until you break it open again? Isn't temptation like that? We all have temptations and we keep returning to them and ripping them open a little more, and when we do, we are screwing it up by ripping it open. I do believe that temptation is a process. Maybe you think about it once, then return to it again, then imagine, then act, act again, pretty soon it's a habit. It's a slippery slope no matter if your temptation is food, a person, drugs, you name it.
But, a silver lining in my pessimistic rant today, ALL GOOD THINGS ARE FROM GOD! Think of all the good things that have happened in your life. Maybe just all the good things from today. You woke up. You have your health. You have a home and a family and friends. I petted my dog. All good things. And God gave them to me. I can tell you that I definitely haven't earned them! What good things can you think of? On the same hand, don't we feel that sometimes God is holding out on us? We feel that we aren't living up to our full potential or that we need something and we will just take what we want? I have A, B, and C, but I want D and I want it now. Trying to force a situation that isn't in God's timing can have heart wrenching consequences. Waiting on God's timing can seem like the hardest thing in the world, but won't it be worth it when our D does happen?
I had a moment 2 Sundays ago where I really felt angry at Satan. Our laypastor went in for a major surgery for her colon cancer on Thursday and they announced it on Sunday. I thought, this is an attack from the enemy! Can't anyone be cancer free anymore? I feel like pretty soon everyone will have it. But you know what. He cannot break us. No matter what he does, we are God's children. He cannot take us from God's hand. In our earthly terms what is the worst case scenario? Death. Well guess what, where are we then? HEAVEN. Forever. An eternity with God. Satan cannot win.
It is easy for me to say these words when I am not close to the situation. I would hope that my words would remain the same if it was my situation. ( And I pray that it won't be.) But what simple thing can we do when we feel hopeless and angry at God? We can ASK for an increase of faith. That has never really occurred to me. I thought of faith as something you have that is given to you at a certain level, but no, we can change it. God wants to give us all these great things, and all we have to do is ask!
God, increase our faith.
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Full
Well, hello all! It's been awhile. I just started a new bible study (another Beth Moore) about James. So hopefully you'll be hearing a whole lot more from me now!
A visiting pastor did a sermon at our church on Sunday entitled "Dumping the Mind Trash." It really made me think about how much junk is really floating around in our heads. For example, I sleep with my cell phone on and iPod right beside it. When I wake up the first thing I do is check my phone and then my favorite apps on my iPod. Why do I really need to be reading the top news from IMDB every morning?? Think about all the negativity that comes from your own head. It is true that you are your own worst critic. Then all the things that you pick up from society and our culture. Whispers telling you what to think and feel and how to react. Let's DUMP all that. What would happen if we could forget all the voices but the one who matters. His voice. God telling us that He loves us and that we are His beautiful children.
Random thought: So, I like sleeping. I really enjoying just being all wrapped up in my bed and waking up and drowsily rolling over and going back to sleep. As we all know, you are kind of outside time when you sleep. You don't know that 8 hours are passing; it happens in the blink of an eye. (Or maybe 5 or 6 hours!!) Ok, so God is outside of time too. Because He made it. So, I wonder if heaven will kind of be like sleeping. :)
More randomness. Sorry, this blog isn't very coherent or cohesive! In Monday's video session at bible study Beth talked about bringing our joy back. James starts out his letter saying, "Consider it pure joy my brothers..." When was the last time you felt joyful? James is even speaking about joy when thinking about your trials... we can't even be joyful when we are happy. Let's try and be joyful at least once this week. I wonder what will happen.
We talk about faith a lot as Christians. About how we are saved by faith and not by works. And James is in agreement with that fact, but he speaks a lot about doing works as well. The concept that if we don't have fruit from our faith, that it is meaningless. He brings up a good point. How are we acting in our lives? We can talk the talk but are we walking the walk? When was the last time that you (or me) stepped out of our comfort zone and did some good works? I really do want to do something, so those of you in this area, let me know if you have any ideas! On the same note, my "homework" from the study talking about giving to the poor. Now we don't have to think of it in monetary terms but it is a simple comparison. Remember that the "poor" are out there and we should be giving. Whether we are giving encouragement, money, time, or knowledge.
P.S. My new favorite website is pinterest.com-- Check it out. Warning: it is going to be a girly website :)
Sunday, January 8, 2012
Forgiveness is divine
Can you imagine if we could forgive like God does? When God forgives I believe He forgets as well. Like the incident never happened. You are white as snow again.
I know I have trouble doing this. We like to say, forget about it, but I don't think we really do. Oh, here, Sally, here's $100 bucks, don't worry about it. BUT the next time you and Sally do something, you think, oh well lets do this because I forgot that last time I loaned her a 100 bucks and maybe if we do A, B, or C she will remember, or pay for me or something.
We are all humans. We make mistakes. We forgive but we usually don't forget. Is that a bad thing? Sometimes yes, but we also learn from our mistakes. I forgive you for cheating on me this time, but I know to be wary in the future. We don't want to be a carpet that gets walked all over either.
So, let's try something. Let's actually try to forgive and forget the next time someone wrongs you. Think, What would Jesus do?
I know I have trouble doing this. We like to say, forget about it, but I don't think we really do. Oh, here, Sally, here's $100 bucks, don't worry about it. BUT the next time you and Sally do something, you think, oh well lets do this because I forgot that last time I loaned her a 100 bucks and maybe if we do A, B, or C she will remember, or pay for me or something.
We are all humans. We make mistakes. We forgive but we usually don't forget. Is that a bad thing? Sometimes yes, but we also learn from our mistakes. I forgive you for cheating on me this time, but I know to be wary in the future. We don't want to be a carpet that gets walked all over either.
So, let's try something. Let's actually try to forgive and forget the next time someone wrongs you. Think, What would Jesus do?
Tuesday, January 3, 2012
Hello, stranger!
Sorry, it's been awhile! Disclaimer to any male readers: This is aimed more for my readers of the girl persuasion! (But I'm sure you can appreciate it too)
Recently, this verse from Proverbs 31:30 has been bouncing around in my head.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Now, let's think about this. Charm. If you are trying to "charm" someone aren't you putting on an act? Aren't you pretending to be something you aren't? So, I can see how charm is deceptive.
Beauty. Some have it, some don't. We all want to increase it and hold on to it, but we can't. Our actual physical beauty will fade. Not to be crude, but I don't think any of us look at a 90 year old woman and think she is physically beautiful. Although, I'm sure she is beautiful in other ways :)
Well, where does that leave us? We are ugly and not charming. I guess we are useless now.
Unless we have different priorities in life than beauty and grace! Now I am definitely not saying that I have never spent any of my time trying to be beautiful :) And, honestly, I'm not going to stop. But, I am going to try to see past all these worldly notions and focus on what I should be all along: My walk with God. I believe that if I am concentrating on the right things I can feel beautiful and charming even by being myself! Not that my life will become a cake walk, but because my focus will be on the one who will help me through anything.
Maybe in the next couple days I will receive some more insight on this verse, but I wanted to share it since I haven't been able to get it out of my head.
Recently, this verse from Proverbs 31:30 has been bouncing around in my head.
Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised.
Now, let's think about this. Charm. If you are trying to "charm" someone aren't you putting on an act? Aren't you pretending to be something you aren't? So, I can see how charm is deceptive.
Beauty. Some have it, some don't. We all want to increase it and hold on to it, but we can't. Our actual physical beauty will fade. Not to be crude, but I don't think any of us look at a 90 year old woman and think she is physically beautiful. Although, I'm sure she is beautiful in other ways :)
Well, where does that leave us? We are ugly and not charming. I guess we are useless now.
Unless we have different priorities in life than beauty and grace! Now I am definitely not saying that I have never spent any of my time trying to be beautiful :) And, honestly, I'm not going to stop. But, I am going to try to see past all these worldly notions and focus on what I should be all along: My walk with God. I believe that if I am concentrating on the right things I can feel beautiful and charming even by being myself! Not that my life will become a cake walk, but because my focus will be on the one who will help me through anything.
Maybe in the next couple days I will receive some more insight on this verse, but I wanted to share it since I haven't been able to get it out of my head.
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