OK, so while on my blogging sabbatical, I had been reading 2 Peter 2 which is part of the reason for my sabbatical. Have you read it? Gloom and doom. "Their condemnation has long been hanging over them.....to hold the unrighteous for the day of judgement while continuing their punishment.....They will be paid back with harm for the harm they have done...They promise them freedom, while they themselves are slaves of depravity...."
Do you see why I had a hard time coming up with anything?
I have been reading it over slowly, trying to figure out what God is trying to teach me through it. I have come to the conclusion that it is for me to figure out at a later date. He wanted me to read it to know it was there. I can guarantee that after these 10 days of slowly going through, reading and re-reading parts of this chapter in 2 Peter I won't soon forget where this information lies.
I think is is a warning that temptation comes. It happens to all of us. We see 'fun' in the world or the 'freedom' that is perceived by having no morals. It is tempting to stray from God's will. It is just easier to 'go with the flow' and fit in with modern society. But those who do and ignore God's Word and God's ways will reap this gloom and doom and then all the 'fun' is over.
I think someday, when I am terribly tempted to put God "off" for a minute to just fit in with the crowd, these verses of 2 Peter 2 will come back to me. They will remind me that "If {I} have escaped the corruption of the world by knowing our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and {am} again entangled in it and overcome, {I am} worse off at the end than {I was} at the beginning. (vs 20)
I have to remember that I might not receive 'revelations' from the Holy Spirit for right here and right now every time I sit and read my Bible, but many times, God is preparing in advance works for me to do, (Eph. 2:10) and I just need to hide those words in my heart for just that time.
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Tuesday, October 9, 2012
Excuses
I have been on a blogging sabbatical as of late I guess. Two main reasons 1. I have had to be on my computer a lot lately doing emails and such to coordinate different things going on in the organizations I am involved in and 2. I haven't felt like I had anything to journal/blog about in my quiet times the past few weeks.
Mostly, reason #1 has led Satan to be able to talk me into #2. When he/my excuses keep me from journaling it keeps me from really connecting with what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach me.
You see, for me thought processes happen during my journaling/blogging. As you have probably been able to tell from reading many of my posts I can totally go off on a different subject/thought pattern by the end of my blog because the Holy Spirit has shown me something that I didn't think of at the beginning. Usually I try to go back and make the whole thing flow as best as possible from beginning to end, but you can still see the evidence in many posts. Sometimes I even have to change the title from what I originally started with.
Have you ever tried journaling through your time with the Lord? It does wonders for letting the Holy Spirit speak to you. It stops the just reading/thinking then moving on. It forces you to stop and concentrate on the thoughts He is giving you from what you have just read.
I am sure you have seen the obvious evidence of this in many of my posts. Pretty much all of the thoughts, revelations and life applications I have during my journaling process are not of my own, but what He has revealed to me through the Holy Spirit.
Do you ever stop to ask the Holy Spirit for a little help and then really listen to what He is saying? Sometimes you might not hear anything but if you really let Him work in you little thoughts and ideas that might just pass as just that [thoughts and ideas] are really little gifts from Him; answering your prayers.
I rob Him of the chance to do this for me when I skip my journaling and I really rob myself of the lessons I learn and closes I gain with God.
So, forgive me for my absence. I tend to do this every once in a while and have to remind myself yet again why I need to stick with it, whether I feel like I have anything worthwhile to blog or not.
Mostly, reason #1 has led Satan to be able to talk me into #2. When he/my excuses keep me from journaling it keeps me from really connecting with what the Holy Spirit is trying to teach me.
You see, for me thought processes happen during my journaling/blogging. As you have probably been able to tell from reading many of my posts I can totally go off on a different subject/thought pattern by the end of my blog because the Holy Spirit has shown me something that I didn't think of at the beginning. Usually I try to go back and make the whole thing flow as best as possible from beginning to end, but you can still see the evidence in many posts. Sometimes I even have to change the title from what I originally started with.
Have you ever tried journaling through your time with the Lord? It does wonders for letting the Holy Spirit speak to you. It stops the just reading/thinking then moving on. It forces you to stop and concentrate on the thoughts He is giving you from what you have just read.
I am sure you have seen the obvious evidence of this in many of my posts. Pretty much all of the thoughts, revelations and life applications I have during my journaling process are not of my own, but what He has revealed to me through the Holy Spirit.
Do you ever stop to ask the Holy Spirit for a little help and then really listen to what He is saying? Sometimes you might not hear anything but if you really let Him work in you little thoughts and ideas that might just pass as just that [thoughts and ideas] are really little gifts from Him; answering your prayers.
I rob Him of the chance to do this for me when I skip my journaling and I really rob myself of the lessons I learn and closes I gain with God.
So, forgive me for my absence. I tend to do this every once in a while and have to remind myself yet again why I need to stick with it, whether I feel like I have anything worthwhile to blog or not.
Thursday, September 27, 2012
The Daunted "Calling"
Christians are always talking about their "calling in life". It is one of those "Christian-ease" things to say. Granted, it isn't just talk and stuff made up by those awe-inspiring, faithful people, it is a Bible-based saying. But even so, it is one of those things that always makes me go, 'Hmmm."
Today Peter tells us to be all the more eager to make our calling and elections sure. For if you do these things (add to our faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love) you will never fall and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
I think if we are striving to do all of these in increasing measure it is easy to find our calling. It is just hard to do all of those things all the time. Doesn't that make you super-thankful for grace? Like the other day, I totally failed on the brotherly kindness thing when I gossiped with a friend. But God gave me the opportunity to increase that skill yesterday when a gal I was frustrated with for not holding up her end of a position she signed up for needed yet more help. Instead of telling her to get it done herself like she should have in the first place, God gave me the grace I needed to extend to her and help her out. In the end, none of it is a big deal anyway and was able to avoid another 'spiritual spanking.'
I feel as if right now I am fulfilling the calling God gave me, to be a wife and mother. But I often wonder what my calling will be down the road. Yes, I will always be a wife and mother, but feel as if there is more to come once my children have moved on. It is reassuring to know that as long as I am following in His ways and these fruits as well as the fruits of the Spirit I will never fall. Notice it doesn't say "never have hard things come my way" but I will be able to stand through these hard things through the faith and grace He has given me.
Do you often wonder if you have found your calling? Maybe you need to stop searching for only your calling and first search your to increase your faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. God tells us that our calling will follow.
What are your thoughts on God's calling in your life? I'd love to know as it is a topic I love to/have a lot to learn about.
Today Peter tells us to be all the more eager to make our calling and elections sure. For if you do these things (add to our faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love) you will never fall and you will receive a rich welcome into the eternal kingdom of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (1 Peter 1:10-11)
I think if we are striving to do all of these in increasing measure it is easy to find our calling. It is just hard to do all of those things all the time. Doesn't that make you super-thankful for grace? Like the other day, I totally failed on the brotherly kindness thing when I gossiped with a friend. But God gave me the opportunity to increase that skill yesterday when a gal I was frustrated with for not holding up her end of a position she signed up for needed yet more help. Instead of telling her to get it done herself like she should have in the first place, God gave me the grace I needed to extend to her and help her out. In the end, none of it is a big deal anyway and was able to avoid another 'spiritual spanking.'
I feel as if right now I am fulfilling the calling God gave me, to be a wife and mother. But I often wonder what my calling will be down the road. Yes, I will always be a wife and mother, but feel as if there is more to come once my children have moved on. It is reassuring to know that as long as I am following in His ways and these fruits as well as the fruits of the Spirit I will never fall. Notice it doesn't say "never have hard things come my way" but I will be able to stand through these hard things through the faith and grace He has given me.
Do you often wonder if you have found your calling? Maybe you need to stop searching for only your calling and first search your to increase your faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love. God tells us that our calling will follow.
What are your thoughts on God's calling in your life? I'd love to know as it is a topic I love to/have a lot to learn about.
Monday, September 24, 2012
Ineffective and Unproductive
Ineffective: not adequate to accomplish a purpose; producing the intended or expected result.
Unproductive: not to to provide, furnish, or supply.
2 Peter 1:8 tells us "For if your possess these qualities {faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love v.5-7} in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The last thing I want to be in my faith is ineffective. What good is faith if it is not accomplishing its purpose or producing a result? What good is it if my faith does not provide or supply what I need? Useless.
This is where I think the line is drawn between "church attenders" and "true believers". Now far be it from me to be able to make the judgement as to who is whom in these two categories, but the categories exist nonetheless.
Church attenders by my definition are the ones who are regular and active church members who have all of the head knowledge. They are there because they are expected to be or because it is all they have ever known. But the true heart decision to follow Christ and have a real relationship with Him has never been made. This is an ineffective faith. It will not produce the fruit of a deep and meaningful knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. My heart aches for people who fall into this category. They think they know all that they need to know, but yet miss the big picture of it all. They are happy just where they are attending church and doing their duty, but typically there is no growth, no increasing measure.
Again, it is truly beyond my wisdom whether or not their knowledge and faithfulness to the church and the concept of Christ will attain them entrance into heaven, but I lean towards doubting its certainty. Christ says He must "know us" in order to write our names down in His Book of Life and if the true relationship with Him is never established, how does He get to know us. But then again, He says "all those who believe" will gain entrance into heaven. So, is the head knowledge and belief in Christ enough? This is something I struggle with, as I feel much of my family falls into this category and feels that it is.
And of course, true believers are those who trust in the Lord with all of their hearts. They spend time with him in prayer and in His Word. Their belief in Christ changes them to the core of their very being. They know who He is and He knows them. Granted, there are many different levels to this belief and knowledge in Christ. New believers are just starting on this journey and life-long believers have an understanding I can only hope for one day. That is why Peter tells us we will possess these qualities in increasing measure. I don't think we will fully know Christ until we meet Him face to face.
But isn't that a good thing? I think it is exciting to think that I can keep learning each and every day and never get bored with it. Never reach the end of the learning potential. Never 'graduate'. It means I can read the Bible over and over again and learn something new each and every time. I can go through life situations, stumbling blocks and celebrations and see God in them in a different way every time one comes my way.
It is a long list of wonderful attributes to aim for; things I stumble over time and time again. But isn't one of them perseverance? Increasing measure. Just keep moving on and being effective and productive. We may fail time and time again, but all He asks is that we don't give up, just do a little bit better next time.
Unproductive: not to to provide, furnish, or supply.
2 Peter 1:8 tells us "For if your possess these qualities {faith, goodness, knowledge, self-control, perseverance, godliness, brotherly kindness and love v.5-7} in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The last thing I want to be in my faith is ineffective. What good is faith if it is not accomplishing its purpose or producing a result? What good is it if my faith does not provide or supply what I need? Useless.
This is where I think the line is drawn between "church attenders" and "true believers". Now far be it from me to be able to make the judgement as to who is whom in these two categories, but the categories exist nonetheless.
Church attenders by my definition are the ones who are regular and active church members who have all of the head knowledge. They are there because they are expected to be or because it is all they have ever known. But the true heart decision to follow Christ and have a real relationship with Him has never been made. This is an ineffective faith. It will not produce the fruit of a deep and meaningful knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ. My heart aches for people who fall into this category. They think they know all that they need to know, but yet miss the big picture of it all. They are happy just where they are attending church and doing their duty, but typically there is no growth, no increasing measure.
Again, it is truly beyond my wisdom whether or not their knowledge and faithfulness to the church and the concept of Christ will attain them entrance into heaven, but I lean towards doubting its certainty. Christ says He must "know us" in order to write our names down in His Book of Life and if the true relationship with Him is never established, how does He get to know us. But then again, He says "all those who believe" will gain entrance into heaven. So, is the head knowledge and belief in Christ enough? This is something I struggle with, as I feel much of my family falls into this category and feels that it is.
And of course, true believers are those who trust in the Lord with all of their hearts. They spend time with him in prayer and in His Word. Their belief in Christ changes them to the core of their very being. They know who He is and He knows them. Granted, there are many different levels to this belief and knowledge in Christ. New believers are just starting on this journey and life-long believers have an understanding I can only hope for one day. That is why Peter tells us we will possess these qualities in increasing measure. I don't think we will fully know Christ until we meet Him face to face.
But isn't that a good thing? I think it is exciting to think that I can keep learning each and every day and never get bored with it. Never reach the end of the learning potential. Never 'graduate'. It means I can read the Bible over and over again and learn something new each and every time. I can go through life situations, stumbling blocks and celebrations and see God in them in a different way every time one comes my way.
It is a long list of wonderful attributes to aim for; things I stumble over time and time again. But isn't one of them perseverance? Increasing measure. Just keep moving on and being effective and productive. We may fail time and time again, but all He asks is that we don't give up, just do a little bit better next time.
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Spiritual Spanking
This is a funny title a friend told me about the other day that fit what I was sharing with her.
Earlier yesterday, (I meant to get all this blogged yesterday, but didn't) I was blessed with a wonderful conversation with a friend. However, I was kinda naughty on said phone call as well. I was gossiping. Gossip is not a title I want, or frequently earn. I try my hardest to keep my conversations friendly and change the subject if the need arises. However, this time, I failed. (I have been getting F's a lot lately, yikes!)
We were chatting along nicely and she was telling me about an experience with some friends she had in the past few weeks. These same friends had been a little rude to me earlier this summer (this was my perception of the interaction anyway). Well, since they had been nice to her and rude to me I felt the little green monster well up inside and I decided to tell her as much. One thing led to another and we were singling out some people and going on and on. I could feel little tugs telling me to stop and that what I was saying might not even be the full truth, but I chose not to listen and to go on.
Eventually the conversation ended, thankfully (not that I wanted to stop talking to my friend, but that it ended the gossip session), because I had another call come in that I needed to take. After that, I felt terrible. I knew I was wrong. I saw my friend just about an hour later that day and apologized for what I had done. I asked for forgiveness. I gave her permission to shut me up if I ever started doing it again in a conversation with her.
Then, at my quiet time I sat down and asked forgiveness from the Lord and for help in reigning in my tongue the next time my jealousy took over or the desire to gossip arose.
Then came the 'spiritual spanking' in the form of God's Word (now that I know a fun little term for these moments, I recognize I receive them quite frequently!)
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason {vs 4 says to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires}, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
All the above things I failed to do in this conversation with my friend. My gossiping was not good. It did not show my knowledge of God and His Word, thus it didn't show any qualities of godliness. I didn't practice self-control with the jealously arose. I did not persevere through the urge to gossip. And gossip is definitely not kind to my brothers or showing love.
I totally caved to the corruption of this world and my evil desires. Praise God for this verse that I can recite to myself next time the idea of gossip might pass through my head.
There is a little meme thing floating around facebook and pinterest lately that says "Live in such a way that if anyone should speak badly of you no one would believe it." I want this to be true of me. Thus, I need to start practicing the verses above with hopeless abandon. Won't you join me?
Earlier yesterday, (I meant to get all this blogged yesterday, but didn't) I was blessed with a wonderful conversation with a friend. However, I was kinda naughty on said phone call as well. I was gossiping. Gossip is not a title I want, or frequently earn. I try my hardest to keep my conversations friendly and change the subject if the need arises. However, this time, I failed. (I have been getting F's a lot lately, yikes!)
We were chatting along nicely and she was telling me about an experience with some friends she had in the past few weeks. These same friends had been a little rude to me earlier this summer (this was my perception of the interaction anyway). Well, since they had been nice to her and rude to me I felt the little green monster well up inside and I decided to tell her as much. One thing led to another and we were singling out some people and going on and on. I could feel little tugs telling me to stop and that what I was saying might not even be the full truth, but I chose not to listen and to go on.
Eventually the conversation ended, thankfully (not that I wanted to stop talking to my friend, but that it ended the gossip session), because I had another call come in that I needed to take. After that, I felt terrible. I knew I was wrong. I saw my friend just about an hour later that day and apologized for what I had done. I asked for forgiveness. I gave her permission to shut me up if I ever started doing it again in a conversation with her.
Then, at my quiet time I sat down and asked forgiveness from the Lord and for help in reigning in my tongue the next time my jealousy took over or the desire to gossip arose.
Then came the 'spiritual spanking' in the form of God's Word (now that I know a fun little term for these moments, I recognize I receive them quite frequently!)
2 Peter 1:5-7 For this very reason {vs 4 says to escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires}, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love.
All the above things I failed to do in this conversation with my friend. My gossiping was not good. It did not show my knowledge of God and His Word, thus it didn't show any qualities of godliness. I didn't practice self-control with the jealously arose. I did not persevere through the urge to gossip. And gossip is definitely not kind to my brothers or showing love.
I totally caved to the corruption of this world and my evil desires. Praise God for this verse that I can recite to myself next time the idea of gossip might pass through my head.
There is a little meme thing floating around facebook and pinterest lately that says "Live in such a way that if anyone should speak badly of you no one would believe it." I want this to be true of me. Thus, I need to start practicing the verses above with hopeless abandon. Won't you join me?
Friday, September 14, 2012
Already There
As I sat and prayed before I started reading my Bible today I asked God for a lot of things. I need energy to get through the rest of the day. I need calmness to deal with my youngest's potty issues. I need motivation to not stay on the couch when I am done and get the rest of the things finished in my house. I need Him to fill me. I need Him to get it all done.
I have been at home for three days now by myself. I don't know how single mothers do it. I tip my hat to them. Daddy is off on his yearly fishing trip, so I am flying solo. Not only that, but I agreed to take on an extra day of daycare kids during this solo run, so I have had two to three extra kids during the day all three of these days. I need God's help to finish it out. Daddy comes home tomorrow afternoon. Praise. The. Lord.
Anyway, after praying for all these things and repeatedly asking for Him to help me through it all, I flip open my Bible to my next verse in 2 Peter. Now, after having taken 3 days to get through the first 2 verses, I figured I might have to read a little while to get a little 'nugget' this time. Wrong.
God has a great sense of humor. Don't you agree? Here is what I read in 2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness."
Nailed it.
Of course, should I have ever doubted He would? Seriously, He gives us just what we need. The thing that got me in this verse is not that He still needs to give it to me, but that He already has. And, just like yesterday, it comes through our knowledge of Him.
He has given me everything I need for life and godliness. Becoming more like Him is what I need right now. God never lacks energy. He never lacks calmness when it is needed most and He never lacks motivation. I lack all these things, not because He hasn't granted me these talents, but because I fail to use the power He has given me through Him. I fail to do these things because I fail to get to know Him better. I fail to succeed in all of these areas because I don't seek Him first.
Through Him all that I truly need is already there. I just need to realize it and utilize it in the way that He has planned for me.
I have been at home for three days now by myself. I don't know how single mothers do it. I tip my hat to them. Daddy is off on his yearly fishing trip, so I am flying solo. Not only that, but I agreed to take on an extra day of daycare kids during this solo run, so I have had two to three extra kids during the day all three of these days. I need God's help to finish it out. Daddy comes home tomorrow afternoon. Praise. The. Lord.
Anyway, after praying for all these things and repeatedly asking for Him to help me through it all, I flip open my Bible to my next verse in 2 Peter. Now, after having taken 3 days to get through the first 2 verses, I figured I might have to read a little while to get a little 'nugget' this time. Wrong.
God has a great sense of humor. Don't you agree? Here is what I read in 2 Peter 1:3
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by His own glory and goodness."
Nailed it.
Of course, should I have ever doubted He would? Seriously, He gives us just what we need. The thing that got me in this verse is not that He still needs to give it to me, but that He already has. And, just like yesterday, it comes through our knowledge of Him.
He has given me everything I need for life and godliness. Becoming more like Him is what I need right now. God never lacks energy. He never lacks calmness when it is needed most and He never lacks motivation. I lack all these things, not because He hasn't granted me these talents, but because I fail to use the power He has given me through Him. I fail to do these things because I fail to get to know Him better. I fail to succeed in all of these areas because I don't seek Him first.
Through Him all that I truly need is already there. I just need to realize it and utilize it in the way that He has planned for me.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Ours for the Taking
Its another one-verse day. Like I said, it might take me a while to get through 2 Peter at this rate.
Verse 2 tells us "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
Grace: favor or goodwill, mercy or pardon. Peace: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity. Good things, yes?
These are granted to us in abundance through the knowledge of Him.
Now, the pardon (grace) of our sins is ours at first acceptance of Christ and the favor He has given us through His blood. But peace is another story. You can't just accept Christ, keep doing life the way you were before, and expect things to be all honky dory. It doesn't work that way.
This Christian life stuff takes work. It takes time and it takes a knowledge of Him to fully reap all the benefits. I don't know about you, but peace sounds awful good to me. Here, Paul tells me I can get it abundantly by knowing God.
Sure, I know Him. I was raised in the church and have been faithfully following Him for 13 years now on my own. The kind of peace Paul is talking about comes from knowing God on a truly personal level. Really knowing Him. Resting in His presence. Giving Him full and complete control of whatever may come your way.
Does this kind of peace mean that my kids won't fight or disobey, or that hard things will never happen to me? Heavens, no. It just means that through knowing Him, when these things happen I can find peace in knowing that He is in control, knowing that if I seek His will for my life through thick and thin, I will be able to peacefully come to the other side a stronger person.
Knowing Him comes from these hard times. It comes from having no where else to turn and having no other option but to give it up to Him. It comes from spending time with Him. In prayer. In His Word. In fellowship with others who know Him. It is a lifestyle.
So, go find your grace and peace in abundance. He is just waiting to give it to you.
Verse 2 tells us "Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord."
Grace: favor or goodwill, mercy or pardon. Peace: freedom of the mind from annoyance, distraction, anxiety, an obsession, etc.; tranquillity. Good things, yes?
These are granted to us in abundance through the knowledge of Him.
Now, the pardon (grace) of our sins is ours at first acceptance of Christ and the favor He has given us through His blood. But peace is another story. You can't just accept Christ, keep doing life the way you were before, and expect things to be all honky dory. It doesn't work that way.
This Christian life stuff takes work. It takes time and it takes a knowledge of Him to fully reap all the benefits. I don't know about you, but peace sounds awful good to me. Here, Paul tells me I can get it abundantly by knowing God.
Sure, I know Him. I was raised in the church and have been faithfully following Him for 13 years now on my own. The kind of peace Paul is talking about comes from knowing God on a truly personal level. Really knowing Him. Resting in His presence. Giving Him full and complete control of whatever may come your way.
Does this kind of peace mean that my kids won't fight or disobey, or that hard things will never happen to me? Heavens, no. It just means that through knowing Him, when these things happen I can find peace in knowing that He is in control, knowing that if I seek His will for my life through thick and thin, I will be able to peacefully come to the other side a stronger person.
Knowing Him comes from these hard times. It comes from having no where else to turn and having no other option but to give it up to Him. It comes from spending time with Him. In prayer. In His Word. In fellowship with others who know Him. It is a lifestyle.
So, go find your grace and peace in abundance. He is just waiting to give it to you.
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