They said to Him, ’Rabbi . . . where are You staying?’ He said to them, ’Come and see’ (John 1:38-39).
Where our self-interest sleeps and the real interest is awakened. “They . . . remained with Him that day . . . .” That is about all some of us ever do. We stay with Him a short time, only to wake up to our own realities of life. Our self-interest rises up and our abiding with Him is past. Yet there is no circumstance of life in which we cannot abide in Jesus.
“You are Simon . . . . You shall be called Cephas” (John 1:42). God writes our new name only on those places in our lives where He has erased our pride, self-sufficiency, and self-interest. Some of us have our new name written only in certain spots, like spiritual measles. And in those areas of our lives we look all right. When we are in our best spiritual mood, you would think we were the highest quality saints. But don’t dare look at us when we are not in that mood. A true disciple is one who has his new name written all over him - self-interest, pride, and self-sufficiency have been completely erased.
Pride is the sin of making “self” our god. And some of us today do this, not like the Pharisee, but like the tax collector (see Luke 18:9-14). For you to say, “Oh, I’m no saint,” is acceptable by human standards of pride, but it is unconscious blasphemy against God. You defy God to make you a saint, as if to say, “I am too weak and hopeless and outside the reach of the atonement by the Cross of Christ.” Why aren’t you a saint? It is either that you do not want to be a saint, or that you do not believe that God can make you into one. You say it would be all right if God saved you and took you straight to heaven. That is exactly what He will do! And not only do we make our home with Him, but Jesus said of His Father and Himself, “. . . We will come to him and make Our home with him” (John 14:23). Put no conditions on your life - let Jesus be everything to you, and He will take you home with Him not only for a day, but for eternity.
~ John 1:38-39
38 Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, “What do you want?” They said, “Rabbi” (which means “Teacher”), “where are you staying?” 39 “Come,” he replied, “and you will see.” So they went and saw where he was staying, and they spent that day with him. It was about four in the afternoon.
~ John 1:42
42 And he brought him to Jesus. Jesus looked at him and said, “You are Simon son of John. You will be called Cephas” (which, when translated, is Peter)
~ Luke 18:9-14
9 To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable: 10 “Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. 11 The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. 12 I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’ 13 “But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’ 14 “I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”
~ John 14:23
23 Jesus replied, “Anyone who loves me will obey my teaching. My Father will love them, and we will come to them and make our home with them.
You can not pick an choose when you want God in your life! You can't only want him in your time of need! I want God all the time, I want him when I am having the best days and the worst! I don't only want him to stay in my life for short periods. I want my new name written in bold, underlined, bright ink all over me for the world to see! I want it to be evident in my relationship with Jesus Christ. I don't want people to have to wonder if I am a Christian. I WILL, from this day forward, show my love for God everywhere I go! When someone says to me "Well aren't you just a saint?" I will respond with "Why yes, yes I am!!"
I don't want to be one of these people who, when behind closed doors, they have nothing to do with God. No, let me rephrase that, I WILL NOT be one of those people. Can someone truly live a happy guilt free life by only having a relationship with Him publicly? I know I was not happy. I was once one of those people, not on purpose, but I was. You can't only show up to church on Sunday to Praise God, and not think about Him any other day of the week. Thank God I have changed my ways. I am a new me forever, and very proud of it! Jesus is Everything to me!
Sunday, June 12, 2011
Saturday, June 11, 2011
Getting There
"Come to Me . . ." (Matthew 11:28).
Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts. Do I really want to get there? I can right now. The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words - “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “Do this, or don’t do that,” but - “Come to me.” If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires. I will actually cease from sin, and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.
Have you ever come to Jesus? Look at the stubbornness of your heart. You would rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing - “Come to Me.” If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.
Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness. Look how He used the word come. At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord - “Come to Me,” and you are immediately drawn to Him. Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.
“. . . and I will give you rest” - that is, “I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm.” He is not saying, “I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.” But, in essence, He is saying, “I will get you out of bed— out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive. I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.” Yet we become so weak and pitiful and talk about “suffering” the will of the Lord! Where is the majestic vitality and the power of the Son of God in that?
~ Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Putting everything in the Lord's hands can be so challenging, but I am learning to do just that! We have to trust, and have faith that he knows what is best for our lives. A lot of times I have had a difficult time thinking about things too much. I have to fully trust in the Lord, and "go to Him!" When I first read "Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says," I had a hard time understanding what the word foolish meant. I asked Steve for his help in my understanding, and to me he nailed it, and it made perfect sense! You know how "foolish" some people can be in the sense that they don't think things through, or don't "research" things before they do stuff? That is what I think this means when they use the word foolish. God wants us to "Come to him" without thinking and analyzing it. He wants us to have faith in him and not question why he wants us to do it!
He doesn't only want us to "come to Him" in the good times, but in our times of need, sorrow, and grief. He will not pacify us and let us weep. He will pick us up, helps us to get out of the "bad place" we are in if we just "come to Him!" How awesome that our God is so perfect that he is "begging" us to turn to him with everything we have and want to take on all of our happiness, and sorrows! It is such a wonderful feeling knowing I can turn to him and give all my worries to him, and he will take care of me!
Where sin and sorrow stops, and the song of the saint starts. Do I really want to get there? I can right now. The questions that truly matter in life are remarkably few, and they are all answered by these words - “Come to Me.” Our Lord’s words are not, “Do this, or don’t do that,” but - “Come to me.” If I will simply come to Jesus, my real life will be brought into harmony with my real desires. I will actually cease from sin, and will find the song of the Lord beginning in my life.
Have you ever come to Jesus? Look at the stubbornness of your heart. You would rather do anything than this one simple childlike thing - “Come to Me.” If you really want to experience ceasing from sin, you must come to Jesus.
Jesus Christ makes Himself the test to determine your genuineness. Look how He used the word come. At the most unexpected moments in your life there is this whisper of the Lord - “Come to Me,” and you are immediately drawn to Him. Personal contact with Jesus changes everything. Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says. The attitude necessary for you to come to Him is one where your will has made the determination to let go of everything and deliberately commit it all to Him.
“. . . and I will give you rest” - that is, “I will sustain you, causing you to stand firm.” He is not saying, “I will put you to bed, hold your hand, and sing you to sleep.” But, in essence, He is saying, “I will get you out of bed— out of your listlessness and exhaustion, and out of your condition of being half dead while you are still alive. I will penetrate you with the spirit of life, and you will be sustained by the perfection of vital activity.” Yet we become so weak and pitiful and talk about “suffering” the will of the Lord! Where is the majestic vitality and the power of the Son of God in that?
~ Matthew 11:28
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
Putting everything in the Lord's hands can be so challenging, but I am learning to do just that! We have to trust, and have faith that he knows what is best for our lives. A lot of times I have had a difficult time thinking about things too much. I have to fully trust in the Lord, and "go to Him!" When I first read "Be “foolish” enough to come and commit yourself to what He says," I had a hard time understanding what the word foolish meant. I asked Steve for his help in my understanding, and to me he nailed it, and it made perfect sense! You know how "foolish" some people can be in the sense that they don't think things through, or don't "research" things before they do stuff? That is what I think this means when they use the word foolish. God wants us to "Come to him" without thinking and analyzing it. He wants us to have faith in him and not question why he wants us to do it!
He doesn't only want us to "come to Him" in the good times, but in our times of need, sorrow, and grief. He will not pacify us and let us weep. He will pick us up, helps us to get out of the "bad place" we are in if we just "come to Him!" How awesome that our God is so perfect that he is "begging" us to turn to him with everything we have and want to take on all of our happiness, and sorrows! It is such a wonderful feeling knowing I can turn to him and give all my worries to him, and he will take care of me!
Friday, June 10, 2011
And After That, What's Next To Do?
"...seek, and you will find..." (Luke 11:9)
Seek if you have not found. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss..." (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, "you ask amiss"; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. "...seek, and you will find...." Get to work - narrow you focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? "...seek, [focus,] and you will find...."
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.." (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent - so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.
"...knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). "Draw near to God..." (James 4:8). Knock - the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. "Cleanse your hands..." (4:8). Knock a bit louder - you begin to find that you are dirty. "...purify your hearts..." (4:8). It is becoming even more personal - you are desperate and serious now - you will do anything. "Lament..." (4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of you inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. "Humble yourselves..." (4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God's door - you have to knock with the crucified thief. "...to him who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:10).
~ Luke 11:9-10
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
~ James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
~ Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
~ James 4:8-10
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
I will be the first to admit that I have asked God for materialistic things in my own selfishness and personal gain. I wish I could say that I never have, but unfortunately I have. Fortunately we have a loving, wonderful, and forgiving God that will forgive us for such careless selfishness. Anyone who has looked a prayer this way has missed what a Christian should be, including myself. Although God may want you to have these things, it should never be your focus in life. He has made in abundantly clear that our "treasures" should not be stored on earth and our live should never consist of things we possess. I will most definitely be conscious of what I pray for. I, never again, want to feel like the only time I cry out for God is in a time of tragedy or sorrow. I want to praise God for all things in my life in the most unselfish way possible.
I will always be "thirsty" for God! I am so ashamed of myself, looking back, at so many times that I have been complacent in my life. As my relationship grows with Him, I will never be "satisfied" enough to not want God. I feel like I have done this so many times in my life, and never realized it until now. Once again, I have to say, I am so thankful that we have such an amazing and merciful God, that he forgives such shameful behavior. I am knock at God's door! I have become so desperate for Him, that I have realized how "dirty" my life has been. I am humbling myself before God, I am "lamenting" my self before him for my ways. Please Lord, forgive me for my thoughtless selfish desires. I want to humble myself, and live my life for you! Thank you for your mercy!
Seek if you have not found. "You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss..." (James 4:3). If you ask for things from life instead of from God, "you ask amiss"; that is, you ask out of your desire for self-fulfillment. The more you fulfill yourself the less you will seek God. "...seek, and you will find...." Get to work - narrow you focus and interests to this one thing. Have you ever sought God with your whole heart, or have you simply given Him a feeble cry after some emotionally painful experience? "...seek, [focus,] and you will find...."
"Ho! Everyone who thirsts, come to the waters.." (Isaiah 55:1). Are you thirsty, or complacent and indifferent - so satisfied with your own experience that you want nothing more of God? Experience is a doorway, not a final goal. Beware of building your faith on experience, or your life will not ring true and will only sound the note of a critical spirit. Remember that you can never give another person what you have found, but you can cause him to have a desire for it.
"...knock, and it will be opened to you" (Luke 11:9). "Draw near to God..." (James 4:8). Knock - the door is closed, and your heartbeat races as you knock. "Cleanse your hands..." (4:8). Knock a bit louder - you begin to find that you are dirty. "...purify your hearts..." (4:8). It is becoming even more personal - you are desperate and serious now - you will do anything. "Lament..." (4:9). Have you ever lamented, expressing your sorrow before God for the condition of you inner life? There is no thread of self-pity left, only the heart-rending difficulty and amazement which comes from seeing what kind of person you really are. "Humble yourselves..." (4:10). It is a humbling experience to knock at God's door - you have to knock with the crucified thief. "...to him who knocks it will be opened" (Luke 11:10).
~ Luke 11:9-10
9 “So I say to you: Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. 10 For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
~ James 4:3
When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures.
~ Isaiah 55:1
“Come, all you who are thirsty, come to the waters; and you who have no money, come, buy and eat! Come, buy wine and milk without money and without cost.
~ James 4:8-10
8 Come near to God and he will come near to you. Wash your hands, you sinners, and purify your hearts, you double-minded. 9 Grieve, mourn and wail. Change your laughter to mourning and your joy to gloom. 10 Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.
I will be the first to admit that I have asked God for materialistic things in my own selfishness and personal gain. I wish I could say that I never have, but unfortunately I have. Fortunately we have a loving, wonderful, and forgiving God that will forgive us for such careless selfishness. Anyone who has looked a prayer this way has missed what a Christian should be, including myself. Although God may want you to have these things, it should never be your focus in life. He has made in abundantly clear that our "treasures" should not be stored on earth and our live should never consist of things we possess. I will most definitely be conscious of what I pray for. I, never again, want to feel like the only time I cry out for God is in a time of tragedy or sorrow. I want to praise God for all things in my life in the most unselfish way possible.
I will always be "thirsty" for God! I am so ashamed of myself, looking back, at so many times that I have been complacent in my life. As my relationship grows with Him, I will never be "satisfied" enough to not want God. I feel like I have done this so many times in my life, and never realized it until now. Once again, I have to say, I am so thankful that we have such an amazing and merciful God, that he forgives such shameful behavior. I am knock at God's door! I have become so desperate for Him, that I have realized how "dirty" my life has been. I am humbling myself before God, I am "lamenting" my self before him for my ways. Please Lord, forgive me for my thoughtless selfish desires. I want to humble myself, and live my life for you! Thank you for your mercy!
Thursday, June 9, 2011
Then What's Next To Do?
"Everyone who asks receives..." (Luke 11:10)
Ask if you have not received. There is nothing more difficult than asking. We will have yearnings and desires for certain things, and even suffer as a result of their going unfulfilled, but not until we are at the limit of desperation will we ask. It is the sense of not being spiritually real that causes us to ask. Have you ever asked out of the depths of your total insufficiency and poverty? "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." (James 1:5), but be sure that you do lack wisdom before you ask. You cannot bring yourself to the point of spiritual reality anytime you choose. The best thing to do, once you realize you are not spiritually real, is to ask God for Holy Spirit, basing your request on the promise of Jesus Christ (See Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit is the one who makes everything that Jesus did for you real in life.
"Everyone who asks receives...." This does not mean you will not get if you do not ask, but it means that until you come to the point of asking, you will not receive form God (see Matthew 5:45). To be able to receive means that you have come into the relationship of a child of God, and then you comprehend and appreciate mentally, morally, and with spiritual understanding, that these things come from God.
"If any of you lacks wisdom...." If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality - do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means "beg." Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our lust, not out of our poverty. A pauper does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty. He is not ashamed to beg - blessed are the paupers in spirit (see Matthew 5:3)
~ Luke 11:10
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
~ James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
~ Luke 11:13
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
~ Matthew 5:45
"that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
~ Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
How true it is that the hardest thing to do is ask for help! I have always hated asking for help, no matter what the circumstances are. (unless it got to the point of putting my family in jeopardy of going without) I guess you can call that a pride issue. I have finally realized that asking for help is something that absolutely has to be done, whether it be something physically needed or spiritually. I know in the four years Steve and I have been married, the first two were the absolute hardest. We did have to ask for help, as much as I hated asking, there was no way we would have survived without it.
The same goes for asking God for spiritual help. You have to realize how poor you are to ask for help. Unlike having to ask for help from other people, I WANT to be a pauper when asking God for his guidance wisdom. I am not ashamed to admit that I will always need and want his help. I want to receive his blessing and know they came from him. Too many times, people take for granted what they are truly blessed by God with. There have been so many times in my life where I have said "Thank you Jesus for...," but did I truly know that God blessed me, or was I just saying this out of relief that it happened? (Or out of habit?) I by no means am saying that I wont ever take something for granted again, but I will say that my eyes are wide open, and I will know that God has blessed many for any given reason! I will always ask for him, and pray to him!
Thank you Lord for opening my eyes!! I am proud to be a pauper of God! The way I see it, the more "poor" I am the "richer I will get spiritually!!
Ask if you have not received. There is nothing more difficult than asking. We will have yearnings and desires for certain things, and even suffer as a result of their going unfulfilled, but not until we are at the limit of desperation will we ask. It is the sense of not being spiritually real that causes us to ask. Have you ever asked out of the depths of your total insufficiency and poverty? "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God..." (James 1:5), but be sure that you do lack wisdom before you ask. You cannot bring yourself to the point of spiritual reality anytime you choose. The best thing to do, once you realize you are not spiritually real, is to ask God for Holy Spirit, basing your request on the promise of Jesus Christ (See Luke 11:13). The Holy Spirit is the one who makes everything that Jesus did for you real in life.
"Everyone who asks receives...." This does not mean you will not get if you do not ask, but it means that until you come to the point of asking, you will not receive form God (see Matthew 5:45). To be able to receive means that you have come into the relationship of a child of God, and then you comprehend and appreciate mentally, morally, and with spiritual understanding, that these things come from God.
"If any of you lacks wisdom...." If you realize that you are lacking, it is because you have come in contact with spiritual reality - do not put the blinders of reason on again. The word ask actually means "beg." Some people are poor enough to be interested in their poverty, and some of us are poor enough spiritually to show our lust, not out of our poverty. A pauper does not ask out of any reason other than the completely hopeless and painful condition of his poverty. He is not ashamed to beg - blessed are the paupers in spirit (see Matthew 5:3)
~ Luke 11:10
"For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened."
~ James 1:5
"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."
~ Luke 11:13
"If you then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give the Holy Spirit to those who ask him!"
~ Matthew 5:45
"that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous."
~ Matthew 5:3
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."
How true it is that the hardest thing to do is ask for help! I have always hated asking for help, no matter what the circumstances are. (unless it got to the point of putting my family in jeopardy of going without) I guess you can call that a pride issue. I have finally realized that asking for help is something that absolutely has to be done, whether it be something physically needed or spiritually. I know in the four years Steve and I have been married, the first two were the absolute hardest. We did have to ask for help, as much as I hated asking, there was no way we would have survived without it.
The same goes for asking God for spiritual help. You have to realize how poor you are to ask for help. Unlike having to ask for help from other people, I WANT to be a pauper when asking God for his guidance wisdom. I am not ashamed to admit that I will always need and want his help. I want to receive his blessing and know they came from him. Too many times, people take for granted what they are truly blessed by God with. There have been so many times in my life where I have said "Thank you Jesus for...," but did I truly know that God blessed me, or was I just saying this out of relief that it happened? (Or out of habit?) I by no means am saying that I wont ever take something for granted again, but I will say that my eyes are wide open, and I will know that God has blessed many for any given reason! I will always ask for him, and pray to him!
Thank you Lord for opening my eyes!! I am proud to be a pauper of God! The way I see it, the more "poor" I am the "richer I will get spiritually!!
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
What's Next To Do?
I have decided to start daily devotions from the book My Utmost For His Highest by Oswald Chambers! I want a closer more personal walk with God! So Today is the first day!
"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:17)
Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment.
When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Examine where you have become sluggish, where you began losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do. You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it. But now you have no insight or discernment, and at the time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.
The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create you own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in you life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know..." (John 7:17).
I have always believed in God, and tried living the life I thought was "good," but looking back, I didn't have the relationship I needed with him. As a child I was not raised in a church environment, but when I was able to drive I started going to church on my own. It has always been so frustrating to sit in a Sunday school class or a church sermon, and not understand what the lesson is on. I, to this day, still don't know some of the most common Bible stories that children learned growing up. When I read Taegan the stories out of his Children's Bible, not only is he learning something, but I am too. I want so desperately to be able to walk in to an "adult" Sunday school and not just sit there lost as we are being taught the lesson. I want to be able to participate in the discussions and know what I am talking about. In doing these devotions, I pray I will be able to better understand things, and gain a closer intimate relationship in my walk with God. Steve and I have been going to church here in Columbus every week, for a couple months now, and we hope to find a Sunday school class that best suits us. I am so excited to get back in a routine of going to Church! I will admit that We didn't go as much as we should have back in SC, especially when Steve was gone to basic and AIT, and I know this is no excuse, but it was so hard to walk in that church service without Steve every Sunday. I can't remember one time that I would go to a service and not cry because I didn't have my Steve with me. Although the services were wonderful, my heart was just so broken, and I believe that is where my walk with God faded. I am determined and very excited on getting back on track with my spiritual relationship, not only for myself, but for my family as well! I want Taegan and Jocelyn to know, love and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I believe and know that they will lead by my example. I want to show and teach them how precious a relationship with God is, not by me telling them, but by them seeing my relationship with him. Prayers are more than welcomed, and much needed! :)
"If you know these things, blessed are you if you do them" (John 13:17)
Be determined to know more than others. If you yourself do not cut the lines that tie you to the dock, God will have to use a storm to sever them and to send you out to sea. Put everything in your life afloat upon God, going out to sea on the great swelling tide of His purpose, and your eyes will be opened. If you believe in Jesus, you are not to spend all your time in the calm waters just inside the harbor, full of joy, but always tied to the dock. You have to get out past the harbor into the great depths of God, and begin to know things for yourself - begin to have spiritual discernment.
When you know that you should do something and you do it, immediately you know more. Examine where you have become sluggish, where you began losing interest spiritually, and you will find that it goes back to a point where you did not do something you knew you should do. You did not do it because there seemed to be no immediate call to do it. But now you have no insight or discernment, and at the time of crisis you are spiritually distracted instead of spiritually self-controlled. It is a dangerous thing to refuse to continue learning and knowing more.
The counterfeit of obedience is a state of mind in which you create you own opportunities to sacrifice yourself, and your zeal and enthusiasm are mistaken for discernment. It is easier to sacrifice yourself than to fulfill your spiritual destiny, which is stated in Romans 12:1-2. It is much better to fulfill the purpose of God in you life by discerning His will than it is to perform great acts of self-sacrifice. "Behold, to obey is better than sacrifice..." (1 Samuel 15:22). Beware of paying attention or going back to what you once were, when God wants you to be something that you have never been. "If anyone wills to do His will, he shall know..." (John 7:17).
I have always believed in God, and tried living the life I thought was "good," but looking back, I didn't have the relationship I needed with him. As a child I was not raised in a church environment, but when I was able to drive I started going to church on my own. It has always been so frustrating to sit in a Sunday school class or a church sermon, and not understand what the lesson is on. I, to this day, still don't know some of the most common Bible stories that children learned growing up. When I read Taegan the stories out of his Children's Bible, not only is he learning something, but I am too. I want so desperately to be able to walk in to an "adult" Sunday school and not just sit there lost as we are being taught the lesson. I want to be able to participate in the discussions and know what I am talking about. In doing these devotions, I pray I will be able to better understand things, and gain a closer intimate relationship in my walk with God. Steve and I have been going to church here in Columbus every week, for a couple months now, and we hope to find a Sunday school class that best suits us. I am so excited to get back in a routine of going to Church! I will admit that We didn't go as much as we should have back in SC, especially when Steve was gone to basic and AIT, and I know this is no excuse, but it was so hard to walk in that church service without Steve every Sunday. I can't remember one time that I would go to a service and not cry because I didn't have my Steve with me. Although the services were wonderful, my heart was just so broken, and I believe that is where my walk with God faded. I am determined and very excited on getting back on track with my spiritual relationship, not only for myself, but for my family as well! I want Taegan and Jocelyn to know, love and accept Jesus Christ as their Lord and Saviour. I believe and know that they will lead by my example. I want to show and teach them how precious a relationship with God is, not by me telling them, but by them seeing my relationship with him. Prayers are more than welcomed, and much needed! :)
Thursday, June 2, 2011
day 15- put you ipod on shuffle: first 10 songs that play
1. We Belong Together - Steven Curtis Chapman
2. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
3. Remembering You - Steven Curtis Chapman
4. Who Will Love Me - Tonic Sol-fa
5. Stonger - Kanye West
6. Cinderella - Steven Cutis Chapman
7. Thriller - Michael Jackson
8. Someday - Plain White T's
9. I Will Be Here - Steve Curtis Chapman
10. Daughter - Pearl Jam
2. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
3. Remembering You - Steven Curtis Chapman
4. Who Will Love Me - Tonic Sol-fa
5. Stonger - Kanye West
6. Cinderella - Steven Cutis Chapman
7. Thriller - Michael Jackson
8. Someday - Plain White T's
9. I Will Be Here - Steve Curtis Chapman
10. Daughter - Pearl Jam
Lonely Days!
From 6am until 2pm my TV is locked on Disney Channel.......No, he does not watch TV all day, he will glance at it as he plays, but mostly he is occupied with all his 10,000 toys spread across my house on a daily basis! However, if I even think about changing the channel, it doesn't matter if he is upstairs in his room playing, he will run down here and scold me and make me change it back! When I say scold, he will say "Mommy, no sir, (because that what we tell him when he's doing something wrong) turn it back to Toodles! One, Two......I'm going to pop you!" (Notice he didn't say three.......that's because I never get to three when he's getting in trouble. haha) Or sometimes instead of him saying "I'm going to pop you" he will say "Go to timeout right now mommy!" So inevitably, the channel changes back to Disney while he doesn't watch it and continues to play with his toys!
When Barkley comes in in the afternoons to cool off, that's when Taegan ever so generously give him all of his uneaten food and when the real fun starts!! I'm pretty sure those two share a brain when they are together! When Taegan is getting into something (such as a tube of tooth paste) Barkley is right there beside him helping him! Taegan will get on his little toy truck he scoots around on and tortures that poor dog by running him down! Then he will get on his scooter skateboard and chase him for an hour straight and Barkley just plays right along! They both love it and I love watching them......i just have to zone out the screaming portion of it all! (oh, this is all while poor little Jocelyn is trying to take her naps, and if she's not taking a nap, she is just sitting there starring and them like they are insane!)
For the rest of the afternoon and evening there are various comments about things being "redicious" (ridiculous), a lot of "no sirs" (to me and from me), tons of books he gets me to read to him, toys flying through the house, Taegan "flying" through the house on his toys, bunches of kisses and "she's a cute girl, mommy!" comments for sissy, and play time with daddy when he gets home from work!
Bath time - it's either a good things or an absolute horror story depending on if we wash his hair or not! (seriously) Bubble baths are always his favorite, and he has loads of toys to play with. He will spend an hour at least in the tub playing, but on the days we have to wash his hair, I'm almost positive we get a bath too! Lots of kicking and screaming, and he will tell us to give him towel ever 2 seconds because he knows that water is in his eyes........even when his face is completely dry! It's interesting to say the least!
Bed Time - He is so funny, he now will not go to bed until it is completely dark outside. No matter how tired he is, he will watch the window until he can not see light anymore and say "it's dark now!" Then and only then will he get into his bed! We read him a story out of his Bible, he will say his prayers, and there will be a lot of "I love you's," "goodnights," "see you tomorrows," "sleep goods," and "see you laters!" (can you tell he's trying to stall?) 10 minutes later you will hear him yell for one of us to come up there. When we get in there he says "I'm so thirsty" our response "Taegan you just drank a whole cup of water" he then says "I'm so hungry".......how can you say no to that??? Thirty is one thing, but hungry??? So we now have a nightly routine where he gets a pack of crackers to eat in bed! He thinks this is the most amazing thing ever, he loves have a bedtime snack IN BED! (and by morning, the crackers are IN BED with him) So funny!
I love my days with Taegan, he keeps me going everyday, so now you can see why I have been so lost and not knowing what to do with myself since he's been gone. I'm so happy he is having so much fun with our family, and I wont cut his vacation short just because I miss him so much, but I can't wait to get him back!!
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