I used to absolutely hate Sundays - especially Sunday afternoons. I would rather do a bad Monday than a good Sunday because of one word...DREAD. By about 1:00 p.m., the absolute dread, soon turn to panic, would set in. As hard as I tried to ignore it or talk myself out of it, the dread would come at me with an overwhelming consumption like air to a flame. It would start with just small thoughts of going back to work. Then would come the nausea. Finally, the all out too much chemical released in the brain panic. This rush of bad energy would come to rest in misery like a wet blanket. Week after week I tried to hide from it, and week after week it found me.
Slowly but surely, I began to see a change. The entire Sunday was enjoyable. Work found its proper place in my list of priorities. To be honest, for years it was #1. I am ashamed of that fact and will always feel regret over what I let work steal from my life. Sunday, my day of Sabbath, worship, study, and rest became my favorite day. Then, I began to even enjoy work again. I found contentment at home, peace at work, and near paradise in fellowship. Now, I almost (not all. I'm being honest here; not melodramatic) enjoy every moment of life. I still have bad days, tired days, and definitely hormonal days. They are days now and not entire seasons of my life.
Lo and behold if I didn't learn the why behind this transformation today in Sunday School. We are studying Ecclesiastes (my absolute favorite), and the opening chapters talk about the burnout of the daily grind. There is day. There is night. There are seasons. Nothing will change that fact. What you do, why you do it, and for Whom you are doing it makes all the difference in the world. Solomon, the man who had absolutely everything to excess, including wisdom, says it all in Ecclesiastes. You want to be content and have it all? Live life fulfilling your God given purpose. Think about it. Would you rather do something out of habit, or would you rather do something for a cause? We love a cause. Save the whales. Save the rainforest. VBS. Christian Food Mission. It doesn't matter if you are a Christian or not, you like a cause...a reason behind why you do what you do. Why? You were created with a purpose in mind. and your mind, heart, and soul long to fulfill, be engaged in that purpose.
Why have my days changed so dramatically? Why am I living life to the fullest? It has absolutely nothing to do with my circumstances because they have not changed in the least. I am married to the same person. I have the same one and only child I want. I live in the same house. I have the same job. The difference is that I now do what I do for God...all of it. God is becoming (I'm being honest) my #1.
Here was the beautiful lesson in the lesson from Ecclesiastes. It is the Hebrew word for activity. For some of us, activity is the problem. There is too much of it, and it serves no Godly purpose. We are overwhelmed and exhausted before Monday ever comes. Ready for the Hebrew word for activity?
DELIGHT.
Are you ready to delight in everything you do? Only do it if it glorifies God. Don't do it for your spouse, your children, or your employer. Don't do it for your parents or for people you think may be your friends. Do it for your maker...for the One who delighted in you when He created you!
Sunday, January 10, 2010
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Love of My Life
We spend our lives searching for or thinking we have that one great love. We have a favorite this or that. We long to be the favorite this or that. For awhile our greatest love is our parents/parent. Then as we get older, we believe a girlfriend or boyfriend is that all consuming love we think we can't live without. One day we get married to the person who we think is the absolute love of our lives. Then that thought is shattered when we have a child and realize we can't possible love anyone or thing more.
If life is the pursuit and/or transition from one object of love to the next, why isn't life perfect? God is love..right? God is perfect...right? Yes - God is love and is perfect. Somewhere along the way, we thought love would be found in this life that was perfect. Someone has made our heart race, taken away our appetites, and made sleep a non-event. That love has also ended, at times, in disappointment, heartache, frustration, tears.
We keep looking to other humans to be the lover of our souls. God created us to love HIM and to be loved by HIM. We get the love part; we just don't fully and literally realize the HIM part. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love us, protect us, and save us like nothing even Nicholas Sparks or Karen Kingsbury could capture. Our love story of saving grace is the most powerful and beautiful thing on the planet. Everyone wants love. You show me someone negative, and I'll show you someone who got unloved, underloved, or misloved (new word).
There is the great romance. There is the moment when you can't breathe. There is someone who is not only willing to die for you, but who did. There is someone who will never leave you or never hurt you. That person is Jesus Christ. We can't be loved by anyone on earth like Jesus loves us. There is such a thing as your soul mate...but it's not your spouse. It is your savior. The love of Christ is beyond this earth. It is the purpose of your creation and my creation.
Stop expecting someone to love you as the Savior does. Stop pretending you love someone that much. Let Christ love you and love through you. Forget Edward and Jacob. I'll take Jesus everyday!
If life is the pursuit and/or transition from one object of love to the next, why isn't life perfect? God is love..right? God is perfect...right? Yes - God is love and is perfect. Somewhere along the way, we thought love would be found in this life that was perfect. Someone has made our heart race, taken away our appetites, and made sleep a non-event. That love has also ended, at times, in disappointment, heartache, frustration, tears.
We keep looking to other humans to be the lover of our souls. God created us to love HIM and to be loved by HIM. We get the love part; we just don't fully and literally realize the HIM part. The Father, Son, and Holy Spirit love us, protect us, and save us like nothing even Nicholas Sparks or Karen Kingsbury could capture. Our love story of saving grace is the most powerful and beautiful thing on the planet. Everyone wants love. You show me someone negative, and I'll show you someone who got unloved, underloved, or misloved (new word).
There is the great romance. There is the moment when you can't breathe. There is someone who is not only willing to die for you, but who did. There is someone who will never leave you or never hurt you. That person is Jesus Christ. We can't be loved by anyone on earth like Jesus loves us. There is such a thing as your soul mate...but it's not your spouse. It is your savior. The love of Christ is beyond this earth. It is the purpose of your creation and my creation.
Stop expecting someone to love you as the Savior does. Stop pretending you love someone that much. Let Christ love you and love through you. Forget Edward and Jacob. I'll take Jesus everyday!
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Mind Blowing
A few months ago, I was speaking to someone who had completed Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. I was interested to hear her take on it because I was about to start the study. All she could say was, "It's going to blow your mind."
Well, last night my mind was totally and completely blown. I have learned so many things over such a short period of time it has left me stunned. Here was the biggest brain tilt: 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know it is the last hour.
What? What does he mean antichrists (plural)? I thought there was one antichrist, but it is right there...plain as day. Hold on. Take a deep breath. SATAN DOES NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS RETURNING ANY MORE THAN YOU AND I DO! So, the devil is working as if every day is the day Christ will return. He is making as much evil in as much evil as he can. He is preparing some in every generation for the possible role of THE antichrist.
Are we Christians working every day as if this is the day of the Second Coming? We know how this story begins and ends. Our role is to show the light of Christ to as many people as possible. Plant spiritual seeds. Make people want what you have - the Holy Spirit, joy, contentment, life to the fullest. Then, if today is the day, those who have accepted Christ will not be judged as the lost will be judged. Satan doesn't know the when. He is studying the Bible...watching for signs just like we do, or at least like we better be.
I was a little disturbed that last night's lesson was a new one for me. I'm still all worked up over the change it has made on my perspective. I have talked about it to people all day. Why aren't people all over talking about the fact Satan is working not knowing when Jesus is coming? You know what I think? People don't know. A lot of Christians don't know. Why? We don't know Scripture.
Let's just admit where we are and commit to learning more. For the love of Jesus, let's not let Satan use pride to keep us from learning Scripture because we don't want the people in the pew next to us to know we don't know. Let's learn. Let's love. Let's not go through the motions and play church. Let's raise our hands and praise Him because we know Him more and more each day.
Another day has ended. We are that much closer to the return of Christ. Is the antichrist ready? I don't know if he is, but I plan to be!
Well, last night my mind was totally and completely blown. I have learned so many things over such a short period of time it has left me stunned. Here was the biggest brain tilt: 1 John 2:18 Children, it is the last hour; and just as you heard that antichrist is coming, even now many antichrists have appeared; from this we know it is the last hour.
What? What does he mean antichrists (plural)? I thought there was one antichrist, but it is right there...plain as day. Hold on. Take a deep breath. SATAN DOES NOT KNOW WHEN JESUS CHRIST IS RETURNING ANY MORE THAN YOU AND I DO! So, the devil is working as if every day is the day Christ will return. He is making as much evil in as much evil as he can. He is preparing some in every generation for the possible role of THE antichrist.
Are we Christians working every day as if this is the day of the Second Coming? We know how this story begins and ends. Our role is to show the light of Christ to as many people as possible. Plant spiritual seeds. Make people want what you have - the Holy Spirit, joy, contentment, life to the fullest. Then, if today is the day, those who have accepted Christ will not be judged as the lost will be judged. Satan doesn't know the when. He is studying the Bible...watching for signs just like we do, or at least like we better be.
I was a little disturbed that last night's lesson was a new one for me. I'm still all worked up over the change it has made on my perspective. I have talked about it to people all day. Why aren't people all over talking about the fact Satan is working not knowing when Jesus is coming? You know what I think? People don't know. A lot of Christians don't know. Why? We don't know Scripture.
Let's just admit where we are and commit to learning more. For the love of Jesus, let's not let Satan use pride to keep us from learning Scripture because we don't want the people in the pew next to us to know we don't know. Let's learn. Let's love. Let's not go through the motions and play church. Let's raise our hands and praise Him because we know Him more and more each day.
Another day has ended. We are that much closer to the return of Christ. Is the antichrist ready? I don't know if he is, but I plan to be!
Sunday, January 3, 2010
All in God's Time
2010 is underway as is my commitment to read the Bible, cover to cover, this year. It will be my first TIME, and I'm super excited. In addition, our first Bible Drill meeting is today. I know it is for 4th - 6th grade, but I think I'm more excited than anyone!
Anyway, since it is the beginning of the year, I am reading Genesis. I came across something I have never really thought about, or maybe it spoke to me in particular because of where I am in life right now. Most of us are familiar with the story of Noah and the Ark. That Bible story is one of those which made its mark on Christians and non-Christians alike. We all now the basics: God found favor with Noah; didn't find favor with the rest of the world; decided to destroy all living things in a flood; told Noah to build an ark, load up his family and all the animals (2 of every kind and 7 of some others).
Sidenote: The first awesome thing I learned about this story, once I actually read it for myself, was this fact: Noah spent a long, long time building that huge boat, and it had NEVER rained on the earth. Um...do you realize what kind of obedience and blind faith that took?
Anyway, here was this morning's discovery...Noah wasn't on the boat for 40 days. You know the story. It rained for forty days and forty nights, BUT NOAH STAYED ON THAT BOAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR!!! Think about it. The water was high enough to cover all the land - even mountain tops. That kind of water is not going to disappear over night. Noah didn't leave the boat when the rain stopped. He didn't leave when the bird brought back the olive branch showing proof the water was receding. He didn't leave when the bird left and did not return. NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEFT THAT BOAT WHEN GOD SAID IT WAS TIME! Specifically, according to scripture, it was two months after the land was completely dry!
Now me...I would have bailed ship the second the rain stopped (cute rainboots or not). If I don't see sun for a few days, I get a little punchy. My eye starts to twitch a little. You know what I mean? Well, I would have been dead on the 41st day because I would have drowned. Now let's just say God saved me when I jumped and put me back on the boat. Well, when that bird brought the olive branch, I would have gone over board again and again when the bird didn't come back. It never would have crossed my mind that just because the rain stopped the ground would have been like a big ball of quicksand. Not even the Wonder Twins (do ya'll remember the Wonder Twins...Activate) could have pulled me out of that kind of mud!
God brought Noah and his family off the ark when it was safe. He tries to do that for you and me everyday...keep us in the safety of His presence. Yet, we're in a hurry. We know better. Really though, we don't. If we would just let the Man lead wouldn't things be so much smoother...not perfect, but oh so much smoother.
Let's let God do this year in His time. he is going to anyway. Let's praise Him. Worship Him. Read His word so we know for ourselves what we're being obedient to, and let Him have His time with us!
Anyway, since it is the beginning of the year, I am reading Genesis. I came across something I have never really thought about, or maybe it spoke to me in particular because of where I am in life right now. Most of us are familiar with the story of Noah and the Ark. That Bible story is one of those which made its mark on Christians and non-Christians alike. We all now the basics: God found favor with Noah; didn't find favor with the rest of the world; decided to destroy all living things in a flood; told Noah to build an ark, load up his family and all the animals (2 of every kind and 7 of some others).
Sidenote: The first awesome thing I learned about this story, once I actually read it for myself, was this fact: Noah spent a long, long time building that huge boat, and it had NEVER rained on the earth. Um...do you realize what kind of obedience and blind faith that took?
Anyway, here was this morning's discovery...Noah wasn't on the boat for 40 days. You know the story. It rained for forty days and forty nights, BUT NOAH STAYED ON THAT BOAT FOR ALMOST A YEAR!!! Think about it. The water was high enough to cover all the land - even mountain tops. That kind of water is not going to disappear over night. Noah didn't leave the boat when the rain stopped. He didn't leave when the bird brought back the olive branch showing proof the water was receding. He didn't leave when the bird left and did not return. NOAH AND HIS FAMILY LEFT THAT BOAT WHEN GOD SAID IT WAS TIME! Specifically, according to scripture, it was two months after the land was completely dry!
Now me...I would have bailed ship the second the rain stopped (cute rainboots or not). If I don't see sun for a few days, I get a little punchy. My eye starts to twitch a little. You know what I mean? Well, I would have been dead on the 41st day because I would have drowned. Now let's just say God saved me when I jumped and put me back on the boat. Well, when that bird brought the olive branch, I would have gone over board again and again when the bird didn't come back. It never would have crossed my mind that just because the rain stopped the ground would have been like a big ball of quicksand. Not even the Wonder Twins (do ya'll remember the Wonder Twins...Activate) could have pulled me out of that kind of mud!
God brought Noah and his family off the ark when it was safe. He tries to do that for you and me everyday...keep us in the safety of His presence. Yet, we're in a hurry. We know better. Really though, we don't. If we would just let the Man lead wouldn't things be so much smoother...not perfect, but oh so much smoother.
Let's let God do this year in His time. he is going to anyway. Let's praise Him. Worship Him. Read His word so we know for ourselves what we're being obedient to, and let Him have His time with us!
Friday, January 1, 2010
How Personal Is Personal?
I had the weirdest revelation in the past few days. I'm not even sure I can accurately describe, in words, what I have begun to see without sounding like I'm suffering from a heat stroke. Here goes: God has some of the same attributes as I do. Correction: I have some of the same attributes as my Heavenly Father.
I've been reading the book of Jeremiah during my morning prayer time. I don't know if it is the fact this book is longer than some, or if it was something particular to Ch. 33. While reading Ch. 33, I had the clearest picture in my mind of the fact God has a face, a back, a heart, and a mind. Chapter after chapter, God is talking to Jeremiah. The book is mostly a conversation between the two. It isn't just a five minute exchange either: "How are you? Good. Good. How are you? How is your family? Good. Well, good to see you." The Book of Jeremiah records multiple conversations...sometimes long conversations...between God and Jeremiah. I could almost see the two sitting on a rocky ledge, overlooking a beautiful valley. Some chapters they mourn over what will be the destruction of Jerusalem. Other chapters they rejoice over the future reconciliation and restoration of God's people.
As I slowly began to really think about the fact God isn't necessarily a glow in the dark blob of divinity, I had the strongest since of Him sitting right with me. Think about all the scripture that refers to God's face. God himself talks of hiding or not hiding His face. Moses is allowed to see God's back as He passes by. Scripture also refers to God's hand. Hands, an outstretched arm, a face, a back...duh...Genesis states we are created in His image. Even better, in the Book of Jeremiah, God refers to His heart and mind. Another glimpse - at the FEET of mercy.
I'm not trying to create an artist's sketch here. We do not know what God looks like. His glory is too much for us to take in with human eyes. However, that doesn't mean we don't have a glimpse. That's what Moses got. That's what we get from scripture...a glimpse.
Somehow that glimpse made Him all the more personal, closer, more intimate for me this week. I don't pray to Oz or some unknown entity. I pray to THE Almighty God who has a face, a back, a hand, an outstretched arm, a heart, and a mind! How personal? PERSONal...very PERSONal.
I've been reading the book of Jeremiah during my morning prayer time. I don't know if it is the fact this book is longer than some, or if it was something particular to Ch. 33. While reading Ch. 33, I had the clearest picture in my mind of the fact God has a face, a back, a heart, and a mind. Chapter after chapter, God is talking to Jeremiah. The book is mostly a conversation between the two. It isn't just a five minute exchange either: "How are you? Good. Good. How are you? How is your family? Good. Well, good to see you." The Book of Jeremiah records multiple conversations...sometimes long conversations...between God and Jeremiah. I could almost see the two sitting on a rocky ledge, overlooking a beautiful valley. Some chapters they mourn over what will be the destruction of Jerusalem. Other chapters they rejoice over the future reconciliation and restoration of God's people.
As I slowly began to really think about the fact God isn't necessarily a glow in the dark blob of divinity, I had the strongest since of Him sitting right with me. Think about all the scripture that refers to God's face. God himself talks of hiding or not hiding His face. Moses is allowed to see God's back as He passes by. Scripture also refers to God's hand. Hands, an outstretched arm, a face, a back...duh...Genesis states we are created in His image. Even better, in the Book of Jeremiah, God refers to His heart and mind. Another glimpse - at the FEET of mercy.
I'm not trying to create an artist's sketch here. We do not know what God looks like. His glory is too much for us to take in with human eyes. However, that doesn't mean we don't have a glimpse. That's what Moses got. That's what we get from scripture...a glimpse.
Somehow that glimpse made Him all the more personal, closer, more intimate for me this week. I don't pray to Oz or some unknown entity. I pray to THE Almighty God who has a face, a back, a hand, an outstretched arm, a heart, and a mind! How personal? PERSONal...very PERSONal.
Saturday, December 26, 2009
Counter Culture
I love a Saturday full of Bible study!!! Today was fabulous! I have moved from one stack of books and Bibles to another today...complete with my favorite ink pens and red wax pencils. If I try to read one more thing out loud to my husband he has threatened to strangle me!!!
Today's studies have been interesting because they all overlapped. Here is a kind of outline for what I worked on today: morning prayers and Bible reading (the Book of Jeremiah at the moment), a Sunday School lesson from Philippians Ch. 2, a training union lesson on the Book of Daniel with substudies from Genesis and Revelation. I just could not be any more content! Well, my studies kept hot-lapping each other. Jeremiah continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Daniel continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Genesis layed out Nimrod and the first world-ruled (world...not God) order - Babylon. Revelation depicts the final fall of the world-ruled empire - Babylon. Then there is Paul writing from prison in Rome (Babylon!!!) encouraging his fellow Christians to be Christ-like in attitude and filled with joy as a result!
My mind is blown! I need a soap box...oh yeah...the Portico is my soap box. Christians, we are to be counter-cultural. We are not to blend in with this world. We are not to compromise and find a way to straddle the fence. Contrary to what Oprah says...it is NOT all roads warm and fuzzy lead somewhere warm and fuzzy.
God did not take on the form of the king of the world. He didn't even take the form of someone wealthy, or affluent, or popular. He became a baby in the most common of places to the most common of people who were only made extraordinary by their obedience to God!!! He came as Christ to serve. He did NOT have to do that. Yet, He did to show us as much of His characteristics as is possible for man to emulate!!! We just have to choose to follow His example. You/we didn't choose a lot of our circumstances thus far, but we certainly have chosen our attitudes every day...all the way. Do you have the attitude of Christ or the attitude of our society? They are most certainly polar opposites.
Christ lived to love, to serve others, to sacrifice to the point of death. We don't even fully support our missionaries anymore! We are living in times where politics, one world order, and governments are front-line, 24/7, center of attention topics. Christians, it is time (well passed time which is why we are where we are) to be counter-cultural. The loss of your retirement plans did not end your life. If your child is like mine and got less this year, he's probably better for it. If healthcare gets sacked, we still serve and are faithful to the Great Physician.
Here is what has my attention. I don't want one penny of my taxes going to abortion. I don't want to be told where I can and can't pray. Christian radio has just as much, if not more, right to be aired than anything else. I can help someone in need without being featured in the paper. I can forgive. I can continue to love. I'm not here for the attention of others. I am here to please and glorify God.
As my day continues to spin, QVC (which I love and use) is running the captions "It's All About Me," which is exactly the title of Babylonian thinking in my Daniel study. Hhhhmmmm.
It better start being all about Him. I don't know about you,but I like the idea of living life to the fullest. Give me love, friends (true friends), security, hope. Thank you, God. You give me those things every day. Oh...my favorite...grace! How in the world and why in the world do people still pass on grace?
Today's studies have been interesting because they all overlapped. Here is a kind of outline for what I worked on today: morning prayers and Bible reading (the Book of Jeremiah at the moment), a Sunday School lesson from Philippians Ch. 2, a training union lesson on the Book of Daniel with substudies from Genesis and Revelation. I just could not be any more content! Well, my studies kept hot-lapping each other. Jeremiah continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Daniel continues to prophesy repentance prior to total destruction. Genesis layed out Nimrod and the first world-ruled (world...not God) order - Babylon. Revelation depicts the final fall of the world-ruled empire - Babylon. Then there is Paul writing from prison in Rome (Babylon!!!) encouraging his fellow Christians to be Christ-like in attitude and filled with joy as a result!
My mind is blown! I need a soap box...oh yeah...the Portico is my soap box. Christians, we are to be counter-cultural. We are not to blend in with this world. We are not to compromise and find a way to straddle the fence. Contrary to what Oprah says...it is NOT all roads warm and fuzzy lead somewhere warm and fuzzy.
God did not take on the form of the king of the world. He didn't even take the form of someone wealthy, or affluent, or popular. He became a baby in the most common of places to the most common of people who were only made extraordinary by their obedience to God!!! He came as Christ to serve. He did NOT have to do that. Yet, He did to show us as much of His characteristics as is possible for man to emulate!!! We just have to choose to follow His example. You/we didn't choose a lot of our circumstances thus far, but we certainly have chosen our attitudes every day...all the way. Do you have the attitude of Christ or the attitude of our society? They are most certainly polar opposites.
Christ lived to love, to serve others, to sacrifice to the point of death. We don't even fully support our missionaries anymore! We are living in times where politics, one world order, and governments are front-line, 24/7, center of attention topics. Christians, it is time (well passed time which is why we are where we are) to be counter-cultural. The loss of your retirement plans did not end your life. If your child is like mine and got less this year, he's probably better for it. If healthcare gets sacked, we still serve and are faithful to the Great Physician.
Here is what has my attention. I don't want one penny of my taxes going to abortion. I don't want to be told where I can and can't pray. Christian radio has just as much, if not more, right to be aired than anything else. I can help someone in need without being featured in the paper. I can forgive. I can continue to love. I'm not here for the attention of others. I am here to please and glorify God.
As my day continues to spin, QVC (which I love and use) is running the captions "It's All About Me," which is exactly the title of Babylonian thinking in my Daniel study. Hhhhmmmm.
It better start being all about Him. I don't know about you,but I like the idea of living life to the fullest. Give me love, friends (true friends), security, hope. Thank you, God. You give me those things every day. Oh...my favorite...grace! How in the world and why in the world do people still pass on grace?
Friday, December 25, 2009
A Lesson and a Gift
This post will be a little scattered because it should have been two different posts. I haven't been able to get to the Portico when I needed to over the past week or so...too busy; too, too busy! Who knows what didn't make it to the Portico because my brain shifted gears before thoughts were captured by my post-it notes. The inside of my purse is lined with post-its! I will try to be better about regular posts...for selfish reasons...it is one of my favorite things to do.
The Lesson - My training union class is doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. I love her studies on books of the Bible because you REALLY know the book when you are finished with the lesson. In her last video segment, she made a statement that rocked my heart, soul, and mind. I get rocked so often it is a wonder I don't stagger when I walk. Anyway, she was discussing being sealed. When you receive Jesus Christ in your heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit you become sealed. Meaning the Evil Onc cannot get in. He can try to trip you up from the outside world, but scripture says he CANNOT be in and/or control your thoughts and emotions. It didn't dawn on me immediately. I have heard, talked, and discussed this scriptural fact before. However, later God turned the lights in my head on high-beam. Holy revelation!!!! The Evil One doesn't know what I am thinking! Do you get how huge that is? If I am thinking and sinning in my thoughts (which I do A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT) that stinking serpent doesn't know it!!! He only knows it when I speak it or put my sin into action. Then he can jump into action and try to trip me up in the world. Do you see how important it is not to vent and not to lose your witness? It is not just about me being a stumbling block for someone else. It is also about me not tipping off the one who wants me to fail. He can only hear and see what is on the outside. I almost cried over the relief of this fact. It is painful enough that my Savior knows my sins...sees the daily failures in my mind and heart. What a relief to know the Evil One doesn't know it if I don't show it!!!! In recent days, I can assure you I have become much quieter and calmer. At first, it was intentional but it is becoming holy habit!!!
The Gift - I had the strongest urge (which I have come to know as God) to go to Christmas Eve mass this year. I have been a proclaimed Southern Baptist for about 3 or 4 years, but prior to that was Catholic. I mean born Catholic, Catholic school educated, plaid uniforms, and weekly mass Catholic. I haven't been to mass in 6 or 7 years. Yesterday, I just started having this desire to go. I knew my dad would be there, and I didn't want him to be by himself. So I thought it would be a nice Christmas present for him if I surprised him by showing up. I must confess I was pretty apprehensive about going. I knew it would bring back a flood of wonderful memories, and I wondered if I would feel the presence of God in a more powerful way. I can't really explain to you why I thought that other than the fact there is something very moving in a mass.
I was flooded by emotions. Nothing had changed in the cathedral itself. I remembered every responsive reading, prayer, and psalm and loved being a part. I loved being there with and for my dad. It was obvious it meant a lot to him. While I did feel close to the Lord, I didn't feel Him any more or less than I do at my home church. For some reason, maybe affirmation, I was tickled to death to experience that. I also heard the most powerful homily (sermon) by the priest on salvation I may have ever heard. I wanted to stand in the pew and shout amen! That would have been different in mass! The priest laid it out there...a beautiful explanation of you and I being reconciled to Him by accepting Christ into our hearts. I was dumbfounded. Was this homily the first time I ever heard the plan of salvation in mass, or was it always here and I didn't hear it? I'm still very curious about the whole thing. I felt like the whole experience was a gift from God. Here was the gift: I took my Bible with me. If you have never been to a mass, all the readings come from the Bible. Yes, the same Bible used by Southern Baptists. However, most Catholics don't carry their Bible, highlight it, study it. That was my gift from God this year: to see how much I love my Bible. I needed it in my hands. I opened it and read the readings from its pages. I will return to a church on Sunday where I will study it for Sunday School, read from it during the sermon, study again the Book of Daniel in training union. Next week (thank you K.S), I will be part of Bible drill for the first time in my life. I can hardly wait! I love the Word of God. There cannot be too much exposure to it!
Praise God. Worship Him. For His love, study His Word.
The Lesson - My training union class is doing Beth Moore's study on the Book of Daniel. I love her studies on books of the Bible because you REALLY know the book when you are finished with the lesson. In her last video segment, she made a statement that rocked my heart, soul, and mind. I get rocked so often it is a wonder I don't stagger when I walk. Anyway, she was discussing being sealed. When you receive Jesus Christ in your heart and are filled with the Holy Spirit you become sealed. Meaning the Evil Onc cannot get in. He can try to trip you up from the outside world, but scripture says he CANNOT be in and/or control your thoughts and emotions. It didn't dawn on me immediately. I have heard, talked, and discussed this scriptural fact before. However, later God turned the lights in my head on high-beam. Holy revelation!!!! The Evil One doesn't know what I am thinking! Do you get how huge that is? If I am thinking and sinning in my thoughts (which I do A WHOLE, WHOLE LOT) that stinking serpent doesn't know it!!! He only knows it when I speak it or put my sin into action. Then he can jump into action and try to trip me up in the world. Do you see how important it is not to vent and not to lose your witness? It is not just about me being a stumbling block for someone else. It is also about me not tipping off the one who wants me to fail. He can only hear and see what is on the outside. I almost cried over the relief of this fact. It is painful enough that my Savior knows my sins...sees the daily failures in my mind and heart. What a relief to know the Evil One doesn't know it if I don't show it!!!! In recent days, I can assure you I have become much quieter and calmer. At first, it was intentional but it is becoming holy habit!!!
The Gift - I had the strongest urge (which I have come to know as God) to go to Christmas Eve mass this year. I have been a proclaimed Southern Baptist for about 3 or 4 years, but prior to that was Catholic. I mean born Catholic, Catholic school educated, plaid uniforms, and weekly mass Catholic. I haven't been to mass in 6 or 7 years. Yesterday, I just started having this desire to go. I knew my dad would be there, and I didn't want him to be by himself. So I thought it would be a nice Christmas present for him if I surprised him by showing up. I must confess I was pretty apprehensive about going. I knew it would bring back a flood of wonderful memories, and I wondered if I would feel the presence of God in a more powerful way. I can't really explain to you why I thought that other than the fact there is something very moving in a mass.
I was flooded by emotions. Nothing had changed in the cathedral itself. I remembered every responsive reading, prayer, and psalm and loved being a part. I loved being there with and for my dad. It was obvious it meant a lot to him. While I did feel close to the Lord, I didn't feel Him any more or less than I do at my home church. For some reason, maybe affirmation, I was tickled to death to experience that. I also heard the most powerful homily (sermon) by the priest on salvation I may have ever heard. I wanted to stand in the pew and shout amen! That would have been different in mass! The priest laid it out there...a beautiful explanation of you and I being reconciled to Him by accepting Christ into our hearts. I was dumbfounded. Was this homily the first time I ever heard the plan of salvation in mass, or was it always here and I didn't hear it? I'm still very curious about the whole thing. I felt like the whole experience was a gift from God. Here was the gift: I took my Bible with me. If you have never been to a mass, all the readings come from the Bible. Yes, the same Bible used by Southern Baptists. However, most Catholics don't carry their Bible, highlight it, study it. That was my gift from God this year: to see how much I love my Bible. I needed it in my hands. I opened it and read the readings from its pages. I will return to a church on Sunday where I will study it for Sunday School, read from it during the sermon, study again the Book of Daniel in training union. Next week (thank you K.S), I will be part of Bible drill for the first time in my life. I can hardly wait! I love the Word of God. There cannot be too much exposure to it!
Praise God. Worship Him. For His love, study His Word.
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