I'm doing the Faithful, Abundant, True Bible Study at Evergreen. Today I read the quote by Charles Spurgeon, 1861. "Surely, though we have had to mourn our disobedience with many tears and sighs, we now find joy in yielding ourselves as servants of the Lord. Our deepest desire is to do the Lord's will in all things. Oh, for obedience! It has been supposed by many ill-instructed people that the doctrine of justification by faith is opposed to the teaching of good works, or obedience. There is no truth in that supposition. We preach the obedience of faith."
A modern day version of that quote is by Bill Hybels, of Willow Creek Com. Church. "If you hear God's whisper...ACT! Or you may never hear from Him again."
Priscilla Schirer asks, "What does the expression 'delayed obedience is disobedience' mean to you?"
When God asks you to do something, change something, stop something, Priscilla calls it "A Holy Spirit-inspired action." I like that. It's like Mark Bowen's "a visceral movement: a movement of God inwardly."
Then Priscilla ends the day's study with, "Whatever God has asked you to pursue, He will accompany you to complete. You can move forward with confidence, since His ability will equip you to accomplish any task that He places before you. The time is NOW to pursue all that the Lord has for you."
Phil. 2: 15, NLT says, "God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him"
Have a great day, dear one, as you take your next steps of obedience.
Ps. If you have time to read the document in full that Spurgeon wrote, it's quite interesting: long, but interesting. The times are the same today, as then.
Monday, July 11, 2011
Tuesday, June 7, 2011
Tweets by Rick Warren
I follow Rick Warren on Twitter. I love how he tweets pithy, little statements, comments, verses. Yesterday's was on the mouth and speech. Thanks Rick.
Here they are.
"To become a master communicator: shut your mouth & listen first."
"Even fools can be thought wise & intelligent if they stay quiet & keep their mouths shut" Prov.17:28
"The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet" Prov.10:1
Here they are.
"To become a master communicator: shut your mouth & listen first."
"Even fools can be thought wise & intelligent if they stay quiet & keep their mouths shut" Prov.17:28
"The more you talk, the more likely you are to sin. If you are wise, you will keep quiet" Prov.10:1
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Heart Breakthrough
This is from a friend: on what God did in her heart in 2010: her big lessons. And what God might do in her heart in 2011. It's good stuff.
"I'm writing to you in particular today because you were the women God had close to me last year... Since I do not believe in accidents, I believe there was good purpose and the Lord's special plan for us to be together last year. 2010 was QUITE a year for me. LOTS of loss, lots of change, lots of letting go ---- and can I just say those are 3 things I have never been good at and have used a lot of energy to resist most of my life.
I remember saying something at one of our times together like I felt my life was kind of like one of those empty billboards you see that says "watch this space" or "advertise here". I don't think the billboard's new message is totally clear yet, though something big has changed in my heart and I think it's a good thing to share with you.
As you know -- I'm a thinker and it takes me a while to process things to my satisfaction, so what I share today may be revised later :) ... and I'm still very much a work in progress.
I don't really know how to put in words how GRATEFUL I am for the heartbreaking year I had last year. God is so absolutely beyond what my teeny brain can get and so much more fabulous than what my itty bitty heart can hold. I do get some things though! All of the "loss" I experienced last year (job, Mom, friends, control, income, security, comfort) was so worth it and so hugely heart changing.
I feel like a much "lighter" person for having let go of some things. And really, I didn't have a choice about the things leaving or ending or changing --- those things were going to happen anyway. But, I did have an ENORMOUS choice about how I let those changes affect me. I think somewhere along the line last year I finally got it that the changes were for my GOOD and not for my harm or hurt. There were lots of days that those changes did not FEEL good (you probably all observed some of those and had to listen to my whining). I went through plenty of mad, hurt, confused, sad, unsure days. I KNEW in my brain all along that God was at work and that He'd do something good .... but the change came when I really really really had it in my heart that ALL of HIS PLANS for my life are for my good and for HIS purpose. I sort of had to get over myself and realize that the comfort zone I had going in my life for so long, in so many areas, was getting shaken and I could either try to fight the inevitable discomfort or I could hold onto God and let Him take the pain for me.
I can't tell you exactly when that happened -- probably over time --- but it really did happen. My heart is different. My expectations of others, myself and God are different. My perspective on change is different. I'm kind of liking it ... and, of course, I have a ways to go ...
I KNOW this is true for sure ... God's not done with me, but He is at work; and I want, more than ever, to be about Him. I KNOW this also -- the things and people and comfort zones that I have let go of have made more room in my heart for new, fresh, exciting things to happen in my heart and life. I think the Holy Spirit came in and did a roto rooter major clog removal in my life. I'm learning too that a huge side benefit to letting go is that I have a new level of joy and peace. It's really nice to not feel as if I need to be in control of so many things ...
I'm CONVINCED that the benefits of accepting the changes in 2010 are setting me up for a wonderful 2011 and beyond. 2010 was a life changing year in many ways. My priorities are different and that changes everything.
Am I glad 2010 is over? YUP! It was hard --- but it was so so worth it. I am excited to see what God has in store for me in 2011 --- really excited!!!! I can feel a new posture in my heart and life with open hands -- open to let things in my life go and open to receive whatever HE has for me.
My verse for 2010 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all His works. I think it will be a lifetime verse. :)
2011 revelation --- hot off the presses. The lesson continues! In 2010 I was forced to "let go" of really BIG and IMPORTANT things and people in my life. This year I need to let go of a whole bunch of stuff. It hit me yesterday afternoon that one of the real reasons I am a "keeper" of stuff is from a root of fear ... we didn't have much growing up and I just really got it yesterday that part of my reason for having too much is that a part of me remembers not having much. THere's always the "what if" question ... So, the Lord and I have begun a conversation about if I really DO trust Him as my provider or if I have been doing a lot of my own providing. I kind of know the answer. The adventure will be in applying whatever He shows me. I don't think the unsettling of 2010 is completely over, but I am resettling into a new place with God and it's a really good new place.
It feels like yesterday was the beginning of something really good --- I'm so glad to be in the Potter's hands. He is so patient, so gentle, so good, so unchanging, so persistent and so WORTH IT. I can tell there is something different in my heart already -- an excitement and willingness to let go of stuff --- and I KNOW there is freedom and joy on the other side. (still, I'll need prayer to break old patterns of thought and behavior) please do pray :)
Bottom line and motto: HIS WAY IS BETTER!!!!"
"I'm writing to you in particular today because you were the women God had close to me last year... Since I do not believe in accidents, I believe there was good purpose and the Lord's special plan for us to be together last year. 2010 was QUITE a year for me. LOTS of loss, lots of change, lots of letting go ---- and can I just say those are 3 things I have never been good at and have used a lot of energy to resist most of my life.
I remember saying something at one of our times together like I felt my life was kind of like one of those empty billboards you see that says "watch this space" or "advertise here". I don't think the billboard's new message is totally clear yet, though something big has changed in my heart and I think it's a good thing to share with you.
As you know -- I'm a thinker and it takes me a while to process things to my satisfaction, so what I share today may be revised later :) ... and I'm still very much a work in progress.
I don't really know how to put in words how GRATEFUL I am for the heartbreaking year I had last year. God is so absolutely beyond what my teeny brain can get and so much more fabulous than what my itty bitty heart can hold. I do get some things though! All of the "loss" I experienced last year (job, Mom, friends, control, income, security, comfort) was so worth it and so hugely heart changing.
I feel like a much "lighter" person for having let go of some things. And really, I didn't have a choice about the things leaving or ending or changing --- those things were going to happen anyway. But, I did have an ENORMOUS choice about how I let those changes affect me. I think somewhere along the line last year I finally got it that the changes were for my GOOD and not for my harm or hurt. There were lots of days that those changes did not FEEL good (you probably all observed some of those and had to listen to my whining). I went through plenty of mad, hurt, confused, sad, unsure days. I KNEW in my brain all along that God was at work and that He'd do something good .... but the change came when I really really really had it in my heart that ALL of HIS PLANS for my life are for my good and for HIS purpose. I sort of had to get over myself and realize that the comfort zone I had going in my life for so long, in so many areas, was getting shaken and I could either try to fight the inevitable discomfort or I could hold onto God and let Him take the pain for me.
I can't tell you exactly when that happened -- probably over time --- but it really did happen. My heart is different. My expectations of others, myself and God are different. My perspective on change is different. I'm kind of liking it ... and, of course, I have a ways to go ...
I KNOW this is true for sure ... God's not done with me, but He is at work; and I want, more than ever, to be about Him. I KNOW this also -- the things and people and comfort zones that I have let go of have made more room in my heart for new, fresh, exciting things to happen in my heart and life. I think the Holy Spirit came in and did a roto rooter major clog removal in my life. I'm learning too that a huge side benefit to letting go is that I have a new level of joy and peace. It's really nice to not feel as if I need to be in control of so many things ...
I'm CONVINCED that the benefits of accepting the changes in 2010 are setting me up for a wonderful 2011 and beyond. 2010 was a life changing year in many ways. My priorities are different and that changes everything.
Am I glad 2010 is over? YUP! It was hard --- but it was so so worth it. I am excited to see what God has in store for me in 2011 --- really excited!!!! I can feel a new posture in my heart and life with open hands -- open to let things in my life go and open to receive whatever HE has for me.
My verse for 2010 But as for me, the nearness of God is my good; I have made the Lord GOD my refuge, That I may tell of all His works. I think it will be a lifetime verse. :)
2011 revelation --- hot off the presses. The lesson continues! In 2010 I was forced to "let go" of really BIG and IMPORTANT things and people in my life. This year I need to let go of a whole bunch of stuff. It hit me yesterday afternoon that one of the real reasons I am a "keeper" of stuff is from a root of fear ... we didn't have much growing up and I just really got it yesterday that part of my reason for having too much is that a part of me remembers not having much. THere's always the "what if" question ... So, the Lord and I have begun a conversation about if I really DO trust Him as my provider or if I have been doing a lot of my own providing. I kind of know the answer. The adventure will be in applying whatever He shows me. I don't think the unsettling of 2010 is completely over, but I am resettling into a new place with God and it's a really good new place.
It feels like yesterday was the beginning of something really good --- I'm so glad to be in the Potter's hands. He is so patient, so gentle, so good, so unchanging, so persistent and so WORTH IT. I can tell there is something different in my heart already -- an excitement and willingness to let go of stuff --- and I KNOW there is freedom and joy on the other side. (still, I'll need prayer to break old patterns of thought and behavior) please do pray :)
Bottom line and motto: HIS WAY IS BETTER!!!!"
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Tuesday, April 27, 2010
Life Goes By
How many times, in how many ways, in how many different blogs, do I need to apologize for abandoning my writing? 77 times 7. But I'm back, and happy to be back, though it may continue to be sporadic.
A Great Commission Woman. What is she? She is a woman, whose life is fully devoted to Christ, and is fully devoted to going the distance of making disciples of all nations.
So what is this Great Commission woman up to? My spiritual tectonic plates are in upheaval. Just as earthquakes are increasing, so are the spiritual activities in my life increasing. Let me give you a peak into my 'topography.'
Son number one just left his girlfriend of 3 years, whom he left WIFE # 1 for. He was 'in love.' Now he's fallen 'out of love'. He's lonely. But he's not interested in peeking into a relationship with God again. Or yet.
Son number two is getting married in July. Son number two is also unemployed and looking for employment.
Son number three has two more weeks of college before he graduates. He has a photography business to develop. He has a girl he is interested in.
So what does this have to do with me? It is developing me FURTHER in the area of PRAYER. And Sunday's message at Evergreen-Blm. was so apropos. It was on worry and prayer.I think in future days, I will make this site all about prayer.
For now, I will give you a synopsis of what Spencer spoke about. And it comes in a nutshell. Philippians 4: 6-9 is the verse passage: "Don't worry about anything: INSTEAD Pray about EVERYTHING. Tell God what you need, and Don't forget to THANK HIM for what He has done.
Then it talks about our thought life. "Fix your thoughts on " ... all that is good. And DO..."practise ALL you have heard from me and see in me.'
Spencer could have written the thoughts into a memorable, little song: "Pray like you oughta pray. Think like you oughta think. Do what you oughta do." I think I'll suggest it.
Anyway...it's been one of the best messages at Evergreen. I told Brent this, and he replied, "Yeah...whenever you teach on worry....EVERYONE LISTENS. Cuz EVERYONE'S worrying about something."
A Great Commission Woman. What is she? She is a woman, whose life is fully devoted to Christ, and is fully devoted to going the distance of making disciples of all nations.
So what is this Great Commission woman up to? My spiritual tectonic plates are in upheaval. Just as earthquakes are increasing, so are the spiritual activities in my life increasing. Let me give you a peak into my 'topography.'
Son number one just left his girlfriend of 3 years, whom he left WIFE # 1 for. He was 'in love.' Now he's fallen 'out of love'. He's lonely. But he's not interested in peeking into a relationship with God again. Or yet.
Son number two is getting married in July. Son number two is also unemployed and looking for employment.
Son number three has two more weeks of college before he graduates. He has a photography business to develop. He has a girl he is interested in.
So what does this have to do with me? It is developing me FURTHER in the area of PRAYER. And Sunday's message at Evergreen-Blm. was so apropos. It was on worry and prayer.I think in future days, I will make this site all about prayer.
For now, I will give you a synopsis of what Spencer spoke about. And it comes in a nutshell. Philippians 4: 6-9 is the verse passage: "Don't worry about anything: INSTEAD Pray about EVERYTHING. Tell God what you need, and Don't forget to THANK HIM for what He has done.
Then it talks about our thought life. "Fix your thoughts on " ... all that is good. And DO..."practise ALL you have heard from me and see in me.'
Spencer could have written the thoughts into a memorable, little song: "Pray like you oughta pray. Think like you oughta think. Do what you oughta do." I think I'll suggest it.
Anyway...it's been one of the best messages at Evergreen. I told Brent this, and he replied, "Yeah...whenever you teach on worry....EVERYONE LISTENS. Cuz EVERYONE'S worrying about something."
Friday, January 29, 2010
Prodigals
A friend just sent me a note, saying this: "Our children are sometimes meant to be a living example of the fact that we do not inherit our faith -- we choose it for ourselves -- God had children, but no grandchildren. "
What's your response?
What's your response?
Friday, January 22, 2010
From Our Egreen: an Eprayer
E-Prayer:: $10,000 was collected this past weekend at Evergreen for Kids Against Hunger. This brings our grand total to $35,000. Praise God for this! We’ve got two all-day pack-a-thons coming up on February 20 and 27. These will be logistically challenging events to pull off. Pray that God would grant plenty of grace to the team of people organizing this. Pray that God would create in us a greater heart for the lost through participation in the pack-a-thons. And pray that non-Evergreeners would participate with us.
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