Humility:
1:25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
2:9 “Things which eye has not seen and ear has not heard,
And which have not entered the heart of man,
All that God has prepared for those who love Him.”
3:18-20 Let no man deceive himself. If any man among you thinks that he is wise in this age, he must become foolish, so that he may become wise. 19 For the wisdom of this world is foolishness before God. For it is written, “He is the one who catches the wise in their craftiness”; 20 and again, “The Lord knows the reasonings of the wise, that they are useless.”
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
Wednesday, December 5, 2012
Matthew 16-20
Matthew 16:24-25 talks about giving up our lives for the sake of Christ. That scares me and brings me right back to my fear of an unloving God. While I understand that giving up my purpose and plan is ultimately best for me, I still tend to think I know what is best for me. (Grrr... stupid pride again) I always freak out when I read this verse and think of the things that are most dear to me--my family. Would God really hurt them or take them away from me? What would be the purpose in that? What would He be teaching me? Can I learn that lesson without the pain of loss? Maybe I am just crazy, but this is the train of thought that goes through my head EVERY SINGLE TIME I read these verses.
Wednesday, November 28, 2012
Isaiah 26-30
As expected, the baby's arrival (and presence) makes a devotional time tougher than ever. This morning, I was determined! I did not go back to bed after feeding Kirsi. I did not give up once Knox joined me in my quiet time. I did not skim while stopping every two seconds to say, "Be gentle with your sister." and "Don't touch her head, please." It felt like a success when I finally made it to my last chapter for the day and found rich and wonderful words.
(30:1-3) I am the rebellious child who loves to execute my own plan and often forgets to consult my Lord. I am so guilty of seeking my own solutions (running to Egypt) rather than following God in His plan. I am so guilty of "doing" when I should be repenting, resting, trusting, and being quiet (v.15). Despite all my failings, Gog longs to be gracious (v.18). That boggles my mind. I am usually so suspicious that I am failing and that God is long suffering as He waits to correct me once again. There is no verse to back that thought because it is my own misguided thinking. Yes, God does correct us, but there is more to Him than that. He loves us and cares for us and "...waits on high to have compassion..." (v.18). Just because I fear failure and the loss of relationships because of my inadequacies does not mean that God is constantly waiting to correct me or that He gets tired of my failures. Verses 23-26 further illustrate this point. God provides rain, and growth, and water, and light... He provides life in its fullness and heals His children.
I know there is more to this passage than what I am getting out of it. There was so much I read today that I don't understand. However, I am thankful for the parts that I do understand and that I was able to take the time to read, process, and write about it all in the same day.
(30:1-3) I am the rebellious child who loves to execute my own plan and often forgets to consult my Lord. I am so guilty of seeking my own solutions (running to Egypt) rather than following God in His plan. I am so guilty of "doing" when I should be repenting, resting, trusting, and being quiet (v.15). Despite all my failings, Gog longs to be gracious (v.18). That boggles my mind. I am usually so suspicious that I am failing and that God is long suffering as He waits to correct me once again. There is no verse to back that thought because it is my own misguided thinking. Yes, God does correct us, but there is more to Him than that. He loves us and cares for us and "...waits on high to have compassion..." (v.18). Just because I fear failure and the loss of relationships because of my inadequacies does not mean that God is constantly waiting to correct me or that He gets tired of my failures. Verses 23-26 further illustrate this point. God provides rain, and growth, and water, and light... He provides life in its fullness and heals His children.
I know there is more to this passage than what I am getting out of it. There was so much I read today that I don't understand. However, I am thankful for the parts that I do understand and that I was able to take the time to read, process, and write about it all in the same day.
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
Psalm 101-105
I have really enjoyed reading Psalms lately. My heart is singing its own praise a lot these days and I enjoy reading others' praise as well.
There were a few verses that stood out to me...
101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; This is tough for me because it is an issue that requires balance. I immediately think of the TV that we watch. I don't think that it is detrimental, but I don't think there is a lot of worth to what we watch. There are a lot of things in my life that have no eternal value. I have seen people try to clean these things out of their lives and it tends to become legalistic for them. I don't want to go down that road, but I am not sure what to do with the "fluff" in my own life. Is it pleasure that God provides or is a distraction from a life devoted to Christ?
102:18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. I wonder at the eternal nature of God's story. The generations past lived a life that is a direct part of our faith and life today. To read the words of a man who knew that amazes me. Yes, I try to pass on faith and values to my kids, but how much do I think beyond that? This man realized that the story would continue for generations far beyond his time and desired that his words would influence those people (me) to praise the Lord.
There were a few verses that stood out to me...
101:3 I will set no worthless thing before my eyes; This is tough for me because it is an issue that requires balance. I immediately think of the TV that we watch. I don't think that it is detrimental, but I don't think there is a lot of worth to what we watch. There are a lot of things in my life that have no eternal value. I have seen people try to clean these things out of their lives and it tends to become legalistic for them. I don't want to go down that road, but I am not sure what to do with the "fluff" in my own life. Is it pleasure that God provides or is a distraction from a life devoted to Christ?
102:18 This will be written for the generation to come, That a people yet to be created may praise the Lord. I wonder at the eternal nature of God's story. The generations past lived a life that is a direct part of our faith and life today. To read the words of a man who knew that amazes me. Yes, I try to pass on faith and values to my kids, but how much do I think beyond that? This man realized that the story would continue for generations far beyond his time and desired that his words would influence those people (me) to praise the Lord.
Sunday, November 18, 2012
2 Kings 21-25
I didn't glean a lot from this passage, but there were two things that really struck me. First, Josiah influenced the heart of God with his wholehearted devotion. The fact that we have a God who is amazingly powerful and just yet loves us enough to listen is incredible. Second, Josiah wasn't that successful as a dad. How do you gain the attention of God with your devotion to him, yet have a son who is evil? Perhaps it was just the will of God and had nothing to do with Josiah's parenting, but the shift that occurs between generations was pretty dramatic. However, it was part of God's plan as He was ready to punish His people for generations of sin.
Saturday, November 17, 2012
Blessings
Friday, November 16, 2012
Romans 11-16
This is probably one of my favorite passages in all of Scripture. It makes it really hard to pick something to write about because there is SO MUCH good stuff in here. The whole book of Romans so so rich. I love it.
Romans 11:33-12:2 is probably my all time favorite passage in the Bible. There have been so many times when I long to know God's will for me. Other times, I needed the courage to live for Christ instead of my friends. Now, I simply love the "Therefore" best of all. God is astoundingly amazing, THEREFORE, do your part. Knox is constantly asking "why?" these days. I can't tell him to obey because I am so amazingly wonderful and powerful and good, but that is exactly what God does.
I love this passage in Romans because it is so practical. There have been ten chapters explaining the gospel in incredible depth. This section tells us how to go about living our faith. There are gems that stand out to me like, Romans 14:23 Whatever is not from faith is sin. I found that verse at a time when I thought I had things pretty well sorted out. :) Ha! The theme for me this morning was living as a body. I am apt to hole up and take care of myself--especially when stressed (by things like a baby who could come at any time). It is still important to love, encourage, strengthen, and simply interact with those around me.
Romans 11:33-12:2 is probably my all time favorite passage in the Bible. There have been so many times when I long to know God's will for me. Other times, I needed the courage to live for Christ instead of my friends. Now, I simply love the "Therefore" best of all. God is astoundingly amazing, THEREFORE, do your part. Knox is constantly asking "why?" these days. I can't tell him to obey because I am so amazingly wonderful and powerful and good, but that is exactly what God does.
I love this passage in Romans because it is so practical. There have been ten chapters explaining the gospel in incredible depth. This section tells us how to go about living our faith. There are gems that stand out to me like, Romans 14:23 Whatever is not from faith is sin. I found that verse at a time when I thought I had things pretty well sorted out. :) Ha! The theme for me this morning was living as a body. I am apt to hole up and take care of myself--especially when stressed (by things like a baby who could come at any time). It is still important to love, encourage, strengthen, and simply interact with those around me.
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Matthew 11-15
Matthew 11:28-30 Come to Me all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.
This has always been a tough passage for me. I wasn't even sure I wanted to meditate on it this morning. As I continued reading, however, the bigger picture came into view for me. Jesus asks us to come to Him and to become part of his mission. From there, the passage focuses on the Pharisees who were clearly not aligning themselves with Jesus' mission along with sharp rebuke for them. The next series of stories are parables about heaven (seven to be exact). Jesus is sharing the big picture with those who would listen. After this, there seems to be some testing, or "hands on learning" for the disciples. Chapter 15 brings us back to the Pharisees who have learned nothing and demonstrate that with more nit picky questions about traditions.
It is difficult for me to come to Jesus and trust in His plan for me because I am too caught up in myself. It was a little bit startling to read about the seed in the thorny soil (13:21) that falls away because he has no firm root "in himself". I am very familiar with this story, but those words had never stood out to me like that before. When the disciples are asked to feed the five thousand, they reply "We have..." (14:17). It was so obvious this morning that it isn't about me, my strength, my resources, my abilities or my anything. It is about Jesus and whether I will trust Him or not.
Thankfully, we have the disciples. They were a little slow to catch on too. They encourage me because they did show growth. Peter trusted Jesus and got out of the boat (14:28-30). While he was choked with worry, it was temporary. Jesus asked him, "...why did you doubt?" (14:31) The question is past tense. Peter trusted Jesus to walk on the water, doubted when the wind picked up and trusted Jesus to save him. When Jesus asked the disciples to feed the four thousand, they asked Him where they would get enough food. They didn't deny the possibility of feeding the crowd this time, but they knew their resources lacked.
I realize that the Bible is not written in an exact chronological order, however, I believe the Bible is written to teach. Passages that once seemed to random to me, now seem to have a greater purpose. (This is why I read about five chapters at a time instead of one or a few verses) I get so excited when the bigger picture makes sense and reinforces the lesson in a smaller section of Scripture.
This has always been a tough passage for me. I wasn't even sure I wanted to meditate on it this morning. As I continued reading, however, the bigger picture came into view for me. Jesus asks us to come to Him and to become part of his mission. From there, the passage focuses on the Pharisees who were clearly not aligning themselves with Jesus' mission along with sharp rebuke for them. The next series of stories are parables about heaven (seven to be exact). Jesus is sharing the big picture with those who would listen. After this, there seems to be some testing, or "hands on learning" for the disciples. Chapter 15 brings us back to the Pharisees who have learned nothing and demonstrate that with more nit picky questions about traditions.
It is difficult for me to come to Jesus and trust in His plan for me because I am too caught up in myself. It was a little bit startling to read about the seed in the thorny soil (13:21) that falls away because he has no firm root "in himself". I am very familiar with this story, but those words had never stood out to me like that before. When the disciples are asked to feed the five thousand, they reply "We have..." (14:17). It was so obvious this morning that it isn't about me, my strength, my resources, my abilities or my anything. It is about Jesus and whether I will trust Him or not.
Thankfully, we have the disciples. They were a little slow to catch on too. They encourage me because they did show growth. Peter trusted Jesus and got out of the boat (14:28-30). While he was choked with worry, it was temporary. Jesus asked him, "...why did you doubt?" (14:31) The question is past tense. Peter trusted Jesus to walk on the water, doubted when the wind picked up and trusted Jesus to save him. When Jesus asked the disciples to feed the four thousand, they asked Him where they would get enough food. They didn't deny the possibility of feeding the crowd this time, but they knew their resources lacked.
I realize that the Bible is not written in an exact chronological order, however, I believe the Bible is written to teach. Passages that once seemed to random to me, now seem to have a greater purpose. (This is why I read about five chapters at a time instead of one or a few verses) I get so excited when the bigger picture makes sense and reinforces the lesson in a smaller section of Scripture.
Wednesday, November 14, 2012
Isaiah 21-25
Random point of interest: In verse 21:3 it talks about pain in the loins like that of childbirth. I have decided that this verse in itself proves that the Bible was not written by man, but by God. What man thinks of such things? :)
The Big Picture: I have struggled with reading prophecy for a very long time... ever since I figured out that I couldn't figure it out. Why read what I can't understand? The way I read the Bible though takes me through the ENTIRE Bible though and so I read it. I was reading in Revelation earlier this year with a lot of prayer. I especially hate Revelation because I don't think it predicts the future so much, but yet, that is what most everyone talks about when they discuss Revelation. God showed me that those passages are about His glory, authority, control and victory. I did not need to be looking for "what" so much as "Who". The same principle has been useful in reading through Isaiah. Over and over, God refers to himself as "The Lord God of hosts". This is true when he punishes Israel, in Kings-Chronicles and it is true in the prophecies as well. This being said, I still struggle to make relevant application to my life when I read prophetic passages.
Isaiah 22:7-14: This passage made the application thing plain as day. Basically, bad things happen and we struggle to cope completely forgetting that God allowed it to happen and wanted us to let Him lead the way through it. There is purpose to the pain--that was why He removed the protection to allow it to happen (v.8). Instead of remembering this and trusting in God (v. 11), we count our resources (v.8). We see that we come up short (v. 9), and take drastic measures to minimize the damages (v. 10). I do this all the time. The natural result is that things get worse (v.12-14)
Right now I am doing this with the baby. Thoughts of when this baby is going to come consume my thought life. I have said that I NEED this baby to come this week because next week is too busy to have a baby. At the same time, I pray that God will pick the right day for the baby to be born. Talk about fickle! Maybe the baby will come this week (not likely according to the midwife) and things will be convenient, but maybe God has another plan--one that doesn't involve me controlling every detail to make people around me happy. Maybe the timing of the birth will hurt. Maybe it needs to. The fact is, I don't know and I don't need to know. I am looking for the "what" when I need to be looking for the "Who". Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God."
The Big Picture: I have struggled with reading prophecy for a very long time... ever since I figured out that I couldn't figure it out. Why read what I can't understand? The way I read the Bible though takes me through the ENTIRE Bible though and so I read it. I was reading in Revelation earlier this year with a lot of prayer. I especially hate Revelation because I don't think it predicts the future so much, but yet, that is what most everyone talks about when they discuss Revelation. God showed me that those passages are about His glory, authority, control and victory. I did not need to be looking for "what" so much as "Who". The same principle has been useful in reading through Isaiah. Over and over, God refers to himself as "The Lord God of hosts". This is true when he punishes Israel, in Kings-Chronicles and it is true in the prophecies as well. This being said, I still struggle to make relevant application to my life when I read prophetic passages.
Isaiah 22:7-14: This passage made the application thing plain as day. Basically, bad things happen and we struggle to cope completely forgetting that God allowed it to happen and wanted us to let Him lead the way through it. There is purpose to the pain--that was why He removed the protection to allow it to happen (v.8). Instead of remembering this and trusting in God (v. 11), we count our resources (v.8). We see that we come up short (v. 9), and take drastic measures to minimize the damages (v. 10). I do this all the time. The natural result is that things get worse (v.12-14)
Right now I am doing this with the baby. Thoughts of when this baby is going to come consume my thought life. I have said that I NEED this baby to come this week because next week is too busy to have a baby. At the same time, I pray that God will pick the right day for the baby to be born. Talk about fickle! Maybe the baby will come this week (not likely according to the midwife) and things will be convenient, but maybe God has another plan--one that doesn't involve me controlling every detail to make people around me happy. Maybe the timing of the birth will hurt. Maybe it needs to. The fact is, I don't know and I don't need to know. I am looking for the "what" when I need to be looking for the "Who". Psalm 46:10 "Cease striving and know that I am God."
Tuesday, November 13, 2012
Psalm 96-100
Psalm 96:6 "...Strength and beauty are in His sanctuary."
I was raised in a very practical family. We were very careful with what we spent money
on and thought through most everything with great care. Our house was decorated (or not decorated)
simply. My parents always planned on
moving and so my Dad preferred not to do a lot to the house. Now, in my own house, the decorations are minimal
and most of the walls are bare. I have
added a few things more recently as it seems that God is teaching me about
beauty. Beauty has always seemed so unnecessary...
so worldly to me. I have even fought over whether I
should even maintain an updated wardrobe because it seemed wasteful to buy new
clothes when the ones I have are perfectly useful. This verse states otherwise (not specifically about the clothes, but about beauty in general). Lately, God has been revealing to me that he
created beauty and it is not a bad thing.
It is okay for me to spend time fixing my hair or other beautification
(as long as it does not become a thing of idolatry). It is actually good for me to provide beauty
for my family.
Providing beauty for my family and bringing beauty into our
own sanctuary\home really struck me after a conversation with my sister-in-law
last night. We were talking about what
to teach the kids about Santa. She
argued that there was so much excitement for her as a child surrounding the
story of Santa. She was absolutely right
and made me think about what made Christmas so exciting for me and my brother. For us, it was also traditions. We loved setting up the tree with our mom and
decorating the house. We loved getting
up early on Christmas morning to dig through our socks. We delighted in opening presents and eating
with family and staying up as late as we wanted to play with our new toys by
the light of the Christmas tree. This is
just one example, but it struck me at what a poor job I do of revealing beauty
to my kids. Our traditions are very few
and far between. For Christmas, our
tradition is traveling to MI and spending the time with my family. We don't do much if anything on our own as a
family. There are no seasonal
decorations in our house and we rarely (if ever) do anything just for the
beauty of it. How will my boys ever
appreciate beauty if we are not teaching them the value of it?
I like to think that we are doing a slightly better job of
showing the inward beauty that comes from the heart. (I Peter 3:3-4) I have seen the practical sense of not
pursuing fancy hair, jewelry and fancy dresses from my youth. It made sense to me to develop my inner
character (though now God is revealing more and more to me that that is really
His job!) and to develop a gentle and quiet spirit. While these final weeks of pregnancy have
challenged me in this (the things I say while driving lately...), Inward beauty
is something I long to share with my family.I guess it just amazes me that God would lump strength (an attribute I put a lot of value on) along with beauty (something I put very little value on). He values them both and they are key elements in His character and the worship of Him.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)