A friend of mine is blogging, I want to take a look at a Scripture passage she used.
(Hebrews 4:15-16) "For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are - yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
In my Woman's Devotional Bible there is some commentary on this passage.
"Jesus as our high priest, offered the ultimate sacrifice of his own body so that no other sin offering will ever be required. When he hung on the cross, the curtain preventing access to the Most Holy Place ripped in two (see Matthew 27:51). Now everyone has access to the mercy seat. Our great high priest has opened the way for everyone to confidently enter the throne room of God."
I have struggled ( and still struggle) with lack of confidence, doubt, and fear. It gives me great joy to know that God wants me, urges me, to come to Him WITH CONFIDENCE!
This is also stated in 2 Corinthians 5:21, "God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God."
Maybe this concept is just too simple for some folks. I feel there is much debate over this, that we must add something to our grace. Jesus +. Jesus + "I go to church" Jesus + "I will help the poor" Jesus + "I am going to get better at respecting, showing love, doing good" Jesus + "other good human beings"
NO! Acts 4:12 says "Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved."
I used to feel that if I just tried hard enough, then I could get good enough, I could earn light, life, goodness. Or maybe if I just do what some other good people do, and look to them to give me answers. That did not work. I only felt like I was falling further, and further in despair and failure.
I love what Paul says, 2 Corinthians 6:2 "I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation."
It is now! And once I realized that, everything fell into place. I have been having the image of a puzzle this week. I felt, my whole life I was gathering pieces to a puzzle, but they never seeming to quite fit together right. Jesus came along and put it together for me! But, I have the image in my mind and on my heart, that there is one piece (a corner piece) still not in place because that will be what I recieve when I go home. When my work here on earth is done, and the job God set before me is done according to His will. And everyday God gives me here, I am getting a clearer and clearer picture of what is on that puzzle. How my life fits into the bigger picture God is painting.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
Christ's power
"But he said to me, ' My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me."(2 Corinthians 12:9)
This weekend was amazing. I am proud of my husband for following the will of God with me in standing before our church and confessing his sins with me to proclaim the power of Christ. I felt his love and protection, just as I feel the love of God. I just have to brag on him! In our weakness together, we were made stronger!! I am so proud of my husband, for giving himself for me and for the sake of God's kingdom!
Ephesians 5:25 commands, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Christ died that we might live, He humbled himself to the cross. Christian husbands, you have the incredible task of humbling yourself for your wife's sake! For me, I pray that I might heed the instruction, Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."
I have to say, that as much as I wanted Zach to do card board testimony with me, I did allow him to make that descision on his own. Throughout the week, I found myself holding my tonge, wanting to tell him it was the right thing to do! I remembered something my cousin Ana did one time when I went fishing with her and her husband, Mike, one summer. We had driven up to a lake to go fishing, and Mike said when we got there that it may start to storm, and we should not go out. It seemed to me and Ana that it was not about to storm, and we wanted to go out on the lake since we had driven so far! I said to Ana, "Tell him we should go out, we have time!" Ana said calmly, "It has to be his idea."
I was pretty floored, when he finally said, "Ok, lets go out just a little ways, so we will have the chance to get in if it starts to rain."
I looked at Ana and asked, "Does that work every time??" (Me, not being married yet). She smiled and said, "No, but if I had told him what to do, that would have just made him mad and we would be back in the car right now." Then she said, "I know he really wants to take us out on the lake, it just needs to be on his terms."
How amazing!! Now, I am not saying I was perfect in submitting to my husband this week. In fact, I confess that I was starting to make suggestions as to what his testimony should say when he told me he was not sure about the right words to use. But in the end, it was on his terms, in his own words. I will get better as I go along in our marriage. I have faith, just like Ana, that he really wants my best interest at heart.
This weekend was amazing. I am proud of my husband for following the will of God with me in standing before our church and confessing his sins with me to proclaim the power of Christ. I felt his love and protection, just as I feel the love of God. I just have to brag on him! In our weakness together, we were made stronger!! I am so proud of my husband, for giving himself for me and for the sake of God's kingdom!
Ephesians 5:25 commands, "Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her." Christ died that we might live, He humbled himself to the cross. Christian husbands, you have the incredible task of humbling yourself for your wife's sake! For me, I pray that I might heed the instruction, Ephesians 5:22 "Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord."
I have to say, that as much as I wanted Zach to do card board testimony with me, I did allow him to make that descision on his own. Throughout the week, I found myself holding my tonge, wanting to tell him it was the right thing to do! I remembered something my cousin Ana did one time when I went fishing with her and her husband, Mike, one summer. We had driven up to a lake to go fishing, and Mike said when we got there that it may start to storm, and we should not go out. It seemed to me and Ana that it was not about to storm, and we wanted to go out on the lake since we had driven so far! I said to Ana, "Tell him we should go out, we have time!" Ana said calmly, "It has to be his idea."
I was pretty floored, when he finally said, "Ok, lets go out just a little ways, so we will have the chance to get in if it starts to rain."
I looked at Ana and asked, "Does that work every time??" (Me, not being married yet). She smiled and said, "No, but if I had told him what to do, that would have just made him mad and we would be back in the car right now." Then she said, "I know he really wants to take us out on the lake, it just needs to be on his terms."
How amazing!! Now, I am not saying I was perfect in submitting to my husband this week. In fact, I confess that I was starting to make suggestions as to what his testimony should say when he told me he was not sure about the right words to use. But in the end, it was on his terms, in his own words. I will get better as I go along in our marriage. I have faith, just like Ana, that he really wants my best interest at heart.
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Card board testimonies
(Galations 2:20) " I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me."
This Sunday, 1/23/11, I have been asked to participate with about 50 other members of my church in card board testimony. A before and after Christ in our lives. This will be a challenge for me, and a shot at my pride and therefore; I know I have to do it.
go to this link to get an idea of what we will be doing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxojHiZoto.
God wants us to share His love with the world, and allow His healing and light in the dark places of our lives. I gladly obey.
This Sunday, 1/23/11, I have been asked to participate with about 50 other members of my church in card board testimony. A before and after Christ in our lives. This will be a challenge for me, and a shot at my pride and therefore; I know I have to do it.
go to this link to get an idea of what we will be doing: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5rxojHiZoto.
God wants us to share His love with the world, and allow His healing and light in the dark places of our lives. I gladly obey.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Ask, seek, knock
My mom had a great post regarding patience in the life of a Christain. Romans 8:25 "But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Observing this passage- But is a structural indicator meaning a contrast-points out dissimilarities between throughts or ideas. The prior verse says, "Who hopes for what he already has?" so in contrast to that is v 25. "Hope" and "wait" are present tense verbs and patiently is the adj that discribes how we wait. The definition of wait: To remain in expectation. The definition of hope: To wish for something with expectation. In the noun form, "hope" is a desire accompanied by confident expectation.
Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." But what exactly are we to DO while we wait?? I ask. Even when I am sitting in a doctor's waiting room, I need to be DOING something while I wait. I struggle with being patient, and I am really no good at waiting. I think God is using the things that I am wanting for in order to bring me closer to Him. Yesterday, Zach said, "I think we should ask God for this." In Matt 7:7 Jesus commands us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Ok, that's a little better for me, it's active; I can ask, I can knock, and I can seek! We prayed that morning together, and I was in tears, pleading with God to allow the hopes and dreams of my heart to become reality. Later in the day, I was at one of my patient's home, a family that only speaks Spanish, very minimal English. But somehow, we got into a conversation about how great God is!! And how much we love the Lord, Jesus! Background: This mother and father have a severely disabled child. Then they asked to pray for me!!! This was extremely humbling. I said, sure, yes; that would be great, thinking they would later go in their room tonight and mention me in their prayers. But no!! This faithful man of God, the father of one of my most difficult and severe patients, jumped up and grabbed my hand! He led me and his wife in prayer, pleading with God in Spanish, the same desires of my heart Zach and I had asked that morning!! It reminded me, that God doesn't just speak English, He is not white. He transends race, color, language, and cultures!! He is the God who Comforts us all!! This family, that I have to call in a translator to talk to them about their son, prayed a prayer that I could understand perfectly!
Psalm 40:1 "I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry." But what exactly are we to DO while we wait?? I ask. Even when I am sitting in a doctor's waiting room, I need to be DOING something while I wait. I struggle with being patient, and I am really no good at waiting. I think God is using the things that I am wanting for in order to bring me closer to Him. Yesterday, Zach said, "I think we should ask God for this." In Matt 7:7 Jesus commands us, "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you." Ok, that's a little better for me, it's active; I can ask, I can knock, and I can seek! We prayed that morning together, and I was in tears, pleading with God to allow the hopes and dreams of my heart to become reality. Later in the day, I was at one of my patient's home, a family that only speaks Spanish, very minimal English. But somehow, we got into a conversation about how great God is!! And how much we love the Lord, Jesus! Background: This mother and father have a severely disabled child. Then they asked to pray for me!!! This was extremely humbling. I said, sure, yes; that would be great, thinking they would later go in their room tonight and mention me in their prayers. But no!! This faithful man of God, the father of one of my most difficult and severe patients, jumped up and grabbed my hand! He led me and his wife in prayer, pleading with God in Spanish, the same desires of my heart Zach and I had asked that morning!! It reminded me, that God doesn't just speak English, He is not white. He transends race, color, language, and cultures!! He is the God who Comforts us all!! This family, that I have to call in a translator to talk to them about their son, prayed a prayer that I could understand perfectly!
Sunday, January 9, 2011
God's love for you.
Go to Fathersloveletter.com for an easier to read, this I just copied and pasted from the website.
AN INTIMATE MESSAGE FROM GOD TO YOU.
AN INTIMATE MESSAGE FROM GOD TO YOU.
My Child...
You may not know me, but I know everything about you. Psalm 139:1 you rise up. Psalm 139:2 I am familiar with all your ways. Psalm 139:3 numbered. Matthew 10:29-31 For you were made in my image. Genesis 1:27 your being. Acts 17:28 For you are my offspring. Acts 17:28 I knew you even before you were conceived. Jeremiah 1:4-5 I chose you when I planned creation. Ephesians 1:11-12 You were not a mistake, for all your days are written in my book. Psalm 139:15-16 I determined the exact time of your birth and where you would live. Acts 17:26 You are fearfully and wonderfully made. Psalm 139:14 I knit you together in your mother's womb. Psalm 139:13 And brought you forth on the day you were born. Psalm 71:6 I have been misrepresented by those who don't know me. John 8:41-44 I am not distant and angry, but am the complete expression of love. 1 John 4:16 And it is my desire to lavish my love on you. 1 John 3:1 Simply because you are my child and I am your Father. 1 John 3:1 I offer you more than your earthly father ever could. Matthew 7:11 For I am the perfect father. Matthew 5:48 Every good gift that you receive comes from my hand. James 1:17 For I am your provider and I meet all your needs. Matthew 6:31-33 My plan for your future has always been filled with hope. Jeremiah 29:11 Because I love you with an everlasting love. Jeremiah 31:3 My thoughts toward you are countless as the sand on the seashore. Psalms 139:17-18 And I rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:17 I will never stop doing good to you. Jeremiah 32:40 For you are my treasured possession. Exodus 19:5 I desire to establish you with all my heart and all my soul. Jeremiah 32:41 And I want to show you great and marvelous things. Jeremiah 33:3 If you seek me with all your heart, you will find me. Deuteronomy 4:29 Delight in me and I will give you the desires of your heart. Psalm 37:4 For it is I who gave you those desires. Philippians 2:13 I am able to do more for you than you could possibly imagine. Ephesians 3:20 For I am your greatest encourager. 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 I am also the Father who comforts you in all your troubles. 2 Corinthians 1:3-4 When you are brokenhearted, I am close to you. Psalm 34:18 As a shepherd carries a lamb, I have carried you close to my heart. Isaiah 40:11 One day I will wipe away every tear from your eyes. Revelation 21:3-4 And I'll take away all the pain you have suffered on this earth. Revelation 21:3-4 I am your Father, and I love you even as I love my son, Jesus. John 17:23 For in Jesus, my love for you is revealed. John 17:26 He is the exact representation of my being. Hebrews 1:3 He came to demonstrate that I am for you, not against you. Romans 8:31 And to tell you that I am not counting your sins. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 Jesus died so that you and I could be reconciled. 2 Corinthians 5:18-19 His death was the ultimate expression of my love for you. 1 John 4:10 I gave up everything I loved that I might gain your love. Romans 8:31-32 If you receive the gift of my son Jesus, you receive me. 1 John 2:23 And nothing will ever separate you from my love again. Romans 8:38-39 Come home and I'll throw the biggest party heaven has ever seen. Luke 15:7 I have always been Father, and will always be Father. Ephesians 3:14-15 My question is...Will you be my child? John 1:12-13 I am waiting for you. Luke 15:11-32
Love, Your Dad
Almighty God
* Words paraphrased from the Holy Bible ©1999-2008 FathersLoveLetter.com
I know when you sit down and when Even the very hairs on your head are In me you live and move and have
Friday, January 7, 2011
Don't give in.
Reflecting on The Temptation of Jesus in the wilderness. One thing that struck me in Matthew 4:1-11, is how the devil tempts Jesus. And one way is he actually quotes God's word! Satan can use Scripture out of context to try to trick us!! That is very scary. See v. 6-7. Jesus rebukes Satan by standing firm with knowledge of who God is and who we are as God's created beings. Satan says, "He...will lift you up..lest you dash your foot against a stone." from Psalm 91. (when trying to make Jesus think it's a good idea to throw himself down off a cliff) But, Jesus knows that it is our job to "not put the Lord your God to the test" from Deut. 6:16.
This is such a temptation in my life. I think, ok God, you must be so impressed by me. I pray, work with sick children, am good to my husband, so things should go pretty smooth for me right? Then shocked, when things are actually more difficult at times. The enemy would like me to think, "does God not love me? Did God forget about me?" God is actually strengthening me through fire and trials, and he will always protect me.
Before that, Satan tempts hungry Jesus to use His power to turn the rocks into bread. Jesus is starving, he has not eaten for 40 days!! Nobody would have really blamed Him for turning the stones to bread, it's not that big of a deal. Oh man, how many times have I fallen to sin in this situation rather than resisted the temptation? To use my power to meet my needs, rather than exercise self control and delayed gratification. I get grouchy when I get the slightest bit hungry, and think its ok to snap at Zach or other friends just cause I am hungry. Or justify myself in anger and self pity, because friends didn't do something I thought that they should do for me. That is not what God wants for us, and it is the enemy trying to pull us away from God's love. Jesus is the only man on earth, in all history, who resisted such temptations. With His help, we can resist them also!
Don't give in.
Lord, Thank you for your forgiveness. You have washed me clean and I am white as snow. Help me to live a life that reflects what you have done for me. Help me to not forget Your love for me! I could not live without You, on Christ the solid rock I stand! Amen.
This is such a temptation in my life. I think, ok God, you must be so impressed by me. I pray, work with sick children, am good to my husband, so things should go pretty smooth for me right? Then shocked, when things are actually more difficult at times. The enemy would like me to think, "does God not love me? Did God forget about me?" God is actually strengthening me through fire and trials, and he will always protect me.
Before that, Satan tempts hungry Jesus to use His power to turn the rocks into bread. Jesus is starving, he has not eaten for 40 days!! Nobody would have really blamed Him for turning the stones to bread, it's not that big of a deal. Oh man, how many times have I fallen to sin in this situation rather than resisted the temptation? To use my power to meet my needs, rather than exercise self control and delayed gratification. I get grouchy when I get the slightest bit hungry, and think its ok to snap at Zach or other friends just cause I am hungry. Or justify myself in anger and self pity, because friends didn't do something I thought that they should do for me. That is not what God wants for us, and it is the enemy trying to pull us away from God's love. Jesus is the only man on earth, in all history, who resisted such temptations. With His help, we can resist them also!
Don't give in.
Lord, Thank you for your forgiveness. You have washed me clean and I am white as snow. Help me to live a life that reflects what you have done for me. Help me to not forget Your love for me! I could not live without You, on Christ the solid rock I stand! Amen.
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Don't give up.
To finish up my thoughts from yesterdays post. 1 thing to note is this. Jesus wins, God wins always. Aubrey wrote on her blog yesterday, that God is a God much bigger than you or I, and maybe, just maybe, He knows best. A pastor at the Christmas Eve service in the Woodlands told this story to illustrate.
His dog had found and ingested serveal bottles of pills, Tylenol, Benadryl, and Advil. The dog had no idea that now, he was going to die of overdose. His owner jumped to action trying to get the dog to the vet and get his stomach pumped. The dog fought his owner the entire way, would not get in the car, barking, and tried to run when they got to the vet. All the dog knew was that the owner was making things uncomfortable for him! The owner thought to himself, I wish I could turn myself into a dog, so I could speak his language and tell him I am saving his life. Well, that is what God did for us. He turned himself into a human, came to us here on earth, and spoke our language to tell us we were killing ourselves in sin and we better not only listen but do what he says. And here's another kicker. The dog can't do anything to save himself, it is now up to the owner to get the job done. And that is grace. Jesus came and did it all.
Ok, with God, there is always more. So here's a bite of juicy steak for you. Matthew 3. John the baptist is preparing the way for Jesus. He is warning the people to repent of their sins, while also saying v.11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." When Jesus arrives on the scene, he asks to be baptized by John, John disagrees, but Jesus says, v. 15 "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus is doing several things here, He is completing a public act of humility-which God publicly honors Him for later with the dove and saying "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased" v. 17 Jesus is also recognizing John's ministery-as He himself, is the ultimate baptizer- that it is pleasing to God. Just like my water baptism this year did not save me, it is a symbol of what God does within us. Someone once said, it is like your wedding ring. If you took off your wedding ring, your still married, that doesn't change, but baptizm is like the wedding ring is to marriage, it is a symbol of your love and gratitude to God. It is an act of humility, and God will bless you for it. I can say that, because that is what I experienced in July 2010.
His dog had found and ingested serveal bottles of pills, Tylenol, Benadryl, and Advil. The dog had no idea that now, he was going to die of overdose. His owner jumped to action trying to get the dog to the vet and get his stomach pumped. The dog fought his owner the entire way, would not get in the car, barking, and tried to run when they got to the vet. All the dog knew was that the owner was making things uncomfortable for him! The owner thought to himself, I wish I could turn myself into a dog, so I could speak his language and tell him I am saving his life. Well, that is what God did for us. He turned himself into a human, came to us here on earth, and spoke our language to tell us we were killing ourselves in sin and we better not only listen but do what he says. And here's another kicker. The dog can't do anything to save himself, it is now up to the owner to get the job done. And that is grace. Jesus came and did it all.
Ok, with God, there is always more. So here's a bite of juicy steak for you. Matthew 3. John the baptist is preparing the way for Jesus. He is warning the people to repent of their sins, while also saying v.11 "I indeed baptize you with water unto repentance, but He who is coming after me is mightier than I, whose sandals I am not worthy to carry. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." When Jesus arrives on the scene, he asks to be baptized by John, John disagrees, but Jesus says, v. 15 "Permit it to be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness." Jesus is doing several things here, He is completing a public act of humility-which God publicly honors Him for later with the dove and saying "This is my Son, in whom I am well pleased" v. 17 Jesus is also recognizing John's ministery-as He himself, is the ultimate baptizer- that it is pleasing to God. Just like my water baptism this year did not save me, it is a symbol of what God does within us. Someone once said, it is like your wedding ring. If you took off your wedding ring, your still married, that doesn't change, but baptizm is like the wedding ring is to marriage, it is a symbol of your love and gratitude to God. It is an act of humility, and God will bless you for it. I can say that, because that is what I experienced in July 2010.
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