"These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you WILL have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I HAVE overcome the world." John 16:33
Been awhile, I know...I have been going through some trials lately, as we all do and I'm trying to draw into God to experience true peace. I guess I just always expected as a Christian life would always be easy and hunky-dory(sp?). God didn't promise that though did He? He DID promise that though trials come He is there to lead and guide us, to mold us and bring us out of those trials.
I've started a new Bible study called Trading Panic for Peace: A Study of the 23rd Psalm by Kristen Sauder, the same author of the God Seeker study. It has been great but I've still been struggling to have a regular time set aside with Him. I can't use any excuses because there aren't any. All I can do is, once again, try to get back on the right track of a regular time with Him. I'm hoping to reflect on this new study as I go through it and hopefully minister to someone else along the way...
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Breaking the silence...briefly
The last night of my God Seeker Bible study is tomorrow night. I am still struggling with regaining the passion and excitement I had this past summer. I blame it on being busy back to work and being tired from the pregnancy but I know God doesn't accept excuses. I pray every day that God will deliver me of my laziness. We have fall break coming up this next week so I'm hoping a vacation to the mountains will help get me refocused and reenergized. I know, it shouldn't take that. We'll see...
Sunday, August 30, 2009
A blogging fast...
"Even now," declares the LORD, "return to me with all your heart, with fasting and weeping and mourning." Joel 2:12
People fast for different reasons, for a need they are trusting God for or just to draw closer to Him. People also fast many things as a sign of sacrifice...food, drink, TV. I know it also says in the Bible not to shout it from the mountaintops that one is fasting but I thought I should explain why I won't be blogging for a while. I am fasting this blog for a time. In my last blog, Repetitive Slacker, I talked about distractions that can take our time and attention away from spending time with God. At the time I didn't feel like my blogging was a distraction but I have to admit it has come to that. I stay so tired and haven't felt real great lately that anything extra has become a distraction. I hate to say it but I have even come to dread blogging on this site because I feel like I'm constantly beating myself up for the lack of motivation I have right now in my devotion time with God.
So, I am fasting blogging on this site until I can get my spiritual act together. I am ashamed to have to admit this but I'm getting desperate for some changes in my level of joy, peace, and energy! I will try to continue my other blog, Sugar, Spice, N Puppy Dog Tails, because most of my posts are just pictures which don't take too long but if that one starts eating at my time and energy, I may just have to fast it too.
If you think of me, pray for me that I will regain some energy and motivation toward getting back on the God Seeking wagon. Humbling to admit I'm trying to just hang onto that wagon right now, but I'm at that point...
People fast for different reasons, for a need they are trusting God for or just to draw closer to Him. People also fast many things as a sign of sacrifice...food, drink, TV. I know it also says in the Bible not to shout it from the mountaintops that one is fasting but I thought I should explain why I won't be blogging for a while. I am fasting this blog for a time. In my last blog, Repetitive Slacker, I talked about distractions that can take our time and attention away from spending time with God. At the time I didn't feel like my blogging was a distraction but I have to admit it has come to that. I stay so tired and haven't felt real great lately that anything extra has become a distraction. I hate to say it but I have even come to dread blogging on this site because I feel like I'm constantly beating myself up for the lack of motivation I have right now in my devotion time with God.
So, I am fasting blogging on this site until I can get my spiritual act together. I am ashamed to have to admit this but I'm getting desperate for some changes in my level of joy, peace, and energy! I will try to continue my other blog, Sugar, Spice, N Puppy Dog Tails, because most of my posts are just pictures which don't take too long but if that one starts eating at my time and energy, I may just have to fast it too.
If you think of me, pray for me that I will regain some energy and motivation toward getting back on the God Seeking wagon. Humbling to admit I'm trying to just hang onto that wagon right now, but I'm at that point...
Thursday, August 27, 2009
Repetitive slacker...
Once again, I have slumped into the mode of slacking on this God seeking journey. I am so ashamed to have to admit that. I just stay so tired right now that I can't drag myself out of bed in the mornings and then as soon as Riley goes to sleep at night, off to bed I go. In the God Seeker book, it talks about sacrificing things to spend that time with Him...TV time, shopping time, computer time. I honestly don't watch much TV and I rarely shop. Now I do spend some time on the computer with my blogs but really not much at all. The biggest sacrifice for me is my time sleeping! Lazy, I know. Deep down I think that I might not feel so tired if I were cutting out 30 minutes of sleep to spend time with God because his joy and peace would totally reign in my life. Make sense...less sleep, more time with God, more energy.
It's embarrassing to have to admit such a weakness but maybe the embarrassment and bearing my soul to readers will give me a kick in the right direction. Once again, I'm going to try...
Just a quick note about this week's Bible study, we had 11 which was great. This included two new people who I hope will decide to return. I did not feel confident with my preparation going into this week's study...no handout, just planned to walk through the lessons for the week. My personality almost forces me to have an outline or a list for everything to keep me focused so I felt like it could have gone better. We had good conversations about our bodies being the temple thanks to the new covenant so we take God's presence with us everywhere we go. Yet it is still a good idea to set a place aside as your "tent of meeting" so there's a clear location and purpose for spending time with God. That was one of the best things that I ever did as a step in the right direction toward seeking God. But of course, my laziness has kept that tent empty too many times in the past few weeks...
Anyway, the class went okay but my perfectionist personality really felt like I could have been more prepared and done a better job. Just pray that I kick this laziness bug to the curb this week!
It's embarrassing to have to admit such a weakness but maybe the embarrassment and bearing my soul to readers will give me a kick in the right direction. Once again, I'm going to try...
Just a quick note about this week's Bible study, we had 11 which was great. This included two new people who I hope will decide to return. I did not feel confident with my preparation going into this week's study...no handout, just planned to walk through the lessons for the week. My personality almost forces me to have an outline or a list for everything to keep me focused so I felt like it could have gone better. We had good conversations about our bodies being the temple thanks to the new covenant so we take God's presence with us everywhere we go. Yet it is still a good idea to set a place aside as your "tent of meeting" so there's a clear location and purpose for spending time with God. That was one of the best things that I ever did as a step in the right direction toward seeking God. But of course, my laziness has kept that tent empty too many times in the past few weeks...
Anyway, the class went okay but my perfectionist personality really felt like I could have been more prepared and done a better job. Just pray that I kick this laziness bug to the curb this week!
Monday, August 24, 2009
Our body, a temple
"Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own;" I Corinthians 6:19
Many churches pride themselves on the decor of their interiors, especially the sanctuary. I know it's all just cosmetic but when I think about it I wonder if God ever thinks we're trying to impress him by "putting on the dog." The truth of the matter is that God doesn't care how fancy or plain our churches are as long as we invite Him in. The same goes for our bodies. Since the new covenant we tecnhically don't have to go to a temple to be in God's presence because WE are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. And no, God doesn't care how fancy or plain OUR temples are as long as we invite Him in!
This week's study focuses on setting up a tent of meeting for our time with God but it also points out that it really doesn't matter where we go because the temple goes with us if Jesus is in our hearts. How awesome is that?! Yet at the same time I do believe having a temple (church) to worship at as well as a personal tent of meeting in our houses serves a very important role in our walk with God. Our flesh is weak so the presence of a physical temple, be it church or at home, reminds us of our purpose on the God Seeking journey. It keeps us focused in such a loud and distracting world.
Many churches pride themselves on the decor of their interiors, especially the sanctuary. I know it's all just cosmetic but when I think about it I wonder if God ever thinks we're trying to impress him by "putting on the dog." The truth of the matter is that God doesn't care how fancy or plain our churches are as long as we invite Him in. The same goes for our bodies. Since the new covenant we tecnhically don't have to go to a temple to be in God's presence because WE are now the temple of the Holy Spirit. And no, God doesn't care how fancy or plain OUR temples are as long as we invite Him in!
This week's study focuses on setting up a tent of meeting for our time with God but it also points out that it really doesn't matter where we go because the temple goes with us if Jesus is in our hearts. How awesome is that?! Yet at the same time I do believe having a temple (church) to worship at as well as a personal tent of meeting in our houses serves a very important role in our walk with God. Our flesh is weak so the presence of a physical temple, be it church or at home, reminds us of our purpose on the God Seeking journey. It keeps us focused in such a loud and distracting world.
Sunday, August 23, 2009
Location, Location, Location
"Moses took his tent and pitched it outside the camp, far from the camp, and called it the tabernacle of meeting. And it came to pass that everyone who sought the Lord went out the the tabernacle of meeting which was outside the camp." Exodus 33:7
This week's chapter is called "God Seekers have a place to meet with God." Before I started this I had heard people talk about having a prayer closet or a family altar in their house. I just never really got that concept. But when I started down this journey and got serious about blocking out distractions and focusing on truly seeking God I saw the importance of a specific place for meeting with God. I tried different places, the front porch, my bedroom but everywhere I went I was distracted by things or noises going on in the house. So finally I migrated to the far corner of our basement and built my "tent of meeting." (The story of the "tent of meeting" will come this week!) It's nothing spectacular but it is devoted to my time with God. Something about going to this place that has a specific purpose helps me to truly focus on my time with God. Hey if Moses can use a shabby tent to seek God, I think God is pleased with any location devoted to Him.
As I finish this chapter and prepare for this week's Bible study I'll go into more detail behind the why of a specific location for seeking God and how it can truly set you up for some quality time with God.
This week's chapter is called "God Seekers have a place to meet with God." Before I started this I had heard people talk about having a prayer closet or a family altar in their house. I just never really got that concept. But when I started down this journey and got serious about blocking out distractions and focusing on truly seeking God I saw the importance of a specific place for meeting with God. I tried different places, the front porch, my bedroom but everywhere I went I was distracted by things or noises going on in the house. So finally I migrated to the far corner of our basement and built my "tent of meeting." (The story of the "tent of meeting" will come this week!) It's nothing spectacular but it is devoted to my time with God. Something about going to this place that has a specific purpose helps me to truly focus on my time with God. Hey if Moses can use a shabby tent to seek God, I think God is pleased with any location devoted to Him.
As I finish this chapter and prepare for this week's Bible study I'll go into more detail behind the why of a specific location for seeking God and how it can truly set you up for some quality time with God.
Thursday, August 20, 2009
14...
So to explain yesterday's Wordless Wednesday, 14 was the number of people we had at the Bible study last night! That's more than double what we had last week. Now some people jokingly accused me of paying people to come but I think it was more of a God thing! It blessed my socks off to have so many people eager to start on a God seeking journey with me!
We started the night off by taking prayer requests and praying for each other. Then we got into chapter 1, God Seekers Accept the Invitation to Seek God. Let me share some of the highlights of our study and conversations.
We talked about the multiple times in the scripture that God invites us to seek Him...
“And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with ALL of your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
Then I posed the question, are you satisfied with the level of intimacy in your relationship with the Lord? We had some great conversations with this and talked about how the word intimacy seems to be a word that describes a married couple and that some of us (me included) had trouble thinking about being intimate with someone else, even if it is God. Yet we have to get out of that comfort zone and build that intimate relationship with God so that we can talk to Him, cry out to Him, and hear his voice. We sing a song that I feel likes describes an intimate relationship with God...
The more I seek You, the more I find You.
The more I find You, the more I love You.
I want to sit at Your feet,
Drink from the cup in Your hand,
Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat.
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming!
That's the type of intimate relationship we should have with our Heavenly Father! One just like I have with my earthly father and husband but even closer.
We decided that God never hides from us but sometimes it feels like it when a prayer is not immediately answered or we're going through difficulties. He is always shouting "Here I AM" through works He does in our lives but also through the beauty of His creation, an unexpected word of encouragement from a friend, and a multitude of other ways.
A lot of our conversations revolved around what keeps us from seeking God...the "dailies" of life...work, grocery shopping, taking care of the kids, fixing dinner. Our true priorities shine through in the amount of time we spend doing things. If we dare right down the schedule of our day and compare how much time we spend seeking God to doing the "dailies" most of us would be quite embarrassed. Yet God is still there, waiting for us to "make" time for Him.
We closed by thinking about our personal commitment we wanted to make to the Lord and this God seeking journey. I thought the class went well and really enjoyed how those who shared ministered to my heart as well as others. I'm praying for a similar number next week if not larger!
We started the night off by taking prayer requests and praying for each other. Then we got into chapter 1, God Seekers Accept the Invitation to Seek God. Let me share some of the highlights of our study and conversations.
We talked about the multiple times in the scripture that God invites us to seek Him...
“And you will seek me and find me when you search for me with ALL of your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
"But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33
Then I posed the question, are you satisfied with the level of intimacy in your relationship with the Lord? We had some great conversations with this and talked about how the word intimacy seems to be a word that describes a married couple and that some of us (me included) had trouble thinking about being intimate with someone else, even if it is God. Yet we have to get out of that comfort zone and build that intimate relationship with God so that we can talk to Him, cry out to Him, and hear his voice. We sing a song that I feel likes describes an intimate relationship with God...
The more I seek You, the more I find You.
The more I find You, the more I love You.
I want to sit at Your feet,
Drink from the cup in Your hand,
Lay back against You and breathe, feel Your heartbeat.
This love is so deep, it's more than I can stand.
I melt in Your peace, it's overwhelming!
That's the type of intimate relationship we should have with our Heavenly Father! One just like I have with my earthly father and husband but even closer.
We decided that God never hides from us but sometimes it feels like it when a prayer is not immediately answered or we're going through difficulties. He is always shouting "Here I AM" through works He does in our lives but also through the beauty of His creation, an unexpected word of encouragement from a friend, and a multitude of other ways.
A lot of our conversations revolved around what keeps us from seeking God...the "dailies" of life...work, grocery shopping, taking care of the kids, fixing dinner. Our true priorities shine through in the amount of time we spend doing things. If we dare right down the schedule of our day and compare how much time we spend seeking God to doing the "dailies" most of us would be quite embarrassed. Yet God is still there, waiting for us to "make" time for Him.
We closed by thinking about our personal commitment we wanted to make to the Lord and this God seeking journey. I thought the class went well and really enjoyed how those who shared ministered to my heart as well as others. I'm praying for a similar number next week if not larger!
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