Friday night I was setting up chairs for our monthly iRecite Bible memorization group when I realized that in the three ministries I've been involved in since I moved to Orlando, I've always been responsible for setting up chairs. It's a great metaphor for the way I want to serve God.
Lord, help me to set up circumstances where people can find you.
Saturday, February 2, 2013
Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Faithful
"[Joesph's] faithful attention to duty in every station, from the lowliest to the most exalted, had been training every power for its highest service....There are few who realize the influence of the little things of life upon the development of character. Nothing with which we have to do is really small. The varied circumstances that we meet day by day are designed to test our faithfulness and to qualify us for greater trusts. . . ." (Patriarchs and Prophets, 222, 223).
Joesph inspires me. Like him, I want to be faithful in little things. I have come to see that these "little things" cover a broad area of my life.
I want to challenge myself with the questions below:
Am I faithful in my vision?
Am I faithful in showing kindness?
Am I faithful in nurturing my relationships?
Am I faithful in setting, choosing, and living my greatest priorities?
Am I faithful in praise?
There is much to be faithful in! But praise God, I serve Him who can make me faithful. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).
Joesph inspires me. Like him, I want to be faithful in little things. I have come to see that these "little things" cover a broad area of my life.
I want to challenge myself with the questions below:
Am I faithful in my vision?
Am I faithful in showing kindness?
Am I faithful in nurturing my relationships?
Am I faithful in setting, choosing, and living my greatest priorities?
Am I faithful in praise?
There is much to be faithful in! But praise God, I serve Him who can make me faithful. "Now to Him who is able to do far more abundantly beyond all that we ask or think, according to the power that works within us" (Ephesians 3:20).
Sunday, January 13, 2013
The Rat that Came to Bible Study*
The people sitting across from us saw our faces before they saw the rat. We had left the door open, and the rat decided the church fellowship hall looked awfully inviting; it had been raining after all.
The look of horror on our faces set everyone asking, "What?" Those who could see it screamed, "A rat! A rat!" Until those who couldn't see it (the rat had walked behind their ankles) started screaming too. The pastor embraced her friend sitting next to her and several others jumped up on their chairs. Pandemonium.
The rat raced for the back of the fellowship hall. We all looked at each other for a minute. Then someone said, "We must catch it." The bravest jumped up and went after the it with a trash can. They caught it and dumped it outside. We shut the door.
The rat definitely makes the top ten list for interesting-things-that-have-happened at Bible study.* And yet, I'm not completely surprised it was there. The experience made me think of how the demon in Screwtape Letters describes how he had gotten an atheist to not think about God by reminding him that it was time for lunch.
Distraction is one of Satan's best tools. He encourages rats to come to Bible study. He encourages people in church to notice the odd colored carpet, the comment a friend made before church, the off-key singer, the text message coming in, the hunger pains--anything, anything but the message that the listener must hear for that day.
Lord, may I never be distracted when you are moving on my heart.
*Technically, it was our scripture recitation group meeting. We meet together once a month a recite the scripture we memorized that month. See http://www.irecite.org/.
Friday, November 9, 2012
Helplessness Before God
I'm quoting someone quoting someone else hence I cannot give credit to the author, but I heard this the other day and loved it:
"Prayer is helplessness before God."
In my reading of Ellen White (I'm attempting to read all the Testimonies to the Church), I came across a description of the good shepherd. She said that Jesus pulls the sheep close to his heart to warm it. So of late when I've been praying, I don't just pray. I imagine myself as a lamb pulled up close to Christ's heart. "This is where I want to be Lord! Right here, next to you."
"Prayer is helplessness before God."
In my reading of Ellen White (I'm attempting to read all the Testimonies to the Church), I came across a description of the good shepherd. She said that Jesus pulls the sheep close to his heart to warm it. So of late when I've been praying, I don't just pray. I imagine myself as a lamb pulled up close to Christ's heart. "This is where I want to be Lord! Right here, next to you."
Friday, June 8, 2012
Link to The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness
I enjoyed reading The Freedom of Self-Forgetfulness. The title is what caught my attention.
The Good News in the Bad News
Sometimes in my reading I come across something that moves me to joy. This is a passage that does just that..."
"This profound awareness of innate sinfulness is not some obscure theological point or an example of religious fervor gone to seed. A great awareness of one's sinfulness often stands side by side with great joy and confidence in God. The same Paul who could call himself the foremost of sinners could exult two verses later, "To the King of ages, immortal, invisble, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17).
"It is a theme that also resonates through the Psalms. In Psalms 40 we see rejoicing in the Lord and lamentation over sin side by side.
'As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my inquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.'
"What's going on here? Is this some kind of bipolar spirituality at work? By no means! It is the joy of salvation breaking through, despite life in a fallen world and a heart still fighting against sin. It is reality as seen through biblical truth.
"This reality is very different from what we're usually up to our necks in--that slick, shiny, false reality of an affluent, comfort-driven society obsessed with self-esteem. Instead, This reality sends us to the Savior, who brings God's holiness and mercy together on the cross.
......
"So this sin--my sin and yours--is supremely ugly. It is vile. It is wicked. But at the same time it is the backdrop to a larger drama. We may be works in progress who are painfully prone to sin, yet we can be joyful works, for--thanks be to God--we have been redeemed by grace through the death and resurrection of Christ. Our Savior has come to rescue us from the penalty of sin and grant us an abundant life by his Spirit p.37,38
When Sinners Say, "I do" by Dave Harvey
"This profound awareness of innate sinfulness is not some obscure theological point or an example of religious fervor gone to seed. A great awareness of one's sinfulness often stands side by side with great joy and confidence in God. The same Paul who could call himself the foremost of sinners could exult two verses later, "To the King of ages, immortal, invisble, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen" (1 Timothy 1:17).
"It is a theme that also resonates through the Psalms. In Psalms 40 we see rejoicing in the Lord and lamentation over sin side by side.
'As for you, O Lord, you will not restrain your mercy from me; your steadfast love and your faithfulness will ever preserve me! For evils have encompassed me beyond number; my inquities have overtaken me, and I cannot see; they are more than the hairs of my head; my heart fails me.'
"What's going on here? Is this some kind of bipolar spirituality at work? By no means! It is the joy of salvation breaking through, despite life in a fallen world and a heart still fighting against sin. It is reality as seen through biblical truth.
"This reality is very different from what we're usually up to our necks in--that slick, shiny, false reality of an affluent, comfort-driven society obsessed with self-esteem. Instead, This reality sends us to the Savior, who brings God's holiness and mercy together on the cross.
......
"So this sin--my sin and yours--is supremely ugly. It is vile. It is wicked. But at the same time it is the backdrop to a larger drama. We may be works in progress who are painfully prone to sin, yet we can be joyful works, for--thanks be to God--we have been redeemed by grace through the death and resurrection of Christ. Our Savior has come to rescue us from the penalty of sin and grant us an abundant life by his Spirit p.37,38
When Sinners Say, "I do" by Dave Harvey
Friday, March 16, 2012
Today
This first thing I saw this morning when I opened my eyes were two little kids (my niece and nephew, 8 & 6 years old respectively) looking at me. They had been waiting for me to wake up. I don't know for how long, but their patience made me laugh.
I'm visiting my brother, his wife, and kids this weekend. This is a small blessing, a little break for the ordinary.
Today went extraordinary fast. I spent the morning shopping for a birthday present for my niece, then the afternoon whittling with my nephew (no one whittles these days!), now I'm heading to bed.
My niece will be getting baptized tomorrow. Kids grow up so fast!
I'm visiting my brother, his wife, and kids this weekend. This is a small blessing, a little break for the ordinary.
Today went extraordinary fast. I spent the morning shopping for a birthday present for my niece, then the afternoon whittling with my nephew (no one whittles these days!), now I'm heading to bed.
My niece will be getting baptized tomorrow. Kids grow up so fast!
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