It is amazing how God's word works.
I had such a hard time last night being home by myself. I shouldn't have, because I am a big girl, but the more I thought about it even when I was single I was never really alone. I was either working two jobs or always with the singles group from church or with some friends from a Bible study I was going to. So me being alone, even for a few hours, at my house is new. And apparently I don't deal with being alone well.
This morning I read 1 Samuel 18, this chapter dealt with Sauls jealousy of David. Everything that
Saul had David do he excelled in. God had already anoited David king, Saul knew that, but apparently did not want to accept it. Saul tried to pin David to a wall several times with a spear while David played for him. (Saul had problems) But David just persevered and kept his eyes on God and what God had planned for his life.
I remember one thing from the life of David. He spent a lot of time by himself in the pastures tending the flocks praying/singing, and praising God. Now David did get discouraged because of Sauls behavior but he bounced back and basically got over the fact that Saul was treating him that way. But I think David also realized that God was not with Saul so how else was he supposed to act.
When you stop focusing on God and his plan for your life and start focusing on others and comparing yourself to them and their accomplishements to yours then jealousy will creep in and when jealousy is there God can not be there fully.
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Friday, July 18, 2008
Judges 9
Judges 9 was interesting this morning. I had read it for the fact that it contained the word joy in one of the verses. But what I got out of it was not joy.
I got out of Judges 9 the fact that if you want staus or power you need to rely on God. If you do not rely on God you will step on or get rid of people that you should not step on or get rid of.
In the case of Abimilech he killed 69 of his 70 brothers. That last brother spoke against him to the people and the people listened to the remaining brother. The citizens eventually killed Abimilech because he took the kingship by force.
Abimilech was run through by a servant because he did not want to die because of the millstone that some woman dropped from a tower that hit him on the head and cracked his skull.
I told my accountability partner today that you need to rely on God for whatever status or power you want to obtain or you just might get a millstone dropped on your head.
I think I would rather wait on God and get his perfect timing for my promotion than to take it by force or by my own power and have something tragic befall me.
I got out of Judges 9 the fact that if you want staus or power you need to rely on God. If you do not rely on God you will step on or get rid of people that you should not step on or get rid of.
In the case of Abimilech he killed 69 of his 70 brothers. That last brother spoke against him to the people and the people listened to the remaining brother. The citizens eventually killed Abimilech because he took the kingship by force.
Abimilech was run through by a servant because he did not want to die because of the millstone that some woman dropped from a tower that hit him on the head and cracked his skull.
I told my accountability partner today that you need to rely on God for whatever status or power you want to obtain or you just might get a millstone dropped on your head.
I think I would rather wait on God and get his perfect timing for my promotion than to take it by force or by my own power and have something tragic befall me.
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Deuteronomy 28
Today was hard to read. Deuteronomy 28 was about blessing and cursing those who obey and disobey God.
I say it was hard to read because there was more curses listed than blessing.
I know we all like to focus on the good of God, but if we don't embrace the punishment that God will bestow on us if we disobey him then we are missing a huge chunk of who God is.
God is our Father and he wants the best for us, and sometimes the best for us is a spanking.
Yes God wants to bless us but he can not bless us if we do not obey him, and if we only get blessing then we start taking it for granted. I for one do not want to take God or his blessing for granted, but I also do not want to get punished.
So after reading this (which goes along with the sermon series at church..... meditating on sin?..)
I am going to try to be more conscious of obeying God
I say it was hard to read because there was more curses listed than blessing.
I know we all like to focus on the good of God, but if we don't embrace the punishment that God will bestow on us if we disobey him then we are missing a huge chunk of who God is.
God is our Father and he wants the best for us, and sometimes the best for us is a spanking.
Yes God wants to bless us but he can not bless us if we do not obey him, and if we only get blessing then we start taking it for granted. I for one do not want to take God or his blessing for granted, but I also do not want to get punished.
So after reading this (which goes along with the sermon series at church..... meditating on sin?..)
I am going to try to be more conscious of obeying God
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Deuteronomy 16
Today I read Deuteronomy 16.
The text was talking about the feasts... passover, feast of weeks etc... but there was one little phrase in every paragraph about the feasts..... each feast was to be done in a place where God chose, or where he tells you.
That really stuck out to me. It is not about what or where we want to be. It is all about where God wants us. Things will always be right when God tells you where to go,
This is an eye opening experience for me especially since one of my biggest questions to God is "where do you want me and my family?" ..... I have to just realize that when I need to know that information God will tell me.
So hard for someone to grasp when they want an ending to a plan so they know where they are going. That is where faith comes in.
The Israelites did not know where the feast were going to be held, and yet it seemed that they were ok with it.... at least this one time.....
These past few days have been awesome reading the scripture and really understanding something out of it and not reading it and then afterward wondering.... why did I read that. I don't think I understood anything that I read..
Reading something out of the Bible and actually gleaning something from it means that I am actually open to the Holy Spirit guiding me to have an open heart to learn what God would want me to learn from the passage.
That is an awesome feeling.
I hope everyone experiences that.
The text was talking about the feasts... passover, feast of weeks etc... but there was one little phrase in every paragraph about the feasts..... each feast was to be done in a place where God chose, or where he tells you.
That really stuck out to me. It is not about what or where we want to be. It is all about where God wants us. Things will always be right when God tells you where to go,
This is an eye opening experience for me especially since one of my biggest questions to God is "where do you want me and my family?" ..... I have to just realize that when I need to know that information God will tell me.
So hard for someone to grasp when they want an ending to a plan so they know where they are going. That is where faith comes in.
The Israelites did not know where the feast were going to be held, and yet it seemed that they were ok with it.... at least this one time.....
These past few days have been awesome reading the scripture and really understanding something out of it and not reading it and then afterward wondering.... why did I read that. I don't think I understood anything that I read..
Reading something out of the Bible and actually gleaning something from it means that I am actually open to the Holy Spirit guiding me to have an open heart to learn what God would want me to learn from the passage.
That is an awesome feeling.
I hope everyone experiences that.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Leviticus 9
I am reading about Joy....
Didn't think joy was found in Leviticus well it was. After all of the offerings that Aaron did for the Lord on the Altar, Aaron and Moses went into the tent of the Meeting. When they came out the Lord was pleased with their offering and consumed the offerings in front of the Israelites. When the whole assembly saw this they fell on their faces and shouted with joy.
This make me think. If we saw something like that would we react that way, or would we just take it into stride like everything else that seems to happen that could have been a miracle of God.
I think we take the miracles of God for granted. Science has explained away so much that we can justify anything that happens instead of just showing thanks and joy to our Lord and Maker for showing us a small glimpse of his glory.
My prayer is that we all somehow see a glimpse of God's glory and recognize it as such. I believe it will bless our lives.
Didn't think joy was found in Leviticus well it was. After all of the offerings that Aaron did for the Lord on the Altar, Aaron and Moses went into the tent of the Meeting. When they came out the Lord was pleased with their offering and consumed the offerings in front of the Israelites. When the whole assembly saw this they fell on their faces and shouted with joy.
This make me think. If we saw something like that would we react that way, or would we just take it into stride like everything else that seems to happen that could have been a miracle of God.
I think we take the miracles of God for granted. Science has explained away so much that we can justify anything that happens instead of just showing thanks and joy to our Lord and Maker for showing us a small glimpse of his glory.
My prayer is that we all somehow see a glimpse of God's glory and recognize it as such. I believe it will bless our lives.
Monday, July 14, 2008
Genisis 31
When I read Genisis 31 this morning I was not expecting to get anything out of the story of Jacob fleeing Laban with everything the Lord had given him the 20 years that Jacob lived in Laban's household.
But I did.
Jacob was empowered by God's power. He had God's strength through what could have been a very difficult time and volitile situation with his father in law.
I saw (especially since I have had to deal with in laws this weekend) that if you are following God, and obeying his commands then His strength will be imparted to you.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Genisis 31 be pertinent to my life in this day and age. When I saw that through all of Jacobs "trials" and "tribulations" God blessed him and was with him every moment.
Very comforting.
But I did.
Jacob was empowered by God's power. He had God's strength through what could have been a very difficult time and volitile situation with his father in law.
I saw (especially since I have had to deal with in laws this weekend) that if you are following God, and obeying his commands then His strength will be imparted to you.
I was pleasantly surprised to see Genisis 31 be pertinent to my life in this day and age. When I saw that through all of Jacobs "trials" and "tribulations" God blessed him and was with him every moment.
Very comforting.
Sunday, July 13, 2008
Here we go!!!
Ok so I have decided to blog along with a large percentage of the world it looks like. I figured why not it might be a good help to me to get things off of my chest with out having to actually talk to anyone about it. That way if they don't want to know that do not have to read it.
Logical huh.
This past week has been hard. I have had work. That is a blog in itself. The big issue was the doctor visit that we had with Matt. Dr. Carl told us that he wanted to send Matt to some specialists to see if there was something that could be done about his migraines, shoulder pain (possibly a torn rotator cuff), and to see if the pain that is hitting his major joints could be rheumatoid arthritis. The only thing frustrating about that is that a while back we had gone to a rheumatoligist and it took an entire day for absolutely no results. At that point he did not have rheumatoid arthritis. But with RA it can come up with no warning signs. Joy. Needless to say when we got home from the doctors appt I cried.... and cried... and then felt a little better. Kept repeating to my self Philippians 4:6-7 (core groupers should know this). It helped.
I am really thankfull that I am memorizing scripture. I am amazed at how much it has helped me in situations. (Thanks Ben).
Matt and I are a part of Crosstown. We love it. It is awesome knowing you are right where God wants you to be. How many people can say that. I think the kids enjoy it to. We have met some super people and had the chance to get to know better some other super people. I am fortunate to have all of these people in my life.
Today was good. (Sunday July 13)
32 people at church today. Great food Great fellowship.
Logical huh.
This past week has been hard. I have had work. That is a blog in itself. The big issue was the doctor visit that we had with Matt. Dr. Carl told us that he wanted to send Matt to some specialists to see if there was something that could be done about his migraines, shoulder pain (possibly a torn rotator cuff), and to see if the pain that is hitting his major joints could be rheumatoid arthritis. The only thing frustrating about that is that a while back we had gone to a rheumatoligist and it took an entire day for absolutely no results. At that point he did not have rheumatoid arthritis. But with RA it can come up with no warning signs. Joy. Needless to say when we got home from the doctors appt I cried.... and cried... and then felt a little better. Kept repeating to my self Philippians 4:6-7 (core groupers should know this). It helped.
I am really thankfull that I am memorizing scripture. I am amazed at how much it has helped me in situations. (Thanks Ben).
Matt and I are a part of Crosstown. We love it. It is awesome knowing you are right where God wants you to be. How many people can say that. I think the kids enjoy it to. We have met some super people and had the chance to get to know better some other super people. I am fortunate to have all of these people in my life.
Today was good. (Sunday July 13)
32 people at church today. Great food Great fellowship.
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