Monday, March 25, 2013
Saturday, March 23, 2013
Ordinary Disciple
Our ladies Bible study is now doing a Kay Arthur study on discipleship. We're only one week into it and it already has my heart churning...sort of like the nervousness of first love mixed with the anticipation of what's to come.
Our first week was spent dissecting Matthew 4 and 10, where Christ calls his disciples into a very well described walk on the adventurous side of life. He's forthcoming in the description of what a disciple life will look like and in fact, if society used Christ's method of a business plan overview, well there would be fewer skydivers, bungee jumpers and other risk takers. He makes the cost clear....
Pretty much this is how Jesus describes the disciple life:
1. You'll be sent out as a sheep, in a wolves world (10:16)
2. You'll be handed over to the courts (10:17)
3. You'll be scourged, whipped, lashed (10:17)
4. You'll be brought before the government (10:18)
5. You'll be hated (10:22)
6. You'll be forsaken and even killed by family (10:35, 36)
And this is how we're to handle the disciple life:
1. Be wise and innocent (10:16)
2. Beware of men (10:17)
3. Don't worry about how or what you are to say (10:19)
4. Walk humbly (10:24)
5. Do not be afraid (10:26)
6. Speak the words Christ gives to say (10:27)
7. Endure (10:22)
8. Take up your cross (10:38)
9. Find your life in Christ (10:39)
And this is why we are to live a disciple life:
1. To bring men to Jesus (this making other disciples) (4:19)
2. To be a testimony of Christ's work in us (10:18)
3. Because He will confess us before the Father in heaven (10:32)
4. To lose ourselves in His identity (10:39-40) (not I but Christ mentality)
I've had a few weeks to think about what these verses are saying and it has brought me to a place of deeper understanding and perhaps even a little disappointment in how I've handled being a disciple of Christ. This selfless, demanding walk with Christ requires much more than I feel I've been giving....um, it requires everything. EVERYTHING. This bold lifestyle isn't a fad or trend, it's the norm...and let's be honest, it's rare, even in my own little Christian world, to see someone living their faith out in such way.
Let's be honest, usually the first sign of persecution and we're yelling "Foul!, Not Fair!, I Quit! OUCH!" or we're screaming about our rights and freedom. When truthfully, shouldn't we KNOW that if we are a disciple, such things are GOING to happen (His Word tell us)...pain is going to come, persecution will happen, even death is possible, you will be treated poorly.
So before we go off bragging that we are a sold out disciple of Christ, maybe we need to review the highlights of what we signed up for. Maybe we need to check to be sure we are living this kind of life...because if you're anything like me, I've pity partied myself to death over mistreatment, unfair life events and even family circumstances....when really in all actuality, I should have considered it par for the course.
I'm hoping as we go through this study at church that I gain a deeper understanding in what this looks like in my day to day life.
What about you? Do you find yourself struggling to understand and be a disciple of Christ? Be encouraged God knows our hearts and our desire or lack thereof to follow Him.
I paraphrased this paragraph from Matthew Henry's Commentary:
That's my disciple prayer...
Our first week was spent dissecting Matthew 4 and 10, where Christ calls his disciples into a very well described walk on the adventurous side of life. He's forthcoming in the description of what a disciple life will look like and in fact, if society used Christ's method of a business plan overview, well there would be fewer skydivers, bungee jumpers and other risk takers. He makes the cost clear....
Pretty much this is how Jesus describes the disciple life:
1. You'll be sent out as a sheep, in a wolves world (10:16)
2. You'll be handed over to the courts (10:17)
3. You'll be scourged, whipped, lashed (10:17)
4. You'll be brought before the government (10:18)
5. You'll be hated (10:22)
6. You'll be forsaken and even killed by family (10:35, 36)
And this is how we're to handle the disciple life:
1. Be wise and innocent (10:16)
2. Beware of men (10:17)
3. Don't worry about how or what you are to say (10:19)
4. Walk humbly (10:24)
5. Do not be afraid (10:26)
6. Speak the words Christ gives to say (10:27)
7. Endure (10:22)
8. Take up your cross (10:38)
9. Find your life in Christ (10:39)
And this is why we are to live a disciple life:
1. To bring men to Jesus (this making other disciples) (4:19)
2. To be a testimony of Christ's work in us (10:18)
3. Because He will confess us before the Father in heaven (10:32)
4. To lose ourselves in His identity (10:39-40) (not I but Christ mentality)
I've had a few weeks to think about what these verses are saying and it has brought me to a place of deeper understanding and perhaps even a little disappointment in how I've handled being a disciple of Christ. This selfless, demanding walk with Christ requires much more than I feel I've been giving....um, it requires everything. EVERYTHING. This bold lifestyle isn't a fad or trend, it's the norm...and let's be honest, it's rare, even in my own little Christian world, to see someone living their faith out in such way.
Let's be honest, usually the first sign of persecution and we're yelling "Foul!, Not Fair!, I Quit! OUCH!" or we're screaming about our rights and freedom. When truthfully, shouldn't we KNOW that if we are a disciple, such things are GOING to happen (His Word tell us)...pain is going to come, persecution will happen, even death is possible, you will be treated poorly.
So before we go off bragging that we are a sold out disciple of Christ, maybe we need to review the highlights of what we signed up for. Maybe we need to check to be sure we are living this kind of life...because if you're anything like me, I've pity partied myself to death over mistreatment, unfair life events and even family circumstances....when really in all actuality, I should have considered it par for the course.
I'm hoping as we go through this study at church that I gain a deeper understanding in what this looks like in my day to day life.
What about you? Do you find yourself struggling to understand and be a disciple of Christ? Be encouraged God knows our hearts and our desire or lack thereof to follow Him.
I paraphrased this paragraph from Matthew Henry's Commentary:
What if He could say of Me?
She will I confess, though a poor and worthless worm of this earth, she is one of mine...one of my friends, who loved me and was beloved by me. I will confess her before my Father. I will speak a good word for her. I will present her. I will REpresent her...to MY Father. When she has most need to me, I will represent her.
That's my disciple prayer...
Sunday, March 3, 2013
What's the Risk?
I hate for it to end.
Missions Conference.
The week starts with our initial awkward dinner where we do our formal introductions and hope our kids behave long enough to make a decent impression and by the end of 8 days we are family. We've laughed, cried, prayed, served, shared and eaten together. We're brothers and sisters who share the same burden. We understand each other's language even if it's Korean or Spanish or Hillbilly.
I remember missions conferences at my church growing up. The Ferus', the Lassiters, the Florida Children's Home, the Arnold's...all mission projects I remember clearly as a child. We hosted our fair share of after church afterglows with missionaries and families from our church joining us for a meal at our home. Maybe that's where it started. I corresponded with missionaries from the time I was 12 or so. And now as time has passed and technology has grown, Facebook and twitter keep me informed and up to date on their activities...and I love feeling like they are right next door even if they are really halfway across the world.
The bittersweet goodbyes of today are just a flash of temporary sadness in light of the eternal life that we will spend with these heroes of faith. They are the current Hudson Taylor, Adonirum Judson, Jim Elliot and Bro. Andrew. They risk something to share the gospel...and it makes me wonder...have I ever risked anything to share Jesus?
I'm thankful for the last 8 days...and while I'm so very tired physically, I'm filled to the brim with an excitement of what's to come...what's on the horizon...what's there to risk for Jesus?
Missions Conference.
The week starts with our initial awkward dinner where we do our formal introductions and hope our kids behave long enough to make a decent impression and by the end of 8 days we are family. We've laughed, cried, prayed, served, shared and eaten together. We're brothers and sisters who share the same burden. We understand each other's language even if it's Korean or Spanish or Hillbilly.
I remember missions conferences at my church growing up. The Ferus', the Lassiters, the Florida Children's Home, the Arnold's...all mission projects I remember clearly as a child. We hosted our fair share of after church afterglows with missionaries and families from our church joining us for a meal at our home. Maybe that's where it started. I corresponded with missionaries from the time I was 12 or so. And now as time has passed and technology has grown, Facebook and twitter keep me informed and up to date on their activities...and I love feeling like they are right next door even if they are really halfway across the world.
The bittersweet goodbyes of today are just a flash of temporary sadness in light of the eternal life that we will spend with these heroes of faith. They are the current Hudson Taylor, Adonirum Judson, Jim Elliot and Bro. Andrew. They risk something to share the gospel...and it makes me wonder...have I ever risked anything to share Jesus?
I'm thankful for the last 8 days...and while I'm so very tired physically, I'm filled to the brim with an excitement of what's to come...what's on the horizon...what's there to risk for Jesus?
Monday, February 18, 2013
Affirming Words
I've been working my way through "Unglued". It's the Bible Study I'm doing with my ladies this winter. The crux of the book is about learning to get ahold of yourself when dealing with raw emotions. It's a book that is full of honest, gut-wrenching questions and thought provoking text. I'm not sure that I even realized how "emotional" I am until I began answering some of the tough questions.
One of the things that the book deals with in large is negative self talk. I've blogged about this before. It's one of the most detrimental things I think women (myself included) deal with. We talk about each other, we talk about our kids, our spouse, our parents, teachers, politics, money and yes, we talk about ourselves. Talk, talk, talk. And a lot of that talk is negative. Hurtful to others. Hurtful to ourselves.
I recently sat and listened to someone complain, complain, complain. I walked away from the conversation drained, defeated, exasperated and frustrated. I wondered why they couldn't find anything good to say, anything positive, anything good, true, lovely...
Just a couple of weeks later I sat across the table from a seasoned man of God who spoke words of encouragement into my husband. I watched Bruce go from feeling somewhat unsure of himself to feeling encouraged, invigorated, energized and motivated. The transformation was unreal.
The power of affirming words....remarkable. In our Bible study this week, we've been challenged to focus on the instructions given in God's word regarding our thoughts and speech. I've been working on this and have noticed when you concentrate hard on thinking and speaking thoughts that are of good report, kind, lovely, pure...it's hard to be able to say those complaining thoughts that really don't do anything but tear down.
Sure life is hard...even overwhelming sometimes, but if we rise above the way we feel (our flesh) and obey God's word regarding how we act and think....maybe we will see life a little differently. Maybe we will see it through the truth of God's Word rather than through the lies our feelings try to talk us into believing.
One of the things that the book deals with in large is negative self talk. I've blogged about this before. It's one of the most detrimental things I think women (myself included) deal with. We talk about each other, we talk about our kids, our spouse, our parents, teachers, politics, money and yes, we talk about ourselves. Talk, talk, talk. And a lot of that talk is negative. Hurtful to others. Hurtful to ourselves.
I recently sat and listened to someone complain, complain, complain. I walked away from the conversation drained, defeated, exasperated and frustrated. I wondered why they couldn't find anything good to say, anything positive, anything good, true, lovely...
Just a couple of weeks later I sat across the table from a seasoned man of God who spoke words of encouragement into my husband. I watched Bruce go from feeling somewhat unsure of himself to feeling encouraged, invigorated, energized and motivated. The transformation was unreal.
The power of affirming words....remarkable. In our Bible study this week, we've been challenged to focus on the instructions given in God's word regarding our thoughts and speech. I've been working on this and have noticed when you concentrate hard on thinking and speaking thoughts that are of good report, kind, lovely, pure...it's hard to be able to say those complaining thoughts that really don't do anything but tear down.
Sure life is hard...even overwhelming sometimes, but if we rise above the way we feel (our flesh) and obey God's word regarding how we act and think....maybe we will see life a little differently. Maybe we will see it through the truth of God's Word rather than through the lies our feelings try to talk us into believing.
Saturday, February 16, 2013
My Valentine
Last Thursday Bruce and I celebrated our 20th year as valentines.
20 years of joys and sorrows
20 years of ups and downs
20 years of successes and mistakes
20 years of good and bad choices
20 years of selflessness and selfishness
and
20 years of God's
Amazing blessings pouring over us
Gentle hands leading us
Perfect love teaching us
Thanks to our Savior for modeling to us the greatest love...
giving yourself to another, for another.
Without this love...
our 20 Valentines would mean nothing
but clanging
and clanking
and crashing
Thanks to our Savior for this amazing gift of love.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
How Does Your Garden Grow?
I've bought my gloves, my first seeds, a few containers, soil...and all I'm waiting on is February 1st to get here. My first spring gardening catalog came from Gardener's Supply about two weeks before Christmas. Then my onion seed catalog came the first week in January. And now Neil Sperry's facebook posts are starting to entertain thoughts of spring planting...and it's making me super happy.
Last summer we had to cut down 13 pine trees from our yard. I was sad beyond compare because they were one of the reasons we had bought the house. But the drought of 2010 had damaged them so bad that they were a danger and we had to get them removed. Anyway, now that I've recovered from our loss, I've been eyeing the perfect spot in the yard where a garden would get enough sunlight now. I'm pretty excited.
To add to the excitement are all the ideas you can find on Pinterest and blogs. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for container gardening:
So, in just a few days, I'll be planting. The feel of the dirt between my fingers, the promise of seed bearing fruit in a few months and the anticipatory waiting period...I love it all...well everything but the Texas heat!
Are you planting this spring? Do you container garden, dig in the dirt, buy plants rather than seed? I'd love to hear what works for you!
Last summer we had to cut down 13 pine trees from our yard. I was sad beyond compare because they were one of the reasons we had bought the house. But the drought of 2010 had damaged them so bad that they were a danger and we had to get them removed. Anyway, now that I've recovered from our loss, I've been eyeing the perfect spot in the yard where a garden would get enough sunlight now. I'm pretty excited.
To add to the excitement are all the ideas you can find on Pinterest and blogs. Here are a few of my favorite ideas for container gardening:
So, in just a few days, I'll be planting. The feel of the dirt between my fingers, the promise of seed bearing fruit in a few months and the anticipatory waiting period...I love it all...well everything but the Texas heat!
Are you planting this spring? Do you container garden, dig in the dirt, buy plants rather than seed? I'd love to hear what works for you!
Saturday, January 26, 2013
Pralines Anyone?
Born and raised in the deep south has its advantages. There's nothing quite like GA Fried Chicken, TN BBQ, South GA boiled peanuts, a greasy hamburger from the varsity, a mouthwatering fresh picked GA peach...and I could go on forever. I'm pretty partial to foods from the south. And maybe that's why when it came to choosing a paint color for our living room I was drawn to the warmth of the color praline cake. Think about it. The rich, sugary goodness of a praline.
Picking paint colors was somewhat of a daunting task for me. The room is huge, filled with good natural light, has a gas fireplace. I've worked to get the right furniture arrangement using what we have for now and think I just about have it the best way possible. We use the room for all our family TV viewing, gaming, homework, reading...it's our comfy room...rarely ever spotlessly clean. I have an old farmhouse table there that's used for everything from laundry folding to homework to extra guest seating when company is over.
So, I thought I wanted a pretty robin egg blue on the walls...something like
But...after living with a sample on the walls for a month I decided it was too blue. So, I looked at this color...
Nope....just didn't do it for me.
Then I read this article from The Nester. CLICK HERE to read it before you decide on paint....really, go now...it's very informative. Go..now. And if you have the time...(and I'd suggest that you might want to have the time) follow the links within the article...because it's somewhere in there that I found the answer to my problem. Somewhere within those links I found out I like the warmth of a room to surround me. In other words...I found out what I've known all along....I don't like the beach (GASP..no haters please!)...I prefer the mountains...with an occasion lake (thus the attraction to the greenish blue color). I like the fireplace, a good book, flavored cream with a little coffee, Fall and Winter, sunset shadows and earthy warm colors. And why I couldn't settle on a blue???....it's because I like warm colors. And while I'm sure there is a blue out there somewhere that would satisfy my cravings for pralines, barn reds, golden yellows and evergreen....I haven't found it!
Instead, I found this...
 |
| Valspar- Praline Cake |
...and we love it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)