(here is a link to Ryan's sermon in case you want to hear it-this week's is not up yet, but will be soon!) http://d931106.u45.truepath.com/exodus-sermon-series-2013/
I was really challenged by Ryan's sermon yesterday and Jill's words
to him about not always focusing on the fails in life, but the wins. I
often am reminded by Ryan in our home and at the church that we need to
celebrate wins as well. So this is where we are going to camp for the
week. Let's contemplate together each day where the Lord is at work in
our life, our home/family, our church and our community-the "wins" in
our life...the moments where there isn't a failure. These are also
moments that tie into "But then God..." wouldn't you agree? Isn't that
phrase just an invitation to see where God is at work turning something
around? Turning mourning into dancing? Turning failure into success in
His name? This is the spiritual discipline we'll focus on this week. I
have a propensity towards seeing the glass half empty and seeing my
failures. Which, as Ryan showed us in that one photo, gives tunnel
vision to what the Lord is at work doing. He has been doing so many
amazing things in my life, in yours, in our church-let's focus on this
this week. This is also a beautiful connection to the Lent season.
There is a time to focus on our sin to feel the weight of it as we
anticipate the Resurrection of our Lord lifting the weight from our
shoulders, however there is also a time to see that the coming of our
Lord during advent, and the promise of the Resurrection bringing
freedom.
Below is the text from yesterdays sermon when God is speaking to
Moses. Read this this week and see how each day something new will
arise. Journal what comes up each day. Do you see the power of God in
this passage? Do you feel how just as he is for Moses, he is for you?
Perhaps you can place yourself in the scene of the passage. Who are you
in the scene? What emotions come up for you while you are in the
scene? Go to God with all that comes up each day. Peace to you as each
day you enter into this passage, and you explore your life this week to
see the beauty of success and the wins in your life that the Lord has
designed.
Exodus 7:1-7
Then the Lord said to Moses, “See, I make you as God to
Pharaoh, and your brother Aaron shall be your prophet. 2 You shall speak
all that I command you, and your brother Aaron shall speak to Pharaoh
that he let the sons of Israel go out of his land. 3 But I will harden
Pharaoh’s heart that I may multiply My signs and My wonders in the land
of Egypt. 4 When Pharaoh does not listen to you, then I will lay My hand
on Egypt and bring out My hosts, My people the sons of Israel, from the
land of Egypt by great judgments. 5 The Egyptians shall know that I am
the Lord, when I stretch out My hand on Egypt and bring out the sons of
Israel from their midst.” 6 So Moses and Aaron did it; as the Lord commanded them, thus they did. 7 Moses was eighty years old and Aaron [a]eighty-three, when they spoke to Pharaoh.
Worship song for the week:
Revelation Song - Kari Jobe
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dZMBrGGmeE&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Monday, February 25, 2013
Thursday, February 21, 2013
Lent Day 8
I can’t believe it’s already noon and I’ve not posted! I had the post all ready to put on and then work got crazy!!
Today, as I was watching the sunrise, I was so grateful. Grateful for the beauty. It got me thinking that I often find myself very narrow minded and focused on tasks that I forget to look up. So, if you see any of my recent posts on Facebook lately, you know that I’m in that mode, hard at work starting to make our home beautiful. This is my creative outlet. It’s also an expensive one. So, I’ve really held off for a while because I knew that I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do. Then we received some amazing gift cards from you all, which began my creative juices flowing! But then it all stopped. I didn’t know what to do-which paint to choose-what hardware to choose for the kitchen-should I do the kitchen or paint the rooms-should I keep the walls white like an art gallery to let the color come from other things or should I paint the walls-if I paint the kitchen will it start a downward spiral to other things that I want to do but can’t afford………so on and so forth…do you ever spiral like that with things in your mind? Projects around the house? Work or friendship issues that need to be resolved or addressed, but you just sort of stay stuck in your seat unable to move forward?
I find that when I get into this place that I also loose sight of the beauty that Christ has given me in even the littlest things. I actually feel like I’m in a pit...stuck…and can’t get out. I know that might seem severe, but it’s true. I actually can’t see the forest for the trees. The subtle thing in the forest like the scent of the pine or the color of the redwood is something I miss. The Lord created all the beauty around me for so many purposes, but I wonder if one purpose is for us to see it and marvel at Him, his handiwork, his care that he could have made our world functional, but also made it beautiful. And he did make it so beautiful!! So full of life that each sensory capacity we have can interact with creation-to move towards our creator. Now, this doesn’t give me free reign on my house beautification project! But even as I enter into this process of painting, screwing in handles, hanging pictures…having a mindset that this project is a beauty project of sorts. When I say that I mean that as I paint, sand, labor, arrange…that I enter into this with the Lord. I allow him to be apart of the process as He is the one who has gifted us with you, who gifted us with gift cards to do projects around our house. I can rejoice, give thanks to the Lord for his care in placing us at SNC and ask for his care over you as I paint. I can look at my kitchen knowing that you provided this all for us. He is using you to bless our home and bring beauty in it. (Thank you!!! Beyond measure, thank you!)
Today as you continue on in your day and evening, ask the Lord to open your eyes to see his beauty all around you. Take it in-through each sensory capacity he has given you. How can you give thanks to the Lord today for each little thing he’s given you? Perhaps it’s many things. Perhaps you are in a place where you can only really see one thing. That’s okay. It’s a discipline-to open your eyes to see his work around you-for you-pursuing you. Orient your mind towards this and give him praise today.
Today, as I was watching the sunrise, I was so grateful. Grateful for the beauty. It got me thinking that I often find myself very narrow minded and focused on tasks that I forget to look up. So, if you see any of my recent posts on Facebook lately, you know that I’m in that mode, hard at work starting to make our home beautiful. This is my creative outlet. It’s also an expensive one. So, I’ve really held off for a while because I knew that I just couldn’t do what I wanted to do. Then we received some amazing gift cards from you all, which began my creative juices flowing! But then it all stopped. I didn’t know what to do-which paint to choose-what hardware to choose for the kitchen-should I do the kitchen or paint the rooms-should I keep the walls white like an art gallery to let the color come from other things or should I paint the walls-if I paint the kitchen will it start a downward spiral to other things that I want to do but can’t afford………so on and so forth…do you ever spiral like that with things in your mind? Projects around the house? Work or friendship issues that need to be resolved or addressed, but you just sort of stay stuck in your seat unable to move forward?
I find that when I get into this place that I also loose sight of the beauty that Christ has given me in even the littlest things. I actually feel like I’m in a pit...stuck…and can’t get out. I know that might seem severe, but it’s true. I actually can’t see the forest for the trees. The subtle thing in the forest like the scent of the pine or the color of the redwood is something I miss. The Lord created all the beauty around me for so many purposes, but I wonder if one purpose is for us to see it and marvel at Him, his handiwork, his care that he could have made our world functional, but also made it beautiful. And he did make it so beautiful!! So full of life that each sensory capacity we have can interact with creation-to move towards our creator. Now, this doesn’t give me free reign on my house beautification project! But even as I enter into this process of painting, screwing in handles, hanging pictures…having a mindset that this project is a beauty project of sorts. When I say that I mean that as I paint, sand, labor, arrange…that I enter into this with the Lord. I allow him to be apart of the process as He is the one who has gifted us with you, who gifted us with gift cards to do projects around our house. I can rejoice, give thanks to the Lord for his care in placing us at SNC and ask for his care over you as I paint. I can look at my kitchen knowing that you provided this all for us. He is using you to bless our home and bring beauty in it. (Thank you!!! Beyond measure, thank you!)
Today as you continue on in your day and evening, ask the Lord to open your eyes to see his beauty all around you. Take it in-through each sensory capacity he has given you. How can you give thanks to the Lord today for each little thing he’s given you? Perhaps it’s many things. Perhaps you are in a place where you can only really see one thing. That’s okay. It’s a discipline-to open your eyes to see his work around you-for you-pursuing you. Orient your mind towards this and give him praise today.
Lent day 9
Recently I had been walking through a very difficult season in my
walk with the Lord. I couldn't go to him without feeling the deep shame
of my sin. It was, for me, quite a dark time. One that I had not
experienced really ever in my journey with Christ. I've definitely had
times where I was aware of my sin, but I knew the love of my Lord was
present and accessible. I had an awareness of my freedom in Him. Not
in this past season. It's really been about two to three weeks now that
I've felt his freedom...his never ending love for me again. FOR ME!
nothing I can do can separate me from him. He doesn't abandon me-no
matter what I've done or the distance I place between us. I wonder if
you have ever felt in a place of feeling distant from Christ?
This morning as I was reading through a few of my lent resources, I read this excerpt from Henri Nouwen's books "The inner voice of Love: A Journey through anguish to Freedom" and was blow away about how relevant it was to my current journey. Should I be blown away? When His mercies are new every morning, just like his breathtaking sunrise I'm looking at through my office window as I write this? He knows me. He knows you. He knows your joy, your sorrow, your anxiety, your path. Nothing escapes him. Nothing phases him. He loves you and sees you as his child. This is why he sent his Son to die and come back to life-to save us from sin. He bore my sin and shame on that cross. This is why we observe these 40 days before Easter-to walk where He walked. To journey with him to the cross. Below I'll share what I read from Nouwen's book and i'll also share a prayer and action to actively engage in as we walk with Christ to the cross. Peace be with you, dear family.
Jesus...told people not to be guided by the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus came among us as an equal, a brother...
You will not be able to meet Jesus in your body while your body remains full of doubts and fears. Jesus came to free you from those bonds and so create in you a space where you can be with him...
Do not despair, thinking that you cannot change yourself after so many years. Simply enter into the presence of Jesus as you are and ask him to give you a fearless heart where he can be with you. you cannot make yourself different. Jesus came to give you a new heart, a new spirit, a new mind, and a new body. Let him transform you by his love...
Scripture
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:28-32
Prayer
Lord-let me recognize in myself the pride and false piety of one who will not admit of the imperfections of being human. Temper my doubts and fears, restore my commitment to your ways. Keep before me your promise of a new heart and a new spirit; prompt me along the path to this transformation in love and conformation to your image. Amen
Action
Take time today to be alone and aware of the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life. See where he has brought you from, and think about where he is at work currently in your life. Journal what comes up.
This morning as I was reading through a few of my lent resources, I read this excerpt from Henri Nouwen's books "The inner voice of Love: A Journey through anguish to Freedom" and was blow away about how relevant it was to my current journey. Should I be blown away? When His mercies are new every morning, just like his breathtaking sunrise I'm looking at through my office window as I write this? He knows me. He knows you. He knows your joy, your sorrow, your anxiety, your path. Nothing escapes him. Nothing phases him. He loves you and sees you as his child. This is why he sent his Son to die and come back to life-to save us from sin. He bore my sin and shame on that cross. This is why we observe these 40 days before Easter-to walk where He walked. To journey with him to the cross. Below I'll share what I read from Nouwen's book and i'll also share a prayer and action to actively engage in as we walk with Christ to the cross. Peace be with you, dear family.
Jesus...told people not to be guided by the behavior of the scribes and Pharisees. Jesus came among us as an equal, a brother...
You will not be able to meet Jesus in your body while your body remains full of doubts and fears. Jesus came to free you from those bonds and so create in you a space where you can be with him...
Do not despair, thinking that you cannot change yourself after so many years. Simply enter into the presence of Jesus as you are and ask him to give you a fearless heart where he can be with you. you cannot make yourself different. Jesus came to give you a new heart, a new spirit, a new mind, and a new body. Let him transform you by his love...
Scripture
And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things?
Romans 8:28-32
Prayer
Lord-let me recognize in myself the pride and false piety of one who will not admit of the imperfections of being human. Temper my doubts and fears, restore my commitment to your ways. Keep before me your promise of a new heart and a new spirit; prompt me along the path to this transformation in love and conformation to your image. Amen
Action
Take time today to be alone and aware of the movement of the Holy Spirit in your life. See where he has brought you from, and think about where he is at work currently in your life. Journal what comes up.
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Lent Day 7
How was your long weekend? How was
contemplating that soon and very soon, our Savior is coming? What
thoughts came up for you during this time?
Today's devotional is from "Lent & Easter, Henri Nouwen" Day 7.
Abandonment To God's Will
This morning during my hour of prayer, I tried to come to some level of abandonment to my heavenly Father. It was a hard struggle since so much in me wants to do my will, realize my plans, organize my future, and make my decisions. Still, I know that true joy comes from letting God love me the way God wants, whether it is through illness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, rejection or praise. It is hard for me to say, " I shall gratefully accept everything, Lord, that pleases you. Let your will be done. " But I know that when I truly believe my Father is pure love, it will become increasingly possible to say these words from the heart.
Abide in God's will - Scripture Meditation
Beloved...Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world - the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride of riches - comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and it's desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
I John 2:7, 15-17
Prayer
by Charles de Foucauld
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you;
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself into your hands,
without reserve and with boundless confidence
For you are my Father. Amen.
Action
Instead of refusing to accept God's will, especially when it is harsh, say, "Thy will be done!" Give yourself over to unbounded acceptance of the plan that has been mapped out for you by God.
Worship song for your day:
Fernando Ortega - Jesus Paid it All
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pILU40RtuOs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Today's devotional is from "Lent & Easter, Henri Nouwen" Day 7.
Abandonment To God's Will
This morning during my hour of prayer, I tried to come to some level of abandonment to my heavenly Father. It was a hard struggle since so much in me wants to do my will, realize my plans, organize my future, and make my decisions. Still, I know that true joy comes from letting God love me the way God wants, whether it is through illness or health, failure or success, poverty or wealth, rejection or praise. It is hard for me to say, " I shall gratefully accept everything, Lord, that pleases you. Let your will be done. " But I know that when I truly believe my Father is pure love, it will become increasingly possible to say these words from the heart.
Abide in God's will - Scripture Meditation
Beloved...Do not love the world or the things in the world. The love of the Father is not in those who love the world; for all that is in the world - the desire of the flesh, the desire of the eyes, the pride of riches - comes not from the Father but from the world. And the world and it's desire are passing away, but those who do the will of God live forever.
I John 2:7, 15-17
Prayer
by Charles de Foucauld
I abandon myself into your hands;
do with me what you will.
Whatever you may do, I thank you;
I am ready for all, I accept all.
Let only your will be done in me
and in all your creatures.
I wish no more than this, O Lord.
Into your hands I commend my soul;
I offer it to you with all the love of my heart,
for I love you, Lord,
and so need to give myself into your hands,
without reserve and with boundless confidence
For you are my Father. Amen.
Action
Instead of refusing to accept God's will, especially when it is harsh, say, "Thy will be done!" Give yourself over to unbounded acceptance of the plan that has been mapped out for you by God.
Worship song for your day:
Fernando Ortega - Jesus Paid it All
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pILU40RtuOs&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Friday, February 15, 2013
Lent day 3-5
Good morning. What a beautiful sunrise we had!!
I know that the last couple of days the devotionals have been on the contemplative, focusing on sacrifice, surrender, looking inward at our "almosts". This morning I want to focus on the beauty of this season of Lent. It is a hard, difficult and solemn season indeed. I know that as I focus on my sin, the almosts in my life, where we could be if I had only...we had only...what if we had made that decision instead of the that one...I can begin to spiral down into shame. Christ sent his Son to bring us freedom from shame & guilt. I know you have heard me say this before-but I'll say it again because I know I always need to be reminded of this. His love is never ending...nothing we can do can separate us from him and his love for us. I am astounded by this. This is what I want to focus on today and this weekend (i'll post again on Monday).
Read, re-read, journal, re-read, journal...(get the idea for your weekend?!) Then re-read at night...Romans ch. 8. Allow Paul's words to us to wash away the voice, "I almost..." and watch how the Lord comes in and says, "But then God did this....God showed up here..." Write about, pray about where God has come in and turned your almosts into dust and revealed his never ending love for you.
Then, whenever you feel led, or perhaps in the evening as you settle into bed, listen to this song by Hillsong United. Our Savior is here, he has come, but soon and very soon he'll be robbed of his dignity...but then God shows up...and we'll be with the one we love for all eternity because he came, took the weight of the world, the weight of sin on his shoulders...and conquered death. Soon and very soon our King is coming...our sin and shame erased by his blood.
Peace to you this weekend.
Romans 8.
NASB
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, [b]weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of [c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [d]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [e]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you [f]must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery [g]leading to fear again, but you have received [h]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [i]in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Our Victory in Christ
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the [j]saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that [k]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was [l]raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of [m]Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Soon, Brooke Fraser - Hillsong United
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8I3VO19i2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness
And crowned with love
When I see Him
I shall be made like Him
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
I'll be going To the place
He has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon
I will be with the One I love
With unveiled face I'll see Him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders
'Round the throne At His feet I
'll lay my crowns My worship
Soon and very soon
Though I have not seen Him
My heart knows Him well
Jesus Christ the Lamb
The Lord of heaven
I know that the last couple of days the devotionals have been on the contemplative, focusing on sacrifice, surrender, looking inward at our "almosts". This morning I want to focus on the beauty of this season of Lent. It is a hard, difficult and solemn season indeed. I know that as I focus on my sin, the almosts in my life, where we could be if I had only...we had only...what if we had made that decision instead of the that one...I can begin to spiral down into shame. Christ sent his Son to bring us freedom from shame & guilt. I know you have heard me say this before-but I'll say it again because I know I always need to be reminded of this. His love is never ending...nothing we can do can separate us from him and his love for us. I am astounded by this. This is what I want to focus on today and this weekend (i'll post again on Monday).
Read, re-read, journal, re-read, journal...(get the idea for your weekend?!) Then re-read at night...Romans ch. 8. Allow Paul's words to us to wash away the voice, "I almost..." and watch how the Lord comes in and says, "But then God did this....God showed up here..." Write about, pray about where God has come in and turned your almosts into dust and revealed his never ending love for you.
Then, whenever you feel led, or perhaps in the evening as you settle into bed, listen to this song by Hillsong United. Our Savior is here, he has come, but soon and very soon he'll be robbed of his dignity...but then God shows up...and we'll be with the one we love for all eternity because he came, took the weight of the world, the weight of sin on his shoulders...and conquered death. Soon and very soon our King is coming...our sin and shame erased by his blood.
Peace to you this weekend.
Romans 8.
NASB
Therefore there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 2 For the law of the Spirit of life [a]in Christ Jesus has set you free from the law of sin and of death. 3 For what the Law could not do, [b]weak as it was through the flesh, God did: sending His own Son in the likeness of [c]sinful flesh and as an offering for sin, He condemned sin in the flesh, 4 so that the requirement of the Law might be fulfilled in us, who do not walk according to the flesh but according to the Spirit. 5 For those who are according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who are according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. 6 For the mind set on the flesh is death, but the mind set on the Spirit is life and peace, 7 because the mind set on the flesh is hostile toward God; for it does not subject itself to the law of God, for it is not even able to do so, 8 and those who are in the flesh cannot please God.
9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 If Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is [d]alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies [e]through His Spirit who dwells in you.
12 So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you [f]must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live. 14 For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God. 15 For you have not received a spirit of slavery [g]leading to fear again, but you have received [h]a spirit of adoption as sons by which we cry out, “Abba! Father!” 16 The Spirit Himself testifies with our spirit that we are children of God, 17 and if children, heirs also, heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, if indeed we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him.
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us. 19 For the anxious longing of the creation waits eagerly for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of Him who subjected it, [i]in hope 21 that the creation itself also will be set free from its slavery to corruption into the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation groans and suffers the pains of childbirth together until now. 23 And not only this, but also we ourselves, having the first fruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting eagerly for our adoption as sons, the redemption of our body. 24 For in hope we have been saved, but hope that is seen is not hope; for who hopes for what he already sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, with perseverance we wait eagerly for it.
Our Victory in Christ
26 In the same way the Spirit also helps our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we should, but the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words; 27 and He who searches the hearts knows what the mind of the Spirit is, because He intercedes for the [j]saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that [k]God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. 29 For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 30 and these whom He predestined, He also called; and these whom He called, He also justified; and these whom He justified, He also glorified.
31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who is against us? 32 He who did not spare His own Son, but delivered Him over for us all, how will He not also with Him freely give us all things? 33 Who will bring a charge against God’s elect? God is the one who justifies; 34 who is the one who condemns? Christ Jesus is He who died, yes, rather who was [l]raised, who is at the right hand of God, who also intercedes for us. 35 Who will separate us from the love of [m]Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? 36 Just as it is written,
“For Your sake we are being put to death all day long;
We were considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”
37 But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Soon, Brooke Fraser - Hillsong United
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8I3VO19i2w&safety_mode=true&persist_safety_mode=1&safe=active
Soon and very soon
My King is coming
Robed in righteousness
And crowned with love
When I see Him
I shall be made like Him
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
I'll be going To the place
He has prepared for me
There my sin erased
My shame forgotten
Soon and very soon
I will be with the One I love
With unveiled face I'll see Him
There my soul will be satisfied
Soon and very soon
Soon and very soon
See the procession
The angels and the elders
'Round the throne At His feet I
'll lay my crowns My worship
Soon and very soon
Though I have not seen Him
My heart knows Him well
Jesus Christ the Lamb
The Lord of heaven
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Lent day 2
This morning I read the first couple pages of Henri Nouwen’s
books, “With Open Hands” and it just hit me how it really applies to Ryan’s
sermon and our journey together for Lent.
The resistance to
praying is like the resistance of tightly clinched fists. This image shows a tension, a desire to cling
tightly to yourself, a greediness which betrays fear. A story about an elderly woman brought to a
psychiatric center exemplifies this attitude.
She was wild, swinging at everything in sight, and frightening everyone
so much that the doctors had to take everything away from her. But there was one small coin that she gripped
in her fist and would not give up. In
fact it took two people to pry open that clenched hand. It was as though she would lose her very self
along with that coin. If they deprived
her of that last possession, she would have nothing more and be nothing
more. That was her fear.
When you are invited
to pray, you are asked to open your tightly clenched fist and give up your last
coin. But who wants to do that? A first prayer, therefore, is often a painful
prayer because you discover you don’t want to let go. You hold fast to what is familiar even if you
aren’t proud of it. You find yourself
saying, “That’s just how it is with me.
I would like it to be different, but it can’t be now. That’s just the way it is and this is the way
I’ll have to leave it. “ once you talk like that, you’ve already given up
believing that your life might be otherwise.
You’ve already let the hope for a new life float by…You feel it’s safer
to cling to the past than to trust in a new future. So you fill your hands with small, clammy
coins, which you don’t want to surrender.
I know first hand what it is like to hold onto a clammy
coin, trying to make my life work when hearing God so plainly that it’s as if
he’s right in front of me, asking me to release my hand and hand over the
coin-hand over my control and trust.
Surrender. Obey.
This excerpt from Henri Nouwen’s books, “With Open Hands”
gives us a picture that also corresponds to what the Lord said through Ryan
this past Sunday. I almost gave up my
coin, but I gave up everything else but that coin. I almost trusted…I almost surrendered…
On this second day of Lent, you might be feeling the loss of
what you are going to be giving up for these 40 days. Let that hunger that you have to grasp at
that desired activity or object move you towards Christ. Ask yourself the questions Ryan asked this
past weekend. Re-listen to the sermon
and consider what it will look like for you to enter into a posture of
surrender. If you can’t do it on your
own, ask a trusted friend to join you.
Let us spur one another onto love and good deeds (Heb 10:24) and move
together towards a life of surrender.
http://tinyurl.com/acs2v62
Wednesday, February 13, 2013
Job updates
SO....I've not posted in a year and now i'm on post three of the same evening!! HA!
Here is a job update for y'all:
Ryan is now the senior pastor of Sunland Neighborhood Church. SENIOR PASTOR y'all! I guess if you really think about it, i've been a pastors wife our whole marriage (he was a youth pastor for a couple years, then quit to finish Talbot, did his internship, then was a RD which is like a college pastor, for 9 years, then also was a worship pastor for 5 years, and then a discipleship pastor at Sunland before becoming the queso grande...) It was such a lovely transition. Duke, (our former senior pastor) resigned under very healthy reasons. He left slowly which was a gift. He and Ry split the pulpit (Duke would preach, then Ry, then Duke...etc...etc...) and Ryan took over officially this past June. I'm so proud of him. And our church has been so amazing. I'm so grateful. We are valued, cared for, doted on (they threw us a house warming party! and gave the kids gifts too!) I just feel so blessed. I say that truly from the bottom of my heart. I know that there are a lot of churches out there that are hard to be apart of (trust me-i've been a part of several hard transitions and churches with issues), and I can honestly say that I know we are human, and I know there are our fair share of issues, but the Lord has blessed us with a good foundation.
Me. Well, from previous posts, you know that I was looking for work back in 2010 when we moved out here. The Lord opened up a door for me to work at East Whittier City School District part time as a sub while I was still at Biola. Without going back to hunt previous posts if I shared, but after a LOT of prayer and wrestling with the Lord, I said goodbye to Biola in 2011. That is still a hard thing for me. BUT that is another post. The Lord really made it evident that he was closing that door and opening one at EWCSD for me. I kept trying to leave EWCSD and stay at Biola and he made that clear-that EWCSD is where I was to be. (That too is another post!) So, I stayed. Not always happily to be quite honest. I now have been at EWCSD since that time (subbed for several months 2010-2011, then got a part time job there 2011, then applied and got a full time job there with benefits (which is something we needed badly!) in late 2011 and have been in that position ever since. I am the purchasing agent. I do all of the purchasing for the school district. I am learning sooo much. I am grateful each day that I have a job. I do have to admit that it's hard though. The commute I have is about 2 hours a day (1 hour each way). I am grateful I have great hours where I don't hit too much traffic. BUT, those hours are 6:30am to 3pm. I am an early bird! There are days (like last week even) that I wish I didn't have to work, that I could stay home, or work closer to home-but I am pretty lucky, especially in this time in our district's history...there are many people who are loosing their jobs. I am someone that will more than likely (I pray!) not loose theirs. I know that there could always be a chance that could happen, but for today, I have a job. It's not too bad either!! And I still giggle at the irony-that the Lord provided a job where I shop all day...to pay off all the shopping i've done! HA!
I'll post more on the above another time. That's just the 'info' part of it. You know there will be layers to this to share.
Good night!
Here is a job update for y'all:
Ryan is now the senior pastor of Sunland Neighborhood Church. SENIOR PASTOR y'all! I guess if you really think about it, i've been a pastors wife our whole marriage (he was a youth pastor for a couple years, then quit to finish Talbot, did his internship, then was a RD which is like a college pastor, for 9 years, then also was a worship pastor for 5 years, and then a discipleship pastor at Sunland before becoming the queso grande...) It was such a lovely transition. Duke, (our former senior pastor) resigned under very healthy reasons. He left slowly which was a gift. He and Ry split the pulpit (Duke would preach, then Ry, then Duke...etc...etc...) and Ryan took over officially this past June. I'm so proud of him. And our church has been so amazing. I'm so grateful. We are valued, cared for, doted on (they threw us a house warming party! and gave the kids gifts too!) I just feel so blessed. I say that truly from the bottom of my heart. I know that there are a lot of churches out there that are hard to be apart of (trust me-i've been a part of several hard transitions and churches with issues), and I can honestly say that I know we are human, and I know there are our fair share of issues, but the Lord has blessed us with a good foundation.
Me. Well, from previous posts, you know that I was looking for work back in 2010 when we moved out here. The Lord opened up a door for me to work at East Whittier City School District part time as a sub while I was still at Biola. Without going back to hunt previous posts if I shared, but after a LOT of prayer and wrestling with the Lord, I said goodbye to Biola in 2011. That is still a hard thing for me. BUT that is another post. The Lord really made it evident that he was closing that door and opening one at EWCSD for me. I kept trying to leave EWCSD and stay at Biola and he made that clear-that EWCSD is where I was to be. (That too is another post!) So, I stayed. Not always happily to be quite honest. I now have been at EWCSD since that time (subbed for several months 2010-2011, then got a part time job there 2011, then applied and got a full time job there with benefits (which is something we needed badly!) in late 2011 and have been in that position ever since. I am the purchasing agent. I do all of the purchasing for the school district. I am learning sooo much. I am grateful each day that I have a job. I do have to admit that it's hard though. The commute I have is about 2 hours a day (1 hour each way). I am grateful I have great hours where I don't hit too much traffic. BUT, those hours are 6:30am to 3pm. I am an early bird! There are days (like last week even) that I wish I didn't have to work, that I could stay home, or work closer to home-but I am pretty lucky, especially in this time in our district's history...there are many people who are loosing their jobs. I am someone that will more than likely (I pray!) not loose theirs. I know that there could always be a chance that could happen, but for today, I have a job. It's not too bad either!! And I still giggle at the irony-that the Lord provided a job where I shop all day...to pay off all the shopping i've done! HA!
I'll post more on the above another time. That's just the 'info' part of it. You know there will be layers to this to share.
Good night!
Lent-Day one
Last year I did this, I posted on our churches FB page a daily devo for lent. I'd either write it, or i'd use something I had read or another friends' post on lent and share it with our church family. This year I thought i'd also post them on my blog in case other wanted to access it (I don't know if the churches FB page is open to the public or just our peeps). At any rate...here is what I posted. You can also go to www.snchurch.com and listen to Ryan's sermons, and also see his "2nd looks" to reference how I began this lent devo.
Lent. As Ryan said yesterday in his email to you all, it’s a sobering time. Why is it sobering? We are preparing our hearts to witness first hand our sin before us. The purpose of seeing our sin before us, examining it, contemplating it with the Lord is to then release it to him. That it is forgiven and forgotten. My sin is a very sobering thought when I sit and really enter into my habits, my hiddenness, my capacity to lie, cheat, steal, destroy…but what is more sobering and yet incredibly hope filled is that this is also the time that God shows us that even though our sin is ever present, He has sent his Son to bring us freedom. What Christ walks through in these next 40 days, the road to the cross and his resurrection, is what brings us freedom! What would we do without this freedom?!? Entering into your sin is not to put distance between you and the Lord, or to be a time to invite punishment on youself-it’s to bring you together, to move towards the One who says, “Come to me, those who are heavy laden and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30. Together, let’s walk this road.
Prayer. Prayer is the first part of the journey. Pause would be another word as well. This isn’t just a time to think about something you should give up like TV, coffee, meat, thrifting (that’s more for me than you all I suspect!)…fasting is a part of lent. But there is a purpose behind fasting. That is the pause and prayer part. Pause and take inventory of your life. What is something that keeps you from Christ? Ryan talked this weekend about barriers in our life, what barriers are keeping you from experiencing the Freedom that Christ gives to you, to me? That barrier might be the thing to fast. Because when you are drawn to that particular thing, to enter into that activity, that is when you have a choice-do I break the covenant with Christ I have during these 40 days and enter into this activity, or do I use that hunger that I have for said activity and move towards prayer? Ceasing participation in what you give up is not a punishment or even suppose to be something relatively easy where you wouldn’t miss it. Another layer to consider is this-it’s also a very small token of sacrifice as you see, taste, sense, experience in a very small way, the sacrifice Christ is about to make on our behalf. What was that even like for him? To give up his life?! What would it be like for us to sacrifice and fast some small, yet significant thing in our life for 40 days to allow us to journey with Christ towards freedom? So, pause. pray. Think about something to sacrifice that would move you towards Christ in prayer during these 40 days.
What a blessing it will be to journey these 40 days together. Peace to you.
Long time to type
It's been a year and a couple days since my last post. A LOT has gone on since then. It was a year ago previous to that post that I had posted. MAN...our adventures have taken me away from this. I hope to re-engage in this blog. I had been away from it for quite awhile for many reasons. Some obvious (working full time, full time mom stuff, husband to attend to, etc...etc...) but other things not so obvious (who reads this...who cares what's going on, what I have to say, etc...etc....) So...needless to say, i'm going to discipline myself to post, regardless of how unimportant or important my rants may be.
Here is a synopsis of our last year:
1) Went hunting for a home...
2) Went to Yosemite on a family camping trip that was so epic the kids still talk about it
3) Came back, got some financial affairs in order
4) PAID OFF OUR CREDIT CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (now onto school debt-roll snowball roll!)
5) Started to hunt for a home again
6) Put in several offers on homes that we kept getting outbid on
7) Found a little home that someone took our bid on and now we call it home. "Evelyn" is her name.
8) Settled in...
9) Now I am getting itchy / antsy to start renvoating. BUT how do you renovate when you are on a budget-hello pinterest and blogs and HGTV and friends and thrifting and ideas and.........
There is so much more about our year...but suffice it to say now, that's the big news.
I'll come back and talk more later.
Here is a synopsis of our last year:
1) Went hunting for a home...
2) Went to Yosemite on a family camping trip that was so epic the kids still talk about it
3) Came back, got some financial affairs in order
4) PAID OFF OUR CREDIT CARDS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (now onto school debt-roll snowball roll!)
5) Started to hunt for a home again
6) Put in several offers on homes that we kept getting outbid on
7) Found a little home that someone took our bid on and now we call it home. "Evelyn" is her name.
8) Settled in...
9) Now I am getting itchy / antsy to start renvoating. BUT how do you renovate when you are on a budget-hello pinterest and blogs and HGTV and friends and thrifting and ideas and.........
There is so much more about our year...but suffice it to say now, that's the big news.
I'll come back and talk more later.
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