"We are often only aware of what we believe in regard to the tings we have actually experienced but are undecided about our beliefs regarding the things or feeling we have not yet experienced"
"The pursuit of "love" takes the form of searching for intimacy and closeness, and unfortunately the world we live in teaches that this intimacy and closeness can be found only through sexual relationships."
"So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, "if you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free"' John 8:31-32
I. Has studying God's Word revealed truth to you, setting you free? What is that truth? From what were you set free?
The Word is full of truth. One verse that strikes me is Galatians 5:1 "For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery." Through my salvation in Christ I am free from the bondage of sin. Yes I will still sin, but I am not a slave to it. I have the freedom because of Christ's sacrifice to live fighting sin, to not live for sin. There is a specific sin I can think of that God strongly convicted me of last October and has since provided me the ability to fight that sin. God set me from the bondage I had allowed myself to that sin. Christ had already freed me from the sin, but I was choosing to serve under that sin, but God in His goodness convicted me and has given me the strength to pursue holiness in that area of my life.
II. What are you storing up in your heart?
Funny that this question should be here. I have been very convicted during our current sermon series especially in relation to work. I would have to admit that I have a lot of hatred, frustration, stress in my heart right now. A lot of selfishness. I have seen a difference in my behavior. I only want to do what will benefit me, I haven't been interested in serving the needs of my coworkers. I have become more frustrated more quickly with my coworkers. My heart needs a makeover! Praise God for His never ceasing work in my life!
"For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need" Hebrews 4:15-16
III. How does it make you feel to know that Jesus can sympathize with your every weakness?
Humbling. Christ my Savior fought many of the same battles or similar that I fight daily, yet He never sinned. While living on earth I will never be sin free, I can strive daily to be more like Christ. I can read and learn how Christ dealt with these temptations. In a way it is also a comfort. As I read the Word, it is coming from an experiential view. Christ suffered, Christ was tempted His advice on fighting temptation is holy, fair, and correct. He succeed.
IV. How can you offer the same grace to others that God gives to you? What things might you need to accept in order to love somone unconditionally and unreservedly?
Grace. Wow God has been really been emphasizing this word in my life lately. It is so cool to see so many different outlets link so well together through the theme of grace.
V. Perhaps you've heard people talk about God as a husband. Does it seem possible to you to be satisfied with God as your sole partner? Why or why not?
This is a tough but fair question that I think all single women should think about at some point or another. I want my answer to be without a doubt yes. But I know there is hesitation in me. As much as I love being single and love that I don't have a spouse taking away from focused time with God. I still have those desires to one day be married and have a family. I think what is most important, at least for me, to remember is that I was created to glorify God. If remaining single is most glorifying then I know it will be ok, just like if He can be brought more glorify through marriage I know it will be ok. I know either way there will be struggles I will need the grace of God. So yes I think I can be satisfied with God as my sole partner. I think I will struggle with desires for something else but God's grace is sufficient.
Statistically 67% of all women will experience at least one or more premarital or extramarital affair in her lifetime.
VI. Do you find this statistic surprising with regard to our whole society? With regard to the Christian community? Why or why not?
I am not overly surprised by this statistic. We are all tempted and so many of us, even Christians have not prepared ourselves to fight temptation. I Matthew 4 Jesus is tempted by the Devil, He refutes temptation with Scripture. Is that how we handle temptation. I'll be the first to admit that is hard for me. I pray when tempted to sin, but I haven't memorized enough scripture to fight sin like I should. I think at least for me this is one area in life that I need to improve, and am working at improving now.
VII. Do you find it difficult to confide in other women on this or other topics?
Interesting. A friend and I have been talking a lot about this lately. There is unfortunately this basket if you will of sins that we don't talk about. If someone were to bring them up no one would no what to do so the person is made to feel awkward, or worse. The church as a whole needs to find ways to penetrate that basket and open the doors to openness. Openness in the right setting per what will be talked about and by whom. While sin needs dealt with and talked about but not in a way that relieves you of what you have done and makes you feel better, in a way that provokes you to change, causes repentance. Sometimes you just need a sister in Christ to come along side you and pray for you. Ask you however often about that sin or struggle to make sure you are staying accountable to what you committed to doing or giving up. As a sister in Christ they don't need all the answers they just need a heart to serve their sister. I don't have to know how to help my friend in every situation she faces but I can pray for her! I can be accountability for her. I can help her find the help she may really need.
Friday, July 11, 2014
Wednesday, July 2, 2014
The Promised One: Week 1 The Road to Emmaus
Read Luke 24
As I am reading through one of the first things that strikes me is as Jesus is walking with the two gentlemen they do not know who He is. He has kept his identity unknown. So did Jesus look the same as always including the scares? What made Him different that they didn't know that it was indeed Jesus?
"Evidently God purposefully wanted to keep them from recognizing Jesus, perhaps so that they would not become so caught up in him actually being alive that they would not be able to think through what he had to teach them"
"We want our eyes to be opened to see Jesus in the Old Testament. We want our hearts to burn as this revelation kindles in us a fresh passion for Jesus and we want our minds to be opened so that we understand the Scriptures."
Tell some of what you remember thinking about the Bible from your childhood?
I remember the basic stories. Not that they are not important but the same basic stories retold. Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, Jonah and the giant fish. etc. The one thing I can pick out right now based off the introduction to this book is not once did they relate to the coming of Christ when told. They were all told as individual stories or lessons.
Imagine you are walking on the road to Emmaus, what have you just seen and heard and experienced in Jerusalem? What questions are in your mind and what concerns in your heart?
I guess immediately I think of sorrow of the loss of the man that many thought was the messiah. The confusion over who was this man and where does that leave us now? Think on the concerning news that the body can't be found. Where would the body go, why would someone steal it? Why would this man say He is one thing but turn out not to be? WHo is the messiah if not this man Jesus?
What do you think it must have been like to realize that there was something they had missed and to have Jesus take them through the Old Testament revealing how it pointed to him?
Well first my pride flares up a bit and it is a little difficult to be told you are wrong you didn't understand, especially seeing as the Torah was something they would have known well. And thought to understood well. But I think as the lesson unfolded and I began to see what I had missed all along my tune would change. I would be amazed at the underlying story that I had been missing this entire time. I think to even now. I love to read the Bible but I haven't felt sucked into it like a typical romance novel, but maybe with these new lenses I will develop from reading this book I will find the heart throbbing love story I love to read.
Why am I partaking in this study? What do I hope to gain from this investment of time and effort? How do I want to be different after I read this book?
Initially I started this study because a couple friends were doing it and I had heard it is a fantastic book. But after reading only a few pages I realized that I am ecstatic to read this book. I am so looking forward to challenging my thinking and finding Jesus in the Old Testament. I want to be able to read through the Bible and see what God is teaching. one illustration in the book thus far is how Abraham took Issaic. While it is probably not wrong to think in terms of following hard after God and doing whatever He asks, it might also be as correct and thought provoking to think of it as God to will offer up His son, except there will not be a ram in the thickets, Jesus will breath a last breath before death for our sins.
As I am reading through one of the first things that strikes me is as Jesus is walking with the two gentlemen they do not know who He is. He has kept his identity unknown. So did Jesus look the same as always including the scares? What made Him different that they didn't know that it was indeed Jesus?
"Evidently God purposefully wanted to keep them from recognizing Jesus, perhaps so that they would not become so caught up in him actually being alive that they would not be able to think through what he had to teach them"
"We want our eyes to be opened to see Jesus in the Old Testament. We want our hearts to burn as this revelation kindles in us a fresh passion for Jesus and we want our minds to be opened so that we understand the Scriptures."
Tell some of what you remember thinking about the Bible from your childhood?
I remember the basic stories. Not that they are not important but the same basic stories retold. Noah and the Ark, Adam and Eve, Jonah and the giant fish. etc. The one thing I can pick out right now based off the introduction to this book is not once did they relate to the coming of Christ when told. They were all told as individual stories or lessons.
Imagine you are walking on the road to Emmaus, what have you just seen and heard and experienced in Jerusalem? What questions are in your mind and what concerns in your heart?
I guess immediately I think of sorrow of the loss of the man that many thought was the messiah. The confusion over who was this man and where does that leave us now? Think on the concerning news that the body can't be found. Where would the body go, why would someone steal it? Why would this man say He is one thing but turn out not to be? WHo is the messiah if not this man Jesus?
What do you think it must have been like to realize that there was something they had missed and to have Jesus take them through the Old Testament revealing how it pointed to him?
Well first my pride flares up a bit and it is a little difficult to be told you are wrong you didn't understand, especially seeing as the Torah was something they would have known well. And thought to understood well. But I think as the lesson unfolded and I began to see what I had missed all along my tune would change. I would be amazed at the underlying story that I had been missing this entire time. I think to even now. I love to read the Bible but I haven't felt sucked into it like a typical romance novel, but maybe with these new lenses I will develop from reading this book I will find the heart throbbing love story I love to read.
Why am I partaking in this study? What do I hope to gain from this investment of time and effort? How do I want to be different after I read this book?
Initially I started this study because a couple friends were doing it and I had heard it is a fantastic book. But after reading only a few pages I realized that I am ecstatic to read this book. I am so looking forward to challenging my thinking and finding Jesus in the Old Testament. I want to be able to read through the Bible and see what God is teaching. one illustration in the book thus far is how Abraham took Issaic. While it is probably not wrong to think in terms of following hard after God and doing whatever He asks, it might also be as correct and thought provoking to think of it as God to will offer up His son, except there will not be a ram in the thickets, Jesus will breath a last breath before death for our sins.
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