Monday, August 13, 2012

Aug 13-19


Monday: Genesis 32
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 3
Wednesday: Psalm 57
Thursday: Isaiah 61
Friday: Zechariah 12
Saturday: Acts 25
Sunday Hebrews 1

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Gen 32

I was struck and encouraged by the reality that we are not defined by the mistakes of our past. God works in us over time, redeems our faulty thinking and faulty living, transforming us from the inside out and in being transformed we become worthy of new names. It made me think of that you tube video where it shows all the people coming forward on the stage with placards that showed the words of what they used to be, flipping them to show what they are today. My names would be "rejected" and "chosen". Not just accepted.... CHOSEN. This is huge for me.

Unknown said...

1 Samuel 3:1 "Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon."

v7 "Samuel did not yet know the Lord because he had never had a message from the Lord before."

These two verses struck me and struck up a conversation at family devotions this morning. Whose to say this is not how things are today? It is food for thought after the visions I received at camp this summer which really rocked my neat little box of "God speaks to me through His Word."

That, and then the second verse really awoke something in me to. How many people know ABOUT God. Believe IN God but don't KNOW God. Don't experience that living, breathing, growing, constantly relating, relying, submitting, trusting, seeking, fulfilling relationship of KNOWING Him? As I get to know more and more people in my life I see this as a very common and sad reality. God is existent to them, but the relationship isn't really. They fall back on faith when push comes to shove but for the most part they don't really KNOW God and the intimate, joyful, life giving power He wants to infuse them with not just from day to day, but from moment to moment.

I am passionate about this. This knowing God. I pray that I will be able to inspire a generation to really know Him, even if that generation is just my own kids, or some kids at club, interaction with my friend's kids, or my kids being able to pass on that heritage as well in the future. For me this is what it means to be a proclaiming person. To inspire authentic and hungry and rewarding relationship with our Creator and the Author of our Faith.

Annette said...

In looking at this week's reading, I noticed we are going into 1 Peter on Sunday. A few weeks back we went from Philemon to James. Will we be going back to Hebrews as we seem to have missed it.

Unknown said...

Interesting, how did I manage that? In hindsight I'm thinking I got mixed up with sermon readings and devotional readings as Darrel took us through James. I will change the 1 Peter 1 to Hebrews 1 and then we will move into 1 Pet after Hebrews. Thanks for pointing that out!

Unknown said...

psa 57

was struck by the multiple references to God's unfailing Love and faithfulness. No matter what, like the son of the prodigal, His love and faithfulness endures. He is beautiful.

Unknown said...

Isa 61 "I am overwhelmed with joy in the Lord my God! For he has dressed me with the clothing of salvation and draped me in a robe of righteousness. I am like a bridegroom in his wedding suit or a bride with her jewels." v10

How incredibly beautiful. Brought me back to my wedding day and how "magical" it felt. Like you are a princess, ethereal. That is what it is like to be loved by the King, chosen, sanctified.