Sunday, October 28, 2012

Oct 28-Nov 4


Monday: Genesis 43
Tuesday: 1 Samuel 14
Wednesday: Psalm 68
Thursday: Jeremiah 6
Friday: Lamentations 5
Saturday: Matthew 8
Sunday Hebrews 12

17 comments:

Unknown said...

"If you are praying for relief from suffering or pressure and God is not bringing it as quickly as you like remember that God may be leading you to special treasures."

♫"when the waves are takin' you under, hold on just a little bit longer. He knows that this is gonna make you stronger." ♫

The lyrics to this song have been my theme song this week;

You must
You must think I'm strong
To give me what I'm going through
Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I'm wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough
For both of us

Well maybe
Maybe that's the point
To reach the point of giving up
Cause when I'm finally
Finally at rock bottom
That's when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough

Cause I'm broken down to nothing
But I'm still holding on to one thing
You are God and you are strong when
I am weak

I can do all things through Christ who
Gives me strength
And i don't have to be strong enough (2x)

I know I'm not strong enough to be
Everything that I'm supposed to be
I give up
I'm not strong enough
Hands of mercy won't you cover me
Lord right now I'm asking you to be
Strong enough, strong enough

Unknown said...

"have you ever felt surrounded by the enemy? God is never overwhelmed by the size of the enemy or the complexity of a problem. With him there are always enough resources to resist the pressures and win the battle... rely upon Him to lead you to victory."

Yes, yes and yes! Amen, amen and Amen! I was just shaking my head yesterday at the spiritual high I was on a few weeks ago... I couldn't keep my hands down even while driving I was so full of God's spirit charging me, lifting me. Then this week, CRASH. Absolute low. Full on assault. But I didn't give up. I cried out, and God came in to do His thing and deliver and He has lifted me back up and restored my joy.

"when you are facing a difficult situation that is beyond your control (or strength) ask yourself, what steps can I take now to work toward a solution? A few small steps may be just what is needed to begin the chain of events leading to victory."

this is so true. I knew that I was in a bad spot because of spiritual attack, but I also knew that my lifestyle was not HELPING. Staying up too late, spreading myself too thin, not covering myself with enough prayer before going into spiritually and emotionally draining situations, not getting my own needs for solitude met, etc. I knew that I not only needed prayer, I needed to start safeguarding my schedule and my life if I wanted to have my sanity restored.

"After being king for several years, Saul finally built his first altar to God, but only as a last resort. Throughout Saul's reign he consistently approached god only after he had tried everything else. How much better if Saul had gone to God first... God is too great to be an afterthought. When we turn to Him first we will never have to turn to Him as a last resort."

So convicting. I was slipping in my disciplines of seeking God first thing. Excusing and justifying. I'm tired, I'm still doing family devotions in the morning with the kids, I glean stuff from that. But I wasn't taking that time to truly hear from God, journal, confess, examine my heart in light of what I was hearing, and it showed. I was letting life crowd God out. It didn't take long for the proof to show up in the pudding. When life hit me, my shield was down.

My last 4 days with God have been intensely wonderful and intimate. A new level of self examination and communion.

Joan said...

So glad to hear that you've been having such wonderful times with God. I've been praying for you.

Denise said...

PC, that is so AWESOME! Your joy is spilling out of this comment! I LOVE it! I love that you have been having intensely wonderful and intimate times with God! What could be better than that??!! NOTHING!
Funny, I have SO been feeling the SAME way! And those exact notes were the ones that stood out for me as well!

Other comments that stood out for me:
“Have you ever felt surrounded by the “enemy” or faced overwhelming odds? God is never intimidated by the size of the enemy or the complexity of a problem. With him, there are always enough resources to resist the pressures and win the battle. If God has called you to action, then bravely commit what resources you have to God, and rely upon him to lead you to victory.”

When I first considered applying for The Freedom Climb I was overwhelmed by what I would have to do, money raised, life organized, etc. But I totally feel called to action here! And Rob kept telling me not to worry about that stuff – God can totally provide, just trust in Him and let Him lead me! I can’t wait to hear back from OM that it is official so that I can go hard!

Unknown said...

>>If God has called you to action, then bravely commit what resources you have to God, and rely upon him to lead you to victory.”<<

These words specifically jumped out at me as God's word to you, Denise! BE BRAVE... rely upon Him to lead you to basecamp! :)

Denise said...

Psalm 68
“When we consider all God has done for us, we should feel an overwhelming sense of awe as we kneel before the Lord in his sanctuary. Nature surrounds us with countless signs of God’s wonderful power. His unlimited power and unspeakable majesty leave us breathless in his presence. How fortunate we are that God cares for us.”

“Those who refuse to turn to God will be crushed by sin and death. They will be trapped by the sin they loved and destroyed by the death they feared.” This makes me so sad for my family . I have only just started praying *with conviction* that they will come to know Jesus (instead of praying with the attitude of yes please Lord but I know it ain’t gonna happen).

I keep thinking too, of yesterday’s readings 1 Samuel 14. “Saul’s poor leadership was not a result of personality traits but of decaying spiritual character. What we do is often a direct result of our spiritual condition. We cannot ignore the importance of spiritual character in effective leadership.” This really makes me think of my ‘leadership’ as a mom and how when I far from the Lord and feeling down it greatly effects my relationship with my kids in a negative way. Feeling close to God and being on a ‘spiritual high’, bursting with joy for God and life – it can’t help but to make me a better mom who is a far better ‘leader’ for the kids in all things!

Denise said...

Thanks PC! I will try to be brave! To base camp I go! I know this deep in my heart! I HAVE to go!

Unknown said...

"God places the lonely in families. He sets the prisoners free and gives them joy." v6

I love this verse. It has been true for me.

"Gd is awesome in His sanctuary. The God of Israel gives power and strength to His people. Praise be to God!" v35

Amen!!!

Unknown said...

Joan, and Lois and Denise, you don't know how thankful I am for the prayers you prayed for me last week. I know I wouldn't be where I am today without them. Thank you for fighting for me

Denise said...

You are VERY welcome! Love and prayers to you! And thank you for doing the same!

Unknown said...

Jeremiah 6

v2 "O Jerusalem, you are my beautiful and delicate daughter- but I will destroy you!"

God tears us down to build us up. Strips us bare to clothe us in His qualities, destroys us in order to remake us in His image.

V8 "I always see her sickness and sores. Listen to this warning, Jerusalem, or I will turn from you in disgust."

We love to think of God's positive qualities. His loving kindness, patience and grace. We love to think of Him perfectly loving us despite our imperfections. And He does perfectly love us. But that is not because we are perfect in His eyes, it is because His love is perfect. We find it hard to admit how disgusting our sin and rebellion is to Him. He is not disgusted by US but by our behavior.

v10-11 "To whom can I give warning? Who will listen when I speak? Their ears are closed and they cannot hear. They scorn the word of the Lord. They don't want to listen at all."

My prayer for the children I impact in my home, in my circle of influence, in kids club and kids feature is that God's spirit would draw them to understand how important His word is for their spiritual existence. That generations would come behind us that value, prioritize and cherish time in God's word, hearing from Him, speaking with Him, girding their days with the sound of His voice and the truth of HIs character.

v14 "They offer superficial treatments for my people's mortal wound."

Dr. Phil. That's all I can think of when I read this verse. All the self help talk in this world is not going to help someone whose life is void of God and Christ.

Denise said...

Jeremiah 6
6:10
“The people became angry and closed their ears. They wanted no part of God’s commands because living for God did not appear very exciting. As in Jeremiah’s day, people today dislike God’s demand for disciplined living. As unsettling as people’s responses might be, we must continue to share God’s Word. Our responsibility is to present God’s Word; their responsibility is to accept it. We must not let what people want to hear determine what we say.”

I have been closed-lipped about Jesus for practically my entire Christian life because I do not like conflict (I avoid conflict like the plague! And conflict is what it would be if I discussed my beliefs with my family) and I did not want people think of me as I used to think of those ‘crazy, weird, religious people’. God is calling me to announce my beliefs in a pretty dramatic way (through The Freedom Climb) and it is a little scary for me but something I am excited about too!!

6:25
“Ominous travel warning, increased threat levels, and tight security were as much a part of life in ancient Israel as they are in the world today. Terrorism, in one form or another, has been a tactic throughout history. The question raised about such real or potential dangers forces us to examine our sense of ultimate security. Whether the outlook is bleak or hopeful, do we actually trust in God? Or does our trust last only as long as the threat seems distant?”

When I was deciding whether or not to apply for The Freedom Climb one of the barriers my heart was facing was the thought of something happening to me and me not being able to be here for my children. This is still a fear of mine but I need to trust that God will keep me safe.

Unknown said...

Lamentations 5

It seems like the readings have been so heavy handed and depressing this week, or is it just me, seeing the "dark" side after just having so freshly been pulled out of it?

v 15 Joy has left our hearts; our dancing has turned to mourning, the garlands have falled nfrom our heads... our hearts are sick and weary and our eyes grow dim wiht tears...

v19 But Lord, you remain the same forever!... Restore us, O Lord, and bring us back to you again! Give us back the joys we once had!"

I praise God for His faithfulness, His power and His restoration today.

Denise said...

Lamentations 5
"A high calling flouted by low living results in deep suffering. Lamentations gives us a portrait of the bitter suffering the people of Jerusalem experienced when sin caught up with them and God turned his back on them. Every material goal they had lived for collapsed. But although God turned away from them because of their sin, he did not abandon them - that was their great hope. Despite their sinful past, God would restore them if they returned to him. Hope is found only in the Lord. Thus, our grief should turn us toward him, not away from him."

Unknown said...

mat 8 "you may find that following Christ may cost you friendship, leisure time or treasured habits. While the cost of following Christ is high, the value of being Christ's disciple is even higher. Discipleship is an investment that lasts for eternity and yields incredible rewards."

Last week I reached the end of my emotional and physical energies. I looked at my life and realized that all the needs of everyone in my life was too much for me. But it is not too much for God. Jesus led a very exhausting life, He experienced burn out. He was not supernatural in that he could survive without sleep, recharging, food and time alone with the Father any more than we can.

God showed me that He can infuse me with strength that surpasses my understanding. He can carry me, He can restore my joy and peace and goodwill when it is waning. I must plug into His power and grace, because trying to function on my own strength is scary and exhausting and messy.

Denise said...

Matthew 8
We should not turn our backs on people who are 'unclean' or repulsive to us or who violate our moral standard and relgious beliefs. Instead, we must realize that every human individual is a unique creation of God, needing to be touched by his love.

Unknown said...

Heb 12

"Let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that trips us up. Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus the \champion who initiates and perfects our faith."

bible notes: The christian life involves hard work. It requires us to give up whatever endangers our relationship with God... To live effectively we must keep our eyes on Jesus. We will stumble if we look away from Him to stare at ourselves or at the circumstances surrounding us. We should be running for Christ, not ourselves, and we must always keep Him in sight."

Keeping our eyes fixed on Christ, focusing... stumbling when we get distracted from the target... being hampered by weights of distractions we allow to hinder and clog and dull our senses to What REally Matters. All such timely words for me yesterday.