God never gives up on me. God is kind to me. God doesn't envy. God doesn't strut or have a swelled head. God doesn't force Himself on me. God is not easily angered. God keeps no record of my wrongs. God does not delight when I participate with evil but He rejoices when I walk in His truth. God always protects me, is always trustworthy, always looks for the best in me, and God sticks with me to the very end. (1 Corinthians 13:4-7)
That is the best Valentine's Day present I could ever hope for! Because of the amazing way God loves me, may I also extend that same love to all those around me. Happy Valentine's Day!
Monday, February 13, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Becoming Childlike
I recently spent time in a Sunday School class for 3 and 4 year olds. The energy and joy was impressive, but I was most in awe of the patient lead teacher, and how she could take a room full of little ones literally going in all directions and engage each one all at once. After lesson time the teacher asked review questions and the majority of the children would reply "Jesus" or "God" regardless of the question. Teacher: "what city was Paul in?" Children: "Jesus." I remember smirking to myself about how "programmed" children can become and how mindlessly they assume every answer in Sunday School is "Jesus" or "God." It crossed my mind the odds are in their favor that eventually their canned responses will be right.
But today, as I reviewed my Bible study on 1 Corinthians 1-7, and heard Paul's response to so many various topics, and it occurred to me that I need to become more childlike. Paul tells the Corinithians struggling with divisions, Jesus is the answer. Is there contension? Jesus. Is there pride? Jesus crucified. Self-Absorbed? Jesus. Need wisdom or direction? Holy Spirit. Are you critical and judgemental? You need God's power. Dealing with sexual sin? Holy Spirit. Marriage advice? Jesus. Single?Jesus. The list in the Bible goes on and on. Question after question, and the best answer is Jesus.
When did I forget this beautiful, simple, yet profound truth? If I am honest my question and answer time is more like this: Is there contension? Gossip. Is there pride? Disguise it. Need Wisdom? Google. Need Direction? GPS. Have a bad day? Chocolate. Have a good day?Chocolate and coffee. Lonely? check facebook. Need to talk? Call husband. To recover this childlike wisdom I must run to Jesus with all my needs, desires, disappointments, hopes and dreams. God's word is timeless, I can trust Him.
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
But today, as I reviewed my Bible study on 1 Corinthians 1-7, and heard Paul's response to so many various topics, and it occurred to me that I need to become more childlike. Paul tells the Corinithians struggling with divisions, Jesus is the answer. Is there contension? Jesus. Is there pride? Jesus crucified. Self-Absorbed? Jesus. Need wisdom or direction? Holy Spirit. Are you critical and judgemental? You need God's power. Dealing with sexual sin? Holy Spirit. Marriage advice? Jesus. Single?Jesus. The list in the Bible goes on and on. Question after question, and the best answer is Jesus.
When did I forget this beautiful, simple, yet profound truth? If I am honest my question and answer time is more like this: Is there contension? Gossip. Is there pride? Disguise it. Need Wisdom? Google. Need Direction? GPS. Have a bad day? Chocolate. Have a good day?Chocolate and coffee. Lonely? check facebook. Need to talk? Call husband. To recover this childlike wisdom I must run to Jesus with all my needs, desires, disappointments, hopes and dreams. God's word is timeless, I can trust Him.
1 Corinthians 2:2 For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and him crucified.
Thursday, February 2, 2012
Learning to swim
Few successes in life are as obviously glorious as learning to swim. Whereas before you were on the edge of death by drowning. Within weeks or months you can slip into the same cool waters once marked by struggle, splashing, sinking, panic and with minimal effort slide along the surface. Strong kicks and graceful arm movements with forward momentum replace exhausting thrashing.
I want to learn to swim in my current areas of struggle. I want to feel the water that currently sucks me down, and threatens to consume me become the water that supports me as I lazily float. I long to use the properties of the waters I now wrestle endlessly to propel myself to a destination beyond my reach.
Matthew 14:25-33
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
I want to learn to swim in my current areas of struggle. I want to feel the water that currently sucks me down, and threatens to consume me become the water that supports me as I lazily float. I long to use the properties of the waters I now wrestle endlessly to propel myself to a destination beyond my reach.
Matthew 14:25-33
25 Shortly before dawn Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. 26 When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear.
27 But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.”
28 “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.”
29 “Come,” he said.
Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me!”
31 Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?”
32 And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. 33 Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
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