Father, thank You for Your love and forgiveness. Thank You that you want my good.
Please help me to live in forgiveness. Help me be quick to forgive and continue to choose where my mind will remain when thoughts come my way. May I choose to think of your goodness and pray for others and not let any little root of bitterness spring up.
Oh Father help me come to love others more. Help me to choose to think good of and want good for other people.
Thank you Father.
Monday, May 25, 2009
What I learned about God in week 5
God is way more interested in my well being (as well as the rest of humanity) than Himself. Examples of this would be His words about those who were crucifying Him (Luke 23:34), how he acted toward Judas (Matt. 26:49-53) and with Peter (Mark 16:6-7). God always wants our good.
God wants me to be like Him and always be out for the good of others.
God wants me to be like Him and always be out for the good of others.
What I learned about myself in week 5
I was encouraged that I don't have anyone I have not forgiven.
I was also encouraged that forgiveness is a process and that it's normal when I know I have chosen to forgive someone and when sad/bad thoughts come up. When that happens I can choose to not think on those thoughts, speak the truth (i.e. I choose to live in forgiveness toward _____ ) and pray.
Again I was convicted with my selfishness. I so frequently care about my good more than that of those around me. I want to care just as much for them as for myself.
I was also encouraged that forgiveness is a process and that it's normal when I know I have chosen to forgive someone and when sad/bad thoughts come up. When that happens I can choose to not think on those thoughts, speak the truth (i.e. I choose to live in forgiveness toward _____ ) and pray.
Again I was convicted with my selfishness. I so frequently care about my good more than that of those around me. I want to care just as much for them as for myself.
Thursday, May 21, 2009
Choosing faith
Over and over it comes down to the choice I make on a daily basis - do I do what scripture says or just do what comes naturally.
Recently I was flipping channels on TV and stopped to see who was on PTL. It was bishop somebody out of Georgia and his words pierced my heart. He referred to the principles in Romans 4:17 and Colossains 1:16 and said that America's women need to stop speaking and telling their husbands all about what they are doing wrong. He challenged women to speak words of faith for their husbands; to speak forth what you want to see. To believe something better; to have God give you a vision of what He wants your husband to become.
So I prayed and emailed John (he was in Yosemite) a faith statement. It was amusing because he wrote me back telling me how much my respect means to him.
I plan to keep speaking and praying and believing those words over him. Rather than focusing on the irritating things about John (Everyone has annoying things about them. This truth is illustrated by a comedian I heard recently say that getting married comes down to the choice of if you want to be lonely or be irritated.) I will choose to speak in faith.
Recently I was flipping channels on TV and stopped to see who was on PTL. It was bishop somebody out of Georgia and his words pierced my heart. He referred to the principles in Romans 4:17 and Colossains 1:16 and said that America's women need to stop speaking and telling their husbands all about what they are doing wrong. He challenged women to speak words of faith for their husbands; to speak forth what you want to see. To believe something better; to have God give you a vision of what He wants your husband to become.
So I prayed and emailed John (he was in Yosemite) a faith statement. It was amusing because he wrote me back telling me how much my respect means to him.
I plan to keep speaking and praying and believing those words over him. Rather than focusing on the irritating things about John (Everyone has annoying things about them. This truth is illustrated by a comedian I heard recently say that getting married comes down to the choice of if you want to be lonely or be irritated.) I will choose to speak in faith.
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Unpacking week 5 memory verse
This week's memory verse from Colossians 3:12-14 is one of those that contains a list and, in my experience, lists are easy to gloss over. To make it more relevant for myself, I want to unpack the verse some.
I'll start by looking at what the words in the list mean.
Compassion
I liked Wiki's definition most: "Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others. More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism."
So compassion means an awareness of another's suffering at an intense level that leads to action on their behalf.
Kindness
Wordnet defines it this way: " *the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic. * forgiveness: tendency to be kind and forgiving."
In kindness there's a general quality of being considerate and a lifestyle of forgiveness.
Humility
I liked what both Wiki and Godnet had to say. Wicki: "Humility, or being humble, is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others."
Godnet: "The attitude of the Christian that suggest one should not"...think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment..." (Rom. 12:3). It is knowing our true position before God. It is not self-abasement or demeaning one's self. ..."
I guess being humble has to do with knowing one's place in the universe as well as how that impacts our treatment of others causing us to be respectful of them.
Gentleness
Robcom200 put it this way: "The quality or state of being gentle, especially in mildness of manners or disposition. Tamed, domesticated, quiet, tractable and docile. Benignly gracious or kind in manner. Not harsh or stern. Mild, considerate& and tender. Honorable, noble, distinguished."
Gracious verses harsh or stern; tender. It's interesting because this word is not one we hear nowadays, it's not a part of our culture.
Patience
Wicki: "Patience (ˈpā-shənz) is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances. This can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. ..."
Interesting that patience is not just seen as a passive state but as persevering.
There is so much in the five things this week's bible memory verse tells me to do as a follower of God. I'm going to need to spend some time thinking on these verbs and let God's Spirit show me how to make these actions real in my life.
I'll start by looking at what the words in the list mean.
Compassion
I liked Wiki's definition most: "Compassion is a profound human emotion prompted by the pain of others. More vigorous than empathy, the feeling commonly gives rise to an active desire to alleviate another's suffering. It is often, though not inevitably, the key component in what manifests in the social context as altruism."
So compassion means an awareness of another's suffering at an intense level that leads to action on their behalf.
Kindness
Wordnet defines it this way: " *the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic. * forgiveness: tendency to be kind and forgiving."
In kindness there's a general quality of being considerate and a lifestyle of forgiveness.
Humility
I liked what both Wiki and Godnet had to say. Wicki: "Humility, or being humble, is the defining characteristic of an unpretentious and modest person, someone who does not think that he or she is better or more important than others."
Godnet: "The attitude of the Christian that suggest one should not"...think more highly of himself than he ought to think; but to think so as to have sound judgment..." (Rom. 12:3). It is knowing our true position before God. It is not self-abasement or demeaning one's self. ..."
I guess being humble has to do with knowing one's place in the universe as well as how that impacts our treatment of others causing us to be respectful of them.
Gentleness
Robcom200 put it this way: "The quality or state of being gentle, especially in mildness of manners or disposition. Tamed, domesticated, quiet, tractable and docile. Benignly gracious or kind in manner. Not harsh or stern. Mild, considerate& and tender. Honorable, noble, distinguished."
Gracious verses harsh or stern; tender. It's interesting because this word is not one we hear nowadays, it's not a part of our culture.
Patience
Wicki: "Patience (ˈpā-shənz) is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances. This can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. ..."
Interesting that patience is not just seen as a passive state but as persevering.
There is so much in the five things this week's bible memory verse tells me to do as a follower of God. I'm going to need to spend some time thinking on these verbs and let God's Spirit show me how to make these actions real in my life.
Week 5 memory verse
Colossians 3:12-14
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindess, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindess, humility, gentleness and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.
God's Word is so relevant in my life
Through all these oh so hurtful and tough times these past few weeks; with actually being fired from a company for whom I have worked the past 10 years - God's Word has been a rock.
These memory verses, and the scriptures passages that we've been studying, have been a source of strength. To know that Psalm 139:16 tells me that every day of my life was recorded in God's book before I was ever born is such a relief. The day I was fired I was in shock and hurt but I clung to that verse; the knowledge that this event didn't surprise God. To know that He knew it was coming and that He has already promised in Romans 8:28 that He will work everything to my good was a truth I could hang on to. Those thoughts gave me strength and hope.
Through the following days Philippians 4:8 has been a guide for my mind. To not focus on what happened or how I was wronged but to make a conscious choice to focus on whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - to have my mind dwell on those things.
Living this way allows me to experience contentment in the midst of hurtful life events.
These memory verses, and the scriptures passages that we've been studying, have been a source of strength. To know that Psalm 139:16 tells me that every day of my life was recorded in God's book before I was ever born is such a relief. The day I was fired I was in shock and hurt but I clung to that verse; the knowledge that this event didn't surprise God. To know that He knew it was coming and that He has already promised in Romans 8:28 that He will work everything to my good was a truth I could hang on to. Those thoughts gave me strength and hope.
Through the following days Philippians 4:8 has been a guide for my mind. To not focus on what happened or how I was wronged but to make a conscious choice to focus on whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - to have my mind dwell on those things.
Living this way allows me to experience contentment in the midst of hurtful life events.
Week 4 prayer to remember what God has taught me
Oh heavenly Father, I love You. I praise You and adore You. Thank You for loving me. Thank You for creating me to be who I am and having a plan for my life. Thank You for Your Word, for Your guidance and instruction. Thank You Holy Spirit for living in me and giving me hope, encouragement, conviction and power.
Oh Father, may I remain in Your Word. May I memorize it and hide it in my heart and the deep recesses of my mind. May my life be all about You. Thank You for Your many blessings; may I never cease to notice all the good You give me every day. May my heart be constantly overflowing with gratitude. May I remain present and be constantly available and listening to Your Spirit within me. May I hear Your direction and constantly be reaching out to others in the ways you lead me.
I love You and Thank You. You are such a good God!
Oh Father, may I remain in Your Word. May I memorize it and hide it in my heart and the deep recesses of my mind. May my life be all about You. Thank You for Your many blessings; may I never cease to notice all the good You give me every day. May my heart be constantly overflowing with gratitude. May I remain present and be constantly available and listening to Your Spirit within me. May I hear Your direction and constantly be reaching out to others in the ways you lead me.
I love You and Thank You. You are such a good God!
What I learned about me in week 4
Repeatedly in life I realize how selfish I am.
If I do not specifically take actions to prevent it, my life will be all about me. I need to stay in touch with God's word and in prayer though out the day. I need to practice being grateful and constantly looking to see all God has blessed me with and keep my focus there. I need to remain present and constantly sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading so that I notice the people around me and am able to hear God's voice and how He leads me to bless others.
If I do not specifically take actions to prevent it, my life will be all about me. I need to stay in touch with God's word and in prayer though out the day. I need to practice being grateful and constantly looking to see all God has blessed me with and keep my focus there. I need to remain present and constantly sensitive to the Holy Spirit's leading so that I notice the people around me and am able to hear God's voice and how He leads me to bless others.
What I learned about God in week 4
I was renewed in my knowledge that God's Word is true and relevant. That I can apply His Word to every situation and that as I memorize his Word it becomes more easy to apply to my life; it's right there in my heart and mind.
Week 4 memory verse
Matthew 20:28
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give give his life as a ransom for many.
just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give give his life as a ransom for many.
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