Today as I read about the instructions given to the Israelites about making things for the temple, I began to think on the Holy Spirit. God gave very elaborate details for building the Temple and those things in it where His Holy Spirit would dwell. Then the Spirit of God dwelt among the people. But since Jesus returned to to the Father after completing the work of salvation, the Holy Spirit now dwells in His people. What an amazing and wonderful thing. We can connect with God because His Spirit lives in us! This is awe inspiring and humbling. Why would the God who created the universe choose to live in a wretched human like me? I don't know, but I am so glad that He did. I am so blessed to be loved, accepted and adopted by the God of the universe!
21. God loves me and accepted me and adopted me into His Family!
22. Jim got more bonus time!
23. Jamey and Lillian asking to read the Bible
24. Reuben's giggling
25. The house is almost done!
26. Watching Reuben roll on the carpet at the house and relish in it
27. All 3 kids playing together
28. Ice Cream!!!!!
29. Jamey excited to learn Greek
30. Good deals at 3 different stores
31. The Truth and Freedom of the Gospel
32. Good Camera to take pictures
33. Video camera to capture fun moments
34. Sweet tea
35. The work of the Holy Spirit in Jim and me
36. Learning to see evidences of grace
37. Girls afternoon together
38. Lillian lighting up when she gets to shop like a big girl
39. Getting to teach what God is teaching me
40. Friends who can speak truth into your life
41. Seeing Sojourn featured on the evening news and Jonah being interviewed about Sojourn
Sunday, August 19, 2012
Thursday, August 16, 2012
Today's Blessings
11. The house is almost done! Counter tops delivered today
12. Appraisal scheduled
13. I was given time to spend time with the Lord and journal this afternoon
14. Free Chick-fil-A meal!
15. Jim is getting bonus time tonight
16. Sister talk time
17. Jamey asking me to read the Bible and wanting to "read it on his own"
18. Snuggling with Lillian
19. A few minutes to write a couple of pages of my story
20. Reuben communicating with me along with his smiles and giggles
12. Appraisal scheduled
13. I was given time to spend time with the Lord and journal this afternoon
14. Free Chick-fil-A meal!
15. Jim is getting bonus time tonight
16. Sister talk time
17. Jamey asking me to read the Bible and wanting to "read it on his own"
18. Snuggling with Lillian
19. A few minutes to write a couple of pages of my story
20. Reuben communicating with me along with his smiles and giggles
Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Everyday Blessings
I have heard many people talk about the books "1000 Gifts" but have never read it myself. This past weekend I have really been hit by the Holy Spirit about having an ungrateful heart even when I do not grumble with my mouth. So I am seeking to have the Holy Spirit give me a heart of gratitude for the little gifts that God gives me throughout the day. I began my mental list yesterday and will share some of what I can remember in hopes of encouraging others and a practice in being thankful "out loud". I hope to get to 1000 before the end of the year and can begin another list for 2013.
1. All 3 kids napped at the same time yesterday for 4 hours!
2. God gave me quiet time
3. I was able to work on some projects that needed to be worked on
4. Jim had 2 evenings off in a row
5. I was not pulled over when I inadvertently ran a red light in front of a cop trying to drive downtown
6. Meeting with Dawn and having a friend who wants to see us grow in the Lord
7. Our appliances were finally delivered
8. Watching all 3 kids play together for 10 minutes and laughing
9. Listening to Jamey and Lillian say Bible verses and Biblical truth
10. Kids slept past 7am this morning!
1. All 3 kids napped at the same time yesterday for 4 hours!
2. God gave me quiet time
3. I was able to work on some projects that needed to be worked on
4. Jim had 2 evenings off in a row
5. I was not pulled over when I inadvertently ran a red light in front of a cop trying to drive downtown
6. Meeting with Dawn and having a friend who wants to see us grow in the Lord
7. Our appliances were finally delivered
8. Watching all 3 kids play together for 10 minutes and laughing
9. Listening to Jamey and Lillian say Bible verses and Biblical truth
10. Kids slept past 7am this morning!
Saturday, August 11, 2012
Biblical Greek
After a lot of discussion about the best way for Jim to do classes this year we decided he would do a modular course for Biblical Greek (online with a couple sessions on campus). After watching the first lesson with Jim I am so glad we decided to do it this way. Anyone who knows me knows that the one thing I really want to study at seminary is Biblical languages. I love languages and wish I could speak them all. I am also grateful for the ability to learn and pick up on most languages pretty easily. Greek seems to not be an exception. Almost immediately I have been able to read some of the words I have looked at while cutting up flash cards for Jim. I am excited to learn more along side of him. The best part has been listening to Jamey. He knows and sings the Greek alphabet song! It's so cute and he is still learning how to pronounce it correctly, but he knows it. This will be so much fun learning Biblical Greek as a family.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sovereignty and Suffering Part 2
"Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead." Philippians 3:8-11
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:16-18
Paul talked a lot about suffering and he knew a lot about it. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul gives a list of the ways he had suffered here on the earth. But even with all that he endured, Paul knew that the sufferings of this world were nothing compared to the glory that awaited for him in Christ when he joined the Lord in Heaven.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." Philippians 1:29
He also recognized that if we are in Christ that we will also suffer as Christ suffered for us. Jesus loved us so much that He suffered the most horrific death ever produced. He endured mocking, beating, and ultimately an agonizing death by hanging on a cross nailed by His hands and feet. Not only that He took the shame of being completely exposed and suffered the weight of the sins of the world on Him as He died. Jesus suffered the death we deserved because we have offended a Holy God.
Knowing how much Jesus suffered for us, how can we not expect suffering in this world? Jesus told us that if we followed Him that we would be hated and deal with persecution.
"You will be hated by all for my name's sake." Luke 21:17
This is repeated in Matthew and Mark. It is said before this that we would be given over by parents, brothers, relatives and friends. People we love and trust will turn against us because of our beliefs. That is suffering for the sake of Christ. If we truly desire to have a life after Christ, we will endure suffering of all kinds for His sake and the Glory of the Lord.
"The Spirit himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs—heirs of God and fellow heirs with Christ, provided we suffer with him in order that we may also be glorified with him. For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us." Romans 8:16-18
Paul talked a lot about suffering and he knew a lot about it. In 2 Corinthians 11 Paul gives a list of the ways he had suffered here on the earth. But even with all that he endured, Paul knew that the sufferings of this world were nothing compared to the glory that awaited for him in Christ when he joined the Lord in Heaven.
"For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake." Philippians 1:29
He also recognized that if we are in Christ that we will also suffer as Christ suffered for us. Jesus loved us so much that He suffered the most horrific death ever produced. He endured mocking, beating, and ultimately an agonizing death by hanging on a cross nailed by His hands and feet. Not only that He took the shame of being completely exposed and suffered the weight of the sins of the world on Him as He died. Jesus suffered the death we deserved because we have offended a Holy God.
Knowing how much Jesus suffered for us, how can we not expect suffering in this world? Jesus told us that if we followed Him that we would be hated and deal with persecution.
"You will be hated by all for my name's sake." Luke 21:17
This is repeated in Matthew and Mark. It is said before this that we would be given over by parents, brothers, relatives and friends. People we love and trust will turn against us because of our beliefs. That is suffering for the sake of Christ. If we truly desire to have a life after Christ, we will endure suffering of all kinds for His sake and the Glory of the Lord.
Saturday, August 4, 2012
Sovereignty and Suffering
"Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's lovehas been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us." Romans 5:3-5
No one likes to suffer because no one likes pain of any kind. Honestly who really wants to suffer? I think it is easy to believe as Christians that we should not face suffering of any kind because we are saved. But the reality is even though we are saved we still live in a fallen world with fallen people and in bodies that are still riddled with the effects of sin. These verses in Romans I have recently learned thanks to a CD of Bible verses and they have both comforted me and allowed me to encourage others.
God allows suffering in our life to make us more like Jesus. This is called sanctification. Because God loves us so much He does not leave His children where they are. Instead He teaches us and guides us through life and circumstances He both puts and allows in our lives. Some circumstances are extremely painful and very difficult to bear, but like everything God does in His children's lives, they are to draw us to Himself, realizing we need Him and we need a Savior. We cannot make it in this world alone; we were not made to go through life alone. God designed us for a need to Him and suffering shows us that need and the hope that we have through a life with Jesus Christ.
No one likes to suffer because no one likes pain of any kind. Honestly who really wants to suffer? I think it is easy to believe as Christians that we should not face suffering of any kind because we are saved. But the reality is even though we are saved we still live in a fallen world with fallen people and in bodies that are still riddled with the effects of sin. These verses in Romans I have recently learned thanks to a CD of Bible verses and they have both comforted me and allowed me to encourage others.
God allows suffering in our life to make us more like Jesus. This is called sanctification. Because God loves us so much He does not leave His children where they are. Instead He teaches us and guides us through life and circumstances He both puts and allows in our lives. Some circumstances are extremely painful and very difficult to bear, but like everything God does in His children's lives, they are to draw us to Himself, realizing we need Him and we need a Savior. We cannot make it in this world alone; we were not made to go through life alone. God designed us for a need to Him and suffering shows us that need and the hope that we have through a life with Jesus Christ.
Thursday, August 2, 2012
Becca is Here!
For about 9 months we have been talking about Becca moving up here with us, and it has finally come. Ready to take classes and learn she has such a wonderful attitude about it. We know it will be an adjustment for all, but we are all looking forward to her being with us for about 2 years. It is such a blessing.
Lord willing we will be moving into our house in about 3 weeks. What a wonderful time. :)
Lord willing we will be moving into our house in about 3 weeks. What a wonderful time. :)
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