Hello friends! I hope you are all having a great week and are looking forward to celebrating Christmas!! The title of this chapter kind of took me aback for a moment. God's SURPRISING Sovereignty. I was curious to see what CS meant by the word surprising. It's one of those things that I feel we know, but sometimes we can't fully comprehend and understand the purpose and meaning. So lets dig in!
On page 123 CS opens referencing Job. And how Job took God's silence and slow response as Him neglecting Job. I feel this a lot. Taking God's silence as absence. How often do we assume that God is not there because He refuses to act on our timing?!
Page 125 CS directs our attention to this fault we have. "God has no night. God has no day. God has no month. God has no year. God has no past, present, or future... He transcends it all... He sees all the movie of our life all at once, in a flash, along with millions and billions of others going on simultaneously-- past, present, and future. Which makes our little bit of space on the lake seem like a cage called time."
How perfect is this description? How real is this description? And at the same time, it is infinitely difficult for our minds to grasp. God. Has. No. Time. Because God is time. He created time. He created us to think of beginning and end.
But this is tricky: "No matter how we rationalize, God will sometimes seem unfair from the perspective of a person trapped in time...until then (when we are with God in Heaven), we will not know, and can only trust in God who does know" (Yancey qtd. by CS 126).
Again, also cool. We were made to want God. So. Cool.
Another thing that I LOVED. Yancey's definition of faith: "Faith means believing in advance what will only make sense in reverse" (qtd 126).
Hebrews 11:1 :"Faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see."
A friends sometimes asks why I believe in what I believe as I have no physical proof. My answer always comes back to faith.
But it's not easy being a Christian. Waiting for God is difficult. We are prone to live in immediate action. We want quick answers. But even worse is when we need answers, when we need help. On page 127 CS references the Holocaust. I still have no idea the plan behind the homicide of an entire nation. I just have faith and know that God is sovereign. CS wants us to remember:
1. "Life is filled with sustained periods of silence. Often. But those periods of God's silence are just as significant as the times when He speaks. They're far more painful, but they are nevertheless significant" (128).
Silence and waiting scare me. As I sit and think and circle my mind around this topic, I still feel lost. I do know, that when I pray tonight, I will cling to the comfort that God is listening.
2. "The turning points of life, the significant events, are often subtle... In the mystery of God's timing, subtle things occur that the sensitive heart picks up. That's the role wisdom plays in life. Reading life's subtleties is what Christian maturity is all about" (129).
Again, I'm going to go back to David Platt's Radical. He says it so uniquely.. it resounds: "In our quest for the extraordinary, we often overlook the importance of the ordinary, and I'm proposing that a radical lifestyle actually begins with an extraordinary commitment to ordinary practices that have marked Christians who have affected the world throughout history."
God is using these humdrum moments to shape us... Sigh... I know. I feel like everything is shaping us. But think back to Esther. She went from being an orphan to being queen. At times she probably experienced boredom. Loneliness. Maybe she dealt with angry customers every day in her previous lifestyle only to learn patience. She had to learn to notice subtleties in life... open circumstances to allow her to share happiness... maybe she had opportunties to share her faith. All elements that God used to shape her for this time!
"Esther had a sensitive ear, a wise heart; she sensed something wasn't quite right. So she didn't push it. She knew when to act-- and she knew when to wait.
Are you as sensitive as that? Do you know when to listen? Do you know when to speak up-- and when to keep quitet? [...] Are you sufficiently in tune with God to read His subtle signals?" (CS 130).
This is something I need to learn. I do pray for complacence in my present situation. I pray for signs. I get angry when I don't get signs... or sometimes I try to make a sign out of nothing. I need more sensitive ears...
But aren't we so thankful that we have Esther to reference! God's name is absent from the entire book. He is silent in many areas. But when he is very vocal, He is heard.
CS points out again God's surprising sovereignty: "Don't ever try to convince me that some situation in this life is absolutely permanent [...] He can move in the affairs of your community. He can alter decisions of presidents and prime ministers and present-day kings and national dicators. No barrier is too high, no chasm is too wide for Him, because He is not limited by space or time, by the visible ot the invisible" (132).
To nonbelievers, God's suprising sovereignty has other names: luck. coincidence. chance. fate. irony. I love how CS points this out. Cause if you think about it, God has everything numbered. He is motion and time. He makes the patterns and framework. Shouldn't we take great comfort in knowing that He made all things, and He knows what is going to happen??
To close, CS gives us "life preservers" on pages 135-136 to help us with our wait.
1. "The Fog on your lake is neither accidental nor fatal. So while swimming, listen very carefully and patiently for His voice [...] God gave you a mind. God gave you reason. God gave you a unique sensitivity; it's built into your spiritual system, and each person's system is tuned differently."
2. "The workings of God are not related to our clocks; they are related to our crises." Enough said.
3. "The suprises in store are not merely ironic or coinidental, that are sovereignly designed." I love this. We are a mere design in his plan. And He is precise and perfect. As is His timing.
lets rejoice in the upcoming event that is my favorite time of year. also, when you are listening to carols about Baby Jesus, I hope your heart smiles and your day brightens! My favorite part of Little Drummer Boy (Faith Hill edition is my fav.) is the very end.... "then He smiled at me."
loveandprayers
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Monday, December 6, 2010
Chapter Seven: What Goes Around Comes Around
And we're back... whoa, it's been a break. a long long time. and in the midst of all things chaotic, it is time to pull back anchor and come home.
this might be a bunch of ramblings... but sometimes we all need it. maconica, i again completely understand where you are coming from. i had a conversation today with a new friend and we were talking about where God has us in our life. i never thought i would be content with living in bham so close to home. but kicking and screaming, i am here and God has me completely content (for now). i just feel that he is going to place me in specific situations and places and no matter where i am, he will give me contentment. yes, i have the humdrum days still, but He has given me so many blessings right now, i have no other reason but to rejoice in His name... and what better time than CHRISTMAS!!!!
so relating back to the chapter... things are seldom what they seem. suggestion: take each day and think about how God wants you to use this day in proclaiming his love! even if its just one simple thing a day. For example: a girl at my work is flying home on Christmas Eve to see her family in St. Louis for holiday.... but it snows in St. Louis. it snows a lot. So I told her that I wrote in my planner that I will be praying for her trip and her travels... and i really think it meant a lot to her.
anywho, back to CS. I love the outline title on page 113: Four Principles For All of Life. for. all. of. life.
1. "When all seems lost, it isn't [...] When it seems things can get no worse, they can" (CS 113). This phrase reminded me of something Pastor Hodges (from Church of the Highlands) always said about his grandmother. When someone would ask her how she was, her response was always "I'm better off than most." What a great phrase to remember. Even in our dull days, our bad days, our trivial or difficult days, we are still living in better conditions than most of the human race. CRAZY right?
2. "When no one seems to notice, they do." I love this part. How incredibly wonderful is God? doesn't this part about the king not being able to sleep make you smile? And how of ALL things, they bring him the chronicles that recorded Mordecai's report! I mean, of ALLLLLLL records, they bring the king THAT one! Isn't God so cool?? Try and think of all the things in your life that were too great and perfect to be coincidental... and then place God our Creator into the picture. He DID that.
"Momentous events often hang upon the tiniest trivialities. Have you discovered that? here is a wonderful case in point [...] I love the first three words of 6:1, 'During that night.' That's the way it is with God. At the eleventh hour, He steps in. He does the unexpected. When no one seems to notice and no one seems to care, He notices and He cares 'during that night'' (CS 114).
I take great comfort in this. Please break right now and appreciate the love God has for us. Listen to "How He loves" by David Crowder... and also enjoy a little needtobreathe....
I completely agree with CS on page 115 and love that he points out Psalms 56:8... He even keeps our tears in a bottle. What wonderful perspective.
3. "When everything seems great, it's not." Haman got what was coming to him. But lets reexamine Mordecai. To be honest, I personally would find it difficult to mimic Mordecai's actions. He is quiet. He doesn't act with a vengeance. He waits on the Lord. WHICH we are learning, right? to wait? I pray to be like Mordecai. And THEN, Mordecai gets the highest recognition.... BUT he is so incredibly humble! I pray to be like Mordecai.
"How rare are the people who can be promoted to a place of highly visible significance and not live for their own clippings or crave the spotlight or demand center stage. Soft-spoken, genuinely humble celebrities are rare" (CS 118).
4. "When nothing seems just, it is." I kind of laugh at this.... do we really think things are just when NOTHING goes our way? Or when we truly feel someone or something is out to get us? How incredibly hard is this to follow. But how much fruitful would our lives be if we could have the mentality to think " I have been humbled through this' [...] or 'God has crushed my spirit, but thankfully, I've learned to rely on Him" (CS 120). Thoughts on this??
The last story about the shipwrecked man is my favorite out of the whole chapter. "Everything the marooned man owned had to be destroyed before he could be discovered-- and rescued. God seemed so distant for so long, but He was working on both ends--to bring the ship of rescue near at just the right time and to reduce the marooned man to nothing in order to bring him to his knees" (CS 122).
How true is this. God wants to give us everything. Love. Joy. Bliss. but in return he wants everything from us. Right now I am trying to grow in my walk with God. I want to give Him everything. One of the hardest things though to give Him is my time. He has brought me to my knees before and like the almighty Savior He is, came swooping in and saved me. Time after time.
"In the final analysis, God will have His way. He's not impressed with earthly kingdoms and personal towers, with pride and prestige and wealth and fame. He's impressed with a humble heart that comes to Him on His terms" (CS 122).
Loving being back... will probably post Chapter Eight this week too, so be on the lookout!
loveandprayers
this might be a bunch of ramblings... but sometimes we all need it. maconica, i again completely understand where you are coming from. i had a conversation today with a new friend and we were talking about where God has us in our life. i never thought i would be content with living in bham so close to home. but kicking and screaming, i am here and God has me completely content (for now). i just feel that he is going to place me in specific situations and places and no matter where i am, he will give me contentment. yes, i have the humdrum days still, but He has given me so many blessings right now, i have no other reason but to rejoice in His name... and what better time than CHRISTMAS!!!!
so relating back to the chapter... things are seldom what they seem. suggestion: take each day and think about how God wants you to use this day in proclaiming his love! even if its just one simple thing a day. For example: a girl at my work is flying home on Christmas Eve to see her family in St. Louis for holiday.... but it snows in St. Louis. it snows a lot. So I told her that I wrote in my planner that I will be praying for her trip and her travels... and i really think it meant a lot to her.
anywho, back to CS. I love the outline title on page 113: Four Principles For All of Life. for. all. of. life.
1. "When all seems lost, it isn't [...] When it seems things can get no worse, they can" (CS 113). This phrase reminded me of something Pastor Hodges (from Church of the Highlands) always said about his grandmother. When someone would ask her how she was, her response was always "I'm better off than most." What a great phrase to remember. Even in our dull days, our bad days, our trivial or difficult days, we are still living in better conditions than most of the human race. CRAZY right?
2. "When no one seems to notice, they do." I love this part. How incredibly wonderful is God? doesn't this part about the king not being able to sleep make you smile? And how of ALL things, they bring him the chronicles that recorded Mordecai's report! I mean, of ALLLLLLL records, they bring the king THAT one! Isn't God so cool?? Try and think of all the things in your life that were too great and perfect to be coincidental... and then place God our Creator into the picture. He DID that.
"Momentous events often hang upon the tiniest trivialities. Have you discovered that? here is a wonderful case in point [...] I love the first three words of 6:1, 'During that night.' That's the way it is with God. At the eleventh hour, He steps in. He does the unexpected. When no one seems to notice and no one seems to care, He notices and He cares 'during that night'' (CS 114).
I take great comfort in this. Please break right now and appreciate the love God has for us. Listen to "How He loves" by David Crowder... and also enjoy a little needtobreathe....
I completely agree with CS on page 115 and love that he points out Psalms 56:8... He even keeps our tears in a bottle. What wonderful perspective.
3. "When everything seems great, it's not." Haman got what was coming to him. But lets reexamine Mordecai. To be honest, I personally would find it difficult to mimic Mordecai's actions. He is quiet. He doesn't act with a vengeance. He waits on the Lord. WHICH we are learning, right? to wait? I pray to be like Mordecai. And THEN, Mordecai gets the highest recognition.... BUT he is so incredibly humble! I pray to be like Mordecai.
"How rare are the people who can be promoted to a place of highly visible significance and not live for their own clippings or crave the spotlight or demand center stage. Soft-spoken, genuinely humble celebrities are rare" (CS 118).
4. "When nothing seems just, it is." I kind of laugh at this.... do we really think things are just when NOTHING goes our way? Or when we truly feel someone or something is out to get us? How incredibly hard is this to follow. But how much fruitful would our lives be if we could have the mentality to think " I have been humbled through this' [...] or 'God has crushed my spirit, but thankfully, I've learned to rely on Him" (CS 120). Thoughts on this??
The last story about the shipwrecked man is my favorite out of the whole chapter. "Everything the marooned man owned had to be destroyed before he could be discovered-- and rescued. God seemed so distant for so long, but He was working on both ends--to bring the ship of rescue near at just the right time and to reduce the marooned man to nothing in order to bring him to his knees" (CS 122).
How true is this. God wants to give us everything. Love. Joy. Bliss. but in return he wants everything from us. Right now I am trying to grow in my walk with God. I want to give Him everything. One of the hardest things though to give Him is my time. He has brought me to my knees before and like the almighty Savior He is, came swooping in and saved me. Time after time.
"In the final analysis, God will have His way. He's not impressed with earthly kingdoms and personal towers, with pride and prestige and wealth and fame. He's impressed with a humble heart that comes to Him on His terms" (CS 122).
Loving being back... will probably post Chapter Eight this week too, so be on the lookout!
loveandprayers
Sunday, November 7, 2010
Chapter Six: Esther's Finest Hour
First, let me began by saying how incredible each of your comments are! Caitlin, it is so wonderful that you have had the opportunity to witness what other countries are experiencing... and for you to have the realizations of excess! Trust me, you are not alone!
And Mac, I think it's a great idea to start thinking about the holidays and how to give instead of concentrating on what we receive!
Emma, keep up... haha only joking! Your thoughts do make sense and are not ramblings!! Thank you for your insight!
I love how CS begins the chapter... there are so many moments in life where I just need a good song. Several times I have had 'thank you' moments where I hear a great song and I think "life is going to be ok." And most often times it is a song that has nothing to do with religion or faith. But the lyrics and the tune are so compatible and the moment I am in just makes me take note that their is some higher being at work.
In addition to the Esther qualities in Chapter 3 that I strive to acquire, I would like to add one of my own. Gumption. Definition: initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness; courage; spunk; guts.
I'm always praying for more gumption. The courage to act out on how I truly feel. And CS calls us out on it: we need to "be loyal to a cause that is greater than ourselves" (94). Kipling says it even greater! "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings-- nor lose the common touch" (94) HOW TRUE!
How often do we sacrifice what we believe, and risk our comfort for the sake of others' comfort, because it's harder (and not the norm) to stick to our guns? How often to we ignore the subject of religion and Jesus because others might be offended with what we believe? But in reality, isn't our faith and what we believe offended daily with songs on the radio and t.v. shows and mainstream society in general?
Something my 10th grade English teacher shared with the class always hits home when I think of things like this. "Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking"- Jackson Browne.
Isn't that the truth? How we spend our time and what we think and say and do when we are alone is the soundest example of who we truly are, because we are not at the influence of others. I feel so convicted at times when I think of this. Do I really want to go and volunteer because I want to help others? Or do I want to help them because it makes me feel good about myself? Or do I do it just so people will witness it and know??? Just something to think about (Whew... being real honest here...)
I only pray that when it is my time I will have the gumption to act on it. I just am so scared that the time will come and I won't be there. What if that one person in 1776 decided not to vote and German ruled out over speaking English in America? BUT this gumption is being created in me right now. In this period of waiting.
I am still learning to understand that I need to be "determined to wait on the Lord and allow Him to guide [my] thoughts and help [me] frame my words" (CS 97).
Right now I feel like I am in a waiting period. (I know I talk about this a lot, but bear with me.) I do love my job, but I know this isn't what I am going to be doing for the rest of my life. But how thankful I am for this time! God put me here in Birmingham to work where I work. My job makes me more outgoing and it is easier for me to strike up conversations with people. I am going to a solid church and am reading a book by the pastor of the church that is challenging me in ways and with thoughts that I never would have thought I would have teetered with. And I am able to spread my love for Him with each of you! Each time I talk about Him, I am left energized! I am gaining new perspectives of what it means to be prosperous and successful in life and that is making all the difference!!!
We need to share with each other what we are doing and what we are learning while we wait. Cause right now, we are gaining "new strength, getting a better perspective, storing up extra energy, deepening our determination to persevere" (paraphrased CS 98). We need to support each other during this wait so we don't get discouraged and think our time is wasteful!
"As she prepares for her finest hour, she must wait, think, pray, stay quiet, fast, and listen in her soul" (CS100). If we fully put our faith in God, what a great comfort we can have to know that he will fully stock us with all the supplies we need for OUR great task!
On page 100 CS goes in to describe how Esther enters before the king. What. A. Vision. Can you imagine what she looked like? The confidence she portrayed?! AND I would also like to take this back to a love story.
This weekend we went to a friend's wedding. And I told Emma how incredible the act of marriage is when you think of it as a Godly thing. Two people are professing their love to each other in front of the people who mean the most to them. But even more importantly is how we view this marriage as something God wants us to have, because it is the love that Jesus has for the church. RETHINK THIS: When you put God at the center of marriage, you can share in the same love that exists between Jesus and the church. Jesus and His people. And let me remind you, Jesus died for His church. He died for His bride so that we may be saved. God created marriage as another thing to glorify Him. He wants us to have it. But with marriage, we must glorify him! NOW look at how the king looks at Esther!
"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." Proverbs 21:11
"And it happened when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it will be given you." Esther 5:1-3
The king could have been angry at her. He could have thought "how dare she enter my presence without me calling on her!" Remember how Vashti frustrated him and bruised his ego?... Esther had NO idea how he would react. She just knew God was WITH her and was comforted. And instead the king replies "Esther, my love. Why are you upset? how can I (THE KING) help you? How can I comfort you?"
And Esther continues to emit such grace. The king found favor in her. And she is tactful with each move. "God was at work in the waiting, filling her thoughts with a plan" (CS 101). Here, again CS reminds us how important our waiting period is. What we do in that time of waiting can impact our preparation while also pulling us closer to God.
"When you wait on the Lord, you don't have to sit in a corner[...] mostly you go right on with your business. You press on with your regular activities. You just focus more fully on the Lord in the midst of it. You stay preoccupied with Him. You think His thoughts" (CS 102). This is what we are doing!! Isn't that SO COOL???!!!!!!
CS REALITY check #5,751 happens on page 103. Reread it. Let it hit home. From the first round I did this Bible study I have written on this page that God is more concerned with making us holy than he is worried about our comfort. We know that. But do we understand it? Do I fully grasp this?
Here's where CS challenges me: "Are you still open to the unexpected? Are you really waiting on the Lord to do His will? Let's say you're single and you really want to be married. And you're waiting on the Lord to do... what? Find you a mate? But are you ready for Him to say 'Surprise! You will find happiness in being single for the rest of your life'?"
Ha. Ha ha. Ha. WOW! I know that if I live according to His will that I will love doing it. I will be happy. He will be my comfort. But do I understand what that might entail? Do I fully grasp this happiness in my mind? He might at one point have me risking my life like Esther. He might not have marriage as something in store for me. Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. I need your thoughts on this. What on pages 103-104 hit home for you?
CS gives us yet another great outline on page 107.
1. "When preparing for an unprecedented event, wait on the Lord before getting involved." Right now I'm focusing on prayer. I'm really bad about saying "I'll pray for you" when reality it just turns in to my thoughts. Not my intentional purpose to pray. I need to learn to wait in prayer.
2. "When dealing with an unpredictable person, count on the Lord to open doors and hearts." Again, I'm praying he will choose my next path, and praying to know the door I'm supposed to go through when He presents it. I used to feel like that I was praying all the time for the next step of my life, and now I am slowly finding myself that I am less anxious about what's to come and more excited about this waiting period. People have told me about options and opportunities and I pray that He will guide me through those people.
3. "When working through an unpleasant situation, trust the Lord for enduring patience." I am learning an incredible amount of patience and humility. Every. Day.
4. "When standing against an unprincipled enemy, ask the Lord for invincible courage." All we have to do is ask. Ask Dad.
I can't wait to read what happens next. It is so incredible. God's timing is perfect. I am so thankful for each of you and look forward to your feedback. It is such a joy to be able to share all of this with you! And how wonderful it will be when one day we can look back on this and examine how God was working in our lives and our incidents and words to sharpen each other!! Incredible!!
always always
loveandprayers
And Mac, I think it's a great idea to start thinking about the holidays and how to give instead of concentrating on what we receive!
Emma, keep up... haha only joking! Your thoughts do make sense and are not ramblings!! Thank you for your insight!
I love how CS begins the chapter... there are so many moments in life where I just need a good song. Several times I have had 'thank you' moments where I hear a great song and I think "life is going to be ok." And most often times it is a song that has nothing to do with religion or faith. But the lyrics and the tune are so compatible and the moment I am in just makes me take note that their is some higher being at work.
In addition to the Esther qualities in Chapter 3 that I strive to acquire, I would like to add one of my own. Gumption. Definition: initiative; aggressiveness; resourcefulness; courage; spunk; guts.
I'm always praying for more gumption. The courage to act out on how I truly feel. And CS calls us out on it: we need to "be loyal to a cause that is greater than ourselves" (94). Kipling says it even greater! "If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue, Or walk with kings-- nor lose the common touch" (94) HOW TRUE!
How often do we sacrifice what we believe, and risk our comfort for the sake of others' comfort, because it's harder (and not the norm) to stick to our guns? How often to we ignore the subject of religion and Jesus because others might be offended with what we believe? But in reality, isn't our faith and what we believe offended daily with songs on the radio and t.v. shows and mainstream society in general?
Something my 10th grade English teacher shared with the class always hits home when I think of things like this. "Our character is what we do when we think no one is looking"- Jackson Browne.
Isn't that the truth? How we spend our time and what we think and say and do when we are alone is the soundest example of who we truly are, because we are not at the influence of others. I feel so convicted at times when I think of this. Do I really want to go and volunteer because I want to help others? Or do I want to help them because it makes me feel good about myself? Or do I do it just so people will witness it and know??? Just something to think about (Whew... being real honest here...)
I only pray that when it is my time I will have the gumption to act on it. I just am so scared that the time will come and I won't be there. What if that one person in 1776 decided not to vote and German ruled out over speaking English in America? BUT this gumption is being created in me right now. In this period of waiting.
I am still learning to understand that I need to be "determined to wait on the Lord and allow Him to guide [my] thoughts and help [me] frame my words" (CS 97).
Right now I feel like I am in a waiting period. (I know I talk about this a lot, but bear with me.) I do love my job, but I know this isn't what I am going to be doing for the rest of my life. But how thankful I am for this time! God put me here in Birmingham to work where I work. My job makes me more outgoing and it is easier for me to strike up conversations with people. I am going to a solid church and am reading a book by the pastor of the church that is challenging me in ways and with thoughts that I never would have thought I would have teetered with. And I am able to spread my love for Him with each of you! Each time I talk about Him, I am left energized! I am gaining new perspectives of what it means to be prosperous and successful in life and that is making all the difference!!!
We need to share with each other what we are doing and what we are learning while we wait. Cause right now, we are gaining "new strength, getting a better perspective, storing up extra energy, deepening our determination to persevere" (paraphrased CS 98). We need to support each other during this wait so we don't get discouraged and think our time is wasteful!
"As she prepares for her finest hour, she must wait, think, pray, stay quiet, fast, and listen in her soul" (CS100). If we fully put our faith in God, what a great comfort we can have to know that he will fully stock us with all the supplies we need for OUR great task!
On page 100 CS goes in to describe how Esther enters before the king. What. A. Vision. Can you imagine what she looked like? The confidence she portrayed?! AND I would also like to take this back to a love story.
This weekend we went to a friend's wedding. And I told Emma how incredible the act of marriage is when you think of it as a Godly thing. Two people are professing their love to each other in front of the people who mean the most to them. But even more importantly is how we view this marriage as something God wants us to have, because it is the love that Jesus has for the church. RETHINK THIS: When you put God at the center of marriage, you can share in the same love that exists between Jesus and the church. Jesus and His people. And let me remind you, Jesus died for His church. He died for His bride so that we may be saved. God created marriage as another thing to glorify Him. He wants us to have it. But with marriage, we must glorify him! NOW look at how the king looks at Esther!
"The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." Proverbs 21:11
"And it happened when the king saw Esther the queen standing in the court, she obtained favor in his sight; and the king extended to Esther the golden scepter which was in his hand. So Esther came near and touched the top of the scepter. Then the king said to her, "What is troubling you, Queen Esther? And what is your request? Even to half of the kingdom it will be given you." Esther 5:1-3
The king could have been angry at her. He could have thought "how dare she enter my presence without me calling on her!" Remember how Vashti frustrated him and bruised his ego?... Esther had NO idea how he would react. She just knew God was WITH her and was comforted. And instead the king replies "Esther, my love. Why are you upset? how can I (THE KING) help you? How can I comfort you?"
And Esther continues to emit such grace. The king found favor in her. And she is tactful with each move. "God was at work in the waiting, filling her thoughts with a plan" (CS 101). Here, again CS reminds us how important our waiting period is. What we do in that time of waiting can impact our preparation while also pulling us closer to God.
"When you wait on the Lord, you don't have to sit in a corner[...] mostly you go right on with your business. You press on with your regular activities. You just focus more fully on the Lord in the midst of it. You stay preoccupied with Him. You think His thoughts" (CS 102). This is what we are doing!! Isn't that SO COOL???!!!!!!
CS REALITY check #5,751 happens on page 103. Reread it. Let it hit home. From the first round I did this Bible study I have written on this page that God is more concerned with making us holy than he is worried about our comfort. We know that. But do we understand it? Do I fully grasp this?
Here's where CS challenges me: "Are you still open to the unexpected? Are you really waiting on the Lord to do His will? Let's say you're single and you really want to be married. And you're waiting on the Lord to do... what? Find you a mate? But are you ready for Him to say 'Surprise! You will find happiness in being single for the rest of your life'?"
Ha. Ha ha. Ha. WOW! I know that if I live according to His will that I will love doing it. I will be happy. He will be my comfort. But do I understand what that might entail? Do I fully grasp this happiness in my mind? He might at one point have me risking my life like Esther. He might not have marriage as something in store for me. Thoughts. Thoughts. Thoughts. Prayer. Prayer. Prayer. I need your thoughts on this. What on pages 103-104 hit home for you?
CS gives us yet another great outline on page 107.
1. "When preparing for an unprecedented event, wait on the Lord before getting involved." Right now I'm focusing on prayer. I'm really bad about saying "I'll pray for you" when reality it just turns in to my thoughts. Not my intentional purpose to pray. I need to learn to wait in prayer.
2. "When dealing with an unpredictable person, count on the Lord to open doors and hearts." Again, I'm praying he will choose my next path, and praying to know the door I'm supposed to go through when He presents it. I used to feel like that I was praying all the time for the next step of my life, and now I am slowly finding myself that I am less anxious about what's to come and more excited about this waiting period. People have told me about options and opportunities and I pray that He will guide me through those people.
3. "When working through an unpleasant situation, trust the Lord for enduring patience." I am learning an incredible amount of patience and humility. Every. Day.
4. "When standing against an unprincipled enemy, ask the Lord for invincible courage." All we have to do is ask. Ask Dad.
I can't wait to read what happens next. It is so incredible. God's timing is perfect. I am so thankful for each of you and look forward to your feedback. It is such a joy to be able to share all of this with you! And how wonderful it will be when one day we can look back on this and examine how God was working in our lives and our incidents and words to sharpen each other!! Incredible!!
always always
loveandprayers
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Chapter Five: Thinking and Saying What's Right-- Regardless
What an uplifting chapter! I hope you all have had a great week (and October) and if you haven't, feel the comfort that comes to you from Chapter Five!
I couldn't help but be reminded of how God is our Father when beginning this chapter. It's almost if I hear Him saying "You are mine, beloved. I am here. And I am in control."
I feel like October has been full of thoughts that CS begins describing on page 75: "What can I as one individual contribute to the overwhelming needs of our world?" Resounding statement through every fabric of my life. But then he gives us this wonderful reassurance: "You are the only YOU in the world."
How comforting it is to know that God took His time thinking of funny little things to add to our DNA to make us unique. He LOVES the fact that I like to clean, wear my pajama pants way too high, despise beets, and how I would just rather work around things that are a little worn instead of fixing them (like my phone that has no back and the battery falls out or my glasses that have no nose piece). He LOVES that! What are funny things that you do or quirks you have?
"You're the only one with your personal convictions, your makeup, your skills, your appearance, your touch, your voice, your style, your surroundings, your sphere of influence---you're the only one" (CS 76).
Page 76 blows me away every time I read it. The impact of only one. We are all searching for a purpose, for a reason of existence. We want to know the answer to the question, "God, why did you make me like this?"
So I am going to recap a story that I found from another book I am reading (Radical by David Platt)... It's pretty lengthy, but I feel it's important so feel free to skip ahead, but come back to it!! This woman, Jamie, sent the pastor of Brook Hills (David Platt) this e-mail after her trip to Guatemala...
E-MAIL: "I made the decision to go to Guatemala after seeing in God's Word that he commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. I was going out of obedience, not because I had a heart for missions or a passion for the people of Guatemala. I want you to understand that I'm a wife, mother, and part-time psychologist-- I'm not a missinoary, and I'm certainly not a preacher. I was just being minimally obedient to what I believed God's Word tells all of us to do. Praise God he isn't minimally faithful and doesn't minimally bless us.
"After spending a week around precious children who eat a small cup of porridge a day, the question I have come back to Birmingham asking God is why he has blessed me when others have so little. And this is what God has shown me: 'I have blessed you for my glory. Not so you will have a comfortable life with a big house and a nice car. Not so you can spend lots of money on vacations, education, or clothing. Those aren't bad things, but I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory.'
All my life I have completely disconnected God's blessings from God's purpose, and now I realize what I had never seen. God has blessed me to show his love to Domingo [an elderly man whom Jamie saw come to Christ in Guatemala that week]. God has blessed me to show his mercy and grace to children in Guatemala. That is why God has given me income and education and resources. God saves me so that nations will know him. He blesses me so that all the earth will see his glory!"
Amen. What an incredible story? And to be able to see the blessings God has given and then to realize what purpose he seeks with it! For His glory!
On page 78 CS goes on to describe the power of one individual. "Only one missionary invests his whole life in an area and a tribe is ultimately evangelized." If we think about the word "impact" every day and associate it with God's purpose, how liveable and easier and joyful would our seemingly mundane days become!
Right now, I'm not only praying for me to see the purpose of each day, but for strength to face what is to come.
This is why I love Esther. She is incredibly real. At the bottom of page 83, CS recalls Esther's answer when Mordecai first mentions she go to the king. She is scared. Let's try and relate. Esther was around our age, "a maiden girl." She marries the king, someone she barely knows, who also controls her life. He can call for her whenever he pleases. However, at this time, he hasn't asked for her in 30 days.
First, lets talk about the hurt she probably was feeling. I can't imagine living this life. Sure, as queen you would live in a beautiful palace with servants on call and anything you desire. But she is confined to the world within the palace, and tied to a man who has the option of choosing the comfort of some other woman from his harem. And here, we find that the king has not called her for 30 days.
Second, she doesn't even know her people are in danger until Mordecai tells her via a guard or servant. Third, no one knows the Jews are her people! She is about to exhibit an incredible bravery stronger than we could ever imagine: "It's easy [for us] to be brave when we're protected and secure, when we have nothing to risk" (CS 83).
Mordecai replies back. Again, try to relate. Mordecai was probably experiencing every emotion of the rainbow. How hard would it be to tell your child that your existence, the lives of our people, rests on them? But Mordecai knew Esther, and knew that someone else was in control.
MY FAVORITE PART OF THE ENTIRE BOOK OF ESTHER: Mordecai says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God. Is. Sovereign. He created you and I to live in the times we are living right now. He has created us so that one day we will stand in His name "for such a time as this."
And then look at Esther's response! What an incredible woman! "And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish," Esther 4:16.
And if I should die, I die. Thy will be done. Her faith is so complete, and her dependence on Him is incredible. I love on the bottom of page 86 how CS describes how Esther also knew that she wasn't figting for the lives of her people, but also for the reputation of God. Shouldn't we have this response and mindset? That when someone defames "the living God," shouldn't we react?
"The moment Haman surfaced, Esther began to move from being a beauty queen to becoming a Jewish saint, from being an empty-headed sex symbol to being a passionate intercessor"... (CS 86- 87). I don't know about you, but I would rather be known as a passionate intercessor than to be known as someone who succumbed to the things of this world.
Reality check: "When we have been called 'for such a time as this,' how tragic if we are not there to stand in that hour" (CS 88). Incredible realization.
So shouldn't we be doing something?! Like CS says, shouldn't we be making an impact? How will God prepare us for what's in store if we simply do not act, and continue to let the mundane days be monotonous?
"Quit being so careful about protecting your own backside. Stop worrying about what others will think. You don't answer to them. You answer to Him. He will help. He will give you wisdom and courage. You may be only one, but you are one. So risk!" (CS 89).
Take a minute and think about all the great things in your life. All the blessings God has given us. And all for His glory! How privileged we are to even know Christ, and know about what God has done for us. Do you not feel sympathy for the people in a small tribe in the middle of Africa who don't even know that there is a greater being who loves them?! We are so incredibly blessed! We have a Father who listens to us! Who, when we are alone HE IS THERE! Shouldn't we want to go and tell others about his greatness?!!
"We don't believe in a theory; we believe in the person of Christ [...] The question is not simply, wat do you think of Christ? the question is, what have you done about what you think?" (CS 90-91).
It's been an incredibly journey thus far searching and pursuing God. It's so funny how I think my life is without Him and how much better it is with Him. All last week I was busy and didn't make time to pray or read my Bible studies or read the word. And then Sunday happened. This day overwhelms me with joy because I dedicate it to time with Him. I'm praying right now for God to put a strong urge on my heart for what's next and what I can do to prepare for when I will count most. It may not be something as incredible as Esther's story, but I know that it will be His will and for His glory! I hope all of you find as much comfort in this chapter as I did!
loveandprayers
I couldn't help but be reminded of how God is our Father when beginning this chapter. It's almost if I hear Him saying "You are mine, beloved. I am here. And I am in control."
I feel like October has been full of thoughts that CS begins describing on page 75: "What can I as one individual contribute to the overwhelming needs of our world?" Resounding statement through every fabric of my life. But then he gives us this wonderful reassurance: "You are the only YOU in the world."
How comforting it is to know that God took His time thinking of funny little things to add to our DNA to make us unique. He LOVES the fact that I like to clean, wear my pajama pants way too high, despise beets, and how I would just rather work around things that are a little worn instead of fixing them (like my phone that has no back and the battery falls out or my glasses that have no nose piece). He LOVES that! What are funny things that you do or quirks you have?
"You're the only one with your personal convictions, your makeup, your skills, your appearance, your touch, your voice, your style, your surroundings, your sphere of influence---you're the only one" (CS 76).
Page 76 blows me away every time I read it. The impact of only one. We are all searching for a purpose, for a reason of existence. We want to know the answer to the question, "God, why did you make me like this?"
So I am going to recap a story that I found from another book I am reading (Radical by David Platt)... It's pretty lengthy, but I feel it's important so feel free to skip ahead, but come back to it!! This woman, Jamie, sent the pastor of Brook Hills (David Platt) this e-mail after her trip to Guatemala...
E-MAIL: "I made the decision to go to Guatemala after seeing in God's Word that he commands us to go and make disciples of all nations. I was going out of obedience, not because I had a heart for missions or a passion for the people of Guatemala. I want you to understand that I'm a wife, mother, and part-time psychologist-- I'm not a missinoary, and I'm certainly not a preacher. I was just being minimally obedient to what I believed God's Word tells all of us to do. Praise God he isn't minimally faithful and doesn't minimally bless us.
"After spending a week around precious children who eat a small cup of porridge a day, the question I have come back to Birmingham asking God is why he has blessed me when others have so little. And this is what God has shown me: 'I have blessed you for my glory. Not so you will have a comfortable life with a big house and a nice car. Not so you can spend lots of money on vacations, education, or clothing. Those aren't bad things, but I've blessed you so that the nations will know me and see my glory.'
All my life I have completely disconnected God's blessings from God's purpose, and now I realize what I had never seen. God has blessed me to show his love to Domingo [an elderly man whom Jamie saw come to Christ in Guatemala that week]. God has blessed me to show his mercy and grace to children in Guatemala. That is why God has given me income and education and resources. God saves me so that nations will know him. He blesses me so that all the earth will see his glory!"
Amen. What an incredible story? And to be able to see the blessings God has given and then to realize what purpose he seeks with it! For His glory!
On page 78 CS goes on to describe the power of one individual. "Only one missionary invests his whole life in an area and a tribe is ultimately evangelized." If we think about the word "impact" every day and associate it with God's purpose, how liveable and easier and joyful would our seemingly mundane days become!
Right now, I'm not only praying for me to see the purpose of each day, but for strength to face what is to come.
This is why I love Esther. She is incredibly real. At the bottom of page 83, CS recalls Esther's answer when Mordecai first mentions she go to the king. She is scared. Let's try and relate. Esther was around our age, "a maiden girl." She marries the king, someone she barely knows, who also controls her life. He can call for her whenever he pleases. However, at this time, he hasn't asked for her in 30 days.
First, lets talk about the hurt she probably was feeling. I can't imagine living this life. Sure, as queen you would live in a beautiful palace with servants on call and anything you desire. But she is confined to the world within the palace, and tied to a man who has the option of choosing the comfort of some other woman from his harem. And here, we find that the king has not called her for 30 days.
Second, she doesn't even know her people are in danger until Mordecai tells her via a guard or servant. Third, no one knows the Jews are her people! She is about to exhibit an incredible bravery stronger than we could ever imagine: "It's easy [for us] to be brave when we're protected and secure, when we have nothing to risk" (CS 83).
Mordecai replies back. Again, try to relate. Mordecai was probably experiencing every emotion of the rainbow. How hard would it be to tell your child that your existence, the lives of our people, rests on them? But Mordecai knew Esther, and knew that someone else was in control.
MY FAVORITE PART OF THE ENTIRE BOOK OF ESTHER: Mordecai says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God. Is. Sovereign. He created you and I to live in the times we are living right now. He has created us so that one day we will stand in His name "for such a time as this."
And then look at Esther's response! What an incredible woman! "And thus I will go in to the king, which is not according to the law; and if I perish, I perish," Esther 4:16.
And if I should die, I die. Thy will be done. Her faith is so complete, and her dependence on Him is incredible. I love on the bottom of page 86 how CS describes how Esther also knew that she wasn't figting for the lives of her people, but also for the reputation of God. Shouldn't we have this response and mindset? That when someone defames "the living God," shouldn't we react?
"The moment Haman surfaced, Esther began to move from being a beauty queen to becoming a Jewish saint, from being an empty-headed sex symbol to being a passionate intercessor"... (CS 86- 87). I don't know about you, but I would rather be known as a passionate intercessor than to be known as someone who succumbed to the things of this world.
Reality check: "When we have been called 'for such a time as this,' how tragic if we are not there to stand in that hour" (CS 88). Incredible realization.
So shouldn't we be doing something?! Like CS says, shouldn't we be making an impact? How will God prepare us for what's in store if we simply do not act, and continue to let the mundane days be monotonous?
"Quit being so careful about protecting your own backside. Stop worrying about what others will think. You don't answer to them. You answer to Him. He will help. He will give you wisdom and courage. You may be only one, but you are one. So risk!" (CS 89).
Take a minute and think about all the great things in your life. All the blessings God has given us. And all for His glory! How privileged we are to even know Christ, and know about what God has done for us. Do you not feel sympathy for the people in a small tribe in the middle of Africa who don't even know that there is a greater being who loves them?! We are so incredibly blessed! We have a Father who listens to us! Who, when we are alone HE IS THERE! Shouldn't we want to go and tell others about his greatness?!!
"We don't believe in a theory; we believe in the person of Christ [...] The question is not simply, wat do you think of Christ? the question is, what have you done about what you think?" (CS 90-91).
It's been an incredibly journey thus far searching and pursuing God. It's so funny how I think my life is without Him and how much better it is with Him. All last week I was busy and didn't make time to pray or read my Bible studies or read the word. And then Sunday happened. This day overwhelms me with joy because I dedicate it to time with Him. I'm praying right now for God to put a strong urge on my heart for what's next and what I can do to prepare for when I will count most. It may not be something as incredible as Esther's story, but I know that it will be His will and for His glory! I hope all of you find as much comfort in this chapter as I did!
loveandprayers
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Chapter Four: An Evil Interlude
SOO SO incredibly sorry I am just getting this posted.... I wrote a post and it didn't save and therefore didn't show up on the blog... But what's awesome is I get to go through it again and dig deeper!!! Round two:
First, I want to begin by saying I LOVE your comments! I check all the time, and enjoy seeing other perspectives on the chapter. Different things in these chapters hit us at different spots. Even reading it for a second time, I'm always finding something new!
Chapter 4 begins a bit discouraging. But is also full of reality checks. CS does an incredible job bringing us back to earth and really looking at sin in the face. Look at the bottom of page 59 at CS' verb choices when describing sin and sin's aftermath: "sin is a universal disease... it splits, prompts, dissolves, paralyzes, shatters." It is quick. Satan looks for the easiest and smallest entry to inject sin and let it plague our lives. What's even more of an eye opener is when we look at ourselves as sinful.
1 John 2:16 "For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world."
Reality Check #1 on page 61: "You and I have (sin) deep within our hearts. And were it not for the power of the living God, acts of violence would be committed by every one of us, and we would finally exterminate ourselves off the face of this planet."
--At church on Sunday we talked about our Creator. God created in us a deep desire for Him. A craving. Jesus alone can fulfill this craving. However, we so often get caught up in our lives and living for us, that we try and satisfy these cravings for other stuff. We don't go to God to get stuff, Platt (the pastor) said. We go to God to get God, because that's what we crave! But because we are sinful, we look to other things and try to live according to the world.
Right now, I really need this pink and brown Ark and Co. jacket with ruffles that would look great for fall. I just really want it. But if I really think about it, I don't need it at all. I want it, so I can look cute and so society will look at me and think I'm dressed so cute ( I'm being real honest here). But then when I read the word and really devote time to building a relationship with God, I don't even think about the jacket, or where I'm going to work next, or when I'm going to meet Mr. Right, or what I'm doing this weekend. Because I am filled with a joy to praise His name! All I want to talk about is Him!
BUT then I go to work the next day... and there's the jacket. Trivial example, but it's so incredibly easy to get sucked in. It's an ongoing process, but I'm really praying for God to make the things of this world unattractive and for my spirit to be completely insatiated by the things of this world! (whew... that's a long one)
But again, I must revert back to one of my favorite verses : "My grace is sufficient." He. Is. Enough.
Reality Check #2 on page 62: "Life's not only painful; it's also unfair. Perhaps you are thinking right now that you will be promoted because YOU have worked the hardest, YOU have come up with the big ideas, YOU are the one who's done the most for your boss; therefore, it's only right that YOU be given that special position you've been anticipating. Well, be prepared. It probably won't happen. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic. Wrong happens... because of evil."
-- This is one of those DUH moments that is hard to swallow. But I can't help but think, "ain't that the truth." But I also can't help but remember Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." (see CS page 32).
Isn't it comforting to know this? He is incredibly Sovereign, and He will ultimately win. And isn't it cool though to know that whatever we think would be the greatest thing to happen us, be it to win a million dollars or to get a promotion, that God has something even better for us! But it's in these seemingly unfair moments that He is preparing us for what HE has planned next! It's such an incredibly relief to just sit back and know that He has got our backs, right?!
Reality Check #3 on page 64: "Prejudice is something we learn; we're trained in it. We're not born hating.We must be taught to hate."
-- Again, how true this is! Think about it. We see little kids (or maybe this was you too!) at like 4 years old cheering for a sports team, sometimes with as much fire as a grown person. Do they know or understand why they are cheering for that team? No! Then why are they cheering for that team? Because someone has taught them to find favor in that team, to cheer for that team, to love that team, and sometimes to hate another team. Am I right?
I have to admit, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when I see little kids wearing an Auburn jersey! But just as much joy as it brings to my heart when they say War Eagle, it destroys my heart to see a little kid talk about how much they hate another team. Hate. Wow! We are constantly teaching others with our words, and more importantly, with our actions...
I love on page 66 when CS talks about how important it is to surround ourselves with people who "are strong enough to use words like: 'unwise,' 'not good,' 'too far,' 'watch it.'" We need friends who care about us to give us frequent reality checks... (I'm so thankful for each and every one of you!)
Because when we don't have reality check friends, we can be clouded with those sweet acquaintance friends. Though their companionship is wonderful! will they really tell you that's a bad idea, or don't wear that, or you are being irrational? And if we're not careful.... we can hold on to grudges. For months, years, or even a lifetime.
"Life and pain are synonymous. We cannot escape the pain. And if we're not careful, that pain can cause us to carry out the most heinous of sins" (CS 68).
CS then goes on to give us three more valuable lessons.
1. Never forget there will always be someone who will resent your devotion to the Lord.
Sometimes (the way I see it) it's a different softer form of resentment. This can be friends resenting your choice to spend time in the word over going to see a movie with them, you know? Sometimes it's hard for others to understand where you are in your relationship with Christ. In this case, I feel like it's more of them not understanding than resentment. But what a great opportunity to show your faith and devotion, right?
Or think about real resentment. How incredibly hard it would have been to be Noah. People looked at him and thought, what in the WORLD is he doing? He is crazy! He was told to build a big boat to house two of every creature for a rainstom that didn't even seem close. Talk about devotion!
2. Never underestimate the diabolical nature of revenge... and your ability to connive and retaliate.
This hurt can poison us. It can cause us to hold grudges, and retaliate. But isn't it usually that we, the grudge-holder, end up hurting far worse than the person who wronged us? And often times, the person who wronged us don't even know we are mad!
3. Never overestimate the value of your own importance.
This is something I have been praying about. A friend and I were talking about how other Christians view us. I don't ever want to seem self-righteous... That I know this big secret and look down upon others for not knowing or understanding it. It's so easy in the South to fall into the "Southern righteous view of Christianity." I just don't want my attitude to come off as superior, or for nonbelievers to see how I am acting and think "Oh she is a Christian," and for me to be the very thing that dissuades them from looking into what I believe.
As Christians we are to imitate Christ. What an incredibly hard thing to do. We are sinful. But when we call ourselves Christians, we should act like Christians, right? Another trivial example: We wouldn't wear an Auburn jersey and then cheer for the University of Alabama, right? Alabama fans would look at us like, who's this nut? and then wouldn't Auburn fans be ashamed of us?
So these are my ramblings.. I truly feel like I was supposed to read over this twice and write about this chapter twice. A lot of things have been on my heart, and I just want to continually seek the Lord and search for His purpose for my life.
I am so thankful for each of you and am SOOOO excited you are all enjoying Esther. With that I will leave you with some favorite passages from the chapter. Your posts spur my thoughts, so please please continue!!
"You can't escape pain and evil in this life. It's there. I can't even promise you that after giving your life to Jesus Christ there will never be another evil thought of revenge. There probably will be! But I can promise that, with Christ in control of your life, you will have some built-in controls that can keep you from carrying out the wishes of your wicked old nature" (CS 72).
"God and grace are sufficient to change you from a person of wickedness to a person of righteousness. The question is, will you release yourself, by faith, to Him and let Him do that for you?"
2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in your weakness."
loveandprayers
First, I want to begin by saying I LOVE your comments! I check all the time, and enjoy seeing other perspectives on the chapter. Different things in these chapters hit us at different spots. Even reading it for a second time, I'm always finding something new!
Chapter 4 begins a bit discouraging. But is also full of reality checks. CS does an incredible job bringing us back to earth and really looking at sin in the face. Look at the bottom of page 59 at CS' verb choices when describing sin and sin's aftermath: "sin is a universal disease... it splits, prompts, dissolves, paralyzes, shatters." It is quick. Satan looks for the easiest and smallest entry to inject sin and let it plague our lives. What's even more of an eye opener is when we look at ourselves as sinful.
1 John 2:16 "For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world."
Reality Check #1 on page 61: "You and I have (sin) deep within our hearts. And were it not for the power of the living God, acts of violence would be committed by every one of us, and we would finally exterminate ourselves off the face of this planet."
--At church on Sunday we talked about our Creator. God created in us a deep desire for Him. A craving. Jesus alone can fulfill this craving. However, we so often get caught up in our lives and living for us, that we try and satisfy these cravings for other stuff. We don't go to God to get stuff, Platt (the pastor) said. We go to God to get God, because that's what we crave! But because we are sinful, we look to other things and try to live according to the world.
Right now, I really need this pink and brown Ark and Co. jacket with ruffles that would look great for fall. I just really want it. But if I really think about it, I don't need it at all. I want it, so I can look cute and so society will look at me and think I'm dressed so cute ( I'm being real honest here). But then when I read the word and really devote time to building a relationship with God, I don't even think about the jacket, or where I'm going to work next, or when I'm going to meet Mr. Right, or what I'm doing this weekend. Because I am filled with a joy to praise His name! All I want to talk about is Him!
BUT then I go to work the next day... and there's the jacket. Trivial example, but it's so incredibly easy to get sucked in. It's an ongoing process, but I'm really praying for God to make the things of this world unattractive and for my spirit to be completely insatiated by the things of this world! (whew... that's a long one)
But again, I must revert back to one of my favorite verses : "My grace is sufficient." He. Is. Enough.
Reality Check #2 on page 62: "Life's not only painful; it's also unfair. Perhaps you are thinking right now that you will be promoted because YOU have worked the hardest, YOU have come up with the big ideas, YOU are the one who's done the most for your boss; therefore, it's only right that YOU be given that special position you've been anticipating. Well, be prepared. It probably won't happen. I'm not trying to be pessimistic, just realistic. Wrong happens... because of evil."
-- This is one of those DUH moments that is hard to swallow. But I can't help but think, "ain't that the truth." But I also can't help but remember Proverbs 21:1, "The king's heart is like channels of water in the hand of the Lord; He turns it wherever He wishes." (see CS page 32).
Isn't it comforting to know this? He is incredibly Sovereign, and He will ultimately win. And isn't it cool though to know that whatever we think would be the greatest thing to happen us, be it to win a million dollars or to get a promotion, that God has something even better for us! But it's in these seemingly unfair moments that He is preparing us for what HE has planned next! It's such an incredibly relief to just sit back and know that He has got our backs, right?!
Reality Check #3 on page 64: "Prejudice is something we learn; we're trained in it. We're not born hating.We must be taught to hate."
-- Again, how true this is! Think about it. We see little kids (or maybe this was you too!) at like 4 years old cheering for a sports team, sometimes with as much fire as a grown person. Do they know or understand why they are cheering for that team? No! Then why are they cheering for that team? Because someone has taught them to find favor in that team, to cheer for that team, to love that team, and sometimes to hate another team. Am I right?
I have to admit, I LOVE LOVE LOVE it when I see little kids wearing an Auburn jersey! But just as much joy as it brings to my heart when they say War Eagle, it destroys my heart to see a little kid talk about how much they hate another team. Hate. Wow! We are constantly teaching others with our words, and more importantly, with our actions...
I love on page 66 when CS talks about how important it is to surround ourselves with people who "are strong enough to use words like: 'unwise,' 'not good,' 'too far,' 'watch it.'" We need friends who care about us to give us frequent reality checks... (I'm so thankful for each and every one of you!)
Because when we don't have reality check friends, we can be clouded with those sweet acquaintance friends. Though their companionship is wonderful! will they really tell you that's a bad idea, or don't wear that, or you are being irrational? And if we're not careful.... we can hold on to grudges. For months, years, or even a lifetime.
"Life and pain are synonymous. We cannot escape the pain. And if we're not careful, that pain can cause us to carry out the most heinous of sins" (CS 68).
CS then goes on to give us three more valuable lessons.
1. Never forget there will always be someone who will resent your devotion to the Lord.
Sometimes (the way I see it) it's a different softer form of resentment. This can be friends resenting your choice to spend time in the word over going to see a movie with them, you know? Sometimes it's hard for others to understand where you are in your relationship with Christ. In this case, I feel like it's more of them not understanding than resentment. But what a great opportunity to show your faith and devotion, right?
Or think about real resentment. How incredibly hard it would have been to be Noah. People looked at him and thought, what in the WORLD is he doing? He is crazy! He was told to build a big boat to house two of every creature for a rainstom that didn't even seem close. Talk about devotion!
2. Never underestimate the diabolical nature of revenge... and your ability to connive and retaliate.
This hurt can poison us. It can cause us to hold grudges, and retaliate. But isn't it usually that we, the grudge-holder, end up hurting far worse than the person who wronged us? And often times, the person who wronged us don't even know we are mad!
3. Never overestimate the value of your own importance.
This is something I have been praying about. A friend and I were talking about how other Christians view us. I don't ever want to seem self-righteous... That I know this big secret and look down upon others for not knowing or understanding it. It's so easy in the South to fall into the "Southern righteous view of Christianity." I just don't want my attitude to come off as superior, or for nonbelievers to see how I am acting and think "Oh she is a Christian," and for me to be the very thing that dissuades them from looking into what I believe.
As Christians we are to imitate Christ. What an incredibly hard thing to do. We are sinful. But when we call ourselves Christians, we should act like Christians, right? Another trivial example: We wouldn't wear an Auburn jersey and then cheer for the University of Alabama, right? Alabama fans would look at us like, who's this nut? and then wouldn't Auburn fans be ashamed of us?
So these are my ramblings.. I truly feel like I was supposed to read over this twice and write about this chapter twice. A lot of things have been on my heart, and I just want to continually seek the Lord and search for His purpose for my life.
I am so thankful for each of you and am SOOOO excited you are all enjoying Esther. With that I will leave you with some favorite passages from the chapter. Your posts spur my thoughts, so please please continue!!
"You can't escape pain and evil in this life. It's there. I can't even promise you that after giving your life to Jesus Christ there will never be another evil thought of revenge. There probably will be! But I can promise that, with Christ in control of your life, you will have some built-in controls that can keep you from carrying out the wishes of your wicked old nature" (CS 72).
"God and grace are sufficient to change you from a person of wickedness to a person of righteousness. The question is, will you release yourself, by faith, to Him and let Him do that for you?"
2 Corinthians 12:9, "My grace is sufficient for thee, my strength is made perfect in your weakness."
loveandprayers
Monday, October 18, 2010
Chapter Three: Strength and Dignity on Parade
So this is probably one of my favorite chapters so I might skip around a bit… I think I refer back to this chapter the most just because it highlights qualities that I strive to acquire.
CS begins by pointing out how incredibly humble Esther is and how removed she is from society’s view of how a woman should act. I love on page 43 how he describes Esther: “Isn’t it refreshing to find a little demureness in a beautiful woman? Isn’t it delightful to observe true beauty, which carries with it a modesty and a disinclination to compete for honors physically? I see that in Esther, and I’m impressed by it.”
I’m greatly impressed by it too. How true it is that in today’s society we are constantly striving to fit a typical mold! To be like the models in the magazine in which most often times the images are distorted and touched up to make these ordinary women seem perfect. I love how CS talks about Esther’s humility and modesty. I think what really makes a woman stunning and beautiful is how she portrays herself mainly through her actions. Personally I strive to be graceful (which is often hard considering I am accident prone in every facet), but also, to be graceful you must leave some to the imagination.
I strive to be like Esther. CS’s six characteristic of strength and dignity is something we all should write down, keep in our wallet and post on our mirror so that we think of these things daily.
1. Modeling Grace. Esther didn’t just model grace before the king, but modeled grace even before those who are often overlooked. Think daily, how do you treat the waitress that brought you your coffee and bagel today? What about the janitor that cleans up after you leave work and takes out the trash? I currently am working at a clothing store, and I greatly appreciate when customers genuinely ask how my day is, or communicate with me in other ways then just looking at me as a drone. I take note of it.
2. Unusual Restraint and Control. Ladies, let’s be mysterious! When I did this study previously, the woman leading it told us to “Never miss an opportunity to keep our mouths shut.” How true is this statement? I feel women most often times get a bad rep because of our ridiculous ability to gab and recall details… many that aren’t our details to share. “There is an air of mystery about a woman, an unpredictability that men find intriguing” (CS 46)…. Hmmmm, something to think about…
3. Sustain a continually teachable spirit. I love this little insight of wisdom CS shares: “Education is going from an unconscious to conscious awareness of one’s ignorance.” We will never reach the wisest of the wise. If we open each day allowing God to show us new things and to learn new concepts, how great our hearts and minds would open up, don’t you agree?!
4. Exhibit an unselfish modesty and authenticity. I think this is a tough one. I just think about how long it takes for me to get ready each day… and sometimes it’s so silly how much time I spend contemplating on what I’m going to wear and how I try to model after others?! What are your thoughts on this one??
5. MY FAVORITE: Model winsomeness. Aren’t we drawn to people who are winsome? When I think of someone who is winsome, I think of how I viewed my mom when I was little. All little girls want to play dress up and be like mom. Yes we go through those stages where nothing mom does is cool, and nothing she suggests is right. But think about when you were little. Wasn’t mom just the best person IN THE WORLD? And why was that? Because moms made everything better. It’s not just a woman’s physical attributes that make her alluring, but rather her “charming and gracious spirit” (CS 50). Esther was winsome.
6. A humble respect for authority. Thoughts on this one???
CS points out that acquiring these characteristics seems daunting and unattainable. But I love his response in telling us that we are wrong in thinking so. In becoming like Esther we must be dead to this world.
1 John 2:15 : "Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever."
I admit, this is difficult. How much easier it is to live according to society. How much easier is acceptance if we live up to the world’s expectations? We are simply weird or odd if we do anything else that is not mainstream or popular, right? But what does the world have, what does society have without God? There is no joy. There is no fulfillment. CS says to ask God “to give you discontent for the superficial and a deeper desire for the spiritual. Make yourself available to His strength, His reproofs. Seek His counsel for the things you lack” (CS 51).
“His light in our life gives us a growing disgust for things that merely satisfy the flesh… It is His working in our lives that uses us even in the harems of life to make a difference and to model a charm and a beauty, a dignity and an elegance that cannot help but cause people’s attention to be drawn to Him and His power” (CS 52).
Here again, I can’t help but think of the prayer my friend prayed over me. She asked for people to be able to see Jesus in me. Through us and by modeling these qualities we are drawing people to Him. How great is that?! How marvelous it is for others to be attracted to Christ through us?! This alone helps me get through the seemingly mundane times.
CS closes chapter three by quoting the Proverbs 31 wife (one of the founding verses of our blog!!). If you ever feel insignificant or powerless as a woman, read Proverbs 31 and the unique gifts that God gives women. You are significant. You do matter. You do have a place in this world. God made you for this exact moment and time, the one thread that is you in His marvelous tapestry. Take comfort in knowing that He is sovereign.
always,
loveandprayers
Sunday, October 10, 2010
Chapter Two: There She Goes-- Miss Persia!
I love thinking about mundane days now. How interesting is it to think we have no idea where we will be in 10 years. We don’t know what tomorrow looks like. The people we are sharing our thoughts with and this blog with, some of us didn’t even know each other a couple of years ago. Can you think of monumental days when you woke up, got dressed, brushed your teeth, ate cereal only for that night to go to bed in a completely different mindset and thinking of things that rocked your world???
It amazes me to think that God is with me, right now, at work, in. my. life. Right now, my life is not spectacular. It’s an organized mess of chaos, more than anything that should be looked at as spectacular or wow. I get up. Go to work. Interact with people. Come home. Eat. Sleep. Repeat.
CS does a fantastic job at pointing out how incredibly significant events come out of trivial monotonous days. I LOVE on page 22 where he sets the scene for Christ’s return. “Morning rush-hour traffic will choke the freeways.” For it says in 1 Thessalonians 5:2 that the “day of the Lord will come like a thief in the night.” We will simply not know He is coming.
Also, think of it this way (in a loose sense). Humor me. It’s like we know who Prince William is. I mean, he’s cute (I personally am more of a Harry fan). He is of noble blood. But we know we will probably never meet him, and are just living out our lives doing what we know to do.
But then all of a sudden, this Tuesday (a seemingly mundane day of the week) you are forced by your parents to go for ONE YEAR away with a bunch of random women and prepare to meet this prince in hopes that he likes the way you look and marries you. But if he doesn’t choose you to be his queen, you will probably just become part of his harem anyway. And to think, that Tuesday morning you got up, got dressed, brushed your teeth, ate your cereal like every other day.
The people we meet and interact with everyday, the choices we make every moment, are all part of His plan. His tapestry. And we are only a thread. He Is Sovereign.
One thing I really enjoy about the story of Esther is really trying to relate to her life. Can you imagine what she felt? Can you imagine leaving for a year to go and prepare to be a Queen? And possibly marry a man whom she never personally met or held a conversation with? We don’t even know! Or what about Queen Vashti? I have a lot of admiration for her. I mean, I would venture to guess that by her rejecting the King’s request at that time would be incredibly risky. But the decision she had to make… to go and listen to the king, her husband at a cost to her character and dignity, or deny him and risk possibly her life!!
On page 30 CS takes us to Isaiah and reminds us of God’s timing. And on 31 he again reminds us of God’s sovereignty. I take great comfort in Proverbs 21. How God holds every leader, ruler, boss, teacher in His hand. Think of those people. God has complete control over them. Like Emma said last week, God crushed Nebuchadnezzar so that he would ultimately find Him. He has our best interest at heart, and we are to work constantly to glorify Him. He is our Father. Our Dad. He Is Sovereign.
On page 34 he points out the importance of a wife and the wonderful role of a wife. With this I think of course to Proverbs 31. Also Ephesians 5:22-33: “Wives, submit to your husbands as to the Lord. For the husband is the head of the wife as Christ is the head of the church, his body, of which is the Savior… Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless…”
After returning from war and defeat, Xerxes doesn’t want any woman, he wants a wife. And the role of a wife is a very powerful role. They can build up their husband but can also tear him down. (Can’t WAIT to see how Esther is used in Xerxes’ life even!!) Notes on this to come!!!
Also, before I close (sorry long post again) I wanted to point out what CS says on page 37 and how we need to be the salt and light of the world. I have heard this numerous times but have never really understood exactly what it means. I found THIS link that explains it… but in a nut shell:
“When we want to stress a person’s worth we often say that he or she is the salt of the earth. In the ancient world, salt was highly valued. The Greeks called salt divine. Salt performs two important functions. It is the commonest of all preservatives. It keeps things from going bad. For millions of people in the world, salt still has this purpose. In the second place, salt gives taste and flavor to food. Food without salt is insipid.The Christian’s task is to be the salt of society, preserving, reconciling, adding taste, giving meaning where there is no meaning, giving hope where there is no hope.
We are also called to be the light of the world. The New English Bible translates: ‘You are the light for all the world’. It means we are to be light in all aspects of the world’s life. It also means we are to be light for all the people of the world.”
I’ll never forget one of the greatest prayers a friend ever prayed with me. She prayed with me that the people I was about to meet would see Jesus in me. What a thing to pray for. Wouldn’t our days change if we prayed and lived and act hoping that people would see Jesus in us? I know as women we love to feel loved and to feel beautiful. Can you imagine the beauty people would see in us if they saw Jesus in our smiles, in our eyes, in our hugs, our laughter, our speech? I pray hoping that people will see Christ in me in all aspects, and will do the same for you!
I’ll never forget one of the greatest prayers a friend ever prayed with me. She prayed with me that the people I was about to meet would see Jesus in me. What a thing to pray for. Wouldn’t our days change if we prayed and lived and act hoping that people would see Jesus in us? I know as women we love to feel loved and to feel beautiful. Can you imagine the beauty people would see in us if they saw Jesus in our smiles, in our eyes, in our hugs, our laughter, our speech? I pray hoping that people will see Christ in me in all aspects, and will do the same for you!
loveandprayers
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