You learn something new every day

So, I was reading Luke 2 yesterday. It seems like the most complete account- probably because Luke was written to the Gentiles. Matthew has the story, but not as much of the pre-birth story and focuses more on the fufillment of prophecy- not surprising since it was written to the Jews.

I got stuck on verse 22 where it talked about "time of purification." This was relating to when they took Jesus to the temple. So, I crossed it back to Leviticus 12. This was no walk from the stable to the temple. First, she had to wait the 7 days (unclean) and then circ on the 8th day. Then, they waited another 33 days to be purified from blood flow. And then, they had to have a sacrifice- 2 doves. In Leviticus, it talks about how if they can't afford a lamb, they can bring doves. Just interesting pieces to the puzzle.

Just goes to show that scripture backs scripture backs scripture. :)

I'm going to delve next into the phrase "treasured all these things in her heart" as I'm noticing it's a recurring theme.

It's the little ways...

God met me in the coolest way today. I've been feeling stressed about a few things, that really, I just need to give to Him. But anyway...

On the way home from church today, Mom was hungry. So, it was decided that we'd go to Panera. I'm on a diet. Panera is one of my favorite places. I went in, wasn't thrilled, but didn't want to keep them from enjoying and had a cup of tea. Midway in, Ange suggested that if I wanted, I could take his car home and they'd follow after they finished. Great idea. So, I grabbed a newspaper on the way home. As I went to get out of the car, the business cards in my wallet went flying. As I picked them up, few went farther down. Which, put my hand under the seat of his car. What should I find? The work ID badge that had gone missing (not a good thing to have missing). I felt the Lord remind me that He really does show up for the little things and is quite trustworthy to handle the big things as well.

I was inspired today to get to know the Christmas story better. So, I'm going to compare and contrast the gospels.

Accountability...

I realized (thanks to a friend) something very important. I need the accountability of another person to stay on top of my reading/study. I was chatting with a friend today and she casually asked how my reading was going since our class was over...uhm, well, not as good.

So, needless to say, I have an accountability partner now. So, I should be back to posting more soon. :)

Cool gift

Last night, I did my quiet time in a little different order. I prayed, intercessory, first. Then, I opened my Bible with the intention of reviewing the passage we would go over this morning. I opened straight to 1 Thesalonians 5:24- "The one who calls you is faithful and he will do it."

Yeah, that was encouraging. Especially "funny" in that the passage I was going to review was the parable of the persistent widow.

Then, as we discussed in our study this morning, our leader shared John 15:7- "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."

And, at the very end, she made a profound statement. Perhaps, God doesn't answer our prayers until we're ready to give Him the glory he's due? Something to think about...

bitterness & negativity

Normally, my before bed shower is time for relaxing, sometimes praying, other times thinking. Tonight, it was time for revelation. I've been letting stupid comments, and actions of others bother me. No, eat at me. So, while I was in the shower tonight, I felt compelled to pick up my Bible and word study bitterness. In the process, I came across verses that are applicable to another area in my life right now that I'm sure the Lord wants to speak into.

First, I came to: Proverbs 14:10- "Each heart knows it's own bitterness and no one else can share it's joy."

I read a little more, kept going through the concordance list...then it jumped off the page! Ephesians 4:31-32- "Get rid of all bitterness, rage and anger, brawling and slander, along with every form of malice. Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." I've allowed myself to be consumed with bitterness and anger. It just spills into everywhere. How much easier would it have been to just forgive the little things? Letting it turn big and ugly has had a much worse effect and didn't show Christ in me. Isn't the the purpose of developing intimacy with Christ- to be like Him, to shed His light? I can't be a fair weather Christian. I can't let the little things turn into huge road blocks.

Dear Lord,
Please heal the bitterness in my heart. Enable me to see those that have hurt me through your eyes. Make me kind, compassionate and enable me to forgive. Lord, I confess getting sidetracked. Thank you for 2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." I seek You and choose to follow Your ways. Thank you for your mercy and grace.
Amen.

Because He lives...

I spoke with a friend recently. Her mom went home to be with the Lord rather suddenly. She sang the song "Because He Lives" at her funeral. It has resonated within me since our conversation. It is such an awesome reminder. This is how I remember the song, my words might be a little off...still blesses me deep inside.

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow...
Because He Lives, all fear is gone....
Because I know who holds the future...
And life is worth living just because He lives....

As I was starting my quiet time tonight, DS woke up, fussy. Didn't know what he wanted. I finally took him back to his bed and prayed over him. God is so faithful. God our protector.

I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to read tonight. I thought I'd start by reviewing the passage we worked on most recently. My Bible opened up to Jeremiah 15. I had marked 15:16 as a verse with impact that I'd like to go back and study more. I went to biblegateway.org to see what different translations did with it.

NIV is:
You understand, O LORD;
remember me and care for me.
Avenge me on my persecutors.
You are long-suffering—do not take me away;
think of how I suffer reproach for your sake.
When your words came, I ate them;
they were my joy and my heart's delight,
for I bear your name,
O LORD God Almighty.

The Message pulls in the whole section, 15-18:
18You know where I am, God!
Remember what I'm doing here!
Take my side against my detractors.
Don't stand back while they ruin me.
Just look at the abuse I'm taking!
When your words showed up, I ate them—
swallowed them whole.
What a feast!
What delight I took in being yours,
O God, God-of-the-Angel-Armies!
I never joined the party crowd in their laughter and their fun.
Led by you, I went off by myself.
You'd filled me with indignation.
Their sin had me seething.
But why, why this chronic pain,
this ever worsening wound and no healing in sight?
You're nothing, God, but a mirage,
a lovely oasis in the distance—and then nothing!

With an ending like that, I had to read on...

19-21This is how God answered me:
"Take back those words, and I'll take you back.
Then you'll stand tall before me.
Use words truly and well.
Don't stoop to cheap whining.
Then, but only then, you'll speak for me.
Let your words change them.
Don't change your words to suit them.
I'll turn you into a steel wall,
a thick steel wall, impregnable.
They'll attack you but won't put a dent in you
because I'm at your side, defending and delivering."
God's Decree."I'll deliver you from the grip of the wicked.
I'll get you out of the clutch of the ruthless."

God is so faithful. I've been in a rough spot. I don't believe in coincidence. God has placed so many things in my path. This message tonight, is an awesome promise.

I'm off to pray...

Expect the unexpected.

I've been praying for some things lately, financial provision being one of them. We've had some medical bills come up, some resurfacing from the past, etc. So, feeling like I was at the end of my rope, we decided I should get some counseling. This meant I had to call the mental health benefits folks to get an auth. I admit, I had a huge chip on my shoulder. The last referral they sent me on was a disaster (which is the bill mentioned above). So, yesterday, my friend gave me a great referral. Typically, when I called, this provider wasn't on their "panel." She offered to transfer me over to the staff psych to pick someone. In my bad attitude, I told her that no, I'd do my own research, their choice had screwed me last time. She called back a few minutes later wanting to know exactly what had happened. Needless to say, the charges from this doctor were incorrect and against the contract. Which means, they are billing me for the wrong amount. I see that as a provision from the Lord.

Wow, another verse...

“Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done.”- 1 Chronicles 16:8

Got it off the front page of BibleGateway.org.

Thank you Lord.

Claim it...

The victory is Jesus.

James 4:7
"Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you."

As would be expected, the enemy attacked. In several ways. While I might not have had the expected prayer and fast, God and I still connected in a major way. God is so good. He meets me where I'm at. Every.single.time!

Due to circumstances, I didn't make it to Bible study until way late into it. The tears were flowing as I even walked into the church. I'd hit that breaking point. It was so amazing how the Lord used everyone in my path from the moment I stepped into the church to minister to me. Now, I see that as a direct correlation to obedience. I could have so easily just gone home and had my own little pity party. But I felt that pull. The overwhelming pull of the Holy Spirit. Oddly, I also consider it a blessing that I couldn't hold it together. I don't tend to cry in front of people (at least if I can help it). This morning, I just couldn't stop. It was humbling. It also added prayer warriors. As sisters in Christ, we are driven to pray for one another in times like these. We are wired to nurture and support. God is faithful and provides for needs I don't always realize are there.

There were other icky things that added to the day. I didn't deal with each of them well. However, the Holy Spirit was always there prompting, bringing me back. I prayed. I prayed standing in my kitchen and in the car. Nothing formal, just talking to God. I'm sure that didn't please the enemy.

I was invited over to my study leader's house this evening where she and another gal were going to spend time in prayer- just like in the morning, only not at church. I was going to pray about going and ask the Lord to make DH's heart do whatever needed to be done. God's plan was so much better than mine. DH didn't really respond when I told him of the invite. But, when he came home, he started getting the kids ready. DD has swimming on Tues. He told me he was taking all 3 kids to the gym and that it was my choice what I would do during that time. A quiet house. Wow. Gave me time to walk through the house praying. Renewed my spirit.

I had a word from the Lord today, "order." God is order. He is not chaos. I've allowed so much business to my life lately that it's all out of order. I really felt called to put our home in order...starting with my desk. The piles need to go. Simplify.

As I was looking for the verse I started this entry with, He led me to 2 Peter 3:9, "The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."

I like "The Message" translation of it too: "Don't overlook the obvious here, friends. With God, one day is as good as a thousand years, a thousand years as a day. God isn't late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn't want anyone lost. He's giving everyone space and time to change. "

And again, the scriptures come alive. I almost felt tonight like verse cards were jumping up from my desk with a "pick me! Pick me!" At 7:15, it was Psalm 119:11, "I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you." At 7:56, 2 Timothy 1:7, "For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline." (Wow, self discipline...finishing a task? Order?)

Last one,
Psalm 46:10
"Be still, and know that I am God;
I will be exalted among the nations,
I will be exalted in the earth."

Prayer and fasting...

One of the last tools we're learning about is prayer and fasting. It started after dinner today. I've done the best I could given the circumstance (ibuprofen on an empty tummy = not a good thing, I think God understands a few crackers). Not surprisingly, the enemy has attacked at every turn- for days now. A few verses have stood out to me in the last week or so. Here they are:

2 Timothy 1:7
"For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline."

Acts 10:34
"Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism..."
-This verse didn't hit me until just awhile ago. It kind of spoke to that "why me" and "why not me?" I don't fully know...it just about literally jumps off the page to me.

I'm understanding more and more the power that comes with memorizing the Word of God. He reminds me, over and over. In fact, it's that still small voice that sent me to my Bible when I was in an emotional turmoil.

John 5:44
"How can you believe if youaccept praise from one another, yet make no effort to obtain praise that comes from the only God?"
- Yep, I was seeking human praise and acceptance (and typically not feeling it). I lost focus. Praise the Lord His love doesn't change. I literally was flipping through, looking for something else when this jumped out at me.

I'm blessed in so many ways. But there is something so beyond cool about having the Word come alive. It makes me hungry. I'm craving this intimacy with Him.

God is so faithful. So mighty. So compassionate. So strong. Steady.

I'm ruined for anything else...

Luke 18:1-8

November 14, 2007
Study: Luke 18:1-8
Memorize: Luke 18:1
The Parable of the Persistent Widow
1Then Jesus told his disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up. 2He said: "In a certain town there was a judge who neither feared God nor cared about men. 3And there was a widow in that town who kept coming to him with the plea, 'Grant me justice against my adversary.'
4"For some time he refused. But finally he said to himself, 'Even though I don't fear God or care about men, 5yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will see that she gets justice, so that she won't eventually wear me out with her coming!' "
6And the Lord said, "Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7And will not God bring about justice for his chosen ones, who cry out to him day and night? Will he keep putting them off? 8I tell you, he will see that they get justice, and quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?"

ANALYSIS
1. Paraphrase study passage: To illustrate his point and help them understand, Jesus told the disciples a story- kind of practical application for them. The town judge was confident and did what he wanted. Meanwhile, there was a widow who was persistent in her pleas for help/justice. Originally, the judge refused, perhaps ignored her pleas. Finally, he realized he would grow tired of her coming to him and changed his mind. He acted on her behalf. Won’t God help his faithful who cry out to him? You better believe it, and how. God is swift.
This is the same as Jesus praying for us in heaven, interceding to the Father on our behalf. Will he find out faith and persistence the same?

2. Outline study passage:
I. Jesus point of the parable: Pray with persistence, don’t give up.
II. Judge
A. Didn’t fear God
B. Didn’t care about man
III. Widow
A. Persistent- “Grant me justice against my adversary.”
B. “Because this widow keeps bothering me…”
- Her persistence paid off.
IV Comparison
A. “will God not bring about justice for his chosen ones…”
B. He is swift in meeting our requests & needs.
V Will we have the faith to back it up?

3. Cross References:
Show: to cause or allow to be seen; exhibit; display. to present or perform as a public entertainment or spectacle. to indicate; point out. to guide, escort, or usher. to explain or make clear; make known. to make known to; inform, instruct, or prove to
2 Sam 22:26 “to the faithful you show yourself faithful, to the blameless you show yourself blameless, to the pure you show yourself pure, but to the crooked, you show yourself shrewd.”
Psalm 143:8- We are to put our trust in him, lift our souls to Him to show the way.
Zec 7:9- Show mercy and compassion to each other.
Acts 2:19- Show wonders in heaven & signs on earth
Acts 10:34- God does not show favoritism.

Always: every time; on every occasion; without exception. all the time; continuously; uninterruptedly. Forever.
Deut 15:11 “There will always be poor people…” We are to be openhanded and take care of them.
Psalm 16:8- “I have set the LORD always before me. Because he is at my right hand, I will not be shaken.”
Matt 26:11- alabaster jar of perfume is poured on Jesus, the disciples got upset because it was such a waste in their eyes- could have been sold to raise money for the poor. Jesus reminds them that they will always have the poor, but won’t always have his presence.
Matt 28:20- “I am with you always.”
Mark 14:7- alabaster perfume
John 12:8- alabaster perfume
1 Cor 13:7- Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.
Phil 4:4- Rejoice in the Lord always
1 Peter 3:15- We are to always be prepared to give an answer for our hope in Jesus.

4. Problems & Questions:

5. APPLICATION
What is God’s desire for me? Focus, persistence, faithfulness.
What will I do about it? Make the choice to obey and tune out the distractions.
This is how I plan to do it: I’m not fully sure yet. The start, prayer. So far, the Holy Spirit has been pretty good at bringing me back into focus. I just need to listen more, question less. I don’t always need to know why. I don’t always need to give an opinion.