reading the Bible (+ a tv trailer)
A friend once said to me that she just wanted to "love her husband, not yell at her kids, and not lose her mind." Can I get a big "amen" to that?! Isn't that the truth? I've discovered over the past decade and more that the Bible really can help us in all of those areas!
I'm learning to read my Bible - not just read it but understand it, apply it to my life! She has helped me dig deep, ask questions, cross reference between passages, look at the historical background. Who, what, when, where, why? And I want others to know this ability to read and understand the Bible can happen without a seminary degree! Theology is for everyone! Even me!
I wanted to share some passages that have been meaningful to me the past few years. I don't have a "life verse" but this one may be pretty close, "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content" (1 Timothy 6:8). I have a pretty envious streak and this reminds me that the Lord provides. Always has, always will. We have been in some pretty lean financial times but we've always had food and clothing, plenty. Our needs have always been met - even more than the physical needs, He has met my emotional needs over and over!
Ecclesiastes 3 (the whole thing but I'll just share verse 1) says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." I have come back to this very popular verse the past few years because we've had some hard seasons. I wrote this piece last March (2018): "Today at Testimony Tuesday, Betsy taught about Ecclesiastes 3 - there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. She asked the question, "what time are we in now?" There are times I'd rather not go through - a time to break, weep, mourn, etc, and yet I have found myself in those times - overwhelmed, depressed. I mourn for things important - not going to Haiti, my son's epilepsy and future, my family's eternity. But I also mourn the trivial - not having this or that, not going here or there, not getting a break. Yet I think each of those drives me to my knees because I know only God can bring peace in the big and turn my eyes to Him int eh small. I am tired. I am overwhelmed. But God will meet me with grace in each of those circumstances. He will lead me to repent when I'm selfish or angry. He will allow me to be joyful for others when they get this or that or go here or there. Only Christ." I very much believe that. Only God knows what my son's future holds - will he have more seizures and other such worries. Only God can change the hearts of my family to Him.
The book of James is probably my favorite book in the Bible (contending with Ruth). It is so practical! James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." That section has been one I cling to with my son's surgeries. I've also seen fruit from this - not that I'm complete and perfect, but that in the various kinds of trials I've seen God working. I've seen my faith grow more endurance. I've seen Him allow us to share that endurance and faith with others going through trials of various kinds. What grace is given so that we can come alongside others in their pain?!
Lastly, the one I'm still working on over and over and over: James 1:19-22 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." I have such a tongue (set on fire by hell - James 3:6b)! It can be so encouraging - and cutting. James 3:9-11 says, "with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." Even take today, I yelled at my daughter over inconsequential things and tonight, with the same tongue, encouraged my son to fight the enemy with God's truth. It makes me feel like a huge hypocrite (and I know many unbelievers see us Christians as such) but I know that I'm a work in progress. I know that I'm being sanctified daily and it's through God's Word that it's happening.
I'm always encouraged when there is coverage on the life of Christ on television. Even if they get it wrong (like in the movie Noah...oh dear), I hope that people will be intrigued enough to pick up a Bible and look for themselves. The History Channel has been showing a series on the life of Christ called "Jesus: His Life." The final episode and series finale airs Monday, April 15 just in time for Easter! I wanted to share the synopsis below:
I encourage you to watch this series, to be intrigued, to open your heart and your Bible. Find out if He is who He says He is. Can He change your life? Can He impact you as He has done me? I know the answer is yes, but we all have to see for ourselves. Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Disclaimer: I received a gift card in exchange for this post. All of it is my opinion and may differ from your own.
I'm learning to read my Bible - not just read it but understand it, apply it to my life! She has helped me dig deep, ask questions, cross reference between passages, look at the historical background. Who, what, when, where, why? And I want others to know this ability to read and understand the Bible can happen without a seminary degree! Theology is for everyone! Even me!
I wanted to share some passages that have been meaningful to me the past few years. I don't have a "life verse" but this one may be pretty close, "But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content" (1 Timothy 6:8). I have a pretty envious streak and this reminds me that the Lord provides. Always has, always will. We have been in some pretty lean financial times but we've always had food and clothing, plenty. Our needs have always been met - even more than the physical needs, He has met my emotional needs over and over!
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| image via Grace Hill Media |
Ecclesiastes 3 (the whole thing but I'll just share verse 1) says, "For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven." I have come back to this very popular verse the past few years because we've had some hard seasons. I wrote this piece last March (2018): "Today at Testimony Tuesday, Betsy taught about Ecclesiastes 3 - there is a time for every purpose under the heavens. She asked the question, "what time are we in now?" There are times I'd rather not go through - a time to break, weep, mourn, etc, and yet I have found myself in those times - overwhelmed, depressed. I mourn for things important - not going to Haiti, my son's epilepsy and future, my family's eternity. But I also mourn the trivial - not having this or that, not going here or there, not getting a break. Yet I think each of those drives me to my knees because I know only God can bring peace in the big and turn my eyes to Him int eh small. I am tired. I am overwhelmed. But God will meet me with grace in each of those circumstances. He will lead me to repent when I'm selfish or angry. He will allow me to be joyful for others when they get this or that or go here or there. Only Christ." I very much believe that. Only God knows what my son's future holds - will he have more seizures and other such worries. Only God can change the hearts of my family to Him.
The book of James is probably my favorite book in the Bible (contending with Ruth). It is so practical! James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." That section has been one I cling to with my son's surgeries. I've also seen fruit from this - not that I'm complete and perfect, but that in the various kinds of trials I've seen God working. I've seen my faith grow more endurance. I've seen Him allow us to share that endurance and faith with others going through trials of various kinds. What grace is given so that we can come alongside others in their pain?!
Lastly, the one I'm still working on over and over and over: James 1:19-22 "Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves." I have such a tongue (set on fire by hell - James 3:6b)! It can be so encouraging - and cutting. James 3:9-11 says, "with it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people are made in the likeness of God. From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers, these things ought not to be so." Even take today, I yelled at my daughter over inconsequential things and tonight, with the same tongue, encouraged my son to fight the enemy with God's truth. It makes me feel like a huge hypocrite (and I know many unbelievers see us Christians as such) but I know that I'm a work in progress. I know that I'm being sanctified daily and it's through God's Word that it's happening.
I'm always encouraged when there is coverage on the life of Christ on television. Even if they get it wrong (like in the movie Noah...oh dear), I hope that people will be intrigued enough to pick up a Bible and look for themselves. The History Channel has been showing a series on the life of Christ called "Jesus: His Life." The final episode and series finale airs Monday, April 15 just in time for Easter! I wanted to share the synopsis below:
“Jesus: His Life” explores the story of Jesus Christ through a unique lens: the people in his life who were closest to him. Each of the eight chapters is told from the perspective of different biblical figures, all of whom played a pivotal role in Jesus’ life including Joseph, John the Baptist, Mary Mother of Jesus, Caiaphas, Judas Iscariot, Pontius Pilate, Mary Magdalene and Peter.
Each figure takes a turn guiding viewers through the emotional and epic story of the most famous man in history, through his birth, death and resurrection, all conveyed through a combination of scripted drama and interviews with prominent religious and historical experts. Utilizing some of the world’s most respected Biblical scholars, historians, faith leaders and theologians, the series weaves together the canonical Gospels, historical sources and cultural context to create a complete portrait of Jesus – the man and the Messiah. The series finale airs this Monday, April 15 on The History Channel at 8pm ET/PT.
I encourage you to watch this series, to be intrigued, to open your heart and your Bible. Find out if He is who He says He is. Can He change your life? Can He impact you as He has done me? I know the answer is yes, but we all have to see for ourselves. Happy Easter! He is risen indeed!
Disclaimer: I received a gift card in exchange for this post. All of it is my opinion and may differ from your own.
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