Christmas Eve--Some Thoughts

What was it like, on that Christmas Eve 2008 years ago? Did the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit meet together? Was the Son excited to be stepping into the stream of human time to move everything forward in the next phase of the Father's Grand Plan? Was there a twinkle of excitement in His eye? Did the Father clasp the Son to Him for one final hug before surrendering His Son to the Earth to continue the plan of redemption?

It's All Paid In Full--What a concept!

OK, I'm doing this Revelation Bible Study. I think I really like it. Anyway, as part of the study, of course, we go to other sections of the Bible so the Bible explains the Bible. One of the areas I went to talked about how Jesus has paid for all the sins of all the world. Wow! OK I thought I knew some stuff, and I've read through the Bible on more than one occaision, but this was mind blowing for me. I mean, think about it, you've got a credit card, take it to the max, then find out it was all pre-paid--someone else has already footed the bill for you. There's just one catch, you have to acknowledge that you can't pay that bill and that you need to be covered by the One who has the ability to cover you. That's salvation--not that Jesus has died for my sins, but that I acknowledge that I have indeed run up a big sin bill (and can do no other thing thanks to my human spirit), that I cannot ever begin to touch the interest on that sin payment much less the principal, that I need the love of Jesus and the work He did on the cross to pay for those sins and that I want Him to be the Lord of my life. Then follow Him where He leads me as we go through this time on Earth together. It is both the most simple and the hardest thing there ever was!

Heaven and Hell, Love and Hate

So, is there really a fine line between love and hate? Is there a fine line between heaven and hell? Or is there a greater gulf between these two sets of opposites--at least from God's perspective?

What does it mean when Christians spout hate about others because of that person's ethnic, cultural or religious background? What does it mean when a Christian speaks from a point of "correct" about everyone else's "incorrect"?

I heard a really great sermon today. The core message, demonstrate love, share the Gospel and move on. If the person you're sharing with gets it--great! Celebrate, and then move on. If the person you're sharing with doesn't get it, don't push, argue, anger. Move on.

Reading Revelation--stumbled into Jude

Ok, off to a new adventure! I'm hoping to be part of a Bible Study group doing Revelation soon. So, I was going to pre-read this book before starting with the group. I actually read the wrong (?) book. I read Jude.

Now, if you haven't read Jude in a while, give it a little shot. It's kinda scary and very hopeful. Kinda scary because the book talks about the issues of people in the end times. Hopeful because of the promises that Jesus has made to keep his own and to present us to the Father, righteous. Thank you, Lord, for those promises.

Give this little gem of a book a read and let me know what you think.

Love

I was recently away on a month long missions trip to a foreign country. There was a team of seven adult women and one teenager from the US. We spent a lot of time in one another's company.

About midway through the trip, I read 2 Corinthians 12 and 13. Most people know 2 Cor 13 as the "Love Chapter". I personally have found it to be a challenge to read this chapter because it calls us to really to to an extreme level when we love, but I digress. At the end of Chapter 13, the Bible says, Faith, Hope and Love, but the greatest of these is Love.

So, next time you want to read about Love, read both chapters in second Corinthians. It's really pretty impressive to put all of that together as one thought/sermon. So, drop me some comments and let me know what you think!

(PS: These verses were extremely helpful to me while on that trip. Thank You Lord, for helping this foolish servant once again.)

A changing society -- A changing God?

So, here's the question: Do we need a changing God to keep up with a changing society?

Many things seem to be changing moment by moment today in our culture. What used to be wrong is now right, what used to be right is now wrong.....

If God is constant, does this make the changes in our culture right or wrong? If our culture is changing and God is not, what does this mean?

As for me an my house, we will serve the unchanging, everlasting God of the Bible, who becomes and gives us Jesus as a living sacrifice and the Holy Spirit as an everlasting witness testifying to God's Truth.

Half-way through, time to keep going!

So, we've just about hit the half-way mark. It's been a struggle for me, personally. I just have not had the discipline to get my reading done. I had a little headstart with the reading and now I've lost my lead.

But I'm still blessed. It is such a joy to see people doing the reading, finding out new things and being reminded of old lessons from the Bible. I loved it when one of the participants came up to me and said, "I've just finished reading Genesis!". Part of what makes this so awesome is that she has never really been able to just read the Bible. So cool! And I couldn't be prouder of her.

Or my friend who is doing the program by listening to the Bible on tapes. He's had a whole new experience of the Bible because he's never been intentional about it the way he is right now. I love it!

How about the one who really pushed for this program? She is either right on the day or else ahead of schedule with the reading. This is so cool because she is the one who really really really wanted to do this program. I had forgotten that she doesn't know as much of the Bible; I said something to her about how neat it is to put these stories in perspective as it related to other Biblical events. She reminded me that this is a first for her, reading through the Bible.

I'm so grateful for the opportunity to go down this path with these fellow travelers. This is a great joy to me.

Week 3: Timely for Easter

Isn't the way of God amazing? I didn't consciously or unconsciously or subconsciously (or any other conscious) plan the schedule for our Bible in 90 Days group. But this last week we just read through Leviticus, Numbers and Deuteronomy. So, the big part of Leviticus is the laws, the sacrifices, the feasts, the setting up of the tabernacle, the clothing for the priests, etc. As the video instructor put it last week, these are the guidelines for how people are to live with a Holy God.

So, the amazing part is this, this year is the earliest Easter we've had in something like 90 years. It is also the earliest Easter we will have for something like 90 years. This Sunday we will celebrate the resurrection of Jesus, who died as the final, ultimate, pure sacrifice for our sins. And we just read through these passages describing the sacrifices. This is just so cool for me this year.

Thank you, Abba, for your plans and love.

Week 2 Down and Started!

So, we had our second meeting the other night. Loved the video. The instructor is really funny. But the best part is the other folks in the room with me doing the reading! I really love having this adventure with these folks. What a joy they are. No surprise, Miss Diane is on-task with her reading! You go girl.

Keep reading everyone. My love and best blessings prayers for you.

Day 1 Done

Day One Done -- at about 10:00 pm!! OK, I actually stopped a little shy since I was in bed and my eyes could not focus anymore. But, trying to get going on Day 2 now.

Day One Down!---We're Out of the Starting Block!

Hey Everyone,

Ok, so last night's meeting was great. I am definitely honored to be sharing this experience with you ladies and (hopefully) my sweet husband. I think we may have another gentleman joining us and possibly two "satellite" participants.

Where should we be now? Pages 1-12 down, pages 13-24 tonight. Did you get it done? Are you feeling good? I actually always enjoy the first two weeks of the reading. Maybe because these are often the lessons we use in Children's Church? Maybe because it takes me back to my early days of faith when I believed in God; I believed in Jesus as His Son who died for my sins and rose again. These are the early days when I had less challenges to my faith (as compared to the college years.)

Anyway, jump in, give us a comment or a post. whatever! and May you find joy as you continue with your readings.

Linda

Bible in 90 Days--In 8 and counting Down!

OK, so we begin reading the Bible In 90 Days (aka BIND) in just over a week. I'm so excited! I'm also wondering who will be joining me....who should I invite? Ah well.....90 days can go so quickly when you're tackling a challenge like this one....even if it looks so big when you're at the starting gate.

(Hope you like my li'l drawing! Abba said He'd put it on the Fridge! )

Mark 1:9-13 Bible Reading

OK, this is from the NIV: "At that time Jesus came from Nazareth in Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan. As Jesus was coming up out of the water, he saw heaven being torn open and the Spirit descending on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven: 'You are my Son, whome I love; with you I am well pleased.' At one the Spirit sent him out into the desert, and he was in the desert forty days, being tempted by Satan. He was with the wild animals, and the angels attended him."

I have started re-reading JESUS MEAN AND WILD, by Mark Galli. The basic premise is that Jesus suffered, was stern, wild, demanding for a purpose; God has a difficult and wonderful plan for each of our lives.

So, the verses quoted above, the beginning of the ministry shows that Jesus was made to suffer, to be tempted, as preparation.

This is because we are in and sent to a suffering world. Our own suffering is in part to help prepare us to minister to a suffering world. (Notice, I said in part--there's always more to this than a brief blog can state.)

Bible in 90 Days---March 05, 2008 Kick Off

Whoo hooo.....or uh oh? Ok, so we're finally set to start the Bible in 90 Days group on March 5, 2008. It will be at First Baptist Church of Lodi. Kinda scary only because I'm a chicken. But I'm also very excited about this event. Now to let the other attendees know!

1 Samuel 12--God calls sinners to remain faithful

OK, I keep just being amazed at the hidden pearls and gifts of God in the Old Testament. How many of us have the feeling that the Old Testament is full of stories about an angry, vengeful, mean, cruel God. We think the sweet stories of Jesus, healing and being nice, are much better than the OT?

I've got Good News for you! Yes, the OT has some stories that are hard for us to read, sometimes hard for us to understand. Yes, God is trying to do something astounding in the books of the Old Testament--He is trying to reach out to us by way of establishing the nation of Israel as a holy people, a people set apart and dedicated (consecrated) to God. And this process is obviously a difficult one since people are so inclined to leaving the commands and relationships God is trying to establish with us.

So, where is the Good News you might ask? Well, read the book of 1 Samuel. This is the story of the nation of Israel turning (again) from God; this time they are asking for a king to be over them. They get Saul. Saul is at first a somewhat reluctant king. He later becomes a very difficult/bad king. Finally, the nation of Israel begins to understand, in chapter 12 of 1 Sam, that they have done a bad thing. They cry out for Samuel to pray for them. Here's verses 18-25 of chapter 12 of 1st Samuel from the NIV version:

"Then Samuel called upon the LORD, and that same day the LORD sent thunder and rain. So all the people stood in awe of the LORD and Samuel."

"The people all said to Samuel, 'Pray to the LORD your God for your servants so that we will not die, for we have added to all our other sins the evil of asking for a king."

" ' Do not be afraid,' Samuel replied. 'You have done all this evil; yet do not turn away from the LORD, but serve the LORD with all your heart. Do not turn away after useless idols. They can do you no good, nor can they rescue you, because they are useless. For the sake of his great name the LORD will not reject his people, because the LORD was pleased to make you his own. As for me, far be it from me that I should sin against the LORD by failing to pray for you. And I will teach you the way that is good and right. But be sure to fear the LORD and serve Him faithfully with all your heart; consider what great things He has done for you. Yet if you persist in doing evil, both you and your king will be swept away.' "

OK, c'mon now! Don't you see this is the foreshadowing of the promises of Jesus? The LORD is pleased to make you his own people; the LORD won't reject you if you serve Him with your whole heart. But reject the LORD and you and your king will be swept away...

Good news, my friends, even in the Old Testament, God is telling us he loves us and has chosen us. He wants to be in relationship with us if we will just turn to him and do what is right (in His eyes, not ours). He has given the final, holy sacrifice of his son Jesus, so that we can be in that right relationship with Him if we will only trust and obey.

Handling the Word of God

So, are we careful enough? Too careful? When we "handle" the Word, are we putting too much of ourselves into it?

I get to teach a college age sunday school group for the next two weeks. I got the call earlier this week, but only picked up the message last night. So, I'm now down to one day to get it pulled together. What do I do?

First off, I think. Ok, I should be in prayer, but the truth of who I am is that I start thinking and planning. But then, hopefully not long into my planning, I stop to pray. What, Abba Father, Holy God, Lord Jesus, do you want me to share with these folks? Or what do you want me to bring up, so they can share with me? What will be honoring to you and serve your purposes?

So, now come more questions: Should I stick with the basic theme of the last teacher? Or should I go with I want to teach/what Ihope the Lord is asking me to teach?

The biggest challenge for me is this: I don't always get clear leading from the Lord. But I do trust that if I am going forward in prayer, with the faith that the Lord's Word can stand without me, I can be looking for room to serve Him and these fine people who will be joining me on Sunday.

May is please the Heavenly Father to be with m in Spirit and heart so that I may serve His kingdom purposes.

What are your thoughts?

BIND: Bible in 90 Days

OK, who is insane enough to read through the Bible in 90 days? It's too much, right? It can't be done by "normal" people can it? I mean, sometimes you won't even know what you're reading, right? After all, without extensive study, it's just a waste of time, isn't it?

Truth? Anyone can read through the Bible in 90 days if they commit to the time, commit to the commitment and so on. Seriously, "normal" people have been doing this for some time.

As far as knowing what you're reading, any honest Bible scholar will admit that even after years of reading, studying and prayer, there are still secrets, mysteries and unknowable truths in the greatest book ever written.

Extensive Bible study is definitely a must for those who want to go deep into the Word of God. But we also need to have a more panoramic view. We need to understand the Bible stories in light of the fullness of the Bible. Understanding that all of this book is intended to be read as the Greatest Love Story of all time will help us grasp the greater majesty of any one part of the story. Why is Ruth such a shocking story? Why does it matter that she becomes part of the lineage of the greatest king of Israel? Should this story matter to me today?

Urgency, Anyone?

Ok, so I've been a bit off the past couple of days. I don't usually get to sit down to my Bible reading until a bit later in the evening. This means I'm tired and my eyes are tired. I'm also more easily distracted during this time....slower reading is the result. Oh, the tired eyes thing...that means it's harder for me to actually see/read the words in the Bible.

So, I've gone out and gotten a larger print Bible that I can actually read without putting on my glasses (Thanks, Sister!). I did some reading last night and found it very pleasurable to concentrate on the words and meanings instead of the the letters!

I noticed this morning that I'm feeling a sense of urgency to do the Bible reading. I wonder, is this from the Holy Spirit? Or5 is it just the fact that I now have to pick up from mid-way through Deuteronomy in an unmarked Bible?

Truthfully, I like the sense of urgency. It's nice to have something prompting me to get on with the reading. Otherwise all the excuses would get in the way. Like the business class I'm going to tonight, the excercise date I have tomorrow morning, running a business.....What about you? Do you feel that urgency? Does that work well for you or against you?

Are You OT or NT?

Ok, so, seriously, are you Old Testament or New Testament? Well, if you're claiming to be Christian, you must be NT, right? After all, isn't that really what it means to be Christian is understanding that Jesus came to fulfill the laws of the Old Testament and create a new relationship for believers?

So, yeah, I guess I'm NT.....but I'm definitely OT too. How can we appreciate the fulfillment of the OT laws and prophecies if we don't read the Old Testament? How can we understand the everlasting plans and provisions of a merciful God if we can see Him in the Old Testament?

So, yeah, I guess I'm OT. What about you?

Holy God

So, I have been reading Exodus and Leviticus. Well, to be honest, I started reading the Bible from Genesis for the new year and am now in Leviticus. So, as I'm reading through the requirements for the Tent of Meeting, the ordination and establishing of the priesthood of Aaron, and then the offerings, I can't help but wonder, what is God saying to us? How much is He trying to tell us about His nature of holiness? What is He communicating about how serious we need to take our relationship with Him? How is He trying to prepare us for the life to come?