Whew!

It has been quite the busy last few days, and I have learned much about myself.

1. I am quite the book pack rat. I hate to get rid of a good book... or one I think might be a good book.

2. Dust is my Achilles heel. It is everywhere and no matter how many times I wipe it keeps coming back. Ugh- just like my multitude of character flaws. Thank you Jesus for dusting me so often!

3. My favorite thing about painting is that the impossible to get dust in the crevices and corners can be painted over. (I'm glad Jesus doesn't do that though.)

4. I have written for years. As I cleaned out many old binders and folders, I was surprised by how many "blogs" I came across. I've been doing this since the sixth grade and just didn't know it. I remember times where I couldn't help but write what I felt and was learning about the Lord, but I found a lot more than I realized. It was such a sweet time time today reading some of what I had penned. I witnessed how far He's brought me and how much I've changed. There were also times that my relationship with God couldn't have been sweeter, and I long to return there.

5. I have been overly blessed with so many things. God is so good to us that I have to sift through many things as I move them around. So many in the world have so much less.

Though this week has been difficult, it has been good for talking to the Lord. There isn't much to do while spackling, taping, and painting. But it's perfect for talking with God. I can't wait for church tomorrow! He and I have had a great week, and I'm so excited to see the rest of my church family. I'm expecting much tomorrow!

How about you? In what ways have you seen God working and moving in your life? Cry out to Him - He is always willing to answer and come closer!

A Blessed Day

I started to write a blog today about our adventures in painting, but realized I would have been fussing a little too much. Sometimes it's better to cool off for a while and let your "paint" dry...

Instead, I will tell you how blessed I was yesterday! It's been almost 4 years since I started teaching my first Bible study class in the fall of 2006. Though I had 3 people sign up, there was only one dear lady who showed up every night. As frustrated as I was though, God knew I couldn't have handled any more. 

Yesterday in my Bible study group there were 17, with a few missing. God is so good! How I have grown to love these women as we spend time diving into God's precious Word together. I wouldn't miss it for the world. What excites me greatly is that we have ladies from all ages, churches, and walks of life. Who, but our God, could bring such a group together in love?

After an amazing lesson, where I believe they encouraged me more than I could them, I got to have coffee with a girl I would have to call my best friend. We're not able to get together very often, but have known each other since childhood. It's one of those comfortable relationships that has stood the test of time and is a precious gift from God where we encourage and sharpen each other. She gives me glimpses of a vivid spiritual walk that makes me jealous (In a good way!) for one of my own. That's a rare treasure! To top it all off, I splurged on an Almond Joy Latte with real whipped cream. Yummy food always makes it better...

At church later that evening, the choir talked about the Tenebrae service we had on Good Friday. It was a special time where we participated in the Lord's supper, read Scripture, and sang praises to Jesus in remembrance of His great sacrifice, and then all left the darkened building in silence as the Christ candle was taken away. We were all blown away by depth of the Spirit's presence there and spent most of last night discussing it and sharing in the blessings we received from it. Not only had that service stood out, but it made the anticipation for Easter Sunday all that much more vivid. I was truly blessed.

As I started thinking about it, days like yesterday seem treasured and rare. Why is that? I know that even when hard times come, God wants me to expect Him in mighty ways. That is not so difficult for the big stuff, but what about everyday life? Why not expect it there too? We should. I'm not talking about winning the lottery or landing the new dream job, but in the every day things we can be blessed greatly by seeing God's hand, or fingerprint, there. He is always there. We just need to really look.

Expect to be blessed today, and it will happen. 

How the Lord Helped Today

This week is my husband's vacation so we decided to paint the whole inside of the house. That's not a very bright idea. It would probably be OK if I had the week set aside as well, but I don't. So now I'm running around doubly exhausted and covered in paint. To make matters worse, I think we are both allergic to the fumes.

Sneeze...wipe...roll...wipe...

It's times like these I revel in the peace verses in the Bible, and because God is gracious and kind, those are just the verses I'm having to read for the Bible study we are currently doing. It's funny that the verses I have focused on this week are perfect for describing how I feel about my personal journey at home. Especially when you just take the first verse of the three Psalms we have spotlighted: Psalm 120:1; 121:1; 122:1

In my distress I called to the Lord and He answered me...

I raise my eyes toward the mountains. Where will my help come from?...

I rejoice with those who said to me, "Let us go to the house of the Lord."

"Gee, honey, sorry I have to leave you to paint by yourself today. I have to go to church for my Bible study class." 

See, ladies? There are many good reasons for joining!

Make Every Effort: Useless

Useless

2 Peter 1:8-9

 For His divine power has given us everything required 

for life and godliness, 

through the knowledge of Him who called us

 by His own glory and goodness.

   By these He has given us very great and precious promises, 

so that through them you may share in the divine nature,

escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

   

For this very reason,

 make every effort to supplement your 

faith with goodness, 

goodness with knowledge, 

   knowledge with self-control, 

self-control with endurance, 

endurance with godliness, 

   godliness with brotherly affection, 

and brotherly affection with love.

   For if these qualities are yours 

and are increasing, 

they will keep you from being 

useless or unfruitful 

in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

   The person who lacks these things 

is blind and shortsighted, 

and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 

   

Therefore, brothers, make every effort 

to confirm your calling and election, 

because if you do these things 

you will never stumble.

   For in this way, 

entry into the eternal kingdom of 

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

will be richly supplied to you.

2 Peter 1:3-11

If there is one thing that makes me shudder, it's the thought of being useless. I am a doer, and like to get things done without waisting time. I've caught myself saying to Kevin too many times, "Well, it would make more sense to do "X" in this way..." Efficiency and quality are important to me. How much more so they should be when concerning God!

God is saying, "Hey, if you truly love Me and want to be of any service to Me these are the things you should do."  2 Timothy 2: 20-26 begins by giving us another way to look at it. "Now in a large house there are not only gold and silver bowls, but also those of wood and earthenware, some for special use, some for ordinary. So if anyone purifies himself form these things, he will be a special instrument, set apart, useful to the Master, prepared for every good work..." It goes on to give more examples of how to be of use in God's kingdom. Stop and consider your walk with Christ. Are you a special gold or silver bowl shiny with use, or have you become a bit tarnished?

We also don't want to be considered blind, shortsighted, or forgetful. Jesus Christ paid an enormous price for us freely by living as a human for 33 years and then dieing a horrendous death on the cross while God's wrath was poured out on Him for the wrong you and I have done. How could we show Him we have forgotten that grace? The Gospels are full of examples of Jesus telling the religious leaders of the time that they just didn't get it. They were blinded to the Truth. Matthew 15:1-20 John 12:37-43

Paul has encouraged us not to be come like them by giving us a list of steps to take to open our eyes and see the usefulness within. Perhaps at times when we begin to notice our sight is failing, we need to come to the Savior to be healed and reminded of His glory and worth. Then let us go wash and rejoice, singing His praises before men! John 9

Make Every Effort: Supplement

Supplement

2 Peter 1:5b-7

For His divine power has given us everything required 

for life and godliness, 

through the knowledge of Him who called us

 by His own glory and goodness.

   By these He has given us very great and precious promises, 

so that through them you may share in the divine nature,

escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desires.

   

For this very reason,

 make every effort to supplement your 

faith with goodness, 

goodness with knowledge, 

   knowledge with self-control, 

self-control with endurance, 

endurance with godliness, 

   godliness with brotherly affection, 

and brotherly affection with love.

   For if these qualities are yours 

and are increasing, 

they will keep you from being 

useless or unfruitful 

in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.

   The person who lacks these things 

is blind and shortsighted, 

and has forgotten the cleansing from his past sins. 

   

Therefore, brothers, make every effort 

to confirm your calling and election, 

because if you do these things 

you will never stumble.

   For in this way, 

entry into the eternal kingdom of 

our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ 

will be richly supplied to you.

2 Peter 1:3-11

Do you know what it means to supplement? The first thing I thought of were the vitamins many people take for extra health protection- more of an "add on" to something already there. However, the true definition is slightly different: "something added to complete a thing, supply a deficiency, or reinforce or extend a whole." dictionary.com

Christians strive to be complete, or perfect in Christ, which is a goal we obtain at our death and resurrection. (Philippians 3:12, Hebrews 12:22-24) But how do we know what to do? We are to supplement many things in order to be complete. Today’s passage gives us a wonderful blueprint to follow in building our house. (Matthew 7:24) We are to accomplish them step by step and with much prayer.

2 Peter 1:5-7 truly is a fantastic step-by-step growth chart for the maturing Christian. Just imagine these listed on God's door post - bottom to top - with your name scribbled at each milestone:

Faith 

We know that it is "by grace we are saved through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God's gift-" Ephesians 2:8. It is the required entry point of salvation. Without faith, the rest is moot.

Goodness

When first becoming a Christian, the Bible can be a little overwhelming. Honestly, at times it can be for the veteran as well! When we are lost and don't know what to do, do something good. That is no simple matter when we are not use to it, or things have been going rough, but it is the step we must take to follow Him and get out of our pit.

Knowledge

OK, so you've practiced being good for a while, but have begun to crave more. What do you do? Crack open the Bible and learn something new. So often we open the Bible to read what we've been told by a pastor or teacher, but how often do we start sifting through in search for answers to our own questions and concerns. That is when we are gaining the best knowledge I believe. It is motivated by our spirit to feed our soul.

Self-control

Now that we have learned a few nuggets of wisdom we must apply it to our lives, and that takes more self-control than any of us would like to exude. It truly is one of those baby step necessities. With much prayer and, well... more prayer, it is possible. There is no excuse that "I'm just that kind of person", or "God will still love me and forgive me anyway". Either you love God enough to try and try again, begging His forgiveness each time you stumble, or you don't.

Endurance

We all know that maintaining self-control, the desire to gain knowledge, and being good take a whole lot of endurance. We are told in verse 6 that endurance is an integral part of our growth and maturity, and for good reason. We want to be grown up now! Endurance is the ultimate self-control. God encourages us here that we must keep on keeping on.

Godliness

 I have always thought this sounded somewhat unattainable and overwhelming- as though we were to be almost as perfect as God. However, godliness is defined as conforming to the laws and wishes of God, and having a great reverence for Him. That is the next natural step in growth. Once we have endured in a particular matter, we respect God for who He is and what He has done for us. This love should naturally manifest itself as a desire to conform with great reverence to Him. This is godliness.

Brotherly Affection

Up to this point we have been somewhat self focused and internal. Now, it is time to take what we have learned in our growth and branch out. Brotherly affection is not natural for some – OK, many – of us and it takes discipline, but the love and respect we have for our Lord and Savior enables us. Here is the neat thing: It’s not just for those brothers and sisters in Christ we like or humor… it’s everyone. Suddenly, we find that not only do we begin to tolerate people who we never could before, but we actually start to care about them. Who says He isn’t the God of miracles!

Love

True, pure love is supernatural.

But as we plant the seeds of brotherly affection, in the fertile soil of godliness, having been tilled by endurance and self-control with the knowledge gained by goodness in our field of faith… we reap the most delicious fruits of love.

This cycle within a cycle is a path we tread with every lesson learned, yet at the same time is a total growth process in and of itself. What has God been teaching you lately? Where are you on the growth chart? How about the sum of your spiritual maturity? Would you say your Father in heaven is proud our your growth, or are you needing a few supplements?