1 Corinthians 13:4-7
4 Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, 5 does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; 7 [b]bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Confession. I have read this verse and seen where my loved ones were not patient with me and I felt unloved.
I have read these verses and recalled times when loved ones were jealous for what I perceived to be no good reason at all.
I have seen loved ones who brag to anyone who will listen, and wonder to myself, do they even know this reference is in the Bible?
Friend, I have witnessed arrogance too. Ugh, is anything more annoying?
Yes, I have also been embarrassed by a loved one's behavior. A few times.
You can be sure I have seen people seek what is best for them, sometimes not even best for them, but just what they want at the moment, not caring who gets left behind or even pushed out of the way.
And on down the list.
But one day I was stirred . . .
The Holy Spirit?
Um, I believe so . . .
What?, I questioned. Put myself there? Huh? Me? In the place of LOVE? Uh, well, I'm not so sure I want to do that . . .
Patient? Sure, I'm patient. So long as everyone has their things together so we can get out of the door on time. Sure, I'm patient. So long as there aren't too many interruptions and I can get things done in time to watch my TV shows.
Not provoked? I'm not too easily provoked. But, you know, if someone goes too far - that's kind of on them, isn't it?
Hm, maybe there are a few aspects of love I could work on.
Not taking into account of wrongs I've suffered . . . wow. What about you? Is this one you could work on too?
If Christ is in us - then Love is in us. Abundant Love.
Insert our name on the blank lines:
4 (_____) is patient, (_____) is kind and (_____) is not jealous; (_____) does not brag and (_____) is not arrogant, 5 (_____) does not act unbecomingly; (_____) does not seek (her) own, (_____) is not provoked, (_____) does not take into account a wrong suffered, 6 (_____) does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but (_____) rejoices with the truth; 7 [b](_____) bears all things, (_____) believes all things, (_____) hopes all things, (_____) endures all things.
Friday, September 27, 2013
Friday, September 6, 2013
1 Thessalonians 5:11
New Living Translation (NLT)
11 So encourage each other and build each other up, just as you are already doing.
en·cour·age
[en-kur-ij, -kuhr-] Show IPA
verb (used with object), en·cour·aged, en·cour·ag·ing.
1.
to inspire with courage, spirit, or confidence
Inspire with courage
Inspire their spirit
Inspire confidence
I long to be a vessel used by God. I long to encourage and build others up and encourage them.
I have prayed, Lord, use me as Your vessel, as You desire. Even prayed it in Jesus' name.
I have in mind encouraging others quietly, on the sidelines. Being a cheerleader, but without the cute attention-getting clothes. You know, so I can still remain invisible.
What if . . .
What if . . .
Um, it turns out, He might use me as a vessel to throw a party. A tea party. A Christmas Tea.
Sounds rather scary to me. It sounds like something that needs a lady's touch. A sweet hostess with the gift of hospitality. Someone much more put-together than I. You know, someone who doesn't wear gym shorts and tank tops seven days a week. (Yes, I change when I get home from church on Sunday.)
I'm not sure . . . this is still in the praying stages.
Does a Christmas Tea sound like an event where you would find a cup of encouragement?
Pray with me, Dear Reader.
Cindy
Sunday, July 28, 2013
Yoked
Matthew 11:29 Take my yoke upon you. Let Me teach you, because I am humble and gentle at heart, and you will find rest for your souls.
How many times have I read the above verse? Who knows? I certainly don't know. Of course God does, but not me.
Even though I had been studying Galatians, a verse reference led me to Matthew. As is my sidetracked habit, I read through various parts of Matthew. By happenstance or the Spirit, I read Matthew 11:29.
As I read the verse, I got a picture in my mind of being yoked with Jesus. He doesn't put the yoke on me, I take it upon myself, like the verse says. Once that is done, we are walking together, side-by-side. He teaches me by just doing doing what He does. Someone stops Him, seeking something He has for them. He gives it. He sees the crowds and has compassion on them. He teaches by being Himself. I learn by walking by His side.
How do I get rest for my soul though? How do I rid myself of the weight of anxious thoughts?
By doing what He does. Sharing my water with a thirsty person. Showing compassion rather condemnation. Speaking words of life, edification and encouragement.
I must say, that is NOT how I had read the verse in the past. This time, instead of the usual confusion I experienced when reading it in the past, I experienced a peace.
And you, Dear Reader, peace be with you.
How many times have I read the above verse? Who knows? I certainly don't know. Of course God does, but not me.
Even though I had been studying Galatians, a verse reference led me to Matthew. As is my sidetracked habit, I read through various parts of Matthew. By happenstance or the Spirit, I read Matthew 11:29.
As I read the verse, I got a picture in my mind of being yoked with Jesus. He doesn't put the yoke on me, I take it upon myself, like the verse says. Once that is done, we are walking together, side-by-side. He teaches me by just doing doing what He does. Someone stops Him, seeking something He has for them. He gives it. He sees the crowds and has compassion on them. He teaches by being Himself. I learn by walking by His side.
How do I get rest for my soul though? How do I rid myself of the weight of anxious thoughts?
By doing what He does. Sharing my water with a thirsty person. Showing compassion rather condemnation. Speaking words of life, edification and encouragement.
I must say, that is NOT how I had read the verse in the past. This time, instead of the usual confusion I experienced when reading it in the past, I experienced a peace.
And you, Dear Reader, peace be with you.
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Peace Fruit
Galatians 5
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
I wonder if anyone else ever has that sensation of supernatural peace and fights against it.
When going through a serious trial, I have experienced that peace. That same sense of peace that I have heard people say they wanted. However, instead allowing that peace to nurture me while going through a situation, I hide it. I still worry what other people think of me. I worry about their judgment. You know, that lack of worry equals lack of caring. Right? Their judgment against me for being peaceful when the natural thing to do is worry. When I put more value on what people think of me than accepting the gracious and wonderful gift God has given me do you know what that is? Rejection of God and worship of people.
The crazy thing? I don't actually know if anyone is really judging me, I'm just fearful that they are. Know what that is? Making a god out of fear. Worshiping the fear god. Ugh.
I feel like it is only me; I am the only person who would reject supernatural peace and trade it in for fake worry that will lead to real anxiety.
Oh Lord, forgive me.
1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Thank God for forgiveness.
Peace to you.
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
I wonder if anyone else ever has that sensation of supernatural peace and fights against it.
When going through a serious trial, I have experienced that peace. That same sense of peace that I have heard people say they wanted. However, instead allowing that peace to nurture me while going through a situation, I hide it. I still worry what other people think of me. I worry about their judgment. You know, that lack of worry equals lack of caring. Right? Their judgment against me for being peaceful when the natural thing to do is worry. When I put more value on what people think of me than accepting the gracious and wonderful gift God has given me do you know what that is? Rejection of God and worship of people.
The crazy thing? I don't actually know if anyone is really judging me, I'm just fearful that they are. Know what that is? Making a god out of fear. Worshiping the fear god. Ugh.
I feel like it is only me; I am the only person who would reject supernatural peace and trade it in for fake worry that will lead to real anxiety.
Oh Lord, forgive me.
1 John 1:9 But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.
Thank God for forgiveness.
Peace to you.
Friday, July 26, 2013
Temple Produce
Galatians 5:22-23
New Living Translation (NLT)
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
An okra plant produces okra.
A tomato plant produces tomatoes.
Humans produce humans.
But now, the Holy Spirit is in me. What does the Holy Spirit produce? According to the above verses, He produces:
Love
Joy
Peace
Patience
Kindness
Goodness
Faithfulness
Gentleness
Self-control
So, that producing is going on right now. No matter the circumstances. It doesn't say love is borne when the circumstances are favorable. It doesn't say I have joy in me when everything is favorable in my life. It doesn't say peace will sprout at this time or in that place. Nope.
The Spirit bears all of the above.
He is in me.
Right now, I'm reminded of these verses because not everything is going my way. Circumstances are not all favorable at this moment.
I am finding comfort in these verses. They remind me of who I am, no matter what my circumstances look like. Within me is self-control, even though my emotions tell me otherwise.
How are you? Had any good fruit lately?
Saturday, July 13, 2013
What Size Is It?
I'm really not sure what this blog is supposed to be. I thought I was "supposed" to write it to be an encouragement to others. Every "Spiritual Gift Test" that I've taken indicated I am "gifted" in encouragement. Because of that, I thought I needed to write a wonderful blog full of wisdom and edification to enrich the lives of all who read it. Wow, that's pretty big. So, perhaps that's why it's been years since I actually made an entry.
However, I think I'm just writing the blog to grow myself. Ha.
I was hoping to have a Bible verse begin each blog, but I don't think that's happening tonight. Maybe there will be one to end the entry...who knows? I sure don't. Ha.
Now, to tonight's entry...
I was in Kohl's this evening for the Night Owl sale, yay! I love sales. Though I'm "broke" at the moment, I still had the gift card my son had given me for my birthday a few months ago.
Shorts. I'm in need of another pair of shorts, pretty ones to wear to church. I've gained too much weight and can only fit in one pair of my "good" shorts. I was determined not to move up a size. No way would I go up a size.
Imagine what was going through my mind when I grabbed "my size" in four different styles of "nice denim" shorts. (Yes, other people's casual is my "dressy" -- I'm normally in gym shorts, sports bra, and tank top seven days a week.) Three of the four pair were too big. Too big. One pair was really cute. I was tempted to go down a size. However, I knew in my heart I was not really the smaller size. There's no way I would try the smaller size, I knew every time I put them on my mind would echo the word "fraud, fraud, fraud."
Leaving the store without grabbing the "fraudulent" smaller size, I felt almost proud of my honesty.
Until--I realized I had somehow given those numbers on the tag some sort of deeper meaning.
What if every pair of pants was a size 6? No matter how tall we are or how much we weigh, every tag said 6. Would we feel better? Like frauds? What if every tag said 16? Or 26?
If God created my cousin to be 5 feet tall, my sister 5 feet 4 inches, and me to be 5 feet 7 inches . . . size 12 would look very different on each of us. Perhaps those tag numbers don't actually mean what I've been led (culturally) to believe.
As I think and ponder about God's holy temple, I wonder, does He have an ideal tag number for this temple? Probably not. However, I know He does care how I treat it.
I'm not sure if this Galatians 5:24 actually fits in away others can follow or if I'm tacking it here because it's just what I've been studying lately.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
I wonder if the desire to have a certain tag number is something that needs to be nailed to the cross?
Of course, this does not mean I will stop working out or eating vegetables, just that the desire I have for a certain tag number needs to be nailed there.
However, I think I'm just writing the blog to grow myself. Ha.
I was hoping to have a Bible verse begin each blog, but I don't think that's happening tonight. Maybe there will be one to end the entry...who knows? I sure don't. Ha.
Now, to tonight's entry...
I was in Kohl's this evening for the Night Owl sale, yay! I love sales. Though I'm "broke" at the moment, I still had the gift card my son had given me for my birthday a few months ago.
Shorts. I'm in need of another pair of shorts, pretty ones to wear to church. I've gained too much weight and can only fit in one pair of my "good" shorts. I was determined not to move up a size. No way would I go up a size.
Imagine what was going through my mind when I grabbed "my size" in four different styles of "nice denim" shorts. (Yes, other people's casual is my "dressy" -- I'm normally in gym shorts, sports bra, and tank top seven days a week.) Three of the four pair were too big. Too big. One pair was really cute. I was tempted to go down a size. However, I knew in my heart I was not really the smaller size. There's no way I would try the smaller size, I knew every time I put them on my mind would echo the word "fraud, fraud, fraud."
Leaving the store without grabbing the "fraudulent" smaller size, I felt almost proud of my honesty.
Until--I realized I had somehow given those numbers on the tag some sort of deeper meaning.
What if every pair of pants was a size 6? No matter how tall we are or how much we weigh, every tag said 6. Would we feel better? Like frauds? What if every tag said 16? Or 26?
If God created my cousin to be 5 feet tall, my sister 5 feet 4 inches, and me to be 5 feet 7 inches . . . size 12 would look very different on each of us. Perhaps those tag numbers don't actually mean what I've been led (culturally) to believe.
As I think and ponder about God's holy temple, I wonder, does He have an ideal tag number for this temple? Probably not. However, I know He does care how I treat it.
I'm not sure if this Galatians 5:24 actually fits in away others can follow or if I'm tacking it here because it's just what I've been studying lately.
Those who belong to Christ Jesus have nailed the passions and desires of their sinful nature to His cross and crucified them there.
I wonder if the desire to have a certain tag number is something that needs to be nailed to the cross?
Of course, this does not mean I will stop working out or eating vegetables, just that the desire I have for a certain tag number needs to be nailed there.
Sunday, July 7, 2013
I'm in a Parable?
"But what do you think about this? A man with two sons told the older boy, "Son, go out and work in the vineyard today.' The son answered, 'No, I won't go,' but later he changed his mind and went anyway.
Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go.
Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first."
Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.
For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins."
Matthew 21 28-32
These verses have played over and over in my head - and heart - lately.
Blogging.
I'm embarrassed. When I logged on today, I was informed that my last post was September 2010. Wow. I believed then that my Father wanted me to blog. I said yes, but then I didn't do it.
This morning, I opened my Bible to the section that shows "the harmony of the gospels" so I could see where this parable was repeated, so I could review the different ways it was written. It must be in there at least three times if not in all four gospels for it to make such an imprint on my heart. According to that study section, it is only in there one time, in Matthew 21. Hmm, that was weird. Just one time. Yet He didn't let me forget, did He?
So, Temple Conditioning will take self-control.
Discipline.
The physical aspects will require both discipline in physical exercise and self-control in what goes into the physical temple. The mental aspect will require discipline in what goes in, as well as self-control in what I allow to stay, where will my thoughts dwell? Spiritual discipline in reading Scriptures and praying for self and others. Another spiritual aspect, obedience.
Read with me, I'm curious, who am I in this parable? Will I be obedient and type the words of my journey, or just give lip service to my Father?
Then the father told the other son, 'You go,' and he said, 'Yes, sir, I will.' But he didn't go.
Which of the two obeyed his father?" They replied, "The first."
Then Jesus explained his meaning: "I tell you the truth, corrupt tax collectors and prostitutes will get into the Kingdom of God before you do.
For John the Baptist came and showed you the right way to live, but you didn't believe him, while tax collectors and prostitutes did. And even when you saw this happening, you refused to believe him and repent of your sins."
Matthew 21 28-32
These verses have played over and over in my head - and heart - lately.
Blogging.
I'm embarrassed. When I logged on today, I was informed that my last post was September 2010. Wow. I believed then that my Father wanted me to blog. I said yes, but then I didn't do it.
This morning, I opened my Bible to the section that shows "the harmony of the gospels" so I could see where this parable was repeated, so I could review the different ways it was written. It must be in there at least three times if not in all four gospels for it to make such an imprint on my heart. According to that study section, it is only in there one time, in Matthew 21. Hmm, that was weird. Just one time. Yet He didn't let me forget, did He?
So, Temple Conditioning will take self-control.
Discipline.
The physical aspects will require both discipline in physical exercise and self-control in what goes into the physical temple. The mental aspect will require discipline in what goes in, as well as self-control in what I allow to stay, where will my thoughts dwell? Spiritual discipline in reading Scriptures and praying for self and others. Another spiritual aspect, obedience.
Read with me, I'm curious, who am I in this parable? Will I be obedient and type the words of my journey, or just give lip service to my Father?
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