Okay everyone, we're back on track with the staff blog. Let the posting resume!
I spent some time last week reworking by daily routine in terms of prayer and I think I have landed on something that works for. I have been consistently reading the Psalms every day and many of them are becoming very familiar.
So, I read Phillipians a few times before the study..loved the study but left feeling like I still have such a long way to go as a Christian. I loved what Ron said about being in Christ vs. Christ being in us...but it made me feel like I fall really short...
I am stressed these days too. Aaron has to have surgery and will be out 6 weeks. I am wallowing in self-pity and I KNOW I need to get over it but I am finding it hard to shed. There is so much going on right now and this feels like the last thing I need. (again, the "I"). Please pray that I can stop feeling sorry for myself soon.
This has been a hard month overall. May is always the "rush" month. So many birthdays, events, etc. It makes it hard to stay consistent with my prayer life, and I feel it. I'm looking forward to summer. I'm going to try to establish some new routines with spiritual disciplines.
I have had a wonderful week with God. I love it when the weather gets warm enough to sit outside in the early morning to converse and read. Such peace. I am leaning in to Isaiah 30:15, 18-21.
This sounds strange, but I'm kind of grateful when my faith is tested. I truly believe He questions me, "Do you really believe what you profess? Do you trust Me?" Everytime I have to answer, "How could I not? You have always been faithful!" I know a job loss is nothing compared to the ways saints have been tested throughout the ages, but I also know that He gives us only what we can handle, and He is shaping us and preparing us for what He desires us to become. All glory to Jesus!
Thank you for all your prayers! Love, Beth
P.S. Sara, I'm praying for you. Just do what is next! He'll carry you through.
I've been feeling like it's easy to abandon praying the hours since there is much more going on for me these days :) I've never understood why this is so.
The Psalms have been a means of grace. I've actually managed to commit Psalm 67 to memory simply by saying it everyday. I found those words on my lips one day simply by accident and was able to say the whole thing. I'm thankful for that.
I'm also thankful for you all. I feel like these three months are beginning well.
Okay, so I am sitting here, playing Green Day's "21 Guns" over and over to prepare for Youth Group on Tuesday. And, I was thinking that the song was a really good description of surrendering to God. So, as I was reflecting and praying for God to give me the right verse to use as a teaching point, guess what came to mind? Philippians! YES! Ron talked about complete and utter surrender on Monday...it struck me hard--that I don't do that. Then, in listening to the song and searching my Bible, it hit me...I am supposed to talk about this! I can't go through all of the lyrics here, but some are:
Did you try to live on your own When you burned down the house and home? Did you stand too close to the fire? Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone
When it's time to live and let die And you can't get another try Something inside this heart has died You're in ruins
One, 21 guns Lay down your arms Give up the fight One, 21 guns Throw up your arms into the sky
It paints such a clear picture of someone laying it all on the line and just completely surrendering to God. Like Paul. He went to jail and yet he still brought people to Christ. He laid it all out there-put it all on the line. And yet, we try so often to live on our own...we look for forgiveness after it is too late, even sometimes. We look to things of this world, but we forget to look upward. When someone of significance in the military dies, there is sometimes a 21 Gun solute, I think. I think this signifies dying to ourselves. The gun solute.
I have a lot to still formulate but I am so excited to get started! Who would have thought that Green Day a punk band would help me fully understand Philippians! (well not fully, but closer..)
Spend some time in Acts and Ephesians as well. While it is mostly for preparation for youth group, I am getting a lot out of it. I wish I had nothing else to do but read all day...Scott, I bet you can relate! Happy Friday. Have a great weekend. S.
each week we will have a new post through which to interact. you can post comments as often as you want under each week in order to share what you are reading, disciplines you are engaging in, or encouragement to each other.
7 comments:
Okay everyone, we're back on track with the staff blog. Let the posting resume!
I spent some time last week reworking by daily routine in terms of prayer and I think I have landed on something that works for. I have been consistently reading the Psalms every day and many of them are becoming very familiar.
I hope you all are doing well!
Peace,
Scott
So, I read Phillipians a few times before the study..loved the study but left feeling like I still have such a long way to go as a Christian. I loved what Ron said about being in Christ vs. Christ being in us...but it made me feel like I fall really short...
I am stressed these days too. Aaron has to have surgery and will be out 6 weeks. I am wallowing in self-pity and I KNOW I need to get over it but I am finding it hard to shed. There is so much going on right now and this feels like the last thing I need. (again, the "I"). Please pray that I can stop feeling sorry for myself soon.
This has been a hard month overall. May is always the "rush" month. So many birthdays, events, etc. It makes it hard to stay consistent with my prayer life, and I feel it. I'm looking forward to summer. I'm going to try to establish some new routines with spiritual disciplines.
I have had a wonderful week with God. I love it when the weather gets warm enough to sit outside in the early morning to converse and read. Such peace. I am leaning in to Isaiah 30:15, 18-21.
This sounds strange, but I'm kind of grateful when my faith is tested. I truly believe He questions me, "Do you really believe what you profess? Do you trust Me?" Everytime I have to answer, "How could I not? You have always been faithful!" I know a job loss is nothing compared to the ways saints have been tested throughout the ages, but I also know that He gives us only what we can handle, and He is shaping us and preparing us for what He desires us to become. All glory to Jesus!
Thank you for all your prayers!
Love, Beth
P.S. Sara, I'm praying for you. Just do what is next! He'll carry you through.
I've been feeling like it's easy to abandon praying the hours since there is much more going on for me these days :) I've never understood why this is so.
The Psalms have been a means of grace. I've actually managed to commit Psalm 67 to memory simply by saying it everyday. I found those words on my lips one day simply by accident and was able to say the whole thing. I'm thankful for that.
I'm also thankful for you all. I feel like these three months are beginning well.
Peace,
Scott
Okay, so I am sitting here, playing Green Day's "21 Guns" over and over to prepare for Youth Group on Tuesday. And, I was thinking that the song was a really good description of surrendering to God. So, as I was reflecting and praying for God to give me the right verse to use as a teaching point, guess what came to mind? Philippians! YES! Ron talked about complete and utter surrender on Monday...it struck me hard--that I don't do that. Then, in listening to the song and searching my Bible, it hit me...I am supposed to talk about this! I can't go through all of the lyrics here, but some are:
Did you try to live on your own
When you burned down the house and home?
Did you stand too close to the fire?
Like a liar looking for forgiveness from a stone
When it's time to live and let die
And you can't get another try
Something inside this heart has died
You're in ruins
One, 21 guns
Lay down your arms
Give up the fight
One, 21 guns
Throw up your arms into the sky
It paints such a clear picture of someone laying it all on the line and just completely surrendering to God. Like Paul. He went to jail and yet he still brought people to Christ. He laid it all out there-put it all on the line. And yet, we try so often to live on our own...we look for forgiveness after it is too late, even sometimes. We look to things of this world, but we forget to look upward. When someone of significance in the military dies, there is sometimes a 21 Gun solute, I think. I think this signifies dying to ourselves. The gun solute.
I have a lot to still formulate but I am so excited to get started! Who would have thought that Green Day a punk band would help me fully understand Philippians! (well not fully, but closer..)
Spend some time in Acts and Ephesians as well. While it is mostly for preparation for youth group, I am getting a lot out of it. I wish I had nothing else to do but read all day...Scott, I bet you can relate! Happy Friday. Have a great weekend. S.
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