Letting Go

While I was studying and thinking about my new memory verse I realized that to really follow God's leading you have to be obedient. I really want to follow God's every command, but this means I have to let go of things that I think I need to take hold of what he has for me.

I thought about something that happened while we camping at Fall Creek Falls. Thomas and I went on the trail down to Piney Creek. This is a trail that we know really well. We knew where we were going and that the trail wasn't that difficult. After you cross over the suspension bridge you have to climb down a rocky path. It had been rainy a lot the week before so we knew the path would be slick. I went first and there is this tree that you can grab onto to climb down. It has been used so much that the bark is soft and smooth, like a stone in the river. I grabbed the tree and went down. I turned around to see that Thomas hadn't climbed down yet and I asked why he didn't just grab the tree. He said he couldn't reach it. I asked why he couldn't reach it when his arms and reach are longer than mine and I reached it just fine. He said that what I did was to jump just a little ways. That is why I could reach it. I kind of lunged for it. I didn't think about doing this, I just did it.

You see I wasn't afraid. I could see where I was going. I knew that holding on to the tree would keep my from falling. I knew many others had held on to the tree before and I had held on to the tree before. I think this is the way I want to follow Christ. To let go of my safe place and just reach out for Him, knowing that he will be there to keep me from falling. And I want to do this just like I did with the tree, without even thinking about it.

Here is a picture of where we going - Piney Creek above the falls. It is a truly beautiful place, just like where God will always eventually lead us.

Siesta Memory Challenge - June 1

Here is my new verse for June. I found it in my reading of Isaiah. I chose it because I want to be a better listener to God's voice to know the way to walk. According to the notes in my study bible, the word Hebrew form of the word "teachers" can be rendered "Teacher" and can refer to the Lord. This is a great promise.

Isaiah 30:20-21, TNIV
Although the Lord gives you the bread of adversity and the water of affliction, your teachers will be hidden no more; with your own eyes you will see them. ²¹ Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it."

Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14

Siesta Memory Challenge - May 15

Siesta Memory Challenge,
Here is my new verse. I had another one picked out, but I decided that it would be nice to memorize something that Jesus said. So after reading several of my favorite passages I decided on this one. In some ways it is Jesus promise of the same thing that God told Jeremiah in my last memory verse.

John 17: 25-26, TNIV
Righteous father, though the world does not know you, I know you and they know that you have sent me. I have made you known to them, and will continue to make you known in order that the love that you have for me may be in them and that I myself may be in them.

Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14

Thoughts on Holiness

I have started a new book by Mark Buchanan, The Holy Wild. The chapter that I just finished was about the Holiness of God. I just wanted to share what I have learned, and since no one really reads my blog, this is really more for myself.

In our moments of greatest need our greatest need is to simply see the Lord. "This is our greatest need in times of greatest need: to have our lives redefined for us - ruined and remade- by a terrible, wonderful encounter with the King of glory. To see God as He really is." page 145.

Worship is where we have our lives redefined.

Like Isaiah, before we can rest in the holiness of God we must be undone by his holiness. (Isaiah 6). "That's what God does. The holiness of God at first consumes us, ruins us. But if we submit, it cuts the burden, burns the sin, and sets us free." page 158

Be holy because I am holy.

Happy Mother's Day

I think the best thing about Mother's Day is that it always happens on Sunday. Dr. Wilder's sermon this morning was wonderful. He talked about how it important it is for us to build a foundation for our children. My parents build an unbelievably strong foundation for me. Actually I have a strong foundation back as many generations as I know. I love you, mom.

The scripture for the sermon was from Paul's letter to the Corinthians. It is about the foundation he built for the church at Corinth, but as Dr. Wilder said, I think it also applies to families.

I am grateful for a wonderful husband and I pray that we together have built a strong foundation for our children that they will build on with gold and silver and costly stones rather than wood, or hay, or straw. And to my children, you are both so wonderful and have brought me such indescrible joy.

1 Cor. 3:10-15 - By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as a wise builder, and someone else is building on it. But each one should build with care. ¹¹ For no one can lay any foundation other than the one already laid, which is Jesus Christ. ¹² If anyone builds on this foundation using gold, silver, costly stones, wood, hay or straw, ¹³ their work will be shown for what it is, because the Day will bring it to light. It will be revealed with fire, and the fire will test the quality of each person's work. ¹⁴ If what has been built survives, the builder will receive a reward. ¹⁵ If it is burned up, the builder will suffer loss but yet will be saved—even though only as one escaping through the flames.

And here is my benediction for today - 3 John 1: 2-4
Dear friend, I pray that you may enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as your soul is getting along well. ³ It gave me great joy to have some believers come and testify to your faithfulness to the truth, telling how you continue to walk in it. ⁴ I have no greater joy than to hear that my children are walking in the truth.

Prayer from "The Valley of Vision

Several years ago my son gave me a book for Mother's day called The Valley of Vision. It is a book of puritan prayers. I found these wonderful words today in my quiet time.

My soul is often a chariot without wheels
clogged and hindered in sin's miry clay;
Mount it on eagle's wings and cause it to soar upward to thyself.

May 1 Bible Memory Challenge

Siesta Memory Challenge,

Here is my new memory verse for May 1st. I chose it because I have come to want a heart to know God more and more. I want it to always be my greatest desire. This verse tells us it is God who gives us that desire.

Jeremiah 24:7, TNIV
I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart.

Since my verse list is getting long now and I have posted the full text in previous posts, I will just put links to the verses that I am memorizing this year.
Psalm 16:11
2 Peter 1: 5-8
2 Timothy 2:24
1 Corinthians 10:31
Ephesians 5: 19-20
James 4: 7-8
Isaiah 43: 18-19
Philippians 3:12-14