The Interesting Things God Does to Get Our Attention...

So,

Transparency right? This blog has been the bill that I don't want to open. Like, I know it's there, but facing it means I have to face where I've shammed as well. I haven't written in over a MONTH! I know this will not be a daily blog, but I would like to update more than once a month. Lets at least get a bi-weekly post going on...

Man, Lent is over! This was the most intense Lent season I've ever allowed myself to experience. Notice I said, "allow myself", God always wants to have wonderfully intense experiences with us--we have to choose to obey. This year I gave up dating, and while doing that, I have been reading Every Woman's Battle by Shannon Ethridge. I suggest EVERY WOMAN to read it! It's powerful, and I'm not but halfway done.

Anywho, I realized a lot of things about myself. I realized why I date, why I had reoccurring relationship problems in my dating life, and I have also began to walk in the understanding of Christian dating. I really don't want this to be a long post, so if you want to know, just respond and we'll talk. Now, although I have come to these epiphanies over a course of 46 days, I know I am not ready to dive right back in. Part of being single (READ: non-married) is devoting your singleness to Christ. So that's what I'm doing (and sometimes failing in).

In the past two weeks, I haven't felt God as close to me as I've wanted to, but I felt too busy to do something about it. I felt that "He would understand" or that my day would be unproductive if I don't keep it moving and just fix it later. Days turned into 2 or 3 weeks and all the while I've wanted more personal time with God.

So yesterday, I got a call.

A friend asked me if I would come to her bible study group and be the speaker for their co-ed bible study. I almost fell out of my chair in Q'doba. First, I was flabbergasted because I admire her Walk and for her to ask me to speak...well that's a great consideration. Second, I felt doubt and satan creeping in. 

It began with, I don't know everything in the Word, and what if I get questions I don't have the answers to? and then it moved to, I was a HEATHEN in college, NEVER went to Bible Study and traipsed around campus drunk...what do I have to share? I am pretty sure there are others who have felt this way...

Revelations 12:11 comes to mind, They overcame him (satan) by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives to much as to shrink from death (NIV). I have a testimony, I have a story that can (1) bring people to Christ or closer to Him, and (2) by telling it, I can continue to conquer satan and the hold he TRIES (but doesn't succeed) to place on my life.

I've really been thinking about and praying about my walk and how I want to truly be sold-out for Christ. I think this is one of those instances when I must put up, or shut up. Show others what I'm made of in Christ, for I'm fearfully and wonderfully made.

Oh yeah, and I'll be getting my Extra-Special time with God over the next 6 days, I have to truly prepare for this Bible Study. I want my "self" and flesh out of the way. I don't want to say anything that's not from Him.

Whew, how can preachers and pastors get up and do this EVERY WEEK??! My hat goes off to ya'll...

~Lauren

Chasing after You...

Hi readers,

So no, this post is not in line with my Bible-in-a-year Schedule, but I've come to a few conclusions: (1) I'm not going to finish this in a year, and (2) I should also write about things that are weighing on my heart. The issues of my heart I guess?

Well, this isn't a bad post. It's a good one!

So besides going through the Bible this year, I have also started this really great book entitled Every Woman's Battle. It has some very weighty issues regarding sexual and emotional purity and there is even a men's version. I suggest it to EVERYONE, for I am very sure you will be blessed and learn some things about yourself you haden't the slightest idea even existed.

While going through this book, I came to a section where the author, Shannon Ethridge, challenges readers to say aloud a chart of scriptures about our identity in Christ. As I began typing it out to put on my mirror, I felt some crazy peace. It was like a warm, mushy, gooey, feeling. A feeling that I have only experienced when I allow myself to indulge in Christ's love for me.

Notice I said, "ALLOW MYSELF". Yeah, God always loves us, but sometimes we forget. Or act like we've forgotten. And when we do that, it's hard to feel it at times. I'm guilty of that at times. However, He's always there waiting on us to come back to our first love. How faithful is He? Amazing.

If you are reading, I challenge you as well. Take this list, print it out, put it on your bathroom mirror. And SAY the scriptures aloud. And watch the Word work over the next 30-days. I'm excited! I looked up all the scriptures and typed them out, so all you have to do is print and go!

I included a little  "mood music": Israel & New Breed "I Know Who I am"



Note: Some of the scriptures are written in King James Version and others in Amplified. Amplified is one of my favorite versions, so i'm partial. :)

I AM ACCEPTED IN CHRIST!

·         I am God’s Child: But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become sons of God, even to them that believe on his name. (John 1:12)

·         I am Christ’s friend: Henceforth I call you not servants; for the servant knoweth not what his lord doeth; but I have called you friends; for all things I have heard of my Father I have made known unto you. (John 15:15)

·         I have been justified: Therefore since we are justified (acquitted, declared righteous, and given a right standing with God) through faith, let us have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 5:1)

·         I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit: But the person who is united to the Lord becomes one spirit with him. (1 Corinthians 6:17)

·         I have been bought with a price; I belong to god: You were bought with a price. So then, honor God and bring glory to him in your body. (1 Corinthians 6:20)

·         I am a member of Christ’s body: Now you [collectively] are Christ’s body and [individually] you are members of it, each part severally and distinct each with his own place and function. (1 Corinthians 12:27)

·         I am a saint: Paul, an apostle of Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus. And to the faithful in Christ Jesus… (Ephesians 1:1)

·         I have been adopted as God’s child: For the foreordained us (destined us, planned in love for us) to be adopted as His own children through Jesus Christ, in accordance with the purpose of His will [because it pleased him and was His kind intent] (Ephesians 1:5)

·         I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit: For it is through Him that we both [whether far off or near] now have an introduction by one [holy] spirit to the Father [so that we may approach Him] (Ephesians 2:18)

·         I have been redeemed and forgiven of all my sins: In whom we have redemption through his blood, even [for] the forgiveness [of] our sins (Colossians 1:14)

·         I am complete in Christ: And you are in Him, made full and having come to fullness of life[in Christ you too are filled with the Godhead and reach full spiritual stature]. And He is the head of all rule and authority [of every angelic principality and power]. (Colossians 2:10)

I AM SECURE IN CHRIST!

·         I am free forever from condemnation: There is no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit. For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death. (Romans 8:1-2)

·         I am assured that all things work together for good: And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are called according to His purpose. (Romans 8:28)

·         I am free from any condemning charges against me: Who shall lay anything to the charge of God’s elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea rather, that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercessionfor us. (Romans 8:33-34)

·         I cannot be separated from the love of God: Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress or persecution, or famine, or nakedness or peril, or sword? For I am persuaded, that neither death, or life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. (Romans 8:35, 38-39)

·         I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God: But it is God who confirms and makes us steadfast and establishes us [in joint fellowship] with you in Christ, and has consecrated and anointed us [enduring us with the gifts of the Holy Spirit];[He has also appropriated and acknowledged us as His by] putting his seal upon us and giving us His Holy Spirit in our hearts as the security, deposit, and guarantee [of the fulfillment of His Promise]. (2 Corinthians 1:21-22)

·         I am confident that the good work God has begun in me will be perfected: And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that he Who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you. (Philippians 1:6)

·         I am a citizen of heaven: But we are citizens of the sate which is in heaven, and from it also we earnestly and patiently await [the coming of] the Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah) [as] Savior. (Philippians 3:20)

·         I am hidden with Christ in God: For [as far as this world is concerned] you have died, and your [new, real]life is hidden with Christ in God. (Colossians 3:3)

·         I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and self-discipline: For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind. (2 Timothy 1:7)

·         I can find grace and mercy to help me in time of need: Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help us in the time of need. (Hebrews 4:16)

·         I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me: We know [absolutely] that anyone born of God does not [deliberately and knowingly] practice committing sin, but the One who was begotten of God carefully watches over and protects him [Christ’s divine presence within him preserves him against the evil], and the wicked one does not lay hold on him or touch [him]. (1 John 5:18)

I AM SIGNIFICANT IN CHRIST!

·         I am the salt and light of the Earth: You are the salt of the Earth, but if salt has lost its taste (its strength, its quality), how can it’s saltness be restored? It is not good for anything any longer but to be thrown out and trodden underfoot by men. You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. (Matthew 5;13-14)

·         I am a branch of the true vine, a channel of His life: I am the True Vine, and My Father is the Vinedresser. I am the Vine; you are the branches. Whoever lives in Me and I in him bears much (abundant) fruit. However, apart from Me [cut off from vital union with Me] you cannot do nothing. (John 15:1,5)

·         I have been chosen and appointed to bear fruit: Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that you should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. (John 15:16)

·         I am a personal witness of Christ: But ye shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon you: and ye shall be witness unto me both in Jerusalem, and in all Judaea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost part of the Earth (Acts 1:8)

·         I am God’s temple: Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you?  (1 Corinthians 3:16)

·         I am a minister of reconciliation: Therefore if any person is in Christ he is a new creation; the old [moral and spiritual condition] has passed away. Behold, the fresh and new has come! But all things are from God, who through Jesus Christ reconciled us to Himself [received us into favor, brought us into harmony with Himself] and gave to us the ministry of reconciliation [that word and deed we might aim to bring others into harmony with Him].It was God in Christ, reconciling and restoring the world to favor with Himself, not counting up and holding against [men] their trespasses [but cancelling them], and committing to us the message of reconciliation. So we are Christ’s ambassadors, God making His appeal as it were though us. We [as Christ’s personal representatives] beg you for His sake to lay hold of the divine favor and be reconciled by you. (2 Corinthians 5:17-20)

·         I am God’s coworker: We then, as workers together with Him, beseech you also that ye receive not the grace of God in vain.  (2 Corinthians 6:1)

·         I am seated with Christ in the heavenly realms: And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 2:6)

·         I am God’s workmanship: For we are God’s own handiwork, recreated in Christ Jesus, [born anew] that we may do those good works which God predestined for us [taking paths which He prepared ahead of time], that we should walk in them [living the good life which He prearranged and made ready for us to live]. (Ephesians 2:10)

·         I may approach God with freedom and confidence: In whom, because of our faith in Him, we dare to have the boldness of free access (an undeserved approach to God with freedom and without fear). (Ephesians 3:12)

·         I can do all things through Christ who give me strength: I have strength for all things in Christ who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him who infuses inner strength into me; I am self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency]. (Philippians 4:13)

Genesis 33-35

Hello All!

I've had an undeniably great day! It was productive, and I was truly filled with God's joy today. Now that I've experienced that, I need to keep this feeling going. What better way to end my day than with a little Bible Study? 

So Genesis 33-35, LOTS going on: 

After 20 years, 2 wives, 2 concubines, and 11 children, Jacob finally goes to meet Esau after stealing his birthright. They make up. Jacob and his family live in Shechem for a little while, during this time, Dinah (his only daughter) is defiled. Her brothers exact a revenge Quentin Tarantino could not have conjured. Jacob and his family move back to Beth-el  where he dedicates his household back to God. His name is changed to Israel; Rachel and Isaac die. 

There were some interesting moments I pointed out: 

1. Jacob REALLY didn't like Leah: I mean, I understand he was swindled in the other chapters my Laban, but man, he STILL doesn't love her! When he went to meet Esau, he saw him coming with 400 men, so basically, he put his family in order of least favorite to most favorite just in case Esau was going to attack them.  Needless to say Leah and her children came after the concubines; Rachel and Joseph in the back because he loved them the most. Shaaady! 
2. Making-up Feels Great!: When Jacob finally reached Esau, he was greeted with love, and it felt good. How do I know? Well, I know how it feels to have strife between myself and someone I love. I also know how GREAT it feels when you finally reconcile. It feels like a weight has been lifted. However, Jacob said it best in Genesis 33:10 (AMP):  "for truly your face is to me as if I had seen the face of God, and you have received me favorably".  Making up feels so good. 
3. Dinah: I have read chapter 34 numerous times and I still do not possess one concrete conclusion. Some say Dinah was seduced and then Shechem wanted her as a wife, others say Dinah was captured against her will and Shechem tried to cover it up by taking her as a wife. I am not sure. I don't know which one I believe, but I DO find the end result interesting; her defilement caused the demise of an entire city. All the men of the city were killed 3 days after being circumcised and all the women, cattle, and valuables were taken by her brothers. They believed it was their duty to avenge her honor. 

           Now I will say this: Ladies, realize how precious your "goods" are! These men were willing to kill 

           over the dishonor of their only sister, and you are just as precious. Whether you have made some 

           mistakes or your purity was taken before you could make the decision, know that GOD values you

           and that HE will restore your honor. For those that have (and had) a choice in the matter, realize your

           goods are more precious than money and gold, don't give them away freely. Save them for your

           husband.  

    4.    Re-center, Re-focus!: After learning of his sons' deeds in Shechem, God told Jacob to leave and

           return to Beth-El and make an altar to the Lord. Jacob cleansed his entire household by making  

           everyone give him their idols and charms which he buried under a tree. They purified themselves and

           changed into fresh clothes before making a pilgrimage to to Bethel. After this obedience, God

           appeared to Jacob (supplanter) and renamed him Israel (contender with God). 

           This part of the chapter really stuck out to me when I realized that Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob all 

           had personal encounters with God that made them believers. Even though Issac believed, Jacob

           had his own moments where God appeared to him.  This made me think about childhood and my 

           growing relationship with God; although I grew-up learning about Him, it was not until I had my own 

           encounters with Him that He moved from being "God" to "MY God". 

    5.    Forget Mike, I wanna be like Isaac!: Isaac lived to be 180 years old. He lived to see his sons 

           reconcile. He lived a life "satisfied and satiated with days"...THAT'S what I'm looking for! He stayed

           in God's will, obeyed His commandments, and repented when he was wrong...THIS was one of his 

           rewards. How cool is that? 

Okay readers, have a blessed day! It's 1:18am and the bed is calling! 

    

Genesis 25-26

Yeah, I know I'm skipping some, but I read them already.... :)

Genesis 25: After Sarah's death, Abraham takes another wife, has some more kids, leaves his inheritance to Isaac, and dies. The decendants of Ishmael are discussed. Jacob and Esau are introduced, and tension begins in the womb. Genesis 26: There's another famine. God tells Isaac not to go to Egypt, he doesn't. He tells King Abimelech that Rebekah is his sister (seen this somewhere before hunh?). Isaac receives 100 fold increase on his sowing, Abimelech kicks him out. Isaac leaves, builds wells, Abimelech takes them. They make an oath, Isaac finds water.

Genesis 25: Verses 5 and 6 are very interesting to me. I'm not exactly sure what to make of them. Abraham has other kids, outside of his marriage to Sarah, and he sends them away from Isaac and gives them gifts, but gives all he has to Isaac. Is it because God told him that his seed would be multiplied greatly through Isaac? Maybe, I don't have the answer. But I DO like that fact that Abraham held on to the promise God gave him. Another thought, although he gave his other children "gifts", Abraham was a very wealthy man. So a gift from him could be something really great, like land or cattle, not a tie...lol. 


Esau sells his birthright for soup. I know those of us who have read this story probably think he is really crazy, but think about it like this:

How many times have we sacrificed something very important for temporary gain? 

An immediate need was in the forefront of Esau's mind. He was hungry. VERY hungry. So he sold his birthright. Not a big deal to him at that moment when he felt faint from exhaustion and hunger. We've "sold" more important things for less than subsentence.

Chapter 26: In the first few verses I thought to myself, "whew, Isaac is not making the same mistakes as his dad", but then he tells Abimelech that Rebekah is his sister...

It's interesting to me how we can make the same mistakes as our parents/forefathers even if we weren't around to experience them. Isaac was not alive when Abraham lied to another King and said Sarah was his sister, but he did the same thing. OUT OF FEAR. It's really crazy the things we do as a result of fear. Abraham and Isaac had the same fear, I will be killed because my wife is beautiful, but even after the kings found out, they didn't kill them! Unnecessary fear can really trip us up.

Isaac wasn't even kicked out of Gerar for the lie, he got kicked out for being too prosperous. It was really great to see how this man, because he was lead by God, was blessed during economic turmoil. Even when Isaac moved to the valley of Gerar, and began to dig wells, he freely gave the wells to Gerar when tension arose. I would like to believe that he knew God has blessed him tremendously and that he would find water again.

So if we can't even count the times God has blessed us, we should not worry when contention and enmity come against us. God will still provide. He's not afraid of our problems. They are small to Him, PLUS He knew waaaaay in advance that they would happen and He's already made provision!

Anywho, not only did Isaac freely give up the wells, he also built an altar to make sacrifices to God. Of course, we don't sacrifice fatted calves and spotless lambs, but to put it in present day terms: Isaac praised God and worshiped Him (animal sacrifice = money) although there was strife and tension with his neighbors. I think that's something that we lose sight of at times. If we're supposed to praise God at all times, isn't strife still  a part of "all"?  Therefore we need to praise Him and make sacrifices even then!

So in the end, his enemies (or "haters") came to make an oath and covenant with him. Abimelech saw how blessed Isaac was (in the time of famine mind you) and contributed it to the Lord AND wanted to connect with him (Isaac). Isaac could have taken that time to blast Abimelech for kicking him out of Gerar, but he did not. They made an oath, he even had a large feast prepared.

After the oath....THEY FOUND WATER! Walking in love has it's benefits. (1) We further God's agenda by spreading his love and drawing people to Him and (2) we are blessed for obedience. How cool is that? 

A year that things will be changed and rearranged...

This isn't a Bible passage post. I need to get some things off my chest first. The Bible passages will come in subsequent posts. 

This year began with promise. I made vows to God about certain things: people I would cut out (except for in my prayer life), things I would not do anymore, things I would start doing more often. To be honest, I broke most of those vows already. And to God at that. I kept certain people out of my life this year, but I didn't pray for them. A few things I said I would not do anymore, I did THE SAME DAY I made that promise to God. And the only thing I've done more of, is workout. 

Not Good. 

But I know in the Bible there are discussions about accountability and holding one another accountable. And confessing your sins to one another. So that's what I'm doing. Whoever reads this will be one of the persons I am confessing to. I hope that some of you will do the same, find a person or two, and confess. That person can pray for you when you don't want to pray, that person can help push you when you don't want to be pushed. 

I'm not sure why I went on that tangent, but I sure it was necessary. 

In the past two weeks, things have happened that made me...uncomfortable. Not like wearing too-small clothes, but I've felt like I'm slacking. I'm shamming on God. And that's not good. There have been things that He's directed me to do, since LAST year, that I still haven't done. And, unfortunately, it's taken isolation or the temporary loss of things to push me back to Him. And it hurts. 

So instead of the original liberty I had to do the things He asked of me, now I feel like my back is against the wall and that if I don't do what He asks, I may never get back to the wonderful things He has for me. And all of my being believes that is true. But the thing is, I should have always viewed mandates from God in that way. If I want to stay in His will and walk in the things of God, then I need to do what He asks and make it Priority Number One ALL the time.

I should've listened the first FIFTEEN times He told me something. But I didn't. And now He had to take (what I consider) drastic measures to get my attention. 

So what has the Lord been dealing with me about that I have not listened? CONSISTENCY. 

Everything He's said has boiled down to that. Consistency. Consistency in seeking Him. Consistency in Prayer. Consistency in making time for Family and Friends. Consistency in my word. Consistency in this BLOG! Look at the dates, you'll see what I mean. 

So instead, some things had to be temporarily taken away for me to actually listen. He told me that if I really seek Him and complete the assignments He has for me, those things will be fully restored. 

Thank you Lord. You are not a Man, You don't lie. 

I am searching. I am digging. Deeper than I have ever before. It hurts because I have to dig out things that I buried very far, but I know it's for the best. God has a better plan in mind than I can ever conjure 

"How gracious, relentless, is the father's love toward us...Oh majesty, I live to see you face and be transformed, into your image" 

Israel & New Breed "I Will Search for You"

Genesis 20-22

In a nutshell, I've been slacking. Or shamming. Choose which word fits best for you, BUT God is faithful and I am catching up. It's been over a month, and yes, I was a tad bit ashamed. However, being ashamed won't get the task completed...


Genesis 20-22: Abraham and Sarah go to yet another town and tell the king they are siblings. Isaac is born. Sarah kicks Hagar and Ishmael out.  God tells Abraham to sacrafice Isaac. Ram in the bush. 


There were a few scriptures that kept jumping out at me. So spiritually, I was forced to get unsettled from my comfortable reading spot to grab a highlighter. However, it's always worth it when God unsettles you...


Gen 20:16 says, "And to Sarah he (Abimelech) said, Behold, I have given this brother of yours a thousand pieces of silver; see, it is to compensate you [for all that has occurred] and to vindicate your honor before all who are with you; before all men you are cleared and compensated" (AMP)


I kept reading that passage over and over. I haven't gotten a full revelation of it yet, but Sarah was definitely caught in the middle because she had to do what her husband asked. So she had to go along with the "truth stretching" Abraham decided upon. BUT, she was cleared and compensated and her honor was vindicated in the end. 


That's pretty powerful. If we keep doing what we are supposed to do, our honor will be vindicated. If we continue to follow the person God has placed as our leader (pastor, husband, etc) we will be honored even when their deeds are not so honorable. 


Gen 21:2, 12-13, 22
When I looked at these scriptures, I was reminded of God's faithfulness. I was reminded of that God is not a man, he doesn't lie. When God says something is going to happen, it will! Even when we arn't patient...that's probably grace & mercy working in our favor. I learned before, Abraham and Sarah were impatient and decided to use Hagar as a vehicle to produce offspring. Well, Sarah became pregnant "at the set time of which God has spoken to him" (v.2). 


When God reveals to us when something will come to pass, hold tight. It will. Thank God he's not like us, he doesn't reneg (like in spades), recant, make mistakes, revoke, or take back his word. 


Even though God did not intend for Ishmael to be Abraham's heir, he still blessed Ishmael and made him a nation. Ishmael went on to become a great archer. This made me think of the children some of us may not have intended to have as early as we did. God has plans for them too! Yes, it may not be the family structure you desired, but God can work in ANYsituation. Remember the question God asked in Gen 18:14...is anything to hard for the Lord? of course not. 


Gen 22:12
Hearing the "ram in the bush" story growing up did not put me at ease. I thought God was pretty mean for making Abraham even consider sacrificing his ONLY son. I didn't think it was fair. And I didn't understand why God would do that. 


Now that I've grown older, I see it in a totally different light. Luke 10:27 discusses that we should love God with all of our heart, soul, strength, and mind, so if that is that case, I should not be willing to put something (or person) ahead of my love and dedication to Him. God told Abraham over and over and over that He would make him a great nation and that he would have innumerable descendants, liken that of the stars in the sky or sand in a desert. Abraham had seen God's faithfulness, grace, and mercy enough times to believe that God will provide in that situation even if he had to sacrifice his son Isaac. 


Sometimes God will test us by asking us to sacrifice something that we love/enjoy a lot. It could be money, time, a relationship, a job, or something else that we cherish. But this is not because He wants us to be unhappy, maybe He wants us to refocus. Maybe He wants us to prove in deed where our true allegiance and dedication lies.  


There won't always be an instantaneous "ram in a bush", but God is always Jehovah-Jireh as Abraham and Isaac found out in that chapter.