How Are We to Labor?

Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. – John 6:27

"We should mark ... in this passage, what Christ advises. He tells us to "labor for the food that endures to everlasting life." He would have us take pains to find food and satisfaction for our souls. That food is provided in rich abundance in Him. But he that would have it must diligently seek it.

How are we to Labor? There is but one answer. We must labor in the use of all appointed means. We must read our Bibles, like men digging for hidden treasure. We must wrestle earnestly in prayer, like men contending with a deadly enemy for life. We must take our whole heart to the house of God, and worship and hear like those who listen to the reading of a benefactor's will. We must fight daily against sin, the world, and the devil., like those who fight for liberty, and must conquer, or be slaves. these are the ways we must walk in if we would find Christ, and be found in Him. This is "laboring." This is the secret of getting on about our souls.

Labor like this no doubt is very uncommon. In carrying it on we shall have little encouragement from man, and shall often be told that we are "extreme," and go too far. Strange and absurd as it is, the natural man is always fancying that we many take too much thought about religion, and refusing to see that we are far more likely to take too much thought about the world. But whatever man may say, the soul will never get spiritual food without labor. We must "strive," we must "run," we must "fight," we must throw our whole heart into our soul's affairs. It is the violent who take the kingdom. (Matt. 11:12)"

—J.C. Ryle, The Gospel of John

2012 Bible Scripture Memory Plan

In 2011, I developed the habit of daily Bible reading. In 2012, by the grace of God, I hope to develop the habit of always being in the process of memorizing a passage of scripture. For now, I will choose passages as God directs, and I plan to focus on chapters and books. Yes, books!

I have set up a page, which can be accessed in the sidebar, where I will list the passages I am working on and when I complete them. I am starting with Psalm 16.

Following are several online resources I encountered in the past year that have prompted this plan. I encourage you to check them out:

• John Piper's sermon, Why Memorize Scripture?
• "The Importance of Filling Your Life with Scripture" at Provocations and Pantings blog.
• Another post by Timmy Brister on his plan to memorize the book of Ephesians.
• I also watched a great online message by John Piper, which he gave to a group of students several years ago, but I cannot find it! If anyone knows of the video to which I am referring, PLEASE let me know! Piper begins his message by quoting Psalm 130.

I have stored up your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.

Psalm 119:11

2012 Bible Reading Plan

In just a few days, I will have completed my first yearly Bible reading plan. I have read through the Old Testament once and the New Testament twice. This is an endeavor I have attempted many times in the past, but this year I was successful for several reasons, including:

• Our church undertook to read through the Bible together as a Body using the same plan.
• Therefore, many of my friends were reading through the plan, which gave us common ground for spiritual discussion and encouragement.
• At the beginning of the year, I prayed to God for grace to complete the reading. I didn't want to fail again, and I knew I could only do it if He enabled me to.
• As a teacher, I know that it is my responsibility to always be reading through the Bible using a plan. For the rest of my life, by the grace of God, I intend to read through the Bible at least once every year.

So, what have I learned through this process?

• God's Providence has never ceased to amaze and encourage me. More often than I can count, my reading for the day lined up with my Tabletalk devotional or my Sunday school preparation or some teaching I was being exposed to online or via audio. This is miraculous!
• The more I read the Bible, the more I want to read the Bible. I usually begin the day with my reading, but I often now read before bedtime as well—usually an Epistle or the Psalms and Proverb for the day.
• I have seen how the Holy Spirit works through the application of the Word. In some inexplicable existential way, I have seen Him change me in a way He never has before simply through reading the Bible every day.
• My desire for the things of God and to grow in my knowledge of Him has increased. Other things matter less and less to me.
• I now turn to the Word for comfort in times of distress rather than pursuing temporary distractions that do not satisfy. God has been faithful in this and has never failed to speak to me or to meet my needs in Him.

I don't want to mislead anyone who may be reading this into thinking I have "arrived" spiritually simply by reading my Bible every day for a year. Indeed, I have not! I am extremely weak and needy still, and my sin is ever before me. However, I have been greatly encouraged by how God has been working in my life this year, and I am convinced more than ever that God's Word is sufficient for my every need. The struggle is in applying and appropriating this truth. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak!

In light of these revelations, for several months now I have been contemplating which Bible reading plan to use for 2012. This post was very helpful to me, and I strongly recommend it, along with the articles linked within the post. I kept going back and forth between Professor Grant Horner's plan and the M'Cheyne plan. Finally, this morning, after reading this post by John Piper, which I took to be confirmation from God ;), I decided to go with the M'Cheyne plan. Several reasons for this...

• I'm still not sure reading ten chapters a day as required by the Horner plan is realistic at this stage in my life. Four chapters a day is what I have been doing this year, so I know it is doable.
• I prefer the idea of reading in four different sections a day rather than ten.
• I want to encourage the class to read along with me, and the only way to do this is through a daily reading plan. Everyone would end up in different places using the Horner plan, which would defeat the purpose of our reading along together.
• I want to use the supplementary devotional by D.A. Carson that uses the M'Cheyne plan. For the Love of God is available free online, or you can purchase it through Amazon.com in several different formats. I plan to buy it for Kindle. Carson's devotional is Christ-focused and substantive and will greatly enhance your understanding of Scripture.

I hope you will plan to join me in committing to this Bible reading plan for 2012. Please let me know either via comment or email, so we can encourage one another! You can access a PDF file of the M'Cheyne plan here.

May you grow in the grace and the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ in 2012!

Discerning the Good

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. –Philippians 4:8

From the Tabletalk devotional for December 21, 2011:

...Paul is telling Christians to think on excellent things they find in the surrounding culture. We have an explicit teaching here that believers are free to enjoy the good things around us even if they do not come from an explicitly Christian source. We are to appreciate the truth and beauty we see even in the art, literature, science, science, politics, music, technology, and so forth produced by unbelievers. All human beings are made in the image of a true and beautiful God, and though this image was marred in the fall, it was not totally eradicated (Gen. 1:26-27; 9:6). Thus, although God-haters try to suppress the truth, they are never totally successful. Despite their best efforts, they do arrive at the knowledge of at least some truth from God's revelation in nature (Rom. 1:18-32). The hearts of unconverted people may be ugly in sin, but can and do often see and create beauty.

What is true, good, excellent, and so forth, however, is not merely in the eyes of the beholder. The which we are to approve and think on must measure up to the Gospel of God and His work to make all things new. That which is true and beautiful does not contradict the image of Christ...

...We are to live in a manner that is distinct from the world, but we are not to be separatistic in that we are allowed to enjoy only self-consciously Christian authors, musicians, artists, and so forth. If it is true and beautiful, it is worth think on, no matter its source.

What is Life?

In the midst of the holiday busyness and the diversion from our usual routine, I got behind on my daily Bible reading over the past several days, so I caught up this morning. As always, God foreordained this circumstance so that I would have an extended period of time in the Word focused on passages in which I needed to be immersed. Therefore, this morning, I have been reading in the Gospel of John chapters nine through eighteen. I took many notes, pondered extensively, and have been exceedingly blessed, but one verse in particular stood out and remains foremost in my mind: I am the resurrection and the life. -John 11:25a

I have been exposed to enough teaching to guess that the word for "life" used in this passage is the Greek word, zoe. I went to Blue Letter Bible to confirm this and to look further into its meaning. This is what I found; and rather than write it in definition form, it seems appropriate to convey the meaning as poetry.

Of the absolute fullness of life
Which belongs to God
And to the Logos—
The One who is eternal and who put on human nature
Life real and genuine
Active and vigorous
Devoted to God
Blessed
In this world
And in the world to come
Lasting forever.

I want that kind of life. Don't you? The reality is that we have that life, if we are in Christ, but we are easily distracted by the world and all that it has to offer, so we continually pursue the counterfeit rather than the real. Even things we pursue that are not inherently bad or sinful distract us from zoe. The challenge is to  discern what gives life and what does not and to single-mindedly pursue the former.

My prayer for us all this Christmas is that God would give us the wisdom and discernment to know what is life-giving and what is counterfeit and that He would empower us to pursue these things in single-minded devotion to Him.

Purpose in Pain

I just read an interview with quadriplegic Joni Eareckson Tada in Tabletalk magazine that I strongly recommend. You can access it online here. Following is one of my favorite quotes from the interview:

...rather than trying to frantically escape the pain, I relearned the timeless lesson of allowing my suffering to push me deeper into the arms of Jesus. I like to think of my pain as a sheepdog that keeps snapping at my heels to drive me down the road to Calvary, where, otherwise, I would not be naturally inclined to go.

I SO Needed to Hear this Today!

I've been having a rough couple of weeks. Trying hard to remind myself of what is true rather than listening to the lies of my strong enemy. Today, in the midst of my need for Him, God directed me to this:

HT: Ann Voskamp

You Must be Born Again

Last week we finished looking at Jesus' encounter with Nicodemus in John 3. In class, I mentioned a sermon series from John Piper that I found to be helpful in studying this challenging passage. Following is a link to the page that includes links to all of the messages in the series:
You Must Be Born Again - Series by John Piper

Worth a Thousand Words

Following are photos Karen's mother took in Israel. I told the class I would post these weeks ago. I'm sorry it took so long!

The Jordan River

The Judean Wilderness

The Sea of Galilee

Another view of the Sea of Galilee

 Thanks, Karen! We miss you!

Thoughts on the Sojourner

He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. —Deuteronomy 10:18

sojourner— a) a temporary inhabitant, a newcomer lacking inherited rights, b) of foreigners in Israel, though conceded rights

Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me. —Matthew 25:37-40

I have been thinking a lot in recent months about the concept of the sojourner in Scripture. This has been prompted by two things: (1) My reading of the Old Testament, which contains many references towards sojourners and God's compassion for them. (2) A continual encountering of sojourners in my daily life and ministry. My reading this morning of Isaiah 58, which makes clear God's expectations as to how His people should treat those in need, has prompted me to finally to sit down to gather and express my thoughts on this matter.

Where I live, the prevailing attitude towards foreigners, most of whom are from Mexico, is disdain, or at best, apathy. Even professing Christians often express their feelings with unveiled animosity. No! I should say most of the negative comments I hear are from professing believers. Unfortunately, their sentiments demonstrate their ignorance of Scripture and their lack of knowledge of the character of God. As you can see from the passages and definition provided above, God's expectation of His people is to care for and minister to sojourners in our midst. God does not specify conditions for this care and ministry.

Our sin nature makes us naturally suspicious and resentful towards those we do not understand and who are not like us—those we see as taking advantage of us or consuming resources that do not belong to them or that they do not deserve. When Jesus changes our hearts, He gives us the understanding that nothing that we have is deserved. It is all by His grace alone. Therefore, we are more likely to extend that grace to others. That is what has happened in my life. As God increased my understanding of His Word, His character, and my need for Him, He began placing in my path people to whom I can extend the grace He has so freely given to me. Because I have a basic Biblical understanding of that grace, I cannot be disobedient by failing to extend it to others.

I challenge you to reexamine your attitude towards the sojourners in your midst, and to seek God to determine if your thinking is pleasing to Him. The bottom line is this: God cares about these people, and if we are followers of Jesus Christ, we will care about them too.

Childlike Faith vs. Immaturity

From today's devotion in Tabletalk Magazine:

Immature understanding of biblical doctrine leads to immature thinking and living; thus, many believers do not live up to their calling in Christ to be salt and light to the world. There are numerous reasons for this immaturity. One of the most common is the failure of many churches to grasp the true meaning of childlike faith. When Jesus says we must become like children to receive the kingdom (March 10:15), He demands that we become like the typical child in our attitude toward Him, not in our knowledge. To be childlike in matters of faith does not mean that our knowledge of facts is as deficient as a small child's; rather it means that we are wholly dependent on the Lord, just as little children rely wholly on their parents. Unfortunately, many believers think childlike faith requires childlike knowledge when , in fact, the opposite is true. Only as we begin to understand the greatness of God do we realize our utter weakness, which prompts us to live as children absolutely dependent on our Father.

Another contributing factor to the pervasive immaturity we see in the church today is the antirationalist spirit of the current culture. The importance of critical thinking and the need for our minds to inform our feelings and emotions have all but fallen by the wayside. Yet Scripture places a premium on loving God with our minds, so Christians must never succumb to this antirationalist spirit (Mark 12:30).

Blessings

Sunday morning, Marshia's daughter sang this song in worship. It was no coincidence that the sermon that followed was on Romans 8:28.

Inner Strength Promised and Godliness Defined

Following is an excerpt from yesterday's Tabletalk devotion based on Ephesians 3:16-17. God always knows when to provide the encouragement I need!

...that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. —Ephesians 3:16-17a

The term riches suggests inexhaustible resources—our God has a well of gifts and treasures that never runs dry; He can give us lavishly without holding back, never having to worry that that the storehouse of His power will be emptied. Indeed, we can be ever-confident that God will grant any request we have to be strengthened in our inner-being. The Holy Spirit will grant power and strength to our hears and minds, enabling us to endure any trial, encouraging us when we are down (Acts 1:8).

Specifically, Paul asks God to grant strength "so that Christ may dwell in [our] hearts through faith" (Eph. 3:17). This request seems perplexing at first because Jesus already dwells in believers' hearts, but the apostle is not referring to the initial indwelling of Christ by His Spirit at conversion. Instead, he asks that believers might become people in whom the perfect Savior feels fully at home. Essentially he prays for advancement in our sanctification—our growth in personal holiness—that we might bring Him no shame as we profess Him as Lord and live before a watching world. We never reach a point in this life where such a prayer becomes unnecessary. John Calvin writes: "Believers have never advanced so far as not to need further growth. The highest perfection of the godly in this life is an earnest desire to make progress."

PRAISE THE LORD!

Thoughts from Hosea

I read the following verses this morning in Hosea:

When Ephraim saw his sickness,

and Judah his wound, 

then Ephraim went to Assyria,

and sent to the great king.

But he is not able to cure you

or heal your wound.

For I will be like a lion to Ephraim,

and like a young lion to the house of Judah,

I, even I, will tear and go away;

I will carry off, and no one shall rescue.

I will return again to my place,

until they acknowledge their guilt

and seek my face,

and in their distress earnestly 

seek me.

Hosea 5:13-15

The message is clear. In our sinfulness,we tend to resort to means other than our Father in Heaven to find cures, healing, fulfillment. But God will not rescue us from bondage to the things of this world until we acknowledge our guilt and earnestly seek Him. This cannot be a half-hearted seeking that is simply a thinly veiled (not to God, of course) attempt to get our own way. We must be broken, contrite, and repentant. And we must know in our hearts that nothing else in life really matters but our relationship with the Father. In my experience, we may have to demonstrate this mindset to God for some time before He finally and decisively rescues us from ourselves, but when He determines we are ready, it is worth the wait.

A More Efficient Way of Sharing Online Items

I have been tinkering with how to better share items I read online that I think will encourage you. As you see in my last post, I tried the daily approach, but the script setting keeps adding more items rather than allowing me to post certain items each day. Therefore, I have added a widget in the sidebar that displays links to the posts I recommend. The disadvantage of this approach is that you cannot receive the links as a single post via email. You will have to check the blog to see the recommended items, or you can go directly to my Google Reader Shared Items page. You could simply bookmark that page and check it regularly to see the items I am recommending.

I promise not to bombard you, but to only include what I think will be the most meaningful articles.

Blessings,
Katy

Redirect 7-4-11

Sorry, to post so many at once. I'm caught up now! :)

Heal Us, Emmanuel

Heal us, Emmanuel, Hear our prayer; we wait to feel your touch;
deep wounded souls to you repair, and Savior, we are such.

Our faith is feeble, we confess we faintly trust your word;
but will you pity us the less? Be that far from you, Lord!

Remember him who once applied with trembling for relief;
"Lord, I believe," with tears he cried; "O help my unbelief!"

She, too who touched you in the press and healing virtue stole,
was answered, "Daughter, go in peace: your faith has made you whole."

Like her, with hopes and fears we come to touch you if we may;
O send us not despairing home; send none unhealed away.

—William Cowper

John Piper on How to Kill Sin

Following is a sermon series by John Piper that I highly recommend. You can read or listen.

How to Kill Sin, Part I

How to Kill Sin, Part II

How to Kill Sin, Part III

Thoughts on Prayer

The brethren asked Abba Agathon: "Amongst all our different activities, father, which is the virtue that requires the greatest effort?" He answered: "Forgive me, but I think there is no labor greater than praying to God. For every time a man wants to pray, his enemies the demons try to prevent him; for they know that nothing obstructs them so much as prayer to God. In everything else that a man undertakes, if he perseveres, he will attain rest, but in order to pray, a man must struggle to his last breath."

— Sayings of the Desert Fathers


Now, if it was part of the sacred discipline of the Incarnate Son that he should observe frequent seasons of retirement [for prayer], how much more is it incumbent on us, broken as we are and disabled by manifold sin, to be diligent in the exercise of private prayer! ...

In the morning we should look forward to the duties of the day, anticipating those situations in which temptation may lurk, and preparing ourselves to embrace such opportunities of usefulness as may be presented to us. In the evening we ought to remark upon the providences which have befallen us, consider our attainment in holiness, and endeavor to profit by the lessons which God would have us learn. And, always, we must acknowledge and forsake sin. Then there are the numberless themes of prayer which our desires for the good estate of the Church of God, for the conversion and sanctification of our friends and acquaintances, for the furtherance of missionary effort, and for the coming of the kingdom of Christ may suggest. All this cannot be pressed into a few crowded moments. We must be at leisure when we enter the secret place.

 —David McIntyre, The Hidden Life of Prayer: The Life-blood of the Christian

The Pitfall Of Perfectionism

I shared this post last week via email, but many of you weren't on my distribution list then, so I wanted to be sure and link to it here. Please read this!

The Pitfall Of Perfectionism, Christian News

Lent and the Momentum of Compromise

I was convicted today... No, I am being convicted because even now as I write, God continues to reveal the truth to me.

I had decided, prior to Lent, that I would give up sweets for 40 days. No desserts. No candy. However, just prior to Ash Wednesday, during a middle-of-the-night prayer vigil, God spoke clearly to my heart that He wanted me not to buy anything during Lent. Nothing. Since He was the one who had awakened me for prayer, I concluded that this is what He had awakened me to tell me, so I took Him at His word...briefly. I got off to a shaky start, and it has only gone downhill from there.With the spending, that is. I haven't had the first bite of anything sweet.

On Ash Wednesday, I was in Barnes and Noble (So much for fleeing temptation.), and there was a book I just HAD to have, and it was a SPIRITUAL book, so I asked Brent to buy it for me. The machinations of a whitewashed tomb! That lead to a book order, which I justified because it was a book of readings specifically for Lent. This compromise led to further compromises as as I rationalized several more purchases of substantive books that would contribute to my spiritual growth. This slippery slope led to my ordering some new clothing that would mostly be paid for from my earnings from teaching crochet. And today, I ordered some stationery because I NEEDED it. Oh, I just remembered! I went and bought some new shoes and a shirt to wear to my grandmother's funeral.

Not long after ordering the stationery, as I was leaving work this afternoon, it came to me...what I had done. Not just the buying in and of itself, but the bigger picture. The momentum of compromise began as I justified purchases that I saw as contributing to my spiritual growth, but in doing this, I was defining spiritual growth in my own terms. God had a better way to grow me spiritually, and that was for me not to buy anything for forty days. I needed that discipline far more than I needed to read another book—or to avoid another cookie, for that matter. Thinking of all of this now is even more painful in light of the fact that I taught Romans 6 last week! I am the slave of the one I obey. And I had allowed myself to obey my flesh rather than to obey the Spirit.

Days ago, I had already begun to see that I didn't really need or care that much about the things I had purchased. I knew in my heart that the only book I really needed was my Bible, and I have so many unread books that I could read for the rest of the year and not exhaust my supply. The book I asked Brent to buy for me is going to the library because it is too liberal for me. I've only read a few pages of the book for Lent. The shoes and shirt I purchased for the funeral turned out to be unnecessary as it turned cold again that day. You see how it is. All of my purchases have proven to be unnecessary and unsatisfying. Now I wonder, what did I forfeit by thinking I knew better for myself than God knows for me? What blessings did I miss out on?

I no longer want to seek any kind of satisfaction in THINGS, even those I perceive to be good things such as prayer and theology books. I want to walk in the Spirit and not gratify the desires of my flesh (Galatians 5:16). I no longer wanted to be fooled or ruled by my deceitful heart (Jeremiah 17:9). I want to glorify God in everything, even in how—no—especially in how I spend money (I Corinthians 10:31).

Of course, I have herein demonstrated the whole purpose of Lent. It is to remind me of my sin and weakness and my need for the cross and my absolute inability to do one thing about my sin outside of Christ. Thankfully, because He died and has been raised from the dead, I can consider myself dead to sin and alive to God (Romans 6:11), and because of this, it is possible for me not to buy anything during the second half of Lent.

Pray for the Nations

You will notice in the sidebar that I have added an "Unreached People of the Day" feature. I encourage you to lift up these people groups that they would come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.

And they sang a new song, saying.
"Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals,
for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation,
and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God,
and they shall reign on the earth."
—Revelation 5:9-10 (ESV)

Redirect 3-28-11

Glorious Freedom: Sinclair Ferguson beautifully reiterates yesterday's class discussion.

How to Get God's Attention: Here's a great short post on how to direct your prayers.

No Ordinary Suffering: Insight into suffering in the Christian life.

R.C. Sproul, Jr. explains a proper mindset to have while reading the Bible.

Taking Possession of the Promised Land

To be reading in Deuteronomy and Galatians at the same time is truly a gift from God.

Today, in my gratitude journal, I wrote "Eyes to see." Until this day, I have not had eyes to see (Deut. 29:4).

For a number of years, I have been on the east side of the Jordan looking into the Promised Land. Having a glimpse here and there, a taste of what it will be like. Faithfully gathering manna at times, well fed. And at other times, starving myself to the point of near death. I sought to return to Egypt more times than I can count, and I fought many battles with the enemy who anticipates what is coming and who knows Who is on my side. I have been in the camp at times experiencing the blessing and presence of God. But I have also wandered in the wilderness, striking out on my own thinking that I had a better plan or way. Thankfully, by the grace of God, I kept coming back to camp, returning to the sanctuary.

As I have been reading Deuteronomy in recent days, I have been repeatedly impressed by the reality that Moses's commands require a diligence and purposefulness that I did not recognize before:

• Take care.
• Keep your soul diligently.
• Seek the Lord.
• Be careful.
• Fear God.
• You shall not go after other gods.
• Devote the enemy to complete destruction.
• Remember what God has done for you.
• Serve the Lord your God with all your heart and soul.
• Circumcise the foreskin of your heart, and be no longer stubborn.
• Destroy the places where other gods were served.
• Seek the place that the Lord your God will choose.
• Purge the evil from your midst.
• The Lord your God will fight for you against your enemies.
• Devote them to complete destruction.
• Disobedience is an abomination to the Lord.
• Be holy.
• Fulfill your vows to the Lord,
• Obey the voice of the Lord your God.
• Choose life.
• Hold fast to God.

God's standards and expectations of His children are extremely high. Rather than pursuing His standards, I pursued my own, which I thought were pretty lofty because I was comparing myself to others in the camp rather than to God and His Word. I was a much more faithful manna gatherer and offered many more sacrifices than those in neighboring tents. But I wasn't satisfied with my status in the camp. I wanted the land flowing with milk in honey.

For many years, I was helpless to cross over the Jordan.

I can't tell you exactly at what point I crossed over, but by the grace of God I believe it has happened. The crossing wasn't easy. The enemy met me at the shoreline and fought hard. At times, he nearly drove me back across, and a time or two, I nearly drowned. But the Lord my God went with me and fought for me to give me victory (Deut, 20:4).

More than once after crossing over, I looked at the nations around me and was tempted to follow after their gods. BUT I remembered what the Lord had done for me, and that motivated me to fight and not give up. Galatians 5 sums it up. Before crossing over, I allowed the desires of the flesh to take precedence over the desires of the Spirit. The two are always in opposition, and I have a choice. I often chose the desires of the Spirit, but the desires of the flesh were and still are especially strong in certain areas, and I often succumbed to them. I still do, but the fruit of the Spirit I see encourages me to continue to walk in the Spirit and to crucify the flesh. Paul uses the word "crucify" for a reason. It isn't easy. It requires effort and diligence on my part... Ah, Deuteronomy again.

I recently had a conversation with a sister in Christ who told me that she knew she probably shouldn't watch a particular movie, but that she was going to anyway. The desire of the flesh trumped the desire of the Spirit. She chose not to crucify her flesh. She chose to please herself rather than doing what she knew would be pleasing to God. She didn't take seriously His command to Be Holy and I am Holy (I Peter 1:16).

I share this with you because it is simple and obvious. Sometimes the choices are not so simple and not so obvious, and that has been my primary struggle in recent years. It is not inherently sinful to spend time online and to make things. However, if I am doing these things for the wrong reasons, and if I am neglecting other things I should be doing...no, that I must be doing, it is a desire of the flesh, which can become an idol, and it is sin.

Which brings me back to diligence, and the need to define what it means because like the Galatians, we can very easily equate diligence with legalism, and that will not do. This has been pitfall of mine. "Lord, I am doing this, and this, and this, so why isn't it going well for me?!" His answer:

• You are doing it that it may go well for you rather than to please me.
• You are doing it because you are afraid of what will happen if you don't.
• You are doing it for the praises of men.
• You are doing it because you desire success.
• You are doing it because you desire comfort above all else.

My motivation for doing the thing is the key. If it is directed by the Spirit, it is right. If it is directed by the flesh, it is wrong. Often, the challenge is knowing which is which, and the breakthrough comes when God gives you eyes to see the difference. This is called discernment. And where does one get discernment?

Take heart all the words by which I am warning you today, that you may commend them to your children, that they may be careful to do all the words of this law. For it is no empty word for you, but your very life, and by this word you shall live long in the land that you are going over the Jordan to posses. —Deut. 32:46-47

It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. —John 6:63

Discernment comes from the Word of God.
More Word.
More Spirit.
More Life.

...the Promised Land.

Eat the manna. Apply the balm. Take possession.

Ann's Blog: A Holy Experience

Since reading One Thousand Gifts, I have been skimming Ann Voskamp's blog and reading posts that capture my interest. There are several posts that I have particularly enjoyed that will bless you as well...

Journaling as a Spiritual Discipline: 8 Reasons to Journal (Links to subsequent posts are included at the end of this one.)

How to Build a House of Prayer

What Could Change Everything: A Pilgrimage into Prayer

Prayer: Why We Struggle (and how not to)

A Place for Everything

One Thousand Gifts and More

Most of you have already heard from me by now of the book I finished recently, One Thousand Gifts. It moved me deeply and inspired me greatly. I purchased several copies for loved ones, and I have been trying to spread the word with friends I think would be interested.

I learned about the book in a review in World magazine, and I ordered it after I read several customer reviews on Amazon. It is currently on the New York Times Bestseller list, so it is very popular. Unfortunately, as a result of its popularity, it has gotten some negative press, specifically in the blogosphere.

One Thousand Gifts is the personal testimony of the author, Ann Voskamp. She shares how God transformed her life by teaching her how to be thankful in all things (I Thes. 5:18). She is a homeschooling mother of six who has endured tragedy and hardship. She loves the Lord, and knows His Word. She reads broadly and has the mind of a poet. She thinks deeply and expresses spiritual truths in ways I had never considered.

The criticism of the book is primarily directed at Chapter 11, "The Joy of Intimacy." The first line of the chapter reads: "I fly to Paris and discover how to make love to God." The chapter recounts her visit to Paris, and how God spoke to her during this visit. I have to admit that the idea of making love to God made me uncomfortable, and I didn't quite get it. But I'm not her, and she's not me, and after reading the previous ten chapters, I see her heart, so I don't let it bother me. I am not one to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Besides, the church IS the bride of Christ, you know.

I have seen real change in myself since reading One Thousand Gifts. I started keeping my own list of blessings and being more intentional in thanksgiving. My attitude and outlook have changed—although my circumstances have not. God has been doing a great work in my life in the past year, and He has used this book to take me to the next level in my walk with Him. I am grateful.

Stones for Bread

I wrote the following poem last night. It was inspired by my Bible reading in Numbers and a book I am reading that I will share more about soon.

Far too often
Impatient
I struck out on my own
Into the wilderness
Rather than wait
For the cloud and fire to direct me.

Hours, days, weeks, years
Wandering
When I could have been safe in camp
Resting
Feeding on manna
Worshiping
The One enthroned above the mercy seat.

The veil is torn.
I can enter the Holy of Holies.
Instead, I sought stones
For bread.

—Katy Sammons

Your Mission Field

"If we would obey Jesus, we must go into the world. I've been challenged by the example of other churches to study my local community with the evangelistic intentionality of a missionary. To ask questions like "If I were a missionary to another nation, how would I view my life? What decisions would I make about where I live or how much I need to live on? Where would I spend my time so I could form friendships with unbelieving people? What would I seek to learn about the culture so that I could befriend and clearly communicate the gospel? What are the idols and false gods people are worshiping?

Ask these questions, and then apply them to your current location. The mission field is right in front of you. Imagine how this kind of evangelistic urgency could be used by God to touch your campus, workplace, neighborhood, and community."

from Dug Down Deep
by Joshua Harris

Proper Self-Assesment

"Time and time again throughout the pages of Scripture, believers are referred to as slaves of God and slaves of Christ. In fact, whereas the outside world called them "Christians," the earliest believers repeatedly referred to themselves in the New Testament as the Lord's slaves. For them, the two ideas were synonymous. To be a Christian was to be a slave of Christ.

We don't hear that concept much in churches today. In contemporary Christianity the language is anything but slave terminology. It is about success, health, wealth, prosperity, and the pursuit of happiness. We often hear that God loves people unconditionally and wants them to be all they want to be. He wants to fulfill every desire, hope, and dream. Personal ambition, personal fulfillment, personal gratification—these have all become part of the language of evangelical Christianity—and part of what it means to have a "personal relationship with Jesus Christ." Instead of teaching the New Testament gospel—where sinners are called to submit to Christ—the contemporary message is exactly the opposite: Jesus is here to fulfill all your wishes. Likening him to a personal assistant or a personal trainer, many churchgoers speak of a personal savior who is eager to do their bidding and help them in their quest for self-satisfaction or individual accomplishment.

The New Testament understanding of the believer's relationship to Christ could not be more opposite. He is the Master and Owner. We are His possession. He is the King, the Lord, and the Son of God. We are His subjects and His subordinates.

In a word, we are His slaves."

from Slave
by John McArthur

McArthur Series on Spiritual Growth

I mentioned this series in class weeks ago, and I'm finally getting around to posting it...if I haven't already posted it. I can't find it, so I'm going to assume that I haven't. I am linking to the written sermons here, but you can also listen online or download the audio versions. They are well worth your time.

Spiritual Growth, Part 1

Spiritual Growth, Part 2

Spiritual Growth, Part 3

Spiritual Growth, Part 4

Self-Diagnosis

Are you proud? Here's a test...
The Fifty Fruits of Pride: A Self-Diagnostic

Delight Yourself in the Lord...

Journal Entry 1-26-11: Snapshot of the First Church

Reading: Exodus 14-16, Acts 2

Scripture
And they devoted themselves to the apostles teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. —Acts 2:42

Observations
devoted—zealous or ardent in attachment. loyalty, or affection (dictionary.com)

What were they devoted to?

• Apostles' teaching. For us this would be the Bible.
• Fellowship = spending time together AND sharing material possessions. The word "hospitality" also comes to mind.
• Breaking of bread = Eating meals together. May also include the Lord's Supper.
• Prayers.

Application
This appears quite different from the church today. We are not devoted to the Word and to prayer. We isolate ourselves rather than spending time together, and when we are together we tend to discuss the trivial and the mundane. We accumulate possessions for ourselves rather than helping those in need. John Piper says it is because we do not fear God as the saints in this passage did.

Prayer
Heavenly Father, revive your church to fear You and transform us that we may live as did the early church—devoted to the apostles teaching, fellowship, hospitality, and prayer.

Redirect 1-22-11

Tim Challies writes here about how Biblical submission can look very different from marriage to marriage. Don't miss it!

Journaling isn't just popular in our church right now. If you like notebooks and writing instruments, you will enjoy this article.

If you grew up in the seventies and eighties like I did, you were there when rap music originated. Remember Fantastic Voyage? Here is a wonderful example of the potential for rap music.

Here is a great post on how being online and social media can hinder your walk with God.

John Piper writes a wonderful poem about grieving the Holy Spirit.

Divine Development & Journaling

We have undertaken a program at our church called "Divine Development." It is inspired by the book, Divine Mentor, by Wayne Cordeiro. We are reading through the Bible this year and journaling how God is speaking to our hearts. For the next six weeks, we will meet in small groups to inspire encourage one another. My group met for the first time on Wednesday evening to get to know one another and to talk a little bit about our reading and journaling thus far. Several of the women expressed that they were not in the habit of devotional reading and journaling, and that it was proving somewhat challenging for them. I encouraged them to keep at it and not to give up. Like most things, improvement comes with practice.

I thought it may be helpful to share my journal entry from yesterday to demonstrate how simple yet effective this process can be.

Reading: Genesis 49-50, Psalm 8, and Luke 20

Scripture
Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love greetings in the marketplace and the best seats in the synagogues and the places of honor at feasts, who devour widows' houses and for a pretense make long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation. —Luke 20:46-47

Observation
These people (the scribes) are primarily concerned with their status and what others think of them. Their personal fulfillment comes from their authority and position in society. They are not concerned about others, only about advancing their own interests and impressing others.

Application
While I am not concerned with status or impressing others, I do like to be appreciated, and I want others to think well of me. However, this must not be my motivation for doing what I do. I must be motivated by obedience and a desire to please God. I should not think of myself or my own personal interests at all.

Prayer
Father, enable my focus and motivation be on obeying, pleasing, and glorifying you alone. I pray that my needs and fulfillment will be met only in You.