Today's Lenten sermon series topic was endurance (or, as it says in my Bible translation, perseverance).
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
2 Peter 1: 3-8
In my mind, endurance is a somewhat contradictory concept. It is a quality that we often admire in others. Think about the endurance of a marathon runner. I am amazed that people have the mental and physical stamina to complete that kind of activity. Endurance is also a quality that I think most people would be proud to possess. However, and here's the rub, most of us would not choose to have to go through the process of developing it. No one wants to go through a difficult time, such as a long term job search or fighting cancer, but those are precisely the kind of times when endurance can develop.
Although endurance can be applied to many aspects of life, the sermon's focus today was on its role in spiritual development. My pastor chose to discuss endurance not as something we do because we have to (during difficult times) but as something we choose to do as part of our journey in knowing God. Knowing God, living the life of a disciple, sharing God's grace and love with the world is no easy feat. It's up to us to choose to invest ourselves in this long-term process, which involves trusting God to partner with us to accomplish this great thing that we cannot do on our own. As you can imagine, this takes great amounts of endurance.
The journey toward God may not be an easy journey but it is infinitely worth pursuing. As one of my favorite Biblical pep talks says:
"...let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."
Hebrews 12: 1-3
Next time you are faced with a situation requiring perseverance, embrace it! Walk through that time with God and see how He can use that situation to strengthen you and glorify Himself. God works all things for the good of those who love him (I can't remember the citation right now, but that's in the Bible too..what an amazing promise!)
Sunday, March 18, 2012
Saturday, March 17, 2012
St. Patrick's Day
Although I do have a smidge of Irish blood in me, I'm not overly enthusiastic about today's holiday. So I won't go on about all the green we're wearing or the corned beef we won't be having for dinner tonight. I will, instead, take this opportunity to show off more pictures of my little leprechaun:)
St. Patrick's Day 2011
St. Patrick's Day 2012
Holy cow look how much he's changed in one year!! So amazing:) And here's one more, because I just can't resist his expression...
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
St. Patrick's Day 2011
St. Patrick's Day 2012
Holy cow look how much he's changed in one year!! So amazing:) And here's one more, because I just can't resist his expression...
Happy St. Patrick's Day!!
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
The Great Outdoors
Hubby T and I have been taking Baby B for walks outside practically since the day he came home from the hospital. So being outside is nothing new for him. However, he hasn't really spent anytime outside since he started walking. Until this week. And oh boy, Baby B has quickly become an exuberant enthusiast of the great outdoors.
This is becoming a very common scene in our home.
This translates to "let me outside!" He has also been communicating this by standing next to our coat/shoe closet and banging on the doors. "Put my shoes on and let me outside!" Or by picking up my shoe and walking it over to me at the dinner table as if to say, "My dinner is done. I don't care about yours. Put your shoes on and let me outside!"
Yesterday we were playing outside when he toddled into the garage, climbed a couple of the steps up to the house and started tugging on his stroller. When I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk, he nodded his head yes, and then contentedly settled into the stroller, hands folded across his lap, feet kicking with happiness.
I'm thrilled about his enthusiasm for being outside for many reasons. After all, what parent doesn't want their kid to enjoy playing outside?! I'm also happy that this will force me and Hubby T to be outside more. Maybe we'll get more weeding done, or get to know our neighbors better. Or maybe we'll just have lots of fun ourselves rediscovering the wonder of the outdoors with our son. As long as free bird moments like this don't happen too often...how old do kids have to be to understand, "Look both ways before you cross the street!!"
This is becoming a very common scene in our home.
This translates to "let me outside!" He has also been communicating this by standing next to our coat/shoe closet and banging on the doors. "Put my shoes on and let me outside!" Or by picking up my shoe and walking it over to me at the dinner table as if to say, "My dinner is done. I don't care about yours. Put your shoes on and let me outside!"
Yesterday we were playing outside when he toddled into the garage, climbed a couple of the steps up to the house and started tugging on his stroller. When I asked him if he wanted to go for a walk, he nodded his head yes, and then contentedly settled into the stroller, hands folded across his lap, feet kicking with happiness.
I'm thrilled about his enthusiasm for being outside for many reasons. After all, what parent doesn't want their kid to enjoy playing outside?! I'm also happy that this will force me and Hubby T to be outside more. Maybe we'll get more weeding done, or get to know our neighbors better. Or maybe we'll just have lots of fun ourselves rediscovering the wonder of the outdoors with our son. As long as free bird moments like this don't happen too often...how old do kids have to be to understand, "Look both ways before you cross the street!!"
Sunday, March 11, 2012
Knowing God through Self-Control
Today's Lenten "Becoming Like Jesus" sermon topic was self-control. I know, I know...you'd rather not go there, right?! Turns out self-control is an important component for those seeking to live a Godly life.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
2 Peter 1: 3-8
This is a vexing topic for many people, including me. Several years ago I had an extraordinary amount of self-control and self-discipline, but not so much now, which is a bit frustrating. So I was curious how the pastor would unpack this topic.
The point in the sermon that meant the most to me was that many people attempt to change their spiritual lives by trying to change. Most of us fail and then feel discouraged and, if anything, feel further from God at the end of all that failed trying than at the beginning. My pastor suggested that instead of trying to change we focus on training to change. I believe this means focusing on small steps we know or are pretty sure we can achieve in order to build up to a larger goal.
The thing in my life in which I have most lacked self-control in recent years has been doing quiet times. I define quiet time as a time of the day that I have by myself with no other distractions in which I can read the Bible or a book about faith, maybe journal, maybe listen to music, and pray. There are a million reasons why I (and many others!) have trouble fitting this into my day, but based on past experience, I know that I am a better person and am closer to God when I do make the effort to take this time. I found this sermon and topic particularly well timed because I just started a new bible study last week that requires 30-40 minutes daily of reading the Bible and reflecting. It is just what I was looking for! I'm so grateful that this opportunity has come along to help me start down this quiet time road again. I see this bible study, where I am accountable to the other members if I don't do the reading, as a kind of baby step in my training, so to speak. So far so good on my daily quiet times...hopefully I can keep it up!!
In what part of your life, spiritual or otherwise, do you feel you are lacking self-control right now? Have you tried to change and failed? Consider what small step you can take to start you down that road and don't lose heart during the journey. As the apostle Paul said, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
2 Peter 1: 3-8
This is a vexing topic for many people, including me. Several years ago I had an extraordinary amount of self-control and self-discipline, but not so much now, which is a bit frustrating. So I was curious how the pastor would unpack this topic.
The point in the sermon that meant the most to me was that many people attempt to change their spiritual lives by trying to change. Most of us fail and then feel discouraged and, if anything, feel further from God at the end of all that failed trying than at the beginning. My pastor suggested that instead of trying to change we focus on training to change. I believe this means focusing on small steps we know or are pretty sure we can achieve in order to build up to a larger goal.
The thing in my life in which I have most lacked self-control in recent years has been doing quiet times. I define quiet time as a time of the day that I have by myself with no other distractions in which I can read the Bible or a book about faith, maybe journal, maybe listen to music, and pray. There are a million reasons why I (and many others!) have trouble fitting this into my day, but based on past experience, I know that I am a better person and am closer to God when I do make the effort to take this time. I found this sermon and topic particularly well timed because I just started a new bible study last week that requires 30-40 minutes daily of reading the Bible and reflecting. It is just what I was looking for! I'm so grateful that this opportunity has come along to help me start down this quiet time road again. I see this bible study, where I am accountable to the other members if I don't do the reading, as a kind of baby step in my training, so to speak. So far so good on my daily quiet times...hopefully I can keep it up!!
In what part of your life, spiritual or otherwise, do you feel you are lacking self-control right now? Have you tried to change and failed? Consider what small step you can take to start you down that road and don't lose heart during the journey. As the apostle Paul said, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Philippians 3: 13-14
Thursday, March 8, 2012
Things we learned this week
When Baby B has a cold and an ear infection, I have a cold/sinus infection, and Baby D has a cold and double ear infection....we go through a lot of tissues!
(Sorry if this picture is too much information for some of you. But this literally, oh so literally, has been our week.)
When you hang a growth chart to the back of Baby B's bedroom door, you give him leverage to open the door. And when you lean against the door so that he can't open it, he tugs and whines at you. Indefinitely. Until you can find a book within arm's length to read and distract him with. Unless there are no books within reach. In which case he gets out anyway...
Going...
Going...
Gone.
Baby B is very attuned to when Baby D coughs or cries or makes any noise while napping. Such a good little friend. Or maybe he just likes watching the lights go up and down on the monitor.
When you sign up for the Winter Reading program at the library, and then complete the program, you get a free book! Which can then become your child's favorite of all his most favorite books. Which means you get to read it a lot. Like 10 times a day a lot. That's a lot of Big Red Barn fun my friends. At least it has beautiful illustrations to look at:)
Hope your week was less exhausting but just as blessed as ours!
(Sorry if this picture is too much information for some of you. But this literally, oh so literally, has been our week.)
When you hang a growth chart to the back of Baby B's bedroom door, you give him leverage to open the door. And when you lean against the door so that he can't open it, he tugs and whines at you. Indefinitely. Until you can find a book within arm's length to read and distract him with. Unless there are no books within reach. In which case he gets out anyway...
Going...
Going...
Gone.
Baby B is very attuned to when Baby D coughs or cries or makes any noise while napping. Such a good little friend. Or maybe he just likes watching the lights go up and down on the monitor.
When you sign up for the Winter Reading program at the library, and then complete the program, you get a free book! Which can then become your child's favorite of all his most favorite books. Which means you get to read it a lot. Like 10 times a day a lot. That's a lot of Big Red Barn fun my friends. At least it has beautiful illustrations to look at:)
Hope your week was less exhausting but just as blessed as ours!
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Supplement your faith with knowledge
Today I heard the second of my church's Lenten sermon series on "Becoming Like Jesus." Each week we are focusing on a different aspect from the passage of 2 Peter 1: 3-8.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
Today's attribute was knowledge. I found it interesting to hear that the original (Hebrew? Greek?) word for knowledge used in the beginning of the passage means the knowledge that Christ died and rose again. This is factual. The second time the word knowledge is used, in verse six, it implies a knowledge beyond understanding Christ's actions. It speaks of a knowledge that comes from being intimately related to God and knowing God through His revelation of Himself to us.
This is pretty heavy stuff. Knowing God. Through His self-revelation. And what does self-revelation mean anyway? I do agree with the point my pastor made that attending church every Sunday and even serving the church doesn't mean that you know God. It's pretty easy to go through the motions and be a "Christian." But knowing God, in my opinion, is a much greater undertaking. It involves confessing your sins, praying, reading the Bible, taking time to actually listen...yikes! Who has the time, patience, focus, etc. for that?
I will not claim to have figured "knowing God" out. Most of the things I just listed about I don't do far often enough. But I do think I've made a start on the journey of coming to know God. And it is a journey. An addictive journey, actually. That's part of the beauty of God - once He has you in His grasp, He'll never let go. If you are reading this and wondering more about how to know God, don't hesitate to ask me to explain more. It's an extremely personal, intimate, and difficult undertaking, but one that is infinitely worth pursuing.
Last thought: Adam and Eve knew God. They walked with him in the garden every evening! Talk about intimate knowledge of God. And while part of me is really envious of Adam and Eve, another part of me knows that God extends that intimacy to me as well. Guess I should go work on finding it.
"His divine power has given us everything we need for life and godliness through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires. For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love. For if you possess these qualities in increasing measure, they will keep you from being ineffective and unproductive in your knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. "
Today's attribute was knowledge. I found it interesting to hear that the original (Hebrew? Greek?) word for knowledge used in the beginning of the passage means the knowledge that Christ died and rose again. This is factual. The second time the word knowledge is used, in verse six, it implies a knowledge beyond understanding Christ's actions. It speaks of a knowledge that comes from being intimately related to God and knowing God through His revelation of Himself to us.
This is pretty heavy stuff. Knowing God. Through His self-revelation. And what does self-revelation mean anyway? I do agree with the point my pastor made that attending church every Sunday and even serving the church doesn't mean that you know God. It's pretty easy to go through the motions and be a "Christian." But knowing God, in my opinion, is a much greater undertaking. It involves confessing your sins, praying, reading the Bible, taking time to actually listen...yikes! Who has the time, patience, focus, etc. for that?
I will not claim to have figured "knowing God" out. Most of the things I just listed about I don't do far often enough. But I do think I've made a start on the journey of coming to know God. And it is a journey. An addictive journey, actually. That's part of the beauty of God - once He has you in His grasp, He'll never let go. If you are reading this and wondering more about how to know God, don't hesitate to ask me to explain more. It's an extremely personal, intimate, and difficult undertaking, but one that is infinitely worth pursuing.
Last thought: Adam and Eve knew God. They walked with him in the garden every evening! Talk about intimate knowledge of God. And while part of me is really envious of Adam and Eve, another part of me knows that God extends that intimacy to me as well. Guess I should go work on finding it.
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