It is finished...

Hello Friends,

I am back. I've been away too long. My curriculum for this fall is finally finished and I have 12 weeks worth of devotions to share with you all this coming fall... My next post will be the first of the twelve. It is the pick up from our last week's Scripture that I did not get a devotion posted for .

Anyway, thanks for your patience and your love. Blessings.

A Letter...A Movie...A Night to Remember

I found myself sitting in a room filled with anticipation. Four hundred hungry souls sat before me ready to feast on the faithfulness of the Lord. The scene sparked with electricity as the power of the Holy Spirit began to course through the room during worship. Life invaded our space and glory made way... Kairos begins.

Tonight's menu boasted a different flavor, different chef's-those who once played a supportive role were stepping up to center stage. That's when it happened.  During the second session the man at the front of the room began to read about our unveiled faces from 2 Corinthians 3 just before acknowledging that the supportive Scriptures and information he was about to share would not be found in the pages of the book they held on their laps.

I smiled and scrawled out the reference he'd just given. 2 Corinthians. I flipped the pages of my two year old Spirit Filled Life Bible, NKJV-a few of them are loose from their binding. It remains a treasured staple in my devotional line up. I landed in that last half at 2 Corinthians but parked a few houses up at the first lot on the block.  That is when it happened - first one and the another... It was as if I had been standing in a dark room trying to discern the actions in a play before me but there was no light before that moment.

1 Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or do we need, as some others,

epistles of commendation to you or letters of commendation from you?

2 You are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read by all men;

3 clearly you are an epistle of Christ, ministered by us, written not with

ink but by the Spirit of the living God, not on tablets of stone but on tablets

of flesh, that is, of the heart.

4 And we have such trust through Christ toward God. 5 Not that we are

sufficient of ourselves to think of anything as being from ourselves, but

our sufficiency is from God, 6 who also made us sufficient as ministers of

the new covenant, not of the letter but of the Spirit; for the letter kills, but

the Spirit gives life.

7 But if the ministry of death, written and engraved on stones, was glorious,

so that the children of Israel could not look steadilyat the face of Moses because

of the glory of his countenance, which glory was passing away, 8 how will the

ministry of the Spirit not be more glorious? 9 For if the ministry of condemnation

had glory, the ministry of righteousness exceeds much more in glory.

10 For even what was made glorious had no glory in this respect, because of the

glory that excels. 11 For if what is passing away wasis much more glorious.

12 Therefore, since we have such hope, we use great boldness of speech-- 13 unlike

Moses, who put a veil over his face so that the children of Israel could not look

steadily at the end of what was passing away. 14 But their minds were blinded.

For until this day the same veil remains unlifted in the reading of the Old Testament,

because the veil is taken away in Christ. 15 But even to this day, when Moses is read,

a veil lies on their heart. 16 Nevertheless when one turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away.

17 Now the Lord is the Spirit; and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty.

18 But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as by the Spirit of the Lord.

2 Corinthians 3:1-18 (NKJV)

As I read the beautiful words of this passage of Scripture, my heart felt full and alive with a fresh word and anointing. I drove straight away to my friend's house afterward. I read the Scripture aloud to her from her NIV Study Bible.

I paused a moment at verse 12: "Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold"...

WE ARE VERY BOLD. I am a letter written in bold letters to the lost and the dying in this world. O Glory. I just realized and knew that the cliche oft quoted in pulpits across America is found right here in 2 Corinthians 3 - "You may be the only Bible that someone every reads."

I'm a letter - not the letter that kills, but I am a letter written by the Spirit on the tablets of my heart. I'm a love letter. :)

Which brings me to the revelation - I want to begin memorizing chapters of the Bible and journaling my way through it. I don't want to do it to check some project off my list, or just 'cuz that is what good Christian folk, do... I want to do it because I want to have the rest of that letter written on my heart. I want to be a living, breathing Rhema word from God to anyone who would listen.

Which brings me to the movie - The Book of Eli was in theaters around Valentine's Day. I had read a post about this movie at Angie Wyatt's blog when it was released in theaters. I wanted to see it. Last Friday, I lay  our leather couch an watched as this story unfolded in a post nuclear war America. One man was trekking his way across America finding shelter in bombed out, abandoned homes. Fighting off high-jackers with a couple of guns and a machete and doing everything he could to protect and deliver what he believed to be the last existing Bible in the entire world.

By the end of the movie you are cheering. And, as I consider the content the recognition that the subject and the violence were difficult to take at first - language could be foul and there was a scene where a young woman offered herself to a man sexually. But... In a post apocalypse world where the Word of God is all but forgotten what could one expect? Foul mouthed, murderous, angry men and women controlled by these men.

I'll leave the rest of the movie for you to see, but honestly. It made me think - I want to know the Bible like this man did. I want to know it... not just in my head or my hands, but I want to know it in my heart... I want every word written there like a finely penned manuscript awaiting the printing press.

I want to make Him famous. I want to be His letter to the world. Freedom Ministry is so much fun. I love It.

Beth Moore has written a new book. 

Have you heard about it yet?

So Long Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend To Us

She is hosting a book club/Bible study over at her blog beginning today!  If you don't have a copy, get the book.  Visit the LPM Blog and sign up to read along with thousands of other women who are kissing insecurity GOODBYE!

HUGS! Blessings... And all that Jazz.

Also, visit my new blog when you get a chance.  http://www.belovedsdance.blogspot.com

Weighing the Word: John Two

This week's Weighing the Word has taken us to the second chapter of the Gospel of John.
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I begin, remarkably, with the simplicity of setting and timing. Let's review. Jesus was baptized near Bethbara (Bethany) and within two days traveled to the region of Galilee. On His way there, he aquired some followers, Disciples. These men were Andrew, Simon Peter, Philip, Nathanael, and one unamed disciple of John, the baptizer. The close of John One finds us with Jesus and these five men in the town of Bethsaida. By this time, we have been three days with Jesus.
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Which brings us to the second chapter's reading. The chapter begins with timing: "On the third day." It struck me that these first verses of John take us through a succession of days in the life of Jesus. This would have taken place the "third day" after Jesus was baptized. So... This was before Jesus was taken to the desert and tempted (Matthew 4, Luke 4)?

We also find that Jesus has traveled once again to Cana. There He, His mother and the five disciples attend a wedding. In verse two, we learn Jesus went for a very obvious reason - He was invited.

1. Jesus goes where He is invited.

Jesus and his family likely knew the families who were hosting the wedding. Mary's concern for the reputation of the groom's family seems to indicate a relationship. Then the dilemma. Picture Mary leaning into her son and whispering in His ear, "They have run out of wine, my Son."

And Jesus' response, "Dear woman, what does that have to do with me? It's not quite my time to shine." In essence, His response is "Not Yet."
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But, Mary's faith in Jesus is persistent. She turns and tells the servants to do whatever He tells them to do.
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And, just like that, God changed His mind? I don't think it really comes down to that. Jesus taught that we are to honor the authority placed before us in our lives. So, how could He preach and teach "Honor your father and mother..." If He, Himself, refused to honor His own mother. I believe her persistence and faith in Him moved His heart to have compassion on her.
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2. The Miracle.
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What was significant about this miracle? Here are a few things I observed:

* The persistence of faith expressed in Mary's request of Jesus prompted Him to action even though His initial response was "Not yet."
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* The wine was not made from just any old water in any old pot. It was made, in fact, from water that was set aside and used for ceremonial cleansing. These posts held anywhere from 20-30 gallons of water each. Jesus told the servants to the fill the pots and they did - the brim. Overflowing. That is approximately 120-180 gallons of water. In the NKJV it says that water was set aside for the purification of the Jews.
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* Water in the Bible often represents many things, but in this case - the picture is clear. Water meant to be used for Cleansing was used instead for what? For celebration, for anointing? Think about this. The miracle at Cana represents precisely what Jesus had experienced just days before in the Jordan river. A baptism of repentence in the waters of the Jordan - a cleansing. And the anointing and blessing of His Father as He came out. Then others believed in Him because of what they had witnessed.
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How beautiful is that picture? That when we submit ourselves in obedience and persistence of faith, the result is purification (cleansing) through repentance and the anointing and blessing of the Father upon our lives.

A few other notes of interest from the wedding reading: The symblism of Jesus' first miracle being performed at this wedding in Cana - is not lost on me. This entire thing will culminate in the ultimate Wedding Feast when we all gather in heaven to spend eternity with our Father and Bridegroom. HMM! HMMM! HMMMM! Why did Jesus say His time had not yet come? As I said in the first paragraph, I believe the context of the Scripture indicates that this wedding took place before the Spirit led Him into the desert to be tempted for forty days. Why?
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The next verse: "This beginning of signs Jesus did in Cana of Galilee, and manifested His glory..." (vs. 11) Jesus knew that the temptation and testing had to come before He went forth. Jesus was telling His mother that it was not yet time for His glory as God's Only Begotten Son to be revealed.
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Jesus saved the best for last... Let's hold onto that truth. He didn't throw the best out there right at the beginning - He could change the water into wine at any moment. He could have literally changed the bad wine into better wine... good wine. But, He didn't. He waited until they had exhausted all of their resources and then gave them not just what was better, but what - indeed was best.
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After the wedding, Jesus travels and spends a few days (NLT) in Capernaum, where His brothers join this traveling caravan of people. Why did His brothers join them? Well, because Passover was coming - that is why. The annual pilgrimage to Jerusalem was at hand. It was time for the family to make their trip to the holy city to observe the custom of Passover. Jesus' ministry begins and ends with Passover.

Upon arriving in Jerusalem, the family likely paid a visit to the temple to make the necessary sacrifices. Jesus' passion for His Father and the temple that bore His presence and His name overflowed as He watched the moneychangers and the vendors selling their wares right in the temple courts. The indignation and righteous anger rose up in Him and He made a whip and scourged those who would defile His Father's house. He drove out the corruption and the greed that sat before Him. His disciples even remembered the verse Psalm regarding the Messiah's zeal for God's House. But, is it lost on anyone else... Just days before He was obedient to His authority when His mother asked for a miracle. Then this day - He breaks the law of the Romans by interfering with the work of the money-changers. And still... Pilate would say three years later, "I find no fault in Him." HMMM!

I noted the following points:

1. Evidence requires little faith.

The Jews were asking for evidence of His identity at every turn. They wanted EVIDENCE to prove His authority. But, they did not realize that the requirement of evidence exhibits very little faith. Jesus was living and observing the traditional Jewish customs of His day, but He was also redefining the standard and the truth about what would come after Him. The Jews were so caught up in their own ideas of "God" that they missed Him. Legalism always blinds eyes, deafens ears, dulls hearts and confuses understanding.

2. Faith confirms evidence.

The disciples and others who witnessed the miracles and words of Jesus during those days in Jerusalem came to believe He was the one who had been promised. They put their faith in Him.
In turn, they recognized the evidence the Jewish Leaders had been looking for but unable to see. You see, I believe that verses 24-25 speak so loudly to us today:

"But Jesus did not commit (entrust, NLT) Himself to them, because He knew all men, and had no need that anyone should testify of man, for He knew what was in man."

Jesus understood that humanity is limited. We struggle with the limitations of our flesh and a fallen existence. He did not need anyone to explain to Him why the leaders wouldn't believe Him and why common, ordinary folks in the streets would. He already knew and recognized those He came into contact with everyday.

I believe this brings clarity to us as ministers of His gospel. Jesus never got caught up in what the people expected of Him. What they thought the Messiah should look like. He was discerning and focused on one thing: The will of His Father. Jesus came to do the work of His Father in the person of the Son, the Messiah. His ministry demonstrated His anointing and His authority had come from God the Father. The miracles demonstrated His power and His Love that overflowed in Him through the Holy Spirit.
Those who experienced His presence without expectation did not question Him - they simply believed. Jesus must always be glorified.

I read these translations as I met with God this week. If you have read John Two this week, please share your insights in a blog post or comment. If you share a blog post please use MR. LINKY and link us directly to your post so we can read and learn from your insights as well! Thanks for Weighing the Word with me this week. It's been a joy!

Weighing the Word: John One

I am so excited about our inaugural Weighing the Word post. Let's dig right on in... Shall We?
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First, I must make a confession. I did not read the Chapter for seven days. I only read it six days. I did not get the reading in from the New Century Version as I had planned - I got a little tied up in the Amplified actually. Sunday was also a really busy day for us - church early and another event late. No excuses... I just didn't get it done on Sunday.

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From the very beginning of this week one thing stood out to me about John's Gospel. He is writing from an "attorney's argument" position. He begins with an opening statement establishing the foundation upon which he will build his case. Then he proceeds to provide evidence and "witnesses" to affirm his position. I love that the youngest of the group, and a varitable "rough-neck" from the fishing class would write an eloquent and detailed argument for Christ. It is just a beautiful display of how God does not call the equipped, He equips the called. And the glory of the testimony is that John's obedience brought forth the fruit of such a beautiful legacy that has been used to build the new-found faith of Christians throughout the centuries. Okay, I am rambling. But this is really a big deal for me... Especially since I wanted to be a lawyer as a young woman.
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This week as I focused on the inspired words of John Chapter One I met with several individuals and one particular group of inquirers.
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.The Word made flesh.

Jesus. My observations about Jesus from this week's reading range from the standard, verbatim text quotes to the images and "object" type of lessons that were taking place in my mind as I read and reread the text. So for the standard observations, He is the very Word of God. (John 1:1) He is the creative force of the Godhead - all things were created through Him and nothing was created without Him. (John 1:2-3) He is the source of Life and Light for all men. (John 1:3-4) He has always been and will always be FULLY God. (John 1:1, 18) Yet, in His divine nature is a compassion so deep that He would leave the infinity of His existence and become finite as He brings Grace and Truth to complete God's plan for mankind.

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He is, in fact, the revealed glory of God to mankind. Yet He is in the Bosom of His Father. (v.18) I love how this verse gives us a picture of the intimacy with which Jesus related to His Father, God. I wrote in my notes: "Jesus intimately knows and is always actively involved in relationship with His Father."

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In this chapter Jesus is identified in these ways: The Word, Creator (Maker of all things), Life, Light, A Man, The Revealed Glory of God, The only Begotten (born) Son of God, The Lamb of God, He is the Lord, Rabbi or Teacher, The Messiah, King of Israel, Jesus of Nazareth, Son of Joseph, and The Son of Man.

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In this chapter we see the following qualities that Jesus possessed: Humility - the Son of God was right there, but no one noticed Him. He was the first person who ever had the Holy Spirit come upon Him and remain. He was sought after, hospitable and welcoming, discerning, influential, a leader and a prophet. John, the baptizer, said that He would baptize with the Holy Spirit.
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Here are some of the notes I made as a result of my reading:

1.) Salvation (Redemptive Revelation through the Light) is available to EVERY MAN. Salvation and relationship are a choice. We (mankind) are all elected for adoption (chosen by God to be His child). It is, however, our decision that activates God's will to adopt us into His family. An old phrase from some good old fashioned Southern Baptist teachings popped into my head at the moment I recorded this note: "A gift is not really your gift until you open it."

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2.) Grace and truth bring completion. When we partake of Christ's fullness we receive grace for grace (abundance), and the completion of absolute Grace and TRUTH. In verse 17 the Law, given by Moses, is contrasted against the completing work of Christ in, Grace and Truth. I wrote: "The Law was given by God through a man, Moses. But, Grace (unearned, undeserved favor and spiritual blessing -from AMP) and Truth came by God through God the Son, Jesus Christ." From this I concluded that the Law represents boundaries that have been given to protect us - keep us safe. Grace and Truth, however, were given to us by Christ for the purpose of liberating us (the permission for us to be free) and the revelation that will set us ultimately free.
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3. He was right here and many did not even recognize Him. They were looking for Him, but they did not even recognize Him. How often do we do this in our own lives? How often are we looking for something so specific as evidence of God's presence in our lives that we miss what He is doing entirely?
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4. LIGHT. As I thought about the light, I heard the words of my Art I teacher in high school. Mrs. A said that we could only view color if we understood it in its relationship to light. She went on to explain that the color white was not really a color at all, but white was what happened when the absolute presence of PURE LIGHT consumed something. And Light is primarily an absolute reflection. There is no darkness at all in pure light. She went on to say that black was also not a color, but instead it was the total absence of light - a VOID. As I considered this something occurred to me. Before Christ came, the world was CONSUMED with Darkness. But, when Christ came, the Light shone in the darkness. He revealed the true nature of darkness. But, He did not stop there - He also revealed the true nature of God in the LIGHT. In Light, nothing remains hidden. In pure light - flaws and darkness are exposed in reality. They cannot be hidden, glossed over or denied. Darkness has never consumed the light, but when light comes into darkness darkness leaves every time. The light must be turned (tuned) out for darkness to rule.
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5. As I read the Amplified, I saw that Christ existed before men, came after men, took priority over men. John said, Christ takes rank above me, He existed before I did - He advanced before me. He is my Chief. (AMP)
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The Baptizer who prepares the way.

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John knew his place in the pecking order. As I noted previously he acknowledged Jesus as superior and superceding Him. John knew that He came to bear witness to Christ - not to be the Christ. Scripture notes that John's testimony would lead many to hear about Christ and so believe in Him. He was also questioned by representatives of the Pharisees. He unabashedly told the truth. He saw himself as God saw him. A messenger promised by Isaiah. He was not the Messiah, nor was he Elijah or Moses. He was a man sent to do a job. John Preached Jesus. (v. 15)

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John was a natural born leader and influencer. He knew his calling and he had a life verse. He was the picture of boldness and humility all rolled up into one man. He had followers and disciples but when the time came for him to step out of the way he admonished his followers to follow after "the Lamb of God" and stepped out of the way. He also admitted that his role was to prepare the way for the Lord, but he didn't really know who the Lord was until God revealed Him.

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I believe the picture of John telling his own disciples, Don't follow me, follow Jesus is such a compelling portrait of this man. It says to me Don't compete. Don't feel compelled to rescue because others expect you to do so. John did not ever assume the role of Savior. He Preached Jesus.
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One of the things I realized about John was that he was the one "shouting" in the desert. My natural question was: Who really is listening to you in the desert? Lost people that's who...

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"And I have seen and testified that this is the Son of God." (John 1:34)
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The First Disciples believed.

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The first two disciples were sent to Jesus by John. The two were Andrew of Bethsaida and an unamed companion. They were standing with John when Jesus passed them. John pointed to Him and told them He was the Lamb of God. Andrew and his friend immediately followed after Jesus and called Him Rabbi or teacher.
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I thought their question was interesting: Where are you staying? Why on earth would that be important?
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As I examined the disciples I found the following reflected in these five men:
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1. There was one who was not readily identified. A nameless, faceless follower.
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2. Andrew who immediately sought out his closest family member and introduced him to the Messiah.

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3. Peter whose identity was immediately changed by one word from Jesus.
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4. Philip who heard Christ say, "Follow Me." And Philip just followed. In essence, Philip's response was "OKAY."
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5. Then we have Nathanael. The skeptic. He had to have some evidence, and a personal encounter that revealed something about Nathanael, himself, before he would believe in this Messiah. Nathanael is the first clue that Jesus came by an unexpected route to be the Messiah of Israel.

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I love how the broader fabric of believers who come to Christ is represented in these five men. Some come easily and in instant obedience, others come just because the see something that makes them curious, while others immediately bring those closest to them to Christ, still others linger in the background fully believing but reluctant to be identified. Then there is the one whose identity was changed by one word from Jesus. Speak, Lord. And finally the skeptic who required evidence. Yet, when he realized the truth --- He was sold out! He even received a promise greater than salvation for the trouble. WHEW! What a day.

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The Pharisees inquired.

The Pharisees were looking for a Messiah. At the first inclination that someone was preaching and teaching with authority they sent out a band of inquistors to investigate the matter. These men were Jewish, most likely priests and Levites from Jerusalem. As a matter of fact - the NKJV identifies them in just this way. They questioned John about who He was and what he was doing preaching repentence through water baptism. They were looking for a redeemer. Any redeemer would do: Elijah, Moses, the Christ... When John answered them... The inquisitors were the first to hear John's testimony of Jesus, but still they demanded more of an answer. They clearly did not understand what John was telling them.

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From this account I realized the Pharisees were desperate to see Prophecy regarding the Messiah fulfilled. They needed a redeemer and deliver. However, The Pharisees were merely curious to know if John was the Messiah, but not driven to pursue their curiousity themselves. They did not want to be caught questioning John. Why? The same reason we often do not go to God and ask ourselves and receive from Him. Because they knew that the knowledge could change the game completely and they were not quite ready to surrender everything to receive the promise.

John's testimony to the inquisitors was that the Messiah was already among them and they didn't even recognize Him. He said, as the AMP translates it, "[the Messiah is one] of whom you know nothing." As I conclude my observations about the Pharisees, I realize that these Jewish leaders refused to see the truth that they were looking for... They only recognized their own limited authority and intellectual understanding and the broader, further reaching power of the Roman, secular government. They had no foundation upon which to build their revelation upon. They only believed in their idea of God, not the truth of God. OUCH!
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In closing I would like to add a few notes from my reading that I have not yet included. John confessed openly the truth about his identity to the priests and Levites who came to question him. In the AMP confession is identified as simply "stating the truth." John not only admitted the truth, he also did not try to conceal it. He boldly proclaimed, "I am not the Christ." John also admits he did not previously know the Christ. He simply knew that his purpose in baptizing with water was to bring revelation to the manifest presence of God in the Christ. His evidence was that the Holy Spirit came to rest upon Jesus and was never to depart.

As I read this I realized, no one in John's generation had ever seen a visible representation of the Holy Spirit before. But, that is the very sign John was looking for. God promised John a sign to help him recognize when the Messiah showed up and John patiently served until he saw what he had been looking for. Before the day that John saw the Spirit come down and rest upon Jesus... The Spirit came and went empowering men only for seasons of ministry. But John saw the advent of a new era when the Holy Spirit would rest upon man and never depart. I love how the AMP version notes that John's words carry this message - "I really saw it happen!" As if to say - there is no way I'm making this up, this is really the Son of God. (LOVE IT!)
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The setting of this first chapter is in Bethany (Bethabara, east of the Jordan - at the Jordan crossing) and Galilee, near Bethsaida.

I also noted that from the AMP version I wrote down that to believe in means to adhere to, trust in, rely upon. That the Light that Jesus brought was a genuine, perfect and steadfast light that illumines every person. And, that receiving Jesus means to welcome Him. When we receive Him he gives us authority that brings the power, privilege and right to become Children of God. We owe our spiritual birth to God, we are born of Him when we receive Christ. And... in closing I recognized that as a man, Jesus' only glory was His relationship with His Father.

I weighed the Word in
four primary translations:

Okay... So it's now your turn... What did you find in your reading of the book of John this week: (be sure to link directly to your post... and add the linky below)!

Weighing the Word: Reading Assignments Through May 28th

Week One Reading: John Chapter One.

Remember to read the entire chapter each day!

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If you would like to join us, click the picture icon (left), read the requirements and post a comment with your name and city or state to acknowledge you will be joining us on this weekly journey! Then dive on in.

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A few TIPS:

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1. Pray daily before your reading. Be sure to A) Confess any known sins, and B) ask the Holy Spirit to guide you and reveal to you anything He wants you to know, and C) Ask God to clarify anything that you had trouble understanding from the day before.

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2. When you read, look for the following:

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* Things that are repeated often.

* Make special note of anything you sense God is drawing to your attention. (Mark your Bible and/or Journal as you read)

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* Make note of any observations you have for the first time.

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* Anything that makes you laugh or strikes you as unusual. Things that makes you laugh, go HMM... or HUH?
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* Anything that helps you to identify and relate to Christ in a more meaningful way.

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* If a particular Scripture speaks specifically to something in your life. (THIS IS FREE: Write that Scripture on an index card and memorize it!)

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*Write down things that confuse or distract you. Write down Questions and ask the Holy Spirit to guide you into all truth.

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3. Keep a journal/paper and pen handy to keep track of your notes or to process what you read daily.

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4. Read from at least two or three translations of the chapter during the week. (If you don't have more than one copy, you can use http://www.biblegateway.com/ for your reading.) This will help to keep it fresh.

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5. Try to avoid making this a "religious exercise" and look at this as a "relationship exercise." Put away what you've been taught and already know and ask for fresh spiritual eyes to see the chapter anew. Do what works for you... speaks to you... This is about you relating to and getting to know God through His Word on a daily basis more than it is about keeping a set of standards or rules. Accountability is important, so if you get stuck or are struggling - join us for our weekly post and read through what others observed and share what you are struggling with so we can pray for you. Also, even if you are very familiar with a story - look for things you've never read, observed or noticed before.

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6. Check in and pray for those who are participating with us. And Most of ALL ENJOY IT!

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Read the entire Chapter
Daily for seven days:

April 1-7:
John Chapter One
(Post the 8th)

April 8-14:
John Chapter Two
(Post the 15th)

April 15-21:
John Chapter Three
(Post the 22nd)

April 22nd-28th:
John Chapter Four
(Post the 29th)

April 29-May 5:
John Chapter Five
(Post the 6th)

May 6-12:
John Chapter Six
(Post the 13th)

May 13-19:
John Chapter Seven
(Post the 20th)

May 20-27:
John Chapter Eight
(Post the 28th)

Calling All Followers

Are you a follower?
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Well, if you are - there may be a pit in your future... Unless you are following Jesus, of course! .

That is exactly what this post is about. I want to do something kind of fun, kind of cool and definitely a way to gain great insight and perspective from our Lord.

So my question now is are you game?
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Here are the guidelines for participation:
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1. Commit to 21 weeks of Bible Reading.
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2. Be willing to write a post each week about what you observe as you read.
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3. Be willing to post here and leave a link back to your post for others to read.
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4. A heart ready to discover new heights and depths of the reality and TRUTH that is our God!
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5. Advertise this opportunity on your blog by asking others join you in reading and sharing observations.
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6. OH! And I should add, you cannot use study aids such as Study Bible Notes, Bible Dictionaries or Lexicons, Commentaries, or other resources to help you gain understanding. The Holy Spirit will be our guide.
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7. Leave a comment on this post if you are able to join us for this fun and insightful opportunity.
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Leave you name and city or state in the comments of this post please... Our first reading assignment will come on Wednesday, April 1st. And that is not an April Fool's joke. Let's start this off right by choosing to do something exceptional and not be a fool, but grow in Wisdom and truth instead.

Here we go! Check it out.

WOMEN! Part One

A few of the sweet ladies of CTBC that I worked with daily and decorated the

church with on an annual basis.

Our last Christmas party. Look at these beautiful women. I still

can hardly believe they trusted me with the privilege of leading them

to the Throne of Grace.

One night at Bible Study...
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These pictures are of the dear women I served with, learned from, led in ministry and still love after servign them for four years at Chisholm Trail Baptist Church. Truthfully, Chisholm was classic small town church in some ways --- and PHENOMENALLY different in others. These women are one of the ways it was different.

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At Chisholm, the church was made up of the standard 20-30% of people who always volunteered, always showed up and always gave of themselves, their time and their resources for the church and the furtherment of God's Kingdom. But, what marked this church as remarkably phenomenal was and is its heart to help people who have no relationship with God at all to find, believe in, grow in, serve in, love one another in, and become passionate about! The unchurched, the "fire insurance" brand of Christian, the lost and lonely prodigal and the chronic pit dweller are welcomed with open arms and loved unconditionally.

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We found this little church in September, 2000. We were drawn their by the awesome After School Program that was hosted by the church and directed by the Pastor's Wife, Claudia. I worked in the elementary school where the program was hosted, and my girls became regular weekly attenders there when I had after school acitivies for my job or the PTA.

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Before long, those little girls were dying to go to "Bibleville" after M.A.S.H. on the church van. But, being the sound, Biblical mother that I am. I replied, "Not until I visit that church and see what they're about. Just because it says church on the outside - doesn't mean there is church going on on the inside."

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OH MY GOODNESS. I was so "baby" in Christian terms, I really thought the only reason I should go was because my husband and my children had never met Jesus. BOY, did God have other plans for me.

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We walked through those doors that fall about 20 minutes early for the church service and about in the middle of the adult Sunday school. By the way, did I mention that the church met in two locations! Not bad for a small rural church. The children were shuttled up to a small old church building off the main drag through town for Sunday School while the adults met for the early services at the "High Tech Modular Building" on the new 5 acre church site that would soon house a "state of the art" worship facility.

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That church is there, and has a $1,000,000 Family Life Center sitting behind. A miracle I had the privilege of witnessing and praying through.

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At Chisholm, my family met Jesus through its people. We were welcomed with warm hugs, loving people and eventually we found out most of them were just like us. Broken, hurting and riddled with difficulties, struggles and needs. By January 2001, my husband and my two oldest children had accepted Christ as their personal Savior. We were early to church on both Wednesdays and Sundays. The Pastor was once heard to say that we beat him to the church every week. We began to grow and that is when our choices and the enemy's plans took us to the desert. I'm pretty sure the Holy Spirit was directing from the arm's length we held Him, but alas, the desert it was. We went to live with my parents for a year. During one of the most tragic and difficult times in this nation's history we were living with family and commuting back and forth to work every single day.

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My husband, new in his relationship with God, gave up taking us to church quickly. But, a year later we had a chance encounter with the sweet Pastor of Chisholm Trail Baptist Church who said these words to us: "Every day since you left we have been praying for you to come back."

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The next week my husband said, "We're going to church."

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That first day back the Pastor asked, "What do we have to do to get you back permanent?"

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"We need a house that we can all live in."

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Three months later we were back. Renting a early 1900s BRIGHT BLUE (Bear in the Big Blue House Blue) house that had belonged to one of the most beloved, deceased member's family. We had a home.

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This church loved us that first year back into the family and our hearts began to grow deeper and more in tune with God and His work amongst us. My husband and I began to volunteer in youth ministry and our children began to thrive. We were finally where we belonged.

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In the summer of 2003, I discovered Beth Moore's in-depth Bible studies. I thought my head and my heart might explode from all the goodness I found there. For some twelve weeks that summer, I sat in my "office" with my Pastor's wife and we became intimately acquainted with the life of the apostle John and the Jesus he grew to love so deeply and write about so passionately. I fell full on into the embrace of the love of God. "Beloved Disciple."

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At the end of that summer, I was invited to come to the church to co-facilitate Bible study with the women there. That first session of study, God gave us eight women. And if I recall correctly, one of them was not a member of our church. We walked through the pages of Scripture beside "Jesus, the One and Only." We learned about His family, His mother, His life and His ministry. I began for the first time in my life to personally identify with and relate to my Lord and Savior. My heart and head were so full. My heart was actually catching up with my head. That Christmas we spent a great time fellowshipping and sharing a meal over the Christmas story and a gift exchange. The handful of women who attended were a blessing and I was so anxious to see what God would do next among us.

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The following spring we did so many things I can barely recount them. We dove into the life of David in "A Heart Like His." To my delight we had twelve women on the roster. It was during this study that I learned that my calling was to women, not youth. I was terrified. At not even 35 years of age and with a couple of seasons of good solid Bible study under my belt, I was facing the potential to become the women's minister at my church. WHAT?

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I invited the women to accompany on a trip to San Antonio for the National Women of Faith Conference over Spring Break and you'll never believe... eight Women made the trip.

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We had a blast. Those eight ladies came back dog tired and fellowshipped and fed. We were officially heart sisters. Oh The Lord is so good. We left under a cloud of uncertainty about that $1,000,000 we had been praying for together. The money that built the Family Life Center.
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Upon our return we learned that Pastor was going to pick up a check from the generous benefactor who had offered to help build the Family Life Center. There was great rejoicing in our hearts. And we learned the power of prayer to be sure.

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We finished out the spring study with "When Godly People Do Ungodly Things." This study, as I have previously written was the start of something revolutionary in my life. My heart began to change in those days of digging around in God's Word about the assaults and schemes of the enemy against the godly and how to stand and fight in the attack. I saw myself and my role on the front lines of Spiritual Warfare pounding a rhythm in my cadence that God's heart beats to in my life still.

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I spoke that year at the Mother-Daughter Banquet when our speaker backed out at the last minute. My ability to teach and draw practical application from Scripture surfaced that day. God used that half hour to teach me and my friends something about Beauty Inside and Out.
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That summer was a fabulous time. We began planning and looking to host a women's conference at our church. It worked out to be a one day conference of "Life in the Spirit." The women of my little Bible study group rallied around the vision for this event and we hosted 40 women as the Lord came down and ministered through eight breakout sessions on the nine qualities of the fruit of the Spirit and one very gifted speaker who used her artistic abilities and the gift of teaching to illustrate the way spiritual growth releases the flow of the Holy Spirit in our lives. I was stunned and amazed and my heart to create first class experiences for the women of our church was born.

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We journeyed through the study, "Believing God" that fall and traveled back to San Antonio for the Lifeway Women's Conference. We heard Beth Moore and Jennifer Rothschild along with Mary Kaissian that weekend. And I learned to value the hearts, the growth and the differences that I shared with my sisters in Christ. A few week's later we had a fabulous Crock Pot Christmas Party.

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By the end of the Holiday season we were ready to step into "Living Beyond Yourself." And my family stepped into 2005 to face by far the most difficult and tragic time of our lives. I felt like I might have to step away from ministry as my son's problems not only surfaced but came to a rolling boil. His choices and dysfunction was threatening to undo me. I prayed hard and often. Eventually, I realized I had to trust God and move forward until God showed me different. Oh, and we did.

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I hosted a vision casting luncheon that spring. I also developed a much needed ministry plan for our ladies. Back door ministry opportunities require some time to catch up. I called myself the "Women's Ministry Administrator" because I felt surely inadequate calling myself a minister.

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I had an opportunity to interview some dynamic speakers as we began planning the fall conference again. I was excited about the speaker potential and the women God was raising up as leaders in our group. I invited the ladies to join me in the ministry. My heart longed to see them own it, and God had arranged for just that opportunity.

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They stepped up. By this time we had some twenty or so women attending on a weekly basis. It blessed my socks off to watch these women come into their own in Bible study. I could hardly believe what was happening. These women, a handful of them much senior to me in years, deferred to me and came to me for help, for counsel and for understanding. I barely knew what to do. I had to lean into God then and trust His Word to me. What did He say? Sometimes the maturity I'm looking for is Spiritual and not physical.

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A few week's before Justin's accident we began a study of "The Patriarchs." I remember those first couple of days after the accident that one of my friends and fellow Bible sojourners came in and said, "Get together all the stuff I'll need and I'll open the building and set things up for the meetings. Claudia and I will take care of things until you can come back."

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They did. Not only that, they showed up in droves with food every day at the hospital to pray with and for us and to just cry with me when I needed it. These women served faithfully at the funeral service and stopped by daily. They sent cards and flowers and they even gave me the much needed space that I was seeking in my grief. I returned to Bible study near November and don't quite remember what the Christmas party that year looked like. We worked our party into the Bible study sessions and used it as an opportunity to invite women who were not attending regularly and give them a taste of our Bible study along with a gift exchange and some fun, food and fellowship. The hallmark of our ministry. Facts, Food, and Fun.

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The last few studies we did were during the season when God changed my heart and began the process of moving us to Gateway. "Breaking Free" and "Daniel: Words of Prophecy, Lives of Integrity" covered three semesters of study. We finished up by studying the "Loving Well" retreat study over the last few weeks of spring 2007. We introduced worship to our weekly Bible study and took some time to unwind and just love each other well. That summer, God moved us to Gateway. I recently had the opportunity to visit their Bible study group, now under the leadership of the Pastor's wife. I was blessed to see nearly twenty women in attendance, and there were several absent. They were full on studying Esther and soaking up every word. The Glory of it all... God moved me into a knew arena of women and God moved them into a whole new arena of relationship and growth under new/old leadership.

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Women. I was scared to death to lead them, terrified to speak in front of them and blessed beyond measure when God introduced me to them and ramped up the qualities in me that I woudl need to learn how to serve them in His presence. He is so very good. I thank God for the women in my life.
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It is finished...

Okay... So I have not written anything in OH SO LONG! Well, of course unless you count the 100 or so pages of Bible Study I just completed and the fifty or so more of leader guide to go with it. OH MY! I had no idea what it would take, but I am grateful to say I finished it in a MONTH! Four weeks. It is not the in-depth style of study that Bethie writes, but it is a Session Lesson with four or five activities for the week along with handouts and such to help them along the way! Oh Glory... I can barely stand it - now September 17th must, must, must hurry up and get here! MUST!

And, I have 6 whole days before I converge with 100s of other women in San Antonio for the LPL SIESTA FIESTA! You can read all about us here.

Be sure to pick up one of our Siesta Cookbooks - I think I submitted a recipe or two. ;o)

Well, I will be back later with some fabulous post about what I'll be wearing, how I am traveling and so on but for now - I am just going to bid you adieu and say hasta la vista, baby!

I'm BI-LINGUAL... If only in goodbyes.

AUF WIEDERSEHEN!

Getting Real...With No Other Gods

UPDATE: Thanks to those who visited my blog and commented on this post - I regret very much that I had to turn on comment moderation and hide the comments on this post due to a comment that included a link I did not wish to promote on my blog. Again, I regret having to take this action, but I am only trying to honor my convictions and could not in good conscience allow anything at my blog to redirect others to something I did not believe to beneficial in every way.

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I'm doing the Siesta Summer Bible Study with the LPM crew and the Lifeway Forum girls. And, ladies, I just covet your prayers this day. I have had some real breakthrough issues related to strongholds I have that are idols and footholds for the enemy.
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I want to share what I posted at the forum, because I am sure that others will relate to what I wrote... and it tells us in the book of James to confess our sins one to another... Confession is good for the soul and God and I are doing business.
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The response is to a personal reflection question on p. 39 of the study: "What sinful desires are obscuring your identity in Christ? I don't want you to end on the negative, so after praying and naming those things, write how dealing with those sins could exposse yor God-given goodness and give you a greater identity in a world of hungry people?"
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Here is what I responded this morning:
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Mine was related to my desire for approval and acceptance... In the past I have gone and spent money I don't have on a new wardrobe - literally 3 or 4 outfits at one time complete with shoes, jewelry and what-not accessories, hair style/color, etc. just to get the "right" look [whatever that is]... It is insane.
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I realized at the end of my first marriage I had a bad habit of shopping to make myself "feel better." Then my demon of choice was the craft store. We had the most well decorated home in three counties, I'd dress it to the nines. And, this because I was angry at my abusive husband so I would spend every last dime in the bank account to feel like I had control over something and to get even! FOOLISH BEHAVIOR.
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I carried that behavior into this marriage to some extent. The only thing, I was better at covering my tracks. I'll never forget the realization that I was "pulling my house down with my own hands" to paraphrase Proverbs 14:1.
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I found a way to "undo" the compulsive nature of that problem, but not my emotional response that triggered it. So, this is an area where I need prayer - these are deep strongholds ladies - years - decades old. There are also some generational sin issues attached. And, there is that nagging fear that at some point the "jig will be up" and someone will discover my "nasty little secret." [So, I confess it to you all, and to God before men... I'm not kidding myself - there is much work to be done here... even if the light is shining and I am ready to clean house!]
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The second thing is the desire I have to fix it myself. Whether it is a relationship, finances, a stronghold, someone else's pain - I want to be the rescuer - and that just ain't (pardon my grammar) how it's done. Can you say CONTROL FREAK!?
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Laying down control is the single hardest thing I find I have to do to overcome the idols in my life. I can't play at life like one plays out the moves on a chess board. I will end up in check-mate with the enemy... and a grand chess player I ain't.
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ALL OF THIS DRIVEN BY FEAR OF REJECTION, FEAR OF EXPOSURE, but most especially FEAR THAT I AM THE ONE THAT GOD CANNOT MEND...If I were to deal in truth with these areas I believe several key things would happen:
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1.) I could be myself and stop hiding what I fear people will despise and be real for a change.
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2.) Giving things over to God would alleviate the fear in my life. It would shift the control to God and away from the footholds I have given the enemy who stands accusing me before my Father in the throne room.
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3.) What I once did to "protect" and "control" would be turned to time spent devoted to God - to pleasing Him by allowing Him to be elevated fully in my life - thus His honor and glory would be revealed as He is truly first in every area of my life.
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This little post just saps the energy right out of you.
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I must find the will to surrender all of this - it must start today...
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I surrender it Lord, You can take this miserable life I've made for myself and do with it as You will. I cannot live this way any longer. I don't want to take one more step in any direction Lord if You do not go with me... I long for YOU THE MOST! You are my heart's one desire, sanctify me Lord, wash away the crusty, nasty filth I have immersed myself in for years and show me who You created me to be. I long to be full of YOU so that nothing of me remains. Show Your glory in this place Lord, Show us the way Home.
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In Christ's name I pray, Amen.
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You know I was broken an hour ago, but now my heart is filled with such joy... You see last week on Thursday night I began the monumental task of putting my physical house in order. We were having a walk through scheduled for Friday and I being the eternal procrastinator - put everything off to the last minute. Including the mountain of laundry that had been on hold for a couple of months now.
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Now you know why I have a penchant for buying new wardrobes, because the one I already have is perpetually in the laundry. I digress...
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So around midnight on Thursday/Friday I had gotten the entry hall, kitchen and living room standing tall! I mean the high order of eat off the floor clean. I had even spot cleaned the carpet with a hand brush and towel - it was truly inspired because I would never do this of my own free will.
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The next morning I rolled out of bed early and began to hit it again. I had some loose ends like the kitchen table to clean up. Then I started unloading the piles of laundry collected around the house. I had asked my daughters three times to clean their rooms and their bathroom to no avail. So at 10:00 AM I threw open their doors and rolled them out of bed, too. They both were up scrambling to tidy up their rooms while I began to tackle their bathroom. One end of the house accomplished, I looked at the massive pile of clothes sitting in front of the laundry room door and thought - Oh Lord, I'll never get it done. I pulled out a laundry hamper and all the laundry baskets I could find - and my eldest and I sorted every last piece of clothing in and outside of the laundry room.
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It was a chore and we had about 20 loads of wash amassed when we were through. I started the machine and inserted load #1... 30 minutes later I loaded it in the dryer and started load #2... 30 minutes later load #1 was still damp, so I unloaded #2 onto the top of the dryer and put #3 in the washer... My task continued at this pace for three days... No Kidding... THREE DAYS! By the time of the walk through I had done half the laundry and PUT IT AWAY which is to date the coup de grace (which I now know means the death blow to end the suffering of a wounded creature) of the entire laundry event was that my entire house is now fit for company anytime, any day - when can I expect a visit? LOL! I really should have taken pictures because it was such a remarkable moment in my life.
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While the laundry was washing on Friday, I finished off the master bathroom, bedroom and closet and found that I was quite satisfied with the entire experience by the time I got through just in time to shower and dress for the walk through at 5:00 PM. Now let me tell you why this is so important... Because my physical house is in order while my spiritual house is still a bit askew.
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That is what this "No Other Gods" study is all about for me. Cleaning up my spiritual house and getting things in order. I believe this process started last summer when I woke up to some serious lies I was buying and began to work my way out of that situation into a new one. The problem with buying a lie is -- you can't just return it to the sales clerk and undo the damage. I can't even sell this particular lie in a garage sale - I have to deal with the effects of the lie in my life and believe me these are lies other people have told me, lies I have told myself (obviously) and lies have been a party to by virtue of immaturity in my faith. It is a large tangled mess of cords, cobwebs and "junk" for lack of a better word.
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Last summer I went into a season of alone that I thought would do me in, and then all of a sudden - God started speaking... I think He had been trying to get my attention but could not get through over the den of my own voice ringing in my ears. Habakkuk 2:2-3 was where He started and then on to a journey through the Hebrew Names of God - which you guys have been on board for since the first of the year - and now this study.
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God is slowly unknotting and untangling the cords that I've allowed to twist me up and keep me bound away from Him --- He is blowing the dust and cobwebs out of those deep recesses and corners of my heart and mind and showing me places where I have pushed some things out of sight for a season or so... even decades. He is gently revealing to me the truth about myself and He is showing me that I am not the one person He cannot mend. He is God and with Him all things are possible - His Son died so that I could mend. He wants all of me, not just what I am willing to surrender.
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I see myself as Rachel after Jacob left Laban. She had stolen the household idols and was sitting on them when her father arrived to recover the family gods. Rachel sat on them claiming she was on her "monthly" to keep them from looking under her skirt. (Genesis 31).
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I feel like I been sitting on my gods pretending not to have them when my Father knew they were there all along. No Other Gods - is not a terrible lot of homework, but what there is brings a depth and richness of empowerment to the broken and wayward soul.
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Let's not sit on our idols - let's give them the Heave-Ho! And let's do it right quick! I'm going to forego my Names of God post this week... I feel I really need to spend a great deal of today just focused on my relationship with the Lord. Next Week, we will study the name of God, Yahweh Roi - The Lord is my shepherd. Love Ya'll!

To order a copy of Kelly Minter's "No Other Gods" Bible Study from Lifeway Resources - click on the picture above.

**COMMENTS CLOSED**

Momma's Chicken Enchiladas

Hey all - If you want to join us in the Siesta Summer Bible Study Bethie is hosting over at her BLOG! Several places are hosting the Bible Study: Beth and her crew over at LPM, The Siestas over at Siestaville are also putting together a shin dig, and well, I am facilitating a wild ride over at the Lifeway Forums... So take Your Pick! Free homework samples are available at Lifeway - No Other Gods by Kelly Minter scroll down to the bottom of the page and print out the material for the introduction and session one and you are all set. You will need a book for future weeks, but this week you are all set! Books are available for $12.95 at your local Lifeway Christian Store or online at the above link.

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Each time we meet (every other Tuesday starting today) we are to share a common meal.

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Momma's Chicken Enchildas:

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(2) roasted or boiled cornish hens - deboned

(1) 26 oz. can of cream of chicken soup

(1) 14 oz. can of chicken broth

@ 2 c. of shredded Cheddar Cheese

(1) 8 oz. can of Rotel (or 1.2 cup of sliced jalapenos) - optional

20-24 corn tortillas

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Preheat oven at 350 degrees

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Mix together: deboned chicken, cream of chicken soup and rotel tomatoes

Bring 1/4 cup of chicken broth to a boil

Allow the chicken tortillas to soak in boiling broth a few seconds then layer in the bottom of a greased 9x13 in. pan. Pour chicken and soup mixture into the pan and layer top with cheddar cheese, continue to layer chicken soup, cheese and tortilla's until it is the top layer is corn tortillas, cover top with remaining cheddar cheese.

Back for 20-30 minutes until all the cheese is melted and tortillas start to crisp.

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I am serving mine with refried beans and spanish rice. Enjoy!

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Blessings.