Just sneaking in a few more profound thoughts from 1 Cor 7 - too fascinating to keep to myself! 

v 22: He who was a slave when he was called by the Lord is the Lord’s freedman; similarly, he who was a free man when he was called is Christ’s slave.

• God is the ultimate master. He has bought us, so we do belong to him, yet he has bought us for freedom!  What a beautiful paradox! And truly, it is only in living for him and serving him that we can truly life free.  The chains of sin automatically attach themselves to us like powerful magnetic forces.  Only being united to Christ – being attached to him – can break that magnetic force and keep us free from oppressive slavery.  

And... last, you can't rightly blog 1 Cor 7 without talking about sex, so here it is!

v 4-5: "The wife’s body does not belong to her alone but also to her husband. In the same way, the husband’s body does not belong to him alone but also to his wife. Do not deprive each other except by mutual consent and for a time, so that you may devote yourselves to prayer. Then come together again so that Satan will not tempt you..."

• As a married woman, God calls me to pursue sexual intimacy! God created me to enjoy sexuality and it is a sacred union that God planned for us to discover and explore together in marriage.  Maintaining and protecting our sexual relationship will protect and guard our marriage - help keep it affair-proof!  (v 5) Wow…  some new thoughts for me there!  :-)

I can’t put into words the miracle of this morning.  I woke up at 1:30. You might think I just do that sort of thing, but I don’t and I generally find I can’t!  The last time I got up near 1 to study was about 10 years ago.  These days I often struggle to get up at 7!  Anyway, I had a late assignment that I needed to get done and God knew I had less time and more study ahead of me than I realized, so he woke up at 1:30.  Just like that, I was awake and alert.  Such a gift!

I enjoyed such a rich prayer and study time with Him…  I almost forgot I needed to study! Haha!  Fact is, my expectations were a bit on the ho-hum side this morning.  I was due to study 1 Cor 7 and I already knew what it was about – from memory, mostly sex – and I felt like I’d already read through it plenty of times.  But as it turned out, I learned - so much!  In fact, it’s hard to choose what to share because every part is so special to me.

Here’s my big thought passage:  1 Cor 7:29-31 "What I mean, brothers, is that the time is short. From now on those who have wives should live as if they had none; those who mourn, as if they did not; those who are happy, as if they were not; those who buy something, as if it were not theirs to keep; those who use the things of the world, as if not engrossed in them. For this world in its present form is passing away."

At first, I thought something like, “What in the world?” but then, as I prayed, it made sense.  This passage suggests to that whatever this life involves us in shouldn’t completely absorb us. We don't need to get stuck in the rut of life or sucked into its rate race. The here and now is only temporary, only God is worth the top spot on my priorities list.  This is the truly important in a life that crowds me with multiple urgencies.  In the midst of it all, God calls to me not to allow them to tyrannize my life and steal my peace.  May I never let the urgent crowd out the truly important! 

I've been thinking about writing a blog post about my journey out of legalism eventually. Today I realized I can't put it off!

I used to live by so many rules. I noticed the bad effect of a movie I watched, so I decided - no more movies. Full stop. Secular music seemed like dangerous ground, so I refused to listen to anything secular. My health was religious, too. I wouldn't eat anything that could possibly be unhealthy in any way. I ended up going 85% raw and making everything from scratch for a while. But I wasn't happy or enjoying a fulfilling intimate relationship with God. I struggled to find meaning in my devotional life and I felt guilty for some broken rule 99% of the time. I was often "disappointed" by the Christians around me who I saw breaking rules (read: judgmental - yes, I was!). I felt like I was better than them, and yet... I knew I wasn't making it.

Then, I found freedom! I discovered that most of my rules weren't divinely binding and I ditched many of them. I stopped worrying about trying to be good enough for God, and decided to just get to know Him. (That is when I started journalling.) I read the Bible with new questions, "Who is God? What is he actually like? what is his personality?" I decided I would get to know him the way I try to get to know any new friend. That's when I really started to fall in love with Him. I started to enjoy my daily devotions. I lived free from guilt, so I was finally light-hearted and truly happy. I learned to accept everyone and love them as they were. I also discovered that I could know I was saved just because I had accepted Jesus sacrifice for my sins (1 John 5:13, John 3:16).  I finally found huge, unending joy in being a Christian. As for my life, I still tried to be healthy, but I didn't stress about it too much. I even decided that I could eat chocolate  (I grew up not eating chocolate and believing it to be a sin to eat it.) I watched movies, sometimes even to an excess. I enjoyed dancing around the house to secular favourites like "Pretty Woman".

Some of these things have changed as I have noticed them hurting my closeness with my Father, who I love desperately.  But today's passage spoke to my journey powerfully and gave me new understanding: "Everything is permissible - but not everything is beneficial. Everything is permissible - but I will not be mastered by anything." (1 Cor 6:12)

"Everything is permissible to me" - yes, I can eat chocolate, I can listen to secular music, I can watch movies. All true. As long as I am pursuing and loving God, I am still his child.

"but not everything is beneficial" - it's not a sin for me to eat chocolate, but is it good for me? (I'm fascinated that the Corinthian Christians hugely abused their freedom in Christ, but Paul didn't react by writing a list of rules).

Everything is permitted, "but I will not be mastered by anything" - this line made me think about movies, novels and music, in particular. I can watch a movie, listen to music and still be God's child. But that doesn't change the fact that when I do so, I am giving over some control of me to these mediums. After I watch a movie, I find myself thinking about it over and over for at least the next few days. Just yesterday, I noticed a cute country song I heard weeks ago playing in my head. I didn't decide to play it in my head - it chose to make me listen to it that time! In what I watch and what I listen to, I am giving some control away. This doesn't suggest to me that I should never watch another movie or listen to another song, but when I choose what I watch or what I listen to, I'll ask myself, "Am I happy to give this a place in my mind? Am I willing for it play over and over and feed my soul?" I don't feel that cuts out all movies or all secular music, but it gives me the right questions to ask when I choose them - questions about which path I want to be on, about how serious I am about making God my number one today and tomorrow.


Yes, some of my new convictions might sound like reminders of the rules I used to live by. But now I know they don't affect how God feels about me. As long as I want him and love him, I am his girl. But I love him so much now that its easy to ditch anything that takes me away from him. I have found such joy, such satisfaction and real LIFE in him, all I want is to be closer to him - to live always in the peace and joy I find in his arms.

It is because of these pages in my experience, that I strongly resonate with David's words, "Your love is better than life!" 

Good morning & happy Sabbath! I didn't have time to do my typical study in Corinthians, so I spent some time in Psalm 81 instead. I love doing something different every now for variety. :-)

I have been flat out this morning with getting ready for church (even more so because I'm coordinating the service today and I had to print out run sheets etc), so I'm actually writing this in the car on the way to church!

Here are some thoughts from my reading:
Ps 81:8, 11, 13, 14, 16: “Hear, O my people, and I will warn you— if you would but listen to me, O Israel! 11 “But my people would not listen to me; Israel would not submit to me. 13 “If my people would but listen to me, if Israel would follow my ways, 14 how quickly would I subdue their enemies and turn my hand against their foes! ...you would be fed with the finest of wheat; with honey from the rock I would satisfy you.”

I couldn't help but feel the depths of God's yearning for authentic relationship with his people. There is such a heartbreaking pathos in his anguish! I couldn't help but respond with "Oh Father, I will listen! I will follow your ways! You are my hero, you deliver me from the attacks of the enemy. I am nourished, well fed and completely satisfied in You!"

This song speaks to me so deeply... the lyrics stir my heart and the melody soothes my soul.

My favourite line: At the end of my heart's testing / With Your likeness let me wake. The beauty of God captivates my spirit... and the longing to have his loveliness in me makes me a true captive to hope. 

P.s isn't the poem thrilling, too?!

I'll confess I was a bit worried about this morning’s reading.  I remembered 1 Corinthians 5 as the part about the man who’s sleeping with his stepmother – inspiring stuff, for sure! :-) So I specifically asked God to teach me something practical. 

This passage jumped out at me: 1 Cor 5:6- 8 “Don’t you know that a little yeast works through the whole batch of dough? 7 Get rid of the old yeast that you may be a new batch without yeast—as you really are. For Christ, our Passover lamb, has been sacrificed. 8 Therefore let us keep the Festival, not with the old yeast, the yeast of malice and wickedness, but with bread without yeast, the bread of sincerity and truth.”

I couldn't figure out what this could mean for me at first. So I pasted it into a word document and started by summarizing it  in my own words.  Then I saw what God was trying to tell me. I was reminded of all the 'little things' I do in my day that I shouldn't do at the time – checking facebook during my prayer time, reading a few pages from a storybook when I should be studying and so on... 

It happened yesterday! I knew I needed to get an assignment done, but I kept checking my blog and facebook. Then I wandered off and read a storybook for an hour.  After I put the book down, I felt so far from God I cried. 

I keep asking God to lead me through the day, and then so often I go off and do my own thing.  It has happened so many times I had to wonder, "Will I ever change?" and also, the question of "Why is God so far when what I did was so innocent?"

I feel like God explained it to me in this morning's passage.  These little things, like those few grains of yeast change  my whole direction and break my connection with God.  It is kind of like we are on this road together and when I veer off to do my own thing, I am unclasping my hand from his and leaving the path. It might only seem like a small step off the path, but it leads away from the path.  Once I have left the path, I find I have to to turn around and struggle back before I can be back at His side, walking hand in hand again.

But praise God!  This passage reminded me that even though  I might mix some deadly yeast into my life, that’s not who I am.  God continues to call me back to himself and into my true identity – the new me.
 
Daddy, thank you! now I understand... You can’t come with me when I leave the path, because that is the devil’s territory. So that's is why I feel so alone and empty when I go off and do my own thing!  But you always take me back with open arms. You give me sweet words of comfort and love. You remind me of who I am - I am yours. How I want to walk with you, hand in hand always! 

He is "the fairest among 10,000"

Good morning!

Sometimes I have to wonder why I get to be so blessed! I have struggled along pitifully at many stages in my life, but right now, I feel like I'm more than blessed than I can cope with!  Last night, we had a small group meeting in my home, and I found myself thinking, "Wow, we've been meeting for over a year and I feel so safe, loved and at home with the ladies in my group, plus the Word becomes so much more real to me as we study it together." I think, "How can this be happening to me?! It's the first small group I've attended, I'm the co-leader and it is so rewarding. Why me?!"

I'm also grateful for this blog. I struggle to see the need for yet another blog, but when I first stumbled across Sean Neblett's page, Lofty Studios, I felt moved to create a chronicle of my own journeying with God.  Since I started, I've barely posted - like, less than once bimonthly!  One of my main struggles was that I felt like I needed to have something really extra special to write - plus the time to edit it to perfection.  But just a few days ago I was invited to join a Bible-reading accountability group on facebook. After a few days of writing a few lines each day about what I'd read and learned, I realised that I could blog in exactly the same way.  So... if my posts are grammatically strange, painfully long or somehow else strange... well, yeah :-)  I'm particularly grateful, because I so much wanted to post more often and I feel like God made it doable!

I'm feeling blessed to have a super techie husband who stayed up last night to get this new template working, too.  (If you like it, feel free to comment, so that I can pass on the thanks to him! ;-)

And lastly... I am so blessed TODAY by an unexpected early wake up and an awesome time of discovery in 1 Corinthians 4. But more about in my longer post that below.

Talk soon... be blessed!

P.s seriously, His love is way better than anything else life could ever offer!

Here are some lessons gathered from 1 Cor 4!

• The paradox of ministry:  a pastor is a slave (the most insignificant person). But he is a slave of Christ, whose work is to caretake the hidden treasures of God (which is the most significant work).
• It doesn’t matter what people think of you – whether they love you or hate you, praise you or criticize you, because as servant of God, he is the only one who can determine how good your work is – even you can’t!  So don’t set your heart on the approval of your teachers, employers or friends.  Seek God’s approval.  (v 3 – 5)
• Don’t compare yourselves with people around you and get a big head.  Any abilities you – or they – have were gifts from God.  Remember it’s not all you and be humble about it!  God had a reason he gifted you in the way he did and you can be sure it wasn’t for you to feel superior!  (v 7)
• Don’t envy, criticize or pedestal the ministry.  Ministers suffer scrutiny, mockery, criticism, want: of all people they are judged most harshly.  Instead of admiring or criticizing the minister, as far as you can see they are honouring God, take them as a role model.  Watch their godly lives and take it as a challenge to pursue God and godliness more yourself! (8 - 16)
• God’s kingdom isn’t established or composed of pious words, elegant prayers or dynamic sermons. It is a matter of Holy Spirit power.  If you want to be a true witness for God, don’t imagine you’ve done your job by sharing a few well chosen words.  Be all for God yourself, let the Holy Spirit lead you into empowered living.  Then you will show the world that there really is something to Christianity – that it’s not just talk! (v 18 - 20)  

Father, thank you for the reminder of where all the power and ability comes from, and where I can go to find the approval my heart longs for - all You!! Please fill me with your Holy Spirit. I want to be a true witness. I want the world to know how incredible You are. And even though I know I'm so selfish, so rude, so wrong.. I know that You can do in through me.  Please go ahead.  Do whatever you want to in my life.  I completely adore you and I fully trust you. You love is better than life!

It sure was hard to get up THIS morning! I think I'm suffering from yesterday's early start.  I slept through my 5:30 alarm and just half whispered a desperate prayer of, "Please don't let me sleep for too much longer, Father!"  He is so good. At 6:30 I managed to be awake enough to open my eyes and turn on the touch lamp.  I woke up praying, "Please help me to wake up! I'm so tired, but help me!!" 

Anyway... I was in 1 Cor 2 this morning. I learned sooo much. I'll TRY to condense it! :-)

• Jealousy, bickering, fighting and pride are evidences of spiritual immaturity. Seek to grow beyond them. Don’t hold on to them, give them to God as so much trash that needs removing. (v 1 - 3)  
• Don’t have favourite ministers, or praise up people. They are simply co-workers with God. HE is the real star of the show! (v 5 - 9)
• Don’t chase after a coveted spot in ministry that is judged as most important (i.e I want to be a great evangelist or such). Be content to fill whatever place God has assigned you. We are just God's field-hands.  (v 5 - 9)
• Keep Jesus at the center of everything – there is no other valid foundation. HE IS IT.  (v 10 - 11)
• Take care of your body and your mind. Treat them with care and respect - remembering that you are God’s house. He lives in you. You are a holy place, the house that bears his name.  (v 16 - 17) 
• Don’t pay too much attention to world experts to find guidance for any area of your life. God is the true source of wisdom. Don’t read so many self-help books. Take your problems to God instead! He will actually change you from the inside.  (v 18 - 20)
• Live in the richness of the called life. Remember that everything is at your feet and at your fingertips – life, death, the universe, today, eternity… so don’t get caught up in the triviality of life. You are an heiress! (v 21 - 23)

What a morning! I struggled to get up at 4:30 after a crazy evening... tried to get to bed around 8:30 so that I could plan on a 3:30 morning, to finish a late assignment, but just as I finally drifted off to sleep around 9:30, this bright light flashed in my room. It happened three times in a row. I finally worked out it was my touch lamp - after being totally spooked out! But God is sooo good. I adjusted my rising time to 4:30 and prayed myself awake this morning - ie. "Father, please help me to wake up... I feel so bad... please don't let me go back to sleep...!" :-) I am now just about to start working on my assignment, but WOW, I've had the most incredible time with God.

My passage today was 1 Corinthians 2. I read it aloud twice, listened to it in the Message and then worked through it verse by verse, underlining and making notes. The whole chapter is a fascinatingly crafted argument, but the last verse just hit me over the head:

The thought from the quoted passage is "What a crazy idea! No one knows can penetrate into God's mind or ever correct Him!" and yet... we not only know the mind of the Lord, we HAVE it!! (remembering that Christ IS the Lord - Lk 2:11)

I still can't get over this...! it seems like a shocking thought. Do we believe that we've been given the mind of God? What riches! It makes all my stressing and worrying seem soooo inappropriate and unnecessary. How dare I worry? Why would I ever fear anything or anyone? Why would I worry about human expectations or understandings, when God is offering to open to my mind His viewpoint, His understanding - an understanding and wisdom that has no equal and can never be rightly criticized or corrected. All mine....??! WOW!