Who I am in God's Eyes Week 15
Showing posts with label thoughts on scripture. Show all posts
Showing posts with label thoughts on scripture. Show all posts
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 12
Who I am in God's Eyes Series: Week 12 (sorry I was late this week)
I am............
Part of His flock!
Blessings!
~Sarah
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 11
Who I am in God's Eyes Series Week 11
I am....................
Awesomely Created!
Have a great week and enjoy the beautiful spring weather! =)
-Sarah
Who I am in God's Eyes Series: Week 10
Who I am in God's Eyes Week 10
I am...............
Cared for by Him!!!!!!!!
I hope everyone had a blessed Easter! :)
-Sarah
Good Friday!!!! =)
"But HE was pierced
for our transgressions,
He was crushed for our
INIQUITES;
the PUNISHMENT
that
brought us peace was on Him,
and by HIS wounds
we are healed."
Remember what He has done for us all this Easter weekend!
-Sarah
"Who I am in God's Eyes" Series: Week 9
Who I am in God's Eyes Week 9
I..............
Have a new name!
Have a new name!I hope you all have a great week and remember what this week is all about! :)
-Sarah
Who I am in God's Eyes" Series: Week 8
Who I am in God's Eyes Series: Week 8
I am..............
His Inheritance!!!!
(Psalm 33:12, Psalm 78:71, Jeremiah 10:16, Jeremiah 51:19)
I hope all of you guys have a wonderful week! :)
-Sarah
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 7
Who I am in God's Eyes Series Week 7:
I am.....
Chosen by God
and precious to Him!
Have a blessed week ya'll! :) Feel free to leave a comment. ;)
-Sarah
Who I am in God's eyes Series: Week 6
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 6
I am.........
His
Delight!
I hope all of you have a great week! :)
-Sarah
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 3
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 3
I am.....
Fearfully and Wonderfully Made.
God bless! :)
-Sarah
"Who I am in God's Eyes" Series
(This is a temporary button thing. I'll be working on a more permanent one. :)
Around October, the Lord brought this subject up in my life, through a good friend:
Who I am, not according to the world's definition of beauty and success, but who God sees me as and who He says I am in His Word.
I spent a long time searching through the Bible and collecting different scriptures and it was a very exciting and encouraging time.(It is always so cool to be in God's word, isn't it?) I thought I'd share the nuggets the Lord showed me by doing a series of posts (once a week) focusing on one thing the Lord describes us as per post. :) I hope it encourages and inspires everyone, as much as it did me!
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 1
Honored
and
Precious!
(Isaiah 43:4)
Who I am, not according to the world's definition of beauty and success, but who God sees me as and who He says I am in His Word.
I spent a long time searching through the Bible and collecting different scriptures and it was a very exciting and encouraging time.(It is always so cool to be in God's word, isn't it?) I thought I'd share the nuggets the Lord showed me by doing a series of posts (once a week) focusing on one thing the Lord describes us as per post. :) I hope it encourages and inspires everyone, as much as it did me!
Who I am in God's Eyes: Week 1
Honored
and
Precious!
(Isaiah 43:4)
A New Take On The Noble Woman
At Daughters of Destiny camp, we had been reflecting at one point in the week on Proverbs 31. This is a classic picture, as we all know, of Biblical femininity, and, to be honest, at times I have felt I have gotten all I could out of it without totally tearing the passage to shreds. But of course, God's word is never "figured out" entirely, and He brought something to mind as we read the chapter. But we got home, and I got busy, and I forgot the observation, until yesterday when I was at a Bible study, and it was once more brought to my attention. Here is the verse that caught my attention: "She opens her mouth with wisdom, and on her tongue is the law of kindness- Prov. 31:26" I had always taken this verse to mean, as it does, that a godly woman's speech should be wise and kind. But I also was struck by a bit of a deeper meaning. "She opens her mouth with wisdom..." This points out to me, upon closer inspection, that she knew when to speak, and when to keep her mouth shut. Notice this verse did not say: "Her mouth opens with wisdom.." No, it said, "She opens her mouth with wisdom". This is a conscious decision on the woman's part to speak. Which denote a conscious decision on her part to be silent too! :)Let's face it girls, we all like to talk. At least, more than guys generally do! Half the time, I don't think we make a conscious decision to speak, the idea just pops into our head, and the words come out easy as a wink! :) Haven't you been talking to a friend before and after-wards thought, "Wow! I can't remember what it was we were talking about, but I had fun!" :)
We girls just like to talk for talking's sake. Everything must be discussed from saying we went to a certain place, to when we went, why we went, who went with us, what we wore, what she said, what they said, what happened, what you ate there, etc. :D
I just wonder, what would happen if, just for a week, we each tried to say only things that really mattered? Not that you couldn't have a pleasant conversation, but we could take a hint from the Proverbs 31 woman, and, instead of telling the ins and outs, and whys and wherefores thereof, of every detail of what we have been doing, we could answer any inquiries pleasantly, and ask someone else a question, giving them some talking time for once! :)
I'm sure our brothers, fathers, and even our other friends would enjoy the brief respite from chatter! This afternoon I could hear a flock of noisy blackbirds flying through the woods far before I caught sight of them! I hate to make the comparison but...don't we girls often sound like that? :D Anyway, this was just a musing I had over a verse I had assumed had one meaning, and God showed me differently! Hope it was some good to another fellow-chatter! :D ~Rachel
"The Measure of Success"
We were reading from "My Utmost For His Highest" by Oswald Chambers this morning. For some reason, we read July 28th's reading, and it captured my attention: "And straightway He constrained His disciples to get into the ship, and to go to the other side...." Mark 6:45
"We are apt to imagine that Jesus Crist constrains us, and we obey Him, and He will lead us to great success.....We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal...the question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end...God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is the process-- that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end which is glorifying to God...."
At first I was a bit confused..."God is not working toward a particular finish?" but then it cleared up in the last bit there at the end. This principle of God's success vs. our own is not understood by most people. They figure that if they follow God, He will supply them with success in their own goals, as if He was some sort of vending machine. The Lord does want us to be "successful" but, just as a child throws a fit when he cannot have that pretty lollipop in the store, (even though his mother knows he'd be all the worse off for it) we immediately assume that our plans, hopes, and dreams will be granted just because they are what we want. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." it says in Isaiah 55. At some point, the very thing we fear and struggle against, considering it "failure" will the be the very thing our Lord considers "success", and will desire us to do. I am warning you, the world will not take kindly to your following Christ. It will call you a fool. But as Christians, let us hope that we can avoid being so narrow-sighted as to think that the worth of our service to God is only measured by the world's standards, and only the fruit we can see, will be useful to God. I'd rather be a fool who loves Jesus than a brainiac who believes she is self-sufficient. Think of the many missionaries over time who have never seen a single Christian convert, though they have worked their whole lives toward that goal. Does that mean they have failed? Think of a man who works his whole adult life as a janitor at a school. In the world's eyes, he'd be considered a failure. And yet, God could have placed him there, in humble servitude, giving him an opportunity to minister to the students his whole life; a thing he could never have done in that way had he been the principle at the school. He may not understand the Kingdom work he is accomplishing. But so long as that janitor trusts that God is in control of His life, he can rest in the knowledge of His goodness. We have a standard to measure ourselves by that the world never has, and never will understad. So we cannot measure our "success" by their standards. We have enough people who are ready to do "grand and glorious" things, meaning the things that get noticed, and applauded. We need more people who understand God's economy, and who seek to follow Jesus Christ. Truly, if you think about it, going by the world's standards, Jesus was a failure. He never won the Pharisees over to God. He was crucified by the very people He was sent to save! And yet, in God's Kingdom, Jesus had just completed the ultimate, amazing, most beautiful rescue operation ever put into play. "Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for a friend."
When you are discouraged by your circumstances, and feel that absolutely everything is going "wrong", I challenge us all to step back, take a look around us, trust Jesus, and notice how perhaps, we are accomplishing something great after all. -Rachel
"We are apt to imagine that Jesus Crist constrains us, and we obey Him, and He will lead us to great success.....We have an idea that God is leading us to a particular end, a desired goal...the question of getting to a particular end is a mere incident. What we call the process, God calls the end...God is not working toward a particular finish; His end is the process-- that I see Him walking on the waves, no shore in sight, no success, no goal, just the absolute certainty that it is all right because I see Him walking on the sea. It is the process, not the end which is glorifying to God...."
At first I was a bit confused..."God is not working toward a particular finish?" but then it cleared up in the last bit there at the end. This principle of God's success vs. our own is not understood by most people. They figure that if they follow God, He will supply them with success in their own goals, as if He was some sort of vending machine. The Lord does want us to be "successful" but, just as a child throws a fit when he cannot have that pretty lollipop in the store, (even though his mother knows he'd be all the worse off for it) we immediately assume that our plans, hopes, and dreams will be granted just because they are what we want. "For My thoughts are not your thoughts, Nor are your ways My ways," says the Lord. "For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." it says in Isaiah 55. At some point, the very thing we fear and struggle against, considering it "failure" will the be the very thing our Lord considers "success", and will desire us to do. I am warning you, the world will not take kindly to your following Christ. It will call you a fool. But as Christians, let us hope that we can avoid being so narrow-sighted as to think that the worth of our service to God is only measured by the world's standards, and only the fruit we can see, will be useful to God. I'd rather be a fool who loves Jesus than a brainiac who believes she is self-sufficient. Think of the many missionaries over time who have never seen a single Christian convert, though they have worked their whole lives toward that goal. Does that mean they have failed? Think of a man who works his whole adult life as a janitor at a school. In the world's eyes, he'd be considered a failure. And yet, God could have placed him there, in humble servitude, giving him an opportunity to minister to the students his whole life; a thing he could never have done in that way had he been the principle at the school. He may not understand the Kingdom work he is accomplishing. But so long as that janitor trusts that God is in control of His life, he can rest in the knowledge of His goodness. We have a standard to measure ourselves by that the world never has, and never will understad. So we cannot measure our "success" by their standards. We have enough people who are ready to do "grand and glorious" things, meaning the things that get noticed, and applauded. We need more people who understand God's economy, and who seek to follow Jesus Christ. Truly, if you think about it, going by the world's standards, Jesus was a failure. He never won the Pharisees over to God. He was crucified by the very people He was sent to save! And yet, in God's Kingdom, Jesus had just completed the ultimate, amazing, most beautiful rescue operation ever put into play. "Greater love hath no man than this: that he lay down his life for a friend."
When you are discouraged by your circumstances, and feel that absolutely everything is going "wrong", I challenge us all to step back, take a look around us, trust Jesus, and notice how perhaps, we are accomplishing something great after all. -Rachel
Will He Speak To Me?
I love the ways the Lord grows our understanding of Him over time! :) When I was little, I often wondered what it would be like to have the Lord speak to you, and could it ever happen?!? I believe I labored slightly under the delusion that the only manner in which He could speak was a sort of Samuel experience! :D You know, an actually audible voice! So I sort of figured that it would be once in a blue moon. But over time, as I have come to know Jesus better, I have discovered so many more ways He can speak to me. Most often, it comes as I am in a conversation, or reading my Bible. And generally, it has a good dose of humor in it. For example, me reading about the nation of Israel- "Good Heavens! They were so incredibly stubborn! Why couldn't they see the right way to go and just stick to it for pity's sake?!?" and then the Lord flips my question and says to me: "And you always stick to your promises, and are always as compliant as I desire for you to be?"
"Well...not exactly...but they were so stubborn!"
(At this point, I get a feeling that the Lord is looking at me in a way as if to say, "And...?" with a fond and yet earnest expression in His eyes.) By the end of this little conversation, Jesus has showed me something new, and my pride has been once again taken down a notch.
Other times, His voice just comes through a blessing, like an uncommonly cool day, or a beautiful flower. It is not an instructive voice at these times, but a brief reminder He gives as He says, "I made this for your pleasure- enjoy it, and remember Me!"
I think of the verse in John 10: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (emphasis added)
Learn to recognize our Shepherd's voice- you will be surprised how often He will speak if we will be still enough to listen! I am still learning these things, and I tend to be a busy person, always doing something. So too often I tune out the quieter voice in my heart; the only Voice that really counts. Now that is a challenge for myself as well as anyone who reads this post! :) -Rachel
"Well...not exactly...but they were so stubborn!"
(At this point, I get a feeling that the Lord is looking at me in a way as if to say, "And...?" with a fond and yet earnest expression in His eyes.) By the end of this little conversation, Jesus has showed me something new, and my pride has been once again taken down a notch.
Other times, His voice just comes through a blessing, like an uncommonly cool day, or a beautiful flower. It is not an instructive voice at these times, but a brief reminder He gives as He says, "I made this for your pleasure- enjoy it, and remember Me!"
I think of the verse in John 10: "And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him: for they know his voice." (emphasis added)
Learn to recognize our Shepherd's voice- you will be surprised how often He will speak if we will be still enough to listen! I am still learning these things, and I tend to be a busy person, always doing something. So too often I tune out the quieter voice in my heart; the only Voice that really counts. Now that is a challenge for myself as well as anyone who reads this post! :) -Rachel
But Where's The Fruit?
This is that time of year....we've been working in the garden. It is planted. It is weeded. The peas are, (to put it in a slightly criminal sounding way) "Strung up". ;) The potato bugs are marching in columns to make war on our plants. We keep them at bay by squishing their offspring (eggs) and squishing them. I try to leave that to Benjamin though! :) We are moving on to less important things such as mulching with straw around our plants. And now we wait. I am in a spot where I feel like, "Hey! We've done all this work! Where is the fruit?" I watch with a disparaging eye the little cucumber plants and mentally count how many more weeks till I will get to do a pickle-making marathon again. (I canned 120 quarts last year and they are all gone! :) I am getting an itch to can something! Strawberries are almost ready in the fields. I can't wait! I meant to make this a general gardening post, but after writing my thoughts up there, I realized something: Isn't that how we sometimes feel in life? We see the Lord working on us. He pulls and prods and pokes, and stretches us, with gentle, but very firm hands. As He trims yet another branch off of our flesh we whimper, "We've done all this work- Now where's the fruit?" And the Lord must laugh at our foolishness. I can imagine Him trying not to laugh and saying, "My little one, don't you know that He who has begun a good work in you is able to complete it?" and I might squirm a bit and try not to mutter something about "Sure is taking awhile", but in my heart of hearts, just as I know that the garden will give us vegetables, I have faith that the work the Lord is doing in my life will come to fruition. James 1:2-4 says, " My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing."
Lacking nothing....not lacking wisdom, not lacking strength, not lacking fruit. I find it immensely interesting and comforting to read that patience comes before completeness. He may have us wait a bit to begin showing fruit of patience before He gives us the luscious, shimmery fruit we may desire. For some reason meekness and humility, or self-control seem to be more showy fruits than patience....at least, to those of us who feel sick and tired of waiting. Often times I am sick of waiting for more than fruit. I am waiting for the unveiling of the Lord's plan for an area of my life, or I am waiting for the big "Ta-da!" and a grandiose commission from God, when perhaps what He is trying to teach me is the lesson of patience. Never forget to look at your "trials" from all angles. You may be reaching for the apples in the tree when you are entirely disregarding the blueberries growing waist-high. Just remember that Jesus won't leave you hanging, and He is fully able to take all our meager strivings and ambitions, and turn them into a masterpiece. -Rachel
Lacking nothing....not lacking wisdom, not lacking strength, not lacking fruit. I find it immensely interesting and comforting to read that patience comes before completeness. He may have us wait a bit to begin showing fruit of patience before He gives us the luscious, shimmery fruit we may desire. For some reason meekness and humility, or self-control seem to be more showy fruits than patience....at least, to those of us who feel sick and tired of waiting. Often times I am sick of waiting for more than fruit. I am waiting for the unveiling of the Lord's plan for an area of my life, or I am waiting for the big "Ta-da!" and a grandiose commission from God, when perhaps what He is trying to teach me is the lesson of patience. Never forget to look at your "trials" from all angles. You may be reaching for the apples in the tree when you are entirely disregarding the blueberries growing waist-high. Just remember that Jesus won't leave you hanging, and He is fully able to take all our meager strivings and ambitions, and turn them into a masterpiece. -Rachel
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