I just zipped a note to my Pastor part of which expressed frustration at an ongoing issue in my life that is not getting resolved in my time frame that is for sure. In that email as a reminder to myself I said: Faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see...Christ, the one who will leave the 99 to go after the one, the One who will bring to completion the good that He began.... Trying to hold on to promises, but it sure is challenging.
Then in today's readings I read the following from Acts 27:25 & 26 So take courage! For I believe God. It will be just as he said. But we will be shipwrecked on an island... I extrapolate that to my situation as a reminder to take courage, and believe God and that He will do as he has said. I will not be shipwrecked, but it may get worse before it gets better... Sort of good news bad news I guess, but the point is to trust in the Lord.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Monday, October 17, 2011
Tardy, oh so tardy
The thing about getting behind for me is that it makes it really hard to get started again because I feel like I have to "Catch up" I am behind on the readings, but even more so the blogging. I often do the reading when I cannot do the blog, and mark this or that thinking I'll post later, then I don't and then it snowballs because I don't have time to post all I want to... So I'm just skipping those thoughts with the hope of being able to start fresh again.
Today is October 17th, but I am reading from July 9th... see how easy it is to get behind with this project? Natalie and I have agreed to take a bit longer than the year if needed to complete reading through because she is also behind and it becomes very tempting to just skim it rather than read it in order to catch up. We decided the point was more to learn and absorb than to get through it in the time frame. However, 1 Chronicles so far is a bit of a skimmer anyway with all the family lines...
Having just returned from my anniversary trip in celebration of 25 years, today's proverb was a fun read: "the man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord." Proverbs 18:22
Today is October 17th, but I am reading from July 9th... see how easy it is to get behind with this project? Natalie and I have agreed to take a bit longer than the year if needed to complete reading through because she is also behind and it becomes very tempting to just skim it rather than read it in order to catch up. We decided the point was more to learn and absorb than to get through it in the time frame. However, 1 Chronicles so far is a bit of a skimmer anyway with all the family lines...
Having just returned from my anniversary trip in celebration of 25 years, today's proverb was a fun read: "the man who finds a wife finds a treasure, and he receives favor from the Lord." Proverbs 18:22
Thursday, June 30, 2011
back from the gathering
I was gone from Sunday until Wednesday night. I did bring my bible with me, but I did not do the daily readings while I was away. We were busy from very early until very late every day. With that said, it was an amazing spiritually energizing experience. The theme was "The Bridge" and like pretty much everything it spoke to me about Derek. So much was about God's amazing love for us and relentless pursuit of us. It affirmed my recent thoughts that seem so clearly spoken to me by God through His word. The readers digest version: "I've got this, don't worry". And so it is my intention to beat back the worry every time it rears it's ugly head and claim the victory of Christ for my son. Jesus is the bridge that will reconcile Derek with God and I wait in expectation for Derek to hear His voice, quit running from and rather cling to His savior. In the time being I know that God has not given up on him, that He loves Him desperately and is pursuing him passionately. There was a song we sang and the chorus had these words: If God is for us then who can stand against us? (obvious answer.... NOBODY & NOTHING!) God's power has certainly lifted many people from lives of sin and destructive choices. I am thankful that I am not dealing with addiction etc. with Derek. It is still hard to see him wasting his time and potential. But again, I am excited to see what God has in store for him. He is such a smart guy and has so much potential. Seriously, he could do anything he set his mind to. It's too bad that he's taking the long way around, but it's not too late for him. I will continue to pray and do whatever I can to lead him in the right direction. There is nothing more I can do, the rest is up to him, and up to God.
So tomorrow is July first and I'm on June first.... a month behind but still on track.
So tomorrow is July first and I'm on June first.... a month behind but still on track.
Wednesday, June 22, 2011
June 22
Clearly I loved this scripture before, because it is underlined, but it still resonates with me. 2 Samuel 14:14B "But God does not just sweep life away; instead, he devises ways to bring us back when we have been seperated from him."
Tuesday, June 21, 2011
June 21
So, the Bible readings continue to be about Derek, or about me with regard to him. I can very much relate to Psalm 119:81-82 "I am worn out waiting for your rescue, but I have put my hope in your word. My eyes are straining to see your promises come true. When will you comfort me?"
Well except for the comfort part, I do sense His comfort the last few days, but for sure I am worn out waiting, and straining to see the promises come true.... Oh well, God's timing, not mine right?
Monday, June 20, 2011
June 20
I just finished the daily readings. (I've been doing good about the "daily" part lately. Nothing like a crisis with the kid to drive the habit.) I'm still behind though. Today's reading was May 27th and clearly we are well into June... seems like everything has Derek's name on it, or my name with regard to how I relate to him. Today is no different, here is the verse that jumped off the page at me: Psalm 119:73 You made me, you created me. Now give me the sense to follow your commands.
Moms in touch taught me to pray scripture... what a wonderful verse for that purpose: Dear Lord, you made Derek, you created him. Now give him the sense to follow your commands! Amen.
Sunday, June 19, 2011
June 19
The OT reading is the account of David's affair with Bathsheba and his successful plot to kill her husband to cover his transgression... But we cannot hide our sin from the One that matters and today's OT reading ended with these words: "But the Lord was displeased with what David had done"
That's really awful. I don't think I have spent much time in the past contemplating that sentence, but its tragic really. And worse I think it is common to pile sin upon sin in the attempt to cover our sin so that we look all fine and good to the world. So much better to take our lumps as we turn to Christ for forgiveness and the fresh start that He promises. Clearly David does repent (that's coming up) but what a blessing for me if I can try to remember that sentence and allow the Holy Spirit to stop me from repeating David's mistake. It is God's opinion of me that matters, not what the world sees or thinks. I am a screw up and fail to do what pleases God daily. But it is not my intent and it helps me to ponder the beautiful gift of His grace and mercy. I am sure it can often be said "But the Lord was displeased with what Terri had (done, said, not done, not said etc.) But thanks be to God that He is very pleased with what His Son did and with that in mind and with the help of His Holy Spirit (and as pointed out last entry in thankfulness) I will do my best to live my life and to make choices that "please" Him and therefore Honor and Glorify Him.
NT Reading was from John 15 the Vine and the branches. Its interesting that each time "remaining in" is spoken it begins with our part "remain in me, and I will remain in you." I am not a theologian (in fact I cannot even spell it correctly but am thankful that the spell check will fix it before I post this...) but this makes me think of our free will. You do your part people and I will do mine. (well I suppose more accurately Jesus already did His part but we lose the benefit of that if we don't do our part of "remaining in") I think of my son and how concerned I am about the fact that he does not appear to be remaining in... John 15:4 Says Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." It is no wonder that I do not see "fruit" in his life right now. But before I let that cause despair, I am reminded of Romans 11:23 which says "And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again."
And to seal the deal of comfort the Psalm reading for today began "Remember your promise to me, it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles." Not just the promise of grafting in again, but also the promise of leaving the 99 and going after the one, and "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" and in the parable of the prodigal son where it says "while he was still a long way off" the party preparations were started.
We are called to remain in Christ, and we should take that very seriously. However, I am so thankful that God is able and willing to work in the lives of those that are not "remaining in" Him. It is my fervent prayer that my son as well as all people that are not taking their faith life seriously would turn back toward Christ and be grafted in again. I continue to pray that God will soften Derek's heart and bring the good work that was started at his baptism to completion.
That's really awful. I don't think I have spent much time in the past contemplating that sentence, but its tragic really. And worse I think it is common to pile sin upon sin in the attempt to cover our sin so that we look all fine and good to the world. So much better to take our lumps as we turn to Christ for forgiveness and the fresh start that He promises. Clearly David does repent (that's coming up) but what a blessing for me if I can try to remember that sentence and allow the Holy Spirit to stop me from repeating David's mistake. It is God's opinion of me that matters, not what the world sees or thinks. I am a screw up and fail to do what pleases God daily. But it is not my intent and it helps me to ponder the beautiful gift of His grace and mercy. I am sure it can often be said "But the Lord was displeased with what Terri had (done, said, not done, not said etc.) But thanks be to God that He is very pleased with what His Son did and with that in mind and with the help of His Holy Spirit (and as pointed out last entry in thankfulness) I will do my best to live my life and to make choices that "please" Him and therefore Honor and Glorify Him.
NT Reading was from John 15 the Vine and the branches. Its interesting that each time "remaining in" is spoken it begins with our part "remain in me, and I will remain in you." I am not a theologian (in fact I cannot even spell it correctly but am thankful that the spell check will fix it before I post this...) but this makes me think of our free will. You do your part people and I will do mine. (well I suppose more accurately Jesus already did His part but we lose the benefit of that if we don't do our part of "remaining in") I think of my son and how concerned I am about the fact that he does not appear to be remaining in... John 15:4 Says Remain in me, and I will remain in you. For a branch cannot produce fruit if it is severed from the vine, and you cannot be fruitful unless you remain in me." It is no wonder that I do not see "fruit" in his life right now. But before I let that cause despair, I am reminded of Romans 11:23 which says "And even they, if they do not continue in their unbelief, will be grafted in, for God has the power to graft them in again."
And to seal the deal of comfort the Psalm reading for today began "Remember your promise to me, it is my only hope. Your promise revives me; it comforts me in all my troubles." Not just the promise of grafting in again, but also the promise of leaving the 99 and going after the one, and "He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion" and in the parable of the prodigal son where it says "while he was still a long way off" the party preparations were started.
We are called to remain in Christ, and we should take that very seriously. However, I am so thankful that God is able and willing to work in the lives of those that are not "remaining in" Him. It is my fervent prayer that my son as well as all people that are not taking their faith life seriously would turn back toward Christ and be grafted in again. I continue to pray that God will soften Derek's heart and bring the good work that was started at his baptism to completion.
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