From time to time I plan to share some of my favorite nuggets from the Believing God online bible study.
Notes from week 1:
Believing God can really be work at times! When external evidences scream to the contrary, we have to exert volitional muscle. Deciding to believe God's Word over our circumstances can be a tremendous exercise of the will at times. I'll just go ahead and say it: the great adventure of faith is not for the languid, but if He can raise the dead, He can surely enliven the lazy! We have been called to a present-active-participle walk of faith, not a park 'n' ride.
***Although I started the bible study several weeks ago, i'm just now moving to week 2. I'm doing a little "caving" and therefore took a little more time than planned on week 1.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
Thursday, October 2, 2008
Hmm....
I'm going to jump right in....
Dr: "hello, how are you?"
me: "doing well."
Dr: "what brings you by today, just an annual check-up?"
me: "yep, that's it, just an annual check-up."
***doc is now going through her list of who, what, when, where, why and how and then she gets to this question.
Dr: "do you have any children?"
me: "no."
Dr: "how old are you?"
me: "32"
Dr: "do you plan on having any?" with her eyebrows raised.
me: "yes"
Dr: "when?" still has those eyebrows raised.
me: "I have to get married first."
Dr: "uhm. are there any prospects?" yep, eyebrows still raised.
me: "no."
Dr: sighing with a look that seems to say 'hmm, i don't know about this.'
me: not appreciating the look or the apprehension but completely understanding that she's a student of science, i said to her "do you believe in God?"
Dr: "yes" while she chuckles like 'of course.'
me: "well pray for me."
Dr: she says "okay" still chuckling. then she says "if you don't have any kids within the next 2 - 3 years, I would suggest that you go to the fertility clinic (i'm getting blue in the face at this point) and freeze your eggs."
me: nothing. absolutely nothing. i said nothing at all. i just looked at her. i didn't know what to say. i actually think i went numb. i was so numb that i don't really recall the "exam" and most of you know how much i absolutely do not like that appointment.
okay, i think i'm still numb. as much as i don't want to think about it, the reality is i can't wait forever to have children. i know there are some modern day saras out there but that just isn't what i want or desire. aaahhh...still numb.
isn't this a good time for the online bible study we're doing, "Believing God." Beth Moore often talks about how we should get caught in the act of believing. if you haven't signed up, i highly recommend it. we're only on week 1 so there's still time to join in.
the end
~bdr
Dr: "hello, how are you?"
me: "doing well."
Dr: "what brings you by today, just an annual check-up?"
me: "yep, that's it, just an annual check-up."
***doc is now going through her list of who, what, when, where, why and how and then she gets to this question.
Dr: "do you have any children?"
me: "no."
Dr: "how old are you?"
me: "32"
Dr: "do you plan on having any?" with her eyebrows raised.
me: "yes"
Dr: "when?" still has those eyebrows raised.
me: "I have to get married first."
Dr: "uhm. are there any prospects?" yep, eyebrows still raised.
me: "no."
Dr: sighing with a look that seems to say 'hmm, i don't know about this.'
me: not appreciating the look or the apprehension but completely understanding that she's a student of science, i said to her "do you believe in God?"
Dr: "yes" while she chuckles like 'of course.'
me: "well pray for me."
Dr: she says "okay" still chuckling. then she says "if you don't have any kids within the next 2 - 3 years, I would suggest that you go to the fertility clinic (i'm getting blue in the face at this point) and freeze your eggs."
me: nothing. absolutely nothing. i said nothing at all. i just looked at her. i didn't know what to say. i actually think i went numb. i was so numb that i don't really recall the "exam" and most of you know how much i absolutely do not like that appointment.
okay, i think i'm still numb. as much as i don't want to think about it, the reality is i can't wait forever to have children. i know there are some modern day saras out there but that just isn't what i want or desire. aaahhh...still numb.
isn't this a good time for the online bible study we're doing, "Believing God." Beth Moore often talks about how we should get caught in the act of believing. if you haven't signed up, i highly recommend it. we're only on week 1 so there's still time to join in.
the end
~bdr
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Memory Scripture 22
Colossians 1:9b - 12
A sure fire way to having an effective prayer life, one where you know you're praying God's will, is to pray the scriptures. I'm a firm believer in praying the scriptures because His Word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
NJK v9b - 12:
v9b - we...do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
v10 - that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
v11 - strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
v12 - giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
The scripture is re-written as a prayer below (taken from the message bible), feel free to fill in the blanks with your name or the names of others.
Message v9b, 11- 12
Father, I pray that You give ________ a wise mind and spirit attuned to Your will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which You work. I pray that ________ will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting my/his/her/their teeth but the glory-strength that You give. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking You, our Father, who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that You have for us. (colossians 1:9b, 11-12)
A sure fire way to having an effective prayer life, one where you know you're praying God's will, is to pray the scriptures. I'm a firm believer in praying the scriptures because His Word will not return to Him void (Isaiah 55:11).
NJK v9b - 12:
v9b - we...do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding;
v10 - that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God;
v11 - strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy;
v12 - giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light.
The scripture is re-written as a prayer below (taken from the message bible), feel free to fill in the blanks with your name or the names of others.
Message v9b, 11- 12
Father, I pray that You give ________ a wise mind and spirit attuned to Your will, and so acquire a thorough understanding of the ways in which You work. I pray that ________ will have the strength to stick it out over the long haul - not the grim strength of gritting my/his/her/their teeth but the glory-strength that You give. It is strength that endures the unendurable and spills over into joy, thanking You, our Father, who makes us strong enough to take part in everything bright and beautiful that You have for us. (colossians 1:9b, 11-12)
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)
