Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Bible. Show all posts

Is the Bible just a book of rules?

Tuesday, May 8, 2012~





"Now, some people think the Bible is a book of rules, telling you what you should and shouldn't do. The Bible certainly does have some rules in it. They show you how life works best. But the Bible isn't mainly about you and what you should be doing. It's about God and what He has done.

Other people think the Bible is a book of heroes, showing you people you should copy. The Bible does have some heroes in it, but most of the people in the Bible aren't heroes at all. They make some big mistakes (sometimes on purpose). They get afraid and run away. At times they are down right mean.

No, the Bible isn't a book of rules, or a book of heroes. The Bible is most of all a Story. It's an adventure story about a young Hero who comes from a far country to win back His lost treasure. It's a love story about a brave Prince who leaves His palace, His throne- everything- to rescue the one He loves. It's like the most wonderful fairy tale that has come true in real life!

You see, the best thing about this Story is-it's true. There are lots of stories in the Bible, but all the stories are telling one Big Story. The Story of how God loves His children and comes to rescue them.

It takes the whole Bible to tell this Story. And at the center of the Story, there is a baby. Every Story in the Bible whispers His name. He is like the missing piece in the puzzle- the piece that makes all the other pieces fit together, and suddenly you can see a beautiful picture."

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Marriage Assessment

Thursday, April 19~



I'm almost always in a book or Bible study of some sort. Right now we're reading one of Lysa TerKeurst's. She wrote this fantastic marriage relationship inventory that really grabbed my attention! I have to share it.



1 Corinthians 13:4-8 Assessment



Am I patient with my spouse? (I am flexible and understanding.) EPHESIANS 4:2-3



Am I kind to my spouse? (I am kind in thought, words, and actions toward them.) EPHESIANS 4:31-32



Am I supportive (not envious) with my spouse? (I do not keep score when I feel I do more.) JAMES 3:16-18



Am I encouraging (not boastful) to my spouse? (I do not brag about my accomplishments while downplaying theirs.) HEBREWS 3:13



Am I humble (not proud) with my spouse? (I do not think my agenda is more important than my spouse’s agenda.) 1 PETER 5:6



Am I gracious (not rude) to my spouse? (I build up my spouse with my words spoken in private and public.) EPHESIANS 4:29



Am I selfless (not self-seeking) with my spouse? (I focus on my spouse’s needs and wants and balance them with my own.) PHILIPPIANS 2:3-4



Am I self-controlled (not easily angered) with my spouse? (I do not have a short fuse or quick temper.) PROVERBS 15:1



Am I able to forgive and let go (keeping no record of wrongs) with my spouse’s shortcomings? (I do not use my spouse’s past shortcomings as ammunition in today’s disagreements or allow these things to taint our communication today.) COLOSSIANS3:12-14



Do I delight in being faithful to God (not delighting in evil)? (I seek to live a pure life and choose not to flirt with sin.) EPHESIANS 4:1



Do I rejoice with the truth? (I actively pursue God’s truth over Satan’s lies.) JOHN 8:31-32



Do I seek to protect my spouse? (I fill in the gaps where they feel weak and
vulnerable.) 1 THESSALONIANS 5:11



Do I trust my spouse? (I give my spouse the benefit of the doubt.) 1 PETER 3:8



Do I keep hope alive in my marriage? (I trust God with “our” future, not “my” future.) JEREMIAH 29:11



Do I persevere in my marriage? (I look for solutions to problems rather than look for a way out.) MATTHEW 5:33



Am I devoted to the permanence of our marriage? (I believe that divorce is not an option for us.) MALACHI 2:16

In the scramble of handling all the details of a life full of little people, romance and love can sometimes take a backseat. We have to not only be intentional with our active love, but also be intentional about keeping our love fresh, exciting, and fun. You can’t compare your circumstances and relationship with others; that will only serve to drain and discourage you.
Keep your focus on making your marriage the best it can be. It is what you put into your marriage that you’ll be able to pull out of your marriage. The grass isn’t greener on the other side; it is greener where you water and fertilize it. -Lysa TerKeurst

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Children, not Slaves

Wednesday, April 11, 2012~

Horse planter from TheRiCharmedLife.Etsy.com

I'm re-reading some verses from last week's book study and keep going back to this passage. It resounds with me in a strong way. I think it's the part about being God's children, not His fearful slaves that really touches my heart.

Romans 8:14-17 (NLT)
     For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God. So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.” For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God’s children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God’s glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering.

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Maundy Thursday

Thursday, April 5, 2012~






   It's crazy to me that I have to plan my calendar a month in advance. I can only imagine how crazy it will be when Julian is in school! I am excited to start inviting people to my next jewelry party. (Click on the photo for details!)

   So today is Maundy Thursday. I didn't grow up really acknowledging the day much so I had to do a little research about it.  There is no historical account outside of the Bible of the events of this evening so I will just mention the traditions that are commonly held. Maundy Thursday commemorates the last Passover supper Jesus shared with his disciples on the night before He was crucified. Some churches hold quiet candlelight services. These services can observe any or all of these 3 traditions: foot washing*, communion**, a traditional Passover Seder meal***. 

*Before the Passover supper, Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. By performing this lowly act of service, the Bible says in John 13:1 that Jesus "showed them the full extent of his love." By his example, Jesus demonstrated how Christians are to love one another through humble service. 

**During the meal, Jesus took bread and wind and asked His Father to bless it. He broke the bread into pieces, giving it to his disciples and said, "This is my body, given for you. Do this in remembrance of me." Then he took the cup of wine, shared it with his disciples and said, "This wine is the token of God's new covenant to save you--an agreement sealed with the blood I will pour out for you." These events are recorded in Luke 22:19-20 and are the Biblical basis for the practice of communion. For this reason, many churches hold special Communion services as a part of their Maundy Thursday celebrations. 

*** Some congregations observe a traditional Passover Seder meal according to tradition. For more information about the Seder meal, go to this link.

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