Posts
Happy Easter Women of Noble Character,
This week you and I will celebrate the most important holiday (literally, “holy day”) on the Christian calendar. Easter is not primarily a secular observance designed to usher in the warmth of spring. Nor, is it simply a day for our children to hide eggs and make ourselves sick eating chocolate bunnies. Easter is, at its heart, the Christian celebration of Christ’s death, His resurrection from the dead, and all of the freedom and victory that those events entail. His Resurrection is the most important historical marker that lies at the center of everything we believe. If Christ was still dead in the tomb, we would have no hope for eternity. Praise God, Christ is not dead! Revelation 5:9-10:
9And they sang a new song:
"You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased men for God
from every tribe and language and people and nation.
10You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth."
You (Christ) WERE slain. That’s the past! Today Christ sits at the right hand of God, waiting for His Father to tell Him.....Go get your Bride! And, TODAY He brings Resurrection power to our lives! His resurrection is for us TODAY, as we receive forgiveness for our sins, see Him do the impossible in our lives, experience Him every day in a dynamic relationship (not just a religion), and as we experience His joy in every circumstance. Is Christ’s resurrection transforming your life TODAY? HE IS ALIVE!
Happy Easter,
Angela
Memory Verse: Revelation 5:9
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Cost of Following Jesus
Hello Women of Noble Characters,
Follow Me (Luke 9:59)!
So, exactly what IS the cost of following Jesus? To grasp the whole meaning please read Luke 9:56-62. The memory portion is vs. 59 “Jesus (He) said to another man, “Follow me.”
In these Scriptures we’ll see several responses to the cost of commitment. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, and He wants followers who can count the cost. There are three different levels of commitment represented in people He met along the way. And you know what? These levels of commitment expose the ways a lot of Christians relate to their discipleship today.
The first man made a pious commitment that didn’t go any further than words. (Actions speak louder than words, right?) He promised to follow Jesus wherever He went – so Jesus challenged the man to “count the cost.” That’s not unlike today’s world: We come to Jesus to get what we want to solve our problems or to get inspiration/wisdom for our challenges. And you know what? Jesus gives us both, but THEN calls us into a ministry of maybe concern and caring. We’re to do for others what He has done for us. But have you noticed – loving and forgiving aren’t always easy!
The second man had some unfinished business from the past. He WANTED to follow Jesus, but there was a “secondary loyalty” that kept him tied to the past. Paraphrasing, Jesus said “Forget the past; follow Me!” What does that mean??? Jesus isn’t suggesting the man have a lack of concern for life’s everyday obligations, but it was a call to be concerned about His call to live rather than worry about what’s dead and past.
The third man wanted to say goodbye to his family first. Jesus’ response to him stressed the urgency of our commitment. Jesus was concerned about “competing loyalties” in the man. Our commitment must be to unreservedly seek FIRST His kingdom. Jesus leaves us with a question about ways we have one hand on the plow of discipleship and the other reaching back to the past or to lesser commitments.
That brings us to thinking about loyalties other than Jesus or even lesser commitments: church responsibilities, working out at the gym, cooking, shopping, our yard, house or job, community commitments, our children’s extracurricular activities, completing our education, going to the beach, reading a book, watching television, e-mailing or texting, etc. etc.
In what ways are you looking back? What “secondary loyalties” do you have which make it difficult to give your whole mind and heart and will to Christ? What is your response to the cost of commitment to Christ? What did Jesus say? “Follow Me.”
In Love,
Becky
Follow Me (Luke 9:59)!
So, exactly what IS the cost of following Jesus? To grasp the whole meaning please read Luke 9:56-62. The memory portion is vs. 59 “Jesus (He) said to another man, “Follow me.”
In these Scriptures we’ll see several responses to the cost of commitment. Jesus is on the way to Jerusalem, and He wants followers who can count the cost. There are three different levels of commitment represented in people He met along the way. And you know what? These levels of commitment expose the ways a lot of Christians relate to their discipleship today.
The first man made a pious commitment that didn’t go any further than words. (Actions speak louder than words, right?) He promised to follow Jesus wherever He went – so Jesus challenged the man to “count the cost.” That’s not unlike today’s world: We come to Jesus to get what we want to solve our problems or to get inspiration/wisdom for our challenges. And you know what? Jesus gives us both, but THEN calls us into a ministry of maybe concern and caring. We’re to do for others what He has done for us. But have you noticed – loving and forgiving aren’t always easy!
The second man had some unfinished business from the past. He WANTED to follow Jesus, but there was a “secondary loyalty” that kept him tied to the past. Paraphrasing, Jesus said “Forget the past; follow Me!” What does that mean??? Jesus isn’t suggesting the man have a lack of concern for life’s everyday obligations, but it was a call to be concerned about His call to live rather than worry about what’s dead and past.
The third man wanted to say goodbye to his family first. Jesus’ response to him stressed the urgency of our commitment. Jesus was concerned about “competing loyalties” in the man. Our commitment must be to unreservedly seek FIRST His kingdom. Jesus leaves us with a question about ways we have one hand on the plow of discipleship and the other reaching back to the past or to lesser commitments.
That brings us to thinking about loyalties other than Jesus or even lesser commitments: church responsibilities, working out at the gym, cooking, shopping, our yard, house or job, community commitments, our children’s extracurricular activities, completing our education, going to the beach, reading a book, watching television, e-mailing or texting, etc. etc.
In what ways are you looking back? What “secondary loyalties” do you have which make it difficult to give your whole mind and heart and will to Christ? What is your response to the cost of commitment to Christ? What did Jesus say? “Follow Me.”
In Love,
Becky
Tuesday, March 2, 2010
My Portion
Hello again Women of Noble Character,
The Saints go "Marching" on......I know corny. Happy March Everyone!
I've been trying over the last two months to adjust my portions....my portion of all foods, my portion of TV, my portion of exercise, my portion of self-control. As I do this, I can't help but to think of the following verses:
Psalm 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
I actually have these verses on my fridge. I try very hard not to forget they are there....as they blend in with all the pictures and children's artwork that are also posted there. If I truly concentrate on what these verses mean, I gain strength......He (God) is my portion. When I increase my portion of God (thru prayer, personal time with Him, bible study, worship, fellowship with other believers), I know that all those other things I listed above will also be adjusted to their correct portions. If I fill up with Him, I'm completely satisfied.
Over the next two weeks as we learn these verses together, let's make God our complete desire and portion forever!
In Christ,
Angela
The Saints go "Marching" on......I know corny. Happy March Everyone!
I've been trying over the last two months to adjust my portions....my portion of all foods, my portion of TV, my portion of exercise, my portion of self-control. As I do this, I can't help but to think of the following verses:
Psalm 73:25-26, "Whom have I in heaven but you? And earth has nothing I desire besides you. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever."
I actually have these verses on my fridge. I try very hard not to forget they are there....as they blend in with all the pictures and children's artwork that are also posted there. If I truly concentrate on what these verses mean, I gain strength......He (God) is my portion. When I increase my portion of God (thru prayer, personal time with Him, bible study, worship, fellowship with other believers), I know that all those other things I listed above will also be adjusted to their correct portions. If I fill up with Him, I'm completely satisfied.
Over the next two weeks as we learn these verses together, let's make God our complete desire and portion forever!
In Christ,
Angela
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)