"As you read your Bible, never forget how special that book you hold really is. The Bible is God's personal, intimate Word to you. When you read it, you are touched by the breath of God." The Inspired Word of God by Woodrow Kroll

Amazing. Because I know that God forknew everything and everyone, the Bible is tailored just for us! He knew exactly what each person who ever lived would need and want to know before they even existed. He knew that at this time in my life, I would need to be encouraged by my bible study scriptures, and He even knew who and what to surround me with to help me along!

This week I just started our new bible study series, Beth Moore's Living Beyond Yourself, about the fruit of the Spirit. Some excerpts I found particularly meaningful:

"let's take a look at Acts 13:50. I believe the verse contains a very important message to us... For reasons we may never know, God entrusted to womankind a most wonderful and terrible gift: the power of influence... Influence is so easy to use, it's frightening. Maybe it's the reason God exhorts us to 'gentle and quiet' spirits. We need to think before we speak and act. The warnings in scripture are not provided because we are so lowly, but because we possess such and awesome gift." pg 11

How do I use my power of influence in my home, my church, my circle of friends, my extended family, and my community? One influence I recently saw after beginning the battle with gluttony is that when I asked Edward what his favorite things to do are, he said playing with trains, and then second to that was eating food. Now I'm guessing that's partly because it was before lunch, but for him even to think about eating as a favorite activity was convicting to me. My frequent eating, looking forward to eating, and talking about eating has been a powerful influence, I think. In my marriage, I have worked hard at being submissively influential. I hadn't realized before reading Love and Respect that some of the things I was doing portrayed that I didn't fully respect Michael and that was a HUGE issue between us for the longest time. I didn't understand how he would perceive that from me until studying that book and talking with him made it "click". Now I ask him for his advice (and TAKE it!) on spiritual and social matters, give him my input but let him have the final say (I've very rarely ever been disappointed in his decisions and it takes the burden off me to be right), I talk to him about plans before committing, I praise his leadership, etc.

"Why, then, is seeking the approval of man so harmful to us? Look again at Galatians 1:10. Notice Paul begins by talking about approval and ends by talking about servanthood... What does one issue have to do with the other? Approval and servanthood are connected because we become immediate slaves to the person(s) from whom we seek approval... Remember this important fact about God. He never asks anything of us to make Himself look better. The demands He makes on our lives are NEVER for His personal gain." pg 17

I loved this one because I have felt periodically during my co-leadership on MOPS that sometimes I have questioned our approach because we don't want to "offend" anyone, especially the unsaved moms. At those times I feel we are serving other moms and though technically we are, I temporarily forget that we are Christ's servants - we are NOT enslaved to the women we lead. These women may have wishes and preferrences that we take into consideration, but only the Lord knows what's best for them (even when they sometimes don't) and we make no apologies that this is an evangelical program held at a church! Do I desire God's approval more than theirs? Admittedly, sometimes no.

"In the midst of your deepest difficulties, have you ever looked around and thought, Where is everybody? Sometimes God reserves the right to withhold others and to pull you aside with Him so that you can experience what David did in 1 Samuel 30:6, 'David found strength in the Lord his God.'"

I loved this because it reminded me that I don't have to hold everyone's hand through difficulties. My heart reaches out to the hurting souls I know and I just want to solve their problems and help them out of the darkness. But that's not my job. It's a relief to know that I don't have to feel guilty for not providing them with assistance every day. Some days the Lord just wants some quality time with His beloved. Alone :).

"TEN CHARACTERISTICS OF THE CRUCIFIED LIFE
1. Few will understand.
2. You must abandon your own will and your own agenda.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.
6. You must go "outside the camp." (i.e. comfort zone)
7. There will be times when your dignity is forfeited.
8. You must forego your rights.
9. You must accept that death is painful.
10. Because He was forsaken, you never will be." pgs 18-22

These are wonderful. What an awesome God we have that asks us to be crucified with Christ. What an EXCITING adventure! Tough, and requires every bit of ourselves to accomplish, but it's SO worth it. Yesterday I was reading through some organizational books I got from the library. I checked out several books to help with moving prep, and thought clutter control was especially helpful. What I discovered while reading is that my clutter problem is linked to my gluttony and covetousness. Gluttony because I want to hoard stuff and not be disciplined. Covetousness because I'm currently treating this house that I've never really appreciated (because it's in such bad shape) as a hotel - to be used but not set up as a place to minister hospitality within.

Lord God, I am so in awe of your Sovereignty and grace. You love me so much that you care what I need to hear on February 27, 2007 at 11 am. You surround me with your Presence in Spirit and through the people you have strategically placed in my life. I thank you for my daughter who just rolled over for the first time! I thank you for my husband who called to say he is on top of everything. Thank you for my son who just hurt himself and wants to be kissed and hugged to feel better just at the point when I need a hug and kiss, too! How could I be so blessed?