"And he kept on preaching in the synagogues of Judea" Luke 4:44. When i first read this verse, it didn't mean a whole lot to me...other than he kept on preaching. Then the words "He kept on" kept resonating with me. Jesus kept on preaching...he was pulled a million different ways and he never lost sight as to his job here on Earth.
I thought a lot about this the past few days. I have been feeling a little stale in my faith in terms of reading the word and devoting the time to God that he deserves. Then i realized that no matter what, there is ALWAYS time for God, and i need to make that a priority in my life, regardless of activities that may arise.
Jesus was pulled a million different ways; healing, teaching, rebuking...but he realized that everything was secondary to preaching the word of God. He made that his number one focus. Salvation is primary to everything else. So even though i sometimes feel like my life is too hectic, mine was not even close to his, and i need to make that a priority everyday. I need to make time for God EVERYDAY and share the good news EVERYDAY! Nothing takes priority over my relationship with him and enhancing his kindgom.
Thank you God for those words and getting me back on track.
Thursday, March 27, 2008
Friday, March 21, 2008
NC BABY!
I just got back from my long awaited and much anticipated trip to North Carolina. Let's just say that it was nothing short of amazing.
I flew into the Greensboro, NC airport on Saturday the 15th. I was so proud of myself for not freaking out about flying to the point of sickness...which is rare for me. So even though my flights didn't go as well as i had hoped, i had the goal in mind which made it that much easier...not to mention that i was didn't have to deal with work garbage while i was gone. Derik's parents came and picked me up from the airport and took me to get some dinner which was awesome...let me tell ya, if you want some good food, go to North Carolina...the food selection is phenomenal. When we got back to his house i not only got to look at a ton of baby pictures, but i also got welcomed with a gift basket full of goodies.
We went to the beach on Monday and got to pick up some seashells and have some amazing seafood. We left the beach and drove to his parents lake house and spent some time walking around the area and sitting out on the pier. It was such a beautiful day and i can't think of anyone i would have rather spent it with. Tuesday i got the privilege of going to Liberty University to see where he went to school and spent time in the mountains. I also learned a lot about him while we were there, i learned about his passion for God, how it started and how much he has done with ministry...i'm so blessed! When we were driving home i couldn't think of anything else to say but that i am so proud of him and i am so blessed to have met him. My life will forever be changed.
We spent much of the rest of the week hanging out with family and friends. I got to meet his grandfather and uncle, his aunt (who is a bit nutty at times) and his cousin...not to mention about 5000 friends. It was great and it was so awesome to get to see Derik in his life away from the Quad Cities.
I felt so at home with everyone that i met down there. They were so welcoming and loving. I have never met people like that before. Maybe it's the southern hospitality that i enjoyed so much. I loved my experience and i hope that there are so many more North Carolina trips to come!
I flew into the Greensboro, NC airport on Saturday the 15th. I was so proud of myself for not freaking out about flying to the point of sickness...which is rare for me. So even though my flights didn't go as well as i had hoped, i had the goal in mind which made it that much easier...not to mention that i was didn't have to deal with work garbage while i was gone. Derik's parents came and picked me up from the airport and took me to get some dinner which was awesome...let me tell ya, if you want some good food, go to North Carolina...the food selection is phenomenal. When we got back to his house i not only got to look at a ton of baby pictures, but i also got welcomed with a gift basket full of goodies.
We went to the beach on Monday and got to pick up some seashells and have some amazing seafood. We left the beach and drove to his parents lake house and spent some time walking around the area and sitting out on the pier. It was such a beautiful day and i can't think of anyone i would have rather spent it with. Tuesday i got the privilege of going to Liberty University to see where he went to school and spent time in the mountains. I also learned a lot about him while we were there, i learned about his passion for God, how it started and how much he has done with ministry...i'm so blessed! When we were driving home i couldn't think of anything else to say but that i am so proud of him and i am so blessed to have met him. My life will forever be changed.
We spent much of the rest of the week hanging out with family and friends. I got to meet his grandfather and uncle, his aunt (who is a bit nutty at times) and his cousin...not to mention about 5000 friends. It was great and it was so awesome to get to see Derik in his life away from the Quad Cities.
I felt so at home with everyone that i met down there. They were so welcoming and loving. I have never met people like that before. Maybe it's the southern hospitality that i enjoyed so much. I loved my experience and i hope that there are so many more North Carolina trips to come!
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
I never know...
I sometimes don't realize when God is talking to me...perhaps that is because of the busy-ness of my schedule, or the fact that i sometimes ignore it. It's strange. God has actually talked to me a lot over the past week or so, especially on some things that i didn't understand.
Last Monday night i had gotten home from work and was blessed by a UTI. I know, how exciting. And the funny part was everyone kept saying that it could be caused by being dehydrated or by having too much sex. Let's be serious, i'm dating a pastor and we don't have sex...so i'm thinking the fact that i was dehydrated or i was taking too many medications for the flu/cold thing i had contributed to it. Anyway...i got home from work and i decided to take a hot bath since i wasn't feeling too hot. I climb in the tub with my Bible...It's so peaceful in the bathtub sometimes. So i start reading and i was on 2 Peter 2...talking about false teachers and their destruction. It didn't make a bunch of sense at the time, but that was God preparing me for what was to come.
Tuesday night at Bible Study i found out some hurtful news and several shocking things actually. As many of you read this blog, you already know what it was...but someone that i love dearly and look up to is really lost right now in faith. And she has been going to a different Church that is a lot different in their beliefs than what I believe. When she was talking i kept thinking to myself "No no no, this isn't right!" And then i came back to that verse. God was letting me know that what she was believing isn't what i'm believing, and to just pray for her. So i've been doing that...a lot.
But the challenge has been amazing. I have been digging into the word and doing a lot of research, and really just been focusing on why i believe what i believe. I came to the conclusion that i have had many amazing teachers in my life. Some spiritually and others in terms of self destruction. I call these people great teachers because they help me to focus on growing myself. I learned, however, that no amount of teaching can make me believe what i believe unless i investigate it myself. And i believe what i believe because the Bible is God breathed and it speaks 110% truth into my life. What a blessing to be challenged and what i blessing to hear what God says!!!
On Sunday another dear friend came to me with struggles on being judgemental. She said that she is judgemental of people who aren't believers and asked me to pray with her. I did and she said she felt really good on trying to not be that way. What i realized in the process is God was telling me that i was being judgemental too!!! I was being judgemental about this whole situation with the other girl and her beliefs. God is telling me to stop being judgemental and continue to pray and to TRUST that he will do the right thing.
So for those of you who read this, please pray for that. I have been totally convicted by it and i praise God for that. It hurts but i understand that right now he is growing me in another area. And just praises that he speaks to us...sometimes when we don't really understand it at the time, but also that he uses other people to speak truth to our lives.
God is awesome.
"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal" Isaiah 26:4
Last Monday night i had gotten home from work and was blessed by a UTI. I know, how exciting. And the funny part was everyone kept saying that it could be caused by being dehydrated or by having too much sex. Let's be serious, i'm dating a pastor and we don't have sex...so i'm thinking the fact that i was dehydrated or i was taking too many medications for the flu/cold thing i had contributed to it. Anyway...i got home from work and i decided to take a hot bath since i wasn't feeling too hot. I climb in the tub with my Bible...It's so peaceful in the bathtub sometimes. So i start reading and i was on 2 Peter 2...talking about false teachers and their destruction. It didn't make a bunch of sense at the time, but that was God preparing me for what was to come.
Tuesday night at Bible Study i found out some hurtful news and several shocking things actually. As many of you read this blog, you already know what it was...but someone that i love dearly and look up to is really lost right now in faith. And she has been going to a different Church that is a lot different in their beliefs than what I believe. When she was talking i kept thinking to myself "No no no, this isn't right!" And then i came back to that verse. God was letting me know that what she was believing isn't what i'm believing, and to just pray for her. So i've been doing that...a lot.
But the challenge has been amazing. I have been digging into the word and doing a lot of research, and really just been focusing on why i believe what i believe. I came to the conclusion that i have had many amazing teachers in my life. Some spiritually and others in terms of self destruction. I call these people great teachers because they help me to focus on growing myself. I learned, however, that no amount of teaching can make me believe what i believe unless i investigate it myself. And i believe what i believe because the Bible is God breathed and it speaks 110% truth into my life. What a blessing to be challenged and what i blessing to hear what God says!!!
On Sunday another dear friend came to me with struggles on being judgemental. She said that she is judgemental of people who aren't believers and asked me to pray with her. I did and she said she felt really good on trying to not be that way. What i realized in the process is God was telling me that i was being judgemental too!!! I was being judgemental about this whole situation with the other girl and her beliefs. God is telling me to stop being judgemental and continue to pray and to TRUST that he will do the right thing.
So for those of you who read this, please pray for that. I have been totally convicted by it and i praise God for that. It hurts but i understand that right now he is growing me in another area. And just praises that he speaks to us...sometimes when we don't really understand it at the time, but also that he uses other people to speak truth to our lives.
God is awesome.
"Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord, is the Rock eternal" Isaiah 26:4
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