Be Strong!

So today I am posting about 2 Timothy, Titus and Philemon. No apologies today for being a day late. The flu is still working it's way through, and I'm at the point where I'm happy just be keeping my head above water:-)


Good news is, I've been pondering this verse since Thursday morning...

2 Tim. 2:1

"You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus."

Be strong.... His grace covers us, and we have the promise of eternal life. He forgives our sins and makes us white as snow... but... "be strong?" The foot note in my bible talked about how we are not only saved by grace, but that we should live by grace.

In Colossians 2:6 we read...

"So then, just as you received Christ Jesus as Lord, continue to live in him, rooted and built up in him, strengthened in faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness."

Continue to live in him, live by grace. Strengthened in faith, overflowing wtih thankfulness. That's a lot to think about! The mere fact that his grace abounds time and time again should help us to realize that we need to trust in Jesus. He sent His Spirit, who is always with us and is able to do more than he... When they do I try so often to do things on my own? Why don't I allow him to "strengthen" me. To give me wisdom, revelation, everything I need. My strength and my very being should come from him!

As I think back to the tail end of this little flu bug I'm fighting off, I think about how weak I've been. Literally, there were times when standing up made me feel light headed and like I might pass out. I associate that same type of feeling when I am operating on "all me" and ignoring the Holy Spirit at work in my life. I end up in a panic of emotions and attacks from Satan that have my mind spinning. When I was sick and felt this way, life has taught me I need to eat some crackers and try to get a bit of liquid in me. From a spiritual standpoint, when my strength is weak, I need to turn to Jesus and let him strengthen me...

"Lord, I'm overflowing with thankfulness for your strength at work in my life tonight. In so many ways, you provide for me day after day after day. Thank you. Thank you for accepting me and applying grace time and time again. Forgive my sin nature and strengthen me with more of you."

So we raise up Holy hands....

For the past bit, I have been doing an exercise in digging into the word. I was listening to a teaching series on the power of a focused life, and was moved by this piece. If we ask Christians if they read their bible, of course we say "yes." BUT... how much time are we truly spending in the word each day? (More than with tv?) The speaker went on to say that for many of us, it's hard to just know where to start. The whole I'm just going to open it and read where God leads, leaves many feeling that they are missing something... SO... he shared this. Did you know that if you read 10 chapters a day, 6 days a week, that you will have read the entire new testament in 30 days??? I'm a goal setter kind of girl, so that really hit me! Now.. somedays 10 chapters is alot... Especially if you're going to let it soak in at all. However, having a goal in mind has really helped me reprioritize my time. Because I've done some life coaching, I also know that 30 days is the amount of time it takes to form a new habit. So.... I'm on the journey. Reading my 10 chapters a day (with some grace applied - I'm human and I'm a mom, a wife, in ministry, etc.) and then blogging about what really stuck out to me!


I'm posting this morning from yesterday's reading, which was 2 Thess. & 1 Tim.

Ladies, let me tell you, there's a verse in here that I absolutely LOVE...

1 Timothy 2:8 -
"I want men everywhere to lift up holy hands in prayer, without anger or disputing."



I remember when I first came to church with my husband while we were dating. I came from a very conservative background, and people everywhere in his church were raising their hands and singing. Then they asked us to get into small groups and pray "out loud" together (I was mortified and just passed when my "turn" came.) After the service... his son was wrestling with someone... in the sanctuary (Gasp.....) This was WAY out of my comfort zone! My, how God has worked on me since that time.

God wants us to worship him. That means different things to different people. However, I hold firm that it's hard to let our hearts be completely free with him if we have anger or disputes. So many times in my life, I've seen others abandonded in prayer and worship and asked God.... 1) what's up with them? That can't be for real - which really meant - 2) God I'm jealous of how they can give themselves competely to you so I am going to judge their actions.

In the last few years, God has taught me a lot about lifting up hands in prayer. Not only in acceptance in how people worship, but also in entering his presence with a right heart. You see, when I was so busy worrying about others experience, it was ME that was preventing me from worshipping and praying to God all out. It wasn't him. I needed to change my posture. I needed to examine my heart and realize that whatever bitterness I was harboring was keeping me from getting closer to him. God calls me to love others. When I'm not operating in love, I'm out of his will for me. (which, by the way happens daily:-( But again, he's a God of grace!)

"Thank you Jesus for inviting us to worship you. For loving our prayers and for the reassurance that worship and prayer can go together. Wow God. For me, much worship and prayer happens to music and I so thank you for the beautiful gifts you've given so many in leading music. (and thank you for nice car trips where I can really let lose!) When I'm still before you Lord, you move my inner being. Thank you for the quiet times, when I can hear from you. I continue to be amazed by you. So today,we raise up holy hands, to praise the holy, who was and is, and is to come..."

I'll pour my love on you...

So, the flu has been making it's way through our house, and today it stopped at me.  Needless to say, I spent the day in 2 spots.  One was a very comfy couch in our basement.  (I won't divulge the other:-) 

As I was weak and tired and struggling, God made it so clear to me what awesome kids I have, and how much they love me.  Seriously, if I had the energy, I'd have been in tears. 

The boys had early out Wednesday, and Caleb didn't want to go to his normal "sitter".  He wanted to come home with me...  cuz he didn't want me to have to be alone.  So, he sat by me quietly and read.  Wow!  What an angel!

Then, Emma gets home.  She was such a little mother.  Honestly, I felt like one of her dollies and she just lavished love on me. 

And after church Carter comes down and just holds me close.  Asks me if I'm doing better. 

You know, there are a lot of days when I think that I'm not doing such a great job as a mom.  I get crabby over little things and yell to much, and, and, and... 

Today, the love these 3 (and Tom!) lavished on me was so affirming.  "Thank you God for blessing me with such a great family!  Thank you that how they covered me with their love today is but a taste of the goodness and love that you have for me.  Thank you, that even in the midst of the yucky's you can open my eyes to blessing.  You are such an awesome Father!"

As far as reading goes, well....  I made 7 chapters.  So, I'm going go finish in bed, and hopefully tomorrow morning will hold more strength... and a post from me!