Saturday, January 15, 2011

Scripture Memory Verse 2

I have decided to memorize scripture with a lot of other ladies around the world through the Living Proof Ministry blog. This week, I picked Psalm 84 in the NIV. It's longer than she usually recommends, but I felt really led to memorize this chapter. I might decide to memorize a short verse and a Psalm off and on throughout the year. Not sure yet.

If you were at or listened to the message Beth Moore spoke at the Passion 2011 conference, you might remember her talking about the capacity of the mind and encouraging young people to memorize chapters, if not entire books, of the Bible. I can do this!

#1 "You shall not make [gods to share] with Me [My glory and your worship]; gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." - Exodus 20:23, AMP

#2 "1 How lovely is your dwelling place, O Lord Almighty. 2 My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God. 3 Even the sparrow has found a home and the swallow a nest for herself, where she may have her young - a place near your alter, Oh Lord Almighty, my King and my God. 4 Blessed are those who dwell in your house; they are ever praising you. (Selah) 5 Blessed are those whose strength is in you, whose hearts are set on pilgrimage. 6 As they pass through the Valley of Baka, they make it a place of springs; the autumn rains cover it with pools. (Selah) 7 They go from strength to strength, till each appears before God in Zion." - Psalm 84:1-7, NIV

That's what I have memorized so far! I hope it's all right. hehe. It's not too late to join in! Memorizing the Bible isn't something that only the "super spiritual" do. The Word is powerful and transforming. I shall get off my soapbox, for I need to get out of here. I hope everyone is doing well!

Thursday, January 6, 2011

You Know You Should Give Something Up When . . .

I decided a few days ago that starting Friday, I'd be on a partial media fast. I'll probably have to use computers and email at work in the next two weeks, so that's why it's partial. But during that time, no wasting my time on Twitter, Facebook, watching TV or movies. I'll Tivo it and if I really find it important later, I'll deal with it then.

My first Scripture to memorize this year was Exodus 20:23, "You shall not make [gods to share] with Me [My glory and your worship]; gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves." (That's the Amplified version if you'd like to look it up.) That's the whole, "don't make idols to contend with me because I'm the man" verse.

They say you can tell something is an idol when it gets taken away from you. And, even today all I thought about in my extra moments was, "I need to be on Twitter because I'm not gonna have it for two weeks." Well, that's how you know that you have a problem. The thing is, I don't want Facebook or Twitter to be an idol that someone has made for me, or one that I have built out of people I enjoy hearing from. It can't become more important than God Himself. . .

Those aren't bad things, but they have been too much lately. And this is a time of so much newness for me, that I don't need to be distracted by anything. Not even good things.

So, with that, I'll see you soon. Much love!

Sunday, January 2, 2011

Does Your Life Make Sense in Light of the Gospel?

I have been watching the Passion Conference online because I can't make it out there for it. Every sermon has been convicting or confirming...whichever I needed at the time. But only one question has gone right down into the soul of the matter. My soul. It's a question based on Philippians 1:27 that I hate that Francis Chan decided to ask: Does your life make sense in light of the Gospel?

Maybe it was the stories he told about people in the underground church who had to run from gunshots because they were Christ followers. Or the fact that when he told them of how people in America will switch churches because they don't like the songs, they laughed. No, he wasn't joking, but what a mockery we've made of ourselves. So, maybe you can see how that question was so significant...maybe not.

But for me . . .

It might be the most significant question that I've ever been asked. It's frustrating and convicting and everything it should be.

It's session three. Check it out at live.passion2011.com. It's only up for about 24 hours. Get it while it lasts!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

Happy New Year!

Well, a new year brings new goals, new resolutions and attempts (though usually failed) at life changes. I usually do goals instead of resolutions because I'm pretty goal oriented. Usually I choose too many and only do one or two (out of the 7 I might try). This year, I'm not doing all that. Mostly because I have come to recognize how futile my personal attempts at changing myself are. That's God's job.

There are a few things that I am doing though.

The ladies over at Living Proof Ministries memorizes 24 verses in a year. That's two a month. That's very doable and there's added accountability because like, tons of women are doing it (and I follow some of them on Twitter). The best part is that everybody chooses their own verse to memorize. Whatever God is speaking in our own individual lives, that's what we memorize. I'm looking forward to this! My first verse is Exodus 20:23 in the Amplified Bible: You shall not make [gods to share] with Me [My glory and your worship]; gods of silver or gods of gold you shall not make for yourselves.

I am interested in home improvement. Anyone who knows me would probably be confused by this statement, but I'm really interested in refinishing a piece of furniture I have. It might not happen on my own, but I have decided to sign up for Home Depot's Home Improver Club workshops. I don't have school anymore so I have a little extra free time. i think that learning how to do practical things in the home will be time well spent. I am really excited about this. :-)

I need to do something cultural, though. Last year, I saw at least one show a month (and in October I saw a few plays and a few concerts). Maybe the theme of this year will be museums? Well, I'll think through that later. :-)

I hope that everybody had a fantastic time bringing in the New Year!

Happy New Year, y'all!