Philippians 3:8
What is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I may gain Christ
Good morning ladies,
I have been thinking about this verse since Friday. How could Paul consider all things rubbish compared to knowing Christ?
I mean “all things” is a lot of stuff, it isn’t just the material things we give up, it is everything, our hopes, our plans, our dreams, and our vacations. Everything. That’s a lot.
Yesterday God used a baby to show me what Paul meant.
I was standing in the lobby of church waiting for a friend. Denise was in the lobby holding Rebekah. Lisa, Rebekah’s mother was busy with Ryan so Denise had taken Rebekah. Now Rebekah seemed perfectly happy with “Auntie Denise” but then Daniel, her father walked in the room, and she lit up like a Christmas tree.
Suddenly Denise wasn’t good enough, because something better had walked in.
That’s what Paul meant. It isn’t that the things of the world aren’t great, they are. In fact God gave them for us to enjoy, but they are nothing compared to Christ himself. They are rubbish.
This morning as I was thinking about all of this I was reminded of an old hymn that I love, some of you might know it, Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus.
The chorus goes:
Turn your eyes upon Jesus,
Look full in His wonderful face;
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace.
Follow the link below to hear it for yourself.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QR0LiRiz4l4&feature=related
Have a wonderful day.
Love,
Jill
Monday, November 16, 2009
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Be Still
Psalm 46:10a (NIV)
"Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 46:10a (NASB)
"Cease striving and know that I am God;
Good morning ladies,
I am very excited about the women’s retreat, not only because we get to spend a beautiful weekend together at Mt. Hermon, but because I get the privilege of thinking and pondering on our topic for the next three months.
Being still is something I have been working on since Nick was 6. I was a Stepping Stones’ teacher in Vallejo and I couldn’t figure out how to make my schedule work with Nick’s school schedule. Up until that point it had worked fine, I would drop Katherine off at school and then Nick and I would go to Stepping Stones together, but since kindergarten started later that wasn’t going to work.
One day as I was driving down Hastings praying about what I was supposed to do, well maybe negotiating would be a better word, because I knew God wanted me to quit, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to. I liked being a teacher and I didn’t know what I would do with all my free time. He brought this verse to mind. “What you will do,” He said, “is be still and know I am God.”
I quit. That was nine years ago.
Being still does not come naturally to me, but it is worth the effort.
My moodles follow me around all day. They patiently wait for me to stop moving so that they can jump up on my lap, They know that I will give them very little attention when I am on the move, but if I am sitting reading my Bible or taking a nap they can cuddle up next to me and get love.
This morning as I was straightening up the house the moodles were following me around. When I grabbed a blanket from the couch to fold and put away they got very excited. “You two,” I laughed “are just waiting for me to be still.”
And God replied, “So am I.”
We live in a very busy world and we often think we don’t have time to be still because we have a lot to do, you may even think that being still is a waste of time. Let me assure you it’s not, because when you are still and cuddle up with God you get love, not to mention wisdom and strength.
Love,
Jill
"Be still, and know that I am God;
Psalm 46:10a (NASB)
"Cease striving and know that I am God;
Good morning ladies,
I am very excited about the women’s retreat, not only because we get to spend a beautiful weekend together at Mt. Hermon, but because I get the privilege of thinking and pondering on our topic for the next three months.
Being still is something I have been working on since Nick was 6. I was a Stepping Stones’ teacher in Vallejo and I couldn’t figure out how to make my schedule work with Nick’s school schedule. Up until that point it had worked fine, I would drop Katherine off at school and then Nick and I would go to Stepping Stones together, but since kindergarten started later that wasn’t going to work.
One day as I was driving down Hastings praying about what I was supposed to do, well maybe negotiating would be a better word, because I knew God wanted me to quit, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to. I liked being a teacher and I didn’t know what I would do with all my free time. He brought this verse to mind. “What you will do,” He said, “is be still and know I am God.”
I quit. That was nine years ago.
Being still does not come naturally to me, but it is worth the effort.
My moodles follow me around all day. They patiently wait for me to stop moving so that they can jump up on my lap, They know that I will give them very little attention when I am on the move, but if I am sitting reading my Bible or taking a nap they can cuddle up next to me and get love.
This morning as I was straightening up the house the moodles were following me around. When I grabbed a blanket from the couch to fold and put away they got very excited. “You two,” I laughed “are just waiting for me to be still.”
And God replied, “So am I.”
We live in a very busy world and we often think we don’t have time to be still because we have a lot to do, you may even think that being still is a waste of time. Let me assure you it’s not, because when you are still and cuddle up with God you get love, not to mention wisdom and strength.
Love,
Jill
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Secret of Being Content
Philippians 4:12
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
Good morning ladies,
I was doing my Bible study in Philippians this morning and I was struck by this verse. This is a pretty famous verse, many of us know it, some of us even have it memorized, but this morning when I looked at it I realized it said far more than I had originally thought.
To me, this verse speaks to the fact that Paul, who often seemed to be living in dire circumstances, had learned how to be content. But it actually says a lot more it says he also knew how to be hungry when living in prosperity.
When I think of Paul, I think of his beatings, his shipwrecks, and his imprisonments, I do not think of him living in prosperity, but of course before he met Jesus he had.
Paul was born to Jewish parents who were also Roman citizens. At this time most Jews were not Roman citizens, it was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. Therefore, Paul's parents were probably people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth.
Paul grew up knowing what it meant to have plenty.
At the age of fourteen Paul was sent to Jerusalem to train to be a Rabbi and since they also wanted to have something for him to fall back on during hard times, he was trained to be a tent-maker.
Paul had a bright future, things were looking good for him, but when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus his life was changed forever.
Paul had lived a life of prosperity and he had been hungry; he would now live a life of suffering and be filled.
Satisfaction and contentment does not come from our circumstances, it never has, and it never will. If it did the United States, not Disneyland, would be “The “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Love,
Jill
I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.
Good morning ladies,
I was doing my Bible study in Philippians this morning and I was struck by this verse. This is a pretty famous verse, many of us know it, some of us even have it memorized, but this morning when I looked at it I realized it said far more than I had originally thought.
To me, this verse speaks to the fact that Paul, who often seemed to be living in dire circumstances, had learned how to be content. But it actually says a lot more it says he also knew how to be hungry when living in prosperity.
When I think of Paul, I think of his beatings, his shipwrecks, and his imprisonments, I do not think of him living in prosperity, but of course before he met Jesus he had.
Paul was born to Jewish parents who were also Roman citizens. At this time most Jews were not Roman citizens, it was an honor reserved for people who made great contributions to the Empire. Therefore, Paul's parents were probably people of influence and perhaps even moderate wealth.
Paul grew up knowing what it meant to have plenty.
At the age of fourteen Paul was sent to Jerusalem to train to be a Rabbi and since they also wanted to have something for him to fall back on during hard times, he was trained to be a tent-maker.
Paul had a bright future, things were looking good for him, but when he met Jesus on the road to Damascus his life was changed forever.
Paul had lived a life of prosperity and he had been hungry; he would now live a life of suffering and be filled.
Satisfaction and contentment does not come from our circumstances, it never has, and it never will. If it did the United States, not Disneyland, would be “The “Happiest Place on Earth.”
Love,
Jill
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Live at Peace
Romans 12:17-19
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Good morning ladies,
My kids, for the most part get along really well. I feel very blessed that they are still best friends, but they still have disagreements.
Yesterday when I was refereeing a minor squabble about a book, they started down the “He said…, She said ….” road. Both of them thought the other person was at fault and that they were, if not totally innocent, at least more innocent.
This morning I sent them off to school with this verse.
It is our responsibility live at peace with others. And although some days that seems nearly impossible, it doesn’t change the directive.
Fortunately the Bible has a lot of good suggestions on how to live at peace with others, many found in the book of James. Watch your tongue, don’t get easily angered, show no favoritism, and a reminder to follow the royal law “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Nowhere does it say; “But he…”, in fact it says the opposite. It says the reason we quarrel and fight is because we do not get what we want. I know that is true of most two year olds, and me.
I like to be right; my family would tell you I love to be right, and I like to have things my way. But the truth of the matter is if I want to live at peace with others I can’t always have things my way, and I can’t always be right.
What I can do, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is die to myself, and live for Christ, to love others more than I love me, and to put their needs above my own.
The amazing thing is when I do that, God takes care of everyone else.
Love,
Jill
Do not repay anyone evil for evil. Be careful to do what is right in the eyes of everybody. If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone. Do not take revenge, my friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord.
Good morning ladies,
My kids, for the most part get along really well. I feel very blessed that they are still best friends, but they still have disagreements.
Yesterday when I was refereeing a minor squabble about a book, they started down the “He said…, She said ….” road. Both of them thought the other person was at fault and that they were, if not totally innocent, at least more innocent.
This morning I sent them off to school with this verse.
It is our responsibility live at peace with others. And although some days that seems nearly impossible, it doesn’t change the directive.
Fortunately the Bible has a lot of good suggestions on how to live at peace with others, many found in the book of James. Watch your tongue, don’t get easily angered, show no favoritism, and a reminder to follow the royal law “Love your neighbor as yourself.”
Nowhere does it say; “But he…”, in fact it says the opposite. It says the reason we quarrel and fight is because we do not get what we want. I know that is true of most two year olds, and me.
I like to be right; my family would tell you I love to be right, and I like to have things my way. But the truth of the matter is if I want to live at peace with others I can’t always have things my way, and I can’t always be right.
What I can do, with the help of the indwelling Holy Spirit, is die to myself, and live for Christ, to love others more than I love me, and to put their needs above my own.
The amazing thing is when I do that, God takes care of everyone else.
Love,
Jill
Monday, November 9, 2009
Protection
Psalm 40:11
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
Good morning ladies,
I am getting ready to start the Precepts Bible study on Philippians tomorrow night and I‘ve been reflecting upon the past Bible studies I have done. From each one of them I can take away at least one truth that has changed my life.
From the life of Moses, that God has standards for His leaders and He expects them to live up to them.
From 2 Peter, the truth that we are given the divine nature and everything we need for life and godliness, and then it is our responsibility to add to our faith, goodness, knowledge and self-control.
From James, the truth that we must look into the word of God and REMEMBER what we learn there and not walk away and forget. It is the man who remembers what he has learned who is blessed.
And from 1 and 2 Samuel, the life of David, that God looks at our heart and our motives, He does not judge on actions alone, that sin has consequences, but there is nothing we can do that God can’t forgive, and each one of us are given tasks to do and we must focus on those.
Just to name a few.
I love the Word of God, it has the power to transform, train and protect, but just in case I had any doubts God gave me a great reminder yesterday at church.
I was sitting with my grape juice waiting to take communion and I accidently spilled the cup. Fortunately it spilled on the cover of the Bible I was holding in my lap instead of on my pants, since I still had to do announcements at second service.
As I was walking to the bathroom to wash off the Bible, I stopped and talked to Daniel, the worship team leader. When he noticed the grape juice on the Bible he said the same thing had just happened to him with coffee. He had spilt his coffee and if it hadn’t been for his Bible it would have gone all over his white shirt.
Only God could take a spiritual truth, like the importance of having the Word of God in your life, and make it so practical.
Love,
Jill
Do not withhold your mercy from me, O LORD;
may your love and your truth always protect me.
Good morning ladies,
I am getting ready to start the Precepts Bible study on Philippians tomorrow night and I‘ve been reflecting upon the past Bible studies I have done. From each one of them I can take away at least one truth that has changed my life.
From the life of Moses, that God has standards for His leaders and He expects them to live up to them.
From 2 Peter, the truth that we are given the divine nature and everything we need for life and godliness, and then it is our responsibility to add to our faith, goodness, knowledge and self-control.
From James, the truth that we must look into the word of God and REMEMBER what we learn there and not walk away and forget. It is the man who remembers what he has learned who is blessed.
And from 1 and 2 Samuel, the life of David, that God looks at our heart and our motives, He does not judge on actions alone, that sin has consequences, but there is nothing we can do that God can’t forgive, and each one of us are given tasks to do and we must focus on those.
Just to name a few.
I love the Word of God, it has the power to transform, train and protect, but just in case I had any doubts God gave me a great reminder yesterday at church.
I was sitting with my grape juice waiting to take communion and I accidently spilled the cup. Fortunately it spilled on the cover of the Bible I was holding in my lap instead of on my pants, since I still had to do announcements at second service.
As I was walking to the bathroom to wash off the Bible, I stopped and talked to Daniel, the worship team leader. When he noticed the grape juice on the Bible he said the same thing had just happened to him with coffee. He had spilt his coffee and if it hadn’t been for his Bible it would have gone all over his white shirt.
Only God could take a spiritual truth, like the importance of having the Word of God in your life, and make it so practical.
Love,
Jill
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Still Small Voice
John 10:27
John 10:27
Jesus said "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me"
Good morning ladies,
There is nothing more important than learning to listen to the voice of the Lord. Then you will know where to go and where not to go. But it doesn’t happen overnight.
It takes practice to be able to hear the still small voice of God in the midst of our busy world.
I have been doing Bible study for over eleven years and everyday I can hear the voice of the Lord a little better.
Recently I had two experiences where I clearly heard God’s voice.
Last Sunday I did not want to go to church, no reason really, I just wanted to play hooky. I normally do the announcements so I had to tell Janet I wasn’t coming and then Pastor Harvey asked me to announce something for him, so I also had to tell him I wasn’t coming. I told him I felt a little guilty, but I was going to stay home anyway. Jokingly he gave me absolution. But God didn’t.
All week God kept annoying me. I had a restless feeling that I have come to associate with disobedience and no matter how I tried I couldn’t shake it, so I went to church, where I received a wonderful blessing from God, which I would have missed had I stayed home.
On Monday I attended a meeting that I knew I shouldn’t go to, it wasn’t a bad meeting, in fact it was a good meeting, it just wasn’t where I was supposed to be. Again the restless feeling started.
After the meeting I went home and prayed, the next morning I turned in my resignation.
A good friend responded with today’s verse.
We are God’s sheep; we need to be able to hear His voice. He is the one who knows what we should and should not do, and once He speaks we need to obey.
Love,
Jill
John 10:27
Jesus said "My sheep listen to my voice; I know them, and they follow me"
Good morning ladies,
There is nothing more important than learning to listen to the voice of the Lord. Then you will know where to go and where not to go. But it doesn’t happen overnight.
It takes practice to be able to hear the still small voice of God in the midst of our busy world.
I have been doing Bible study for over eleven years and everyday I can hear the voice of the Lord a little better.
Recently I had two experiences where I clearly heard God’s voice.
Last Sunday I did not want to go to church, no reason really, I just wanted to play hooky. I normally do the announcements so I had to tell Janet I wasn’t coming and then Pastor Harvey asked me to announce something for him, so I also had to tell him I wasn’t coming. I told him I felt a little guilty, but I was going to stay home anyway. Jokingly he gave me absolution. But God didn’t.
All week God kept annoying me. I had a restless feeling that I have come to associate with disobedience and no matter how I tried I couldn’t shake it, so I went to church, where I received a wonderful blessing from God, which I would have missed had I stayed home.
On Monday I attended a meeting that I knew I shouldn’t go to, it wasn’t a bad meeting, in fact it was a good meeting, it just wasn’t where I was supposed to be. Again the restless feeling started.
After the meeting I went home and prayed, the next morning I turned in my resignation.
A good friend responded with today’s verse.
We are God’s sheep; we need to be able to hear His voice. He is the one who knows what we should and should not do, and once He speaks we need to obey.
Love,
Jill
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Take Up Your Cross
Luke 9:23
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Good afternoon ladies,
This month we are supposed to be thinking about what it means to be totally surrendered to Christ. In fact this is one of the verses that Rovellyn referenced.
But what does it really mean.
The first thing that jumps out at me is that it is a daily commitment. Everyday you have to follow Christ. So of course that would mean you have to know where He is going, and what He would want you to do, and the best way to do that is to start each day with Bible study and prayer. I mean how many of us would start out on a journey without any directions or any idea of where we are going. Every day with God is part of a journey; you really need directions to stay on course.
Second, Jesus gave them a choice. It was not commanded. He did not say, “You have to deny yourself and take up your cross.” He said, “IF anyone would come after me.” IF you want to follow me, IF you want to be my disciple, then this is what you have to do, deny yourself, and take up your cross.
Now we all know what it means to deny ourselves something. For example, I denied myself Halloween candy this year. Which means it is something I wanted but I did not let myself have it. But I think Jesus was aiming for something bigger than candy, especially since He mentions the cross.
To us the cross is the symbol of life; to the Jewish people it would have been the symbol of death. The Roman government crucified lots of people and many of them, including Jesus had to carry their own cross to the execution.
So what Jesus is saying is; if we want to follow Him, we must die to ourselves, our wants, our desires, and our agendas. No longer do WE get to pick what we do, say or even think. If we are serious about being a disciple of Christ, every thought, every action, and every word belongs to Him.
Now you know why we need the Holy Spirit.
Love,
Jill
Then he said to them all: "If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.
Good afternoon ladies,
This month we are supposed to be thinking about what it means to be totally surrendered to Christ. In fact this is one of the verses that Rovellyn referenced.
But what does it really mean.
The first thing that jumps out at me is that it is a daily commitment. Everyday you have to follow Christ. So of course that would mean you have to know where He is going, and what He would want you to do, and the best way to do that is to start each day with Bible study and prayer. I mean how many of us would start out on a journey without any directions or any idea of where we are going. Every day with God is part of a journey; you really need directions to stay on course.
Second, Jesus gave them a choice. It was not commanded. He did not say, “You have to deny yourself and take up your cross.” He said, “IF anyone would come after me.” IF you want to follow me, IF you want to be my disciple, then this is what you have to do, deny yourself, and take up your cross.
Now we all know what it means to deny ourselves something. For example, I denied myself Halloween candy this year. Which means it is something I wanted but I did not let myself have it. But I think Jesus was aiming for something bigger than candy, especially since He mentions the cross.
To us the cross is the symbol of life; to the Jewish people it would have been the symbol of death. The Roman government crucified lots of people and many of them, including Jesus had to carry their own cross to the execution.
So what Jesus is saying is; if we want to follow Him, we must die to ourselves, our wants, our desires, and our agendas. No longer do WE get to pick what we do, say or even think. If we are serious about being a disciple of Christ, every thought, every action, and every word belongs to Him.
Now you know why we need the Holy Spirit.
Love,
Jill
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