Monday, July 11, 2011
Acts 17:11 "Receive The Word With Eagerness" (July 11)
These men turned the world upside down and created quite a stir. How were they so bold? They used to run from questions and jump into boats to go fishing to avoid the crowds. But, no more. Kicked out of Thessalonica, they went to Berea looking for good men. And, Acts 17: 11 ~ "The Jews in Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica; they received the word with all eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see if these things were so." What integrity that they could honestly examine the words before them. Something inside of me thinks that in order to believe, you cannot question or wrestle with the text. That's not right. Noble men with questioning minds surrendered to the Spirit of God to do His Will! It's okay to ask questions. It's all right to wrestle with such weighty words. Search me, O God, and see what's in my heart that I may receive Your Word with all ~eagerness~ !!!
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So disturbed after watching the Jaycee Dugard story online. That girl is absolutely precious! May she find God in ways she never ever imagined from her unbelievable suffering! So many thoughts swirling in my mind listening to her horror. A stun gun and she's gone. And then I read Ps 140:2 this morning that God is on the side of the victims. I know He was on my side when I was raped even though there was no justice at that time---one day. My brother was sick like Jaycee's abductor. Do I believe my worst problem is pain and those who failed me? No. I am so drawn to the statement in 66 LL: We arrange for our good in this life even through good things like worship, music, hard work and serving others. In every trial that comes our way, every heartache we endure, every failure we fall into, every season of darkness where dreams lie shattered, we can count on THIS---our God is at work to make us aware of how far short we fall of His relational perfection & to do whatever it takes to get us relating like Him. So very grateful for men like Larry who have disrupted my thinking, my heart. So very grateful for each of you who deals with the fray of your heart every single day of your life. How are y'all doing? I'm missing hearing from you. Seems like summer is so busy. Would so love for you to check in from time to time! Love you so!
ReplyDeleteChecking in with a heart that has been wrestling. I'm being vulnerable by sharing the fact that I don't like this feeling of "needing" God in my life. I so want to do this thing on my own, but it doesn't seem to be working the way I hoped. This Monday, as we enter another ten years of (a sometimes difficult) marriage I've decided to surrender again. I need Him and an attitude adjustment! No big deal, just wishing I didn't have to keep getting up and falling down. It's all good!
ReplyDeleteI know what you mean, Bev. What you just wrote made me think about Beth Moore too. If you and she hadn't gone through what you did, you might not touch as many lives or have such a powerful testimony. Thank you for sharing it with us each and every day. I'm sorry anyway.
Love you too!
Angie xoxo
Streams in the Desert gave a beautiful quote:
ReplyDelete"The burden of suffering seems a tombstone hung about our necks, while in reality it is only the weight which is necessary to keep down the diver while he is hunting for pearls."---Richter.
That just ministered to me the other day when I read it and pondered the pearls I've discovered these past years of great pain. Instead of a mental breakdown...God has given me a spiritual joy that glows. I told Him the other day how I just couldn't have made it through these past few years without Him. And this group of pearls have been such a blessing to me.
Bev, I hate what you had to go through. We will never be called "prissy Christians!" Sometimes I have to tell God to remember I'm just a little girl when the burden seems so heavy. He can take that. He knows it's tough. But He is The Christ in our lives.
Ang,start counting the good things about your mate. I work around a lot of men and they are just so different from me! They are so different. But they do have such a little boy way about them. I pray you have a blessed anniversary, girl. He's one blessed man to have you in his life.
Here's my verse and I love how nothing stopped Paul from proclaiming it:
"'This Jesus, whom I proclaim to you, is the Christ.' And some of them were persuaded and joined Paul and Silas..."
That's what it's all about, grace people. Share Jesus. And if you have to, use your words.
Aw! Angie! That makes me so want to be with you and give you a great big hug. Someday. So appreciate your vulnerability. God has come through for you in such beautiful ways and He will again this year. Love you so!
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing, Bev. You are amazing because of how God has used your experiences to make you draw closer to him.
ReplyDeleteAngie, so proud of you. I think Deborah gave you great advice, look for the good will and you find it. Marriage isn't always easy, but when I look at the committment I made to my husband and to God and I get a reality check. (I am not that easy to live with, either)
Twinkle, thanks for the thoughtful, encouraging words!