Verse For Today

Psalm 96:11-13

Let the heavens rejoice, and let

   the earth be glad;

Let the sea roar, and all its

   fullness;

Let the field be joyful, and all that

   is in it.

Then all the trees of the woods

   will rejoice before the Lord.

For He is coming, for He is

   coming to judge the earth.

He shall judge the world with

   righteousness,

And the peoples with His truth.

Special Guest

We had a special guest at church last weekend, Joe McGee.  I was in tears--of laughter, that is!  Joe McGee delivers such wisdom in such an entertaining way.  He is a mixture of scholar and comedian.  I was astounded by how much doctrine was packed into his message, but at the same time it was so practical.  His sermon revolved around a mother's duty, as it was Mother's Day weekend.  I encourage you to listen to it.  You can watch it at Church on the Move.com or download it from iTunes (Church on the Move Service podcasts).

Who Are You?

Last month I issued a challenge, you can read more here.  Part of that challenge was to write down what you believe about yourself.  What does the Bible say about you?

I did some study and came up with these 15 things.  I know there are more to be found, but 15 was a nice number to cover with my son.  I think we studied these over a 3 or 4 week period.  I used this opportunity to cover who we are, but also where we came from, a catechism of sorts.  I wanted to include some fundamentals of doctrine in this list.  I also wanted to start from scratch with this list.  I made a list of things I believed, but only kept the ones that I could find scriptural basis for.

Who Am I?

I was created by God, in His image.

Genesis 1:26-31

I am a spirit, I have a soul, and I live in a body.

Genesis 2:7, Job 32:8

I was born a sinner.

Romans 3:23

I have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus.

Ephesians 2:1-13

I am a new creation.

II Corinthians 5:17

I am more than a conqueror.

Romans 8:37

I am a child of God.

Romans 8:14-16

I am a joint heir with Christ.

Romans 8:17

I am seated together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus.

Ephesians 2:6

I am dead to sin and alive in Christ.

Colossians 3:1-17, Romans 5:12-21, Romans 6, Galatians 2:20

I am an overcomer.

I John 5:4-5

I am an alien (you could also say stranger or foreigner) of this earth.  (My son is partial to aliens, so he chose to use the word alien in this list.)

Psalm 119:19, Philippians 3:20

I am an ambassador for Christ.

II Corinthians 5:20, Ephesians 6:20

I am part of the Body of Christ.

I Corinthians 12:12-31, Ephesians 1:22-23

I am a person with unique God-given gifts and talents.

Matthew 25:14-30, Ephesians 4:7-8, I Peter 4:10, I Timothy 4:14, II Timothy 1:18

This started as a way to teach my son some fundamentals, and I took for granted these beliefs that I held, but I cannot tell you how good this study has been for me.  I believe that seeds have been planted in both my children (9 & 3) through this study, but I have experienced revelation, breakthrough, and victory in my life as a result.  I went from comprehending to apprehending these truths.  See Ephesians 3:18, the verb comprehend, in the Greek, is also translated apprehend, meaning to lay hold of so as to make one's own.  These truths became my own.  It is when the truth of God's Word comes alive to you that it's power works in your life!

Next, we will study why we are here on this earth.

If you would like to read some of what I believe about God, see my earlier articles here, here, and here.

Book of Romans

We have been reading through the book of Romans, as a family, at dinnertime.  Tonight we were in chapter 12 and verses 2 through 8 particularly stuck out to me.

You've heard it a million times, Romans 12:2 - And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind...

I think this verse is often quoted with the theme of not going along with what the world is doing and that is all fine and good, but I saw a bigger picture tonight.

Keep reading down to verse 8.  I saw a progression.

1)  You renew your mind through study of God's Word.  (vs. 2)

2)  You find out what God's will is for your life (vs. 2)

3)  You go out and DO it!  (vs. 3-8)

So if we were to reverse that, you cannot do what God wants you to do if you don't know His will and you cannot know His will unless you are spending time studying His Word.

See also John 17:17 and Ephesians 2:10

Questions, Questions, Questions

Did I open a can of worms with my challenge?

Did I bring up too many questions?

What if you can't even make a list of your beliefs because you have too many questions?

Questions are good, it is perfectly okay to question things.  In fact, it is the fool that accepts information without questioning it.

What you need to do is start a journal or notebook and list your questions.  Then, pray and ask God to answer your questions.  This is an idea I have heard Dr. Chuck Missler suggest, I think it is great.

God will answer your questions, somewhere, someday.  He has promised you wisdom if you will ask for it.  James 1:5  When you do get the answer to your question, write it down in your journal.  This is so important because then you will be able to look back and see all the times God has answered you.  You will see His faithfulness.  Chances are, if you don't write it down, you will forget that you had the question in the first place.

So start a journal today--even if you just write down one question.

Reading

Too many good books to read, too little time.

I bought a used copy of Our Father Abraham, by Marvin Wilson, the other day and read the first chapter.  I'm excited to read the rest, but it will have to wait a bit.  Read on.

I was perusing our local library web site and came across The Handbook of Today's Religions, by Josh McDowell.  I have always wondered what Mormons or Jehovah's Witnesses believe that is different from Evangelical Christians.  If a Mormon or a Jehovah's Witness came to the door, I would not know what to say to them.  I have tried reading on Wikipedia to find out what they believe, but this book is better.  This book gives a brief rundown of each different religion's views, in light of scripture--and that is the important detail.

I would not suggest reading this book cover to cover.  I have read the chapter on Worldwide Church of God, because of certain family members, and the chapter on Jehovah Witnesses.  I will read the chapter on Mormonism and then be done with it.  This book also covers Satanism, Islam, Marxism, and much more.  I personally think it's a bit dangerous to read too much on this stuff.  Just the two chapters I have read so far have my heard swirling with what these groups believe to be true.  I wouldn't even read the chapters on Satanism, unless you have a friend or family member involved in it or you yourself are involved and are seeking answers.  That said, this is a wonderful reference.

I checked this book out from the library, but I think it will have to wait for a later time.  I heard Dutch Sheets speak the other day on The Joyce Meyer radio show.  He was talking about the authority that we have in Christ.  It really helped me, which is why I checked this book out, but no time right now.  :)

I just received this book in the mail today, I've been waiting on it for quite a while.  I think everyone should read at least one story of Christian/Jewish persecution, it will make you appreciate the freedoms we have in America.  I also recommend The Hiding Place by Corrie ten Boom.

I have been skimming The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren to help me in a study I've been preparing for my son and I.  I have been compiling a list of Who I Am and Why Am I Here?  I will share details of that soon.

And finally, I checked my library account today and saw that Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis is now available for me.  Yeah!  I've been waiting on this one quite a while.  I will drop everything else and read this one.  I have heard great things about this one.

Please also check out the list of books I recommend on the right-hand side bar, below.

Verse For Today

Jeremiah 17:5-8

Thus says the Lord:

Cursed is the man who trusts in man

And makes flesh his strength,

Whose heart departs from the Lord.

For he shall be like a shrub in the desert,

And shall not see when good comes,

But shall inhabit the parched places

in the wilderness,

In a salt land which is not inhabited.

Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord,

And whose hope is the Lord.

For he shall be like a tree planted by

the waters,

Which spreads out its roots by the river,

And will not fear when heat comes;

But its leaf will be green,

And will not be anxious in the year

of drought,

Nor will cease from yielding fruit.