So....I am sure you are all quite aware that school is starting back next week and we still have 4 more weeks of study to discuss. I am not sure where everyone is in the study, but the last week discussed on the blog was week 4, so I'm just going to go with that. There are some ladies joining our fall study that will not have been present with us during the online study of No Other gods, so I am feeling a little stuck with what to do with the remaining 4 weeks that we have of this study. What do you girls think? Also, while we are giving suggestions.... How can we improve for next summer? Should we do a "next summer"?
Love you ladies!
Taylor
Saturday, July 27, 2013
Tuesday, July 16, 2013
What are you thoughts regarding...
Hi ladies!
As I was reading Week 4, I found myself pondering this question:
What do you do, or how do you behave, when you know you are somebody else's idol?
I can think of some relationships in the past when I know that someone else had given me idol status in her/his life. If I know this to be true, how should I act in the friendship? The obvious answer to me is to point them back to God as often as possible, but what does that really mean? What does that look like?
I'd love to get some feedback from you all!
As I was reading Week 4, I found myself pondering this question:
What do you do, or how do you behave, when you know you are somebody else's idol?
I can think of some relationships in the past when I know that someone else had given me idol status in her/his life. If I know this to be true, how should I act in the friendship? The obvious answer to me is to point them back to God as often as possible, but what does that really mean? What does that look like?
I'd love to get some feedback from you all!
Thursday, July 11, 2013
Jesus Calling
I think most of you ladies have a copy of this but on the off-chance you don't or didn't read it today I wanted to share today's devotion with you because it was pretty awesome.
Worship me only, Idolatry has always been the downfall of My people. I make no secrets about being a jealoud God. Current idols are more subtle than ancient ones, because today's false gods are often outside the field of religion. People, possessions, status, and self-aggrandizement are some of the most popular dieties today. Beware of bowing down before these things. False gods never satisfy; instead, they stir up lust for more and more.
When you seek me instead of the world's idols, you experience My Joy and Peace. These intangibles slake the thirst of your soul, providing deep satisfaction. The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of My Presence is brilliant and everlasting. Walk in the Light with Me. Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me.
Worship me only, Idolatry has always been the downfall of My people. I make no secrets about being a jealoud God. Current idols are more subtle than ancient ones, because today's false gods are often outside the field of religion. People, possessions, status, and self-aggrandizement are some of the most popular dieties today. Beware of bowing down before these things. False gods never satisfy; instead, they stir up lust for more and more.
When you seek me instead of the world's idols, you experience My Joy and Peace. These intangibles slake the thirst of your soul, providing deep satisfaction. The glitter of the world is tinny and temporal. The Light of My Presence is brilliant and everlasting. Walk in the Light with Me. Thus you become a beacon through whom others are drawn to Me.
Saturday, July 6, 2013
Week 4: Leah or Rachel
I really liked this week. I have studied the story of Jacob before (Beth Moore's Patriarchs) but I never looked at the story this way.
I always identified with Leah. She always seemed to have the same insecurities that I have always battled. She lived in the shadow of her beautiful, more desirable younger sister. I felt this a lot in High School with Kelly. She also wanted so badly to be loved an desired that she was deceitful in order to get what she wanted. I cant think of a specific example, but I am sure that I have done this in my life as well. But if you look at what Leah did achieve, she was greatly blessed with sons that would be the heads of the tribes of Israel. I think many people see this in Leah... but do they see it as a idol? I never did.
What about Rachel? I always thought she was the lucky one. She was beautiful and loved unconditionally by her husband despite be barren. I know several happily married women who do not have a desire to have children of their own. They are perfectly content with the relationship they have with their husband. But this was not enough for Rachel, she wanted children. God did eventually bless her, but until after she pulled a Sarah. Why do we see he same mistakes over and over again in the bible? You would think that people would learn from the mistakes of their forefathers? I guess the same could be asked for our society now. Overall, our desires become our idols.
I always thought of materialism as being an idol and participating in certain unholy actives, but never our pure desires of our heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord and he will grant you the desires of your heart." I have always held fast to this verse. We also have to look at what it doesn't say. It doesn't say that will will get it in our way and time. It doesn't say we will get it if we are half hearted with the Lord. It doesn't say that we will get our desires if we take matters in to our own hands. Rachel did have the children that she desired, but at what cost? I think this happens to us all the time. We have the greedy give me's. We want it and we want it now. In this our desire become idols as we turn away from God and focus on the want and how to obtain it.
On page 84 Kelly says, "When God told us to have no other gods before Him, it was built-in protection from being double minded. If we are severing God and God alone, we are single-minded with one focus, when we Claim God is our God while we are serving false gods, we become double-minded." Leah and Rachel were double-minded. Are we also double-minded? I think I can be even though I try not be be.
I also loved pages 90 and 91. So much good stuff!!! Kelly really reached me this week. She wrote several things that I loved and kinda slapped me in the face.
Despite the desires of their hearts, both women were left wanting after they received. I think we think this way. Once we have what we want we move on to the next thing that we want. This is something I want to work on. I want to relish in my blessing and not just look ahead to the next thing that I want.
The paragraph about obedience was AWESOME!!! Once we are willing and we choose to obey God, he pours out more and more blessings on to us. It feels like a reward system. We do what our teacher wants, and we get a reward. Just like most of us do in our classrooms.
I think I have said enough for now. (it took me two days to write this). I just am full with this study and I am learning so much beyond my initial belief about idols.
Until next time.
Shannon
I always identified with Leah. She always seemed to have the same insecurities that I have always battled. She lived in the shadow of her beautiful, more desirable younger sister. I felt this a lot in High School with Kelly. She also wanted so badly to be loved an desired that she was deceitful in order to get what she wanted. I cant think of a specific example, but I am sure that I have done this in my life as well. But if you look at what Leah did achieve, she was greatly blessed with sons that would be the heads of the tribes of Israel. I think many people see this in Leah... but do they see it as a idol? I never did.
What about Rachel? I always thought she was the lucky one. She was beautiful and loved unconditionally by her husband despite be barren. I know several happily married women who do not have a desire to have children of their own. They are perfectly content with the relationship they have with their husband. But this was not enough for Rachel, she wanted children. God did eventually bless her, but until after she pulled a Sarah. Why do we see he same mistakes over and over again in the bible? You would think that people would learn from the mistakes of their forefathers? I guess the same could be asked for our society now. Overall, our desires become our idols.
I always thought of materialism as being an idol and participating in certain unholy actives, but never our pure desires of our heart. Psalm 37:4 says "Take delight in the Lord and he will grant you the desires of your heart." I have always held fast to this verse. We also have to look at what it doesn't say. It doesn't say that will will get it in our way and time. It doesn't say we will get it if we are half hearted with the Lord. It doesn't say that we will get our desires if we take matters in to our own hands. Rachel did have the children that she desired, but at what cost? I think this happens to us all the time. We have the greedy give me's. We want it and we want it now. In this our desire become idols as we turn away from God and focus on the want and how to obtain it.
On page 84 Kelly says, "When God told us to have no other gods before Him, it was built-in protection from being double minded. If we are severing God and God alone, we are single-minded with one focus, when we Claim God is our God while we are serving false gods, we become double-minded." Leah and Rachel were double-minded. Are we also double-minded? I think I can be even though I try not be be.
I also loved pages 90 and 91. So much good stuff!!! Kelly really reached me this week. She wrote several things that I loved and kinda slapped me in the face.
Despite the desires of their hearts, both women were left wanting after they received. I think we think this way. Once we have what we want we move on to the next thing that we want. This is something I want to work on. I want to relish in my blessing and not just look ahead to the next thing that I want.
The paragraph about obedience was AWESOME!!! Once we are willing and we choose to obey God, he pours out more and more blessings on to us. It feels like a reward system. We do what our teacher wants, and we get a reward. Just like most of us do in our classrooms.
I think I have said enough for now. (it took me two days to write this). I just am full with this study and I am learning so much beyond my initial belief about idols.
Until next time.
Shannon
Monday, July 1, 2013
Beautiful Things Lyrics (as referenced in the Week 2 post & comments)
Don't be deceived ladies! When we are willing, God can change our hearts and make us new!
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of
All this pain
I wonder if I’ll ever find my way
I wonder if my life could really change at all
All this earth
Could all that is lost ever be found
Could a garden come up from this ground at all
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
All around
Hope is springing up from this old ground
Out of chaos life is being found in You
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of us
You make me new, You are making me new
You make me new, You are making me new
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of the dust
You make beautiful things
You make beautiful things out of
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Week 2: Deception
I know that Kelly named week 2's study "Lies", but as I am looking back at my notes and answers to questions I am realizing that for me the tricky part is not the straight up lies, but instead the deception. On day 2, Kelly asks us to share what we think is the difference between lies and deception. For me, I think the main difference is the planning. In my opinion, it takes a lot more careful planning and intelligence to deceive someone. Lying is easy, but deceiving takes skill. This is why, for me, deception is more dangerous. Deception usually entangles truth and lies to make a recipe where the lies are hard to detect and therefore, easier to believe. On the same day (Day 2), Kelly asks us to identify a situation in which we have been sucked into the deception. I would love to hear what you girls put here. Maybe in knowing each others' struggles we can hold each other accountable and be more deliberate about speaking the truth to each other in these situations.
For me, I am aware that there are characteristics in me that do not reflect God's heart for His people. The two that I feel like God is targeting in this specific season in my life are selfishness and pride, but Satan is equally aware of these weaknesses in my life, and he often prevails in mixing this truth with the lie that these things can't be changed...that this is how I grew up and now it is too late to change the way that I am. I know this is not true, but Satan has such a sneaky way of getting me to believe it when I am not even aware that I am doing it. Please pray for this deception in my life, and let us know where yours are so that we can all pray for and encourage each other!
Love you all!
PS....where are you all in the study?
For me, I am aware that there are characteristics in me that do not reflect God's heart for His people. The two that I feel like God is targeting in this specific season in my life are selfishness and pride, but Satan is equally aware of these weaknesses in my life, and he often prevails in mixing this truth with the lie that these things can't be changed...that this is how I grew up and now it is too late to change the way that I am. I know this is not true, but Satan has such a sneaky way of getting me to believe it when I am not even aware that I am doing it. Please pray for this deception in my life, and let us know where yours are so that we can all pray for and encourage each other!
Love you all!
PS....where are you all in the study?
Tuesday, June 18, 2013
Week 2: Why?
This week was extremely potent for me.
Why? It is a question we ask all the time. Why is this happening? Why did I do that? Why are they doing this or that? When we were little we constantly questioned our parents, why? Eat your vegetables. Why? They are good for you. Why? They have vitamins that will help you grow big. Why? You get the picture.
So, Kelly addressed the question of why do we have idols. Pain, to fill a void, being unaware, and fear. I think these are the the biggest reason for some of my idols. When we hurt or feel empty we want to replace those feelings with something good. I think this is an understandable desire. We don't what to have the negative feelings so we find positive things to overshadow them. This makes us feel better, or does it?
I like Kelly's reference to addicts. I had an uncle that was an alcoholic. He would hide bottles in his garage and would secretly drink. He could not hold down a job because of the drinking, it cost him his marriage, and eventually his life. He drank to fill a void or because he was in pain. In his fuzzy, happy drunk state he was not addressing the true problem only covering it up. If he and we would reach deep into our hearts and lay the emptiness or the pain at the foot of the cross, then the one who can really do something about it, will. How AWESOME and PEACEFUL is that?
Look at the examples of Sarah and Hannah. Kelly brings this up in the study, but it makes so much sense to me. Both woman had the same problem, could not bare children. One took matters into her own hands, Sarah, and the other trusted and waited on God, Hannah. Both women got what they desired, but at what cost did Sarah receive it? We need to learn to be more like Hannah when it comes to the trials and desires of our lives. We need to lay our pain, emptiness, burdens, desires, prayers, and praises at God's feet. We need to trust that he will take care of it. Easier said then done, but doing this will release us from the hold they have on us and they will not become our idols.
The other thing that rally struck me this week was day 5 on fear. All that Kelly said about how the object of our fear can be an idol makes so much sense to me. We are scared to be alone and therefore make finding a mate an idol. We are scared to be without a job and therefore make work an idol. But this question came to me and I wanted to know your thoughts.... if the object of our fear can turn out to be an idol, then why does God call us to be to God fearing? Are we supposed to make him an idol? Are we supposed to be scared of him? What does it really mean to be God fearing? The proverbs 31 woman is said to fear God. And she is the woman we strive to be like.
Wow!!! The thoughts and questions God lays on us. I am so blessed to be able to study and grow with you all. Thank you for making time to do this. You all are a blessing to me.
I have a prayer requests. One of my summer co-workers, Justin, lost his dad on father's day morning. He has been sick and had several serous surgeries. Please, pray for healing for Justin, his brothers, and mother. The family was Catholic, so he regularly attended church. The service is tomorrow. Thank you.
This week was extremely potent for me.
Why? It is a question we ask all the time. Why is this happening? Why did I do that? Why are they doing this or that? When we were little we constantly questioned our parents, why? Eat your vegetables. Why? They are good for you. Why? They have vitamins that will help you grow big. Why? You get the picture.
So, Kelly addressed the question of why do we have idols. Pain, to fill a void, being unaware, and fear. I think these are the the biggest reason for some of my idols. When we hurt or feel empty we want to replace those feelings with something good. I think this is an understandable desire. We don't what to have the negative feelings so we find positive things to overshadow them. This makes us feel better, or does it?
I like Kelly's reference to addicts. I had an uncle that was an alcoholic. He would hide bottles in his garage and would secretly drink. He could not hold down a job because of the drinking, it cost him his marriage, and eventually his life. He drank to fill a void or because he was in pain. In his fuzzy, happy drunk state he was not addressing the true problem only covering it up. If he and we would reach deep into our hearts and lay the emptiness or the pain at the foot of the cross, then the one who can really do something about it, will. How AWESOME and PEACEFUL is that?
Look at the examples of Sarah and Hannah. Kelly brings this up in the study, but it makes so much sense to me. Both woman had the same problem, could not bare children. One took matters into her own hands, Sarah, and the other trusted and waited on God, Hannah. Both women got what they desired, but at what cost did Sarah receive it? We need to learn to be more like Hannah when it comes to the trials and desires of our lives. We need to lay our pain, emptiness, burdens, desires, prayers, and praises at God's feet. We need to trust that he will take care of it. Easier said then done, but doing this will release us from the hold they have on us and they will not become our idols.
The other thing that rally struck me this week was day 5 on fear. All that Kelly said about how the object of our fear can be an idol makes so much sense to me. We are scared to be alone and therefore make finding a mate an idol. We are scared to be without a job and therefore make work an idol. But this question came to me and I wanted to know your thoughts.... if the object of our fear can turn out to be an idol, then why does God call us to be to God fearing? Are we supposed to make him an idol? Are we supposed to be scared of him? What does it really mean to be God fearing? The proverbs 31 woman is said to fear God. And she is the woman we strive to be like.
Wow!!! The thoughts and questions God lays on us. I am so blessed to be able to study and grow with you all. Thank you for making time to do this. You all are a blessing to me.
I have a prayer requests. One of my summer co-workers, Justin, lost his dad on father's day morning. He has been sick and had several serous surgeries. Please, pray for healing for Justin, his brothers, and mother. The family was Catholic, so he regularly attended church. The service is tomorrow. Thank you.
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