(Funny how pretty much nothing has gone as planned in the evenings this week.
A blessing in some ways, a disappointment in others.
At least we have a clean house, though.)
I decided that since I didn't get to host tonight and share some of the highlights that really stood out to me in this week's Beth Moore study, I'd share anyway!
- "I believe that intimacy with God is the missing link in most stale ministries. No ministry is beyond becoming lifeless and flat. Freshness accompanies an active and current relationship with Christ." I think this also applies to relationships in general, especially marriages. Christ is supposed to be the center of every relationship. I think often when marriages become rocky, it's probably because the couple has begun relying less on God and started taking on more control.
- Loved this tidbit of info... "The word amazed is the original word ekplesso which is 'found only in the sense of knocking one out of his senses.'"
- Our influence is huge! "We are constantly exerting influence. Influence is a gift, a trust. We must be careful how we use it. Take heed. Satan can affect masses of followers..." This makes me reflect... How do I interact with others? What attitude do I have? A real WOW moment... "Do [I] make it difficult for people around [me] to turn to God?"
- "Every time God delivers us, the point is ultimately to draw us closer to Himself. Whether we get to avoid pain and suffering or we must persevere in the midst of it, our deliverance comes when we're dragged from the enemy of our souls to the heart of God. We escape from the clutches of evil every time we draw near to the embrace of God. Delivered from evil. Drawn to God. The rescue has not reaped its ultimate work until we're under His wing."
- In one reading we had this week, Paul talked about "an eternal glory that far outweighs them all." I think that sometimes this seems so far away to me. I know that at any moment the Lord could take me from this life. I know that we don't know how many breaths we'll take in this life. Going day to day, though, wrapped up in the routines of life, "eternal glory" seems so far away, so many up and downs away. It's almost unimaginable... seemingly unreachable. Is this because I'm only 28 and have had few real hardships?
- The Bible study also mentioned the 4-letter f- word... fear! Fear in facing hardships. (This hardships lesson came just in time, the day after attending the memorial service for my classmate. Perfect timing as usual, Lord!) That can be me sometimes. "Fear of trials sometimes depletes more energy than facing trials! Once we accept the inevitability of hardship, we can redirect our focus from fear of trials to faithfulness." And then, because hardships are inevitable, "we will never become so spiritual that we will cease experiencing hardship."
- In regards to hardships and difficulties in life, this was encouraging... "difficulty is not a sign of immaturity or faithlessness. We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God. Incidentally, unbelievers also suffer many hardships. The difference is this: ours are never in vain."
- One of the thoughts that closed the Bible study for this week was, "The freedom God gives is to come out and be separate from the practices of the former worldly life." This made me think of the verse saying we are live IN the world, not be OF the world. What does this mean in today's culture? When technology is key to so many things, how do you live simply? How do you let go of your earthly treasures and live according to His will? This is my current journey. These are questions that my Father and I are working on right now... Wish me luck!
It was a good week in this study. I'm disappointed that no one showed up tonight to talk about it. Nothing like anxiously sitting, waiting for people to show up with a coffee table full of goodies, and realizing that it will just be you and the goodies tonight. No fellowship. No discussion.
It's ok. No hard feelings. There's always next week.