Love and Not Sacrifice

"For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings." 

Hosea 6:6

I've been pondering my love for God recently. This verse is a reminder that God wants my love - He wants a relationship with me. It's not that He doesn't want me to make sacrifices for Him. After all, I am to take up my cross daily and follow Him. (As an aside, this dying to self business is pretty difficult. Has anyone noticed this besides me?) Still, He doesn't want what I can do for Him. He wants ME.  Sort of like when Jesus told Martha that Mary had chosen the better way when she sat at His feet instead of doing household chores. As I keep finding reminders of this, I am deeply comforted and deeply contented. Things are not happy-go-lucky in my life right now. They aren't horrible, but they could be better, you know? That is always true in everyone's life. Still, I am incandescently happy right now because I am fully aware of God's great love for me, and I am determined to love Him back, fiercely and forever.

Pangs of Death

My Bible study on the life of Christ is wrapping up just in time for Easter and this week has been bountiful with the blessings of scripture. I was saved at the age of six and grew up hearing the story of the cross and resurrection continually. Every Easter is a precious time for me, but this year, this Holy Week has been an exceptional blessing. (Praise be to God!) This verse is a gem from this morning. I hope it encourages someone else as much as it did me to think that it was NOT POSSIBLE for death to hold Jesus Christ! Amen!

P.S. I loved this so much that I'm adding it to My Sword for this year! Verse 7.1!

My Delight (verse eight)

Sometimes, I will randomly come across a verse that simply jumps off the page to me - the language is particularly beautiful, or it is JUST the word that I needed at that moment, or it simply reminds me of who I am in Christ. I try to write these down on my list of "verses to memorize" so I can come back to them later. So it was with today's verse. The day I found it, I needed to be reminded that I should delight to do my Father's will, just as my Savior delighted to do His Father's will.

"I delight to do you will, O my God; your law is within my heart."
Psalm 40:8

Patience and Careful Instruction (Verse Seven)

My mother-in-law birthed eight boys. One time, she was talking with a young mom who had just found out that her third baby was going to be a third boy. "Did you pray for patience?" My mother-in-law quipped. "Don't pray for patience - God will send you sons!"

Of course, that was in jest, but the fact remains that being a mom does give plenty of opportunities to develop patience, among some other fine character qualities. It is what each mom does with those opportunities that really counts. That is something I think of often since becoming a mom because of a book I read when I was pregnant with Big Brother. A dear lady gave me a book called Sacred Parenting by Gary Thomas. His basic premise is that parenting can be used by God as (and is meant to be) part of our sanctification process. Looking at all those sleepless nights, frustrating incidences, endless messes, endless inconveniences as part of my sanctification - as part of dying to self and growing more Christ-like - has radically changed my attitude on more than one occasion.

Still, I struggle to "speak the truth in love" just like the next person. I'm in a constant stream of "teachable moments" right now and it can feel overwhelming. (Let's be honest. Parenting is tough.) I'm taking this verse to heart in regards to my journey as a mom. I had chosen a different verse entirely, but this morning God brought 2 Timothy 4:2 to my attention and I needed this today. I don't think my need for this reminder will be going anywhere anytime soon, so here is my verse seven:

Preach the word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage - with great patience and careful instruction. 

II Timothy 4:2

My steps won't slip (verse six)

For years now, I have made exercise a priority in my life. Most days of the week, I ensure that I'm participating in some kind of physical activity. It used to be about how I looked, but now it is far more important to me because of how exercise makes me feel. I'm more energetic and have a more positive outlook when I am getting regular exercise. I feel pretty strongly that it also helps me stay healthier.

During an ice storm this winter, I took a potentially injurious fall. No, let's be honest, here. I had a major wipeout. I ran outside to the garage to tell the Hubs that dinner was ready. I didn't realize the walkway was slick and before I knew it, my feet were in the air. I landed on my shoulder/elbow and upper back, and hit my head pretty hard as well. I lay there for a minute, as I wasn't immediately sure that I wasn't injured. Hearing the thump of my landing, the Hubs came out of the garage and found me flat on my back in the ice and snow. We ascertained that I had no breaks (reference?!) and he helped me up. I was sore for days and had a terrible headache the next day. And the bruise…! I couldn't help but think that I would have been much more likely to be injured if my body wasn't used to physical exertion - aka, if I wasn't "in pretty good shape."(Side note: I sort of wish there had been a camera set up so I could see the video of this epic wipeout. I'm fairly certain I could have won America's Funniest Home Videos.)

Metaphorically, we won't slip when we hide God's word in our hearts. I would go to great lengths to ensure that I never take a fall like that on the ice ever again. It may also take great lengths to be sure I don't fall spiritually, either. Memorizing scripture makes my spirit stronger, just as exercising on a regular basis makes my body stronger. It is my hope that through scripture memory, I am protecting myself from slippery steps.

How will I love Jesus today? - Verse Five

My mornings start at 5:30am.

This is what my early morning looks like.

For a long time, I would get up at 5:30 only M-F but recently I've begun getting up early on the weekends, too. This is not for everyone, but for me, this is the time of day that is quiet. The time of day when I can think and be alone. It is beyond worth it to me to have this time of peace to get up early. (It's not like the boys let me sleep past 7 anyway!)

I'm currently participating in a Beth Moore Bible study called Jesus, The One and Only. I haven't done a Beth Moore study I haven't liked, although I've liked some better than others (Esther and the Patriarchs are my favorites, in case you're wondering). This particular study hasn't really grabbed me like some of them do - at least, not until this week. Week Four, Day Four, to be precise. The title of the day's homework is "Loving Much." It covers the story from Luke 7:36-50 about the woman with the alabaster jar of perfume. If you don't know the story, I urge you to stop reading this blog post and go read it right now.

The page out of my homework

Anyway, all of this ties into My Sword 2014 because as I completed the homework assignment, I asked myself this question, "How am I going to love on Jesus today?" I realized that I need to ask myself this question every day. How am I showing my love for my savior on a daily basis? There are many answers to this question and I will not belabor the point any longer, except to say that it was a powerful reminder to me.

Because of my Bible study homework this week, I've selected John 14:21 as My Sword verse five.

Verse Four

I read Psalm 71 this week and found several jewels - or tools for my arsenal, if you will! I selected this one because of its pertinence to where I am right now. Sometimes, the cares of life weigh down my spirit and this verse reminds me to choose hope continually, and to praise Him more each day. What is your new verse for My Sword 2014?

Verse Three

More than anything, I hope that I am one who speaks the good word that makes glad the hearts of those around me. Someday, I hope it can be said of me, "And they glorified God because of me." (Gal. 1:24)

What about you? Feel free to enter your memory verse in the comments below!

Verse Two

There was a time, in the not-so-distant past, when I was dealing with the aching pain of rejection. It was a dark, insecure place. Not only was I feeling rejected, but I also felt isolated, as if I were the only person on the face of the earth who had ever felt that pain. I truly doubted that anyone could understand how I felt. In the midst of my despair, the homework for a Bible study I was attending at the time directed me to read Isaiah chapter 53.

If there was ever a chapter of the Bible that so radically changed me, it was that chapter on that day. I was amazed, and filled with the love of God when I read that I was not alone ~ I was not the only one to experience rejection! Not only did Christ experience the gut-wrenching pain of rejection (and therefore understand how I felt), he was rejected by everyone on the earth. There is no comfort on earth  that compares to the realization that Christ so loved me that he died on the cross for me, despite enduring all the pain of (my!) rejection. My pain pales in comparison to his - and he loves and forgives anyway!

Words cannot possibly describe how much this chapter has meant to me; how I've returned to it time after time for a reminder and reassurance. This is the first time that I've selected a verse of this chapter to memorize, and I chose this verse because I never want to forget that he has not only felt my pain, but borne the pain of my sin, and yet he loves me still.

What about you? Feel free to enter your memory verse in the comments below!

Verse One

Fear not, for I am with you;

be not dismayed, for I am your God;

I will strengthen you, I will help you,

I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Yesterday, I needed a reminder that God is in control. I needed to hear - yet again - that I have nothing to fear. I chose this familiar verse because it was exactly what I needed to hear, exactly when I needed to hear it. What verse did you choose to memorize first in 2014? I look forwarding to hearing the verses you choose to memorize, too!

*I'm posting about scripture memory in 2014 and all are welcome to join me! Read more about My Sword 2014.

My Sword 2014!

I have had a request to help a few friends with accountability for scripture memory in 2014. I thought the best way to do that would be to share my plans for scripture memory before 2014 begins, so anyone who wants to join me has time to plan ahead. I'll let you know what I'm doing, so that you can come along for the ride… but any mode of scripture memory is better than none!

I've mentioned before how huge scripture memory has been in my spiritual growth over the last few years. If anyone needs some inspiration for why they should memorize scripture, I recommend going to the Calvary Baptist Church website to listen to Pastor Holcomb's sermon from Sunday morning on 12/15/13. I was challenged and encouraged by it, and I don't even need anyone to tell me how important scripture memory is!

So, here's what I'm going to do. I plan to memorize two verses per month; I will post the verses on the first and the fifteenth of each month. I pick verses that are pertinent to my personal journey at that point in time. I feel that it makes it easier for me to actually wield the sword to fight if the verses I'm memorizing have to do with my battle. I'll get a spiral of note cards as pictured below and carry it with me to work on my verses throughout the day.

This is my spiral from 2012, which is why it's pretty worn!

If you would like to join me in this journey for 2014, feel free to comment on my posts with the verse that you are choosing to memorize. That can be your accountability! I love hearing what other people are memorizing, and we are stronger when we do things together! Also, for my friends who sometimes see me face to face, please feel free to "pop quiz" me when you see me - and if you want me to listen to you say your verses, I'd be happy to do that, as well!

I will start on January 1st, 2014. Who's in?!?!?