Let us run with endurance the race that is set before us . . . Hebrews 12:1
My son Luke and I were on the computer a while back when I asked for his password. He answered, "It's 'Keep on.'" I told him that was a great password and he said, "Oh Dad, that's my password for everything."
Keep on. Keep on. Keep on.
For sure he'll change his password now, but I hope he'll never change his perspective. These two words are critical to success in life and in the Christian life. The biblical word is endurance or perseverance--the ability to keep on doing the things you have committed yourself to doing when you feel like it and when you don't. Nothing is more essential to success in the Christian life than perseverance. Faith gets you started; perseverance keeps you going.
This matter of perseverance is so critical to the Christian life that James 1 tells us that above all other human traits, perseverance is the characteristic that God is trying to build into your life and mine. The ability to keep on going. Keep making and keeping the commitments of life.
It's easy to start the race. All kinds of people get up in the morning and put their jogging suit on and begin to run. But when the miles click past and the muscles start to fatigue and life isn't easy anymore, what do they do? What do you do?
It's easy to put on a white dress or a tuxedo and get to the front of the church; everybody knows that. But to have a happening marriage--not for five--but for 15 or 40 years, that takes perseverance!
It's easy to conceive a child and, by comparison, it's easy to birth a child, but to keep on training and raising those kids day in and day out, following through on what you have said and taught--that takes commitment!
Might I say in addition to that, it's easy to pray a prayer and walk an aisle; it's easy to confess faith in Christ. But to keep on following Christ--even when the pressure is on--that takes staying power. "My brothers, consider it pure joy when you fall into various trials knowing that the trying of your faith produces perseverance."
Staying power! Did you know that if God could get that one thing into your life, He could give you everything else? James 1 goes on to say, "But let perseverance have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing" (v.4).
This week we stand on the hinge between two years--2008 and 2009. How will these two years mark your life? Look back on 2008 for a moment. If your year was like mine, you can see some pretty significant peaks and valleys. Praise God for them. Praise God that at this year's end, you can stand before Him in faith and humility and say, "No matter what is behind me, I finish this year strong in Christ." Like Paul in Philippians 3:13-14 "but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus" I press on--that's perseverance.
Now look ahead to 2009. You don't know what the year will bring, but you can be sure of this, God is faithful. His mercies will be new every morning of every day of the new year. There's power in the day when you start it with faith in God and a commitment to perseverance.
Keep on--it's a great password for 2009.
"When you lie down, you will not be afraid; yes, you will lie down and your sleep will be sweet."
Proverbs 3:24
We've all heard the phrase "crippling emotions." The truth is, emotions can shackle a person from moving forward in her life, especially fearful emotions.
How much fear have you allowed to build up in you over the yearsperhaps a fear of failure or a fear of rejection? To what degree is fear holding you back from taking the risks to learn . . . to try . . . to do . . . to speak up . . . to step out . . . to move forward?
A woman who truly walks in freedom toward the fulfillment of her dreams and goals is a woman who has discovered a way of overcoming fears with faith.
Sheila Walsh has written this about fear: "Fear is a ravenous beast that can eat away at our faith and paralyze us until we are unable to move."
- Have you ever been paralyzed by fear? Recall the experience in a few words or phrases.
How did you find yourself able to "move" again?
Faith is the true opposite of fear. The Bible states repeatedly that trusting in the Lordbelieving that the Lord will impart His presence and helpis the sure-fire way to overcome fear and experience courage.
- Note next to each verse or passage below, your insights into what the Bible says about fear:
- 2 Timothy 1:7
- Psalm 31:13-14
- Hebrews 13:5b-6
- When you think about the goals you'd like to achieve, what fears do you have about the pursuit of those goals?
Now take a look at each fear on your list and ask: "What would God like me to do about this fear?" Write down your response next tot the fear you have listed.
- Think about a time when you failed in the past. What were the immediate emotions and consequences of that failure? Did you allow long-term fear to develop?
Why do you think we fear failure so much?
The Bible tells the story of a woman who decided she had had enough of her illness and went to Jesus for healing. She no doubt had fears about what she was planning to do. She had experienced "a flow of blood" for twelve years, very likely a form of endometriosis or some other disorder in her uterus that caused nonstop menstruation or hemorrhage. She was very likely physically weak. She was also desperate. She had spent all the resources she had trying to find a cure. The Bible says she had been to many physicians and had "suffered" at their hands and was not better, but rather, she grew worse. Then she heard about Jesus. Somewhere inside her a flicker of faith was fanned into flame and she said to herself, if only I may touch His clothes, I shall be made well." She boldly maneuvered her way through a crowd of people and reached out to touch the hem of Jesus' garment. The Bible says that the flow of blood "dried up" immediately (see Mark 5:25-34).
- How do you think you would have responded to your situation if you had been in this woman's position?
Have you ever been so desperate in your circumstances that you knew you had to take action, no matter the consequences to your reputation, your pride, or your social standing? What happened as a result of your desperation?
This woman who was hemorrhaging had more than a physical ailment. She also suffered from rejection and, very likely, loneliness. Her condition made her "unclean" in her community at that time, which meant she was required to refrain from mingling with crowds of people or participating in religious ceremonies. For twelve years, she had been isolated from many of her neighbors and friends, and she was prohibited from taking part in many family celebrations. After she touched the hem of Jesus' garment, Jesus turned and asked, "Who touched My clothes?" The woman, "fearing and trembling," fell down at Jesus' feet and told Him the whole truth. He said to her, "Daughter, your faith has made you well. Go in peace, and be healed of your affliction" (see Mark 5:30-34).
- What advantages do you see in telling Jesus the "whole truth" about your situation, including your fears?
Why would a person be reluctant to admit the whole truth to anybody about her fears . . . perhaps even refusing to admit the whole truth to herself?
What freedom is gained when you confront your fears?
- The psalmist writes: "He calms the storm so that its waves are still" (Psalm 107:29). Have you ever experienced God's peace in a difficult or scary situationa "storm" of life that may have involved a literal storm, a relationship crisis, a financial crisis, or a health crisis? Recall that situation.
- The prophet Isaiah praised God for keeping "in perfect peace all who trust in you, whose thoughts are fixed on you!" (Isaiah 26:3 NLT). Respond to the following statements:
- These are the practical ways I put my "trust" in God (focus on what you do or way):
- This is what it means to me to "fix my thoughts" on God.
Digging Deeper
In what ways does the pursuit of your dreams and purpose involve overcoming fear with faith? How might you "grow in faith" and in your ability to trust God in all things and for all things?
Ponder & Pray
In what ways do you feel challenged to ask God to help you trust Him more about a specific situation you are facing today?
2008 is coming to an end in a few days! What does 2009 hold for you, your family, and friends? I've thought about this for a good 2 weeks now, wondering what type of goals I am going to set for this new year.
I really do want to work at my goals. The Lord has been pressing on me to quit smoking, to read the bible, pray more, spend some quality time with my kids, be still and quiet, work out, etc.
So I am going to work hard at these resolutions, I know I will fail at more than one, but I know God will pick me up to.
There is nothing that God can't do in my life, to improve me, to shape me. God is good.
Our church, Orchard Hill, has decided to do a church study on the book called 40 Days Living the Jesus Creed. I looked at it yesterday, and it is a book with 2 pages per day to read, about how to live according to the Creed Jesus said
Mark 12:29-31 (New International Version)
29"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.[a] 30Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.'[b] 31The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'[c]There is no commandment greater than these."
Our challenge is to memorized this verse, and live by it!
It's our oldest, Tristan's, Birthday! Happy Birthday! He is 7 years old. I cannot believe on how fast they do grow!
I put 2 wonderful books on my blog that make my Christmas a wonderful memory! Do you have any Christmas memories or traditions that make it exciting for you and your family? We usually celebrate Christmas Eve with Brian's mom and sister, and niece. Christmas day, we skip breakfast and go straight to the presents. Then we have lunch with Brian's dad. In the afternoon we read stories, and enjoy our new toys! This year Brian gets the whole weekend off. So we are pretty excited over that.
One year I remember, I had our youngest a few weeks prior, and didn't have any time to wrap presents. So at the last minute, I put all of Tristan's toys into Wal-Mart bags. He didn't know the difference, plus he didn't care! We still had a wonderful Christmas. I just hope that I don't have to do that again.
Every year as well we have an Advent Wreath, which we read every Sunday until Christmas. One year my parents gave us an Nativity Scene Christmas countdown.
This year I've not done much of our Christmas Traditions. Up at our shop has been busy, kid's activities has been pretty much been everyday! The only thing I have done was read the Christmas books, and have the presents wrapped, and have the Christmas tree up. So at least we have something.
I cannot wait til Christmas. It's a time to rejoice Christ's birth.
Matthew 1:18-25
18This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. 19Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly.
20But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. 21She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus,[c] because he will save his people from their sins."
22All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: 23"The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"[d]—which means, "God with us."
24When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. 25But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.
Matthew 2
The Visit of the Magi
1After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem 2and asked, "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east[b] and have come to worship him."
3When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. 4When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ[c] was to be born. 5"In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written:
6" 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for out of you will come a ruler
who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'[d]"
7Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. 8He sent them to Bethlehem and said, "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."
9After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east[e] went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. 11On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. 12And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.
The Escape to Egypt
13When they had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. "Get up," he said, "take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him." 14So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, 15where he stayed until the death of Herod. And so was fulfilled what the Lord had said through the prophet: "Out of Egypt I called my son."[f]
16When Herod realized that he had been outwitted by the Magi, he was furious, and he gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and its vicinity who were two years old and under, in accordance with the time he had learned from the Magi. 17Then what was said through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
18"A voice is heard in Ramah,
weeping and great mourning,
Rachel weeping for her children
and refusing to be comforted,
because they are no more."[g]
The Return to Nazareth
19After Herod died, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt 20and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother and go to the land of Israel, for those who were trying to take the child's life are dead."
21So he got up, took the child and his mother and went to the land of Israel. 22But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning in Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Having been warned in a dream, he withdrew to the district of Galilee, 23and he went and lived in a town called Nazareth. So was fulfilled what was said through the prophets: "He will be called a Nazarene."
Here in Iowa..it's a little cold...and snowy. The good news is we are going to be getting 9-12 inches by tomorrow! I hate this kind of weather, but oh well. I live here, so I better get used to it!!!! LOL
My Groups
-
One Way Fellowship Updated: 2 hours ago
-
Life Changing Book Club Updated: 3 days ago
-
Me Time (host) Updated: 4 days ago
Neighborhood
Explore friends, family, friends & family, or entire neighborhood.
