Priority Time

The past week or so Hubby and I have been reading the book of 1 John together, but separate. :) By that I mean, the same passages on the same nights but we do our own study of it and then talk about it once we finish. It's been such an encouragement to me! I don't think he has any idea how much of an encouragement it's been. I struggle with spending quality time with God. I'm a "quality time" person so you'd think I wouldn't have any trouble with it but I do. It's always hurried and it's just not good. I feel like I don't get anything out of it when there's plenty to learn. I struggle with how to read actively, ask the right questions and write down my thoughts, without just rewriting every verse and still getting nothing out of it. Thankfully, I have a wonderful husband who has constantly encouraged me through this struggle.

Hubby has been working HARD the last couple of weeks to get his thoughts down for a new small group he'll be leading at church (he'll lead and I'll make a snack). We've been talking about doing something in our home for 3 years, basically since we got married, but the timing just wasn't ever right. Now that we have a home we thought about hosting here but with a little one and another on the way there would be way too many distractions. So we decided to have it at church where childcare is available and there's another activity at church on Wednesday nights. :) It starts September 21st and we're so excited about it!

His first lesson for the study is "How to Study the Bible." It'll be about an 8 weeks study and I'm praying it will be an encouragement to everyone involved. Helping him and throwing out ideas has helped me already.

He's seen me struggle with my priority time with God and we started talking about it and what to do to help me and this study sprang from it. While he's been thinking and writing on this subject for some time things really started happening when we got into deep conversation about it. So I gave him a book I've had for at least 5 years to give him some ideas on how to teach on the subject and how to make it more accessible for new Christians as well as seasoned ones. He thinks so logically, which is great but can be hard for some people to understand. He wants me to help him keep it simple, since I think a bit more simply than he does. We are such different thinkers, hopefully that means we'll play off each other well to reach all the people in the study.

The book I gave him is Tim LaHaye's, How to Study the Bible for Yourself. It's a great book and while we both don't agree on a few of the things because we feel you can get bogged down in them, it's a helpful tool to get started on being more consistent with priority time.

I'm praying for God to prepare the hearts of those who are to come, my Hubby who is leading and all those who may be involved in the study and don't know the love of Jesus Christ.

Bible reading

I've started reading Genesis again. I'm sorry to say it's been quite awhile since I've picked up my Bible other than on Sundays for church. I can't let it get me down though. I've picked it up again and that's what is important. And I love Jesus!

I've always been a reader but for some reason I couldn't sit down and just read the Bible. I never thought it would work. I never thought I could just sit down and read it like a book. I've heard a lot of people say that you can't/shouldn't read it this way. But I was so wrong. They were wrong. Hubby told me, "Sit down and just read it. If you have questions write them in the margins or in your notebook." So, that's what I've been doing. And it's been working. And I'm loving it. So far I've read through chapter 11 of Genesis.

And another great thing, I've taken 3 pages of notes on these 11 chapters. And it didn't feel like I was pushing something to happen, it just came naturally. Does that sound weird? I don't think it's coming out the way I want to. But it feels good to back in the Bible again.

This whole weight loss journey has really improved my skills in other areas. I'm learning how to live a more balanced life (most of the time) and put myself first in (some) situations. I'm not being selfish about it but I need to lose weight for my health and that has to be a priority, so I've made it a priority. Just like I need to make spending time with God a priority. It helps my well being and I'm able to give more to people without it feeling like a burden. It isn't a burden to help others and I know that but if I'm not prayed up then I can't help people.

So I'm feeling encouraged. I hope you know Jesus as your Savior. He is there for you and He loves you. Get to know Him!!!

What are you reading in your quiet time?

What I've been hearing/seeing/reading... More on Beth Moore and my studies

I told you yesterday I'd write up on my favorites of the ten I listed. As you've probably read in my last few posts I'm struggling with who to call "friends." I'm at a crossroads in my life where I'm changing and the people around me are staying the same. I like what Emily said about friends and the age we're at now, "It's so weird that people our age can be in such different places in live: single and loving it, single and lonely, engaged, married, married with children, divorced, divorced with children, homeowners... I know exactly what you mean. " I agree with her totally. We are at an age where we're surrounded my people who are after different things. It's not like high school where you'll all just in high school, waiting to graduate and go to college or find a job.

So this "Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life" stuck out with me. All of them did, but a select four really hit me with the things I'm struggling with at the moment.

1. Few will understand.

Few understand anyways but it is becoming harder by the days. I want certain things out of life, church, etc so I'm putting my best foot forward and doing them. But the people I once called "friends" (and still do to a point even though we barely talk) can't understand my motivations for doing certain things. I'm the same fun-loving, optimistic person I always was, I have just turned my focus away from them and turned it on God. I feel they don't care enough about what I'm trying to accomplish because they're immature and selfish. I'm moving on with life. People can jump on the train with me or get off.

3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.

This pretty much goes along with number 1. It's happening all around me, it's inevitable. I feel I've always been on a different road than most of the people around me but I've been a little more tolerant of behaviors, until recently. I've felt I've been on a different road because I did things differently with my life than most of the people around me. I went away to school for four years, that made me grow up. I'm not saying I'm better than these people for going away, I'm better for me. I see things differently now because of the decisions I made earlier in life. I'm fortunate enough to have parents who love me and were financially able to pay for me to go away to school, I know there are people who aren't. But this and other things have put me on a different life path. I feel I truly see what is important in life. I'm not so much focued on myself now. I am looking out for others who want and need a change in their lives.

4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.

I know the only way to truly worship God and know Him more is the quiet time I spend with Him daily. I've gotten into a routine with that. I come home from doing whatever between 8 and 8:30 and have my quiet time for almost an hour. It really depends on what I'm reading and writing. The Beth Moore stuff I'm doing takes about an hour, other studies don't take as long. I hear people all the time saying, "I just don't have time to do those studies." My answer now is yes you do, you just choose not to. You have to be disciplined. Leave your friends, you see them all the time anyways and go home. Sit at a desk or somewhere where you aren't laying down and you have the possibility of falling asleep. I tried that excuse too, but now I see it as that, an excuse. Yes, some days and weeks are busier than others, stuff happens, stuff comes up, but don't get down on yourself, pick back up when it slows down.

5. You will be constantly on the witness stand.

I don't like being on trial for what I believe. I believe what I believe. If some don't like it, it's not my problem. I'm not going to let people get me down. I'm going to stand firm in my beliefs and do my best. I'm going to study and pray and watch my speech and actions all the time because I know people are ALWAYS watching. That's how I view it anyways. I've made an effort to do these things because I know they are important in my growth.

So there are my select few that are with me right now. Can you relate to any of these items, listed here or in yesterday's blog? Let me know if you need further explanation, I can at least tell you what Beth Moore says on the topics.

Tuesdays Study

1. Few will understand
2. You must abandon your own will and your own agenda.
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few.
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required.
5. You will constantly on the witness stand.
6. You must go "outside the camp."
7. There will be times when your dignity is forfeited.
8. You must forego your rights.
9. You must accept that death is painful.
10. Because He was forsaken, you never will be.

These are what Beth Moore calls, Ten Characteristics of the Crucified Life.

I've joined a women's bible study at church and we're studying Beth Moore's, Living Beyond Yourself. It's simply amazing. Those are the best words I can use to describe it. We've only had one class (second session tomorrow) and one week of homework. Women in there said it would change our lives, we would be different, better, closer to God than we've ever felt. It's amazing to me that I can feel a change already. I do feel closer to Him. It's hard to explain but I do feel different. And the funny thing is, it has only been one week. How can it happen so quickly? I'm so excited about pursuing God more than ever. I want to be in His word everyday. I love it! I've never felt so good before.
The ten items that I have listed were a part of homework in week one. There are small paragraphs explaining what each item meant. 1,3,4 and 5 were my favorites. Below I've listed the ones I like and what the book says about each thing. Tomorrow I'll write about why these four stick out in my mind at this time in my life.
1. Few will understand..."If you seriously decide to live a life crucified to self and alive in Christ, you will discover that few will understand. More importantly, those who misunderstand will most likely be the ones you have to relate to the most. Galatians 2:20 describes a radical change that many find confrontational."
3. Your intimate spiritual companions will be few..."I am not suggesting or encouraging spiritual elitism; nothing could be further from God's will. I am, however, suggesting that there may be few who choose to walk this same road with you. Those with whom you can pray deeply and agonize spiritually are unique, indeed! Be thankful for them!"
4. Intense times of aloneness with God are required..."Not even your intimate spiritual companions are invited to attend some meetings with God! He reserves the right to meet with you One-on-one. The best preparation you will ever receive for your most agonizing trials will be when you are the only student attending class. In the midst of your deepest difficulties, have you ever looked around and thought, Where is everybody? Sometimes God reserves the right to withhold others and to pull you aside with Him so that you can experience what David in 1 Samuel 30:6; "David found strength in the Lord his God."
5. You will constantly be on the witness stand..."Matthew describes Jesus' trial. Peter challenges us to be prepared to give an answer. There will never be a time when we are not subject to the observation of others. We will be held under the strictest scrutiny of the non-believers and believers alike, continually called to the witness stand."

Until tomorrow,
Ginny