Hope
Do you ever get discouraged and question all that's going on in your life? I do. As my profile states, I'm over 40. I've never been married and have no kids. I live with my Mom - (ie. no home of my own). I also have health problems that
may prevent me from ever having children, unless God provides a miracle. Will I end up a spinster, looking to extended family for help in my old age (Lord willing)? I'm going back to school but I think about my family - the problems they're having, their needs, and that I may not have as much time with them as I'd hope. I'm finding most of my free time is gone due to school. I have almost no time to spend with anyone anymore. If this continues, I'll feel like I'm abandoning my family and friends for years while I go to school. Time I can never get back. I have an Uncle diagnosed with cancer and not given much longer to live...I don't even know if he knows Jesus. So little time to spend with anyone.
But God . . .God encouraged me this morning.
He led me to
Romans 5:3b-5. . . that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.I always thought this meant that hard times I need to persevere through, this will produce character in me, and this will somehow bring me into hope. Once I reach this place of hope, I won't be disappointed because God will fill my heart with His love.
God gave me a
new look at this.
I looked up some of the words in Strong's Concordance and using that, this is how I paraphrase those lines:
In hard times, wait patiently for God. In that patient waiting, God will bring me proof/experience (of His goodness I think), and that proof/experience (of God's goodness) brings me to have good expectations of the future. These good expectations of the future won't disappoint, shame, humiliate, or dishonor me, because the love of God (His love for me) has been poured out in my heart by the Holy Spirit who God gave me.Now waiting patiently doesn't mean doing nothing. In David of the Bible, he waited to become King. While waiting he suffered being threatened with his life by King Saul. He didn't just sit there though. He befriended people, worked by protecting other people's sheep, and sang songs to God, trusting Him. In Joseph of the Bible, he waited to rule - but in the meantime, he worked as a slave for Potipher, becoming second only to Potipher in his household and staying true to God & trusting Him. Even when in prison, Joseph did his best while rising to the top in prison to be head over his fellow prisoners. Waiting patiently means doing the best you can where you are with what you have, trusting God and following Him as best you can.
Eventually in the patient waiting, I'll experience God's faithfulness and see God's goodness. Enough of these experiences will stir my heart to expect good from God whatever may come. I won't be disappointed because I'll be filled with God's love in my heart by His Spirit (I'll know He loves me).
Did ya miss me?
Hi. I've returned to work after the holiday break (I work full-time), started half-time at college, and still teach 1st & 2nd grade girls at church on Wednesday nights. I don't know whether I'm coming or going. It is a new adventure though. If only I can figure out how to keep everything going and get some sleep too.
My father has a karaoke set-up at his house and I participated three weeks in a row! (Whew!) I enjoyed it and got a chance to spend time with some family members I don't see too often. I even got some compliments this time - they said I've improved since last year, I can actually carry a tune! ;) (At least on some songs - sigh.) It must be the singing in the pews at church every week that helps. I added a couple of pics from karaoke. Sorry, none of me - I was taking the pictures.
Three of my four brothers - Butch, Jim, and Dan.
My nephew JR, my brother Dan, and my Dad.
My sister Sylvia and my sister-in-law Jamie, Jim's wife.
I hope you all had a great Christmas and New Year.
Pierced
Yesterday I had my ears pierced for a Christmas present. I've had them pierced before, twice, but both times I let them close up because they got infected. One last try, this time I'll only use quality earrings. I have my ears pierced merely as an adornment.
I thought about what the Bible has to say about ear piercing. I only found one place that mentions it - Exodus 21:2-6.
Exodus 21:2-6:If you (a Hebrew) buy a Hebrew servant, he shall serve six years; and in the seventh he shall go out free and pay nothing. If he comes in by himself, he shall go out by himself; if he comes in married, then his wife shall go out with him. If his master has given him a wife, and she has borne him sons or daughters, the wife and her children shall be her master's, and he shall go out by himself. But if the servant plainly says, "I love my master, my wife, and my children; I will not go out free," then his master shall bring him to the judges. He shall also bring him to the door, or to the doorpost, and his master shall pierce his ear with an awl; and he shall serve him forever. (I added what's in italics just for clarifying who the "you" being spoken of is.)
If the servant loves his master, wife, and children, and is unwilling to go out free, he will remain a servant of his master forever and have his ear pierced as a sign.This makes me think of
Jesus. His master is
GOD the Father, His wife (bride) is the church, and His children are those who believe in Him and follow Him.
Jesus became a servant of
GOD when He came to earth as a man and obeyed
GOD as a servant the whole time he was here.
"Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it something to be held onto to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. Phillipians 2:5-11.GOD gave
Jesus the church and His children.
"No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him; and I will raise him up at the last day." John 6:44Jesus was pierced not in His ears, but in His hands, feet, and heart. Why pierced? Because He
loves His
Master, His bride, and His children. He was willing to be pierced, serving
GOD forever and so we could be together forever.
"Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John 15:13There was no other way for the servant keep the bride and children his master gave him except to be pierced. In the same way, but because of our sins (evil thoughts, words, and deeds), there was no other way for
Jesus to keep us who believe Him and follow him except for Him to be pierced, dying for us, paying the price for our sins.
"But He was pierced through for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53:5
The piercing is full forever commitment - out of
love.
The love of GOD in Jesus Christ overwhelms me.
