The Practice of Godliness

I started a new book and it is really taking me on a heavenly ride. Jerry Bridges...why am I just discovering his work? I wish I had read this stuff when I was a "baby Christian".

Here's the question....if God expects us to be holy because He is holy (1 Peter 1:16) then why is it so hard? Why do we struggle and fail daily? Why is it so much easier to live in the world and of the world?

A few Sunday's ago our pastor referenced the "godly women" who faithfully pray at the church one night a week and the difference the ministry team can tell because of this. Well, that's my friend and I...the "godly women" that he referenced. My heart skipped a beat. WOW...me ? Godly? He obviously doesn't see my many failures each day that makes me anything but godly. It is a cherished time spent on our knees for our church but by no means would label us as "godly".

Again, godly...me? It motivated me. It humbled me. I immediately thank God for the comment and asked Him to transform me into that godly women. Though He could wave that magic wand if He wanted to, reality is that I have to be actively seeking it... "devotion in action" as Dr. Bridges reference.

"It is both the privilege and duty of every Christan to pursue godliness, to train himself to be godly, to study diligently the practice of godliness." (pp.14)

Dr. Bridges goes on to point out that "devotion is not an activity; it is an attitude toward God". Within this attitude are three essential elements: (1) the fear of God, (2)the love of God, and (3) the desire for God. And i all starts with one big descriptive word...humility. OUCH.

To be humble is to be sensitive to the needs of others and to put those first. It involves an attitude and heart of submission. But most importantly, it involves reverencing God in everything. Reverencing God and acknowledging Him for who He is in your life and all that you have as coming from Him. It is being thankful in the good times and grateful for the learning from the bad times.

Being ruined has humbled me but not as much as the majesty of God and the effect my sin has on Him. This week, each day, I plan to re-read Dr. Bridges chapter on humility and meditate on scripture which I found on Biblegateway.com. It will probably be a tough week but hopefully, I will be one step closer to godliness.

Humility will prevent us from being the stale Christain God revealed to Isaiah in chapter 6, verses 5-10

[5]Then I said: Woe is me, for I am ruined, because I am a man of unclean lips and live among a people of unclean lips, [and] because my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of Hosts. [6] Then one of the seraphim flew to me, and in his hand was a glowing coal that he had taken from the altar with tongs. [7] He touched my mouth [with it] and said: Now that this has touched your lips, your wickedness is removed, and your sin is atoned for. [8] Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying: Who should I send? Who will go for Us? I said: Here I am. Send me. [9] And He replied: Go! Say to these people: Keep listening, but do not understand; keep looking, but do not perceive. [10] Dull the minds of these people; deafen their ears and blind their eyes; otherwise they might see with their eyes and hear with their ears, understand with their minds, turn back, and be healed.

"God sends Isaiah to foretell the ruin of his people. Many hear the sound of God's word, but do not feel the power of it. God sometimes, in righteous judgment, gives men up to blindness of mind, because they will not receive the truth in the love of it. But no humble inquirer after Christ, need to fear this awful doom, which is a spiritual judgment on those who will still hold fast their sins. Let every one pray for the enlightening of the Holy Spirit, that he may perceive how precious are the Divine mercies, by which alone we are secured against this dreadful danger. Yet the Lord would preserve a remnant, like the tenth, holy to him. And blessed be God, he still preserves his church; however professors or visible churches may be lopped off as unfruitful, the holy seed will shoot forth, from whom all the numerous branches of righteousness shall arise. " ~ Matthew Henry's Commentary

May we all humble our way of thinking, our way of feeling, our way of being so that we can truly experience the power of God in our lives. May we be a stamp of His goodness to the lost.

Godliness. Humility. All for His honor.

In His Graces~Pamela

If you choose to read this book, I strongly recomment you first read "The Pursuit of Holiness" by Dr. Bridges.

Invigorate My Soul...

I decided to memorize the same scripture that Beth Moore is memorizing with our Siesta Scripture Memory Team. It nudged my heart. I posted it on my facebook and someone asked what was wrong. Obviously they couldn't read my mind and heart (really now! smile)but that made me decide to look a little deeper.

Life is good right now. It has its usual ups and downs but when I read this scripture that Beth posted I was drawn to the word "invigorate":

"Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well, use your decrees to put iron in my soul." Ps 119:175 (The Message)

Like my morning cup of coffee, that is what my God is to me when I am spending time in His word...invigorating ("to give life and energy", Websterdictionary.com; "strengthen, vitalize", Christiandictionary.com). My women's ministry partner Shera and I have recognized that God is leading us to move His ministry forward into more of a precept study of His Word. There is this urgency to grow deeper, more soundly in and through the scripture...to put "iron into our souls". So I was even more pleased when I looked at the verses surrounding this one I chose. Though David has gone through a rough dark time his comfort has come in knowing God personally, up close. Though I am not necessarily going through a "dark" time right now (thank you Jesus), how appropriate these verses are as we think about leading His ministry in a new direction...

Let my cry come right into your presence, God; provide me with the insight that comes only from your Word. Give my request your personal attention, rescue me on the terms of your promise. Let praise cascade off my lips; after all, you've taught me the truth about life! And let your promises ring from my tongue; every order you've given is right. Put your hand out and steady me since I've chosen to live by your counsel. I'm homesick, God, for your salvation; I love it when you show yourself! Invigorate my soul so I can praise you well, use your decrees to put iron in my soul. And should I wander off like a lost sheep—seek me! I'll recognize the sound of your voice. Ps 119:169-176 (The Message)

We are seeking to do as Paul did in Galatians chapter one to seek the TRUTH at the SOURCE so that others will also seek Him more deeply and choose to worship more fully our Creator. It is to crave Him more than that morning cup of coffee and to feel homesick when not enough time is given Him. Always, always open your Bible in that quiet time. There are so many beautiful Christian authors out there and I have grow so much by what God laid on their hearts but they will tell you that though God placed His words in their writings, your greatest reward will come by combining it with scripture. Take the time to reference the scripture from your devotional reading by touching the pages of your Bible. Mark it, memorize it, meditate on. There have been plenty of times I have left a quiet time without opening to the scripture referenced. It is like walking away from a gift, bow intact.

I am once again reading a book of the New Testament for this month. I choose Galatians. I read a chapter a day each week and it is amazing the different things I will receive from God each week. Same verses, different moment. James is a powerful book to do this with. My fiend Shera is reading a much bigger book and reads several chapters a day. If you don't have a routine set, try this. Start with James. You'll be amazed at what happens.

Holy God, Father of grace, provide us with insight from Your WORD. Teach us the TRUTH about life and may praises of you flow from our lips. May the promises of Your WORD be our hope and our strength. May your steady hand guide us as we grow deeper in you and stronger in Your Precepts. Invigorate our souls so we can praise you well. Use Your Decrees to put iron in our soul. And make us homesick for You when we do not give you the time you deserve. Holy God, we want to know you better and to love you better. We want to see you and to walk along side you each day. We want to recognize your voice. We are your servants. Make us holy as you have said, "Be holy as I am Holy" (1 Peter 1:16). ~ Amen

At my friend Lois's celebration of life ceremony (see post below), they read the following "Dangerous Women Creed" that she carried in her Bible. It is too good not to share:

Dangerous Women Creed

Dear God,
please make us dangerous women.
May we be women who acknowledge our power
to change, and grow, and be radically alive for God.
May we be healers of wounds and righters of wrongs.
May we weep with those who weep and
speak for those who cannot speak for themselves.
May we cherish children, embrace the elderly,
and empower the poor.
May we pray deeply and teach wisely.
May we be strong and gentle leaders.
May we sing songs of joy and talk down fear.
May we never hesitate to let passion push us,
conviction compel us, and righteous anger energize us.
May we strike fear into all that is unjust
and evil in the world.
May we dismantle abusive systems and
silence lies with truth.
May we shine like stars in a darkened generation.
May we overflow with goodness in the name of God
and by the power of Jesus.
And in that name and by that power,
may we change the world.
Dear God, please make us dangerous women.
Amen.

http://www.lynnehybels.com/
Excerpted from Lynne Hybels’ book
Nice Girls Don’t Change the World

Be a dangerous women friend!

Celebration of Life for Lois

Yesterday a group of us traveled to Iowa to celebrate the life of a friend. She won her battle with cancer and found eternal healing. She left a legacy that we all should admire and strive for. I only saw her about twice a year. I wasn't a close friend, just a ministry partner for our Tri-state Camp. Yet yesterdays ceremony will no doubt be a monumental, transformational moment in my life. Here is what I have gained from Lois...

Lois loved God with a passion. She was meek. She was spiritually lovely in that she radiated God's love. Listening to others comment on her life and service, she was a women who never complained, who gave unselfishly and gave, gave, gave. She started every morning with her God in scripture reading and prayer. He was first in her life.

I love God but I need to love Him more passionately. I open my mornings in the scripture but prayer is often short and fleeting. Forgive me God for not giving you more time. I spend more time getting ready for the day...it seems so selfish now...

Lois complimented her husband. She care for him and was foundational for his success and his comforter when life threw a few bad punches. He called her "blessed" and love her purely, unconditionally.

I have always wanted to compliment Joe. That's hard coming from our "rough start". I am more driven in this. I have been selfish in this area as I think back to how much Joe has loved me...purely, unconditionally. Forgive my selfishness Lord.

Lois loved her children unconditionally. She was their encourager and protector. Not a day slipped by without her bathing them in prayer or teaching them His way, His truths.

Again, I have been selfish. I have not loved unconditionally. I have not always been the encourager that I should have been. I have allowed their attitudes to close me up to them. I have been judgemental. I have been unkind. I have been selfish...yet again...forgive me Lord.

Above everything else, she and her husband have demonstrated that God is all they need. They have lived a life totally trusting Him in everything. That is the testament I want to be remembered for. Therefore, more of Him and less of me (Jn 3:30) has become my memory verse and my goal.

This morning in Sunday school I was teaching and was able to stand in front of the youth and reference Lois's life into our lesson. In open apparency and in tears, I admitted to my husband and three teenagers my selfishness and my desire to be different.

Yesterday, through the celebration of a life lost here on earth, I was humbled. Yesterday, through the celebrations of a life now eternal, I was convicted. Yesterday, through the celebration of a life lived I was inspired.

Thank you sweet Lois for modeling what God has called us to be as women.

GOLD NUGGETS

One of the best things I have done this year is joining the Siesta Scripture Memory Team. Though I struggle to retain these verses in my head, over and over they have come back to me during just the right moment. My new verse for the first part of this month is a GOLD NUGGET hidden deep within the Old Testament. I came across it a few months ago when stressed with one of my girls and have used it to pray for her and the situation. I have found my mind referring back to this promise of God so many times this past month so I share this GOLD NUGGET with you, my blog friends who happen to wander over...

"I am the LORD, the God of all mankind. Is anything too hard for me?" ~ Jeremiah 32:27

Is that just the most precious verse to carry around with you in this life? What a promise!!

My ministry partner and I have been studying together this concept of "holiness" and have been in a most amazing book by Jerry Bridges titled "The Pursuit of Holiness". It was in this study that I found the verse above. It has been one of those studies that when we are convicted of a stronghold or sin from one weeks chapter, we find the topic addressed in the next weeks chapter. It's like the book was written just for us!

There have been an abundance of "God-things" and an abundance of convictions. Last night was all about meditating and equipping your mind, a necessary step to authentic holiness. It was a confirmation of what I have been doing and a conviction I need to do it more-this meditating and memorizing scripture!

"As for me, this is my covenant with them," says the LORD. "My Spirit, who is on you, and my words that I have put in your mouth will not depart from your mouth, or from the mouths of your children, or from the mouths of their descendants from this time on and forever," says the LORD. ~ Isaiah 59:21

Ahhh....the eternal rewards of meditating and memorizing scripture! Focusing on the eternal significance of what life deals me and my actions towards it has been a move towards holiness, an imagine I still can't image for this sinful soul of mine.

"It is by willing, prayerful and persistent obedience to the requirements of the scripture that godly patterns are developed and come to be a part of us." ~ Jay Adams

What better way to correct, train, or mold our moral character than the act of meditating and memorizing scripture.

I know for me, this has only come about because I have a set time to spend with God each morning reading and studying His Word, and planned time of reviewing my siesta scripture memory cards as I drive to and from work (the silence in the car is so sweet). This walk towards holiness has developed my desire to hear the Word more fully and I am in the process of training myself to meditate on the Word. It has required discipline in this crazy, busy schedule, BUT meditation leads to obedience which leads to a change in patterns of living. YES! That change is worth the daily battles. So needless to say here, perseverance plays a huge part in this holy living.

Jerry Bridges in this chapter "The Place of Personal Disciple" encouraged us to ask three questions as we study scripture and I want to share them with you:

1. What does the passage teach concerning God's will for a holy life?
2. How does my life measure up to that Scripture; specifically how and where do I fall short (be specific and don't generalized)
3. What definite steps of action do I need to take to obey?

I think I will apply this to my journaling each morning...kind of like the S.O.A.P method of studying Scripture I had shared here. I hope this is a GOLD NUGGET for you!! I hope you too are spurred towards holy living. Blessings!

His Maidservant~Pamela

Defeat or Disobedience????

I am doing a study on holiness that is so rich and so convicting. I feel compelled to share it here. I do not have a funny story or life event to go along with it. In fact, it is more sobering if anything.



How many times have you heard someone address a situation with the words "victorious" or "defeated"? How about when it is used by Christians? Such as "I have been victorious in my christian walk" or "I am defeated when it comes to [name a stronghold]". I grew up with those kinds of word-pictures as it related to sin. A relationship of being victorious or defeated. A viscous cycle of victory or defeat.



Here's a different way to look at it...

Its time for us Christan's to face up to our responsibility for holiness. Too often we say we are "defeated" by this or that sin. No, we are not defeated; we are simply disobedient! It might be good if we stopped using the terms "Victory" and "defeat" to describe our progress in holiness. Rather we should use the terms "obedience" and "disobedience". ~Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness

Chew on that for a bit and tell you you don't come back humbled, even shamed.

Holiness is dying to self, dying to sin and living for Christ. God gives us the Holy Spirit when we choose Christ, choose to die to sin, and through the Holy Spirit we are able to see the eternal implementations of sin as God sees it. Boy, do we fall short with this view sometimes? Do we sometimes slip into satans grip and sin? Is it really just a mere "defeat" or is the truth of the matter that we have chosen to sin, chosen to be disobedient. To me, that is a much harsher picture that shakes my spiritual core and penetrates my heart and mind.

"When I say I am defeated by some sin, I am unconsciously slipping out from my responsibility I am saying something outside of me has defeated me. But when I say I am disobedient, that places the responsibility for my sin squarely on me. We may, in fact, be defeated, but the reason we are defeated is because we have chosen to disobey. We have chosen ti entertain lustful thoughts, or to harbor resentment, or to shade the truth a little." ~Jerry Bridges, The Pursuit of Holiness

Though the Holy Spirit helps us to live holy lives, free from the control of sin, it requires our action, our obedience. You "put to death" sin. You can't just sit back and expect the Holy Spirit to do all the work. You must make an effort to be holy.

For if you live according to the sinful nature, you will die; but if by the Spirit you put to death the misdeeds of the body, you will live ~Rom 8:13

Victory and defeat are words that I am well acquainted with in my spiritual walk. But as I put on my spiritual glasses and look closer, I now see obedience and disobedience as I examine my life. How about you?

Oh Holy Father, help us to live by the Spirit, so that we will not gratify the desires of the sinful nature (Gal 5:16). Forgive us when we have looked at sin with shaded glasses. Forgive us when we have not taken the responsibility for our defeats as disobedience.

His Maidservant~Pamela

"BUSY" = B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

A friend from church sent me this in an e-mail. I have seen it before but this morning it tugged at my heart because I have been so incredibly busy this summer. More so than usual. I felt inclined to place it here. Be careful, it may convict you too....

WOW, THIS IS VERY DEEP. PAY ATTENTION TO EVERY WORD!!!!!!

Satan called a worldwide convention of demons.

In his opening address he said,

"We can't keep Christians from going to church."

"We can't keep them from reading their Bibles and knowing the truth...."

"We can't even keep them from forming an intimate relationship with their SAVIOR."

"Once they gain that connection with JESUS, our power over them is broken."

"So let them go to their churches; let them have their covered dish dinners,BUT steal their time, so they don't have time to develop a relationship with JESUS CHRIST.."

"This is what I want you to do," said the devil:

"Distract them from gaining hold of their SAVIOR and maintaining that vital connection throughout their day!"

"How shall we do this?" his demons shouted.

"Keep them busy in the non-essentials of life and invent innumerable schemes to occupy their minds," he answered....

"Tempt them to spend, spend, spend, and borrow, borrow, borrow."

"Persuade the wives to go to work for long hours and the husbands to work6-7 days each week, 10-12 hours a day, so they can afford their empty lifestyles."

"Keep them from spending time with their children."

"As their families fragment, soon, their homes will offer no escape from the pressures of work!"

"Over-stimulate their minds so that they cannot hear that still, small voice."

"Entice them to play the radio or I-Pod whenever they drive." To keep the TV, DVDs, CDs and their PCs going constantly in their home and see to it that every store and restaurant in the world plays non-biblical music constantly."

"This will jam their minds and break that union with CHRIST."

"Fill the coffee tables with magazines and newspapers."

"Pound their minds with the news 24 hours a day."

"Invade their driving moments with billboards."

"Flood their mailboxes with junk mail, mail order catalogs, sweepstakes, and every kind of newsletter and promotional offering free products, services and false hopes."

"Keep skinny, beautiful models on the magazines and TV so their husbands will believe that outward beauty is what's important, and they'll become dissatisfied with their wives. "

"Keep the wives too tired to love their husbands at night."

"Give them headaches too! "

"If they don't give their husbands the love they need, they will begin to look elsewhere."

"That will fragment their families quickly!"

"Give them Santa Claus to distract them from teaching their children the real meaning of Christmas."

"Give them an Easter bunny so they won't talk about HIS resurrection and power over sin and death..."

"Even in their recreation, let them be excessive."

"Have them return from their recreation exhausted."

"Keep them too busy to go out in nature and reflect on GOD'S creation.Send them to amusement parks, sporting events, plays, concerts, and movies instead."

"Keep them busy, busy, busy!"

"And when they meet for spiritual fellowship, involve them in gossip and small talk so that they leave with troubled consciences."

"Crowd their lives with so many good causes they have no time to seek Power from JESUS."

"Soon they will be working in their own strength, sacrificing their health and family for the good of the cause."

"It will work!"

"It will work!"

It was quite a plan!

The demons went eagerly to their assignments causing Christians everywhere To get busier & more rushed, going here & there.

Having little time for their GOD or their families.

Having no time to tell others about the power of JESUS to change lives.

I guess the question is, has the devil been successful in his schemes?

You be the judge!!!!!

Does "BUSY" mean:

B-eing U-nder S-atan's Y-oke?

I am afraid some of those things are model by my life. Grief. Humbling. Sad.

Forgive me Lord....Though I have not seen You, I love You; and even though I do not see You now, I believe in You. Filled me with Your inexpressible and glorious joy (1 Peter 1:8). I am willing to be made willing in those areas above that I have fallen short.

In His Graces~Pamela