Thursday, May 28, 2009

EPHESIANS 4 (part 2)

Some notes I made while at Bible Study on Tuesday night at Galyn's house.

*Personalize Ephesians 1-3 to be at peace and be able to find unity among other believers.
*Ephesians 4: 1-6 mentions four characteristics of the new life (humility, gentleness, patience, and love) which lead into unity which is described with seven-fold unity (ONE body, ONE Spirit, one hope, one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God/Father).
*Ephesians 4:7-16 introduces the necessity of diversity within the unity which will cause the body to reach maturity and unity.
*Ephesians 4:1 "Urge" and "live a life worthy of the calling you have received"
-This should now change every area of your life! (1 Thessalonians 2:11-12 [If this doesn't make sense to you, then you're not going to do it; Romans 12:1; 1 Cor. 10:31; Philippians 1:27; Colossians 1:10; 3:17)
-You are dealing with humans. Come with an open mind with humility, gentleness, patience, and love.
*Ephesians 4:2-3 How do we apply this?
*If you can't have a "church meeting" without unity how can you go to the world with Godly love and unity?
*When you are showing love in unity: "showing tolerance" and "allowance for one anothers faults"
*How easy it is for Satan to mess with the unity in the church.

Wednesday, May 20, 2009

EPHESIANS 4 (part 1)

Unity in the Body of Christ
(Paul writing about unity among believers.)

Ephesians 4:1-3
"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received."
"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love."
"Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace."

These verses inspired me to write that song in my last post. Galyn focused mostly on what humility was...leading us to many wonderful verses. (Matt. 11:29) And then how Chirst is our example. (Philippians 2:8)
Next week he said we would focus on being gentle. He had never planned for us to focus so much on each individual word, but it's a huge deal in the Christian faith. How do you love a believer? What does it mean to be humble? Does everyone have the same definition?

Tuesday, May 19, 2009

Eternally Speaking

This song is inspired from Ephesians Four. We studied a few verses from that chapter tonight at small group.

Eternally Speaking

(Verse 1)
The feet move swiftly
tender heart glorifies
Laying burdens humbly
to my Father I wont deny.

(Chorus)
Give me struggles, Jesus.
To help understand Your greatness.
You are the One who frees
If we call out in need,
leaving it at Your feet.

(Verse 2)
Give up on trying to win
and doing endless deeds with a grin.
We keep trying to fight,
with many sleepless nights-
Forgetting to look to the Light.

(Bridge)
Crying out to Him
Needing His help
Can't do it all alone
I've forgotten my true Home!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Seven Things to what life Brings.....

1. Jana and Audra (my friends from where I used to work) spent the night last night. We had a great night of laughter, fun, and girl stuff. (Including getting freaked out by the shadows on the windows.)
2. I had some good chats with some people from JEFC at a graduation party yesterday....some great insight to continue my job searching. They were uplifting and encouraging! Thanks guys!
3. I'm working on my next song....I don't know when it will be done though.
4. I'm thinking about trying out something and looking forward to what God has instore for me!
5. Enjoying this warmer weather and beautiful sunshine!! Hallelujah!
6. Turning 21 was definitely a "new chapter in life."
7. I love watching my nephews and niece grow. I am a proud aunt of four (so far). They are so cute and adorable. They help fill me with fun, interesting stories to share. Each of them have their own special unique traits. I could tell you about each one of them all day long! They grow up sooooo so fast!! (Looking forward to Memorial Weekend!)

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

Daily Devotions

The Lord led me to a few passages today.
Thought I would share what they were.

2 Thessalonians 5
Proverbs 12

Definitely things I needed to hear. God always knows! If you have questions about these passages, I would be more than happy to discuss them with you.

God's blessings!

Thursday, April 30, 2009

This is Thursday

I haven't done updates on here for quite sometime. So here they are.

1. I finished the book Crazy Love! It's an awesome book!
2. I'm reading Created to Be His Help Meet...some good stuff!
3. I'm job searching still. Now, that sounds awful. I know it is so sorry but just know that I'm okay. If I'm worried about it I'll let you know.
4. A huge fan of The Office and Gilmore Girls. Must I say more? I wish I could be on the show!
5. I'm starting to notice the things that I am passionate about and love a lot that I didn't know before, by going back to square one without a job.
6. I love being an aunt!
7. Tuesday I turn 21...I'm still wondering what that will feel like. I have a list of some things that I would like. Tuesday my sister Melissa turns 28. HAPPY BIRTHDAY BIG SISTA! =)

Monday, April 13, 2009

No more Lukewarm Christians!

I'm reading this book called Crazy Love by Francis Chan. I thought I would share this quote with you.

"Are you willing to say to God that He can have whatever He wants? Do you believe that wholehearted commitment to Him is more important than any other thing or person in your life? Do you know that nothing you do in this life will ever matter, unless it is about loving God and loving other people He has made?
True faith means holding nothing back; it bets everything on the hope of eternity. I know that this whole swimming-upstream, pursuing-Christ, taking-up-your-cross thing isn't easy. It's so hard, in fact, that Jesus said the road is narrow and few will actually find it...Like the parable of the sower, don't assume you are the good soil; don't assume you are the one of the few on the narrow way."

Another thing Francis Chan mentions in his book....

Read 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 and in place of "love" put your name. Do you fit that?
Are you patient? Are you kind? You feel like a liar saying that, don't you?
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Let's encourage one another to become full-hearted Christians! Let's love others as Christ loves the Church! Fall in love with God and let the things of the world pass. Let go of those things and follow Him!