You've not been forgotten. Nor has my attempt to have this blog be an account of my devos. I've simply been busy, as well as without web access for awhile.
I have been working on several things between God and myself. Thanks for asking. So far, I'm doing great...but I ask that you keep me in your prayers.
Went to a camp this weekend. It was good, sought God, He responded, I'm excited.
Will write more at a later date. Love you all and keep on pushing forward...it's worth it!
God bless,
Tiffany
“For the word of God is quick, and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of soul and spirit, and of the joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” – Hebrews 4:12
Monday, June 27, 2011
Saturday, June 18, 2011
How to Forgive With God's Help, by Jack Zavada
My devotional for today was actually something I read online. I did a little other reading with this, but for the sake of time I'm only listing this one portion because it carries the message I wish to convey. I needed this for my own reasons and thought I'd share it with you all in case someone else needed it as well.
How to Forgive With God's Help, by Jack Zavago
Learning how to forgive others is one of the most unnatural duties in the Christian life.
It goes against our human nature. Forgiving is a supernatural act that Jesus Christ was capable of, but when we are hurt by someone, we want to hold a grudge. We want justice. Sadly, we don't trust God with that.
There is a secret to successfully living the Christian life, however, and that same secret applies when we're struggling with how to forgive.
How to Forgive: Understanding Our Worth
We are all wounded. We are all inadequate. On our best days, our self-esteem hovers somewhere between feeble and fragile. All it takes is disapproval—or perceived disapproval—to send us staggering. These attacks bother us because we forget who we really are.
As believers, you and I are forgiven children of God. We have been lovingly adopted into his royal family as his sons and daughters. Our true worth comes from our relationship to him, not from our appearance, our performance or our net worth. When we remember that truth, criticism bounces off us like BBs ricocheting off a rhino. The trouble is that we forget.
We seek others' approval. When they reject us instead, it hurts. By taking our eyes off God and his acceptance and putting them on the conditional acceptance of our boss, spouse, or friend, we set ourselves up to be hurt. We forget that other people are incapable of unconditional love.
How to Forgive: Understanding Others
Even when other people's criticism is valid, it's still hard to take. It reminds us that we have failed in some way. We didn't measure up to their expectations, and often when they remind us of that, tact is low on their priority list.
Sometimes our critics have ulterior motives. An old proverb from India goes, "Some men try to be tall by cutting off the heads of others." They try to make themselves feel better by making others feel bad. You have probably had the experience of being put down by a nasty remark. When that happens, it is easy to forget that others are broken just like us.
Jesus understood the brokenness of the human condition. No one knows the human heart like him. He forgave tax collectors and prostitutes, and forgave his best friend Peter, for betraying him. On the cross, he even forgave the people who killed him. He knows that humans—all humans—are weak.
For us, though, it usually doesn't help to know that those who have hurt us are weak. All we know is that we were injured and we can't seem to get over it. Jesus' command in the Lord's Prayer seems too hard to obey: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Mark 6:12, NIV)
How to Forgive: Understanding the Trinity's Role
When we have been hurt, our instinct is to hurt back. We want to make the other person pay for what they did. But exacting revenge steps over the line into God's territory, as Paul warned,
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, NIV)
If we cannot take revenge, then we must forgive. God commands it. But how? How can we let it go when we have been unjustly hurt?
The answer lies in understanding the Trinity's role in forgiveness. Christ's role was to die for our sins. God the Father's role was to accept Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf and forgive us. Today, the Holy Spirit's role is to enable us to do those things in the Christian life we cannot do on our own, namely forgive others because God has forgiven us.
Refusing to forgive leaves an open wound in our soul that festers into bitterness, resentment, and depression. For our own good, and the good of the person who hurt us, we simply must forgive. Just as we trust God for our salvation, we have to trust him to make things right when we forgive. He will heal our wound so we can move on.
In his book, Landmines in the Path of the Believer, Charles Stanley says:
We are to forgive so that we may enjoy God's goodness without feeling the weight of anger burning deep within our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean we recant the fact that what happened to us was wrong. Instead, we roll our burdens onto the Lord and allow Him to carry them for us.
Rolling our burdens onto the Lord—that's the secret of the Christian life, and the secret of how to forgive. Trusting God. Depending on him instead of ourselves. It's a hard thing but not a complicated thing. It's the only way we can truly forgive.
How to Forgive With God's Help, by Jack Zavago
Learning how to forgive others is one of the most unnatural duties in the Christian life.
It goes against our human nature. Forgiving is a supernatural act that Jesus Christ was capable of, but when we are hurt by someone, we want to hold a grudge. We want justice. Sadly, we don't trust God with that.
There is a secret to successfully living the Christian life, however, and that same secret applies when we're struggling with how to forgive.
How to Forgive: Understanding Our Worth
We are all wounded. We are all inadequate. On our best days, our self-esteem hovers somewhere between feeble and fragile. All it takes is disapproval—or perceived disapproval—to send us staggering. These attacks bother us because we forget who we really are.
As believers, you and I are forgiven children of God. We have been lovingly adopted into his royal family as his sons and daughters. Our true worth comes from our relationship to him, not from our appearance, our performance or our net worth. When we remember that truth, criticism bounces off us like BBs ricocheting off a rhino. The trouble is that we forget.
We seek others' approval. When they reject us instead, it hurts. By taking our eyes off God and his acceptance and putting them on the conditional acceptance of our boss, spouse, or friend, we set ourselves up to be hurt. We forget that other people are incapable of unconditional love.
How to Forgive: Understanding Others
Even when other people's criticism is valid, it's still hard to take. It reminds us that we have failed in some way. We didn't measure up to their expectations, and often when they remind us of that, tact is low on their priority list.
Sometimes our critics have ulterior motives. An old proverb from India goes, "Some men try to be tall by cutting off the heads of others." They try to make themselves feel better by making others feel bad. You have probably had the experience of being put down by a nasty remark. When that happens, it is easy to forget that others are broken just like us.
Jesus understood the brokenness of the human condition. No one knows the human heart like him. He forgave tax collectors and prostitutes, and forgave his best friend Peter, for betraying him. On the cross, he even forgave the people who killed him. He knows that humans—all humans—are weak.
For us, though, it usually doesn't help to know that those who have hurt us are weak. All we know is that we were injured and we can't seem to get over it. Jesus' command in the Lord's Prayer seems too hard to obey: "And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors." (Mark 6:12, NIV)
How to Forgive: Understanding the Trinity's Role
When we have been hurt, our instinct is to hurt back. We want to make the other person pay for what they did. But exacting revenge steps over the line into God's territory, as Paul warned,
Do not take revenge, my dear friends, but leave room for God's wrath, for it is written: "It is mine to avenge; I will repay," says the Lord. (Romans 12:19, NIV)
If we cannot take revenge, then we must forgive. God commands it. But how? How can we let it go when we have been unjustly hurt?
The answer lies in understanding the Trinity's role in forgiveness. Christ's role was to die for our sins. God the Father's role was to accept Jesus' sacrifice on our behalf and forgive us. Today, the Holy Spirit's role is to enable us to do those things in the Christian life we cannot do on our own, namely forgive others because God has forgiven us.
Refusing to forgive leaves an open wound in our soul that festers into bitterness, resentment, and depression. For our own good, and the good of the person who hurt us, we simply must forgive. Just as we trust God for our salvation, we have to trust him to make things right when we forgive. He will heal our wound so we can move on.
In his book, Landmines in the Path of the Believer, Charles Stanley says:
We are to forgive so that we may enjoy God's goodness without feeling the weight of anger burning deep within our hearts. Forgiveness does not mean we recant the fact that what happened to us was wrong. Instead, we roll our burdens onto the Lord and allow Him to carry them for us.
Rolling our burdens onto the Lord—that's the secret of the Christian life, and the secret of how to forgive. Trusting God. Depending on him instead of ourselves. It's a hard thing but not a complicated thing. It's the only way we can truly forgive.
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Family devotions, accountablity and determination...
Did you grow up in a home that had/has family style devotionals? I'm not sure who all would be familiar with the series called The Bible Story by Arthur Stanley Maxwell, but those were some of our family's devotional material. I remember sitting in the living room while Dad would read from those books, as all of us sat quietly listening to the stories. Those were special times. I treasure family devotions, so when I was blessed with a small, make-shift family this summer I was super excited to get to pull out our own copy of The Bible Story and begin our own "family" devotions.
Christianna and Laura are two fellow GBSers that have been rooming with my sister and I this summer and we've become that make-shift family. They're great girls and I've really enjoyed getting to know them better. Both of them were more than game to have devotions together, so we set the time frame for after Nichole got back from work each night. The reading was done in turns and whoever was reading that night was also in charge of the prayer. I felt like these times were meaningful and a time of bonding for all of us girls. Sadly we're having to alter the devotionals a bit, because Christianna is now traveling for several weeks and Laura and Nichole are leaving for Ukraine next week, but we've begun a tradition that I feel we'll be able to return to once we're all back together and I eagerly await that time!
OK, so I realize that this week was definitely NOT the best for my "daily" devotionals...online anyway. I would like to go on record (just for a little accountability) that I have been having my own personal devotions, but I simply had a busy week and got behind with the blog version. Thanks for anyone that's keeping tabs though!
I've been thinking a lot lately about how blessed I am to be able to surround myself with Christian reading materials, to take them to any public setting (coffee shop, Panera, etc.) that I like to hang out and read, or for that matter walk into most book stores, thrift stores and a host of other places and find Christian reading material. I am blessed so much!
While I've been thinking about this, I've realized how little advantage I've taken of said blessings. I have read plenty of Christian texts of course...I did just spend five years in Bible college, but how many have been of my own choosing, for pleasure, just to learn more and strengthen my faith? I have read several things on my own, devotional type things or perhaps something specific to a need, struggle or issue in my life, but I've realized how sadly lacking I've been in this area.
I am constantly drawn in to a good book I see on the shelves of a Good Will or Half Price Books, but due to all the extra curricular reading I've done over the last several years I find myself stacking them on a bookcase with the "I can't wait to read that!" approach. Well this summer I want to beat that slump...I want to read again...just for fun, just because I want to, just because I have a desire to learn more about God, His characteristics, my faith, my heritage and a host of other things.
Sure, I like to read books that are fiction, mystery, sci fi, etc. but I want to cultivate the desire to continue learning without it being for an assignment. I'm determined to take time for this this summer. So feel free to recommend reading material (we'll see how long it takes me to get through what I've already got) and check in on me to see how it's going!
Anyway, hope you all are doing well and staying close to God. Blessing to each of you!
“For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” – Romans 15:4
Christianna and Laura are two fellow GBSers that have been rooming with my sister and I this summer and we've become that make-shift family. They're great girls and I've really enjoyed getting to know them better. Both of them were more than game to have devotions together, so we set the time frame for after Nichole got back from work each night. The reading was done in turns and whoever was reading that night was also in charge of the prayer. I felt like these times were meaningful and a time of bonding for all of us girls. Sadly we're having to alter the devotionals a bit, because Christianna is now traveling for several weeks and Laura and Nichole are leaving for Ukraine next week, but we've begun a tradition that I feel we'll be able to return to once we're all back together and I eagerly await that time!
OK, so I realize that this week was definitely NOT the best for my "daily" devotionals...online anyway. I would like to go on record (just for a little accountability) that I have been having my own personal devotions, but I simply had a busy week and got behind with the blog version. Thanks for anyone that's keeping tabs though!
I've been thinking a lot lately about how blessed I am to be able to surround myself with Christian reading materials, to take them to any public setting (coffee shop, Panera, etc.) that I like to hang out and read, or for that matter walk into most book stores, thrift stores and a host of other places and find Christian reading material. I am blessed so much!
While I've been thinking about this, I've realized how little advantage I've taken of said blessings. I have read plenty of Christian texts of course...I did just spend five years in Bible college, but how many have been of my own choosing, for pleasure, just to learn more and strengthen my faith? I have read several things on my own, devotional type things or perhaps something specific to a need, struggle or issue in my life, but I've realized how sadly lacking I've been in this area.
I am constantly drawn in to a good book I see on the shelves of a Good Will or Half Price Books, but due to all the extra curricular reading I've done over the last several years I find myself stacking them on a bookcase with the "I can't wait to read that!" approach. Well this summer I want to beat that slump...I want to read again...just for fun, just because I want to, just because I have a desire to learn more about God, His characteristics, my faith, my heritage and a host of other things.
Sure, I like to read books that are fiction, mystery, sci fi, etc. but I want to cultivate the desire to continue learning without it being for an assignment. I'm determined to take time for this this summer. So feel free to recommend reading material (we'll see how long it takes me to get through what I've already got) and check in on me to see how it's going!
Anyway, hope you all are doing well and staying close to God. Blessing to each of you!
“For whatsoever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope.” – Romans 15:4
Friday, June 10, 2011
Weary and heavy laden...
Matthew 11:28 (MKJV)
"Come to Me all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Rest. Wow. Man I sure could use some of that! Currently our apt stays about 10° warmer than whatever it is outside...sometimes it may be more. Do you know how hard it is to sleep in the heat? You just lie there, sweating...it's super exciting.
This, however, isn't exactly what God's talking about. Sure we need to rest our bodies, but God's talking about something bigger than that, a deeper rest...a rest for our souls.
I don't know about you but some days I just feel so tired from all the ups and downs emotionally, the stress and worry of life, the toll that everyday concerns take on us, that I just find myself weary. 100% worn out. It's those days that I realize just how finite I am...how vunerable I am to Satan's attacks...how weak and feeble my defenses are.
BUT...this verse serves as a reminder to me specifically. It reminds me that the reason I'm feeling so weary and weak isn't because of all that I have going on in my life...it's because I've been neglecting to rest in Him. I haven't turned those emotions, stresses, worries and everyday concerns over to God...I've been trying to carry them on my own again. Boy can I be stupid! God is so much stronger, smarter, just all around better than I am and yet I seem to think I can do a better job with all those things. You'd think eventually I'd catch on!
So here's my challenge to you (and myself)...leave it in God's hands and find your rest in Him!
Blessings!
-Tiff
"Come to Me all [you] who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."
Rest. Wow. Man I sure could use some of that! Currently our apt stays about 10° warmer than whatever it is outside...sometimes it may be more. Do you know how hard it is to sleep in the heat? You just lie there, sweating...it's super exciting.
This, however, isn't exactly what God's talking about. Sure we need to rest our bodies, but God's talking about something bigger than that, a deeper rest...a rest for our souls.
I don't know about you but some days I just feel so tired from all the ups and downs emotionally, the stress and worry of life, the toll that everyday concerns take on us, that I just find myself weary. 100% worn out. It's those days that I realize just how finite I am...how vunerable I am to Satan's attacks...how weak and feeble my defenses are.
BUT...this verse serves as a reminder to me specifically. It reminds me that the reason I'm feeling so weary and weak isn't because of all that I have going on in my life...it's because I've been neglecting to rest in Him. I haven't turned those emotions, stresses, worries and everyday concerns over to God...I've been trying to carry them on my own again. Boy can I be stupid! God is so much stronger, smarter, just all around better than I am and yet I seem to think I can do a better job with all those things. You'd think eventually I'd catch on!
So here's my challenge to you (and myself)...leave it in God's hands and find your rest in Him!
Blessings!
-Tiff
-- Sent from my Palm Pixi
Wednesday, June 8, 2011
Busy but blessed!
This isn't exactly a normal devo, but rather more of an update...
I realize it's been a while since I posted anything on here, but I have an excuse! I was busy with life -- I was privileged with the opportunity to attend one of my best friends weddings! It was beautiful...SHE was beautiful...and the ceremony had me in tears. It was a wonderful day and I'm super happy for both Chris and Cheryl. I'm excited to see the things God has in store for them and how He's going to use them to further His kingdom!
Genesis 2:23-24
The man said,"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man,"
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother,
and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
A quick update about the weekend:
The trip was interesting, seeing as how we started only 28 miles from home with a broken down car. We managed to drag that out into a 2hr + ordeal, then finally got our 8hr drive started around 8pm which put us at our destination around 5am! Once there we were taken to our cabin and then tried to get settled in for a few hrs. sleep...only to realize that a hoard of stink bugs had infested the place. (Thanks PA!) We spent over an hr battling these little boogers, and finally attempted to sleep. There's plenty more to this story, but this is the simple recap. The rest of the day was spent grabbing lunch, helping at the church and wandering around lost for awhile.
The next day was filled with wedding craziness, fixing hair, buttoning dresses, trying to figure out seating arrangements, etc. Then once we'd said our goodbyes to the bride and groom and were done with everything at the church, we went to crash at Alinda's house. Several of us fell asleep even. We watched an interesting movie and then finally went back to the cabin. The bugs were awaiting our arrival, but we were prepared...this time we had raid!
Sunday we went to a Mennonite church with Leanna, had lunch at the Martin's, tried to take a nap and then began the long journey home. It was a wonderful weekend, filled with so many laughs my sides still ache, several moments of tears and shared hugs and just the general making of memories that makes life so special. I had the best companions a person could ask for! God kept us safe and gave us an amazing trip. I am so blessed!!!
On a side note, I've enjoyed the group devotions we've been doing since we got back. We've been taking turns reading the story and praying. It's so special to live where we can share so openly like that. God is good!
I realize it's been a while since I posted anything on here, but I have an excuse! I was busy with life -- I was privileged with the opportunity to attend one of my best friends weddings! It was beautiful...SHE was beautiful...and the ceremony had me in tears. It was a wonderful day and I'm super happy for both Chris and Cheryl. I'm excited to see the things God has in store for them and how He's going to use them to further His kingdom!
Genesis 2:23-24
The man said,"This is now bone of my bones,
And flesh of my flesh;
She shall be called Woman,
Because she was taken out of Man,"
For this reason a man shall leave his father and his mother,
and be joined to his wife; and they shall become one flesh.
A quick update about the weekend:
The trip was interesting, seeing as how we started only 28 miles from home with a broken down car. We managed to drag that out into a 2hr + ordeal, then finally got our 8hr drive started around 8pm which put us at our destination around 5am! Once there we were taken to our cabin and then tried to get settled in for a few hrs. sleep...only to realize that a hoard of stink bugs had infested the place. (Thanks PA!) We spent over an hr battling these little boogers, and finally attempted to sleep. There's plenty more to this story, but this is the simple recap. The rest of the day was spent grabbing lunch, helping at the church and wandering around lost for awhile.
The next day was filled with wedding craziness, fixing hair, buttoning dresses, trying to figure out seating arrangements, etc. Then once we'd said our goodbyes to the bride and groom and were done with everything at the church, we went to crash at Alinda's house. Several of us fell asleep even. We watched an interesting movie and then finally went back to the cabin. The bugs were awaiting our arrival, but we were prepared...this time we had raid!
Sunday we went to a Mennonite church with Leanna, had lunch at the Martin's, tried to take a nap and then began the long journey home. It was a wonderful weekend, filled with so many laughs my sides still ache, several moments of tears and shared hugs and just the general making of memories that makes life so special. I had the best companions a person could ask for! God kept us safe and gave us an amazing trip. I am so blessed!!!
On a side note, I've enjoyed the group devotions we've been doing since we got back. We've been taking turns reading the story and praying. It's so special to live where we can share so openly like that. God is good!
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